In the following days, an unexpected calm descended. Human hunters and adventurers no longer dared to venture into the wilderness shrouded by the black tide, and the sudden change left people in a state of panic. Many fled overnight to the heartland under human control, but there were also bold speculators who sought opportunities and chose to linger in cities on the fringes of the Iron Curtain, like Blackstream City.
Similarly, the dark races remained hidden, both sides waiting and watching.
Within the Empire, the news of the Iron Curtain had stirred a tempest. This was the first time the Empire had semi-publicly disclosed information about the Iron Curtain and formally mobilized the military and noble clans. As the blood war raged on, the scope of mobilization would only expand further.
To most, this symbolized the growing power of the Empire and the opening of a new battlefield. However, to those with foresight, it represented much more. The Empire’s proactive initiation of a blood war against the dark races was laden with deeper implications. It was not only a display of force to the dark races but also a chance for the noble clans to showcase their martial prowess within the Empire. As the name suggested, the blood war would be brutal. The performance and achievements of the various clans, legions, and even the Imperial family itself in this conflict would directly reflect their standing.
After this battle, the long-unchanged ranking of the noble clans would shift.
The summoned noble families naturally prepared vigorously, while many smaller clans that did not receive the summons were discontented and tried every means to obtain one. Ambitious smaller clans that had no chance of receiving a summons often chose to align themselves with larger noble families.
Even without ambition, the rewards of military merit were enough to entice them.
In the Zizhou Purple Garden of the Zhao Mansion in Xijicheng, the place bustled with more activity than usual. Attendants and guards moved in and out, organizing equipment. In the small courtyard behind, a stream of water, which emitted steam in the warm afternoon, revealed itself to be a hot spring. The white mist swirling around now intermingled with purple fog as Jun Du Zhao sat cross-legged by the water, meticulously maintaining each part of the Azure Heavens.
Footsteps, barely audible, approached from outside the courtyard. Only a few people dared to disturb him at this hour. Jun Du raised his head, and indeed, it was Jun Hong Zhao.
Jun Hong’s expression was unusually grave, but he said nothing for a moment.
Jun Du slotted the Jade Blade into the gun barrel and stood up, breaking the silence first, “Elder Brother has returned, come inside.” He knew well why Jun Hong was here.
As one of the four great clans, the Yan Cloud Zhao received the news even before the official imperial summon. The clan elders had deliberated for days, finally presenting a list of combatants. Almost all the young elites of the Zhao clan were named, with Yu Ying Zhao as the leader and Jun Hong as her deputy. Strangely, the most renowned, Jun Du and Ruo Xi Zhao, were not included.
This arrangement was not entirely due to the private interests of the Duke of Yan and the Duke of You. The line of the Duke of Cheng’en, Zhao Wei Huang, saw the eldest, Jun Su, as the most prominent, already beyond a thirteen-level commander, where entering the Iron Curtain would attract the attention of the celestial ghosts, making it a death sentence. The third son, although a commander, could not match the talents, strength, or popularity of his second brother, Jun Hong, who had yet to reach that rank.
As for Ruo Xi, she was the Zhao clan’s treasure, and her situation was unique; she did not need such military achievements to enhance her status. Jun Du, acknowledged as the future leader of the clan, needed to focus on nurturing his origin power and laying a solid foundation. He no longer needed to prove himself in the blood war. Moreover, the list subtly conveyed the Zhao clan’s enduring pride: with so many talented individuals, they could outshine other clans and compete with the three great clans without needing Jun Du.
However, after learning the news, Jun Du, uncharacteristically, insisted on participating, ultimately replacing Jun Hong. At the time, Jun Hong was in the Western Continent quelling rebels, and by the time he returned, the list had already been submitted to the imperial military, making it final.
Inside, Jun Du personally poured tea for Jun Hong, speaking directly, “It’s better for Elder Brother to stay and hold the fort.”
Jun Hong smiled bitterly, taking the translucent porcelain cup and turning it in his hand. He asked, “Why? Because of Qian Ye?”
“Not just because of him. I want to see what the Iron Curtain is about,” Jun Du replied, pausing briefly before adding with a cold laugh, “The Empire is now teeming with undercurrents, and many question our Zhao clan’s status, claiming it’s merely due to connections. This blood war is a perfect opportunity to assert our rightful place. Whoever dares to challenge us, we’ll settle it beneath the Iron Curtain.”
Jun Hong suddenly said, “I plan to enter seclusion and ascend to commander directly.”
Jun Du was taken aback, about to speak, but Jun Hong waved his hand, “No need to worry. It’s just a natural progression. My Silver Stream Sword Finger has already formed its ninth sword energy. Once I achieve the rank of commander, I will return to the Iron Curtain and carve out a name for myself.”
