Nevertheless, Zhao Hu remained cautious and sent a message to Chao Mu before entering the palace.
As expected, inside the Imperial Palace under the night sky, Emperor Jingwu flew into a rage upon hearing the news.
"Zhao Hu, are you useless? Such a large group of people disappearing, and you only find out now; what use do I have for you black-clothed guards?"
In Jingtai Hall, Emperor Jingwu's face was filled with fury, his eyes glaring at Zhao Hu.
Zhao Hu, however, felt cold sweat flowing down his back.
"Commander Zhao, you have greatly disappointed me!"
The coldness in Emperor Jingwu's eyes grew deeper and more dangerous!
At this moment, Chao Mu appeared in Jingtai Hall, wearing a purple-red python robe.
"Your Majesty!"
Chao Mu slightly bowed, not looking down at Zhao Hu, and said in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, the best course of action now is to immediately issue a decree to have the Observatory Platform contact the deities in the city to conduct a thorough search of the entire city, preventing the culprits from escaping!"
"It hasn't been long since Jade Consort and the Princess disappeared, they might still be within the city!"
Hearing this, Emperor Jingwu's expression slightly softened; he glanced at Zhao Hu, snorted lightly, and seeing this, Chao Mu said.
"Commander Zhao, go now!"
Zhao Hu quickly got up and hurriedly left Jingtai Hall to set up arrangements.
Emperor Jingwu then looked at Chao Mu and said: "Great Companion, you must help me find Bai Hua!"
Leaning on the dragon throne, Emperor Jingwu's cold face showed a hint of fatigue.
Chao Mu nodded.
Princess Bai Hua, whose mother is Consort Liu, was born accompanied by extraordinary phenomena, possessing the marvelous fragrance of a hundred flowers. Later, she was found by the Observatory Platform to possess a Postnatal Dao Body, deeply favored by Emperor Jingwu.
Chao Mu said in a deep tone, "Your Majesty, don't worry, I will personally track down the princess's whereabouts and will definitely find the culprit's trail!"
Emperor Jingwu nodded, though there was still a bit of urgency and anger in his eyes.
Within the Palace of the Imperial Harem, in Nanyuan Palace, chaos had already ensued.
With the princess missing, the other palace members also suffered, being taken away by black-clothed guards for interrogation.
Consort Liu entered Jingtai Hall overnight to weep and complain, causing Emperor Jingwu a headache and even more anger.
At this time, above the Imperial City, Chao Mu set up a magic altar, while on the other side, teams of black-clothed guards hurriedly compiled various reports.
Before the magic altar, Chao Mu listened to the report, frowning slightly.
This time, besides the disappearance of Jade Consort and Princess Bai Hua, there was also a missing maid, and an imperial guqin.
From this, it was not difficult to deduce that Jade Consort was likely not abducted but had fled on her own.
If she were abducted, she would not have taken a maid and a guqin with her.
There must be some hidden agenda with Jade Consort.
"It seems the back chamber needs a thorough check!"
Chao Mu's eyes gleamed with coldness, while he formed a Dharma Seal with his hands, holding a piece of Princess Bai Hua's swaddling clothes and hair from her past.
With strands of Dharma Seals forming in his hands, a majestic marvelous power burst forth from him as the center.
"Searching the heavens and earth!"
Invisible Qi spread inside and outside the Imperial City, penetrating the boundless void.
Moments later, he sneered, and his figure vanished from the spot.
...
Outside the Imperial City, just after Jade Consort left, she felt a terrifying Primordial Spirit Divine Sense pursuing from behind.
"So soon?"
Her expression changed abruptly. Beside her, the maid's demon qi emerged, her eyes turning emerald. She glanced at a seven or eight-year-old little girl in her arms.
Though young, the girl had exquisite features, emitting a pleasing fragrance of ethereal wood.
"Your ladyship, this little girl is just a burden. It would be better to…"
A trace of coldness appeared in her eyes.
The graceful figure was enveloped by a dense demon qi, a strong purple light emerging behind her.
