Because of his age and limited experience, Emperor Li Yan had not yet grasped real power, though he had naturally read plenty of relevant reports and knew what an invasion by Outsiders represented. Thus, the moment he heard the news Geng Chi and the others had brought back, he hastily raised the matter during court, with no intention of keeping it secret.
"What about those people from the Daoist Sect? How are they faring? Could it be that the entire army was wiped out?" With a turn of thought, Li Yan noticed another aspect and could not help asking. This was also what all the civil and military officials most wanted to know.
"There is... no definite news," Geng Chi replied after a slight hesitation.
Behind him, Lu Yang cupped his hands and said, "That day, we had already neared Watching Wind Island when the upheaval began. Outsiders descended, cutting off our way forward and back, while all manner of Outer Dao demonic arts ran rampant. We were forced to turn back. When we investigated afterward, however, it was already difficult to obtain any news."
It turned out that several days earlier, Geng Chi and Lu Yang had carried a court decree, while Lin Dingtian led a contingent of New Army soldiers aboard ships toward Watching Wind Island. Later, disciples of the Mohist School descended, and black storm clouds and raging sands appeared one after another, shrouding the entire stretch of sea around the island so that no one outside could approach or investigate.
Fearing that they might be caught up in it, Geng Chi and the others discussed it and decided to return, intending to make long-term plans.
Yet upon returning, they found no turn for the better. Sand and dust continued to fill the sea, even forming a