Ch 112: Zhu Yuanzhang’s Shock, How Could the Great Emperor of Yuan Be You…

Great Capital Imperial Palace.

Vast and boundless, luxuriously ornate, the architectural complex exuded a barbaric style unique to the Demonic race.

Zhu Yuanzhang strode forward with the gait of a dragon and tiger, and soon saw Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, and others guarding the entrance of the imperial palace’s main hall.

“Great King!”

“You’ve arrived!”

One by one, the unyielding divine generals bowed their heads to Zhu Yuanzhang. But Zhu Yuanzhang seemed not to see them, staring intently at the imperial palace’s main hall, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.

After pondering for a moment, he said in a low voice, “You stay outside and guard the gate. Unless you hear an order from me, do not barge in!”

“…What is this?!” Chang Yuchun’s face turned pale.

“What, worried that I’ll be killed by that person?” Zhu Yuanzhang smiled, and said, “I’ve learned a very profound truth from being with my father for so long… For certain beings, numbers are useless!”

“The Great Emperor of Northern Yuan doesn’t follow martial ethics, daring to bully the weak… At that time, my father will naturally take action. If my father doesn’t take action, perhaps even if we gather most of the army… the result will be the same!”

Chang Yuchun, Xu Da, and the others looked at each other, their hearts shaken. Was that Great Emperor truly a terrifying figure comparable to the State Preceptor? After ten years of being together, they knew too well how unfathomable the State Preceptor was… At this moment, they couldn’t help but feel fear and trepidation, but also a sense of relief!

No matter what, they still had the State Preceptor after all! Even if the other side was really that powerful… it would still be enough to contend with!

Zhu Yuanzhang stepped into the main hall.

The two massive gates, tens of meters high, slowly closed together under the push of an inexplicable force, isolating the inside from the outside with a deafening boom.

The group of civil and military officials looked at each other, no one speaking, all anxiously awaiting the final result.

Inside the main hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at the man standing in front of the imperial throne with his hands behind his back, and asked, “You are an emperor, but I, too, shall be an emperor!”

“Great Emperor of the Demonic race, tell me, why are you staying here? Is there some unfulfilled obsession?” Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes were blazing, he had no fear, his back was straight, his aura was astonishing, and his words were bold, “Considering that you deliberately ceded the world to me, I might not be unable to agree!”

Now that things had come to this, Zhu Yuanzhang basically understood that perhaps only the Great Emperor of the Demonic race himself could have ordered such a smooth advance all the way here.

A slightly hoarse laugh rang out, Zhu Yuanzhang’s heart tightened, and then he saw that person slowly turn around. He was surrounded by terrifying demonic qi, obscuring his face, but his brow radiated a brilliant divine light.

That semi-transparent divine light made Zhu Yuanzhang involuntarily think of the purple light flashing on his own father’s forehead. Was this the Demonic race Sage of Great Yuan, of the same rank as his father?

Suddenly, that wisp of divine light spread, enveloping the vast main hall, completely isolating the inside from the outside. This finally made Zhu Yuanzhang’s forehead break out in a cold sweat, unable to calm down—was this person really trying to lure him in to kill him?!

No, what’s the point… Does this Great Emperor of the Demonic race have a problem with his brain? He doesn’t even want the world, just wants his life?!

Also… Father, where are you? Save me!

However, afterwards, the Great Emperor did not suddenly attack as Zhu Yuanzhang had imagined… He sat on the dragon throne.

The Demonic race’s qi slowly dissipated, revealing the playful and composed face hidden beneath the demonic qi.

That face, Zhu Yuanzhang was too familiar with!

A deathly silence.

Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes gradually widened, he subconsciously rubbed his eyes, found that what he saw was correct, and still suspected whether he was hallucinating. He activated his divinity, stirred up his divine power, and carefully sensed… Finally, he shuddered. It was real, all real!

“This… this is impossible… How could such a thing be?!”

Zhu Yuanzhang was incoherent, even suspecting whether he was in a dream.

“Zhong Ba, in fact, you already believe it!” Chu Mo stared at Zhu Yuanzhang, “Because, this way, it can indeed explain everything that has happened along the way.”

