Soul Capture Technique

A scarlet, sinister glint flashed in the depths of Li Chen Zhou's pupils, and the eyes of the servant before him instantly glazed over, turning into two pools of lifeless water.

"System, analyze the Soul Grasp effect."

Ding—Target's consciousness suppressed successfully, estimated duration: 30 minutes.

As that icy, netherworld power coursed through his meridians, he abruptly withdrew the technique—the servant staggered, grabbing a corridor pillar for support, the cold sweat soaking his back steaming into white mist in the morning light.

System Prompt: Three Major Forbidden Techniques of the Hell Soul Exchange Scripture:

Soul Grasp: Controls the mind, depletes cultivation.

Soul Summoning Guide: Connects to the netherworld Yellow Springs, shortens lifespan.

Soul Transfer Grand Art: Seizes and exchanges bodies, failure reduces lifespan by 10 years.

Note: Success rate is related to the cultivation gap with the target.

"Lead the way." Li Chen Zhou brushed nonexistent dust from his sleeves. The servant had clearly regained his senses, but his legs felt as if he were walking on cotton.

In the dining hall, on a rosewood round table sat a braised duck stuffed with eight treasures and crab roe meatballs. Li Qing Shan tapped his knuckles on the gold lettering of the Diamond Sutra cover, then suddenly looked up: "You have a sinister aura about you."

"System, detect Father's cultivation fluctuations."

Ding—Detected dual Buddhist-Demonic energy fluctuations, threat level: High.

Ivory chopsticks hung in mid-air, and Madam Li's sweet white porcelain bowl tumbled to the floor with a "clang."

Sixteen-year-old Li Wanqing clutched her brother's sleeve, her almond eyes reflecting the black aura coiling around Li Chen Zhou's pale fingers.

"Just some unorthodox Yin-attribute techniques." Li Chen Zhou suppressed the inner energy of the Three Abyssal Slashes back into his dantian, and picked up a slice of crystal meat. "Still a bit lacking compared to Father's dual Buddhist-Demonic cultivation…"

"Enough!" Li Qing Shan's Buddhist beads snapped, the sandalwood beads rolling into the bird's nest soup. The Duke Zhen Guo, who had once swept through the Jianghu with demonic arts, now had every wrinkle on his face twitching.

Li Chen Zhou said nothing more, eating his meal while mentally summoning the system to view his status screen.

Host: Li Chen Zhou

Martial Realm: Sixth Rank Early Stage (30/50)

Techniques: Thirteen Guardian Golden Bell Shield (Mastery), Three Abyssal Slashes (Mastery)

Thousand Faces (Mastery)

Soaring Illusionary Steps (Mastery)

Hell Soul Exchange Scripture (Mastery)

Inner Energy Cultivation: 30 Years (Calculated as one year of basic cultivation for an ordinary person)

Lifespan: 29 Years

Weapon: Blood Demon Blade

Looking at his attribute panel, Li Chen Zhou's desire to become stronger intensified. Techniques could be extracted, but he had yet to find a way to increase his lifespan.

The moment the crescent moon was swallowed by the clouds, the sound of dragging chains echoed from the direction of the Imperial Prison.

The lone lamp on the eaves of the Brocade Guard command post flickered dimly in the thick fog, like a watchman barely clinging to life.

Wei Wuji sat in his study, the flickering candlelight illuminating his thoughtful face.

He recalled the conversation with the Emperor after court today.

"Why did Your Majesty hint for this humble servant to bring Li Chen Zhou into the Brocade Guard?"

"When a dynasty lasts too long, many parasites naturally appear. The Duke Zhen Guo's son, in the Brocade Guard… don't you think he'd make a very suitable blade?"

Wei Wuji looked at the documents on his desk for a moment, then sighed. "A great purge is coming."

The next day, Li Chen Zhou arrived at the assembly point at the appointed time.

When he arrived, everyone else was already there, standing in formation.

With Li Chen Zhou's arrival, an angry shout rang out: "Which group are you from? Roll call is almost over, and you're just now arriving!"

Li Chen Zhou turned to look in the direction of the reprimand.

The bullfighting pattern on the flying fish robe, the leopard print on the cuffs—this was a Captain.

"Li Chen Zhou, Ding-character small flag officer of the Second Banner under the Hundredth Captain of the Third Thousand Household of the Brocade Guard." Li Chen Zhou said calmly.

