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

Soon, news of Su Chenghua's death arrived.

But Lu Zuo ignored him and continued his debauchery, indulging in entertainment until evening before returning to the palace.

.......

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he took out several books from his personal space.

One book is titled "The Art of Disguise," another "The Ethereal Steps," and the third "The Reverse Wind Slash."

The first two volumes were written on the spot by Shen Luoyan and Lu Shiyu, while the last volume was retrieved by Shen Luoyan from Ren Zhong's residence.

This was also the last thing he asked Shen Luoyan to do for him.

Disguise is not as simple as makeup or just putting on a human skin mask.

It is a method that uses internal energy to infuse different acupoints, causing subtle changes in the human body's bones and skin, thereby altering one's appearance.

Such methods cannot disguise the appearance of others; they can only create several, or even a dozen, different faces based on one's own bone structure.

The advantage is that it's undetectable and the disguise is quick.

This is why Shen Luoyan could enter and leave the Ren residence repeatedly without being noticed.

After Lu Zuo memorized all the contents of the disguise technique, he began to read "The Misty Steps".

"All things arise together, and I observe their return."

"A strong wind does not last all morning, nor does a sudden rain last all day. Riding the air like a fish, without contention or attachment, this is called ethereal..."

"What does that mean?"

After reading only a few sentences, Lu Zuo frowned; he couldn't understand it...

There are no specific routes for practicing the exercises or methods for circulating qi; there is only a mysterious and esoteric passage, similar to poetry.

"Is Lu Shiyu playing a trick on me?"

After thinking about it carefully, he shook his head again: "No, the martial arts manual on the jade doll is also just as obscure and difficult to understand."

"It was through Shen Wuhua's explanation that I was able to understand cultivation."

"I don't understand it yet; it's just that my knowledge is insufficient..."

"I'll have to ask Lu Shiyu for help explaining it to me tomorrow."

Speaking of this leader of the Hundred Trades Gang, I only learned from our meeting yesterday that he only knows light footwork and doesn't know any other martial arts.

However, this person's lightness skill was truly remarkable; he could enter and leave Shen Luoyan's residence as if it were an empty place.

Even a master like the Black-Clad Guards, who were at the innate level, couldn't detect anything amiss.

"You must master this ethereal step!"

Lu Zuo muttered to himself, then picked up the last book, "Reverse Wind Slash."

The opening lines read: "Death is where I take root, and despair is where enlightenment comes."

Further down, the content is not as mysterious and obscure as the Misty Steps; it simply describes the path of cultivation and the method of circulating qi.

It also explains how to see the tranquility in the eye of the storm amidst dire circumstances and how to use the power of heaven and earth to strike a blow against the wind.

In conclusion: The "Adverse Wind Blade Technique" deeply understands the essential principles of military strategy. Its key lies in courage, accumulating strength, deflecting force, finding the enemy's weakness, and launching a counterattack from a desperate situation.

As the saying goes:

Instead of rejecting the raging flood, they opened up the Guixu (a place name) to guide it.

Undeterred by the raging fire, they instead provided firewood and other supplies.

To contain immense power within a mustard seed, and to bury murderous intent before it is even unleashed.

When the wind blows against me, that is when I will strike!

"courage?"

"This should contain elements of spiritual martial arts, right?"

Lu Zuo knew that some martial arts in this world were closely related to the spirit.

Only when one's mental strength is strong enough and conforms to the mental state required for martial arts can one unleash its full power, or even exceed its limits!

For example: sadness, anger, sorrow, etc...

This characteristic is not unique to this world.

It has also been recorded in martial arts novels I have read in the past.

For example, Yang Guo's Ecstasy Palm requires entering a specific mental state in order to defeat the Golden Wheel Monk.

Lu Zuo closed the book, tossed it into his personal space, and ordered towards the outside of the hall, "Someone, prepare the carriage for Shuyu Studio."

……

The next morning, at Shuyu Studio.

As soon as Lu Zuo opened his eyes, he saw the prompt from the cheat system.

[Missed the morning court session; internal strength +3.]

[Enchanted by beautiful women, physique +2.]

[Abandoning official duties, bonus reward: Swordsmanship +1, Lifespan +3.]

[Excessive indulgence in lust, additional reward: Cultivation +1266.]

[Humiliating a subject, bonus reward: Poison Path +36.]

[Conspiring with thieves, bonus reward: Swordsmanship +3 (affects swordsmanship training and comprehension).]

"Give us so many poison channels?"

Lu Zuo silently sensed the changes within his body and felt that the unknown substance attached to his meridians and internal organs had loosened considerably.

"If this continues, it won't be long before I can use my internal energy to force the King of Hell to call you to your death at midnight."

"besides……"

Looking at the section on humiliating officials, Lu Zuo's eyes flashed with a sharp light, as if a new world had opened up for him.

"So, you can play like this?"

……

It has to be said that Zhang Lihua is truly a treasure!

In the following days, Lu Zuo spent most of his time in Shuyu Zhai, only leaving the palace once to meet Lu Shiyu.

However, the other party told him that the Misty Step originated from Taoism and has no fixed method of cultivating qi. The word "Misty" is precisely because it varies from person to person and is ever-changing.

Different people, based on their different understandings, will come up with different footwork and mental techniques.

With no other option, Lu Zuo had to first practice the Disguise Technique and the Reverse Wind Slash.

