A Hidden Figure in a Painting, a Midnight Assassin!

This grand gift had to be enough to ease the current transition within the Star Luo Imperial Family.

Dai Yunzhao had planned it long ago.

"Shadow, spread the news that Tang San is Tang Hao's son."

"And remember to tell everyone that the girl beside Tang San is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form."

"Also, Tang Hao is following Tang San around, and Tang Hao's wife was also a Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor."

"Whoever captures Tang San will possess two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings!"

"Have someone refine Tang San. Maybe a bastard like him can become a Soul Ring too?"

As Dai Yunzhao's words fell one after another, Shadow committed every one of them to memory.

Naturally, Shadow would have the news passed through several hands before spreading it.

It would go through at least five or six intermediaries, ensuring no one could trace the source back to him.

Shadow spoke softly. "Will you be safe alone in the Imperial Palace?"

Dai Yunzhao looked at the vast palace walls.

"If even this place is unsafe, then there will be nowhere left for me to shelter."

Shadow nodded slightly.

But Dai Yunzhao spoke again.

"Before you leave, hide me in the shadows."

As a puppet, Shadow actually turned his head in surprise.

Hadn't he just said he wasn't afraid?

The two returned to Dai Yunzhao's original bedchamber, and Shadow took a painting down from the wall.

"I'll hang this painting behind the screen and hide you beneath its shadow."

"It won't last very long, but it should hold for roughly three hours."

Three hours was more than enough.

With Shadow's efficiency, he could return within an hour.

Dai Yunzhao nodded.

"Then I'll wait beneath the shadow for three hours, until you return."

Shadow hung the painting behind the screen, and a shadow emerged.

His first Soul Ring lit up.

"First Soul Skill, Conceal!"

Dai Yunzhao once again felt what it was like to see the world from within the shadows.

Shadow had hidden him within them.

Shadow then turned and vanished from the spot.

With skills that came and went without a trace, he truly could accomplish far too many things.

At this stage, Shadow was Dai Yunzhao's greatest aid.

Dai Yunzhao had come here prepared for every possibility.

Still, a peaceful solution was better than force.

That the Star Luo Emperor had ultimately come around had truly exceeded Dai Yunzhao's expectations.

He had thought the Star Luo Emperor would choose to tear apart all pretenses with him and stain the palace walls with blood once more!

Although the other party had already said he was prepared to help him, Dai Yunzhao still chose to hold his fate in his own hands.

Shadow left swiftly, while Dai Yunzhao hid alone beneath the painting's shadow.

He rarely had such quiet time to simply cultivate.

That night, a rustling sound of footsteps arose.

Several people slipped in through the darkness.

Dai Yunzhao recognized the standard eunuch uniforms of the Star Luo Imperial Palace.

Hidden in the shadows, Dai Yunzhao saw everything clearly. Nothing escaped his sight.

Those people rushed straight to the bed and wildly stabbed at it!

Some of them were merely Soul Masters of level six or seven.

The strongest among them was only a Soul Elder!

People like that were everywhere in the world.

Yet they actually dared to assassinate Dai Yunzhao!

The leading Soul Elder spoke in a cold voice. "Your sleeping incense is quite impressive. It made that commoner Dai sleep like the dead!"

"Hmph! He actually dared to lay hands on the First Prince. He truly didn't know his place!"

These people were actually loyal to Dai Weisi.

Dai Yunzhao understood clearly that it did not matter how difficult it was to distinguish loyalty from treachery outside. With the sword of loyalty in hand and the blade of evil subdued, he did not care how many people in court were loyal or traitorous.

After all, no dynasty had ever possessed nothing but loyal ministers!

But within the Imperial Palace grounds, traitors could never be allowed among the eunuchs and palace maids!

This was the place closest to him. No mistakes could be permitted.

Standing in the shadows, Dai Yunzhao had already added these eunuchs to his death list!

Not only those before him—all of them would have to be purged and replaced in the future.

After stabbing wildly for a while, none of them having ever truly killed anyone, they could not tell whether Dai Yunzhao was actually in the bed.

Someone asked shakily, "Little Diao, we killed the Fourth Prince. What do we do next?"

Little Diao's face was filled with arrogance.

"What do we do? First, we seek refuge with the major families supporting the First Prince. If no one takes us in, we'll simply flee to Heaven Dou!"

Upon hearing Little Diao's words, the timid ones dropped to the floor.

They had never once left these palace walls!

Murdering a prince, then escaping the Imperial Palace—such a crime was beyond what they could bear!

If they fled, all their families outside the palace would be beheaded.

Little Diao spoke again. "What are you afraid of? We'll spread the news that the Fourth Prince has returned to Star Luo City. Once others come to investigate, we'll escape amid the chaos!"

The news of the Fourth Prince's return to the palace had never been spread.

Yet now, Little Diao actually intended to use this method to plunge the entire Star Luo City into chaos.

Only now did Dai Yunzhao realize that he had still underestimated his eldest brother.

Although Dai Weisi was dead, among those he had once sheltered were people willing to follow him unto death.

These people would even betray Star Luo!

Everyone else could be forgiven for the past, but the diehard faction of the First Prince had to be uprooted completely!

Only after confirming that there was no danger outside did Dai Yunzhao step out from beneath the painting's shadow.

Several people abruptly staggered backward, their eyes filled with terror!

To them, the youth walked very slowly, yet every step seemed to land upon their fatal weakness!

"Who are your accomplices?"

That single question from Dai Yunzhao made several of them collapse to the ground in fright.

The leading Little Diao's eyes were filled with resentment!

"There are no accomplices. We wanted to kill you ourselves!"

Dai Yunzhao could not help but sneer.

"A filthy eunuch like you thinks you're worthy?!"

Dai Yunzhao held his sword in hand as he walked slowly forward.

"Tell me every escape route and every accomplice. Who gave you the nerve to enter this place?"

"And who gave you the sleeping incense? Who promised to get you out of Star Luo?!"

Dai Yunzhao's questions left everyone trembling in fear.

But the others truly knew nothing.

Only Little Diao, the leader, spread his hands.

"Stop asking such useless questions. Today, it is nothing more than heads falling to the ground!"

"You are a Soul Elder, and so am I. How dare you act so wildly before me?!"

But all he saw was Dai Yunzhao move.

The next instant, that figure appeared at his side like a ghost.

One hand seized his face, then smashed him violently downward!

Bang!

Even the white jade and gold bricks shattered!

That so-called Soul Elder had every bone in his body shattered by a single strike from Dai Yunzhao!

Dai Yunzhao spoke softly. "If you confess properly, I'll give you a quick death. If you don't, I'll carve every bit of flesh from your body, one cut at a time!"

Dai Yunzhao pointed at the people before him.

"Then I'll put your flesh in a golden pot and boil it for these beasts to eat!"

"I'll make you watch as they devour you piece by piece, then boil those dog eyes of yours—the ones blind at heart—and stuff them into your own mouth!"