Volume One: Turmoil in Yan and Yun Chapter Seventy-Eight: Breaking the Deadlock (III)
Wuyang covered a vast expanse; even a formidable figure like Feng Changkong, who could step into the Void Dao realm at any moment, took nearly half an hour to reach the city gates.
At the gates, the tide of corpses had already begun their assault. Though these attackers had been renowned warriors in life, their lack of intelligence now meant the pressure on the city was not overwhelming. Vital energy arrows and firestones were yet unused; for the moment, ordinary defensive machinery sufficed to hold the enemy at bay.
Feng Changkong landed directly atop the city wall, surveying the defenses and preparations with a nod of approval.
Chen Chi, who had served as Wuyang’s defense commander for many years, lacked the experience of wartime but managed the city’s defenses with remarkable skill. Even Feng Changkong found no fault in his arrangements. If nothing unexpected occurred, the current tide of corpses would not breach Wuyang's fortifications, even without his intervention.
“Grand Marshal, you’ve arrived.” As Feng Changkong assessed the numbers and destructive power of the horde, Chen Chi arrived on his cloud falcon, saluting Feng Changkong with clasped fists. “Grand Marshal, the situation is perilous. My experience in battle is lacking; I must trouble you to take charge.”
Feng Changkong replied, “Defending home and country is my duty; there is no trouble in it.”
He paused, then continued, “I sense no power from the Dragon Ascension Array. As a precaution, since you are the gate commander, you should be able to draw upon some of the array’s power using your command seal in times of crisis, correct?”
Chen Chi hesitated.
“Worried about the Imperial City?” Feng Changkong asked.
Chen Chi nodded, “Though I do not know what has happened, almost all the power of the Dragon Ascension Array is focused on the Imperial City. If I draw upon it rashly, I fear it might disrupt His Majesty’s plans. Should the Imperial City fall, my death would not atone for such a loss.”
Feng Changkong said, “The array isn’t controlled by His Majesty. If I’m correct, it should be Master Ink of the Jiji Palace. With his wisdom, he would never leave the outer city entirely unprotected, exposing it to slaughter.”
If all the array’s power were concentrated in the Imperial City, the pressure on the outer city would be overwhelming. The Jiji Palace is famed for benevolence; Master Ink would not allow the outer city’s populace to be massacred.
Chen Chi was taken aback.
Feng Changkong glanced at him, “His Majesty is the strongest in Wuyang. At this point, he would not hide behind the array’s protection. The Seven Astrological Regencies and Seven Calculations have appeared; Master Ink must have emerged as well. The Dragon Ascension Array was established by the Jiji Palace. Whether it is controlled by Master Ink or His Majesty makes little difference, but to maximize the fighting power within the Imperial City, the current array master must be Master Ink!”
Chen Chi thought, “The Grand Marshal lives up to his reputation—even in such dire straits, his mind remains clear.” Though Chen Chi had managed to remain composed, holding off the corpse tide and subduing the internal disaster, his viewpoint was clearly less mature when considering the whole situation.
He accepted Feng Changkong’s judgment, but still couldn’t act, “Grand Marshal, what if there’s a mishap?”
Feng Changkong sighed.
Indeed.
There was at least a ninety-nine percent chance he was correct.
But what of the one-tenth of a percent?
Risk is measured by probability and consequence; however small the chance, it cannot erase a catastrophic outcome.
So he understood Chen Chi’s hesitation and caution.
Yet this meant the city defenses would face greater pressure. For now, only lesser enemies attacked, but Wuyang had twice been the site of man-demon wars, not to mention the powerful figures who fell here during dynastic upheaval. The Corpse Control Pavilion had already resurrected a Void Dao realm master, Mr. Jianjia; it was possible that even greater figures would appear next.
If such a figure emerged, and Wuyang lacked a Convergence Dao master and the Dragon Ascension Array, its destruction would not be impossible.
Even if a Convergence Dao master could not be revived, an abundance of Void Dao realm enemies would be overwhelming.
At this thought, a trace of worry flickered in Feng Changkong’s eyes.
What was to be done?
Without drawing upon the array’s power, the strength and numbers of the corpse tide’s great warriors could not be ascertained. Unable to afford injury, Feng Changkong released his spiritual sense to carefully gauge the strength of the disaster below, and after a moment, he was relieved.
