The Devil Incarnate, Lu Cheng; I'll Join the Holy Spirit Cult-Don't Regret It (Double-Length Chapter)

Mingdu.

Warning sirens rang out across the sky.

Many civilians looked up in astonishment as figures clad in gold and red armor moved back and forth in the sky, raising the alert and completely sealing off every corner of Mingdu.

But in the next instant, a crimson figure arrived at the boundary line. Its long wings fluttered, and it looked around with a slight narrowing of its eyes. It had actually taken out the Linked Defensive Soul Tool in advance. This emperor who murdered his brother and usurped the throne was really something. After all, this was one of the Illustrious Virtue Hall's scientific research secrets.

"Who!"

As Lu Cheng appeared, a group of the Royal Soul Tool Legion guards approached and surrounded him.

The leader, a scar extending from his face to his neck, with a sinister look in his eyes, sized up Lu Cheng with some surprise. "May I ask who you are...?"

Lu Cheng remained indifferent, casually tossing him a token. "I want to leave the city."

"So it's Vice Hall Master Lu..." The man's face instantly changed, and he forced a smile, saying, "I'm truly sorry, but an assassination attempt has occurred in the capital. Someone is trying to kill the emperor, and the entire Mingdu has been completely sealed off. Please don't make things difficult for me."

Upon hearing that it was Lu Cheng, the other guards of the Royal Soul Engineer Corps hesitated for a moment, their previous sharpness and arrogance gone.

After all, this person's name is renowned, and it is said that he has recently advanced to the Level 9 Soul Engineer. He is a very important figure and a rising star in the empire.

We can't afford to offend them.

"Hall Master Jing's two precious grandsons are missing, I have to go out and check..."

Lu Cheng exhaled a breath of turbid air, and a crimson longsword slowly materialized in his hand. Without uttering a single word, his aura surged, and he coldly sized up the scarred man in front of him. If the latter were to utter another word, the sword would probably have already struck him.

"... I have a report to make..."

The scarred man gritted his teeth and insisted.

But in the next instant, the sword was already pressed against his neck, and blood began to flow.

"Let them through!!!"

Scarface turned pale and roared.

"Your Excellency Lu, if anything happens, you will bear full responsibility!!"

He glared angrily at Lu Cheng.

"Good."

Lu Cheng sheathed his sword, his figure transforming into a streak of rainbow light as he sped straight out of the city.

Royal family.

Inside the dimly lit palace, blood flowed from the cracks in the ornate gate, which was slowly pushed open. A thick stench of blood filled the air, but a figure in black robes remained calm and continued forward.

The road was littered with corpses, twisted and crooked. Judging from their clothing, they were either palace guards or palace maids. Their faces were filled with fear and bewilderment, and they died without knowing why.

And at the end of the corridor, atop the high throne.

A middle-aged man wearing an imperial robe, the edges of which were stained with blood that had not yet congealed, sat proudly on it, looking down at the newcomer with a hint of excitement and trembling in his eyes.

How could I not be excited when a scene I'd imagined countless times suddenly appeared before my eyes?

"Brother... in the end, I still won."

The middle-aged man's lips twitched, and he sighed softly to himself.

The last trace of warmth in his eyes was then extinguished, replaced by the cruelty and coldness unique to the imperial family.

"I wonder, sir, about my imperial brother's only child..." He looked down at the man in black robes below, a smile playing on his lips, and asked.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, from this day forward you are the master of this empire." The man in black robes lifted his cloak, revealing himself to be Zhongli Wu. He bowed slightly, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.

"As for the former crown prince you mentioned... we discovered a tunnel outside the palace, but it has vanished without a trace. It seems he has already left Mingdu."

"What?"

The emperor frowned slightly, his eyes sharp as he scrutinized Zhongli Wu. After a long while, he silently shook his head. "No, how could he possibly escape Mingdu in such a short time on his own? He must have had someone's help."

"To be able to deceive everyone like that, their skills must be quite impressive..."

"During this period, were there any traces of powerful figures from the empire?"

After a moment's hesitation, the emperor spoke calmly.

"Hmm... According to the Holy Spirit Cult's investigation, the empire is currently peaceful. Even Kong Deming is quietly staying in his residence, and most of the other high-ranking princes and military commanders are also staying obediently in their respective mansions."

Zhongli Wu shook his head.

"Who could it be? He couldn't have just vanished into thin air, could he?" The emperor's eyes grew increasingly hostile. He stood up and paced back and forth. Seizing power was a serious matter that could not be overlooked. If his brother's son were taken away by those remnants, there was a potential danger that could shake his rule in the future.

He won't be satisfied until this problem is cured.

