Chapter 56: Holding Firm to Her Ladyship's Side Without Wavering! (Please follow and read!)

Chen Mo examined the soul in his hand.

After losing its physical body, Juemi reverted to its true form.

Grey fur, pointed snout, sharp teeth, bat-like ears, three tails swaying ceaselessly behind it, as though trying to curry his favor.

"A fox?"

In his memory, there really was a fox-demon BOSS late in the game.

Only that one had eight tails, and was a snow-white fox from head to toe…

Chen Mo drew Juemi's divine soul into his palm, but did not devour it immediately.

After the Soul-Capturing Divine Ability leveled up, it gained a new function — the ability to temporarily contain a divine soul.

The demon race, the cinnabar mine, the dead Ministry of Works clerk — there must be some connection among them.

The Zhou family, or the figure behind the Zhou family, was plotting something.

This divine soul might be useful to Her Ladyship.

"Solving cases and the like isn't important — completing Her Ladyship's mission comes first."

Though Chen Mo often mocked himself as a 'thong,' he wasn't naive enough to try playing both sides.

A fence-sitter dies early.

Based on historical experience, fence-sitters usually don't end well.

As for the demon race wreaking havoc in Ducheng…

That was even less worth worrying about. Compared to Noble Consort Yu — that she-demon who had reduced *Jue Xian* to nothing but the game's name — the demon race's paltry destructive power really amounted to nothing.

Whether the Great Yuan is in chaos or not, Her Ladyship decides; the demon race has to step aside.

Holding firm to Her Ladyship's side without wavering — that was his current strategic policy.

Chen Mo took out a piece of spirit marrow, replenishing his utterly empty dantian.

A full half-quarter-hour of charging, draining every last drop of true essence from his body, combined with the 'Ghost Bane' extra damage bonus against the demon race, and coordinated with Shen Shuchou's control skill — only then did he achieve the one-strike-kill effect.

No wonder Zhou Li had been so confident — this Juemi really was powerful; its overall strength was probably already infinitely close to fourth rank.

As true essence moistened his parched meridians, the pallor in Chen Mo's cheeks recovered a touch of color, and he walked over to Shen Shuchou.

"Lord Shen, are you all right?"

Shen Shuchou steadied his breath, his gaze looking at Chen Mo with surprise, as if seeing him for the first time.

"That slash just now…"

Chen Mo said proudly, "I created it myself. Pretty cool, huh?"

"…"

Shen Shuchou fell silent.

With his discerning eye, he could naturally see the extraordinary nature of that slash.

It contained the resonance of the Great Dao — it must undoubtedly be a Heaven-grade martial art.

A self-created Heaven-grade martial art?

Such a thing was rare, but not unheard of — using an Earth-grade martial art as a foundation and infusing it with comprehension of the Great Dao, it was possible to elevate its grade, but that usually required the polishing and accumulation of several generations.

And Chen Mo was only twenty this year!

Judging by that slash's power, the true essence consumption was terrifying; Shen Shuchou felt even he might not be able to unleash it…

"Damn it, monster."

Shen Shuchou couldn't help cursing under his breath.

Chen Mo: "…"

……

Elsewhere, Lin Jingzhu's black-gold long staff extended to seven chi, and from a great distance she wildly jabbed at Zhou Li.

Zhou Li was hard-pressed to parry, and was suddenly stabbed by the staff.

Crackle-pop—

Blue electric arcs discharged from the staff's tip; his whole body convulsed, every hair on his head standing on end.

"Stinky whore, have the guts to let me out and fight me for real, man to man @#￥%&*…"

Zhou Li, furious and flustered, cursed Lin Jingzhu viciously.

Then, in a moment of carelessness, the staff jabbed into his mouth, and the shock made his eyes roll back.

Although Lin Jingzhu was quite the ruffian and a born fighter, she was no fool.

In terms of raw strength, the gap between her and Zhou Li was too great; even with the array formation's aid, it would be very hard to slay him.

Rather than that, it was better to wait at ease and conserve her strength.

"If Chen Mo abandons me and runs again, at least I'll have the power to protect myself… If he really dares to run, once we're back in Ducheng, I'll have my little aunt break his damn legs!"

Lin Jingzhu thought to herself.

"Wait, buddy, the sky's already bright — you two still haven't finished?"

At that moment, Chen Mo's voice rang out.

"?"

Both turned their heads at once, and saw Chen Mo and Shen Shuchou walking over.

Zhou Li was momentarily stunned, his gaze darting around.

Where was Juemi?

Could it have abandoned him and fled?

"Stop looking — the demon has already been executed," Chen Mo said lightly.

"Impossible. Absolutely impossible."

Zhou Li shook his head, refusing to believe his words.

The next moment, his expression froze on his face.

In Chen Mo's hand was the semi-transparent soul of the three-tailed fox.

