A Show of Force in the Far North

It was snowing when the Federation delegation arrived at the outskirts of the Blood God Legion.

The snow in the Far North doesn't fall as lightly as it does in the south.

The snow here is like shattered ice, whipped up by the wind and hitting people's faces.

When Chen Zeng got out of the car, he wrapped himself tightly in the dark gray cloak that the parliament had issued.

Two Titled Douluo from the War God Temple followed behind him.

The two men hadn't said a word since they got off the bus; their faces were tense.

Zhang Huanyun was already waiting outside the camp, with Long Tianwu and Blood One Cao Dezhi standing beside her.

He didn't go to greet them; he just stood there and waited for them to approach.

"General Zhang." Chen Zeng bowed slightly.

He and Zhang Huanyun had met before. Years ago, before the Federation and the Blood God Legion had fallen out, they had exchanged a few words at a military conference in Ming Capital.

But now, standing on this snowy ground again, what separates us is no longer just our identities.

"Director Chen, you must be tired from your long journey," Zhang Huanyun replied, her tone neither warm nor cold.

Chen Zeng didn't beat around the bush.

He said, "The Federal Parliament sent me here to see Yun Jingheng, the Sea God Pavilion."

Zhang Huanyun hummed in agreement and said, "The Sea God Pavilion Master is not in the camp."

Chen Zeng was taken aback; he had assumed Yun Jingheng would be waiting there.

Zhang Huanyun glanced at him and added, "He's on the front lines. He just finished rotating through the third defense zone before you arrived. He should be in the western section now. If you want to find him, you can only go there, but that's not a place for guests."

Chen Zeng opened his mouth, as if to say something.

One of the War God Temple Douluo behind him finally spoke, his voice low and cold. "We came not because the general said he was 'not here.' The Federation has important matters to discuss; could we please ask the Pavilion Master to return to camp?"

Zhang Huanyun turned to look at the man, her gaze completely unwavering. "No. If you want to go, I won't stop you, but the front lines aren't under the Federation's control, and don't try to act high and mighty with me. In the Far North, no one is stronger than the Abyss."

"If you want to see someone, wait. If you don't want to wait, please leave."

The Titled Douluo's expression darkened slightly, but he ultimately said nothing more.

Chen Zeng quickly tried to smooth things over. "General, you're right. Then... we'll wait outside the camp. Please arrange a sheltered place for us."

Zhang Huanyun glanced at Long Tianwu.

Long Tianwu reluctantly waved his hand.

Several soldiers came over and led the three to an old barracks on the west side of the camp.

Although it was called a barracks, it only had half a roof, and the wind blew straight in through the gap.

Chen Zeng did not complain.

He sat down on an ammunition box, took the hot water offered by a soldier, and slowly took a sip.

Two Titled Douluo stood at the entrance, like two statues half-buried in snow.

They just waited there.

No one came on the first day.

The next day, Long Tianwu came to deliver some food.

On the third day, even the people delivering the food were replaced by ordinary soldiers, and no one spoke a word to them anymore.

Chen Zeng dared not go to the front lines to search for him.

He was afraid of Yun Jingheng.

They had heard the news that came from the Far North a year ago before they came.

The five emperors were forced to retreat, and the sage ruler's hand was pressed back into the crack.

If someone like that doesn't want to see you, there's no point in standing right in front of them.

He could only wait.

The young Pavilion Master returned on his own from the snowstorm, but Yun Jingheng never came back.

Western section.

It's colder here than in the military camp; the wind is blowing up from the chasm in the Abyss.

Yun Jingheng has been standing near the front line for seven days.

Ye Xinglan was beside him, one hand linked with his, the Stargod Sword diagonally inserted at her side.

Half-Sweet Coffee's voice was extremely low. "Master, it's here again. This time it's from the southeast. You haven't moved an inch."

Yun Jingheng hummed in agreement and looked down at his hands.

The palm is empty.

But he could sense it.

The Abyss aura scattered throughout the battlefield was drifting towards him bit by bit.

They didn't attack him; instead, it was as if they recognized him.

Extremely light, extremely slow, inconspicuous, yet highly directional.

