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Chapter Four: Nurturing The Sword
writer:无罪      update:2022-07-21 15:26
  Fu Su’s eyes lit up. He nodded and said, “I heard that the wine and the owner here are famous, so I came for a taste.”


  At the sight of Fu Su’s clean and gentle features, Ding Ning’s body seemed to be surge with countless scenes. These scenes, like sand and rocks, turned his body cold and hard, and his breathing laboured. These scenes bore the the most profound and memorable earthy taste.

  What he really wants is immortality, to forever rule this Qin Dynasty or the entire world. So anyone is his tool, you and Zheng Xiu are no exceptions. I need to recover the debts he owes many. At the same time, I want to change the fate of many, including you. For what I owe you, I will do my best to let you have the ability to choose in the future.

  Ding Ning took a deep breath and the memories engulfing his mind receded like the tide.

  “What is it?”


  Ding Ning’s momentary silence made Fu Su slightly nervous, afraid that his words were inappropriate.

  “You’ve met me before?” Ding Ning asked, looking at him.

  Suddenly, Fu Su, ever so slightly, panicked and instinctively waved his hand. “No.”


  But he really was not skilled at lying, or rather, he had never lied before. As he waved his hand, his cheeks blushed.

  “I seem to have never met you before,” Ding Ning calmly looked at him, “.……but I find you familiar. So, I feel this is old friends at first meeting.”


  Ding Ning’s ‘old friends at first meeting’ carried multiple connotations.Even so, Fu Su’s panic completely morphed into joy.

  He couldn’t help but laugh. “I also feel we are old friends at first meeting.”


  “If so, then I will treat you to wine today.” Ding Ning said, as he put a pot of wine on the table in front of Fu Su.

  Fu Su’s eyes grew brighter. He hurriedly took a wine cup, poured a cup for himself, raised the cup to toast and drained it in a go.

  The wine felt sour and bitter in his mouth. His brow furrowed. “This wine …… ” he couldn’t resist laughing. “This wine is really unique.”


  “To our meeting!”


  Ding Ning poured a cup of wine. Just like how the people of Changling acted when they made friends, he raised the cup to toast. But as he swallowed, he thought within, To our fates.

  Fu Su was not a good drinker, and this was not the time to use vital energy to force the alcohol out of his body. Soon, he was drunk.

  Due to his status, he naturally restrained himself. While happy, he could stop himself from drinking.

  Zhangsun Qianxue walked out of the courtyard with a pot of hot tea.

  When she saw Fu Su’s clean features, she increasingly felt that he looked like Zheng Xiu and felt an inexplicable hatred.

  Where should she start first?

  That person’s visage in her mind was very clear, as though she had seen him just yesterday.

  A minuscule flow of energy came out of her fingertip and lightly touched Fu Su’s face along with the steam from the hot tea.

  “You cannot drink, but still drank to this extent. Don’t you fear talking recklessly after getting drunk?”


  Meng Qihai, waiting in the carriage outside Falling Parasol, finally heard the footsteps as Fu Su returned. He saw Fu Su’s expression when he lifted the curtain and could not help but complain. He did not find anything unusual.

  —


  During the time Meng Qihai complained about Fu Su, inside the study in the Qin imperial palace, where many spirit lotuses had produced heads, the empress’ fingers were tangled up with multiple pure lines of light.

  In the battle on the Wei River, all realm seven and above cultivators in Changling, had felt her act. They had sensed that she destroyed Zhao Si’s lifebond sword.

  The slender but continuous vital energy and primal energies of the universe coming out of her study were extremely firm. They stabbed into the sky, reaching a place none of them could sense, and caused the starfire to transform into a great power.

  All the cultivators in Changling were once again sure, after many years, the “Comet Fire Sword” Zheng Xiu, who had frequently killed enemies with one blow on the battlefield, was stronger than before.

  She was still channeling the primal energies in her body into the endless sky. The primal energies of the universe disappeared completely into the cold space and controlled the unique flames of ice formed from the comet and the star fire.

  At this time, all the cultivators of Changling, including the emperor who had managed to resolve the concealed perils before the Deer Mountain Conference and was now in seclusion, could not feel her movements.

  Because Ba Mountain Sword Field had been destroyed.

  Even back then, she had been the only one in the Ba Mountain Sword Field to comprehend and cultivate this method. She was like a small star, emitting light and traversing through endless space.

  Inside this white flame she controlled with starlight, was a black and rusty little sword.

  This little sword was naturally Zhao Si’s lifebond sword.

  With the little sword defeated and its connection to Zhao Si severed, it should have fallen onto an unknown palace. But inexplicably, for some unknown reason, she was using the threads of power in the white flames to nourish this “dead” sword.

  Someone walked past the statue-lined stone path outside, heading to her study.

