An entry-level expert in the Great Duan Empire’s army could already take charge of a unit, even serve as an assistant general.
The current Empress, with her extraordinary talent, had taken over ten years to reach the level of a third-rate grandmaster.
But Lin Ming had reached entry-level expert in less than a day—just one rank below the Empress.
“Looks like this martial root really is something. I learn everything fast!” Lin Ming’s eyes gleamed.
If others knew about his cultivation speed, all those so-called geniuses of the Great Duan Empire would probably cry themselves unconscious in an outhouse.
What’s a genius? Someone who can crush ordinary people is a genius.
But someone who crushes geniuses? That’s a monster.
Lin Ming remembered the system had also rewarded him with an ancient forbidden technique (random), and he quickly opened the system panel.
[Ancient Forbidden Technique: A secret art from ancient times, extremely powerful, and scales with the user’s cultivation.]
[However, it possesses evil attributes, is inhumane, and extremely anti-human!]
[Some forbidden techniques involve Gu poison, voodoo, summoning drought spirits, etc. These acts go against the natural order and human ethics. Historically, most users of forbidden techniques have died young and met tragic ends.]
Lin Ming’s eyelid twitched violently.
This was way too…
Perfect for him!
He wanted something dark. The more cruel and ruthless, the better!
This was ancient times—a feudal empire—an eat-or-be-eaten world of darkness.
The human heart was the greatest abyss!
To fight a dragon, one had to become a dragon!
[Would the host like to draw a technique?]
“Draw!” he said without hesitation.
[Ding! Host’s luck is too good!]
[Successfully drawn: Corpse Refining Technique!]
[Corpse Refining Technique: Extremely dark! Converts corpses into humanoid combat weapons—zombies. They retain their combat strength from life and can even evolve into corpse kings!]
[Possible consequences: If host’s control is insufficient, the zombie may go berserk and attack its master!]
[During the refining process, if the host is infected by corpse poison, they will also become a zombie!]
The more powerful a forbidden technique was, the stronger its backlash. The Corpse Refining Technique was no exception. That alone proved how terrifying it was!
Lin Ming shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I’ve got System Dad backing me. Side effects? I can ignore them.”
Still, he did want to test the power of this technique.
But he couldn’t just grab any random corpse… the opponent had to be strong, but not too strong—within his ability to handle.
Hmm… finding a corpse was already shady business, and he had to do it secretly…
“Duke Commander Lin Ming! Invitation from Wanhua Tower—receive it!”
Suddenly, a loud voice rang out from outside, mixed with hoofbeats and neighing horses!
“Tonight, the young masters of the Six Great Noble Houses will hold a lyric-and-song gathering at Wanhua Tower, inviting literary talents, noble heirs, and local elites!”
Lin Ming opened the door with a curious look. “What now? Lyric-and-song gathering? And they’re calling me by name?”
Before him stood a servant in plain clothes who dismounted and respectfully offered an invitation.
“Please receive this, Duke Commander!”
Luo Feng stepped forward and took the invitation before Lin Ming could, squinting at it with a serious expression. “The Lin family accepts.”
But the servant didn’t back off. “Will Duke Commander personally attend? Though it’s a gathering of noble young masters, the Duke is just over twenty and one of the Lin family’s most prominent youths. Logically, you should represent your family.”
“Please, sirs, give me a clear answer. I need to report back.”
Luo Feng tossed him a piece of silver. “Whether he’ll attend or not is up to the Duke. Just take that as the answer. The rest isn’t your concern.”
The servant beamed. That piece of silver was worth half a month’s wages! He quickly bowed. “Yes, I won’t say another word!”
“But… this gathering seems to be targeting the Duke specifically. The young masters of the other five noble houses all named him directly!” he reminded them before leaving.
Lin Ming frowned and asked, “Luo Feng, what’s this lyric-and-song gathering?”
“My lord, though this Empire was founded on military might, the court has embraced civil governance in recent years, and culture has flourished. Unlike the northern nations that prefer poetry and prose, our people love lyrics and melodies,” Luo Feng explained.
“Poetry and prose can only be recited, but lyrics and melodies can be sung. For example, ‘Butterfly Love Flower’ or ‘Bodhisattva Barbarian’—these popular tune titles are sung throughout Chang’an’s brothels. Each generation’s courtesan queen performs them personally, spreading them far and wide.”
“Throughout history, scholars have aspired for their lyrics to be sung for generations. It’s said that if a lyric becomes famous enough, its writer could skip the imperial exam and be recruited directly!”
Lin Ming only half-understood.
So basically, lyrics and melodies were just ancient versions of ‘songs’? Just more poetic and rhymed.
“But wait! Of all people, why me?”
He suddenly realized something was off.
