Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Less than an hour later, the carriage arrived at a beautiful palace. Before the carriage could get close to the palace, a dozen of Soul Travel Realm experts flashed out from the dark. Among them, there were four peak-stage Soul Travel Realm experts. They let down their guards after seeing Lord Cao but still watched the carriage meticulously.
“Mistress Liu is back!”
Lord Cao said in a low voice, and his face was full of joy. Those peak-stage Soul Travel Realm experts were also ecstatic over the news. He Lao opened the curtain slightly and looked at Mistress Liu with his eyes glinting. Instantly, Mistress Liu answered softly, “Four consecrators, Mistress Liu did not disappoint the Witch Empress. The target is bewitched by the noxious maggot and now sleeping unconsciously.”
“Let me have a look!”
One of the peak-stage Soul Travel Realm experts was still not assured and walked hastily towards the carriage. Jiang Yi and He Lao’s hearts were at their throats. They still had yet to meet the Witch Empress, and only gods knew where she was. Everything would be exposed if they broke into fights with these men.
Shh-shh-shh!
Just then, there were sudden and distant footsteps. That consecrator stopped and gazed far; swiftly, he yelled in a low voice, “The King is coming. Leave quickly! General Cao, take them to the secret hall first. I’ll report to the Witch Empress later.”
“Alright!”
Lord Cao was startled as well and immediately shouted quietly to He Lao, “Hurry up, move there!”
He Lao was still in a state of panic. He swallowed his saliva and speedily drove the carriage to the other side. He was anxious like fire. This hall should belong to the Witch Empress. The King of Heaven Mystics Kingdom happened to come here now, making it even more difficult for Jiang Yi to take actions. Now they were going to a secret hall? If their facade was disclosed, there would be more problems and no chance to kill the Witch Empress.
Jiang Yi also hesitated but did not make up his mind at last. If he started to take actions now, the worst situation would occur; and Grandma Silver Flower would be alarmed, too. He was not going to take the risk until the very last moment.
Fortunately, Lord Cao asked He Lao to take half a round of the palace and go to a small nearby side hall. The carriage went straight into the courtyard. Lord Cao waved his hands. “Come and help out.”
Shh-shh-shh!
A few palace maids came in, and Jiang Yi and He Lao became uptight. He Lao was suddenly struck by an idea and said, “My lord, I got this.”
As He Lao was saying, he went into the carriage and carried Jiang Yi from it. Jiang Yi pretended to be unconscious with his body falling down weakly. He was constantly alerted and ready to strike any time.
Lord Cao peeped at Jiang Yi and frowned puzzledly. “Why does he not look like the portrait?”
He Lao nodded and bowed before he whispered, “Hehe. Lord Cao, it’s said that he has a heaven artifact mask which can change his appearance. Would you have a look later?”
“Heaven artifact!”
Lord Cao’s eyes brightened. He was well aware of the identity of Jiang Yi. He knew that Jiang Yi had a horrifyingly large amount of cardinal treasures. Naturally, he also wanted to take some advantages of Jiang Yi in the time of disturbance. There were no outsiders. Who would know if he took anything?
Immediately, he waved and told the palace maids, “Leave us. You come with me!”
He Lao gladly followed Lord Cao to the inner sanctum. The side hall was not very large and had an inner sanctum. After Lord Cao went straight into the inner sanctum, he patted a wall for a few times. Soon—with a flash, a secret door appeared on the wall. Lord Cao went into the door first and switched off the mechanism after He Lao entered, carrying Jiang Yi with him.
Swish!
As Lord Cao just turned around, He Lao turned into a shadow and punched Lord Cao’s lower abdomen, destroying his dantian. Instantly, Lord Cao flew out because of the hit, opened his mouth, and spat a mouthful of blood. With a shocked expression, he said, “You, you…”
Swish!
He Lao flew to Lord Cao and lifted him by his neck single-handedly. He Lao’s eyes then glowed with a demonic light. Immediately, Lord Cao’s eyes grew darkened and lifeless. Lord Cao collapsed powerlessly.
“Hu-Hu!”
After a while, He Lao let go of Lord Cao. Closing his eyes, he gulped heavily and supported himself with one hand on the wall. His body was shaking as if he was dizzy and unstable.
“He Lao, are you okay?”