  Her perfect features remained unchanged even as the lines of light tangled around her fingers turned into dots and disappeared.

  Dressed in yellow robes, a cultivator from her family appeared at the door, and handed a secret missive to the palace attendant.

  When opened the letter the palace attendant handed her, her face showed satisfaction. “He has some talent to have Demon Consort Zhao change her mind. Arrange for him to go to the Yan. There should be a place for him to use his skills there.”


  The yellow-robed cultivator had not dared to raise his head, still maintaining his bow. At her words, the yellow-robed cultivator cautiously expressed an acknowledgement and asked, “The family wants to know your opinion of Fang Xiumu.”


  “Cannot be of use, so should be killed.” She shook her head and said, “The Holy One will naturally find a substitute. Have the family stop thinking on this matter.”


  The empress’ features were flawless, but her gaze was as cold as the Wei River at this time.

  In the Wei River, a white figure flashed through like a water goddess.

  She did not have to rise above the water to breathe and managed to move within the water at this astounding speed. This was naturally Bai Shanshui.

  For her, the water was the safest place to flee. After escaping the pursuit of Lian Bo and others with Zhao Yi’s help, she returned to the Wei River. But she knew the danger had not passed, so she didn’t dare to relax.

  At this time, in the water, she finally saw a clear line of demarcation.

  After the bright region of water was a much darker color, and an astounding wide world.

  She was aware that she was passing the Wei River into deeper seawaters.

  Here, she was a serpent going into the ocean. No one could kill her here.

  She relaxed slightly. The unusual blush on her face disappeared, and she vomited a mouthful of blood. The irritation from the feeling of tin filling her abdomen, faded slightly, but then her expression changed dramatically, and a wave of cold caused her to uncontrollably tremble.

  The medicinal power of the pill she had used to suppress her wounds was too strong. She had used vital energy for too long a period and now her energy sea was unstable. The vital energy and other energies that could circulate through her body had all retreated to realm six.

  Her body continued to advance along the current, and gradually into the deep shadow. Her usually proud features showed a hint of bitterness.

  Bai Shanshui was not the only great loser in this situation.

  In reality, over the years, in their battles with the Qin Dynasty, these rebels of the Qin had few victories.

  So, people like her and Zhao Si were now few and far between.

  In a room filled with fragrance, Zhao Si was sitting silently. She saw Jing Mozong who pushed open the slightly ajar door with a gaze that still could pierce the world.

  “It seems I gambled correctly this time?” She said, in a self-deprecating manner and then looked coolly at Jing Mozong. “Wang Taixu has not come, and had you come. What does he mean?”


  Jing Mozong bowed deeply and said, “He wants me to follow Mister to learn the sword.”


  “This is his condition?” Zhao Si looked sympathetically at him and said, “If you want to learn the sword, you have to first become a sword of the Zhao Sword Furnace.”


  Jing Mozong said, “Mister Taixu has spoken to me already. Also, I am not Qin.”


  Zhao Si sneered. “It seems that I have not underestimated his spirit. But you …… why do you feel you deserve to become a sword of the Zhao Sword Furnace?”


  Jing Mozong did not know how to respond.

  For him, the Zhao Sword Furnace was so high up he could not even look up to it.

  Zhao Si’s expression darkened. A light that did not give off any presence spread from her and cut towards Jing Mozong’s right wrist.

  Jing Mozong’s body shook but he did not dodge.

  This light cut the veins in his wrist. Blood slowly flowed out of his wrist, dripping constantly onto the ground with clear sounds.

  Zhao Si looked at him and said coolly, “If you dare to bleed all the blood out of your body, I will let you become a sword of the Zhao Sword Furnace.”


  Jing Mozong looked up at her and allowed his blood to flow.

  Zhao Si did not move as though she would just watch him die. Even as Jing Mozong finally could not stand upright and dispiritedly fell to the ground, slowly sinking into unconsciousness, she did not move.

  When the bleeding on his wrist started to show signs of stopping and his vitality was beginning to disappear, Zhao Yi took a deep breath and reached out.

  Dozens of drops of blood suddenly formed out of her fingertips, stretching in the air to become dozens of thin needles that pierced Jing Mozong’s meridian points.

  Jing Mozong’s organs seemed to feel hope, stimulated by a heated and dry presence, and became even more active.

  Zhao Si smiled coldly as she thought to herself, “Little had I expected to find a person who could inherit the sword essence of the Sword Furnace in the streets and alleys.

  Translator Ramblings: Fu Su is very kind to not spit out the wine.

  Volume 6 4 - New Life

  **Chapter Nine: Miracle Army **

  At the start, no one paid attention because the woman did not walk fast and was dressed normally. But when she appeared at the edge of the group of the people at the lake, and moved past the strong men and cultivators, moving away from the crowd, she first attracted attention from the Chu people by the shore. Their gazes first turned back from the epic battle to look at her.

