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

The exciting chapter "Chapter 323 Step Over My Corpse!" is now available online. Click to read it now!

The cold wind of December grew colder day by day, swirling with fine snowflakes carried from beyond the Great Wall, lashing against the towering city walls and rooftops of Nanjing, emitting a piercing howl, as if countless vengeful spirits were wailing in unison.

The festive atmosphere of the year-end was almost entirely overshadowed by the bitter cold and increasingly tense and bizarre rumors.

More unsettling rumors began to circulate among the common people: near Caishikou in the eastern part of the city, a night watchman saw a headless ghost wandering around at midnight.

In the mass graves in the western suburbs, the soil of new graves has been inexplicably dug up recently, and the remains have disappeared; even at the foot of the imperial city, soldiers on night patrol have claimed to have heard inhuman growls and seen a fleeting, ghostly black shadow on the wall.

Rumors spread like a plague, fueled by fear.

The public notices posted by the government became increasingly stern in their wording, yet they seemed increasingly pale and powerless.

The troops from the Demon Suppression Division and the Demon Suppression Platform were frequently mobilized, entering and leaving the city gates. Their armor was thick, their faces were solemn, adding to the oppressive atmosphere of an impending storm.

People began to hoard rice and grain, reinforce their doors, and keep their doors tightly shut after nightfall. The once bustling night market became deserted early on.

The entire city of Jinling was like a giant beast shivering in the cold wind, restless and uneasy, yet unaware of the specific source of the danger.

The atmosphere inside the imperial palace was equally somber.

Lu Zuo, citing the reason that "the end of the year is approaching and there is a risk of trouble caused by petty villains, so it is necessary to strengthen the palace security", issued several strongly worded decrees in succession, and changed and increased the guards of some palace gates and key areas, especially strengthening the blockade of the southeast abandoned garden area.

Ostensibly, it was to prevent remnants of the previous dynasty or bandits from sneaking in during the chaos, but in reality, it was aimed at the "Demon-Locking Well" and the "woman in red" who might be associated with it.

Following orders, Eunuch Liu selected seasoned guards with relatively clean backgrounds, little connection to the Liu and Yuwen factions, and some loyalty to the emperor. He also secretly distributed a limited number of exorcising talismans and specially made weapons from the imperial treasury.

These actions weren't particularly significant, but to those with a discerning eye, they already hinted at something unusual.

When the emperor suddenly showed concern for the palace's defenses during the court assembly, Liu Daoling merely offered a noncommittal praise, saying "Your Majesty's considerations are thorough," but a barely perceptible hint of sarcasm flashed in his eyes.

In his view, this was nothing more than a futile struggle by the incompetent emperor, who was terrified by the increasingly dire situation and the strange tales circulating in the palace.

He was even pleased with the outcome; the more nervous and flustered the emperor appeared, the more it proved his insecurity and powerlessness, which would be more beneficial to his and Yuwen Qing's subsequent plans.

Yuwen Qing, however, scoffed in private, "Woman's compassion! A few palace walls and a few guards, and they think they can stop demons? What a joke! Once my 'big guys' enter the city, they'll show him what real protection is!"

At this moment, their attention was more focused on the final implementation of the "New Year's Eve plan".

The second batch of "demon blood" has been transported in batches through clandestine channels to several secret locations they had set up in the city.

These "demon blood" are purer than the first batch, containing stronger tainted demonic power, enough to catalyze powerful demons with strength approaching that of innate martial artists, and may even give birth to "demon generals" with rudimentary intelligence.

They planned to simultaneously "detonate" this "demon blood" in the slums, abandoned warehouses, or deserted temples near the three city gates of the east, west, and north on the 28th, 29th, and 30th of the twelfth lunar month, creating the illusion of a multi-point outbreak and an unprecedented "demon siege".

At that time, the whole city will inevitably be in chaos, the Demon Suppression Division and the Demon Suppression Platform will be unable to take care of both ends, and the Black-Clad Guards, who have been holding back, will have no reason to lie low!

