165: Re-evaluate this ninth mountain general (asking for monthly tickets)

"What?"

As Cloud Skyborn's words fell, the Yun Family's main hall instantly became noisy.

They looked at each other, wondering if they had misheard?

For all eligible Yun Family Disciples to enter the Ninth Mountain at this critical juncture, wasn't that sheer madness?

Immediately, a table-slapping sound arose.

"Nonsense! When did the Yun Family fall under the control of a Junior like you?"

"Last night too, you returned and interrupted the elders' discussion. What rules have you learned in the Ninth Mountain?" The Third Branch of the Yun Family was a scholar-like figure with a pale Face, a long beard, and a jade crown on his head. He usually liked to contend for position within the Yun Family, and after his elder and second brothers, he was the leader.

He spoke in a furious rebuke, adopting his elder's demeanor.

Speaking of this, he still maintained his posture, turning to look at his second brother, Yun Chuxiong, who was in the main seat, "Second Brother, I don't know what you're thinking, letting your son act so recklessly?"

Cloud Skyborn ranked third among the next generation of the entire Yun Family. At this moment, some Juniors also looked at this impressive Third Brother, displeased, and said:

"Third Brother, it's not that your younger brother is telling you, but who in the entire Jinguan City doesn't know that Youmen Pass has been breached and the Yao Race army is coming fiercely? Even a great figure like a Town Demon Envoy couldn't escape the fate of falling. You're asking all of us to join the Fa Shan Army and enter your Ninth Mountain—isn't that pushing us brothers into a pit of fire?"

Immediately, someone echoed.

"Exactly, exactly! It couldn't be that you, Third Brother, are in a pit of fire and want to drag us in too, right? Anyway, I'm not going."

"Whoever wants to go, goes!"

The Yun Family Juniors protested one after another, turning the hall into a marketplace.

"Enough!"

At this moment, Yun Fangting, the Head of the Yun Family's First Branch, frowned and spoke, and the noise gradually subsided.

The Head of the First Branch frowned at Cloud Skyborn, but his tone was still relatively calm,

"Tiansheng, you've been honing yourself in the military for many years. Among the Juniors, you are the most steady. Your Eldest Uncle knows this must be your idea. Tell me, why?"

Cloud Skyborn still greatly respected his Eldest Uncle, who had managed to support the Yun Family to its current state. His main purpose today was to persuade his Eldest Uncle. He bowed respectfully and said solemnly:

"Eldest Uncle must also be aware that the calamity of the Heavenly Gate Devil in the Ten Thousand Mountains is by no means a disaster for just one region or one Fushi. The Shu Land will undergo a major reshuffle, and the situation is constantly changing. Your nephew has been campaigning with the Ninth Mountain and has a deep understanding of this. If the Yun Family remains peacefully in Jinguan, it will be like the common people in this city, comfortable for too long, and when the blade falls, it will be too late for regret. The Family needs to make plans early!"

"Oh?" Yun Fangting heard his nephew's words and did not dismiss them because he was a Junior. This nephew had strong opinions; he had given up the path arranged by the Family and voluntarily joined the Ninth Mountain, campaigning everywhere, and his cultivation had also advanced rapidly. He had his own insights. A glint flashed in his eyes,

"That's right, the Yao Race from the Ten Thousand Mountains are coming fiercely. Your Fushi will likely struggle to sustain itself, which is why all the great Aristocratic Families and Sects are gathering in Jinguan City. As a local Aristocratic Family, our Yun Family has naturally been invited and will certainly contribute."

"But your proposal, I don't see what benefit it has for the Family?"

"Why?"

Cloud Skyborn immediately gave an answer.

"My General!"

As soon as these words came out, the Third Branch, who liked to posture, immediately became indignant, "It's your General again! Cloud Skyborn, you must remember that you are a Yun Family Disciple, not a loyal subordinate of your General. Besides, your Zhonglang General is only newly appointed. How long have you been with him? He hasn't even been granted the Tiger Tally yet, and no one has ever heard of him. What kind of trick are you playing, entrusting the future of my Yun Family to him?"

Cloud Skyborn showed no Face to his Third Uncle, saying expressionlessly: "That's why I say, the Yun Family cannot remain in a corner. Third Uncle needs to go out and see more."

"Cloud Skyborn, you're truly rebellious, speaking to me like that." The Third Branch was somewhat enraged, standing up, blowing his beard and glaring.

"Tiansheng, how can you speak to your Third Uncle like that?" His father, Yun Chuxiong, finally spoke, raising his eyebrows twice. He felt a bit of a headache dealing with his eldest son, who had strong opinions, and tried to ease the atmosphere.

"Enough!" The Head of the Yun Family's First Branch raised his hand and pressed it down. One hand rested on the armrest of the chair, his body leaned slightly forward, and a glint flashed in his eyes. "Listening to your words just now, it seems there's more to it. Isn't that Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General a newly appointed Zhonglang General? Isn't the Fushi going to hold an investiture ceremony for this person? The Yun Family hasn't failed to inquire, but we haven't heard any news of this person."

