51: Chapter 51 The Enemy Arrives

Just after the first lunar month, an unexpected guest arrived at Qingzhou City.

House Master Zhao Heng.

This young head of the Zhao Family came alone on a fast horse, without attendants, carrying only a long sword hanging at his waist. When he leaped off the horse, Ye Qingshuang, who was on night watch on the perimeter wall, recognized him immediately and ordered the gates opened, inviting him into the main hall.

When Ning Yuan hurried over upon hearing the news, House Master Zhao Heng was standing in the center of the main hall, looking up at the map of Qingzhou on the wall. The marker for the Black Lotus Cult was still pinned to the northern foothills of Qingyun Mountain, just as it had been three months ago.

"Happy New Year, House Master Zhao," Ning Yuan said with a bow.

House Master Zhao Heng turned and returned the bow: "My apologies for the presumptuous visit, House Master Ning. But there are some things that are inconvenient to write in a letter."

Ning Yuan invited him to sit and had tea served. House Master Zhao Heng did not engage in small talk and went straight to the point: "Does House Master Ning still remember the deal we made after returning from Black Wind Ridge?"

Ning Yuan's gaze flickered, and he nodded.

"Blood-Hand Butcher's injuries have healed." House Master Zhao Heng's voice was very low, and every word sounded as if it were squeezed through his teeth. "The Alliance's secret agents sent word that not only has he recovered, but he has also brought back the remnants of the Black Lotus Cult. There aren't many, but every single one of them is a desperate outlaw. Even more troublesome is the presence of a Golden Core Early Stage demonic Cultivator—the Black Lotus Cult's Right Envoy, Right Envoy Yin Wuming. He escaped the encirclement of the three major Sects when the Black Lotus Cult was destroyed fifty years ago and hid in Cang Province for decades, but now he has been invited out by Blood-Hand Butcher."

Golden Core Early Stage. The hand holding Ning Yuan's teacup paused slightly, then returned to normal.

"Master Ziyang has already sent people to Cang Province to ask for reinforcements, but the three major Sects of Cang Province are at least a month's journey from Qingzhou." House Master Zhao Heng's brows were knitted together. "Blood-Hand Butcher will not give us a month. According to the secret agents' estimation, at most in half a month, the Black Lotus Cult's forces will arrive in Qingzhou."

"House Master Zhao did not come here just to deliver the news, I presume."

House Master Zhao Heng took a deep breath, took a Jade Slip from his bosom, and placed it on the table: "This is a Formation map treasured by the Zhao Family—the 'Five Elements Inversion Array'. It is Yellow Rank High Grade, not as good as House Master Ning's Pure Yang Star Array, but they can be used together. The Five Elements Inversion Array can disrupt the spiritual power perception of enemies within the Formation, and when combined with the pure yang starlight of the Pure Yang Star Array, trapping and killing Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators will not be a problem. The Zhao Family is willing to exchange this Formation map for an alliance of offense and defense with the Ning Family."

Ning Yuan picked up the Jade Slip and extended his Divine Sense into it. A moment later, he put down the Jade Slip and solemnly bowed to House Master Zhao Heng: "I accept House Master Zhao's sincerity. From today on, the Zhao Family and the Ning Family are bound by an alliance of offense and defense. If the Black Lotus Cult attacks the Ning Family, the Zhao Family will help; if they attack the Zhao Family, the Ning Family will not stand idly by."

House Master Zhao Heng stood up and returned the bow with equal solemnity. The two looked at each other and smiled, their eyes filled with mutual appreciation. Both were Family heads who had started from nothing—although House Master Zhao Heng had taken over an established Family, he had reached Foundation Establishment at twenty-six and took power at thirty, raising the Zhao Family from the bottom of the four great families in Qingzhou City to the second in ten years, relying on his own strength proven in real combat. This tacit understanding needed no further words.

After seeing House Master Zhao Heng off, Ning Yuan immediately summoned all his wives and concubines who had cultivation.

"Within half a month, the Black Lotus Cult will surely come." Ning Yuan briefly recounted the news brought by House Master Zhao Heng and began assigning tasks. "Zhao Qingli, Su Yuniang, you two will each preside over the Pure Yang Star Array on the east and west sides. Ye Qingshuang and Gu Qingyin will coordinate with the Zhao Family's Five Elements Inversion Array to connect the Formation eyes of the two arrays. Shen Qingyi is responsible for logistics; you must ensure that everyone has three rejuvenation pills and two pulse protection pills in their hands. From tonight on, double the watch on the corner towers and double the night patrols. All children are to be moved to the deepest part of the inner residence and are not allowed to come out without my orders."