“Ten years of peace, ten years of Northern Yuan’s adjustment, deliberately stirring up friction, but collapsing utterly after you attacked… It’s as if the world was deliberately ceded to you? Of course, in reality, it can’t be considered ceding,” Chu Mo said meaningfully, “It’s just that, there is a better goal.”

Zhu Yuanzhang took two heavy breaths, his expression changed several times, he pursed his lips, lowered his eyes, and suddenly spoke in a hoarse voice.

“So, are you Zhu Wusi after all, or the Great Emperor of the Demonic race?!”

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly realized an extremely terrifying thing.

The Demonic race initially had no physical bodies. The first batch of extraterrestrial demons who descended only had pure souls. They seized human bodies and constantly transformed the bodies to adapt to their souls, creating Demonic race bodies.

Pure-blooded demons still could leave their bodies after giving birth to offspring. If they gave birth to offspring with humans, they would become demonic humans… There was no reproductive isolation between the Demonic race and humans. In the final analysis, their bodies were still human.

In the beginning, the number of extraterrestrial demons descending was frighteningly high. But after Huo Qubing’s Fenglangjuxu ceremony, he seemed to have done something, causing the number of descending demons to plummet. The main force of pure-blooded demons also changed from descending from outside the territory to being born locally.

But even so, extraterrestrial demons still descended from time to time… and the quality of these descending demons was particularly high! The most typical examples were Emperor Taizu Genghis Khan and Emperor Shizu Kublai Khan—although when they descended, they were already Demonic race Khans at the top of the Demonic race.

Then, was there a possibility… that his father was indeed dead!

However, an extremely terrifying being from outside the territory lurked in his father’s body, thereby completing all of that…

“Pfft… Hahahaha.” Chu Mo laughed, tears coming out of his eyes. He saw through Zhu Yuanzhang’s thoughts, mainly because Zhu Yuanzhang’s expression at this moment was too easy to understand.

“Zhong Ba, damn it, this is the first time I’ve discovered that you also have such a rich imagination!”

“No, I’m a Demonic race, what am I plotting? Did you really think that if I was a Demonic race, you would have been able to survive in Gaoyou ten years ago?”

Zhu Yuanzhang’s old face rarely turned red, realizing that he had indeed made a stupid mistake, and then his expression became tangled, “Then what exactly are you…”

“In fact, I already told you.” Chu Mo leaned back on the dragon throne, staring at Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned, thought for a long time, and his expression gradually became stiff, “Are you saying…”

Zhu Yuanzhang didn’t continue speaking, he touched his chest, where he still had the Red Emperor Divinity that he hadn’t consumed.

But he understood that perhaps his father had obtained something from the future. It might be information that was enough to convince the Demonic race, it might be some kind of flawless technique to disguise himself as a Demonic race, or it might be something else…

In any case, he used this power from the future to stage such a coup! But he was still a little frightened. No matter what, this matter could be described as shocking and unbelievable.

Chu Mo nodded, and then exhaled lightly, “It’s good that you’ve figured it out. Then next, the Great Emperor should also leave.”

“No… this, this kind of thing!” Zhu Yuanzhang was at a loss.

“It’s not the State Preceptor of Great Ming who is leaving, but the Great Emperor of the Demonic race.” Chu Mo emphasized with some amusement.

Afterwards, he lowered his eyes and said leisurely, “Zhong Ba, before leaving Great Capital, I not only took away the Demonic race stationed in various places, but also a large number of Confucian scholars who are loyal to the death… such as the Yansheng Duke. Even including a large number of grassroots officials!”

These officials were naturally taken to other places to help the Demonic race manage the world. Chu Mo recalled his last Heavenly Khan life and confirmed that the main reason for the Demonic race Empire’s fragile state at the end was the lack of qualified officials.

Although Confucianism had various problems… its control over the grassroots was beyond doubt! Forcibly promoting it might be able to condense the Demonic race regime into a relatively stable country!

Of course, the resulting deep-seated Sinicization phenomenon… was also certain!

