234: Anyone from the palace? Kill them all!

In the spacious hall, silence reigned, with only time, like congealed air, flowing slowly.

After an unknown period, a sound finally emanated from the elevated position.

It was merely a single, brief word, yet it carried immense majesty from the Nine Heavens.

"Announce!"

This word, bearing a force that allowed no thought of refusal, heavily struck the woman below.

Outside the Imperial Palace gate, a biting cold wind howled and swept, stirring up dust from the ground.

Lu Xuan's dark black robe flapped loudly, as he stood silently like a statue.

This feeling?

Lu Xuan looked up at the towering Imperial Palace gate before him, his eyes filled with apprehension and caution.

This was a feeling that made him, a Martial Artist of the Divine Palace Realm, feel a heart-pounding dread.

This was the first time Lu Xuan had ever felt such a strong urge to immediately flee a thousand miles since he began to Cultivate Martial Dao.

Lu Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint purple glow emanating from his pupils, as if he was contemplating something.

With his Martial Art Body Technique, Close Distance to the Horizon, he could use it at the first possible moment.

Lu Xuan could transcend the constraints of the Divine Palace Realm's Heaven and Earth power, treading the Void Realm as if it were solid ground.

With a single step, he could cross thousands of mountains and rivers, instantly reaching a location a thousand miles away.

After this thought flashed through his mind, Lu Xuan's originally taut nerves relaxed slightly.

The caution lingering in his heart was ultimately suppressed by Lu Xuan.

Suddenly!

The Imperial Palace gate in front of Lu Xuan slowly opened, until it was fully ajar.

Inside the Imperial Palace gate, apart from the Imperial Palace guards standing rigidly on both sides, clad in ink-black armor, there was not a single person.

At this moment, Mei Qingyu, who had been standing silently behind Lu Xuan, curved her lips into a subtle, perfect smile and softly said,

"Lord Lu, please!"

After stepping through the Imperial Palace gate, the number of figures before Lu Xuan's eyes began to increase.

Inside the Imperial Palace, numerous palaces were arranged in an orderly fashion, with dozens of Imperial Palace guards standing neatly every few hundred meters.

Among these Imperial Palace guards, there were even Martial Artists of the Blood Refinement Realm.

These Blood Refinement Realm Martial Artists, who held considerable status in a prefecture, were merely gatekeepers here in the Imperial Palace.

Led by Mei Qingyu and others, Lu Xuan passed through a palace corridor.

Suddenly, five or six figures appeared in front of them, standing side by side, in a relaxed posture, showing no intention of moving aside.

Their gazes were fixed directly on Lu Xuan and his companions.

Mei Qingyu's expression changed abruptly; her normally calm eyes instantly flashed with an extremely sharp killing intent.

Although Mei Qingyu's terrifying killing intent was fleeting and well-hidden, it did not escape Lu Xuan's perception.

Lu Xuan's lips curled slightly, revealing a knowing smile.

He mused to himself, it seemed someone was using these few people to cause him trouble.

Because the people who appeared before him were all men dressed in Imperial Palace eunuch robes.

The leading eunuch, appearing to be around thirty years old, wore a deep red robe, its color so rich it resembled a blooming rose.

The collar and cuffs of the crimson robe were embroidered with delicate dark patterns, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.

The eunuch's complexion was unnaturally effeminate, with a pale sheen, his face gaunt, his features harsh, and his eyes filled with Sinister.

He merely tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing a half-smile, and spoke in a strange, Yin and Yang tone:

"Oh, isn't this Lady Qingyu?"

"What's wrong? Lady Qingyu, not on duty in the Plum Blossom Hall, running around here for what?"

"Are all of you Plum Blossom Guard so idle?"

"This truly makes us, the Inner Attendant Directorate, envious!"

Upon hearing this, Mei Qingyu's face instantly turned ashen, then flushed with extreme anger.

The killing intent in her eyes was no longer concealed in the slightest, gushing out as if substantial, and her whole body seemed enveloped in a layer of icy Qi.

"Wei Wuji, get out of my way immediately! Do you people of the Inner Attendant Directorate want to die?"

The eunuch named Wei Wuji, upon hearing these words, not only showed no intention of retreating but instead took a step forward.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, a bloodthirsty glint flickering within, staring intently at Mei Qingyu, like a hungry demon ready to devour its prey.

The venomous hatred contained in Wei Wuji's gaze was as if there was an irreconcilable, life-and-death feud between them, wishing to immediately put the other to death.

The surrounding air also solidified due to their hateful gaze, and the atmosphere was tense, on the verge of breaking out.

