Li Qiye stared at the horizon for a while before answering the monarchs question: His dao heart is not firm.

Not firm? The monarch couldnt believe it: Thats impossible. I heard Ancestor Shan and the others said that perseverance is his strong point.

Thats two different things. Li Qiye shook his head: You think that its only about wavering before difficulties? No, temptation is another test.

Gu Zun is a very patient person. In order to reach his goal, he can endure everything! However, his dao heart has two flaws. First, greed, second, treachery. Li Qiyes eyes turned profound.

Greed and treachery? She murmured.

Ambition is good but when it becomes greed, thats no longer the case. Li Qiye explained: Gu Zun has a greedy nature and wants everything, like an ant wanting to swallow a big cake but not one crumb at a time. Instead, he wants it all with one bite. The world isnt that easy though. Li Qiye smiled and said.

What about treachery? She asked. After all, Gu Zun was still her ancestor. The word treachery was quite harsh.

In order to obtain his goal, Gu Zun could sell everything! He didnt mind betraying everything, including the Black Dragon King! He stared straight at her and said.

Thats impossible! She shouted. The king was their progenitor and pride. In their eyes, Gu Zun wouldnt betray him no matter how evil he was.

Really now? Li Qiye smiled: What kind of person do you think Gu Zun is? Hes not the Black Dragon Kings disciple or child. His status is on the same level as Lu Zhangsun; as one of the ten eonic geniuses with an amazing cultivation, why didnt the king give him the successor role? Why did he take away all of Gu Zuns position, leaving him with no responsibility? If you are the Black Dragon King, would you waste such a talent? The king was already merciful enough by not killing him!

The monarch shuddered after hearing this. She has thought about this issue before too but didnt dare to pry further. Ancestor Shans group didnt wish to talk about it either.

Just think about it, their ancestor was an exceptional candidate so why didnt he receive the great responsibility? Why did he need to wait till Lu Zhangsun died before seizing power? Someone as insightful as the Black Dragon King wouldnt bury a talent for no reason!

Gu Zun would be highly valued and utilized in any lineage but the Black Dragon King went as far as removing all of his roles. Lu Zhangsun himself had always been vigilant of Gu Zun as well!

This meant that Gu Zun had committed an unforgivable mistake back then! But the Black Dragon King was a benevolent person. What kind of mistake was unforgivable?

Then she thought about what Li Qiye has just said and come out with a shocking answer - betrayal!

The monarch became suffocated. Though in this internal vie for power, Gu Zun was Elder Zhangsuns opponent, he was still their ancestor. No one was right or wrong in wanting power. However, betraying the Black Dragon King was a scary matter.

If the disciples were to find out that Gu Zun had betrayed their progenitor before, they would never forgive him!

Immortal Emperors have certain standards. Li Qiye said flatly: There is one more crucial requirement outside of the dao heart, an imperial ethics.

Imperial ethics? She became attentive right away since this was her first time hearing the term.

Its a very vague concept but if I were to be more specific, betrayal is not one of them. An emperor can slaughter millions and wipe out clans, but not betrayal.

Why is that? She asked.

Li Qiye continued on: Emperors can be merciless but they must have their own rules. For example, the emperors from the Ancient Ming Race, they massacred so many, including their own, as their darkness engulfed the nine worlds. However, they will not betray the Ancient Ming Race and their soul as its member!

This betrayal will forever haunt an emperor. As for those who have yet to ascend, this will become an inner demon that might swallow them. He said seriously.

I, I heard that Immortal Emperor Ye Ti has massacred many people. His sword is always stained with blood. She couldnt help but bring up a different story.

Immortal Emperor Ye Ti. Li Qiye smiled in response: Before becoming an emperor, he really killed many people, even those close to him. However, betrayal never happened, only cruelty. After becoming emperor, he committed even more atrocities but strictly speaking, they werent betrayal either. He didnt betray his heart but simply severed it.

He stared at the monarch and revealed: But theres something you dont know. He paid a very price for his actions! He might be the emperor that had suffered the most miserable death!

Most miserable death? Even emperors would die so pitifully? She became startled.

Keep in mind that even Immortal Emperor Ta Kongs death couldnt be described with these words.

Its indeed hard for emperors to suffer this type of death but Immortal Emperor Ye Ti met a very tragic end, a fate worse than death! For an emperor, nothing could be more miserable than his end.

A fate worse than death. The monarch shuddered. It was understandable for ordinary people to be victims of this fate but for an emperor? How terrible was it?

She simply couldnt imagine it at all!

Thats why emperors must adhere to certain rules or theyll pay a heavy price for their actions one day. The villainous heaven might not kill anyone. However, the judgment of the world has never spared anyone!

She was stupefied before finally commenting a while later: Even an emperor cant do whatever they want.

Thats how it is, even the villainous heaven is subjected to this. Thats what a rule is. Even if you can surpass the high heaven, you will still need certain rules and guidelines or that height is impossible to reach.

Gu Zun is very talented with a patient dao heart but he doesnt follow the rules necessary to become an emperor. Li Qiye said slowly: Even though the Black Dragon King favored him, he still couldnt become one! In the end, the Black Dragon King personally cut off his fortune.

Hearing this secret left the monarch stunned. She didnt know what Gu Zun did back then but to earn such distrust from their progenitor meant that the sin was beyond salvation.

Okay, no need to talk about old stories. Lets go to the twelve scales. Li Qiye smiled and said.

The monarch hurriedly followed him. Nevertheless, she still couldnt calm down since Li Qiye had revealed too many things to her.

***

The twelve scales werent just twelve steps. To be more precise, it was a fair-sized mountain.

It was located inside Discover with surrounding mist and clouds. A stream came from the summit and flowed around the mountain to eventually form a lake.

There were many hills in the vicinity with pavilions and corridors built next to them.

It was a very popular place in Discover. Visitors would come and visit at least once to test their own future. This was not a natural mountain. Rumor has it that it only showed up at Discover during Immortal Emperor Yin Tians generation. Another tale told that Matriarch Yu and the Black Dragon Legion used a supreme method to move the scales into this city.

Some believed that before it became a property of the city, it used to be a divine mountain for a godly race and served as its barrier!