After seeing off Xiao Yun and Yu Tianlang, Zhou Huan and Shi Bingyuan were waiting for their moment to shine during the Emperor's personal viewing. Yet, as for what exactly they were supposed to perform, Zhou Huan hadn't the faintest clue. If they performed something from the Shoushi Sect, that would be sheer blasphemy, undoubtedly. But if they didn't, what else was there?

"Master Zhou, Lord He requests your presence!" Several heralds emerged from the crowd. Hearing this, Zhou Huan dared not delay, leading Shi Bingyuan to follow the messengers toward Lord He's residence.

Upon entering He's manor, Shi Bingyuan was stopped outside the main hall. Zhou Huan proceeded alone into the hall and saw He Shen seated grandly, chuckling as he toyed with a long pipe, adopting the affected pose of smoking.

"My Lord, Master Zhou has arrived."

He Shen waved dismissively at the servants and then burst out laughing, "Zhou Huan, you truly make me proud! To take down Ji Xiaolan’s man so easily, excellent! Call the servants, bring the gift money!"

In a short while, a servant from He's manor appeared, carrying a large tray draped with a red silk cloth.

"Here you are, Master Zhou."

Zhou Huan knew instantly; despite his need for money, this pile looked like enough to keep him comfortable for a lifetime. He deliberated for a long time, hesitant to reach out and take it.

"What's wrong, Master Zhou, afraid to accept it?" He Shen smiled faintly after speaking. "Open it first, and then tell me whether you’ll take it or not."

Zhou Huan made no move, but a servant lifted the red silk. Instantly, the entire room glittered with golden light, so dazzling it hurt the eyes to look directly.

Seeing this, Zhou Huan immediately knelt on the ground, pleading bitterly, "Lord He, are you telling me to accept or refuse this?"

"You must accept it. If you refuse, I’ll have your head tomorrow. If you accept, I can at least guarantee I won't take your head." He Shen was certainly politically astute at this moment.

The normal Canfa Rite was actually a covert battleground between He Shen and Ji Xiaolan. If Zhou Huan won the rite and then accepted He Shen's gift money, someone would certainly be waiting for him when he left. If he refused, He Shen would have cause for complaint.

Zhou Huan was deeply conflicted, truly not knowing what to do. He prostrated himself on the floor, thinking for a long time, before finally conceiving a solution.

"Lord He, how about this: I will accept only one piece of this gift money, and I will refuse the rest. I will use this single piece of gold to discuss a matter with you, my Lord," Zhou Huan said this, effectively wagering his life.

Unexpectedly, He Shen laughed even harder. "Very well! I, He Shen, have never admired anyone until now, meeting Master Zhou. Alright, you speak. I will take back the gold, and the piece you requested will remain yours. Say whatever you wish!"

"Lord He, what I wish to say is that my Shoushi Sect seeks to establish its own school. I hope, through my connection with Your Lordship, we might petition the Emperor for an Imperial Edict granting us a title," Zhou Huan spoke this while holding his life in his hands.

He Shen’s face instantly changed color upon hearing this. "Who do you think you are? Don't think that just because you refuse the gold, I can’t take your head at any moment! Hmph!" As he spoke, a dozen men suddenly appeared from a corner of the hall, all armed, instantly surrounding Zhou Huan.

"Zhou Huan, listen carefully. I am sparing your life today, but speak such words to me again, and beware your head," He Shen said, stepping back.

The surrounding men rushed forward, shoving Zhou Huan as they yelled, "The Lord told you to scram! Hurry up and get out, or we'll dig a hole for you!"

Only then did Zhou Huan let out a breath. Though he was being cursed at, he felt relatively relieved; this was far better than the alternative of losing his head.

"Master, what happened?" Shi Bingyuan saw Zhou Huan emerge looking dejected and knew the commotion inside must have been directed at him.

"Don't talk, hurry and leave." Zhou Huan and Shi Bingyuan quickly left the grand courtyard and sprinted toward the inn. Along the way, Shi Bingyuan asked if Zhou Huan would skip the performance. Zhou Huan immediately rejected the idea.

"We must devise a method ourselves that can move the Emperor, so we can secure a title for our Shoushi Sect."

"Master, if we perform Shoushi Sect material, it will surely cause problems later. They might even charge us with high treason. This is the Emperor's ground, his domain; how can we ever find peace?" Shi Bingyuan's worry was justified, and Zhou Huan had considered this too. He didn't answer directly but merely smiled, saying he would think more about it as they returned to the inn.

