You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

The following day, after the snow cleared, the sunlight was pale and weak, failing to dispel the bone-chilling cold.

Lu Zuo canceled the routine morning court session, citing "a slight cold while enjoying the snow last night, requiring rest." This was perfectly normal for someone with his image as a "tyrant."

Upon hearing this, Liu Daoling and Yuwen Qing merely sneered or scoffed, completely unconcerned.

After breakfast, Lu Zuo, accompanied only by Eunuch Liu, passed through the many palace restrictions and arrived at an inconspicuous, even somewhat desolate, palace deep within the imperial palace.

The plaque above the hall bears three large ancient seal characters written by the emperor of the previous dynasty: "Cangzhen Pavilion".

This place is where the Great Hao royal family secretly keeps martial arts manuals, divine weapons, and even some rare and secret records from all dynasties.

The palace gates were guarded by heavy bronze locks, which were engraved with intricate runes and faintly shimmered with light.

There were no guards at the gate, only two old eunuchs dressed in gray robes, with white hair and withered faces like old tree bark, sitting cross-legged on the stone steps in front of the hall like clay sculptures, with their eyes closed and heads bowed, as if they had become one with this ancient hall.

They had no trace of true energy fluctuations, and their breathing was so faint as to be almost imperceptible. However, when Lu Zuo stepped into this place, which was ten feet in circumference, he could feel two faint yet unsettling auras that locked onto him.

These are the guardians secretly trained by the royal family. Their strength is unfathomable, and they only recognize the emperor's tokens and bloodline aura.

Liu Gonggong had already nervously brought out a sandalwood box.

Lu Zuo opened it and took out a token that was entirely black, neither gold nor jade, and cool to the touch. The front of the token was embossed with a five-clawed golden dragon riding on clouds, while the back had the four ancient characters "As if the Emperor were present." This was the "Dragon Soul Token," which only the Emperor could hold and was the only key to opening the core forbidden area of ​​the royal family.

Holding the Dragon Soul Token, Lu Zuo slowly stepped forward. When he reached a point three zhang away from the palace gate, the two old eunuchs simultaneously opened their eyes.

Their eyes were an eerie gray-white, devoid of any light, like those of blind people. But Lu Zuo felt that their gaze pierced through his skin and landed directly on the token in his hand, and even deeper into his bloodline origin.

The old eunuch on the left let out a hoarse, sandpaper-like sound: "Token."

Lu Zuo raised the Dragon Soul Token.

In the old eunuch's gray-white pupils on the right, a faint rune seemed to flash by. He spoke slowly, his voice dry: "Bloodline."

With a slight thought, Lu Zuo activated the "Imperial Supreme World-Suppressing Technique." A wisp of pure true energy, mixed with the pale golden bloodline aura unique to the direct descendants of the royal family and originating from the founding emperor, was forced out from his fingertips, condensing into a thin golden thread as fine as a hair, and drifting towards the Dragon Soul Token.

"Buzz—"

The Dragon Soul Token trembled slightly, and the golden dragon in relief on it seemed to come alive, its eyes flashing with a barely perceptible golden light.

At the same time, Lu Zuo felt a faint resonance between himself and the token, the "Zangzhen Pavilion", and even the imperial palace ground beneath his feet.

The two old eunuchs remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded and closed their eyes again, and the menacing aura they felt dissipated.

Behind them, the heavy, rune-engraved bronze lock clicked open on its own.

Eunuch Liu hurriedly stepped forward and forcefully pushed open the heavy palace door.

A rich, deep scent, a mixture of old books, faint traces of moth-repelling herbs, and the dust of time, wafted over me.

"Wait outside," Lu Zuo instructed Eunuch Liu before stepping into the hall.

The palace doors closed silently behind us, blocking out most of the outside light.

The hall was dimly lit, with only a few windows letting in sunlight that illuminated the dust motes dancing in the air.

