Returning from the abyss

Chapter 1329: Ritual
During this grand event, Lu Ning was no longer among the crowd welcoming the emperor.

When she left Pei Yingfu's room, the ordinary-looking man stuffed a letter into her hand, which contained a token. When she returned to the inn, the imperial spy was already waiting for her downstairs.

Today, she was following the spy named Jiang Yao on patrol.

Regardless of what the intention behind this is, Jiang Yao made her words very clear.

"Do you want to enter the palace?"

Lu Ning found it difficult to respond.

Jiang Yao made the situation very clear: "You have a clean background, and Lu Qingxu has never been convicted of a crime, so you meet the criteria for entering the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace is full of children of officials. The fact that you can independently find out this information is in itself the ability of an Imperial Palace spy. Although spies have no rank, they have great power. Even a first-rank official still has to be respectful to the Imperial Palace spies. The spies are only responsible to the emperor, and are opposite to the guards, one in the open and the other in the dark, and their superior is only one Governor Tian. The Imperial Palace and the Imperial Guards, such as the royal army, can basically use the treasures in the palace at will."

Jiang Yao paused here.

"If it is according to your preference, then it is the martial arts, magic weapons, elixirs, secret treasures, and strange magic collected since the founding of the Wei Dynasty. The collection in the Wei royal treasury must be richer than the collection of any sect in the world."

This was indeed very attractive, at least Lu Ning's heart was moved for a moment.

"Of course, you don't have to be anxious. Prime Minister Pei asked me to take you to experience the daily duties of a secret agent in the inner palace. We will conduct a patrol today - of course, we will also handle the matters you reported yesterday."

It was not until today that Lu Ning found out that the secret spies from the Imperial Palace who had arrived here in advance had actually set up a large number of "points" to collect information on the situation in Xingyin City.

"Point" is a small gift commonly used by the Imperial Secret Service. Although among the ceremonies that need to be arranged, the small gift is only the smallest and the least obvious, but the Imperial Secret Service has expanded it into a ritual technique that combines surveillance and early warning functions.

Each point is placed in a very inconspicuous place. They are divided into fixed positions and movable positions. Because it is a "small gift", not much can be recorded at the point, but it can completely avoid alarming anyone.

A brick, an old tree, a water tank in the yard, a bird's nest on the tree... After Jiang Yao took Lu Ning to check more than a dozen "points", Lu Ning felt that every corner of Xingyin City was under the surveillance of the imperial spies.

Of course, this is not actually the case. The "dot" is not the eyes and ears of humans, and it cannot have such a sharp judgment ability. Most of the time, it only provides a basic recording function for the inner spies to check. Just like what Jiang Yao has checked, there is no problem at present.

"Xiao Li needs to be complemented by a human." Jiang Yao placed a jade plate in Lu Ning's hand, "If there is any difference, it does not follow common sense. You can stick this on your forehead and try to see the record of the 'point'."

Lu Ning took the jade plate and placed one end between her eyebrows.

In an instant, she felt a large amount of strange information flowing into her mind, which was complicated and a lot of it was useless. From someone passing by to a few insects nesting here, the messy information seemed to record everything around her in the form of a narrative. No wonder the "point" could not directly provide any useful information.

Lu Ning learned on her own how to extract what she wanted to know from all this complex information. However, therein lies the problem. If she doesn't know how to find what she wants, then the information "pointed" to her is basically useless.

"How?" Jiang Yao asked.

“I don’t know where to start.” Lu Ning hadn’t expected to be faced with so much information. If it were a modern setting, this information would have been systematically screened and organized. However, in an ancient setting, she had to face a pile of the most primitive data... Haven’t the people who studied this ritual ever thought about this problem?

"If you are aimless, the feedback from the 'dot' will also be aimless. Since you have clues, you can sort out what you need based on the intelligence you have collected. You need to describe your purpose clearly enough while also making it consistent with the records of the 'dot'. Although this will take a lot of time, it has everything you need."

"Can I take it and study it carefully?" Lu Ning asked, holding up the jade plate.

"Yes, but you can only take him away after I finish my patrol. Prime Minister Pei also needs you to continue to provide new information so that he can continue to screen the thieves."

"Water and Land Dharma Assembly..."

"You don't need to worry about the water and land ceremony."

=
When the emperor entered the city, the people of Xingyang lined the streets to welcome him, shouting "Long live the emperor". The royal procession entered the city along the main road and headed towards the temporary palace. Although the emperor did not show up, some high-ranking officials who were not usually seen could still be seen riding horses and accompanying him.

