In response, over ten figures appeared. These individuals wore pristine white robes, their bodies enveloped by Immortal's Protection. Clearly, they were also Immortal Officials of the Immortal Dynasty.
Unlike those ordinary Immortal Officials, whose Immortal's Protection resembled halos encircling them, the Immortal's Protection of these ten-plus officials bloomed around them like mist and clouds.
This was another form of Immortal's Protection, known as Immortal's Nebula Protection. And these ten-plus individuals, like Steward Bai, were all Nebula Immortal Officials of the Immortal Dynasty, their status, position, and official rank far exceeding that of Nine-Star Immortal Officials.
Not only that, these ten-plus individuals were also the Stewards for this Northwest expedition, wielding considerable real authority. The leader, a stern-looking elder, was the Chief Official for this Northwest expedition, Lord Xun.
Lord Xun was not only surrounded by powerful Immortal's Nebula Protection but also radiated Immortal's Spiritual Aura. However, he was not an Immortal, at least not a true Immortal.
An Immortal second-generation?
No.
He was a Half-Immortal.
The so-called Half-Immortal referred to one whose Primordial Spirit Dharma Form had been cultivated to perfection, hailed as Great Completion, and who was already on the path of undergoing the Immortal Tribulation. Such individuals were often called Great Completion Half-Immortals. Once they passed the Immortal Tribulation, they could achieve Earth Immortal status.
Within the venue, the Dharma Form Great Sovereigns who were about to go arrest the Branch Helmsmen of the Deficit Head stopped their actions the moment they saw Lord Xun's arrival.
To be honest, they were unwilling to carry out Liuguang Jiaoying's order. Firstly, they felt it was inappropriate and didn't want to bear the consequences. Secondly, and most importantly, they had all lived through that frenzied era at the end of the Ancient Times and clearly knew how savage and insane the Chixiao people of that time were. No one wanted to provoke them.
It was only due to Liuguang Jiaoying's noble status that they had to comply. Fortunately, Lord Xun had arrived in time, allowing the stone hanging in their hearts to temporarily settle, and they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"This Noble Scion wondered who had such grand airs. So it's Lord Xun."
The arrival of Lord Xun and the over ten Stewards surprised Liuguang Jiaoying somewhat, but it was merely surprise. Beyond that, there was nothing else; he wasn't afraid of Lord Xun either.
Of course.
Not being afraid was one thing.
He might look down on Steward Bai, but towards Lord Xun, he didn't dare act too presumptuously.
After all, Lord Xun was the Chief Immortal Official for this Northwest expedition. Making things too awkward would be hard to explain upon return. More importantly, Lord Xun's background was rather complex, making Liuguang Jiaoying somewhat wary.
"Liuguang Jiaoying, what are you doing!"
After receiving Steward Bai's message talisman, Lord Xun rushed over without regard for anything else. He had thought Steward Bai might be exaggerating in the message, but now, seeing it with his own eyes, he realized Steward Bai hadn't exaggerated at all. Liuguang Jiaoying was truly preparing to go to war with the Northwest Deficit Head.
"Do you know you nearly committed a grave mistake!"
"A grave mistake?"
Liuguang Jiaoying said dismissively, "The Criminal Disciple Gu Qingfeng has killed numerous Immortal Officials. This Noble Scion, to uphold the dignity of our Immortal Dynasty, is arresting him to bring him to justice. What mistake is there in that?"
"To arrest a Criminal Disciple, why such a massive operation? Why arrest the Branch Helmsmen of the Deficit Head? Have you gone mad?
Don't you know what consequences this could trigger?"
"The Criminal Disciple Gu Qingfeng hid upon this Noble Scion's arrival. If we don't mount a large-scale operation, how can we track him down?
As for arresting the Deficit Head Branch Helmsmen..."
