Chapter Eight The Sound of Silkworms in the Darkness
writer:
无罪 update:2022-07-21 15:26
An ordinary carriage stopped near one of the entrances to the Fish market. Song Shenshu, dressed in common coarse hemp robes and a cloak, got off the carriage and headed into Fish Market, slowly moving deeper.
While the historical libraries of the Qin Dynasty contained many cultivation manuals, everyone knew the most important manuals of the Qin Dynasty were hidden in the imperial palace. The officials of the libraries usually did not have high status in Changling. They also did not have much battle service to lead to the possibility of promotion.
No one would pay attention to people like Song Shenshu who was over forty with grey in his hair.
But Song Shenshu was still extremely cautious.
He was very satisfied with his last decade of life. Even if he did not have his present position, he was satisfied that he could become a cultivator.
He recently had a new comprehension of his cultivation method. After he found a method to help him advance faster, he became more wary.
Countless events proved that the time one became a cultivator was not important, the most important was the time of their breakthroughs.
If he could reach the fourth realm this year, then the world ahead of him would suddenly become vast and full of possibility.
Walking on the path to the deepest part of the Fish Market, he still did not remove the cloak over his head. He followed a wooden path under several foot bridges to a dock.
A little black awning boat was parked on this dock.
Without any speech, Song Shenshu untied the curtain and stepped into the cabin. When the curtain fell behind him, he breathed out, took off his cloak and started to rest with his eyes closed.
Other than his temples which were turning white, he looked well, his face rosy and without any wrinkles.
The little black awning ship started to move. Song Shenshu felt extremely comfortable as he rested, swaying rhythmically.
Yet soon, he suddenly had a cold feeling in his heart.
The path the little boat was taking was different than usual. The outside noise grew smaller while the sound of water was constant. This meant this little boat was heading towards the most remote parts of the Fish market.
He suddenly opened his eyes and looked out through the gap in the curtain …… …… he saw the manservant in a straw cloak steering the boat. He was uncertain and asked coldly, “Is it due to the rise in water level that today’s route seems to be different than usual?”
“It is different than usual, but not because the storm caused a rise in water levels.”
Ding Ning, at the front of the boat, stopped. Je turned around and looked at Song Shenshu in the cabin.
His voice was calm and with faint scorn and pleasure.
Song Shenshu’s head immediately felt a wave of pain.
He certain sure he had never seen this handsome youth before, but he also found this youth’s appearance and tone odd. It felt like when he was meeting someone from his past after many years had passed.
This strange feeling caused him to not think about what the youth wanted to do. He wanted to know who the youth was.
“Who are you? You know me?” he tried to maintain his calm and asked softly.
Ding Ning nodded seriously. “Song Shenshu, fourteen years ago, a carriage driver of the Warden’s Office.”
Song Shenshu paled. That was something he never wanted to hear mentioned again. What shocked him even more was that only the closest people to him would have know of this.
“Who are you? What do you want?” he suppressed the growing terror inside and asked.
Ding Ning looked emotionally at him and softly said, “I am a debtor, coming to collect some debts from you.”
Hearing the words, and putting them together with some recent rumors, Song Shenshu’s hands felt cold. He opened his mouth and wanted to ask something else. At this age, the youth could not have any old grudges against him. Someone else must be directing this youth from the shadows.
Yet he did not have time to make a sound before the youth in front of him moved.
Ding Ning’s seemingly thin body suddenly exploded in a wave of power. The bow of the ship suddenly dropped and the stern forced up into the air.
His body nimbly burrowed out of his straw cloak, and he immediately entered the narrow cabin. Because he was so fast, that straw cloak still lingered in the air as he moved.
Song Shenshu’s breathing suddenly stopped. The index and middle finger of his right hand pointed out together, the other three fingers curled slightly. A red burst of vital energy flooded out of his index and middle fingers. Before Ding Ning’s hand touched his body, this burst of vital energy gently rushed into Ding Ning’s ribs.
In the moment Ding Ning moved, he had several choices.
He could flee from the boat, and make a great ruckus. The underground market had its own rules. The major factions in Changling would not allow people to break the rules here.
Yet in that moment, he concluded Ding Ning was a cultivator just barely in the second realm.
There was a natural and insurmountable gap between every major realm.
In realm three, vital energy was the product of physical energy, and primal energies of the universe. This was an innate and exponential difference between vital energy and physical energy. Also, he was not a cultivator who just entered the third realm. His vital energy had been cultivated to the point it was fluid and could leave his body. This kind of Realm Three first class cultivation meant that his vital energy had many abilities to deal with enemies.
So he subconsciously thought that Ding Ning was just a lure to attract his attention. More powerful cultivators would be hiding and waiting to give the fatal attack.
As a result, when he flooded that burst of vital energy into Ding Ning’s body as a seemingly gentle but ferocious attack, the majority of his attention wasn’t on Ding Ning, but the surroundings shadows, and even the mud and turbid water.
When his vital energy was sent into Ding Ning’s body, Ding Ning only gave a soft grunt to his surprise. Ding Ning did not pause at all.
His left hand moved the same way as Song Shenshu, his index and middle fingers together as he stabbed towards the Gate of Ordering aperture on Song Shenshu’s abdomen.
Song Shenshu could not understand how Ding Ning could tolerate his vital energy. He also couldn’t understand the meaning in Ding Ning’s stab.
Yet in that next moment, his entire body froze.
With a soft snap, the straw cloak fell to the ground. The uplifted stern also fell at the same time and caused a splash.
The energy sea inside his body gave a soft pop. His vital energy, that used to flow regularly, suddenly scattered into countless streams. Those streams spread into the apertures in his body like poisonous snakes, and coming out of his flesh and skin.
The red vital energy squirmed on the surface of his body like earthworms. The dark cabin turned a dark red as though red lanterns had been lit up.
Song Shenshu’s mind was blank, and he felt a wave of terror.
He knew that some cultivation methods had weaknesses, yet even he, the cultivator, did not know what weaknesses there were in his “Crimson Sun Divine Spell.”
But with just a single finger stab, the other cased his vital energy to go out of control. He could not even control his body. How was this possible!
After pausing for many seconds, he finally forced out, “How do you know the weakness in my cultivation? Who are you?” His breathing hissed like a snake.
