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

Chapter 419 His Majesty's Edict: Hunt Down the Traitor Chishan!

"Greetings, Commander Gao!"

Along the long corridor leading to the core area of ​​the Imperial Court, guards clad in star-patterned heavy armor bowed solemnly to Gao Zheng and his entourage, tapping their right hands on their chests.

The clanging of armor echoed through the solemn corridor, demonstrating the Ninth Guard's unquestionable position within the imperial system.

The procession proceeded without hindrance until it stopped in front of a huge golden gate.

The doors are engraved with the imperial emblem, depicting the sun and moon shining together and surrounded by stars, exuding an aura of majesty and antiquity.

Two guards stood at the gate. Unlike the outer guards, they did not salute, but simply nodded slightly in silence.

Immediately, starlight swirled around the two, and immense stellar power poured into the gate.

The emblem on the door seemed to light up instantly, emitting a soft yet majestic glow.

"Om-"

With a deep hum, the massive golden gate slowly opened inward, revealing a deep and secluded hall behind it.

What's even more alarming is that the energy fluctuations emanating from these two seemingly ordinary gatekeepers have reached the level of the Perfected Star Realm, just a hair's breadth away from the Bright Moon Realm.

The fact that such a powerful figure guards the gate demonstrates the depth of the Imperial Court's resources.

As Lu Xuan and his entourage entered the main hall, the massive golden door behind them silently closed in a soft yet dazzling golden light, completely isolating the inside from the outside.

Beneath their feet, a crimson carpet stretched forward, its material extraordinary. Instead of ordinary patterns, it was woven with a secret technique to depict the vast territory of the Starry Empire.

Mountains, rivers, and urban landscapes are faintly visible within the carpet, while the phantom images of the sun, moon, and stars slowly flow, appear, and disappear on the carpet. Walking on it is like strolling through a miniature universe, immersed in a dreamlike sea of ​​stars.

Looking around, the walls of the main hall are spotless white, made of solid moonstone, radiating a warm glow.

Above the dome, enormous crystal lamps resembled an inverted galaxy, with countless crystals refracting a brilliant yet gentle light, illuminating the entire space as if it were daytime.

In front of the main hall are raised platforms with hundreds of neatly arranged, ancient-style and solemn seats—the seats for members of the Imperial Diet and important officials from various fields to participate in state affairs.

At the very front of these seats, above all others, are seven distinct thrones.

They are made entirely of an unknown metal, with reliefs of the sun, moon and stars surrounding them. Crimson, gold and white light flow and intertwine on the surface of the seats, as if they embody all the majesty and power of the empire.

These are the seats of the Empire's highest seven council members.

These seven individuals were personally selected by the Sun and Moon Emperor, and each possessed extraordinary abilities.

The will of the seven councilors is the will of the Sun and Moon Emperor, and together they wield the wheel of fate for the Starry Empire.

At this moment, seven figures shrouded in hazy starlight sat on the seven supreme thrones, silent and still, like seven insurmountable mountains, quietly overlooking the arrival of the Ninth Guard.

Five elderly men with white hair and beards stood on the left and right. They wore robes representing the alternation of the sun and moon in different star regions. Although their appearances were different, their brows all exuded the majesty that had been formed by years of holding power.

One of the old men in black robes seemed to have lightning flashing in his eyes as he opened and closed them, while the other old man in green robes slowly turned a string of star beads in his hand.

The old woman on the right holds a dark brown scepter. Although wrinkles cover her face, the gaze in her eyes seems to see through people's hearts and understand the ways of the world.

Seated at the very center was a figure whose gaze was too intense to look directly at.

She wore the golden brocade robe with nine suns and nine moons, unique to the Sun and Moon Royal Family. The robe was embroidered with nine golden suns and nine crescent moons in mithril and gold thread.

Nourished by the starlight surrounding her, she exuded a breathtaking majesty as she slowly circulated.

She looked to be only in her forties, with an exceptionally beautiful and dignified appearance, and an air of nobility.

When Lu Xuan's gaze met hers in the air, he clearly felt the outline of the blazing sun within his body tremble slightly—this was an instinctive reaction when encountering a powerful opponent he could not defeat.

This female councilor from the Central Committee was actually a peerless expert at the Star Domain Realm, and the condensation of her aura was simply astonishing.

