"I had died unfulfilled. Knowing of a greater Universe, it was impossible for me to be content. Who would have thought that upon closing my eyes, I would once again open my eyes as a child 99 years ago. My next lives were not so impactful. I rarely met the Fisherman again, as I already had the information he could provide me. I studied a thousand sword arts, and always passed them down to Shang. I have done everything imaginable over so many years and so many do-overs that it would be impossible to keep count."
"Few things have remained constant. One of them was that the Ruler of the Scholar Region has always been a formidable foe. Another is that Shang has never once betrayed me, no matter what I have done. I've even simply tried my hardest to get him to do so, but have failed. Even if he died, he died with loyalty."
The Emperor looked at the ground wistfully. "I have long since seen him as my only family in this infinite loop."
He looked back at Skymender. "Everything remained constant, and I tried countless times to free myself of this world. Sometimes I spent lifetimes despairing. Other times I spent lifetimes filled with hope and effort. But I never managed to do so, and nothing ever changed, until I heard the name Skymender."
He looked into Skymender's eyes, hope present. "You are the only exception after countless years. You are the only hope, a new being in this cycle. You are exceptional as well. I have put all my hope into you at this point, Skymender."
The Emperor fell silent.
Skymender took it all in. It was unbelievable, yet it explained so much. Skymender did not doubt it at all. It had to be true. Nothing else could explain why the Emperor was so exceptional.
Skymender took a deep breath. "I will hold up my end of the bargain. I'll keep it short. A girl named Potential Sword Master Daisy told me a story. She had stumbled upon a mountain, with an old man that slashed the sky and accepted her as a disciple. Yet that man uttered my name. Years later I investigated and learned that the man was talking to me. He essentially told me that this world is false, a fake cage. Ever since then, I have tried to discern whether or not it is true. Now, I can say with certainty that he was speaking the truth."
Although Skymender's words were short and concise, the Emperor took in a deep breath. He had never heard of this. Learning something new after countless years was an extraordinary sensation.
"It seems we share a common goal then." Skymender said. "I want to see through this world, and you want to escape it. All of it involves seeing through this illusion we have been presented. I have begun to see through this world, to the point that my vision is deteriorating. I don't know how many years it will take, but I am sure that I can see through everything eventually. Where this will take me, I don't know. But I am willing to leap into the unknown."
The Emperor nodded. "I would rather die forever than be stuck in this loop for eternity. As long as I can get out of this loop, live or die, I would be eternally grateful."
Skymender and the Emperor laid everything on the table, forming a mutual agreement.
"If I die before accomplishing my goal, just tell me everything I have said. However, wait until I turn eighteen. Otherwise, I don't know how it will affect me." Skymender said.
"The imminent threat arriving is the Treant." The Emperor said. "Within three months, it will make landfall. It will destroy everything in its path. First, the Continent of Wu will be exterminated and fragmented. There is nothing we can do about that. It is too far away. All we can do is mount a defense in the Mainland. We will still lose, but we might as well fight. Naturally, I have my methods to escape."
The Emperor stood up.
"You keep doing what you're doing. I will form an alliance with all of the regions and all of the hidden masters. If you want to join, go ahead. The result won't change. Even that Deprivation poison of yours won't be able to win the battle, no matter how much you could make."
Skymender nodded. "Hearing your explanation, I never planned to fight back. I don't even believe I'll see through the world in this life. I'll need you for that."
The Emperor nodded. Sword Grandmaster Shang appeared before disappearing with the Emperor.
Everything Skymender had found confusing about the Emperor made sense now. Whether it was his calmness in almost any situation, or the existence of the agents, or his ability to win despite any odds, all of it made sense.
Skymender's life did not change. He simply continued as he had, slowly seeing through the world. His horse slowly journeyed towards the gathering point of the alliance.
With the Emperor's vast experience and confidence, he was sure to succeed.
Exactly in the third month, Skymender arrived. He saw a nearly infinite army with many Grandmasters.
The Emperor stood in front of it all. Ever since a month ago, the sky had been perpetually covered in gray clouds. A storm was coming, and a vast shadow in the distance could be seen.
Skymender looked out solemnly. It was time to see what the legendary Treant was able to do.
He arrived next to the Emperor, who nodded at him.
"Be careful, Skymender."
The army waited, and as the day passed and the sun rose, an infinitely large tree could be seen. Its numerous branches held up a canopy of leaves so large it replaced the sky around it.
A storm was permanently circling it, striking lightning down every moment. It had a large face on its trunk. It seemed infinitely aged, its eyes closed.
On its largest branches were huge beasts. Fear was struck into the entire army.
Just looking at it, Skymender's face returned to indifference. When the gap in strength was too vast, resistance became meaningless. A single glance was all it took to understand that there was no possibility of victory. Unless a god descended, it would be a one sided defeat.