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

Last night, Lu Zuo did not go out or visit any other concubines. Instead, he meditated in the Hall of Mental Cultivation all night, trying to understand the content of his conversation with Zhu Yuyan.

He pondered the matter overnight and understood the principles, but he only remained at the level of "knowing".

Knowing and comprehending are two completely different concepts!

In the hazy state, I vaguely felt that I had grasped something, but it also seemed that I hadn't grasped anything at all.

"What exactly is this mechanism of Yin giving rise to Yang, this transformation?"

"How exactly should the second move, Thousand Blades Chasing the Moon, be used?"

Lu Zuo was completely baffled, yet he felt that he was just one step away from having a sudden realization and understanding the essence of Thousand Blades Chasing the Moon.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you cannot go in."

Suddenly, Zhao An's voice came from outside the door: "His Majesty has decreed that no one is allowed to disturb Your Majesty. Please return."

"His Majesty!"

"I am Wuhua, Wuhua requests an audience with Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

"If Your Majesty were to blame us, we servants would be in grave danger."

Shen Wuhua?

Lu Zuo jumped off the dragon bed, took three steps at a time to the door, and looked out through the crack in the door.

Shen Wuhua was seen rushing anxiously into the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but several eunuchs and palace maids were kneeling at her feet, desperately trying to stop her from entering.

"Kong Fan already mentioned yesterday that the Shen family of Wuxing has summoned a large number of martial arts masters to the capital."

"And today the Empress hastily came to request an audience."

"It seems..."

"Shi Wenqing indeed intends to target the Shen family of Wuxing, and has already provoked a backlash from the Shen family."

Those two bastards want to seize the throne, but there's one thing they can't avoid... the support of powerful families!

Otherwise, even if he holds great power, powerful families still have the resources to overthrow him!

Given the Shen family's strong reaction, could it be that Shi Wenqing has already won over many powerful families and gained their support?

This is not good news for Lu Zuo!

Because once the Shen family falls, and Li Chengan regains control of the military, it will be an opportunity for those two bastards to seize power!

It's also his death day!

Thinking about it carefully, the Shen family is a powerful and deeply rooted family, and it's not so easy for Shi Wenqing to take them down.

I still have time...

It's just that there's really not much time left.

Outside the hall, Shen Wuhua tried several times to bypass the eunuchs and palace maids and rush into the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but they stopped her each time.

Her purpose in coming here was not necessarily to see the emperor, but more importantly, to test his attitude.

If he were to be received, it would mean that Shi Wenqing was conspiring with several powerful families simply to seize power and profit.

If they refuse to see me...

Shi Wenqing's actions were instigated by this tyrannical emperor!

"Could it be...?"

"Has this foolish emperor discovered the relationship between the Shen family of Wuxing and Jingzhai, and between them and the Sui Dynasty?"

Her brows furrowed as she pondered, "Is this why he hasn't been to Kunning Palace lately?"

Thinking of this, Shen Wuhua felt a mix of emotions, her heart filled with unease.

On the one hand, after years of being influenced by her family and Cihang Jingzhai, she believed that the Prince of Jin of the Sui Dynasty was the true Son of Heaven.

Only the Sui Dynasty could unify the world and bring peace and prosperity to the world.

And he...

He was licentious, lewd, and greedy. In terms of both character and talent, he was far inferior to Yang Guang and was unworthy to be emperor!

On the other hand, he felt that he had let the emperor down and felt a sense of guilt.

Although she had already probed Lu Zuo's intentions, Shen Wuhua still feigned anger and shouted sternly, "What are you dogs plotting to obstruct me?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me..."

The eunuchs and palace maids kept repeating the same line, refusing to let her in no matter what.

"snort!"

Shen Wuhua stamped her foot, turned around, and left Yangxin Hall with Yun Yanyue and several other palace maids.

"call……"

"They're finally gone..."

Zhao An wiped away a cold sweat, staring at the Empress's retreating figure, and muttered to himself.

After thinking for a moment, he looked back at the palace gate again, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"What happened when His Majesty collapsed last time he left the capital?"

Inside the hall, Lu Zuo narrowed his eyes slightly and muttered to himself, "I need to hurry."

"Someone come here to help me change my clothes."

"I wish to leave the palace."

……

In Jiankang city, the sounds of the market were already bustling.

The long street was bustling with people, carriages and horses, restaurants and singing houses, and music and drums, creating a lively and prosperous scene.

But occasionally, one can see ragged, emaciated beggars and vagrants in the corners and alleys.

After all, prosperity was merely a facade; decay was the true nature of the Southern Chen Dynasty…

Lu Zuo walked at the front, his eyes scanning left and right, finally landing on a plaque on the street that read "Wang Family Iron Shop".

This is it...

Wang Zheng, the owner of Wang Family Iron Shop, was a martial arts master and a confidant of Shi Wenqing.

"A blacksmith shop?"

"It seems quite interesting..."

He feigned sudden interest and said with a smile, "Let's go take a look."

Having said that, he stepped forward, with the black-clad guards and Zhao An and the others following closely behind.

When Chen Wu arrived at the blacksmith's shop, he glanced inside and saw new and old iron materials piled haphazardly on the ground, and half-finished farm tools and knives scattered like thorns, a chaotic mess.

"Your Majesty, it is too crowded here, and the large number of people makes it inconvenient."

"How about I accompany you inside?"

Zhao An and the other Black-Clad Guards had no objection to Chen Wu's suggestion, since what he said was entirely true.

Lu Zuo nodded: "Okay."

Then, the two strode into the blacksmith shop, one after the other, and headed towards the backyard.

……

As soon as Pu arrived in the backyard, a wave of heat swept over him, accompanied by the clanging and jingling sounds.

A dozen or so blacksmiths, shirtless, were either swinging hammers or standing in front of the furnace, gripping iron tongs and pulling out the blanks of knives.

After glancing around, Lu Zuo's gaze fell on an elderly man who appeared to be in his fifties.

This man had a slightly hunched back, a bronze complexion, and a physique resembling the gnarled roots of an old tree, giving him a steadiness that clearly distinguished him from other blacksmiths.

His features were sharply defined, as if cleaved by a knife and axe; his thick eyebrows were like charcoal; his chin was covered with a half-gray, half-white beard; and his eyes were extremely sharp, like two swift knives.

Although Lu Zuo couldn't determine the old blacksmith's cultivation level, he could clearly sense that the old blacksmith's spirit and energy were extraordinary, indicating that he must be a martial artist!

Clang!

While he was thinking, he swung the iron hammer in his hand and smashed it heavily onto the translucent orange-red blade blank, sparks flying!

Clang!

Clang!

clang……

He slammed the hammer down again and again, each blow causing the blade to extend slightly.

Lu Zuo stood there for about 15 minutes before the iron ingot began to take the shape of a knife.

The old blacksmith meticulously refined it with his small hammer, then his gaze turned serious as he immersed it in the earthenware jar beside him.

laugh......

White steam billowed, the quenching liquid whistled, and the blade turned from red to blue, gradually returning to calm from its intense heat.

In that instant!

Lu Zuo's eyes sharpened, and a flash of inspiration struck him!

"I see!"

"Cultivating stillness within movement is like refining yin within yang; nurturing movement within stillness is like cultivating yang within yin."

"The essence of the second level of the Thousand Blade Flow Slash Technique lies in the minute space of Yin and Yang transformation!"

After thinking for a moment, he opened the panel and glanced at it. Sure enough, the second level had been added to the skill bar.

"Heh, I can go and cause trouble for Zhang Lihua again."