The joint investigation by Qi Jing and the two sides into Jiang Wang's fall to the Frostwind Valley has now lasted for a full seven days, involving nine major human cities including Yanlao and Tieyan.

It can be said that like a fine-toothed comb, it went over hundreds of miles in every direction. Yet, that stranger who aided Mei Xue Lin to kill Jiang Wang and repel Ji Zhao Nan, remains unfound.

If a contemporary master truly intends to conceal their cultivation, it would be naturally difficult to expose them. Every master has their own legend, and concealing their abilities is not a difficult feat.

Regardless of whether it's in the real world or the civilized basin, Qi Jing is among the most powerful forces in existence. The two countries joined hands to mark out a region, and once you thoroughly investigate within it, you can say that almost any slight suspicion would be nearly impossible to conceal.

But after seven days of investigation, no results came out. This naturally gave rise to reasonable suspicion — was there really a stranger who existed? Let me know if you have any other text you'd like translated!

Could it be one of the guardians of the demon realm who made a move within the nine cities? There are three renowned masters currently in the open: Jing Guo True Person, Disaster-Taming Marshal Pei Xinghe, Chu Kingdom General Han Que, and Pastor Country Nobleman True Person Helin Yuyi.

Among these real individuals, Pei Xinghe's reputation precedes him. Needless to say, Han Que was the commander of Chu's right wing during the Battle of Hegu. It was his right wing that collapsed, causing a rout that reversed back into the center army, leading General Zuo Guanglie's daring raid on Phoenix Mountain to lose its strategic value. This ultimately led the entire battle down a path of irreversible carnage. He barely escaped with his life from the war. After the defeat, all his titles were stripped away, and he entered the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, vowing to atone for his sins for the rest of his life.

He has a son named Han Li, who is friends with Xiang Bei. Jiang Wang once saw him at the Huangliang Stage in Chu State.

And Helen Yi was another contemporary hero of the Mu Kingdom royal family, a mainstay of the Great Mu imperial clan and a first cousin of the Great Mu Empress. She was also the aunt of Helen Yunyun.

During the duration of the Frostwind Valley conflict, both Han Que and Helin Yuyi were engaged on their respective battlefields, leaving absolutely no time to meddle in the affairs of Frostwind Valley.

>

Although Pei Xinghe was not on the battlefield, he was at that time meeting with Qin envoys—the people of Qin naturally had no obligation to cover for Jing. On the contrary, even bringing this matter out into the open showed Jing's sincerity in clearing its name and avoiding strategic misjudgments. On the Qin side, Zhenren Gan Xie, who was responsible for the Qin demon realm battlefield, also publicly stated that sending Qin envoys to Jing’s main city was about communicating on border defense issues.

>

No unknown real people were found, and all known real people had evidence that cleared them of suspicion.

As a result of this investigation, everything remains stagnant as before, just as we had anticipated. The mysterious mastermind behind it all has either erased their tracks or escaped long ago. Gao Ling City...

As one of the major cities in the northern part of the Civilization Basin, Gaoling City is far more imposing than Tieyan City. The two cities are about 80 miles apart as the crow flies, effectively serving as mutual bulwarks.

"Jingzong ah." Over a cup of wine, Chu Zichen, who had had a little too much to drink, asked curiously, "That Qi State Wu'an Hou who got into trouble recently, I heard he was originally from your Zhuang State?" Chu Zichen, hailing from Ji State, possessed the cultivation of a Second Rank official and lacked any divine powers. It was unlikely he would ever attain them in the foreseeable future.

This is a test.

It's not as good as the new, but better than the old.

He outwardly presented himself as a talented individual from an ordinary family in the Qi nation. Through his hard work, he seized extraordinary opportunities and progressed step by step to achieve the Inner Palace realm. He now served in Gaoling City, wearing his brain on his waist, earning some cultivation resources – this was common practice for many cultivators in small nations like Qi, as Qi itself offered little opportunity for him.

However, his true identity was that of a member of the Jingguo Mirror World Platform. He had been recruited at a very young age to act as a Qi Guo cultivator and carry out intelligence operations undercover.

