Chapter 193: Unchangeable Fate? Strange Encounter in Flame Mountain

"I volunteer to go!" Long Xiao was the first to stand up.

"I volunteer as well!" Chen Shijie followed closely.

"Commander Zhang Lie of the Fire Camp requests to join the battle!"

"Commander Xu Quan of the Earth Camp requests to join!"

"..."

As soon as Liao Rulong asked for volunteers, numerous commanders stepped forward without hesitation.

They had been preparing for so long that these commanders were more than ready to fight. It was already mid-September, and since July, the entire Pacification Battlefield had been regrouping. By August, the Tiger Jiao Army, Xuanjia Army, Zhaoyuan Army, and Danxia Army from the north had already begun attacking the northern defense line of the Fire Demon Tribe.

On the western front, Lu Yuanwei and his Shenlei Army had broken through Yang Qilin's first line of defense a month ago.

The fighting in the north and west was in full swing, yet the eighteen armies stationed to the east had made no progress at all.

Without battles, there was no merit to be earned.

The Shennong and Mechanists could at least perform some logistical tasks, but these warriors had nothing—so naturally, they were all itching for action.

Now that they were finally about to strike at Fire Dragon Pass, it was no surprise that everyone was eager to join.

Even Zhao Xing stood up to volunteer.

Although he had already earned significant battle merit from cultivating the Earth Fire Lotus, he had also missed out on a lot of fighting time. Besides, who would ever complain about having too many accolades?

"Excellent!" Liao Rulong also stood up. "Your bravery is commendable! How could Fire Dragon Pass withstand such warriors?"

"Chen Shijie, Long Xiao, Xu Quan, Zhang Lie, and Gao Jue."

Liao Rulong called out the names of five commanders.

"You five will select your most elite soldiers to form the vanguard."

"Chen Shijie will serve as the Campal Commander!"

"Each Camp must leave one deputy, and the soldiers you choose must be no lower than the eighth rank."

"Submit your lists by midday, and the vanguard will depart at the third quarter of the hour."

"You will cross Seven-Inch Valley of the Flame Mountain Range and then hide nearby. When the battle outside the pass begins, you will take the opportunity to seize the pass!"

"Yes!" The four commanders responded in unison.

With the vanguard mission assigned, those involved naturally joined the meeting, while those not selected remained in their previous posts. Liao Rulong left two deputy generals in command of the Dragon Camp, Nine-Section Camp, Five Elements Camp, and Divine Mechanism Camp.

The vanguard would consist of elite soldiers from eight different Camps.

After the secret meeting ended, Chen Shijie called Zhao Xing over.

Since Zhao Xing had been transferred from City No. 92, he had served as Chen Shijie's deputy and was now the Commander of the Nine Sections at the seventh rank, no longer holding the title of the Even Distribution Officer.

"This time, we're heading into a tough battle. Long Xiao will lead his own Camp, and there won't be anyone specifically assigned to protect you," Chen Shijie said frankly. "The mission is highly dangerous. The Fire Dragon Pass is full of skilled fighters, and we won't be able to bring too many divine weapons. If you don't want to go, I can remove you from the list."

"You've already earned great merit from cultivating the fifth-rank Earth Fire Lotus. Even if you stay in Zhiyou City, your contributions won't be overlooked."

Zhao Xing knew that Chen Shijie was looking out for him and didn't take it as an insult. However, this was not the time to shrink back.

"Don't worry about me," Zhao Xing said with a smile. "Just because I've made a name for myself as a farmer these past few months doesn't mean I can't fight."

"Of the nine advanced techniques I've mastered, only Instantaneous Primordial is purely for farming. The rest are all for combat."

Chen Shijie chuckled. "I nearly forgot about that."

Indeed, Zhao Xing was proficient in nine high-level techniques!

Strictly speaking, even his Volcanic Technique wasn't for farming; it was meant for manipulating volcanoes to kill enemies.

It just so happened that the unique conditions required by the Earth Fire Lotus allowed him to repurpose the technique for farming.