Liuguang Jiaoying looked arrogantly at Lord Xun and responded, "That Criminal Disciple Gu Qingfeng claims to be the successor of the Dao offender Gu Tianlang, and the Northwest Deficit Head has acknowledged it. This Noble Scion is bringing them in for interrogation. What's improper about that?
Could it be that in Lord Xun's view, just because Gu Qingfeng is the successor of a Dao offender, we should let him be?
Ignore him?
Then where would the dignity of our Immortal Dynasty be?"
After Liuguang Jiaoying finished speaking, other Noble Scions chimed in.
"Lord Xun, that Criminal Disciple Gu Qingfeng not only killed the Immortal Officials of the Northwest Immortal Estate but also slaughtered the sect heads and direct disciples of all major sects in the Northwest. The sects of the Northwest have already accepted enfeoffment from our Immortal Dynasty and enjoy its protection. If we let this slide, who would be willing to accept our Immortal Dynasty's enfeoffment in the future?"
While these Immortal Dynasty Noble Scions appeared incredibly arrogant, domineering, and condescending, they weren't blindly ignorant, conceited show-offs causing trouble for the sake of it. At the very least, their words left Lord Xun unable to refute them.
At that moment, the Northwest Immortal Estate Head, Murong Han, and others knelt down, recounting Gu Qingfeng's atrocities. Simultaneously, in the distance, elders from various major sects in the Northwest also knelt one after another, hoping the Immortal Dynasty would uphold justice for them.
For a moment, Lord Xun found himself in a dilemma. After a brief contemplation, he said, "This matter is of great importance. We should wait until all the Chief Officials have arrived to discuss it together before making a decision."
"Sorry, but this matter requires no discussion."
"Liuguang Jiaoying, although you are a noble Immortal Dynasty Noble Scion, for this Northwest expedition, you have no authority to issue orders."
"This Noble Scion doesn't, but I wonder if Young Master Long has the qualification?"
At the mention of Young Master Long, everyone present was shocked, and Lord Xun's expression also changed slightly.
"Hmph!
You're just a minor Nebula Immortal Official. Don't put on airs as the Chief Official in front of this Noble Scion."
Liuguang Jiaoying took out a talisman and casually tossed it over, saying, "Take a good look. This is Young Master Long's decree!"
Lord Xun opened the decree and, upon close inspection, was greatly alarmed.
"May I ask, Lord Xun, Chief Official Xun, do you have any further questions?"
Lord Xun's expression shifted repeatedly, uncertain and unsettled, unsure how to respond. He never imagined that Liuguang Jiaoying's actions were actually instructed by Young Master Long. And Young Master Long's status was so exalted that a Chief Official like him couldn't question it.
"Zihao, Council Elder of Yaoyue Palace, leads the crowd to pay respects to the Noble Scions and Immortal Officials!"
Zihao of Yaoyue Palace hurried over with over a hundred people. Arriving below the estate stele, they knelt on the ground. Zihao cupped his hands and said, "We originally intended to follow Second Elder Feilu to accept enfeoffment from the Immortal Dynasty. However, Palace Master Feiyan and Elders Fenghua and Fenglie are stubborn and ignorant, colluding with the Criminal Disciple Gu Qingfeng. Not only did they conspire to harm Second Elder and others, but now they are also inciting us to resist the Immortal Dynasty. Our hearts have long belonged to the Immortal Dynasty. We implore the Noble Scions and Immortal Officials to uphold justice for us!"
To save their own lives, Zihao and the others shifted all blame onto Fenghua, Fenglie, and Feiyan. They repeatedly emphasized that they had always wanted to accept the Immortal Dynasty's enfeoffment and even claimed that Handong forming a Dao partnership with the Criminal Disciple Gu Qingfeng was an attempt to intimidate the Immortal Dynasty using the identity of Lord Chixiao's successor.
As they were speaking, another large group of people flew over grandly from the distance. Everyone looked over and couldn't help but be astonished, because the arrivals were none other than the Helmsman and various elders of the Deficit Head Yunhua Branch.