Red Heart Patrols the Sky

Chapter 1148: 365

The "Land Hanhai" was so vast that, of course, not everyone could fly across it in flesh and blood.

Ordinary people who wanted to cross the river didn’t have to risk their lives rowing and wrestling with the waves.

Across the entirety of the Long River, there were altogether nine great bridges.

These nine bridges boasted a long history, indestructible, having been ancient architecture passed down since the Middle Ancient Era, imbued with formidable power.

Amongst ancient legends, the Human Emperor slew the Dragon Emperor’s Nine Sons and smelted them into nine bridges to eternally guard the Long River, preventing it from stirring up wind and waves.

And this had continued on till today.

Therefore, the nine bridges were also known as "Nine Towns."

Over the years, there had been many attempts by the countries and sects on both sides of the Long River to build new bridges.

After all, the Long River was indeed too long, almost traversing the known world of the present, and the nine great bridges were far from enough to satisfy the need for passage.

Yet no matter which country took the lead, regardless of how much manpower and resources were used, not a single bridge could endure.

So much time had passed, so much great power had dissipated.

In the Middle Ancient Era, there were nine bridges across the river; in the present day, it was still these nine ancient bridges.

The "First Town" was further west of Wan Country, like holding the Long River’s throat. The "Ninth Town" approached Summer Country, as if nailing the tail of the Long River.

The expeditionary force of Qi Country crossed southward through Fertility Country, using the fifth great bridge.

This bridge was named the Suan Ni Bridge.

If before Jiang Wang only regarded the "Nine Towns" as legends to listen to, after learning the ins and outs of the Yellow River Gathering, his feelings had changed.

Defeating the Water Race, pursuing the Dragon Emperor. Creating such abundant and illustrious deeds, it didn’t seem inconceivable to him that the third generation Human Emperor really smelted the Nine Dragon Sons into nine bridges.

Perhaps the "Nine Towns" and the "Guanhe Platform" were meant to complement each other all along.

The Long River flowed through the present world, bending southward at Fertility Country to reach Jing Country.

In other words, the flow of the Yellow River segment was from the northwest to the southeast. It was not as straight eastward as it had been before.

The Suan Ni Bridge was located right at the upper part of this bend, just where the Yellow River segment began.

Coincidentally, where the Yellow River segment ended was at the "Sixth Town," where the Ba Xia Bridge was situated.

The stretch of the Yellow River passed right beneath the observation of the Guanhe Platform, and it happened to be anchored at both ends by two great bridges; it could no longer be simply described as mere coincidence.

It meant this segment was the crux of the Long River’s natural disasters.

It needed such "suppression."

Jiang Wang, riding "Yanzhao" with two other proud sons of the nation, stepped onto the Suan Ni Bridge under the escort of the Sky-covering Army soldiers.

At this point, the Great General Cao, riding at the front of the column.

The Suan Ni Bridge was a straight bridge, not an arch bridge.

The Long River flowed through here before becoming fierce, thunderously coursing southeast.

This ancient stone bridge was incredibly wide.

A convoy of hundreds seemed as small as ants upon it.

Yet the bridge’s design was extremely simple and unsophisticated, lacking any superfluous decorations, inheriting the typical Middle Ancient style. Everything was focused on practical use.

Riding at a gentle pace, one could hear the mighty roar of the water.

That faint trembling sensation brought an almost tangible oppression.

As if a colossal beast lurked beneath the stone bridge, running and bellowing.

And the bridge was so solid and secure that it firmly suppressed any turmoil, offering a profound sense of safety.

The Qi Country’s team walked on the right side of the Suan Ni Bridge, and Jiang Wang turned his head to the right, glancing past Ji Zhaonan and Zhongxuan Zun to the foaming white waves...

It was like a mighty dragon, originating from an unknowable land, and storming forth. It roared for thousands of miles, traversing the Six Harmonies, shattering majestic mountains, severing plateaus... sweeping away everything it passed with its furious waves.

What an immensely distant Long River it was!

Even straining his eyes, he could not see its end.

It wasn’t his first sight of the Long River, but he was still awed by this "Ancestor River."

It was the mother river that had nurtured countless generations of the Human Race over eons.

She was so great, so vast.

And what was particularly different today... freewebnøvel.coɱ

The water level of the Long River was already quite high.

Jiang Wang estimated that when the Long River surged to this point, with waves rolling high, they were less than thirty feet from the bridge deck at the moment. Considering the magnitude of the Long River, just a slight increase in water level, and a slightly larger wave could crash onto the bridge deck.

When the water level overtopped the bridge deck...

One could imagine what would happen to the lands on both sides of the Long River.

To determine the start of the Yellow River Gathering based on the Yellow River’s water level was indeed a continuation of the tradition of the Gathering. To contain the waters from inundating the banks of the Yellow River segment before it happened.

Yet Jiang Wang wondered.

What was this water level related to?

The mighty river wind billowed across the bridge, bringing with it many sounds from the other side of the bridge.

Howls of wolves, neighing of horses, people’s talking and laughing. freewebnovёl.ƈom

That was the team from Mu Country.

Their two groups approximately entered the bridge simultaneously, indeed a coincidence.

But the teams from the two countries each kept to one side, distinctly separate, leaving a vast blank space in the middle of the wide bridge.

Mu Country’s delegation and expeditionary force had arrived together; Jiang Wang had heard about this earlier.

Sky-covering Army soldiers who gossiped had even mocked that the grassland people had no manners.

At this moment, Qi Country’s side was in neat formation with strict discipline; though not numerous, one could tell at a glance that they were elite and strong soldiers.

Mu Country’s side, though seemingly impressive, was inevitably a bit disorderly.

Jiang Wang instinctively turned to look towards the left side of the bridge.

The carts drawn by white yaks, accompanied by the formidable and majestic Cangtu Divine Cavalry, had already moved ahead. The Cangtu Divine Cavalry indeed maintained the military decorum expected of them.

The boisterous group in the carriages behind were the dignitaries of Mu Country who had come to watch the event.