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Chapter Nineteen: Sword Mark
writer:无罪      update:2022-07-21 15:26
  Wei Wujiu’s eyes quickly dimmed. He looked at Consort Zhao Xiang. Before his death, he responded softly, “Originally, I only admired one woman. But now, you are the second.”


  Consort Zhao Xiang nodded, and pulled her fist back, allowing his body to slide off her arm. Undoubtedly, her risk had paid off, but she also knew the final victory would depend on the Yin Mountain.

  When she turned to look back in the direction of the Yin Mountain, right now, over in the Yin Mountain, the Qin army had finished assembling. The Qin troops surrounding the Tianqi city were preparing to start a new round of attacks.

  Because Sima Cuo thought that this lone city that was surrounded was the key to victory, the order was to take this city before dark. So they quickly arranged to attack the main Chu force. This attack was not the same as any previous type, they did not care about fatalities, and the expenditure of weapons.

  Countless arrows rained down on the city, the tips of these arrows were made from phosphorous. Upon friction with the air, they started to burn and turned to enormous fire balls.

  The Qin archers were drawing their bows, these expensive arrows being madly used up in their hands like they were worth nothing. Because they demanded so much speed, their fingertips started to bleed and their arms were trembling.

  Most of the seal weapons had been used up in the first round of attacks. At this time, within the lone city that the Qin army was attacking, most places were burning, with soaring pillars of smoke everywhere, and the smell of burning in the air.

  One of the heavily armored cavalry of the Qin army was starting a charge against a part of the wall. The heavy iron hooves hit the ground, and caused the rubble on the wall to start to jump.

  But at this time, a shrill sound overwhelmed all other sounds. In the next moment, the Qin army let out a ground shaking cheer.

  One of the groups of heavy crossbows had been moved here. Hundreds of arrows as thick as a baby’s arm stabbed hard into the wall. Then there was another round. In a flash, three rounds were shot out. Thousands of heavy arrows turned the wall into a forest, and the terrifying power caused waves of dust to spread outwards.

  But as the cheers sounded, as the heavy arrows stabbed into the walls, and dust rows, as the heavy armored cavalry was charging, a figure appeared in the break of the wall.

  The moment the figure appeared, terrifying heat appeared in the dust. Then the dust seemed to start burning, turning into flying sparks.

  The dancing sparks circled around an upright man with loose black hair that danced in the sparks. Yes when the Qin soldiers saw his figure, an even brighter ball of fire appeared in his hand.

  He formed his sword essence, and swung the ball of fire.

  There was a roar of the sword from heaven and earth. It was like an enormous furnace had crashed down, and then turned into a sword essence, cutting across.

  Pang pang pang pang ……

  The madly charging heavy armored cavalry saw a patch of red fire fall in front of them. These hundreds of troops collided with the fire, their bodies seeming to explode, and the pieces of the heavy armor sprayed out.

  Time seemed to freeze at this moment. Many people struggled to swallow and were still not able to breathe freely.

  Where the patch of red had fallen, there was a deep sword mark that was more than a thousand feet long, and a hundred feet deep. The limbs and armor of these heavy cavalry had fallen into the sword mark and were burning. The remaining dozen cavalry could not advance. The horses, whose eyes had been covered with cloth, felt great terror, and no matter what their riders did, they just spun around madly.

  The ones most shocked were the multiple cultivators of the Qin army. Some memories, many years in the past, started to awaken. They seemed to have seen this before.

  Many years ago, when the Qin army had moved stoppably through the Zhao cities, there had been a blacksmith shop in a city. There had been a grandmaster in that blacksmith shop. Then he walked with a sword to the gates of the city, and swung his sword at the incoming Qin army.

  A long sword mark had appeared in front of the city. Then that grandmaster simply said, ”Anyone who crosses the sword mark will die.”


  Then that entire army was gone.

  Everybody in the world learned that this city had the Zhao Sword Furnace.

  “Anyone who crosses this sword mark will die.”


  In the fire light, Zhao Ce’s long black hair grew deep red like many small fires were dancing. He followed the orders of his dead master to follow Tang Mei. He had been away from the Zhao lands for many years. Many of the memories regarding the Zhao had faded. But he was someone who had experienced that battle back then. He and the other cultivators of the Zhao Sword Furnace had been standing in the city that day when their master had swung his sword.

  Today, he looked at the sword he had swung, and at the sword mark. The swing from his master grew more clearly in his memories, and gradually merged with the scene in front of him. Only now did he truly understand the meanings in his master’s swing and spoke.

  Hearing his voice burning in the flames, he sensed that he had gotten closer to his master, and felt that he had grown stronger. This feeling was so good.

