The next morning.
Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Jiang Yi, ca to the Ninth Mountain to bid farewell to Chen Yuan.
Today’s Jiang Yi seed sowhat different from last night, with a more compassionate expression on his face.
Chen Yuan asked him, "I heard you had a long conversation with Thunder Mountain last night."
Thunder Mountain, the ssenger of Helian Mountain, the National Master of Daqian.
Jiang Yi slightly lowered his eyelids and replied, "The National Master is dedicated to the state of Daqian, and I can’t bear the mistrust between the ruler and his ministers. When I return, I will strive for the National Master against those advisors."
"Then why did Lord Jiang keep Eunuch Cao of the Ritual Supervision out?" Chen Yuan mused.
Cao Zheng, Eunuch Cao, had previously been appointed as the Jiannan Road Demon Suppression Envoy by imperial order, sent to sideline Chen Yuan, with Eunuch Cao accompanying him as a supervisor. After Gou Yue quickly died at the Ancestor Mountain, this Eunuch Cao beca like a rootless drifting weed, following the capital officials sent from the Imperial Capital, and later handling so errands for National Master Helian. Now that Helian Mountain had gone to the western front, those capital officials were secretly dealt with by Chen Yuan, leaving this eunuch all alone.
Upon hearing that the imperial envoy had arrived, he seed to have t a relative and had been eagerly seeking Jiang Yi at his temporary residence these past few days.
Jiang Yi shook his head, "Eunuch Cao wishes for to take him back to the capital, but I don’t want to get involved in any of this. Marquis Chen surely has his own decisions."
Jiang Yi was clear-headed, not wanting to extend his reach too far to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Chen Yuan appreciated the worldly wisdom of this Minister of the Ministry of Rites and said:
"Let’s go. I shall accompany Lord Jiang for a while."
As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve toward the void, revealing a dinsional passage, with a hidden world inside.
"Please!"
The two stepped into the void, and soon the trace of the passage closed, vanishing from sight.
.....
"Did you say that the Martial Saint of the Human Clan at Yunding Mountain plans to hold the seal-giving ceremony in two days and then march south to engage our Holy Clan in a decisive battle?"
At the Yun Mansion, in the backyard, inside a two-storey pavilion, two Great Demons disguised as Yun Mansion’s distant relatives received the news while lurking there.
The speaker was the Demon King, still resembling a middle-aged man of the Human Clan, dressed sleek and tidy.
"That’s right, Nu’er indeed overheard the people of Yun Mansion discussing it. They have already received news that the Martial Saint of the Human Clan was furious about yesterday’s attack and is preparing to deploy troops, with many volunteering to fight." The young female Great Demon beside him said with charming eyes, her voice sweet and soft.
"What plans does the Saint King Taiyi have in response?"
It turns out the Demon King is nad Taiyi.
Taiyi Demon King listened, his cunning, shrewd eyes narrowing slightly,
"It seems yesterday’s plan was quite effective; the Martial Saint at Yunding Mountain seems unable to sit still."
"This has greatly dampened their morale. If he swallows this insult, their people and soldiers would be disappointed. Ha, he has no choice but to act."
"This was all within this king’s plan."
This Demon King appeared confident and composed.
"The Saint King’s wisdom is admirable, and Nu’er is impressed. I heard that Yunding Mountain will widely send invitations, inviting many forces to witness the ceremony. By then, Jingguan City will be bustling." The young girl echoed, then shifted the topic to what would follow.
Demon King Taiyi cast a sidelong glance: "Isn’t that perfect? The more people co, the more interesting this grand event will be. By then, our Holy Clan should present a gift."
As he said this, the Demon’s pupils changed color, slightly brightened, then dimd, his voice carrying a trace of mockery,
"Next, it’s ti for you to truly take the stage."
"Yesterday, although I didn’t send anyone to kill the Yun Family’s descendants, so were injured and are now recovering in this mansion."
"If Yunding Mountain deploys troops in two days and the news spreads, these Yun Family descendants will return to the military camp. This is the opportunity I’ve created for you. Use the pretense of visiting the sick, approach these Yun Family descendants, and control them, covertly."
At this, the Demon King chuckled lightly, smiling coldly,
"I heard that Yun Mansion is also on good terms with many Human Clan sects that once attacked our Holy Clan. They might lodge at Yun Mansion during this ceremony, and then you can seize the opportunity accordingly."
"On the day of the ceremony, create so commotion to make it exciting! We don’t need to show ourselves; just sit back and enjoy the show."
"Don’t worry, Saint King; Nu’er knows what to do." The young girl also smiled, her pupils narrowing to pinpoints, her face smiling yet looking grotesquely hideous.
......
Not long after, the young girl Nu’er knocked on the door of Zhao Yunluo’s courtyard.
Zhao Yunluo opened the door.
"Sister Yun Luo, a few of my brothers from the Yun Mansion were attacked and injured yesterday. The mansion is in urgent distress. I thought of myself staying at the mansion but unable to contribute, and I feel guilty. Today, after my father heard the news, he brought a few treasured Spirit Pills from ho to help my brothers recover. However, I don’t recognize the way, so I ca to ask sister to take there, to show so care." The young girl held a lacquered box with genuine worry on her face.
Zhao Yunluo heard this and found it reasonable, without suspicion. "You are thoughtful, Sister. I’ll take you to recognize the path."
"I assu the family will rember your kindness."
...
While the two Great Demons were stirring trouble in the shadows within Yun Mansion, outside in Jingguan City, the news spread quickly that Yunding Mountain would hold the grand seal-giving ceremony of a new Colonel in two days, followed by the marching south.
Yesterday’s Demon attack caused nurous casualties and injuries, terrifying and oblivious, casting a shadow over Jingguan City, unsettling the people and leaving them simring with rage.
Upon hearing this news, taverns and inns echoed with cheers and table slaps of approval.
In one word, "War!"
This news had been circulating since last night from Yunding Mountain, delivered across all the prefectures and sect forces along the road.
Like before, only this ti, the montum was far mightier, undoubtedly because it was Chen Yuan issuing the command.
While the winds of change swept through Jingguan City, thousands of miles away, at a Heroic Pass stationed within the expansive Misty Misty Ridge, thousands of elite troops fresh from a battle at the gate appeared.
Youn Pass, originally the first pass guarding the Ten Thousand Mountains, still stood firm.
However, the fog expanding from the sea of clouds beca increasingly thick, enveloping Heaven and Earth in vastness, leaving Youn Pass isolated like an island adrift in the sea of clouds.
Behind the gate of the Southern City, thousands of elite troops from the Ninth Mountain, clad in heavy armor like black Iron Cavalry, stood in formation, with the Mountain-cutting Banners behind them like a forest.
At the forefront was Gongsun Yang, ordered to lead the troops, alongside Liu Qing, who had not been seen for a while and had been scouting Demon movents on the front lines.
This ti, he would provide intelligence, fulfilling the General’s furious command, taking a group of beasts to sacrifice to the banner!
Everyone harbored a fire in their hearts, their montum imnse.
At this mont, atop the city gate, the White-clothed Monarch Luo Cheng stood gracefully like an immortal, looking down on the troops, his dark pupils gleaming, then waved his hand.
"Boom!"
The enormous city gates roared open.
"Move out!"
At Gongsun Yang’s shout, the troops moved as one, charging through the gates into the encompassing clouds and mist!
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