The scene was chaotic for a while.

The black smoke appeared formless yet was thick to the extreme. Upon closer inspection, it was composed of countless tiny, bizarre insects, their color not purely black but tinged with a sinister blood-red glow, even developing human-like facial features.

The Imperial Guards within the capital reacted immediately.

"Bold thieves!"

A brilliant blade light erupted from within the black mist, its aura overwhelming the sky. This strike was refined to perfection—cold and lethal.

The one who unleashed this blade was undoubtedly at the Fati Realm.

Yet, as the blade light surged into the black smoke, it merely illuminated it for a fleeting moment before rapidly dimming, vanishing entirely.

The countless insects not only remained unharmed but devoured the blade's energy, their malevolent aura soaring to the heavens!

"What kind of insects are these?"

Li Mo's first reaction mirrored Ying Bing's—their hands reached out simultaneously and clasped together.

"These are not living creatures but a manifestation of a 'Dao.'"

"What Dao?"

"The Dao of Devouring. The intruder must be Yuwen Cuojin, the deputy leader of the Summoning Demons Sect."

That scholar-like middle-aged man, who had broken into a cold sweat under Li Mo's gaze, was, after all, at the Zhangxuan Realm.

Yet the capital also had Zhangxuan Realm experts, and even the elusive Tongtian Realm masters undoubtedly existed. Moreover, this was the heart of the Great Yu Dynasty, safeguarded by the Divine Land Map.

How dare Yuwen Cuojin act so recklessly?

Li Mo frowned.

Standing close to the emperor, they had no immediate concerns for their safety.

The Summoning Demons Sect truly lacked discipline.

To launch such a large-scale operation without notifying him, the Heitu Immortal...

"Yuwen Cuojin?"

By now, the Zhangxuan Realm experts from various sects had already shielded their disciples. Meanwhile, several figures swiftly appeared around Emperor Jingtai—unassuming in appearance yet exuding profound auras, harmonizing with heaven and earth. Leading them was Qian Gong, whom Li Mo had met once before.

This confirmed that these individuals were all seventh-realm experts of the Great Yu Dynasty.

Qian Gong swept his gaze across the crowd and said calmly, "A mere Yuwen Cuojin is nothing but a paper tiger. He cannot stir up trouble in the imperial city. Lord Kun has already gone to deal with him."

"Our current concern is that he managed to infiltrate the imperial city—without inside help, it would have been impossible. The Summoning Demons Sect's goals remain unclear. Until we uncover them, we will remain by His Majesty's side without fail. We implore His Majesty to prioritize his safety."

Qian Gong spoke succinctly.

Their duty was to protect Emperor Jingtai. Dealing with the rabble was not their responsibility—others would handle it.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a voice suddenly shouted from the crowd:

"Steal the women!"

"The deputy leader’s already having fun in the emperor’s harem!"

"I’m gonna break into the Jiang family’s ancestral hall and feast on their offerings right in front of their ancestors’ tablets!"

The Summoning Demons Sect disciples, who had infiltrated the Flower Banquet alongside Young Master Song, had begun their assault.

Chaos erupted instantly.

The gathering included not only powerful experts from major sects but also younger cultivators of lower realms, even nobles and officials with no combat ability whatsoever.

While the demonic cultists cared little for these people’s lives, the others found it impossible to swiftly suppress the turmoil.

Clashing energies surged wildly, making it impossible to distinguish friend from foe.

No one even knew if any of the sect disciples present were secretly cultists. The Sky Patrol Guards were equally overwhelmed, struggling to regain control.

For example...

"Hehehe! The mermaid princess, right? You’re ours now, enslaved by the Hundred Beasts Hall!"

"Waaah! Stay away from me!"

"With you in our grasp, I’ll punch you every day, make you cry for four hours straight! Three meals a day plus one snack, weekends off, and breaks only at noon and night! Tremble in fear! Hehehe... cough!"

"Waaah... Huh?"

Lan Tian, sobbing, scattered pearls everywhere but paused mid-cry upon hearing the threat.

That... didn’t sound so bad? In fact, it sounded almost generous compared to the terms offered by the merchants in the capital.

Still, seeing the ferocious looks on her captors’ faces, she decided to keep crying—it’d be rude not to.

But soon, she wouldn’t need to humor them anymore.

Because the cultist who had been cackling maniacally suddenly found his laughter growing increasingly hysterical—and desperate. He couldn’t stop.

And he wasn’t alone. His fellow kidnappers began exhibiting bizarre symptoms.

Some began hallucinating, attacking their own allies. Others foamed at the mouth, their bodies turning black. One even flushed red, gazing lustfully at his companion as he undid his belt...

"What’s happening...?"

"Cover your mouth and nose."

Huang Donglai leaped out from the shadows, tossing her a medicinal-soaked cloth.

"This will save you."

"Thank you! So this cloth—"

Huang Donglai, wary, had no intention of explaining further. Seeing her don the mask, he turned to leave.

Just then, several Sky Patrol Guards descended:

"Well, well! Openly poisoning people—clearly a demonic cultist! Seize him!"

"Wait! You’ve got it wrong! Look!"

Huang Donglai pointed at the cultists.

The guards frowned, following his gesture. The laughing man was already dead. The blackened one had mushrooms sprouting from his body. And the beltless man was now pinning another man to the ground...

"And you claim you’re not one of them?!"

"????"

"Hey, he’s actually a good guy, fr fr... Huh?"

Lan Tian tried to defend Huang Donglai, but her tongue suddenly swelled. She pulled out a mirror—her delicate features had ballooned into a pig’s face.

"AAAAAHHH!!" Lan Tian shrieked.

Demonic cultists tried to kidnap pretty girls? ✔

Lan Tian got hit with the "Ugly-Face Powder"? ✔

Lan Tian was now safe? ✔

Huang Donglai saw no issue here. The Sky Patrol Guards, however, disagreed.

To be fair, Huang Donglai’s situation wasn’t the worst. As a prodigy on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, he could clear his name.

Everyone knew the "Venomous Two-Faced Turtle" was as reputable as the "Wife-Blessing Tyrant."

The real headache—and Li Mo’s greatest concern—was someone else entirely.

"Dare to kidnap me? You’ve got a death wish."

Shang Wu, swaying drunkenly, had just reduced a fourth-realm cultivator’s head to ashes with a single punch.

Noticing the Sky Patrol Guards eyeing her warily, she clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"Oi, the hell are you lot staring at?"

As everyone knew—

Some fought for self-preservation. Others took advantage of the chaos. A few had ulterior motives.

Shang Wu was different.

The Qingyuan Sect’s "Fighting Maniac" punched whoever pissed her off.