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Chapter Nine Begging for Life
writer:无罪      update:2022-07-21 15:26
  There were countless methods for cultivation in the world, and each cultivator’s physical body was different. No one knew how many sects were started, how many methods were created, and how many ways of using the primal energies of the universe were conceived.

  Min Mountain Sword Sect and Spirit Void Sword Sect of the Qin Dynasty had studied how to use the sword to the limits. The Chu Dynasty, Yan Dynasty, and the Qi Dynasty’s sects were skilled in froging, seals, and yin energy in ways that cultivators of other dynasties could not rival.

  Even the Han, Zhao and Wei dynasties which were gone, had secret cultivation sects in their hundreds. The Han Dynasty’s South Sun Pill Sect, the Zhao Dynasty’s Sword Furnace, and the Wei Dynasty’s Cloud Water Palace had cultivation methods that only a few sects in the world could rival.

  Yet of all the cultivation methods, the Nine Deaths Silkworm Divine Art was undoubtedly the most powerful and mysterious.

  No one knew the origins of this method, but they speculated that this had been a method created by the invincible Emperor You who had founded the You Dynasty.

  Some even speculated the most powerful cultivator at the time, the Emperor You, had passed away at the age of fifty because he had an accident in cultivating this method.

  This was a speculation. While all the most talented people after Emperor You obtained this method, none of those people, including the person whose name was taboo in Qin Dynasty, dared to cultivate this method.

  No one cultivated this method. No one in the world knew the abilities and power of this method.

  The later cultivators learned from some bamboo scrolls from the You Dynasty that one needed to kill many people to cultivate this method …… …… and when the cultivator touched the vital energy of other cultivators, the sound of silkworms eating mulberry leaves would occur.

  Yet the cultivators of the time was sure that this method was unlike the other demonic methods of the Qi Dynasty which consumed other people’s vital energy to increase one’s own cultivation.

  Then why would the sound of silkworms munching on leaves be produced when touching people’s vital energy, and what did it mean?

  People felt that this kind of riddle was mysteriously terrifying.

  What terrified Song Shenshu at the moment was not because of the method, but that the method had disappeared at the hands of that person.

  That person once had many retainers.

  Many years ago, Song Shenshu had only been the lowest of carriage drivers for that person’s retainers.

  Now the Nine Deaths Silkworm Divine Art, which should have disappeared with that person, appeared in front of him. Many scenes that were sealed in his mind which he did not want to remember pressed down on his body like a mountain.

  His body could not move. He started to violently convulse.

  He started to realize that the news, which had spread a few days in Changling, was true.

  Ding Ning looked at Song Shenshu without slowing his movements. His fingers seemed to be smoothing away the wrinkles on Song Shenshu’s clothing. He brushed across each crimson red streak of vital energy on Song Shenshu’s skin. Accompanied by the sound of silkworms chewing on mulberry leaves, the crimson streaks of vital energy disappeared under his fingertips.

  “How is the taste of selling one’s friends for glory?” he softly asked Song Shenshu as though he really wanted to get an answer.

  Hearing this, Song Shenshu finally believed his own speculation. His terror finally returned to his own situation. “Do not kill me!” he said hoarsely as his body sweated and he tried to move his paralyzed throat muscles.

  “You have to pay your debts.” Ding Ning looked at him with pity. “Tell me, other than your life, what else can you use to pay?”


  Song Shenshu’s eyes were almost swimming in his own sweat. He tried his best to open his eyes and said urgently, “If…… …… if I tell you some secrets more important than my life, would you let me live?”


  Ding Ning’s brow furrowed slightly. He thought for many moments before he said, “Possible.”


  Song Shenshu’s eyes suddenly burned with hope but he still hesitated.

  Ding Ning smiled coldly. “You should know what his sword is called.”


  Song Shenshu’s eyes lit up.

  “Back then, when Li Guanlan was killed, the one who sold him out was Mu Yu. He changed his name to Liang Lian,” he controlled his hardening throat as he gasped out the first of his important secrets.

  Ding Ning’s eyes imperceptibly dimmed.

  Those familiar names were a lot of debt to him.

  His brow furrowed deeply as he seemed to speak to himself, “Liang Lian? The general of the North Tiger-Wolf Army? The one who has reached full military service and the one with the highest hope of becoming a marquess?”


