142: At one command, heads rolled down (asking for monthly tickets)

East of the mountains, a golden light suddenly appeared.

A command, issued with a shout, startled Tianxiong Pass.

“Charge!”

“Charge!”

“Charge!”

“By order, Vajra Gate, Washing Sword Pavilion, and the Li Family of the East City, having colluded with internal and external forces to cause chaos in Tianxiong Pass, the Dao Fu Division’s Ninth Mountain has been commanded to suppress them. The main culprits have been apprehended, and the accomplices from the three Families are to be taken to the front gate for execution!”

A loud shout was followed by the thunderous sound of hooves.

Armored soldiers could be seen galloping on horseback down three main streets: East, West, and North.

In front, grim iron-clad soldiers cleared the path.

Behind them, cries for mercy and angry curses could be heard.

Behind each horse, figures with their necks bound by chains, their cultivation sealed, appeared either dejected or terrified as they stumbled along.

Three columns of soldiers, escorting these figures, all headed towards the front gate.

The vast Tianxiong Pass, with this command, gradually began to buzz, the sound spreading from far to near.

“Oh, bang, bang!”

The sound of opening doors was continuous.

The excited chatter of the common people arose, and they surged forward with the crowd towards the front gate.

At the front gate, armored soldiers were already standing in formation, encircling an area, the atmosphere stern and filled with Killing Intent.

In the vast open space, as time passed, figures were escorted by the armored soldiers onto the execution ground.

There were hundreds of people.

Outside, the common people swarmed, and upon seeing this scene, they gasped.

So many people to be executed at once!

“Oh, my heavens, so many.”

“This is going to be a bloodbath; how much Evil Qi will be created?”

“Nonsense! It’s a good thing they’re killing them. Those three Families have made Tianxiong Pass a mess these past two days. They were silent when the demons attacked the city, but once the fighting was over, they stirred up trouble again, pointing their spears at their own people, rebelling—pah!”

“Even so, look at those delicate women; it’s a pity to kill them.”

“Stay away from me!”

At this moment, among the dense crowd, there were not only ordinary citizens but also various forces with their own agendas. Upon seeing this scene, their hearts tightened.

The Sky Patrol Division’s swift and decisive action, taking such drastic measures, was clearly a warning, a swift cut through tangled threads.

Indeed, a portion of the people, those who had been close to these three Families, were now filled with trepidation.

Just then, a whistling sound cut through the air, and the crowd couldn't help but exclaim in surprise as four streaks of light descended upon the front gate’s execution ground.

Four Zhonglang Generals appeared simultaneously, their powerful Aura pressing down, causing the world to suddenly fall silent, followed by whispers.

“That’s our Zhonglang General Wei Zhong, who guards the pass!”

“Who are the other three?”

“They should be of similar rank, right?”

“Huh?”

As they spoke, exclamations of surprise rang out.

Among the four, it was not the Zhonglang General Wei Zhong who guarded the pass, nor the other two with mature Auras, who took the main seat, but a young man with calm eyes and a faint golden pattern on his brow.

The other three stood guard at his side, and the young man sat in the main seat, his status clearly evident.

Instantly, countless gazes converged on this person, observing his every move.

Many people’s eyes flickered, knowing that the swift execution of the three Families was the work of this ruthless individual!

At this moment, an armored soldier held a scroll and began to read aloud:

“By command of the Dao Fu Division!”

“Vajra Gate, Washing Sword Pavilion, and the Li Family of the East City, having colluded with internal and external forces to cause chaos in Tianxiong Pass… their crimes are heinous.”

“Related individuals will continue to be investigated by the Fushi and will all be severely punished!”

After the armored soldier finished reading, he quickly approached the figure on the main seat, cupped his fists, and bowed.

At this time, the air above the front gate execution ground was eerily silent, and everyone’s eyes were fixed on the person in the main seat.

Then, this person raised his hand!

Suddenly,

“Clang!”

“Clang!”

“Clang!”

The sound of swords being drawn rang out in unison!

On the execution ground, soldiers raised their long blades high, and as the morning sun shone, cold light glinted between the blade edges.

As that person’s hand fell, it suddenly waved!

“Thud!”

“Thud!”

“Thud!”

Heads rolled to the ground!

Some people’s hearts also sank to the bottom of a valley.

…

After the executions, the entire Tianxiong Pass was unprecedentedly lively.

