Yet the Imperial Palace and the Emperor were both guarded by a mysterious force known as the Forbidden Law—an arcane power capable of nullifying all forms of magic and cultivation. This was the very reason why even great orthodox sects were wary of letting the imperial bloodline grow too strong. Thus, Li Qing could not simply walk into the palace and seek audience.
Instead, he approached a certain imperial prince—one who was, at that very moment, wracked with anxiety. The Emperor had recently issued an edict forbidding all members of the royal family from leaving the capital. The prince, aware of the current volatile situation, had no desire to die. He was seeking a gift of worth to curry favor with the Emperor.
Exploiting this, Li Qing quietly slipped a letter into the prince's study. The letter had been disguised by the Art of Wishing, taking the appearance of an ancient tome—placed at the most prominent spot within the room.