As for his other abilities, like Soaring Serpent Transformation, Drop Of Water, Yin Wind Fiend, Earth Fiend Thunder, Thunder Breaking Delusion Finger, Great Thunder Roar, and Five Elements Mist Concealment, they were all combat-oriented.

Even the Great Thunder Roar technique, which could be used to cultivate exotic beasts, had lethal potential if applied to enemy beasts!

"Are you worried because it's my first time on the battlefield?" Zhao Xing asked. "There's no need for that. I've killed before, back in Gucheng, and we've already infiltrated Fire Dragon Pass once, so I've seen my share of bloodshed."

"This battle may be larger in scale, but you don't need to be concerned about me."

Chen Shijie wasted no time. "Very well."

"But for safety's sake, take the mountain cat with you."

"Long Aotian?" Zhao Xing asked. "Is it up to the task?"

Chen Shijie looked at him, puzzled. "Do you underestimate the mountain cat?"

"Long Aotian is already at the Earth Fiend Stage, fully matured. To be honest, in a direct encounter, I might not even be able to defeat it."

"Huh?" Zhao Xing was genuinely surprised. He had always adopted a hands-off approach with the mountain cat, treating it more as a pet for amusement than a combat companion.

After all, in his past life, he had encountered many powerful beasts. He never imagined that his playful mountain cat could grow so formidable.

Chen Shijie explained, "While you were busy cultivating in City No. 92, the mountain cat spent most of its time training with Long Xiao."

"In fact, it's been on the battlefield more times than you have!"

"Plus, do you know who its sparring partners have been during its training these past few months?"

"Me, Long Xiao, Yu Ziqi... even Liao Rulong and Pu Zhong occasionally sparred with it for fun."

Chen Shijie grinned. "If you still doubt it, why not have a go at it yourself and see what it's capable of?"

"Where is it now?" Zhao Xing asked.

"I had Long Xiao leave it on the Weaving Ship to have a special fireproof garment tailored for it. You can pick it up when you're ready."

Outside the Weaving Ship...

Che Shi Hai saw Zhao Xing approach and raised his eyebrows mischievously. "Well, boss, what brings you here?"

"I thought you weren't interested in frivolous matters. Have you fallen for someone after all? Which Weaving Maiden caught your eye?"

Zhao Xing shot him a look. "Get lost! I'm here for business, not nonsense. You've been hanging around Han Bing too much—your mouth is getting filthier by the day."

Che Shi Hai grinned lecherously and sauntered away.

Zhao Xing pulled out a jade token, infused a bit of his yuanqi into it, and watched as a beam of light shot from the token into the Weaving Ship.

Before long, a modest figure flew down from the ship.

"Master Tu," Zhao Xing greeted with a polite bow.

"Commander Zhao," Tu Yao replied softly. "Please, follow me."

As they walked toward the ship, the playful voices of soldiers rang out from a distance.

"Commander Zhao, you've got good taste! She's one of Master Huang's top students!"

"Miss Tu, Commander Zhao is the youngest genius Shennong in our Shenwei Army!"

Zhao Xing shot a glare at Che Shi Hai, who was among those heckling, and vowed to deal with him later. Tu Yao's face flushed slightly, clearly uncomfortable with the attention.

"Commander Zhao, please follow me," she said quietly, leading the way.

Zhao Xing nodded, walking behind her.

The Weaving Ship had been dispatched by the military to craft specialized garments for the army. Though it performed duties similar to the Transfer Department, it was distinct in its focus.

Since the demand for tailored garments wasn't constant, the Weaving Ship was only deployed when needed. Of course, some elite armies had their own dedicated Weaving Ships, but the Shenwei Army didn't have the resources for that luxury.

In fact, only two of the Five Great Cave-Heavens—the Zhaoshi Army and Huan You Army—had their own exclusive Weaving Ships.

For the others, public Weaving Ships like this one were used when necessary.

Tu Yao led Zhao Xing through the ship, which was elegantly but not extravagantly decorated. Despite the number of Weaving Maidens at work, the atmosphere felt orderly and refined.

Soon, they arrived at a spacious room.

"Commander Zhao, as per Long Xiao's request, we've tailored a special fireproof garment for your mountain cat," Tu Yao explained. "I was assigned to complete this task."

