Seven days later!
Host: Lu Xuan
Realm: Divine Mansion True Person (????)
Techniques: Flame Heaven Saber Art 7/9 (can be deduced), Close at Hand Yet Worlds Apart 3/9 (can be deduced), Undying and Indestructible 6/9 (can be deduced)
Points: 594,660
Please confirm, Host, whether to consume 500,000 points to deduce the Flame Heaven Saber Art!
Please confirm, Host, whether to consume 140,000 points to deduce Undying and Indestructible!
Please confirm, Host, whether to consume 160,000 points to deduce Close at Hand Yet Worlds Apart!
“Five hundred thousand system points, eighty thousand system points!”
“Is this Nine-Patterned Moon Artifact, the Dark Bird Heaven Lock, really that far apart from the Seven-Patterned Moon Artifact, the Bone-Devouring Rod?”
Suspended underground, Lu Xuan had spent a full seven days extracting all the power from these two sacrificial artifacts and converting it into system points.
Among them, extracting the power from the Nine-Patterned Moon Artifact, the Dark Bird Heaven Lock, had taken Lu Xuan six days alone.
“Deduct the Flame Heaven Saber Art!”
Lu Xuan looked at the deduction cost for the Flame Heaven Saber Art. Although it was as high as 500,000 points, there was not the slightest ripple in his heart.
Lu Xuan had only one thought in his mind right now.
And that was to step into the Cave Void realm!
Damned beast, once this Department Master breaks through to the Cave Void realm, I will definitely settle accounts with you!
After Lu Xuan confirmed, the 500,000 system points on the system panel were instantly wiped away.
Deep within Lu Xuan’s sea of consciousness, a mysterious golden-light figure appeared once more. Its blurry form seemed to contain endless secrets.
At this moment, a vast sea of purple flames was quietly undergoing profound and mysterious changes.
As the golden-light figure waved its hands, within that boundless purple flame.
A brilliant and sacred black-gold radiance actually emerged, like the first ray of light at the dawn of heaven and earth, both profoundly mysterious and supremely majestic.
At the center of the black-gold radiance within the purple sea of fire was a tiny yet unignorable black-gold flame, quietly floating and burning in the air.
Although the black-gold flame was so small it could be overlooked, within it was contained the terrifying power to incinerate the heavens and boil the seas.
The black-gold flame was impossible to look at directly, and even harder to describe its mystery with words.
The next second, beneath Lu Xuan’s tightly shut eyes, a trace of pure, pristine black-gold flame quietly overflowed, like a nimble and graceful swimming dragon, coiling around its surroundings.
Just then, Lu Xuan seemed to have caught hold of some mysterious opportunity.
His lips parted slightly, his voice deep and distant, as if speaking of the essential power between heaven and earth.
“Is this the power of the Flame Law and the power of the Destruction Law?”
“To be able to fuse so perfectly… Is this the ultimate power that burns all things in heaven and earth, the primordial chaos of the universe, and all the heavens and worlds?”
As Lu Xuan deduced the Flame Heaven Saber Art to its utmost limit, the power of his flame saber art underwent a certain change.
The originally purest flame law power gradually evolved into the law power that destroys all things.
The flame law power and the destruction law power fused together.
This was not as simple as one plus one, but rather something that could let Lu Xuan’s Flame Heaven Saber Art unleash unimaginable might.
Before the words faded, Lu Xuan’s Divine Mansion suddenly surged violently, and a terrifying power burst forth from his body.
An indescribably powerful aura swirled around him, and even the earth that isolated him from the outside trembled.
At the same time, all the power within Lu Xuan’s Divine Mansion was drawn into that mysterious and unfathomable purple vortex.
As if that boundless purple vortex were a bottomless abyss, devouring everything.
The divine-consciousness primordial spirit that had previously merged halfway into the purple vortex now also began to slowly move, sinking deep into the vortex.
