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

Chapter 418 Lu Xuan, Deputy Commander of the Ninth Guard Regiment.

The Starry Empire, an ultimate political entity that rules over the entire world.

The brilliance of technology shines across the land, and ancient city-states stand alongside skyscrapers, forming a unique civilization that is both modern and retains ancient traditions.

Despite its highly developed social structure, the empire's supreme power was still held by the ancient Guyue Imperial Court.

As the royal family, the Sun and Moon Clan's will is transformed into supreme decrees through the Imperial Court and transmitted to every corner of the world.

However, the tranquility of a thousand years ago was quietly shattered.

Something indescribable began to seep into the world, which the Imperial scholars called the Crimson Whispers.

The initial changes occurred in animals: they began to undergo bizarre mutations, their bodies swelled, their strength increased dramatically, their forms became grotesque, and they exhibited all sorts of supernatural abilities.

Even more terrifying, these mutated creatures—later collectively known as the Crimson Aberrations—became extremely bloodthirsty, hunting down both humans and unmutated creatures indiscriminately.

When the Ancient Moon Royal Court realized that this was not a localized ecological disaster, but a global apocalyptic catastrophe, it was too late.

The whole world has been completely changed.

Humanity itself was not spared either. Some people suffered mental breakdowns and twisted flesh under the corruption of the "Crimson Whispers," eventually degenerating into monsters that only knew how to destroy and devour—the Crimson Fallen.

Under the dual stimulation of survival pressure and the power of the Crimson Force, another part of the human body's genes are affected.

They did not fall into depravity, but rather communicated with the pure power from the ancient starry sky, embarking on a new path of evolution and forming seven realms that are completely opposite to the Crimson Realm.

Seven Realms of Star Trails: Dawn → Stars → Bright Moon → Blazing Sun → Starfield → Stardust → Cosmic Light

Under the relentless erosion of the crimson power, the human powerhouses of the Starry Empire, despite forging a barrier with their own radiance, found all their efforts to be futile.

It's more like a futile struggle with a known outcome, a desperate prolongation of life.

Faced with an irreversible defeat, the Imperial High Council made a painful but decisive strategic choice: to implement the Wall-Breaking Plan.

The Starry Empire voluntarily relinquished more than two-thirds of its vast territory, concentrating all its remaining strength and resources within the final defensive perimeter centered on the "Radiant Imperial Capital."

This last sanctuary was designated as ten safe zones, which, like stars surrounding the moon, encircled the ever-shining "Radiant Capital," forming the last bastion of human civilization.

The Sun and Moon Imperial Court, located in the heart of the capital and suspended in the air, is the heart of this fortress.

Meanwhile, in order to defend this last territory, the Sun and Moon Imperial Court issued a supreme decree, establishing special guard regiments—the elite units directly under the Imperial Court—in each of the ten safe zones.

The Guard Corps are numbered from one to ten. Each Guard Corps is responsible for guarding its corresponding safe zone and taking the initiative to eliminate the crimson monsters that approach the defense line.

They are the empire's sharpest spear and its strongest shield.

After absorbing the memories, Lu Xuan's consciousness refocused on the present moment.

He looked inward slightly, sensing the tangible "outline of the blazing sun" within his body, which was constantly radiating boundless power.

A faint smile appeared on Lu Xuan's lips, "Crimson Monster..."

"I wonder if this power, which originates from the deep red filth, can be refined into points by the system."

If he could, this calamity that pervades the world would no longer be a threat to him, but rather a fertile field waiting to be harvested.

Therefore, breaking free from the shackles of this mortal world and returning to the Heavenly Martial Realm may be much simpler than expected...

Just as Lu Xuan was thinking, a pigeon-blood gemstone embedded above the palace door suddenly lit up, emitting a rapid and dazzling red light that turned the dark palace blood red.

Looking up, a barely perceptible ripple flashed in Lu Xuan's eyes, and his brows furrowed slightly.

This is the highest-level blood-red summons of the Imperial Guard.

Upon seeing this signal, it is as if the Emperor himself has arrived. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you must immediately put everything down and rush to the Imperial Court as quickly as possible to meet the seven Grand Councilors of the Imperial Court.

These seven councilors jointly oversee the empire's daily operations and military decisions.

Above them were the supreme Emperor of the Sun and Moon, who ruled over the stars.

Normally, His Majesty almost never shows himself, residing deep within the Starry Imperial Palace, guarded by various powerful figures, recuperating and resting, and only venturing out when something truly shakes the foundations of the nation is at stake.

Seeing this, Lu Xuan slowly stood up, and all the starlight flowing around him was absorbed into his body.

The next moment, he took a step forward and his figure quickly disappeared from the spot.

