Chiwei County.
The Holy Lord of the Bone Path stood in a mountain forest, eyes wide open, mouth slightly agape.
Throughout the entire State of Yang, the miasma left behind after the death of every host coiled with death energy and gathered here.
Eventually, this even included the miasma on living people. Though the miasma was extracted, it inevitably took some life force with it.
Miasma converged from all directions into this forest, becoming so dense it took on tangible form and color—a ghastly white smoke.
The ghastly white smoke surged forward like fledglings rushing into a forest, all of it pouring toward the Holy Lord of the Bone Path, seeping into His body through His nose, eyes, mouth, and ears.
The sight was utterly bizarre.
There was no expression on His face, so one could not tell if it was pleasure or pain.
Thunder rumbled in the sky above, but the rain refused to fall. It was as if the water droplets gathered in the cumulus clouds feared something and dared not descend.
The Rabbit Bone Mask knelt trembling not far away, reporting the deaths of Dragon Mask and Monkey Mask.
"That youth from Maple City in the State of Zhuang, though he possesses only Soaring Dragon realm cultivation, has extremely powerful combat strength and formidable Dao arts. He commands a military formation of five thousand men. Combined, they actually fought Dragon Mask to a standstill... There was also a practitioner of flying sword techniques. Monkey Mask was locked in combat with him, evenly matched, but he activated a sword formation and his combat strength surged dramatically. With a single stroke of the sword, he killed Monkey Mask."
Whether the Holy Lord of the Bone Path heard or not, since He did not interrupt, Rabbit Mask dared not stop.
"At that time, Dragon Mask ordered me to sweep away the enemy forces. I killed two Transcendent beings in succession, but when I turned back, Monkey Mask was already dead. The sword wielder immediately ambushed Dragon Mask. I rushed to help but was forced back. Dragon Mask told me to flee first and bring reinforcements. But I had only escaped halfway when he already..."
"Scram."
"Uh, what?" Rabbit Mask halted, looking up in astonishment.
The Holy Lord of the Bone Path said nothing more, only the ghastly white smoke grew more turbulent.
The Rabbit Bone Mask seemed to finally realize, and scrambled up to flee.
Once she flew beyond the mountain forest, the ghastly white smoke vanished from sight, at least imperceptible to the naked eye.
Perhaps He saw no need to conceal it within the forest. Because of the Formation of Lifelessness and Deathlessness?
Rabbit Mask pondered slowly in her mind.
"If I were you, I wouldn't fabricate such a foolish excuse." A voice suddenly sounded in her ear.
The Rabbit Bone Mask's eyes nearly turned red with fury, but she forcibly restrained herself before that could happen.
Trembling, she turned her head and came face to face with Lu Yan, who had his eyes closed.
She breathed a sigh of relief, then asked tentatively a moment later: "I don't understand what you mean..."
But Lu Yan had no intention of continuing the conversation, instead saying: "The Holy Lord has also been concealing things from us."
"Wh-what?"
Lu Yan faced the direction of the mountain forest, eyes still closed: "He is indeed refining a Plague Incarnate, but not by refining plague from nothing. Instead, he uses the shattered national fortune as the furnace, miasma and death energy as the fire, to directly refine the body of the Dao Child. In this way... the momentum between him and Wang Changji reverses, and in an instant he can devour and destroy him."
"He is not ignorant of the situation in the State of Yang. He is even well aware that a powerful military Dao expert is watching him from beyond the border. But he does not care. It was only after I visited the Yang capital that I understood this problem."
Rabbit Mask listened with trembling fear, yet remained cautious: "Elder, what are you saying?"
Though she heard clearly enough, she simply dared not believe it so readily. For so many years, had Lu Yan not been the greatest defender of the Bone Path sect, utterly loyal to the Bone Venerable?
The Maple City operation had been his brainchild, and he had been actively plotting the Bone Path's resurgence before and after. For the arrival of the Age of Bones, he could be said to have given his heart and soul. But now it seemed as though...
Lu Yan had no patience for her act, and said directly: "Do not use the Bone Gate. Find a way to inform Zhang Linchuan that the plan has changed."
Without another word, he turned and flew away into the distance.
Only then did Rabbit Mask realize that their envoy and the sect's sole remaining elder had long been in tacit understanding.
At that time, thunder rolled across the sky, rain on the verge of falling but not yet falling.
Beneath the dark clouds, only an old man flew swiftly with his eyes closed.
* * *
Throughout the State of Yang, Hengyang County was drenched in sudden downpours, Chiwei County's rain hovered but would not fall, and Rizhao County remained under clear skies.