"Jade Consort" hesitated slightly, looked at the beautiful young girl, and slightly released her killing intent.
"This girl's Dao Body is significantly related to our race and can aid my cultivation. Let's take her with us, we will leave Daqian first and then head to Beichu!"
Her body seemed to be shrouded with an unusual light, instantly covering the three of them, transforming into a stream of light that vanished rapidly into the void.
Only a breath later, Chao Mu's figure appeared in the void.
"Fleeting Splendor? Is it the Instant Demon Lord?"
His gaze swept around, his eyes cold, an increase of icy killing intent.
The Instant Demon Lord is a peculiar Great Demon from the depths of the Barbaric Region, rumored to have a unique true intent of time.
Among the Demon Race, it's said that if this demon lord achieves the Demon God Realm, she would surely become one of the top demon gods in the world.
Yet daring to intrude into the Imperial City today, Chao Mu felt the opportunity had arrived!
"Since you've come, don't leave!"
...
At the Champion Scholar's Mansion, inside the Map of Mountains and Rivers, Boundless Profound Flame burst forth from around Zhang Jian.
Countless shrieks resonated through the void, though these cries were confined within a small section of the void.
The vast black and red evil qi was cleansed away.
That ancient text, woven from countless feathers, now revealed its true body once again, with the surging True Solar Flame growing even more blazing inside.
The golden-red True Solar Flame surged, vaguely revealing a golden-red divine bird intending to fly out.
From its form, it was the legendary Golden Crow Divine Bird.
"Vermilion Bird Mimicry Technique!"
Zhang Jian's Spiritual Gaze remained unchanged, as his five fingers spread once more, revealing numerous scarlet-red flames filling the void.
The Celestial Purity Fire surged out, transforming into a majestic and vast Vermilion Bird Divine Beast.
In an instant, this Vermilion Bird Divine Beast swooped down, its wings dispersing the yet-formed divine shape of the Golden Crow Divine Bird.
Countless Celestial Purity Fire enveloped the Sun Scripture, refining it, as strands of red runes pierced through the void, merging into the scripture, and moments later, its surrounding evil qi gradually dissipated.
Seeing this, Zhang Jian casually beckoned, taking the ancient text into his hand, yet when he glanced, a lifelike Golden Crow Divine Bird seemed ready to soar.
At the forefront was a row of extremely peculiar ancient characters.
"It appears to be Outer Realm Rune!"
Zhang Jian's eyes rippled; he had never encountered this type of rune, but had heard about it from the Preaching Elders.
Many Dao Lineages within the realm have become prominent due to inheriting teachings from the Outer World.
He casually grasped it in his palm, glanced a few times, and then utilized the Starlight Soul Binding Seal to seal it away.
Zhang Jian was prepared to find an opportunity to return to Tongshan to consult related classics for further comprehension.
Removing the Map of Mountains and Rivers, Zhang Jian then noticed that Haojing City inside and out had suddenly become 'lively'.
He stepped out of the courtyard and opened the door, only to see strands of divine light wandering outside, with numerous Divine Generals leading soldiers on patrol.
Quite evidently, many deities avoided the Zhang Family.
Zhang Jian swiftly called a few Divine Generals to his side, and moments later, learned of the major event that had transpired in the palace.
"Someone has abducted Jade Consort and Princess Bai Hua!"
This Divine General then added: "Please rest assured, Mr. Zhang, His Highness has instructed that we will not disturb your rest!"
Saying this, he cupped his hands in farewell.
There, Zhang Jian pondered for a moment but then swiftly returned inside the courtyard.
The disappearance of Jade Consort and Princess Bai Hua was a major issue but had little to do with him.
At dawn, Zhang Jian still entered the Imperial City for the morning court session as usual, though he clearly sensed the different atmosphere within the Imperial City.
However, during the morning court assembly, a great matter was learned.
Prime Minister Yuan Hongli was gravely ill.
Among the Three Ministers, the Prime Minister held the foremost position, and his current illness was akin to a stone stirring up a thousand waves!