CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 56: BREAKTHROUGH_1

"No need!" Emperor Qin shook his head, refusing firmly. Even if I’m cured, what then? I’d still be a cripple! I’d rather die than become a burden.

Li Si sighed. With a heavy heart, he, Bai Qi, and Zhang Gan left the main hall. Just as they reached the entrance, they saw three figures.

Standing in the middle was a gaunt figure, flanked by Zhao Yun and Jia Xu!

"Are you... His Highness, the Crown Prince?" Li Si stared for a long moment before asking uncertainly. The figure before him bore little resemblance to the Crown Prince he remembered. Dressed in tattered clothes, his muscles were sunken, leaving him looking like mere skin and bones—a beggar. If not for Zhao Yun and Jia Xu flanking him, Li Si truly wouldn’t have recognized him.

"It’s me." Qin Wudao’s voice was deep. "Take me to see Father Emperor at once! I’ve successfully refined the Holy Embryo Pill!"

After refining the pill, he hadn’t even rested before rushing to the City Lord’s Mansion.

Emperor Qin’s primary injury was his damaged Dantian. To save his life, his Dantian either had to be repaired or crippled; otherwise, his life would remain in peril. Before refining the pill, Qin Wudao had used his Soul Power to clear the clotted blood in Emperor Qin’s body, ensuring he could live for another twenty days. Refining the ’Heavenly Dragon Devil Flame’ took him seven days, and concocting the pill took another five. Thirteen days have passed, he thought, his heart heavy. I can’t be sure that Father Emperor’s injuries haven’t worsened during this time.

"What?" Li Si and the others were stunned for a moment before snapping back to reality and quickly leading the way. "Your Highness, please, this way!"

Qin Wudao followed, exhausted but forcing himself to keep his spirits up.

Upon entering the main hall, before anyone could say anything, Emperor Qin’s weak voice resounded, "Didn’t I tell you all to leave? Why are you back again?"

"Father Emperor, your son has come to see you!" Qin Wudao said, his heart aching at the sight of Emperor Qin on the bed. Having spent time together recently, he had fully accepted Emperor Qin. Seeing his closest kin reduced to such a state, how could he not feel distressed?

"My son, you’ve come!" Emperor Qin’s voice was noticeably stronger. "It’s good that you’re here. Don’t try to refine any more pills; I know my own condition! While you were refining the pill, I appointed Li Si and the others as Ministers of Entrusted Mandate. When I die, you will ascend the throne. Govern the Great Qin well and be a good emperor... COUGH, COUGH..."

As he spoke, Emperor Qin coughed again, his face flushing red as if he were suffocating, looking as though he might cough out his lungs.

"Father Emperor, don’t say any more!" Qin Wudao quickly moved to the bedside and took out a pill that glowed with a green fluorescence. A rich medicinal aroma diffused throughout the hall, carrying a vitality so potent that a mere whiff could heal superficial wounds.

Qin Taizu, Li Si, Bai Qi, and Zhang Gan stared intently at the Holy Embryo Pill, their hearts filled with intense excitement.

There’s a chance! His Majesty can be saved!

"Father Emperor, your son will feed you the pill!" Qin Wudao gently opened Emperor Qin’s mouth, placed the Holy Embryo Pill inside, and then closed it.

The Holy Embryo Pill, truly worthy of being an Earth-grade pill, dissolved the moment it entered his mouth, transforming into countless streams of green energy. These streams circulated within Emperor Qin’s meridians, healing his injuries. Finally, all the medicinal energy converged in his Dantian and began to repair the damage.

Emperor Qin, lying on the bed, seemed like a healthy person. He began to sit cross-legged in cultivation, absorbing the surrounding Spiritual Energy, which formed an immense vortex above his head. Spiritual Energy from tens of miles around surged towards him.

"Is His Majesty having a breakthrough?" Li Si exclaimed in surprise.

"Indeed," Qin Wudao said with a smile, retreating a few steps to avoid the breakthrough’s pressure. "Before Father Emperor was injured, his cultivation had already reached the late stage of Reaching the Holy Realm, and he was on the verge of a breakthrough. This time, though his Dantian was damaged, it provided an opportunity to break through the destruction. Coupled with the effects of the Holy Embryo Pill, advancing to the Peak of Reaching the Holy Realm is a matter of course!"

