Great Li Martial God

At the sight, the white-haired eunuch's expression changed sharply. He moved in an instant to stand before the Great Xuan emperor's body.

The purple-robed Daoist showed equal shock and arrived close behind, then turned immediately to Zhao Kuang, "Your Highness, what has happened? His Majesty..."

But before Zhao Kuang could even open his mouth, the white-haired eunuch let out a cry of grief, "Your Majesty..."

The white-haired eunuch wept with streaming tears, kneeling before the Great Xuan emperor's body and calling out to him in a shrill, broken voice, sobbing inconsolably.

Zhao Kuang's eyes darkened. It was his father who had died. Why did this elderly eunuch look even more heartbroken than him?

With that thought, Zhao Kuang immediately changed his own expression, swapping it for one of red-rimmed eyes and overwhelming grief, and said in a choked voice, "Father Emperor's cultivation went into deviation during his retreat. By the time we discovered it, it was already too late..."

Zhao Kuang had supplied a plausible reason for the Great Xuan emperor's death. But when his gaze landed on the finger-width hole pierced through his father's forehead, his eyes shifted and he quickly added, "In his deranged state, Father Emperor turned his own finger art against himself. Your son is devastated, wracked with pain beyond words."

The moment the words fell, Zhao Kuang dropped to his knees before the Great Xuan emperor's body just as the white-haired eunuch had, and let out a wail of heartbroken grief that completely drowned out the eunuch's crying.

The Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit watching from the side felt his eyelid twitch.

At those words, both men glanced back at the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit, then their eyes moved to Li Musheng.

Zhao Kuang saw this and immediately spoke in explanation, "Everything before was a misunderstanding. This young hero is a man of great honor and justice. He came to the palace tonight purely to rescue someone, and even down in the underground mechanisms earlier, he saved my life."

The white-haired eunuch said nothing, withdrew his gaze, and knelt before the Great Xuan emperor, his expression unreadable.

The purple-robed Daoist gave Zhao Kuang a long look, then bowed his head in a salute, "Please accept this poor Daoist's condolences, Your Highness. Since what happened before was a misunderstanding, there is naturally no reason for us to pursue the matter further."

"But now that His Majesty has passed, the affairs of the court require Your Highness to take charge. Please take good care of yourself."

These words went straight to Zhao Kuang's heart. Taking command of the court and becoming emperor was what he cared about most. Even so, he made a show of pained reluctance and waved a hand, "Filial duty comes before all else. The most important matter now is to attend to my father's funeral rites. Everything else can wait."

At those words, the purple-robed Daoist continued to press, "A family cannot go a day without its head, nor a nation a day without its sovereign. Your Highness should ascend the throne without delay..."

But before the purple-robed Daoist could finish, the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit cut him off directly, "Enough. The young hero and I have no time to waste standing around here. You would be better served answering my question from earlier."

At those words, Zhao Kuang and the purple-robed Daoist both went momentarily blank.

At that point, the white-haired eunuch suddenly looked up, his face cold, fixing a sharp gaze on Li Musheng, Daoist Qingyu, and the others, "His Majesty's death cannot possibly be as simple as it appears. In this servant's view, you are the true culprits behind His Majesty's death."

At those words, Li Musheng simply raised a hand and flicked a finger, sending a streak of talisman light into the white-haired eunuch's body in an instant.

"My work tonight is done and I will be leaving shortly. Time is short, so get your answers quickly."

Li Musheng glanced at the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit. The next moment, the white-haired eunuch's face contorted in agony and he let out a series of heartrending screams. He curled in on himself where he knelt, shrieking without stop, but his meridians had already been sealed and he could not circulate even a thread of true qi to resist.

The Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit, who had personal experience of the Life and Death Talisman, felt a shiver run through him at the sight. He understood what Li Musheng meant without any further explanation, and without a word he hauled the white-haired eunuch to one side and began interrogating him with diligent thoroughness.

"So this is a technique the young hero carries."

Daoist Qingyu seemed genuinely surprised, and asked with a puzzled expression, "Why did you not use this on this poor nun earlier? I consider my Daoist heart resolute, but that does not mean I could necessarily endure such pain."

At those words, Li Musheng said nothing.

The Life and Death Talisman was formidable as a means of causing suffering, but it was not without its limitations. Techniques such as the Great Xuan emperor's Soul-Searching Technique, or Daoist Qingyu's own method of sealing the six senses, could potentially shield the body from physical pain and render one unaffected by the Life and Death Talisman. This was why it had not occurred to Li Musheng to use the talisman on Daoist Qingyu. It very likely would have had little effect and might have muddled his judgment.