"The moment the Black-Clad Guards show themselves and reveal a weakness, it will be their death!" Yuwen Qing said resolutely to his trusted general in the secret chamber, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

Liu Daoling added in an even more sinister tone: "That's not all."

In the midst of the chaos, the palace guards have been redeployed, leaving the defenses vulnerable. This presents us with the perfect opportunity to "purge the court of corrupt officials" and "rectify the court's affairs."

Marshal Yuwen's "obstacle-clearing" operation can also be launched at the same time. The "obstacle-clearing" he refers to naturally means removing those "stumbling blocks" in the court who still have illusions about the royal family or who are hindering them from fully seizing power.

The two looked at each other and saw undisguised ambition and ruthlessness in each other's eyes.

The sound of firecrackers at the end of the year will become their clarion call to overthrow the imperial power and seize supreme authority.

However, they were unaware that their carefully planned "demonic calamity" had already been used by another pair of eyes hidden in deeper darkness as the prelude to a grander and more terrifying ritual.

Deep inside a courtyard in the southwest shantytown of Jiufang, sealed off by layers of wooden planks.

Underground, a huge cellar that was originally used by a wealthy family to store vegetables and was later abandoned has been completely transformed.

In the center of the cellar, a massive magic circle, over three zhang in diameter and so intricate as to be dazzling, was drawn with a dark red, viscous liquid mixed with unknown substances.

At each key node of the magic circle, there is a "sacrifice" placed there—either a freshly picked heart that is still beating slightly, or a ceramic bowl filled with thick blood, or a bone fragment wrapped with black hair and engraved with incantations.

The air was thick with an overwhelming, suffocating stench of blood, decay, and a cloyingly sweet fragrance.

The magic circle emitted a faint, ominous dark red light, illuminating the cellar as if it were a hellish, bloody abyss.

Scarface knelt outside the magic circle, his forehead pressed against the cold, damp ground, his body trembling slightly with excitement and piety.

The dark red mark on his chest was now faintly resonating with the upside-down blood talisman in the center of the cellar, radiating a burning sensation.

"Master... the foundation of the Myriad Spirits Blood Array has been initially established here according to your divine decree..." Scarface's voice was hoarse and fanatical. "Only on New Year's Eve, when the city's energy is at its peak and most chaotic, can the array's central core be activated to draw in the 'Blood Spirits' of the other three auxiliary arrays... At that time, using the millions of lives in Jinling as fuel and the True Dragon Emperor's aura as a guide, we will surely open the 'Gate of the Blood Sea' for you, drawing in the supreme power of the Blood God! Helping you, Master, achieve the supreme Blood Demon true form and rule over all spirits!"

Deep within the cellar, in an even denser darkness that seemed to absorb all light, came a woman's voice, elusive and ever-changing, filled with both allure and chilling wickedness. This voice resonated directly in Scarface's mind:

"Very good... my 'blood slave'... you did a good job..."

"Liu Daoling and Yuwen Qing, those two fools thought they could achieve their lowly goals by creating chaos using 'demon blood'... Little did they know that every wisp of demonic energy they released, every bit of panic, slaughter, and despair they created, was adding nourishment to my 'Myriad Spirits Blood Array,' paving a blood-red staircase for me to ascend to the throne..."

"New Year's Eve...hehe, what a...good day."

On this day of joyous reunion in the human world, I, the "Blood Rakshasa," will return to earth to wash away all filth with blood and establish an eternal blood kingdom!

"Continue your work, my blood slave."

Ensure the formation is correct.

When the time is right, I will personally... descend.

The sound faded away, as if it had never existed.

But the overwhelming killing intent and terrifying ambition contained in those words made Scarface tremble with excitement, almost fainting.

He pounded his head on the ground, shouting, "I will obey my master's orders! This servant will do anything, even risk my life, to ensure everything goes smoothly!"

……

The Imperial Palace, the quiet room of the Imperial Study.

Lu Zuo suddenly opened his eyes, exhaling a long, scorching breath that condensed into a straight white streak in the cold air, lingering for a long time.

