Mingxin Prefecture, the prefectural city!
A ten-li radius around the ruins of the Wen family estate had been placed under tight blockade by a large contingent of Black Bird Guards.
A somber, killing aura hung heavy in the air—not even a fly could get through.
Mu Yun stood with his hands clasped behind his back, maintaining a steady presence near the Wen family estate, his cold gaze fixed on the Black Bird Guards under his command.
Countless guards were combing through the collapsed walls and broken rubble of the Wen estate, turning over every stone, searching every corner, as if hunting for something specific.
And why was Mu Yun doing this?
Naturally, he was searching for the Wen family’s vault and resources.
As the premier aristocratic clan of the Eastern Domain, the Wen family’s martial resources were something that even Mu Yun, as the Vice Commander of the Black Bird Guard, took very seriously.
Of course, the most important thing was still to find certain classified files and records belonging to the Wen family.
Because the Commander’s words still echoed in Mu Yun’s ears: “The matter of the Wen family is by no means as simple as it appears on the surface.”
That old schemer Wen Fengyuan had actually dared to betray His Majesty and the Great Xia royal clan.
That meant there had to be some clandestine power lurking behind him—very likely involving those factions.
As for exactly which forces were pulling the strings in the shadows, the Commander hadn’t revealed a single word to Mu Yun.
But how could Mu Yun not guess?
He already had his answer in his heart, arriving at that conclusion without even needing to think twice.
Across the entire Great Xia Dynasty, aside from the Eight Great Clans and those five transcendent sects—
What other power could possibly make a wily old fox like Wen Fengyuan willingly bow his head and serve?
Just as Mu Yun was lost in thought, a faint sound of footsteps reached his ears.
An elderly man in a crimson Black Bird Guard robe walked steadily toward him, with dozens of guards following behind, all wearing solemn expressions.
At the center of this escort, the group was collectively carrying a large, hastily made wooden board.
This board was extremely conspicuous—six meters long and about five meters wide. Though its surface was somewhat rough, it bore an astonishing “weight.”
Packed densely on top of that massive wooden board were small, exquisite boxes—roughly fifty of them, by a quick count.
Each wooden box was crafted with extraordinary precision—smooth lines, delicate grain, rounded and polished edges, and intricately carved patterns adorning their surfaces.
Anyone who laid eyes on them could tell at a glance: whatever lay inside these boxes had to be rare and priceless treasures.
After all, that cataclysmic flood of primordial heavenly energy from before had been devastatingly powerful.
The fact that these boxes had survived that impact intact meant the materials used to make them had to be exceptionally rare, top-grade timber.
Only such materials could have withstood that overwhelming force, emerging unscathed except for a bit of dirt clinging to their surfaces.
The old man strode briskly up to Mu Yun, clasped his hands in a formal salute, and reported respectfully.
“Vice Commander, my subordinates discovered a hidden underground chamber beneath the ruins of the Wen family estate, and within it, we found the Wen family’s vault.”
“What we have here is only a portion of the heavenly treasures—all top-grade, and above top-grade.”
“There are still many valuable items remaining in the vault. We respectfully request that the Vice Commander come and inspect them personally.”
Mu Yun’s eyes instantly flashed with a sharp gleam—a light that seemed capable of piercing through anything, betraying the sheer shock deep within him.
All those boxes in front of him contained genuine top-grade heavenly treasures—and above. A rough count showed over fifty pieces, and this was just part of what had been retrieved from the vault.
That old bastard Wen Fengyuan really knew how to keep his cards close to his chest.
After all those years guarding the Eastern Domain, the foundation he had amassed was absolutely staggering!
Mu Yun clicked his tongue in private amazement, unable to help marveling.
That old fox had managed to stand firm through the reign of the previous emperor—clearly no accident.
Just these heavenly treasures alone, if word ever got out, would be enough to stir up a bloody storm.
Mu Yun’s eyes locked onto the dazzling array of treasures before him, countless thoughts racing through his mind.
After weighing the pros and cons, his expression remained calm as he slowly spoke: “Mm.”
“First, carefully record the exact number of these heavenly treasures—make sure there are no mistakes.”
“Everything will be decided after Commander Lu returns.”
Faced with these precious treasures that could drive countless people mad, Mu Yun’s heart remained utterly unmoved—not a trace of greed or ulterior motive.
Because Lu Xuan was the only one with the authority to make decisions on all matters concerning the Wen family.
Mu Yun did not have the qualification to dispose of these Wen family treasures. Even if he did, he wouldn’t dare act rashly.