A rain that should have fallen at the Qi-Yang border had long been dispersed.
In Chongxuan Chuliang's command tent, a "distinguished guest" had arrived—the Four Seas Merchant Alliance's First-Rank Steward, surnamed Qian, given name Miu.
In the entire Four Seas Merchant Alliance, there were only twelve First-Rank Stewards, each with their own backing.
As for Fu Miu, setting aside everything else, his genuine Inner Fane realm cultivation was more than enough to dominate in many places and be treated as an honored guest. Of course, his status as a First-Rank Steward carried more weight than his cultivation.
It was also because of this status that, even on the eve of battle, Chongxuan Chuliang had "found time" to meet with him.
"Grand Marshal Chongxuan." Upon entering the command tent and offering his salutations, Fu Miu asked directly: "I, Qian, have come to ask the Grand Marshal—when will the people and goods of our Four Seas Merchant Alliance currently detained at the military camp be allowed to return to Qi soil?"
"In three days. How does that sound?" Chongxuan Chuliang asked.
The fearsome "Bloody Butcher" being so agreeable truly surprised Fu Miu, but he naturally attributed it to the strength of the Four Seas Merchant Alliance.
The ancient Four Seas Merchant Alliance had always carried great weight in the State of Qi, and various factions would often show them face.
This was only natural.
Qian Miu looked with self-satisfaction at the generals on either side in the command tent, and smiled broadly: "When the Grand Marshal speaks, it is like ten thousand mountains tilting. I, Qian, shall obey. Three days, though a great loss for our Alliance, we are willing to pay such a price out of respect for Grand Marshal Chongxuan."
"Then leave." Chongxuan Chuliang waved his hand. "Come back in three days to collect the bodies."
Fu Miu's face changed drastically: "Grand Marshal! You!"
He knew well enough who he was dealing with. After several deep breaths, he forced himself to say: "The Grand Marshal must not jest."
Chongxuan Chuliang regarded him leisurely: "There are no jokes in the military. Who is joking with you?"
"Dare I ask the Grand Marshal." Fu Miu endured and endured. "What crime has the Four Seas Merchant Alliance committed? The ones you're holding in the camp are all citizens of Qi! Guiltless and without sin—do you kill them just like that?"
At that moment, a voice from the side interjected: "Mr. Fu asks... what crime has the Four Seas Merchant Alliance committed?"
It was a fat man who bore a considerable resemblance to Chongxuan Chuliang, at least in face shape and build.
Of course, the most important reason they seemed alike was their nearly identical squinting eyes that seemed to carry an innate smile.
"Young Master Chongxuan."
Fu Miu certainly recognized this young master of the Chongxuan family, who had been enjoying great prominence this year.
Especially since Chongxuan Sheng had been socializing in Handan this year, making his presence known at many occasions.
But facing Chongxuan Sheng, Fu Miu did not need to maintain such restraint, and questioned bluntly: "What do you have to say?"
Chongxuan Sheng seemed to have no temper at all, merely smiling amiably: "Mr. Fu, I have a question I'd like to ask you."
"When vassal states suffer disaster, our Qi citizens sacrifice their homes to help, selling half-price or giving away, even directly donating large quantities of supplies to your Four Seas Merchant Alliance—was that so you could resell them at high prices?"
The moment these words left his mouth, Fu Miu's face froze.
And Chongxuan Sheng continued to ask in his unhurried manner: "The goodwill and good deeds of our Qi people—were they merely to enrich your vast fortunes?"
"Young Master Chongxuan, why say such things!" Fu Miu forced a response. "Everything our Four Seas Merchant Alliance did in the State of Yang was for disaster relief. The Yang court was also very supportive and approving. True, you are now blocking the Yang border and possibly even resorting to military force, but you cannot erase our Alliance's contributions because of this!"
As he spoke, his thoughts grew clearer, and he turned back to Chongxuan Chuliang, changing his tone: "War is a matter of great importance to the state. I, Qian, should not have asked, but I have something I simply must say! Grand Marshal, is our Four Seas Merchant Alliance not a merchant guild of Qi? Are our people not citizens of Qi? Before you mobilized such great military force, did you consider the vital interests of us Qi citizens?"
"Your armies have surrounded the border, and our Four Seas Merchant Alliance has suffered enormous losses! Several Honorary Stewards are very displeased!"
It was well known that the Honorary Stewards of the Four Seas Merchant Alliance were all imperial relatives and nobility with titles.
Fu Miu bringing them up now was naturally meant to apply pressure.
But Chongxuan Chuliang merely smiled: "Oh? I wonder which of them is displeased with this Marshal?"
"Have him come say it to my face!"