Chapter 85: Chapter 81: Wei the Ninth

「Emperor Orange Fate Grid – Trapped Dragon in the Abyss, Refinement Level increased to 44%」

Seeing the new Fate Grid before him, the Refinement Level had once again increased by four percent.

Lu Mingyuan took a deep breath. He felt an invisible, tremendous power surge within him, making his body and mind jump for joy. His Dantian transformed into a black hole, and several of his Acupoints opened simultaneously.

His Cultivation had also risen significantly, comparable to the effects of a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasure.

「Cultivation Technique: Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture – Abnormal Eating Chapter (Seventh Floor: 9,000/50,000)」

But he hadn’t felt a thing before.

’Is this what it feels like to be blessed by Dragon Fortune?’

He was finally beginning to understand why so many Princes coveted the dragon throne. The feeling was truly wonderful; he barely had to do anything.

Just by relying on Dragon Fortune, one could possess extraordinary power.

At the same time, the Demonic Heart Demons of this world were truly difficult to deal with. After all, the Eldest Prince Lu Changfeng had died at the hands of his own Heart Demon.

On the surface, they could help you with anything, representing the weakest and most desired parts of your heart.

In reality, they could devour the host’s will and take over the body, which was no different from Possession. Once that happened, the original person was dead.

It was said that some Cultivators who were progressing well in their Cultivation would suddenly undergo a drastic change in temperament, a sign they had been corrupted by a Demon Barrier.

No wonder everyone wanted to crush the Demon Country. Many Cultivators who had fallen into the Evil Dao couldn’t survive elsewhere and thus fled to the Demon Country.

The Holy Nether Land took in many such individuals.

The Heart Inquiry Bureau was over, but there were still some loose ends to tie up.

’For instance, how should I deal with that strange Palace Maid outside?’

’And how can I trick Lu Guangjing into thinking I’m still trapped in the Heart Inquiry Bureau to make him lower his guard?’

’Also, how am I going to kill him?’

’I still know too little about Lu Guangjing.’

’I don’t even know what his weaknesses are.’

’But he knows all of my weaknesses, and those of the other Princes, crystal clear.’

As Lu Mingyuan considered this, he knew he could only take it one step at a time and make a long-term plan.

He glanced at the Demon Fragrance, which hadn’t burned out yet. It wasn’t time to escape, but he couldn’t just stay here forever.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through Lu Mingyuan’s mind.

“Why don’t I use the Blood Glutton Puppets to trick that Palace Maid?”

He snapped his fingers, and two Blood Glutton Puppets appeared.

…

After setting everything up, he leaped up, opened a crack in the window, and slipped away quietly in the direction of the back courtyard.

Lu Mingyuan took his mother back to her residence, then left the vicinity of the Cold Palace for a while to lay low.

By the time the Palace Maid checked on him, the Puppets would naturally disappear. In reality, the place was already empty.

All of a sudden—

A gentle breeze swept by, and the clear moonlight seemed to freeze.

The world fell silent.

On the small garden path by the entrance, an elderly figure appeared.

Lu Mingyuan seemed to sense something. His heart pounded as he whipped his head around.

It was an old eunuch in simple blue clothes. His temples were white, and his aura was deep and restrained. His eyes were like a thousand-year-old lake, perfectly still, holding a profound weariness washed clean by the ages.

It was none other than the old eunuch who had been missing for so long, Wei the Ninth.

Now that his [Recognizing People] skill had reached a High Level, Lu Mingyuan could detect the man’s unusual aura and the subtle details in his eyes.

’Just as I thought, this old eunuch is no simple character.’

“You’ve finally decided to show yourself.”

Lu Mingyuan smiled upon seeing him.

Wei the Ninth also gave a faint smile and replied,

“Your Highness, why do you insist on pestering this old servant?”

His earlier timidity and fear were gone. While his reply was still respectful, it was laced with a calm and composed air.

“Eunuch Wei’s power is unfathomable. You are a peerless master. Of course, I must do my best to get on your good side.”

Lu Mingyuan spoke the truth directly.

Wei the Ninth squinted with great interest. “And how did Your Highness figure that out?”

“I guessed.”

Lu Mingyuan replied with a grin.

Wei the Ninth chuckled softly, clearly not believing him.

