Chapter Twenty Two: Sword of Death
writer:
无罪 update:2022-07-21 15:26
With a soft sound, a burn mark appeared on Shi Changluo’s chest. Gray mist appeared in his eyes as his body flew back, but his feet kept contact with the ground as he slid.
Zhao Ce was still in his posture of swinging the sword. The whirlpool in front of him had been cut apart by a sword mark, and then started to burn. Just a few feet from him, a hand-sized gray dust wildly inundated the air, like a pile of parasol leaves blown and carried up by the wind.
There was a layer of black energy where Shi Changluo’s feet were in contact with the ground. A terrifying power kept on landing on the ground under his feet,causing spiderweb cracks appearing on the ground.
Shi Changluo was very shocked. He could not understand how a casual slash from the other was so strong.
Zhao Ce was also slightly shocked. He could not understand how his sword essence had invaded the other’s body, but the other used a strange method to dissolve the power that had gone deep into the body.
Shi Changluo was flying back, while Zhao Ce was motionless.
This scene, in the eyes of everyone inside and outside the city, was that Shi Changluo was losing.
But at this time, Zhao Ce and some of the strongest cultivators on the battlefield right now inside some details. From the spiderweb contraction on the ground, some gray energy was rising up.
The deep gray energy was like dried bones stabbing out of the ground, giving off a rotten smell. However, they pulled fresh energy from the world.
Fresh was newly formed, but relative.
The essence of the energies gave off a strong dark air. They came from the energies and bodies of many cultivators on the battlefield who had just died. This yin energy was what cultivators who cultivated the ghostly path needed. This came from death. This came from the presence of beings who had once been very powerful and accumulated a lot of primal energies which they released after death.
This was the reason that cultivators on the ghost path usually needed to cultivate near ancient graves. Yet few could gather such large amounts of yin energy to face the enemy. Especially on a battlefield like this covered in corpses. Such means could only be described as terrifying.
The cultivators who could sense this, including Zhao Ce himself, knew that Shi Changluo’s next attack would be stronger. From a certain point of view, the attack Zhao Ce had just done possessed some of the air of that legendary Zhao Sword Furnace grandmaster, and was not very different from his master back then.
This was the strongest attack that Zhao Ce could perform. If even this could not win against Shi Changluo, then was there a chance to win?
All the cultivators who noticed this thought that Zhao Ce would undoubtedly lose. But Zhao Ce did not think so.
He attacked. The sword mark just now had been a light swing through the air, but when he used his sword this time, he crisply raised his sword and then cut down at Shi Changluo in front of him.
The air in front of him suddenly grew heated. Even the people hundreds of feet away sensed the incoming waves of heat.
Such heat was not unfamiliar to the surrounding cultivators. In the many records of the cultivation world, the cultivators of the Zhao Sword Furnace were accompanied by the flame for long times. In their usual cultivation, their body contained endless he’d, and the primal energies that had accumulated in their bodies grew usually hot. But to their shock, the heat now surpassed any of Zhao Ce’s previous attacks, and was incredible to them.
At this moment, many gasps sounded.
The red sword in Zhao Ce’s hand started to burn. This was unprecedented heat, coming from the sword burning in his hand.
Before, his sword had been flowing with fire, and even the sticky energy like that of magma. But now, all the cultivators who could not help gasp because they could see that his sword was truly burning from the inside!
The sword giving off powerful lifebond presence was naturally Zhao Ce’s lifebond sword that had been nurtured for many years. The vital energy and primal energies of the universe in the bodies of Zhao Sword Furnace cultivators were so hot they could melt metal. So the sword nucleus they spent so many years to smelt were the best in the world. No one knew how high a temperature they could endure. Especially a lifebond sword that had formed after many years of cultivation. This was a divine weapon that no craftsman in the world could create.
But at this time, Zhao Ce used a violent method to cause his sword to start burning. Truly burning, cracking apart like firewood. This had nothing to do with sword essence.
This was just a pure slash, but the mad increase in temperature brought along a mad increase in power. There was no room left for retreat.
In this moment, his lifebond sword turned into a fierce ball of fire with a boom. Then he raised this scorching flame and cut at Shi Changluo.
But this was just the start.
His vital energy and primal energies of the universe started to burn, turning into terrifying heat.
Buzz buzz buzz……
There were explosions through the air. The threads of yin energy coming out of the ground started to burn. The entire space seemed to be locked down by fire, but there were still primal energies being madly pulled in.
One monument ago, Shi Changluo’s expression had been calm. He believed that he could win this battle. But in this moment, his face was ashen, and his eyes filled with disbelief.
This was the burning of a sword that a cultivator had forged for a life, his vital energy and life burning together with resolve and courage that was hard to surpass in the world. He could not face the power of a sword like this. He knew the basic reason that he could not match this. He thought that the victory on the sword path was determined by life and death. But facing the other’s sword, he could not ignore life and death. Regardless of whether he would win against this sword or not, the other would die, and he would also die.
What was the meaning in a sword like this?
“Sword of death!”
These three words appeared clearly in his mind.
This was the opinion that Wang Jingmeng had expressed of the Zhao Sword Furnace cultivators. Now, these three swords appeared in his mind. An indescribable bitterness formed in his mouth and through his body.
Even after many years, if he faced Wang Jingmeng of the past, he still could not win. Because back then, Wang Jingmeng knew what was truly terrifying about the Zhao Sword Furnace cultivators, but knowing that they were so strong because they would fight disregarding death, he still had the courage to make an appointment to fight that grandmaster.
Right now, he did not have the courage to face Zhao Ce’s sword.