  Many sharp military orders sounded. The many troops that had been flooding behind the heavy cavalry started to retreat.

  “Back then, none of you Qin dared to directly face the sword of the Zhao Sword Furnace. Do not let it be, that after many years, there still is not a person who dares to come out.”


  Zhao Cuo looked coldly at the Qin army and said, “In terms of invincibility, who had been invincible back then?”


  Suddenly, a strange roar sounded in the sky where the clouds were moving. The sound was like the call of a crane, but had a dark and eerie air.

  Everybody instinctively looked up at the sky.

  One cloud, as black as ink, was roiling and flying in the sky. There seemed to be a crane in the clouds, but there was no flesh or feathers, just bones. The skeleton burned with black flames that surpassed people’s imaginations.

  “Some things, you do not understand.” A ghostly voice came from the sky.

  The black clouds retreated, and the black boned crane also disappeared. Not far behind the sword mark, there was a cultivator covered in a ghostly air.

  This cultivator was dressed in a black robe with a very high collar. When he looked up and spoke to Zhao Cuo, blooms of black energy flashed around him, forming black plum flowers, and then quickly disappeared.

  “Wang Jingmeng once agreed to a battle with your master, but the Zhao Emperor was too stupid. Because of some rumors, he feared that your master would take his position. He set up a trap to kill your master first.”


  This cultivator said quietly, “While Wang Jingmeng and I are enemies, I must speak the truth, and not tar all Qin people.”


  Volume 5 19 - Actually, I am The Steward

  This plain-robed middle-aged man had an indescribable bitterness on his face. In this moment, he understood the choice of the old man who had stood guard for many years.

  “You hope to see a powerful and prosperous empire, so you can ignore the deaths of so many cultivators? I understand your intentions. Pity, I do not agree.”


  He could sense the deliberate slowness of the force on the turret but he still shook his head. Also, he did not agree with the actions of the mistress of the palace and the man on the throne. He would compromise if he could, but he could only use the sword if he could n compromise. In Changling, many things could only be said with the sword. Even if he could not win, at least the sword would represent his intentions.

  All of the wormwood on the eaves of the Treasure Light Temple were cut down in an instant. Those wormwoods that had grown for innumerable years and shone with faint treasure light immediately gave off a great amount of gentle light that flooded into the blade in front of him.

  This profound and powerful presence called the Warden’s Office official in front of him to change expression. His body retreated, and he left behind exploding currents of air.

  Yet the plain sword did not fall towards the Warden’s Office official or the power on the turret, instead, went upwards towards the sky.

  There was a roar.

  All the passersby moving through Changling’s streets at the moment looked in the direction of the Treasure Light Temple.

  A plain pillar of light appeared in Changling, so tall it almost touched the moon.

  For ordinary people, this was just a miraculous scene hard to understand, but for many people, this was a warning, a statement of intention.

  The plain-robed middle-aged man had his hands behind his back as his vital energy and primal energies of the universe surged endlessly out of his body. When his energies were completely exhausted, this plain pillar of light slowly disappeared.

  The sword that had flown high up into the sky fell down, creating a clean and glowing line of light. The sword fell like a meteor.

  This middle-aged man welcomed the fall of the sword.

  The sword passed through his heart and his body, stabbing into the ground behind him with flowing blood.

  **

  The empress stood by the side of the pond with blooming lotuses. The pillar of light and the sword light were extremely evident, and she could see them clearly.

  Inexplicably, she became angry. She thought of Yan Xinlan. She thought of that similarly unbending sword essence.

  Blood sprayed out from the body of the middle-aged man onto the sword hilt and flowed like a waterfall into the cracks in the tiles.

  His decision was resolute, and his sword swift. He died quickly without any pain, peace on his face.

  The tightly closed temple door opened behind him with a creak.

  A round-faced young woman appeared. In the shadow behind her, there were many other youths with convulsing shoulders.

  This round-faced young woman walked behind the middle-aged man. She gripped the sword hilt covered in blood and pulled the sword out of the ground.

  Seeing the emotionless expression of the round-faced woman and how she pulled out the sword, the Warden’s Office official felt his heart tighten. He could not help asking behind him, “Who is she?”


  “Hu Jingjing.” The official behind him had a hard time breathing and said, “Lu Ze’s direct disciple, orphan.”


  The official from the Warden’s Office did not bear it, but when he saw how the round-faced young woman was holding the sword and the moving shadows in the temple behind her, he knew that this matter had to be controlled. So he took a deep breath and said harshly, “What do you want?”


