Everyone in the hall grew alert, their faces serious and their eyes sharp. It was highly unusual—without the Emperor's explicit order or permission—a large group of troops to approach the Imperial residence under the cover of night. "Extinguish the lamps!" Zhang Yuanqing commanded his teammates, then gave Red Chicken a glance: "Prepare your defensive tools and go out to investigate." Xiao Yuan, the Palace Mistress, and others quickly blew out the candles in the imperial quarters and outer halls, plunging the hall into darkness. Red Chicken looked grave; without any further instruction from Zhang Yuanqing, he already donned a set of reed armor and swiftly crossed the curtains, through the outer hall, stopping at the grand lattice gate. He then produced a stone tablet, holding it in his left hand. For a moment, his shoulders sank slightly, as if bearing the weight of a great mountain. With some effort, he raised his right hand and pushed open the lattice gate. Peering out, he saw a column of imperial guards carrying torches, rushing along the lakebank toward the courtyard outside the imperial residence. Leading the group were Zheng Wenhan, his long sword hung at his waist, and a slender mid-level general. Red Chicken stood behind the threshold, his voice sharp and firm: "Stand your ground! This is the Emperor's private quarters. You have brought weapons and entered without permission—do you intend to rebel?" As soon as he finished speaking, the senior general removed his bow, drew it taut, and launched a powerful arrow. "Whoosh!" The arrow, charged with vibrant sword-like energy, sliced through the air with a piercing cry. In the darkness, a sphere of golden light surged, forming a protective shield. The next instant, the shield shattered. At the critical moment, Red Chicken bent low, narrowly avoiding his heart, and the arrow struck his shoulder. The force remained strong, "thudding" through the palace floor and shattering the stone tiles, embedding itself firmly in the ground. Red Chicken paid no attention to the broken stones and swiftly closed the door, then bent low, moving swiftly back into the inner chamber, crouching as if to evade bullets. "Bedroll! The Zheng family has rebelled!" Red Chicken said, gritting his teeth as he pressed on his bleeding shoulder "Only a swordsman's sword aura can penetrate the defensive gear of a level-4 earth-based monster. Among the lawful-aligned classes, only a swordsman achieves this." Xiao Yuan glanced at Wanfei, a sturdy woman. "First, stabilize the bleeding. If it were just a level-6 swordsman, that would be manageable." This one, however, was a level-6 plague deity. At that moment, the bustling footsteps grew closer, and Zhang Yuanqing spoke with urgency: "It's not that simple. Zheng family has no reason to attack tonight. In fact, this isn't just an assassination—it's a rebellion. It means Zheng family has uncovered the true cause of Zheng Longtu's death and has failed their performance... or perhaps they haven't completely failed yet. Let's not dwell on these details right now. Quickly deploy the defenses and prepare for the enemy's arrival. I'll handle the delay." If it's a rebellion, they wouldn't have brought only one level-6 saint. Red Chicken Brother, the Palace Mistress, the Queen, and Xie Lingxi moved in unison, opening their inventory slots and retrieving mechanical weapons—human-shaped puppets, crossbows, thousand-needle syringes, armor-piercing Since acquiring mechanical weapons following their transformation, members of the returning-the-dead guild have come to routinely carry a set ranging from extraordinary to saintly in rank, with even greater stock stored in the guild's warehouse. After all, mechanical weapons can be set as traps and serve as expendable sentinels to scout ahead—versatile and multifunctional. Xiao Yuan then produced two black earthen jars. From one, a grotesque black beetle emerged, clinging to doorframes, window frames, and roof tiles; from the other, a vibrant venomous serpent crept out, winding its body toward thresholds and window sills, some scaling up pillars and hanging from eaves. Jiang Jingwei, not a member of the returning-the-dead guild, had nothing to do but position himself behind the door—until Zhang Yuanqing pulled him back. "Don't approach the main gate!" He dragged Jiang Jingwei behind him, donned a robe of yin-yang energy and red dancing shoes, and, while his teammates were setting up the mechanisms, stepped out into the outer hall, raising his voice in a firm inquiry: "Zheng Chancellor, Uncle