Cloud Skyborn knew that what he was about to say was the key to persuading the Family this time. His gaze gradually changed. He took a deep breath and began to recount,

"Half a month ago, the Ninth Mountain had just suffered a defeat. More than ten thousand people, less than one in ten survived. I was lucky to survive and had no choice but to retreat to the Fushi. Rumor in the Fushi was that our mountain would be reorganized under another mountain's command!"

"On that very day, Heavenly Gate Devil attacked from all directions. The various Fa Shan Armies of the Fushi dispatched troops to suppress them. We received orders to lead the remaining troops to support the northwest direction, to Baidi City, over four thousand li from here. There was a human-devil rebellion there, and our new Zhonglang General was also there!"

"The first time we saw the General, it was precisely when the four Great Heavenly Gates of the Demonic Cult, wielding Dao weapons, were besieging Baidi City, a moment of extreme peril. The General appeared out of nowhere, slew the four Great Heavenly Gates, and turned the tide."

"Then, the news reached the Fushi, and the Fushi then issued an urgent order, instructing us to march five thousand li to Tianxiong Pass, where a rebellion had broken out due to the Heavenly Gate Devil unrest..."

"On the day the General arrived, he quelled the rebellion of three factions with thunderous methods, slew five Heavenly Gates, annihilated the three families, and hundreds of heads rolled. Thousands died at his command—how overbearing!"

"We personally followed the General and witnessed with our own eyes that more than ten Dao experts were no match for the General within ten moves and were slain beneath his mount."

As he spoke, the hall had become so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping. Most of the Yun Family members were stunned, their scalps tingling, by the events Cloud Skyborn described.

What was all this?

How could Dao experts be like cabbages in his mouth, casually cut down by their General?

Those were powerful individuals, each capable of supporting a faction!

And Cloud Skyborn continued to deliver heavy blows:

"And as I later learned, the General had also slain many Heavenly Gate Devils. Although the General is overbearing in his killings, he is never stingy with us, bestowing us with the flesh and blood of Heavenly Gate Devils, and also—"

As he spoke, he shook his sleeve, and a small bottle flew out. Then, a streak of bloody light flew from the bottle, accompanied by a rich surge of Qi that rapidly filled the hall.

Upon smelling it, everyone's spirits lifted, and they couldn't help but gaze intently.

They saw a piercing shriek, and a pitch-black great bird flew from the bloody light, fluttering up and down in the hall.

"Heavenly Gate Devil's essence blood!"

In the hall, the Head of the First Branch couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

The Third Branch and others couldn't sit still, letting out low exclamations. Their eyes became fervent, and they couldn't help but swallow their saliva,

"This is also... bestowed upon you by that General!"

"That's right!" Cloud Skyborn nodded. This was a casual gift from the General after receiving him yesterday.

Feeling the expressions and tone changes of those around him, his own expression also relaxed, "Just a while ago, at the villa at the foot of Yunding Mountain, a chief Disciple of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, simply because my General returned from Tianxiong Pass, and this person gave my General a ride... Seeing that he failed to Breakthrough to Heavenly Gate, the General ordered me to send two drops of Heavenly Gate Devil essence blood!"

As he said this, he turned his head, casting his gaze towards a figure behind the Fifth Branch,

"Zhuosheng is also aware of this matter."

Among the many elders, elder brothers, and elder sisters, Yun Zhuosheng, who was a minor presence, was now being watched by everyone. He quickly nodded, "Ah, yes, yes, I saw it with my own eyes. At that time..."

As he spoke, he recounted what had happened in the ruined temple, and even the subsequent details of Chen Yuan casually slaying a Heavenly Gate Devil.

He had wanted to say it yesterday, but his Third Brother wouldn't let him speak recklessly. Now he could finally say it.

For a moment, the hall fell into silence as everyone rapidly processed this information.

After a long silence, the Head of the First Branch finally spoke, his expression grave:

"The Yun Family must re-evaluate this Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General, but this matter carries too much risk and involves the Family's future, so we must be cautious."

"Tiansheng, and you Juniors, please leave first."

Saying this, he waved his hand.

Seeing this, Cloud Skyborn bowed and left the hall.

Soon, only the main figures of the various branches remained in the hall.

"What do you all think of what Nephew Yunsheng said?"

The lips of the various branches moved slightly.

A few minutes later,

Yun Fangting's voice echoed in the hall, "Chuxiong, I trouble you to go to Baidi City, visit the Zhonglang General there, and inquire about the specific information of this Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General. Return before dawn the day after tomorrow!"

"Understood, Eldest Brother!"

Soon after, the Second Branch of the Yun Family, Cloud Skyborn's father, personally set out for Baidi City!

Meanwhile, on the Ninth Mountain's side, as time passed, the progress of recruiting soldiers was very slow.

Please vote for next month, thank you, godfathers.