Chapter 1: Words Wield the Law? Does That Mean Any Word Will Do?

"Little Mute, this is three, right?"

A young man dressed in a python-embroidered robe stood before him, four golden pythons shimmering on his garment.

He held up two fingers at Qin Xi, smiling amiably.

Qin Xi gazed blankly at the dazzling figure in front of him, as if he didn’t understand what was being asked, merely nodding in response.

"Second Prince, as I said, he’s a deaf and dim-witted child—perfect for our plan," a eunuch said respectfully to the prince.

The Second Prince laughed. "Deaf and mute—truly fitting. Attendant Xu, well done... If this succeeds, you’ll have performed meritorious service for the dragon throne."

With that, the Second Prince handed Qin Xi a slate and a stone stylus.

Qin Xi looked down at the slate; a message was inscribed upon it.

"Little Mute, let’s use this to communicate."

Qin Xi nodded.

Seeing his obedience, the Second Prince waved his hand. From both sides of the palace, a group of dazed-eyed youths was led out—over a hundred—escorted by a dozen guards in gleaming armor. No one dared utter a word.

Each child’s eyes and ears were plugged, their senses completely sealed off from the world.

"Attendant Xu, now that matters have reached this point, I suppose I can tell you what treasure I'm after."

Attendant Xu’s ears pricked up at once.

Once the Second Prince spoke these words within his hearing, their fates would be tied together—life and death irrevocably bound. And should the Second Prince ascend the throne, he too would soar to the very heavens.

"It is the Spiritual Root left behind by the Sage of Confucianism."

"!!!"

"The Sage's Spiritual Root?!" Attendant Xu’s entire face was frozen in shock.

"As for how we’ll seize it... you’ll know soon enough."

"Let’s go."

With a wave, the Second Prince set off, and Qin Xi and Attendant Xu followed.

Before them stood the Jade and Gold Hall where the Spiritual Root was stored.

As they entered, they were confronted with countless rare and wondrous treasures.

Jade artifacts sparkled with crystalline clarity; gold and silver objects gleamed with a weighty luster that made one avert their eyes, all likely magical treasures collected by the royal family—favored tools of Daoist practitioners.

A white jade qilin lay quietly upon a table, its lines so fluid and lifelike, it seemed as if it might leap forth at any moment... for in truth, the soul of a qilin was sealed within.

Famous paintings and calligraphy hung upon the walls, the strokes exuding kingly majesty, bathing the entire hall in an indescribable aura of authority—works penned by the reigning great Confucian scholars, each said to be capable of warding off an army of a million when deployed in battle.

But the true focus of all attention—the very heart of the hall—was a dazzling white light: the Spiritual Root of the Sage of Confucianism.

At this moment, the Second Prince, hands behind his back, began to speak slowly:

"After the Sage fell, the Spiritual Root came into the possession of my house. Before his death, the Sage set three commandments upon it."

"Only one of great compassion may possess it."

"Only one of great wisdom may possess it."

"Only one who acts for the welfare of the people may possess it."

"Whoever is able to absorb the Spiritual Root is destined to be a ruler for the ages, ascending to the throne as a matter of course."

"But those who do not meet these rules—should they attempt to absorb it—will be scorched by the Spiritual Root’s righteous aura, or even die instantly!"

"Alas, the royal family has always been cold-blooded... Those who fit these three criteria are usually murdered by ruthless siblings before they even reach adulthood, for fear of their threat to others’ status. To this day, none has gained the Sage’s Spiritual Root."

"My gift was always the highest among the princes, but unfortunately, my mother was just a mortal without cultivation talent; beauty alone could not make her Empress. I suffered for it, always suppressed by my elder and younger brothers in the court..."

"Thus, I must take the risk and seize the Sage’s Spiritual Root if I am to claim the throne!"

Unexpectedly, the Second Prince laid his hand on Qin Xi’s shoulder, startling him so much he shuddered.

"Little Mute, do you think I can obtain this Spiritual Root?"

Qin Xi met the prince’s gaze, his eyes clear and foolish.

Seeing how dim-witted he was, drooling at the mouth, the Second Prince snorted with laughter. "Hard to imagine how such a person has managed to survive."

"That’s why mute and deaf children are so rare in the capital," Attendant Xu boasted at his side.

The Second Prince ignored the flattery. "Still, I know my own limits. If I try to absorb the Spiritual Root by normal means, I can’t even get close. Watch."

The righteous aura from the Spiritual Root radiated gentle, warm white light.

But when the Second Prince reached out, the light blazed fiercely, burning his fingers until they smoked. He quickly withdrew his hand.

"So, I must resort to other methods."

He waved his hand. His personal guards pushed forward a filthy-looking youth and handed him to the Second Prince.

Without hesitation, the prince’s hand flared with a red glow.

"Bang!"

The youth exploded into a cloud of blood.

The sight made Qin Xi’s eyelids twitch uncontrollably.

He hurriedly scribbled on the slate and showed it to the Second Prince.

The slate read:

"I won’t have to go through that too, will I? This isn’t what you promised."

The Second Prince dipped a finger in the blood-mist and wrote on the slate:

"You won’t die. You’re more valuable."

