The hall instantly fell silent.
Numerous gazes landed on Xu Qing in unison. Princess Anhai's expression also changed.
The fact that the Imperial Capital's bell rang nine times meant that something major with serious consequences had happened. At such a time, the Emperor's personal guards actually came to summon Xu Qing into the palace immediately.
It looked like an invitation, but from the solemnity of these golden-armored guards, one could clearly sense a murderous intent.
Most importantly, if Xu Qing was drawn into this vortex, looking at it from an extreme viewpoint, even a slight lack of caution could spell a great disaster.
Even though Xu Qing's background was astonishing, with control over a region and a half, if the matter involved concerned the lifeline of the human race, then in the Human Emperor's eyes, there was no need to question which was more important.
Hence, Princess Anhai's expression changed. At first, she hesitated, but very soon, determination appeared in her eyes. She stood up and spoke with a cold expression.
"Impudent!"
Even when Princess Anhai spoke, those golden-armored guards remained unmoved. They continued to look at Xu Qing but one of them took a step forward and bowed to Princess Anhai.
"Your Highness, this is the Emperor's order."
"What happened that requires Lord Xu to enter the palace now?" Princess Anhai frowned and looked at the guard who spoke. She wanted to help Xu Qing find out the reason. This was the only thing she could do for Xu Qing.
If they knew the reason in advance, it would be easier for Xu Qing to make subsequent arrangements and deal with it.
The guard hesitated and looked around. He then looked at the stern expression on Princess Anhai's face and took a few steps forward to transmit his voice.
This sentence that outsiders couldn't hear caused Princess Anhai's body to tremble and her breathing to become hurried. Her expression changed drastically again. After that, she looked at Xu Qing with a complicated expression and fell silent.
Xu Qing looked at all of this and wondered what went wrong. Although he couldn't figure it out, his expression didn't change at all. He calmly stood up and walked forward, arriving among the group of golden-armored guards.
The golden-armored guards, dispersed in front and behind Xu Qing, seemed to be escorting him, but there was also an implication of custody, as they led the way towards the palace gates.
The moment they were about to step out of the hall, Princess Anhai gritted her teeth and her lips moved slightly as she transmitted her voice to Xu Qing.
"The guard just told me that he doesn't know much either, only that… the Creation Palace is sealed off, suspected theft!"
Xu Qing stopped in his tracks and turned to cup his hands. After that, he walked out of the hall and headed toward the palace.
The heavy rain continued and thunder rumbled occasionally in the sky. Under normal circumstances, few people would be out at this time and in this weather. However, it was different tonight.
Xu Qing saw a large number of guards moving around on this rainy night. Their destinations were scattered, so it was very difficult for ordinary people to guess what was happening. However, Xu Qing had experience in the Homicide Department and gradually saw some clues.
"They seem to be spreading out for lockdown."
"Sealing off the imperial city?"
Xu Qing fell silent and recalled Princess Anhai's voice transmission. As he pondered over this matter, the first person he thought of was his eldest senior brother.
After all, with his understanding of Erniu, the possibility of the other party stealing something from the Creation Palace wasn't small. Although it was irrational to do this, if the captain did it, he wouldn't leave behind traces that would lead back to him.
Hence, after this thought appeared in Xu Qing's mind, he eliminated it.
"Then, after excluding this, what was stolen from the Creation Palace that would make the Human Emperor summon me immediately?"
Xu Qing pondered. He thought of the Sun of Dawn. This was the only thing on his body that had some connection with the Creation Palace in the eyes of others.
After all, he also had the Sun of Dawn.
However, he had already explained this matter clearly in the palace previously, so it shouldn't be the reason.
"Then, are the people around me involved?"
Anything could have happened. Xu Qing fell silent. Before he had more clues, he couldn't find an accurate answer.
As Xu Qing pondered, the journey rapidly shortened. Very soon, as bolts of lightning slid down, the group arrived at the rainbow bridge. The distant imperial palace suddenly became clear under the light of lightning.
Xu Qing's eyes narrowed. He saw another group of golden-armored guards escorting a person into the palace.
It was Ning Yan.
The answer was clear. Ning Yan was involved in the theft that happened in the Creation Palace. Moreover, the item lost should be extremely important. The possibility of it being the Sun of Dawn was the greatest.
However, if that was the case, there were many things wrong with this.
Firstly, Xu Qing knew that Ning Yan had been cultivating during this period of time.
Secondly, with Ning Yan's cultivation, how could he have done such a major thing and not flee after the incident?
Finally, if the Sun of Dawn was really stolen, this matter would be even more absurd.
The Sun of Dawn was an important treasure of the human race. How could it be stolen so easily? It would definitely be heavily protected, and there's no need to store it in the Creation Palace.
These thoughts appeared in Xu Qing's mind. His gaze turned gloomy as he walked toward the palace until he arrived at the Immortal Receiving Square in front of the main building.
The surroundings of the square were filled with golden-armored cultivators. Their killing intent was intense, causing the overall atmosphere to be extremely oppressive.
There was also the rumbling of thunder in the sky. The feeling of suppression from the fusion of heavenly might and human might caused the rain to tremble when it fell.
Ning Yan trembled as well.
At this moment, he was pressed down on the shoulders by two golden-armored guards, kneeling on the square, letting the rain fall and soak his whole body.
He was nervous and his eyes were filled with confusion. He didn't know what had happened. He had been cultivating in the ancestral hall when the palace guards broke in and forcefully brought him here.
