Never compromise. Never accept threats. Even if he knew the other party possessed what he needed most, the First Emperor would never lower his dignity to accept their charity.
Moreover, Su Daji's ill intentions were obvious to anyone with eyes. She attempted to leverage the First Emperor's urgent needs to force him into a decision, but she ultimately underestimated this Ancestral Dragon, underestimated the "Authority of the Emperor."
As the First Emperor had declared, he was neither the likes of King Jie of Xia nor King Zhou of Shang. The very methods that had once made Su Daji infamous were utterly useless before the First Emperor, earning her nothing but his disdain.
Roy admired the First Emperor's decisiveness and resolve—because even he had been tempted.
Roy was no emperor after all. In truth, he was more like Xu Fu, pursuing personal transcendence rather than the welfare of the world.
Thus, from the very beginning, Roy never considered himself suited to be an emperor, nor did he wish to become one.
Su Daji trembled in fear. The First Emperor's threat was no mere verbal warning. As the emperor, he had the power to turn his words into reality. Su Daji had no doubt that if she truly continued to provoke him, Qin Shi Huang would indeed skin her alive. Her beauty meant nothing to the emperor who wielded supreme authority over the realm.
Especially now, when Su Daji possessed only the power of a single tail, she stood no chance against the First Emperor, who had already achieved the form of a "True Human."
Just as Su Daji hesitated over how to achieve her goal, Roy unexpectedly gave her a hand.
"Su Daji, tell me—how can you prevent the 'Pruning of Human Order'?"
Roy's question practically handed Su Daji a way out, and for that, the fox felt a flicker of gratitude toward him.
Tamamo-no-Mae glared furiously at Roy. She despised that slutty fox, even if she was also a part of herself. It was precisely because she loathed this "evil" aspect that the ancient sun goddess had abandoned her power and severed this tail. Thus, Roy's words, which almost amounted to helping Su Daji, left Tamamo-no-Mae deeply displeased.
But when she noticed Yu Meiren clinging closely to Roy's side, her anger instantly dissipated.
He had spoken to Su Daji that way for Yu Meiren's sake—when before, he had clearly despised that slutty fox.
At this realization, Tamamo-no-Mae not only lost all trace of anger but even felt admiration for Roy and envy toward Yu Meiren. With her love-struck nature, the fox's way of thinking was fundamentally different from that of ordinary people.
Yu Ji also understood why Roy had asked that unnecessary question, why he had spoken in such a tone to the very Su Daji he detested.
Yet Yu Meiren said nothing more. She simply lowered her head, tightened her grip on Roy's hand, and pressed her delicate body against his, as if wishing she could melt into him. A faint happiness welled up in her heart.
Su Daji was adept at seizing opportunities. The moment Roy finished speaking, she flipped her wrist as if presenting a treasure, revealing a strange object.
It resembled a small gemstone, shimmering with a mesmerizing glow, yet eerily, it seemed to pulsate as if alive. It was impossible to tell whether it was inorganic or organic—it looked like a mineral, yet also like the seed of some plant.
"This is what I call the 'Seed of the Fantasy Tree.' Once planted in the earth and nourished by magical energy, it will grow into a force capable of resisting the 'Pruning of Human Order.'"
Su Daji narrowed her eyes slightly, this time careful not to appear too cunning or smug. She lowered her demeanor entirely, aware that neither Roy nor the First Emperor could be swayed by her beauty. Moreover, both wielded power far surpassing her own, leaving Su Daji in an uncomfortable position where she had no choice but to humble herself.
Though she seemed to be explaining the 'Seed of the Fantasy Tree' to Roy, her gaze kept drifting toward the massive alchemy furnace where the First Emperor stood, hoping to pique his interest in the seed.
Since the First Emperor had threatened to 'flay her alive' if she spoke another word to him, Su Daji reasoned that explaining things to Roy shouldn't count as 'bewitching the emperor with demonic words.' Her primary goal in presenting the seed was to tempt the First Emperor, proving she hadn't lied—that she truly possessed a method to avert the 'Pruning of Human Order.'
Yet, to her surprise, the First Emperor showed no interest in the seed. Instead, he turned to Roy with a chuckle, "...Outlander, you seem the type to favor beauty over power. But to each their own—I won't judge. Well? Does this thing disappoint you?"
His tone carried both teasing and a deep sense of humanity.
Whether the First Emperor would one day forge a mechanical empire, shedding his emotions to become a machine, mattered little now. At this moment, he was simply a man—pure and unadulterated.
Only a human could reign as the 'Emperor of Mankind,' and thus, an emperor was the purest embodiment of desire.
With a single glance, the First Emperor discerned Roy's ambitions and thus teased him so.
"Your Majesty speaks true. I had hoped this fox might offer some ingenious solution, only to be presented with something utterly unbelievable."
As Roy's eyes fell upon the 'Seed of the Fantasy Tree,' a chill ran down his spine—not fear, but an immediate realization. This seed was no natural product of their world. It felt alien, utterly incompatible with the planet's ecosystem.
How could Earth's ecology naturally produce something capable of halting the 'Pruning of Human Order'? Not even the Age of Gods could birth such a mystery. Its otherworldly nature screamed at Roy—this seed was extraterrestrial.
Upon recognizing its alien origin, Roy lost all interest. It was far too unreliable. Who knew what grand conspiracy lay hidden within? Roy was no emperor, but neither was he a fool. He was a Campione, a tyrant who ruled between heaven and earth. How could he place his hopes in something so uncontrollable, so incomprehensible?
Thus, the only correct path forward became clear: eliminate the First Emperor, steer Human Order back on track. As for these so-called 'methods' to prevent the 'Pruning of Human Order'—such heresy was best avoided.
Noticing Roy's thoughts, the First Emperor within the colossal alchemical furnace sighed deeply: "...Indeed, after learning of the concept of 'Human Order Pruning,' I, as a human, should return the right to choose the future to all mankind. But ah—I am the Emperor, the one and only sovereign under heaven. As the Emperor, I cannot simply give up so easily, nor concede defeat without a fight."
"...A hundred debates pale before a single test. I do not accept your arguments. I firmly believe my grand vision is correct, but now it seems you stand in my way!"
"Since that is the case, let strength determine who is more deserving. Though entrusting the future of human order to 'combat' strikes me as somewhat frivolous, given the circumstances, it appears to be the best choice available."
The First Emperor's voice grew increasingly resonant, and as his words shook heaven and earth, the several-hundred-meter-tall alchemical furnace began emitting billowing white vapor.
"CRACK————"
The lid at the top of the furnace swung open, releasing a radiant glow that bathed the entire Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang in resplendent light.
Amidst the radiance and mist, a towering figure slowly rose from within the furnace.
This was the First Emperor's completed 'True Human' form—a genuine immortal body. By the standards of Heroic Spirit data, this was undoubtedly the highest-grade Spirit Origin!