Report!!!

A hurried voice came from the other end of the corridor.

Clad in crimson heavy armor, a burly middle-aged man appeared before the emperor in a few flashes. His eyes were solemn as he knelt on one knee. "Your Majesty," he said, "Lu Cheng, the deputy head of the Illustrious Virtue Hall, insisted on leaving the city. My guards refused, but he forcibly broke through..."

"Lu Cheng?!"

The old emperor narrowed his eyes, rubbing his palms together, his gaze growing increasingly suspicious.

It seems like everything matches up.

With martial law in place throughout Mingdu, only Mingdu handful of people could manage to escape with a defenseless child.

It's impossible for Elder Kong; Ye Yulin is his man, and Jing Hongchen is well-versed in the art of survival, hiding in his own lair and refusing to come out.

Lu Cheng's Second Martial Soul is said to be the Blood Pupils, which is extremely mysterious and unpredictable, especially in terms of mental concealment and disguise.

He escaped with the prince... that's quite possible.

It wasn't that he was suspicious, but rather that at this crucial juncture, the sudden insistence on leaving the city and claiming that Jing Hongchen Clan's two children had been kidnapped seemed too coincidental.

Once suspicion is sown, it is not easy to correct it.

Not to mention that someone who has just murdered his brother and usurped the throne, whose position is illegitimate, would be especially insecure and suspicious.

"Could it really be him...?" The emperor stroked his chin, his eyes filled with conflict.

If Lu Cheng were to back Xu He, it would mean that Kong Deming, Jing Hongchen, and their faction would also be drawn in. This would be a formidable force, a disaster for someone who is currently not even firmly in control.

"Your Majesty, I'll take some men and go see for myself..." Zhongli Wu said calmly.

"If he really did rescue Prince Xu He, then this palace coup needs a scapegoat."

"Hmm..."

The emperor narrowed his eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded emphatically, saying, "Alright, if it really is him, remember to bring him back, and deal with Xu He well..."

"Of course." Zhongli Wu smiled.

Mingdu, outside the city.

Lu Cheng paused, stopping in mid-air.

The surrounding area was filled with lush forests, but below, there was no familiar presence of Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen. Instead, the soul guidance device was still flashing its lights rapidly, indicating that it was getting closer and closer to the location of the bracelet.

Lu Cheng's eye twitched.

Open your palm.

A suction force burst forth from it, and as a gust of wind blew the leaves, two bracelets popped off the branches and landed in his palm.

Meanwhile, a boy of about ten years old, dressed in luxurious clothes and covered in blood, was also trembling and curled up on a tree branch.

He stared at himself in horror.

"..."

"Call..."

Lu Cheng exhaled a breath of stale air and pursed his lips.

His gaze flickered to the other side.

Several figures streaked across the sky, rushing straight towards this place.

The leader was Xu Jiangliu, the Royal Soul Engineer Corps, followed by several figures in black robes. Their familiar auras identified them as Zhongli Wu and the others.

"..."

The wings of the bionic Flying Soul Tool on Xu Jiangliu's back trembled, and his speed was not weak at all. He stopped in mid-air, his eyes swept over Xu He and Lu Cheng below, and his face gradually turned cold.

He followed the entire palace coup.

If Xu He were to be rescued, it would undoubtedly be a huge disaster.

Lu Cheng must die!

"Mr. Zhongli, I'll leave this matter to you. We will not interfere further..."

"As for Vice Hall Master Lu's brutal murder of the emperor, kidnapping the Crown Prince and fleeing, and his execution here, I'm sure Elder Kong and Hall Master Hongchen won't have anything to say about that."

Xu Jiangliu glanced indifferently at Lu Cheng, then walked away.

"Ha ha ha ha..."

Zhongli Wu lifted his cloak, looked at Lu Cheng standing in mid-air, and laughed heartily, his face full of smugness. "How about it, child? I told you... what my Holy Spirit Cult sets its sights on will never escape."

Is it really necessary?

Lu Cheng said with a hint of helplessness.

"As for it, it's very serious." Zhongli Wu shook his head, curled his lips at Xu He who was crying to the side, and then gently squeezed his palm, instantly crushing the latter into bloody foam.

Xu He is dead.

From then on, there were no more witnesses or physical evidence.

The person who most wants Lu Cheng dead right now is the current emperor. There's a high chance that the blame for the treason and regicide will be pinned on him. His background is high enough to make him a scapegoat.

But as for Elder Kong...

The current emperor controls almost 70% of the military power and is practically tied to the entire army. This is precisely what holds Elder Kong's lifeline in his hands. His bottom line lies in the stability of the Sun Moon Empire. Therefore, no matter how angry Elder Kong is, he will not directly take action against the emperor.

