301: The court sent a new demon slayer (asking for monthly tickets)

The woman hailed from the distant Imperial Capital!

Her figure was graceful, clad in an elegant, light blue palace gown that tightly embraced her exquisite body, perfectly outlining her breathtaking curves. The contrast between the refined and the fiery was striking. A golden silk ribbon cinched her waist, making it seem as if one could grasp it in a single hand. Her skin was as delicate and smooth as mutton-fat jade, appearing crystal clear and translucent under the divine radiance of the three-legged Fire Phoenix beneath her.

Her face was enchanting, with three flower-like marks between her brows. Her eyebrows were long and slender, and her pair of Phoenix eyes shimmered with watery light, their outer corners slightly upturned, giving her a perpetually smiling yet unsmiling look, imbued with an innate charm. Yet, within that charm, there was a noble and unattainable Aura.

The dazzling divine light of the three-legged Fire Phoenix could not conceal the woman's graceful and refined demeanor. A subtle yet powerful Aura gathered in her Phoenix eyes, piercing through the wind and snow to gaze upon the Liang Province Iron Cavalry below. Pale green three-flower imprints appeared in her pupils.

Liang Province Iron Cavalry.

She had heard that the King of Northern Liang had been ambitious in recent years, humbling himself to seek out talented individuals and attracting numerous retainers from across the land, earning him a beautiful reputation. The pale green three-flower imprints in the woman's eyes flickered, emanating a mysterious light.

With Body Profound Iron Cavalry and Heavenly Gate guards, it seemed the person in the palanquin held a significant status in Liang Province, making it impossible for her to probe further.

Seeing that someone among the Liang Province Iron Cavalry below had noticed her, she remained completely unfazed. Her beautiful eyes curved into a smile, and then the three-legged Fire Phoenix flapped its wings and soared, transforming into a brilliant streak of fire that swiftly vanished into the swirling wind and snow.

Below, on the vast wilderness, within the carriage, the aged voice spoke, tinged with a hint of awe.

"What a beauty with skin like ice and a divine Aura! At such a young age, she has already stepped into the Dao Embryo Realm. This woman is truly extraordinary!" The Dao Embryo is the third minor Realm of the Heavenly Gate Dao Fruit, where a divine embryo is nurtured.

However, the Prince's voice rippled slightly.

"She came too?"

"Does the gentleman know her?"

"Sir, you might not know this woman, but you certainly know her father!"

"Who?"

"The Undefeated Divine Marquis Dugu Lie."

"It's him?" The old man inside exclaimed, evidently, this name commanded widespread respect.

"She is the Divine Marquis's only daughter!" The Prince in the carriage spoke with a somewhat peculiar tone, muttering in a voice only he could hear, "I heard this Divine Marquis dotes on his daughter as if his life depends on it. How could he let her cross Shu Land alone?"

"She has also arrived in Jinguancheng. After your subordinates enter the city, tell them to be careful. If they encounter her, try to avoid any disputes!"

The Crown Prince of Northern Liang spoke calmly, giving his orders.

There was once a disciple from a Blessed Land who, relying on his background, harbored ill intentions towards this Divine Marquis's only daughter. The Divine Marquis actually stormed that Blessed Land directly, uprooting the entire Blessed Land, causing a river of blood to flow. It was terrifyingly fierce.

"Enter the city!"

With a command, the Liang Province Iron Cavalry spurred their horses forward, cutting through the wind and snow, with faint sounds of wind and thunder, their Aura vast and imposing.

Soon after, the northern part of Jinguancheng, amidst the wind and snow, welcomed a clamorous commotion.

The Crown Prince of Northern Liang and his entourage entered Jinguancheng in a grand procession, their Aura imposing. The various families in the North City were shaken, vying to welcome them.

As dusk approached, the wind and snow subsided slightly.

In the center of the city, a small green bamboo courtyard was nestled, with only a single entrance. Green bamboo grew in the courtyard, obscuring the two courtyard walls. At this time, the accumulated snow bent the branches, and ice crystals clung to the bamboo leaves. Yet, the green bamboo was incredibly resilient, pushing out tender green new shoots beneath the pristine white snow on the ground.

