The emergence of the Evil Emperor's treasure was truly a great weapon, enough to drive these evil sect demons crazy.
Blinded by greed, even the most sensible evil sect demons would be unable to resist joining the fray.
Once caught in this vortex, escape would be impossible.
A battle to the death.
By then, there would be no need for me to kill much; they would kill each other, inevitably leading to a bloodbath and corpses everywhere.
Meng Canglan furrowed her brow slightly and sighed softly, "I wonder how many innocent people will be caught up in this."
Meng Canglan nodded gently, "Your Highness has a benevolent heart."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "I have a benevolent heart, but not much—who exactly did this, daring to harm Tenth Uncle?"
Meng Canglan's expression turned solemn, and she slowly said, "The Thousand Spirits Sect of Southern Border."
"Thousand Spirits Sect—" Chu Zhiyuan pondered, slowly shaking his head, "Never heard of it."
"Although the Southern Border is located in a wild and desolate land, sparsely populated, it still has its own traditions."
"Is this Thousand Spirits Sect a large sect in the Southern Border?"
"The sects in the Southern Border are not very large, often only a few people, more similar to our ancient inheritance methods, taking the path of few but elite."
"Mm." Chu Zhiyuan nodded.
"This Thousand Spirits Sect is also a sect with a long history; the number of people should not exceed ten."
"Are there disciples traveling outside?"
"Almost no disciples travel outside."
"Then why attack Tenth Uncle?"
"Sometimes, without getting close, they can cast secret arts to curse."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "With only the birthdate, they can cast spells from afar, directly performing the curse?"
"Only the birthdate is not enough; they also need hair and blood essence to lock onto the target. Of course, the greater the distance, the greater the consumption, and the more cultivation is required."
"Birthdate?" Chu Zhiyuan's expression turned solemn.
Meng Canglan said softly, "A prince's birthdate is not so easy to obtain, especially for outsiders."
Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.
If it were the birthdate of an ordinary person, it would indeed be easy to obtain.
The birthdates of princes and dukes are directly recorded in the Imperial Clan Court's jade register and are never divulged.
There are not many in this world who know the birthdate of a prince.
First, the midwife who delivered the baby; second, the palace maids and eunuchs who served nearby at the time; third, the Grand Clan Elder; and fourth, the Emperor.
These people are almost all in the royal palace or the imperial palace, and it is not easy to obtain the Prince of Ying's birthdate from them.
Not to mention the imperial physicians, who are almost always under protection and cannot be forced to reveal this.
The Grand Clan Elder and the Emperor are even less likely.
The only possibility is that among the palace maids and eunuchs who served at the time, some followed the Prince of Ying when he established his own household.
These people may have leaked the Prince of Ying's birthdate.
Thinking of this, Chu Zhiyuan's expression became even more unsightly.
Meng Canglan sighed, "Moreover, the Prince of Ying's hair is not something that ordinary people can obtain."
Once reaching the Grandmaster Completion stage, very little hair falls out, making it difficult to find outside.
Only those close to him have the opportunity to obtain it.
Chu Zhiyuan said solemnly, "Besides the birthdate and hair, are there any other methods to cast that curse technique?"
Meng Canglan said, "Even if the curse method is practiced to the extreme, it cannot be cast without a birthdate. Hair can be omitted."
"Birthdate—" Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.
This is almost impossible to investigate clearly.
Many people here do not realize its importance and inadvertently reveal it.
They may even forget that they ever revealed it.
Even myself, I didn't know about this Thousand Spirits Sect or this curse technique before.
Meng Canglan said, "The power of this Thousand Spirits Sect lies in this."
Chu Zhiyuan said indifferently, "They should know that they are harming a prince, right?"
"Not necessarily." Meng Canglan shook her head, "If someone pays a high enough price, as long as they provide the birthdate and hair, the Thousand Spirits Sect disciples will cast the spell."
Chu Zhiyuan revealed a cold smile.
"Of course, casting this spell also comes at a price, and the price is not low; it should be lifespan."
"Thousand Spirits Sect..."
"Your Highness, don't think about finding the Thousand Spirits Sect; it is located in the vast wilderness of the Southern Border, and many places are uninhabited."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Many evil sects are hiding there."
"Yes." Meng Canglan nodded gently.
That place is not suitable for human habitation, and ordinary people cannot enter it.
But it is suitable for evil sects to establish their headquarters. The Town Guard Division and experts from all over Great Jing can hardly enter the Southern Border.
"How can this curse technique be broken?"
"It is also a secret technique, called the Minor Heaven Shift, which can shift the target of this technique." Meng Canglan said, "I shifted the harm that the Prince was suffering to a pig, allowing the pig to die in place of the Prince."
Chu Zhiyuan sighed, "This secret method is powerful."
Meng Canglan said apologetically, "It is a secret transmission within the sect and cannot be taught to outsiders."
Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand, "I don't need to learn this. If this trouble really comes my way, I'll just ask you for help."
Meng Canglan nodded with a smile, "However, Your Highness will not encounter this trouble; this technique is ineffective against Grandmasters."
"Grandmaster—So, the mastermind behind this cannot be determined and has escaped scot-free?"
"It's hard to find out." Meng Canglan said, "However, regardless of the culprit or the person who cast the secret technique, both paid a great price."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "This method of harming people is hard to guard against."
This is a prince, and he still couldn't guard against this technique, let alone ordinary people.
"The curse technique kills slowly, and the price paid is also high; ordinary experts are not worth such a cost."
"This Thousand Spirits Sect, casting such a secret technique, is not a proper path—are there many such strange techniques in the Southern Border?"
"There are quite a few." Meng Canglan nodded, "They take a different path from martial arts cultivation."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Can the imperial court not bring them under control?"
Meng Canglan shook her head, "It is difficult for outsiders to enter the Southern Border and adapt to the harsh environment. The imperial court will not expend such great effort."
In the eyes of the imperial court, it is completely unnecessary.
Chu Zhiyuan looked in the direction of the Southern Border, "Are there any maps of the Southern Border?"
"Does Your Highness want to enter the Southern Border?"
"I'm afraid I'll have to make a trip there eventually."
"The Southern Border is too large, and the maps obtained by the sect are incomplete."
"It doesn't matter." Chu Zhiyuan said, "It's better to have something than nothing."
"I'll send it over tomorrow." Meng Canglan said, "The sect disciples also sent over several statues of the evil sect."
As the two were talking, Chu Zhiyuan turned his head to look south.
Meng Canglan followed his gaze in confusion but found nothing.
She continued, "I'll send them over together tomorrow."
"Thank you." Chu Zhiyuan nodded.
Meng Canglan noticed four middle-aged men floating over, with strange smiles on their faces.
Meng Canglan, dressed in white like snow, with her beautiful appearance, was indeed captivating standing in the woods.
They were directly hooked by her spirit, only glancing at Chu Zhiyuan before passing him over.
Two Grandmasters were already hidden in the shadows.
It looked like a man and a woman were having a secret rendezvous here, and Chu Zhiyuan looked like he had no cultivation.
Meng Canglan frowned slightly in disgust, her bright eyes turning cold.
They floated down from the treetops and were about to step forward, but their movements suddenly stopped.
The light in their eyes quickly dimmed, their shocked expressions frozen on their faces, and then they slowly fell to the ground.