  “That’s him.” Song Shenshu’s desire to remain alive grew stronger. While he was having a harder time talking, his voice was louder.

  “Only this? You should understand that if what you say is true, even if you do not say it, I will investigate it in the future.” Ding Ning raised his head and looked coldly at him.

  Song Shenshu swallowed with difficulty, his heart beating violently.

  He knew the next secret he said would definitely satisfy the other. However, he also knew if people learned he was the one who told the secret, his future ending would be worse than this present one.

  “Lin Zhujiu isn’t dead,” he said hoarsely as he looked pleadingly at Ding Ning.

  Ding Ning’s body froze. For the first time, he lost his calm as he said in shock, “What did you say!”


  “He is imprisoned in the deepest cell in the water prison.” Song Shenshu felt his heart was going to jump out of his throat. “Prime Minster Yan wants to obtain some cultivation secrets from him, so he did not kill …… …… everyone outside thinks he is dead. Even Prime Minster Li and Bureau Chief Ye do not know this.”


  Ding Ning’s expression recovered. He was silent for a moment and then said, “Then how do you know this secret?”


  Song Shenshu did not dare to look at his eyes. “Because Minister Yan could not get anything out of him, he thought of a method …… …… he once had people pretend to stage a rescue, and some of them were people that Lin Zhujiu knew before.”


  “You are one of the people Lin Zhujiu knew, but he didn’t know that you are Minister Li’s people.” Ding Ning’s expression calmed. “After that?”


  Song Shenshu said with difficulty, “We do not know where the mistake was but Lin Zhujiu did not fall for it.”


  “His mind is even more cautious than Minister Yan. How could those little tricks fool him?” Ding Ning bowed his head and said softly, “he must be living in great discomfort right now.”


  Song Shenshu did not know how to continue. He did not speak.

  Ding Ning did not look at him but said softly, “Anything else?”


  Song Shenshu’s heart started to be beat violently again.

  He could hear that the other was still unsatisfied.

  “I …… ……” He trembled as he state the most important secret he knew. “The legendary Lonely Mountain Sword Hoard does exist, and many of the clues may be in the hands of Cloud Water Palace’s Bai Shanshui.”


  “Lonely Mountain Sword Hoard?”


  Ding Ning’s breathing stilled slightly. This was another piece of information he had never thought of.

  Legend that Lonely Mountain Sword Sect was a very mysterious and powerful Sect. No one knew when it was founded or when it ended. But there always was rumors that this sect left behind a secret treasure hoard.

  Other than lost cultivation methods, there were tempting extinct spirit medicines and forging materials.

  As more and more things about Lonely Mountain Sword Sect had been discovered, cultivators became more certain that Lonely Mountain Sword Sect and its hoard had existed. However, there had never been clues to where the “Lonely Mountain Sword Hoard” was located.

  “How do you know this?” Ding Ning’s eyes flashed as he looked at Song Shenshu and asked again.

  “Someone once from Divinity Bureau came to the archives with pieces of jade scrolls to confirm authenticity. We searched the ancient records and found the unique characters on those pieces were characters from Lonely Mountain Sword Sect.”


  Song Shenshu said urgently, “Also, I did a secret investigation. People from Divinity Bureau and the evil elements of Cloud Water Palace had fought previously previously. They are sure more pieces of this jade scroll are in the hands of the Cloud Water Palace survivors.”


  Ding Ning did not speak for a while.

  Even if Cloud Water Palace’s cultivators were hidden just as deeply as the cultivators of the Zhao Sword Furnace, if one spent time, they could find some clues.

  “Anything else?” he looked at Song Shenshu, and asked after several dozen breaths.

  Song Shenshu looked helplessly at him, his mind slowly blanking.

  He could not think of any other important secrets.

  “Very good.”


  Ding Ning looked at his complexion and seemed to nod in satisfaction. He bent down and whispered by Song Shenshu’s ear, “If that’s the case, you can go die.”


  Song Shenshu’s eyes widened in disbelief.

  A burst of energy easily stabbed into his heart meridian and cut the most important arteries for life.

  “You ……”


  He did not believe that his life was about to end. His stiff hand grabbed Ding Ning’s robe.

  “You are very puzzled why I will not abide by my word and kill you, right?” Ding Ning looked at the widening eyes and said softly, “He was the person in the world who would abide by his word, so you feel that his student will also do the same.”


