Chapter 183: 183.Chapter 181 The Promise of Longevity!

183. Chapter 181 The Promise of Longevity!

Grant longevity?

Ye Qin glanced at Qin Shi Huang and did not answer.

Everyone seeks longevity, but longevity is not so easily found; even Ye Qin now dare not boast of sharing the same lifespan as heaven.

"Why do you want longevity?"

Seeing Ye Qin not directly refusing him, Qin Shi Huang felt pleased, pondered for a moment, and said:

"Although the empire is now unified, it remains amid turmoil; the old nobility of the six states lie dormant, and the Xiongnu watch covetously. If I die, what will become of this country? I do not want the foundation I painstakingly built to be destroyed in an instant; there are still many things undone. I wish for eternal merit, and even more, to have my name recorded for a thousand generations."

Qin Shi Huang spoke at length; his eyes held ambition and desire, as well as concern and calculation for the state. It is precisely this complex emotion that forged a flesh-and-blood figure, not just a few lines in the histories.

Later generations have both praise and criticism for Qin Shi Huang; some think he was brutal and inhumane, with centralized monarchy, burning books and burying scholars, employing harsh punishments, strengthening control over thought and speech, letting the people live in dire straits.

Others believe he established the Great Xia unified dynasty, with uniform cart tracks, same script, standardized weights and measures, bringing benefit for thousands of years, and further employed talent, building the Great Wall to resist Xiongnu harassment.

"So you want to prolong the Qin Empire?"

Ye Qin saw straight to the point, perceiving Qin Shi Huang's innermost thought; he himself founded this dynasty, and naturally hopes it will never perish.

Yet flowers bloom and fade; the rise and fall of all things follow their own numbers, not something human power can interfere with—even a sage in the world would not dare claim such ability.

Qin Shi Huang nodded: "If I could live forever, the empire would naturally endure forever; as long as I do not die, the people under heaven can naturally enjoy peaceful days."

He believed in his ability; given enough time, he could surely realize his ambitions, continually expanding the state's territory so that the people could all live in peace and prosperity.

Seeing Ye Qin silent, Qin Shi Huang showed a doubtful expression: "Do you immortals not believe in my ability?"

"I ascended the throne at 13, conquered the six states and became emperor at 39, then carried out reforms repeatedly—expanding territory, unifying the realm, unifying script, establishing the prefecture-county system. Who could reach such a height?"

Qin Shi Huang's tone was full of arrogance and pride; he indeed had this merit, after all his achievements are laid out here. Although some punishments were harsh, it is undeniable that Qin's unification accelerated the overall cultural progress of Great Xia.

His reign lasted only a few short decades; later generations say that if Qin Shi Huang had lived a bit longer, perhaps Great Xia's progress would have advanced another hundred years.

It is a pity that the Qin dynasty perished after three generations; less than three years after Qin Shi Huang's death, the Qin realm fell apart, and the Ying clan was utterly slaughtered.

"You still don't understand."

Qin Shi Huang grew more distressed, instinctively bending his body; his posture could be described as reverent and sincere: "Please, immortal, resolve my doubts."

Unbeknownst to them, a layer of hazy mist rose around; Ye Qin's figure appeared and disappeared within the mist, and the breath of time surged again.

"Come with me."

Qin Shi Huang's mind grew somewhat muddled; upon hearing that voice he instinctively rose, his whole body feeling light as if walking on clouds, his vision seeming much higher.

Noticing the abnormality of his body, he turned his head to look.

He saw, below, a person exactly like him!

That person had his eyes tightly shut, breathing long and gentle, as if asleep—could this be the legendary soul leaving the body?

If there had been any doubt before, witnessing this supernatural means, Qin Shi Huang could now say he was wholly convinced; he did not worry that Ye Qin would take the opportunity to harm him, for if he wished to act, there had been plenty of chances earlier.

Qin Shi Huang followed Ye Qin; he saw only chaos in this space, visibility extremely low, he felt doubtful and spoke respectfully: "I do not know what you, immortal, intend."

"Wait a moment."

Qin Shi Huang, not understanding, saw Ye Qin gazing into the distance, his view deep and far; he followed his gaze, but saw nothing.

"Boom—"

From not far away came a rumbling sound, as if something were rushing toward them.

In the blink of an eye, a long river descended from the heavens, surging forth, as if the sky had split open a huge gap, and countless ages of time poured down.

In the river rose waves half a person high, shocking torrents; within appeared several human figures, accompanied by countless neighing warhorses, bronze weapons and iron cavalry, banners fluttering, the clamor of battle ringing to the heavens, forming a vivid scene.

Qin Shi Huang's eyes suddenly narrowed, his breathing becoming rapid: "What is this?!"

As the river drew nearer, Qin Shi Huang saw ever more clearly that it was clearly the battlefield of the six states' war; those figures were so lifelike, even their expressions finely detailed, as if a real battle unfolded before his eyes.

