The sword, Jian Wen Tian, unleashed by the True Dragon's Purple Qi, might not have possessed the same immense power as the one released by General Qing Jiang's baleful energy, but its effect was undeniable.
Huo Ban, whom Qin Shi Huang had failed to subdue, was nearly split in two by Yan Shouyi's furious sword strike!
The souls he had previously consumed, now erupted like a breached dam, scattering across the cinnabar river, shimmering like a sky full of fireflies.
Witnessing this scene, everyone felt as if they were in a dream.
"No... no... no!!"
The only one unable to accept reality was Huo Ban.
He had strived his entire life, waiting for two thousand years, solely for this day.
Yet, his plans today had been plagued by unexpected turns. This mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, which was supposed to be Huo Ban's resurrection ground, had truly become Huo Ban's tomb.
Amidst Huo Ban's cries of unwillingness, his soul began to disintegrate.
A generation's master craftsman of Lu Ban, thus perished!
Yan Shouyi, having used Jian Wen Tian, landed steadily.
He could feel that the True Dragon's Purple Qi within him was completely depleted. He had returned from being a True Dragon Emperor to an ordinary person.
To once again be enveloped by purple qi, he would need to perform many good deeds and aid the world.
Fortunately, Huo Ban had not withstood the sword. Otherwise, Yan Shouyi would have been incapable of launching such an attack again.
Turning back to see Huo Ban dissipating amidst his roars, he felt that these souls should not be wasted.
Thus, Yan Shouyi took out the Night Watchman's lantern and performed a ritual to collect the scattered souls.
The souls filling the sky, as if drawn by a vortex, surged towards the lantern and were absorbed into it.
The light within the lantern grew brighter and brighter, eventually becoming as dazzling as the sun, impossible to look directly at!
"Huo Ban's soul is too powerful, it's almost exceeding the lantern's capacity!"
Yan Shouyi paused, then shook his head, "No... it's not Huo Ban who is powerful, but the countless common people he massacred..."
Huo Ban, who had waited for two thousand years, had only a tenth of his soul's strength remaining. His ability to hold out against Qin Shi Huang for so long was entirely due to absorbing the souls of the common folk in the cinnabar river.
In this light, Qin Shi Huang was actually superior. Despite waiting for over two thousand years himself, Qin Shi Huang had no assistance yet managed to contend with Huo Ban.
Huo Ban's body slowly vanished, transforming entirely into souls that drilled into the lantern.
The lantern, as radiant as the sun, emitted a heat like fire.
Peach Blossom's eyes glinted with light as she gazed longingly at the lantern, murmuring to herself, "With such potent souls, if I were to consume them, I could probably crush Shi Jing with one hand!"
However, the distribution of the souls within the lantern should be decided by Yan Shouyi. Although Peach Blossom was covetous, she dared not make a request of Yan Shouyi. She believed it was not a matter for a maid to question; what she was destined to receive, Yan Shouyi would naturally provide.
Seeing Huo Ban finally disappear, the gloom that had pervaded the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang finally dissipated, and everyone couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.
Yan Shouyi even slumped to the ground.
Although the others wished to approach Yan Shouyi and speak with him, they were all utterly exhausted.
Despite only having pulled on the golden thread earlier, the thread had been siphoning their strength to suppress Huo Ban.
Otherwise, Qin Shi Huang would have summoned Wang Sihui and the others earlier, instead of specifically requesting Yan Shouyi's companions.
They all sprawled on the ground, looking at each other from afar, then sharing knowing smiles.
They had... survived another ordeal.
Qin Shi Huang looked at Yan Shouyi with admiration, sighing, "The younger generation is truly formidable."
Yan Shouyi noticed that while Qin Shi Huang's gaze held admiration for him, it was more profoundly tinged with melancholy.
Why would Qin Shi Huang look so forlorn even after defeating Huo Ban?
Yan Shouyi tentatively inquired, "Do you still have any unfulfilled wishes?"
Qin Shi Huang chuckled bitterly, his melancholy deepening, "My only wish was to live forever and for the Great Qin to endure eternally."
Previously, Qin Shi Huang had been consumed by the urgency of revenge. After awakening, he had no time to contemplate deeply.
Now that Huo Ban was dead, Qin Shi Huang began to reflect on his life and consider his legacy. He felt a pang of shame that his Great Qin had not endured, that dynasties had changed, and that he was remembered as a tyrant, a notion that felt truly disgraceful for the "First Emperor of All Ages."
Yan Shouyi frowned.
"Why does everyone desire immortality?" he asked.
Throughout his journey, Yan Shouyi had encountered many who craved eternal life, but their endings were often unfortunate. The Grand Tutor, seeking immortality, had ultimately led to the downfall of his nation.
Qin Shi Huang sighed softly, "When I was alive, I unified the realm. I had land and beautiful women; anything I desired, I could obtain with a mere wave of my hand. Yet, despite ascending to the supreme imperial throne, I was constantly worried about losing it, and concerned about the future of the Great Qin. This left me perpetually disheartened."
"Later, I realized that only if I lived forever and perpetually controlled the Great Qin, could the Great Qin stand for eternity. As long as the Great Qin existed, and as long as I existed, the people would live in peace and prosperity, free from war, sickness, and hunger!"
Everything Qin Shi Huang did during his reign was for the stability of his empire. Although some methods were crude and brutal, they undoubtedly laid a good foundation for future generations.
However, if, as Qin Shi Huang claimed, his immortality would ensure eternal peace and prosperity for the realm, was that truly the case?
Yan Shouyi said softly, "Two thousand years after your death, no one has achieved immortality. Yet, at least in our country, peace and stability have long been realized, and the people live in peace and prosperity, far from war, hunger, and disease."
Qin Shi Huang was taken aback, then his tone became astonished, "How did your emperor achieve that?!"
He was eager to know which wise ruler had accomplished what even he could not.
Yan Shouyi smiled and shook his head, "There is no emperor anymore."
"No emperor... then whom do you obey?" Qin Shi Huang asked in confusion. "A nation cannot be without a ruler for a day. Without an emperor, wouldn't the world fall into chaos?"
"We listen to the people!" Yan Shouyi replied with a smile. "Where the people's hearts lead, there lies the empire."
Where the people's hearts lead... lies the empire...
Qin Shi Huang stared blankly at Yan Shouyi, carefully savoring the words.
He suddenly understood.
As long as emperors existed in this world, the struggles for imperial power would never cease, and war would always be imminent.
Only in a world without emperors, a world where the people were their own masters, could true peace be achieved!
"Hahahaha! I understand! I have realized it!!!"
Qin Shi Huang suddenly threw his head back and laughed heartily.
Hu Hai, who was rushing towards them, was surprised to see his father laughing so heartily, wondering what could bring his father such joy.
Long Feicheng and the others were even more bewildered. "It seems Qin Shi Huang truly despised Huo Ban..."
Perhaps that was why Qin Shi Huang was so happy after killing Huo Ban.
The others, of course, were unaware of the conversation between Yan Shouyi and Qin Shi Huang.
Yan Shouyi quietly watched the ecstatic Qin Shi Huang, a genuine smile on his own face.