Zi Yao’s eyes were fixed intently on Lu Xuan. This was the first time she had appeared in person to meet this martial prodigy.
In the next moment, a flicker of admiration passed through her gaze, and a storm of shock surged within her heart.
What a remarkable man, this Lu Xuan!
Zi Yao marveled inwardly.
The aura emanating from Lu Xuan was deep and razor-sharp, and it actually gave her a faint sense of danger—something she hadn’t felt in a long time.
That kind of pressure, aside from what she felt from the Empress Xia Mingyue herself, she had not experienced in ages.
As Zi Yao’s beautiful eyes drifted, her thoughts churned. Her estimation of Lu Xuan rose several notches.
A young man barely twenty years old, and yet he had pushed his martial cultivation to such a terrifying realm—it was simply inconceivable.
Even outside the sealed borders of the Great Xia Dynasty, Zi Yao had never witnessed a prodigy quite like Lu Xuan.
This Lu Xuan was either a once-in-ten-thousand-years martial genius, or he must have stumbled upon some heaven-defying fortune!
Still, Zi Yao had no desire to covet whatever opportunities Lu Xuan possessed.
After all, he now wielded the power of a Primordial Spirit True Person—his wings had grown full.
On top of that, Lu Xuan seemed to possess an unfathomably profound movement technique, and had even cultivated a trace of spatial law.
Throughout the entire Great Xia Dynasty, no one could guarantee capturing Lu Xuan without fail.
Because with the power of spatial law, Lu Xuan could ignore the seals of heaven and earth, treading through the void as easily as walking on open ground.
As he stood now, his strength had reached a level that was difficult to fathom.
Unless that legendary Cave Void True Lord were to personally intervene, perhaps there might be a sliver of hope of restraining him.
Yet even for a supreme powerhouse like a Cave Void True Lord, facing Lu Xuan’s mastery of spatial law, there was no absolute guarantee.
After all, the power of spatial law was no ordinary force of heaven and earth.
Zi Yao knew clearly in her heart that Lu Xuan’s existence had likely already transcended the bounds of ordinary martial artists.
Perhaps, within this Great Xia Dynasty, no one could truly bind him anymore.
Zi Yao sighed inwardly, a complex expression flickering in her eyes.
At that thought, she collected herself. A hint of gravity settled upon her fair, cool features.
At the same time, a faint, smoldering anger seemed to lurk in the depths of her brows.
Then, Zi Yao’s voice rang out again, carrying a bone-chilling coldness, low and clear.
“Master Lu, the reason I’ve summoned you here today concerns Wentai Prefecture in the Eastern Domain.”
She paused briefly, then continued: “Due to certain reasons, I am unable to leave the capital for the time being. So this matter can only be entrusted to you, Master Lu.”
As she finished, Zi Yao’s gaze was icy. Clearly, this matter was no trivial affair—it had touched upon certain bottom lines.
Lu Xuan remained composed upon hearing this. He merely gave a slight nod, though a spark of curiosity ignited within him.
Wentai Prefecture, Eastern Domain?
Previously, Lu Xuan had been based in Anzhou of the Southern Domain, so he had never heard of Wentai Prefecture in the East.
What exactly happened there?
Something that could make even this elusive, mysterious Master of the Mysterious Bird Guard treat it with such grave solemnity?
Zi Yao’s voice was low and heavy, her gaze laced with coldness: “Master Lu, a few days ago, a Ghost Realm appeared in the main city of Haoran Prefecture, Wentai Prefecture, Eastern Domain.”
She continued: “However, this Ghost Realm seems to possess its own sentience. It didn’t swallow the entire city outright—instead, it sealed off Haoran Prefecture’s main city.”
“At the same time, the Wen Clan—a major family within Haoran Prefecture—evacuated entirely, relocating to Mingxin Prefecture, which borders Haoran.”
At this point, Zi Yao’s tone carried a hint of suspicion and wariness: “The Wen Clan is a foundational pillar of Haoran Prefecture. Their sudden mass evacuation is by no means coincidental.”
Lu Xuan’s expression shifted slightly, as if confirming what Zi Yao had just said.
“A Ghost Realm?” he repeated in a low voice, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.
If he had heard correctly, a sentient Ghost Realm had appeared in Haoran Prefecture, Wentai Prefecture, Eastern Domain!
This kind of supernatural anomaly was something even he had rarely encountered.
Lu Xuan’s usually calm heart began to stir, as if a flame of excitement was igniting wildly in his chest.
His eyes burned with fervent light, and a faint, meaningful smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Just when I was feeling drowsy, a pillow arrives,” he murmured to himself, barely concealing his excitement.