  The round-faced young woman looked up. She had no tears in her eyes. She said in a flat tone that was palpitating, “Participate in the war …… did you not say to my master that we are ordered to travel to the border?”


  The high ranking official from the Warden’s Office inexplicably stilled. The cultivators behind him and some of the shadows behind the round-faced young woman also inexplicably stilled.

  But strangely, everyone understood the meaning of this young woman …… First, she was not strong enough. Second, she needed to live.

  The official of the Warden’s Office was speechless for a moment and closed his eyes in pain.

  He could not help but ask within.

  He did not question the empress’ determination or whether she could do something like this. Yet starting today, how many lives would be changed by her mad choice, and how many terrifying people would be created?

  Not far from the Warden’s Office official stood a carriage.

  Inside the carriage was a palace attendant. This palace attendant had replaced and taken over some of Palace Attendant Rong’s power. That said, her presence was not as cold as Palace Attendant Rong’s, but her face better looking.

  Sitting opposite her was An Baoshi.

  “I admire this student from the Treasure Light Temple.” An Baoshi turned and said to the palace attendant when he saw the girl pull out the sword and heard her response. “Her talent is average, less than most students participating in the Min Mountain Sword Trials, and her cultivation right now is low, but I feel that she would grow stronger than most youths in Changling.”


  The pretty palace attendant nodded in seriousness. “Mister An is right.”


  An Baoshi smiled faintly and said, “But no matter how strong, it is useless. Among the young people of Changling, I am always the strongest.”


  His words were very arrogant, but his demeanour and tone made people feel this was a matter-of-fact.

  The pretty palace attendant said seriously, “Mister An is right.”


  Ding Ning stood by the window with a robe laid over him. He coughed softly. He had started to use the Nine Death Silkworm and the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art to heal his wounds, but he knew he could not make it too obvious and fast.

  Seeing the pillar of light disappear from Treasure Light Temple, he said coolly, “As expected, Zheng Xiu has started to go mad.”


  “You are proud or displeased?” Zhangsun Qianxue’s cool voice came from the darkness.

  Ding Ning turned around to look at her and said, “When one sees many people die and is helpless, there is no more pride.”


  “With the Nine Death Silkworm present, she and Yuanwu will not be happy.” Ding Ning added after a moment of silence. “But if she and Yuanwu do not die, I will not be happy.”


  Huang Zhenwei was not on the turrets.

  But he sensed the power coming off the turret. He could see the light charging into the sky from Treasure Light Temple. For a long time afterwards, he stood, unable to move and could not breathe properly.

  He could almost see the helplessness and sorrow in the old man’s eyes. He could almost sense the decisiveness and determination of the plain-robed middle-aged man as he welcomed his own sword.

  He knew that more people would die next. He knew what would rise next would be the same bloody storm as in the three years before Emperor Yuanwu’s ascension, and be even more intense.

  He bit his lips bloody in pain.

  This voice resounded within his body.

  All he thought of now was, he just had to find the Nine Death Silkworm to end all this and stop the emperor and empress.

  On the Wei River, a small boat floated.

  Bai Shanshui, Zhao Si, Lin Zhujiu and Zhang Shiwu were all in this small boat. So the boat was low in the water like it would sink at any moment.

  Ever since the pillar of light shone in Changling, Bai Shanshui stood at the bow of the boat with her hands behind her back. She narrowed her eyes and said, “Advisor Lin, what can we do?”


  Lin Zhujiu slowly shook his head from within the cabin and said, “You can do nothing. Honestly, I am not an advisor, I am just a steward.”


  Zhang Shiwu did not react at all. He was seriously injured, but he was calmly looking at the stove from behind Bai Shanshui where a pot of beef soup was being cooked.

  Lin Zhujiu liked beef soup. It had been a long time since he had beef soup like this.

  Zhao Si stilled. She looked at Lin Zhujiu. “What do you mean?”


  Volume 3 20 - Unable to Pretend

  The sun was as red as blood.

  Ding Ning watched as the Xie Family departed.

  The figures of the member of the Xie family gradually grew smaller on the distant road, finally becoming black dots like evening twilight.

  Ding Ning’s expression grew more grave.

  The Chen Family was one of the wealthiest in Guanzhong. Today, they had exposed their status as Chu, and even a rare realm seven grandmaster like Chen Chu had fallen here. Both Chen Tuntian’s death and the fight between Chen Chu and the Xie family cultivator had been extremely dire. But he also knew that this was just a silhouette of the great event that was the Deer Mountain Conference.

  At this time, there were many grandmasters like Chen Chu, usually lofty and removed from the world, walking around. They were obstructing cultivators, food and armaments needed by armies in order to exert a minuscule effect on the Deer Mountain Conference.

