Chapter 2046 - The Sage Emperor's Legacy! Opening the Final Chapter!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
“Haaah…”
Wang Chong gave a long sigh, an indescribable feeling in his heart.
In this entire affair, the most innocent of all was probably Consort Taizhen!
He had been planning to ask if Consort Taizhen had been unaware this entire time, but after some thought, he realized that this had to be the case.
There were some things that could not be spoken about. For example, the matter of transmigration was simply too unbelievable, and even if it were said, no one would believe it.
Moreover, the Sage Emperor might have believed that he was protecting her, but from the perspective of Wang Chong and those in his last life, it was clear the Sage Emperor had no idea that Consort Taizhen already loved him.
This was the most tragic thing about it!
But even though Wang Chong knew all this, he could not interfere.
“Wang Chong, can you promise Us that you will protect her forever in Our place?”
The Sage Emperor opened his eyes and stared at Wang Chong.
Wang Chong bowed and respectfully said, “Your Majesty, be at ease. This subject will do everything in his power to protect Consort Taizhen!”
“If that is so, then We have no more regrets!”
The Sage Emperor smiled, a great burden seemingly lifted off his shoulders.
“Finally, We have a few gifts for you!”
The Sage Emperor’s voice suddenly increased in volume, and before Wang Chong could react, the Sage Emperor erupted with blazing golden light, his voice rumbling through the hall.
The Sage Emperor’s energy rose to another level, and his majestic voice rang out in Wang Chong’s ears.
“Our strength is far inferior to what it once was, but the remaining energy can still give you some aid!”
As the Sage Emperor spoke, an immense pressure descended, a powerful energy locking onto Wang Chong’s body and rendering him motionless.
“We will seal this energy in your body. In the future, when you are in peril, this power We left behind will help you!
“But this energy can be used only once, so you must remember that you cannot use it unless absolutely necessary!”
Amidst the rumbling of the Sage Emperor’s voice, Wang Chong could sense energy surging out of the Sage Emperor’s body, and the Sage Emperor’s already weak flame of life rapidly weakened to the verge of extinguishing.
“Your Majesty, you mustn’t!”
Wang Chong paled in shock. He wanted to struggle, but the Sage Emperor’s restraints had rendered him motionless.
Buzz!
That golden energy illuminated the entirety of the hall like a sun, and then it surged toward Wang Chong and entered his body through the top of his head.
Once this energy entered Wang Chong’s body, it rapidly began to shrink.
It passed all the way through his body, eventually sinking into the depths of his dantian, where it sat like a stone.
The boundless and majestic energy was thus sealed. Only a small wisp of energy fused with Wang Chong’s body, seemingly ready to detonate so long as Wang Chong willed it.
“Your cultivation level is insufficient. Half of the energy I granted you is Divine Martial realm energy. You can only use it, not absorb it. If you do, you will suffer heavy injuries.”
The Sage Emperor’s voice was now extremely weak.
“Your Majesty, Wang Chong understands!”
Wang Chong’s eyes reddened as he dropped his head.
He knew that there was no going back. The deathly energy in the Sage Emperor’s soul had reached maximum concentration and had already spread throughout his body.
No martial artist could stop the power of death!
“We have done all that We can. We must entrust the rest to you!”
On his throne, the Sage Emperor weakly smiled once more.
“This subject swears on his life to protect the Central Plains!”
Wang Chong’s eyes moistened, and there was an acrid scent on his nose as he lowered his head even farther.
He knew that he was witnessing the last moments of this eternal sovereign and receiving his final will.
“Heh, life and death are ruled by fate. There is no need to worry!”
The Sage Emperor seemed to know what Wang Chong was thinking, and smiled as he shook his head.
A gentle breeze blew into the hall, ruffling the hairs on his temples.
This sovereign of the ages slowly raised his head, his eyes piercing through space to look upon the vast capital and the lands around it. In his life’s final moments, his face held no fear, only composure and confidence.
“We have reached our limit, but We have no more regrets!
“In the thirteenth year of the previous Emperor, We came to this world for the first time. In three years, We ascended to the throne and then changed the era name to Shenlong.
“In the third month of the first year of Shenlong, We led an army of one hundred thousand and broke Ü-Tsang, expanding the Great Tang’s borders westward by five thousand li and establishing the earliest of the bases on Ü-Tsang’s border.
“In the fourth month of the third year of Shenlong, We led an army of three hundred thousand and routed the Turkic Khaganate, occupying Jinman, Luntai, and Xuanchi… The Great Tang’s borders were expanded to the north by eight thousand li, and the Beiting Protectorate was established.
