*Buzz!*
The blood-red jade pendant trembled violently for a moment before flying up from Chen Ke's palm.
It hovered before Chen Ke, radiating a dazzling light and suddenly growing larger.
A coiled dragon circled around it, layers of red light rippling outwards, endlessly mysterious.
It was like a deep, dark door slowly opening, instantly sucking Chen Ke's consciousness inside.
In a moment of disorientation, Chen Ke's mind settled, and he was horrified to find that he had entered a mysterious space.
The heavens and earth were vast and boundless, permeated with gray, as ancient and desolate as the universe itself.
In the distance, suddenly, fragments of golden light flashed.
A five-clawed golden dragon, hundreds of feet long, suddenly appeared before Chen Ke's eyes.
The incomparably powerful five-clawed golden dragon's scales shimmered, and streaks of golden lightning swirled and danced, dyeing the entire world golden.
As its massive body fully unfolded, an endless pressure emanated from it. Two enormous dragon eyes on its ferocious head glared at Chen Ke.
Within its golden pupils, rings of crimson light rippled outwards.
Roar!
The five-clawed golden dragon let out a deafening roar, its incredibly sharp claws lashing out at Chen Ke!
Thousands of golden rays exploded before his eyes like a waterfall.
Five divine lights tore through space, flying in from the darkness, seemingly tearing apart Chen Ke's soul as well.
Chen Ke's soul was overwhelmed; he cried out and instinctively closed his eyes. Even after emerging from the illusion, he couldn't escape the terrifying pressure from the ancient dragon. His soul sea trembled, his body shook, and cold sweat soaked his entire body.
Swallowing hard, Chen Ke let out a long breath and slowly opened his eyes.
The jade pendant, as large as a millstone, still hovered silently, radiating a mysterious and ancient aura.
Everything seemed unchanged, yet a blood-red rune appeared in Chen Ke's pupils.
To be precise, this crimson rune originated from the depths of his soul.
It was a brand brand left on his soul by that terrifying five-clawed golden dragon!
Was this mysterious symbol a mark of some kind of mystical technique, or a soul contract?
Chen Ke's mind was blank, devoid of any answers.
A sacred and powerful dragon breath flowed from the swirling jade pendant, seeping into his body bit by bit.
The profound meaning of the "True Dragon Protection" technique was automatically triggered, and a dragon shadow emerged from his body, swirling and dancing around Chen Ke.
Until the dragon shadow absorbed all the dragon breath from the jade pendant, no further unusual phenomena occurred.
The crimson jade pendant fell back into Chen Ke's hand, disappearing into his palm with a swift sound.
Chen Ke looked at his pale palm, his eyes filled with even greater confusion.
He was certain that the dragon-patterned jade pendant was not a magical artifact, so what was it?
A key?
A door?
Or a gear that had accidentally fallen off the bearings of the mysterious world?
Or perhaps, it was simply a rotating jade pendant?
"Mouse, shouldn't you give me some hints?" Chen Ke muttered.
*Ding!*
"Congratulations! Your mastery of the profound technique 'True Dragon Protection' has been upgraded from beginner to master, and your Soul Value cap has increased by 100 points!"
Chen Ke looked at the dialog box in the window, feeling both amused and exasperated.
Well, although it wasn't the reply he wanted, it was still a good thing.
After sitting for a while, a deep weariness washed over him, and Chen Ke collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
When he woke up, it was already afternoon.
In the courtyard, at least seven or eight groups of people were patiently waiting.
Surprisingly, among the crowd was a eunuch from the palace—the same young eunuch who had announced the imperial decree at the city gate when Chen Ke dragged away exiled nobles.
The young eunuch smiled and said, "Lord Chengyi, you should handle other matters first."
Chen Ke nodded and walked towards the others.
The winery expansion was complete, and the project acceptance required Chen Ke's oversight and signature.
The third batch of gardeners for planting chili peppers had arrived, but their placement was still unresolved.
His wealthy father sent a letter with a message that the journey was safe.
The Xinghua Village supplies from the Imperial Household Department were gone again, and a replacement was needed.
...
After Chen Ke finished dealing with everything, and everyone had dispersed, he approached the young eunuch.
The eunuch coughed and shrieked, "Lord Chengyi, receive the decree!"
Chen Ke bowed towards the palace, feigning attentive listening.
"Lord Chengyi, Chen Ke, is frivolous and disrespectful. He is ordered to immediately submit a memorial of apology to await the court's judgment!"
Chen Ke was astonished, guessing that this punishment was likely related to the banquet he attended last night.
The Third Prince of Ziying had suddenly suffered a mental breakdown; if he became an idiot, it could cause a diplomatic incident.
Whatnhe didn't know was that at today's court assembly, envoys stationed abroad and officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonies had already submitted memorials impeaching him.
After the young eunuch left, happily clutching two gold leaves and carrying a small jar of Xinghua Village wine, Chen Ke sent for the manor's clerk.
He had no idea how to write such a professional task as a apology memorial.
After giving a few instructions, Chen Ke, accompanied by two female guards, left the city for the western suburbs manor.
Tonight, he planned to visit the caravan his father was escorting, and also take advantage of the opportunity to enhance his Fuyou Divine Ship—which he hadn't activated yet.
...
"What?! Just send someone to reprimand him and make him submit an apology memorial?!"
In the Third Prince's residence, in the study, the head guard, Hu He, received a report from his subordinate and immediately flew into a rage.
Behind the desk, the Third Prince, Yin Tianzheng, seemed to have aged ten years overnight, his expression blank, his face ashen, leaning dejectedly against the back of his chair.
He had actually regained consciousness after being sent away yesterday.
If he could, he would rather never wake up, so he would never recall that humiliating scene.
In front of hundreds of dignitaries and the Qin princess, he actually knelt before Chen Ke.
With that kneel, his dignity, all his previous efforts, vanished.
Marrying the Qin princess became a joke.
But what truly terrified him was that for a moment he felt this wasn't the first time he had knelt before Chen Ke.
Yin Tianzheng dared not think about it; that memory was an absolutely forbidden territory for him.
He was even more afraid that that unbearable experience would be ruthlessly reopened.
If it came to that, he would truly be living a life worse than death.
Chen Ke must die!
Harnessing his dazed gaze, Yin Tianzheng asked in a deep voice, "Haven't you contacted Fan Tianhe and the others yet?"
Chief Guard Hu He, looking troubled, cautiously said, "Your Highness, the terrain in that mountainous area is complex, and Fan Tianhe has the authority to act expediently. He's likely already in ambush at the designated location with a thousand assassins."
To make matters worse, their secret envoy returned this morning with bad news: the second batch of assassins tasked with intercepting Chen Baiwang had gone missing.
Going missing is never a good thing; it usually signifies operational failure.
The simultaneous disappearance of over a thousand people is utterly absurd and heartbreaking.
Therefore, Hu He could only try to think of the best-case scenario; His Highness couldn't afford such a crushing defeat.
Sure enough, the Third Prince didn't erupt in anger, but instead nodded in realization: "Yes, it was I who granted him the authority to act expediently. Fan Tianhe certainly won't disappoint me."
Yin Tianzheng's gloomy gaze fell on Hu He: "Hu He, what good plan do you have to kill Chen Ke?"