Chapter 207: Fortune Momentum Boils

Hooves thundered, trampling dust on the official road, rolling up a surging yellow dragon.

Chen Wen led the charge, feeling the wild wind howling past his ears.

The Fortune Momentum vortex within him did not subside after leaving Chan Prefecture City; instead, it surged even more violently, as if a gate had been opened.

Each breath seemed to draw in some scorching energy drifting between heaven and earth.

It was not only the hope of the people of the Luo River Three Counties, nor only the loyalty of the Jing'an Army soldiers.

It was a force more vast, more monumental, more formless and substance-less, yet omnipresent.

It was the Zhongyuan land, scarred by war, instinctively craving order and peace;

It was the silent plea of countless souls adrift in chaotic times, yearning for a mighty one who could end it all;

It was the towering wave raised when the river of history surged and churned at the fork!

This force, formless and shapeless, yet weighed as heavily as a thousand jun.

It passed through the void, crossed distances, and ceaselessly poured into the boiling vortex within him.

At the vortex's core, the golden light grew brighter, its spin accelerating.

Even outside his body, it formed an energy field imperceptible to the eye but clearly felt.

The hundred personal guards following him could not, like him, 'see' the gathering of Fortune Momentum.

Yet they could clearly feel the increasingly oppressive aura emanating from Chen Wen.

It was not killing intent, but a glorious aura that inspired awe and an involuntary urge to bow in worship.

It seemed they were no longer following merely a brave and skilled general, but a…… sovereign ordained by Heaven.

Under this aura, the power within them that had been 'endowed with sixteenfold concentration' flowed more smoothly and naturally.

Between man and horse, man and weapon, even man and man, a wonderful resonance and coordination arose.

Their marching speed was astonishingly fast.

Hooves barely touched the ground, like a gust sweeping across the wilderness.

"My lord."

A scout guard rode up, his voice tinged with restrained excitement.

"At this speed, we can reach the outskirts of Chen Bridge Station before sunset, at least two double-hours earlier than planned!"

Chen Wen gave a slight nod, his gaze still fixed ahead.

Speed is necessary.

He must arrive there before Zhao Kuangyin fully secures the Chen Bridge Main Camp and completes all preparations for 'donning the yellow robe'.

He wants to create a time lag, to strike unexpectedly.

Fortune Momentum is with me; heavenly timing is also with me!

He could feel the Growth Progress Bar in his mind, steadily and firmly climbing under the push of the vast Fortune Momentum.

45%……47%……50%……

With each increment, his grasp of his own power grew more refined, and his perception of the grand trend became clearer.

Meanwhile, inside Chan Prefecture City.

Soon after Chen Wen left, a squad dressed in ordinary civilian clothes

But the men, exuding a capable aura in their movements, silently surrounded the Azure Cloud Temple to the east of the city.

The leader was none other than Qian Gui.

He lifted his gaze to the slightly weathered plaque above the temple gate, his face showing no expression.

"Action."

"Swift battle, swift decision."

He softly uttered the two words.

The shadows behind him scattered like ghosts, silently scaling the walls from different directions.

Inside the Azure Cloud Temple, the incense burned cold and sparse.

Several young acolytes were sweeping the front courtyard when they saw the sudden intruders.

Just as they were about to cry out, they were swiftly and precisely subdued, losing consciousness.

Qian Gui had a clear goal, heading straight for the old well in the rear courtyard.

The well mouth was covered by a huge slate slab, piled with withered leaves and dust, appearing long unused.

Qian Gui signaled his men forward, and together they shifted the slate slab to create a gap.

A chilly, damp breath immediately rose from the well's depths.

Below the gap was not water, but a stone staircase leading downward.

Qian Gui hesitated not, leading the way down the stairs.

The stairs were short, ending in a small secret chamber.

Inside the chamber stood only a stone table and a futon.

An old man in a gray Taoist robe, his face withered, sat cross-legged on the futon, his back to the entrance.

He seemed oblivious to the commotion behind him, still maintaining his meditative pose.

But Qian Gui keenly sensed an almost imperceptible tension in the old man's shoulders.

"Temple Master, impressive composure."

Qian Gui's voice echoed in the cramped chamber, tinged with icy mockery.

The Temple Master, known as the Listener of Wind, slowly turned around.

His face was lined with wrinkles, his eyes unusually cloudy, as if veiled by a white film.

Yet his 'gaze' landed precisely on Qian Gui.

