Crimson Firmament Reinforcements

The Crimson Firmament Sect's flag snapped loudly in the morning wind.

Three thousand sect disciples stood in formation outside Iron Wall City's southern gate. They wore identical blue martial outfits, long swords hanging from their waists, their auras grim and murderous.

They stood there like a blue Great Wall, forming a stark contrast with the ruined, scorched earth behind them.

At the very front of the formation, Senior Sister Yun rode a snow-white warhorse. She still wore a blue robe, but a long sword with a crimson scabbard now hung at her waist.

She watched the slowly opening city gates, her face expressionless.

Wang Meng stood atop the city wall, supported by his personal guards. His face was blackened, and the poison had spread to his neck.

Yet he forced himself to straighten his back and rasped, "Open the gates and welcome the reinforcements!"

The heavy city gates opened once more.

Senior Sister Yun rode into the city, followed by twenty Inner Disciples of the Crimson Firmament Sect.

They looked straight ahead, but when their gazes swept over the wounded soldiers and ruins lining both sides of the street, they all frowned slightly.

Inside the General's residence, the atmosphere was heavy.

Senior Sister Yun sat in the guest seat. She accepted the coarse tea offered by a personal guard, took only a sip, and set it down.

"General Wang," she said bluntly, "the sect dispatched disciples north immediately after receiving the emergency report. But the Barbarian Royal Court has also sent reinforcements. The Blood Wolf Tribe is merely the vanguard. The Blood Eagle Tribe's true army of fifty thousand has already crossed the Blackwater River and will arrive in seven days at the latest."

Everyone in the hall's expression changed drastically.

Fifty thousand!

And they were the Blood Eagle Tribe's elite troops!

"Fairy Yun," Wang Meng forced himself to speak, "only five thousand defenders remain in Iron Wall City, and more than half of them are wounded. Without reinforcements, this city is doomed to fall."

"I know." Senior Sister Yun took a token from her robe and placed it on the table. "This is the Crimson Firmament Sect's Elder Token. It can mobilize all sect disciples and affiliated forces in the three cities of the Northern Territory. I've already sent out orders. Eight thousand reinforcements should arrive within three days."

Wang Meng breathed a sigh of relief.

But Senior Sister Yun's next words made his heart rise again.

"However..." She turned toward Li Xuan. "You're Li Xuan?"

Li Xuan clasped his fists. "That's right."

Senior Sister Yun examined him, her gaze sharp as a sword. "Steward Liu sent word that you seriously wounded Wanyan Lie twice?"

"I was merely lucky."

"There is no luck on the battlefield." Senior Sister Yun shook her head. "Wanyan Lie is a once-in-a-century genius of the Blood Wolf Tribe. He is at Body Tempering Layer Eight and cultivates the Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique. The fact that you could injure him means your combat strength is at least no weaker than someone at Layer Seven."

She paused. "The sect has decreed that whoever kills Wanyan Lie may enter the inner sect and receive a hundred low-grade spirit stones and one Yellow-grade mid-tier Cultivation Method."

The hall filled with sharp gasps.

A hundred low-grade spirit stones! A Yellow-grade mid-tier Cultivation Method!

That reward was enough to make any martial artist's eyes turn red!

But Senior Sister Yun suddenly changed tack. "However, Wanyan Lie is now seriously wounded and has retreated to the rear camp. He has at least three thousand personal guards around him. Killing him will be harder than ascending to heaven."

"So the reward is just empty talk?" Chen Feng could not help asking.

"It is an incentive." Senior Sister Yun looked at Li Xuan. "Steward Liu thinks highly of you. He said that if you can return alive from the Northern Territory, he will personally take you as a nominal disciple."

A nominal disciple!

Although it was inferior to being an Inner Disciple, he would still be an official member of the Crimson Firmament Sect—ten times stronger than an outer disciple!

Li Xuan was silent for a moment. "What conditions do I need to meet?"

"First, stay alive. Second, earn enough military merit." Senior Sister Yun took a booklet from her sleeve. "This is the Crimson Firmament Sect's Contribution Exchange Manual. Killing Barbarian martial artists, capturing military equipment, and gathering intelligence can all be exchanged for Contribution Points. Contribution Points can be exchanged for cultivation methods, pills, weapons, and even... the sect's protection."

