Pei Qingyan and Feng Ziliu’s gazes met, then instinctively darted away.

Speaking of complicated relationships, theirs was truly a mess. Pei Qingyan wasn’t sure if Feng Ziliu was his father-in-law or a fellow practitioner… Oh, perhaps not a fellow practitioner. Was he then an ex-husband brother?

The thought lasted only a fleeting moment. Xuan Nü, furious, chuckled, “Good, good, good, Pei Chuyun, I raised you for eighteen years, and this is how you repay me? Is a Pei family descendant nothing but an ungrateful wretch?”

Pei Qingyan sneered, “You have the nerve to say that! Chuyun has given you plenty of opportunities. Enough talk, attack!”

*Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!* Various powerful energies surged towards Xuan Nü. Pei Qingyan drew his long sword and joined the fray personally.

Behind Xuan Nü, Feng Ziliu unleashed a heavy punch towards her back.

With a series of *rumbling* explosions, the attacks from all the Pei family powerhouses, including Pei Qingyan, failed to harm Xuan Nü in the slightest. Her graceful figure swiftly darted towards Pei Chuyun.

*Swish!* A silk umbrella unfurled, spinning leisurely.

At the same time, Feng Ziliu’s punch struck her claw. A small amount of energy spilled from the silk umbrella, but it didn’t even cause a ripple.

The so-called “energy” was actually spiritual penetration, but the Tianluo Umbrella was so tightly sealed that it couldn’t penetrate.

“Tianluo Umbrella…” Xuan Nü was secretly alarmed. This audacious claw attack, intended as a diversion, had failed, and she was left with surging blood and qi from Feng Ziliu’s punch. Pei Qingyan’s sword was now aimed at her back, and a sword array had formed around her, leaving her no opportunity.

“Do you really think you can keep me here?” Xuan Nü finally sneered, “Then let’s see.”

Feng Ziliu was powerful, and Pei Qingyan was also a top-tier expert, extremely close to the super-grade. Unfortunately, Xuan Nü’s hidden strength was even greater. Even with so many people attacking, they could barely hold their own. It would be very difficult to take Xuan Nü down directly.

Under normal circumstances, Pei Qingyan’s choice to have so many experts form an array and attack was a mistake… because most of them were men.

Xuan Nü’s Chanü Hehuan Gong was not on the same level as that of an inexperienced young demonic woman. Staying within her aura for too long, men could easily become enchanted and fall under her control. Feng Ziliu and Pei Qingyan might be immune, and powerful first-grade bodyguards might also be safe, but second and third-grade cultivators would find it nearly impossible to escape.

However, as Xuan Nü fought, she noticed something was amiss.

Another faint aura permeated the air, very similar to hers yet different, overlapping and tearing at her own, greatly weakening its effect.

Pei Chuyun.

Her Chanü Hehuan Gong, infused with the Great Joy and Extreme Pleasure, was already quite different from the original version, even possessing a quality that seemed to surpass it.

Xuan Nü stared in shock at Pei Chuyun, who was hiding behind the formation.

In her mind, this was merely a vessel she had prepared for herself, a junior whose arrangements relied on her father and maternal grandfather’s help. Yet, facing her now, she realized that Pei Chuyun herself was the core force of this battle.

Whether it was her second-grade cultivation, the secret treasures of the ancient world, or this wondrous cultivation method… Xuan Nü suddenly felt a bit fortunate that she had started earlier than planned. If she had waited another year or two, and Pei Chuyun had reached the first-grade, it would have been even more difficult.

“Your wings have truly hardened… You were like a delicate white flower in the capital, yet you’ve grown to this extent silently and imperceptibly. Remarkable, truly remarkable,” Xuan Nü chuckled, then suddenly turned to look at the sky.

As she moved, everyone in the field felt a sense of dread emanating from the sky.

The blood moon grew even more vivid.

Boundless demonic energy spread from all over the country, seemingly coalescing through some very special method, projected by the blood moon onto a certain altar.

