Demon Emperor

Chapter 23 Why not let you be my mount?

The tiger has been subdued and everything is ready.

Ruan Hu sat behind the table, watching the palace lanterns flicker in the main hall, and then took out the fragrant sachet.

As soon as it was taken out, a fragrance drew Ruan Hu's consciousness to the highest heavens.

Ruan Hu's method of calling back the soul is performed through sound, while Miao Xiang Tian Nu's method is clearly performed through incense.

"Could this celestial maiden have some connection with incense?"

Ruan Hu's consciousness gradually became hazy.

It was as if wisps of blue smoke were rising from all directions, gathering around us.

"His Majesty!"

Amidst the smoke, the goddess arrived riding the wind and carrying clouds.

When they first met, this former deity, now a celestial maiden, was incredibly enthusiastic, but also full of probing.

The second time they met, the other person had begun to pay extra attention to his future and showed more sincerity.

This is the third time.

As Ruan Hu watched the Heavenly Maiden approach, she scrutinized him closely. It seemed that every time Ruan Hu saw her, he would reveal a side of himself that would surprise her.

Ruan Hu got straight to the point, recounting what had happened before: the mirror, the palace concubines, and the remains of Prime Minister and royal relative Ruan Heng were "stolen".

This time, the Celestial Maiden of Wonderful Fragrance did not try to be mysterious or try to hide anything.

"Does Your Majesty know why I always use incense when I perform this 'Invite the King into My Dream' technique?"

Previously, the capital city was guarded by the Hell Path, but after Ruan Hu killed the Ghost Master, the original system was completely broken.

Ruan Hu had already guessed: "Using objects as a medium?"

Miaoxiang Tiannu nodded: "Your Majesty must take the initiative to invite me before I can enter this dream."

"And if the witchcraft and sorcery are to be cast on His Majesty, an object must be used as a medium; it cannot be cast out of thin air."

"Most witchcraft practices are like this."

"Ordinary spells and mediums are not very effective for His Majesty."

"To truly harm His Majesty."

"For example, the Mirror Princess, who is the vengeful spirit of His Majesty's concubine, who lives with His Majesty day and night."

Ruan Hu had also heard of this strange art; the sixth volume of the "Strange Garden" recorded the strange story of a person's soul attaching itself to a mirror.

"Or perhaps, Ruan Heng, who shares the same bloodline as His Majesty."

"These are all top-quality materials."

Ruan Hu understood, but there was still one thing he didn't understand.

"If demons and ghosts could move so easily in a country's capital, and if an emperor could be so easily cursed, wouldn't the world have long since descended into chaos?"

Miaoxiang Tiannu looked at Ruan Hu and nodded.

"Of course it's not that easy. Emperors usually have the protection of their ancestral temples and altars."

"But there's something wrong with His Majesty's ancestral temple..."

Ruan Hu roughly understood that the ancestral temples of the Dasheng Dynasty were smashed by the rebels after the loss of the capital, and the imperial tombs were dug up.

The traitor has been completely wiped out, so there's basically no point in asking your ancestors for blessings anymore.

Miao Xiang Tian Nu: "However, there was originally an alternative. The Hell Path is powerful in the Underworld and is more than capable of protecting His Majesty and the capital."

Ruan Hu understood: "No wonder there was such a big commotion after I killed that ghost master."

However, if it happened again, Ruan Hu would have to behead him once more.

If we don't kill that charlatan, where will we get such a useful physiognomy technique?

Ruan Hu figured out the cause and effect.

The Fairy of Wonderful Fragrance also followed the fragrance and fled, saying as she departed.

"But I have no idea what kind of witchcraft the King of the Underworld will use."

"Your Majesty, please be careful and cautious."

"If there is any news, I will inform Your Majesty."
-
Ruan Hu stepped down from the carriage, and everyone knelt down.

He raised his head and looked at the long steps in front of him and the palace at the end.

The plaque that originally read "Six Heavens Palace" has been removed and replaced with "Heavenly Maiden Palace".

In just two days and one night.

The Ministry of Works quickly carried out Ruan Hu's order. The temple at the foot of the imperial city, which originally enshrined the Six Heavenly Ghosts, was cleaned up completely. Ruan Hu came today to see if there were any problems.

Ruan Hu entered the main hall, where all the densely packed statues of ghosts and gods had been removed.

The murals had not yet been moved in, and the celestial maiden statues were not yet finished by the craftsmen, leaving the place feeling empty and desolate.

Ruan Hu walked and looked around.

"Have the selection process for the Palace Master and the Priest begun?"

Palace Attendant: "It has already begun, but the final confirmation still needs to be made by His Majesty and the deities."

Ruan Hu then asked, "When these statues of the Six Heavenly Ghosts were moved out, did nothing happen?"

Palace Attendant: "Nothing unusual has happened."

The ghosts of the past six days had their temples taken away and lost their greatest offerings, yet they did not suffer any backlash whatsoever. Ruan Hu found this rather unusual.

Outside the palace, servants walked by, lighting mugwort to ward off evil spirits, and smoke swirled around them.

"wrong?"