  “Miss, come back!”


  Some of the women who were very scared were the first to shout, but this did not stop her steps.

  She moved away from the crowd at the edge of the lake, and walked slowly with firm steps. Her figure appeared more and more lonely, her shadow drew out under the bloody sun but gave off an intimidating vibe.

  People started to realize what she was going to do, and their breathing and bodies started to grow heavy.

  Ji Xingbai was the only cultivator who knew her real identity. Seeing her walk, he first thought of his family members. He knew, if he walked with her towards that battlefield, he likely would never see the family he missed so much again. But looking at her back, his feet started to uncontrollably move.

  He became the second person to leave the crowd at the edge of the lake.

  Heretofore, Consort Zhao Xiang was unknown among these Chu people, but he was different. At many times, he had been thought of as the person who saved these Chu people.

  When he walked out of the crowd and followed the woman in front of him picking his pace towards the battlefield, more and more people started to leave the crowd and walk towards the battlefield. These people seemed to have invisible chains that pulled more and more people out of the crowd and away from the relatively safe shore.

  “So what if it is death!”


  Someone sighed as they walked out of the crowd.

  Such words were like a pebble that broke the silence.

  “So what if I die!”


  More and more voices sounded, and then became shouts!

  “All in!”


  “Revenge!”


  “Get revenge for our dead brothers and relatives!”


  The furious shouts erupted like a volcano. They were not just the healthy, young or cultivators, even the unarmed women and the weak in the crowd started to walk behind the people ahead, and then they started to run.

  Seventy thousand Chu people dressed in different ways and extremely frail, but at this time, as they started to run, the water of this shallow lake started to shake with their footsteps. Beads of water broke free from the surface and jumped up.

  “Revenge?

  “What revenge?”


  There was a Qin reserve cavalry who had been on a hill all this time and looking down at the Chu people. As the people left the lake shore and started to run, a general in this cavalry troop sneered.

  For such a large battle, these seventy thousand Chu people had been accounted for by the Qin military, especially as the Qin cavalry reserve had participated in the killing of the Chu troop who had brought food. He never doubted that the Chu people who had seen that troop die would have their spirits roused and would join the fight. But was there any use in their spirits?

  Among these seventy thousand Chu people, the young and the healthy were only a fifth or so, and most of them had never trained for battle before. Even if there were some cultivators, these people did not have the combat power of the thousand elite cavalry who had come to their deaths.

  The seventy thousand people had a great presence as they moved forward, but how long could their bravery last? When their bravery faded, the people would be lambs fleeing on the plains.

  “Kill her.” This general looked coldly at the woman at the front.

  The first to walk out would naturally pay with the price of death.

  As he coldly spoke and dropped his left hand, dozens of green seal weapons behind him gave strange hums. The primal energies of the universe moved through the seal scripts like venomous snakes, and then surged out as green flames, attaching to the arrows shooting out of the seal weapons, flying into the sky and then dropping.

  A rain of green fire fell from the sky, and covered the woman walking at the front.

  The muddy earth was burned until they cracked, and then burned red by the heat until they turned to magma. The heat and the flames erupting from the ground formed a hell. An air bubble came out of the magma and exploded.

  The advancing Chu people suddenly stopped. Looking at the sea of fire that had abruptly appeared in front of them, many people’s minds were blank.

  The Qin general who had sent the order smiled, his eyes narrowing. But in the next moment, his expression froze.

  On the hot ground, among the light, a figure was steadily moving forward. When the hot steam lifted, almost all the Chu people could see the figure of the woman.

  She did not seem to be affected at all. The woman walked through the magma and fire. Even her clothing was not harmed.

  Many Chu people gaped, but they could not understand their own emotions and could not make any sound.

  She was facing the cavalry on the hill. The pupils of the Qin general and all the soldiers contracted, and they felt a wave of cold.

  At this time, other than moving forward, she made another move. She slowly and patiently untied a bag she was carrying. There was a robe in the bag, and then she put on the bag.

  This piece of clothing had rich color, and in the dim world where the bloody mist covered the sun, it still shone with blinding light, so everyone was slightly dazzled when they first saw it. Even more importantly, the decoration pattern of the clothing was a flying phoenix. This was a true phoenix robe. When tied at the slender waist, it was eye-catching.

  At this moment, almost all the shocking beauty in the world seemed to gather on this woman with the colors of the clothing.

  This was the empress robe of the Chu Dynasty. Only the legendary demon consort of the Chu Dynasty, the present empress dowager, could possess and wear such clothing, could have such a presence that changed the world, and such beauty and majesty.

  “She is the empress dowager!”


