NOVPUB"Reporting to Your Majesty, we will reach Beimen Pass in another ten miles!"
The army advanced as a vanguard scout came forward to report.
Before Pei Jing could speak, another vanguard scout quickly arrived and said with a bow.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the latest news has arrived, Manor Master Gu Yang of the Gu Family Manor has led an army of one hundred thousand to Beimen Pass."
"Gu Yang!"
Pei Jing’s eyes narrowed slightly, as he was no stranger to the existence of Gu Yang.
Years earlier, the intelligence on Gu Family Manor had already been thoroughly investigated by him.
At that time, however, Gu Yang was not someone Pei Jing had seriously considered.
Until later.
When Gu Yang became the new manor master, Pei Jing truly started to take notice of him.
"An army of one hundred thousand stationed at Beimen Pass implies that Gu Family Manor also intends to contend for supremacy over the world, hence the covert development of a large army.
However, to think that they could stop us with a mere one hundred thousand troops is pure folly."
"This time, we shall eliminate Gu Yang first, then encircle and suppress Gu Family Manor, and avenge Elder Duan Ping!"
The speaker was Jiang Ning, an elder of the Tianyang Sword Sect.
Originally, according to the previous statement by the Sect Master of Tianyang, it was not necessary for Tianyang Sword Sect to strike against Gu Family Manor over Duan Ping’s matter.
But now, times had changed.
Now that the Divine Martial Army had completely infiltrated Guangyang Prefecture, dealing with Gu Family Manor would be necessary.
Nevertheless.
The Sect Master of Tianyang also instructed that their main target should be to suppress Gu Qingfeng and not to kill him immediately, but rather to bring him back to Tianyang Sword Sect.
For this command, elders like Jiang Ning clearly understood the Sect Master’s intentions.
Rearing gu!
This was not anything uncommon.
Many ancient martial orders would imprison martial artists from the Martial World with talent and cultivate them like livestock until they had truly matured to a certain level, then use them as nourishment.
Clearly.
The Domineering Blade was highly valued by the Sect Master of Tianyang.
Pei Jing said, "Domineering Blade Gu Qingfeng, suspected to be a top True Intent Master, such strength will not be easily suppressed!"
"Your Majesty can rest assured, with three God Fusion Realm elders from our Tianyang Sword Sect taking action, even if a Great Grandmaster himself were to appear, we would have a chance to battle, let alone a mere top True Intent Master!"
Jiang Ning sneered dismissively, the other two Tianyang Sword Sect elders also wore proud expressions.
A mere martial artist.
Was hardly worth mentioning.
This was what Jiang Ning wanted to say in his heart, but he held back this thought since he knew Pei Jing was also a martial artist.
"Now that the elders are confident, then this battle shall surely annihilate Gu Family Manor!"
Pei Jing nodded, his eyes already fierce with killing intent.
He had given Gu Qingfeng opportunities, but the other had repeatedly rejected him, making them destined to stand on opposite sides.
Moreover—
That Gu Qingfeng could ascend from a minor Blood Refining Realm martial artist to a top True Intent Master in such a short period of time suggested that either he had always hidden his true capability or he possessed an extraordinary fate-defying opportunity.
If it were the former, that was one thing, but if it were the latter—
Pei Jing felt a surge of eagerness within.
An opportunity that could allow a Blood Refining Realm martial artist to achieve True Intent Mastery in such short time, if he could obtain it, might even allow him to step into the Grandmaster Realm.
Under the whole sky.
Grandmasters were few and far between.
Pei Jing acknowledged his exceptional talents, yet he did not have the certainty to reach the Grandmaster Realm.
Through the ages.
How many exceptional demons stopped at the realm of Master due to a lack of astonishing opportunity, basically doomed never to reach Grandmaster status.
Thus.
These demons usually chose at the Master Realm to directly Refine Evil into their bodies.
One could say.
Refining Evil into the body.
Was the ultimate path for martial artists in the world.
But before entering the Evil Refining, the level of Martial Arts Cultivation also determined one’s strength after refining evil.
If one could enter Evil Refining at the Great Grandmaster Realm, then they would certainly be among the top existences in the world.
——
Beimen Pass.
The army camped.
Flags fluttering.
Visible above was a red "Gu" character, representing the army camped here, named the Gu Family Army.
"Reporting to the manor master, the Divine Martial Army is only five miles from Beimen Pass!"
"Reporting to the manor master, the Divine Martial Army is only three miles from Beimen Pass!"
"Reporting to the manor master—"
Message after message arrived, Gu Yang stood steadfast atop the city wall, his gaze toward the front where dense clusters of black dots appeared; as they drew closer, an army of a hundred thousand was already within sight.
"Divine Martial Army!"
Gu Yang stood with his hands behind his back, his face more serious than ever.
Even though the Divine Martial Army had not yet truly reached Beimen Pass, he could already feel the iron-blooded and stern aura, an elite force only shaped through bloody baptism.
In comparison.
The Gu Family Army lacked this aspect of iron-blooded ruthlessness.
"Manor master, the Hidden Guard reports that there are three elders from the Tianyang Sword Sect within the Divine Martial Army, all of them at least at the Grandmaster level!"
Beside Gu Yang, Gu Yi spoke solemnly.
Three Grandmasters!
At these words, Gu Yang’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Logically, the presence of three grandmasters should worry him, but thinking of Gu Qingfeng, he felt reassured.
As soon as Gu Yang had led the army to Beimen Pass, he had already sent the Hidden Guard to inform Gu Qingfeng. If nothing went wrong, his father would also soon arrive.
Therefore.
Even if the Tianyang Sword Sect had three Grandmasters personally arriving, they might not necessarily lose this battle.
At this moment.
The Divine Martial Army had arrived.
The enormous army stood deathly still; Pei Jing, looking at the figures on the city wall, called out loudly, "Gu Yang, if you surrender now, this king might spare your life."
"If you resist stubbornly, when the city falls, that will be the time of your death!"
Upon hearing this.
Gu Yang scoffed disdainfully and then declared fiercely, "I also advise you, retreat now with your troops, and I can pretend nothing happened.
Otherwise, once the Divine Martial Army attacks, I’m afraid you, the Divine Martial King, will remain here forever!"
"Arrogant fool!"
At these words, Pei Jing’s face turned icy, and then with a great wave of his hand, he gave the direct order.
"Siege the city!"
As his words fell. 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
The hundred thousand Divine Martial Army moved as one.
Frontline infantry lifted their shields, advancing toward Beimen Pass, while archers shot arrows overhead to cover them, trying to create an opening for the infantry.
On the other side.
Gu Yang also waved his hand grandly.
"Fire arrows!"
At this command.
Arrows poured down like raindrops from a waterfall, falling upon the Divine Martial Army.
For a time.
Arrows flew chaotically across the battlefield.
Both sides faced off, each suffering considerable casualties.
Gu Yang drew the long sword from his waist, his fierce sword light danced, and all incoming arrows were severed by his Sword Qi, none capable of even slightly harming him.
Immediately following.
Cloud ladders were then set up, with Divine Martial Army soldiers beginning to scale them, attempting to climb the city walls.
Seeing this scene, Martial Artists from the Blood Refining Realm onward appeared, directly destroying the ladders and stopping these soldiers from reaching the top.
"Kill!"
