The Emperor's private chambers were a fortress of jade and spiritual defenses, guarded by Nascent Soul cultivators whose Qi shimmered like heat hazes. But to Aris, masked as the "Pale Alchemist," these were merely Level 50+ NPCs whose "Threat Detection" protocols were too rigid to notice a Living Curse.
[Target: Emperor Qin Long]
[Level: 80 (Dao Integration Stage - Partially Hidden)]
[Status: Desperate / Controlled Fury]
[Hidden Weakness: Deep emotional attachment to Princess Ling.]
"Master Alchemist," the Emperor's voice was a low growl, like thunder trapped in a cave. He sat on a throne carved from obsidian, his eyes burning with an authority that could crush lesser men. "You claim to have the cure for this… plague. Show me."
In the center of the room, on a bed draped in imperial silk, lay Princess Ling. She was barely sixteen, her normally vibrant skin now a sallow grey, her Qi-veins visible beneath her translucent skin, flickering like dying embers. Imperial Alchemists, their faces pale with failure, stood around her, muttering anxiously.
[Target: Princess Ling]
[Level: 25 (Core Formation Stage - Severely Compromised)]
[Status: Dying / Vulnerable]
[Hidden Potential: Pure Yang-Vein Physique (Perfect for a Yin-Fusion Formation).]
Aris walked to the bedside, Nox a silent, unmoving shadow at his feet. He ignored the Emperor and the other Alchemists. He simply observed the Princess with his Abyssal Eye.
"The Grey Wither is not a disease of the body," Aris said, his voice a calm, modulated baritone. "It is a parasite of the Qi, mimicking the collapse of the meridians. Conventional medicine only feeds it."
He paused, then reached into his robes, pulling out a single, jet-black Abyssal Foundation Pill. It pulsed with a faint violet light, mesmerizing every cultivator in the room.
"This pill contains a unique strain of Yin-Absorption Qi," Aris explained, a perfectly crafted lie. "It will bind with the Grey Wither, neutralize its parasitic nature, and cleanse the meridians."
"And the price?" the Emperor asked, his eyes never leaving the pill.
"To save the Princess, my price is to be allowed full access to your Imperial archives on Ancient Formations," Aris stated. "And the full authority to conduct my research within the palace walls for one month."
The Imperial Alchemists gasped. This was an unprecedented demand.
"That is... highly sensitive material," one elder sputtered.
"My daughter is dying!" the Emperor roared, silencing them. He looked at Aris, his gaze probing, seeking any hint of deception. But Aris's Mask of the Faceless held firm, projecting an aura of stoic, focused genius. And the Living Curse title ensured his underlying power remained completely hidden.
"Very well," the Emperor finally conceded, his voice heavy with reluctant hope. "If you save her, the archives are yours. And a position as Imperial Alchemist."
"Excellent," Aris replied. He then turned his attention back to Princess Ling.
This wasn't just about curing her. It was about turning her into a Living Formation—a powerful, hidden conduit to drain the Palace's vast spiritual reserves.
"For this to work," Aris said, picking up a silver needle from the bedside table, "I will need absolute silence and no interference. This is a delicate process."
He subtly activated his new skill, Abyssal Poison, focusing it on the silver needle. The needle now carried a microscopic fragment of a "Glitched Formation"—a spiritual virus that would rewrite Princess Ling's Pure Yang-Veins.
Aris gently picked up the Princess's hand. He located a precise acupuncture point on her wrist—a major Qi artery. He inserted the needle.
[Initiating 'Yin-Fusion Formation' on Princess Ling.]
[Target Bloodline: Pure Yang-Vein Physique - Highly Compatible.]
[Process: Injecting Glitched Formation. Rerouting Yang-Qi flow to create 'Invisible Array Nodes'.]
As the needle went in, a faint golden light pulsed from the Princess's body, then receded. Her eyes fluttered open.
"Father... I feel... stronger," she whispered. Her complexion, though still pale, had lost its grey pallor. Her Qi-veins, moments ago dying, now pulsed with a rejuvenated, albeit subtly altered, energy.
The Emperor stared. The other Alchemists rushed forward, scanning the Princess with their spiritual senses.
"Her meridians are clear!" one elder exclaimed in disbelief. "The Grey Wither is completely gone!"
"She lives!" another cried, joy replacing despair.
The Emperor rose, his Level 80 aura vibrating with immense relief and gratitude. He walked to Aris, a complex emotion in his eyes. "Master Alchemist... you have saved my daughter. The Empire owes you a great debt."
Aris simply bowed, his featureless mask giving away nothing. "The archives, your Majesty. And my month of research."
[Quest Completed: The Imperial Virus.]
Reward: 800 AP + Unlock 'Forbidden Archeology'.
Bonus Reward: Princess Ling is now a Tier 1 Living Formation: 'Palace Drain'. (Drains 0.1% of the Imperial Palace's Qi every hour, directly feeding the Host.)
[Abyssal Nexus: Post-Palace Status]
Aris now had the key to the Emperor's power. Not through brute force, but through silent, insidious subversion. He had a month to explore the forbidden archives, install more "viruses," and locate the Primal Root of the World Tree deep within the Emperor's vault.
The naive fools, Aris thought, a cold, calculating satisfaction settling in his core. They think they've been saved. They don't realize I just installed a backdoor in their entire operating system.