  “The Holy Empress Dowager, she……”


  In the next instant, these seventy thousand Chu people went berserk. In history, there were many incidents of rulers going to war in person, but never had such one gone into such danger, not being protected by the army, but walking fearlessly alone at the front towards the enemy army.

  The seventy thousand Chu people were in a frenzy. After a still moment, they started to furiously sprint.

  Many of the Chu soldiers on the bloody battlefield in the distance started to notice the abnormality over here, and heard the burning shouts. Then they saw the color. Then the Chu soldiers went mad. It was like avalanches were occurring all over the battlefield, the mad shouts echoing through the formation.

  “Kill!”


  Their sight was covered by a layer of bloody red. The Qin general on the hill gave a beastly shout after a moment. Before waiting for the troops behind him to move, he charged. The red horse under him was wrapped up in the primal energies of the universe coming off him, and seemed to fly, burning like the dusk clouds.

  A rush.

  The cavalry behind him also went mad, charging down towards the beautiful color.

  This Qin general and the cavalry behind him all knew the cultivation of this Demon Consort Zhao. Men of the nobles who had tried to overthrow her had been beat down by her hands, but they also knew, even if their cavalry troop could not kill her, if the army behind them could kill this woman, then the war would stop.

  With a harsh shout, the general charging at the front jumped with his combat horse. His vital energy and blood started to burn. He even pulled out the blood of the horse under him to gather into the seal scripts of the long sword in his hand. The bloody colored sword in his hand became a bloody cloud hundreds of feet wide and charged viciously toward Consort Zhao Xiang’s chest.

  But in this moment, Consort Zhao Xiang disappeared from his sight. Then, he saw her hand appear on his forehead.

  “It is useless. Even with this miracle army, even if you can make your way into the flank, it is not enough to change the result of the battle,” before his forehead cracked open, he spat and said to the woman.

  Volume 2 4 - The Jade Cave and the Horse Stable

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

  "Did the wine shop youth agree?"

  "He did, but he wants to invite someone and is asking Forefather for permission."

  "Who is it?"

  "Gongzi Su, a student of Fish Sun Sword School."

  "What is his background?"

  "An orphan from the Drum Tower Alley in Changling. He cultivated following Liu Huanghe of Fish Sun Sword School since childhood so he is different from the others."

  "There are no problems with the source of the information?"

  "No problems. The vice principal of the Fish Sun Sword School and I are old friends. The information he gave me is the same as what I learned from multiple teachers there."

  "If so, have them come here."

  The sun was getting brighter, as though it would pass through the thin curtain to land on Forefather Zhou.

  Forefather Zhou did not look at Zhou Yunhai who was taking his leave, instead his dark gaze was fixed on his swollen abdomen.

  Zhou Yunhai had ferreted the information himself and gotten proof from varied sources. There should be no problems. Also, having a student from Fish Sun Sword School come along would not affect his plan at all. Even so, for some inexplicable reason, he felt the actions of this wine shop youth had surpassed his expectations and would bring him some unknown danger.

  The two youths quickly walked over, their young figures filling his dark eyes.

  The sun seemed to quickly rise in his eyes, the shadows disappearing into warm benevolence. A gentle presence softly emanated from his body and slowly drew the carriage curtain aside.

  He carefully examined Fu Su.

  Fu Su wore an indigo robe that was almost white from washing. His features, handsome and clean; eyes, exceptionally clear.

  But when he sensed Forefather Zhou’s gaze on him, he slightly blushed.

  This kind of clean and bashful person usually only existed in a low strata like this. If he really had an important background, he would definitely not be allowed to go to somewhere like Deer Mountain.

  A hint of disdain rose on Forefather Zhou’s lips. He was under the impression that he had cooped up in Ink Garden for far too long.

  He smiled harmoniously and beckoned to Ding Ning and Fu Su, saying, "Come here."

  When he came to the old man, Fu Su was slightly shocked. He had not expected Forefather Zhou to be this harmonious and friendly. He was a stark contrast to the powerful aristocrat famed for his unusual violence.

  But at this time, he sensed a wave of weak

  energy radiating from Forefather Zhou’s body to enter his own.

  He immediately realized that this was the forefather inspecting his cultivation. He should be the only youth in Changling who had reached realm five. This shocking cultivation of his in his age group was probably the greatest flaw in his identity. Yet, he was certain that Forefather Zhou would not be able to sense his true cultivation.

  So just like Ding Ning in the past, he acted as though he did not sense a thing, and allowed this weak

  energy to circulate through his body.

  "Only realm three second class? Your channels are slightly weak and not the best for cultivation."

  Sensing the strength of Fu Su’s vital energy, he then felt that it was slightly weak compared to ordinary cultivators. The meridians were narrow and not suited for the circulation of vital energy. Forefather Zhou’s disdain within grew, and a hint of satisfaction appeared on his face.

