The emperor鈥檚 study, Borderless Heavenly Capital:
Gu Hai sat behind his desk and looked at Shangguan Hen standing respectfully before him.
鈥淵our Reverence, are you saying Ao Shun is not the only spy?鈥?Shangguan Hen鈥檚 expression changed.
Gu Hai nodded gently. 鈥淗ah! We were wrong earlier. All eight of you are our most trusted men. How could you have betrayed us? Now that the truth has come to light, I am certain. It is not that someone betrayed me, but their souls got exchanged. There is no betrayal.鈥?
鈥淚t is not Ao Shun alone? Why do you think there is more?鈥?Shangguan Hen asked in confusion.
鈥淏ecause Ao Shun was not involved in the attempted assassination of Gu Qin and Meng Tai at the Embroidered Uniform Guard鈥檚 headquarters. We sent someone to investigate. Ao Shun was in his residence at that time,鈥?Gu Hai said.
鈥淗uh?鈥?Shangguan Hen felt slightly startled. His face sank. 鈥淭here鈥檚 in one more?鈥?
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鈥淭his person is extremely patient. When we used psychological warfare to pressure you eight at the Three Pure Ones Hall, Ao Sheng could not endure and exposed himself. However, the other spy remained patient. Such mental fortitude surprised us,鈥?Gu Hai said gravely.
鈥淭hat means it might be any one of us?鈥?Shangguan Hen said with a frown.
Gu Hai nodded.
鈥淭hen鈥hy did Your Reverence tell me? Why don鈥檛 you suspect me?鈥?Shangguan Hen asked.
鈥淵ou cultivate the Eight Nines Profound Technique. By the seventh set of nines, your three spiritual souls have already merged with your physical body. There is no way to remove your spiritual souls,鈥?Gu Hai said indifferently.
鈥淵es! Many thanks for Your Reverence鈥檚 trust.鈥?Shangguan Hen inwardly released his bated breath.
鈥淏ut who could it be among the rest? Does Your Reverence have any idea?鈥?Shangguan Hen asked.
Gu Hai thought for a while before nodding. 鈥淚 have a guess, but I鈥檓 uncertain. That鈥檚 why I need you to work with me to investigate.鈥?
鈥淥h? Who?鈥?Shangguan Hen said in shock.
鈥淕u Qin!鈥?Gu Hai frowned.
鈥淗is Highness the Crown Prince?鈥?Shangguan Hen felt slightly startled.
Gu Hai nodded.
鈥淭his official had considered Kong Xuan and Lord Mo. How could it be His Highness the Crown Prince? His Highness was the target of the previous assassination, and he nearly died!鈥?Shangguan Hen said in shock.
鈥淕ao Xianzhi and Ao Shun got injured on the recent military campaign鈥攄espite Ao Shun being the spy, right?鈥?Gu Hai countered seriously.
鈥淗uh? However, back then鈥?鈥?Shangguan Hen said in confusion.
鈥淲e thought about all the details. That day, the Embroidered Uniform Guards were sent away from that courtyard in the Embroidered Uniform Guard鈥檚 headquarters. Later on, someone laid a ritual array. Meng Tai? He rushed over from outside and did not have the time to plan this. At the very least, he did not have enough time to perfectly coordinate the spies among the officials outside and the situation inside,鈥?Gu Hai explained.
鈥淢eng Tai? Indeed, he did not expect Lord Mo and His Highness the Crown Prince to arrive suddenly, so he could not have planned it.鈥?
鈥淭he commotion caused by the officials was well coordinated, which is why we suspect it was preplanned. So, who could have done such a thing?鈥?Gu Hai looked at Shangguan Hen.
鈥淐rown Prince Gu Qin or Lord Mo Yike. However, Mo Yike might not be entirely trustworthy,鈥?Shangguan Hen said with a frown.
