"COUGH COUGH..."

A coughing sound emerged from the wild aftermath. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Emperor Emeritus, are you all right?" Li Ru’s voice, filled with worry, followed.

Amidst the dust, two figures staggered to their feet. Their clothes were tattered and their bodies covered in wounds; they looked utterly wretched.

"Minister Li, I owe you my life!" Qin Ying said, his heart filled with lingering fear as he glanced at the devastation from the explosion. If Li Ru hadn’t shielded him and absorbed most of the shockwave, he would undoubtedly be dead.

"Protecting you, Emperor Emeritus, is my duty!" Li Ru replied nonchalantly, beginning to inspect their surroundings for clues.

A whooshing sound cut through the air as Li Yuanba, Huo Qubing, Guo Jia, and others landed in the courtyard one after another. After paying their respects to Qin Ying, they hurriedly asked Li Ru what had happened.

Since they were all trustworthy individuals, Li Ru didn’t hold anything back and recounted the entire incident from beginning to end.

"A mysterious organization?" Guo Jia frowned, his voice grave. "If that’s the case, then Wang Roumin’s participation in the consort selection was also orchestrated by this mysterious organization!"

Everyone’s expression turned solemn. An organization capable of influencing the consort selection must possess formidable power.

"Huh, this human bone seems unusual!" Li Ru squatted down and picked up a bone from the scorched earth. It was covered in mysterious patterns and, while resembling a human bone in appearance, was more than twice as thick.

"A human’s frame couldn’t be this large. Could it be from a different race?"

"That’s not right either. The structure of this bone is identical to a human’s; it can’t be from a different race!"

"Then it’s truly strange. Could it be a new species?"

Li Yuanba and the others discussed it, but none of them could determine the bone’s origin.

"This is indeed a human bone, but it has mutated!"

At this moment, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang and other ministers approached. Their cultivation levels weren’t as high as Li Yuanba’s group, so they arrived a moment later.

"Prime Minister, have you seen this kind of bone before?" Li Ru quickly asked.

Huo Qubing, Guo Jia, and the others all looked towards Zhuge Liang with curiosity.

"No. Rumor has it there’s a sect on the continent that enjoys conducting human experiments. They combine artifact refining techniques and Alchemy to transform human bodies into monstrous, humanoid beings with immense combat strength."

Zhuge Liang took the bone and examined it closely before stating confidently, "If I’m not mistaken, this is a product of the Heretic God Sect."

Everyone was aghast. They hadn’t expected such a grotesque force to exist on the continent.

Most critically, they had appeared within the Qin Dynasty’s sphere of influence!

"The Heretic God Sect is one of the continent’s ancient sacred grounds. It has dominated the South Territory for numerous eras, known for its cruel and ruthless methods. Its strength surpasses even that of the Kylin Sacred Land!" Jia Xu, who was in the crowd, slowly spoke up.

The Hidden Guard’s intelligence agency had gathered information on the continent’s sacred grounds, possessing a general understanding of each sect’s capabilities and tactics.

"This is troublesome!"

All the ministers present furrowed their brows. The Heretic God Sect was a power from the South Territory. Their sudden appearance within the Qin Dynasty’s domain surely meant they harbored ulterior motives. This was precisely what worried everyone.

How many members does the Heretic God Sect have? How many people within the Qin Dynasty’s Ancient Court have defected? Where are their strongholds? And so on...

"His Majesty has arrived!"

At that moment, Qin Wudao, accompanied by Dian Wei and Xu Chu, walked into the devastated courtyard.

"Father, are you alright?" Qin Wudao rushed to Qin Ying’s side, asking with concern.

"I’m fine!" Qin Ying waved his hand dismissively, then gestured towards the ministers. "The Qin Dynasty is in trouble. Discuss it with them. It’s my fault for my inadequate supervision, allowing my subordinates to cause such a huge mess!"

Qin Wudao hadn’t yet grasped the full situation. After confirming Qin Ying wasn’t seriously harmed, he turned to Zhuge Liang and asked, "What happened?"

