Chapter 211: First Emperor, I Will Bring You Immortality!

The river of time flows ceaselessly, never pausing for any single person; indeed, time's ruthlessness also reveals its fairness, as icy river water splashes onto Ye Qin's body, and the passage of time bursts into blossoms of spray.

He slowly opened his eyes, already back in Longyuan Mountain.

An ancient temple appeared in midair, its gray tiles outlining the patterns of history, giving an unreal feeling; Ye Qin released his spiritual power to sense a bit, and could clearly see the scene inside the Supreme Purity Temple.

At the center of the main hall stands a large offering platform, normally used to enshrine statues of the Three Pure Ones.

But now, at the center of the offering platform, a gleaming white skeleton is enshrined; the bones are jade-white, seeming to flash with light, amidst curling mist the bones appear supremely sacred, as countless vital energies gather here—this is Longling's remains.

Beside the white-bone statue sits an old man in gray Daoist robes, eyes half-closed, looking as if asleep, kind-browed and gentle-eyed, bearing the demeanor of an immortal—this is Zuoci!

At this moment, Zuoci no longer carries that lingering deathly aura; instead, an endless life force surrounds him, turning into specks of light that swirl around him.

The spiritual power of the Supreme Purity Temple nourishes Zuoci's body; although he won't awaken anytime soon, Ye Qin senses that Zuoci's body is undergoing some change.

His idea was indeed correct!

Imagine that anything from a fragment of time could be brought into the real world using the Supreme Purity Temple as a medium—the earlier bronze ancient sword is the best example, and it still erupts with tremendous power, comparable to a divine sharp instrument.

Likewise, could a person be done the same way?

If it were the former Ye Qin, he certainly couldn't do it, because this requires massive cultivation support, and he could no longer re-enter the mottled fragments of time.

Now he is a true dragon, having cultivated a Nascent Soul; the Nascent Soul and physical body can separate, equivalent to lodging in this checkpoint bug, allowing him to re-enter time.

Ye Qin withdrew his spiritual power, his green eyes full of excitement and excitement; he rarely shows his emotions, but Zuoci being able to enter the Supreme Purity Temple proves his earlier conjecture can hold.

"Zuoci was originally a dying person; invited by me, he followed me into the Supreme Purity Temple to enjoy incense offerings, and later establish a shrine in the mortal world. One day, there may be a chance to attain the Dao and be resurrected."

It may be because Longling's remains and Zuoci entered the Supreme Purity Temple at different times—Longling died many years ago, while Zuoci was still alive when he agreed, so his vital aura is stronger.

"Since Zuoci can do it, then others naturally can as well."

"We are not alone!"

"The path to immortality might actually be passable!"

In Ye Qin's mind arose a towering figure, with tiger eyes bright and alert, swinging a sword to sweep away the six states, accepting homage from all directions.

That person was none other than the First Emperor Qin!

Ye Qin did not revive ancient people for no reason; he merely wished to use this method to fulfill his own cultivation path and probe the road to immortality.

Of course, he also settled a karmic bond.

After all, without these ancients, he could not have reached where he is today.

Let them follow him, take them on a journey of immortality—what could be wrong with that?

The first step has already succeeded; what comes next is unknown, but it is indeed worth trying.

Ye Qin soared into the sky, flying toward Mount Tai, soon becoming a tiny black dot that vanished into the air.

Between heaven and earth on Mount Tai stands, like the Luxuriant-Desolate Terrace.

Mist swirls, the endless mountain peaks resemble fairy islands of Penglai floating on the sea; each peak, each wisp of mist seems to whisper softly.

The Five Doctor Pines remain tall and green year-round; the mountain stairs tower into the clouds.

Once the First Emperor Qin left behind a Mountain Closure altar on Mount Tai; after enduring the vicissitudes of time, it has long since vanished with the wind, leaving only a few broken characters that silently attest to its former glory.

Gazing at the familiar scenery around him, Ye Qin's expression filled with nostalgic longing.

In the past, Ye Qin made an immortality pact with the First Emperor Qin, only because his cultivation and realm were insufficient then, and it was merely a preliminary idea, leading to this agreement.

But now is the time for him to fulfill that promise.

The mountain wind brushed past, the Five Doctor Pines swayed, their verdant leaves rustling endlessly, and the breath of time once again rippled.