What comes into view are densely packed, towering sandalwood bookshelves reaching to the ceiling, neatly arranged with countless scrolls, books, and jade slips made of gold thread, jade scrolls, or special animal hides. The passageways between the bookshelves are deep and winding, leading to who-knows-where.

The air was filled with a sense of tranquility and antiquity.

Lu Zuo did not rush to read it, but stood quietly in the hall, closing his eyes to feel it.

He could sense that the seemingly quiet "Hidden Truth Pavilion" was actually filled with extremely ingenious and powerful array formations and restrictions.

Some bookshelves were shrouded in a faint halo of light, and some areas had slightly distorted spaces, clearly containing more precious items. Touching them rashly could lead to death.

The layout of the entire hall seems to conform to some kind of mysterious formation; ordinary people who enter without guidance would likely get lost.

"As expected of royal lineage," Lu Zuo thought to himself.

He composed himself, recalled the vague information from the "original owner's" memories, and walked towards the depths of the left side of the main hall.

According to scattered records, the place mainly contains the cultivation experiences of emperors throughout history, as well as some royal secret martial arts that only those with true dragon blood can attempt to cultivate.

After passing through several rows of bookshelves, you arrive at a relatively open area.

There are only three separate crystal jade stands here, and on each stand, only one or two items are placed.

The jade platform itself exudes a warm luster, clearly indicating that it is a treasure with the effect of nurturing and protecting.

On the first jade platform, lay an ancient scroll, dark gold in color and neither silk nor cloth, bound together by a purple-gold dragon tendon.

On the first jade platform, lay an ancient scroll, dark gold in color and neither silk nor cloth, bound together by a purple-gold dragon tendon.

Beside it was a jade tablet inscribed with: "The Record of the Emperor's Supreme Power." This was the fundamental technique upon which Lu Haotian, the founding emperor of the Great Hao Dynasty, relied to dominate the world and lay the foundation for a three-hundred-year reign!

It is said that this skill is extremely yang and powerful, and has unparalleled dominance. It has extremely high requirements for the bloodline and temperament of the practitioner. Only those with great perseverance and great opportunities can practice it. Among the emperors of all dynasties, very few were able to even enter the basics, let alone achieve mastery.

The original owner was mediocre in talent and lacked willpower, even lacking the courage to try.

Lu Zuo stared intently at the legendary cultivation technique scroll.

He could sense an indescribable, majestic power and burning fighting spirit contained within the scroll, like a slumbering sun. He didn't touch it, and looked away.

On the second jade platform was a fist-sized, solid... The iron gall is dark blue. Beside it, a jade plaque reads: "Insights into the 'Shaking Mountain Iron Gall Technique' and the 'Seven Strikes to Break the Army'."

This seems to have been left by a former emperor known for his bravery and strength. It focuses on physical strength and close combat, following a path of fierce and unrestrained power, which is different from the grand and upright style of "Huangji Zhenshi Gong".

The third jade platform made Lu Zuo's gaze sharpen.

On it lay only a thin booklet made of some kind of black animal hide, its edges worn and giving it an ancient appearance. Beside it, on a jade plaque, the inscription was also somewhat illegible: "The Spiritual Rhinoceros Forging Divine Method (Fragment)".

Spiritual Forging of the Divine Realm?

Lu Zuo's heart skipped a beat. It sounded like this wasn't a technique that directly improved one's true qi or physical body, but rather a method for tempering one's spirit and will?

In this world, martial artists primarily cultivate true qi and physical strength, with spiritual power often growing as a secondary attribute. Specializing in forging secret techniques is extremely rare. And this book is still a fragment.

He hesitated for a moment, then reached out and gently touched the black animal-hide booklet. A slight coolness touched his fingertips; no restrictions were triggered. He carefully picked up the booklet and opened it.

The booklet's inner pages are written with a special silver powder, which shimmers slightly in dim light.

The opening few words were enough to shake Lu Zuo's heart:

"The spirit is the essence of the soul, the pivot of the mind, and the master of life. Physical strength is finite, but the power of the spirit is limitless."

