258: An unexpected surprise, the remaining sacrificial vessels of the Wen family!

From a distance, Mu Yun, accompanied by several Earth Rank Xuan Bird Guards, quickly approached Lu Xuan.

However, when Mu Yun saw Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu, his eyes immediately narrowed, and a hint of surprise flickered in his expression.

Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's arrival truly startled Mu Yun.

Mu Yun was well aware of her identity and background.

She was one of the Empress's trusted confidantes, serving as the Lord of the Plum Blossom Guard, which oversaw both the inner and outer parts of the imperial palace.

Her power was immense, and her position in the court was crucial, with no one daring to underestimate her.

At the same time, according to Mu Yun's understanding, Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's martial arts attainments were unfathomably profound, and she was very likely a Divine Palace Realm Major Achievement practitioner.

Such a heaven-defying martial arts cultivation placed her among the top-tier powerhouses in the Great Xia Dynasty.

With Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's appearance, Mu Yun didn't even need to think; she must have come with the Empress's decree.

Perhaps it was for Princess Xingyue.

Now, he only hoped Princess Xingyue was still alive, otherwise Mu Yun truly didn't know what kind of reaction the Empress would have.

Of course, Mu Yun knew that some matters were beyond his inquiry.

Especially when it involved secrets of the Great Xia Dynasty, even as the Deputy Commander of the Xuan Niao Guard, it was not advisable for him to know too much.

He quickly turned around and whispered to the several Blackbird Guards behind him.

"Alright, you all immediately go and seal off the surroundings. No one is allowed to approach Lord Lu's side."

After giving instructions to the Blackbird Guards, Mu Yun turned and left immediately, as if he hadn't seen Lu Xuan.

His action seemed simple, but it was actually a wise choice for self-preservation.

Although the Earth Rank Xuan Bird Guards were very curious, they strictly obeyed Mu Yun's orders and immediately departed in various directions.

They knew that knowing too much about certain matters could bring about a fatal disaster.

Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu didn't pay much attention to Mu Yun and the others leaving.

She moved with light, elegant, and ethereal steps, as if each step was treading on clouds.

Her figure appeared exceptionally mysterious in the void, giving off an otherworldly aura.

Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu stopped her steps only when she was a few meters away from Lu Xuan.

Then, her eyes rippled like water, and her cherry lips parted, her voice as melodious as a clear spring: "Lord Lu, long time no see!"

Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's gaze was as gentle as flowing water, yet also somewhat unfathomable, as if it could see through everything.

At this moment, Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu wore a faint, elusive smile, making her inscrutable.

Lu Xuan's gaze was as calm as water, without the slightest fluctuation in his expression. He even looked directly into Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's eyes without hesitation, their gazes meeting in the air.

Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's appearance, while slightly surprising Lu Xuan, only caused a momentary pause before he returned to his normal state, his expression and demeanor showing almost no significant change.

Lu Xuan nodded slightly, acknowledging her, then spoke leisurely with a perfectly feigned tone of confusion: "Lord Mei, what brings you here?"

In his heart, Lu Xuan had already guessed Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's purpose.

But he didn't directly reveal it; instead, he inquired in this manner, subtly probing her intentions.

Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's beautiful eyes flickered, subconsciously taking in everything around her, her inner shock surging like a turbulent tide, difficult to calm for a long time.

She truly hadn't expected that she had misjudged Lu Xuan when she was in the imperial palace.

This Lu Xuan was actually a Nascent Soul True Person at the Divine Palace Realm Major Achievement!

Just a short while ago, a terrifying, world-destroying impact force spanned dozens of miles, unreservedly striking Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's senses.

Even the terrifying residual power emanating from that white light pillar felt like a heavy hammer fiercely pounding Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's mind.

Even Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu couldn't help but feel a deep sense of dread.

Based on Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's years of accumulated experience and intuition, such a vast, majestic, and utterly pure power of heaven and earth.

It was highly probable that Wen Fengyuan, that cunning Lao Jiahuo (Old fellow), had not hesitated to sacrifice his own Nascent Soul to detonate the Heaven and Earth Origin Power of the ritual artifact.

Thinking of this, Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's eyebrows furrowed, a resolute glint flashed in her eyes, and her steps suddenly quickened, transforming into a dreamlike afterimage, hurtling towards the center of the explosion.

By the time she finally reached her destination, the terrifying power of the Heaven and Earth Origin explosion that had ravaged the world and struck fear into hearts had vanished without a trace, as if it had never appeared.

And to be able to nullify such a world-destroying power in such a short time, rendering it invisible.

The person who accomplished such an astonishing feat was probably only this unfathomable Lu Xuan.

Lu Xuan!

Every time this man displayed his strength, it continuously updated Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's understanding.