As Lu Xuan silently observed the seven imperial rulers on the high platform, seven incomparably powerful wills quietly enveloped him, carrying scrutiny, inquiry, and even a hint of imperceptible oppression.

“Lu Xuan…”

This name carries significant weight in the minds of the seven legislators.

They all knew the immense prestige this calm-looking man held within the Starry Empire.

A commoner with no one to rely on could, with extraordinary strength, break through the encirclement of countless noble geniuses who were surrounded by abundant resources, and rise to the ranks of the empire's top powerhouses.

His very existence is a silent challenge to the existing order.

Seated in the very center, the female councilor dressed in the imperial robes of the Nine Suns and Nine Moons—Councilor Sun and Moon Spear—had her gaze linger on Lu Xuan the longest and most profound.

A fleeting, extremely subtle glint flashed in the depths of her beautiful eyes.

Compared to other councilors, she did pay more attention to Lu Xuan.

No wonder he's the empire's recognized genius from humble beginnings...

The Sun and Moon Pivot murmured to itself, with a hint of appreciation and consideration.

Only half a year had passed since his last audience with the imperial court, yet the stellar power within him had advanced to this point, becoming vast, boundless, and perfectly integrated.

It seems he has already reached that barrier.

Her senses were far more acute than others', and she could clearly "see" the outline of the scorching sun deep within Lu Xuan's body.

Space began to subtly distort, and a unique "natal star field" belonging to him was taking shape.

"The Starfield is about to become... an empire. It seems that a new, truly peerless powerhouse will soon be emerging."

This judgment stirred ripples in the calm lake of the Sun and Moon Pivot.

A newly promoted Star Realm expert is enough to attract the attention of the Empire's top leadership and even influence future strategies against the Crimson Monsters.

"Gao Zheng, commander of the Ninth Guard, greets the seven councilors."

Gao Zheng stepped forward, then bowed deeply, performing a standard and respectful bow.

Behind him, Lu Xuan and all the members of the Ninth Guard also bowed in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized.

Lu Xuan lowered his head slightly, his gaze falling on the crimson carpet beneath his feet, where starlight shimmered.

He could clearly feel the seven gazes from the Supreme Throne falling on everyone in the Ninth Guard, especially lingering on him for a moment.

"Gao Zheng, the message you submitted has been forwarded to the Sun and Moon Temple, and His Majesty is already aware of it."

The voice of the central female councilor, Riyue Yingshu, echoed in the hall, devoid of any personal emotion, representing only the absolute will of imperial power.

"Listen to my command—by His Majesty's decree, effective immediately, Gao Zheng, with Lu Xuan as his assistant, will lead the Ninth Guard to wipe out all the Crimson Pollution outside the Ninth Security Zone, and relentlessly pursue the traitor Chi Shan, regardless of his life or death!"

Her gaze swept over the crowd below as she continued her pronouncement.

"The four martyrs, including Leibri, Shen Xin, etc., are posthumously awarded the title of First Class Knight of the Imperial Order of Loyalty, each granted a bottle of Star Dew, and a pension of five million Star Dollars, to honor their loyalty and comfort their heroic souls."

After the imperial edict was read aloud, Gao Zheng straightened up first and answered in a deep voice, "Yes! We will obey Your Majesty's command!"

Behind him, Lu Xuan and the others stood tall.

Upon hearing the name "Chen Xin" and the award bestowed upon her, the eyes of one of the female team members, Xin Pulan, instantly turned red. She bit her lip tightly, forcibly suppressing the surging grief and gratitude.

"You must be extremely cautious on this trip," said Riyue Yingshu, a female member of the Central Committee, her voice tinged with seriousness.

Her gaze swept quickly over Gao Zheng and Lu Xuan. "According to the latest monitoring of the 'All-Heavens Star Array,' a fluctuation resembling S-level crimson pollution was observed outside the Ninth Security Zone."

After a slight pause, Sun and Moon Pivot continued to explain: "Fortunately, due to the limitations of the world's rules, the S-class Crimson Monster's true form cannot yet fully manifest in reality."

Currently, it can only occupy the void of the spiritual realm, manipulating those with weak wills and deep desires through whispers and temptations, turning them into crimson minions.

