Jia Nan Academy, Back Cliff.
"Miss, a large group of people from the Lofty Cloud Pavilion have been spotted at the border of the Cloud Empire."
"Have you found Chen Mo?"
"It was indeed him who initiated this. The royal family and the three major families of the capital are all following his orders."
"Oh, is he planning to attack the Cloud Empire? If that's the case, send someone to assist the royal family of the Cloud Empire."
"But the clan leader—"
"I didn't ask you to notify the clan. There's a rogue cultivator in the Central Plains who owes our clan a favor. Go and negotiate with him."
"Yes."
"By the way, have you figured out the strange phenomenon at the Yunlan Sect from a while ago?"
"The Yunlan Sect is heavily guarded, making it impossible to get a close look. However, it's said that the phenomenon originated from the sect leader's hall."
"Hmm, you may leave."
...
On the fortress.
"Subordinate Qing Shan, paying respects to the Grand Pavilion Master." A man in yellow robes knelt and spoke respectfully.
"Are you the commander of this fortress?" Chen Mo looked at the man with a somewhat gloomy expression.
"I am a rogue cultivator who recently joined the Lofty Cloud Pavilion and currently hold the rank of First-Class Captain," Qing Shan replied.
Chen Mo, unfamiliar with the complex official titles of the Jia Ma Empire, said in a deep voice, "Then where is the commander of this fortress?"
"Commander Mu Tie, for disobeying the Grand Pavilion Master's orders, rebelled and killed Deputy Commander Meng Li. He was severely injured and captured by his subordinates. He is now imprisoned in the dungeon, awaiting the Grand Pavilion Master's judgment." Qing Shan quickly expressed his loyalty to Chen Mo.
"What? You say Mu Tie killed Meng Li? How is that possible? Are you spouting nonsense? Do you believe I could slap you to death with one strike?"
A powerful aura erupted from behind Chen Mo—it was Mu Chen.
Mu Chen glared at the man in yellow robes, his brows furrowed.
Qing Shan was startled, somewhat frightened by this aura, and at the same time, a big question mark appeared on his face.
Chen Mo frowned slightly, not at Qing Shan but at Mu Chen, with a hint of displeasure, "He is the clan leader of the Mu Family."
Qing Shan's expression changed slightly, feeling that he had been a bit abrupt earlier, but he still faced Mu Chen without backing down, "This matter can be verified by me and nearly a hundred guards from the city lord's mansion outside."
"Enough, we'll deal with this after the battle. First, send someone to take Clan Leader Mu to see Mu Tie." Chen Mo cut off Qing Shan's words. With the battle imminent, Chen Mo didn't want any more complications.
"Yes!" Although somewhat reluctant, under Chen Mo's command and Mu Chen's angry gaze, Qing Shan assigned someone.
"Thank you, Grand Pavilion Master Chen." Mu Chen originally wanted to address Chen Mo as "young friend," but since everyone around was his subordinate, he quickly changed his address.
Chen Mo nodded, patting Qing Shan's shoulder, "From now on, you are the commander of this fortress."
Qing Shan couldn't help but feel delighted and quickly knelt in gratitude!
Meanwhile, Mu Chen's body trembled slightly, and he followed a soldier to the dungeon to see Mu Tie, his expression unreadable.
Miteer Tengshan and Nalan Jie watched this scene, deep in thought.
The Mu Family had returned their military power to the royal family the day after joining the Lofty Cloud Pavilion.
This time, the Mu Family brought the fewest people to attack the Cloud Empire.
...
City Lord's Mansion.
Chen Mo looked at the map of the Cloud Empire spread out on the three-meter-long, two-meter-wide table before him and asked in a deep voice, "How far have we advanced?"
Every day, the Ghost Suppression Pass received the latest news from the frontlines. Qing Shan pointed to several cities on the edge of the map and said, "An Ding City, Ding Tao City, and Lin Jiang City have all been occupied by our Lofty Cloud Pavilion."
"Currently, our army is camped outside Tiger Pass City. Once we breach this city, our forces can advance unimpeded and directly attack the capital of the Cloud Empire, Wu Ling!"
As a novice in military matters, Chen Mo asked, "Is Tiger Pass City difficult to capture?"
"It is said that Tiger Pass City of the Cloud Empire and Ghost Suppression Pass of the Jia Ma Empire are known as the two greatest passes in the northwest region of the Dou Qi Continent."
"Not only is it built against a mountain like Ghost Suppression Pass, but outside Tiger Pass City, there is also a poisonous swamp. Without the corresponding antidote pills, even a Dou Spirit expert would find it hard to withstand," Nalan Jie stepped forward and explained slowly.
"This old gentleman is correct. Moreover, the one guarding Tiger Pass City is a peak Dou Spirit expert, and his advisor is a renowned Poison Master of the Cloud Empire. Together, even a Dou King expert would struggle to gain an advantage."
Due to Mu Chen's influence, Qing Shan no longer dared to view these elders as ordinary old men.
"So, a Dou Emperor would do the trick, right?" Chen Mo tapped his finger on the map where Tiger Pass City was drawn, pondering.
"?" Qing Shan was momentarily stunned, not immediately understanding. Normally, shouldn't one think about how to deal with the poisonous swamp outside Tiger Pass City?
"Teacher, I'll trouble you," Chen Mo turned and said to Yun Yun behind him.
Yun Yun nodded, and a vast, powerful azure Dou Qi slowly emanated from her body. The pressure generated by the Dou Qi forced Qing Shan and the others to step back hurriedly.
"A Dou... Dou Emperor," Qing Shan's face showed a trace of shock. He hadn't expected that the seemingly delicate woman was actually a Dou Emperor expert.
Yun Yun walked out of the city lord's mansion, and azure Dou Qi wings formed behind her. With a flap of the wings, her body slowly ascended into the air.
The latest novel is first published on 69shu.com!
Reaching a certain height, a powerful air current formed behind Yun Yun. With a gentle flick of her azure Dou Qi wings, her figure turned into a streak of light and disappeared into the horizon.
Two hours later, the peak Dou Spirit expert guarding Tiger Pass City and his Poison Master advisor both met their demise.
The gates of Tiger Pass City opened, and the flag of the Lofty Cloud Pavilion was hoisted on the city walls.
The army camped not far outside the city saw this and quickly rushed over with the long bamboo ladders they had prepared.
Amidst the billowing smoke, the soldiers at the forefront carrying the bamboo ladders placed them over the poisonous swamp, creating a small bamboo bridge to cross.
At this moment, the Lofty Cloud Pavilion had completely taken control of Tiger Pass City.
Three days later.
Wu Ling!
An urgent military report was delivered by a eunuch to the inner palace.
In the palace of the emperor's most beloved concubine, the sounds of singing and dancing continued unabated, showing no concern for the events of the court a few days prior.
It wasn't until a eunuch entered and handed the urgent military report to the emperor's attendant, who then passed it to the emperor.
The emperor read it.
Bang!
The wine cup he hadn't finished drinking was slammed onto the palace floor, the crisp sound instantly drowning out the noise.
The dancers stopped.
The concubines ceased their laughter.
Even the imperial concubine lying in the emperor's arms, who had been teasing him, withdrew her charms.
The entire palace fell into an eerie silence.
Moments later, the emperor's furious roar echoed through the halls, reverberating endlessly.
Then, panic set in among the crowd.
From the emperor's enraged shouts, they learned that Tiger Pass City had fallen, and the enemy had deployed a Dou Emperor-level powerhouse.