Everyone’s gaze once again focused on the chief examiner’s seat.
However, when they clearly saw Lu Xuan’s face, a wave of low gasps suddenly rippled across the massive martial arts arena.
“So young!” Someone couldn’t help but exclaim in a low voice.
“Sect Master, is this the chief examiner?”
“How does he look even younger than us contestants in the martial arts tournament?”
A man about to step onto the stage was full of surprise and couldn’t help but ask the elder of his sect beside him.
Almost all the contestants on the stage, upon seeing the chief examiner Lu Xuan, showed expressions of disbelief.
Lu Xuan had a refined face and a calm demeanor, looking no older than his early twenties—completely different from the chief examiner image they had imagined.
Shouldn’t he look like an old man who had lived for over a hundred years?
A young big shot like Lu Xuan—they had never seen one in their entire lives.
Truly an eye-opener!
“This… this chief examiner, can he really keep things under control?” Someone muttered in a low voice, a hint of doubt in their tone.
“Don’t talk nonsense!” The person beside them immediately hushed them in a low voice. “Didn’t you see that the Left Chancellor and Right Chancellor are both treating him with respect?”
“This chief examiner is definitely not as simple as he looks on the surface!”
“Didn’t you hear the contents of the imperial edict?”
“This person isn’t just the chief examiner.”
“He’s also the Vice Director of the Great Xia’s Profound Bird Guard!”
“The reputation of the Profound Bird Guard—I don’t need to tell you the weight behind that name, do I?”
“Indeed!”
The Profound Bird Guard was the most mysterious organization of the Great Xia court, possessing numerous powerful experts and directly subordinate to the Great Xia Emperor.
To become the Vice Director of the Profound Bird Guard, one must possess undeniable power.
Although everyone was filled with doubts and surprise, no one dared to look down on this young chief examiner anymore.
After all, someone who could sit in that position and be treated with respect by both the Left and Right Chancellors could absolutely not be an ordinary person.
Lu Xuan stood before the chief examiner’s seat, his gaze calm, as if he hadn’t heard the discussions below.
He slowly scanned the entire arena, then spoke:
“Everyone, this martial arts tournament will proceed according to the usual conventions.”
“Regardless of age or background, anyone who enters the top hundred may enter the Spirit Ruins Realm and obtain supreme opportunities.”
Lu Xuan’s voice was very calm, carrying an invisible pressure that instantly silenced the entire arena.
“Next, it’s up to your own methods—each relying on their own abilities!”
As Lu Xuan’s voice fell, the atmosphere in the martial arts arena grew tense once again.
Those contestants who had originally doubted Lu Xuan’s age now had no choice but to collect themselves and focus on the upcoming matches.
“This chief examiner is indeed no simple person…” Sect Master Huang said in a low voice, a flash of admiration in his eyes.
“Yes, to have such bearing at such a young age—no wonder he could sit in that position.” The purple-robed elder also nodded, a hint of emotion in his tone.
As the tournament officially began, the atmosphere in the arena gradually grew lively.
Meanwhile, Lu Xuan sat quietly in the chief examiner’s seat, his gaze deep, calmly watching the court officials below who were responsible for handling the matches.
Lu Xuan’s duty was to ensure the normal operation of the martial arts tournament.
All other miscellaneous matters had nothing to do with him!
Lu Xuan stood at the chief examiner’s seat, his gaze sweeping over the martial arts prodigies about to step onto the stage below, and he couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion.
These young people were mostly between twenty-seven and twenty-nine years old—the golden age for martial arts cultivation.
Each one had a steady aura, clearly having been tempered through countless trials—true martial arts geniuses.
“The martial arts prodigies of this world are truly like carp crossing the river—too numerous to count!” Lu Xuan sighed inwardly.
Looking around, Lu Xuan found that most of these contestants were at the Blood Refining Realm, and quite a few had even stepped into the Inner Qi Realm.
Such cultivation, placed in any sect or family, would be enough to call them geniuses among geniuses.
It could be boldly said that all the martial arts prodigies across the Great Xia Dynasty’s vast territory of billions of miles were gathered here.
These contestants were young yet had already reached the Blood Refining Realm or even the Inner Qi Realm—their future achievements were limitless.
Any one of them could become a regional overlord in the future, or even a pillar of the Great Xia Dynasty.
If someone wanted to strangle these yet-to-mature martial arts prodigies here…
That would be an extremely heavy loss for the major sects!
Hopefully, there wouldn’t be any clueless fools coming here to cause trouble!
However, just as Lu Xuan was marveling at others’ martial arts aptitude, he overlooked his own existence.
Lu Xuan was many years younger than these contestants.
Of course, Lu Xuan wouldn’t be affected by that.
His achievements today were entirely due to his own sweat and hard work.
And this wasn’t even his limit!