However, in this era, Han culture was indeed the most cutting-edge and advanced culture of this era. Chu Mo didn’t feel guilty. He had indeed brought order and civilization to those relatively backward regions. It was just that they needed to pay a little insignificant price for it…

“I’ve already cleared out the local forces for you. Taking over and integrating the north should be easier than you imagine! But, after the takeover… that’s when the real, difficult start begins…”

Chu Mo thought of the North-South Examination Case that appeared in history. This matter was likely to happen in this world as well, and the commotion it stirred up would be even greater.

◈◈◈

Although Chu Mo had done countless things during this period, he was limited by his identity as the Great Emperor and ultimately couldn’t completely abandon the interests of the Demonic race and favor the human race. Doing so would only make the Demonic race suspicious. The most important thing he did was to prevent the large-scale extinction of the northern population, so that Zhu Yuanzhang wouldn’t have to force the southern population to migrate to the north as in history.

“After today, the Great Emperor might not be hostile to you, but the Great Demonic race Empire is still Great Ming’s mortal enemy.” Chu Mo said word by word.

“Father, since you are the Emperor of the Demonic race, then tell me, do I have a chance to inherit your Demonic race Empire’s throne in the future?” Zhu Yuanzhang licked his old face and leaned forward.

Chu Mo forcibly resisted the urge to kick him, “Didn’t you understand what I said…”

“I understand, I just can’t understand! Clearly, I have no reason…” Zhu Yuanzhang’s cheeks twisted. Why should father and son kill each other for no reason? Although the Demonic race had humiliated the Divine Province, if they were willing to submit, he could give them a chance to be obedient citizens!

“You’re wrong.” Chu Mo shook his head, “The Great Emperor of the Demonic race must protect the interests of his own race… I’ve only changed the people who shed blood and tears from the people of the Divine Province to other people… There are still people bleeding! If you sit in this position, can you give the Demonic race enough benefits to make them submit to you?”

“You can’t do it… Forcibly accepting them is just planting a huge mine!”

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent.

Chu Mo paused slightly and continued, “Most importantly, Great Ming needs an enemy! It needs an enemy to force itself to constantly become stronger. At the same time, the Demonic race also needs to constantly become stronger… Only this almost crazy mutual coercion can squeeze out an unprecedented glorious era.”

“Only in that era is it possible to truly achieve your ultimate goal!”

Zhu Yuanzhang’s pupils contracted, he understood what Chu Mo was referring to—that goal of preventing the gods in the sky from interfering in the human world.

He realized that the Great Demonic race Empire, Great Ming, all of these things, his father didn’t really care about. This was just accumulation…

This was the foundation that his father was accumulating to fight against the gods, against the Heavenly Realm! Even if no one knew whether this accumulation would be useful…

“I understand!” Zhu Yuanzhang nodded solemnly, “From today onwards, the Demonic race Empire will be Great Ming’s eternal enemy! Great Ming will one day completely destroy the Great Demonic race Empire. To this end, we will sharpen our swords and armor, and become stronger at all costs… become even stronger!”

“If you can do it, I’ll be gratified.” Chu Mo smiled wryly.

He exhaled lightly, and in Zhu Yuanzhang’s staring gaze, he condensed a figure flowing with terrifying demonic qi beside him.

“This, this, this…” Zhu Yuanzhang was dumbfounded, incoherent. He seemed to finally understand why his father could simultaneously be the Great Emperor of Yuan and the State Preceptor of Great Ming! He had been wondering how his father could be so busy…

As a result… Father, you really have a clone technique?!!

“Want to learn it?” Chu Mo raised his eyebrows, the qi on his body transformed into righteous qi, “I’ll teach you!”

◈◈◈

Outside the main hall.

The expressions of the many anxious ministers changed drastically, they suddenly looked up. They discovered that a purple light and a semi-transparent divine light were intertwined, piercing through the roof of the Great Yuan Imperial Palace, and tearing apart the vast firmament.

“This is… Could this be?!”

“The Emperor of the Demonic race has made a move!”

“It’s… It’s the State Preceptor! The State Preceptor is indeed watching over here.”