Her tone shifted dramatically, becoming extremely serious: "However, this S-class monster might seek a sufficiently powerful vessel to 'descend its will'."

The best is the body of a crimson fallen one from the Blazing Sun Realm.

As for Chishan… he was already at the peak of the Bright Moon Realm in his lifetime. After falling into the Crimson Realm, his power must have surged dramatically, and he has most likely broken through to the Blazing Sun Realm.”

Upon mentioning Chishan, the traitor, Riyue Yingchu's gaze fixed on the two leaders of the Ninth Guard. "If you discover any signs that Chishan has been possessed or has descended upon an S-rank being, remember, your mission is to 'escape.'"
We must retreat at all costs and at full speed, and immediately activate the highest alert to notify the Imperial Sun and Moon Divine Guard sequence.

They will then personally take action to annihilate this descending crimson will.

Upon hearing this, Gao Zheng's face remained completely expressionless.

Having fought on the battlefield for decades, he was already very familiar with this response procedure.

Over the past few decades, I have personally encountered and dealt with no fewer than five S-class crimson will descending events.

Each time, it was only by activating the "Star Emblem," which symbolized the empire's highest combat power, and summoning the empire's Sun and Moon Divine Guard sequence, that such a terrifying existence was finally annihilated.

The so-called S-class crimson monsters are essentially equivalent to the Star Domain Realm in the human cultivation system.

The Sun and Moon Divine Guardian sequence exists precisely to counter such a cataclysmic disaster.

They were aloof from worldly authority, not subject to the imperial council, and loyal only to the supreme emperor who sat deep within the temple of the sun and moon.

Even the seven powerful members of parliament had no authority to issue orders directly to them.

From the first to the tenth member of the Divine Guard sequence, every single one of them is an unparalleled powerhouse who has stepped into the Star Domain Realm.

Their existence has only one purpose—when S-level crimson pollution appears outside the safe zone, they will use absolute power to nip the calamity in the bud.

"Yes."

Gao Zheng responded in a deep voice, without saying anything extra, and immediately turned around and walked out with steady steps.

Just as the members of the Ninth Guard were about to step out of the main hall, the Sun and Moon Pivot Councilor, who was sitting in the center, looked at Lu Xuan and spoke in a clear voice, carrying a rare hint of admonition.

"Deputy Regiment Commander Lu, remember this: never let anger cloud your judgment. Only by living can you avenge your fallen comrades."

This unexpected act of care caused all the members of the Ninth Guard to pause in their tracks.

A barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed in Lu Xuan's eyes.

He didn't turn around, but simply tilted his head slightly and nodded solemnly towards the high platform to show that he had received this goodwill.

Immediately, the group left the imperial court, which symbolized the supreme power of the Sun and Moon Emperors, without lingering.

Sun and Moon Pivot stared silently in the direction Lu Xuan had left.

Unlike the other powerful and envious individuals, or those who were scheming and calculating, in Sun Moon Pivot's view, every strong person who could grow up was the empire's most valuable asset under the threat of the Crimson.

Lu Xuancai has achieved so much at the age of forty; his value goes far beyond that of a deputy commander of the Ninth Guard Regiment.

The Ninth Security Zone is located southwest of the Radiant Imperial Capital, the heart of the Empire.

Four military vertical takeoff and landing aircraft roared up from the dedicated platform outside the imperial palace, piercing the sky and speeding off towards the southwest.

Three hours later, the flight formation had reached a distance of 500 kilometers and was gradually approaching the boundary of the safe zone.

Looking down through the porthole, the silhouette of a massive city came into view.

The buildings, a mix of old and new, are layered upon each other. Many areas are clearly abandoned, and occasionally, the ghastly marks left by deep red corrosion can be seen on the dilapidated buildings.

This is a microcosm of human civilization after the Crimson Cataclysm—once-thriving urban areas have shrunk dramatically.

The survivors could only rely on the last defensive fortifications and huddle in the relatively intact core city, struggling to maintain the continuation of civilization.

From a strategic perspective, Yaoguang Imperial City is undoubtedly the core inner city, heavily protected.

The ten zones, such as the Ninth Safe Zone, are like ten outer fortresses guarding the core, together forming humanity's last line of defense for survival.

Of course, it's common knowledge that safe zones are not safe.

