From cute to empress

Chapter 337 The Light of Wisdom Illuminates the Way Forward

"What's wrong with this book?" I asked confusedly, startled by his sudden nervousness.

Zhen Youcai didn't answer. He simply waved for the guards to protect me behind him while he carefully turned the pages. An invisible wave spread from the pages, and I felt a slight dizziness, as if a force was trying to invade my mind.

"Be careful!" The senior monk who had been waiting nearby suddenly stepped forward, muttering something, and the Buddhist beads in his hand emitted a soft light, blocking the invisible wave outside.

"Master, this is..." I was still in shock, looking at the monk with eyes full of questions.

"Your Majesty, this book is extraordinary," the monk said, clasping his hands together with a solemn expression. "From my observation, it seems to be a magical book passed down from ancient times. It contains great power and should not be underestimated."

A magic book? I was shocked, thinking about the strange fluctuations just now. Could it be that magic really exists in this world?

"Magic book?" Zhen Youcai frowned, "Is there a way to crack it?"

The monk shook his head. "The origin of this book is unknown. I have never seen such an evil object before, let alone a method to decipher it."

I took the handkerchief Zhen Youcai offered me, wiped the sweat from my forehead, and took a deep breath. "Now that things have come to this, there's no point in being afraid. Now that this magic book has been brought back to the palace, we must find out its origins to prevent it from falling into the hands of those with ulterior motives and endangering the people."

"Mengmeng is right!" Zhen Youcai gave me an appreciative look. "We can't just sit there and wait for death. Master, you are knowledgeable and experienced. Do you know of anyone in this world who is proficient in this art and can help us unlock the secrets of this magic book?"

The monk pondered for a moment and slowly said, "It is rumored that in the far west, there is an ancient magic academy. Perhaps there are people proficient in this art there..."

Zhen Youcai and I exchanged glances and had already made up our minds.

"Pass on my decree. Tomorrow morning, we will hold court to discuss the mission to the Western Magic Academy..." I paused, my eyes falling on the magic book that still exuded a strange aura. "Come, keep this book safe. No one is allowed to approach it without my permission!"

The next morning, the atmosphere in the court was solemn. The mission to the Western Magic Academy was a matter of grave importance, and the ministers expressed their opinions and engaged in endless debate. Ultimately, at my insistence, a delegation headed by the Minister of Rites, bearing generous gifts, embarked on the long journey to the Western Continent.

The magic book was locked in a secret room in the palace, guarded day and night by high monks and royal magicians. Zhen Youcai and I secretly visited eccentric people in the folk, hoping to find a way to decipher the magic book's secrets.

"Your Majesty, please look at this." That day, Zhen Youcai ran into the imperial study excitedly holding an old parchment scroll.

"What is this?" I took the scroll and found many strange symbols and patterns drawn on it.

"I accidentally obtained this from an old, reclusive scholar," Zhen Youcai explained. "According to him, it contains an ancient language that may be related to the magic book."

I immediately summoned scholars versed in ancient writing, and they worked overnight to decipher the scroll's contents. After several days of effort, we finally uncovered the key information. It turns out the power of this grimoire isn't just simple magic; it's a power that can influence the human heart! It can amplify desires, manipulate thoughts, and even warp the soul!

"This is horrible!" I felt a chill run down my spine. "If this falls into the hands of someone with bad intentions, the consequences will be disastrous!"

Zhen Youcai nodded solemnly, "It seems we need to be more careful. There are many people in this world who covet this power."

His worries soon became a reality. Late one night, flames suddenly erupted from the inner courtyard of the imperial palace, and the cries of killing were deafening. A group of men in black descended from the sky like ghosts and headed straight for the secret room.

"Oh no, they are coming for the magic book!" I immediately understood what was happening and an ominous premonition arose in my heart.

"Protect His Majesty!" Zhen Youcai drew his sword and ordered the guards to protect me behind them, while he led a team of elite soldiers to fight hard against the attack of the men in black.