Jun Du nodded, and Jun Hong clapped him on the shoulder firmly. No more words were needed between the brothers.
Qian Ye had just returned to Blackstream City, having spent the past two days patrolling the wilds between the city and the Silver Stream Bay. He found almost no signs of the dark races. The area under the Iron Curtain, apart from being eerily still and brimming with dark origin power, showed no immediate anomalies.
Qian Ye called Hu Song, and together they inspected the defenses of Blackstream City. After Baining Wei’s renovations, the city’s defenses were unquestionably solid, unrivaled in the entire Three Rivers County among the Empire’s third and fourth-tier cities. However, enhancing the defenses to the next level would be a monumental task.
The core of a large or medium-sized city’s defense system was the power towers and the large defensive weapons that relied on them. Both were expensive and required significant resources and skilled technicians, which the current Dark Flame could not afford.
Thus, Qian Ye decided to follow the traditional strategy of overwhelming numbers, conscripting numerous mercenaries and adventurers to fill the gaps. Fortunately, after absorbing the Seventh Division and expanding westward, Dark Flame’s supplies were still ample. However, if the black tide persisted for months, it would be another matter.
Qian Ye and Hu Song walked along the walls, preparing to assign less critical sections to the newly conscripted mercenaries. After inspecting half the city’s defenses, Qian Ye asked, “How many soldiers have we recruited so far?”
“About three thousand. Any more, and we might not be able to afford the costs.”
Qian Ye frowned slightly, “Only three thousand? It may not be enough.”
He still had some rare materials from Anduia’s space, so funding was not an immediate concern. But in the Evernight, armies sustained themselves through war, and the investment had to be justified by the value of the territory. Qian Ye learned the truth about the Iron Curtain from Yu Ying Zhao and knew the perils of this battle, but Hu Song was not yet privy to such confidential information, leaving him somewhat constrained in his arrangements.
Qian Ye pondered for a moment, then said, “Don’t worry. Someone will send more troops.”
Hu Song’s expression was slightly uneasy, and Qian Ye, noticing this, smiled, “Relax, it’s not from the Seventh Young Master.”
Hu Song appeared somewhat embarrassed, coughing a few times before asking, “Then where are these new troops coming from?”
While the black tide posed no immediate danger, its psychological impact was significant. Few city dwellers left, but many hunters and adventurers, save the bravest, had fled to the interior, leading to a shortage of manpower.
Qian Ye saw Hu Song’s slip and did not press further, saying, “From other expeditionary forces in the county. They will provide troops and funding, though not much, but at least it’s something.”
“Expeditionary forces? Aren’t they more likely to stab us in the back rather than help?”
Qian Ye smiled, “Don’t forget, this is the Evernight.”
The Evernight was not the Empire’s territory. Apart from a few giant forts, once lost, there was no hope of the military sending troops to reclaim it. No one knew how long the black tide would last or what would happen during that time. Like Blackstream City, the Evernight’s territories were, in essence, personal fiefs of the generals. If Blackstream City fell, the neighboring regions and cities would be exposed to the dark race’s front lines.
In the face of interests, there were no eternal enemies.
With that, Qian Ye headed to the next section of the city’s defenses.
His next destination was a key defensive point, a watchtower.
Originally, the tower housed an old ballista, using mechanical force to launch arrows at the enemy. Now, it was replaced with a fortress cannon, decades behind the ones on the Empire’s front lines, but still far superior to the ancient ballista.
Blackstream City had four fortress cannons, acquired during Baining Wei’s tenure, thanks to the Wei family’s resources. Baining’s strategy during the previous war relied heavily on these cannons.
As the heart of Blackstream City’s defenses, Qian Ye couldn’t ignore it. However, as he approached the watchtower, he was surprised. Dozens of people were busy on the tower, and the outer shell of the fortress cannon had been removed, exposing the inner mechanisms. Many components seemed to have been disassembled.
Fortress cannons were unlike regular war machines or trucks; their structure was highly complex, beyond the capabilities of ordinary mechanics. For maintenance, many internal components were enclosed in modules, which were replaced as a whole, a costly process. Even if a single small part was damaged, the entire module had to be changed.
A quick glance revealed that not only had several modules been removed, but some were even opened. Such modules were designed to prevent unauthorized disassembly, and if not opened correctly, they would be irreparably damaged.
These opened modules clearly indicated that the cannon was now useless.
Shocked, Qian Ye leapt onto the watchtower, shouting, “Stop! What are you doing!?”
Most of the workers on the tower were familiar to Qian Ye. One of them looked up, and to his surprise, it was Bas!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage