The assistants were bewildered.
In front of the map, Xu Qianjing turned around and calmly asked, “Are there any records?”
The guard nodded. He extended his hand and a wind shadow hawk with pitch-black wings flew out.
Xu Qianjing walked forward and grabbed the hawk by the neck. Everyone heard a high-pitched shriek as a bead was spat out from the bird’s mouth.
The bead hovered in the air for a moment before suddenly projecting a light screen depicting the scene of a bloody battle.
It was an eagle’s eye view that allowed everyone to see every detail of the entire battlefield.
As the video began to play, the assistants’ expressions changed indeterminately as they gasped repeatedly.
The joint operation consisted of thirty elite cultivators: five Heaven Dipper, ten Earth Dipper, and fifteen Human Dipper experts.
Each individual had been armed with a Divine Arm Crossbow and an entire set of equipment plus other weapons!
However, this amply prepared force became as frail as paper when facing the target. In a matter of seconds, the force was easily crushed without resistance. It was more horrifying than they had imagined.When they saw the arrow barrage being skillfully neutralized by the target, the assistants’ eyes bulged in shock as stupefied expressions crossed their faces.
This…is way too powerful, right?
From the information they had gathered, they already knew that the target was the champion of the southwest provincial exam and was certainly no ordinary individual.
However, after witnessing the bloody massacre, they realized that he was more than just extraordinary and was basically a heaven-defying abnormality!
The screen soon disappeared, leaving a somewhat heavy atmosphere in the room.
Only Xu Qianjing seemed unfazed, his expression still calm and composed. He tossed the bead back to the hawk, told the guard to leave, seated himself, and fell into thought.
“Young Master Xu, should we make changes to the original arrangement?”
Someone could not help but ask, breaking the silence.
Contrary to their expectations, Xu Qianjing merely revealed a faint smile and said, “No need. This first operation was merely a probe and I never expected them to kill the target. From this, I have roughly judged that the target’s combat power is not much different from my initial estimation.”
Probe?
The assistants’ expressions changed slightly as their hearts turned cold. Thirty elite cultivators had been sent to their deaths merely to probe the target’s strength…Xu Qianjing was ruthless!
However, this made them no longer dare to underestimate the frail-looking Master Tactician.
Perhaps only such cold-hearted individuals had the ability to devise flawless strategies?
Xu Qianjing seemed oblivious to the change in their expressions. In a voice that seemed colder and more emotionless than usual, he said, “Everyone, please follow my earlier instructions. The show has just begun and the real entertainment will soon begin…”
……
……
Atop a certain nine thousand nine hundred feet tall stargazer platform in the outskirts of the capital.
The Heavenly Seer stood alone amidst the chilling night wind as his ageless eyes stared at the night sky. His gray pupils, however, shone with a pure light that belonged to a child.
Like always, the Heavenly Seer was dressed in the same black robe. From his hunched back and white hair, it felt as if a gust of wind could blow him away.
Everyone in the capital knew that the Heavenly Seer was very, very old. However, his power and wisdom had only grown over countless years.
As for how strong he was exactly, no one knew.
Footsteps sounded from a distance, and a healthy, slim figure soon stepped onto the top of the platform.
He was an extraordinarily good-looking young man. He had a heroic appearance, the presence of a noble dragon, and the elegance and grace of a phoenix. Each movement he made gave off a noble aura that a person could only be born with: properly contained yet full of authority while not pressuring others.
“Greetings Heavenly Seer.”
The young man bowed. There was nothing to nitpick about his flawless etiquette.
The Heavenly Seer softly replied without turning his head, “The operation has already started, but you seem to be rather impatient.”
The young man was unfazed. “It’s not impatience. I’m merely curious about how he managed to survive after his Origin Aeth Artery was taken years ago.”
The Heavenly Seer asked, “Merely curious?”
The young man was taken aback. He smiled and said, “Of course it’s not just curiosity. I do not wish to see him return to the Forbidden City.”
The Heavenly Seer was silent for a moment. He raised his head to gaze at the night sky as he sighed. “Many people in the Forbidden City do not wish for that affair to cause any more ripples. Like you, they also do not wish for this child to return.”
The Heavenly Seer finally turned around. His iconic ageless eyes stared at the young man. “However, no matter what any of you wish for, the agreed operation has already begun. What you must do is silently wait for the outcome instead of leaving the royal palace so late at night and appearing on this stargazing platform.”
The young man’s expression changed slightly. He quickly displayed a respectful expression and said, “The Heavenly Seer is right. I was too impatient. However, I do not understand why the strongest force was not dispatched for this matter.”
This was the reason why he had come tonight!
The Heavenly Seer turned his head again to gaze at the vast night sky. “You will understand in the future. From the moment the child’s identity was ascertained, it will no longer be easy to kill him.”