I was escorted by guards through a secret passage. However, in the chaos, I became separated from the main group. When I regained consciousness, I found myself in a remote palace, surrounded by blazing fires and the sounds of fierce fighting not far away.

"Your Majesty! Are you okay?"

It was Zhen Youcai! He was covered in blood, but he still fought hard to kill me.

"Youcai! Why are you here? Go and protect the magic book!" I shouted anxiously.

"It's too late, Your Majesty! The magic book... has been stolen!" He gasped, his tone filled with anxiety and uneasiness. "Now, we must leave here immediately!"

He took my hand and struggled to break out of the palace. However, at this moment, a powerful force erupted from the depths of the palace, and the entire earth was shaking violently...

The sky-high flames lit up half the sky red, and thick smoke billowed, rendering the night sky as bright as day. Zhen Youcai tightly protected me behind him, and my ears were filled with deafening shouts and the loud noise of weapons clashing.

"Protect His Majesty! Kill—" Zhen Youcai swung his sword like an enraged lion, taking a life with every strike. The guards behind him were also brave and fearless, engaging in a desperate struggle with the men in black.

Although I was afraid, I knew that now was not the time to retreat. I took a deep breath, tried to calm myself, and shouted loudly: "Soldiers, protect the country, now! Follow me and kill--"

Although my voice was faint, it miraculously carried far in the chaotic battlefield. The soldiers' morale was greatly boosted when they heard my voice, and they attacked more fiercely.

Zhen Youcai and I fought side by side. His swordsmanship was sharp and deadly, while I relied on the martial arts I learned from the intelligent magic circle to dodge nimbly and wait for the opportunity to strike. The two of us worked in perfect harmony, fighting our way through and heading deeper into the palace.

"Mengmeng, be careful!" Zhen Youcai suddenly shouted and threw me to the ground. The next second, a dark shadow passed over my head and slammed heavily into the palace wall not far away, making a loud noise.

"Ahem..." I struggled to get up from the ground, and then I saw clearly that the black shadow was actually a guard! He was bleeding from all seven orifices, his eyes were wide open, and he was obviously dead.

What shocked me even more was that what killed him was not a sword, but an invisible force!

"It's the magic book!" Zhen Youcai said with gritted teeth, his face livid. "It's starting to get out of control!"

My heart sank suddenly and a strong sense of unease came over me.

We fought our way to the depths of the palace and finally saw the leader of the group of men in black. He was wearing a black cloak, a hideous mask on his face, and holding high in his hand a book emitting a strange light. It was the stolen magic book!

"Hahaha, you're late after all!" The leader of the men in black laughed wildly, "This power belongs to me now!"

"Don't even think about succeeding!" Zhen Youcai roared, and rushed forward with his sword. However, before he could get close, he was blown away by an invisible force and fell heavily to the ground.

"You ants, you think you can challenge me?" The leader of the men in black laughed arrogantly, his eyes filled with contempt and disdain. He raised the magic book and muttered something. A terrifying wave of energy spread from the book, and the entire palace began to tremble violently.

I felt dizzy, my blood was churning, and I could barely stand.

"Stop! You will destroy yourself and the country by doing this!" I shouted loudly, suppressing my discomfort.

"Destroy it?" The leader of the men in black laughed out loud, as if he had heard something hilarious. "This world should have been destroyed long ago! I want everyone to submit to me and become my slaves!"

His laughter stopped abruptly, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. The mask on his face fell off, revealing a familiar face.

"It's you...!" I looked at him in disbelief, "How could it be you..."

He clutched his chest in pain, a flicker of struggle and regret in his eyes, but he was ultimately consumed by madness. He suddenly raised his head, looked toward the distant sky, and roared at the top of his lungs:

"I've... there's no turning back..."

Before he finished speaking, an even more powerful energy wave erupted from the magic book in his hand, like a flood bursting through a dam, instantly sweeping across the entire palace...