Chapter 92: Surveying the Greatest of All Timeless Emperors of China: The First Emperor of Great Qin—Ying Zheng!

Across the skies of every dynasty, a massive celestial veil blocks the sun.

A line of sturdy ancient characters, stamped onto the center of the veil like branding iron, instantly turns into golden light that spreads across the sky, scattering into countless images and words.

【He, born in chaotic times, raised in an enemy state, a hostage in childhood, endured cold stares.

At thirteen he inherited the throne, at twenty‑two he eliminated internal troubles, and at thirty‑nine he unified the world!】

【He standardized script, unified carriage tracks, standardized measures, abolished feudal enfeoffment, instituted commanderies and counties, built the Great Wall to repel the Hu barbarians, and constructed roads to connect all directions!】

【He elevated the title "King" to "Emperor", called himself "First Emperor", and sought to pass it down for ten thousand generations.

But he did not expect that three years after his death, the empire would collapse with a thunderous crash!】

【Some condemn him as a tyrant who burned books and buried scholars, imposing harsh laws;

others revere him as the ancestral dragon, a timeless emperor, a model for ten thousand generations.】

【Today we tally the top of the ten timeless emperors, the Great Qin First Emperor—Ying Zheng!】

As the final resonant sentence ends, a young man's silhouette appears on the light screen.

He wears a crown with hanging tassels, dark robes over a crimson inner garment, a towering build, and a stern face.

In his narrow, elongated eyes seem to hold the storms of the four seas and eight wildernesses, yet also appear empty, containing only absolute control over the land beneath his feet.

Qin Dynasty, Xianyang Palace.

Before the tiered palace halls, Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng stands with his hands behind his back, the golden thread patterns on his dark dragon robe shimmering in the sunlight.

He squints slightly, watching the figure on the veil that mirrors himself.

Behind the crown, his expression reveals no joy or anger, yet his fingertips gently caress the Lu Lu Sword at his waist.

"First Emperor?"

He repeats the title softly, his tone betraying neither satisfaction nor doubt; after a moment, his thin lips curl, "Interesting."

Beside him, Zhao Gao hunches over, cautiously watching his lord's expression, daring not to utter a sound.

Li Si twirls his mustache and looks upward, his eyes flickering.

"I am the First Emperor!"

Ying Zheng's voice is calm, yet carries unquestionable authority,

"Future generations will count, from the second and third generations to ten thousand, passing it on endlessly. I want to see how the immortal who forged this veil will evaluate my millennial achievements."

Having said that, he strides back into the hall, sits upon the imperial throne, and lifts his gaze toward the veil.

【Prologue: Handan Past—Hostage's Counterattack Script Loading…】

The light screen shifts, revealing the flames of the Warring States.

On the streets of Handan City, a thinly clothed child stands in the biting cold wind, watching a group of aristocratic youths laughing and playing in the distance, his gaze bearing a cold loneliness beyond his years.

Ying Zheng's eyes suddenly darken.

Handan.

The place he never wishes to recall, yet can never forget.

On the light screen, rows of tiny characters of varying colors scroll rapidly from right to left.

【Opening difficulty: Hell—Father runs away, mother's scandal spreads everywhere; even web‑novel authors dare not write this script!】

【Ying Zheng: The years I was bullied later turned into the six states' medical‑insurance settlement sheets.】

【Zhao Ji: Son, is mother's love‑brain delaying your progress?】

【(Highlighted comment) Beware Handan jungler secretly farming!】

Ying Zheng furrows his brow, "What do these people from later ages mean...?"

"What is 'web novel'? What is 'jungle'? What is… 'love‑brain'?"

His gaze lands on "Father runs away, mother's scandal spreads everywhere," and the corner of his mouth twitches.

The so‑called father of the foreigner indeed fled cleanly and decisively.

As for Zhao Ji…

A hint of shadow flickers in his eyes.

Han Dynasty, Wei Yang Palace.

Liu Bang sits on the imperial throne with his legs crossed, munching fruit, laughing heartily at the light screen.

"Hahaha! I told you, the Qin First Emperor also had a miserable childhood!"

"Hostage? That's just a captive!"

"Back then I was at least a pavilion chief; he, on the other hand, had neither a father's affection nor a mother's love!"

He turns to the respectfully standing Xiao He beside him, "Xiao He, what does 'Hell difficulty' mean?"