As Lu Xuan’s divine-consciousness primordial spirit merged in, within that enormous purple vortex, a huge and blurry human-shaped illusory silhouette was gradually outlined.
Although that silhouette was not yet fully formed, it already emitted an awe-inspiring pressure.
The enormous human-shaped illusory silhouette was like an ancient god about to awaken, containing the power to destroy heaven and earth.
At this moment, black-gold flames coiled around Lu Xuan’s entire body, interweaving with that purple radiance.
His aura climbed steadily, as if he were crossing some kind of boundary, heading toward a brand-new realm.
And the silhouette within the purple vortex seemed to grow clearer and clearer as Lu Xuan’s aura rose.
It was a heaven-and-earth Dharma-form silhouette shaped like Lu Xuan!
The heaven-and-earth Dharma-form of a Cave Void True Lord was the power to control the laws of heaven and earth.
“The day this Department Master emerges from seclusion shall be the day I ascend to Cave Void True Lord!”
With that said, Lu Xuan’s aura gradually settled down, preparing to assault the realm of Cave Void True Lord!
However, what Lu Xuan had not expected was this!
The duration of this seclusion of his far exceeded his imagination!
Half a year!
A full half year!
……….
Half a year!
In Tiandu, deep within the Great Xia Imperial Palace, a majestic and magnificent palace stretched across a thousand meters, imposing and grand, like the pinnacle of power between heaven and earth.
This place was precisely the core of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty—the Pilgrimage Hall.
A place that influenced a territory of billions of miles and decided the fate of countless living beings.
Within the Pilgrimage Hall, eighty-one black-glazed jade pillars stood towering, each inlaid with brilliant gems and engraved with exquisitely beautiful patterns.
Between the jade pillars, several enormous black giant birds were lifelike, wings spread as if about to fly, exuding endless majesty.
Looking up, the dome of the Pilgrimage Hall was even more breathtaking.
Nine black giant birds circled and flew, their wings spread as if guarding the flawless black great cauldron at the center.
That black great cauldron was simple and heavy, emanating a mysterious and powerful aura.
Without a doubt, this black great cauldron was precisely the most important clan-guarding divine artifact of the Great Xia Imperial Clan—the Dark Bird Cauldron!
This Dark Bird Cauldron was the supreme treasure of enlightenment of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty’s founding saint ancestor, Xia Wuji, bearing ultimate power that others could not imagine.
Legend had it that Xia Wuji, relying on the might of the Dark Bird Cauldron, with his own strength, swept across the eight directions and six realms, suppressing countless great clans and some reclusive powerful old monsters.
He had forcibly carved out a prosperous great nation between this vast heaven and earth.
The Great Xia Imperial Dynasty!
Under the power of the Dark Bird Cauldron, the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty was at its zenith. Xia Wuji led his own campaigns, and all nations submitted.
Those opposing forces that had once carved out territories for themselves, along with various small and large countries, crumbled one after another under the mighty power of the Dark Bird Cauldron, and were ultimately completely annihilated.
The territory of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty was thus unified, becoming the undisputed sovereign of this heaven and earth.
Therefore, the Dark Bird Cauldron was not only the dynasty-guarding divine artifact of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty, but also the ultimate power by which the Great Xia Imperial Clan ruled this heaven and earth.
Thus, the Dark Bird Cauldron was usually guarded jointly by the ancestral elders of the Great Xia Imperial Clan to ensure its safety.
Of course, if anyone in the Great Xia Imperial Clan could resonate with the Dark Bird Cauldron.
Then that person was the candidate for the next Great Xia Emperor, bar none!
So, the Dark Bird Cauldron was sometimes also wielded by the Great Xia Emperor.
Coincidentally.
This reigning Great Xia Emperor, the Empress Xia Mingyue, happened to be the one who had gained the Dark Bird Cauldron’s recognition.
This recognition was unprecedented, and even directly surpassed that of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty’s founding saint ancestor, Xia Wuji.
This was also the reason why after Xia Mingyue ascended the throne, almost no one opposed her.