"This is wonderful!" Qin Taizu said excitedly. "In the past, the Qin Empire only had him, a Martial Artist at the Peak of Reaching the Holy Realm. Now that Emperor Qin has also reached this level, their strength has increased severalfold. Looking at the surrounding Dao Domains, apart from the Changeable Mansion, the other major powers each had only one Martial Artist at the Peak of Reaching the Holy Realm. Imperceptibly, the Qin Empire’s influence has already risen to second place among these Dao Domains."

"Break!" Emperor Qin, his eyes tightly shut, suddenly roared. Two golden dragons flew out from his body, emanating boundless imperial might, accompanied by a powerful gale that threw the hall into disarray.

Before Qin Wudao, who was retreating, could even react, he was swept out of the main hall by the gale, letting out a miserable shriek. With his Nirvana Realm cultivation, he should have been able to withstand this pressure. However, he had just finished refining the pill and was utterly exhausted—mentally and physically. He was so drained that even standing was difficult, let alone resisting the force.

"Your Highness, be careful!" Jia Xu and Zhao Yun rushed out of the hall and caught Qin Wudao as he was sent flying through the air.

"HAHAHA..." Seeing Qin Wudao’s sorry state, a burst of cheerful laughter erupted from the hall, dispelling the earlier gloom.

"For the Great Qin to have His Highness the Crown Prince is truly a blessing from the heavens!" Li Si said, stroking his beard with a pleased smile. "The annihilation of the Six States and Six Sects, the Fight Heaven’s Best, proposing policies for the imperial examination, defeating the Saint Heir, and now Emperor Qin’s breakthrough—all these events were intimately connected to Qin Wudao. Imperceptibly, Qin Wudao has already become a pivotal figure in the Qin Empire!"

"Most importantly, His Highness the Crown Prince is filial and treats his subordinates well!" Bai Qi added.

Everyone nodded in agreement. As officials, they all hoped for such a monarch.

Not long after, Emperor Qin successfully broke through to the Peak of Reaching the Holy Realm, his injuries completely healed. His gray hair had turned a glossy black, and his majestic eyes glinted with a sharp light.

The Shenwu Emperor was back!

"Where’s the Crown Prince?" Emperor Qin scanned the hall but didn’t see Qin Wudao, so he quickly asked.

Everyone exchanged awkward glances, their faces filled with embarrassment. They had been so absorbed in watching Emperor Qin’s breakthrough that they had completely forgotten about Qin Wudao.

"COUGH." Li Si cleared his throat, smiled sheepishly, and said, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince was swept out of the hall by the residual force and hasn’t returned yet."

"Go and see!" Emperor Qin stood up and walked out of the hall, but still saw no sign of him. After asking around, he learned that Qin Wudao had fainted and had been carried to a side hall by Jia Xu and Zhao Yun to rest.

So, Emperor Qin, accompanied by Li Si and the others, went to the side hall.

"My son, you’ve worked hard!" Gazing at the unconscious Qin Wudao, a touch of tenderness softened Emperor Qin’s features. The imperial family is notoriously heartless; throughout history, countless fathers and sons have killed each other for the throne. My Dantian was shattered; I was already facing certain death. Once I died, Qin Wudao could ascend as the Emperor of the Qin Empire. However, Qin Wudao did not choose the throne. Instead, he risked his life to refine the ’Heavenly Dragon Devil Flame’ and concoct an Earth-grade pill. This deeply moved me.

"Father Emperor..." Hearing a call, Qin Wudao’s eyelids twitched, showing signs of waking.

Qin Taizu, Bai Qi, Zhao Yun, and the others silently left the room, knowing this father and son had words to share.

That day, Emperor Qin and Qin Wudao had a long conversation. As for what they discussed, no one knew except for the two of them.

The only thing known was that after Emperor Qin emerged, he announced that the Crown Prince could act as regent and manage state affairs. In the Qin Empire’s system, a regency was usually declared when an emperor was preparing to abdicate, intending to train the Crown Prince.

After a few years, the old emperor would abdicate, and the new emperor would ascend the throne.