Xiao He bows, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, it roughly means… an extremely arduous situation."

Liu Bang nods, then looks at the veil, "What about this 'medical‑insurance settlement sheet'?"

Xiao He is at a loss for words.

Beside them, Fan Kuai interjects in a gruff, resonant voice,

"Your Majesty, whatever it means, it sounds like Qin Shi Huang is going to deal with those who bullied him!"

Liu Bang's eyes brighten, "Makes sense; the First Emperor never takes a loss!"

Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin sits upright at the imperial desk, holding a tea cup, his gaze calmly fixed on the veil.

His expression is focused, as if assessing a worthy opponent.

"Opening Hell difficulty."

He repeats softly, nodding, "The First Emperor was a hostage in Zhao in his youth, living day by day without security; indeed, that is so."

"Later he could rally the vigor of six generations, enact grand strategies to govern the realm; his resilience surpasses ordinary men."

He looked toward the Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui beside him,

"Xuanling, Ruhui, what do you think of what this bullet comment says?"

Fang Xuanling smiled, "Your Majesty, I think this 'jungling development' may be a later‑era slang, but it's rather vivid."

"When the First Emperor was young he endured and accumulated, and after returning to the state he gradually seized power; isn't that just like secretly gathering strength and striking when the time comes?"

Du Ruhui also nodded, "This 'vigilant development' remark even highlights the Six Kingdoms' mistake. If someone back then had early discerned the First Emperor's ability, perhaps…"

Li Shimin waved his hand and laughed, "There is no 'perhaps'. Unification of the world is the inevitable trend; the First Emperor was merely the first to see this trend clearly and had the ability to accomplish it."

At that moment, the image on the sky screen changed instantly.

In the Xianyang Palace main hall, the young Qin King Ying Zheng donned his crown and sword, his gaze sharp.

The camera flashed:

Lu Buwei being stripped of the Prime Minister post, his lonely departing silhouette.

Lao Ai being torn apart by cart‑wheel execution in the market, a gruesome scene of blood and flesh.

Empress Dowager Zhao being confined to Yongcheng, the palace gates closing slowly with heaviness.

Later‑era netizens' bullet comments erupted again:

User #1: "Ascended at 13, cleared the instance at 22; this self‑rule efficiency is faster than uninstalling rogue software!"

User #2: "Ying Zheng: While cleaning up family ties, casually activated the 【Centralization】 skill tree."

User #3: "Li Si: At that time the boss asked me to write the 'Letter of Advice to Expel Guests', I thought I was about to lose my job, but he instead promoted me to Chancellor?"

User #4: "Lu Buwei: The grandmaster of venture capital, invested in a colossal project, only to be knocked out by the very project he funded."

Ying Zheng stared at the screen, his gaze icy.

Lu Buwei, Lao Ai, the Empress Dowager…

These people are obstacles he must cross on his path to self‑rule.

He never regrets his decisions, nor does he conceal these bloody pasts.

"Clear the instance… uninstall software…"

He mumbled the strange terms softly, not fully understanding them, but he grasped their meaning.

"I cleanse the gates, and indeed I never soften my hand."

His gaze fell on the final bullet comment, the corner of his mouth lifting a barely perceptible curve,

"Lu Buwei, indeed a merchant. He thought he could control me, but he forgot, I am his sovereign, not his pawn."

As for Li Si…

Ying Zheng glanced sideways at Li Si, who stood respectfully in the hall, his tone calm,

"Li Si, that bullet comment says you wrote the 'Letter of Advice to Expel Guests'?"

Li Si hurriedly knelt, "Your Majesty, I… I indeed submitted a memorial. I was apprehensive; that day Your Majesty intended to expel the guest minister, I thought this move improper, so…"

Ying Zheng raised his hand and cut him off,

"What are you apprehensive about? That memorial, I have approved."

"You were retained, and I even promoted you to Court Judge."

He paused briefly, looking at the sky screen,

"Later‑era immortals, however, see my court perfectly clearly."

Li Si's forehead broke into sweat, he dared not reply.

Another bullet comment drifted across the screen:

【Qin Shi Huang: "I not only didn't expel the guest, I even promoted the one who wrote the advisory letter; some later emperors, learn from this!"】

This sentence is clearly aimed at a certain direction.