In order to become a Heroic Spirit, I had no choice but to cause trouble in history.

“These are the only two offspring left by our eldest brother. So what if they are born out of wedlock? Besides, our third brother…” He turned to look at Xiang Bo, his eyes stern. “We are no longer nobles.”

"This is no longer Chu, nor the Warring States period; this is the Qin Dynasty."

"The pride of the nobility is worth less than dog shit these days. It's better to use the remaining noble perspective to see more of the world."

"Wait, Second Brother, what do you mean by 'only two'?" Xiang Bo stared blankly at Xiang Liang.

Xiang Liang quietly withdrew his gaze and turned away.

"My elder brother is dead." He turned his back on Xiang Bo. "Go do what you need to do. I have other things to take care of."

Xiang Bo stood there blankly, seemingly still reeling from the news, watching Xiang Liang leave.

The place Xiang Liang was going to was the woodshed.

There, too, lies the withered corpse of the Black-Faced Demon.

The black-faced ghost had been dead for a day, and his body was already stiff. Only then did Xiang Liang take a good look at this person who was called "black-faced ghost".

His skin was dark, his body was hunched, and his face was not pure black, but a dark reddish-black similar to a scar, only much darker.

“Is my elder brother one of the few people he trusts?” Xiang Liang leaned down and sighed.

He recalled what Xiang Chao had said in the aerial text last night: this "mysterious-faced ghost" had brought the two brothers back from beyond the Great Wall.

"Since he is a loyal and righteous man, I will treat him with courtesy."

He walked out of the woodshed, summoned two servants, and gave them a strict order: to find an auspicious burial site for the black-faced ghost Wen Ju, and to erect a tombstone there.

The servant dared not neglect his duties and diligently carried them out.

Meanwhile...

Something is flying at high speed over the Central Plains.

It was an iron bird, and magic was burning inside it.

This is Zhi Xiang.

Zhi Xiang, although it is the only backup plan left by Ji Chao, is also a multi-functional backup plan.

When Wenju carried the two brothers to the edge of the great formation, Zhixiang would guide Wenju in the right direction.

When Wenju brought the two brothers to the old Xiang residence in Xiaxiang, Zhixiang reminded Wenju to wake the two brothers up.

When the Wenju brothers brought the two beasts to Xiang Liang, it would act as a messenger, informing Xiang Liang of some information.

And in the very end...

He will leave the Xiang residence in Kuaiji for one last flight.

This is the function that Ji Chao kept inserting into the little bird's body based on the future he saw during his journey.

"Stepping on Stars"

He had foreseen his own death and made the same decision as his master.

Anticipate death, accept death.

This is the fate that those who understand the art of divination must bear.

......

Zhi Xiang flies very fast. When guiding Wen Ju earlier, it didn't use its full strength at all in order to cooperate with Wen Ju.

Now, with nothing to guide it and no next mission, it naturally flies incredibly fast.

A white line streaks across the sky, and its outline is already visible ahead.

That place is—

Xianyang.

Epang Palace.

------------

Chapter 787 The Lonely One

The First Emperor had been back in Xianyang for some time now.

Various palaces are under construction at a feverish pace, even though it's the twelfth lunar month.

Not only were palaces under construction, but the Great Wall was also being built, and many other things were being repaired. Moreover, the Xiongnu in the north were stirring up trouble, so the First Emperor also had to spare time to arrange for soldiers to guard the frontier.

The corvée labor was heavy, but it was necessary in the early stages of the dynasty's rise, at least the First Emperor firmly believed in this.

He had just finished the morning court session and was about to return to his palace to review memorials.

"Ok?"

Suddenly, he felt something blocking the sunlight from above his head.

Looking up, I realized it was a bird.

"What kind of bird is that?" the First Emperor asked a young eunuch beside him.

"This... Your Majesty, I do not know..." The young eunuch, who looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, answered tremblingly.

The First Emperor glanced silently at the young eunuch, a glance that sent chills down the eunuch's spine.

