After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

Seated on the dragon throne was the current emperor of the Western Cang Kingdom.

—Emperor Cangqi.

He was about fifty years old, with a dignified face, bright and piercing eyes, and a thick aura of a true dragon surrounding him.

This aura was extremely yang and powerful, and incomparably noble, yet it also formed a natural barrier, heavily enveloping his destiny and appearance, making it impossible for ordinary mystical arts to penetrate or probe it.

If one tries to forcefully probe, one will only be devoured by the overwhelming imperial aura, which may damage one's spiritual senses or even shake one's foundation.

This is why emperors are protected by the will of Heaven, making it difficult to see their full extent.

What surprised Jiang Dusheng was that he couldn't see through the fortunes of the Crown Prince and Princess Yongxi.

Jiang Dusheng withdrew his gaze and sighed inwardly. No wonder his master had warned him, "A physiognomist should not speak lightly of the imperial family."

This is not only to avoid disaster, but also because the royal family is protected by the dragon's aura of the national fortune. Their destiny is closely linked to the national fortune and is unpredictable. Moreover, high-level cultivators often use secret methods to bless them and even tamper with their destiny lines. It is as difficult as ascending to heaven to see clearly.

Last night, Jiang Dusheng had already learned about the situation in the palace from Xiao Huan.

Although Emperor Cangqi had a large harem, he had very few children. He currently had only three sons and one daughter.

Crown Prince Chu Jingyu is in his early twenties and is the legitimate son of the Empress, so his position seems secure.

The other two princes, though roughly the same age as the crown prince, were said to be rather timid and unassuming due to their mothers' low rank. They were sitting quietly in the lower seats, inconspicuous.

Princess Yongxi was the most favored Imperial Noble Consort. She was charming and bright, and was deeply loved.

Emperor Cangqi smiled and gestured for everyone to rise and sit down. His deep voice carried the unique majesty of an emperor.

"Today is the Empress's birthday. Let us celebrate together, so there's no need for excessive formalities. Please be seated."

Taking advantage of the brief moment when she sat down again, Princess Yongning leaned slightly towards Jiang Dusheng and whispered in a voice that could only be heard by the two of them:

"Do you see him? That man in the royal blue brocade robe is Zhou Wenhan. He was a second-class Jinshi last year and is now serving as a Left Advisor in the Secretariat."

Her gaze seemingly casually swept over a seat in the middle of the men's section. "Although he only holds the rank of eighth grade, he often walks before the emperor. His father is Zhou Boyuan, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and the family has a clean and upright tradition."

Jiang Dusheng looked in the direction he was told.

Zhou Wenhan looked to be about twenty-two or twenty-three years old. He was indeed handsome, with clear eyebrows and eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips that gave him a natural sense of seriousness when he pursed them.

He sat upright, and among the splendidly dressed and laughing noblemen in the hall, he was like a green bamboo growing in a rock crevice, not eye-catching, but with his own integrity.

Jiang Dusheng withdrew his gaze, nodded to Princess Yongning, and said briefly in a low voice:

"He has a clear and upright appearance, a straightforward and honest character, and is principled to the point of being stubborn, but he is pure and kind at heart, without any ulterior motives or ill intentions."

"He is a trustworthy person, but his temperament... is probably not entirely compliant; he needs to find a kindred spirit."

Princess Yongning's eyes flashed with deep thought upon hearing this.

She gently patted Jiang Dusheng's hand and whispered, "I understand. Thank you."

Jiang Dusheng glanced around the hall, but did not see the Imperial Preceptor Shi Qinglian that Xie Jinchen had mentioned.

She tilted her head slightly and asked Princess Yongning in a low voice, a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Princess, I've heard that the Imperial Preceptor is highly respected by His Majesty and possesses profound Buddhist knowledge. Why is he absent from the Empress's birthday banquet tonight?"

