Summoning the Gods: Start by creating the Eternal Night.

The clan elders in the hall fell silent, all lowering their heads, not daring to utter a word.

Everyone knows that although Dongfang Wu's words were directed at him out of anger, they were all reasonable.

No one expected that the young master who swaggered around the capital would fall so completely, and even his remains couldn't be brought back.

Just then, a guard stumbled in, his face ashen, his voice trembling with a desperate sob:

"Patriarch! Elders! Something terrible has happened!"

Dongfang Wu suddenly looked up, a cold glint in his eyes: "What's the panic?! What is it?"

The guard fell to his knees with a thud, his forehead bleeding profusely from the impact, and he could barely speak:

"Third...Third Master and Li Gongfeng...they're all...dead!"

"Someone sent word back from the dense forest that Third Master... he didn't even leave behind any remains!"

"boom!"

These words were like a thunderclap, and the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.

Dongfang Wu shuddered, abruptly standing up, his face drained of all color.

He staggered forward, grabbed the guard by the collar, and his voice was hoarse, like the howl of a wild beast:

"What did you say?! Say it again!"

The guard was terrified and cried out:

"Third Master... he encountered a strange Celestial Realm expert in the dense forest of Qingzhou City, and was blasted to smithereens with a single palm strike!"

"Old Li and his entourage, they're all... all gone!"

"Unfamiliar celestial beings..."

Dongfang Wu staggered back two steps, feeling dizzy and then coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Dongfang Wen, he is one of only two Celestial Realm experts in the Dongfang family, the pillar of the family!

Now, one of the main pillars has collapsed!

Upon hearing of the deaths of Dongfang Wen and Li Xuanfeng, a flicker of pleasure flashed in Liu Yan's eyes! She quickly concealed it.

The elders in the hall paled and erupted in uproar.

Dongfang Wu staggered and grabbed the pillar beside him, his fingertips digging into the cold wooden carving until his knuckles turned white.

He took several deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the surging blood and qi, but the crimson in his eyes did not fade at all.

"Shut up, all of you!"

A loud shout silenced all the elders in the hall.

Dongfang Wu slowly straightened up, his gaze sweeping over the panicked faces of the crowd. His voice was hoarse but carried an undeniable authority.

"The sky won't fall! Pass down the order: use the entire intelligence network of the Dongfang family to investigate!"

"We must dig three feet into the ground to find out—who exactly is the one who killed my son and beheaded my third brother!"

He paused, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes:

"Find out their background, find out how many of them there are! I'll make these people pay with their lives for Hao'er and Wendi!"

"Yes, sir!"

The elders, regaining their senses, bowed in agreement.

The Dongfang family has stood strong in Qianzhou for thousands of years. How could they be defeated just because of the loss of two people?

However, that mysterious Celestial Being was like a sword hanging over everyone's heads, making their hearts heavy.

Liu Yan, supported by her maid, slowly rose to her feet.

Upon hearing Dongfang Wu's words, a venomous glint flashed in her eyes, and she gritted her teeth.

"Yes! Investigate! We must find out the truth! I want to tear those people to pieces!"

Inside the main hall, murderous intent surged as an investigation into a mysterious force quietly unfolded.

At the same time,

Inside the Zichen Hall of the Great Qian Imperial Palace.

The fragrance of sandalwood and ambergris filled the hall, yet it could not dispel the heavy atmosphere.

Xiao Yan knelt on the cold gold bricks, his left sleeve hanging empty, his face as pale as paper.

His body was hunched over, and his voice carried an undisguised weariness and guilt:

"Your Majesty, I am incompetent."

"I was ordered by Your Majesty to go to the Qingzhou Auction to bid for the Glazed Fruit, but I was unexpectedly intercepted and killed by two protectors of the Nine Nether Demon Sect after leaving Qingzhou City."

He kowtowed to the ground, his forehead pressed against the gold brick, his voice heavy with sorrow:

"I fought the demonic sect villains to the death, but in the end, both sides were severely injured."

"But who knew that two uninvited guests would suddenly appear and act ruthlessly, taking the opportunity to sever my arm and steal the storage ring containing the glass fruit."

"Your Majesty, I have failed to live up to your high expectations. Not only have I failed to bring back the Glass Fruit, but I have also damaged the reputation of the Imperial Dynasty. I deserve to die!"

On the dragon throne in the palace, Emperor Qian Tian, ​​dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, looked down at Xiao Yan with a majestic face and deep gaze.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, and after a long pause, he spoke slowly, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger:

"Prime Minister, there's no need for that."

"Although the glass fruit was lost, it was not your fault."

"The Nine Nether Demonic Sect is still up to its old tricks and dared to intercept and kill an important minister of my Great Qian Dynasty. I will remember this debt."

He paused, his tone softening slightly:

"It's a miracle you came back alive."

"It's good that you're still alive. It's just an arm. I'll have the Imperial Hospital send you the best bone-healing pills later, which will definitely help you recover."

Xiao Yan felt a warmth in his heart and kowtowed again, saying, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!"

"Let me ask you..."

Qian Tian abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sharp as an eagle's.

"Did you get a good look at the two men who attacked you? Or did they mention any particular faction?"

Xiao Yan frowned in thought, then shook his head:

"The two men wore masks, and their movements were strange when they appeared. They were extremely fast and ruthless."

"I was already at my limit at that time. I only saw one person wielding a knife and another wielding a sword. I did not hear them mention any faction."

Just then, a dark figure appeared in the hall like a ghost, kneeling on one knee. It was none other than the Shadow, the most trusted Shadow Guard commander by Emperor Qian's side.

"Your Majesty, a secret report from Qingzhou." Shadow's voice was deep as he held a scroll of secret documents in his hands.

Qian Tian raised his hand: "Read it."

The shadow unfolded the secret letter and slowly read aloud:

"Your Majesty, the two protectors of the Nine Nether Demon Sect have been killed in the dense forest outside Qingzhou City by the two men who ambushed Prime Minister Xiao."

"Afterwards, the rogue cultivator Tu Xinghou tried to seize the Glazed Fruit, but was killed by Dongfang Wen, the third master of the Dongfang family, who was in disguise."

Just as Dongfang Wen was about to succeed, a powerful expert suddenly appeared from the dense forest and blasted Dongfang Wen to smithereens.

"The Dongfang family guards who accompanied him were also killed by the two swordsmen who attacked the Prime Minister."

"Furthermore, there is news that the murder of Dongfang Hao, the second young master of the Dongfang family, in Qingzhou City was also the work of this group."

"Oh?"

Qian Tian raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"The dispute over the Glass Fruit has indeed caused quite a stir. Even that fox, Dongfang Wen, has fallen?"

He chuckled softly, his tone tinged with amusement:

"The Dongfang family and the imperial court are outwardly friendly but inwardly hostile, and have been disobeying orders for many years."

"The loss of a Celestial Realm expert has saved me a lot of trouble."

"Presumably, the Dongfang family will have to tone it down a bit from now on."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan secretly rejoiced.

Fortunately, I escaped quickly, otherwise I would probably have ended up like Jiu Mo and Dongfang Wen.

Qian Tian's smile faded, his gaze shifting to the shadow, his tone growing more serious:

"Shadow, immediately issue the order to mobilize all the Shadow Guard forces to find out the origins of this group of people."

"They dared to kill the Demon Sect's protector and also dared to annihilate Dongfang Wen's group... This force is probably not simple."

"I need to know their background, their purpose, and whether they are... friend or foe!"

"I obey your decree!"

The shadow bowed and accepted the order, then vanished from the hall in a flash.