Thousands of feet high in the sky, snow clouds gathered, and snowflakes like goose feathers scattered over the Golden Scales City below, but they did not cover the solemn glory of the city.
In the sky above the Cold Moon City , there was a crescent-shaped floating stone. On the top of the stone sat a row of jade-tiled buildings. Countless palace attendants dressed in silk were busy running errands between the various buildings.
This place was the Heavenly Supervision Department of the Cold Country , which was in charge of astronomy and calendars. It was also the headquarters of the Northern Region Snow Guard .
At the top of the Stargazing Platform , a white-robed man who looked like a twenty-seven or twenty-eight-year-old man stood in front of a floating sand table, moving his fingers while assessing the troops' progression.
The man's name was Chen Yin. He was in the middle stage of Deification and was the Imperial Advisor of the Cold Country .
About a month ago, they received an urgent letter from Li Longling, the Young Lady of the Dragon House , warning them that demonic cultivators might have penetrated deep into the Northern Region .
Because of the lack of efficiency of the five departments and three hubs of the Cold Country , this letter was stuck in the Letter Department for a few months.
By the time Chen Yin saw the letter, the Snow Guards from various cities had already sent reports of "sightings of demonic cultivators".
Since the demonic cultivators infiltrated the Northern Region , as the leader of the Snow Guards , Chen Yin had to manage the clean-up operations.
But the problem now was that he didn't know how many people the demonic cultivators had sent, nor what cultivation level they were, let alone where these demonic cultivators were.
If he knew that there was a Core Formation stage demonic cultivator somewhere, he would send two Core Formation Snow Guards to eliminate them.
However, if he sent two Core Formation Snow Guards over and discovered that there was only one Foundation Building stage demonic cultivator there, it would be like killing a chicken with a machete.
There were only so many Snow Guards in the Northern Region , and wasting even a little combat power in this situation would give the demonic cultivators a chance to win.
Moreover, he was not sure what the demonic sects were trying to accomplish by sending so many people to infiltrate the Northern Region .
"..."
Chen Yin closed his eyes and let out a breath. He tried to deduce this matter with the Star Reading Art , but with his cultivation, he was unable to see through the meaning of the stars like the Immortal Matriarch.
He asked the heavens, but the heavens did not respond.
If he asked the people, they were too understaffed to provide him with information.
Just as he was thinking hard, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
A palace maid in a snow-white gauze skirt, holding a parchment scroll, walked up the stairs of the Stargazing Platform and bowed. "Imperial Advisor, Commander of the Heavenly Wind City Snow Guard , Xu Mulan has sent a jade slip."
" Heavenly Wind City ..."
Hearing this, Chen Yin's gaze swept across the sand table in front of him and located the Heavenly Wind City at a glance.
Then, he used his spiritual energy to lift a black flag beside him, placing it in the position of the Heavenly Wind City on the sand table.
"Demonic Cultivators have also appeared in the Heavenly Wind City ?"
"Yes, according to the jade slip, it's a Nascent Soul demonic cultivator. Commander Xu hopes that Cold Moon City can send a few Snow Guards in the Nascent Soul stage to take him down."
Chen Yin frowned and said directly, "No."
Now, all the cities in the Northern Region wanted Cold Moon City to send them people, but where would Cold Moon City have so many combat forces to mobilize?
There were a total of forty-six Nascent Soul cultivators in the Snow Guard . Except for the seven who stayed in Cold Moon City , the rest had been assigned to guard the immortal cities with important spiritual veins.
Although Heavenly Wind City also occupied a spirit stone vein, its importance was far less than that of the pass and the spiritual vein point of the Frozen River City , for example.
Hearing this, the palace maid was also somewhat helpless. "Imperial Advisor... then, how should I reply to Commander Xu?"
"What is Xu Mulan's current cultivation level?"
"...Late stage of Core Formation ."
"Then, let her hold the city for at least four months. After four months, I will send the Snow Guards of the Flowing Snow City as reinforcements."
"Understood..." The maid nodded but did not leave. Instead, she stepped forward and handed over the parchment scroll. "Imperial Advisor, this map was also sent by Commander Xu."
"Map?"
Chen Yin frowned slightly, turned around again, and took the map with his spiritual power, spreading it out in front of him.
He didn't quite understand. What was the purpose of sending a map?
But when he saw the densely packed marks drawn on the map of the Northern Region , especially the places highlighted in red ink, Chen Yin's originally cold face instantly showed a look of astonishment.
Not only did this map clearly mark twelve of the eighteen formation knots of the Northern Region Protective Formation , but it also seemed to mark all the demonic cultivators' hidden lairs.
Chen Yin couldn't believe it, and he quickly looked at the sand table in front of him, comparing its contents with the map.
All the demonic cultivators' locations marked on the sand table were also marked on the map.
Moreover, the map also marked some locations from which he had not received any information yet...
However, this also increased the credibility of this map.
Chen Yin frowned. This map was undoubtedly a timely gift to him, but it also followed the question: Where did Xu Mulan get the information?
