Kaiser never imagined that a few seconds of silence could feel so suffocating.
His breath stayed caught in his throat as he stood there, waiting, knowing full well who held the reins of his fate.
His father.
The man who could strip him of the throne with a single sentence and justify it with some superficial excuse that no one would dare question.
If Kaiser failed to satisfy him now, the consequences would be immediate.
He would lose the throne, lose the protection of his title, and most importantly, lose the resources he relied on for cultivation.
Once upon a time, this would not have bothered him.
Back then, his growth was slow and the resources he required were few.
Even the most average prince could obtain them without much effort, and Kaiser had coasted along without pressure.
But those days were gone.
His cultivation was progressing at a terrifying pace now.
His foundation demanded more, far more than before.
Only his status as an Emperor could keep those resources flowing without interruption.
Without them, his rise would slow, perhaps even stall entirely, and Kaiser refused to let that happen.
“It seems that my question is not apt for this situation.
After some time has passed, come to me, son.”
“I will show you the might of your father.
But for now, commission the King of Fists, the Thunder King, Red Mist War Saint, and Martial Heaven to defend the borders of the Empire.”
“It is time to see whether the blades of the Empire have been dulled.”
The voice of his father faded, heavy and absolute.
Kaiser lowered his head and leaned forward slightly from his throne.
That small movement was enough.
The entire court sank into a suffocating silence.
The formidable Prime Minister, a man with a hundred shadows and a thousand hidden strings, stopped breathing for a moment.
The proud nobles, whom his father had so conveniently ignored, straightened at once, their earlier arrogance wiped clean.
Even Martial Heaven, the old war god whose battle prowess had inspired generations to walk the path of True Martial Combat, stood motionless, his eyes sharp but restrained.
Every single person in the hall understood.
Respect was demanded.
‘So they do know when to give respect.’
Kaiser’s expression twitched before he let out a soft sigh.
He straightened, letting his gaze sweep across the court, and repeated the command his father had issued.
The four generals named did not wait for a second call.
The instant their titles left his lips, they vanished from their seats and descended to one knee, their heads bowed, waiting to receive the word of the Emperor.
‘But which Emperor did they respect?’
Kaiser laughed inwardly.
None of these men bowed to him.
They bowed to the one whose shadow still filled the hall.
As the generals withdrew and the officials slowly dispersed, Kaiser dismissed the meeting with a wave of his hand.
The meeting was over.
==========================
[Name: Kaiser Von Dawn] You are reading on g.com, the official source.
[Talent: Proficiency]
[Realms: Gersa(Low Grade World)]
[Dragon Martial Body Technique: Third Layer: 3/1000]
[Imperial Dragon Qi Condensation Breath: Second Layer: 14/1000]
[Imperial Spear Canon Arts: Entry Level: 756/1000]
“Third Layer of Body Refinement!”
Kaiser exhaled as a deep tremor rolled through his bones.
His muscles tightened, knotting together like coiled steel.
Each breath made the air quiver.
His internal organs pulsed with the rhythm of power, resonating as if awakening to a forgotten instinct.
The moment his Dragon Martial Body Technique stepped into Minor Accomplishment, something within him shifted.
His flesh grew heavier, denser.
His skin carried a faint ripple of draconic heat.
He could feel the strength boiling beneath the surface, waiting for a battlefield to unleash itself upon.
“Han, take a punch.”
With a broad swing, Kaiser lunged forward, his fist tearing through the air with the wild ferocity of a beast thrashing its tail.
The wind twisted around his arm, carrying the faint rhythm of primal destruction.
His blood surged.
His breath roared.
His excitement erupted.
But before the strike could land, a black silhouette glided into existence.
Han appeared without a sound, as if he had stepped out of the shadow of the world itself.
His expression was calm.
His stance was simple.
He extended his hand, fingers relaxed, palm open.
The moment Kaiser’s blazing fist collided with Han’s gentle block, the atmosphere shifted.
The wild intent of destruction crumbled.
The violent momentum vanished.
His force, powerful enough to shatter boulders and tear trees from their roots, was swallowed whole.
The impact produced no thunderous crack.
No spark.
No clash of strength.
It was as if his strength had bowed its head.
At that instant, Kaiser’s eyes widened.
An oppressive weight crushed down on him.
In his vision, Han no longer resembled a man.
Instead, he stood like a mountain carved from ancient ages, towering, immovable, eternal.
Kaiser could not see its peak.
He could not see its end.
It simply stood there, a presence so vast that even breathing became difficult.
‘Divine Transformation Realm?’
Speculation was pointless.
He could not even imagine the might a Golden Core cultivator could unleash, let alone the unfathomable strength of a Divine Transformation Realm entity.
Kaiser steadied himself and drew a shaky breath.
The pressure he had felt just moments ago lingered like a weight on his chest.
Sweat clung to his skin, and his consciousness still trembled from the sheer intensity of the experience.
Even recalling it made his spine tighten.
But the moment he lifted his gaze toward Han, his nerves snapped taut.
He instantly raised both hands in surrender.
“Han, I am sorry.
I only wanted to test my strength.
If that was not acceptable, I completely understand.”
Han’s face was solemn, far more than Kaiser expected.
The way he looked at him was strange, almost as if he were observing some unfamiliar creature that had suddenly sprouted a second head.
Before Kaiser could speak, Han stepped forward and lightly tapped his shoulder.
The touch was brief, almost accidental, and Han immediately withdrew his hand as if burned.
He dropped to one knee in a sharp motion.
“Forgive me for intruding upon your personal space, your Majesty.”
Kaiser blinked, confused.
What is with this guy…
He hurriedly stepped aside, refusing to accept the kneel, and reached down to pull Han back up.
“Han, I told you not to kneel.
Stand up.”
Han rose with stiff movements, but this time, Han returned to his usual deadpan expression, and said.
“Your Majesty, your strength has improved leaps and bounds.
I congratulate your Majesty on this achievement.”
After helping Han to his feet, Kaiser scratched the back of his head, unable to bear the awkward silence that settled between them.
Han’s expression was still unreadable, his behavior oddly stiff, as if he were processing something far beyond Kaiser’s understanding.
Kaiser sighed and waved his hand.
“I am going to my quarters for a bath, Han.
I will see you later.”
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and strode down the corridor.
His footsteps echoed softly, growing fainter with each passing second.
The moment his figure began to fade from sight, the change in Han’s expression was immediate.
His eyes deepened, now layered with something heavier.
Disbelief.
Han’s voice softly echoed through the chamber.
“Nine Extreme Physique… Is it really that Physique?”
His fists tightened.
“And more than that… Dao Veins for Immortality.
I can sense the budding of Dao Veins within him.” He swallowed, breath turning uneven.
“How is that even possible… Could even the Ancestors have failed to notice this…”