"Since we needed to fit the garment to your companion, we kept it here on the ship. I was planning to deliver it later today, but since you're here, it's ready for pickup."

Zhao Xing nodded and thanked her. "Thank you for your efforts. I hope the mountain cat didn't cause you any trouble."

Tu Yao smiled. "Not at all. It was well-behaved during the fitting."

"By the way, what's its name?"

"Ahem... Long Aotian."

"...Great name." Tu Yao tried to compliment, though her tone betrayed her thoughts.

Just then, a soft "meow" was heard as the mountain cat, now clad in its newly tailored red fireproof garment, padded out from behind the curtains.

Its once-gray-black fur, with a purple stripe running from its forehead down its back, was now hidden beneath the fiery-red outfit, making it look quite festive. It sauntered over to Tu Yao, rubbing against her leg lazily before turning its attention to Zhao Xing.

"Troublemaker," Zhao Xing muttered, nudging the cat aside. "How do you like the new outfit?"

"Commander Zhao, does the garment meet your satisfaction?" Tu Yao asked.

"It's perfect. Thank you, Master Tu," Zhao Xing said, bowing slightly.

"Come on, Aotian, it's time to go."

Zhao Xing called to the mountain cat, and after one last affectionate nuzzle against Tu Yao, it obediently followed him.

Seeing that Zhao Xing wasn't planning to linger, Tu Yao escorted him and the mountain cat off the ship.

"Thank you, Master Tu. I'll be taking my leave."

"Safe travels, Commander Zhao," Tu Yao replied.

As they departed, another Weaving Maiden approached Tu Yao, curious. "Who was that? You personally escorted him?"

"That was Zhao Xing, Commander of the Nine Sections in the Shenwei Army," Tu Yao explained. "He's the one who cultivated the Earth Fire Lotus."

"Oh, him?" The Weaving Maiden's eyes lit up. "I've heard his name so many times lately but never met him in person. Such a young and talented officer—why didn't you invite him to stay a while longer?"

Tu Yao shook her head with a soft smile. "That's only if he wanted to stay. He collected his garment and left promptly."

Back outside the ship, Che Shi Hai came running over, grinning mischievously. "Boss, why did you come out so quickly? That was fast!"

"Want to know why?" Zhao Xing replied, narrowing his eyes. "Come with me, and I'll show you."

"Uh, boss, wait..." Che Shi Hai began to backpedal nervously.

Before he could escape, Zhao Xing grabbed him by the collar, hoisting him effortlessly as he leaped into the air, mountain cat in tow, and landed at the training grounds.

"Boss, why are we at the training grounds?" Che Shi Hai asked, dread creeping into his voice.

"You wanted to know why I went to the Weaving Ship, right?" Zhao Xing said with a smirk. "Well, you'll find out now."

"Boss, I suddenly remembered I have urgent business in the camp—"

"Long Aotian, attack!" Zhao Xing commanded.

With a swift leap, the mountain cat pounced on Che Shi Hai, knocking him flat on the ground.

"Ugh!" Che Shi Hai was sent flying several meters, landing hard and coughing.

"Stop playing dead and get up," Zhao Xing ordered.

"Boss, please, no more," Che Shi Hai whimpered. "I know I was wrong."

"Do you even know what you did wrong?"

"I shouldn't have made fun of the Weaving Maidens..."

"Weaving Maidens hold official military ranks! Do you think you can treat them like street performers? You knew better and still acted out! Long Aotian, hit him again!"

The mountain cat pounced once more, sending Che Shi Hai tumbling across the training ground like a ragdoll.

"Boss, I thought I knew, but now I'm not so sure..." Che Shi Hai muttered as he tried to rise.

"Not sure? Then let me make it clear! Long Aotian, again!"

Realizing there was no escape, Che Shi Hai resigned himself to the beating.

"You've been slacking in your combat training. Today, Long Aotian will be your sparring partner," Zhao Xing declared.

"If you insist, I'll fight back!" Che Shi Hai's eyes flashed with determination as he got back on his feet.