The outer palace of the Imperial Court, the exclusive palace of the Ninth Guard, is a space where the minimalist lines of modernism are combined with the elaborate decorations of classicism, creating a solemn and majestic atmosphere.

The dazzling crystal chandeliers and the projected star map illuminated the six figures already standing solemnly inside the hall.

Five of them were dressed in crisp scarlet military uniforms; they were one woman and four men.

Each person's face bore the marks of hardship and solemnity, and the sun, moon, and star insignia on their shoulder patches indicated their elite status as core members of the Guard Corps.

In front of the five people stood an old man dressed in an ancient robe with gold and white stripes depicting the sun and moon.

The robe is embroidered with ancient patterns of the alternation of the sun and moon and the movement of stars in mithril thread, and the exquisite decorations flow with a warm and profound luster under the light.

Although he was about sixty years old with slightly graying temples, his figure remained as upright as a pine tree. In the depths of his calm eyes, it seemed as if two scorching suns were hidden, making it impossible for anyone to look directly at him.

The old man was Gao Zheng, the supreme commander of the Ninth Guard Regiment under the Sun and Moon Imperial Court. He was a super strongman who had cultivated the power of the starry sky to the Great Perfection of the Blazing Sun Realm.

The next moment, Gao Zheng's voice, though not loud, exploded like a silent thunderclap throughout the entire hall.

“Red Mountain has fallen into the Crimson. He betrayed us and the Empire. Leibli and the other three... have been confirmed dead.”

The shock brought by this short sentence was unprecedented.

The people present rushed over, wondering what kind of urgent mission it was. Little did they expect that what awaited them was such cruel and terrible news.

As soon as she finished speaking, the 27-year-old woman's pupils suddenly contracted, and the uncontrolled starlight around her exploded, instantly creating a chaotic airflow in the hall!

"Impossible!" she exclaimed in utter shock. "Chishan... he hates Crimson the most! His whole family died at the hands of those monsters, how could he...!"

Then, a deeper fear gripped the woman, making her incoherent: "Sister Xin... how could Sister Xin be dead? Before she left, she was smiling and asked me to help her carry things for her daughter at the academy... I don't believe it! Commander... I..."

The woman was starting to speak incoherently, clearly overwhelmed by grief and fear.

"Commander, are you sure you're not mistaken? I don't believe this is real—!"

The two-meter-tall giant beside him instantly turned bloodshot, and scorching light burst from his body. He was like a volcano about to erupt, and his violent aura caused the air to distort.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked, as if he were about to destroy everything in front of him.

The other male members, though not immediately out of control, had faces filled with disbelief, shock, and suppressed grief and indignation.

"That bastard Chishan... I'll tear him apart with my own hands!"

The entire Ninth Guard's hall was shrouded in a heavy atmosphere of sorrow, anger, and betrayal.

Gao Zheng quietly observed his subordinates' reactions. He could understand their anger and grief, but as the regimental commander, he had to keep a clear head at all times.

"The Imperial Court... is already aware of this matter." His aged voice remained steady. "That is why this emergency audience has been convened. After meeting with the councilor..."

As he spoke, Gao Zheng's eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly calm, but a fleeting glint of sharpness sent a chill down the spines of everyone present. It was a near-tangible killing intent that had been forged through countless killings.

“I will personally make that wicked Chishan pay a price he can’t even imagine.”

In his heart, every member of the Ninth Guard was not just a subordinate, but a pillar of the empire whom he had painstakingly cultivated, a comrade-in-arms to whom he could entrust his life.

Now, with four dead in battle and one betraying the regime, such losses are tantamount to cutting off one's own arm. This not only severely weakens the Ninth Imperial Guard but also directly diminishes the power of the empire.

Although Commander Gao's words did not completely erase the pain in everyone's hearts, they successfully suppressed the almost out-of-control riotous emotions.

Inside the hall, the chaotic starlight gradually subsided, and the disordered airflow returned to order.

Those present were all warriors who had crawled out of the abyss of blood and fire. They knew better than anyone that being consumed by anger and losing reason could not change what had happened.

At this moment, everyone wants to find Chishan.

No matter where he hides, no matter what vile power he has acquired, he must be dragged out and his blood debt must be settled in the most thorough way to avenge his fallen comrades.

The air was so heavy it felt like you could wring water out of it.

No one spoke anymore; only heavy breathing could be heard.

The bloodshot in the female team member Sinpuran's eyes faded slightly, but a thin layer of water appeared on her face.

She bit her lower lip hard, refusing to let out a sob. Her clenched fists were so tight that her nails dug deep into her palms, leaving several bright red marks.

Now, they are just waiting for the last member to arrive.

Only when all members of the Ninth Guard are present can they proceed to the supreme Imperial Court in their entirety to meet the seven councilors who will decide the fate of the empire.

