Chapter 86 - 83: Highlight Moment!

Chapter 86: Chapter 83: Highlight Moment!

Eastern Palace.

Wang Qianzhi remained lying motionless on the ground, his blood gradually spreading across the floor. However, the Little Fatty Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince, Wang Yuanhao, didn’t even spare him a passing glance. Both nervously fixed their eyes on Zeng Anmin, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground.

"We can’t wait any longer. Hurry and bring the Spirit Stones to open the great screen." Wang Yuanhao’s face was dark, his tone laced with tension. "If we don’t open it soon, his Divine Soul might even suffer damage!"

The Little Fatty Crown Prince took a deep breath, a composed look settling over his chubby face. "I know." With that, he ordered his men to bring out a large chest from the room.

Once the chest was opened, two young eunuchs hurriedly took out stones that radiated an inexplicable halo.

CLICK. CLICK.

The stones were wedged one by one into several grooves in the courtyard.

HUM.

As the final Spirit Stone was embedded in place, the giant azure net in the courtyard suddenly burrowed straight into Zeng Anmin’s Sea of Consciousness.

WHOOSH!

A moment later, azure light emanated from Zeng Anmin’s head. The glowing lights reassembled, transforming into a massive Scroll that slowly unrolled in mid-air. Displayed on the Scroll was a highly familiar scene—the very sights of this Eastern Palace.

Seeing the Eastern Palace on display, the Crown Prince’s expression subtly shifted, and he watched in silence.

"The Illusion Array assessment leaves no tracks to follow. As for what exactly it entails, we can only watch quietly," Wang Yuanhao remarked, looking at the scene within the Scroll with keen interest. Since it was the Eastern Palace’s assessment, it naturally began with the Eastern Palace as its setting.

The Illusion Array would only shield memories related to the assessment itself. Thus, those participating in the trial would have no idea they were currently inside an Illusion Array.

CLATTER.

A flurry of footsteps echoed. Shortly after, over a dozen officials were seen escorting Emperor Jianhong into the courtyard.

"Greetings, Imperial Father." Upon seeing Emperor Jianhong, the two princes didn’t hesitate for a second. Showing utmost respect, they bowed in unison. Even the Fourth Prince, Wang Yuanhao, put away the lazy expression on his face.

"Dispense with the formalities." Emperor Jianhong was expressionless. He shot a faint glance at Wang Qianzhi lying on the ground but said nothing, silently waiting for the two to give him an explanation.

The Little Fatty Crown Prince said respectfully, "Today, Fourth Brother and I were planning to discuss academics, so we invited Quan Fu and Ruoshui over. However, since it is Quan Fu’s first time here, he wasn’t aware of the Eastern Palace’s hidden mechanisms..." He paused for a moment before continuing, "Ruoshui lost his footing and tripped on a blue stone brick, accidentally triggering the Illusion Touching Array..."

Hearing this, everyone understood what had transpired. Zeng Shilin instantly narrowed his eyes, shifting his gaze toward Wang Qianzhi, who was lying on the ground bleeding profusely. A chilling murderous intent flashed briefly through his eyes.

"Somebody call for a doctor, hurry!" Prince Qi suddenly bellowed. He appeared instantly beside the unconscious Wang Qianzhi and gathered him into his arms. ℯℯ𝑙.

Only then did the young eunuchs snap out of their daze, scrambling off to summon the Imperial Physician.

Emperor Jianhong merely frowned slightly and said no more. His gaze lifted toward the enormous Scroll suspended in the air. Most of the officials present were Civil Servants. None of them paid much attention to Wang Qianzhi’s unconscious state, opting instead to look up at the sky.

As the scene within the Scroll slowly unfurled, the familiar sights of the Eastern Palace came into view. Within this projection, a figure slowly opened his eyes. The owner of this figure was none other than Zeng Anmin.

"Did I fall asleep?" In the Scroll, Zeng Anmin slowly sat up from the bed, opened his eyes, and surveyed his surroundings, muttering to himself with a frown. Noticing the setting sun by the window, he caught a glimpse of his Golden Finger panel from the corner of his eye.

[Unyielding Martial God: Immune to all Divine Soul and Spiritual Attacks.]

His memories hadn’t been shielded. He knew with absolute clarity that he was currently inside the Illusion Array. It was a very peculiar sensation, much like being in a dream and knowing you are dreaming. He had no idea what the assessment actually entailed, so he could only wait patiently.

"You’re awake?" a voice rang out.

Zeng Anmin turned his head to look, only to see the Little Fatty Crown Prince lifting the wooden door’s curtain and walking toward him with a jovial smile.

"Greetings, Crown Prince," Zeng Anmin bowed, an apologetic look surfacing on his face. "I was likely too exhausted and fell asleep. I apologize for my breach of etiquette and ask for Your Highness’s forgiveness."

"Dispense with the formalities, I understand." A gentle smile adorned the Crown Prince’s round, chubby face.

"The Crown Prince in the Illusion Array... would he feel real to the touch?" an inexplicable curiosity swelled in Zeng Anmin’s heart, but he quickly suppressed it. "There are eyes watching me from outside the Illusion Array! I absolutely cannot let them realize my memories haven’t been shielded."

"Are you in a rush, Quan Fu? I have some questions I’d like to ask you for guidance." The Little Fatty Crown Prince sat beside Zeng Anmin without putting on any airs. The two seemed just like friends, a true display of a royal treating a subordinate scholar with humble respect.

"I wouldn’t dare claim to offer guidance. Let us simply discuss and improve together," Zeng Anmin waved his hand modestly. At the same time, doubts arose in his mind. "Is this it? Don’t tell me the assessment is just sitting here answering his questions. Then what’s the point of this Illusion Array? Isn’t that completely redundant?"

However, just as the Crown Prince was about to speak, his chubby little face began to flicker with a crimson glow, as if bathed in the light of the setting sun.

"What’s going on?" Zeng Anmin instinctively looked out the window. In the distance, flames were shooting up into the sky.

THUD THUD THUD!

The thunderous clatter of countless galloping hooves echoed.

"Your Highness, disaster has struck! Run, quickly!" A young eunuch, deathly pale, ran all the way from the courtyard into the room and dropped to his knees with a heavy THUMP. "The rebel army of Prince Qing has already breached the Imperial City..."

The moment he finished speaking, he collapsed face-first onto the ground with a dull THUD. His back was revealed to be a mangled mess of flesh and blood. A steel blade was buried deep in his back, pooling fresh blood all over the floor.

"Ah!" the Little Fatty Crown Prince screamed in horror, his face turning pale as a sheet.