  “But he is dead. Who would use what he taught?” Ding Ning calmly peeled off Song Shenshu’s fingers as he talked.

  Song Shenshu clearly heard this. He felt furious at being fooled, but in the next moment, he only heard his throat give a strange sound.

  That was his last breath.

  He died with endless regret.

  Volume 3 9 - Meeting

  “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.

  So after entering Changling, it turns out he had overthought. What kind of threat would a youth like this be to him?

  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 yin 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 yin 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.

  If only you were able to detect Fu Su’s true cultivation, why would multiple dynasties and those great rebels scheme so much, and even sacrifice innumerable powerful cultivators, to learn Emperor Yuanwu’s true cultivation?

  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!

  Who was the person in the carriage?

  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 6 9

  “This is not fair!”


  One of the swordsmen following the four grandmasters shouted furiously. His flying sword drew a white line in the air and pointed at Xiang Yan’s chest.

  This attack had no finesse at all, and did not even represent his cultivation, just his feelings and attitude at this moment. Being able to cut off the heads of four grandmasters in one slash. This appeared majestic, but it was at the price of sacrificing multiple teams of cultivators. In his view, Xiang Yan holding the dagger axe to display his power was just a lowly trick.

  But when his furious shout was sounding, there were metallic rattles coming from the charging Gold Dagger Army soldiers. In the next moment, thousands of golden winds burst out from the Gold Dagger soldier formations and cut through the vacuum, and even formed an enormous golden wall that was falling down.

  The terrifying metal rattling came from the gold dagger axes the soldiers were holding. The tip of the dagger axe shot off the weapon like a flying sword, and with the power of the vital energy and the internal mechanism, it was faster than ordinary flying swords.

  When these dagger axe tips flew away from the rest of the weapon, their tails were still connected by thin silver chains. The silver chains had a cold air, and they were made from the silver snow metal produced by the Qianjiang Commandery, south of Chu.

  Pang pang pang pang ……

  People below realm seven could not stop these thousands of golden light. There were many sounds of flesh being pierced. The dozens of cultivators who had followed the four grandmasters were pierced through by the dagger axes. The golden light passed through their bodies and created torrents of blood. The tips of the dagger axes pierced the bodies and then were quickly drawn back by the cold iron chains, once again creating sprays of blood.

  “On the battlefield, there is only victory and defeat, no fairness,” one ordinary Gold Dagger soldier passed by this Qin cultivator who had been pierced through dozens of times and said coldly.

  In a brief flash, four realm seven grandmasters had been beheaded, and dozens of cultivators were instantly killed.

  Boom!

  The Chu army seemed to wake up, and gave unprecedented cheers and shouts.

  Ever since Consort Zhao Xiang and this Gold Dagger army had appeared, there had been thunderous cheering coming from the Chu army several times, each time louder than the last. The world even felt like they would be destroyed by the vibrations.

  Many Qin generals had ashen faces. They could see that the Gold Dagger army was near their limits, and they were just holding on by their resolve. But this was the case for large battles. What determined victory was momentum and resolve, and not the actual strength.

  Now, the Chu army was berserk.

  The key to victory was not Consort Zhao Xiang and the Gold Dagger army, but the main Chu army who had gone completely mad.

  **

  Wei Wujiu looked silently in the direction of Consort Zhao Xiang and the Gold Dagger army. Next, the flank of the Qin army there would be broken. But he had yet to give orders.

  When the four grandmasters were killed and their heads landed on the gold dagger axe in front of Xiang Yan before falling to the ground like ordinary debris, a strange light appeared in his dark eyes. It seemed like a piece of wood that had been silently in the mud was burning.

  He thought for a long while, and then started to walk in the direction of the remaining seventy thousand Chu people. More accurately, he was walking in the direction of Consort Zhao Xiang.

  At this time, the troop following him knew his identity, and so when he started to walk, his troop was shocked.

  One cultivator dressed like a strategist just like him quickly followed.

  “Marquis, do not be impulsive. Both Consort Zhao Xiang and Xiang Yan’s actions are bait. They know that you are the general, and that you have never lost in a situation like this, so they are deliberately doing this.”


  This cultivator could easily keep up with Wei Wujiu’s footsteps, meaning that his own cultivation was not far from the other. And being able to say such words at this time meant that this cultivator was one of Wei Wujiu’s closest confidants.