A cry of pain and indescribable meaning came out of his mouth. All of the vital energy and primal energies in his body went out, countless black flowers blooming in the air. The power of these flowers were not directed forwards, but wrapped around him, andtory the space behind him.
In everyone’s sight, Shi Changluo’s skin was burnt black. All he could do was madly flee black, turning into a wisp of green smoke. This sword had forced him to use all his power. The burning lifebond sword in Zhao Ce’s hand disappeared. His vital energy had all been forced out, and turned to hundreds of streams of fire in front of him. He had burned up most of the energy and blood in his body. When he breathed right now, he would cause several wisps of flame.
Volume 5 22 - Righteousness
After the Treasure Light Temple was the Cottage Stone Sword Workshop.
The workshop was very hot. A shirtless man inside was forging a sword. When the pillar of light charged into the sky at Treasure Light Temple, the man turned and glanced over, but did not stop his forging.
He had a golden hammer in his hands that looked much smaller than the hammers other sword forges used but it seemed to be astoundingly heavy. Each time it struck the burning red blade, the ground of the entire workshop would tremble violently, and a ripple would spread on the burning blade.
Three breaths after the pillar of light from Treasure Light Temple disappeared, urgent hoofbeats sounded in the streets outside the Cottage Stone Sword Workshop. More than a dozen officials from the Warden’s Office entered the workshop and appeared in front of the man.
The leading Warden’s Office official wanted to speak, but the man did not give him a chance……
He suddenly beat faster at the blade with his golden hammer. Ripples formed on the ground.
The dozen Warden’s Office officials could not stand firm …… They were powerful cultivators so being off-balance meant that their vital energy was shaking inside their bodies.
These Warden’s Office officials all had shock and disbelief in their eyes. They all knew that the second place after the Treasure Light Temple would have its meaning, yet they had not thought the master of this small place would be so powerful and use such a method to welcome them.
“Actually, I always wanted to learn from your sword essence.” The man did not look at the Warden’s Office officials as he looked up in the air and spoke.
There was a turret at that place was a powerful force gestating on it.
After saying this, his golden hammer landed on the burning sword and did not lift again.
With this blow, the golden hammer in his hand shattered into countless pieces. These golden pieces did not fly around but instead absorbed by the ripples that formed on the blade again.
The ripples on the blade absorbed all the golden fragments. However, the ripples on the blade did not pass the energy into the ground, but spread it through the air.
The sword disappeared.
Countless tangible golden ripples appeared in the air and faced that sword essence on the turret. One wall of the workshop was destroyed like it was paper. The golden ripples charged out, and collided with an enormous and invisible wall of sword energy.
Boom!
Two mountains seemed to collide in the air. The turret trembled minutely, and the old man at the top of the turret looked at his feet. The hard stone underneath his feet showed a patch of dense cracks.
The light in his eyes dimmed slightly, and lines of blood appeared in his wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.
“As expected of someone who has guarded Changling for so many years. I forged the sword for so many years and still cannot match,” this shirtless man said sincerely and vomited a mouthful of blood.
He did not hesitate at all and turned to leave. He travelled towards the turret. The walls in front of him seemed to not even exist, being easily torn apart by the air currents travelling around his body.
Yet after passing through one street, he stopped. A youth was waiting for him underneath a locust tree.
“An Baoshi?” This shirtless man frowned and recalled who this youth was.
This youth, who felt like he was floating on top of a cloud, bowed towards this shirtless man, saying, “Since Elder Mo Ye has tried the City Guarding Sword, then you must not want to miss the Spirit Void Sword Sect’s sword. The teachers of my sect admired Elder’s sword essence. I would have regrets if I missed it.”
The shirtless man suddenly laughed out loud. He pointed at An Baoshi and laughed until his body was shaking.
“One of the two recognized geniuses of Changling, the strongest freak in the history of Spirit Void Sword Sect. I had not expected you willing to be a dog. You wasted Spirit Void Sword Sect’s efforts.”
An Baoshi’s laughter did not change at the laughter, but his gaze grew prouder. “Everyone has different views. I only care …… if my sword essence can get stronger.”
“If there was no empress, where would I get so many opportunities to freely use my sword and fight to the death against so many grandmasters?”
Hearing An Baoshi’s words, the shirtless man stopped laughing. He knew that this freak was a true freak, another kind of cultivation fanatic unlike Fang Xiumu.
“You and Zheng Xiu are suitable, you are both cruel enough. For you, anyone is just a tool to improve your sword essence.”
Thinking of something, the shirtless man’s gaze grew strange. He slowly said, “But since you call me elder, I can give you a warning. Ever since Yuanwu’s ascension, Zheng Xiu’s cultivation has stopped improving. Her present may be your future.”
An Baoshi thought seriously for a moment. Then he said to the shirtless man, “Then I will consider when I reach her level.”
The shirtless man coughed gently and said, “It is fair to fight now.”
After saying this, his body released a terrifying sword essence. Fine lights carrying a lifebond presence appeared in the space around him and An Baoshi like metal sprays of sparks created when he forged.
An Baoshi reached out a hand to swipe through the air. He seemed to attack yet no one saw where his sword essence went. His eyes showed great shock. Then his body shuddered like a blade being forged and beaten.
Blood trickled down his nose and mouth. The shirtless man stopped moving. He shook his head and then fell down.
An Baoshi was silent for a moment. He bowed to the distant turret, and then to the shirtless man who had stopped breathing. He was thanking the man on top of the turret, and apologizing to this Cottage Stone Sword Workshop man.
He had not expected the man to defeat his sword essence despite his serious injuries. This meant his sword was not powerful enough.
