276: Apocalypse Intervention

Outside the tent, Hua Hanxiang had just walked a short distance when her pink silk dress appeared exceptionally soft and beautiful in the morning light.

She stopped and scanned the camp, seeing people from various forces busy packing their gear. Some Cultivators were counting their Medicinal Pills and Magical Artifacts, while others were discussing something in low voices, their faces filled with anticipation and tension.

Clearly, everyone was preparing for the afternoon auction.

It was said that clues related to Daoist Ming Ya's Immortal Cave would appear at that auction, and no Cultivator was willing to miss out.

Hua Hanxiang withdrew her gaze and continued forward, the green grass underfoot wet with morning dew, dampening the hem of her skirt.

Not long after she started walking, a sudden noisy commotion broke out in the distance, mixed with several arguments, shattering the camp's peace.

Hua Hanxiang followed the sound and saw a group of black-clad Cultivators arguing with the Cultivators at the camp entrance. Both sides were at each other's throats, and the atmosphere was extremely tense.

The black-clad Cultivators all had cold, stern faces, and they each wore a dragon-patterned token of the Tianqi Dynasty at their waists. The tokens glinted with a cold, hard luster in the sunlight, exuding an unquestionable authority.

The leader of the black-clad Cultivators had a sinister face and eyes as sharp as knives. He took a step forward, his tone heavy with pressure:

"Move aside! We are acting on the orders of the Sovereign to investigate suspicious individuals within the camp. If major matters are delayed, can you bear the responsibility?"

The Cultivators at the camp entrance looked uneasy, yet they didn't dare to back down easily—this was Situ Jun's camp, and without his command, no one was allowed to search freely.

The two sides were at a stalemate, and it looked as though the conflict was about to escalate.

Hua Hanxiang's gaze turned cold, her elegant face covered in a layer of frost. Just as she was about to step forward to mediate, Bai Yu appeared out of nowhere and blocked her path. He was Situ Jun's servant, Bai Yu.

Although Bai Yu was old, with graying hair and beard, the moment he stood still, he emitted a terrifying aura. That aura was like a thick dark cloud, instantly enveloping the entire corner and causing the air to stagnate.

The black-clad leader's expression shifted slightly upon seeing this. He was about to shout an angry rebuke, but when he felt the Cultivation fluctuations radiating from Bai Yu, the words died in his throat, and his arrogance instantly halved.

He knew clearly that this old man was no ordinary person. Although they came on the Sovereign's orders, they had to pick their battles. If they truly provoked the other party, not only would they fail their mission, they might even lose their lives.

He forced himself to remain calm, squeezed out a stiff smile, and cupped his hands toward Bai Yu, saying:

"Senior, we are acting on His Majesty's decree. We did not mean to offend..."

"Decree?"

Bai Yu let out a cold laugh, his voice filled with thick mockery:

"This is the camp of Situ Jun, the City Lord of the Northern Frontier. All personnel have undergone strict verification, and there are no so-called suspicious persons. You may leave now, lest you disturb Lord Situ while he handles official business."

The black-clad leader's face turned shades of blue and white. His lips moved as if he wanted to say more, but meeting Bai Yu's cold gaze, he ultimately swallowed his words.

Knowing that continuing the entanglement would yield no benefit, he could only offer a few more apologetic smiles before leading his black-clad Cultivators away in frustration.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to look back at the depths of the camp, his eyes carrying a hint of resentment and vigilance.

Hua Hanxiang watched the backs of the black-clad men disappear around the corner of the camp before withdrawing her gaze and walking to Bai Yu's side, whispering:

"Why would the people of the Tianqi Dynasty suddenly come to check for suspicious personnel? Normally, they only keep an eye on the remnants of war at the borders; they shouldn't be turning their attention to the heart of the Southern Frontier."

