Chapter 25
The Ultimate Dao? Gai Nie Ying Zheng Has Gone Mad!

Chapter 25: Supreme Dao? Gai Nie: Ying Zheng Has Gone Mad!

The First Emperor's sleeping quarters fell into silence.

The gazes of several people converged on a single point.

On the silk, black ink traced lines, forming a human figure. It lacked even features, yet despite its crudeness, it seemed to come alive.

It exuded an air of mystery.

“This is the Eastern Emperor!”

Li Si, Gai Nie, and Zhao Gao's hearts trembled.

Upon seeing the portrait, a nameless understanding arose in their minds, causing them to utter the name.

This left the trio bewildered!

What was going on?

They didn't know this figure, yet at first glance, they recognized it as the portrait of the Eastern Emperor.

It was too bizarre!

It took a while before the three could suppress their emotions.

“This minister, accepts the order!”

Zhao Gao recovered his wits and quickly extended his hands to receive the portrait. After bowing and retreating, he straightened his back as he left the hall.

“Li Si, what is it?”

Ying Zheng turned to Li Si, his entire being radiating imperial might.

He had already understood Li Si's intentions upon seeing him.

His actions had sparked considerable discussion within the empire, with everyone bewildered by his worship of the Eastern Emperor.

Now, Li Si's arrival was undoubtedly to counsel him.

For this, Ying Zheng was prepared.

“Your Majesty, for the entire nation to worship the Eastern Emperor, this minister believes it is inappropriate!”

“Your Majesty's edict has shaken the land, giving those who seek to disrupt the nation an opportunity to attack you. They will claim that you are wasting the nation's resources, spreading false doctrines, and undermining the foundation of the state!”

Li Si suppressed his emotions and offered his advice.

“I wish to hear what Mister Gai Nie's opinion on this matter is.”

Hearing this, Ying Zheng did not respond but instead turned to Gai Nie.

“This minister, also believes it is inappropriate!”

Gai Nie's voice was cold. As a disciple of the Ghost Valley School, he also had his own insights into the grand trends of the world. He said,

“Your Majesty, since the Zhou King divided the land among the feudal lords, eight hundred years have passed. The people have become deeply ingrained in the idea of a fragmented kingdom. The Qin has unified the land, achieving unity under one sky, but the hearts of the people haven't fully united with the empire!”

“Moreover, remnants of the six kingdoms lurk in the shadows, stirring up the land!”

“The people have suffered for too long. This minister believes that Your Majesty should reduce taxes and abolish cruel punishments. Moreover, it is unwise to engage in actions that waste national resources. Your Majesty is overly reliant on immortals and deities. Such talk of ghosts and spirits is merely a fabrication spread by magicians to deceive the people. The Qin conquered the six kingdoms, but it was never done with the aid of deities. Only the hearts of the people can bring true unity. Only then can the Qin prosper for millennia, ushering in a golden age!”

His resolve faltered.

Gai Nie no longer concealed his stance. He spoke directly, unambiguously.

This was his counsel to Ying Zheng.

This statement also earned a silent nod of agreement from Li Si. Immortals and deities did not exist.

“Overly reliant on immortals?”

Ying Zheng stared at Gai Nie, his gaze profound and unsettling.

After a moment of silence, he abruptly flicked his sleeve, turned, and walked towards the high platform. He said,

“The world believes that I am obsessed with the art of longevity, yet how can you not see that I am seeking a supreme Dao for the Qin, a Dao that will create an unparalleled paradise for the Qin, a paradise where the people can live in peace and contentment?”

“Hmph, all the rumors and slander will cease once the worship is completed. You are not to discuss this matter further!”

Ying Zheng's solitary figure ascended without stopping.

His authoritative voice echoed within the palace.

He was like a long sword, cleaving through obstacles on an unknown path, forging ahead relentlessly.

The Qin's accumulated fortune resided within him. Ying Zheng could perceive the hearts of men. Gai Nie's thoughts couldn't be hidden from him.

Regarding this, Ying Zheng wouldn't obstruct him. Those who ought to leave could not be retained, while those who were sincere did not require persuasion.

As a ruler, his belief was to forge ahead relentlessly, never stopping for anything.

Li Si and Gai Nie exchanged glances!

A supreme Dao for the Qin?

Was he attempting to use the power of immortals and deities to create a paradise for the Qin, a paradise where the people could live in peace and contentment?

Has His Majesty gone mad?

The Confucian school!

The Sage's Grove!

At this moment, the upper echelons of the Confucian school had gathered.

The atmosphere was strange. Everyone remained silent around a piece of silk – the Emperor's portrait of the Eastern Emperor.

“The Eastern Emperor!”

“Is this the portrait of the immortal who is said to have reversed Ying Zheng's aging and caused the strange phenomena in Xianyang?”

Yan Lu spoke first, breaking the silence in the hall.

“A shifty character!”

“This person demands that the entire Qin worship him, yet he dares not reveal his true face. He's nothing but another schemer!”

“Ying Zheng is completely infatuated. He is truly a fool. It seems the Qin is doomed!”

Zhang Liang gazed at the missing features in the portrait, his eyes flashing with coldness.

The two harbored no goodwill towards the Qin. Their words were filled with mockery.

“What is this person's motive?”

Fu Nian furrowed his brow, worrying for the world.

A schemer aims to stir up chaos in the world. They wouldn't care about the common people.

The Three Worthies had spoken.

Their hidden thoughts differed from one another.

“Master, what is your take on this matter?”

The Three Worthies looked towards Xun Zi, who had remained silent, stroking his beard.

“Confucius said: ‘Respect the spirits, but keep them at a distance!’”

“There is no such thing as immortals or deities in this world. Otherwise, during the Warring States period, when the rites were destroyed, music was lost, and the people suffered from displacement for hundreds of years, where were they?”

Xun Zi, with his white beard and rosy cheeks, had a glint in his normally cloudy eyes. He sighed wistfully,

“Ying Zheng is but a man. He is too obsessed with the art of longevity, alas!”

His words settled the matter!

The Confucian school does not believe in immortals or deities. They do not believe in their existence!

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