Entering the courtyard, a path paved with cobblestones wound its way to a two-story wooden pavilion. The small building exuded an antique charm, and the wind chimes under the eaves swayed gently, their sound clear and melodious.

On the second floor of the pavilion, a window was open. A woman dressed in simple white clothing, with a clear and beautiful appearance, seemingly just bathed, her dark hair draped behind her shoulders, and a hint of heroism in her brows, sat at a table by the window. She held a brush and ink, writing something on a scroll of paper.

On the table beside her, white smoke curled upwards from a delicate bronze incense burner. Beside the table, there was also a bamboo basket woven from bamboo strips, filled with numerous paper scrolls.

As the woman lightly sketched, she occasionally looked up, gazing out the window, her sight extending into the distance.

Through the window, one could see a scattered flurry of snow in the distance, revealing a expanse of snow-covered mountains. A thousand mountains and layered forests were all dyed with snow, with pavilions and towers interspersed among them.

Suddenly, the woman's brush stroke on the paper scroll paused, and her gaze sharpened, looking towards the incense burner beside her.

At this moment, the curling white smoke from the incense burner no longer ascended and swirled as before. Instead, it rapidly drifted towards a certain spot in the room behind her, enveloping what was originally an empty space, and the smoky clouds gathered.

"Who?"

The woman coldly shouted, twirling the brush in her hand. The ink from the tip of the brush splattered backward, and the small ink drops rapidly expanded, forming clear water spheres on the outside, while the ink inside dissolved, transforming into blades, spears, and fierce beasts. They shot forth with a sharp whistling sound, heading towards the place where the white smoke had gathered.

At the same time, the chair she sat on suddenly spun around, her dark hair brushing her face, strand by strand. The simple white clothing on her body also suddenly glowed with five colors, dazzlingly brilliant, and a pair of cool, sharp eyes stared at the spot where the white smoke was tightly bound.

This incense was called 'Thousand Silk Entanglement.' When burned, it could purify and calm the mind, smelling like orchids. But if someone rashly entered the range of its fragrance, the scent released by the incense would transform into white threads, automatically locking onto the enemy's location, tightly coiling around them, serving as a warning and a means of defense.

Just then, a giggle suddenly rang out.

"Sister Qin."

"As soon as we meet, it's binding and splashing water. Do you want me to perform a wet-body temptation for you, sister?"

As her words fell, the white smoke in that spot suddenly dispersed, and a fiery yet noble and ethereal figure of a woman in blue slowly descended onto the floor.

At this moment, the woman dressed in five-colored robes, seeing the suddenly appearing figure, her beautiful eyes shone with a strange light. Her hand dropped, and then her brows curved into a smile.

"Sister Jialuo, why are you here?"

The ink and water that had shot forth suddenly stopped an inch in front of the opposite woman, then fell to the floor and vanished in an instant.

The blue-clad figure that appeared was none other than Du Gu伽罗, the daughter of the Undefeated Divine Marquis, who had arrived in Jinguancheng ahead of the Liang Province Iron Cavalry!

The 'Sister Qin' she spoke of was Qin Rushuang, who had accompanied the two Grand Ministers to Shu Land and later supported the front lines!

Both women came from families of generals and prime ministers, sharing similar temperaments. Their Martial Dao Aptitude was equally astonishing and brilliant, surpassing the children of various princes and ministers in the imperial court. In the bustling and chaotic Imperial Capital court, the two were known as the Twin Beauties of the Imperial Capital. One was cold and proud, the other fiery and bold.

And Du Gu伽罗 was a few years older than Qin Rushuang.

"I heard sister sent a letter home, and when I got the news, I immediately rushed over. It's been a long time, sister, you seem to have lost some weight. Let me measure you." Du Gu伽罗's voice was like silver bells, her Phoenix eyes curved into a smile as she sized up Qin Rushuang. Then, her feet shifted, stirring up a fragrant breeze, and she pressed closer.

