Yin Ruihua could not forget those eyes.
The owner of those large hands led the Celestials to lock up Emperor Jianwen, brought him to Xiaoling Mausoleum, and personally dug open the tomb.
Emperor Jianwen watched them dig open the tomb, watched them place him into the coffin, and watched them close the coffin lid.
Even at the moment the coffin lid closed, Yin Ruihua could still see those indifferent eyes looking at him.
It was because of the fear those eyes instilled in him that he had not stepped out of the Imperial Mausoleum for over a hundred years, guarding this place all along.
Now, he was freed.
The illusion before Yin Ruihua's eyes suddenly vanished.
Then, he finally returned to the Imperial Mausoleum.
Those eyes were right in front of him.
Just like that year, he looked down at his chest and abdomen.
There, his bleached white spine stood erect, no longer covered by flesh and blood.
"Your Majesty..."
How could a mere spine support the upper body? Yin Ruihua's pupils trembled, and his body suddenly bent.
The Qianhu stretched out his bloody hands and caught his upper body.
"Yin, my, dear, minister."
The Qianhu slowly opened his mouth, revealing sparse teeth and blackened gums.
"I, do, not, blame, you."
Pfft!
The Qianhu suddenly lowered his head, opened his mouth, and bit fiercely onto Yin Ruihua's neck!
"!!"
Yin Ruihua suddenly awoke, channeling his True Qi and striking fiercely onto the Qianhu's back, causing blood and flesh to fly and intestines to spill, but the Qianhu still burrowed deeper into his neck.
Crack, crack.
Those were the Qianhu's teeth, gnawing on Yin Ruihua's neck bone!
Yin Ruihua struggled madly, but he was already broken into two, his True Qi at its bottom, unable to sustain himself.
Finally.
Snap.
Yin Ruihua's head hung limply.
The Qianhu did not lift his head, remaining buried in Yin Ruihua's chest cavity, sucking greedily.
Yang Lizhang's expression was extremely grim; he turned to look at Ji Tianrui.
"This is—Emperor Jianwen!?"
"Is this really not some demon suppressed beneath the Imperial Mausoleum!?"
Ji Tianrui, however, remained composed and at ease. She had been raised by the Miao King and had witnessed more bizarre and bloody events than a thousand Jianghu individuals combined in their lifetimes, showing no concern whatsoever.
"He is, indeed, Emperor Jianwen."
"The legitimate grandson of Emperor Taizu, and the direct nephew of Emperor Chengzu."
"However, one could also say he is indeed a demon suppressed by Emperor Chengzu in the Imperial Mausoleum."
"A demon used to guard the Zhu family's empire."
Yang Lizhang frowned, and Ji Tianrui continued with a light chuckle.
"Do you know the reason why Emperor Chengzu raised an army for the Jingnan Campaign back then?"
Yang Lizhang shook his head.
"At that time, our ancestors had already been murdered by the Emperor, and our Yang Family, through the Ming Cult, retreated into the Jianghu, so we are unaware of the palace's secret history. Wasn't it because of the reduction of feudal lords?"
"Not entirely."
Ji Tianrui shook her head.
"Did you see Yin Ruihua just now? He was an elite who fought alongside Emperor Taizu, conquering lands and establishing the empire, having experienced countless deadly battles. How could he lack the courage to fight to the death?"
"Do you think he might have been too frightened to move, allowing Emperor Jianwen to butcher him?"
Yang Lizhang suddenly turned to look at Emperor Jianwen, then looked back at Ji Tianrui.
"It is—" Ji Tianrui nodded.
"Indeed, although it is a Heresy , it is genuinely one of the lost Celestial Human Realm techniques. And it's the most core one."
"The 'Heart Realm' among Heart, Spirit, and Intent—Stillness."
"'Stillness' formed from countless Celestial Humans and the corpses of the Yang Family."
Li Miao, who was watching the excitement from a tree branch in the distance, slowly rubbed his temples at this moment, letting out a long sigh, "Truly, endless—"
"The reigning Emperor had an issue, and then another one was dug out of the grave—you Old Zhu Family are truly, like an old sow wearing a bra, one after another, wow."
"Impressive."
Li Miao, of course, did not recognize Emperor Jianwen. His deeds and portraits had originally been erased from historical records by Emperor Chengzu.
The Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) archives were naturally no exception. Not to mention that shriveled face like tree bark, only Yin Ruihua could recognize him at a glance.
