The Emperor’s Gaze—A Glimpse Beyond Reality
A Battle Against Fate
Fractures were a common fate for those suffering from bone cancer.
As the disease eroded bone tissue, it left the bones fragile and brittle.
Now, it was Chen Huaian’s turn.
A sharp snap—
Yet, after enduring so much pain, he barely felt it.
Pain Meant Nothing to Him
The physical agony was bearable.
The psychological torment?
He had long become numb.
Nothing hurt more than watching his parents die in that fire.
So, as onlookers panicked and voices filled with concern surrounded him—
Chen Huaian simply adjusted his camera and turned to Zhang Rui.
“Brother, open my backpack for me.”
Zhang Rui was flustered.
“Screw the backpack! We need an ambulance!”
His leg was literally deformed! How could he act so nonchalant?!
“Even if you call an ambulance, it won’t make it here. Just open the bag. I’ve got my own way.”
Half skeptical, half curious, Zhang Rui unzipped the bag—
And pulled out a foldable crutch.
Silence.
Zhang Rui: “…”
Tourists: “???”
That was it?!
They had expected some secret painkiller or even a spell.
But a crutch?!
“Alright, let’s continue!” Chen Huaian propped himself up skillfully.
He had anticipated this.
Bone fractures were inevitable.
That’s why he had trained himself to walk with crutches long before they were needed.
Now, it was just a dance with fate.
A Middle Finger to Destiny
The live stream exploded with reactions.
No one questioned whether his illness was real anymore.
They just wanted to know—could he still reach the summit?
His twisted leg was a symbol.
A cruel mockery of fate.
But that crutch?
That was his defiance.
His middle finger to death itself.
The tourists fell silent.
They watched in awe as the man dragged himself forward.
Step by Agonizing Step
Chen Huaian gritted his teeth.
Each step brought him closer—
To the peak.
To his goal.
To the 90,000 yuan sponsorship he would receive.
To the Koi Prize Pool.
To the legendary Hunyuan Bu Tian Dan.
He muttered under his breath—
“That damn pill better be worth it!”
The tourists, unaware of his real thoughts, saw the pain in his face and admired him even more.
Reaching the Summit
The final step.
His legs trembled.
The sky brightened.
A soft glow pierced through the clouds—
Bathing him in golden light.
A flock of birds soared.
A distant bell tolled.
Then—
The sun erupted from the horizon.
Light spilled over the mountains.
A golden halo spread across the world.
Chen Huaian widened his eyes.
The crowd fell silent.
They could only stare in awe at the breathtaking scene.
Then the World Shifted.
A sound cut through the silence.
“Bai——!!!”
The golden light rippled.
Like waves on a disturbed lake.
And within the ripples—
An ancient procession emerged.
The Phantom Procession
A grand imperial entourage walked toward them.
The leader?
A towering figure in a black dragon robe.
A golden crown adorned his head.
A sword rested at his waist.
Behind him—
Officials and generals.
Civil officials clutching jade tablets.
Military officers in black armor.
Attendants bearing ceremonial vessels.
They walked on clouds—
And beneath their feet, blue tiles and golden roads materialized.
They stepped forward.
Straight toward the summit.
“What the hell?!”
Tourists gasped.
“Is this a mirage?!”
“A movie shoot?”
But before anyone could say more—
The entourage moved.
In a blink, they crossed miles in an instant.
Suddenly, they were right in front of them.
And then—
A pressure settled upon the mountaintop.
A weight.
One that made it impossible to move.
Or even speak.
The Emperor’s Gaze
The dragon-robed figure stepped forward.
He passed through the crowd like mist.
Untouchable.
Unreal.
Just a phantom of another era.
Or so Chen Huaian thought.
Until—
The Emperor stopped.
He turned his golden eyes directly on Chen Huaian.
For a brief moment, their gazes locked.
And Chen Huaian knew—
This was no accident.
The Emperor saw him.
He was real.
Then—
The entourage vanished.
A National Sensation
The mirage atop Mount Lu shocked the entire country.
News exploded online.
Historians analyzed the figures.
The conclusion?
The Qin Emperor’s Fengshan ceremony.
But how did ancient history manifest in the modern era?
Science had no answer.
And Chen Huaian?
He didn’t care.
If a ghost showed up at his house, he’d be more interested in buying protection… or Okamoto 001.
The Price of Reaching the Peak
True to his word, the 57-level benefactor donated 66 “Dragon City of Gongs and Drums.”
A total of 95,000 yuan.
“Worth it.”
The battery died.
The live stream ended.
Zhang Rui turned to him.
“Brother, how are you getting down?”
“Cable car.”
Easy, cheap, and fast.
But as he approached—
A group of thuggish men with tattoos occupied a cabin.
Zhang Rui hesitated.
“Still taking it?”
Chen Huaian shrugged.
“You can’t judge a book by its cover.”
A Sudden Omen
Then—
Snap!
The string of his amulet broke.
The talisman fell to the ground.
Chen Huaian froze.
As he bent to pick it up—
BOOM!!!
Mount Lu shook violently.
A massive tremor rumbled beneath them.
“Falling rocks!” someone screamed.
Glass shattered.
The cable car cabin was hit.
A massive boulder crashed down—
Directly onto the thugs’ cabin.
If Chen Huaian had boarded just a second sooner…
He would have died.
The amulet—
Had saved him.
