The five-year pact expired
On the day the Five-Year Pact expired, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Mountain Gate replaced the old seal hanging on the inside of its gate. Ning Fengzhi did not burn it; instead, he had someone write down the last day's date and put it back into the original contract box.
On the other side of the contract box, the document sent by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan also contained the same decision: the period of seclusion has ended, disciples are free to travel to and from the outside world, and the sect will still independently decide which side to stand on.
More than three and a half years have passed since the medicine ship delivered the two boxes to Sea God Island. The tide Body Tempering, the following year of cultivation, another year of hunting at sea, and the six months of recuperation after the Demon Whale War have brought the Old Covenant to its end. The Angel Inheritance has progressed in parallel with this, without prematurely removing the seal on the contract for either party.
The army no longer needs to wait, but it still cannot make the choice for the sect.
Ning Fengzhi opened the first letter requesting passage, which already showed the route the Allied Army would take from the sect's territory to the flank of the Spirit Hall Empire. After reading it, he returned the map to the messenger and instructed his disciple to send out another map showing the route for escorting the wounded.
"Merchants and the wounded may leave; the main army will cross the border from the south."
The envoy wanted to mention Ning Rongrong and Tang San, but Sword Douluo walked in from outside and first laid out the military map. The map showed two towns below the sect. Once the military camp was established, the next wave of pursuers would also encircle the people in the towns.
Ning Fengzhi pointed to these two places. "My daughter came back alive, and I want her to see her old home here."
On the same day, the Blue Lightning Sect opened its mountain, but did not send its clan flag to the Allied Army. The two sects each guarded the entrance to their respective territories, and the envoys who came to recruit them took away a clear reply, with their battle flags turning away from their outer borders.
The vanguard from both countries crossed the disputed section of the river first.
Initially, it was just a change Scouts. Then, three battalions of infantry and cavalry took advantage of the shallow water at night to build a bridge, hoping to occupy the south bank before the imperial garrison received orders. There was a shed for transferring wounded soldiers near the bridgehead. When Bai Jin arrived, the shed had not yet been fully evacuated, and the first batch of horses had already crossed the wooden bridge.
He stood in front of the shed, rolling up his sleeves to his wrists.
"You men, leave the bridge to me."
The middle section of the Cangyan Bridge narrowed inwards, and the load-bearing wooden pillars were first pulled away from the riverbed, followed by the bridge deck folding towards both banks. The Cavalry could still rein in their horses, but the infantry behind them continued to push forward. Bai Jin pressed He against the water at the bridgehead, and an outward wall of water pushed back the rear, leaving them room to retreat.
The officer at the front had already released his Martial Soul, thrusting his spear towards the entrance of the tent. Limitless stopped the spear tip in front of Bai Jin, but the shaft bent into an arc due to the momentum of the attack. Bai Jin reached out and Shrinking Earth the end of the shaft, using his teleportation ability to pass by Bai Jin's side, pulling him off the horse and slamming him directly onto the stone surface of the riverbank.
Who gave the order to cross the boundary?
The officer broke free of half of his armor, and just as his Soul Power was about to ignite along the blade of his spear, Bai Jin pressed down on his right shoulder, suppressing his Martial Soul Possession. The Golden Trio who arrived later took the prisoners away, Xie Yue led those who could still stand on the bridgehead back to the north bank, and Hu Liena watched as the last few stretchers carrying the wounded left the transfer shed.
Yan walked to the half-collapsed wooden bridge, intending to burn off the remaining bridge surface, Bai Jin raised his hand to stop him first.
There are still people inside. Rescue them first.
Two infantrymen who had fallen into the water were pulled to the riverbank by ordinary rescue ropes. They belonged to the Allied Army, and their weapons had been swept away by the water. Yan burned a little on their soaked armor belts so that they could climb up the slope on their own before heading towards the empty bridge.
The river parted again, and all the Empire's wounded soldiers were transferred to the rear.
After that day, neither side treated the border crossing as a temporary joint training exercise. The main forces of both countries converged towards Jialing Pass. The Spirit Hall Empire transferred grain from its territories that had already submitted to them. Elephant Armor, Wind Sword, and Fire Leopard each led their troops to guard the passage, while the Golden Trio followed Bai Jin into the pass first to clear the streets and alleys for the wounded to pass through.
