Xiao Hei, guard the palace well—allow entry only, no exits.

Ye Wentian grasped Xiao Ruobai's hand, his eyes becoming resolute.

"Ruobai, why did you come back now? The dog emperor's hidden guards are watching this place every day. You are no match for them, hurry and leave," Ye Wentian snapped back to reality, urging him anxiously.

Looking at the absolute sincerity in his eyes, Xiao Ruobai felt a warmth in his heart, mingled with a pang of sorrow.

Beside them, Fang Hanyu suddenly furrowed his brows, his grip on his sword tightening abruptly.

Just now, as he focused his senses on the surroundings, he distinctly caught a faint trace of spiritual energy fluctuation that did not belong to these ruins. It was hidden in the shadows of a half-collapsed brick wall on the east side. Clearly, someone was spying on them from the dark, entirely unaware that they had already been exposed.

Fang Hanyu did not make a sound. He merely shot Xiao Ruobai a glance before his figure darted out like a phantom.

The Absolute Beginning Sword was drawn with almost no sound of wind. Primal Chaos Sword Qi wrapped around the blade like silver threads as it thrust straight toward the huddled dark silhouette behind the brick wall.

The dark silhouette was a spy sent by the imperial palace to keep an eye on the ruins of the General's Manor. Thinking this abandoned place was completely deserted, he was stealthily using spiritual energy to trigger a communication talisman, intending to send the message of abnormal movement in the ruins back to the palace.

But just as he brought the communication talisman to his fingertips, he felt a chill on the back of his neck—the Primal Chaos Sword Qi was already pressed against his throat. The speed was so fast that he didn't even have time to react.

"Mmph—"

The spy had barely tried to struggle when the sword qi sliced open his neck. Warm blood sprayed onto the broken brick wall, and he couldn't even let out a complete scream.

His body fell heavily to the ground. The communication talisman slipped from his fingertips and rolled away; before it could be activated, Fang Hanyu crushed it into powder with a stomp of his foot.

Using the Primal Chaos Sword Qi to wipe away the bloodstains beside the corpse, he turned back to Xiao Ruobai, his voice deep: "It should be a spy from the palace. He was dealt with right as he tried to send a message. Word didn't leak."

The killing intent in Xiao Ruobai's eyes thickened. "It seems that incompetent ruler planted eyes around here long ago, afraid that someone would dig up the events of the past. Since that's the case, we don't need to wait any longer—Uncle Ye, you stay here and rest easy. Hanyu and I will storm the palace right now. Today, we will definitely make those people pay in blood!"

Ye Wentian looked at the light in his eyes. His cloudy eyes brightened like burning coals, but were instantly replaced by worry. He shook his head repeatedly. "No, Ruobai, you cannot go now! You are still young, it's far too dangerous!"

He fiercely gripped Xiao Ruobai's hand, his voice filled with urgency: "You don't understand, the imperial palace hides two Celestial Realm ancestors, as well as numerous hidden guards... Even if you two are incredibly strong, you cannot withstand a siege by so many powerful foes!"

Ye Wentian had seen the swiftness with which Fang Hanyu killed the spy, but he only thought Fang Hanyu was agile, entirely unaware that the two had long since broken through to a cultivation base capable of rivaling the Celestial Realm.

In his heart, Xiao Ruobai was still the little young master who needed protection from back then. Even if he had grown up, facing the royal family, he would hardly have a chance of winning.

"Listen to your uncle, let's plan this out properly!" Ye Wentian lowered his voice and leaned in closer.

"I have stayed in the imperial capital for three years and figured out the shift patterns of the imperial guards. I also know a few secret strongholds of the hidden guards. We can secretly sabotage their deployments first, weaken the royal family's power, and then find an opportunity to strike. That is the only safe way!"

He spoke faster and faster, his cloudy eyes full of pleading. "Ruobai, you are the only root left of the General's Manor. If something happens to you, how could I face the General's spirit in heaven!"

Seeing Ye Wentian's reddened eyes, Xiao Ruobai felt warmth in his heart and gently patted the back of his hand. "Uncle Ye, I know you are worried about me, but I am no longer that child who needed to hide behind his father."

He raised his hand, and golden battle qi condensed into a blade of light in his palm. As the light blade circulated, it actually caused the surrounding air to tremble slightly.

"Whether it's the Celestial Realm ancestors or the hidden guards, I can take them all on today. Rest assured, I won't act recklessly, and I certainly won't joke around with my own life—I still need to live to avenge the General's Manor, and I still need to take you back to see the Northern Frontier."

Fang Hanyu also added from the side, his tone steady: "Senior Ye, my senior martial brother and I have enough cultivation to deal with the powerful enemies in the palace. We will act carefully and absolutely will not put ourselves in danger."

Ye Wentian looked at the domineering battle qi in Xiao Ruobai's palm, and then looked at the certainty in Fang Hanyu's eyes.

He opened his mouth, but ultimately it only turned into a sigh. Releasing Xiao Ruobai's hand, he said in a low voice: "Then you... must be extra careful. If the enemy is truly too difficult to defeat, fall back immediately. I will wait for you here."

