"It can also... protect the Lu Family, ensuring their prosperity for a thousand years!"

In an instant, a wondrous transformation occurred, as Lu Jiahe’s entire body radiated a dazzling light.

The ten-thousand-foot golden radiance was warm and gentle, like the source of life itself.

The originally aged skin of Lu Jiahe visibly rejuvenated at a rapid pace.

The sagging skin gradually became firm and smooth, and the traces left by time slowly vanished.

The full head of white hair also gradually faded, returning to a glossy black sheen.

Finally, even the wrinkles on his face smoothed out as if melting away like snow.

The whole person seemed around a decade younger, turning into a middle-aged man in his forties.

Lu Jiahe sensed the powerful surge of energy within him, feeling the vitality as it spread to every corner of his body.

His heart was filled with shock and emotion, his eyes involuntarily moistening slightly.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but it was as if something was stuck in his throat, rendering him speechless for a moment.

After a long while, Lu Jiahe finally spoke with difficulty: "Xuan, be extremely careful when you go into seclusion."

Lu Xuan gently nodded, his voice low yet firm: "Father, take care of yourself."

Previously, Lu Xuan had used the force of creation to carefully transform the cultivation physiques of the younger generation of the Lu Family, including Lu Qingqing and Shen Yuan.

Lu Xuan’s power of creation was extraordinarily miraculous.

With the shaping by this power, their martial talents had fundamentally transformed.

Though their martial talent couldn’t be called unparalleled in history, they undeniably reached the ranks of top-tier geniuses.

In due time, the realms of Outer Gang Grandmaster and Divine Mansion True Person would no longer be unattainable martial realms for them.

With the strength of the growing younger generation of the Lu Family, safeguarding the Lu Family would be more than sufficient.

However, the power of creation that could defy heaven and extend life was given only to his father by Lu Xuan.

——Not unwilling to, but unable to!

Within Lu Xuan’s own small world, he was akin to a creator.

He could control life and death at will, deciding the life span of all things with a mere thought.

However, to use this heaven-defying power to alter the operation rules of the real world was by no means easy.

How could the world rules of this real, vast world allow Lu Xuan, a mere Earth Venerable realm master, to alter them so easily?

Lu Xuan’s gaze turned slightly dim as he felt the almost depleted power within him.

Just extending his father’s life by a thousand years had already cost him dearly——

That single thread of creation power nearly drained the power of world rules from Lu Xuan’s internal small world, leaving him in unprecedented weakness.

More terrifying was the clear sensation Lu Xuan had...

This real world was now repelling him!

It was as though his previous actions had disrupted a predetermined balance, provoking the world’s "discontent."

Lu Xuan was acutely aware!

Since stepping into the realm of Earth Venerable master, an invisible malice seemed to shroud him.

It was as if every moment he stayed, the hostility of the world intensified.

——If he forcibly defied the heavens and extended someone’s life again...

"The next time, what descends... could very well be the legendary heavenly tribulation."

The heavenly tribulation of this great world was something Lu Xuan did not want to taste.

Disaster would lead to a tragic end of body and soul vanishing.

Lu Xuan’s gaze wavered slightly, quietly contemplating, before suddenly lifting his robe and kneeling on both knees, bowing deeply to his father.

Soon after, Lu Xuan’s figure gradually became ethereal, dissipating into scattered starlight within the heavens and earth.

Only a wisp of breeze brushed past, lifting the dark hair of Lu Jiahe.

Lu Jiahe stood alone in the empty grand hall, gazing in the direction where his son disappeared, motionless for a long time.

In the silent hall, the dim candlelight gently flickered, casting Lu Jiahe’s shadow long... and longer....

The day following Lu Xuan’s departure.

Early in the morning!

Rumble——

At this moment, above Qingyun County, a thunderous sound of drums and music erupted.

An endless grand procession, akin to heavenly divine soldiers, suddenly appeared above the skies of Qingyun County.

A golden palanquin drawn by nine blazing flame horses broke through the clouds, followed by thousands of elite palace guards!

Each armored guard walked upon the air, shaking the surrounding air for miles with every step.

Outside the Lu Family’s gate, upon hearing the commotion, Lu Jiahe’s expression slightly changed, and he immediately led the entire Lu Family out in a hurry.

Just as Lu Jiahe rushed out of the gate with the family, the grand spectacle before him caused his pupils to suddenly constrict.

He saw three prominent figures dressed in purple-gold court attire, descending from the sky.

The woman in the center, wearing a phoenix coronet and red robes, had a jade pendant inscribed with "Xingyue," exuding a clear brilliance, surrounded by nine black spiritual bird phantoms.

——It was none other than the most illustrious figure of the Great Xia Dynasty, the sister of the Great Xia empress, Princess Xia Xingyue!