This was equally one of the reasons he had wanted to obtain the Soul-Searching Technique in the first place. If he could refine the Life and Death Talisman's weaknesses by drawing on the soul-searching method, his self-created art might no longer be limited by techniques of that kind, and its power could rise another level entirely.

Before long, the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit came back over with the white-haired eunuch in tow, but shook his head at Li Musheng with an unpleasant expression. He had clearly gotten nothing useful out of the man.

At the sight, the purple-robed Daoist's eyes shifted and he spoke up, "Young hero, this poor Daoist was with the Chief Eunuch the entire time. We truly have had no part in what happened here."

At those words, the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit frowned, "Young hero, what should we do next?"

Li Musheng raised an eyebrow slightly, then looked toward Zhao Kuang, "The night is getting on and I need to be going. As for those Great Xuan martial world experts..."

Before Li Musheng could even finish his sentence, Zhao Kuang immediately spoke up on his own, "Rest assured, sir. I will take full responsibility for that. I will do everything in my power to find them."

At those words, Li Musheng gave a slight nod, then glanced at Zhao Muning, "Come. I will take you out of the palace."

Zhao Muning's eyes shifted faintly, and she gave a nod.

Seeing this, Zhao Kuang hesitated visibly for a moment and looked toward Li Musheng, "Sir, I said before that once I take the throne, I will appoint you as the Teacher of the Great Xuan Realm..."

But Li Musheng only waved a hand, turned, and walked directly out of the courtyard with the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit and the others.

Zhao Kuang's expression went briefly blank. He had clearly not expected Li Musheng to show no interest at all in the position of being above all others in Great Xuan.

"Sir, I owe you a great debt from tonight. At least tell me who you are."

Zhao Kuang called out urgently at Li Musheng's retreating back.

At those words, Li Musheng paused slightly, but in the end said nothing at all, and left with the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit and the others.

In truth, Li Musheng had briefly thought of the current state of affairs in Great Li and had been about to lend a hand in passing. But on reflection, whether Zhao Kuang would even manage to hold onto the throne was still an open question, and saying anything to him might well be a wasted effort. He could not be bothered to concern himself with Great Li's affairs.

At the same time, once Li Musheng's figure had disappeared from sight, the expression on Zhao Kuang's face gradually became completely blank. He stared in the direction Li Musheng and the others had gone, his thoughts impossible to read.

The purple-robed Daoist stood at Zhao Kuang's side, seeming to read his mind, "In the entire martial world under heaven, a young expert who possesses martial cultivation this terrifying is extraordinarily rare."

As he said this, the purple-robed Daoist suddenly shook his head of his own accord, "No, not extraordinary. That is too mild a word. He is utterly singular. To this poor Daoist's knowledge, there is precisely one person of this kind in all the world today."

At those words, Zhao Kuang's expression shifted, as though something had come to him.

He snapped his head toward the purple-robed Daoist, his face filling with startled uncertainty, "Does the Daoist mean... the prince of Great Li?"

At those words, the purple-robed Daoist gave a slight nod, "The only one this poor Daoist can think of whose circumstances match is that Eighth Prince. Of course, it cannot be ruled out that the Great Xuan martial world has also produced an unknown young expert of this kind."

Zhao Kuang narrowed his eyes slightly, saying nothing. He glanced at the white-haired eunuch on the ground, reduced to utter weakness by the Life and Death Talisman, then turned to the purple-robed Daoist, "I ask the Daoist to send people to collect all information available on that Eighth Prince as quickly as possible. I wish to review it myself."

The purple-robed Daoist assented, then looked toward the Great Xuan emperor's body and offered a word of counsel, "Your Highness is the Great Xuan Crown Prince, and inheriting the throne is your rightful and proper claim. The most pressing matter for Your Highness now is to take control of the palace without delay, summon the court ministers to discuss arrangements for His Majesty's funeral rites, and not give any of the other princes grounds to raise objections."

"All other matters can be addressed once Your Highness's position on the throne is secure."

At those words, Zhao Kuang considered briefly, then gave a slight nod. But before long, a shadow of unease settled over his face again.

Zhao Kuang stood where he was and hesitated for a long while before finally deciding to share the matter with the purple-robed Daoist, "Daoist, the truth is my father may not actually be dead..."

