"What do you mean, the Gongyang Clan is carrying a Death Banner into Jiangbei to scavenge corpses?"

The moment night falls.

"Millennium" and a host of Strange Entities suddenly appeared out of thin air around "Flat City".

In the darkness.

A massive Formation was laid out on the Wasteland ground.

The Scarlet Lines drawn with blood formed the foundation of this Formation, with Eerie Stone embedded at the nodes. Large amounts of human blood, mixed with remains, were drawn towards the lines of the Formation.

Standing beside the Formation, Millennium took an Eerie Stone from Qianqiu's hand and carefully placed it into the last empty node.

The next moment -

All the lines in the entire Formation intersect together.

The enormous Formation, breathing in the darkness, constantly flickered with Scarlet Glow, as if yearning for something. And at the very center of the Formation...

A battle array platform was set up.

The array platform was surrounded by all sorts of Ghost Material and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, and the faint wails of the Wraiths echoed from above the Formation.

"The Blood Sacrifice Formation is complete."

Millennium looked calmly at the empty array platform at the top and said softly, "Once the king places the Mountain-Skeleton Embryo on it, the array will be complete, helping the king break through the Wraith King and thus Achievement a Qianqiu."

"You don't seem very excited?" Qianqiu turned her head to look at Millennium.

66

After a long silence, Millennium turned her head and gazed into the direction of the Nameless Mountain: "For some reason, I have a vague sense of unease in my heart."

What caused it?

"I arrived at the Jiangbei Wasteland before you. During this time, I searched almost the entire Jiangbei wilderness, but I couldn't find the mistress. I suspect she may be dead."

Upon hearing this, Qianqiu fell silent for a moment before asking in a hoarse voice, "You mean, the Mistress might have lost the King's Special Armament, the 'Godslaying Spear'?"

That's a bit bad.

Before Millennium could reply, Qianqiu continued to murmur, "When the King left the Jiangbei Wasteland last Rainy Season, he was worried that he wouldn't be able to find his mistress, so he specially left his Special Armament for her to use for location tracking. He was also worried that if some malicious humans sensed it, it would bring danger to his mistress, so he specially used his Heartblood to cover it up."

"The Main Weapon is gone."

"After breaking through to the Wraith King, Wang is finding it difficult to unleash his full power."

"But one-

-"

"How could the mistress possibly be dead? The king left her a group of elusive soldiers at her command. As long as they don't attack those two human City, it's impossible for any humans to break into the Eternal Night and kill the mistress."

Millennium's expression remained calm as she said, "I found the place where Thousand Throats died. It's a human Camp in the Wasteland. I suspect the Matriarch may have died there."

Qianqiu remained silent, no longer having time to investigate why the mistress had died at that Camp or why the king's Main Weapon had been lost. "Did you tell the king about this?"

"I didn't dare say it; I'll wait for the King to arrive."

Are you trying to escape?

"I will not flee; I am willing to give my life for the king's ascension to the summit."

"Me too."

In the end, the two didn't say anything more, and the conversation ended abruptly.

Time slowly passed over the Jiangbei Wasteland.

Several more days passed.

Today is the 28th day of the Rainy Season, and it will soon be dark.

The rainy weather lasted for a month.

But today the rain has noticeably become sparser.

Anyone with eyes can see that.

The rainy night will end after tonight.

A palpable sense of relief and suppressed excitement filled the air above Northbank City. The people were all unable to sleep tonight, eager to witness the end of the Rainy Season, wanting to celebrate but feeling it was inappropriate, fearing they wouldn't survive tonight's ordeal.

The Rainy Season is coming to an end.

Undercurrents are stirring throughout the Jiangbei Wasteland, and various forces are about to make their appearance.

The border area between Jiangnan and Jiangbei.

A caravan of the Trade Association traveled slowly across the plains and stopped in front of a City before nightfall. As the city gates opened, pairs of eyes turned to the flags fluttering above the Trade Association.

"A Gongyang with flames burning in its eye sockets."

Everyone froze when they saw the flag.

This is the Clan Banner of the Gongyang Clan!

The Gongyang Clan has two types of Clan Banner. The other type is Living Banner, where the Gongyang's eye sockets on the flag do not burn with flames. That is a regular flag, representing that the Caravan belongs to the Gongyang Clan.

And this Clan Banner is Death Banner!

This means that this Trade Association is carrying out the most important and urgent mission of the Gongyang Clan, and anyone who dares to obstruct it will face the Gongyang Clan's furious retaliation.

The Caravan consisted of three Horse-Drawn Carriage pulled by Skeleton Horse, followed by dozens of armored Attendant riding Skeleton Horse, their exposed eye sockets revealing Ice-Cold and ruthlessness.

We've arrived in Jiangnan Water City.

The Green-Robed Man in the first Horse-Drawn Carriage, wearing Bamboo Hat, his face obscured by the veil falling from the Bamboo Hat, leaned lazily against the carriage, a smile playing on his lips, and said, "This is the closest City to Jiangbei. I reckon the Jiangbei Rainy Season will be over tomorrow."

