377: They are all demon corpses

Just as Cloud Skyborn ordered those men to disarm in front of the military camp gate,

Below Ninth Mountain, above the military camp, a clear eagle cry resounded, and then a silver light plummeted, heading straight for the drill ground.

“Poof”

“Poof”

As it was about to land, a pair of silver wings flapped, stirring up the flying snow, and then two sharp, hook-like talons landed steadily on the muddy drill ground.

“Ao Tian Falcon!”

On the nearby training ground, many new recruits watched the excitement outside the military camp, their gazes involuntarily following this majestic falcon. This kind of exotic raptor, trained by the Ten Divisions, could travel thousands of miles a day and was usually used for urgent military reports, making them curious.

However, soon the cold shouts of their respective flag officers came, “What are you looking at? If you get distracted during training, you’d be dead on the battlefield. Add more training for yourselves.”

The new recruits quickly shrank their heads, complaining inwardly, but no one refused. They charged forward, shouting. Since joining Ninth Mountain, the training here had been exceptionally rigorous. Injuries were common, and the flag officers above were all cold-blooded to the point of being unfeeling. However, besides strict training, Ninth Mountain was also extremely good to its soldiers in other aspects, never stingy with various basic Medicinal Pills, medicinal baths, talismans, and even Cultivation Technique rewards, treating everyone fairly. This was one of the reasons many people persisted here, as most who came to Ninth Mountain were from commoner families. Another reason was that many people, upon hearing the legend of their Zhonglang General from their respective hometowns, heard that Ninth Mountain was recruiting soldiers, and joined the army with a burst of passion. Hot-blooded men left their hometowns, vowing not to return until they achieved fame, hoping to go to the battlefield soon and make their mark.

Therefore, even when that rumor spread throughout Jinguancheng a few days ago, only a group of aristocratic scions and those with impure motives left Ninth Mountain. The vast majority of people continued to train diligently, and it did not cause any disturbance.

Soon, the blood-boiling shouts and slashing sounds on the drill ground once again rushed into the sky, and no one paid attention to anything else.

Meanwhile, a figure jumped down from the Ao Tian Falcon and headed straight for the Commanding Platform in front of the drill ground.

“Zuozhi!”

“Weren’t you dispatched with your Commandant to welcome the General outside the city?”

“Has the General returned?”

A familiar Commandant saw Zuozhi arrive on the Ao Tian Falcon and quickly walked up, asking with a refreshed expression.

“This humble subordinate has an urgent military report!”

“I need to see the three Piaoji Generals!”

Zuozhi did not exchange pleasantries with this Commandant, his steps never stopping, and he directly stated his purpose.

“Urgent report?”

The Commandant’s eyes narrowed, and he quickly followed beside him, “Cavalry General Liu is stationed at General Mountain, and Cavalry General Lu led troops to Taiping County last night. Now only Cavalry General Yun is stationed in the main camp. I’ll go call someone.”

“No need.”

At this moment, Cloud Skyborn’s voice sounded, and his figure appeared on the high platform, blocking the two. One hand was behind his back, and the other was suspended in front of his waist, his brows stern.

“Urgent military report?”

“Follow me!”

“You wait outside first!”

He had Zuozhi follow him into the Commanding Platform, and told the Commandant to wait outside.

The Commanding Platform was not merely a high platform; it also had a nine-story tower. It was normally used by Ninth Mountain for mustering troops for expeditions, responsible for sacrifices, troop reviews, flag ceremonies, and so on. Now that Ninth Mountain had expanded its army and added new positions, this place was temporarily used by Cloud Skyborn, Liu Qing, and Lu Ming, the three Piaoji Generals, for their daily work, as there was no time to set up separate large camps.

Zuozhi followed Cloud Skyborn inside. Cloud Skyborn turned and flicked his sleeve, closing the door. Then his eyes narrowed as he looked at the Chief of the Right Route Army.

“What happened?”

