Just like what those court officials who had seen this man thought, Chen Chao did not resemble him much, but was more like that Fourth Prince.

The man said softly, “If he is to gain more, he must also bear more. The burden on your shoulders is not so heavy. Receiving less is not truly unfair.”

Chen Chao said, “But can you clearly say what will happen in the future?”

The man turned his head in surprise to look at the young martial artist before him.

Chen Chao said calmly, “I killed him.”

Hearing this, the man suddenly widened his eyes. His face turned deathly pale as he looked at Chen Chao in disbelief. “Why? Was it because this palace neglected you, because he received more?”

Chen Chao shook his head. “Because he tried to kill me many times.”

That future heir was even less like him. At a young age, he was already deeply scheming and full of suspicion. He feared that the realm would belong to someone else, that the one sitting on that throne in the future might not be him.

So he wanted to clear away obstacles for himself, to eliminate anyone who might threaten him.

“He told me there were treasures in the well and asked me to jump in and look. He told me that wearing fewer clothes in the cold would make me stronger. He told me...”

In those years, he had used many excuses to deceive a child.

He wanted to stage an accident, to have that child quietly leave this world.

The man’s brows furrowed deeply. “This imperial highness did neglect his upbringing somewhat.”

Chen Chao shook his head. “Perhaps that isn’t the reason.”

The man suddenly said, “But even so, you are still alive. You shouldn’t have killed him.”

Chen Chao asked, “Hearing that makes me sick. If I had died, I wouldn’t have been able to kill him.”

Some things, once they have happened, cannot be changed. But when something is done, others will say - he didn’t succeed in killing you anyway.

“If someone wants to kill me, then I kill him first. Don’t you understand such a simple principle? Waiting for others to come kill you, isn’t that stupidity?”

Chen Chao laughed.

“But he is still your elder brother.”

The man closed his eyes in pain.

“Yes, my elder brother actually wanted to kill me, and I’m supposed to remember that he is my elder brother. Does that make any sense?”

Chen Chao looked at him and shook his head. “A father does not treat me as a son, a brother does not treat me as a brother. Then why should I treat him as my father, or him as my brother?”

The man’s face turned extremely ugly. These words were like needles stabbing into his heart. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

“Do you know how Fourth Uncle chose in the same situation?”

Chen Chao looked at the man before him.

“Old Fourth?”

The man looked at Chen Chao in some confusion.

“I also killed his son, another elder brother of mine.”

The man took several steps back again, unable to believe what he had just heard.

For a long time, there was only the sound of rain.

“How did... Old Fourth choose in the end?”

The man still asked that question.

Chen Chao said, “Fourth Uncle did nothing. His son wanted to kill his nephew, and in the end his nephew killed his son. He said nothing.”

The same situation, placed before two brothers born of the same mother, yet it led to completely different outcomes.

The man could not speak.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Chao said, “Actually, I know you’re not Fourth Uncle, and you wouldn’t choose the same as him. I’m just a bit unresigned.”

In this world, there is no son who does not want his father’s recognition and love.

So there would always be unwillingness.

The man said, “It’s not that this imperial highness did not treat you as my son. It’s just that when such a thing happens to a father, he would find it very hard to choose and likely choose poorly.”

“I understand.”

Chen Chao glanced at him and said, “Understanding is my problem, but it’s not a reason for you to treat me this way.”

The man hesitated, as if wanting to speak but stopping himself.

Chen Chao suddenly gave a self-mocking smile. “This is only the you I imagined. You might not be like this, but I’ll never know the answer.”

After saying this, Chen Chao waved his hand, unwilling to see this man any longer, and the man dissipated.

At this moment, inside the room, that woman ran out, somewhat dazed as she looked at everything before her.

Chen Chao turned to look at her, his eyes slightly moist. “Mother, why did you choose to marry him?”

The woman seemed somewhat confused, but still answered firmly, “Because I like him.”

Among the women of the world, few would not like him. After all, he was so outstanding. Since she liked him and had the chance to become his wife, naturally she made that choice.

Chen Chao did not speak.

People are greedy, always wanting to have it both ways. But a hundred years of life is nothing more than teaching people how to choose and give up.

He smiled and said, “As long as Mother is happy.”

......

......

Everything vanished without a trace.

The imperial city turned into a sea of fire.

That tall man stood before the sea of flames, shoulder to shoulder with Chen Chao.

“Had We known things would be so difficult for you, We shouldn’t have left and handed the burden over to you.”

Chen Chao smiled. “Actually, he said one thing very well, since one bears the surname Chen, one must shoulder the burden. Though he didn’t give me a reason, Uncle and Aunt did.”

The Great Liang Emperor patted his shoulder and said with a smile, “It would be good if you were Our son.”

Chen Chao shook his head and said with a soft smile, “Actually, being a nephew is the same.”

The Great Liang Emperor nodded and laughed loudly. “Of course it’s the same. Son or nephew, both bear the surname Chen, both carry the blood of my Chen Family.”

Chen Chao took a breath.

The Great Liang Emperor smiled and said, “Why not go take a look at Fuyun?”

Chen Chao nodded and said, "Alright."

......

......

Above Rainfront County, the battle between the lightning dragon and the snow-white true dragon had already come to an end. The final result was mutual destruction, both dragons vanished from heaven and earth.

But the lightning pool in the sky remained, and that aura of killing intent had by now become incomparably dense.

The thunder grew louder and more frequent.

Points of lightning began to appear across the sky.

Lu Ji’s expression changed drastically.

At this moment, the lightning pool had already enveloped the entire Rainfront County.

Tens of thousands, perhaps even more, streaks of lightning appeared in the sky.

As a flash of lightning crossed the horizon.

Countless bolts of lightning suddenly blazed forth, all descending at once!

They seemed intent on completely flattening Rainfront County!

And once those countless bolts of lightning reached the mortal world, the entire Rainfront County would cease to exist!

All the people here would also be reduced to ashes.

Lu Ji was already out of options. He could not contend against so many bolts of lightning.

The people had already gone through great emotional upheaval. Before, they thought this was an auspicious sign. But now, they only felt it was punishment from the heavens.

Before such a heavenly catastrophe, they had nothing left but despair.

How could humans contend against the heavens?

Even if they mustered courage, would there be any chance of victory?

A shadow of despair hung over everyone’s hearts.

At this moment, Chen Chao in the teahouse opened his eyes.

In the next instant, a towering, boundless gigantic dharma idol appeared within the county.

Sun, moon, and stars revolved around that immense form, as boundless qi began to spread outward!

That colossal dharma idol rose to its feet, rolled up its sleeves, and held up the heavens!