“Strictly speaking, the Crimson Sun Divine Spell is a wonderful cultivation method. With only some toxic fire items as medicine, one can greatly increase their cultivation speed. Ordinary cultivators will need at least two decades to move from Realm one to Realm three first class, but you only needed half the time.” Ding Ning panted softly. He sat down in front of Song Shenshu. He looked seriously Song Shenshu as he continued to touch the vital energy on Song Shenshu’s body.
“But this cultivation method, which comes from Crimson Sun Cavern of the Wei Dynasty, has extreme weaknesses. If one over-excites the kidneys, the vital energy will be disturbed. When the cultivators of our dynasty fought against the cultivators of Crimson Sun Cavern, they found that the enemy would cover their apertures with special armor. Then Crimson Sun Cavern died, and this method was put into our historic archives. Even though the weakness was found, it was untouched. I hadn’t thought you would coincidentally pick this method to cultivate.”
Ding Ning continued to speak softly. As his hands continued to touch the vital energy on Song Shenshu’s body, it gave off strange sounds. The sound was like countless silkworms chewing on mulberry leaves.
“The Nine Deaths Silkworm Divine Art!”
Song Shenshu finally found something more terrifying than his present situation. The flesh in his throat almost ripped apart as he gave off a hoarse shout in horror, “You are his disciple!”
Volume 3 8 - Departure
“Following Forefather to view an event like that will be of great benefit.” Ding Ning said, after a moment of silence, “But even though I am cultivating outside, I am a student of Green Vine Sword School. If I am going far from Changling to Deer Mountain, I need the permission of my teachers.”
“If there are no mishaps, the Holy One will depart today.” Forefather Zhou did not immediately answer Ding Ning and slowly said. Then he looked kindly at Ding Ning. “You naturally need permission from your teacher. But if you really want to come with me to watch, you have to be fast.”
“This junior understands,” Ding Ning said as he respectfully bowed his head.
Forefather Zhou smiled in satisfaction. “Then go. The Zhou carriages will wait here. If you are able to go, we can depart at any time.”
Meanwhile, Zhang Yi had been casting nervous glances at the alley entrance the entire time. Seeing Ding Ning return, he moved forward to ask softly, “Junior Sect Brother Ding Ning, What important matter caused Forefather Zhou to find you so early?”
After a moment’s thought, Ding Ning said, “He wants me to accompany him to Deer Mountain.”
“Deer Mountain?”
Though Zhang Yi’s had an overly benevolent personality, he possessed an intelligent mind as well. He immediately discerned what this meant and reacted gravely. “The Deer Mountain Conference is a gathering of the strongest cultivators in the world. It can be said to be the greatest cultivator event of the world. These powerful cultivator will fight. Even just sensing that kind of realm will be of great benefit to your future cultivation. Everyone knows this. However, no one knows how many cultivators from the Qin, Chu, Qi, and Yan dynasties will gather around Deer Mountain and what will happen.”
Pausing, Zhang Yi looked at Ding Ning and said with even more gravity, “Because never before has there been a conference like this, there are no examples to consult from.”
Before Ding Ning could respond, an old voice came from the small courtyard behind him. “You said so much. Your Junior Sect Brother Ding Ning must already know. It depends on what he thinks.”
Zhang Yi immediately turned around. “Cave Master, you are awake?”
Xue Wangxu was sitting on the bed, slowly putting on his clothes as he said, “When you reach my age, you will learn even- if you want to sleep, any small noise will easily wake you up.”
Zhang Yi, who had reached the doorway, said shamefully in self-recrimination, “This disciple was too loud.”
“I am too old. It has nothing to do with you, come in.” Xue Wangxu waited for the pair to enter the room before he looked at Ding Ning and asked, “There are no examples for Deer Mountain, it depends on what you think.”
Ding Ning glanced at him and simply said, “I want to go.”
“Since you have decided, then go.” Xue Wangxu looked at Ding Ning and smiled. He said, “It seems that you only have to consider your safety.”
Ding Ning bowed deeply at Xue Wangxu and then also bowed to Zhang Yi with the same solemnity.
“Little Sect Brother …… no, Junior Sect Brother Ding Ning, you are?” Ding Ning had rarely made such serious bows to Zhang Yi before, so he didn’t know what to do when he saw Ding Ning act like this.
“During the time I am not in Changling, I will rely on you and Junior Sect Brother Shen Yi to take care of Cave Master. You have to take care of Cave Master until I return.” Ding Ning looked at Zhang Yi and said calmly, “Deer Mountain is far. By the time the Deer Mountain Conference ends and I return, the Min Mountain Sword Trials would be due to start.”
Zhang Yi grasped Ding Ning’s meaning. He returned the bow with unusual gravity and said, “Junior Sect Brother Shen Yi and I will take good care of Cave Master Xue. We will wait for Junior Sect Brother Ding to return to shine at the Min Mountain Sword Trials and bring White Goat Cave true glory.”
“The sword essence of the Painting Remnant Scroll can rival any sword manual and the White Goat Sword Manual is also clever in its simplicity. I hope that Senior Sect Brother can advance.” Ding Ning thought seriously for a moment and said to Zhang Yi, “I will tell Senior Sect Brother something. The Morning Rain Dampens the Dust. While the morning rain is gentle, it can cleanse away all. The White Goat Hanging Horn means to lock into a stalemate. The two’s true meanings may have similarities.”
Zhang Yi stilled. He could not understand Ding Ning’s words in this moment, but in his subconscious, he felt these words were extremely important. Thus these words were clearly etched on his mind.
Xue Wangxu involuntarily frowned and then smiled as though he understood. He looked at Ding Ning and said, “It seems that I am not a grandmaster, you are.”
Ding Ning shook his head and said, “If this student is a grandmaster, than Teacher is a true grandmaster.”
Xue Wangxu laughed out loud.
Zhang Yi looked in incomprehension at the pair. Xue Wangxu’s smile faded slightly as he looked at Zhang Yi and said, “Ponder this well.”
—
Forefather Zhou had not moved too far from Falling Parasol. Since he had left Ink Garden, he could not easily return.
In his view, Ding Ning would not refuse his suggestion.
Since this wine shop youth had obtained a powerful method to condense the star fiendish energy, then the youth would naturally feel following him would have more benefits. This was a temptation that no cultivator could refuse.
