394: Xuan Qingzi returns

Li Zhong's gaze swept indifferently over Li Xuan, his eyes devoid of any emotion, as if he were looking at an insignificant ant.

His voice was cold and devoid of any feeling, like ice frozen for ten thousand years:

“State Lord Li, the Imperial Dynasty is already aware of the matter at Nether Crow Ridge in the Southern Border. A Cultivator was bold enough to privately break the 'Star Seal Restriction' Seal, violating the law. I have been ordered to investigate. I hope your Tianqi Dynasty will cooperate fully. If there is any concealment...”

He did not finish his sentence, but that bone-chilling killing intent had already spread, making Li Xuan feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his entire body turning cold.

“I wouldn't dare! I absolutely wouldn't dare!”

Li Xuan hurriedly bowed repeatedly, his tone respectful to the extreme:

“This State Lord will certainly cooperate fully with the envoy's investigation. Whatever the envoy needs, everyone in the Tianqi Dynasty, from top to bottom, will comply!”

In his heart, however, he was secretly lamenting. The thing he feared most had finally happened.

Moreover, the Heaven-Patrolling Iron Cavalry had arrived exactly when State Preceptor Xuan Qingzi had not yet returned, leaving him feeling even more uncertain.

Li Zhong nodded indifferently, his gaze passing over the court officials prostrate on the ground and the trembling palace maids, finally settling on the direction of the palace complex deep within the imperial palace that faintly shimmered with spiritual light. He said solemnly:

“State Lord Li, follow me into the palace to discuss this in detail.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Zhong's figure moved slightly. Like a ghost, he instantly appeared in front of Li Xuan and walked toward the main hall without looking back.

Li Xuan did not dare to delay for a moment and hurriedly followed behind, silently praying in his heart that State Preceptor Xuan Qingzi would return soon.

Inside the Imperial Palace Hall.

Li Zhong sat on a temporarily placed red sandalwood chair with a cold expression. On the table in front of him, a stack of dossiers related to the Southern Border Secret Realm was neatly arranged.

Li Xuan stood to the side with his hands down, not daring to take a loud breath. His hands were clenched nervously, and his eyes occasionally glanced at Li Zhong, his heart filled with anxiety.

“State Lord Li.”

Li Zhong spoke slowly, his voice cold as iron, breaking the silence in the hall.

“Please speak, Envoy.” Li Xuan hurriedly bowed in response.

“According to the investigation by the Qintian Division, after the 'Star Seal Restriction' at Nether Crow Ridge was unsealed, a powerful surge of spiritual energy spread out. Subsequent investigations revealed that someone in the Southern Border made a Breakthrough to a high-level Cultivation and underwent a Heavenly Tribulation.”

Li Zhong's gaze was like a sharp blade, locked tightly onto Li Xuan:

“As the administrator of the Southern Border, has your Tianqi Dynasty investigated this matter? Who exactly was Undergoing Tribulation in the Southern Border?”

Li Xuan's heart tightened, thinking to himself that things were going poorly.

He hurriedly bowed and said:

“May the envoy be perceptive. After the Mingya Secret Realm in the Southern Border opened, it attracted many Cultivators to explore. But as for who made a Cultivation Breakthrough and underwent a Heavenly Tribulation in the Southern Border, this State Lord truly does not know. The Southern Border is exceptionally dangerous and information is scarce. Furthermore, it became chaotic afterward, making it truly difficult to investigate.”

As he spoke, he secretly observed Li Zhong's expression, fearing the other party would show dissatisfaction. His heart was already pounding like a drum.

Li Zhong snorted coldly, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes:

“As the State Lord of the Tianqi Dynasty in charge of the Southern Border, you are completely unaware of such a major event. You have been far too derelict in your duties as State Lord.”

After he finished speaking, he waved his hand, and a thick surge of spiritual energy was injected into the dossiers on the table.

The dossiers contained information gathered by the Heaven-Patrolling forces. Upon the injection of spiritual energy, they automatically unfolded, clearly recording the specific time and location of the Seal's release, as well as various speculations by the Qintian Division regarding the person undergoing the tribulation.