I report on Half-Sweet Coffee every day.

On the first day, only seven strands of hair gathered where he stood, but by the seventh day, dozens of strands had stopped within three zhang (approximately 10 meters) around him.

They don't disperse; they just hang there, as if waiting.

"I didn't do anything," Yun Jingheng suddenly said.

Half-Sweet Coffee said, "After you refined the Saintly King's energy, you have a natural affinity for low-level Abyss energy. They're not here to fight you. They see you as part of the Abyss. Or... as a door."

Ye Xinglan gripped the Stargod Sword, and the Abyss aura was only slightly pushed back by the sword light.

But as soon as she put them down, they quietly circled back and gathered on the other side of Yun Jingheng.

Ye Xinglan frowned.

She didn't speak, but simply placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. Yun Jingheng turned to look at her and said, "Don't startle them. They won't hurt anyone right now."

Ye Xinglan didn't move, she just looked at him.

He paused, then said, "The Abyssal Energy is more 'docile' than I thought."

The wind blew out from the crack, carrying an extreme chill.

Yun Jingheng stood in the center of that Abyss aura.

Half-Sweet Coffee continued, "For the past seven days, I have recorded the trajectory of the Abyss aura as it approaches you. I can confirm that you no longer need to actively absorb it; it will come towards you on its own."

"If you wish, you can clear away the scattered aura in this area simply by absorbing it freely, but the price is that the Abyssal Sage King will have a clearer perception of you."

Yun Jingheng did not answer.

He gazed at the several cracks in the distance that had not yet closed.

He slowly pulled his hands back into his pockets and whispered, "Keep observing. Write down how close they get."

Ye Xinglan didn't speak, but leaned closer to him again.

Snow fell.

"How are those people from the Federation doing?"

"Satellite images show that they've been waiting in one place."

"Okay~ Let's go take a look then~"

When Yun Jingheng and Ye Xinglan returned to the military camp, the snow had lessened somewhat.

Zhang Huanyun was waiting for him in the main camp, where the brazier was burning brightly.

Yun Jingheng took off his outer robe, sat down by the fire, and took the hot water Ye Xinglan handed him before slowly speaking, "The west side is alright. There are no signs of the passage expanding, and your newly reinforced barriers should hold for a while. We haven't seen any trace of a new Emperor level being, and the heat source below is relatively stable."

After listening, Zhang Huanyun nodded and said, "That's good. These past few days you've been up there, the camp is practically overgrown with weeds. The Abyss hasn't come, but other things have."

Yun Jingheng seemed not to understand, tilting his head to ask, "Other? What other?"

Zhang Huanyun sighed, as if suddenly remembering something. "I should have told you sooner. A team from the Federation has been waiting for seven days."

"The leader Chen Zeng, from the Council's Internal Affairs Division. He also brought two Titled Douluo from the War God Temple. Long Tianwu arranged for them to stay in the old barracks and not to wander around."

Upon hearing this, Yun Jingheng slapped his thigh, his voice rising several decibels. "Oh dear! Why didn't you say so earlier! Seven days? Is this acceptable?!"

As he spoke, he stood up, his face filled with anxiety at having neglected his distinguished guest. His movement was so forceful that he knocked over the chair.

Ye Xinglan expressionlessly helped him lift the chair.

Zhang Huanyun also stood up and shouted outside, "Someone come here! Take the Sea God Pavilion to the old barracks!"

A soldier immediately poked his head in and responded.

The Blood God Camp members were right there.

Blood One, Cao Dezhi, Long Tianwu, Long Yuxue, and the others all saw it.

No one said a word.

They watched as Yun Jingheng dragged Ye Xinglan out, his steps quick and heavy, as if he were truly going to apologize.

After everyone had walked away, Cao Dezhi slowly turned his head, his lips twitching slightly. "That was such a fake performance."

"He's been deliberately keeping me out of the loop for the past seven days," Long Tianwu said in a low voice.

"I thought he'd leave it hanging for another three days," Long Yuxue added coldly.

"Hey~ it's their choice, isn't it? Let him be~" Zhang Huanyun shrugged.