Chapter 420

Communicating…

Sui Bian slightly lifts his head, gazing up at the Emperor seated on the throne; this is also his first time at such close range to properly observe this other human ruler whose heart is bound to all humanity, having almost abandoned all personal emotions.

A decayed, emaciated body, yet possessing virtually limitless Spiritual Energy.

Moreover, Sui Bian feels the Emperor is like a cold sun—so powerful, yet "burning" himself to guide humanity hidden within the Empire, free from the whispers of evil gods and the veil of chaos.

"Father…"

At this moment Rog, together with four other brothers, arrives behind Sui Bian, also observing the Emperor, but says nothing emotional, only confused: "Is this Emperor dead or alive?"

"In a near‑death stasis, neither dead nor alive, a great undead." Sui Bian, while attempting to negotiate with the Emperor using Spiritual Energy, explains to his son.

However, releasing Spiritual Energy is completely ineffective; no matter how he tries, the answer he receives is always silence.

"Could Spiritual Energy not communicate with it?" Sui Bian thought.

Rog detects the Spiritual Energy wave emitted by his father, guesses his father is the Shengjilesi trying to communicate with the Emperor, glances at the Emperor, then at Sui Bian, and offers his view:

"Father, before our Primary Universe linked with the Zero‑Three Universe, the existence of Counterparts in the Multiverse was only a hypothesis; after arriving in the Zero‑Three Universe, this hypothesis was directly proven true, such as me and another Shengjilesi who has long become a wandering soul."

Continuing, Shengjilesi's gaze sweeps Angelong, and says: "However, there is another theory that when one physically contacts a Counterpart from another universe, it would cause uncontrolled destruction and collapse of both universes, but Angelong, who has truly clashed with his own Counterpart, has shown that the hypothesis of destruction and collapse is inaccurate."

Hearing this, Sui Bian instantly grasps Shengjilesi's intention and picks up the thread: "You mean the human Emperor is my Counterpart."

"Father and the Emperor are Counterparts?!" Before Shengjilesi can respond, Rog, incredulous, shakes his head left and right, carefully comparing his father with the "undead" Emperor, then denies with a full face: "Impossible—appearance, size… everything is opposite, only the Spiritual Energy is somewhat similar, but how could this overly selfless Emperor be my father's Counterpart?"

Listening to Rog's somewhat exaggerated words, Sui Bian actually agrees with his diligent, chatterbox son's viewpoint.

Listening to Rog's somewhat exaggerated words, Sui Bian actually agreed with his viewpoint as a good‑guarding, talkative son.

How could it be?

Whether in past lives, this life, or now, Sui Bian has never considered him and the Emperor to be Counterparts; at most they share social status, stature, and the shared identity as fathers of the OriginalBody, making them somewhat alike.

"I was merely offering my own perspective," Shengjilesi shrugs at Rog.

"But what you say isn't without merit." Sui Bian does not wholly reject Shengjilesi's proposal, especially the point about substantial contact between Counterparts.

Immediately, under the gaze and accompaniment of the five OriginalBodies, Sui Bian moves toward the golden throne, stops at its edge, places his right hand on the sword hilt at his waist, staying alert, while his left hand slowly lifts, gradually approaching the Emperor's withered, skin‑and‑bone left calf.

Immediately afterward, under the gaze and accompaniment of the five OriginalBodies, Sui Bian actively approached the golden throne, then stopped at its edge, then placed his right hand on the sword hilt at his waist, staying vigilant, while his left hand slowly lifted, gradually nearing the Emperor's withered, skin‑and‑bone left calf.

Contact.

Nothing happens.

"…" The six of them fall silent again.

"I say, Shengj…" Yet Sui Bian hears Rog's jab just beginning; his talkative son seems to have been muted with a single click.

Or rather, the throne hall, even the entire reality, seems to have entered a stagnant state, with only Sui Bian unaffected.

Then Sui Bian discovers his consciousness—perhaps his mind—being instantly pulled by an unknown force into a pitch‑black, utterly silent, dim space.

Immediately afterward, Sui Bian discovered his consciousness—apparently his consciousness had been instantly dragged by some unknown force into a pitch‑black, utterly silent, dark space.

Sui Bian does not sense any chaotic power, but the space is saturated with Spiritual Energy waves, and this wave feels extremely familiar…

Identical to his own unique Spiritual Energy.

Identical to his personal unique Spiritual Energy.

In an instant, a bright, dazzling yet gentle, warm, and oddly tangled "cold sun" bursts before Sui Bian.

