Douluo Continent: We agreed on a simulation, but they've come to life?

Once suspicion is sown, it is not easy to correct it.

Not to mention that someone who has just murdered his brother and usurped the throne, whose position is illegitimate, would be especially insecure and suspicious.

"Could it be... really him?" The emperor stroked his chin, his eyes filled with conflict.

If Lu Cheng were to back Xu He, it would mean that Kong Deming, Jing Hongchen, and other members of his faction would also be drawn in. This would be a considerable force, a disaster for someone who is currently not even settled.

“Your Majesty, I will take some men to see for myself…” Zhongli Wu said calmly.

"If he really rescued Prince Xu He, then this palace coup needs a scapegoat."

"Well……"

The emperor narrowed his eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded emphatically, saying, "Alright, if it really is him, remember to bring him back, and deal with Xu He as well..."

“Of course.” Zhongli Wu smiled.

……

Mingdu, outside the city.

Lu Cheng paused, stopping in mid-air.

The surrounding area was filled with lush forests, but below, there was no familiar presence of Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen. Instead, the soul guidance device was still flashing its lights rapidly, indicating that it was getting closer and closer to the location of the bracelet.

Lu Cheng's eye twitched.

Open your palms.

A suction force burst forth from it, and as a gust of wind blew and the leaves rustled, two bracelets popped off the branches and landed in his palm.

Meanwhile, a boy of about ten years old, dressed in luxurious clothes and covered in blood, was also trembling and huddled on a tree branch.

He looked at himself in horror.

"..."

"call……"

Lu Cheng exhaled a breath of stale air and pursed his lips.

His gaze drifted to the other side.

Several figures streaked across the sky, rushing straight towards this place.

The leader was Xu Jiangliu, the head of the Royal Soul Master Corps, followed by several figures in black robes. Their familiar auras belonged to Zhong Liwu and the others.

"..."

The wings of the bionic flight soul tool on Xu Jiangliu's back trembled, and his speed was not weak at all. He stopped in mid-air, his eyes swept over Xu He and Lu Cheng below, and his face gradually turned cold.

He followed the entire palace coup.

If Xu Hezhen were to be rescued, it would undoubtedly be a huge disaster.

Lu Cheng must die!

"Mr. Zhongli, I'll leave this matter to you. We will not interfere further..."

"As for Vice Hall Master Lu's brutal murder of the emperor, kidnapping the Crown Prince and fleeing, and being executed here, I'm sure Elder Kong and Hall Master Hongchen won't have anything to say about it."

Xu Jiangliu glanced indifferently at Lu Cheng and walked away.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Zhongli Wu lifted his cloak, looked at Lu Cheng standing in mid-air, and laughed heartily, his face full of smugness: "How about it, child? I told you... what my Holy Spirit Church has set its sights on can never escape."

Is it really necessary?

Lu Cheng said with a hint of helplessness.

“It’s very serious.” Zhongli Wu shook his head, curled his lips at Xu He who was crying to the side, and then gently squeezed his palm, instantly turning the latter into bloody foam.

Xu He is dead.

From then on, there were no more witnesses or physical evidence.

The person who most wants Lu Cheng dead right now is the current emperor. He will most likely pin the blame for the treason and regicide on Lu Cheng, since his background is high enough to make him a scapegoat.

But as for Confucius...

The current emperor controls almost 70% of the military power and is practically tied to the entire army. This is precisely what holds Kong Lao's lifeline in his hands. His bottom line lies in the stability of the Sun Moon Empire. Therefore, no matter how angry Kong Lao is, he will not directly take action against the emperor.

Otherwise, it would mean continued instability for the empire.

As for the Mirror of the Mortal World, there's no need to say more.

"So, would you like to join the Holy Spirit Cult?" Zhongli Wu asked with a smile.

"..."

Lu Cheng's face twitched.

He really didn't want to argue with these guys, but every time there was a simulation, they would always find a way to get to him. They were really like... a persistent nuisance.

"Why do you believe I would come?" Lu Cheng ignored the man who had been reduced to dust and stared at Zhongli Wu.

