If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1219 The Secret of Hu Hai's Birth

"Father, I am not a demon, I am a living, breathing human being!" Hu Hai exclaimed excitedly.

Grand Tutor Yu said, "That's right. In this life, you are a living person, a descendant of the late emperor, and a legitimate prince of the Ying clan. But what about your past life?"

Hu Hai panicked, "Was I a fox demon in my past life?"

"Use fox spirits to bewitch kings. But if you want to directly bring disaster to the country and its people, using fox spirits is far less efficient," said Grand Tutor Yu.

"Impossible!" Zhao Gao stared at Grand Tutor Yu with suspicion and shouted, "Hu Hai must not have been some kind of monster in his previous life, because he didn't have a previous life at all!"

He was the only one among the princes to possess a naturally gifted spirit; the late emperor knew this, and so did I.

Otherwise, why would I have placed my bet on him so early?

The late emperor offended the Empress Dowager and had been guarding against 'Heaven' sending the 'monster of the chaotic Qin Dynasty' to Your Majesty's harem through the six realms of reincarnation.

It can be said that the late emperor had long been preparing for today, guarding against the Qin Dynasty's internal decay and decline.

In order to prevent the "destiny to destroy Qin" from falling on the prince of Qin, the late emperor made many arrangements.

Even the birth of Huhai was the result of years of meticulous preparation by the late emperor.

"Oh, what preparations did the late emperor make?" Grand Tutor Yu asked curiously.

I heard about Hu Hai being a pre-heavenly spirit from Fu Su last time.

This secret was not recorded in the archives of any department of the Qin Dynasty.

Or rather, the Qin Dynasty simply did not have any historians to record royal secrets.

In order to compile the History of Qin, Grand Tutor Yu had to find the Grand Historian.

Grand Tutor Yu had only just learned that Ying Zheng was "preparing for pregnancy" in order to have Hu Hai.

Zhao Gao said, "The late emperor secretly ordered An Qisheng, Chong Shang and other magicians to set up a magic array that would 'sever the six paths' in his palace and the palace of his 'ladies'."

It can prevent the six realms of reincarnation in the underworld and take effect within the imperial palace.

For many years after the formation was completed, no children were born in the harem.

This shows that the "Severing the Six Paths" technique has indeed taken effect; the cycle of reincarnation in the six realms has been blocked, and the souls of the dead in the underworld cannot be reincarnated into the prince's body.

However, without the six realms of reincarnation, the descendants of the former emperor have become extremely vulnerable.

In the forty years before His Majesty's death, only three princes and princesses were born in the harem.

This also includes Lieyang Wang Yuyu, whose paternity is unknown.

There was only one legitimate prince, Huhai, and only one princess, Yanghe.

Even the birth of this princess and prince was not a natural occurrence.

Rather, it was a child whom His Majesty prayed for through sacrifices to Heaven and Earth.

To transcend the six realms and give birth to a primordial spirit is extremely difficult.

Grand Tutor Yu was moved, and his hands, hidden in his sleeves, began to calculate rapidly again. He asked, "Do you still remember the rituals for worshipping Heaven and Earth?"
As far as I know, it is not too difficult to be born with a primordial spirit.

Almost all mythical beasts, such as dragons, phoenixes, and qilin, are born with innate spirits without needing any magic arrays.

Many deities also do not want 'outsiders' to be reborn into their families, and they will use elixirs, magic, talismans, and magic arrays to isolate them from the six realms of reincarnation.

Given the late emperor's noble status, surely he wasn't lacking in methods?

When Qingsong Daotong was reincarnated into the Wang family, he used a temporary reincarnation channel created by magic.

Since it is possible to create a reincarnation channel using magic and then shield it with immortal techniques, it is not too difficult.

At least that's the theory.

Since Xiaoyu observed the Great Path of Reincarnation, she can directly use her Demon Eye to open and close the reincarnation channel.

Zhao Gao said, "I don't know if it's difficult for others, but His Majesty's process of seeking an heir is extremely difficult."

I remember once, His Majesty lost his temper and cursed – “The bald monk from Mount Ling has gone too far. The ‘Great Dao of Reincarnation’ covers the Three Realms and is the master of all Yin and Yang and the laws of life and death.”

