Chapter 603
That Area
"boom!"
"boom!"
"boom!"
The crossbow bolts, when they struck the ground, blasted open shocking deep craters like small cannonballs, sending dirt and grass flying everywhere, demonstrating their terrifying destructive power!
Jiang Xuan remained unmoved amidst the flashing blades, managing to neutralize the deadly sneak attack entirely with his exquisite swordsmanship and powerful strength, emerging completely unharmed!
Those attackers who had initially thought their attack was a sure thing were terrified when they saw this!
"How is this possible?!"
"Even the Breaking Crossbow couldn't hurt him?!"
"Come on!"
Someone shouted, and the remaining men in black, forgetting their mission, turned and fled into the darkness like startled rabbits, wishing they had two more legs.
Jiang Xuan did not immediately give chase.
He slowly sheathed his sword and stood up, his face slightly pale. Although he had successfully blocked all the crossbow bolts, the impact of the dozen or so spirit weapon crossbows firing simultaneously still made his blood surge, his muscles and bones ache, and a metallic taste even rose in his throat, which he forcibly swallowed back.
"What a powerful crossbow bolt!"
Jiang Xuan's expression turned serious.
He knew full well that if he hadn't reacted quickly enough, possessed strong swordsmanship, and had been powerful enough, any ordinary Heavenly Gang Realm cultivator would likely have been unable to escape unscathed from that sneak attack, and might even have been shot dead on the spot! These enemies had really gone to great lengths to deal with him!
The enemy was either dead or had fled, and the scene returned to silence for the time being, with only the strong, lingering smell of blood in the night air.
Without delay, Jiang Xuan quickly began searching the bodies of the slain enemies. Soon, he found a crossbow lying on the ground next to one of the corpses.
The crossbow was about half a foot long, bronze in color, and exquisitely designed. Simple spirit patterns were branded on the crossbow body, shimmering with a ghostly light. The crossbow arm was powerful, and the groove still contained the chilling killing intent emanating from an unfired bolt.
"Divine Arm Crossbow..."
Jiang Xuan recognized the thing at a glance.
This is a common standard-issue crossbow used by the Imperial Army. It has a range of up to 1,500 zhang (approximately 650 meters) and is as fast as lightning. It can be loaded with twelve specially made armor-piercing bolts at once, making it extremely powerful. If used for a surprise attack, it could even kill a Spirit Sea Realm expert when the target is completely unprepared!
Near several other corpses, he found more than a dozen identical crossbows, as well as a large quantity of standardized, high-quality pills and military equipment.
"Well-equipped, well-trained, and equipped with so many crossbows..."
Jiang Xuan looked at the spoils of war with a deep gaze.
"They've really gone all out to prepare for dealing with me alone at the Gang Realm level."
He stored all the useful spoils of war, including the crossbow and bolts, as well as the good-quality pills, into his storage ring.
Without lingering, he took advantage of the remaining darkness and, with a few flashes, quickly left the battlefield filled with the aura of death, disappearing into the vast depths of the Blood Wolf Plains.
……
In the distant Forbidden City, inside that ancient mansion with a thousand-year history.
A spacious room that was originally used for receiving guests has now been completely transformed. In the center of the room stands a solid stone table that is several meters long, and behind the table hangs a giant map that almost covers the entire wall.
The map was drawn with extreme precision, clearly marking mountains, rivers, cities, passes, and even some hidden paths. It was a detailed route map from Yanxia City in the Southwest Province to the Forbidden City!
Xu Qianjing stood with his hands behind his back in front of the giant map, his sallow face expressionless, his clear eyes like deep pools, staring silently at a certain point on the map, lost in deep thought.
Around the stone table in the room sat five or six young men, the noble sons sent by Chi Cangmei to serve as Xu Qianjing's assistants.
Although they were sitting there, their eyes couldn't hide their excitement and eagerness.
Just then, a guard in light armor strode into the room, knelt on one knee, and reported in a deep voice.
"Mr. Xu, gentlemen, we have just received the latest intelligence from 'Wind Shadow Hawk' at the front. The target, Jiang Xuan, has appeared in Blood Wolf Plains!"
Upon hearing the news, the deputies immediately perked up, exchanging glances and rubbing their hands together, as if their prey had already fallen into a trap.
Only Xu Qianjing remained calmly focused on the map, not even turning his head, and simply gave a faint reply.
