Inside the main hall, Li Chengxing had just sat down when another figure walked in through the entrance.
Seeing the newcomer, Li Chengxing was a bit surprised, because it was Shangguan Yunlan.
“Lady Yunlan, why did you come along too?”
“Aren’t your Hei Yu Wei supposed to go inspect the Xuan Niao Wei’s archive storage?”
“Or could it be that you’re also here carrying that one’s intent?”
Shangguan Yunlan’s gaze sharpened for an instant, but quickly returned to calm.
This Li Chengxing truly lived up to his title as Deputy Chief of the Xuan Niao Wei, seeing right through her reason for coming.
However, Shangguan Yunlan certainly wouldn’t tell the truth, as this involved that one’s intentions.
“Lord Chief Li, you’re overthinking it. Yunlan simply wants to meet this Lu Xuan, that’s all.”
“Besides, I’ve already sent people to inspect the archive storage. Lord Chief Li, you need not worry about such trivial matters.”
Seeing this, Li Chengxing didn’t dig further into Shangguan Yunlan’s purpose and just chuckled casually.
“Hahaha, I see!”
After Shangguan Yunlan sat down on a chair on the other side, complex and changing emotions flickered in her beautiful eyes.
She remembered her ultimate goal for coming from Tian Du.
Her mother, the Golden Envoy Shangguan Yuqing who controlled the Hei Yu Wei, had told her.
Her main reason for coming to An Province ahead of time was to probe Lu Xuan’s character on behalf of His Majesty.
If necessary, she could use any means to understand Lu Xuan from all aspects.
Afterward, Shangguan Yunlan would have to return to Tian Du and report all of Lu Xuan’s details thoroughly to His Majesty!
A twenty-year-old Outer Gang Grandmaster, and a terrifying existence suspected to be above the Great Achievement stage of Outer Gang Grandmaster.
Shangguan Yunlan and Li Chengxing, when passing by Qingling Prefecture, had already learned of a major event.
Lin Yu, the deputy leader of the An Wang’s Qing Yi Wei, a martial artist at the Small Achievement stage of Outer Gang Grandmaster, had even carried the sacrificial artifact, the Wind Fire Blade.
By relying on the power of the sacrificial artifact, the Wind Fire Blade, Lin Yu could briefly exert the strength of a martial artist at the Great Achievement stage of Outer Gang Grandmaster.
But in the end, he still died at the hands of this Xuan Envoy of Baidao Prefecture.
From this, one could infer that this Lu Xuan must be a terrifying existence at the Great Achievement stage of Outer Gang Grandmaster or even higher!
Does such a peerless prodigy truly exist in this world?
Thinking about how reaching the perfection stage of Internal Qi at the age of thirty already made one an extraordinary genius.
But compared to a martial arts prodigy like Lu Xuan, it was like the difference between clouds and mud, utterly incomparable!
Suddenly, Li Chengxing and Shangguan Yunlan simultaneously looked towards the door, where a young man had walked in.
“Someone’s here?”
The man stood at the entrance with his hands behind his back, wearing a black brocade robe, its exquisite embroidery shimmering in the fading daylight.
Most importantly, this man had a sturdy, upright build with clear, flowing lines, and his entire body exuded an undeniable sense of power.
His handsome, extraordinary face was chiseled like carved jade, and a pair of deep, dark eyes seemed to hold infinite mysteries.
The black brocade robe fluttered gently in the wind, his collar rustling. His long, ink-black hair was tightly bound at the back, held in place by a simple jade hairpin.
The newcomer was precisely Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan’s entire stance was as stable as Mount Tai, as resilient as a pine or cypress.
Even without saying a word, he brought an inexplicable sense of pressure to Li Chengxing and Shangguan Yunlan.
Like a great figure reigning over the world, he left Li Chengxing and Shangguan Yunlan deeply shaken!
While Li Chengxing and Shangguan Yunlan stared intently at Lu Xuan, he also sized them up.
The old man in the red Xuan Niao uniform was a martial artist at the Great Achievement stage of Outer Gang Grandmaster, or perhaps one foot already into the Perfection stage of Outer Gang Grandmaster.
He should be Lord Chief Li that He Yan mentioned.
One of the three Deputy Chiefs of the Xuan Niao Wei, Deputy Chief Li Chengxing!
The other woman, at the Perfection stage of Internal Qi, was likely from the Hei Yu Wei contingent.
Lu Xuan guessed the identities of these two in an instant, but instead of calling them out, he spoke first.
“Who are you, and what business do you have with me?”
As he spoke, Lu Xuan walked in, brushing past Li Chengxing and Shangguan Yunlan, then sat calmly in the main seat.
Li Chengxing observed Lu Xuan carefully, his heart filled with continuous amazement.
Such a young appearance, it seemed what his sixth brother said was true.
