Chapter 425: The Hidden Spirit Clan and the Harbingers of War
Northern Ming Continent, White Jade Capital Headquarters
After leaving the Tiance Mansion, Xiao Tiance activated his soul power to locate Xiao Xuan. Moments later, he appeared directly in front of him.
"Tiance, how was it? Quite the surprise, huh?" Xiao Xuan beamed, his smile radiant with excitement.
Xiao Tiance couldn't help but smile back.
**"Indeed, it was a wonderful surprise. I didn't expect Medusa to be pregnant.
Now, Xuan ge, I'll have to trouble you and Lord Huang You to help us prepare for the wedding."**
He then shared Medusa's wish for a simpler ceremony with Xiao Xuan.
Although slightly puzzled, Xiao Xuan nodded in agreement.
"Understood. Leave the wedding arrangements to me and Lord Huang You. Let's settle on next month. I'll consult the almanac for an auspicious date and notify you once it's finalized. Sound good?"
**"Perfect. Thank you, Xuan ge. I'll need to head to Executioner City soon. Two months ago, Lord Mo Yang sent a message saying the spiritual formation there had been tampered with.
I need to personally investigate whether it's the work of extradimensional demons."** Xiao Tiance's expression grew solemn.
His concern was clear: if this wasn't the work of extradimensional demons, it might simply be the mischief of some resentful enemy troublesome, but manageable. However, if it was indeed extradimensional demons, the matter would escalate into a major crisis, potentially requiring White Jade Capital's strongest forces to converge on Executioner City.
Xiao Xuan's smile faded as he nodded gravely.
"Understood, Tiance. Go investigate. I'll make dual preparations here. If it is an invasion, signal us immediately, and we'll mobilize reinforcements without delay."
"Thank you, Xuan ge," Xiao Tiance replied with gratitude.
He sent a transmission to Jiu Yuan, instructing him to meet at the teleportation array. As for Long Zunzhe, Xiao Tiance decided against informing him for now. Having only recently joined White Jade Capital, Long Zunzhe might feel uneasy hearing about a potential invasion. It was better to let him settle in.
Moments later, Xiao Tiance and Jiu Yuan appeared at the teleportation array. The guards swiftly adjusted the destination coordinates, and the two stepped into the array. A pillar of light enveloped them, transporting them into a fixed spatial passage.
In the Void
Xiao Tiance turned to Jiu Yuan, whose expression was stoic yet tense. He asked with a faint smile,
"Jiu Yuan, are you worried?"
Jiu Yuan nodded, his tone serious.
**"Yes, Immortal Lord. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't.
Back when the Heavenly Dao Sect fell, it was at the hands of the extradimensional demons, despite being an immensely powerful sect.
I myself spent tens of thousands of years hiding at the bottom of a cliff. If not for encountering you, I would have perished along with the Heavenly Dao Sect's secret realm.
Now, hearing that extradimensional demons might target Executioner City, I can't help but fear. If their forces are weak, we can handle them. But if a Heaven Demon Emperor appears, I fear it will end in our destruction."**
Xiao Tiance nodded in understanding and offered reassurance.
**"You're not wrong to be concerned, but rest assured, Jiu Yuan. With me here, the tragedy of the Heavenly Dao Sect will not repeat itself.
Anything below a Heaven Demon Emperor, I will ensure they have no way to return. As for a Heaven Demon Emperor... well, you don't need to worry.
Before establishing White Jade Capital in the Northern Ming Continent, I spoke with Steward Wan Feng of the Great Thousand Palace. If we encounter a Heaven Demon Emperor, the Great Thousand Palace will dispatch reinforcements immediately.
Besides, the northern front of the Great Thousand World has always been the least targeted by extradimensional demons. Compared to the eastern, western, and southern fronts, the north is relatively safe."**
Jiu Yuan smiled faintly, though a hint of sadness lingered in his eyes.
**"Thank you, Immortal Lord.
But... I cannot forget watching my mother die at the hands of extradimensional demons, trapped and tortured before my eyes. This blood debt can only be repaid in battle.
Although I am not as strong as my mother once was, I am no longer the helpless child who needed protection. If war comes, I will give my all."**
Xiao Tiance placed a reassuring hand on Jiu Yuan's shoulder.
"That's all I ask."
The two shared a quiet, determined smile as a light appeared ahead, rapidly expanding.
"We've arrived!"
Executioner City
As the teleportation light faded, Xiao Tiance and Jiu Yuan found themselves at the city's arrival point, where Lord Mo Yang stood waiting.
"Immortal Lord!" Mo Yang bowed respectfully.
"Lord Mo Yang," Xiao Tiance and Jiu Yuan returned the gesture.
Mo Yang straightened and asked,
"Immortal Lord, have you come because of the message I sent two months ago?"
Xiao Tiance nodded.
**"Yes. The protective formation in Executioner City is on par with the one at the capital. For someone to tamper with it and leave unscathed, their strength must be formidable.
Do you have any new findings since then?"**
Mo Yang shook his head and sighed.
**"Unfortunately, none. However, the situation reminds me of the events leading up to the extradimensional demons' attack on the Heavenly Dao Sect.
The Hidden Spirit Clan was likely involved."**
Xiao Tiance's eyes narrowed.
"The Hidden Spirit Clan? Explain."
Mo Yang explained gravely,
**"The Hidden Spirit Clan is part of the extradimensional demons. They are physically weak, with no member ever reaching the Heavenly Sovereign level.
However, their unique innate abilities make them invaluable. They possess two key talents:
Invisibility – They can remain undetectable even when standing right in front of ordinary Supremes. This makes them ideal scouts.
