Several hours later, several black dots appeared in the distant sky. Accompanied by the whirring of propellers, two airships gradually approached Mount Jiao.
Shortly after, another airship appeared in the east, bearing the insignia of the Ocean Exploration Group on its hull.
The villagers on Mount Jiao also spotted the sight from afar. They knew what airships were, but had never actually seen one in person, so many crowded forward to gawk at the novelty.
The village headmen, however, sensed an impending threat, and a faint panic stirred in their hearts.
Earlier, when the Disposal Bureau set up various stations and facilities at the foot of the mountain, they had already felt uneasy. But while they could act as local tyrants on the mountain, there was no way they could face fully armed military personnel and fighters at the base. They could only watch helplessly as facility after facility went up below.
Now that airships had appeared, not knowing what the Yangzhi Municipal Government planned to do, they sent their trusted henchmen forward to curse and beat the villagers, forbidding them from watching any longer and driving everyone down into the underground pits.
Even if they could not deal with airships, they believed that as long as they hid inside the mountain and the tunnels, the people from Yangzhi would be powerless against them.
As the two airships drew near, Xu Chan waited for Mr. Zhuan to leap down first before following suit. Both walked toward Chen Chuan.
Neither could help glancing at Zarnik and his companion standing behind Chen Chuan. They had never seen these two before; they did not look like Great Shun martial artists, carrying a primal ferocity distinctly different from that of modern combatants.
Seeing martial artists arriving one after another, Zarnik and his companion showed no fear; instead, their blood surged. They could sense that they were likely about to face a massive battle.
They lived for combat. Clashing with the strong on the battlefield was the very meaning of their existence, the goal they pursued; the stronger the enemy, the more their fighting spirit flared.
Mr. Zhuan and Mr. Mask then looked at Chen Chuan. It had been half a year since they last saw him.
Seeing him again now, they felt that he was somewhat different from before. Even though he simply stood there without releasing any field or spirit, he gave off an indescribable pressure.
Perhaps this was due to the immense progress Chen Chuan had made in his cultivation over the past six months, or perhaps partly owing to the Mystic Void Fire?
As for another possibility, they did not even think toward it, for an instinct within them subconsciously dismissed that answer.
The three walked forward and greeted Chen Chuan. Just then, the other airship also drew near.
A figure leaped down from above and landed with a heavy crash, sending clouds of dust billowing into the air. A booming laugh rang out: "Made it! Just made it!" A burly, bald-headed man strode out from the haze.
Hu Kan glanced at Chen Chuan, then looked around. His eyes widened, and he rubbed his bald head. "Good heavens, what a grand occasion!"
When he set off, the company had only told him to coordinate with an operation. He had assumed he was dealing with some troublesome martial artist again. Who could have imagined so many martial artists would be present? A lineup like this was enough to wage a war of conquest against a nation.
He could not help muttering to himself, wondering which faction had the fortune of having so many of them attend to it all at once.
He stepped forward and said to Chen Chuan, "Brother Chen, with so many colleagues here, it seems I've been given quite an honor this time."
Chen Chuan said, "Our opponents this time are extraordinary. With you here, Brother Hu, our chances are all the better."
With that, he tapped his boundary credential and transmitted some information over to him.
"Thank you all for coming. Let me explain the situation. According to interrogations and internal intelligence, the Old Imperial Court has likely organized a massive army on the other side, with multiple high-ranking generals involved. The leader of this army is very likely Su Kuo, the Old Imperial Court's General Who Conquers the East."
"General Who Conquers the East?"
Upon hearing this title, everyone present felt a chill run through their hearts. The Old Imperial Court maintained a strict hierarchy with clear distinctions between high and low; a military general's post directly signified his tier of martial strength, so this person's prowess went without saying.
Chen Chuan continued, "Pinned down by Confluences across various regions, the Old Imperial Court cannot muster too much high-tier strength. What they have fielded this time is likely the absolute limit of what they can mobilize internally.
"If this force is annihilated, it will deal a severe blow to the Old Imperial Court. Therefore, rather than waiting for them to cross over, I have decided to tear open the fissure preemptively and charge in to eliminate them."
He looked around at the group. "I have already reported the plan to the Government Affairs Department. Before we launch our assault, Shannan Dao will initiate a coordinated offensive to keep them from managing both fronts.
"As for General Who Conquers the East, Su Kuo—"
He paused briefly. "Leave him to me. I will pin him down. Please dispatch the high-ranking generals supporting him as quickly as possible, and do your utmost to destroy the surrounding esoteric rituals."
Within an army, various esoteric rituals were bound to exist, providing enhancements to the martial artists stationed within their camp. But that advantage only mattered when there was no vast disparity in strength between the two sides; if one side committed overwhelming force, such an edge could easily be erased.
Xu Chan was the first to speak up, stating solemnly, "Section Chief, Xu Chan obeys your orders."
Mr. Zhuan nodded and said, "Commissioner Chen, both Old Tang and I will coordinate with you on this."
"Rest assured, this Hu won't drag anyone down."
Zarnik and his companion did not understand what was being said, but sensing the atmosphere, both struck their chests and let out a fierce roar.
Chen Chuan nodded. "Then get ready, everyone. We depart in ten minutes."
