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Chapter Two Live Longer, Walk Further
writer:无罪      update:2022-07-21 15:26
  The black umbrellas carefully escorted the white-dressed woman as she walked and got onto a waiting carriage.

  The youth, who had come out of the half-destroyed oil shop, continued to stare unblinkingly at the white-dressed woman. He only sighed after the white-dressed woman lifted the curtain and entered the carriage. “So beautiful.”


  The black-robed swordsman who had fallen not far from him finally returned to his thoughts. Thinking of the meaning of the white-dressed woman’s words, an enormous joy and shock filled his body.

  “Beautiful?”


  Then he started to reflect on the youth’s words. Bureau Chief Ye’s beauty was undoubted, yet it was blasphemy to describe the beauty of her, a titan of the country, a cultivator people looked up to, as “beautiful.”


  Hoofbeats sounded and the carriage that carried the female bureau chief of the Qin Dynasty disappeared through the mist and rain.

  The majority of the black-robed swordsmen disappeared silently from the street, just like how they came.

  The street completely woke up. More and more people wanted to come out of their doorways and see what had occurred. But in the span of a few breaths, the sound of metal hitting the ground covered the sound of rain and wind.

  In a flash, numerous incoming chariots formed walls of metal and blocked their view.

  “You are Ding Ning, from Falling Parasol Wine Shop? Why did you come here to get sesame oil?” a slightly balding and fat middle-aged official handed a dry piece of cloth asked this question to the youth who was almost completely soaked. They were under a crude temporary shack.

  This official had an extremely friendly expression. Due to the urgency, his forehead glistened with oily light, and gave people a feeling he was ordinary. However, most officials and soldiers deliberately maintained a certain distance from him. Anyone who had some knowledge in Changling knew that he was Mo Qinggong.

  He was one of the most experienced “evil hounds” of the Divinity Bureau.

  “Evil hound” was not a complimentary nickname but it contained many meanings. Other than viciousness, and a strong sense of smell, it frequently meant that this person had someone behind him powerful. “Evil hounds” like him were difficult to deal with and could not be beaten. The best method was to keep a distance.

  For example, like this moment. When he arrived, before his breathing recovered, he held dozens of scrolls in his hand, one of them recording the identity of this puzzling youth in front of him.

  This youth called Ding Ning did not realize the terror of the slightly fat and easygoing middle-aged official. He used the dry cloth that Mo Qinggong handed him to wipe away the mud and water on his face as he curiously examined the sculped chariots and armored soldiers on the chariots with the wolf patterns on their sword hilts. He did not immediately answer Mo Qinggong’s question and asked in response, “This is the Tiger-Wolf Army of our Qin?”


  Mo Qinggong wiped away the beads of sweat on his forehead and answered, “Yes.”


  “Who lived in that courtyard?” After wiping the dust and mud off, Ding Ning, who appeared even more delicate, asked with a serious expression, “To attract so many people?”


  Mo Qinggong felt Ding Ning became even more interesting. He seemed to be infected by the other’s calm presence and calmed slightly. His eyes flashed with an odd light.

  “Have you heard of the Sword Furnace?” he asked pleasantly, rather than become angry.

  “The Sword Furnace of the country of Zhao?” Ding Ning was slightly dazed.

  “Exactly.” Mo Qinggong looked at him amiably and said patiently, “Ever since our great Qin Dynasty started to war with the country of Zhao, the people in the world finally understood the strongest cultivators of the country of Zhao wasn’t the Blue Sun Sword Tower, but that seemingly unrmarkable blacksmith shop. The eight core disciples of Sword Furnace are existences who could wipe out entire cities with one blow. We have destroyed the country of Zhao thirteen years ago, but the remaining evil elements of the Sword Furnace are still a thorn in the throat of our Great Qin. If we cannot pluck it out, we will not be able to rest. The one we killed today is the seventh disciple of the Sword Furnace, Zhao Zhan.”


  “No wonder …… ……” Ding Ning said thoughtfully as he saw through the gaps between the chariots to the destroyed courtyard that many practitioners were carefully flipping through.

  Mo Qinggong smiled slightly. “Now you understand why I asked you such trivial questions?”


  Ding Ning nodded seriously. “With such a major enemy lurking here, you have to investigate everyone nearby. Especially someone like me who doesn’t live here, you have to investigate even more.”


  Mo Qinggong nodded in praise. “Then will you answer the questions I asked you?”


  Ding Ning smiled and said, “The truth is the sesame oil shop near my home wasn’t open these past two days so I had to come here, the next closest one. I hadn’t thought I would be delayed by a storm here and encounter something like this.”


  Mo Qinggong was silent for a moment. Then he grabbed an umbrella and handed it to Ding Ning. “Since that’s the case, you can leave.”


  Ding Ning was slightly shocked, and asked with bright eyes, “So simple?”


  “You don’t bear to leave? Do not seek trouble!” Mo Qinggong scolded exasperatedly. He waved his hand indicating for the youth to leave quickly.

  “Then your umbrella?”


  “If I do not come for it, it’s a gift to you.”


  Gazing at Ding Ning’s back, Mo Qinggong’s expression grew cold. After thing for a moment, he shouted in a low voice to the rain hut behind him. “Summon Qin Huaishu!”


  A thin young person dressed in blue robes walked into this temporary hut not long after his shout.

  Mo Qinggong raised his head slightly and looked at this young person who walked in front of him. His finger gently tapped at the scroll open in front of him. After tapping a dozen times, he slowly asked, “This youth Ding Ning from Falling Parasol, you made his case file, do you have any memory of him?”


  The thin young person stood respectfully with a bent head as he replied firmly, “Yes.”


  Mo Qinggong looked coldly at him. He said solemnly, “According to his file, he and his young aunt’s birth are extremely clean. However, why did you make such a file then?”


  The thin young man seemed to have expected this question and answered without hesitation, “This youth is without a doubt a citizen of the Qin. His last few generations of ancestors are known. The reason the subordinate has prepared this case file is because the Fang Marquessate Establishment has been in contact with him. The Fang Marquessate Establishment has once invited Fang Xiumu to see him.

  Mo Qinggong stilled. “Fang Marquessate Establishment?”