  Looking at Wei Wujiu who did not immediately respond, this cultivator added, “They are deliberately humiliating…… They want to lure you over. You are a marquis now, and the chief general of the army. There are countless people and lives tied up with you. You cannot think yourself an ordinary cultivator any longer.”


  “You are correct.”


  Wei Wujiu suddenly laughed and said, “But you spoke of defeat. Since victory and defeat has not been determined, how have I lost? Since she is there, I will naturally try to kill her.”


  After a pause, he looked at the shocked cultivator next to him and said, “Right now, the other side are in high spirits, but when the flank breaks and before the Chu army and she meets, there is still an opportunity to kill her. If I do not dare to even try this, there will not be a place for the Wei Marquessate establishment in Changling after today.”


  “An accomplishment built on ten thousand bones.” Wei Wujiu looked at the position where the four grandmasters had fallen, and said slowly in a cold voice, “What built up my military merit and the Wei Marquessate Establishment was not just the heads of the enemies, but also of my brothers.”


  “So even Old Wei cannot sit still? Yes, most of his people have died.” On the hellish battlefield, an old person sighed, and then laughed proudly.

  “Marquis,” the generals around him understood what he was going to do, and said in unison.

  “I am old bones, it is the same no matter where I die. Being able to die here is the best, I will protect the Fang Marquessate Establishment and keep them safe.”


  This old person straightened and started to walk, his figure speeding up until he was almost a blur. When a cultivator’s killing intent reached a certain strength, they would cause change in the flow of the primal energies of the universe. They could even change the shape of the clouds in the sky, and this was easier for other powerful cultivators to sense.

  Even before these two people from the Qin thirteen marquises appeared in sight, Consort Zhao Xiang seemed to sense it. She frowned but also smiled, saying softly to herself, “It remains to be seen if you are able to kill me.”


  Boom!

  The cultivator who was following Wei Wujiu could not control his killing intent and emotions. The vibrations of his presence caused a resonance in distant primal energies. As thunder roared, the primal energies gathered, and a bolt of purple lightning appeared in the sky which did not dissipate.

  This enormous sound was a fuse which caused a chain explosion. The roars kept resounding in the sky, like giant mountains slighting and exploding with more stunning lights.

  Each marquessate establishment naturally had terrifying power. When the marquises were going onto the battlefield, the experts under their command naturally all came out.

  At this time, there were thirteen oceans of primal energy moving through the sky like giant mountains.

  Volume 2 9 - Youthful Zeal

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

  This voice was aloof but also extremely shrill. It seemed to be a female voice but also slightly different.

  Xie Lianying’s brow imperceptibly creased. The grey-haired horse bandit leader was, in reality, the patriarch of the Guanzhong Chen Family, Chen Tunyun. The Chen Family were a recently risen family in Guanzhong, and had previous business conflicts with the Xie Family before. He was not surprised by their behaviour.

  If the Xie Family could not resolve this matter, they would suffer a great blow in the future.

  But Chen Tunyun was famed for his filial piety and was also a late child. In his mind, his old mother and this one son of the Chen Family were more important than his life. Since he had agreed to the exchange, who in the Chen Family would dare object?

  Chen Tunyun suddenly turned around.

  The speaker was not far behind him on a carriage and in grey robes. Their gender could not be distinguished as they were a small figure and wore a yellow cloth over their faces.

  "I want to try."

  This person said again in an even thinner voice when Chen Tunyun turned to look back.

  Chen Tunyun’s hands trembled slightly. His face was as pale as paper. He said in an inaudible voice, "Official ……"

  "You have a small family that cannot compare to a country. Also, I may not fail, perhaps your family will not be harmed at all." This grey-robed person had a gentle gaze, but the tone was determined and unequivocal.

  Chen Tunyun’s chest surged violently. He was about to say something when the grey-robed person said, gaze harsh and voice cool, "Official Chen, do not forget your status. Do not forget that you are not of the Qin!"

  Chen Tunyun seemed to be hit with an enormous hammer. He gritted his teeth and turned around.

  Xie Lianying had remained silent this entire time. When Chen Tunyun turned around, he looked deeply at the other and said, emphasizing each word, "You should have heard of me say that I, Xie Lianying, dislike people who have regrets when doing business the most."

  As he spoke, two short and rushed whistles sounded in the air.

