Ninefold Mountain.
It lay northwest of Upper Capital Commandery, its ridges stretching through nine successive tiers, hence its name.
Its main peak was the highest, exceptionally steep and easy to defend but difficult to attack. It had long been plagued by bandits, who occupied it year-round and could never be completely eradicated.
Three figures abruptly appeared on the mountain path.
"My lord, the main peak of Ninefold Mountain is up ahead." Chen Canghai raised a hand toward a distant peak that pierced the sky like a sword. "The convoy was ambushed in the Tiger Leap Cliff gorge, ten li ahead."
Jiang Ning looked up at the treacherous terrain.
Then his divine sense spread forward rapidly, like mercury spilling across the ground.
In a single instant, all nine peaks fell within its reach.
At the main peak, however, it encountered an invisible barrier that shut his divine sense out.
"Let's go! To the main peak!" Jiang Ning said.
As his words fell,
his figure moved again, streaking away like lightning.
Seeing this, Chen Canghai and Jing Wuming hurried after him.
A moment later.
Before Tiger Leap Cliff.
Jiang Ning stopped at the entrance to the gorge, his gaze sweeping the surroundings.
Traces of fighting still remained on the ground, along with wheel ruts and several scraps of torn clothing.
These were clearly the traces left by the convoy transporting his cultivation resources some days earlier.
Chen Canghai and Jing Wuming arrived close behind him.
Unlike the composed Jiang Ning, Chen Canghai and Jing Wuming were slightly short of breath, their expressions wary as they surveyed their surroundings.
Then Jiang Ning looked ahead.
Sheer cliffs towered on both sides, leaving only a narrow passage between them. That passage had just appeared in his mind: a winding corridor fully a hundred zhang long,