27: Chapter 27 Somber

After receiving the order from Wang Chen, Ji Gang did not dare to delay for even a moment.

He immediately turned and began issuing orders.

"Azure Dragon!"

Upon hearing Ji Gang's call, Azure Dragon, who was busy nearby, flashed and appeared before him in an instant.

He immediately cupped his fists and said, "Your subordinate is here!"

"Lead one hundred Embroidered Uniform Guard under your command and remain here! You are responsible for inventorying, receiving, and sealing all resources within Xuantian Holy Land."

"Cultivation Techniques, Secret Manuals, Medicinal Pills, weapons, and everything of value—even a single blade of grass or a tree—must all be registered and cataloged. Do not make any mistakes!"

One must know.

Xuantian Holy Land has a Legacy spanning a thousand years.

Especially in the last few hundred years, as one of the four great Holy Lands within the Imperial Dynasty, its foundation is so profound that it far exceeds the imagination of ordinary people.

The Cultivation Techniques, Secret Manuals, divine weapons, Sharp Weapons, Spirit Pills, medicinal elixirs, Heaven And Earth Treasures, and gold and silver wealth accumulated over generations... their total amount could absolutely be called "wealth rivaling a nation"!

As the saying goes, raiding a family and exterminating a clan brings a golden belt.

Since Xuantian Holy Land has been destroyed, the things inside certainly cannot be wasted!

Isn't the reason Wang Chen had Ji Gang leave behind a portion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard precisely to receive the resources of Xuantian Holy Land!

After hearing Ji Gang's order, Azure Dragon did not say any nonsense, only spitting out two words in a deep voice.

"Understood!"

"The rest of you, follow this Commander and the three Old Ancestors, and depart immediately!"

After making the arrangements, Ji Gang did not waste any more words.

His figure shot into the sky first, transforming into a streak of black light, and sped away towards the deeper south—the direction where the Zhennan Marquis Mansion was located...

Just after Ji Gang and the others left, many figures began to appear one after another around Xuantian Holy Land.

There was no way around it.

With such a huge commotion, it was impossible to keep it hidden.

Besides, Ji Gang and the others never intended to hide anything from the beginning. Their goal was to intimidate the world, so why would they hide it?

In fact, spies from various forces had arrived long ago.

It was just that the battle within Xuantian Holy Land was too terrifying just now, and no one dared to get close at all.

Only until now, after Ji Gang and the others left, did they dare to get a little closer.

Of course, even at this moment, they still dared not approach the core area, only daring to peek from afar in the surrounding forests and high ground.

Even so, when they saw the scene inside Xuantian Holy Land from afar, they still couldn't help but gasp!

It was too tragic...

The once blessed land of immortals was now a scene of devastation.

The iconic mountain gate archway had collapsed for the most part, many palaces and pavilions had turned into ruins, and the plaza was littered with corpses and flowing with rivers of blood.

Even from a great distance, one could seemingly smell the nauseating stench of blood.

Occasionally, one could see figures dressed in the flying fish uniform shuttling back and forth, busy at work, which only added a few parts of sternness and mystery to the scene.

"My god... really... it was really destroyed?"

"Xuantian Holy Land... a thousand-year-old tradition, just like that?"

"Those in black clothes, are they the Embroidered Uniform Guard of the Imperial Dynasty? Such strong Evil Qi!"

"Look! They are collecting the corpses? It seems they only collected a portion..."

"This is just too... too tragic..."

"The Imperial Dynasty... the Imperial Dynasty is playing for real this time! But these methods are too cruel!"

"Cruel? Brother, did you not wake up yet? Do you think this is children playing house? This is a life-or-death struggle, damn it!"

"If even Xuantian Holy Land can be destroyed just like that, who else can withstand the military might of the Imperial Dynasty?"

"Everyone thought the Imperial Dynasty was already in its twilight, I didn't expect it to have such strong power..."

"Let's go! Go back and report, some things are not for us to worry about!"

Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away at the Zhennan Marquis Mansion, the atmosphere was so heavy it could almost drip water.

In the spacious and solemn council hall, all the high-ranking generals of the Zhennan Army were gathered, yet not a single person spoke; only heavy breathing echoed in the hall.

