"After winding through my path, I finally arrive at Wang County. This place is separated by one river from the Capital City, bustling with people and chaotic breath—it turns out to be a perfect place to hide the sword."

Upon the mountain ridge outside the city, a scholarly middle-aged man in his thirties wearing a black patterned robe, with a red cloak tied behind him, stands pressing his sword.

The west wind brings a chill, and Xu Jing’an touches a scar on his left cheek, yet his heart is burning with passion.

This scar resulted from the latest battle. Even though he saw the Demoness severely injured and exhausted, indulging just a bit in glory brought him harm from the Nine Heavens Zither Sound.

He almost lost his left eye.

Of course, losing an eye is not the most crucial thing. However, if they let the opponent take the sword away, combining the might of "Zither Heart and Sword Courage," none of them would withstand even a single blow.

This journey of pursuit and blockade has cost them many warriors, and as defeat and wounds mount higher, they are nearing the closure of the net. Though excited, he becomes increasingly cautious.

He is meticulously strategizing, deploying his hidden assets like rain, ensuring no mistake occurs.

"When traveling a hundred miles, the last ninety percent is hardest. Have Chuiyun, Xiayue, Tianwu, and Mingxin each taken their positions?"

"All are in place, just awaiting the final step. Although it’s not far from the Capital, even when restrained by others, there’s always someone keeping a bit of spirit on alert to avoid any calamity."

Beside him, a scholarly-looking middle-aged man, gazing down the mountain slowly, speaks deliberately.

If you observe closely, you can see his eyes are incredibly unusual; the left eye rotates like a solar disc, while the right eye seems like a crescent moon, capable of reflecting all things.

"With Mr. Xiaoshu’s words, I am relieved,"

Xu Jing’an waves his hand, and from all directions, countless individuals clad in black swarm towards Wang County like ants.

Looking from above, these individuals, despite their rapid run, faintly surround the city, forming a gigantic Eight Trigram pattern.

It resonates with a certain power, locking the city’s Qi mechanism long and firm.

...

"The list is out, the list is out. The world’s winds and clouds—heroes need not ask where they originate from. What changes might occur this time?"

Although Wangcheng is small, it thrives with people.

Being part of the Capital Region, people here hold greater acumen; upon hearing the list is released, at least seventy percent of street dwellers turn their heads to look.

Quickly, some nimble individuals leap and run towards the announcement board in front of the County Government Office, forming an impenetrable crowd.

Due to their hurried pace, some beggars and vagrants get knocked over, trampled, injured, spitting blood, and wailing loudly.

Yet no one pays them any heed.

Weifu Bo clutches his chest tightly, remains silent for a while, then bends down to help a three or four-year-old boy who was knocked down near him, pulls him under the eaves, and gazes at the child’s skinny frame with deep-set eyes and protruding eyeballs. Sighing, he secretly takes out a somewhat hardened bun from his wrap and places it in the child’s hand, gently saying, "Eat it."

Her gaze is vacant, slightly tilting her head upwards. She forces herself not to look at the ragged citizens along the street, thinking if Xiaoqi were still by her side, he surely wouldn’t be able to move.

Trying to imagine him acting out of kindness, urging her to give away all the silver she has to buy food to aid the vagrants, and then being harassed by some petty city rogues leading to a brawl, creating chaos, and ending up wandering to another place.

"Not sure how Xiaoqi is doing, whether he’s found a place to hide himself under a false name. Now that the Brocade Guard always tails behind, there shouldn’t be too many resources to search for his trace. As long as he remains cautious, survival is possible."

Thinking of this, Weifu Bo sighs again, tightening the long rectangular wrap on her shoulders. She briefly pauses, retrieves a handkerchief to cover her mouth, and softly coughs a few times.

The handkerchief becomes stained with bright red spots.

Ever since the battle in Soul-Breaking Valley, her injuries have never fully healed.

Now, it’s worsening.

Since the day she countered the Purple Flame True Gang Hammer of Jinyi Guard’s Left Commander, Deputy Magistrate Cao Lie, chased thousands of miles, and slew the opponent by the Lianjiang River, she has been utterly encircled by Brocade Guard.

A month has passed, fighting over ten battles, fleeing over twenty counties—the body has healed and then injured repeatedly.

She dared not lead the foes south, only rushing north. At that time, she did not think deeply about it, but in escaping, she unexpectedly found herself within the circle of Yujing.

Staring at the vaguely familiar scenery of the county, Weifu Bo no longer desires to flee, believing it might be celestial fate.

"Sister, although the timing isn’t ripe, I can’t wait any longer, only to fight with no retreat in hopes of buying some time for Xiaoqi."

She raises her head to the north once more, Weifu Bo’s gaze becomes firm again, accelerating her pace, intending to bypass the crowd looking at the list.

Suddenly, she hears someone shouting loudly beside her.

"The Hidden Dragon List’s first has changed? Unexpectedly, it’s a young master named Chen Ping—who is this Chen Ping, being so formidable before turning twenty?"

"More than that, he tops the Earth List too—quickly, look at the achievements..."

Amidst the hubbub, the crowd surveying the list suddenly falls silent.

Then erupts like an explosion.

"Shattered the Vast Righteous Qi Sword, broke the Dragon Roar Spear, took Godslaying Needle’s strike head-on without damage, crushed Brahma and I are One, reputed to possess an Invincible Golden Body, galloping alone against a thousand."

"Isn’t the Vast Righteous Qi Sword the trademark of the Pei Family? Look at Earth List’s seventeenth, Pei Ziwen, he’s missing..."