Soul Trigger

Chapter 561 The Mystery of Tengjun
"Oh? So you weren't silent because you didn't want to look, but because you were secretly watching."

Seeing her father's meaningful smile, Shu moved closer to Ji Li, seemingly uninterested in the Prince of Yuanling.

Is it because of the dragon vein? Ji Li pondered.

The King of the Mausoleum possesses the spiritual power derived from the dragon vein. As a paradox, Shu is currently in a weakened state, so he will instinctively avoid this powerful spiritual power.
As for the lies Shu mentioned about his father, he didn't pay much attention to them. There was no doubt that his father would never harm him.

Seeing the thoughtful look in Ji Li's eyes, the young father continued:
"Since you've already peeked, why not take a few more glances?"

"I don't want to provoke the dragon vein."

"It's alright, you can look at it, look carefully and concentrate."

After staring at Yuanling King for a few seconds, the golden light in Shu's eyes gradually faded. She released her grip on Ji Li's hand and withdrew her previous doubts by continuing to eat.

The young man also smiled with satisfaction:

"Let's go."

Prince Yuanling led Ji Li outside the door, not caring whether Shu inside would eavesdrop, and left the door slightly ajar.

“Your kind of probing isn’t likely to be very effective,” Ji Li said.

The Prince of Yuanling remained noncommittal.

The reason for sending Ji Li to the Forbidden City was something that Prince Yuanling deliberately told Shu. It wasn't a complete lie, but it wasn't entirely the truth either.

If Shu hadn't exposed him, then the Prince of Yuanling would have concluded that Shu's existence was harmful to Ji Li and the Prince of Yuanling's mansion, and that she had other ideas.

In that case, the Prince of Yuanling would try every means to move Shu out of the Yuanling Prince's Palace and away from Ji Li. The Forbidden City would be a good place, very suitable for imprisoning the paradox.

Now that Shu has directly exposed the father's words in front of the father and son, it at least proves that Shu has goodwill towards Ji Li.

This is just a test and cannot be used as an absolute basis for judging Shu's true thoughts, because if Shu's Eye of Truth were to look more closely, she would be able to discover that Yuanling King was trying to test her.

However, Yuanling King had already taken her fear of the Divine Land's Dragon Vein to heart, so the moment Shu Chu first revealed her attitude to Ji Li, Yuanling King already knew the answer.

"She has basic goodwill towards you, reminding you that I am lying, although it is not a complete lie."

The young man nodded solemnly, but given his current appearance, it made Ji Li a little uncomfortable.

If the little old man in the past, with his flowing robes and long hair, could be considered a rather ethereal little golden boy, then...

Now, because of Ji Li, his hair was completely burned off in a fire, and his shiny bald head looks like a monk who stole a Taoist priest's clothes and is wearing them, which is as ridiculous as it gets.

"...The look in your eyes makes me want to punch you."

"So what exactly is going on?"

The Prince of Yuanling remained silent for a few breaths before saying:

"We've found out the background of the people who launched the surprise attack on you and Princess Menes during the chaos. Guess who they are working for?"

Ji Li said, "They are definitely not envoys from multiple countries. They are either clean-backed Shulong people, or they are three-surname slaves with absolutely complicated backgrounds, or dirty rats from the sewers."

However, I do think... they have connections to the Forbidden City.

The little bald man's eyes lit up:
"Oh? Tell me."

Ji Lidao:
"There's nothing to say. If it was Tengjun who deliberately arranged for me to run into Shu and get me involved in a multi-country visit, then what exactly was my role?"
If we follow this line of thinking, and he wants me to continue playing an unknown role, he will inevitably stir up trouble in the shadows.

From another perspective, before he woke up, I was always the one actively seeking things out; after he woke up, things have been constantly seeking me out. Is it really possible that things are just that coincidental?

Prince Yuanling nodded:
"Not bad, he's truly my son..."

Ji Li glanced at him, puzzled.
"What's it to you?"

The Prince of Yuanling's face darkened:
"Speak properly! I haven't settled the score with you over the hair incident yet!"

Then he sighed and said:

"Tengjun wants to see you."

"The reason for inviting you to the Forbidden City is just a pretext, and also an invitation he gives to the royal family and those below him."

Ji Li frowned slightly:

"You'll take me there?"

"He only wants to see you, so I don't feel at ease at all."

Prince Yuanling, with his hands behind his back, began pacing in place:
"Those in high positions in Mirage City are no pushovers, and Teng Jun is no exception. Although the attackers' background has some connection with the Forbidden City, it is only my speculation."

However, based on my understanding of Teng Jun, he was behind the attackers; he just carried it out flawlessly.

Ji Li leaned against the door with his arms crossed:

"What do you think this dictator wants to get out of me?"

King Yuanling shook his head:
"Perhaps they want to use you to become the focus of visits to multiple countries, or they are interested in you personally. After all, you are unique enough. It's nothing more than creating topics and making a fuss, with the aim of making things comfortable."

