In the north of the Great Qin Dynasty, there was a vast Gobi Desert.
The terrain there was complex and desolate.
Bones were scattered everywhere on the ground, and the air was filled with a decaying stench, a scene of dead silence.
In the deepest part of the Gobi, there was a large area of chaotic stone forest.
The stone forest was shrouded in dense fog year-round, exuding a suffocating odor. Any living creature that entered never returned.
It was as if this place was a forbidden zone of death, a hell on earth.
And no one would have imagined that in such a绝地 (jué dì -绝地), a vast and mysterious organization was hidden, the most notorious assassin organization in the Southern Domain –
The Asura Hall!
Within a towering palace in the center of the stone forest, the Hall Master of the Asura Hall sat on his throne.
He wore a loose black robe, a ferocious Asura mask on his face, and was enveloped in an aura of darkness that blocked all external divine sense probes.
His gender, age, and build were indiscernible.
He could be considered the most mysterious existence in the entire Southern Domain; no one knew what he looked like.
"Ying Tianci has sent word that Hei Meigui has broken the rules of our Asura Hall. What do you all think?"
The Asura Hall Master's voice was plain, no different from an ordinary person.
However, those present knew the terror of their Hall Master; he was a murderous demon, and countless beings had perished by his hand.
In the hall, the twelve elders of the Asura Hall began to discuss.
"Last time, during the assassination of Ying Tianbao in Tianshui City, Hei Meigui already failed once. This time, not only did she not kill Ying Tianbao, but she even protected him. It's very strange."
"Hei Meigui killed an Emperor-level expert from the Panlong Holy Land. This will undoubtedly bring us trouble, and she must be held responsible for this matter."
"Hei Meigui violated the rules and should be severely punished without leniency."
The Asura Hall took money and solved problems; this was the rule.
Now, Hei Meigui had not only broken the rules but also provoked the Panlong Holy Land, which greatly displeased these elders.
Hei Meigui had always been unconventional and often disobeyed the elders' commands, so some elders had long been displeased with her and wanted to take this opportunity to discipline her.
"I've heard that Ying Tianbao is handsome and elegant. I fear Hei Meigui might have fallen for him. If that's the case, then Hei Meigui absolutely cannot be spared."
The Fourth Elder, Viper, said with a sinister look, harboring malicious intentions and wanting to kick her while she was down.
The Asura Hall Master tapped the armrest of his throne and pondered for a moment.
He said, "Elder Viper, you will be responsible for handling this matter. If Hei Meigui has indeed fallen in love and betrayed the Asura Hall for a man, then kill her without mercy!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
A hint of cruel coldness appeared on Viper's lips.
...
After meeting Ji Mo, Li Qiufeng stayed in the prince's mansion and refused to leave.
She wasn't there to pester Ji Mo, but she had learned that Ying Tianci was colluding with Lan Ling and betraying Great Qin.
And her father, Li Xiu, had chosen to conspire with Ying Tianci. Naturally, she was unwilling to return.
Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety were difficult to balance.
Li Qiufeng chose the former.
Then, she told Ying Tianbao what she had overheard from Li Xiu's secret conversation with Wu Yong.
This was because it contained information about Emperor Ying Ye.
"Father Emperor is in trouble?"
Ying Tianbao's face turned pale, and he was filled with anxiety.
Since Ying Ye fell ill, Ying Tianci had been overseeing the state affairs and controlled the entire imperial palace. He had been preventing Ying Tianbao from entering the palace to visit.
Now, upon hearing that Ying Ye might have been murdered by Ying Tianci, Ying Tianbao was at a loss.
He immediately called for Ji Mo and headed straight for the imperial palace.
The palace gates were shut tight, and the guards were heavily armed.
Ying Tianbao's heart sank because the guards at the palace gate were no longer the imperial guards but Ying Tianci's Iron Cavalry Guard.
This suggested that something serious had indeed happened.
"Stop! Those who trespass into the imperial palace will be killed without mercy!"
The Iron Cavalry Guard at the gate shouted, blocking Ji Mo and Ying Tianbao.
Ying Tianbao shouted, "I am the Ninth Prince, Ying Tianbao. Open the gate quickly."
"Without the Crown Prince's decree, no one is allowed to enter the imperial palace."
The Iron Cavalry Guard coldly rebuked, showing no respect to Ying Tianbao.
They were Ying Tianci's personal guards and only obeyed Ying Tianci's orders. Their superiors had explicitly instructed them to prevent Ying Tianbao from entering the palace.
Ying Tianbao roared, "You dogs, if you don't let us pass, don't blame me for being impolite."
With Ji Mo by his side, he was naturally fearless.
"Let them pass, release them immediately! You blind fools, can't you see it's His Highness the Ninth Prince?"
At this moment, a fawning voice was heard.
The person who arrived was none other than Wang Guang, who was scolding these Iron Cavalry Guards and ordering them to let them pass.
Ji Mo stared at Wang Guang, sensing something was amiss. Offering help without reason was a sign of ulterior motives.
Wang Guang was Ying Tianci's man; there was no reason for him to be so accommodating.
Could there be a trap?
Ji Mo and Ying Tianbao entered the imperial palace without any incident, proceeding smoothly all the way to the Emperor's sleeping quarters.
After they left, Wang Guang revealed a cunning smile of a successful scheme.
The Great Qin Emperor, Ying Ye, lay weakly on the dragon bed, his face gaunt and ashen.
"Father Emperor."
Ying Tianbao rushed to the bedside, tears streaming down his face.
"My precious son, hurry and leave, flee as far as you can."
Ying Ye grabbed Ying Tianbao's hand and said in an extremely weak voice.
He seemed to have realized something and immediately urged Ying Tianbao to escape for his life.
"Father Emperor, don't worry. With Brother Mo here, I won't be in danger. Brother Mo's medical skills are unparalleled; he will cure you," Ying Tianbao said.
"It's useless. My condition is beyond any treatment. I cannot live."
Ying Ye glanced at Ji Mo, not believing that this young man had the ability to save him, as he knew he was already at the end of his rope and beyond recovery.
"Your Majesty, you seem to have been cursed."
Ji Mo spoke.
He had already seen Ying Ye's physical condition, which seemed similar to Yao Weiwei's, having been ambushed and afflicted with a malicious curse.
But unlike Yao Weiwei, Ying Ye's condition was very dire, and he could die at any moment.
"Ying Tianci, it must have been that beast Ying Tianci. He even harms Father Emperor. Is he still human?"
Ying Tianbao said through gritted teeth.
The border incident, Yue Longgang having to go to the border to guard it, and then Ying Ye suddenly falling ill – all of this must have been Ying Tianci's scheme.
Ying Tianbao couldn't understand why Ying Tianci would do such a crazy thing. He was already the Crown Prince, and the Great Qin empire would eventually be his. Why would he collude with an enemy country, betray the nation, and even commit such a heinous act as patricide to seize the throne?
Ying Ye's gaze towards Ji Mo changed slightly.
He hadn't expected this young man to be able to discern the cause of his illness at a glance; he was truly capable.
However, such a curse was incurable.
"Brother Mo, can you save my Father Emperor?" Ying Tianbao asked.
"Yes!"
Ji Mo nodded and immediately took out silver needles.
Just then, Ying Ye suddenly convulsed, spitting out large mouthfuls of blood, his life force rapidly dimming.
"Quick, someone, protect the Emperor! Ninth Prince Ying Tianbao and Ji Mo are attempting regicide and rebellion..."
Someone outside was shouting incessantly. This voice echoed continuously, quickly spreading throughout the entire imperial palace.