Sludge suction system

After the sacrificial ceremony, Zhu Xiang'er returned to the Zhu residence with a heavy heart. As soon as she stepped into her room, she anxiously called out, "Xiao Zha, Xiao Zha, come out quickly."

In an instant, a white figure, like a soft cloud, gracefully leaped down from the windowsill. A snow-white cat appeared before Zhu Xiang'er, its jewel-like blue eyes sparkling with intelligence and wit—it was Xiao Zha, the system's avatar. Xiao Zha meowed and, with elegant steps, lightly walked to Zhu Xiang'er's feet, affectionately rubbing its little head against her leg.

Zhu Xiang'er hurriedly squatted down and gently hugged Xiao Zha in her arms, her face full of anxiety. She said, "Xiao Zha, the things that happened at the sacrificial ceremony today were too strange. The sudden dark clouds, the burning altar, and His Majesty's sudden collapse. What exactly happened? Tell me quickly."

Little Zha flicked its fluffy tail, a thoughtful glint in its azure eyes. Then, it extended its delicate pink paw and gently patted Zhu Xiang'er's hand. A voice, audible only to her, echoed in her mind: "Host, I've sensed something unusual. Recently, someone has repeatedly seen the shadowy figure of the Wu Mai family head near the sacrificial site. Moreover, I detected that he seems to be studying an extremely evil forbidden technique, and that evil aura is remarkably similar to the dark power that appeared at the sacrificial site today."

"What? It's the head of the Wumai family?" Zhu Xiang'er's eyebrows furrowed instantly, her eyes filled with shock and anger. "How dare he do such a thing? Disrupting the sacrificial ceremony and even attacking His Majesty, what ulterior motive does he have?"

Xiao Zha's voice rang in Zhu Xiang'er's mind again: "According to my speculation, he has always coveted the position of High Priest. This time, he is likely trying to create chaos and smear the current High Priest so that he can rightfully ascend to the throne. Moreover, I feel that there may be other forces supporting him behind the scenes."

Zhu Xiang'er bit her lip, her worry and anger churning like a raging storm: "What should we do? His Majesty is unconscious, and the situation in Linglu Kingdom has become so tense. We must come up with a way to stop his conspiracy as soon as possible."

Xiao Zha nuzzled Zhu Xiang'er's cheek with its fluffy head and whispered comfortingly, "Host, don't be too anxious. Let's inform the High Priest about the situation first and let her decide on the next course of action. Also, I will continue to investigate in secret and try to find more evidence of Wu Mai's crimes."

Zhu Xiang'er nodded, her eyes gradually hardening. "Alright, let's do it that way. Xiao Zha, thank you for your hard work in gathering more information. We must protect Linglu Kingdom and never let Wumai's conspiracy succeed." With that, she gently put Xiao Zha down and began preparing to report this to her mother, Zhu Feng'er. Xiao Zha meowed and darted out of the room like a white lightning bolt, disappearing into the vast night.

When Zhu Feng'er returned to the Zhu residence from the Astrology Tower, night had already fallen. The last rays of sunlight on the horizon had faded, and thick, inky darkness spread rapidly like a tide, enveloping the entire Linglu Kingdom. Zhu Feng'er's expression was solemn, her steps hurried, her mind constantly pondering the countermeasures she had discussed with the Grand Preceptor Liu Jun, completely unaware that Zhu Xiang'er was anxiously searching for her throughout the residence.

Holding Xiao Zha in her arms, Zhu Xiang'er paced back and forth through the corridors of the Zhu residence, her eyes filled with anxiety and urgency. She would occasionally stop to inquire about her mother's whereabouts from passing maids and servants, but always received only shakes of the head and "I don't know." "Where did Mother go? Why hasn't she returned yet?" Zhu Xiang'er muttered to herself, her steps growing increasingly hurried.

Xiao Zha squirmed restlessly in Zhu Xiang'er's arms, a hint of worry in its azure eyes. "Host, don't worry, the High Priest should be back soon. Let's look again." Xiao Zha's voice echoed in Zhu Xiang'er's mind, trying to soothe her.