And at this moment, sitting opposite him and drinking with him was Qiao Jingzong, a cultivator from the Zhuang State who served within the Imperial Palace. He ranked seventh among the Eight Talented Young Men of Xin'an, a rather interesting group. At the beginning of the year, through connections in the Daoist Nation, he arrived at the Wanyan Gate and joined the service of Gaoling City. Of course, the Zhuang State was far stronger than the Ji State now. However, to make a living in the Wanyan Gate, relying on one's own strength was still far from enough. One still had to rely under the banner of the Jing Nation.

They had met on the battlefield before and were familiar with each other, but they weren't close friends. However, after a few drinks and chats together, they became friends.

Nowadays, the word "friend" doesn't hold much weight. Often, it's those who claim to be your friends who know best how to hurt you.

After a major battle, he was able to emerge unscathed. He invited Qiao Jingzong for a drink, of course, it was only natural. When the wine flowed freely and they were warmed by its heat, they naturally began to discuss the hottest topic of the moment.

Jo Jingzong was originally from Qiao Country. Unable to find opportunities in his own nation, he ventured to another country and pledged allegiance to the Ming ruler. He was indeed highly valued in Zhuang Country, even progressing further in his cultivation, breaking through to the inner palace realm. He became one of the Eight Outstanding Talents of Xin'an, ranking even above Jiang Liuyue, a native of Zhuang Country.

>

At this time, he just circled the wine glass, his eyes drunkenly staring at Zhu Zicheng: "What's there to say about that person?"

Chu Zichen raised his cup and clinked it with him: "In the world of Heavenly Inferno, life and death are commonplace. Like people like us, how many dozens or hundreds die on the battlefield every day? Who would care? Throughout history, there have been countless talented individuals who met their end in Heavenly Inferno. Just like that famous general from Jing Guo before, this Wu An Hou, something happened to him in Frostwind Valley, and it caused such a stir. I'm just curious, let's chat about it casually."

Joe Jingzong took a small sip and laughed, "For God's sake, I haven't been in Zhuang Guo for long. When I went there, he was already gone. What do you think I know?"

This is a test.

"Just casual chat, it doesn't have to be about what you see or know," Chu Zichen smiled and said. "Other people's opinions are fine too. Like, how do people in Zhuang Guo view him?"

"What else can be done?" asked Qiao Jingzong. "One can only dare to be angry but not speak out." "Oh?" asked Chu Zichen. "How do you say that?"

Qiao Jingzong hesitated, drawing his neck back cautiously: "I dare not speak carelessly. The people of Qi are very fierce right now. Let's not talk about this."

"Brother, this of yours has piqued my curiosity." Chu Zichen looked around and lowered his voice: "Quickly tell me! Is there anyone in the world who gets punished for idle chatter? Relax a bit, Brother Qiao. What you said today, out of your mouth, into my ears, absolutely no one else will know." Qiao Jingzong refused again.

Chu Zichen persuaded again.

"Probably having had a bit too much to drink, Qiao Jingzong finally let out a grunt: "Actually, there's not much to say. You should have heard about the things that happened in Fenglin City Territory of Zhuang Nation? His proclamation was quite famous. Many people in Zhuang Nation felt that he was the biggest beneficiary of what happened in Fenglin City Territory. He recently killed Zhang Linchuan and made a huge commotion, effectively eradicating the Wusheng Sect to silence him. Zhang Linchuan, like him, was from Fenglin City in Qinghe County and came from one of the three major families there. What was the predecessor of the Wusheng Sect? It wasn't something else but the Bai Gu Dao!"

“This is truly amazing!”

These stale talking points of high-ranking officials from the Zhuang Kingdom, Chu Zichen naturally knew. But he still pretended to be shocked.

Then he said, "I suppose you're all very pleased that he's had an accident this time?"

This is the end of a paragraph.