Even Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu found it hard to believe that Lu Xuan possessed such immense power.

Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu secretly speculated in her heart that if it was as she had predicted, the white light pillar that shot straight into the sky just now.

The power contained within it definitely surpassed the Divine Palace Realm Major Achievement.

After all, Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu herself was a Divine Palace Realm Major Achievement powerhouse, and she was all too familiar with the scope of power at this realm.

With her current strength, if she wanted to unleash an attack that surpassed the Divine Palace Realm Major Achievement, unless she wielded a ritual artifact of eight-pattern moon rank or higher.

Otherwise, she simply couldn't unleash such astonishing and powerful force comparable to the white light pillar just now.

Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the tumultuous shock in her heart, and slowly cast her gaze forward.

That was Lu Xuan's location. Beside Lu Xuan, there was also a violently burning purple flame shield.

"Lord Lu, I am deeply grateful for your assistance and tireless efforts this time. I will faithfully report everything I have seen and heard to the Empress without any omissions."

Saying this, Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu slightly bowed and continued with a steady expression.

"I have come all this way, specifically by the Empress's decree, to welcome Princess Xingyue back to the palace."

Welcome Princess Xingyue back to the palace?

Upon hearing this, a subtle, unnoticeable strange expression flashed across Lu Xuan's face.

Immediately after, Lu Xuan secretly mused.

Princess Xingyue's heart had been shattered by Wen Fengyuan's Nascent Soul power.

Although Lu Xuan had immediately obliterated Wen Fengyuan's lingering Nascent Soul power, he was powerless to save Princess Xingyue's heart.

With the person gone, how could there be any talk of welcoming her back to the palace?

Then, Lu Xuan sighed slightly, feigning a bit of remorse and guilt, and cupped his hands towards Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu, saying.

"Alas, Lord Mei, this time it was my dereliction of duty. I failed to protect Princess Xingyue, causing her to lose her life."

"As for any credit, I feel undeserving and have failed the Empress's trust."

However, when Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu heard the news of Princess Xingyue's death, her face showed no emotional fluctuations whatsoever.

This discovery made Lu Xuan's doubts multiply, and he felt very strange.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration, like lightning, streaked across Lu Xuan's mind, making him abruptly remember something.

Last time, that Wu Family member was forcefully crushed into a pool of blood by his Heaven and Earth Power.

But who would have thought that in just a few hours, that fellow would resurrect and become lively again?

Just like that, an ant of an Outer Strength Grandmaster escaped right under Lu Xuan's nose.

Since the Great Xia Dynasty could steadily suppress the Eight Great Families for nearly two thousand years, it was by no means a coincidence.

Therefore, the Great Xia Dynasty must possess a power even greater than that of the Eight Great Families.

As a member of the Great Xia Dynasty, Princess Xingyue was very likely to possess incredible regenerative abilities, just like that Wu Family member.

Her shattered heart might be able to regenerate, her crippled limbs could regain vitality, and even her damaged meridians and internal channels could fully heal.

Lu Xuan secretly speculated this in his mind, while Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu, across from him, seemed to have instantly seen through Lu Xuan's thoughts.

She subtly curved her lips into a meaningful smile and softly said, "Lord Lu, you don't need to worry about this matter."

"The matter of Princess Xingyue will be handled by our Plum Blossom Guard."

After hearing Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's words, Lu Xuan was secretly delighted.

Someone voluntarily taking over this hot potato was exactly what he wanted.

Lu Xuan let out a long breath, his voice showing a hint of relief, and he answered clearly and decisively: "Alright!"

Thus, Lu Xuan, without hesitation, gently raised his right hand and casually waved it forward.

In an instant, the purple flame shield that tightly enveloped Princess Xingyue immediately vanished without a trace.

Following this, Princess Xingyue's body, as if gently lifted by a mysterious giant hand from the void, floated steadily and slowly towards Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu.

When Princess Xingyue's body slowly drifted down in front of Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu.

Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's beautiful eyes, which were originally as clear as autumn water, now had faint strands of red light surging and appearing within them, exuding a hint of strangeness and allure.

Immediately after, Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu slightly raised her pair of hands, as fair as jade.

On the fingertips of those jade-like hands, a layer of faint, dreamlike red mist lingered.

Like soft plum petals, it carried an extremely astonishing aura and slowly infused into Princess Xingyue's body.

Under the nourishment of this mysterious crimson mist, Princess Xingyue's originally bloodless, frost-covered face.

Instantly flushed with a faint reddish glow, making her appear as if she had been imbued with new life and vitality.

After doing these things, Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu's movements were elegant and composed, as if she merely waved her hand and lifted Princess Xingyue's body.

Her control of power was just right; it neither harmed Princess Xingyue nor caused any disturbance.