She pushed the booklet toward Li Xuan. "You have three days to consider it. In three days, I'll lead people in a raid on the Barbarian supply route. Those willing to go, sign up now."

After saying this, she rose. "General Wang, rest and recover properly. I've already ordered people to refine Detoxification Pills. They'll be ready tomorrow."

She turned and left, decisive and brisk.

Li Xuan returned to his temporary quarters and opened the Contribution Exchange Manual.

The booklet was thick and divided into categories.

Cultivation methods: Yellow-grade low-tier Crimson Flame Saber Technique, three hundred Contribution Points; Yellow-grade mid-tier Flowing Cloud Steps, eight hundred Contribution Points...

Pills: Body Tempering Pill, ten Contribution Points each; Vitality Pill, twenty Contribution Points; Detoxification Pill, fifty Contribution Points...

Weapons: high-grade mortal Battle Saber, two hundred Contribution Points; Yellow-grade low-tier long sword, five hundred Contribution Points...

The final category attracted Li Xuan's attention most: special exchanges.

"One hundred Contribution Points can be exchanged for one instance of the sect's protection—protection range: the individual and direct family members; duration: three years."

"Five hundred Contribution Points can be exchanged for one opportunity to take the Inner Disciple examination."

"One thousand Contribution Points can be exchanged for three days of personal guidance from a sect elder."

Li Xuan closed the booklet, his eyes flickering.

What he lacked most right now was resources and a powerful backer.

The Crimson Firmament Sect's protection could let him cultivate without worries.

But how could he obtain enough Contribution Points?

The back of the booklet included the exchange standards: killing a Barbarian at Body Tempering third layer earned one Contribution Point; fourth layer, three points; fifth layer, ten points; sixth layer, thirty points; seventh layer, one hundred points; eighth layer... five hundred points!

Wanyan Lie was worth five hundred Contribution Points!

But Li Xuan knew clearly that he could not kill Wanyan Lie yet.

Seriously wounding someone and killing them were two different things.

"Li Xuan."

Chen Feng pushed open the door, his expression grave. "I just found out that the supply-route raid Senior Sister Yun mentioned is going to Blackwind Valley. It's an important Barbarian logistics route, but the terrain is treacherous, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Last time, the Northern Garrison Army sent eight hundred men there. Only thirty returned."

"So she needs experts," Li Xuan said.

"Right. At least people at Body Tempering fifth layer." Chen Feng looked at him. "Are you going?"

"Yes." Li Xuan answered without hesitation. "I need Contribution Points."

"Then I'm going too."

"You stay in the city." Li Xuan shook his head. "General Wang needs someone to help defend the city. Besides..."

He took a small cloth pouch from his robe and handed it to Chen Feng. "There are twenty Body Tempering Pills inside. Keep them and use them. If I don't come back, find a way to send the evidence of Elder Zhao's collusion with the enemy back to the martial school."

Chen Feng accepted the pouch, his hand trembling slightly. "You... you have to come back."

"I'll do my best."

The next day, the Detoxification Pills were finished.

Senior Sister Yun personally delivered one to Wang Meng's bedside.

The pill was as red as blood and gave off a pungent smell. Less than half an hour after Wang Meng swallowed it, the blackness in his face began to fade, and foul-smelling black blood flowed from his wounds.

"The poison is gone." The army physician breathed a sigh of relief. "But the general has lost too much blood and needs half a month of rest."

"We don't have half a month." Wang Meng struggled to sit up. "The Barbarians could attack the city at any time. I have to be on the wall."

Senior Sister Yun pressed him back down. "General Wang, recovering from your injuries is also part of warfare. If you collapse, the army's morale will fall apart."

She paused. "In three days, I'll raid the supply route and take one thousand sect disciples with me. Chen Feng will temporarily take charge of Iron Wall City's defenses."

Chen Feng was stunned. "Me?"

"You defended the city for ten days and have plenty of experience," Senior Sister Yun said. "Besides, General Wang trusts you."

She looked toward Li Xuan. "Li Xuan, come with me to the central command tent. We'll discuss the details of the raid."

Inside the central command tent, the sand table had already been set up.

The terrain of Blackwind Valley was clear at a glance—hundred-zhang cliffs rose on both sides, with a narrow passage about five li long running through the middle. The Barbarians had built a camp at the valley entrance, with eight hundred soldiers stationed there, including at least one hundred martial artists.