Zhang Lihua could increase his cultivation by more than a thousand points every day, in addition to Zhang Youyuan's several wives.

His strength increased dramatically, and in just seven days he had mastered both martial arts techniques.

"It's time to go and meet the people of the Hundred Ghosts Sect and completely subdue them."

.......

Night falls, inside the inner palace of Jiangyun Palace.

"Your Majesty, this is the place."

Su Yanzhi lifted a floor tile and pointed to the dark, damp hole below.

To prevent any accidents, Lu Zuo first sealed her acupoints, imprisoning her internal energy. Then he handed her an oil lamp and instructed, "You can go down now."

This guy is really cautious...

Su Yanzhi muttered a curse to herself, picked up the oil lamp, and jumped into the underground sewer.

Although she was about two zhang tall, she was, after all, a martial artist and had achieved a naturally gifted physique.

Even with internal energy sealed, the physical body alone can withstand the impact of a height of about seven meters.

Lu Zuo jumped in as well, and said in a deep voice, "You go first, don't try anything funny."

Su Yanzhi shook her head and smiled: "Your Majesty, even at this point, you still don't trust me?"

"I need to meet with several of them before I can decide whether you are trustworthy."

If the Yin-Yang Judges are truly as ordinary as this woman claims, and they haven't resorted to any tricks, then it proves that this woman can be trusted.

But what she said might be false...

Lu Zuo was confident that he could escape without any problem.

The room was dark and cramped, with puddles on the ground and slippery moss covering the walls on both sides.

The smells of mildew, rust, and rotten wood filled the air, mixed with a faint, almost imperceptible, fishy odor.

The echoing footsteps as he walked through it carried an eerie feeling, making Lu Zuo very uncomfortable...

This process lasted for almost an hour before a glimmer of light finally appeared in their eyes.

"Your Majesty, we have arrived."

Su Yanzhi came into the light and pointed to the well opening above, speaking softly.

Lu Zuo stepped forward, grabbed her collar, and tossed her upwards with a sudden movement. Su Yanzhi flew into the air and landed by the well.

Immediately, he stomped his feet on the ground, and with a cracking sound of shattering bricks, he shot out like a cannonball and landed in a dilapidated courtyard.

Just as Lu Zuo was about to take in his surroundings, he suddenly heard Su Yanzhi's coquettish laughter: "Giggle..."

"Your Majesty, it won't be easy to lure you out."

Lu Zuo's eyes narrowed: "Su Yanzhi, it seems you still intend to use me as a hostage to rescue You Wuji."

As Su Yanzhi backed away, she looked at him with a charming smile: "Your Majesty, I had already decided to submit to you."

"But upon closer reflection, His Majesty's proposed conditions are truly unconvincing."

"Who knows if you can obtain the method to break the Nine Nether Soul-Devouring Seal?"

"And who can guarantee that even if you obtain it, you will help us escape this misery, and not become another corrupt official?"

"Hello!"

"I've brought the person here, why aren't you showing yourself?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a series of eerie laughs suddenly came from behind Lu Zuo.

"Hehehehehehe..."

"Red-Clad Ghost Woman, it seems you and the Emperor of Great Chen have had quite a few things happen in the palace."

Looking back, I saw a white-haired man slowly walking out from behind the willow tree in the courtyard.

This person was tall and thin, with white hair and white clothes, and his skin was an unnatural, pale white, almost like moonlight.

His face was fairly handsome, with a smile on his lips, but his eyes were lifeless, like two dry wells, and his smile was stiff and unnatural.

The feeling Lu Zuo got...

This isn't a living person!

"Who cares what happens?"

A deep, rough voice rang out from the other side of the courtyard.

Lu Zuo looked in the direction of the sound and saw two figures walking side by side out of a dark corner.

The man on the left was dressed in dark, close-fitting clothes. He was as tall and strong as a mountain, with a square and stern face. His skin was a deep bronze color from years of sun exposure, and his eyes shone brightly when they opened and closed. He held a judge's pen in his hand.

The one on the right was dressed in a snow-white long robe, with a slightly thin figure, a pale and delicate face, and even a somewhat sickly handsome appearance.

His eyes were slightly narrowed, his gaze flickering and giving him an unpredictable air. The weapon in his hand was also a judge's pen.

The two stood side by side, one in black and one in white, one yang and one yin, one strong and one gentle, one calm and one unpredictable, presenting completely opposite temperaments.

"That's right."

"As long as we capture this tyrannical emperor, take him hostage to the imperial mausoleum, and rescue the deceased emperor."

"The rest of us are now free."

Lu Zuo glanced around at the group, his gaze finally settling on Su Yanzhi: "Aren't you afraid I'll wipe you all out?"

"Giggle giggle..."

Su Yanzhi smiled charmingly: "Your Majesty's strength truly exceeds expectations."

"But our previous exchange has given me a general understanding of Your Majesty's cultivation level."

"Although it will be a tough battle and take some effort, our chances of winning are at least 60% or 70%."

"It's definitely worth a shot!"

She paused, then looked at Lu Zuo with brimming eyes: "Your Majesty, you can't possibly have increased your strength so drastically in just a few days, can you?"

"What if my strength truly increases?"

"How should you handle this?"

Su Yanzhi's eyes narrowed: "That's wishful thinking!"