"Ah?"
Han Xuanji feigned surprise and said, "Then I'm lucky; I didn't encounter any attacks."
"That's good."
Xuanyuan Po carefully observed Han Xuanji's expression. Seeing that the other party showed no sign of blame, he felt slightly relieved and continued, following the conversation thread:
"Speaking of which, your Disciple, Lu Fan, reportedly also suffered an attack. Fortunately, at the critical moment, some unknown powerful individual intervened from afar, and Junior Brother Lu narrowly escaped danger. However..."
His tone carried a hint of complexity:
"However, that fellow Chu Wuya wasn't so lucky. According to the newly confirmed news, he... has already fallen."
When he spoke the words "has fallen," Xuanyuan Po's voice lowered, carrying a chilling sense of shared sorrow.
Chu Wuya was his biggest stumbling block on the path to becoming Human Emperor. His sudden demise naturally brought him some initial pleasure, but after a short while, a fear originating from the unknown quickly set in.
"Previously, the outside world rumored that Chu Wuya was secretly targeting other Human Emperor Candidates. Now it seems we were all mistaken, or perhaps there's an even more terrifying mastermind behind the scenes, stirring up trouble."
Xuanyuan Po's tone was solemn. This was the consensus reached after internal analysis by the Xuanyuan Family. It was precisely because the situation was so unpredictable that he had recently been instructed by his Family to act cautiously, almost under house arrest.
Previously, if Chu Wuya had targeted others, the Human Emperor Palace wouldn't have interfered, as long as there was no foreign intervention and things didn't get too ugly. Such incidents were considered minor skirmishes. After all, if one couldn't overcome such a tribulation, how could one become Human Emperor?
But this time, even the Human Emperor Palace didn't know who was responsible... The ability to eliminate a Human Emperor Candidate so cleanly and swiftly, without any leaks, leaving even Chu Wuya's supporters completely clueless, made him shiver at the thought of the power behind it.
"The other party's goal is most likely to manipulate the position of Human Emperor!"
Xuanyuan Po concluded, a mysterious look on his face.
Ah?
I want to manipulate the position of Human Emperor?
It made him sound like some major villain.
Han Xuanji was immediately speechless.
According to Xuanyuan Po, it seemed Chu Wuya had taken the blame for something he had done previously.
However, he didn't take it to heart, nor was he afraid of people seeking trouble.
Anyway, no one knew he had done it.
"In the future, I should participate less in such troublesome matters."
Han Xuanji thought to himself.
It was fine for now, but if he acted too many times, he would eventually be exposed.
No wonder it was said that when a great tribulation arises, one cannot help but be drawn into it. Even if he didn't enter the tribulation, if those around him suffered, it would be easy to soften his heart for a moment and enter the tribulation with them.
Seeing Han Xuanji lost in thought, Xuanyuan Po's face showed sincere apology:
"Brother Han, to be honest, I only just confirmed these messages.
When I invited you here, I never anticipated the situation would suddenly become so tense, nor did I intend to put you in danger.
This matter was due to my lack of foresight. I hope Brother Han will be understanding."
He spoke in a very humble manner, both explaining and probing. He wanted to know how much Han Xuanji knew about the current perplexing situation and what his attitude was towards it.
Han Xuanji listened to Xuanyuan Po's apologetic and probing words, his face still maintaining that calm and unruffled demeanor.
"Fellow Daoist Xuanyuan, you speak too gravely."
Han Xuanji's tone was peaceful, and he even comforted Xuanyuan Po:
"Things in the world are impermanent, and troubles arise on their own. What does it have to do with you? Since I accepted the invitation, I naturally had my own considerations."
This reaction made Xuanyuan Po even more unfathomable.
Such composure was far beyond what an ordinary Prodigy could possess, even surpassing many seasoned Old Ancestors.
Xuanyuan Po's heart trembled, and he quickly nodded, saying:
"Brother Han's magnanimity is admirable. This is not the place for conversation. Please follow me to the Family's station, where I will properly receive you."
Han Xuanji nodded slightly.
Under Xuanyuan Po's guidance, the two left the square covered by the ancestral tree and headed deeper into the inner city.
The further they went, the more ancient and magnificent the surrounding buildings became, and the auras of the patrolling guards grew stronger. Han Xuanji could feel the terrifying power of the Formation here; it was likely that even ordinary Grand Unity Cultivators would find it difficult to act recklessly in this place.
