「The next day, the seventh of the ninth lunar month. It was three days after Frost’s Descent, and Cold Dew was approaching.」

Auspicious for: Demolishing houses, breaking down walls, seeking medical treatment, and dismantling.

Inauspicious for: Weddings, grand openings, burials, and breaking ground.

It was not an auspicious day.

Early in the morning, the area around the Wutai Sect’s mountain gate was already a cacophony of voices. This clamor, however, was different from the usual liveliness of a market. It carried a restless agitation, and the air was thick with the oppressive tension of a looming storm.

Jianghu experts and disciples of Noble Families from all over Yunlin Prefecture had caught wind of the event and flocked to the sect. Even spies from other prefectures and sects, sent to gauge the situation, were present, packing the plaza before the mountain gate until it was impassable.

The Wutai Sect was clearly well-prepared. All their elite disciples had been dispatched, led by Stewards and Elders, to set up checkpoints and patrol all the key paths.

Li Wang guarded the main entrance to the mountain gate alongside Shen Xiuyong, responsible for checking invitations and verifying identities.

Although today was nominally for the Four Sects to discuss a grand plan to resist demons, in reality, the crowd was a motley crew, and not just anyone could be allowed into the core area.

A sea of people churned as the waves of noise grew ever louder.

Chen Qing stood just past the main thoroughfare, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. He saw many faces, some familiar, others not.

Soon, he noticed Yan Yaoyang.

Standing beside the chief disciple of the Geng Metal Institute was a woman with a gentle and graceful demeanor. It was He Lanxin, daughter of He Yueting, the Second Manor Master of Qixia Manor, and Yan Yaoyang’s fiancée.

Chen Qing walked over and cupped his fist. "Senior Brother Yan, Miss He. It’s been a while. Senior Brother Yan, have you recovered well from your injuries?"

Hearing the voice, Yan Yaoyang turned. When he saw it was Chen Qing, he forced a smile. "Ah, Junior Brother Chen. Thank you for your concern. My injuries... they’re more or less healed."

"That’s good to hear," Chen Qing said with a smile.

As they chatted for a moment, Chen Qing noticed a distinct change in Yan Yaoyang. Since his battle with Xiao Bieli, he seemed to have lost his sharp, aggressive edge, replaced by a new sense of reserve.

"Junior Brother Chen, you must be careful of those people from Cold Jade Valley in the future."

Yan Yaoyang’s voice dropped unconsciously. "Xiao Bieli’s sword strike was incredibly vicious. His Sword Qi invaded my muscles and corroded my meridians. If my master hadn’t spared no expense to heal me with his True Astral, and if the Sect Leader hadn’t sent a Treasure Medicine, it would have completely ruined my foundation!"

At his side, He Lanxin gently tugged on his sleeve. Her eyes held both concern and a subtle warning, signaling for him to choose his words carefully.

Yan Yaoyang took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his surging emotions. "Cold Jade Valley called this the ’Lifeng’ trials, but in reality, it was a show of force! They’re just trying to climb higher by stepping on the reputation of our Wutai Sect! And Leng Qianqiu... his schemes are damnable!"

He looked at Chen Qing, his tone grave. "I’ve told Senior Sister Nie everything about the dangers of this fight. I urged her to be extremely careful."

Chen Qing nodded calmly. "Thank you for the warning, Senior Brother Yan. I’m sure Senior Sister Nie has a plan."

His gaze traveled past Yan Yaoyang, toward the entrance of the mountain gate.

The crowd there was a swirling torrent of people with a chaotic mix of auras, but several of them were particularly conspicuous.

He saw people from Mist Rain Tower. Huang Dong, whom he had met before, was now respectfully trailing a middle-aged man. The man had Mist Rain Tower’s distinctive cloud emblem embroidered on his chest, clearly marking him as a high-ranking member.

Just then, a small commotion rippled through the crowd as it spontaneously parted to form a path.

Several grim-faced experts in dark black martial attire strode forward with a powerful, imposing gait. They wore standard-issue long sabers at their waists.

The fierce xiezhi totem embroidered on their lapels revealed their identity.

"It’s the Jingwu Guard!"

"Even the Court’s Jingwu Guard is here!"

"Looks like the Court is paying close attention to this Four Sects Alliance business!"

...

A wave of discussion swept through the crowd.

The Jingwu Guard represented the Yan Court, an organization of immense authority.

The Court had entrusted the administration of its vast territories to the major Martial Arts Sects. These sects were like feudal lords, enjoying a high degree of autonomy, while the Court maintained firm control over the central regions and its sharpest sword—the Jingwu Guard.

Although the influence of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect had grown daily over the past two centuries, even surpassing the Court’s in many matters, the Jingwu Guard remained active throughout the land. They represented a force that could not be ignored.

The man in the lead was an elder whose eyes held a keen, contained glint. His steps were steady and powerful.

Elder Sang Yanping immediately went forward to greet him, his face wreathed in smiles. He cupped his fist and said, "Commander Zhao, your presence honors us! Please forgive my failure to give you a proper welcome."

The elder known as Commander Zhao laughed heartily and returned the salute. "Elder Sang, you’re too kind! The Wutai Sect is a pillar of Yunlin. I am here today under orders to observe this grand occasion. Please forgive any imposition."

The two were clearly old acquaintances. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they walked toward the inner hall together, chatting cheerfully.

At some point, Li Lei had approached Chen Qing’s side. He whispered, "I never thought we’d even see a commander from the Jingwu Guard."

Yan Yaoyang turned to Li Lei and asked, "Junior Brother Li, if I recall, you had some dealings with the Jingwu Guard during a sect mission last year, didn’t you?"

Li Lei nodded, his expression grave. "I’ve had contact with some of their lower ranks. The Jingwu Guard has a strict hierarchy and a massive organization. It’s teeming with experts, truly unfathomable. This Commander Zhao is a major figure among them. His strength... rumor has it he reached the Astral Force Realm many years ago. His power is beyond measure."

As he spoke, Li Lei’s gaze suddenly shot to another side of the crowd, his brow furrowing. "Excuse me for a moment. I’m going to check that out."

With that, he strode off.

Chen Qing and Yan Yaoyang followed his gaze. In a far corner stood several figures in grey cloaks. They had concealed their auras so perfectly that they nearly blended into their surroundings; one could easily miss them without looking closely.

Yan Yaoyang’s expression turned grim. In a low voice, he said, "Judging by their outfits... they look like they’re from Yidao An. They’re a notorious assassin organization from the Fenghua Path’s territory—a pack of skulking rats, ruthless and lawless. Rumor has it they have an internal ’Execution List.’ Experts from various sects, even some in the Astral Force Realm, have ended up on that list and died at their hands. Them showing up here is definitely not a good sign."