217: Set off

News spread from the Li family's territory, first reaching surrounding towns, then following trade routes to more distant places. Within two days, it had circulated within the Great Zhou Dynasty, which was currently locked in a stalemate with the Demonic Path Alliance.

However, most people who heard the news first paused, then laughed.

In a tavern, two Great Zhou Cultivators who had just returned from the battlefield for rest were scooping spiritual rice from their bowls when they overheard the next table say, "Immortal Revered Master Ice Peak Zhenren Li Xiangyun will challenge the Imperial City in ten days to declare war."

One of them 'pffft'-ed, spitting out a mouthful of rice: "Ice Peak Zhenren? Isn't that the Golden Core Cultivator who disappeared ten years ago? He fought with Nascent Soul True Lord Huan Yu back then; it was lucky he didn't die. Now he dares to jump out again?"

The other Cultivator also sneered: "He probably hid in some mountain gully for ten years and got confused from hunger, didn't he?

Even if our Great Zhou is stretched thin fighting the Demonic Path, there are still three Nascent Soul True Lords stationed around the Imperial City. Him alone... even if he had the strength to fight a Nascent Soul ten years ago, what good is that?

Ten years have passed, how much could he have improved? Challenging the Imperial City alone? He's probably just delivering himself to us."

An old man in a Daoist robe nearby slowly interjected: "Indeed, he was a formidable character back then, a Golden Core directly confronting a Nascent Soul. Although he disappeared later, he forced Nascent Soul True Lord Huan Yu into a mutual destruction.

But ten years... how many things can change in ten years? Even if Great Zhou is in chaos, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. What kind of waves can he, alone, stir up?"

Some people didn't laugh, and this included the Disciples of Ten Thousand Swords Sect, as their allegiance naturally lay with their own Sect Elder.

But whether they were laughing or muttering, everyone couldn't help but look towards the Imperial City.

Some bet that Li Xiangyun wouldn't even make it past the city gates before being captured, while others secretly wondered if he truly had some trump card. Even in the frontline camps, where soldiers were battling the Demonic Path, they would gather during shift changes to chat.

"If the Imperial City really gets chaotic in ten days, perhaps it could divert the Demonic Path's attention?"

"Don't even think about it, it's just one person... But then again, if he could really cause some commotion in the Imperial City, even for a short while, it would be quite satisfying.

Why should those officials always rush us to the front while they enjoy their leisure in the Imperial City?"

The wind began to blow towards the Imperial City, carrying Li Xiangyun's declaration of war, and also the gaze of the world.

Some waited to see a joke, some harbored a tiny bit of hope, and others had quietly set off, wanting to get closer to the Imperial City.

Regardless of the outcome, the legend from ten years ago was personally challenging the Dragon's Den again. This spectacle, one simply had to see.

When the news drifted into Black Wind Ridge, where the Demonic Path Alliance was entrenched, it happened to be during a meeting in the Asura Sect's main tent.

The Soul Refining Sect Revered Master had just finished reporting the frontline losses, clutching his Soul Banner, when the tent flap was swept open by the wind. A scout bowed and entered, clearly relaying the news of "Li Xiangyun challenging the Imperial City in ten days."

Xuan Sha, the Asura Sect Master, seated at the head, tapped the skull carving on the armrest with his knuckles, his crimson eyes scanning the tent.

To his left, the Corpse Yin Sect Revered Master was using a bone staff to prod the Corpse Gu at his feet. To his right, the Blood River Sect Revered Master licked the blood foam from the corners of his lips. A few wisps of lingering souls still floated on the Soul Banner of the Soul Refining Sect Revered Master.

"Ice Peak Zhenren?" Xuan Sha sneered, his voice rough like grinding stones, "The one who was chased like a stray dog by Great Zhou ten years ago? He has some crazy courage."

The Blood River Sect Revered Master spoke, a drop of blood still congealed on his fingertip: "Perfect! We're deadlocked with Great Zhou on the eastern front. His disturbance will surely force those old fogeys in the Imperial City to divert their attention and manpower. How about... we have our subordinates fan the flames a bit?"

