Mingxin Prefecture, the prefectural city.
In the eastern district, outside the ruins of the Wen family, stood a crude wooden structure that had been hastily built.
An elderly man dressed in a cyan Xuanniao uniform strode over quickly, with several Yellow-rank Xuanniao Guards following behind him.
The old man’s expression was solemn, and his steps were hurried—clearly, he had something urgent to report.
This old man was precisely the Mystic-rank Xuanniao Envoy of Mingxin Prefecture. After entering the wooden structure,
he quickly walked up to the desk at the front and bowed respectfully to the man seated there, speaking with great deference: “This subordinate, the Mystic Envoy of Mingxin Prefecture, pays respects to the Deputy Commissioner, my lord!”
The man behind the desk was none other than Mu Yun. He slightly raised his eyes and glanced at the Mingxin Prefecture Governor.
“Hm?”
“Speak.”
The Xuanniao Envoy took a deep breath and said with a trace of nervousness: “Deputy Commissioner, my lord, the Mingxin Prefecture Governor has gone missing!”
“This subordinate found some white bone powder of human remains at the place where he disappeared.”
“Therefore, this subordinate believes that the Mingxin Prefecture Governor has very likely… been murdered.”
Upon hearing this, Mu Yun’s brow furrowed slightly, and a cold glint flashed through his eyes.
He slowly stood up, his voice somewhat low: “White bone powder?”
“It seems someone dares to make a move right under the noses of our Xuanniao Guards.”
Who in the world didn’t know by now that the Xuanniao Guards had temporarily taken control of Mingxin Prefecture? Yet someone still dared to openly kill the Mingxin Prefecture Governor.
This was clearly aimed at them—the Xuanniao Guards.
The Mystic Envoy of Mingxin Prefecture lowered his head, his face filled with self-blame: “It is this subordinate’s dereliction of duty, failing to detect the anomaly in time. I beg the Deputy Commissioner to punish me!”
Mu Yun’s brow twitched slightly. He waved his hand, his tone somewhat indifferent: “Now is not the time to assign blame.”
“Currently, in the prefectural city of Mingxin Prefecture, ill-intentioned people have appeared. You first take people to deal with the matter of the Mingxin Prefecture Governor.”
“Oh, and by the way, send someone to notify the Wen Tai Prefecture Governor as well!”
The Mystic Envoy of Mingxin Prefecture raised his head and hastily nodded: “Yes, this subordinate will see to it immediately!”
Mu Yun waved his hand, signaling him to withdraw.
The Mystic Envoy of Mingxin Prefecture bowed, then quickly left the wooden structure with several Yellow-rank Xuanniao Guards.
The Mystic Envoy of Mingxin Prefecture had just left, and the sound of his hurried footsteps still lingered in the distance.
However, after this brief moment of silence—
A red shadow flickered like a ghost. In just a few strides, it had already appeared before Deputy Commissioner Mu Yun.
It was an old man dressed in a red-robed Xuanniao uniform.
Except the old man’s face was extremely ugly, so gloomy it looked as though water could drip from it.
He clearly no longer cared about etiquette—he even omitted the bowing gesture—and directly blurted out in a loss of composure:
“Commissioner Mu!”
“Last night, Earth Envoy Wu Chong, along with three Cyan-rank Xuanniao Envoys and ten Yellow-rank Xuanniao Envoys, all went missing!”
Upon hearing this, Mu Yun’s already somewhat grave expression instantly darkened. He immediately rose from his chair.
The next moment, Mu Yun’s gaze turned sharp as a blade, piercing straight toward the red-robed old man: “What did you say?”
“Earth Envoy Wu Chong has gone missing!”
Panic!
Mu Yun was truly panicked.
This time, when Mu Yun came to Wen Tai Prefecture in the Eastern Domain, he had only brought five Xuanniao Guard Earth Envoys.
