Discovery

It's not surprising that Feng Jiuxuan was the first to return to the manor; the sword strike that cleaved the sky already demonstrated his strength.

Even if the high-ranking members of the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion made thorough preparations, they were no match for him, let alone an assassination attempt without warning.

Upon seeing that figure, Xu Yuan silently put his feet off the table.

It wasn't out of fear, but mainly out of respect for elders.

Rise and bow.

"Uncle."

"Uncle."

Two soft sounds echoed in the silent hall.

After the ceremony, Xu Xinyao glanced at Xu Yuan, who stood sturdy beside her, with a slightly strange look.

In the past, even when this Third Brother saw his father at home, he would at most just greet him verbally. Why is he suddenly learning to bow today?

However, Xu Xinyao's gaze quickly settled on the spherical object that Feng Jiuxuan was holding.

That's a head.

His pristine golden hair was stained with blood, and the calm expression on his sharply defined, godlike face suggested that he had passed away without suffering.

Feng Jiuxuan, carrying the head of the Xien Emperor, slowly walked through the wind and snow into the bright hall, showing no regard for the two younger members of his family.

"Thump"

After placing Emperor Xien on the table, Feng Jiuxuan looked at his three nephews, his expression remaining as calm as a still lake.

Where is your father?

"Ran Jianli; Father is over there."

Xu Yuan replied softly, his gaze sweeping back and forth across the Xien Emperor on the table.

The cut surface of the neck showed no bleeding and was unusually smooth; it could even stand upright on a flat table.

The scene was somewhat eerie, but Xu Yuan had already gotten used to it.

The world outside is not peaceful; even a saintly figure like Xu Xinyao has witnessed bloodshed during her travels.

One head is nothing.

He stared at the head, mainly wondering if the Emperor of Xien would suddenly open his eyes and rise from the dead.

According to the cultivation system of the Great Yan, one can survive with only their head intact once they reach the Origin Beginning. As the strongest saint in the Xien, a mere decapitation wound shouldn't be fatal to the opponent.

While Xu Yuan was lost in thought, Feng Jiuxuan had already turned her gaze towards the wetland lake within the Prime Minister's Mansion, seemingly pondering something.

"I didn't notice Ran Jianli here just now."

"Uncle."

Xu Yuan hesitated slightly, then interrupted Feng Jiuxuan, pointing to the Emperor of Xien on the table. "Is he dead?"

"Dead."

Upon hearing this, Feng Jiuxuan turned and glanced at Emperor Xien, a rare hint of admiration appearing in his slender eyes. "He is very strong, but his physique seems to be only slightly stronger than that of mortals."

A strange look appeared in Xu Yuan's eyes.

Even after receiving Feng Jiuxuan's affirmative answer, and even though Di'an City was almost destroyed tonight because of Emperor Xien, he still felt an inexplicable strangeness in his heart.

That was incredibly reckless.

He had witnessed Aurenli's cunning and shrewdness; the Xien Emperor, who commanded such reverence from that woman, should not be such a brute who only possessed strength.

But looking at the completely dead head in front of him, Xu Yuan was at a loss for what to do.

It's really hard to say whether Emperor Xien is arrogant or has a backup plan.

The Emperor of Xien was clearly a big boss, yet he was killed by Feng Jiuxuan, who was wielding a completely different boss template, after only a short appearance. It was rather strange.

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan suddenly paused.

He realized that there was a very important person he had overlooked.

Where is Aurenli?

Although Emperor Xien and Feng Jiuxuan were fighting fiercely in the sky, Aurenli should not die in the aftermath of their battle.

Looking up at Feng Jiuxuan, Xu Yuan spoke slightly faster:

"Uncle, where is Aurenli?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Jiuxuan, whose white robes were stained with blood, raised an eyebrow and then said softly:

"He used a brief opening in his attack to teleport the woman away."

They ran away?

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan's sense of unease intensified.

In other words, Emperor Xien did indeed venture into the tiger's den to rescue Aurenli, but what exactly did Aurenli possess that would make Emperor Xien risk his life to save her?

"."

His thoughts raced as Xu Yuan tried to piece together the fragmented information he had, but unfortunately, he ultimately failed.

There is too little information. Although there are some speculations, these speculations are baseless and unfounded. He needs more concrete evidence to corroborate his claims.

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan no longer hesitated, looking at Jiuxuan with a hint of solemnity in his eyes:

"Uncle, what about Emperor Xien's body? It shouldn't have been destroyed, right?"

Feng Jiuxuan glanced at him silently, then slightly raised a finger.

With a thud, a headless body dressed in a purple-black robe appeared in the hall.

The cut surface was equally clean, with no blood flowing out, and the stark white bones of the cervical vertebrae, as well as the flesh and meridians inside the neck, were clearly visible.

