427: His Majesty has decreed the pursuit and execution of the traitor Chishan!

Chapter 419: Your Majesty's Decree: Hunt Down the Traitor, Red Mountain!

"Greetings, Commander Gao!"

Along the corridors leading to the core area of the Imperial Court, guards in stellar heavy armor saluted Gao Zheng and his One line by tapping their chests with their right hands.

The clanging of armor echoed through the solemn corridor, demonstrating the unquestionable status of the Ninth Guard Regiment within the Empire's system.

The group proceeded unhindered until they stopped before a massive golden gate.

The gate was carved with the Empire's emblem of the Sun and Moon shining together, encircled by stars, exuding an aura of majesty and antiquity.

Two guards stood before the gate. They did not salute like the outer guards, but merely nodded silently.

Immediately, stellar radiance flowed around them, and vast Star power was injected into the gate.

The emblem on the gate seemed to light up instantly, emitting a soft yet majestic glow.

"Om--"

With a deep hum, the massive golden gate slowly opened inward, revealing the deep hall beyond.

Even more astonishing was that the energy fluctuations emanating from these two seemingly ordinary gatekeepers had reached the Perfection of the Star Realm, just a hair's breadth away from the Bright Moon Realm.

To have such powerful individuals guarding the gate showed the profound foundation of the Imperial Court.

Once Lu Xuan and his group entered the hall, the golden gate behind them closed silently amidst a soft, dazzling golden light, completely isolating the inside from the outside.

Beneath their feet, a blood-red carpet stretched forward. Its material was extraordinary, not adorned with ordinary patterns, but woven with secret methods to depict the vast territory of the Xinglan Empire.

Mountains, rivers, and city networks were subtly interspersed, and phantoms of the Sun, Moon, and stars slowly flowed and emerged on the carpet. Walking upon it felt like strolling through a miniature universe, immersed in a dreamlike sea of stars.

Looking around, the walls of the hall were pristine white, constructed from solid moonstones that emitted a gentle glow.

Above the dome, massive crystal chandeliers hung like an inverted galaxy, countless crystals refracting brilliant yet non-blinding light, illuminating the entire space as if it were daytime.

At the front of the hall, platforms rose in tiers, neatly arranged with hundreds of ancient and solemn chairs—these were the seats for Imperial Council members and high-ranking officials from various Domains to participate in state affairs.

And at the very front of these seats, towering above all other positions, were seven distinct thrones.

They were cast entirely from unknown metals, with bas-reliefs of the Sun, Moon, and stars encircling them. Red, gold, and white light flowed and intertwined on the surface of the thrones, as if embodying all the majesty and power of the Empire.

These were the seats of the Empire's seven highest council members.

The seven of them were personally selected by the Sun Moon Emperor, and each possessed extraordinary abilities.

The will of the seven council members was the will of the Sun Moon Emperor, jointly governing the destiny of the Xinglan Empire.

At this moment, seven figures shrouded in shimmering starlight sat silently on those seven supreme thrones, like seven insurmountable mountains, quietly observing the arrival of the Ninth Guard Regiment.

Five white-haired elders were seated on either side. They wore robes representing different Star Domains, depicting the alternation of the Sun and Moon. Though their appearances varied, their brows were etched with the majesty forged by years of wielding power.

One black-robed elder's eyes seemed to flash with lightning when he opened and closed them, while another green-robed elder slowly rotated a string of Star beads in his hand.

The old woman on the right held a dark brown scepter. Although wrinkles covered her face, her eyes, as they moved, seemed to see through people's hearts and discern the ways of the world.

And seated at the very center was an existence one dared not look directly at.

She wore the unique nine-sun, nine-moon golden brocade robe of the Sun-Moon Imperial family, embroidered with nine golden suns and nine silver moons made of mithril and gold thread.

Nourished by the starlight around her, they slowly rotated, emitting a heart-pounding majesty.

She appeared to be only in her forties, with an exquisitely beautiful and noble countenance, beyond compare.

When Lu Xuan's gaze met hers in the air, he clearly felt the outline of the blazing sun within his body tremble slightly—this was an instinctive reaction when encountering an unconquerable powerhouse.

This central female council member was, astonishingly, an unparalleled powerhouse of the Star Domain Realm, and her aura was incredibly concentrated, almost unheard of.

