"Edict Bearer Xu, you should come too."
Xu Qing nodded solemnly.
The group didn't waste any time and immediately left with the Deputy Palace Master.
Before he left, Xu Qing glanced at the captain.
The captain had now grown to the size of a seven or eight-year-old child. He stood beside a Spirit Repository deacon from the Sword Holding Court like a child.
After noticing Xu Qing's gaze, he waved at Xu Qing, indicating that he would look for Xu Qing later.
Xu Qing nodded and quickly followed everyone. Very soon, they arrived at the defense line of Fenghai County.
As he walked in, Xu Qing saw countless injured human cultivators.
The warriors at the front line clearly knew that reinforcements from the two provinces had arrived. Hence, almost the instant Xu Qing and the others stepped into the defense line, countless human cultivators walked out of their tents. Their eyes were filled with excitement as they looked at Xu Qing and the others.
Among them were disciples of the various sects, rogue cultivators, and Sword Holders. The severity of their injuries varied but the moment they saw them, they cupped their fists and bowed to Xu Qing's group.
After so long in battle, their misery, their bitterness, and their exhaustion had become overwhelmingly intense, yet they had not lost hope. They longed to see a glimmer of hope.
At this moment, hope appeared!
Xu Qing could sense their emotions. As he continued forward, he saw more front line warriors.
At the start, these people were silent, cold, bitter, and some still had killing intent in their eyes. However, after noticing Xu Qing's group, their emotions turned into excitement.
There were also some Sword Holders from the Sword Holding Palace, including Chen Tinghao and his Dao companion.
Their injuries weren't light. After seeing Xu Qing, Chen Tinghao smiled. His Dao companion was gently bandaging his wound. When she noticed Xu Qing, she smiled slightly.
However, they didn't say anything. This was because the closer they were to the defense line, the louder the rumbling sounds here became. The sound wave power formed by the countless magic artifacts filled the surroundings and was deafening.
Xu Qing nodded. When he saw that although Chen Tinghao's injuries were serious, he was recovering, he felt a little relieved.
Xu Qing had a good impression of these two people. Back then, when he first arrived at the county capital, not only did they warmly tell him a lot of information, but they also took his side in the Law Palace.
Xu Qing took a few more glances before retracting his gaze.
Very soon, the group of them arrived in front of the commander's tent at the edge of the ravine under the lead of the Deputy Palace Master.
This was the command center at the front line.
Hundreds of guards were standing around it and there were also many administrative Sword Holders waiting solemnly. Every time a decree was issued from the commander's tent, they would immediately record it and oversee the execution.
"Tell the Seventh Army to head to the front line immediately and keep an eye on any changes in the Holy Wave Race's movements!"
"Divide the Ninth Army into smaller groups and tell them to try to enter the battlefield area to collect data on the changes in the black snow!"
"Also, get the Prison Department to arrange a team to go out and kill the black-clothed guards who infiltrated the rear. The construction of the fifth defense line can't be destroyed!"
The solemn voice of the Palace Master continued to ring out. As everyone outside the tent received the order, they immediately began to implement it.
Xu Qing's gaze was filled with scrutiny as he instinctively swept his gaze across these administrative Sword Holders.
As for the administrative Sword Holders here, they also noticed Xu Qing. They were all stunned for a moment before respect appeared in their eyes. After receiving the orders, they bowed slightly when they passed by Xu Qing.
Their identities, responsibilities, and the situation made such reverence unnecessary in most areas on the front line.
However, when facing Xu Qing, they had to show it.
This was because they were all members of the Secretariat Department. They were the first batch of subordinates Xu Qing had recruited after establishing the Secretariat Department during the preparation stage of the war.
Back then, although Xu Qing didn't come to the battlefield, most of the people from his Secretariat Department followed the army.
Xu Qing nodded slightly, indicating for them to quickly go to work. After these Secretariat Department disciples left one after another, the Deputy Palace Master quickly stepped forward and respectfully spoke from outside the tent.
"Palace Master, all the Nihility and the people in charge of the Yinghuang Province and Quzhao Province have arrived."
"Enter!" The Palace Master's dignified voice rang out from the large tent.
All the Nihility cultivators outside the tent had solemn expressions as they walked toward the tent and entered one after another.
Very soon, other than the personal guards guarding the tent, only Xu Qing, Kong Xianglong, and the others were left outside.
While waiting, Xu Qing looked at the haggard Kong Xianglong who was in a daze.
"Brother Kong, what happened?" Xu Qing asked softly.
"Night Spirit… is dead," Kong Xianglong said in a low voice. His voice was filled with sorrow and bitterness, and his haggard face didn't have any luster.
Xu Qing's mind shook. He knew that Night Spirit liked Kong Xianglong.
"Before she died, she told me that she liked me…"
Kong Xianglong's body trembled slightly as he grabbed Xu Qing's shoulder. His eyes were red and his hands were trembling.
"Xu Qing, I feel so sad."
As Kong Xianglong spoke, his eyes turned even redder. Finally, he closed his eyes.
Xu Qing silently allowed Kong Xianglong to grab his shoulder.
He had experienced life-and-death separation more than once, so he could understand this feeling. It was an unreal feeling that one couldn't get used to.
All he could do was stand beside Kong Xianglong and pass him a flask of wine.
Kong Xianglong took the flask and muttered after taking a big gulp.
"So there are times when alcohol has no taste."
Kong Xianglong let go of Xu Qing's shoulder and patted him gently before turning to leave.
He was emotionally distressed, and only followed the Deputy Palace Master after hearing that Xu Qing had arrived.