Zuozhi knelt on one knee, cupped his fists, and said loudly, “After the news of Tianxiong Pass came, this humble subordinate followed my Commandant, under the military order of the three Piaoji Generals, to be ready to welcome the General back to the city two hundred li outside the city!”

“However, just now, we encountered a large force outside the city, about a thousand cavalry, led by a red-clothed woman!”

“This woman claimed to be the Patrolling Mountain Commandant of Qingshan County, but she had Heavenly Gate cultivation. They were escorting a large convoy of carriages, covered with black cloth and bearing Restrictions, so nothing could be detected!”

When Cloud Skyborn heard this, his eyelids immediately twitched, “Qingshan County?”

“Is it Qingshan County, under Baidi City?”

That was where their General originated, and the General had also served as Patrolling Mountain Commandant there.

“Replying to Cavalry General Yun, it is. My Commandant was quite polite after learning this and wanted to inquire about their purpose, also stating our identity. But this female Commandant was very cautious and refused to say, so the Commandant sent a subordinate to report.”

Cloud Skyborn listened, recalling the time he followed the General, who had just taken over as Zhonglang General, from Qingshan County to Tianxiong Pass to suppress the rebellion. He had seen a heroic, red-clothed woman beside the General. He made the connection in his mind, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, “Something must have happened in Qingshan County!”

“Issue the order, take a troop of men, and leave the city!”

Soon, the military camp gate at the foot of Ninth Mountain opened.

“Gallop”

“Gallop”

“Gallop”

Hooves thundered out, and large horses galloped, kicking up snow from under their hooves. In a flash, they transformed into streaks of metallic cold light, leaving only traces on the snow. Then, black flags flew out from behind the figures on horseback. The large horses neighed, leaped onto the flying flags, and headed straight north.

On the other side, in the backyard of the Jin Family in North City, a few wisps of hot steam rose from a pavilion over a pond.

The pond beneath the pavilion was already frozen. On the pavilion’s covered bridge, an old man wearing a bamboo hat held a bamboo pole, fishing through a hole in the ice. A pine tree by the pavilion was covered in pure white rime ice.

At this moment, inside the pavilion, beside a stone table, the Crown Prince of Northern Liang, dressed in a python robe yet gentle as jade, held a white jade pot, pouring a cup of tea for the person opposite him.

How could someone who could make the dignified Crown Prince of Northern Liang pour tea be an ordinary person? Opposite him sat a woman with a dignified posture, draped in white gauze, and wearing a bamboo hat. White gauze also hung from her bamboo hat, completely obscuring her face. Her demeanor was like a reclusive, transcendent Fairy.

“Swish swish”

The clear, emerald green tea poured down, falling into the white jade cup. A few emerald green needles swirled in the tea, and the faint, elegant fragrance of a mountain after a fresh rain wafted over with the rising steam.

“Clink”

The Crown Prince of Northern Liang put down the clear, flawless white jade pot, his long, narrow eyes looking at the woman opposite him, lifting slightly.

“Every time this Prince meets the Saintess, your attire is different. Sometimes like a flying Heavenly God from a Dunhuang fresco, sometimes like a transcendent, ethereal Fairy from a blessed immortal realm. A thousand faces for one person. I don’t know if the one sitting before this Prince is real or fake. I wonder when I will be able to see your true face.”

The veiled white-clothed woman opposite let out a soft laugh. Her voice was gentle like a woman from Jiangnan, yet it also sounded as if someone was tickling your ear. “Your Highness should know that my Cultivation Technique has not yet reached Major Achievement. Even I don’t know what I will look like tomorrow. It’s better not to scare Your Highness.”

“How truly marvelous. There is such a miraculous Cultivation Technique in the world. I have long heard that your Holy Church found the legendary Divine Ruins in the Western Regions. Did the Saintess find this Cultivation Technique in that place? It truly makes one curious.” The Crown Prince of Northern Liang’s eyes twinkled with curiosity, but his tone was somewhat meaningful.

