Chapter 19: Future Generations

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Meng Yi stared at the two phones gleaming with metallic luster, his eyes flickering. After a moment, he reached out to take them, speaking in a low voice, "I shall report truthfully. Whether His Majesty will grant an audience is beyond my ability to predict."

"Thank you," Jiang Ye bowed respectfully.

The eight watched Meng Yi’s retreating figure until he completely disappeared at the end of the long corridor, then all exhaled in unison.

Fang Gaochang leaned close to Jiang Ye’s ear. "Director Jiang, do you think the First Emperor will see us?"

Jiang Ye gazed outside the hall, whispering, "That depends on how interested he is in these ‘immortal artifacts.’"

Meng Yi carried three phones, passing through layers of palace security to the inner hall.

The First Emperor of Qin was leaning against a jade table, reviewing memorials. Hearing the footsteps, he did not look up. "What is it?"

"Your Majesty," Meng Yi knelt on one knee, presenting the phones on the table. "The group of alchemists from Langyatai has reappeared. Nine have arrived this time, offering three new magical devices."

The bamboo scroll snapped shut. Qin Shi Huang’s long fingers brushed over one phone’s curved screen, the metal frame gleaming coldly under the palace lamps. Compared to the previous offerings, these ‘immortal devices’ were lighter and more exquisite.

"Nine?" The eyes beneath the crown’s hanging beads narrowed slightly. "Last time there were six."

"The leader calls himself Jiang Ye and says..." Meng Yi hesitated briefly, then continued, "They request an audience concerning Your Majesty’s life and death."

Qin Shi Huang’s fingertips lightly tapped the jade table.

"Life and death..." He murmured, the beads on the crown swaying slightly, casting fragmented shadows on his stern face.

After a moment of silence, Ying Zheng lifted his gaze. "Bring them before me."

"Yes!" Meng Yi bowed and quickly exited the hall.

In a side chamber, Meng Yi’s return immediately drew Fang Gaochang and the others around him.

"So? Will His Majesty see us?" Fang Gaochang asked impatiently, his eyes shining fiercely.

Meng Yi nodded slightly. "His Majesty has summoned you."

"Damn! Is this for real?" Jiang Kai grabbed Li Jun’s arm so hard his nails nearly dug in. "I’m going to see the living First Emperor of Qin!"

Jiang Ye quickly pulled them aside, lowering his voice to remind, "Calm down, calm down."

They nodded, but judging by their flushed faces from excitement, Jiang Ye suspected they barely took the warning seriously.

Meng Yi led the way ahead, the group lagging a few steps behind. Jiang Ye couldn’t help but remind them once more:

"Take it easy! That is the Ancestor Dragon. One misstep could cost you your heads. I won’t be able to save you then."

He lowered his voice, repeatedly emphasizing caution, fearing they might act out once seeing Ying Zheng in person.

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Fang Gaochang and the others made an ‘OK’ gesture to Jiang Ye.

As the nine were brought before the hall, several guards stepped forward to search them.

Fang Gaochang and the others cooperated fully, spreading their arms and remaining perfectly obedient.

Before Meng Yi arrived, Jiang Ye had already taken the precaution of storing all their extra items in the system’s space, so there was no worry about contraband being found.

After the guards confirmed there was nothing suspicious, they allowed them to proceed.

As the palace gates slowly opened, the nine held their breath simultaneously.

Under the black crown’s hanging beads, sharp eyes like those of a hawk scanned them. Qin Shi Huang sat at the main seat, his dark robes shimmering with a faint golden glow in the lamp light, jade pendants hanging around his waist.

"How dare you! To see His Majesty and yet..." Zhao Gao’s sharp reprimand was cut off as the word ‘look’ was uttered, followed by a series of muffled thuds.

All nine knelt down straight and bowed their foreheads to the floor in a standard kowtow.

Fang Gaochang knelt so abruptly he almost fell forward; Shi Xiaoyu trembled with excitement, struggling to control her emotions with deep breaths; Jiang Kai went all out with a full prostration, pressing his nose nearly flat against the ground.

"Descendants of future generations pay homage to the great Ancestor Dragon!" Nine voices overlapped, echoing through the vast hall.

Their posture was magnificent, their voices thunderous, making even the guards outside turn their heads.

Jiang Ye glanced sideways, noticing eight faces purple with suppressed emotion, their eyes sparkling as if the starlight might solidify.

These fools had probably poured all their devotion into this one act of kowtowing.

Though Jiang Ye mocked them inwardly, he himself kowtowed without reservation.

That was the Ancestor Dragon!

The eternal Emperor!

All must bow to the forefather; to not do so would be unthinkable for the descendants of China.

In their hearts, the Ancestor Dragon held such an exalted place!

Meeting the living Ancestor Dragon, no amount of kowtowing was excessive.

This scene left those in the hall dumbfounded, especially Zhao Gao.

His original intention was to demonstrate his loyalty, even in front of ‘immortals,’ never forgetting to uphold the Emperor.

He had been prepared to be reprimanded for his words.

Who could have guessed these nine ‘immortals’ would kowtow so flawlessly, astonishing beyond belief?

Meng Yi was baffled too — these ‘immortals’ were truly... unexpected.

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After their surprise, the others quickly realized something unusual about the words they had just shouted.

Why claim to be ‘descendants of future generations’?

As for ‘Ancestor Dragon,’ in front of those four words, it seemed less significant.

"Rise."

Ying Zheng’s deep voice echoed through the hall.

The nine carefully straightened up but remained kneeling properly, their eyes sparkling brightly as they looked at the Emperor’s seat.

"You just called yourselves ‘descendants of future generations,’" the eyes beneath the crown’s beads swept over them like a sword. "Explain."

Jiang Ye took a deep breath and, following their prearranged plan, cupped his hands together and said, "Your Majesty, we are not immortals but descendants of China from more than two thousand two hundred years in the future."

At these words, a brief silence fell over the hall.

Their confession was well thought out.

Perhaps they would visit the Qin dynasty often; pretending all along would eventually be exposed, so it was better to be honest from the start.

More importantly, they wished to change the First Emperor’s fate, to prolong his life, so that their journey to Qin would not be in vain.

They could not allow the worthless Xu Fu to bring disaster upon the Ancestor Dragon.

As a unifying sovereign, the First Emperor’s significance to China was immense. They could not bear to see his lineage extinguished.

Which descendant from the future traveling back to Qin would not want to alter the Emperor’s destiny, to change the brief fate of the Great Qin?

They had no chance before, but now that opportunity lay before them; naturally, they had to try—it was worth the journey.

"Your words sound incredible, yet they are undeniably true."

"Proof!" Ying Zheng’s voice was extraordinarily calm.

Jiang Ye retrieved his phone from the system space and played a video—a promotional film showcasing major cities across the nation.

He looked toward Zhao Gao.

Zhao Gao approached, taking the phone from him.

"Your Majesty, simply tap the center of the screen, and you will see scenes from this land two thousand years in the future."