843 Who Knew How Tall It Grew (1/2)

The old man in imperial robes looked at the three men helplessly. The terror shining in his eyes appeared to be a genuine reflection of what he was feeling deep in his soul.

But Wang Baole had read too many high officials' autobiographies. He believed that one should never judge a book by its cover. People like the old man were most likely to do the unexpected. The more fearful and helpless one appeared to be, the more likely they would lunge at someone when their back was turned.

It's clear from his clothes and the way that they are addressing him that he's the emperor of the Divine Eye civilization. Wang Baole blinked and continued to observe the scene unfolding before him.

He watched as the emperor finished talking, and a dark look settled on the faces of the three purple-robed elders standing next to him. The one who had spoken earlier looked icily at the emperor. He was about to say something. Before he could, though, the Spirit Immortal realm cultivator who had been standing at the periphery and who was clearly not part of the royal family, suddenly laughed.

”Fellow Daoist He Yunzi, your imperial brother, the current emperor of the Divine Eye civilization… doesn't seem to be very cooperative.”

”Patience, please, Fellow Daoist Zi Luo!” The purple-robed elder, whom the Spirit Immortal realm cultivator had addressed as He Yunzi, cupped his fists lightly at the cultivator when he heard that. He then turned towards the Divine Eye civilization's emperor, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.

”Brother, cease your unrealistic dreaming and stop testing my limits. Besides… we're doing this for the glory of the Divine Eye royal family. Take a look at the stance that our family members are displaying. This is where the future is headed!”

”He Yunzi, this is a misunderstanding. There's nothing I can do. I know that almost every member of our royal family supports the alliance with the Violet Gold civilization. I may not approve of this alliance, but I'm well aware that I'm an emperor in name only. I don't have the power to stop the alliance from taking place,” the emperor told He Yunzi with a grimace on his face.

”I'm glad that you understand that. Open the ancestral tombs so that we can fully unlock the gate to the Divine Eye. Then, as outlined in our agreement with the Violet Gold civilization, they will descend upon the Divine Eye civilization, destroy the three greater sects, and restore the Divine Eye royal family to its former glory. Don't you wish for us to rise and resume power again, my dear brother?” He Yunzi stared unblinkingly at the emperor as he enunciated each word clearly. There was a fervent glow in his eyes as he spoke.

”Rise again…” The emperor smiled wryly, his eyes devoid of hope and life. He was silent for a few moments, then he sighed.

”Even so, this doesn't mean that I won't try my best to help. He Yunzi, why don't I pass the seat to you? I have done my best, but the blood in my veins isn't pure enough. There's nothing I can do about that.” The emperor seemed to be on the verge of tears by then. Shock and unease coursed through Wang Baole as he watched from afar.

He seemed to have stumbled upon an important piece of information. He now knew who the group of cultivators dressed in rainbow-colored robes, with their faces hidden behind purple masks, were. They were from the Violet Gold civilization.

The source of his unease was the old emperor himself. He couldn't see through the old man. His experience told him that something wasn't quite right with the emperor.

He wasn't the only one who thought this way. He Yunzi shared his views as well. He stared unblinkingly at the old emperor, a murderous glow lighting up his eyes once more.

”Brother, you may have been acting like a fool for the past few years, but I know that your deviousness and conniving ways far surpass ours. I'll count to three. If you don't unlock the doors by then, you'll have to forgive me if I set aside our family ties and do the unthinkable!” There was a tinge of madness to his final words. He lifted his right hand slowly. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the winds started to whip wildly. At the same time, a giant seal materialized right above his head.

”One!”

”I'm speaking the truth…”

”Two!”

”Heavens, why won't you believe me!”

”Three!” The veins on He Yunzi's face bulged as he roared. He was ready to send his right hand swooping down at any moment.

”I'll do it! I'll do it!” The old emperor's face was deathly pale, his expression that of extreme terror as he shrieked and stumbled towards the statue. His crown fell off along the way, but he hardly had the luxury to pick it up. His face crumpled into a terrified look as he trembled and bit his injured finger, activated his cultivation to force blood to the surface of his skin, and flung his blood at the statue's eye.

”Open! I command you!”

The statue shook slightly for a brief second, then became still again…