Him and their stars.

Chapter 2162 This is a teaching battle with Teacher Yi
I knew it. All phenomena that cannot be realized are the curse of the enlightened! How tragic!
Since the relics of the Enlightened Ones were involved, Yu Lian thought that in this situation, he should be able to call upon the all-powerful Little Grey, but he couldn't sense her presence at all.

Besides, what did he just say? "She and her companions?"

This statement is way too suggestive, isn't it?
In this situation, the Emperor could guess Yu Lian's thoughts without even looking at his face, but he did not hide anything: "The archaeological discoveries during the reign of Empress Iwenya yielded life treasures from the era of the Enlightened. Under the organization of the current Chancellor, Shir, the Empire completed the initial reverse research on the relics. I created four perfect Primarchs in succession: besides 'The Undying Dragon' Empress Iwenya's Primarch Fina, there is Primarch No. 1 of 'The Wise One' O'nal, Primarch No. 2 of 'The Glory One' Neruhi, and Primarch No. 3 of 'The Heart of Mithril' Moran."

So, all the work of the so-called Primarch Project revolved around the operation of the Enlightened Ones' relics. Those staff members were more like recorders than operators; their main job was probably reverse research.

Yu Lian pondered this, then asked doubtfully, "They're all emperors from the same historical era, and all at the eighth ring. Why not look for the 'Sword Emperor,' the 'Conqueror,' the 'Bloody Emperor,' or those who are truly at the ninth ring?"

The emperor showed a rather regretful expression and spread his hands, saying, "Before Empress Iwenya obtained the Enlightener's 'Life Pivot,' the empire didn't really have a tradition of burial. Mausoleums were certainly built, but the reason was that they had to be magnificent to establish authority."

Indeed, human civilization has a penchant for spectacular sights that lead to national ruin, but those who are most addicted to it are these extravagant and wasteful imperial devils.

"Most of the imperial tombs throughout history are cenotaphs, containing weapons and favorite toys from the time of their lives. Of course, there are also occasionally the remains of dragons that were ridden."

So that's how it is. It's been too long, so everything turned to ash? Not even a single cell or hair remained? Yu Lian immediately responded with a sorrowful expression, but then added, "So, you really didn't make any terracotta figurines of your loyal guards to be buried with you?"

"The Bloody Emperor actually thought that way before he died."

"...He also has a ninth ring!"

“Nine Rings is not a god, and can still die,” Elither said. “In fact, the aforementioned former emperors were all recognized as exceptionally talented individuals, no less than me, but they failed to reach the realm of Truth due to a combination of chance and lack of divine favor. Copying their Primarchies and allowing them to grow naturally and reach the realm of Truth might even make up for the regrets of our predecessors.”

"What about the Primarchs besides Fifi?"

Emperor Elither's face showed an even more distressed and regretful expression: "Number 1, O'nal, matured the earliest and became an explorer as an ordinary nobleman. He disappeared in 386 while exploring the Void Realm. Number 2, Neruhi, joined the Imperial Army and in 421 challenged the strongest of his time, the Alliance War God 'All-Seeing Eye' Kakart Belmont, but was defeated and killed."

I know this person; he's a direct descendant of Mr. Krell. Heh, what would that old man think if he saw his descendants like this?

"And then there's Mo Lan, number 3. He escaped in 544. We don't know if he discovered something. We haven't heard from him since."

So you're letting the Primarch grow wild?! Even a big yellow-skinned ghoul wouldn't be this irresponsible.

"But how can one reach the pinnacle with only talent and experience? Only by following the natural course and traversing the galaxy can one have the possibility of challenging the truth. I myself faced death nine times before achieving what I have today!" the emperor said proudly.

Okay, so does my master, and so do I. Yu Lian admitted that this made sense, but he also felt a chill when he thought about it more closely.

He now had to suspect that some of the clues hidden in the dark side of the universe, including the snake's actions and the Alliance's control over the Empire's taboos, might actually be related to these missing Primarchs.

Of course, there really isn't any evidence.

"I've had my suspicions, but I have no evidence and I'm too lazy to investigate," the emperor said, shrugging again.

"Your Majesty is so elegant, I admire you greatly," Yu Lian said, bowing respectfully.

He is now just glad that Feifei is a "late bloomer," which is why they have this destiny in his life.

Of course, judging from the number, she should also be the last one.

"So, what about you? You're not worried about any ethical issues, are you?" Yu Lian looked at the emperor with suspicion.