Jiang Yi had quit his act and asked solicitously. This Lord Cao was only at the fifth stage of Soul Travel Realm and was attacked by He Lao out of surprise. There shouldn’t be any problem so he did not help out.
“I’m okay. My spirit power is drained by performing too many Soul-Searching Secret Arts.”
Waving his hand, He Lao rested for a while before saying, “Young Master Yi, what’s the next step? The hall in front certainly belongs to the Witch Empress. Should we just break in? The King is also here, we may as well kidnap the King.”
“Don’t rush!”
Jiang Yi waved and thought for a while. “The Witch Empress may come to us after the King leaves. It’ll be perfect if we can take down the Witch Empress without alerting the King.”
“Alright!”
He Lao was more energetic after the rest. A white light flashed in his eyes, he started doing a Soul Search on Lord Cao. A moment later, he said, “Young Master Yi, the Witch Empress will absolutely come! After a person is bewitched by the noxious maggots, she’ll have to plant the soul maggots. Only after that, the person will become her servant forever and never rebel her.”
“Alright!”
Jiang Yi grinned. This secret room was isolated by restrictions, and so he would easily imprison the Witch Empress after she came in. Waving his hands, he said, “He Lao, you bring Mistress Liu here. I’ll hide you in the Green Clear Vase so that you’ll be safer! Whether the Witch Empress will come in, it’s up to the heavens to decide.”
“This…”
He Lao became hesitant. Gnashing his teeth, he said, “How about I stay outside? If the Witch Empress’s men come and ask questions, I’ll tell them Lord Cao goes into this secret hall with you. So the possibility of the Witch Empress coming in will be greater.”
“No!”
Resolutely, Jiang Yi waved his hands. “Anyone can sense that the Mistress Liu’s eyes are dull and will detect something is wrong. If Mistress Liu remains in the carriage and does not greet the Witch Empress, it’s even more suspicious. You’ll die once our lies are exposed! The Witch Empress won’t come in at all. Other than taking such a huge risk, it’s better to try our luck here.”
“Alright!”
He Lao pondered for a while and thought that Jiang Yi’s words were reasonable. He patted the door with one hand to open it and went out with Lord Cao. He Lao manipulated Lord Cao into saying, “Bring Mistress Liu here. I’ll ask her something. The people outside, listen up. You are not allowed to enter this hall. If the consecrators come, just tell them I’m inside the secret room.”
“Understood!”
He Lao pretended to follow Lord Cao’s instructions and walked towards the carriage. In a short time, He Lao came out and held hands with Mistress Liu who was wearing a mask in order to not let anyone see her face.
Five or six palace maids were kneeling outside the hall. Lord Cao was a powerful person. Instinctively, they did not dare to say much or even dared to look up. When He Lao came in with Mistress Liu, surprisingly, he did not attract any attention from the palace maids.
He Lao entered the secret room with Lord Cao and Mistress Liu. Just now, the door was not closed; and Jiang Yi could hear everything clearly inside the room. He began to admire He Lao’s ability to improvise in times of emergency deeply. He then took out the Green Clear Vase after the door of the secret room was closed. “He Lao, Sorry for letting you suffer!”
There was a demon king who was at his peak stage inside the vase. His power was horrifically strong no matter how he controlled it. It would definitely be very uncomfortable for He Lao to stay there. He might even be broken down by the aura of the demon king if he stayed for too long.
He Lao replied with a bitter smile, “It’s okay, I’ll hold on. Young Master Yi, everything depends on you! If… things go wrong, you’ll find ways to escape.”
The Green Clear Vase glared, and He Lao entered the vase. After a pause, Jiang Yi began to set up this secret room.
The room was neither big nor small. There were only some tables and chairs. Jiang Yi took the sword from Lord Cao’s waist and stabbed him and Mistress Liu respectively, with lightning speed. Two of them fell in the blood pool they created. At the same time, Jiang Yi tore up Mistress Liu’s clothes, arranged the two of them on the ground, and then put the sword in Lord Cao’s hand.
“Do one’s best and leave the rest to the god! It is up to the god’s will whether the Witch Empress will come in this secret room.”
After setting up everything, he washed himself with the blood of the two, lay on the ground, and pretended to be dead. He waited quietly for the arrival of the Witch Empress.
…