"Where did she get this map?"
"According to the jade slip, it was inferred based on information from the black market. It is also said that the demonic cultivators' target is likely to be the main knot of the Northern Region 's Protective Formation ..."
Inferring the information from the black market?
She had inferred the location of so many demonic cultivators and even the knots of the Northern Region 's Protective Formation ?
Although Chen Yin was a bit skeptical, this map was proof of Xu Mulan's outstanding ability of collecting intelligence.
He looked at the maid, frowning. "Huh... why is someone with such abilities stationed in a small place like Heavenly Wind City ? Xu Mulan... what is her background?"
"Commander Xu is not from an aristocratic family. She has a younger sister in the Qi Refining stage, named Xu Xiyue. The two sisters grew up in Heavenly Wind City . Her scores in the gun test and written test of the Snow Guard were only B-level..."
Chen Yin was even more puzzled when he heard this, but he let it go. "The answer remains the same, let her protect Heavenly Wind City , and she doesn't have to take the initiative to fight that Nascent Soul demonic cultivator."
"Yes, sir..."
After giving the order, Chen Yin picked up the map and summoned his flying sword. He stepped on it and headed toward the Celestial Palace floating under the moon.
...
In the jade-tiled main hall of the Celestial Palace , music was played, and a woman wearing a double dragon crown sat on a wicker chair, lazily propping her cheek with her hands and yawning.
In front of her, dozens of dancers waved their sleeves vigorously, but they didn't seem to arouse her interest at all.
Empress Sun Juehu's gaze slowly shifted from the dancers to the bright moon in the sky. For some reason, she suddenly thought of that old woman, Si Xuanji, and gritted her teeth in anger.
She then remembered that at the Bright Star Sect meeting, Si Xuanji cursed "Idiot!" and then left abruptly in the middle of the debate.
She didn't know why Si Xuanji had left, but this was the first time she saw some frustration and worry on the old woman's face...
Why was she so frustrated?
And who was the old woman worried about?
Who in this world would make her look like that? Who could make her lose her composure?
Who was it?
Thousands of years ago, Si Xuanji broke the moon and killed her master.
She had been thinking about it for a long time, looking for a way to make Si Xuanji pay for her blood debt with blood, but how easy was it to kill Si Xuanji?
However, when she saw Si Xuanji losing composure in the Bright Star Sect at that time, she had a vague feeling that the person who made Si Xuanji so flustered might be the one who could pay for her blood debt with blood.
The more Sun Juehu thought about it, the more curious she became, although she was clueless.
At this moment, a golden flying sword entered the Celestial Palace from the side. Chen Yin walked from the palace gate and came to Sun Juehu, then knelt and respectfully cupped his hands.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Sun Juehu glanced at him with raised eyebrows, and she nodded faintly. Then, she gestured to disperse the dancers. "What's the matter, Imperial Advisor?"
"I have just received a map sent by the Commander of the Snow Guards from Heavenly Wind City . Apparently, she used the black market information to deduce the current location of the demonic cultivators in the Northern Region ."
Sun Juehu raised her finger slightly, and the map in Chen Yin's hand flew through the air and fell into her hand.
She opened the map and narrowed her eyes.
"Oh? Did you already fill in the positions of these Heavenly Cold Formation knots?"
"It wasn't me." Chen Yin cupped his hands. "This is what the Snow Guard speculated. This should be the goal of the demonic cultivators' invasion."
"So, the demonic cultivators invaded the Northern Region at this time to break the Protective Formation ? Do they want to attack us?"
"According to that Snow Guard Commander, that should be the case."
Sun Juehu glanced at the map again. "That's why you came?"
"I just wanted to tell Your Majesty about this matter, and also give credit to that person. If this map isn't wrong, that Snow Guard Commander will be making a great contribution. After this matter is settled, I'd like to transfer her to Cold Moon City ."
"...You can do that."
"Thank you, Your Majesty..."
Rumble--!
The moment Chen Yin finished speaking, an ice-blue beam of light suddenly appeared in the northern sky, breaking through the dark clouds below and shooting vertically into the sky.
Sun Juehu and Chen Yin's gazes were instantly drawn to it.
The two of them understood immediately that one of the main knots of the Heavenly Cold Formation had been broken.
Chen Yin clenched his fingers slightly. "This is the knot of the Heavenly Cold Formation of the Frozen River City ."
Sun Juehu's face remained calm. She dismissed the two maids beside her and stood up from the wicker chair. "That group of demonic cultivators from the Eastern Region ... are they for real? Do they think I'm as easy to bully as Nangong Cheng?"
"Your Majesty, leave this matter to me. You don't need to get personally involved."
"Hmph!"
...
Meanwhile, ten thousand miles away in White Moon Town , on the second floor of the Wanderer's House .
Ye Anping, dressed in white and carrying the Snow Jade Spirit Sword on his back, stood in front of the window as he looked at the light column that shot straight into the sky from the southwest. "One of the formation's knots has already been broken..."
