404: Farewell to old friends, members of the elders, Lu Xuan's terror

Chapter 396: Reunion with an Old Acquaintance, Members of the Elder Group, Lu Xuan's Terrifying Strength.

Liangqing City, as the undisputed central hub of Yifeng Province, is not only the convergence point for the province's politics, economy, and culture, but also one of the few super-prosperous cities on the Dragon Kingdom's map.

Towering skyscrapers pierce the sky, main roads with endless traffic flow day and night, and neon lights interweave with the scent of fireworks to create the vibrant rhythm of a metropolis.

However, deep within this bustling city, there is a tranquil haven, starkly different from the prosperity outside.

A low-density villa area is quietly nestled here, without excessively tall buildings to obstruct the view.

Identical three-story detached villas are scattered throughout, with light-colored exterior walls complemented by lush greenery growing freely in the courtyards.

When the wind blows, one can hear the rustling of leaves, and the air is filled with a natural, fresh scent, as if isolating the outside world's clamor.

The main entrance of the villa area is designed to be understated yet orderly, with two dark grey guardhouses symmetrically placed on either side of the gate.

Unlike the hunched, gray-haired elderly security guards commonly seen in residential communities,

the security personnel on duty here are all dressed in crisp uniforms, standing tall and straight like pines, with sharp and focused eyes.

Every gesture they make reveals the efficiency of systematic professional training; just from their guarding posture, one can glimpse the extraordinary nature of this area.

On the light grey stone wall at the entrance of the villa area, there hangs a simple yet imposing plaque.

White background with heavy black characters, the words "Yifeng Province Leader Family Compound" are particularly striking, exuding a sense of solemnity without needing much embellishment.

The residents of this area hold special identities; the families of most high-ranking officials within Yifeng Province reside here, making it a significant residential area within the province.

A black sedan, bearing a Yingnan City license plate, with a low and steady engine hum, slowly approached the entrance of the villa community.

The vehicle detection System at the gate quickly lit up green, and a message indicating successful license plate matching instantly popped up on the screen.

Evidently, the car's information had already been entered into the System, allowing it to smoothly enter this serene area without any obstruction.

Inside the car, Lu Yuliang, in the front passenger seat, slightly turned his body, looking past the center console at Lu Xuan in the back, explaining with a tone of certainty.

"Father, I've already contacted him in advance. As long as he agrees, our subsequent plans can be launched immediately."

The key to this matter was Lu Yuliang's former Old Leader, who had been transferred to Liangqing City ten years ago, rising to the high position of head of the city's Security Bureau, holding important authority.

Five years ago, this Old Leader officially retired and was living out his golden years in Liangqing City, enjoying a relatively leisurely retirement.

However, if Lu Yuliang wanted to take action against this former leader, it would be far from easy—though retired, his identity was special, and this matter required the explicit approval of the highest echelons of Yifeng Province.

It was precisely for this reason that the person he was visiting today was the highest-ranking official of Yifeng Province, who could make the final decision on this matter.

In the past, there was an insurmountable gap in hierarchy between Lu Yuliang and the highest official of Yifeng Province; he didn't even have the qualifications to pass on a message.

But this time was different; Huang Tangming represented the entire Huang Family, and his promise gave the Old Lu Family ample confidence, allowing him the courage to try.

He first contacted the secretary of that individual through special channels, cautiously explaining his intentions, and unexpectedly, things went exceptionally smoothly.

The secretary quickly replied that the leader agreed to meet him, and this unexpected progress made Lu Yuliang secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Lu Yuliang, sitting in the passenger seat, even felt a slight tremor in his fingertips from excitement, a mix of shock and joy that left him somewhat dazed.

He looked down at his wrinkled hands and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

He, an Old Leader who had retired from Yingnan City many years ago and had long since faded from the workplace, actually had the opportunity to meet the highest official of Yifeng Province—something he wouldn't have dared to imagine before.

More importantly, the identity of that highest leader of Yifeng Province was not limited to Yifeng Province alone.

He also held a crucial identity that could influence the entire Dragon Kingdom, and this power was far more "terrifying" than it appeared on the surface.

The sedan finally stopped in front of a villa in the very center of the villa area, and the scene before them completely broke the usual tranquility of the place.

Three white-haired but vigorous Old Leaders stood side by side in the courtyard, their expressions composed.

Beside them, three young male secretaries in formal attire stood with hands clasped, waiting respectfully and silently, without any superfluous movements.

If anyone familiar with the Yifeng Province officialdom were present, seeing this scene would surely gasp in surprise.

These three Old Leaders were the "Iron Triangle" of Yifeng Province's power core, meaning the three highest officials who governed the entire province.

Normally, meeting even one of them was as difficult as ascending to heaven, yet now they were all waiting here together.

Thanks to Yifeng Province's special strategic value and economic weight nationwide, its highest official was not limited by the conventional promotion path for provincial officials, but directly entered the Elder Bureau.

