In the entire battlefield, perhaps only Song Zining understood why this was so.

The seventh young noble limped slowly but resolutely toward the summit of the holy mountain.

Murderous roars soon appeared on the battlefield as a group of mercenaries arrived at the foot of the holy mountain. They began charging up amidst loud cries, all of them valiant and unafraid of death. They had no idea what was at the summit, only that the war-banner was pointing there—and that was enough to ignite their blood-thirst and ferocity.

More and more mercenaries appeared at the foot of the mountain and began charging up. Meanwhile, the city guard who should’ve appeared was nowhere to be found.

A young mercenary arrived at the foot of the holy mountain and, stopping briefly to catch his breath, looked up toward the summit. He looked fairly young,...