What is the relationship between one's clone and the original? Like Bilibili, do they all call each other "little brother"? After all, there are defective products and final works?
Looking at the emperor, who was two meters tall, with a robust and imposing physique, and who resembled a statue with sculpted beauty, Yu Lian felt that he really couldn't accept such a final work!

"The life-sustaining nexus that created the Primarchs also ceased functioning in the year I ascended the throne. Its function was reduced to protecting the growth of the Primarchs, but it could no longer replicate new ones." Even Emperor Elithel couldn't help but feel a trace of resentment: "How tragic, it should have been my turn."

Yes! It's truly tragic; it should have been the emperor's turn. The previous ones were all like the ninth, but this one is a true ninth! The value of his original body should surpass that of the previous five.

Yu Lian pondered for a moment and said, "Speaking of which, the swaddling clothes that the previous Black Moon brought back from the Empire were actually part of the relics of an Enlightened One. However, that old man was definitely not the culprit who destroyed the artifacts."

According to Feifei, all the Black Moons throughout history were actually "refined thieves," so of course they wouldn't damage cultural relics. Their knowledge of antiques and relics of the Enlightened Ones even surpasses that of experts in the field.

"I have never doubted the previous Earl of Black Moon, nor have I doubted Lan Jiufeng," the Emperor said.

"Then... Count Salvin?"

Count Salvin Ladis was also one of the heads of the Primarch Project! He was a top biologist and environmentalist, an expert in Enlightened archaeology, and, frankly, a snake. He also defected around the time of the Emperor's ascension to the throne.

Isn't this terrifying to think about?
"Of course I've had that suspicion too," the emperor said, spreading his hands. "But there's still no evidence."

As expected, you, this ninth-ring "true god," are far from being omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent.

“I am not a god.” He repeated, “Since we are in such a desperate situation, we have no choice but to rely on existing technology. Fortunately, through reverse research on the Primarch Project, the Empire has made great strides in this area. We can even use genetic therapy to repair severely injured high-ranking psykers. So, perhaps we can try to replicate me.”

Yu Lian also offered another objective and fair assessment and praise: "Success means that we have caught up with the enlighteners in this field. This is the right argument. Our civilization should climb step by step in this way."

"Look at you, Yu Lianqing, you have such spirit. I've said it before, you're the only one who can chat and laugh with me," the emperor said with a smile.

Haha, if the relics of the Enlightened Ones hadn't been left untouched, why would you have sought out existing technology? In the end, all that crazy stuff resulted in this anti-civilization bio-battery forest. What's the point of all this laughter and chatter?

Yu Lian felt that, if brute force were disregarded, the emperor, who had lived for over two hundred years, was truly unworthy to discuss civilization and progress with him.

Of course, from a basic adult's emotional intelligence perspective, there was no need to say that. Yu Lian simply said, "And then, there were these millions of your clones. This is the follow-up to the Primarch Project."

The emperor nodded.

"Then, who will continue to oversee this project?" Yu Lian guessed. "It can't be you personally taking charge, can it?" The emperor replied irrelevantly, "I've spent 150 years, and I'm still a long way from achieving the perfect prototype back then."

"How about we take a look at what the Thorn Witch did?" Yu Lian suggested.

"The so-called reincarnation vessels she sought were all exceptionally talented young people. Yet even so, after hundreds of years, she still couldn't reach the edge of truth, and she wasn't even a demigod." The emperor made no attempt to hide his disdain: "Moreover, after so many reincarnations, is the one inside the vessel still the original her? I'm afraid even she herself can't say for sure."

Yu Lian was slightly taken aback, but then had to admit that what the old man said still made a lot of sense.

In his past life, he had also encountered the Thorn Witch. After being reincarnated through that girl's body, he became a crazed, anthropomorphic villain, the extreme type who took pleasure in mass death and bloodshed. Back then, in order to defeat her, the snake even subtly cooperated with the Alliance's Extraordinary Management Bureau a few times.

But in this life, she was quite happy working for Yani. She was clearly just a ruthless yet flexible and realistic orthodox villain.

Does this mean that even if a psyker reaches the seventh ring, their soul is not considered "complete" and is still affected by their body?
Speaking of which, wasn't the magical girl who served as the vessel for reincarnation killed by herself? I really didn't see any yandere potential in her. What was her name again?

Sure enough, it's really hard for someone like me to remember the names of everyone I've ever killed.