Of course, all the actions he takes towards you may also be part of a plan or scheme for another purpose in the future; there are many possibilities.

When it comes to emperors of the Shulong dynasty, the label of deep and calculating always comes to mind, and Tengjun is no exception. And do you even know where he wants you to go?

Ji Li raised an eyebrow:
"It doesn't sound like I'm supposed to go over and kneel down to him."

"He wants to see you in the Forbidden Forest." The Forbidden Forest is the headquarters of the Imperial Guards, located at the deepest part of the Forbidden City.

When learning about the Imperial Guards, Ji Li only knew that there was the largest dragon vein communication point in the entire Shulong, which was similar to the scene where the soul blood was ignited in the Lingbo Prison of Yuanling Prince's Mansion.

Royal family members would ignite their soul blood at that place.

"Besides members of the royal family, only three types of people have ever been invited into the Forbidden Forest." The old man solemnly held up one finger:
"The first type is the loyal minister and the Prince of Ling."

"The second type is people who are suspected of posing a great threat to Tengjun and Shulong in the future. The focus is on the former, namely the designated 'traitors'."

"The third type is the dead."

"Often the second type will quickly turn into the third type, because they will die from an unusual event within half a month of leaving the Forbidden Forest."

Ji Li smiled and said:

"Love is like sending me to the execution ground."

"It's hard to say, but the 'Forbidden Forest' is not only the site of the royal awakening ceremony, but also the headquarters of the Imperial Guard."

Sending someone to the 'Forbidden Forest' carries its own implications, especially since you are the heir of the Ling family. This raises serious questions, so I don't intend to send you."

Prince Yuanling stopped pacing and looked at Ji Li:

“Recently, the Prince of Guling has been frequently seen inside the Forbidden City, seemingly inquiring about some news, which has led to me having more contact with him. If you become his adopted son, he is willing to protect you from Shulong and keep you away from Tengjun’s snares.”

A vein throbbed on Ji Li's forehead:
You'd better not say you agreed.

You're quite the father, aren't you? You're not happy being a father by yourself, so you have to introduce someone in the same profession to do it together?

"Of course not." The old man glanced sideways and said decisively, "The decision is yours."

“I can also arrange a ship to take you away from Shulong. The main diplomatic corps of White Island is still in the process of handing over entry, which is an opportunity for you to go directly to White Island.”

"I don't understand. Even if Tengjun is interested in me, it shouldn't warrant such a big fuss from you."

"Because you don't understand him." The young man glanced at Ji Li:
"The title of Tengjun was created for the people under the influence of the dragon veins of the Divine Land. This is the biggest difference between 'Jun' and 'Di'."

"But he was not content to exist in this country merely as a 'king'..."

……

"So, you still haven't chosen to leave?"

"of course."

In the heritage laboratory, Fei Lin sat opposite Ji Li with an astonishingly large figure, a notebook by Li Jiangxing lying flat on his lap.

These past few days, besides recovering from her injury, she has been passing the time by reading these journals.

"Since he's plotting against me, I naturally have to go and meet this local tyrant myself. If he really wants to do something to me, it's not certain whether I can actually make it."

Film Road:
"Since you already have an idea, why are you asking me?"

"My father is taking this matter a bit too seriously. I need someone to back me up."

Da Lei immediately smiled:

"You're certainly outspoken. Speaking of which, during your confrontation with Princess Menes, you seemed to have successfully used my power..."

Ji Li nodded:

"I successfully controlled that distortion, which allowed me to possess power comparable to that of the Netherworld for a short period of time. The downside is that it has obvious weaknesses."

“Black Goat, when Jin Misha brought you to me crying and begging me to save you, I’m so glad my gut feeling was right.” Felin tilted her head, her eyes gradually narrowing.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

“Of course I’m praising you, my dear fellow human.” Philin slowly rose, his extraordinary height easily conveying a breathtaking sense of oppression.

"By borrowing your laboratory, my recovery speed has been very fast. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would have been drifting in the Time Stream for quite a while. Helping you is only right and proper."

She reached out and a distorted, blurry object appeared in her palm.

The object quickly transformed into a small pocket watch, which she handed to Ji Li.

"Take this with you, and I'll go to the Forbidden City with you."

"Concealment?"

"The movement of the hands represents the flow of time, and my will can be hidden within it. Whether it's power, knowledge you don't know, or even the demeanor you should have when facing Tengjun, I can help you."

If things escalate to the worst point and force becomes necessary, if you can once again utilize my fragmented power, that power will be amplified. I will teach you how to skillfully control time…”

As he spoke, the surrounding space transformed into a black and white interplay, as if there were a soft clicking sound, and the figure of the film was shattered.

When the voice reappeared, it echoed directly in Ji Li's ears:

"All right."

Ji Li sensed a surge of power within the pocket watch in his hand, which quickly disappeared as Fei Lin withdrew her "touch" of him.

Even with Flint's voice still ringing in my ears, the pocket watch looked like nothing more than an ordinary pocket watch.

(End of this chapter)