Chapter 115: Shen Sanqian

“It’s you, Young Master!”

Hearing the familiar voice, Zhang Heng looked up and exclaimed at Ning Xiu with delight.

With one person riding three horses, their speed couldn’t increase. Zhang Heng knew the situation was urgent and stopped wasting time, putting down Xiao Cui and Wan’er. Ning Xiu glanced toward the distance; Captain Jin and Ning Mingfeng were already very close to the city gate and should be able to make it in time.

Cradling someone in one arm, Ning Xiu unleashed his lightness skill, and in the blink of an eye, he reached the city gate.

At that moment, the gate was halfway closed.

A flash of black light shot from Ning Xiu’s hand toward the gate as he shouted, “Six Doors on official duty! Halt the closing of the city gate!”

The city guards had already spotted Ning Xiu’s fish-dragon robe. The leader reached out and grabbed—indeed, it was the Fish-Dragon Token.

Looking at the token, his expression shifted repeatedly before he finally said in a deep voice, “Halt the closing of the city gate.”

Thanks to the precious time Ning Xiu bought, Ning Mingfeng, Zhang Heng, and others finally succeeded in entering the city, and many others also seized the opportunity to get inside.

Yet, many more remained outside.

The city guards turned to glance at Ning Xiu and shouted, “Close the city gate!”

No sooner had the words fallen than the gate began to close slowly.

At the exact moment the gate shut completely, Ning Xiu turned back and peered through the narrow crack, seeing one anxious, desperate face after another.

...

Not only today but every day thereafter, more and more people would rush here from all directions.

Yet all they were met with were cold city walls and merciless gates.

This world was ruthlessly cruel; for the weak, survival itself was a luxury.

The Ning Residence already owned properties in Lingnan Commandery. Though not vast, they were sufficient to accommodate them and at least maintain a normal life.

Still, Ning Xiu carefully instructed Zhang Heng and Ning Mingfeng: the city was now a chaotic mix of people, and under such circumstances, anything could happen.

Once everything was settled, Ning Xiu returned to the Six Doors headquarters.

The atmosphere throughout the Six Doors was equally grim.

Every day brought news of fallen comrades.

Cold Eagle was overwhelmed, for destruction was far easier than defense. Watching the number of Black Blades from the Soul Suppression Division dwindle alarmingly, he was finally beginning to panic.

The strength of the Ghost Alliance was far beyond his expectations, and Xuan Mo was terrifyingly powerful.

In a recent confrontation with Xuan Mo, he barely survived. He had originally thought the opponent’s strength was at most equal to his own but found it was nearly overwhelming.

This blow was devastating for him. Only by desperately relying on the Black Blades to hold back the enemy did he manage to escape with his life.

“Lord Shen is looking for you.”

As soon as Cold Eagle arrived at the Six Doors, a constable approached with a report.

He nodded. His already pale face grew even more sullen.

...

At the top floor of the Soul Suppression Hall.

A dark, gloomy chamber absent of any light.

In the dimness, a figure sat upon the foremost seat.

He sat there motionless, maintaining the same posture for an unknown length of time.

This man was one of the true rulers overseeing the millions of souls in Lingnan Commandery and commanding the vast three-thousand-li territory.

He was Shen Sanqian, the Silver Dragon Commander of the Six Doors in Lingnan Commandery.

“Knock! Knock! Knock!”

A knock sounded at the door.

“Enter,” came Shen Sanqian’s calm voice from the darkness.

The one who stepped into the hall was Cold Eagle, bearing fresh wounds from battle. He glanced cautiously at Shen Sanqian’s figure, sensing the commander’s sour mood. After all, anyone would be angry returning home to find their domain in chaos.

Cold Eagle immediately bowed low. “I am guilty, please punish me, my lord.”

“I already know the situation. If anyone is truly at fault, it’s only that the intelligence was wrong. I never expected that brat Xuan Mo would conceal his strength so deeply. So this is no fault of yours.”

“Thank you for your understanding, my lord.” Cold Eagle lowered himself still further.

Suddenly, the hall fell into silence. Shen Sanqian seemed lost in thought.

After a moment’s hesitation, Cold Eagle carefully asked, “My lord, did you gain anything from this trip?”

“It has been confirmed that the noble families near Lingnan have shown no unusual movements recently. Of course, this does not completely rule out the possibility, but the likelihood of such an event has greatly diminished.”

“So, you mean the mysterious figure is someone else?”

“Some matters must be confirmed personally with the Ghost Alliance to uncover the truth. I am also curious to see how powerful that little brat was back then, the one who only knew how to hide behind Master Qi’s back.”

Shen Sanqian chuckled lightly.

“Are you planning to take action yourself, my lord? I will prepare immediately,” Cold Eagle said.

“Isn’t it ten days until the Shrine opens?” Shen Sanqian suddenly asked.

“Yes, my lord.”

“All preparations are complete?”

“All is ready, and I have found replacements for the two vacancies.”

“Good. You may leave.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Cold Eagle bowed respectfully and left the hall.

Once again, Shen Sanqian was alone. As the door opened, a faint beam of light spilled in from outside, quickly swallowed by the endless darkness.

...

Recently, Cold Eagle’s attitude toward Ning Xiu had made him uneasy.

At a time when the Six Doors and the Ghost Alliance were locked in fierce battle—a time when manpower was crucial—he was completely sidelined.

Although Cold Eagle had his reasons, this still made Ning Xiu suspicious about the Shrine opening in ten days.

Where there is abnormality, there is always a cause. This was a lesson Ning Xiu had learned over two lifetimes.

Logically, a rare chance to receive divine power should be his main concern.

As for the colossal conflict between the Six Doors and the Ghost Alliance, Ning Xiu was still unable to intervene. For now, he would quietly accumulate his strength.

Over these days, after continuously dismantling martial arts manuals, Ning Xiu had finally gathered the scattered pages needed to form a three-star martial art.

Addressing his weakness in lightness skill and agility, Ning Xiu chose without hesitation the Wind God Leg technique.

“Item: Wind God Leg”

“Type: Martial Art”

“Rank: Three-star, top-tier intermediate martial art”

“Annotation: One of the Three Absolutes of Martial Prowess, combining lightness skill, agility, and kicking techniques, embodying the essence of ‘Invisible Wind’.”

The Wind God Leg consisted of six forms, of which the first, “Catching Wind and Shadow,” was the most important to Ning Xiu.

This move focused purely on lightness skill and agility, serving as the essential entry point to the Wind God Leg. Mastery made one’s speed shadowless and as swift as a shooting star.

After the system’s direct infusion, Ning Xiu had nearly mastered it completely.

As for the subsequent kicking techniques, Ning Xiu was in no rush to spend his ingots to upgrade them.