Most of the people did not know these officials, but they all knelt on the ground and did not need to know them. They only knew that these were the masters of the capital who they would probably never see in their lifetime. This was also the oldest experience of the people of Wei over the years.

When the emperor arrived in front of the old palace, another group of officials were already waiting there.

The mediocre Xingyin governor was standing here. Although there were many high-ranking officials of higher ranks than him, they all gave up their seats to let the protagonist of today face the emperor's reward - or admonition.

"Xingyin Governor Tong Daorong respectfully welcomes the emperor." The governor knelt in front of the steps. "The Xingyin Palace has been renovated. I am honored to be here again with the emperor's grace. The people of the city are all looking forward to seeing you."

A moment later, Cao Yuanen rode forward and said, "Propagate His Majesty's order. Arrange the troops and horses and move into the temporary palace. The military will be in the west courtyard, and the civil will be in the east. Officials, both high and low, will report according to their ranks. The people will all leave and not move rashly."

"Yes." The prefect of Xingyin bowed quickly.

Cao Yuanen smiled slightly and said, "Tong Taishou, besides that, you are the Taishou of Xingyin, so you should be the first to report. Your Majesty is waiting to see you."

Tong Daorong kowtowed and shouted "Long live the emperor". Then he stood up and ordered the soldiers to line up and welcome the emperor into the palace.

He originally thought that the emperor would at least rest up after arriving in Xingyin to relieve the fatigue of the journey, and only then would he ask him. Unexpectedly, he was summoned into the palace just a moment later.

When he walked into the imperial study in the palace, he saw that the emperor was not the only one sitting there.

Of course, Cao Yuanen was also by his side, and on the other side was Cao Yuanen's godson Cao Bao. Both of them had a half-smile on their faces, as if they were cast from the same mold.

There were two men of advanced age sitting on the chairs beside the room. One of them, Pei Yingfu, was someone Tong Daorong had met once before. Knowing him, he naturally knew who the other man who could sit with him was. It must be Li Zhuoyu, the youngest man in the Political Affairs Hall.

There were only five people in the room, but Tong Daorong already felt enough pressure when he entered the room.

After he entered the house, Cao Bao immediately closed the door.

"Your Majesty, long live the emperor." Tong Daorong kowtowed quickly.

"Flat body."

Dong Zai's voice was not loud, but it was quite majestic. Tong Daorong trembled slightly, but quickly stood up, lowered his head and did not dare to face the emperor directly.

After a while, Dong Zai didn't say anything else, and Tong Daorong realized what he should say.

"Your Majesty, I have followed your instructions to reorganize the population of Xingyin, adjust the residents in various places, and attract foreign vagrants. As of noon yesterday, I checked three times and found no accidents."

"Present it." Cao Yuanen said.

"Yes." Tong Daorong quickly took a copper ruyi from his waist, held it with both hands and raised it above his head. Cao Yuanen stepped forward, took the ruyi with both hands, and turned around to place it in front of Dong Zai's desk.

Dong Zai reached out and stroked Ruyi, then looked at the two prime ministers sitting beside him. "Prime Minister Pei, Prime Minister Li, I ordered you to enter Xingyin City a day earlier. Is everything you saw the same as what Tong Daorong said?"

Pei Yingfu stood up and bowed: "Your Majesty, I have inspected the residences of various people and found that they have all been adjusted according to the drawings and their shapes are ready."

Next came Li Zhuoyu, who also bowed and said, "I visited the wealthy families and gentry in the city last night, and I am already here."

"Okay. Tong Daorong, how are the preparations for the water and land ceremony going?"

"Your Majesty, the water and land ceremonies are all ready, and we are just waiting for your Majesty to announce the order." Tong Daorong said hurriedly.

"Your Majesty, those with evil intentions must have entered the city to plot." Pei Yingfu said, "If you want to use the 'Heavenly Court' ritual to capture them all, you must be careful about your own safety."

"Lin Huaiyong was ambushed by Day Travel and Night Travel, and his whereabouts are unknown now. The two Qinchens have taken over all affairs of the Demon Suppression Division in Xingyin City. Fengdu's involvement is unexpected." Li Zhuoyu said, "Tong Daorong, have you noticed anything about this?"

"This... I really don't know. I have been busy these past few days completing the tasks that Your Majesty has ordered..."

"Then someone used the 'Heaven' to perform a deception. Since you are the person in charge of the 'Heaven', do you know about it?" Pei Yingfu asked again.

Tong Daorong broke out in a cold sweat: "A method of deception? Prime Minister Pei, this..."