Yet, he did not know that Ding Ning understood his temperament well.
Ding Ning walked out of Xue Wangxu’s small courtyard and went into a nearby shop to say a few words to a fellow inside.
Then he returned to the wine shop as though nothing had happened.
Zhangsun Qianxue was well-aware his intentions and ignored him.
An hour later, a carriage stopped at the alley entrance. Fu Su walked out of the cabin and hurriedly entered the wine shop.
“What is so interesting today that you had someone find me this early in the morning?” Fu Su asked Ding Ning with a smile upon seeing the other sitting in the wine shop.
“Not something interesting, something dangerous.”
Ding Ning waited for Fu Su to come over and sit opposite him before saying, “You know the Zhou Family?”
Fu Su frowned slightly, looked at him and said, “The Zhou Family you refer to should be the Zhou Family of the Ink Garden. You say it is something dangerous. Is the Zhou Family making trouble for you?”
Ding Ning did not answer his question and asked calmly, “Do you know Forefather Zhou?”
Fu Su did not answer. His expression grew slightly odd. “He hasn’t died?”
Ding Ning shook his head and said, “He passed me a way to condense fiendish energy. Now, he has invited me to Deer Mountain.”
Fu Su was shocked. “Deer Mountain?”
Ding Ning nodded and met his shocked gaze, saying, “You must also know that going to Deer Mountain is a dangerous matter. I found you because I wanted to ask if you want to go.”
Fu Su took a deep breath and said, “You want me to come along?”
Ding Ning did not explain, only nodded.
Fu Su was slightly moved.
He was of the belief that those who could support one another in life and death were true friends. He felt that Ding Ning thought of him as a true friend.
But then he said in a slight panic, his head hung low, “I do not know if my family will allow me to leave Changling for Deer Mountain.”
“Wait for me!”
He immediately raised his head, looked at Ding Ning and said, “I will go home and ask. If my family agrees, I will come along.”
Ding Ning looked at him and nodded.
Looking at Fu Su’s unusually clean features, he could not understand how complicated people like Emperor Yuanwu and Zheng Xiu could have a son so completely different from them.
—
Fu Su was going to ask his family. His question would naturally reach the study of the mistress of the palace.
At this time, the empress’ fingers were not wrapped with threads of light but in her perception, the pale white flames that did not belong to this world wrapped happily around the charred small sword high in the sky.
The seal scripts deep in the charred scrapped sword slowly absorbed the power in the pale white flames. Some of the damaged particles started to shine with pale white light as though rusty metal was going to turn into precious jewels.
Forefather Zhou has not died …… he had hid in the Ink Garden for so many years. What does he want coming out now?
She thought coldly to herself upon hearing the report from the palace attendant in front of her.
“Since Fu Su wants to go, then let him go,” she said in the next moment, her features flawless.
A palace attendant that could report to her naturally was not an ordinary one. So upon hearing the words, the palace attendant did not immediately leave with her orders and said hesitantly, “Your Highness, this seems to go against the Holy One …… would this be good?”
“What do you know?”
Though the empress reprimanded, she was not angry. An odd smile appeared at the corners of her mouth. “He takes along his people and he will not care about my arrangements. If I attempt to interfere with his arrangements, that would be not good. Also, Fu Su is too pure. It is good to let him see people’s maliciousness.”
The palace attendant did not understand anything except the last sentence.
The empress glanced at her and said coolly, “You should know our most important connection is one of husband and wife. Only by putting this connection above all else will everything be good and Changling stable.”
After saying this, she looked towards the outside sky. She said slowly and with some pride, “The Holy One must be starting his journey by now.”
The palace attendant shook slightly. She involuntarily looked up at the sky behind her.
The Holy One had departed. So the enormous Changling was absolutely in the hands of her mistress behind her.
Translator Ramblings: My lack of Chinese history is coming back to haunt me. I’m not sure if there was ever a Warring States summit where kings from different countries met each other in person. Envoys did visit the courts of different countries but it seems too much of a risk for monarchs to ever travel to meet in person.
Volume 6 8
Sword energies split the wind. Multiple Qin grandmasters pushed their vital energy to their limits, moving oceans of primal energies of the universe from all directions to gather in their own sword essences. The energies in front of them were cut away, and formed a near vacuum. Even the dozens of cultivators chasing them got a lack of resistance and their sword light grew faster.
From the distance, it looked like multiple large meteors dragging along smaller meteors, creating a spectacular scene on the hellish battlefield.
“General, thank you for your teachings in these years. I will not be able to serve you in the future,” facing the wild wind, a Gold Dagger general next to Xiang Yan said respectfully. His hair tie was cut by the wind, and bloody marks appeared on his face.
“All Chu people will remember this battle,” Xiang Yan nodded and said.
“Kill!”
Cold shouts rose from around him. Dozens of soldiers, including the general, suddenly sped up, turning into golden light that left the formation and faced the incoming Qin grandmasters first.
A dragon roar suddenly rang through the air.
When this dragon roar sounded in the sky-high above, among the many Qin grandmasters, the piercing sound of metal chains snapping came from the wide sleeves of an indigo robed swordsman. It was like an enormous and vicious beast had broken free of its fetters and liberated.
This indigo swordsman, with a face as white as jade, was looking calmly at Xiang Yan who was walking closer on the wind. He was the fastest among all the Qin grandmasters, and he faced the Gold Dagger general who had spoken to Xiang Yan first.
But these dozens of golden lights never existed in his sight. A dry presence surged out as the dragon roar sounded in the sky and his sleeve split. A yellow lifebond sword appeared in his hand, the color like a weathered wall in the desert. His lifebond sword seemed to be sweeping forward, but the light coming off the sword produced many special changes. It was like a piece of the sky went missing and was put into his lifebond sword.
A very dry presence emerged. On the path ahead of his sword, the ground soaked in blood lost all moisture, cracking and then turning into crimson sand.
This was a very powerful and unique sword essence. So when the sword essence formed, many cultivators on the battlefield were certain that it came from a grandmaster of Yang Mind Sect.
In the history of Changling, Yang Mind Sect once was the mortal enemy of One Sky Pavilion. Just like Mind Chamber Sect, it had once been one of the most powerful sects of Changling in the past.