"We can set off for Jiangbei tomorrow."

"This must be your first time setting foot in Jiangbei, right? Jiangbei is windy and sandy, it's not a nice place."

The sound drifted into the carriage on the night breeze.

The carriage curtain was lifted.

A petite woman with a distinctly Jiangnan) air peeked out, also wearing a bamboo Bamboo Hat with a veil hanging down. After adjusting the Bamboo Hat, she looked around expectantly. "I'm still a little nervous. I... I've never killed anyone before."

"Killing is actually very simple."

The Green-Robed Man glanced at the fearful and shocked looks on the faces of the passersby, then said casually, "One swing of the sword, and the person is dead."

"After the Eternal Nightfall, humanity becomes the most vulnerable creature in the world."

"Jiangbei Old Devil, I have a question for you. How come you have so many enemies? It seems like you have more enemies than all the people I've ever met combined."

"The more stories you have, the more enemies you make."

"Why?"

Nine out of ten stories in this world end in tragedy.

What about the remaining ten percent?

"There's still 10% left unfinished."

Will our story end in tragedy?

There's no story between us.

What is that?

"It's a tragic fate."

"Oh, those words are so hurtful, but even a tragic fate is still fate, which means you acknowledge that we are destined to be together?"

The man sitting in the Horse-Drawn Carriage casually pulled on the reins, smiled, and said nothing more.

"After entering the city, we'll change the map to the Ghosthide Map, find an inn to stay at, and set off for Jiangbei tomorrow."

The two chatted as they rode in the Horse-Drawn Carriage into the City.

After the Caravan sailed away...

Discussions gradually arose from behind.

"Am I seeing things? Isn't that the Death Banner of the Gongyang Clan?" A stall owner leaned over and looked at the departing Caravan, staring intently at the Gongyang on the flag that seemed to come alive, its eyes flashing with rage.

"You read that right."

A young man standing in front of the stall remarked with emotion, "Seventeen years ago, the Gongyang Clan traveled eight hundred li to rescue their wives by raising a flag. I witnessed it with my own eyes; this was the very flag they were carrying."

Seventeen years have passed.

"The Death Banner of the Gongyang Clan once again flies over the Jiangnan region."

"I just don't know why this time."

"Heavens, things are about to change..."

"You're just a little kid. How old were you seventeen years ago? What could you possibly understand?"

"But you're right about your last point, the weather is indeed changing." An Elderly Man squatting by the roadside said quietly, "The Jiangbei Rainy Season is almost over, and next it will be our turn in Jiangnan Rainy Season."

"The Rainy Season in Jiangbei has come early this time, and many City may have already fallen and their inhabitants perished. In the past few days, I've seen many forces preparing to enter the Jiangbei Wasteland to scavenge the corpses."

"Everyone should be more worried about whether they can survive the Rainy Season."

"What's there to be afraid of?" The vendor curled his lip. "The Rainy Season in Jiangnan comes at a normal time; it didn't arrive early, so it's not that dangerous."

"Hehe."

The Elderly Man, with a pipe dangling from his lips, smacked his lips and walked towards the street corner with his hands behind his back. "Youth is truly wonderful; ignorance is bliss."

"What are you pretending for, you old codger!"

The vendor glanced at the Elderly Man's departing figure and muttered a curse under his breath before looking up again with envy at the receding Caravan of the Gongyang Clan: "That Skeleton Horse sells for a whopping 3,000 Eerie Stone on the market."

"Its stamina far surpasses that of an ordinary thoroughbred, yet it never tires."

"When will I be able to afford a Skeleton Horse like this? If I rode it back to the village, wouldn't Young Girl there be green with envy?"

"Don't."

The boy standing nearby joked, "The villagers aren't very knowledgeable. If they saw you riding back on Skeleton Horse, they might think you're possessed by Strange Entities and run away when they see you."

"Besides, you'll never be able to afford it in your entire life by setting up a stall. Let me show you a better way."

"You say."

"Look, it's getting dark. Go buy a knife, rush into the Eternal Night. You'll get an Eerie Stone for every Strange Entities you kill. Kill three thousand Strange Entities in one night, and you'll have enough to buy a Skeleton Horse."

The vendor, abandoning his attentive demeanor, looked at the young man in A White Robe beside him as if he were an idiot. "What you said is so true, why don't you go?"

"Go ahead, why wouldn't you go?"

The boy shrugged, turned and strode toward the city gate, took out an Eerie Stone from his pocket and flicked it into the guard's arms, and the city gate rose.

And at this moment--

Darkness enveloped the entire plain, and outside the city, it was an extremely dense darkness where one could not see their own hand in front of their face.

The young man in white calmly walked into the darkness.

He carried a heavy sword on his back, slightly shorter than himself, with an extremely wide blade, the edge of which was not visible, resembling a wooden door.

