312: Letter from the North (asking for monthly ticket)

Just as Chen Yuan delved deeper into General Mountain, which was like a heaven and earth furnace,

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, streaks of light broke through the sky from afar, arriving one after another at the periphery of General Mountain, causing violent sonic booms.

A rare treasure has appeared in General Mountain!

The news spread quickly, as this place was only two hundred li from Jinguancheng, and a Heavenly Gate expert could fly here at full speed in just half an incense stick's time.

But at this moment, around General Mountain, in the sky and on the ground, banners fluttered, and Black Armored Soldiers formed arrays.

The Fashan Flag of the Ninth Mountain fluttered!

"This area is dangerous, no approaching!"

"By order of the General, no one is allowed to trespass."

Whistles shrieked, and Ninth Mountain Army soldiers on horseback flew banners, relaying the message around General Mountain.

And indeed, the streaks of light and figures actually stopped, not daring to collide with the army formation, and halted at the periphery.

These people looked around, seeing thick smoke billowing from General Mountain, its body glowing red, enveloped by a layer of golden light, from which dazzling fire Xia occasionally spewed out. Their eyes couldn't help but burn with excitement, but seeing the Ninth Mountain Army standing ready, a hint of annoyance and apprehension appeared.

It wasn't apprehension towards this group of armored soldiers, but rather towards the Ninth Mountain Fashan Flag fluttering in the wind and snow. After all, the Ninth Mountain's main base was near Jinguancheng, and their Zhonglang General was currently there.

Among these people were Heavenly Gate experts from Jinguancheng, as well as various unsavory characters.

Local Heavenly Gate experts could only listen to the commotion; despite their intentions, they dared not cause trouble.

As for the unsavory characters among them, their eyes flickered with gloom and annoyance. The Ninth Mountain's actions were a bit too overbearing.

But after all, they wore official uniforms and had a legitimate reason for their actions. If they were killed for trespassing, they wouldn't have a right to complain.

They were waiting, believing that not everyone feared the prestige of the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General.

At this moment, in the wind and snow, two beautiful figures flew out from the crowd of onlookers, attracting the attention of many.

One woman wore a colorful dress, with a clear and peerless Face, ice-like skin and jade-like bones, like a person stepping out of a painting, with a hint of cold arrogance in her brows and eyes. The woman beside her was completely different: her Face was charming, with long, narrow Phoenix eyes, and three cinnabar marks between her brows, accentuating her even more radiant temperament, a mixture of fiery and noble qualities, especially eye-catching.

The two women stood together, dazzling and stunning, making people wonder when Jinguancheng had produced such two women!

However, these two women actually dared to charge the army formation. Many people familiar with the Ninth Mountain's style of action waited to watch the show.

The two women were precisely Qin Rushuang and Du Gu伽罗, who were drawn to the excitement!

As the two women flew to the front of the army formation, the sound of swords being drawn immediately rang out. The soldiers opposite them were new recruits and had not seen Qin Rushuang before. Upon seeing such beautiful women, although their minds wavered slightly, they tried their best to maintain solemnity, their hands on the swords at their waists, half-drawn.

"Stop, both of you!"

"This place is dangerous and has been sealed off. No approaching!"

Opposite, Du Gu伽罗's Phoenix eyes flickered, giving a hint to her friend Qin Rushuang to take out the item.

Qin Rushuang felt a bit helpless with this older sister. This good sister just loved excitement and insisted on dragging her along, wanting to see what happened to this mountain. But the Ninth Mountain had sealed off the surrounding area, and military orders were like mountains, with their own military rules. She didn't want to consume the goodwill General Chen had given her by doing something overstepping.

Sister Jialuo wanted her to take out the Pass token!

She felt a bit flushed from being dragged along.

Just then, by chance, Niu Bing, the Lang Jiang who had led the team before, was nearby. The soldiers guarding this area were his subordinates, and he had naturally seen Qin Rushuang. He quickly strode forward, letting out a soft shout,

"What are you doing? Put away your swords. They are our own people."

"This Fairy Miss Qin is one of the Wei Yuan Eight Heroes and has fought alongside the General. Do not be rude."

Then he turned sideways and apologized to Qin Rushuang,

"I am Niu Bing. Fairy may not know me, but I have witnessed Fairy's grace at Weiyuan Pass."

"Fairy Miss Qin, please don't be offended. These subordinates are newly recruited. Fairy, are you planning to enter the mountain? However, the General has ordered a lockdown, so I must report to the Piaoji General."

His rapid-fire speech, delivered with enthusiasm, left Qin Rushuang flustered.

Before she could speak, he turned and leaped away in a hurry to report.

And seeing this, the few young soldiers looked at each other, somewhat surprised, and cupped their hands.

"Fairy, please forgive us!"

The cold arrogance in Qin Rushuang's eyes disappeared. "No matter!"

But then, a giggle sounded from beside her. Du Gu伽罗 looked at Qin Rushuang with a smile, "My sister still has more Face."