There were many Luminary realm experts, but not so many of the Void Dao realm.
“Human power has its limits,” he murmured.
Feng Changkong’s estimation was correct; the Pavilion Master could control Void Dao realm corpses, but not without limit—their numbers must be finite.
Human power is finite; the Pavilion Master could not resurrect every Void Dao warrior who died in Wuyang. Mr. Jianjia was revived perhaps because he was strong, yet still within the master’s control.
Feng Changkong could only form a rough idea; he could not be certain. Now the enemy was at the gates, and it was no longer necessary for him to investigate further.
When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally cross.
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“How long will it take to reach Wuyang?”
“My injuries are not healed, so my speed is slower than usual. I must conserve strength for possible battle; it will likely take two hours.”
“In two hours, dawn will break.”
“Hm?”
“I mean, by then it’ll be too late.”
“So what should we do?”
“Pick up the pace.”
“I’d like to, but how?”
“With a desperate rush. Or we might simply not go to Wuyang.”
Not going to Wuyang was impossible. Since Li Jinxing had posed this challenge, Fengqi had to act.
Fengqi was certain the consequences went far beyond the death of his brother or other individuals.
He could only follow Li Jinxing’s game, for he was not yet qualified to oppose him.
Ultimately, it came down to strength.
“Have you considered that Wuyang is already a den of dragons and tigers? If I am not at my peak, who can protect you? Who can protect the Crown Prince?”
“I don’t need your protection.” Before Fengqi could reply, a weak voice sounded nearby.
Du Gu Zhe had awakened, though Mou Linhan had not.
After withstanding the Vice Pavilion Master of the Blood Tears Pavilion’s deadly attack with his Heart’s Comprehension realm, it was uncertain whether Mou Linhan would ever awaken.
Fengqi glanced at Du Gu Zhe, “The Crown Prince sleeps soundly.”
Du Gu Zhe said, “It’s fortunate I finally woke.”
Fengqi said, “After learning the Blood Tears Pavilion’s plan, I’ve been puzzled.”
Du Gu Zhe managed a weak smile, “Tell me.”
“His Majesty devised a plot, using the lives of the Crown Prince and the Northern Yan heir to lure out the cultists. If successful, it would expose the cult’s resurgence and eliminate their strongmen. If it failed, the divine dynasty would be thrown into chaos, perhaps even overturned.”
“Indeed, our role as bait seems quite valuable.”
“Quite so. We brought down the Vice Pavilion Master of Blood Tears Pavilion, a figure on the verge of Dao convergence—a remarkable achievement. But Xu Hai turned the trap against us, mobilizing all his forces and plunging Wuyang into peril. In retrospect, His Majesty’s plan seems absurd.”
Shui Dongliu frowned.
“But His Majesty has always acted with steadiness since ascending the throne; even when taking risks, he would never focus on just one or two people. He wasn’t aiming simply to kill the Pavilion Master.”
Du Gu Zhe said, “So you’ve guessed something?”
Fengqi said, “The appetite is too large—can it truly be satisfied?”
Du Gu Zhe replied, “Standing on the heavens, what fear has one of ambition?”
Fengqi was silent for a moment, then said, “His Majesty has rarely taken risks in his life.”
Du Gu Zhe agreed, “That’s true.”
“Was this your idea?” Fengqi asked.
Du Gu Zhe said, “A hundred years is long; you and I both may achieve Dao convergence. Yet a hundred years is short—a closed-door retreat passes in the blink of an eye.”
The end point of cultivation was, to Du Gu Zhe, nothing remarkable.
Shui Dongliu wished to say something, but lacked the energy to argue.
Fengqi thought, “Who says the royal family does not fear the far north? Someone ought to step forward and speak.”
Du Gu Zhe earnestly said, “Doesn’t the Heir also favor risky strategies? If this plan succeeds, the divine dynasty can prepare securely for the century ahead—a blessing for the people, is it not?”
Fengqi did not respond, sighing, “Let’s deal with the present crisis first.”
Du Gu Zhe said, “Then all depends on you, Heir.”
He paused, then added, “Though I was unconscious, I am unharmed—perhaps I can assist the gentleman somewhat.”
Shui Dongliu thought, “You wake up only to bring me trouble.”
Fengqi said, “In that case, I’ll trouble Your Highness.”
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