I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

Zhu Houcong didn't care about Shi Wenjue's hatred at all.

These people are nothing more than tools.

As a prominent family in Yizhou, the Ming Cult could rapidly grow stronger if it could completely absorb the power of the Ironclad Gate.

When the time comes to attack Yizhou, it will be able to play a surprise role.

If the Shi family father and son had known better, they might have lived a few more years.

If they dare to resist, it's just a piece of cake; at worst, I'll send them on their way.

Thinking of this, Zhu Houcong tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup, his eyes coldly fixed on the distance.

In just three days, the name "Ming Cult" had become the hottest topic of conversation in the streets and alleys of Yizhou City.

In teahouses and taverns, discussions about this mysterious sect can be heard everywhere.

Some even spread rumors that every member of the Ming Cult was a living god, dedicated to killing corrupt officials and tyrants.

Zhu Houcong sat in a private room of the teahouse, listening to the discussions coming from downstairs, a satisfied smile curving his lips.

All of this was part of his plan.

The more people spread the legends about the Ming Cult, the more deeply its reputation spread among them.

"The money was well spent."

He took a sip of tea and said calmly.

In the past few days, he secretly bribed all the famous storytellers in Yizhou City, and had them create various versions of the Ming Cult legends.

To build a golden statue for the Ming Cult.

It was through word of mouth that the current effect was achieved.

The next step was to spread the fame of the Ming Cult, starting from Yizhou, throughout the entire martial arts world.

Zhu Houcong stood up and left the teahouse.

"Next stop, Fragrant Hills!"

He had already obtained the exact location of the Fragrant Hills where the Red Mountain was located from the chubby boy.

There lies a piece of Luomotian Ice.

Don't play tiles after Chapter 219.

The plot of Lotus Tower is actually quite similar to One Piece.

The most powerful treasure of Nan Yin, the Blazing Fire, is a towering, precipitous flame.

And it was hidden inside the Rama Cauldron.

The Luo Mo Ding is an extremely ingenious mechanical box crafted by the Blood Domain Heavenly Skill Palace a hundred years ago.

To open the Luo Mo Cauldron, you need to collect four Luo Mo Heavenly Ice Crystals.

Based on the plot's foresight advantage, Zhu Houcong did know the whereabouts of the four Heavenly Ice Crystals.

One is in the possession of Jin Mantang of Yuanbaoshanzhuang, and the second is in the possession of Yu Louchun of Xiangshan Yuguxiu.

The third one is related to Lian Quan, the Lord of the Underworld.

The last one was in the hands of Wan Shengdao Fengpan.

All four were descendants of the Southern Yin who controlled the Luo Mo Tian Bing after the fall of the Southern Yin Kingdom.

Unfortunately, apart from Feng Pan, no one wanted to open the Luo Mo Ding.

So the main characters and the villains engaged in a fierce struggle for the red Poneglyphs... oh no, I mean for the four Ramo Ice Crystals.

Now, another group has joined the fight for the Luo Motian Ice, namely Zhu Houcong.

He originally planned to infiltrate the main characters' group, solve cases with Li Lianhua, find Luo Motianbing's whereabouts, and then seize the opportunity to steal it.

After all, none of the Heavenly Ice Stones are easy to obtain.

Jin Mantang of Yuanbao Manor has been targeted by the Golden Kite Alliance. If they try to seize the Heavenly Ice from him, it will alert Feng Pan and Li Lianhua.

They sensed that another force was vying for the Luo Motian Ice.

There might be unexpected complications then.

Yu Louchun never left her home and lived in seclusion all year round; no one knew where Xiangshan, where she lived, was.

Only when the autumn leaves turn fiery red each year, Yulouchun invites six extraordinary people to a banquet at Fragrant Hills.

These six people will be blindfolded and taken onto the carriage, and the blindfolds will not be removed until they arrive at their destination.

If you can't even find their exact location, how can you expect to steal their borneol?

Lian Quan had already died in the mine.

Feng Pan, the holder of the last ice shard, is now the leader of the Wanshengdao, the largest righteous sect since the disbandment of the Sigumen.

Getting borneol from him would be extremely difficult.

However, Zhu Houcong never expected that yesterday, when he asked Shi Wenjue about Yulouchun through Zhu Shou...

This chubby kid actually claimed to know the whereabouts of Yulouchun.

He was able to forge rare and powerful weapons at the age of seven, making him an extraordinary figure in the martial arts world.

Yu Lou Chun invited him to her Man Shan Hong banquet several times.

Who knew that Shi Wenjue had an excellent sense of direction since childhood? Even with his eyes covered, he could mentally recreate the route he had taken based on his senses.

He had already drawn the road to Fragrant Hills.

This is such a wonderful surprise!

Upon hearing Shi Wenjue's words, Zhu Houcong immediately set his sights on the Luo Motian Ice in Yu Louchun's possession.

Moreover, Princess Zhaoling, Zhu Houcong's ultimate goal, was also located on Fragrant Hills.