A cold general in black armor stood behind the tired Mo Shoucheng. He did not speak, but the sudden heavy breathing caused Mo Shoucheng to know what he was thinking.
Mo Shoucheng sighed softly and said, “I know you feel it is unfair, but for my choice, An Baoshi cannot die …… Also, An Baoshi does not even care, so why should I care how people in Changling think of me?”
This cold general’s body started to tremble minutely. He bowed to Mo Shoucheng and said, “Mister is righteous.”
“How can you make such a decision!”
“Like draining the pond to get the fish, this is shaking the foundation of the country!”
“The heavenly mandate belongs to Changling, our Changling has so many geniuses because these cultivation places are not restrained. It is already natural for the cultivators of these places to join the army for service …… You are destroying your own foundation, it is simply …… simply mad!”
Dozens of officials stood on the usually quiet path in the palace. The empress stood on the jade stairs, looking coldly at these officials who wanted to die and listened to the fierce words.
“What looks like shaking the foundation of the country is just a temporary pain in my opinion.”
“If there is no change, how can the heavenly mandate belong to Changling.”
“Do not forget that the Shang Family was in charge of the reformation back then.”
“This is gathering all forces together, not destroying the foundation.”
“I do all this for the Qin to grow stronger.”
“You should know that my decision will not change. You should understand what you do now is to choose.”
“The Qin established the country by the sword. Words are the most useless thing,” she said simply having listened for a long while. Then she turned and returned to her study.
Translator Ramblings: These recent chapters pack so much plot development and action (murder) together.
Volume 3 23 - Entering The Formation
The higher the mountain peak, the stronger the wind that blew away the misty rain.
There were many peaks in the Wu Mountains, but all of them were only half as tall as the tallest peak.
This peak was the Goddess Peak.
Because the mountain was so steep and there were numerous vicious beasts, even the most experienced medicine harvesters would never return after entering. This added a great sense of mystery to this mountain.
Three figures appeared on a protruding cliff wall halfway up Goddess Peak. Two of them seemed to be exhausted youths, and the other an old man. They were sitting on the cold hard stone.
These three were naturally Ding Ning, Fu Su and Forefather Zhou.
The Wu Mountain was unlike other mountain rains; some places were shrouded in mist, some under rain, while others had clear skies. When the trio looked out, the Wu Mountains was completely enshrouded in clouds. The mists settled in the numerous valleys like white bowls among the forest.
They had not struggled to ascend to such an elevation just to watch the scenery.
Ding Ning turned to look at Forefather Zhou, waiting for him to speak.
“When the noon sun falls, the formation door will open,” Forefather Zhou looked at the sky and said expressionlessly, “we are just an hour away.”
“We have to wait until noon before there is a phenomenon and we can see where the formation door is?” Fu Su was even more puzzled upon hearing this. “You brought us here because you wanted Ding Ning to help you see where the true formation door is located? If so, have you ever entered the true formation door and know what is inside is what you want?”
Forefather Zhou glanced at Fu Su and coldly said, “The location of the formation door will change at any moment. Even if one cannot calculate its location, they can gamble with luck. However, I have no time for a lucky guess, and no energy for luck.”
“If you find a possible formation door, you run there and try. If you find it is incorrect, then you run over here and try …… there may be powerful death traps concealed at the location of incorrect formation doors. At the least, you will be injured, and you may even be killed if you are careless.”
Fu Su understood Forefather Zhou’s meaning and said, “This method is very stupid.”
Forefather Zhou sneered, but did not respond.
Ding Ning, who had until now been silent, looked at him and said, “Relying on this stupid method, you entered the formation door in the past. But there is something inside you could not defeat. So, even though you found something of great use to you, you could not obtain it.”
Forefather Zhou maintained his silence, but Ding Ning continued. “You should have come here before the reformation and your injuries. But for so many years, you stayed in Changling and did not think about this place because what is inside has not matured. So it is about full grown now?”
Facing Ding Ning’s speculation, Forefather Zhou did not refute it this time. He nodded and said, “Thirty years ago, when I had just entered realm seven, I passed by Wu Mountain and coincidentally found this place. I am about to be paralyzed and what is inside is coincidentally perfect to use. A freak like you with extraordinary comprehension has also appeared. I think this is fate.”
Ding Ning looked at him and shook his head. He said, “It is not possible for all good things to happen to you.”
“Maybe all good things happen to me,” Forefather Zhou said expressionlessly.
There were not so many coincidences of good things in the world. Yet, in life, waiting was perhaps the norm for a person.
On another high cliff on Goddess Peak was an old man who looked as old as Forefather Zhou. He was also waiting.
Dressed in light yellow brocade robes made from the softest silk, he wore the most refined jade coronet. There were natural light red patterns in the white jade coronet that looked like blooming peach flowers. His face was covered in black spots and old age marks. But even so, his features were unusually handsome. Any person, at a glance, could see that he must have been an extremely handsome man in his youth.
At this time, he was also waiting for the hottest noon sunlight to land on Wu Mountain. Unlike Forefather Zhou, he had not waited for thirty years, but longer.
He also knew that the Deer Mountain Conference and the maturation time of the thing inside the formation was not a coincidence, but due to arrangements. Because he had set the time for the Deer Mountain Conference.
He was the Chu King rumored to be obsessed with beauty and the inner palace. The longest reigning monarch of the Chu Dynasty.
At this time, the king’s eyes flashed with anticipation, and also the light of emotion and nostalgia.
