Chapter 259: The Battle Begins in the Imperial City

After leaving the imperial city, the biting cold wind that met him brought Zhuo Qingfeng back to his senses. He took a deep breath and asked, "What now? Should we continue the investigation?"

Xiao Ziyin said gravely, "Yes, we must investigate. We'll intervene as envoys from both our nations. After all, our main goal is to ascertain Ye Nantian's whereabouts and, ideally, find relevant clues. Otherwise, if the Jiang Kingdom's court claims Ye Nantian has already returned to the Hundred Thousand Mountains, we'll have no recourse. If he genuinely has returned, there's nothing we can do. But if he's still hiding in the Jiang Kingdom, we'll miss our chance."

Zhuo Qingfeng nodded. "Your Highness is right; we should continue the investigation." He then looked at Gu Mo, cupped his hands, and said, "Brother Gu, please return to Honglu Temple to rest. If you accompany us now, this case will be impossible to investigate!"

Xiao Ziyin chuckled softly. "Indeed, having Master Gu with us is both convenient and inconvenient. However, I doubt anyone in the Jiang Kingdom's court would dare to feign compliance now."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. He himself had no interest in joining the investigation. Moreover, having just killed Mu Linyun, accompanying them to the Censorate would undoubtedly cause unnecessary trouble. Besides, he had recently been dedicating time to refining his Sword-Riding technique, aiming for greater precision. Thus, Gu Mo went to Honglu Temple alone.

Watching Gu Mo's retreating figure, Zhuo Qingfeng clicked his tongue in admiration. "Brother Gu truly has an unstoppable aura, doesn't he, Brother Ye…" Zhuo Qingfeng turned to look at Ye Jinglan and, noticing he was distracted, patted him. "Hey, Brother Ye, what are you thinking about? You seem miles away."

"Oh, nothing!" Ye Jinglan waved his hand and asked, "Where should we start the investigation now?"

Xiao Ziyin said, "Let's split into two groups. Chu Dong and I will form one team and go to the Censorate. Minister Zhuo, Minister Ye, the two of you will form another team and go to the Ministry of War for verification. How does that sound?" Immediately, they finalized their teams. Gu Chudong and Xiao Ziyin then took a few members of the Chu Kingdom's envoy to the Censorate, while Zhuo Qingfeng and Ye Jinglan led a team from the Qian Kingdom's envoy to the Ministry of War.

As they were leaving, Ye Jinglan suddenly turned back for a quick glance at the Jiang Kingdom's imperial city. Unnoticed by anyone, a blood-red mark appeared on his wrist, and faint flames flickered in his eyes.

"The aura of my kind!"

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.

The Jiang Emperor, exhausted both physically and mentally, entered the underground palace. Gu Mo had left, but he had left behind a complete mess for the Emperor.

A dignified Left Censor-in-Chief, a high-ranking third-grade official, had been publicly beaten to death in the imperial palace, and the court had been threatened. If this matter wasn't handled properly, once it spread, the entire Jiang Kingdom would become a laughing stock. For now, he had only managed to temporarily suppress the news; how to deal with it would require further discussion and concrete decisions.

"You saw that, didn't you?" The Jiang Emperor, sitting by the blood pool, said, "No wonder they returned so quickly. That Gu Mo actually possesses such a Sword-Riding technique? Has martial arts in the *jianghu* reached such a level?"

Ye Nantian stepped out of the blood pool and said, "Don't ask me; I haven't seen this technique either. When it comes to agility and lightness skills, those employed by qi cultivators are the strongest. However, until now, the fastest I've seen is the 'Wind Kill' technique from the Seven Absolutes Tower's Grand Steward's 'Seven Kills of the Abyssal Abyss,' which isn't slower than Gu Mo's Sword-Riding technique but requires rest after flying merely thirty or forty *li*. Yet, according to Xiao Ziyin and the others, Gu Mo traversed all eleven cities of Jianbei Prefecture in one or two hours, which means he flew hundreds, even thousands, of *li* in a single stretch. Such a technique—let alone you, who has long resided in the palace—I've never even heard of it!"

The Jiang Emperor chuckled lightly. "You're in deep trouble. With someone like that targeting you, even hiding in the Hundred Thousand Mountains might be useless."

Ye Nantian replied, "Your Majesty doesn't need to scare me. While Gu Mo's Sword-Riding technique is indeed extraordinary, the Hundred Thousand Mountains didn't get its name for nothing. With its countless peaks and rivers, once I hide, no one will find me."

