Mo Chuan was startled by the words, then replied, "I remember."
"What were you doing that day when the Ghost King Shuten-doji fought against Xin Lei, Mu Bing, and Bing Huo?"
Mo Chuan felt something was amiss but could only answer, "Along with Zhang Han Shan and others, I was helping some elders rescue the captured women. At that time, to save more people simultaneously, we separated to rescue them."
Fu Xi chuckled and asked, "Do you know about the Ghost King succession then?"
Mo Chuan felt the situation was becoming increasingly strange but still calmly replied, "I know... It was all over the internet back then, saying a new Ghost King would replace the old one, and that Shuten-doji had already turned to dust..."
At this moment, the mark on Mo Chuan's neck also slightly heated up, indicating that Abe no Seimei had warned Mo Chuan to be careful.
But Fu Xi chuckled and asked Mo Chuan, "Mo Chuan, do you know where the new Ghost King is?"
By this point, the others already had their suspicions.
This Mo Chuan, they reckoned, must have a rather close relationship with the new Ghost King, and might even know his exact location.
Xin Lei's expression changed; he seemed to understand Fu Xi's true intention.
Mo Chuan fell silent.
Since the other party had gone this far, they clearly knew something. It was less a question and more of an interrogation.
Mo Chuan sighed. The twenty-three people present were likely all no weaker than Shuten-doji at his peak. What could he do even if he tried to break through? Mo Fei was still at the Myriad Sword Sect. With his current strength, he probably couldn't escape Dragon Capital with her.
Silence filled the grand hall for a long time. Although not everyone was staring at Mo Chuan, they were all waiting for him to speak.
"I hope the Three Sovereigns will not involve my younger sister."
Mo Chuan bowed, then his demonic energy surged, simultaneously activating [Curse of the Underworld] and equipping the [Crimson Moon] skin.
A chilling demonic aura instantly filled the hall. Except for Fu Xi and a young man dressed as a Taoist, everyone showed varying degrees of surprise. But before they could react, the Taoist quickly formed hand seals, and eight yellow talismans flew out, instantly suppressing Mo Chuan in the center of the hall.
Mo Chuan did not struggle, merely enduring the pressure. His intuition told him that this Heavenly Emperor harbored no ill will, but by revealing this matter, he could no longer discern the other party's intentions.
Mo Chuan looked at the people around him, surprised to find that not most of them showed direct aversion to him upon discovering his identity. Instead, their expressions were a mix of surprise, confusion, and stoicism.
"Mo Chuan, you don't need to be nervous."
Fu Xi maintained his jovial demeanor and said, "I revealed it to see if you truly harbored malice. If you did, you would have attacked when I was interrogating you, rather than accepting the suppression without resistance."
"Actually, I also wish for everyone here to truly get to know this young friend. I even have a premonition that he will become the second Grey Sheep, the second Ren Yin."
Everyone fell silent. The previous Grey Sheep and Ren Yin were renowned righteous demonic cultivators, benevolent and helpful, unlike the madmen of the Yama Palace.
"However, I still hope that you, young friend, understand that one must guard against others," Fu Xi chuckled. "As long as you pass the Trial of the Heart Pavilion, the promised rewards will remain valid, and everyone present will absolutely keep your identity confidential."
"Trial of the Heart Pavilion?"
"It is merely a test of one's heart and will; it will cause you no harm," Fu Xi said. "All members of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches must pass that test to become part of the organization. Some have even gained new insights and recognition after completing it."
With that, Fu Xi waved his hand, and the Taoist retracted his hand seals. The talismans self-immolated and vanished into thin air.
"Xin Lei, please escort him."
...
"Young friend... Was it you who intervened during the incident with the King of Mount Tai?"
Xin Lei led Mo Chuan, who had deactivated [Curse of the Underworld], deeper into the Forbidden City.
"Yes..." Mo Chuan did not hide it and directly admitted.
"Thank you," Xin Lei cupped his fists towards Mo Chuan. Mo Chuan quickly returned the gesture. Xin Lei then said, "I am about to retire. Years of old injuries have taken their toll on my body."
"I only hope that before I step down, you can help me with one more matter."
"Please, senior," Mo Chuan replied.
"Slay the King of Mount Tai," Xin Lei said as he walked ahead. "I can sense that the King of Mount Tai did not die that day..."
"Good heavens, it seems my guess was right."
Mo Chuan looked at Xin Lei, about to ask for clarification, when he noticed Xin Lei stop and turn towards a nearby pavilion.
Mo Chuan also turned his head. In front of them stood a six-story pavilion. The plaque on the gate read "Trial of the Heart Pavilion."
"This is it. You may enter."
...
Qingzhou, Ye Family, rear courtyard garden.
The King of Mount Tai, his face pale, was tending to the wounds on his new fleshly body. It was clear that forcefully confronting Grey Sheep had injured him significantly and depleted his vital energy.
Beside him, a black dragon, ten meters long, was curled up in the lake, only its head exposed to breathe the air.
The clear lake water gradually turned red.
On a pine tree by the lake, a white owl quietly preened its feathers.
Suddenly, black mist converged in the corridor, and a slender, tall figure appeared in the backyard along with a shorter figure.
The latter was the King of the Wheel.
The King of the Wheel glanced at the miserable state of the King of Mount Tai and the King of the Five Officials, then let out a cold snort and spoke, "One's strength greatly diminished, the other's influence completely gone. You truly bring honor to the Yama Palace."
As he spoke, the King of the Wheel casually tossed out six bronze mirrors, which floated in the air, gradually revealing six different figures.
A woman accompanying him simultaneously waved her hand, shrouding the backyard in black mist. To outsiders, however, there was no unusual appearance.
The six figures exchanged glances before collectively focusing their gaze on the King of Mount Tai and the King of the Five Officials.
"Everyone, the King of Mount Tai and the King of the Five Officials performed poorly, causing a significant reduction in our Yama Palace's strength. Therefore, I am using the Edict of Emperor Fengdu to strip the King of the Five Officials of his position as Yama King, to be replaced later. The King of Mount Tai is suspended from his authority for one year. The branch affairs in Qing and Jian prefectures will be temporarily managed by the King of Song and the King of Yama. Does anyone have any objections?"
"My Lord! Please give me another chance!" The King of the Five Officials repeatedly banged his dragon head against the stone steps, producing dull thuds. "Please, my Lord, give me another chance. Ten years, no, five years. In five years, I can rebuild my former strength!"
But no one paid him any mind. The woman walked step by step towards the King of the Five Officials and placed a jade hand on his forehead.
The King of the Five Officials instinctively tried to dodge, but an unknown force firmly controlled him, rendering him immobile.
With a light touch of her cool, small hand, the King of the Five Officials' fleshly body rapidly began to wither, and his consciousness gradually blurred.
In his dying moments, the King of the Five Officials heard the woman's whisper:
"Dragon blood imbued with both wish power and resentment. It wasn't a waste for me to nurture it for so many years."
The King of the Five Officials' eyes widened, and he looked at the woman in disbelief, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end, his vision went black, and his consciousness dissipated.