The old man stood a single step beyond the foot of North Spring Mountain, vaguely sensing that this mountain was different from its surroundings.
The vegetation on the mountain grew lush and verdant, with plants sprouting even across the Cliffs.
There also seemed to be more birds on the mountain than elsewhere.
"Could the Spirit Spring on this mountain have revived?"
The old man watched for a long while, but never took that last step forward. Then, in just a few strides, he arrived at the Divine Eagle Guard Residence.
Every soldier in the camp wore a helmet and armor and held a sharp blade.
Liu Guanliang, the newly transferred Deputy Commander of Imperial Guards, stood before the command tent. To his right, two soldiers knelt on the ground, their arms twisted behind their backs.
"We soldiers of the Imperial Guard bear His Majesty's mandate. We must be fearless and resolute, fighting valiantly to repay his imperial grace. With a formidable enemy before us, these two deserted in the face of battle and undermined morale. Today, they shall be executed to uphold military discipline!"
"Mercy, General! Please spare us, General!"
"General, we aren't afraid to die, but that enemy is beyond Grandmaster! There are barely a thousand of us, and our cultivation is only at the true martial realm. Even if we form the Divine Eagle Great Formation, we're no match for a Grandmaster. The Imperial Court still hasn't sent reinforcements—it has already abandoned us. Rather than wait here to die, we should endure humiliation and shoulder this burden. As long as the green hills remain, there will be firewood to burn. We can still offer our lives in service to His Majesty another day!"
"Silence! You still dare spout such nonsense? Carry out the execution!"
At his command, blades