In everyone’s surprised and astonished gaze, two figures suddenly rose into the air.

The vast, unimaginable demonic qi and righteous qi collided violently, sweeping in all directions… That kind of destructive power was too terrifying.

The righteous qi and demonic qi collided, they mutually annihilated each other, causing the void to distort. Every trace of qi that remained after the collision contained terrifying, unimaginable killing intent, causing the void to tremble, as if it contained the weight of a world.

Just looking at the separated and broken qi, many Transcendent Realm divine generals on the scene felt their hair stand on end and their hands and feet turn cold, sensing a fatal threat. They realized… that perhaps a wisp of qi falling down could completely destroy Great Capital.

However, surrounded by purple light, that slender and sacred figure, even while confronting his opponent, could still free his hand to scatter purple light, protecting the vast Great Capital from the impact of the aftermath.

Without making a move, after the two figures confronted each other for a long time, the terrifying existence wrapped in demonic qi rapidly shot away into the distance. And the sage with the purple light closely followed behind.

“…It’s the State Preceptor! The State Preceptor must be stronger than that Demonic race Sage!” Shi Nai’an’s voice was filled with excitement, staring into the distance. Even though he could no longer see the figures of the two, he still didn’t take his eyes away.

“That must be the case!” Luo Guanzhong also nodded quickly, “Only a stronger person can spare the extra energy to protect the city! Moreover, if he could win, why would the Great Emperor run away? If he could defeat the State Preceptor here, we…”

Luo Guanzhong smiled bitterly and didn’t say much, but everyone on the scene understood what he meant. If that were really the case, who would dare to resist?!

“…Crap.” Zhang Dingbian suddenly thought of something, and his expression became extremely ugly.

Like a giant tank, he rushed to the giant gate, using all his strength with both hands, his face contorted, and his muscles bulging.

Accompanied by a terrifying roar, the gate suddenly opened.

The crowd also reacted and rushed in with panicked expressions, only to find Zhu Yuanzhang standing on the high platform, quietly staring at the dragon throne in front of him, not knowing what he was thinking.

“G, Great King?!”

“That’s great… You’re alright!”

“Great King, even with the State Preceptor… you must never do such a risky thing again in the future!”

A group of people had faces filled with joy. Many people breathed a sigh of relief.

But people familiar with Zhu Yuanzhang, such as Tang He, always felt that something was wrong… Why did Zhu Yuanzhang give people a feeling of being lost at this moment? Moreover, apart from the huge hole above, the environment inside the main hall was still intact, not at all like the aftermath of the two sides venting their qi…

This was too strange! It was still understandable that the sage could protect Great Capital during the confrontation… But those two should have no time and no reason to protect the imperial palace, right?!

What exactly happened here before?!

“Oh… um.” Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly woke up, glanced at the crowd, and exhaled lightly, “Although many things happened, fortunately… the final situation didn’t reach the worst part!”

Shaking his head with a wry smile, Zhu Yuanzhang turned around, gently sat on the dragon throne, and quietly looked down at the many civil and military officials below.

Li Shanchang was the first to react, realizing that the time had finally come, and a look of ecstasy appeared on his face. He knelt down with a thud.

“This subject congratulates Your Majesty! For unifying the Divine Province and ascending to the pinnacle! Please ascend the throne as soon as possible… Your Majesty, long live, long live, long, long live!”

The expressions of the others also changed drastically. Those who realized that they had reacted slowly also knelt down closely behind, and the sound of “Long live” was endless.

Zhu Yuanzhang calmly accepted everything, and then said softly, “Let the officials of the Ministry of Rites pick a time for the enthronement ceremony… But the most important thing now is to sort out all the situations in the north and completely rule the north!”

“The Great Emperor threw the north to me, I can’t let him down.”

The more Tang He listened, the more he felt that something was wrong. Was this sarcasm? It should be, right? But why did it seem like he also heard some sincerity?!

However, Tang He didn’t say much, or rather, even if he was confused, he wouldn’t dare to say anything more in the current situation. He could only follow the crowd and respond loudly.