Joy of Life: Me, the Second Prince? Summon Yuan Tiangang!

The entire court was filled with fear and unease. Some even spun in their legs during court sessions, terrified that they would be next.

But this was not the most shocking thing for Emperor Qing.

Almost simultaneously, the spies planted by the Observatory in Northern Qi sent back an urgent secret report—

In the capital city of Northern Qi, several high-ranking officials and top martial arts masters also died tragically. Among the dead was even a confidant of the Empress Dowager of Northern Qi!

Beside their corpses, the same hideous black spider and the chilling pronouncement remained: "A net that can penetrate anywhere in the world."

This secret report completely overturned Emperor Qing's previous speculations.

If the Luo Wang were the henchmen of Northern Qi, they would never have turned against their own people, much less have been so ruthless as to not even spare the Empress Dowager's confidants.

"It's not Northern Qi... nor is it Dongyi City..."

Inside the imperial study, Emperor Qing reviewed the latest intelligence reports, his fingers lightly tapping the table. The murderous intent in his eyes gradually transformed into a deep, inquisitive gaze. "Regardless of nationality, faction, social status..."

At this moment, an even more terrifying truth surfaced and quickly spread throughout the world.

The Net does not belong to any country, nor is it loyal to any king.

It is a pure, extreme, and profit-driven killer organization!

Anyone can be killed if you pay them.

As long as the price is right, even royalty and martial arts masters are on their kill list.

This indiscriminate terror is more chilling than any political conspiracy. Because it means that as long as you have an enemy, and as long as your enemy can afford it, your head could be chopped off one night.

In an instant, the winds of change in Kyoto completely shifted.

The once arrogant and powerful nobles are now all like frightened birds. After court, not one dared to linger on the road to exchange pleasantries. They all hurriedly climbed into their own carriages and fled back to their residences under the heavy escort of their guards.

The number of guards in various mansions has doubled, and some people are even spending a lot of money to hire martial arts masters to guard their homes. Even more so, it is said that some officials who have done many bad things in their lives have to wear soft armor to sleep at night and keep sharp blades under their pillows, so that they will break out in a cold sweat at the slightest sound.

No one knows whose wall that black spider, a symbol of death, will climb tonight; no one knows whether they will see the sun rise tomorrow.

However, amidst the turmoil and widespread anxiety in the city, the Second Prince's residence remained peaceful and serene.

Inside the study, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Li Chengze was still dressed in a loose and casual outfit, barefoot, squatting on the armchair, holding a fresh and juicy peach in his left hand and munching on a brush in his right, writing with great skill on the rice paper.

As a prince who loves creating, he can't afford not to write books.

"Your Highness, things are in complete chaos outside."

Xie Bi'an stood guard to the side, sword in hand, watching his prince's leisurely demeanor. He couldn't help but sigh, "I heard that this morning, the Minister of Revenue's legs were trembling when he went to court, fearing that the assassins from the Luo Net would jump out from behind the pillars of the Golden Palace."

"Let it be chaotic, as long as we close the door and live our lives well, everything will be fine."

Li Chengze blew on the still-wet ink, a playful smile playing on his lips. "Bi'an, if anyone tries to assassinate me, you'd better protect me."

Xie Bi'an was recruited as a bodyguard to protect himself after the emergence of the Luo Wang. Although Li Chengze had many skilled men under his command, he did not want to miss out on Xie Bi'an, who was a loyal follower of the Second Prince in the original story. Yuan Tiangang and his men were suitable for stirring up trouble in the dark, while Xie Bi'an was suitable for being his henchman in the open.

He was not at all surprised that Luo Wang could cause such a big stir.

Just kidding, that's a snare.

Just as the imperial court was racking its brains to capture the murderer, the Luo Wang (a secret police organization) took an even more outrageous and arrogant step in the underworld.

A jet-black token—the "Net of Heaven Token"—quietly circulated in the martial arts world and the black market.

The Net has issued a "summons order"!

This is not just a killer organization; it is evolving into a vast dark empire.

Luo Wang announced that it will simultaneously establish "Mission Towers" in three locations: Kyoto, Northern Qi Shangjing, and Dongyi City.

This mission building has no entry requirements and does not ask about background.

Anyone, from江湖草莽 (jianghu outlaws) and down-on-their-luck swordsmen to even desperate fugitives, can enter the building to accept missions. Missions are divided into four levels: "Heaven," "Earth," "Mysterious," and "Yellow," corresponding to different levels of difficulty and rewards.

The yellow-lettered mission is to kill ordinary wealthy merchants and tyrants, with a reward of one hundred taels of silver.

The "Xuan" rank mission rewards a thousand taels of gold for killing low-ranking government officials or martial artists below the sixth rank.

The Earth-level missions reward 10,000 taels of silver for killing a high-ranking official or an eighth-rank master, plus protection from the Luo Net.

As for that mission...

Rumor has it that the list of top-tier missions contains several names, each one capable of shaking the world, and the bounty is enough to buy a city!

What's even more insane is that Luo Wang promises that any assassin who completes enough missions and demonstrates enough potential will have the opportunity to be absorbed into the core of Luo Wang and obtain peerless martial arts manuals, or even... divine weapons!

This expansion, which resembled "establishing a new sect," instantly ignited the entire underground world.

Countless desperate outlaws, driven by a thirst for power and money, or driven by desperation, swarmed toward the Net's stronghold like sharks that had smelled blood.

Originally just a group of assassins under Zhao Gao's command, they have now transformed into a "holy land" for killers across the land.

The establishment of the "Mission Building" has affected the interests of too many people. Martial arts sects regard it as heresy, and the imperial court sees it as a malignant tumor. In just half a month, dozens of sieges and counter-sieges against the Luo Wang strongholds have occurred.

Swords clashed and blood flowed like rivers.

Although the assassins of the Luo Wang organization were all fearless and had schemers like Zhao Gao behind them, the pressure was still immense when faced with the overwhelming probing of the two great empires.

The Southern Qing Investigation Bureau and the Northern Qi Embroidered Uniform Guard, these two major intelligence agencies, have reached a rare tacit understanding—to first destroy the Luo Wang (Net of Justice), and then determine who is superior.

Thirty miles outside Kyoto lies the Valley of Desolation.

This is the largest secret outpost of the Luo Wang organization around Kyoto, and also the core transit point of the "Mission Building".

At this moment, the valley was completely surrounded.

The dark mass of cavalry blocked all exits, and the chilling atmosphere silenced even the birds and beasts in the mountains.

On one side were the swordsmen of the Sixth Division of the Forensic Bureau, clad in black armor and with iron masks on their faces. The leader was completely wrapped in black, with only a pair of emotionless eyes showing—it was none other than the most mysterious chief of the Forensic Bureau, Shadow.

On the other side were the experts from the Northern Qi Imperial Guards, as well as several ninth-rank powerhouses from the Kuhe Sect, all exuding a menacing aura.