"understood."
He slowly turned around, waved to the guard, signaling him to leave. After the guard left, his gaze swept over his excited deputies, and his voice, gentle yet authoritative, began to issue orders.
"Now that the target has been chosen in the middle lane, there's no need to waste manpower on the east and west lanes. Pass on my first order."
"Immediately withdraw all forces deployed on the eastern and western fronts and proceed at full speed to their designated outposts along the central front to await orders."
"The second order."
"Mobilize all available 'Wind Shadow Hawks' to conduct comprehensive, all-encompassing surveillance, radiating outwards for 500 miles from the target's last known location. I need to know his every move, even if he just stops to take a sip of water."
"The third order..."
Xu Qianjing pointed his finger at two key locations on the central path of the giant map—Mount Tianmu and Eagle's Sorrow Gorge. "Order six Ziying-class warships to set sail immediately and secretly infiltrate to a location fifty miles behind Mount Tianmu and Eagle's Sorrow Gorge to await orders. Without my order, they must not act on their own or reveal their whereabouts."
His commands were clear, calm, and well-organized, as if he had already rehearsed everything countless times in his mind.
"Yes!"
The deputies dared not delay, and in unison accepted the order, immediately rising to prepare to relay and carry it out.
Xu Qianjing turned around again, facing the huge map, his gaze falling on the area representing Blood Wolf Plains. His sallow face remained expressionless, but deep within his clear eyes, a faint interest ignited due to the intelligence he had just received and his assessment of the abilities displayed by the unfamiliar boy.
"To be able to resolve the first wave of probing so cleanly and efficiently, and even seize the Divine Arm Crossbow... it is indeed more troublesome than expected."
That's... more interesting.
Just as the deputies reached the door and were about to open it—
"Report—!"
Another guard rushed in, looking flustered, and before he could even bow, he shouted urgently.
"Mr. Xu! Gentlemen! We have just received an urgent message... The third squad, which was dispatched to Blood Wolf Plain for the first encirclement and suppression mission... has been completely wiped out! Mission... has failed!"
"what?!"
"The entire army wiped out?!" "How is that possible?!"
The once high-spirited deputies froze in the doorway like ducks with their necks being choked. Their excitement and confidence instantly turned into shock and disbelief! The atmosphere in the room suddenly became extremely heavy.
Xu Qianjing, sitting upright in the main seat, remained calm and composed on his sallow face, as if the words "total annihilation" were already within his expectations.
He didn't even raise an eyebrow, but simply gave a calm instruction to the guard who came to report the news and looked flustered.
"Go and summon the 'Wind Shadow Hawk' that is responsible for monitoring that area."
The guard obeyed and left. Before long, he returned quickly, carrying a magnificent hawk whose feathers blended seamlessly into the night. Xu Qianjing reached out and gently pressed the hawk's beak. The hawk obediently opened its beak and spat out a crystal-clear bead the size of a longan.
Xu Qianjing placed the bead in his palm and infused it with a wisp of spiritual energy. Instantly, the bead projected a clear light screen, hovering in mid-air. The light screen displayed a replay of the brief but bloody battle that had occurred earlier in Blood Wolf Plains!
Within the light screen, one could clearly see how thirty black-clad cultivators silently surrounded the enemy. They were well-equipped, each carrying a divine crossbow, and included five Heavenly Gang Realm cultivators, ten Earthly Gang Realm cultivators, and fifteen Human Gang Realm elites! However, what followed sent chills down the spines of the deputy cultivators!
Jiang Xuan was like the Grim Reaper in the dark night. With a light twang of his bowstring, cultivators fell to the ground and died without a sound! Once he got close, his swordsmanship became even more ruthless and merciless. Wherever his flowing sword shadows passed, limbs and severed arms flew everywhere, and blood stained the grass red!
Especially the final, overwhelming volley of crossbow bolts, which he single-handedly neutralized with his exquisite swordsmanship, the "Spinning Technique," leaving him completely unharmed! The entire battle was nothing short of a one-sided, efficient, and ruthless massacre!
"Is...is this really something that someone at the Human Realm can do?"
"That's terrifying! That swordsmanship, that movement, and that archery... he's simply a prodigy defying the heavens!"
"We sent five Heavenly Realm experts to lead the team! And they couldn't even muster a decent resistance before being..."
