Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 621 Dissociative Identity Disorder?

Deep within the palace, vermilion walls and golden tiles stand silently under the blazing sun.

Liang Jin, clad in armor, stood as firm as a rock atop the sentry post, his gaze calmly sweeping across the heavy shadows of the palace.

"I have already taken care of three of the four chiefs of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Only one chief remains unseen."

"At this time, Zhao Bao was promoted to the third rank. This promotion speed was too fast, so fast that it was unreasonable."

"It seems that the eunuch is indeed short of people around him."

Liang Jin knew that the attitude of Wang Jin, the eunuch, was the key piece in this chaotic situation.

If he supports another successor, Zhao Yu, the "Pig King" who is under house arrest, will likely be in grave danger.

He revealed this information to Zhao Bao so that Zhao Bao would have another option.

Liang Jin was not entirely confident, but he was not afraid of failure.

With his current strength, plus the war puppet and the two clones supporting him near the capital, he is more than capable of calmly advancing and retreating in the upcoming storm.

His mind focused slightly as the system panel quietly appeared at the edge of his field of vision.

"There are quite a few new ninth-level martial artists today."

"The time has come to activate the Nine Realms Without Boundaries."

So Liang Jin calmed his mind and focused his thoughts.

[Nine Realms Without Boundaries] Activate now!
……

Time here is frozen into eternal darkness.

There were no sun, moon, or stars, only a heavy, dark sky that seemed to devour all light, pressing low over the equally dark and desolate earth.

In the center of this frozen, eternal night, the outline of a colossal, awe-inspiring city emerged.

The majestic city gate tower, the soaring eaves, the jagged battlements...

Every detail is exactly the same as the real Beijing.

In the heart of the city, the palace complex, a symbol of absolute power, is a perfect replica of even the curves of its glazed tiles, exuding a silent, regal majesty.

This is a perfect mirror image of the capital city.

A dead city, stripped of all its vitality.

Absolute silence reigns here; there are no lights, no human voices, not a trace of life, only the cold outlines of buildings stretching into eternal darkness.

Until thousands of figures appeared out of thin air without warning, like ink drops into stagnant water, instantly breaking the suffocating silence.

People wandered through familiar streets and alleys, yet carried an unusual sense of alienation.

silent.

There is no language.

Because here, it's impossible to communicate using language.

People opened their mouths, but could not utter a word.

Without communication, conflicts are likely to arise.

Many martial artists, the moment their eyes meet, are already locked in a life-or-death struggle!

The glint of swords flashed suddenly in the darkness, only to be quickly swallowed up by the darkness again.

They knew that only by "dying" in this eerie place could they return to reality.

With an almost divine perspective, Liang Jin hovered above this desolate, mirror-like city, coldly overlooking the ant-like carnage below.

Thoughts, like invisible tentacles, sense the fluctuations in every corner.

"Nearly 10,000 people."

"It should be in the next day or two."

"I'm really looking forward to seeing if the reward for 10,000 people will be a pleasant surprise."

In the capital, martial artists come and go, and the speed at which nine martial artists are summoned is extremely fast.

Even in Changzhou, Song Jiang's alter ego had been wandering around and recruiting many people.

To date, Liang Jin has successfully summoned over 9,900 martial artists using the Nine Void Boundless technique, bringing him very close to reaching his goal of 10,000.

Liang Jin's gaze turned to the several extremely powerful experts within the Nine Void Boundless Realm.

Each of them occupied a distinct area, clearly defined.

Some people even show a tendency to form small cliques around them.

The most eye-catching of all is Wang Jin, deep within the Mirror Palace.

Once the Nine Void Boundless Realm is activated, many martial artists quickly flock to him like birds returning to their nests, their actions displaying a rigid uniformity.

Clearly, in reality, they had received some kind of secret order from this powerful eunuch.

"Shouldering together for warmth? That won't work."

A cold glint flashed in Liang Jin's eyes.

His goal was to make these top experts wear each other down.

"We need to find a way... to break their alliance."

Changing the terrain is the best solution.

In addition, there is stealthy differentiation.

Just as Liang Jin was about to take action, his gaze was suddenly fixed on a figure that appeared in a certain street alley.

"Ok?"

Liang Jin was filled with surprise and doubt:

"Zhao Bao?!"

"How come he... is here too?"

On that familiar street, a figure stood bewildered, cautiously looking around at the identical buildings, clearly unprepared for this sudden and eerie space.

Liang Jin's gaze easily pierced through the light and shadow that shrouded Zhao Bao's face, used to obscure his identity, and he saw clearly the young face that was filled with gloom and confusion.

