Chapter 1538 - 446: Xuanyuan Hao, Do You Still Recognize Me? (6k)

After listening to Xuanyuan Hao’s words, Xuanyuan Chong stood with his hands behind his back, his tone icy: "So currently within the Imperial City, which Spirit Severing Realm cultivators remain?"

Xuanyuan Hao thought for a moment, cautiously reported: "Besides Mo Tianheng from Duobao Trading House, all other Spirit Severing Realm powerhouses are staying in their respective hometowns in the various counties and prefectures and have not left for the past few years."

After a brief silence, Xuanyuan Chong let out a cold snort: "Since the opposite side has released all the pregnant women, it seems not to be a personal vendetta, but rather like a meddling Spirit Severing from a foreign country standing up against injustice."

"Father, about Third Imperial Uncle’s matter..." Xuanyuan Hao’s voice trembled, his eyes filled with both fear and resentment.

Xuanyuan Chong’s eyes grew colder, his five fingers slowly clenched, causing the surrounding air to momentarily still.

"Investigate."

This single word made the clouds and mist within a hundred miles tremble.

"Your Imperial Uncle must not die in vain." Xuanyuan Chong’s eyes flashed with cold light, "This matter must be thoroughly investigated, but let no word of it leak out—"

"I understand." Xuanyuan Hao bowed his head in response.

Xuanyuan Chong deliberated for a moment before speaking again: "Has your Second Imperial Uncle been at the border or in the Vast Mansion recently?"

"Still in the Vast Mansion," Xuanyuan Hao replied, "The remaining few Demon Emperors at the border are no longer a threat, and he has instead reached some private agreements with them."

"However..." He lowered his voice, "Taichu Dojo has shown unusual activity recently; it seems Imperial Uncle has made a major discovery and is still investigating."

Xuanyuan Chong let out a cold laugh: "After so many years of exploration, he can’t even open a single restriction gate; what more could he discover? Quickly send him a message to come back once."

"Yes!" Xuanyuan Hao bowed to take his orders, then swiftly departed.

Xuanyuan Chong then fixed his gaze on the rolling gray mist below, his eyes sharp as he murmured, "Third Brother, as your elder brother, I will not let you die so inexplicably."

Before the words left his mouth, his body moved, stepping out and disappearing from the original spot, heading straight for the location of the cave...

...

Half a joss stick of incense later, deep within the Imperial City.

A Profound Iron altar stood towering, with nine giant coiling dragon columns piercing into the sky, their dragon patterns reflecting gilded light under the sunlight.

At the center of the altar, a pillar of light formed by the intertwining of four-color spiritual lights extended to the heavens, with a faint dragon shadow swirling and darting within—it was the core of the Hidden Dragon Path.

Thirty thousand Golden Armor Guards stood like statues all around, their Profound Iron heavy armor reflecting a chilling gleam.

Outside the altar, nine layers of restrictions flowed like water, each marked with the distinct dragon pattern emblem of the Royal Family, emanating an overwhelming pressure.

Those without royal bloodline would be burned upon touching it.

"Welcome, Emperor!"

The space suddenly tore open, and Xuanyuan Hao stepped out from the void.

All thirty thousand soldiers knelt on one knee in unison to pay their respects.

Xuanyuan Hao’s expression was solemn, his fingertips sparked with spiritual light, and a Jade Scroll wrapped in a Spirit Severing Realm sealing appeared out of thin air.

Three beams of golden light swiftly arrived, where three Divinity Transformation Realm Perfection Golden Armor Guard commanders knelt on one knee, respectfully receiving it with both hands.

"Immediately deliver this scroll to the Vast Mansion, and personally hand it to the Prince!" Xuanyuan Hao waved his sleeve, his voice like clashing metal.

"Understood!" The three of them responded in unison and as they rose, the Jade Scroll had already been stored in their storage bag.

The teleportation array pattern suddenly lit up, and within the blinding spiritual light, the three figures gradually became indistinct.

Watching the dissipating light, Xuanyuan Hao let out a long breath unconsciously, yet found himself looking upward at the nine-layer palace towers.

Back when the Royal Treasury was stolen, they lost a large amount of top-grade spirit stones and several other treasures.

Though the palace restrictions were immediately sealed, not a single shadow was caught.

His gaze sharpened as he stared at the core light pillar of the Hidden Dragon Path, suspecting even back then whether the thief had used this route for entry.

After all, this teleportation passage exclusive to the Imperial Family consumed an astronomical number of spirit stones each year.

To conserve spiritual power, the defensive array on the treasury side borrowed energy from this place.

Yet during the thorough investigation back then, no trace of invasion was found here.

Moreover, in all the years since, the treasury had not been robbed again.

But this day, as he once more focused on the flowing array patterns, he felt a vague unease tightening in his heart.

Just as he turned to leave, a penetrating cold shot up from his spine to the back of his neck.

"Buzz—"

The next moment, four towering pillars of light burst from the ground, the intertwining of blue, red, white, and black spiritual light forming a net, instantly enveloping the entire altar like a celestial prison.

Thirty thousand Golden Armor Guards, well-trained, their Profound Iron heavy armor flashing coldly, instantly formed a wall array around Xuanyuan Hao, encircling him protectively.

"Who dares to act recklessly!"

Xuanyuan Hao cried out in a furious voice, swiftly forming a finger technique to call for help from his father, Xuanyuan Chong, but as soon as the spiritual power surged, it was like a mud bull entering the sea, dissipating into nothingness.

His pupils shrank abruptly, his divine sense swept frantically in all directions, yet he could not capture a single trace of the enemy’s presence, as if the assailant did not even exist in this realm.

"Was it you who harmed my Imperial Uncle?!"

Xuanyuan Hao seemed to have realized something, his voice trembling slightly, his chest surging with blood and qi, a feeling of unprecedented danger spreading like a tide.

He suddenly raised his hand, his fingers forming a claw, attempting to tear the space to escape.

But as soon as his fingertips touched the void, it was as if they hit an invisible iron wall, unmoving.

"Such audacity, daring to offend my Xuanyuan Royal Family!" Xuanyuan Hao roared hoarsely.

His Third Imperial Uncle had advanced to the Spirit Severing Realm ahead of him, possessing formidable cultivation, yet died so silently, without leaving even a trace of his remains.

If it were to happen to him... as the thought crossed his mind, cold sweat seeped from his palm.

At this moment, Xuanyuan Hao was truly afraid.