I tricked you into thinking you had the makings of an emperor, but you actually did it?

When Shen Ming asked the question, a glint flashed in Ling Chuanyuan's eyes.

However, he waited for his younger sister, Ling Chuanxi, to speak.

It turns out that both siblings passed the selection process at the War King's Mansion.

However, before reaching the Supreme Realm, Ling Chuanxi had not forged a fire-attribute Yuan Platform, so she could not deploy troops with the other Divine Flame Army.

There are solutions, otherwise the War King's mansion would have too limited sources of soldiers.

Given Ling Chuanxi's situation, she can enter the Burning Heaven Tower, complete the nine-level trial, and obtain the inheritance of the Divine Flame Dynasty.

However, the number of people allowed to enter the Burning Heaven Tower is limited, with only eight people allowed at a time.

There were thirteen people who passed the test at the same time as Ling Chuanxi.

Five people will have to wait until next year, without further testing or selection; the decision rests with a general.

In this kind of situation, eliminating anyone is in accordance with the rules.

Therefore, the generals did not need to speak; it all depended on the will of their subordinates.

Ling Chuanxi came from the lower realm, with no one to rely on, especially since she was a woman.

The general made it clear that the gifts presented were far from enough for everyone else, unless she herself was included.

Ling Chuanxi refused, and the general did not force her.

However, Ling Chuanxi cannot enter the Burning Heaven Tower.

Ling Chuanxi was mentally prepared to wait until next year, but then Shen Ming came here to give a lecture, so she decided to give it a try.

“If this puts Senior Brother Shen in a difficult position, that’s alright. I can wait until next year. After all, that general was acting according to the rules,” Ling Chuanxi said.

"rule."

Shen Ming repeated these two words, neither confirming nor denying.

If the competition is to narrow down from thirteen to eight, then further testing and elimination based on performance is necessary; that's what makes it fair.

Such a brutal approach, handing over power to a general and expecting him to be fair and impartial without restraint, is nothing short of wishful thinking.

Moreover, this was done intentionally, treating this power as a privilege reserved for generals.

The most ironic thing is that people like Ling Chuanxi from the lower realm don't seem to think anything of it.

After all, as outsiders from the lower realm, they are already fortunate to have any opportunity and dare not hope for too much.

Shen Ming didn't have much experience with this kind of thing, so he looked at Princess Fire Phoenix beside him.

"I will give Senior Brother Shen a satisfactory answer within a quarter of an hour." Princess Fire Phoenix personally took care of this matter.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, Princess Fire Phoenix returned: "It has been investigated. This general has four concubines, all of whom were coerced in similar ways. The War King has already punished him."

Upon hearing this, Ling Chuanxi's delicate body trembled, and she said, "So even if we wait until next year, the result will be the same?"

“Yes, his deputy general confessed that he explicitly said he wanted to take you as his fifth concubine,” Princess Fire Phoenix said.

Ling Chuanxi and Ling Chuanyuan then realized how naive they had been.

"The War King will punish him, and the spots for the Burning Heaven Tower will be re-selected," Princess Fire Phoenix said.

The two siblings looked excited, marveling at Shen Ming's immense influence.

"On what grounds should they be convicted?" Shen Ming asked.

“Bending the law for personal gain and abusing power for personal benefit,” Princess Fire Phoenix said.

Shen Ming suddenly realized that power, while a general's perk, is also a weakness.

If he hadn't run into him today, everything this general did would have been in accordance with regulations.

Conversely, they are now unforgivable sinners.

Although this series of events demonstrated Shen Ming's authority as the Holy Emperor, he was not very happy.

Ling Chuanxi met him by chance today; if not, it's unimaginable what the fate of this well-behaved and introverted girl would have been.

Full of confusion and hope, she walked the path of trials and arrived in the Middle Three Realms, only to find that her fate was to become someone else's concubine.

Shen Ming recalled the world he saw through the eyes of Emperor Hengyu while in the ruins.

