Qiandao Temple had summoned nearly eighty percent of the mages from the north of Zheng Capital, and they had already gathered at the border of the Northwest. Such a large-scale assembly took place without any noise, and by the ti the Marquis of Zhenbei, stationed at the Northwest Border, beca aware of it, forty or fifty mages were already on his territory, without so much as a greeting.
While the Marquis of Zhenbei was alard, he was also powerless. After all, Qiandao Temple could bypass the commands of all the districts and counties and did not have to report to any military camp.
The Marquis of Zhenbei felt uneasy inside, but he firmly believed that their connection to the North Border Ghost Spirit Trench was very secretive, and it was not possible for the people from Qiandao Temple to know about it.
Moreover, their deal with the Ghoul Ravine hadn’t truly begun yet.
However, the Marquis of Zhenbei felt that these people from Qiandao Temple ca over in relation to that matter.
It was that prophecy, of which the Marquis of Zhenbei did not have full knowledge; he only knew one line from it: "Qiandao Temple will produce an Imperial Advisor."
This prophecy was imdiately sealed by Qiandao Temple, and only Master Huo Yi and Master Yu Sheng knew of it.
However, Noble Consort Wen ca to learn of this secret by accident, and besides that line, there was another sentence in the prophecy that was very cryptic, one that the Marquis of Zhenbei still didn’t know to this day. But Noble Consort Wen had suddenly sought out her father and talked to him at length in his study. Afterwards, the Duke of Wen personally guarded the Southeast Border even at his advanced age, and after he changed positions with the Marquis to the Northwest Border, the Marquis’s first task over the years was to uncover the secret of Ghoul Ravine. He also learned that the Ghoul Ravine was originally one and the sa with Qiandao Temple, and a secret pact of friendship was reached with the Ghoul Ravine.
At this mont, the Marquis of Zhenbei sat in the military camp, his heart full of urgency.
The people he had sent were his trusted aides, and he was not worried about them, knowing their ability to adapt to situations. But successfully helping the people from Ghoul Ravine leave the border would not be so easy.
The Marquis of Zhenbei had received the news five days ago, at the ti he hadn’t received any word from Qiandao Temple. Could it be that Qiandao Temple had discovered sothing?
Impossible.
Zheng Congyuan did not believe this, he even had his guard up against Qiandao Temple, a matter which Noble Consort Wen had done much to advance in secret; even the prophecy, she intentionally let out, was to make Zheng Congyuan wary of Qiandao Temple.
But now, with Qiandao Temple in front and General Ling sent by Zheng Congyuan at the rear, either one posed a great inconvenience for him.
Although he had pretended to lose quite a bit of military power in several feigned conflicts with Ghoul Ravine, causing General Ling to suffer losses and weakening the latter’s forces, making them too preoccupied to intentionally cause trouble, the Marquis of Zhenbei also found that the Jiumu Commander of the Family was a tough nut to crack.
After feigning calm for a day, the Marquis of Zhenbei finally could no longer sit still. He took his n to check on the condition of the border.
The biting cold and snow had sealed off all routes into the mountains. The only access to the border was through a narrow corridor between two mountains. The proximity of the mountains ford connecting caves, which blocked the accumulated snow, and a corridor wide enough for only a few people to walk abreast at the foot of the mountains beca the sole entrance and exit. It was now guarded by Qiandao Temple, clearly, his n had no other options.
The Marquis of Zhenbei brought a squad of well-equipped soldiers and as soon as they reached the entrance of the border, they were stopped. Before him stood several mages dressed in white robes, the long garnts covering their entire bodies, with the edges lined with a soft circle of fur, shielding them from the wind and snow.
"Marquis, this area has been taken over by Qiandao Temple, please refrain from entry—" The mage guarding the border entry first offered a salute, and then spoke.
"Our Marquis is aware of the situation," replied a trusted aide by the side of Marquis of Zhenbei, Wen Jing, with utmost respect and courtesy. "His visit today serves two purposes: one is to pay respects to the various Mages, and the other is to see if there’s anything the Northwest Army can do to help."
The Mage was clearly taken aback. He glanced at his companion, considering that the Wen Family had always had a good relationship with Qiandao Temple, which was under their jurisdiction north of Zheng Capital, and usually received quite a bit of care from the Wen Family.
The two Mages exchanged glances before turning back.
"Marquis, please wait a mont. I will go and inform Master Ling Yi," said the Mage. One stayed behind while another turned and left.
Master Ling Yi was also here? Marquis of Zhenbei’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he had an ominous feeling. Among the five chief disciples under Master Huo Yi—Master Yu Sheng, Master Ling Yi, Master Chang Qing, Master He Bo, and Master Yunqian—Master Yu Sheng and Master Ling Yi were the most renowned.
Now that Master Huo Yi had sent Master Ling Yi himself to oversee the situation, the importance he attached to it was obvious.
While Marquis of Zhenbei was sowhat distracted, he was also relieved that his n had been vigilant and retreated in ti without being exposed.
"Marquis, please co in," said the Mage when he returned a mont later, inviting Marquis of Zhenbei inside.
Marquis of Zhenbei kept a calm facade as he noticed that several hundred ters to the south of the boundary, the Mages had erected a series of checkpoints. They looked like simple wooden barriers, but as the Mages passed, a blue smoke arose. Marquis of Zhenbei surmised that these checkpoints must have been imbued with Maze Formations.
"Brother—"
"Brother—" The respectful voices of the Mages interrupted the observation of Marquis of Zhenbei’s group. Marquis of Zhenbei, Wen Jing, then saw a youth whose delicate features seed too refined to be hidden, as if he were an immortal spirit about to take flight.
"Master Ling Yi—" Marquis of Zhenbei imdiately withdrew his gaze and gave a respectful bow, as did his soldiers, who couldn’t help but show their reverence at the sight of the young man whose skin seed to blend with the white snow, an ethereal spirit of snow untouched by worldly concerns.
"Marquis of Zhenbei, this concerns Qiandao Temple, and I apologize for the disturbance," said Master Ling Yi in a gentle voice. It was rumored Master Ling Yi could see into the hearts of mortals, discerning all their good and evil, hence Marquis of Zhenbei and his soldiers all diverted their gaze from Master Ling Yi, bowing their heads without daring to look rashly.
"Master Ling Yi, being a high disciple of Master Huo Yi and personally overseeing the border, must be here for an important matter," Marquis of Zhenbei was straightforward, asking whatever ca to his mind.
Master Ling Yi responded with a smile.
"It was indeed a concern of Qiandao Temple, but since Marquis of Zhenbei has inquired, there’s no harm in telling." Master Ling Yi spoke, "Qiandao Temple has detected traces of demonic beings outside the Northwest Border. These beings are malevolent and brutal; should they enter Zheng Capital, they’d surely cause great turmoil. Thus, Qiandao Temple plans to eradicate these demons in one fell swoop."
"Demonic beings?" Marquis of Zhenbei was sowhat surprised by Master Ling Yi’s term, as although not many were familiar with the na Ghoul Ravine, Qiandao Temple would undoubtedly be aware of it. Why then did Master Ling Yi refer to them as demonic beings?
At that mont, another idea took hold of Marquis of Zhenbei—a different matter he wished to take advantage of. It would be a great pity if he didn’t take this opportunity to understand more about the Jiumu Aristocratic Clan and those under his command.
A bold plan suddenly ford in the Marquis of Zhenbei’s mind.
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