389: The fifth earthly life! A modern old man in a Zhongshan suit?

Chapter 383: The Fifth Mortal World! An Old Man in a Modern Chinese Tunic Suit?

The night wind wailed, and the East Depot’s inner courtyard was deathly silent.

“Hmm?”

Lu Xuan, who had been engrossed in refining potent medicinal herbs, suddenly stopped his movements.

He slowly raised his gaze, looking towards the door.

Under the faint glow of the lanterns on either side, a dark figure stood motionless like a statue.

The two red lanterns hanging from the eaves swayed slightly in the wind.

Candlelight filtered through the white gauze on the door, casting a fiery red halo onto the room’s floor.

Swish!

A streak of azure light suddenly tore through the night!

That azure Sword Qi was so fast it transcended a Mortal’s vision, leaving only a thin, paper-like light trace on the retina.

The door silently slid down, its break smooth as a mirror, without even a splinter of wood grain.

Commander Shen Wanbao stepped in, treading on the bright moonlight; as his boot sole ground over the threshold, the hanging lanterns suddenly dimmed in unison for an instant.

When the candlelight reignited, the Brocade Guard Commander was already standing inside the room.

The hem of his flying fish robe was still swaying slightly, but he stood as still as if cast in iron.

“Director Lu, it’s time for you to go on your way…” Commander Shen Wanbao’s voice was exceptionally clear in the deathly silent room.

He stared directly at Lu Xuan, his gaze like a knife, so cold it lacked any ripple, as if the person before him was already a corpse.

“Presumably, on the Yellow Springs Road, this Envoy’s beloved disciple has been waiting for you for a long time.”

Every word from Commander Shen Wanbao seemed to be squeezed from between his teeth, imbued with an incredibly bone-chilling coldness.

Whether to avenge his beloved disciple Yuan Qian or to carry out His Majesty’s decree, tonight, Eastern Depot Director Lu Xuan must die.

Commander Shen Wanbao stood as straight as a sword, his right hand slowly pressing down on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Between his fingertips and the sword guard, a faint azure glow condensed.

“Clang!!!” The sword had not yet left its scabbard, but a Dragon’s roar was already heard.

The candlelight within three zhang of Commander Shen Wanbao suddenly dimmed in unison, as if awed by an invisible Sword Qi.

His eyes reflected the flickering lamplight, yet they were so cold they showed not a trace of warmth.

Lu Xuan remained seated on the cultivation platform, only his brows tightly furrowed.

Four hours ago, Cao Er led the elite forces of the East Depot to the imperial palace to receive a decree.

The result, however, was… Cao Er and his men vanished, replaced by Commander Shen Wanbao, the Brocade Guard Commander, launching a nocturnal raid.

Lu Xuan suddenly realized he had miscalculated; he had trusted too much in humanity’s instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm.

He had initially thought that the Old Emperor, Gan Dongji, would at least consider the balance of the court and temporarily keep the East Depot as a tool.

He hadn’t expected this aging Dragon to be willing to sever his own claws and teeth just to personally eliminate the East Depot.

Of course, Lu Xuan was never concerned about the East Depot’s survival.

In his eyes, the so-called East Depot was merely a pawn in his hand.

As long as he could use them to achieve his goals, whether they were the court’s hounds or a den of ruthless killers, it didn’t matter.

What Lu Xuan wanted was never so-called power, but rather chess pieces that would absolutely obey his commands.

As long as they could help him quickly transcend this Mortal World, that would be the best outcome.

However, these continuous obstacles were wearing down Lu Xuan’s patience.

Forget it, the time is ripe now; that Dragon Throne should change its owner.

The Great Yu Empire needed someone who could control the overall situation, an emperor who would bow down to Lu Xuan.

In a single breath, just one breath, Heaven and Earth dramatically changed.

The entire wing room suddenly erupted with dazzling azure light, and countless streaks of Sword Qi tore through the night sky like ripping silk.

Each azure sword mark was condensed into substance, reflecting brilliant starlight under the moonlight, illuminating the sky above the East Depot as if it were day.

Commander Shen Wanbao’s Gale Force completely erupted, the aura of a Great Grandmaster shooting straight into the firmament, causing the clouds above the East Depot to swirl.

