Dayu Dynasty, Royal City, Si Family Mansion.
Situated in the Royal City, this ancient mansion was magnificent and imposing, exuding extraordinary grandeur.
The inner courtyard of the mansion was exquisitely maintained, dotted with lush green plants.
Pavilions and towers, with their flying eaves and black tiles, intertwined and wound around, creating a scene of exquisite elegance without losing its magnificent scope.
In the backyard of the Si Family Mansion, within a lavishly decorated living room.
"Thinking about that Genius Martial Artist from Pei Prefecture again?"
Lu Yulan, dressed in magnificent court attire, used her well-maintained fair jade hands to pour the tribute black tea, reserved exclusively for the Royal Family, into a teacup.
The rich, fragrant tea aroma drifted throughout the entire room with the slowly rising mist.
Her sudden words startled the young girl sitting by the window.
Si Miaoyin, clad in a light pink Ruqun embroidered with exquisite peach blossom patterns, possessed bright eyes and pearly teeth, resembling the alluring breeze of springtime.
Her long, unbound hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her elegant, upright posture revealed her exceptionally graceful figure.
Upon seeing Lu Yulan, Si Miaoyin slightly bowed in greeting: "Mother."
Lu Yulan smiled faintly: "Ever since you returned from Pei Prefecture, you've been staring out the window blankly. Are you thinking about your little sweetheart again?"
A blush crept onto Si Miaoyin's delicate face, and she protested lightly: "Mother! I wasn't!"
"I am just worried about the situation in Pei Prefecture! Currently, the demons are launching a massive invasion against our Dayu, and Pei Prefecture even has a New Demon Emperor descending upon it. I am worried about the safety of my Uncle and the others."
"As for Li Xuanxiao... I'm only worried about him incidentally."
What a transparent attempt to hide the truth... Lu Yulan chuckled lightly, setting down her cup with an elegant posture: "Your father will return from the Demon Slaying Division today. You can ask him directly about the situation in Pei Prefecture then. Why waste your heart and mind thinking aimlessly here?"
"Really!?"
Si Miaoyin's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
Lu Yulan smiled dotingly: "When has Mother ever lied to you?"
Si Miaoyin immediately broke into a beaming smile, quickly got up, and planted a loud kiss on her mother's cheek: "Thank you, Mother!"
...
Li Xuanxiao landed before the magnificent city gates of the Royal City.
While still high in the air, he was already awestruck by the sheer scale and magnificent Aura of the Royal City.
It truly deserved to be the Dayu Royal City; it was incomparable to the other cities he had seen before.
Ten Pei Prefectures combined would seem like mere youngsters compared to the Royal City.
Passing through the main gate passage, Li Xuanxiao was repeatedly astonished.
In the Royal City, even the casual gate guards were at the Extreme Realm, and the Xuan Realm was extremely common.
One must remember, this was only the outermost area!
If one were in the center of the Royal City, would the Xuan Realm cultivators be as common as dogs, and those in the Mystic Realm walk around everywhere?
Li Xuanxiao dared not dwell on it, only feeling that his current level of cultivation was once again proving insufficient in the Royal City.
Following the directions, he arrived at the Demon Slaying Division Headquarters in the Royal City.
After presenting his identification, the Staff Member raised his eyebrows in surprise and looked Li Xuanxiao up and down.
"You are from Pei Prefecture?"
Li Xuanxiao nodded: "Precisely."
"I heard the demon affliction in Pei Prefecture was extremely severe, almost destroying the local Demon Slaying Division?"
Li Xuanxiao was surprised; he hadn't expected the Royal City's intelligence to be so well-informed, knowing about the events in Pei Prefecture so quickly.
But upon reflection, he instantly understood.
After all, the personnel and hall configurations of the Demon Slaying Division branches in every Prefecture were established according to the Demon Slaying Division Headquarters' standards.
Since the Pei Prefecture Demon Slaying Division had the Flying Eagle Hall specifically for intelligence gathering, the Demon Slaying Division Headquarters naturally would too.
