Patrol Captain

"I thank General Chen for his life-saving grace, which I will never forget!" Gou Zhi took the bottle, lifted the hem of his clothes, and was about to kneel down, his whole body showing great excitement.

His injuries had plagued him for over a decade, turning him into a "dwarf," even causing his beard to atrophy, requiring him to wear a fake beard to maintain a semblance of dignity. Since his physique had lost its imposing stature, his personality had also become timid and sensitive.

As a local military commander, his current state is such that even if no one dares to gossip about him to his face, rumors from outside still reach his ears from time to time, causing him to be shocked, angry, and unable to sleep.

Therefore, his injury was his greatest worry, and now that Chen Yuan had bestowed a treasure upon him, he naturally could not hide his excitement.

Seeing this, Chen Yuan raised his hand, and an invisible force lifted the other man's knees, saying calmly:

"There's no need for these formalities. Go and make preparations. Bring the people you've chosen to this courtyard. They will be entering the grotto where I'm hosting the banquet. Make sure to explain the rules to them beforehand so they don't wander around or cause any trouble. I will ensure their safety."

"Also, have your subordinates who are handling these matters come along, so that everything is organized."

Gou Zhi nodded like a chick pecking at rice, "That's how it should be."

"I'll arrange it right away!"

Still feeling excited, he clapped his hands and cupped his fists, saying, "Then let's go!"

After saying that, he took a few steps back, then hurriedly went out the door to arrange important matters.

Chen Yuan smiled knowingly at his slightly comical and happy expression.

Then, he got up and walked to the door. He flicked his sleeve toward the arched gate not far away, and a silver light flew out and disappeared into the gate. As the silver light spread, the void rippled, but soon these movements disappeared and the silver light also disappeared.

After doing all this, Chen Yuan glanced at the sky, calculated the time, and then turned and went into the house.

About half an incense stick's time later, a group of people, accompanied by a group of Heavenly Guards, walked through the corridors and courtyards and arrived outside this courtyard.

A large group of people chattered away, a lively chattering, numbering well over a hundred.

Among them were musicians of all ages, some carrying pipa and others with guzheng slung across their shoulders; dancers in brightly colored clothes, their lotus-patterned robes fluttering as they moved, each one a feast for the eyes, glancing left and right, unable to resist peeking at the majestic inner courtyard of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, chattering away; and uniformed attendants helping to carry things.
When they arrived at the courtyard, they saw two rows of heavily armored men guarding the gate, and the chaotic noise gradually subsided.

Everyone recognized these as armored soldiers from the Ninth Mountain, and they all became tense.

They knew that tonight they were to host a banquet for the master of the Ninth Mountain, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shine. They were standing here because they had earned this opportunity through their own abilities.

If I could gain the favor of the esteemed master of the Ninth Mountain, I might just soar to great heights!
The person who led them here was a captain from the Guang'an Prefecture Astronomical Patrol Division. He turned around, his face stern, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group, and said:

"Quiet!"

"This banquet is for the lord of the Ninth Mountain, and it is no small matter. You must remember your place. Once inside, do less looking and listening, focus on your own tasks, and put aside all other thoughts. If you do well, the lord will naturally reward you."

"If anything goes wrong because of your overstepping of the bounds, even if the magistrate of the Ninth Mountain doesn't blame you, the prefectural magistrate will certainly not let you off lightly."

"I'll reiterate once again: once we're inside, follow me and do as I say. Under no circumstances should you make a mistake."

The officer in charge of the prefecture looked very serious, and he was actually quite nervous when he said this.

These entertainers and musicians didn't know who they were dealing with, but as the person in charge of the liaison with the prefectural magistrate, he knew some inside information after being repeatedly instructed by his own general. This banquet was not organized by the prefectural magistrate, but by the Martial Saint General from the Ninth Mountain who had secretly descended to hold a banquet and ordered his own general to search the whole city for him.

As for who he was hosting the banquet for, even Zhonglang himself didn't know, but the person he was hosting the banquet for must be someone important.

With this matter falling on his shoulders, one can imagine the immense pressure he was under. He was afraid of not handling things well, and he was also afraid that the people he had gathered from all over the city would not be able to hold their own in front of the important figures, thus incurring the displeasure of the Martial Saint General. After all, times had changed.

Therefore, before going in, he had to repeatedly emphasize the rules to these people.

The musicians, dancers, and cooks were already tired of hearing the captain's "warning." Although they had all come here for this purpose and were nervous and expectant, they certainly didn't want anything to go wrong. However, the captain was just too long-winded. He had read it several times before they arrived, and even threatening words came out when they arrived. They were somewhat resentful in their hearts.