Xu Yuan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Feng Jiuxuan glanced at the headless body and the headless body, and chuckled:

"Changtian, you said before that the Qi cultivated by the cultivators of this Xien is gathered in their hearts, and I have tried my best to preserve its integrity."

"Thank you very much, Uncle."

Xu Yuan nodded, and then immediately knelt down.

Although he was unclear about Xien's cultivation system, he had already made some guesses by observing Aurenli.

Now is the time to verify.

He wanted to see what was so special about this Xien Mage's heart.

The Spirit Sight reached out and surged towards Emperor Xien's body.

But the moment they made contact, his Spirit Sight was immediately repelled.

"."

Startled, Xu Yuan instinctively tried to use the Void-Stepping Slash to escape.

Luo Xiran's sworn sister's experience had already taught him that even if a saint dies, he can still leave behind many contingency plans.

However, the next moment, Xu Yuan realized that this was not a contingency plan left by Emperor Xien, but rather because of the purple-black robe he was wearing.

Xu Xinyao, standing to the side, seemed to have noticed this as well, her bright eyes showing a hint of surprise:

"Third Brother, this garment can actually ward off souls!"

"Avoid the soul?" Xu Yuan turned around.

Xu Xinyao didn't reply immediately. She rummaged through her treasure pouch and took out a jade pendant with lotus flowers carved on its surface before softly saying:

"Just like this Azure Lotus Soul-Refining Jade."

As she spoke, she channeled her Source Qi into the jade pendant.

As the jade pendant emitted a faint glow, Xu Xinyao, though standing before him, began to emit an aura that flickered between light and shadow.

"Third Brother, your human skin mask also has similar array patterns inside."

At this point, Xu Xinyao turned to look at Feng Jiuxuan and tentatively said:

"However, this garment seems to have an even stronger soul-repelling effect."

"Yes."

Feng Jiuxuan nodded slightly and said, "Even my Sacred Source had difficulty locking onto him just now; I could only see him."

The boss dropped equipment.

Xu Yuan was stunned for a moment, and a thought flashed through his mind.

Then, looking at Xu Xinyao, whose eyes were filled with excitement, he smiled slightly and said:

"It seems that the array pattern technology on the Xien side has some merits. Xin Yao, you can take a good look at it after we come down."

Feng Jiuxuan asked with some concern:

"Changtian, if you're going to examine this corpse, do you need me to tear its clothes open?"

"Need not."

Xu Yuan's answer was resolute.

Although the hood of this purplish-black robe is gone and it was damaged in the battle due to Sword Qi, it should still be usable after some repairs.

After thinking it over, Xu Yuan reached out and pressed his hand against the incision on the Emperor of the Xien's neck.

The rest of his body was protected by the robe, but the cut at his neck was exposed.

Xu Yuan's fingertips gently touched the severed neck of the Xien Emperor.

Outside, the wind and snow continued in the darkness, and the brightly lit hall fell silent for a moment; the sudden quiet was somewhat abrupt.

The Inscription Lamp in the room dimmed for a moment, and the headless body on the ground suddenly moved.

The Emperor of Xien suddenly raised his arm, which was resting flat on the ground, and grabbed at Xu Yuan's head with lightning speed.

"." Feng Jiuxuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

In the blink of an eye, the falling snow outside, which was pitch black, seemed to pause for a moment.

Then,

"Thud."

An arm, along with the sleeve of his robe, landed smoothly on the ground, rolling twice around Xu Yuan's feet before coming to a stop.

The Inscription Lamp regained its light.

Xu Yuan's body stiffened as he watched the severed hand fall to the ground before him.

Everything happened so fast that Xu Yuan didn't even catch a whiff of death.

A chilling sensation, like hairs running down one's spine, belatedly arrived. Xu Yuan looked up at Feng Jiuxuan, his breathing somewhat labored, his Adam's apple bobbing for a moment.

"Uncle, what just happened?"

Feng Jiuxuan stood to one side, staring at the thoroughly dead corpse for several breaths:

"Continue, I'm watching."

"."

Xu Yuan remained silent for a moment, then clicked his tongue and chose to believe his maternal uncle.

He could kill you when he was alive, so what makes you think he can turn the tables now that he's dead?

The subsequent investigation proceeded without any unexpected changes.

The golden blood in Emperor Xien's body was somewhat strange, seemingly possessing a natural corrosive effect on ordinary Will Soul, but Xu Yuan's Spirit Sight could pass through it without hindrance.

Time passed quickly, and as the investigation deepened, Xu Yuan's brows furrowed more and more.

Soon, the Spirit Sight made contact with Emperor Xien's heart.

After capturing Aurenli, Xu Yuan examined the woman's heart and had some understanding of the magical rings surrounding it. However, when he saw the magical rings surrounding Emperor Xien's heart, he still couldn't help but gasp in shock.