Passing through several archways and corridors flowing with dark golden light, an unassuming yet incredibly ancient mansion appeared before them.
The mansion's gate was not cast from gold or jade, but from some dark, bronze-colored Divine Wood. Its natural patterns seemed to outline the contours of mountains and rivers, and a simple plaque hung above the doorway, bearing two large characters written in ancient immortal script—Xuanyuan.
Merely standing before this mansion's gate, one could feel a heavy pressure.
"Brother Han, please."
Xuanyuan Po stopped at the gate, his expression solemn, and made an inviting gesture.
The large gate slid open silently. No guards were visible, but the aura emanating from within was more unsettling than the stern guards outside.
Upon entering the mansion, the scene suddenly opened up.
It was not a lavish display of pavilions and towers, but a seemingly natural garden that actually conformed to the rhythm of the Heavenly Dao.
Strange rocks stood tall, spiritual springs gurgled, ancient trees reached the sky, and the placement of every plant and tree contained profound principles of Formation.
The Spiritual Qi was dense, not much inferior to Han Xuanji's Myriad Phenomena Garden.
Occasionally, some Xuanyuan Family members could be seen walking among them, either sitting in meditation to comprehend the Dao or sparring in techniques. Each of them had a calm aura and profound cultivation.
These were all the future of the Xuanyuan Family.
Han Xuanji could clearly perceive several incomparably powerful Divine Thoughts sweeping from the depths of the garden, lingering on him for a moment with scrutiny and inquiry, yet quickly retracting like a dragonfly touching water, without any offensive actions.
The owners of these Divine Thoughts had cultivation levels of at least the Taiyi realm, and some had even touched the Grand Unity realm.
At the same time, Han Xuanji also secretly investigated the Xuanyuan Family's situation.
"Three Grand Unity powerhouses, one of whom is a Seventh-Turn Grand Unity Golden Immortal. Their foundation is indeed extraordinary, stronger than the Lingxu Heavenly Palace."
Han Xuanji secretly nodded.
The Lingxu Heavenly Palace naturally also had Grand Unity Golden Immortals presiding over it now, but there were only two, the strongest of whom was a Fifth-Turn Grand Unity Golden Immortal, the Old Ancestor of the Sword Lineage.
Han Xuanji only displayed Golden Immortal cultivation on the outside, but no one looked down on him.
Xuanyuan Po led Han Xuanji along a path paved with five-colored Divine Stones, heading towards a pavilion in the depths of the garden.
The pavilion was named "Gathering Sages Pavilion." With its flying eaves, upturned corners, carved beams, and painted rafters, and surrounded by swirling Spiritual Qi, it was the Xuanyuan Family's venue for entertaining Guest Elders and young Prodigies.
"This invitation to Brother Han is also for discussing a major matter."
Xuanyuan Po left them in suspense, not elaborating.
Before even stepping into the pavilion, one could hear faint sounds of laughter and discussions about the Dao coming from within.
Upon entering, the pavilion's interior was spacious and elegantly arranged, with twenty to thirty young Cultivators already present.
These Cultivators, both male and female, were all radiant and exuded extraordinary auras. Their cultivation was at least Golden Immortal, and many were Taiyi Golden Immortals. They were all powerful individuals from various factions whom Xuanyuan Po had painstakingly attracted or befriended over the years through his own abilities and connections.
Upon seeing Xuanyuan Po personally escorting someone in, the gazes of everyone in the pavilion converged, filled with curiosity and scrutiny.
To be personally escorted with such solemnity by Xuanyuan Po meant that the guest was certainly no ordinary person.
Xuanyuan Po smiled slightly and introduced in a clear voice:
"Everyone, allow me to introduce Fellow Daoist Han from Lingxu Heavenly Palace."
Silence first fell upon the pavilion, followed by a murmur of low discussions.
"Lingxu Heavenly Palace, surname Han... I don't seem to have heard of him..."
"You are simply ill-informed. Although his reputation is not prominent, his status in Lingxu Heavenly Palace is quite extraordinary..."
"Oh? It is said that this one seems to have a connection with another Your Highness. Brother Xuanyuan even invited this one?"
Some people present had never heard of Han Xuanji, but others were well-informed. While they might not have met Han Xuanji in person, they had long heard some rumors about him.
Especially his master-Disciple relationship with the currently prominent Lu Fan, which added to his mystique.
Regardless, as Xuanyuan Po's honored guest, they naturally could not greet him with cold faces.