Chapter 212: The False Emperor, The King of Kings
As they soaked in the peaceful beauty of the forest, the group, after some lighthearted chatter, gradually fell silent, immersed in the tranquil atmosphere.
They continued forward for nearly an hour. The sky had completely darkened, yet in this ocean of glowing blue, they finally reached the end of the lighted path.
After bypassing two massive ancient trees, so large that several people would be needed to encircle them, they came across a peculiar plant.
Slender vines twisted and climbed upward, intertwining until reaching a height of nearly ten meters.
It resembled a massive fusion of countless vines, each as thick as a grown man's waist, with a diameter exceeding a foot.
Its entire body shimmered with a translucent blue glow, its surface glistening like crystal, surrounded by an exceptionally dense growth of Blue Silver Grass.
At its center, amidst the tangled vines, a human like face was faintly visible an elderly visage, its eyes fixed intently on the Blue Silver Emperor swaying in Han Li's hand, its expression overwhelmed with emotion.
"The Emperor... it truly is the Emperor..."
A crystal clear, blue liquid, resembling tears, dripped from its eyes.
Even without using spiritual perception, they could all feel the sorrow in its heart.
"**No need to doubt. This is indeed your Emperor **just the sacrificed Blue Silver Emperor."
Han Li slightly weakened his domain, allowing the Blue Silver Emperor's aura to disperse, so it could be fully confirmed.
"Human, thank you for bringing our Emperor back here."
The Blue Silver King's body flickered with a phantom glow, then it bowed deeply toward Han Li.
"Thanks? No need for that. I never said bringing the Blue Silver Emperor back was free."
"And another thing drop the human style diplomacy you've picked up over the years."
"We are humans. You are soul beasts. Until the issue of spirit rings is resolved, we are natural enemies."
Han Li's voice turned cold, and his Tai Chi Domain expanded slightly, pressing closer to the Blue Silver King's body.
Han Li never hid their conversation during their journey, so he knew full well that this old vine knew exactly why they had come.
Yet now, it tried to play tricks, as if they had some kind of deep connection.
None of them had the Blue Silver Emperor's bloodline.
So what nonsense was this?
Feeling the domain pressing against it, the Blue Silver King began to tremble involuntarily.
It could no longer maintain the humble elder persona it had displayed earlier.
It desperately mobilized its soul power, trying to form a barrier against the alternating waves of extreme cold and heat.
But no matter which temperature, both were lethal to it.
"Please withdraw your domain! My people… they won't survive much longer!"
Although fear filled the Blue Silver King's heart, it forcibly suppressed its instincts and spoke with pleading undertones.
It had already observed enough to realize that this man was not one to be trifled with.
But it had never expected him to be so decisive, acting first and talking later, completely unaffected by negotiation tactics.
This was completely different from the humans it had watched and studied over the years.
However, the Blue Silver Grass closest to Han Li was already on the verge of death.
It couldn't bear to watch them perish.
Compared to Ah Yin, this Blue Silver King truly acted like a proper leader of its kind.
Han Li noted this silently, but he didn't immediately withdraw his domain.
Instead, he lowered its intensity, allowing the dying Blue Silver Grass to stabilize.
Sensing the pressure easing, the Blue Silver King quickly channeled its life force, spreading it over the injured plants, healing them.
However, with Han Li standing before it, radiating deadly menace, it didn't dare to overextend its powers.
After stabilizing the affected plants, the Blue Silver King turned back toward Han Li, much more subdued.
"State your demands."
Its tone was honest this time, completely abandoning any deceptive maneuvers.
There was no choice.
The human before it had a domain strong enough to erase the entire Blue Silver Forest.
This was the habitat their kind had painstakingly built, and it could not allow it to be destroyed under its rule.
If this forest was wiped out, the Blue Silver Grass species would never rise again.
"She needs a suitable spirit ring."
Han Li pointed toward Ye LingLing, his tone completely unapologetic.
Hearing this, the Blue Silver King sighed in relief.
"No problem."
It could sense the rich life energy within Ye LingLing.
Although her power was still weak, her affinity with life force was pure and strong.
Sacrificing one of its kin to ensure the survival of the entire forest was an acceptable exchange.
Besides, it could preserve the seeds of the fallen Blue Silver Grass.
With time, they would regrow, a unique trait of their species.
Seeing the Blue Silver King agree so quickly, Han Li shook his head.
"I think you misunderstand."
"When I said 'spirit ring,' I didn't mean an ordinary Blue Silver Grass."
"I mean you."
"I want you to sacrifice yourself. I need an 80,000 year spirit ring. Do you understand?"
As Han Li's words fell, the entire forest plunged into silence.
Even the surrounding Blue Silver Grass ceased swaying.
"She… she can't withstand it."
The Blue Silver King struggled to protest.
"I said SACRIFICE. Do you need me to explain what that means?"
Before the Blue Silver King's horrified gaze, seven blood red spirit rings emerged above Han Li's head.
A tremendous pressure, carrying raw soul power, crashed into the Blue Silver King's body.
The impact sent juices flying from its vines, and even with its regenerative abilities, it couldn't recover instantly.
"This… this is impossible!"
The Blue Silver King stared at the spirit rings above Han Li's head, muttering in disbelief.
"You only have the right to say 'yes' or 'no.' Now, answer me."
"If yes, then the Blue Silver Forest remains unharmed. If no, then you and your Emperor, along with your people, will all disappear."