He thought of himself in bright clothes riding horses in his youth. Back then, he had truly loved beauty. Whenever he heard of a famed beauty somewhere, he would travel thousands of miles. He didn’t know how many love affairs he had left behind in the mountains and rivers. For example, this Goddess Peak …… he had named this peak.
Time that has passed cannot return. Those jade-boned beauties had turned into earth long ago, but this Goddess Peak was still shrouded in mist at her waist like she would never grow old.
Ding Ning frowned, and looked seriously at the sight before him.
He too deeply revered and feared the formations left behind by ancient sects, even after so much time.
The sun was high up in the sky.
Forefather Zhou’s squinting eyes widened. Before he could speak, light appeared in Ding Ning’s calm and solemn eyes.
The strong sunlight landed on the bowl-like valleys. Refracted by the many drops of water, the light did not turn into a rainbow, but golden rays of light.
Fu Su’s breathing stopped slightly. He couldn’t help but instinctively recall the words that Forefather Zhou had spoken previously. He could sense that some of the pure golden rays of light were different.
At this moment, Ding Ning could sense what kind of formation this was.
His gaze landed on one of the bowl-like valleys. The true fire energy in the rays of light landing in that valley was absorbed by the valley. Among the light rays, invisible steam rose. These rays of light became special passages for the steam to flow through.
In his eyes, these scenes once again became pure lines.
True fire fell down, while steam crossed among the true fire and rose upwards.
He could not see the situation at the bottom of the valley with his eyes, but he seemed to know all the paths at the bottom of the valley.
“Let us go.”
He turned to look at Forefather Zhou and said calmly, “However, this time, you have to carry me and Fu Su down. Otherwise, if I am too tired, I might not be able to comprehend the method to enter the formation door.”
Fu Su was shocked again.
He looked in disbelief at Ding Ning. “You are already certain of the formation door location?”
Ding Ning glanced at him and said, “This is similar to the Three Sovereigns Sect’s water and fire blending method of the past. They wanted to disguise the presence of what is sealed as much as possible which means they need many channels to guide the wind and mediate. There is more than one formation door.”
After a pause, Ding Ning said, “It is not hard finding a formation door to enter, it is difficult finding a way to resolve the death traps of the formation door.”
Forefather Zhou’s eyes had originally been filled with disbelief. He hadn’t believed that Ding Ning had managed to discern this quickly. But at these words, he took a deep breath, his heart beat uncontrollably.
“You know a lot,” he said slowly.
A cold bone-chilling wind rose on the cliff. Three bodies floated up from the granite and down towards that mountain valley through the mist.
The Goddess Peak was perhaps the only mistake the creators of the formation had made. When they left Goddess Peak and floated into the forest below, even Ding Ning could no longer feel anything abnormal among those golden pillars of light. The formation creator must have been in the mountain back then, and hadn’t sensed that it was possible for this formation to be detected from parts of Goddess Peak at certain times.
The formation was located in a valley with a flat terrain. Shrubby trees stretched as far as the eye could see in the milky mist. It did not look like dry land, but a deep lake.
They landed on the perimeter of this mountain valley based on Ding Ning’s memory. Even Fu Su could feel an ancient presence up ahead that gathered in the bright light and spread through the mountain valley. A presence of water and wind sprouted into the sky as though it would pierce the sky.
An unusual flush appeared on Forefather Zhou’s face. He had used a stupid method to find one of the formation doors. This clear and similar presence allowed him to confirm that Ding Ning’s judgement was correct.
Ding Ning frowned deeply, his gaze calmly sweeping across every tree and blade of grass nearby.
The cultivator who had set up this formation far surpassed a realm seven in strength. The setup inside would have many places that could threaten even Forefather Zhou. So at this time, he did not care about Forefather Zhou’s thoughts. He put all of his mind on studying and sensing this formation he had only ever read in short description from ancient books, and never seen before.
The mist was extremely thick. Wind flowed around, but would suddenly disappear when they reached the spot in front of him. Even the mist inside did not move, and the trees and grass in the mist seemed to be absolutely still in the air.
In a flash, Ding Ning felt pain.
The flora in the mist turned into numerous lines, carrying murderous intent that filled his body like twigs of a chaste tree. He felt suffocated.
Plop!
A mouthful of blood uncontrollably sprayed out of his mouth.
Translator Ramblings: I wonder what the level of literacy and learning there was in Warring State China. The aristocrats, and important people were definitely well-educated, but doesn’t Ding Ning’s wealth of knowledge and the education he shows doesn’t match that of a …… common wine shop youth? Or I’m underestimating literacy and the amount of common knowledge available.
Volume 6 23 - In The End
Great waves appeared in Emperor Yuanwu’s mind. He was very shocked. Ding Ning’s perfect sword essence did not feel like it was a copy. In his perception, it was just like the sword that that person had performed back then.
A wave of the strongest feeling was pulled out of the deepest part of his heart. This strongest emotion was great terror.
In these years, between him and Zheng Xiu, he had tolerated everything that Zheng Xiu had done not because of his heated love for her, but out of terror towards the reappearance of the Nine Death Silkworm and the Stone-Grinding Sword.
He knew better than anyone the terror of that person, especially in that last battle when Changling had turned into a sea of blood. He had watched the entire process from afar. Compared to the experts killed by that person back then, he was not very exceptional. He was even certain, if that person had not killed so many top experts, maybe he would not have been the first person in this era to reach realm eight.
So he did not just burn the history books because he worried that the events of that person and the Ba Mountain Sword Field would spread. It was more because of the terror he felt towards that person. He was not even willing to hear that person’s name and think back to that person’s strength.
