My Monster-Derived Skills Are the True Power
Chapter 42: I Shall Risk Myself

Xiang Ying led Wan Peng in silence, striding hastily toward the deepest part of the imperial palace.

Outside the grand palace hall, security was unimaginably tight.

Countless black-clad guards patrolled the perimeter.

Atop the palace walls, massive ballistae—ordinarily reserved for war—were stationed, their cold, gleaming arrows pointed directly at the hall, forming an impenetrable death trap.

The Xuanwei Guard!

Wan Peng’s pupils shrank as he pressed his lips together.

The Xuanwei Guard was an elite force serving the royal family, trained exclusively for assassination. Their minimum requirement? Being an Innate Expert.

Wan Peng had served in the Inspection Bureau for over a decade, yet this was the first time he had ever seen them stationed within the palace.

What were they guarding against?

What kind of terrifying secret lay hidden within this hall?

As they passed, the Xuanwei Guard saluted the emperor. Wan Peng kept his head down, not daring to look around, fearing that if he glimpsed something forbidden, he wouldn’t leave this place alive.

—

"Zhong Liang, how has the prince’s condition been these past few days?" Xiang Ying asked the commander of the Xuanwei Guard.

Before Zhong Liang could answer, a calm voice drifted out from within the palace.

"Royal Brother, I am well. What brings you here today?"

Xiang Ying hesitated for a moment before pushing open the doors and stepping inside.

Zhong Liang and the other Xuanwei Guard stiffened, immediately following behind him, their hands tightening around their weapons, ready for battle at any moment.

Wan Peng kept his head lowered as he trailed after them.

Just as they entered the courtyard, the voice called out again.

"Stay where you are, Royal Brother. If you get too close, I might not be able to control myself."

Wan Peng discreetly glanced toward the source of the voice.

A middle-aged man, bearing a strong resemblance to the emperor, sat in a pavilion, playing a game of Go with an old eunuch.

Beneath the pavilion, koi swam lazily in a pond. Outside, a few musicians played soothing melodies on their zithers.

If not for the ballistae aimed at the hall, the scene would have appeared tranquil and refined.

Yet there was something deeply unsettling about it.

The middle-aged man’s body was covered in silver acupuncture needles.

His hands and feet were shackled with massive iron chains—so thick that they could restrain an elephant.

These chains weren’t just for show. They were embedded deep beneath a nearby artificial mountain, securing him firmly in place.

Though he had a scholarly and elegant appearance, Wan Peng could sense an aura of pure menace radiating from him.

Even beneath the overpowering scent of sandalwood incense, there was an unmistakable trace of blood in the air.

Wan Peng’s mind raced. Who is this prince?

Are the Xuanwei Guard and ballistae here to contain him?

Just as he was trying to piece everything together, a tremendous force suddenly pulled at him.

Before he could react, his vision blurred—he was instantly dragged into the pavilion.

The shackled prince scrutinized him from head to toe, his piercing gaze seeming to strip Wan Peng down to his very soul.

Wan Peng was terrified.

He tried to speak but found himself unable to make a sound.

He tried to move, but his internal energy was frozen solid, utterly unresponsive.

The only power he could still sense was the Spiritual Energy Seed Li Ye had implanted in him.

But under the prince’s gaze, Wan Peng suppressed the urge to use it.

He instinctively knew—if he activated the Spiritual Energy Seed now, he would die instantly.

—

"Xiao Li, what do you see?" Xiang Ying asked.

"The same demonic energy as in me," Xiang Li released Wan Peng from his grasp and frowned. "Royal Brother, has a new Demon Artifact appeared in the world? Or is that demonic dragon in the Western Regions acting up?"

Demonic energy?

A demonic dragon?

Wan Peng was stunned.

Wasn’t this Spiritual Energy?

And what the hell was this demonic dragon?

For the first time, he felt like he didn’t understand this world at all.