……

In 210 BCE, Qin Shi Huang embarked on his fifth eastern tour, passing through ancient Hebei.

The night was like a great black bird, covering the Xingtai Sand Dune Temporary Palace above; tonight's sky had no stars or moon, inexplicably oppressive, making it hard to breathe.

Inside the sleeping hall, four coiling dragon pillars rise from floor to ceiling; the floor is paved with white jade, and the East Sea Night-Shining Pearl set into the walls refracts dazzling brilliance—even at night, the whole room shines like daytime, extravagantly luxurious.

Qin Shi Huang stood by the window; beneath his imperial crown, his brows and eyes were weary, his face pallid, his expression somewhat sickly—yet the imperial aura about him remained not to be underestimated.

As the night wind blew, Qin Shi Huang burst into a cough, his towering frame revealing a hint of fragility.

The attendant Zhao Gao stepped forward cautiously, presenting the cloak from his hand patterned with gold-woven black birds; the golden birds looked lifelike, saying, "Your Majesty, the night wind is strong—please take care of your health."

Qin Shi Huang glanced at him lightly, "You are thoughtful."

Zhao Gao showed a fawning smile, "Young Master Huhai instructed me to attend carefully to Your Majesty; I, your servant, naturally dare not forget."

Qin Shi Huang's expression remained indifferent, with no particular reaction, his gaze falling upon the void.

One must admit, his body is now far inferior to before; he is no longer the Qin king who once swung his sword to cut floating clouds, with feudal lords rushing westward.

Yet he harbors grand ambitions, while the heavens have granted him little time; he can feel his body swiftly withering—this eastern tour is a drain on his vitality.

From life to death is a natural process, yet this emperor of all ages refuses to yield; he wishes to prove himself to heaven, absolutely unwilling to submit to death's threat—despite his frail condition, he continues his tour, displaying his majesty to the four directions.

"Zhao Gao, how long do you say I can still live?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gao's face changed dramatically; he fell to his knees with a thud, "Your Majesty is a man of great talent, naturally capable of lasting ten thousand generations."

"Ten thousand generations?"

Qin Shi Huang's face showed a hint of coldness, "I have not even found the elixir of immortality—how could there be ten thousand generations?"

Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; Zhao Gao trembled, daring not to speak, knowing silence was the best reply now, fearing to provoke Qin Shi Huang's wrath.

Suddenly, a piercing light appeared on the horizon, tearing a huge hole in the black curtain, instantly drawing Qin Shi Huang's attention.

Stars glittered, the Milky Way surged, illuminating the silent night.

"What is that?"

This light resembled a meteor, dragging a long tail, falling southward at great speed.

Zhao Gao's eyes darted; he quickly said, "There is an omen in the heavens—perhaps there will be an immortal or an elixir within."

Upon hearing this, the coldness in Qin Shi Huang's eyes began to melt; he hurriedly ordered, "Convey my command—prepare the horses at once!"

Heaven-sent omens herald extraordinary beings.

Qin Shi Huang and the others hurried south, following the direction where the light fell; not far away, a huge pit came into view.

The area was filled with a foul stench; the ground around the pit was all scorched earth, large swaths of trees snapped in half, looking utterly chaotic.

Zhao Gao helped Qin Shi Huang alight from the carriage with great care; due to the dim light, they could not make out the condition of the pit's bottom.

Meng Yi stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty, to ensure your safety, please allow me to go first and see what the situation is."

Qin Shi Huang nodded.

Meng Yi strode to the vicinity of the pit; the torch's light dispelled the darkness, revealing a huge black stone with an uneven surface dotted with depressions.

The black stone emitted an ominous aura, and it bore inscriptions; Meng Yi shouted loudly, "Your Majesty, this stone actually has writing on it!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Shi Huang immediately showed an interested expression, "What characters are they?"

Meng Yi stepped forward a few more steps, wanting to see more clearly, when several bright red blood characters leapt into his sight, shocking and eye-catching.

His face turned deathly pale in an instant; in his panic, he even dropped his torch to the ground.

Meng Yi fell to his knees, stammering, "I dare not say..."

Qin Shi Huang's displeased expression appeared, a heavy pressure weighed upon Meng Yi's head like a towering mountain, "What do you dare not say?"