An incredibly terrifying power began to subtly radiate from the core of the capital’s outskirts.

Within this power was also an extremely clear dragon’s might, as if an ancient dragon was awakening.

“Qianyuan!” Feng Ziliu and Pei Qingyan knew what was happening tonight, and their minds couldn’t help but be shaken at this moment.

How long had it been since a Qianyuan breakthrough had occurred before their eyes?

Feng Ziliu had even personally witnessed the previous sect leader’s failed tribulation, and the shadow of that event still lingered in his heart.

Could this Emperor Qian survive the tribulation?

If he succeeded, would he ascend, or… would he be able to remain? If he remained, would he flatten all dissent in the world, and what then would become of the Tianyao Holy Land?

“Are you eager to interfere?” During the battle, Xuan Nü chuckled, “Just now you trapped me, but now it seems I should be the one to entangle you… None of you will leave.”

Pink mist permeated the surroundings, and the Pei manor was plunged into darkness.

As Xuan Nü confronted Pei Chuyun, other changes were also occurring throughout the capital.

With such celestial phenomena, chaos was inevitable in the capital. Cultivators stirred restlessly, and powerful figures from sects not far from the capital rushed towards the city, leading to widespread disorder.

It was against this backdrop that Huo Xingyuan was ordered to lead his forces to suppress the various disturbances in the capital.

In fact, Sheng Qingfeng also received this directive, but his responsibilities were different from Huo Xingyuan’s.

Whether Sheng Qingfeng was acting under imperial decree was unknown, but Huo Xingyuan was diligently fulfilling his duties, leading his troops to patrol the city, taking control of key routes, and stabilizing the capital.

After all arrangements were made, Huo Xingyuan, accompanied by over a dozen personal guards, strode back to his command post to preside over the central operations.

On the long street in the snowy night, there was no one around. The blood moon hung in the sky, and even Huo Xingyuan, who was on the Emperor’s side, couldn’t help but shiver, feeling a profound unease in his heart.

“Who’s there!” The lieutenants on either side drew their swords with a sharp *clang* and yelled angrily.

Huo Xingyuan focused his gaze. At the street corner ahead, a figure stood quietly, blocking their path.

Illuminated by the blood moon, the person’s face was vaguely discernible: jade-like complexion, eyes like bright stars. Who else could it be but Lu Xingzhou?

But the crimson light on his face made his once gentle, princely appearance seem somewhat sinister now, standing silently on the street like a wandering spirit.

“Lu Xingzhou.” Huo Xingyuan took a deep breath. “What are you doing?”

Lu Xingzhou announced loudly, “Marquis Huo has secretly hidden a divine artifact, causing heavenly retribution, thus the blood moon descends as a warning. I, Lu, act upon imperial decree, specifically to apprehend the Marquis. Those not involved, please withdraw.”

His voice carried for several *li*, audible not just on this street, but probably several streets away.

Countless people, who had closed their doors and hid in their homes due to the night’s strangeness, now pushed open their windows, eager for gossip.

Huo Xingyuan almost laughed in anger. “Lu Xingzhou, you’re even faking imperial decrees now. Do you know what crime that is? Seize him!”

“Don’t believe me?” Lu Xingzhou grinned. “Let me prove it to everyone.”

As he spoke, sword light suddenly flashed in the sky, piercing into the back courtyard of the Huo manor.

Huo Xingyuan was deeply shaken. “Jiang Duxu!”

“Indeed.” Lu Xingzhou smiled, lowering his voice. “The situation tonight is so special; both the Grand Tutor and the Grand Divine Official should be at the altar. And the Marquis has led his troops out… Even if there are many high-grade bodyguards guarding that place, I fear they won’t be able to withstand a single sword from Master Jiang. Do you know how long we’ve waited for this opportunity?”

