Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 400 Zhao Zilong's Report

Jubei City had changed a lot since Lin Chen last visited. The city walls were covered with array runes that shimmered with a dark golden light in the setting sun.

Zhao Zilong and the Eight Vajra Warriors stood at the city gate to personally greet him.

Seeing Lin Chen alight from the carriage, the group quickly approached and knelt on one knee.

"This humble general, Zhao Zilong...pays respects to my lord!"

Lin Chen casually waved his hand:

"Get up, get up, stop with the formalities. We're not strangers, this is pointless."

Zhao Zilong stood up, looked at Lin Chen, and felt a hint of excitement in his eyes. The Eight Vajras felt the same way.

"My lord, you have had a long journey. I have prepared a banquet in the city to welcome you back and wash away the dust of your journey," Zhao Zilong said respectfully.

Lin Chen waved his hand and glanced at the city gate.

The soldiers, clad in bright armor, stood ramrod straight, their spears gleaming coldly in the sunlight. They were all full of energy and spirit, a far cry from the other border troops.

"Your soldiers are well-trained," Lin Chen praised.

Zhao Zilong smiled slightly: "This humble general dares not take credit. It is all thanks to the cultivation of our lord. If it weren't for the cultivation resources and techniques provided by our lord, this humble general would not have been able to train such soldiers."

Lin Chen chuckled lightly: "You've learned to flatter now? Who taught you?"

Zhao Zilong said solemnly, "This humble general is telling the truth, not flattering you."

Lin Chen laughed heartily, patted him on the shoulder, and strode into the city.

Zhao Zilong followed behind, half a step behind, maintaining a very upright posture.

The Northern City is different from other cities.

In other cities, the streets are lined with shops, restaurants, and teahouses, bustling with activity, selling all sorts of things.

In the Northern City, only the southern part has shops, restaurants, and teahouses.

The rest were mostly military camps, drill grounds, and weapons shops, all deserted and quiet, but the air was filled with a chilling atmosphere.

Eight out of ten people walking on the street are soldiers or wandering knights, wearing armor, carrying swords and spears, walking with a swagger, and their eyes are filled with a fierce look.

Yao Yao leaned against the car window, watching the soldiers, and muttered to herself:

"Wow, this place is terrifying. The way these people look at you is like they're about to kill you."

Lan Fenghuang smiled and said, "The Northern Border is a border region, and it's constantly at war with the Northern Shuo. Of course, it's different. If the soldiers aren't ruthless, they can't hold their ground."

Liu Shengxue looked out the window, her face expressionless.

Liu Sheng Piaopiao tugged at her sister's sleeve and whispered, "Sister, it's so cold here, much colder than in the Western Regions."

Liu Shengxue adjusted her collar and said calmly, "Bear with it, it'll be fine once we're inside."

Shan Lingkongya sat by the window, looking at the street outside, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

After arriving in Dayan, she visited the East Sea and some small towns, but this was her first time visiting a major border town like the Northern Territory.

Especially when she saw Lin Chen walking confidently at the front, Shan Lingkongya's heart couldn't help but pound, and she felt a little weak all over.

Zhao Zilong followed behind Lin Chen, talking about the recent situation in the Northern Territory.

"My lord, the northern border is relatively stable recently, but the old emperor of Beishuo is dying, and several princes are vying for the throne, causing chaos in the country."

There are occasional small groups of bandits on the border, but they pose no threat. I send men to patrol and kill them on sight. Now, basically no one dares to approach the border.

Lin Chen nodded: "A great change is coming soon. The Northern Territory should prepare early to avoid being caught off guard."

Zhao Zilong said solemnly, "This subordinate understands. The provisions, weapons, and formations are all ready."

The soldiers are also intensifying their training, ready to fight at any time.

I have taken stock of the northern border's reserves. There is enough food for three years and enough weapons to replace them twice.

After Mr. Li and Mr. Zhuge rearranged the formation, even ordinary land-based immortals would be unable to breach the city in a short time.

Lin Chen nodded slightly: "I trust you to handle things."

Zhao Zilong smiled slightly and said nothing.

But a glint flashed in his eyes; the lord's trust was more valuable than anything else.

Upon arriving at the general's residence, a banquet had already been prepared.

After a few rounds of drinks, Zhao Zilong put down his wine cup, looked at Lin Chen, and the smile on his face faded slightly.

"My lord, there is something I would like to tell you."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow slightly: "Speak."

A hint of solemnity appeared in Zhao Zilong's eyes as he said in a deep voice:

"Some strange phenomena have recently appeared in the North."

Lin Chen frowned: "What strange phenomenon?"

Zhao Zilong frowned: "This humble general can't explain it either. Half a month ago, some...strange things began to appear in the dense forest a hundred miles from the border."

Sometimes it's light, multicolored light, drifting around in the sky, like it's alive.

Sometimes it's a sound, like someone is talking.

But they couldn't hear what was being said, and after listening, they felt dizzy and lightheaded. Soldiers with low cultivation levels fainted on the spot.

Sometimes it's a shadow, moving around on the ground, but there's no one on it.

Zhao Zilong paused, picked up his wine cup, and took a sip, as if to calm his nerves.

"I personally investigated and found that with my cultivation level, my divine sense was suppressed after entering that area, and I could only extend it to a radius of ten feet."

Moreover... this humble general saw some things he shouldn't have seen.

"What is it?" Lin Chen asked, intrigued.

Zhao Zilong paused for a moment, then lowered his voice:

"I saw a mountain, but that mountain shouldn't be there."

I have spent more than half a year in the northern border region, and I can draw the terrain of the border region with my eyes closed.

That mountain appeared out of thin air. When I got closer to look, I found that the mountain... was transparent.

You can see what's behind the mountain, but when you touch it, it's solid.

Lin Chen narrowed his eyes.

"This humble general attempted to go in, but could not," Zhao Zilong continued.

"There is a force repelling me, as if... something doesn't want me to go in."

I tried three times, and each time I was bounced back. The last time, the force rebounded so strong that my hand on my hand split open.

He stretched out his hand, revealing a faint scar on the web of his hand that had healed, but it was clear that he had been seriously injured.

For a terrestrial deity to have his tiger's mouth cracked open by the shock is no joke.

Lin Chen remained silent for a moment, then picked up his wine glass and took a sip.

"Anything else?"

"Yes!" Zhao Zilong nodded: "The time in that area doesn't seem quite right either."

When I went in, it was noon; when I came out, it was dusk.

But I felt I was inside for less than half an hour, and... my beard has grown quite a bit.

Lin Chen put down his wine cup, scanned the entire city and its outskirts with his divine sense, but found nothing. After a moment of silence, he said:

"These things should be omens of a great change in the world."

Those things that have been sealed away for ten thousand years, those beings that have been dormant for ten thousand years, are awakening.

They weren't fully awake yet; they were just turning over, and this strange phenomenon had already occurred. When they truly awaken…

Lin Chen didn't continue.

Zhao Zilong's expression turned serious.