There are no nine realms with distinct classes, only four regions and the vast world existing on a single plane.

If I become the Celestial Emperor one day, I will surely illuminate all the heavens and myriad realms!

"Your Majesty! We must immediately begin a full-scale overhaul of the army!"

At this moment, the War King arrived upon hearing the news. Upon seeing Shen Ming standing there in deep thought, he immediately expressed his opinion.

"Need not."

Shen Ming waved his hand, knowing that it wouldn't change anything.

Afterwards, he bid farewell to the grateful Lingchuan siblings and, without allowing the Princess to accompany him, continued his journey alone.

……

Shen Ming set off alone because he had just experienced a flash of inspiration and was about to have an epiphany.

Once they reached a secluded place, he placed the Great Luo Palace in the middle of a desolate mountain. He entered the palace and sat on the Great Luo Platform to comprehend the Dao Embryo.

The innate Dao embryo has thirteen apertures, with nine apertures serving as a watershed, after which one's combat power will be greatly enhanced.

The Dao heart of each aperture did not come from nothing, but was based on what Shen Ming had learned throughout his life.

In his own words, it's equivalent to categorizing and summarizing.

Now, he has obtained the Three Swords of Panhuang: the Sword of Time, the Sword of Void, and the Sword of Life.

It contains profound mysteries of space, time, and life.

With the existing Dao heart, it's enough to make up the nine orifices.

But now, for the first time, Shen Ming felt a sense of confusion.

Different paths and different profound meanings are not entirely independent.

But you are in me and I am in you.

For example, when Shen Ming was on the Myriad Gods Ranking, he obtained the purest power of the Four Symbols of Heaven and Earth, including the Dao Heart of Fire.

Before that, the Heart of Fire originated from the Creation Runes obtained in the Endless Divine Realm.

The Creation Runes contain the essence of life's creation, and are similar in nature to the Panhuang Life Sword.

As a result, Shen Ming now dares not refine the Panhuang Three Swords, lest he exacerbate the chaos.

"Start from scratch, and sort it out again and again."

Eternal Dao Heart, Limitless Sword Heart, Thunderous Immortal Heart.

These are the first three Dao Hearts to establish a solid foundation, with Thunder reaching the Immortal Heart level, free from chaos.

With the help of the Myriad Gods Ranking, Shen Ming completed the four elements of wind, fire, water, and earth in one go.

Among them, the situation of the Fire Dao Heart is the most complicated, as it is related to both the Creation Runes and Chaos.

Chaos is the opposite that Shen Ming comprehended from the Creation Runes.

"Fire is fire. One should prioritize the Dao and not put the cart before the horse."

Shen Ming made up his mind to abandon the chaotic and messy things related to the Way of Fire.

Each Dao Heart has a different level. After Shen Ming abandoned it, the Dao Heart of Fire fell to the same level as Wind, Water, and Earth.

With the understanding that there are gains and losses, Shen Ming suddenly felt his mind become clear.

In this way, he now has seven Dao Hearts.

He was just two more than needed to reach the ninth orifice, and with all his knowledge, that was more than enough. The difficulty lay in making the right choice.

"Creation Runes, Life and Death Runes; Panhuang Three Swords: Void, Time, and Life."

"The creation is chaotic, with the cycle of life and death, the Dao of space, the Dao of life, and the Dao of time."

"It can't just be to make up the numbers; that would affect my path."

"The power of devouring and the power of reincarnation are pure powers, and their profound mysteries are beyond what the realm of humanity can comprehend."

"Space and time are not powers that the Saint Realm can control. They would be too much of a burden on the power of the Four Symbols. Therefore, we will make them the Thirteen Apertures Plan after the Divine Realm."

"Then, for the last two points, we don't need the Panhuang Three Swords; we only need to summarize what we've learned so far."

As thoughts flashed through his mind, Shen Ming gradually calmed down and clarified the Dao Heart of the Eighth Aperture and the Ninth Aperture!