While it's true that the military officers of the Ninth Mountain deserve proper hospitality, there's no need to be so overly cautious and constantly nagging in their ears; it creates too much pressure.

"What's going on? This is making everyone so nervous. We're not exactly eager to perform, and they're even threatening us at the last minute. I wish I hadn't come," a woman muttered under her breath.

The others also started whispering among themselves.

Seeing this, the prefectural captain ignored the noise, knowing the others would find out soon enough. He turned, composed himself, stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute to the leader in blue armor standing at the courtyard gate with his sword drawn, and bowed slightly, smiling broadly:

"I am Yan Wu, the prefect of Guang'an. I have brought the manpower needed for the banquet on the orders of my master. Please allow me to proceed!"

The leader, dressed in blue armor, glanced at the large group of people behind him, nodded, and straightened his voice.

"Once inside, don't make a sound. Someone inside will explain things to you."

"As long as you manage the people you brought well, all attendees will receive a reward afterward."

With that, the man in blue armor waved his hand and said, "Let them pass!"

The two rows of armored soldiers stepped aside, their armor clanging as they made way, and the courtyard gate opened.

"Thank you!" Yan Wu, the captain of the prefectural command, clasped his hands in a fist salute to the armored soldiers on both sides, then turned to face the group of people.
"Come with me, let's go inside!"

Upon hearing that there would be a reward, the whispers among the attendees ceased, and they all perked up, quickly following the officers in front.

The current prefectural officer stepped forward first. When he arrived at the open courtyard gate, he showed no sign of surprise and simply stepped over the threshold.

As soon as he stepped inside, his vision suddenly brightened, his field of vision became vast, his pupils contracted, and he couldn't help but raise his head, his mouth slightly open, deeply shocked.

Those who followed were all astonished, their mouths agape and gasps of surprise escaping their throats.

"What a magnificent tree!"

"The tree can glow."

"Is this still the prefectural capital?" "Good heavens, isn't it daytime? Why are there stars and the moon in the sky?"

"."

Exclamations rang out one after another.

As these people gazed upon the scene, a magnificent and awe-inspiring panorama unfolded before them. In the distance, pavilions and palaces stood in a harmonious arrangement, tall and imposing, their layered eaves like soaring roc wings pointing straight to the sky. Row upon row, adorned with dragon patterns and python pillars, their grandeur was palpable. Between the pavilions, exotic flowers and rare herbs grew in abundance, their shimmering light attracting colorful butterflies to flutter about, creating a tapestry of vibrant beauty that was far from ordinary.

At the very center of the pavilion, an even more breathtaking sight unfolds: a colossal tree stands tall, its trunk as high as a mountain, seemingly supporting the heavens. Its entire body radiates a silvery light, like a divine tree or celestial flower. Its canopy spreads like a dome, obscuring most of the sky, countless silver leaves layered upon each other, scattering countless rays of silver light, dazzling and almost blinding. A gentle breeze rustles the silver leaves, sending them fluttering through the air like a shower of starlight, making the pavilions and towers below appear ethereal and otherworldly. Even the exotic flowers and rare herbs seem imbued with a celestial aura, resembling a palace in the heavens, leaving all who behold it breathless and filled with awe.

Looking up from the silver tree, one sees a starry sky with a bright moon hanging high in the dark blue sky, and distant mountain shadows like dragons lurking in the dark hue!

Everyone was stunned by the sight, their minds reeling.

They had just been in the small courtyard of the Guang'an Prefecture, in broad daylight, but with a single step, it was as if they had arrived in a celestial palace, with the bright moon hanging high in the sky. This gave everyone a shocking experience, and they exclaimed in surprise, wondering where they were. This was clearly no longer the Guang'an Prefecture.

Some people turned around and saw that the door behind them had transformed into a towering, vermilion gate with red lacquer and copper nails!

Just then, several thin beams of light landed in front of the group, revealing several Ninth Mountain Armor Warriors.

The blue-armored warrior at the forefront stood with his hand on his sword, his eagle-like gaze sweeping across the battlefield.
"Silence!"

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an imposing force, forcefully silencing the clamor of the crowd.

"Don't panic, this is a grotto-heaven."

"My general is hosting a grand banquet for his guests today. Since you are all here, please follow me. There are a few things I need to tell you."

This armored warrior was a man of few words, speaking simply and clearly. He turned and headed down the steps of the gate, heading straight for the central axis.

