Chapter 526: 【Palace Examination】

Raindrops passed through Chen Ling’s illusory body. He stood at the door, watching the hunter walking out of the mountain of corpses and sea of blood, and fell into silence.

Undoubtedly... this wasn't the "script" he was pursuing, but this was the most important "plot" in Nie Yu’s life. It was the slaughter of this day that created the later "Hunter Nie Yu."

Chen Ling could understand Nie Yu’s actions. If it were him, he would probably be even crazier than Nie Yu... To be honest, he even admired Nie Yu. If it weren't for their different positions, perhaps they wouldn't have had to fight to this point.

Unfortunately, there are no "ifs" in this world.

Chen Ling didn't look any further. After taking a deep breath, he activated 【Vermilion Face】 again.

With his remaining mental power, he could watch at most one more "plot"... He hoped to get more information about Ying Fu.

As the image switched, the scene around Chen Ling changed.

It was also a tavern, but the weather had become sunny. At this moment, Nie Yu was sitting under a semi-open parasol, a glass of whiskey swirling gently in his hand, his eyes narrowed as if resting.

"Still in Myanmar? No... this looks like Thailand."

Chen Ling’s gaze landed on the golden beach and the Thai menu on the side, his expression inevitably a bit disappointed.

It seems... Ying Fu isn't here either.

Just as Chen Ling was about to leave helplessly, a figure brushed past him, and he suddenly froze on the spot.

Chen Ling stood stunned for a full three seconds before turning his head abruptly, finding a white-clothed figure already sitting opposite Nie Yu. His ink-black eyebrows were as sharp as swords, his eyes slanted like a phoenix, and his gaze revealed an unconscious coldness and majesty, completely out of place with the surrounding environment.

Ying Fu???

Chen Ling couldn't forget that highly recognizable face. He widened his eyes in disbelief.

That's not right... how could Ying Fu appear here? This is Thailand!

At this moment, Nie Yu also discovered someone sitting opposite him. After scanning him coldly, he said calmly:

"If I were you, I wouldn't be sitting in this seat."

"Soldier God Path, 【Heavenly Wolf】 path." Ying Fu narrowed his eyes and stared at him, "It seems, My luck is good."

"A countryman?"

Nie Yu frowned.

He didn't understand what Ying Fu meant, nor did he understand what the "Soldier God Path" was. After taking a sip of whiskey, he said in Chinese again, "You'd better get lost. I have no interest in sharing a table with others."

Ying Fu just sat there quietly, his gaze deep as he looked at Nie Yu, with no intention of leaving at all.

For some reason, when Nie Yu stared into those eyes, he felt an inexplicable unease. His brows furrowed tighter and tighter, and a wisp of murderous intent mixed into his mental power, silently pressing toward the other party.

"I said... get lost!"

Ying Fu, in his white clothes, remained as immovable as a mountain. A trace of the Emperor God Path’s aura leaked out as well, colliding with Nie Yu’s aura. A breeze swept from where the two were located, causing the surrounding parasols to sway.

Chen Ling felt Ying Fu’s aura. Judging from the intensity of his mental power, he was Tier 3. However, according to what the Second Senior Sister Luan Mei said, without any "subjects," the combat power of the 【Emperor】 was close to zero. He should have Tier 3 mental power but no corresponding God Path skills to use.

"You also possess power?!" Nie Yu’s expression changed, and he instantly grabbed the short knife behind his waist, saying grimly, "Who sent you? How did you find me?"

"I didn't find you; you are the one approaching Me."

"What?"

"No matter where I am, the possessors of other God Paths will unconsciously move toward Me under the guidance of fate... This is an instinct engraved in all God Paths, and also one of the authorities unique to the 【Emperor】."

Ying Fu said calmly, "The USB drive replicated by Lou Yu seems to have flaws, sending Me directly to this inexplicable country... And you are the God Path possessor closest to Me, and the first existence in this era to meet Me."

Hearing this, Chen Ling’s heart shook.

All other God Path possessors will unconsciously approach the 【Emperor】?

This authority sounded too exaggerated... And what Chen Ling cared about even more were the words "USB drive replicated by Lou Yu." So, the one Ying Fu used to enter the era archive was the pirated USB drive other than 【Lingbao】, 【Yuanshi】, and 【Daode】? No wonder even the serial numbers were chaotic...

"What kind of nonsense is this..." Nie Yu gripped the gun handle tightly, his vigilance growing even stronger.

"The gravitational pull between a God Path possessor and the 【Emperor】 is also affected by other factors, such as philosophy, or the desires deep within one’s heart... The stronger the resonance, the stronger the gravitational pull. Just like in the era when the imperial system still existed, people with ambition and talent would all go to the capital to take the imperial examination and meet the Emperor..." Ying Fu stared into Nie Yu’s eyes,

"You are the first person in this era to 'meet the Emperor,' which shows that your resonance with Me is the closest... You are a natural 'subject'."

"Enough! What kind of bullshit are you spouting here!"

Nie Yu pulled his gun instantly, the pitch-black muzzle aimed at Ying Fu’s forehead, his murderous intent undisguised.

Seeing someone pull a gun here, the surrounding tourists suddenly exclaimed and ran out in a swarm. A moment later, the tavern entrance was empty, leaving only Nie Yu holding the gun and confronting Ying Fu.

Ying Fu looked calmly into Nie Yu’s eyes, as if the muzzle at his forehead didn't exist at all. He said faintly:

"You are the first person to meet the Emperor; I will give you enough time..."

Within Ying Fu’s pupils, a pale golden radiance began to surge, as if harboring some kind of magic that dragged Nie Yu’s consciousness into its depths.

“The [Palace Examination]... begins.”

As the gold in Ying Fu’s eyes grew increasingly brilliant, appearing like two scorching suns burning fiercely, not only Nie Yu, but even Chen Ling, who was watching from the side, was involuntarily drawn in by those eyes, falling into a momentary trance.

Just then, the scene around him twisted violently. Nie Yu’s memories were shredded and dissipated in that instant, and the script reading of [Zhu Yan] was forcibly interrupted!

Chen Ling’s consciousness snapped back into his body, beads of sweat seeping from his temples.

Just now... what was that?

The clattering sound on the metal roof pulled Chen Ling’s consciousness completely back to reality. From the moment he used [Zhu Yan] to peek into Nie Yu’s life until now, less than half a second had actually passed. Nie Yu was still staring at him with a chilling gaze, completely unaware that Chen Ling had already finished viewing two segments of his memories.

“The [Palace Examination]... what did you see in the [Palace Examination]??” Chen Ling asked, his brows tightly locked.

Nie Yu was stunned for a moment, a flash of shock crossing the depths of his eyes. He didn’t know what Chen Ling had just done, but the term [Palace Examination] made him recall something once more, his expression becoming incredibly complex.

He remained silent for a long time before saying in a hoarse, slow voice:

“I saw... the ‘resonance’ between me and His Majesty.”