He slowly finished his practice, feeling the increasingly surging true energy within his body, and the "divine light spot" in his ancestral aperture between his eyebrows, which was much more solid and bright than before.

With the aid of certain nourishing pills from the imperial treasury, which he used without regard to the cost, he finally broke through the bottleneck under immense pressure and entered the mid-stage of the Innate Realm!

The total amount of true energy surged, and its quality became more refined and condensed. As it circulated, the faint sounds of wind and thunder echoed in the meridians. The power contained in every move was enough to split stone tablets and shatter rocks.

His progress in the "Spiritual Forging Technique" was even more gratifying. The continuous tempering had brought about a qualitative change in his spiritual power, which was now able to be initially projected outward, forming a vague "spiritual perception field" with a radius of about three zhang.

Within this range, without needing to see or hear, he could vaguely perceive the outlines of objects, the strength of life, and even some intense emotional fluctuations.

Although it is still very crude, it has already produced unexpected and remarkable effects when used in vigilance, reconnaissance and combat.

The increase in strength brought him greater confidence, but it also made him more acutely aware of the immense crisis that was looming in the shadows.

Especially when cultivating the "Spiritual Rhinoceros Forging Divine Method," his mind was highly focused and sensitive. He could often vaguely detect extremely weak yet evil and filthy "waves" coming from the direction of the abandoned garden in the southeast of the imperial palace, and even further away, probably from the direction of the old neighborhood.

Especially recently, the "fluctuations" seem to be becoming more and more obvious, and more and more... regular and aggressive.

"We can't wait any longer."

Lu Zuo stood up, his eyes gleaming.

Liu Gong'an's spies had already gotten some information about Liu Daoling and Yuwen Qing's "New Year's Eve Plan." Although the details were not clear, the keywords "end of the twelfth lunar month," "multiple locations," and "major chaos" were enough to set off alarm bells for him.

Although the "woman in red" in the abandoned garden no longer appeared openly, the feeling of being spied on and coveted was still like a thorn in my side.

There's also the "blood array" in the old neighborhood, the dark red mark Yan Qingfeng mentioned, and the rumors of the "Blood Worship Cult"... All the clues point to a terrifying conclusion: an unprecedented and massive conspiracy targeting the entire capital is about to erupt at the end of the year!

He must take the initiative, or at least disrupt the opponent's rhythm to gain more initiative and time.

"Liu Banban".

Lu Zuo called out.

Liu Gonggong, who had been waiting outside, hurriedly came in.

"What's been happening with Yan Qingfeng lately?"

"Your Majesty, Commander Yan continues to live a secluded life, taking care of his elderly mother."

However, three days ago, he had "accidentally" encountered an old bodyguard who had broken his leg and was performing on the street. He kindly took him home and left him some money.

That old镖师 (bodyguard/escort) had traveled extensively in his younger days and seemed to have considerable knowledge of the strange tales and unorthodox practices of the Southern Frontier and the East China Sea.

According to Liu Gonggong's report, this was one of the ways that Lu Zuo instructed Yan Qingfeng to contact and inquire about clues related to "Blood Worship Cult" and "Blood Seal" under the name of "Jishetang" or other names.

"Did you gain anything?"

"According to the message secretly delivered by Commander Yan, the old镖师 mentioned that about twenty years ago, when he was escorting goods through the border between the Southern Frontier and the Ten Thousand Mountains, he witnessed a fierce battle from afar. One side consisted of government officials and righteous martial arts practitioners, while the other side was a group of men and women dressed in blood-red clothing who appeared to be insane. They seemed to have blood-red tattoos on their bodies, were incredibly strong, and were not afraid of pain. Even the blood flowing from their wounds was tinged with black aura."

Those who follow the righteous path call him the "Blood-Worshipping Demon".

The group of demons was almost completely wiped out, but their leader, a woman wearing a blood-red Rakshasa mask, escaped with serious injuries and fled into the depths of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, disappearing without a trace.

The old bodyguard said that there were rumors among the locals that the "Blood Rakshasa" practiced evil arts, which could absorb people's essence, blood, and souls to cultivate his skills, and could also control others with his own "blood seed," turning them into "blood slaves" who only knew how to kill and were absolutely loyal to him.