Beads of fine sweat gathered on Meng Yi's forehead, his whole body nearly crawling on the ground, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

Meng Yi was a man who had walked out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood; even in the face of death he could remain unmoved, so when had anyone ever seen him show such an expression.

Seeing that nothing could be gotten from him, Qin Shi Huang stepped forward himself, wanting to see what characters could frighten Meng Yi so.

The black stone was covered in ancient patterns; the red characters, illuminated by the torchlight, flickered with an uncanny, otherworldly hue.

"The First Emperor dies and the land splits!"

Qin Shi Huang read it out word by word, and everyone's faces suddenly changed.

In the next second, everyone fell to their knees; they finally understood why Meng Yi had been so terrified, each of them like a frightened quail.

Qin Shi Huang's face grew so dark it seemed water could drip from it, his deep eyes fixed tightly on those characters.

Night fell heavily, pressing so hard that people could barely breathe; the late wind howled, carrying wailing sounds like weeping and lamentation, truly eerie to the extreme.

In such an atmosphere, nobody dared to take a breath, for fear of provoking the dragon's wrath.

"When the Son of Heaven is angered, blood flows a thousand li; if we're not careful, we may all meet our end here today."

After a long while, Meng Yi broke the silence, "The ruler does not discuss strange powers and chaotic spirits; Your Majesty, may you live ten thousand years, these words on the stone are sheer baseless talk; surely it is a ill‑intentioned villain working mischief here, seeking to harm our Great Qin!"

Others also hurriedly chimed in, "Yes, Your Majesty, you must take care of your dragon body; we must absolutely not fall for that treacherous schemer's tricks, using such means to deceive us—it's simply heinous!"

"Your Majesty, such a demonic stone cannot possibly be trusted; it's clearly intended to destroy the foundations of our Great Qin."

Everyone chattered among themselves, believing the stone was deliberately done by someone.

But they clearly saw the meteorite falling in this direction, tracking it all the way here, yet they found no suspicious figures; with such a massive display, how could it possibly be man-made, yet they dared not say so.

As the crowd was discussing, under a pitch-black night, several bright stars suddenly appeared; those three stars emitted an abnormal glow, quickly aligning in a straight line, as if holding a mysterious banquet.

Soon someone noticed the change in the heavens, and only a gasp was heard.

"Look quickly at that star!"

One of the stars actually emitted a bloody light, full of ill omens; the bloody light fell upon the giant stone, making the red characters even more vivid, the two complementing each other.

Everyone's eyes nearly popped out, their expressions as if they had seen a ghost: "This, this is Yinghuo!"

"Yinghuo guarding the heart surely portends misfortune; could it be that my Qin state is about to encounter some calamity?"

The crowd's faces were filled with panic, or they were uneasy and anxious.

Because Mars flickers like fire and its movements are unpredictable, the ancients called it Yinghuo, and both East and West regarded it as a symbol of war and death.

In modern times such a celestial phenomenon is not unusual, but in ancient eyes, Mars lingering at Xin Su (Heart) Second represented more than just a curiosity.

According to the Tian Gong Shu·Shiji, once the phenomenon of Mars lingering at Xin Su occurs, it means the ruler's position is unstable or a great calamity will befall humanity.

In ancient eyes, the appearance of such a celestial phenomenon must be Heaven's dissatisfaction with those in power, and it may even bring down heavenly punishment.

Originally, the ominous stone from heaven had already made Qin Shi Huang unhappy; now this happened as well, his face darkened to the point where water could almost drip from it.

One could still argue that the giant stone might be man‑controlled, with the characters deliberately carved, but the appearance of the 'Yinghuo guarding the heart' celestial phenomenon could not possibly be human‑controlled.

The night temperature suddenly dropped, yet it was nothing compared to the low pressure emanating from Qin Shi Huang's entire body; the people prostrated themselves on the ground, not daring to look at his expression.

Qin Shi Huang gazed at the blood‑red stars in the sky, then at the stone; his expression was obscure and hard to read, his face pale as he squeezed out a sentence: "Return to the city!"

Having just stepped onto the city gate, he saw the guards kneeling in a black mass upon the ground.

Qin Shi Huang furrowed his brows slightly, "What has happened?"

The city guard's commander, face ashen, said, "I have an important matter to report."

Listening closely, his voice trembled slightly, as if he were extremely fearful.

