Power pulsates as Chen Xu throws a punch, accompanied by water that covers his fist in black. The air crackles and pops upon impact.

Another punch follows, like an angry deity wielding a sharp golden blade that tears through the air with a whistling sound.

He stands still, emanating an aura of death. A cold wind blows past him, akin to entering the depths of hell and instilling fear and panic.

"Ha!" Chen Xu roars thunderously, sounding like the wrathful Thunder God himself as the earth trembles beneath him.

He extends his hand and green seeds fall to the ground. Trees sprout from them instantly, their roots nourished by bones while the earth serves as their mother. Leaves rustle on branches that grow at lightning speed until they resemble flickering candles in mid-air.

In another instant, they transform into green dots of light that merge into his body, strengthening him further.

"As expected," murmurs Chen Xu softly. "To achieve my goal with Devouring Wood requires consuming more materials - wood or soil or even bones."

The Qin Dynasty is associated with Water Elementals; hence Emperor Qin Shi Huang focused on cultivating water first since it nurtures wood which fuels fire; fire creates ash which becomes soil; soil produces metal which can be melted down for water again - all five elements are interdependent and cyclical without end.

However, Chen's five elements do not interact this way nor do they counteract each other: each element exists independently so there is no difference between focusing on one over another - shortcuts have been cut off entirely.

"How terrifying," thinks Xiao Lin inwardly.

Chen's performance just now made her feel like she was witnessing something divine for the first time ever. His strength also chilled her to her core as she couldn't help but feel indignant: if such powerful cultivators serve under Emperor Qin Shi Huang then when will she ever be able to seek revenge?

Chen Xu is unaware of Xiao Lin's thoughts, nor would he care. At this moment, he is fully immersed in comprehending the illusory hexagonal crystal within his mind.

Blood-red and strange, this was Chen Xu's first impression upon seeing the illusory hexagonal crystal.

Magic spewed out, harmonizing with the mana within him. The two were like brothers, loving and close.

His mind sank into the illusory hexahedron. In an instant, he understood that this thing was called an energy core.

Like a magic core for beasts or a golden pill or infant for Taoists, it was an energy body and also where all of his mana resided. However, it wasn't as advanced as a golden pill or infant.

It was like what scientists in later generations said: most life on Earth is carbon-based life forms but can humans and monkeys be considered one species?

Energy surged out; it was red mixed with black. Chen Xu could even feel twisted emotions such as fear and anger within it.

These were emotions from the sacrificed person before they died - their flesh, soul - all turned into power to form this illusory hexagonal crystal.

If Chen Xu were a Western demon king or Eastern devil head, he would be happy about this. He might even have secret methods to extract these emotions to refine treasures or simply eat them up.

But he wasn't one of those beings. Although "The Black Book of Undead Magic" recorded spells that utilized twisted emotions, clearly using them wasn't optimistic at all. At least after searching through his entire mind space, he couldn't find any way to separate these twisted emotions from himself.

"No wonder when society developed into civilization stages; these sacrificial practices were abandoned not only because people didn't want them but perhaps even gods didn't want them either. Maybe only demons in hell would be willing to sacrifice," thought Chen Xu.

However, I don't have a better solution. Choosing to sacrifice is the only way to accumulate strength in the early stages. As for these distorted emotions, we'll find a way to deal with them later."

Opening his eyes, Chen Xu's pupils flashed red and the noisy crowd immediately quieted down.

"I am the Heavenly Emperor."

Chen Xu was hypnotizing them. In the West, there is a nicer name for it called "suggestion".

To suggest humanity is actually to hypnotize them. However, those who are hypnotized are ignorant and consider this as suggestion while worshiping their master without knowing whether it's their own idea or an imposed one.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

Compared to before, Chen Xu's power has become stronger and his ability to hypnotize has become more terrifying.

"I am supreme."

There is no need to consider conflicts with their original memories because time will erase everything. Those with strong willpower can find themselves and reject imposed memories. However, those without strong willpower will be enslaved by hypnosis forever.

But even after being hypnotized, they are still themselves because human thoughts change constantly every second. The me of next second is still me now and so was the me of last second; even if my thoughts change my essence remains unchanged.

For those who were hypnotized, Chen Xu's hypnosis was like a fire at home - both were demons from outside.

"I am the Eastern Heavenly Emperor, Buddha from Tianzhu (India), Western God; I incarnate into billions of gods and Buddhas that appear everywhere."

Even Chen Xu had to admit that Christianity had great influence all over the world making it almost impossible for him to form a heretical cult against it.

However Jesus pointed him in one direction: since he couldn't fight against Christianity why not just steal its followers? If Jesus could take over as Son of God then why couldn't he replace Jesus himself?

He not only wanted to take away Jesus' faith, but also the faith of Allah, Buddha and immortals. He wanted to be the only supreme being.

