Chapter 1: My Life Has Been Like Walking on Thin Ice

"Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty."

A duck-like, shrill voice rang in Xiao Mo’s ears.

Xiao Mo slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was a person dressed as a eunuch.

He looked around at the vast room.

In an instant, memories flooded into Xiao Mo’s mind.

In his previous life, Xiao Mo was an orphan who worked his way through college and entered the workforce after graduation.

Just as his life was starting to get better, Xiao Mo was walking on a national highway when he was struck by a heavy-duty truck.

Xiao Mo had transmigrated into the body of an emperor who was also named "Xiao Mo."

But the situation of his predecessor was not exactly ideal.

Because the late emperor had no heirs, Xiao Mo had been adopted.

After the late emperor passed away, he entrusted Xiao Mo to four ministers. However, Yan Shang'ao gradually monopolized power, formed cliques, acted tyrannically, and even arbitrarily executed Su Su, who was also a regent minister.

On top of that, the current Empress Dowager was Yan Shang'ao’s older sister.

With these two working from the inside and the outside, the current emperor—himself—was nothing more than a mere figurehead.

"Your Majesty, it is time to take your medicine." Wei Xun held a medicine bowl, serving by Xiao Mo’s side.

Wei Xun was Xiao Mo’s personal eunuch, having once served the late emperor.

Although Wei Xun appeared to be obedient to Yan Shang'ao on the surface, Xiao Mo knew in his heart that he was still loyal to him.

After Xiao Mo drank the bitter medicine, a palace maid walked in and reported, "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister heard that you have caught a cold and has come specifically to visit you."

"Quickly, let the Prime Minister in," Xiao Mo said hurriedly, preparing to get out of bed to welcome him.

Although Xiao Mo was very dissatisfied with Yan Shang'ao, he still had to play the part.

Besides, by acting harmless, he could lull the other party into a false sense of security.

He would find an opportunity to get rid of Yan Shang'ao later.

A short while later.

A middle-aged man wearing a long sword strode in, bowed, and said loudly, "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

Looking at Yan Shang'ao’s appearance, Xiao Mo narrowed his eyes.

Wearing a sword into the palace.

This showed just how little the man regarded him as the emperor.

"Why must you bow, Prime Minister?" Xiao Mo hurriedly stepped forward to help Yan Shang'ao up. "Why have you come, Prime Minister?"

"I heard that Your Majesty caught a cold, so I came to check on your health."

As he spoke, Yan Shang'ao looked at the palace maids in the room.

"Someone, drag these maids out and execute them. If they can't even take care of His Majesty, what use are they?"

"Prime Minister, have mercy!"

The maids were so frightened that they knelt down and begged for mercy.

Several eunuchs walked in, preparing to drag the maids away.

How could Xiao Mo not know that Yan Shang'ao was deliberately killing these maids to show him?

The reason was that not long ago, Wang Can, the Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, had secretly entered the palace to discuss with his predecessor how to get rid of the "traitor."

As a result, Yan Shang'ao found out.

But Wang Can was the second-in-command of the Censorate, and even the emperor could not easily execute the officials of the Great Zhou.

So, Yan Shang'ao found a pretext to demote Wang Can and send him away from the capital.

By killing these maids, Yan Shang'ao wanted to express: "Your Majesty, don't have any other ideas; everything around you is decided by me."

"Prime Minister, the late emperor always taught me to have a benevolent heart. These maids do not deserve death; let them be sent out of the palace," Xiao Mo said slowly.

Yan Shang'ao stared at Xiao Mo for a moment before speaking, "Since Your Majesty says so, then give them each ten strokes of the cane and let them leave the palace."

Yan Shang'ao waved his hand, signaling the eunuchs to drag the maids out.

"Your Majesty must take care of your health. I will personally select a few maids to look after you."

"I have troubled you, Prime Minister," Xiao Mo said with an honest, simple smile.

"Then Your Majesty, please rest well. I shall take my leave."

"Go slowly, Prime Minister. Eunuch Wei, see the Prime Minister out."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After seeing Yan Shang'ao off, Xiao Mo lay back on the bed, unable to help but think of a phrase: "My life is like walking on thin ice; can I really reach the other side?"

And just as Xiao Mo was feeling sentimental, a book appeared in his mind.

The cover bore three characters—*The Hundred Lives Book*.

At Xiao Mo’s mental command, the scroll opened on its own, and characters emerged from it

【*The Hundred Lives Book*. By using this book, the host can create characters and experience different lives.

In each life, the host will receive different tasks. Completing these tasks will grant certain rewards.

Do you wish to use it?】

Xiao Mo decisively chose "Use!"

【Please write the name of the character you wish to create.】

Xiao Mo thought for a moment. Since he was experiencing a life, he might as well use his original name; it would make it more immersive.

【Avatar "Xiao Mo" has been created.】

*The Hundred Lives Book* released a massive suction force like a black hole.

Xiao Mo’s consciousness was instantly pulled into it.

A short while later, as his consciousness recovered, Xiao Mo found himself standing in front of a wooden hut on a mountain.

*The Hundred Lives Book* appeared in Xiao Mo’s mind again

【The host has established a new avatar named Xiao Mo.

The flow of time within *The Hundred Lives Book* is one hundred times faster than the outside world.

When the host's consciousness leaves *The Hundred Lives Book*, time within the book will pause.】

【Character Background: You are the son of Prince Jing of the Liang Kingdom, Xiao Jing. Your talent is average, but your father cannot stand your mediocrity.

When you were eight years old, your father knocked you unconscious and transplanted a young girl's innate sword bone into your body, lying to you that it was an acquired awakening.

From then on, you became a genius of the sword path. At only eighteen years old, you are already a Nascent Soul stage sword cultivator.

However, you are a person of integrity. When you learned that your sword bone came from a young girl, and that she had become a cripple because the bone was forcibly removed, you were devastated.

You had a huge argument with your family, ran away from home, and joined the Longquan Sword Sect, becoming an idle elder. At the same time, you constantly search for the whereabouts of that young girl, wanting to use everything you have to compensate her.】

【Task Issued: The young girl you are looking for is named Jiang Qingyi. She will appear on Xuanwu Street in Black Wind City (the host will be continuously tracked to Jiang Qingyi's location until found). Please bring her up the mountain and teach her sword techniques.

The task duration is fifty years.

Upon task settlement, the higher Jiang Qingyi's cultivation level, the more generous the rewards the host will receive.】

"Fifty years... fortunately, the time in *The Hundred Lives Book* is one hundred times faster than the outside world, otherwise I wouldn't be able to complete this task even if I died."

Xiao Mo withdrew his attention from the book and found a pond to look at his reflection.

This avatar looked exactly like he did in his previous life.

That was fine; it made it easier for him to immerse himself.

Picking up the long sword on the table, Xiao Mo headed straight down the mountain.

"Buns for sale!"

"Freshly steamed buns!"

On Xuanwu Street in Black Wind City, the owner of a bun shop was shouting energetically.

A short, thin little beggar with short hair, wearing tattered hemp clothes and a face covered in dirt—making it impossible to tell if they were a boy or a girl—was sneaking closer.

Taking advantage of the owner's distraction, the little beggar wrapped a few buns in a dirty cloth and ran!

"It's you stealing buns again!"

The owner realized what was happening, grabbed a rolling pin, and chased after them.

"You stop right there! I'm going to break your legs this time!"