Hurt my loved ones? I'm not guarding this country's borders anymore!

On the altar for offering sacrifices to Heaven.

The stench of blood was so strong it was almost overwhelming.

The sole survivor, the messenger of the Temple of the Sun, was kneeling on the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

Before him lay a corpse that had lost its human form.

That was King Anle.

One moment he was a ruthless warlord plotting to usurp the throne, the next he was nothing but a pile of rotten flesh.

"Look at your bones, aren't they even harder than his?"

Zhuque crouched down, the dagger in his hand sliding against the envoy's cheek, the icy touch sending shivers down his spine.

"No... I'll tell you! I'll tell you everything!"

The messenger's psychological defenses completely collapsed.

In the face of absolute power and death, so-called faith is a joke.

"Seven years ago... the Shen family..."

The divine messenger swallowed hard, his eyes darting around, as if recalling something terrifying.

"Our Sun Temple has been searching the world for ways to trigger 'miracles'."

"After decades of research, we have discovered that unlocking miracles requires a specific biological key."

"That is to say, a special bloodline."

Shen Jinglong sat in the armchair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest.

"continue."

"Seven years ago, during a secret census in China, we unexpectedly discovered anomalies in the blood sample data of the Shen family."

"That was... a perfect 'key' fluctuation."

"But the Shen family is a powerful and influential family in Cangcheng with deep roots. We can't take direct action against them, let alone smuggle them out of the country."

As the divine messenger finished speaking, he glanced cautiously at the corpse of King Anle beside him.

"That's when he found us."

"Prince Anle?" Shen Jinglong's gaze narrowed slightly.

"Yes... At that time, Prince Anle, although he was a prince, was at a disadvantage in the struggle for the crown prince position in the capital."

"He desperately needs strong external support."

"He contacted us and said he could help us deal with the Shen family and get the 'key' for us."

"The condition is that the Temple of the Sun must unconditionally support his rise to power and provide him with that kind of... biochemical modification technology to help him build his private army."

Upon hearing this, Qinglong and the others around them gritted their teeth.

Driven by his own ambitions, he actually colluded with foreign enemies and betrayed his own compatriots!

This is utterly inhuman!

"So, destroying the Shen family was his way of pledging allegiance to you?" Shen Jinglong's voice was soft, but cold.

"Yes...yes."

The divine messenger nodded repeatedly.

"The operation that night was carried out by our men and his assassins together."

"We were originally going to take your whole family with us..."

"But something went wrong in the middle, the fire got out of control, and in the end only... only some blood samples were taken away."

A hint of violence flashed in Shen Jinglong's eyes.

Something went wrong?

Fire out of control?

Because of these few words, all thirty-six members of the Shen family perished in the flames!

"But that's not right."

Shen Jinglong suddenly spoke.

He stood up and walked to the messenger. The overwhelming pressure he exerted almost suffocated the messenger.

"Although Prince Anle is a madman, he is not a fool."

"The Shen family had connections in the capital back then. Taking action against the Shen family will definitely cause a stir in the court and among the public."

"Even with your support, he, a mere prince, cannot suppress such a huge matter."

Shen Jinglong stared into the divine envoy's eyes, speaking slowly and deliberately:

"That important figure in the capital who helped him settle things and even fanned the flames behind the scenes."

"Who is it?"

The divine messenger froze.

Extreme fear was evident in his eyes, even more so than when he faced death earlier.

"No... I can't say... I can't say that name..."

"I'll die if I say it... my soul will be..."

"If you don't talk, you'll die right now."

Zhuque snorted coldly and poured a drop of the purple potion onto the messenger's wound.

"ah----!!"

The messenger let out a scream like a pig being slaughtered.

It was excruciating pain that acted directly on the nerves, a hundred times more painful than being slowly sliced ​​to death.

"Speak! I'll talk!"

The messenger wept uncontrollably and rolled around on the ground in agony.

"It's...it's the Imperial Tutor!"

"The Grand Tutor of the current dynasty... Zhuge Tianming!"

boom!

The moment the name was uttered, everyone present, including Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird, was stunned.

Zhuge Tianming?

That man, known as the "Sage of Literature," whose students and former officials were all over the world, and who was revered as a father figure by the king, was a veteran of three reigns.

That old man who enjoys extremely high prestige among the people and is even regarded as the backbone of the Chinese nation?

How could it be him?!

"You're talking nonsense!"