"People cultivate their qi and strengthen their bodies, but they do not realize that a weak spirit is like a rudderless boat, which will surely capsize when it encounters a stormy sea."

"This 'Spiritual Refinement Technique' was obtained by chance from an ancient relic. It is specifically for refining the spirit and strengthening the divine sense. Upon initial completion, one can see clearly and perceive the subtle details; upon minor completion, one can project one's spiritual senses and anticipate the enemy's moves; upon great completion..."

"Unfortunately, what I obtained was only the first half, the foundation for forging the spirit and nourishing the soul. The subsequent methods of attack, control of objects, and even supernatural transformations have all been lost, which is a great pity. —Note by Lu Yunya"

Lu Yunya! This is the third emperor of the Great Hao Dynasty, known in history as the "Hui Emperor". His reign was short and his military and civil achievements were not the most outstanding. However, historical records vaguely mention that he was "naturally intelligent, almost like a prodigy, and especially good at insight, often able to see what others could not see".

It turns out that he had obtained an ancient forging technique!

Lu Zuo was overjoyed, suppressing his excitement as he quickly browsed through the pages.

This fragment mainly records how to concentrate the spirit and temper the will through special visualization, breathing, and meditation, and condense the scattered mental energy into a purer and more resilient "divine consciousness".

The method is profound and mysterious, but it requires a high level of comprehension from the practitioner and must be practiced step by step without being impatient.

"Exactly what I need!"

Lu Zuo was secretly delighted. He cultivated the "Imperial Supreme World-Suppressing Technique," and his true qi and physical strength steadily improved, but in terms of the spiritual level, apart from the slight advantages brought by his transmigration and the system, he had no specific methods to train.

Although this "Spiritual Rhinoceros Forging Divine Method" is an incomplete scroll with only the foundation-building part, it perfectly makes up for his shortcomings!

A powerful divine sense can not only assist in cultivation, but also enhance perception, detect danger, and even anticipate the enemy's moves in battle, with endless benefits!

Especially in this treacherous situation where demons and intrigues intertwine, keen intuition may be more effective in saving one's life than sheer force.

He didn't try to learn too much; he memorized the contents of the incomplete "Spiritual Rhinoceros Forging Divine Method" scroll.

With his current cultivation at the Innate Realm and the spiritual foundation gained from two lifetimes, memorizing this not-too-long fragment was not a difficult task.

After memorizing it, he carefully placed the booklet back on the jade platform. He then looked at the "Records of the Emperor's Supreme Martial Arts" and the "Iron-Hearted Skill of Shaking Mountains," and finally shook his head.

"The Record of the Emperor's Stance" is too domineering, which is inconsistent with his current steady and pragmatic strategy, and it is too big a fuss that is likely to attract attention.

The "Shaking Mountain Iron Gallbladder Skill" focuses on physical combat and overlaps slightly with the "Imperial Ultimate World-Suppressing Skill," so it is not urgently needed.

"Don't bite off more than you can chew. First, solidify your foundation with the 'Imperial Supreme World-Suppressing Skill,' and temper your spirit with the 'Spiritual Rhinoceros Forging Divine Method.' Once you have enough strength, then plan for other things." Lu Zuo was clear-headed and turned to leave the area.

He did not leave the "Zangzhen Pavilion" immediately, but spent some more time browsing among the other bookshelves.

This place encompasses everything, including martial arts manuals from various schools, military strategies and battle formations, divination and astrology, and even some miscellaneous books about strange objects, demons and monsters, and geographical oddities.

He focused on searching for records related to demons, especially the "queen" mentioned by wolf demons, and the "brand" that controlled or catalyzed demons.

He carefully unfolded it, and inside were strange characters written in a dark red color, as if dried blood. They were not the common script of the time, and the characters were distorted, exuding an eerie feeling.

Fortunately, there were some annotations in tiny characters on the side, which seemed to have been added later by a royal scholar, and the general meaning could be barely understood.