Han Li's gaze was ice cold, and the killing intent hidden within his body spread recklessly in all directions. The dense, blood red glow overwhelmed the blue hues of the forest, submerging everything in a sinister crimson light.
Not only was the Blue Silver King paralyzed with fear, but even Zhu Zhuqing and Ye LingLing, who had followed Han Li all this time, felt a shock deep in their hearts.
This was the first time they had seen him in such a terrifying state, and it made their minds clearer than ever before.
Meanwhile, the Blue Silver King, facing Han Li head on, found its spiritual transmissions becoming increasingly broken and unstable.
"Y Yes… I… agree to sacrifice…"
The moment its transmission concluded, the overwhelming killing intent vanished completely, as if it had never existed.
Han Li's expression softened, and a gentle smile returned to his face.
"Very good. Your choice has saved the entire Blue Silver Grass race."
Han Li nodded in satisfaction, completely unsurprised by its decision.
Then, he suddenly changed his tone:
"As a reward for making the right choice, I will allow you to leave behind your seed… and give you a chance to become the Blue Silver Emperor."
A chance to become Emperor?
The Blue Silver King froze, then glanced at the Blue Silver Emperor swaying in Han Li's left hand.
The Emperor was still alive.
How could it possibly become Emperor?
"No. The Emperor is the Emperor. Even if she has become weak, she still is."
Contrary to Han Li's expectations, the Blue Silver King rejected the offer without hesitation.
"Even if she has abandoned your kind?"
Han Li's expression grew intrigued, sensing the situation had become far more interesting.
"Abandoned… our kind?"
The Blue Silver King's face twisted in disbelief.
"Oh, perhaps 'abandon' isn't the right word. To be precise… she has forgotten about your kind."
Han Li feigned sudden realization, as if amused by his own word choice.
"What do you mean by that?"
The Blue Silver King's tone changed drastically, and Han Li could even see the pale expression forming on its face, despite its blue glow.
"Your Emperor left to integrate with humanity, to reach a higher realm, and to seek a better path for your kind. Isn't that correct?"
Han Li's grin widened, turning almost mocking.
"Yes…"
The Blue Silver King nodded blankly.
It was common knowledge among high level soul beasts soul beasts could not become gods.
And with the weak foundation of the Blue Silver Grass species, surviving the Heavenly Tribulation that occurred every 100,000 years was nearly impossible.
Thus, the Blue Silver Emperor had chosen to transform into a human, gambling on a one in a million chance.
Even if she failed to reach divinity, she would still grow stronger at a faster pace and be able to protect the Blue Silver Grass race.
This was her duty as their Emperor.
"Then did you know that after transforming… your Emperor fell in love with a human?"
"Oh, and she even had a child."
"And in the end, to protect her human husband and son, she willingly sacrificed herself."
"Everything I've said I can swear upon my Martial Soul."
"So? Do you need me to prove it to you?"
As Han Li spoke, his smile never wavered, his fingers casually playing with the leaves of the Blue Silver Emperor, as if thoroughly enjoying himself.
The Blue Silver King fell silent.
It had already agreed to sacrifice itself Han Li had no reason to deceive it.
And now, he even offered to swear upon his Martial Soul, which meant he was absolutely confident in his words.
"Respected human warrior… before I sacrifice myself, I wish to know what truly happened to the Emperor after she left."
"Is that possible?"
The Blue Silver King lowered itself even further, showing extreme humility.
It was willing to die for its kind, but it could not die without understanding the truth.
If the Emperor had truly done as Han Li described… then…
"Of course."
Han Li grinned from ear to ear.
He loved telling stories, especially when they had nothing to do with him.
Then, with vivid descriptions, he recounted everything objectively, without even twisting the facts to slander Tang Hao.
As the story concluded, the Blue Silver King remained motionless, and the entire Blue Silver Forest was eerily silent as if all life had vanished from existence.
Then, Han Li suddenly offered the Blue Silver Emperor forward, his smile widening mischievously.
"Oh, by the way would you like me to awaken your Emperor, so she can 'personally' educate you?"
He boldly held up the Blue Silver Emperor, placing it directly in front of the Blue Silver King.
After all, Han Li was an expert in delivering the final blow.
"There's no need."
The Blue Silver King stared at the gold striped Blue Silver Emperor in Han Li's hands for a long moment, then uttered a rejection.
There was no point.
It was about to sacrifice itself.
If it exhausted the clan's remaining energy to revive the Blue Silver Emperor, the high level Blue Silver Grass would suffer great losses.
Without their protection, the weaker members of the forest would have no one left to shield them.
More importantly…
The Blue Silver King now believed that Han Li was telling the truth.
"I hope you will keep your promise."
"As for the Emperor… if I somehow survive, I'll think about it."
As a loyal subject, it at least preserved the Emperor's dignity one last time.
Then, the Blue Silver King's spiritual signal spread throughout the entire forest, rapidly transmitting its final message to the entire Blue Silver Grass species:
"My kin… I will be leaving you for now. Guard our homeland well."
"As a King, I have failed you all I could not protect everyone."
"But we have already lost our Emperor."
"Until I return, there will be no new Emperor "
"Unless one of you grows strong enough to claim the throne."
"If you sense the Emperor's bloodline "
"It means a disgraceful enemy has stolen what rightfully belongs to the Emperor."
"No matter who it is… they are our enemy."
"Never respond. Never acknowledge."
As its final decree echoed, the message spread from the Blue Silver Forest, expanding throughout the entire continent.
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