Teahouses and wine shops were packed.

Mouths chattered, recounting various news of last night’s thunderous hooves and the swift elimination of the three Families, speaking vividly, not without some embellishment.

But one name was thoroughly etched into the hearts of those with influence in Tianxiong Pass!

Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General Chen Yuan!

This person was ruthless and incomparably fierce, fighting through the three Families in one night, leaving corpses strewn across the ground. Hundreds of people lost their heads with his single command.

His reputation was formidable!

As the execution at the front gate fermented, some people couldn’t sit still.

Individuals contacted each other and met in secret.

“What we did for these three great Families must absolutely not be known to that Chen Yuan.”

“If that ruthless individual finds out, we will die without a burial place.”

“If anyone leaks information, you all know the consequences.” Someone spoke fiercely.

“Exactly, exactly, no one can say anything, otherwise, even if I die, I’ll drag someone down with me.” Someone echoed, but their heart was uneasy, genuinely frightened by the scene of hundreds of heads falling that morning.

“It’s settled then. You all be quiet recently; it’s best to go out and avoid the limelight.”

“Let’s disperse. It’s best not to meet again for a while!”

These people then left, but a few hours later, three of them, while lingering outside the Inner City, coincidentally ran into each other.

At once, the three stared wide-eyed at each other, pointing at one another, looking furious.

“Master Tong, I knew you couldn’t be relied upon. What are you doing here?”

“Gang Leader Xia, likewise. What are you doing here? You’re not just taking a stroll, are you? Oh, and you, Hong Wushan, are you here to inform?”

“…”

The three bickered for a while, but they were all cunning old foxes who saw through each other’s pretense and stopped pretending.

“Alright, I’ll be frank. I don’t want to end up with my Family exterminated because of a single Li Family. I don’t have much life left, but I don’t want my Family to be annihilated. I feel that my involvement with the Li Family isn’t deep, so I’ve come to apologize to General Chen!”

“Goodness, so it is! I knew you old fox were the most cunning, trying to get yourself off scot-free. If you tell, then the others won’t have a way out.”

“What does that have to do with me? Aren’t you the same?” The old Master Tong, surnamed Tong, stroked his beard and sneered.

Saying that, the old Master Tong no longer hesitated. With a flick of his sleeve, an exquisite box, about a foot in size, with a red base and blue cloud pattern, appeared in his hand. Then, he quickly walked to the heavily guarded Inner City gate.

“Stop!”

A sharp shout rang out, full of Killing Intent.

The four armored guards at the gate, hands on their sword hilts, stepped forward, glaring menacingly.

“Esteemed soldier, I am the Master Tong of the East City’s Hundred Treasures Pavilion. I wish to see Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General Chen Yuan; I have important matters to discuss. This is my visiting card and gift!”

“May I trouble you to inform him?”

The old Master Tong, with a fawning smile, spoke to the leader.

“I am Xia Hai of the Cao Gang, and I also have matters to see Chen Yuan about. Please be accommodating.”

“I am…”

The three were considered leaders of their respective forces, but at this moment, they could only be very polite to a low-ranking Qi cultivation soldier. As they spoke, they made a move with their hands, intending to offer the soldier a bribe.

But they were glared at by the other party.

“Don’t try that on me. How can General Chen be seen just because you wish to?”

“We have important matters!”

The armored guards at the gate, who belonged to the Tianxiong Pass army, heard this and dared not make a decision on their own. They could only send someone to relay the message to the Ninth Mountain Army.

After about ten minutes, the commanding officer, Liu Qing, appeared on a tall horse, his helmeted eyes coldly sweeping over the three.

“Are you the three who wish to see my General Chen?”

The three dared not speak loudly and almost bowed and scraped.

“Yes, yes, yes!”

“Follow this officer!”

The three followed him into the Inner City.

Upon reaching this place, seeing the pervasive Evil Qi and the armored soldiers returning on horseback, covered in blood, the three felt uncomfortable, as if they had done something wrong and were exposed by the cold, iron armor here. Their hearts were uneasy.

After about half an incense stick’s time, the commanding officer, Liu Qing, led the three to a tall courtyard with a predominantly black tone, filled with a grim Aura.

Then, he led the three to a large hall.

As soon as the three entered, they were somewhat dumbfounded.

Inside, there were already more than a dozen people.

Moreover, many of them were familiar faces.

It turned out they were late!