Shen Yu sipped his tea and asked the question that had been troubling him since the moment he entered this mural.
"Let's skip the formalities, old man. I have important things to do, and I also need to know what is happening here. So, let's get to the point. What happened with you all? How did a powerful person like you end up in such a state? You even sacrificed a million people for this."
The King sighed as he remembered his past, memories of terrible times passing through his mind as he was once again reminded of that time.
"For a start, let me introduce myself. I am Zhuge Tian, the Emperor of the Rising Sun Empire. Well, I'm sure you haven't even heard about it considering how much time has passed."
Zhuge Tian was relieved when he felt his soul form getting firmer and stronger under the tea's influence. He then continued.
"Around fifty thousand years ago, my Rising Sun Empire was the sole ruler of this world, Dawnland. Back then, everything was so good, and the world was progressing at a steady pace. Everyone was happy."
A wry smile appeared on his face as he got to that point.
"But everything changed that day."
"Something appeared?"
Shen Yu asked, glancing at the coffin.
Zhuge Tian nodded.
"Yes, it was just an ordinary day, and everyone was getting ready for their work. However, the sky suddenly turned black, darker than even stormy nights. A heavy pressure descended on the whole world as they all witnessed a being descending from the dark skies..."
Suddenly, the King lost his grip on the cup and dropped it as he clutched his head, groaning.
"Agh!! That bastard. He messed with my soul, playing with my memories. I can't remember that being at all. All I know is that it was the most horrifying thing I've ever seen in my reign. Even though I can't remember anything, my soul still fears that thing. The primal fear is still there."
Shen Yu looked at the golden king and passed him another cup of tea.
"You don't need to force yourself. Just tell me whatever you can remember."
Taking the cup, Zhuge Tian nodded.
"That being brought utter chaos and destruction upon the world. It was as if the Heavens themselves were angry and had sent a harbinger of destruction to destroy our world. Cities were reduced to ash, rivers were tainted, and every soldier, cultivator, and sage that dared to stand against it was mercilessly consumed."
His voice was somber as he continued.
"Yes, it actually consumed anything and everything in its wake. Wherever it passed, destruction followed, and the world was consumed in it. The scene... was chilling to say the least."
Shen Yu frowned. This sounded like a world-ending calamity. Who was this being, and why did it come to destroy this small world?
But that cursed being was just too powerful. We had to use everything at our disposal, every trick, every cheat, to finally get that being into the formation. But even then, it struggled."
Zhuge Tian looked at the coffin and shuddered.
"Even under the Reaper Soul Sealing Rune Formation, that bastard refused to go down. It was then every Ascension Realm cultivator in the world came and sacrificed their souls for the formation. However, even after all of this, the being continued to struggle against the seal."
Remembering the golden statues, Shen Yu asked, "Those statues...?"
Zhuge Tian sighed and nodded.
"I don't remember where I got them or how they even came to this Rune Formation. I just know that somehow the Rune Formation was stabilized, and I used some forbidden art to turn my body into this puppet. Then, I and those golden statues guarded the seal and coffin so that no one unseals that being. Once it is unsealed, the world would die."
Shen Yu stood up and went toward the old Emperor. He patted his shoulders and said, "You're probably the bravest man I've seen. You have my respect. I doubt many could have done what you did. You can rest in peace now. I'll carry your burden."
Zhuge Tian's shoulders slumped as he looked down, not knowing what to feel. He never expected anyone to actually praise him. He just did what he thought was right.
But knowing that someone appreciated his sacrifices and understood what he went through, he felt happy.
He raised his head and asked, "What are you going to do?"
He knew he wouldn't be able to protect the seal now, so he wondered what Shen Yu intended to do.
Shen Yu looked at the coffin, his gaze passing to the well of bones. He grimaced.
"I am going to free you and all those poor souls who have endured fifty thousand years of torment."
Zhuge Tian stood up and hurriedly stopped Shen Yu.
"You can't do that! If the souls are freed, then the seal would awaken, and that calamity would once again be set loose in the world. No, you can't do that!"
Shen Yu patted his shoulders and said, "You don't need to worry. Even if the whole Divine Realm came at me now, I would still win."
Zhuge Tian wanted to persuade him more but found no words seeing his confidence. He knew Shen Yu wouldn't back away now, even if he said more. He couldn't even muster his strength, so he could only watch, hoping Shen Yu's words were true.
Shen Yu smiled confidently at him but internally was asking Nancy.
'Hey, True Null would work, right?'
[Master, you look down on True Null. Heck, if you just spread the Mist of Nothing in the Divine Realm, it would simply cease to exist. Even if thousands of Divine Realm cultivators came at you, they would lose.]
'Good to know.'
Shen Yu sighed in relief. Although he was confident in this broken power he had, it was still good to make sure.