Of course, if anyone did oppose, they were secretly eliminated by some reclusive old monsters of the Great Xia Imperial Clan.
For no other reason!
The Great Xia Imperial Clan only recognized the Dark Bird Cauldron, recognizing the cauldron and not the person. Whoever could wield the Dark Bird Cauldron was the true master of the Great Xia Imperial Clan.
At this moment, within the Pilgrimage Hall, the civil and military officials stood solemnly, the atmosphere extremely solemn and respectful.
Everyone’s gaze involuntarily turned toward the supreme imperial throne.
The several-hundred-meter-long black precious jade staircase was like a road leading to the heavens.
At its end, a woman dressed in the Great Xia imperial robe sat upright upon the imperial throne.
Her brows and eyes were like a painting, her bearing majestic—she was precisely the supreme ruler of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty!
The Great Xia Empress Xia Mingyue!
On the Empress Xia Mingyue’s black imperial robe were embroidered patterns of nine dark birds with spread wings.
At this moment, the Empress Xia Mingyue’s gaze was deep and calm, as if she could easily perceive all things in the world, yet carrying a sacred and inviolable majesty.
Beside her, two women stood solemnly, respectively wearing the brocade robe of the Plum Blossom Guard and the uniform of the Black Feather Guard, their bearing awe-inspiring, like two guardian deities.
The woman on the left, in a brocade robe with plum blossom patterns, her brows tightly knitted—she was the Plum Blossom Guard Department Master, Man Qingqiu.
The Plum Blossom Guard wielded the most mysterious intelligence and assassination organization of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty, with fierce methods, deeply trusted by the Empress.
The woman on the right, wearing the uniform of the Black Feather Guard, valiant and dashing, her gaze like lightning.
She was the Black Feather Guard Gold Envoy, Shangguan Yuqing, responsible for supervising everything in the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty.
Of course, most importantly, she held the power over the distribution of martial arts resources for the Great Xia Dark Bird Guard—a sharp sword that kept the Dark Bird Guard in check!
These three people—one the supreme Empress, two the all-powerful Department Masters—together formed the core of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty’s pinnacle of power.
At this moment, within the Pilgrimage Hall there was dead silence, as if even the air had frozen.
Everyone knew in their hearts that today’s court session would surely decide the future fate of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty.
Because!
The Spirit Void Land would appear half a month later, within the Return to Void Forbidden Land in the direction of the eastern city.
Normally, the Return to Void Forbidden Land was jointly guarded by the Great Xia Imperial Clan, the eight great families, and those five transcendent forces, who sent people to watch over it.
No one was allowed to approach!
Violators—death!
Below the Pilgrimage Hall, the civil and military officials stood solemnly, and the three standing at the very front were precisely the pivotal figures of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty.
They were respectively the Left Chancellor, Chang Mingsheng, the Right Chancellor, Bi Zhengzhi, and the Duke Pillar of State, Fu Shengyuan.
The Left Chancellor, Chang Mingsheng, was the head of the civil officials of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty, a veteran of three reigns, assisting the Great Xia Emperor in handling state affairs, deeply respected by court and country.
The Right Chancellor, Bi Zhengzhi, had been promoted by the previous Celestial Rites Department Master.
And standing between the two was precisely Fu Shengyuan.
He was not only the blood brother of the late Emperor’s Empress, but also one of the important ministers of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty.
During the late Emperor’s reign, Fu Shengyuan had served as the Department Master of the Imperial City Garrison, wielding the imperial city’s troops, his authority prominent.
Because of his outstanding merits, the late Emperor bestowed upon him the title of Duke Pillar of State, ranking among the highest of ministers, his status revered.
However, Fu Shengyuan’s identity went far beyond this.
He had another intriguing identity—the blood uncle of the First Prince, Xia Mingdao.
One should know that the First Prince, Xia Mingdao, was precisely born of Fu Shengyuan’s blood sister—the current Empress Dowager.