It turned out that the woman opposite was indeed the Saintess of the Western Regions Holy Sect!

The Northern Liang iron cavalry had intimidated the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions, making them sworn enemies, but this Saintess of the Holy Church seemed to have frequent interactions with the Crown Prince of Northern Liang.

This Saintess of the Holy Church had concealed her face, and no Qi could be sensed from her body. On the surface, she looked normal, but deep down, there was a strange aura.

“Your Highness, stop probing. I came from Tianxiong Pass and wish to ask Your Highness a few things.”

“Oh?” The Crown Prince of Northern Liang’s eyes flickered slightly upon hearing the words “Tianxiong Pass.” “Please speak!”

“I heard that Your Highness once sent a message to my Holy Church’s disciples that the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General killed one of my Holy Church’s Protectors and two Altar Masters in that battle. May I ask, Your Highness, what is the relationship between the owner of Tianxiang Pavilion and this Zhonglang General?”

This Saintess of the Holy Church was investigating Tianxiang Pavilion, filling in the identities of the three “small fry” who were killed by the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General in the battle of Tianxiong Pass, but were not mentioned by anyone!

The Crown Prince of Northern Liang was somewhat surprised. He was unaware of such a twist in the matter, but the fact that this Saintess of the Western Regions Holy Sect was inquiring about the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General made the Prince uncomfortable.

His gentle-as-jade eyes twitched slightly, his eyelids lowered. He picked up the cup on the table and twirled it, his voice carrying a hint of gloom.

“Saintess, it’s better not to investigate!”

“I’m afraid not. The owner of Tianxiang Pavilion concerns my Holy Church.” The Saintess of the Western Regions Holy Sect shook her head, her gentle voice now changing its tone slightly, sounding somewhat distorted. Then she added, “Is Your Highness perhaps afraid of that Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General? I heard that when Your Highness entered the city, you seemed to have suffered a silent loss at his hands!”

As soon as these words left her mouth, the Crown Prince of Northern Liang’s rotating teacup stopped, tea splattering onto the table. And the old man fishing on the covered bridge nearby, motionless in the snow, felt his bamboo pole tremble, and a wisp of Qi escaped, causing the ice on the pond to crack with a crisp sound.

The Crown Prince of Northern Liang’s chest rose and fell slightly. He looked up at the unveiled woman, his expression becoming calm.

“Saintess, it seems you have already inquired, so there’s no need to provoke this Prince. Since you already know what happened at Tianxiong Pass, there’s no need to take risks with this person.”

“This person is arrogant by nature, without any scruples. He even dares to contend with the imperial court and the Dragon Tiger, and he has the help of the local Zhenmo General. Is the Saintess sure she wants to investigate?”

“Investigate!”

“Then let me state beforehand, this Prince and Northern Liang will not interfere!”

Opposite, the Saintess beneath the white mask seemed to be cornered, and finally, a thin, sharp laugh escaped her throat.

“Your Highness truly seems afraid!”

“No, it’s merely that my skill is inferior!” The Crown Prince of Northern Liang was very frank. “If I cannot kill this person, someone else will kill him.”

“The imperial court, the Three Imperial Families, and Your Excellency!”

“Why should I take the risk!”

As he finished speaking, the faint sound of wind and thunder could be heard from the sky.

“Rumble”

“Rumble”

The thunder rolled, growing clearer and clearer.

Beneath the pavilion, the three people on the covered bridge simultaneously looked up at the sky. Through the wind and snow, a black line streaked across the sky, heading north.

That black line was a troop of Black Armored Soldiers, hundreds of them, riding flying horses on flags, galloping through the sky.

The leader among them wore a silver flying fish robe!

“It’s the Ninth Mountain Army. The leader is the Zhonglang General’s confidant, heading north out of the city. It seems the Zhonglang General has returned from Tianxiong Pass!”

Beneath the pavilion, the Crown Prince of Northern Liang stood up, his eyes slightly narrowed, a certain demeanor in the wind and snow.