Wei Wuji had always harbored a deep hatred for the Plum Blossom Guard, especially Mei Qingyu, who, in his eyes, was a thorn in his side, a bone in his throat.

He wished he could drink her blood and eat her flesh to quell the hatred in his heart.

Ever since the appearance of these accursed Plum Blossom Guard, the people of the Inner Attendant Directorate had fallen into a deep abyss.

During the late Emperor's reign, the Inner Attendant Directorate firmly held most of the power within the Imperial Palace.

But now, more than half of that power had been forcibly seized by the Plum Blossom Guard.

Those matters they were originally responsible for deciding, and the Martial Dao resources they allocated, all fell into the hands of the Plum Blossom Guard.

Consequently, the Inner Attendant Directorate's emoluments and treatment naturally also saw a significant reduction.

The people of the Inner Attendant Directorate attributed the root of all this to the Plum Blossom Guard.

After all, as for the one who truly held great power and made decisions, even if they were given ten thousand guts, they would never dare to harbor any resentment towards His Majesty.

Therefore, one always picks the softest persimmon to squeeze, and the Plum Blossom Guard was their best, if not only, choice for venting their frustration.

Mei Qingyu, standing before them, happened to be someone with a life-and-death grudge against Wei Wuji.

That incident a few years ago had almost cost him his life.

In the end, it was his Old Ancestor, the Grand Director of the Inner Attendant Directorate, who saved his life.

"Hehehe..." Wei Wuji chuckled eerily, his voice extremely sharp and chilling. His eyes were full of mockery as he slowly looked past Mei Qingyu, towards the person behind her.

"What's wrong, Mei Qingyu? What do you want to do? Could it be that I've stumbled upon something I shouldn't have seen?"

As Wei Wuji spoke, he deliberately drew out his words, a malicious expression on his face, as if he had already grasped some leverage.

Then, he raised his right hand and pointed at Lu Xuan, asking in a strange, Yin and Yang tone: "Who is that man behind you?"

As Wei Wuji's words fell, a subtle, elusive meaning suddenly flickered in his eyes, seemingly harboring some calculation.

He hadn't encountered Mei Qingyu by chance today; he had received orders from his Old Ancestor the moment Mei Qingyu entered the Imperial Capital.

The Old Ancestor seemed very interested in this Deputy Commander of the Xuan Niao Guard Lu Xuan, along with some Family members, and wanted him to test Lu Xuan.

Deputy Commander of the Xuan Niao Guard?

Such a young fellow, looking no more than twenty, yet he was the Deputy Director of the Blackbird Guard.

Such a prominent figure, even his own Old Ancestor would have to greet him proactively upon seeing him.

One must know that the position of Deputy Director of the Blackbird Guard had always been reserved for Outer Strength Grandmaster Martial Artists who had reached Major Achievement or above.

Could this boy, who hadn't even fully matured, be that Martial Dao Grandmaster old monster?

Impossible!

This is absolutely impossible!

Wei Wuji simply could not accept this astonishing fact.

Wei Wuji's mind raced, and the more he thought, the more confused he became, his brows knitting tightly, as if tied in a knot.

His gaze was like a torch, scanning Lu Xuan up and down several times, trying to find something extraordinary about him.

Could he have mistaken the person?

As soon as Wei Wuji uttered those words, a look of sudden realization flashed in Mei Qingyu's eyes.

She was no fool, being able to serve as a fourth-rank Plum Blossom Guard deep within the Imperial Palace.

So this damned eunuch was here to test Lord Lu.

"How dare you!"

"Wei Wuji, you seek death!"

"His Majesty has decreed, summoning Deputy Commander of the Xuan Niao Guard Lord Lu Xuan into the palace! How dare you, eunuch, obstruct him!"

Mei Qingyu's eyebrows shot up, and she let out a sharp cry, as loud as a clap of thunder from a clear sky.

Following her shout, a sharp clang of a sword sounded, and a dazzling cold light flashed.

At some unknown moment, Mei Qingyu already held a sharp sword in her right hand.

The sword gleamed with cold light, as if condensed from a thousand years of ice, emitting a chilling Aura.

At the same time, Mei Qingyu's Aura suddenly changed; the Qi of her Inner Qi Realm, Minor Achievement, surged out from her body like a broken dam.

For a moment, strong winds raged, making everyone's clothes flap wildly.

"Hmph!"

Wei Wuji remained composed at the sight, not taking it to heart in the slightest.

Then, Wei Wuji's Aura instantly condensed, also erupting with the Qi of an Inner Qi Realm Martial Artist.

In an instant, an invisible force spread out from him, clashing with Mei Qingyu's powerful Aura.