As Zhou Huan entered the inn, Dongzi and Xiaofang were waiting. Seeing the two return unharmed filled their hearts with joy, but the little rabbit hopped around, sniffing with its nose, immediately sensing Zhou Huan’s distress.

"Is this Master Zhou Huan's room?" Just as Zhou Huan entered, someone else returned to the inn.

"I am Zhou Huan. What is it?" Zhou Huan felt as if he had thrown caution to the wind this time.

The man at the door was surprisingly polite. "Master Zhou, Lord He sent a message for you. If you can overwhelm everyone in the performance tomorrow and capture the Emperor's attention, your Imperial title will be secured. If you fail, I regret to inform you that you probably won't see the sun the day after tomorrow."

Zhou Huan understood immediately upon hearing this. "Please convey my thanks to Lord He, and assure him that I, Zhou Huan, will certainly do my utmost."

The messenger left. The little rabbit blinked its eyes as if very sad, hopping into Zhou Huan's embrace.

Zhou Huan stroked the little rabbit with both hands, then murmured to himself, "Tomorrow I fight for my life. Should the rabbit come along to watch?"

The rabbit turned in Zhou Huan's hands, then sniffed again, as if giving its consent.

It was a sleepless night. Neither Zhou Huan nor Shi Bingyuan rested well; both spent the entire night consumed by how to display their skills without being executed.

Early the morning, the gong sounded at the inn, and the official at the door began calling names. Those called were performers for the Rite who were required to attend a rehearsal arranged by the palace. Naturally, all expenses for these individuals at the inn were covered separately by the establishment.

Zhou Huan gathered his group, the rabbit cradled close, and followed the caller to the rehearsal site. They saw others displaying their specialized talents, each carrying the necessary props.

After walking some distance, a massive complex of palaces unfolded before the group, causing general awe.

"This is where you will perform tonight. From this moment on, no one who has entered this site may leave. Violation will be met with death."

When the rehearsal began, Zhou Huan requested to go last. He showed his face briefly according to the sequence and then withdrew to continue contemplating his strategy for the evening's performance.

"Master, what exactly are we performing tonight? If we have nothing ready by evening, our heads will likely be hanging from the city gate tomorrow," Shi Bingyuan said, exhibiting unusual nervousness.

Zhou Huan smiled. "Don't worry, I have a plan." Then Zhou Huan firmly pressed Shi Bingyuan’s dantian area. "Can your stomach make noise?"

Shi Bingyuan tried and immediately produced a sound. "It really can!"

"Good. I will tell you what to do tonight, but I will be using techniques we normally don't encounter. Rest assured, Master won't let you walk to your death with me." At this moment, Zhou Huan seemed overcome with joy; he genuinely felt confident.

Those participating in the performance ate a good meal in the square, and soon it was nighttime. The pale, yellowish moon cast a dim light over the entire setting. Fortunately, there was no wind.

After a burst of firecrackers and fireworks, a voice boomed from the city tower: "His Imperial Majesty has arrived!"

With a whoosh, everyone present knelt down. Then, the figure in yellow robes on the tower gently raised his hands and commanded, "Rise!" It was clear to all that this was the Emperor.

Subsequently, a man emerged from behind him to loudly host the performance.

The magnificent Canfa Rite performance began. Zhou Huan’s act was scheduled last, as the officials worried the Emperor might lose interest by the time it came around, given that Zhou Huan hadn't revealed his specialty during rehearsal.

The preceding acts instantly escalated the atmosphere; they were indeed spectacular, drawing continuous verbal praise from the Emperor.

The most tense moment arrived. The official on the tower called out Zhou Huan's name, appending Shi Bingyuan's name. This was indeed the final act. Sharp-eyed onlookers below the tower already saw the Emperor rising, murmuring something to the person next to him, and then he prepared to leave with two young eunuchs.

It was at this precise moment that Zhou Huan realized his head felt precarious. If the Emperor left, they were condemned; there would be no chance to explain. He looked back: rows of heavily armed guards—it was impossible for him and Shi Bingyuan to escape their blockade.

"Shi Bingyuan, let's start! We'll call out together, 'Your Majesty, stay your steps!' Remember to project your voice from your diaphragm; you must stop him, or my entire plan collapses," Zhou Huan urged desperately. "This is sheer mockery!"

"Your Majesty, please stay your steps!" The sound was astonishing, not produced by the throat, but originating from the abdominal cavities of both Zhou Huan and Shi Bingyuan. The characteristic of this sound was its deep, powerful resonance and wide echo, bright yet not piercing, leaving the listeners only with a sense of profound impact and calm.