Forty Millenniums of Cultivation

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

"Transfer?"

Li Jialing's dark gold eyes blinked. "Where are we going?"

"The few Sectors near the capital city are all under our control. It will be better to choose one of them than to be trapped in this place forever. Or, we can go to the Seven Seas Space Zone that is controlled by the Infinite Circles Commerce Alliance. Although most of the resources there have been sent to the

capital city, a lot of starships are still docked there. We might be able to make a comeback one day if we retreat for now.

Li Linghai sighed and smiled bitterly. "The members of the Star Glory Federation are about to block all the space jump points around the Empyrean Terminus Sector. We won't be able to leave if we don't.

"The Sectors nearby, or the Seven Seas Space Zone?"

Li Jialing smiled. "Then, are you going to run away to the sea of stars and establish an 'in exile government' with the help of the shrimps of the Myriad Alliance? Forget it. I'm not leaving."

"We have to go now. This is not the time to be childish. The main fleet of the Star Glory Federation is far more powerful than we expected. The fully-automatic defense system has been wrecked. The imperial guards are running out of strength, too. All the defense lines nearby are about to be torn apart.

There is no way that a winner can be determined in the eastern battlefield within several days. As for the federal soldiers, the bad news a few days ago suggests that they cannot be counted on. Besides, even if they do send troops, how many can they send? What's the point?"

In desperation, Li Linghai grabbed Li Jialing's wrist and said, "The more critical the moment is, the less we should act rashly. There will be hope as long as we get out of here. Everybody knows the evilness of the people of the Star Glory Federation. Even if the capital city falls, they might not be able to

digest the resources of the capital city quickly. The entire imperium is still in our hands. We can still—"

"Enough!"

Li Linghai was talking nonstop according to his own ideas when his son suddenly roared like an angry lion. Then, Li Jialing shook off her hand.

"You—"

Li Linghai was shocked. One of his hands was frozen in midair in embarrassment, as if he did not know his own son.

"Empress Dowager, let me make one thing clear. I am the emperor of the Imperium of True Human Beings, the dominator of the Empyrean Terminus Sector, the Empyrean Terminus Planet… and even the entire universe!

In the depths of Li Jialing's eyes, dark golden flames were burning so furiously that they were about to burst out of his eyes and melt into his raised eyebrows. The facial features of the young man had not been fully developed yet, but there was already a dominating air that was even more intimidating

than those of Wu Yinggi, the Black Star Emperor. Even Li Linghai, as his birth mother and someone who had received part of Wu Yingqi's knowledge, was deeply awed by the golden flames shooting out of his eyes and took a step back subconsciously, finding it hard to breathe.

"When I ascended the throne that day, I swore in front of billions of people and all the stars in the universe that not only would I revolutionize the imperium and restore its glory, I would also revive humanity so that the glory of the civilization of mankind would far surpass the peak of the Star Ocean

Imperium in the past and create an unprecedented hegemony in the past hundred thousand years!

"The words are still ringing in my ears. In just a few months, I am going to run away with my tail between my legs like a stray dog? How am I going to face the Immortal Cultivators and the citizens of the entire imperium? How am I going to face the billions of stars above our heads? How am I going to

live up to the thousands of martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the cause of revolution? How am I going to live up to the legacy of the previous emperor?

"Hehe. Do you really think that the dozens of Sectors near the Empyreal Terminus Sector are under our control? The garrisons and the bureaucrats in those places are all losers. Those who take advantage of the situation have absolutely no will to fight at all. Besides, the defense there is far weaker than

that of the capital city. If we can't even defend the capital city, how many days will it take for us to get out? Do I have to flee to the next world with my tail between my legs?

"As for the Seven Seas Space Zone, needless to say, it does not produce any resources at all. It is merely a transfer station for the trade of the sea of stars. Right now, the entire transfer station has been emptied. All the profit-minded merchants have sent their resources and even carriers to the capital city

to support me, hoping that I can win the war! How can I run to the Seven Seas Space Zone and tell the merchants who are counting on me that I have lost all their assets and that I am the only one who has run away naked? Tell me!"

Li Linghai swallowed hard, unable to say anything.

"All in all, I've made up my mind. The Son of Heaven will defend the country, the king will die, and the nation will perish. I swear that we will live and die together in the capital city! Whoever dares to say another word will end up like the rebels!

LiJialing's face was grave. When he was about to burst into fury, he suddenly unsheathed the sword on his waist, raised it high, and slashed at a battle puppet nearby.

After a cracking sound, the metal head and half of the shoulder of the battle puppet were chopped off. Sparks were spluttering everywhere, and they fell to the ground with cracking noises.

"Hehe!"

LiJialing sheathed his sharp saber. His dark gold eyes seemed to have been burnt to a temperature of almost a thousand degrees. Two tongues of flames darted out from Li Linghai and swept across everybody in the command center.

All the important ministers and generals who were intimidated by his eyes were shivering in fear.

The entire command center fell silent.

