Si Jiao’s gaze lingered upon Yu Li Yang. This strong individual of the Derivation Dao, younger than himself, had essentially matured under his watchful eye. In his youth, Yu Li Yang was a notorious profligate, and even after attaining the True Person realm, he styled himself the “Peach Blossom Immortal.” Indeed, a dissolute True Person he was, his amorous adventures and unrestrained ways echoing throughout the entire South Domain.

It was only after Great Xia faced the near-catastrophe of national annihilation that he seemed to transform into a different person. He became upright and cautious, gentle and courteous. And so, in the 17th year of the Divine Martial era, he ascended to an extraordinary peak.

If Sword Peak Mountain absolutely required a guardian, Si Jiao himself would be the most reliable choice, the one best suited to fulfilling the strategic intent. However, he was the principal commander of this war of national subjugation, and thus could not move lightly, nor should he be placed casually on the front lines. Given Xia Country’s current circumstances, they absolutely could not afford to sacrifice a contemporary True Person in such a manner.

Considering all factors, Yu Li Yang was the most suitable candidate. Yet, even he, the venerable Martial King, could not explicitly propose such a demand. He could not actively send a True Monarch, his equal in standing, on such a perilous mission. Therefore, if Yu Li Yang had not volunteered, he was prepared to assign another Marquis to accompany Jin Ling to Fengjie Prefecture…

“In this war, our objective is not to defeat Qi Country. Although when we first pledged our forces, there was talk of pushing into the East Domain and breaching Linzi… you and I both know this is impossible. Repelling the Qi army is our highest goal.”

Si Jiao continued, “But in truth, we don’t even need to repel the Qi army. What we need to strive for is merely time. The comprehensive war between Jing and Mu has already raged for a full twenty-one days. Jing Country is a world hegemon, its momentum unparalleled. We cannot predict when victory will be decided. We only need to hold the Qi army at bay, and wait until Jing Country wins the war in the North Domain. Victory will naturally fall to us, without a decisive battle.”

Yu Li Yang, with his hands behind his back, gazed into the distance. He disliked this feeling of weakness, of merely having to ‘hold on’ and ‘strive for time.’ To seize from above is the ideal; to seize from the middle is acceptable. Yet, Xia Country today didn’t even harbor the ambition to seize from above.

However, he knew with stark clarity in his heart what the reality was.

He asked, “Does the Martial King still remember how long we held out after the first emperor died in battle that year?”

“Thirty-three days.”

Though it had been thirty-two years ago, Si Jiao recounted it as if it were yesterday. That boundless heroic spirit was something time could not bury.

“Even with the main force broken and the first emperor fallen in battle, we still held out for thirty-three days. Thirty-three days, an inch of mud, an inch of blood, we fought to the death as a nation, holding off Qi Feng and constructing Yi Tian View. We forced even that Qi Heavenly Emperor to retreat! This time, the Qi Heavenly Emperor is not here, Jiang Mengxiong is absent, and Cao Ji is the one who has come. If we do not make striving for victory our duty, but instead steadily defend for half a year, there will be no problem. Half a year is certainly enough time for Jing and Mu to decide the victor.”

“I think so too,” Yu Li Yang replied, his tone somewhat flat.

Si Jiao pondered for a moment, then decided to offer Yu Li Yang a measure of reassurance. “Earlier, in the outer world, I formed a friendship with the Longevity Monarch of the South Dipper Hall by gifting him a small world. This time, I have invited him to act. The South Dipper Hall will support us against Qi!”

Yu Li Yang could not help but be moved! The Longevity Monarch of the South Dipper Hall – that was an existence standing at an extraordinary peak. He had once been styled the South Pole Longevity Emperor Monarch, presiding over an ancient sect, a Human Realm Immortal Emperor of awe-inspiring presence. Later, the Chu Heavenly Emperor had forcibly stripped him of his Emperor title, leaving him only as the Longevity Monarch.

Si Jiao had, without a sound, managed to enlist the support of a True Monarch? This was a chess piece of immeasurable value! Used at a critical juncture, it would be enough to turn the tide of the war!

But at the same time, Yu Li Yang considered, it was no wonder the Martial King had not given much thought to Jin Ling’s deployment to Chu. The Longevity Monarch could never join forces with the Chu people. Since he had invited the Longevity Monarch to act, he had, from the outset, held no hope for Chu Country.

