Chapter 608 - 196: Former Emperor 4
From his understanding, even if Emperor Tianyun was just barely scraping by in the Celestial Pride Hall, he still shouldn’t have appeared here.
Looking at the current situation, all of Shen Bai’s previous speculations had been completely overturned.
Not everyone had been separated.
In fact, he was the only one who had received special treatment and been brought to this wondrous place.
Emperor Tianyun stated simply, "Because you are a true prodigy."
"A true prodigy?" Shen Bai pointed to himself. "I’m afraid I don’t quite understand."
The statement was baffling, leaving Shen Bai completely in the dark as to its meaning.
After a moment of thought, Emperor Tianyun said, "In my moment of desperation, I placed a Restriction upon this Celestial Pride Hall. Only a true prodigy can find this place, and you are the only one who has met that standard and been able to enter."
"After all, I surmise that the current Emperor of the Great Zhou Country has surely brought many prodigies here, yet not a single one has been able to see me."
Shen Bai lowered his hand. "Then what is the purpose of bringing me to this place alone?"
’Since he set such a standard, my arrival must serve some purpose. Otherwise, Emperor Tianyun wouldn’t be telling me all this.’
The ghostly green fire in Emperor Tianyun’s eyes fixed on Shen Bai as he said slowly, "These are all my notes. They contain the secrets of the Era of Ten Thousand Cities, which I have painstakingly compiled during my time here."
"I need a trustworthy individual to take this to the outside world so that everyone may know the truth. You are that trustworthy individual."
"Your courage, talent, and even the balance of good and evil within your heart have all passed the test set by the Celestial Pride Hall. That is why you are here before me."
As he spoke, Emperor Tianyun, knowing Shen Bai would come no closer, simply tossed the book he was holding toward him.
The book sailed through the air in an arc, landing at Shen Bai’s feet.
Shen Bai glanced at it but did not pick it up.
Before his eyes, the result from his Infinite Divination Skill was still a brilliant gold, signifying great fortune and indicating that Shen Bai was in no danger.
He even ran a Calculation, which confirmed that picking up the book would likewise bring him no harm.
But Shen Bai didn’t move a muscle.
Seeing this, Emperor Tianyun said, "I will not cause you any harm. See? I haven’t made a single move against you, so you know I have no ill intent. Take this book, and I will send you out. Then, deliver it to the reigning Emperor and tell him of the horrors of the Era of Ten Thousand Cities. Those masterminds behind the scenes will not give up so easily."
Shen Bai smiled. "In that case, why don’t you, the noble Emperor Tianyun, simply tell me about these masterminds behind the Era of Ten Thousand Cities? There’s no need for me to carry any documents. After all, the memory of a Cultivator is quite exceptional."
As soon as he said this, silence fell upon the cavern.
After a long moment, Emperor Tianyun suddenly began to struggle violently.
The entire cavern began to tremble violently.
The Bone Giant, along with its throne, radiated an ancient and terrifying power that was utterly suffocating.
Emperor Tianyun’s furious voice echoed unceasingly.
"You figured it out! How did you figure it out? Didn’t your divination tell you that everything was fine? Why didn’t you dare to take it?"
Each question was like a sharp sword aimed straight at Shen Bai, and the pressure mounted instantly.
Shen Bai looked at the book on the ground and said, "I’ve actually been wondering—with my divination ability, how could I possibly get an accurate reading on a behemoth like you? I suspected this was all just your attempt to mislead me. It seems I was right."
"To think you could even alter the results of my divination... As expected of the Former Emperor."
Although his Infinite Divination Skill was at Level 5 and had undergone its second qualitative transformation, Shen Bai would never trust it blindly.
’For instance, all his Calculations have indicated ’Great Fortune,’ but is it truly great fortune?’
Putting everything else aside, the terrifying Bone Giant before him was, in his former life, the Former Emperor himself.
How could a Level 5 Infinite Divination Skill possibly get an ’auspicious’ reading on a being of that caliber?
In any case, Shen Bai didn’t buy it.
That was precisely why he refused to touch anything.
He never expected that one simple sentence would be enough to shatter the Emperor’s composure.
Emperor Tianyun, in his Bone Giant form, trembled as cracks began to spiderweb across his body.
A look of sudden realization dawned on Shen Bai’s face. "So that’s how it is. This throne wasn’t your choice, was it? Someone else forced it on you. They wanted to imprison you here. This entire Celestial Pride Hall... it’s probably your prison cell."
By this point, Shen Bai had pieced together the entire situation.
Emperor Tianyun had brought him here, then manufactured all sorts of dangerous-looking scenarios, all to build up his confidence in the Infinite Divination Skill.
Then, by luring him here step by step, and with the false confidence provided by the "blessing" of the Information from his Infinite Divination Skill, he would have likely fallen right into the trap.
Shen Bai didn’t know what consequences taking that book out into the world would bring, but he knew it would be nothing good.
"You old monsters who’ve lived for who knows how many years... each one is more treacherous than the last. I have to admit, the plan was meticulous."
Shen Bai wasn’t stingy with his praise.
Emperor Tianyun finally calmed down. Still bound to the Bone Throne, he gave a cold sneer. "Smarter than I expected. I admit, I have failed this time. But don’t think you’re getting anything out of this."
"Without my help, you have absolutely no way of leaving this place. You’ll just have to stay here and keep me company in this strange Space... until death comes for us both."
Shen Bai rubbed his chin and let out a nonchalant, "Oh."