This answer clearly did not satisfy the young man. He frowned and asked, “Because of Black Glory Sacred Hall?”
The Heavenly Seer shook his head. “Even if Black Glory Sacred Hall said nothing, it would not have changed anything about the operation.”
The young man was taken aback. He could not help but smile bitterly and ask, “Heavenly Seer, will you give me a clear answer? Why exactly is it like this?”
The Heavenly Seer shook his head.
The young man could not help but sigh. After thinking about it for a long time, he ultimately gritted his teeth and plucked up his courage to ask, “Do you wish to see him survive and enter the Forbidden City?”
The Heavenly Seer did not answer as if he had not heard the question.
The young man’s expression fluctuated slightly. In the end, he took a deep breath, forcibly pushed down his dissatisfaction, and cupped his hands together. “Farewell.”
He turned around and left.
Just as he began walking down the steps, the Heavenly Seer’s old and indifferent voice suddenly sounded in his ear, “Ninth Prince, this old man has one piece of advice. Anyone who dares to affect this operation will die. Remember, anyone.”
The young man’s body turned rigid as a chill rose in his heart, causing him to dazedly stand there like an ice statue.
This was the first time he had ever heard such threatening words from the Heavenly Seer!
After a long time, the young man raised his head to stare at the top of the nine thousand nine hundred feet tall stargazing platform. Copious amounts of time passed before he withdrew his gaze, turned around, and walked into the darkness.
On the stargazing platform, the Heavenly Seer stared at the night sky and softly sighed. “It is finally time to resolve that affair from so many years ago…”
……
……
The Castle of Darkness.
The voices of an old man and the Dark Night Queen sounded in a certain pitch-black hall that resembled the eternal night.
“We’ve confirmed that the Chi Clan is in charge of the operation and has tasked it to one of their most outstanding members of the younger generation, Chi Cangmei. She has enlisted the help of last year’s Qinglu Academy Godly Stratagems Department Master Tactician, Xu Qianjing. The forces they are deploying do not exceed the Spirit Dipper stage.”
“Have you discovered that old man’s true motives?”
“Not yet.”
“Continue to look into this and pay close attention to the entire affair. I have a feeling that once we uncover the truth, we’ll know why Lu Boya suddenly disappeared and the real reason why he chose to hide in the Violet Abyss Mine Prison!"
“Understood.”
“Other than this, go investigate how the remaining Lin Clan members are doing. Although all of those things have already happened, Lin Xin deserves to know about them if he succeeds in returning.”
“Mistress, that might not be appropriate. Lin Xun is different from the other Lin clansmen, his mother is…”
“No need to say anything else. Just follow my instructions.”
“Understood.”
……
……
Lin Xun did not know that his decision to head for the Forbidden City had already created numerous undercurrents in the city.
Seven days had passed since the Blood Wolf Plains battle. Lin Xun had long left the plains behind and was currently exiting a swamp to arrive at a winding mountain range.
The mountain range was called Maple Night and was known for its many cliffs and savage beast sightings. After passing the Maple Night Mountain Range, one would arrive at a city built next to the mountains.
Normally speaking, travelers and merchants would use the rune shuttle service to cross the Maple Night Mountain Range because it saved time and was extremely safe.
There was a specially built station right before the Maple Night Mountain Range where several rune shuttles were parked.
The main goal of the station was to serve travelers that were crossing Maple Night Mountain Range.
It was currently noon and there were already quite a number of travelers waiting on the large plaza in front of the station. Most of them were ordinary folk but there were also a good number of cultivators among them.
After all, even cultivators could not fly without Spirit Sea cultivation, and the rune shuttle was undoubtedly the safest and most convenient method to cross these mountains.
Lin Xun’s figure soon appeared in front of the station.
His appearance made many people uneasy and some of the cultivators even displayed wary and alarmed looks.
It was only logical. Lin Xun was still carrying a blade and bow on his back. His clothes were splattered with blood and his eyes gave off a fierce killing intent that made everyone feel an assaultive pressure.
The No-Nonsense Bow was especially frightening with its body that seemed to be made from skulls and its blood-red bowstring. Even from a distance, its sinister and eerie aura made one’s heart tremble and one’s hair stand on end.
The crowd’s expressions slightly stunned Lin Xun. He immediately returned to his senses, hurriedly withdrew his aura, and smiled apologetically at them.
He had encountered a number of ambushes over the past seven days. Although he ultimately survived each time, it had made him tense and on guard. He did not dare to be negligent lest he succumb to a mishap in a sudden ambush.
However, it also made him unintentionally give off a murderous air like a sword that was ready to be unsheathed at a moment's notice. This was the reason for the travelers’ earlier fear and uneasiness.