"Our mission is to burn the provisions." Senior Sister Yun pointed at the sand table. "But the Barbarian supply convoy is heavily guarded, so we can't force our way in. We must split into two groups—one will launch a feint against the camp and draw away the defenders; the other will infiltrate from the side of the cliffs and strike directly at the granary inside the valley."

She looked at the ten people inside the tent.

All ten were experts she had personally selected, and the weakest among them was at Body Tempering fifth layer. Li Xuan's cultivation was the weakest of the group, but his combat strength was publicly acknowledged as the strongest.

"I'll lead the feinting force, five hundred people. We need to make a great show of strength," Senior Sister Yun said. "As for the infiltration force... Li Xuan, you'll lead it. Fifty people. You must be fast and ruthless."

Everyone looked at Li Xuan.

Someone was unconvinced. "Senior Sister Yun, he's only at Body Tempering fifth layer. Is it really appropriate for him to lead the infiltration..."

"He has killed more Barbarians than you've seen," Senior Sister Yun interrupted. "Any questions?"

That person shut his mouth.

"Good." Senior Sister Yun made the final decision. "We depart at midnight tonight and reach the outskirts of Blackwind Valley before dawn. We act tomorrow night."

At midnight, eleven hundred people left the city without a sound.

Senior Sister Yun rode on horseback, a black cloak draped over her blue robe. Behind her, five hundred sect disciples wore black and covered their faces, revealing only their eyes.

Li Xuan led fifty people behind them.

These fifty men were elites Senior Sister Yun had selected from among the sect disciples. The weakest was at Body Tempering fourth layer, while the strongest was at Layer Six. They regarded Li Xuan with scrutiny, but no one dared question him—the battle record he had achieved in Iron Wall City had long since spread.

They marched urgently through the night.

Before dawn, the group reached a dense forest twenty li outside Blackwind Valley.

"Rest for two hours," Senior Sister Yun ordered. "Li Xuan, come with me."

The two climbed to a high slope and used a thousand-li lens to observe Blackwind Valley.

The camp at the valley entrance was brightly lit, with Barbarian guards patrolling back and forth. Within the valley, they could vaguely see mountains of grain sacks, as well as dozens of transport carts.

"There's more grain than expected." Senior Sister Yun frowned. "It seems the Barbarians are stockpiling supplies to prepare for the Blood Eagle Tribe."

"We have to burn it," Li Xuan said.

"Mm." Senior Sister Yun lowered the thousand-li lens. "Have you chosen the infiltration route?"

Li Xuan pointed toward the eastern cliff. "There's a gentle slope there, overgrown with thorns, and the Barbarian defenses are lax. But we'll have to climb a hundred zhang, so it demands a great deal of stamina."

"Can your people manage it?"

"They can."

Senior Sister Yun stared at him for several seconds before suddenly asking, "Li Xuan, do you cultivate the Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique?"

Li Xuan's heart tightened.

"Don't be nervous," Senior Sister Yun said. "Steward Liu mentioned it in his letter. He said your cultivation method is unorthodox, but your combat strength is impressive, and you're worth nurturing."

She paused. "The Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique is a secret inheritance of the Barbarians. Cultivating it requires killing intent born from slaughter. If you were a Barbarian spy, you wouldn't have waited until now to expose yourself. So I believe you."

Li Xuan fell silent.

"But I have to warn you." Senior Sister Yun's voice turned cold. "There are people within the sect who suspect you as well. This mission is your pledge of loyalty. If you succeed, all past matters will be wiped clean. If you fail... even if you make it back alive, you won't escape an investigation."

"I understand."

"Good." Senior Sister Yun turned around. "Go make preparations. At sunset, I'll lead the feinting force. When you see flames rise at the valley entrance, take your men inside."

At sunset, at the entrance to Blackwind Valley.

Senior Sister Yun stood at the front of the formation and raised her long sword.

"Set the fires!"

Five hundred sect disciples ignited their torches at the same time, the flames illuminating half the sky.

"Kill—!"

The battle cries shook the heavens!

Five hundred people surged toward the camp like a tidal wave!

The Barbarian defenders were greatly alarmed and hurriedly blew their horns. Hundreds of Barbarian soldiers poured out of the camp, and the two sides began a fierce battle at the valley entrance.