"Your Majesty, the Heretic God Sect has infiltrated the inner workings of the Qin Dynasty’s Ancient Court!" Zhuge Liang replied, cupping his hands in a salute.

Li Ru quickly added to this, reiterating the details about Wang Roumin’s consort selection, the lockdown of Lu City, and the capture of the traitors.

"In that case, thoroughly investigate the Wang Clan. Li Ru, immediately mobilize the Abyss Guards to arrest Wang Shouxin!" Qin Wudao commanded in a grave tone upon hearing this.

"As you command!" Li Ru performed a fist-and-palm salute and quickly departed from the main hall.

That very afternoon, a team of Abyss Guards left the Imperial Capital, heading straight for Luzhou.

Wang Shouxin and Wang Roumin, who had already departed Lu City, remained completely unaware of these developments.

"Damn Wang Shouxin, for ruining my plans!"

In an underground river, a white-robed Martial Artist cursed under his breath. Before him stood two trembling young men, their faces ghastly pale and their eye sockets sunken—clear signs of excessive debauchery.

These two were Wang Shouxin’s sons, Wang Huantian and Wang Keyu.

"I am Yin Xietai. From now on, I will be your master. Here is a Cultivation Technique; take it and begin your practice," Yin Xietai said indifferently, producing a Cultivation Technique wreathed in red light and tossing it to the pair.

"M-Master... I... I don’t want to practice this Cultivation Technique!" Wang Huantian’s face turned deathly pale as he flipped through it. If they cultivated according to this method, they would transform into monsters in less than half a month.

Wang Keyu, standing beside him, also shook his head vehemently.

"This is the sacred art of the Heretic God Sect’s holy land. Cultivate it to mastery, and you can reach the Great Emperor Realm. Are you certain you don’t wish to practice it?" Yin Xietai said enticingly, his dark eyes radiating a strange energy.

The two youths’ gazes turned vacant. Deep within their minds, a voice echoed, telling them they wanted to cultivate, that they *had* to cultivate...

"Master, we are willing to cultivate!" they exclaimed eagerly, coming to their senses.

"Good!" A glint flashed in Yin Xietai’s eyes. With a wave of his hands, the underground river began to boil. Two colossal skeletons of Ancient Times’ ferocious beasts emerged, emanating a savage aura that seemed capable of destroying heaven and earth.

"These are the remains of a Nine-Headed Mad Lion and a Purgatory Thunder Dragon. Begin your fusion according to the Cultivation Technique!" Yin Xietai said with a smile, gesturing towards the skeletons.

Wang Huantian and Wang Keyu exchanged a glance, each chose a set of remains, and sat cross-legged. A crimson light began to glow around their bodies.

You two are getting off easy. These remains were originally reserved for the future Crown Prince of the Qin Dynasty. It seems now I’ll have to seize control of the Qin Dynasty by force! Father, Elder Brother, just you wait! It won’t be long before I return. At that time, I will refine your bodies and use the blood of my closest kin to reach the pinnacle of the "Thousands of Refinement Truth"!

Yin Xietai’s voice reverberated through the dark tunnel, the echoes causing it to rumble and collapse, sealing the exit.

Amidst the dust, a strand of white light emerged around him, coiling like a spirit serpent and exuding a suffocating pressure.

「Meanwhile, in the outside world」

Wang Shouxin, heavy-hearted, and Wang Roumin, who was overjoyed, encountered the Abyss Guards dispatched from the Imperial Capital about three thousand li from Lu City.

Just as Li Ru was about to apprehend them, Wang Shouxin let out a tragic laugh, and his body exploded into a mist of blood.

"Fath—"

Wang Roumin, her face ashen with terror, suddenly felt her own body begin to swell. Then, with a deafening bang, she too exploded.

The lead has gone cold again! Li Ru’s brow furrowed slightly. He led his men towards Lu City, hoping to find new clues.