This person’s strength had accompanied him as he grew from an imperial son who was being oppressed to the strongest emperor in the world. This terror became a part of him, coming from deep in his soul and could not be controlled.
The energies inside his body were shaking. He could not stop the advent of the Donghu monk’s staff blow, but he was still the only realm eight in the world right now, and knew energy rules that realm sevens did not know.
When the power of this blow was about to crush his body through the air, a dot of light appeared in front of his forehead. A unique wave the energy in his body turned into a wave of light, shooting up into the sky, causing a resonance with energies high up in the sky without any time difference.
A vast energy fell from the sky. This energy had been above the vacuum. In the words of the cultivation world, it came from outside this world, from the stars.
Ordinary cultivators could not communicate with the power of the stars, because the consciousness of a cultivator could not clearly sense the energy rules so far away. So ordinary cultivators called the energies outside this world the solitary cold energy, and were unable to use it. Only Zheng Xiu and other rare few people cultivated special methods, and could use some tactics to reflect a bit of the solitary cold energy, sensing some of the energy rules, and use that energy.
But in realm eight, it was different.
In the records of the cultivation words, realm eight could break this limit. While they could not see into the space like one could with some methods, they could absorb terrifying energy from the border of where this world touched space.
This state was like opening a new world. So the realm seven was called Mountain Moving, while realm eight was called Heaven Opening.
When Yuanwu fully used this power at this time, in the eyes of other people, it was like he was opening the sky. An enormous ray of silver light fell from a height that could not be seen with the eye and onto the staff heading for his chest.
In the vast silver ray of light, that staff was so small like it was a cow’s hair. The star energy that was completely different from the energies of the world that the cultivators used restrained this staff. The staff, suspended in the silver light, seemed to be refined, giving off wisps of purple smoke.
Seeming the tip of the staff just feet away from Yuanwu’s body but unable to touch, and the energy of the divine item being ground down and destroyed, the Donghu monk’s expression did not change at all.
This staff only was half of the power of his attack. There was another half of the power in his hand.
The ground sank under him. His figure became transparent in the air. His hand held the transparent sword, and in this moment, he came to Yuanwu’s side, and stabbed towards Yuanwu’s energy sea.
Ye Xiao and Sima Cuo’s expressions changed at the same time. They could not think of how this sword could be fended off. Sometimes, victory was not just determined by cultivation, but also time. Yuanwu’s emotions had changed too violently previously, and now, he had no time to deal with this sword. They did not even dare to think, if Emperor Yuanwu died because of this attack, what the world would become.
But at this time, the Donghu monk who was just weaker than Yuanwu seemed to sense something before them, and looked up slightly. A stream of pale white fire was falling from the sky.
This was a bolt of star fire.
The star fire was filled with a powerful and cold sword essence. With a soft sound, the Donghu monk released this transparent sword, and returned to his original position. A pale white dot appeared on the blade of the transparent sword. Then the sword was penetrated by this star fire, and started to burn.
Then sounded an enormous bang. A fierce explosion occurred in front of Yuanwu again. The ground within a hundred feet was turned to dust.
Yuanwu moved back a hundred feet. He did not sustain any injuries, but his face was paler.
Zhangsun Qianxue took a deep breath. That star fire naturally came from Zheng Xiu. Each time she saw the star fire, she could not control her anger. At this moment, she secretly hoped that the star fire would land on Yuanwu. But while this couple had the same thoughts, this blow blocked the Donghu monk’s fatal blow.
A bitter grimace appeared at the corners of Ding Ning’s lips.
A hair’s length was a thousand miles. Regardless of how much Emperor Yuanwu retreated, no matter what wounds he had, as long as he was still alive, he was still the strongest in this battle, and they could not escape the shadow of death.
He also knew, starting this moment, their situation would grow more difficult. Yuanwu could misstep, but if they misstepped, death would face them. Because at this time, Sima Cuo, Ye Xiao and the others were certain that Yuanwu alone could not deal with this battle.
The wind roared, accompanied by clean ice and snow. The grandmaster who had appeared with Ye Xiao together attacked first.
This grandmaster had no fame in Changling. Ding Ning did not even know his origins, but he cultivated an Arctic sword essence, and Ding Ning sensed that this was similar to the sword snow of the Min Mountain. That coldness could not compare to the great cold of the Nine Hell King Sword but it was just as sharp.
When this grandmaster solemnly attacked, when the pure white long sword swung in his hand, thousands of white ice swords appeared in the world in front of him. These ice swords released the same great power as his lifebond sword, forming a great snowy white sword dragon that coiled through the air and leapt at Zhangsun Qianxue.
In the sky above the snowy white dragon, there was a pitch black shadow. Ye Xiao’s shadow disappeared, but a black crescent moon was falling from the sky with a kind of terrifying killing intent.
Sima Cuo naturally would not miss such a good chance to attack. He gave a low shout, and his energy exploded with an iron and wild power from his seemingly soft body. A wide and broken gray sword appeared in his hand. An ocean of primal energies of the universe gathered and formed a crystal wall of blades that swept at Zhangsun Qianxue.
There was no realm seven that could endure three such experts working together like this. Maybe even the Donghu monk could not. Zhangsun Qianxue knew that she could not. Her body unconsciously moved towards Ding Ning, just wanting to be closer in this moment.
“Dretch!”
“Kill this Min Mountain Sword Snow first.”
But Ding Ning’s cold voice reached the Donghu monk and her ears.
The “Dretch” was a killing move that the Donghu monk had cultivated. Without needing more words, the Donghu monk sensed this, and his hands reached into the sky.