"Yes……"

Liang Jin suddenly realized:

"Yes, this is indeed Zhao Bao's first time encountering the Nine Void Boundless Realm."

Just as Liang Jin acquired the [Nine Void Boundless] trait, Zhao Bao left the capital, ordered to go to Qingzhou to infiltrate the Taiping Dao for investigation.

This journey caused Zhao Bao to encounter many setbacks, and he didn't return to the capital until yesterday.

Zhao Bao did not enter the [Nine Void Boundless Realm] yesterday, which means he returned to the capital after the [Nine Void Boundless Realm] was opened.

Liang Jin immediately checked which of the nine types of people Zhao Bao belonged to.

This sight caused him to frown and his heart to stir.

[The most venomous person]!
The system's cold, impersonal labels were prominently displayed.

"Extremely poisonous...?"

Liang Jin murmured to himself, a hint of disbelief and astonishment in his voice.

He originally thought that Zhao Bao was loyal and righteous, and the system should judge him as a person of utmost righteousness.

But to everyone's surprise, the system revealed that he was actually... an extremely poisonous person!
Liang Jin frowned slightly, then smiled:
There is no absolute evil or absolute good in the world.

"Zhao Bao wasn't heartless; he just reserved the last bit of kindness he had for me and Xiaolian..."

He did not interfere with Zhao Bao's actions, but simply observed silently.

After a brief moment of surprise and doubt, Zhao Bao quickly demonstrated remarkable adaptability.

The first place he rushed to was that magnificent yet desolate new house.

His steps were tinged with an almost morbid caution as he meticulously examined every corridor and every corner, as if trying to imprint this palace, a symbol of the emperor's extravagance and power, deep into his soul.

His next target was the Imperial Prison.

The mirrored prison also exudes a chilling and sinister atmosphere.

The few martial artists he encountered on the road fell to his strange and effeminate palm strikes with almost no power to resist.

As he watched the "corpses" dissipate into wisps of smoke, Zhao Bao's eyes flickered, lost in thought.

Gradually, he began to encounter some martial artists who were trying to communicate with him.

They used swords to carve words on the cold floor tiles.

This method of communication is also the only way for the martial artists in this area to communicate.

Zhao Bao squatted down, his fingertips brushing over the cold, engraved marks, his expression focused.

Through this awkward yet effective communication, he seemed to quickly grasp the rules of the place, his tense body visibly relaxed, and he began a purposeful exploration.

From Liang Jin's observation, Zhao Bao's actions were quite normal and no different from those of other martial artists.

Except for one thing...

When Zhao Bao is alone, he will suddenly stop, listen intently, his lips move silently, his expression sometimes focused, sometimes fierce, and sometimes with a strange sense of comfort.

He wasn't talking to himself; it was more like he was having a heated conversation with someone he couldn't see around him!
more than one!
Liang Jin observed intently, and deduced from the subtle changes in Zhao Bao's expression and lip shape that Zhao Bao seemed to be having a secret conversation with "two" invisible beings!
"Dissociative identity disorder?!"

Liang Jin's heart sank.

Martial artists of the highest level are inherently extreme in temperament, let alone those who are extremely poisonous.

Zhao Bao was burdened with immense humiliation and hatred, as well as the overwhelming power he had suddenly gained. The pressure in his heart had already distorted his mind.

In this isolated and bloodthirsty Nine Realms, has his latent mental problems finally erupted completely?

"Trouble..."

Liang Jin felt a sense of unease.

He really had no way to deal with mental illness.

His talismanic water could heal injuries and prolong life, but it couldn't soothe mental problems.

Can the world's miracle healers understand symptoms like "soul leaving the body" or "possession by evil spirits"?

He immediately thought of the legendary healer Mu Mu, who might be able to introduce him.

But he quickly dismissed the idea.

Zhao Bao now holds a high position of power, but his schizophrenia is a fatal weakness and a hidden illness that must never be known to outsiders.

He would only wrap himself in an even thicker mask and struggle alone in the abyss.

Watching Zhao Bao sometimes "arguing" fiercely and sometimes "whispering" coldly in the empty street, Liang Jin could only suppress his worries for the time being.

He shifted his attention to other things.

"It's time to add fuel to the fire!"

Thoughts surged like a tide.

Seven figures, completely shrouded in thick black robes, emerged silently from the deepest shadows, appearing in every corner of the dead city.

They exude a strong, deathly aura that instinctively disgusts and terrifies the living.

It is indeed the Yin Bone Puppet!
They blend into the darkness like the deadliest venomous snakes, beginning their search for lone, weaker warriors.

"It's not lively enough... You guys come out too!"

The thought arises again.

