124: Chapter 124 Reading Ancient Books Reveals Secrets, Formulating Plans for the Future

The morning sunlight shone through the window lattice, casting dappled light and shadows upon the desk.

Ye Qing set down the last animal skin scroll in his hand and rubbed his slightly throbbing temples. A full day of continuous reading had given him a clearer and deeper understanding of the power structure of the Great Wilderness Region and the grudges between the Human Race and the Yao Race.

"This Heavenly Demon Imperial Court is truly a behemoth."

He leaned back against the chair, quickly sorting through the information he had just acquired in his mind.

According to the Great Wilderness Region Chronicle · Yao Race Chapter》, the history of the Heavenly Demon Imperial Court could be traced back tens of thousands of years, founded by a peerless Yao known as the "Heavenly Demon Emperor", ruling over the vast lands in the west and south of the Great Wilderness Region.

Under the Imperial Court, seventy-two Yao Kings were appointed to manage different regions and tribes. Each Yao King was a Nascent Soul Stage existence, and the top few among them had even reached the Nascent Soul Late Stage or even the Perfection level.

The Patrol Envoy was a special position superior to the seventy-two Yao Kings, directly under the Heavenly Demon Emperor, specifically responsible for external warfare and internal supervision. Every Patrol Envoy was a top powerhouse carefully selected from the numerous Yao Kings, with unfathomable cultivation and the power of life and death in their hands.

"That newly appointed Patrol Envoy, being entrusted with such a heavy responsibility to handle the war against the Human Race at this sensitive time, is likely no simple character."

Ye Qing picked up another scroll, Zhenbei City War Records》, and turned to the section recording recent years.

It detailed dozens of conflicts, large and small, between Zhenbei City and the Yao Race, with several large-scale battles causing heavy losses for both sides.

The records mentioned that the reason Zhenbei City could stand to this day, besides its sturdy city defenses and the unity of the Cultivators, was primarily due to the mysterious Nascent Soul Old Ancestor in the city.

This Old Ancestor, reportedly surnamed Jiang and known as "Ancestor Jiang", had a cultivation of at least the Mid-Nascent Soul Stage or above, and had intervened multiple times at critical moments to repel the Yao Race's attacks, even once fighting a Yao King of the Heavenly Demon Imperial Court to a draw.

"Ancestor Jiang... Mid-Nascent Soul Stage or above... able to fight a Yao King head-on..."

Ye Qing tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, a trace of contemplation flashing in his eyes.

"This Ancestor Jiang is likely the true pillar of Zhenbei City. As long as he is here, it will not be easy for the Yao Race to take Zhenbei City."

He opened the scroll Heavenly Demon Imperial Court Chronicle · Recent Century Summary》 and found the record regarding the new Patrol Envoy.

The record showed that this new Patrol Envoy was named "Patrol Inspector Lietian", a Golden-Winged Roc possessing an ancient Vicious Beast Bloodline, naturally skilled in speed and spatial Divine Ability, having broken through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage a century ago with extremely formidable combat power.

After taking office, he vigorously reorganized the military and promoted his confidants; in just a few short years, he had integrated the originally loose forces of the various Yao Kings into a disciplined and highly combat-capable elite army.

"A Nascent Soul Late Stage Golden-Winged Roc... and skilled in speed and spatial Divine Ability... this is truly a tough nut to crack."

Ye Qing's brow furrowed slightly, feeling significant pressure.

Although he was confident in his own strength, facing a Nascent Soul Late Stage Yao King who also possessed an ancient Vicious Beast Bloodline, he could not claim to have absolute certainty.

"It seems that this Zhenbei City truly cannot be stayed in for long."

He put down the scroll, stood up, and paced a few steps in the room.

"However, before leaving, perhaps I can... prepare a 'welcoming gift' for that 'Patrol Inspector Lietian'."

A meaningful smile curled the corners of his mouth, and his gaze turned towards the window, in the direction of the Zhenbei City Lord's Mansion.

"Knowing oneself and the enemy ensures victory in every battle. Since I have decided to run, I must first figure out the opponent's background before I make my move."

He made up his mind, turned to the table, took out a blank Jade Slip, and began to record on it.

What he was recording was not the information he had seen from those ancient books, but rather his preliminary inferences about the personality, style of conduct, and possible weaknesses of "Patrol Inspector Lietian" based on his own observations and analysis.

"Strong personality, ruthless methods, likes to crush opponents with absolute strength, but it seems... he is also somewhat arrogant?"

"He has strong control over his subordinates, but it seems this has also aroused dissatisfaction among some veteran Yao Kings?"

"Skilled in speed and spatial Divine Ability, then, could his weakness lie in... stamina and defense?"

He recorded while thinking, constantly perfecting this analysis report on "Patrol Inspector Lietian".

This report might not be useful right now, but in the future, it might just come in handy.

After finishing this, he cross-referenced the important information from those ancient scrolls with his previous knowledge, gradually forming a clearer action plan.

"Step one, improve my strength. My Nascent Soul Early Stage Peak cultivation is still not enough. I must at least break through to the Mid-Nascent Soul Stage to have the capital to protect myself in this chaotic world."

"Step two, find a suitable evacuation route and retreat path. I cannot stay in Zhenbei City, but I cannot blindly run into the depths of the Wilderness either. I must find a new base that is relatively safe, rich in Spiritual Qi, and suitable for long-term development."

"Step three, before leaving, collect as many resources as possible, especially those high-quality spiritual objects that are helpful for the growth of the Cave Heaven World."

"As for that 'Patrol Inspector Lietian'... I will not provoke him for now. But if he insists on walking into my gun barrel, then I do not mind letting him see what the true strength of a 'Chaos Nascent Soul' is."

With his plan in mind, he felt much more relaxed.

He stretched and yawned.

"After being busy for a day and night, it is time to rest. Tomorrow, I will go to Wanbao Pavilion to look around and see if I can find some useful things."

He blew out the lamp on the table, lay down on the bed, and quickly drifted off to sleep.