Bai Yu's aged body stood ramrod straight, his eyes darkening with a hint of contemplation:

"In my view, they might also be after Daoist Ming Ya's Immortal Cave. News of the cave's opening has been spreading like wildfire lately, and Li Xuan of the Tianqi Dynasty has always been ambitious; he naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity. They want to use the excuse of checking for suspicious personnel to scout out the backgrounds of various groups and see which forces are interested in the Immortal Cave, so they can plan ahead."

He paused and turned to look at Hua Hanxiang, his eyes carrying a hint of inquiry:

"Madam, you've just come from the Lord's tent. Did he have any instructions?"

"The Lord is currently dealing with the matter of the refugees from East Lin City. For now, his mind isn't entirely on the Immortal Cave."

Hua Hanxiang shook her head gently, briefly informing him of the situation inside the tent.

Just as she finished speaking, a sudden burst of hurried footsteps came from the distance, approaching rapidly with a hint of panic.

The two looked toward the sound and saw a Cultivator in green martial attire running over quickly. His hair was somewhat disheveled, and his forehead was covered in beads of sweat, clearly having sprinted all the way.

When he reached them, he held his knees and gasped for breath, saying while panting:

"Lord Bai Yu, news has come from the scouts. Three thousand Imperial Guards of the Tianqi Dynasty are stationed a hundred miles from here. They have already sent scouts toward Daoist Ming Ya's Immortal Cave. From the looks of it, they seem to want to occupy the key paths around the Immortal Cave in advance."

Hua Hanxiang's beautiful eyes blinked slightly, a flash of surprise crossing them. Her fingertips subconsciously tightened on her sleeves, and her voice carried a hint of gravity:

"Three thousand Imperial Guards? The Tianqi Dynasty is playing for keeps! It's just a Cultivator's Immortal Cave, yet they've mobilized an army of such scale. What exactly are they trying to do? The Imperial Guards are the elite force of the Tianqi Dynasty; they are never easily mobilized under normal circumstances, yet they've been sent here now. This is truly abnormal."

The composure on Bai Yu's face vanished completely, his brows furrowed into a tight knot, and his aged fingers slowly clenched at his side:

"Something is wrong, very wrong. The Imperial Guards are the elite who protect the capital of the Tianqi Dynasty. They are only deployed when the capital faces a crisis or during major wars. Even ordinary border conflicts might not warrant their mobilization. Now, for the sake of a Cultivator's Immortal Cave, they've brought in heavy troops. It's impossible that they're only here for the treasures inside."

His gaze swept over the Cultivators moving about the camp. Those Cultivators came from major Sects, were powerful, and were numerous—not a group these three thousand Imperial Guards could afford to provoke.

Yet the Tianqi Dynasty still chose to send troops. There must be a deeper reason behind it.

His tone was as heavy as lead:

"There are many Cultivators from various Sects here with varying strengths, but their collective power far exceeds these three thousand Imperial Guards. The Tianqi Dynasty cannot be unaware of this. So why do they still insist on getting involved? There must be some hidden truth we don't know about."

Hua Hanxiang also couldn't figure out the key point. She could only temporarily suppress the doubts in her heart and said:

"The priority now is to continue sending scouts to closely monitor their movements. Once there is any new information, report it to me and the Lord immediately. We cannot afford to be careless."

For now, all they could do was first figure out the other party's intentions before deciding on a countermeasure.

The green-clad Cultivator nodded vigorously, took his orders, and turned to leave quickly to continue arranging the scouts.

Hua Hanxiang's gaze fell back onto the center of the camp. By now, the morning light had filled the entire clearing, and golden sunlight enveloped the camp. Wisps of cooking smoke rose from the tents of various forces, and the aroma of food wafted through the air, looking like a scene of peace.

But within that seemingly peaceful atmosphere, undercurrents were surging everywhere.

The major forces appeared to be at peace on the surface, but were secretly gathering intelligence and competing for the chance to enter the Nether Crow Cave Mansion. The sudden intervention of the Tianqi Dynasty made the situation even more complex and unpredictable.

Hua Hanxiang sighed softly, knowing in her heart that the coming days would likely no longer be peaceful.