  A red and an indigo sword light suddenly appeared in the carriages with their open curtains, flashing by the old woman and the child.

  Two pieces of flesh flew away from the old woman and the young child out of the cabin.

  The old woman and the young child shuddered violently, as though they were screaming at the top of their lungs. But for some unknown reason, they could not make any sound.

  This kind of scene was even more terrifying.

  "Xie Lianying!" Chen Tunyun roared like a wounded beast, his expression worse than if he was crying.

  "Is this not good?" Fu Su’s face was pale. While he could not see the scene inside the carriages, he could guess what had happened.

  "It is not good, but this is not what the Xie Family had anticipated." Ding Ning’s expression turned cold. His gaze had remained on the grey robed person with the shrill voice behind Chen Tunyun. "If I am not wrong, only a powerful cultivator above realm seven could force this patriarch of the Chen Family to change his mind. This realm seven cultivator must know that the Xie Family caravan has no realm sevens so he stopped the Chen Family from trading hostages. He does not want to assassinate Xie Lianying quickly, he wants to use a tactic to steal the Chen hostages."

  "Xie Lianying should not be as mediocre as the rumors say. He should see clearly now if he does not put enough pressure on the other, then everyone from the Xie Family will die today." Ding Ning’s voice grew colder. "Starting now, the other doesn’t want to obtain enormous benefits from the Xie Family, but to kill all the Xie Family members here."

  "Kill all the Xie family members here?" Fu Su was astounded. "The Xie Family is the richest of Guanzhong, one of the pillars of the Qin Dynasty. Kidnapping members of the Xie Family in exchange for astounding wealth will not disturb the palace, but it will cause great vibrations if the Xie family members are killed. Changling would investigate with full power. These Chen family members disguised as bandits cannot be kept secret. Why do they do this?"

  Ding Ning sneered and said, "Maybe from the start, their goal is to remove this pillar, or rather to stop the Xie Family from what they are doing now."

  Hearing these words, Fu Su suddenly thought of a possibility and his heart jumped. At the same time, he became more nervous.

  If this was like Ding Ning said, and the shrill cultivator was realm seven, then Xie Lianying, Xie Rou and the others were naturally in great danger.

  Chen Tunyun screamed heart-wrenchingly, Fu Su and Ding Ning talked, and Xie Lianying wore a cold face. He looked at Chen Tunyun and said, "I do not know your intentions, I do not care what grandmasters you have among you. But I can promise that my two attendants will not care for their lives. No matter how fast your person can act, before I or they fall down, we will have your mother and your precious son’s heads fall to the ground."

  "I will not give you any opportunity to choose."

  Xie Lianying paused, and looked expressionlessly at the dozen of Xie family members surrounded by bandits behind Chen Tunyun. "If you do not release people in the span of three breaths, it will not be a piece of meat, but an arm that will come off them."

  "Do not!"

  Chen Tunyun was soaked in sweat like he had been in water. He looked dazedly at the two figures bleeding out in the carriage. His right hand left the reins and moved upwards.

  At the same time, the thin and short grey-robed person not far behind him narrowed their eyes.

  He quickly released a thin but exceptionally sharp presence.

  Chen Tunyun’s body was still making the movement of lifting his right arm, but his right arm did not lift up because his entire arm had separated from his shoulder and fallen down.

  Chen Tunyun had reacted when the grey-robed person released their present, but he still could not stop the other from cutting off one of his arms. The moment his right arm was cut off, he finally attacked.

  He gave a shout of despair.

  A rainbow light appeared in his left hand and he attacked the grey-robed person behind him at astounding speed.

  There were two horse bandits between him and the grey-robed person. The two bandits gave screams before they were even touched by the light of the rainbow. With the sounds of bones breaking through their bodies, they flew backwards.

  This rainbow light dispersed a presence unique to a lifebond item but seemed to be more powerful than ordinary lifebond items.

  The grey-robed person’s eyes seemed to be flashing with stars.

  The rainbow light was astounding fast but extremely slow in his eyes.

  When the two horse bandits in front of him were thrown back, their bones broken, he sedately reached out with his right hand.

  He wore a silver-colored metal ring on his right thumb.

  As he reached out, there seemed to be a silver mountain that fell down and instantly condensed into his metal ring.

  Silver flows of energy flowed out through the small seal scripts on the metal ring and covered his palm.

  His palm seemed to be filled with heavy mercury which then spread up his arm to his body.