Princess Yongning seemed to only then notice this, and said in a low voice, "This Imperial Preceptor is very aloof and solitary. He usually resides only at the Pure Heart Terrace and rarely appears unless summoned by His Majesty or during a grand sacrificial ceremony. He only obeys His Majesty's orders."

"However... the Empress's birthday banquet is a major celebration in the palace, and according to etiquette, he should attend. This is rather strange."

A hint of doubt flashed in her eyes, but she didn't delve into it. After all, the Imperial Preceptor held a transcendent position, and it was common for him to be unpredictable.

Jiang Dusheng let out a barely audible sigh.

It seems I won't have the chance to take advantage of this imperial advisor's influence tonight.

As the banquet progressed, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

As is customary, at this moment, members of the royal family, nobles, and high-ranking officials will present birthday gifts to the Empress in turn to express their congratulations.

The Empress sat gracefully on her phoenix throne, a gentle smile on her face.

She was not exceptionally beautiful, but she possessed a dignified and graceful demeanor, with gentle eyes that made her approachable and worthy of the presence of a nation's mother.

Soon, it was the turn of Prince Chun's Mansion, whose members were among the top of the imperial relatives' seats, to present their gifts.

Princess Chun rose, led a maid carrying a brocade box forward, and gracefully bowed to the Empress, her voice clear and melodious:

"Your Majesty, I extend my heartfelt congratulations on your birthday. May you enjoy good health, longevity, and eternal youth."

"I hereby present a thousand-year-old blood amber phoenix pendant from the Western Regions. It is said that this pendant was blessed by the high priest of the ancient Khotan Kingdom, and it can calm the mind and protect the wearer's health, bringing good fortune and auspiciousness."

As she spoke, the maid respectfully opened the brocade box.

Inside the box, on a red silk lining, lay a jade pendant. Inside, a shadowy phoenix in the shape of outstretched wings was naturally encased. Under the light of the palace, it shimmered and glowed, with a faint dark red radiance flowing through it. It was clearly a rare and precious treasure.

Jiang Dusheng's eyes narrowed instantly.

Inside that seemingly magnificent blood-red amber pendant, there was no natural phoenix at all...

That was clearly a mass of malevolent energy that had been forcibly imprisoned for countless years.

The so-called "blessing of the High Priest of the Ancient Kingdom" is probably some kind of blood sacrifice seal.

At this moment, the sealed object was suddenly exposed to an environment filled with the yang energy of living people and the dragon energy of the royal family, like ice thrown into a raging fire, resulting in a violent conflict.

On the throne, the Empress's smile deepened, clearly showing her fondness for the jade pendant, and she was about to offer her praise.

However, at that moment, a sudden change occurred.

A chilling aura suddenly emanated from the area.

This aura might only cause a momentary chill and discomfort to ordinary people.

However, for the entire imperial palace and even the surrounding area of ​​Changling City, those ghosts and spirits suppressed by the dragon's aura or lingering in the distance, it was nothing less than a tearing barrier.

"Ugh!"

"roar!"

In an instant, it was as if an invisible door had been blasted open.

The area, which had been cleansed by the dragon's aura, suddenly felt a chilling wind rise outside the main hall, and the temperature plummeted.

Countless phantoms dressed in tattered armor of various colors, along with a gray mist carrying black energy, surged toward the brightly lit palace from all directions.

The candlelight inside the hall flickered violently, and the lampshades made a crackling sound.

The hanging palace lanterns moved on their own without any wind, colliding with each other.

Not far from the palace, hundreds of ghostly spirits, drawn by the bloodthirsty aura, headed towards the Chang Le Palace.

There are the remnant souls of soldiers missing limbs, the ghostly spirits of women in tattered palace attire, and the indistinct faces of wronged souls…

Jiang Dusheng suddenly stood up, coldly looked at the ghostly figures, and uttered, "A Hundred Ghosts Parade at Night."

"A Night Parade of One Hundred Demons?!"

Princess Yongning, who was closest to Jiang Dusheng, turned slightly pale upon hearing his words and instinctively put her arm around Princess Zhaohua beside her.