Chapter 355: Thunderclap Awakening

The ruins of Mo City. The pitch-black Mo City was suddenly illuminated by countless lightning bolts, as bright as day.

Arcs of lightning danced, centered on Li Che, whose black robes billowed. The energy surged outward like a tidal wave—searing, earth-shaking, like coiling dragons and writhing serpents, roaring with savage fury!

It was as if a thunder pool had fallen from the heavens, lifting Li Che’s very body.

Li Che suddenly opened his eyes. Golden lightning swirled in his pupils like a manifest true dragon.

Each jet of his thick, raven hair seemed electrified, uncontrollably rising as if provoked by a current.

For the first time, Li Che’s eyes shone with astonishment as his Dao Fruit began its transformation!

Because—

This time, the 【Thunder Magnetic Conduit】 Dao Fruit had astonishingly—

Undergone two transformations!

It leaped forward, achieving a double-stage metamorphosis!

Two leaps—from level 4 to level 5!

Such a dramatic increase, such maturity…

Unprecedented!

Li Che was truly astonished, as if a new world had been opened for him.

So, the Dao Fruit… could actually be accelerated to ripen?!

Li Che felt that before he had been like a diligent farmer, sweating day in and day out, laboring from sunrise to sunset, nurturing his Dao Fruit with constant care.

But now, with just a bit of ruthlessness, the Dao Fruit could burst into growth immediately——

A wry, bewildered smile tugged at Li Che’s face.

“Well, in the past, I couldn’t tap into the power of the Three Calamities like the Divine Xiao Thunder. Even if I did, my weak body and insufficient cultivation would simply be obliterated by a single bolt, reduced to nothing but dust.”

“Even with the aid of the Thunder Magnetic Conduit Dao Fruit, my cultivation wouldn’t hold up.”

“Moreover, the Dao Fruit’s rank is crucial. If the 【Thunder Magnetic Conduit】 Dao Fruit reaches level 5, even a double-stage transformation will be nearly impossible.”

Gradually, he suppressed the shock in his heart.

Li Che calmed his mind. The double transformation of the Dao Fruit was indeed an unexpected delight.

His heart stirred slightly as his eyes opened and closed in quiet contemplation.

Before him, golden light rippled like gentle waves.

【Dao Fruit Iv4 | Double Transformation: Nascent Divine Power (Divine Xiao) evolves to Divine Art (Yulian) to attain Divine Art Ascension One (Yulian Tianluo)】

【Dao Fruit Iv5 | Triple Transformation: Divine Art Ascension One (Yulian Tianluo) evolves to Divine Art Ascension Two (Divine Xiao Yulian Sword)】

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

——

Golden streams of light flashed before his eyes, displaying textual prompts that then shifted into two new lines.

Li Che’s heart trembled—double transformation of the Dao Fruit!

It had directly evolved from Nascent Divine Power (Divine Xiao) into the awakened Divine Art [Yulian] with the continuous successive ascension of both Divine Art Ascension One and Two!

Li Che’s eyes shone brilliantly as he sat cross-legged in the courtyard, his gaze interwoven with dark golden lightning lines forming a terrifying net.

It was like a mythic spider dwelling in a thunder pool, weaving a web of lightning that ensnared any enemy that touched it, leaving them unable to break free!

Yulian Tianluo!

Interlaced lightning—a net spread out over the heavens and earth!

The force of Yulian was like the power of hell itself, enveloping the Divine Xiao Thunder!

Li Che raised his hand to activate Divine Art Ascension One: Yulian Tianluo!

It was almost like a divine spell, straightforward enough for Li Che to grasp immediately, so he began to channel it at once.

Suddenly, Li Che felt a tingling numbness surging through his entire body—as if every cell’s latent thunder was being extracted.

That was the Divine Xiao Thunder that had leaked out when he intercepted the Huang Mei Great Master’s Three Calamities attack, circulating within his mortal shell.

Although most of that Divine Xiao Thunder was absorbed by the Dao Fruit, a fraction still diffused outward,

merging with his very cells.

And at that moment, every hidden speck of Divine Xiao Thunder was drawn out.

Sizzle—Li Che looked at his palm where brilliant, dazzling dark-gold Divine Xiao Thunder blossomed. Sparse though it was, it was terrifyingly potent, shining as if a thousand birds were singing in unison!

As the Yulian Tianluo Divine Art was channeled, the once brilliant gold slowly dimmed, shrouded by a touch of inky black!

