385: This is interesting (asking for a monthly ticket)

At this moment, in the pitch-black night, two rows of bronze lamps lit up the two-story building in this small courtyard, their light like flickering beans, casting a dim, yellowish glow.

Under the yellowish candlelight, silhouettes were cast upon the windows.

In front of a low table, seven or eight people knelt, their upper bodies straight, divided into two rows, with swords laid across their kneeling thighs, displaying the demeanor of retainers.

Behind the low table, the Crown Prince of Northern Liang, clad in a black python robe and exuding an imposing aura, lowered his gaze to look at one person in front of the table.

The individual, with hands clasped, reported, "Currently, the mirage in Taiping County has begun to affect real space. The Zu Mountain, as the locals of Taiping County call it, is enveloped in thick fog. I went in to investigate, and it was like being caught in a ghost wall; even with various methods, I only circled in place and could not enter."

"I suspect this is not an illusion, but rather the effect of spatial distortion!"

"Furthermore, a woodcutter from outside the city once saw a divine firebird enter this mountain. Based on investigations, I suspect it's the same one that the Ninth Mountain Army was pursuing in General Mountain. Such a situation, in the increasingly apparent anomalies in Sichuan, is absolutely not simple!"

"Moreover, a Piaoji under the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General has already sent people to cordon off this mountain, suggesting he attaches great importance to it. I believe it's better sooner than later; while that Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General hasn't mobilized a large force, we can make a move first."

This person's eyes flickered with a sharp glint.

These retainers had been dispatched by His Highness to various places in Jiannan Road to gather information on the Qi Luck Spiritual Root.

Some indeed had Gains. For instance, in Qingyuan County, Anshun Prefecture, several hunters encountered an avalanche in the mountains and were buried under an ice cave. Just as they were about to starve and freeze to death, they discovered a glowing red exotic fruit in the ice cave. To survive, they scrambled and swallowed it whole, subsequently feeling a burning sensation throughout their bodies, and their bones and muscles hummed, like the harmonious sound of the Dao, cleansing their marrow and refining their muscles. One hunter even directly broke through from the Forging Bone Stage Martial Artist to Body Profound in one go!

The retainer had verified that this was indeed true!

In any case, with this great snow in July, such rumors slowly began to proliferate.

Amidst the decay of all things, life hidden beneath the ice layer was no longer a secret.

As for the mountain that suddenly appeared in Taiping County, it was very peculiar. It was taken over by the Ninth Mountain from the start, and news was suppressed, so very few people knew about it.

"Somewhat interesting!" The Crown Prince of Northern Liang slowly nodded, "It's so close, we can go take a look!"

"What about the Ninth Mountain's people?" A retainer whispered, a strange look on his face.

"The Ninth Mountain is at its peak; avoid them if possible. Don't let these people distract our..." His Highness slowly began, his profile appearing indistinct in the flickering candlelight.

Just as the Crown Prince of Northern Liang was speaking, a "thump-thump-thump" knocking sound echoed from the silent night outside.

And at that instant, a figure abruptly appeared beside His Highness, causing the nearby candlelight to dim, and an old voice also sounded in His Highness's ear.

"That Saintess of the Western Regions Holy Sect has arrived!"

"And she brought an interesting person with her!"

The Crown Prince of Northern Liang frowned. He actually didn't want to get involved with this Saintess right now because of the Ninth Mountain.

"You all may withdraw first!"

"Yes, Your Highness."

His retainers retreated one after another, disappearing into the shadows where the candlelight couldn't reach.

With a flick of his sleeve, His Highness pondered, "Please invite them in."

Soon, a grating creak of a door opening came from the silent night outside.

Then, a heavy footsteps sound was heard approaching from afar, accompanied by a clattering collision sound.

The Crown Prince of Northern Liang was all too familiar with this sound; it was the sound of armor clashing as one moved.

He heard from Old Wang that two people had come, but there was only one set of footsteps.

Soon, as the sound of footsteps on the stairs grew closer, the Crown Prince of Northern Liang saw the two figures under the light.

The Saintess of the Western Regions Holy Sect, this time, she had changed her attire. She wore a black brocade long dress with a slit at the chest, revealing enticing flesh under the candlelight, and a mysterious and eerie large-eyed bronze mask on her face.

However, the Crown Prince of Northern Liang's gaze did not fall upon this mysterious, noble, and utterly alluring Holy Maiden of the Western Regions, but rather on the burly man behind her.

Clad in green armor, he was clearly in Ninth Mountain's standard uniform!

Following this Saintess was actually a Ninth Mountain Captain!

The Crown Prince of Northern Liang raised an eyebrow, but then heard Old Wang's faint voice beside his ear, "This Captain is no longer himself; something has occupied his body!"

"It's not Possession; the spirit within is still there. It's more like a soul-attachment!"

"Presumably, this is their Holy Church's method!"

His Highness's raised eyebrow furrowed. He had known that these people's Cultivation Techniques were bizarre, yet even he hadn't seen through this.

"Tong Shan, Captain of the Ninth Mountain Left Route Weiwei, greets Your Highness!"

At this moment, a deep voice came from the green-armored man's mouth. His eyes were lively, and he stepped forward, cupping his fists and bowing.

However, the Crown Prince of Northern Liang did not acknowledge "this person" but instead looked at the smiling eyes beneath the bronze mask, his tone cold: "I recall telling Your Excellency the Saintess last time that I would not meddle in the grievances between you and that Zhonglang General. What is the meaning of you replacing this Ninth Mountain Captain and bringing him here to my residence?"

The Saintess, whose black dress with a slit was full of allure, chuckled, "Your Highness truly has sharp eyes. I have been observing the Ninth Mountain for the past two days, trying to send people to infiltrate, but unfortunately, this mountain has many Restrictions, and I haven't encountered any isolated troops, so it hasn't succeeded. Today, however, my subordinates finally seized an opportunity and intercepted a messenger heading south!"

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince of Northern Liang's eyes narrowed. As someone who had led troops, he knew that the Saintess's subordinates had intercepted an urgent military dispatch.

"Are you playing with fire? Do you know the serious nature of intercepting an urgent military dispatch?"

His tone was somewhat grim. For the Northern Liang Royal Mansion, which had risen from military origins, they genuinely disdained such unscrupulous behavior. Urgent military dispatches were often for critical military intelligence; once something went wrong and delayed a military opportunity, it wouldn't be just one or two lives lost.

As the Crown Prince of Northern Liang, he had his own grand vision.

Even if he had a grudge against the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General and harbored killing intent, it was only directed at the individual.

However, the Holy Maiden of the Western Regions smiled wantonly, the corner of her mouth beneath the bronze mask curving upwards, "I must find the person I am looking for."

"This concerns the great plan of the Western Regions Holy Sect, so even taking some risks is worth it."

"Back to the main point, on this messenger Captain, there is a very interesting secret letter! I thought Your Highness would be interested, so I came uninvited."

"What secret letter?" The Crown Prince of Northern Liang's eyes slightly slanted.

He saw the green-armored Captain step forward and hand over a paper tube with the wax seal broken open.

The Crown Prince of Northern Liang reached out and drew it into his hand, then unfolded the paper.

On it were scattered and disconnected characters.

This was a secret code, requiring knowledge of a specific sequence to understand.

This was very common in military camps.

"Through soul control, we learned the content of this secret letter."

"Go to Chuanzhong Pass to find a person named Gongsun Yang and ask if this person knows the whereabouts of the Zhonglang General!"

"This is getting interesting!" (End of Chapter)