Xiao Xuan

At the Alchemist Guild, in a quiet room on the top floor.

Du Jun had been savoring his tea.

Suddenly, a vast and surging formation fluctuation, carrying a hint of familiarity, swept across the entire Capital City like ripples.

He jerked his head up, his gaze seeming to pierce through the ceiling as he looked toward the source of the fluctuation—the Ministry of Justice Heavenly Prison.

"What an intense formation fluctuation. This aura... It seems to belong to that old fellow Xiao Xuan.

Why has he come out of seclusion?

And why is he using such powerful formation energy?

What happened at the Heavenly Prison?"

Du Jun was filled with uncertainty and alarm.

Xiao Xuan was the Imperial Clan's only Grandmaster and its true pillar of support.

Advanced in years, he spent most of his time in seclusion. He would never appear lightly unless the Imperial Clan faced an existential crisis, let alone go to such lengths to activate the Heavenly Prison's grand formation.

"I have to go take a look. I hope the old fellow hasn't gone mad from cultivating and blown up the Heavenly Prison."

Du Jun set down his teacup. With a flicker, he vanished from the quiet room like a ghost.

As a late-stage innate expert, his movement technique was naturally exceptional. At full speed, he reached the heavily guarded grounds of the Imperial Clan Affairs Office in moments.

"Stop! Who dares trespass on Imperial Clan grounds?"

The moment he appeared, several Xiao Family disciples with fierce auras darted out from the shadows and shouted at him.

Du Jun furrowed his brows, about to introduce himself.

"Let him in."

An aged, ethereal voice, yet one filled with unquestionable authority, suddenly rang out above them.

At the sound of that voice, the Xiao Family disciples shuddered, bowed, and stepped aside. "As you command, Old Ancestor!"

Du Jun's heart tightened.

So it really was Xiao Xuan. He had personally ordered them to let him in, which meant the situation was even more serious than he had imagined.

Without hesitation, he strode into the heart of the restricted grounds.

As soon as Du Jun entered the main hall, a heavy, oppressive atmosphere washed over him.

The Imperial Clan's core members had gathered inside. From Emperor Xiao Zhengshan to several princes and commandery princes, every face was grave, as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

In the center of the hall sat an old man in a plain gray robe, with white hair and beard and an austere face. He was cross-legged, both hands hovering over a crystal array disk that glowed softly, pouring all his strength into activating it.

He was none other than the Imperial Clan's only Grandmaster, Xiao Xuan.

At that moment, Xiao Xuan's face was flushed, veins bulging on his forehead. He was clearly exerting all his strength, trying to wrest back control of the grand formation.

"Hmm!"

Suddenly, Xiao Xuan let out a muffled groan. His body jerked, and his hands sprang uncontrollably away from the array disk.

He staggered backward half a step, unable to control himself, and his face instantly paled.

"Old Ancestor!"

"Imperial Grandfather!"

Seeing this, everyone cried out in shock. Their faces were filled with panic and disbelief.

Even the Old Ancestor had personally intervened, and yet... he had failed?

"How can this be... Even the Old Ancestor can't wrest back control?"

"Who is the person in the Heavenly Prison? Could it be the legendary Great Grandmaster?"

"What do we do now? Do we really have to destroy the grand formation?"

Everyone murmured among themselves, their words steeped in despair.

Destroying the Heavenly Prison's grand formation would not only mean the collapse of a defensive system the Imperial Clan had spent a century and countless resources building; it would also affect the Imperial City's grand formation and might even damage the Dragon Vein beneath the Capital City and its fortune.

The price was too high—so high that even the Imperial Clan could not bear it.

"Old friend, what happened?

What drove you to this point, even bringing out the 'Profound Heaven Array Disk' you've kept as your trump card?"

Du Jun stepped forward and asked in a low voice, looking at Xiao Xuan's grim expression.

Xiao Xuan drew a deep breath, calming his surging qi and blood.

He glanced at Du Jun, his eyes flashing with helplessness and bitterness. "Brother Du, you're here. Sigh, it's strange. Someone has taken control of the Heavenly Prison's grand formation."

"What?"

Even with all his experience, Du Jun couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath.

"The Heavenly Prison's grand formation has been taken over?

How is that possible?

It's one of the foundations your Xiao Family has maintained for centuries, and you yourself are stationed at its center. Who could have such heaven-defying means?"

He was stunned.

"The Heavenly Prison..."

Du Jun furrowed his brows. Suddenly, a name flashed through his mind like lightning—Zhang Yu.

He whipped around to look toward the Heavenly Prison, his eyes full of disbelief.

Could it be him?

That young man he regarded as a prodigy in alchemy, with limitless potential?

That mysterious young friend trapped behind bars?

But... how could that be?

He had witnessed Zhang Yu's talent for alchemy firsthand. It was astonishing.

But the path of formations was entirely different from alchemy. It required countless hours and painstaking effort to master.

How old was Zhang Yu?

It made no sense. It completely defied reason.

"No, impossible..."

Du Jun shook his head unconsciously, rejecting the wild thought.

There had to be some unknown formation expert locked up in the Heavenly Prison, or a Formation Grandmaster sent by an enemy faction who had seized the chance to make trouble.

"Brother Du, do you have any ideas?"

Xiao Xuan looked at Du Jun, a trace of hope in his eyes.

The Alchemist Guild had deep foundations and far-reaching connections. Perhaps it could come up with an unexpected solution.

Du Jun gave a bitter laugh and shook his head: