Before Golden Rooster Ridge, the remnants of Xiqi's army had barely established their camp when they saw Yang Jian standing alone outside the camp gate.
He looked up at the sky.
The one he awaited was none other than Saint Zhunti.
The Buddha light left by the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree shrouded the camp, shielding Xiqi from the five-element demonic aura soaring into the sky from Golden Rooster Ridge.
Yet there was not a trace of joy in the camp.
Lei Zhenzi was gone.
Huang Tianhua was gone.
Wei Hu was gone too.
Even Zhunti's avatar had only forced Kong Xuan back half a step when he came in person.
This weighed like a boulder on the hearts of every officer and soldier in Xiqi.
Inside the Commander's Tent, Jiang Ziya's expression was grim, his palm pressed against the God-Beating Whip the entire time.
They could not get past Golden Rooster Ridge.
Unless Kong Xuan was eliminated and the Five-Colored Divine Light broken, Xiqi's army could only remain trapped here until they died.
More troublesome still, the Western Teachings had already reached into the affair.
The chessboard of the Investiture of the Gods had become so chaotic that even he, the keeper of the register, could no longer see it clearly.
"Report-!"
A messenger stumbled into the tent.
"Prime Minister, your martial nephew Yang Jian has arrived!"
Jiang Ziya jerked his head up.
"Yang Jian?"
He strode out of the Commander's Tent.
A streak of golden light landed before the camp gate.
Yang Jian wore black armor, his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade slung diagonally across his back, the Heavenly Eye between his brows half closed.
His face was as handsome and refined as ever.
Yet the faintly flickering purple-gray Dao pattern made Jiang Ziya's heart give a violent jolt.
That