In an instant, a bright, glaring yet extremely gentle and warm, confusing "cold sun" surged into Sui Bian's sight.

No need for deliberate perception or speculation; Sui Bian knows that the "cold sun" before him is the Emperor's Spiritual Energy projection.

Out of respect, Sui Bian speaks first: "It is an honor to have successfully established contact with you. How should I address one who also works for all humanity, for humanity's everlasting prosperity—are you... the Emperor?"

Out of respect, Sui Bian spoke first: "It's an honor to successfully establish contact with you; I don't know how to address you—are you the one who considers the welfare of all humanity and its enduring prosperity, or are you the Emperor?"

But the "cold sun" gave no response.

Sui Bian slightly frowns.

He does not think the Emperor is a pretentious "person", but wonders whether speaking directly is the correct way to communicate.

As he ponders the proper approach, the "cold sun" gradually dims, becoming a faintly glowing "crystal."

As it softens, the Emperor finally replies: "No, it should be my honor to welcome you here. With your sacrifice and effort, humanity gains the chance to stand in the galaxy, so it is my honor."

At the same time it became gentler, the Emperor finally responded: "No, being able to welcome your arrival here should be my honor; with your sacrifice and contribution, humanity gains a foothold in the galaxy, so it is my honor."

Sui Bian shows a hint of astonishment…

Moreover, his surprised face has not been shown for over one hundred ninety years.

The cause of his shock is not the Emperor's unprecedented gratitude, but the Emperor's voice…

For some reason, upon hearing the Emperor's tone, Sui Bian's first impression is that cold, emotionless system voice.

Could it be… that his system is the Emperor??

Then his past life's "accidental" death, and his crossing to the Primary Universe, etc., are they also linked to the Emperor?

In an instant, various speculations arise.

"Yes." As if knowing Sui Bian's thoughts, the Emperor continues in the same cold, emotionless voice: "You are correct; in a sense, I am the system in your mind, and also your Counterpart from an alternate universe. You are me, I am you."

"Yes." Apparently knowing Sui Bian's thoughts, the Emperor continued in his cold, unfeeling voice:

Hearing the Emperor, Sui Bian takes a deep breath, steadies his breathing, after the intense emotions subside, he no longer shows any expression, returning to a calm demeanor…

Though a trace of doubt remains deep within, even though the Emperor verbally confirms they are Counterparts, Sui Bian still deems it impossible.

"Ha ha." Sensing Sui Bian's doubt, the Emperor lets out a dry, stiff laugh, saying: "I understand you; anyone would think so, but you must know I have existed for tens of thousands of years. The me of today is a different person from the me of my youth.

It's laughable." At this point, the Emperor's tone carries obvious melancholy and reminiscence: "When I was twenty, even after receiving the tribe's comprehensive training, aware of heavy responsibilities, I still could not quell loneliness, and with Iririnna…"

In the following minutes, Sui Bian, as an excellent listener, hears the Emperor's sealed memories spanning ten‑thousands of years, and also eases the long‑standing suppression.

As a listener, Sui Bian's worldview is continually refreshed by the Emperor's narration.

In the next several minutes, Sui Bian, like an excellent listener, listened to the emperor's dust‑sealed past hidden in his heart for tens of thousands of years, and at the same time eased the oppression that had lasted tens of thousands of years.

As a listener, Sui Bian kept refreshing his worldview more and more as the emperor spoke.

Even though Sui Bian had learned in his past life that the Emperor had fathered children with mortal women, hearing the details directly from the Emperor felt entirely different.

In plain terms, the young Emperor could be described as "delusional", "flirtatious", and "carefree".

After all, a teenager or twenty-something with unmatched strength will inevitably go through a phase of arrogance, complacency, and smugness.

Sui Bian was no exception to this rule, but he was no longer young—he was a man over two hundred years old, an old man.

After a moment, the Emperor finally finished venting the pent-up past, and Sui Bian then interjected: "So, regarding the fact that you and I are isotopes, and your relationship with the system—could you explain it?"

"Of course." The Emperor replied without hesitation, and his tone shifted from the earlier lightheartedness to a deep, cold explanation for Sui Bian:

"Actually…" Afterwards, the Emperor explained the full story to Sui Bian.

In fact, Sui Bian's soul—that is, his essence and origin—is an isotope of the Emperor in a different universe, whereas his previous life's physical body in the main universe does not count.