Ye Celeng primarily cultivated the swordsmanship of One Sky Pavilion, her strongest being “One Sky Water” and the “Fire Making Earth” was the enemy of that skill, the greatest bane of this sword manual of One Sky Sect.
In the view of the outside world, Yang Mind Sect had gone into decline long ago, and did not have much news in the recent ten years, no more grandmasters left. But when the pure “Fire Making Earth” appeared, all of the cultivators that once thought this knew they were wrong.
If a once powerful sect did not produce grandmasters for many years when their sword manuals had not been lost, this was just because of chance, because some disciples were unable to have a breakthrough with their talent and understanding. Such a sect may not produce a realm seven, but if one did appear, they would leave their mark on the history books.
Facing these Gold Dagger soldiers who had not yet reached realm seven, this grandmaster of Yang Mind Sect had his own pride, so he only attacked Xiang Yan. In his view, these cultivators who were swinging their swords at him would die as the sword passed, even as a side effect.
The ground turned to dust inch by inch. The skin of the Gold Dagger general ahead of his lifebond sword quickly lost water, cracking. But before the blood could seep out of his skin, it was dried into a dark red powder that flew away in the wind.
Yet the hands of this general were very steady. His gold dagger axe shone with gold light and slashed towards the lifebond sword of this Yang Mind Sect cultivator with a muffled sound.
The dagger axe used by the Gold Dagger army was a strange weapon for the Qin, the weapon like a sword, but the dagger axe had a curved blade that with a slash and a hook, it would catch the enemy’s weapon.
This Gold Dagger general did so right now.
When his weapon slashed against the Yang Mind Sect grandmaster’s lifebond sword, it twisted and hooked onto the blade. Yet this grandmaster’s mind was clear, he was unaffected and his sword essence continued.
The vast power twisted along the dagger axe, the hands of this general turning to dust like they were burned. Then the power swept up his arms and down his entire body. His arms and entire body seemed like they would turn into flying sand at this moment.
But at this moment, the grandmaster suddenly felt uneasy. The gold daggers of the four soldiers behind this general stabbed into the body of their general at the same time, their similar vital energy and power passing through the channels of the general like a dam bursting, and slamming into the general’s lifebond dagger axe.
Five waves of power merged into one and rushed against his lifebond sword. His lifebond sword hummed, and then stopped for a moment! With just this momentary pause, his body seemed to hit a wall in his charge.
There was a loud boom, and a shock.
The bodies of the Gold Dagger general and the four soldiers were torn apart by the power, but in this moment, he saw a golden light that was able to match him fly out of the dissipating bodies of these five soldiers and fall towards him.
This moment was when his sword essence was stopped and the most weak. He sensed what would happen next and was full of grief.
Pew!
He heard the sound of flesh tearing apart from his neck. In the next moment, he saw the solemn Xiang Yan pass him by. This Yang Mind Sect grandmaster felt his body turn light. His head flew into the sky.
In this moment when he still was conscious, he sensed something he could not imagine in his perception. Around him, there were three heads also flying up as well.
Xiang Yan’s dagger axe swept the space within dozens of feet. His attack did not just behead one person and even three other grandmasters’s heads flew! Those three grandmasters had the same experience as him, and had just been stopped by a team of soldiers for a moment!
What kind of tactic was this?
What kind of army was this?
These small teams were able to trap a grandmaster’s sword temporarily?
Before his consciousness disappeared, he just felt shock and confusion.
But the entire battlefield seemed to freeze in this instant. No one could not recall that brief moment as a more shocking scene filled their sight, and caused their hearts to hurt.
Xiang Yan’s body stopped. His long dagger axe was held flat in the air, and caught the four falling heads.
The heads of four Qin grandmasters were steady on his dagger axe and looking forward.
Volume 2 8 - I Never Follow The Rules
This chapter has been brought to you by me, and larkspur.
Guanzhong had eight hundred miles of flat land with vast expanse of farms outside Lueyan District. The scenery looked like a beautiful painting with the occasional hill and village as adornment.
The Xie Family caravan moved steadily and started to slow down thirty miles away from the district city.
"What does this mean?" Fu Su said with a frown, when he noticed the Xie Family caravan slowing down.
Right here, dry fields and unplowed lands lined both sides of the road. There was no village around, only a moderately sized horse farm near a small stream. A dozen grazing horses were scattered on the hill.
There did not appear to be anyone that was doing business with the Xie Family present.
"They are just slowing down, not stopping completely. This means that this place is where they are conducting business, but the other is not here yet," Ding Ning turned to look at Fu Su and said slowly.
Forefather Zhou narrowed his eyes slightly. He looked like he was dozing but his thoughts were active.
Suddenly, his ears moved slightly. He heard something.
"It’s horse bandits." A few moments later, Ding Ning took a deep breath and said as he looked at Fu Su.
"Horse bandits?"
Fu Su was shocked and puzzled. But then he sensed the slight vibrations on the bottom of the carriage, caused by the wheels on the ground. He immediately realized and frowned.
In the eight hundred miles of Guanzhong, there were no mountains or rivers that would hamper the pursuit of armies if someone were to flee from them. But even without any mountain bandits, there were still other bandits.
The flat plains gave birth to horse bandits.
The horse bandits usually had three or four horses each. They would never linger at a place and set camp at different places each day. The Qin Dynasty hated these locust-like horse bandits that did not produce anything and only caused destruction. The Qin Dynasty had cavalry specifically trained in Guanzhong to pursue and kill bandits. But an elite cavalry was hard to train while horse bandits were an easy occurrence. Often, when one group was destroyed, two others would emerge.
A long trail of dust rose in the distant fields. Soon, a group of horse bandits appeared in Ding Ning and Fu Su’s line of sight.
There were more than a hundred people in this group, each one with at least four horses. Other than the one they rode, and the one they kept as a spare, the other horses were heavily burdened with luggage. Both the heavy bags and the horses were stained with dry black blood.
Though they were all dressed differently, the horse bandits had yellow cloths covering their faces. Even though their bodies were not upright and lacked the bearings of the Qin cavalry, they gave off a cold and bloodthirsty presence.
Ding Ning’s gaze grew colder. In terms of numbers, these horse bandits were not much. Strong horse bandits usually had over a thousand horses, and thousands in reserve. They had the power to openly fight small groups of cavalry and cultivators. Yet, from the height of the dust that rose under the hooves of the horses, he could judge that these horses were extraordinarily burdened.
