At noon that day Yuan Long and Qi Yuanzhong came up with their men!

Ning Chen had the army make camp and move again at night.

In his tent, Ning Chen sat bent over the map.

Another seven days and they could reach Shengguang City.

The road ran through a stretch of desert on the way. Half a day would see them across it, but there was nothing to stop Xiliang's soldiers lying in wait there, so he had to be careful.

Ning Chen sent for Yuan Long and told him to take men and find water.

Crossing the desert, they must carry water enough.

That day Ning Chen did not move the army at all.

They rested until the next day, and then the army broke camp and marched straight for Shengguang City.

Ning Chen did not move fast.

First, that woman Tantai Qingyue had cost him two or three days, and Xiliang must have its troops and officers assembled by now.

Second, he had called up a hundred thousand men from the frontier, and he had to wait for them.

He guessed the force Xiliang was gathering at Shengguang City would not be small.

Because if Shengguang City could not hold him, nothing after it would hold his advance either.

Two days later Ning Chen reached the edge of the desert.

But just as he was about to enter it, a scout came flying up to report that an envoy had come from Xiliang asking to see him.

Ning Chen narrowed his eyes. "How many of them are there?"

"My lord prince, twelve in all."

Ning Chen thought for a moment and ordered the army to make camp.

Then he had the scout bring Xiliang's envoy to him.

Ning Chen sat in his tent and waited.

Pan Yucheng, Feng Qizheng, Yue Congyun and the other masters were all there.

"Reporting to my lord prince, Xiliang's envoy asks to see you!"

A clear voice sounded outside the tent.

Ning Chen set down his teacup and said indifferently, "Bring him in."

The tent flap was lifted aside... and the scout…