Seeing the contents of the dossiers, Li Xuan's face turned even paler, and his heart went cold.

Meanwhile, in the pavilion of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce headquarters.

Mo Chenggui was looking at the three black warships hovering in the sky, his brow furrowed, the sound transmission jade talisman in his hand nearly crushed.

“The Heaven-Patrolling Iron Cavalry has indeed come with aggressive intent. Ten Nascent Soul Cultivators... with such a lineup, I'm afraid they intend to turn the entire Royal Capital upside down.”

He murmured in a low voice, his tone full of gravity.

He walked to the window, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, scanning every movement within the Royal Capital.

The arrival of the Heaven-Patrolling Iron Cavalry undoubtedly added more variables to this already complex game of chess.

A moment later, Mo Chenggui took out another pitch-black sound transmission jade talisman from his robe. Spiritual energy surged from his fingertips as he injected his thoughts into it, saying solemnly:

“Master, the Heaven-Patrolling Iron Cavalry has arrived at the Royal Capital, led by Li Zhong. Their lineup is powerful, and I fear they will soon launch a comprehensive investigation.”

The Jade Talisman flickered slightly a few times before returning to silence, clearly having transmitted the message.

Mo Chenggui stood with his hands behind his back by the window, looking at the massive shadow in the sky, his expression as solemn as iron, quietly waiting for Situ Jun's next command.

The sky over the Royal Capital grew even more gloomy.

A storm sweeping through the entire Tianqi Dynasty had already begun... The pressure of the Heaven-Patrolling Iron Cavalry descending upon the Tianqi Royal Capital had loomed over the city for an entire day.

Just as this oppressive atmosphere was about to solidify, a streak of green light galloped from the horizon, breaking the dead silence.

That light was startlingly fast, like a thunderclap piercing the long night. It ignored the Nascent Soul-level pressure emitted by the sky patrol warships and wasn't even hindered by the Cultivators on the ships. Carrying a clear Daoist charm, it pierced directly through the upper perimeter of the imperial palace and landed before the white jade steps of the assembly hall square.

The green light slowly dissipated, and a tall, upright figure gradually appeared.

It was none other than Xuan Qingzi, who had rushed back from the Southern Border.

Xuan Qingzi wore a Bagua Daoist robe, with an Innate Bagua Diagram embroidered on a blue-gray background, the patterns faintly shimmering with spiritual light. However, at this moment, the edges of the robe were stained with a bit of dark red dust and grime, and the Suet Jade Whisk hanging at his waist was also slightly disheveled.

His originally transcendent and immortal-like face now carried a hint of undeniable fatigue. A faint travel-worn look was etched between his brows. Although his surrounding aura remained thick, it fluctuated slightly, clearly a result of traveling day and night without rest to return from the Southern Border thousands of miles away.

“State Preceptor!”

An urgent cry came from the hall entrance. Tianqi State Lord Li Xuan, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, hurried forward, his eyes full of anxiety and wild joy.

He walked up to Xuan Qingzi in a few steps, his voice even carrying a hint of a tremble:

“You've finally returned! The Imperial Heaven-Patrolling Iron Cavalry arrived at the Royal Capital yesterday. Commander Li Zhong is currently investigating the matter of the Cultivator in the Nether Crow Ridge Immortal Cave unsealing their Cultivation. I fear they will hold our Tianqi Dynasty accountable. What should we do?”

Xuan Qingzi waved his hand, signaling him to stay calm.

He looked up at the Flying Ships in the sky, performed a Daoist salute, and said in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant:

“Tianqi Imperial Advisor Xuan Qingzi greets Commander Li Zhong. I happened to be present for the matter at Nether Crow Ridge. I can explain the causes and consequences to the Commander in person. I ask the Commander for a hearing.”

As his voice fell, a black shadow flashed on the deck of a sky patrol warship. A figure clad in dark iron battle armor flew down and landed steadily in front of Xuan Qingzi.

The newcomer had a resolute face, a tight jawline, and eyes as sharp as a hawk's. His entire body radiated the murderous aura of one who had spent years in battle. It was none other than the Commander of the Heaven-Patrolling Iron Cavalry, the Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, Li Zhong.