After saying this, Mu Yun paused, then raised his eyes again to look at the crimson-robed elder. His expression remained calm as he spoke unhurriedly.
“By the way, take me to the Wen family vault now.”
“And also, make sure to find the Wen family’s archives and documents as soon as possible.”
Just as the crimson-robed elder was about to nod and acknowledge Mu Yun’s orders—
Mu Yun’s aura suddenly condensed sharply, as if he had detected a fluctuation that ordinary people would never notice.
His movements were lightning-fast—his right hand shot up, palm outward, making a silencing gesture toward the elder, signaling him to stay quiet.
At the same time, Mu Yun’s gaze turned as sharp as an eagle’s, piercing straight through the elder’s figure and landing on the distant horizon behind him.
There, a thousand meters away in the sky, a tiny black dot—no bigger than a sesame seed—had appeared out of nowhere against the blue expanse.
In the blink of an eye, that speck swelled and expanded at a visible rate, as if hurtling toward Mu Yun at an unimaginable speed.
As the distance closed, the blurred silhouette of a human figure was reflected steadily in Mu Yun’s eyes.
When that rapidly approaching figure grew clear enough for its features to become distinguishable—
Mu Yun’s heart jolted, and a flash of barely concealed surprise crossed his face.
His lips parted slightly as he murmured under his breath: “It’s that old bastard?”
“Wu Jiu of the Wu Clan!”
Mu Yun enunciated the name, syllable by syllable.
Wu Jiu held a position of immense importance within the Wu Clan and was a renowned figure throughout the entire Heavenly Capital.
“This old bastard is a core member of the Wu Clan, usually living in comfort and luxury at the Heavenly Capital.”
“He rarely ever leaves the Wu clan grounds—so why has he suddenly shown up here in the Eastern Domain?”
Mu Yun furrowed his brow tightly, his eyes filled with doubt and vigilance, his mind already racing at full speed.
Mu Yun kept his gaze locked on the rapidly approaching Wu Jiu, his brows deeply knitted—yet there was no fear in his heart.
In his eyes, Wu Jiu was nothing more than a martial artist at Great Completion of the External Gang Grandmaster level. Compared to himself, there was a considerable gap in strength.
After all, Mu Yun himself had long since reached the Half-Step Divine Mansion realm. At that level of cultivation, he ranked among the top-tier powerhouses of the entire Great Xia Dynasty.
Only True Humans at the Divine Mansion realm, wielding the unfathomable power of heaven and earth, could truly hold the advantage over him.
Aside from that, there weren’t many people Mu Yun actually had to take seriously.
So what truly made Mu Yun’s expression turn grave wasn’t Wu Jiu’s personal strength—but the identity he represented: a member of one of the Eight Great Clans—the Wu Clan!
As the Supreme Elder of the Wu Clan, Wu Jiu had no business being away from the clan grounds. Yet here he was, at this critical moment, traveling a thousand miles to this very ruin.
The implications were truly thought-provoking.
A vague sense of foreboding rose in Mu Yun’s heart as he silently pondered.
“This Wu Jiu—he didn’t come early, didn’t come late—he just had to show up right now.”
“Could it be that the Wu Clan has caught wind of something and sent him specifically to interfere in the Wen family matter?”
“If that’s the case, then things are going to get tricky…”
At that thought, Mu Yun’s brows instantly knitted into a deep crease, and a trace of worry unconsciously leaked into his eyes.
That old schemer Wu Jiu dared to come here alone—this wasn’t recklessness or impulse. He had to have come prepared.
Given the Wu Clan’s resources and tactics, there was no telling what kind of power those old monsters from his clan might have secretly imbued him with.
The very thought made Mu Yun’s scalp tingle. Wu Jiu was like a walking powder keg—one wrong move, the slightest misstep, and he could trigger a catastrophic mess.
If that happened, the situation would spiral completely out of control.
Mu Yun’s hands hidden beneath his sleeves twitched slightly, tensing up as he cursed inwardly.
Damn it. People from these major powers are nothing but trouble!
You take down the young ones, and the old ones come crawling out!
Before long, a dark shadow streaked across the sky—it was Wu Jiu.
Completely ignoring the blazing stares of the Black Bird Guards below, he descended like a falling leaf—light yet steady—landing right in front of Mu Yun.
Wu Jiu still looked as decrepit as ever, but the walking stick in his hand was no longer the same one from before.
This new cane was shrouded in a deep, ink-black darkness, with occasional flecks of black light flickering across its surface—dim yet dazzling, carrying an indescribable strangeness.
Compared to before, this staff emanated a far more mysterious and unfathomable aura.
