You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

A dozen days later, at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Finally, I've completed my practice of the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian..."

As the saying goes, the Lesser Yang Fire is the key to harmony.

The practice of the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian is of paramount importance for martial arts practitioners!

This is because the Triple Burner is not independent, but rather the pathway and hub that governs the circulation of Qi and blood throughout the body. It can be said to be within the body, encompassing all organs!

At the same time, it is also a key meridian for harmonizing Qi, balancing Yin and Yang, and clearing up internal conflicts.

the most important is……

After completing the practice of the Triple Burner Meridian according to the Nine Yang Return to Origin Method, the body will reach a state of harmony between water and fire, and balance between yin and yang.

It's a minor evolution!

This evolution is related to the reversal of the hexagrams, which is the basic condition for transforming the innate body!

Lu Zuo narrowed his eyes slightly, silently sensing the changes within his body.

"My senses have become more acute, expanding from a radius of ten zhang to fifteen zhang."

"At the same time, my mind was clear and lucid, my thoughts were more focused, and the unknown substance attached to my meridians seemed to have loosened a little..."

He knew very well that the "unknown substance" was the deadly poison "The King of Hell Calls You to Die at Midnight"!

"The detoxifying effect of this Nine Yang Returning to Origin Technique is better than I expected..."

Lu Zuo originally thought that the techniques from low-to-mid-level martial arts worlds would have little effect on the potent poisons of high-level fantasy martial arts worlds.

But the current situation is not like that.

Of course, this is also due to increased poison resistance...

Thinking of this, he felt a slight stirring in his heart and summoned the character panel.

Name: Lu Zuo.

Age: 21.

Identity: Imposter emperor, puppet.

Status: Poisoned.

Constitution: +31.

Lifespan: +57.

Internal Force: +23.

Zen Enlightenment: +57.

Poison Path: Additional +51.

Blade Path: Additional +16.

Cultivation level: Acquired.

Cultivation Technique: First Level of the Imperial Path Ultimate Scripture, Nine Yang Returning to Origin Great Method (0/3000.)

Talent 1: Tyrannical and incompetent ruler.

Talent 2: Travel incognito.

Talent 3: Rebellion.

Space: 10 cubic meters.

These days, Lu Zuo almost always goes to the Su residence during the day to discuss and exchange ideas with Madam Su, and then returns to the Yangxin Hall to cultivate in the evening.

However, the increase in the Poison Path attribute is decreasing day by day, and in the last few days it has only been 1 point.

As for the sword techniques given for neglecting government affairs, they were originally increasing day by day.

However, every few days, Li Chengan would call him to participate in a court assembly, and afterwards he would have to start accumulating points again.

otherwise……

At this moment, Lu Zuo's sword attribute must be at least thirty to fifty points!

After thinking for a moment, he closed the panel and pondered to himself, "It seems..."

"It's time to find a new target."

Few of the civil and military officials in the Southern Chen dynasty were good people. They were either from wealthy and powerful families who exploited the people, or they were corrupt and sycophantic.

Only Ren Zhong could be considered a competent minister.

Lu Zuo felt no pressure whatsoever in causing trouble for them!

But he also knew very well that if this continued, he would inevitably become alienated from his ministers and his people, and the time of the country's demise would probably be much shorter than in history...

"But we can't worry about that right now."

"The most important thing is to prevent the King of Hell from calling you to die at midnight!"

"As long as my cultivation level is high enough, even if the Southern Chen Dynasty falls, I will still have a chance to escape this hellhole!"

After a moment of contemplation, he sat down cross-legged again, breathing and practicing the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming.

……

The following morning.

As Lu Zuo led Zhao An and the black-clad guards out of the palace gates, they saw a slightly overweight man with a smiling face, dressed in fine clothes and exuding an air of wealth walking towards them.

Zhang Youyuan?

Lu Zuo remembered this person; he came from a poor family and held the official position of Assistant Minister of Justice, a fifth-rank official.

When Chen Shubao was still the crown prince, he flattered him at a gathering of literati, and from then on, he rose to prominence and entered officialdom.

However, due to his family background, although he was highly regarded by Chen Shubao, he could only sit in a position of the fifth rank.

After all, in this era, birth determines the future, and bloodline represents everything!

Ren Zhong was an exception; after saving the emperor three times, he recognized a prince as his godfather and only then did he become a third-rank general.

"Your subject, Zhang Youyuan, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Several meters away, he knelt on the ground and, using the momentum of his forward movement, slid down to Lu Zuo's feet.

Few of the civil and military officials in the Southern Chen dynasty were good people. They were either from wealthy and powerful families who exploited the people, or they were corrupt and sycophantic.

Zhang Youyuan is a typical example of flattery!

and……

This person is skilled at fabricating charges, framing others, and even devising many cruel instruments of torture and punishments.

Examples include: "Step by Step, Lotus Platform", "Love Knot", and "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Kite".

Whenever Zhang Youyuan took a fancy to a woman or property, he would fabricate charges against her, arrest her, bring her back to the Ministry of Justice, and torture her to the point of near death.

In order to save the person, the other party's family members either offered money or their bodies.

But this person is very clever; he specifically targets those with weak backgrounds but some family wealth.

They fawned over the wealthy and powerful.

The people of Jiankang feared Zhang Youyuan like a tiger and hated him to the bone, but they could only be angry but dared not speak out.

"Rise."

Lu Zuo waved his hand: "What brings you to the palace when you're not at the Ministry of Justice?"

Zhang Youyuan stood up, dusted off his sleeves, and smiled with narrowed eyes, "Your Majesty, I have recently found several stunning beauties among the common people. Would you like to come to my residence to take a look?"

Like Kong Fan, he was also a lackey who often recruited beautiful women for Chen Shubao among the common people.

Lu Zuo left the palace today to wander outside the city and see if he could trigger his second talent, find another cultivation technique, or some other item.

Besides, it would be acceptable for him to target the concubines in the harem or those noblewomen.

And those pitiful women from humble backgrounds...

Lu Zuo instinctively resisted!

He frowned slightly, about to refuse Zhang Youyuan, when he heard him say, "Especially that Shen Luoyan, she is truly stunningly beautiful, every aspect of her is like a painting."

Who?

Shen Luoyan?

Lu Zuo's eyes narrowed; something was wrong!

In the original novel, Shen Luoyan was only in her early twenties when she first appeared.

According to this setting, she hasn't been born yet!

Are they just people with the same name?

Or was Shen Luoyan born prematurely in this fictional world, which differs from the original work in so many ways?

Lu Zuo instantly became intensely curious about Shen Luoyan and nodded, saying, "Since you say so, I will go and see her."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Youyuan's face broke into a wide smile, and his eyes narrowed into slits...

In order to please the emperor, he made two preparations today.

One is a commoner woman who was recently recruited.

Another example is to follow Su Chenghua's lead and offer up one's wife.

after all……

Su Chenghua, who had been demoted, was reinstated this morning!

Zhang Youyuan is so eager to improve!

He's willing to risk everything for a promotion!

.......

A short while later, in a certain room of the Zhang residence.

"My lady, His Majesty has arrived."

"The master wants you to dress up and come to the main hall for an audience."

"understood."

Shen Luoyan narrowed her eyes slightly, pinched the gold hairpin in her hair, and a murderous intent flashed in her eyes.