The Jiang Emperor waved his hand. "To be honest, can you deal with Gu Mo?"

Ye Nantian asked, surprised, "Your Majesty wants to kill Gu Mo? Is it because he just made you lose face in court?"

"That's just one reason," the Jiang Emperor said. "With Gu Mo's Sword-Riding technique revealed, I doubt any emperor in this world can sit still. Who wouldn't fear Gu Mo suddenly descending into the palace out of nowhere one day? Before, it was said that Gu Mo was the strongest in the world, comparable to a free-moving iron cavalry, and his deterrent power was at most similar to that of my grandfather back then. At least, with the guards of various palaces, one wouldn't fail to notice his arrival. But now, Gu Mo can ride his sword and fly. If he descends from the sky, by the time the guards notice, he would already be inside the city. There isn't a single guard in this world who can stop him; they could only serve as a warning. Now, not even that warning function can be achieved. So, which emperor can tolerate the existence of someone who can take their life at any moment?"

Ye Nantian said, "That reasoning is sound, but it's best not to be the first to stick your neck out. There are over a dozen states in the world, including the great nations of Qian, Chu, and Qin. The emperors of those three nations should be the most panicked. Your Majesty, dealing with Gu Mo is too risky. Previously, with the imperial city's army, my undying body, and Jiang Ruoxu's Immortal Physique, I would have had a sixty to seventy percent chance of killing Gu Mo. Now, I have less than a twenty percent chance; I can only guarantee a defeat, but killing him would be extremely difficult."

The Jiang Emperor took a deep breath. "You can defeat him?"

Ye Nantian said, "That's certainly not a problem. With my undying body, I can exhaust Gu Mo into submission. Coupled with the Immortal Physique's powerful assault, Gu Mo is bound to be defeated. Furthermore, with the imperial city's army, defeating Gu Mo is a certainty. However, Your Majesty, you must consider if it's worth it. The Chu Kingdom is currently eyeing your Jiang Kingdom covetously. This time, Princess Xiao Ziyin entered your Jiang Kingdom under the pretext of apprehending me, but her purpose is simple: to understand the political situation in Jiang Kingdom and find a reason for Chu to launch a military expedition. Even if the Jiang Kingdom avoids conflict this time, it's merely postponing the inevitable; a war will break out sooner or later. My Immortal Physique and I are the greatest secret weapons. If deployed on the battlefield, we could catch the Chu Kingdom off guard and directly turn the tide. But if we reveal them now just to kill Gu Mo, the Chu Kingdom will undoubtedly become alert. Then, when the major war begins, it's hard to say whether the Immortal Physique and I could still play such a decisive role."

The Jiang Emperor slowly said, "I understand the logic. I don't truly wish to reveal our trump cards at this moment. It's mainly that Gu Mo's actions today caught me completely off guard. He only gave me one day. I can find scapegoats, but haste will inevitably lead to oversights, and I fear they will be noticed."

Ye Nantian sighed. "Your Majesty, your arrangements today were indeed improper and went too far. I know you wanted to stall for time with prevarication, but the Mu Linyun you arranged was like a madman. He only needed to say a few words, confuse people, and shift blame. Instead, he kept scolding Gu Mo. Wasn't that just asking for trouble? Gu Mo is the strongest in the world. He possesses power that transcends laws and rules. All rules before him depend only on whether he chooses to abide by them. If you anger him and he decides not to follow the rules, it will be just like today."

The Jiang Emperor said gravely, "I didn't expect him to dare kill a minister right here in the imperial palace!"

Ye Nantian pursed his lips. "It's rumored that the Empress Dowager of Qian was killed by him, but the Qian Emperor claimed she was killed by rebels to preserve the royal family's dignity. Given Gu Mo's cultivation and power, and his lack of family or clan ties, such a person's divinity far outweighs their humanity. Don't gamble on whether he dares to do something; only consider whether he's willing to do it."

The Jiang Emperor said, frustrated, "If I had known, I wouldn't have made those arrangements. The key is, what do we do now? What if we can't keep it secret tomorrow?"

Ye Nantian said gravely, "Prepare for every contingency. Have the army fully armored and ready. If Gu Mo and his companions truly detect something tomorrow, fight with all your might to kill him. If you can't kill him, at least you can defeat him. While it will expose our trump cards prematurely, it will also create a certain deterrent effect externally, so it's not entirely bad!"