  In a storm like this, each person was as minuscule as the Xie family members that was disappearing into the twilight.

  But in each of these silhouettes, many people performed spectacularly and respectably. These countless silhouettes were what created history, and the vast empire where people could live in peace. These people should not be erased from the history books.

  Otherwise, this would be like what Zhangsun Qianxue said, unfair.

  The Zhou Family carriages had been repaired. Yet, seated in the carriage, Forefather Zhou did not give the order to depart until all the members of the Xie family were completely out of sight.

  His expression grew colder as his lower body grew colder and started losing sensation.

  Chen Chu wanted to attack his energy sea and kill him in one blow, even at the cost of his own lifebond item being damaged. But the other had not expected that he had left a false opening for Chen Chu.

  A battle between two realm sevens had been determined so quickly and in such a peaceful manner. From all viewpoints, Forefather Zhou’s victory today was a textbook example of experience and intelligence.

  But, Forefather Zhou had neglected one thing.

  While he had perfectly used the defect in his body …… his body was not his original body.

  He had accurately calculated Chen Chu’s power, and immediately frozen the energy that had charged into his energy sea. However, he had overlooked the fact that the energies in his body had long been out of balance, and were regulated by medicine over these years.

  Ordinary cultivators, even cultivators that were much weaker than him, would have bodies that naturally adjusted themselves when their energies were imbalanced. It was just a matter of time, and there would be no damage.

  But he was different. When that wild surge of energy entered his body, threads of energy had permeated his own energies causing uncontrollably changes.The medicines that had been carefully prepared and the medicinal power stored in his body could not regulate this kind of chaos. This was a great poison to his body.

  His energy sea froze further. All the meridians below his abdomen were sealed.

  At this time, he was unable to walk, or force his vital energy below his abdomen.

  Originally, everything today had been within his grasp. Had Xie Lianying been killed, he could have easily controlled Xie Rou, and possibly slowly consumed the Xie Family in the near future.

  But all this changed because of Ding Ning.

  Thinking of Ding Ning’s performance in today’s battle, Forefather Zhou’s frosty visage turned vicious.

  “Come here,” he slowly said to Ding Ning and Fu Su.

  Ding Ning, who had been watching the distant twilight, raised an eyebrow.

  From Forefather Zhou’s slightly different tone, he knew that something was to happen next. Even so, he still calmly turned around and walked towards Forefather Zhou’s carriage.

  Originally, Fu Su held no wariness towards Forefather Zhou, but when he walked next to Ding Ning and was about to stop, his pupils contracted upon sensing immense danger.

  The kindness in his eyes turned into incomprehension and anxiety. His black hair floated up as though some power was about to surge out.

  But he had no time to do anything.

  A black flow of energy pushed aside the curtain and reached him.

  His body froze. His blood and vital energy immediately froze, unable to flow.

  In the next moment, his body was covered in thick black frost.

  Next to him, Ding Ning looked the same.

  Crack!

  Two other flows of energy shining with white light flowed out of the carriage and landed on Ding Ning and Fu Su.

  The white flows of energy were gentle, but sent some exceptionally cold energy deep into Ding Ning and Fu Su.

  In the two’s perception, black icy sand filled their energy seas and numerous channels in their bodies.

  These black icy sands were like reefs that blocked shipping routes. Blood and energy could flow slowly to maintain vitality, but the flow of vital energy would be immediately shattered into powerless waves and bubbles.

  “Why?”


  After the black frost cracked and fell off, Fu Su found he could speak so he immediately asked in disbelief.

  Forefather Zhou did not immediately answer his question. He only looked coldly through the curtain at Ding Ning.

  Ding Ning slowly raised his head.

  His body could move at this time, but any movement, and any part of his body was numb and under stabbing pain.

  “There is no reason. From the start, I never thought to spare you.”


  Forefather Zhou let out a violent and vicious laught. Looking at Ding Ning, he started to answer Fu Su’s question.

  “From when you helped your sect brothers comprehend cultivation method from the Zhou Family’s Painting Remnant Scroll in Ink Garden, your outcome was set.”


  Forefather Zhou paused and then said, “The Painting Remnant Scroll is the foundation for the Zhou Family in Changling. Its existence means numerous possibilities to the Zhou Family. How can some of the secrets, especially the way to condense fiendish energy, be allowed to spill out?”


  While he was talking, Ding Ning had remained silent. Some invisible little silkworms had silently appeared within his body and started to consume the icy black sand in his body. There were very few little silkworms. Ding Ning was not in a hurry, only sensing the speed that the little silkworms devoured with.