"But, but, this bird must taste delicious. Why don't I shoot it down for Your Majesty?" The young eunuch had a sudden inspiration and wished he could bow his head to the ground.

As the saying goes, serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. This founding emperor, who unified the country and fought his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, was even more formidable than a tiger. The little eunuch dared not be careless at all.

The First Emperor sighed and looked away: "This bird is hovering above my head and won't come down. This is an act of usurpation. Bring me my bow."

He wanted to shoot down that ungrateful bird himself.

The young eunuch hurried off to retrieve the First Emperor's bow and arrows.

However......

"Card--"

"Kaka—"

A familiar voice reached the ears of the First Emperor.

He suddenly looked up.

The bird made strange noises as it descended.

"This sound... a mechanism!?" Upon hearing the clicking sound, the First Emperor couldn't help but take two steps forward.

Just then, the heavens smiled upon them, and a cloud obscured the dazzling sun, allowing the First Emperor to finally see the bird clearly.

It was a strange bird made of wood and iron, with a wingspan about the length of a person, and it was descending.

Among the people the First Emperor knew, there seemed to be only one person who was proficient in mechanical arts and capable of designing such a mechanical bird.

As the mechanical bird descended, the First Emperor couldn't help but extend one of his arms. The mechanical bird seemed to be in sync with him and slowly landed on the First Emperor's arm.

"Your Majesty, the bow and arrows, the bow and arrows have been found—" The young eunuch rushed over, panting, carrying a longbow and a quiver.

Then, looking up, he saw the strange bird perched on the First Emperor's arm, and the First Emperor staring intently at the bird. He was startled for a moment.

The First Emperor looked at the mechanical bird and waved to the eunuch, "Put the bow and arrows back. I'm going back to my palace now."

"Yes!" Although he was puzzled, the young eunuch immediately agreed and hurriedly returned the bow and arrows.

The First Emperor, meanwhile, strolled alone towards his bedchamber.

As he passed through the garden of the inner palace, many maids, eunuchs, concubines, and children bowed to him, but he simply waved them off and continued walking toward his bedchamber.

For him, there are more important things to do now.

A name kept echoing in his mind.

Ji Chao, Chao Di... is that you?

Back in his palace, sitting on the dragon bed, the mechanical bird still stared intently at him, making no move.

The man and the bird stared at each other for a long time. The First Emperor felt that he was quite stupid and couldn't help but get angry: "You, Ji Chao, how dare you fool me!"

"Stepping on Stars"

After saying that, he slapped the mechanical bird.

Snapped!

"Gakaa—" The mechanical bird suddenly spread its wings and let out a particularly loud cry, startling the First Emperor, who moved back a little.

Then, the mechanical bird took flight, its body constantly shrinking and reorganizing until it finally became that small, exquisite object that the First Emperor was very familiar with.

The First Emperor stared blankly at the small object, took a jade bird from his waist, and placed it next to the mechanical bird with trembling hands.

"Knowing the direction, is knowing the direction..."

He tossed the jade bird aside and covered Zhi Xiang, who was still suspended in mid-air, with both hands, as if afraid that Zhi Xiang would run away, holding him in his palms.

"Is that Chaodi? Are you coming back?"

He spoke with some excitement.

Zhi Xiang slowly floated up in his palm, and neat characters began to appear out of thin air.

"My lord, it is as if we are meeting in person. It has been a long time since we last met. I regret that I was unable to return to congratulate you on completing your great undertaking of unifying the Central Plains."

The First Emperor looked at the words and couldn't help but nod.

"I have finished, Chao Di, what about you? You..."

Before he could finish speaking, the words in the air continued to appear.

"It's a pity that Chao can no longer return to the Central Plains to see Your Majesty's Great Qin Dynasty and experience the awe and pride of being a subject of Great Qin."

The First Emperor's words caught in his throat, and his expression of joy quickly cooled, turning into disbelief.

"What...does this mean?"

"Chao is already dead, and knowing that... is the end."

The First Emperor slowly stood up, looking down at the text in disbelief.

"...Ji Chao, Xiang Chao."