“We are from the Weishui Garrison, here on orders to provide support!”

In response to the patrol squad’s questioning, a Profound Light Realm master from Chen Ping’an’s contingent stepped forward to speak with them.

Upon hearing the reply, the other party’s expressions remained tense and wary.

Chen Ping’an noted that the patrol squad consisted of ten men, and their combat strength was quite formidable.

Since this operation involved the encirclement of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, all the patrol teams were elites from the various counties. The man leading this squad was tall and powerfully built, wielding a Door-Board Axe. He, too, was a Profound Light Realm expert.

After inspecting their documents and confirming their authenticity, the powerfully built patrol captain’s expression finally eased. He clasped his fist and said, “So, you’re our colleagues from Weishui! My apologies for any offense. I was just doing my duty.”

The Profound Light Realm expert from Chen Ping’an’s side, a tall and lean middle-aged man, returned the salute. “Lord Ma, you’re just being diligent in your duties. We understand completely.”

Once their identities were confirmed, the patrol squad stood down, and Chen Ping’an’s contingent proceeded forward. As the two groups passed each other, the tall, lean middle-aged man finished introducing the other party to Chen Ping’an before turning to the captain. “Lord Ma, this is the officer in command of our expedition, Commander Chen!”

“This humble subordinate, Ma Shanbao, greets you, Lord Commander!” Upon hearing this, Ma Shanbao hastily dismounted, clasping his fist in a salute.

‘Mang Blade Chen Ping’an… his reputation is considerable. Being from a region neighboring Weishui, of course I’ve heard of him!’

“Lord Ma, there’s no need for such formalities,” Chen Ping’an said with a faint smile.

After Chen Ping’an was introduced, the Deputy Officer for the mission, Xiong Sanrang, was also briefly presented. Once more greetings were exchanged, Chen Ping’an’s party continued toward the Sanqi Mountain base.

“He truly lives up to his name… Lord Chen is a young hero indeed!” Ma Shanbao’s expression was grave as he watched the Weishui contingent depart, muttering to himself.

The brief encounter had given him an extremely high opinion of Chen Ping’an. Although the young commander’s aura was restrained and not fully revealed, Ma Shanbao could sense a faint, razor-sharp edge about him.

He had clawed his way up from the very bottom, relying on an almost beast-like intuition to get where he was today. That intuition had guided him his entire life and had rarely ever failed him.

…

「Sanqi Mountain Base.」

“Based on analysis and intelligence from multiple sources, we’ve essentially confirmed the Ten Thousand Demons stronghold is in the Sanqi Mountain region. We will combine the forces of the various counties, tighten the encirclement, and prepare to lock down the mountain!”

A middle-aged man in full armor declared loudly to the assembly in a rather spartan war room.

This man was Zhong Zeyu, the main official in charge of the Sanqi Mountain base and the commander of the Western Front Team for the Ten Thousand Demons encirclement. His combat prowess had already reached the very peak of the Top Level.

“Lord Zhong, Sanqi Mountain stretches for dozens of miles, and the terrain is vast! Lock down the mountain? Do we even have enough manpower?” The speaker was a middle-aged man in a blue robe, holding a Profound Iron Scale.

This man was Xu Dejun, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Earth Fire Town Suppression Bureau. He had been in the Profound Light High Realm for many years and was a veteran Top Level master. As part of the reinforcements, he had just arrived at the Sanqi Mountain base the day before.

Zhong Zeyu didn’t respond, his gaze sweeping over the others in the room.

Besides Xu Dejun, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Earth Fire Town Suppression Bureau, the war room also held Xu Chongyuan, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Li Yang Town Guard Office.

Xu Chongyuan was dressed in a black robe, his features grim and a chilling light in his eyes.

Having reached the Top Level many years ago, Xu Chongyuan was a master of both Claw and Leg Techniques—a true, seasoned Top Level expert.

He had arrived a little earlier than Xu Dejun, reaching the Sanqi Mountain base two evenings prior. In response to Zhong Zeyu’s unspoken question, Xu Chongyuan showed little reaction.

The Li Yang Town Guard Office had suffered the greatest losses during this recent uprising by the Ten Thousand Demons. Thanks to the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s schemes, even the Li Yang Capital Commander had been killed in action. Furthermore, Li Yang County was the region most devastated by the sect’s marauders.

In the last few days alone, Xu Chongyuan had received multiple reports of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect running rampant. On the very day he’d set out, news had arrived that a Top Level master from the sect was devastating a city within the county.

‘Blood Demon Hammer, Shi Tianpo!’ As the name came to mind, an inextinguishable, cold hatred filled Xu Chongyuan’s eyes. ‘To ravage an entire city and escape unscathed!’

It was a grave provocation against the Li Yang Town Guard Office, and another vicious blow following the death of the Li Yang Capital Commander.

“Lord Xu has a point. Trying to quell the chaos in our rear while also locking down the mountain… we are indeed shorthanded,” a purple-robed elder said with a faint smile.

The elder held a string of smooth, round prayer beads. His expression was benevolent, but it couldn’t conceal the profound depth in his eyes.

L? Boxu, the Silver Bell Qiankun Deputy Envoy of the Qiankun Bureau. His combat prowess was approaching the very peak of the Top Level, making his strength second only to Zhong Zeyu among all those present.

Aside from these key figures, the war room also contained deputy officers from the various County Garrison Commands and the Qiankun Bureau, as well as core leaders from several Top Level factions. These powerful figures, each of whom held sway over an entire county, had all been temporarily reassigned here.

Most of those present voiced their opinions, and the consensus was that they likely lacked the manpower to lock down the mountain. The pressure of needing to both quell the chaos in the rear and handle the mountain lockdown was indeed immense.

“Rest assured, everyone. The State Garrison Command has already taken this into account. This Ten Thousand Demons stronghold may be a sub-branch of the Demon Sect. The State Garrison Command has already coordinated reinforcements; forces from Chiyang, Qi Yun, and other counties will join the southern encirclement. Our own personnel, previously sent to reinforce the southern front, will now rejoin us to handle the lockdown of Sanqi Mountain’s western face!”

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