Chapter 194: Blood-Forged Human Emperor

Yan Buji took a deep breath and tried hard to recall what had happened after he arrived at the Human Smoke Tower.

Indeed, he had become somewhat engrossed in it; to gain a foothold in this world, he began scheming with those mortals and building up his forces.

If he hadn't still remembered his identity, he would have already figured out how to seize a region, stockpile grain, proclaim himself king, and start contending for the world!

Because he still remembered his identity, Yan Buji's plan was to follow that identity, which should allow him to obtain the treasure inside the Human Smoke Tower.

But now, those words of Li Dao Ren made Yan Buji think of another possibility!

Li Dao Ren might be trying to bypass the rules set by the Human Smoke Tower and seize the treasure!

Then wouldn't all the things he had done be meaningless?

No, that's not right; I just lack experience and methods, so I have no choice but to follow others' rules.

Even if he fell into a trap, it would be his own fault.

Fortunately, he had encountered Li Dao Ren at this time, but it was impossible for Yan Buji to fully trust him.

「What do you plan to do, senior? I guess if we don't accumulate enough popularity, we probably won't be able to get the treasure, right? 」

「Hehehe, kid, you're clever, but why don't you guess what I really want to do? 」

Yan Buji looked at the smiling Li Dao Ren, his eyes shifting.

Although Li Dao Ren had magical power at his disposal, he surely wouldn't dare to tamper with the underlying rules of the Human Smoke Tower, or he would certainly not escape.

「Senior, could it be that you want to gather popularity in a different way? 」

「Guess again. 」

「Isn't that right? 」

Seeing Li Dao Ren's playful expression, Yan Buji suddenly thought of the soldiers in the city and the strange flow of molten iron.

「Could it be that you want those soldiers to undergo an aberration to help you? 」

Li Dao Ren nodded: 「You're not too bad either, although you lack a bit of experience, but this matter isn't as simple as you think—come with me. 」

Li Dao Ren led Yan Buji away from the county office and straight to the top of the mine.

「Have you seen the situation down the mountain? 」

Yan Buji nodded, and the whole Horse Shop County came into view: a towering smelting furnace stood at the town's center, molten iron glowing red flowed from the blast furnace to all parts of the city, resembling a formation.

「The danger of gathering popularity is that even cultivators will unconsciously fall into the rules set by the Human Smoke Tower and lose their memories. If the Human Smoke Tower's current rule is about contending for the world, then the only way to gather popularity is to unify the world. 」

「But think about it—with only three months, how could we possibly unify the world? Even if we came from the imperial army and rose to high rank, it would still be impossible. So this amount of time is only enough for us to gain a foothold; after a while we'll be forcibly sent away. 」 Li Dao Ren stood on the mountaintop gazing into the distance, the cold wind blowing his wide Daoist robe, while Yan Buji stood behind him respectfully like a follower.

「Senior's words are absolutely correct; then what is the purpose of this opening of the Human Smoke Tower? 」

「The opening of the Human Smoke Tower follows regulations; Profound Stillness Dao has touched a taboo this time, so it won't be easy to clear themselves. Their superiors will naturally come down to investigate this situation; I think they came for the stability inside the Human Smoke Tower. 」

「Stability? 」

Li Dao Ren laughed: 「Do you know the origin of the Stillness Dao Imperial Capital Spiritual Realm? 」

「Isn't it said that it formed after a dragon died? 」 Yan Buji wondered.

「Who told you that dragon really died? 」

「Huh?! 」

Yan Buji's pupils contracted as he looked at Li Dao Ren's back.

「They... really intend to move the Human Smoke Tower?! 」

「Could the existence of the Human Smoke Tower be to suppress that not-quite-dead dragon? 」

「Hahaha. 」

Li Dao Ren didn't say more; the meaning was obvious.

Yan Buji understood instantly.

The Human Smoke Tower is not only the supreme treasure guarded by the Eight Dao Mysterious Gate, but also the divine needle that suppresses the Imperial Capital Spiritual Realm; any problem with it is definitely no small matter.

From this, one can infer that the purpose of Emperor Baocheng and the Third Princess is likely this as well!

Yan Buji doesn't know how they will handle this matter; the specific details are beyond his knowledge.

But it's clear that one must stir up muddy water to catch fish!

「I'm too weak! 」

His involvement in this matter can only be to follow arrangements; he cannot escape it.

Whether he follows the Human Smoke Tower's rules or Li Dao Ren's plan, it's equally dangerous for him.

But for now, since Li Dao Ren hasn't moved against him, it shows he still needs Yan Buji to do something for him.

「Kid, are you willing to become the Human Emperor? 」

Yan Buji raised his eyebrows.

「Human Emperor? 」

「Senior, do you want me to contend for the world? 」

「Now it's not possible; we don't have that time. You just need to tell me whether you're willing or not—becoming the Human Emperor inside the Human Smoke Tower would bring you benefits far greater than you imagine. 」 Li Dao Ren said lightly.

Yan Buji frowned, puzzled: 「Since there's no time to contend for the world, how can one become the Human Emperor? Besides, didn't senior say that accumulating more popularity makes it easier to lose oneself? 」

「What's the point of being an emperor over ten thousand people here? 」

His goal is cultivation, to reach the highest realm; the Human Emperor has nothing to do with him at all!

Li Dao Ren chuckled: 「Then let me tell you, becoming the Human Emperor, you can obtain the Human Origin Great Pill! 」

「Human Origin Great Pill?! 」

Yan Buji stared wide-eyed; he knew the effect of the Human Origin Great Pill—if his cultivation reached the tenth Qi Refining layer with no hope of breaking through to Foundation Establishment, the existence of the Human Origin Great Pill could at least let him achieve Foundation Establishment first.

But this risk...

Yan Buji weighed it; if obtaining the Human Origin Great Pill required becoming the Human Emperor as a price, he would be utterly unwilling.

But right now, Li Dao Ren's tone is not a negotiation but a notice.

Whether he likes it or not, he must go and serve as that Human Emperor.

Yan Buji's face darkened, he sighed: "Since you seniors have said so, even if it's for my future cultivation, I still ask you seniors not to go back on your word."

"Hahaha, you're a smart person. I can only tell you that high popularity doesn't mean one cannot resist corrosion; the reason is simply whether one is strong enough."

Li Dao Ren brought Yan Buji down the mountain and into the county seat.

At this moment, the guarding soldiers dared not ask when the commander had gained a new attendant beside him, and were all driven away.

Only the two remained; Li Dao Ren took a deep breath, and his spiritual power surged around him.

"Rise!!!"

"The Heavenly Dao is bright, the Earthly Dao is radiant; Heaven governs the ages, Earth displays the hills. Heaven follows the twelve nine‑thousand‑six, Earth walks the eight trigrams ninety directions."

With Li Dao Ren's shout, Yan Buji instantly felt waves of mysterious fluctuations surrounding him. In an instant, a golden light shot down from the dark night sky into Ma Dian County, causing the surrounding populace and soldiers to fall to their knees.

Again, Li Dao Ren stepped on the Gang Dou; his wondrous steps linked with the scorching molten iron on the ground, and immediately waves of iron‑fire shot up from the earth's lines, converging toward the blast furnace.

"Immortals traverse mountains and seas, people walk the world. The Immortal Dao is vast, the Human Dao flourishes! Now with iron‑fire, we shall forge the Human Emperor with blood!"

In the blink of an eye, Yan Buji saw countless streams of popularity converging toward the blast furnace; the surrounding populace and soldiers all collapsed to the ground, losing their vitality.

At this moment, the entire Human Smoke Building trembled!