鈥淲e understand. Mo Yike said Chen Tianshan got someone to lure him out of his residence, preventing him from having an alibi. Qin Zibai does not count. Since we cannot prove his innocence, Mo Yike is a suspect. However, we questioned all the surrounding Embroidered Uniform Guards. Although they had left the courtyard, they still patrolled the surroundings. The Embroidered Uniform Guard鈥檚 headquarters is tightly guarded, after all. When the ritual array broke after the attack on Gu Qin and Meng Tai, no Embroidered Uniform Guard saw anyone leave. No one left. Although Meng Tai saw Mo Yike run, the Embroidered Uniform Guards did not see anyone. That means the assassin was still in the courtyard. However, Mo Yike flew in later on,鈥?Gu Hai analyzed.
鈥淧erhaps he used a special method to avoid detection?鈥?Shangguan Hen suggested uncertainly.
鈥淭hat is the Embroidered Uniform Guard鈥檚 headquarters. The headquarters. There should be many Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators. Could he hide from everyone?鈥?Gu Hai asked seriously.
鈥淏ut鈥ut Crown Prince Gu Qin and Meng Tai both saw the assassin鈥檚 appearance. They both saw Mo Yike.鈥?
鈥淗ave you forgotten? The Go Dao can use a ritual array to manifest a person for some time. The music Dao can do the same. Although the music Dao laws no longer exist, the music Dao can do the same as the Go Dao鈥攗se ritual arrays to manifest a person. Wasn鈥檛 there a ritual array outside that small courtyard?鈥?Gu Hai analyzed.
鈥淎h? The ritual array outside the courtyard?鈥?Shangguan Hen鈥檚 expression changed. 鈥淐ould it have been a music Dao ritual array instead of a sound isolation ritual array? It was used to manifest something like a cloud beast?鈥?
鈥淲e guess the same but are uncertain of the details. However, that is the general idea,鈥?Gu Hai said.
鈥淭hat is to say, Crown Prince Gu Qin first brought a black-robed person into the small courtyard before chasing away all the Embroidered Uniform Guards. Then he laid a music Dao ritual array around the courtyard and waited for Meng Tai to return. That black-robed person was not Lord Mo, just a pretense. Perhaps he killed that black-robed man after doing everything and stored the body in a spatial storage as a spatial storage item cannot store living things. This way, only Crown Prince Gu Qin remained. Finally, he used the music Dao ritual array to manifest a Mo Yike temporarily?鈥?Shangguan Hen analyzed.
Gu Hai did not refute him.
鈥淗owever, Your Reverence, Heaven has taken away the cultural cultivation laws. It would take many spirit stones and an incredibly complex ritual array to form an expert that could assassinate Meng Tai, right? Could Crown Prince Gu Qin do it in time?鈥?Shangguan Hen analyzed.
鈥淭here is no need for too many spirit stones nor to go to that trouble. He just had to manifest a Gu Qin lying in blood and use the music Dao ritual array to change his appearance to look like Mo Yike. Showing Meng Tai all this would be sufficient,鈥?Gu Hai said seriously.
鈥淵our Reverence, are you saying it was His Highness the Crown Prince who severely injured Meng Tai? It was all His Highness鈥檚 plot?鈥?Shangguan Hen exclaimed in shock.
鈥淲e are still not sure. However, if it were as we analyzed, there should be another person鈥檚 souls in Gu Qin鈥檚 body, and this person is a music Dao expert with a deep understanding of Gu Qin,鈥?Gu Hai said sullenly.
鈥淵our Reverence, what should this official do?鈥?Shangguan Hen asked, his face sinking.
鈥淭his is just our guesswork. Also, we need to find Gu Qin鈥檚 souls. Otherwise, he will be in grave danger if we startle the enemy,鈥?Gu Hai said seriously.
鈥淵es!鈥?
鈥淥f course, we have to take precautions. If there is a second spy, there could be a third. Don鈥檛 mention this matter to anyone after this. Pretend you know nothing,鈥?Gu Hai instructed.
鈥淵es!鈥?Shangguan Hen answered.
鈥淵our Reverence, what does this official need to do?鈥?
------
Martial Heaven City, the Wu Imperial Dynasty鈥檚 capital:
Sect Master Heavenly Access鈥檚 disciples escorted Six Fingers and Ao Sheng as they made a quick return.
The moment they entered the palace, many guards rushed out.
鈥淵ou bastards, do you not even recognize me?鈥?Six Fingers glared.