A strongman in the ranks muttered softly, "The entire Ding-character banner died in the skinning case last month…" Before he could finish, Li Chen Zhou's Blood Demon Blade suddenly hummed, and dark red droplets seeped from all eighteen blood grooves on the scabbard.

"Lord Li has quite the airs!" Zhang Qiang deliberately slammed his waist tag down with a deafening crash.

"Why didn't you wait until dark to come?"

"System, assess the opponent's strength."

Ding—Target: Fifth Rank Mid-Stage, Threat Level: Medium.

He had long known that this was the Duke Zhen Guo's son and the Embroidered Spring Blade personally appointed by the commander.

He just didn't know if it was any good; he'd test it out today.

"Am I late?" Li Chen Zhou asked, feigning confusion.

That tone is quite tough, "You're late according to my rules."

Li Chen Zhou understood; this was meant to be a show of authority.

"According to my rules, there isn't..." He then released the aura of a Rank 6 martial artist.

Warning! Blood Demon Blade's bloodlust is increasing. Suppression recommended.

Sensing Li Chen Zhou's firmness, the other party said nothing more.

"Join the ranks."

"Hmph..."

Li Chen Zhou, not wanting to argue further, joined the ranks, and the Captain began his lecture.

"Everyone, I'll say it again, roll call will be half an hour early from now on.

Also, no matter your identity or status, it's all bullshit here. If you want to show off, fine, complete the tasks assigned by the Centurion, and I'll personally pour you a drink." His words were pointed.

"Now, each Squad Leader and Team Leader, count your men and then collect today's tasks. If the number of tasks our company completes this month is still at the bottom, you'll all be eating wind this month. Dismissed."

After a moment, a Squad Leader walked over.

"New brother?"

"Li Chen Zhou."

"Mm, I'm your Squad Leader, my name is Liu Mo. Settle in first and integrate with us as soon as possible." As he spoke, he pointed to the three Warriors beside him.

The scarred man on the left reeked of iron rust, his knuckles thick like a blacksmith's;

The tall, thin one in the middle had a three-colored command flag at his waist, his eyes darting around;

The frail youth on the far right held a file of documents with yellowed, curled edges, his fingernails stained with cinnabar ink.

The three walked over and greeted Li Chen Zhou, "Black Dog, White Cat, and Bookworm greet you, sir."

Squad Leader Liu Mo called out to Li Chen Zhou, "You've just arrived. Let's go, choose a task first. You can get to know them later."

Squad Leader Liu Mo's signing room was piled with three stacks of files.

The leftmost file depicted a lotus-shaped wound on a singer's throat in a brothel, the middle one was a coroner's sketch of the twenty-three charred corpses of the Chen family, and the image of the Eight-Faced Buddha on the rightmost one was subtly wriggling—that villain's cultivation of the Thousand Faces Demon Art had reached a transcendent level.

However, Li Chen Zhou himself possessed the Thousand Faces, making him especially sensitive to people in disguise.

"The brothel murder involves Prince Rong..." Before Liu Mo could finish, Li Chen Zhou's mind exploded.

Ding—Congratulations, Host, the career quest has been officially activated.

Ding—Task triggered: Capture the criminal and seek justice for the Qingkou singer. Reward: 2 years of internal energy cultivation. Time limit: one day.

Ding—Task triggered: Investigate the Chen family massacre and capture the murderer. Reward: 3 years of internal energy cultivation. Time limit: seven days.

Ding—Task triggered: Capture the villain Eight-Faced Buddha on the villains list. Reward: 10 years of internal energy cultivation. Time limit: one day.

Li Chen Zhou looked at the three task scrolls and thought: This is the kind of task the Brocade Guard should be taking on.

He asked, "Can I only take one?"

Hearing this, Liu Mo looked at Li Chen Zhou with some surprise.

He thought Li Chen Zhou would back down, but he was unexpectedly stubborn. So he said, "These three tasks belong to our company. If you have the ability, you can complete all three."

The blood-colored scabbard tapped the desk, startling Liu Mo's fingertips.

"I'll take them all."

Li Chen Zhou took all three files into his arms, the Xuan Iron token clanging against the Blood Demon Blade.

Ding—Tasks received. Countdown started.

The three Warriors in the corridor were ashen-faced. The skinning knife at the scarred man's waist wailed in its sheath. They had seen too many colleagues who wanted to reach the sky in one step—they all ended up as numbered corpses in the Imperial Prison morgue.