You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 316 Leaving the Palace
royal palace.

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

After reading the message sent by the Eastern Depot, Zhou Chen got up and left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Three days have passed since Wen Qingwu and the others left that day.

There has been no news or incident in the past three days, which has put Zhou Chen at ease for the time being.

Zhou Chen was genuinely worried that Wen Qingwu wouldn't give up and might cause some trouble.

If that time really comes and we end up fighting each other, it won't be a good outcome for anyone.

Fortunately, nothing has happened in the past three days, and all is well.

Zhou Chen walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and glanced at the gray sky.

Starting yesterday, the occasional strange phenomena in the sky and earth have completely disappeared.

Although the sky was still somewhat gray, it had returned to its usual calm.

Zhou Chen knew that this sudden change in the world might have come to a conclusion, and the integration with the Wilderness Realm might have ended.

Looking at the majestic and continuous imperial palace, Zhou Chen suddenly had the idea of ​​going outside the palace to take a look.

Since Zhou Chen became the emperor of this Great Zhou, it seems he has never left the inner palace and has no idea what the world outside the palace is like.

Previously, as emperor, Zhou Chen had many important national affairs to handle.

Therefore, Zhou Chen did not have extra time to go out.

But now, with the cabinet in place, most matters, big and small, are handled by the cabinet, and only a very few major matters require the approval of Emperor Zhou Chen.

Emperor Zhou Chen was no longer as busy as before and had some free time.

As the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Zhou Chen possessed the vast land of the Great Zhou, and the entire world of the Great Zhou belonged to Zhou Chen.

But Zhou Chen has never even left the palace, and has no idea what his kingdom looks like...

This is, undeniably, a regrettable situation.

With this thought in mind, Zhou Chen immediately turned around and returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation; "Cao Zhengchun, bring me my everyday clothes, I want to leave the palace."

"Leaving the palace?"

Cao Zhengchun, who was standing next to Zhou Chen, was clearly taken aback.

Cao Zhengchun had no idea why Zhou Chen suddenly wanted to leave the palace.

"What are you all standing there for? Go and get me some everyday clothes."

Zhou Chen glared at Cao Zhengchun, who was in a daze.

"Old slave, go now."

Cao Zhengchun realized what was happening and immediately went to get Zhou Chen some casual clothes.

……

Half an hour later.

The east gate of the palace opened.

Zhou Chen, dressed in casual clothes, walked out of the palace gate.

Beside Zhou Chen, Cao Zhengchun also changed out of his eunuch robes, looking like a loyal old servant, following Zhou Chen.

Four eunuchs and guards, who had also replaced their positions as palace attendants, followed behind.

This is the apparent protective force behind Emperor Zhou Chen's departure from the palace.

In fact, even when the emperor left the palace incognito and did not want to cause a commotion, the entire palace was still alerted.

Besides this apparent guard force, there were also countless disguised imperial guards and palace guards secretly following behind to protect them.

This was only because Emperor Zhou Chen had repeatedly instructed Cao Zhengchun not to bring many people.

otherwise.

It's likely that even more people will be there to protect Emperor Zhou Chen.

Cao Zhengchun stayed close to Zhou Chen, his gaze cold and cautious as he scanned the surroundings. He would surely make a move if there was even the slightest disturbance.

Anyone who dares to stand in Cao Zhengchun's way will be dealt with ruthlessly by Cao Zhengchun.

In the shadows, Dian Wei's eyes were alert, his aura constantly monitoring every move around him, a chilling killing intent brewing within him...

It can be said that Zhou Chen's protective forces, even if surrounded by a large army, or even if a Life-Seizing Realm expert who is fighting against the heavens, could not harm Zhou Chen in the slightest...

On the streets of Luoyang, Zhou Chen walked slowly with his hands behind his back, just like a young master from a wealthy family.

However, the look of curiosity on Zhou Chen's face indicated that he was someone who did not go out often.

On the streets, countless vendors hawked their goods.

Very lively.

Obviously.

Within Luoyang city, the impact of this celestial phenomenon seemed minimal.

Zhou Chen listened to the vendors' calls and found it intriguing, so he stopped and casually looked around.

"Young master, would you like a skewer of candied hawthorns? In Luoyang, my candied hawthorns are famously delicious. If I, Old Zhang, sell candied hawthorns, no one in Luoyang dares to claim to be number one..."

