Eternal Saber

The moonlight was like water, cascading over the rolling Xiajiang River, radiating a bright luster.

The important town of Jingkou, General’s Mansion.

Inside the hall, the lights were blazing.

Commander of the Northern Expedition Army Uncle Wang, Assistant General Liu Daojian, and several other generals, along with various military officers, were gathered around a map of Wu State, engaged in a discussion.

As an officer, Song Wu followed Liu Daojian here, standing guard at the door, as he was not yet qualified to participate in meetings like this.

But he roughly knew what it was about.

Traces of the Profound Celestial Sect appeared within Wu State, and a few days ago, they massacred Meixiang County, with heavy casualties.

Afterward, this group from the Profound Celestial Sect disappeared without a trace.

Uncle Wang was greatly infuriated, dispatched multiple scouts to search for traces of the Profound Celestial Army everywhere; they had now returned, and their reports were being compiled and strategies discussed.

Just then, a guard briskly walked over.

Upon seeing Song Wu at the door, he hurriedly approached and said, "Officer Song, there is someone outside the mansion seeking an audience, named Mei Zhenyu from the Plum Blossom Sword Sect. Claims to be your friend and has important military intelligence to report."

"Hmm?"

Song Wu frowned.

He had some impression of this Mei Zhenyu.

They had met once at Langya Pavilion.

But to say that they were friends was really an overstatement.

Over the years, some people from Jianghu had tried to curry favor with him to get into the Northern Expedition Army, but he had outright rejected them all.

As for what kind of important intelligence, it was most likely just an excuse.

He was stationed outside the inner hall at this moment, ready to respond at any time, so he couldn’t leave casually.

Song Wu pondered for a moment, then asked, "Did he say anything else?"

"Not much."

The guard thought for a moment, then said, "The man looked travel-worn and out of breath, perhaps a bit anxious, speaking incoherently, mentioning something about Chen Tang, matters of life and death."

Song Wu’s expression changed, and he said immediately, "Take me there."

Before long, a solemn-looking Song Wu brought Mei Zhenyu back, had him wait outside, and entered the hall himself.

"Generals, I have an urgent matter to report."

Song Wu entered and interrupted Uncle Wang and the others’ discussion.

"What is it?"

Liu Daojian asked.

Song Wu immediately recounted, verbatim, the information he had heard from Mei Zhenyu.

"Cang Mountain near the Capital City?"

The generals in attendance frowned to themselves.

One person said, "The information we gathered showed this Profound Celestial Army near Wuxing County; how did they end up at the Capital City?"

Liu Daojian shook his head and said, "According to this person’s account, this Profound Celestial Army has over three thousand people. With such a large force, even marching through remote areas from Wuxing County to Cang Mountain in the Capital City couldn’t leave no trace, much less without a sound."

Song Wu remained silent.

Indeed, this point was difficult to explain.

He reported it out of trust and concern for Chen Tang.

"It’s not impossible, though."

Uncle Wang suddenly said, "To my knowledge, after a Mystic Master steps into the Nascent Soul Realm, they can control a large-scale Dharma Artifact and travel in the air, carrying three thousand people without a problem."

The generals were startled.

Liu Daojian said, "There are very few such individuals in the Profound Celestial Sect, apart from Duke Lei and Wind Master, perhaps only their disciples can control such artifacts."

Uncle Wang added, "And the four Grand Sacrificial Officers."

Liu Daojian said, "It’s rumored that above the twenty-four Sacrificial Officers in the Profound Celestial Sect, there are four Grand Sacrificial Officers, but their identities are extremely secretive. No one has ever seen them; it’s uncertain whether the four really exist."

"They do."

Uncle Wang said with certainty, "I once saw one; the person wore a mask engraved with intricate runes, hiding their appearance. They were not a Mystic Master but a Grandmaster. Unfortunately, we couldn’t apprehend them at the time."

Silence fell over the group.

Escaping from Uncle Wang’s grasp, their strength was evident!