  The thin young person nodded. “This youth has been in in the care of his aunt after his parents died from illness in his childhood. His aunt has a wine shop in Falling Parasol. The shop is small but famed. People from the Fang Marquessate Establishment had once bought wine from this shop and seemed to feel that this boy had potential. They invited Fang Xiumu to personally see him.”


  Mo Qinggong frowned and his finger unconsciously started tapping on the table again.

  “And then?” he asked after a moment of thought.

  The thin young person answered seriously, “After Fang Xiumu looked at him, the Fang Marquessate Establishment never contacted this boy again. This subordinate speculates that Fang Xiumu felt that he cannot become a practitioner. As this boy has low status, and there are no doubts about his birth, this subordinate only prepared a case file and did not spend more effort in investigating.”


  Mo Qinggong’s eyes showed slight praise. “Well done.”


  The thin young man’s expression did not change. He said calmly, “This subordinate only is fulfilling his duties.”


  Mo Qinggong thought for a moment and asked, “Wine from a little place like Falling Parasol can enter the eye of the Fang Marquessate Establishment?”


  The thin young man shook his head. “The reason that his wine shop is famous is because his aunt is extremely beautiful.”


  Mo Qinggong was stunned.

  The thin young man still didn’t lift his head but an imperceptible smile played at the corner of his mouth. He thought, Sir, if you see that woman, you will be even more shocked.

  Mo Qinggong smiled and laughed at himself. He suddenly looked seriously at the thin young man and said softly, “I put you on the list of recommended for Spirit Void Sword Sect this time.”


  “Sir!”


  The thin young man had maintained his respectful and steady posture before this yet Mo Qinggong’s words caused his body to shudder and him to involuntarily shout.

  Mo Qinggong’s expression did not change much. He patted the shoulder of this excited young person and said slowly, “Before you go to Spirit Void Sword Sect to cultivate, help me one more time. Investigate the backgrounds of him and the people around him. Help me find out what assessment Fang Xiumu gave of him.”


  All the streets and alleys of Changling were straight and at right angles just as Zhao Zhan ha said. Even the towers were evenly spread out in the city.

  At a tower closest to Mo Qinggong’s rain hut, a wisteria chair was placed behind the sheet of rain. An old person dressed in plain ordinary robes sat on the chair, his thin white hair spread around his shoulders like roots of ginseng.

  A young person with a healthy physique in yellow robes stood behind the old person.

  The young person had a refined appearance and a peaceful expression. He was a type that people easily felt positive about at a glance. At this point, his hands were on the back of the wisteria chair, seeming humble yet intimate.

  “What are you thinking?”


  The old man’s gaze returned from the distance as he smiled and asked proactively.

  The yellow-robed young person moved and walked next to the old person. He said respectfully, “Master, since Bureau Chief Ye was able to kill Zhao Zhan alone, it means that she has at least passed the doorway to realm seven second class. But I do not understand. At present in Changling …… …… other than Bureau Chief Ye, other people are able to kill Zhao Zhan by themselves. Why did His Majesty have to have Bureau Chief Ye, who was cultivating out in the ocean, come back?”


  The old person smiled slightly and pointed with a withered finger out of the tower. “What do you see?”


  The yellow-robed young person looked hard but only saw the straight alleys and streets in the storm. He replied apologetically, “This student is stupid and hopes for Master’s guidance.”


  “You are too nearsighted. You only see these streets, you cannot see the borders of Changling.” The old man’s eyes were half-lidded as he slowly said, “But you should know, this city is the only capital city in the world without outer walls. The reason it doesn’t need the protective outer walls is because the sword of every one of us Qin are the city walls.”


  The yellow-robed young person turned serious and became silent.

  “His Majesty, or rather, Minister Li, sees much further than you do.”


  The old person glanced benevolently at the yellow-robed young person and said with slight disdain. “There are at least two intentions behind summoning Bureau Chief Ye back. One is that while Changling does not lack for people who can kill Zhao Zhan, one more person is another increase in presence. While Bureau Chief Ye had a fearsome reputation in the past, most people doubt that she reached realm seven. Today, Bureau Chief Ye killing Zhao Zhan with one blow is like a thunderclap in autumn. The invisible wall around Changling is a bit thicker. On another level, Bureau Chief Ye has been gone for many years. Many, including me, have doubts and suspect that Bureau Chief Ye is not trusted by His Majesty and has been exiled. Bureau Chief Ye has suddenly returned to eradicate evil elements. This shows that His Majesty has been close with Bureau Chief Ye all this time. The rumors and doubts have been disproven.”


  “Minister Li does see much further than me,” the yellow-robed young person sighed.

  When he said the words “Minister Li,” his expression was both one of admiration and shame.

  Minister Li was a distinguished appellation.

  The Qin Dynasty had two prime ministers, one Yan, the other Li.

  The two prime ministers were different in their age, appearance, habits and all other areas. But they were similarly mysterious and powerful.

  Their mysteriousness and power meant that the great majority of places in Changling were under their shadow. Everyone was certain they were powerful cultivators but no one had seen them act, and almost no one qualified to see their true appearances.

  Truly powerful …… …… as in many people who were extremely strong and fear-inducing were just their faithful subordinates.

  People who were too strong usually had no friends.

  So in Changling, when people mentioned Minister Li or Minister Yan, the corresponding emotions were unusually reverence, fear, anger and hate, but rarely true admiration such as in the tone of this yellow-robed young person.

  “Master is most likely correct. His Majesty has focused primary on cultivation in this period of time, and Minister Li is most likely in charge…… …… however, the Deer Mountain Conference is coming soon, and he should have more ideas to have summoned Bureau Chief Ye back,” said the yellow-robed young person after sighing and thinking for a moment.

  The old person smiled in satisfaction.

  In his opinion, this last student of his was not especially intelligent, but his personality was as straight and honest as the streets of Changling.

  He had no natural enmity towards any person, and he would learn from each person’s attitudes.

  A person like this would live long and go far in the turbulent Qin Dynasty.

  It was alright if he could not see far now, if he could walk far enough, he would see more than other people.