  At this time, Forefather Zhou’s face overlapped completely with the Forefather Zhou that he was familiar with. His emotions were not very affected, but the Fu Su next to him was furious.

  The feeling of being lied to caused Fu Su’s body to tremble violently.

  “Since you had this kind of thought long ago, why do you treat Ding Ning and I so? What do you want to use us to do?” He took a deep breath, gritted his teeth and said angrily, “If you have been pretending all this time, why do you not continue?”


  “Because pretending is tiring,” Forefather zhou said scornfully, “especially pretending in front of two juniors I can easily kill. The feeling is really uncomfortable.”


  Before now, Ding Ning had not made a sound. When he was finally certain about that the speed with which his little silkworms were consuming the icy black sand, he deigned to speak a cool voice. “It really is uncomfortable. In order to not arouse Xie Lianying’s suspicious, you even gave two important Chu weapons to us. The mere thought of it is disgusting.”


  Forefather Zhou’s eyes narrowed slightly. He said coldly, “You do not look very terrified.”


  Ding Ning stopped concealing the scorn he felt and sneered. “If you intended to kill us, you would have done it a long time ago. Why wait until now? You want to take us hundreds of miles to Deer Mountain, we naturally have value to you. You are unable to bear it now because you must not be as well off as you looked in that battle with Chen Chu. You fear you cannot control us.”


  Forefather Zhou’s eyes narrowed, his pupils contracting as he emanated unimaginable cold.

  “Your judgement is good.”


  Forefather Zhou did not refute this and coldly said, “Just blame yourself for not listening to my orders and acting on your own. Otherwise, even if you die, you will not be in discomfort for so many days.”


  “What do you want to use us for?”


  Fu Su did not show much fear, just anger.

  “You will know when we reach Wu Mountain, I will not make you wait too long.”


  Forefather Zhou lowered his head, looked at his completely numb legs. His next words were brimming with ruthlessness. “From the start, I did not plan to take you to Deer Mountain, I will let you die in Wu Mountain.”


  Fu Su stilled, wanting to say something, but Ding Ning went in front of him and stopped him from talking.

  “Get onto the carriage,” Forefather Zhou said, coldly.

  As he spoke, he was unaware a pure white shadow was drifting in the white clouds behind him opposite the twilight.

  It was like a big fish with white scales, but it also had a pure white pair of wings. Two long barbels slowly floated through the air.

  Perched atop this bizarre bird were two figures.

  Translator Ramblings: I just realized Fu Su is acting in the role of the audience all this time.

  Volume 4 20 - Guests in Succession

  Bureau Chief Chen silently gazed at Ye Celeng’s back all night.

  In the morning, Ye Celeng turned around from where she had stood on the bridge like a puppet. Her gaze fell towards an ordinary gully next to Bureau Chief Chen.

  The water flowing in the gully of the ordinary street was the same as Bureau Chief Chen’s robe, deep red and giving off the smell of blood.

  “You stand here tonight and look at me. You feared the empress would do something even madder and use the opportunity to deal with me.”


  Ye Celeng pressed her lips slightly. She did not smile but showed two pretty dimples. “See, after a night, the water in the gully is even stained by blood. When one stays in Changling, one thinks of matters of life and death, and has no other idle emotions.”


  Bureau Chief Chen gave a rare smile, slightly sunny like the sun. “If you do not like this place, you can leave.”


  “To where?”


  Ye Celeng once again gave off the indisputable presence she once showed against Zhao Zhan. She said coolly, “Mo Shoucheng chose to become the empress’ stepping stone to her great ambitions so she can do something no one else has done. I believe in that person’s judgement. In the future, the Qin Dynasty will consume the Chu, Yan and Qi dynasties. Where is Changling not present, where can I go?”


  “Do not say the overseas mountains.” After a pause, Ye Celeng looked at Bureau Chief Chen who moved to speak and said, “Official Xu took almost all the Qin warships overseas, and even the island countries are now united.”


  Bureau Chief Chen was not an ordinary Changling citizen. He knew what Ye Celeng said was not impossible. As such he was unable to argue.

  “If one really wants to leave Changling, they need to resolve all grievances in Changling. Otherwise, Changling is everywhere.”


  Ye Celeng smiled and turned back to the bridge. She walked towards the streets on the other side and left Bureau Chief Chen’s sight.

  Amidst the sunlight, Ding Ning slowly walked out of the room into the courtyard. He was not pretending. Even with the treatment of many famous doctors of Changling, even with the Nine Death Silkworm and the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art, after killing Palace Attendant Rong and then Liang Lian, he had surpassed his body’s limits. If not for the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art, many of his hidden injuries would not heal in his body and would grow more severe.

