323: Li Xuan and Zhuang Xuan's reactions

Ten thousand miles away, in the capital of the Tianqi Dynasty, the atmosphere inside the Imperial Study was suffocatingly oppressive.

Sovereign Li Xuan, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat regally on the dragon throne. His face was so gloomy it looked like it could drip water. He held an urgent military report from the Southern Border, his knuckles white as he gripped it, nearly crushing the thick Xuan paper.

The handwriting on the military report was neat, but every word felt like a needle. It detailed the complex situation outside the Nether Crow Cave Mansion—various forces gathering, Nascent Soul Cultivators appearing, and it even mentioned the State Preceptor’s strategy of remaining idle after entering the Immortal Cave. Every line exuded a sense of things spiraling out of control.

"Nascent Soul Cultivators..."

Li Xuan spoke slowly, his voice hoarse. His brow furrowed deeply, and his expression was wretched to the extreme.

"A mere Nether Crow Cave Mansion, supposedly containing the Legacy of Daoist Ming Ya, has actually attracted so many forces. Even Nascent Soul Cultivators dare to show up so brazenly! Do they not fear being held accountable by the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty? Do they no longer respect the existence of my Tianqi Dynasty!"

The Imperial Study was deathly silent. The old eunuch standing by his side was trembling with fear, his head bowed even lower. He didn't even dare to breathe loudly, only cautiously advising:

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The State Preceptor is the only Nascent Soul Cultivator of Tianqi recognized by the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty. The Nascent Soul Cultivators sent by those other forces should, in theory, have their Cultivation suppressed by the rules of the Imperial Dynasty... They surely wouldn't dare to easily undo their Seals. With the State Preceptor there, the matter of Daoist Ming Ya's Legacy will surely fall into the hands of our Tianqi Imperial Family. Your Majesty need not worry too much."

"Calm my anger?"

Li Xuan suddenly slammed his hand onto the armrest of the dragon throne and roared, his voice causing the palace lanterns hanging in the hall to sway slightly:

"I see that these forces are deliberately ignoring the majesty of my Tianqi Dynasty! Do they really think my kingdom is a soft persimmon that can be squeezed at will!"

He stood up from the dragon throne and paced back and forth, the hem of his dragon robe rustling against the floor. The frustration in his chest was hard to suppress.

"Never mind the outsiders, even a mere city lord under my command dares to desert his post, leading people to the Southern Border to stir up trouble, and hasn't even sent a single word of explanation to the court! What a fine official of mine!"

The city lord Li Xuan referred to was, naturally, Situ Jun.

He paced back and forth, the frustration in his chest hard to suppress.

He naturally coveted Daoist Ming Ya's Legacy, but what made him more uneasy was the loss of control over the current situation—the Xihua Sect, the Xuan Yin Sect, the Poison Scorpion Cult, the Ten Thousand Gu Sect, the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, and many other forces hidden in the shadows. Like sharks scenting blood, they had all swarmed into the Southern Border of the Tianqi Dynasty.

What alarmed him even more was that the person suppressing the Luck of the Tianqi Dynasty had still not been identified. Now, with so many Nascent Soul Cultivators gathered at the site of the Legacy, if these forces truly obtained the Opportunity and their strength increased significantly, would the kingdom of the Tianqi Dynasty still belong to the Li family in the future?

Thinking of this, a flash of ruthlessness crossed Li Xuan's eyes. He stopped walking and said in a deep voice:

"Send my secret decree immediately to Lu Chunchuan, the Commander of the Azure Dragon Guard!"

The old eunuch quickly bowed and replied:

"This old servant obeys your command."

"Tell him to find out the situation inside the Immortal Cave at all costs."

Li Xuan's voice lowered slightly, continuing with a sinister undertone:

"When necessary... he can 'create' some chaos inside. We must not let these forces obtain the Legacy so smoothly!"

He specifically emphasized the word "create," a look of resolve flashing in his eyes.

The old eunuch's heart skipped a beat, thinking to himself that this was bad. He was asking Lu Chunchuan to act covertly inside the Immortal Cave; once exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable. But he didn't dare to raise any objection and quickly bowed:

"This old servant will see to it immediately."

...At the same time, on a mountain path leading from the Great Zhou Dynasty to the Northern Border of Tianqi, an exceptionally luxurious carriage was traveling at a leisurely pace.

