45: Chapter 45 Lingxiao Palace

At the mountain gate, the Xuantian Sect's gatekeeper Disciple's breath hitched.

It was not that he wanted to lose his composure—it was the person before him who made it impossible for him to breathe.

This person simply stood there, doing nothing at all.

Yet, the moment the figure fell into his sight, it was like a blade just pulled from a sea of blood. The blade was still dripping with warm blood, bits of flesh hung from the edge, and it had not yet been sheathed, its killing intent still uncontained.

This Aura was too thick.

It was so thick it was like a tangible bloody mist, silently permeating from his body. It was completely out of place with this Sect, shrouded in immortal clouds and brimming with Spiritual Qi, yet it carried an overwhelming, unquestionable presence—like a ferocious tiger charging into a flock of cranes; the tiger had not moved, but the cranes were already terrified.

And the team of black-armored guards behind him was even more silent, like iron-cast mountains.

The thirty-six men moved in perfect unison. Each step they took was like a drumbeat on a battlefield, carrying the solemn rhythm of war.

Where they passed, the Spiritual Qi mist was diluted—not scattered, but forced to retreat.

This was definitely no ordinary visitor.

The gatekeeper Disciple understood this clearly. He hurried forward, wearing a smile that was twelve parts obsequious, yet beneath that smile hid a trace of uncontrollable trepidation.

He bowed, his voice tight with respect:

"May I ask... Senior, what is the purpose of your visit?"

Xuanyuan Zhandao's expression was calm, like ten-thousand-year-old dark iron, devoid of joy or anger.

He reached into his robe. His movements were steady and powerful, without any flourish, yet they carried the bearing of an abyss or a mountain—a composure forged from thousands of battles, a calmness tempered in a sea of corpses and blood.

A token was held in his palm, slowly revealed.

The token was entirely jet-black, neither gold nor jade. Its surface was engraved with ancient, complex patterns that flowed with a deep, cold luster under the daylight.

And most striking of all was the character in the center— "Martial".

Written with iron strokes and silver hooks, its Aura was magnificent.

In that single character, it seemed to contain the roars of thousands of troops and the supreme majesty of the Great Wu Dynasty.

"I am General Shenwu of the Great Wu Dynasty, Xuanyuan Zhandao."

His voice was not loud, but every word struck like a heavy hammer against a chime, clearly slamming into the ears of everyone present:

"I have come specifically to visit the Xuantian Sect. Please, trouble yourself to announce my arrival."

"The Great Wu Dynasty... General Shenwu?!"

The gatekeeper Disciple's face went pale in an instant.

It was not that he had never heard this name.

The one who guarded the northern border of the Great Wu Dynasty, the one who made the barbarians tremble at the mere mention of his name, the one who used a single silver spear to sever the heads of thirty-six tribal chieftains—General Shenwu.

This was no ordinary guest. This weight was enough to shake the entire upper echelon of the Sect.

"S-Senior, please wait! I will go report this to the Sect Master immediately!"

He stumbled as he turned, no longer caring about decorum. He pushed his movement technique to the limit, like an arrow leaving the string, rushing headlong into the depths of the Sect.

His figure vanished in the blink of an eye amidst the layers of halls and clouds.

In front of the mountain gate, only the sound of the wind remained.

Along with that silently permeating, almost suffocating, heavy pressure.

Xuanyuan Zhandao stood with his hands behind his back.

His body was as straight as a spear, his gaze passing over the scene before him, cast toward the depths of the Xuantian Sect—the place where the clouds were thickest and the Spiritual Qi was most abundant.

His gaze was calm, yet sharp enough to pierce through all illusions, reaching directly to the place his heart was tethered to.

Any immortal spectacle, any potential obstacle, seemed unworthy of a glance in his eyes.

Behind him, the thirty-six black-armored personal guards were like sculptures rooted to the ground, not moving a single inch.

Only the occasional trace of cold Evil Qi leaking from the gaps in their armor silently contended with the surrounding Spiritual Qi.