"Because you are a good person."

"Should good people be held at gunpoint?"

"Hahaha……"

Lu Cheng suddenly burst out laughing, laughing in exasperation.

He felt that he had acted too uprightly before, to the point that these guys all regarded him as a proper gentleman, a rigid and pedantic guy like Kong Deming who adhered to "rules".

He looked at Zhongli Wu with a strange expression: "Are you sure you want me to join the Holy Spirit Cult? You won't regret it?"

“Of course!” Zhongli Wu’s heart suddenly stopped. This strangely calm look was completely different from what he had expected. This young man was not under his control at all. In fact, he felt a sense of unease rising up. However, due to Lu Cheng’s talent and his confidence in himself, he still nodded.

"Okay, I'll join the Holy Spirit Cult."

Lu Cheng's lips curled up, and a bright smile appeared on his face.

At this moment, Zhongli Wu, Zhang Peng behind him, and Wu Yun all felt a chill run down their spines.

Something feels off...

What kind of guy did they hire?

……

Mingdu.

In the most strictly guarded and heavily guarded prison.

Inside a room made entirely of metal that forbids the use of soul power, a handsome young man with short, jet-black hair was leaning back in a chair, resting with his eyes closed.

As the heavy door was slowly pushed open.

"Junior Uncle!!"

A figure rushed in, and the girl threw herself into his arms, her eyes blurry with tears, "Waaaaah..."

She then burst into tears.

The miniature version of Xiao Hongchen on the side also had red eyes, full of regret: "I'm sorry, Junior Uncle. We were asleep, and when we woke up, we found that the wristbands you gave us were missing..."

"It's not your fault."

Lu Cheng revealed a gentle smile. Now that things have come to this, he already had the ability to protect Xu He and bring him back to Mingdu when he was still outside the capital, and then use him as his trump card to contend with the current emperor.

But he allowed Zhongli Wu to kill Xu He.

Because he wanted to give Zhongli Wu a surprise, a big surprise.

These guys are so eager to recruit me now, they'll regret it later.

Moreover, continuing in the same routine would indeed be boring. Taking over Jing Hongchen's position as the head of Mingde Hall is a logical choice given the simulator's arrangement.

"Junior brother, you... sigh."

Jing Hongchen, a short and stout figure, also walked in, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He sighed and said, "So far, not only has Master not gotten angry and asked the current emperor for people, but he has also... told me not to get involved. I don't know what he's thinking."

"The teacher is right."

Upon hearing this, Lu Cheng smiled instead.

Everyone knows the inside story of this royal change of power. Kong Deming is probably aware of his situation. This is actually a great opportunity to extricate himself from this big trouble, but the price is... complete disgrace.

Everyone in the Sun Moon Empire knows that he murdered the emperor and usurped the throne.

Its reputation reversed almost overnight.

Everyone despises them.

Today is the day to arrange his execution.

“But…” Jing Hongchen said impatiently, “Junior Brother, your reputation is almost ruined. Your senior brother is still waiting for you to inherit Mingde Hall. What is Master thinking?”

"My teacher understands me best," Lu Cheng said with a smile and a shake of his head.

Soon, the door was pushed open.

A guard solemnly announced, "The execution time has arrived..."

He was escorted by two soldiers to the execution platform, where Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, who were crying their eyes out, genuinely believed that their junior uncle was going to be executed.

But soon, Lu Cheng was taken hostage by a group of men in black robes at the execution ground, and then "rescued" away.

Alarms blared, and a cacophony of voices mingled together.

"Lu Cheng is an evil soul master!!!"

"No wonder he murdered the king! Chase after them!"

"..."

Damn it.

At that moment, in mid-air, Lu Cheng's wings trembled, he stretched his neck, and glanced indifferently at Zhongli Wu, who was beaming with joy beside him.

It's that kind of "pledge of allegiance" again.

P.S.: The foreplay seemed a bit long, mainly to prepare for the Dream of the Mortal World, but the main event (Ye Guyi) is coming soon.