System, give me points!
Host: Lu Xuan
Realm: Void Piercing True Lord (Minor Accomplishment)
Techniques: Heaven-Burning Blade Art 8/9, A Thousand Miles in a Step 5/9, Undying and Indestructible 7/9.
Points: 34,660
Those two Cave Heaven spirit items had been refined for a total of 300,000 system points.
Plus an eight-patterned Moon Artifact, which extracted 160,000 system points.
Combined, Lu Xuan had harvested a total of 460,000 system points in just half a day.
460,000 system points, plus the 94,660 points remaining from before.
That was a total of 554,660 system points!
And Lu Xuan had deduced “Undying and Indestructible” once, pushing it to the seventh layer, consuming 140,000 system points.
The remaining system points Lu Xuan used entirely to deduce “A Thousand Miles in a Step,” deducing it twice in total.
Deducing to the fourth layer consumed 160,000 points.
Deducing to the fifth layer directly consumed 220,000 system points.
With three deductions, he had forcefully raised Lu Xuan’s strength to the Void Piercing Minor Accomplishment realm.
However, there was one thing that left Lu Xuan somewhat puzzled.
That nine-patterned Moon Artifact, the Profound Bird Heaven Lock, was the proof-of-dao treasure of Emperor Tianqi, Xia Ritian.
Logically speaking, the Profound Bird Heaven Lock should be a ritual artifact highly valued by the Great Xia imperial family.
But ever since Lu Xuan obtained the Profound Bird Heaven Lock…
Neither that Director Zi Yao nor the Empress in the imperial palace had ever mentioned it.
It seemed they had a tacit understanding, defaulting to the nonexistence of the Profound Bird Heaven Lock.
That was fine too—Lu Xuan couldn’t be bothered to make up excuses to cover it up.
In the following days, the martial arts tournament progressed exceptionally smoothly, with almost no accidents.
However, the degree of smoothness actually made Lu Xuan feel a bit strange.
These past few days of the martial arts tournament were just too smooth…
Lu Xuan sat in the chief examiner’s seat, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below, pondering inwardly.
Under normal circumstances, there would always be some major forces in the martial arts tournament who would become dissatisfied over wins and losses, even stirring up some trouble.
But this time, there were absolutely no such anomalies.
Whether it was the disciples who lost their matches or the forces behind them, everyone behaved extremely restrained—even respectfully.
“It seems it’s because of these two.”
Lu Xuan’s peripheral gaze slightly glanced at the Left and Right Chancellors beside him, understanding in his heart.
Left Chancellor Chang Mingsheng and Right Chancellor Bi Zhengzhi—these two peak figures of power in the Great Xia court—were currently sitting beside Lu Xuan with serious expressions.
Their presence was undoubtedly an invisible deterrent.
Even the most arrogant major forces wouldn’t dare act out in front of the Great Xia’s Left and Right Chancellors.
Indeed, even a fool could see that these past few days, the atmosphere of the martial arts tournament was extremely solemn.
The presence of the Great Xia’s Left and Right Chancellors was like two insurmountable mountains, pressing down so that no one dared to make any rash moves.
With these two big shots presiding, no one dared to challenge the order of the martial arts tournament.
Even the disciples of major forces who lost their matches didn’t dare show anger or challenge the tournament’s order.
At that moment, Left Chancellor Chang Mingsheng smiled slightly and spoke in a low voice to Lu Xuan on the main seat.
“Director Lu, these past few days of the martial arts tournament have been much quieter than usual.”
Hearing this, Lu Xuan felt somewhat surprised.
This Great Xia Left Chancellor Chang Mingsheng had been intentionally or unintentionally striking up conversations with him throughout these days of the tournament, as if there was some deeper meaning.
Then, Lu Xuan smiled faintly.
“Left Chancellor jests.”
“The martial arts tournament is originally a grand event for the court to select talented individuals to enter the Spirit Ruins Realm—it should naturally be treated seriously.”
“If anyone dares to cause trouble, that would be disrespect to the court.”
As the final match ended, the martial arts tournament also drew to a close.
“The martial arts tournament is over! The top three shall enter the palace tomorrow to meet His Majesty!”
Just as Lu Xuan announced the end of the martial arts tournament, in a mysterious and eerie dreamlike spirit realm.
Seven or eight blurry illusory figures were suspended above a water surface as clear as a mirror.
Sparse, crooked lotus flowers grew on the water surface.
Within each blooming lotus, an illusory figure faintly emerged, as if fused with this spirit realm.
“The martial arts tournament is over!” A low, hoarse voice came from one of the lotus flowers, carrying a faint, inexplicable tone.
“That junior Lu Xuan has now returned to the Profound Bird Guard.”
Another illusory figure slowly spoke, its voice like an echo in a deep valley, carrying an eerie ethereal quality.