While Lu Xuan subtly observed the seven Dominators of the Empire on the high platform, seven incomparably powerful intentions quietly enveloped him, carrying scrutiny, probing, and even a subtle sense of pressure.

"Lu Xuan..."

This name held significant weight in the hearts of the seven council members.

They all knew what kind of reputation this calm-faced person before them possessed in the Xinglan Empire.

An unsupported commoner, with formidable strength, had managed to break through the ranks of countless resource-backed noble Geniuses to become one of the Empire's top powerhouses.

His very existence was a silent challenge to the existing order.

The female council member seated at the very center, dressed in the nine-sun, nine-moon imperial robe—Sun-Moon Yingxu—her gaze lingered on Lu Xuan the longest and was the most profound.

Deep within her beautiful eyes, a very subtle glint flashed and disappeared.

Compared to the other council members, her attention to Lu Xuan was indeed a few points higher.

"As expected of the Empire's acknowledged commoner Genius..." Sun-Moon Yingxu murmured to herself, with a hint of appreciation and consideration.

It had only been half a year since the last Imperial Court summons, yet the Star power within him had advanced to such an extent, vast, boundless, and perfectly refined.

It seemed he had already touched that barrier.

Her perception was far more acute than others; she could clearly "see" that deep within Lu Xuan's body, around the intensely hot blazing sun outline, space was beginning to show subtle distortions, and a "Life Star Domain" unique to him was taking shape.

"A Star Domain is about to form... The Empire, it seems, will soon welcome a new, truly unparalleled powerhouse."

This judgment caused ripples in Sun-Moon Yingxu's calm heart.

A newly advanced Star Domain Realm powerhouse was enough to warrant the attention of the Empire's top echelon, and even influence future strategies against the deep-red monsters.

"Ninth Guard Regiment Commander, Gao Zheng, greets the seven esteemed council members."

Gao Zheng stepped forward, then bowed deeply, performing a standard and respectful bow.

Behind him, Lu Xuan and all members of the Ninth Guard Regiment also bowed in unison, their movements precise.

Lu Xuan lowered his head slightly, his gaze falling on the blood-red carpet beneath his feet, where phantoms of stars flowed.

He could clearly feel the seven gazes from the supreme thrones falling upon everyone in the Ninth Guard Regiment, especially lingering on himself for a moment.

"Gao Zheng, the message you submitted has been presented to the Sun-Moon Divine Temple, and Your Majesty is already aware."

The voice of the central female council member, Sun-Moon Yingxu, echoed through the hall, devoid of any personal emotion, only the absolute will of imperial power.

"Hear ye! By Your Majesty's decree, effective immediately, with Gao Zheng as the leader and Lu Xuan as his assistant, the Ninth Guard Regiment is to clear all deep-red contamination outside the Ninth Security Zone and fully pursue the traitor Red Mountain, regardless of life or death!"

Her gaze swept over the crowd below as she continued to declare.

"Laibili, Shen Xin... and four other martyrs are posthumously awarded the title of First-Class Imperial Loyalty Knight, each granted a bottle of Star Dew Source and a compensation of five million Xinglan Yuan, to honor their loyalty and comfort their heroic souls."

After the decree was read, Gao Zheng was the first to straighten his body and respond in a deep voice: "Yes! We respectfully obey Your Majesty's sacred command!"

Behind him, Lu Xuan and the others also stood tall.

When the name "Shen Xin" and her reward were announced, female team member Xin Pulan's eyes instantly turned red. She bit her lip hard, forcefully suppressing the surging grief and gratitude.

"On this mission, you must all exercise utmost caution." The central female council member, Sun-Moon Yingxu's voice became more solemn.

Her gaze quickly swept over Gao Zheng and Lu Xuan. "According to the latest monitoring of the 'All-Heaven Star Great Array,' a fluctuation suspected to be an S-rank deep-red contamination has appeared outside the Ninth Security Zone."

After a slight pause, Sun-Moon Yingxu continued to explain: "Fortunately, S-rank deep-red monsters are limited by the world's rules, and their true forms cannot fully descend into reality.

Currently, it can only reside in the void of the spiritual Domain, manipulating those with weak wills and deep desires through whispers and temptations, causing them to fall and become deep-red pawns."

Changing her tone, her voice became extremely serious: "However, this S-rank monster might seek a sufficiently powerful vessel for 'Will Descent.'

The body of a Blazing Sun Realm deep-red fallen one would be optimal.