Lu Mingyuan still had his doubts and couldn’t help but ask, “Why were you unwilling to see me before, Eunuch, but are now willing to appear on your own accord? Don’t tell me you’re here to silence me?”

Hearing this, Wei the Ninth gave a slight smile and shook his head.

“Over the past few hundred years, this old servant has seen far too many heaven-sent geniuses. I was simply curious as to how Your Highness transformed from a mere dandy into what you are today. At first, I thought it was a Demon’s Possession, but after our brief encounter at the Great Snowfield, I realized that wasn’t the case.

Later, I suspected you were entangled by Demonic Thoughts or suffering from a Heart Demon Devouring Body. Now I see that’s not it either, as you’ve passed the Heart Inquiry Bureau. So now, I’ve simply stopped thinking about it. In any case, it’s a good thing for the Great Yan. And for me, it is also a good thing.”

Lu Mingyuan’s brow furrowed at these words. ’It seems this old eunuch knows everything that happens in the Imperial Capital like the back of his hand,’ he thought.

“If you’re so powerful, Eunuch, then why are you still sweeping the floors in this Cold Palace?”

Wei the Ninth replied, “This old servant has been confined here for three hundred years, refusing to enter the Celestial Gate, all to resolve a matter of the heart and end a Celestial Dao Oath so that I may leave this place.”

Hearing this, Lu Mingyuan roughly understood.

’Some kind of oath must be shackling him to this place, trapping him here for three hundred years.’

As far as he knew, the Celestial Dao of this world was sentient.

A Celestial Dao Oath was not some casual spoken promise. It was a solemn vow carved upon one’s Dantian Heart Wall, a great oath influenced by the Celestial Dao itself. Breaking it was no small matter. A drop in one’s realm or the birth of a Demonic Heart Demon that stalled future Cultivation would be considered minor consequences. The most terrifying outcome was a backlash from the Celestial Dao that could cripple a person completely. Therefore, before making such an oath, one had to be absolutely certain they could bear the consequences.

Generally, the more powerful a Cultivator, the more they feared making oaths, as their every word and deed carried immense weight, unlike that of a common person. The man before him, Wei the Ninth, was unfathomably powerful. His Celestial Dao Oath was likely comparable to a mighty Celestial Tribulation. Naturally, he couldn’t be careless and had to dedicate his entire life’s energy to dealing with it.

“Don’t you get lonely, Eunuch?”

Lu Mingyuan asked curiously.

Wei the Ninth suddenly laughed heartily. “The entire Great Yan Capital City is like the flowing water in a small stream. The scenes that drift by in the water are the little details of the world. When I have nothing to do, taking a look is quite interesting, isn’t it? Far more interesting than all that fighting and killing.”

“However, the most important reason this old servant was willing to come out is that I saw your Blood Gluttonous Avatar is starting to take shape.”

Hearing this, Lu Mingyuan’s pupils shrank, and his expression changed drastically.

“The Blood Gluttonous Avatar… Could it be…?”

“That’s right. Your Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture is the Cultivation Technique I practice.”

Wei the Ninth nodded slightly.

’The Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Visualization Image on the bedboard in the Cold Palace’s main hall… it was carved by Wei the Ninth.’

He then thought of the dilapidated Daoist Temple and the Daoist’s grave on the back mountain, and couldn’t help but ask, “The Daoist Temple, the grave, and the Red Bone Sunflower… were those also your handiwork, Eunuch?”

“That’s a long story.”

Wei the Ninth’s gaze drifted as he recalled the past.

“In any case, what you’re going through now is nothing to me.”

“After all, in my early years, I served at Emperor Jingyuan’s side. What storms have I not seen?”

’Emperor Jingyuan?’

Lu Mingyuan suddenly remembered.

The origin of this Cold Palace.

It was built for Emperor Jingyuan.

The Emperor’s northern expedition… The Emperor who reigned for only eight years, who rose to power and saved the Great Yan from dire straits, yet in his later years, spun a cocoon for himself and was trapped in the Cold Palace. He was an Emperor of mixed repute.

’Could it be that this Eunuch Wei accompanied Emperor Jingyuan in the Cold Palace for his entire life, until the Emperor died of old age?’