鈥淥h? It鈥檚 His Highness the Crown Prince鈥檚 trusted aide, Mister Six Fingers. Alright, withdraw!鈥?an official said with a faint smile.
The surrounding guards immediately left.
鈥淟ord Liu, what do you mean? Weren鈥檛 you always loyal to His Highness the Crown Prince?鈥?Six Fingers asked coldly. This Lord Liu has always been a yes-man to me. Why is he like this to me today?
鈥淢ister Six Fingers, please watch your words. This humble one is loyal to His Reverence alone and no one else,鈥?Lord Liu said coldly.
鈥淥h?鈥?Six Fingers鈥檚 face sank.
Long Sanqian brought many officials over to his side over the past year or so. These officials were already completely loyal to the crown prince. Why did this change?
鈥淟ord Liu, I want to meet His Reverence! Hurry!鈥?Ao Sheng yelled.
鈥淗uh?鈥?Lord Liu鈥檚 eyes narrowed.
鈥淚 am Ao Sheng, not Ao Shun. Just report to His Reverence,鈥?Ao Sheng yelled.
Lord Liu frowned slightly but nodded and quickly went in to report.
Lord Liu soon returned. 鈥淗is Reverence is holding the morning assembly. Just go straight in.鈥?
鈥淎lright.鈥?Six Fingers nodded.
鈥淲e will return, then,鈥?Sect Master Heavenly Access鈥檚 disciples said.
鈥淕o ahead. We will return soon!鈥?Ao Sheng nodded.
Sect Master Heavenly Access quickly left.
Then, Lord Liu led Ao Sheng and Six Fingers to the assembly hall.
When the two entered, an intense Corpse Energy met them.
Six Fingers鈥檚 expression suddenly changed upon seeing the Corpse Energy.
Ao Sheng goggled.
Long Shenwu sat on the throne, and all the civil and military officials before him had black auras.
鈥淵our Reverence, they鈥?Did you turn them into your zombie progeny?鈥?Ao Sheng said in shock.
However, Six Fingers鈥檚 eyelids twitched wildly. All the officials became zombies?
Doesn鈥檛 this mean Long Sanqian鈥檚 efforts in gaining everyone鈥檚 support over the past year have been wasted? As zombies, their lives and deaths depend on Long Shenwu鈥檚 whim.
Long Shenwu sat on the throne as he smiled coldly at Six Fingers. 鈥淢ister Six Fingers, our beloved officials will only be loyal to us now. We already know what you have been doing over the past year or so.鈥?
Six Fingers鈥檚 expression changed. 鈥淵our Reverence, His Highness the Crown Prince鈥︹€?
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter. We do not blame him,鈥?Long Shenwu said indifferently.
After Long Shenwu turned everyone into his zombie progeny, Long Sanqian could not do much, even if he wanted to vie for power.
鈥淵es!鈥?Six Fingers nodded as he showed a bitter smile.
鈥淵our Reverence, I want to return to my body. Please help me!鈥?Ao Sheng said anxiously.
鈥淕u Hai found you?鈥?
鈥淵es.鈥?Ao Sheng explained everything that happened in the Han Nation.
鈥淵our body is in the prison. Mister Six Fingers will help you return to your body!鈥?Long Shenwu nodded.
鈥淵es!鈥?
------
Ao Sheng saw Ao Shun in the prison.
Right now, Ao Shun鈥檚 spiritual souls occupied Ao Sheng鈥檚 body. Ao Shun鈥檚 cultivation was sealed, and he was chained to the wall.
鈥淗ah! Haha! Ao Sheng, you have returned? Where are my arms?鈥?the chained Ao Shun snarled.
鈥淕u Hai chopped them off. Go find him if you want revenge. Humph!鈥?Ao Sheng snorted coldly.
鈥淢ister Six Fingers, my current armless body had its cultivation first sealed by Kong Xuan. Later on, the Mosquito Daoist changed it for his seal. You don鈥檛 have to worry about him escaping. Help me exchange bodies with Ao Shun now,鈥?Ao Sheng said with anticipation.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 fine. Master left behind a Soul Connecting String. Stand across each other,鈥?Six Fingers instructed.
鈥淎lright.鈥?
Ao Sheng stood in front of Ao Shun.