  "You have prepared?" he asked, as he pulled back the weak flow of energy.

  Ding Ning responded respectfully. "We have."

  Acting like this was not a pleasant matter, Forefather Zhou, who over the years was used to looking at only white and black all the time, was unused to the bright sunlight. So after a few words, he felt impatience rise.

  The curtain slowly closed and his voice passed through. "If so, then the two of you board the carriage. We will immediately depart."

  Ding Ning and Fu Su walked together towards a carriage near the back.

  Only when he was lifting the curtain and entering the cabin did an indetectable icy disdain appear on the corners of his lips.

  The wheels started to roll.

  With it, Ding Ning, who originally had no connection to this great event, started his journey.

  Ding Ning’s mind calmed down.

  No conspiracy could defeat the general momentum. Right now, he had grasped the general momentum.

  —


  As Ding Ning, who originally was not going to Deer Mountain, started off, in the world, many were already travelling and several preparing to travel.

  The northernmost part of the Qin Dynasty originally belonged to the Zhao, but if one headed further north past Yin Mountain, they would reach an endless desert. Even the former Zhao Dynasty only stretched to Yin Mountain and did not expand into the desert.

  The poorest places, that seemed the most unsuited for living, would often have people that survived there.

  There were many tribes that lived by herding deep in the desert.

  In a tribe near a certain hot river, a shaman-like looking man with unkempt hair, sat next to a crack in the earth erupting with fire.

  On the black stones formed from magma in front of him were many marks that seemed to record time.

  "It is time to set out."

  He sighed. His voice did not carry the accent of this tribe or the former Zhao Dynasty, but that of the previous Han Dynasty.

  When he stood up, the flames erupting from the crack in the ground grew stronger, reaching several meters in height. Half of the sky here had turned red and the black smoke produced by the flames floated into the distant horizon like black clouds. It felt as though he had been suppressing the earth fire in the ground just now.

  In the astounding pillar of fire spun a red pill that looked like a medicinal pill but also something made from metal.

  This desert shaman opened his mouth and swallowed the red pill.

  His body emanated a shroud of red mist. Then, walking set out on his journey.

  —


  Some people’s departures shook the world and caused unusual phenomena, but others set off silently.

  Li Lingjun’s caravan had changed direction long ago for Wu Mountain. The morning after Ding Ning left Changling, two cultivators of the Qi Dynasty in black robes and hair tied up into thirds, appeared on a certain mountain path of Wu Mountain.

  The slightly older man closed his eyes and listened for a long time. Then he turned to his younger fellow and said, "Here."

  The young cultivator’s face was filled with excitement. He said, "If this person is an important Qin person who will influence the Deer Mountain Conference, then we will do a great service for the Qi Dynasty today."

  The older man glanced at him without any excitement. A hint of coldness rose in his heart.

  It was not that he wasn’t loyal to the dynasty, but he was not a greenhorn like this young cultivator.

  If the reports were true, and the incomer was someone that Emperor Yuanwu of the Qin had transferred over from a distant place, would they be someone ordinary?

  "Official Chen, you are very nervous?"

  The young cultivator looked at his gaze and smiled proudly. He said, "With the two of us working together and making an ambush, if the incomer is really a powerful person, maybe even one of the thirteen Qin marquises, we will be able to defeat him. No need to be so cautious."

  "Do not talk." The older man’s expression changed slightly as he shouted.

  The younger cultivator raised an eyebrow and revealed a dismissive expression.

  A carriage moved along the mountain path near them.

  The forests of Wu Mountain were dense and shrouded in mist. There were the cries of countless birds and beasts in the forest. So even if they spoke loudly and the person in the carriage had a hearing much keener than ordinary people, they would not be heard.

  The reason the older cultivator had been able to sense the arrival of this person was because of secret preparations he had made on the path.

  This was a secret art unique to his sect that outsiders could not know.

  But at this time, the person who had been sleeping in the carriage with his eyes closed suddenly lifted his head and looked in the direction of him and the younger cultivator.

  The person in the carriage was a man in his thirties. He had delicate features, but his presence felt indescribably like a metal dagger.

  He wore the most ordinary of indigo robes but each part of his body, his strands of hair, each line in his features, and even the wrinkles in his robes seemed to be swords that were piercing to see.

  The older Qi Dynasty cultivator could not see the person in the carriage but at this moment, his eyes were in stabbing pain.

  The sword essence of the person in the carriage was able to reach him along the cold air over such an astounding distance!

  His breathing completely stopped at this moment. His blood turned icy in his veins.

  At this moment, the carriage driver who wore a bamboo hat bowed slightly and tensed his hands.

  The two seemingly inconspicuous horses suddenly started to sprint wildly, their eyes blood red.

