The Fiercest Collision Breaks Out the Moment they Engage…

The Lesser Cold.

This was their fifteenth day in the journey to the northern ice field from the wasteland’s Phantom City.

The dark clouds had been covering the moon since last night as heavy snow descended quietly. 

The sun should be rising at this time, but the dark cloud covered the whole sky and gave only enough grey light to barely see. The snow had not stopped, it was even increasing in volume slowly, covering and narrowing the horizon. Anything more than thirty meters away was barely visible. 

Today was also the agreed upon day with the Evil Sect’s Sect Leader on the collaborated attack on the E’Luo Gui Faction’s Royal Court.

In this era, there were no convenient means for long-distance communication. If one side encountered an unforeseen event in such an agreement of a ‘simultaneous’ attack, it was almost impossible to propose a change at the last moment through messengers. 

Therefore, in most cases, it also needed to be adaptable under any circumstances for two parties or even three.

Fortunately, the biting cold wind and snow had grounded the E’Luo Gui Faction’s boreal owls, eliminating the faction’s biggest warning support. This made Su Yang and Gu Feidi sneaking close to the Baiwu Tower easier. 

Currently, they had white coats draped over their shoulders and headscarves wrapped around their heads and faces, revealing only their eyes. They hid behind a group of snow hills and surveyed the outline of the tall tower with a sharp-pointed tip—the Baiwu Tower of E’Luo Gui Faction. It was located at the edge of the Royal Court, as if it was independent of the Faction. There were only two to three teams of Heiyu Army soldiers defending it.

“There isn’t really a gap in their patrol route. But as long as the boreal owls don’t hoot, we can sneak in safely.” Gu Feidi whispered to Su Yang using his internal energy. “But I don’t know when the senior will act. If chaos starts within the Heiyu Army, we have an even better chance.”

When searching the Evil Sect’s Forbidden Ground, Su Yang had some experience studying the patrol pattern and sneaking through it. Right now, he could vaguely see that the defence around the Baiwu Tower wasn’t tight.

Hearing Gu Feidi’s way of thinking, he immediately nodded and added, “Whether the Sect Leader acts or not, there will be an overlap between their patrol routes in fifteen minutes...When that happens, we can get closer and maybe even touch the guard post at the east end.”

Gu Feidi turned back and saw Su Yang’s fingers resting on his chest as if touching something under his clothes. He furrowed his eyebrows and asked, “Any changes on the Jade Phoenix?”

Su Yang shook his head and replied, “It’s nothing. Maybe from the heavy snow, but it has been hotter than the previous two days. It's a little unbearably hot wearing it so close to my body.”

Learning this, Gu Feidi’s face became deadly serious. “When a thing reaches its limit it goes in reverse...Maybe it’s a sign that its effect is about to run out...Whether the Faction is moving or not, when the time arrives, we must seize the opportunity to sneak in from the eastern guard post.”

Su Yang agreed, “Got it.”

The dark clouds that covered the sun turned gloomy in the already darkened sky, and snowflakes like goose feathers became denser and denser, hindering everyone’s sight.

Using their internal energies, Gu Feidi and Su Yang sensed the state of their surroundings while concealing themselves against the guard post’s watchful eyes.

Once fifteen minutes passed, the patrol teams outside the tower crossed and left the eastern guard post defenceless.

Gu Feidi gently pinched Su Yang’s fingers in his palm. Su Yang reacted and with his Cherished Flower Steps, he was standing in front of the eastern guard post in the blink of an eye.

Before the young sentry could make any sound, he was struck in the back of his neck and lost consciousness. Su Yang quickly caught the falling curved sword and used it to cut through the guard post’s wooden fence. He rested the sentry’s abdomen against the handle of the sword to hold the man upright in place.

This way, through the heavy snow, it looked as if the sentry was still standing in the guard post from a distance, so as not to attract the other sentry’s attention.

Taking advantage of Su Yang disposing of the guard, Gu Feidi checked the gap between the patrol teams and sneaked in quickly. 

In order not to be noticed by the guard and being surrounded by enemies like a filling inside of a dumpling, they decided to slowly advance from the periphery of the patrol route, and take care of all the sentinels along the way. This decision marked the death of every man they would have to encounter. 

Su Yang still had some conflict with this stealthy assassination, but he also knew that they were at a point of no return, like an arrow from the bowstring. This was not the time or place for him to act wilfully.

All he could do was to finish all of these assassinations as quickly as possible to achieve his goal—afterwards, regardless of how monstrous the turbulence in the Jianghu became, he would hide in the House of Jade and stop seeking the state of affairs in the outside world.

Suddenly, the wind appeared. 

From the beginning of the night, the sprinkling of heavy snow suddenly became much thicker. With the biting cold wind, it gradually turned into a raging snowstorm.

Through the omnipresent snow, Su Yang and Gu Feidi successively cleaned up all the guards around the Baiwu Tower, and the patrols at the outer region of the tower still hadn’t noticed the change.

As they got closer to the tower, they saw more and more ancillary buildings around. Several sacrificial altars made of wood, and countless curtains and draperies hung down. The altar and curtain swayed violently in the snowstorm, creating creaking and rustling noises, which disturbed anyone’s sense of hearing, making anyone nervous when combined with the low visibility from the heavy snow. 

In this type of blizzard, it was very convenient for Su Yang and Gu Feidi to hide their bodies. After they cleared the guards along the way, they gradually approached the towering conical spire in the centre.

Being right next to the tower, there was a ring of open space without shelter. The ring-shaped public square was more than thirty meters wide, which was within the complete view of the sentinel stationed under the tower.

This situation was something that neither of them could pass with stealth. 

