Chapter 146 My Charming Ancestor 20

Days passed by one by one.

In Xianyang, all was calm and peaceful.

But beneath this calm surface, turbulent undercurrents were already surging.

Zhou Jue was living a very comfortable life.

Every day, he was either in seclusion in Zhangtai Palace cultivating his skills, or out gathering resources, or in the First Emperor's study answering questions for his ancestor.

Occasionally, he would offer some technical formulas or guidance to the craftsmen.

Ying Zheng learned very quickly, or rather, he didn't need to learn at all.

He only needs to give an order, and the entire Qin Empire will be like the most sophisticated machine in his hands, quickly starting to operate at his command.

Countless skilled craftsmen were gathered together to study the "heavenly book" bestowed by the immortals day and night.

Countless messengers traveled far and wide, searching for those "uncut gems" hidden in the wilderness.

Zhou Jue was very satisfied.

She could sense that the invisible and intangible "national destiny bestowed upon her" was growing steadily at a slow pace.

The amount of cultivation power reflected back to her was not much, but it was stable.

Free cultivation points are too good to pass up.

The feeling of becoming stronger simply by lying down captivated her, making it impossible for her to extricate herself.

That day, she had just finished a round of cultivation and consolidated her Golden Core stage cultivation.

The familiar voice of the little eunuch could be heard again outside the palace gate.

"Immortal, His Majesty requests your presence."

It was still that same grand hall.

But today is very different from the past.

Inside the palace, there was singing and dancing.

Dozens of graceful dancers danced in the hall, their long sleeves fluttering like butterflies among flowers.

Ying Zheng sat high on the throne, a slight smile on his face, with his eldest son Fusu to his left. Below him were several new faces—Xiao He, Chen Ping… all unpolished gems that Ying Zheng had gathered from every corner of the world after she had "guided" them.

These people sat upright, their expressions tense, pretending to be calm as they enjoyed the song and dance, but in reality, their eyes were frantically scanning the First Emperor on the throne and the legendary immortal beside him.

Zhou Jue chuckled inwardly.

She could clearly sense that ever since Ying Zheng embarked on the path of cultivation, the national fortune of the Qin Dynasty had been like a shot of adrenaline, slowly but steadily increasing every day. Although the amount of cultivation power she received as a bonus wasn't much, who wouldn't love free power?

This feeling of leveling up while lying down is even more addictive than cultivation itself.

Her gaze finally settled on a burly man with a deep, melancholy aura.

From the start of the banquet, this man remained silent, only focusing on drinking with his head down. Yet, beneath his seemingly relaxed muscles lay a hidden strength.

What's even more interesting is that the look in his eyes when he looked at Ying Zheng showed no awe, no curiosity, only a resolute determination.

Just then, after several rounds of drinks, the singing and dancing gradually stopped.

The burly man suddenly stood up!

He carried the wine cup and walked step by step to the center of the hall. The hall fell silent instantly, and all eyes turned to the man.

"Your Majesty," the man said, his voice clear and melodious.

Ying Zheng put down his wine cup, his eyes filled with amusement: "Speak."

"I am a former subordinate of Zhang Liang, a strongman from the state of Han!" The man suddenly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, and stared directly at the emperor on the throne: "Your Majesty once said that if we are willing to surrender, we members of the Han royal family and former officials will be treated well!"

"May I ask, what constitutes preferential treatment? Is it being given a mansion and forced to eke out a living, like pigs and dogs? Or... is it truly allowing us to live with dignity, like human beings?"

That was an extremely impolite question.

It could even be described as utterly rebellious!

The atmosphere in the hall cooled down a bit.

Xiao He, Chen Ping, and the others turned pale with fright, cursing inwardly that this man was insane! He had only just been recruited and dared to question the First Emperor like this; he had a death wish!

Fusu's brows furrowed tightly.

"Insolence!" a eunuch shouted sternly.

"Step back."

Ying Zheng's voice wasn't loud, but it made the eunuch tremble and immediately bow and retreat.

He wasn't angry; instead, a smile appeared on his lips.

"So what do you think should be done?"

The strongman walked step by step toward the steps.