Six Fingers took out a guqin with a long spike on each end. One spike stabbed into Ao Sheng鈥檚 forehead while the other stabbed into Ao Shun鈥檚.
A taut string was on the guqin.
鈥淩elax!鈥?Six Finger slightly loosened the zither string.
Buzz!
The zither string suddenly trembled, producing a strange sound.
鈥淎rgh!鈥?
鈥淎rgh!鈥?
Ao Shun and Ao Sheng cried out, their faces distorted in pain. As they trembled, two clumps of blue light came out of their bodies, and each entered the other鈥檚 body.
Boom!
With a loud sound, the guqin exploded into powder.
The shock wave knocked Ao Shun鈥檚 armless body into the air. Ao Sheng鈥檚 chained body crashed into the wall.
With the sudden impacts, the two immediately returned to their senses.
The chained Ao Sheng鈥檚 eyes lit up. 鈥淗ah! Hahaha! I鈥檝e returned. My spiritual souls have returned to my body. Hurry! Help me remove these chains and undo the seal.鈥?
Rattle! Rattle! Rattle!
Six Fingers removed Ao Sheng鈥檚 chains and undid Ao Sheng鈥檚 seal.
Now, Ao Shun鈥檚 and Ao Sheng鈥檚 spiritual souls had returned to their rightful places.
When Ao Shun returned to his body, intense pain overwhelmed him from the loss of his arms.
鈥淎o Sheng!鈥?Ao Shun looked at Ao Sheng in a rage.
鈥淢en! Chain him!鈥?Ao Sheng shouted coldly.
鈥淵es!鈥?
Many guards immediately rushed over and chained Ao Shun. Although he did not have his arms and cultivation, they remained cautious.
鈥淎o Shun, you truly failed at life. Humph! Gu Hai simply does not care about your survival and even chopped off your arms. If not for Little Lin sacrificing himself to save me, your body would have completely turned to mush. Humph!鈥?Ao Sheng said coldly.
鈥淟ittle Lin died?鈥?Ao Shun roared as his expression changed.
鈥淗umph! I can鈥檛 be bothered to speak to you. His Reverence wants your body. You are about to become a corpse. Why waste time on you?鈥?Ao Sheng left with Six Fingers.
鈥淒on鈥檛 go! Tell me! How did Little Lin die? Why?!鈥?Ao Shun roared.
鈥淭he Embroidered Uniform Guards killed him. It serves him right!鈥?Ao Sheng said coldly as he stepped out of the prison cell.
鈥淒on鈥檛 leave! Tell me why?! Ao Sheng! Ao Sheng!鈥?Ao Shun roared in grief and rage.
No guard dared to approach.
Ao Shun roared for a while before finally leaning back bitterly on the wall.
Buzz!
Just then, a mosquito buzzed by his ear.
Incredibly upset, Ao Shun was in no mood to chase a mosquito away.
The mosquito landed in Ao Shun鈥檚 ear.
鈥淧rime Ao, Little Lin is not dead. His Reverence only hid him. I am the Mosquito Daoist. His Reverence sent me to rescue you. I have brought your arms. His Reverence gave me a treasure to help you reattach them. Furthermore, I placed the seal on your body, so I can remove the seal immediately and let you out,鈥?the mosquito buzzed into Ao Shun鈥檚 ear.
鈥淗uh?鈥?Ao Shun startled, his eyes opening wide.
鈥淒on鈥檛 appear too shocked. I鈥檒l remove your seal first. After I reattach your arms, charge out with me,鈥?the Mosquito Daoist said seriously.
鈥淣o. Don鈥檛,鈥?Ao Shun said softly.
鈥淗uh? What鈥檚 wrong?鈥?the Mosquito Daoist asked in surprise.
You can escape, but you don鈥檛 want to?
鈥淏esides me, there鈥檚 also His Highness the Crown Prince. The crown prince鈥檚 souls were exchanged too. Long Sanqian did it. Find the crown prince鈥檚 souls first. Otherwise, His Highness鈥檚 souls will be in trouble when the enemy notices,鈥?Ao Shun said anxiously.
鈥淎h?鈥?The Mosquito Daoist鈥檚 expression changed.
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