It was normal for a caravan to transport heavy items, but for horse bandits, if they carried too much, it would be fatal.
The Xie Family only had carriages that carried people, and each carriage clearly had passengers. They could not carry the weight from the horse bandits’ burdens.
For Ding Ning, this meant danger.
"These bandits’ spare horses seem to be laden," Fu Su turned and said seriously to him, "and they do not look large, so it is likely to be some seal weapons or military equipment."
Fu Su was the most valued son of Emperor Yuanwu and the empress. He had been taught from birth by wise teachers. Ding Ning was not surprised that he could make such an evaluation.
He nodded. "These bandits do not look like they are conducting business but coming for a fight."
—
"Even the drivers of the three carriages are not ordinary people." In the Xie Family carriage, Xie Lianying did not look at the gang of horse bandits coming towards him. He put more attention on the three black carriages following behind him.
Seeing the three carriages remain calm, a relaxed smile appeared on Xie Lianying’s slightly plump and greasy face. "Even the carriage drivers are so relaxed. This important person from Changling must possess high status."
"Let’s go out."
In the next moment, his smile disappeared only to be gradually replaced by rare coldness. "Let’s not waste this important person’s time."
The bandit group suddenly stopped when they were hundreds of meters away from the Xie Family caravan and then arranged themselves in a line. Under the control of the bandits, the horses they rode and the burdened horses all stopped. Dust stirred at the hooves like fire burning. But the riders and the hooves were silent and gave off a mountainous pressure.
A horse bandit with gray hair slowly urged his horse forward. He saw Xie Lianying and Xie Rou who had walked out of the carriage. His slightly yellowed and dim eyes flashed with light. Then his gaze landed on the three black carriages of the Zhou Family in the distance and his brow imperceptibly furrowed.
"Where are our people and goods?"
Seeing this bandit come out, Xie Lianying spoke first with a smile as he walked to the helm of his caravan.
The gray-haired horse bandit looked calmly at him, without breaching his silence.
As the dust trail behind them settled slowly, the sight of tens of horses in the distance came into view.
Those horse bandits were in a small circle with a dozen riders, dressed in different clothing, at the center.
"Your people know where your goods are."
The gray-haired horse bandit leader spoke calmly, "Your people have seen them. Now you should let us see what we want."
Xie Lianying nodded. His expression did not change but his tone suddenly grew disdainful. "I really admire your bravery. You dare to even rob my people …… you really think that anyone in Guanzhong can touch the Xie Family?"
The gray-haired horse bandit frowned deeply.
He could discern an unusual meaning in Xie Lianying’s words, yet he said nothing. His left hand released the reins and was about to lift up.
"Do not think you can casually kill one of my people to threaten me." Xie Lianying’s eyes narrowed and he said disdainfully, "See what I brought you first and then speak."
As he spoke, the drivers of the other two carriages lifted the curtains of the carriages in unison.
The gray-haired horse bandit leader’s body suddenly froze.
There was only one passenger in each of the two carriages.
One was an old woman with white hair. The other a child of five or so
Xie Lianying looked at the stupefied horse bandit leader and said with great disdain, "How about it? Is what I bring you important enough?"
"You can kill any of my people starting now as you please."
In the next breath, this seemingly tacky merchant changed expression and sneered. "But if you kill one, I will have your Chen Family have no elders or children."
Ding Ning and Fu Su were trying to hear the conversation between Xie Lianying and the horse bandit leader. Fortunately, they were not quiet so they could hear some things.
So, while they could not see what was in the two carriages, the pair quickly realized what was present through Xie Lianying’s words.
"These are not true horse bandits. Or rather, they usually have other identities."
Fu Su turned to look at Ding Ning and said softly, "They stole the Xie Family and their goods but they didn’t expect the Xie Family to investigate them and also kidnap their people."
The horse bandit leader took a deep breath, yet maintained his silence.
Xie Lianying continued.
He looked sympathetically at the horse bandit leader, shook his head and said, "While my Xie Family cannot compare to the true nobility in Changling, we have been in Guanzhong for more than fifty years. What kind of storm have we not weathered! Your children think that you can replace the Xie Family’s position with tactics like these?"
"It’s fine if you want to attack the Xie Family."
Xie Lianying’s tone suddenly turned harsh and his expression frosty. "But you should know what the Xie Family is transporting. You are also Qin, you can do something like this?"
Hearing Xie Lianying’s words, the horse bandit leader slowly shook his head. His dim yellow eyes showed a deep powerlessness.
Then he took off the yellow cloth covering his face.
Underneath was a pale and thin face.
"This son is unfilial to have brought you a fright."
This thin gray-haired man bowed deeply to the old woman in the Xie Family carriage. Then his expression turned calm. He looked at Xie Lianying and simply said, "We will trade people."
Xie Lianying smiled coldly. He knew that starting today, these people could only become true horse bandits so he nodded and said, "Agreed."
The horse bandit leader took a deep breath. His left hand once again left the reins.
But at this time, a cold voice sounded behind him. "I want to try."
Translator Ramblings: I had a hard time visualizing this so this is how I think they are laid out. The horse bandits and the Xie Family are facing off. Ding Ning’s group is located a fair distance behind the Xie Family. Then there is a small group of bandits behind the main bandit group in a circle, keeping other members of the Xie Family and their good hostage.
Volume 5 9 - The Path Forward
Ordinary people only heard dull thunder and could not know what happened, but the cracking of the earth and the restless energies could not be concealed from powerful cultivators.
“What happened?” The empress spoke from within the deep palace.
Dozens of breaths after her voice sounded, a middle-aged man in yellow robes appeared outside of her study.
“Zhang Shiwu wanted to assassinate Ye Xinhe. It happened abruptly. The Dongling army was sent there when I came to report, and should be fighting Zhang Shiwu right now.
The yellow-robed middle-aged man hung his head slightly. But both his breathing and the energy vibrations coming off him were violent. He clearly had been in a hurry to report.
“Zhang Shiwu?” The empress’s figure appeared not far from the yellow-robed middle-aged man. She looked expressionlessly towards the peach valley. “He’s still alive?”
