The Great Qin Dynasty: The egg of the Black Bird was revered as a national guardian beast.

Night minutes.

In a mansion,

A candle was lit in the room, and through the window, a shadow could be seen pacing back and forth, seemingly in a great hurry.

He took out a bamboo stick from his pocket.

By the dim candlelight, one could make out what appeared to be a few words carved on the bamboo strips.

He's watched it like this many times tonight.

"Why haven't they returned yet? Has something happened?"

Thinking this, his unease grew stronger, and he paced anxiously around the room.

Finally, something came to his mind.

He took the bamboo strip from his bosom and placed it over the candlelight.

The candlelight ignited the bamboo strips, which burned slowly.

"Bang!"

A loud crash was heard as the door was forcibly kicked open.

The sudden sound startled the man, who hurriedly asked, "Who's there?"

A series of rapid footsteps sounded, followed by the clanging of armor.

The door to his room was slowly pushed open.

A group of imperial guards stood outside the door, dressed in jet-black armor, their faces obscured by bronze demon masks.

"this..."

The people inside the room stood there, dumbfounded.

He understood what this attire represented, and he also understood what their arrival signified.

The Black Dragon Guards were exclusively for the First Emperor.

The murderous aura rushing towards him made his hands and feet feel icy cold.

He knew that his secret had been exposed and that death was all that awaited him.

The black-clad guards stood in two rows by the door.

A person walked in slowly, dressed in black armor with a long sword at his waist.

Entering the room,

He glanced at the man first, then his gaze fell on the bamboo strips still slowly burning on the table.

"What are you burning so late?"

His face turned pale, and with a final grit of his teeth, he grabbed the bamboo strip and was about to throw it into the candlestick on the table.

"bass!"

The sound of fine iron rubbing together was so loud that the sword stopped in front of the man in the blink of an eye.

The candlelight on the table flickered slightly.

The man seemed to be frozen in fear, standing rooted to the spot, too terrified to move.

A hand took the bamboo strip from his hand.

He took it to his face, and with a gentle blow, extinguished the flame on it.

The bamboo strips were burned to half their original size, leaving only a few characters.

His cold eyes swept over the few remaining words on the bamboo strip before settling on the man.

He sneered, "Take him away!"

"Yes."

........

In less than three days,

Tens of thousands of people in Xianyang were arrested by the Black Dragon Guard, and their families were also imprisoned as a result.

For a time, people's hearts were unsettled.

Some people didn't understand why, but others did: those arrested were all well-known former nobles from the six kingdoms.

Not only that, dozens of officials were also arrested by the Black Dragon Guard and have not been heard from since.

These officials were all people who colluded with them and received money from them.

Everyone in the court felt insecure.

But at this delicate moment, in the imperial court, the Grand Astrologer Hu Wujing chose the date for the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven.

He observed the celestial phenomena at night, watching the stars rise and set.

Finally, the best time for the sacrificial ceremony was determined to be a month later.

With the date for the sacrificial ceremony set, the previous turmoil subsided, and preparations were underway throughout the court and the country.

But at this moment, the First Emperor suddenly ordered the alchemist Lu Sheng to enter the palace.

The royal palace was magnificent.

Twelve golden statues stood before the palace. Looking down from the steps, the twelve golden statues stood on both sides, like dutiful guards.

Before the palace, a man stood with his hands behind his back, wearing a white robe, looking up at the magnificent palace.

Zhao Gao stepped out of the hall and looked at the people below.

"Mr. Lu Sheng, His Majesty requests your presence in the palace!"

Lu Sheng looked at Zhao Gao in front of him, nodded, and then stepped inside.

The palace exuded an inexplicable sense of oppression.

However, compared to the person inside, the oppression it brings is less than one-tenth of that person's.

The main hall was somewhat empty and quiet.

Because the First Emperor only summoned him and did not want anyone else to be present when he asked questions.

The people around were also quickly dismissed.

As soon as he entered, he saw a person sitting on the throne, wearing a black and gold embroidered robe and a crown with tassels.

He looked up, and just then, the man was looking at him too.

He quickly lowered his head.

Then he raised his hand and loudly proclaimed to the person seated on the throne, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

He then bowed in reverence.

The First Emperor looked at Lu Sheng below, his eyes showing no emotion, but he was reminded of past events.

He summoned many sorcerers and magicians, intending to concoct an elixir of immortality.

However, when these alchemists offered their medicines, they boasted wildly about their effects, claiming that once convinced, one could be immune to all diseases and indestructible.

He used eunuchs to test the medicine, and then had someone wipe it with a sword.

But the eunuch died with a single sword strike, and in a fit of rage, he executed the alchemist who had offered the medicine.

Finally, the sorcerer Lu Sheng risked his life to enter the palace, came before him, and told him the reason.

With the body of an ordinary person and the possessions of an ordinary person.

How can one concoct an elixir of immortality that grants eternal life?

Finally, the First Emperor asked him, "If that's the case, how can one achieve immortality?"

The alchemist Lu Sheng then told the First Emperor,

Mortals cannot concoct elixirs of immortality, but immortals can.

There is a fairy mountain called Penglai in Haishan, where immortal beings who possess the elixir of immortality reside.

The First Emperor believed Lu Sheng's words.

Before him, Xu Fu had submitted a memorial stating that there were three fairy mountains in the sea: Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou.

There dwells an immortal there. If you request a fast and purification ceremony, and ask a young boy or girl for it, you will surely obtain the elixir of immortality.

However, Xu Fu did not return from his voyage for several years.

So he sent Lu Sheng out to sea to find the Penglai Immortal Mountain, so that he could ask the immortals there for the elixir of immortality.

But after Lu Sheng returned...

However, he told the First Emperor that he had not found the elixir of immortality.

However, he did not come away empty-handed; he obtained a magical book from the immortal mountain.

A prophecy was written on the celestial book.

The one who destroyed Qin was Hu.

When the First Emperor saw it, he thought the "Hu" in the prophecy referred to the Xiongnu, so he ordered Meng Tian to lead an army of 300,000.

To strike the Xiongnu in the north and eliminate the threat to the Qin dynasty's demise!

Two years later, the First Emperor remembered Lu Sheng again and summoned him to the palace for questioning.

The bead slightly bumped.

The First Emperor waved his hand lightly and said, "No need for formalities." Finally, he asked, "Mr. Lu Sheng, how have you been?"

Lu Sheng bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, I am grateful for your concern."

"I heard that you haven't left your house these days, sir?" the First Emperor continued, "Have you found any method to achieve immortality?"

"If you have any, I hope you will not hesitate to offer your valuable insights."

Lu Sheng lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. I am unworthy of such an honor and have no right to offer me any guidance."

"Sir, you are too modest."

The First Emperor pointed to an empty couch and said.

"Please sit down."

"Thank you for the seat, Your Majesty." Lu Sheng took his seat and then raised his hand to the First Emperor to express his gratitude.

"On the path to immortality," the First Emperor said, squinting, "it is only right that you, sir, predecease me."

Lu Sheng waved his hand: "Your Majesty is joking."

Then, changing the subject, he said, "Your Majesty's treatment of me is so courteous that I feel truly ashamed."

"Although I have been studying the path to immortality for a long time, I have not achieved any results."

"Sir, there's no need for such formalities."

The First Emperor rubbed his forehead, the faint smile on his face fading, and a hint of power appeared in his eyes.

"I cherish Mr. Zhen."

"I also hope that you will not disappoint me."