“Will the South Dipper Hall act in full force?” Yu Li Yang inquired.

One must understand that the South Dipper Hall, as a great sect of the world, possessed seven great True Persons within its halls, all of whom were temporary strong individuals. For the current Xia Country, this was truly a lifeline of military power in a desperate situation.

Si Jiao replied, “At the very least, the Longevity Monarch will act once.”

Yu Li Yang, of course, understood. The so-called friendship between Si Jiao and the Longevity Monarch was open to interpretation. It must have been an agreement reached through certain means, in exchange for the Longevity Monarch acting once, perhaps with one or two True Persons from the South Dipper Hall. To expect the South Dipper Hall to offer full support was impossible… an ancient sect, its inheritance had its own rules.

So, what was the price paid? This question lingered in his heart, but he did not voice it.

Yu Li Yang finally said, “With the Martial King here, the sky will not fall. I shall go without worry!”

Si Jiao said with heartfelt sincerity, “Hold Sword Peak Mountain if you can, delay the Qi army by half a month at best, but if you cannot… then I still beg Min King, with the nation’s weight in mind, to not cling to a pristine reputation, and to withdraw if necessary. Great Xia has twenty-one prefectures; without Fengjie Prefecture, we still have Xiangyou Prefecture. Every inch of our rivers and mountains can be fought for. But without Min King, across ten thousand li of mountains and rivers, there will be no one left to fight… Min King, do not leave me utterly alone!”

“Martial King, rest assured, I understand what is important.”

Yu Li Yang took a final look at the array masters bustling about, a final look at the Nine Dragons Leave Fire Array being constructed around Central City… and with a single step, he was far away.

Xia Country, of course, also possessed a great protective formation – the one that had been activated that year. After the Qi army retreated, the Xia Empress directly emptied the national treasury to rebuild the protective formation, to the extent that the current Xia Heavenly Emperor’s ascension ceremony was unusually simple. Even the Heavenly Emperor’s crown was a solitary set. The Xia Empress herself, for a very long time, continued to wear the Queen’s attire from that year.

The Xia Empress’s single-minded focus on rebuilding the protective formation that year was a crucial reason why Xia Country was able to recover so quickly from the near-disaster of national subjugation and stabilize so rapidly. Its power was, of course, extraordinary. For any nation, the great protective formation was a fundamental existence.

However, as Xia Country’s greatest card in national defense, the great protective formation must not be used prematurely. Setting aside other factors, the resources consumed by activating the great protective formation were truly terrifying. Every day it was open, vast amounts of Dao Yuan Stones were consumed, making it impossible to use as a regular measure. Thus, defensive lines similar to Sword Peak Mountain were needed to supplement national defense and resist foreign invasion.

Now, Sword Peak Mountain was no longer reliable. The Central City defensive line was the second defensive line constructed by the Xia army in this campaign, and it was the true line of defense against the Qi army. They were heavily garrisoned there, solidifying their position with the Nine Dragons Leave Fire Array. Each brick and tile, each person connecting to another… it was as if the entire manpower and national strength of Xia Country had been gathered, achieving a surging tide, in an extremely short time, to forge a natural barrier!

Fengjie Prefecture lay to the northeast of Xia Country. Sword Peak Mountain was the most famous majestic mountain on Xia Country’s border. As described in the 《Great Xia Gazetteer》: “Northeast gateway, with Sword Peak erect,” it was precisely so. In the era when Yang Country stood in the east, the Yang Emperor’s might never once crossed Sword Peak Mountain, thus it gained immense renown.

Until last year, when it was breached by the Qi army’s surprise attack. Wang Yiwu, the young general of Qi Country, as the vanguard, advanced with unstoppable momentum. Along the way, various countries cleared a path for him, and he marched swiftly, concealing his movements. He entered the Xia border overnight, disregarding life and death, and launched a fierce attack on Sword Peak Mountain! He led his army array to cut down Hua Fangyu, the general guarding Sword Peak Mountain at that time, not even allowing the great mountain protection formation to be activated. All the weapons on the mountain were transported away by the Qi people – this should have been a story that made Wang Yiwu’s name known throughout the world.

