Battle Through the Heavens: Flame Emperor, Please Restrain Yourself—Your Brother Is Really Quite Simple

The Magical Beast Mountain Range was the longest massive mountain range within the Jia Ma Empire, nearly running through the entire empire. It was famed for being overrun by magical beasts, making human settlement impossible.

Such an enormous mountain range naturally branched into countless smaller ranges, like fine veins in a leaf, spreading throughout the empire. The Illusionary Mist Mountain Range was one of the Magical Beast Mountain Range's branches in the southern part of the Northeast Province. It was known for being shrouded year-round in hallucinogenic mist, making it a small forbidden zone of the Northeast Province that saw little human activity.

The Illusionary Mist Mountain Range did not cover a vast area, but its location was crucial. It obstructed travel and exchange between several major cities in the southern Northeast Province, as well as routes to the Southern and Eastern Provinces.

For this reason, the Jia Ma Empire Royal Family had led local clans in constructing three trade routes, one official road, and several mountain passes for temporary rest within the Illusionary Mist Mountain Range.

The Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits were a group of bandits who had operated in the Illusionary Mist Mountain Range for more than a decade. At first, they had all possessed the strength of Dou Shi, living by murder, robbery, and plundering merchant caravans. Their numbers had always remained at nine.

Over the past decade, it was not as though the Northeast Province authorities of the Jia Ma Empire had never dispatched troops or experts to eliminate them. However, the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits possessed some secret technique that allowed them to move freely through the illusory mist, which even Dou Wang experts found difficult to withstand or see through for long. They were extremely difficult to wipe out completely.

So long as they were not completely exterminated, they would recruit new Dou Shi into their ranks and maintain their number at nine.

By now, three of the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits had reached the level of Da Dou Shi, while the other six were all high-level Dou Shi.

All nine bandits were wanted criminals listed throughout the empire, yet they had never been fully eradicated.

Now, whenever merchant caravans or individuals passed through Illusionary Mist Mountain, they would deliberately choose suitable days if they were not pressed for time.

"That's right. They'll collude with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits." Zhang Yuan nodded heavily.

Xiao Zhan's breathing quickened as he asked, "Where did you learn this? Is the information reliable? Can we report them directly to the city lord?"

The existence of the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits had made the Northeast Province almost a laughingstock before the other provinces. After all, just a few Dou Shi and Da Dou Shi had somehow evaded capture even after Dou Wang experts were dispatched.

It was only because the Northeast Province remained a main force in resisting external powers like the Chuyun Empire that the other provinces did not mock them too harshly. Still, everyone from the Northeast Province loathed the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits.

If there was evidence proving that the Jia Lie Family and Ao Ba Family were colluding with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits, the entire Jia Ma Empire would have no place for them.

"Evidence? I can't say for sure right now. Perhaps there is some, perhaps there isn't." Zhang Yuan handed the cup to Xun Er.

Xiao Zhan froze, confused. "What do you mean?"

Tapping his fingers against the table, Zhang Yuan said, "Uncle, I studied the intelligence our Xiao Clan has gathered over the past few years. When Xiao Clan caravans traveled south for trade, they were robbed by the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits several times. The Jia Lie Family and Ao Ba Family had suffered the same, but every time, only inexpensive daily necessities were taken. Don't you find that strange?"

Xiao Zhan frowned and pondered before saying, "You think they have an understanding with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits, using the robberies to transport supplies as payment for safe passage?"

Zhang Yuan nodded.

Xiao Zhan sighed. "The possibility is indeed great, but it is still only your speculation. Without solid evidence, it won't work. So many years have already passed—they couldn't possibly let us catch them red-handed."

At that, Zhang Yuan revealed a confident smile. "Uncle, why look for old evidence? Whether they colluded before or not doesn't matter. As long as we prove that they are colluding now, wouldn't that be enough?"

Xiao Zhan looked utterly puzzled.

Zhang Yuan calmly explained, "The Black Armored Guard is rotating duties with the Dragon Guard and will be stationed at Qingyun Town for the next three years."

"Qingyun Town lies at the intersection of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Southeast Province, and Eastern Province. If I lead my men from Wutan City to Qingyun Town by a detour, it will take more than half a month longer. Even if we depart today, we'll miss the military deadline. So we must take the official road through Illusionary Mist Mountain."

"This is the season when the mist in Illusionary Mist Mountain is at its thickest. Major merchant caravans either travel together or wait at the passes for the mist to disperse before setting out, but I must cross through as quickly as possible."

"Heaven, earth, and men have all been handed to them. What do you think they'll do?"

Hiss!

Xiao Zhan slapped his thigh, his eyes lighting up.

Zhang Yuan was only sixteen and already a one-star Da Dou Shi. He could even crush Jia Lie Bi despite the difference in rank. Such talent was rare throughout the history of the Jia Ma Empire. Now that he had joined the imperial military, he would certainly receive great attention and cultivation.

In just a few years, he would likely become a Dou Ling and perhaps even the commander of the Black Armored Guard.

Would the Jia Lie Family and Ao Ba Family still be able to keep their footing in Wutan City then?

No!

And once they took one step back, they would keep retreating. The two families would gradually decline as they watched the Xiao Clan rise again.

If those two families did not want that day to come, they would certainly take desperate risks and make one final gamble.

And colluding with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits was the perfect method Zhang Yuan had delivered straight into their hands. Naturally, they would fall into the trap.

No wonder Zhang Yuan had said that whether they had colluded in the past did not matter, because they would definitely collude very soon.

What a ruthless scheme!

And Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa would never imagine it.

If Xiao Yan were present, he would surely shout, "Entrapment!"

"Uncle, make the preparations." Zhang Yuan rose to his feet. "There'll be a battle in a few days. I'll first go see our city lord and find out whether he's of any use."

Xiao Zhan readily agreed.

That night, Zhang Yuan openly entered the city lord's residence and held a "secret meeting" with City Lord Lin Zhengqing for nearly two hours.

Not long afterward, word spread that Lin Zhengqing thought highly of Zhang Yuan and intended to introduce him to one of the commanders of the Black Armored Guard.

The next morning, the Mittel Auction House also released word that it would cooperate with the Xiao Clan to establish a merchant caravan specifically traveling between Qingyun Town and Wutan City. Independent mercenaries and unaffiliated cultivators who were interested could register to join the guard unit.

When these two pieces of news reached Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa, they finally resolved to eliminate Zhang Yuan.

As long as Zhang Yuan died, both the city lord's favor and the Mittel Auction House's cooperation would vanish into thin air.

By then, they would not even need to cooperate to suppress the Xiao Clan and could maintain the balance they had once enjoyed.

For a time, undercurrents surged through Wutan City, though the surface remained calm.

Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, three days had gone by.

Before Wutan City's gates, Zhang Yuan and his personal guards sat astride Silver-Horned Black Rhinoceros Horses, fully equipped and ready to depart. Compared to their return journey, there was one more person in the party—Xiao Boyuan, who had broken through to become a Dou Master after taking the Lightning Pattern Pill and had volunteered to serve once more as Zhang Yuan's personal guard.

The Xiao Clan's upper ranks and direct descendants, Ya Fei and Master Gu Ni of the Miteer Clan, and the city lord, Lin Zhengqing, had all come personally to see them off.

After exchanging a few formal pleasantries, Zhang Yuan prepared to leave with his men.

Just then, a sudden commotion arose from the direction of the city gates, drawing everyone's attention.

Jia Lie Qing, the Great Elder of the Jia Lie family, and Ao Ba Pa, the head of the Ao Ba Family, hurried over with their men.

"Captain Zhang Yuan, please wait!"