405: Li Zhong went to the northern frontier

Night descended upon Northern Frontier City once again.

The night sky was like ink, enveloping the entire Northern Frontier City in darkness.

Lights in the city gradually flickered on, dotting the landscape like stars in the sky, illuminating corners of the streets.

Atop the city walls, the Imperial Guards remained steadfast at their posts. Torches burned fiercely, reflecting on their solemn faces as they vigilantly scanned everything outside the city, strictly guarding against any unusual movements.

In the study of the Northern Frontier City Lords Mansion, candlelight flickered.

Upon a bronze candlestick, two candles burned. The dancing flames projected Situ Jun's silhouette onto the wall, stretching and shrinking it, making him appear even more upright and profound.

Situ Jun entered the study alone and closed the door behind him, isolating himself from all the noise and warmth of the outside world.

He walked to the desk and, with a wave of his hand, a massive map of the Tianqi Dynasty's territory slowly unfurled.

The map was made of a special material, refined from the skin of a Yao Beast. Marked in cinnabar were the mountains, rivers, cities, fortresses, and Cultivator factions of the Tianqi Dynasty, as well as all the passages between the Northern Frontier and the Royal Capital—dense and clear at a glance.

Under the candlelight, Situ Jun's gaze fell upon the map. His fingertips slowly traced the region between the Northern Frontier and the Royal Capital, a trace of deep thought flashing in his eyes.

Li Zhong's investigation of him certainly wouldn't be delayed for long.

He would either send people ahead to the Northern Frontier to secretly investigate his movements and gather so-called "evidence," or he would personally lead the Heaven-Patrolling Iron Cavalry straight to Northern Frontier City for a face-to-face verification.

In either case, he had to prepare in advance and devise a strategy.

He needed to find a suitable location—one that could avoid the commoners of Northern Frontier City while also allowing him to catch Li Zhong and his Subordinates by surprise and subdue them in one fell swoop.

If he acted within Northern Frontier City, it would inevitably disturb the people and damage the stability of the Northern Frontier, which was something he did not wish to see.

His gaze slowly swept across the region between the Northern Frontier and the Royal Capital on the map, finally landing on a mountain range labeled "Qingfeng Ridge."

Qingfeng Ridge was located three thousand miles south of Northern Frontier City and ten thousand miles from the Royal Capital, consisting of a series of rolling mountain ranges.

The peaks there pierced the clouds and were shrouded in mist year-round. The mountains were densely forested with ancient trees reaching for the sky, their branches interlacing to almost blot out the entire sky, making it appear dark and deep even during the day.

The terrain was not only extremely treacherous with cliffs and precipices everywhere, but it was also home to Yao Beasts year-round—ranging from low-tier Yao Beasts to high-tier Vicious Beasts, and even occasionally Yao Beasts comparable to Golden Core Cultivators. Consequently, very few people dared to step foot into Qingfeng Ridge, making it a truly desolate place.

More importantly, the fluctuations of spiritual power within Qingfeng Ridge were extremely abnormal. The Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth seemed to be twisted and gathered by an invisible force, forming natural barriers of spiritual power.

This unique environment made it very difficult for a Cultivator to utilize their Spiritual Sense; even high-level Cultivators would find it hard to detect a dangerous aura a hundred feet away.

Furthermore, the complex terrain of Qingfeng Ridge, with its interlocking mountains, created a unique spectacle of swirling clouds and mist, resembling a misty fairyland.

"I'll choose Qingfeng Ridge."

Situ Jun murmured to himself, his fingertip tapping the location of Qingfeng Ridge on the map as a flash of resolve crossed his eyes.

"If Li Zhong comes personally, I will wait for him at Qingfeng Ridge and subdue him in one go; I must not let him take a single step into Northern Frontier City. If he sends Subordinates, I will take them down as well; they must not be allowed to disturb the people of the Northern Frontier or destroy the stability here."

Having made up his mind, Situ Jun no longer hesitated.

He raised his hand, took several blank sound transmission talismans from his storage ring, focused his Divine Sense, and rapidly carved instructions onto them.

As his Divine Sense flowed, golden light flickered. Each instruction contained his will and authority, brook no question.

