182: Chapter 182 Now that I have met the Emperor, why not kneel?

A weakling?

Ling Tian was stunned.

He turned his head to look at Xia Youchu beside him, his eyes full of question marks.

That pressure from just a moment ago, although it only lasted for an instant, was so terrifying that the memory was still fresh in Ling Tian's mind.

It was a crushing power, as if the entire world were pressing down upon him.

He did not doubt for a moment that if the other party wished, a single thought would be enough to reduce him to ashes.

Such an existence, in Xia Youchu's words, was actually just a weakling?

"No way, big sister, are you serious?"

Ling Tian complained in his heart, "This guy is as strong as a monster, and you call this a weakling?"

"Strength and weakness are relative."

Xia Youchu's voice echoed in Ling Tian's mind, carrying a trace of reminiscence, "Human Emperor Li Xuanyuan's cultivation is indeed not weak; he is at the Early Stage Yuan Emperor, with a solid Foundation. On this land of the Great Xia Dynasty, he can be considered a top-tier expert."

"Then why..." Ling Tian was still puzzled.

"Because he is a ruler who maintains the status quo, not a heroic leader who expands territory."

"Look at the years since he ascended the throne; not only has the Great Xia Dynasty's territory not expanded by even an inch, but it has actually shrunk quite a bit due to the harassment of the alien races in the North and West. He is too kind, too gentle, conciliatory internally, and compromising externally. This kind of personality might make him a wise ruler in times of peace. But in this current era, surrounded by alien races and fraught with crises, his kindness is the greatest cruelty to the Human Race."

Ling Tian listened, deep in thought.

He thought of President Li Changfeng of the War Beast Association, who was also a pushover. It seemed there were quite a few people with this personality in the upper echelons of the Great Xia Dynasty.

"He maintains the status quo, what does that have to do with you calling him a weakling?" Ling Tian still didn't understand the logic.

"Because he will die."

Xia Youchu said solemnly, "One year from now, the Peng Clan of the North, the West Border Wolf Clan, and the Snake Clan of the South will launch a three-clan war of unprecedented scale. The frontier defense line will be completely breached, the fires of war will burn for three months, and the Great Xia Dynasty will be in imminent danger."

"At that time, Human Emperor Li Xuanyuan will have to personally lead the army and suppress them himself."

"And then?" Ling Tian pressed.

"Then, he will be ambushed on the battlefield by the joint efforts of three alien Yuan Emperors."

Xia Youchu's tone was devoid of any ripples, as if she were recounting a history that had nothing to do with her, "Although he fought hard and killed one, he was also severely injured, his Origin damaged, and from then on, he never recovered, only able to linger on in the depths of the imperial palace. From that point on, the Great Xia Dynasty entered a dark age that lasted for ten years."

Ling Tian fell silent.

He understood why Xia Youchu called Human Emperor Li Xuanyuan a weakling.

Being the Human Emperor requires more than just cultivation.

"Then what about you?" Ling Tian asked curiously, "Calling others weak, are you that impressive?"

"Me?"

A proud arc curled at the corners of Xia Youchu's mouth, "In the tenth year of the dark age, I rose against the tide, ascended the throne, and was titled the True Dragon Empress. I led the remnants of the Human Race, and in thirty years, drove all the alien races out of the land of the Great Xia Dynasty, reclaiming everything that belonged to us. It took another fifty years to completely unify this planet."

Ling Tian listened, his heart surging with emotion.

Ten years to become an Empress, eighty years to unify the world! What a magnificent and sweeping life!

"Then later..."

"Later, the Star Realm Great Wall was in critical danger, besieged by the alien army, and even existences of the Primordial Spirit Rank took action."

Xia Youchu's tone became low, "I was only a Rank 9 Origin Emperor at the time, just one step away from the Primordial Spirit Realm. To protect the last hope of the Human Race, I chose to forcibly ascend, attempting to break through to the God Realm..."

"In the end, I failed."

"And then, I was Reborn."

Xia Youchu finished recounting her life calmly.