The carriage was pulled by four snow-white Spirit Beasts that resembled elks. These Spirit Beasts had crystal-clear single horns on their heads, and their hooves didn't touch a speck of dust as they stepped on the ground, emitting a faint spiritual light as they moved. They were clearly high-grade Spirit Deer Beasts.

The carriage itself was crafted from thousand-year-old red sandalwood, carved with intricate lotus patterns and inlaid with dozens of smooth pearls that reflected brilliant light in the sun. The curtains were woven from rare ice silkworm silk, as thin as a cicada's wing, yet capable of blocking out all external auras and prying eyes.

Twenty Guards in gray martial attire followed the carriage. Their figures were as upright as pines, their auras as deep as abysses. They walked with light, silent steps, their eyes sharp as blades, alertly scanning the surroundings. Not even the slightest rustle of grass could escape their notice.

Suddenly, the curtain was lifted by a well-defined, somewhat pale hand, revealing an exceptionally handsome face.

The man was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with eyebrows like distant mountains and eyes like bright stars. A faint, lingering smile always played on his lips, though his eyes held a hint of bohemian frivolity. He was the Quasi-Saint Son of the Xihua Sect—Zhuang Xian.

"Tsk tsk, stepping into Tianqi's territory once again, the air is still so stifling. I wonder why that woman Chi Yu ordered me here in such a hurry? Could it be that she suffered a major loss at the hands of my 'Big Brother'?"

Zhuang Xian stretched lazily, his tone casual and teasing. His gaze swept over the scenery on both sides of the mountain path. Then, as if remembering something, an ambiguous smile curled his lips:

"And Elder Luo Yu... Hehe, given Big Brother's tastes, he would surely like a beauty like her, who still possesses such charm."

He yawned and spoke lazily to a burly, steady-looking old man outside the carriage:

"Uncle Lei, how much longer until we reach Northern Border City? It's been a long time since I've been here. I wonder if that top courtesan from the Heavenly Fragrance Tower has missed me."

Zhuang Lei gave a soft chuckle, his tone respectful yet familiar:

"In response to the Saint, at our current pace, we will arrive at Northern Border City in another day. However, Saintess Chi Yu specifically instructed that once the Saint arrives in the Tianqi Dynasty, he must immediately head to Nether Crow Ridge in the Southern Border without delay. Saint, what do you think..."

"Known, known, no need to keep reminding me, it's quite annoying!"

Zhuang Xian sneered and impatiently interrupted Zhuang Lei, his tone full of annoyance;

"That godforsaken place in the Southern Border is nothing but miasma and poisonous insects, incredibly dull! If Chi Yu hadn't said that Big Brother was also in the Southern Border and insisted I come to check the situation, I wouldn't have bothered making this trip."

He let go of the curtain and sat back in the carriage, leaning directly against the soft lap of a maidservant.

The maidservant was dressed in a light green gauze dress, with a delicate face and a submissive expression, not daring to move an inch.

Zhuang Xian toyed with an ancient-looking ring on his finger. The ring was set with a dark red gemstone that flickered with an eerie light. His eyes gradually became profound, shedding their superficial frivolity.

"Big Brother... Situ Jun... City Lord of Northern Border City..."

He whispered to himself, his fingertips gently stroking the gemstone on the ring:

"Someone who could make Senior Sister specifically send a message back to the Sect, even mentioning the 'Ice Concept' and noting that he 'needs focused attention,' is indeed not simple. He truly is the Big Brother I took a fancy to. I just don't know what kind of loss Senior Sister suffered at Big Brother's hands that she even guessed my relationship with him isn't shallow."

In that bohemian smile of his, there was now a bit more doubt and conflict.

The Xihua Sect's intelligence network spans across the dynasties. The brief words about Situ Jun sent by Chi Yu before the Immortal Cave opened had caught the attention of the Sect's high-level members, and they had specifically designated him to come. How could this not make him feel puzzled?

After all, a young powerhouse suspected of mastering a 'Concept' has a value and threat level that warrants the Xihua Sect's increased attention. Yet, they specifically assigned him to come.

"Whatever, once I reach the Southern Border and meet the people from the Sect, everything will become clear."

Zhuang Xian's bohemian smile returned as he reached out to pinch the cheek of the maidservant beside him, his tone flirtatious:

"First, let this Saint enjoy himself. Once we reach the Southern Border, I won't have this much leisure."

The carriage moved slowly forward, carrying the Xihua Sect Saint's doubts and boredom toward that place where the winds and clouds were gathering...