Uncle Wang glanced at Song Wu, asking, "Officer Song, being from a scout background, what do you make of this situation?"

Song Wu said gravely, "In my opinion, this Profound Celestial Army’s massacre of Meixiang County, including revealing information about certain strongholds, might be a diversion. Their actual target could be the Capital City."

One of the generals scoffed, "A three-thousand-strong Profound Celestial Sect army, what kind of threat could that pose, daring to invade the Capital City?"

"The Profound Celestial Sect often acts recklessly, without following reason. They’re capable of outrageous deeds," another person said.

Uncle Wang pondered briefly and then asked, "You just mentioned that this Chen Tang went to Cang Mountain alone?"

"Yes."

Song Wu nodded.

Uncle Wang said, "Sun Wuzhong, He Qian, you will guard Jingkou. Dao Jian, pick ten thousand elite soldiers, and set out with me for Cang Mountain immediately."

"Understood!"

Afterward, Liu Daojian hesitated and added, "General, even if this information is accurate, once Chen Tang went to Cang Mountain, he’s likely alerted the enemy, and the Profound Celestial Sect has probably fled by now."

"Let’s go see."

Uncle Wang headed straight out of the hall.

Recalling the first encounter outside Langya Pavilion, with the sharp and poised young man, a flicker of regret passed through Uncle Wang’s eyes.

He had once advised Chen Tang that to establish a foothold in Great Xia, someone like Chen Tang needed a sufficiently powerful patron.

Otherwise, danger was everywhere!

But he never expected that within just over a month, that young man would already be laid to rest in Cang Mountain.

Avenging Meixiang County, choosing to challenge the entire Profound Celestial Sect alone, indeed worthy of admiration and heroism, but such an ending seemed too regrettable.

The so-called heroes and brave men of the Jianghu paled in comparison to him.

-----------------

Langya Pavilion.

Hearing the news brought by Zhu Lingxue, everyone at Langya Pavilion was utterly shocked.

Challenging an entire Profound Celestial Army alone, how could anyone survive?

Zhiwei, upon hearing this, was even more distressed.

She had heard that recently her senior brother, True Monarch of Longevity, had already arrived in Wu State, seemingly to meet someone in the Capital City and perhaps wasn’t there.

Even so, each Magic Altar had a Sacrificial Wine stationed.

That was a Golden Core True Master!

Moreover, there were Martial Artists of Third and Fourth Grade, and three thousand fearless Profound Celestial Army soldiers.

How could one person contend against thousands of enemies!

Unfortunately, Ye Xuan had already left Langya Pavilion, his whereabouts unknown.

Ye Taoyuan made a prompt decision, urgently assembling the masters within the pavilion, rode down the mountain, and sped toward Cang Mountain.

Due to the pressing time, Ye Taoyuan could only gather over five hundred skilled individuals.

Compared to the three thousand-strong Profound Celestial Army, this was far from sufficient.

But Ye Taoyuan hardly hesitated.

Not just because of her deep enmity with the Profound Celestial Sect, but also because Chen Tang had been kind to Langya Pavilion!

Shen Zhiwei was also among the entourage.

Meanwhile, Madam Shen informed the Book and Sword Hall, instructing Sect Leader Shen Zijing to lead his disciples to Cang Mountain for reinforcement!

Elsewhere.

Mei Qingyuan led the disciples of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect down the mountain, spending all their gold and silver to enlist some heroes of the Green Forest and skilled fighters from Jianghu.

Ultimately, they gathered over two hundred people and sped toward Cang Mountain.

In the Jianghu, upon hearing the need to oppose the Profound Celestial Sect, many were afraid to get involved.

Gathering over two hundred people was already a feat.

Most of them were desperados from Jianghu, willing to risk their lives as long as the pay was adequate!

In an instant, the situation became tumultuous, as forces from all over Wu State set out, leaving clouds of dust, rushing to aid Cang Mountain.