The system was silent for a moment, then said, "This imperial palace, something's not right."
Ye Zhaozhao's interest was piqued. "What's not right?"
The system slowly replied, "I can't be entirely sure. Don't concern yourself with this matter. If it's truly as I suspect, perhaps... it won't even be that troublesome. Soon, we'll be able to take everything from Li Shuang."
The system's voice was eerie.
That demonic heart was quite capable. Such a demon usually could only exist by relying on another's body, but this demonic heart seemed unwilling to be confined.
This current formation could deceive others, but not him.
He had always grown stronger by absorbing others' luck, and he was particularly sensitive to similar matters.
In this imperial city, someone had clearly set up a grand formation to absorb the luck of an entire nation!
To use the luck of a nation... to forge a true demonic body for himself.
What great ambition.
Once successful, his cultivation would likely reach the Integration Stage in one go.
But with such a massive commotion, he would inevitably face endless pursuit from sects.
The system didn't want to cause such a stir. His method of absorbing luck was far more covert and efficient than this kind of formation.
If that demonic heart truly forged a true demonic body, Li Shuang and the others would certainly be no match.
He had long since parasitized Li Shuang. Once Li Shuang died, her luck would still be plundered by him.
That way, it would be truly undetectable.
Moreover...
Is the luck of a nation so easily borne?
This demonic heart wouldn't even know how it died in the future.
The system scoffed inwardly, but he had no intention of warning his counterpart.
In this situation, he only needed to wait and see.
That demonic heart would certainly come to no good end, but if he could use its hand to kill Li Shuang, once Li Shuang's luck and cultivation were acquired, Ye Zhaozhao's body would instantly soar.
At that time, he could plan to go to the central region and find the next prodigy as his target.
Ye Zhaozhao continued to ask curiously, but the system played coy and said no more.
In the secret chamber.
The few from Ruthless Peak, urgently summoned by Li Shuang, had their expressions subtly change after hearing Li Shuang's description.
"You mean, this entire imperial palace is the truly complete version of the Blood Fiend Body Refining Grand Formation?"
Li Shuang nodded without hesitation: "Over the past few years, many new buildings have appeared in the palace, and these new buildings... are all part of that complete Blood Fiend Grand Formation. Now the entire formation has been meticulously arranged, so even if the buildings are destroyed, it won't affect the formation itself. The only chance is to destroy the core of the formation when it manifests."
"Tomorrow at midnight, the celestial phenomena will change, which is the best time for the formation to activate. We must stop this."
The information Li Shuang provided was overwhelming.
Everyone's expressions changed.
They didn't ask Li Shuang how she knew, they only knew that with Li Shuang's personality, she wouldn't speak so decisively without absolute certainty.
Sui Jin's expression was serious: "If we can find the mastermind beforehand and control them, perhaps we can force out a way to resolve the formation."
Luo Mingyue nodded and slowly said, "I explored Emperor Chen Lie's bedchamber tonight. The Emperor Chen Lie in the palace is timid and cowardly, without any imperial demeanor. He might have some problem."
Li Shuang said, "I investigated the imperial palace and found that Emperor Chen Yang's mausoleum is within the palace. His coffin is actually made of ice. The most bizarre thing is that an illusion formation was set up in the coffin; one can see Emperor Chen Yang's body with the naked eye, but in reality, there's nothing inside. That Emperor Chen Yang might be problematic."
All the strange occurrences in the imperial palace centered on the two emperors.
The current problem was:
Where did Emperor Chen Yang go?
Emperor Chen Lie's actions were strange; did he know something?
What puzzled Li Shuang the most was.
The arrangement of this formation was not done overnight.
Tomorrow was the day of its completion.
However.
The mastermind had deliberately led them to the imperial palace.
Was this too much self-confidence, wanting to trap and kill them all here?
Or...
Was someone else entirely leading them here?
Time was urgent.
After a brief discussion, everyone immediately decided to start with Emperor Chen Lie.
Regardless of whether Emperor Chen Lie was the mastermind, he must know something they didn't.
The night deepened.
The heavy rain continued.
Under the cover of this all-concealing storm, everyone headed to Emperor Chen Lie's residence.
Luo Mingyue had already set up a barrier here, and no one had left during her absence.
Around Emperor Chen Lie's residence, many cultivators he had gathered also lived.
Li Shuang had no intention of confronting these people. She used soul magic to temporarily knock them unconscious.
"Who are you?" Emperor Chen Lie was greatly alarmed when he saw them, instantly collapsing in fear.
Li Shuang frowned and lifted him up. "You are... Emperor Chen Lie?"
A hint of coldness faintly flickered in her eyes.
The man trembled all over, terrified by her gaze.
"Immortal... Immortal, please spare my life. If you seek revenge, go find the real Emperor Chen Lie. I, I'm just a stand-in, I don't know anything!" The man said, repeatedly kowtowing.
A stand-in?
Li Shuang's frown deepened. "Where is the real Emperor Chen Lie?"
"I don't know, I really don't know." The man trembled: "I, I was chosen as a stand-in because I look like Emperor Chen Lie. Since Emperor Chen Lie ascended the throne, I've been playing this role. I... I'm really just a puppet. Whatever he tells me to do, I have to do. Heaven help me, I didn't even dare to enter the harem! I haven't enjoyed many benefits, and now it's my turn to die!"
The man cried out loud as he spoke.
He looked nothing like an emperor.
However.
Everyone still tied him up, directly took a trace of his bloodline, and had Liu An test it.
As the Imperial Advisor, Liu An had the duty to maintain the imperial bloodline and also had methods to confirm it.
Upon his confirmation, his face turned pale.
"This... this person is not Emperor Chen Lie," Liu An stammered.
Only one thought was in his mind.
It's over, it's over.
This time, he was truly finished.
As the Imperial Advisor, he didn't even know the emperor had been replaced!
It was impossible for him not to be held accountable!
Now, all he could do was atone for his mistakes.
Liu An quickly said, "Senior brothers and sisters, rest assured, even if I have to dig three feet deep, I will find Emperor Chen Lie!"
Liu An, eager to atone for his sins, left in a hurry.
Li Shuang and the others didn't expect Liu An to actually discover anything, so they let him go. Liu An's actions might at least serve to confuse the situation a little.
Li Shuang glanced at the fake Emperor Chen Lie. She walked forward, intending to make the man fall asleep for a while.
Just as she was about to act, the man, trembling, quickly said, "Midnight tomorrow, the core of the formation is in Zhaoyang Palace."
After he finished speaking, he seemed to be startled by something and immediately fainted.
Li Shuang couldn't help but be stunned.
What was wrong with this person...?
She investigated and found that he had truly fainted from fear, which left her even more speechless.
Midnight tomorrow, the core of the formation, Zhaoyang Palace!
This person revealed three important pieces of information in one breath.
Then, he actually fainted? And from fear.
Were this person's words... credible or not?
Li Shuang couldn't help but frown.