The staff that had been trembling in the silver pillar of light wildly spun, immediately creating rays of golden light, breaking free of the silver light and crashing towards Emperor Yuanwu.
Ding Ning did not know the name of the cultivator who had created the snowy white sword dragon, so when he spoke to Zhangsun Qianxue, he used “Min Mountain Sword Snow”. Zhangsun Qianxue did not need to even think. The Nine Hell King Sword disappeared from her hand, turning into countless gray and black pieces of grains of crystal.
Zhangsun Qianxue and Ding Ning had lived in hiding for many years. At many times, she did not want to think, and she had absolute trust in Ding Ning.
At this time, she ignored Ye Xiao and Sima Cuo’s killing moves, and channeled all her power towards that cultivator. The gray and black crystal grains moved through the air and collided with the thousands of snow white swords.
In this moment, countless snowy white flowers bloomed. This unnamed cultivator changed expression. The enormous snowy white flowers seemed to form a enormous flowering tree in front of him, but those gray black crystals had passed through and reformed back into a sword.
Endless terror inundated this cultivator’s eyes. He could not believe that while they both had cold sword essence, he could not stop the other’s attack at all. Even more importantly, Zhangsun Qianxue ignored the other two killing attacks, and put all her power into this attack.
With a pop, the Nine Hell King Sword stabbed into his chest. In this moment, the Nine Hell King Sword turned back into wantless gray black grains of ice that sprayed out of his body. His body immediately broke apart, spraying out in shards of ice.
A powerful grandmaster disappeared from the world like this.
But at this same time, a black crescent and the wall of crystal blades were falling at Zhangsun Qianxue. This was a time when she could not counterattack or defend. She waited there quietly and looked at Ding Ning.
Ding Ning stood there silently and drew his sword.
Volume 4 23 - The Flap of A Butterfly’s Wings
A simple and overlooked question was followed by countless questions. One thought caused everything to be understood. There was no need to think about the process. Once this point was recognized, then countless questions could be explained.
Why Ding Ning’s cultivation was so fast.
Why Ding Ning was able to travel with Forefather Zhou and still survive.
Why Ding Ning could understand numerous sword manuals at a glance.
Why Ding Ning was so serious.
Why Ding Ning could fight above his realm.
**
In this instant, there seemed to be countless people chanting in Huang Zhenwei’s mind, changing Ding Ning’s name and the Nine Death Silkworm. Within the sunlight, he felt even more ridiculous and laughable, he was on the verge of tears.
Was life this ridiculous?
When he was not able to find in his search, when everything had already happened, it silently came to him.
A black feather gently fell down from the sky.
Trembling, Huang Zhenwei looked up. He had never found the sunlight so blinding. He saw a black pigeon fly from the direction of the imperial palace. The black messenger pigeon carried the empress’ decree.
He was rushing back to the imperial palace now but the empress’ decree had already arrived. He took the letter scroll from the black messenger pigeon and opened the secret note for all bureau chiefs. Then his hands trembled more violently.
At this time, he heard the sound of a horn from the distant turret behind him. He stiffly turned around and saw a white cloth.
He was Mo Shoucheng’s only student after Yuanwu. He knew what the horn and the hanging white cloth meant. He knew that his teacher had not fulfilled his promise in the end. Or rather, his teacher was wiser than him and saw further. He knew that even if his student went to the imperial palace, he could not change a thing.
“Teacher!” He shouted in pain. Tears poured down his face as he ignored the gazes of people around him.
Nothing would change. His teacher was dead. The empress’ decree had been issued. He wanted to let his teacher know before death that notoriety would not be added to him, and he would receive some of his deserved glory.
Yet his teacher could not see it. What he wanted to do could not succeed. After his teacher’s death, there would be more crimes and anger for his teacher to bear.
He knew his teacher had calmly chosen to accept in his last moments. All of his efforts were for a peerlessly glorious empire, an unprecedented empire. Yet he could not accept calmly.
The only sound in his mind was his teacher’s words: What he could do now was to choose.
Huang Zhenwei stood in the middle of the street.
Some of his subordinates did not want others to see his loss of composure and cleaned out the street.
But as he stood in the empty street, the scene in his mind’s eyes constantly changed. He seemed to be standing in front of that enormous pile of corpses back then. He saw the invincible swordsman who had led the Qin Dynasty to destroy three dynasties finally die. His body had been turned to ash by countless sword lights. In the end, not even ash was left.
He seemed to be standing back in front of Ba Mountain Sword Field. The enormous Ba mountain ranges were so tall he could not see the peak. Like a holy place, they pressed on him until he felt small and unable to breathe. But that Last Flower sword was broken in the end. When Ba Mountain Sword Field disappeared, he sensed the enormous Ba Mountain suddenly collapse and shadows fall onto him.
Many people had spent their entire lives for this increasingly strong dynasty until they died. Yet they did not receive what they deserved.
This moment Huang Zhenwei was facing a choice, he thought of that person’s gaze before death from within the pile of corpses.
Who was wrong?
Was the Nine Death Silkworm wrong?
Huang Zhenwei closed his eyes in even more pain, yet the burning sunlight caused his eyes to see red.
All choices originated from one’s true emotions.
He understood the meaning of his teacher’s words completely. His teacher had made a choice he thought was correct and liked. But his teacher would not obstruct his choice, because he was the teacher who really loved his disciple.
He squeezed his eyes closed, pursed his lips together and gritted his teeth. Because of too much force, blood seeped through his teeth dripping down the corners of his mouth, yet he did not feel a thing……
**
When Huang Zhengwei was making his choice, Ding Ning was calmly preparing his luggage. He had notified the Warden’s Office already.