  When he walked out from the eaves to the sunlight, Jing Liuli appeared at the courtyard gates. She walked slowly, and her expression was extremely tired. Even her legs were minutely trembling.

  Ye Zhengnan, standing at the clinic’s doors, looked in shock and confusion at Jing Liuli. He could feel that Jing Liuli’s presence was extremely calm and the trembling of her legs was a natural response she could not control.

  “It appears you saw many battles this night.”


  Before Ye Zhengnan could react, Ding Ning looked at Jing Liuli and spoke.

  “I only missed two of Mo Shoucheng’s blows,” Jing Liuli nodded and said.

  Ye Zhengnan was shocked and then suddenly realized. Last night, Jing Liuli had chased Mo Shoucheng’s sword and seen many of his blows, and many battles between grandmasters.

  “I saw one of An Baoshi’s attacks. He is stronger than I am now,” Jing Liuli said seriously after a pause and looked at Ding Ning.

  “You are both geniuses. It depends on who learns faster. The chaser always will be faster. You will quickly catch up to him,” Ding Ning looked at her and said seriously. “Many people would never have seen many battles between grandmasters as much as you in their lifetimes. When you return to Min Mountain Sword Sect, you will have great achievements.”


  Jing Liuli stilled slightly. From Ding Ning’s calm words, she heard something extraordinary. She instinctively repeated- “Return to Min Mountain Sword Sect?”


  “You should be returning immediately to Min Mountain Sword Sect.” Ding Ning looked at her and nodded.

  Jing Liuli could not understand and said, “I still have to stay here and study.”


  Ding Ning shook his head and said, “Your master will have you return.”


  In the days Jing Liuli had studied from Ding Ning, she had undoubtedly improved. She also heard some meaning that Ye Zhengnan could not understand. Jing Liuli started to understand and her expression grew ugly. “What about you?”


  “The Yuezhi has already submitted, the Wu remain. If the Donghu is conquered, we will have no more troubles when fighting the Yan and Qi.”


  Of course Ding Ning had not heard the conversation between the empress and Yuanwu but at this moment, he spoke the exact same words.

  Then he looked at Jing Liuli and added. “As to the Chu, it seems that she has never been worried.”


  This was concerning the state of the world. Jing Liuli was still limited to Changling and could not understand. So she bowed like an attendant and said, “Please teach me.”


  “She conquered so many cultivation places in one night, and has taken over all cultivation places in Changling. What she will do next is immediately send away the cultivators of these places to avoid future troubles. By rushing these cultivators from one battlefield to another will they possess new enemies. Only a war can satisfy all needs.”


  Ding Ning gazed towards the northwest and said with slight disdain, “If I am correct, the Qin are going to start a war with the Wuzhi. The cultivators from Changling’s cultivation places will be driven to the border to conquer the Wuzhi.”


  Jing Liuli frowned. She was not angry and even admired the empress’ decisiveness inside.

  “You mean that Min Mountain Sword Sect will also accept the empress’ orders, accept the conscription order like these cultivation places and then you will go to the Wuzhi border?” she frowned and asked Ding Ning.

  Ding Ning shook his head and said, “Not just so. I will be sent to the Donghu border.”


  Jing Liuli frowned even more. “Donghu?”


  “Donghu and Wuzhi are closely connected. Also the people of Wuzhi and Donghu are all strong. If Wuzhi is attacked, Donghu would not just stand by. Even if they do not send all their armies, they will send some armies in secret to help. The Qin army has to be on guard,”


  Ding Ning looked at her and said, “Donghu, Chu and Qi border each other. They are far from Wuzhi. A place like that has too many variables and will be more dangerous. Even Min Mountain Sword Sect cultivators likely have no control over a place like that.”


  Jing Liuli’s expression grew ugly.

  “Do not think to obstruct.” Ding Ning smiled and said, “I say all this to you because I do not want you to act. Since I have expected all this, I naturally will be fine.”


  Jing Liuli looked down and thought for a moment. Then she looked up strangely at Ding Ning. “So you actually hope to leave Changling?”


  Ding Ning smiled and said, “Achieve great merit is something most cultivators pursue. The more dangerous a place is, the easier it is to get military merit.”


  “But you are not most cultivators. Your choice, and your exhaustive strategies make me feel something is not right.” Jing Liuli bowed deeply to Ding Ning after saying this. “Regardless of whether your words today come true, or if I am returning to Min Mountain Sword Sect immediately, thank you for your teachings these past few days. But in the future, I hope you do not become my enemy.”


  “Whether or not we become enemies may not be determined by our will,” Ding Ning said coolly and then looked up towards the path outside.