That member was Lu Xuan, the vice-commander of the Ninth Guard Regiment and the strongest fighter in the team.

This simple name is a legend in itself within the Starry Empire.

He was neither a member of royalty nor a member of a prominent family, yet at the tender age of forty, he had pushed his cultivation to the terrifying height of the Perfected Blazing Sun Realm.

He was just one final step away from stepping into the Star Domain Realm and becoming a peerless powerhouse who truly ruled over a region's rules and stood shoulder to shoulder with the councilors.

In the Empire, the chasm of the Star Realm is like an insurmountable barrier.

Countless exceptionally talented individuals have been trapped at the peak of the Blazing Sun Realm throughout their lives, never even glimpsing the threshold of the Star Domain until their lifespan is exhausted.

Lu Xuan, at such a young age, has reached this realm, demonstrating the terrifying nature of his talent and the immense potential he possesses.

He is not only the undisputed core of the Ninth Guard, but also one of the most dazzling stars in the entire Starry Empire.

A gentle breeze swept across the front of the hall, and a figure silently appeared in mid-air, his ancient robe, adorned with gold and white sun and moon symbols, fluttering slightly in the air currents.

Lu Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his figure steadily hovering several meters above the ground—this was the signature ability of a Blazing Sun Realm expert, "Void Crossing."

Only by reaching this level can the power of the starry sky gathered within one's body be so vast that it can resist the constraints of the earth and achieve flight.

Lu Xuan's gaze swept over the people in the hall, taking in their faces that could not hide their sorrow and anger.

His expression remained calm as usual; he simply nodded slightly to the crowd.

As the deputy commander, Lu Xuan had naturally already received a message from the commander, Gao Zheng—Chishan had betrayed the empire and fallen into the Crimson, and four of his comrades had been brutally murdered.

Fortunately, the original owner of this body was always taciturn and maintained the aloof attitude befitting a genius.

At this moment, Lu Xuan didn't need to put on a show. He only needed to maintain this aloofness and calmness, and no one would notice that a different soul had already taken over this body.

"Let's go." These two simple words left no room for doubt from anyone present.

The seven councilors of the Ancient Moon Imperial Court...

In Lu Xuan's view, going to see those high-ranking figures at this moment would be a waste of time.

Rather than recounting tragedies and listening to potentially unhelpful instructions in a solemn hall, he preferred to set off immediately.

The annihilation of those crimson monsters will serve as a test of my hypothesis about "system points".

That is the shortcut that will allow me to break free from the shackles of this mortal world and return to the Heavenly Martial Realm more quickly.

However, reason firmly suppressed this impulse.

Lu Xuan knew that although this body had reached the peak of the Blazing Sun Realm and was considered a top expert in the empire, it was by no means invincible.

Within the Starry Empire, there exists a force that could threaten his life.

It would be foolish to prematurely expose one's "abnormality" or challenge the established order before possessing overwhelming power.

The moment Lu Xuan appeared, a barely perceptible glint flashed in Commander Gao Zheng's eyes—a glint of approval mixed with an indescribable complexity.

This imperial prodigy, after only half a month of seclusion, has developed an increasingly profound and restrained aura, showing signs of reaching perfection and touching the barrier of the next realm.

Such dazzling brilliance, in the faction-ridden Starry Empire, is both an honor and a target.

Unless he can truly take that final step and achieve the Star Domain Realm, crushing everything with absolute power.

Otherwise, this dazzling talent will inevitably attract countless hidden covetous eyes and schemes.

The waters of empire run too deep.

The various forces are deeply intertwined, and the existing power structure has long been solidified.

What those forces at the top of the interest chain least want to see is the emergence of a "variable" like Lu Xuan, breaking the monopoly they have painstakingly maintained.

Thinking of this, Gao Zheng felt a sense of despair and helplessness.

Humanity, even in the face of the impending doom of the Crimson World, internal strife, greed, and desire remain the constant themes.

Unlike Gao Zheng's complicated feelings, the other members of the group immediately showed excited smiles as if they had found their backbone when they saw Lu Xuan.

The female team member stepped forward, her voice trembling with sobs and barely suppressed anger: "Brother Xuan! Sister Xin... she was killed by that beast Chishan!"

"Thanks to Sister Xin for taking such good care of him before... I must kill him myself!"

"Ah."

“I will go to him myself.”

With just one sentence, all the arguments and indignation came to an end.

The hall fell silent instantly.

Everyone understood that when this incredibly powerful deputy commander uttered the word "personally," it meant there was no turning back, and the traitor's fate was sealed.

Commander Gao gave Lu Xuan a deep look, then surveyed the entire room and spoke in a deep voice.

"Alright, everyone is here. Let's depart immediately for the Royal Court to meet with the seven councilors."

(End of this chapter)