"Use your full strength," Zhao Xing said. "Don't worry about injuring the cat—you're not strong enough to hurt it."

"Not strong enough?" Che Shi Hai's battle spirit ignited. "It's just a mountain cat! I'm a top-tier Shennong, trained by the Ten Sun Cave-Heaven!"

"Boss, don't regret your words!"

Che Shi Hai's figure became ethereal as a green wind began swirling around him, and he disappeared from sight.

A massive cloud formed above the training grounds.

"Boom!"

A bolt of lightning shot toward the mountain cat.

Thunderous Ground Lightning Array!

In an instant, the mountain cat was engulfed in lightning.

"Meow!" Long Aotian, like a graceful dancer, weaved through the bolts, dodging effortlessly. Those it couldn't dodge were deflected by the purple light on its back.

"What?!" Che Shi Hai was shocked and immediately tried to retreat, but before he could, a tremendous force slammed into his chest.

"Boom!"

The cloud dissipated as Che Shi Hai was sent flying again.

The mountain cat leaped lightly onto his chest, then flicked its tail dismissively as if to say, "Is this the best you can do?"

Watching this, Zhao Xing couldn't help but be amazed. Long Aotian was far stronger than he had imagined.

Che Shi Hai was no weakling—he was at the Earth Fiend Stage, seventh rank. Yet he couldn't even touch the mountain cat.

"Long Aotian is truly a rare spirit beast," Zhao Xing thought. "It's grown so much with all the training from Long Xiao and Chen Shijie."

The cat's natural abilities, Divine Speed and Ninefold Healing, had both strengthened as it matured. Combined with its sparring against some of the army's top warriors, its combat skills, like Thunderclap Sky Piercing Claw and Ninefold Wind Steps, had evolved to the point of rivaling high-level martial techniques.

With its speed boosted by Divine Speed, Long Aotian's attacks were now deadly efficient.

"Having Long Aotian by my side will certainly provide extra protection as we enter Flame Mountain," Zhao Xing thought, grateful for the foresight of Long Xiao and Chen Shijie.

By midday, the vanguard list was submitted. At the third quarter of the hour, the three thousand soldiers quietly set off, crossing Seven-Inch Valley, which was part of the Flame Mountain Range.

The Flame Mountain Range stretched like a massive dragon, and Fire Dragon Pass was aptly named after it.

Beyond Fire Dragon Pass, the Seven-Inch Valley was one of the narrower parts of the range, hence its name.

As the three thousand soldiers approached the valley, the sky began to brighten. By the time they were within ten miles of the pass, the entire sky was illuminated by the fiery glow of the mountains.

"Flame Mountain... the mountain of eternal fire," Zhao Xing muttered as he looked ahead. The mountain range stretched across the horizon like a slumbering dragon, its peaks glowing red-hot. "According to legend, Flame Mountain was once home to an ancient Dragon King punished by the heavens. Its body fell to the earth, forming the mountain range, and its demonic essence transformed into the Fire Demon Tribe."

The Fire Demon Tribe revered the dragon as their totem, but it was said that the dragon had defied the celestial order and was cast down to the mortal realm, where it caused havoc until it was struck down by divine punishment.

Its corpse had since become the Flame Mountain Range.

The mountain range was rarely patrolled, as its deadly environment posed a threat even to the Fire Demon Tribe themselves. Only after crossing Fire Dragon Pass did the patrols increase.

However, during wartime, there was always a chance of encountering powerful sixth- or seventh-rank Fire Demon patrols within the mountains.

For this reason, the three thousand soldiers moved in small groups, advancing cautiously on foot.

"Sizzle..."

A sudden burst of flame shot up from a crevice in the rocks, flaring a meter high.

The flame flickered like a flower blooming in the valley, but just as it threatened to grow higher, a soldier's boot came down, smothering it instantly.

The boot lifted, and the flame surged back up, only to be stomped down again by the next soldier in line.

"Sizzle... sizzle..."

The valley was filled with the sound of crackling fire, yet the soldiers continued their march, advancing through this forbidden zone.

Perched atop a rock, Zhao Xing watched as the troops passed below, waiting for the last of the army to cross.

