Chapter 1094: The Laws
Chapter 1094: The Laws
The Sunborne Nymph Emperor nodded and said, "You needn't worry about that. After your performance in this tournament, the Blue Gold Tree clan is now a highly cherished presence. The Ancestral Court will issue mandates requiring every major city to provide powerful protection for your clansmen. At minimum, they'll assign two Great Demon Kings to escort them, possibly even an Emperor personally. So your people's safety will be well guaranteed."
Hearing this, Tang San was delighted. "That's wonderful news."
The Sunborne Nymph Emperor continued, "And what are your thoughts on becoming an Emperor? Do you know the difference between the eleventh order and the twelfth?"
Tang San's heart stirred. "I would appreciate your guidance, Your Majesty."
"When you touch upon the threshold of the tenth order, you get into contact with the most basic form of the Laws of the plane. To become an Emperor, you must comprehend these laws. That means reaching the upper limit of this plane. But you must be cautious not to overreach. Otherwise, you might end up becoming part of the Laws themselves. The Ancestral Tree did exactly that; it fused too deeply with the Laws and eventually became one with the realm.
"At that point, it was no longer an independent being, but a part of the plane that was not truly intelligent but acted on instinct alone. That's what you must avoid. For those like us, death is preferable. An Emperor who falls might still have a chance to reincarnate, but one who merges into the will of the plane will remain forever dormant, unless the entire plane undergoes a major evolution.
"So, before you try to become Emperor, you must clearly understand which Law you intend to comprehend. Only then can you find your path to ascension. Your original path was to follow in the footsteps of the Ancestral Tree; as long as you didn't reach its level, it would have worked well enough. But now, with the Crystal Demon Emperor's inheritance and your insights into the power of life and annihilation, as well as holy energy, your choices have expanded.
"Everything else you gain from now on will serve to support your eventual path. When you begin comprehending the Laws, you must remain resolute and unyielding. That is the only way to endure the Emperor's Tribulation smoothly."
Tang San nodded slightly. Though he had once been a God King, the divine realm he had come from was fundamentally different from this plane. To regain his past cultivation, he first needed to become an Emperor in this world, and to do that, as the Sunborne Nymph Emperor said, he had to touch the Laws of this world.
"Thank you for your instruction, Your Majesty," Tang San said with a bow. "I will return to Skytree City with the elders to prepare for our neutral declaration. I'll also select the elders who will travel to the main cities. You told me a while back that you wanted to visit the Ancestral Tree; would you like to come with me?"
The Sunborne Nymph Emperor paused briefly to ponder, then replied, "I think I'll hold off for now. I originally hoped to visit the Ancestral Tree to seek an opportunity. But now, I see a greater one in you. Once you become Emperor, I'll decide what to do next. Don't rush. To become an Emperor, one must build a solid foundation and strike only when the time is right. Even though you're ranked second among the Crown Princes, don't let that concern you. Just do whatever you feel necessary. Whatever resources you need, the Ancestral Court will support you, whether it's items, fortune, or anything else. Like Celestial Fox said, you may be the one person the Ancestral Court has most hoped to see become Emperor in thousands of years. So go forward without fear."
"Yes!" Tang San answered clearly.
The Sunborne Nymph Emperor asked, "Do you plan to marry Mei Gongzi before becoming Emperor, or after?"
Tang San blinked. "Does that make a difference?"
"Of course it does. If nothing else happens until then, I recommend marrying her before you ascend. That way, you'll be able to support each other during the tribulation. I mean, wasn't that your intention anyway? Isn't that why you gave her that Lifebond Necklace? She'll likely ascend before you, and that sword will cleave open a wide path for her. The Law she deals with should be something like justice or judgment. That divine sword of hers is no ordinary artifact; even we can feel its threat. You'd do well to leverage that."
"I understand. Once the neutrality matter is settled, I'll head to Kali City and formally propose. When we marry, I hope Your Majesty will officiate."
The Sunborne Nymph Emperor sighed lightly. "That little lass is a little too clever. Otherwise, letting Jiang Chenchou be your second wife wouldn't be out of the question. If you could convince her, you might enjoy the fortune of many wives."
Tang San shivered and gave a wry smile. "As you saw today… I don't think that's going to happen. Convincing her won't be easy."
The Sunborne Nymph Emperor snorted. "A man should be firm when it counts."
Easy for you to say… Tang San thought. Well, I'm sure I'll be firm when it counts, hehe.
Bidding farewell to the Sunborne Nymph Emperor, Tang San returned to the White Tiger Hotel. His visit, of course, had been to maintain rapport. Before becoming Emperor, he would still need Sunborne's backing within the Ancestral Court. That support would help him weather the tribulation more smoothly and ensure someone would stand with him in crucial moments.
If he could gain the support of both Sunborne and Earthshade among nymphs, and White Tiger, Undying, and Crystal Phoenix among demons, then he would have the entire situation firmly in his grasp.
Becoming Emperor was just the first step; the ultimate goal was to return to his former station as a God King. Right now, Tang San was confident that no single Emperor, even someone as powerful as Sunborne, could kill him now. What he needed to avoid was being surrounded. So for now, managing relationships in the Ancestral Court remained vital.
Upon returning to the White Tiger Hotel, Tang San finally made his way to the top floor. On the surface, it was a formal visit to Mei Gongzi.
The door opened. Mei Gongzi herself answered. Their eyes met, and Tang San smiled. "Greetings, dear fiancée."
Mei Gongzi's pretty face flushed red. She rolled her eyes at him and turned around to walk into the room.
Inside the familiar luxury suite, not only were Luo Qingzhu and Su Qin present, but the White Tiger Demon Emperor had also arrived.
The White Tiger Demon Emperor wore a broad smile. He was clearly in excellent spirits. When he saw Tang San in the guise of Jin Miaolin, he couldn't help pointing at him and laughing. "Kid, you really are something. You've surprised me time and again."
"Greetings, Grandfather," Tang San said with a smile. He didn't even use the formal address anymore. Now that Mei Gongzi was officially his fiancée, calling him Grandfather felt entirely appropriate.
"Good, good, very good!" the White Tiger Demon Emperor laughed heartily. "Today has been the happiest day I've had in the last five centuries! Not only is my precious granddaughter about to become an Emperor, but I got to see that old fox get humiliated. That look on his face was priceless!"
Tang San couldn't help but grin.
Mei Gongzi, however, muttered sourly, "Someone might still be regretting not getting those four eight-tailed Celestial Fox girls. Didn't you see the scene this morning? All those female demons throwing themselves at him… and he didn't reject a single one!"
"Injustice! I've been wronged!" Tang San quickly protested. "My heart's too small—there's only room for you. Past, present, or future, that will never change."
Mei Gongzi's cheeks flushed even redder, and she pouted and harrumphed in an overt manifestation of righteous anger. But her bright eyes sparkled with joy.
The White Tiger Demon Emperor said, "No matter what, this Battle for the Throne ended in the most perfect way possible. Celestial Fox dared to challenge my granddaughter, but ended up eating dirt. That's his comeuppance for trying to control everyone all the time. But from here on, the two of you must keep a low profile. No more big moves, understood? Build your foundation and prepare for ascension. The Ancestral Court will give you full support. Once you're ready, you'll be allowed into the very heart of the Ancestral Court's foundation to comprehend your personal Law. That is the key to becoming Emperor."