"No need to press the issue." Dong Zai calmly suppressed the question, "This is an excuse to lure out all those who have bad intentions, whether they are human or demon, it doesn't matter. Since Tong Daorong has already done this, I will not ask about other things, but Tong Daorong..."

Tong Daorong felt something was wrong when he heard Dong Zai's tone.

"I ordered you to prepare the 'Heavenly Court'. Although I will not prohibit any means, as for actions that harm the people, you will wait for the Ministry of Personnel to review them at the end of the year to see how they will be dealt with."

Dong Zai reached out and grabbed Ruyi.

"Whether you can keep this position depends on how well you perform the water and land ceremony, Tong Daorong."

A dot of green light fell into Tong Daorong's brow as Ruyi waved his hand.

After Tong Daorong left in a daze, Cao Yuanen went out and called in the next official.

"Heaven" - animal sacrifices passed down from dynasty to dynasty.

It is unknown when it first appeared, and since animal sacrifices were made, blood would inevitably be shed, so many dynasties did not dare to use this method without authorization. After all, the necessary condition for the "Heavenly Court" to unfold was that the emperor and all officials had to occupy important positions in it. If they failed to kill the target, they would sacrifice themselves.

Because it was rarely used, even the demons were not quite sure about the specific effects of this sacrifice. Dong Zai had to resort to this trick at this time.

He could see the situation of the Wei Dynasty clearly, and he also knew that his position was in danger. If he could make a difference and make the "Heavenly Court" come true, he might become the emperor who replaced the heaven and extend the country's prosperity for another hundred years. But if he didn't have that ability, it was his fate - Dong Zai didn't mind.

Every official who came to the imperial study was enlightened by the green light from Dong Zai's jade ruyi.

When Lu Ning took over the jade plate that had been used to inspect various locations, he also vaguely sensed something.

"Jiang Yao, then..."

"Don't mind things that have nothing to do with you." Jiang Yao said softly, "Take the jade tablet back and give me a conclusion and answer tomorrow. If you are willing to join the Imperial Secret Service, I will introduce you. If you don't want to, I will reward you according to your merits."

Lu Ning hesitated for a moment and nodded.

"As for the Water and Land Dharma Assembly, you are free to participate in any way you want, but please be especially aware that this Water and Land Dharma Assembly is not just about selecting talented people. The matter you are talking about is not something that the current emperor is completely ignorant of."

After sending Lu Ning away, Jiang Yao sighed slightly. She looked around, found a small shop without a sign, and walked in.

There is a different world inside, as if it is not a house in Xingyin City at all.

"Mr. Li."

In the room, there was a pale person lying, it was Li Duanyu. After Jiang Yao walked into the room, Li Duanyu got up from the bed and coughed lightly.

"how?"

"I used this as an excuse to check the situation in the city. Fengdu has not entered the city today, but that thin waist should have started to move."

"If you noticed, Xi Yao should have acted earlier."

"Mr. Ke Li, even you are injured. Is there really a chance to turn the situation around?"

"Riyou saw me, and my injury became a cover." Li Duanyu said.

Jiang Yao frowned slightly.

"However, the dragon in the city has been destroyed now. If you stay here, your injuries will not recover."

"Haha, that's exactly what I meant." Li Duanyu chuckled. "My mission is always more troublesome than yours. If I don't make my situation worse, I'm afraid the distribution center won't let me go easily."

"A senior like you, is it still necessary to be targeted by the gathering center?"

"If you have accumulated a lot, you will suffer in this kind of scene where you are allowed to bring in your own items. You are still young, remember, don't be greedy for the benefits given by the distribution center, and turn down those that can be refused. Otherwise, the distribution center will let you feel the balance." Li Duanyu was quite kind to Jiang Yao, "Let's not talk about that for now, what is your mission this time?"

"Get a ritual formation diagram of the 'last sacrifice' or above."

"It's difficult. There are only four battle formations above the 'Last Sacrifice' level that have been activated today, and none of them can be easily obtained by you."

"Four?" Jiang Yao was slightly surprised. "The demon used the Dragon Breaker, and the royal family is carrying out a large-scale sacrifice. According to Lu Ning's report, someone embedded a final sacrifice in it. There are three in total. What is the fourth one?"

"I don't know who's using the fourth rite, but it's older than the other three and much more extensive—didn't you notice that?"

Jiang Yao thought about it for a moment, then found it hard to believe: "Could it be..."

"I think Fengdu's participation is probably not just a superficial effort to send day and night tours here. Remember? Fengdu went south and disappeared at the end of the south bank. Now, this early winter is coming from the south to the north."