—

"As I suspected," Xiang Ying sighed. "Xiao Li, I fear we are on the verge of catastrophe. Another Demon Artifact may have surfaced."

"What?" Xiang Li demanded.

Xiang Ying pulled out Wei Mingze’s report and tossed it to him.

Xiang Li skimmed through it rapidly, his brows furrowing. "A higher civilization? A league? Football betting? What is all this?"

"Wan Peng, explain," Xiang Ying commanded.

Wan Peng swallowed and recounted everything that had transpired in Weining City, leaving nothing out.

—

"Impossible," Xiang Li frowned deeply. "Demonic energy cannot be bestowed so easily."

His gaze snapped back to Wan Peng.

"After receiving this so-called Spiritual Energy, did you feel any urges to kill? Any uncontrollable bloodlust?"

As he spoke, a flicker of red flashed in his pupils before vanishing.

"No," Wan Peng shook his head.

"And the people on the field?" Xiang Li pressed.

"During the matches, they fight like madmen, desperate to destroy their opponents," Wan Peng admitted. "But once the game ends, they return to normal."

"If anything, the only obsession they seem to have is a hunger for fame—to strengthen their Spiritual Energy."

"That’s impossible," Xiang Li suddenly stood, a wave of violent energy surging from him.

The iron chains rattled ominously as they strained against his power.

Xiang Ying instinctively took a step back, while the Xuanwei Guard surged forward, shielding him.

"Xiao Li, calm yourself," Xiang Ying urged.

Xiang Li took a deep breath and pulled out a small porcelain bottle. Extracting a single pill, he swallowed it.

Moments later, his aura settled, and he sat back down.

"If this man truly possesses demonic energy, Murong Kaixin would have stood no chance against him," he finally said. "Royal Brother, are you asking me to deal with him?"

"Xiao Li, what if we are wrong?" Xiang Ying countered.

"What if what we call demonic energy is actually Spiritual Energy?"

"What if it is only because we don’t understand how to wield it that you have lost control?"

Xiang Li fell silent. "What do you intend to do?"

"I plan to meet Li Ye personally and promote the football league nationwide," Xiang Ying declared.

"You want to enter the league yourself?" Xiang Li asked sharply.

"Yes," Xiang Ying said firmly. "I must confirm whether Spiritual Energy can truly be controlled.

"If it can… then we might be able to tame the demonic energy inside you as well."

"Royal Brother, you are the emperor," Xiang Li frowned.

"Precisely why I must do this," Xiang Ying sighed.

"The Divine Dragon Cult continues to grow, and your condition remains unstable. If that monster from the Western Regions invades, how will Chu Kingdom defend itself?"

"Li Ye sent his message through Wei Mingze. That means he wants to cooperate.

"But that fool Murong Kaixin ruined my plans."

"Perhaps Murong Kaixin let himself be defeated on purpose," Xiang Li muttered. "He may be trying to divert danger toward the imperial family."

"Even so, we must try," Xiang Ying insisted.

"If Li Ye truly holds the correct path to cultivating Spiritual Energy, then this is the Dao of Immortals.

"And if we master it, Chu Kingdom will flourish."

"Besides… the martial world is already falling under his control. If we allow him to fully dominate the jianghu, he will become another Divine Dragon Cult."

"And when that happens, what will become of Chu Kingdom?"

"Then let me kill him now," Xiang Li growled.

"And if you fail?" Xiang Ying challenged.

"If you lose control and slaughter everyone? Who will stop you? The Divine Dragon Cult?"

Xiang Ying gazed at his brother and sighed.

"Xiao Li, Chu Kingdom is already teetering on the brink.

"Li Ye may be the only way to break the deadlock."

Xiang Li said nothing.

After a long pause, Xiang Ying continued.

"If I fall under his control, then do not hesitate.

"Wipe out Li Ye.

"Wipe out the Divine Dragon Cult.

"If the royal family perishes, then Chu Kingdom has no reason to exist."