There were arrangements for Nightingale, ordering him to keep a constant eye on the movements of the Royal Capital's Heaven-Patrolling Iron Cavalry and inform him immediately if they headed toward Northern Frontier City.

There were also instructions for Mysterious Clarity Master to keep a secret watch on the interactions between Li Xuan and Li Zhong in the Royal Capital and transmit news immediately if there was any abnormality.

After finishing all this, Situ Jun walked to the window and slowly pushed it open.

The night wind, carrying a bone-chilling cold, surged into the study, causing the candlelight to flicker violently, nearly extinguishing it.

He gazed out at the deep night. The lights of Northern Frontier City were scattered like stars, while the distant mountains were hidden in darkness, like crouching behemoths, silent and majestic.

His eyes were dark, and deep within them lay surging undercurrents and determination.

This investigation targeted at him was destined not to be peaceful.

But he had no choice but to strike first and take the initiative, eliminating the danger outside the Northern Frontier and blocking all conspiracies and storms before everything he cherished.

This was not only to keep the secret of his hidden strength but also to maintain the stability of the Northern Frontier, preserve the warmth of his home, and protect every person he held dear.

The night wind remained cold, sweeping through the night over Northern Frontier City, causing the candlelight in the study to flicker unsteadily.

Situ Jun's figure stood by the window, upright and profound, like an insurmountable mountain silently guarding this city and everything in his heart... The next day, just as dawn was breaking and a faint pale light appeared on the eastern horizon, an earth-shaking roar came from the direction where the Royal Capital's Heaven-Patrolling Iron Cavalry was stationed.

A massive sky patrol warship slowly rose.

That sky patrol warship was a standard vessel of the Qintian Division, dark black in color, fifty zhang long and about twenty zhang wide. Complex runes were carved upon the hull, shimmering with a faint spiritual light and emitting a majestic pressure.

At the top of the ship stood a massive mast, from which hung a black flag embroidered with a golden character "Qin," shining brightly in the morning light and displaying supreme authority.

The warship slowly ascended, breaking through the clouds and gaining speed, like a black behemoth spreading its wings to soar through the vast sea of clouds.

The hull cut through the sky, leaving a long black trail. Atop the trail, spiritual power fluctuations overflowed, causing the surrounding clouds to churn incessantly.

Almost at the same time the sky patrol warship set off for Northern Frontier City, within the Northern Frontier City Lords Mansion, Situ Jun was sitting at his desk, leafing through files on the Northern Frontier's livelihood.

Suddenly, his brow twitched slightly. With a flick of his finger, two sound transmission talismans flew out from his storage ring and hovered before him. Golden runes on the talismans still flickered with a weak light—these were urgent transmissions from Nightingale and Mysterious Clarity Master.

Situ Jun raised his hand and tapped lightly. The sound transmission talismans instantly turned into two golden streams of light, surging into his mind.

Nightingale's message was brief and urgent:

"Master, Li Zhong is personally leading a sky patrol warship toward Northern Frontier City. The exact number of people is unknown. They are expected to arrive within the Northern Frontier territory in three days."

Mysterious Clarity Master's message was similar, and he was continuing to gather more information.

After hearing the transmissions from both, a cold light flashed in Situ Jun's eyes. As expected, after only one night, Li Zhong was heading to the Northern Frontier to investigate him. This man acted decisively enough.

After replying to both, Situ Jun no longer hesitated. He immediately stood up, walked quickly out of the study, and instructed the guard at the door:

"Pass word to the Lady of the estate and Zhu Changpo that I have temporary business to attend to and am leaving now."

"Your Subordinate obeys!"

The guard responded respectfully and turned to leave quickly.

Situ Jun did not linger. With a movement of his body, he became a black stream of light, darting out from the backyard of the City Lords Estate and speeding toward Qingfeng Ridge outside Northern Frontier City.

His speed was extremely fast. His figure flashed through the dawn, leaving only a faint afterimage, soon disappearing beyond the gates of Northern Frontier City, heading toward Qingfeng Ridge.

He had to reach Qingfeng Ridge ahead of time to set up some concealment Formations and wait for the arrival of Li Zhong and the sky patrol warship...