Those implanted with the 'blood seed' will have a blood-red mark on their chest or forehead. As time passes, the mark deepens, and the control becomes more complete. Eventually, they will completely lose their sense of self, becoming mindless zombies who only know how to carry out the 'Blood Rakshasa's' commands.

Blood Rakshasa! Blood Seed! Blood Slave!

It perfectly matched his previous guess! Lu Zuo had no more illusions left.

The enemy is none other than the Blood Rakshasa, the leader of the Blood Worship Cult who escaped twenty years ago! Her goal, as expected, is to sacrifice the entire city in blood!

What else did Yan Qingfeng say?

"He said that based on the old bodyguard's description and his previous observations of the group in the old neighborhood, it was almost certain that 'Scarface' was a 'blood slave' who had been implanted with the 'blood seed'."

Moreover, that nest in the old workshop is likely not simple; perhaps... it is the core of some kind of evil array set up by the Blood Rakshasa.

He requested...to revisit the old neighborhood at night again, at least to ascertain the specific details beneath that courtyard.

Eunuch Liu relayed the story with a worried tone.

Lu Zuo pondered.

Sending Yan Qingfeng on another risky mission would have a low success rate and could easily alert the enemy.

But how can we break through if we don't figure out the opponent's specific arrangements as soon as possible?

Tell him not to act rashly for the time being.

However, we can try to monitor the entry and exit of people and the flow of supplies in that courtyard from the outside, using the methods of his Jingmotai, especially... whether there are any signs of a large number of living creatures being transported in.

In addition, ask him to find a way to obtain some medicines or talismans that can temporarily enhance one's true energy or suppress evil energy, in case of emergency.

"More silver if needed."

Lu Zuo decided to prioritize stability. Yan Qingfeng was currently his most important thorn in the side outside the palace, and he couldn't afford to lose him easily.

Eunuch Liu made a record of it.

"Also," Lu Zuo turned his gaze to the gloomy sky outside the window, "regarding the abandoned garden, although the 'woman in red' has not appeared recently, I still feel uneasy."

Did the people you assigned, besides keeping a distant watch, discover anything else unusual?

For example, has anyone else approached the dry well?

Or, are there any new, unusual traces near the wellhead?

Special powder, bloodstains, or disturbed soil?

After thinking carefully, Eunuch Liu suddenly said, "Now that Your Majesty has mentioned it, this old servant remembers."

The other day, a sentry reported that about ten feet southeast of the dry well, under the roots of a clump of dead roses, a small patch of soil was found that was slightly dark in color, as if it had been soaked in some liquid, and there was still a faint... fishy and sweet smell. It didn't seem like blood, but rather like... the smell of candied fruit mixed with rust.

Because it was some distance from the wellhead and only a small area, I didn't pay much attention to it at the time.

A fishy-sweet smell? Like candied meat mixed with rust? Lu Zuo's mind raced. This sounded a bit like... "magic ink," a mixture of special drugs and blood used in certain evil rituals to draw runes or as a medium?

"Take me there! Now!" Lu Zuo suddenly stood up, a strong intuition telling him that there might be important clues hidden there.

"Your Majesty, it is already late and the weather is cold..." Eunuch Liu tried to persuade him.

"No need for further words, lead the way! Travel light and don't disturb anyone." Lu Zuo's tone left no room for argument.

A moment later, Lu Zuo changed into an inconspicuous guard's uniform and, accompanied by Eunuch Liu and two trusted eunuchs with considerable martial arts skills, quietly left the imperial study. Under the cover of dusk and the shadows of the palace walls, he quickly sneaked towards the abandoned southeast garden.

The cold wind was biting, making one's cheeks sting.

The abandoned garden area was already desolate, and now it was even more deserted, with only withered grass trembling in the wind and broken walls casting menacing shadows in the twilight.

The "Demon-Locking Well," sealed by a thick, rusty iron lid, is like a single, dark eye on the earth, coldly gazing at the sky.