Otherwise, it would mean continued instability for the empire.

As for the Jing Hongchen, there's no need to say more.

"So, would you like to join the Holy Spirit Cult?" Zhongli Wu asked with a smile.

"..."

Lu Cheng's face twitched.

He really didn't want to argue with these guys, but unfortunately, they would always find a way to contact him during every Simulation. They were really like... a persistent nuisance.

"Why did you trust me so much to come?" Lu Cheng ignored the mangled remains of He Caitou and stared at Zhongli Wu.

"Because you are a good person."

"Should good people be held at gunpoint?"

"Hahaha..."

Lu Cheng suddenly burst out laughing, laughing in exasperation.

He felt that he had acted too uprightly before, to the point that these guys all regarded him as a proper gentleman, a rigid and pedantic guy like Kong Deming who adhered to "rules".

He looked at Zhongli Wu with a strange expression. "Are you sure you want me to join the Holy Spirit Cult? You won't regret it?"

"Of course!" Zhongli Wu's heart suddenly skipped a beat. This strangely calm look was completely different from what he had expected. This young man was not under his control at all. In fact, he felt a sense of unease rising up. However, due to Lu Cheng's talent and his own confidence, he still nodded.

"Okay, I'll join the Holy Spirit Cult."

Lu Cheng's lips curled up, and a bright smile appeared on his face.

At this moment, Zhongli Wu, Zhang Peng behind him, and Wu Yun all felt a chill run down their spines.

Something feels off...

What kind of guy did they hire?

Mingdu.

In the most strictly guarded and heavily guarded prison.

Inside a room made entirely of metal that forbids the Soul Power, a handsome young man with short, jet-black hair was leaning back in a chair, resting with his eyes closed.

The heavy door was slowly pushed open.

"Junior Uncle!!"

A figure rushed in, and the girl threw herself into his arms, her eyes blurry with tears, "Waaaaah..."

She then burst into tears.

The miniature version of Xiao Hongchen on one side also had red eyes, full of regret. "I'm sorry, Junior Uncle, we fell asleep, and when we woke up, we found that the wristbands you gave us were missing..."

"It's not your fault."

Lu Cheng revealed a gentle smile. Now that things had come to this, he already had the ability to protect Xu He and bring him back to Mingdu while he was still outside the Mingdu, and then use him as his trump card to contend with the current emperor.

But he allowed Zhongli Wu to kill Xu He.

Because he wanted to give Zhongli Wu a surprise, a really big surprise.

These guys are so eager to recruit me now; they'll regret it later.

Moreover, continuing in the same old routine would indeed be boring. Taking over Jing Hongchen's position as the Illustrious Virtue Hall is a logical choice given the Simulation Device's arrangement.

"Junior brother, you... sigh."

Jing Hongchen, a short and stout figure, also walked in, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He sighed, "So far, not only has Master not gotten angry or asked the current emperor for the person, but he has also... told me not to get involved. I don't know what he's thinking."

"The teacher is right."

Upon hearing this, Lu Cheng smiled instead.

Everyone knows the inside story of this royal change of power. Kong Deming is highly likely aware of his own situation. This is actually a great opportunity for him to extricate himself from this huge trouble, but the price is... utter disgrace.

Everyone in the Sun Moon Empire knows that he murdered the emperor and usurped the throne.

Its reputation reversed almost overnight.

Everyone despises them.

Today is the day to arrange his execution.

"But..." Jing Hongchen said anxiously, "Junior Brother, your reputation is almost ruined. Your senior brother is still waiting for you to inherit Illustrious Virtue Hall. What... what is Master thinking?"

"My teacher understands me best," Lu Cheng said with a smile and a shake of his head.

Soon, the door was pushed open.

A guard solemnly announced, "The execution time has arrived..."

He was escorted by two soldiers to the Soul Tool Gun platform, where Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, who were crying their eyes out, genuinely believed that their junior uncle was going to be executed.

But soon, Lu Cheng was taken hostage by a group of men in black robes at the execution ground, and then "rescued" away.

Alarms blared, and a cacophony of voices mingled together.

"Lu Cheng is Evil Soul Master!!!"

"No wonder he murdered the king! Chase after him!"

"..."

Damn.

At that moment, in mid-air, Lu Cheng's wings trembled, he stretched his neck, and glanced indifferently at Zhongli Wu, who was beaming with joy beside him.

It's that "pledge of allegiance" again.

P. S.: The foreplay seemed a bit long, mainly to prepare for the Meng Hongchen, but the main scene (Ye Guyi) is coming soon.