The two hid behind the last bunker outside before the open square. 

“There’s going to be an unavoidable fight.” Gu Feidi’s eyes narrowed slightly as he passed his message with his internal energy. “We disposed of most of the surrounding guards. Inside the Baiwu Tower, most of the shamans won't know martial arts, and with this intense snowstorm, I doubt the Poisonous Gu they keep would come out of the tower...We should be able to handle this.”

The continuous killing made Su Yang dispirited. When Gu Feidi explained their next plan, he could only nod in silence and looked at the obscure tower gate not too far away through the storm.

Gu Feidi extended his hand and held the tip of Su Yang’s fingers as if he was passing some strength through their connected hands.

As they were ready to launch their attack from behind the bunker, several sharp whistles suddenly came from the distant snowstorm, which caused a commotion among the guards under the tower.

Then, a man ran from the distance and shouted to the guards, half of which immediately departed with the first man. 

Despite the chaotic weather, Gu Feidi couldn’t hear the shouting clearly even with his internal energy. He could only assume that something had happened at the Royal Court and additional manpower was needed.

“Maybe the senior began his attack at the Royal Court,” He guessed. “If that’s the case, the forces inside the faction must not be enough. Plus, the rebellious team in the Heiyu Army was caused by Luo Yin and senior Luo...We should seize this opportunity!”

The two exchanged a look and reached a consensus. The next moment, they jumped out of the back of the bunker hand in hand and went straight toward the guards by the gate. 

When the guards saw this, they immediately blew their bone whistles to relay the message, and gathered together to advance, trying to intercept the duo.

The guards stationed at the Baiwu Tower were all martial art experts carefully selected from the Heiyu Army. Although they were small in number, they were not to be underestimated when fighting together. 

Neither of the two wanted to prolong the battle, so they immediately started with Drunkard’s Plum Wine Slash and Dreamer’s Guiding Crane to end this battle quickly. They must enter the tower before the Great Shaman escaped. 

So, as soon as the two sides were within range, the most fierce collision broke out in an instant.

Since they had reached this point, Su Yang had long discarded his consciousness in showing mercy. Each move was fiercer than the prior one, and each attack was aimed to end the enemy’s life. 

Maybe because of his frighteningly imposing manner. The expression of the Heiyu Army guards became weaker and weaker. Gu Feidi cooperated with Su Yang from the side, but he didn’t need to defend the other man at all. He only matched Su Yang’s advance and put their enemies to rest with his sword.

When the battle reached its end, only two people were still standing in the open space.

Su Yang raised his hand to wipe the enemies’ blood off of his face; the blood that had long been frozen on his cheeks. He turned with his thin sword in his hand, without giving Gu Feidi any look. 

Seeing Su Yang in such a state, Gu Feidi became even more distressed. He caught up with the other man right away, hooked the older man’s fingers and gently pulled them.

Su Yang released a soft breath and insisted, “...I’m fine.”

In the end, he slowly sucked in a deep breath and uttered, “When you get the White Flame Gu, no matter what happens to the Jianghu...I’ll return to the House of Jade.”

Gu Feidi promised without hesitation, “Alright.”

* * *

On the other side. E’Luo Gui Faction, Royal Court…

Su Huaizhu, dressed in a pure white robe, quickly approached the heavily guarded palace while the snowstorm was raging.

He hardly made a single sound or alerted any guards throughout the way. It was as if he was a wandering soul not visible to human eyes, leaving no traces in the snow.

Suddenly, someone from the right commanding guard of the Heiyu Army came through the weather. He walked in a hurry as if he encountered something big.

Su Huaizhu dodged into the shadow of the nearby palace pillar and utilised his internal energy to pry for any sign of activity within the palace. 

“My King, two generals of the right commanding guard led their troops to mutiny!” The soldier announced anxiously. “This one begs my King to increase the forces to counter the rebellion!”

However, no one answered.

After a moment, the soldier answered as if he received an order from somewhere, “Yes! This subordinate will send orders to dispatch all divisions!”

After the soldier received the order, he ran out of the palace and hurried into the intense storm.

Watching the person’s figure gradually disappear, Su Huaizhu frowned.

He thought for a long time, slowly drew the thin sword from his waist, used his internal energy and bypassed all the palace guards before they had the time to react. Dashing straight into the palace’s main gate and pressed towards the person sitting on the throne in the center of the hall. 

The man was dressed in E’Luo Gui Faction’s royal robe, with a fur hood covering most of his face in its shadow, and revealing only a tangled beard under his jaw.

Faced with Su Huaizhu’s lightning-like strike, the person didn’t move at all. He remained firmly seated on the throne, like an old monk in deep meditation.

Seeing this, Su Huaizhu’s pupils suddenly dilated as he forcibly reversed his internal energy and changed the direction of his attack.

Pricking open the man’s hood using his thin sword and revealing a horrific image, a face tangled with black blood vessels—this man was not E’Luo Jue, but a person used to breed Poisonous Gu.

Su Huaizhu clicked his tongue loudly and suppressed the sharp pain surging continuously in his body due to the large consumption of internal energy. He flew back quickly to put a safe distance between the vessel used to cultivate the Gu Bug. He gritted his teeth and exclaimed lowly, “This is bad…”

The people that were used to breed Poisonous Gu had difficulty moving. It was impossible for this man to catch up with Su Huaizhu. Because he noticed the wrongness in advance and didn’t stab the man on the throne, he wouldn’t be inflicted by more Gu Bugs.

But what concerned Su Huaizhu the most was...At this moment, this unknown man was sitting on the throne under the royal robe, which meant...

—E’Luo Jue must be elsewhere!