Transcending the Nine Heavens

“Continue. How do you know the number of people in Golden Horse Riders Department exceed this eight thousands?” Tie Long Cheng cautiously asked, “Do you know what this means? It means that in the entire continent, there is no military group capable of stopping a direct attack from the Golden Horse Riders Department. I can tell you that those who have not reached the level of Martial Master would not be chosen to enter Golden Horse Riders Department!”

Tie Long Cheng was truly surprised. The existence of Golden Horse Riders Department was a big secret even within Diwu Qing Rou’s internal circle. Iron Cloud had to pay a very expensive price along with countless people laying down their lives to discover this information on Diwu Qing Rou’s secret army.

Even though they knew this, all the information about Golden Horse Riders Department came in fragments, and could not be pieced together.

Unexpectedly, this kid in front of Tie Long Cheng spoke about it as if this was some old news, not some big secret.

“The eight thousand are just the number of Golden Horse Riders warriors. Within Golden Horse Riders Department, there are not just Golden Horse Riders warriors!” Chu Yang spread his fingers and counted as if he was familiar with everything.

“Golden Horse Riders warriors are the fighting force of Golden Horse Riders Department, their secret fighting force. Only at key moments wheren the outcome of a battle is determined do they get deployed. But that’s not all. Within Golden Horse Riders Department there exists Command Horse Riders who are in charge of the upper level decision making and planning. Black Horse Riders are killers, only one in ten thousands are chose; specific numbers are unknown. Besides them, there are also Silver Horse Riders who take care of the financials. Each country on the continent has about a thousand wealthy people; within this group, at least ten are Silver Horse Riders. Then there are Iron Horse Riders in charge of information gathering. Finally, there is Mysterious Horse Riders in charge of overseeing operations within Golden Horse Riders Department. The total strength of Golden Horse Riders Department is at least thirty thousand people.”

Chu Yang laughed and continued, “Currently, Bu Tian Pavilion of Prince Tie Bu Tian has about the same man power as Golden Horse Riders Department, but, in term of organization and fighting power, it is about ten thousand miles behind Golden Horse Riders Department; a difference of heaven and earth!”

Tie Long Cheng and the young lady looked at each other, internally dismayed.

They knew that Diwu Qing Rou never used his full strength, but they never thought that Diwu Qing Rou still reserved such massive force as this.

“In addition, in court, Diwu Qing Rou has the support of all officials. All those against him, either dead or banished, are out of Great Zhao’s power center. All the proposals he puts out have no objections. This focus of power is his greatest strength.”

Chu Yang slowly continued, “As far as I know, Diwu Qing Rou has a secret agreement with the Wolf Tribe of the Northern Grassland. I don’t know the details of their agreement, but I know this has happened.”

Chu Yang tossed out a piece of crucial news.

This actually happened in the previous life. When Diwu Qing Rou started full out war with Iron Cloud, Lang Tinh unexpectedly attacked. At that time, the world knew about that agreement. Before that, even in Diwu Qing Rou power circle, very few knew about it.

Tie Long Cheng eyes suddenly flashed, but his face never showed any reactions, as if he was wearing a mask.

The Wolf Tribe – Northern Grassland was on Iron Cloud’s back… Receiving a stab in the back after a peaceful co-existence… Everything was off.

Iron Cloud Nation was planning to create a good relationship with the Wolf Tribe in the Northern Grassland in the shortest amount of time possible. But they had to deal with Diwu Qing Rou first. In this past half year, the first wave of ambassadors and gifts have successful arrived at the Wolf Tribe region. They were planning on sending another one soon…

If Prince Tie Bu Tian’s sisters had not passed away, then they would have already been given up for political marriages already.

With this news, though unverified, they felt as if their insides was being burned. If this was true, then all of Iron Cloud was being played by the Wolf Tribe.

This betrayal was something Tie Long Cheng could not accept because this strategy was suggested by his military advisors. The military always resorted to war not peacemaking, but the pressure from Diwu Qing Rou was too great so they had to put out this peacemaking plan. If they went straight into a trap because of this… It would be a great shame.

On the other hand, the young lady’s countenance looked extremely casual, as if she did not truly understand this.

“A large portion of people in Jiang Hu are Diwu Qing Rou’s people. Besides that, amongst the seven major sects of Lower Three Heavens, two are already completely under his control. Other sects all have his people on the inside.”

Tie Long Cheng’s countenance became more and more grave.

“Diwu Qing Rou also has four peak-level experts working for him. Two of them are in charge of protecting him. The other two are first and second leader of Golden Horse Riders Department. I heard that with their abilities they could easily advance into Middle Three Heavens. In fact, they are no less than the experts of Middle Three Heavens. They are all of King level; the strongest person is already a grade five Saber King!”

Chu Yang just threw out another piece of earth-shattering news.

Four King level experts!

This news made Tie Long Cheng and the young lady stunned. Even Gu Du Xing standing next to him looked over in shock.

“Not possible! Shouldn’t King level experts have already advanced into Middle Three Heavens? Upper Three Heavens even. They choose to live in such place like Lower Three Heavens?” Gu Du Xing asked.

“Not just King level, but there are some of Emperors levels who would prefer human wealth and…” Chu Yang smiled, “Otherwise, would such a dispute happen? Becoming strong to watch over the world is only the wish of some. Fame, wealth and women are the true pursuits of most people.”

“Young man, what you said makes sense!”

Tie Long Cheng sighed and muttered, “No wonder my two Revered level martial brothers went to assassinate Diwu Qing Rou and never came back. So there are even King level experts next to Diwu Qing Rou…”

His voice was somber, full of bitterness.

Diwu Qing Rou having high level guards was something Tie Long Cheng speculated after the failed assassination attempted. However, he could never have imagined that there were actually four King level experts.

King level experts in Lower Three Heavens were like mountains you cannot pass. In principal, this was something that could not be.

Tie Long Cheng’s straight spear-like figure suddenly stooped a little. His countenance looked strange, as if remorseful, as if…

“In ten years, Diwu Qing Rou had built up his circle. Especially with the military, it is everywhere. General, you have fought with Great Zhao many times. You have seen it! These past ten years, all the generals loyal to Great Zhao’s emperor are nowhere to be seen. Or, they fell to Iron Cloud’s victories. Am I correct?”

“Yes!” Tie Long Cheng sighed as the wrinkles on his face deepened further.

“At the same time, the upcoming young ones were extremely difficult to deal with. Diwu Qing Rou used a tactic like this to eliminate any internal opposition. He cruelly prepared his plan for ten years later…”

Chu Yang was talking when he suddenly stopped.

He just realized the most incredible thing: Diwu Qing Rou planned for events that happened simultaneously in two countries! Without cooperation, he would not be able to achieve this, no matter how incredible he was. He especially did not have the ability to control enemy soldiers.

This…

Tie Long Cheng sighed and answered weakly, “You are correct…”

This powerful general, each time he spoke, he seemed to have aged a little more.

“There was definitely someone cooperating in all of this! The person who cooperated with him… is none other than me!” Tie Long Cheng sighed and answered sadly.