Chapter 96: Deep into Enemy Territory (V)

"Lord Heiyan." Ghost Monarch Xuanyin spoke indifferently. "Why exactly did you ask us to come?"

Lord Heiyan smiled, shifting his gaze from the woman in his arms to glance at Ghost Monarch Xuanyin:

"No rush, High Priest. Once everyone has arrived, I will naturally tell you."

Demon Marquis Tianyan let out a cold snort.

"You had best provide a reason that convinces us, otherwise…" He looked down at the delicacies on the table, a cruel smile curling his lips. "I cannot swallow these things."

Lord Heiyan's expression did not change in the slightest, maintaining that playful smile. "Rest assured, in a moment, you will know. Today… is a good day."

As he spoke, his hand began to wander restlessly over the woman in his arms.

"Furthermore—" A cold light flashed in his eyes, and his tone shifted. "I had you come for another, more important matter."

He said slowly, his voice laced with a chilling, eerie coldness. "That is—how to deal with that uninvited guest."

Demon Marquis Tianyan and Ghost Monarch Xuanyin's gazes sharpened as they both looked at Lord Heiyan. "An uninvited guest?"

"That is correct."

Lord Heiyan let out a cold laugh, a trace of Killing Intent flashing in his eyes.

"That human dared to break into Shadow Fortress alone; he is truly audacious. I would like to see who gave him the courage."

His voice echoed throughout the great hall, carrying an unconcealable, eerie Killing Intent.

Upon hearing this, Demon Marquis Tianyan raised an eyebrow, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes, before he sneered:

"Hmph, Lord Heiyan, it seems your Nine-Bend Dragon Pool Cave, touted as 'impenetrable,' is nothing more than an empty reputation.

If you claim it is as secure as a fortress, why has a mere human managed to fight their way to your doorstep?

I'm afraid the strength of your Heavenly Shadow Sect will need to be re-evaluated."

Lord Heiyan's expression remained calm, as if he did not take these taunts to heart at all.

He gently patted the shoulder of the woman in his arms, and she obediently left, returning to a corner of the hall. Only then did he speak slowly:

"Do not be anxious, Marquis. Matters are not as simple as you think."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a crystal-clear crystal ball appeared in the Void Realm before him.

A faint blue light shimmered within the crystal ball, and as Lord Heiyan injected his mana, the image within it gradually became clear.

It was the scene of Fengyue Ridge outside—

In the mist-shrouded mountains, countless soldiers clad in silver armor were surging toward the Nine-Bend Dragon Pool Cave from all directions at an astonishing speed, like an endless, uncountable tide.

Every soldier radiated sharp Killing Intent, their long spears gleaming with cold light, their battle formations uniform and orderly; they were clearly an elite force that had undergone rigorous training.

Not only that, behind the soldiers, several generals clad in royal robes could be faintly seen.

Some held scepters, others stood with their hands behind their backs, all of them shrouded in powerful fluctuations of Spiritual Qi.

Even more eye-catching were the various Spirit Beasts floating beside those generals.

Their eyes flashed with fierce and violent light, and intense Battle Intent overflowed from their mouths, ready to enter the fray at any moment.

Such a massive army was none other than the royal elite of Liangjing (in reality, an illusion created by Princess Zhaoyang)! These elite troops were currently out in full force.

They charged toward the depths of the Nine-Bend Dragon Pool Cave without hesitation, as if they intended to completely eradicate the entire Heavenly Shadow Sect.

"Hahaha!" Lord Heiyan suddenly threw his head back and laughed, his laughter filled with mockery and disdain.

"That old scoundrel, Emperor Rende, has finally lost his patience and chosen to force his way into my Nine-Bend Dragon Pool Cave."

As he spoke, he pointed at the scene in the crystal ball, his face filled with triumph:

"Look at them, these people… they are truly foolish to the extreme."

Demon Marquis Tianyan and Ghost Monarch Xuanyin simultaneously turned their gazes toward the crystal ball.

In the image, the soldiers rushing into the Nine-Bend Dragon Pool Cave were constantly obstructed by the mechanisms and formations within the cave.

The long, narrow tunnels were filled with various hidden weapons and traps, like venomous snakes tightly ensnaring these soldiers attempting to force their way through.

Some had their chests pierced by flying arrows, others were engulfed by flames or had their skulls pierced by ice spikes. Blood splattered, screams rose one after another, and in just a short moment, nearly a hundred people had already perished in these mechanisms and traps.

"Although Emperor Rende's army is elite, what does it matter how elite they are? Once they enter my Nine-Bend Dragon Pool Cave, they have already fallen into a desperate situation!"

Lord Heiyan's voice was extremely cold, carrying a sense of cruelty and madness. "Within three days, they will surely suffer heavy damage to their Origin Qi, and will even be left with no power to fight back!"

His gaze was like a blade as he looked down at the image before him, the Killing Intent in his eyes growing more intense:

"And when that time comes, it will be the moment for my Heavenly Shadow Sect to launch a counterattack! I will let those fellows in Liangjing know what it means to dig their own graves!"

After listening, the expressions on Demon Marquis Tianyan and Ghost Monarch Xuanyin's faces gradually became grave. Clearly, Emperor Rende's resolute offensive had taken them somewhat by surprise.

But what surprised them even more was that Lord Heiyan had already laid out such a tight death trap, as if he had anticipated that the opponent would act in this way.

"You intentionally lured them here?" Ghost Monarch Xuanyin narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze filled with deep thought.

Lord Heiyan nodded slightly and sneered.

"That's right, I intentionally left a 'flaw' just so they would see it.

That old scoundrel, Emperor Rende, ultimately fell for my trick and couldn't wait to mobilize his army.

I have already set up layers of death traps in the Nine-Bend Dragon Pool Cave; once they enter, there is no turning back."

At this point, his gaze suddenly turned cold, and his voice was as bone-chilling as ten-thousand-year frost:

"I will have them all buried here, and let their blood sacrifice the day of my Heavenly Shadow Sect's revival!"

He slowly rose and surveyed his surroundings, as if the air in the entire great hall had frozen due to his Aura.

"When that time comes, we will immediately launch an attack and completely take Liangjing! You and I shall enjoy endless glory and wealth!

The three princesses who have fallen into my hands will serve as the perfect sacrificial offerings to consecrate our banners!"

Lord Heiyan's voice was low and eerie, carrying an unquestionable dominance and arrogance, as if everything were under his control.

In the great hall, Demon Marquis Tianyan and Ghost Monarch Xuanyin exchanged glances, both seeing a measure of wariness and shock in each other's eyes.

Although they still harbored doubts in their hearts, at this moment, they no longer had any voice of opposition.

Demon Marquis Tianyan's eyes flashed with ruthlessness; he exchanged a glance with Ghost Monarch Xuanyin and nodded slightly.

A strange smile appeared on Ghost Monarch Xuanyin's pale face.

"Rest assured, Lord. As for that human who broke into our Heavenly Shadow Sect, not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth, I will tear him into ten thousand pieces and turn him into a walking corpse, so that he cannot beg for life nor beg for death.

You need only focus all your efforts on dealing with the counterattack from Liangjing; we will handle the matter over there properly."