Chapter 876: The Irony of Fate

"Brother Li, where are we going?"

Han Dong supported the blood-covered hemp-clad youth, gradually moving away from Zhu Zhong’s large force, and asked.

"To the imperial palace." The hemp-clad youth looked in one direction with firm eyes. "But not the imperial palace of this dynasty... It’s on the other side, not far from here."

"Oh..."

"Brother Li, what exactly is the situation with that Opera Emperor?" Someone behind the hemp-clad youth couldn't help but ask.

The appearance of the Opera Emperor had become a nightmare for almost everyone here. The bright red opera robe in the snow was like a death-reaping demon, and thinking back on it now made people tremble with fear... And everyone was wondering why the Opera Emperor wanted to hunt down the hemp-clad youth.

"If I say I don't know either, would you believe me?"

“……”

The crowd exchanged glances.

"Then... will he kill his way back?"

In the hemp-clad youth’s mind, the scene of the three shattering the imperial might just now flashed. He was silent for a long time before saying truthfully:

"I don't know, but if you are afraid of being implicated, it’s not too late to turn back now..."

The crowd had already left the dynasty where Zhu Zhong was, but not too far. Returning the same way wasn't impossible, but most of those who could choose to follow the hemp-clad youth were dissatisfied with Zhu Zhong. Plus, the Opera Emperor seemed to have been trapped in the first layer, so they weren't that afraid.

"It’s fine, so what if it’s the Opera Emperor? I believe Brother Li will definitely become the 'Emperor', and by then, we might not lose to him!"

"Exactly, I believe in Brother Li too!"

“……”

Driven by Han Dong, the crowd was full of confidence in the hemp-clad youth.

Seeing this, the hemp-clad youth didn't say anything more, but led the crowd through the edge of the chaotic battlefield of "Or Leap in the Abyss," where the outline of an imperial palace appeared in the distance.

Outside this imperial palace, there was no chaotic siege, but it was shrouded in an extremely oppressive calm.

Under the lead-gray clouds, figures ran quickly, and the sharp, piercing voice of a eunuch echoed over the imperial palace:

"The Emperor has passed away!"

"The Emperor has passed away!!"

“……”

In the oppressive atmosphere, the light and shadow of history seemed to be playing silently. The crowd saw phantom figures running hurriedly in the imperial palace, saw princes with obvious ambitions, and various forces like invisible hands, moving the chess game within the palace...

There were even large numbers of imperial guards, holding weapons, moving through the narrow palace courtyards.

It was also a new emperor ascending the throne, also a change of dynasty, but the method was completely different from the rebel siege where Zhu Zhong was.

In such a silent atmosphere, the crowd used the hemp-clad youth’s sensory guidance to pass through various parts of the palace. When they passed in front of a main hall, they even clearly heard the cursing inside:

"Third brother!! You actually tampered with the late Emperor’s edict?!"

"Second brother, I don't understand what you’re saying... The late Emperor’s edict was originally like this, how can you say it was tampered with? Not just me, the Prime Minister heard it too."

"No... impossible!! I am the Crown Prince! I am the Crown Prince!!!"

“……”

The crowd moved forward cautiously, startled by the voices inside. The hemp-clad youth poked his head in to take a look and said in a low voice:

"Don't be afraid, these seem to be historical reenactments, there are no real people."

"This place is really scary..."

"Where is the place we’re going?"

The hemp-clad youth bypassed this main hall and, relying on his own senses, arrived in front of another magnificent main hall. No sound came from this hall, and there were no images. In the empty hall, there was only a magnificent dragon chair, seemingly made of gold, standing silently.

All the layouts and furnishings spanned ancient and modern times. Standing in front of the hall, it felt like truly being in history.

And at this moment, on the dragon chair, a golden light cluster was surging silently.

"It’s here." The hemp-clad youth muttered to himself.

The hemp-clad youth could feel that the "Quasi-Emperor Qualification" was in that light cluster. He stepped into the hall and approached the light cluster... His footsteps echoed in the empty hall, and the crowd followed closely behind.

Apart from the hemp-clad youth, no one else received the Emperor's attention, nor did they possess the qualifications to become a quasi-emperor. After approaching a certain distance, they felt as if they were blocked by something, unable to move forward.

"Go for it! Brother Li!"

"Yeah, we're all waiting for you to beat Zhu Zhong to a pulp and lead us out of here!"

“……”

The crowd looked at the hemp-clad youth with a mix of envy and anticipation.

The hemp-clad youth took a deep breath, walked up to the dragon throne, and decisively reached out a hand to grab the ball of light...

As his palm submerged into the ball of light, golden power climbed up along his fingertips. Just as the youth was nervously waiting for the quasi-emperor qualification to enter his body, a sudden change occurred!

The surging ball of light seemed to have sensed something; after a brief stagnation, it withdrew from the youth's body and hovered in the air as if nothing had happened.

At the same time,

A few lines of golden text appeared before him:

[Born with a weak constitution, unable to bear the Emperor's destiny]

[The nineteen emperors no longer pay attention to your actions]

[The emperors feel disappointed in you]

The hemp-clad youth stood frozen in place.

He stared blankly at the lines of text before him. It was not until some time had passed that he regained his senses and tried forcefully once more to grab that golden mass!

But no matter how hard he tried, the ball of light could only extend as far as his arm; it simply could not enter his body...

After trying three times in a row, the hemp-clad youth was drenched in sweat.

Already severely wounded and covered in blood, his vision began to darken. He sat down on the ground, weak and listless, staring blankly at the quasi-emperor qualification that was within reach yet felt as far away as the horizon, lost in his own thoughts.

The crowd, blocked outside, saw this scene with deep confusion in their eyes. Seeing the youth's weakened state, Han Dong couldn't help but speak up:

"Brother Li, what's wrong? Did you become an emperor?"

"Yeah, Brother Li... why didn't that ball of light react?"

"It must be because Brother Li's injuries are too severe. Let him rest for a while, he'll definitely make it!"

"Exactly, Brother Li will definitely be able to lead us out of here."

“……”

The voices full of anticipation kept coming from behind, yet they felt like sharp blades piercing the hemp-clad youth's heart.

Except for him, no one could see those golden words, and no one knew that he had been abandoned by the "emperors" here... He did not possess the qualifications to become a king.

The hemp-clad youth sat there blankly for a long time, gave a bitter smile, propped himself up with his hands, and slowly stood up. Then, stumbling with every step, he walked back stiffly...

"Brother Li...?" The crowd stood frozen, watching this scene.

The hemp-clad youth kept his head low, walking through the crowd step by step. The people subconsciously stepped back, clearing a path for him...

The hemp-clad youth slowly stopped in front of the main hall.

The next moment, several beams of light containing imperial pressure rose suddenly from every corner of "Flying Dragon in the Abyss"!

The other "quasi-emperors," who had parted ways not long ago, seemed to have obtained their respective powers. Their beams of light, radiating vitality and pride, seemed to leap over the abyss, transforming into dragons and transcending the mortal world!

The hemp-clad youth stared blankly at this scene, his fists clenched tightly...

He gave a bitter laugh:

"Truly... fate plays tricks on people..."