Just as Zhu Xiang'er was about to head to the front yard to look for her, she suddenly heard a familiar sound of footsteps. She quickly turned around and saw Zhu Feng'er, dressed in a plain-colored robe, walking briskly along the corridor. A hint of surprise flashed in Zhu Xiang'er's eyes, and she hurriedly went to greet her: "Mother, you're finally back! I've been looking for you everywhere."

Zhu Feng'er was slightly taken aback. Seeing Zhu Xiang'er's anxious appearance, her heart warmed, but her face still showed some fatigue and seriousness. "Xiang'er, it's so late, why haven't you rested yet? What brings you here?" Zhu Feng'er asked.

Zhu Xiang'er took a deep breath, gently placed Xiao Zha on the ground, and said seriously, "Mother, so many strange things happened at this sacrificial ceremony. Have you investigated what's going on?"

Zhu Feng'er's expression instantly turned serious. She squatted down and gently stroked Xiao Zha's head, then stood up and looked at Zhu Xiang'er with a firm gaze: "Xiang'er, you don't need to worry about these things. Mother will investigate and find out. This is my duty as the High Priest."

Zhu Xiang'er nodded, a hint of determination in her eyes: "Mother, I also want to help. Please let me participate in the investigation."

Looking at Zhu Xiang'er's determined eyes, Zhu Feng'er felt gratified and nodded gently: "Alright, Xiang'er, then you will assist me and the Grand Preceptor in investigating the truth behind this sacrificial accident!"

Night fell as dark as ink, thick and heavy, pressing down on the Spirit Deer Kingdom. Wu Mai hurried back to his residence, his steps urgent yet discreet, as if afraid of being discovered. He went straight to the secret chamber hidden deep within the residence, each step extremely light, like a ghost lurking in the darkness.

After entering the secret chamber, Wu Mai gently closed the heavy stone door and whispered, "Dongzi, come out."

With a soft footstep, Wu Dongzi emerged from the shadows of the secret room. Though only ten years old, Wu Dongzi was slender, yet his face possessed a maturity far beyond his years. His features bore a resemblance to Wu Mai's, and his eyes shone with intelligence and curiosity. "Father, why did you summon me so urgently?" Wu Dongzi asked.

Wu Mai walked to the stone table in the center of the secret chamber, slowly sat down, and gestured for Wu Dongzi to come closer. "Dongzi, you saw the chaos at today's sacrificial ceremony, didn't you?" Wu Mai's voice was low and hoarse, revealing an barely suppressed excitement. "All of this was Father's plan."

Wu Dongzi paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Father, are you saying that those dark clouds, the flames, and His Majesty's coma were all caused by you..."

Wu Mai nodded, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism: "That's right, this is just the beginning. Father has injected a trace of the evil energy of the demon into His Majesty's body, and he won't wake up for a while. The court is bound to be in chaos now, which is the perfect opportunity for our Wu family to rise."

Wu Dongzi frowned, somewhat worried, but his trust in his father prevented him from questioning him further. "But Father, isn't this too risky? What if someone finds out…?"

“Don’t worry, no one will find out.” Wu Mai stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth in the secret room. “I’m always careful in my actions, and all traces have been cleaned up. Moreover, I have secretly cultivated a force that is sufficient to deal with any situation.”

As she spoke, Wu Mai walked up to Wu Dongzi, placed her hands on his shoulders, and looked at him with a determined gaze: "Dongzi, our Wu family has been suppressed by other families for generations, but now we finally have a chance to turn things around. As long as we succeed, the Wu family will become the most powerful family in Linglu Kingdom, and no one will dare to look down on us anymore."

Feeling the strength in his father's hands, Wu Dongzi felt a surge of passion in his heart. He nodded heavily and said, "Father, I understand. I will listen to you and help you complete your plan."

Wu Mai smiled with satisfaction and patted Wu Dongzi on the shoulder: "Good, my son has indeed not disappointed me. From now on, you must work harder to cultivate witchcraft and prepare for the future of our Wu family."

In the flickering candlelight, the shadows of the father and son were stretched long, their eyes filled with a thirst for power. A massive conspiracy surrounding the Linglu Kingdom was quietly unfolding in this dark chamber.