43: The Tianyan City in a state of panic

Tianyan City.

The royal capital of the Great Yan Dynasty was still as prosperous and bustling as ever, with endless traffic and crowds.

However, beneath this veneer of prosperity, a tense and oppressive atmosphere was quietly spreading throughout the city's upper circles.

The Chen Family Mansion.

Chen Tianxiong, the Family Head, had been having a terrible time recently; he was restless and unable to eat.

Ever since that day in the Su Family courtyard when the mysterious Golden Core Senior named Chu He had suppressed him with his Aura, forcing him nearly to his knees, and 'extorted' two hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, Chen Tianxiong had been living in fear.

He sent people to investigate, hoping to figure out the true identity of Senior Chu.

The result was that nothing was found.

It was as if he had appeared out of thin air.

The more this was the case, the more Chen Tianxiong feared.

The unknown is the most terrifying thing.

He had even prepared himself: if Senior Chu uttered a single word, he would immediately tie up his useless son, Chen Bin, and send him to the Su Family entrance to be dealt with as they pleased.

However, several days passed, and the Su Family remained quiet, without a single sound.

Senior Chu had also not appeared again.

This made Chen Tianxiong even more uneasy, feeling that this was the calm before the storm.

“Father! Father! Something terrible has happened!”

Just as Chen Tianxiong was drinking tea in frustration, his precious son Chen Bin rushed in, scrambling and crawling, his face filled with panic.

“What are you panicking about! Did the sky fall?” Chen Tianxiong snapped, slamming his hand on the table.

“It's... it's worse than the sky falling!” Chen Bin stammered, gasping for breath. “The Tianbao Pavilion... something happened to the Tianbao Pavilion!”

“The Tianbao Pavilion?” Chen Tianxiong was startled. “What could happen to the Tianbao Pavilion? That's the property of the Imperial Family.”

“It's true!” Chen Bin cried anxiously. “Just now, the Chief Enshriner of the Tianbao Pavilion, Elder Immortal Li, a Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator—his Natal Soul Lamp... went out!”

“What?!”

Chen Tianxiong shot up, his teacup falling to the ground and shattering, yet he didn't even notice.

“Are you telling the truth? Li Daoran is dead?” His voice trembled.

Li Daoran was the Sea Stabilizing Divine Needle of the Great Yan Dynasty Imperial Family, a Middle Stage Nascent Soul super-expert who had guarded Tianyan City for over a hundred years, his reputation renowned.

It could be said that as long as he was present, the Great Yan Dynasty was as stable as Mount Tai.

Now, he was actually dead?

And he died in a way that signifies the complete destruction of both body and Divine Soul—his Natal Soul Lamp extinguished?

“The news is absolutely true! Now the entire leadership of the royal capital is in an uproar! The Imperial Palace has already ordered a city-wide lockdown and is searching for the killer!” Chen Bin said.

Chen Tianxiong felt a chill shoot straight from his tailbone to the top of his head, leaving him completely stunned.

A Middle Stage Nascent Soul Old Ancestor died just like that, without a sound?

Who did it?

How terrifying must the perpetrator's strength be to eliminate Li Daoran without anyone noticing, right here in Tianyan City?

A Soul Transformation Stage Old Ancestor?

A terrifying thought uncontrollably surfaced in Chen Tianxiong's mind.

He suddenly recalled the mysterious Golden Core Cultivator who had appeared at the Su Family a few days ago—Chu He!

Although that young man was only in the Early Golden Core Stage, the pressure he exerted was more terrifying than any Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator Chen Tianxiong had ever met.

Furthermore, he could casually produce a Heaven-Defying divine item like the life creation pill... Could it be... As soon as this thought emerged, Chen Tianxiong was startled by his own imagination.

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

How could he, an Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator, possibly kill Li Daoran, a Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator?

There was an entire great Realm separating them, like an insurmountable chasm!

But for some reason, Chu He's calm and indifferent face lingered in his mind.