Ten minutes later, after Chen Chuan and the others finished their preparations, they immediately ascended the mountain. Men from the Disposal Bureau had already moved ahead, securing key pathways, clearing traps and barricades, and broadcasting through megaphones that this was a temporary requisition, warning the villagers not to wander outside, and promising compensation for any losses later.
To prevent hostile saboteurs or troublesome villagers from causing disruption, combat airships hovered overhead to deter any trouble. Most villagers had already hidden away under the orders of their headmen, and not a single soul showed their face.
Before long, the group arrived at the entrance to the secret depository. Cheng Shang, Lan Shengu, and the others were waiting there. Seeing Chen Chuan and the martial artists, they instinctively felt a tightness in their chests and a sense of spiritual oppression. Noticing this, Mr. Mask took the initiative to release a wave of spiritual power, which eased their discomfort somewhat.
Chen Chuan asked, "Senior Cheng, Consultant Lan, what is the situation?"
Cheng Shang glanced at Lan Shengu, who stepped forward and said, "Section Chief Chen, before the enemy leader was slain, he destroyed the key-lock. Although we found the fissure, taking control of it and setting up the esoteric rituals will take time. We are working as fast as we can."
Chen Chuan asked, "How much time will it take?"
Lan Shengu replied, "With our current manpower, roughly a full day. However, if we can occupy certain areas, we might be able to speed up the process. It's just that those spots may carry some danger."
Cheng Shang added, "This old man went to take a look. As soon as anyone gets close to those places, they feel their strength completely sapped. There are no exceptions."
Chen Chuan nodded. "Let's go take a look inside."
Lan Shengu immediately turned to lead the way. They followed him into the secret depository and found a colossal temple within, so vast that even with everyone pouring in, it did not feel crowded in the slightest.
After walking for a distance, Cheng Shang halted and pointed ahead. "That area is right in front of us. No one can cross it; get too close, and you simply lose all strength."
Everyone looked ahead. The area was enveloped in thick fog, obscuring everything from sight.
Mr. Zhuan took a look, and light gleamed across the mask he wore. Like a breeze sweeping through, the layer of fog was swiftly dispersed. Once it cleared, what lay revealed before everyone's eyes was a dense sprawl of skeletons—at least several thousand of them. It was a sight no one had anticipated.
Lan Shengu calmly assessed the scene. "Secret depositories sometimes open on their own. These are likely people who stumbled in by accident in the past."
Someone with sharp eyes called out, "Look, there are guns!"
He Fen stepped forward, picked up a rifle, examined it, and said, "Morning Star model—weaponry of the Old Imperial Court." He glanced at the ground below and added, "I recall that back when the Old Imperial Court was overthrown, a New Imperial Army force of over two thousand men retreated toward this area. A detachment of ours pursued them, but afterward, both vanished without a trace. Several searches turned up nothing. Could this be them?"
"Look at this."
A member of the Disposal Bureau seemed to spot something else. He went over, rummaged through the debris, and said in surprise, "This looks like a banner."
The banner was coated in thick dust. As he lifted a corner, clouds of grime flew up. The member shook it twice and dragged it out further, remarking in astonishment, "This banner is massive."
Seeing it, Cheng Shang's eyes flickered. He hurried forward a few steps, took hold of another corner of the banner, and brushed away some of the dust with his hand. Slowly, he unfolded the banner until it was fully displayed before everyone. Emblazoned upon it were eight bold characters: *Deliver the Realm, Smite the Tyrant Court!*
Overcome with emotion, he said, "This is... the banner of the First Punitive Army from back then!"
Everyone present had studied history and knew that among the many rebel armies that rose to overthrow the Old Imperial Court, the very first to stand up was formed by folk martial artists, and it was they who raised the first battle cry to bring down the imperial court.
Cheng Shang's voice trembled slightly. "Back then, my father and grandfather held banners like this, wielding iron hammers and axes to face the Old Imperial Court's armored cavalry."
He Fen asked, "Senior Consultant, do you mean the Battle of Shenyuan Valley?"
Cheng Shang nodded. "Yes."
Hearing this, everyone present felt a solemn reverence rise within them.
In the Battle of Shenyuan Valley, three thousand elite iron cavalry of the imperial court were completely annihilated in that valley by seven thousand folk martial artists gathered from across the land.
Though more than half of those martial artists fell in battle, that victory vastly bolstered the morale of the rebel forces rising against the court everywhere. It inspired millions of people to lay down their lives, charging forward wave after wave and staining the land with their blood until the imperial court was finally overthrown. After the founding of the nation, that force was granted the honored title of the First Punitive Army.
Looking upon this banner, many Disposal Bureau members felt as though they could hear the hoarse battle cries and desperate clashes of that day's battlefield. For a moment, their eyes burned with fervor, and their blood boiled.
Cheng Shang said, "There were only two such banners back then. One was preserved and now rests in the National Museum. No one knew where the other went—to think it ended up here."
Others stepped forward to help raise the banner upright. They found it stood seventeen or eighteen meters high, its pole as thick as a tree trunk and crafted entirely from iron-gold wood from the Confluence. It was extraordinarily heavy, something no ordinary man of that era could have ever lifted.
Chen Chuan looked up at the towering banner and said, "Since our foes this time are still the Old Imperial Court, let us take it with us."
"I'll carry it," Hu Kan said. He strode forward, gripped the flagpole with one hand, and hoisted it onto his shoulder.
Chapter 1024