  In a flash, the wild sound of the hooves covered all sounds, and this became a murderous and terrifying symphony!

  The older cultivator changed expression and he attacked first with a shout.

  A black bone staff appeared in his hand. As his vital energy wildly poured in, two enormous black flowers formed in front of him.

  At this time, the person in the distant carriage flew out of the cabin.

  With a step, the person in the carriage seemed to turn into a flying sword.

  The younger Qi cultivator also changed expression dramatically.

  He just heard the cracking sound in the sky when he saw a sword path separate the air in the sky and an indigo figure above him!

  Translator Ramblings: The Zhao Dynasty was historically in Hebei, Shanxi and Mongolia. I’m not sure there are major volcanos in that area, but it is true that volcanoes do exist in China’s north, both in the east and the west. So I’m not quite sure where this shaman is actually located.

  Volume 5 5 - Boiled Wine

  Ding Ning’s movements were very careful. Solemnly, he walked to the center of the white sand. By the time he reached, all there was was a thin layer of sand revealing the hard stone underneath.

  The stone was a blue-black color like the starry night sky on the plains. Just like the starry sky, there were many dots of light on the hard stone surface. These were small holes arranged in an orderly manner, corresponding to the position of star in the sky.

  The elixir of life floated at Ding Ning’s chest height. Outside the silver crystal sphere, there were silver crystals melting, shattering, forming and changing. This appeared profound to Ding Ning, also, there were many energy rules that even he could not understand.

  He carefully reached out with a finger. Wu Lianzi, facing him, saw a white thread silently come out of Ding Ning’s fingertip and land amongst the changing silver crystals. This appeared to be one white thread, but there were countless particles on the surface that were moving and changing. Thinking of the former You Dynasty and the legends regarding

  person, the shock and helplessness in Wu Lianzi’s eyes turned to absolute awe.

  Ding Ning’s body trembled slightly, not because of his emotions but because of the Nine Death Silkworm in his body. These countless “little silkworms” that moved between intangible and tangible shook in terror and were filled with desire to consume.

  The white thread was a ray formed from countless “little silkworms.” When the first “little silkworm” made contact with the changing silver crystal, Ding Ning felt the same trembling and desire. These feelings came from the elixir of life.

  Ding Ning closed his eyes. He seemed to see a fight. Countless white little silkworms consumed the silver crystals. Countless silver crystals were consuming the little silkworms at the same time. Both sides were filled with greed. The terror stemmed from not knowing who would eat whom in the end and win.

  Complete consumption meant change. So what the Peerless Wind and Rain Sword said in the past was true. If one accepted the power of the elixir of life, accepted being consumed by these crystals, it would mean their bodies would be changed.

  Ding Ning took a deep breath and opened his eyes. In a sense, this elixir of life was a kind of Nine Death Silkworm. The difference was his Nine Death Silkworm could be controlled while the elixir of life could not be.

  The hissing sound grew louder. From the white thread at the beginning to a trickle to a flow the thickness of an arm! Even though everyone was certain that Ding Ning was the heir to the Nine Death Silkworm when killing Gu Huai, when they saw the legendary Nine Death Silkworm, and the silkworms streaming towards the elixir of life, everyone was still shocked and found it incomprehensible.

  Even ordinary energy would have long been drained if it flowed like this, but the silkworms seemed to be endless. Ding Ning’s body seemed to go against nature.

  Ding Ning’s expression grew calmer, even the graveness disappearing.The white ray made from countless silkworms constantly hit the silver crystal grains, wrapping up the entire elixir of life. It turned into a sphere covered in countless moving white silkworms.

  In the next moment, everything disappeared. The fine white silkworms disappeared. The elixir of life disappeared. The fine white sand under his feet had run out long ago, leaving behind the blue-black stone covered in holes.

  Hu Jingjing swallowed.

  The sound was loud at this moment. She could not help but feel slightly embarrassed. But when she saw Ding Ning who had not changed after the Nine Death Silkworm returned, she could not help but ask, “You have refined the elixir of life?”


  “This is something above realm eight.” Ding Ning shook his head. “While I do not know how this thing formed, it is still above realm eight. The Tianliang experts of the past, including the Peerless Wind and Rain Sword, could not destroy it with their combined intelligence and power …… could not even touch it, how could I refine it?”


  “But it was eaten —” Hu Jingjing unconsciously said, but the silkworms had eaten it.

  At this time, Ding Ning turned and glanced at her. With that, she stilled and seemed to understand. “You …… you sealed it up?”


  Ding Ning nodded directly.

  “Will you use it?” Shen Xuan looked at Ding Ning and added. “I mean when you are truly facing death.”


  Ding Ning shook his head. “Becoming a life that even you do not understand …… that is not immorality, but death.”


  Shen Xuan said coldly, “If you do not change, the agreement will not change.”


