Chapter 202 The Truth

After Zhang Xiao finished speaking, the Qianqing Palace fell into a deathly silence, and the temperature dropped significantly.

As for the person being "targeted," Yinreng seemed unaffected.

He opened his palm, releasing the small, round ball that had been feigning death ever since Zhang Xiao spoke, and asked softly, "So, what do you, or rather, all of you, want from me?"

The little ball, no longer shining, lay obediently in Yinreng's hand, pretending it didn't exist.

Zhang Xiao sneered, "You must have tested him and found that you couldn't do anything to the Crown Prince, so you're pretending to be so obedient."

Everyone nodded; that's why the test failed. Yinzhi observed Zhang Xiao's expression and said, "The system activated emergency defense mode earlier. Was that why you fell into a daze?"

Zhang Xiao's expression grew increasingly disgusted. "That's right, the emergency defense mode is the highest counterattack function that the system can load. And under normal circumstances, only the observer can initiate this function, because it will draw on the observer's energy."

"If the observation energy is too low, I will be unable to leave this era."

Zhang Xiao glanced at the small, seemingly dead sphere again. "But the system not only exceeded my permissions, it also drained all my observation energy. Not only can I not go back, but I also won't live much longer..."

"I see."

Yin Zhi murmured to himself, "No wonder Zhang Xiao's first reaction upon waking up was to go crazy. If it were him, not only would he be tricked into not being able to go home, but his lifespan would also be damaged, and he would go crazy too."

“No,” Yinzhen said, somewhat puzzled, “then why did it still try to save you, deactivate that defense mode, and allow you to speak clearly about everything?”

“When human creations develop self-awareness…” Zhang Xiao looked at the system that was feigning death and smiled sarcastically, “Systems are much better at seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages, and finding the optimal solution than humans. He’s not saving me, he’s surrendering. Am I right, System?”

The small round ball lay motionless in Yinreng's hand, as if it had crashed.

Yinreng weighed it lightly in his hand. "Don't play dead."

With those three simple words, the system instantly emitted a soft, pale white light, hovering above Yinreng's palm.

It was a small ball, yet it made everyone read the four words "flattery" in its entirety.

"..." Everyone fell silent. The enemy surrendered too quickly, and they didn't know what to do for a moment.

"Baocheng, what are your thoughts?" Kangxi asked Yinreng, handing the initiative to him.

Yinreng lowered his eyes to look at the little ball trying to please him, and smiled gently: "Once disloyal, always disloyal, let alone a spy..."

Before Yinreng could finish speaking, sensing the murderous intent in his words, the little ball immediately tried to run away.

To everyone's astonishment, the little ball had just flown to the entrance of the hall when it was swallowed whole by Xiao Liu, who suddenly appeared.

"Gah!"

[Help! This tastes so weird! Will I get food poisoning?]

"Chirp—"

Trust your iron stomach, you can do it!

After dealing with the small ball, the two little ones hopped away again.

The onlookers were bewildered; had the observation system really been eaten by Xiao Liu just like that?

"Second Brother, Sixth Brother..."

Yinzhu hesitated, but Yinreng nodded knowingly: "Next time I'll tell him not to eat things indiscriminately."

"..." Is that what he meant?

Well, it's fine that Yinzhuo gave up.

With the system of surrendering when you can't win resolved, everyone's attention returned to Zhang Xiao. Zhang Xiao didn't seem to care anymore, and he kept his head down, seemingly lost in thought.

"Lock him up first."

Emperor Kangxi made the decision, and no one else had any objections.

It was a bizarre and terrifying day, and everyone dispersed quickly after a short while, without much conversation.

Late at night, Zhang Xiao, secretly imprisoned in the palace and wearing shackles, looked up at Kangxi, who had come in the dead of night, and slightly curled the corners of her mouth: "I knew you would come."

Kangxi stared at her coldly, his anger barely contained: "The observation system is gone, all that's left is you."

"What does Your Majesty wish to ask?" Zhang Xiao tilted his head and smiled. "Let me guess, is it the dark shadow that appeared in the first two observations, or the true outcome of the second one?"

Emperor Kangxi twirled the thumb ring and said slowly, "I had the imperial physician take your pulse. With proper care, you can live for at least five more years. Your life or death is in your hands."

Zhang Xiao's eyes trembled. After a moment of silence, she sighed, "You win. I do want to live."

Without Kangxi pressing for details, Zhang Xiao explained to Kangxi in detail what they had previously refused to discuss in front of Yinreng.

"The first application of historical observation technology was in the most recent Qing Dynasty. However, the initial technology could not transmit people, or rather, it prohibited the transmission of people, because people are uncontrollable."

But there are always some restless and ambitious people, so with the activation of the first historical observation technology, some people on the verge of death came to the Qing Dynasty in the form of spiritual beings through external means, replacing you in the first life, thus leading to the story of two abolitions and two restorations..."

Zhang Xiao looked somewhat dazed, as if lost in memories.

"Until the first observation failed, the research team discovered the differences in the prince from the recovered fragments, and also discovered the existence of the regenerating tissue."

"Resurrection Organization?"

Kangxi frowned, instinctively feeling disgusted with this organization.

"That's right. By using the power of historical observation to travel through time, the souls of the dying are brought back to ancient times to possess healthy people and be reborn. Moreover, this possession is not a one-time thing. As long as the associated time and space power continues, they can continue to possess people to achieve a certain kind of immortality."

Kangxi suddenly realized that he had finally understood why, during the first observation, "Kangxi" was so wary of the capable princes, yet he simultaneously suppressed and promoted the thirteenth and fourteenth princes, and even summoned them back before his death. It turned out that he had already chosen his next target for possession, and had prepared two at once.

An endless rage ignited within him. Kangxi clenched his fists and pursed his lips as he listened to Zhang Xiao continue.

"In order to explore the special characteristics of Aisin-Gioro Yinreng, and also to track down the whereabouts of the Resurrection Organization, the research team quickly launched a second observation, while also allowing the Resurrection Organization to make a second connection."

"As it turned out," Zhang Xiao laughed, his eyes sparkling, "the second observation also failed—no, it was successful. At least those drastically different fragments received fully demonstrate the Crown Prince's extraordinary nature."

“Buddha’s disciple…a true Buddha’s disciple…who wouldn’t be moved by this? Another completely new and great possibility of immortality, who wouldn’t be moved? Thus, the third observation took place…”

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This volume is coming to an end, and it's time for our voting!

The character design comes from a saying I heard a long time ago: "The male lead belongs to the female lead, and the second male lead belongs to everyone." So, in the next world, the character design will undoubtedly be a "gentle second male lead."

There are currently two world options:

1. The Prequel to Lotus Lantern: Yang Jiao (This will incorporate some of the elements from Investiture of the Gods, including Boyi Kao and the Ziwei Emperor) [Leave a comment here if you'd like to see it]

2. Lotus Pavilion's Original Master Brother (Giving Xiangyi and Little Lotus a good senior brother) [Leave a "2" here if you want to see it]

3. [Other details can be left here]

Whichever option receives the most votes by the end of this volume will be the one featured in the next world! ( ′` )