He wasn't the only one kneeling there. There were many others as well.
They were all cultivators from the Creation Palace and there were about dozens of them.
One of them was none other than the Ninth Prince. He was also pressed to his knees by two golden-armored guards. At this moment, his head was lowered and he had a bitter expression.
The moment Xu Qing arrived and walked through the gate of the palace, the gazes of the guards in the surroundings converged on him as he was led to the people who were being pressed down.
Upon seeing Xu Qing, hope rose in Ning Yan's heart. At the same time, he was also shocked and his nervousness was incomparably intense.
Xu Qing looked at Ning Yan and nodded slightly. He didn't speak and stood at the side.
The golden-armored guards behind him were about to press his shoulders when Xu Qing turned his head and calmly glanced at them.
Under his gaze, the two guards fell silent. In the end, they bowed and retreated.
Hence, Xu Qing became the only person standing in this group of people. The rain didn't land on his body and dissipated above his head.
Time slowly passed and the thunder grew louder and louder.
From time to time, figures would rush over from outside and enter the palace building in front of them. The palace was brightly lit and there seemed to be some kind of discussion being held.
The array formation of the Imperial City had long been activated in all directions, enveloping the entire Imperial City and completely sealing it off. One could only enter and not leave.
Xu Qing closed his eyes and his thoughts spun, confirming his guess.
When the sky was about to turn bright, an aged figure proceeded out of the main hall of the palace. It was the Grand Chancellor.
He stood in front of the palace hall and looked at the square below. His gaze swept past the people kneeling. After a long time, his aged voice echoed.
"Tonight, the Creation Palace was robbed. A Sun of Dawn that was placed in a specific array formation in the Creation Palace, for research and to enhance power of the formation, has gone missing."
"All of you are suspects in the preliminary investigation."
"Especially the twelfth prince."
The Grand Chancellor's voice echoed. His last sentence was extremely stern. The moment it rang out, lightning exploded, causing the surroundings to rumble.
Ning Yan's entire body trembled. He lifted his head with a look of disbelief.
"Impossible. I've never been to the Creation Palace. I…"
Just as he was about to speak, a cold snort rang out from the palace.
This voice surpassed thunder and shook the square, causing everyone's hearts to tremble. That was the voice of the Human Emperor.
"Grand Chancellor, show the evidence to this unfilial son!"
When the Grand Chancellor heard this, he lifted his right hand and waved it. A jade slip floated to the air, shining with resplendent light, forming a scene.
In the scene, there was a secret place. It was a little blurry and distorted. Only the back view of the figure was very clear.
That back view was similar to Ning Yan's. Just as the scene was about to end and the figure was about to dissipate, he paused slightly and turned around, revealing the side of his face.
It was exactly the same as Ning Yan!
After that, the scene disappeared. As the Grand Chancellor performed a series of hand seals, an aura manifested in the scene.
This aura also belonged to Ning Yan.
"This is a scene recorded when the Heavenly King cast a spell and reversed the time of the Creation Palace."
"As for the aura, it was extracted from the Creation Palace by the Imperial City's array formation."
"The whole process was done under the eyes of the emperor."
With that, the Grand Chancellor lowered his head and the Human Emperor's cold voice rang out from the palace.
"Unfilial son, what else do you have to say?"
Ning Yan was at a loss as he had no idea about this. However, that face and aura pointed all the spearheads at him.
At that moment, in the distant horizon, the sun rose. Although dark clouds filled the air and the heavy rain continued, the light of the rising sun was still released with all its might, scattering its light on the human world and the Immortal Receiving Square.
Amidst the dense fog, a large bell appeared out of thin air and hung in the air above the square.
It was the Immortal Inquisition Bell.
Under the Immortal Inquisition Bell, Ning Yan wanted to say something, but the evidence was like a mountain and he had no way to defend himself. He could only laugh bitterly.
Xu Qing raised his head and looked at the palace. He had seen the scene earlier but it was too fishy. He didn't believe that the Human Emperor would neglect this. Hence, he took a few steps forward and stood beside Ning Yan, wanting to speak.
Ning Yan grabbed the corner of Xu Qing's shirt and slowly raised his head. His expression was a little distorted and his eyes contained disappointment in the Human Emperor and anger over this absurd matter. He gazed at the palace and let out a shout.
"Father, I know you don't like me!"
"I know that in your heart, your 12th son is dispensable."
"My aptitude isn't good, I don't know how to speak, I'm not likable, and no one is willing to get close to me. I don't care about these!"
Ning Yan's voice was hoarse and his emotions fluctuated intensely, echoing through the square. He slowly stood up!
To him, the significance of standing up was unprecedented. This meant that he had suppressed his innate fear of his father and reverence for the Human Emperor.
He crushed his obsequiousness and let out a shout that he had suppressed for many years in the rain.
"Father, you're high and mighty like the clouds in the sky, and in your eyes, I'm so lowly that I'm no different from mud. But so what? This is my home, but also not my home. Compared to this place, I prefer Fenghai County. Compared to the surname Guyue, I prefer the identity of Ning Yan!"
"If you hadn't summoned me back this time, I definitely wouldn't have returned!"
"And today, unfounded accusations are being laid upon me. I… refuse to accept it!"
"I, Ning Yan, have not committed this crime!"
"Let Immortal Inquisition prove my words!"
Ning Yan shouted and stood up, smashing fiercely against the Immortal Inquisition Bell above.
The ringing of the bell carried a deep feeling as it echoed in the square.
It proved what he uttered and his heart.
