Let me explain, it's not what you think.

Throughout the journey, Tantai Qingxue remained silent.

Because she felt that Xiaoxue was too weak and lost before even fighting, she thought that Lu Chen's situation was her fault.

She was even somewhat sullen throughout the journey.

"Lu Lang, where are we going now?"

"I don't know, how about you take me somewhere random?"

"Huh? Xiaoxue hasn't been to many places. I heard my master is looking for some kind of treasure in this area. Why don't we go find her?"

"No! No, no! Since they're not in the capital, let's go there! I've never been to the capital of our Great Li Kingdom before!"

Although Tantai Qingxue was puzzled as to why Lu Chen was behaving so strangely, she still listened to him and took him with her to Yongning City, the capital of the Dali Dynasty.

This is Tantai Qingxue's headquarters, so nothing unexpected should happen here.

"Come, Lu Lang, this is your first time here, let me show you around..."

Before Tantai Qingxue could finish speaking, a rainbow of light descended from the horizon.

The rainbow light faded, revealing the figure of an old man in a gray robe.

The old man had white hair and beard, and his aura was as deep as the sea, indicating that he was at least at the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

He glanced at Tantai Qingxue, then at Lu Chen.

"Young Sect Master, the elders have sent a message requesting your immediate return to the sect."

Tantai Qingxue frowned.

"What's up? I just got back!"

"It's a serious matter; please return to your sect to discuss it."

The old man said this, glanced at Lu Chen, then turned and disappeared into the horizon.

Tantai Qingxue looked in the direction where the old man disappeared, bit her lip, and turned to look at Lu Chen.

"Lu Lang, I..."

"It's alright, you go ahead, I'll wait for you here."

Tantai Qingxue hesitated for a moment, then tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek before transforming into a beam of white light and chasing after the old man.

Lu Chen stood at the city gate, watching the white light disappear in the north of the city, and suddenly felt uneasy.

About an hour later, Tantai Qingxue returned.

She flew down from the horizon and landed in front of Lu Chen, her expression making him pause for a moment.

It was an undisguised excitement.

Her eyes shone like two stars, her lips curved into a smile, and she exuded an adorable aura of "I have a big secret to tell you."

"What's wrong?"

"Lu Lang, something terrible has happened! The prince born to the Empress of our Great Li Dynasty is not the Emperor's!"

Lu Chen froze for a moment, then quickly returned to normal.

If it's just gossip, then it's fine, as long as it's not his.

"I've heard that the prince isn't the biological son, but rather that sorcerer everyone's been talking about lately! Now the emperor is furious and has personally led an expedition to wipe out the remnants of the Hehuan Sect and find that sorcerer, tearing him to pieces!"

Yes, the Hehuan Sect had already been dealt with by the righteous and demonic sects, but their core had long since moved, causing them to miss their target.

Now, the emperor of Dali has also fallen victim to this, and plans to use the entire nation's resources to investigate the identity of that sorcerer!

Lu Chen was numb.

"And there's more! It's not just the royal family!" Tantai Qingxue became more and more excited as she spoke.

"Many sects within the Great Li Kingdom have been ravaged by that fiend. He's responsible for everything—the minister's daughter isn't his biological child, the daughter-in-law of a cultivation family is pregnant with another man's child! Now those forces have united to go after those remnants, and their momentum is immense!"

"And Lu Lang, people from your Xuantian Sect have also come. I heard that all your fellow disciples have come; they are determined to find that demon, who is currently at their stronghold in the east of the city."

"Um……"

Lu Chen was at a loss for words.

He never imagined that coming to the capital of this great Li Kingdom would be the worst choice he ever made!

What's the difference between this and walking right into a trap?

"Young Master Lu, my master is currently away, and the Li Huo Sect wants me, their young sect leader, to accompany His Majesty to the He Huan Sect to broaden my horizons. Are you going?"

Lu Chen opened his mouth, as if to say he wouldn't go.

Every cell in his body was resisting. What difference was there between him going to the Hehuan Sect and courting death?

But then he thought again, wouldn't it be even more unusual if he didn't go? After all, he was in the capital now, he couldn't say he hadn't heard about this, could he?

Then his best fellow disciples hated that "demon" to the bone, wishing they could tear him to pieces.

As their best friend, if he didn't lend a hand, not only would his position be unstable, but his identity would also be questioned by everyone!

After all, quite a few people know that he once stayed in the Hehuan Sect!

"Yes, I will definitely go."

"Lu Lang, go see your fellow disciples. I'll go handle matters at the Li Huo Sect. See you at the He Huan Sect!"

Lu Chen nodded.

……

The Xuantian Sect was not a major power, so its stronghold was located in a rather ordinary courtyard in the capital.

Lu Chen stood at the door and raised his hand to knock.

The door opened, and it was Lin Tian who opened it.

"Junior brother?" Lin Tian was stunned for a moment, then hugged him tightly.

"Why are you here? Weren't you supposed to be out training?"

"Yes, I had a feeling at the time. After breaking through to the Golden Core stage, I heard that something big had happened, so I came to check it out. After all, we're brothers!"

"Yes, you've come at the right time. Come on in, everyone's here." Lin Tian said, pulling Lu Chen into the courtyard.

At that moment, there were several people standing in the courtyard. Lu Chen glanced at them and his heart sank to the bottom.

Wang Feng, Zhang Fan, Master Hu Wei, Master's wife Chen Xuejiao, and some elders from the sect all came over.

There were a few other people, whom Lu Chen had met a few times before. They were from other sects and had come to visit.

"Master!"

Lu Chen immediately went to Hu Wei to pay his respects.

Hu Wei nodded, looking at Lu Chen with satisfaction.

"Excellent! Five Elements Spiritual Roots! Breaking through to the Golden Core stage so quickly! Hearing that your fellow disciples needed help, you rushed over without stopping. What a good child!"

"Just a lucky break, nothing more!"

"Your breakthrough in the Five Elements Spiritual Roots is absolutely due to your diligence, there's no luck involved!" Chen Xuejiao stood up, her back to Hu Wei.

She looked at Lu Chen anxiously and winked in a cacophony of signals.

She clearly hadn't expected him to dare come over.

Even though Lu Chen was suffering inside, he couldn't say anything.

"Master's wife is too kind. My master has always taught me to be harmonious and loving with my fellow disciples, and I always keep that in mind!"

"So even though I had just broken through to the next level, I came to support them immediately upon hearing the news!"

"Good! Lu Chen, I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"

"Tonight, have all those boys come over. Your master's wife will cook for you herself; I'll have her treat you well!"

Lu Chen: "..."

Chen Xuejiao: "..."

She reached out and secretly pinched Hu Wei.

"I wouldn't dare. My master's wife is an elder; it should be the disciple who entertains her, not the other way around!"

"Hey, you brat, you're even lecturing your master now..."