"Understood!" everyone replied in unison, none asking any extra questions.

Ning Yuan handed the Five Elements Inversion Array map left by House Master Zhao Heng to Ye Qingshuang. Ye Qingshuang's gaze tightened as she took the map, then she nodded solemnly: "The Formation connection will be completed within three days." Her tone was as calm as ever, as if she hadn't just accepted a Yellow Rank High Grade Formation, but a most ordinary task.

Gu Qingyin silently re-checked the seven Formation eyes in the north that she was responsible for, wiping the runes on each Formation base with her own hands to ensure there were no flaws.

Su Yuniang and Zhao Qingli looked at each other and turned to walk towards the Formation eyes on the east and west sides simultaneously. The backs of the two Foundation Establishment Stage wives were stretched long in the moonlight, one valiant, one steady. Ning Yuan watched them each take their positions and suddenly realized a fact—the Ning Family was no longer fighting alone.

He climbed the stargazing platform alone, the blazing sun sword resting horizontally on his knees. In the night, Qingyun Mountain was like a dormant giant beast, and there were no traces of strange Cultivators in the mountains for the time being. But Ning Yuan knew this was only temporary.

Blood-Hand Butcher would not give him too much time. Half a month, maybe ten days, maybe even tomorrow.

The night wind began to rise. Ning Yuan closed his eyes and began to circulate the sixth level of the Great Sun Pure Yang Art. The Bottleneck for Mid-stage Foundation Establishment had loosened, and he was only one layer of window paper away from Late Stage Foundation Establishment. He needed to pierce it before the Black Lotus Cult attacked.

At the end of the first lunar month, good news came from Shen Qingyi's Pill Refining Room. She had successfully refined the first furnace of ningshen pill. It was High Grade among third-grade Medicinal Pills, with two pills produced in one furnace, one of which was Medium Grade. Although the success rate was only twenty percent, it meant she had officially stepped into the threshold of a third-grade alchemist.

Ning Yuan checked the quality of the two ningshen pills and nodded: "Not bad. From today on, you can take over the affairs of the Pill Refining Room. You will be responsible for the supply of ningshen pills from now on."

Shen Qingyi was flushed with excitement, but she did not rush to celebrate; instead, she turned back to the Pill Refining Room to continue refining the second furnace. She knew that a great battle was imminent, and every ningshen pill could save a life, so she could not stop.

On the second day of the second lunar month, the Dragon Raises Its Head. Ning Yuan was at the training ground watching Ning Changqing and Ning Changhe practicing together. The gap between these brothers was getting smaller and smaller—Ning Changqing was at the Perfection of the fifth level of Qi Refining, and Ning Changhe was at the Peak of the fourth level of Qi Refining. The brothers' sword styles were gradually diverging, one sharp and fierce, the other steady and heavy.

Suddenly, a sharp alarm bell rang from the corner tower in the northeast.

"Enemy attack—!"

The sound of the alarm bell echoed in the night sky, and the entire manor was instantly awakened. Ning Yuan's figure turned into an afterimage as he swept onto the perimeter wall, the blazing sun sword already in his hand. The crimson sword body reflected his calm face, his gaze piercing through the night, looking towards the direction of Qingyun Mountain.

Dozens of black figures were pouring out of the mountain forest, rushing towards the manor like a tide. The person leading them was tall and thin, his face withered like a skeleton, his ghostly green eyes burning in the darkness—it was Blood-Hand Butcher.

Behind him followed an old man in a dark red robe, his aura as deep as an abyss, and every step he took caused the accumulated snow on the ground to melt silently. Golden Core Early Stage, Right Envoy Yin Wuming.

Further behind were dense black shadows. There were at least five Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators, and no fewer than twenty Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators. The Black Lotus Cult had mobilized its entire force this time.

Ning Yuan stood on the perimeter wall, looking at the black tide pressing over, his heart unusually calm.

He looked back at the manor—the ten arrow towers were brightly lit, Su Yuniang and Zhao Qingli were already in position, Ye Qingshuang drew her sword, Gu Qingyin pressed her hands on the zither strings, and Shen Qingyi stood at the door of the Pill Refining Room, holding a box of Medicinal Pills in her arms.

Deep in the inner residence, Madam Lin had gathered all the children into the underground secret chamber. Ning Changqing and Ning Changhe did not enter the secret chamber, but stood at the entrance of the secret chamber holding their swords, the brothers looked at each other and nodded simultaneously.

"Pure Yang Star Array—rise!"

At Ning Yuan's command, thirty-six Formation eyes lit up at the same time. Crimson-gold pillars of light shot into the sky, interweaving into a brilliant star map in the night sky.