But, wasn't he wearing a dragon robe and emerging from a tomb within Xiaoling Mausoleum? Even a fool would know this was an Emperor.
Moreover, judging by his physique, he was clearly not in the state of Emperor Taizu, who was over seventy when he died, nor was he an Emperor from later generations, not yet buried in his own mausoleum.
Who else could it be besides Emperor Jianwen?
After a long period of silent contemplation, Li Miao once again looked up at Emperor Jianwen, who was currently sucking on Yin Ruihua's corpse.
His expression became solemn for the first time.
He saw something that Ji Tianrui and Yang Lizhang did not.
That illusion of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood that Yin Ruihua saw, Li Miao also vaguely saw a hint of its outline.
After Li Miao killed Tan Zelin on Mount Tai, he fell into a deep sleep in the Mount Tai Sect's main hall square, and then the three sect masters, Zhou Yingxue, Zhang Jingfeng, and Deng Boxuan, entered the main hall square.
At that time, the three sect masters saw an endless black beach, a black ocean, and a storm slowly swirling on the surface of the sea.
Afterward, the three sect masters told Li Miao about this matter, and because it concerned his "eight-hour workday," Li Miao also inquired in detail and then carefully recorded the situation at the time.
And the situation where Yin Ruihua stood dazed and offered no resistance, allowing Emperor Jianwen to dig out the flesh and blood from his abdomen after Emperor Jianwen appeared, as well as the illusion that appeared around him, immediately reminded Li Miao of this matter.
After arriving in Great Shuo, Li Miao had been exploring the origin of his golden finger.
He was not someone who would calmly accept an unknown object residing in his mind.
Even if this thing had never shown any self-will or emitted any messages, as if it were merely a special physique of his, Li Miao was not careless in the slightest.
However, after years of exploration, aside from figuring out some of the mechanism of this thing, allowing Li Miao to perform operations such as "compensatory leave" and "reverting cultivation realms," he had consistently found nothing regarding its origin or the reason for its appearance on him.
Without understanding, he could never truly feel at ease.
Therefore, the similar situation occurring around Yin Ruihua immediately alerted Li Miao, and his eyes were fixed on Emperor Jianwen.
Perhaps, by some strange coincidence, he could, in this twenty-seventh year since arriving in Great Shuo, finally obtain the answer he had been seeking.
But, Li Miao would not act rashly.
Yin Ruihua was not like those ordinary supplicants; he was a genuine Celestial Human, capable of contending with Li Miao, yet he died so carelessly at Emperor Jianwen's hands. Li Miao would not foolishly rush in to fight to the death.
Whatever the matter, he needed to ascertain the situation first.
At this moment, Yin Ruihua's corpse also gradually withered.
Finally, Emperor Jianwen lifted his head and casually threw Yin Ruihua's corpse to the ground.
Yin Ruihua's corpse, as if air-dried for decades, fell to the ground and shattered into several pieces.
And Emperor Jianwen's face was no longer as gaunt as before. Although it only appeared slightly fuller,
He could now somewhat discern his features from his brows and eyes.
Suddenly, Emperor Jianwen turned to look at Yang Lizhang, and actually slowly walked directly towards Yang Lizhang.
Ji Tianrui quickly stepped forward, blocking Emperor Jianwen's line of sight towards Yang Lizhang.
"Your Majesty, Elder Yang family uses Shaolin secret techniques, and like me, they are not suitable for Your Majesty."
At this moment, Ji Tianrui chuckled lightly.
"If Your Majesty is hungry, perhaps wait a moment."
"The current Emperor should soon receive news and dispatch Celestial Humans. Your Majesty can use them."
Emperor Jianwen heard Ji Tianrui's words, turned to look at Yang Lizhang, and scrutinized him from head to toe, as if selecting meat on a chopping board.
After a long moment, he nodded, turned, and walked out of Xiaoling Mausoleum.
"No, matter."
"There, are, also, the, Xiaoling, Guard."
After consuming Yin Ruihua's blood, his speech became clearer. However, since he had only grown a little flesh and blood,
He still spoke one word at a time.
Emperor Jianwen's steps seemed slow but were actually fast, and in a blink of an eye, he reached the entrance of Xiaoling Mausoleum.
Just as he was about to step out of the door.
Suddenly, dense footsteps came from the mountain forest outside Xiaoling Mausoleum.
"Do not move! Trespassing in Xiaoling Mausoleum is a capital crime punishable by extermination of nine generations! Do not resist!"