He was no longer merely the administrator of Yifeng Province but also became a core member capable of participating in the Dragon Kingdom's top-level decision-making.

Being able to oversee the province's overall situation and also influence the Dragon Kingdom's development direction in the Elder meeting, this dual identity established his irreplaceable position.

Lu Xuan did not wait for Lu Yuliang to step forward; he personally reached out and opened the rear car door, stepping steadily onto the stone path of the courtyard.

His gaze first calmly swept over the three Old Leaders and three secretaries waiting in front of the villa.

Immediately after, Lu Xuan subtly glanced around the villa—what slightly surprised him was that

the six people before him were merely the visible lineup; in the corners of the villa that were out of sight,

such as in the shadows of the carved fence, among the branches and leaves of tall magnolia trees, and behind the vines hanging from the second-floor balcony, there were eight faint Auras hidden.

In Lu Xuan's perception, the owners of these eight Auras were by no means ordinary guards; they were all experts of Internal Energy who Cultivated National Art.

Their breathing was long, their Auras contained, and even the sound of their clothes rubbing against the air was suppressed to the lowest level, clearly indicating they were professional security personnel constantly in a state of high alert.

Lu Xuan secretly heightened his perception, carefully distinguishing the strength of each Aura, and quickly made a judgment.

Most of them were at the Early Stage or Middle Stage of Internal Energy, while the few most powerful Auras, which almost merged with the surrounding environment,

in Lu Xuan's estimation, were merely at the Perfection of Internal Energy, still a considerable distance from breaking through the shackles and entering the next Realm of "Hua Jin."

However, the defensive line formed by these eight Internal Energy National Art experts alone already possessed the strength to directly confront a Hua Jin Grandmaster.

Their Auras were connected, hidden in the shadows; they could form a encirclement with their close-combat National Art skills and also set up a hidden defensive line relying on the villa's terrain.

An ordinary Hua Jin Grandmaster attempting a forced Breakthrough would likely expend a great deal of energy.

Moreover, this area was by no means guarded only by cold weapon-like National Art guards; it was also equipped with various high-tech monitoring devices and powerful thermal weapons in the shadows.

From micro submachine guns to portable armor-piercing rounds, each item was sufficient to pose a fatal threat to high-level National Art experts.

Such a dual defense of "National Art experts + high-tech thermal weapons" exponentially increased its power.

Even when Lu Xuan had not yet achieved the Realm of a Grandmaster of Baodan, facing such a lineup, he would have to carefully avoid its sharp edge and never show the slightest contempt.

After all, the power of thermal weapons was far beyond what a mere human Physical Body could withstand.

And now, such a power configuration, while more than sufficient to guard ordinary important figures, did not pose a real threat in the eyes of Lu Xuan, a Grandmaster of Baodan.

"Hello, Leader! Hello, Leader!" Lu Yuliang dared not be presumptuous; as soon as he stood firm, he immediately bowed, almost jogging towards the three Old Leaders, his footsteps hurried and creating a soft sound.

His respectful and nervous demeanor was even more exaggerated than when he had met Huang Tangshi earlier.

This was understandable; the Old Leader standing in the middle of the three, though not intentionally releasing any Aura, naturally possessed a majesty cultivated from a long tenure in high office.

An invisible sense of oppression washed over him like a tide, making him instinctively lighten his breathing.

One must know, this was a member of the Elder Group who could participate in the Dragon Kingdom's top-level decision-making; for ordinary people, let alone close-range conversation, even seeing him on television was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Now, he could actually meet him in person; this blend of honor and pressure made his fingertips tremble slightly.

"Hello, Leader! Hello, Leader!" Lu Yuliang's greetings were continuous, his back bent lower, and his steps unconsciously shifted backward.

It wasn't until Lu Xuan slowly walked up from behind him that he seemed to suddenly snap back to reality, quickly stepping aside, his eyes still holding lingering tension.

Then, Lu Yuliang took a deep breath, trying to steady his voice, and respectfully spoke to the Old Leader in the middle: "Three Leaders, this is the person I mentioned to you on the phone earlier—

my father, Lu Xuan. When he was young, he also served in a position and had the honor of making some insignificant contributions to the country. This time, he specifically came with me to pay his respects to you."

As he spoke, he secretly glanced at the Old Leader's expression, fearing that he might have said something inappropriate.

The three Old Leaders were dressed in extremely formal attire: white Western-style shirts, spotless and wrinkle-free, on their upper bodies.

Their collars were tied with crisp dark ties, paired with well-tailored black Western-style trousers, and their black leather shoes were polished to a shine, exuding a stable Aura from head to toe.

Though advanced in age, they all had rosy complexions, and their brows carried the majesty cultivated from long years in high positions.

Even just standing quietly, they possessed a natural, imposing Aura.

However, before Lu Xuan could even greet him, the Old Leader standing in the middle of the three took the first step, his face devoid of its usual sternness, replaced by an exceptionally kind smile.

His tone was filled with genuine warmth: "Old Lu, hello! It's truly been a long time. To see you again today is a once-in-a-lifetime fortune for me!"

