Xuanqin's Withdrawal

The new year had just passed, and the situation inside and outside Wuyi City had suddenly become abnormal.

Troops were being increased inside Wuyi City, because with the withdrawal of the troops from Great Yan and Yan Han, North Chu finally had the strength to support Wuyi City.

However, troops were being withdrawn outside Wuyi City, which was very strange. The Xuanqin army had endured the winter cold and frosts to camp here, just for the chance to attack the city. But now as the weather was about to warm, there were signs of Xuanqin withdrawing.

Inside the lord's residence in Wuyi City, Li Zhan was analyzing the current situation in Wuyi City with a group of North Chu generals and strategists.

"From the intelligence we have obtained, Xuanqin is indeed withdrawing troops..." A strategist spoke up, "Our scouts have seen that the smoke from Xuanqin's camps has clearly lessened, there are indeed empty tents, and we have found wheel ruts in the direction of their withdrawal. This does not seem like Xuanqin trying to confuse us, they are truly withdrawing troops."

Someone analyzed: "News from Pill say that Great Yan is putting pressure on Xuanqin, this may be too much for Xuanqin to handle; Or perhaps, the consumption of supplies over this winter has been too much for Xuanqin, they have to withdraw to return for spring plowing."

"I think those cowardly dogs of Xuanqin are afraid after seeing us increase our troops," a general said.

Li Zhan did not speak, he was lost in thought, frowning. He stood high with broader vision, and long knew that the key point between North Chu and Xuanqin was not the number of troops, but the strength of cultivators.

With the support of Cloud Heaven Sect, Xuanqin had countless cultivators, while for their North Chu, after the original cultivators had died, there was only Li Shiyin and Qin Ran left.

Speaking of Qin Ran, he suddenly felt that this withdrawal of troops should be closely related to this unfathomable “prospective son-in-law”.

The snow had stopped, and in the past two days with the cloud cover in the skies dispersing, a few stars could be seen twinkling in the pitch-black night sky.

Qin Ran stood on top of Wuyi City’s walls, looking at Xuanqin’s military camp, thinking about the information from his clone:

"Xuanqin will soon withdraw its troops."

And as this information emerged in his mind, his connection with the clone also disappeared along with it.

So who exactly did his clone meet at that inn? And what happened inside?

He had some guesses in his mind, but couldn’t analyze the specifics.

"Does Xuanqin withdrawing troops have something to do with you?" Li Shiwen's voice came from beside.

Qin Ran nodded, readily admitting: "It should be related." "What do you mean it should be related?” Li Shiwen frowned, “Just what exactly did you do?!"

"The clone I sent to assassinate Xuanqin's emperor...died...or rather, disappeared..." Qin Ran wasn't too sure either, "But I guess he must have met with Xuanqin's emperor...there was likely some deal reached between my clone and Xuanqin's emperor."

"Clone? This immortal art of yours...don't you have a connection with your clone?" Li Shiwen asked.

"There's a connection, but I lost perception a few days ago..." Qin Ran said, "Earlier before that, I discovered there was a Deity Transformation stage cultivator in Xuanqin's imperial palace, likely very skilled in spell formations, he should have done it."

"Deity Transformation stage?" Li Shiwen wasn't a cultivator, but the image of Golden Core stage cultivators was already close to that of deities in his mind. So the Deity Transformation stage in his mind was nothing more than just another realm, having lost the tangible sense.

"So, just what kind of deal did your clone reach with Xuanqin's emperor?" This was what he cared about.

"The clone went to assassinate Xuanqin's emperor in the past...I knew beforehand there were experts in Xuanqin's imperial palace, so I prepared several contingency plans. One of them was..." Qin Ran took out a porcelain bottle from his Cosmic Bag, showing it to Li Shiwen, "If the assassination failed, or if he was nearing death, or met with some hopeless situation, mutual destruction was possible."

Li Shiwen reached out to grab the bottle, asking: "What is this?"

Qin Ran pulled back his hand, not letting him touch it, replying: "This is known as a Death Pill. A pill that signals death."

"Death?" Li Shiwen instinctively didn't believe that such a tiny pill could have great power.

"Inside this contains a single Death Pill, but..." Qin Ran said, "It's enough to poison to death all living beings inside Wuyi City. It signifies death, thus all living beings fall before it."

Li Shiwen was frightened, his hand recoiling as if struck by lightning, crying out: "That terrifying?!"

Qin Ran put away the pill into his Cosmic Bag, sighing: "I was originally researching pills for immortality, but unexpectedly through a twist of fate concocted such a pill leading to death. Alas, I still haven't researched the principle behind why this pill causes death. However, when I do uncover the secrets behind it, that will likely be when I successfully refine the longevity pill."

Hearing this, Li Shiwen silently moved farther away from Qin Ran: "So this Death Pill was something you refined?"

Seeing Li Shiwen's frightened appearance, Qin Ran laughed: "You also needn't be so afraid. In truth, many great inventions of this world were chanced upon by accident. For example, explosives were something alchemists stumbled upon when concocting pills. Penicillin was discovered when people found moldy items had bacteria-killing effects..."

Li Shiwen didn't understand any of this. He only felt Qin Ran was more terrifying than before. He silently left, he still had matters to attend to, patrols to continue.

Seeing Li Shiwen leaving, Qin Ran suddenly recalled something, casually asking: "Have you seen any strange markings recently?"

Li Shiwen shook his head. "No."

The next morning, Li Shiwen suddenly sent someone to find Qin Ran, saying: "Someone from Xuanqin's army is looking for you."

"Xuanqin is looking for me?" Qin Ran was startled, realizing this was likely the deal reached between his clone and Xuanqin's emperor. He hurriedly rushed outside the city.

Outside Wuyi City, Li Shiwen was facing off against Xuanqin troops with five hundred elite cavalries. This side had five hundred elite troops in black and red armor, while the other side had five hundred in profound-colored armor. One black, one red, giving off an aura of killing.

Qin Ran flew down from atop the city wall, landing between both armies, facing Xuanqin's side.

He looked up, and the leader of the Xuanqin side was actually Zhao Yaqing.

"What business do you have looking for me?" He asked Zhao Yaqing.

Zhao Yaqing lightly glanced at him, raising her hand to toss over a letter, but did not speak.

Qin Ran frowned, as a transparent water clone emerged from within his body to catch the letter. He looked from afar, seeing the envelope was addressed "Esteemed Brother Qin", sent by Zhao Zheng.

"A letter from Xuanqin's emperor? So the one my clone met at the inn was indeed Zhao Zheng." He thought to himself.

"You got lucky this time..."

Zhao Yaqing was only here to deliver the letter. Seeing Qin Ran had received it, she coldly sneered, turning her horse around to return to Xuanqin's military camp.

The North Chu elite cavalry also did not have any intention to attack, watching as Xuanqin turned their horses around towards their military camp.

But just then...

"Boom!!!"

The skies suddenly changed, with large swathes of clouds rushing here from some unknown place. In the blink of an eye, daylight faded and sun and moon lost their light.

"It's a trap!"

"Be careful!"

Such alarmed cries rang out from both armies simultaneously...