“In the sixth month of the seventh year of Shenlong, We led an army to the east, defeating Baekje and the Gaoche, and breaking Goguryeo… The eastern border of the Tang expanded six thousand li eastward, and the Andong Protectorate was established at Youzhou.
“In the tenth month of the ninth year of Shenlong, We ordered the army to advance on Erhai, threatening Mengshe Zhao. Mengshe Zhao surrendered without a battle, submitting to the Great Tang, and thus, the Annan Protectorate was established.
“In the eleventh year of Shenlong, We broke through the kingdoms of the Western Regions, establishing the Anxi Protectorate. Afterwards, We established an armory at Qixi, focusing the power of the Great Tang into the construction of several dozen warehouses to supply Anxi, Qixi, Beiting, and Longxi, strengthening the army and intimidating the surrounding countries.
“In the fourteenth year of Shenlong, the Great Tang had no more enemies, and all of the surrounding countries paid respects to the Great Tang. At the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal, We held an audience with these countries for the first time and held a feast!”
The Sage Emperor muttered his past achievements to Wang Chong, recounting a glorious period of history. His eyes were dazzlingly bright, as if he had returned to the era that had been awash with the fires of war.
At this moment, the Sage Emperor had a clear expression, his body radiating majestic and hallowed light that no one would dare to profane.
Wang Chong silently listened, his heart filled with deep admiration as he looked upon the founder of the Great Tang’s golden age.
The soul of the Great Tang!
Wang Chong had led the Great Tang in defeating foe after foe, but he knew that only this enthroned sovereign could be the true soul of the empire!
He had held up the entire empire!
It did not matter if he was a transmigrator or what parallel universe he had come from. What was important was that this man had won the reverence and respect of the people through his daring actions and character.
“We wish for all countries to yield to the Great Tang, for all the people to live safe and happy lives. Wang Chong, once We are gone, can you do this?”
The Sage Emperor looked with hopeful eyes at Wang Chong.
Tears began to streak down his cheeks, making his eyes blurry, but Wang Chong’s voice remained abnormally resolved.
“This subject can definitely do so!”
“If so, We can rest easy.”
The Sage Emperor nodded and let out a long sigh. His right hand emerged from his sleeve, opening to reveal a crystal shard.
The shard was transparent, and shone with a blinding light.
“It’s enough. This is for you. You might have more need of it than me.
“This can be considered Our final gift to you.”
The Sage Emperor lightly flicked the crystal shard, sending it sailing in an arc through the air into Wang Chong’s palm.
Wang Chong was surprised. He looked down and saw that the crystal shard was about the size of a fingernail, but there was nothing remarkable about it besides its dazzling light. For some reason, however, Wang Chong found it familiar.
“Your Majesty, this…”
Just when Wang Chong was about to ask…
The crystal shard dissolved into his palm as if it was mercury, flowing up Wang Chong’s arm and into his head.
Bang!
Wang Chong’s eyes blazed, and at the same time, the Stone of Destiny’s voice boomed out.
“Notice! Stone of Destiny Shard discovered!
“Special Event! User has gathered the first Stone of Destiny Shard! Stone of Destiny Repair Plan unlocked! User is rewarded with 10,000,000 points of Destiny Energy!
“Notice! Stone of Destiny Shards can provide a massive boost to the Stone of Destiny’s abilities and massively boost user’s ability to resist and disrupt the Power of the World. At the same time, it provides user with the ability to substantially change the course of the world’s history.
“Special Event! User has unlocked the final chapter of this world, ‘Chapter of Destiny’!”
A string of messages exploded in Wang Chong’s mind. The shard that the Sage Emperor had tossed over to Wang Chong seemed to be magnetically drawn to Wang Chong’s mind, and it swiftly fused with the Stone of Destiny.
“!!!”
“Your Majesty!”
Wang Chong’s eyes flew open as he stared at the Sage Emperor in shock and consternation.
Stone of Destiny?
Stone of Destiny Shard?
The final chapter?
Wang Chong had never imagined a development like this.
Wang Chong had always believed that the Stone of Destiny in his mind was complete, never that there had been any shards.
What shocked him even more was that the Sage Emperor had also used the power of the Stone of Destiny to transcend space and time to arrive in this dimension.
Wang Chong looked at the Sage Emperor, and when this sovereign of the ages saw the shock in Wang Chong’s eyes, he couldn’t help but smile.
“How is it? Are you satisfied with Our gift?”
“Your Majesty, what is this…”
Wang Chong was just about to ask more questions when the Sage Emperor suddenly broke into a severe coughing fit, each cough seeming to take all his strength.
And to Wang Chong’s alarm, with each cough, another trickle of blood seeped out from the corner of the Sage Emperor’s lips.