"No need." Xuan Sha raised a hand to interrupt, his bony fingers crushing a corner of the armrest, "Let him cause trouble.

The bigger the commotion, the better. When Great Zhou is overwhelmed and unable to cope, we will directly break their Azure Dragon Roaring Heaven Array."

The Corpse Yin Sect Revered Master grunted, slamming his bone staff onto the ground. Several Corpse Gu crawled into the cracks, presumably to relay orders.

The Soul Refining Sect Revered Master, meanwhile, twirled his Soul Banner and smiled: "This Sect Master wants to see if this Li Xiangyun truly has the backing, or if he's just offering his life to entertain us."

In a certain wilderness, Li Hentian had just pulled her sword from a Great Zhou Cultivator's throat.

Blood splattered on her pale face, flowing down her jaw, but she seemed not to notice, lowering her eyes to wipe her sword.

The Cultivator's words, "The Li family's Li Xiangyun is going to the Imperial City to declare war," echoed in her ears. She suddenly tightened her grip on the cloth she was using to wipe her sword, blood seeping from between her fingers.

"Revered Master..." Two words rolled from her throat, her voice hoarse as if choked with blood. At first, her body stiffened, then her eyes suddenly warmed, but the biting cold suppressed it again.

In ten years, from a Qi Refining stage Cultivator to her current Peak Foundation Establishment, from a little girl to a bloodthirsty individual.

No one knew what she had experienced in these ten years, but all of it became worthwhile when she learned that her Revered Master was still alive a while ago.

Li Hentian looked up towards the Imperial City. A drop of blood from her sword tassel fell onto a withered bone, spreading a small, dark stain.

She would carry the blood debt of these ten years and, with her Revered Master, flatten the Imperial City!

In a dilapidated temple near the righteous and demonic battlefield, Wang Ning, with his white hair, sat on a broken offering table, wiping his saber.

When he received the news that "Li Xiangyun has declared war on Great Zhou."

He paused his saber-wiping, his fingertips tracing the marks on the back of the blade—the name of his village.

At the same time, memories of his time with Li Xiangyun and Li Muwan began to surface in his mind.

Among them, Li Xiangyun had the grace of imparting Dao to him, and Muwan... thinking of this, Wang Ning's expression was somewhat complex.

These past days, he had been hunting Demonic Path Cultivators. Even though he knew Li Muwan was in Ten Thousand Swords Sect, he had never gone to see her.

Because he was afraid... afraid that if he saw her, his saber would slow down.

However, at this moment, he did want to go and see if this former Immortal Revered Master Ice Peak Zhenren still possessed his past demeanor.

He also wanted to kill some people, to add some nourishment to his Myriad Soul Banner, considering it revenge for Muwan.

He touched the saber hilt. In his eyes beneath his white hair, there was a coldness similar to Li Hentian's, a desire to drag his enemies into Hell.

The wind continued to blow towards the Imperial City, the Demonic Qi from Black Wind Ridge surged a few times with it, the sword tassel in the wilderness swayed more urgently, and the white figure in front of the broken temple also began to stride in that direction.

No one could say how big a storm this declaration of war would unleash, only that the fangs hidden in the shadows had quietly bared themselves because of this news.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

The mist of the Misty Swamp, wrapped in morning dew, dampened Li Xiangyun's robes.

He stood beneath the temporary stone archway of the Li family. Behind him, Li Zhongwen led dozens of core Disciples, bowing in farewell. At the edge of the Misty Swamp in front of him, several 'guiding light' grasses, which could indicate direction, subtly tilted towards the Imperial City.

Li Xiangyun's steps were slow, but his speed was very fast, his robes gently swaying in the wind.

The sun had just climbed over the mountain, casting his shadow long. That shadow crossed the fields, spanned the stream, and stretched all the way to the northwest—the direction of the Great Zhou Imperial City.