The blood-robed Daoist sat cross-legged in the outer hall, eyes closed in cultivation.
People came and went through the great hall. From time to time, members of the Horned Demon Imperial Clan passed through the palace, their gazes upon the blood-robed Daoist filled with hatred, disgust, and contempt... These relatively young cultivators could not yet perfectly conceal their emotions.
Yet no one truly dared step forward and utter a single insult.
Jiang Ding did not care in the slightest.
He forgot both self and surroundings. Even at this moment, he continued drawing in and exhaling the spiritual qi of heaven and earth, cultivating and steadily consolidating his foundation. The exceptional cultivation environment within the imperial palace had accelerated his progress considerably, and he was still improving, however slowly.
Who knew how much time passed.
"The Imperial Heir wishes to see you."
Mo Shan King's heavy voice echoed through the air.
Jiang Ding opened his eyes, slowly concluded his cultivation, nodded, rose to his feet, and walked with Mo Shan King toward the heart of the palace complex.
The two walked side by side, as though they were still colleagues from years past—scheming against one another, stabbing each other in the back, deceiving and being deceived, while smiling warmly on the surface and calling each other brothers and closest friends.
Silence hung between them.
"Why?"
"Why can't you be more obedient?"
Mo Shan King could not help lowering his voice. It was not out of sympathy, merely pure puzzlement, a lack of understanding within his Dao heart. "Weren't you like that before?"
"When it came to currying favor and flattering others, you surpassed me by who knew how much. You delighted the Imperial Heir so greatly that even I secretly admired you and often studied and imitated you in private."
"Why