"This dreamscape is much more bizarre than the previous one."
Having stayed in the dream world before, Xie Jiuxiao was still quite familiar with this place.
"Haha..."
They’re all pretty strange, don’t blame one brother over the other.
"Liang Ziyu seems odd, Huawu, are you two really a couple?"
Yu Nianzhao suspiciously looked at Huawu. The tension between the two seemed more like enemies than lovers.
Huawu said blankly, "Ziyu and I have been together for over a hundred years. Our relationship is deep. He is indeed my lover."
"Huawu, if you can’t awaken Liang Ziyu, then I’ll have to act."
Yu Nianzhao was preparing Huawu mentally; if she took action, Liang Ziyu would definitely be harmed in the process.
Huawu showed a dull expression and forced a bitter smile, "Alright, I understand, master. I can’t bear to harm him either. If he truly can’t hear my voice nor recognize me, please go easy on him."
"Mm!"
Even in the dreamscape, they were still in the palace.
Xie Jiuxiao skillfully guided them to Emperor Anqing’s sleeping quarters. Before they reached the hall’s entrance, Nan Guili suddenly pulled them aside.
"Why did you come in too?"
Xie Jiuxiao looked at Nan Guili with displeasure.
Nan Guili didn’t look at him and said seriously, "The Emperor and Empress are both imprisoned."
"What?"
"Imprisoned in a dream?"
This was something they had never anticipated.
"So, this is their real plan!"
Yu Nianzhao suddenly realized, pulling the corner of her lips, speechless, "Without even lifting a soldier or blade, ruling the world by pulling everyone into dreams? Whoever thought of this is truly a genius."
Who would disagree?
Could Duke Luu’s mind truly be so sharp for a day?
"They are truly mad. I’ll go and see, Zhaozhao, you stay here."
Xie Jiuxiao furrowed his brow tightly, worried about the safety of Emperor Anqing and the Empress. Naturally, he intended to save them.
"Ziyin, don’t rush. First deal with Liang Ziyu, or you won’t be able to escape even if you save them recklessly."
Yu Nianzhao shook her head, "They rely on Liang Ziyu’s Dream-Entering Skill. Without this connection, their dream will crumble."
"I fear it’s not just that. I’m more worried that they’ve already gathered troops and are heading straight for Shangjing during this gap."
Xie Jiuxiao’s eyes were dark and the Evil Qi surrounding him was growing stronger.
"They’ve found us."
As they spoke, someone discovered their whereabouts and shouted aloud, causing a swarm of people to rush in.
Nan Guili proactively said, "I’ll distract them, you guys be careful."
With that, he quickly led the pursuers in another direction.
"Hahahaha!"
Loud and arrogant laughter echoed from above, and Yu Nianzhao and the others looked up to see that Liang Ziyu had somehow flown into the air.
His black hair waved without wind, like a high and mighty preacher, reciting an unknown spell.
The people of Shangjing gazed blankly with eyes full of reverence, accepting his preaching while kneeling on the ground.
"This is..."
Yu Nianzhao suddenly had a flash of insight, "Black Market Netherworld, Preaching Nether Envoy!"
Xie Jiuxiao was momentarily dazed, "Do you mean Liang Ziyu the Mirror Demon is the Preaching Nether Envoy?"
"Huawu!"
Yu Nianzhao remained silent, coldly staring at Huawu.
Huawu said with a mournful face, "Master, Ziyu and I were imprisoned separately. I truly didn’t know."
"Hahahaha, Emperor, is this your prosperous empire? It’s nothing of the sort."
Duke Luu walked out of the hall, with guards following behind bringing out Emperor Anqing and the Empress, "Look, without lifting a soldier, I can easily make you submit."
"Duke Luu, this is treason! It’s a serious crime, do you know what you’re doing?"
Emperor Anqing protected the Empress, his face filled with anger.
"Haha, you’re trying to kill my son, what else can I do? Being forced to this point is all because of you."
Duke Luu’s face darkened, angrily saying, "I’ve already lost one son, I won’t let anything happen to my Wen Jun, and since it’s time for the Xie Family’s luck to end, it’s time for us Chu Family to sit in this seat."
Emperor Anqing ground his teeth in frustration, "Duke Luu, you’re finally revealing your true colors."
Duke Luu snorted, "Your Xie Family lacked benevolence and righteousness first. Back then, I secretly did many dark deeds for the former Emperor, he promised to give me a share of power, but in the end, he brushed it off and gave me nothing. I’m merely reclaiming what I deserve."
Emperor Anqing said, "Reclaiming what you deserve? This is the Xie’s world, not yours, don’t use your greed as an excuse."
"Say what you will, as long as I have the Mirror Demon imprisoning you eternally, you can do nothing."
Duke Luu laughed triumphantly.
"No! With Mr. Dongfang and Zhaozhao here, your scheme will not succeed."
Emperor Anqing’s mind was clouded with chaos, but he had confidence in Yu Nianzhao and Dongfang Hong.
"Dongfang Hong? Don’t you know how much effort he expended to seal the Taiyin Evil? His own cultivation was wasted, leaving him half crippled—what use is he?"
Duke Luu looked around coldly, "Xie Jiuxiao, I know you’re here too, and I’ll tell you this: Dongfang Hong isn’t any good either. Do you know the origin of the Taiyin Evil?"
Xie Jiuxiao’s eyes were fierce, quietly watching him while pursing his lips in silence.
"The Taiyin Evil isn’t entirely the evil of Shangjing. As part of the Xian Family, dispelling evil comes with repercussions, and the Dongfang Family’s price was a curse of damnation. One of the Jiu Daosha is the Dongfang Family’s Death Curse!"
Duke Luu said coldly, "This is the Dongfang Family’s curse—evoked by evil spirits. Women won’t live past middle age, and men the same. To protect his kin, he blended that curse into the Taiyin Evil, sealing it in your body. You’re just a vessel found by them. Sometimes, I truly pity you. I’ve even heard that Dongfang Hong has started seeking ways to remove their family’s curse on women. Who knows if they’ve found a new source and plan to seal it in your vessel now."
His voice carried malice, capable of unsettling one’s mind.
Emperor Anqing clenched his fists in fury, "Silence, Duke Luu, you’re truly violating the hierarchy. Do you really think you can win? You’re bound to lose utterly."
"What? Did I hit a nerve that you’d rather keep hidden?"
Duke Luu snorted, "On the surface, you act like a good brother who deeply loves his sibling, but you’re just a coward, using your brother’s suffering to secure your throne. Your kindness towards him is nothing but guilt."