  Some dust was rising on the distant path. A body, mountainous and with a terrifying presence, appeared in their sights.

  This was Hengshan Marquis Xu, one of the thirteen marquises of Qin.

  Appearing even faster than him was a handsome man.

  This was Tantai Guanjian.

  “I am returning to Min Mountain Sword Sect?” When Tantai Guanjian appeared at the courtyard gates, Jing Liuli asked directly.

  Tantai Guanjian stilled slightly and nodded.

  “Ding Ning is staying and going to the border?” Jing Liuli looked at him and asked.

  Tantai Guanjian did not immediately answer or deny. After a pause he said, “This depends on the empress’ decree.”


  Jing Liuli did not look at his expression and turned to Ding Ning, saying, “You guessed right.”


  Ding Ning glanced at Tantai Guanjian and said, “I will take some people along, and I want a day or two to prepare.”


  Tantai Guanjian did not hesitate this time and said apologetically in a soft voice, “This is no problem.”


  Volume 2 20 - Cold Hearted

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

  The enormous presence in the air seemed to come from far away, but it fell like an invisible city wall.

  The moment the presence came into contact with the black ball of light, the ball of light shed fragments of light that fell like snow.

  The invisible city wall seemed to lack the power to overwhelm and disappeared into the air.

  But the black ball of light split in half from the middle, turning into two black curtains of light that swept through the air and dissipated.

  An enormous thunder-like roar sounded.

  The king of Chu’s expression turned grave. Just based on the distant presence, he knew who the arrival was.

  He felt a slight pain. This was not just due to the adverse change to the result he had waited decades for, but true pain.

  The moment the black ball of light was split from the middle, rays of golden light fell down around him. Wild energy surged out of the wounds in the trees and grasses alongside true fire that started to burn.

  The burning thickets forcefully flooded his consciousness and seemed to ignite all his nerves.

  Without any hesitation, his advancing body stopped and then retreated.

  At the same time, a wave of pure vital energy shot out of his left hand at a speed unimaginable to ordinary cultivators and entered a string of jade beads on his wrist.

  The string of jade beads were rough on the surface, and pure white in color, like it was composed of multiple snowballs. But when his vital energy was added, with a string of explosion, balls of cold energy exploded outside his body. Eighteen balls of snow, taller than him, formed around him and relentlessly revolved around his body.

  Countless threads of golden flame were spreading out of the formation door.

  These golden flames cut constantly at the balls of snow around him. Wind and snow howled as the flames splashed. The balls of snow dramatically decreased in size. When the snowballs were almost completely gone, the king of Chu managed to finally leave the formation door.

  Threads of true fire wrapped around his body. However, the light yellow dragon robe that he wore, made out of an unknown material, had a layer of faint light had stopped the remaining threads of fire from entering.

  While his face grew slightly colder, the king of Chu’s his eyes were unusually calm. He took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes to look at the sky.

  "How is this possible?"

  At this time, Forefather Zhou was also looking in the direction the king of Chu was looking in.

  The mist that had covered this mountain valley had merged back together like two great waves crashing together at the formation door in front of the king of Chu. It created countless white waves of energy, and golden swords of true fire.

  Under the cover of the white mist, Forefather Zhou could not see the figure of the cultivator who had attacked, but he knew who it was.

  In all of Changling, only one cultivator could exert such great power at such a great distance.

  Ths cultivator’s identity was not in doubt……

  Forefather Zhou was filled with shock and terror. Cold sweat poured down in streams off his body. But he was an old person who possessed great experience. His intuition told him this was his chance.

  He trembled all over as he reached out with his right hand towards the formation door. Cold fiendish energy, like black snakes, surged urgently out of his right hand.

  The surge in this moment rendered the right side of his body numb. But he knew that Ding Ning was correct. What he needed to do now was to be fast.

  The black cold fiendish energy spread through the air, but also reflected white light, like an ink painting of mountains being revealed in the air. The golden pillars of light landed on the inky mountains and rivers, turning the painting golden, but unable to penetrate the image.

  Forefather Zhou let out a wild howl like an injured animal. He swept his almost benumbed right hand through the air. With a string of buzzes, multiple white sword energies viciously stabbed into the formation in front of him.

  Grass blades flew, not along the sword energies’ advance, but due to the gusts of wind.

  Forefather Zhou’s right side and his lower limbs were completely numb now.

  With a shock, a black wind wrapped around him, Ding Ning and Fu Su. They crashed into the formation door ahead.

  The flora inside the formation door moved slightly with popping sounds, but without material strength.

