131: Chapter 131 Just now, we were joking around.

High in the sky, Chu Youwei's Black Register was still burning.

Deep within Old Fengdu, a Yin well was being churned into a frenzy by her.

The Ghost Emperor's projection hovered behind the Judgment Tablet. He did not let his palm fall again.

Because he realized that this new King was not just bluffing.

For the first time, a very simple thought crossed the Ghost Emperor's mind: Bad luck.

"I only came to collect a debt, not to commit double suicide with a little girl."

What was more troublesome was that she was not without leverage.

The Foreign Language Tribunal had just formed Karma with Old Fengdu. That thread had not yet been severed.

If she struck along that thread, she would not be able to damage his core Foundation, but she could disgust him for many years.

The Yin well. The torn pages of the Judgment Tablet. The connection of the Ten Kings of Yama's authority. These places were all like cracks in a door. She was holding a knife, stabbing wildly into those cracks.

In a battle between Kings, the greatest fear is being dragged into a meaningless war of attrition. Especially by a new King who had just ascended and still had human emotions in her head. Such people do not play by the rules.

The Ghost Emperor fell silent for a breath. Then, he slowly retracted his raised hand. The massive black palm shrouding Linhai also stopped in mid-air.

Chu Youwei did not stop. The Black Register flipped another page. In Old Fengdu, the roof of a side hall exploded.

The Ghost Emperor's expression stiffened slightly. That side hall was worthless. But it contained a batch of Yin Office account books from three hundred years ago. The account books were not important. What was important was that inside were several Judgment Tablets he had signed incorrectly in his youth. They could not be exposed.

The Ghost Emperor spoke, "It was merely a jest."

Above Linhai, everyone was stunned.

In the Investigation Bureau's main control room, Chen Jianguo looked up: "What did he say?"

Ye Zhiwei closed her eyes: "He said that he was just jesting."

Chen Jianguo's expression stiffened: "He calls nearly crushing a city a jest?"

Executive Jiang Xu stared at the screen: "He is looking for a graceful exit."

Chen Jianguo: "What does that mean?"

Executive Jiang Xu: "He is looking for a way down."

Chen Jianguo was silent for two seconds: "That is a really poor quality step."

In the sky, Chu Youwei looked at the Ghost Emperor. The Black Register did not close.

"Do you think it is very funny?"

The Ghost Emperor stood with his hands behind his back. His dark imperial robes rippled gently behind the Judgment Tablet. His voice returned to a calm state.

"New King, I admit that you have the qualifications to sit on that throne."

Chu Youwei did not respond. She simply flipped the Black Register to another page.

In Old Fengdu, another Yin bridge snapped.

The Ghost Emperor: "..."

Why does this child not follow the standard procedure? I have already praised you. Shouldn't you at least say 'The Ghost Emperor is too kind'? Even if you don't say it, you should at least stop.

Chu Youwei said coldly: "I asked you, is it funny?"

The Ghost Emperor looked at her. He suddenly realized that this question could not be answered incorrectly.

If he said it was funny, she would continue to explode things. If he said it was not funny, she would ask why he was joking.

The most dangerous thing in a battle between Kings is not the rules. It is a woman's interrogation.

The Ghost Emperor was silent for half a second: "I spoke out of turn."

Chu Youwei stared at him.

The Ghost Emperor said slowly: "I apologize for the earlier probing."

As these words fell, Linhai City became completely silent.

The Ghost Emperor of Old Fengdu, the oldest King-level being within the Dahuang Prefecture, had apologized to a high school girl who had just ascended as a King.

Li Hao lay on his desk, his mouth agape: "Gu Lang."

Gu Lang: "Don't ask."

Li Hao: "Is the Ghost Emperor being a coward?"

Gu Lang: "If you say that out loud, he won't be a coward—he will be holding a grudge."

Li Hao immediately shut his mouth.

Saintess Lin Xinglan stood by the window, her eyes complex. She knew Chu Youwei was strong, but she had not expected Chu Youwei to be able to force the Ghost Emperor to this point. It was not about winning; it was about making the opponent not want to fight. That was harder than winning a single move.

Su Yun sat in his seat, looking at the imperial shadow in the sky, and smiled slightly. The old thing knows how to yield. Unfortunately, those who can yield and stretch are usually not good to eat.

In the sky, Chu Youwei heard the apology, but her expression did not soften. She said: "I do not need you to apologize to me."