Looking at Jiang Xuan's calm, almost indifferent gaze and ruthless, decisive methods on the light screen, the deputies felt a chill run from their feet to the top of their heads. Their previous contempt and excitement had vanished, replaced by deep shock and lingering fear.
Xu Qianjing waved his hand to dispel the light screen, retrieved the bead, and spoke in a calm and even tone, as if what he had just witnessed was merely an ordinary drill.
"The first encirclement was meant to be a trial balloon, to assess the target's true fighting strength. Now it seems that this guy is just as difficult to deal with as I expected, and in some aspects, he is even more so."
He glanced at his pale-faced deputies and gave the order.
"Don't panic, and there's no need to change the plan. Continue with my previous orders. The real show... has only just begun."
His calmness and composure seemed to possess a strange magic, calming the panicked minds of his deputies somewhat.
They dared not say another word, quickly bowed to accept the order, and hurriedly left the room to convey Xu Qianjing's command.
……
On the outskirts of the capital, a towering observatory, nine thousand nine hundred feet high, stands majestically, piercing the clouds. At its summit, the night wind howls fiercely, causing people's clothes to flutter loudly.
An elderly man, dressed in a wide black robe, with white hair and a hunched back, stood quietly on the edge of the railing, as if he had become one with the ancient stone platform beneath his feet.
He was the master of the Imperial Observatory, a supreme and revered high priest.
At this moment, a young man dressed in casual clothes, yet exuding an air of nobility, slowly walked up the stone steps.
This young man had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and a handsome face. He looked young, but his eyes were full of inner strength, and he had a natural air of authority when he looked around.
He came up behind the Heavenly Priest and respectfully bowed.
"teacher."
The young man spoke, his voice clear and melodious; he was none other than the Ninth Prince of the Empire.
The heavenly priest did not turn back; his aged voice trailed off intermittently in the wind.
"What brings Your Highness here so late at night?"
The Ninth Prince walked to the side of the Heavenly Priest, and together they looked down at the vast imperial capital, which was brightly lit and resembled a sea of stars. His tone was filled with a hint of puzzlement and inquiry.
"Teacher, that boy named Jiang Xuan has actually survived to this day and has already embarked on his journey to the Forbidden City. How are the 'arrangements' for him progressing?"
The high priest remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.
"Within the Forbidden City, there are many who do not want to see him return, and who do not wish for the turmoil of the past to recur. The agreed-upon action has already begun. Your Highness only needs to wait for the results; why come here in the dead of night to inquire?"
The Ninth Prince frowned slightly and pressed for an answer.
"If you don't want him to come back, why not just send out your strongest forces to wipe him out on the way with overwhelming force? Why go through all this trouble and set up obstacles at every turn? Could it be... that something has happened at the Obsidian Sanctuary that has interfered with Master's plans?"
The high priest gently shook his head, his black robes swaying slightly in the wind.
“Killing him is no easy task. This boy has a peculiar destiny, is involved in many things, and has a powerful figure behind him. As for the Obsidian Sanctuary... they did not directly intervene in this operation, and our arrangements were not interfered with by them.”
Upon hearing this, a hint of resentment flashed in the Ninth Prince's eyes, and he asked again.
"Teacher, do you... really want to see him walk into the Forbidden City alive?"
This time, the Heavenly Priest remained silent for a long time, gazing quietly at the endless night sky, as if the deep darkness held all the answers.
The Ninth Prince waited for a long time, but seeing that he received no response, he could only sigh softly and cup his hands in greeting.
"I understand. I have disturbed the teacher's peace and quiet, so I will take my leave now."
He turned around and walked down the stone steps he had come from.
As he was about to disappear around the corner of the steps, the ancient and indifferent voice of the High Priest, like wispy smoke, clearly entered his ears.
"Remember, in this matter, anyone who dares to interfere without authorization and affect the established arrangements, regardless of their status, will... surely die."
The Ninth Prince froze instantly, as if he had fallen into an icy abyss. A chill surged from the depths of his soul, almost freezing his blood.
He stood frozen in place for several breaths before slowly exhaling a breath of stale air. Without turning back, he walked step by step down from the observatory, his figure completely disappearing into the darkness below.
The High Priest remained atop the high platform, letting the biting night wind tousle his pale hair.
He gazed up at a dimly lit area of starlight and let out a barely audible sigh. (End of Chapter)