Zheng, I have always treated your Zheng family with great regard—why now have you turned against me? Can As soon as the words fell, an arrow brimming with sword energy pierced through the grille gate and flew toward them, guided by the sound. The red ballet shoes glowed faintly, then gently turned with him, easily deflecting the arrow. Zhang Yuanqing immediately raised his voice: "Who sent the cold arrows? Cowards without courage!" The arrow came again, and the red ballet shoes deflected it effortlessly. Though this was a transcendent-stage rule-based artifact, evading such ranged attacks posed no challenge—should a sixth-rank swordsman close in with personal assault, the red ballet shoes might have struggled. "I'll stand right here," Zhang Yuanqing declared. "Come, send more arrows!" With two consecutive arrows falling short, the swordmaster outside grew uncertain about the situation within the hall and ultimately halted. Zheng Wenhan, no longer silent, responded with a clear voice: "The emperor has been seized by assassins and is now held within the palace. I have led my troops to encircle the Summer Palace. Today, all four gates of the imperial palace are sealed. No one may enter or leave. You are to lay down your arms, surrender, and release the emperor—then you may preserve your bodies intact." Otherwise, the Prime Minister would have burned down the Summer Palace right away. There would be no reinforcements. The good news is that the imperial guard troops under the Palace Office aren't all from the Zheng family—otherwise, there'd be no need to seal off the palace gates. Zhang Yuanqing instinctively analyzed the situation from the speaker's words and said loudly, "Minister Zheng, stop pretending. Since you've already uncovered the cause of Zheng Longtu's death, let's open the window and speak plainly. Whether it's Zheng Longtu or Lady Wan, both have confessed to the Zheng family's ambition to seize the throne. 'Though I don't read much, I know the rule of 'the victor becomes the king, the loser becomes the subject.' Even if I die today, I want to die with clarity—how did you find out about Zheng Longtu's cause of death?' He had already guessed it, but he still wanted to buy time for his allies and set traps. Outside, silence held for a few seconds, then Zheng Wenhàn's voice came, "Since you're aware of my ambitions, you should understand that if the assassin had targeted you, Zheng Longtu would never have risked his life to save you. Just on "Master Zheng's tone suddenly sharpened: "I have summoned the disciple of the State Preceptor, Ling, to inquire. A negligent sovereign—you have murdered my son and condemned him to eternal suffering. Today, I shall remove this threat to the welfare of the people across the land." As he spoke, the lattice gate of the inner chamber was suddenly burst open, and a group of imperial guards, taking advantage of the conversation, quietly advanced and launched a surprise assault. "Crack! Crack! Crack!" Several standing crossbows positioned directly in front of the hall doors immediately fired, striking several soldiers in the front ranks. The soldiers behind, sheltered momentarily by their comrades who absorbed the initial wave of arrows, surged forward into the hall. However, they soon stumbled upon a series of animal traps laid near the threshold, and cries of pain erupted as they were swiftly dispatched by arrows fired from the concealed defenders. More guards pressed forward, unshaken by the mechanical defenses—these were seasoned, elite troops, trained to charge through siege lines, and certainly not intimidated by the imperial residence. As the battle raged on, the advancing soldiers were either killed by the mechanical weapons or torn apart and poisoned by the insects and venomous snakes. In just a few minutes, the first wave of the imperial guards fell inside the hall. The hall doors stood open, and from the threshold to the inner chamber, bodies lay piled up. The inner palace was plunged into darkness, as though hidden within it were fierce beasts selecting their prey. Zheng Wenhan said firmly, "Fire attack!" The guards drew their arrows, wrapped cloth around the arrowheads, soaked them in fire oil, and lit them with torches, then drew back and fired them toward the palace. Instantly, a downpour of flames enveloped the summer palace, igniting doors, windows, and the roof. In the autumn and winter seasons, the climate is dry, so the flames surged rapidly and burned fiercely. At the same time, fifty meters away from the summer palace, the