Starting as the young master of a medicine shop, he practiced swordsmanship for twenty years

Upon reaching the entrance of the Vermillion Bird Guard's residence, Zhao Sheng and his companions immediately dismounted.

Zhao Sheng then walked directly towards Lu Xuan without pausing.

Zhao Sheng slightly tilted his head, looked at Lu Xuan who was sitting on horseback, and then spoke.

"Senior Xuan, this is the Vermillion Bird Guard's residence in Baidao Prefecture City."

"The old friend you wish to see, Lady Li Yanran, should be inside at this moment."

Lu Xuan glanced at the front of the residence gate, where two rows of men in light white Vermillion Bird uniforms stood on both sides of the gate, all of them being Refining Flesh realm martial artists.

As expected, the Vermillion Bird Guard was extraordinary; even martial artists in the Refining Flesh realm were only used to guard the gate.

Has it finally arrived?

It was a place that should have been reached three days ago, but because Lu Xuan had injuries, he stayed in Taiping Town for some time.

Lu Xuan didn't leave Taiping Town to rush to Baidao Prefecture City until the wound in front of his chest had completely healed, leaving no trace.

This monstrous healing speed shocked Zhao Sheng and his companions.

Of course, not only were Zhao Sheng and the other two surprised, but even Lu Xuan felt that he was gradually moving away from the category of human beings.

Then, Zhao Sheng and his companions brazenly led Lu Xuan into the Vermillion Bird Guard's residence.

They completely forgot that entering and leaving the Vermillion Bird Guard's residence required verification of identity.

The Vermillion Bird Guards guarding both sides of the gate pretended not to see anything when they saw Lu Xuan, a stranger, walking in.

These people were not fools.

The fact that three Yellow-ranked Vermillion Bird Guards personally led the way, and in such a humble and flattering manner, showed how important the visitor's identity was.

Deep within the Vermillion Bird Guard's residence, in a solemn and quiet courtyard surrounded by dense greenery, several ancient trees towered into the sky.

In the middle of the courtyard, a small pavilion stood quietly.

Inside the pavilion were two figures sitting at a stone table.

One was a woman wearing a turquoise Vermillion Bird uniform, her figure enchanting, her slender and rounded long legs close together, making her appear graceful.

The other was an old man in his sixties or seventies, wearing a dark cyan Vermillion Bird uniform, his clothes fluttering.

The old man's silver hair was tied into a Taoist bun with a jade hairpin, and his white beard fluttered gently in the wind, looking like an immortal with a refined appearance.

"Yanran, your martial arts realm has reached its peak, and you are about to break through to the Blood Refining realm, right?"

"It seems that it is time to return to Tiandu."

"The five-yearly battle for the family's ancestral weapon enlightenment quota is less than a year away."

"By then, you will probably have broken through to the Blood Refining realm. This time, the quota for enlightenment of the ancestral weapon will definitely be yours."

"It just so happens that I haven't returned to the family for a long time. This time, I will take you back to Tiandu with me."

The old man looked at Li Yanran with satisfaction, stroking his white beard on his chin with his old hand.

As expected of his elder brother's daughter, at the age of twenty-five, she was already about to break through to the Blood Refining realm.

It seemed that in a few years, Li Yanran would break through to the Inner Qi realm and advance to the same martial arts realm as him.

Li Yanran was stunned when she heard this, and she wondered if she had heard correctly.

"Uncle Feng, if you are returning to Tiandu with me, who will be in charge of the Vermillion Bird Guard in Baidao Prefecture?"

Li Chengfeng stopped stroking his white beard on his chin and spoke confidently.

"It's okay, I'll be back soon, it'll only take less than two months."

"Besides, there are still two deputy envoys stationed in Baidao Prefecture. I plan to let Deputy Envoy Yu Hong take charge for a while."

Hearing that Deputy Envoy Yu Hong would take charge of the Baidao Prefecture Vermillion Bird Guard for her Uncle Feng, Li Yanran felt relieved.

Because those two deputy envoys were also in the Inner Qi realm.

"Well, Uncle Feng, if it's those two Deputy Envoy adults, then that's indeed enough." While Li Yanran was speaking, she seemed to have thought of something, and her tone changed.

"However, I once promised an Inner Qi expert that I would wait for him here in Baidao Prefecture. I want to wait for him to arrive before returning to Tiandu!"

"Hmm?"

"Inner Qi expert?"

"Why haven't I ever heard you mention it?"

"Who is that Inner Qi expert? Is he currently in Baidao Prefecture City?"

After hearing Li Yanran's words, Li Chengfeng's eyes widened, and he grabbed so hard that he almost tore off the white beard on his chin.

Martial artists in the Inner Qi realm were not a small matter and were enough to attract Li Chengfeng's attention.

Apart from the Vermillion Bird Guard, there were only two people in Baidao Prefecture City who were in the Inner Qi realm.

That was Hua Tianhai, the old leader of the Tianhai Gang, and Hong Zhi, the governor of Baidao Prefecture!

It was definitely impossible for the governor of Baidao Prefecture, because if he wanted to come to the Vermillion Bird Guard's residence, he could just come over.

Could it be that the Inner Qi expert Li Yanran was talking about was Hua Tianhai, the old leader of the Tianhai Gang?

"No, that Inner Qi expert is not in Baidao Prefecture City, but a secluded martial artist who practices asceticism."

Regarding the quota for the family's ancestral weapon enlightenment, Li Chengfeng was not very concerned about that mysterious Inner Qi expert at this time, but said to Li Yan with a solemn expression.

"Is that so?"

"Yanran, time is running out. When is that Inner Qi expert you mentioned coming? We can't delay the family's important affairs."

"Entering the family's ancestral hall to comprehend the ancestral weapon is the key to your future breakthrough to the Inner Qi realm."

Li Chengfeng's words made Li Yanran think for a moment before responding.

"Then let's wait ten days. If that expert hasn't come, I'll return to the family."

Li Yanran still chose to prioritize the overall situation. The family's ancestral weapon was the key to her breakthrough to Inner Qi, and there was no room for error.

"Well, very good!"

"Don't worry, Yanran. If that Inner Qi expert comes here, I will let Deputy Envoy Yu Hong entertain him well."

At this time, a figure appeared outside the courtyard gate, rushing towards the pavilion.

"Greetings, Envoy Xuan, Lady Li."

"In front of the main hall, there is someone claiming to be an old friend of Lady Li, requesting to see you."

"Old friend?"

Li Yanran was a little puzzled when she heard this.

She came to Baidao Prefecture from Tiandu for training, where did she get an old friend from?

Suddenly, Li Yanran's heart skipped a beat.

The face of the young master of the Lu family in Qingyun County appeared in her mind, and a hint of surprise appeared on her fair and delicate face.

Li Chengfeng, who was on the side, almost had his old eyes pop out after seeing the smile on this girl Li Yanran's face.

He looked very shocked and felt unbelievable.

"Senior Xuan, please have a seat first. I have already sent someone to notify Lady Li Yanran."

Zhao Sheng enthusiastically guided Lu Xuan to sit down, introducing him to the situation of the Vermillion Bird Guard.

Qian Hao, who was behind him, carefully held a delicate teacup in both hands and handed it to Lu Xuan.

"Here, Senior Xuan, this is the best tea in our Vermillion Bird Guard, please taste it!"