Wu Chong happened to be one of those Earth Envoys, and Earth Envoy Wu Chong was a seasoned martial arts grandmaster at the minor accomplishment stage of the Outer Gang Grandmaster realm. His strength was profound and unfathomable.
Even an existence at the major accomplishment stage of the Outer Gang Grandmaster realm or above could not possibly have subdued Wu Chong silently and without a trace!
Moreover, at Earth Envoy Wu Chong’s side, there were three Cyan-rank Xuanniao Envoys and ten Yellow-rank Xuanniao Envoys.
The red-robed old man took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly: “Yes, Earth Envoy Wu Chong, along with three Cyan-rank Xuanniao Envoys and ten Yellow-rank Xuanniao Envoys.”
“Last night, when they went to the western district, they suddenly lost contact.”
“By the time we realized something was wrong, they had all gone missing.”
The western district?
That Mingxin Prefecture Governor also seemed to have disappeared in the western district!
Thinking of this, Mu Yun’s fist beneath his long sleeve suddenly clenched tight, his knuckles turning white from the force.
“Earth Envoy Wu Chong… even he has gone missing?”
“How is this possible!”
Mu Yun’s voice was filled with extreme fury, as if squeezed out from between his teeth.
“Damn bastards, just who dares to lay hands on the Xuanniao Guards?”
“This Commissioner will absolutely not let them off!”
Amidst his rage, an ominous premonition quietly rose in Mu Yun’s heart.
The red-robed old man lowered his head. In his eyes, a faint red glow flickered unintentionally—extremely bizarre.
“It is this subordinate’s dereliction of duty, failing to detect the anomaly in time.”
“I beg Commissioner Mu to punish me!”
In a flash, the furious expression on Mu Yun’s face instantly twisted, becoming cold and severe beyond measure.
Instinctively, he swept a rapid glance from the corner of his eye toward the red-robed old man.
Immediately after, Mu Yun steadily retreated several steps, putting distance between himself and the red-robed old man.
“What audacity!”
Then, Mu Yun bellowed at the red-robed old man, his voice like a great bell tolling, shaking the air around them to a standstill.
“Just who are you, really?!”
“You dare to lay hands on the Xuanniao Guards’ people, and even brazenly manipulate Earth Envoy Yuan Feng!”
As he spoke, the Qingming Sword, which had been quietly resting on Mu Yun’s back, was suddenly awakened.
In an instant, the Qingming Sword transformed into a dazzling azure light. With the speed of a thunderclap, it shot toward Mu Yun’s right hand with a “swoosh.”
Within the previously calm wooden structure, a piercing, bone-chilling, awe-inspiring sword aura erupted with a thunderous boom.
Invisible sword energy roared wildly, then swept outward in all directions.
Wherever the sword energy passed, the air seemed to be sliced by sharp blades, emitting a sharp “zizz” sound.
It was no wonder Mu Yun was acting so nervously.
One had to know that the Yuan Feng Earth Envoy standing before Mu Yun was equal in strength to the missing Wu Chong Earth Envoy—both were experts at the minor accomplishment stage of the Outer Gang Grandmaster realm.
To be able to control a martial arts grandmaster with such eerie means—Mu Yun had simply never heard of such a thing.
Faced with this unknown and terrifying method, the wariness in Mu Yun’s heart instantly surged to its peak, every nerve stretched taut.
Earth Envoy Yuan Feng—or rather, he was no longer the real Earth Envoy Yuan Feng at this moment.
Yuan Feng slowly raised his head, his eyes flickering with an eerie red glow.
The corners of his mouth curled into a profound arc. The surprise on his face was fleeting, replaced by endless coldness and grimness.
Yuan Feng spoke with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes: “Commissioner Mu, you are indeed keen-minded.”
“No wonder you are the Deputy Commissioner of the Xuanniao Guards—your reputation is well-deserved.”
After a pause, Yuan Feng let out a low, cold laugh and continued: “However, I am quite curious—just how did you see through my disguise?”