Moreover, the aura emanating from Lu Xuan was no weaker than his own.
In fact, Li Chengxing could even sense a faint hint of danger from Lu Xuan.
Seeing this, Li Chengxing didn’t dare underestimate Lu Xuan, despite his own official rank.
“So you are Lu Xuan, the Xuan Envoy of Baidao Prefecture.”
“I am Li Chengxing, Deputy Chief of the Xuan Niao Wei.”
“I’ve long heard of young friend Lu Xuan’s grace and style. Who knew, meeting you today, that you truly live up to your reputation!”
After receiving the answer he wanted, Lu Xuan still stood up, cupped his hands together in front of his chest, and gave a slight bow to Li Chengxing.
“Oh, so it’s Lord Chief. Your subordinate greets Lord Chief Li!”
After all, Lu Xuan was currently a member of the Xuan Niao Wei, and meeting his direct superior required showing some respect.
Seeing Lu Xuan’s bow, Li Chengxing suddenly stood up as well and returned the gesture in the same manner.
“Ah, no need for such formalities.”
“Lord Lu, look at my terrible memory. I forgot to tell you earlier, your current official position is no longer Xuan Envoy of the Xuan Niao Wei.”
“Lord Lu, I must congratulate you right here!”
“His Majesty issued a decree to Xuan Niao Wei headquarters. You have been appointed the fourth Deputy Chief of the Xuan Niao Wei.”
“Furthermore, by His Majesty’s decree, Lord Chief Lu must proceed to the capital as soon as possible. Her Majesty wishes to summon you!”
Li Chengxing’s words were like a bolt from the blue, exploding right next to Shangguan Yunlan!
Shangguan Yunlan’s originally cool expression instantly froze, her beautiful eyes widening in shock, filled with disbelief and astonishment.
What did she just hear!
The fourth Deputy Chief of the Xuan Niao Wei?
Is this real?
The Xuan Niao Wei was openly the most powerful organization in the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty, a sharp sword in the Great Xia Emperor’s hand, used to suppress the realm.
Since the founding of the dynasty by the Sacred Ancestor, the Xuan Niao Wei had always consisted of three Deputy Chiefs and one Chief.
But now, that one had set a precedent, wanting to add a position for a fourth Deputy Chief.
The Deputy Chief of the Xuan Niao Wei wasn’t a position just anyone could hold.
As far as Shangguan Yunlan knew, aside from Li Chengxing, who was regularly seen in the world,
the identities of the other First Deputy Chief and Second Deputy Chief were known to only a very few, not even their martial arts levels.
As for the Chief of the Xuan Niao Wei, they were even more elusive, their martial arts level suspected to be the terrifying realm of the Spirit Mansion!
Thus, the entire Xuan Niao Wei was basically managed by those three Deputy Chiefs.
From this, one could see the immense, earth-shaking power a Deputy Chief of the Xuan Niao Wei held.
The Deputy Chief of the Xuan Niao Wei held a position of the second rank, first class.
According to the rule of ranking one level higher when meeting other officials, only a tiny handful of officials in the entire Great Xia Imperial Dynasty outranked the Deputy Chief of the Xuan Niao Wei.
Most importantly, the treatment for a Deputy Chief of the Xuan Niao Wei included eligibility for top-grade heavenly and earthly treasures.
Top-grade heavenly and earthly treasures were something you could hope for but seldom find. Even in the Spirit Ruins, they were extremely rare and precious items.
Her own mother, Shangguan Yuqing, had been granted a top-grade heavenly and earthly treasure by His Majesty ten years ago.
It was said that top-grade heavenly and earthly treasures contained immense heaven-earth power, pure power identical to that found in sacrificial artifacts.
Martial artists who consumed a top-grade heavenly and earthly treasure progressed by leaps and bounds overnight.
Shangguan Yunlan had heard that when An Wang, Xia Mingqing, was at the Internal Qi level, the late emperor granted him a top-grade heavenly and earthly treasure.
Directly overnight, his martial arts cultivation broke through from the Internal Qi level to the Outer Gang Grandmaster level.
Of course, regarding Shangguan Yunlan’s shock, Lu Xuan’s own expression didn’t show much change.
For Lu Xuan, the size of an official title or the grandeur of a name were all fleeting clouds, reflections in a mirror, or castles in the air.
Only martial arts resources and martial arts cultivation were what Lu Xuan needed.
Strength was the foundation of everything!
“Go to the capital?”
“Lord Chief Li, must I go immediately?”
Lu Xuan frowned. He didn’t plan on going to that place, Great Xia’s Tian Du, so quickly.
Because that place held existences that made Lu Xuan wary.
Namely, the legendary Spirit Mansion True Persons!
Before breaking through to that level himself, Lu Xuan would absolutely not take personal risks and go to Great Xia’s Tian Du alone.
After all, the world is full of treacherous hearts, and one must be on guard.