"Empress Dowager, you've worked hard day and night over the past few years and made great contributions to the cause of revolution. I believe you must be exhausted both physically and mentally. If you really can't bear the suffering of the war and want to leave, then just go."

With his hands behind his back, Li Jialing stared at the ever-changing data on the light beam and said casually, "You can go anywhere near the Sectors or the Seven Seas Space Zone. Just rest there and wait for my good news.

"No matter what, I believe

"I firmly believe that the warriors who are fighting side by side with me on every battlefield inside and outside of Empyreal Terminus will fight until the last bit of their blood is shed!

"I firmly believe that Lei Chenhu, Bai Xinghe, and the elites under their command on the eastern battlefield will be able to wipe out the four major families in the shortest amount of time!

"I firmly believe that the Star Glory Federation, which gave birth to the Black Wind King Li Yao, will make the wisest judgement. We will be able to see clearly that, although we have different stances, we share the same interests!

"Thave no doubt that the Black Wind King, Li Yao, is not dead yet. He is lurking somewhere and planning an earthshaking counterattack!

"I, who have everything, have already seen the dawn of victory through the flames of war. How can I let such a hard-earned victory slip through my fingers?

"Is there anyone else who wants to go with you?"

LiJialing paced in the command center unhurriedly, passing by the important ministers and generals of the revolutionaries one by one.

Sweat the size of beans appeared on everyone's forehead, but none of them wanted to leave.

Even Li Linghai came back to himself after being dumbfounded for a long time. He looked at his son in disbelief and said in a low voice, "If Your Majesty is not leaving, I am not leaving, either."

"Very good."

LiJialing nodded emotionlessly and said, "Mother, how long can our defense lines last without the enemy breaking into the atmosphere of Empyrean Terminus on a large scale?"

"About thirty-six hours. Forty-eight at best.

Li Linghai regained his calmness. He calculated for a moment and replied quickly.

Unknowingly, the spotlight of the command center had shifted from her to Li Jialing.

"Two days is too little. We must try our best to buy more time for the reinforcements.

Li Jialing pondered for a moment and said, "Let's do it this way. In order to boost the morale of the army as much as possible, we will announce to all the soldiers and the Immortal Cultivators that Lei Chenghu and the rest of them have secured a brilliant victory in the east. They have captured the last

batch of starships and a lot of strategic assets of the four major families and are returning to the capital city.

"Contact the Seven Seas Space Zone in secret and teleport a batch of carriers or armed merchant ships to the capital city in forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Pretend to be Lei Chenghu's triumphant army.

"IE so, if the soldiers can persist for another five days, I will board the starship and go to the frontline in person. I hope we can buy another two to three days.

"all things considered, if I can persist for three to five days, maybe there will be a turnaround. Maybe… there will be hope."

"Your Majesty, are you going to the frontline in person?"

Li Linghai was greatly shocked. "Absolutely not!"

"As the leader of the Immortal Cultivators who are most particular about the survival of the fittest, since when has it become 'absolutely impossible' for him to fight in the frontline?"

Li Jialing smiled. "Besides, I've been through mountains of corpses and seas of blood before.

"Times have changed.

Li Linghai hurried to say, "His Majesty is now the supreme ruler of the universe and the hope of the entire imperium. How can we risk ourselves so easily?"

"It is exactly because I am the ruler of the universe that I will be fine.

Li Jialing seemed to be surrounded by golden flames. There was an immeasurable black hole in the bottom of his eyes, but his lips curled into a charming and dominating smile. He seemed to be in a trance and mumbled, "If I am truly the Child of Destiny, the Master of Stars, the one destined to lead the

path of Cultivation and the path of immortality, the one who will make the civilization of mankind flourish, there is no way that I will fall at the beginning of glory.

"On the other hand, if I am killed in the battle, it means that I am not the one who gathered billions of stars and is destined to lead the civilization of mankind. If so, what right do I have to call myself a widow? I am merely a monkey wearing a hat. My death is not regrettable!

"This is my belief. Even if the fleet of the Star Glory Federation is ten times stronger, it is impossible to destroy it. My mother and my beloved ministers, there's no need to say anything, Just do as I say!"

While talking, the emperor waved his hands and left the command center to face the blood-dyed sunset in the sky of the imperial city.

"Brother Yao, you must've never expected that your unintentional actions would change my life to such an extent and even indirectly change the entire universe.

The emperor narrowed his eyes, trying to stop the real emotions deep inside his heart from leaking out. Beneath the seemingly indestructible shell was a slightly trembling heart. "Even so, even though I am ten times, a hundred times stronger than before, the situation right now has already pushed me to

my limits. I can barely breathe.

"I's impossible for you to die so easily, right? You must still be alive. You must still be sneaking around in some dark corner, plotting and scheming, right?

"If that is the case, there is no need to keep it a secret any longer. Show yourself now. We need you. The imperium needs you. The federation needs you. The entire universe needs you.. Show yourself now and help us!"