Anomalies were classified into ranks: Mortal, Perilous, Fierce, Savage, Calamitous, and Cataclysmic!
The Calamitous rank was further divided into two levels: Disaster-Class and Cataclysm-Class.
Disaster-Class anomalies possessed a Domains of Strangeness.
Only martial artists above the Outer Gang Grandmaster level could rely on their scorching, blazing Gang Yuan to counter the eerie Yin Qi of such anomalies.
Cataclysm-Class anomalies, on the other hand, wielded something even more powerful than a Domain—a Realm of Strangeness.
The Realm of Strangeness, also known as the Ghost Realm, was the most extreme Yin-corrupted place between heaven and earth. Within it lay Yin-Underworld Force, far more potent than ordinary Yin Qi.
This Yin-Underworld Force within a Ghost Realm was comparable to the Heaven and Earth Force wielded by martial artists at the Divine Mansion realm.
In fact, under this terrifyingly potent Yin-Underworld Force, even a Divine Mansion martial artist’s Heaven and Earth Force could be corroded and annihilated.
A Ghost Realm could not only devour all living things, but also erode the Heaven and Earth Force within it, even altering the very landscape of that domain.
Thus, when facing an anomaly that possessed a Ghost Realm, even Divine Mansion martial artists dared not tread lightly.
One misstep, and the Heaven and Earth Force within their Divine Mansion could be tainted by the Yin-Underworld Force, leading to the complete destruction of their spirit and consciousness.
Lu Xuan’s thoughts surged, a deep purple radiance gleaming in his eyes.
What exactly is the connection between this Cataclysm-Class abomination and the Wen Clan of Haoran Prefecture?
Zi Yao’s words clearly implied a focus on the Wen Clan—even more so than on the Ghost Realm itself.
This stirred a flicker of doubt in Lu Xuan’s mind.
Zi Yao caught that flash of confusion in Lu Xuan’s eyes, but she did not speak.
Instead, she raised her jade-like hand and slowly swept her thin, elegant sleeve—a graceful yet refined motion.
With that wave, a pitch-black jade box, gleaming with a mysterious luster, materialized before Lu Xuan’s eyes.
Then, as if lifted by an invisible hand, the black jade box floated gently in midair.
“Master Lu, everything you wish to know is within this box.”
Zi Yao parted her crimson lips, her voice crisp and cold, devoid of emotion.
She paused briefly, fixing Lu Xuan with a deep gaze, and spoke again: “This matter is of utmost importance. It must not be leaked under any circumstances.”
“His Majesty has decreed: should it be confirmed that the entity within that Ghost Realm is that person…”
Zi Yao’s voice suddenly turned icy, a sharp killing intent flashing in her eyes. “…the Wen Clan is to be exterminated without mercy!”
Lu Xuan’s expression tightened slightly, a flicker of shock passing through his eyes.
He hadn’t expected this matter to involve a decree from the Empress herself.
“Deputy Master Mu Yun arrived in Wentai Prefecture, Eastern Domain, yesterday. He is there awaiting your command, Master Lu.”
“He has what you will need.”
The moment her words ended, Zi Yao’s figure blurred and transformed into a dazzling beam of violet light.
The interplay of purple radiance was dazzling and hypnotic. In an instant, Zi Yao’s form vanished from within the Mysterious Bird Guard Grand Hall.
All that remained was the faintly trembling air, as if to prove that what had just transpired was not an illusion.
Within the hall, only Lu Xuan was left, along with the black jade box still hovering in midair.
Lu Xuan fixed his gaze on the floating black box, his expression calm, hands clasped behind his back. He made no move to reach for it.
Then, the very next second, as if pulled by an unseen force, the black jade box shot toward Lu Xuan with a soft whoosh, stirring a faint breeze.
In the blink of an eye, the box came to a steady stop right before his eyes.
With a soft click, the black jade box opened on its own.
Inside, a quaint jade slip lay quietly.
The jade slip was yellowish in color, its surface carved with a lifelike black mystic bird, seemingly poised to take flight.
Then, under the influence of Lu Xuan’s primordial spirit power, the ancient jade slip slowly lifted from the box and floated in the air.
It unfurled before Lu Xuan’s eyes.
The contents within the ancient jade slip were now fully revealed to him.
To Lu Xuan’s surprise, when the jade slip unrolled, it contained only a few simple lines of text.
Those few lines lay plainly before him, without any unnecessary flourish.
Yet they struck like a heavy bomb, instantly stirring a tumultuous storm within Lu Xuan’s heart.
Lu Xuan’s brow furrowed slightly, his pupils contracting to pinpoints.
A hint of shock flickered across his face, a trace of surprise showing in his eyes.
Wentai Prefecture, Eastern Domain!
