Two officials immediately stepped forward, playing the villain's game of striking first with complaints.
"Your Highness, we just witnessed Qin Ming assaulting the White Feather Guards…"
"Qin Ming beat six White Feather Guards unconscious. I asked him if he had any evidence to prove he was provoked first—he had none! That means he initiated the trouble!!"
Qin Ming followed after them and respectfully saluted the Princess.
He thought that since he caused trouble near the Flame Hall, and these idle civil officials saw it, the Princess was definitely going to scold him.
Qin Ming quickly tried to explain, "Your Highness, that Officer Wangshan kept provoking me…"
Unexpectedly, as soon as he spoke, the Princess waved her sleeve.
"No need to say more. Little Qin, come here."
Qin Ming walked over to the Princess and saluted again.
"You've just become an official today. Let me teach you a few rules for dealing with things."
"I'm all ears, Your Highness."
"Remember! If someone in this world doubts your actions, don't waste time proving anything—that's meaningless.
You need to crush their eyes and tell them: 'In your next life, keep your eyes open!'"
In the next breath, the Princess suddenly flicked her sleeve.
The falling snowflakes condensed into a short ice crystal sword.
Whoosh—slash—
The two officials in front had their eyes slashed open, blood gushing! Their eyeballs shattered!
They clutched their faces in agony, screaming in torment.
"Ahhh—my eyes! Aaahhh—!"
Qin Ming was stunned, eyes wide in shock.
Damn! This was the first time he felt the Princess was truly cool!
The Princess turned and walked toward the Flame Hall.
Qin Ming quickly followed behind.
The icy wind blew her robes and long black hair that draped over her shoulders—she was breathtakingly beautiful.
What puzzled Qin Ming was: the Princess hadn't even heard his explanation and still chose to believe him unconditionally.
She seemed… different than before.
…
The Flame Hall of the Empress was circular and rose a hundred feet tall.
At the very top, a massive red phoenix sculpted from firestones glowed brightly, casting radiant light that pierced the gloomy clouds.
Firestones also lined the walls around the hall.
In this world shrouded in darkness, people lived where there was fire and light.
So firestone decorations symbolized wealth and authority.
At the entrance of the Flame Hall stood a eunuch in green robes. His face was pale, eyes sharp like an eagle's, and his body was fat.
Qin Ming recognized him immediately—this was Wang Jin, the same eunuch who once oversaw the castration training of their group.
Why was he here instead of in the Office of Affairs?
Qin Ming grew uneasy.
He was afraid this man might recognize his fake identity as "Little Qin."
He wasn't sure if Wang Jin had seen his face during the castration process.
But back then, "Little Qin" had a huge scar on his face.
Hopefully, that would keep him from being recognized!
Wang Jin saw the Princess and shouted toward the hall: "Her Highness the Princess has arrived!"
As she walked past, Wang Jin looked at Qin Ming with a smile.
Qin Ming smiled back and nodded politely.
"Little Qin, back when I oversaw your procedure, you had a scar on your face and it was covered. Didn't expect you'd be so handsome after healing."
"Eunuch Wang, you're too kind. Congratulations on your promotion to the Directorate of Ceremonies!"
"And congrats to you, being appointed as an officer. What a bright future you have!"
Qin Ming gave another slight bow and quickly followed the Princess inside.
It seemed Wang Jin didn't recognize him.
Or maybe he did… and was just playing the long game.
But that seemed unlikely.
The moment he stepped into the Flame Hall, Qin Ming was blown away by its grandeur!
Back on Blue Star, he had visited the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City.
But compared to this? That was child's play.
This round hall had a diameter of over a hundred meters.
Eighteen golden columns carved with phoenixes stood in the center, adorned with glowing firestone lamps.
The sides were packed with civil and military officials.
Just sensing briefly, Qin Ming realized that these military officers were all at least at the Spirit-Linking level!
No wonder transmigrators had such a hard time surviving here.
As the Princess entered, all the officials bowed their heads slightly, not daring to look directly at her.
But then they noticed the handsome young man following behind her—Qin Ming.
Surprised murmurs arose.
"Who's that good-looking youth? Never seen him before."
"Word is, he's a eunuch. The Princess promoted him to officer."
"What? Since when can eunuchs hold office in the Dayan Empire?"
"Shhh—are you looking to die? If the Princess hears you, she'll smash your brains out on the spot!"
Qin Ming bowed slightly, keeping his composure.
He followed the Princess to the front-left of the hall.
The Princess sat on a white jade chair.
Qin Ming stood behind her.
He subtly observed the hall with the corner of his eye.
To his surprise, more than half of the officials were women—and many of them were military officers.
At that moment…
A tall, thin eunuch to the left shouted:
"His Majesty—the Empress—arrives!"
All officials and generals knelt immediately.
Only the Princess remained seated, face calm as ever.
Suddenly, Qin Ming felt several streaks of light fly past.
Looking up slightly—phoenixes!
Over a dozen of them, each about two feet long, with dazzling golden feathers.
Damn! They keep phoenixes as pets in this world?
Then, a wave of heat swept through the Flame Hall.
Qin Ming's skin felt hot, and it was as if fire ignited in his heart.
Many kneeling officials were sweating heavily, but none dared to raise their heads.
"You may rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Qin Ming looked up.
On the high throne sat the Empress.
Her body radiated intense fiery energy.
A golden-black dragon robe clung to her stunning figure.
Her breathtaking beauty rivaled that of her younger sister, the Princess.
But she carried a distinctly imperial aura.
The golden phoenixes fluttered down and landed around her throne.
Her domineering gaze scanned the hall—then settled on her sister, the Princess.
Then, her eyes locked onto Qin Ming.
[Warning: Danger level increased 200x! Luck point gain speed increased 200x during danger period!]
Holy crap! Just one look and the danger level spiked 200x? That's insane!
The Princess, seated on her jade chair, suddenly lifted her eyes—releasing a chilling aura of ice.
In an instant, the Empress's murderous intent was pushed back.
The pressure on Qin Ming vanished.
The Empress remained expressionless as she surveyed the hall.
"Two days ago, I ordered interrogation of the Elders of the Heavenly Dao Sect to locate the explosives hidden in Firestone City. Any progress?"
The hall was deathly silent.
Three breaths passed before a short general stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, we imprisoned them in the Abyss and interrogated them day and night, but still nothing."
The Empress Han Yueli's expression darkened. Even the firestone lamps trembled!
"Useless! Can't get information from three transmigrators? What use are you?"
She raised her right hand.
Whoosh!
A deep blue flame burst forth.
The entire hall heated up drastically.
The general trembled and fell to his knees.
"Spare me, Your Majesty! I will resume interrogation immediately—please spare me!"
Boom!
The deep blue flame struck the general.
His screams echoed as he was reduced to ashes.
The hall was silent.
The smell of burnt flesh filled the air.
Qin Ming was stunned.
This woman was totally insane! Even crazier than the Princess!
Her blue flames were terrifying.
The Empress Han Yueli coldly continued.
"Bring those three transmigrator Elders up here. I don't believe I can't get it out of them."
Within minutes, the three Heavenly Dao Elders were brought forward.
Greedy Daoist, Elder Ghost, and Curse Daoist.
Their hands were tied behind their backs, and large iron hooks pierced their shoulder blades.
Qin Ming grew nervous.
He hadn't expected to run into the Greedy Daoist here, of all places.
Talk about bad luck!