This system is quite powerful.

Weiyang Palace was brightly lit.

Dozens of imperial physicians knelt on the ground, trembling with fear. On the imperial bed, Wang Hao's face was pale, his eyes tightly shut, and a hot towel rested on his forehead.

Wei Zhongxian stood guard by the bed like a door god, his cold eyes staring at the physicians. It seemed that if anyone dared to say "His Majesty is not going to make it," he would immediately send them to meet the late emperor.

Actually, Wang Hao had been awake for a while.

He had been awakened by the incessant ringing of system notifications in his mind. But he didn't dare to open his eyes, afraid that seeing the large faces of those five "great villains" would cause him to mentally collapse again.

Thus, he chose to continue pretending to be unconscious, checking the so-called "Strongest Emperor Intelligence Sign-in System" in his consciousness.

Host: Wang Hao

Identity: Emperor of the Great Zhou Empire

Cultivation: Muscle Forging Realm, Seventh Layer

Aptitude: Earth Rank, Middle Grade

Cultivation Method: Imperial Extreme World-Shocking Canon (Saint Rank, Lower Grade)

Martial Skill: None

Fortune: Extremely Unlucky

Currently Owned Intelligence: 0

Novice Gift Pack has been issued. Do you wish to open it?

Looking at that glaring "Fortune," Wang Hao felt a pang of pain in his heart. Extremely Unlucky? That was way too realistic!

Open it! Open it right now! Wang Hao roared in his mind.

Ding! Novice Gift Pack successfully opened!

Reward One obtained: One Marrow Cleansing Pill (Saint Rank, Upper Grade). Can cleanse the muscles and marrow, temper the bones, eliminate impurities in the body, and improve martial arts aptitude, with no side effects.

Reward Two obtained: Divine Rank, Middle Grade Martial Skill, Heaven-Imprisoning Earth-Overturning Palm. A Divine Rank palm technique; one palm can imprison the heavens, one palm can overturn the earth.

Reward Three obtained: Special item "Scapegoat Straw Man," ranked 498th among bizarre artifacts. When encountering a fatal attack, it can automatically trigger and take the death in your place once. Cooldown time is one month. Side effect: Using it once consumes twenty years of lifespan, with the exception of Wang Hao.

Reward Four obtained: A reward of one hundred million taels of silver. How can an emperor be without money?

Reward Five obtained: Divine-level secret technique, Son of Heaven's Qi-Observing Technique. A built-in system technique that allows the observation of others' fortune and loyalty. It is a divine technique for emperors to rule over their subjects and seek good fortune while avoiding disaster.

Having just experienced a life-and-death battle royale, Wang Hao was so moved by these generous rewards that he almost shed tears.

Although the system had a sharp tongue and called him a weakling, the things it gave were truly substantial!

The Marrow Cleansing Pill would directly elevate his martial arts aptitude. This was what he needed most urgently right now. After all, being hacked at by the Child of Fortune had left him traumatized. Only by becoming strong himself could he feel a sense of security.

The Heaven-Imprisoning Earth-Overturning Palm, where one palm could imprison the heavens and overturn the earth, was a Divine Rank palm technique—simply too overbearing.

The Son of Heaven's Qi-Observing Technique could see loyalty? This was practically a divine skill! With this, he would know who was a treacherous official, who was loyal, and who wanted to harm him.

As for the Scapegoat Straw Man, that was an extra life! With this, the next time he encountered that Ye Chen, he wouldn't have to run around pillars to survive.

One hundred million taels of silver—the system was clearly afraid that he, the emperor, would suffer hardships. This system really felt like family.

System, what is the use of this daily intelligence? Wang Hao asked.

Answering the host: Daily intelligence includes but is not limited to: the dark secrets of officials, the deployments of enemy nations, the locations of peerless treasures, the preferences of beauties, the weaknesses of the Child of Fortune, etc.

Wang Hao's eyes lit up.

The weaknesses of the Child of Fortune?

This was great!

As long as he grasped the intelligence, he could foresee the future and lay out traps to kill that Ye Chen! Even if he was the protagonist, as long as the pit dug was deep enough, he could still fall to his death!

Extract the Marrow Cleansing Pill, extract the Heaven-Imprisoning Earth-Overturning Palm and the Son of Heaven's Qi-Observing Technique!

With a thought from Wang Hao.

A warm current instantly surged into his limbs and bones. His muscles, which had been sore from excessive fright and running, now felt as comfortable as if he were soaking in a hot spring. He felt the bones in his body making faint crackling sounds, becoming harder and denser. Some parts of the Imperial Extreme World-Shocking Canon that he couldn't understand before suddenly became clear. This was the benefit of improving his martial arts aptitude.

The impurities in his body were expelled through his pores, but because he was wearing inner garments, outsiders couldn't tell. They only thought His Majesty had broken out in a layer of foul-smelling sweat.

At the same time, a massive stream of information flooded his mind. It was the cultivation methods for the Heaven-Imprisoning Earth-Overturning Palm and the Son of Heaven's Qi-Observing Technique, instantly mastered as if they had been innately carved into his soul. Unfortunately, because his cultivation level was too low, he could only use the first two stances of the nine-stance Heaven-Imprisoning Earth-Overturning Palm.

A moment later.

