Chapter 661

The seventh day after the military parade ended.

Xijing Huangcheng, the Observatory Platform.

Chen Wen stood at the edge of the high platform, gazing westward.

The undulations of the light barrier had not yet fully subsided.

During the day, it is imperceptible to the naked eye; but whenever night falls and moonlight spills down, the surface of the barrier ripples with extremely faint undulations—like the traces left by a breeze brushing a calm lake.

That is not the wind.

It is the residual ripple of Fortune Momentum.

The Fortune Momentum of the two worlds, after that trans‑dimensional collision, continues to slowly permeate and probe each other.

"My lord."

Footsteps sounded behind him.

Qian Gui walked up to the Observatory Platform, holding a sealed report in his hand.

"A summary of western intelligence received by the Jing'an Office within three days."

Chen Wen took it and unfolded it.

The report's handwriting was fine and dense:

【October 10, the Yuan capital held a victory ceremony, bestowing rewards on the generals who destroyed the Song.】

【October 11, the Yuan court issued a new order: taxes on southerners increased by three tenths to fund northern frontier military expenses.】

【October 12, Hebei refugees gathered and stormed a county seat; Yuan troops suppressed them, beheading three thousand.】

【October 13, within fifty li west of the light barrier, six new watchtowers appeared, their design not standard for Yuan forces.】

【October 14……】

He read them line by line.

Chen Wen's gaze stopped at the final paragraph:

【On the night of October 15, a hidden post of the Jing'an Office concealed in Hejian Prefecture observed——three hundred li west of the light barrier, a dark‑red light pillar shot up into the sky, lasting ten breaths before fading. The local Yuan troops showed no unusual movement, and the populace spoke of nothing.】

"A dark‑red light pillar…" Chen Wen murmured, repeating.

"Yes." Qian Gui said in a low voice, "The hidden post described that the pillar's color closely resembles the resonance glow of the yuan‑energy crystal we saw in Luoyang."

"The Iron Crow Army is strengthening its control."

Chen Wen rolled up the report and handed it back.

"They are accelerating."

"Taking advantage of the Yuan Dynasty's recent unification and the peak of Fortune Momentum, they are laying down more nodes in the script world."

"With each additional node, their control over that world deepens by one degree."

Qian Gui put away the report, hesitating for a moment.

"My lord, there is one more matter."

"Speak."

"Yesterday, the Bei Jing Commander‑in‑Chief's Office sent word."

"General Shi Dun, while conducting routine border patrols, encountered a small band of steppe scouts."

"After the skirmish, three were captured; interrogation revealed——"

He paused.

"Recently, all the steppe tribes have been circulating a prophecy."

"A prophecy?"

"'The black sun shall rise, the azure wolf looks west.'"

Qian Gui repeated.

"The scouts said this is an omen that came from the west three months ago."

"The shamans on the steppe are all chanting it."

"It means… the dark sun will soon rise, and the azure wolf will turn its gaze westward."

He looked at Chen Wen.

"The Yuan dynasty's emblem is the azure wolf banner."

Chen Wen remained silent.

The black sun.

He recalled the dark‑red light pillar mentioned in the report.

He also recalled the ominous red glint in the eyes of the yin‑shadow back in Luoyang.

"The Iron Crow Army is not only strengthening its control."

He said slowly.

"It is also spreading faith."

"Using prophecies, miracles, and every means possible, they make the Yuan subjects—and even the steppe tribes—believe that they are the mandate of heaven."

"Then should we…"

"No need."

Chen Wen shook his head.

"The more you refute a prophecy like this, the faster it spreads."

"We just need to do our own duty."

He turned and looked toward the east.

Toward the Huangcheng.

In the night, the palace city's lights were dotted like stars.

Qian Gui.

Present.

Starting tomorrow, the Jing'an Bureau adjusts the focus of its investigations.

On the west side of the light curtain, the main focus is observing the construction of the Iron Crow Army's nodes; secondary is monitoring the movements of the Yuan Army.

I need to know in how many places they have erected those towers.

Yes.

Also.

Chen Wen added.

Send a capable team to infiltrate the grasslands.

No need to contact the tribes; just do one thing——

He looked at Qian Gui.

Gather all versions of the prophecies concerning the 'Black Sun' and the 'Blue Wolf', as well as their transmission routes.

I need to know where this prophecy began to spread.

Understood.

Qian Gui bowed and withdrew.

On the observation platform, only Chen Wen remained.

He closed his eyes.

The system interface appeared in the darkness.

【Cow Horse System Lv. 6】

【Experience: 100% (overflowing)】

【Grantable gradient: 32/16/8/4/2x】

【Fortune Momentum Reserve: Strong (Chen Dynasty's national fortune stable)】

The light of the experience bar had become blazing, almost overflowing the interface.

That feeling of fullness constantly reminded him——

With a single thought, he could break through.

But he continued to suppress it.

Each time the system breaks through, it is linked to the unlocking of a key ability, and also means that a corresponding price must be paid. This time, he faintly felt that the next stage's breakthrough would bring some essential change, its cost and impact far exceeding previous ones.

He must wait for the most appropriate moment.

He must use it at the most critical point.

Need to speed up preparations......

Chen Wen muttered softly.

He already had a rough outline of a plan in mind, concerning the future of the Chen Dynasty and those who have followed him to this point as core members. But this plan must be kept strictly sealed until everything is ready.

He looked toward the west.

The ripples of the light curtain spread silently in the night.

He could feel that the world beyond the barrier was undergoing some change.

It was not a troop movement, nor a change of government.

It was something deeper——

A subtle adjustment of the rules.

The Iron Crow Army is accelerating.

They also seemed to have realized something.

They realized the existence of the Chen Dynasty, not just a historical accident.

But rather, it is growing into a genuine variable capable of threatening the 'script'.

Therefore, they must more quickly consolidate the script world.

More quickly eliminate all unstable factors.

More quickly...... prepare for a possible frontal confrontation.

Then let's see who is faster.

Chen Wen opened his eyes.

His gaze was calm.

He turned and walked down the observation platform.

The stairs were long.

With each step down, his plan became a bit clearer.

Within the year, that crucial matter must be completed.

Personnel, venue, and follow-up arrangements all need to begin preparation.

Moreover, the response to the Iron Crow Army's movements must also be upgraded.

By the time he reached the bottom of the stairs, Chen Wen had already made a decision.

Come here.

In the shadow, an attendant appeared.

Your Majesty.

Pass the word to the Privy Council; hold a closed-door military council meeting at the chen hour tomorrow.

The five ministers must be present.

And—

He paused.

Please have General Yue, Instructor Lin, and Staff Officer Wu attend.

Yes.

The attendant withdrew.

Chen Wen raised his head, looking toward the night sky.

The stars were sparse.

A crescent moon hung on the horizon, shedding a clear, cold light.

In the direction of the light curtain, ripples remained.

As if never ceasing.

He knew that from now on, such fluctuations would become the norm.

The Fortune Momentum of the two worlds will, over the long ages, continually probe and erode each other.

Until one side can no longer hold.

Then let's hold on.

Chen Wen said softly.

He turned and walked toward the depths of the palace city.

The night grew deeper.

The light curtain was silent.

A new day is about to begin.

And some deeper plans—

have already been quietly set in motion.