The crimson whispers are all-pervasive. Even under the protection of the great array, people still occasionally fall into depravity in hidden corners due to weak will or being consumed by desire, transforming into the crimson minions.

However, for those who have fallen to the realms of Enlightenment and Stars, their threat is relatively limited.

Once they mutate, they will essentially lose their reason and human form completely, degenerating into low-level mutants who only know how to kill.

More importantly, the energy fluctuations and anomalies triggered during the mutation process easily expose themselves, often at the very moment the transformation is completed.

They would then face a precise strike from the defenders' concentrated firepower, and would ultimately be torn to shreds in a storm of firepower.

Therefore, unless one is in extreme despair or harbors a twisted obsession, few people would willingly embark on this path of meaningless destruction.

After all, they were no match for the Imperial garrison's heavy firepower, which was enhanced by Starshine technology.

Before the "Equalizer of All Beings," which is powerful enough to tear even steel to shreds, the flesh and blood of a low-ranking Crimson Fallen is indeed utterly vulnerable.

Nevertheless, in this apocalypse, life within the safe zone is like paradise compared to the vast, completely abandoned territory outside.

Outside the safe zone, on that wasteland corrupted by crimson and fraught with danger, there are actually quite a few human settlements scattered around.

They struggled to survive amidst the ruins, relying on the limited technology left behind by the empire to tenaciously continue their self-sufficient existence.

Although constantly facing the threat of crimson monsters and fallen ones outside.

But no matter how difficult it is, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, as long as food can still grow on the land, humanity, this seemingly fragile spark, will always find a way to continue.

Tebick City is one of the cities in the Ninth Security Zone. Not far from the city lord's mansion, on the helipad of a military base, four helicopters slowly landed.

The entire 9th Guard Regiment of seven arrived at the military base in Tebik City.

The base commander had clearly received direct orders from the imperial court and personally led his elite soldiers to assemble in neat formation.

"Reporting to the lords of the Guard, the garrison at Base 156 in Tebik City has completed its assembly and is ready to be deployed at any time!"

The leading commander, with a loud voice, gave Gao Zheng and Lu Xuan a standard military salute.

In the context of the Crimson Cataclysm, those who can stand here are no longer "ordinary people" in the traditional sense.

Even the lowest-ranking soldiers are at least at the Enlightenment Realm, capable of initially drawing upon a small amount of stellar power to strengthen themselves.

It is this fundamental, extraordinary power, combined with the high-tech firepower that humanity has never lost, that has given rise to the new combat mode of the Imperial Army today.

Soldiers use starlight to enhance their physical abilities, reaction speed, and weapon handling precision.

Driven by specially modified firearms and heavy equipment capable of bearing and amplifying stellar energy, they formed an iron torrent powerful enough to crush low-level crimson monsters.

Whether carrying out cleanup missions outside the safe zone or dealing with sudden fall incidents within the tranquil zone.

Any enemy below the Moonlit Realm will be mercilessly crushed when facing this army that combines starlight and firepower.

"Very good, let's go!"

Without any hesitation, Gao Zheng took over command of the scene and issued orders on behalf of the base commander.

According to the monitoring data from the "Small Star Array" deployed by Tebick City itself, energy signals indicating a large gathering of crimson monsters were detected about fifty kilometers outside the city.

Although they seem to be wandering aimlessly, their activity patterns show a tendency to move closer to safe zones.

The Starry Empire's consistent strategy is to proactively send troops to eliminate these threats in their infancy, before they grow into a "monster tide."

More importantly, such a large gathering of monsters often means that there must be a more powerful "leader" among them—usually one or several crimson monsters that have reached the Moonlit Realm, which invisibly governs and guides these lower-level aberrations.

Since arriving in Tebick City, apart from Lu Xuan, every member of the Ninth Guard present felt as if a huge boulder was pressing on their hearts.

Not long ago, Leibli, Shen Xin, and three other comrades, led by Chishan, were ordered to leave the city to find and eliminate such a "ringleader."

As a result, what awaited them was not a glorious triumph, but the cruelest betrayal and death.

Chishan, their trusted comrade and commander, had fallen into the Crimson and turned his sword against his comrades-in-arms.

After giving the order, Gao Zheng's gaze swept across the distance, the direction where his comrades had perished.

This time, he will personally finish off that beast, Chishan!
(End of this chapter)