Guided by Eunuch Liu, Lu Zuo arrived at the clump of withered roses.

Guided by Eunuch Liu, Lu Zuo arrived at the clump of withered roses.

He crouched down and examined it carefully.

Sure enough, on a patch of frozen, hard soil, there was a palm-sized mark, its color noticeably darker than the surrounding area. Upon closer inspection, one could smell an extremely faint, yet undeniably present, fishy-sweet odor.

He picked up a bit of soil with his fingers; the texture was nothing special, but the smell…

With a thought, he quietly activated the "Spiritual Forging Divine Technique," concentrating his faint spiritual senses to probe the soil and the surrounding area.

The instant his intuition touched that patch of dark soil—

"Buzz!"

A faint yet malevolent, cold, and chaotic "spiritual remnant," like a startled venomous snake, suddenly lashed out at his senses!

This "residue" is filled with endless resentment, hatred of life, thirst for blood, and a kind of... fanaticism and anticipation as if some kind of evil ritual were being performed!

Lu Zuo grunted, abruptly severed his spiritual senses, took a step back, and his face instantly turned pale.

Although the "spiritual residue" was weak, it was of extremely high quality, full of filth and corrosiveness. If he had not already achieved a minor success in the "Spiritual Rhinoceros Forging Divine Technique" and his spiritual power was far more resilient and refined than that of other martial artists of the same level, he might have been corrupted by it. At best, he would have suffered a mental injury, and at worst, he would have been planted with a demon in his heart!

"Your Majesty!" Eunuch Liu and two skilled eunuchs were shocked and rushed forward to support him.

"It's alright."

Lu Zuo waved his hand, took a few deep breaths of the cold air, and suppressed the palpitations and nausea in his heart.

His eyes flashed with a cold light as he stared intently at the patch of soil.

It's "her"! It's that "woman in red," or rather, the evil creature lurking in the well!

Here she is, using "magic ink," a mixture of her own evil power and some kind of medium, to draw something!

Is it a mark? Is it a rune?

Or... a node of some kind of small magic array?

The thought of the "Myriad Spirits Blood Array" that might exist in the old workshop sent a chill down Lu Zuo's spine!

Could it be that this abandoned imperial palace was also part of that Blood Rakshasa's vast and evil plan?

This "Demon-Locking Well," the vengeful spirit of Consort Jing, was used by the Blood Rakshasa as a "strategic point" or "coordinate" within the palace.

Yes!

The Blood Rakshasa intends to sacrifice the entire city, using the lives of millions and the True Dragon Emperor's aura as a catalyst. How could the Imperial Palace, as the core where the Emperor's aura and the dragon vein converge, possibly be excluded?

This place may even be one of the most important central hubs of the entire "Myriad Spirits Blood Array"!

The "Red Robe" in the abandoned garden, the "Blood Array" in the old neighborhood, and possibly other arrangements, together constitute a terrifying and evil array that covers the entire city!

"What a Blood Rakshasa! What a 'Myriad Spirits Blood Array'!" Lu Zuo's heart was filled with murderous intent.

This demon not only intends to massacre the capital, but also wants to corrupt and devour the palace that symbolizes imperial power, turning it into resources for its demonic transformation! Its viciousness and ambition are simply boundless!

"Liu Banban," Lu Zuo's voice was slightly hoarse with lingering fear and anger, but it carried an unwavering resolve, "Return to the palace immediately! Convey my secret order!"

Back in the Imperial Study, Lu Zuo didn't even have time to change out of his guard uniform, which was stained with the chill and the smell of the abandoned garden. He immediately laid out paper, ground ink, and wrote down several secret edicts as quickly as possible.

The first dish is for Yan Qingfeng.

The content is concise: "The enemy's schemes are very ambitious and may affect the entire city."

The old workshop is the key; there must be the core of an evil formation beneath it.

You may choose an opportune moment to contact trusted colleagues and secretly monitor them, recording any unusual movements of their personnel and supplies, paying particular attention to sacrificial offerings and items stained with blood.