Ling Tian, however, was dumbfounded.

So, this was her complete past.

So, she had once carried the fate of the entire Human Race on her shoulders.

He suddenly understood why Xia Youchu's personality was so strong, and why she was so obsessed with power.

Because she had experienced despair and had also stood at the Peak; she knew better than anyone that without power, everything was just empty talk.

"Therefore, Human Emperor Li Xuanyuan, I cannot say he is incapable, but he is truly not suited to be the Emperor of the present day."

Xia Youchu concluded, "He is too idealistic, always thinking of convincing people with virtue. But against those alien wolves, reasoning is useless; only by frightening them and crippling them will they truly fear and respect you."

The two had exchanged much in their minds, but only a few breaths had passed in the outside world.

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing had already taken the lead and walked into the great hall, respectfully kneeling on one knee before the high and lofty dragon throne.

"Your subject, Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Ling Tian and Xia Youchu followed them in.

Inside the great hall, it was spacious and majestic.

Nine massive golden pillars carved with coiled Dragons supported the dome, and the floor was paved with obsidian as smooth as a mirror, reflecting their figures.

A figure sat upright on the dragon throne at the very top of the great hall.

He wore a simple black dragon robe, his face as warm and gentle as jade, appearing to be only in his thirties.

His eyes were very peaceful, without a trace of imperial sharpness; instead, he looked like a learned Confucian scholar, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

If not for having personally felt that terrifying pressure earlier, Ling Tian would never have been able to associate this gentle man before him with the Supreme of the Human Race—Human Emperor Li Xuanyuan.

He is Human Emperor Li Xuanyuan?

Ling Tian sized him up.

Indeed, from his appearance, he had no aggression at all.

According to protocol, when meeting the Human Emperor, regardless of status, one must perform the great kowtow ritual.

However, Xia Youchu just stood there quietly, arms crossed, her expression indifferent, with no intention of bowing at all.

In her past life, she was also a Human Emperor, on equal footing with Human Emperor Li Xuanyuan, and her achievements were even far above his.

Make her kneel to Human Emperor Li Xuanyuan?

Absolutely impossible.

Seeing that Xia Youchu did not move, Ling Tian naturally couldn't be bothered to move either.

Thus, his nearly four-hundred-meter body stood straight in the hall, his huge Dragon head almost touching the dome, filled with a sense of oppression.

This scene caused the faces of the eunuchs and guards standing on both sides of the great hall to change.

"Bold!"

A crisp scolding rang out.

Beside the dragon throne, a girl of about sixteen or seventeen in gorgeous palace attire stood out. She was beautiful, but between her brows carried an innate air of arrogance.

"Seeing the Imperial Father, why do you not kneel?!" She pointed at Xia Youchu and Ling Tian, her almond-shaped eyes wide open.

This was the little princess of the Great Xia Dynasty, Princess Li Leyao, the daughter most favored by the Human Emperor.

On the other side, a young man in a python robe with a steady demeanor also frowned.

He was Crown Prince Li Chengqian. Although he did not scold them directly like the princess, the dissatisfaction in his eyes was already very obvious.

In their view, no matter how great your merits or how strong your power, in front of the Human Emperor, one must maintain the most basic respect. This was the rule, and also the proper decorum.

Xia Youchu and Ling Tian's behavior was undoubtedly provoking the majesty of the royal family.

The atmosphere of the entire great hall instantly became heavy.

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing knelt on the ground, not daring to lift his head, complaining bitterly in his heart.

He knew Xia Youchu's personality was arrogant, and he knew Ling Tian was unruly, but he didn't expect they would dare to be so presumptuous in Zichen Hall.

This was trouble.

He was already prepared to bear the thunderous rage.

However, Human Emperor Li Xuanyuan on the dragon throne did not get angry.

He just looked at Xia Youchu with great interest, then looked at the huge Dragon head that was almost touching the ceiling beams, and smiled gently.

"No matter."

He spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears, carrying a power that comforted the heart.

"Meritorious officials ought to have such a proud backbone. Everyone rise, Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing."