novelapdf Chapter 2: What use is my birth? I cannot laugh; what use is my destruction? My arrogance will not d
Chapter 2: What use is my birth? I cannot laugh; what use is my destruction? My arrogance will not d
Sizzle—!
The muffled sound of a sharp instrument cutting through flesh and bone, accompanied by the spurting of blood, was chilling and penetrated the palace walls, reaching the ears of everyone present.
Time seemed to stand still.
"how?"
"How did it go???"
One of the sorcerers, kneeling on the ground, couldn't help but ask a question.
At this crucial moment, the armored soldiers had no time to pay attention to him; they were all focused on the outside of the city walls, waiting for the final outcome.
A few breaths later, it was still the same armored soldier with blood-stained robes.
He strode to the front of the stage, knelt on one knee, and returned to report in his usual flat voice.
"Your Majesty, after this man was beheaded, he collapsed to the ground, breathed his last, and died within three breaths. His body stiffened and he did not move again!"
"Buzz!"
In an instant, the entire square fell into a deathly silence!
"Oh......"
A soft laugh rang out from the stage, tinged with disappointment, understanding, and a hint of self-mockery.
"knew!"
Ying Zheng instantly lost all interest, as if he had watched a clumsy farce.
He leaned back on the throne, listless, not even bothering to pick up the bamboo slips in his hand again, and simply tossed them onto the table.
"No, buddy, you're totally faking it!!!"
Zou Yun felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his heart sinking to the bottom in an instant. The hope that had just risen was shattered in an instant, leaving him with a splitting headache.
Even more desolate sobs than before could be heard again from the deathly silent crowd!
"Take them all away."
Ying Zheng's voice returned to its initial indifference. He waved his hand and delivered the final verdict!
"Kill them all!"
As the three words floated down, they fell lightly.
The Xuanjia elite warriors, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately sprang into action. They took steps, ready to drag this group of swindlers to experience the magician's happy pit!
The shadow of death gripped Zou Yun's heart, and the instinct for survival overwhelmed everything!
Just at this critical moment, a faint ray of light suddenly struck his chaotic mind.
Almost instinctively, Zou Yun broke free from his fear and collapsed to the ground.
Immediately, he began to sing loudly in a strange tone that was a mixture of madness and absurdity.
As he sang, he clapped his hands on his abdomen as accompaniment, shaking his head and swaying his body as if he were insane.
What use are heaven and earth? They cannot even be used as mats or blankets.
"What use is romance? It cannot be eaten or drunk."
"What use is a speck of dust? All things are contained within it;"
"What use is change? The Way itself is self-sufficient."
「···」
"He's gone mad! This person has absolutely been scared out of their wits!!!"
Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events!
Forgetting to cry, forgetting to fear, forgetting the impending death, they just stared blankly at the figure singing and dancing on the cold blue bricks, its expression twisted and frenzied.
The entire Danchi fell into an eerie silence, with only Zou Yun's strange yet enigmatic singing voice echoing through the air.
"Lord Shi, shall we speak again?"
"Should we still refute and interrupt that brat?"
Inside the Dan Chi, the Grand Masters kneeling in the front row exchanged glances, clearly also caught off guard by this sudden turn of events.
"No!" Master Shi shook his head slightly. "Let's wait and see."
Just as the group was talking, Zou Yun's singing came to an end.
"What use is my birth? I cannot laugh; what use is my destruction? It will not diminish my arrogance..."
After finishing the song, Zou Yun suddenly burst into wild laughter without warning. The laughter was sharp and piercing, full of mockery of fate.
However, before the echoing laughter had subsided, he suddenly burst into tears, his face streaked with sobs, as if he had missed the most precious thing in the world.
Under the threat of death, Zou Yun brought his acting talent to its fullest potential, displaying a masterful control over his emotions, from joy to anger to sorrow, with such intensity that it left onlookers speechless.
In an instant, the entire Danchi Palace fell silent.
Even Ying Zheng on the high platform was attracted by it, his gaze lingering on Zou Yun.
Finally, the armored soldiers, regaining their senses, turned grim and prepared to seize the madman.
A hint of helplessness and despair flashed in Zou Yun's eyes, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to maintain that posture, his body trembling slightly from the tension and effort.
Time seemed to stretch out endlessly, and every breath and every second felt incredibly unbearable!
Just as the armored soldier drew closer, and he could almost feel his sleeve being touched...
On the high platform, the all-powerful voice finally spoke, breaking the suffocating silence with a hint of inquiry and amusement.
"Who was singing just now?"
Ying Zheng's gaze swept over the sea of heads below, finally settling on the young man sprawled on the ground.
"And why... did you first rejoice and then weep?"
The deep voice interrupted the armored soldier's movements and also broke the unease in Zou Yun's heart.
"You...you survived?"
Zou Yun thought with lingering fear, then secretly glanced at the figure on the stage and pushed away the Taoist companion who wanted to help him.
He straightened his body, took a deep breath, straightened his disheveled clothes, and spoke loudly.
"Your Majesty, the alchemist Zou Yun is weeping with joy!"
Everyone was shocked when he said this.
"Has this guy really lost his mind?"
Even Ying Zheng thought that the people below the stage were nothing but attention-seekers, and was about to order someone to drag this guy named Zou Yun away.
Zou Yun spoke again.
"Your Majesty, just now, at the brink of life and death, Zou Yun saw through the secrets of the heavens and realized the time was ripe for him to transcend death and ascend to immortality."
"Disintegration...becoming an immortal?"
Seemingly hearing this concept for the first time, a thoughtful look flashed in Ying Zheng's eyes, successfully arousing a bit of curiosity from Zou Yun.
He looked at the figure in the main hall and said in a deep voice.
"Come forward!"
"Great, keep it up!!!"
Knowing that he had successfully grasped a glimmer of hope, Zou Yun tried his best to suppress all his emotions.
With an expressionless face, he followed the armored soldiers on both sides and walked towards the towering steps under everyone's gaze.
One step, and another!
The stench of blood emanating from the two armored warriors beside him was overwhelming, and Zou Yun could almost smell the lingering wails of the two sorcerers who had been dragged away in front of him.
Will I be the third?
Zou Yun felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Even though he had gone to such lengths, he had no confidence that he would survive.
The bluestone steps stretched out beneath his feet, and every step Zou Yun took felt like walking on the edge of a knife.
As you climb the steps, a bright and open space suddenly appears!
At the far end of the main hall, the legendary First Emperor of all time, Ying Zheng, sat calmly on his seat, his gaze fixed intently on Zou Yun.
Zou Yun's heart skipped a beat: "The history books are indeed true!"
The perfect bee-like shape, with its long eyes and distinctive bird-like talons, appeared right before my eyes.
If it weren't for the fact that my life was hanging by a thread, witnessing this overlord who swept across the land should have been an exciting experience, but now...
Zou Yun forcibly suppressed the surging thoughts in his heart, forcing this untimely excitement back into his heart.
He took another deep breath to calm himself.
He then bowed deeply, his posture respectful yet composed, and slowly began to speak:
"Your Majesty, I am not weeping because I am about to die!"
Without introducing himself or explaining his earlier maniacal laughter, this abrupt explanation broke the silence.
"Oh?"
The skepticism was tinged with curiosity and scrutiny.
Ying Zheng's originally indifferent gaze shifted slightly, clearly piqued by this unexpected opening remark.
The gaze, as if it were tangible, pressed heavily on Zou Yun, seemingly able to penetrate into his very soul.
"very good!"
Zou Yun was secretly delighted, knowing that the fish had taken the bait, but the more this was the case, the less he could panic!
"I am overjoyed because after years of cultivation, I can finally achieve immortality through physical liberation."
A mixture of regret and joy appeared on his face. He stamped his feet, beat his chest, and cried out in anguish:
"He is destined to face a difficult calamity, and after years of cultivation, all his efforts will be in vain, leaving him weeping in despair."
"Overwhelmed by a mix of joy and sorrow, I lost control and burst into song!"
Their expressions and movements suggested they had truly missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with the immortals.
At that moment, Zou Yun felt that he had truly put all his acting skills to use.
But in Ying Zheng's eyes, it was nothing more than that. This emperor of all ages had seen far too many different kinds of people and was no longer so easily moved.
The reason Zou Yun was summoned was simply because he was attracted by the novel concept of dismemberment.
Therefore, he interrupted Zou Yun directly and asked calmly, "What is meant by 'disintegration of the body'?"
Zou Yun's spirits lifted; he knew the main event was about to begin.
He straightened his slightly disheveled clothes again, knelt solemnly on the blue bricks, tilted his head slightly, and his eyes seemed to pierce through the clouds and see a misty fairyland!
After a long silence, he spoke, his expression dazed, carrying an almost dreamlike sense of detachment, as if he were about to leave this world and go to a distant place. Then he said in a loud voice:
"Borrowing the energy of war, even if the infant is cut in half at the waist and survives, it can open its own heavenly gate, transcend its physical form, and ascend to immortality. Stealing the life force of the nameless, it can live another life!"
Every word resonated deeply, filled with unfathomable mystery, lingering around Ying Zheng.
"This is the technique of achieving immortality through physical disintegration!!!"
The words "become an immortal" were like sparks thrown into dry tinder, instantly igniting the deep-seated desire in Ying Zheng's eyes.
Even knowing that these sorcerers were accustomed to deception, Ying Zheng couldn't help but blurt out the question for the sake of that slim possibility.
"Can they really be reborn?!"
Ying Zheng's voice echoed throughout the palace, his seemingly calm inquiry carrying a hint of urgency that even he himself was unaware of!
"Of course!" Zou Yun said solemnly.
It seemed as if he was practicing some kind of supreme esoteric Dharma.
Then, his tone took a sharp turn, filled with endless grief and indignation, as he pounded the ground heavily:
"Unfortunately, I have already overcome my heavenly tribulation, but today I have fallen victim to the human tribulation!"
"Alas, if only three more days had passed, I would have achieved perfect merit. The Great Path is severed, and all my previous efforts have been in vain!!! Thinking of this, how can I not burst into tears!"
His expression was truly as if he had suffered excruciating pain, as if his heart and bones had been ripped out!
"Whose subordinate is this? I've never seen him before."
The group of sorcerers being escorted below the stage exchanged bewildered glances, their faces filled with confusion.
It seems strange that such outstanding and professional alchemists have been buried in obscurity and remain unknown to this day!
Ying Zheng seemed to be slightly intimidated by Zou Yun's highly impactful performance and mysterious professional terminology.
A hint of hesitation flashed across his face, his words carrying a probing tone:
"Three days?"
These two short words brought Zou Yun boundless hope.
The opportunity has arrived!
Seeing that Ying Zheng was still somewhat skeptical, Zou Yun steeled his resolve, knowing that there was no room for error at this moment.
He abruptly looked up, his gaze fixed intently on Ying Zheng, and said with unwavering certainty:
"That's right, I've already calculated the time. Noon three days from now will be the best time for me to dissolve my body."
"Not a moment's delay is acceptable!"
His words set a three-day deadline, filled with solemnity, as if missing that moment would be the greatest regret in the world.
Of course, while he said this, he only had one thought in his mind:
"No matter what, let's get through this first. Every extra day is good."
"Alright then..."
Ying Zheng pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Zou Yun, before making his final decision:
"I will give you three days. After three days, you will be publicly executed here!"
A golden word is law, and a decision is final!
Ying Zheng agreed to Zou Yun's three-day deadline.
After saying this, without waiting for Zou Yun's response, he waved his hand, ordering the armored soldiers to take all the sorcerers, including Zou Yun, away and put them back under strict confinement.