Chapter 2224: Chapter 1914: The Holy Decree of Emperor Zhou

After listening to Zhao Yu’s words, Lu Chen eagerly said, "Show me a Deceit Pearl."

Zhao Yu hesitated not a bit, retrieving from his sleeve a pearl emanating a blue-black Spirit Evil Qi.

The moment the Deceit Pearl was taken out, Lu Chen felt a faint pain all over his body. Even without absorbing it, the Spirit Evil was already harming him. If absorbed into the body, it would probably be even more painful.

Seeing Lu Chen’s expression change slightly, Zhao Yu advised, "Heir, typically a Spirit Martial Artist from any realm absorbs the Spirit Evil from a corpse of the same realm. However, some prodigies have high resistance to Spirit Evil; they usually absorb Spirit Evil from corpses of other realms."

Lu Chen thought for a moment and then said, "Let me try."

With that, Lu Chen took the Deceit Pearl from Zhao Yu’s hand and began to absorb the Spirit Evil within it. The moment he absorbed a bit, he felt as if his entire body was being stabbed continuously.

The pain was even more intense than when he absorbed the Spirit Evil from the Lantern Deceit’s corpse yesterday. If this continued, he doubted he wouldn’t faint from the pain.

Thankfully, his Divine Soul was strong; despite the pain, he managed to endure.

Seeing Lu Chen frantically absorbing the Spirit Evil from the Deceit Pearl, Zhao Yu initially wanted to remind Lu Chen to slow down. But seeing the anguish on Lu Chen’s face, he dared not interrupt him, lest it caused a backlash from the Spirit Evil.

After a while, Lu Chen calmed the agitated Spirit Evil within his body and ceased absorbing the pearl’s Spirit Evil. He looked at Zhao Yu and said, "Provide me with one Spirit Realm’s Deceit Pearl per day from now on."

This...

Zhao Yu was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "Heir, a typical Spirit Realm Spirit Warrior requires several months to absorb one Deceit Pearl. You are now only in the Early Stage of the Human Realm; if you absorb the Spirit Evil too quickly, you might suffer a backlash."

Others take months to absorb one Deceit Pearl, while Lu Chen plans to absorb one a day. Isn’t this akin to seeking death?

Lu Chen replied, "Rest assured, Commander Zhao, I know my limits. If my body can’t handle it, I’ll cease absorbing the Spirit Evil immediately."

Seeing Lu Chen’s confidence, Zhao Yu had nothing more to say. He planned to inform Prince Zhen Nan about this and persuade Lu Chen.

Though Zhao Yu was a key figure in Zhen Nan Prince Manor, he wasn’t the master. His words naturally held little sway over Lu Chen, but Prince Zhen Nan, being Lu Chen’s father, could surely get through to him.

Lu Chen no longer stayed in the dark underground prison. He turned and left the dimly lit cell, and upon returning to the courtyard, a maid rushed up to him, "Heir, there’s a Holy Decree for you. The Imperial Eunuch is waiting in the Meeting Hall."

Upon hearing this, Lu Chen hesitated for a moment. A Holy Decree for him?

What is Emperor Zhou decreeing him for?

Lu Chen swiftly headed to the Meeting Hall of Zhen Nan Prince Manor. Upon seeing Lu Chen, the Imperial Eunuch immediately opened the Holy Decree and began reading it.

"By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor commands: Heir of Prince Zhen Nan, Lu Chen, with distinguished identity and commendable aptitude, outstanding talent, is hereby appointed as Little Flag of the Deceit Suppression Bureau. May you grow rapidly, so as to not disgrace the title of Heir of Zhen Nan Prince Manor."

Upon hearing this decree, everyone in Zhen Nan Prince Manor’s faces changed dramatically.

Lu Chen is currently only in the Early Stage of the Human Realm. Letting him enter the Deceit Suppression Bureau is akin to sending him to his death.

Of course, there are many Deceit Suppressing Guards in the bureau who aren’t even in the Human Realm. But Lu Chen’s identity is unique; he is Prince Zhen Nan’s sole offspring. If anything happens to him, Zhen Nan Prince will have no heir.

The Emperor actually asks him to go to such a dangerous place, isn’t this effectively ensuring Prince Zhen Nan has no descendants?

At that moment, Zhao Yu emerged from the shadows, his face grim, and released a terrifying aura, causing the hall to be filled with Spirit Evil. The Imperial Eunuch was instantly overwhelmed and pressed to the ground.

"Sir, are you certain this is His Majesty’s command?"

"To my knowledge, His Majesty has been residing in the Long Life Hall practicing. Why would he suddenly decree our heir to the Deceit Suppression Bureau?"

"Is it possible someone fabricated this decree to harm our heir?"

Feeling Zhao Yu’s aura, the Imperial Eunuch was so frightened he trembled all over, drenched with cold sweat.

The eunuch quickly said, "I indeed took the decree from His Majesty’s hand, sir, please discern."

Judging by the eunuch’s demeanor, it didn’t seem like he was lying, yet Zhao Yu did not retract his aura.

If this decree was truly issued by Emperor Zhou, it implies the Emperor wishes to use this opportunity to test Prince Zhen Nan, to see if Zhen Nan Prince Manor is truly in decline.

If it were during Prince Zhen Nan’s peak strength period, Emperor Zhou would never issue such a decree. After all, Lu Chen is Prince Zhen Nan’s only offspring. If anything untoward occurred, Prince Zhen Nan would surely upheave the entire Capital City.

However, what Zhao Yu couldn’t comprehend is, why is the royal family so impatient, wanting Lu Chen gone so soon?

Prince Zhen Nan isn’t dead yet. If something happens to Lu Chen now, Zhen Nan Prince Manor could also aggressively confront the royal family.

If the royal family desires to eliminate Lu Chen, why wait until after Prince Zhen Nan’s death before issuing this decree? What urgency drove Emperor Zhou?

Lu Chen glanced at the eunuch lying on the ground and then said to Zhao Yu, "Commander Zhao, that’s enough."

Upon hearing Lu Chen’s words, Zhao Yu finally withdrew his aura, and Lu Chen stepped forward to collect the decree from the ground.

Zhao Yu promptly said, "Heir, you cannot accept this decree!" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Lu Chen is now in the Human Realm; if he remains in Zhen Nan Prince Manor, coupled with his Obscure Light Pearl, outsiders would struggle to detect his exact realm. But once he enters the Deceit Suppression Bureau, the strong ones there would surely discern Lu Chen’s true realm.

By then, the royal family would likely be more intent on eliminating Lu Chen.

Moreover, Emperor Zhou’s decree itself was ill-intentioned.

Lu Chen calmly responded, "Does Commander Zhao believe that Zhen Nan Prince Manor presently possesses the strength to refuse a decree?"

Zhao Yu was taken aback.

Now that Prince Zhen Nan is in peril and the morale within Zhen Nan Prince Manor is waning, there truly isn’t the courage to defy a decree.

If Prince Zhen Nan were still at his peak, not only would he refuse the decree, but he could even storm into the imperial palace and reproach Emperor Zhou fearlessly.

So what now?

Is Lu Chen truly to be sent to such a dangerous bureau?

Having accepted the decree, Lu Chen told the Imperial Eunuch, "Return and inform His Majesty that I will not disappoint His Expectations and will grow swiftly to uphold the honor of Zhen Nan Prince Manor."

The eunuch hurriedly scrambled up from the ground, his face still showing signs of fright, and said, "Yes, yes, I will certainly convey the heir’s message."

With that, the eunuch hastily turned and fled from Zhen Nan Prince Manor.