The city lord's manor.
Wu Duanzhuo had changed out of his imperial yellow robes into black robes embroidered with nine dragons. With his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed out the window over all of Clear Harmony City, his brows slightly furrowed, his presence imposing even without anger.
Lei Jingbian strode into the manor and announced bluntly, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Preceptor is here."
Wu Duanzhuo considered for a moment, then said, "Mm. Send him in."
Lu Qingwu had caused such a commotion in the city that Wu Duanzhuo, who had remained in the city lord's manor all along, could hardly have failed to notice.
He did not understand Lu Qingwu's actions, and was even somewhat angry with him for doing this.
Offending Celestial Persons from first- or second-tier Aristocratic Clans, or unaffiliated Celestial Persons, would have been manageable. With three experts at Celestial Person Perfection on their side, they could easily afford to offend them. Yet among those thirty-odd Celestial Persons, quite a few belonged to the Five Surnames and Seven Great Clans.
There was Cui Wenshan, the [Profound Mystery Celestial Person] of the Aohai Cui Clan; the thousand-year-old ancestor of the Wen River Deng Clan, the [Mountain-Bearing Celestial Person]; and members of the Hengyang Lu Clan and Jingyang Li Clan, as well as the Celestial Person of the Eastern Bian Li Clan who had traveled from afar.
This time, Lu Qingwu had practically offended every one of the Five Surnames and Seven Great Clans.
Lei Jingbian withdrew. Before long, Lu Qingwu walked into the hall with steady steps and a smile on his face. He bowed respectfully and said, "I have fulfilled the task Your Majesty entrusted to me. I have come to report the results."
Wu Duanzhuo's brows drew tightly together. Without turning to look at