The carriage jolted along for roughly four hours before the view ahead suddenly opened up.
"We're here." The accompanying imperial guard commander's gruff voice came from outside the carriage.
Gu Xingyue lifted the curtain, and a mighty fortress burst into view.
Jialing Pass.
Its walls towered into the clouds, built entirely from massive, heavy blocks of blue-black stone, like a colossal beast crouched between two mountains, guarding the vital throat connecting Heavenly Soul and Star Luo.
Banners snapped atop the walls, where armored defenders stood in formation with weapons in hand.
Upon spotting Shrek's convoy in the distance, the tightly shut gates slowly opened at once, and a cavalry unit galloped out to welcome them.
Leading them was Jialing Pass's garrison general, a middle-aged Soul Douluo.
He swung down from his horse, strode to the front of the procession, and dropped to one knee, his booming voice carrying a trace of reverence:
"This subordinate pays his respects to Elder Xuan Zi! All officers and soldiers of Jialing Pass welcome Shrek Academy's takeover of our defenses!"
Xuan Zi jumped down from her horse, patted the hem of her clothes, and raised a hand in a gesture for him to rise. "Get up."
The garrison general rose, an exceedingly complicated look on his face.
There was the relief of having a heavy burden lifted, of no longer having to face Shrek's cutting edge, but also a trace of disappointment he could barely conceal.
After all, a mighty fortress the empire had cultivated for over a thousand years had changed hands with a single document. For the general stationed here, it was ultimately a loss of face.
But he was a clever man who knew what he should and should not say. He did not dare let slip so much as half a