In the distance, passing Xuantian Sect Disciples stopped to whisper to one another. They dared not approach, only watching from afar, their eyes filled with shock and speculation.

He did not wait for long.

A streak of blue light pierced the sky and arrived. One moment it was on the horizon, the next it had descended like a falling star, landing before the mountain gate.

The radiance faded, revealing a middle-aged Cultivator dressed in blue Daoist robes.

He had a lean face and three strands of long beard, possessing the bearing of an immortal—it was none other than the Outer Sect Grand Elder, Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing's gaze quickly swept over Xuanyuan Zhandao and the iron guards behind him, his pupils contracting imperceptibly.

Immediately, a perfectly measured smile bloomed on his face—warm, yet steady.

He took a few quick steps forward and bowed deeply with cupped hands:

"I was unaware of General Xuanyuan's arrival, please forgive my lack of a proper welcome. I am Zhou Qing, an Outer Sect Grand Elder of the Xuantian Sect."

"The Sect Master is waiting in Lingxiao Hall and has specifically ordered me to come and welcome the General. Please follow me, General."

His posture was extremely humble, his etiquette impeccable.

Xuanyuan Zhandao's gaze fell upon him, and he nodded slightly as a return greeting. His voice remained steady:

"Thank you for your trouble, Elder Zhou."

"Please, General."

Zhou Qing stood aside to lead the way.

The group passed through the towering mountain gate. The scene inside opened up instantly—it was as if it were separated from the secular world outside by an invisible membrane.

Peaks were layered in green, with flowing springs and waterfalls. Countless pavilions and towers were built against the mountains, nestled among the Spiritual Qi mist and exotic flowers and herbs in a well-ordered manner.

Immortal cranes danced, spiritual deer wandered, auspicious energy flowed in streams, and rays of rosy light appeared in paths.

It was truly a blessed land of the immortals, a magnificent grotto-heaven.

However, Xuanyuan Zhandao turned a blind eye to all of this.

The spectacle of the immortal realm, which would dazzle an ordinary person, seemed like ordinary scenery in his eyes.

His pace was steady and swift, his gaze leveled forward, his mind focused.

Zhou Qing led the way at his side, attempting to ease the atmosphere. He spoke warmly:

"I have long heard that General Xuanyuan guards the northern border, having achieved numerous great feats and striking terror into the borderlands. Seeing the General's bearing today, it is truly as the rumors say. May I ask what brings the General to our humble Sect..."

"Personal business." Xuanyuan Zhandao interrupted him, concise and to the point. "Visiting a Junior."

He paused, his tone flat, yet carrying the implication of ending the conversation:

"And, by the way, to meet with Sect Master Ling."

Zhou Qing's smile did not change, but a flash of understanding passed through his eyes—along with deeper curiosity. He followed the flow and did not ask further, merely saying:

"I see. The Sect Master has already given instructions. Please follow me, General."

The deeper they went, the more profound the cultivation Aura of the Xuantian Sect Disciples they encountered became, and their clothing became more magnificent.

Seeing Zhou Qing personally leading the way, and sensing the cold, biting energy on Xuanyuan Zhandao and his group that was so out of place with the surroundings, they all showed expressions of surprise.

They stopped to bow one after another, but their gazes could not help but linger on the Evil Qi-laden black-armored guards and the head-held-high Xuanyuan Zhandao walking in front.

Whispers could be vaguely heard.

Zhou Qing acted as if he did not hear them, merely quickening his pace a little more.

Before long, the clouds and mist ahead suddenly cleared.

A magnificent palace appeared before their eyes.

This was not a palace built on a mountaintop—it was suspended in the air above a sea of clouds ten thousand zhang deep.

It was constructed entirely of strange stones as white and lustrous as jade, with carved beams and painted pillars, flying eaves and arched brackets, all flowing with a faint, seven-colored rosy light.

Around the palace, clouds surged, and auspicious rosy light swirled. It made it appear even more sacred and solemn, like a palace in the heavens, not a creation of the mortal world.

Above the palace gate, a giant plaque hung high— "Lingxiao Hall".

The three large characters possessed a natural Dao charm, with golden light flowing across them.