Lightning, dark on the outside and golden within, flickered incessantly—like lightning illustrations outlined in black.

With a swift thrust of his fist forward, the Yulian whipped like a lash, slicing through the freshly healed Mo City ground as effortlessly as cutting through tofu.

For a moment, Mo City and Shandu seemed frozen, then, like an elderly man slowly regaining his composure, the ground at the place Li Che had just shattered began to mend.

The power of the Yulian surprised Li Che.

It was overwhelmingly dominant, its destructive force immense!

But knowing its core was Divine Xiao Thunder, Li Che wasn’t taken aback.

“Unfortunately, the reserve of Divine Xiao Thunder is sparse——Yulian must be transformed through the available Divine Xiao Thunder.”

“This is exactly what I need to become a master at capturing thunder.”

He smiled and flicked his fingers.

Instantly, the Yulian energy surged back into his body, dispersing into countless fine lightning arcs hidden within his cells.

As for the Divine Art Ascension Two skill, Divine Xiao Yulian Sword, Li Che didn’t plan on testing it.

For one, his Yulian reserve was limited; secondly, it was merely a sword technique, and he wasn’t particularly curious.

Before him, luminous images floated into view.

【Yulian (Divine Art): Infernal Cataclysm, Falling Thunder Divine Xiao, Thunder Forged Inferno, Calamity of the Gods】

【Ascension One: Yulian Tianluo】

【Ascension Two: Divine Xiao Yulian Sword】

Divine Art Mantra—Thunder Forged Inferno, Calamity of the Gods!

Li Che slowly exhaled.

“So dominant—Calamity of the Gods?!”

“Does that mean I am the calamity of the gods?!”

Li Che smiled, his eyes flickering with a mysterious light.

The Dao Fruit’s true words were always so domineering. Perhaps a fully transformed Dao Fruit would be far stronger—but for now, they were still just small fry.

Boom!

Li Che stood abruptly, his arms outstretched as countless bolts of lightning flashed around him. His dark hair whipped wildly about his head.

The surrounding air distorted and exploded, and every inch of his body pulsed with black-gold lightning!

It was as if a mighty dragon had roared, its presence shaking the heavens and earth!

Harnessing the power of the Thunder Magnetic, Li Che surged upward, blasting into the vault of the sky!

Divine Xiao Shield and Yulian Tianluo!

High above, in the dense canopy of the Heavenly Dome, networks of lightning suddenly formed.

But because the amount of Divine Xiao Thunder was so low, the black-gold lightning quickly vanished without a trace.

“The power of Yulian, when integrated into the electromagnetic cannon, can further boost the might of the Nameless Xiangong Super Electromagnetic Cannon!”

Li Che’s eyes burned fiercely.

Perhaps the maturity of the Xiangong Dao Fruit might receive an additional boost because of this.

After toying with it for a while,

Li Che drifted down gently, resettling among the ruins.

“Divine Xiao Thunder—I need a large reserve of it.”

“But in this world, there aren’t many cultivators who can truly harness Divine Xiao Thunder.”

“I wonder if the reanimated Lao Huang as Spiritual Confinement can fully trigger the Three Calamities of Divine Xiao Thunder? If so, wouldn’t I have an endless supply to capture?”

As the thought emerged in his mind, Li Che shook his head.

“Alas, even though Lao Huang has been resurrected as Spiritual Confinement, Divine Xiao Thunder cannot be replicated by his revival,”

“This force is a concrete manifestation of the will of heaven and earth, which must be captured firsthand.”

“Lao Huang managed to capture only a single bolt of Divine Xiao Thunder, and I have already absorbed it all.”

“He’ll have to capture more again——”

Li Che’s thoughts were perfectly clear.

“One day, I’ll have Lao Huang find a way to recapture it——”

But now, in Divine Capital, one cannot make such a spectacle of oneself while capturing it.

“With every breath I take, the currents of heaven and earth respond. Even in the vast emptiness of Mo City, my very exhalation can stir a gale.”

His mind became serene.

Within his chest, the beating of each Dao Fruit sounded like the drumming of a celestial deity.

A gentle golden luster began to emerge.

【Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (lv6 20%), Pure Heart (lv6 15%), Chess Sage (lv5 70%), Painted Immortal (Iv5 20%)】

Li Che glanced at them, a smile creeping at the corner of his lips as he recalled the battle against Huang Mei.