"So it's you, that truly surprises me." Lu Xuan's gaze fell on the Old Leader's face.

After a careful observation, a hint of understanding flashed in his eyes, and then he too revealed a knowing smile, naturally extending his right hand to shake the other's, the grip firm and gentle.

A long-buried memory flashed through his mind: thirty years ago, when his original self was still in service, he had met the other party at an important celebratory evening party in the The Capital.

At that time, the Old Leader before him was still a young man just embarking on his official career, his brows full of youthful vigor, humbly seeking guidance behind his Elders, a sight still faintly discernible today.

He never expected that with the passage of time, over thirty years later, that budding young man had grown into a core figure who now governed a region and could be called a pillar of the Dragon Kingdom.

Such a change in fortune was truly legendary.

Lu Xuan and the Old Leader's familiar conversation was like a stone cast into a calm lake, causing everyone else present to instinctively pause, their faces showing expressions of disbelief.

The other two provincial officials standing on either side raised their eyebrows slightly, their eyes filled with surprise.

The three young secretaries nearby even secretly exchanged glances, unable to hide the astonishment in their eyes.

Who would have thought that this core official, who held great power in Yifeng Province and was difficult for even ordinary officials to approach, actually knew an Old Leader like Lu Xuan, who appeared plainly dressed and without any special insignia?

Before this, no one had heard Lu Xuan's name, and no one knew that he had such a thirty-year-long connection with this "pillar of the heavens"-like figure.

This unexpected revelation added a subtle ripple to the originally solemn atmosphere.

Immediately after, another event occurred that caught Lu Yuliang and everyone present completely off guard.

The core Old Leader governing Yifeng Province actually took the initiative to propose a private conversation with Lu Xuan.

As his words fell, he raised his hand to signal for the others to wait outside, clearly indicating that no one else needed to participate in this conversation.

This scene utterly stunned Lu Yuliang, and even the other two Yifeng Province officials showed surprise.

Soon, the two walked into a simple and clear office within the villa; the room had no overly complex decorations, only a few sets of dark solid wood furniture.

Lu Xuan and the Old Leader sat opposite each other on the central sofa, and the sunlight from outside filtered through the blinds, casting dappled light and shadow on the floor.

"Old Lu, yesterday Old Huang already specifically contacted me, explicitly instructing me to fully cooperate with all your actions in Yifeng Province. Whatever your needs, just say the word."

When the Old Leader spoke, his tone was even more solemn than outside. The moment his words fell, his eyes narrowed slightly, gazing at Lu Xuan like burning torches.

It was as if he wanted to scrutinize his expression, Aura, and even his inner state through his plain Chinese tunic suit attire.

After a brief pause, he continued: "However, Old Lu, with your identity, you shouldn't have to make this trip yourself. What kind of matter could make you personally intervene?

And your Physical Body..." As he reached the latter half of his sentence, his voice unconsciously softened, with a hint of subtle probing in his tone.

This seemingly concerned inquiry actually concealed his true purpose.

He wanted to use this opportunity for close contact to re-verify whether this Old Leader still possessed the powerful strength that once stood at the Peak of the Dragon Kingdom's National Art, inspiring awe in countless people.

"As for my Physical Body, you don't need to worry. I can still endure a few more years of trouble without major issues." Lu Xuan's voice was calm and unruffled, showing no trace of artificiality.

But the moment his words fell, the air in the office suddenly tightened—an invisible gust of wind exploded within the room without warning.

The curtains, which had been hanging steadily, suddenly billowed and rustled, and the papers on the desk fluttered rapidly.

Even the leaves of the potted plants in the corner trembled violently, as if they were about to be uprooted in the next second.

The entire space instantly felt as if it had been thrown into a miniature natural disaster, a hurricane. Although there was no physical contact, it made one's hair stand on end, and even breathing hitched for half a beat.

In an instant, with a loud "bang," the solid wood office door was directly knocked open, and the glass windows were shattered by an external force at the same moment.

Amidst the flying fragments, three afterimages suddenly appeared like arrows released from a bowstring.

These were the three personal bodyguards who had been hidden in the shadows, protecting the Old Leader. Their faces were solemn, and their hands were already on the weapons at their waists, clearly having detected the commotion inside and immediately breaking in to provide support.

Seeing this, Lu Xuan's lips curved into a faint smile, and he did not rise. However, a terrifying oppressive force, far exceeding the previous one, suddenly erupted within the room, with a faint golden ripple visibly flashing around him.

The next second, the bodies of the three National Art Great Masters, who were already at the Perfection of Internal Energy, were violently pressed down by an invisible giant hand.

With a collective "thud," they all dropped to one knee, their arm veins bulging, yet they couldn't even move a finger, their faces filled with extreme terror.

They had Cultivated for decades and seen countless experts; even the military officer instructors who taught them had never displayed such overwhelming methods.

This was not a power of the same Realm at all; it was simply an insurmountable chasm.