Seven figures suddenly appeared on the rows of rooftops.

They wore long robes and vests, with headscarves tied around their heads, and carried sharp swords, moving as swiftly as the wind.

The most bizarre thing is their faces.

It was as if it had been completely swallowed up by an impenetrable darkness, leaving only two bottomless black holes that seemed capable of sucking away all gazes.

Formation War Puppet!

Like the most precise killing machines, they leaped into the streets below, their swords flashing and raising plumes of smoke.

They will be responsible for hunting down mid-level martial artists.

"The grand finale... it's your turn to step up!"

boom!
A heavy, violent pressure, filled with the aura of metal and death, suddenly descended!
A tall figure appeared in the center of the empty square.

A bronze-colored mask covered an inhuman face, and battle-scarred armor enveloped a body of steel.

In his left hand was a massive sword as heavy as a thousand mountains and gorges, and in his right hand was a bone-eroded wheel with edges as sharp as knives.

With a deep hum, three rows of bronze tubes standing upright on the back of his neck suddenly spewed out scorching white steam, swirling around him and making Huang Xingzi look like a war giant crawling out of a hellish furnace!
War Puppet Araki!
A terrifying figure who once severely damaged Jin Jinliang, the second-in-command of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, in the real capital!
There are too many experts in the [Nine Void Boundless Realms] now, and many of them are beyond the control of the formation and battle puppets. Therefore, the battle puppet Huang Xingzi needs to come and take charge.

Its enormous head turned slightly, and the hollow "eye sockets" on its mask locked onto the direction of the Mirror Palace.

With heavy strides, the ground seemed to tremble. Dragging its giant sword and bone wheel, it moved like a mountain, crushing towards the core area where Wang Jin was entrenched with an aura of annihilation! The slaughter reached its climax in an instant!
The once desolate mirror city of Beijing has been completely transformed into a battlefield of carnage, where flesh and smoke intertwine!

Liang Jin's figure merged into the darkness of a higher dimension.

Like the most patient hunter, he kept a close eye on the direction Huang Xingzi was heading, ready to strike at any moment and reap the rewards from those top experts who were trying to besiege or spy on the secrets of the war puppet.

Countless illusory moments have passed, and the sounds of fighting, chasing, and destruction have gradually faded away.

When the last figure who resisted turned into smoke under Huang Xingzi's greatsword, Mirror City returned to its suffocating silence.

All the martial artists have been killed!
The empty streets and cold buildings made it seem as if the earth-shattering battle that had just taken place had never happened.

"Tsk... these old foxes, so slippery."

Liang Jin's voice carried a hint of helplessness in the silence.

He had been waiting for an opportunity to confront Wang Jin, wanting to test the depths of this powerful eunuch.

But Wang Jin was as cunning as a fox.

Once he sensed that something was wrong, or that he was being spied on, he would not hesitate to choose to "commit suicide" and leave the Nine Void Boundless Realm, leaving no trace for analysis.

Other top experts followed suit.

As they became more familiar with the rules of this strange space, they became increasingly reluctant to reveal their true intentions.

"Looks like I'll have to learn how to use another clone..."

Liang Jin's eyes flickered:

"Introduce enough 'reward' incentives to make them willingly tear each other apart and pull out all their hidden skills."

"This place... definitely needs to be redesigned."

Before leaving the Nine Realms, Zhao Bao's image reappeared in his mind.

"His martial arts skills... have improved in a way that is too uncanny."

Liang Jin frowned.

Now that Zhao Bao has entered the [Nine Void Boundless Realms] for the first time, he has not yet become as cunning as other experts.

When faced with danger, he will still instinctively unleash his true strength to fight back.

This led Liang Jin, who had been paying close attention to him, to discover some clues.

When Liang Jin's clone and Zhao Bao first clashed at Burial Dragon Ridge, Zhao Bao was only a newly appointed third-rank official.

However, the power that he instinctively unleashed when facing a life-or-death crisis in the Nine Realms had already approached the peak of the third rank!

This speed is simply horrifying!
even……

They all surpassed Liang Jin, who was on a winning streak!

It should be noted that Liang Jin's martial arts level is now stable at the mid-stage of the third rank.

This was the result of Liang Jin's multiple clones accelerating their cultivation together, and also with the system's reward bonus.

Once a martial artist reaches the third rank, advancing to the next minor rank can take up to ten years if they don't have any extraordinary encounters or opportunities and only rely on arduous training.

Even with his cheat codes, it took Liang Jin two whole months to advance to the next minor realm.

Zhao Bao's exaggerated progress can only mean one thing—he's also cheating!

However, Liang Jin believed that his cheat was even stronger!