Usually, when cultivators without any military merit entered the army, they were just an ordinary soldier. But because of his special status, and because this was due to Min Mountain Sword Sect’s compromise, he received the treatment of an ordinary general. The Warden’s Office sent three carriages for his travel.
Because he did not return to Ink Garden, there were no farewells. Other than the three carriage drivers the Warden’s Office sent and one servant girl, there was only him, Zhangsun Qianxue, Nangong Caishu, and Ye Zhengnan.
This departure seemed slightly somber, but for Ding Ning, leaving the city so smoothly was a great relief. Any new problems would naturally displease him.
When he was preparing to board the carriage of the Warden’s Office and saw the youth he entered his sight, his expression turned cold and frosty.
Nangong Caishu came from a military family and had seen things like leaving for war many times. She had organized what was needed to be taken along and the three Warden’s Office carriage drivers were full of admiration. She was inspecting some of the spare medicines. Sensing this unusual presence, she turned around to look.
“It’s An Baoshi?” the moment she saw the youth, she asked Ding Ning softly.
This youth was not tall, but he felt taller than any other young genius Nangong Caishu had ever met.
Even Jing Liuli did not feel this strong.
Ding Ning had never formally met An Baoshi but he knew that this youth who seemed to be floating in the sky could only be An Baoshi.
“I came to tell you some things.”
There were no opening words or greetings. An Baoshi just walked until he was several dozen feet from Ding Ning and stopped. He looked at Ding Ning with a smile and said, “I have already defeated Jing Liuli.”
Ding Ning looked at him but did not speak.
“You are my only opponent now. I hope that you will not slack off after winning against Palace Attendant Rong.” An Baoshi smiled at Ding Ning. “Also, I will also be going to the Donghu border.”
“You feel that I will slack off?” Ding Ning looked at An Baoshi and said.
An Baoshi smiled and said, “That is good.”
Nangong Caishu and Ye Zhengnan frowned at the same time, unhappy.
The duo’s dislike was not because of An Baoshi’s pride and conceit, but due to Ding Ning’s response. They all felt that his response was too weak, and had none of his previous edges.
But then Ding Ning spoke- “But what does my slacking off or not have to do with you?”
An Baoshi stilled.
“Your opponent is Jing Liuli.” Ding Ning started to board the carriage, not looking at An Baoshi. “Jing Liuli will naturally defeat you. She does not need me.”
An Baoshi frowned deeply.
He just said softly, “Since that is the case, then we will meet at the Donghu borders.”
Nangong Caishu smiled as she boarded the carriage and said seriously to An Baoshi, “Do not keep on mentioning the Donghu border. You should know this is a secret of the Warden’s Office right now.”
An Baoshi did not care about this provocation. He gave a small smile and turned to leave.
The three carriages started to move and drive away from Changling.
Translator Ramblings: It’s not the end of a volume but we are finally moving on to a new map.
Volume 2 23 - Nine Hells King
This chapter has been brought to you by me, and larkspur.
He clearly only had realm three vital energy power, but the sword marks criss-crossing in front of him released an essence that even realm seven cultivators could not understand.
For cultivators, when they encountered a situation like this, they would first ponder why something like this would occur. They would consider what Ding Ning’s identity was and what secrets he was hiding. But to the blind dragon who had been trapped here for an unknown number of years, it could only feel the presence.
It could not speak in human speech but it possessed high intelligence. When Ding Ning’s sword energy disturbed the formation of this blue structure and activated the blue lightning it was familiar with, it started to understand that it may be able to escape this cage.
Thinking of how it could possibly escape this cage, it could not stop trembling all over. Thunderous roars rang through its belly.
The rumbles in the stomach were because it was very hungry.
It was a carnivorous spirit beast, and relied on consuming blood and energy to survive. But the powerful cultivator who had trapped it here back then knew its ability to endure hunger, and had not provided it with any food. Over the years, its food had only been the insects that had lived in this blue structure and some birds that had accidentally entered the blue structure. While this was enough for it to survive, the hunger of many years was the greatest torment, even more when it could not have freedom.
It could see the blue sky outside, but could not leave.
Forefather Zhou and the king of Chu had waited decades, but how could they have waited as long as it had? Many years of waiting in exchange for today’s possibility. It looked at Ding Ning’s calm and authoritative stance. It trembled all over, and then sprawled to the ground, even its head touching the ground.
It was expressing its compliance.
Seeing the blind eyes on its head change from viciousness to compliance, terror, and pleading, hearing the thunderous rumbles in its stomach, Ding Ning’s eyes flashed with sympathy.
The blind dragon’s senses were many times more powerful than ordinary cultivators. It managed to sense Ding Ning’s sympathy, and immediately pressed itself deeper into the ground, as though it would bury itself under the rotten leaves.
"I sympathize with your situation right now, and I will release you. But you must first help me rescue my friend."
Ding Ning looked at it, said these words and then added two simple words. "The Flesh Bodhi."
The blind dragon could not completely understand the meaning in the first few words, but it had heard the term ’flesh bodhi’ many times. In the next moment, its head immediately swayed in shock.
Ding Ning frowned slightly.
He started to make some simple hand motions as he said, "You mean to say the flesh bodhi also has a powerful formation so you cannot get close?"
The blind the dragon understood his meaning and started to nod.
Ding Ning took a deep breath.
He absolutely understood Forefather Zhou’s intentions.
Forefather Zhou only wanted to use him to lure away the blind dragon for a moment, so he could enter the formation protecting the flesh bodhi. As long as the blind dragon could not stop him from entering the formation protecting the flesh bodhi, he could successively obtain the flesh bodhi.