Yan Wu, the military officer of Guang'an Prefecture, quickly gathered his men and followed. Everyone followed closely, like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, looking left and right. They felt their hearts surging with excitement as they were in this place. At the same time, they pondered the words of the armored warrior from the Ninth Mountain, such as "grotto-heaven" and "general," coupled with such a grand procession. Some knowledgeable people had their minds racing, exchanging glances and forming huge guesses in their hearts. They were deeply shaken.

By the time the banquet setup and staff began to arrive, it was already past 1 PM.

It was only a little over two hours before the hour of You (5-7 PM).

Outside the grotto, Chen Yuan waved his hand, left the central hall of the courtyard, casually flicked his sleeves behind him, and ascended into the sky.

After the figure disappeared, inside the house, the local military commander Gou Zhi clasped his hands and bowed respectfully as he saw him off.

An hour later, at the hour of Shen (3-5 PM), the sun began to set in the west, and the autumn sun cast golden rays on a desolate mountain range six thousand miles from Guang'an Prefecture.

The mountain range is called the Luoxia Mountain Range, located between Dingshan Pass and Zhennan Prefecture. The main peak, Feiyun Mountain, in the middle has been deeply imbued with the spirit of late autumn. The setting sun hangs obliquely on the mountain peaks on the western slope, like a molten gold palace lantern, turning the clouds in the sky orange-red, spreading them in layers across the horizon, and even the mist flowing in the mountains is tinged with a halo.

Before long, a golden light fell on the top of Feiyun Mountain, and Chen Yuan's figure appeared there. The mountain was covered with snow and the mountain wind was fierce. His eyes gleamed with golden light as he quickly scanned the surrounding mountains and forests. Seeing nothing unusual, he took a step forward and disappeared into the vast snowstorm.

He entered the grotto and appeared on the canopy of the sacred tree of Yinshan, looking down at the mansion below.

The front hall was bustling with noise and activity, with people moving about in an orderly fashion. The banquet setup was almost complete.

After a short while, Chen Yuan's body flickered and disappeared from the canopy of the Yinshan Sacred Tree. When he reappeared, he was in the main hall of the front hall.

Inside the main hall, the armored soldiers stationed at the front line, upon seeing the figure, instinctively drew their swords, then immediately realized what was happening and knelt on one knee.

"General!"

"General!"

"."

The servants who had been brought from Guang'an Prefecture to set up the scene were startled. When they saw Chen Yuan's face, they were terrified and immediately knelt down, burying their heads in the ground.
"grown ups!"

Some doubted they were seeing things, and couldn't help but secretly look up a few more times. Their eyes widened in surprise, and they exclaimed, "Who is so imposing? It turns out to be this legendary Lieutenant General!"

Chen Yuan's face was highly recognizable in Guang'an Prefecture. After all, he had left many traces in Guang'an Prefecture.

"Everyone, keep going with your own business. It's almost dusk, and the guests are on their way."

With that, he walked to the main seat above him, sat down, and then gave instructions to his subordinates who were standing to one side.

"The time is almost up. Tell the men to get ready."

"Yes!"

As time passed, just as dusk fell, a deafening roar was heard from the sky.

Above the celestial realm, the Milky Way suddenly burst forth with dazzling light. Then, on the left and right, cracks abruptly appeared on the Milky Way, as if two wounds had been forcibly ripped open in the starry sky. Next, a gigantic, dark cyan hand, seemingly reaching out from beyond the heavens, shattered the stars and brutally tore at the veil of heaven and earth, ripping the crack open. From its initial length of a few feet, it instantly spread to hundreds of feet. On the right, a beam of fire, like heavenly light, illuminated this realm.

"Boom"

With two loud bangs, two figures slowly emerged from the cracks, hovering in mid-air above the cave's sky, their bodies surrounded by demonic light.

On the left, a figure clad in crimson bone armor stood tall and imposing, surrounded by soaring demonic flames. The mere aura emanating from him caused the surrounding mountains and valleys to tremble. His face was hidden behind the flames, only a pair of captivating purple eyes visible; wherever his gaze swept, even the void itself seemed to distort. On the right, however, was a completely different figure. He wore no armor, yet countless black chains encircled his body. His physique was as imposing as a mountain, and behind him lay a vast expanse of darkness, with visible black vortexes resembling a black hole. He exuded a deathly pressure, and wherever he passed, time seemed to slow down. His eyes were deep, dark ink, seemingly capable of devouring even the very soul.

The two immortal monarchs descended, each unleashing their own methods upon entering the grotto-heaven, their powerful auras causing the grotto-heaven to hum incessantly.

On the main seat in the front hall, Chen Yuan opened his third eye between his brows, and a crystal-clear light illuminated the void.

Other monarchs arrived one after another! (End of Chapter)