The Ghost Emperor: "?"

The pearl curtain behind the Judgment Tablet swayed. He had truly stopped. Not apologizing to you? Then what was I doing just now? Bowing to the air?

The Ghost Emperor suppressed the displeasure in his heart: "Then who do you want me to apologize to?"

Chu Youwei did not answer. She simply lowered her head and glanced in the direction of Linhai No. 2 High School. It was very brief, too brief for ordinary people to see, but the Ghost Emperor saw it.

The old fox's brain turned through dozens of thoughts in that instant. It was not Dahuang Prefecture. It was not the Investigation Bureau. And it was not herself. It was someone else.

When his palm covered Linhai just now, she was not afraid that the city would be destroyed to the point of risking her life. She was afraid that that person would die.

Who was that person? The Ghost Emperor did not know, but he knew one thing: that person was herInverted scales (reverse scale/Achilles' heel). It might be someone this little girl liked.

Humans really are interesting creatures. Even after ascending as a King, their minds are still filled with so much romance. However, the greatest fear for a King is having no weaknesses. If there is a weakness, there is an entry point for negotiation.

The anger in the Ghost Emperor's heart dissipated by thirty percent. He even felt a hint of amusement. New King, you are still young after all. You may risk your life for him now, but in the future, you can also be manipulated by me because of him.

He raised his hand. From behind the Judgment Tablet, a gray-white jade talisman flew out. The talisman was small, only half the size of a palm. Engraved on it was a closed Yin Office gate. Within the crack of the door, a wisp of King-level aura lay dormant.

The Ghost Emperor spoke: "This item is called the Substitute Death Jade Talisman."

"It can block one fatal attack below the King level."

He paused, then added: "If a King-level being attacks, it can help the holder withstand one full-power attack, but only once."

In the Linhai main control room, Chen Jianguo stood up abruptly: "A King-level defensive item?"

Executive Jiang Xu's eyes changed as well. This kind of thing was not a resource; it was a life. A life that could be snatched back from the hands of a King.

The Ghost Emperor continued: "Consider it the mental damages for that person due to my earlier slip-up."

Chu Youwei looked at the jade talisman. She did not take it immediately. The Ghost Emperor did not rush her. He knew very well that this thing would definitely move her, because it was not for her; it was for the person she cared about.

Sure enough, a moment later, Chu Youwei raised her hand. The Black Register split off a line of text, rolling the jade talisman to her side. She checked it once. There were no traps, no Yin Office tracking, only a pure, one-time Substitute Death authority.

Chu Youwei's eyes finally softened slightly: "This matter can be discussed."

The Ghost Emperor breathed a sigh of relief. If it could be discussed, that was good. If it could be discussed, it meant she would not explode. Not exploding was the greatest victory.

He was just about to speak, but Chu Youwei said first: "But that does not mean I forgive you."

The Ghost Emperor: "..."

That response had a very youthful flavor. Very annoying.

The Ghost Emperor steadied his voice: "I have one more item."

He waved his sleeve, and a second item appeared. It was a pitch-black seed. The surface of the seed was wrapped in tiny golden patterns. It did not look like an object of the Yin Office; instead, it carried a kind of primitive vitality. As soon as it appeared, the spiritual energy within many Awakened in Linhai City jumped slightly.

Gu Lang looked up abruptly: "What is this?"

Su Yun glanced at it. He did not have much interest, but he quickly realized that Chu Youwei was looking at it very intently.

The Ghost Emperor introduced it: "The Yin and Yang Awakening Seed."

"Old Fengdu has been raising it underground in Dahuang Prefecture for three hundred years."

"If an ordinary person takes it, they have a ninety percent chance of Awakening spiritual energy."

"If an Awakened takes it, they have a sixty percent chance of giving birth to a second ability."

"If it fails, there will be no side effects."

The Yin and Yang Awakening Seed hung in mid-air. On the pitch-black seed coat, gold patterns lit up in circles. There was no pressure, no killing intent, but all the Awakened in Linhai City raised their heads at this moment.

In the Investigation Bureau's main control room, Chen Jianguo stared at the screen, his voice changing pitch: "Ninety percent Awakening for ordinary people?"

"Sixty percent chance for an Awakened to gain a second ability?"

He looked abruptly at Executive Jiang Xu: "Is this thing real or fake?"