He immediately saluted again: "I will not hide this from you, Sir. I have come this time specifically to request support from the Headquarters."
The Staff Member nodded: "You've had a hard journey. Follow me, I will arrange lodging for you first..."
Under the guidance of the Staff Member, Li Xuanxiao secured a small corner for himself within the Demon Slaying Division Headquarters.
"You can stay here for now. The Lords are currently handling matters in Yu Prefecture for the next few days."
Li Xuanxiao cupped his hands in a salute: "May I ask, Sir, is the demon affliction in Yu Prefecture also extremely severe?"
The Staff Member sighed lightly: "How is it merely severe!"
"The entire Yu Prefecture has fallen! All the Martial Artists inside the Yu Prefecture Demon Slaying Division at that time, along with the Commander, were killed in action! The Commander's head was even severed by the demons and skewered onto the city wall using a long spear!"
"Damn demons!"
Li Xuanxiao's heart jolted, and he saluted again: "Thank you, Sir, for clarifying things for me."
The Staff Member nodded, quite satisfied with Li Xuanxiao's respectful demeanor, and thus was willing to say a few more words to him.
"You don't need to worry. The Commander of the Pei Prefecture Demon Slaying Division is the biological younger brother of the current Si Family Head! And the Si Family Head holds the position of Hall Master of the Demon Slaying Hall in our Demon Slaying Division. He will not ignore his own younger brother!"
"Just relax!"
Li Xuanxiao's eyes widened involuntarily. The Si Family Head was actually the Hall Master of the Demon Slaying Hall in the Demon Slaying Division Headquarters!
If that's the case, what is there to wait for? He needed to meet him as soon as possible!
Li Xuanxiao hadn't forgotten that Si Yiwu had an arm severed, was hunted by several Demon Emperors, and his fate was still unknown.
Such matters could not be handled slowly!
"Sir, please take me to see the Hall Master of the Demon Slaying Hall right now! Our Commander is currently being pursued by several Demon Emperors; the situation is critical! I fear further delay will lead to a great disaster!"
Hearing this, the Staff Member understood the severity of the situation: "Alright, follow me!"
As they passed through the courtyards of the Demon Slaying Division Headquarters, all the Martial Artists they saw possessed vigorous True Qi, mostly at the Late Stage of the Xuan Realm.
Li Xuanxiao was secretly amazed; as expected of the Demon Slaying Division Headquarters, the overall standard of Martial Artists was indeed significantly higher.
They stopped outside a grand courtyard. The Staff Member reported to the guards and then left on his own.
The guard led Li Xuanxiao into the hall: "Hall Master, a Martial Artist from the Pei Prefecture Demon Slaying Division requests an audience."
The middle-aged man seated in the hall had a resolute face and bore a slight resemblance to Si Yiwu.
Hearing the word "Pei Prefecture," his brow lifted, and he moved his gaze away from the map in his hands: "Let him come in."
The guard respectfully acknowledged the order, slowly stepped back, and signaled Li Xuanxiao with his eyes.
Li Xuanxiao quietly thanked him and walked into the hall.
"I am Li Xuanxiao, a Martial Artist from the Pei Prefecture Mission Hall. I pay my respects to the esteemed Hall Master of the Demon Slaying Hall!"
The middle-aged man looked at Li Xuanxiao: "What is the matter regarding your visit to me?"
Li Xuanxiao bowed again: "The Pei Prefecture Demon Slaying Division encountered an attack by over a dozen Demon Emperors! Six out of the eight Hall Masters of the Demon Slaying Division were killed in action! Commander Si Yiwu fought desperately, but even two fists are no match for four hands; he had one arm severed."
"He was subsequently hunted by the Demon Emperors, and his life or death remains unknown to this day! The Pei Prefecture Demon Slaying Division is now completely paralyzed. Personnel deployment, logistical supplies, information transmission—all are problems. Although the demons have retreated for now, they could return at any moment."
"I earnestly request, Sir, to save Lord Si Yiwu and save Pei Prefecture!"