Chapter 94: The Invisible Dark Hand

Who is the other party?

Naturally, Qian Ye couldn’t answer this question. Song Zining pondered for a moment and suddenly said, “If, I mean if, I need more powerful force, can we call up Yelu? Her combat power would be very helpful.”

“Absolutely not,” Qian Ye replied decisively.

Song Zining’s expression remained calm, as if he had casually mentioned something trivial, “Alright, I understand. It was just to explore a possibility.”

“If you need manpower, just call me. If Yelu’s identity is exposed, it will be very dangerous.”

“If you were to use your full strength, it might also be dangerous.”

“As long as we seize the opportunity and act decisively, there shouldn’t be too much of a problem.”

For Qian Ye, the most troublesome thing about acting in the imperial interior was that he could not use his major technique, “Life Seizing.” The Primordial Gun, from its aura, could not be distinguished by faction, but any action still needed careful consideration. However, what he learned from the Yellow Springs and Red Scorpion was the art of stealth assassination. Although his battlefield style had changed, he had not lost his sniper and assassination skills.

Song Zining just smiled and said, “We’ll see how it goes. Alright, I should go now. If I stay too long, those two might get curious again.”

“Do you think we are at a level where they would notice us?” Qian Ye asked curiously.

“Of course, our combat power is not enough, but if an area suddenly appears where their senses are blocked, they will naturally come to take a look. Since it doesn’t involve matters of spies or factions, they won’t care much.”

After Song Zining left, Qian Ye no longer felt the subtle fluctuations, indicating that Song Zining’s guess was quite close to the truth.

After leaving Qian Ye’s tent, Song Zining let out a breath and pressed his forehead. His face showed no abnormality, maintaining its usual gentle appearance, but his indifferent eyes revealed a hint of worry.

After being reminded by Qian Ye, Song Zining recovered from his unusual restlessness and thought deeper. The inheritance lineages of the Heaven Evolution Technique in the Empire could be counted on one hand, making them rarer than high-ranking War Generals.

The person behind the scenes using such a grand layout was indeed overreaching unless they had initially targeted Qian Ye and failed! They might have even sensed something and wanted to break through him.

The night passed quietly. Qian Ye did not engage in much cultivation, instead continuing to digest the memory fragments he gained from the Blood River. As he understood the inherited knowledge, his use of blood energy also improved.

Qian Ye was currently focusing on how to suppress his aura and conceal his blood energy. Fortunately, the inheritance also contained this part of the knowledge. In ancient times, this was a method used by the Blood Clan to hunt, to stealthily approach prey, and to avoid powerful beasts and natural enemies.

The secret techniques from the inheritance were somewhat similar to bloodline concealment. When cultivated to the highest level, they could control deeper blood energy, even allowing the blood nucleus to be cloaked. However, perhaps due to their antiquity, the inherited secret techniques were not as refined as bloodline concealment.

Comparing the two methods, Qian Ye found that the inheritance from the Blood River was obviously more powerful. If the blood nucleus could be completely suppressed, who would be able to detect the existence of the blood energy? Bloodline concealment, on the other hand, seemed like a temporary solution to compensate for insufficient power with technique.

At the current stage, bloodline concealment seemed to have a better effect. But once Qian Ye’s dark side of the original force advanced to Marquis or even Duke, bloodline concealment would no longer be enough to suppress all of his blood energy. At that time, the inherited secret techniques would still be effective.

Qian Ye tried to use the secret technique to suppress his blood energy but found that only the surface layer of blood energy was controlled, gradually retreating to the depths of the bloodline. However, if he first used the ancient inheritance technique and then applied bloodline concealment, the effect was better than using either alone.

He deliberated and finally decided to use only bloodline concealment when meeting Zhang Boqian. Since it had been effective during the last audience, it would likely be effective this time as well. Using the inherited secret technique rashly might reveal changes in his aura, causing trouble.

Thus, the night passed.

By dawn, the Eternaria Continent was still immersed in deep darkness, but the desolate bugle calls had already roused the entire camp. Then, several varying bugle calls sounded, signaling the assembly of the main generals from each camp to the central military tent.

In the Imperial camp, nearly a hundred off-road command vehicles sped towards the central camp. Most of these command vehicles bore the emblems of their respective legions or noble families, proudly displaying their glory.

Several members of the Zhao family had received the honor of being ennobled in the central army, but only Qian Ye boarded Zhao Xuanji’s command vehicle. The others shared vehicles, following behind the Duke’s carriage. As for Zhao Jundu, as the lord of a fief, he always had his own vehicle and guards.

As he boarded the vehicle, Qian Ye felt several intense gazes fixed on him.

The Zhao family’s convoy left the camp and headed for the central army. Along the way, they encountered several convoys from other noble families and legions, revealing the disparity. Most noble families’ convoys were far smaller than the Zhao family’s, with some smaller families and second-rate legions having only one vehicle. This meant that they did not qualify for the ennoblement ceremony, so only the head of the family or the legion leader attended.