man-made lake roared, sending up two great water dragons that soared and danced, rushing toward the blazing palace. The water deity among the guards immediately intervened, countering the water with water, attempting to keep the two water dragons at bay. The two thick water dragons spiraled and danced helplessly in the air, like aimless flies. Zhang Yuanqing, clad in robes of Yin and Yang, and the Queen both stepped forward, their combined forces exerting pressure. Under the struggle of multiple streams of power, the two water dragons collapsed, transforming into a torrential downpour that extinguished the torches of the imperial guards and put out most of the flames in the Summer Palace. The second wave of assault was successfully repelled. The imperial guards encircling the Summer Palace hesitated, unable to move decisively. Yet Zhang Yuanqing knew this was only temporary—Steng Wenhan would continue launching attacks, probing further, until he exhausted all of his own strategic advantages. "Indeed, I underestimated the Emperor, and the splendid gathering of noble ladies in the palace," came Wenhan's voice from outside the hall. Zhang Yuanqing replied with confidence, "My private quarters house a million troops—can you believe that?" Wenhan paid no attention. It wasn't sustainable—we had to escape the palace... Zhang Yuanqing's mind raced with thoughts, and suddenly he had an idea. "If we keep holding our ground, we'll surely perish. I have a plan." Turning to the gathered group, he said, "Everyone wear the Emperor's regular robes, transform yourselves into the Emperor, and then charge together, scattering to escape. This way, Zheng Wenhan will be forced to divide his forces, and each of your chances of survival will greatly improve." Fighting the enemy in the summer palace would likely result in total defeat; by scattering and fleeing, the chances of the entire group surviving would be significantly enhanced. "But then, some of us will surely die," Red Chicken Brother frowned, his brows knit together. "We're all brothers—we should die together. I won't agree." As he finished speaking, a brilliant burst of fire suddenly lit up outside the hall. The next moment, a massive fireball, two meters in diameter, shattered the window and crashed into the hall. "Boom!" The fireball exploded, sending a scorching shockwave that uprooted tables and chairs, and the flames spread to the silk textiles and wooden furnishings within the hall. Though the fireball erupted in the outer hall, the powerful shockwave sent the people in the inner chambers gasping, their blood rushing to their heads and their feet wobbling. Before they could react, another wave of bombardment came from the roof—tiles and beams collapsed and fell, this time directly onto their heads. The most delicate, Xie Lingxi, was knocked back, spitting blood. The searing wave of fire curled their hair and charred the venomous snakes hanging from the beams. "For heaven's sake!" Red Chicken Brother cursed, "A level-six Fire Demon—how does this old man have so many skilled warriors under his command?" The two initial probing attacks had made the imperial guards hesitate to launch a full-scale assault, opting instead for sustained bombardment. "The Chancellor, a figure of such influence, sending a Master to lead the effort—this is no surprise. But our narrative arc hasn't reached this point yet," the Palace Master murmured. "Simply follow what the Emperor has instructed. That is our only chance for survival." Xie Lingxi and the Queen exchanged a look of concern. As the two of them had become saints the shortest time and possessed the shallowest foundations, their mortality rate surpassed that of the other teammates. Yet the Master’s (Master Yuanshi’s) strategy was sound—the current situation demanded a dispersal and retreat. After all, they were trapped here in the palace, like fish in a bowl; any unified combat would inevitably lead to total annihilation. The group quickly searched for the Emperor’s everyday robes and hastily donned them. Zhang Yuancheng then employed his transformation technique, altering each of their appearances individually, turning them all into Zhao Shun. This scene left Wan Fei speechless. Zhang Yuancheng glanced at her and said, "I know you're astonished. But right now, let us not be overwhelmed—let us focus on escaping first." Wan Fei, indeed a seasoned warrior, nodded in agreement and decided to put aside further thoughts. "Now, we must find a way to improve our survival chances. The palace gates have been