"Yes, sir." Zuo Wencheng retreated, a flicker of regret in his heart; the former Grand City Lord, Wan Jian Canglong, would surely have comforted the people personally in such a situation. Alas.

"Elder Xie!" Xuan Hu gritted his teeth, retrieving the Orc mask and fitting it back onto his head, vanishing from the great hall in a single bound.

Within the dimly lit Orc encampment by the Dark River Dam, various factions eyed Ten Thousand Sword City with hungry anticipation. Everyone was complaining about why Elder Xie had not yet given the order to advance.

"Elder Xie, what are you waiting for? Our Orc clan boasts numerous troops and fierce warriors who fear no blade," the Vanguard Commander, Feng Lei Cang Shi, urged more than once. "Are you perhaps concerned that my vanguard lacks the capability to assault the city?"

Elder Xie remained supremely confident, an unruffled posture masking his plans. "General Cang Shi, why the haste? Among the entire Orc army, you understand warfare better than any. Do you not comprehend my intent?"

"General Cang Shi is accustomed to leading charges and fighting on the front lines; keeping him waiting here is indeed a bit unfair. Poor fellow!" A figure inside the tent, idly fanning himself, appeared remarkably composed.

"Feng Jiang Ming Bao, you..." Cang Shi shot Ming Bao a hateful glare but found no strong words to counter. "What do you know? Only how to scheme and manipulate."

Ming Bao replied calmly, without haste, "General Cang Shi, do not be angered. You witnessed the results of the First Three Swords Martial Arts Tournament. Zhan Feng Yue, touted as the Orcs' foremost master of the Ice Flame Dual Blade, was casually slain by a human. Although we still don't know who did it, the killing blow was delivered by a Ten Thousand Sword City technique. General Cang Shi, do you believe your martial skill is a match for the Ten Thousand Sword Art?"

"Leading an army relies on overall strength, not single combat. If you allow members of the Ten Thousand Sword Royal Family into our formations, it will surely be a dead end for them," Cang Shi retorted, conceding his inferiority to Zhan Feng Yue in a duel but retaining strong confidence in large-scale battles.

"Enough, stop arguing, both of you," Elder Xie sighed, continuing, "If our Orc clan lacks soldiers, it is because we lack high-ranking generals. Besides the two of you, there is no other major candidate. If you two continue to feud internally, won't it just become a joke for the humans and the Winged Race?"

"Yes, Cang Shi was wrong." Cang Shi, being forthright, quickly bowed his head, apologizing to Elder Xie and Ming Bao.

"Reporting to Elder Xie!" At that moment, a guard rushed in. "The Beast-Faced Man requests an audience, stating he has urgent matters."

"The Beast-Faced Man," Elder Xie stroked his beard, his brow furrowed. "Why has he come at this time? Could it be news about Dugu Bing Chen?"

Ming Bao fanned himself slowly, not entirely reassured. "Forgive my bluntness, Elder Xie, but while this Beast-Faced Man has helped us significantly, he has too many suspicious aspects. You must not place too much trust in his words."

"I am aware of that," Elder Xie said, a calculating look in his eyes, addressing them both. "If our Orc clan is to vie for dominance, we need capable people. If we can incorporate the Beast-Faced Man, it will surely be like adding wings to a tiger. You two may go first; I wish to see what his intentions are."

"Yes!" The two withdrew successively, nearly colliding with the Beast-Faced Man just entering the tent.

"Generals, walk slowly." The Beast-Faced Man was excessively polite, yet neither paid him any mind.

"Hahaha, you have finally arrived. I have been waiting for you for a very long time," Elder Xie feigned a smile and gestured for the Beast-Faced Man to sit beside him.

The Beast-Faced Man did not sit but asked with great urgency, "Elder Xie, are you aware that Wan Jian Canglong is dead? And slain by the Eight Directions Sword Technique of Ten Thousand Swords?"