However, because of Jiang Mengxiong’s subsequent appearance on Sword Peak Mountain, his fist challenging the Xia Emperor, everything that came before faded into relative obscurity, and not many people paid it any heed… after all, in the face of the name “Jiang Mengxiong,” whatever inner mansion killer god or world number one inner mansion warrior seemed like child’s play.

Jiang Mengxiong’s re-claiming of fame and display of dominance was merely one example among his countless glorious achievements. And becoming the backdrop for that single fist that blasted a hundred-li abyss, directly leading to Xia Country’s display of weakness and submission to Yu Li Yang, inevitably led to him being looked down upon by the people of the world.

Therefore, Yu Li Yang, ascending Sword Peak Mountain once again, found his mood complex. He was the most suitable person to guard Sword Peak Mountain; it was something everyone around him knew, and he, of course, knew it too. Why then did An Guo Marquis actively seek death, and why did Si Jiao need to offer a hint? It was not without this complex mood at play. He truly did not have the face to be here.

Sword Peak Mountain was like an earth-thrusting sword piercing the sky, with the mountain as its hilt, and the stone as its blade, extremely perilous, extremely sharp, standing erect on the vital path leading into the heart of Fengjie Prefecture. It possessed the momentum to cleave the sky and pierce the clouds. If this mountain fell, Xia Country’s northeast gateway would be wide open.

Sword Peak Mountain’s defenses had been constructed over several decades, yet they had collapsed in a single night. That one surnamed Hua was truly a waste, with empty connections to a prominent family, empty status as a Divine Passage Outer Building, empty learning of military strategy, all of it paper skill!

But what had to be faced was that in that war, the Xia Court had been clearly lacking in vigilance. At that time, no one thought Qi Country would suddenly send troops, because Yi Tian View was still there, and Jing Country’s deterrence was still there. Many people in Xia Country were still living in the beautiful dream of resting easy, thinking they wouldn’t have to pay any price, pinning their hopes on an equal country stirring internal chaos in Qi Country, causing the hegemon to perish.

Who could have expected that Jiang Shu would be so overbearing at that time!

Yu Li Yang also saw… that the Qi army at that time could quickly coordinate with the various countries along the way, allowing their vanguard army to advance unimpeded. They blockaded news along the way, ensuring that the speed of intelligence transmission couldn’t even keep up with their marching speed. This was a manifestation of the Qi army’s strength, and it was also enough to explain that the small countries nestled in the gap between Qi and Xia had long held a firm political bias.

The gap between Qi and Xia, perhaps many Xia Country people couldn’t see clearly after the Divine Martial revival, but the attitude of the surrounding small countries was clear enough…

Looking at the rugged strange stones on that mountain, looking at the continuous fortifications that had, at least on the surface, been repaired. Yu Li Yang inevitably thought of that day’s blood rain. He thought of that pair of fists that covered the world… He thought of True Person Taihua’s despairing eyes! At that time, they, one True Monarch and five True Persons, had all ascended Sword Peak Mountain, forming the Seven Absolutes Seven Kills Array, surrounding and attacking Jiang Mengxiong.

The so-called Absolute Heaven, Absolute Earth, Absolute People, Absolute Intent, Absolute Momentum, Absolute Heart, Absolute Dao Path Fundamental – these were the seven absolutes. It was the killing array formed by True Person Taihua’s attainment of the Dao! He held the fundamental gates of the Dao Path, Taihua held the Absolute Heaven and Absolute Earth gates… all seven absolute gates were opened, the killing power almost destroying heaven and extinguishing earth, covering the entire Sword Peak Mountain defense line. But all of it, all of it shattered under that pair of finger tigers named “Cover Army Kill General.”

He, even with the killing array bolstering him, could not hold, and True Person Taihua was killed by a single punch…

This time, the war of national subjugation, perhaps the biggest good news was that Jiang Mengxiong did not go to war. However, since Cao Ji could win the competition and become the principal commander of the Qi Country’s great army this time, his mastery of military might was truly not as terrifying as Jiang Mengxiong’s?

He hoped it was truly because Jiang Mengxiong’s achievements were too prominent, and the Qi Heavenly Emperor was jealous, hence he was unable to command the army!

Yu Li Yang ascended Sword Peak Mountain step by step, immediately taking over command, and quickly arranged the defenses. But when he sat on the mountaintop, quietly waiting for the Qi army, he cast aside his meaningless “hope.”

How was that possible? he thought. What kind of person was that Heavenly Emperor of the East Country?