The Jiang Emperor nodded. "That's the only way then. Oh, and by the way, Ye Nantian, you go meet Gu Mo on my behalf tomorrow. I'm a bit worried about an accident tomorrow; it would truly be unwise if Gu Mo suddenly went mad and cut me down with his sword!"

Ye Nantian nodded slightly, then lightly placed his palm on the ground. Countless bloodworms swarmed into a corner, where a wrinkled human skin lay on a shelf. As the bloodworms poured into the skin, it gradually plumped up and soon formed a person, identical to the Jiang Emperor. The Jiang Emperor walked up to the "Skin Emperor," lightly stroked it, and said, "This is truly remarkable. A human skin for my substitute can be made indistinguishable from me. Then, if it were my own skin, wouldn't even my closest confidant be unable to tell the difference? Ye Nantian, tell me, if you killed me, couldn't you simply replace me?" The Jiang Emperor turned his head, smiling, to look at Ye Nantian.

Ye Nantian said gravely, "Your Majesty jests. If I truly did that, and your grandfather suddenly decided to return and take a look one day, wouldn't he chase me to the ends of the earth, leaving me nowhere to run?"

"Hmph," the Jiang Emperor chuckled lightly. "I'm leaving. Tomorrow's matters are in your hands."

Watching the Jiang Emperor depart, Ye Nantian glanced at the substitute Emperor and said coldly, "Does he truly believe a Jiang Ruoxu, whose fate is unknown, can intimidate me? And he even presumes to control me with the Heaven-Imprisoning Array? Once I fully master the Immortal Physique left by Jiang Ruoxu—an undying body combined with a domineering Immortal Physique—what is there for me to fear, even if Jiang Ruoxu's spirit truly lives? Jiang Emperor, hmph!"

Jiang Kingdom, Honglu Temple.

Gu Mo spent a day and a night tinkering with his flying sword in the courtyard. Gu Chudong, Ye Jinglan, and the others hadn't returned from their investigation, only sending someone back in the evening to inform him of their progress.

It wasn't until noon the next day that both groups returned almost simultaneously. Xiao Ziyin and Gu Chudong arrived first. They had barely exchanged a few words after entering Gu Mo's courtyard when they heard footsteps outside—Ye Jinglan and Zhuo Qingfeng were returning.

"Your Highness, did you find any clues at the Censorate?" Zhuo Qingfeng asked.

"Yes, and no," Xiao Ziyin replied. "We investigated the inspection team the Censorate sent to Jianbei Prefecture some time ago. The result was that the entire team had accepted bribes, and the Inspector was in unified command. He has already been apprehended by the Jiang Emperor's Imperial City Bureau. So, I say there are clues, but also none, because a single Inspector couldn't possibly command an entire team. However, with time so short, we couldn't uncover more clues. We'll have to see what the Jiang Emperor does!"

Zhuo Qingfeng nodded slightly. "Our side is similar. In Jianbei Prefecture, some army personnel detected abnormal troop movements and reported them to the Ministry of War for inquiries. However, they were all suppressed or intercepted by the Vice Minister of War. It's essentially confirmed that the Vice Minister colluded with the Moon Worshipping Cult. The Jiang Emperor acted quite swiftly, apprehending the person immediately!"

Gu Mo said, "So, it's basically confirmed that the massacre in Jianbei Prefecture was a result of collusion between individuals in both the Censorate and the Ministry of War with the Moon Worshipping Cult, who jointly orchestrated the event."

Xiao Ziyin nodded. "I must say, there's a reason why the Jiang Kingdom's national power is declining day by day."

Zhuo Qingfeng chuckled. "Therefore, Your Highness, what's the point of your nation having such an ally? Isn't it just a burden? Your esteemed Emperor possesses great talent and ambition, capable of conquering mountains and rivers; why not simply annex the Jiang Kingdom's territory?"

Xiao Ziyin glanced at Zhuo Qingfeng. "Minister Zhuo, are you perhaps revealing the Qian Kingdom's national policy? Alliances with the strong, annexation of the weak? How unprincipled. Your nation truly is a land of outstanding talents!"

Zhuo Qingfeng chuckled. "I merely observed your esteemed nation supporting a 'pseudo-Jin' in the northern territories of the Jin Kingdom, and I wondered if you intended to support another 'pseudo-Jiang'?"

