Meanwhile, as the dramatic confrontation between the Zhu sisters unfolded, Song Qing had already slipped into the shadows of the Imperial Palace. He had instructed the three Titled Douluo who had accompanied him inside the city to remain outside. Their immense power, while a deterrent, would make subtle infiltration nearly impossible. Song Qing's own ability to conceal his aura was far superior.
'Time to see what secrets this palace holds,' he thought, his senses already scanning the surroundings.
Infiltrating the outer perimeter of the Imperial Palace was surprisingly easy for someone of Song Qing's caliber. His ability to perfectly conceal his aura, honed over countless missions and encounters, rendered him virtually invisible to the ordinary guards. He moved like a phantom, his senses mapping out the positions of the patrolling soldiers, effortlessly slipping through the gaps in their formations.
The inner sections of the palace were more heavily guarded, with stronger soul masters among the ranks. However, Song Qing had anticipated this. Before entering the palace, he had carefully observed the officials who had attended the duel. Focusing his Primordial Life Tree Spirit, he initiated its transformation ability, his appearance shifting seamlessly until he perfectly resembled one of the mid-ranking officials he had seen earlier. He even subtly altered the aura of his soul rings to match someone of that official's presumed level.
'Perfect camouflage,' he thought, admiring his reflection in a polished surface.
This particular official, Song Qing recalled, had moved through the palace with a certain familiarity, nodding to guards and occasionally engaging in brief, respectful greetings. He clearly had regular access to the inner sanctum.
And indeed, as Song Qing, now disguised as the official, moved deeper into the palace, he wasn't stopped or questioned by anyone. Guards simply nodded in recognition, assuming he was about his usual business.
'So far, so good,' he mused, his steps taking him towards a cluster of administrative offices he had noted earlier.
He needed information, and the quickest way to obtain it was through the memories of those who might possess it. He located a secluded office, ensuring no one was around before subtly entering. The official whose form he had taken was likely still watching the aftermath of the duel, providing Song Qing with ample time.
Inside the office, a middle-aged man in official robes sat slumped over his desk, apparently asleep. Song Qing approached him silently and activated the Soul Reading ability of his Dark Soul Emperor's Crown. A faint purple light emanated from his forehead as he delved into the man's memories, searching for any mention of the Clear Sky Clan or Tang Hao.
'Anything… anything at all…' he thought, sifting through the man's daily routines, official correspondences, and personal thoughts.
Unfortunately, the official's memories yielded nothing of value regarding Song Qing's target. There was no mention of the Clear Sky Clan, no secret meetings, no clandestine communications with Tang Hao or Tang Yuehua.
'A dead end,' Song Qing sighed internally. He gently placed the unconscious official in a hidden compartment behind a bookshelf, ensuring he wouldn't be discovered too soon.
He repeated this process in several other offices, targeting officials of varying ranks, each time utilizing his Soul Reading ability in the hopes of uncovering some clue. He moved with speed and efficiency, leaving a trail of temporarily incapacitated officials in hidden locations throughout the administrative wing of the palace.
In fact, Song Qing even ventured towards the Crown Prince Dai Weisi's personal chambers. He found the prince still unconscious, likely due to the lingering effects of Zhu Zhuqing's powerful attack. Song Qing didn't hesitate to read his memories as well, hoping that the future Emperor might be privy to some sensitive information.
However, even Dai Weisi's memories were surprisingly devoid of any details regarding the Imperial Family's involvement with the Clear Sky Clan. His thoughts were mostly consumed by his own ambition, his rivalry with his younger brother, and his frustration at his recent defeat.
'It seems this information is only known to the highest echelons,' Song Qing concluded, a frown creasing his brow. 'The Emperor, the Empress, perhaps a few trusted advisors…'
He knew that directly attempting to read the souls of individuals with soul power significantly higher than his own was a risky endeavor, and likely to fail. The Emperor Dai Xing, a level 89 Soul Douluo, and the Empress would undoubtedly possess formidable mental defenses. Any attempt could backfire, alerting them to his presence and potentially trapping him within the palace.
'A direct confrontation right now would be foolish,' he thought, deciding against such a reckless move.
But still, Song Qing was confident that his actions within the palace wouldn't go unnoticed for long. The sudden and unexplained unconsciousness of several officials would surely raise alarm. And considering the events of the day, with the Spirit Hall's Holy Son making a rather forceful appearance, the Emperor would likely draw his own conclusions about the cause.
'Let him suspect,' Song Qing thought with a hint of a smirk. 'Let him stew in his paranoia. Perhaps that will even lead him to make a mistake.' He had planted the seeds of suspicion.
Now, he would have to wait and see what would grow. His infiltration had yielded no immediate answers, but it had served its purpose in sowing discord and gathering a small amount of intel about the palace layout and the routines of its inhabitants.