Zhao Bao's cheating must have been within the rules of this world.

Liang Jin's hanging is a system that cannot be judged by common sense!

"Is it because of Burial Dragon Ridge...?"

Liang Jin seemed to be thinking about something.

On the Dragon Burial Ridge, Zhao Bao almost became the vessel for the reincarnation of the High Priest of the Youhuan Clan within the Reincarnation Embryo.

Since Liang Jin rescued Zhao Bao, Zhao Bao's martial arts skills have improved by leaps and bounds, and he has even integrated what he calls "divine blood".

Liang Jin shook his head helplessly:
"I'm afraid he won't easily reveal his secrets..."

Judging by his own experience, Liang Jin couldn't possibly tell others that he had a system.

It's highly likely that Zhao Bao won't reveal the secret of his sudden increase in martial arts skills to anyone.

"Hopefully... his secret won't bring him trouble."

Liang Jin shook his head helplessly and then exited [Nine Void Boundless].

His cheat code allows him to improve rapidly without any side effects.

It's hard to say about other people's cheat codes...

……

The next morning, at the new house.

A two-story pavilion overlooking the water.

The same place, the same few people.

With the beaded curtain lightly drawn, Wang Jin sat high in the main seat, slowly and methodically using a small pure silver spoon to scoop the warm bird's nest and lotus seed soup from the jade bowl.

His movements were elegant, exuding a sense of complete control.

Zhao Bao, Mei Lingyun, and Lu Zhenyu stood solemnly with their heads bowed below the steps, their postures like frozen sculptures.

"Master Eunuch! Incredible! Lord Zhao's method is simply a stroke of genius!"

Holding the recovered official seal, Lu Zhenyu's fingers trembled with excitement, his voice trembling with relief:
“Last night, as Lord Zhao instructed, I solemnly handed the empty seal box to Yue Kai, entrusting him with its safekeeping! Guess what? This morning, just as he was returning it in public…”

He opened the seal box with both hands, and the bronze seal was quietly embedded in the velvet compartment:

"The seal is intact! It's right there in the box!"

Mei Lingyun's face stiffened slightly, her eyes filled with disbelief.

He stared intently at the bronze seal, then suddenly looked up to scrutinize Zhao Bao's overly calm profile.

Can an empty box be replaced with a genuine one?

This...this is too bizarre!
Mei Lingyun's lips moved, but she ultimately did not utter any words of doubt. She simply frowned, clearly unable to comprehend the logic behind it.

Zhao Bao looked respectful, his eyes downcast and his mind focused.

Only his tightly clenched fists and slightly relaxed breathing betrayed a trace of his true feelings.

Wang Jin slowly swallowed the last mouthful of soup, and gently wiped the corner of her mouth with a snow-white silk handkerchief:

"Zhao Bao."

Wang Jin's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable power. His gaze, fixed on Zhao Bao, seemed to pierce through his skin.
"Commander Lu and Headman Mei seem to have doubts about the outcome of this matter."

"Why don't you explain things to them?"

Lu Zhenyu and Mei Lingyun immediately perked up their ears.

Zhao Bao bowed slightly, his voice clear and steady:
"Reporting to the Chief Eunuch, this method is merely a manipulation of Yue Kai's thoughts."

"When Lord Lu handed the sealed box to Yue Kai, Yue Kai felt as if he were being roasted over a fire, caught in a dilemma."

"Firstly, tearing off the seal on the spot and opening the box to inspect it to prove that there was no seal inside—this action is tantamount to admitting that he knows the secret inside the box, confirming the suspicion of piracy!"

"Secondly, he could take the box home intact and open it in public the next day when he returns it—in this way, he would have to bear the serious crime of dereliction of duty for losing the seal!"

"In order to protect himself and get rid of this hot potato of a crime, Yue Kai's only choice was to put the stolen official seal back into the box."

Zhao Bao's voice echoed clearly in the pavilion.

Lu Zhenyu's eyes lit up as he listened, and he couldn't help but nod repeatedly:
"Yes! Yes! That's it! He really did put Yin back!"

It turns out that all of this was done by taking advantage of the seal thief's fear and making him obediently return the official seal.

Mei Lingyun, however, seemed to have grasped something and said in a deep voice:
"Lord Zhao, please forgive my bluntness!"

"Until we have overwhelming evidence, Yue Kai is merely a suspect, not a definitive conclusion!"

"If the thief is someone else, then you have lost this gamble, sir. Wouldn't this be gambling with Lord Lu's future and letting the real culprit go free?"

His words carried a subtle sharpness, clearly showing his utter contempt for Zhao Bao's "crooked ways."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhenyu couldn't help but shake his head secretly.

