If you're made a fake emperor, why did you change the country's name?

That sudden insight into martial arts came quickly and went quickly.

But Zhao Yu knew that he could access the insights whenever he wanted.

As I moved into the shrine, I gradually regained control of my body, and the scene before me became clear again.

Beneath the altar, a short, black-robed old man knelt on one knee, seemingly waiting for something.

When the man saw Zhao Yu's gaze fall upon him, he immediately lowered his head deeply, his face showing obvious fear.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! You have achieved great success in your divine arts, and your path to immortality is now eternal!"

Lord?

Zhao Yu's heart skipped a beat, and fragments of Qian Batian's remaining memories flashed through his mind like lightning.

Isn't this man in black robes the old cultivator from the outer realm who told Qian Batian?

It seems he sees himself as Qian Batian, who has successfully possessed the body.

How should we deal with him?

Three thoughts instantly flashed through Zhao Yu's mind.

First, disguising oneself. It requires a lot of effort, but what is the value of disguising oneself?

Secondly, while he's kneeling, just do it. That'll solve everything!

Just as Zhao Yu was about to make his move, Qian Batian's lazy voice echoed from deep within the Divine Palace.

"Nephew Zhao, I advise you not to be impulsive. This old guy is no pushover. With your current mediocre skills, you're no different from an ant in his eyes. If you can't kill him in one move, you're doomed."

That old Bi Deng is truly a persistent ghost.

Zhao Yu cursed inwardly, but calmly asked, "What's his strength?"

"Before his serious injury, he was at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage, but unfortunately, he was suppressed by the domain laws of this world and was beaten to the point of being half-dead by his enemies. Now... he's at most a half-step Foundation Establishment cultivator." Qian Batian's words revealed an arrogance of controlling everything. "However, if he were to fight with all his might, he should be able to unleash two or three moves at the half-step Golden Core stage, and he would be more than capable of trading one move for one with you."

A Golden Core cultivator?!

Zhao Yu felt a chill run down his spine.

Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. This kind of old monster, even if he only has one breath left, is not someone a mortal who hasn't even grasped the basics of martial arts can mess with.

"How do you control this kind of person?" Zhao Yu's curiosity was piqued.

"Hehe, that old guy was being chased by his enemies back then and accidentally fell into this realm. He had nothing of value except a cultivation technique in his pocket called the Blood Soul Master Servant Profound Scripture, which is of the upper-grade Earth rank."

Qian Batian's voice carried a hint of smugness.

"It's a decent cultivation technique, but unfortunately the threshold is too high, requiring a Nascent Soul cultivation level to use it. However, after half a day of deduction and improvement in my hands, even a mere Qi Refining cultivator can sign a master-slave contract. So I casually planted it on him."

A chill ran through Zhao Yu's heart.

Based on his experience reading novels, such master-slave contracts usually require mutual consent, right?

Even if a Golden Core cultivator falls on hard times, he wouldn't willingly become a slave.

"Shouldn't this kind of cultivation method require mutual consent? Did he really agree to it?"

"Hehehe..." Qian Batian let out two sinister laughs that were hard to decipher. "This, nephew, you don't need to know."

Zhao Yu understood instantly.

Most likely, they used some kind of shady torture.

This Qian Batian, for the sake of his grand plan to seize another's body, secretly plotted for thirty years. His ruthlessness and the depth of his scheme far exceeded his imagination.

The water was much deeper than he had thought.

Without hesitation, Zhao Yu made his choice.

He didn't speak, but simply maintained his cross-legged posture, glancing down at the black-clad cultivator.

Then, he slowly stood up.

With each movement, his bones cracked and popped, revealing a savage aura rather than his usual self.

Inside the shrine, Qian Batian exclaimed "Eh!" and then teased:

"Having finished learning from that useless crown prince wasn't enough, now you're starting to learn from me? Kid, you're quick to learn."

"Otherwise what?" Zhao Yu retorted coldly in his mind. "The contract he signed with you is pledging allegiance to your soul aura, Qian Batian, not me. If I weren't pretending to be you, and I revealed even the slightest flaw, do you think he wouldn't take action?"

These words silenced Qian Batian for a moment, seemingly indicating his agreement with Zhao Yu's statement.

Beneath the altar, the black-robed cultivator felt this familiar yet unfamiliar powerful pressure, his head drooped even lower, and his body trembled even more violently.

That was the absolute suppression stemming from the contract deep within their souls, and an even deeper, more profound fear of the methods employed by the 'master' before them.

Zhao Yu took in all of this and felt much more at ease.

It seems that his acting skills have passed the test for now.

He walked down the altar, deliberately slowing his pace, each step steady and powerful, until he finally stopped in front of the man in black robes.

He didn't ask the other person to get up, but spoke slowly in a tone that was so indifferent it was almost icy.

"There was a slight mishap during the process."

His voice was calm, offering neither explanation nor clarification, but simply stating a fact.

Such ambiguity is the safest.

The man in black robes trembled, but dared not raise his head or ask any further questions. He simply replied more respectfully, "Your Majesty's divine powers are unparalleled; any unexpected event will be turned into a smooth path."

"How is the situation outside?" Zhao Yu continued to ask, his voice completely calm.

"Reporting to my lord!" the black-robed man replied immediately, "Besides the north, the Dragon Court has large armies gathered in the east, west, and south. It seems they will attack soon!"