Though it was a joint effort with Lü Taibai to slay Huang Mei, and even though Huang Mei wasn’t at his peak—having been injured by both the Three-Life Body and Yulian Fire—the kill was confirmed, which meant the Dao Fruit acknowledged it.

In that battle, all four Dao Fruits gained a significant slice of maturity.

Slaying a top-tier foe like Huang Mei naturally elevated the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, while the feedback of Spiritual Confinement boosted the Pure Heart Dao Fruit—both gaining a 10% increase. That’s 10% for a level 6 Dao Fruit!

And Chess Sage, aided by the all-out suppression from the Cosmic Chessboard, along with the Painted Immortal Dao Fruit—though only level 5—also received a considerable boost.

Fantastic!

Li Che’s eyes gleamed brilliantly. It was clear—battling against a big fish left him thoroughly satisfied!

This had been an assisted kill. If he had slain it single-handedly—

Li Che thought for a moment before shaking his head. The reason Huang Mei was defeated was mainly due to Lü Taibai’s aid with the Tao Calamity Sword and the severing of the connection with the Divine Xiao Thunder.

Otherwise—this battle might have ended in a deadlock. If the clash of Tao Calamity power continued, Mo City and Shandu wouldn’t have withstood the impact and would have been shattered——

and then Huang Mei might have turned the tables.

The elevation of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit granted Li Che a moment of enlightenment, but he wasn’t in a hurry to use it.

Li Che felt the situation in the carriage still rolling along in Second City.

That carriage carried his Painted Immortal Clone and Monitor Hong Shifo, en route to one of the octagonal, multi-tiered, dripping towers in Divine Capital’s third district.

Because they were on the move, Li Che hadn’t rushed back immediately, affording him the leisure to study his Dao Fruit in Mo City.

If he were to truly practice martial arts and activate his enlightenment feedback, he couldn’t stop once he started. Halting midway would be a waste of the level 6 Dao Fruit’s precious enlightenment feedback.

That thought pained Li Che deeply.

He planned to utilize that enlightenment feedback to push several Divine Seed Martial Arts into the realm of Transcendent True Martial Way!

For now, Li Che had no intention of tapping into the Dao Fruit’s enlightenment feedback.

In a flash, a radiant Qian Kun Jade fell into Li Che’s hand.

This was Huang Mei’s Qian Kun Jade—a Qian Kun Jade belonging to a divine eagle master, and it likely held all of Huang Mei’s treasured collections!

For Li Che, unlocking this jade was the most exhilarating moment.

Yet, Li Che had no choice but to keep that anticipation bottled inside.

He couldn’t stow this Qian Kun Jade into his Qiankun Space.

As the Dao Fruit’s rank advanced, many of its properties were enhanced. Features like Spiritual Confinement and Qiankun Space—originally unable to house a Qian Kun Jade—had their limitations smoothed out.

However, Huang Mei’s Qian Kun Jade was of such high caliber that once it manifested its seven-colored brilliance, it stood on the same level as the Qian Kun Jade of National Teacher Xie Yunshen and the one belonging to Ning Caishen of the Seven Treasure Divine Sect.

Lü Taibai, though a sect master, possessed a Qian Kun Jade of slightly lower quality.

But that was understandable—a sword cultivator’s resources are always limited.

He smiled.

Li Che flicked his fingers.

A white Feilei Chess Piece suddenly appeared in his palm.

In the early spring days, Divine Capital was caught in a sudden rain.

Rain fell relentlessly from the towering heights, pattering steadily on the carriage roof.

While Li Che’s Painted Immortal Clone was chatting idly with Monitor Hong Shifo, something changed in the divine light within his eyes.

Monitor Hong Shifo, oblivious, continued discussing an unbeatable strategy for a five-in-a-row chess formation—a formation he claimed was invulnerable!

Li Che, having just returned to himself, ignored him and turned his gaze to the window.

Click, click—the sound of a perfectly ordered army galloping past.

From the lavish residences on both sides, many dignitaries opened their doors to gaze curiously.

Living in Divine Capital’s Second City was reserved for those of the utmost honor.

Only those with high office, great power, and stable status could reside in Second City; otherwise, one would slowly be ousted.

After all, those from Third City all fought to enter Second City.

In Divine Capital, everyone aspired to advance, but advancement was never so easy.

“With such turmoil in Second City, the Golden Scale Imperial Guards and the Temple Guardian Division will surely react strongly.”