"Indeed, I have heard rumors. If it truly was the Eight Directions, then Dugu Bing Chen is certainly responsible. Do you have news of him?" Elder Xie sounded elated, as the Beast-Faced Man always brought news that interested him.

"I came precisely because of this. I heard that after the martial arts tournament, the Orc forces caused chaos in Ten Thousand Sword City, and Bing Chen began a massacre." The Beast-Faced Man's tone was anxious. "So, you don't even know where he went? Could he have met with some accident?"

"Accident? Impossible!" Elder Xie lost his composure and stood up abruptly. "Dugu Bing Chen possesses the Mad Meridian martial arts; it is nearly unparalleled in the world. Who in Ten Thousand Sword City could oppose him? How could he possibly meet with an accident?"

The Beast-Faced Man sighed. "I believe the same. However, these past few days, the Human, Orc, and Winged races have all remained stationary. Elder Xie, what exactly are you waiting for? Do you intend to fight a war of attrition?"

"Hahahaha, there is much you do not know." Elder Xie wore a sinister expression and then raised the Eight Desolations Profound Pearl in his hand towards the Beast-Faced Man's chest.

The Beast-Faced Man seemed confused by Elder Xie's gesture and spread his hands. "If that is the case, Elder Xie already has a plan to deal with the humans. But currently, the humans are commanded by Wan Jian Xuan Hu; their forces are strong and well-supplied—it won't be easy to handle them."

Elder Xie was dismissive. "Xuan Hu is clearly incompetent, possessing only the courage of a common brawler. But those soldiers and generals in Ten Thousand Sword City all wield the Ten Thousand Sword Art, and their sword formations are quite exquisite. If our Orc clan were to engage the humans in a decisive battle, we would likely have no chance of victory."

"Hmph, Elder Xie, do not forget the Winged Race is also eyeing this continent greedily. This matter is likely not so simple," the Beast-Faced Man clenched his fists, naturally wishing he could strike down Elder Xie instantly, but he could endure any emotion to extract information.

Elder Xie took a few steps and smiled sorrowfully. "With the strength of my clan alone, we might not have enough certainty of victory. But if..."

"Are you suggesting an alliance with the Winged Race to deal with the humans?" The Beast-Faced Man seized the opportunity to voice his view. "Combining the forces of both clans should be enough to inflict a heavy blow on the humans."

"Hahahaha, it seems nothing can be kept hidden from you. But I will need your assistance with this matter," Elder Xie’s plan was thoroughly laid out. "If you can infiltrate Ten Thousand Sword City and coordinate an attack from the inside, this battle will be won with extreme ease."

"Please enlighten me, Elder Xie." The Beast-Faced Man bowed, a wicked smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

"Please sit." Elder Xie invited the Beast-Faced Man to take a seat and settled himself in the center. "Do you know the marvelous uses of the Eight Desolations Profound Pearl I hold?"

The Beast-Faced Man shook his head. He had never seen Elder Xie fight. It was known that Elder Xie was the true foremost master of the Orc race; his supreme technique was the Half-Moon Blade held by Bing Chen, but he had never witnessed the use of the Eight Desolations Profound Pearl.

Elder Xie raised his hand and spoke. "The Eight Desolations Profound Pearl has the effect of nourishing vital energy. That is why I have carried it with me for so many years. However, it possesses another function that strikes fear into the hearts of many."

"What function?" The Beast-Faced Man leaned forward, somewhat eagerly.

"Within the Eight Desolations Profound Pearl lies the latent power of the Ancient Malignancy. As soon as I channel my Orc inner force to activate it, the toxic gas will be released," Elder Xie said strangely. "The Ancient Malignancy has no known antidote. Where the poison mist passes, vegetation withers, and life ends. What do you think of using it against the humans?"

The Beast-Faced Man forced back a cold sweat, afraid to reveal his inner rage. "If the entire toxic mist enters Ten Thousand Sword City, it will instantly become a dead city."