Though it was a joke, Du Gu伽罗's beautiful eyes flickered at this moment. She saw the Ninth Mountain's young soldiers' heartfelt recognition of her sister, and her understanding of the battlefield Qin Rushuang had described earlier became more tangible. She had never experienced this feeling herself; the respect of those around her was based on her being the daughter of the Undefeated Divine Marquis.

Qin Rushuang was just turning her head to respond to her sister's teasing, when she saw her sister suddenly speak,

"Sister, what do you think of me becoming a female General in the future?"

Qin Rushuang was used to her friend's erratic thinking and nodded along, "That should be good."

Du Gu伽罗's beautiful eyes lit up, and she said nothing more.

Within a few breaths, a voice rang out.

"Let them pass!"

As the words fell, a streak of light landed on the ground, revealing a figure in red armor radiating a fierce Aura. On the left shoulder of the figure, a white-headed, red-haired monkey squatted, baring its teeth.

The person who arrived was Cloud Skyborn.

Cloud Skyborn walked over quickly, and his armored soldiers made way.

"Miss Qin, Young Miss Dugu!"

He greeted the two women. From his address, one could tell the Cavalry General Yun's closeness to the two women.

After all, Qin Rushuang was considered "half a comrade" of their Ninth Mountain!

His General was also very courteous to her.

"Thank you, Cavalry General Yun!"

Qin Rushuang and Du Gu伽罗 entered the army formation, expressed their gratitude, and then said, "We'll just circle the outside of the mountain; we won't disturb you."

"If there's anything we can help with, Cavalry General Yun, please feel free to ask!"

Qin Rushuang was very tactful. She could feel the abundant Qi overflowing from General Mountain, but she didn't ask what the Ninth Mountain was doing by sealing the mountain, nor did she inquire about Chen Yuan's whereabouts, and she offered to help.

Cloud Skyborn looked towards the indistinct figures around him and didn't hold back, saying sternly, "There's been a heavenly omen in General Mountain, and the General is investigating the cause. News of a treasure appearing here has attracted many covetous eyes, which might cause a disturbance. If possible, please help us maintain the formation, Miss Qin."

"Why didn't you invite me?"

Unexpectedly, Du Gu伽罗 asked with a playful smile.

Even the usually stern Cloud Skyborn was choked, and he cupped his hands.

"Then thank you, Young Miss Dugu!"

But just then, someone, seeing the two women enter General Mountain, became agitated. Someone distorted their voice to stir up emotions,

"How come they can enter, but we can't!"

"You Ninth Mountain say you'll seal General Mountain, just like that? By what right?"

"A treasure has appeared, and you Ninth Mountain want to monopolize it."

"Everyone charge! I heard a Phoenix descended inside; there must be treasures."

"..."

Voices echoed all around, one after another, but their exact location couldn't be pinpointed. For a moment, figures stirred, shooting out streaks of light.

Cloud Skyborn's expression changed, his eyes turned cold. He leaped up, stepping into the Void Realm, and roared!

"Form ranks!"

As his words fell, the sound of swords being drawn rang out in unison, and banners flew into the sky.

Following closely, the clatter of armor colliding rang out uniformly, as armored soldiers, clad in armor and wielding sharp weapons, stepped forward in unison, their momentum shaking the ground, causing the figures to retreat involuntarily.

But just then, in the northern sky, a cold hum vibrated through the wind and snow.

"A bunch of shrimp soldiers and crab generals from Shu dares to claim supremacy!"

"This old man, Beiliang Wang Mang, will come and experience it!"

As the voice fell, a figure, stepping on wind and snow, descended from the sky. Dressed in gray, with white hair fluttering in the wind, his eyes were like swords, gleaming with astonishing sharpness.

A monstrous Aura, with his raised hand, poured out.

In an instant, the wind and snow howled and condensed, forming a giant finger about twenty zhang long, pointing fiercely towards the Fashan Flag, which was flying across the mountain and shimmering with spiritual light. Immediately, the world changed color.

That finger, as majestic as a mountain pillar, pressed down, causing the Void Realm to roar wildly and instantly blur.

Extremely fast!

Cloud Skyborn immediately roared, pulling out a flag from his back, which transformed to three zhang in size, with golden light flowing on its surface. He waved the flag with both hands.

Immediately, hundreds of small Fashan Flags hummed and moved in unison, golden light flowing from their surfaces, turning into a golden mountain of similar size, meeting the giant finger.

At this moment, a painting scroll also unfolded within the army formation. A twenty-zhang-tall fire tree bloomed with vibrant flowers. As the tree swayed, countless vibrant fiery-red petals peeled off and flew out of the painting, shooting into the Void Realm, spiraling towards the rapidly descending giant finger.

It was Qin Rushuang!

And Du Gu伽罗, beside her, narrowed her long, narrow Phoenix eyes. Those people from Northern Liang, she heard their Young Master had arrived, so it seemed they meant no good.

She wasn't afraid; instead, she felt somewhat happy. Her beautiful eyes widened, and the three-flower mark between her brows shimmered in her pupils.

