In the drill grounds of the Jiang Dynasty, Tie Poyun and King Jiang had assembled a force of 300,000 elite troops and over 20 Earth-level experts. The entire army was now stationed aboard massive flying warships.
At this moment, Jiang HuanYu, accompanied by his twelve personal guards, arrived and landed on the flagship.
Tie Poyun and King Jiang stood beside him, while Qian Gong anxiously waited nearby.
"Your Majesty," Tie Poyun reported, "the forces are ready. Three hundred thousand elite soldiers and more than twenty Earth-level experts are stationed on board, awaiting your orders."
Jiang HuanYu nodded solemnly, his expression resolute. With a grand wave of his imperial robes, he commanded, "Set off! Destination: Tianlin City!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The thunderous reply of 300,000 soldiers shook the skies. Over a dozen colossal warships took flight, their vast frames capable of carrying tens of thousands of troops each. Powered by spiritual stones, the ships sped through the skies toward Tianlin City.
Although Tianlin City was not far from the Jiang Dynasty, the journey would still take approximately half a day.
As one of the Northern Domain's renowned major cities, Tianlin City was usually bustling with activity. Yet now, it had fallen into desolation.
The streets were sparsely populated, with most businesses shuttered in recent days. The looming threat of war, brought about by Xuanyuan Mountain's siege of the Qian Family, had driven many residents to flee, fearing a violent conflict.
Near the Qian Family residence, on the rooftop of a nearby pavilion, Xuanyuan Mountain's master Feng Mobai and the Great Elder Shen Ningfa stood overlooking the scene.
From their vantage point, it was clear that Xuanyuan Mountain had stationed personnel in inns, tea houses, and other structures throughout the city. The Qian Family residence at the city center was surrounded on all sides, leaving no escape routes.
"By my estimate, Jiang Baisheng and the others should arrive in about two hours," Feng Mobai remarked.
"Today, I will annihilate the Qian Family and seize the Sun-Moon Key from Qian Jiuqiu's hands!
"The Sun-Moon Treasure… Whether Xuanyuan Mountain ascends to the level of a dominant power hinges on today!"
Feng Mobai's face betrayed his eagerness and excitement.
"Rest assured, Master. With the combined forces of our three factions, the Qian Family cannot escape destruction.
"Once they're eliminated, we'll turn our attention to the Jiang Dynasty. Then, we can unlock the ruins and claim the Sun-Moon Treasure. Ultimately, Xuanyuan Mountain will reign supreme!" Shen Ningfa echoed with enthusiasm.
At that moment, their attention was drawn to a peculiar figure walking down the street below.
A blind scholar, holding a flute in one hand and a book in the other, was slowly making his way toward the Qian Family estate.
Though blind, his movements were eerily precise, as if he had eyes. He navigated several turns effortlessly, heading directly toward the heart of the conflict.
"Who is that?" Feng Mobai asked.
"I don't know, I've never seen him before," Shen Ningfa replied.
"If he's unfamiliar, then deal with him. Let's not let anyone meddle in our affairs," Feng Mobai said coldly.
Shen Ningfa nodded and signaled for a group of disciples to handle the blind scholar.
Four disciples, all at the Profound Realm Peak, received the order and approached the blind scholar. Their weapons gleamed coldly, reflecting their lethal intent.
However, just as they neared the scholar, something inexplicable happened.
Before they could step within five meters of him, all four disciples collapsed, lifeless.
The blind scholar, unaffected, stepped past the bodies as if nothing had happened and made his way to a tea house near the Qian Family estate. He entered and took a seat by a window on the top floor, overlooking the central courtyard of the Qian Family residence.
"What?!"
"Impossible!"
"Master, did you see him make a move?" Shen Ningfa exclaimed, his face pale with shock.
Despite his cultivation at the Heavenly Realm, he could detect no trace of action from the scholar.
Feng Mobai frowned deeply and replied, "He didn't make a move. That's why there's no aura to sense."
"How can that be?!"
"If he didn't act, then how did those four disciples die instantly?" Shen Ningfa asked, bewildered.
Feng Mobai's eyes remained fixed on the blind scholar until he saw him seated by the tea house window.
"I think I know who he is."
"Let's go."
Feng Mobai led Shen Ningfa into the tea house where the blind scholar was seated.
Standing to the side, Feng Mobai addressed him calmly, "The renowned top assassin of the Blood shadow Tower, 'Death Centipede,' it is an honor to meet you."
Shen Ningfa was visibly shaken.
Death Centipede!
This blind scholar turned out to be the infamous Death Centipede, a top assassin from the Blood shadow Tower!
"You flatter me, Master Feng," Death Centipede replied with a faint smile.
"Compared to you, my name is hardly worth mentioning."
Feng Mobai chuckled, "The rumors say Death Centipede is a monstrous and terrifying man, proficient in controlling insects and poisons.
"Yet, I never expected the real Death Centipede to be such a scholarly and handsome young man. It seems the rumors are unreliable."
"Contrasts like these are what make life interesting," Death Centipede said with a sly smile.
"After all, who would suspect that a frail-looking blind scholar could be the infamous Death Centipede of the Northern Domain?"
As he spoke, his gentle, pale face twisted into a chillingly malevolent grin.
Feng Mobai's expression grew serious as he asked, "May I ask why you've come here?
"To my knowledge, Jiang Baisheng only invited the Blood shadow Tower to assist in destroying the Jiang Dynasty.
"The Qian Family affair, however, was not part of the agreement."
Though his tone was calm, there was an unmistakable undercurrent of wariness in Feng Mobai's words. He feared that revealing the existence of the Sun-Moon Key might provoke the Blood shadow Tower's greed, leading to complications.
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