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

Chapter 396 Reunion with an Old Friend, Members of the Elder Council, Lu Xuan's Terrifying Strength.

Liangqing City, as the undisputed central hub of Yifeng Province, is not only the convergence point of the province's politics, economy and culture, but also one of the few ultra-prosperous cities on the map of the Dragon Kingdom.

Towering skyscrapers pierce the sky, and the main thoroughfares are bustling with traffic day and night. Neon lights and the vibrant atmosphere of everyday life intertwine to create the lively rhythm of a metropolis.

However, deep within this bustling city lies a tranquil world, completely different from its hustle and bustle.

A low-density villa area is quietly nestled here, without any tall buildings blocking the view.

The houses are all three-story detached villas, arranged in a staggered pattern, with light-colored exterior walls and lush greenery growing freely in the courtyards.

When the wind blows, you can hear the leaves rustling, and the air is filled with a fresh, natural scent, as if shutting out the noise of the outside world.

The main gate of the villa area is designed in a low-key yet orderly manner, with two dark gray security booths symmetrically distributed on both sides of the gate.

Unlike the elderly security guards with hunched backs and graying temples commonly seen in residential communities.

The security personnel on duty here are all dressed in crisp uniforms, standing tall and straight like pine trees, with sharp and focused eyes.

Every gesture exudes the competence of systematic and professional training; this very guarding posture is enough to reveal the extraordinary nature of this area.

On the light gray stone wall at the entrance of the villa area hangs a plaque with a simple design but a powerful presence.

Against a white background, the bold black lettering of "Yifeng Provincial Leaders' Family Compound" stands out prominently, exuding a sense of solemnity without needing much embellishment.

The residents of this area have a special status; most of them are high-ranking officials in Yifeng Province.

Their families all live here, making it a significant residential area in the province.

A black sedan with a license plate from Yingnan City, its engine humming softly and steadily, slowly drove toward the entrance of the villa community.

The vehicle detector in front of the gate quickly turned on the green light, and a message popped up on the screen indicating that the license plate had been successfully matched.

Clearly, the vehicle's information had already been entered into the system, and it entered this tranquil area smoothly without any hindrance.

Inside the car, Lu Yuliang, sitting in the passenger seat, turned slightly to look over the center console at Lu Xuan in the back seat, explaining with a certainty in his tone.

"Dad, I've already contacted that person in advance. As long as he agrees, our subsequent plans can start immediately."

The key to this matter is that Lu Yuliang's former direct superior was transferred to Liangqing City ten years ago and rose all the way to the high position of head of the city's security bureau, holding important power.

Five years ago, this former leader officially retired and spent his later years in Mukushi City, enjoying a relatively leisurely retirement life.

However, it would be no easy task for Lu Yuliang to take action against this former leader—although the other party had retired, his status was special, and this matter required the approval of the highest level in Yifeng Province.

That is why he drove here today to visit the highest-ranking official in Yifeng Province who has the final say on this matter.

In the past, there was a world of difference in rank between Lu Yuliang and the highest-ranking official in Yifeng Province; he didn't even have the right to pass on a message.

But this time was different. Huang Tangming represented the entire Huang family, and his promise gave the Lu family full confidence and the courage to try.

He first contacted the person's secretary through special channels, carefully explained his purpose, and unexpectedly things went exceptionally smoothly.

The secretary quickly replied that the leader agreed to meet with him, an unexpected development that secretly relieved Lu Yuliang.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Lu Yuliang's fingertips were still trembling slightly from excitement. Shock and joy were intertwined, making him feel somewhat dazed for a moment.

He looked down at his hands, which were covered in fine lines, and couldn't help but sigh.

This old man, who had retired from Yingnan City many years ago and had long since faded from the workforce, was actually given the opportunity to meet the highest-ranking official in Yifeng Province. This was something he never dared to dream of before.

More importantly, the identity of that top leader of Yifeng Province is by no means limited to Yifeng Province.

He also holds a crucial identity that can influence the entire Dragon Kingdom, and this power is far more "terrifying" than it appears on the surface.

The car finally stopped in front of a villa in the very center of the villa area, and the scene before them completely shattered the tranquility that usually existed there.

Three elderly people with gray hair but vigorous spirits stood side by side in the courtyard, their expressions serene.

Beside them, three young male secretaries in formal attire stood with their hands at their sides, waiting respectfully without making any unnecessary movements.

If anyone familiar with the officialdom of Yifeng Province were present, they would surely be shocked and gasp at the sight.

These three elderly men form the "iron triangle" of power in Yifeng Province, namely the three highest-ranking officials in charge of the entire province.

Normally, it would be incredibly difficult to see even one of them, but now they are all here waiting for each other.

Thanks to Yifeng Province's unique strategic value and economic significance nationwide, its top leader was not confined to the conventional promotion path for provincial officials, but instead directly entered the Council of Elders.
He was no longer just a manager of Yifeng Province, but a core member who could participate in the top-level decision-making of the Dragon Kingdom.