Xiao Ziyin said, "The Northern Jin imperial family is fundamentally the true Jin imperial family; where does 'pseudo-Jin' come from? Furthermore, our Chu Kingdom merely restored power to the Sima imperial family; when have we ever supported the royal family of another nation? Minister Zhuo, as a high-ranking official of the Qian Kingdom and a member of the Six Gates, why do you always speak without evidence? Does your nation conduct investigations based on pure fabrication?"

"Brother Zhuo, Princess, let's discuss the matters at hand!" Seeing the two on the verge of an argument, Gu Mo immediately intervened to smooth things over. He knew that Zhuo Qingfeng had always suspected Xiao Ziyin's true purpose in coming to the Jiang Kingdom was not merely to apprehend Ye Nantian. Thus, Zhuo Qingfeng would occasionally test her with a remark, and Xiao Ziyin, understanding his intentions, would always feign as if Zhuo Qingfeng had hit a nerve, regardless of what he probed.

With Gu Mo's intervention, Zhuo Qingfeng and Xiao Ziyin naturally gave him face, and both ceased their argument.

Xiao Ziyin said, "Master Gu, the Jiang Emperor will surely send someone to invite us into the imperial city soon, and he will definitely provide an explanation, handing over those involved in the Jianbei Prefecture massacre. However, please don't express your stance for now."

Gu Mo asked, "Why?"

Xiao Ziyin said, "Because our main objective isn't to seek justice for the people of Jianbei Prefecture, but to find Ye Nantian. I suspect they might claim that after the Jianbei Prefecture massacre, Ye Nantian returned to the Hundred Thousand Mountains. But personally, I don't think he has yet. At the very least, Ye Nantian must have other things to do. Otherwise, I can't understand why those Jiang Kingdom ministers would collude with Ye Nantian to do such a thing. This matter is too significant. From the Jiang Emperor's perspective, he definitely wants to suppress it as quickly as possible and not delve deeper. However, we must delve deeper to find clues related to Ye Nantian."

"Understood," Gu Mo replied.

Indeed, as Xiao Ziyin had predicted, not long after, the Jiang Emperor sent someone to invite Gu Mo and the others to the imperial palace.

Immediately, Gu Mo and his party boarded carriages and headed for the palace. En route, Ye Jinglan quietly slipped into Gu Mo's carriage and whispered, "Brother Gu, Ye Nantian is very likely within the imperial city."

Gu Mo paused, surprised. "Brother Ye, have you discovered something?"

Ye Jinglan hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "Brother Gu, there's something I've wanted to tell you for a long time, but I've been struggling with it. My rationality tells me not to tell you, but my sense of camaraderie tells me I must. I truly fear that one day, for no reason, you and I might become enemies."

Gu Mo chuckled. "Brother Ye, please speak freely."

Ye Jinglan slowly raised his hand, and a faint wisp of flame emanated from it. He said gravely, "Brother Gu, does this feel familiar?"

Gu Mo gazed at the flame and slowly said, "The power of the Qilin."

"Precisely," Ye Jinglan said, retracting the flame. "You know that back in Qingzhou, my junior brother and I were used as vessels by Lu Canyang to cultivate Qilin essence blood for over twenty years. Later, when we were being drained of our blood, we were fortunate enough to be rescued by you, Brother Gu; otherwise, my junior brother and I would have died at Lu Canyang's hands."

Gu Mo nodded slightly, remaining silent, signaling Ye Jinglan to continue.

Ye Jinglan then explained, "Actually, after Lu Canyang was killed by you, that drop of Qilin essence blood didn't vanish. Instead, it returned to my body, whole and complete. Now, all of my blood has been assimilated by the Qilin essence blood, and the purity of the Qilin blood within me is far greater than it was in Lu Canyang back then."

"Well, congratulations then," Gu Mo said. "No wonder you told me in Ghost City that you absolutely wouldn't let me die there. So, this was your trump card!"

Ye Jinglan sighed. "However, in reality, this drop of blood isn't entirely under my control. Someone helped me, and I cannot reveal who that person is. I made a deal with him: I serve as his experiment, and he grants me the power of the Qilin. But I'm not his only test subject. Lu Canyang was one, I am one, and so is Ye Nantian. Now, Ye Nantian is no longer under his control, so he wants to kill Ye Nantian and then use another type of Qilin blood from Ye Nantian's body on me, allowing me to advance further. Throughout this journey, I've always felt uneasy, as if I were using you. Brother Gu, you've treated me with sincerity, yet I've been using you behind your back. I truly apologize for your words back then: 'For justice I act, and for justice I halt!'"

