Chapter 592 - 553: The People Are Most Important, the State Next, the Ruler Least

In the endless Void Space, along the Ancient Starry Road illuminated by a single point of starlight, a voice seemed to reverberate.

The only ones who can save the world are the living beings of this world themselves!

We will not open—

So said the Celestial Pride of the Human Race.

This voice echoed not only in the vast Void Space, but also across the entire Nine Provinces Land, for all the world’s living beings to witness.

At Demon Suppression Pass, before the Grand Governor’s Mansion, Yu Wenxu spat out a mouthful of blood, yet in that very moment, his back straightened.

He looked as if he had heard a divine decree, his face a mask of shock, followed by the joyous relief of complete understanding.

"So that’s how it is..." His voice started low, then rose, growing clearer and brighter. "So that’s how it is! Yes, that’s exactly how it should be! Why didn’t I think of it? That must be the correct answer. What Immortal Island savior? The only ones who can save the world are the people of the world themselves!"

Yu Wenxu burst out laughing, flailing his arms and legs, nearly overcome with frenzy.

But his wild display didn’t draw any ridicule, for there were many others who were just as frenzied.

All who had been immersed in this question, who felt it as deeply as he did, experienced the same profound, refreshing clarity—like drinking ice water on the hottest day of summer.

Countless people burst into laughter, a heroic spirit surging in their chests, overcome with the urge to immediately don their armor, march into battle, and save the world.

To be your own hero, to be the world’s hero—is there any romance more magnificent than this?

「Capital, Imperial Palace.」

Before Taiji Hall, beneath the Mountain and River Mirror, a loud laugh suddenly erupted.

The middle-aged-looking Emperor clapped his hands and laughed, praising, "Excellent!"

His eyes were fixed brightly on the Mountain and River Mirror, his expression satisfied as he spoke his praise. "Absolutely excellent. Worthy of being a Celestial Pride of our Human Race. ’We will not open’—good! ’We will not open’—ah, how wonderful..."

The Immortal Island not opening was truly a wonderful thing.

No one noticed the Emperor relax the taut muscles in his shoulders and back. There, where extreme tension had caused the muscles to knot into the image of a demonic face, that visage now slowly faded away.

The Emperor let out a soft sigh of relief.

But his relief was premature. It was currently the hour of the morning court session.

Therefore, those present in Taiji Hall, witnessing the scene within the Mountain and River Mirror, included not only the Emperor and his palace attendants, but also all the civil and military officials!

And unlike in other places, the Mountain and River Mirror hanging in Taiji Hall was the main artifact itself.

A treasured artifact tied to the nation’s fate, a Nine-star Spiritual Treasure!

The Mountain and River Mirrors across the Nine Provinces Land were all subordinate projections. They could only display the surface events on the Ancient Starry Road as a screen of light, but they could not convey the terrifying whispers and chaotic roars from the Void Space.

But the Mountain and River Mirror in Taiji Hall *could*!

Thus, the civil and military officials standing beneath the Mountain and River Mirror could not only feel the transmission of that terror and pressure from the Void Space, but could also make many connections.

One minister said gravely, "Your Majesty, the Mountain and River Mirror is a treasured artifact of the nation. It must have sensed a matter of such gravity that it could shake the nation’s very fate for it to activate on its own at this time."

Another minister added, "Indeed. The Mountain and River Mirror possesses its own spiritual awareness. We must take the calamity mentioned on the Ancient Starry Road seriously."

Yet another minister said, "Your humble servant is concerned that the Immortal Island mentioned on the Ancient Starry Road is Penglai Immortal Island. If it is Penglai Immortal Island, how can it not be opened?"

...

At the mention of Penglai, all the civil and military officials erupted.

The entire imperial court was filled with an indescribable excitement. For years, the Cultivators of Great Zhou had pursued Penglai. They would never let go of even the slightest clue, let alone a matter as significant as the Mountain and River Mirror activating on its own to issue a warning.