Senior Sister Yun charged at the very front, her long sword flashing like a rainbow. Wherever she passed, Barbarians fell one after another. Her Body Tempering Layer Seven cultivation was fully revealed, and ordinary Barbarians were simply no match for her.

But several commanders soon charged out of the Barbarian camp. All of them were at Body Tempering Layer Six, and they surrounded Senior Sister Yun.

The battle fell into a stalemate.

Meanwhile, beneath the eastern cliff.

Li Xuan looked up at the hundred-zhang cliff and drew a deep breath.

"Up!"

The fifty men climbed upward like apes.

The cliff was steep, but vines and cracks in the rock gave them places to brace themselves. They were all martial artists, so the climb was not particularly difficult.

Li Xuan was the fastest.

His hands curled like hooks as he kicked against the cliff face. After a few leaps, he had climbed ten zhang. After mastering the Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique, his bones were as hard as iron, and his fingers could easily dig into the rock.

In less than the time it took to burn an incense stick, all fifty people had climbed to the top.

Looking down from the summit, they could see everything in the valley.

The granary was in the center of the valley: dozens of enormous tents with mountains of grain sacks piled outside. There were not many guards, only a hundred or so, and most had been drawn toward the battle at the valley entrance.

"Go."

Li Xuan led the way and slid down along the cliff face.

They landed without a sound.

The fifty men crept toward the granary like ghosts.

When they were within a hundred paces, the guards spotted them.

"Enemy attack—!"

The Barbarian guards blew their warning whistles.

But it was too late.

Li Xuan had already charged into the crowd!

He had had the Black Scale Saber reforged by a military blacksmith. Although its grade had fallen back to high-grade mortal, it was still barely usable.

The saber light flashed like snow!

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Three guards fell as blood spurted from their throats.

The fifty sect disciples also slaughtered their way into a frenzy.

They were all elites of the Crimson Firmament Sect, with exquisite swordsmanship and perfect coordination. In the blink of an eye, more than half of the hundred guards had been slaughtered.

"Burn it!"

Li Xuan rushed into a granary and pulled out a fire starter, setting the grain ablaze.

Fifty men split up to set fires, and soon, dozens of grain granaries were engulfed in raging flames!

Thick smoke rolled in, and fire soared to the skies!

At the valley entrance, the barbarian garrison saw the fire inside the valley and their morale instantly plunged into chaos.

"Provisions! The provisions are burning!"

"Retreat! Fall back to reinforce!"

The barbarian commander roared at the top of his lungs.

Yet how could Senior Sister Yun let them have their way?

"Entangle them! Don't let a single one escape!"

Five hundred sect disciples clung stubbornly to the barbarian garrison.

Inside the valley, Li Xuan watched the roaring flames, knowing the mission was complete.

"Fall back!"

The fifty men rapidly retreated toward the cliff face.

Yet right at that moment—

Rumble!

The ground shook!

From the direction of the valley entrance, a troop of cavalry charged in!

Not barbarians!

Southern cavalry!

At the lead was none other than Zhao Wuji's father—Elder Zhao!

Why would he be here?

Li Xuan's pupils contracted.

Elder Zhao evidently saw Li Xuan as well, a venomous look flashing across his eyes.

"Li Xuan! You really are here!" he sneered. "Today is your day to die!"

Behind him followed three hundred cavalrymen, all private soldiers of the Zhao Family.

"Elder Zhao!" Senior Sister Yun killed her way in from the valley entrance, her expression sinking as she saw this scene. "Why are you here?"

"Fairy Yun," Elder Zhao cupped his fists, "this old man heard the barbarian supply route was here, so I specially led my family's soldiers to come assist in the battle. I never expected—"

He pointed at Li Xuan. "This brat has betrayed his country and colluded with the barbarians! Fairy Yun, do not be deceived by him!"

"Where is the proof?" Senior Sister Yun asked in a cold voice.

"My son, Zhao Wuji, was murdered by him! To cover up his treason, he silenced him!" Elder Zhao shouted hoarsely. "If Fairy Yun does not believe me, you can ask about the wound on his shoulder—that was inflicted by a barbarian saber! If he was not in league with the barbarians, why would they only wound and not kill?"

Everyone looked toward Li Xuan's left shoulder.