“Consort Ji is the current emperor’s favored consort and the mother of two princes. Her position is incredibly sensitive—”

Monitor Hong Shifo noticed Li Che’s silence regarding the chess talk and merely sighed softly.

He mused that it had been years since such a brutal case occurred in Second City.

One incident like this could send shivers down anyone’s spine.

Second City is only one district away from First City, where the Imperial Palace and the Divine Temple stand!

And indeed, First City itself houses the palace and temple. This case was only separated from the emperor’s residence by a single district wall.

“Indeed, it’s a major case. It’s perplexing—my daughter and I just arrived in Divine Capital, and now we’re caught up in such turmoil. It’s truly vexing.”

“I only long for safety for my daughter. Never did I imagine this would happen—”

Li Che shook his head and sighed.

Monitor Hong Shifo could only sense Li Che’s sincere, down-to-earth nature.

After a few simple comforting words,

Monitor Hong Shifo suddenly turned serious.

He brushed off his robe and tidied his disheveled beard. “Li Keqing, the Imperial Watch Headquarters at the Dripping Octagonal Tower of the Imperial Watch—

That is the residence of the Grand Inspector renowned for his remarkable foresight.”

A look of pilgrim-like reverence appeared on his face—a sight Li Che had never seen on the free-spirited Hong Shifo before.

Apparently, Hong Shifo held a special veneration for the Imperial Watch Headquarters, but Li Che sensed his respect was for the person, not merely the edifice.

Clatter~

The carriage driver tugged at the reins, and a scaled flooddragon, its scales glistening, neighed as it was bathed in the cool spring rain, gradually easing its gallop.

As the curtain lifted, Li Che stepped out of the carriage.

Without an umbrella—and not needing one—he allowed the brisk, chilly spring rain to wash over him, invigorating his spirit.

Stepping off the carriage, Li Che looked up to see the towering Nine-Storied, Octagonal Dripping Imperial Watch Tower.

Though called a tower, it resembled a pagoda. Its top was crowned with eight intricately carved dragon heads chasing after a singular, gem-like, glazed orb.

The orb, bathed in light, reflected a spectrum of colors.

“Imperial Watch Headquarters of Divine Capital—Not open to the public. Only first-class and special first-class officials are permitted entry.”

“Moreover, all nine districts of Divine Capital have branches of the Imperial Watch, where cultivation supplies can be bought and sold.”

Monitor Hong Shifo, carrying a chessboard, smiled as he explained to Li Che,

“Gaining access to Second City is no small feat, and entering the Imperial Watch is even tougher.”

Li Che, being merely a second-class official, shouldn’t have been here at all. However, he participated in the special officials’ assessment under the guise of the Divine Condor Half-Saint.

Combined with the guidance of Monitor Hong Shifo of Daocheng’s Imperial Watch, his passage was guaranteed.

“Li Bansheng, please.”

Monitor Hong Shifo’s robe billowed as he smiled and said.

Li Che returned the smile warmly.

The Imperial Watch Headquarters tower sat atop ninety-nine steps of White Jade Stairway. To ascend it, one had to climb all ninety-nine steps.

This reminded Li Che of the Bizarre Temple in Bizarre Temple.

Li Che and Monitor Hong Shifo strolled in the rain, their feet splashing on the damp White Jade Stairway as they approached the tower, whose layout vaguely resembled that of the Bizarre Temple.

However, just past the halfway mark,

the sound of pounding hooves erupted like thunder,

followed by the unceasing clamor of a marching army.

Li Che stood at the top of the White Jade Stairway, his dark robes whipping in the wind, and turned to look back.

There, on the main road of Second City, a rider galloped past.

Mounted on a striking flooddragon, the rider wore a subtly embroidered pale-gold python robe and a golden crown.

Imposing and handsome, his sideburns danced in the wind and his eyes crackled with deadly lightning.

“Third Prince?!”

Monitor Hong Shifo gasped.

Lotus Pavilion.

Raindrops drummed repeatedly on its surface, creating a continuous, delicate rhythm.

A carriage slowly returned from First City.

It was a modest carriage adorned with lotus carvings, driven by two elderly men—one gaunt with half-blind eyes, the other short and stout with a broken leg.

These two were the guards of the National Teacher—the remnants of a once formidable force.

The carriage came to a gentle stop.

Two flooddragons snorted, releasing hot steam.