Elder Xie nodded, his expression filled with triumph.

"But since it is a poison mist, how can we guarantee it will enter Ten Thousand Sword City? At this time of year, there is no consistent wind direction, and the Dark River area has both mountains and water. How can the direction of this toxic fog be controlled? There is a possibility of backlash if handled improperly."

"As expected of the Beast-Faced Man, your mind is indeed meticulous." Elder Xie was about to reveal his ingenious solution. "That is why I sought out the Abyss Celestial of the Winged Race. The Winged Race's Profound Heavenly Wings will prove useful at this juncture."

"Ha, you intend to harness the power of the Winged Race's wings to artificially create a northern wind," the Beast-Faced Man pretended admiration, yet a cold sweat broke out in his heart. If Elder Xie’s scheme succeeded, how would he cope? Perhaps he should seize and kill him in the Orc camp immediately. No! Elder Xie was a third-generation elder of the Orc race, his power unfathomable. Though he possessed the Mad Meridian, he could not yet fully control it. What should he do?

"And you, Beast-Faced Man," Elder Xie shifted his tone and stared at him, "I want you to infiltrate Ten Thousand Sword City and agitate the populace. Once morale collapses, Ten Thousand Sword City will never know peace. By then, when the toxic mist descends, no one will be able to escape."

The Beast-Faced Man nodded. "Leave this small matter to me. My only current concern is Bing Chen. I wonder where he has gone?"

"Oh? Are you worried about him personally, or are you worried about the Mad Meridian he possesses?" Elder Xie's suspicious gaze fell upon him. "In truth, I have always doubted your reasons for saving him back then. With your cultivation, you should be a person of some standing among the humans. Why wear an Orc mask? Would you be willing to remove the mask so I can see your face?"

The Beast-Faced Man hesitated slightly and said slowly, "I fear Elder Xie also covets the Mad Meridian. I promise you, once this battle is concluded, I will remove the mask."

"Hahahaha, it's a deal," Elder Xie boomed with laughter. "At that time, I will have you personally witness the rise of the Orc race."

"It's a deal," the Beast-Faced Man said sharply before turning and exiting the tent. To think of using the poison of the Eight Desolations Profound Pearl against the humans—what utter fantasy! Once he unleashed the Mad Meridian and utilized the power of the Ninth Level of the Ten Thousand Sword Art, 'Ten Thousand Sword Splendor,' altering the airflow would be as easy as turning over his hand. He absolutely had to play along with Elder Xie’s performance. Perhaps this time, he could severely wound both the Orc and the Winged Race. Hahahaha.

...

"Eight Directions of Ten Thousand Swords!" On Ten Thousand Sword Peak, another arc of black sword energy slashed across the sky. Although it was called sword energy, the visible projection was clearly that of a massive, horizontal blade.

"Has it reached the Eighth Level already?" Shen Ying found it hard to believe Ye Xiu's speed of progress. The dense clouds high above had clearly been cut open by his sword energy, refusing to close for a long time—this was the might of the Wind-Breaking Sword.

"Hoo..." Ye Xiu descended from the heavens, gently drawing Shen Ying into his embrace. "I think it's time for us to leave the mountain."

Shen Ying looked into Ye Xiu's eyes and perceived the determination within him. Though reluctant, she had not seen her three elder brothers for half a month and wondered how they were doing.

Ye Xiu sighed, many thoughts surfacing. "The Grand City Lord was injured by Dugu Bing Chen that day; I wonder if he has recovered. And that Bing Chen—if his madness flares up, the entire Three Swords region could be destroyed. No matter what, I must go down and stop his actions; I cannot fail the trust placed in me by Elder Yu Feng."

"Yes, let us depart immediately," Shen Ying nodded resolutely, hugging Ye Xiu tightly. "I will always remember this Ten Thousand Sword Peak. If possible, I hope we can live here again in the future."

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