Having received Chen Chuan's assent, Wen Mingzhong did not hesitate. Decisively and swiftly, he led his personnel to begin arranging the ritual at the pass.
The people he had brought were clearly the elite of the Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau. Once the orders were given, each of them methodically began their tasks.
The specific purpose of the ritual was, first, to suppress the esoteric ritual previously laid down by the former imperial household, preventing the enemy from turning it to their own advantage should they launch a counterattack.
Second, it was to deploy that anomaly. For this, they needed to create favorable conditions beforehand to enhance the anomaly's power, and ensure they could safely retrieve it afterward.
Chen Chuan also took the opportunity to learn a bit about this anomaly and found it quite intriguing.
Anomalies—or urban legends—came in diverse varieties, but broadly speaking, according to his own understanding, they could be divided into regional types and trigger types.
A typical example of the regional kind was the Mount Jie urban legend. Once outside the designated area, its influence ceased completely; resolving it required specific steps, and if that failed, destroying the entire area was the only option.
A trigger type, on the other hand, was like the civet urban legend he carried. So long as the conditions for its appearance were met, it could exist anywhere until those conditions vanished or were triggered again.
Notably, urban legends of this type might not be especially powerful at first, paling in comparison to regional ones, but they often possessed a degree of growth potential.
The urban legend brought by the Esoteric Cult Bureau this time clearly belonged to this category. It could be harnessed by humans, and under certain conditions, its power could be amplified.
Before bringing it out, Wen Mingzhong and his team had to negotiate with it; only with its consent could they succeed.
Its capabilities happened to align well with Chen Chuan's needs, though bringing it under control in the aftermath might present some difficulty.
That was of little consequence; there would be ample time to deal with it after the battle.
Right at that moment, he sensed something and turned his head to look to the side. A ray of platinum radiance was hurtling toward him. He stood motionless, and in a sudden flash, a burst of dazzling light erupted where he stood.
The onlookers only felt their vision blur and could not help shutting their eyes. Once their sight adjusted and they opened them again, Chen Chuan was still standing there, seemingly unchanged.
Only his military greatcoat fluttered, with faint wisps of purple qi swirling around it, though after a moment, they withdrew and vanished. Chen Chuan gripped the Xuejun Saber and turned to look outward. Although the sky over the Confluence was perpetually somber, it was cloudless at the moment, offering extraordinary visibility. One could see that no abnormalities had appeared on the perimeter.
Chaoming continued to patrol in the distance.
It seemed he had arrived in time.
The former imperial household had failed to dispatch an attacking force promptly. It was possible that the earlier information blackout had taken effect, leaving them unsure of their enemy's actual strength and unable to make a hasty decision.
Yet the former imperial household could not possibly abandon this place. Reaching Youdu from here was simply too easy. In theory, Great Shun could use this stronghold as a staging ground, steadily amassing troops until they had gathered enough strength to overthrow the former imperial house.
This hung like a blade suspended over the former imperial house's head. Thus, if only to secure sufficient strategic buffer, they would surely seek to take it back; they would never surrender it without at least an attempt.
Just then, static rustled across his boundary credential, which soon cleared as a voice spoke: "Greetings, Officer Chen. 'Fengsha' at your service. Through me, you may contact anyone here wearing a boundary credential."
The garrison had moved swiftly. The active conscious entity and field were already in place, and behind him, rows of heavy railway guns were advancing along hastily laid tracks, aiming their muzzles toward the open ground before the pass.
Against high-tier martial artists, such bombardment might have limited effect, but what was loaded into those barrels would not necessarily be ordinary artillery shells; other measures were mixed in.
At that moment, another notification surfaced on his boundary credential, stating that the supplies, documents, and reinforcements dispatched by the state were already en route and would arrive before nightfall.
He walked a couple of paces to a nearby seat, sat down, and faced the vast plains ahead, waiting for the enemy's arrival.
***
Youdu, Anye Palace.
Because the palace grounds were densely woven with specialized ritual fields, the entire citadel remained perpetually cloaked under a thick canopy of dark clouds.
Amidst the layered palaces and pavilions, eternal lamps merged into brilliant ribbons of light. Below the palace ridges, patrol guards clad in face-concealing black armor marched in formation carrying lanterns and torches. As the lights shifted, casting flickering silhouettes, they looked almost like ghost soldiers and nether generals emerging from the underworld.
In a corner of the corridor in Yunmeng Garden, the Eldest Imperial Son, Prince Qiong, Yuan Conglai, had been standing quietly since the previous night. His hair and lapels were already soaked with morning dew.
His shadow stretched long beneath the eaves. Nearby stood a thousand-year-old scholar tree with twisted, tangled branches. Clouds and mist churned beneath it, and thin wisps of crimson morning glow seeped through the tree's crevices, falling upon several immortal cranes roosting below.
Such scenery ought to have been exquisite and elegant, yet set in this place, it appeared eerie and grim.
Prince Qiong remained entirely motionless, his spine straight, with not a single attendant by his side.
A breeze drifted past, faintly carrying the sounds of singing and dancing from Zhanqing Hall.
On the palace path opposite, several white-faced eunuchs with powdered cheeks emerged from the mist. As they passed, the leading eunuch noticed the figure by the roadside. Raising his lantern to illuminate him, he gasped in surprise, "Prince Qiong? Why are you here, Your Highness?"
Yuan Conglai replied, "I submitted a memorial requesting an audience last night, and am waiting for Father Emperor's summons."
The eunuch glanced at his congenital limp, a touch of pity in his eyes. He urged, "Prince Qiong, please return. His Majesty labored over state affairs last night and stayed awake all through the night. He will not have time to see Your Highness today."
Yuan Conglai said nothing, merely continuing to stand there.