As the curtain of the carriage lifted, National Teacher Xie Yunshen, clad in simple clothes and holding an oil-paper umbrella, stepped out. Raindrops danced on the umbrella with crisp sounds, causing the fabric to tremble.

“National Teacher, you’re back.”

The one with half-blind eyes glared respectfully.

Xie Yunshen smiled and thanked them before alighting.

But as soon as he stepped off, the puddles soaked his cloth shoes. Looking up,

he noticed a lone figure standing at the doorway of Lotus Pavilion, drenched in rain, fists clenching and trembling slightly.

The smile on Xie Yunshen’s face faded a little.

He beckoned. As the rain distorted the view, a man in a black robe appeared, clasping his fists and saying, “National Teacher—”

“What happened?” Xie Yunshen asked.

If all were well, Lu Chi wouldn’t have appeared in such a state before him.

“Consort Ji is dead.”

“Murdered in the Ji Family Mansion—”

Mo Lao’s voice was low.

Xie Yunshen raised an eyebrow, “Was it the work of the Underworld?”

Mo Lao seemed surprised that the National Teacher would immediately offer such a guess.

“Governor Wang Kui once made that judgment—”

“Then it must be the Underworld’s doing. Ji Mo Li could never have killed Ji Yan. It was, no doubt, the Underworld. As for when Ji Yan incurred their wrath—”

National Teacher Xie Yunshen stroked his beard as his simple clothes fluttered in the spring wind.

Gazing at Lu Chi, standing frozen in the frigid rain, his bloodless state failing to defy the cold, he approached.

Lu Chi trembled all over as he struggled to lift his head.

“National Teacher—”

Xie Yunshen lifted his hand and gently caressed Lu Chi’s ice-cold cheek.

“Do you know what I did upon entering First City just now?”

Lu Chi nodded blankly.

A look of pity softened Xie Yunshen’s face as he shielded him from the spring rain with his umbrella.

“Child, your mother is dead—

Do you know who did it?”

“Tell me.”

Monitor Hong Shifo’s voice rang in Li Che’s ears,

barely overtopping the patter of the spring rain.

Li Che raised an eyebrow, “Third Prince?”

The firstborn from Consort Ji—the son contending with the eldest and second prince for the crown prince’s position!

Lu Chi’s half-brother?

It was the first time Li Che had truly seen the Third Prince. There was indeed a striking, noble aura about him, his cultivation exceedingly impressive even at just twenty, his martial way already transcendent, adorned with a hidden divine weapon aura.

Unless Li Che used his Star Plucking Gaze to scrutinize him, his keen eyes might not have seen through every detail.

Yet the Third Prince posed no threat to Li Che, and was thus not feared.

“Why did you come here, Third Prince? Is it to see the Grand Inspector?”

Monitor Hong Shifo was shocked.

The Third Prince arrived beneath the White Jade Stairway of the Imperial Watch Headquarters. Dismounting swiftly, his face was deathly pale, his eyes veined with blood—a visage of sorrow and agony.

Trailing behind him was a luxurious carriage and a group of royal guards.

Li Che recognized one face among them—it bore a remarkable resemblance to Su Lei Ba—the prominent figure of the Su Family in Divine Capital, Su Yunliu, known to have broken through his Qi Sea and stepped onto the path of founding mountains.

From the carriage, a charming woman emerged.

“Prince, wait for me—” she called softly. It was Su Yunji, the girl sent by the Su Family as a gift for the Third Prince.

But the Third Prince ignored her, and instead, hurried up the White Jade Stairway towards the Imperial Watch Headquarters.

Soon, the Third Prince’s eyes shifted sharply to Li Che.

He stepped onto the same level as Li Che on the White Jade Stairway, his eyes cold and fierce, fixated on Li Che.

“You are Li Che?!”

The Third Prince asked in an icy tone.

“My consort took Lu Chi to arrange your daughter’s engagement. Why did you refuse? To ally with the imperial family is a fate so many covet! It’s your daughter’s chance to change her destiny. Why did you turn it down?!”

The Third Prince spoke coldly, “And after you spurned my consort, my consort was slain———is that somehow your fault?!”

Slender and tall, his pale gold python robe seemed to glow; his entire presence was menacingly aggressive.

There was even a tremor as if the very soul of heaven and earth quivered in his voice.