Zhu Shoujing emerged from the dense forest, carrying a saber, followed by several Celestial Humans.
Further behind them, several thousand Xiaoling Guard had already formed their formations, in groups of three, forming the Three Talents Formation, carrying sabers and swords, their waists laden with ropes, lamp oil, light crossbows, and other items, completely surrounding the area.
The Xiaoling Guard were already trained to deal with Celestial Human experts. Although this was their first actual deployment, they were proficient and had already blocked all directions of Emperor Jianwen's potential charge. As long as Zhu Shoujing and the Celestial Humans could delay for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Xiaoling Guard could complete their encirclement.
Whether it was two paths or one path of Celestial Humans, the Xiaoling Guard were fully confident in holding them back.
Zhu Shoujing walked to the very front, carefully observing Emperor Jianwen.
"Illegally making dragon robes is a capital crime! Disturbing Emperor Taizu's rest is an even greater capital crime! Your Excellency can no longer escape, why not surrender and avoid implicating your wife and daughters? How about it?"
He slowly drew his saber and pointed it at Emperor Jianwen.
"I will only say this once, squat down! I advise Your Excellency one last time, do not think that these words are not a warning!"
Zhu Shoujing stared intently at Emperor Jianwen, waiting for any movement from him, at which point he would immediately lead the Celestial Humans to surround and kill him.
The Xiaoling Guard had been protecting the Imperial Mausoleum for over a hundred years, and they did not lack strong soldiers or Celestial Humans; they had this confidence!
After a moment, Emperor Jianwen raised his head and actually slowly walked directly towards Zhu Shoujing.
He was originally inside the door, and the moonlight was blocked by the door frame, so Zhu Shoujing could only see the hem of his dragon robe. Now, as he lifted his head, his mummified face was instantly exposed to the moonlight.
"!!!"
Zhu Shoujing was also momentarily shocked after seeing Emperor Jianwen's face clearly.
"This, is this still a human?"
Zhu Shoujing exclaimed in surprise.
As he spoke, Emperor Jianwen had already approached.
And Zhu Shoujing also raised his right hand high, ready to order the encirclement and killing of Emperor Jianwen at any moment.
Twenty zhang.
As soon as Emperor Jianwen entered the twenty-zhang range, the Xiaoling Guard would immediately be able to surround and kill him!
Now, only ten zhang remained. Zhu Shoujing's hand was poised to strike down at any moment.
Just as Zhu Shoujing's hand was about to fall.
Whoosh!
Emperor Jianwen, who was in front of Zhu Shoujing, disappeared.
From behind Zhu Shoujing, a hoarse, grating voice came.
"Xiaoling, Guard—"
"Are, you, also, rebelling?"
"Your Majesty, Commander instructed me to report this."
The Qianhu of the Xiaoling Guard knelt outside the door and said.
His martial arts were good; he traveled quickly with his Qinggong. When Li Miao and the five supplicants had decided the victor, he had already arrived in the capital.
It was deep into the night at this time, and ordinary people certainly could not enter the city, much less the imperial palace. But, carrying the Xiaoling Guard Commander's waist token, he was allowed through all checkpoints and appeared outside the Emperor's sleeping quarters in a short while.
Inside the room, the Emperor was slowly rubbing his temples.
"You just said the loud noises came from two directions?"
"Yes."
"Besides my mausoleum, also Xiaoling Mausoleum?"
"Yes."
"Did you not see Wang Zhi?"
"No, Eunuch Wang has not appeared, perhaps he has already met with misfortune."
The Emperor fell silent, asking no more questions.
"I understand. You may withdraw."
"Yes."
The Xiaoling Guard Qianhu stood up, and an eunuch led him to rest.
"Have Huang Jin come here."
The Emperor said.
"Yes."
A moment later, a tall eunuch in a python robe quickly entered the room and knelt down.
"Your Majesty."
"Huang Daban."
The Emperor slowly said.
"Something might have happened at Xiaoling Mausoleum."
"You take twenty supplicants and go investigate."
"Remember."
The Emperor said.
"If you encounter anyone claiming to be Emperor Jianwen, or a woman of outstanding beauty claiming to be Ji Tianrui or Ji Tianrui, or members of the Yang Family."
"If you encounter these three—kill them without mercy!"
"Yes!"
Huang Jin took his leave.
The Emperor did not continue to rest, but sat quietly by the bed.
After a long moment, he chuckled lightly.
"Heh."