"'Just now while on patrol, I encountered an old man wearing ancient clothing; he handed this jade bi to me and said, 'The Ancestral Dragon will die this year!'"

Although the commander did not know what 'Ancestral Dragon' meant, the single word 'death' alone told him it was nothing good.

Qin Shi Huang immediately thought of the line of characters that had appeared on the heavenly stone.

The First Emperor dies and the empire splits!

He felt only a blockage in his chest, his throat surging with a bloody taste; Qin Shi Huang struggled to suppress his discomfort and forced out: "What does that jade bi look like?"

Looking at the jade bi presented by the city guard commander, Qin Shi Huang instinctively widened his eyes; not only him, but also those nearby recognized it.

He blurted out instinctively: "This isn't the ancient jade that Your Majesty previously tossed into Dongting Lake?"

This jade glows all over, polished to a smooth brightness; its surface is covered with ancient patterns, as if it contains the mysteries of heaven and earth, and also like some warning from Heaven.

This jade bi is exactly the one Qin Shi Huang, eight years ago on his imperial tour, took a boat across Dongting Lake; when his vessel reached the lake's center, suddenly a great wind arose and huge waves surged in Dongting Lake.

To appease the river god and calm the waves, Qin Shi Huang threw this jade bi into the river; shortly afterward the lake water indeed became calm, and Qin Shi Huang smoothly crossed Dongting Lake, except the jade bi thus sank to the lake bottom.

Logically, this jade bi should remain forever at the lake bottom, never to see daylight again; moreover, eight years have passed, so how could this old man have managed to dredge it up?

Qin Shi Huang examined the jade bi; it was exactly the same as the one he had cast into the lake bottom, with no possibility of forgery; his brows knotted into ridges, and he increasingly felt this affair was highly suspicious.

Dongting Lake spans eight hundred li, and its current is swift; for a person to try to fish out a jade bi would be like seeking sand in waves—utterly beyond human capability.

"What about that old man?"

The city guard commander shook his head and said, "It's also strange; after that old man finished speaking, he suddenly vanished without a trace, and the subordinate officer searched for a long time but couldn't find him."

Qin Shi Huang's expression was dark, as if storm clouds filled the sky, and everyone present felt immense pressure.

If these are indeed man-made, then the person behind the scenes has a deep mind, having started laying plans eight years ago and remaining hidden to this day.

If it is not man-made but heavenly will——

Qin Shi Huang's gaze was profound, and his aura was intensely stern.

"Convey my order: search the whole city for suspicious persons; I want to see who is playing at being divine here! Once discovered, kill without mercy; if anyone shelters them, their relatives and neighbors will all be punished!"

The suddenly appearing strange giant stone, the characters on it, the ominous celestial portent implied by Mars guarding the Heart, the jade disc used in sacrifices to the river god reappearing in the world, and the words it brought.

A series of events followed one after another, destined to make this night uneasy.

Inside the Sand Dune Traveling Palace, people were panicked; the soldiers quickly sprang into action, and for a time every household was lit up, with noise never ceasing.

Qin Shi Huang had just entered the bedchamber, recalling all that had happened before; a fishy taste surged in his throat, and he could no longer control himself—under the assault of furious fire to the heart, he spat out a large mouthful of blood, and his body swayed as if about to collapse.

If Zhao Gao had not rushed forward to support his body, Qin Shi Huang would have already collapsed to the ground at this moment.

"Your Majesty, please take care of your dragon body!"

Qin Shi Huang's gaze fell upon the void, and he could not help muttering to himself: "Ancestor, beginning; dragon, the likeness of a sovereign—is not the Primordial Dragon just me? Could this year be my time of death?"

He clenched the jade disc with both hands, the veins on his arms bulging, and then another large mouthful of blood spurted out.

The bright red blood fell upon the jade disc, staining its patterns, and the whole jade disc emitted a mysterious glow.

Qin Shi Huang's body collapsed straight down, and Zhao Gao, startled, loudly shouted, "Summon the imperial physician!"

Watching the imperial physicians attend to Qin Shi Huang, Zhao Gao's eyes flashed with a sinister light; after stepping out the door, he beckoned to the little eunuch nearby and lowered his voice.

"Tell Prince Hu Hai, great accomplishment is imminent!"

Because of Qin Shi Huang's sudden illness, the progress of the Eastern Tour was immediately disrupted.

