Soul-Seizing Technique

A trace of scarlet evil glinted deep in Li Chen Zhou's pupils, and the servant's gaze instantly scattered into two pools of stagnant water.

"System, analyze the effects of Soul-Seizing."

"Ding — Target consciousness successfully suppressed. Estimated duration: 30 minutes."

When that icy power from hell coursed through his meridians and spread across his body, he suddenly withdrew the technique—the servant staggered against a corridor pillar, white mist rising in the morning light from his sweat-soaked back.

"System prompt: Three forbidden arts of the Hell Soul Exchange Scripture

Soul-Seizing Technique: Controls the mind, consumes cultivation.

Soul-Calling Guide: Connects to the netherworld's Yellow Springs, shortening one's lifespan.

Soul-Transferring Grand Art: Seizes a body and exchanges vessels; failure reduces lifespan by 10 years.

Note: The success rate of the technique is related to the gap in cultivation between caster and target."

"Lead the way." Li Chen Zhou flicked nonexistent dust from his sleeve. Though the servant had clearly regained his senses, his legs still felt as though he were treading on cotton.

In the dining hall, a golden-thread nanmu round table was laden with Eight-Treasure Duck and crab roe lion's head meatballs. Li Qing Shan tapped his knuckles against the gold-painted cover of the "Diamond Sutra," then suddenly raised his head. "You carry an aura of yin evil."

"System, detect Father's cultivation fluctuations."

"Ding — Detected energy fluctuations from dual Buddhist and demonic cultivation. Threat level: High."

Ivory chopsticks hung in midair as the sweet-white porcelain bowl in Madam Li's hand clattered to the floor.

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

"They're merely some unorthodox yin-attribute techniques." Li Chen Zhou pressed the inner force of the Three Abyssal Slashes back into his dantian and picked up a slice of crystal pork jelly. "Still not quite on par with Father's dual Buddhist and demonic cultivation..."

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

Li Chen Zhou said nothing further. As he ate, he called upon the system in his mind and checked his status panel.

"Host: Li Chen Zhou

Martial Realm: Early Sixth Rank (30/50)

Techniques: Thirteen Guardian Golden Bell Shield (Mastered),

Three Abyssal Slashes (Mastered)

Thousand Faces (Mastered)

Soaring Illusionary Steps (Mastered)

Hell Soul Exchange Scripture (Mastered)

Internal Cultivation: 30 years (calculated based on an ordinary person cultivating a basic technique for one year)

Lifespan: 29 years

Weapon: Blood Demon Blade"

Looking at his attributes panel, Li Chen Zhou's desire to grow stronger intensified. Techniques could be drawn, but he had yet to find any way to increase his lifespan.

The moment the crescent moon was swallowed by the clouds, the sound of iron chains dragging across the ground came from the direction of the Imperial Prison.

The lone lantern beneath the eaves of the Brocade Guard command post flickered through the thick fog like a night watchman hanging onto his last breath.

Wei Wuji sat in his study, swaying candlelight falling across his contemplative face.

He recalled the conversation after court that day, when the Emperor had summoned him.

"Why did Your Majesty hint that this subordinate should bring Li Chen Zhou into the Brocade Guard?"

"When a dynasty endures for too long, it naturally breeds many worms gnawing at its foundations. The Duke Zhen Guo's son entering the Brocade Guard—don't you think he would make a very suitable blade?"

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

The next day, Li Chen Zhou arrived at the gathering grounds at roll-call time.

By the time he got there, everyone else had already arrived and lined up in formation.

As Li Chen Zhou arrived, an angry shout rang in his ears. "Which group are you from? Roll call is nearly over, and only now do you show up?"

Li Chen Zhou turned toward the source of the rebuke.

Bull patterns adorned the Flying Fish Uniform, leopard patterns ran along the cuffs—this was a Centurion.

"Li Chen Zhou, Xiaoqi officer of the Ding-character Xiaoqi under the Second Banner of the First Centurion Office, Third Thousand-Household Office of the Brocade Guard," Li Chen Zhou said blandly.

A constable in the formation muttered under his breath, "Last month, everyone in the Ding-character banner died in the flaying case..." Before he could finish, Li Chen Zhou's Blood Demon Blade suddenly hummed, and dark-red droplets seeped from all eighteen blood grooves on its sheath.

"What airs you put on, Lord Li!" Zhang Qiang deliberately slapped his waist token with a thunderous crack.

