424: Chapter 167: Proud Ambition_6 424: Chapter 167: Proud Ambition_6 He genuinely didn’t know what people in this world were supposed to do upon seeing the Emperor.
Anyway, he knew that on Earth, before a certain dynasty, ministers didn’t have to kneel when they attended court after seeing the Emperor, but he felt like he wasn’t a subject of the imperial court.
So, what was he supposed to do when he met the Emperor?
The Grand Preceptor didn’t answer Cao Zhen’s question but looked at him with a bit of surprise and said, “You really are an odd one.
Normally, people kneel when they see the Emperor.
Even those cultivators, upon seeing me by the Emperor’s side, would kneel, albeit reluctantly.
Even if they were extremely proud inside and looked down on a mortal Emperor, they would still kneel, thinking that I was nearby.
They all would kneel.
And yet, I sense a very special feeling from you.
I can tell that you don’t hold in your heart that same disdain and contempt for the Emperor some cultivators have.
But at the same time, you don’t seem to hold the Emperor in particularly high regard either.
That feeling is, in your eyes, the Emperor seems to be no different from yourself.
Moreover, I can feel that in your eyes, I also don’t seem any different from you.”
Cao Zhen suddenly laughed.
His surprise just now was at this middle-aged man’s identity and indeed, it was the first time he had been surprised to see an Emperor.
After all, anyone here would be surprised to see the Emperor.
But it was only surprise.
He certainly didn’t regard the Emperor as someone above the rest.
“What’s different about us?” Cao Zhen laughed, looking at the Grand Preceptor and pointed to his own head saying, “Aren’t we all the same as humans?
We all have one head and two hands, we all need to eat and to sleep, we all feel joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, we all face birth, aging, sickness, and death.
Can there be any difference between us?
At best, some of us have a higher cultivation base and live longer.
Big deal, the Emperor has a bit more authority than I do, big deal, you currently have a higher cultivation level than me.
Beyond that, what else is there?
We really aren’t that different.
Oh, and one more thing, all three of us are men.
As you said, everyone should be equal, so if I see you and the Emperor as the same, isn’t that quite normal?”
“Interesting, truly interesting.” The Grand Preceptor looked at Cao Zhen with some amazement and said, “This is the first time I’ve heard such a theory from you.”
Upon hearing Cao Zhen’s words, which many would consider outrageous, the Emperor’s face did not show any sign of anger.
He gestured towards the stone table and said, “No need to stand there, sit down and join us for a meal.”
Cao Zhen didn’t wait for the Emperor and the Grand Preceptor but sat down almost at the same time as them, looking at the meal before him, and felt even more convinced that it was indeed a simple meal.
After all this commotion, it turned out that the four dishes and one soup were not for two people, but for three.
In this era, it was clear there was no rule of silence during meals, or perhaps the Grand Preceptor just didn’t care about such trivial formalities.
As soon as he sat down, he turned to the Emperor curiously and asked, “Your Majesty, what brings you to my humble abode so suddenly?”
“I merely heard that you were meeting people from the Hundred Peaks Sect in your old mansion, and even went so far as to keep one behind.
It struck me as really strange, and I was curious to see what kind of person could make you want to keep him around, so I specifically came to have a look,” said the Emperor.
While speaking, the Emperor took a soup spoon, scooped up a bowl of soup, and then looking at Cao Zhen, said, “Having met him now, I find that the person you kept behind is indeed quite interesting, no wonder you decided to keep him.”
Cao Zhen could see that although the relationship between the Grand Preceptor and the Emperor was that of sovereign and subject, it was quite casual.
The Grand Preceptor continued to help himself to dishes and eat while the Emperor spoke.
He too picked up a pair of chopsticks and placed a piece of tofu into his mouth.
Before he could swallow the tofu, the Emperor turned to him and said, “Actually, sometimes I really envy cultivators.
After all, they can live much longer, hardly ever get sick, and with more time, they can do more things.
The longer one lives, the more experience they gain, and it makes managing state affairs much smoother.”
Cao Zhen swallowed the tofu in his mouth and looked at the Emperor with curiosity, asking, “If that’s the case, why don’t you cultivate yourself?
As you’ve said, after cultivating, one doesn’t fall ill and can live much longer.
With more time, you’ll handle more state affairs, accumulate more experience, and you’ll understand better how to manage and govern the nation.
This would be beneficial for the people of the Guardian Immortal Imperial Dynasty wouldn’t it?”
Without any pretense, the Emperor picked up a vegetable, swallowed it, and then looked back at Cao Zhen, a nostalgic expression on his face, “When I was very young, I really did consider immortal cultivation.
But as I grew a little older, I no longer wanted to cultivate.
That’s when I became sensible and knew that if I cultivated, I would have an extraordinary mind.
At that time, I would no longer possess the mortal mindset; when contemplating issues, I would consider them from the perspective of a cultivator, and over time, I might even become unaware of common human hardships, not knowing what the common people truly need.
I might even neglect the governance of the nation due to being engrossed in cultivation.
Therefore, I cannot cultivate; I must remain a mortal.
Only as a mortal can I understand what the common people need, and thus, properly govern the nation.”
Cao Zhen looked up at the Emperor in astonishment; he really hadn’t expected that the reason the Emperor did not cultivate was such.
The Emperor gestured toward the courtyard outside and said, “Common folk just like me live no more than a century, right?
But if I were someone with a lifespan of over ten thousand years, how would I understand what they are thinking?
If I could perform Sword Flight and Gold Light Across the Land, how could I possibly know what the common people need for travel…”
While listening to the Emperor, Cao Zhen asked with some curiosity, “So, don’t you feel it’s a pity?”
He put himself in the Emperor’s shoes, wondering if he could resist the temptation of cultivating when the number one master stood by his side as the Grand Preceptor.
He didn’t think he could do it.
And what about the Emperor?
After achieving such a feat, didn’t he find it regrettable?