My System Is Three Thousand Years Early

The pool that the Great Tang Emperor had been gazing at.

It was originally empty, with nothing but the pitch-black abyss of water which, upon a single glance, remained inscrutable.

But at this moment.

It suddenly began to emit a faint glow.

The strands of light, like reflections on a mirror, refracted a series of fantastical luminance, and beneath the surface of the pool, they conjured an image.

Within that image was a temple, with its wooden beams in disrepair, its grey curtains slightly hanging, and a Buddha statue fallen to the ground, its body broken and face fierce.

And behind the grey curtains.

On the Lotus Platform where the Buddha statue once sat, there now sat an old monk in grey robes.

The grey-robed old monk’s face bore the signs of age and weather, his skin spotted with many somber blemishes, and he slightly bowed his head, giving the impression of someone in the twilight years of life.

Had it not been for the faint rising and falling of the grey-robed old monk’s chest.

One might have suspected he was already dead without any doubt.

Under the watchful eye of the Great Tang Emperor, the old monk’s breath became slightly more rapid.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide.

His gaze swept around the surroundings.

Quickly.

The grey-robed old monk seemed to sense the presence of the Great Tang Emperor, looking towards the direction where the emperor was, as if his gaze could penetrate the void and instantly see the emperor’s visage.

Upon seeing the Great Tang Emperor.

The grey-robed old monk’s eyes twitched violently several times, as if he was particularly shocked, but this shock did not linger on his face for long before he suppressed it. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire

“Your Majesty?”

The grey-robed old monk slowly spoke, his voice was not loud or deep, but it was extremely hoarse.

The water in the pool rippled slightly.

Although the grey-robed old monk did not know where he was, his voice perfectly reached the ears of the Great Tang Emperor.

The Great Tang Emperor listened to the old monk’s voice, the young face beneath the fierce mask did not change in the slightest, only a hint of coldness appeared, which he then quickly suppressed again.

“Abbot, it’s been a long time.”

“You’ve hidden for so many years, the disaster of that year turned out to be a blessing for you, after that incident, you were treated like an honored guest by the Buddha Sect.”

“If the Heavenly Dao hadn’t collapsed, perhaps you could have lived freely for a lifetime.”

The Great Tang Emperor said in an even tone.

Hearing the Great Tang Emperor’s words, the grey-robed old monk’s expression became visibly uglier, yet facing the emperor, the old monk seemed to have some concerns and did not dare to speak his mind, merely lowering his eyebrows in thought.

After a while, he spoke again.

“Your Majesty, the matters of the past were instigated by the Buddha Sect, we were merely pawns, the death of the Saint Monk is not much related to me, why must Your Majesty trouble me further.”

The grey-robed old monk pleaded earnestly.

The Great Tang Emperor’s face remained calm, simply quietly observing the old monk, his eyes barely fluctuating.

Silence.

In the silence of the Great Tang Emperor, the grey-robed old monk seemed to feel an immense pressure, his previously expressionless face now forced to show a few stiff smiles.

Just as he was about to say something more.

The Great Tang Emperor spoke again.

“A pawn?”

“You are right, you are a pawn, but you are also one of them.”

“The Saint Monk’s journey to the west was my plan for the Great Tang’s future prosperity, but it became a board for the deities and Buddhas to compete for the fate of the world.”

“Even after they achieved their goals, they did not stop, wanting to annihilate completely, spreading this secret affair as though it was a great deed done for the Great Tang.”

“The Saint Monk was deceived, the great sage was deceived, I too was deceived.”

“I, a mere mortal, if not for the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, and the corruption of the path of cultivation in the world, with the deities and Buddhas present, what could I possibly have done?”

“Now, the Heavenly Dao may restart…”

“I, too, will Fight for Heaven’s Destiny.”

“Let those exalted deities and Buddhas know that mortals can vie for Heaven!”

The Great Tang Emperor said, the eyes beneath the fierce mask became exceedingly resolved, and his tone was filled with icy intent.

The Emperor’s words reached the old monk’s ears, causing the old monk’s face to uncontrollably tremble again.

The grey-robed old monk, just by listening to the Emperor’s words, felt that the Great Tang Emperor was mad.

After a brief pause, then widening his eyes, he stared intently at the Great Tang Emperor.

“Your Majesty, how can we possibly contend with those existences?”

“And how can we reach the Fate of the Heavenly Dao?”

The grey-robed old monk said, his face becoming extremely unsightly.

Listening to the old monk’s words, the Great Tang Emperor did not say much, just calmly fixed his gaze on the old monk, and softly stated:

“You’ve managed to survive in this world, that’s already not easy.”

“I’m giving you a choice.”

“Either die or become my Vanguard.”

After the Great Tang Emperor’s words came out, the grey-robed old monk couldn’t help but twitch slightly, his expression becoming exceedingly unpleasant.

A choice??

Is this really a choice for me?

The grey-robed old monk took a deep breath, wanting to say something, but in the end, no words came out. With a sigh, he relented.

“Your Majesty, just tell me what you want me to do, and I will do it.”