Lu Mingxuan quickly arrived at the storeroom. A crowd had already gathered, all drawn by Su Han, yet none dared to enter.
Inside lay a pool of still-wet blood—Elder Lu Xiong's.
The Lu Family had five elders, all of whom were Divine Sea Realm Martial Artists. Elder Lu Xiong, one of them, was in charge of the storeroom and held a high, influential position.
"The Clan Head has arrived!"
Lu Mingxuan's arrival instantly drew the crowd's attention. They parted, clearing a wide path for him.
At that moment, Lu Mingxuan had no time to waste on the servants. His gaze swept over the battle scene. He touched the still-wet blood, roughly estimating the time of Elder Lu Xiong's death.
Reaching the depths of the storeroom, he found that the door leading to the Underground Treasure Vault had been locked from the inside.
Lu Mingxuan tried to force it open, but it wouldn't budge.
The door was not only forged from refined steel but also inscribed with a Spiritual Formation, making it extremely sturdy. Moreover, even if he broke it, it would not grant direct access to the Underground Treasure Vault.
There were nine layers of defenses between this point and the vault, and this door was merely the first. Lu Mingxuan needed help.
"Father, the four elders are here!" Lu Xiaoqing announced, arriving with four Divine Sea Realm elders.
"Su Han has fallen to demonification through murder! I have received the Empress's edict to execute this demon. He is hiding in the Underground Treasure Vault right now. Let us join forces, break through the defenses, and drag this demon out to be executed!" Lu Mingxuan commanded in a deep voice.
Su Han's strength had exceeded his expectations, but his plan was still a success.
Wang Ming, the guard squad, and Elder Lu Xiong had all died at Su Han's hands. He now held the moral high ground, and with the Empress's backing, he had the confidence to face even Wang Tianqing.
"Yes!" the four elders responded respectfully.
Soon, Lu Mingxuan and the four elders began their assault on the first door.
BOOM! RUMBLE!
Attacking together with their full might, they unleashed earthshattering power that made the door tremble and roar continuously.
Ten minutes later, the door shattered into a pile of scrap iron, the Spiritual Formation within it destroyed.
"Let's go!" Lu Mingxuan led the four elders through the doorway, determined to breach the layers of protection and drag Su Han out.
***
Inside the Underground Treasure Vault, Su Han was still immersed in his cultivation. Lu Yunxian waited quietly by his side, a dagger clasped in her hand.
She had heard the door being broken and knew someone was attacking. Although she was weak, for Su Han's sake, she could become strong.
If you want to harm Xiao Han, you'll have to step over my corpse first!
The Devouring Heaven Demonic Art does have its limits! Su Han suddenly opened his eyes, a trace of regret in them.
He had finished refining the Demonic Qi and had even consumed an Elixir to strengthen his physical body. A moment ago, he had used the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art to devour and refine Elder Lu Xiong, hoping to save the Sea-Opening Elixir and break through with the Devouring Force alone, but he had failed.
The Devouring Heaven Demonic Art could help Su Han rapidly increase his power, but a breakthrough to a new Great Realm still depended on him.
Although Su Han felt a flicker of regret, he wasn't greedy. If the art allowed for limitless devouring, it would be far too heaven-defying.
Since I can't devour my way through, I'll use the Sea-Opening Elixir. I hope I can succeed in one try!
Taking a deep breath, Su Han retrieved the Sea-Opening Elixir and swallowed it.
Although the Sea-Opening Elixir could help open a Divine Sea and increase the chances of reaching the Divine Sea Realm, it only offered a fifty percent success rate. A successful breakthrough still depended on the person taking it.
As the Elixir entered his stomach, its medicinal power spread instantly. The energy surged along his meridians and rushed into his brain, causing his head to throb with a pain so intense it felt as if knives and axes were hacking at his skull.
He gritted his teeth and persevered, simultaneously circulating the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art to aid the Elixir's power in opening his Divine Sea.
Every breakthrough to a Great Realm was incredibly difficult, requiring immense willpower, wisdom, and opportunity. Throughout history, countless individuals had been stalled before a Great Realm, unable to break through, and ultimately lived out their days in despair.
The Divine Sea Realm was the first Great Realm on the path of Martial Arts and a crucial breakthrough.
Opening the Divine Sea gives birth to spiritual power, which in turn allows one to transcend the limitations of the physical body and project spiritual power externally. This is a necessary step on the path to becoming a true expert.
Cultivate! Breakthrough! Revenge!
Hatred burned in Su Han's heart as he clenched his teeth.
Empress, Great Crown Prince, I will make you repay what you owe me a hundredfold!
BOOM!
As Su Han was assaulting the Divine Sea Realm, Lu Mingxuan and the four elders broke through the second Defensive Spiritual Formation.
This formation was closer to the Underground Treasure Vault, and the sounds of the attack were much clearer.
Lu Yunxian stood guard at the entrance, clutching her dagger. Despite her low cultivation, she was ready to fight their enemies to the death.
A resolute determination filled Lu Yunxian's beautiful eyes.
Seventeen years ago, still a baby in swaddling clothes, she had been abandoned on the icy streets. It was Su Han's mother who had found her and brought her home. For many years, Su Han's mother treated her like her own daughter, never mistreating her or neglecting her, even after Su Han was born. In her heart, she had always considered Su Han's mother her real mother.
Later, when her mother committed suicide by jumping into a well and left Su Han alone, she secretly vowed to take good care of Xiao Han to repay the woman who had raised her.
She had done just that over the years, giving to him unconditionally and protecting him at all costs.
When Su Han's Dragon Soul was taken and his Heavenly Dragon Battle Body was crippled, she was struck as if by lightning. She rashly charged into the royal palace and even agreed to the Empress's despicable conditions, exchanging her own spirit blood for Xiao Han's life.
She didn't care about her own life or death, only about Su Han's safety.
In her heart, Su Han was her life.
Now that Su Han had killed someone and completely broken with the Lu Family, she was worried, but she was not afraid.
Even if it meant death, she would protect Su Han!
BOOM!
The third Defensive Spiritual Formation shattered, and Lu Yunxian's heart trembled with it.
When the fourth was broken, the tension in her heart gradually faded, replaced by pure resolve.
By the time the fifth was broken, Lu Yunxian had already prepared herself for a desperate, final battle.
Lu Mingxuan and the four elders were simply too strong together. One Defensive Spiritual Formation after another collapsed under their onslaught as they drew steadily closer to the Underground Treasure Vault.
When the eighth formation was breached, the Underground Treasure Vault itself began to shake as if it were about to collapse.
Lu Yunxian clenched her jaw, her knuckles white as she gripped the dagger.
BOOM! RUMBLE!
Finally, under the combined assault of Lu Mingxuan and the four elders, the ninth Defensive Spiritual Formation was completely destroyed.
With all nine defenses shattered, the figures of Lu Mingxuan and the four elders were gradually revealed amidst the settling dust and smoke.
Lu Yunxian saw them, and a chill went through her. She shot a quick, deep look back at Su Han, then turned to block the entrance to the Underground Treasure Vault.
Xiao Han…
Lu Yunxian gripped her dagger, her slender body now radiating a boundless conviction.