Although Wei Wuji's Inner Energy Aura was slightly inferior to Mei Qingyu's, the difference was not particularly significant.

"Mei Qingyu, don't forget, we, the Inner Attendant Directorate, are also authorized to question anyone who enters the deeper parts of the Inner Palace."

"Don't think that you Plum Blossom Guard can lord over the Imperial Palace."

"As long as we, the Inner Attendant Directorate, are here, it's not your Plum Blossom Guard's turn!"

"You!"

Mei Qingyu could hardly believe what she had heard, staring intently at Wei Wuji with the look of someone watching an idiot.

She had thought that once she revealed Lu Xuan's identity, Wei Wuji would be wary and obediently make way.

But she never imagined that this fool would still be so reckless.

He was merely a minor third-rank Inner Attendant Directorate, usually relying on that old monster's influence to act arrogantly in the palace, which was one thing.

But Lu Xuan, as the Deputy Director of the Blackbird Guard, held what kind of status? Yet Wei Wuji still dared to attempt to question him.

"Mei Qingyu, you'd best present His Majesty's decree, otherwise, obediently make way for me."

"I truly don't believe this boy, who hasn't even fully matured, is the Deputy Director of the Blackbird Guard."

"Hehehe..."

"Could it be that this boy is your little paramour, Mei Qingyu, for your amusement?"

"Tsk tsk, Mei Qingyu, how dare you bring a wild man into the Imperial Palace privately."

"After I report to the Old Ancestor, you and this wild man can just await His Majesty's wrath."

"According to the Great Xia Dynasty's laws, this little beast's Family will all be executed!"

Wei Wuji saw Mei Qingyu's face filled with vexation, as if she had swallowed a bitter herb, and a surge of delight welled up in his heart like a surging tide.

In an instant, he even vented his anger on Lu Xuan, completely forgetting the Old Ancestor's repeated instructions to be cautious in all matters.

As Wei Wuji's venomous and cruel words left his mouth, it was as if a huge rock had been thrown into a calm lake.

The expressions of everyone present instantly changed, and even the four people from the Inner Attendant Directorate behind him showed shock.

For a moment, the scene was eerily quiet, not a sound to be heard, as if the air itself had frozen.

Only Wei Wuji continued to laugh wildly, his laughter exceptionally jarring in the profound silence.

He still seemed oblivious to the unusual atmosphere around him, immersed in his own emotions.

Damn it!

This useless bastard!

A fool who is more likely to ruin things than accomplish them!

In a hidden corner far down the deep corridor of the palace, an old man was concealed.

His figure was almost one with the darkness; unless one deliberately searched at close range, no one would discover his presence.

But in the very next second, the old man seemed to sense something; his originally narrowed old eyes instantly widened, filled with disbelief as he looked at Lu Xuan not far away.

The space around Lu Xuan, like a calm lake into which a giant stone had been thrown, began to slowly ripple with strange fluctuations, spreading outwards in concentric circles.

This damned thing!

In Lu Xuan's eyes, profound purple light emanated dazzlingly, like two burning purple stars, yet they were cold, devoid of any human warmth.

He gazed at everyone standing in front of him, his eyes seemingly from the netherworld's purgatory, carrying a chilling intent that could obliterate everything.

Everyone present felt an invisible, overwhelming pressure from heaven and earth crushing down, making their legs weak and their breathing extremely difficult.

At this moment, even the dullest person could clearly sense Lu Xuan's terrifying power.

The anger emanating from Lu Xuan was almost palpable, chilling to the bone.

"Lord Lu..."

Mei Qingyu had, at some unknown point, quietly turned around, her face terrifyingly pale, utterly bloodless, her lips trembling slightly, filled with panic and anxiety.

That Wei Wuji was from the Inner Attendant Directorate; if she were to act against him without authorization, the consequences would be unimaginable.

However, Mei Qingyu's words had not fully left her mouth when Wei Wuji, opposite her, seemed to encounter something terrifying.

In an instant, his eyes were filled with horror and despair, followed by an extremely shrill scream.

Wei Wuji's originally effeminate and eerie face began to rapidly split apart, blood flowing freely.

In just one breath, his body could no longer withstand this destructive force.

Before everyone's eyes, he exploded with a bang, turning into a thick, vibrant mist of blood.

The blood mist permeated the air, and a pungent, nauseating smell of blood instantly filled the surroundings.

The old man, who had been hidden in the corner's shadows, suddenly appeared before everyone.

"Stop!"

The old man's face was filled with shock; he simply couldn't believe that Lu Xuan would be so decisive and ruthless.