When the noble families and legions saw the Zhao family’s convoy, they mostly slowed down and moved to the side, showing respect.

Zhao Xuanji stroked his beard and smiled, “Qian Ye, their courtesy is not just because of my rank, nor is it entirely due to the might of the Zhao family. It’s more a sign of respect for the military achievements of the Yan Yun Zhao family. Today, their courtesy is partly due to your contributions.”

Looking out the window as the military vehicles stopped to let them pass, Qian Ye felt a mixed, indescribable emotion.

The grand entrance of the central army camp was right in front of them. Suddenly, another convoy emerged from a side road, not only without stopping but even accelerating, trying to get ahead of the Zhao family’s convoy.

This made not only the Zhao family soldiers angry, but Qian Ye also felt displeased.

The clan emblem on the convoy belonged to the Bai family of Changping.

The Bai family had always been behind the Zhao family, but everyone knew they were unwilling and had strived to surpass them for many years. However, in recent generations, there had been no standout figures after Bai Aotuo.

Even with Bai Longjia, who was praised by the great figures for his steady character and potential for late blooming, he was seen as equal to Zhao Junhong by the Zhao family. Compared to Zhao Yuying, his talent was slightly inferior, and even less so compared to Zhao Jundu and Qian Ye.

The relationship between the Zhao and Bai families had never been harmonious. The recent battle of the Iron Curtain had added new grievances. Even though there was a rule that enmity should not cross the Iron Curtain, the tension between the two families continued to escalate.

Conflict was, of course, forbidden during the war, but the two families’ battle zones were adjacent, and they continuously compared their military achievements. In the final moments of the battle, Bai Aotuo’s brutal killing of Julius served to establish her authority in front of Zhao Jundu and Li Kuanglan.

Since it was the Bai family’s convoy, the Zhao family would not yield.

The road to the central army was not wide, barely accommodating two convoys. As both sides competed, the vehicles collided more and more, and tempers flared.

At this moment, an off-road vehicle caught up and drove alongside Zhao Xuanji’s vehicle. The window rolled down, revealing a kind-looking face, with half of the hair already gray. The old man, upon seeing Zhao Xuanji, smiled even more sincerely, his eyes almost squinting into a line, “Xuanji, it has been a long time.”

Zhao Xuanji replied coolly, “Songnian, didn’t we just meet at Duke Dingguo’s birthday banquet last year?”

A flash of greenish hue crossed Songnian’s face, and he laughed, “Is that so? Oh, I’m getting old and forgetful. How have you been, Xuanji?”

“Still the same, not good, but not bad either. As long as I don’t get angered to death by those young ones, it’s fine.”

“Who dares to anger Xuanji? Unless it’s your daughter, Yuying, ha ha!” Songnian laughed and continued, “Speaking of which, Yuying is not a little girl anymore. Have you reconsidered the proposal? My son, Longzhan, has made great progress in his original force recently and would be a match for Yuying.”

Now it was Zhao Xuanji’s turn to show a hint of blackness in his face, replying coolly, “No rush, Yuying still has a bright future.”

“A bright future takes time. Yuying is still young. Not to mention, our Bai Aotuo, despite her growth, has faced many hardships. If not for good luck, she might have fallen long ago.”

Songnian’s words, insinuating that the Zhao family’s young generation might fall, were clearly malicious.

His words hit Zhao Xuanjie’s sore spot. In the early stages of the Iron Curtain battle, the Zhao family, due to their arrogance, had not prepared adequately, resulting in significant losses. It was only due to Zhao Jundu and Qian Ye’s overwhelming dominance in the later stages that the Zhao family’s losses were minimized. The Bai family was one of the main instigators.

Zhao Xuanji’s face naturally darkened, but he knew Songnian was deliberately provoking him and had to concede in the verbal exchange.

The Zhao family produced many talented individuals, with every generation having more than one Divine General. However, the current generation of 30-year-olds was slightly weaker, unable to match Bai Aotuo. Zhao Jundu, being over ten years younger, could not easily make up the gap. Before advancing to Divine General, Zhao Jundu’s absolute combat power might not catch up to Bai Aotuo.

Zhao Xuanji hummed and slowly said, “The affairs of the young ones are their own destiny. Why should we old folks worry? Why are you in such a hurry, Songnian?”

Songnian smiled and replied, “Isn’t it for the military merit awards? To secure a good position and see which children stand out. Oh, by the way, Xuanji, is this young man next to you the famous Qian Ye?”

Seeing Songnian’s gaze, Qian Ye bowed and said, “I am Qian Ye.”

Songnian scrutinized Qian Ye, his sharp eyes like needles, trying to pierce through him. However, Qian Ye was prepared, and his original force surged, subtly containing a trace of void intent, blocking Songnian’s gaze at the surface, preventing it from penetrating further.