Book 2 Chapter 63

The first to move were the twin Love Assassins.

The instant the jade dragon manifested along the Wall, they froze, wondering if they had been discovered. But then the jade slips began to rain down, and Ye Wuhen reached out to catch one and read it. Their expressions shifted. "The Yuan," Ye Wuying said, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice.

Was it easy to infiltrate the Wall? Of course not. She and her brother had spent countless hours and no small amount of effort tracking their prey to this very spot. Now, just when it seemed they might finally have their chance to strike, the Yuan had chosen this moment to attack. It was infuriating.

It also meant their work here was over for the night. Neither of them needed to say anything more. Still clinging to the Wall in the form of a pool of shadow, they withdrew. The darkness raced down the sheer stone, as though cast by something flying beside it, though nothing flew there except the shadow itself. Reaching the ground, it spread across the earth like a sheet of black paper, already dozens of li away by the time the Wall fully awakened.

Qi surged through the fortress. Lights flared to life. Soldiers rushed to don their armor. Horses of golden light launched from the ramparts, wheeling through the air as they formed disciplined aerial formations. The colossal gates set into the Wall, still standing open, began to pulse with violent energy. Merchants and traders scattered, either fleeing into the darkness or scrambling for shelter beneath the Wall's protection. At last, accompanied by vast sheets of rippling light, the gates swung shut and slammed together with a thunderous boom.

Near the top of the Wall, Mo Jian awoke with a start.

Blue flames flooded his chamber as the Heaven Enshrouding Ding erupted with fire. His qi spread outward, blanketing much of the surrounding area. Through it, he saw the jade dragon clinging to the Wall, soldiers jolting awake, waves of alarm spreading through the fortress, and puppet colossi lumbering into motion. Most importantly, through the split copy of the Heaven Enshrouding Ding he had left with Muxue, he sensed the princess summoning her treasures to defend herself. He had entrusted her with the duplicate to protect her, and because work on his Qi Clone was progressing rapidly. Once the clone was complete, he intended to station it permanently at her side as her bodyguard. That would free him from the need to remain constantly nearby while still ensuring her safety.

But this was not the time for such thoughts. His spiritual sense had already mapped much of the situation outside. With a casual exertion of qi, one of the jade slips raining through the fortress drifted through the narrow slit of his window and into his palm. He pressed it to his forehead. A green-tinged image sprang into his mind, clear despite its monochrome hue. A force of Yuan cultivators, enshrouded within the silhouette of a colossal bird of fire, was flying toward the Wall with unmistakably hostile intent.

The jade slip crumbled into brittle green dust the moment the transmission ended. Mo Jian brushed the powder from his hands. To think Wei Shentong's natal artifact could be used this way. He had never considered such an application. The man was already proving unexpectedly useful. Not that this was the time for that thought, either.

Mo Jian surged forward, fully intending to fly up and see the situation for himself before coordinating with the Wall's defenders. His qi flared...

...and accomplished absolutely nothing.

"The Kunlun Gravity Formation," he muttered, feeling faintly embarrassed that he had forgotten such an obvious detail. No one could take to the skies here without General Lou's permission. That was troublesome.

He could still fight on the ground, certainly, but his effectiveness would be cut in half, perhaps even more. Many of his strongest movement techniques were designed for aerial combat. He could use the Divine Water Lightning Technique to streak across the earth as a bolt of lightning, or the Imperial Flying Steps to leap immense distances, but neither truly replaced unrestricted flight.

Then an idea struck him. Using qi to telekinetically lift and manipulate objects was still possible. The restriction only activated when someone actually flew. Mo Jian had neither the time nor the inclination to ponder how the formation distinguished between what could and could not be airborne. Instead, the Heaven Enshrouding Ding became ghostly. Color and substance bled from its surface like ink dissolving into water until only a translucent phantom remained, floating silently before him. As it drifted closer, it expanded, growing large enough for him to sit within, like an insect trapped beneath an upturned cup.

The spectral cauldron settled around him. Then it rose into the air. In its intangible state, the Heaven Enshrouding Ding escaped the Gravity Formation's notice, as it escaped nearly everything else's. Unhindered, it carried him effortlessly skyward. Grinning, Mo Jian transformed into a bolt of blue-white lightning. The phantom ding drifted straight through the walls of his room while his lightning form shot through the narrow window slit. Outside, high above the fortress, he reformed into flesh, the ghostly cauldron carrying him the rest of the way toward the battlements atop the Wall.

The scene that greeted him was one of disciplined urgency. Thousands of cultivators, clad in polished armor that gleamed beneath the moonlight, lined the immense battlements in orderly ranks. Every face was turned north. Every hand rested upon a weapon. Conversation had dwindled to clipped reports and shouted orders, carried away by the cold wind sweeping over the plains.