Qin Rushuang was almost completely defenseless against her elder sister and immediately felt a pressure on her chest, almost being bounced away. Then, a pair of soft, boneless hands, like snakes, climbed onto her body.

Qin Rushuang couldn't handle her sister's intimacy and pushed her hands away, changing the subject, "Sister Jialuo, did you come alone?"

"Of course."

"The Marquis didn't send anyone? Shu Land is currently..." As she spoke, Qin Rushuang's eyebrows twitched, "Sister, you didn't sneak out by yourself, did you?"

Given how much the old Divine Marquis doted on Sister Jialuo, he would never let her come to Shu Land alone now. Here, demons have broken through the pass, and it's a mixed bag of good and bad. No one knows what will happen next, which means danger.

Du Gu伽罗's Phoenix eyes curved upwards, and her slender, jade-like finger tapped Qin Rushuang's forehead, giggling.

"Sister is truly clever. My old man has gone to the North Sea now. I heard there's a Dragon Lair that has appeared there, and the fighting is fierce. The court is under great pressure, so they sent him to guard it. And when I heard you were here, sister, and even participated in the great demon war, I was a bit worried, so I came out by myself."

Du Gu伽罗 said, her Phoenix eyes narrowing into a slit, "I heard sister earned the title of one of the Wei Yuan Eight Heroes. The Grand Tutor is very happy."

"Sister, please don't tease me."

"Alright, let's not talk about that. When I just arrived, I saw sister was concentrating on painting. It seems your Cultivation has improved here, and you're capturing the Dao's essence." Du Gu伽罗 said, turning sideways and seeing the painting on the table. Her graceful figure moved forward, picking up the scroll from the table and examining it closely.

She was familiar with Qin Rushuang and knew her Cultivation method.

Qin Rushuang cultivated through painting, imbuing the forms and spirits of heaven and earth into her scrolls with her brushstrokes.

In the past, the two of them often appreciated and exchanged ideas.

In the painting, there was an expanse of snow-covered mountains, with hints of green interspersed among them, as well as pavilions and towers.

The painting was unfinished, giving it a sense of incompleteness.

"Where is this mountain?"

Qin Rushuang turned and looked out the window, a hint of unnaturalness flashing in her eyes, "Opposite!"

Du Gu伽罗 also looked over, seeing that the mountains in the distance were not particularly majestic, but appeared spiritually vibrant amidst the wind and snow. As she gazed, faint glints of armor could be seen in the distance.

"Where is that?"

"Jiannan Dao Dao Anfu Department's Ninth Mountain!"

"Ninth Mountain?" Du Gu伽罗's Phoenix eyes immediately narrowed as she remembered something, "Right, isn't there a Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General?"

"Mm." Qin Rushuang's eyes flickered slightly as she nodded, then asked with some surprise, "Sister knows too?"

Du Gu伽罗's Phoenix eyes shifted, glancing at Qin Rushuang, sensing that her sister's tone was a bit off.

"Your old Grand Tutor told me. He said to maintain a certain distance from this Zhonglang General."

At this, Qin Rushuang's tone turned cold, "Why?"

Du Gu伽罗's enchanting face showed some surprise as she saw her good friend's emotions rise. She lowered her voice.

"The court has selected a new Town Demon Envoy. This is the result of secret maneuvering between several factions. The news hasn't spread yet. You also know that Shu Land is about to become a place of great Luck. Whoever controls it will control countless Luck. A Zhonglang General simply cannot sustain it!"

As she finished speaking, Qin Rushuang's beautiful eyes widened in anger. She slammed the table in front of her, shouting furiously,

"A bunch of beasts in human clothes!"

"Crash!"

The table shattered into wooden planks with a crash, and the ink, incense burner, and all the scrolls in the bamboo basket fell down.

The scrolls unrolled, and the various paintings spread out.

One of them depicted a dilapidated city wall with soldiers arrayed, and outside, an overwhelming number of demons.

A resolute figure in silver armor, a black cloak, and holding a Three-Pointed, Double-Edged Spear stood above the city wall, facing six hideous, massive demons!