211: The Great Emperor's Teachings and the Enlightenment of Ten Thousand Years

After hearing Zhonglou's legendary past and the "truth" of why he was suppressed under the Demon Lock Tower, Li Chengqian's last trace of doubt completely vanished.

He was now 100% certain that his identity as "Emperor Gouchen" was set in stone and undeniably real.

Although there were still many details, such as his status as Emperor Gouchen in the Divine Realm back then.

Why did he not even give Face to the Heavenly Emperor, and suppress the Demon Supreme as he pleased?

Also, why did he Reincarnate and become the Crown Prince of the Great Tang?

These questions currently had no answers.

But that wasn't important.

What was important was that he had successfully tricked Zhonglou, this super enforcer, into becoming his loyal subordinate.

Look at him now, full of admiration, gratitude, and fear, practically a brain-dead fan who had been deeply manipulated.

Li Chengqian secretly rejoiced, but his expression remained profound, with the air of an immortal who pitied the world.

He looked at Zhonglou and sighed deeply, his voice filled with vicissitude and helplessness.

"Alas..."

"Zhonglou, Zhonglou, do you know why I took action to suppress you back then?"

Zhonglou's body trembled upon hearing this, and he quickly bowed, saying, "This subordinate is foolish! Please enlighten me, Great Emperor!"

He had always thought that the Great Emperor punished him because he caused a ruckus in the Divine Realm and violated heavenly rules.

But now, hearing the Great Emperor's tone, it seemed there was another hidden reason?

Not only him, but everyone listening below the city tower also perked up.

They also wanted to know what this mysterious "Emperor Gouchen" was thinking back then.

Li Chengqian stood with his hands behind his back, turned around, and gazed at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle; the moon, stained dark red by Devilish Qi, reflected on his handsome profile, making him appear exceptionally imposing.

He spoke slowly, in a tone full of a veteran's teachings: "You thought I was punishing you?"

"Wrong!"

"Completely wrong!"

"I was saving you! And also saving Fei Peng!"

At these words, the entire place was astonished.

Saving him?

You slapped him down from the Divine Realm and imprisoned him for ten thousand years; this is called saving him?

Is this some new way of saving people?

Even Zhonglou himself looked utterly bewildered.

"Great Emperor... what do you mean by this?"

"Ah, you are still too young; you only see the surface."

Li Chengqian shook his head, wearing an expression of heartbroken disappointment, as if saying, "This generation of young people is no good."

"You only saw that you and Fei Peng were evenly matched and enjoyed your fight."

"But have you ever considered what you represent behind the scenes?"

"You are the Supreme of the Demon Realm! Representing the Face of the Demon Realm!"

"He is the First Divine General of the Divine Realm! Representing the dignity of the Divine Realm!"

"The two of you, privately challenging each other in front of the South Heaven Gate, fighting until the sky darkened and the earth spun, with no clear victor. What did this mean in the eyes of those high and mighty rulers of the Divine Realm?"

Li Chengqian turned his head, his gaze intensely fixed on Zhonglou.

"It meant that their Divine Realm had no one left!"

"It meant that the dignity of their Divine Realm was severely trampled underfoot by you, the Demon Supreme!"

"Therefore, that bird-brained emperor was so eager to demote Fei Peng to the mortal world. He wasn't punishing Fei Peng; he was trying to save the Face of the Divine Realm! He wanted to declare to the Three Realms that it wasn't that our Divine Realm had no one, but that our Divine Realm had produced a traitor who betrayed us from within!"

Li Chengqian's words were like a sudden enlightenment, causing Zhonglou's eyes to widen instantly.

Before, he was only thinking about the thrill of fighting; he never considered that such a complex political struggle was involved behind it!

"So... so that's how it was..."

He murmured to himself.

"If you had really snatched Fei Peng away from the heavenly soldiers and generals at that time, what would have been the consequences?"

Li Chengqian continued to guide him patiently.

"That would have completely confirmed Fei Peng's crime of 'colluding with the Demon Race'! And it would have meant that your Demon Realm officially declared war on the entire Divine Realm!"

"At that time, if a war between gods and demons broke out, lives would be devastated, and blood would flow like rivers! You might not be afraid, but what about the beings of the Demon Realm under your command? What about the Three Realms and Six Dao that Fei Peng protected?"

"Are you going to drag the entire world into the quagmire of war just for your momentary pleasure?"

"Is this what you want, a 'rival'?"

Li Chengqian's voice grew sterner with each sentence, each one more cutting!

Zhonglou was left speechless, cold sweat streaming down his Face.

On his handsome, sinister Face, for the first time, an expression of shame appeared.

"I... I didn't think that much at the time..."

"So, I took action."

Li Chengqian's tone softened.

"My suppression of you, seemingly a punishment, was actually a forceful removal of you from the impending storm."

"I saved you, and that also meant saving Fei Peng. Because as long as you, the 'Demon Supreme,' were still around, the Divine Realm wouldn't dare to truly kill Fei Peng. They would only demote him into Reincarnation as a warning to others."

"I set a ten-thousand-year period for you. Firstly, it was to let you temper your impulsive nature in this mortal world, to make you understand that power is not meant to be wantonly displayed."

"Secondly, it was also to wait for an opportunity."

"To wait for the opportunity for me to return."

"To wait for an opportunity that would allow you to use your world-shaking power in the place it truly belongs!"

By the end of his speech, Li Chengqian's voice had become impassioned and incredibly infectious!

Zhonglou listened, dumbfounded, and then was filled with endless emotion and reverence!

So that was it!

It turned out that the Great Emperor had such a profound plan back then!

Every single thing he did was not without purpose, but interconnected and full of deep meaning!

His ten thousand years of suppression was not a punishment at all; instead, it was the Great Emperor's ultimate protection and... high regard for him!

He was paving the way for him!

He was waiting for him to return so he could entrust him with important responsibilities!

Understanding all of this, Zhonglou dropped to one knee with a "thump" once more!

This time, he knelt willingly, prostrating himself completely!

"Great Emperor!"

"It is Zhonglou who was blind! It is Zhonglou who judged a gentleman's heart with a villain's mind!"

"Your grace in remaking Zhonglou, Zhonglou can never repay even with ten thousand deaths!"

He raised his head, his fiery eyes filled with an unprecedented fervor and loyalty!

"From now on, Zhonglou's life is yours!"

"Through mountains of daggers and seas of fire, I will not shrink from ten thousand deaths!"

Looking at the Demon Supreme, who had been completely tricked by him, Li Chengqian's heart blossomed with joy.

It's done!

This time, it's solid!

He suppressed his laughter and slowly extended his hand to help Zhonglou up.

"It's good that you understand my earnest efforts."

A relieved smile, as if seeing a promising student, appeared on his Face.

"Get up."

"I do not keep idlers by my side."

"Since you have broken through your ten-thousand-year obsession and gained a new life."

"Then, I should also assign you your first mission."