His dual role—capable of overseeing the overall situation within the province and influencing the direction of the Dragon Kingdom's development at the Elders' Meeting—established his irreplaceable position.

Lu Xuan didn't wait for Lu Yuliang to come forward. He personally reached out and opened the back door of the car, landing steadily on the stone path in the courtyard.

His gaze first calmly swept over the three elderly people and three secretaries waiting in front of the villa.

Immediately afterwards, Lu Xuan subtly swept over the area around the villa—to his slight surprise.

The six people in front of you are just the visible group; the real figures are hidden in the corners of the villa that are out of sight.

For example, hidden in the shadows of the carved wall, among the branches of the tall magnolia tree, and behind the vines hanging from the second-floor balcony, there are eight faint, elusive auras.

In Lu Xuan's perception, the owners of these eight auras were definitely not ordinary guards; they were all masters of internal strength who cultivated martial arts.

Their breathing was deep and restrained, and even the sound of their clothes rubbing against the air was minimized, clearly indicating that they were professional security personnel who were on high alert year-round.

Lu Xuan secretly enhanced his perception, carefully discerning the strength of each aura, and quickly made a judgment.

Most of them remained at the early or middle stage of internal strength, while the few most powerful auras were almost able to blend into the surrounding environment.

According to Lu Xuan's estimation, he was only at the level of perfecting the hidden strength, and there was still a considerable gap between him and the "transformation strength" that could break through the shackles and enter the next level.

However, the defensive line composed of these eight masters of internal strength martial arts is already strong enough to directly confront a grandmaster of external strength martial arts.

They were in sync, hidden in the shadows, able to form an encirclement using their close-quarters martial arts skills, and also able to set up a secret defense line by taking advantage of the villa's terrain.

Even an ordinary Grandmaster of Transformation Realm would likely expend a great deal of energy to force a breakthrough.

Not to mention that this area is not only protected by martial arts with cold weapons, but also equipped with various high-tech monitoring equipment and powerful firepower in the shadows.

From submachine guns to portable armor-piercing rounds, each of these items poses a deadly threat to high-level martial arts masters.

This dual defense of "martial arts masters + high-tech firearms" increases in power exponentially.

Even before Lu Xuan had broken through to the Grandmaster level of the Core Formation realm, he had to be cautious and avoid their sharp edge when facing such a lineup, and dared not underestimate them in the slightest. After all, the power of firearms was far beyond what the human body could withstand by simply braving it.

Currently, this level of strength is more than enough to protect ordinary important figures, but in the eyes of Lu Xuan, a Grandmaster of the Core Formation Realm, it does not pose a real threat.

"Greetings, leaders! Greetings, leaders!" Lu Yuliang dared not be presumptuous in the slightest. As soon as he stood up, he immediately bowed and almost ran towards the three elderly people, his hurried footsteps making a soft sound.

His respectful yet nervous demeanor was even more exaggerated than when he had met Huang Tangshi before.

This is understandable. The old man standing in the middle of the three did not deliberately release any aura, but he naturally exuded a kind of majesty that came from long-term high position.

An invisible sense of oppression washed over him like a tidal wave, causing him to unconsciously slow his breathing.

You should know that this person is a member of the elders' council who can participate in the top-level decision-making of the Dragon Kingdom. Ordinary people would find it extremely difficult to even see him on TV, let alone talk to him up close.

Now that he could actually meet him in person, the honor and pressure were intertwined, causing even his fingertips to tremble slightly.

"Hello, leader! Hello, leader!" Lu Yuliang greeted them one after another, bowing even lower and unconsciously taking a step back.

It wasn't until Lu Xuan slowly walked forward from behind that he seemed to suddenly come to his senses, quickly stepping aside to make way, his eyes still filled with lingering tension.

Immediately afterward, Lu Yuliang took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady, and respectfully addressed the elderly man in the middle: "Three leaders, this is the man I mentioned to you on the phone before."
"—My father, Lu Xuan. In his youth, he also held a position and was fortunate enough to make some small contributions to the country. He came with me specifically to pay his respects to you."

As he said this, he secretly glanced at the old man's expression, afraid that he might have said something inappropriate.

The three elderly people were dressed in very formal attire, with pristine white suits and shirts without a single wrinkle on their upper bodies.

He wore a crisp dark tie, paired with well-tailored black suit trousers and polished black leather shoes, exuding a composed and dignified aura.

Although they were old, they all had ruddy complexions and their brows carried the dignity that comes with years of high office.

Even just standing quietly, he exudes an aura of authority without anger.

Before Lu Xuan could even offer a greeting, the old man standing between the three of them took the first step, his usual serious expression replaced by an exceptionally kind smile.

His tone was full of genuine warmth: "Mr. Lu, how are you! It's been so long! It's such an honor to see you again today!"

