Old Wu

Fifty li outside the city.

Under the morning sun, five hundred thousand troops stood in formation in the military camp. The well-drilled regular soldiers stared straight ahead, the atmosphere heavy.

Across from the camp, flags belonging to the Martial World sects rose high. Disciples dressed in all kinds of sect uniforms rubbed their hands eagerly, their eyes full of disdain.

Two hours before the great battle in Mengzhou City began, these two forces had already faced off.

Their goals were simple.

Stop the other side from reaching Mengzhou City.

At that moment, inside the central tent, General Sikong stood with his sword in hand, his sharp brows and bright eyes shadowed by worry.

"Your Highness, this is nothing like we agreed. Besides the Golden Saber Sect and the Sword Worship Sect, three more of Mengzhou's ten great sects have joined this rebellion. The situation is extremely unfavorable for us."

Beside General Sikong stood the Ninth Princess, already changed into military armor.

Her expression was just as grim.

"I thought the situation in Mengzhou wasn't this bad. I never imagined it would be even more absurd than I'd guessed. If we don't cut out this festering tumor soon, the consequences are unthinkable."

"This isn't a question of cutting out the tumor anymore. It's whether we can get out of this in one piece. The other side has at least five Innate Masters. How are we supposed to drive them back?"

General Sikong paced back and forth inside the tent, his panic plain to see.

In the end, his army had numbers, but its overall strength was lacking.

He himself was an Innate Master, but there were no others under his command.

With such a vast disparity in top-tier fighters, how could they fight?

Just then, the Ninth Princess rose to her feet. "General, I've secretly reached out to the other five major sects. They've always supported the imperial court, and they promised to send experts to help."

"Where are they!" General Sikong suddenly roared.

"It's been so long! Where are the experts? Not one of them has come!"

The Ninth Princess remained silent.

She didn't blame General Sikong for his rudeness; she truly had miscalculated.

She hadn't expected several sects that had always stayed neutral to side outright with the Rebel Faction.

And the sects that had promised to help her had yet to send word.

Just then, a soldier called out from outside the tent.

"Reporting to the general! Fairy Hongfu is here to see you!"

General Sikong and the Ninth Princess brightened at once.

"Quick, invite her in!"

Fairy Hongfu was an expert of the Rainbow Sword Sect, one of the five sects that supported the imperial court.

Since she'd come, the experts promised by the five major sects must have arrived.

The two hurried out to greet her.

A woman dressed all in red, a vermilion mark between her brows, approached with a sword in hand.

Upon seeing the Ninth Princess, she gave a slight salute and said coldly, "Your Highness, I came on behalf of the five sect masters to offer our apologies. As for the assistance we promised, I'm afraid we can no longer provide it. Your Highness, take care."

After speaking, Fairy Hongfu turned and left without offering so much as an explanation, showing no regard for their dignity.

The Ninth Princess stood there, stunned.

The slap had come so swiftly that her face burned.

General Sikong's face also paled. He roared in fury, "Scoundrels! They break their word! What sort of upright sects are these? They're a pack of spineless rats!"

Just then, Old Wu reached out and patted the Ninth Princess on the shoulder.

"Your Highness, what do you think now?"

The Ninth Princess gave a bitter smile.

"Old Wu, I was still too young. I thought half a year of effort had won these allies over. I never imagined..."

"Your Highness needn't take it to heart. This is your first time handling something like this; failure is only natural. You simply underestimated the petty scheming among these so-called upright sects. It's not your fault."

"But, Old Wu..."

"Your Highness, rest assured. I am your final Trump Card. With me here, what do five Innate Masters matter?"

Old Wu smiled kindly, then unleashed a wave of pressure.

In an instant, General Sikong, who had still been shouting, felt his legs go weak under that overwhelming aura. He nearly collapsed.

"Th-Third-Rank Innate!"

At the same time, the Martial World Allied Army opposite them was also stunned.

Countless experts looked toward the military camp across the field.

"What's going on? That aura is soaring to the heavens!"