The death and shadow of war formed a black miasma that spread around, even turning the water surface crimson.

In the era of the six states' chaotic warfare, the world was not at peace, the people restless and unsettled; one could say the populace could not make a living, and the number of dead was truly great.

"The six states were already destroyed by me—how could this be?"

Qin Shi Huang quickly realized: this is the immortal's supernatural method, presenting that scene once more.

But why does the immortal let me see this?

Ye Qin seemed to sense Qin Shi Huang's doubt: "Keep watching."

Now, within these fragments of time, he can employ many means, especially marvelous; many divine abilities that cannot be used in reality can be realized here.

Soon the six states fell one after another under the Qin army's iron cavalry; Qin Shi Huang also saw countless familiar faces, even those long deceased—some foes, some friends.

Yet now they appear before him in another form; regardless, the ultimate victor is still him.

Seeing his own accession, reigning over all under heaven, the scene of myriad peoples paying homage, Qin Shi Huang's lips unconsciously curled into a smile.

But the good times did not last; after his death, rebels rose up everywhere, repeatedly launching uprisings; the empire he founded teetered on the brink of collapse.

That once vast and invincible Qin realm instantly collapsed; the unified dynasty built by ancestors over five hundred years of struggle was destroyed in an instant—one could say it was "peak then collapse."

Qin Shi Huang's smile froze on his face; incredulous at the sight before him, his eyes nearly bursting: "How could this be! I cannot believe that, even if I die, Qin could weaken so swiftly!"

Under Qin Shi Huang's assumption, even if he could not live forever, according to the policies he had enacted, the Qin Empire should at least endure a hundred years; how could it exist only such a short time?

Yet the scene before his eyes cannot be deceived.

Watching that empire gradually fade, Qin Shi Huang lunged to grasp it, but to no avail—he caught nothing, and his whole person became somewhat dispirited.

Qin Shi Huang had never been in such a sorry state; with violent motion, even his hair became somewhat disheveled.

He feigned calm, still clinging to a faint hope, like a drowning man clutching the last straw: "Immortal, is none of this real?"

From the earlier destruction of the six states and Qin's unification, the events surfacing on this river are all real occurrences; thus the Qin dynasty will ultimately meet its doom.

Ye Qin did not answer him; Qin Shi Huang's heart already held the answer, he could not help but look desolate, muttering: "How could this be—where exactly did things go wrong? Why is the Qin dynasty's existence so brief?"

History never changes because of one person; time moves forward relentlessly, not altered by external forces, appearing utterly cruel yet just, all beings equal, with no exceptions.

The Qin dynasty, this colossus, stumbled along the river of history like an aged elder in his final years, finally reaching its end; the fall of a dynasty foretells the rise of another.

Several bursts of spray erupted, each representing the glory and splendid history of an era—not just the Qin dynasty, but also the later Han, and even the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing.

Each spray's existence varies in length—some are like a night-blooming cereus that flashes once, others can last a hundred years, but no matter what, none can withstand time's crushing pressure.

Qin Shi Huang's heavy radiance also faded bit by bit, from initial incomprehension and anger to gradual calm, he stared blankly at the scene before him.

Time turns, years change, even the mightiest empire will have a day of demise; nothing is eternally lasting.

This is the inevitability of history; no one can alter it, not even a sage in the world can do anything.

Qin Shi Huang is a participant in history, and now also a witness; with a snap of the finger, ages pass, and in an instant he sees a dynasty's rise and fall—his eyes show some bewilderment, as if he does not quite understand.

The long river flows swiftly; all the spray settles in the tunnel of time, all stored away—these are the lingering memories of history, yet Ye Qin presents them before him in a unique way.

They stand at the river's head, only able to watch the rolling waters flow eastward into endless void; a nameless wind blows gently, and everything dissipates into smoke, becoming a part of that vast history, and also a few scattered lines in the records.

Qin Shi Huang slowly opened his eyes; those sharp, unfathomable black pupils now held a little less desire and ambition, as if something else had taken their place.

The recent images kept flashing in Qin Shi Huang's mind, yet he could not recall them clearly, as if a layer of gauze shrouded his memory, blurring it.

Yet even so, he already knew the outcome, merely forgetting the process.

Because it involves events of later generations, to prevent history from being altered, Ye Qin thus employed such means.

Even a tiny butterfly lightly flapping its wings could summon a tsunami, so Ye Qin dared not be careless.

If history were truly changed, it would involve the fates of tens of thousands; the karmic repercussions on him would be innumerable, and the resulting impact would be immeasurable.

Thus Ye Qin acted to blur Qin Shi Huang's recent memory; although he knows what just happened, he cannot recall the specific details.

Of course, this is merely a fragment of time; everything is done as a precaution.

Do you understand?

After a long while, Qin Shi Huang slowly nodded.

To be hailed as the one emperor of all ages, he naturally possesses extraordinary qualities—his joy and anger do not show on his face, his capacity to accept is great, and he can face things calmly; this is also why Ye Qin is willing to offer him guidance.