Hearing these explanations, a wave of realization washed over Lu Mingyuan.

’So the benefactor mentioned in the first divination…’

’…was actually Wei the Ninth!’

“You’ve successfully cultivated to the Seventh Floor and are about to enter the second stage, the Divine Sensing Chapter. You already possess the potential.”

“What potential?”

Wei the Ninth smiled but said nothing, not answering the question.

“You’ll know in the future.”

Lu Mingyuan’s eyes darted around as he asked, puzzled, “So, you’ve come out this time to take me as your disciple, Eunuch?”

Wei the Ninth shook his head. “No. I’m here to fulfill my oath. A century-old oath, one that I must fulfill. Only when the oath is complete can I leave in peace.”

“For this oath, I have waited here for three hundred years.”

“And because of this oath, I can act on your behalf once. Only once, limited to a single time, for a single matter.”

Lu Mingyuan asked, “Why? Can’t you act more than once?”

Wei the Ninth chuckled. “The only reason I can still be here is that I have shielded myself from the celestial secrets and feigned death under the eyes of the Celestial Dao. The moment I act, I will attract a Celestial Tribulation, be forced through the Celestial Gate, and disappear from this world forever. That is why it can only be once.”

“It doesn’t matter who it is? Even a Confucian Saint, even my own Imperial Father, even a Daoist Ancestor Buddha?”

“Yes. I am only responsible for striking. I am not responsible for anything else. You must bear the consequences yourself.”

Lu Mingyuan understood in his heart.

’Even if I ask him to kill a Daoist Ancestor Buddha or a Confucian Saint, and he succeeds, it would provoke retaliation from other powerful beings. In that case, the choice would be a mistake.’

Another question arose in his mind. “Eunuch, why are you giving this opportunity to me?”

Wei the Ninth gave a meaningful smile. “As I said, you have potential.”

In that instant, the only person who appeared in Lu Mingyuan’s mind was Lu Guangjing.

But he quickly dismissed the idea.

’This eunuch’s Dao Practice is unfathomable. He can go toe-to-toe with Saints and Daoist Ancestors. How could I waste this opportunity on someone like Lu Guangjing?’

’I have to think this through carefully.’

Wei the Ninth could see that Lu Mingyuan hadn’t made up his mind.

So he smiled lightly and reminded him,

“You should go. You still have things to do, don’t you?”

“I observe that this incident should damage the plotter’s Daoxin, and he won’t dare to pester you again. You should have some peaceful days ahead.”

Only then did Lu Mingyuan remember that his mother had not yet woken up. He hurriedly said,

“Thank you for the reminder, Eunuch.”

“What if that person starts spreading rumors about my mother and me? Wouldn’t my mother’s reputation be ruined?”

Wei the Ninth smiled faintly. “He wouldn’t dare. His scheme has already failed. If he were to do that, he would surely suffer a backlash from Destiny and be reduced to a mere Mortal. The Dragon Slaying Skill can absorb Destiny, but it can also be consumed by its backlash.”

“This old servant can only give you a hint: if you want to deal with this person, the only way is to make his Daoxin shatter.”

When Lu Mingyuan looked up again, Wei the Ninth had already vanished from the path. The wind still sighed, the moonlight still shone, and only his long, lingering words of caution remained, echoing in his ears.

“When you have decided, just call out my name: ’Wei the Ninth’.”

“With your current physique and Divine Soul, you cannot yet unleash the true power of the Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture, nor can you withstand the consumption of Essence Blood. If you can reach the Twelfth Realm of a Martial Artist within ten years, you might have the chance to witness the truth of this world. You will naturally come to know everything about me then.

Do not become arrogant or complacent because you were chosen by me. Although I know you won’t, I must still offer a word of caution. My reason for choosing you, aside from the long, withered years of waiting, also stems from a bit of compassion—and a desire to borrow your future Destiny to help me break my realm. So, you don’t need to be too grateful to this old servant.”

“Finally, I have been in the Cold Palace for several hundred years and have been lonely for just as long. I do not wish to see you walk my old path. If any Saints attempt to spy on your celestial secrets, you need not worry. Because even I cannot see through your origins. You can walk your path with confidence.”

“The path to long life is endless, and the future is full of promise.”

…

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