Qin Shi Huang had long been taking elixirs; his body had already accumulated a certain amount of elixir toxicity, and furthermore, during his years as a hostage, his health had always been poor, suffering from illness since childhood.

He should have been resting properly, but during the Eastern Tour, the fatigue of travel and the strain of state affairs added to this situation; all factors considered, it can be said that illness struck like a collapsing mountain, and the chance of recovery is slim.

The imperial physicians dare not speak plainly; already several have lost their heads over this matter, and they can only keep Qin Shi Huang's breath alive with medicine—his end is near, merely a matter of time.

The city was filled with low pressure; walking the streets, the city guard's soldiers arrested many people, to the point that the prison could barely hold them, yet no matter how they were interrogated, nothing abnormal was found.

"Have you seen it? An ominous star has appeared; I fear great upheaval will befall the world!"

"I also heard that a giant stone fell, inscribed with the words 'the First Emperor's death and the division of the land.'"

"You're speaking at the risk of your life; be careful, or your whole family will be executed and property confiscated!"

"I also know that a mysterious old man presented the jade disc, saying that the Primordial Dragon would die this year; that jade disc was used by His Majesty back then when he passed Dongting Lake to make offerings to the river god."

"With so many strange events happening, could it be that the empire is truly about to face something major?"

"The superiors have strictly forbidden us from discussing these things; we common folk had better not speak, lest we invite disaster upon ourselves."

Even if Qin Shi Huang repeatedly ordered a blockade, there is no impenetrable wall under heaven; after all, the celestial phenomenon of Mars guarding the Heart can be seen by people everywhere.

Not only were the people of Xingtai Sand Dune City discussing it, but folks elsewhere were also chatting incessantly, and Qin Shi Huang could not silence the myriad voices of the world.

Everyone said that Qin Shi Huang's virtue was lacking, heaven was enraged, and thus sent down omens to punish the emperor; for a time, the whole country was in turmoil, and people's hearts were unsettled.

……

Inside the Sand Dune Traveling Palace, the rich medicinal fragrance lingered, not even the precious agarwood could mask it, and the glow of the Donghai Pearl on the walls grew dim and lackluster.

In a short time, under the torment of illness, Qin Shi Huang became extraordinarily aged, his temples white, his spirit poor, appearing as if he had aged a dozen years.

External ailments can be cured, but inner sickness cannot be healed.

Mars guarding the Heart, the giant stone that brought the prophecy, and that jade disc weighed heavily on Qin Shi Huang's mind, never to be dispelled.

He dismissed everyone, even Zhao Gao not attending at his side, saying, "You may leave; I wish to be alone for a while."

Zhao Gao feigned a worried expression, saying, "Your Majesty, I am not at ease about your person——"

He still wanted to say something, but Qin Shi Huang's stern gaze swept over him, instantly silencing him: "How is it that my words now have no effect? Without my orders, no one may enter."

Even if he were a sick tiger, he would still be the king of the mountains and forests, his aura not to be trifled with; Zhao Gao's heart sank, and he hurriedly knelt on the ground, saying, "I dare not."

He led the others away like a receding tide.

The bedchamber stood empty; in the blink of an eye, only Qin Shi Huang remained.

Qin Shi Huang let out a long sigh, saying, "Fairy immortal, fairy immortal, our appointment for longevity—looks like I cannot wait for it."

He knows his own condition; those imperial physicians only speak pleasant words, but Qin Emperor knows his days are numbered.

Recalling the Mountain Closure rites on Mount Tai back then, Qin Shi Huang's cloudy eyes flashed with a glint of light; at that time he was in his prime, full of vigor, harboring grand ambitions.

Yet now his ambitions remain unfulfilled, he has already walked toward the end of his fate; even if he refuses to yield, he cannot contend against the vicissitudes of fate.

The destination of this Eastern Tour is Mount Tai; Qin Shi Huang wishes to ascend Mount Tai again, hoping to see the fairy immortal, but his body cannot possibly endure that time.

"Back then I discussed the world's map with the fairy immortal atop Mount Tai, I erected a stele for the fairy immortal; the stele still stands today, yet I am about to die—could heaven truly intend to destroy me?"

Qin Shi Huang revealed a mocking smile.

"If heaven wishes to destroy you, even if you are an emperor, you are merely a mortal—what then?"

(End of chapter)