The plaza in front of the hall was spacious, paved with white jade.

Several Disciples with deep, composed Auras and eyes gleaming with sharp light stood guard solemnly.

Seeing Zhou Qing and Xuanyuan Zhandao arrive, although they did not block them, their gazes swept over them like a physical force, carrying scrutiny and vigilance.

Zhou Qing stopped at the gate of the hall, turned around, and bowed to Xuanyuan Zhandao again.

His tone was even more respectful:

"General Xuanyuan, the Sect Master is waiting inside. However, the hall is a restricted area for important Sect matters. According to custom, your accompanying guards will likely need to rest in the side hall. I hope the General understands."

Xuanyuan Zhandao's footsteps paused slightly.

His gaze swept over the gate of the hall, shrouded in rosy light, and then passed over Zhou Qing's expression, which appeared respectful but was actually non-negotiable.

After a moment of contemplation, he nodded slightly to the leader of the guards behind him.

The leader understood and cupped his hands in a salute. Without a word, he turned and led the remaining thirty-five black-armored guards, silently following a Xuantian Sect Disciple waiting on the side, toward the side hall.

Their steps remained uniform, the sound of armor plates rubbing against each other low and solemn.

Even after they left, that Aura of iron and blood remained in the air, lingering for a long time.

"General, please." Zhou Qing stood aside, making a gesture of invitation.

Xuanyuan Zhandao did not say more.

He adjusted his sleeves and stepped into Lingxiao Hall.

The scene inside the hall was even more astonishing.

The space seemed to be infinitely expanded. The dome was high and deep; it was not painted, but a real map of the celestial bodies was slowly rotating—the sun, moon, and stars flickering and shining, as if a miniature Universe had been incorporated into the hall.

The ground was not brick or stone, but solidified milky-white cloud mist.

Stepping on it was soft yet firm, and the dense Spiritual Qi had almost turned into tangible mist, swirling around his feet.

On both sides stood golden pillars wrapped with Dragons that would take several people to encircle. The golden Dragons coiled up the pillars, their scales and claws flying, their Dragon heads held high, lifelike.

The Dragon eyes were inlaid with gems, flickering with intimidating spiritual light under the reflection of the celestial map and the cloud mist.

And at this moment, both sides of this magnificent hall were already filled with people.

All were dressed in the attire of the Xuantian Sect's high-ranking members. Some had the bearing of immortals, some were dignified and profound, some had ethereal Auras—everyone was a person of profound cultivation and high status.

The moment Xuanyuan Zhandao stepped into the hall, their gazes focused on him in unison.

Those gazes held curiosity, scrutiny, inquiry, and gravity.

Like countless invisible threads, they wove into an airtight net, enveloping Xuanyuan Zhandao.

At the end of the hall.

Above nine levels of jade steps, a wide cloud bed floated.

On the cloud bed, a person sat upright.

He wore a wide, black Daoist robe with gold trim, and a Seven-Star Moon-Catching Crown on his head.

He appeared to be middle-aged, scholarly and gentle, with three strands of long beard.

When his eyes opened and closed, it seemed as if the sun, moon, and stars were being born and undergoing Reincarnation within them.

His Aura was as deep as the sea, vast and unfathomable.

He did not deliberately emit pressure. But simply by sitting there, he naturally became the center of the entire hall—as if he were integrated with this Lingxiao Hall and the celestial map.

It was none other than the current Sect Master of the Xuantian Sect—Sect Master Ling Jiuxiao.

Seeing Xuanyuan Zhandao walk to the center of the hall, Sect Master Ling Jiuxiao revealed a gentle smile.

His voice was clear and resonant, echoing in the empty hall, clearly reaching everyone's ears:

"General Xuanyuan guards the northern border, having contributed greatly with hard work, and your mighty reputation has spread far and wide. I have long admired you."

He paused, his smile deepening.

"The General's visit to our Xuantian Sect today truly brings glory to our humble Sect."

He raised his hand, gesturing toward a large purple jade chair already prepared below the jade steps.

"General, please, take a seat."