As for the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley, if we're talking about who in this world understands it best besides Chen Qing and those Ancient Insect from back then, it would be none other than the Shen Family.
Back then, the patriarch of the Shen Family was the only great sorcerer who possessed the Dragon Transformation Technique and was active in the mortal realm. He had been trying to pry open the gates of the Dragon Palace, and what had been blocking his way was the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley.
Chen Qing's rise in Jiangnan was incredibly smooth, from having no foundation to eventually controlling the Jiangnan. Besides the formidable weapon of the Divine Path Style, the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley Nine Heavens Mirror Valley a crucial role. Without it, Chen Qing would have been defeated early on, and wouldn't be enjoying his current power and prestige.
But now, so many years have passed, and the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley has long since lost its purpose. Yet now a woman appears claiming that the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley is hers?
Is there something seriously wrong with him/her?
"That's a question I should be asking you," the woman said coldly, looking at everyone. "What exactly is going on? Why was the Dragon Palace forcibly opened? Why was the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley weakened?"
"Young lady," Shen Lao'er frowned, "Many people know what has happened in Jiangnan over the years. Back then, the demons awakened, the power of the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley weakened, and the Ancient Insect plagued the human world. Hundreds of thousands of lives in Jiangnan were parasitized and turned into living corpses. If it weren't for our lord turning the tide and saving Jiangnan from disaster, how could we have this prosperous era today? Since you know about the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley, why don't you know about the current King of Qin of Jiangnan?"
" The King of Qin?" The woman frowned slightly. "So that's how it is. That guy still managed to escape?"
"Who exactly is this young lady?" Shen Lao'er asked, frowning.
If it weren't for the fact that the other side was holding Wei Gongcheng, making them hesitant to act, they would have already taken action.
My surname is Shen.
"You must be Miss Shen," Shen Laosan said as he stepped forward. "I wonder why you had a conflict with my master, Lord Wei, and why you took him hostage?"
"Taking him hostage?" The woman scoffed. "I didn't take him hostage." With that, she threw Wei Gongcheng to the ground. Only then did everyone see that Wei Gongcheng's eyes were rolled back, and his veins were bulging, as if he were in great pain.
"What's wrong with Lord Wei?" Shen Lao'er asked hurriedly.
"This is what it looks like when an evil spirit invades your body."
"A pipe dream!" Shen Lao'er said coldly, "What kind of evil spirit could invade the Lord of the Underworld?"
"The Lord of the Underworld?" The girl surnamed Shen was taken aback, then carefully examined everyone before exclaiming, "I knew it! You guys were neither spirits nor humans, so you're from the Divine Path Style. Why didn't you say so earlier that this incomplete version even had Divine Path Style?"
"Well, it's difficult. In the secular world, few women hold official positions unless they are born into the royal family and receive a fiefdom. But even that's unlikely in the Central Plains."
This woman is no ordinary person.
The Shen Family exchanged glances. This woman had immediately revealed the Divine Path Style Method, and she also gave off an extraordinary aura. The Shen Family were currently unable to use the abilities of the Lord of the Underworld, but nourished by merit, they were now at the top level of the Transcendent, yet they could not discern the depth of this woman's abilities.
"Who is your master?" the woman asked. "I mean, what's his name?"
"My lord Chen Qing, is renowned throughout the land; have you never heard of him, young lady?"
" Chen Qing?" The woman was taken aback. "That kid Mu? Really?"
Everyone: "."
"That kid isn't dead?"
"Do you know my master?"
"I'd say we know each other," the woman said with a smile. "Where is he?"
Everyone frowned immediately, looked at Wei Gongcheng, and then asked, "Miss, where did you find Lord Wei? Wasn't the lord with him?"
"Huh?" The woman was taken aback. "No way. This guy suddenly appeared at the core of the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley, startling me awake. At the time, I was in a mad state, possessed by an evil spirit. The only time he was lucid after I subdued him was when he asked me to bring him back here."
"I see." The group quickly bowed and said, "Thank you for your help, young lady."
"Just doing it casually," the woman waved her hand dismissively, then looked at Wei Gongcheng and said, "The evil spirit inside him is not simple. I can't figure out what it is for the time being. You have to be careful. If his position is very important, once it is successfully invaded, it is very likely that the divine office in that area will be controlled by someone else."
The group was immediately startled!
Liuzhou, controlled by Wei Gongcheng, is extremely important. It possesses the largest group of Yin soldiers in the Underworld. The combined Underworld forces of other places might not even match those of Liuzhou. If it falls into someone else's hands...
Just as they were filled with dread, the sound of galloping horses suddenly came from afar.
"It's a messenger." Shen Lao'er frowned. Judging from that direction, it was a messenger from the Central Plains pass. Tian Heng had only been at the pass for less than half a day when this happened?
The messengers were garrisoned in Nanming Prefecture, where there were outposts that could maintain long-distance communication with the Central Plains. Designed by the sorcerers of the Heaven Academy, the messengers could release energy from a distance and then form simple text through analysis. Normally, it required about a dozen sorcerers to maintain, which was quite costly. I didn't expect it to work so quickly.
"Report!" the soldier said hastily as soon as he dismounted. "Sir, General Tian has sent back urgent intelligence: the spiritual energy has surged, and the imperial army's northern expedition has temporarily withdrawn. However, due to the long journey back to the Imperial Capital and the fear of attack, they have detoured to Jiangnan and are expected to arrive Jiangnan in half a day."
"Detour to Jiangnan?" Shen Lao'er and the others immediately realized that with the surge in spiritual energy, given the situation of the Heavenly Python Palace, it was very likely that a King Level giant python had already invaded this world. In order to avoid losses, running to Jiangnan was indeed a good choice.
However, as the commander-in-chief at the front, Tian Heng could have made the decision himself regarding this crucial military matter. Why then did he send orders back?
Shen Lao'er quickly asked, "What else did General Tian say?"
"He said," the soldier hesitated for a moment, "Should we take this opportunity to wipe out the entire imperial army?"
"This guy's got some nerve," Shen Lao'er frowned.
It must be said that this is indeed an opportunity. If the imperial court loses this wave of troops, it will probably take five years to recover. In the current situation, there is no five years to give them time. But the problem is that the two sides are allies now. To betray them at this time would be to break faith with the world and damage their reputation.
Do not underestimate this reputation. Once the imperial court collapses, the Central Plains will inevitably be controlled by various ancient forces, just as it has been before, and the Warring States period in history will once again be repeated.
At that time, Jiangnan's breach of trust could very well become a propaganda tool for the enemy. It may not seem important now, but at a critical moment, it could become a major weakness.
Moreover, even considering the current situation, is sabotaging the imperial court really a good option?
With demons roaming the land and spiritual energy surging, the Heavenly Python Palace will also grow stronger. Once the imperial court is gone, Jiangnan will be left to bear the pressure from the Heavenly Python Palace alone, which may not be a good thing.
Just as his expression changed, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came again from afar.
But that direction made the Shen Family's expressions even more unpleasant.
The Central Plains Pass is protected by a powerful formation, so even if a strong enemy attacks, it generally won't be in immediate danger. But the situation is different in that direction.
That's the direction of the Dragon Palace!!
"Grown ups."
The soldier, still on horseback and some distance away, shouted at the top of his lungs, "Something's happened! Something's happened at the Dragon Palace!!"
Everyone: "."