Who knew if that Empress was curious about him or held malice?
As for pinning his hopes on others, Lu Xuan wouldn’t even entertain the thought.
Ultimately, a person must rely on themselves!
Hearing Lu Xuan’s words, Li Chengxing looked at him with eyes full of appreciation.
This young man was the most outstanding person he had met in his entire life.
Although Lu Xuan was young, his level of caution and experience was no less than any old fox.
There wasn’t a trace of youthful arrogance!
Incredible, truly incredible!
It was as if Li Chengxing was seeing a future powerful figure growing before his eyes.
A peerless expert at the Spirit Mansion level!
Then, Li Chengxing spoke unhurriedly.
“If Lord Chief Lu has no major matters, it would be best to set off today and head to Tian Du for an audience with His Majesty.”
“Her Majesty truly appreciates you!”
“Of course, His Majesty also said that if Lord Chief Lu still has any lingering concerns, there’s no need to rush to the capital.”
It had to be said, even Li Chengxing found His Majesty’s preferential treatment towards Lu Xuan hard to believe.
These words even contained a sense of His Majesty accommodating Lu Xuan.
For Her Majesty to consider Lu Xuan’s feelings was truly something unheard of.
“That’s good then!”
Hearing that there was no need to rush to the capital, Lu Xuan’s frowned brow relaxed.
“Oh, right, Lord Chief Lu, the heavenly and earthly treasures your Baidao Prefecture requested have all been delivered by me.”
“A total of three superior-grade heavenly and earthly treasures, twenty medium-grade heavenly and earthly treasures, and one hundred lower-grade heavenly and earthly treasures.”
“Yes, and this item!”
“This is something personally bestowed upon you by His Majesty!”
As Li Chengxing finished speaking, he gently raised his right hand.
He then took out an exquisite, mysterious black brocade box from his sleeve. It was just the right size, about the size of a palm.
The mysterious black brocade box was made of some kind of enigmatic black crystal, its surface radiating specks of black luster, giving it an exceptionally ancient and mysterious feel!
On the surface of the brocade box were etched several incredibly profound black mythical birds, Xuan Niao, so lifelike they seemed otherworldly, possessing an ethereal, transcendent quality.
Li Chengxing gently stroked the mysterious black brocade box with his left hand, a flicker of intense desire flashing in his eyes.
It was a look of envy!
Because the item inside was an extremely precious existence.
A top-grade heavenly and earthly treasure!
Even Li Chengxing, an old man who had lived for over a hundred years, felt a slight covetous desire for this kind of thing.
If he consumed this top-grade heavenly and earthly treasure, he would probably save a year or two and break through to the Perfection stage of Outer Gang Grandmaster ahead of time.
He might even have a slight chance at reaching the legendary Spirit Mansion level!
“Lord Chief Lu, what’s inside this box is a top-grade heavenly and earthly treasure.”
“This is a gift from His Majesty, and also the resource entitled to a Deputy Chief of the Xuan Niao Wei.”
Every Deputy Chief of the Xuan Niao Wei was granted a top-grade heavenly and earthly treasure by the Great Xia Emperor, to demonstrate the Emperor’s immense grace.
The reason Li Chengxing could break through to his current level was also due to the top-grade heavenly and earthly treasure.
The portion granted to him by His Majesty five years ago still had residual heaven-earth power that nourished Li Chengxing constantly.
“What!”
Two voices sounded simultaneously, Lu Xuan and Shangguan Yunlan, both shocked.
Lu Xuan stared fixedly at the mysterious black brocade box in Li Chengxing’s right hand, his eyes radiating scorching light, afraid that the box would fly away.
Swish!
Lu Xuan’s right hand instantly snatched the mysterious black brocade box and then casually opened it.
At that moment, a dazzling white glow from inside the box shone upon Lu Xuan’s face.
Then, a surge of heaven and earth spiritual energy, like a shocking wave, swept out from the box, rapidly spreading and rushing straight into the main hall.
“Hey, what a comfortable feeling!”
“Xiao Gang, do you feel all warm and cozy?”
“I feel like my martial arts level is starting to slowly increase!”
The Xuan Niao Wei guards standing outside the hall suddenly noticed the anomaly around them.
Moreover, their martial arts levels simultaneously surged and slowly began to ascend continuously.
Of course, it was only for a few moments; that vast, abundant spiritual energy quickly dissipated into the world!
Inside the main hall, Lu Xuan had already closed the black box.
But the shock in his eyes had not faded one bit!
It’s real, it truly is a top-grade heavenly and earthly treasure!
After composing himself slightly, suppressing his urgent feelings, Lu Xuan quickly spoke to Li Chengxing.
“Your Majesty’s grace is immense. This humble minister will surely keep it in his heart.”
“I hope Lord Chief Li can convey my gratitude to His Majesty!”