Wu Jiu’s hunched frame leaned heavily on the cane, one withered, bony hand gripping it firmly against the ground. His knobby fingers, pale from the strain, clung to the staff like dry, gnarled branches.
Then, his eyes—seemingly murky yet hiding a sharp gleam—slowly swept across everything around him like searchlights.
But after just one glance, his brows instantly furrowed deeply, as if twisted into a tight knot.
From up in the sky, he had only caught a brief glimpse. Now that he was standing on the ground, he truly grasped the horror of the scene.
The very heart of Mingxin Prefecture had been reduced to a horrifying wasteland.
Ruined walls and broken pillars lay scattered in every direction, and the scorched earth reeked of pungent gunpowder smoke.
Wu Jiu silently estimated the scope of the devastation—it had to be nearly ten li in length.
After taking it all in, Wu Jiu lifted his gaze, letting it pass over the ravaged ruins and settle slowly on Mu Yun.
Then, he let out a dry, raspy laugh. “Heh heh heh!”
The sound was harsh and grating, like sandpaper scraping against wood.
After the laugh, Wu Jiu didn’t straighten his back—let alone offer a proper bow. He didn’t even bother with basic courtesy. He just curled the corner of his mouth in a smile that wasn’t quite a smile and spoke.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Vice Commander Mu Yun!”
“This old man Wu Jiu of the Wu Clan—greets Lord Mu!”
His tone sounded flattering on the surface, but the sarcasm ran through it like a hidden current. He clearly held Mu Yun in no regard at all.
Even though he knew full well that Mu Yun’s cultivation far surpassed his own, Wu Jiu’s eyes still brimmed with contempt—as if Mu Yun wasn’t worth his attention.
In his view, although Mu Yun was a Half-Step Divine Mansion powerhouse—
When it came down to it, Mu Yun’s deterrent power wasn’t even as formidable as that old ghost Li Chengxing.
And the reason was simple: Wu Jiu stood behind the Eight Great Clans—a gargantuan force that blotted out the sky!
Backed by the immense influence of the Eight Great Clans, he could practically walk sideways across the entire Great Xia Dynasty.
So why would he ever take someone like Mu Yun, who had no powerful backing, seriously?
In a nutshell: So what if you can fight? In this world, it’s all about who you know.
What’s more, at this very moment, Wu Jiu was carrying the primordial spirit power of the Wu Clan Ancestor on his person.
Even if that bastard brat Lu Xuan were standing right in front of him, Wu Jiu would dare to provoke him to his face.
Mu Yun narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing through his elongated gaze as he fixed Wu Jiu with a frosty stare.
He ignored Wu Jiu’s greeting entirely, radiating an aura that kept everyone at arm’s length, with no intention of replying.
At being dismissed so thoroughly, Wu Jiu’s face instantly turned ashen. Veins bulged faintly on his forehead—clearly enraged by Mu Yun’s snub, fury churning beneath his gaze.
But after a brief moment of thought, he forced down his anger, his expression quickly returning to normal.
He had come all the way to Mingxin Prefecture in the Eastern Domain for one purpose: Lu Xuan.
In his view, clashing with Mu Yun would only create unnecessary trouble and jeopardize the Ancestor’s grand plan—so there was no point in stirring up extra complications.
“Hmph!”
Wu Jiu let out a heavy, disdainful snort through his nose, casting a dissatisfied look at Mu Yun.
“Where is Lu Xuan? This old man wishes to see him!”
Then, he suddenly raised his voice and added.
“This is the Ancestor’s will!”
After having been repeatedly put in embarrassing situations by others in the past, Wu Jiu had finally learned his lesson.
He knew very well that if he didn’t invoke the Ancestor’s name—
He could already foresee that he’d just end up getting mocked by Mu Yun again.
Last time in the Heavenly Capital, Li Chengxing had already made him lose all face.
Mu Yun was just about to refuse Wu Jiu outright—but when he heard that last sentence, the reprimand that had been on the tip of his tongue got swallowed back down.
The next moment, Mu Yun’s expression remained calm as he spoke in an even tone: “Commander Lu has already left Mingxin Prefecture. As for when he’ll return—this Vice Commander does not know.”
After a brief pause, Mu Yun narrowed his eyes at Wu Jiu and said coldly: “If you wish to see him, then you’ll just have to wait.”
Then, his voice grew even colder, laced with a note of warning: “And one more thing, Wu Jiu—you’d best know your place and leave here immediately.”
“Otherwise, don’t blame me for disregarding all sense of decorum!”