Between the soldiers stood colossal puppet guardians, each as tall as a watchtower. Their bronze and jade bodies were alive with circulating qi as dormant formations awakened one after another beneath their armored plates. Towering spears, thick as ancient tree trunks, were leveled toward the darkness beyond the Wall. Their expressionless faces gave no hint of life, yet the pressure radiating from them made them seem like slumbering giants waiting only for permission to kill.

Overhead, formations of Light Wrought Horses wheeled through the night sky. Their hooves found purchase upon transient clouds, each gallop leaving trails of golden radiance that crisscrossed the heavens like streams of starlight. Riders maneuvered with practiced precision, splitting into squadrons before reforming moments later, every movement drilled countless times. From a distance they resembled migrating flocks, weaving layer upon layer of aerial defense.

The Wall itself had awakened. The immense formation hidden within its countless stones pulsed like the heartbeat of a living beast. Veins of golden light spread through the masonry, illuminating inscriptions that had lain dormant for decades. The jade dragon clinging to the wall was blasted aside, turning to dust now that its role was done. Massive ballistae emerged from concealed compartments atop nearby towers, their bolts crackling with condensed spiritual power. Defensive formations unfolded in shimmering curtains across the sky, almost invisible until the moonlight caught their translucent surfaces.

General Lou stood near the center of the battlements, impossible to mistake. A radiant halo of golden light circled behind his head like a miniature sun, marking his authority as surely as the countless officers gathered around him. When Mo Jian floated onto the Wall, the general's gaze flicked toward him. His expression tightened for the briefest instant – whether from surprise or annoyance that someone had circumvented the Gravity Formation, Mo Jian could not tell – but he said nothing. His attention immediately returned to the northern horizon where the moon hung half-hidden behind racing clouds, leaving the vast plains beyond the Wall cloaked in shifting darkness.

Mo Jian followed his gaze, sharpening his eyesight with qi until the distant darkness became as clear as it could be. Half of the Horse Army had already taken to the skies. Mounted upon their Light Wrought Horses, they galloped across invisible paths through the heavens in disciplined ranks, pushing far beyond the Wall to form the first line of defense. From atop the battlements, they resembled a vast bank of golden clouds flowing northward, formations constantly shifting as commanders adjusted their positions to meet the approaching enemy.

Beyond them, at the very edge of Mo Jian's enhanced vision, a spark of gold flickered. It rapidly grew brighter. A colossal firebird, woven from intertwining streams of golden flame, raced across the night toward the Wall. Even from this distance, the qi roiling within it was immense, pressing against the senses like the heat of a distant sun. General Lou's voice rang across the fortress, carried effortlessly by qi until every soldier upon the Wall could hear him. "Three hundred Yuan, all at the Third Stage. No Khan in sight, and the qi lacks the weight to conceal one among their ranks. This is either a vanguard" – he paused for only a heartbeat – "or a detached force attempting to exploit the current situation after greatly overestimating themselves."

"Likely the latter, General," replied one of the commanders. She stood a short distance away, a cloud-patterned cloak streaming behind her in the night wind. Her dragon-crested helm rested beneath one arm, exposing a calm face utterly devoid of concern as she watched the distant firebird. "A true vanguard would have concealed its approach. Even without the jade warning, our sentries would have spotted them within minutes. They're moving too openly." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "If they're hoping surprise alone will carry the day, they're fools."

Before anyone could respond, the firebird changed. Its blazing form shuddered and split apart. The single construct unraveled into three separate beasts, each composed of the same incandescent golden flames. A massive taotie lowered its horned head as though preparing to devour the earth itself. A majestic qilin continued its relentless charge straight toward the center of the Wall. High above them, a phoenix unfurled wings hundreds of feet across, scattering trails of burning feathers that lingered in the night like falling stars.

Mo Jian, who had been quietly refining a stack of voice transmission talismans in preparation for the coming battle, paused.

The three divine beasts did not remain together. The qilin maintained its course toward the center of the Wall, while the taotie veered sharply left, galloping across the heavens. At the same time, the phoenix banked to the right, its blazing wings painting fiery arcs through the darkness. A three-pronged assault. To meet it, the defenders would have no choice but to divide their own forces.

Without hesitation, Mo Jian whispered into the half-formed talismans hovering above his palm. His words were woven into the strips of crimson qi as they finished taking shape. With a flick of his fingers, the talismans scattered in every direction, streaking through the air as tiny red comets toward his companions. He relayed everything he had learned: the enemy's numbers, their cultivation, and their division into three attacking forces, instructing them to gather together, remain hidden, and avoid joining the battle unless absolutely necessary.