"No mistake! That's the aura of a Third-Rank Innate!"

"Who could it be? Sikong Wuhen definitely doesn't have that kind of strength!"

For a moment, experts from every direction stepped forward, their expressions complicated.

Some were fervent, some afraid, and some already thinking of retreat.

"Mister Plainclothes, you never told us the imperial court had sent a Third-Rank Innate. We can't help you with this."

At the front of the Martial World Allied Army, the experts from the five rebellious sects all turned to look behind them.

Mister Plainclothes came forward at an unhurried pace, holding Copper Coins and divination sticks.

After sensing Old Wu's aura, Mister Plainclothes smiled faintly.

"Everyone, rest easy. I didn't tell you because you won't need to face this senior. You only need to kill Sikong Wuhen and capture the Ninth Princess alive."

Hearing this, the old man from the Sword Worship Sect asked in confusion, "What do you mean? Mister Plainclothes, did you invite another expert without telling us?"

"You'll all find out soon enough."

The few exchanged glances and said no more.

The Old Man in Blue from the Sword Worship Sect chuckled. "Looks like Brother Pei of the Golden Saber Sect knew about this all along. No wonder he went to Mengzhou City to kill that unknown little Xiantian."

Everyone burst into laughter.

A middle-aged woman dressed all in white teased, "Brother Pei really has gotten old. He's been gone so long and still hasn't returned. Anyone who didn't know better might think he went to Mengzhou City to enjoy himself first."

They all joined in the teasing. Only Mister Plainclothes stayed silent.

For some reason, he had a vague sense that something was wrong.

But with Pei Wanchun's strength, nothing should have gone awry.

In the end, he chose to trust Pei Wanchun and turned to the old man from the Sword Worship Sect.

"Since Brother Pei hasn't returned, Sect Leader Ouyang, I'll ask you to lead everyone in his stead."

The Old Man in Blue stroked his white beard and confidently stepped to the front of the Battle Formation.

"Sikong Wuhen, we're old friends. There's no point in saying more. Hand over the Ninth Princess and withdraw your troops. Your martial arts shouldn't be wasted here."

The Old Man in Blue's booming voice reached General Sikong's ears.

Though he was deeply displeased with the Ninth Princess, General Sikong donned his armor, took up his spear, and mounted his horse without hesitation.

He rode forward, his face full of rage. "Ouyang, you old fool! What right do you rebels have to swagger about? After what you've done today, I, Sikong Wuhen, will lead my army to raze your Mountain Gate!"

The Old Man in Blue sneered.

"As expected of the imperial court's loyal dog. So devoted. Very well. Since you won't take my advice, then die."

As soon as he finished speaking, two Innate Masters behind him attacked at once, a man and a woman wielding different weapons as they flew at Sikong Wuhen from both sides.

The latter roared and raised his spear to counterattack.

At the same time, the horns sounded. Neither side hesitated any longer, and the battle began.

In an instant, blades and swords flashed across the battlefield as a storm of arrows filled the sky. The warriors' individual fighting strength collided with the soldiers' Battle Formations.

In moments, countless lives were lost.

Mister Plainclothes looked at the two remaining Innate Masters.

"You two, come with me to capture the Ninth Princess!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The three immediately flew toward the central camp opposite them. Just then, a violent aura suddenly surged into the sky.

It blasted all three of them backward.

They regained their footing, still shaken, and saw Old Wu approaching step by step, purple true qi pouring from her body.

"Whoever harms Her Highness dies."

In an instant, Old Wu vanished from where she stood. The next second, she was already wielding her cane, striking an Innate Master and sending him flying.

The gap was only one rank, yet the fight was a total rout. He couldn't fight back at all.

The Old Man in Blue's heart lurched, and he retreated again and again.

He was terrified he'd be the next one to take a beating.

But Mister Plainclothes wasn't affected by the oppressive aura at all. He slowly walked forward.

"As expected of Senior Purple Demon, who shook Mengzhou fifty years ago. I'm Plainclothes, and I humbly seek your instruction."