The records document an ancient evil art called the "Bloodline Pact".

The practitioner mixes their own blood essence with resentment and evil power to form a "blood seal," which is then implanted into the body of another person (mostly a demon beast or a human with a weak will).

Those who are marked will gradually be eroded and assimilated by the "source blood," gaining some of its power, but they will also develop absolute obedience and fanatical worship towards it, regarding it as a "king."

More importantly, there is a weak spiritual connection between all those who have been imprinted, which can be perceived by the "Source Blood" and even influenced to a certain extent.

"Source Blood" can also replenish itself by absorbing the power or life of the person imprinted.

The file also mentions that this technique is extremely difficult to cultivate, requiring very high-quality "source blood," and can only be practiced by great demons, great monsters, or those with certain special physiques. Furthermore, once the "blood mark" is planted, it is extremely difficult to remove unless the "source blood" dies or is forcibly purified by a higher level of power.

"The Blood Pact... the Blood Seal... the Queen..."

Lu Zuo's gaze turned icy. The dark red brand on the wolf demon's forehead was strikingly similar to the "blood mark" recorded in this document!

Could the so-called "Demon Queen" be the "Original Blood" who has cultivated the "Bloodline Pact"? She is lurking in the capital, constantly using the "Blood Seal" to control demons and even humans. What is her intention?

Gathering strength?

To complete a ritual?

still is……

To devour all living beings in the capital and achieve one's own glory?

The file is incomplete; the section detailing how to identify, track, and even break the "Bloodline Pact" is missing.

However, the limited information available had already given Lu Zuo a clearer understanding of the potential enemy.

"Liu Daoling, Yuwen Qing, you released this demonic scourge, but did you know that beneath it lurks a venomous dragon capable of swallowing everyone?" Lu Zuo closed the dossier and put it back in its place. His sense of crisis intensified.

It was nearly dusk when they left the "Hidden Truth Pavilion". Eunuch Liu was shivering from the cold outside the door. When he saw Lu Zuo come out, he quickly went up to him.

"Return to the palace," Lu Zuo gave a brief order, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.

Back in the Imperial Study, Lu Zuo immediately wrote down the cultivation secrets of the "Spiritual Rhinoceros Forging Divine Method" to prevent forgetting them.

He then cleared his mind of distractions and began his first attempt in a quiet room.

According to the method, he visualized his mind and spirit as scattered starlight, gradually converging and gathering in the ancestral aperture (upper dantian) between his eyebrows, forming a faint point of light.

Breathing became long and slow, each breath seemingly in harmony with some kind of mysterious rhythm.

At first, his mind was filled with distracting thoughts, making it difficult to calm down. However, having lived two lives, he had a firm will and, with the added support of the system, a powerful sense of control. Gradually, he entered a state of focus.

After an unknown amount of time, he felt a slight warmth at the ancestral aperture between his eyebrows, and the condensed light seemed to brighten slightly, making his perception of the surroundings a tiny bit clearer.

Although the progress was minimal, it was effective!

Lu Zuo slowly finished his practice and opened his eyes.

His eyes, though less intense, held a deeper, more profound light. He could feel that his mind had cleared a little, and his control over his body and his perception of the energy flow in the air had become slightly sharper.

"Indeed profound. Given time, it will surely prove invaluable." Lu Zuo was satisfied. The method of forging the spirit cannot be rushed; it requires persistent effort.

Just then, Eunuch Liu whispered from outside the door, "Your Majesty, Liu Quan (his trusted eunuch sent to contact the 'Informant') has returned and says he has important news to report."

"Let him in." Lu Zuo's spirits lifted.

A plain-looking but quick-witted eunuch entered, knelt down, and quickly said, "Your Majesty, Sun the Cripple has accepted the money and given a reply."

He said that things have indeed been quite unsettled in the old neighborhood for the past three months.