Gu Mo chuckled. "Brother Ye, you haven't used me at all. I was already coming to kill Ye Nantian, and it just so happens that Ye Nantian possesses something you need. There's no causal link here. You didn't want Ye Nantian's possessions and then deceive me into killing him for you. You don't need to feel any psychological pressure."

Ye Jinglan said, "I still feel like I haven't been completely frank with you. Also, there's something else: if one day, Brother Gu, you find me to be your enemy, do not hesitate—kill me directly. Because at that point, it will mean I've surely failed to merge with the Qilin blood and have devolved into a beast. The person you see then won't be me anymore. If you encounter me in that state, you absolutely must not be soft-hearted, nor should you think of saving me. I would be beyond saving at that point. You've experienced the Qilin's demonic power yourself!"

Gu Mo asked, "Is merging with the Qilin blood a necessity? If someone is forcing you, tell me, and I can go fight on your behalf; perhaps we can resolve it."

"No, no, no," Ye Jinglan said. "From the very beginning, it was a consensual transaction. He needed a test subject, and I desired to pursue ultimate power. There was never any coercion. If I truly desire freedom one day, I will openly challenge him. If I win, I'll gain my freedom. If I lose, I'll deserve death."

Gu Mo said no more. Everyone had their own pursuits, independent of right or wrong, based solely on their own choices. This was something to be respected.

Ye Jinglan said, "Ye Nantian possesses a drop of Qilin blood, but it's not as pure as mine. Qilin blood is a very strange substance; though only a drop, it seems to possess life and a hierarchical order. My Qilin blood is purer, which means my tier is higher. I can sense him from a distance, but he cannot sense me, unless I am directly in front of him. Yesterday, while in the imperial city, I faintly sensed his presence. So, Brother Gu, the true collaborator with the Moon Worshipping Cult is likely not a few officials in the Jiang Kingdom's court, but the Jiang Emperor himself!"

Gu Mo's pupils contracted. "If it's the Jiang Emperor, then it makes perfect sense. That would provide the most perfect explanation for why the massacre in Jianbei Prefecture went unnoticed by the court for months, with hundreds of thousands dead."

Ye Jinglan said gravely, "Therefore, after much thought, I chose to confess to you, Brother Gu. Another crucial reason is this: if you are willing to give up pursuing Ye Nantian, everything will be fine, and we can return to the Qian Kingdom as soon as possible. However, if you do not give up on pursuing Ye Nantian, then you must be prepared to face the Jiang Emperor as an enemy. I worry that you might fall into danger unprepared. Although the Jiang Kingdom isn't a great power, it still possesses national heritage. If they plan meticulously against an unprepared opponent, even with your peerless martial arts, it's difficult to guarantee that no accidents will occur."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "Then let's not alert them today. Tomorrow, the envoys from both nations will return home. Once everyone has left, I will come back to investigate Ye Nantian."

Ye Jinglan replied, "Alright!"

Jiang Kingdom, outside the Imperial Grand Hall.

At this moment, civil and military officials had gathered, but none had entered the hall; they all stood at the entrance. On the plaza in front of the hall, a line of kneeling figures appeared, all of them court officials, ranging from a third-grade Vice Minister of War to the lowest seventh-grade official, numbering over thirty in total.

"Princess of Chu Kingdom arrives!""Master Gu of Qian Kingdom arrives!"

As the announcements were made, the many officials of the Jiang Kingdom all looked towards the palace gate outside the plaza.

At this time, Xiao Ziyin, Gu Mo, and their party from both nations' envoys appeared. The "Jiang Emperor" sat on a chair, slowly sipping a cup of tea, his gaze sweeping over Gu Mo and his companions. However, when his eyes landed on Ye Jinglan, his pupils suddenly contracted, and a flicker of horror crossed his face. Yet, that look of horror vanished in an instant, showing no outward abnormality.

At the same time, in the underground palace of the Imperial Study, in the imperial city's rear palace, Ye Nantian, who had been sitting cross-legged in the blood pool, abruptly rose and swiftly exited the underground palace, entering the Imperial Study. Inside the Imperial Study, the Jiang Emperor was reviewing memorials. Hearing the sound of the underground palace's mechanism door opening, he looked up, surprised. "Why are you out?"

Ye Nantian said gravely, "Your Majesty, I've been exposed!"