"In my humble opinion, true preferential treatment means granting us the same status as the people of Qin! It means allowing us to participate in state affairs, it means allowing us..."

His voice grew louder and louder, and his footsteps quickened!

Ten steps.

Five steps.

Three steps.

He was only three steps away from becoming that high and mighty emperor!

Now!

A murderous glint flashed in the strongman's eyes!

He suddenly pulled out a dagger that had been prepared beforehand and soaked in deadly poison from his sleeve!

The dagger was as thin as a cicada's wing and incredibly sharp. Under the lamplight, it flashed a cold, eerie blue light!

"Ying Zheng! Prepare to die!"

With a heart-wrenching roar, he suddenly drew a dagger as thin as a cicada's wing, gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light, from his sleeve, and with all his might, stabbed it into Ying Zheng's heart!

The true intentions are revealed!

That's too fast!

Everything happened in the blink of an eye!

The Imperial Guards didn't even have time to react!

Fusu stood up in terror, and Xiao He and the others were terrified!

However, just as the dagger was about to touch Ying Zheng's robe,

Ying Zheng did not panic. He simply extended two fingers, like iron clamps, and effortlessly pinched the tip of the dagger!

No matter how hard Ren Dali exerted himself, the sharp dagger could not advance even an inch further!

"!!!"

The strongman's pupils suddenly contracted!

What did he see?! Bare-handed... he caught his full-force thrust?! How is that possible?!

That's it?

Ying Zheng spoke softly, his tone carrying a hint of disappointment.

He applied a slight pressure with his fingers.

"Crack!"

With a sharp crack, he broke the poisoned dagger in two fingers! Before he could react, Ying Zheng casually struck out with his palm.

"puff--"

The strongman was struck as if by lightning, flying backward and crashing heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

He didn't die, but it was worse than death!

He was terrified! This scene, which was completely beyond his comprehension, utterly shattered his mind!

This...this is power that a human can possess?!

"You...you..." The strongman supported himself on the ground, looking at the man on the throne in disbelief.

Ying Zheng slowly stood up.

An invisible aura emanated from him.

He ignored the Imperial Guards who rushed up and pinned the strongman down.

He simply looked down at the assassin sent by Zhang Liang from his high vantage point.

"Strongman, how do you think you brought this dagger in?"

His voice, though not loud, clearly reached the ears of everyone in the hall.

"Do you think your little tricks can fool me?"

Ying Zheng opened his palm.

A wisp of dazzling golden dragon energy appeared out of thin air in his palm, swirling and rising, transforming into a lifelike young dragon that let out a soul-stirring low groan!

It was like a miracle!

"I am no longer a mortal! I have been ordained by Heaven and destined for eternal life! I am a cultivator chosen by Heaven!"

"What do you have to kill me with?"

boom!

The entire hall was filled with a silent, breathless atmosphere!

Cultivators?!

Your Majesty... is a deity?!

The strongman stared blankly at the golden dragon aura, then looked at the unharmed Ying Zheng, and his last line of defense completely collapsed.

A meticulously planned, desperate attack is so laughable and so utterly vulnerable in the face of absolute power!

"Aaaaaahh ...

The strongman let out a desperate and indignant roar, and two lines of bloody tears streamed down his face.

He felt like the sky had fallen.

Ying Zheng withdrew his gaze, and his expression returned to calm.

Xiao He, Chen Ping, and the others were drenched in cold sweat, not daring to even lift their heads. They were worried that the First Emperor would punish those involved, and they swore that this assassin really had nothing to do with them!

Ying Zheng's gaze slowly fell upon them.

"Gentlemen, do you still feel that my 'preferential treatment' is not sincere enough?"

His voice was calm, yet it carried an irresistible pressure.

Xiao He and the others trembled violently, no longer clinging to any hope. They all prostrated themselves on the ground, roaring with all their might:

"We... are willing to die for His Majesty! To die for the Great Qin!!"

Ying Zheng nodded in satisfaction, as if all of this was part of his script.

Finally, his gaze turned to Zhou Jue, who had been watching the whole thing calmly.

"My immortal, does my 'Finger-Severing Vajra' technique meet your approval?"