*Clang!* As if to corroborate his words, with the descent of the sword light, a loud explosion erupted from the direction of the Huo manor. A surge of immortal spiritual energy soared into the sky, and many people seemed to see illusions of celestial maidens scattering flowers. A fragrant aroma filled the entire city, seemingly dissipating much of the blood moon’s ominous and evil aura.

But soon, in the next moment, the immortal energy and light over there achieved a perfect harmony with the blood moon. Anyone could see that the essence of this blood moon’s birth was inextricably linked to that immortal spiritual energy; there must be a karmic connection.

Huo Xingyuan was dumbfounded, his mind temporarily blank.

The alchemy furnace, hidden by the Huo family for ten years, was thus revealed to the world.

That it was related to the blood moon was natural, of course. Gu Zhanting had consumed many medicines refined from this furnace in his later years, and the demon blood and devil blood within them were strongly linked to his Qianyuan breakthrough. The two naturally had a karmic relationship.

But how did Lu Xingzhou know this?

Not to mention Gu Zhanting’s breakthrough, just regarding this alchemy furnace, how did he know it existed? Even when Huo Shang died, the Huo family hadn’t acquired the furnace!

Huo Xingyuan’s first reaction was to rush home to reclaim the furnace, but as soon as he moved, he was blocked by Lu Xingzhou.

“Huo Xingyuan, how did you conspire with evil creatures, causing heavenly warnings and unrest in the capital? Why don’t you surrender immediately!” Lu Xingzhou roared, stepping forward. Huo Xingyuan’s personal guards dared not get involved in such a matter and simultaneously stepped back, leaving Huo Xingyuan and Lu Xingzhou facing each other one-on-one.

Huo Xingyuan took a deep breath, enunciating each word: “You are not Huo Shang!”

Lu Xingzhou said faintly, “I never said I was. The reason I killed your sons step by step was simply to make you feel that gut-wrenching pain, step by step, while being helpless against me. This wine is rich and has a long aftertaste. Please, Marquis, savor it. Once you’ve finished, it’ll roughly be time for you to depart.”

Huo Xingyuan exploded in fury. “Die!”

*Clang!* Huo Xingyuan’s sword left its sheath, and he madly lunged at Lu Xingzhou.

His opening move was the Huo family’s ultimate technique, Niandong… no, the Heaven-Shattering Sword.

Lu Xingzhou’s eyes were calm, devoid of joy or sorrow.

Only when the sword light was about to strike did he suddenly unleash a powerful punch.

The fist aura, a convergence of Yin and Yang energies, exploded in front of him, directly confronting the sword beam.

With a *boom* of thunderous impact, the bluestones of the long street were pulverized into dust. The shockwave spread to the surrounding houses, and cracks began to appear in the walls.

But Lu Xingzhou, who had staggered back after taking a direct hit from Huo Xingyuan at the Huo family manor during the Winter Solstice, now only retreated half a step before regaining his footing.

“Mid-stage second-grade…” many onlookers whispered, “What terrifying speed of advancement.”

Even Huo Xingyuan’s personal guards were discussing in the rear, “He was only early-stage second-grade a few days ago, right? How did his cultivation grow so fast? Unbelievable.”

“Did he take pills? He’s an alchemist.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Which pill-taker’s cultivation is so stable?” someone immediately retorted, “The Marquis is only mid-stage first-grade, and there’s a huge grade difference between ‘father’ and ‘son,’ yet Lu Xingzhou only retreated half a step. If you’re talking about pill-takers, Marquis Huo seems more like it, doesn’t he?”

“No, not father and son… He just said…”

“Who exactly is he?”

Huo Xingyuan also roared, “Who exactly are you! Why did the Huo family ancestral shrine recognize your bloodline?”

This was what Huo Xingyuan found most incomprehensible. If not for the ancestral shrine’s recognition back then, he wouldn’t have been deceived like this.

“You want to know?” Lu Xingzhou smiled faintly, though his eyes held no mirth. “Then go down to the underworld and ask your ancestors.”