Dense, ring-shaped magical runes gathered all around, so numerous that it was almost impossible to count how many rings there were at a glance.

These magical rings do not appear to be energy entities.

Once he had pulled his mind away from the corpse of Emperor Xien, he suddenly realized that there was another person in the hall.

His father returned from Ran Jianli.

"Father."

Dressed in a black robe, Xu Yinhe exuded composure as he stood beside Xu Yuan, his deep voice soft:

"How?"

Xu Primordial Spirit was serious. He lowered his eyes, considered for a moment, and then stood up and said:

"Since I know nothing about the art of array formations, I don't know the specifics, but the only thing I can confirm is that the magic rings around Emperor Xien's heart seem to be solid."

Upon hearing this, a strange look appeared in the eyes of Xu Yinhe and Feng Jiuxuan.

After a brief silence, Xu Yinhe spoke up and asked:

"Where is Princess Xien?"

Xu Yuan's lips curled into a helpless smile:

"The magical ring around Aurenli's heart is in an energy state."

Upon hearing this, a thoughtful look appeared in Xu Yinhe's usually calm eyes, and he murmured softly:

"Advanced changes?"

Xu Yuan shook his head and whispered:

"Compared to the changes in her advancement, I'm more inclined to believe that Aurenli is special; otherwise, Emperor Xien would have no reason to risk his life to save her."

After a moment's hesitation, Xu Yinhe shook his head and said softly:

"Speculation without evidence is ultimately futile."

"We can bring that woman back."

Xu Yuan suggested softly, "Given Lou Ji's personality, she must have left a traceable mark when she was captured and imprisoned in the Black Prison. It's only been an hour; catching up with her should be easy."

As he spoke, Xu Yuan cautiously glanced at Feng Jiuxuan beside him.

Xu Yinhe paused for a moment, then said softly:

"I just spoke with her about tonight's events, including that of Princess Xien. She did indeed do it, but the mark was dispelled shortly after the battle began."

"."

Xu Yuan was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Previously, Li Yunqing was tricked by Aurenli in this matter, how could Lou Ji, that older sister, make such a basic mistake?

After a moment's consideration, Xu Yuan tentatively asked:

"Putting aside the difference in cultivation systems, and given Aurenli's abilities, she shouldn't be able to detect Lou Ji's methods, right?"

Xu Yinhe nodded and said softly:

"Therefore, I suspect that someone else is involved."

Xu Yuan's brows immediately furrowed:

"Others? People who can find and dispel Lou Ji's mark?"

"Yes." Xu Yinhe.

Xu Yuan sensed that the situation seemed a bit complicated and asked softly:

"Is he a saint from the royal family, or from the Sect Alliance?"

"."

Xu Yinhe did not answer, but Feng Jiuxuan spoke up at this moment, glancing at the corpse on the ground:

"The Qi fluctuations he sent when he teleported Princess Xien were not weak. He most likely teleported her directly out of the city. This kind of long-distance teleportation is completely beyond the perception range of a sage. Moreover, when they are using their cultivation system, it is very difficult for our Will Soul to detect the Source Qi fluctuations."

"So the other side knew the landing point in advance?" Xu Yuan's expression was somewhat strange. "It can't be that Xien sent a saint to meet him, can it?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Yuan realized that his logic was completely flawed.

Firstly, Emperor Xien had just arrived in Great Yan and was unlikely to be aware of the current situation of the Great Yan Dynasty, let alone determine the teleportation landing point. Moreover, even if he did know, if there really was still a Saint Xien outside, why didn't he take action beforehand?

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan suddenly paused.

He suspected that it might have been the work of the unknown "ally" that Aurenli had contacted in Great Yan.

Looking up at his father, Xu Yuan opened his mouth as if to speak, but Xu Xinyao, who had been quietly listening, suddenly spoke up timidly:

"Father, is it possible that it's just a coincidence?"

"."

"."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Yuan Yuan's thoughts suddenly stopped, and he subconsciously thought about Xu Xinyao's line of thought for a moment.

Then he realized that everything made sense.

With such a commotion tonight, it's bound to attract many powerful figures, and it's not impossible that Aurenli might be captured by one of them.

However, Xu Yinhe's expression did not change at all because of these words.

Sitting in his position, every move he makes has too great an impact; it's impossible to draw conclusions based on speculation without evidence.

A moment of silence fell over the hall. Xu Yinhe skipped over the topic and looked at the corpse, asking:

"Changtian, you just said that the magical ring around this person's heart is a physical entity?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan slightly composed himself, a smile playing on his lips, and said softly:

"Yes, and Father, I just discovered a spatial magic ring belonging to the Realmspace Stone around his heart."