  Without any fancy moves, he used this silver hand to grab the rainbow light.

  The moment the silver palm touched the rainbow light, bright beams of light flashed through his fingers. Great power was about to explode along these lights, but in the next flash, the power seemed to permeate into the sticky silver energy flows like they were sinking into the water.

  The silver layer was covering half of the grey-robed person’s body. Without any obvious movement, lines suddenly shot out of the border of the silver covering. Like countless silver flowers, the lines bloomed over the other side of his body.

  At the same time, Chen Tunyun’s eyes widened.

  His body seemed to be crushed by an invisible but enormous object. He threw up a spray of blood in the air as his body flew backwards,appearing so light that he seemed to float through the air.

  The rainbow light was firmly trapped by the silver palm. The light quickly dimmed and showed its true appearance, that of a horn-shaped rainbow jade.

  Ding Ning had been focused on the silver thumb ring and the rainbow light. He had recognized what the two items were long ago, but had remained silent.

  "It is the Silver Rakshasa Thumb Ring, and the Worryfree Horn."

  Fu Su’s expression turned ugly. He said coldly, "They are from the Chu Dynasty."

  The Chu Dynasty was the best at forging, and the strongest seal weapons in the cultivator world came from the Chu.

  The Worryfree Horn came from the Worryfree Palace of the Chu Dynasty which had disappeared for many years. It was possible the item had been lost in other countries. But the Silver Rakshasa Thumb Ring was one of the treasures of the Chu Silver Thread Workshop. Although called a workshop, the Silver Thread Workshop was in reality one of the ten great cultivation places of the Chu Dynasty. A secret sect treasure like this naturally would not end up in the hands of cultivators from other dynasties.

  "As a Chu person, you do not qualify to use the Worryfree Horn," the grey-robed cultivator said coldly, shaking his head. He did not seem to want to conceal his identity at this time.

  Translator Ramblings: Xie Lianying is gambling to win this hostage situation.

  Volume 5 10 - Splashes

  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.

  Volume 4 10 - Awakening

  For realm seven cultivators, all the battles happening around the prison were not far away.

  All realm seven cultivators sensed Du Hongtan’s death.

  Du Qingli’s breathing sped up. He shouted at Bai Shanshui through the layers of water. “Do not think you can all leave here ……”


  “I know.”


  Bai Shanshui’s calm voice interrupted his shout. “When the starfire seal is destroyed, some machines and seal weapons will replace its functions and many wards will be activated. But we still have half a tea worth of time …… do not forget, someone likely knows this prison better than you.”


  Du Qingli stopped speaking. He felt inexplicable terror.

  The dark red sword was filled with fiendish energy as it tore at the dark presence of the prison.

  “Have you thought about the price you pay?”


  Lin Zhujiu stood on the boiling water. The red light gathered on his face like an eerie and beautiful crimson mask.

  Shen Xuan did not speak.

  The shadow of an enormous sword appeared in the dark water underneath Lin Zhujiu.

  A terrifying sword essence broke through the water as Shen Xuan reached out his hand and vented upwards.

  Lin Zhujiu attacked.

  A dark red and eerie sword light flashed. All the water below him disappeared. Shen Xuan’s body flew backwards along the passageway with a violent wind.

  An arm was left in the air in front of Lin Zhujiu. This arm stayed in the air for a breath, then turned into a blood mist, and was inhaled into Lin Zhujiu’s sword.

  “Just one arm as a sacrifice to my sword. This price is too little.”


  Lin Zhujiu seemed dissatisfied even though he had cut off Shen Xuan’s arm, someone who countless people in Changling feared, with one blow.

  He shook his head, and slashed his swords against the wall next to him. The thick iron walls were cut like paper. He passed through.

  In the center of the cell next to him was a cultivator who was very young. He was Li Yunrui, who Shen Xuan was also helpless against.

  Lin Zhujiu swung his sword and easily stabbed through everything in Li Yunrui’s body. He helped the other up with a hand, and then walked towards the third cell. He opened the wall again. Then the dark red sword dissipated back into his body in many streams.

  He then helped Zhang Shiwu up and nodded to him who was so excited he could not speak. “Let’s go.”


  When Shen Xuan’s sword energy shattered into a wind and blew through from the depths of the Great Floating Water Prison, it was time.