It was said that when the Empress Xia Mingyue ascended the throne, Fu Shengyuan had strongly opposed it, even repeatedly advising the late Emperor, attempting to change this decision.
Because Fu Shengyuan supported his own nephew, the First Prince Xia Mingdao, believing that the throne should be inherited by the legitimate eldest prince, not the Empress.
This layer of relationship made Fu Shengyuan’s position in the court particularly delicate.
Although on the surface he was respectful to the Empress, many in the court knew in their hearts that between Fu Shengyuan and the Empress, there had always been an indescribable estrangement and conflict.
And the Imperial City Garrison he controlled gave him pivotal influence in the court.
At this moment, Fu Shengyuan stood at the very front of the Pilgrimage Hall, his expression solemn, his gaze deep.
His existence was like a hidden chess piece, ready at any moment to stir up a storm in this court.
And the Empress Xia Mingyue sat upright upon the imperial throne, her gaze sweeping over the ministers below.
Finally, her gaze settled on Fu Shengyuan, intentionally or unintentionally scrutinizing this highly positioned Duke Pillar of State.
In a moment unnoticed by anyone, the Empress Xia Mingyue’s lips curved slightly upward, tracing a barely perceptible arc.
That was not an ordinary smile, but a kind of light contempt carrying faint mockery and coldness, as if looking down upon a struggling ant.
However, this trace of a smile vanished in an instant, so fast that people almost thought it was an illusion.
The Empress’s expression quickly returned to its former majesty and solemnity, as if that moment of emotion had never existed.
At this time, within the Pilgrimage Hall, a minister bowed and stepped forward, his voice respectful and steady, reporting to the Empress Xia Mingyue above.
“Your Majesty, may I ask when Lu Xuan will return?”
“Now, half a year has already passed, and the grand martial competition within Tiandu has also reached its final decisive moment.”
“Three days from now will be the decisive battle.”
“At that time, the top hundred candidates will be decided, and then they will head to the Return to Void Forbidden Land.”
And this minister who stepped forward was precisely one of the six Department Masters of the court, the Celestial Rites Department Master, Lü Ze.
As soon as the Celestial Rites Department Master Lü Ze’s voice fell, the court fell into silence.
The gazes of the civil and military officials all turned toward the Empress, awaiting her response.
Lu Xuan’s name was not unfamiliar in the court—or rather, he was a great figure renowned throughout the world.
This young martial artist, almost monstrously talented beyond anyone’s belief, had stirred up tremendous waves within the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty.
This Lu Xuan, young as he was, was already the Vice Department Master of the Dark Bird Guard, and was nearly on par with the Dark Bird Guard Department Master.
The Empress Xia Mingyue sat upright upon the imperial throne, her expression calm. She slightly raised her eyes, her voice supremely majestic, and slowly spoke.
“Regarding Lu Xuan’s matter, I have my own arrangements.”
“All of you need only act according to established convention!”
Although the Empress Xia Mingyue’s tone was calm, it carried unquestionable majesty.
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“We obey the imperial decree!”
The ministers below, upon hearing this, bowed and acknowledged.
However, most of the court officials had their own thoughts in their hearts.
That fellow Lu Xuan was truly too strange.
It had only been a few days since he took office as the Dark Bird Department Master, and he had already started playing disappearing acts.
And not only did he disappear, but he chose to vanish at the most critical moment.
Wasn’t this slapping the Empress’s face?
This young man really didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth!
And the Empress Xia Mingyue slightly closed her eyes, as if pondering something.
The reason she could be certain that Lu Xuan would appear was naturally because she had confidence.
Because, yesterday, Lu Xuan had already appeared in the world, and had simultaneously sent a voice transmission across ten thousand miles to Li Chengxing.
“Very good!”
“A man with one foot already in the Cave Void realm, and he actually disappeared for half a year!”
“Truly interesting!”
“Lu Xuan, you’d better bring me a surprise!”
