Chapter 185 The Big Dipper Life-Stealing Array

Just as the sword was about to pierce the shadowy figure's heart, the figure suddenly let out a shrill scream.

Its entire body exploded with a bang, transforming into countless black bats that scattered and fled.

"Trying to run?" Lu Yao wiped away the blood, watching the dark figure rapidly disappearing into the distance outside the window, but did not give chase.

She looked down at her palm.

During their fight, she had secretly planted a tracking talisman on the shadowy figure.

"You can run away from the monk, but you can't hide from the temple."

Lu Yao sheathed her wooden sword and turned to check on Zhang Daiqi.

Outside the window, the shadowy figure fled in panic, leaving a distorted trail in the moonlight, while a point of golden light flickered faintly in his unseen back.

Half an hour later, a black official car sped up and stopped downstairs at Zhang Daiqi's residence.

The car door opened, and a group of uniformed investigators quickly cordoned off the scene.

"Special Task Force for Paranormal Affairs".

The man at the head of the group showed his identification and nodded politely to Lu Yao. "I am Director Zhong Zhengming. Thank you for your timely assistance, Ms. Lu."

Zhong Zhengming was in his early thirties and had a kind face.

He strode towards the still-shaken Zhang Daiqi and took out an exquisite sachet from his pocket: "Miss Zhang, you've been frightened. This is our specially made calming incense, which can help stabilize your soul."

As Zhong Zhengming turned around, Lu Yao saw a faint golden light on his back.

Those were tracking symbols she had planted herself.

"Miss Lu's Taoist skills are profound; she is truly a formidable young talent."

Zhong Zhengming warmly grasped Lu Yao's hand, "Thanks to your timely discovery of the evil cultivators, our Special Handling Division will definitely investigate to the end."

Lu Yao withdrew her hand without showing any emotion: "Director Zhong, you flatter me. That evil cultivator is cunning and treacherous; you must be careful."

"Don't worry," Zhong Zhengming interrupted her with a smile, his face full of confidence. "We've already identified several suspicious targets. By the way, Miss Lu, if you have any leads, please feel free to contact me anytime."

He handed over a business card with gold foil lettering.

The moment Lu Yao took the business card, a chill ran through her fingertips.

The gold lettering gleamed with an eerie bluish light under the moonlight, and the back of the business card featured a pattern of seven stars outlined in a dark design invisible to the naked eye.

Another new evil spell...

The Big Dipper Life-Stealing Formation.

The insidious techniques recorded in the "Book of Earthly Fiends and Heavenly Reversal" can silently steal another person's spiritual power and destiny through the trajectory of the Seven Stars.

This seemingly upright and respected Director Zhong has secretly mastered the forbidden techniques in the "Book of Earthly Fiends and Heavenly Inversions" so thoroughly.

Recalling the formation used to steal the contestants' life force in the Star Awakening variety show, the two operate on the same principle.

Lu Yao's eyes grew cold.

When the Star Pupil Awakening incident occurred, the Yan family, who were behind it all, should have been severely punished, but they were inexplicably protected.

Looking back now, it's incredible that they could pull off such a stunt right under the noses of the Special Task Force for Paranormal Affairs...

The Yan family's protector is this seemingly respectable Director Zhong.

Who would have thought that the head of the Special Office for the Handling of Supernatural Affairs, which was supposed to protect the righteous path of humanity, was actually a master of evil magic?

Lu Yao held the business card and smiled slightly at Zhong Zhengming.

A hint of triumphant satisfaction flashed in Zhong Zhengming's eyes.

However, with a soft sound, the name card suddenly turned into a clump of ashes between Lu Yao's fingers.

A night breeze swept by, and ashes swirled and drifted between the two.

Zhong Zhengming's refined demeanor shattered instantly, his face turning so dark it seemed to drip water. "Miss Lu, what is the meaning of this?"

Lu Yao chuckled: "I don't need to contact you. I can kill all the evil cultivators by myself."

A cold glint flashed in her eyes, revealing her utter contempt.