Just then, a violent sound echoed in the air behind Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu, and several figures streaked across the sky, appearing one by one.

They were the elites of the Plum Blossom Guard. The Plum Blossom Guard members appeared silently, clearly having been hidden nearby all along.

These women, dressed in tight-fitting outfits with plum blossom patterns, had keen eyes and agile movements. They steadily received Princess Xingyue's body.

Then, they stood still in perfect formation, awaiting orders, their eyes filled with respect and obedience towards Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu.

Then, Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu smiled slightly and said to Lu Xuan: "Lord Lu, there's no time to lose, so I won't disturb you any further."

"We, the Plum Blossom Guard, still need to return to the palace to report back to the Empress."

In response, Lu Xuan merely nodded slightly, his tone calm: "Lord Mei, please do as you wish."

Lu Xuan watched Royal Concubine Man Qingqiu and the Plum Blossom Guard gradually depart, a hint of deep meaning flashing in his eyes.

Immediately, Lu Xuan couldn't help but cast his gaze once more towards the shocking, enormous pit before him.

A look of intense heartache instantly appeared on his face.

Thinking of how Wen Fengyuan, that Lao Jiahuo (Old fellow), had unhesitatingly detonated an incredibly precious seven-pattern moon ritual artifact in his dying moments.

Lu Xuan's heart felt as if it had been fiercely clutched by someone's hand.

One must know how rare and precious a seven-pattern moon ritual artifact was. To have it destroyed just like that, how could Lu Xuan not feel extreme heartache?

That was a massive amount of system points!

Also, the Heaven Profound Hairpin that Lu Xuan had found on that ghostly thing from Haoran Prefecture earlier, he had also placed it back on Princess Xingyue's body.

Although the Heaven Profound Hairpin was a seven-pattern moon ritual artifact, its contained Heaven and Earth Origin had long been depleted, probably not even comparable to a Chen-rank ritual artifact anymore.

Lu Xuan simply acted as a good Samaritan and returned the Heaven Profound Hairpin to Princess Xingyue.

Just as Lu Xuan felt heartbroken, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck his mind, as if he had grasped something crucial.

His gaze abruptly sharpened.

No!

Lu Xuan realized that the Wen Family, as the largest family in the Eastern Domain, had profound foundations and couldn't possibly possess only one ritual artifact.

Even if the seven-pattern moon ritual artifact, the Haoran Ruler, was detonated, the Wen Family's other ritual artifacts might still be buried underground.

Lu Xuan's eyes gleamed, and his thoughts raced rapidly.

Treasures like ritual artifacts are extraordinarily hard and naturally formed; ordinary external forces simply cannot damage them.

Only by entering the ritual artifact with one's Nascent Soul can its powerful Heaven and Earth Origin power be detonated from within.

With this thought, Lu Xuan became certain that ritual artifacts still existed beneath the Wen Family mansion.

Lu Xuan's mind suddenly stirred, and the boundless Nascent Soul power within his God Palace surged out like a tumultuous tide.

His eyes flashed with a deep purple glow, and he unreservedly directed this powerful Nascent Soul power to probe every corner of the Wen Family mansion.

In an instant, Lu Xuan's Nascent Soul fully controlled the Heaven and Earth Power, transforming it into an invisible yet resilient giant net.

With an all-pervasive posture, it enveloped the entire Wen Family mansion.

Every inch of air, every brick and stone, seemed to be within Lu Xuan's Nascent Soul perception, with nowhere to hide.

"Boom!"

A deafening roar exploded.

The commotion was as if a heaven-supporting giant, with world-destroying momentum, had fiercely flipped the ground.

The earth trembled violently again, and cracks spread in all directions.

Time slowly passed, but Lu Xuan seemed tireless, continuously releasing his Nascent Soul power.

Endless Nascent Soul power lifted every inch of the Wen Family mansion's ground, not letting go of any trace where a ritual artifact might exist.

Lu Xuan was fully concentrated on probing his surroundings with his Nascent Soul power; everything around him was within his perception.

Suddenly, he seemed to catch something unusual, and his body abruptly stiffened.

Immediately after, Lu Xuan turned his head with extreme speed, his eyes precisely locked onto an inconspicuous corner on the ground.

In that corner, covered in mud and wood debris, lay a quiet bronze sphere.

The surface of the bronze sphere was engraved with ancient and mysterious patterns, subtly emitting a faint, profound glow in the dim light.

"This sphere?"

Lu Xuan murmured softly, a joyous expression on his face. Without any hesitation, he quickly extended his right hand and made a grasping motion in the air with his palm.

The bronze sphere, which had been quietly lying in the corner, shot out like an arrow from a bowstring, rapidly flying towards Lu Xuan.