The yellow-robed middle-aged man did not answer her. After Palace Attendant Rong’s death, he was the person who understood the empress the most among her closest. So he knew he did not have to answer this question.
“Since Zhang Shiwu is still alive, why has he appeared now? He wants to kill Ye Xinhe only because he just discovered where Ye Xinhe was recovering right now?” the empress said slowly.
The yellow-robed middle-aged man hesitated slightly, wanting to speak. But then the empress continued to talk.
“Previously, neither the Astrology Bureau or the Divinity Bureau sensed anything. This is not like Zhao Zhan where there were clues half a year before. Half a year was needed to finally find him in Changling.”
The empress had no emotions on her perfect face. “Today, Zhang Shiwu is discovered to be alive, and the Warden’s Office was about to detect and send the Dongling Army. This all seems to be too much of a coincidence.”
“If Zhang Shiwu dies in battle in the valley, then it is not a coincidence.If Zhang Shiwu does not die in battle and is captured alive by Ye Xinhe and the Dongling Army, then it is not a coincidence. If Zhang Shiwu does not die, then he will definitely be sent to the Great Floating Water Prison under the care of Shen Xuan.”
The empress did not need him to answer. Her gaze retreated from afar onto the yellow-robed middle-aged man. Then she said in a cold and powerful tone, “Have Mo Shoucheng go to the Great Floating Water Prison. Order the Tiger-Wolf Army to surround the Great Floating Water Prison. Have General Bai lead the army towards the Great Floating Water Prison, and have Guo Dongshan to with them to deliver Zhang Shiwu there.”
The yellow-robed middle-aged man nodded, turning immediately to walk out. His breathing was still hurried as were his footsteps. Yet when he turned, a different meaning appeared on the corners of his lips.
The empress only suggested a theory. Yet the orders she gave created an enormous net.
Today, if something happened in the Great Floating Water Prison, then this net would trap everyone going to Great Floating Water Prison. It would be difficult for anyone to escape.
From her display, the yellow-robed middle-aged man felt that she was more terrifying than in the past. He did not know if the consecutive deaths of Palace Attendant Rong and the others had caused her to recover her cruelty or that she was familiar enough and understood her former enemies that she instantly became even more powerful than she had been three years before Emperor Yuanwu’s ascension.
Regardless of how terrifying she was, how she could predict her enemies and how perfect her net was, the key was whether the net could form. He, at present, was the net maker.
The empress could not see the meaning at the corners of his mouth.Even if the yellow-robed middle-aged man was facing her, she likely would not discover that this cultivator from the Jiaodong Commandery was any different than before.
She was furious right now. As she turned around, her cold eyes flashed with the fires of fury.
“Zhang Shiwu, even you are alive …… all you people who should have died long ago, how many of you are still alive!”
A commander fell into the dust, blood and pieces of flesh spurting out of his mouth. His thick scaled armor was in pieces, many of which were embedded into his flesh. The parts under his waist had been torn apart by great power …… Pieces of metal and broken limbs were scattered all over the valley along with snapped swords and destroyed chariots.
He was fated to die. Just as broken as his body was the army that had charged out of the white mist like a demon army.
He was pained by all this. Yet at the moment of his death, his eyes were filled with comfort.
Zhang Shiwu had not been killed. Zhang Shiwu was killed alive.
Ye Xinhe sat on the ground. There was a terrifying wound on his left ribs so deep his inner organs could be made out. Even more frightening, a wave of energy was still rippling through his organs. It would take him a lot of time to suppress this power.
He was covered in blood like the peach flowers of the valley were blooming on his body. He looked at the dust column outside of the mountain valley with an unpleasant expression. Not because of his wounds, but because he discovered, even if he had not been wounded in the Deer Mountain Conference, Zhang Shiwu would not have been weaker than him.
A swordsman completely not a match for him, now, was above him. He was emotional.
“Your cultivation reached such a degree after hiding from the world for more than a decade …… strong enough to change the result of the Deer Mountain Conference But people like you were not willing to appear at the Deer Mountain Conference, but are willing to appear now due to the news of the Nine Death Silkworm!”
“Even if that person cultivated the Nine Death Silkworm to that level, he died in Changling. Zheng Xiu and Yuanwu are more powerful than back then. The Changling they control is stronger than back then. What are you all thinking about! Do you not feel stupid!”
“Zhang Shiwu …… You are still alive. Then Nie Yin! Mao Qiceng? Are they all still alive!”
After the emotional disturbance was terror. If the former Zhang Shiwu was enough to threaten his Peach Divine Sword, then those people who had hid away when Ba Mountain Sword Field was destroyed may not be strong enough to kill him.
When he finally suppressed the chaotic sword essence that had charged into his body, Ye Xinhe’s body grew unusually cold.
He thought of Liang Lian’s death. Nine Death Silkworm in Changling brought some people hope and confidence, and some others death and terror.
**
The yellow-robed middle-aged man walked out of the imperial palace.
When he left, multiple cultivators in azure robes quickly started to fly towards the various turrets. Numerous black eagles flew around the yellow-robed man towards the clouds and different parts of Changling.
Everything looked the same as usual, but only he knew that the messages delivered to some key people would be slightly delayed, and some of the contents would have slight deviations. Just like the tactic the empress had once been best at using.
But today, her most skilled tactics would not be for the result she wanted, but what he wanted. He continued to walk forward.
His surname was Wang, so Yuanwu disliked him. His name was Qicheng, the start of a journey. But back in Jiaodong, he served the eldest miss of the Zheng Family, Zheng Xiu, and never truly travelled.
But during the Min Mountain Sword Trials, he had made a bet with himself. So today, he decided to start a true journey. He quickly walked towards the outskirts of the city.
On the other side of Changling, Shen Xuan walked out of the Great Floating Water Prison. When the heavy doors opened, he appeared under the sunlight, hands behind his back. Today’s sunlight seemed exceptionally dazzling.
He looked at the white paths in the distance, and narrowed his eyes into a line. Not just the empress, today, even he had a strong feeling.
So he was not waiting for someone now, but watching his own path forward, making his last reflections and pondering which path to walk.
Translator Ramblings: Disliking someone because of their surname is pretty petty.
Volume 4 9 - Who Is Undefeated
Two prison officials in blue robes appeared immediately in the cell.
