Ghost Chariot did not enter Jiufeng, and Jiufeng did not leave the Cloud Ridge.
Cloud Ridge was the Jade Hills. For many years, Ghost Chariot had regarded Swallow Plain as its base, infiltrating Jiufeng's influence there until it was riddled like a sieve. More than a century ago, Ghost Chariot's leader had ambushed the Tiger Claw Grand Sword Saint on the Pipa Plateau, triggering a bloody war that dragged on for more than twenty years.
Even today, Ghost Chariot and the Tiger Claw school remained sworn enemies. Their mutual hatred even surpassed the hostility between the Jade Phoenix lineage and Ghost Chariot as rival factions.
After that, the Eight Swords' disciples developed the tradition of Grand Sword Saints not leaving the country. This was actually a warning born from that incident. Though the Extreme Sword Saint was powerful, he was still no match for schemes and trickery. Moreover, Ghost Chariot's influence was deeply rooted on both sides of Wagtail Strait, far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
The two sides seemed to have formed this tacit understanding. For the next half-century, Ghost Chariot had grown accustomed to controlling everything in Swallow Plain. Coupled with Jiufeng's declining strength in recent years and its own gradual rise, the people of Ghost Chariot had gradually become arrogant and all-conquering.
If not for that, they would never have set their sights on the touring princess this time. Thirty years ago, when Ghost Chariot was still somewhat old-fashioned, it would never have thought of contacting Black Rose of Bromanto. Thus, the more backward something was, the more conservative it became. That was an unshakable truth.
But the Third Elder had not expected that, just as seven or eight years ago, a plan that should have dealt Jiufeng a crushing blow and even caused the Jade