“The Town Country Great Marshal’s achievements are perhaps too prominent, leading to the Qi Heavenly Emperor’s jealousy, which is why he is unable to command the great army against Xia. Otherwise, how could the old man lose to Cao Ji?”

“A cunning rabbit dies, a running dog is cooked! Qi Country is already a hegemon; a military god is no longer useful, only consuming national power, difficult to exhaust their share, and their high achievements cover the lord with suspicion!”

“Qi Country has no public, Jiang Mengxiong holds the Hall of Military Affairs, his body has reached the absolute peak of the Derivation Dao, his position is added as Town Country Great Marshal, his title is Great Qi Military God, already sealed beyond further sealing, graced beyond further reward. How can he again be permitted to gain merit from attacking Xia? With what will the Heavenly Emperor reward him? Unless it’s the Dragon Court?!”

War is never an isolated existence. Internally, it is a struggle of circumstances; externally, it is a struggle for alliances; it is decided by blade and axe, and clashes in the court. For example, public opinion, for example, national sentiment, all are weapons. Rumors rapidly spread in Linzi. And each one was more dangerous than the last. It was as if a spark had fallen into a pot of oil, immediately exploding. Naturally, it also reached the Heavenly Emperor’s ears.

As a place for court discussions and a public rest area, the East Hua Pavilion also often served as an imperial study… The arrangement in the East Hua Pavilion had not changed in fifty-six years. Only last year, a stone screen had been added. On it was painted a scene of teeming life.

At this moment, the Qi Heavenly Emperor stood with his hands behind his back in front of the stone screen, quietly looking, and also quietly listening. The inner official head, Han Ling, reported without adding or subtracting a single word, then stood there, silent, as if sinking into the lamp’s shadow.

The Qi Heavenly Emperor suddenly chuckled. “The speed is much faster than Cao Ji’s march.” The speed of rumors was, naturally, faster than the march of a million-strong army.

Today, there were no East Hua scholars by his side, so his speech was more casual. Otherwise, if these words were transmitted, it would easily make people feel that the Heavenly Emperor was dissatisfied with Cao Ji’s speed. If spread, it would put immense pressure on the front lines.

Han Ling did not speak, offering no opinion.

“I don’t care how these voices reached me,” the Qi Heavenly Emperor slowly reasoned. “I only ask you, have the people been dealt with?”

Rumors, such things, were like three men making a tiger, the words of the multitude melting gold. Repeat it ten times, a hundred times, and falsehood becomes truth. Listen a hundred times, a thousand times, and doubt will inevitably arise in the heart.

Han Ling bowed. “Nothing useful was reviewed. They were all fed to the fierce beasts.” He added, “Allowing these rumors to sully the Heavenly Emperor’s ears is my negligence. I have just begun a rectification.”

“Stop it,” the Qi Heavenly Emperor waved his hand. “These people cannot be killed completely.”

“Loyal today, treacherous tomorrow. Reliable this year, not necessarily reliable next year. How can they all be killed? Wait until Xia Country is gone, and they will naturally behave themselves.”

Han Ling silently retreated into the shadows.

“Some are deaf, some are mute, some are wicked, some are foolish, some are truly sincere, some are seizing opportunity to stir up trouble, some are momentarily confused, some are lifelong clever!”

The Qi Heavenly Emperor looked at the scene of teeming life, as if finding himself in this bustling crowd. And yet, as if he found nothing. After all, that figure had left forever in autumn.

Finally, he only sighed – “Truly a good painting!”

Thank you to book friend “German Shepherd Really Cute” for becoming the alliance master of this book! This is for the 283rd alliance of Red Heart Patrol Heaven!

Thank you to book friend “Inferior Lin Sister Ah” for becoming the alliance master of this book! This is for the 284th alliance of Red Heart Patrol Heaven!

Thank you to all readers for your support.

Recently, I should be writing more, but the war against Xia is truly too difficult to write. I feel as if I stand on that battlefield, witnessing the clash of two powerful nations, but I am only an ordinary person unable to reach the extraordinary, with mortal eyes. Many things I do not understand, and some matters are outside my imagination, unable to take shape. I want to describe this painting before me, yet my pen is hesitant, unsure where to begin outlining.

You and I are the same, walking in the fog of that world. And so we walk, and so we walk!