Tyrant Sky Martial Sou
Chapter 1041: Undercurrents Stirring

Chapter 1041: Chapter 1041: Undercurrents Stirring

Si Kong Zun’s shamelessness was not new, so Ling Xiao could not even be bothered to argue with him about it.

All he wanted now was to enter the city as quickly as possible.

Those around him, seeing Ling Xiao merely speak and have the gates of Northern Desert City open, couldn’t help but respect him even more.

Of course, there were also those who were jealous and resentful.

Like Si Kong Zun.

Like Jia Yun.

And most of those from the Phoenix God College.

"Our Commander, in my opinion, why bother talking to these fools? We should just charge in and be done with it!"

From within the crowd, Jia Yun spoke coldly.

Though every city was protected by special Array Formations and difficult to overcome, in Jia Yun’s view, with the Phoenix Bird Knight Corps and Si Kong Zun, an Array Master, conquering Northern Desert City should be an easy task.

He couldn’t care less about how many would die; his own reputation was what mattered.

How could he tolerate these barbarians from Northern Desert City refusing him entry to rest while allowing Ling Xiao and his lowly group of humans in?

Si Kong Zun shook his head and said, "Young Master Jia, we are here to campaign against the Black Crow Empire, not to engage in infighting. Let us wait a short while and see what methods the Supervisor has for making Ji Ning open the gates."

If he could take Northern Desert City with minimal cost and neutralize Ji Ning, he would naturally be pleased.

Using Ling Xiao wasn’t a bad idea either.

If they were to force their way in, he was confident they could overcome Northern Desert City but feared the losses would be substantial.

After all, Northern Desert City had stood for over a decade without falling to the Black Crow Empire, and there had to be a good reason for that.

Besides, he knew why he was there, and if he were to blatantly cause chaos, he would indeed cement his identity as a spy of the True Demon Empire. And then, even with a thousand, ten thousand excuses, he feared he could not clear his name.

"Fine, we’ll do as our Commander says."

Jia Yun inwardly cursed Si Kong Zun for being a hypocrite, but he dared not say anymore.

Although he was the Alliance Leader of the Righteous Qi Alliance, far from the Emperor and without anyone overseeing him, if Si Kong Zun truly wished to kill him, he probably would have no means to resist.

Better to keep a low profile.

"Rest on the spot."

Si Kong Zun instructed the messenger.

"All forces, rest on the spot!"

The messenger quickly dashed off to convey the order.

The soldiers had no objections to resting where they were.

After all, Ling Xiao had already entered the city, and it seemed that Ling Xiao had a deep relationship with Northern Desert City. Perhaps they would soon be allowed to enter, so waiting a little longer was insignificant.

Certainly, if it weren’t for Ling Xiao the Supervisor being there, they probably would have lost their patience, and a battle would have been nearly inevitable.

At this moment, Ling Xiao and his associates had already arrived at the City Lord’s Mansion.

Inside Northern Desert City, the atmosphere was incredibly tense, truly as if a storm was about to break out. Wounded soldiers with bandaged heads occasionally passed by on the streets, still holding their posts.

Ling Xiao felt a pang of emotion, realizing that Northern Desert City must have just experienced a major battle. The soldiers were utterly exhausted, no wonder they did not dare to let Si Kong Zun enter on his own.

"Ling Xiao, you’ve finally arrived!"

Ji Ning personally came out to welcome them from the City Lord’s Mansion. He wasn’t injured but looked weary and disheveled, still wearing armor that looked dirty, as if he hadn’t taken it off for several days.

"Great General, it seems Northern Desert City has truly suffered a fierce assault from the Black Crow Empire?"

Ling Xiao asked.

"Let’s go inside to talk."

Ji Ning made a welcoming gesture and then said as they walked, "It’s quite strange when you think about it. The Black Crow Empire hadn’t invaded the Northern Territory for several months, yet just a few days before the border trials began, they suddenly launched an attack on Northern Desert City.

What’s most baffling is that it isn’t the season of bountiful harvests, so they aren’t after our food supplies.

It’s not the season when the Black Crow Empire is short of food, nor are they starving to the point of attacking Northern Desert City.

In the past, the Black Crow Empire behaved this way because they were lacking food, or because Northern Desert City had a bountiful harvest, but this time, it’s quite peculiar."

"Do you think there’s something fishy going on?"

Ling Xiao inquired.

"Hmph, over the years, I have come to understand the thinking of that Ice Phoenix Clan Emperor. Unwilling to continue under the Righteous Qi Alliance, he has been looking for ways to weaken the Alliance’s power, and I am one of the mainstays of the Righteous Qi Alliance."

Ji Ning said coldly.

"The Great General is also with the Righteous Qi Alliance?"

Ling Xiao asked in surprise.

"The Righteous Qi Alliance was founded by Ji Fulin and Yu Xuan Yue initially to bring an end to the strife, and later to guide the election of the Emperor among the Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix Clans, maintaining peace. It’s just that the current mindset of the Alliance Leader has changed, and what he does now is different from before."

Ji Ning sighed and said, "The Emperor wishes to be the sovereign ruler, and so he must abolish the Righteous Qi Alliance!"

"There are such things going on?"

Although Ling Xiao had known that the Emperor was no simple character, he still hadn’t anticipated this.

From this perspective, the Emperor and the people of the True Demon Empire probably also use each other.

"You don’t like politics, so you don’t understand."

While they were talking, the two had already entered the room, and someone had prepared tea and served it to everyone present.

"Great General, I may be presuming too much in saying this, but I think that most of the soldiers in the Expedition Army are good people. They may not know the Emperor’s motives. They simply want to confront the Black Crow Empire, and we can’t just let them be scorched under the Red Sun, can we?"

Ling Xiao steered the conversation toward the matter he wanted to address.

"That is indeed a problem. If we let them in, given the current combat power within the City, it would be difficult to prevent them from seizing power. But if we don’t let them in, it would confirm my treasonous guilt, giving the Emperor an even greater reason to deal with me."

Ji Ning was also feeling a headache.

He was an outstanding general but certainly not a great strategist; these issues were indeed troubling him.

"If the General trusts me, may I suggest a strategy?"

Ling Xiao was a crafty fellow.

He admitted this about himself.

As for strategies, having only been sixteen, he was not particularly adept.

But ever since the strange orb within his Spirit Sea had burst, he not only gained many new memories but also much fresh knowledge.

He did not know where these things had come from, but he felt they were very beneficial.

Especially after singing that war song, he felt this even more acutely.

Among the multitude of knowledge, there were strategies.

"Please speak, young master."

Although Ji Ning knew Ling Xiao was Ji Fulin’s descendant and therefore naturally dear to him, he didn’t take Ling Xiao’s words seriously.

After all, Ling Xiao was too young. Despite his talent, his strength and cunning surely couldn’t match those who had lived for decades, or even centuries.

But he didn’t want to outright refuse, so he allowed Ling Xiao to speak his thoughts.

Knowing that Ji Ning was skeptical, Ling Xiao told him a story – a story from the memories that had recently appeared in his mind.

Those memories were truly miraculous; Ling Xiao increasingly felt that they might be the valuable legacy left to him by the King of People.