“Under the cover of this strand of my power, to see through my true face, only an existence at the Primordial Spirit True Person level could do so.”
As Yuan Feng spoke, he seemed to sense something. He abruptly turned around, his gaze shooting toward the door.
At this moment, a person had appeared outside the door.
When his gaze fell upon the person outside, a meaningful smile instantly appeared on Yuan Feng’s face, as if he had seen someone expected yet intriguing.
“So it really is you!”
His tone rose slightly, carrying a hint of teasing and amusement. “The renowned Commissioner Lu—I’ve long heard of you, I’ve long heard of you!”
“I had been wondering just who this mysterious figure was, hiding their head and tail, lurking in the shadows to spy. I never expected it to be you, Commissioner Lu.”
Yuan Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, a complex and indecipherable glint flashing through them.
“In the entire Great Xia Imperial Dynasty, for ten thousand years, a martial arts prodigy like you is a rare sight.”
“Even the Great Xia Saint Ancestor, in terms of martial arts talent and achievements, would likely pale in comparison to you.”
These words of praise were filled with an unfathomable meaning.
Having said that, Yuan Feng took a slight step forward, his tone suddenly becoming solemn, word by word:
“Lu Xuan!”
Outside the door!
Lu Xuan raised his eyes to look into the room, staring intently at the bizarre Yuan Feng.
Immediately, Lu Xuan’s gaze sharpened. A flicker of suspicion crossed his deep eyes, and his brow instinctively knitted into a “川” shape.
“This aura… it’s actually the power of Primordial Spirit?”
Lu Xuan’s voice was low and powerful, as if containing endless strength, reverberating through the surrounding air. Every word carried an authority that could not be underestimated.
“Just who are you?”
Lu Xuan’s perception was incredibly powerful. The very moment he discovered Earth Envoy Yuan Feng,
he immediately sensed that a strange and unfamiliar power was coiling around Yuan Feng.
This power was like countless invisible threads, tightly binding him.
Every move Yuan Feng made was precisely controlled by this power, exuding an indescribable eeriness.
“Who I am exactly, Commissioner Lu, you will know in the future. We will meet again very soon!”
Yuan Feng’s mouth twisted into a sinister smile, sending a chill down one’s spine.
The next moment, two piercing red beams shot from his eyes, like evil fire from the abyss, dyeing everything around them in an eerie hue.
“I came here this time merely to catch a glimpse of Commissioner Lu’s elegance.”
“They say there are no false scholars under a great reputation—how true indeed.”
A mocking smile surfaced on Yuan Feng’s face. “Even that old thing Wen Fengyuan fell at your hands.”
“Interesting, truly interesting!”
“Heh heh heh!”
Under Lu Xuan’s gaze, Yuan Feng suddenly threw his head back and laughed maniacally.
The laughter was sharp and piercing, causing Lu Xuan’s eyes to slowly narrow.
But within this wild, unrestrained laughter, a look of pain suddenly appeared on Yuan Feng’s face.
This pain—it was as if an invisible force was violently tearing at Yuan Feng’s soul.
Yuan Feng’s face contorted, blue veins bulging like earthworms, each one distinct. The muscles all over his body swelled rapidly, his skin stretched to near transparency.
It seemed that in the next second, Yuan Feng would be unable to endure it any longer and was about to burst apart.
At this critical, hair-trigger moment, Lu Xuan’s eyes suddenly rippled with a faint purple glow, radiating a soul-stirring light.
An indescribable heaven-and-earth pressure, centered on Lu Xuan, rapidly spread outward in a ring shape, instantly enveloping the entire wooden structure.
The pressure was so intense that in the next instant, all things in heaven and earth seemed to have been pressed with a pause button.
Everyone, including Mu Yun—all the Xuanniao Guards—froze in place, unable to move.
Time at this moment seemed to lose all meaning; everything was frozen in the river of time.
