Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 656 - 656 0424 Unaware of the County Master

Chapter 656: Chapter 0424: Unaware of the County Master Chapter 656: Chapter 0424: Unaware of the County Master Chapter 0424: Unaware of the County Master

After a brief farewell with Lu Jingfei, Qi Tian led Gao Jinmei, Deng Chuanliang, Wang Youjun, Jin Jin, Wang Xiuwu, Xu Jifa, and others away from Chi Huo City. They took flight together, with Qi Tian foregoing his immortal crane statue and opting for a flying sword instead.

Qi Tian flew in the middle of the group, with Gao Jinmei and Deng Chuanliang flying to his left and right and the rest following behind them. Their positions in the formation somewhat reflected their standing in Qi Tian’s eyes. However, among the group, Qi Tian undoubtedly trusted Wang Xiuwu and Xu Jifa the most. But, given they were the least powerful in the group apart from Qi Tian himself, they didn’t feel left out.

The moment they took off, Wang Xiuwu was the first to notice that Qi Tian was not heading towards the Tongmen West Pass of Great Zhao but in another direction. She quietly shared her observation with Xu Jifa, who shook his head, implying they should follow Qi Tian’s lead as he was the master and everyone should heed his orders.

Seemingly having heard Wang Xiuwu, Qi Tian halted, explaining, “The matter at Tongmen West Pass served as a wake-up call. This time, as I aim to help the Ninth Prince ascend to the throne, I mustn’t only focus within our borders but also keep an eye on our neighboring countries. So, next, I plan to take some of you to inspect key border areas of the Great Zhao Nation. If all is as it should be, well and good. But if there is trouble, let the fate of Chi Di be a warning to them. I’ll now assign your duties. Deng, continue to the Capital City and keep an eye on the Crown Prince, the National Master Manor, and the Guardian National Master Manor. Wang Xiuwu and Xu Jifa, you two stick with the Ninth Prince, continuing to protect him personally. Wang Youjun, go with them, and if there’s any issue, follow Wang Xiuwu’s instructions and arrangements.”

Deng Chuanliang, Wang Youjun, Wang Xiuwu, and Xu Jifa immediately bowed in acknowledgment.

Qi Tian waved his hand, signaling them to depart immediately. After they left, Qi Tian headed towards Yanming Pass with Gao Jinmei and Jin Jin.

For the Great Zhao Nation, Tongmen West Pass served to defend against Chi Di, while Yanming Pass was built to guard against another northern power, Bei Rong Kingdom. Chi Di was a predominantly nomadic country, whereas Bei Rong had both nomadic and agricultural aspects. Bei Rong was a more significant threat to the Great Zhao Nation than Chi Di in earlier years. However, as more Bei Rong people took to farming, they launched fewer invasions against the Great Zhao Nation.

After travelling thousands of miles for more than a day, Qi Tian and his team arrived at Yanming Pass. His main concern had realised—the armies of Bei Rong had seized Yanming Pass, leaving more than ten thousand soldiers there and sending the remaining thirty thousand troops to invade the Great Zhao Nation, sweeping across hundreds of miles as they attacked the northern city of Erding in Baoding Prefecture.

Unsure about the situation in detail, Qi Tian refrained from making a hasty move. Instead, he snuck into the Bei Rong camp to see if there were any cultivators among the Bei Rong soldiers. Much to his surprise, there wasn’t a single cultivator—not a Gold Core realm expert, nor even a Qi Cultivator.

This discovery made Qi Tian marvel. He had been involved in several wars, and each time, both the cultivators of Great Zhao and Chi Di had actively participated. This was the first time he had come across a warring side without any cultivators at all.

Qi Tian then entered Erding City. After a brief survey, he noted the significant military and civilian casualties, general anxiety, and a sense of despair in the city, which clearly indicated their confusion over the future of the war. Qi Tian wasn’t concerned with them but more with the reaction of the cultivators of Great Zhao. Much to his surprise again, he couldn’t find any cultivators in the entire Erding City. From Gold Core realm experts to Qi Cultivation Period, there wasn’t a single cultivator.

This was undoubtedly abnormal. Considering the current situation, Erding City would undoubtedly fall to Bei Rong soon without the aid of cultivators. Countless families would be destroyed, and many people, young and old, would be taken by Bei Rong as slaves when that happens.

Before driving Bei Rong away, Qi Tian wanted to understand what had actually transpired. So, he arrived at the Guard Office of Erding City, intending to see the Commander.

Without forcing his way in, Qi Tian put on his Lubei County Master robe and prepared to enter the Guard Office with Gao Jinmei and Jin Jin. According to the Great Zhao Nation’s protocol, a National Master, a County Master, and a County Master—no matter who—are entitled to meet the Commander of the Guard Office directly, even without notification. However, some considerations had to be given if the Commander was also a cultivator, or when the County Master was deemed weak.

Qi Tian didn’t intend to give any face to Erding City’s Commander, though. Firstly, as he was backing the Ninth Prince’s ascension to the throne, he couldn’t bow down to a petty Commander of Erding City. Secondly, he was unhappy with the Commander—despite the city being in such terrible shape from the ongoing war, the Commander hadn’t managed to recruit even a single cultivator to support the fight, reflecting his incompetence.