"That book..."

Chu Ming opened his eyes, returned the "Sword Gourd Spirit" to the bookshelf, and turned to walk deeper into the hall.

Just now, he found the target of this journey.

At the deepest part of the hall, he pulled out a very thin book from the leftmost side of the golden shelf.

Its title is "All Things Record," which describes strange phenomena and objects; Chu Ming had read it before.

However, this "All Things Record" contained a page with different characters—Ancient Shell Script.

If it weren’t for the breakthrough of the "Sword Gourd Spirit" that qualitatively enhanced his detection capabilities, he would likely overlook this book due to having read it before.

Flipping to the page with Ancient Shell Script, the first line was "Cangqian Continent, Ancient Profound Western Continent, Qin Dynasty," this text appeared on a First-Grade Cold Family letter.

Let’s look further.

"Great Qin Dynasty Thirteen Prefectures, Qin Capital, Lindu, Chi’an..."

One by one the Ancient Shell Script characters transformed through the conversion of the sea of consciousness and mountain and sea landscape, revealing understandable meanings.

"Bei Xue Di, South Jing Yue, Western Jiurong, East Yi Yang..."

The content of the page was not much, mostly what Chu Ming knew, but nearly half of the Ancient Shell Script characters did not appear in the Mountain Scripture.

Thus, Chu Ming could be quite certain that the Seventh Prince, or perhaps the Crown Prince, had content beyond the "Mountain and Sea Great Wilderness Scripture·Mountain Scripture."

This page of Ancient Shell Script must have been intentionally kept by the Seventh Prince.

Combined with the previous inquiry from the Seventh Prince about whether he carried a First-Grade Cold Family letter, Chu Ming guessed that the other party might want to verify his talent in deciphering Ancient Shell Script through this method.

In other words, to access content beyond the "Mountain and Sea Great Wilderness Scripture·Mountain Scripture," he needed to showcase sufficient ability.

Thinking of this, Chu Ming took out the case file given by the Seventh Prince to the eleven members of the First-Grade Cold Family to review:

Investigate the Ministry of Industry’s Camp Repair Department’s Cui Ye’s corruption case, deadline in ten days.

Few words, exactly as the Seventh Prince said.

"Ministry of Industry’s Camp Repair Department’s Cui Ye?"

He knew that the Ministry of Industry’s Camp Repair Department was a Senior Fourth Grade official responsible for the construction of Qin Capital and the Imperial City, but he did not know who Cui Ye was.

However, he knew that Qin Capital had a noble family with the surname Cui, probably they were the same.

Putting away the case file, Chu Ming continued browsing books, increasing the progress of "Reading."

By sunset, he had already read over half of the books in Wenyuan Hall.

The panel displayed:

[Reading: Hundred Eyes Linglong]

[Progress: 97/100]

[Effect: Ten lines at a glance, unforgettable, integration, inference, nothing escapes the eye, Hundred Eyes Linglong]

The progress was nearly perfect, estimating just a few more books to complete.

At that moment, someone arrived outside the hall.

"Time’s up." Tang Bai shouted from the doorway.

Chu Ming heard and reluctantly stepped out of the hall.

"Your name is Chu Ming?" Tang Bai stared at Chu Ming, "I remember now, weren’t you the one who was framed by the Blood Evil Sect in Xirong County’s Canal Transport Bureau a few days ago?"

The incident in Shan County was quite significant, and one of the key figures was Tang Xuan, a member of the Tang Family, so Tang Bai naturally paid attention.

"Lord, I am indeed Chu Ming from Xirong County’s Canal Transport Bureau." Chu Ming cupped his hands with a sense of caution rising in his heart.

[Sword Gourd Spirit] detected that the power of the white-haired elder before him was not strong, roughly about the late stage of Blood Circulation Realm.

But the elder was Tang Bai, known as the greatest master of calligraphy and painting in the Great Qin Dynasty, residing in Wenyuan Pavilion. How could his power be simply judged by martial arts realm?

If this person casually put any label on him, it would be difficult for him to leave the Imperial City today.

"Earlier I heard that Xirong County produced a prodigy, the first in a hundred years, only seventeen, I never believed it, but now it seems true."

Tang Bai’s eyes showed admiration amidst his casual gaze: "I heard that you have some skill in painting? Bring one for me to see next time."

It seemed that the old gentleman had some thoughts.

Chu Ming cupped his hands: "I certainly will, sir."

"Mhm, it’s getting late, if there’s nothing else, leave the palace soon, when it gets dark, it would be difficult to leave even with Your Seventh Highness’ handwritten letter."

"Thank you for the reminder, Lord Tang."

Outside the hall, Zhuge Rui, who had been waiting all day, saw Chu Ming come out and followed him with a resentful look.

"When is Lord Chu going to investigate?" His tone was somewhat unfriendly.

The matter in the case file was not only a mission for the First-Grade Cold Family, but also for their Martial Immortal Alliance.

Completing one mission allowed him to get closer to the antidote!

"Tomorrow, perhaps."

Chu Ming walked, while the [Sword Gourd Spirit] locked onto Zhuge Rui.

This ’close spy’ needed to be dealt with before confronting Jiang Zhan and Meng Zhen.

Killing directly was most convenient, but the consequences afterwards would certainly be troublesome.

Not killing meant finding a way to render the spy ineffective.

In the morning, when Chu Ming met Zhuge Rui, he sensed a hidden hostility and resistance in his eyes.

Lindu County inn, he heard this person wanted to join the Martial Immortal Alliance, so why did he show such moods after joining?

The Martial Immortal Alliance openly recruited Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm experts using cultivation techniques, but secretly their means of recruiting were unseemly.

Evidently, the Martial Immortal Alliance was probably easy to enter but difficult to exit.

Joining the Martial Immortal Alliance could likely result in losing one’s freedom.

Considering the poisoned tea in the Seventh Prince’s hall in the morning, Chu Ming suspected that Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm experts in the Martial Immortal Alliance might face the same predicament.

Using poison to control experts, effective and practical, just as he used the Life-locking Elixir to control The Medicine Maniac and the Great Derivation Sect’s old patriarch Lix Yan.

Before today, the [Sword Gourd Spirit] could barely detect a person’s Qi Blood strength, but after advancing, the [Sword Gourd Spirit] can now inspect others’ physical conditions.

The spiritual sense pierced through Zhuge Rui’s robe, skin, and flesh, moving into the internal organs.