Patrol Captain

The next morning.

Jiang Yi, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, came to the Ninth Mountain to bid farewell to Chen Yuan.

Jiang Yi today is somewhat different from last night; his face shows a greater sense of compassion and empathy.

Chen Yuan asked him, "I heard that Lord Jiang and Lei Shan had a long talk last night."

Lei Shan, a messenger of Helian Shan, the Grand Preceptor of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Jiang Yi lowered his eyelids slightly and replied, "The Imperial Preceptor has devoted himself to the Great Qian Dynasty. I cannot bear to see the emperor and his ministers be at odds. When I return this time, I will fight hard for the Imperial Preceptor with those censors."

"Then why did Lord Jiang refuse to let Eunuch Cao from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs out?" Chen Yuan asked thoughtfully.

Cao Zheng, also known as Eunuch Cao, was the eunuch who came with Gou Yue as the Demon Suppressor of Jiannan Road, ordered by His Majesty to sideline Chen Yuan. Gou Yue died soon after, leaving Eunuch Cao like a rootless duckweed. He was followed by officials from the capital and then carried out tasks such as delivering messages and decrees for the Grand Preceptor Helian. Now that Helian Shan has gone to the western front, and those officials from the capital have been secretly dealt with by Chen Yuan, this eunuch has become all alone again.

Upon hearing that the imperial envoy had arrived, they were overjoyed, as if they had met a long-lost relative, and in the past few days they had been rushing to Jiang Yi's temporary residence.

Jiang Yi shook his head. "Eunuch Cao wants me to take him back to the capital, but I am unwilling to get involved in any of this. I believe Marquis Chen will make his own decision."

Jiang Yi was clear-headed and didn't want to overstep his bounds, lest he cause trouble and make things worse.

Chen Yuan expressed his approval of the Grand Master of Ceremonies's way of handling affairs and said:

"Let's go, I will see Lord Jiang off."

As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve towards the void, revealing a void passage that led to a hidden world.

"please!"

The two stepped into the void, and soon the traces of the void healed and disappeared.

"You're saying that the human martial saint on Cloud Peak will hold a seal-granting ceremony in two days, and then lead his troops south to fight a decisive battle against my holy race?"

In the backyard of the Yun residence, in a two-story building, two powerful demons, disguised as relatives of the Yun family and infiltrating the residence, received the news.

The one who spoke was the demon king, who still looked like a middle-aged human man, dressed in slick, shiny clothes.

“That’s right, Nu’er did indeed overhear what the people in the Yun family said. They have received news that the human martial saint is furious about yesterday’s attack and is preparing to send troops. Many people are volunteering for the battle.” The young demon girl’s eyes sparkled as she spoke in a sweet, coquettish voice.

"How does the Holy King Taiyi intend to respond?"

It turns out that this demon king's name was Taiyi.

Upon hearing this, the cunning and shrewd eyes of the Taiyi Demon King narrowed slightly.

"It seems that yesterday's plan was quite effective. The human martial saint on Cloud Peak is getting restless."

"This move greatly dampened their morale. If they had swallowed their anger, their people and soldiers would have been disappointed. Ah, he had no choice but to do it."

"This is also part of my plan."

The demon king seemed confident and in control.

"Your Majesty is wise, I admire you. I've heard that Cloud Peak Mountain will send out invitations to many powerful forces to attend the ceremony. Chengdu will be very lively then." The girl chimed in, then changed the subject to what was to come.

The Demon King Taiyi glanced sideways and said, "Isn't that perfect? ​​The more people who come, the more interesting this grand ceremony will be. At that time, my Holy Clan should present a gift."

At this point, the demon's pupils changed color, brightening slightly before darkening again, its voice carrying a hint of mockery.

"Now, it's your turn to truly take the stage." "Yesterday, although I didn't send anyone to kill the Yun family members, I did manage to injure several of them, and they are now recuperating in this mansion."

"If Yunding Mountain sends out troops in two days, the news will spread and these Yun family members will return to their camps. This is an opportunity I'm creating for you. Use the excuse of visiting someone in the hospital to contact these Yun family members, control them, and do it discreetly."

At this point, the demon king chuckled and smiled indifferently.
"I've heard that the Yun family has good relations with many human sects that attacked my Holy Clan back then. These people might stay at the Yun family during this ceremony. You can then see if there's an opportunity to make your move."

"Fortunately, we'll make a commotion on the day of the ceremony; that'll make it more exciting! We won't have to show up; we can just watch the show from the back."

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I know how to do it." The girl smiled, her pupils becoming as thin as needles, her smile somewhat ferocious and eerie.

Not long after, the young girl Nu'er knocked on the door of Zhao Yunluo's courtyard.

Zhao Yunluo opened the door.

“Sister Yunluo, several of my brothers in the Yun family were attacked and injured yesterday. The family is in great distress. I feel guilty that I am staying here but cannot do anything to help. Today, my father heard the news and brought some of the family’s treasured elixirs to help my brothers recover. However, I don’t know the way, so I came to ask you to take me there so I can do my part.” The girl’s face was full of sincerity and worry as she held a lacquered box in her hands.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yunluo found it reasonable and had no doubts. "You're so kind, little sister. I'll take you to see the place right away."

"I think the family will remember my sister's kindness."

Just as the two great demons were stirring up trouble in the Yun Mansion, news spread rapidly outside the mansion, in Chengdu, that the new General of the Central Army would be conferred his seal in two days at Yunding Mountain, and that troops would then march south.

Yesterday's demon attack caused numerous deaths and injuries, a truly horrific event. Dark clouds loomed over Chengdu, causing widespread panic and a sense of unease among the city's inhabitants.

Upon hearing this news, the teahouses and taverns erupted in cheers and applause.

One word, fight!

This news has been relayed from Yunding Mountain to all prefectures and sects throughout the Daoist realm since last night.

Just like before, only this time the scale is much larger, after all, this time it was Chen Yuan who gave the order.

Just as turmoil was brewing in Chengdu, thousands of miles away, in a majestic pass nestled in the misty mountains, several thousand elite troops who had just fought their first battle to breach the pass appeared.

Youmen Pass, the first pass that once guarded the Hundred Thousand Mountains, still stands tall.

However, the fog spreading from the sea of ​​clouds grew thicker and thicker, and the world became a vast expanse of white. Youmen Pass was like an isolated island, suspended in the sea of ​​clouds.

Behind the south city gate, several thousand elite troops from the Ninth Mountain, clad in heavy armor like black iron towers, stood ready in battle, with mountain-chopping banners fluttering behind them.

At the head of the group was Gongsun Yang, who was ordered to lead the troops, and next to him was Liu Qing, whom they hadn't seen for a long time and who had been spying on the demons' movements at the front line.

This time, he will provide the intelligence to carry out the general's furious death order: to lead a bunch of beasts to sacrifice to the flag!

Everyone was burning with passion, their spirits were high.

At this moment, on the city gate tower, the white-robed king Luo Cheng, as graceful as an immortal, stood on the city gate tower, looking down at the army. His dark pupils gleamed, and then he waved his hand.

"Boom!"

The massive city gates burst open with a roar.

"set off!"

With a shout from Gongsun Yang, his troops surged forward, bursting out of the city gates and disappearing into the swirling mist! (End of Chapter)