~~
With his disguise as the mid-ranking official no longer necessary and potentially risky if the real official were to reappear, Song Qing subtly shifted his transformation once more. In the blink of an eye, he now appeared as a nondescript palace servant, his clothes simple and his demeanor unassuming.
'Time to deliver some news,' he thought, a mischievous glint in his disguised eyes.
He made his way directly towards the Imperial Hall, knowing that the Emperor would likely be there, dealing with the aftermath of the duel and the unexpected departure. He approached one of the guards stationed outside the hall, bowing respectfully.
"Your Majesty's humble servant has urgent news," Song Qing said in a deferential tone, his voice carefully modulated to sound like a typical palace servant. "Several officials have been found unconscious in their offices, Your Majesty."
The guard, recognizing the urgency in his voice, immediately relayed the message inside. It wasn't long before Song Qing was ushered into the Imperial Hall, where Emperor Dai Xing sat on his throne, his expression still thunderous from the earlier events.
"What is this?" the Emperor demanded, his gaze sharp as he looked at the nervous servant standing before him. "Unconscious officials? What happened?"
Song Qing bowed his head low. "This humble servant does not know the details, Your Majesty. I was simply informed by other servants who discovered them. They seem to have been… suddenly overcome, Your Majesty."
Emperor Dai Xing's brow furrowed deeply. "Unconscious… suddenly? This is troubling." He stroked his chin, his mind racing. 'A spy… someone must have sneaked into the palace. But who?' He considered the possibilities. 'Could it be the Heaven Dou Empire? They have been increasingly bold lately. Or… could it be the Spirit Hall? After that… that insolent display earlier…' He glanced at the servant before him, his gaze scrutinizing, but Song Qing's disguise was flawless. He saw only a nervous, low-ranking servant.
"Very well," the Emperor said, dismissing Song Qing with a wave of his hand. "Inform the head of the palace guard. I will deal with this."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Song Qing replied, bowing once more before backing out of the Imperial Hall.
'He suspects something,' Song Qing thought, a satisfied smirk hidden beneath his servant guise. 'Now, let's see where his suspicions lead him.'
As Song Qing made his exit, he subtly observed the Emperor. True to his expectations, the Emperor, after issuing a few more orders to his remaining officials, rose from his throne and made his way towards a side exit, heading in the direction of his private chambers.
'Perfect,' Song Qing thought. Time for some more discreet observation.
Activating the Veiled Aura ability of his Primordial Life Tree Spirit, Song Qing followed the Emperor, his presence becoming virtually undetectable. The ability allowed him to completely mask his soul power fluctuations and even suppress his physical presence, making him akin to a ghost in the shadows. He was even prepared to utilize the Shadow Dominion and the Shadowmeld abilities of his Abyssal Demonic Dragon God Emperor spirit if necessary, to melt completely into the darkness, but for now, the Veiled Aura was proving more than sufficient.
He maintained a safe distance, relying on the enhanced senses granted to him by his Abyssal Demonic Dragon God Emperor spirit to track the Emperor's movements. His hearing was particularly acute, allowing him to pick up even the faintest sounds.
The Emperor entered his private chamber and closed the door behind him. Song Qing positioned himself outside the door, his ear pressed against the cold stone. He could hear the Emperor speaking, his voice low and urgent. It sounded as though he was talking to someone through a long-range communication spirit tool. Song Qing could hear the faint echoes of another voice responding, though he couldn't make out the exact words. The Emperor's side of the conversation, however, was perfectly clear.
"Madam Tang Yuehua," the Emperor said, his tone respectful despite his royal status, "I apologize for contacting you so late, but something… concerning has occurred."
'Tang Yuehua!' Song Qing's senses sharpened. His investigation had already yielded its first potential lead.
"We have discovered that several of my officials have been found unconscious within the palace," the Emperor continued, his voice filled with worry. "It seems they were affected by some sort of soul-related or mind-related ability. My initial thought was that perhaps the Heaven Dou Empire's Royal Family had finally grown bold enough to send spies to glean information from my Imperial Palace."
He paused, presumably allowing Tang Yuehua to respond. Song Qing strained his ears, trying to catch her reply, but her voice was too faint from his position outside the chamber.
The Emperor then spoke again. "If it wasn't the Heaven Dou Empire… then it can only be an assassin from the Spirit Hall. Their Holy Son made quite the scene earlier today." There was a hint of bitterness in his voice as he mentioned Song Qing.
After another brief pause, the Emperor's tone shifted slightly, becoming more questioning. "Madam Tang Yuehua, have your informants within the Heaven Dou Empire's Royal Family reported any unusual activity? Any indication that they might have sent agents into my territory?"
This time, Tang Yuehua's response was just audible enough for Song Qing to hear. Her voice, though soft, carried a note of authority. "Your Majesty, according to my sources within the Heaven Dou Empire's Royal Family, they have not dispatched any such spies. I can assure you of that."