The very instant Yuchi Mengxing used her hand seals to tear open a tiny gap in the barrier, the guards stationed in the shadows immediately sensed that something was wrong.
These guards had been appointed by several of the most powerful clans to watch over the barrier.
For generations, their duty had been simple— guard it.
Observe it.
And make sure nothing entered or escaped without permission.
Yet at that moment, every single one of them froze.
They exchanged stunned looks.
A chill crept down their backs.
Something had disturbed the barrier.
No.
Someone had actually forced their way through it!
“How is that possible?” One of the guards stared at the barrier in disbelief.
The barrier had always been jointly controlled by several great clans.
Under normal circumstances, it could only be officially opened after permission was granted by the imperial family.
Without the proper method, forcing one’s way through was nearly impossible.
And yet— someone had just entered the inner region without any of them doing a thing!
“Something’s wrong!” “This is no small matter!” One of the guards paled.
“I’ll report to the palace immediately!” He didn’t dare waste another moment.
Spiritual energy surged beneath his feet, and his figure shot into the distance like an arrow.
Inside the imperial palace, Emperor Xuanwu sat high upon the throne.
A magnificent black dragon robe covered his tall frame, intricate golden patterns embroidered along the sleeves and collar.
At first glance, he looked remarkably young.
His handsome face appeared to belong to a man barely in his twenties.
But anyone who looked into his eyes would immediately realize that appearances could be deceiving.
Those eyes were calm.
Deep.
Heavy with the authority and experience accumulated over decades.
Emperor Xuanwu was already over sixty years old.
Yet cultivation had preserved his youthful appearance, leaving barely any trace of age upon his face.
The moment he heard the report, his expression changed.
He abruptly rose from his throne.
“What did you say?” The guard lowered his head.
“Your Majesty, the barrier surrounding the inner region was disturbed.
Someone appears to have entered without authorization.” Emperor Xuanwu’s gaze sharpened.
“Someone forcibly entered the inner region?” His voice wasn’t loud.
Yet the pressure contained within it seemed to make the entire hall tremble.
The officials below immediately lowered their heads.
No one dared speak carelessly.
That barrier was no ordinary formation.
It had been created a thousand years ago through the combined efforts of their ancestors.
Countless experts had poured their strength into it.
Generation after generation had maintained it.
For a thousand years, it had remained standing.
How could someone simply break through it?
Silence filled the hall.
Eventually, an elderly minister with completely white hair stepped forward.
He cupped his hands respectfully.
“Your Majesty, in this old minister’s opinion, whoever entered must possess cultivation at least at the Peak Earth Rank.” Several officials immediately looked toward him.
The old minister continued, “Otherwise, there is no possibility that a single person could force open the barrier.” “Peak Earth Rank…” Emperor Xuanwu slowly repeated those words.
His eyes darkened.
“One person?” His fingers tapped lightly against the dragon-carved table before him.
Once.
Twice.
The quiet tapping somehow made the atmosphere inside the hall even heavier.
A faint coldness flashed through his eyes.
At that moment, a thin elderly man stepped forward.
His back was slightly bent, and his body looked almost frail, but no one in the hall dared underestimate him.
He bowed deeply.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” “The disturbance lasted only for an instant before the barrier immediately returned to normal.” The old man raised his head slightly.
“This old man and the elders of the other great clans have discussed the matter repeatedly.” “We all reached the same conclusion.” His expression became serious.
“Only someone at the Peak Earth Rank could cause such a disturbance without damaging the barrier’s foundation.” Emperor Xuanwu stopped tapping his fingers.
“Oh?” His eyebrow rose slightly.
His gaze became sharp as a blade.
Then, seemingly without warning, he offered another possibility.
“Could it have been…” The entire hall waited.
“…a Rank Seven demonic beast accidentally crashing into the barrier?” Silence.
The officials froze.
A Rank Seven demonic beast?
Several elders exchanged glances.
“That…” “If it really was such a creature…” “But there haven’t been reports of high-ranking beasts attacking the barrier for centuries.” Murmurs spread quietly through the hall.
The certainty on the elders’ faces gradually disappeared.
Until Emperor Xuanwu mentioned it, they had been entirely focused on the possibility of a powerful cultivator forcing their way inside.
But now— they suddenly realized something.
Why had they automatically assumed the disturbance came from outside?
What if it had come from the inner region?
What if a powerful beast had struck the barrier from within?
And if it had actually broken through…
The elders’ expressions changed instantly.
Their faces went pale.
If a Rank Seven demonic beast had escaped from the inner region— that would be a disaster!
Such a creature wasn’t something ordinary cultivators could deal with.
If it reached a populated area, countless people could die.
Worse still, a beast of that level could potentially destroy an entire city—or even wipe out a clan.
The atmosphere in the hall became suffocating.
One elder suddenly stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, this matter cannot be delayed!” Another immediately agreed.
“We must inspect the barrier at once!” “If this truly involves a high-ranking demonic beast, it must be suppressed before it reaches any populated region!” Emperor Xuanwu hadn’t even issued an order yet when several clan elders hurriedly bowed.
“Your Majesty, we ask permission to withdraw!” The emperor stared at them for a moment before giving a slight nod.
“Go.” That single word was enough.
The elders immediately turned around.
Their robes fluttered as powerful spiritual energy erupted around them.
One after another, they shot out of the palace, transforming into streaks of light that raced toward the distant mountains.
Their expressions were grave.
No one dared underestimate the situation.
A Peak Earth Rank cultivator was already troublesome.
A Rank Seven demonic beast was worse.
And if neither explanation was correct…
Then whatever had caused the barrier to react might be something even more dangerous.
But just as the elders had flown a short distance— BOOM!
A powerful wave of energy suddenly rippled through the distance.
Every elder stopped.
They turned toward the mountain at almost the same time.
The barrier— was moving again.
This time, however, it wasn’t a brief disturbance.
The entire barrier trembled.
Layers of spiritual ripples spread across its surface, one after another, clearly visible even from afar.
One breath passed.
Then another.
And another.
It didn’t stop.
The elders’ expressions grew increasingly ugly.
“This…” One of them stared in disbelief.
“How long has it been?” Another elder’s face had already gone completely pale.
“It’s been an entire luocha!” The others sucked in cold breaths.
An entire luocha!
The previous disturbance had lasted only an instant.
That was why they had been able to convince themselves that perhaps someone had merely opened a tiny gap—or that a beast had accidentally struck the barrier.
But this?
Absolutely not.
“This isn’t an ordinary impact!” “Something is happening inside!” “Move!” No one hesitated anymore.
Powerful auras erupted simultaneously.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
One after another, the clan elders transformed into streaks of light and tore through the sky like falling stars.
Their speed increased to the limit.
All of them rushed desperately toward the barrier.
Behind them, Emperor Xuanwu had already stepped out of the palace hall.
He stood beneath the dark sky with his hands behind his back, staring toward the distant mountain.
His youthful face remained calm.
But his eyes had become unusually solemn.
A thousand-year-old barrier.
A mysterious intruder.
And now— a second disturbance lasting an entire luocha.
His eyes narrowed.
Just what…
had entered the inner region?