"Well, how should I put it?" Qiao Jingzong said: "I've only been in Zhuangguo for two years. To be honest, I don't have much feeling for that big figure. Whether the culprit behind the Fenglin City incident is him, I'm not even sure. So I can't say whether I'm happy or unhappy. But maybe my colleagues are very happy?"

"That's true, you two don't have much to do with each other," Chu Zicheng mumbled, pouring him a drink. Then he seemed to remember something and added, "By the way, I went to find you for drinks last month, but you weren't there! Made me make a wasted trip!"

Although Gao Ling City was a large city located in the demon realm, it had numerous taverns and gambling dens. This provided a place for warriors who fought and risked their lives to relieve their emotions. During wartime, soldiers were always in the barracks, following military orders in everything they did, from their movements to their sleep. For those who rotated out, the city arranged dormitories. With Qiao Jingzong's cultivation level, he could live in a single room in Gao Ling City. His time outside of war was also very free.

Qiao Jingzong frowned, his breath reeking of alcohol: "Late last month? Which day?" Chu Zichen was half-drunk and mumbled, "I don't remember quite clearly. Winter moon twenty-eighth? Twenty-ninth?"

"You had a bit too much, didn't you?" Qiao Jingzong pointed at him and said with a sneer: "We were all still in the barracks those days! Even though we weren't fighting anymore, daily drills couldn't be missed, and curfew hadn't been lifted. Where did you find the liquor to drink with me?"

This year's winter month twenty-eighth was a relatively sensitive day, Qi Guo Wu An Hou was precisely on this day lost in Shuangfeng Valley. Now the investigation spreading across all cities originated from this.

>

"Oh, how forgetful I am!" Chu Zichen patted his forehead. "I completely forgot about this! Maybe I went to see you a few days later, but I definitely went there once. You just weren't home!"

Joe Ching-chung was drinking, smiling as he said, "Brother Chu, you also know I like to spend money and travel around, not often staying at my lodging. If you want to find me next time, you'd better make an appointment at the military camp in advance. Otherwise, if you come empty-handed, don't blame me."Chu Tzu-cheng was a senior Mirror Stage intelligence officer, of course he wouldn't keep focusing on one topic and alert his target. So he laughed drunkenly, "Then we've made an agreement, after the next round of fighting is over, if we can both survive, let's come here for another drink!"

"Good!" Qiao Jingzong first nodded, then shook his head: "No, not good, not good!"

He narrowed his eyes and chuckled slyly, "Heh heh, almost forgot, the imperial court sent a letter, summoning me back! This year's training has been enough. I shouldn't be involved in the next battle."

Chu Zichen was taken aback for a moment, and said, "That's right! With your mind always on your shoulders, you can't keep it up for too long. A talented person like Brother Qiao..."

“He should be carefully nurtured by Zhuang Tinghao. Come, Brother Qiao, I raise a glass to you as a farewell toast!”

"Brother Chu," Qiao Jingzong raised his cup and said sincerely, "When you return to the world, come to Zhuang Guo and find me. I'll treat you to genuine Qinghe fine wine and Daishan venison!"

For those who have been fighting in the demon world for years, this is undoubtedly a very sincere blessing.

Chu Zichen was momentarily filled with emotion: "I didn't realize it had already been three years since I came to the Demon Realm. These three years have all been spent in Gaoling City, and I've seen every high and low building in the city, almost forgetting what my hometown looks like!"

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

His childhood life in the Ji Guo, the secret training and assessments from the Jing Shi Tai, these years navigating both the light and dark lines of the demon realm... sometimes he couldn't tell who he truly was.

He steadied his emotions and raised his cup to Qiao Jingzong: "May I borrow your auspicious words, I will strive for two more years before returning to the mortal realm. By then, Brother Qiao will surely have become a high-ranking official in the Zhuang nation, don't forget me."

"Where are you talking about? We've been on the battlefield together, that's a life-and-death friendship. Who could forget who?" Qiao Jingzong raised his voice and said, "Come! This time, we won't go home until we're drunk!"

The two of them chatted and laughed, making a ruckus. They spoke some nonsense, glimpsed at the future, and after another round of drinks, they patted each other on the shoulder and dispersed, their drunken stupor fading away.

