Liu Wen was the guardian of the imperial city's forbidden grounds.
His profound strength was such that it could almost command the respect of everyone present.
Apart from the imposter emperor, he was the one everyone followed.
Moreover, he knew many secrets about Dragon Island.
When he spoke, all attention naturally turned to him.
"The guardian's taboo..."
A grave expression flickered across Liu Wen's face, and he then shook his head, "I am also unclear as to what exactly it is."
"But..."
"The previous generation of guardians once told me."
"When their generation journeyed to Dragon Island, they once angered the guardian's taboo, leading to a conflict between the two sides."
"And the outcome was incredibly tragic."
"Only one or two in ten of the powerful guardian team managed to survive and pass through."
As these words were spoken, everyone's faces changed drastically.
Imperial City Guardians...
They were considered the pinnacle of Great Xia's combat power.
And for an entire team to be pushed to such a point that ninety percent perished was truly terrifying.
It was no wonder Liu Wen said.
No matter how strong Bai Zihe was, if he touched the guardian's taboo, it would be a path to certain death.
"Since that is the case..."
The imposter emperor immediately let out a sinister laugh and instructed everyone, "Once we reach Dragon Island, we will let Bai Zihe go first, both to scout for us and to help us pass the guardian's taboo."
"It would be best if..."
"They are all annihilated by the guardian's taboo, and we can reap the benefits."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Liu Wen closed his eyes once more.
At this moment.
Bai Zihe was meditating in his room.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Urgent knocking echoed.
Jiang Dafa's deputy walked in and said anxiously, "Sir, there is an important matter on the ship that requests your presence."
Bai Zihe and Zhuge Sheng headed over together.
When he arrived in the main hall, Irina, Satan, Codomo, the imposter emperor, and Liu Wen were all present.
However, everyone had a look of confusion on their faces, clearly unaware of what had happened.
At this moment, Jiang Dafa emerged from within.
"The map you provided is not right."
Jiang Dafa surveyed the surroundings and stated truthfully, "Our current course has deviated from the normal route, yet the ship's navigation system has malfunctioned."
"Following the map you gave me, I cannot find the way."
Cannot find the way?
Bai Zihe subconsciously glanced outside.
Thick fog filled the air, severely limiting visibility.
Coupled with the malfunctioning navigation, it was indeed impossible to proceed.
So Bai Zihe took out his own parchment map.
But after searching for a while, he found no clues whatsoever.
Although.
He had previously consulted experts who studied ancient maps, and they all said the routes on the map were correct, but now he couldn't find his way.
"This..."
Bai Zihe was perplexed.
"How can we not find the direction?"
The imposter emperor held the map and fell into deep thought.
His preparations were no less than Bai Zihe's, and the map was of utmost importance.
However, this situation was utterly baffling.
Just then.
Zhuge Sheng suddenly whispered, "Try dripping a drop of Hell's Blood on it."
Hell's Blood!
The imposter emperor's pupils contracted sharply.
Without hesitation, Bai Zihe condensed it on his fingertip.
"Plink!"
A drop of crimson blood landed on the parchment map.
"Whoosh..."
A rainbow of light instantly swept across the entire map.
Not only were the routes on it refreshed, but the entire parchment dissolved.
Moments later, it turned into countless residues floating on the surface.
Bai Zihe flicked his palm, and the map revealed its true form.
It turned out.
The map on the surface of this parchment was entirely fake.
It was quite amusing that those experts claimed to have deciphered it. The words of experts could indeed be deadly!
The new map, revealed after being dissolved by Hell's Blood, was the true location of Dragon Island and the route to it.
"Follow this route and try."
Bai Zihe had his deputy sketch a copy of the map, keeping the original.
Old Captain Jiang Dafa pondered for a moment, then nodded and complied, immediately setting course for Dragon Island along the correct route!
Bai Zihe and Zhuge Sheng returned to their quarters.
Unbeknownst to them.
Behind them, the imposter emperor, having witnessed the scene, had already harbored murderous intent towards Zhuge Sheng.
After returning to his room.
The imposter emperor immediately said impatiently, "This person actually knows such secrets, clearly he knows many of Dragon Island's secrets."
"With his help, Bai Zihe might not necessarily anger the guardian's taboo."
"Keeping this person around will always be a problem, it would be better to..."
A cold murderous glint flashed in the imposter emperor's eyes, "Act tonight and kill him first!"
The many experts nodded, in deep agreement.
Night.
It was very different from the land.
Waves often crashed, and strong winds often howled.
The whistling and the crashing sounds blended together, making it difficult for anyone not accustomed to the sea to sleep soundly.
Several figures stealthily infiltrated the area where Bai Zihe and his companions were.
"Creak..."
The sound of the door opening was quickly drowned out by the waves outside, appearing quite unremarkable in the dead of night.
A group of people filed in.
They were the imperial guards sent by the imposter emperor, intending to eliminate Zhuge Sheng that night.
However...
As soon as these people entered, they froze on the spot.
There were only two people in the room.
One was the target, Zhuge Sheng.
The other was Bai Zihe!
"Seeking death!"
Just as everyone was stunned, Bai Zihe attacked without hesitation.
In the blink of an eye, he was in front of the first person, raising his fists. A powerful surge of energy erupted from his body.
"Pfft..."
The man had no time to resist.
He immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, his body contorting like a shrimp as he was sent flying backward, crashing into the people behind him, scattering them in disarray.
Such a commotion instantly woke everyone.
It also alerted the imposter emperor, who was waiting for news.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh, whoosh!"
Almost simultaneously, the imposter emperor, leading his experts, blocked Bai Zihe's path, preventing him from pursuing the other experts further.
At this time, the Wolf Army special forces, the three elders, and the three major forces of the Bear Country all arrived.
The winds and clouds gathered, and new waves of disturbance arose!
The two sides confronted each other again.
At this point.
There was no need for further words between the two sides. Whoever dared to make the first move would inevitably trigger a great battle.
The imposter emperor stared intently at Bai Zihe, about to say something, when his gaze fell upon Zhuge Sheng behind Bai Zihe.
At this moment...
He hadn't had time to fully put on his face veil!
"You are..."
"Zhuge Sheng!"
The imposter emperor's pupils contracted sharply, and shock flashed across his face.
He truly did not expect.
That this imposter would encounter the genuine reigning emperor in such a place and under such circumstances.
After a brief moment of shock.
A look of realization dawned on the imposter emperor's face.
He understood.
Only the true emperor, Zhuge Sheng, would know so many secrets and be able to command the Wolf Army to escort Bai Zihe.
All his doubts were resolved, and it was no longer strange.
"Since you recognize me..."
Zhuge Sheng made no pretense. Knowing that the imposter emperor had discovered his identity, he voluntarily shed his black robe, revealing the imperial dragon robe underneath, and announced loudly, "Then I have nothing to hide."
"However..."
After shedding his black robe, Zhuge Sheng indeed exuded an aura, and surprisingly gained the initiative on the scene. "We are both on the ship, and it is still too early to fight.
"Why not let this matter rest for now."
"Once we reach Dragon Island, we can settle our scores and grudges, how about it?"
After speaking, he looked at the imposter emperor with a relaxed smile.
Yes.
They were still en route, facing numerous dangers and uncertainties.
If a fight broke out now, both sides would undoubtedly suffer heavy losses, and it wouldn't be strange if they were wiped out by something they encountered later.
"Good!"
The imposter emperor immediately agreed.
He gave Zhuge Sheng a deep look, then led his men away.
A conflict seemingly came to an end.
In reality, it was the beginning of even more tragic and brutal battles to come!