His Majesty also cursed the Heavenly Emperor and complained about the Dao Ancestor.

They are said to have colluded with the bald bandits of Mount Ling, using the cycle of reincarnation to manipulate all living beings in the Three Realms.

Finally, His Majesty swore an oath, saying that he would absolutely not allow gods or Buddhas to use the Six Paths of Reincarnation to arbitrarily control the reproduction of the Ying clan's descendants.

Later, the alchemist An Qisheng, somewhere unknown, discovered an ancient method for worshipping heaven and earth.

Grand Tutor, have you ever seen the twelve golden statues in the mausoleum of the late emperor?
His Majesty used twelve golden statues to simulate the ancient shaman, performing the shaman's "Celestial Gods and Demons Worship Heaven and Earth Longevity Ritual".

In the ancient times when shamans were the main figures in the universe, there was no Buddhism or the cycle of reincarnation.

Yet the Wuren tribe still has many offspring.

Young people of the Wu people traditionally hold group weddings.

Then the tribe's shaman will lead the newlyweds in a longevity ceremony to worship heaven and earth.

It is both a prayer for the longevity of the clan members and a prayer for the spirits of heaven and earth to bless their tribe with many descendants.

Without a doubt, the Longevity Ceremony perfectly meets His Majesty's expectations.

His Majesty wishes to use the modified shamanic ritual to seek immortality for himself and the birth of offspring.

Whether they can live a long life is hard to say.

Seeking offspring from one's innate spirit can indeed be effective.

After only two meetings, Lady Zhao became pregnant with Huhai.

“The Divine Fiends of the Heavens.” Grand Tutor Yu stared at the bewildered Hu Hai, a look of sudden realization appearing on his face.

"Did any detailed rituals remain from that ancient sacrificial method?"

Zhao Gao shook his head and said, "Only the alchemist An Qisheng knows the complete ritual and sacrificial secrets."

He also appears to have modified the ancient sacrificial rituals, adding contemporary Taoist immortal techniques.

If the Grand Tutor is curious, he can go to the mausoleum of the late emperor and look for them on or near the twelve golden statues.

Perhaps we can find something.

Hu Hai asked nervously, "Father, I am a primordial spirit, am I still considered a prodigy?"

Grand Tutor Yu nodded and said, "You are indeed a prodigy, the new version of Su Daji of the Qin Dynasty."

Although you are a spirit born of nature, you are a demonic fetus born from the combined resentment and hatred of the Nine Netherworlds by the gods and demons of the heavens.

You could be Xiang Yan, Xiang Liang's father; King Huai of Chu, who died in frustration in Xianyang; Prince Dan of Yan, whose clan was wiped out; or the embodiment of the resentment of countless people whose countries and families were destroyed by the Qin Dynasty.

You are a 'Heavenly Demon' born specifically to destroy the Qin Dynasty!

Emperor Huhai turned pale and stammered, "I...I'm really that powerful?"

"Father, aren't you overestimating me? I'm utterly useless; I have no talent for cultivation, and my wisdom is mediocre."

"You're not the Heavenly Demon who led the Qin Dynasty to destroy the world. You're a demon who specifically destroys the Qin Dynasty from within."

They are destined for mediocrity, yet their desire to degenerate is exceptionally strong and uncontrollable.

"You're just right now," said Grand Tutor Yu.

Hu Hai knelt on the ground with a thud and cried out, "Father, I want to be a good person, I don't want to be a demon!"

"Don't worry, you'll only ever be a dutiful son and grandson who guards the family and ensures peace and prosperity in your life."

"If you truly fall into depravity, I will chop you down with a single palm strike before you become a celestial demon," Grand Tutor Yu comforted him.

Hu Hai's expression twisted as he said, "Father, if I diligently cultivate the Holy Emperor's Divine Art, I will surely become the Holy Emperor, right?"

Grand Tutor Yu said, "That's right. Three parts are determined by fate, and seven parts depend on hard work."

As long as you're willing to work hard, the fate that happened to you before will definitely not happen to you.

Take Zhao Gao for example, he was even more wicked than you, but now he's obediently 'turned back to the right path', hasn't he?" To be honest, Zhao Gao was very unwilling to believe Grand Tutor Yu's "theory of Su Daji of the Great Qin" and "the theory of the gods and demons of the capital".