...

Li Musheng, Daoist Qingyu, and the others left the Great Xuan imperial palace without the slightest obstacle, and then prepared to part ways with Zhao Muning and the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit.

Li Musheng had little to say to either of them. Zhao Muning was perceptive enough that she did not need him to spell out her next steps. As for the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit, he could not yet leave Taixuan City and would have to wait for the antidote from Zhao Kuang.

"Young hero, I owe you a debt of rebirth. If you ever have need of me in the future, command me however you wish. Through fire and flood, I will not refuse."

The Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit drew in a deep breath of the air outside the palace, his hair hanging loose and unkempt, his whole bearing radiating excitement.

He had been trapped in the Mystic Mechanism Palace for so many years and had long since believed he would never come out. Now that he had his freedom, he felt as though he had been given a second life.

At this point, Li Musheng's gaze turned to the Grand Manager of the Treasure Assembly Trading House. He did not trouble himself with asking about the secrets the man was keeping. He only said, "I rescued you from the Great Xuan imperial palace. How do you intend to thank me?"

At those words, the Grand Manager showed an unusual expression. Though he had escaped the Mystic Mechanism Palace and come out of the Great Xuan imperial palace, he did not appear to be particularly happy about it.

"Whatever the young hero wishes, as long as it is within my ability, I will do my utmost to satisfy."

The Grand Manager forced himself to speak, squeezing out a strained smile.

Li Musheng looked at him briefly, then gave him a rough outline of what he required.

"In this martial world, there may be many who could easily take your life, but there is only one person who can save it, and that is me."

Li Musheng said this with a meaningful air, then turned and left with Daoist Qingyu, vanishing into the night in the blink of an eye.

The Grand Manager stared in the direction Li Musheng had gone, his expression shifting with unspoken thoughts.

The Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit glanced at him, then turned to look in the same direction where Li Musheng had disappeared. The earlier excitement gradually drained from his face, and he said, "To speak honestly, from the time I first set foot in the martial world, I have never had this feeling about anyone. This man seems truly impossible to defeat."

With that, the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit paid no further attention to the Grand Manager, and left with only one parting word, "Take care of yourself."

His figure turned into a streak of crimson light and shot away from the palace in an instant.

Once the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit was gone, only Zhao Muning and the Grand Manager of the Treasure Assembly Trading House remained.

Zhao Muning did not leave immediately. She turned her gaze toward the Grand Manager.

The Grand Manager's expression was unsettled, his mind thrown into turmoil by what Li Musheng had just said. But sensing Zhao Muning's gaze, he forced himself to compose his thoughts, "What does Your Highness the Princess wish?"

Zhao Muning watched him for a moment, then said suddenly, "I know my father is still alive. Where is he now?"

At those words, a flicker of something passed through the Grand Manager's eyes, quickly concealed, and he shook his head, "I understand that Your Highness must be deeply grieved by His Majesty's passing. But His Majesty's death is something we witnessed with our own eyes."

"Though certain individuals have doubts about whether His Majesty is truly gone, that is ultimately nothing more than speculation. How can the dead come back to life? I ask Your Highness to take comfort."

The Grand Manager bowed in a show of respect, then turned to leave. Zhao Muning said nothing, and waited until the Grand Manager had his back to her before she spoke, "Just as I thought. There is an Intestinal Fiend Worm implanted in your head."

At those words, the Grand Manager, who had been on the verge of leaving, came to a sudden halt and whipped his head back toward Zhao Muning with an expression of disbelief, "You..."

But he cut himself off before another word came out. Zhao Muning slowly shook her head, "There is no need to keep up the pretense. Perhaps others do not know what an Intestinal Fiend Worm is, but I am well aware."

As she said this, an unreadable look settled in Zhao Muning's eyes, "I never believed my father would die so easily. Especially not when he already knew that the young lord possessed such formidable martial cultivation and that Zhao Kuang intended to move against him."

The words the Great Xuan emperor had spoken in the passageway had stayed with Zhao Muning throughout.

His reaction to their arrival had been entirely without surprise, as though he had known they would come.

Though Daoist Qingyu claimed the Great Xuan emperor had been severely wounded by the demonic art's backlash, no one could truly say whether that was the whole truth.

And the Great Xuan emperor had ruled Great Xuan for decades, while secretly serving as the head of a demonic cult. A man of such fierce ambition and ruthless cunning could not possibly have died so easily.

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