Executive Jiang Xu did not answer immediately. Ye Zhiwei closed her eyes, her face paler than before: "It is real."

Chen Jianguo took a breath, then choked on it. He coughed twice and held onto the edge of the table: "No way."

"Old Fengdu still has things like this?"

"Then why didn't they use it before?"

Su Yao looked at the seed: "Nonsense, they are Strange Tales. The core of a Strange Tale is their Foundation. If they use it, they would have to create another Strange Tale core, wouldn't they?"

The control room fell silent. Ninety percent Awakening for ordinary people. What did that mean? It meant that a person without talent could directly cross the threshold of fate. An Awakened gaining a second ability was even more outrageous. In the entire human world for so many years, no one had ever been able to Awaken a second ability. Now, the Ghost Emperor casually produced a seed. A sixty percent probability. No side effects. This was not compensation; this was placing a future in front of Chu Youwei. And Chu Youwei could not refuse.

Chen Jianguo muttered: "The Ghost Emperor has really bled for this."

Executive Jiang Xu said indifferently: "He is not bleeding."

"He is buying a ceasefire."

In the sky, the Ghost Emperor's projection stood with his hands behind his back. The gray-white jade talisman and the Yin and Yang Awakening Seed hung one after the other in front of Chu Youwei.

The Ghost Emperor spoke: "The Substitute Death Jade Talisman, to save one life."

"The Yin and Yang Awakening Seed, to open one path."

"New King, my sincerity is enough."

Chu Youwei looked at the seed without speaking. Her fingertips were still stained with blood. The Black Register hovered at her side, and the entry for Old Fengdu on the page was still burning. As long as she continued to pour in rules, Old Fengdu would be stabbed with more holes by her.

But she knew that the Foreign Language Tribunal had just ascended as a King, and Old Fengdu had failed to seize authority; the Karma between the two sides had not been completely severed. She could strike along this thread. But once all the authority was returned, the anchor point would be broken. Her rules would no longer be able to govern Old Fengdu. At that time, the Ghost Emperor would still be the Ghost Emperor. She would just be a new King who had just sat firmly on the throne.

Chu Youwei lowered her head and looked toward Linhai No. 2 High School. She saw that classroom. She saw Su Yun by the window. He was sitting there, just like in the past, like an ordinary student caught up in a major event.

Chu Youwei knew he was not ordinary. At least, not completely ordinary. There were always too many coincidences around him. The Sanctuary paid attention to him. The Investigation Bureau protected him. When the Ghost Emperor's palm fell just now, her first thought was not whether the city would be destroyed, but whether he would die.

She did not want to see him sitting under a disaster again. If he could Awaken. If he could possess a second ability. Even if it was not strong. As long as he could have an extra layer of self-protection. As long as one day, he could stand by her side. Together, protect this city. Together, protect the Dahuang Prefecture. Then this seed was worth it.

Chu Youwei pursed her lips. The speed at which the Black Register flipped slowed down.

The Ghost Emperor watched her. Behind the pearl curtain, his gaze did not waver. But the Yin well deep within Old Fengdu was already almost churned into a pot of porridge by her. If he let her go crazy for another fifteen minutes, the Ghost Emperor felt that he would have to work overtime to repair the Yin Office tonight. He did not like working overtime. He especially did not like mopping the floor for a love-struck new King.

The Ghost Emperor spoke slowly: "I do not intend to take back everything."

Chu Youwei looked up.

The Ghost Emperor said: "Old Fengdu participated in the power grab, that is indeed a fault."

"I acknowledge the results you have confiscated."

"But the primary authority of the Yin Office Judgment Tablet and the Life and Death Edict must be returned."

"Otherwise, the order of the Dahuang Prefecture will collapse."

Chu Youwei looked at him: "If the order collapses, you will be weaker."

The Ghost Emperor did not deny it: "If I am weaker, the things inside the Dahuang Prefecture will come out, and the loss to you will be even greater!"

As these words fell, many people in Linhai City did not understand. In the Investigation Bureau's main control room, Executive Jiang Xu's eyes sank.

Chen Jianguo looked at him: "What else is in the Dahuang Prefecture?"

Executive Jiang Xu did not speak.

Ye Zhiwei's hand rested on the armrest. Her fingertips trembled slightly: "Graves."

Chen Jianguo was stunned.

Ye Zhiwei said in a low voice: "Many graves."

"Old Fengdu is not just a King-level Strange Tale."

