Wizards begin with Occlumency.

There are reasons for choosing Hu Songqi.

Firstly, Lin Ke wanted to drag Hu Shengqing back into the scheme; secondly, Hu Songqi's behavior in the peach grove/cliff was suspicious, which could be explained to the imperial court.

Link doesn't want to confront the imperial court unless absolutely necessary.

Seeing Hu Songqi go to retrieve the highest secret manual of evil witchcraft, Link closed his eyes slightly and expanded his perception range.

More than half of the first batch of Guiyi Realm warriors who entered the valley have died.

"Loren Bender, have you had enough?"

Retracting his senses, Link immediately contacted Loren Bender, who had completely transformed into a tree spirit, and sent out an inquiry.

"Enough? There's never enough to survive!"

Loren Bender sighed first before answering directly, "You want to leave the valley?"

"Um."

Link didn't hide anything, "I still have to complete the Supreme Council's test. The sooner I complete it, the sooner I can leave this planet."

Loren Bender remained silent for a long time.

It's unclear whether he was pondering the truth of Link's words or weighing the pros and cons.

Link waited patiently.

Shi Shixiong, Hu Suqi, Min Ruohua, Xu Huiyun, and Hu Songqi, who had picked up the highest secret book of evil witchcraft and casually removed a ring from the skull's finger bone, all waited aside without disturbing them.

"I hope you remember our deal, Link Grand."

Finally, Loren Bender made his decision, speaking in a low, somber tone.

"I have always been very trustworthy."

Link carefully considered his words before giving his response.

"You may leave."

The enormous longevity peach tree swayed a few times, summoning two thick clouds of mist.

This fog serves as a convenient passageway between various array hubs within the valley, and its design inspiration likely comes from the concept of a teleportation portal.

"If you go through here, you will return to the peach grove."

Link pointed to the small cloud of fog and said to Hu Songqi, "You should know what to say after we leave the valley. Don't worry, I've already cast a secret spell on you, so you yourself will believe what you say, and others will believe it even more."

"Um."

Hu Songqi nodded obediently and walked into the small patch of thick fog.

She was secretly shocked. When did Link cast the spell? How come she didn't feel anything at all?

This time it's alright, it's a blessing-type item.

What if it turns into a curse spell next time?

Doesn't that mean life and death are truly in Link's hands?

How is this any different from being controlled by Hu Shengqing?

With these thoughts in mind, Hu Songqi walked for a while in the thick fog and returned to the peach grove/cliff.

"Huh? What's wrong with me?"

Hu Songqi suddenly exclaimed in surprise, realizing that something was wrong with her.

She always felt that there was a gap in her memory, as if she had forgotten something very important.

Hu Songqi frowned slightly as he glanced at the sandalwood box in his left hand and the supreme secret manual of evil witchcraft and the ring in his right.

"Longevity Peach? The supreme secret manual of evil witchcraft? How did it end up in my hands?"

"And this ring... isn't this the legendary Soul Eater's Ring? How did I get my hands on it?"

As Hu Songqi asked the question, a somewhat unfamiliar memory surfaced in his mind.

She was practicing the evil sorcery manual she had acquired in the peach grove when suddenly, the entire Valley of the Dead erupted in chaos.

A streak of light flashed across the Valley of the Dead and landed directly in the peach grove.

In a daze, before she lost consciousness, she followed her intuition and grabbed a longevity peach from the rainbow, carefully placing it into a sandalwood box.

As for the highest secret manual of evil witchcraft, it was captured along with the Longevity Peach.

"this……"

Hu Songqi found it a bit strange.

This memory felt very jarring to her, yet she believed it without a doubt.

"What happened?"

Just as they were wondering, another strange thing happened in the Valley of the Dead.

A violent earthquake struck suddenly.

All the surviving martial artists at the Unity Realm in the valley felt a sense of impending doom.

Hu Songqi ignored his own doubts and ran outside.

The martial artists, scattered across different areas, all acted in the same way.

At this moment, fleeing for one's life became the consensus among all martial artists.

After passing through the thick fog, Lin Ke, Shi Shixiong, Hu Suqi, Min Ruohua, and Xu Huiyun quietly merged into the group of martial artists who had gathered at the valley entrance and were rushing out.

"What happened?"

Outside the valley, inside the military camp.

The angel felt the tremors beneath his feet and watched as all the warriors on the monitor ran out at the same time like madmen. He shouted loudly for answers.

However, no one in the camp could offer an explanation.

The angels certainly knew this.

It was precisely because he knew that he lost his temper and yelled.

Organizing martial arts practitioners to enter the Valley of the Dead was a task personally assigned to him by the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors.

Obtaining the Longevity Peach is one objective, while weakening the strength of the martial arts world is another.

