Chapter 282: Beneath the Red Maple Tree Lies Eternity

"Are they alive or dead…"

Looking at the ancient gods and great demons in those mirrors, everyone present and everyone watching the broadcast felt a chill to the bone, their skin, bones, soul, and will all standing on end.

Every god and demon in those mirrors radiated majestic divine might, showing not the slightest sign of death—just as resplendent and overwhelmingly powerful as when seen in the Star Palace not long ago, gazing down upon all directions. The light in their eyes seemed to see through every worldly heart and mortal affair, not as if they had perished.

As if they were still alive.

Or rather, they truly were still alive, merely slumbering here, made into **'specimens.'

"It seems this palace surviving the bombardment from Su Daji and that one 'over there' without being utterly annihilated may not be a coincidence."

Some big shots rolled their eyes about, their gaze never leaving the ancient gods and great demons in the mirrors.

Wondering… whether these ancient gods and great demons were still alive, and if they were, whether rescuing them might earn a life-saving favor.

But within less than a second, the thought was flung beyond the nine heavens; some even smashed their heads against the table until they bled, determined to forget this idea completely.

Rescuing them would indeed be correct, but besides gaining the gratitude of the gods and demons, one would also incur Su Daji's wrath.

Making enemies of an ancient deity who uses ancient gods and great demons as decorative specimens is hardly wise—it could be called utterly stupid. This is no longer dancing on the edge of death at the Pure Land of Bliss, but grave-side disco, lighting a lamp in a latrine.

At this moment, someone said in a trembling voice:

"If they're still alive… then could it be… is it possible that… I just thought of a possibility, a possibility for why Su Daji would keep them alive in the mirrors…"

"Holy shit! I beg you, don't say it!"

"Stop! Just stop right there. I know what you want to say, I've thought of it too, but I don't dare say it. I feel like it would kill us."

"Stop! You want to die, but we don't. Just pretend you never said anything."

Almost as neatly as a military parade, everyone shouted out at the same moment, their faces filled with terror, scared to the point of nearly soiling themselves. Damn it, once you say it out loud, it would probably be more death-defying than extreme sports—straight suicide.

These ancient gods, great demons, and the Zhou Dynasty gods and demons—one had annihilated the Green Hill Nine-Tailed Fox, the other had destroyed the dynasty of her husband's enemies. All of them shared a blood feud with her.

Yet Su Daji had not killed them; her intentions were obvious…

In short, people once again realized how terrifying a powerful woman could be when she got angry.

Holding this thought, the crowd continued walking toward the palace high above at the end of the Bai Yu staircase.

Not long after.

They ascended the heavenly palace and stepped inside.

What greeted their eyes was no palace hall, no magnificent and imposing decor, no luxurious and domineering throne as expected.

It was a valley.

Inside the heavenly palace was a small valley world.

Here the valley was verdant and tranquil, serene and peaceful, the ground covered in green shade that filled the valley. When the wind blew, the grass released its fragrance. Looking up at the sky, it was a deep blue, with white clouds like snow.

Standing in such a place, it seemed as if any worry could be forgotten, far from all disputes and wars, without fighting, killing, or bloodshed.

There was only ethereal serenity, peaceful and soothing.

Then those watching the broadcast and those present were all stunned, their expressions moved.

Ahead, there was a red maple tree, the entire tree flowing with radiant light, crystalline and translucent.

And red maple leaves were drifting down, crystalline and shimmering, scattering down.

Beneath that tree were two people, a man and a woman.

The man appeared to be thirty years old, mature and dignified, with the domineering air of a heavenly sovereign between his brows. His eyes were closed, transcending the world, emanating a majesty that looked down upon the vast heavens and earth.

Every gesture and movement made the heavens and earth tremble and submit; his bearing and heroic posture were unmatched in the world.

He simply sat leaning against the red maple tree, relaxed, as if at this moment he were no longer the mighty sovereign who dominated the universe and looked down upon the eight wastelands, but merely a carefree wanderer, a leisurely person hidden away in the mountains and forests.

The woman nestled beside him, held by the man with his arm around her shoulder, her head resting gently against his shoulder.

The two simply leaned quietly against each other, sitting beneath the red maple tree, enjoying the valley's seclusion and tranquil peace.

A gentle breeze blew.

Scarlet maple leaves fluttered down, swirling and dancing, one after another, crystalline, fiery red, and translucent.

Such an ethereal and beautiful scene—the towering man and the breathtakingly beautiful woman leaning against each other—formed a peaceful and lovely picture one would never forget in a lifetime, not wanting to forget it, wanting to preserve this beautiful image forever.

And this valley scene was eternal!

Forever frozen in this moment, in this beauty.

No matter how the world outside changed, whether through strife or scheming, here remained eternally unchanged.

"Su Daji?!"

Someone said, staring fixedly at the woman leaning against the dignified man beneath the red maple tree—that was Su Daji!

Trembling, panic.

Their souls were infinitely horrified to the extreme.

Everyone present felt their hands and feet turn ice-cold, never having expected to see Su Daji here.

They could not imagine that such an unparalleled, phoenix-like, domineering existence like a solemn goddess-emperor would lean so tenderly against a man, revealing a woman's gentle, water-like softness.

They were done for.

So Su Daji had already returned to the palace. We trespassed into the palace like this, and the key thing is we saw this tender side of her. To preserve her outward dignity and prevent word from spreading about her being so gentle, she would have to silence all of us.

Not a single person wasn't panicking.

Even those watching the broadcast were panicking, wondering if Su Daji would know they were watching the broadcast, and whether she would silence them too, since they had all seen this scene.

The panic didn't last long before they suddenly realized something was off.

They had been here for quite a while, and the Su Daji and the dignified man in the valley hadn't paid them any attention, as if they didn't exist.

"That's not right, she's not the real Su Daji. Could this be a memory image branded into heaven and earth like that thing in Tochigi Prefecture?"

Someone reacted and shouted.

Soon many others noticed too, realizing this wasn't Su Daji herself. Apart from anything else, think carefully—Su Daji was in a great battle with that one 'over there,' how could she possibly be nestled here? The key point is this palace has already been taken down; even if she wanted to nestle, it would be in the ancient city.

Then they glanced at Kamikawa Mitsu and found his expression as calm and steady as when he had come, without any Solemn or moved change in color, and immediately felt relieved.

"If the woman in the memory scene branded into this mountain valley is Su Daji, then this man must be… King Zhou, Di Xin!!"

Realization dawned on everyone, and they looked over in astonishment.

Completely unlike the incompetent, depraved, and brutal figure from the Investiture of the Gods TV series, the King Zhou here had a towering frame, majestic and domineering, like an emperor of the heavens above and the earth below, revered by all things and all spirits.

His face, too, was strikingly handsome and dignified.

With that extraordinary bearing and that exceptional air alone, the world would never believe that King Zhou was the depraved, brutal man recorded in the Investiture of the Gods and passed down among the folk.

Director Takahashi and the others instinctively looked toward Professor Beishan.

Professor Beishan's eyes flashed, overcome with excitement—their historians' archaeology and discoveries were correct!

King Zhou was not a brutal, incompetent man.

……

8)