The facts are already laid bare, yet Mei Lingyun seeks another hypothesis.

Clearly, Mei Lingyun is no longer willing to accept defeat.

Zhao Bao raised his head, meeting Mei Lingyun's gaze, a faint smile playing on his lips, but his voice was resolute:

"Lord Mei is absolutely right!"

"But how can one be absolutely certain about everything in the world?"

"If we try to be perfect in everything and are always hesitant and timid, how can we get the jobs assigned by the factory workers done?"

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone rising sharply, filled with an almost fanatical loyalty and confidence:
"I dare to gamble because my heart belongs only to the Eunuch and the Emperor! I will brave any danger, even mountains of knives and seas of fire!"

"Moreover, I believe I am blessed. I also believe that this blessing is part of my ability."

"I believe even more that those who can accomplish things for the factory are truly blessed!"

"If I didn't have this good fortune and luck, how would I dare to make a fool of myself before the eunuch?!"

These words were sharp and pointed, directly criticizing Mei Lingyun's "incompetence" and "lack of fortune".

Mei Lingyun's face flushed red instantly, a surge of anger rising to his head. He abruptly looked up, his voice filled with suppressed rage:
"Lord Zhao! Even if it is determined that Yue Kai was the one who did it, he should be arrested according to the law and punished severely!"

"You tricked him into returning the body and then let him go so easily, disregarding the law and discipline. This is condoning treachery, not the behavior of a loyal minister!"

A glint of light flashed in Zhao Bao's eyes, and he was secretly delighted—that's exactly what I was waiting for!
"Mei Lingyun!"

Zhao Bao suddenly shouted, his voice booming like thunder!
He suddenly spun around, his eyes flashing like lightning, piercing straight into the depths of Mei Lingyun's eyes, his aura suddenly rising!
"You are presumptuous!!"

Zhao Bao's voice echoed in the elegant study:
"From beginning to end, where is the talk of thieves?!"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable authority:

"It was clearly Lord Yue's oversight that he mistakenly kept the official seal. He immediately returned it upon realizing the mistake!"

"It was just a small misunderstanding, but you've turned it into an unforgivable theft?"

"Are you trying to frame your colleague and disrupt factory operations?!"

They've turned the world upside down and confused right and wrong!

Yet it carried a chilling air of someone who had seized the initiative and looked down from above!
Mei Lingyun was so choked by the accusations that turned black into white and Zhao Bao’s unyielding attitude that her chest heaved violently and her face turned as red as sauce!
In that tense moment, another voice suddenly broke in:
"Master Eunuch! Lord Zhao is absolutely right!"

It was Lu Zhenyu!
He seemed to have been pricked by a needle, abruptly lowering his body, his voice filled with fear and utter realization:
"Lord Zhao, please be wise! Eunuch, please be wise! This humble official...this humble official was foolish!"

"This official seal... was indeed lost due to my negligence in not keeping it properly! Fortunately, Lord Yue found it and returned it in time!"

"I made a false report of theft without investigating the matter properly, which alarmed the Eunuch and caused a misunderstanding. This is a grave mistake! I am willing to accept the Eunuch's punishment!"

Lu Zhenyu is no fool.

He could also see that the eunuch didn't want this matter to become a laughing stock for the police station, so he knew exactly what he should say.

Anyway, the official seal has been recovered, and the biggest mistake has been made up for.

Even if the eunuch were to punish him for falsely reporting the theft, it would only be a minor offense, far less serious than the crime of losing the official seal.

His "backstabbing" left Mei Lingyun completely frozen in place.

He looked at Lu Zhenyu in disbelief, at this victim who had been indignant just yesterday, but now took the initiative to blame everything on his own "confusion" and "misunderstanding".

These words were like a slap in the face to Mei Lingyun!

He stood frozen in place, speechless!

The person who reported the crime changed their own testimony, and the case was closed as "finding and returning lost property"!
What else can he accuse me of?!

A tremendous sense of absurdity and a chilling sense of powerlessness instantly gripped him.

A brief silence followed.

Wang Jin finally slowly put down the snow-white silk handkerchief in her hand.

His deep, unfathomable gaze swept over the three people below the steps, finally settling on Zhao Bao, whose head was bowed:

"Ah."

A flat, nasal sound.

"Since it's a misunderstanding, let's clear it up and leave it at that. This matter ends here."

He waved his hand, his tone flat and indifferent:

"Lu Zhenyu, Mei Lingyun, you two, step down."

Immediately, that scrutinizing and meaningful gaze refocused on Zhao Bao:

"Zhao Bao, you stay."

(End of this chapter)