If signs of an impending attack are detected, or if there are significant changes around New Year's Eve, there is no need to wait for orders; one can act according to circumstances, prioritizing disruption and delay.

The necessary exorcising items and money were later delivered to the old place in Tiezanzi Hutong.

Read and then burn.

He could no longer let Yan Qingfeng fight alone.

He must be given a certain degree of autonomy and support, even at the risk of exposure.

Because once the "Blood Array of Ten Thousand Spirits" is activated, it will be too late.

The second method involved secretly cultivating and placing several low-ranking guards and eunuch leaders in inconspicuous positions within the palace, who had relatively clean backgrounds and remained loyal to the royal family.

They were ordered to conduct a secret but thorough search of all secluded corners, abandoned halls, wells, cellars, and especially places where there had been rumors of unnatural deaths throughout history, under the pretext of "investigating evil and defilement within the palace." They were to look for any suspicious runes, marks, unidentified liquids, or items.

Several locations that may be connected to the "Demon-Locking Well" through underground passages or have been implicated in witchcraft cases from the previous dynasty have been highlighted.

They were authorized to mobilize a small number of absolutely reliable guards to take control of suspicious areas when necessary, but were strictly prohibited from touching anything unknown, and from approaching within a hundred paces of the abandoned garden and the dry well.

The third dish was for Eunuch Liu.

He was instructed to use all available, covert connections and resources outside the palace, sparing no expense, to quickly collect and purchase a batch of high-quality exorcising talismans, blazing sun stones, black dog blood, rooster comb blood, century-old peach wood swords, lightning-struck wood, and other items to suppress evil spirits and demons. These items were then secretly transported into the palace and distributed to his trusted associates and Yan Qingfeng's side.

At the same time, continue to closely monitor the unusual activities of Liu Wenchang, Yongtong Bank, and several military workshops and carriage shops closely related to Liu Daoling and Yuwen Qing.

After writing and sealing the document with wax, Lu Zuo handed the secret decree to Eunuch Liu. Looking at Liu's trembling hands, which were shaking slightly from nervousness and excitement, he said in a deep voice, "Eunuch Liu, this is a matter of life and death."

Liu and Yuwen conspired with a treacherous foe, attracting demons who sought to massacre the capital and overthrow the dynasty.

There are not many people I can trust, and you are one of them.

These matters must be handled properly, and more importantly, kept secret.

Your life, my empire, and even the lives of all the people in this city—all depend on this.

Eunuch Liu knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face, but he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty! This old servant has long since sold his life to the royal family! I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's kindness in entrusting me with this important task. Even if it costs me my life, even if my soul is scattered, I will definitely accomplish what Your Majesty has entrusted to me! I will never let those demons and treacherous officials harm Your Majesty, or this Great Hao Empire!"

"Alright! Go quickly!" Lu Zuo helped him up.

Eunuch Liu wiped away his tears, carefully hid the secret decree, and his hunched back seemed to be imbued with a tremendous strength as he quickly disappeared into the night outside the door.

Lu Zuo stood alone in the imperial study, listening to the increasingly fierce wind outside the window. He could almost hear the countless demons hidden in the darkness grinding their teeth and sucking blood, hear the triumphant laughter of Liu Daoling and Yuwen Qing, and hear the cold and evil curses and pronouncements of the Blood Rakshasa from the depths of the abandoned garden and the dry well, from the underground of the old workshop, and from the unknown dark corners.

New Year's Eve... is less than ten days away.

The pressure, like a bottomless abyss, weighed heavily on his heart.

But his spine was straight, and there was no trace of retreat or fear in his eyes, only a calmness like that of ancient ice and a fighting spirit as surging as volcanic lava.

"bring it on."

He spoke softly into the boundless darkness, as if declaring war on all the enemies lurking in the shadows.

"Whether you are a powerful prime minister or a marshal, a cult leader who has been lurking for a century, or a demon crawling out of hell..."

"They want to seize my empire, they want to harm my people, they want to turn Nanjing into a sea of ​​blood..."

"You'll have to step over my dead body first!"