"Meow!" Long Aotian suddenly growled, its fur bristling as it eyed the ground suspiciously.

Zhao Xing looked down and saw the cat curiously licking a small flame that had just escaped from a crevice.

"This silly cat," Zhao Xing muttered, nudging the mountain cat away. "You can't just eat everything you see."

Before long, a figure leaped over from the distance and landed in front of Zhao Xing—it was Long Xiao.

"How's the rear guard? Any trouble?" Long Xiao asked.

Zhao Xing shook his head. "Nothing so far. If there are any Fire Demon patrols, they haven't found us yet. We've just entered the mountains."

"Better stay cautious," Long Xiao replied. "The soldiers can't fight at full strength here, and only those of us at the seventh rank or higher can handle a battle in these conditions."

"The military formation won't be of much use here either," he added. "If we run into a patrol, it'll be a tough fight."

"From what I know, there's usually only one sixth-rank patrol within a hundred kilometers. We've got luck on our side," Zhao Xing said with a grin.

Long Xiao nodded. "It's unbearably hot here. If I go all out, I can only hold up for about fifteen minutes."

"It's not just the heat," Zhao Xing explained. "The fire veins of Flame Mountain are nearly at the level of a True Monarch of Fire."

"Historically, even a first-ranked Shennong once tried to extinguish the flames here but failed."

"That powerful?" Long Xiao was shocked.

"Luckily, the mountain's massive size dilutes its power, and our Earth Fire Lotus garments provide additional protection. After all, the Earth Fire Lotus is a unique fifth-ranked treasure born from the Flame Mountain itself, offering us a natural advantage."

"Enough talking. Let's conserve our strength. There's no water to be found here if you get thirsty," Zhao Xing advised.

The three thousand soldiers moved slowly through the Flame Mountain Range. Seven-Inch Valley stretched fifty kilometers, but after an hour of walking, they had only covered a tenth of the distance.

Suddenly, a scream pierced the silence.

"Ah!"

"What's going on?"

"Someone's been burned!" A voice shouted.

"Medic!" Zhao Xing ordered. "Get over here!"

"It's no use," a sixth-ranked military doctor said as he examined the wounded soldier. "The fire poison has already invaded his heart."

"What happened?" Zhao Xing demanded from the man's comrades.

"He was climbing when a tiny flame sprayed into his mouth," one soldier explained.

Zhao Xing sighed. It was pure bad luck.

The Earth Fire Lotus garments were just enough to protect the soldiers as they passed through the mountains, but only just enough.

If a sudden burst of flame struck a vulnerable part of the garment, it could still prove fatal.

Zhao Xing's garment, made from the finest fifth-ranked Earth Fire Lotus, was much better than the standard issue. But this unfortunate soldier only had a lower-grade version.

There simply weren't enough high-quality materials to go around, and Zhao Xing and Dong He had worked themselves to the bone to produce what they had.

There was no way they could outfit every soldier with top-grade gear.

"You're not going to make it," the medic told the soldier gently. "I can end your pain quickly."

The dying soldier, unable to speak, nodded in agreement.

With a quick stab of a needle, the medic ended his life.

Standing up, the medic turned to Zhao Xing. "Commander, tell the men to be more careful."

Zhao Xing nodded grimly.

The march resumed, but the mood was heavy. Another ten kilometers passed, and despite their caution, more lives were lost.

As the vanguard advanced through the treacherous terrain, more soldiers fell victim to the unpredictable hazards of the Flame Mountain. By the halfway point, thirty-five had already perished, including a seventh-ranked warrior.

In the Flame Mountain Range, injury almost always meant death. Once the protective garments were breached, there was no hope of survival.

Zhao Xing's rear detachment of five hundred had lost only one soldier so far, but other units had suffered heavier casualties.

Suddenly, another disaster struck.

Zhao Xing rushed to the scene, finding Chen Shijie standing at the edge of a collapsed crevice, his fists clenched in frustration.

"What happened?" Zhao Xing asked.

"The vanguard stepped on a fragile section of rock," Long Xiao explained in a low voice. "The ground gave way, and ten soldiers were swallowed by the fire veins."