Void Concealment – They can create spatial passageways without alerting even powerful Heavenly Sovereigns.
Despite being the weakest among the demons, their strategic value is unmatched. If the intruder was from the Hidden Spirit Clan, then it's only a matter of time before war breaks out. It could be as soon as three months or as long as two years."**
Xiao Tiance listened carefully, his expression serious.
"Take me to the area they tampered with. When I set up the formation, I placed surveillance stones around the perimeter. Perhaps we can find something."
Mo Yang's eyes lit up.
"Surveillance stones? Excellent! Immortal Lord, follow me."
Mo Yang was initially stunned but quickly composed himself and led Xiao Tiance and Jiu Yuan directly to the northern gate of Executioner City.
Executioner City was vast, but for three Heavenly Sovereigns, such a distance was negligible. Within moments, the three arrived at the northern gate. Mo Yang pointed to the intact spiritual formation and said, "Immortal Lord, this is where the formation was touched."
Xiao Tiance approached the location, studying the ground about a hundred meters from the wall. With a light slap against the city wall, a green stone slowly emerged.
Under the watchful and tense gazes of Jiu Yuan and Mo Yang, Xiao Tiance channeled a powerful surge of spiritual energy into the recording stone.
About ten minutes later, a projection flickered to life. A faint figure appeared but vanished almost immediately, as though it had never been there.
"Hiss! It really is from the Hidden Spirit Clan dual horns spiraling forward, wings on its back, snow white skin, and a small stature! Immortal Lord, this is undoubtedly a member of the Hidden Spirit Clan!"
Mo Yang gasped sharply, immediately describing the creature's features with certainty.
The three fell silent, their expressions grave. They all understood the implication: war was imminent.
Xiao Tiance broke the silence, waving a hand with a calm smile. **"Lord Mo Yang, there's no need to worry. While it's true that the Hidden Spirit Clan often serves as the vanguard, White Jade Capital is no pushover to be bullied by the extradimensional demons.
You mentioned earlier that once members of the Hidden Spirit Clan appear, a large scale invasion typically follows within a year, or as soon as three months. Is that correct?"**
Although Xiao Tiance's tone was steady, he concealed his inner concerns. Panic from a leader could spark fear among the ranks and destabilize morale.
Mo Yang nodded. **"Correct, Immortal Lord. From ancient times to the destruction of the Heavenly Dao Sect, the Hidden Spirit Clan has always heralded war.
Wherever they appear, war inevitably follows, earning them the title 'Harbingers of War.'
For now, I can only hope that the one we detected was the only scout."**
Xiao Tiance raised a brow in curiosity. "Why hope for just one scout?"
Before Mo Yang could respond, Jiu Yuan interjected, **"Immortal Lord, the number of 'Harbingers of War' dictates the scale of the ensuing conflict.
If only one appears, the strongest invader will usually be a Demon General, whose strength typically corresponds to the Earthly Sovereign level.
Historical records from the Heavenly Dao Sect describe multiple appearances by the Hidden Spirit Clan, though the number of scouts rarely exceeded three at a time.
Each scout corresponds to one Demon General. If three or more appear simultaneously, a Demon Emperor is guaranteed. The more scouts, the more Demon Emperors.
For example, three scouts usually signify at least one Demon Emperor. If six scouts appear, there will likely be two or more Demon Emperors."**
Mo Yang nodded solemnly. "Exactly. During the Heavenly Dao Sect's destruction, the enemy deceived us. Based on the scale of that war, at least twenty Demon Emperors participated."
Xiao Tiance's eyes narrowed as he processed the information.
"I see. In that case, let's review the other recording stones. We need to confirm whether this was a lone scout or if there were more."
Placing the recording stone back into its position, Xiao Tiance proceeded to examine each stone along the city walls.
By the time they finished, the three of them exhaled in relief. The projection of the scout appeared on only one stone, and the other stones showed no evidence of additional intrusions.
**"That's a relief. With just one scout, the upcoming conflict shouldn't be a large scale invasion.
Immortal Lord, rest assured. If only a single Demon General leads the invaders, I can handle it alone without even activating the protective spiritual formation,"** Mo Yang said with a smile.
Xiao Tiance nodded but didn't share Mo Yang's optimism. **"I trust in Lord Mo Yang's strength. However, we cannot afford to be careless.
While the recording stone only captured one scout, you mentioned earlier that members of the Hidden Spirit Clan possess the ability to remain invisible.
It's entirely possible that only one was recorded, while others evaded detection.
Therefore, we must treat every invasion as though it were the largest scale war imaginable. Even if this approach results in wasted resources, that's a minor issue compared to underestimating the enemy and facing catastrophic consequences.
Remember, 'Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit.' Only by preparing for the worst can we avoid being caught off guard."**
Mo Yang's face reddened with shame, and he bowed deeply. "Thank you for the reminder, Immortal Lord. I will remember this lesson."
Xiao Tiance waved a hand dismissively. **"It's not your fault, Lord Mo Yang. I simply prefer to err on the side of caution.
Now, I'd like you to increase Executioner City's alert level to the highest setting.
Ensure that the teleportation array is constantly powered with Supreme Spirit Liquid so it's ready at a moment's notice.
Lastly, until the conflict is resolved, I will personally oversee the defense of Executioner City. I will issue the First White Jade Order: all White Jade Capital members at the Earthly Sovereign level and above must remain on standby.
Once war breaks out, they are to respond immediately and head to Executioner City at top speed."**
(End of Chapter)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1