Ruan Hu caught a whiff of the faint smell of smoke and turned to look.

He immediately sensed that there was something wrong with the smoke; there must be something else mixed in with the mugwort.

His [Changpo Poison Technique] was activated instinctively. Although the eunuch's poison technique was not profound, the contents of the smoke felt to be in line with the poison techniques he had learned.

Ruan Hu immediately looked at the waiter, slightly covering his mouth and nose, and gave the order.

"Take that man down."

"The smoke was extinguished with water."

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than a strange wind blew the burning mugwort into the shrine.

In an instant, the sky outside and inside seemed to darken completely.

It grew darker and darker until it became pitch black, and nothing could be seen. "Pfft!"

Inside the palace, candles suddenly lit up, illuminating the surroundings.

The once empty hall was suddenly filled with ghosts and spirits.

The six ghosts that were moved out of the temple.

It's back again.

Terrifying ghosts and gods occupied all the surrounding space, some nearly ten feet tall, others incredibly ugly.

There was also a tall one, standing on the beams or eaves, or in the niches on either side, looking at Ruan Hu with malice.

If an ordinary person saw such a scene, they would probably be scared to death instantly.

"Ha ha ha ha."

"Hahahaha!"

"Hey Hey……"

Accompanied by bursts of different kinds of wild laughter, all the surrounding statues came to life in an instant.

The lamplight flickered, and the shadows projected on the ground danced wildly like a horde of demons.

Ruan Hu stood in the center, watching this scene with a sneer in his heart.

"Pretend to be a ghost."

Ruan Hu had experienced a lot and had also talked with the Fairy of Fragrance. He knew that the most crucial element in casting this witchcraft was the medium.

The lowest form of witchcraft involves using sound, smell, and light to influence people face-to-face. It has no effect on those with strong will or those who have seen through the tricks of your spell.

It is invincible for ordinary people, but it has no effect on some extraordinary people.

"Ruan Hu!"

"Ruan Hu!"

"..."

The six ghosts called out Ruan Hu's name one by one, as if using a soul-summoning technique, trying to intimidate Ruan Hu and subdue his will.

Make him unable to resist and obedient to your every word.

Do you know you're wrong?

"Do you know you're wrong...you know you're wrong...you know you're wrong..."

The sound echoed continuously in the hall, growing louder and louder like a great bell.

Ruan Hu looked around and asked a question.

"Are there any even more powerful ones?"

"I've heard that the scenery of the underworld is quite pleasant. Why don't you all bow down and become my mounts, taking me for a ride?"

Upon hearing this, all six ancient ghosts around were enraged.

"Ok?"

"I don't know what to do."

"court death."

The atmosphere was tense, and the six ancient ghosts all looked like they were about to devour someone.

However, Ruan Hu did not make a move, knowing that the other party was unlikely to do so either.

At this moment, what is revealed here is nothing but an illusion. The opponent cannot harm him, and it is meaningless for him to attack a group of illusions.

However, the other party must have had some purpose in creating such an illusion.

Ruan Hu: "Speak, what brings you here?"

The leading, eighteen-foot-tall deity statue spoke: "If Your Majesty can repent and return to the palace, we can welcome the gods back to serve the Hell Realm for eternity. It is not too late for you to worship the gods and apologize."

"Otherwise, Your Majesty may be condemned to the hell of Nara Feng and suffer eternal torment."

The eighteen-foot-tall statue had eyes as fierce as bronze bells, and its words were full of threats.

Ruan Hu's move completely extinguished the incense offerings of the Six Heavenly Palaces, and then replaced them with another deity.

It can be said that it hit the opponent's weak point, and it really made the opponent anxious.

Ruan Hu: "Isn't that perfect? ​​I'm right here. Why don't I let you be my mount and carry me on a trip to the underworld?"

This completely enraged the six ancient ghosts.

However, at this moment, they were powerless against Ruan Hu and could only retreat.

"Hahaha... You're asking for death... You're asking for death... You're courting death."

"Ruan Hu, you are destined to lose your destiny."

"The Great Sheng Dynasty is now in your hands; it is destined to perish."

Accompanied by curses.

Black winds swirled around them, and choking smoke billowed into the darkness.

The six ghosts followed the black wind and thick smoke as it swept into the sky, gradually disappearing into the heavens and leaving the palace.

"His Majesty!"

"His Majesty?"

At this moment, many people entered the hall and surrounded Ruan Hu.

All that could be seen was Ruan Hu standing in the center of the main hall, looking up at the roof beams.

And outside.

The burning of mugwort to ward off evil spirits had been extinguished by water, and the illusions and anomalies targeting Ruan Hu also ceased.

The illusion just now wasn't meant to attack Ruan Hu, but rather to negotiate with him, or rather, to issue an ultimatum.

They threatened him with ghosts and spirits.

He was to bow his head and admit his mistake, to worship them for eternity, and to pray to the gods to atone for his sins.

But Ruan Hu came to be an emperor, not a grandson.

Compared to the six ancient ghosts and underworld gods who were trying to manipulate and control him, Ruan Hu preferred to believe in the gods he had supported, relied on, and bound to.

(End of this chapter)