  Li Xixing did not care what Ding Ning did with the elixir of life. Back when Ding Ning had walked towards it, he knew that his friend’s attitude towards it was the same as the Peerless Wind and Rain Sword. His gaze landed on Wu Lianzi near the broken gold tower and asked, “What to do with him?”


  To him, since Ding Ning confirmed that Shen Xuan would keep the secret of the Nine Death Silkworm, then of all those in the ancestral lands, Wu Lianzi was the greatest threat to Ding Ning.

  Wu Lianzi’s body trembled violently. He felt these people would not hesitate in killing him.

  Yet unexpectedly, Ding Ning thought for a long time and then asked him, “I hear that you have the queen dowager’s favor the best among the Wuzhi royal sons …… in reality, most of the military is in the queen dowager’s hands?”


  Wu Lianzi used some time to recover, controlling his flesh so his dislocated chin could return to its spot. Then he struggled to lift his head and look at Ding Ning who was waiting for his answer. “I do not know what you mean.”


  “The war between the Wuzhi and Qin from the start was a game between Zhan Moke and Zheng Xiu. Even the Wuzhi royal family, the powerful cultivators and fearless warriors are just chess pieces controlled by Zheng Xiu.” Ding Ning looked calmly at Wu Lianzi and continued. “I mean, if this war can finish sooner, then let it finish early in peace.”


  Wu Lianzi was stunned. He unconscious said in confusion, “How to let it end in peace? Even if Wuzhi wants peace, the Qin will negotiate?”


  “If you want to negotiate, without needing us to think, the queen dowager who loves you will think of a way.” Ding Ning looked at him and said with some scorn, “As to Zheng Xiu, when she gets what she wants, or rather when what she wants has disappeared, there is no need for the war to continue.”


  After a pause, the scorn on his face grew. “Or does she want to take over this plain which is of no use to her?”


  Shen Xuan looked at Ding Ning and said, “She likely does not know what was really in the ancestral lands.”


  Ding Ning nodded. “But the ancestral lands are gone, everything no longer exists. What she wants most is the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art.”


  Shen Xuan knew Ding Ning’s meaning and did not speak.

  Wu Lianzi could not completely understand Ding Ning’s meaning but he agreed with Ding Ning’s proposal. He calmed down and thought seriously. He said, “Just me is not enough. The queen dowager cannot convince the others just based on my life and some of my words.”


  “For a ruler, one does not have to make sense, just speak of a country’s interests.” Ding Ning laughed lightly, and turned to where they had come from. “If I annotate all the engravings and give them to the Wuzhi, do you think she can convince them?”


  Volume 4 5 - Accurate

  When the Dongling army was attacking, Huang Zhenwei was in the main camp of the Tiger-Wolf Army. He was standing in front of a well for horses.

  This was the entry path for the Nine Death Silkworm after the eldest Miss Gongsun released her power of many years and sealed the camp into a storm.

  Right now, he stood in front of the well. He could even imagine the scene of that day in his mind.

  That person shot out from the upsurge of well water silently behind Liang Lian, using the winds and snow for himself. Since he entered through the well, then if he entered the well and went into the underground rivers, he may gain some clues.

  After the conversation with Teacher that day, Huang Zhenwei knew that he had to rely on himself to find clues regarding the Nine Death Silkworm by himself and fast. But when he finally confirmed that the person had entered through the well, he hesitated slightly.

  Xu Fenqin had died in the underground rivers. Bai Shanshui was the best water master in the world. Even Xu Fenqin had not been a match. He could not win against Bai Shanshui in the underground river.

  Maybe this entry path was bait to lure him or other Changling cultivators in?

  He was the head of a bureau, and because of his cultivation method, his existence was more important to Changling than Xu Fenqin. He did not fear death, but did not dare to easily take risks.

  Also, at this moment, he sensed the vibrations from the peach valley. He could feel the vibrations in the primal energies of the universe that could only come from terrifying sword essences.

  He did not know of Zhang Shiwu. He did not even know that Ye Xinhe resided there, but he was certain that unusual things were happening in Changling today once again.

  Thinking of what Mo Shoucheng had said to him, his face quickly paled. Frequent battles between grandmasters like this was a fuse, one that could ignite all of Changling.

  He took a deep breath and without hesitation stepped into the well ahead. He did not want to pursue great merit, he just did not want to see the bloody storm three years before Emperor Yuanwu’s ascension happen yet again.

  A column of dust carrying a tang of blood only Shen Xuan could smell appeared in his sight. At this moment, he finally made his decision.

  He retreated into the shadows behind the doors, and waited for the army in the dust column to arrive.

  With a soft splash, Huang Zhenwei’s body sank towards the well bottom like a stone.