No matter how many warriors die in the Valley of the Dead, the angels don't care, as long as they can get the Longevity Peach.

However, this mission went wrong from the very beginning.

Now, things have gone completely out of his control.

The first batch of martial artists to enter the valley were all carefully selected by the angels' instructions and their subordinates and officials. They all had something to hide or something to hold over the court.

Most of these martial artists would rather die in the valley than let any person or thing be lost.

The fact that they could all escape at the same time means something major must have happened.

At this moment, the angels knew nothing and were powerless to do anything.

"You, go and take the troops to detain all the warriors who came out."

Taking a deep breath, the angel pointed to the general who had been the first to be stationed outside the Valley of the Dead and gave the order.

"Here you go!"

The general, clad in leather armor, clasped his hands in salute, accepted the order, and departed.

Before long, the general gathered the battalion of soldiers under his command, arranged them into formation, and blocked the only road in and out of the Valley of the Dead.

The general wields the Azure Dragon Halberd, his aura as powerful as a dragon.

Not long after, the first martial artist escaped.

Seeing the imperial army in such a formidable array, they surrendered without resistance.

As time went on, more and more martial artists escaped from the Valley of the Dead, only to be imprisoned by the imperial army.

The same applies to Lin Ke, Shi Shixiong, Hu Suqi, Min Ruohua, and Xu Huiyun.

The difference is that both martial artists and government officials have intentionally or unintentionally overlooked the five people.

However, Link's memories and strength have recovered considerably after being stimulated by the "Sky Shuttle," and he has improved some secret techniques and "comprehended" some new secret techniques.

Especially in terms of cognition.

Hu Songqi, cloaked and hooded, slowly walked out of the Valley of the Dead, ignoring the strange looks from most people. He walked up to the armored general and said decisively, "Take me to see the angel."

"Have you thought it through?"

This military officer was originally a member of the new army trained by Hu Shengqing. He recognized Hu Songqi, who was the illegitimate daughter of Governor Hu.

Instead of asking Hu Songqi why he wanted to see the angel, they inquired about it so kindly.

"Um."

Hu Songqi responded softly, his attitude extremely firm.

Upon seeing this, the armored general said nothing more, turned his horse around, and rode away.

After being informed, Hu Songqi saw the angel, who was imposing and seated on a high chair.

"I, Hu Songqi, have seen the angels."

Hu Songqi stood below, his attitude and tone neither humble nor arrogant, and bowed to greet him.

She was actually a little confused as to why she had handed over the Longevity Peach to the imperial court and to the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors.

And no one knew that she had obtained the Longevity Peach.

But every time the thought of monopolizing the Longevity Peach came to Hu Songqi, he would feel a sense of impending doom.

After experiencing such life-or-death crises multiple times, she dared not entertain the thought of keeping the peaches for herself again, and honestly and conscientiously delivered the longevity peaches to the imperial court.

"A commoner girl?"

The angel wore a mocking smile. "Hu Shengqing isn't a commoner; he's a high-ranking official. As Hu Shengqing's illegitimate daughter, you can't be considered a commoner."

Hu Songqi remained silent in the face of the angel's mockery.

Seeing that Hu Songqi didn't react, the angel suddenly felt bored.

With a wave of his hand, the angel said indifferently, "Speak, what do you want to see me about? If you're just trying to make fun of me, even Hu Shengqing can't protect you."

Hu Songqi didn't say anything, but took out a sandalwood box from his pocket and presented it with both hands.

"What... what is this?"

Seeing this, the angel made a guess, and his voice trembled slightly as he spoke.

"Longevity Peach. A woman was in a peach grove when she saw a rainbow streak across the sky, which looked like a treasure, so she grabbed it."

Are you sure?

"What I have said is true and I would never dare to deceive the angel."

"Come here, bring it up."

One of the eunuchs and maids who had been standing on either side of the angel immediately stepped forward, took the sandalwood box from Hu Songqi, and presented it to him.

The angel took the sandalwood box and gently opened it a crack.

A delicate fragrance wafts out, and just a whiff of it makes one feel refreshed.

Indeed, it is exactly the same as the longevity peach recorded in historical records.

With a snap.

Tian used force to close the sandalwood box and personally put it into his bosom.

The eunuchs and palace maids on the left and right sides kept their heads down the whole time, so it was not easy to see their expressions.

However, the civil and military officials in the camp were all shocked.

Are there really peaches that grant longevity?

Did they really obtain the Longevity Peach?

If historical records are accurate, the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors were able to extend their lives by at least four hundred years after consuming the Longevity Peach.

And so... the Dayong Dynasty was destined for many troubles from that moment on!

An emperor with such a long lifespan is not a blessing for the world.

The civil and military officials had different thoughts.

