166: The key to breaking the formation
Liu Chongshan had been in a high position for many years; what kind of people had he not seen? The two-faced power-hungry officials in the court, the unruly heroes in the Jianghu, and even those self-proclaimed noble cultivators—didn't they all end up as ants crawling at his feet?
Just an actor with a good voice wasn't enough to shake his great ambition.
“Alright, someone, bring wine.”
These four light words instantly froze Zhao Hanyi's blood.
The words “bring wine” in the imperial palace were not good words, especially when it came from Liu Chongshan.
This old villain had a strange temper; when he decided to kill, he killed without warning.
One moment he was a laughing old man, the next he could be plunging a white blade in and pulling a red one out.
He was terrifying.
Bring wine?
Didn't that mean poisoned wine?
Had Liu Chongshan finally realized he couldn't obtain the Magic Treasures from them, and his patience had run out?
Zhao Hanyi's face turned pale, and he almost couldn't stand. He looked back at his brothers and found that they were just as he was.
This was the wonder of this Magic Treasure; emotions influenced each other, somewhat like the mutual telepathy between twins, only stronger.
“Your Majesty, we brothers have no achievements, how can we accept your reward? When we brothers have completed the tasks you assigned, then... we...”
Zhao Hanyi tried to stall for time. Liu Chongshan had just said he had things for them to do, which meant they still had value.
Since they had value, they could still live.
In any other place, these words would be fine, but in this situation, Zhao Hanyi's words, which had a hint of concession and begging, were completely lost on Liu Chongshan.
“Lian'er, only by drinking this wine can you serve Us better. It's Our fault for not explaining it clearly to you. You few are immune to any Formation, and now We are just stumped by Qingzhou's protective Formation.”
“Isn't that a coincidence?”
“Lian'er, having you is Our good fortune.”
Liu Chongshan slowly rose from the Dragon Throne, his wide sleeves hanging down, revealing fingers as thin as eagle claws.
He paced in front of Zhao Hanyi, his cloudy eyes fixed on Zhao Hanyi.
“Your Majesty...”
Zhao Hanyi's Adam's apple bobbed, and cold sweat seeped from his forehead.
During the severe torture, Zhao Hanyi's expression hadn't changed, but now he was truly scared.
Liu Chongshan was a madman, and now this madman's patience had truly run out.
His brothers were probably doomed today.
The five brothers behind him all took half a step back in unison, fear spreading like a tide.
“What?”
“Afraid We'll poison you?”
“Don't be afraid. When you get to Netherworld Old Ghost, just be obedient. Netherworld Old Ghost isn't as easy to talk to as We are.”
Liu Chongshan turned and took a gilded wine pot from the tray held by a eunuch, personally filling a cup with amber liquid.
The aroma of wine permeated the hall, but it was mixed with a faint, sweet, metallic scent.
Liu Chongshan brought the wine cup to his lips, his voice very gentle.
“Come, Hanyi.”
“You, The Six Zhao Brothers, are of one heart. You drink this cup on behalf of your brothers first.”
Zhao Hanyi's body tensed, staring intently at the poisoned wine, his throat tight, unable to utter a single word.
Liu Chongshan wasn't annoyed. Young people, after all, were inevitably hot-blooded and couldn't distinguish between what was important.
However, once they reached Netherworld Old Ghost, their good days would be over.
Under the soul suppressing banner, all ghosts submitted.
Even if they were unwilling in a thousand ways, reluctant in ten thousand, they had no choice.
This was why Liu Chongshan was determined to send the six of them to the Netherworld.
Zhao Hanyi understood that his brothers would not escape today.
Just as Zhao Hanyi hesitated, Zhao Hansong behind him suddenly erupted, roaring, “Big Brother! Don't drink it!”
“You old immortal, we will never rest until you are dead!”
Zhao Hansong struggled madly, violently pushing aside the imperial guards next to him, and lunged towards Liu Chongshan!
“Seeking death!”
Liu Chongshan snorted coldly, waving his sleeve. A cold gust of wind suddenly exploded, and before Zhao Hansong could get close, he was violently knocked to the ground, spitting blood.
“Fifth Brother!”
Zhao Hanyi's eyes were bloodshot. He struggled, wanting to rush over, but was firmly held by two imperial guards on his shoulders, unable to move.
“Let go of my Big Brother!”
Seeing this, the other four brothers could no longer restrain themselves and roared in defiance. But the imperial guards in the hall were well prepared. Scabbards and iron chains came down together, pressing them one by one to the ground, knees pressing hard on their backs, making it difficult for them even to raise their heads.
Zhao Hanyi was forced to his knees, his forehead against the cold floor tiles. He struggled desperately, but the imperial guards' hands were like iron clamps, making it difficult for him even to breathe.
“Your Majesty... Your Majesty, spare our lives, I'll drink.”
He shouted hoarsely, his voice full of despair.
Liu Chongshan looked down at him, a hint of mockery flashing in his cloudy eyes.
“Spare your lives? When did We say We wanted your lives?”
“You are all good children.”
“Drink this cup of wine, and it will be over soon.”
He leaned down, pinched Zhao Hanyi's chin, forcing him to look up, and with his other hand holding the wine cup, slowly brought it to his lips.
“Didn't We say... We just need to borrow your souls?”
The moment the liquid touched his lips, Zhao Hanyi suddenly bit down, clenching his mouth tightly, refusing to swallow.
A cold light flashed in Liu Chongshan's eyes. He pressed a finger to his throat, and a cold spiritual force was forcibly poured in, forcing him to swallow!
“Ugh—!”
Zhao Hanyi's pupils constricted. As the poisoned wine entered his stomach, an intense pain instantly swept through his entire body, as if thousands of ice needles were piercing his bone marrow, and like raging fire burning his internal organs!
“Big Brother—!”
The other five brothers watched him convulse in agony, their eyes bloodshot, struggling desperately, but the guards' suppression made it impossible for them to even lift a finger.
Liu Chongshan watched Zhao Hanyi roll and convulse on the ground with indifference, a sinister smile playing on his lips.
“Don't rush, it will be your turn soon.”
He waved his hand, and the attendants immediately stepped forward, pouring the remaining poisoned wine into the mouths of the other five brothers one by one.
In the hall, the six people's screams gradually weakened, eventually fading into silence.
Liu Chongshan nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the shadows and said, “Go, seal their Physical Bodies in ice coffins, and their souls... send them to Netherworld Old Ghost.”
From the darkness, a hunched figure slowly emerged, saying with a sinister laugh, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
***
Qingzhou.
Netherworld Old Ghost had returned.
This time, he was no longer alone.
Black mist surged, obscuring the sky and sun, as if the entire firmament had been dragged into the Netherworld.
Twelve imperial souls hovered in mid-air, clad in Dragon robes, their faces ferocious, their former imperial majesty transformed into venomous Evil Qi.
They were once the Supreme beings of the human world, but now they were reduced to Netherworld Old Ghost's Puppets, their soul fires flickering eerily, like weeping and laughing.
And behind them, six dazzling golden souls were particularly striking—it was The Six Zhao Brothers!
Their Physical Bodies were dead, but their souls had been refined into “Golden Souls,” a hundred times more ferocious than ordinary vengeful ghosts.
Zhao Hanyi's eyes were blood red, his soul body entangled with dense chains, each chain inscribed with sinister curses, firmly suppressing their will.
They struggled, roared, but could not defy Netherworld Old Ghost's will.
“Hehehehe...”
Netherworld Old Ghost, hunched over, gently raised a withered finger, “Go, for Your Majesty... break the Formation!”