Xu Qing walked out of the collapsed Prison Department with a gloomy expression.
He looked at the dilapidated capital city above and flew over. Very soon, he arrived at the city and headed straight for the Eight Sect Alliance's encampment.
On the way, wrecked buildings continuously entered Xu Qing's vision. Clearly, the drastic changes yesterday had a great impact on this bustling capital city.
As for the usually bustling crowd on the streets, there were only few pedestrians now and their expressions were filled with hesitation, confusion, nervousness, and fear.
The strange death of the county governor was already enough to make people panic. The collapse of the Prison Department was even more shocking. In addition, the news of the Holy Wave Race's invasion spread, causing a huge haze to rise in these people's hearts.
There were even some cultivators who couldn't hide the fear on their faces. After all, not everyone was a Sword Holder.
Xu Qing retracted his gaze and sped all the way.
Very soon, he arrived at the Eight Sect Alliance's base.
With Zi Xuan presiding over it, the branch sect could be considered intact. However, most of the Alliance disciples inside were packing their luggage, preparing to leave.
Xu Qing's gaze swept over but he didn't stop. He headed straight for Fairy Zi Xuan's residence. There, he saw Zi Xuan and her best friend, Li Shitao.
The two of them had solemn expressions and were discussing important matters. When Zi Xuan saw Xu Qing, her gloomy face revealed a hint of gentleness.
"Xu Qing, I was about to look for you later. I received an emergency summon from the sect and can't stay here. I have to teleport back today."
"The Corpse Forbidden has erupted. The Sword Holding Palace has already sent an order to all the human forces of the Yinghuang Province to resist the calamity of the Corpse Forbidden." Zi Xuan's voice was solemn.
Xu Qing's heart sank. Back then, he was the first to discover the issue with the Corpse Forbidden. He naturally knew what had happened inside.
"In reality, back then, the Eight Sects Alliance and the Sword Holding Court already knew that the Holy Wave Race was behind the calamity of the Corpse Forbidden and were also on guard, so you don't have to be too worried about your master."
"The Holy Wave Race's motive for triggering an uproar in the Corpse Forbidden has also been revealed now. They want to use this to restrain the forces of some provinces in Fenghai County."
"Xu Qing, these are troubled times. Right now, you should be safer by the side of the Sword Holding Palace's Palace Master, so I didn't ask you to return with me. You must be… vigilant."
Concern appeared in Zi Xuan's eyes. She took out three jade slips and handed them to Xu Qing.
"One is concealment, just like the concealment runes I drew for you before. The other is a large-scale teleportation talisman. You can use it to avoid danger at critical moments."
"The last one contains a wisp of my divine sense. It can help you resist a fatal blow."
Xu Qing's heart stirred. After silently taking them, he took out tens of Dao Fruits and handed them over. After all, this item had miraculous effects in weapon refinement and alchemy. The Sword Holding Palace was rich in materials and didn't need them urgently. However, to the Eight Sects Alliance, these Dao Fruits were quite useful.
When Zi Xuan saw this, her expression changed. She didn't stand on ceremony with Xu Qing. After she kept them, she reminded him again. Two hours later, as everything was sorted out in the branch sect, Xu Qing watched as they left.
While leaving, Zi Xuan kept looking back at Xu Qing many times. The two of them looked at each other until they were beside the teleportation array. As the light spread out, Zi Xuan and the branch sect's disciples disappeared.
Li Shitao clearly had a lot on her mind. After Zi Xuan left, she nodded at Xu Qing and left hurriedly.
Looking at the empty teleportation array, Xu Qing's expression slowly turned numb. He was once very familiar with this feeling. It was as though he had returned to the time when he was alone in the slums.
"It's time to report to the Sword Holding Palace," Xu Qing mumbled. When he turned to leave, the light of dusk landed on his Daoist robe and suffused it with blood color, lengthening his shadow.
Dusk passed and the instant night fell, Xu Qing arrived at the Sword Holding Palace.
When he appeared, Kong Xianglong, who had received his voice transmission, flew over at full speed from the Sword Holding Palace. After he got close, his eyes revealed surprise when he saw Xu Qing.
Clearly, Kong Xianglong had sensed the change in Xu Qing's cultivation. After all, compared to before he left, Xu Qing's change was too great. It even made Kong Xianglong feel as though he was facing a Nascent Soul cultivator.
If it was any other time, Kong Xianglong would definitely ask curiously. However, now that the situation in the county capital had changed drastically, he wasn't in the mood. After he got close, he spoke in a low voice.
"Xu Qing, I just received a message from the border. The power of the Taboo magic treasure can't completely stop the Holy Wave Race's army and can only slightly slow them down."
"Let's go. The Sword Holders are returning. Tonight, the Palace Master is going to arrange a battle plan for all the Sword Holders in the county capital."
"Now… you're the true edict bearer." Kong Xianglong stared at Xu Qing and spoke softly.
Xu Qing nodded calmly. He was very clear that behind the identity of Pawn, his original position was the edict bearer of the Palace Master.
Not long after Xu Qing stepped into the Sword Holding Palace, he received a summon from the Palace Master.
In the depths of the Sword Holding Palace, in the Sword Holder Hall, Xu Qing saw the Sword Holding Palace Master standing in front of a huge light map. His eyes were bloodshot and his expression was incomparably solemn.
The Palace Master's body carried a hint of blood and the fatigue on his body was very strong. Clearly, he hadn't rested at all since the drastic changes in the county.
There were seven to eight Sword Holders in the surroundings. The four deacons and the Deputy Palace Masters were all there. All of them had varying degrees of injuries on their bodies, with the two Deputy Palace Masters being the most seriously injured.