  Volume 3 2 - Borrowing Power

  In the morning in Falling Parasol, the noodle shop owner looked dazedly at the busy masons and carpenters.

  Yesterday, people from the government had come and recorded the losses before paying silver as reparation. But this morning, another group of people started to repair the destroyed buildings near Falling Parasol. From the materials they used, the rebuilt buildings would be much better than the original.

  Large amounts of wood and stone occupied half of the street, making it difficult for carriages to pass through. A man dressed in a long brocade robe deboarded the carriage, avoiding the various obstacles as he walked towards the wine shop and Xue Wangxu’s small courtyard.

  Zhang Yi was coincidentally throwing out water at the gates. Seeing this man, Zhang Yi immediately put down the face basin in his hand, wiped his hands and bowed.” Mister Wang Taixu.”


  Sensing the presence from the man walking closer, Zhang Yi was stunned. Then he said in admiration and joy, “Congratulations, Mister, for your breakthrough.”


  The man walking closer was Wang Taixu. He looked as thin and fragile as usual but his complexion was not as pale as before and had a faint layer of glowing and flashing light.

  In Zhang Yi’s perception, Wang Taixu’s body seemed to contain an extra world that was empty but also contained great power that could erupt at any time. This stark difference caused him to realize that Wang Taixu had reached realm six, and seemed to have already absorbed his lifebond item and cultivate his lifebond sword.

  Wang Taixu, as a cultivator from the streets, reached realm six in the prime of his life. Zhang Yi sincerely admired his cultivation speed.

  Hearing Zhang Yi’s congratulations, Wang Taixu smiled and returned the bow.

  Ding Ning walked out of the small courtyard. He looked at Wang Taixu and said half-jokingly, “You are finally not too fragile.”


  Wang Taixu looked seriously at him and said, “If you had not shared some whale jade gel with me, maybe I would still be very fragile right now.”


  Zhang Yi was stunned. Before now, he hadn’t known that Ding Ning had shared some of the valuable whale jade gel that Vice Bureau Chief Sikong of the Bureau of Ceremonies had gifted him.

  “Have you discovered the origins of those death warriors?” Ding Ning asked calmly, seeming unconcerned and changed the topic.

  Since those death warriors had been used to assassinate Fu Su, the person behind the scheme would naturally not allow people to discover the connection between the warriors and the true mastermind. But Changling’s gangsters had different means compared to the government. They could search for the traces that those people left behind in Changling’s streets.

  “They are not foreigners. They have lived in Changling for more than two years,” Wang Taixu looked at him and said, “But in these two years, they never exposed themselves as cultivators. Two of them even have made families in Changling. Even their wives and children hadn’t known they were cultivators.”


  Ding Ning said, “They hid deeply.”


  Wang Taixu glanced at him and said, “May we speak alone?”


  Ding Ning frowned. Those present were not outsiders so Wang Taixu saying such a thing meant that this was a matter of great importance.

  “Yes!” He nodded and turned to walk towards the wine shop.

  Wang Taixu followed him into the wine shop and closed the door. Then he said in a voice that only he and Ding Ning could hear, “There is something I want to ask your opinion about.”


  Ding Ning glanced at him and said, “What great matter has made you so cautious? Say it all, otherwise, I cannot bear it.”


  “It really is a great matter.” Wang Taixu whispered, “It should be Zhao Si.”


  Ding Ning’s expression froze. He reacted immediately and said cautiously, “You discovered her tracks?”


  Wang Taixu nodded slowly and whispered, “After the battle outside Fish Market, she did not flee into the wilderness outside Changling but returned into the city. She rented a room in Spring Wind Tower which is coincidentally our property. The female proprietor of the tower have no good traits, but due to previously being a teacher of palace attendants, she is able to see the different presence of men, women, and even eunuchs at a glance. That person was clearly a woman but rented a room which was strange. I naturally went to look. I could only confirm she was a cultivator, but was unable to sense her cultivation. As I just have reached Lifesource Realm, I could faintly sense that her presence was unstable. Adding on the rumors in the streets, I think that she is likely to be Zhao Si.”


  Ding Ning took a deep breath.

  Many people in Cultivator knew that after the battle upon the Wei River, Bai Shanshui, Zhao Si, and Zhao Yi had fled with serious injuries. Of them, Zhao Yi had lost a sword and Zhao Si’s lifebond sword had been destroyed. They would be heavily pursued by the powerful cultivators of the Qin Dynasty and their fates were unknown at the moment.

  Who would have thought, that after enduring that kind of serious injury, Zhao Si would return and hide in Changling?

  “This is really seeking life within death. The people of the Sword Furnace are so reckless.” Ding Ning slowly exhaled the cold air in his lungs. He looked at Wang Taixu and said, “Zhao Si cannot die …… you cannot trade her for benefits. The Sword Furnace still has people. If something happens to her on your territory, no one from the Two Level Tower will be left alive in the future.”


  “My thoughts are to not do anything and pretend I did not discover her identity,” Wang Taixu looked at Ding Ning and whispered seriously.

  Ding Ning shook his head and said, “This is an opportunity.”


  Wang Taixu frowned and said humbly, “What do you mean?”


  “Bai Shanshui entered Fish Market, Zhao Si appeared. Even we feel that there is a connection between the people of the Zhao Sword Furnace and Bai Shanshui. The person who set up the situation may wanted to know of some things …… since Zhao Si and the gangsters of Fish Market have connections, they will naturally feel that Zhao Si has connections to other gangsters.” Ding Ning narrowed his eyes slightly and slowly said, “Without your help in hiding here, I fear that Zhao Si will quickly be found. Even if you think there are no problems at the time, those important people will not think the same.”


  Pausing, Ding Ning looked up at Wang Taixu’s eyes. He continued to speak. “As to Zhao Si, she knows that you are the most capable person on the streets of Changling …… so her arrival at Spring Wind Tower may not be just with the intentions of hiding.”


  Wang Taixu carefully thought for a long moment and grimaced. He said, “This is a hot potato.”


  “It is a hot potato,” Ding Ning looked at him and said calmly, “but a hot potato can be eaten. Send Jing Mozong to her as a condition.”


  Wang Taixu stilled slightly. “Jing Mozong?”