But before detailing his relationship with the Emperor, or with the Zero Three Universe Emperor, we first need to know what mindset and thought led the Emperor, when being placed on the Golden Throne by the traitorous and fallen OriginalBody such as Helusi and Peturabo, to arrange for Conrad Koz, Alpha Legion, and Omega to assist the rebels in overthrowing the imperial regime.

The Zero Three Universe Emperor, from the moment "he" was born, knew what direction "he" and humanity's fate would take……

Destruction.

One could say humanity is destined to become, in the void, playthings and pawns of the immortal evil gods and demons that can freely travel between universes, before being utterly swallowed by the river of history.

Therefore, after shedding his immature behavior and thoughts, the Zero Three Emperor began to use his status as humanity's strongest Spiritual User and immortal, combined with his boundless knowledge and patience, to seek a plan to save all of humanity.

This concerns all of humanity, not just in the Zero Three Universe but across the multiverse, and because of the nature of the void, the Zero Three Emperor had to consider even more.

After pondering for a thousand years, the Zero Three Emperor suddenly realized that, since the evil gods and demons use the void's nature to traverse the multiverse and toy with different universes' corporeal beings and intelligent species…

Why should "he" limit himself to the "tiny" Zero Three Universe? Why not use this trait to go to other universes, seeking a way to save humanity, or to obtain tools, spells, people, and anything else attainable?

Thus, taking advantage of the moment when humanity in the Zero Three Universe had just entered its golden age, "he" alone roamed the galaxy, and finally, in the twentieth millennium since the dawn of human civilization, "he" found an entrance to the void that could conceal his presence without alerting the evil gods and demons.

And this entrance was precisely the precursor to the core region of the Eye of Terror.

After making ample preparations, the Zero Three Emperor fearlessly entered the void, spending another six thousand years traversing the multiverse to conduct "collection".

Put nicely, it's "collection"; put harshly, it's "plunder".

Whatever "he" deemed valuable in terms of objects and technology would be forcibly taken from other universal forces, even in the minimal armed conflict.

Because time was not "his" ally, and "he" had no leisure to engage in trade.

At the end of the twenty-sixth millennium in the Zero Three Universe, "he" also learned a crucial "spell," which is also the most effective and deadly means against the void—

Spiritual Energy Plunder

A means capable of resolving the evil gods and demons at the essence and origin level, and even of reshaping the void so that the sea of souls returns to tranquility.

When "he" had reaped abundantly and was preparing to end his multiversal wandering and return to the Zero Three Universe, he discovered that obtaining anything required paying a corresponding price.

That is, it was impossible to enact a "free pass" in the multiverse, because such an action violates the laws and rules.

Learning that the acquired knowledge, technology, and items could not be applied in the Zero Three Universe plunged "he" into brief confusion and bewilderment, making him feel that all the tens of thousands of years he had spent were wasted.

But it was only a brief confusion and bewilderment; soon "he" rallied and began seeking a solution.

It took another millennium for the Zero Three Emperor to fully understand what price the laws and rules demanded……

It was "himself".

Given that "he" was the one traversing the multiverse to plunder, only "he" was willing to sacrifice his own life, Spiritual Energy, and freedom, so that the acquired knowledge, technology, and items could be used without hindrance.

But this choice is obviously a dead end: if "he" sacrifices himself, how can "he" lead humanity forward?

After long contemplation, the Zero Three Emperor decided to seek his own isotope in the multiverse, because only "self" is most worthy of trust and entrustment.

Thus, when humanity in the Zero Three Universe fell into a dark age, "he" proactively stepped into the light and also deliberately exposed himself to the gaze of the evil gods and demons, swiftly unifying Shensheng Tala, integrating the Solar System, and creating the Thunder Warriors, the Imperial Guard, OriginalBody, and Astate, among all the historical events and societal developments that matched the image he had anticipated and foreseen since his birth.

However, in the shadows, "he" steadily carried out deployments and sought a suitable isotope to implement the plan.

Once everything was ready, the Zero Three Emperor privately summoned Alpha Legion and Omega, then met Conrad Koz, who had come to vent his grievances to "him", and instructed Alpha Legion and the Midnight Lord Legion to assist the rebels, ensuring the so-called "uprising" would succeed.

While waiting for Helusi Lupekard to lead the rebels to victory after victory, storming Shensheng Tala and the Imperial Palace, and then placing "him" on the Golden Throne, "him" finally had absolute personal time to properly enact giving the multiverse's humanity as a whole the opportunities of "salvation", "prosperity", and "greatness".

That was also the moment when Sui Bian in his previous universe had just been born.

{Note: There is no concept of time within the void. }

(End of chapter)