Azure Wolf Southward

## Chapter Thirty-Eight

Just as Chen Qing was sharpening his weapons and preparing to lead an expedition north to strike directly at the Northern Mang Royal Court, an invisible cold current had already quietly emanated from the depths of the Northern Mang Royal Court and was spreading south.

Northern Mang Royal Court, Sacred Mountain Forbidden Zone.

This was a valley covered in year-round ice and snow, where the cold wind cut like a knife, scraping at bone and marrow. Deep within the valley stood nine enormous black stone pillars, carved with strange wolf-shaped totems. In the center of the pillars was an altar entirely sculpted from ice.

At this moment, on the altar, stood three figures clad in pure black wolf-skin cloaks. They were entirely shrouded in the shadows of their cloaks, their faces indistinguishable. Only three pairs of eyes, devoid of human emotion, like ten thousand-year-old ice, flickered with an eerie light in the darkness.

No powerful aura leaked from their bodies; they seemed to have merged with the icy landscape. Yet, merely standing there caused the howling cold wind around them to freeze.

These were the most mysterious and terrifying force of the Northern Mang Royal Court—the "Azure Wolf Death Warriors."

Below the altar, the Northern Mang National Preceptor, an old man wearing a complex shamanic robe and with his face smeared with paint, bowed and spoke with unprecedented solemnity:

"Three Venerables, a hurried report from the Left Virtuous King. Great Yan's 'Fierce Tiger' Chen Qing has captured Wolf Fang Fortress, slain Bater in battle, and his cultivation is suspected to have broken through to the late Meridian Condensing stage. His Black Tiger Camp has become a force to be reckoned with, threatening the safety of the Royal Court. The Left Virtuous King implores the Venerables to descend south and eliminate this scoundrel to stabilize the nation."

On the altar, the Azure Wolf Death Warrior in the center slowly raised his head. A hoarse, dry voice, like ice scraping against ice, emanated from beneath his cloak:

"Chen Qing... Fierce Tiger..."

He seemed to be chewing on the name, then, his icy gaze turned south, as if piercing through endless space to see the land that was about to be stained with blood and fire.

"Agreed."

A single word, yet it carried a chilling cold that froze the soul.

The next moment, the figures of the three Azure Wolf Death Warriors vanished from the altar as if they were ghosts, as if they had never appeared.

***

Northern Frontier, Black Tiger Camp Garrison.

The aura of grim austerity was almost tangible. Five thousand Black Tiger veterans were ready, awaiting only Chen Qing's command.

However, Chen Qing did not immediately dispatch his troops. He stood on the watchtower, his brow furrowed, gazing north.

An inexplicable excitement swirled in his heart. It wasn't fear, but a sense of... encountering a kindred spirit, or rather, the alertness of a predator that could threaten his own existence.

"Do you feel it?" he murmured to himself.

Old Niu and Sun Quezi behind him were startled. They carefully sensed their surroundings but found nothing.

"General, what is it?"

Chen Qing did not answer, his gaze merely becoming sharper. His spiritual sense far surpassed that of his peers. Especially after breaking through to the late Meridian Condensing stage and further integrating his Fierce Tiger Domain with the Black Tiger True Intent, his perception of danger had become extremely acute.

He felt three extremely hidden, yet incredibly cold and powerful auras rapidly approaching from the north. Those auras were like venomous snakes lurking in the shadows, without the slightest hint of worldly presence, yet containing a deadly threat.

"Issue an order: cancel the original plan. The entire army is on high alert. No one is to move without my command," Chen Qing said sternly.

Although Old Niu and Sun Quezi were puzzled, they never questioned Chen Qing's orders and immediately complied.

Chen Qing remained alone on the tower, slowly closing his eyes and pushing his Fierce Tiger Domain's perception to its limit, spreading out like an invisible net towards the north.

Ten miles... fifty miles... a hundred miles...

Finally, at the edge of his perception, he "saw" them.

They were three black dots, almost completely merged with their surroundings, traversing the wilderness at an unnatural speed, silently heading towards the Black Tiger Camp. Their auras were suppressed to the extreme; if not for Chen Qing's special spiritual sense, they would have been impossible to detect.

"They're here," Chen Qing opened his eyes, the two dark red vortexes in his pupils slowly accelerating their rotation.

He could feel that the strength of these three individuals was terrifying! The aura of any one of them was no less than that of the Northern Mang High Priest Wugutuo, perhaps even more refined, purer, carrying a deathly stillness born for slaughter.

These were definitely not ordinary generals in the Northern Mang army.

"Azure Wolf Death Warriors..." The legendary name of the Northern Mang flashed through Chen Qing's mind.

It seemed Wuwei was truly pushed to the brink, even resorting to the Royal Court's hidden trump cards.

Good.

A cold, cruel arc appeared on Chen Qing's lips.

It's time to use your blood to lay the foundation for my path to the Aperture Opening Realm!

He turned and walked down the watchtower.

"Old Niu, Sun Quezi."

"Your subordinate is here!"

"You two, each lead fifteen hundred men and ambush the left and right flanks of the camp. Do not move without my signal."

"Yes!"

"The remaining two thousand men will remain with me in the central army."

"General, are you planning to..." Sun Quezi seemed to guess something.

"They want to kill me, so I'll give them that chance," Chen Qing said calmly. "Order the camp gates to be opened."

"What? Open the camp gates?" Old Niu exclaimed in shock. "General, that's too dangerous!"

"Do it," Chen Qing's tone was unquestionable.

Old Niu and Sun Quezi exchanged glances, then gritted their teeth and obeyed.

Soon, the gates of the Black Tiger Camp swung open. Aside from the necessary sentries, the camp appeared unusually "empty." Chen Qing sat alone in front of the main command tent, a pot of wine and two cups placed before him, as if awaiting guests.

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting his shadow long.

On the distant horizon, three black dots appeared, approaching from afar. Like three black lightning bolts tearing through the twilight, they materialized silently outside the camp.

They looked at the open camp gate and the solitary figure seated before the tent, their steps faltering slightly. A minuscule ripple of emotion flickered in their emotionless eyes.

It seemed they were somewhat surprised.

Chen Qing raised his wine cup and offered a distant toast to the three outside the camp.

"Guests who travel far are welcome to enter the camp for a chat."