"This is the twenty-first soldier to die under Chen Shijie's command," Long Xiao added.

Zhao Xing frowned. Could Chen Shijie really be that unlucky?

"Has his luck always been this bad?" Zhao Xing asked.

Long Xiao thought for a moment, then nodded. "I've had two near-death experiences in the past decade, both while I was with Chen Shijie. But he's had his Qi boosted three times now, so it shouldn't be this bad anymore."

A thought struck Zhao Xing, and his expression grew grim.

Fate and Qi were two different things. If Chen Shijie was inherently unlucky, no amount of Qi would change his fate. Furthermore, as a temporary Campal commander, he wasn't truly granted a sixth-ranked official position, so he might not have enough Qi to shoulder the weight of commanding three thousand soldiers.

If Chen Shijie had a weak natural fate and poor luck, taking on such a responsibility could be a heavy burden, even dangerous.

Commanders who led vast armies were typically individuals with strong, prosperous Qi.

As the saying goes, "The more one ventures into dangerous places, the more one's luck declines."

Zhao Xing, with his Derivation Three luck, knew that if he recklessly ventured into the Fire Demon Kingdom, his luck would drop temporarily to Derivation One.

Now, as they marched through the perilous Flame Mountain, Chen Shijie's already low luck was likely even more fragile.

If only Chen Shijie had some way to measure his luck, Zhao Xing thought, but alas, he did not.

Recalling Chen Shijie's tumultuous history during the Pacification War, Zhao Xing grabbed his friend and pulled him away from the edge of the crevice.

"Snap out of it!"

Chen Shijie looked down at his hands, confused. "Do you think they're dying because of me?"

"Don't overthink it!" Zhao Xing barked. "This is Flame Mountain. It's normal for soldiers to die here."

"But my unit has suffered the most casualties," Chen Shijie murmured. "Maybe my luck still isn't enough to carry the weight of a sixth-ranked officer."

He had been cursed as a child, accused by his aunt of bringing misfortune to his parents. Later, he had been conscripted by Yang An and spent five years struggling to gather enough essence.

After countless battles and near-death experiences, he finally gained a bit of Qi from the imperial court and slowly rose to the seventh rank, only to be demoted to Gucheng.

It wasn't until he met Zhao Xing that his luck began to change.

Chen Shijie had thought his days of bad luck were over, but now, facing the harsh reality of Flame Mountain, that familiar sense of dread had returned.

Zhao Xing shared his suspicions but couldn't say them out loud.

"Chen, listen to me."

"What?"

"My fate is mine to control, not the heavens'!" Zhao Xing declared.

"The more you dwell on fate and luck, the more likely you'll make mistakes," he continued. "You're the commander now. You must stay strong!"

Sensing Chen Shijie's resolve wavering, Zhao Xing added, "If you don't believe me, I'll walk with you, along with Long Aotian and Long Xiao."

"Assign Liu Deputy Commander to manage the rear. Bring Long Xiao and me to your side."

Zhao Xing knew that his Derivation Three luck, combined with Long Xiao's formidable future as Marquis of Shenxiao and Long Aotian's status as a spirit beast, would bolster Chen Shijie's fate.

Replacing him now would be too risky, so Zhao Xing decided to help shoulder the burden of luck with Chen Shijie.

"Alright," Chen Shijie agreed, swiftly altering the deployment and calling Zhao Xing and Long Xiao to his side.

Meanwhile, deep within a valley of the Flame Mountain Range, a figure sat cross-legged amid the flames.

It was Pang Guangyao, a mixed-blood of human and Fire Demon lineage, distinguished by the lone horn on his forehead.

Though once a scion of a prominent family under the Golden Feather Court, Pang Guangyao's fortunes had waned in recent years. He was now a Sixth-Rank Heavenly Gang Realm cultivator, nearing his 198th year.

In the early years of Emperor Jing's reign, Pang Guangyao's family had thrived. But as the emperor's policies shifted, mixed-bloods like him were increasingly marginalized. His family had fallen into decline, and he had been relegated to the ignoble role of Mountain Patrol, a post he had held for fifteen long years without respite.