Everyone in Chang’an knew the new Duke Commander was a notorious playboy.
At an elegant cultural gathering of refined scholars… they had called out his name specifically?
Luo Feng stammered, “T-That… this lowly one isn’t sure…”
“No, you do know. You’re just too scared to say it. These people are targeting me, aren’t they? Trying to see me make a fool of myself?”
Lin Ming sneered coldly.
So, he hadn’t gone looking for trouble, yet others had come knocking.
Looks like the Six Noble Houses weren’t as united as they appeared. Everyone was watching to see what kind of fool the new Duke Commander would make of himself.
If he didn’t respond, he’d solidify his reputation as a useless dandy!
“Son! You absolutely must not go!” Lady Lin arrived in a panic the moment she heard the news.
“There are plenty of Lin family bastards close to your age. Let one of them go in your place! You must not attend!”
“But mother,” Lin Ming said, “they’re openly challenging me. If I don’t go, won’t they look down on me?”
Lady Lin sighed gloomily, “If you do go, it’ll be even more embarrassing.”
“When you were fifteen, at the late emperor’s birthday banquet—the grandest feast in the Empire—your father brought you along. When it came time for entertainment, the other five noble houses showcased martial arts, recited poems, played instruments, painted, or at least told jokes.”
“But you? You wrote an essay.”
“An essay titled: ‘My Duke Commander Father.'”
“It went: ‘In the morning, my father gets up early and enters the palace. But he doesn’t go to see the Emperor Uncle. He always visits the Emperor Uncle’s favorite consort. They make a lot of noise and get really sweaty.'” Follow the newest chapters on NovelPing.
“‘I got mad and asked Father why he played with the Emperor’s consort without taking me. Father and Consort Sister coughed awkwardly, then told me they were playing poker. But isn’t poker played on a table? Why do they play it on the bed?'”
“The moment you finished, the whole room was stunned. The late Emperor nearly fainted. If your father hadn’t smacked you and dragged you away, who knows what would’ve happened.”
“Since that day, you’ve been banned from all reading-related events!”
Lin Ming’s jaw shattered. So did his worldview. “I actually wrote that?”
So the original owner of this body was such a chaos-bringer!
That was art! At least three or four stories tall!
“No doubt about it. I still have your handwritten draft. Want me to get it?” Lady Lin said firmly, clearly convinced her son was completely unfit for scholarly activities.
“Ahem! No need, no need, Mother! I won’t go! I’m not going!” Lin Ming quickly waved her off and escaped.
But the moment he closed the door, he lit a special stick of incense.
Moments later, a graceful figure appeared in the room at the Duke Commander residence.
“Unseen One Shangguan Xue, greets Commander!”
The young woman knelt on one knee and reported, “Commander, after receiving your 200,000 silver taels, the Unseen Ones’ 100,000 deathsworn and Thirty-Six Heavenly Fiends are back in action—awaiting your command!”
“Unseen Ones are the number one Jianghu organization. Investigate the recent movements of the other five noble houses for me!” Lin Ming ordered.
This incense was the internal signal of the Unseen Ones. Once lit, anyone nearby had to drop everything and rush over.
“Yes!”
Less than an hour later, the intel arrived.
“Among the five noble heirs, the most outstanding—Young Master Wan Canglong—entered the palace yesterday and personally met with the Empress.”
“Though the specifics are unknown, he contacted the other four families after leaving and initiated the Wanhua Tower lyric-and-song gathering, then publicly sent an invitation to the Lin family.”
Shangguan Xue spoke clearly.
Lin Ming frowned. “I knew it wouldn’t be that simple. That woman Ye Qinghuan is scheming again!”
So the Empress was pulling the strings from behind the scenes!
And the goal? Obvious—humiliate him publicly, giving her a reason to annul the engagement.
“Heh. That childhood engagement is my trump card. You think I’ll just let you break it?”
If it were just a regular event, he wouldn’t care. But now that the Empress was involved, he couldn’t just let it slide.
After all, Ye Qinghuan was his moneybag! He couldn’t miss a single chance to fleece her.
If soldiers come, send generals. If water comes, build a dam. He changed his mind—he would attend!
After giving the order, Lin Ming nodded in approval. “As expected from the top Jianghu organization. Even palace secrets at that level couldn’t escape your ears.”
Shangguan Xue said proudly, “The Unseen Ones are spread across the Empire. Even within the palace, we have agents. As long as you desire it, there’s nothing we can’t obtain!”
“Excellent!”
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave,” Shangguan Xue said, bowing.
But Lin Ming stopped her, “Wait.”
“Commander, is there another mission?” Shangguan Xue turned, puzzled.
“Mm.” Lin Ming nodded. “Let me see your legs.”