  Ding Ning glanced at him and said, “You cannot scheme for long with a great rebel, especially with people from the Zhao Sword Furnace whose lives hang on the edge of a sword. You cannot have long-lasting connections to them. For them, they will not refuse taking in another disciple, especially one suited to their sword path. Disciples of the Zhao Sword Furnace are great enemies in the eyes of the Qin. They are naturally happy to add one more enemy of the Qin Dynasty. In order to establish yourself in Changling, it does not depend on how much use you are to those important people, but how many powerful swords you have on hand. So you prevent Zhao Si from death, and have her raise a sword for you.”


  Wang Taixu thought for a moment and said, “You are certain that Jing Mozong is suitable?”


  Ding Ning said seriously, “I fought together with him. I am certain he is suitable. As to talent …… supposedly, more than half of the Zhao Sword Furnace disciples are untalented and dense metal. This may be one of the reasons that the grandmaster of the Zhao Sword Furnace is so revered by the world. That grandmaster passed his mantle onto Zhao Si, and even gave Zhao Yi to Zhao Si to teach. Zhao Si naturally has the ability to hammer and shape metal.”


  Wang Taixu relaxed after making his decision. He started to admire Zhao Si and couldn’t help but shake his head. He whispered, “Who would have thought that the famed Fourth Mister Zhao is actually a woman and has such spirit.”


  Ding Ning said camly, “She chose you. This says that your spirit is also quite good.”


  Wang Taixu grimaced, looked at him and said, “Other people do not know, but you gave me half of my spirit.”


  Ding Ning’s expression was absolutely calm but his breathing started to heat up.

  This was an accident completely out of his expectations that he would connect with the swords of the Zhao Sword Furnace in a manner like this.

  If there was a connection, then there was the possibility of borrowing power.

  A silent and stoic youth travelled among the streets.

  He wore exceptionally thick fur clothing, not the commonly seen fox skin and deerskin, but the skins of the winter wolves from extremely cold places.

  This kind of fur was fluffy but it was not soft and looked exceptionally bold.

  Even in weather like this in Changling, only a rare few would dress in such thick clothing.

  It was commonly believed people who wore such clothing would fear the cold more than other people and come from places with warm weather all year around. In reality, people who came from especially cold places fear the cold even more.

  Their fear of cold was a kind of habit, a mental cold. Because they would encounter extremely terrible conditions in their usual range of activity, they were more careful against the death that could come at any moment. This forced them into the habit of keeping warm at any time.

  This youth was so.

  His gaze was cold, and with the thick fur he wore, he looked like a walking wolf.

  “Li Xixing, you want to go to Falling Parasol to fight that youth?” Suddenly, a voice came from a nearby carriage ahead of him.

  Translator Ramblings: Zhao Si hiding in a brothel is a great idea on her part, especially Wang Taixu’s brothel. Ding Ning has now managed to forge a relation between a Qin gangster and a Zhao rebel, a win-win-win for all three people involved.

  Also, larkspur bugged me into making a group discord. Happy New Years!

  Volume 6 2 - Love and Hate

  The sun came out, the stars hid and the black night disappeared.

  One Qin sentry woke up in the morning and came out of the tent. He took vegetable soup that had some minced meat added from a heated pot outside the tent, tore a few pieces of bread, and then had a full meal.

  When he climbed onto the arrow turret to replace the previous sentry to look at Tianqi City, there was even a hint of sympathy in his contented gaze.

  Tianqi City was one of the most important cities of the Chu Dynasty on the Yin Mountain border. Yet as Sima Cuo led two hundred thousands in, with multiple consecutive ambushes, they had cut off this place from the other Chu border cities.

  Now, Tianqi City was a lone city under siege, and even many Qin soldiers called this city the “city abandoned by the heavens”.

  The Chu military were pressed to the point they had to retreat. This city was fated to be abandoned. After being under siege for many days, there had been high fatalities among the Chu army in the city. They were not just short on food but also drinking water.

  The Qin Dynasty’s power was far greater than before. This was not just in the number of cultivators in the army, the ordinary soldiers could even feel it from the food. Thinking as to how well he had eaten for the first meal, and the Chu people in the city could only fill their bellies with tree bark and roots, this Qin soldier felt some sympathy.

  But even so, the Chu soldiers in this abandoned border city still appeared very stubborn. In the past several days, Qin troops three times their number had mounted fierce attacks a dozen times, and even some powerful cultivators had charged onto the streets of the city. Relying on some seal weapons, the Chu military, or rather, the Chu people, managed to hold on to the city.

  When this Qin sentry thought of this, the sympathy in his gaze disappeared, turning into graveness. In the next moment, his face turned stiff, and his eyes filled with shock.

  There were many unusual reflections and smoke appearing on the distant horizons. Some golden reflections and smoke was the signal means of the Qin army, and should come from the vanguard of the army. More of the reflections came from the armor and the weapons, and the lights of the seal weapons when they gathered primal energies of the universe!

  Black cavalry started to fill his sight. There were at least ten thousand cavalry coming towards the city. From a seal weapon on the turret that could improve his sight, the Qin soldier saw that there were almost an endless stream of chariots behind the cavalry.

  To his shock, there were many large seal weapons being dragged by the chariots, towering like little mountains or like ships and palaces moving on the ground.

  Sentries like him had the duty of immediately warning when he had spotted the enemy, but now, he was not needed. Because he was not the sentry at the very front. Even more importantly, the golden light and smoke that had rose before had warned all the Qin soldiers here this was a small Chu army, but a large one!

  The turrets of Tianqi City were naturally taller than the temporary arrow turrets that the Qin troops had built, and so the Chu soldiers on the walls could see more clearly.

  Seeing the army coming towards them, especially seven metal statues of celestials that were dozens of feet tall, these Chu soldiers were very shocked. These enormous statues were made from bronze, and were covered with dense blue lines.

  Each metal statue had nine chariots below it, and each chariot had multiple cultivators. Among these cultivators, there was a person who held a bronze seal weapon shaped like a short stick.

  This was the strongest seal weapons of the Chu Dynasty “Flying Heavens.” Each of these seal weapons needed nine realm six cultivators to activate, and each attack far surpassed the power of ordinary realm seven cultivators. There were only sixteen of such seal weapons, and they only existed in the main Chu army.