And the Holy Maiden of the Western Regions behind him also stood up, her mask blown away, revealing a fair chin and a sneering corner of her mouth.

The black line went north out of the city, rushing for hundreds of li through the fierce wind and snow, finally, in the northeast direction, amidst the vast forest and snowy plains, they saw a torrent of iron armor.

Amidst the vast wind and snow, a splash of red appeared particularly striking!

Cloud Skyborn, leading the way, raised his hand to give an order, then led his horse down, stopping in front of the red-clothed group!

On the date-red horse, a red robe fluttered, a three-foot green blade was slung diagonally across her back, a red ribbon tied her hair, and black boots were on her feet. Her brows were like swords, and her demeanor was heroic and sharp!

Behind her, a convoy of carriages wrapped in black cloth stretched for several li, with black Xuanjia cavalry on both sides, totaling over a thousand riders!

These Black Armored Soldiers were not of the Fa Shan Army’s standard, but rather of the Fu Gate’s standard, and they seemed to be individually different. What made Cloud Skyborn frown was that the armor of these soldiers bore traces of battle, as if they hadn’t had time to repair them recently.

And to the left of these soldiers were hundreds of soldiers wearing Ninth Mountain standard armor, following alongside, dozens of meters away. This was the original group that had prepared to welcome the General.

Cloud Skyborn immediately recognized the heroic red-clothed woman leading the way, made the connection, pulled his reins forward, and cupped his fists.

“Cloud Skyborn, Right Route Divine Might Piaoji General under the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General!”

Opposite, the moving procession stopped, and the red-clothed woman leading them relaxed her tense brows, cupped her fists, and reported her name.

“Lian Nishang, Patrolling Mountain Commandant of Qingshan County!”

Lian Nishang also recognized Cloud Skyborn. At that time, of the Ninth Mountain Army that went to Qingshan County, only three Commandants remained, and Cloud Skyborn, in his green armor, was the most noticeable.

Cloud Skyborn rode closer. He didn’t know why Lian Nishang, who was originally in Qingshan County, would travel thousands of li to Jinguancheng, where the Fu Gate soldiers behind her came from, and what were those things behind her, which were clearly much larger than ordinary carriages, wrapped in black cloth, and emitting spiritual light from Restrictions?

So he spoke directly:

“Commandant Lian, you have traveled thousands of li with your people to Jinguancheng. Has something happened that you seek the General?”

“And what are you escorting behind you?”

He subconsciously thought that Commandant Lian had come to Jinguancheng to find the General.

However, Lian Nishang, opposite him, raised her hand backward.

Seeing this hand signal, the iron cavalry on both sides of the convoy immediately drew their sabers with a “clatter, clatter, clatter” and slashed at the large carriages wrapped in black cloth beside them!

Saber Qi cut through, and a burst of spiritual light flickered on them, then they were split open. The black cloth below also made a tearing sound and ripped open.

“Hiss”

“Hiss”

“Hiss”

As the black cloth was unveiled, the escorted items were instantly exposed to the light of day.

A strong smell of blood and Demonic Qi instantly surged out!

They saw, in hundreds of crudely constructed wooden carriages, “gigantic objects” appearing one by one.

A head of a Bīngxiè, five or six zhang in size, with red eyes and white fur, its neck torn, dripping with fresh blood!

A huge, dark silver Gǔdiāo body, ten zhang in size, its head blown apart!

A Ba Snake, coiled up, its height alone seven or eight zhang, with only half a corpse remaining!

In these hundreds of carriages, they were actually escorting various incomplete Devil corpses!

And surprisingly, they were all Heavenly Gate-level Devils!

One must know that the flesh and blood of Heavenly Gate Devils were cultivation treasures that ordinary people could hardly obtain. Many Body Profound experts who had not been able to Breakthrough their Heavenly Gate Bottleneck for many years could Breakthrough with just a bottle of Heavenly Gate Devil essence blood.