“Hmph!”
“How dare you!”
Lu Xuan let out a cold snort. Though his voice was not loud, it was like the deafening toll of a heavenly bell, shaking one’s eardrums.
“Insolence!”
Lu Xuan’s final furious shout was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. Rolling sound waves carried supreme authority,
and even the solid earth trembled beneath it. Cracks rapidly spread outward in all directions.
“You!”
Yuan Feng’s reddened eyes instantly widened to their fullest, staring at Lu Xuan in utter disbelief.
His lips quivered. He had just uttered a single word when it abruptly stopped.
Because that strand of bizarre power—like a maggot attached to bone, which had been firmly lodged in him and recklessly controlling him—
under Lu Xuan’s furious shout, melted away like snow and ice meeting the blazing sun, instantly dissolving. It was annihilated cleanly by Lu Xuan with the force of a thunderbolt.
“He’s fine now.”
As Lu Xuan’s words fell, he did not turn to look at Mu Yun. His figure shifted, and he steadily strode forward.
Lu Xuan’s body gradually merged with heaven and earth, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished without a trace.
Mu Yun stared blankly in the direction where Lu Xuan had disappeared. Quite a while passed before he shifted his gaze to Earth Envoy Yuan Feng, who lay collapsed on the ground.
At this moment, Mu Yun’s mind was a complete blank. He still hadn’t recovered from the scene just now.
After all, the reason he had been able to detect something amiss with Earth Envoy Yuan Feng was entirely thanks to Lu Xuan’s secret voice transmission of warning.
On the other side.
Lu Xuan trod upon an alternate dimension, threads of purple aura coiling around him.
His gaze was like a torch, locked onto a certain direction, his figure flickering unpredictably.
Clearly, the person secretly manipulating Earth Envoy Yuan Feng was blatantly provoking Lu Xuan.
The other party had attempted, right in front of Lu Xuan, to take Yuan Feng’s life.
This was undoubtedly an extreme humiliation—like a hard slap across Lu Xuan’s face.
This kind of toying with human life was an outright declaration of defiance toward Lu Xuan!
Since the other party was so arrogant, Lu Xuan would certainly not let this mysterious person off easily.
In Lu Xuan’s world, no one had ever been able to act so presumptuously before him and still retreat safely, wholly intact.
Host: Lu Xuan
Realm: Divine Mansion True Person (????)
Techniques: Heaven-Burning Blade Art 7/9, A Thousand Miles in a Single Step 3/9, Undying and Indestructible 6/9
Points: 14,660
Those heaven-and-earth spiritual objects from the Wen family had provided Lu Xuan with a total of 207,000 system points.
Combined with the previous 27,660 system points, that made a total of 234,660 system points.
Evolving A Thousand Miles in a Single Step to the third level had consumed 100,000 system points.
Evolving Undying and Indestructible to the fifth and sixth levels had consumed 50,000 system points the first time, and 70,000 the second time.
As for the Heaven-Burning Blade Art, it had actually exceeded Lu Xuan’s expectations.
Over 230,000 system points were still not enough to evolve it to the next level.
However, after Lu Xuan successfully evolved the other two martial arts techniques,
his strength had once again achieved a qualitative leap, reaching an unprecedented height.
At this moment, although Lu Xuan had not truly stepped into the Void Piercing realm, his overall strength was only half a step away from a Void Piercing expert.
Moreover, Lu Xuan’s previous spiritual sense primordial spirit had been affected by that mysterious purple void vortex, undergoing earth-shaking changes.
The spiritual sense primordial spirit, identical to Lu Xuan himself, was no longer purely composed of spiritual sense power, but rather made up of an even more mysterious and unfathomable force.
The spiritual sense primordial spirit had evolved into a Heaven and Earth Dharma Form!
One who controls the laws of heaven and earth is the Lord of Void Piercing!
Void Piercing True Lord!