When Princess Xingyue saw Lu Jiahe about to perform the grand ritual of kneeling, her expression changed abruptly.

In an instant, Princess Xingyue gently raised her jade hand, and a soft Qi Force burst out, holding up Lu Jiahe just as he was about to kneel.

"Mr. Lu, you mustn’t!"

Just as Princess Xingyue came to Lu Jiahe’s side, and her fingertips touched the elder’s arm.

Princess Xingyue suddenly sensed that within Lu Jiahe’s body, there was life force surging that made her whole body tremble!

Immediately, Xia Xingyue hastily withdrew her finger, her eyes like a hawk, quickly casting a look towards the newly appointed left chancellor.

The left chancellor immediately understood, without hesitation quickly pulling out a dark scroll from his bosom.

Upon seeing this, everyone was startled, clearly recognizing that it was the imperial decree symbolizing the Emperor of Great Xia!

The new left chancellor’s hands, holding this decree, trembled ceaselessly.

The golden patterns on the dark scroll, were unexpectedly the "Mountains and Rivers Fantasia" personally drawn by the Empress.

Such a decree, in two thousand years, had only appeared once.

That was the decree bestowed by the Holy Ancestor of the Great Xia dynasty!

As the left chancellor solemnly unfolded the decree with both hands, straightening his spine, his voice loud and clear.

Word by word, it resounded to the four corners, tremblingly reading the contents of this decree.

By the Mandate of Heaven, the Sovereign’s decree says——

Henceforth, Lu Jiahe of the Lu Family shall be conferred the title of Duke An of Great Xia.

Hereafter, when meeting with Us, you are exempted from the ritual of bowing, specially conferred as the foreign prince with the title Southern King.

All affairs within the Southern Domain, the Southern King has the authority to intervene!

No need to report to the court, the authority to act is equivalent to Us being there in person.

Awarded ten portions of Pocket World Spiritual Objects, Xuan Bird Staff of nine-pattern Moon-tier sacrificial device!

Additionally, many other heavenly spiritual objects, rare treasures, all bestowed to the Southern King.....

The Southern King title shall be hereditary for his descendants, enjoying the honor of a prince, may establish an office and appoint aides.

All direct descendants of the Lu Family are granted a position at the Great Xia Academy, can enter court as officials without undergoing the Martial Arts competition, entrusted with key positions according to their talents.

Additional rewards for Lu Family’s collateral blood relatives, men granted knighthood, women granted noble titles.

Also, within three generations of Lu Family’s in-laws, all granted fifth-grade or above noble ranks...

Within the Southern Domain, they may independently acquire land and estates, exempt from court tribute taxes.

For the remaining content, this left chancellor of Great Xia, forcibly read aloud for half an incense stick’s time.

However, once all the contents of the decree were read out.

The left chancellor, this Martial Artist at Divine Mansion Realm, felt deeply shocked, fearful, and bewildered!

What immense honor!

Anyone related to the Lu Family, the Empress has rewarded widely.

The contents of this decree were practically only missing rewarding the Lu Family’s fowls and dogs with honor.

Only missing writing out in the open.

This land in the Southern Domain belongs to your Lu Family now, do as you wish.

The power of life and death, all under Lu Jiahe, this Southern King, Duke An.

Everyone present, except for Princess Xingyue who knew of the decree’s contents in advance, displayed extremely shocked expressions like the left chancellor.

Where is the Empress granting rewards here?

This is clearly a declaration to the entire Great Xia dynasty that the Southern Domain shall henceforth be surnamed Lu!

.......

In the depths of a mountain range seldom visited by people.

Lu Xuan clothed in black, sat cross-legged in a slightly deep cave.

Host: Lu Xuan

Realm: Earth Venerable Realm Master

Cultivation Technique: Heaven-Burning Saber Skill 10/9, Worlds Apart 10/9, Undying and Eternal 10/9.

Points: 500,000

After dealing with the demonic beast Nether Python, it provided Lu Xuan with a total of 300,000 System Points.

Detected origin of heaven and earth, extract it?

Detected origin of world rule, extract it?

"Next, let’s see these fourteen Sun-tier sacrificial devices." Lu Xuan softly murmured, his voice echoing quietly within the cave.

"And also this Green Wood Divine Staff transcending the ten-pattern Sun-tier device." Lu Xuan supplemented, slowly opening his eyes, looking towards the void in front of him.

In front of Lu Xuan, fourteen Sun-tier sacrificial devices floated quietly, each differing in form.

Among these devices, a Green Wood Divine Staff was particularly prominent.

It was surrounded by a faint layer of emerald glow, the wood grain seemingly contained boundless life force, unmistakably not a common item at first glance.

"Extract!"