No one believed that the Mountain and River Mirror had activated and displayed the Ancient Starry Road just so they could watch a Celestial Pride of the Human Race answer a question.

Neither the talk of calamity nor the talk of the Immortal Island could be taken lightly!

The officials were all Cultivators. Among them, those who pursued Immortality were the fewest, followed by Martial Artists, with Scholars being the most numerous.

But regardless of their path, they were all Cultivators in the end.

And what Cultivator did not yearn for Penglai?

"If a great calamity truly is to befall the Nine Provinces World, and this junior keeps insisting the Immortal Island not be opened—if the Immortal Island truly does not open, can she bear the responsibility when disaster strikes?"

As the crowd grew more agitated, some even began to blame the Celestial Pride on the Ancient Starry Road who had declared "We will not open." The dignified imperial court was on the verge of devolving into a chaotic market—

Suddenly, the Chief Eunuch, Chu Wanyun, swept his duster, its thousands of threads shifting in a new direction.

A soft breeze swept through the court, and Chu Wanyun gave a light cough, as if clearing his throat.

The din in the court instantly fell silent.

"My lords, you are all so concerned with the Immortal Island. Have the court’s stipends made you so content that you’ve forgotten the common people?" Chu Wanyun’s voice was thin and his tone was slow, but the moment his words spread, the entire hall became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The ministers all came to their senses. The Emperor had just praised the idea of "the Immortal Island not opening," saying it was a good thing!

At the head of the officials, the old Imperial Uncle, Prince Ping, took a step forward. The Martial Arts Grandmaster had a serene expression. He was slightly heavyset, with white hair covering his lightly wrinkled face, giving him a kind and benevolent appearance.

He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said with a look of shame, "The fault for this matter lies with this old subject and the others. We allowed our minds to be thrown into chaos by a mere rumor of an Immortal Island. It is thanks to Your Majesty’s great love and benevolence that you always guide us away from making grave errors. This old subject is guilty. I ask Your Majesty for punishment."

After speaking, the old Imperial Uncle raised his hands levelly and bowed deeply at the waist.

The Emperor, who had been standing at the very front with his back to the crowd watching the Mountain and River Mirror, quickly turned. He raised a hand in a gesture to help Prince Ping up. "Imperial Uncle, there is no need for this. I understand that all my beloved ministers are merely worried about the Mountain and River Mirror’s warning. Your intentions are good. It is just that we who stand in this court must be all the more cautious and humble, and always remember the words of the ancient sages."

The Emperor continued in a calm tone, "’The people are most precious, the state is next, and the ruler is of least importance.’ If we do not put the people first, with the common folk before the realm itself, how can we even speak of ruling the nation?"

His tone was mild, but every word and every sentence seemed to carry the power to awaken the deaf.

The ministers were deeply moved, and all the officials were filled with admiration and respect. They all cried out, "Your Majesty’s magnanimity is boundless! We subjects deserve to die ten thousand times!"

"Long live Your Majesty! We subjects are guilty!"

Some high-ranking officials of the Third Grade and above were even wiping away tears.

On this day, the Ancient Starry Road shook the Nine Provinces.

Later, when word of what transpired in the imperial court spread, the people of the Nine Provinces all cheered "Long live the Emperor!", their hearts filled with reverence, admiration, and sincere conviction for the ruler of their world.

The image in the Mountain and River Mirror, however, ended after the Celestial Pride of the Human Race finished answering the question.

Cascading sparks of starlight fell through the Void as the Celestial Pride of the Human Race transformed into a streak of light. After answering the third question, she shot through the long Ancient Starry Road like a meteor and reached the other side!

The image stopped abruptly at that moment, but the shockwaves and debates it caused swept across the entire Nine Provinces like a hurricane, refusing to subside for a long time.

The Mountain and River Mirror closed once more, returning to its original tranquility.

But at the end of the Ancient Starry Road, Song Ciwan’s eyes suddenly flew wide open, utterly and completely stunned.