"It is also a door."

No one else in the control room spoke. Su Yao looked at the screen. She had seen Old Fengdu lose control in her previous life. That was not a ghost tide. That was the kingdom of the dead opening its borders. The Ghost Emperor was terrifying, but sometimes, the monster guarding the door was more indispensable than the things behind the door.

In the sky, Chu Youwei was silent for several seconds. Then, she raised her hand and pressed it onto the Black Register. The pages stopped.

[Old Fengdu Power Grab Incident Settlement]

[Cheating Subjects: Ten Kings of Yama, Remnants of the Old Yin Office]

[Confiscated Results: Throne Progress, Judgment Tablet Residual Authority, Life and Death Edict Branch, Yin Office Authority Fragments]

She looked at those items. Line by line, they scrolled past. Finally, she raised her hand and erased two of them.

[Judgment Tablet Residual Authority]

[Life and Death Edict Branch]

The Black Register vibrated. Two streams of gray-white light flew out from the pages and fell toward the Judgment Tablet behind the Ghost Emperor's projection.

The Judgment Tablet shook. In the direction of Old Fengdu, the half-collapsed roof of the Yintianzi Palace stopped shedding dust.

The Ten Kings of Yama simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.

King Biancheng lay on the ground, his voice weak: "Is it over?"

King Songdi lay by the threshold: "I don't know."

"But I think we should stop cheating on exams in the future."

King Qinguang covered his face and looked at him coldly: "You ran the fastest just now."

King Songdi turned his head: "That was a tactical preservation of effective strength."

Above the Yintianzi Palace, the Ghost Emperor's true body lowered his eyes. He ignored this group of useless idiots. He just looked toward Linhai.

The new King had returned a portion. Not much. But it was enough. At least she was willing to talk. At least she did not continue to explode things.

Above Linhai, the Ghost Emperor's projection reached out to take back the authority. Several cracks on the Judgment Tablet were repaired. He looked at Chu Youwei.

"The rest, you are going to keep?"

Chu Youwei closed the Black Register: "Confiscated for cheating, not returned."

The Ghost Emperor was silent for a moment: "Very well."

When Chen Jianguo heard these two words, he went numb: "This is also allowed?"

Executive Jiang Xu said: "He took back the most important things."

Su Yao said coldly: "And he confirmed Chu Youwei's weakness."

Executive Jiang Xu looked at her: "Su Yun?"

Su Yao did not answer.

On the screen, Chu Youwei had already accepted the Substitute Death Jade Talisman and the Yin and Yang Awakening Seed. The Substitute Death Jade Talisman was sealed by her into the Black Register. The Yin and Yang Awakening Seed was held in her palm. She held it very tightly, like holding a path that had not yet begun.

The Ghost Emperor watched this action. The last trace of vigilance in his heart also eased. Sure enough, this woman had a weakness. The Rancher helped her ascend as a King, but she would not fight to the death with me for The Rancher. What she cared about was the living person below.

Very good. Human emotions are the most stable chains. When the day comes for The Rancher to ascend as a King, I only need to strike at the moment he accepts the rules and his core is exposed. If I swallow that Strange Tale with unlimited potential, perhaps I can directly step onto the long stairs to Godhood.

The Ghost Emperor hid this thought. His voice returned to a majestic tone: "New King, today's matter, let it end here."

Chu Youwei said coldly: "Old Fengdu must not attack the Dahuang Prefecture again."

The Ghost Emperor said: "As long as the Dahuang Prefecture does not offend Old Fengdu, I will not move against the Dahuang Prefecture."

"And I will not move against that person."

Chu Youwei then nodded. But just as she was preparing to put away the Black Register, the space above Linhai suddenly darkened again. It was not the gray-black of the Ghost Emperor's Yin Office, but a deep red, as if someone had cut open the sky, revealing a sea of blood behind it.

The Ghost Emperor's projection turned slightly: "Hmm?"

The next second, in the southeast direction, a huge vertical blood-colored pupil opened. It did not unleash power. It just looked at Linhai. Looking at Chu Youwei. Looking at the Ghost Emperor.

A voice filled with laughter came from the blood-colored rift: "Ghost Emperor, you are truly spineless."

"I thought I would be able to see you and the new King perish together today."

The Linhai alarm sounded again. In the Investigation Bureau's main control room, Chen Jianguo had just sat down and stood up again: "There is another King-level?!"