"Dong!"
As the main gate of Longde Hall, scorched by flames, collapsed to the ground.
Luo Sigong's thoughts, too, suddenly halted for several moments.
The Forbidden City was supposed to be the most sacred place in the land, a place where no ghosts or spirits could ever run rampant. Any trouble that arose here was always the doing of mortals.
The sheer strangeness of today's events was, to Luo Sigong, no different from encountering a ghost in broad daylight.
He looked up at the sky again. Above the Forbidden City, the vast expanse of stars was protected not only by the nation's prestige but also by a celestial position, that of the Great Emperor of the Northern Dipper, also known as the **Dou Mu**. Dou Mu, the Mother of the Great Dipper.
Although no one had ascended to this position, it remained suspended above the Forbidden City, and it would not permit any malevolent spirits to invade this place.
Yet, at this moment, those starry formations showed no sign of movement.
When a nation is about to prosper, it will be accompanied by auspicious signs;
When a nation is about to fall, it will be accompanied by monstrous omens.
A shiver ran down Luo Sigong's spine. He quickly dispelled this ominous thought. The Great Ming was currently at its zenith; how could there be signs of national ruin!
Of course, Ji Xiang, who had entered the hall at this moment, had a deeper understanding of this.
Although he didn't know why the nation's prestige was blind for now, he mused, if a "No Smoking" sign was posted, would anyone really not smoke?
"Monster!"
Luo Sigong finally snapped out of his daze. He drew his saber, thinking that this was the first time in his life he would be fighting a demon!
"Attack!"
Upon receiving the order, the Embroidered Uniform Guard immediately swarmed forward. But with a mere wave of his hand, the Fire God caused the closest guard, clad in blue armor, to burst into flames!
He frantically beat at his armor and clothes. Looking up, five balls of fire suddenly entered his body. In an instant, all his orifices spewed great flames, and within a few breaths, he was burned from the inside out into a charred corpse!
*Bang!*
The charred corpse fell to the ground, its flames still burning, illuminating the dark corner of the wall!
This scene stunned all the Embroidered Uniform Guards from the Southern Garrison.
"Embroidered Uniform Guards of the Southern Garrison... *huff huff huff*... I get it, you were sent by Consort Zheng... You probably didn't expect to run into me here."
"Since you've come, you can't leave. What a surprise. I only came tonight to kill that Daoist."
"And, I am not some monster!"
"I am a god, officially conferred by your Great Ming, the true Fire God!"
The Zhu Robe Fire God, enveloped in roaring flames, pointed at the main gate of Longde Hall. Ji Xiang, however, remained inside Longde Hall, not showing himself, his shadow nowhere to be seen.
"Hiding is useless."
The Zhu Robe Fire God's gaze swept over the Embroidered Uniform Guards present. He let out a sneer and took a step forward.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards flinched like startled rabbits, retreating half a step.
"The Southern Garrison is truly pathetic. A bunch of mortals. If the Northern Garrison were here tonight, I wouldn't be able to get away."
The Zhu Robe Fire God made no effort to hide his disappointment in these Southern Garrison men.
It made sense. Even though Consort Zheng's elder brother was the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and she was a favored consort of Emperor Wanli, the procedures and difficulties involved in mobilizing the Northern Garrison were still beyond her reach.
"Monster, how dare you be so arrogant!"
Luo Sigong was also enraged. He had been startled by Ji Xiang earlier, and now he was being mocked by this fire demon. He felt his dignity challenged, and with the other party daring to kill his subordinates, he immediately reached for his waist and produced a golden plaque!
This was one of the items that could restrain divine positions: the Palace Edict Gold Plaque!
The Northern Garrison did not possess this item. This was an item exclusive to the Southern Garrison and the Banner Guard, a prohibition of the Forbidden City!
No deity was allowed to perform any sorcery within the Forbidden City!
In the past, when this item was used, it was against people from the Northern Garrison. Luo Sigong had never imagined that he would see supernatural beings in the Forbidden City!
In this capital city, the outer city had the Underworld, the inner city had the Celestial Bureau, and the Imperial City had the nation's prestige. From where did this monster before him enter?
The gold plaque emitted a brilliant radiance, instantly illuminating the courtyard of Longde Hall with a righteous light. However, the Fire God stood beneath the golden light, bathed in its glow, showing no discomfort whatsoever. Until the golden light dissipated, the Fire God remained standing in place, unmoved!
Luo Sigong was greatly alarmed!
How could the Palace Edict Gold Plaque be useless!
"What exactly are you! Even a true god cannot withstand the suppression of the Palace Edict Gold Plaque!"
This Palace Edict Gold Plaque was the ultimate prohibition, and no deity, except for those officially conferred by the Emperor himself, could...
Luo Sigong suddenly froze.
Cold sweat broke out all over him!
Officially conferred by the Emperor... Not long ago, Emperor Wanli had just renovated a Fire God Temple! And he had personally visited it!
Luo Sigong's face turned extremely grim. How could such a thing happen? Was this Fire God insane? The Emperor had officially conferred him the title of a true god, yet he showed no gratitude and was causing chaos in the Forbidden City!
Was the Emperor's salary not high enough?
He further realized that if this entity had gone to the Qiankun Palaces instead of Longde Hall, wouldn't that be...!
The surrounding Embroidered Uniform Guards of the Southern Garrison also panicked.
The Fire God's voice carried a tone of mockery:
"You've never seen a supernatural being, have you? You don't know how to deal with it, right?"
"A Qilin robe, a fourth-rank military official, quite formidable! Unfortunately, if before I became a true god, I had met you, that Qilin on your person could have torn me to shreds. But now, it seems to show no reaction at all."
"After all, how would a divine beast manifested by the nation's prestige react to a true god conferred by the nation's prestige."
"I am now a manifestation of the Great Ming's prestige! All prohibitions in the palace are formed by the nation's prestige, so how can they affect me!"
Luo Sigong was also stunned. He looked at himself; the Qilin embroidery on his person showed no movement. He had only just learned that the animal emblems on the official uniforms of the civil and military officials also had the effect of suppressing evil!
The Fire God chuckled: "Now, I can come and go as I please here. All thanks to the Emperor of the Great Ming."
"Those who enter will die. You are considered to be accompanying that Daoist in death. Blame him for still being alive. He was already dead, but for some reason, he revived."
"Therefore, I had to come here personally."
The information revealed by the Fire God startled Luo Sigong again.
This young Daoist in Longde Hall... had died once before?
But at this moment, the Fire God made a swift gesture, and instantly, several armored guards were engulfed in a raging inferno!
The courtyard of Longde Hall was engulfed in flames, and screams echoed endlessly!
Luo Sigong roared in anger:
"You demon! Do you think the Forbidden City is your home, to come and go as you please! You are courting death!"
The Fire God recalled the agreement made with Zhu Changluo earlier, that after the matter was settled, the Fire God Temple would replace the Zhenwu and Sanqing statues here. Thus, the flame-covered face showed distinct facial features, contorting into a sinister grin:
"Indeed, this will soon be my home. It is you who should be dying!"