"There is no dynasty that lasts forever, no matter how great it is, so your wish is destined to fail."

"Plants flourish and wither in their own time; all things find their place naturally; everything in the world has its own principle of operation, and nothing can be forced."

Qin Shi Huang carefully pondered the meaning of Ye Qin's words, not knowing what he had thought of; his still‑water black eyes stirred up a few ripples once more.

"Demon immortal, you just said no dynasty lasts forever—then may I ask what in the world can endure forever?"

Ye Qin showed an appreciative gaze; speaking with a smart person is effortless.

"That would certainly be a cultivator."

"A cultivator?"

"Yes."

"You wish to achieve immortality and found a great, everlasting empire—that is impossible; but if you can, through your own power, transform your ingrained thoughts, you may yet reach the far shore."

Under Ye Qin's explanation, a profound and mysterious new world appeared before Qin Shi Huang's eyes.

His words were vivid yet not complicated, captivating, as if possessing some magic; Qin Shi Huang's originally uneasy heart also gradually calmed.

……

At this moment, the personal guard outside was almost jumping with anxiety; seeing that the time of an incense stick had passed, yet no sound came from inside the gate.

They even pressed their ears to it—dead silence, no sound; if they had not seen Qin Shi Huang enter with their own eyes, they would have thought there was nobody inside at all.

The nearby Qin troops had been summoned by them; under the iron cavalry, between the mountain forests filled a sense of solemn killing, giving off the feeling of wind‑cranes alarms and every blade of grass an enemy.

"Your Majesty hasn't come out yet—could he have met with misfortune?"

"Nonsense, Your Majesty is the First Emperor; surely nothing will happen to him."

As time trickled by, everyone's hearts rose to their throats; if the First Emperor came to harm, they would bear the guilt even in death.

Compared with the others' anxiety, Meng Tian appeared rather calm, as if certain that Qin Shi Huang would come to no harm.

The personal guard beside him, seeing his demeanor, could not help but flare up: "General Meng, I originally thought you were loyal to Your Majesty, but now it seems you are no different—truly an eye‑opener for us."

Meng Tian gave him a sideways glance, his aura imposing without anger: "What do you mean? I harbor no second thoughts toward Qin and Your Majesty—who are you to lecture me here?"

The personal guard's eyes blazed: "If it weren't for you, how could Your Majesty's life or death be unknown?!"

"I have said it—Your Majesty met a demon immortal; demon immortals wield heavenly powers and would never harm Your Majesty."

"What demon race? We have never seen any; you are clearly colluding with demons, intending to overturn my Great Qin Empire—no small matter."

Their gazes collided in mid‑air, neither yielding, instantly filling the air with the smell of gunpowder.

Seeing the two on the verge of drawing swords, about to come to blows, the captain of the personal guard separated them: "What time is it? You're still bickering here—now the quarter hour has arrived."

Looking at the still‑silent gate, everyone's hearts sank.

"Your Majesty previously said that if he did not emerge within a quarter hour, we would let the iron cavalry flatten this mountain!"

Meng Tian's face changed slightly: "Absolutely not! If we flatten this mountain, the demon immortal will surely be angered—a consequence we cannot bear."

"What time is it still talking about demon immortals? Is your demon immortal more important, or Your Majesty?"

Just as the crowd was arguing, a solemn voice rang out.

"What are you arguing about?"

Everyone turned toward the sound and saw Qin Shi Huang appear at the gate; they hurriedly knelt.

"Your Majesty."

Qin Shi Huang nodded, then slowly walked out of the gate—strangely, this time there was no obstruction.

I don't know if it's Meng Tian and the others' illusion, but I always feel that something has changed in Qin Shi Huang's person, though I cannot say exactly what.

If he used to be an unfathomable ancient pool, inscrutable yet occasionally revealing his joys and angers, now he is like a transcendent being, all emotions withdrawn, like an endless abyss.

Meng Tian stole a glance, seemingly sensing his gaze; Qin Shi Huang looked over and spoke calmly: "General Meng, is there anything?"

Meeting those black eyes, Meng Tian involuntarily shivered, feeling an overwhelming pressure; he hastily lowered his head, his fear not diminishing but growing.

"Subject dares to ask Your Majesty: did you see the demon immortal?"

Qin Shi Huang slowly nodded, his tone full of respect and an imperceptible awe: "I have seen him, and I have benefited greatly."

It's hard to imagine such words coming from Qin Shi Huang's mouth.

The crowd stared dumbfounded, even thinking they had hallucinated.

The chief of the guard blurted out instinctively, 'There really are demon immortals in this world!'

Realizing his impropriety, he hurriedly apologized, 'Your Majesty, I have been improper.'

Qin Shi Huang waved his hand, turned his gaze toward the silent Upper Purity Temple, his expression somewhat complex, and murmured, 'Demon immortal, you must remember the promise of longevity made with me!' (End of chapter)