He already knew what Bai Ning's response would be; she would object, and so would many of the others. But that changed nothing. Three hundred Yuan at the Third Stage meant three hundred Core Formation cultivators. The Wall itself could withstand such an assault, especially with its formations and organized armies. For an isolated Core Formation cultivator, however, the battlefield would become a killing ground. One mistake, one moment surrounded, and even a genius could die. And with General Lou's evident distrust of them, Mo Jian had no intention of placing his companions where they might become convenient sacrifices.

The General himself was already responding to the changing circumstances. "Sisi," he ordered without raising his voice, yet every word carried clearly across the battlements, "reinforce Haotie on the eastern flank. Yeran, take your command and support Fu in the west. I'll retain overall command from the center." His gaze remained fixed on the approaching fire beasts. "Push your patrols all the way to the ends of the Wall. The Yuan can disperse faster than most give them credit for. Do not allow small groups to slip through the gaps."

"Understood, General." The two commanders acknowledged the order in unison.

The woman with the cloud-patterned cloak – Sisi – and the broad-shouldered man Mo Jian recognized from the escort mission each summoned a Light Wrought Horse beneath them. The constructs condensed from golden qi in an instant before surging into the sky. Almost immediately, the formations overhead shifted. Thousands of cavalry cultivators peeled away from the central host with practiced precision, dividing into two great streams of golden light that flowed east and west after their commanders. What had moments earlier been a single massive formation became three distinct armies, each maneuvering to intercept one of the approaching fire beasts.

The next instant, Muxue's voice rang in his ears, carried by her Truth Tolling Bell. Mo Jian nearly jumped in surprise, managing to disguise it as an awkward shuffle at the last moment.

"Jian, we'll remain here, but you and Wei Shentong should go reinforce the two flanks. It'll earn us some goodwill with the general and, more importantly, make sure we're seen taking our mission seriously. We can't sit out a battle when we came here to deal with the Yuan crisis. Without a Khan present, the risk is manageable. If things become overwhelming, retreat."

Her tone shifted, becoming distinctly exasperated. "Yes, yes, I'll tell him. Bai Ning says good luck, and to-" She cut herself off for a heartbeat. When her voice returned, it was high-pitched and squeaky. "I'm not saying that, Bai Ning! How could you-"

The transmission abruptly ended. Before Mo Jian had the time to blink or process what he'd just heard, a pillar of green jade rose along the outside of the wall. A lift platform, hoisted by the construct like a pulley, emerged above the battlements, with Wei Shentong standing upon it. The moment it reached the top, he vaulted onto the stonework and dismissed the jade construct with a flick of his hand. One look at his pinched, thoroughly annoyed expression told Mo Jian he had not been the only recipient of Muxue's message. She had evidently been broadcasting to Wei Shentong as well.

Their eyes met for a single moment. The understanding – and the plan – passed silently between them. Mo Jian turned toward General Lou and cupped his hands in a formal salute. "General, there is little need for us here while you guard the center. However, my companion and I can assist the honorable commanders on the left and right flanks. With your permission...?" He deliberately let the sentence trail off, hoping the respectful entreaty would prove more persuasive than a direct request.

Standing among his soldiers, General Lou frowned. His gaze swept over Mo Jian and Wei Shentong once, lingering on the latter for a brief moment. Whatever he saw seemed to soften his expression, perhaps buying them a measure of goodwill. In the end, he merely gave a curt nod instead of wasting time on an argument.

Mo Jian returned the gesture with a shallow bow before turning to Wei Shentong. "I'll take the left."

With that, he directed the ghostly Heaven Enshrouding Ding surrounding him, and it surged into the sky beneath the watchful eyes of the Horse Army. A few soldiers openly stared at the sight of a cultivator taking flight here, while others wore faintly displeased expressions at the display. Most, however, were far too focused on the battle to spare him more than a passing glance. Mo Jian accelerated after the river of golden light that marked Commander Sisi's forces, the light of his qi vanishing into the night sky in mere moments.

…………………………….

Standing below, Wei Shentong made his own move. The Unbroken Jade Coronet atop his head shone with light, solidifying an ornate chariot around him. A polished platform formed beneath his feet, shining walls rose to either side, and great wheels of translucent green jade settled onto the stone battlements with a series of sharp, ringing clacks. Before the carriage, two massive bulls took shape, their muscles carved from flawless jade, their long, curling horns gleaming beneath the moonlight. They snorted clouds of emerald mist as jeweled bridles settled over their heads.

