Chapter 2: Evil emperor

Zhan Chen found himself in an entirely different world. The surrounding was hazy and there were a raised platform in the centre of this world. There were some ancient looking books placed on the raised platform.

Zhan Chen looked around and couldn't find anything else in the hazy surrounding. He walked towards the raised platform. He picked up a book and turned its cover.

A frown appeared on his face after turning the pages. He switched to another book and his frown grew dipper after checking its pages. "What is going on?", he thought to himself.

He picked up other books and found the same result. All the books were blank without any exception. He couldn't discover any writings despite searching through all the pages.

He looked here and there but could not find anything else in this strange world. He pondered silently after getting no result from his search. "I know that old man wouldn't deceive me because there is no need in the first place. Moreover, he wouldn't go to such a length just to prove his lies.

He said everything is connected to the soul and as long as I have strength in my soul, I can receive the inheritance of Evil emperor." He recalled the words of the mysterious old man. Suddenly his eyes lit up and he poured his spiritual energy into the book.

"As expected", Zhan Chen shouted excitedly as he saw the ancient looking book glowed with divine brilliance. A string of letters appeared gradually on the blank cover page.

"Divine symbols! This is the lost language of ancient gods", Zhan Chen felt agitated after seeing the string of words on the cover page of the book.

He felt his soul strength reduced after he poured his spiritual strength into the ancient book but he didn't mind it. Currently, his mind was filled with excitement as he looked at the cover page of the ancient book. Anything related to lost symbols were not ordinary and Zhan Chen knew what was the meaning of its appearance. it implied that this book most be a divine book.

As a prince of Zhan dynasty, he had researched the Divine symbols. So, he had no problem in reading the ancient book.

"Dark soul codex", a name appeared in the mind of Zhan Chen. He tried to turn the pages of the book but before he could do anything, his spiritual energy rapidly channeled towards the raised platform.

Zhan Chen felt something was sucking his soul strength but he couldn't do anything to extricate himself from it. "Damn it", he could only curse due to his helplessness. Soul strength rapidly seeped out from his body and he felt weakened after losing his his spiritual strength continuously.

He felt his brain would explode if it continued any longer. Fortunately, the sucking power stopped when he was at his limit and Zhan Chen panted due to the extreme pain he was feeling.

A multicoloured brilliance shot out from the high platfrom. Zhan Chen's gaze hooked up on the centre of the platform because he found the same mysterious diagram which led him to this place.

Ancient characters appeared one by one and there were nine ancient characters shown up finally. A shadow started to materialize and Zhan Chen shuddered after feeling the pressure coming from it.

The shadow turned into a flickering human figure. "So, your soul is sent this time", an ancient hoarse voice came from the flickering shadow.

"What do you mean by it?", Zhan Chen asked with confusion. "You don't have to know", a horrifying pressure fall upon Zhan Chen. Zhan Chen felt like a mountain pressing on him and his face turned pale due to the horrifying pressure.

"Come on, be a slave to me. I will fulfill your every desire if you surrender to me", the flickering shadow spoke in a hoarse voice as he continued to pressure Zhan Chen.

Zhan Chen could feel the increasing pressure on him. He greeted his teeth and resisted the incoming pressure with all of his might. Gradually he found his strength inadequate to resist the pressure.

He felt an invisible force invading his mind. He looked at the flickering shadow and a sense of helplessness washed over his mind. "What kind of power this is?", he thought to himself. He could feel the invisible force invading his body. He knew if it continued them he would truly turn into a slave of the flickering shadow. A determined look appeared on his eyes as he thought to detonate his body.

When he tried to operate his spiritual sense, he found out that he couldn't control his spiritual strength any longer. A deep sense of helplessness and unwillingness appeared in his eyes. "There is no need to kill yourself", an ancient voice appeared in his mind. He looked up and he felt dazzled by the scene Infront of him.

There was a person in the place of flickering shadow. Zhan Chen could feel same kind of pressure coming from that person. He wore a blue dragon robe and there was a crown on his head. The middle aged man looked towards him and a smile appeared on his chiseled face.

"No need to worry, little boy. I am just testing you earlier", he said with s smile. His smile was like a gentle breeze which managed to calm the mind of Zhan Chen.

"So, you are choose by the second brother. Not bad, you have the required qualities to be my disciple but before I can teach you, can you tell me what is your purpose of your cultivation?"

"Why do you cultivate?"

"For power of course", Zhan Chen spoke with slight confusion in his voice.

"Everyone needs power but I am asking why do you need power? What do you seek in your life", the middle aged man threw Zhan Chen a deep look.

Zhan Chen felt all of his secrets were naked Infront of his gaze. The handsome middle aged man withdrew his gaze after feeling the discomfort of Zhan Chen.

Zhan Chen fell into a deep contemplation after listening to his words. He asked to himself, "Why am I cultivating? Why do I need power?"

Scenes of the last war came to his mind. His brain got filled with hatred as soon as he recalled the last war of his previous life but soon he calmed down. Revenge was not his purpose for cultivation. He would take revenge but he still knew what was it he seek from cultivation. He always wanted to reach the peak and this life it was no exception.

"I have many desires but the thing I seek is reaching the peak. It was the goal of my past and now is no exception. I want to step on the peak one day", in few words Zhan Chen expressed the conviction he held in his heart.

"Ha.. ha....ha....",

"No wonder. Second brother chooses you. You are better than me in this aspect", the middle aged man let out a carefree laugh.

The solemn atmosphere vanished and the pressure on Zhan Chen also gone. "Brat, no need to be so serious in life. I just seek enjoyment in my life. As long as I am free then what does it matter? But the world didn't want to give me freedom. So, I could only cultivate", he spoke with a carefree tone.

He was no longer looking like that solemn majestic middle aged man. He was like a carefree young man now. Zhan Chen felt his mood uplifted after seeing his carefree appearance.

"You must have listened about me from my second brother. Are you willing to be my disciple?", the middle aged man smiled at Zhan Chen. Zhan Chen nodded his head. He kneeled down and said, "Disciple Zhan Chen greets teacher".

"Good", the middle aged man nodded his head. There was a trace of joy appeared on his face.

"Remember, Ning Yunhao is my name. People of the world called me Evil emperor but I am me. Master of my own destiny", the middle aged man spoke leisurely.