He thought she was just making things up on a whim, spouting nonsense.

After all, the late emperor was such a wise and great man, how could he let An Qisheng and his men fool him?
But just now, after he and Hu Hai made separate oaths, a strange phenomenon actually appeared in the sky.

"Grand Tutor, do you mean that An Qisheng is the 'Goddess Nuwa' of Qin, and that he is plotting all of this behind the scenes?" he asked.

"He's probably not qualified to try and scam the Goddess Nuwa." Grand Tutor Yu asked, "Where is that fellow An Qisheng now?"

"I don't know. An Qisheng disappeared long before the late emperor passed away."

Zhao Gao shook his head and then argued, "Even if Huhai is—"

Grand Tutor Yu interrupted him, saying, "Now, your life or death is in his hands. You must respectfully address him as 'Your Majesty the Emperor'."

Hu Hai raised his chin, and the fear and frustration on his face were replaced by a little bit of pride.

—Even my father has upheld my dignity; he certainly won't ruin me just because I'm a demonic child. That's wonderful!!
Once his father leaves, he will surely gloat openly in front of Zhao Gao.

"Yes, it was this old servant's rudeness." Zhao Gao not only didn't glare at him with anger, but instead breathed a sigh of relief—since he still had to obey Hu Hai, that brat, his life was probably spared.

Well, just like his "beloved disciple" Hu Hai. With the Grand Tutor still here, he dared not completely relax.

"Even if His Majesty the Second Emperor is a demonic fetus, this old servant must have gone through the six realms of reincarnation and was naturally reborn."

This old servant is still very old, several years older than the late emperor.

Which goddess Nuwa could have planned for the Qin Dynasty so far in advance? At that time, there was no Qin Dynasty, only the Qin state.

Grand Tutor Yu asked, "What was the greatest opportunity in your life, and where did it happen?"

“Of course, it was when I met the late emperor, at Xianyang Palace,” Zhao Gao said.

"Besides that? Did you learn these strange secret techniques from the late Empress? Who taught you them?" Grand Tutor Yu asked.

Zhao Gao hesitated and said, "Before entering the palace, this old servant met a strange man who called himself 'Old Man of Heyang'."

When he saw that he had an ancient face and an unusual appearance, he looked very extraordinary. The old servant deliberately flattered and fawned over him, and finally won him over.

In addition to gifting the old servant a copy of the ancient book "Heyang Wonders", he also gave the old servant a fortune reading.

He said, "This old servant's life was one of poverty and lowliness. Only by entering the palace and relying on a great nobleman could I, through that nobleman's good fortune, rise to prominence and enjoy endless wealth and honor."

Zhao Gao is now a dead eunuch, but before he became a eunuch, he had a family, children, and a home.

His son-in-law, Yan Le, was previously a "county magistrate in Xianyang."

When you have a little brother, you have no money or power; once you cut off your little brother, it's as if you've unlocked both your physical health and your good fortune, gaining two powerful energy channels.

Not only did his martial arts skills and secret techniques improve rapidly, but his social status also rose quickly, eventually leading him to become Ying Zheng's Chief Chariot Officer.

One of the core duties of the Imperial Carriage Office Director was to accompany the emperor and protect him.

If you don't have the ability, you definitely won't succeed.

Therefore, the benefactor who truly changed Zhao Gao's life was not Ying Zheng, but a remarkable man named Heyang Sou.

"Bring me the 'Strange Book of Heyang' that the old man from Heyang passed down to you," said Grand Tutor Yu.

Zhao Gao's expression changed, and he instinctively wanted to shout angrily.

But when he met Grand Tutor Yu's clear yet indifferent gaze, he instantly recalled the feeling of being tormented by the Ancestral Dragon Qi Pill.

Life is better than death.

"Grand Tutor, it's not that this old servant is stingy with secret techniques. Although this old servant is not very talented and my supernatural abilities are nothing in front of you, Grand Tutor, I still have a lineage of teachers and origins."

"To spread this without permission would be a sin of revealing the will of Heaven." He still intended to try and salvage the situation.

And what he said is true.

Grand Tutor Yu sneered, "If you can really attract the master of the secret technique, I will count you for a great achievement."

"Is there a problem with the old man from Heyang who taught me the secret techniques?" Zhao Gao asked in surprise.