"Why not wait until nightfall before coming?"

"System, assess the opponent's strength."

"Ding — Target: Mid Fifth Rank. Threat level: Medium."

He had long known that this was the Duke Zhen Guo's legitimate son, and the "Embroidered Spring Blade" personally selected by the Commander.

He just did not know whether this blade was any good. Today, he would test it first.

"Am I late?" Li Chen Zhou asked in puzzlement.

That tone was hard enough. "By my rules, you're late."

Li Chen Zhou understood. This man was trying to knock him down a peg.

"By my rules, no... I'm not." With that, he unleashed the pressure of a Sixth Rank martial artist.

"Warning! The Blood Demon Blade's bloodlust is rising. Suppression recommended."

Sensing Li Chen Zhou's unyielding stance, the other man said nothing more instead.

"Fall in."

"Hmph..."

Li Chen Zhou could not be bothered to continue locking horns with him and joined the formation. The Centurion began his lecture.

"All of you, I'll say this one more time: from now on, arrive half a shichen early for roll call.

"And no matter what status or position you hold, it means jack shit here. If you want to throw your weight around, fine—complete the assignments handed down by the Thousand-Household Officer, and I'll personally pour you a drink." His words carried a pointed meaning.

"Now, each Banner Officer and Xiaoqi will count their men, then collect today's assignments. If our Centurion Office is still at the bottom in completed tasks this month, then every last one of us will be drinking the northwest wind. Dismissed."

A moment later, a Banner Officer walked over.

"New brother?"

"Li Chen Zhou."

"Mm. I'm your Banner Officer, Liu Mo. Since you're here, get accustomed to things first and integrate with us as soon as possible." As he spoke, he pointed to the three constables beside him.

The scar-faced man on the left reeked of rust, his knuckles thick and broad like a blacksmith's;

the tall, thin man in the middle wore three-colored command flags at his waist, his eyes constantly darting about;

the frail young man on the right held a case file whose pages had yellowed and curled, cinnabar ink seeping from beneath his fingernails.

The three approached and bowed to Li Chen Zhou. "This lowly one, Black Dog, along with White Cat and Bookworm, greets you, my lord."

Banner Officer Liu Mo beckoned to Li Chen Zhou. "You've just taken office. Come on, choose an assignment first. You can get acquainted with them afterward."

Banner Officer Liu Mo's sign-off room held three stacks of case files.

The case file on the far left depicted a lotus-shaped wound at a songstress's throat. The middle one contained coroner sketches of twenty-three charred corpses from the Chen family. On the far right, the portrait of Eight-Faced Buddha was actually writhing slightly—the Thousand Faces Demon Art cultivated by that villain had reached the realm of perfection.

But Li Chen Zhou himself possessed Thousand Faces, making him especially sensitive to those who altered their appearance.

"The brothel murder case involves Prince Rong..." Before Liu Mo could finish, an explosion sounded in Li Chen Zhou's mind.

"Ding — Congratulations, Host. Professional missions have officially been unlocked."

"Ding — Mission triggered: Capture the criminal and seek justice for the songstress Qingkou. Reward: 2 years of internal cultivation. Must be completed within one day."

"Ding — Mission triggered: Investigate the Chen family massacre and capture the culprit. Reward: 3 years of internal cultivation. Must be completed within seven days."

"Ding — Mission triggered: Capture Eight-Faced Buddha, a villain on the Evil Person Ranking. Reward: 10 years of internal cultivation. Must be completed within one day."

Li Chen Zhou looked at the three mission scrolls and thought, These are the assignments the Brocade Guard ought to take.

He asked, "Can I only take one?"

At those words, Liu Mo looked at Li Chen Zhou in surprise.

He had thought Li Chen Zhou would shrink back. He had not expected him to be so hard-headed. Thus, he said, "These three assignments belong to our Centurion Office. If you have the ability to finish all three, that's fine too."

The blood-red sheath struck the desk, making Liu Mo's fingertips twitch.

"I'll take them all."

Li Chen Zhou tucked all three case files into his robes. The black iron token struck the Blood Demon Blade with a clear ring.

"Ding — Missions accepted. Countdown begins."

The three constables beneath the corridor turned pale as death. The flaying knife at the scar-faced man's waist wailed within its sheath. They had seen too many colleagues who wanted to reach the heavens in a single step—every last one had ultimately become a numbered corpse in the Imperial Prison morgue.