There truly was a wound left by a saber there, incurred yesterday when breaking out of the barbarian encampment.

Senior Sister Yun's brows knitted tightly.

"Li Xuan, what do you have to say?"

Li Xuan laughed.

His laughter was bone-chilling.

"Elder Zhao, how your son died, you know well in your heart." He stared straight at Elder Zhao. "The secret letter of treason was written by you to Wanyan Lie. Zhao Wuji was merely the executor. Now that the matter has been exposed, you want to silence me and pin all the charges on me?"

"Nonsense!" Elder Zhao roared. "Take him down for me!"

The three hundred private soldiers moved to step forward.

"Stop." Senior Sister Yun raised a hand. "There are too many doubts surrounding this matter. Once we return to the city and report to the sect, there will be a fair judgment."

"Fairy Yun!" Elder Zhao urged anxiously. "This scoundrel is cunning; if he returns to the city, complications will surely arise! It is better to execute him on the spot to eliminate future trouble!"

"I said, stop." Senior Sister Yun's gaze turned frosty. "Elder Zhao, are you defying the order of the sect?"

Elder Zhao's expression shifted.

In the end, he gritted his teeth. "I dare not."

Yet the murderous intent in his eyes was not concealed in the least.

Li Xuan gripped the hilt of his saber.

He knew this matter today was far from over.

Elder Zhao dared to bring private soldiers here, which meant he had cast all caution to the wind.

The road back to the city... would not be peaceful.

"Gather the unit," Senior Sister Yun ordered. "Return to the city."

Everyone began to evacuate.

Li Xuan walked at the very rear of the group, remaining constantly vigilant against Elder Zhao's men.

Elder Zhao's men were also staring right at him.

Both sides were at daggers drawn.

Senior Sister Yun took it all in, saying nothing.

On the road back to the city, the atmosphere was oppressive.

Li Xuan and the fifty sect disciples walked together, while Elder Zhao's three hundred private soldiers followed behind, maintaining a constant distance of a hundred paces.

Senior Sister Yun walked at the very front with a calm expression, though her hand rested continually on her sword hilt.

She was waiting as well.

Waiting for Elder Zhao to fail to restrain himself and make a move.

That way, she would have a justification to purge her own sect.

Yet Elder Zhao possessed deep patience.

The journey went without incident.

Until they were still ten miles away from Iron Wall City, when sudden changes erupted!

From the dense forest ahead, a cavalry unit suddenly burst forth!

Barbarian cavalry!

Full five hundred riders, every last one wolf-rider elites!

At the forefront was none other than Wanyan Lie's deputy general—Tuoba Shan!

"Hahaha!" Elder Zhao suddenly laughed aloud. "Fairy Yun, my apologies! These barbarians were invited by this old man!"

He reined his horse back, putting distance between himself and Li Xuan's group.

The three hundred private soldiers also rapidly formed ranks, creating a pincer formation alongside the barbarian cavalry!

"Zhao Jinglong!" Senior Sister Yun roared. "You dare collude with the barbarians?!"

"Collusion?" Elder Zhao sneered. "Fairy Yun speaks too gravely. This old man is merely... borrowing a knife to kill."

He pointed at Li Xuan. "This brat killed my son and destroyed the roots of the Zhao Family. Today, he must die! As for you all... if you are willing to hand over Li Xuan, this old man can spare your lives."

"Keep dreaming." Senior Sister Yun drew her sword.

"Then don't blame this old man for being ruthless." Elder Zhao waved his hand. "Kill!"

The three hundred private soldiers and five hundred wolf-riders launched a simultaneous charge!

Eight hundred against six hundred!

And on top of that, there was a traitor within their own ranks!

A desperate situation!

Senior Sister Yun's gaze was icy. "Li Xuan, are you afraid?"

"Afraid," Li Xuan said. "But being afraid is useless."

He drew the Black Scale Saber.

"Taking one down even is breaking even, taking two is a profit."

"Good." Senior Sister Yun nodded. "Today, we fight shoulder to shoulder."

She raised her long sword high. "Disciples of the Crimson Firmament Sect, heed my order! Form the Crimson Flame Sword Formation!"

The five hundred sect disciples rapidly shifted formations, their sword lights connecting into one, surging like flames!

Li Xuan led the fifty men to guard the core of the formation.

The great battle was on the verge of breaking out!

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