Qinglong couldn't help but roar angrily, "The Imperial Tutor Zhuge is a man of high moral character and prestige, how could he collude with you heretics and evil cultists!"

"It's true...it's really true!"

The messenger cried out, "This whole plan was actually proposed by him in the first place!"

"He knew the secrets of the 'Dragon Vein' and the 'Divine Body' before we did!"

"He was also one of the first people to make contact with the Temple of the Sun!"

"By exploiting Prince Anle's ambitions, they used us to eliminate the Shen family, obtaining the research data they wanted, clearing obstacles for Prince Anle, and even cutting off the monarch's financial resources in Jiangnan..."

"This was all part of his scheme!"

"If it weren't for his cover-up in the capital, how could that family annihilation case from seven years ago have been closed in just three days? How could there not even be a proper investigation?"

Shen Jinglong fell silent.

He thought back to seven years ago.

After the Shen family's incident, all the case files mysteriously disappeared, and all the letters for help went unanswered.

It turned out to be the case.

That's it!

If it was that powerful imperial tutor who was manipulating things behind the scenes, then everything makes sense.

What a highly respected and virtuous person!

What a literary saint!

They wear the skin of saints while engaging in cannibalistic acts!

"Dragon Lord... this..." Zhuque looked at Shen Jinglong, not knowing what to say for a moment.

The truth is too heavy and too dark.

If it really is Zhuge Tianming, then what they will face is no longer just King Anle, but half of the Dragon Kingdom's officialdom, or even... that supreme imperial system.

"search."

Shen Jinglong made no comment, but simply pointed to the corpse of Prince Anle beside him.

"Since it's a collaboration, someone as petty as Prince Anle will definitely have a backup plan."

Qinglong immediately stepped forward and carefully searched inside the tattered python robe of Prince Anle.

soon.

He pulled out a small package wrapped in waterproof oil paper from a hidden compartment in the lining.

turn on.

Inside was a stack of letters.

The letter was yellowed and stamped with the private seal of "Sleeping Dragon," a mark reserved only for imperial tutors.

With trembling hands, Qinglong handed the letter to Shen Jinglong.

Shen Jinglong unfolds.

The first letter.

[The Shen family bloodline has been confirmed; they are undoubtedly the 'key.' Since Prince Anle aspires to the throne, let this be his pledge of loyalty. After this is accomplished, I will personally clear away the gossip in court for you. —Zhuge Liang]

The second letter.

[That remnant of the Shen Jinglong clique isn't dead? No problem. A stray dog ​​can't cause any real trouble. It's fine if he's in the north; he can guard our borders for a few years. When the time is right, we'll take his life and use it as a sacrifice for our flag.]

The handwriting is vigorous and powerful, exuding an arrogant air of domineering.

Every single word was written in the blood of the Shen family.

"Hahaha,,,"

Shen Jinglong looked at the letter and suddenly laughed.

The laughter grew louder and louder, making the altar vibrate.

But there was no warmth in that laughter.

"it is good."

"very nice."

Shen Jinglong abruptly crushed the letter in his hand into powder, letting the strong wind scatter it.

He slowly turned around.

My gaze pierced through the layers of rain, looking towards that distant north.

They looked toward the imperial capital, which represented the highest power in the Dragon Kingdom.

"So it turns out that the one who slaughtered my entire family seven years ago wasn't just a mere prince."

"But he is the most revered saint of my Dragon Kingdom!"

"Dragon Lord..." Azure Dragon stepped forward, his expression grave. "Zhuge Tianming's power is immense. If this letter is true, then we in the capital are likely..."

He wanted to suggest that we take a long-term view.

After all, the opponent was too strong.

But Shen Jinglong raised his hand, interrupting him.

"Azure Dragon".

"exist!"

Shen Jinglong's voice was calm enough to send chills down your spine, yet it carried an undeniable resolve.

"Pass on my orders."

"Cleanse the altar with blood, eradicate all traces. Cut off the head of this divine messenger and keep it safe."

"Then,,,"

Shen Jinglong spoke each word slowly and deliberately, his murderous aura soaring to the heavens.

"All troops, break camp!"

Azure Dragon's heart pounded wildly, and he asked in a trembling voice:

"Dragon Lord, where are you going?"

Shen Jinglong straightened his collar, which had been ruffled by the wind, and strode off the stage.

Every step felt like stepping on the heart of the masterminds behind the scenes.

"The capital city!"

"I want to go and ask that Imperial Tutor Zhuge myself—"

"How can he possibly repay the bloodshed of my entire Shen family!"