The early morning.

A luxurious carriage drove from the main road and stopped at the square outside the Heavenly Secrets Tower, followed by twelve riders who reined in their horses.

Zheng Wenhan, dressed in a scarlet robe, stepped off the carriage using a wooden stool and instructed his entourage, "Wait here!"

With that, he let his hands fall, his sleeves fluttering as he walked towards the Heavenly Secrets Tower.

The Heavenly Secrets Tower was a tall, pointed tower with eight stories, each with upturned eaves and observation corridors. In the past, when the late Emperor obtained an elixir, he was overjoyed and spent a fortune from the national treasury, summoning skilled craftsmen to build this tower for the National Preceptor.

On the day of completion, the late Emperor inscribed with his own hand: "Mastering the mysteries of creation, foretelling all heavenly secrets."

Hence, it was named: Heavenly Secrets Tower.

Ascending the white jade carved stone steps and entering the main building, Zheng Wenhan saw a middle-aged man in a Tai Chi Daoist robe, holding a whisk in his hand, standing there quietly with a smile on his face: "Prime Minister Zheng, the National Preceptor has been waiting for a long time."

Zheng Wenhan raised his eyebrows: "Does the National Preceptor know I was coming?"

The middle-aged Daoist smiled and said: "Everything under the heavens is within the National Preceptor's control."

'Does that National Preceptor know where Zhao Shun is hiding?' Zheng Wenhan nodded slightly and said, "Please lead the way, I want to see the National Preceptor."

The middle-aged Daoist shook his head: "The National Preceptor is in seclusion, practicing his Kung Fu, and has reached a critical moment. He will not see outsiders before the sacrificial ceremony begins." Zheng Wenhan frowned: "I have a matter of utmost urgency."

The Yang family had already noticed his plot, and in the past two days, they had been continuously submitting joint petitions with court officials, demanding an audience with the Emperor. At the same time, the Yang family's guards, retained guests, and the city defense troops under their command were actively moving, seemingly searching for something.

This made it difficult for him to use the city defense troops and soldiers to search for Zhao Shun.

If he delayed any longer, the Zheng family would have no choice but to revolt.

He had to kill Zhao Shun before the sacrificial ceremony, and then launch a mutiny in the name of purging the Emperor's inner circle, killing the puppet in the palace. If he succeeded in this, then the great cause would be accomplished.

But now, Zhao Shun could not be found.

The middle-aged Daoist smiled and took out a brocade pouch from his sleeve, handing it over: "The National Preceptor knows everything."

Zheng Wenhan opened the brocade pouch, took out the paper inside, and unfolded it. The paper read the two characters "Shen Rui".

His pupils contracted slightly.

The middle-aged Daoist still smiled: "In the past two days, Prime Minister Zheng should have the city defense troops keep a close watch on the inner and outer cities. Wherever conflicts occur, encircle them with a large army and kill without mercy! Three days later will be the sacrificial ceremony, do not delay it."

Zheng Wenhan put away the brocade pouch: "This Prime Minister understands."

After Zheng Wenhan walked out of the Heavenly Secrets Tower, the middle-aged Daoist took out another brocade pouch: "Junior Sister, go."

A woman wearing a Tai Chi Daoist robe, with a sweet appearance but a cold expression, appeared, took the brocade pouch, and disappeared again.

...

[Ding! Congratulations on completing the side quest: Survive for 72 hours.]

[Ding! Quest reward, unlock Saint realm spirit energy and items.]

[Ding! Activate side quest: Rescue Wang Xiu!]

[Ding! Activate side quest: Subdue the Azure Dragon Gang.]

Lying on a simple bed, Zhang Yuanqing felt a burst of heat on his forehead. The Taiyin Mark appeared, turning into a brilliant nebula, and vast, pure Star power and Taiyin power surged into his body.

His body was like a parched sponge, greedily absorbing the two forces, until he reluctantly stopped at the peak of level 4.

Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes, and his eyes, which had been dim due to illness, became bright and radiant, like stars.

"Back to the peak of level 4!" After feeling his physical condition, he opened the item bar and took out a Saint quality pill, swallowing it into his stomach.

The bacteria in his body were spread by a level 6 Saint, and with the healing power of the Night Wanderer, supplemented by pills specifically for treating diseases, he could only barely save his life and lose all combat power. Even if he returned to the level 4 Saint realm, he could not rely on his own immunity to heal himself.

Then, he opened the item bar to check. Low-quality props in the Saint realm were unlocked, while medium and high-quality props were still sealed. The former corresponded to level 4, and the latter corresponded to levels 5 and 6.

"Fortunately, I collected a lot of low-quality props during my time in New York, otherwise, a prop freak like me, who has nothing but top-quality props, would be dumbfounded in this situation." Zhang Yuanqing felt fortunate for a moment, then closed the item bar and scrutinized the copy mission.

The main quest remained unchanged, and the notes remained unchanged.

The side quests had changed, no longer being about survival time, but becoming clearly directed tasks.

This was a good thing. As long as he completed one side quest, he could unlock a portion of his strength, without having to endure time like the previous two times. Enduring time was a rigid rule, which was not conducive to performance. This kind of targeted task could show the operation of a high player.

"Two side quests, rescue Wang Xiu: subdue the Azure Dragon Gang. Can the Azure Dragon Gang be allies? Well, the Azure Dragon Gang stands on the side of righteousness, and their attributes are completely different from the Zheng family. They hate Zhao Shun because the fatuous ruler is incompetent and endangers the country. In essence, the Azure Dragon Gang hates those who endanger the country."

"But subduing the Azure Dragon Gang is a bit difficult... Let's rescue Wang Xiu first."

Zhang Yuanqing silently began to work on the copy strategy in his mind.

He sat up, threw away Jiang Jingwei's thigh, which was resting on his stomach, and woke her up with a slap.

Jiang Jingwei had a bad temper when she woke up. She got up and wanted to fight him to the death, but Zhang Yuanqing suppressed her on the bed with one hand, and she could not resist no matter how much she struggled.

Jiang Jingwei suddenly stopped and said in shock: "You recovered? You recovered your level!"

She immediately said angrily: "My side quest is still not completed."

"This kind of long-term plot copy doesn't need to be rushed." Zhang Yuanqing lifted the quilt and got out of bed, put on a coarse cloth coat, and strode out of the room into the courtyard. Wang Beiwang was holding a bundle of dry grass and feeding the horse. Seeing him come out, he said lightly: "I have already thought of a way. It is rumored in the city that the Zheng and Yang families are like fire and water. Since the Zheng family wants to rebel, then seek help from the Yang family. I will find a way to take you to see the Yang family.

"The Zheng family must have expected this, so next, we have to consider how to meet the Yang family safely."

He thought of many ways last night. The best option was to ask the elders and the gang leader of the Azure Dragon Gang for help, but considering that the gang leader hated evil, he would probably slap the fatuous ruler to death directly when he saw him.

Elder Xu could still be communicated with, but the gang leader cultivated fire-attribute Kung Fu and had been roaming the world for many years, known as the "Reckless Fire God".

Therefore, as a second choice, he would go to see the Yang family.

"What about after seeing the Yang family? You all know that the Zheng family must be watching in the dark. If I enter the Yang family, the Zheng family will have no choice but to fight to the death and launch an official mutiny. Don't forget, most of the city defense troops are in the hands of the Zheng family. The Zheng family's cronies are all over the court, and they also have the National Preceptor to back them up. I have no chance of winning if I tear my face with the Zheng family in this matter." Zhang Yuanqing rejected it outright.