And Red Mountain... he was already at the Major Achievement of the Bright Moon Realm before he fell into the deep-red. His power will undoubtedly surge, and it is highly likely he has already broken through to the Blazing Sun Realm."

After mentioning the traitor Red Mountain, Sun-Moon Yingxu's gaze fixed on the two leaders of the Ninth Guard Regiment.

"Should Red Mountain show signs of being possessed or descended upon by an S-rank entity, remember, your mission is to 'flee,'"

“We must retreat at full speed at all costs and immediately activate the highest alert, notifying the Sun-Moon Divine Guard Sequence of the Empire.

At that time, they will personally take action to eradicate this wisp of crimson will that has descended.”

Gao Zheng's face showed no ripples upon hearing this.

After decades of campaigning on the battlefield, he was already intimately familiar with this response protocol.

In the past few decades, he had personally encountered and handled no fewer than five S-class crimson will descent incidents.

Each time, it was ultimately by activating the “Star Emblem,” which symbolized the Empire's highest combat power, and summoning the Sun-Moon Divine Guard Sequence of the Empire, that such terrifying existences were completely annihilated.

The so-called S-class crimson monsters, their intrinsic rank, were equivalent to the Star Domain Realm in the human Cultivation system.

And the Sun-Moon Divine Guard Sequence existed precisely to counter such world-ending calamities.

They were transcendent to worldly authority, not subject to the Imperial Court Council, and only pledged allegiance to the Supreme Emperor seated deep within the Sun-Moon Divine Palace.

Even the seven powerful council members had no right to issue direct orders to them.

From the First to the Tenth, every member of the Divine Guard Sequence was an unparalleled expert who had stepped into the Star Domain Realm.

Their existence had only one purpose—when S-class crimson pollution appeared outside the safe zone, they would, with absolute power, nip the disaster in the bud outside the safe zone.

“Yes.”

Gao Zheng responded in a deep voice, without any superfluous words, immediately turned, and walked out with steady steps.

Just as the members of the Ninth Guard Regiment followed closely behind, about to step out of the great hall, the Sun-Moon Yingxu council member, seated in the center, cast her gaze upon Lu Xuan, and her clear voice rang out again, carrying a rare hint of admonition.

“Vice Commander Lu, remember, never let anger sway your judgment. Only by living can you qualify to avenge your fallen comrades.”

This sudden concern made all members of the Ninth Guard Regiment pause in their steps.

A flicker of imperceptible surprise also flashed in the eyes of Lu Xuan, the person involved.

He did not turn back, but merely tilted his head slightly, nodding solemnly in the direction of the high platform, indicating that he had received this kindness.

Immediately, the group no longer lingered and hurried out of this imperial court, which symbolized the highest authority of the Sun Moon Emperor.

Sun-Moon Yingxu gazed in the direction Lu Xuan had departed, silently contemplating.

Unlike other powerful figures who harbored jealousy or schemes, in Sun-Moon Yingxu's view, every expert who could grow was the Empire's most precious asset under the crimson threat.

Lu Xuan, at only forty years old, had achieved such accomplishments; his value was far beyond that of a mere Vice Commander of the Ninth Guard Regiment.

The Ninth Safe Zone was located southwest of the Empire's core Yaoguang Imperial Capital.

Four military vertical take-off and landing aircraft roared up from the dedicated platform of the Imperial Court's outer hall, cutting through the sky and speeding towards the southwest.

Three hours later, the flight formation had reached five hundred kilometers away, gradually approaching the border of the safe zone.

Looking down through the porthole, the outline of a massive city came into view.

Layers of mixed old and new buildings were visible, many areas clearly abandoned, with the occasional hideous traces of crimson corrosion on the dilapidated structures.

This was a microcosm of human civilization after the crimson calamity—the once prosperous urban areas had drastically shrunk.

Survivors could only rely on the last defensive fortifications, huddled within the relatively intact core urban areas, struggling to maintain the continuation of civilization.

From a strategic perspective, Yaoguang Imperial Capital was undoubtedly the heavily protected core inner city.

And the ten major areas like the Ninth Safe Zone were like ten outer fortresses guarding the core, together forming humanity's last line of defense for survival.

Of course, safe zones were not truly safe; this was common knowledge.

The whispers of crimson were pervasive; even under the protection of the great guardian array, people occasionally fell in secret corners due to weak will or being consumed by desire, transforming into crimson pawns.