He had once dreamed of revitalizing his family's position within the Golden Feather Court, but that hope had long since faded.

"Unless I can break through to the fifth rank, I'm doomed to spend the rest of my days here," Pang Guangyao muttered after finishing his cultivation, his heart heavy with despair.

Just then, his command token trembled.

"Huh? The defense mechanism has been triggered?"

Pang Guangyao stared at the token in disbelief.

"Did a crevice collapse? Was it a natural event or caused by someone?"

Instinctively, he prepared to investigate. But halfway through his journey, he hesitated.

At that moment, Chen Shijie was advancing through the mountain pass with Zhao Xing by his side.

Suddenly, Pang Guangyao was gripped by a strange feeling.

"Why should I even bother investigating?"

"When the Earth Fire Lotus was stolen from the Lava Cave, Yue Hai didn't even get a slap on the wrist."

"Yet, when I had a single drink while on duty at Fire Dragon Pass, I was banished to this hellhole for fifteen years!"

"Such injustice! Even if enemies have infiltrated the mountains, what's it to me?"

"Guarding this pass under such foolish leaders—it's only a matter of time before it falls."

Years of suppressed resentment exploded within him, and Pang Guangyao let out a roar of frustration, shaking the very rocks around him.

He thought back to a recent visitor—a man from the Ox Head Tribe who had quietly sought him out a few days prior.

That man had delivered a letter, offering him a way out. If he defected to the Great Zhou, he would be granted a sixth-rank officer position and placed in a powerful army, not lumped in with the barbarian auxiliaries.

This meant he would be treated as a proper Great Zhou military officer, not a second-class citizen.

The person who had written the letter was influential, and Pang Guangyao's own son was already stationed outside the pass.

Pang Guangyao's thoughts churned. "I'm nearly two hundred years old. If I don't break through to the fifth rank soon, I won't have much time left."

"Why not join the Great Zhou?"

Still, Pang Guangyao hesitated, unsure of his next move. He decided to at least investigate the disturbance.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xing, Chen Shijie, Long Xiao, and Long Aotian pressed on. Their progress was smoother now, and there were no further casualties.

Chen Shijie regained his composure, issuing commands with renewed confidence as the army advanced.

Just when Zhao Xing thought Chen Shijie's fate had been stabilized, disaster struck once more.

"Meow!"

Long Aotian suddenly arched its back, fur standing on end as it growled in warning.

Zhao Xing and the others followed the cat's gaze, spotting a cave entrance nestled in the cliffs ahead. Flames surrounded the area, but the cave itself was untouched by fire.

In the shadows of the cave entrance, a figure in a fiery red robe emerged.

Their eyes met.

"What?!" The man in the red robe froze in shock. "How did so many people get into Flame Mountain?"

"Not good! I have to run!"

In an instant, the red-robed man leaped into the air, fleeing at full speed.

"Kill him before he alerts anyone!" Zhao Xing reacted immediately.

If this man escaped and raised the alarm, their entire mission would be compromised.

"Whoosh!"

Long Aotian had already leaped into action, racing after the red-robed man with lightning speed. Long Xiao followed close behind, soaring through the air on his sword.

"A sword cultivator? And an exotic beast?!" The red-robed man was terrified.

He was only in the early stages of the Heavenly Gang Realm, and his skills were average at best. Patrolling the mountains was hardly a prestigious assignment.

How had he ended up in such a dire situation?

"Why am I so unlucky?!"

"I've been patrolling for ten years and never encountered an enemy, and now, on my first year back, I run into this many soldiers?"

"Run! If I can make it back, this will be a great merit!"

Gritting his teeth, the red-robed man spat out a mouthful of blood, boosting his speed.

All he could think about was escaping. He didn't even dare to look back.

"This is unbelievable," Zhao Xing muttered as he chased after him. "Chen Shijie's luck must really be cursed."

"Of all the times for this to happen—people die, then we run into a patrol! How can his fate be this unyielding?"

Zhao Xing raced ahead, while Chen Shijie stayed behind to command the troops. The rest of the soldiers couldn't keep up with the chase.

After ten miles, they finally began to close the gap.