"Seven households with a total of nine people have gone missing. Most of them were beggars, elderly people living alone, or migrant workers. The government closed the case as 'the refugees left on their own' or 'they were kidnapped by beggars,' without further investigation."

"But one of Sun the Cripple's men, who worked in the old neighborhood collecting night soil, said that he once saw several dark figures carrying sacks and crawling into an abandoned mortuary cellar just before dawn. There seemed to be something moving inside the sacks."

"Also, in the most dilapidated shantytown in the southwest corner of the old neighborhood, a group of strangers, about ten or so, have recently moved in. They live a secluded life, but occasionally you can hear sounds like the low growls of wild beasts coming from inside, along with a strong fishy smell."

"They spent money to buy that piece of land from a local gang leader known as 'Black Tooth Zhang,' saying they were going to open an underground casino, but nothing has happened yet."

"I haven't heard of any missing persons at the mass grave, but Old Liu, who guards the graves, went crazy a few days ago. He keeps muttering nonsense like 'woman in red' and 'eating brains,' and now his family is keeping him locked up at home."

"The Dragon King Temple has been abandoned for many years and is usually only used by beggars. But recently even the beggars are afraid to go near it. They say that at night they hear a woman crying and laughing inside, and they have also seen red lights."

After Liu Quan finished speaking, he lay prostrate on the ground and did not move.

Lu Zuo tapped his fingers lightly on the table. The anomalies were most obvious in the old neighborhood: people missing, strangers gathering, wild beasts growling, and a stench of blood...

It closely matches the characteristics of a demon's lair!

The red-clad woman in the mass grave, the brain-eating creature, and the woman's crying, laughing, and red glow at the Dragon King Temple all exude an eerie atmosphere.

"What else did Sun the Cripple say?" Lu Zuo asked.

"He said... these three places are extremely eerie, and that His Majesty... he must tell the nobleman not to go and investigate them personally."

"He also said that the waters of the capital are getting muddier and muddier, and there are some things that even the Demon Suppression Division and the Demon Suppression Platform may not be able to suppress." Liu Quan's voice trembled.

"I understand. You may leave. Keep this to yourself. Liu, give him ten taels of silver and arrange a safe place for him. Don't show your face in the palace for the next few days," Lu Zuo instructed.

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!" Liu Quan kowtowed and withdrew.

Inside the study, Lu Zuo's gaze was deep and unfathomable.

The clues are becoming clearer.

The old town is very likely the lair of the "Demon Queen" or one of her important minions.

Mass graves and Dragon King Temples may have been his activity areas or backup bases.

"It seems I have to make a trip to 'Old Quarter' myself," Lu Zuo muttered to himself.

However, not now. With his current strength, it would be too risky to rashly venture into a possible demon's lair. He needs greater power, and he also needs... some "helpers."

He thought of the mysterious "Ink Scale," who was about to complete the initiation ceremony. But Lu Huan said it would take two years. Time waits for no one.

perhaps……

We could look for temporary collaborators among those forces that are not entirely aligned with Liu and Yuwen.

For example, those in the Demon Suppression Division or the Demon Purification Platform who are not Liu Daoling’s die-hard followers but are truly dedicated to eliminating demons and protecting the righteous path.

Lu Zuo walked to the window and looked at the fine snow falling again outside.

In the darkness of night, the city of Nanjing is dimly lit and tranquil. Beneath this tranquil surface, however, turbulent undercurrents lurk, bloodthirsty demons lurk, powerful ministers are plotting their schemes, and the "Queen," whose true identity remains unknown, is hidden deep within.

This storm, sweeping across imperial power, the court, and the mortal realm, is imminent. And he must possess the power to ride the waves, even... control the storm, before it fully erupts.

Cultivation must be accelerated.

The layout must be denser.

He turned and walked back into the quiet room. The "Imperial Supreme World-Suppressing Technique" and the "Spiritual Rhinoceros Forging Divine Method" were activated simultaneously, and his true energy and spirit quietly rose in the silent deep palace.