At this time, if someone exploded with "Dad, you don't understand him at all," the old father would retort immediately:
"Fine, fine, I'll end him right away!"
Cough cough, deduct points for the pun.
In short, Louis was baffled by the whirlwind of this conversation, but Zu Zihong confirmed that tomorrow he would visit the Imperial Bedroom to check the current situation near the Gate of the Abyss.
However, Louis found it odd that, compared to the last time he saw the Emperor, the Emperor now seemed healthier—from a withered corpse-like appearance to one of slight flesh—but he instinctively felt that the Emperor had actually become weaker, and the risks were greater.
"It must be an illusion, right?"
Louis thought involuntarily as he left.
However, he has always been meticulous to the point of considering various details.
The Emperor's periods of slumber were getting longer.
It seemed that the Gate of the Abyss was becoming more burdensome for him.
If this continues to deteriorate, not being able to hold the gates of the Ense Empire is an inevitable outcome.
Hopefully, this trip to the Gate of the Abyss with the Emperor could alleviate some of Old Deng's pressure.
Maybe Old Deng really wants him to go inside the Gate of the Abyss to understand the situation?
What? You say the Emperor wants to pull me over to kill me?
Are you kidding!
Does he really want his three daughters to become widows?
No way! Absolutely not!
Have faith first!
...
The next day.
Louis sneaked into the bedroom by himself.
The Forbidden Guard had already received the message and didn't stop him.
Upon entering the bedroom, he saw the Emperor give him a smile that didn't reach his eyes and say, "You're here, are you ready to descend into the Abyss?"
Louis: ???
Old Deng, don't say it like that, you're scaring me.
He already regretted coming over alone, fearing Old Deng might really trick him into the bottomless abyss.
"Alright, what are you looking at? Hurry over."
"Okay!"
Louis eagerly ran over.
It's not embarrassing to be commanded by the first person in Star Continent, the strongest demigod in history, the terminator of world-ending disasters, the dragon king slayer, and the uncrowned king of the Ense Empire.
Working for his father-in-law is even less embarrassing.
Soon, as he got closer to the golden throne, he felt the world in his eyes shifting continuously.
The air was permeated with a scorched smell, while a sweltering and stifling heat swept in from all directions.
Dazed, he looked up at the sky, now finding himself in a barren, reddish-brown desert.
Explosions sounded around this blood-soaked expanse from time to time.
Louis watched in amazement as demons flew across the sky, clashing with the blood energy shooting from all directions.
Shockwaves spread outward, carrying blood-stained sand.
He took a deep breath and said, "Should I go and try it?"
The direction he spoke towards wasn't forward, backward, left, or right, but towards the sky.
Yes.
Since he entered here, he hadn't seen the Emperor sitting on the golden throne.
But he knew where the Emperor was.
Looking up at the sky, he seemed to see, up above in an unreal, infinitely distant sky, a cold face overlooking the land like storm-clouds overshadowing everything.
This was a feeling he absolutely wouldn't grasp during his previous encounter with the Emperor.
Then, he merely felt the Emperor was powerful but couldn't discern the gaps in strength.
But with his current understanding of rules elevated to the Demigod Realm, he finally grasped the terror of the Emperor.
Wasn't the Desolate Bone Great Demon that Louis killed strong?
Undoubtedly, it was strong.
How laughably ironic.
Back then, the three demigods Louis and Beatrice arranged, were considered of moderate strength among the Ense Demigods.
The three demigods guarded the coast, aiming not to kill the Demon Lord's avatar.
—Only to repel it.
Indeed, initially, the plot of Louis and Beatrice was merely to repel it, gain the attention of various countries, and finally muster forces to besiege this demigod, along with those internal traitors within Star Continent.
But later, Louis, who initially avoided war alone against the Desolate Bone, to rendezvousing with the three Ense Demigods to counterattack, and then actively aiding them with power-ups...
You could say every phase escalated the pressure on the Desolate Bone several times over.
Yet even so, Louis opted to use Emerald Sacrifice, forcing it into rigidity, securing the chance to kill it.