Li Che’s expression remained indifferent, “Third Prince—my daughter is the Young Sect Master of Qianyuan Divine Sect. With such unrestrained status, how could an alliance with the imperial family be a better fate than her current position?”

“Trapped in a cage and talking about changing destiny? Ridiculous.”

“As for your consort’s death, Li Che is not to blame. I have been with Monitor Hong Shifo every moment, and Governor Wang Kui has confirmed it. What? Do you think simply uttering words can pin the blame on me?”

Seeing that Li Che did not flinch under his pressure, the Third Prince, Lü Litong, narrowed his eyes.

Whoosh—a sound tearing through the air.

A Purple-Clad Diao Si suddenly appeared by the Third Prince’s side, his face deeply lined, his aura restrained yet imposing—a top-tier powerhouse!

Li Che’s eyes narrowed.

The Purple-Clad Diao Si, though aged, stood proud and vigorous.

“Prince, do not cause trouble at the Imperial Watch Headquarters,” he warned in a low voice.

“Consort Ji’s death is under investigation by Governor Wang. The truth will eventually come to light.”

The Purple-Clad Diao Si’s words were heavy.

The Third Prince cast a cold glance at Li Che before turning back to climb the White Jade Stairway.

The Purple-Clad Diao Si bowed slightly to Li Che and Monitor Hong Shifo, “I apologize—The Third Prince, in his grief for his late consort, may have spoken rashly.”

Then he turned and rejoined the Third Prince.

Below, Su Yunji and the others dared not follow up the stairs.

“This man is one of the three top-tier Diao Si within the Imperial Palace of Divine Capital. The Emperor arranged a top-tier protector for both the Second and Third Princes, while the eldest and the youngest did not require one—”

“The eldest needs none; the youngest—neither.”

Li Che glanced at Monitor Hong Shifo. His rhetorical skills were quite sharp.

“This man is named Han Sixi, ranked fifteenth at Tianmen Guan—Tianmen Guan has fifteen in total, yet he is counted among the top fifteen martial cultivators in the world. The fact that the Grand Inspector included him speaks volumes.”

“While the Second Prince’s guard Diao Si is top-tier, he did not make it into Tianmen Guan, revealing the Emperor’s favoritism and priorities…”

Monitor Hong Shifo, a man of the Hong Family—though his family had fallen from ancient noble status—nodded in agreement as Li Che expressed his gratitude.

Afterward, the two continued ascending the steps, bathed in the spring rain.

After the ninety-nine steps, they reached the spacious Grand Plaza, where patterns were carved into the white jade stone, emanating a faint divine aura.

At the wooden door of the Imperial Watch Headquarters, intricate carvings adorned its surface, but the door remained firmly closed.

The Third Prince arrived at the door but was unable to enter, being barred from stepping inside.

Monitor Hong Shifo and Li Che arrived. The Third Prince didn’t even glance at them.

He clasped his fists and bowed, “Grand Inspector, Lü Litong, and I have come to pay our respects!”

Yet there was no response from the Grand Inspector within the tower.

Monitor Hong Shifo politely returned the salute.

“Grand Inspector, Monitor Hong Shifo of Daocheng and the newly appointed Divine Condor Half-Saint Li Che have come to partake in the Special Officials Assessment!”

Li Che, bowing with his hands together, said, “I am Li Che. I have come to pay respects to the Grand Inspector.”

As soon as Li Che spoke, a faint, ethereal voice emerged from within the Imperial Watch Headquarters’ tower.

“Third Prince, today a guest has arrived at the Imperial Watch Tower for the Special Officials Assessment. Return, and come another day.”

No sooner had the words fallen,

the Third Prince, Lü Litong, abruptly lifted his head, his eyes bloodshot.

He clenched his fists so hard it seemed his molars might crack.

“Grand Inspector—my consort has been gruesomely slain today, and the culprit still roams free. My heart bleeds with fury. I—cannot wait any longer!”

The Third Prince suddenly pounded his Qian Kun Jade.

In an instant, a jade-colored Identity Token materialized.

“Grand Inspector—this is the Imperial Watch Token bestowed by my father. He said that with this token, every prince is guaranteed one intervention by the Grand Inspector!”

The Third Prince, Lü Litong, dropped to his knees abruptly.

He raised the jade-colored token.

His bloodshot eyes met Li Che’s for a moment, then he gasped.

His chest heaved before sinking.

“I want the Grand Inspector to determine…

Who, exactly, killed my mother!”