Marquis Wen Yuan Mansion.

"Marquis Wen Yuan!" Zhu Huaijin and Liu Teng saw Shen Wenyan stride in and quickly stood up to greet him.

Shen Wenyan returned the greeting with a bow, his gaze sweeping over the two before finally settling on Jiang Ning, who sat calmly inside the hall.

"Brother Jiang, how is your health?"

"No problem!" Jiang Ning replied.

"Dongling Marquis’s great kindness, the Zhuge family will forever remember, unforgettable in this lifetime!" Upon seeing Jiang Ning, Zhuge Qingsong led the other two, bowing deeply in salutation.

Earlier at Zhuge Manor, Jiang Ning’s performance was so shocking that they had not recovered and failed to thank him.

Now, seeing Jiang Ning again, they finally had the chance to express their gratitude.

Jiang Ning nodded slightly, accepting the salutation.

Because, in reality, without his intervention, Zhuge Mansion would not have escaped today’s calamity.

At this moment, everyone entered the hall and settled into seats after greeting each other.

The Marquis’s servants quickly served fresh tea, fruits, and pastries.

The Marquis’s wife also withdrew from the hall at Shen Wenyan’s indication.

After serving tea, Shen Wenyan immediately spoke.

"Brother Jiang, how do you plan to proceed next?"

"Naturally, thoroughly exterminating Yingtian Alliance and Cross Immortal Gate!" Jiang Ning stated, continuing, "Now that Cross Immortal Gate and Yingtian Alliance are leaderless and at their weakest, we should once and for all!"

"Marquis, what do you require us to do?" Zhuge Qingsong immediately stood up, bowing to Jiang Ning in a posture of requesting to fight.

At this moment, Zhu Huaijin chimed in, "I will immediately send notices to each county, halting all financial and trade relations with Cross Immortal Gate and publicizing their crimes to isolate them."

Liu Teng bowed to Jiang Ning with determination in his eyes, "Give me half a day, and I can gather three thousand elite soldiers from the prefecture, all eighth-grade experts!"

Shen Wenyan said, "The Inspection Office can spare all resources, and I will send communication, allowing each county to transfer half of their personnel for support."

"With these forces, it will be enough!" Jiang Ning nodded.

After a brief discussion, Jiang Ning made the final decision.

The troops will be divided into two routes, with the main force aimed at Cross Immortal Gate.

Because rumors persist that behind Cross Immortal Gate lies the presence of Immortals.

This has been the foundation of Cross Immortal Gate’s enduring prosperity over the centuries.

In each generation of Cross Immortal Gate, there have always been experts above second grade in the Grandmaster Realm holding the fort, even once a figure in the Mixed Element Realm emerged.

Thus, even though the two second-grade Great Grandmasters of Cross Immortal Gate have fallen, Jiang Ning does not dare to underestimate them.

Moreover, he wants to take this opportunity to examine the reality of those so-called Immortal figures.

Previously, he had only interacted with disciples of Qingyang Cave Heaven from the younger generation.

At that time, his power was limited, merely at the level of a Grandmaster.

But now, he has stepped into the First Grade Mixed Element Realm.

The accumulation is much deeper than it was at that time.

In terms of confidence, he has grown a lot.

And he understands that as he continues to grow, someday he cannot avoid facing those ancient, monstrous entities head-on.

Just like the Martial Saint from eight hundred years ago.

This is an essential conflict of interest between the two.

As long as he keeps growing, one day he will reach the level to stand shoulder to shoulder with that Martial Saint, and perhaps even surpass him.

And now, while the Martial Saint’s lingering influence remains, it is the best time to test the depths.

Moreover, he bears a cursed, damaged body, its corruption having invaded his organs.

In the eyes of the world, he poses no threat.

Thus, this also increases his safety.

...

After a while.

Arranged by the marquis’s wife, everyone gathered at the banquet table.

At the banquet, Shen Wenyan and others continued their discussion.

Solving the root cause of all chaos in Guangning Prefecture was a significant matter, one that they could not approach carelessly.

Moreover, they understood Jiang Ning’s health was poor, having used forbidden techniques to kill Ji Mingzhou, depleting his body and burning his life.

It was unrealistic to rely more on Jiang Ning.

Therefore, in their eyes, the burden on them was heavy, not light at all.

Although Cross Immortal Gate is the strongest, underneath it lies local forces with second-grade Grandmasters. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

And they knew, Wang Wenzong had left, no longer in the city.

After a satisfying meal.

Everyone finished their discussion and went to make arrangements.

This also allowed Jiang Ning a moment of reprieve.

To completely break Cross Immortal Gate is not a feat achievable by one person.

That is a hegemonic force with thousands of disciples.

Just the number of people alone requires an army’s cooperation.

And coordinating various personnel takes time.

Army movement also takes time.

...

In the afternoon, the sun, having just emerged, was soon obscured by overcast clouds, the temperature dropping sharply, the cold biting more intense.

Jiang Ning returned to his courtyard, sitting cross-legged in the snow, his Heart Spirit sinking into his inner world.

At this moment, snowflakes suddenly began to fall from the sky.

[Skill]: Winter Times Compendium (Perfection 7388/10000)

With a thought, the panel appeared before him.

"It’s time to complete the final cultivation." Scanning the Experience Value column, he spoke to himself inwardly.

Subsequently, he merged his Heart Spirit into the heaven and earth, becoming part of this endless icy and snowy world.

In an instant, images appeared in his Heart Spirit: the chill between heaven and earth, the hibernation of all things, the sealing of ice and snow...

Then, the Conceptions of the six major solar terms rotated endlessly within his inner world: the conservation of Beginning of Winter, the initial chill of Minor Snow, the cover of Great Snow, the extreme yin of Winter Solstice, the crystallization of Minor Cold, the deathly silence of Major Cold—constantly evolving.

He wasn’t merely visualizing but had fused his Heart Spirit entirely with the heavens and the earth.

He could hear the faint heartbeat of seeds deep in the soil.

He could see the slow pulse of fish beneath the ice layer.

He could perceive the majestic murderous aura and the buried hidden vitality within the howling north wind.

[Winter Times Compendium Experience Value +299]