CHAPTER 429: 231, LATE EASTERN HAN DYNASTY

If a person can endure a century of solitude in the Illusion Realm, how powerful will their spiritual and soul power become?

It’s hard to imagine, unimaginable, and dare not imagine.

The scene progresses further.

Everyone’s gaze is fixed, only to see a cloud of mist disperses. This time, everyone sees what Chen Che sees.

When the world divides for a long time, it must unite; when it unites for a long time, it must divide.

The Han followed the Qin, developing vigorously for hundreds of years, but it is already the end of the Eastern Han.

It is still the dilapidated thatched house.

When Chen Che slowly opened his eyes and saw this scene, his lips slightly moved.

"Damn it, am I not out yet? What’s going on?"

A trace of doubt flashed in his heart when the house was knocked.

"Ying Zheng? Fu Su? Hu Hai?"

With doubt in his heart, Chen Che came to the door and opened it. When the door was pushed open, in front of him was a handsome and refined young talent, gently fanning with a very distinctive feather fan.

Three people stood behind him.

One had a refined appearance and long arms that reached his knees.

One was rugged, with eyes like copper bells.

One was dignified and imposing, his aura overwhelming.

At the moment of seeing the four people, Chen Che exhaled a breath of turbid air. He understood, this was the Double Illusion Realm.

He understood.

This cursed tool had woven for him the second charm demon.

The end of the Eastern Han, the division of the lords...

In the council hall, Xia Na saw the vivid attire of these four and couldn’t help but widen her beautiful eyes. She instantly realized their identity, subconsciously exclaiming: "How did he travel to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms? Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, Guan Yu?!"

In the council, many people looked at Xia Na with puzzled expressions, not knowing what the so-called Romance of the Three Kingdoms was.

After all, only Xia Na and An Nishang had read that novel of Romance of the Three Kingdoms among those present.

"Could these four also want to ask for his help?"

Xia Na bit her pink lip, her eyes flashed with a hint of emotion and concern. She had only read Romance of the Three Kingdoms, not the Records of the Grand Historian, and did not know the history of the Great Qin Empire.

But she knew how brilliant the Three Kingdoms were.

Knew how many heroes left their names in the Three Kingdoms.

Knew the immense charisma of this prime minister who devoted himself fully and died after exhausting all his efforts.

Knew how shocking it was for the benevolent ruler Liu Bei to lose the world for the sake of his brothers.

Knew the might of Guan Yu and the loyalty of Zhang Fei.

Knew the brotherly affection between Liu, Guan, and Zhang, which would be remembered for generations.

This second realm came too overwhelmingly.

Can Chen Che really withstand it?

Seeing Chen Che at this moment, a smile appeared on Zhuge Liang’s face. Holding the feather fan, he bowed slightly, "Sir, my lord heard of your reputation and specifically came to visit.

If you are willing to assist, the hope for the grand restoration of the Han is promising!"

Behind Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei’s expression was humble.

Guan Yu put away his arrogance, Zhang Fei restrained his wildness.

The three brothers each bowed in salute.

"Liu Bei has heard of your great talent from Kongming and humbly asks you to emerge and assist us three brothers in rebuilding the grand Han!"

Perhaps the decades in the Great Qin had already rendered Chen Che’s heart as still as water.

Facing such enticement again, facing such an epic feat of kingship, his heart no longer had the surge and the unresolved feeling of rejection that he had the first time he received an invitation from Qin.

He just sighed, staring at the Sleeping Dragon before him, staring at the Lord Liu, softly said: "Gentlemen, I am not of your world. The phenomena of the world change unceasingly, the torrent of history rolls forward, I am but a small point among it.

I cannot affect the great affairs of the world, nor do I wish to affect them.

Please return, gentlemen.

I only wish to recline here, unbothered by the shifting world."

Chen Che’s refusal was within the Sleeping Dragon’s, within Liu Bei’s expectations. Liu Bei said, "Sir, I once invited Sleeping Dragon to emerge, thrice visiting the thatched cottage. I believe that as long as you’re sincerely devoted, you can eventually move the gentleman.

Sir, Liu Bei will not give up. Liu Bei believes that with sincere devotion to restoring the Han, we can eventually move you!"

Chen Che didn’t speak, only quietly closed his wooden door.

He rubbed his forehead, he hadn’t directly spoken a definitive refusal, the reason was simple, because he had already realized that every year he spent in the Illusion Realm, his spiritual power and soul power received extraordinary enhancement.

He could roughly figure out that the flow of time in the Illusion Realm and reality was definitely different.

The longer he stayed in the Illusion Realm, the higher the increase in his spiritual power.

This means, unless he immediately and decisively refuses the Illusion Realm, it will continue, and the longer it continues, the greater the enhancement to his spiritual power and soul power.

Thus, he used this gentle refusal to sustain the duration of the Illusion Realm.