"Alright. Uncle Ye, take this and wait for our good news!"

Xiao Ruobai took out a white jade pendant from his storage ring and handed it to Ye Wentian. This jade pendant was a protective treasure found in Lie Tianxiong's storage ring; it could withstand the attacks of a Celestial Realm expert for half an hour.

Then, the figures of the two men dashed out of the courtyard like two streaks of lightning, speeding toward the crimson palace walls not far away.

Leaving only Ye Wentian watching their backs, his hands clenched tightly into fists as he silently prayed in his heart: General, you must protect the young master, protect them so they return safely!

Beneath the walls of the imperial palace.

The crimson palace walls gleamed with a cold, hard luster. The armor of the imperial guards patrolling the top of the walls flashed with reflections, revealing strict vigilance.

However, this barrier of the imperial capital that had once made countless cultivators fearful was, in the eyes of Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu, nothing more than the final piece of thin paper blocking their revenge.

"Little Black," Xiao Ruobai raised his hand, letting the little black bird on his shoulder land in his palm.

"Help me keep an eye on the palace. Only entry is allowed, no exit."

A bit of solemnity appeared in Little Black's pupils, and a streak of golden light flashed across its eyes.

A transparent halo suddenly expanded, like an invisible barrier firmly covering the entire imperial palace, making even the air seem to freeze.

"Don't worry, leave it to me. Now, even if the palace blows up, the outside world won't hear a single sound, and not even a mosquito will be able to fly out."

As soon as it finished speaking, Little Black suddenly tilted its head. With a light flap of its wings, a screen of light appeared out of thin air before Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu's eyes.

It was precisely the scene inside the imperial palace's royal study. Inside the study, curling sandalwood incense could not suppress the staleness in the air.

The Emperor of Great Yan leaned diagonally on the dragon throne, his fingertips playing with a jade thumb ring, his gaze looking at the Shadow Guard below the steps: "Over at the secret realm, still no trace of those rebellious sons?"

"To answer Your Majesty, the periphery of the secret realm has been searched thoroughly, and only a few remnant souls of rogue cultivators were found. Not a single trace of the princes' auras has appeared. According to your subordinate's judgment, they have likely met with misfortune, and even their corpses and bones have been devoured by ferocious birds or the power of the secret realm," the Shadow Guard replied.

"If they are dead, then they are dead."

Hearing this, the emperor not only lacked the slightest bit of sorrow, but instead raised his hand and pushed the glazed cup on the desk aside, producing a crisp clinking sound.

"But what of those two mysterious people and that ferocious bird? How goes your investigation into them? Those rebellious sons didn't offend them, did they? As long as they didn't offend those two, their deaths aren't a bad thing. It saves them staying in the capital, fighting for power and profit all day long, annoying me."

Just as his voice faded, the emperor seemed to think of something, and a greedy light instantly flashed through his eyes.

Leaning forward slightly, his previous indifference completely faded, replaced by an almost fanatical anticipation.

"If we could curry favor with such an expert, let alone Xuan State, the entire Eastern Region would have to look to the mood of my Great Yan Dynasty!"

He stood up, paced a couple of steps in the imperial study, and unconsciously traced the carvings on the dragon throne with his fingers, his tone filled with regret.

The Shadow Guard looked at the lust for power in the Emperor's eyes, remaining silent for a moment before finally speaking.

"Your Majesty, that expert's methods are too terrifying, and his whereabouts are completely unpredictable. I fear he will be difficult to win over. In your subordinate's opinion, it would be better to keep our distance for now. We should not rashly provoke him, lest we draw fire upon ourselves."

"Keep our distance?"

The Emperor sneered, though he did not refute the advice, merely sitting back down on the dragon throne.

"I naturally know the limits. It is just frustrating to think that such a backer—one capable of altering the very destiny of our dynasty—is right before our eyes, yet we do not even have the chance to strike up a conversation with him."

The scene within the light screen gradually faded along with their conversation, but the battle qi surrounding Xiao Ruobai suddenly tightened. The tip of the Nine Heavens Dragon Soul Halberd shimmered with specks of golden light, and the air itself seemed to freeze.

"This incompetent ruler is actually still thinking about fawning over experts to seize territory. I just wonder what his reaction will be when we are standing right in front of him!"

Just as Xiao Ruobai was about to gather his qi and leap over the wall, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from behind: "Ruobai, Hanyu."

The two turned around, only to see Gu Changge dressed in a moon-white long robe and holding a jade-ribbed folding fan. In the blink of an eye, he was standing right before them.

"Master? Why are you here?" Xiao Ruobai's face was full of surprise, and Fang Hanyu also sheathed his sword and bowed respectfully.

Gu Changge gently waved his folding fan, his tone calm and indifferent: "I just came to take a look. Go about your business; there is no need to mind me."

Xiao Ruobai's heart warmed, knowing that his master had only come because he was worried about them. He nodded heavily: "Thank you, Master!"

The two delayed no further. Golden battle qi and chaotic sword qi erupted from them simultaneously.

There will be more tonight!!!