Undying Life

Chapter 212: Chapter 208: The One-Force Battle Formation

"Wu Wanli, the city overseer? Who is he?" Zhongshan asked with a frown.

"The Unparalleled City you have seen, along with many other cities in the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty, were built by generations of city overseers leading numerous cultivators. Wu Wanli was one such city overseer," Princess Qianyou explained.

"A city overseer?" Zhongshan's expression grew serious. The Unparalleled City was vast and powerful, something Zhongshan had already experienced. A city overseer responsible for the construction of such cities would be a high-ranking official indeed.

At the same time, a thought crossed Zhongshan's mind. If he could become a minister of the Great Xian Dynasty and build powerful cities for them, how great would that be? How quickly would the Great Xian Dynasty develop?

"As for the 'Wan Cheng Treasure Mirror,' it has been under the stewardship of successive city overseers, not just in the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty, but also through the legacies of eight other dynasties. It contains records of the construction processes of ten thousand cities under different celestial and geographical conditions. Some of the cities detailed within are so marvelous that their mysteries remain unsolved to this day. When Wu Wanli was captured, the treasure mirror fell into the hands of the Great Yu Empire. However, only a city overseer from the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty can unlock it," Princess Qianyou said.

"So, has Wu Wanli opened it for the Great Yu Empire?" Zhongshan asked with a frown.

"No, he hasn't. That's why he was imprisoned in their dungeon. We have already received permission from the Deer King to visit the dungeon in a few days," Princess Qianyou replied.

"Imprisoned? Hmph, even being thrown into the Great Yu Empire's dungeon doesn't make up for his crimes," Gulin said with a frown.

"Huh, what crimes has Wu Wanli committed?" Zhongshan asked in confusion.

"Wu Wanli fortified ten of the Great Yu Empire's major cities, including Sky City. These ten cities have become impregnable, rivaling the fortresses of the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty," Princess Qianyou explained.

"He was coerced at the time, and since he didn't unlock the Wan Cheng Treasure Mirror for the Great Yu Empire, his guilt is somewhat mitigated," Mr. Shui Jing sighed, shaking his feather fan.

"Wu Wanli is in the dungeon, but is the Wan Cheng Treasure Mirror at the Deer King's mansion?" Zhongshan asked, looking at Princess Qianyou.

"You have a sharp eye, Mr. Zhongshan," Princess Qianyou smiled.

"Has the princess already discovered the location of the Wan Cheng Treasure Mirror?" Mr. Shui Jing asked.

"Look at this projection that Ah Er has recorded," Princess Qianyou pointed at the projection in front of them.

The projection showed not only the Deer King's mansion but also many guards. The projection seemed to be in motion, with patrolling guards constantly moving.

"The first part here is what Ah Er remembered from our entry into the Deer King's mansion. The later part of the projection shows how the guards moved during a disturbance at the mansion," Princess Qianyou said.

"A disturbance? There was a thief at the Deer King's mansion?" Gulin exclaimed in surprise.

"It must have been someone sent by the princess," Mr. Shui Jing smiled.

"Qianyou, did you send someone?" Gulin asked in disbelief.

"Yes, after receiving my signal, someone entered the Deer King's mansion to steal," Princess Qianyou nodded as she looked at the projection.

"Were they there to steal the Wan Cheng Treasure Mirror? Did they get it?" Gulin asked excitedly.

"Such a treasure as the Wan Cheng Treasure Mirror isn't something that can be stolen so easily," Princess Qianyou shook her head.

"That's really too bad," Gulin said, shaking his head with a sigh.

Mr. Shui Jing, standing by, also sighed at Gulin's reaction.

"The thief's task was accomplished. I never expected him to actually steal the Wan Cheng Treasure Mirror," Princess Qianyou said seriously.

"Huh?" Gulin looked puzzled.

"I only sent him to help me find out where the Deer King had stored the Wan Cheng Treasure Mirror," Princess Qianyou smiled.

"Did you find out?" Gulin asked, surprised.

"No, but based on Ah Er's recordings of the Deer King Mansion's guard movements, I have a rough idea," Princess Qianyou said confidently.

"Oh?" Gulin expressed skepticism.

"The Wan Cheng Treasure Mirror cannot be stored in a storage bracelet, so it must be hidden somewhere—somewhere known only to the Deer King. When the thief arrived, the Deer King's biggest concern was the safety of the Wan Cheng Treasure Mirror, so he even left the banquet to check on it. Originally, no one knew its location, but his actions gave away some clues," Princess Qianyou stated confidently.

At this point, everyone understood why Ah Er had recorded the movements of the guards and turned their attention to the projection.

"Two gentlemen, where do you think it is?" Princess Qianyou asked, looking at Zhongshan and Mr. Shui Jing with a smile.

Zhongshan, familiar with the concept of small changes affecting the whole, quickly deduced the location from the guard movements, much like he would analyze fluctuations in the commodity market.

"Where is it?" Gulin immediately looked at Mr. Shui Jing.

"It's inside the mountainside of that peak," Mr. Shui Jing pointed to a specific mountain on the projection.

Zhongshan saw where Mr. Shui Jing was pointing and nodded slightly.

"Indeed, it is there," Princess Qianyou confirmed with a smile.

"Will the Deer King have moved it already?" Gulin asked with concern.

