Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies

The opening of the Jing Luan Assembly did not have a specific date, only a general time frame.

The court merely required the summoned officials and martial masters to arrive in Dan Zhou after the rains and before the Start of Spring to complete the summoning.

Spring had just begun, and there was still a period of time until the rains, leaving what seemed like ample time. However, it would still take a considerable amount of time to travel across the country.

Even though those who were summoned were martial masters with exceptional physical strength and swiftness surpassing that of ordinary people, the Military Department responsible for leading the way would still issue orders to depart early in order to avoid missing the window.

For those in Yongzhou, Dan Zhou was not too far away, so the departure date was actually not that early.

Cities far from Dan Zhou had already commenced their journeys a month earlier.

Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, upon receiving the orders, did not delay and promptly relayed the summons to all those in Yongzhou who were called.

Many martial masters and officials of lesser renown felt a hint of despair upon hearing the news.

Their survival on this journey was uncertain.

But facing the summons of the Great Zhou Court, they were "listed" and utterly powerless to change their fate.

There had been those in the past who resisted, and the outcomes were not good.

Their entire families were executed.

Now, they could only resign themselves to their fate.

No one could withstand the suppression of the Great Powers of the Great Zhou Court.

When Shen Qing received the order, he did not hesitate or feel anxious.

The next morning, he took out the Crystal Silk Armor that Wu Sheng had been sent to purchase and wore it underneath his clothing, just in case.

This Crystal Silk Armor was not cheap; a single piece was worth thousands of taels.

Light as it appeared, it was extraordinarily sturdy, and martial masters below the Dan Realm would struggle to breach its defense.

The assembly would have a complex mixture of individuals, and with the Crystal Silk Armor, Shen Qing could save much effort, freeing him to focus on confronting martial masters of higher cultivation.

Beyond the Crystal Silk Armor, Shen Qing also carried many healing Elixirs, each costing a significant amount of money.

But now was not the time to be frugal.

Life was of the utmost importance.

One only has one life, and when that is gone, no amount of wealth is of any use.

After making thorough preparations, Shen Qing shouldered his treasure bow, hung his Dagger at his waist, and donned a grey-green silk robe, looking vibrant and spirited.

With the coming of spring, according to the common reckoning in Great Zhou, Shen Qing had turned nineteen.

Since leaving Hongshan Village, almost five years had passed in the blink of an eye.

Reflecting upon these five years, time seemed to have flown like an arrow. Yet, fortunately, these years had not been wasted, with his stature having changed drastically from the beginning.

Shen Qing knew that all of this stemmed from one word: "struggle."

Struggle against heaven, struggle against earth, struggle against men, striving to rise above.

And now, another struggle loomed ahead.

Shen Qing strode forward.

His aunt, uncle, and eldest sister stood outside the door, their eyes brimming with concern.

They might lack worldly experience, but they were aware of the happenings outside.

Uncle Shen the Second was a man of few words, and at this moment, he persistently puffed on his pipe, smoking non-stop.

As for eldest sister Shen Fang and auntie, both were tearful and distressed.

"Qingzi…"

Shen Qing stepped forward and said, "Don't worry about me. I'll only be away from home for half a year and will return safely."

"Alright, we'll all be waiting for you."

Shen Qing smiled and said, "Of course, if I don't come back, you all should quickly take the savings I've prepared for you and leave Yongzhou. Find a quiet place to live."

In this world, it's a place where might makes right, and connections matter.

Everything that my aunt and uncle have comes from me.

I am their greatest support.

If I fall, with their current capabilities, they can't hold on to everything they have in Yongzhou. It would be better to just give up.

What I've prepared for them should be enough for them to live a carefree life.

Uncle Shen the Second, with a worried frown, said, "We understand. Just...sigh...be careful in everything you do." Experience exclusive tales on empire

Shen Qing laughed heartily, "Don't worry, I won't die. If aunt and uncle have free time, could you find a good family for my sister? It has been so many years and she's not yet married, becoming an old maid. Hahaha..."

Saying that, Shen Qing didn't look back as he walked towards the gate of the Shen Mansion.

Outside the gate, many of the officials and martial masters from the two departments came to see him off.

Tian Xiaohu, Xiao Zhi, Chen Guang, Ji Youwu, and others were all present.

Shen Qing waved his hand and walked straight past them, with his head held high and chest out, without saying much.

"I, and the others, will await your triumphant return!" Chen Guang was the first to raise his fist and say loudly.

The rest followed in unison, "We await your triumphant return!"

As their voices echoed, Shen Qing's figure gradually disappeared into the streets.

Many officials and martial masters from Yongzhou gathered in twos and threes at the entrance of the county government office.

The soldiers from the Southern Domain Military Department who came to lead the way counted the numbers, and once they confirmed it was correct, without any hesitation, waved their hand and commanded, "Move out!"

The people of Yongzhou set off in a grand procession towards Dan Zhou in the south.

Most of them rode horses, but for Shen Qing, Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi, and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, riding horses wasn't faster than walking.

The three of them rode Rainbow Light, and traveled with the wind, side by side with the soldiers from the Southern Domain Military Department, even slightly ahead or above them, showing a sort of disregard for the rules.

The soldiers of the Southern Domain Military Department were not annoyed.

In past meetings of the Jing Luan Assembly, there were many with higher cultivation levels, far above them.

They were no match for them.

In their eyes, what they were doing now was just following orders, and there was no need to make trouble without reason or to act as if they owned the place.

Perhaps these people wouldn't even live as long as they would, so it wasn't worth it.

As Shen Qing and the others were on their way to Dan Zhou, many martial masters and officials summoned by the Great Zhou had begun moving, heading in unison towards Dan Zhou.

For a moment, Great Zhou seemed buzzing with activity.

Every 60 years, the grand scene of tens of thousands of martial masters acting together was slowly unfolding.

Throughout history, the Great Zhou expanded vast territories through the Jing Luan Assembly and quelled numerous large and small rebellions.

Some rose from the bottom to the top, achieving fame and establishing family legacies for generations.

However, such people were after all the minority.

One general achieves prominence, at the cost of countless lives.

Most people perished in the continual bouts of slaughter, becoming stepping stones for those who achieved fame, turning into nothing more than a clod of earth.

Zhou Country's territory is vast, and Dan Zhou is an important city in the southern part of Great Zhou.

Over the years, Huang Tian Sect has emerged from obscurity and become a force in the south, sweeping through the cities.

Many cities in the southern parts of Great Zhou had fallen.

Fortunately, the population of Great Zhou was concentrated in the north, and most of the south was wildlands. Losing some cities in the south was not yet crippling for Zhou Country.

But if this trend were allowed to continue, it would not end well.

Therefore, the court continued to dispatch large armies to eradicate the traitors and to engage in a prolonged stand-off with Huang Tian Sect.

Dan Zhou was the frontline city contested by both sides.