He wanted to control the Illusion Realm, to make it serve him.

It would still be living another few decades alone at the end of the Eastern Han.

Although he misses An Nishang’s long, white legs and Xia Na’s soft, fair feet,

he understands even more that if he wants to permanently and securely have both of them, his own strength is necessary.

Only by continuously enhancing his abilities here can he ensure lasting power.

In the council hall, Xia Na expressed her anxiety and confusion: "Why doesn’t he just refuse? If he refuses directly, shouldn’t the Illusion Realm collapse? He’s been in the Great Qin Empire for such a long time, hasn’t he seen through it yet? Does he still wish to immerse himself in this illusion, vying for the heart of kingship?"

However, An Nishang understood Chen Che very well. Just through Chen Che’s gaze, she knew what he intended to do.

She softly said, "He must have noticed that the longer he stays in the Illusion Realm, the more his spiritual power increases. He’s now using the illusion to enhance his abilities."

Many in the council felt a shock in their hearts.

It takes such a strong will to willingly endure a century of solitude to improve one’s capabilities.

If it were any of them present, they wouldn’t dare claim to endure it 100%.

Clearly capable of achieving the status of a general or king, being above thousands, yet choosing to be alone in this desolate cold, every moment is truly a form of torment.

This man... is terrifying.

Such a thought inevitably crossed the minds of many.

They saw the time in the Illusion Realm fast forward again.

One year, two years.

Every year, Liu Bei would come with his two brothers and Mr. Wolong to this place.

Each time, Liu Bei would earnestly persuade Chen Che to come out of retirement and help him accomplish great deeds.

Every visit, he would report his progress to Chen Che as if to seduce him, showing his potential to Chen Che.

"Sir, we’ve defeated Cao Cao at Chibi!"

"Sir! Jingzhou is now under our control, we finally have a foothold."

"Sir! Yizhou is finally ours too. With the lands of Jing and Yi, we can finally compete with those ambitious warlords!"

"Sir, we’ve defeated Cao Cao! Hanzhong is ours! Sir, the strategist suggests we establish the Han kingdom; Liu Bei is willing to bestow upon you the position of National Teacher, even Mr. Wolong is willing to serve under you. Can Liu Bei now persuade you to come out of retirement?"

Year after year, day after day.

Chen Che no longer knows how many years have passed.

All he knows is that every time Liu Bei visits and he declined him, his spiritual power increases significantly.

Unlike Liu Bei’s annual persuasion, Zhuge Wolong never urges him at all, only drinks tea and plays chess with him.

He has gone from a terrible chess player to someone who can match Zhuge Wolong as if they share a deep friendship.

Between the two there is no concern of any military or state interests, seemingly only a simple camaraderie.

This year was Liu Bei’s most glorious year.

Seizing Hanzhong, declaring himself King of Han!

Planning to establish a new state under the banner of the great Han!

Those in the council also saw Liu Bei treating him with courtesy during his weakest moment, extending rich gifts to invite him out of retirement.

Even though he is now successful, having become a chairman, Liu Bei remains courteous and respectful, inviting him to be CEO.

But Chen Che still gracefully declines.

Liu Bei merely sighs with regret, never showing any anger, leaving behind the words: "I am unfortunate to have no fate with you, sir."

As Kongming was leaving, Chen Che poured him a glass of wine he personally brewed.

Tasting the fine wine, Kongming smiled and asked, "Sir, do you have some unspoken worries? I can see the heart of kingship in you, yet you dare not engage with the world."

Chen Che did not reply to Zhuge Kongming, instead sipping the warm wine and softly advising, "Kongming, don’t overburden yourself."

Kongming paused, then gave a gentle smile: "Thank you for the guidance, sir."

The four of them set off again.

Chen Che once again descended the mountain, seeing through the later period of Eastern Han and the early spectacle of the Three Kingdoms.

He saw the cities slaughtered by Cao Wei, a scene of devastation.

He saw the common people struggling through the chaos of war.

Prosperity, the people suffer. Downfall, the people suffer.

At this moment, Chen Che fully realized the meaning of these words.

In an inexplicable manner.

The eternal struggle of historical heroes for power and success.

Yet it seemed pale in comparison to those who, driven by extreme hunger, were forced to swap their children, seeing the blood and tears flow from the corners of their eyes.

Even the council saw the grim reality behind their spirited ambitions and heroic prowess.

"The common people living under such ancient feudal dynasties seem worse off than us living on the Wasteland."

"Heh, what’s the difference? Do you think the world depicted in history books, with everyone equal, really exists?"

"Sister, his eyes seem to have changed a bit."

An Nishang also noticed it. After his journey into the world, Chen Che’s gaze seemed to hold something different.

Whether it was good or bad, she couldn’t say.

Time continued to pass, year after year.

Chen Che again met Liu Bei, but this time Liu Bei’s hair was white as snow.