This is a very peaceful day in Gaoling City.

This is also just how ordinary two human race warriors are.

Before the banner of the distillery, two heroes who had fought face-to-face with demons on the battlefield stood apart at either end of the street. One walked slowly, the other stumbled along.

But behind their backs, Qiao Jingzong's eyes turned cold and cruel while Chu Zichen's eyes glittered menacingly.

Today is the seventh day of venturing into Wanshan Mountain. Jiang Wang gradually feels that something is amiss. The situation in the mountain is becoming increasingly strange.

For the past few days, numerous organized demon troops have appeared within the mountains. They sweep through in groups, felling trees en masse, slaying ferocious beasts, and purging miasma.

"Did something happen over at Frostwind Valley?" Jiang Wang only realized this at this moment.

It must be mentioned that the language of the demon race is incredibly difficult to learn. Its complexity rivals even the difficulty of carving a sword into the sea. There are too many clans and species within the demon race, a veritable thousand different kinds.

Although they clearly possess a unified language, the inherent influences of their different species are impossible to erase. For instance, bird-like demons tend to have high-pitched voices, while pig demons speak with sputtering and peculiar accents, causing their language to have various distortions.

Those little monsters had no problem communicating with each other, but for a diligent student starting from scratch learning their language, it was a torment. All the little monsters he'd encountered these days didn't have the same accent! This led to the studious and quick-witted Jiang having spent so many days studying diligently, yet he still hadn't been able to get started. He could only barely understand a few simple phrases.

"Trash," "Die," "Kill you," "Get lost."

Learning any language starts with mastering its slang, Jiang Juer believed. This was a major discovery in linguistics, he thought. However, his understanding of the language wasn't complete yet, and it didn't hinder Jiang Wang from making his own judgment about the current situation. Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

If the small demons who entered the mountain earlier were more like individuals operating freely, carrying out some sort of mission—he was ninety percent certain that these small demons' targets should be those strange and peculiar insects in the mountains.

And these newly arrived demon soldiers were clearly cleaning up the environment, eliminating threats, expelling miscellaneous demon creatures, and gathering war materials - a set of battle preparations as smooth as flowing water. As a military marquis who had been through many battles, he was already so familiar with it that he couldn't be more familiar.

His war senses have been alerted.

Those non-soldier demons were driven to the more remote forests, which clearly indicated that a war was about to erupt in this region encompassing Frostwind Valley!

...and it's definitely not the mode of small elite groups fighting each other that was seen in Frostwind Valley before.

In the vicinity of these Hundred Thousand Mountains, who else could the demonic clan battle with? The answer is self-evident.

In other words, the silent period of Frostwind Valley might have ended prematurely due to some unforeseen incident! Just like it started earlier under the influence of that mysterious person. When he made this judgment, a feeling of indescribable emotion surged in Jiang Wang's heart.

>

He knew if a racial war broke out in this area, it would definitely be related to him.

Could it be that the Qi army has come to rescue him?

What was the will of that great Qi emperor?

...or even a major event across the entire civilization basin?

At this moment, he couldn't know the specifics or capture a few demon soldiers for interrogation. The disappearance of army soldiers would be the easiest to notice. Which army, which unit, which squad was missing a soldier, would be discovered by nightfall at the latest. Afterward, tracing back the source would make it very difficult for him to hide.

His injuries were far from healed at this moment. The treatment these days was nothing more than solving some superficial wounds - for a Divine Lord cultivator who was difficult to injure, any wound needed a lot of precious medicine to heal. The medicinal herbs he carried with him were used for this purpose. As for his current injuries, wanting to recover as quickly as possible required him to lie in the Imperial Medical Bureau and use specialized techniques and professional medical Dao arts to treat them. He had to ask someone like the current Grand Physician to perform acupuncture.

At this moment, there are so many lacking conditions.

But he still made a bold decision. He decided to dive back near Frostwind Valley, to see the situation with his own eyes and look for a chance to steal back the Basin of Civilization!