The angel was fully aware of this, but made no comment. He simply looked at Hu Songqi and asked in a deep voice, "What do you want?"

There is a big difference between being discovered by the imperial court and voluntarily offering it to the imperial court.

Regardless of why Hu Songqi chose to present the longevity peaches, as an envoy representing the imperial court and the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors, he was obligated to make a gesture at this moment.

If those who have rendered meritorious service are not rewarded, how many people will be willing to work for the court and for the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors in the future?

Civil and military officials alike turned their attention to Hu Songqi, wanting to know what this illegitimate daughter of Governor Hu desired.

this point is very important.

This will help them decide how to get along with Governor Hu in the future.

Hu Songqi calmly said, "I beg the angel to vouch for me and sever all ties between me and Hu Shengqing."

Upon hearing this, the tent fell silent.

Whether it was the angels, the civil officials, or the military generals, they all considered Hu Songqi's request, but none of them guessed it correctly.

Why?

The angel quickly regained his composure and asked in confusion.

Even though Hu Shengqing was relieved of his post as military governor of a province by the court and Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong, he was still a high-ranking official of the court.

No matter how much the officials in the court feared Hu Shengqing, and no matter how much the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors disliked Hu Shengqing, his seniority and ability were undeniable.

Since they can't be killed easily, they'll have to be reinstated sooner or later.

Many people want to be related to Hu Shengqing but cannot, yet as his illegitimate daughter, she has to sever ties.

This is truly shocking and unexpected.

"For no particular reason, I just don't want to have anything to do with him anymore."

This time, Hu Songqi did not answer the angel's question truthfully.

Everyone present could see this.

However, the more this is the case, the more curious I become.

However, the angel didn't press for details, but simply asked, "Have you thought it through?"

"I've made up my mind."

"Very well. However, I cannot agree to your request immediately. I will consult His Majesty before making a decision."

The angel, however, wanted to use Hu Songqi's offering of the longevity peach and his request to sever all ties with Hu Shengqing as an opportunity to further humiliate Hu Shengqing in front of Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong.

This time, his mission was carried out in accordance with the will of the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors, and he targeted Hu Shengqing at every turn.

The two have become sworn enemies.

How could we miss such a great opportunity?

"Everything is in the hands of the angels."

"Okay. You can go now."

With a wave of his hand, the angel dismissed Hu Songqi and turned to look at the civil and military officials in the tent.

The atmosphere in the tent immediately became silent and heavy.

A trace of murderous intent emanated from the angel, cold and ruthless.

The military officers were alright; they didn't feel much of a difference.

Civil officials were different.

Generations ago, scholars practiced the Six Arts of a Gentleman.

In recent years, scholars have adhered to the principle that a gentleman uses words rather than fists.

They took pride in being weak and helpless, using it to prove that they were pampered and lived a life of luxury.

As a palace attendant, the angel was inherently cold-blooded, and in addition, he was in charge of the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors' inner guards, resulting in countless deaths.

How could weak civil officials withstand the murderous aura released by such a demon king?

Not fainting or losing control of the bladder on the spot is a testament to good composure.

The angel had no intention of killing anyone; he merely issued a warning.

Slowly withdrawing his murderous aura, the angel said grimly, "I will now set off for the capital. If there are any obstacles on the road, or if someone robs me... hmph... you'll be executed along with your entire clan."

These words truly revealed the true nature of the Inner Guard Supervisor.

"I wouldn't dare."

The civil and military officials quickly expressed their opinions.

"snort!"

The angel rose, flicked his sleeve, and strode away.

The attending eunuchs and palace maids followed in single file.

The civil and military officials who remained in the camp dared not utter a sound.

After a long while, the roar of cars faded into the distance from the military camp, and the civil and military officials finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"What's next?"

Someone spoke up to ask questions and seek opinions.

Those present were all in the same boat.

The Inner Guard Governor said he would exterminate three generations of a family, and he really could.

and so……

"From now on, let's all stay within each other's sight. Even if we need to act alone, there should be at least three of us, and we should keep an eye on each other."

"I think it's okay."

"Ugh! How did I end up in this mess?"

"Be careful what you say!"

"What about those martial artists? Are they just going to be locked up like this?"

"Keeping it locked up is not good; it will only attract more attention."

"Then what should we do? Let them go?"

"Let them go. We can use them to announce to the outside world that the operation encountered an anomaly and failed."

"I think it's feasible."

"very good."

"agree."

"Then let it go."

After discussing the matter, everyone immediately sent someone to notify the armored general in charge of imprisoning and supervising the surviving warriors.

The surviving martial artists had recovered from their initial panic and were now discussing the matter animatedly.

Upon learning that they could return to the provincial capital, each of them felt as if they had been given a second chance at life.

The Valley of the Dead is truly terrifying! (End of Chapter)