The air was permeated with a sense of oppression and anxiety, like the wind before a mountain storm.

They were all waiting for a result that would determine their fate.

As a feudal lord guarding the southern border, holding heavy troops, nominally belonging to the Imperial Dynasty but actually semi-independent, the Zhennan Marquis Mansion naturally had its own unique and efficient intelligence network.

Especially between them and Xuantian Holy Land.

They had intricate relationships, and both sides had set up special secret liaison strongholds not far from each other's garrisons.

Just a short while ago, the people stationed at the stronghold on the outskirts of Xuantian Holy Land witnessed that terrifying black flood rush into the Holy Land with their own eyes.

Immediately after, earth-shattering sounds of slaughter erupted from inside the Holy Land.

There were also visions of heaven and earth caused by the clash of experts in the Celestial Realm; even from dozens of miles away, one could clearly feel the earth-shattering power!

The person in charge of the stronghold was shocked at that moment and did not dare to hesitate in the slightest.

They reported the news up the chain of command at the fastest speed possible.

And after Marquis of Zhennan Chu Yannian received the secret report, his heart shook violently, and he immediately summoned all his trusted generals.

It was precisely because they all knew the ins and outs of the matter that those high-ranking Zhennan Army officials all chose silence!

They were not stupid; they knew all too well what consequences this would lead to...

If... Xuantian Holy Land won, or at least blocked the Imperial Dynasty's offensive, it would prove that the Imperial Dynasty was just bluffing and its foundation was exhausted, and they could sit back and relax.

They could even consider the next step of how to join forces with the Holy Land to further squeeze the influence of the Imperial Dynasty in the south.

But! If... the Imperial Dynasty won...

This thought alone made every general present feel a chill down their spine.

The reason they dared to disobey the Imperial Dynasty openly while acting differently in private, and even secretly rival them, was not only because they held heavy troops, but most importantly, because they had formed an alliance with Xuantian Holy Land, a super force that possessed experts in the Celestial Realm!

And once Xuantian Holy Land fell, their Zhennan Marquis Mansion would have to face the military might of the Imperial Dynasty alone!

And the strongest person in their mansion was Marquis of Zhennan Chu Yannian himself, who was at the half-step Celestial Realm.

Without a true Celestial Realm expert to sit in command, how could they resist the Imperial Dynasty that possessed several Celestial Realm experts?

In the hall, the oppressive atmosphere was finally broken by a few whispers.

"The Imperial Dynasty... how could they suddenly take action against Xuantian Holy Land? There wasn't even a whisper of news beforehand!"

"That newly enthroned Emperor, his actions are actually so overbearing and decisive? Is he not afraid of inciting a backlash from all the forces in the south and committing public outrage?"

"So what if it causes public outrage? Without Celestial Realm experts, one doesn't even have the qualifications to oppose the Imperial Dynasty!"

"What's the use of saying these things now? The key is the result! We must make plans early! Since the Imperial Dynasty dared to take action, I'm afraid... they have something to rely on!"

"Marquis, we should make plans early; there is not much time left for us!"

The generals' voices were filled with anxiety and unease.

Their eyes glanced from time to time at Marquis of Zhennan Chu Yannian, who was sitting at the head of the table, silent and frowning.

Chu Yannian had a burly figure and a resolute face; the majesty he had cultivated from holding a high position for a long time could not hide the gloom and heaviness in his eyes at this moment.

How could he not understand what everyone was saying? He even thought more and further.

This move by the new Emperor of the Imperial Dynasty was by no means a temporary whim; it was likely planned for a long time, intending to use the most restless Xuantian Holy Land to operate on, to kill the chicken to warn the monkey, and to re-establish the majesty of imperial power!

And their Zhennan Marquis Mansion was very likely the next target!

However, he had no way out.

Years of separatism and hegemony, perfunctory attitude towards imperial orders, and even secret collusion with the Holy Land... any one of these was enough for the Imperial Dynasty to have sufficient reason to take action against him.

Just as the discussions in the hall were rising, and Chu Yannian was battling within his own heart.

"Report—!!!"

A scream filled with extreme terror and panic instantly reached everyone's ears!