He had witnessed the Desolate Bone's avatar, and recognizing it, made it more prudent to compare with the current Emperor.
He was sure beyond any doubt...
The Emperor could probably kill the Desolate Bone avatar in a few hits.
Basically, it's "The Ritual State, Bang, Bang, Bang", and then the battle ends.
Afterwards, those who heard of this in the mortal realm couldn't help but praise the Desolate Bones, candidly stating "Able to withstand three hits from the Emperor is to be a demonic tiger among demigods"!
The gap was too large... it already reached a point where there was no need for comparison.
Louis's expression turned subtle as he gazed at the face faintly appearing in the sky.
This further proved that the methods the Emperor currently employed were undoubtedly fortified with external forces.
Just like the Hall of Greed, inherently symbolizing a path gradually opening toward godhood to him.
The Emperor must have deeply integrated the power of Pride, the great sin, into his demiplane.
No, wait a moment.
A dreadful thought flashed through Louis's mind.
This place surely isn't the bottomless abyss.
The Emperor wouldn't be foolish enough to place the battlefield in the bottomless abyss.
The rules of the Abyssal Blood War could lead to the instigated abyssal demons growing stronger throughout the battle.
Starting a fight there could easily turn an advantage into a disadvantage.
But here is neither the Star Continent.
Star Continent has already experienced tremors, surrounding nations had sensed irregularities.
He recalled previously hearing Beatrice mention information about her father.
"Is this really just the Emperor's dreamscape?"
He couldn't discern the falsehoods of this dreamscape.
What he saw, heard, and sensed all told him this was a completely real world.
Then only one answer remained.
The Emperor, slumbering on his golden throne, had his dreamscape transformed into a real world.
Is this the gold standard among the strongest of the mortal realm?
Anyone unaware might think the Emperor was a True God!
Wait.
Are there any clear distinctions between Old Deng and deities?
Louis thought carefully.
In the Star Continent, even beings in the Divine Realm like deities, Abyssal Lords, and Elemental Monarchs couldn't match the Emperor in actual combat power.
If the Emperor exhausted everything, choosing to stand up, to descend into the abyss, within the abyss a fifth god—God of Destruction—besides the four would emerge, then the Emperor was already a god, and an eminent Evil God at that.
If comparing Divine Kingdom of deities, the Emperor's transformation of dreamscape into reality surpassed most deities' Divine Kingdoms, one could say it's an Earthly Divine Kingdom.
If comparing petitioners in the Divine Kingdoms, until now, warriors perpetually fighting alongside the Emperor at the Gate of the Abyss have faith in him perhaps even more fervent than most petitioners.
If comparing the deeds of deities, like granting subordinates power, those who are merely terrified of the Iron Guard would tell you the answer.
This is bad!
Emperor, you still claim you aren't a god!
It seems after pulling himself into this dreamscape world, the Emperor's perception of his emotions became clearer, and Louis heard the Emperor's voice again:
"I am still human... at least for now."
Louis nodded earnestly, "Father-in-law, everything you said is right!"
Ah yes, yes, yes.
You like role-playing, no one could stop you.
Though his tone was so serious, there was still an unspeakably cheeky hint in it.
The Emperor simply stopped speaking.
Louis felt a little panic, because in the next moment, he was tossed by the Emperor into the combat zone.
"Go and test their mettle." The Emperor said leisurely.
Louis was stunned for a moment: "What do you mean?"
"Test the quality of your legion."
"Okay."
So, you were talking about the Curse Binding Legion.
Well, that's an easy task, Old Deng, watch closely the true strength of your son-in-law's legion.
In the next instant, shadows covered the surrounding area.
Amidst the writhing darkness, a dim green fire lit up.
Along with it, silver-white liquid flowed under their feet.
These were the equipment of the Curse Binding Legion for which Louis had spent the most resources to fully equip to date.
It's also the source of nightmares that all enemies would dread upon remembering...
Louis curved a slight smile at the corner of his mouth: "Oh Emperor, Emperor, you are indeed powerful, but how can a great man dwell beneath others for long?"
"Stand up!"
The battle flag moved, the cursed bindings emerged.