Then, her fingers, like lotus petals, quickly formed seals at her chest. A pure and flawless, brightly glowing pure vase appeared, with a tip of a verdant green bamboo inserted into it. But this green bamboo was entirely like jadeite, shimmering with dazzling, crystal-clear spiritual light, quite Divine.

The brilliant spiritual light, the jade bottle, and the green bamboo accentuated the originally charming woman, making her exquisitely ethereal.

Then, Du Gu伽罗 took out this small section of green bamboo, flicked it upwards, and an astonishing spiritual light burst forth. Subsequently, a long green whip appeared, letting out a shocking sonic boom as it was swung, striking towards the giant finger.

The spiritual light on it was astonishing, certainly not an ordinary Dao weapon!

In an instant, the sky full of fire, the golden mountain, and the green bamboo whip, all simultaneously slammed into the giant finger!

A heaven-shattering roar boomed, and a wave of Qi surged wildly.

The small golden mountain condensed by the Fashan Flag and the white giant finger collided with a crash. The golden light suddenly dimmed, and the sky full of fire shot onto the giant finger, clanging incessantly, with continuous sounds of metal clashing, splashing intense sparks; and Du Gu伽罗's green long whip was the most domineering, its whip tail raising a shocking sonic boom, then suddenly sharp long thorns emerged from it, fiercely lashing at the giant finger, followed by it, like a giant green snake, coiling and tearing onto it.

In an instant, the exchange of blows was completed, striking with astonishing spiritual light.

But the white great finger, seemingly unremarkable, contained an indomitable and unstoppable Divine Power. With a loud crash, the golden mountain suddenly fell, showing signs of decline first, with dense cracks appearing on its surface.

Then, the surrounding scattered fireworks were shattered by the vibrating great finger. Only the green bamboo whip, under the vibration of this Divine Power, burst forth with dazzling green light. Some of its sharp thorns shattered, while others pierced into the great finger, causing tiny cracks to appear.

"Humph!"

A cold snort!

The Beiliang Wang Mang, dressed in a gray robe with sharp eyes, let out a cold snort and pressed his finger down.

With a "boom" sound.

The golden mountain shattered.

Cloud Skyborn and hundreds of armored soldiers staggered, scattered by an invisible force, and the Felling Mountain Formation Flag flying in the sky also fell.

Qin Rushuang's Dao fruit painting was sent flying, and her delicate body let out a muffled groan, retreating continuously. Finally, her chest felt stuffy, and she spat out a mouthful of blood.

And the daughter of the Undefeated Divine Marquis, her green bamboo whip was vibrated back. She retreated more than ten steps in the Void Realm to stabilize herself, her Face turning pale. Then, her Phoenix eyes narrowed as she looked at the old man in the sky, raising her other hand to throw out the white pure vase, which grew larger against the wind.

The Beiliang Wang Mang swept his sleeve, sending the white pure vase flying. His sharp eyes fixed on the woman, a hint of annoyance flashing through them.

This sole daughter of the Divine Marquis's family, for some reason, had gotten involved with the Ninth Mountain.

"Little girl from the Divine Marquis's family, this old man advises you not to bring trouble upon yourself."

Saying this, he looked indifferently at the Ninth Mountain armored soldiers lying injured on the ground below,

"A bunch of trash, far inferior to my Northern Liang Iron Cavalry. This old man will just teach you a good lesson on behalf of that Ninth Zhonglang."

Saying this, he raised the corner of his eye and looked at General Mountain, which was enveloped by a golden light in the distance,

"I can't be bothered to waste time with you. This old man will just see what's in that mountain!"

As the words fell, the person's feet flickered, transforming into a dazzling streak of light, rushing towards General Mountain.

He crashed into the golden light, and then his body suddenly erupted with a gray spiritual light, drilling a hole through the golden light. He then entered, rushing into the smoke-billowing General Mountain.

His movement triggered a chain reaction, and immediately two streaks of astonishing light rushed out simultaneously.

Two hidden Divine Ability users took this opportunity to rush in!

They dared not underestimate the reputation of the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General. No one dared to be the first to provoke this tiger's whiskers. Now, seeing someone had gone in, they naturally followed.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

The two Divine Ability users, enveloped in dazzling spiritual light, unlike the Northern Liang Divine Ability user, had to attack the golden light with their Divine Abilities for five or six breaths before finally breaking through it. They then quickly disappeared into the smoke-billowing volcano.

"It's open!"

Now, chaos ensued.

Figures, seeing the light barrier broken, gritted their teeth and rushed in.

Immediately, sharp whistles rang out.

Meanwhile, as General Mountain erupted in chaos,

Amidst the swirling snow outside the northern city wall of Jinguancheng, an eagle's cry suddenly rang out, followed by a silver light breaking through the wind and snow.

An Ao Tian Falcon, shaking its silver wings, revealed its figure!

Standing on it was a messenger soldier with a red command flag inserted!