Starting with being handed over to the Imperial Concubine, building a family with a thousand-year hi

The events of that night completely disrupted all their original plans, dealing them a heavy blow. Without the assistance of the Japanese experts, the Duanmu family and the Divine Judgment alone were simply no match for the Xiao royal family, let alone able to break into the heavily guarded palace. Moreover, Lin Zhengying, the sixth elder of the Tianwu Sect, had displayed extraordinary prowess on Wild Wolf Ridge, and with him protecting the Xiao royal family, they had absolutely no chance.

Just as the two were feeling utterly dejected and at their wits' end, Su Qingshan suddenly turned around, his gaze falling on a huge rock not far away. A playful look gradually appeared on his face as he slowly said, "However, we did not come away empty-handed this night. At least, we found something unexpected."

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Rong's heart stirred. Following Su Qingshan's gaze, he quickly discovered a strange body lying on the huge rock. The body was entirely silver-white with a smooth surface and a large depression in its chest, making it look very bizarre and unlike a human body.

"What is this? It doesn't look like an ordinary person's body." Duanmu Rong frowned, a look of doubt on his face, and slowly walked forward to carefully observe the strange body.

"Lord Duanmu, this is indeed not a human body, but a puppet, or more precisely, a marionette," Su Qingshan stepped forward and explained with a smile. "If its clothes hadn't been torn, revealing its silvery-white body underneath, Chief Duanmu probably wouldn't have recognized its true form—it's the 'Grandmaster' we mistook for Xiao Yuanhou on Wild Wolf Ridge!"

"Huh?!" Regner, standing to the side, was stunned upon hearing this, his face filled with astonishment. Clearly, he had not expected that the previously imposing "Grandmaster" was actually just a puppet.

Duanmu Rong also showed surprise, his eyes filled with disbelief. He carefully examined the silver puppet and said doubtfully, "It's just a puppet... But even so, why would Lin Zhengying attack a puppet? Moreover, Lin Zhengying and the Tianwu Sect are allies of the Xiao royal family. He even helped the Xiao royal family at the previous sacrificial ceremony. Why would he attack a seemingly harmless puppet for no reason?"

Su Qingshan gently shook his head and slowly said, "I think the owner of this puppet could never be a member of the Xiao royal family. Not only because it deliberately avoided the emperor before, but more importantly, I personally saw Lin Zhengying attack it, and he did so with extreme ruthlessness, clearly treating it as an enemy."

After a pause, Su Qingshan added, "Judging from the current situation, the owner of this puppet should be a newly promoted and loyal eunuch in the palace. After all, to be able to hide in the palace for so long and control such a powerful puppet, besides royal confidants, only eunuchs have such convenient conditions."

"Oh?" Regner was taken aback again, his face showing even more confusion. Clearly, he did not agree with Su Qingshan's guess.

Duanmu Rong, still looking puzzled, frowned and slowly said, "Even if the puppet's owner isn't from the Xiao royal family, Lin Zhengying wouldn't go so far as to exterminate a puppet. After all, it's just a puppet; even if it's powerful, it can't pose a significant threat to the Xiao royal family or the Tianwu Sect. Moreover, he's on good terms with the Xiao royal family. If the puppet were truly controlled by someone from the palace, he should have inquired about it first before taking action."

Upon hearing this, Su Qingshan also fell silent. He knew in his heart that Duanmu Rong's words made sense, but he really couldn't understand why Lin Zhengying would target a puppet, who the owner of this silver puppet was, and why he appeared on Wild Wolf Ridge, deliberately avoiding the Xiao royal family... Questions arose in his mind, but he could not find the answers.

"It's just stealing!"

Su Qingshan replied, "It's more than just an alliance. If there are enough benefits, they'll kill even their own people!"

"If that loyal new chief eunuch finds out that Lin Zhengying destroyed his puppet, he will definitely not let him off!"

Duanmu Rong's voice rang out.

"He may be unhappy, but he can't do anything about it!"

Su Qingshan chimed in, "Although Uncle Zhong is formidable, he is, after all, a Grandmaster. I don't think he would cause trouble in front of a Grandmaster!"

"That's true!" Regner nodded.

Duanmu Rong nodded and said, "This Lin Zhengying is no ordinary grandmaster, and he has also obtained such a treasure."

"Sigh!" he sighed.

Su Qingshan sighed deeply, his face showing even more worry.

……

Inside a massive palace in the Great Qian Imperial City.

The Imperial Library.

Xiao Anran returned to Jian Wushuang's side at the same time as Su Mu returned.

Su Mu's flying ability is extremely strong. If he hadn't been delayed by searching for the Silver War Puppet of Wild Wolf Ridge, he should have been able to get back before Xiao Anran.

"In Wild Wolf Ridge, this elder was kidnapped and seriously injured. I wonder if the Crown Prince witnessed the details?"

Su Chen spoke from outside the door.

"Uh..." Chen Xiaobei's expression faltered slightly.

Xiao Anran thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No!"

"His Highness is not good at lying; he'll give himself away as soon as he lies!"

Su Mu's words had a hidden meaning.

"Yes, I haven't seen it, but..."

Xiao Anran opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she held back.

"Difficult to talk about?"

Su Mu's expression turned ugly.

"They're from the royal family!"

Xiao Anran finally revealed the truth: "He obtained a supreme treasure, then was chased by the Sixth Elder, severely injured, and fell from the sky!"

"Just as I expected!"

Su Mu's expression darkened.

"Madam Su, Sixth Elder shouldn't have killed that old man, but we were all vying for a priceless treasure, the situation was chaotic, and I couldn't control myself!"

The conflict between Su Mu and Lin Zhengying is something that neither Xiao Anran nor the Xiao royal family wants to see.

This is also why Xiao Anran hesitated to tell him the truth.

"That man clearly obtained a priceless treasure, but Lin Zhengying insisted on killing him and taking his life."

Su Mu chuckled coldly and said no more.

"Lord Su, please calm down!"

Xiao Anran glanced at him and asked again, "How is he? If he needs anything, just tell me!"

"He's fallen!" he murmured to himself.

Su Mu did not find the silver puppet, but it was certain that the corpse had been destroyed.

"This..." Chen Xiaobei was slightly taken aback.

Xiao Anran sensed something was wrong.

In her eyes, Su Mu's current achievements are all thanks to this mysterious expert.

This mysterious master has done me a great favor!

If this mysterious expert had only suffered minor injuries, there might still be a chance to save him, but he is already dead, and Su Mu will never let him go!

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Anran couldn't help but say, "Lord Su, the Sixth Elder is no ordinary Grandmaster. He comes from the Heavenly Martial Sect, and his cultivation and martial arts are extremely formidable!"