The main city of Haoran Prefecture has been surrounded by a mysterious Ghost Realm. Confirmed by the Zhoumu of Wentai Prefecture to be a Cataclysm-Class anomaly.
The Cataclysm-Class anomaly is suspected to have been formed after Princess Xingyue’s death, corrupted by the Heaven and Earth Force that leaked from the Lingxu Ruins.
Princess Xingyue!
Princess Xingyue—Lu Xuan didn’t recognize the name.
But anyone in the Great Xia Dynasty who bore the title “Princess” was undeniably a daughter of the previous emperor.
Damn!
Lu Xuan marveled inwardly.
So a princess of the Great Xia Dynasty had perished, and had transformed into a ghostly entity similar to Zhang Yingxue and Wu Wei.
“It seems there’s a monumental secret hidden within this,” Lu Xuan murmured to himself, a sharp glint flashing deep in his eyes.
In a world of martial cultivation, Lu Xuan found it hard to imagine what could possibly have brought about the death of a dynasty’s princess.
But the answer was obvious!
Someone had orchestrated the princess’s murder—and with deep-seated hatred, at that!
No wonder even this elusive Master had to appear personally to explain the matter.
It turned out to involve the secrets of the Great Xia imperial clan!
“The Wen Clan, is it?”
Then, Lu Xuan’s expression returned to its usual calm. He waved his hand casually.
The ancient jade slip floating before him, along with the black jade box beside it—
In an instant, as if struck by a heavy blow, they crumbled to dust, dissipating into the invisible heavens and earth.
Enough.
No matter who was involved, all Lu Xuan needed to confirm was whether that Cataclysm-Class anomaly inside Haoran Prefecture’s main city was indeed Princess Xingyue.
A Cataclysm-Class anomaly—he wondered just how many System Points it could bring him.
As for Princess Xingyue’s appearance…
He would only know once he reached Wentai Prefecture in the Eastern Domain and met up with Mu Yun.
Mu Yun, as Deputy Master of the Mysterious Bird Guard, would naturally know the princess’s identity.
Lu Xuan didn’t depart in the same ethereal manner as Zi Yao. Instead, he walked openly out of the hall.
He still needed to find a map—after all, he had never even heard of Wentai Prefecture in the Eastern Domain.
Outside the hall, the same five women stood like pines, flanking the entrance on both sides.
When they saw Lu Xuan emerge, they moved in perfect unison—raising their hands and clasping them in salute.
“We pay our respects to Master Lu!”
Their greeting rang out crisp and strong, echoing through the open space.
Lu Xuan’s expression remained calm as his gaze swept over each of them in turn.
Finally, his eyes settled on the leading woman. He spoke in a deep voice: “Get me a map of Wentai Prefecture in the Eastern Domain. The sooner, the better.”
“Yes, Master Lu!”
The lead woman responded immediately.
Not long after Lu Xuan left, clutching the map of the Eastern Domain, a figure slowly materialized outside the towering gates of the Mysterious Bird Guard headquarters.
Up close, it was a hunched old man—thin and gaunt, wrapped tightly in a flamboyant purple robe.
This purple-robed elder walked step by step, slow yet steady, toward the headquarters’ main gate.
If Lu Xuan were still there, one glance would have been enough to recognize the old man.
Wasn’t this exactly the man he had kept in mind—Wu Jiu of the Wu Clan?
At the gate, the stationed Mysterious Bird Guards suddenly felt an inexplicable, immense pressure.
This pressure felt like an invisible net closing in from all directions, suffocating them, making it hard to breathe.
Just as the tension reached its peak, Li Chengxing appeared soundlessly at the gate.
He wore a dark red Mysterious Bird uniform, his posture straight and imposing. His face was stern, his eyes sharp and piercing.
With Li Chengxing’s arrival, that unsettling pressure dissipated instantly—like snow melting under the spring sun.
The guards finally relaxed, letting out collective sighs of relief, and lowered their guard.
The Mysterious Bird Guards on either side bowed deeply and respectfully to Li Chengxing.
“We pay our respects to Deputy Master!”
“Mm.” Li Chengxing gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
Then, his brow furrowed, and his cold, sharp gaze shot straight at Wu Jiu. His eyes were full of hostility, and he spoke without the slightest courtesy.
“Wu Jiu, what are you doing here again?”
“Stop trying to act like a senior here, old man. This isn’t your Wu Clan.”
“This is the capital’s Mysterious Bird Guard. Aside from members of the Guard, no outsiders are allowed entry!”
Wu Jiu had come once a few days earlier, looking for Lu Xuan—and Li Chengxing had flatly refused him.
Now he was back again!
Strange. When did Old Lu ever get involved with the Wu Clan?