The Jiang Emperor was slightly taken aback, confused. "You've been staying in this underground palace without showing yourself. How could you be exposed?"

Ye Nantian said gravely, "Your Majesty, do you remember when I said I needed a powerful backer to help me resist a formidable enemy?"

The Jiang Emperor nodded.

Ye Nantian said, "That person possesses a special substance that can be imbued into a human body. However, these substances have a hierarchical order among themselves, creating a unique magnetic pull. Just now, I discovered that Ye Jinglan, who is with Gu Mo, possesses the same substance as I do, and its level is clearly higher than mine. Now that even I have sensed his presence, it means he can definitely detect me."

The Jiang Emperor said, "But you met him using a substitute?"

Ye Nantian said, "Although it was a substitute, the power of those gu worms is still mine. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to sense the aura within Ye Jinglan. Gu Mo's obsession is killing wanted criminals; he won't give up on any he targets. He will certainly come to kill me, so this battle is inevitable!"

The Jiang Emperor said gravely, "Then let's fight. I also wish to kill him. Since it's unavoidable, let's strike first. Conveniently, his sister is there too—his greatest weakness is also present!"

Ye Nantian nodded. "If we weren't planning to utterly offend him, we absolutely couldn't touch his sister. But since it's a fight to the death, his sister is his fatal weakness. With this leverage, our chances of killing him in this imperial city will rise to fifty percent. Even if he can escape, he can't take his sister with him, and he might not simply flee!"

"Then kill him!"

Imperial Grand Hall, on the plaza.

The Grand Minister of the Court of Judicial Review for the Jiang Kingdom was meticulously listing the crimes of the officials who colluded with the Moon Worshipping Cult to massacre the people of Jianbei City.

Listening to the list of crimes, the many civil and military ministers displayed varied expressions, unsure whether these accusations were truly legitimate or if the Emperor was simply forced to find a group of scapegoats. After all, according to normal procedures, a conviction wouldn't happen so quickly. At the very least, officials would first be sent to Jianbei Prefecture to investigate and verify before a conviction could be made.

However, most of those present had also witnessed the Left Censor-in-Chief's death yesterday, so no one raised any questions about the procedural irregularities.

The scene was quiet; everyone listened silently as the Grand Minister of the Court of Judicial Review read out the accusations. Gu Mo sat in a chair, holding a cup of clear tea, observing the Jiang Emperor with keen interest.

"Brother, why are you staring at the Jiang Emperor?" Gu Chudong asked.

"I just feel like today's Jiang Emperor is a bit off, but I can't quite pinpoint what it is," Gu Mo said. As he spoke, Gu Mo leaned closer to Ye Jinglan and asked, "Brother Ye, do you also feel that something is off with the Jiang Emperor?"

A faint wisp of flame flickered in Ye Jinglan's pupils as he fixed his gaze on the Jiang Emperor. He whispered, "Something is indeed wrong. I sensed a Qilin aura from him… it's very faint, not Ye Nantian, but… definitely not the Jiang Emperor either!"

Gu Mo thought for a moment. "Didn't Ye Nantian cultivate the Undying Gu? Could this Jiang Emperor before us be a puppet controlled by Ye Nantian using the Undying Gu, which is why you're sensing the Qilin aura?"

Ye Jinglan froze slightly, then exclaimed, "This is troubling, Brother Gu!"

Gu Mo asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Ye Jinglan said, "At such close proximity, he should also be able to sense the Qilin aura on me, which means… Ye Nantian must already know that I know he's in the imperial city, and therefore…"

"Buzz—"

Just then, a muffled rumble, like distant thunder, rolled through the void, and the light between heaven and earth suddenly solidified. The next moment, from beneath the imperial city, as if a volcano had erupted, solidified black battle qi shot skyward, weaving an impenetrable net of killing intent among the palace eaves. Before the battle qi dissipated, the ground suddenly let out a dull roar. Archways in various parts of the palace walls shattered, and countless black-armored cavalry surged out like a black torrent. Their iron hooves crushed the white jade flagstones, and the clanking of their armor sounded like the grinding gears of death.

"What's going on?""Why is a battle formation being activated?""That's the Vermilion Bird Battle Formation of the Imperial City Bureau!""Your Majesty…"

This scene stunned all the officials at the hall's entrance. Everyone was bewildered by what was happening, and a clamor of commotion immediately erupted.

And at the same moment