These were the injuries they had sustained while suppressing the imprisoned god in the Prison Department alongside the Palace Master the previous day. They hadn't had a chance to fully recover yet, as they were currently occupied with the Palace Master's assignments and arrangements.
Following the Palace Master's instructions, the four deacons and the two Deputy Palace Masters nodded with solemn expressions and left one after another. When they passed by Xu Qing, most of them nodded at him with deep meaning in their eyes.
After a long time, when there was no one else in the hall, the Palace Master retracted his gaze from the light map and turned to look at Xu Qing with a strict expression.
"Sword Holder Xu Qing, reporting for duty." Xu Qing solemnly cupped his fists and bowed.
"Xu Qing, organize the list of Sword Holders who returned and find out who didn't return. Find out the reason and arrange for the meeting tonight. Any issues?"
The Palace Master spoke in a deep voice.
"I respect the decree," Xu Qing said solemnly.
The Palace Master nodded and ignored Xu Qing. He had too many things to deal with. Right now, Fenghai County was filled with internal and external troubles. The moment the County Governor died, all the burden was on him.
Xu Qing knew his limits. He bowed and left. After walking out of the main hall, he took out his command sword and began to get busy according to the Palace Master's instructions.
His edict bearer identity was finally being put to use. He had the right to inquire about any records and all the Sword Holders had to cooperate. However, he wasn't strong enough alone. Hence, after pondering for a moment, Xu Qing transmitted his voice to Kong Xianglong.
Very soon, Kong Xianglong, Shan He, Wang Chen, and Night Spirit arrived where Xu Qing was. With their cooperation, Xu Qing quickly sorted out the list of those who arrived and the reasons for those who didn't return.
Finally, he set the meeting for two hours later, at midnight, and determined the venue. Utilizing his authority, he promptly notified all the Sword Holders about the meeting.
"On the orders of the Palace Master, all the Sword Holders need to arrive for the meeting in the first square in the East District of the Sword Holding Palace at midnight!" Xu Qing's voice echoed in the command swords of all the Sword Holders.
This was the first time he truly spoke as the edict bearer.
Very soon, it was midnight.
All the Sword Holders who were present in the city gathered on the First Square of the East District. With their inherent discipline, there was no need for additional organization. At that moment, nearly 100,000 Sword Holders stood in densely packed lines, arranged according to their cultivation levels.
No one spoke. Only their eyes revealed anger and murderous intent.
The death of the County Governor, the collapse of the Prison Department, and the arrival of war. These series of things wouldn't make the Sword Holders fear but only make their killing intent stronger.
With so many furious Sword Holders gathered in one place, their auras gathered together and filled the surroundings, forming a terrifying vortex in the sky.
The four deacons and the Deputy Palace Masters descended one after another. Finally, in front of all the Sword Holders was the solemn and dignified Palace Master.
As for Xu Qing, he was walking behind the Palace Master.
All the Sword Holders directed their gazes towards Xu Qing. His expression remained impassive as he positioned himself at a distance of thirty feet from the Palace Master. Standing there in silence, he fixed his eyes on the Palace Master, waiting for the proceedings to begin.
The Palace Master's gaze swept across everyone in the site. After a long time, his deep voice spread in all directions.
"Sword Holders, the war has arrived."
"The Holy Wave Race's ambitions for our Fenghai County haven't stopped at all for countless years. This isn't the first time they have started a war, and all their previous attempts have failed!"
"In the past thousand years, I, the deceased County Governor, and all the rulers have long been prepared to face this battle."
"Even though the first batch of enemy troops formed by the Red Spirit Dynasty and the Moon Fog Dynasty of the Holy Wave Race has already entered Fenghai County, I'm still filled with confidence."
"If everyone is loyal to their duty and doesn't make any mistakes, we can be like the martyrs of the past and prove that we can also protect Fenghai County, win the storm of war and survive the threat of the Holy Wave."
"With the help of the Observance Palace, the 379 ally races, including the Holy Demon Race, will also participate in this war. I have talked with the Quasi-Immortal Race as well, and they will seal their ancestral land and not take half a step out in this war."
"Therefore, we aren't weak in this war," the Palace Master calmly said, with no agitation in his tone.
"However, there are some things you need to know."
"Today, in our imperial region, two things happened."
"Firstly, the new County Governor and reinforcements appointed by the Human Emperor should have arrived by tomorrow through teleportation. However, they were stopped by the Black Heaven Race at noon today. Their fate is unknown."
"Secondly, the Black Heaven Race's army is advancing toward the imperial region. This means that Fenghai County will have to face the invasion of the Holy Wave Race on its own for the foreseeable future."
"Therefore, this might be a long battle."
"Therefore, this might be a lone battle."
"No matter what, this is the situation we have to face. However, this doesn't affect our determination to defend to the death because we have nowhere to retreat."
"The 13 provinces have already been occupied by the Holy Wave Race's army. However, the power of Fenghai County's Taboo magic treasure has completely activated to block them, forming a stalemate and buying us some time."
"We have to resolve a few problems during this time."
"Corpse Forbidden and Cloth Forbidden. The two places are in chaos and a portion of the province's strength has to be focused on them. This is the Holy Wave Race's goal."
"The Prison Department collapsed and the prisoners escaped. All of this is creating chaos in Fenghai County, causing us to be troubled internally and externally. This also is the goal of the Holy Wave Race."
Heavy breathing rang out. The Palace Master's words made everyone, including Xu Qing, truly realize the danger that Fenghai County was in.
However, the calmness in the Palace Master's voice was like a divine needle that stabilized the sea, causing everyone's minds to slowly calm down. Only killing intent and resolve continued to rise.
Looking at everyone, the Palace Master paused for a moment and calmly spoke.
"Don't be afraid. If the sky collapses, I'll hold it up!"