  So this was not a strategic counterattack, but a final battle of the main armies!

  Looking down from the sky, Tianqi City had become a nail on the battle line of the Qin army.

  The Qin army were mostly dressed in black robes and armor, a sea of black. The Chu army were mostly dressed in bronze armor like a green river.

  On a distant plain far from Tianqi City, the place where the pillars of light and the burning smoke came from, the vanguard of the Qin army had already started to fight the Chu army vanguard.

  Seal weapons, arrows, blood, limbs, and metal pieces were dancing in the air. The Qin army which had not been prepared enough were constantly retreating under the mad attacks of the Chu army.

  On the sand table in the Qin army central tent, Tianqi City was just a relatively large flag. The tent which had been empty usually was filled with the high ranking Qin generals and strategists, waiting for the orders of Sima Cuo who had a dark expression.

  Sima Cuo’s gaze swept across many places, and he plucked up many flags. In the end, his gaze fell on Tianqi City.

  “Before night, I want this central tent to be moved into the city.” After a long silence, he ordered.

  A Qin general suddenly stopped breathing. He had followed Sima Cuo more many years, but he knew that the orders meant they were going to face the resistance of almost three hundred thousand soldiers, as they pressed on to breach Tianqi City before night.

  “Why?”


  While they could not go against Sima Cuo’s orders, he could not help but ask.

  “The Chu army do not have enough food, and when they advance madly like this, their food and seal weapon supply cannot keep up.”


  Sima Cuo looked up and glanced at him coldly, saying, “But I did not expect Tang Mei to dare to do this. As long as the Chu army keeps on winning, our food and seal weapons will become their supplies. From the present situation, we are going to lose everything. We have to stop the Chu charge so that there is time for our other armies to move. Otherwise, with his superior forces, he will take the main army. Tianqi City is the only defense place within a hundred miles. You should know how this Tianqi City managed to stop our army. If we breach the city before dark, we can set up defenses in the city, and stop the Chu army advance. The armies along the way will be killed by the Chu army, but compared to the only winning opportunity, this sacrifice is worth it.”


  Sima Cuo would only speak a lot when teaching Fusu. Usually, when commanding the war and talking to his subordinates, he was few of words. His abnormality right now caused the generals in the tent to know that even Sima Cuo …… was very nervous.

  “I will go.”


  A cultivator with shoulder-length hair who looked like a strategist spoke from a corner of the tent. He wore black robes, but his collar was very high and the shadow covered his face.

  When he spoke, many cold and dark presences surged out of the shaded corners of the tent. Many black flowers formed, and the pupils of some of the realm seven cultivators in the tent contracted.

  Sima Cuo did not look at him and just nodded. “Thank you, Sir.”


  Volume 2 2 - The Story of the Past

  This chapter has been brought to you by me, and larkspur.

  Forefather Zhou’s hands stopped at the top of the young girl’s shoulders.

  The clean but withered hands and the smooth and white skin of the young girl’s neck formed a strong contrast with a kind of evil beauty.

  Because his mind was filled with violent and malicious emotions, he did not realize the passing of time. His hands were motionless. Zhou Susang did not know what he was doing and for a moment, shook uncontrollably.

  Forefather Zhou was only startled awake when the clear trembling reached his palms.

  His body moved back to his own cough. With a harmonious expression, he waved at the young girl, indicating she could leave. He also said softly, "There should be no problems. Just continue to cultivate."

  Zhou Susang’s anxiety immediately disappeared. She bowed respectfully to this old man before leaving.

  Forefather Zhou did not watch her leave. He was silent, his head held low, and expression dark.

  Time, to an old man like him, was extremely urgent. But for a powerful cultivator who was stuck at a certain obstacle but could not cultivate due to problems of the body that would cause his entire energy sea to solidify, losing the large amounts of time he once spent cultivating to idleness, made time appear extremely long.

  Each breath was an ordeal.

  A person amidst such an ordeal, that possessed great power but could not advance and only feel himself heading towards old age and death, would not feel pleased.

  The only good thing was that he had more time than other cultivators to mull over matters.

  From the beginning, his intentions were for Ding Ning to be short-lived.

  The ultimate sword method of the Zhou Family Painting Remnant Scroll could not fall into the hands of outsiders. Otherwise, the gradually declining Zhou Family would lose its last foundation.

  Based on his cultivation experience, before the Min Mountain Sword Trials started, Ding Ning’s energy sea would start to freeze.

  At that time, he would not need to act. The opponents of the Min Mountain Sword Trials would make Ding Ning disappear from the world.

  Now, Ding Ning was of no use to him in deciphering the Painting Remnant Scroll. First, he had to confirm the wine shop youth did not lie to him, and then he did not want this wine shop youth to die without meaning …… .

  As he thought, Forefather Zhou’s hands laced together and his expression darkened as he spoke to himself.

  The great event he spoke of was, of course, the Deer Mountain Conference.

  The Deer Mountain Conference that the four great dynasties had set up nine years ago was a chance for the dynasties to fight with sagacity and courage, while evincing their profound strength.

  The monarchs of the dynasties would come to Deer Mountain; the most spectacular people of each dynasty would also gather here.

  Emperor Yuanwu had reached realm eight now. What kind of storm would he brew? All the cultivators in the world wanted to know and see with their own eyes.

  Even though all of Deer Mountain would be sealed by the armies and cultivators of the different dynasties, if they managed to reach the peaks of mountains surrounding Deer Mountain, they would be able to glimpse the energy changes at the peak of Deer Mountain.

  For cultivators like Forefather Zhou, being able to sense the changes in energy released by more powerful cultivators and feeling the paths through the world at a close distance would be a great opportunity.

  For Forefather Zhou, the words Deer Mountain Conference brought to mind other matters.

  Deer Mountain was not far from Wu Mountain. There was something useful to him hidden in Wu Mountain. But for Deer Mountain or Wu Mountain, he had to leave the Zhou Ink Garden.

  Forefather Zhou looked up at the night sky and coldly said to himself.

  Then he shouted, "Prepare the carriage."

  It would take half a day to travel from the Zhou Ink Garden to Falling Parasol. If he left now, he would be at Falling Parasol by daybreak.

  In the darkness before dawn, Zhangsun Qianxue opened her eyes.

  All the energies in her body related to cultivation was pulled back into her energy sea and then sunken into her jade palace.

  The dark-colored sword in her jade palace started to greedily absorb the vital energy and primal energies of the universe that came in without needing her conscious thought.

  Ordinary lifebond swords could not hold such a stunning amount of vital energy and primal energies of the universe. Yet this Nine Hell King Sword seemed to contain a true world within, a hell world.

  Her perception also entered this sword, and expanded manyfold through the sword.

  The countless little silkworms in Ding Ning’s body sensed her abnormality. He warily opened his eyes and said softly, "What is it?"

  "Realm seven second class, energies not complete, energy sea half sealed," Zhangsun Qianxue glanced at him and said slowly.

  "Forefather Zhou. He should be coming to find me."

  Ding Ning confirmed the other’s identity without any hesitation. He smiled coldly. "He hid in Ink Garden for so many years without revealing himself. Everybody in Changling presumed he was dead. Now he comes to find me in person. This does not seem to be an ordinary matter."

  "Although his energy sea is half sealed, it only means that his vital energy and primal energies of the universe will not flow smoothly. He also primarily cultivates the star fiend condensation. Before the first year of Yuanwu, he had experienced many cruel battles …… if we truly fight, I do not know if I can win."

  Zhangsun Qianxue said with rare seriousness, "You can resolve a person like this?"

  Ding Ning considered, but did not respond.

  Zhangsun Qianxue’s brows furrowed and she showed hints of disdain. "It seems that I have overthought. You have a protective talisman right now."

  Ding Ning understood her meaning but felt no shame. He said calmly, "Let’s see why he has come."

  Several carriages stopped at a street not far from Falling Parasol.

  Inside the carriage at the centre, Forefather Zhou narrowed his eyes and looked at the city of Changling in the last threads of darkness before dawn.

  After leaving Ink Garden, on the road here, he saw that the Changling before him had changed greatly from the Changling in his memories. It had become grander and vaster, and not as bloody as he remembered.

  Many of the great compounds had disappeared.

  There were no traces left.

  So many things could be erased to the point of leaving no trace.

  But he did not want himself to not leave a trace on this grand city.

  When the first thread of dawn light appeared on Falling Parasol, Zhang Yi had risen and started cleaning the courtyard. His broom was always held a thread above the ground. Threads of energy flowed from his hand onto the ground to sweep away the fallen leaves and dust. Yet, there was no sound.

  Keeping it quiet, was to avoid disturbing Xue Wangxu’s sleep.

  He treated this kind of sweeping like a lesson. When he looked back on his cultivation in Falling Parasol, he discovered that his progress had been faster than in White Goat Cave.

  He could not find the reason.

  But Ding Ning knew the cause.

  The mental state was most important in cultivation. When one, with a sincere heart went to focus on performing a matter, it was naturally easier to succeed.

  Xue Wangxu had never been so weak before.

  The extremely filial Zhang Yi had never worried as much for Xue Wangxu. Taking care of Xue Wangxu was the most important matter to him.

  He poured his heart into every action and movement. How could he not progress quickly?

  After sweeping the courtyard, Zhang Yi noiselessly opened the gates. He carried some dry wood and the stove outside to kindle fire. At this time, Ding Ning was opening up the shop like usual and it was at this time that Zhou Xieyi walked through the entrance to the alley.

  Ding Ning had already known that Forefather Zhou had come in person, so he was not surprised. However, when Zhang Yi saw Zhou Xieyi appear, he was stunned.

  "My family’s forefather wants to see you," Zhou Xieyi said softly, as he walked in front of Ding Ning and bowed slightly with his head held low.

  Ding Ning did not say much. He nodded and followed Zhou Xieyi to walk out of the alley.

  When they neared the multiple carriages parked together, the curtain to Forefather Zhou’s carriage was pushed aside slowly by a gentle gust of power to reveal the figure of the person within.

  Ding Ning bowed respectfully. He said, "How come you have come to meet me so early?"

  Forefather Zhou focused on Ding Ning’s actions and expressions. A hint of indetectable cold flame flashed through his eyes. He felt that calmness could disguise many emotions.

  The gentlest of smiles appeared on his face. He patted the cushioned seat next to him. Like he was beckoning to younger members of his Zhou Family, he said benevolently, "Come here to speak."

  Ding Ning respectfully sat like an obedient junior preparing to listen intently.

  "I have come to see your cultivation." Forefather Zhou benevolently reached out with two hands. Just like how he touched the young girl, his hands landed on Ding Ning’s arms.

  Ding Ning’s expression did not change at all.

  As his energy moved, Forefather Zhou’s breathing paused slightly. He did not sense anything abnormal. Ding Ning was just like he had expected.

  A hint of self-deprecation rose on the corner of his mouth and then turned into endless cold and violent emotion before rapidly turning into extreme gentleness.

  "In a few days will be the Deer Mountain Conference that will decide the fate of the Qin Dynasty."

  He looked at Ding Ning and said gently, "This is a great event. I want you to accompany me to it. You can think about it."

  "While you may obtain many special opportunities, it will be very dangerous if you want to go to this kind of event."

  He paused before kindly adding. "Even the cultivators summoned by the Holy One to enter Deer Mountain may not be safe. We are unable to enter Deer Mountain. We can only watch from the nearest mountains and forests near Deer Mountain as we can get. But cultivators from other dynasties will also go, so conflict cannot be avoided. Even I cannot guarantee I will be unharmed. You do not have to answer me immediately and can think about it."

  Ding Ning thought coldly inside. But his face betrayed no emotions except thoughtfulness.

  Translator Ramblings: I think that Forefather Zhou is expressing a very human desire to

  in the world, especially since he excluded himself from the world and is facing the potential end of his life. Of course, he is quite a malicious and selfish person but his desire to matter does make humanize him slightly.

  Volume 4 3 - Dead End

  The alley was a remote and quiet one like Falling Parasol. Therefore, most of the residences were the poor people of Changling’s lower class. Loud laughter constantly sounded from one small wine shop.

  A woman was in charge of serving food in the small wine shop. There were no helpers. So while there was only one table of guests, this woman was one person and so busy her clothes were glued to her skin due to sweat.

  This woman was slightly pretty, and the guests had presumptuous looks that moved along the white skin of her neck towards her chest. She was embarrassed, but she did not dare to show it, just flushed brighter.

  Seeing her like this, the table of guests were even more intrusive and hooted even louder.

  At this moment, a person came to the door. This was a gardener.

  The people the surrounding alleys all knew this gardener whose surname was Zhang. He made a living by caring for the flowers of some wealthy families. He usually did not have any savings, was large and tanned, and did not speak well. He should be in his forties or older. No girl wanted him so he was still single.

  A person like this would not usually attract the attention of the guests if he appeared at the door. Yet today, when he appeared, the laughter suddenly stopped.

  This tanned, short but large gardener held a large pair of gardening shears. His pant hems were covered in soil. He did not look any different than usual. But he had a faint smile on his face.

  The people in the area had never seen him with such a smile. Even the woman from the wine shop stopped immediately. Inexplicably, she sensed his intentions, and the long-lost scent the smell gave off. She even started to feel joy on his behalf.

  In the odd silence, the gardener walked to the table of guests, and said to the short-haired man in brocade-robes at the center. “You owe twenty three meals’ worth of money. Pay that first.”


  Clearly, the short-haired man was not a friendly person. A cold sneer appeared on his lips as his eyebrows rose. Yet in the next moment, this short-haired man sensed an enormous wave of terror press into his body. He found he could not move.

  “Pay money, then leave,” Gardener Zhang looked at him and said.

  The short-haired man suddenly found he could move again. He took out a money pouch from his sleeve in shock, placed it on the table, and walked directly out of the shop.

  His fellows were dumbfounded, not understanding why he reacted like this. They had not sensed any of the presence at all. When they confusedly followed the short-haired man out of the shop, the short-haired man suddenly stilled again.

  He looked at his lower half.

  He had been incontinent. Coming out of his lower body and soaking his pants was red blood.

  His fellows stared with wide eyes. As the short-haired man gave a shocked scream, so did his fellows.

  The short-haired man finally gave a mournful wail. Then he fell down, dead.

  “I fear I cannot help you in the future,”


  Gardener Zhang looked deeply at the woman in the wine shop and said softly, “If I do not die today, I will help you leave Changling.”


  As he was saying this, the short-haired man was screaming outside the shop.

  The woman paled, not having yet realized what had happened.

  When Gardener Zhang turned to leave and she saw his broad back, she started to realize the meaning in her words, and understood the other was not an ordinary person.

  She was an ordinary person.

  However, after Gardener Zhang took several steps, she did not know where her courage came from as her face blushed and she shouted, “I’ll wait for you!”


  Gardener Zhang laughed.

  He did not care about the other sounds and gazes from people in the alley. His body vanished like a ghost as he turned the corner in the alley. The death of some ordinary gangsters would not immediately attract a violent reaction.

  After passing through several streets, he decreased his pace. Just like how he usually went to care for the flowers and shrubs, he walked slowly with his gardening shears.

  **

  There were many peach forests in the east of Changling. The peach trees usually grew on the undulating hills. In the spring, the peach flowers would be bright and beautiful. The peach flowers many famous Changling painters would paint came from this place.

  Right now was the time for the last batch of peaches to ripen. There were naturally not many peaches. But strangely, in a mountain valley filled with mist, there were still many peach trees blooming.

  The peach trees were blooming but there was not even one new leaf.

  There was a small stone stele in front of the mountain valley. The entire valley was extremely quiet. Even the painters belonging to the nobility did not dare to enter this valley.

  The words on the stone stele were “Imperial Forbidden”. The two words came from Emperor Yuanwu’s hand.

  Gardener Zhang’s figure appeared in the peach forest and finally headed into the mountain valley. He seemed to have not noticed the stone stele at all. He walked directly into the forbidden valley, and through the blooming peach trees.

  There was a quiet elegant courtyard in the middle of the most beautiful part of the forest. Inside the little courtyard was a handsome man.

  “Ye Xinhe, I had not thought you were still alive,” Gardener Zhang came to the front of the courtyard with his shears and said as he looked through the open gates to the handsome man.

  “Back at the Deer Mountain Conference, you should have known that I was alive. So it should be me saying this to you. Zhang Shiwu, I did not know you were alive.” The handsome man was surprised when he saw the gardener.

  Gardener Zhang smiled. “Life is worse than death.”


  Ye Xinhe looked at him and frowned. “Zhang Shiwu, I do not seem to have any grievances with you.”


  Gardener Zhang shook his head and said, “Not distinguishing what is right and wrong is the greatest of grievances.”


  Ye Xinhe looked at Gardener Zhang and laughed. “You were not a match for me during the time of Ba Mountain. Even if I am injured now, you are not able to kill me. You think you can leave?”


  Gardener Zhang laughed as well and said, “I wanted to give you a fair chance but now, I just want to kill you. I’ve never thought about whether or not I can leave.”


  Ye Xinhe looked up and said slowly, “Pity that you cannot kill me today.”


  Gardener Zhang seemed to sense something but he did not speak as his gaze fell towards Ye Xinhe’s throat. His gardening shears fell apart in his hands.

  This was a pair of shears, but after separating, the shears became two swords.

  The two swords flew out of his hands, and appeared like ordinary flying swords. But as they flew, one of the two silver swords turned pure white, and the other pure black.

  The swords were split into yin and yang. This gardener was the Yinyang sword master of the former Ba Mountain Sword Field, Zhang Shiwu.

  The sword was just ten feet away from his body when all the peach flowers in the mountain valley withered and the petals fell off.

  In Ye Xinhe’s courtyard, everything was broken and flew in the air like the falling petals.

  A spinning sword essence was coming towards him.

  Ye Xinhe’s black hair flew in the wind.

  A wood sword floated in front of him.

  This wood sword had a powerful presence, even stronger than his own body’s energies. But there were many cracks on the blade right now.