The beams, windows, bricks, and tiles of the wing room silently disintegrated in the azure Sword Qi, turning into a sky full of flying sawdust.

But these fragments had not yet fallen to the ground when they were solidified in mid-air by a sudden surge of extreme cold Qi—

Crack!

A biting cold wind swept through, and all the suspended fragments instantly froze.

Moonlight pierced through these ice crystals, casting myriad sword shadows on the ground.

And in the center of this sparkling scene of destruction, Lu Xuan finally slowly rose; his dark python robe was covered in frost patterns at some unknown point.

Heaven and Earth suddenly fell silent.

The wooden pieces shattered by the Sword Qi remained suspended in mid-air, each encased in a crystalline ice shell.

The azure Sword Qi maintained its posture of tearing Heaven and Earth, yet it was frozen solid in the ice.

“Crack, crackle…” The subtle sound of ice cracking was exceptionally clear in the night.

At this moment, Commander Shen Wanbao suddenly realized that his Sword Qi could no longer advance a single inch.

Not only was the azure Sword Qi frozen, but even the air within three zhang of him had turned into solid ice crystals.

Most terrifyingly, Commander Shen Wanbao clearly saw a falling bamboo leaf suspended before his eyes.

The dewdrop, condensed from moisture in the air, still clung to the leaf tip, poised as if about to fall but not yet fallen.

Heaven and Earth lost their color, all things became still, as if even time had lost its meaning.

Lu Xuan walked over, treading on the solidified Sword Qi on the ground, the crisp sound of his boots meeting the ice becoming the only sound in this static world.

Commander Shen Wanbao’s last consciousness lingered in the crystalline, ice-blue world before his eyes.

His pupils remained in a state of startled contraction; through the thick layer of ice, Lu Xuan’s transcendent and extraordinary face could be seen.

In the instant before Commander Shen Wanbao’s consciousness dissipated, countless questions flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

Why would the Eastern Depot Director Lu Xuan possess such inconceivable power?

This… was it truly a Realm that Mortals could attain?

“Could he be…”

This thought had not yet fully formed in Commander Shen Wanbao’s mind when his consciousness completely plunged into eternal night.

Inside the Jinluan Hall, the Nine Dragon Gold Pillars reflected the candlelight, illuminating the imperial throne as brightly as day.

The Azure Dragon Commander knelt on one knee on the coiled Dragon gold brick, the bloodstains on his flying fish robe not yet fully dried: “Reporting to Your Majesty, the East Depot rebels have all been executed.”

His voice echoed through the vast hall, yet it could not conceal the subtle sounds coming from the right side of the imperial throne.

Gan Dongji leaned languidly on the Dragon Throne, his right hand playing with Lin Qinghan’s scattered dark hair.

The beauty’s semi-transparent gauze dress barely covered her exquisite figure, and ambiguous red marks on her snowy skin extended from her neck to her partially exposed, proud white chest…

Her lipstick was smudged, and the corners of her eyes still held an un-faded charm.

“Hmm…”

Gan Dongji’s finger inadvertently traced the fresh bite marks on Lin Qinghan’s collarbone.

“Where is Lu Xuan’s head?”

The Vermilion Bird Commander beside him hastily kowtowed: “Reporting to Your Majesty, Commander Shen personally went… he hasn’t returned yet.”

“Hmm…”

Gan Dongji responded distractedly, his attention entirely on Lin Qinghan.

It was as if the person who had personally issued the decree to execute his own son was not him.

Outside the hall, a cold wind suddenly swept in, causing the red gauze around Lin Qinghan’s neck to flutter, revealing more indecent marks.

Yet, she seemed completely unaware, merely obediently pouring wine for the Emperor.

At this moment, the biting north wind outside the hall grew even fiercer, causing the decorations inside to tremble violently.

Lin Qinghan’s scattered dark hair danced wildly in the wind.

She suddenly trembled all over, her beautiful eyes wide as she looked towards the gilded palace doors.

“Your… Your Majesty…” Lin Qinghan’s trembling crimson lips were swallowed by the sudden howling cold wind.

