The Emperors' Pursuit
After hearing Sun Bumian's explanation, Jian Changsheng's brows tightly twisted together into the character "川" (Chuan).
"You're saying... I've become his subordinate?" Jian Changsheng pointed at Chen Ling, his face full of displeasure. "If you put it that way, I won't accept it. I am equal to him, how could I possibly be a subordinate?"
Chen Ling also rarely nodded. "I don't need such a stupid subordinate."
Jian Changsheng: ?
"I mean, it's roughly this principle... Emperors all have their respective posthumous titles, era names, or temple names. Having no name, having only a fate in vain, that cannot be considered a true Emperor... So your sentence just now, can be considered as granting Hearts a title." Sun Bumian hesitated for a moment. "But it's very strange, Hearts clearly doesn't possess the qualifications to become an [Emperor], it's fundamentally impossible for him to resonate with the Ancient Vault of the Imperial Path..."
Chen Ling was very clear in his heart that this point was because of the [Imperial Fate], but after Sun Bumian's reminder, he suddenly realized something.
He didn't have the other skills of the Path of the Sovereign, which meant he couldn't take in "subjects". He was just a "lone Emperor" with only a fate in vain... Unlike other Emperors, the power of this "lone Emperor" came only from himself.
Could it be precisely because of this, even if Jian Changsheng wasn't his subject, he could still recognize him?
"Then what about the others besides me?"
"This group walking ahead of us should be the candidates for the new Emperor who were randomly selected here. Although we haven't seen them, I guess they are also currently facing something similar to being 'Enrobed in Yellow'... It's like raising Gu, picking the person most suitable to become the [Emperor] from a group."
Chen Ling pondered for a moment. "I have no objections to the rest, but I don't think this group of people was randomly selected to come here..."
"Oh?"
"The Path of the Sovereign is like a magnet. One [Emperor] possesses the ability to attract other Divine Pathway fates... The Ancient Vault of the Imperial Path, as the carrier of all Emperors in history, is inevitably even more powerful in this aspect." Chen Ling paused for a moment,
"Perhaps it has already imperceptibly affected destiny. Anyone coming here is not a coincidence, but indeed has an affinity with the Imperial Fate."
"This explanation indeed also makes sense."
Sun Bumian pondered for a moment. "But you have to know, the Imperial Fate is too heavy, not everyone can bear it... Like me, for example, my fate is very weak. Even if the Imperial Fate was given to me, it would on the contrary only accelerate my death."
"There's also this saying?" Jian Changsheng was somewhat surprised. "Then what about me? Is my fate strong or weak?"
"You? You're already this unlucky and still alive. No one has a tougher fate than you."
"..." Jian Changsheng had a feeling of being scolded, but was still somewhat happy.
"But a weak fate isn't necessarily a bad thing. People with weak fates have little energy of their own, but they can easily catch external energy... People with strong fates are like a dragon boat, relying solely on their own strength, they can move like the wind and lightning; people with weak fates are like a sailboat without oars, when there is no wind they can only spin in circles, but once they ride the wind, they are not something a dragon boat can easily catch up to.
In short, the two types of fates each have their pros and cons."
Sun Bumian helplessly spread his hands. "But no matter what, a weak fate cannot catch the Imperial Fate, so I can only be that idle cloud and wild crane... Even if those Imperial Remnants take a liking to me, they will only quickly be disappointed."
Chen Ling looked down at his own hands, suddenly speaking:
"However, from just now, I seem to have established a connection with this Ancient Vault..."
Jian Changsheng and Sun Bumian stopped their conversation, simultaneously turning to look at Chen Ling, their expressions somewhat strange.
"Established a connection with the Ancient Vault of the Imperial Path...?"
"Bro, are you really an Emperor?"
Facing the questioning of the two, Chen Ling did not open his mouth to explain, but slowly closed his eyes, sensing that connection within himself... This feeling was very familiar. He had similar authority in the Ancient Vault of the Drama Path, only the connection in front of him wasn't as powerful.
Just as Jian Changsheng was about to open his mouth to say something else, the Aura field around Chen Ling abruptly changed!
In the next moment, the wind and snow within a five-meter radius of Chen Ling all stagnated. Under Jian Changsheng and Sun Bumian's shocked gazes, the three of them rushed straight up into the clouds rapidly as if taking an elevator!
The environment around the three constantly switched, from the high sky with piercing cold wind, suddenly becoming a battlefield with heaven-shaking shouts of killing.
Horse hooves trampled the yellow sand, neighing amidst the clashing of weapons. Yellow tents danced in the wind in the distance. Figures wearing armor rapidly shuttled back and forth on the battlefield.
Layers of war scenes overlapped at this moment. War Flags of different regions and different dynasties seemed to surround Chen Ling's trio. Some were engaging in the chaotic melee of feudal states tearing each other apart, while others were slaughtering through the cities of the previous dynasty, their swords pointed at the imperial city... The new and the old alternated in time, the only constants were rebellion and the flames of war.
Chen Ling's trio stood in the void belonging to no dynasty, looking down at everything. Jian Changsheng spoke in shock:
"What are these?"
"The wars where every dynasty was subverted, are also the wars before a new Emperor ascends the throne..." Sun Bumian's gaze swept over a few of the battlefields, having a feeling of seeing acquaintances,
"So that's how it is... This Ancient Vault should be like a pyramid with several layers. The snowfield just now was 'A Hidden Dragon in the Depths', corresponding to the Emperor's lowly period, and is the first layer;
The current stage is 'Leaping Dragon in the Depths', corresponding to the slaughter and disputes before claiming the imperial title, and is the second layer;
If my guess is correct, going up another stage would be 'Flying Dragon in the Heavens', which means the Emperor ascending the throne... That is the highest layer of this Ancient Vault."
"Correct."
Chen Ling looked up at the void above his head. Above that sea of clouds, he could vaguely see phantom figures of Emperors, currently looking at him with incomparably shocked and wary gazes.
Ever since Jian Changsheng said the words [Thespian Emperor], his Imperial Fate seemed to have received the recognition of the Ancient Vault of the Imperial Path. Although he didn't have any Emperor abilities, nor did he have a dynasty belonging to him, he indeed had the same authority in this Ancient Vault as the other Emperors of past dynasties...
The Imperial Remnants of past dynasties could stand at the very peak of the Ancient Vault of the Imperial Path, and he could too.
"I can feel their existence... They are right above this sky, close at hand."
Chen Ling subconsciously raised his hand, seemingly relying on his own Imperial Fate to traverse the Ancient Vault and arrive at the area where all the Imperial Remnants were... But in the next moment, lines of text quickly emerged before his eyes!
[Four hundred and seventy Emperors feel fear towards you]
[Four hundred and seventy Emperors do not recognize the existence of the 'Thespian Emperor']
[Four hundred and seventy Emperors harbor killing intent towards you]
Before Chen Ling could regain his senses, a vast and resplendent imperial might crashed down from the firmament overhead!
Like heavenly gods above the clouds sending down divine punishment, a thick divine pillar instantly smashed onto Chen Ling's trio. Under the tumbling of monstrous imperial might, their figures were forcefully pierced through the barrier of "Leaping Dragon in the Depths", falling back into the vast snowfield at the very bottom layer!
[Four hundred and seventy Emperors have begun the pursuit of the 'Thespian Emperor'!]