Zheng Yu was pleased.
He thought Gao Xi could achieve a miracle.
But now it seemed.
Things had taken an unexpected turn.
It was not as they had imagined.
Gao Xi was furious.
He heard a mocking tone in Zheng Yu's words.
Fifty powerful enshrined experts.
And the word 'played' (弄).
If the Gao family's enshrined experts were truly powerful.
How could they have been 'played' to death?
However.
He could not afford to bicker with him.
Although those fifty enshrined experts were not weak.
They were only at the Earth Ghost realm.
There were plenty of people who could kill them.
What truly concerned him was the life and death of his eldest son, Gao Yuan.
After all, he had also gone to encircle and suppress the remnants of the Anti-Heaven Cult.
"Has the life jade slip of my son shattered?" he asked nervously.
Gao Jinghong quickly took out a milky white life jade slip from his storage bag: "Reporting to Master, Young Master's life jade slip is intact."
Seeing his son's life jade slip was unharmed.
Gao Xi's worried heart finally settled.
Although fifty Earth Ghost realm enshrined experts had died.
The Gao family lacked for nothing, especially enshrined experts.
After all, with his current status.
With a single command, countless people would flock to join the Gao family.
"Brother Zheng, are you disappointed?" Gao Xi chuckled, his eyes filled with amusement. "Did you think the plan to encircle and suppress the Anti-Heaven Cult remnants would end in failure?"
"Impossible!"
"Absolutely impossible!"
He snorted heavily, gritting his teeth and saying, "Even if all those enshrined experts are dead."
"My son Gao Yuan also participated in the encirclement."
"Although his cultivation is not very high."
"He possesses the Imperial Sword."
"With the Imperial Sword unleashed, who can contend against it, save for a ninth-level Ghost King realm expert?"
Zheng Yu looked embarrassed.
He felt he had rejoiced too soon!
Just as Gao Xi said.
Even if all fifty Earth Ghost realm enshrined experts were annihilated.
It would not prevent Gao Yuan from killing the leaders of the Anti-Heaven Cult.
The power of the Imperial Sword was not something ordinary people could resist.
*Snap!*
Suddenly.
A faint cracking sound echoed from the life jade slip in Gao Xi's hand.
The sound was weak.
But to everyone's ears, it was like a thunderclap.
Gao Xi looked at the life jade slip in his hand with utter horror.
His eyes flickered with deep fear and unease.
The next second.
The life jade slip in his hand instantly shattered into pieces.
He was dead!
His son Gao Yuan was dead!
This was a devastating blow to him, unbearable.
"No!"
"Impossible!"
"Absolutely impossible!"
"This is an illusion!"
Gao Xi let out a piercing roar.
He could not accept the death of his son.
The butler, Gao Jinghong, was also so frightened that he collapsed onto the ground.
"My son possessed the Imperial Sword, how could he have been killed?"
Zheng Yu looked dumbfounded.
He had not expected Gao Yuan to be killed.
After the shock.
A sense of joy arose in his heart.
So you were arrogant and complacent.
Now you're facing misfortune after your excessive joy, aren't you?
Your son is dead!
Hahaha!
Although his heart bloomed with joy, he feigned grief: "Your Highness, please bear with your sorrow!"
"Although I don't know what exactly happened."
"One thing is obvious."
"You must retrieve the Imperial Sword as soon as possible."
"Otherwise, it will be a crime punishable by extermination of the nine generations of your clan!"
Gao Xi jolted violently.
He instantly snapped out of the pain of a white-haired person sending off a black-haired one.
Because Zheng Yu was right.
The loss of the Imperial Sword posed an existential risk to the Gao family.
If the Great Emperor learned of this.
Even if he was a Nine-Pearl Prince.
His entire clan would be exterminated.
Without further thought, he bowed deeply to Zheng Yu: "Regarding the matter of the lost Imperial Sword, I hope Brother Zheng will help our Gao family keep it a secret."
How arrogant he had been in front of Zheng Yu before.
He was now that pathetic.
Because he knew.
The life and death of the Gao family were in Zheng Yu's hands.
As long as he informed the Great Emperor.
The Gao family would surely perish!
Zheng Yu sighed, his eyes filled with worry: "Brother Gao, you and I have served together in court for tens of thousands of years, and naturally, I do not wish to see the Gao family face destruction."
"But..."
"Concealing knowledge of a crime is also a serious offense!"
*Thump!*
Gao Xi knelt down without hesitation, prostrating himself on the ground, and pleaded: "Please, Brother Zheng, show mercy!"
Although he and Zheng Yu had been rivals for many years.
Although he was a Nine-Pearl Prince.
So what?
It was his fault for being so arrogant and complacent today.
He should not have invited Zheng Yu to his home for wine and snow viewing.
He should not have informed him about the encirclement of the Anti-Heaven Cult.
Otherwise.
Even if the Imperial Sword was inadvertently lost.
The Gao family's situation would not be so precarious.
"Brother Gao, please rise quickly!" Zheng Yu hesitated for a moment, a decisive glint flashing in his eyes. "How about this, I will give your Gao family ten days."
"You must retrieve the lost Imperial Sword within these ten days."
"If you can retrieve the Imperial Sword within ten days, then all is well."
"Otherwise, I can only report it to the Great Emperor truthfully."
Although he desperately wanted to bring down the collateral king.
He had not expected this day to arrive so soon.
So unexpectedly.
Of course.
Having served together for ten thousand years.
There was still some affection between them.
And this affection.
Was only worth ten days in his eyes.
------
Not long after Chen Nan, You Xuan, and Di Ting returned to Fengdu City.
The once peaceful Fengdu City immediately became bustling.
The city's protective array was activated.
Countless powerful figures appeared at the city gates surrounding Fengdu City, scrutinizing those entering the city.
They seemed to be searching for something.
This caused panic among countless citizens.
After all, the city's protective array had last been activated ten thousand years ago during the Anti-Heaven Cult's rebellion.
"If I'm not mistaken, the Gao family has learned of the complete annihilation of their forces."
"They are checking everyone entering the city, trying to find the killer."
"And thereby find the lost Imperial Sword," You Xuan transmitted to Chen Nan, offering her opinion.
Fortunately, Chen Nan was fast enough.
He returned to Fengdu City in advance.
Otherwise.
It would have been extremely difficult to enter.
Chen Nan: "The Gao family is quite clever, but not entirely so."
"How can they be so sure that we would return to Fengdu City, rather than go to another city?"
As they spoke.
The two of them and the dog returned to Chen Nan's residence in Fengdu City.
Guo Yu, upon seeing them, began to complain: "Brother, why did you bring back a beautiful woman on this trip?"
"Aren't you afraid of dying on a woman's belly?"
Before Chen Nan could speak, You Xuan smiled and said, "You don't need to worry about that. As long as he makes me comfortable, I won't let him feel tired."
Guo Yu was utterly defeated by You Xuan's bold words.
He realized.
This woman was quite seductive.
"My Lord, you've returned just in time," Qi Ye said as he walked in from outside. "I was previously tracking the Imperial Tutor and discovered he went to the collateral king's mansion."
"Not long after he left."
"The collateral king's mansion activated the city's protective array and dispatched powerful individuals to the four city gates to inspect incoming travelers."
Chen Nan's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked, "Where did the Imperial Tutor go after leaving?"
"The Imperial Palace?"
"Or did he return to his own residence?"