“His origins—I have already obtained them from some members of the Li family.”
A third illusory figure chimed in, its tone carrying a hint of satisfaction and coldness.
“Baidao Prefecture, Anzhou, Southern Region!”
“The Lu Family Medicine Shop in Qingyun County!”
That illusory figure continued, its voice carrying a hint of mockery and greed.
“Hehehe! The world is truly vast and full of wonders!”
“A tiny medicine shop!”
“Among these ordinary folk, a true dragon like Lu Xuan emerged!”
Another illusory figure exclaimed, its tone full of disbelief.
“Truly a heaven-sent great opportunity!”
The last illusory figure laughed in a low voice, its voice carrying a barely concealed excitement.
“If we could obtain the great opportunity on this Lu Xuan, our martial arts cultivation would surely advance to the next level!”
An illusory figure chimed in, saying, “Excellent!”
“This Lu Xuan must be hiding some earth-shattering secret.”
“If we could dig out his secret, then after the origin power of the Spirit Ruins Realm appears, we might be able to obtain an extra share of power.”
“Even those old fellows of the Great Xia imperial family and that Empress wouldn’t be able to easily obtain the origin of the Spirit Ruins Realm.”
“Correct!” Another illusory figure replied.
“However, if that Lu Xuan stays around the Heavenly Capital, it won’t be easy for us to make a move.”
“It seems we’ll have to lure this Lu Xuan out of the Heavenly Capital first!”
“Hmph.”
The third illusory figure sneered. “As long as we join forces, no matter how extraordinary that Lu Xuan’s methods are, he won’t be able to escape.”
“Your meaning is…” The other illusory figures immediately understood his intent, their voices carrying a cold, sinister smile.
“Correct—start with Lu Xuan’s family and force him to hand over his opportunity!” That illusory figure said coldly. “As long as we grab his weakness, he’ll have no choice but to comply!”
Even if that Lu Xuan refused to obediently hand over his secrets, they only needed to lure him outside the Heavenly Capital!
“Lu Xuan, your opportunity will ultimately become our prize!” An illusory figure laughed in a low voice, its voice full of greed and coldness.
These voices echoed through the spirit realm, as if brewing some kind of conspiracy.
Their gazes passed through the lotus flowers, as if piercing through the barriers of space.
Landing on the distant Baidao Prefecture of Anzhou in the Southern Region, landing on that small place called Qingyun County.
These mysterious illusory figures in conversation were the ancestors of some of the Eight Great Families, as well as the sect masters of three transcendent forces!
Apart from the Li family and the Shangguan family’s ancestors who weren’t present, all the other families were here.
Of the three transcendent forces, aside from the Daoxu Temple and the Jingxin Monastery, the sect masters of the Sword Spirit Sect, the Xuanyin Immortal Palace, and the Extreme Flame Holy Gate had all appeared here.
Lu Xuan, at the age of twenty, had displayed the power of the Half-Step Void Piercing realm.
That had truly given them quite a fright!
No matter how monstrous your martial arts aptitude was, you’d still need massive martial arts resources to support it, right?
Just like that, Lu Xuan—as an ordinary mortal—had created a first in the history of this land!
An absolute monster of a man!
A heaven-sent monster!
A twenty-year-old Half-Step Void Piercing True Lord—simply unheard of!
If you asked them how they guessed Lu Xuan’s realm, it all started with those four Sun Spirit Envoys from the Mingxin Prefecture in the Eastern Region.
Sun Spirit Envoys were one of the important forces of the Eight Great Families and Five Transcendent Forces.
Using the divine sense of a Spirit Palace realm martial artist,寄托 on a ten-patterned Sun Artifact to obtain its incredible power—almost equivalent to undying and indestructible.
However, obtaining this power came at a price.
Although the power of a ten-patterned Sun Artifact was formidable, each ten-patterned Sun Artifact could only carry the divine sense of three Sun Spirit Envoys.
This meant the number of Sun Spirit Envoys was extremely limited—such “monsters” couldn’t be mass-produced.
Even more regrettably, although Sun Spirit Envoys possessed the enhancement of ten-patterned Sun Artifacts, their martial arts realm would stagnate as a result.
That’s right—once one became a Sun Spirit Envoy, their cultivation would forever be fixed at the Spirit Palace realm, never able to break through to a higher level.
This price was undoubtedly a huge dilemma for many martial artists pursuing the peak of martial arts.
“This time, let each of our families send one Sun Spirit Envoy.”
“Make sure that before Lu Xuan discovers anything, all blood relatives connected to Lu Xuan are captured.”
Eight Sun Spirit Envoys—equivalent to eight Spirit Palace True Humans—descending simultaneously upon this godforsaken place called Qingyun County!
If County Magistrate Ye Qingshan of Qingyun County knew, he’d probably be scared to death on the spot!