Rather than a heavy sword

It's more accurate to say it's Heavy Ruler.

"Hello!"

The vendor was so terrified by what he saw that he stood there dumbfounded. After a long while, he finally reacted and shouted anxiously, "I was fucking lying! Are you crazy? It's dark, why did you go outside?!"

However.

Before he could finish speaking, the boy in white had already stepped into the darkness and disappeared.

At the same time.

In another Teahouse in Jiangnan Water City.

A man with a effeminate appearance was playing with Jadeite Bead Bracelet in his hand. He frowned and looked out the window at the Trade Association passing by on the street below. The Death Banner fluttering in the wind was extremely conspicuous.

After a long silence, he said softly.

"What do you mean? The Gongyang Clan is carrying Death Banner to Jiangbei to collect corpses?"

Is this in accordance with the rules?

"How are other players supposed to compete? Will everyone be carrying Death Banner and picking up corpses every year from now on?"

"And with the power of the Gongyang Clan, would they even bother with such a paltry profit as picking up corpses?"

The Elderly Man sitting opposite him took a sip of tea and slowly said, "It's probably not about picking up a corpse; there's something else going on."

That's strange.

The young man withdrew his gaze, drew the curtains, leaned back in his chair, squinted, and murmured, "Carrying the Death Banner is quite a show, isn't it? When will Father let me carry Death Banner for once?"

"Carrying the Death Banner is no joke."

"But it looks really explosive, I like it a little frizzy."

"Besides--

The young man frowned. "When I entered the city, I saw the current direct disciple of the East River 'One Sword Sect,' and that madman was also in this city. It looks like he's also heading to Jiangbei."

Is there any major event or announcement coming to Jiangbei this year?

"Why does it feel so lively?"

"That's just how the world works." The Elderly Man dipped his finger in tea and drew the character for "sky" on the table. "The most prominent figures in this world aren't born one after another, but rather they suddenly appear in large numbers, like leeks, at a certain point in time."

"Competing against each other."

"The last person to survive will become a great figure who will be etched in history and rule an era."

Even the most powerful and ruthless leader needs someone to highlight him.

"Hmm... that makes sense."

The young man laughed, "So, Father sent me with the disciples of Medicine King Valley to Jiangbei to collect corpses, just so I could join in the fun?"

"It seems Father sensed something. I knew Medicine King Valley had to rely on scavenging corpses to survive."

"Among the forces that have entered Jiangbei this time, no one should be stronger than our Medicine King Valley, right?"

The Elderly Man tilted his head, drew back the curtain, and gazed at the departing Caravan outside the window. He slowly said, "The Gongyang Clan has even brought Gongyang Yiyue with them on this trip. I suggest you try not to be too conspicuous. This trip to Jiangbei doesn't seem like a spring outing."

"Gongyang Yiyue..."

The young man's smile slowly faded, and a hint of fear flashed in his eyes.

In Jiangnan, everyone knows the Gongyang Yiyue, which is associated with the Gongyang star.

Those were the Night Watcher of the Gongyang Clan.

It seems...

This time, the Gongyang Clan is truly determined to fight to the bitter end with their Death Banner.

"Oh, the Pill Sect is here too."

"That beast came too?"

A hint of disgust flashed across the young man's brow. He despised scum who toyed with women more than anything else in his life. He had always remained a virgin and would only be willing to share sexual pleasures with someone he truly loved. Moreover, the fact that the Pill Sect and the Medicine King Valley were mortal enemies only amplified his loathing.

"Um."

"The Pill Sect had already announced that they would Marriage Proposal to the Gongyang Clan after the Jiangnan Rainy Season. Now the situation seems a bit delicate; the Gongyang Clan seems unwilling and is prepared to fight to the death."

"I remember the Gongyang Clan couldn't defeat the Pill Sect, right?"

"We can't win, but we can take a bite out of them. After that, it will be our Medicine King Valley's turn to act. However, the Pill Sect clearly doesn't want to start a war. It seems they want the younger generation to handle these matters."

"You mean Gongyang Gao's daughter was also on the Caravan?"

"Hmm, everyone in Jiangnan knows that. Don't you pay attention to these things before you go out?"

I didn't pay much attention to it.

"Don't worry about it. With me here, you can just watch the show; no one can touch you."

The Elderly Man's voice was calm, but his words conveyed a strong sense of confidence.

The Jiangbei Wasteland, Nameless Mountain.

Night had just fallen.

Tonight, everyone in the Camp put down their work and stood on the City Wall, their faces alert, waiting patiently as the rain gradually thinned.

The Rainy Season will be over soon.

Tonight.

The Wraith King will most likely come knocking, and tonight will be the final hurdle to overcome whether we can survive this Rainy Season.

"Bring it on."

Chen Fan stood on the City Wall, staring straight ahead at the Canyon shrouded in darkness. He placed his palms on the battlements, feeling the damp chill from the night rain, and murmured to himself.

"I'm ready."

"Let me see the Wraith King's methods."