Zhong Zhengming's temple veins throbbed violently, and he forced a distorted smile: "It's good for young people to be confident, but too much rigidity leads to breakage..."

"Really? I'd like to know, who can defeat me?" Lu Yao raised an eyebrow.

Before he finished speaking, a vast and overwhelming pressure was suddenly released.

The air within a radius of ten feet seemed to freeze, and the special operations officers all took several steps back in unison, their faces filled with horror.

Zhong Zhengming stared intently at the aura of spiritual energy flowing around Lu Yao.

That's a "manifestation of spiritual light" that only powerful beings at the Integration Stage can possess!

"Fusion period...?"

Zhong Zhengming squeezed out these three words through gritted teeth.

"Impossible!" His voice trembled slightly. "The last time I saw you at the racetrack, you were clearly only..."

Lu Yao gently stroked the sword tassel, a half-smile on her face: "Peak of the Nascent Soul stage? Sorry, I can progress by leaps and bounds in a day."

Zhong Zhengming's face turned ashen.

"Now, does Director Zhong still think I'm exaggerating?" Lu Yao's lips curled up slightly. "But then again, it's true, for someone like you... who's stuck at the Nascent Soul stage, it's indeed hard to understand."

Zhong Zhengming felt a metallic sweetness rush to his throat.

In order to catch up with Lu Yao, he did not hesitate to use the Zhong family's treasured heirloom passed down for thousands of years to exchange for countless forbidden pills from the black market.

Those elixirs caused him to suffer the pain of his meridians being ruptured day and night, which was how he barely managed to break through from the Golden Core stage to the Nascent Soul stage.

Zhong Zhengming forced a dry laugh through his teeth: "Ha...it really is true that the new generation surpasses the old, and the new generation replaces the old."

As he said this, his facial muscles twitched uncontrollably, making his expression particularly ferocious.

Lu Yao watched him with great interest. "Director Zhong is too modest."

The moment their eyes met, a chilling glint seemed to flash in the air.

The two maintained polite smiles on their faces, but murderous intent surged in their eyes.

"Goodbye, Director Zhong."

Lu Yao nodded slightly.

Zhong Zhengming returned the greeting with refined manners, saying, "Miss Lu, please take care."

What appears to be a peaceful farewell is actually fraught with undercurrents.

As soon as Zhong Zhengming's convoy drove away, the smile on Lu Yao's face vanished instantly.

She stared at the faint golden talisman in her palm, the tracking talisman she had just planted on Zhong Zhengming.

The reason for not exposing him directly at this time is naturally to play the long game and catch a bigger fish.

"The Book of Earthly Fiends Reversing Heaven..."

She murmured softly. The five words rolled across her tongue, carrying with them the bloody memories of a thousand years ago.

This book of evil arts should have been sealed away in a forbidden area by the master, but now it has appeared in Zhong Zhengming's hands.

What exactly happened during those thousand years?

...

In the dead of winter that year, Lu Yao first assumed the position of Imperial Preceptor.

Undercurrents were swirling in the imperial court. Officials from the six ministries appeared respectful on the surface, but their eyes concealed contempt and suspicion.

Just as doubts began to rise, a palace examination changed the political landscape of the court.

The ninth day of the third lunar month is the day when one's name is inscribed on the golden list.

At the young age of 24, Yue Mingzhi won the championship and became the youngest top scholar in the dynasty.

At the Qionglin Banquet, he stood holding a cup, his moon-white brocade robe highlighting his handsome features. He spoke eloquently, quoting classical texts, which even impressed the Grand Tutor of the court.

On the day of the parade, Zhuque Avenue was teeming with people.

The sachets thrown by the girls fell like raindrops, and the silk handkerchiefs embroidered with their names fluttered in the air.

Yue Mingzhi, sitting upright on his horse, was nearly hit on the forehead by a gold-embroidered pouch, and could only smile bitterly and cover his face with his sleeve.

Such a grand occasion is unprecedented since the founding of this dynasty.