sealed off by Zheng Wenhuan’s men. How shall we get out?" Zhang Yuancheng asked her. The Lady Wan nodded in understanding, speaking in a rough voice: "The water of Xia Gong Lake is connected to the city rivers. As long as you pass through a underground channel, you can reach the city's outskirts. However, the underground river is narrow and winding—unless one is skilled in water spirits' techniques, it's quite difficult to navigate." "I can do it!" The Queen brightened immediately, then added, "I have a divine artifact that can transform into water—would anyone like to take it?" The small round one said, "I can transform into a flying spirit." The bee was known for her speed and wanted to escape—no one could stop her. The Palace Master said, "I can make it out of the palace without relying on the underground river." She had already completed a side quest and returned to the Saint stage, using the charm of the Hong Luan Star Official, weaving connections, and hypnotizing the guards—escaping the palace without being targeted was now quite achievable. The Red Rooster, the Jiang Jinwei, and Xie Lingxi, however, had no means of escape. Zhang Yuanqing thought for a moment, opened her inventory, and tossed a human skin mask toward Lingxi: "You don't need to leave the palace. Just hide among the palace maids with this." This item was the ninth senior monk of the Southern School, of extraordinary quality, belonging to the illusionist profession, and its function was to enable transformation and disguise. Lingxi was resourceful, and with this aid, she would have no difficulty hiding within the palace. Then, Zhang Yuanqing removed her red dance shoes and threw them to Red Rooster: "This item goes to you. When you need to escape using fire-based techniques, if your spiritual energy is significantly depleted, simply wear these shoes and run. They allow you to ignore terrain obstacles, and running won't drain your physical strength—thus enabling you to evade long-range attacks from Saint-level practitioners." "Queen, that item goes to Jingwei." The red dance shoes, just about to demand a price from their owner, were promptly stored in Red Rooster's inventory. During this process, two more fireballs exploded within the palace quarters, one of which injured Zhang Yuanqing. However, as the Night-Wanderer Spirit, he didn't mind the injury and continued calmly: "When you both launch your attacks simultaneously, I'll hold the rear with Lady Wanfei. Zheng Wenhan knows I'm protected, so he'll recognize me as my true form. Since you've disguised yourselves as me, he won't be able to completely ignore you either—thus, he won't send too many troops after you. I'll do my best to delay the pursuing forces." This step was crucial: if no one remained to hold the rear and draw the main force, the pursuing troops would be too strong, putting the team in a dire situation. The reason the teammates were sent ahead was to draw off part of the enemy's firepower. Once the strategy was settled, Zhang Yuanqing, seizing the moment before the fireballs arrived, whispered: "Action!" Red Chicken Brother and Jiang Jingwei moved first, rushing toward the breach created by the fireballs, leaping out and heading off in opposite directions. Zheng Wenhan outside was momentarily stunned and immediately called out, "Chase them!" "Just as he finished speaking, his gaze shifted and he added, 'Twenty each—relay the order to the guard troops stationed at the palace gates. Anyone approaching the palace gates within fifty paces shall be killed without mercy.' The two battalions of well-trained guards pursued them steadily. As soon as they had moved out, two more officials of Zhao Shun, dressed in civilian attire, burst through the charred main gate and fled in different directions. The guards unleashed a volley of arrows before immediately launching a pursuit. Then came a third pair of Zhao Shun, breaking through the hall and fleeing in panic. 'Zheng Minister!' the sixth-level fire officer among the guards, unable to contain his impatience, furrowed his brow and asked, 'Why have we only allocated such a modest force? What if the incompetent king escapes?' Zheng Wenhan and the sword-carrying general paid no attention, their eyes fixed intently on the palace. At that moment, two more pairs of Zhao Shun emerged from the palace, but instead of scattering, they marched side by side. Zheng Wenhan's expression sharpened, and he drew his long sword from his waist: 'All the officers of the Southern Dynasty—join me in eliminating this incompetent