Chapter 1589: Requirements To Become An Emperor (1/2)

Li Qiye stared at the horizon for a while before answering the monarch’s question: “His dao heart is not firm.”

“Not firm?” The monarch couldn’t believe it: “That’s impossible. I heard Ancestor Shan and the others said that perseverance is his strong point.”

“That’s two different things.” Li Qiye shook his head: “You think that it’s only about wavering before difficulties? No, temptation is another test.”

“Gu Zun is a very patient person. In order to reach his goal, he can endure everything! However, his dao heart has two flaws. First, greed, second, treachery.” Li Qiye’s eyes turned profound.

“Greed and treachery?” She murmured.

“Ambition is good but when it becomes greed, that’s no longer the case.” Li Qiye explained: “Gu Zun has a greedy nature and wants everything, like an ant wanting to swallow a big cake but not one crumb at a time. Instead, he wants it all with one bite. The world isn’t that easy though.” Li Qiye smiled and said.

“What about treachery?” She asked. After all, Gu Zun was still her ancestor. The word “treachery” was quite harsh.

“In order to obtain his goal, Gu Zun could sell everything! He didn’t mind betraying everything, including the Black Dragon King!” He stared straight at her and said.

“That’s impossible!” She shouted. The king was their progenitor and pride. In their eyes, Gu Zun wouldn’t betray him no matter how evil he was.

“Really now?” Li Qiye smiled: “What kind of person do you think Gu Zun is? He’s not the Black Dragon King’s disciple or child. His status is on the same level as Lu Zhangsun; as one of the ten eonic geniuses with an amazing cultivation, why didn’t the king give him the successor role? Why did he take away all of Gu Zun’s position, leaving him with no responsibility? If you are the Black Dragon King, would you waste such a talent? The king was already merciful enough by not killing him!”

The monarch shuddered after hearing this. She has thought about this issue before too but didn’t dare to pry further. Ancestor Shan’s group didn’t wish to talk about it either.

Just think about it, their ancestor was an exceptional candidate so why didn’t he receive the great responsibility? Why did he need to wait till Lu Zhangsun died before seizing power? Someone as insightful as the Black Dragon King wouldn’t bury a talent for no reason!

Gu Zun would be highly valued and utilized in any lineage but the Black Dragon King went as far as removing all of his roles. Lu Zhangsun himself had always been vigilant of Gu Zun as well!

This meant that Gu Zun had committed an unforgivable mistake back then! But the Black Dragon King was a benevolent person. What kind of mistake was unforgivable?

Then she thought about what Li Qiye has just said and come out with a shocking answer - betrayal!

The monarch became suffocated. Though in this internal vie for power, Gu Zun was Elder Zhangsun’s opponent, he was still their ancestor. No one was right or wrong in wanting power. However, betraying the Black Dragon King was a scary matter.

If the disciples were to find out that Gu Zun had betrayed their progenitor before, they would never forgive him!

“Immortal Emperors have certain standards.” Li Qiye said flatly: “There is one more crucial requirement outside of the dao heart, an imperial ethics.”

“Imperial ethics?” She became attentive right away since this was her first time hearing the term.

“It’s a very vague concept but if I were to be more specific, betrayal is not one of them. An emperor can slaughter millions and wipe out clans, but not betrayal.”

“Why is that?” She asked.

Li Qiye continued on: “Emperors can be merciless but they must have their own rules. For example, the emperors from the Ancient Ming Race, they ma.s.sacred so many, including their own, as their darkness engulfed the nine worlds. However, they will not betray the Ancient Ming Race and their soul as its member!”