The Empire of Da Zhou, the grand capital of Shengjing.
Inside a magnificent palace, a man dressed in a blue official robe widened his eyes.
"Did I travel through time?"
His name was Nathan Ye. He was originally just an office worker on Earth, grinding through the endless 9-to-9 work schedule. After a night of heavy drinking, he had unexpectedly transmigrated into a different world.
By reading the memories of his current body, Nathan quickly grasped the world he now lived in.
The structure of this world resembled the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China. Above all was the Emperor of Zhou, who was nominally the ruler of the entire land, but his power had been weakening, and the empire's fortune was in decline.
Among the nine regions under the empire, six had already been granted to vassal states in an attempt to pacify them. These six states were Qi, Chu, Wei, Wu, Qin, and Yan.
The six states were ambitious, constantly eyeing the imperial throne with greed. Behind them stood six powerful Immortal Sects.
These Immortal Sects were filled with masters of tremendous power, and it was said that some of them were true immortals, beings with the power to move mountains and control the seas.
In short, this was a world filled with bizarre and dangerous forces. For someone like Nathan, an ordinary man, if he was unlucky enough to cross paths with a powerful individual, a mere sneeze could end his life.
But Nathan wasn't worried at all.
Why?
Because he had a cheat ability.
As a time traveler, how could he not have one?
His cheat was simple and direct, summed up in just seven words: "If I die, I become invincible!"
Yes, the system had given him a straightforward explanation: as long as Nathan died, he would instantly inherit all the power stored in the system and become the Celestial Emperor.
The Celestial Emperor was the most supreme being!
According to the system, only eight Celestial Emperors had ever appeared in the history of the heavens.
Each one of them was an existence that ruled for eternity.
In other words, as long as Nathan died, he would instantly become the strongest being in existence!
Of course, a system this powerful came with restrictions.
He couldn't commit suicide!
The system clearly stated that any form of suicide would not be recognized.
On this point, there was no loophole to exploit.
But to Nathan, this wasn't a problem at all.
He laughed to himself. Wanting to die was no big deal!
He couldn't kill himself, but he could certainly find a way to get himself killed.
In a world as dangerous as this, it wouldn't be hard to stir up trouble and get himself killed in no time.
"So, becoming invincible is this easy?" Nathan grinned, his heart filled with genuine joy.
The ninth Celestial Emperor? Nathan would gladly take that title.
Just as he was daydreaming, a sharp voice echoed from outside the hall.
"Lord Fu, it's time for the morning court."
Nathan glanced up and saw a eunuch dressed in green robes. Only then did he remember his current identity.
He, Nathan Ye, held the title of Seal Officer in the Empire of Da Zhou.
The Seal Officer, also known as the Seal Keeper, was responsible for safeguarding the Imperial Seal.
Although he was a minor seventh-grade official, his role was unique. He could attend the morning court sessions as an observer, and if the Emperor needed to issue a decree, Nathan would present the Imperial Seal for the Emperor to use.
Nathan's predecessor had participated in this role many times before.
But this time, things were different.
He could tell just from the eunuch's furrowed brow.
"I remember now—today is the day the six nations will confront the Emperor!" Nathan's heart skipped a beat as he asked, "Have the other officials arrived?"
The green-robed eunuch nodded, a bitter smile on his face. "Yes, they're all here, sighing in despair."
Nathan wasn't surprised.
The six nations had grown powerful, not only due to their own strength but also because they were supported by the Immortal Sects.
These Immortal Sects treated the six nations like chess pieces, aiming to seize the imperial throne.
If they succeeded, the empire's fortune would be concentrated in their hands, which would bring great benefits to the Immortal Sects.
Once, the Emperor of Zhou had ruled over the entire realm. But now, six of the nine regions had been taken by the six nations, and today, yet another powerful Immortal Sect, the Yuhua Sect, was supporting the Li family of Jinyang in an attempt to carve out the Bingzhou region and establish a new state—Jin.
If they succeeded, the six nations would become seven.
At that point, the people of the empire would lose all faith in the Zhou dynasty, and the empire's fortune, already weak, would suffer a devastating blow.
Once the empire's fortune completely dissipated, the golden dragon of the empire would shatter, marking the fall of the Empire of Da Zhou.
Everyone knew this: the scholars, the common folk, the eunuchs, the palace maids.
Some were outraged, while others sighed in resignation.
But none of it mattered.
The forces at play were too great, with the Immortal Sects slowly eroding the empire like a dull knife cutting flesh. The Emperor of Zhou could only retreat step by step.
Today's court session would be a decisive battle, one that could determine the survival of the Empire of Da Zhou.
When Nathan arrived at the Golden Throne Hall, he found the officials standing silently, their faces somber, expressions vacant like lifeless statues.
Clearly, they had mentally prepared themselves for the worst.
The high-ranking officials, eager to protect themselves, dared not oppose the Immortal Sects or the six nations.
As Nathan stood in the shadows of the grand hall, clutching the Imperial Seal, his eyes sparkled with excitement.
"A perfect opportunity to court death!"
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