Before being recruited by the White-haired Fox, the Thorn Witch had lived in the Empire for at least fifty years, so her ability to hide and manage her affairs must have been quite remarkable. Yet now it seems that none of her movements have escaped the Emperor's control.

The reason they were able to live so carefree for so long was simply because of the demands of reality.

"However, even such a chaotic and heretical path is a completely new way of thinking, and who knows, it might produce some entirely new results someday. So I've let her run wild until now." The emperor's tone was matter-of-fact. As for the days the Thorn Witch had been lying low in the empire, how many cult activities she had carried out on remote planets, and how many people she had harmed, that was no longer important.

He still treats everything fairly.

"I am also looking forward to seeing what she can come up with under the protection of the alliance."

Is this some kind of lofty "divine justice"? Or is it merely a sense of alienation from reality felt by those in power?
Yu Lian coughed lightly, his fingers, hidden behind his back, curling slightly: "Since the Primitive Project failed to produce a perfect individual, doesn't that mean that you have already fallen from your peak after losing your original body?"

"Otherwise what? If I were still at my peak, would you think you could hold out against me for so long? Don't be too arrogant, young man," the emperor sneered.

“Young people should be proud! And I’m proud of my mentor too! He’s a new ninth-ringed being, yet he still managed to replace you, a two-hundred-year-old god, one by one.”

"Hahaha! I sensed sixty years ago that, in this vast universe, only he could truly discuss the Dao with me. And I have waited for him for a full sixty years. By the spirit of the universe, I have finally found him." At this moment, the emperor's face was filled with a profound sense of satisfaction.

Yu Lian chuckled. This guy was just lamenting that only he himself was worthy of chatting and laughing with him.

The emperor's smile slowly turned sinister: "But isn't this the glory of a warrior? Without him, how could I have made this decision today?"

Yu Lian frowned slightly, immediately realizing that this guy was starting to have a split personality.

This wasn't the first time. He had vaguely sensed something when he fought against the divine soul before.

So, is schizophrenia a common ailment among all imperial emperors?

Yu Lian couldn't help but start to worry about Brunhilde's mental health. When he transmigrated in his previous life, the girl (by the standards of a ninth-ranked player) was still quite young and didn't show any problems in this regard.

Even the most extravagant and wasteful lifestyles are all done openly and honestly.

But who knows what old age will be like?

Yu Lian expressed humanitarian pity for the future of the Dawn Royal Family, only to see the Emperor's chilling smile: "But that's not enough. Not enough."

"It's definitely not enough, so let's hurry. I'm in a rush right now."

The emperor nodded slightly, and before his sinister smile could fully materialize, a scorching white-gold light burst forth from his hand, condensing into a new energy blade.

The light was more intense than any lightsaber-like weapon Yu Lian had ever seen, as if he were holding a miniature star, instantly illuminating the flat plaza on the mountaintop in a ghastly white light.

Naturally, this also made the emperor's face, with its ferocious smile, appear like that of a savage demon.

The light blade tore through the air, ruthless and decisive, slicing towards Yu Lian's throat, as if it contained the determination to annihilate his soul.

So, when did a dignified emperor become so keen on sneak attacks?
Yu Lian sneered. However, before that, his body had already reacted before his mind could react, instinctively taking half a step back. At the same time, his right hand made a fist, and spiritual energy surged out, forming a halberd that looked like it was made of crystal.

That was the first clump of cyan crystal, lacking brilliance, yet all the more vibrant. It should have been a fragile crystal, but it seemed to flow with an inexhaustible resilience.

Aside from the color, its aura, force field, and effects are all the same type as the red crystal summoned by the Emperor's soul in the Dragon Palace.

Thus, the expanding cyan crystal cluster clearly transformed into a vibrant tree, entangling the platinum light, just as a tree canopy locked away the blazing sun.

"sulfuric acid--!"

The two energy weapons clashed violently, unleashing a powerful yet silent explosion.

A powerful shockwave of energy exploded outwards in a ring, sweeping across the ground and creating distinct ripples, but without making a sound. However, just before the airflow broke free of the mountain's constraints, it contracted back.

They returned to their respective bodies in psychic form through the pores of their skin, rejoining the ceaseless flow of spiritual energy.

They both knew that the other was their strongest opponent, and they could not afford to let go of even a little bit of physical strength or psychic energy.

The difference is that Yu Lian has already undergone years of training in "spiritual vein circulation," making him highly skilled in this area. However, Emperor Elither on the other side is relying solely on instinct.

Indeed, once you reach that level, you can do whatever you want with all things.