Wang Hao felt completely renewed.

Although on the surface he still looked like that young emperor, he could feel that his previously superficial realm had been solidified, and his strength had increased by at least five times! This was the benefit of a solid martial foundation! Only now could he be considered a martial arts genius.

Although there was still a significant gap between him and that freak Ye Chen, who could kill opponents above his realm at just the fourth layer, he now had hope of catching up.

He slowly opened his eyes.

His Majesty is awake! His Majesty is awake!

Wei Zhongxian, who had been staring at him all along, was overjoyed and hurriedly leaned in. Your Majesty, how do you feel? Is there anywhere you feel uncomfortable?

Looking at the enlarged face right in front of him, Wang Hao instinctively activated the newly learned Son of Heaven's Qi-Observing Technique.

Buzz!

Above Wei Zhongxian's head, two lines of text appeared that only Wang Hao could see.

Name: Wei Zhongxian

Identity: Acupoint Opening Realm, Sixth Layer

Fortune: Gray tinged with red

Loyalty: 98 (Extremely loyal)

Wang Hao's pupils shrank slightly.

A loyalty of 98?

That was higher than he imagined! Just two more points and it would be absolute devotion.

Wang Hao's gaze then swept over Cao Zhengchun and the others kneeling behind.

Cao Zhengchun: Loyalty 96

Yu Huatian: Loyalty 93

Cao Shaoqin: Loyalty 91

Hai Dafu: Loyalty ??? (This person is hiding extremely deeply and has a special cultivation method to block the Qi-Observing Technique. It is advised that the host be careful).

Wang Hao was startled.

Hai Dafu!

He actually couldn't see through this fat eunuch?

He looked at Hai Dafu in the corner, who was squinting with a simple and honest smile on his face, and alarm bells rang in his heart. It seemed that among these five eunuchs, this fat one hid the deepest secrets?

Sensing Wang Hao's gaze, Hai Dafu revealed an even brighter smile and quickly flattered, Your Majesty? Your Majesty, why are you looking at this old servant like that?

Wang Hao withdrew his gaze and waved his hand. I am fine, I just had a nightmare.

He struggled to sit up, and Wei Zhongxian hurriedly supported him, placing a soft pillow behind his back.

Pass on my decree.

Although Wang Hao's voice was still a bit weak, his tone had become exceptionally firm.

Since he had taken on the villain's script, he couldn't just sit and wait for death.

Wei Zhongxian, immediately draft a decree to announce to the world, offering a reward for the capture of the assassin Ye Chen! The bounty... five hundred thousand taels! And a title of Count! Even those who provide clues will be rewarded with a hundred taels!

Yu Huatian, immediately take over all the forces of the Eastern Depot and investigate Ye Chen's background for me! I want to know all eighteen generations of his ancestors, even how many times he wet the bed as a child!

Cao Huachun, go take over the troops of the Imperial Horse Directorate. For assassins to sneak into the palace, there must be an inside job. There are traitors in the palace who bite the hand that feeds them, and it is time for a cleanup. Remember, I would rather you kill by mistake than let a single one slip away!

Cao Shaoqin, go reinforce the palace guards. Thoroughly inspect that damned Saint-level grand array for me and find out exactly how it failed. Investigate this strictly and punish severely!

Hai Dafu...

Wang Hao paused and looked at the fat man. Go get me something good to eat. I am hungry. Also, scatter your secret agents out there. I want to hear what interesting things are happening in the capital.

Hearing this, the spirits of the five great eunuchs lifted.

Has His Majesty become a completely different person after waking up from the assassination attempt? This ruthlessness, this decisive and sweeping style, it truly carries the demeanor of the founding emperor back in the day!

Especially that phrase rather kill by mistake than let a single one slip away—it suited their tastes perfectly!

We obey Your Majesty's decree!

The five answered in unison, their eyes flashing with excitement.

His Majesty has finally stood up! As long as His Majesty is willing to stir things up, they, as servants, would have plenty of opportunities to seize power and rake in wealth!

Watching the retreating backs of the five men, the ruthlessness on Wang Hao's face vanished instantly, replaced by deep worry.

He touched the bizarre artifact, the Scapegoat Strawman, on his chest and muttered to himself:

Ye Chen, oh Ye Chen, you had better hide far away. The current me is no longer that weakling who only knows how to cry out for the guards to save him.

So what if I am the villain? As long as I am ruthless and cunning enough, even a villain can defy the heavens and change his fate!

System, update today's intelligence!

Today's Intelligence Update: The Child of Destiny, Ye Chen, is currently hiding in the cellar of the Jishi Hall clinic in the slums of the capital's southern district.

Additional Intelligence: He accidentally discovered a Heaven-tier supreme cultivation technique, the Nine Suns Art, left behind by a senior expert in the cellar. He is currently in secluded cultivation, healing his injuries and attempting to break through.

Wang Hao: ...

Is this the protagonist's treatment?

He can pick up a divine technique just by randomly ducking into a cellar?

That is a slum! Where did a senior expert come from? And why is there a cellar?

Wang Hao gritted his teeth in anger, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

Want to break through? Want to achieve great mastery of a divine technique? Have you asked for my permission?! I absolutely will not let him have his way!

Wei Zhongxian! Get your ass back here!