With nothing more than a thought from their master, the pair lurched forward. The chariot thundered along the Wall as though it were racing down an imperial highway instead of a narrow battlement. Jade wheels hammered against ancient stone, echoing for li in every direction. Cultivators scattered. Eyes widened in disbelief as Foundation Establishment disciples and Golden Core officers alike threw themselves aside to avoid being trampled beneath the charging construct.

"Watch where you're-!"

"What in the Nine Hells-"

"Are you insane?!"

The curses followed in his wake, but Wei Shentong paid them no attention. He was a Nascent Soul cultivator. Before juniors, he had the right of way. His jade chariot continued unabated, keeping pace with the stream of golden cavalry soaring overhead. Occasionally it struck gaps in the battlements or broken sections of stone, only for the carriage to simply roll through empty air as though an invisible road stretched before it.

Ahead, the flaming phoenix continued its inexorable approach. At this distance, even Foundation Establishment cultivators could make out its immense silhouette. Wings of living fire stretched across the heavens, each slow beat scattering embers that drifted through the darkness like a second shower of stars. The creature's cry rolled across the night a heartbeat later, deep enough to rattle stone and make the air itself tremble. Another few minutes, that was all, and then the battle would begin.

A colossal puppet loomed ahead, towering over the Wall like a silent guardian. Wei Shentong guided the jade chariot effortlessly between its enormous legs, the construct's shadow briefly swallowing him before he emerged on the other side, his long hair streaming behind him in the rushing wind. His gaze never left the sky. The Hundred Thousand Man Commander – Yeran, if he remembered the name correctly – had already begun deploying his forces. The great formation split cleanly in two.

One half remained near the Wall, ranks tightening into a glittering shield of golden cavalry that would intercept anything attempting to break through. The other surged forward without hesitation, thousands of Light Wrought Horses galloping across the heavens in perfect formation as they charged to meet the phoenix before it could bring the fight to the fortress. A sensible arrangement, with defense and offense each supporting the other. If Wei Shentong had judged the disposition of the battlefield correctly, Commander Fu's army stationed farther along the Wall would soon move to reinforce the engagement as well, trapping the fire beast between two converging hosts.

With two Nascent Soul commanders leading the assault – and himself joining the fray besides – it was difficult to imagine the phoenix and whatever Yuan accompanied it accomplishing very much before being overwhelmed. The odds were overwhelmingly in their favor.

Yet the princess's point still stood. They had to be seen doing something.

Without the slightest hesitation, Wei Shentong tugged on invisible reins. The jade bulls bellowed, their hooves carving emerald sparks through the air as the carriage veered sharply away from the straight line it had been advancing on. Rather than following the golden horses, it raced toward the outer edge of the Wall. The battlements rushed beneath the jade wheels… and then they ran out. The carriage did not stop, leaping clean off the Wall. For an instant, construct and cultivator alike hung suspended against the night sky. Then the Kunlun Gravity Formation seized them and the jade carriage dropped like a stone.

Wind screamed past Wei Shentong as the Wall shot upward behind him, the ground racing to meet him thousands of feet below. Along the battlements, dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators stared in stunned disbelief. Even the Core Formation Ten Thousand Man Commander responsible for this stretch of the Wall instinctively took a step forward, his eyes widening.

Had the senior... jumped? Had he forgotten about the Kunlun Gravity Formation? No one could fly ten li around the Wall. That was common knowledge. The formation's pull was absolute.

The answer came a heartbeat later. The falling carriage exploded into countless streams of emerald light. An enormous armored head burst from the cascading jade qi, followed by broad shoulders clad in engraved plates of gleaming green crystal. A colossal torso emerged next, then arms thicker than ancient trees, each forged from immaculate jade. The giant continued to grow even as it fell. Its waist formed, its legs stretching downward, until its feet struck the earth with a thunderous impact, sending dust and shattered rock billowing for hundreds of paces. Its shoulders scraped the clouds themselves.

The jade giant straightened. In one hand it held a halberd so vast its blade gleamed like a crescent moon, its shaft rivaling entire sections of the Wall in length. Mounted upon its opposite forearm was an immense repeating crossbow, every component carved from flawless green jade and humming with restrained power. Wei Shentong stood within the giant's brow, barely visible through a crystalline aperture where its forehead should have been.

With a swift motion, the giant raised its crossbow. A single bolt materialized upon the string, thicker than the trunks of ancient pines. Jade feathers unfolded along its fletching, each one blazing as torrents of emerald qi poured into the missile. The air around it distorted beneath the sheer concentration of power, the gathered energy dense enough to reduce mountains to rubble.

The giant took aim. Its target was the flaming phoenix hurtling through the night sky.

Then it waited.

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AN:As always, there are 15 more chapters up on Patreon - check them out if interested in reading ahead / you have any questions for me. Thanks for reading!