Outside Zhuozhou City

Dark clouds loomed over northern Zhuozhou City.

Yan Tianxing stood alone atop the mountain, his green robe billowing like a banner as the long sword [Cangming] in his hand let out a low, trembling hum.

At the foot of the mountain, Zhao Xiangzhen of the Zhao Family—the Marquis Lu and one of the Blood Fiend Camp's leading generals—watched as the bronze gates of the stronghold he guarded slowly opened. Three hundred armored cultivators formed the Nine Palaces Blood Fiend Formation, their killing intent soaring into the heavens.

"My lord, the Han Family's [Wind Thunder Cavalry] has arrived within twenty li!" the scout hurriedly reported.

Xiao Muyun pressed a hand to his sword and sneered. "Perfect. Now we won't have to hunt them down one by one."

Yan Tianxing had noticed the movement in all four directions long ago, yet he remained silent and gave no orders. He merely tapped his fingertips against the scabbard three times.

Suddenly, an aged, booming laugh rang out from the dense forest halfway up the mountain. "Si Tianxing, you cicada that shed its shell—you've certainly muddled this old man's chessboard!"

Before the voice had even faded, seventy-two gray-robed cultivators burst through the forest, their formation subtly aligned with the Big Dipper.

The old man at their head had snow-white hair and beard, with a broken blade hanging from his waist. He was none other than Chen Xuanji, the Left Guard General of Yan King's Mansion who had vanished more than a century ago during the "Langya Secret Realm Blood Battle"!

Chen Xuanji did not use a halberd. Though said to be a great general, he preferred the ways of assassination.

"General Chen..." Golden patterns blazed in Yan Tianxing's eyes.

Back then, Si Tianxing had been ambushed time and again. It was this man who had