"Inspection Bureau's Qian Gui..."

The old man's voice was dry and hoarse, like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.

"Old Daoist cultivates here; I don't know what business brings you?"

Qian Gui ignored his feigned ignorance, his gaze sweeping over the empty stone table.

Finally landing on the old man's pair of withered hands, whose joints were unusually thick.

"Cultivation?"

"Or are you here to receive news from the north, or… from underground, the 'wind'?"

The old man's cloudy eyes twitched slightly.

"Your Excellency's words, Old Daoist doesn't understand."

"No matter."

Qian Gui stepped forward.

"You can think slowly; in the Inspection Bureau's dungeon you'll have plenty of time to think."

Before his words finished, the old man's hand, always hanging in his sleeve, shot up!

A beam of icy blue light, like a snake spitting its tongue, stabbed straight at Qian Gui's throat!

That speed was astonishing, far beyond what an ordinary person could achieve!

Yet Qian Gui seemed to have anticipated it.

His body twisted at an impossible angle, narrowly avoiding that blade of light.

At the same time, his right hand shot out like iron pincers, firmly gripping the old man's weapon-wielding wrist!

"Crack!"

A grating bone-splitting sound rang out.

The old man grunted, and the icy blue dagger in his hand clanged to the floor.

The dagger's material was precisely Nether Energy Crystal Ore!

Almost as Qian Gui acted, the entrance to the secret chamber echoed with a few short screams and the sound of heavy objects falling.

Clearly, the disciples the Temple Master had ambushed outside had already been cleaned up by Qian Gui's men.

The old man's face turned deathly pale, cold sweat beading on his forehead, yet his cloudy eyes flashed with a frenzied hatred.

"You… cannot stop…"

"Heaven's mandate… lies with Zhao…"

"Nonsense."

Qian Gui exerted force with his wrist again; the old man instantly spasmed in pain, unable to utter another word.

"Take him away."

"Search carefully; there must be something else in this chamber."

Two investigators stepped forward, lifting the now completely helpless old man.

Another began a meticulous search of the secret chamber.

Qian Gui picked up the Nether Energy dagger from the ground, feeling its chilling yin energy, his eyes icy.

Cutting off this ear, Zhao Kuangyin and the Iron Crow Army, within Chen Prefecture City, became half-blind.

Meanwhile, west of Chen Prefecture City.

Zhao Kuangyin, fully armored, stood in the separate courtyard.

Before him were the three hundred "Tempered" fierce warriors and over a thousand directly subordinate elite troops.

These soldiers' eyes were fierce, a faint killing aura emanating from them; standing silently, they gave a strong sense of oppression.

Zhao Kuangyin looked at them, and heroic spirit rose in his heart.

This is his capital for contending for the world!

"General!"

A trusted general hurried over, speaking softly.

"The Regional Headquarters meeting has adjourned; Wang Po finally agreed to let you lead the army north to reinforce, while Han Tong and Zhang Yongde remain to guard Chen Prefecture."

"Good!"

Zhao Kuangyin clenched his fist, light flashing in his eyes.

Everything is proceeding according to plan.

He mounted his horse, drew his sword, pointed north, his voice booming across the field.

"Northern barbarians have invaded the borders; the nation's situation is dire!"

"We have received great favor from the state; how can we stand idly by?"

"Soldiers, follow me north to defeat the enemy and defend the nation!"

"Depart!"

The great army set out, mighty and mighty, leaving the separate courtyard, passing through Chen Prefecture City's streets, heading toward the north gate.

Zhao Kuangyin rode his horse, feeling the stern, lethal aura of the elite troops behind him, his heart filled with anticipation for the future.

Chen Wen?

Even if you have some talent and some reputation, what of it?

In the face of this grand tide, personal martial prowess is merely a mantis trying to stop a chariot!

Once I don the yellow robe and control the situation, the first to settle accounts with will be you!

He did not notice that, on certain rooftops and behind window lattices along the street,

several pairs of cold eyes silently watched their departure.

Also went unnoticed, further south, a small cavalry unit, though few in number, yet with momentum like a rainbow, was moving at a speed far beyond ordinary.

Heading toward the node named Chen Bridge, they approached with the speed of wind and lightning.

Fortune Momentum was still frenziedly gathering toward that figure.

The Growth Progress Bar had already surpassed 55%, and was still advancing toward the 60% milestone at a steady pace.

The center of the storm was shifting.

Chen Bridge Station was already visible in the distance.