  When his body sank into the embrace of the pitch black waters, a thin and small cultivator was moving through the dim waters. But even in the deep waters, the cultivator’s body grew bright red like burning steel.

  A secret message fell into the hands of Mo Shoucheng on the turret. The dimmed eyes of the white-haired old man flashed with light. He took a deep breath and his entire body floated down from the turret.

  At the same time, the roar of a sword suddenly sounded from a library within a sword school. Before most people in the sword school could react, a sword light broke through the air. Many people looked up and seemed to make out a loose-haired cultivator standing on the sword.

  There was an area with old tombs in the eastern suburbs left behind by an unknown generation. When one black hawk landed on the wild grass, the doors to one tomb suddenly opened and a bone-chilling cold blew out.

  In the next moment, a black cavalry surged out. Both the horses and the soldiers on the horses were all dressed in impenetrable black armor covered in starry profound seals. Even their masks had unseen vents.

  A cavalry like this was a true iron calvary. Yet when the cavalry charged out of the old tomb, they were silent, and did not even make a sound when galloping.

  This did not seem like an army of living people, but an army that charged out of hell.

  The dust column gradually disappeared from Shen Xuan’s sight, and started to reflect a green color in Shen Xuan’s eyes. This was an army of more than a thousand, including dozens of seal chariots.

  But Shen Xuan’s gaze carried faint disdain as he finally looked towards the center of the army.

  The center of the army was a prison cart. Within, many silver dragon restraining chains, used to trap cultivators, passed through the body the person in the cart.

  The criminal in the cart had a hung head. He was covered in blood, bleeding and his true appearance could not be seen.

  “Do not worry, he will not die.” One commander whose armor had split apart came in front of Shen Xuan and said when he noticed his gaze on that criminal.

  “Official Shen.” He then nodded in greeting and said solemnly, “Official, please take good care …… Official, you should know how great a price the Dongling Army paid for him to get here alive.”


  Shen Xuan ignored the commander’s words. He just nodded indifferently and motioned for the other to deliver the criminal into the prison. Confirming that person’s identity was extremely simple.

  No one could mimic the remaining presence on the former Ba Mountain Sword Field Yinyang Sword master, and the sharpness in the remnant sword essences was enough to make people tremble.

  Shen Xuan did not look at Zhang Shiwu’s face. Just like usual, he first inspected the dragon restraining chains, then confirmed Zhang Shiwu had no more vital energy left in his body before having the medical officials and prison officials waiting behind him to take Zhang Shiwu in.

  Seeing Shen Xuan like this, the commander’s face became darker. But at this moment, he suddenly sensed something. His metal armor shook and he abruptly turned around.

  A white-robed woman appeared and strolled over from the woods.

  There was only one woman in Changling who liked wearing white, or rather, only one person would remember. The bureau chief of the Astrology Bureau, Ye Celeng.

  Yet this woman was taller than Ye Celeng. So even though he could not see her face from this distance, the commander felt her expression was even prouder than Ye Celeng, and even rebellious.

  She walked confidently over the sandy ground. She looked at this famed elite Qin army like it was nothing.

  “Bai Shanshui!” The Qin commander gritted out.

  At this moment, swords rang out mournfully. The Dongling army was one of the elite armies of the Qin Dynasty. Before he even sent orders, they naturally prepared for battle.

  But the Qin commander’s heart continued to fall. This army had just fought, and faced an enemy as powerful as Bai Shanshui.

  Shen Xuan’s breath stopped for a moment. A faint hint of disdain appeared at the corners of his mouth. He knew his feeling was correct.

  **

  Swords rang out mournfully. Dozens of flying swords sensed danger and flew out of their scabbards. A drop of water fell from the clouds at the same moment.

  This glittering water drop fell towards a red jade-like flying sword. This flying sword had the steadiest presence, and clearly, the sword’s master had not expended as much energy in the previous battle as other swordsmen.

  The glowing water droplet was falling from the sky, but when it landed on the ground, the dozens of flying swords had just flown above head height.

  The water drop had fallen down as the swords moved. When the raindrop sized water fell to the ground, it turned to terrifying thunder.

  Boom!

  An enormous explosion, that swordsman was torn to pieces in a wave of air. A breath later, the red jade-like sword dimmed, giving a mournful wail and falling to the ground.

  This was just the initial impact. As that swordsman was torn part, an enormous splash of water appeared out of thin air and exploded outwards.

  Screams sounded. Dozens of soldiers were hit by the enormous wave, their bodies flying out as they vomited blood.

  Bai Shanshui smiled. A sword light so green it was black appeared in front of her. She gripped the sword and swung it casually.

  With a boom, two flying swords attacking her were bent and sent flying.

  Two swordsmen in the army grunted, unable to stand still and fell to the ground with pale white faces.

  The green sword gave off a lot of green water.

  Splashes formed in the army.