  Bai Shanshui smiled faintly and said seriously to Du Qingli, “Even a student is like this. It is not unjust for the three dynasties to have lost to the Qin.” As she spoke, her body seemed to be blown by the wind like she was weightless and floated out.

  Du Qingli did not attack. The resilient water bubbles his sword essence could not break through were still wrapped around Bai Shanshui.

  The other key reason was Bai Shanshui’s words terrified him more. He also understood how terrifying that person had been. That person’s plans were always interlocking and never failed.

  Bai Shanshui flew backwards out of the prison, the glowing layers of water refracted beautiful rainbows in the sunlight……

  The leading Dongling commander had a different kind of emotion in his gaze yet he did not hesitate to shout his orders.

  Sharp energies broke through the air. Sword lights and cold metal attacked Bai Shanshui’s water bubble.

  Then waves of gasps sounded.

  These swords, seal weapons and arrows did not penetrate the water bubbles, but sent it into the sky. Flashing with rainbows, the water bubble became transparent water beads in their sight, it started to rain.

  Bai Shanshui’s voice was lost in the dense rain, and only faint rebellious and joyful song reached their ears. “My generation likes learning the sword, reside by the cold pool for a decade ……”


  Many of Dongling Army’s swordsmen were cultivators who lost their target. They looked blankly at the splashes dropped on the commander in front of them, the ripples produced by their flying swords in the air, and quickly sank into silence.

  While they were enemies, they had to admire Bai Shanshui’s heroism. In their minds, Changling had countless hot-blooded and heroic cultivators before.

  Yet as those people disappeared, those heroic and hot-blooded cultivators seemed to have disappeared, or rather, did not stand on their side.

  **

  Mo Shoucheng’s body moved with the wind. His old body moved directly from one turret to another like a stone thrown from a catapult. He looked up at this time. There was still a distance to the Great Floating Water Prison. At least, he could not pose a threat to Bai Shanshui and the others.

  Yet he could sense Bai Shanshui’s departure. He was a step late.

  If he had been late last time because he did not know Bai Shanshui’s attack location, how could he have been late this time when the empress knew something like this would occur in the Great Floating Water Prison?

  His brow furrowed deeply. He could notunderstand.

  Even more confused than Mo Shoucheng was that black cavalry that had charged out from the old tombs in Eastern Changling. Dressed in black, both soldiers and horses, their black armor was covered in starry seal scripts, and even their masks had invisible vents.

  The person and the horse were heavy, but the hooves did not touch the ground as they galloped. They were travelling on air. This meant that each soldier on horseback was a cultivator, and of some strength.

  This was an army that seemed to have come out of hell. This army was undoubtedly the Qin Dynasty’s strongest army.

  Ye this unstoppable army stopped as the leading commander raised his hand.

  The commander lifted his head. He wore black armor but his mask was made from platinum so he appeared exceptionally cold and eerie. The criss-crossing double swords on his back gave off a cruel killing intent.

  A disbelieving gasp came from the mist ahead on the mountain path. “General Bai?”


  “Guo Dongshan?” The general let out an emotionless reply.

  The loose-haired cultivator standing on the sword light flew out of the mist. He looked in disbelief at the general and the strongest Qin army able to kill him many times. “What is going on?”


  **

  An enormous army was moving like one in the wilderness. One half of the army was the Northern Tiger-Wolf Army Liang Lian had led, and the other half the Southern Tiger-Wolf Army General Xie Jiuyan led.

  General Liang Lian had been killed in his camp. This was a great humiliation to all of the Qin armies, especially the Northern Tiger-Wolf Army. So the army was in a hurry. They wanted to reach Great Floating Water Prison as fast as possible and complete their ambush mission.

  Yet when Guo Dongshan, who was supposed to be at Great Floating Water Prison, stopped the killing army, everyone in the Northern Tiger-Wolf Army showed fury and despair.

  They saw a familiar scene, followed by bone-aching cold.

  This was the end of summer and autumn was coming. What greeted them now was a snowstorm that once swept the Northern Tiger-Wolf Army.

  A metal-like figure screamed. This general was Xie Jiuyan. He wore soft black leather armour and a long black cloak. As he forced his way through the snowstorm, his black armor and his cape were frozen stiff.

  The general stomped his feet and the ice cracked and fell to the ground.

  But when he looked around, Zhangsun Qianxue was long gone.