Before the cell door was even opened, two flying swords of different colors flew through the small ventilation window and stabbed towards Zhang Shiwu on the stone bed like lightning.
Zhang Shiwu was lying on the stone bed. His energy sea was penetrated and bound by special seal chains, and steel wire was threaded through his body so he could not even kill himself. But the surface of his body started to burn. Red energy waves appeared and bloomed like roses. Facing the two small swords coming through the window, he smiled and did not move.
Yet to the utter shock of the two prison officials, the two flying swords inexplicably stopped in the air, unable to advance! Only now did the two prison officials remember there was a kind of sword manual in the world called the Thought Sword.
Just like the Heart Thought Sword that Yi Xin of Mind Chamber Sect used during the Min Mountain Sword Trials, these cultivators cultivated the mind……
When one’s body was out of control, their extraordinary willpower and mental power could gather primal energy and transform them into powerful sword essence.
In the next moment, the two prison officials vomited blood. They lost their connection to the two flying swords. The two flying swords were pushed together by the red energy waves like a pair of scissors.
The dragon restraining chains passing through Zhang Shiwu’s energy sea were cut. As these metal chains were pulled out of the body, blood flowed out along the wound immediately.
In the next moment, there were faint popping sounds coming out of Zhang Shiwu’s body. Those steel wires that had stabbed deep into his body, trailing along his meridians and stopping his vital energy from flowing all charged out of his body and floated like willow branches around him. He smiled and sat up.
The blood flowing out of his body was strangely controlled by his thought to merge back together with the primal energies of the universe that had gathered. Then they shot outwards like red ribbons.
There was an enormous shock. The heavy iron door was sent flying outwards.
The two prison officials vomiting blood, and the six prison officials who came up behind them were all sent flying by the iron door. The red ribbons flew like they were alive, moving more than a hundred feet towards Lin Zhujiu who was in the deepest cell.
Shen Xuan still remained motionless. The mixture of energy and blood flew strangely by him and formed an odd yet beautiful scene.
When the first red blood ribbon fell into Lin Zhujiu’s body, his rotten body gave off a fresh presence.
“Blood Sacrifice. The Ba Mountain Sword Field managed to find such a method, I do not know how much effort those people in hiding expended trying to save you.” Shen Xuan sneered as he looked at Lin Zhujiu starting his regeneration in the water.
“This means that I am not a failure as a human being.” Lin Zhujiu laughed.
His body floated out of the water. The seal weapons imprisoning his body, including the steel wires and gold chains buried in his body were all squeezed out.
These steel wires and thin chains did not fall down after they left his body. They danced and flew, quickly weaving together in an intimidating manner to form a sword shape.
Shen Xuan frowned deeply. The sword forming in front of Lin Zhujiu gave off a powerful lifebond presence and an indescribable presence of flesh and blood.
He started to understand. In the past years, these things had imprisoned everything in Lin Zhujiu’s body. But everything in Lin Zhujiu’s body had been nurturing and refining these things.
This was a sword that Lin Zhujiu used ten years to nurture with energy and also his blood and flesh! The sword had just formed, and had not yet tasted an enemy’s blood. This was its most dangerous time!
The steel threads and fine chains grew more condensed in front of Lin Zhujiu until there were no more gaps. A deep red longsword took form, and shone red light.
Shen Xuan’s expression gradually changed.
The droplet of water silently floated in front of Bai Shanshui, vibrating but hesitant.
Du Qingli watched Bai Shanshui with one eye, the strength in his gaze growing stronger.
But Bai Shanshui put her hands behind her back and smiled at him. “Do you know? I actually do not need to win against you.”
Du Qingli’s concussion had not yet faded. He stilled, not understanding the meaning.
“I only need to keep you here,” Bai Shanshui said coolly, “That is enough.”
Du Qingli did not think her words were correct but he inexplicably had a bad feeling. So he had to determine victory.
In a blink, the primal energies of the universe that had accumulated for many years in his body surged out. An invisible giant seemed to appear between him and Bai Shanshui that suddenly blasted forward.
A visible energy wave charged at Bai Shanshui at terrifying speed.
Bai Shanshui did not move. The droplet of water started to change, turning to countless water droplets and then water bubbles which wrapped Bai Shanshui up in layers.
The impact hit the layers of bubbles. The layers of power were worn down between each layer of bubbles yet none of the water bubbles popped.
Du Qingli’s gaze turned shocked.
“The sword essence of Cloud Water Palace is the strongest and the softest.” Bai Shanshui stood in the glowing water bubbles and looked at him as though from many worlds away.
Du Qingli’s body started to turn cold. He found that he and most of Changling’s cultivators had made a serious mistake. Previously, they had seen Bai Shanshui’s most rigid side and never discovered her softest side.
“You will still not retreat?” Du Hongtan looked with sympathy at Zhao Si.
The enormous monument slashing towards him had slowly tipped upwards. Black sand surged into his hand, and then spilled out as black energy from his hand to the enormous monument. His hand seemed to be glued to the monument.
He was moving up.
The giant monument was also tipping upwards, and the weight also pressing towards Zhao Si’s end. In his view, when all the weight of the monument was pressing towards her, she would nott be able to bear it and her body would explode into pieces.
“While I really hope you will continue and die here …… you will really do that?” He continued to address the silent Zhao Si with clear sympathy.
Zhao Si still did not respond.
However, Du Hongtan abruptly looked back. He felt a dangerous presence.
The moment he looked back, some of the black sand-like energy flowing like a waterfall behind him suddenly gathered to form multiple stalks of bamboo that then produced deep red flowers.
Du Hongtan’s expression changed dramatically. His hand quickly left the enormous monument and slapped back.
A burst of black energy appeared in the empty space behind him, and then burst out over dozens of feet.
Within the black energy, a quiet woman in deep red robes appeared. She held an ancient zither. She slowly looked up, blood trailing out of the corners of her mouth. But her eyes were pure black and also flowing with black energy.
“Eldest Miss Shang?” Du Hongtan said in disbelief.
The quiet woman did not answer. Her hand moved on her instrument. Dozens of black strings flew and disappeared into the air.
Du Hongtan shouted angrily. The falling black sand flew in layers around his body. Multiple stalks of bamboo grew stubbornly in the black sand.