Feng Yu Die, who was eating roasted chicken at the table next to him, heard what he said and tilted her head. "Braided knot oooh...?"
Ye Anping turned his head with a dark face. Seeing Feng Yu Die's glib appearance, he almost felt depressed.
In the past few days, Lianxue and Xiao Yunluo seemed to have been preparing to deal with Jiang Mojiao, searching for pills and talismans all around Heavenly Wind City .
Xu Mulan also returned to Heavenly Wind City , summoning all the Snow Guards she could mobilize.
Only Feng Yu Die...
Other than sneaking over to his place to eat roasted chicken every day, this rascal had nothing else to do.
However, Ye Anping gave up on talking to her. He simply took out the ten roasted chickens he had prepared yesterday from his storage bag and threw them on the table.
"Here, your roasted chicken."
"Oh~~~"
Seeing so many roast chickens specially made by Master Ye on the table, Feng Yu Die's eyes lit up instantly, but after thinking about it, she frowned again and looked at him in suspicion. "Why are you giving me so much all of a sudden?"
Because you will most likely run into Gu Mingxin later, and you will most likely have a few more heavy wounds later, and you will most likely not be able to eat roasted chicken properly for the next few months...
Ye Anping gave a small smile. "No? If you don't want them, then I'll take them..."
"I do, I do, I want them!" Feng Yu Die quickly leaned protectively over the ten roasted chickens wrapped in oil paper on the table. "What do you want me to do again?"
"Nothing." Ye Anping shrugged slightly. "There must be supplies before a fierce battle. This is your supply."
"Hmm? Isn't it just a Nascent Soul stage cultivator?" Feng Yu Die had a puzzled look on her face as she added, "I might be able to handle him all by myself!"
Ye Anping shook his head, and after a while, he asked, "...I asked you a question last time."
"Huh?"
"If you meet Gu Mingxin alone, what are your chances of winning?"
?!
"Will we meet her?"
Feng Yu Die was startled, and she suddenly straightened her head.
Ye Anping was speechless. Didn't she tell him last time that she had a 100% chance of winning?
He sighed. "I just have a hunch. I think there's a good chance we'll meet Gu Mingxin after we take out the Nascent Soul demonic cultivator."
Feng Yu Die pursed her lips, frowning. "If you say there's a high probability of encountering them, then we'll most likely encounter each other."
However, after glancing at Ye Anping, she wiped the troubled expression on her face.
"But... it's okay. Didn't I beat the crap out of her last time? This time, it'll be the same! And I'll definitely chop her up now."
Ye Anping came closer, then picked up a piece of roasted chicken on the table and stuffed her mouth with it. "I won't be around this time. Longling and I will deal with other demonic cultivators. Don't underestimate the enemy."
Hearing that Ye Anping would not be around this time, Feng Yu Die lowered her head and frowned. "...You won't help me?"
"I'll try to help, but don't count on me too much. We won't be able to get there in a short time."
"...Oh."
At this time, Xiao Yunluo's voice came from outside the window. "Second idiot!! Second idiot!! Stop eating your stupid chicken and come down quickly. Commander Xu has sent someone to pick us up."
Feng Yu Die paused for a moment and shouted back toward the window. "...Oh! Coming~~"
Then, she looked at the roasted chicken on the table, hugged all ten of them in her arms, and jumped out the window. She turned her head to look at Ye Anping, seeming reluctant to leave, but said nothing.
Ye Anping sighed and comforted her. "Don't worry."
"Alright!"
Only after hearing these words did Feng Yu Die nod her head, and then let herself drop from the window.
In the next moment, Xiao Yunluo's voice came to Ye Anping's ears again. "Why did you buy so many? Speaking of which, why do you run here every time to eat roasted chicken these days? Isn't the roasted chicken at the Traveler's Pavilion the same?"
"The roasted chicken here tastes better, and it's just across the street..."
"Sigh... Forget it, let's go! Later, we will meet up with Commander Xu in the Heavenly Wind City . After that, we will head straight for that demonic cultivator's cave abode."
...
After their voices faded away, Ye Anping walked to the window and looked at the Traveler's Pavilion across the street.
At this time, the door opened with a creak behind him.
Li Longling had also changed into a fleece coat and put on a wrist guard. The Fire Phoenix stood on her shoulder, staring at Ye Anping with its piercing eyes.
"Anping, Commander Xu has sent someone to pick us up to meet up at Heavenly Wind City ."
After a moment, Ye Anping turned around and saw an unfamiliar Snow Guard beside Li Longling.
"Greetings, Senior Ye."
"No need to be polite. Please go back and tell Commander Xu that Miss Li and I will go over to investigate the situation first. When the time comes, we will meet in front of the demonic cultivator's cave."
"...Yes, sir."
Ye Anping let out a long sigh. He took the Snow Jade Spirit Sword from his back and wrapped it in bandages again. He then picked up Li Longling, and they both flew north through the back door of the Wanderer's House .