Prologue: Phoenix Temple

In the second year of Qianming, winter, the twenty-sixth day of the eleventh month, Ji Mao. On the anniversary of Empress Dowager Xiaowen’s death, the Emperor led officials to Bao’en Temple for the memorial, was assassinated, and the imperial tomb collapsed.

—“The True Record of Emperor Xuanmin”

In the northern lands, the winter months bring a biting wind like knives. Vegetation withers, frost covers the mountains, and a chilling stillness pervades the world.

In such harsh weather, commoners—rich or poor—hide indoors to wait out the winter. The mountain roads are deathly silent, with only the howling of the northwestern wind sweeping over the rocks, wailing and raging, filling one with despair!

Suddenly, the urgent sound of hooves shatters the silence of the mountain path. A group of bloodstained armored riders, escorting a double-horse carriage, rushes in from the north.

Their steeds are all magnificent, but after running all night without rest, the warhorses are foaming at the mouth, utterly exhausted!

The leading rider, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, strikingly handsome, controls his horse while anxiously glancing back.

Not far behind, a cloud of dust rises—clearly visible is a squad of black-armored cavalry in relentless pursuit, about to catch up!

“Damn it!” The rider makes a snap decision, shouting, “Prepare to engage!”

The soldiers know all too well what turning to face the enemy means at this moment! But to buy time for those in the carriage, they all rein in their horses without hesitation and turn around!

In an instant, the pursuers are upon them, but the soldiers block the mountain pass with their lives, not letting them advance an inch!

On the distant carriage, the curtain lifts, revealing a pale and beautiful face. She wears a golden hairpin adorned with kingfisher feathers and a crimson robe, clutching a five- or six-year-old boy tightly. The boy’s face is filled with terror; his young heart cannot comprehend why his life has fallen from heaven to hell in a single night.

……

Those cavalrymen wear black iron armor, their helmets shaped like fierce tigers. On the left arm, the characters ‘夏侯’ are engraved in seal script, marking their identity—the private troops of the Carter clan, famed as the elite Black Armored Cavalry of the realm!

At their head rides a commander, hair bound with a golden crown, draped in a black cloak, with wolfish brows and eagle eyes, exuding an awe-inspiring presence! He rides a giant black horse, like a demon god from the underworld, looking down on the defenders blocking his path.

Even though the guards are prepared to die, their faces turn ashen at the sight of this man! To hunt down the Empress, the Carter clan has dispatched a Heaven-rank Grandmaster! Such peerless experts are few in the world—how could they possibly be stopped?!

The leading rider’s expression grows grave; he fears he cannot hold the enemy for long, and that Her Majesty and the Crown Prince will still be unable to escape!

The other side speaks first, his tone colder than the winter wind: “Henry Clark, the Emperor is already dead at Bao’en Temple. If you don’t want your entire clan executed, dismount and surrender!”

“Edward Carter!” The leading rider is revealed to be Henry Clark. He glares back, hatred in his eyes: “Your Carter clan received the Emperor’s grace, yet you murdered your sovereign and brought disaster to the nation. You deserve death a thousand times! Today, I will avenge His Majesty!”

“Overestimating yourself!” The golden-crowned, black-cloaked Edward Carter snorts coldly. With a wave of his ape-like arm, the Black Armored Cavalry charges at Henry Clark and his men.

Henry Clark draws his twin sabers from his back and roars, “Imperial Guards, fight to the death!” He spurs his horse forward to meet the enemy head-on!

The Imperial Guards roar in unison: “Fight to the death!” The cry seems to work magic, banishing all distractions from their minds, leaving only one thought—kill the enemy!

With a thunderous crash, the two sides collide in a life-and-death struggle! Though the Black Armored Cavalry outnumbers them, the terrain prevents them from using their full strength. The Imperial Guards are all highly skilled, especially Henry Clark, who is already an Earth-rank Master of immense power. His pair of steel sabers, infused with true energy, whirl like snow, cutting down countless weapons and enemies! He alone holds the pass, blocking all comers!

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Edward Carter sees that the Black Armored Cavalry still cannot break through, and his brow furrows—there’s no time to waste!

Henry Clark slashes down, cleaving an enemy and his horse in two! Amid the spray of blood and entrails, he suddenly senses danger. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees a black shadow leaping at him. Without thinking, he swings his saber!

The shadow is Edward Carter. Seeing the saber’s flash sweep toward him, he calmly extends his slender fingers and flicks—lightly, almost carelessly—striking the back of Henry Clark’s blade! The mighty blow is effortlessly broken by a single finger!

Blood spurts from the tiger’s mouth of Henry Clark’s right hand, and his saber flies from his grasp! Half his body goes numb; he doesn’t even have time to raise his other saber before Edward Carter’s palm strikes his chest!

Henry Clark is struck as if by lightning, spitting blood as he’s hurled several yards away, crashing into the rocks and sending gravel flying!

Such a vast difference in strength—this is the peerless might of a Heaven-rank Grandmaster, invincible across the land!