Only wisps of frosty cold Qi could be seen seeping in through the door cracks, crawling along the ground like living things.

Eerie ice patterns rapidly condensed on the gold bricks, and these patterns spread towards the imperial throne at a visible speed.

“Hmm?”

Gan Dongji suddenly sat upright, knocking over the gilded warm stove on the desk.

The charcoal rolled onto the icy floor, instantly extinguishing and releasing plumes of white mist.

The Azure Dragon Commander swiftly drew his sword, but the sword tip rapidly became covered in white frost at a visible speed.

The three Commanders exchanged horrified glances—this was definitely not natural coldness, but rather…

“It’s you…”

“Lu Xuan!”

Lin Qinghan’s vermilion-stained nails dug deep into her palms, and fresh blood dripped from between her fingers onto the icy floor, instantly congealing into blood beads.

Wasn’t the figure arriving amidst the frost the very enemy she had longed to kill day and night?

Through the coming and going of seasons, ten years passed in the blink of an eye.

The mountains and rivers of the Great Yu Empire remained, but a new Emperor had taken the throne.

The once-illustrious Brocade Guard yamen was now deserted, the bronze characters “ Su Jing” (Su Jing - Pacification) covered in moss.

However, the East Depot’s black iron token now hung high above the Six Ministries’ main hall, and even the court officials’ memorials had to first be reviewed by the Depot.

The old tea drinkers at the foot of the Imperial City still remembered that many things had changed after that night ten years ago.

After the Second Prince ascended the throne, his imperial title was “Emperor Shenghe.” As for the once-bustling mansion of Grand Tutor Qing, it was now a warehouse for tax silver.

In the historians’ records, these ten years were heavily documented.

Ten years ago, Brocade Guard Commander Commander Shen Wanbao led the Brocade Guard, colluded with the Imperial Guards in rebellion, attacked the East Depot at night, and slaughtered the Twelve Taibao of East Depot.

Finally, Eastern Depot Director Lu Xuan turned the tide, using thunderous methods to purge the rebels.

Emperor Shenghe, moved by his loyalty and bravery, then abolished the Brocade Guard and promoted the East Depot to oversee the three departments…

It was only a pity that the Eastern Depot Director was ultimately a step too late; the former Emperor on the Dragon Bed had already breathed his last.

And the direction of the East Palace was also ablaze.

The main hall had been burned to ashes, leaving only a few charred corpses in struggling poses.

Subsequently, three days after Emperor Shenghe’s ascension, an unprecedented imperial decree resounded in the Jinluan Hall.

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees… Eastern Depot Director Lu Xuan, who quelled chaos and stabilized the nation, has rendered great service to the empire… Therefore, he is specially enfeoffed as ‘Prince Regnant,’ permitted to walk with sword in the hall, and not required to bow in salute…”

The old officials in the Jinluan Hall prostrated themselves, watching the figure in the dark python robe slowly ascend the golden steps.

The new Emperor even personally rose to greet him, placing half of a tiger tally into his hand.

This was the first time in the Great Yu’s founding that a Prince of a different surname shared command of the military tally with the Son of Heaven.

In the early autumn of the tenth year of Emperor Shenghe’s reign, the imperial study in the palace was brightly lit by candlelight.

Emperor Shenghe—the former Second Prince—was now nearing his fortieth year.

He wore a bright yellow everyday robe, its dark embroidered Dragon patterns faintly visible in the candlelight.

Emperor Shenghe’s brows carried the composure and weariness accumulated over more than a decade of imperial life.

And the new Chief Eunuch stood humbly to the side, his body motionless.

He had served Emperor Shenghe for twenty years, and had long since thoroughly understood the Emperor’s thoughts.

All the talk of diligent governance and tireless work was merely a performance for the former Eastern Depot Director Lu Xuan.

From the day he ascended the throne ten years ago, Emperor Shenghe had been acting.

He acted as an enlightened ruler dedicated to good governance, and a wise lord who knew how to employ capable people.

Even the furrowed brows when reviewing memorials, and the perfectly measured dignity when summoning ministers, were all carefully designed expressions.

Rumble!!!