“Father, what should we do now? The royal capital seems to be heading for chaos. Should we leave the city first to avoid trouble?” Chen Bin asked, completely bewildered.

“Avoid? Where would you avoid to?” Chen Tianxiong slapped his son on the back of the head. “The entire city is under lockdown now, can you even get out? Stay home honestly! Starting today, no one is allowed to leave! Keep an eye on everyone in the mansion, especially you. If you dare go out and cause trouble again, I will personally break your legs!”

Chen Tianxiong was truly terrified.

He had a premonition that an unprecedented great storm was about to break out in Tianyan City.

And a family of their stature, the Chen Family, wouldn't even count as a ripple in this storm; a slight misstep would lead to utter annihilation... Meanwhile, in the south of the city, at the Su Family Mansion.

Compared to the widespread panic among other powers in the city, here, there was only tranquility.

At the courtyard entrance, the few Foundation Establishment Stage guards left behind by Chu He were standing their post meticulously.

They had also heard the news of Elder Immortal Li of the Tianbao Pavilion falling, but their duty was to guard this place; even if the sky fell, they could not leave for half a step.

Inside the mansion, in the small courtyard.

Su Qingxue was sitting in front of a stone table, with a massive array diagram laid out before her—it was the lower half of the Su Family's ultimate treasure, the heavenly derivation array diagram.

Her fingers slowly traced above the array diagram, leaving behind profound spiritual Qi trajectories.

She was currently deducing a Formation.

Ever since receiving the era-transcending Formation theories taught by Chu He, she felt as if a door to a new world had opened for her.

Many obscure and difficult concepts from before were now suddenly clear.

She felt that she was only one step away from achieving a Breakthrough to a Fourth Tier Formation Master.

All of this was brought to her by that man.

Thinking of Chu He, the corners of Su Qingxue's mouth unconsciously curved upward, and a faint blush appeared on her beautiful face.

She gently stroked her still flat lower abdomen, where her and his child was growing.

“Baby, your daddy is a peerless hero. You must be like him in the future.” She whispered softly, her eyes filled with happiness and anticipation.

In the stone house nearby, Su Mo's complexion was also much better than before.

The medicinal power of the life creation pill was truly too potent; it not only repaired his damaged heart meridians and Divine Soul but also restored a trace of his depleted Origin.

Although he still couldn't refine high-grade Formation Plates, his overall vitality, Qi, and spirit were completely different.

At this moment, he was looking at his daughter in the courtyard with a satisfied expression.

He knew his daughter's talent better than anyone.

It was just that the Su Family had declined before, lacking resources and a stable environment, which had buried her talent.

Now everything was good. With the protection of Senior Chu, his daughter could finally fully realize her ambitions.

Entrusting his daughter and the entire Su Family to Senior Chu was the most correct decision he had ever made in his life.

Just then, a slight commotion suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

Su Mo and Su Qingxue simultaneously raised their heads and looked toward the main gate.

They saw a guard rush in quickly, his expression excited. He knelt on one knee and reported, “Reporting to Young Miss, Old... Master! Senior Chu... Senior Chu has returned!”

“What?”

Su Qingxue shot up, the Formation diagram in her hand falling to the ground.

“You said... who returned?” Her voice trembled slightly from excitement.

Didn't he return to Qingyang City? Why is he back so soon?

Could it be... did something happen?

Su Qingxue's heart instantly leaped into her throat.

Before she could think further, a familiar figure had already appeared at the entrance of the small courtyard.

It was still the same ordinary green robe, still the handsome and calm face, but his deep eyes seemed to hold an inexplicable hint of vicissitude and sharpness compared to when he last left.

“Qingxue, I'm back.”

Chu He looked at the figure he had longed for, a slight smile appearing on his face.

“Husband!”

Su Qingxue could hold back no longer. Lifting her skirt, she rushed straight into Chu He's embrace like a young swallow returning to its nest.