A vendor selling candied hawthorns saw Zhou Chen's extraordinary bearing, his eyes lit up, and he was about to approach Zhou Chen to sell his candied hawthorns...

However, before the vendor even got close, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as if he were being stared at by countless murderous gazes...

The vendor immediately shivered, his legs trembling slightly. He vaguely sensed that there were many more people around him, all of whom were looking at him intentionally or unintentionally. The vendor had never been watched by so many people at the same time in his life.

Not only that, but the gazes of those looking at him were terrifying, as cold as wild beasts, and the merchants didn't dare to move an inch.

In that instant, being stared at so many people so coldly, the merchant felt as if the aristocratic family had frozen in place, and he had the illusion that he was about to face death.

The vendor tried to shout for help, but when he moved his lips, he found that he couldn't make a sound at all.

The vendors were terrified.

He was just a candied hawthorn seller, honest and hardworking since childhood, and had never encountered such a scene before.

Just when the vendors felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave.

A gentle voice rang in the vendor's ear.

"no need."

Zhou Chen glanced at the vendor, then turned and left.

The moment Zhou Chen turned around, the merchant felt time begin to flow again, and all the terrifying gazes that had been fixed on him vanished, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.

The vendor's back was soaked with sweat, as if he had just walked through the gates of hell.

"just……"

The vendor swallowed hard, his face turning pale.

Merchants like them may not have many other skills, but their keen eye for detail is exceptional.

Originally, the vendors realized that Zhou Chen was no ordinary person and assumed he was a wealthy young master from some family, which is why they recommended their candied hawthorns to him in hopes of making a profit.

After all, the money from the sons and rich kids of big families is the easiest to earn.

But who would have thought that Zhou Chen, this extraordinary young master, was even more valuable than he had imagined.

Ordinary young masters from noble families don't have this many guards accompanying them.

Having just been stared at by so many cold gazes, the vendors naturally sensed that these people were not ordinary individuals.

……

On the streets of Luoyang.

As Zhou Chen was walking, Cao Zhengchun stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, should we apprehend that merchant from earlier?"

In Cao Zhengchun's view, the merchant approached him at the exact moment the emperor was leaving the palace, which must be suspicious.

Since there's suspicion, let's arrest them first.

Cao Zhengchun never let any suspect go unpunished.

Even if the merchant turned out to be innocent in the end, Cao Zhengchun didn't care.

When the Eastern Depot (a secret police agency) handled matters, it never questioned whether someone was innocent or not.

When it came to the safety of the emperor, Cao Zhengchun would rather kill a thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free. After all, what could be more important than the emperor's safety?

Zhou Chen glared at Cao Zhengchun with annoyance; "He's just a merchant, not an assassin, why bother with him?"

"You don't need to be so nervous. I'm just out for a walk, and no one will know."

"Besides, with my strength, even if there were any assassins, they wouldn't be able to harm me."

Zhou Chen understood Cao Zhengchun and his group's actions.

As bodyguards accompanying the emperor, their primary responsibility was indeed to ensure the emperor's safety.

Because if anything were to happen to the emperor, these accompanying guards would be the first to bear the consequences of failing to protect him.

However, while Zhou Chen understood their situation, he didn't approve of their neurotic behavior.

The unusual behavior of Cao Zhengchun and his group would have alerted people to their unusual behavior, even if no one had discovered their identities before.

"besides."

"When we're out in the world, call me 'I,' no, call me 'Young Master.' Don't start by calling me 'Your Majesty,' are you afraid people won't know who we are?"

Zhou Chen looked at Cao Zhengchun and reminded him.

"Yes, son."

"This old servant will remember."

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun immediately changed his tune.

Zhou Chen nodded and stopped in front of a bustling building.

What kind of place is this Drunken Moon Pavilion?

Zhou Chen glanced at the three characters 'Drunken Moon Pavilion' hanging on the pavilion and asked curiously.

"Your Majesty, the Drunken Moon Pavilion is a place for literati to indulge in romance and poetry."

Cao Zhengchun glanced at Zuiyuelou and said tactfully.

A place of romance and beauty?
"Isn't this just a brothel?"

Zhou Chen immediately understood the implication in Cao Zhengchun's words.

No wonder it's so lively here.

It turned out to be a brothel.

Zhou Chen looked at Zuiyue Tower and hesitated whether he should go in and see this brothel from the feudal era.

To be honest, Zhou Chen was quite curious about these kinds of brothels from the feudal era.