The eunuch shook his head, offered a bow, and led his party away.
Inwardly, he sighed. Prince Qiong had always enjoyed a reputation for virtue and was exceptionally kind to servants like them. Yet they had no such fortune; this prince was destined never to sit upon that throne.
Though he was the eldest legitimate son, he had been born with a congenital defect and lacked outstanding talent in later years, earning the Emperor's distaste. Yet having committed no wrongdoing, he could not be formally deposed, leading the Emperor to openly and privately grumble on multiple occasions asking why he had not died yet.
Before the eunuch had walked more than a few paces, a swift horse galloped over. A palace attendant leapt down, strode before Yuan Conglai, held up a token, and announced loudly, "An imperial oral decree: Prince Qiong is forbidden from lingering in the palace gardens and must withdraw at once!"
Then, lowering his voice, he added, "Her Majesty the Empress says Prince Qiong should return for now and not anger His Majesty."
Yuan Conglai sighed. "Since Father Emperor and Imperial Mother have spoken, this son shall naturally obey."
Under the palace attendant's watchful gaze, he departed Yunmeng Garden and returned to his own Shaohua Palace, his eyes laden with sorrow.
The place was bleak and deserted. Usually, apart from a few elderly servants, hardly anyone ever visited.
In truth, even if he was disliked by the Emperor, his status would normally have attracted many sycophants looking to curry favor. But knowing he could not afford a single mistake, he simply refused to see any external officials. Over time, those seeking profit and advancement drifted away, leaving the residence increasingly quiet and lonely.
The prince's household retainer had been waiting for him. Seeing him return, he looked at him and said, "It seems Your Highness was unable to see His Majesty."
Yuan Conglai said with great agitation, "Xianglan Pass has fallen, and enemy forces could arrive at any moment! The dynasty is in precarious peril! Father Emperor ought to make a swift decision and send commanders to recapture the pass at once, yet even now there is no movement! I truly cannot comprehend it!"
Learning of Xianglan Pass's fall last night had shocked him to the core. Losing that position was far more serious than losing an ordinary mountain pass.
Great Shun's martial artists could use it to reach Youdu within a single day. This was perilous in the extreme; the state was in genuine danger of ruin. Yet the imperial court had shown no response whatsoever. How could he not be anxious?
The retainer said steadily, "Your Highness, it is likely not that His Majesty refuses to act, but that he harbors deep concerns. The Xuanji General who seized Xianglan Pass is said to be renowned far and wide. The late General of Eastern Subjugation, Chariot and Cavalry General Wan, and General Who Conquers the North Zong were none of them his match. At present, within the imperial capital, only General of Agile Cavalry Yuan could possibly contend with him—and even in single combat, he might not be a match. How could His Majesty move rashly?"
Yuan Conglai said with indignation, "Yet there are many members of the imperial clan in the capital! Are they unwilling to step forward and share the state's burdens?"
Among the imperial clan, there were quite a few powerful Xuanji commanders. Furthermore, he had heard that among the forces that attacked the pass earlier, there was only that one Xuanji General. Had they concentrated sufficient strength at the time, retaking the pass in a single concerted push would surely not have been difficult.
Yet his father had delayed, and with the night having passed, the best opportunity had likely slipped away.
The retainer countered, "Your Highness, though the imperial clan has capable men, they must safeguard the royal family and deter the realm. Today, the dynasty faces internal troubles and external threats alike: the counterfeit dynasty presses relentlessly, the regional lords harbor selfish ambitions, remnants of the preceding dynasty watch for an opportunity to strike back, and those gods are each scheming their own ends. With the situation so fraught, how could His Majesty lightly dispatch the court's core strength?
"Pull one hair, and the entire body moves."
Yuan Conglai frowned. "Yet is there not still my imperial brother? They always speak of him as so formidable; why not let him lead the army..."
The retainer's expression changed, and he warned in a low voice, "Speak with caution, Your Highness! Have you forgotten His Majesty's injunction? Anything concerning Prince Lin must never be spoken aloud!"
Yuan Conglai lowered his head.
At that moment, the sound of galloping hooves rang out. A rider approached, swiftly dismounting as he drew near them.
The courier hurried forward, clasped his hands, and bowed to Yuan Conglai. "Your Highness, just now His Majesty and the cabinet ministers drafted an imperial edict, ordering the recapture of Xianglan Pass!" With that, he presented a scroll.
"They are moving?"
Yuan Conglai snatched the scroll from his hands, skipping past the preamble to look directly at the roster of deployed commanders.
He saw listed General of Agile Cavalry Yuan Congye, General of the Guard Tie Rugan, General Who Pacifies the East Yan Poling, General Who Pacifies the North Cao Ping, and Embroidered Uniform Ambassador Chu Xianyun, among others.
Yet upon reading it, he still felt uneasy, murmuring repeatedly, "It is not enough! Not enough!"
Their opponent was a Xuanji General capable of taking on ten opponents at once. How could these men alone suffice?
The retainer stepped forward to inspect the document and pondered for a moment. "Rest assured, Your Highness. This is merely the public proclamation. How could His Majesty and the elder ministers overlook what Your Highness worries about?
"Moreover, in past campaigns, an imperial clan member was always appointed as army supervisor, yet none is named on this notice. I wager that other reinforcements are accompanying them secretly, omitted from the text to guard against the counterfeit dynasty's spies."
Looking further down the scroll, the retainer grew confident and said, "Be at ease, Your Highness. This expedition also includes the rare beasts reared in the imperial park. His Majesty and the cabinet ministers clearly attach the utmost importance to this campaign. In this battle, they will surely slay the counterfeit dynasty's general and reclaim Xianglan Pass."
Chapter 1397