Therefore, he didn't change his name or call upon other gods' names. He didn't even have the idea of creating a sect.

After playing tricks in the name of gods, Chen Xu found it boring and walked out alone.

Suleiman followed him quickly when he saw this.

When Xiaolin saw them, she hesitated for a moment before running in the opposite direction.

Chen Xu ignored her and never thought about intercepting Xiaolin at all.

Xiaolin's mother Ziyuan was someone close to Chen Xu. Whether Qin Shihuang loved or hated her and wanted to torture her, she was undoubtedly by his side. Killing Xiaolin would bring Ziyuan's hatred upon him. All Ziyuan needed to do was whisper something into Qin Shihuang's ear and make him regret it. Throughout history, countless ministers and generals had fallen before women; although Chen Xu wasn't under Qin Shihuang's command, there was no need for him to offend her either.

"Teacher, Emperor Qin ordered us to intercept Xiaolin. Are you sure you want to let her go? What if Emperor Qin finds out?" Suleiman asked worriedly.

Qin Shihuang is an emperor who will be remembered throughout history; therefore in his eyes he is "Emperor".

"It doesn't matter," Chen Xu smiled slightly. "This isn't Great Qin so he won't know anything about it anyway. Worst case scenario I'll just tell him we couldn't catch up with her - after all you're still just a child."

As expected when he returned home later on and Qin Shihuang asked about chasing down Xiaolin , Chen Xu replied that they hadn’t caught up with her yet . Although disappointed with the result, Qin Shihuang didn't blame them and only asked about the results of the sacrifice.

"Offering sacrifices to oneself is offering sacrifices to the gods. I have roughly figured it out," Chen Xu explained his insights, "Sacrifice is a rule between heaven and earth. After you hold a sacrifice, the rules of heaven and earth will bring down power, which combines with the power generated by the sacrifice to form an energy core."

Then, Chen Xu went on to describe the energy core: "It's an illusory six-sided crystal similar to golden pills and infant spirits."

"It's so amazing." Qin Shihuang was moved. "The West has such wonderful methods. Your theory of combining Eastern and Western practices is indeed correct."

"Wonderful methods are just auxiliary means, like knives and swords. Can you say whether they are good or evil?"

"Those who can be used by me are all good; those who cannot be used by me are all bad."

"What is cultivation for? Nothing but immortality and eternal life. As long as we walk towards that end goal on any path available, does it matter?"

Just like in later generations where there were national highways and expressways - do expressways always mean high speed? Sometimes expressways get congested while sometimes national highways get congested too. There's no need to stick only to one road; switching between them would be much faster.

"That makes sense." Qin Shihuang nodded his head. "But I still hope that you can show off your skills."

"Of course." Chen Xu also became excited. He was currently in the bronze realm and had not yet crossed over into black iron territory but he felt that his accumulation had reached its peak - he was just one step away from breaking through naturally when enough energy accumulated in his body.

"Sacred beetle!" Chen Xu stomped his foot as black mist rose up from under him with sacred beetles crawling out densely packed within it.

"My dear Daoist," Qin Shihuang chuckled and breathed out flames.

The flames swept over the sacred beetles, leaving behind a pile of corpses. The number of sacred beetles was insignificant in front of the flames.

"Your Majesty has great skills." Chen Xu laughed. In movies, Qin Shihuang most commonly used this fire; it was hard to imagine him without it.

"Skills are just auxiliary means," Qin Shihuang humorously returned Chen Xu's words that he often said. "If you only have these kinds of skills, then I won't be polite."

"Let His Majesty know that I also have means." Chen Xu laughed heartily and his whole body turned into sand, flying in the air.

There are many spells related to the desert in the Necromancer's Black Book. Transforming into a desert is just one of the more common spells, but its power lies not in being ordinary, but in who uses it.

"Transformation? I have it too." Qin Shihuang's body shook and he instantly transformed into a terrifying black dragon.

Completely black with water vapor wrapped around it, its scales were ferocious and chilling. Its tail swayed and struck against stone pillars, shattering them instantly. The most terrifying thing was that it had three heads, each spewing out water, fire or gold respectively with an imposing aura.

"His Majesty's Xuan Water Black Dragon Body is indeed powerful." The sand gathered together to form Chen Xu's face which was only a face.

Qin Shihuang's Xuan Water Black Dragon Body was different from what was shown in movies. In movies, dragons look more like Western three-headed dragons while Xuan Water Black Dragon Body looks exactly like Eastern divine dragons.

Its mouth looked like a horse’s; eyes looked like crabs'; whiskers resembled goats'; horns were similar to deer’s; ears looked like cows’; mane resembled lions’; scales were akin to carps'; body appeared as snakes' while claws seemed eagle-like. Its long body swayed as if riding on clouds and mist.

"I am a true dragon," Qin Shihuang thundered with his voice.