"So it was you. That really surprised me." Lu Xuan's gaze fell on the old man's face.

After carefully examining the other person for a moment, a look of understanding flashed across his eyes, followed by a knowing smile. He naturally extended his right hand to shake hands with the other person, the pressure of his palm steady and peaceful.

A long-forgotten memory flashed through his mind: Thirty years ago, when the original owner was still in his post, he had seen the other party at an important celebration party in the capital.

Back then, the old man in front of me was a young man who had just embarked on his official career. His brows were full of vigor and ambition as he humbly followed behind his elders to learn from them. His appearance is still vaguely recognizable today.

Unexpectedly, more than 30 years have passed, and that young man who was just showing his talent back then has grown into a key figure who now holds sway over a region and can be called a pillar of the nation.

Such a dramatic turn of events is truly legendary.

Lu Xuan's familiar conversation with the old man was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, causing everyone else present to pause in surprise, their faces showing disbelief.

The other two provincial officials standing on either side raised their eyebrows slightly, their eyes full of surprise.

The three young secretaries beside him exchanged glances, unable to hide the surprise in their eyes.

Who would have thought that this core leader, who wields great power in Yifeng Province and is difficult even for ordinary officials to approach, would actually know an old man like Lu Xuan, who looks plainly dressed and has no special markings?

Before this, no one had ever heard of Lu Xuan, and no one knew that he and this "pillar of heaven" had such a connection spanning thirty years.

This unexpected event added a subtle ripple to the originally solemn atmosphere.

Then, something else happened that caught Lu Yuliang and everyone else present completely off guard.

The senior figure who was in charge of Yifeng Province actually took the initiative to ask Lu Xuan to have a private talk.

As he finished speaking, he raised his hand to signal the others to wait outside, making it clear that no one needed to participate in the conversation.

This scene completely stunned Lu Yuliang, and even the other two officials from Yifeng Province looked surprised.

Soon, the two entered a simple and clear office inside the villa. The room was not decorated with too many complicated decorations, but only had a few sets of dark solid wood furniture.

Lu Xuan and the old man sat facing each other on the soft sofa in the center. Sunlight streamed in through the blinds, casting dappled shadows on the floor.
“Mr. Lu, Mr. Huang contacted me yesterday and clearly instructed me to fully cooperate with all your actions in Yifeng Province. Please feel free to ask if you have any needs.”

When the old man spoke, his tone was more solemn than when he was outdoors. The moment his words fell, his eyes narrowed slightly, and his gaze was fixed on Lu Xuan like a torch.

It's as if they want to scrutinize his expression, aura, and even his inner state through his simple Zhongshan suit.

After a brief pause, he continued, "But Elder Lu, given your status, you shouldn't have needed to make this trip in person. What kind of matter could possibly require your personal involvement?"
"And your health..." As he spoke, his voice unconsciously softened, his tone carrying a hint of subtle probing.

This seemingly concerned inquiry actually concealed his true purpose.

He wanted to take this opportunity to get up close and personal to verify whether the old man in front of him still possessed the formidable strength that had once made him stand at the pinnacle of martial arts in China and commanded the respect of countless people.

"You don't need to worry about my health. I can endure a few more years of this, and I'll be fine." Lu Xuan's voice was calm and even, without the slightest hint of deliberate effort.

But the moment the words left his mouth, the air in the office suddenly tensed up—an invisible gust of wind exploded in the room without warning.

The curtains, which had been hanging smoothly, were suddenly flung open and made a loud rustling sound, while documents and papers on the table fluttered in the wind.

Even the leaves of the green plants in the corner were shaking violently, as if they were about to be uprooted at any moment.

The entire space felt as if it had been plunged into a miniature natural disaster hurricane. Despite the lack of any physical contact, it sent chills down everyone's spines and made it hard to breathe.

In an instant, with a loud "bang," the solid wood door of the office was smashed open, and the glass windows were shattered by the force of the impact.

In the gaps between the flying fragments, three afterimages suddenly appeared like arrows released from a bow.

It was the three bodyguards who had been hiding in the shadows and protecting the old man. They all had solemn expressions and their hands were on the weapons at their waists. They had obviously broken down the door to provide support after noticing the commotion inside.

Seeing this, Lu Xuan smiled faintly and did not get up. However, a terrifying pressure far exceeding the previous one suddenly erupted in the room, and a golden ripple could be vaguely seen flashing around him.

The next second, the three martial arts masters, who had already reached the perfect level of internal strength, felt as if their bodies were being pressed down hard by an invisible giant hand.

With a "thump," they all knelt down on one knee, their arms bulging with veins, unable to move even a finger, their faces filled with extreme terror.

They had cultivated for decades and seen countless masters; even the officers and instructors who taught them had never displayed such overwhelming power.

This is not even a power of the same level; it is like an insurmountable chasm.

(End of this chapter)