"No, because the location is still known 'only' to the Deer King. There's no need to move it, and that place is surely heavily guarded with numerous mechanisms. The Deer King won't relocate it," Princess Qianyou said with great certainty.

"So, should we find another opportunity to steal it?" Gulin suggested with a smile.

"No, it can't be stolen. The Deer King will have placed strong guards and powerful formations around it. It's practically impossible to steal it without alerting anyone; it can only be taken by force," Princess Qianyou asserted.

"By force? You mean we should storm in and take it? How is that possible? We won't even be able to get out of Sky City!" Gulin said, his face twitching at the thought of such a brazen act.

"Yes, by force, but not now," Princess Qianyou replied with a smile.

"Not now? Then when?" Gulin asked, frowning.

"On the day of Nalan Piaoxue's battle with the Great Mighty Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva," Princess Qianyou declared with absolute certainty.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Only on that day, amidst the chaos, could they seize the treasure and make their escape.

In Sky City, on a floating island.

On the island, there was a large pond with many ornamental fish swimming inside. A wooden pavilion stood in the center of the pond, connected to the shore by a wooden walkway.

At this moment, the Grand Marshal Yi Yan was sitting in the pavilion. Beside him was a small basin containing some fish food. Yi Yan was tossing the food into the pond, watching the fish scramble to eat.

Standing nearby was Iron Blood, the commander of the First Corps of the Great Yu Empire.

"Grand Marshal, did His Majesty refuse?" Iron Blood asked respectfully, looking at Yi Yan who was feeding the fish.

"His Majesty refused," Yi Yan said calmly, without turning around, as he picked up another handful of fish food.

Iron Blood fell silent for a moment.

"Iron Blood," Yi Yan said while continuing to feed the fish.

"Yes, Grand Marshal?" Iron Blood replied immediately, standing at attention.

"Bring back the soldiers of the 'One-Force Battle Formation'," Yi Yan said in a calm tone.

"Grand Marshal, are you going to defy His Majesty's orders and secretly assassinate Princess Qianyou and her entourage?" Iron Blood asked with a worried expression.

"Are you unwilling?" Yi Yan asked quietly.

"No, I will never disobey the Grand Marshal's orders. I'll carry it out immediately," Iron Blood said promptly, though his face showed signs of concern.

"Do you have something to say?" Yiyan asked with a light smile.

Hearing Yiyan's words, General Tiexue immediately nodded.

"Yes, Grand Marshal. According to your usual tactics, you would never kill Princess Qianyou and her entourage in Sky City. Princess Qianyou often travels around; in the past, you would have surely lured them elsewhere, like to the Great Light Empire, and then eliminated them. You would never have done it in Sky City because you, more than anyone, understand the delicate situation of the Great Yu Empire. You would never take such a risk!" General Tiexue said with certainty.

"Ugh... ugh... ugh... ugh..."

Hearing General Tiexue's words, Yiyan started coughing again, a series of violent coughs that caused the fish food in his hand to fall into the pond, making it seem as if even speaking was extremely difficult for him.

"Grand Marshal!" General Tiexue immediately stepped forward to support Yiyan, his face full of worry.

Yiyan covered his mouth with a silk handkerchief, and only after the coughing fit subsided did he put away the blood-stained handkerchief. Seeing the blood-stained handkerchief, General Tiexue's face was filled with concern.

After the coughing stopped, Yiyan took a deep breath and let out a bitter smile: "I have no choice but to take risks! You saw it yourself. How much longer do you think I can live? A year? Two years? Ten years? Twenty years?"

"No, Grand Marshal, you will surely live for thousands or even tens of thousands of years, achieving an immortal body and eternal life," General Tiexue said immediately.

Patting General Tiexue on the shoulder, Yiyan gave a bitter smile: "I know my own body. I don't have much time left. The late emperor entrusted Great Yu to me, and I cannot let it follow in my footsteps too soon. If we don't eliminate Princess Qianyou and her group now, I won't have time to wait. We must act quickly, very quickly, to destroy the Great Luo Celestial Court. Combining the power of the four great empires, it will definitely be possible. Once the Great Luo Celestial Court is destroyed, the strongest force in the eastern part of the Divine Continent will be an empire. The Great Yu Empire will be secure for a thousand years, and I can rest in peace. Otherwise, once I die, the other empires will surely stir up trouble, and the Great Luo Celestial Court will also be free to act. At that time, Great Yu will be in great danger! I'm going to die anyway, so I'm not afraid to defy the emperor's orders. As long as we destroy the Great Luo Celestial Court and ensure the Great Yu Empire's safety for a thousand years, I can face the late emperor with peace of mind."

Yiyan's words were filled with tragic determination, and General Tiexue standing beside him was moved to tears.

"Grand Marshal!" General Tiexue said, deeply saddened by the fact that Yiyan did not have much time left.

"Go ahead!" Yiyan said, looking at General Tiexue with a slight smile.

Looking at the Grand Marshal who was willing to risk everything, even defying orders, for the future of the Great Yu Empire, General Tiexue stood up and bowed deeply.

"Yes, sir," General Tiexue responded simply. After speaking, General Tiexue quickly walked along the wooden path to summon the 'One Qi Battle Formation' troops.

Watching General Tiexue's departing figure, Yiyan smiled slightly and then turned his attention back to the ornamental fish in the pond, picking up the fish food and continuing to feed them.