Sudden Change

That sounded pretty terrifying.

Shi Tiexin's brow furrowed sharply, and a grave sense of danger surged within him. He unleashed his psychic energy and used Bewitch the Heart with all his strength. "I still don't believe it. When and where? I want to go witness the ceremony!"

"Fine, I'll take you there and let you see how shallow you are! Judging by the time, His Majesty has already—His Majesty has—" Just as Shadow Moon reached this point, her eyes suddenly went blank, and the life force around her rapidly waned.

Shi Tiexin's gaze flickered as he activated his psychic-energy vision.

He saw the purple light in Shadow Moon's brain suddenly contract and turn on her. The power that had once sustained her was now rapidly eroding her life force instead.

The force of Water Calamity immediately began grinding away at the purple light. Shi Tiexin hurriedly increased his psychic-energy output and demanded urgently, "Already what? Tell me quickly! I need to see it with my own eyes, or I won't acknowledge your loyalty!"

But Shadow Moon could no longer answer.

She toppled back onto the ground with a thud, her eyes rapidly turning hollow. Her voice was so faint it was nearly inaudible. "His Majesty... His Maj..."

Her eyes went blank, and she breathed her last.

The one she had pledged loyalty to had killed her. All her loyalty and obsession had become empty.

Just like Yamagata Fuji back then.

Shi Tiexin drew a deep breath and rose to his feet, as though a dark cloud weighed upon his heart.

He could clearly sense that this "His Majesty" lurking behind the scenes would be extremely difficult to deal with.

To sum up the intelligence currently available:

This person was cautious and never showed himself, yet he had laid out a