However, for those fallen of the Illumination and Starlight Realms, their threat was relatively limited.

Once mutated, they would generally completely lose their sanity and human form, regressing into low-level aberrations that only knew how to kill.

More importantly, the energy fluctuations and anomalies triggered during the mutation process easily exposed them, and often, at the moment of completing their transformation,

They would be met with precise strikes from the concentrated firepower of the defenders, ultimately being torn to shreds in a storm of thermal weapons.

Because of this, unless one was in extreme despair or harbored twisted obsessions, few would willingly embark on this path to meaningless destruction.

After all, in the face of the heavy firepower equipped by the Empire's defenders, enhanced with starlight technology,

Before the “All Beings Are Equalizer,” capable of tearing even steel to shreds, the flesh and blood bodies of low-level crimson fallen were indeed vulnerable.

Nevertheless, in this apocalypse, life within the safe zone was already a paradise compared to the vast, completely abandoned territories outside.

Outside the safe zone, in the crimson-corrupted, perilous wasteland, there were actually many human settlements scattered about.

They struggled to survive amidst the ruins, relying on some residual technology left by the Empire, self-sufficiently and tenaciously continuing their existence.

Although constantly facing the threat of crimson monsters and fallen outside.

But no matter how difficult, as long as there was a glimmer of hope, as long as the land could still grow food, the seemingly fragile spark of humanity would always find a way to continue.

Tebike City was one of the cities in the Ninth Safe Zone, and near the City Lord's Mansion, on the helipad of a military base, these four helicopters slowly landed.

The seven members of the Ninth Guard Regiment all arrived at this military base in Tebike City.

The base commander had clearly received direct orders from the Imperial Court long ago, personally leading his elite soldiers to assemble in formation, their military bearing impeccable.

“Reporting to the Lords of the Guard Regiment, the garrison of Base No. 156 in Tebike City has assembled and is ready for deployment at any time!”

The leading commander's voice was clear and loud, and he saluted Gao Zheng and Lu Xuan with a standard military salute.

In the context of the Great Crimson Calamity, there were no “ordinary people” in the traditional sense among those who could stand here anymore.

Even the most basic soldiers had at least the Cultivation of the Illumination Realm, capable of initially drawing upon weak starlight power to strengthen themselves.

It was this basic extraordinary power, combined with humanity's unlost high-tech firepower, that gave rise to the Empire's entirely new combat model.

Soldiers used starlight to enhance their physique, improve reaction speed, and precision in weapon control.

Then, driving specially modified firearms and heavy equipment capable of carrying and amplifying starlight energy, they formed an iron torrent capable of crushing low-level crimson monsters.

Whether performing clearing missions on the outskirts of the safe zone or dealing with sudden fallen incidents within the peaceful zone.

As long as the enemy was below the Bright Moon Realm, facing this army that fused starlight and firepower, they could not escape the fate of being mercilessly annihilated.

“Very good, move out!”

Gao Zheng did not hesitate, directly took over command of the scene, and issued orders on behalf of the base commander.

According to monitoring by Tebike City's own “Small Star Array,” a large number of crimson monster energy signals were detected about fifty kilometers outside the city.

Although they appeared to be aimlessly wandering, their activity showed a tendency to approach the safe zone.

The consistent strategy of the Xinglan Empire was to actively dispatch troops to eradicate these threats in their nascent state before they formed a large scale, especially before they evolved into a “monster tide.”

And more crucially, such a large gathering of monsters often meant that there must be a more powerful “leader” among them—usually one or several crimson monsters that had reached the Bright Moon Realm, invisibly commanding and guiding these low-level aberrations.

Since arriving in Tebike City, except for Lu Xuan, every member of the Ninth Guard Regiment felt as if a huge stone was pressing on their hearts.

Because not long ago, Laibili, Chen Xin, and four other comrades, led by Red Mountain, were ordered to leave the city to find and eliminate such a “leader.”

As a result, what awaited them was not a glorious triumph, but the cruelest betrayal and death.

Red Mountain, this comrade and commander they had once trusted immensely, had actually fallen into crimson, turning his blade against his comrades-in-arms.

After issuing the order, Gao Zheng's gaze swept towards the distance, the direction where his comrades had fallen.

This time, he would personally put an end to this beast, Red Mountain!