Zhao Si narrowed her eyes slightly, her two fingers left the enormous monument and gripped at empty space……
The enormous monument suddenly burned, turning into liquid metal and drenching the spinning black sand. White smoke gushed out.
Du Hongtan’s shouts continued, Zhao Si continued to advance.
As the monument disappeared, red light flashed at the core. The iron marrow had formed a scorching red little sword. The Zhao Sword Furnace were the best at smelting swords.
Zhao Si gripped this just forged sword and stabbed hard into the black sand ahead.
Du Hongtan stopped breathing completely. This was his home, where he was most strong. Yet for Eldest Miss Shang, this was also her strongest place.
Zhao Si’s burning sword, like a blood sun, was also the bane of
and ghost energy. He could not stop it nor could not be a match for the two of them working together. He could only watch the small sword pierce into his body.
His body was pierced through by this small sword. In the next moment, his entire body started to burn.
Volume 8 9
On the ground, spring and summer were changing, and even the powerful Chu Dynasty was collapsing. But deep underground in Changling, the temperature did not change much.
Hu Hai had thinned greatly, and his skin grew very pale. Like many other animals that lived for a long time in the underground, his skin even shone slightly. At this time, there were not many marks on his body, there were no chains or other restraints, and he looked like he could move freely. There were many thin bloody pieces of meat on the stone plate in front of him.
The meat was raw rat meat.
Shen Xuan had stored a large amount of food in the cellar, so the rats had followed the smell of food. Of course these rats could not escape Shen Xuan’s perception.
At this time, on the Chu and Qin battlefield, rats were the emergency food. Many armies would dig out roots and rodents to feed, but the rat meat placed in front of Hu Hai had not been carefully prepared. There was a lot of rat hair and dirt, and so the meat looked very disgusting.
Each time Hu Hai’s gaze landed on the smelly rat meat, he dry heaved but did not dare to make a sound.
Shen Xuan was not standing not far in front of him, and using a rag of unknown color to clean the blades secured on the wall. Time passed slowly underground. So his movements were very slow and fine like he was polishing some jade articles in order to while away time.
“Taowu.”
After a long time, he put down the rag and said. He looked expressionlessly at Hu Hai. “Eat it. In reality, it tastes very good, and can rival the most delicious food in the world.”
The “taowu” was a kind of legendary fierce beast. Such a fierce beast was rarely recorded in the history books, and there were no records of what it looked like. Most cultivators now did not know the name of such a beast, not to mention the unusual characters. But the characters seemed to have a kind of strange magic.
Hu Hai, who had been heaving, heard the words, and then a flush appeared on his face, with a bare greed in his eyes. He seemed to have seen the most delicious food in the world, and leapt at the stone plate. He chewed large mouthfuls, eating the bloody raw meat and even the blood left on the plate.
Shen Xuan looked at him silently without any expression. In the next moment, he hung his head. He thought, it was soon time to go look at Changling above.
**
Above, Changling was very deserted. The lack of people came from the cleansing after Ye Celeng’s betrayal and Baili Suxue entering the imperial palace. Many officials had been pulled in, many people had died in battle, and many people quickly left in fear of being implicated.
Even more importantly, many sword schools and cultivation places disappeared overnight, not because of the armies, but because they could no longer endure the control from the imperial palace.
Today, there was some liveliness from a small town on the shore of the Wei River outside of Changling, Red River Town.
This was a wharf where many business ships were stopped. This place produced clay for making pottery. There were many ships coming and going, stirring up the red mud at the bottom of the river and causing the river water to look red.
With the border battles ongoing, what was most lacking was food. Then it was carriages and horses. What was most in need was naturally medicine, especially medicine to stop bleeding.
As the weather changed and grew hot, the medicines to stop diarrhea and wounds from being infected grew important.
Today, most of the people who stopped by the little town today were from important businesses in Guanzhong. Some of those who came onto the shore were legendary for their wealth.
But these Guanzhong rich people did not have good faces. Because before everyone detected that medicines were in need, these rich people had found that most of the clotting medicines, diarrhea medicines and wound cleaning medicines had already been bought by a mysterious rich merchant.
It was understandable to have foresight and hoard resources in need. But many materials were controlled by the court. Some businesses had to finish a certain amount in a limited time. When the raw materials were hoarded, and the prices manyfold what they usually were, the price that the businesses sold the products could not increase. This was not just using the opportunity of war to get rich, it was stepping on the faces of all Guanzhong rich and taking money from their pockets.
Who dared to do so?
It was not just that there were connections between the officials of the bureaus and these rich people, and not merely that many cultivators from Guanzhong had become generals in the military. Even most cultivation places in Changling would receive funding each year from these Guanzhong rich.
The only reason that these people had not already attacked was that this mysterious person had terrifying wealth. Otherwise, they could not have so quickly and silently bought out so many materials, and this mysterious person gave them a chance to talk.
Xie Liangying went onshore in the middle of a crowd of other important Guanzhong people, walking to the quietest inn in the little town. As the leader of the Guanzhong rich, when they were challenged, it was naturally him leading the way to come and discuss. But at this time, he was very worried, and his thoughts were not on this.
After the Min Mountain Sword Sect was destroyed, his daughter Xie Rou who had been studying there had disappeared, and before that, Xie Changsheng also went missing.
Compared to the news of his son and daughter, this matter right now was not the most important. But when he walked alone into the deepest room according to the other’s demands, a voice entered his ear and caused him to still.
“Father.”
The voice was familiar but strange.
“Changsheng?”
Xie Lianying’s eyes widened. He looked in disbelief at the young person under the dim light. He felt on the verge of tears. It was his son who he had been worrying about all this time.
In the dim light, his son, who had been idle in the past, seemed to have matured greatly.
“Using such a method to make you come and meet you is not for business and the medicine materials,” Xie Changsheng bowed to his father who he missed day and night as he said softly.
“What does this mean?”
Xie Lianying was stunned for a long moment and then refocused. “What are you doing? How could you have done something like this?”
Xie Changsheng was very excited at meeting his father in such a situation. His hands trembled in his sleeves. But his expression was very stern. He did not answer his father’s question but quickly said, “Zheng Xiu is about to act against Guanzhong very soon.”
Volume 7 9 - **Chapter Nine: Miracle Army **
**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.
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