Chapter 502: Denying the Imperial Scripture

Future Heavenly Emperor, what future Heavenly Emperor?

Everyone appeared incomparably bewildered.

Seeing everyone's confusion, Li Heng could not be bothered to act as a riddle-monger; excluding a small portion of key information, he told everyone the general experience of the matter.

After hearing this, everyone was stunned once more, their hearts filled with shock.

A transaction between Fellow Daoist Li and the Heavenly Emperor?

His Majesty actually conducted a transaction with Fellow Daoist Li, and even became the Imperial Teacher, possessing the authority of the Acting Heavenly Emperor? They were completely dumbfounded, unable to even imagine such a thing happening.

Especially for the Heavenly King of Guangnan and Bai Laotou, their hearts were even more conflicted.

Just a moment ago, they were still calling each other "Fellow Daoist," but how much time had passed since then? The other party's status had risen in a straight line, and they now had to address him as Imperial Teacher, or even as His Majesty?

And the most critical point was the most fundamental inheritance left behind by His Majesty: the matter of the "Heavenly Emperor Scripture."

"We implore the Imperial Teacher to retract the order..."

The Heavenly King of Guangnan and Bai Laotou bowed. But Li Heng smiled without speaking, and the two could only bite the bullet and continue.

"At the very least, please erase the memories of the Heavenly Emperor Scripture from our minds; we truly dare not overstep into the position of the second Heavenly Emperor, as that would be a dereliction of a subject's duty."

The two were anxious in their hearts; this was also their true thought.

They were not even Sacred, yet they were thinking about the position of the second Heavenly Emperor—was that not harboring evil intentions and plotting rebellion?

Although they were not sure if Li Heng was fishing, they absolutely did not want to take such a risk. Furthermore, they knew their own limitations; it was unlikely they could even attain the Sacred Dao, let alone the position of the Heavenly Emperor, the strongest among the Sacred.

"Hmm, besides these, are there any other reasons?"

Li Heng nodded instead and asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the two were stunned, somewhat not expecting Li Heng to give such an answer. In their expectations, Li Heng would either refuse or agree with their approach; there would not be a third option.

Yet now, he was actually asking them for their reasons for doing so?

Was this not asking the obvious?

However, since Li Heng was now the Imperial Teacher and far above them, the two could only continue to answer.

"Reporting to the Imperial Teacher, as you know, we are merely phantoms of the past; our true selves have long since passed away. How can phantoms cultivate the Heavenly Emperor Scripture? In the end, it is nothing more than flowers in a mirror and the moon in the water—illusory and ethereal things, completely meaningless."

This was also their true thought.

Their current true selves were already dead, so why bother? For the nearly impossible position of the second Heavenly Emperor? And to risk being fished?

The two strongly suspected that the actions of this Imperial Teacher were likely just a smokescreen, and that behind the scenes, he was surely putting all his effort into cultivating a core seed to grow into the Heavenly Emperor.

As for the spread of the Heavenly Emperor Scripture? They feared it was laced with something.

Or perhaps, when a tree stands above the forest, the wind will surely destroy it. This Imperial Teacher needed many beings practicing the Heavenly Emperor Scripture to block various dangers for that true core seed.

They had already played out various grand dramas in their minds.

And this was not them overthinking; it was just that in their era, one truly had to have such wariness. Fishing and counter-fishing were everywhere; without being on guard, one would have died completely long ago.

For instance, a supreme cultivation art picked up by a poor boy in a mountain village might be bait from some big shot, but that poor boy might actually be the reincarnation of some Dao Ancestor or Sacred being.

"Is that so? Then are there any other reasons?"

Li Heng nodded and continued to inquire.

"This... we have no other reasons."

The two shook their heads hesitantly, completely unable to grasp Li Heng's meaning. Of course, although they said there were no other reasons, if they wanted to make them up, there were countless, but because of Li Heng's inexplicable attitude, they dared not say so much.

"I know you are cautious in your hearts and have some defenses. But you must trust your Majesty; he is sincerely and genuinely wanting to cultivate a Heavenly Emperor, regardless of who that Heavenly Emperor may be."

"Moreover, this scripture is a Supreme Scripture. Never mind that you are phantoms of the past; even if you were truly false products, practicing this scripture would allow you to discard the false and preserve the true, and attain True Reality."

"At that time, you might even be able to resonate with your true selves that have already died in the darkness, pull them back to Reality, merge with them, and truly resurrect. Does this not move you?"

Li Heng said with a sigh.

"This Heavenly Emperor Scripture was left behind by your Majesty. It contains no hidden dangers or ulterior motives; it is a true supreme scripture. If one can cultivate according to this scripture, one will surely attain the status of a supreme Sacred. And from there, attain the honor of Heaven and Earth. Does this not move you?"

The two revealed bitter smiles.

These words sounded familiar; they had done this before.

Wasn't this just painting a big picture?

Even if this big picture could truly be realized, they dared not cultivate it; this was the core inheritance belonging exclusively to the second Heavenly Emperor.

His Majesty was not yet dead; how could they dare to do such a thing?

Seeing that the two's attitude remained the same, Li Heng sighed that the Great Void was truly in decline, and there was not a shred of trust between people. It was worthy of being the End Tribulation—the end of beings, the end of the soul.

"Then forget it. Whether you cultivate it or not is up to you, but do not regret it."

Seeing such a reaction, Li Heng could not be bothered to waste more breath.

The Great Void lacked everything, but it did not lack people.

Moreover, given the characteristics of the Heavenly Emperor Scripture, if one did not sincerely identify with the views of the Heavenly Emperor Scripture, one could not cultivate it, so he could not force them to practice it.

There would be a time when they would regret it.

The appearance of this Supreme Scripture, the Heavenly Emperor Scripture, although it carried a certain purpose, was a true and voidless cultivation method and path that could attain the Sacred Dao.

To be honest, if he, Li, had not already determined his own path, he would likely have been moved by this cultivation method as well.

Thinking of this, Li Heng narrowed his eyes slightly.

Through this Heavenly Emperor Scripture, seeing the big from the small, he felt that the Heavenly Emperor might no longer be just a single-element Eternal Dao; it might also involve other things, such as other elements...

"Then, Imperial Teacher, our memories..."

Seeing that Li Heng had relented, the two struck while the iron was hot.

"No external force is needed. You only need to browse through the Heavenly Emperor Scripture once, and then deny the views of the Heavenly Emperor Scripture. At that time, the Heavenly Emperor Scripture will naturally dissipate in your minds and abandon you."

Li Heng said calmly.

The eyes of the two lit up.

So that was it? No wonder they couldn't forget it no matter what they did earlier. They had to browse through the whole thing and deny it? It was worthy of being the core inheritance left behind by His Majesty; it was truly profound.

They hurriedly browsed through it once, and after finishing, they couldn't help but shiver, feeling a chill strike from their backs; this scripture was truly wicked—to think of forging a perfect Heavenly Emperor?

Could that really be achieved?

Was it not too demonic and paranoid?

The two dared not ponder too much, fearing they themselves would fall into a demonic state, so after reading it, they immediately dismissed it. If it is a human heart, it has selfishness, and with selfishness, how could it be perfect?

This scripture, from its very foundation, was...

At this moment, they were all stunned, not daring to deny it anymore.

To deny the scripture was to deny His Majesty!