When Ci Mi had devoured people earlier, he had revealed his true form—exactly matching this soul's appearance!

"It's over…"

Zhou Li felt as if plunged into an ice pit; a chill raced from his tailbone straight to the crown of his head!

"You may choose to fight to the death and die for the Zhou family."

Chen Mo clutched the remnant soul, his eyes narrowing slightly. "If you want to live, there's only one chance. If I extract the truth from this soul first, you'll have no value left."

Zhou Li's face turned ashen; he slumped helplessly to the ground.

After a long silence, a bitter sneer curled his lips.

"You think I'd believe you?"

"A chance? Try fooling a ghost! It's just a matter of dying sooner or later!"

He knew clearly: secretly mining Red Ore and colluding with demonic clans—either charge alone was a capital crime.

Once exposed, there was absolutely no chance of survival!

With the Zhou family's power and that of the one behind them, they could shift all blame onto him—his wife and children might still have a chance to live…

At this thought, Zhou Li's eyes flickered with resolve to die.

Crack—

Before he could move, Shen Shuqiu struck like lightning, sealing all his major meridians, dislocating his jaw, and snapping his limbs at the joints.

Simultaneously, the silver spear pierced his lower abdomen, rupturing his Qi Sea.

"That's what professionalism looks like."

Chen Mo clapped his hands in admiration.

Shen Shuqiu said coldly, "No need to waste words with him. Send him to the Imperial Prison—iron men will talk there."

Zhou Li could move only his eyes, filled with utter despair.

"We must act quickly before the Zhou family realizes."

"First, send him to the Imperial Prison. I'll go straight to the Qilin Pavilion to find Lord Yun. But Zhou Vice Minister is a Rank 3 official—acting against him requires an edict from the Donggong."

Shen Shuqiu frowned slightly, hesitating.

The Ministry of Revenue held a unique position, and Zhou Vice Minister was a staunch supporter of the Empress.

With the court in turmoil, removing Zhou Vice Minister would be like cutting off the Empress's own claws and teeth.

What if the Donggong forcibly suppresses the case…?

Lin Jingzhu saw his thoughts and said, "Then I'll go to the palace myself. On such a matter of right and wrong, my aunt… cough, the Empress will surely make a wise and decisive choice."

Chen Mo and Shen Shuqiu exchanged glances, silently shaking their heads.

Politics has no right or wrong—only interests.

At this stage, in the Empress's eyes, "stability" matters more than anything.

Though the Zhou family's crimes are unforgivable, we cannot give the Consort's faction an opening—they may temporarily suppress this matter, wait for the storm to pass, prepare thoroughly, then slowly settle accounts…

But that doesn't serve Her Majesty's interests.

When striking a snake, strike its seventh vertebra. Once we act, we must ensure a killing blow!

At that moment, a streak of blue light shot past; Chen Mo reached out and caught it.

It was a memory stone.

He turned his head—and saw only a flash of purple silk disappearing into the dense forest.

Chen Mo sank his spirit into the memory stone; at the scene before him, he blinked in surprise.

From Zhou Li secretly leaving the Zhou Fu, to the mine's interior, to the desperate battle just now—every scene was recorded, except for Gu Manzhi's!

"So this paper doll doesn't just synchronize perception—it also records surrounding images… In that case, even the Empress won't be able to suppress this!"

"I must enter the palace immediately and meet Her Majesty!"

Chen Mo's eyes gleamed.

He reconfigured the array, concealing the mine's entrance to prevent tampering.

Then, stepping on wind and thunder, he shot skyward toward Ducheng!

…

After the group left, Gu Manzhi stepped out from behind the tree.

Shadows writhed; the gray-robed figure slowly materialized, his voice low. "Your actions amount to aiding the enemy. If the Consort rises, your hope of revenge grows even slimmer."

Gu Manzhi shook her head. "Only by helping Chen Mo earn merit can I hope to reclaim the Azure Void Seal."

The gray-robed man sneered. "Men's words are lies. Do you really believe him?"

Gu Manzhi didn't answer. Instead, she asked, "What do you think of him?"

Recalling the stunning slash just now, the gray-robed man fell silent for a moment, then sighed. "I've never seen such a genius—limitless true qi, astonishing comprehension, and mastery of array arts… Even my master in his youth lacked such ability."

"If this boy grows, he will become a great threat!"

Gu Manzhi's lips curved upward. "But if we can successfully turn him, he'll become our greatest asset!"

The gray-robed man glanced at her, skeptical. "You've failed once already. Are you certain this time will work? Shouldn't I take over?"

"…."

Seeing Gu Manzhi's eyes brimming with lethal intent, the gray-robed man paused, then ventured, "Or… perhaps we work together? That might raise our chances…"

"W-what are you doing?!"

"I was joking! Put away the Radiant Thunder Incantation!"