Attendant Xu snapped out of his daze and asked, "Your Highness, this is..."

"A demonic art of the Cult, crafted specifically to counteract righteous aura. The Greed of Heaven Demonic Method only requires one death; the demonic energy released cancels out the righteous aura, allowing us to advance three feet further."

Gazing at the Spiritual Root thirty zhang away, Attendant Xu understood.

"So that’s what those children are for."

"If the Sage were still alive, I doubt the blood of an entire city would let us take a step forward in this aura. But now... it’s only the Sage’s Spiritual Root." The Second Prince clapped his hands and crushed another girl to mist.

The blood did weaken the righteous aura, allowing them to move onward.

"This one’s life force is better—good for two steps."

"This one’s half dead—won’t even get half a step."

"......"

As lives were thrown away like worthless chaff, Qin Xi’s steps grew ever more rigid.

Soon after, the three stood before the Spiritual Root.

Blood mist mingled with the righteous white glow, making the scene especially ghastly.

At that moment, Attendant Xu realized a problem. "Your Highness, even if we reach the Spiritual Root, how will you absorb it?"

"That’s where Little Mute comes in."

Qin Xi visibly tensed.

"This demonic art contains a method called the Corpse Refining Law, which allows one to refine the dead into the Spiritual Root and absorb it. As long as someone else absorbs it first, and I then absorb that person, I circumvent the Sage’s rules. After all, he absorbed the Root—I’m just absorbing him!"

"A brilliant plan, Your Highness! No wonder you’re the strongest claimant to the throne!" Attendant Xu marveled.

"Clang!"

Qin Xi, as if seized by horror, dropped the stone stylus, his face twisted as if he’d seen a cockroach in his water glass.

Clunk!

The Second Prince’s icy gaze slid toward Qin Xi; Attendant Xu’s heart leapt into his throat.

The air was as silent as a morgue, cold enough to freeze water.

Trembling, Qin Xi picked up the stylus and scribbled on the slate before handing it over.

It read:

"My lord, I’m so hungry I can’t hold the stone anymore. You haven’t given me the promised bun yet."

The prince’s eyes narrowed, then his expression relaxed and he sighed in relief.

"Attendant Xu, do you have a bun? Give him something."

Gnashing his teeth, Attendant Xu, who had just feared for his life, fished a cake from his sleeve, handed it to Qin Xi, then kicked him. "Bun, bun—all you know is eating!"

Qin Xi ignored everything else, clutching the pastry and devouring it like a starving ghost.

The Second Prince patted his back, reassured. "My reason for choosing a mute is simple: it’s said the Spiritual Root of the Sage contains all his arts, most of which are driven by speech—especially the ‘Words Become Law’ technique!"

At the mention of such a terrifying spell, Attendant Xu nodded, understanding instantly.

"If it were any ordinary youth, once he absorbed the Sage’s Spiritual Root and realized he had to die, he might not let me absorb him. Should he use the Sage’s spells and break free, or expose us, it would be a disaster."

"But if he’s mute, even after absorbing the Root, he can’t speak—so he can’t use the spells."

"But having a Spiritual Root without power—he still can’t use magic, right?" Attendant Xu asked.

"In theory, yes, but I will allow no variables beyond my plan." The Second Prince sneered, "That is my supreme wisdom!"

"Unparalleled wisdom, Your Highness!"

Halfway through his pastry, Qin Xi suddenly lost his appetite, staring fixedly at the Sage’s Spiritual Root.

Noticing this, the Second Prince took the slate and wrote:

"Do you like it? Can you hear its call? Go on, eat it."

Qin Xi stared blankly, then nodded as if compelled.

He staggered forward in three quick steps.

The Second Prince lifted his hand, red light blooming—he was ready.

As soon as Qin Xi finished absorbing the Spiritual Root, he would seize and refine him in an instant!

Qin Xi reached the gentle glow, at whose heart was a small box, so bright its contents were obscured.

He took a deep breath and swallowed the light from the box whole!

The Second Prince’s eyes went cold.

Attendant Xu was delighted.

Qin Xi’s pupils contracted.

Just as Attendant Xu was about to offer congratulations, the world flipped upside down.

His head had fallen from his neck!

"Second Prince, you—!"

"Attendant Xu, this cannot be known by the living. Not even you..." The Second Prince smiled.

Attendant Xu’s head rolled twice on the ground and erupted into blood mist.

With hands behind his back, the Second Prince advanced on Qin Xi, seizing the opportunity as the blood mist and righteous aura clashed.

He was ready to refine the little mute.

Suddenly, Qin Xi clutched his abdomen as if suffering stomach pain.

The Second Prince was startled.

Had the absorption failed?

"Ah, ah, ah..." Qin Xi whimpered and rolled on the ground twice, finally collapsing.

The Second Prince grew truly flustered—something had indeed slipped from his plan.

But it was not unsalvageable. As long as he kept the mute alive and found another suitable mute, he could transfer the Spiritual Root...

Thinking thus, he hurriedly withdrew his glowing red hand.

But just as he did, Qin Xi on the ground suddenly opened his mouth.

"‘Words Become Law,’ was it?"

Qin Xi smiled.

"C."

"N."

"M."