  "I know who that is. The master of the Zhou Family Ink Garden of Changling. I had not expected he is also a lucky person who found this forbidden ground here."

  The king of Chu looked with a hint of disdain at the black and white painting in the air as he spoke slowly.

  At this time, the mist above him and to his side was drifting apart. The half-fish half-bird spirit beast had landed.

  "Mo Shoucheng …… and Pan Ruoye."

  Looking at the old man and the beauty in palace attire on the back of the spirit beast, the king of Chu seemed to hold a glint of gaiety in his old eyes. He seemed to feel this matter had become interesting and amusing.

  "Changling has no city walls, but Mo Shoucheng, you are the best at guarding a city. You were always thought of as the invisible city wall outside Changling. And you, you are the master of Endless Palace, one of Zheng Xiu’s most trusted. You two did not stay in Changling, and secretly followed Forefather Zhou and the two youths. What does that mean?" He examined the man who was old like him and the beauty in palace attire. From the emotions deep in the beauty’s eyes, he guessed what had transpired.

  Mo Shoucheng, the teacher of the Holy One and a person who people rarely knew the true name of, took a deep breath.

  He looked nonchalantly at the king of Chu and said without any disguise, "We cannot conceal from you. One of the two youths is Fu Su."

  "So Forefather Zhou does not know. He took the two youths, wanting to use them. You followed, but didn’t expect a forbidden place like this, and never thought you would encounter me here." The king of Chu’s gaze turned distant, with only the light of intelligence flashing through his gaze.

  "This really is an accident." Mo Shoucheng grimaced. "I fear that even our Holy One did not expect that the time and location of Deer Mountain Conference is for such an opportunity."

  The king of Chu smiled and said, "Fu Su will be a good monarch in the future because a dynasty at the peak of its strength will not need an emperor that conquers, but one who can stand guard. You will let him die just to stop me, is it worth it?"

  Mo Shoucheng glanced at him and said calmly, "Since I have chosen to do so, of course I think it is worthwhile."

  "You believe Emperor Yuanwu and Zheng Xiu think it worthwhile. They will get the greatest benefit from the Deer Mountain Conference at any cost, including sacrificing their son." The king of Chu laughed. "Just like they sacrificed those people they fought side by side with, and were the utmost loyal to them. I really am beneath Emperor Yuanwu and Zheng Xiu because I cannot be as ruthless as them."

  "Monarchs surpass the limits of ordinary people." Mo Shoucheng said coolly, his expression unchanged. "Their conduct cannot be measured by the emotions of ordinary people."

  "You were once the principal of many Changling schools, your knowledge and logic is greater than mine, so I will not argue with you." the king of Chu looked mockingly at Mo Shoucheng and the silent beauty in palace attire. He said with an indescribable authority, "I only know that even the two of you working together cannot keep me here. Also, I cannot kill the two of you. I do not want to fight you."

  Mo Shoucheng bowed his head and said, "This matter is meaningless and unworthy of expending energy upon."

  "Naturally, you will not let me enter. Since you have chosen the Deer Mountain Conference and the present, I will naturally not allow you to enter." The king of Chu looked calmly at Mo Shoucheng and the beauty in palace attire. "I have waited for the thing inside for decades and want to see the result."

  Mo Shoucheng looked at him and calmly declared. "Then we will wait here to see the final result."

  The beauty in palace attire knew if they truly fought, she, Mo Shoucheng, and the king of Chu would all be injured, and may even be killed by Forefather Zhou once he came out. Even she and Mo Shoucheng had reasons that they could not die here, much less the king of Chu. So, being at a deadlock here was the best choice.

  But she and Fu Su were usually very close. Thinking that Fu Su would die inside, she could not control her emotions. She shouted harshly at the king of Chu, "What is inside here?"

  The king of Chu smiled slightly, his hands behind his back, and did not answer.

  "We choose the present, he chooses the future. In reality, we are the ones at an advantage." Mo Shoucheng looked at the increasingly furious beauty in palace robes and whispered, "He cannot do anything, and we can still gamble with the future. We can gamble if a miracle can occur, and if that wine shop youth and Imperial Son Fu Su will come out."

  "Is there such a possibility?" the beauty in palace attire said, her chest heaving in rage.

  "Even a little is a possibility." Mo Shoucheng looked at her and said gently, "Also, if you cannot control yourself from attacking first, I cannot guarantee the outcome. We may all die here. Because I am almost certain his cultivation method is related to women."

  Translator Ramblings: Happy Lunar New Year to everyone …… and stay healthy.

  Mo Shoucheng’s name literally means "city guarding" …… so I speculate this is his courtesy name. Otherwise, whoever named him was prophetic.