In the TV series, Princess Zhaoling secretly ran away to explore the world, but unexpectedly she was kidnapped by human traffickers and taken to Fragrant Mountain.

Yu Louchun's creation of this Fragrant Hills can be described as a miniature northern Myanmar.

It houses all sorts of girls, most of whom were trafficked there by human traffickers.

Their purpose is to serve the guests who come to Fragrant Hills for the annual banquet.

Yu Louchun, that fellow, gives the girls a monthly allowance.

However, everything inside costs money, including food, clothing, and other necessities, and a large sum of money will be deducted if you make a mistake.

If they didn't have enough money, they would either go hungry or freeze. If they owed too much, they would be given to the guards who protected Fragrant Hills to settle their debts.

Zhu Houcong naturally wanted to take advantage of the fact that the main characters hadn't arrived yet, and seize the opportunity to play the hero and save the damsel in distress, thus winning Princess Zhaoling's favor.

In this way, there's no need to follow the main characters' route. After all, to open the Luo Mo Cauldron, all four Luo Mo Heavenly Ice Crystals are indispensable.

Whoever wants to open it then will have to lick his toes.

Zhu Houcong was really looking forward to seeing the beautiful Saintess of the Golden Kite Alliance, Jiao Liqiao, kneeling in front of him.

Soon, Zhu Shou led Shi Wenjue to the Emperor's Room No. 3 on the top floor of the Chuanyu Building.

As they pushed open the door, they saw a tall, slender figure standing with his back to them, hands clasped behind his back, overlooking the entire city of Yizhou.

"Hurry up and pay your respects to Emperor Wanshou!" Zhu Shou coldly rebuked.

Upon hearing this, Shi Wenjue trembled and immediately knelt down.

"Shi Wenjue pays his respects to the Emperor of Longevity."

Only then did Zhu Houcong slowly turn around.

A warm smile graced his gentle, jade-like face.

He exudes a warm and approachable aura that makes people feel like they are bathed in a spring breeze.

"Get up."

Zhu Houcong's voice was clear and pleasant, quite unlike Zhu Shou's cold and stern tone.

He walked slowly closer and personally helped Shi Wenjue up.

He's as gentle as a friendly older brother next door.

"Young man, there's no need for such formalities."

Shi Wenjue then cautiously raised his head.

But the moment he saw Zhu Houcong's face clearly, he froze on the spot.

Eight words instantly popped into my head.

With a graceful and refined appearance!

Unparalleled in handsomeness!

At this moment, Zhu Houcong's black Taoist robe fluttered in the wind, making him look like a celestial being descended from the heavens.

Shi Wenjue had been well-versed in poetry and literature since childhood, but he never imagined that there could be someone in this world who could be born so extraordinary.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Zhu Houcong chuckled.

Shi Wenjue then seemed to wake from a dream and hurriedly lowered his head.

"I...I apologize for my rudeness."

"It's alright."

Zhu Houcong waved his hand.

"Young friend Shi, please get up. From this day forward, the Holy Church will be your home, and we will be one family."

"Okay, sure."

Shi Wenjue nodded in agreement subconsciously, but then realized what was happening.

He cursed himself inwardly for being so spineless, for being led by the nose by the other party with just a few words.

Zhu Houcong continued.

"Since we are family, then I would like to trouble you to take us to Fragrant Hills."

"I've heard that Yulouchun keeps many stunning beauties there. After it's all over, you can choose any girl you like, and then you won't have to work as a tile maker anymore."

When Shi Wenjue heard "You can choose any girl you like," his eyes lit up immediately.

But he quickly put on a bitter face and said, "Your Majesty, it's not that I'm refusing, but there is a section of cliff on the way to Fragrant Mountain."

"Only those inside can control the mechanism to get through; outsiders simply can't get through!"

Zhu Houcong waved his hand dismissively, pointing to Zhu Shou and the Golden Lion King beside him and laughing.

"It's alright. Their cultivation has reached a transcendent level. They can simply use their lightness skill to fly up the cliff."

Upon hearing this, Shi Wenjue's eyes widened in disbelief.

"This...how is this possible?"

"You'll know then."

Zhu Houcong leisurely sipped his tea.

How is it impossible?

Didn't Di Feisheng, the leader of the Golden Kite Alliance, once fly up Fragrant Hills by stepping on a precipice?

Then he took out a Great Martial Arts Golden Pill from his sleeve and handed it to Shi Wenjue.

"Young friend Shi, although the Bat King's actions were somewhat crude, he meant no harm."

Zhu Houcong said, "I am giving you this Great Martial Arts Golden Pill. After taking it, you will instantly become a ninth-rank master."

"You can fulfill your father's expectations without delaying your imperial examinations. If you wish to continue your studies and take the imperial examinations in the future, the Holy Church will never stop you."

Chapter 220 The Emperor's Kindness, You Can Never Repay It in This Lifetime