Loud rumbles, like muffled thunder, suddenly tore through the night sky of the capital.

The vermilion brush in Emperor Shenghe’s hand snapped with a “snap,” and scarlet ink splattered onto his bright yellow Dragon robe, like fresh blood.

“What’s happening?” He rose abruptly, and the memorials on the imperial desk scattered across the floor.

Outside the hall, the wind howled furiously, and dark clouds gathered at a visible speed above a certain part of the capital, forming a massive vortex.

Lightning flashed and thunder roared within the vortex, and faintly visible ice-blue light pillars shot straight into the sky.

“Your Majesty!”

At this moment, several imperial guards stumbled into the hall, their armor still bearing un-melted ice shards.

The leading guard commander knelt on one knee, his voice trembling: “Your Majesty, it’s from the Prince Regnant’s Residence…”

He hadn’t even finished speaking when the entire imperial palace suddenly shook with an earth-shattering tremor.

The glazed tiles on the hall roof rattled, and years of accumulated dust fell from between the beams.

Emperor Shenghe clutched the edge of the imperial desk tightly, his fingernails scraping against the sandalwood with a grating sound.

Immediately after, the guard commander heavily kowtowed, his voice almost swallowed by the howling wind: “From the Prince Regnant’s Residence, a white light shot straight into the sky!”

“What?!” The composed mask on Emperor Shenghe’s face instantly shattered.

He abruptly pushed away the imperial desk and rushed down the imperial steps in a panic, not even bothering to straighten his crooked crown.

Thus, Emperor Shenghe stumbled out of the hall, his bright yellow Dragon robe flapping wildly in the strong wind.

He looked up, and the entire night sky of the capital was illuminated in a frosty white by that white light.

However, this earth-shattering anomaly came as quickly as it went.

Among them, one person also departed along with this Heaven and Earth anomaly.

That person was none other than the Prince Regnant, Lu Xuan, who had held sway over the Great Yu Empire for many years!

Tianwu World!

Host: Lu Xuan

Realm: Fourth Red Dust Immortal (Perfection)

Cultivation Technique: Burning Heaven Blade Technique 19/9, Close Distance to the Horizon 17/9, Undying and Unextinguished 17/9.

Points: 1,000,000

In the Great Yu Empire’s Mortal World, the System points Lu Xuan obtained were not many.

He only gained 50 million System points, which, combined with the remaining 81 million System points, was just enough to deduce the Burning Heaven Blade Technique once.

The result exceeded Lu Xuan’s expectations; deducing the Burning Heaven Blade Technique to the 19th level directly allowed him to Breakthrough to the Realm of Fourth Red Dust Immortal Perfection.

“Very good!”

As the two words fell, a black streak of light shot out from Lu Xuan’s body, heading straight for the Void Realm crack.

…

When Lu Xuan opened his eyes again, the mountain wind brushed against his wrinkled, yet exceptionally rosy face.

Immediately after, Lu Xuan looked down, examining his neatly tailored black Chinese tunic suit and his wrinkled, yet exceptionally strong hands.

This ninety-five-year-old body contained an unimaginable explosive power.

Modern city? National martial arts? Perfection of Inner Force???

Not only that, Lu Xuan also experienced an unprecedented feeling, seemingly a certain irresistible Heaven and Earth Law.

The vitality of this aged body was rapidly draining away like an hourglass.

Even though extremely powerful energy surged through his Meridians, the sense of decay emanating from his internal organs clung to him like a persistent disease.

Looking up, a sea of clouds surged beneath his feet.

Behind Lu Xuan, the abruptly styled two-story villa, made entirely of tempered glass, reflected the golden glow of the morning sun.

Nine black cars were still parked in front of the porch.

On the other side of the mountain peak, on a specially paved asphalt mountain road, the roar of an engine suddenly sounded.

Three shiny black luxury cars drove up in succession, their streamlined bodies gleaming in the sunlight.

The emblem on the front of the leading car glinted with a metallic texture, followed by two modified SUVs.

The intelligent recognition System made a soft “beep,” and the electronic iron gate fence automatically slid open to both sides.

Evidently, the iron gate had already recorded the license plates of these cars into the System, allowing them free passage.