However, as the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, it might have a bad influence if people found out that he had visited brothels.

Just as Zhou Chen hesitated, a whispered conversation came over: "It's really terrifying. People in a village outside the city have died inexplicably. The way they died is very strange. Even the government can't find a single clue."

"Yes! This isn't the first time. This has happened eight times outside the city. Now, many people are afraid to go outside the city."

"I heard that those people were killed by demons and monsters. Their deaths were strange, without any wounds. I don't know if it's true or not."

"Some say that His Majesty's excessive killing has angered Heaven, which is why demons and monsters have appeared. The recent strange phenomena are Heaven sending down demons and monsters to punish the Great Zhou."

……

Several figures walked over as they spoke.

Then, they stepped into Zuiyue Tower.

Cao Zhengchun's eyes flashed with a cold light when he heard their conversation.

To dare to speak ill of His Majesty is tantamount to courting death.

Cao Zhengchun was about to step forward and speak, but Zhou Chen glared at him and stopped him.

As Zhou Chen listened to the hushed conversation of the group fading into the distance, his expression shifted uncertainly.

Zhou Chen had originally wanted to visit Zuiyue Tower, but now he had lost all interest.

From the conversation of those people, Zhou Chen could tell that something significant had happened outside the city.

People in a village outside the city died mysteriously, in a strange manner. There were no wounds on their bodies, and the authorities could not find a single clue.

Moreover, this is not the first time such a thing has happened.

Zhou Chen pondered for a moment, then turned to Cao Zhengchun and said, "Let's go and take a look outside the city."

Zhou Chen lost interest in continuing to explore the city.

Since such strange things have happened outside the city, Zhou Chen decided to take advantage of the time he had and go see for himself.

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun opened his mouth, wanting to persuade Zhou Chen.

But seeing Zhou Chen's unquestionable attitude, Cao Zhengchun didn't say a word and could only follow Zhou Chen quickly towards the city gate.

……

outside the city.

In a village thirty miles away.

At this moment, the entire village was deathly silent.

A dark, deathly aura gathered above the village.

With Cao Zhengchun by his side, Zhou Chen arrived above the village from Luoyang City in just over ten minutes.

As soon as Zhou Chen stepped into the village, he felt a strange chill.

This made Zhou Chen frown slightly.

The deathly aura that had gathered above the village vanished completely upon Zhou Chen's arrival, as if a mouse had encountered a cat.

Zhou Chen landed at the village entrance and stepped into the village.

Cao Zhengchun followed closely behind.

Dian Wei no longer hid in the shadows, but appeared and followed Zhou Chen into the village with Cao Zhengchun.

The village was eerily quiet, as if shrouded in a chilling atmosphere.

Zhou Chen walked step by step, and the Emperor's Conferring God Technique on his body automatically started to operate, and the vast national fortune gathered from all directions.

In an instant, the chilling aura that permeated the entire village crumbled under the vast national fortune, was completely purified and annihilated, and the village returned to normal.

"Your Majesty, this village is chilling and gloomy; it seems to be something truly unusual."

Cao Zhengchun, feeling the now-vanished chill, spoke.

"You've sensed it too, this village is indeed a bit eerie."

"My Emperor's Conferring of Gods Technique has started to operate automatically, and there is also that cold aura and feeling, as if it is being restrained by the national destiny."

Zhou Chen frowned slightly as he spoke.

Zhou Chen was the one who felt the changes most acutely.

The Emperor's divine conferment technique was activated, and the nation's fortune purified and eliminated the deathly aura and chilling feeling in the entire village.

This struck Zhou Chen as somewhat unbelievable.

"Let's go! The people from the Luoyang government are in the village. Let's go take a look."

As a powerful expert at the Celestial Realm, Zhou Chen could sense the entire village.

When Zhou Chen first arrived in the village, he already sensed that there were government officials in the village.

After Zhou Chen finished speaking, he continued walking towards the village.

"Who are you?"

"Don't you know the government has ordered that this place be off-limits? Who gave you permission to come in?"

Before they had gone far, Zhou Chen and his group encountered the yamen runners.

One of the leading constables, upon seeing Zhou Chen and his group approaching, immediately began to shout and reprimand them.

The villagers have all died mysteriously, and the government has issued an order forbidding people from entering the village.

The lead constable was surprised that there were still people who weren't afraid of death and dared to come in.

(End of this chapter)