Lone Expedition

Night gradually shrouded Tianshui City.

City Lord's Manor, study.

"Brother Lu." Feng Wuji pushed open the door and entered, handing over a secret report. "The White Lotus Sect's planted spy sent back confirmed intelligence."

Lu Zhen took it and swept his eyes over it.

The intelligence was highly detailed.

As expected, the First Prince's faction had truly been provoked. They had actually summoned the royal family's hidden foundation.

The Heavenly Extremity Realm grandmaster sent this time was the Great Abyss Imperial Clan Office's chief, the current Emperor's own imperial uncle... Chu Xuanting.

This man had presided over the Imperial Clan Office for sixty years, never showing himself in the mountains or revealing himself in the waters.

He was the true pillar that held the Great Abyss royal family steady.

Nor was that all.

This old chief had personally led thirty thousand of the royal family's most elite Imperial Guards—the Dragon-Steed Iron Cavalry.

"At present, this army has arrived at Horse-Blocking Pass, less than four hundred li from Tianshui City." Feng Wuji said gravely, "It is a formidable pass that is easy to defend and hard to attack. The old chief has pitched camp there. Clearly, he is gathering momentum and proceeding steadily."

Lu Zhen casually held the report over the candle flame and watched the paper turn to ash.

"Brother Lu, how should we respond?" Feng Wuji asked. "Should we reinforce the city defenses? Or set an ambush along the way?"

"No need," Lu Zhen said calmly.

Military strategy spoke of striking when the enemy was halfway across the river. Martial arts spoke of seizing the initiative.

Wait until this old chief's army reached the city walls? Or guard against that Heavenly Extremity Realm old thief sneaking into the City Lord's Manor in the dead of night for an ambush?