Heavenly Court and Jade Lake tolerated the mess of powers in the Vile Dragon Star River. They didn’t much care about their strife, civil wars, or the re-allocation of resources every now and then. They had only one purpose in mind, the Devil Gate.

  The souls inside were able to shake their foundations.

  That was because they were fed to the Tree of Martyrs.

  The Tree of Martyrs was the only thing that could safeguard a power’s future. And to assure such a guardian lasted forever, nothing was allowed to go wrong with the souls.

  One’s life would one day reach its end and the man would die. The increase of souls couldn’t be stopped and their number had to be contained, or an undead disaster may befall the Galaxy.

  They worked according to Heavenly Dao in its stead, controlled the Galaxy and reaped the souls to prevent such misfortune for being unleashed.

  And Tree of Martyrs would bear the reward for all their efforts.

  Since before even time itself, this truth never changed.

  As the Devil Gate neared its opening, Heavenly Court and Jade Lake grew more restless. Yet in such times, Jade Lake’s men on the Devil Gate Star were wiped out in a single night.

  The entire Galaxy was on edge.

  Jade Lake was enraged.

  In the courts of Jade Dragon River Office, Celestial Immortals were crawling below a large tower, “Commander, barely any survived the night slaughter of our forces on the Devil Gate Star. Our spy reported it a robbery, as everything of value was taken.”


  The huge tower trembled and an aged voice echoed from within, “Ridiculous! When have you seen robbers killing everyone then setting the corpses of fire to hide their tracks?”


  The Celestial Immortals didn’t make a peep. The general was angry.

  A furious voice drifter from the tower, “Ten years, there’s still ten years until the final battle, yet Shan Qingfeng became impatient?”


  Another Celestial Immortal said, “Sir, was it the Heavenly Court?”


  “Fool! With the Devil Gate on the verge of opening, the war between Heavenly Court and Jade Lake is moments away. To kill so many of our men, the only one who has such power, and guts, is none other than Heavenly Court. What, did you think it’s that Faceless gone three centuries ago?”


  “Shan Qingfeng has some explaining to do!”


  Jade Lake’s demand for an answer soon reached the Heavenly Court. Shan Qingfeng was plagued with finding his brother’s killer and had no time for such nonsense, “How should I know of their problems?”


  This was Shan Qingfeng’s stand. Celestial Immortals gathered on the Scarlet Dragon Star River Office to pay their respects to the new general.

  In a glorious and lavished hall, a golden sun-like ray descended on the only high chair there. A Celestial Immortal kneeled below it, “General, most of Jade Lake’s men on Devil Gate Star were slaughtered in a single night. Jade Lake demands an answer.”


  A burst of laughter came out of the light. He was thinking of fanning the flames. He knew he had nothing to do with it but that didn’t stop him in goading Jade Lake further. “Tell them this. If that Ding Kuang can’t even handle some bandits, he has no right in asking me!”


  “Oh, almost forgot. Robbed of everything I decided to provide aid, to give him a spirit stone as comfort!”


  “Back to the matter at hand, I have no clue as to who did this. But I must admit, they did a mighty fine job too!”


  A spirit stone arrived before Jade Dragon Star River’s grand tower. A Heavenly Court shivered as he picked it up, “General, Heavenly Court’s general said we can’t even handle some bandits and have no right to ask him. We suffered great losses and offered this spirit stone as comfort!”


  The thirty-year-old dust on the gate blew up along with it, wood splinters shooting like arrows through the air. A white-eyebrow old man leaned on a peach cane as it stepped out. “Shan Qingfeng, I have come out of a thirty years seclusion just to march on the Devil Gate Star!”


  A Celestial Immortal said, “Heavenly Court is taking over our old territory. This isn’t a good time to go!”


  Ding Kuang was about to blow a gasket, “Nonsense! I will go myself. Who can stop me!”


  On the Jade Dragon Star River, the gates of the city were wide open for the march of a chariot sculped out of white jade, with thirty Celestial Immortals in its wake. It was Ding Kuang’s personal force.

  In a tavern to the side, a bamboo hat cultivator moved the veil to look. He was Bu Liuhen, “That decrepit Ding Kuang is leaving already?”


  A Celestial Immortal next to him asked, “Sir, when do we move?”


  “Do we have it?”


  “Yes.”


  “Let’s return to our room and show it to me. This is no time for drinking.”


  Once in the room, Bu Liuhen said, “Take it out.”


  The Celestial Immortal showed great care as he set down a wooden box on the table.

  The two lit up incense and said in respect, “We shall offend you, divine weapon, and only wish for you to have it in your great bearing as a Martyr to forgive us!”


  The two opened the case when the incense burned out. A blood-red longbow with thirteen arrows rested inside.

  Bu Liuhen felt its power. Never was he as close as now to a Martyr weapon, but this didn’t prevent him from being enveloped in its cruel and ruthless power.

  He had never felt such a power before.

  Bu Liuhen nodded, “Yes, this is it. Just what kinda man am I rescuing that can wield such bow?”


  They sealed the box and made a bow, “Please excuse the offense!”


  The Celestial Immortal asked, “Sir Blade, is it time?”


  “I will go ask for instructions first from that enigmatic persona.”


  “Yes, yes. We should ask.”


  Bu Liuhen closed his eyes and spoke in his heart, “Honorable Faceless, your Blade beseech you……”


  Chen Ming was in the middle of discerning the events in the Galaxy. He gazed at the stars and found Heavenly Court and Jade Lake’s generals having luck with them. He could easily tell from watching the heavens.

  “Can it be the old foggy Ding Kuang didn’t buy it and hasn’t moved?”


  He then heard Bu Liuhen’s call through the mask, “What does he want calling me?”


  Chen Ming got to his room and put on the mask to go in his hall. He asked as soon as Bu Liuhen made his appearance, “What’s going on?”


  “Ding Kuang is riding his chariot and marching his personal troops out of Jade Dragon Star River Office. Do we act?”


  Chen Ming grinned darkly inside, That old fool still has a contingency in place. If I were to take it as true and started the rescue operation, he will thwart it. After all, the Heavenly Court’s side has a general tasked with defense. Scheming comes with age.

  Chen Ming smiled, “You must never act without my order. He has yet to leave.”


  “But I’ve seen it with my own eyes how Ding Kuang rode his chariot with his force!”


  “You’ll understand everything in a few days. Go, don’t act unless I say so.”