  With a crack, an enormous white flash fell from the sky and collided with the black and white vortex surrounding him. His teeth were bloodied, and the blood coming out was like many peach flowers.

  But at this moment, he laughed and looked towards the mountain behind Zhang Shiwu.

  Boom!

  A door seemed to open in the world. The mountain shattered. Countless stones flew out of the white mist.

  A chariot that looked to be made out of pure copper charged through the white mist with a terrifying presence. The commander on the chariot was covered in green scales like a demon.

  Behind this chariot, metallic lights reflected through the white mist.

  Translator Ramblings: Zhang Shiwu has the most practical sword so far.

  Volume 5 3 - The Last Light

  No one had expected the gold tower to be so fragile. Zhan Moke did not have much power left nor did anyone sense anything dangerous.

  The gold tower broke simply like that, the same as before it broke. Even Ding Ning did not sense anything unusual.

  Ding Ning frowned deeply.

  Failing to sense any unusual presence meant true danger.

  **

  Shen Xuan also could not sense anything strange either.

  When the energy sea burst, no cultivator could survive. Watching Zhan Moke’s drooping head, he knew this last person of Tianliang only had his last moments left.

  But at this moment, he suddenly looked up. There was a patch of peach flowers falling from the sky above. His eyes widened. The patch of flowers covered his eyes. He reached out and grabbed the pink flowers falling towards him.

  Even though he could sense the patch the peach flowers existed in his perception, and he could even sense the minute changes in the air currents created by the flowers, he still believed this was an illusion.

  But when he grabbed on to the flower, it was still real. The weight, warmth and moisture of the flower all reminded him that this was real.

  Shen Xuan’s pupils contracted violently. After the first flower, there were countless more. He saw the peach flowers fall down, the entire sky turning pink. Then the falling flowers grew around him.

  To his shock, he could sense his cultivation rapidly dropping. Even more, he could sense his body changing. Then, he unconsciously reached out his hands.

  He saw two hands.

  His arm that had been destroyed during the Great Floating Water Prison battle was as good as before, its skin extremely smooth.

  “What kind of restrictions are these!” He could not help but shout.

  Yet Ding Ning and the others were not in the surroundings.

  He started to stiffen. He remembered this peach forest. He saw he was still wearing his current clothes but his body was one of many years ago. He unconsciously reached to his chest.

  He touched two letters. One was an order from the Warden’s Office and the other from the woman here.

  When his finger touched the two letters, his body trembled violently.

  His body trembled violently, and his throat quickly stiffened. He could not make a sound.

  He saw the beautiful figure at the other end of the peach forest. His gaze started to blur. He wanted to stay. Yet all the peach flowers started to fly up. All the peach trees became peach flowers and flew up.

  The woman’s face grew clearer in this moment, every change in her expression entering his sight. Then he saw his hands growing smaller. The woman’s figure disappeared from his eyes. His clothes grew large, his cultivation was still dropping and his body was growing younger and smaller.

  He saw himself become a youth, then a child who had not yet cultivated. Then his sorrow turned to endless terror. Because time seemed to go backwards, he was still becoming younger.

  He could not stand up and fell down in his clothes. He became a baby, and all of his consciousness started to disappear. He could only hear his crying.

  The cry of a newborn.

  When Shen Xuan saw the peach flowers fall, Zhan Moke only had a breath left. But when he exhaled, he did not die.

  His eyes were not filled with pink, but purple. He saw that giant purple tree which had rotted away once again appeared in front of him.

  “As expected, amazing.” In this moment, he felt happy, and cheered with power that came from an unknown place.

  In the next moment, he saw the wounds on his body disappear. He started to become young. He stood in the Wuzhi palace. He put on a bone coronet. This was the most respected shaman bone coronet of the Wuzhi.

  He turned around. Behind him was the temple of the shaman. He passed through the majestic temple, smiled at the devout attendant and entered the deepest secret room. In the secret room, there was a bloody body nailed to a wooden frame.

  “My beloved sister, what restrictions are under the ancestral mountain?” he continued smiling and said gently to the body which was so disfigured its gender could not be made out.

  “The ancestral mountain will punish you.” The bloody body cursed.

  “I am already punished.” He said expressionlessly, “Even my own older sister wants to kill me.”


  “That is because you want to open the ancestral mountain……you want to become a demon—”


  “Just because I want to open the ancestral mountain, my sister wants to kill me …… Sister, you are also a demon.” He laughed scornfully. “I have been forced to treat my sister like this …… I have become a demon long ago, and the curse of the ancestral mountain, did it not go out of existence long ago?”


  Zhan Moke was suddenly in pain. Not because of the incoming death, but because he saw himself growing smaller, and the bone coronet disappeared. He saw an even crueler scene of someone being killed by a thousand cuts.

  A female shepherd of his age was being killed. He knew this shepherd. He had met her when patrolling around the ancestral lands.

  He had warned the shepherd. She had respected the ancestral lands greatly, and would not enter. He knew the day she entered the ancestral lands, there had been a great sand storm and the tent of the shepherd and her family was dozens of miles away. So she had gotten lost in the sand storm and accidentally went into the ancestral lands.

  He had stated the reasons but could not change the iron laws of the ancestral mountain. He could only watch the shepherd die.

  “The ancestral lands are a sin.” He thought of the past Tianliang slaughter, thought of the fate his ancestors carried and slowly spoke to within.

  Then he saw himself become a child, and then an infant. Before his conscious blurred, he laughed. Almost all of the restrictions had been destroyed. Even if he, Ding Ning and the others died here. Even if this goad tower had not yet shown its power.

  In the end, more and more people would come. They just had to face this last hurdle. Someone would obtain the elixir in the end.

  Then the ancestral mountain …… maybe it would no longer exist?

  When he became an infant and fell in his clothing, Ding Ning was also turning into an infant. Unlike Shen Xuan, he did not feel terror.

  “So it is the Two Lifetime Flower.”


  He seemed to see something, and his expression grew strange. Then he stood up as an infant, and his body started to grow. He coughed violently, blood coming out of his mouth.

  The Last Flower remnant sword hanging from his side flew up again as a ruler straight sword light.

  Volume 8 3