Bai Jin did not ask Seven Treasure and Blue Lightning for military rations.
Ning Fengzhi's letter arrived at the pass even before the Allied Army arrived. It stated how many wounded soldiers the sect would take in and that the medical clinic should not be used as a place for either side to hide their soldiers. Bai Jin handed the letter to the wounded soldiers' team, watched as the leader carefully noted down the weapons' storage, registration, and return deadlines, and then told them to follow the directions in the letter.
Blue Lightning's reply was even shorter. Yu Yuanzhen promised to guard the road he had restored after opening the mountain, but refused to let the younger disciples of his clan pursue the enemy for the empire. They had their own old scores to settle, and they also needed to preserve enough strength to defend their home. Bai Jin did not pursue this refusal regarding letting the sect go, but only sent the messenger back with the route for transferring the empire's wounded soldiers, so as to prevent the two patrols from bumping into each other on the same night road.
That night, a vanguard of the Allied Army, composed of Soul Master, attempted to approach the grain transport route outside the pass. The Wind Sword Sect retreated to the foot of the pass wall, where the disciple at the very front had already been shot down by a long-range Soul Skill. If they retreated further, the Grain Wagon would be completely blocked on the narrow road.
Bai Jin descended from the wall, not sending Cang Xian towards the enemy camp. Cang caught the fallen disciple's armor belt, pulling him out from under the second barrage of fire. He then landed in the open space outside the narrow path, stirring up earth and stones to separate the two sides. The opposing leader tried to circle around to the left, but he used his teleportation Shrinking Earth over the broken slope, his fingertip touching the longsword that had just been raised. The back of the blade snapped instantly, and the wielder was thrown back to his own lines.
"The Grain Wagon go first," he said to those behind him.
The disciples of the Wind Sword Sect helped the wounded up, and the Grain Wagon drove through the gate along the cleared road. The vanguard did not continue to advance, and Bai Jin did not chase after the retreating people into the camp. He simply put the overturned stones back to the roadside so that the last wagon could pass safely. The garrison saw this operation clearly from the wall, and the night shift continued in the original positions without removing the outer sentries just because the two gods had not yet arrived.
When the military map was laid out high above Jialing Pass, he placed the new replies from the two sects next to it. Anyone who wanted to use the expired old agreement to explain the army's whereabouts would have to read the rejection sent by the sects first. The garrison commander asked him if the Allied Army would detour around the other river to hold off the residents along the river. Bai Jin looked up at him.
"You can stay by the river first. Don't put other people's families in line before you."
The general asked no further questions, took the relocation route, and left.
Qian Renxue arrived at the city gate at dusk. She did not spread her golden Divine Outfit across the entire city, but only left a layer of Holy Light on the outermost edge that could intercept distant Soul Skill. Bai Jin checked the landing points along the city wall and marked all the inhabited inner streets out of the possible combat range.
"My mother will arrive in three days," she said. "She promised that the military's orders would remain in effect."
"Then let's do it the same way."
You're still in Level 98.
Bai Jin surveyed the three camps outside the city, then tapped a new brick on the wall. "I know. Let them understand first that even at Level 98, I can defend this place."
She did not channel Angel Divine Power into him. The two walked along the city wall. The last vehicle transporting the wounded had just left the city gate. Its wheels rolled over the smoothed old stone road, and finally, there was no more jolting.
In the same season, the legacy of Sea God Island also came to its final day.
Bo Saixi sat on the steps outside the hall and handed the Scepter she always used to Sea Dragon. Tang San had been recuperating for several months, Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's Soul Ring and Soul Bone had stabilized. His Dual Martial Souls were now connected within his body, and the Sea God's Light could completely cover the Trident.
She didn't ask Tang San to find another medicine or hunt another sea monster.
"I'll open the door for you on the final exam."
Tang San looked at her, already knowing how to open this door, but still asked, "Is this the only way?"
"This is what I promised when I accepted the position of honor," Bo Saixi said, looking at the halberd in the hall. "Your path has come to this point, and it's time for me to finish mine."
Tang San knelt down. Xiao Wu stood behind him and saw that Bo Saixi had finally handed over the Scepter. She then stopped offering the medicine bag she had been holding.
Sea Dragon caught the Scepter and knelt before the old man. The other Sacred Pillar Guardian retreated to both sides of the Hall Gate, making way for Tang San to reach the statue.