Is the Xuanwu Kingdom About to Fall

Chu Xingchen stared blankly at the slightly cracked imperial jade seal of the Xuanwu Kingdom.

This thing was genuinely borrowed from Zhao Xuan.

Only after some coercion and persuasion did Zhao Xuan reluctantly hand it over, his face full of reluctance.

Chu Xingchen still vividly remembered Zhao Xuan’s pleading expression—begging him to return it, or else he’d be failing the ancestors of the Xuanwu Kingdom.

Not that Zhao Xuan seemed particularly reverent toward his ancestors.

But if this thing broke, even with his thick skin, Chu Xingchen couldn’t pretend nothing had happened.

This imperial jade seal was the most important treasure to Zhao Xuan.

Without blaming Qinghe, Chu Xingchen swiftly extended his divine sense into the jade seal.

Inside, a dark cloud from Bingzhou was rapidly devouring its way toward the Xuanwu Kingdom’s capital.

Meanwhile, the dark cloud over Chizhou thickened, slowly spreading outward.

Chu Xingchen’s expression turned grave as he grasped the situation.

This wasn’t Qinghe breaking it—it was the thieves making their move.

Before setting out, he had warned Zhao Xuan to guard Bingzhou and hold the line.

Yet, barely any time had passed, and it already seemed like a crushing defeat—one that had unfolded far too quickly.

Had enemy cultivators descended to slaughter indiscriminately?

Were they trying to shatter the kingdom’s fortune in an instant?

Chu Xingchen turned to Qinghe, who looked slightly flustered, and said sternly,

"Qinghe, it’s time to act."

Understanding dawned on Qinghe, and it inwardly sighed in relief—at least it wasn’t responsible for the damage.

"Where to?!" Qinghe’s expression turned serious, shedding its earlier youthful demeanor.

Time to show this scheming brat just how formidable a serious Qinghe could be!

Chu Xingchen gripped the jade seal. "You’ll know soon!"

If this were merely a mortal conflict in Bingzhou, the situation couldn’t have deteriorated so rapidly.

There had to be cultivators or demons involved. But once the Xuanwu Kingdom’s forces retaliated, the tide would turn.

Now, they just had to wait and see how this matter of fortune played out.

Qinghe nodded firmly in understanding.

Chu Xingchen tightened his grip on the jade seal, his divine sense probing deeper.

Watching the dark cloud’s swift advance, he wondered if he should return to assist Zhao Xuan.

But after a few moments, the dark cloud’s progress suddenly stalled.

Likely, the Xuanwu Kingdom’s cultivators had intervened.

Though it had slowed, the dark cloud still crept forward.

Within the jade seal, the Xuanwu Kingdom’s territory seemed on the verge of collapse, its golden aura thinning.

Just as Chu Xingchen focused on Bingzhou, the dark cloud over Chizhou abruptly expanded, spreading in all directions in an instant.

Moments later, the golden aura in the jade seal faded further.

Then, the seal forcibly ejected Chu Xingchen’s divine sense.

Chu Xingchen blinked in confusion. What was this?

Getting beaten up and now refusing to be watched? Was it embarrassed?

Before he could investigate further, the jade seal in his hand trembled violently, golden aura gushing out uncontrollably.

Qinghe eyed the golden aura, instinctively wanting to take a deep breath—it smelled divine.

But it knew better than to indulge right now. Swallowing hard, Qinghe turned to Chu Xingchen and asked in surprise,

"What’s happening?! Is the Xuanwu Kingdom falling? If it is, can Qinghe have a few breaths of this golden aura?"

"At least wish them well!"

Chu Xingchen tried to use his spiritual energy to restrain the golden aura, but it surged out wildly, as if it cost nothing.

Then, the golden aura enveloped the jade seal, and a strange, furious roar erupted from within.

Before Chu Xingchen could react, an immense force erupted from the seal, forcing his hand open.

In the blink of an eye, under the stunned gazes of Chu Xingchen and Qinghe,

the jade seal, wrapped in golden aura, shot southward at breakneck speed.

As it flew, it left a trail of golden aura behind.

Within moments, the aura faintly formed the illusion of a Xuanwu—a massive, solemn tortoise, though without a serpent coiled around it.

Chu Xingchen instantly understood and immediately gave chase.

That direction—Cangzhou!

Qinghe reacted a beat slower but followed closely behind.

Struggling to keep up with Chu Xingchen’s speed, Qinghe transmitted its voice anxiously,

"What’s going on?! Where are we going?!"

"Cangzhou!" Chu Xingchen replied, keeping pace with the Xuanwu illusion. "This must be what the thieves are after! Though I’m not sure if Emperor Taizu of Zhao hid something inside the seal or used the kingdom’s fortune to suppress something!"

Qinghe, frustrated, transformed into its dragon form but still couldn’t match the speed of the jade seal or Chu Xingchen.

"You’re too fast! Qinghe can’t keep up!"

"Follow at your own pace. We’ll regroup in Cangzhou," Chu Xingchen instructed before accelerating further, quickly leaving Qinghe behind.

Qinghe, seeing even his tail vanish into the distance, sighed and slowed down—though still hurrying toward Cangzhou.

Internally, it grumbled—this scheming brat must have trained his speed from being chased so often for his shady deeds.

Before it could complain further, Qinghe spotted Chu Xingchen turning back toward it.

A pang of guilt struck—had he sensed its thoughts?

Was he abandoning his mission just to punish Qinghe?!

Qinghe halted mid-air, eyeing Chu Xingchen warily.

"Why are you turning back?! Qinghe didn’t—"

Before it could finish, Qinghe turned its head eastward—toward the Xuanwu Kingdom’s capital.

Its divine sense detected a figure approaching rapidly, its presence unrestrained.

The sheer speed and unleashed spiritual energy made it clear—this was at least a nascent soul-level cultivator.

But something felt… incomplete.

Chu Xingchen summoned a spiritual sword, his gaze fixed northward as he ordered Qinghe,

"Go to Cangzhou and prepare. I’ll hold him off."

"That thing might be nascent soul-level! Can you handle it alone?!" Qinghe stopped, its tone deadly serious. "No treasure is worth your life. Survival comes first."

Chu Xingchen retorted, "You’re the one who needs to worry. If you keep flying in dragon form, who do you think it’ll target first?"

"You’re just scaring me!" Qinghe protested, but its body obediently shrank back into its petite human form.

Chu Xingchen patted Qinghe’s head irritably.

"Less talk! Hurry to Cangzhou and set up the formation!"

"Don’t be reckless, you scheming brat!"

With that final warning, Qinghe sped off toward Cangzhou.