"Let me see the original copy of the 'Strange Book of Heyang.' After I've seen it, I'll know whether there's anything wrong with it," said Grand Tutor Yu.

"The original manual was gone. After I finished reading it, it turned into a wisp of green smoke and entered my forehead, helping me complete the Foundation Establishment stage," Zhao Gao said.

"Then quickly make a copy, it must be complete. Don't try to be clever, you can't fool me," said Grand Tutor Yu.

Zhao Gao took out a piece of spiritual jade and began to inscribe the cultivation technique while carefully keeping an eye on everything around him, preventing any leaks of the Heavenly Dao from incurring divine punishment.

The entire technique was recorded and even handed to Grand Tutor Yu, without any unusual celestial phenomena.

Instead, he felt increasingly uneasy, inexplicably panicked, and extremely depressed, with his thoughts becoming very uneasy.

"Grand Tutor, this old servant seems to have committed the sin of revealing the will of Heaven." He swallowed and said cautiously.

"You haven't committed enough sins yet? For someone as sinful as you, the sin of defying the will of Heaven is like a mosquito bite on your body."

Grand Tutor Yu quickly read through the "Strange Book of Heyang".

The section on cultivation and qi refinement is relatively short, accounting for only one percent of the total length.

The content is still very superficial and outdated.

It is an ancient Qi cultivation technique, not a modern internal alchemy technique.

By cultivating this "Strange Book of Heyang," Zhao Gao will definitely not be able to become an immortal.

Of course, he had already cut off his penis.

His body was disabled, and the location of the disability was very important, so he could no longer practice the orthodox Xuanmen internal alchemy method.

Although the section on Qi Refining is short and of poor quality, the complete "Heyang Wonder Book" is a top-tier secret manual.

The remaining 99% of the text is about Taoist magic and supernatural powers.

Their supernatural powers are at a very high level, mostly "medium-level supernatural powers".

Even the three great supernatural abilities that Xiaoyu was amazed by were: Heavenly Ghost Step, Blood Soul Blade, and Undying Body.

The secret techniques were also particularly sinister; Xiaoyu could smell the scent of demons emanating from them.

For example, the movement technique Zhao Gao used to assassinate Grand Tutor Yu was called "Heavenly Ghost Steps," a powerful spatial ability.

It can travel through the gaps in time and space, and can create a temporary "pocket world" in the gaps in space.

Not only does it possess explosive speed akin to teleportation, but it is also exceptionally well-suited for stealth, making it extremely difficult to defend against.

For example, the dagger Zhao Gao used to assassinate Grand Tutor Yu was actually made using the "Blood Soul Blade" secret technique—using one's own flesh, blood, magic power, and soul as materials, and then forging it into a weapon with the fire of the heart.

Zhao Gao was Ying Zheng's personal eunuch, and he was not allowed to carry weapons.

The Blood Soul Blade is part of his flesh and soul. When used, it is sharper than a magic weapon and can cut through flying swords; when not used, it is just a piece of flesh hanging on his body, and no one will be on guard against it.

The "Immortal Body" is even more sinister and powerful than the Blood Soul Blade.

He has unleashed his "immortal body," rendering him impervious to fire, water, and even decapitation.

That is, they encountered Grand Tutor Yu.

Hu Hai, Lieyang Wang, and Li Si alone could not defeat Zhao Gao.

This is also why Hu Hai wanted to kill Zhao Gao directly, but was dissuaded by Li Si. Li Si himself was not skilled in Taoist arts, belonging to the third-rate Qi cultivators. However, he was knowledgeable and experienced, and knew Zhao Gao very well.

This was also the main reason why Zhao Gao dared to take the risk and cleave Yu Taishi's head in two.

Even after witnessing Yu Taishi's terrifying achievements, he still did not completely lose confidence.

Of course, this old eunuch had already provoked a great wrath against "Little Linzi" long ago.

Grand Tutor Yu could defend against his secret techniques, but he couldn't withstand Grand Tutor Yu's supernatural powers.

Well, without the Great Destroyer Father, Grand Tutor Yu really wouldn't dare to directly confront his extraordinary technique. The two of them would unleash their powerful divine abilities on each other; whoever hits the other's vital point first would have the greater chance of winning.

(End of this chapter)