Therefore, Forefather Zhou was likely going to absorb the flesh bodhi within the formation.
If he managed to do so inside, on his way back he would encounter this blind dragon. Even if he suffered a little, he would not die here, he could still escape.
"Take me there."
Ding Ning looked at the blind dragon and said in an unrefusable tone, "I will defeat the formation."
The blind dragon lifted its head slightly.
It was slightly doubtful.
Ding Ning frowned slightly. He knew what he needed to do right now.
So he slowly breathed out, and released the countless invisible little silkworms hiding in his body.
The invisible little silkworms appeared out of his body, starting to absorb the surrounding primal energies of the universe.
The air was filled with hissing.
The scene in the blind dragon’s perception was completely different.
It seemed to have seen an enormous being at the top of the food chain, something that could consume all things. This kind of presence and the presence showing in the sword marks was the same, enough to make it shudder.
It no longer hesitated. It turned around, its enormous body travelling rapidly through the dense forest and creating a round path for Ding Ning.
Ding Ning followed. After ten breaths, the blind dragon stopped.
The trees and vines ahead of the blind dragon were the same as in any other part of the blue structure, but there was a clear green light ahead of it.
Many green crystals poked out of the dried leaves.
These green crystals gave off green light that formed a wave.
Ding Ning frowned deeply.
He closed his eyes, the countless little silkworms in his body once again flooded out of his body and gradually consumed the primal energies of the universe.
The spitting of silk scared the blind dragon into lying on the ground again.
As the invisible threads produced by the little silkworms spread through the air, some clear lines appeared in Ding Ning’s perception. A scene of cold wind blowing with snowflakes in the air appeared in his mind.
But there were countless green crystals spread through this cold scene like numerous ghosts waiting to surge onto fresh flesh.
"Starting now, we must trust each other." Ding Ning opened his eyes and spoke, seriously and calmly to the blind dragon.
Then he reached out and placed his hand on the blind dragon’s head like he was touching a friend.
The blind dragon’s body grew slightly stiff, terrifying energies roiling instinctively around it. The air snapped and there seemed to be energy erupting out of the ground.
But Ding Ning’s hand landed without any hesitation.
The moment his hand made true contact with the blind dragon’s body, these terrifying energies disappeared. The blind dragon’s body was still stiff, but those blind eyes gave off more unusual lights.
"I will definitely get you to leave this cage." Ding Ning pulled his hand back as he solemnly reaffirmed. Then he said, "I will break this formation, but I do not have enough power. I need you to believe me, and use some of your power to help me defeat this formation."
The blind dragon was still stiff and did not seem to understand.
Ding Ning glanced at it and then swung his sword.
The Last Flower remnant sword left a sword mark on the ground next to him.
He then shot out a wave of vital energy from his left hand that landed in the sword mark
Then he pointed at the sword mark and said to the blind dragon," Me."
Then he produced another surge of vital energy that entered the sword mark and said, "You."
The blind dragon was still for a long moment before …… its body moved. It nodded.
Ding Ning flashed a hint of a smile. Even so, he was still in no hurry to act. He drew two figures using the remnant sword on the ground.
One was the figure of Forefather Zhou, the other Fu Su.
"Enemy!" He pointed at Forefather Zhou’s figure.
"Friend," he said as he pointed at Fu Su.
The blind dragon hesitated for a moment, and nodded when it understood his meaning.
Ding Ning raised his head, but then he seemed to think of something. He bent down and drew a round figure on the ground.
This was the shape of the blind dragon.
Then he pointed at this figure and said to the blind dragon, "Friend."
The simple word seemed to contain countless meanings to the blind dragon.
A strange sounded within its body. Its blind eyes constantly flashed with light. It was trying to sense something.
Ding Ning looked calmly at it.
It seemed to be infected by Ding Ning’s calm. The surrounding presences calmed down.
Ding Ning did not say anything else. He took several steps forward in front of it, and stood before the green line.
This movement caused the blind dragon’s body to quiver again. It instinctively nodded.
Ding Ning swung his sword.
The Last Flower remnant sword spread along his movement like a flower in bloom. Countless sword energies shot out following the sword threads and created minuscule paths in the air ahead.
Astounding cold energy suddenly erupted in the calm air ahead. A snowstorm seemed on the verge of forming, to destroy everything.
At this time, the blind dragon suddenly leapt up.
The flesh whiskers on its head danced. Dim yellow waves of energy surged out of the ground and entered those minuscule lines.
An enormous roar, like two ships colliding, sounded in the air ahead.
Cracks immediately appeared in the numerous green crystals in front of it and Ding Ning. Then those green crystals split, the waves of light quickly disappeared.
In the center of this formation formed by these green crystals stood a tall fig tree. Its leaves were all strangely purple. Hanging from the roots was a human-shaped purple fruit.
This fruit looked like a curled up infant, its surface giving off light like jade but also flesh.
At this time, Forefather Zhou was sitting next to this fruit. His only movable left hand’s fingers were stabbed into this fruit. Waves of vital energy were absorbing the essence of this fruit and flooding into his body.
His countenance was that of avarice and ecstasy.
Fu Su, forced to stand by the side among the dried leaves, looked at the expression crawling up his face and felt immense hate.
Accompanying the terrifying roar was an astounding wave of cold energy.
All the leaves on the fig tree fell off. Forefather Zhou’s hair was swept up. He shouted in disbelief, "What is this!"
Translator Ramblings: Fig are naturally a dark blue/purple color. I imagine a purple fig tree would look very pretty but I don’t know of any truly purple trees in nature.
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