Long Aotian, in particular, was gaining ground, while Long Xiao lagged slightly behind.

But the red-robed man was skilled in escape techniques. Despite the distance, they still hadn't caught up.

Just when Zhao Xing thought they were about to catch him, another figure appeared ahead of them.

This new figure, also dressed in red, exuded a far stronger aura—he was at the Sixth-Rank Heavenly Gang Realm, and his cultivation was near perfection.

"How is this possible?" Zhao Xing cursed under his breath. "Another one?"

"Chen Shijie didn't have this much bad luck over the last two months, and he even gained some merits. What changed?"

"Wait... his luck has always been a bit off. It just wasn't as noticeable when Long Xiao and I were with him," Zhao Xing realized, recalling their earlier infiltration of Fire Dragon Pass.

"If I hadn't been there, he would've been exposed by the Hidden Pulse Sect. And when we disguised ourselves as mulberry farmers and entered Loba, it wasn't smooth sailing either."

"I gave him guidance and accompanied him to see if we could alter his fate. Now it seems like fate is even more elusive than I thought."

"Well, I won't give in to fate!"

"Die!"

Zhao Xing extended his hand, drawing upon all of his yuanqi.

The flames around them dissipated as the world itself seemed to bend to his will.

In that moment, Zhao Xing's determination to change Chen Shijie's fate caused his Soaring Serpent Transformation to break through to the Sixth-Rank. At the same time, his Start of Autumn Solar Command reached the Sixth-Rank of Awareness!

Soaring Serpent Transformation, activate!

A beam of golden light shot across a thousand meters, striking the red-robed man.

"Ahhh!"

The red-robed man screamed as he plummeted from the sky.

He reached out, desperately seeking help from the other patrolman, Pang Guangyao.

"Pang... Pang Sir, help me!"

Pang Guangyao watched in shock as his fellow patrolman's body twisted grotesquely, his skin splitting open to reveal dark scales underneath.

In that moment, Pang Guangyao made a decision.

With a swift motion, Pang Guangyao leaped forward and struck the red-robed man.

"Boom!"

The patrolman's head exploded under the force of Pang Guangyao's fist. His body was reduced to dust in an instant.

"Wait!" Pang Guangyao shouted to Zhao Xing and Long Xiao. "I'm on your side!"

Long Aotian had already pounced on Pang Guangyao, claws extended.

"What?!" Pang Guangyao instinctively raised his arms to defend himself, but pain shot through his limbs as the mountain cat's claws tore into him.

"Hmm?" Long Xiao withdrew his sword, while Zhao Xing called out to the cat.

"Long Aotian, stop!"

The mountain cat hesitated, looking back as if to ask, "We're not killing him? But he has horns!"

Everything happened in a flash.

Chen Shijie, still stunned by the turn of events, flew over to join Zhao Xing as they cautiously approached Pang Guangyao.

Long Xiao and Long Aotian held their ground, stopping a hundred meters away from the man.

Pang Guangyao hid his trembling hands behind his back as he faced them.

Seeing that the others had stopped, Pang Guangyao spoke, "Which one of you is Xia Jing? Are you with the Xuanjia Army?"

"Oh?" Zhao Xing instantly understood the situation.

This must be the spy Xia Jing mentioned.

No... If he were a true spy, he wouldn't have failed to recognize the Xuanjia Army insignia or Xia Jing himself.

Xia Jing had been to Fire Dragon Pass before, after all.

So, this man intended to defect?

Zhao Xing quickly pieced it together.

Xia Jing was his close friend. If this man wanted to defect to him, there was no need to distinguish between them. They were practically the same person!

"That's right!" Zhao Xing stepped forward confidently. "I am Xia Jing."

"If you have anything to say, you can say it to me!"

Pang Guangyao took one look at Zhao Xing's dignified bearing and martial prowess. Coupled with his ability to dispatch a patrolman so effortlessly, Pang Guangyao had no doubts. This had to be Xia Jing.

Without hesitation, Pang Guangyao fell to his knees.

"I am the disgraced Pang Guangyao. I pledge my loyalty to you, Xia Jing."