Chapter Twenty Four Night Owl
writer:
无罪 update:2022-07-21 15:26
The dark and cold presence grew, the sky turned darker, and snow came down. But the train of carriages was exceptionally calm, and many drivers even started to hang up lanterns on the two sides of the carriage.
The shining lanterns swayed in the wind, and made soft sounds when they hit the carriage. But the people in the carriages were silent.
The air was odd and mysterious, brimming with danger.
Ding Ning’s mind rippled.
Many times before this, he had been thinking over this war, guessing where Zheng Xiu’s last hidden pawn was, but he had not learned anything. But now, the strange air of the train of carriages caused his heart to contract, and he had a bad feeling.
“Donghu Monk, back then in Changling, we should have met. But back then, you were inconspicuous, and I did not expect you to reach such a level.” At this time, Sima Cuo looked expressionlessly at them, and said, “Eldest Miss Gongsun, I did not expect you to also reach such a step.”
His voice was deep and strong, with the air of age, easily drawing people’s thoughts back to many years ago.
“And you, while I did not understand how a person like you can exist, but you should be the heir to the Nine Death Silkworm, and received his true teaching.”
His gaze was mostly on Ding Ning, somewhat admiring and emotional.
For any person here presently, this was not a good time to talk, but Sima Cuo seemed to be just making small talk. He looked at Ding Ning and then slowly said, “You do know the true meaning behind this great battle where thousands are dying?”
His voice was calm, but everyone could hear the conspiracy. There clearly were two terrifying cultivators stronger than him coming to assassinate him, but his attitude was like he was the hunter, and the other the prey coming to his door.
Zhangsun Qianxue thought of a possibility, her eyes filling with icy hate. The cold wind in the air grew stronger, and wailed.
Ding Ning frowned slightly, but did not answer Sima Cuo’s question. He maintained his silence.
“The eldest miss of the Gongsun Family, Ba Mountain Sword Field and the heir of the Nine Death Silkworm are together, this is amazing. And the Donghu monk who had wanted to kill Wang Jingmeng has come with you all this way. It is even more incredible. But these are not important things.”
Sima Cuo looked with sympathy at Ding Ning and sighed emotionally. “The true goal of this great war is the Nine Death Silkworm heir, it is you.”
His emotions were true, but even Ding Ning felt bone chilling coldness.
“Such a great battle, both Ba Mountain Sword Field and I have to appear. But using the life and death of hundreds of thousands to confirm that the Nine Death Silkworm truly exists and to make it appear, she is more and more mad.”
Saying so, Ding Ning looked into Sima Cuo’s eyes. “Killing the main commander is a tactic that the Ba Mountain Sword Field likes to use, but how come you are sure that the Nine Death Silkworm will appear here, and that I am the Nine Death Silkworm?”
One needed a lot of accurate information to prove a conclusion. Before this assassination, Sima Cuo had guessed that Zhangsun Qianxue would come here, and there was also the heir to the Nine Death Silkworm. Then this must concern the hidden pawn of Zheng Xiu.
Sima Cuo smirked slightly. He was not in a hurry. His voice was slow, and he did not answer Ding Ning’s question. “Even if the world is at peace, as long as the Nine Death Silkworm is not killed, it is like a thorn in the throat, and no one will be at peace. Sitting on the throne, having trouble eating and sleeping or having this war, you can judge what is more important.”
“Just a joke.” Ding Ning could not help but shake his head.
All this was like a joke. He thought that if he killed Sima Cuo, he could win this war, but laughably, Yuanwu and Zheng Xiu did not care about the war at all. In their eyes, the victory of this war was not as important as him.
“Even if I am the heir of the Nine Death Silkworm, since he could pass to me, I can naturally pass to others. How could the Nine Death Silkworm die? Is it worth it to use the victory and defeat of such a war?”
“Even if the Chu army wins, they are powerless to enter the Qin. At most, we lose the Yangshan Commandery again.” Sima Cuo smiled scornfully. “Yangshan Commandery does not have much value left after being fought over like this. It is good to leave it to them to rebuild the cities. The Nine Death Silkworm is mysterious, and no one knows, but at least, it is hard to cultivate, and only those stunningly talented can cultivate it. Even if another heir is found again, after a generation, without Wang Jingmeng’s teaching, with just the method but no sword manuals, what can he do? After another decade, it would be another generation. Who could be wary of the infant silkworms without the support of these grand masters?”
Whether it was worth it or not was not something other people could measure. Ding Ning did not argue with Sima Cuo on this. He took a deep breath, looked at Zhangsun Qianxue and tried to make himself calm down.
There was no one strong in Sima Cuo’s train who could stop the Donghu monk and Zhangsun Qianxue. This was the reason he had not expected Zheng Xiu’s strongest counter attack to come here.
After many years, Zheng Xiu had not changed in many parts, but in many parts, she had become more terrifying.
Now, who would change this trap for Sima Cuo into a trap against him, Zhangsun Qianxue, and the Donghu monk?
Zhangsun Qianxue slowly turned her head, looking at his side profile under the black cloth, familiar yet strange.
At the start, she had been very furious, the howling winds representing her emotions. Her fury came from once again falling for Zheng Xiu’s trap. But now, her feelings had calmed down.
“If we cannot live together, let us die together.” At this time, she spoke softly to Ding Ning. She knew, since the Nine Death Silkworm was the true goal of Zheng Xiu’s great war, then there were many possibilities of dying here.
“Coming.” Ding Ning looked at her face and nodded.
The sound of someone stepping on dry leaves came from the mountain slope. A swordsman dressed in moon colored robes walked out of the forest behind them. The snow falling from the sky right now was blue and black. The middle-aged man dressed in moon colored robes was also producing snow, but the snow was white.
Ding Ning’s eyes did not fall on the swordsman. He looked up at the peak of the hill.
At the top of the hill, at this time, there stood a man in black robes. He was looking down quietly like a lone and proud owl.
“It is him?” Zhangsun Qianxue’s eyes, which had just calmed down, once again surged with complicated emotions. Shock, worry, and a hint of sorrow.
Ding Ning’s expression froze. In his senses, that black robed man was taller than a mountain, like a black moon pressing on the mountain.
That black moon had once pressed down on Changling for many years.
Volume 5 24 - Follow the Flow
Countless people had countless opinions. But this night, for most cultivators in Changling, was a torment.
The vast and unstoppable power falling from the turret came one after another, each one usually meaning the death of a powerful cultivator or the destruction of a cultivation place. Or rather, surrender.
They knew the old man who guarded the city was very strong, but feeling this power that came in blow after blow without any exhaustion, they were still shocked. They thought, they had underestimated this old man’s strength.
“Madness.”
In a small alley, a cultivator with a sword sensed the powerful blows coming off the turret. He imagined the blood contained in each blow and said to his fellow with an ugly expression, “Even if all the cultivation places submit to the imperial palace like the empress imagines so they can be commanded like the army, why does she not think? These cultivation places and these secluded grandmasters are Changling’s natural barrier. They are the true reason that the cultivators from other dynasties do not dare to easily enter Changling! Even if the empress succeeds, Changling will be empty now.”
“So what if it is empty?” His friend had a similarly ugly expression as he said coldly, “Maybe she is deliberately making Changling and luring in those from other dynasties. That way, all of Changling will be a giant trap.”
“Mo Shoucheng has attacked so many times today. Why does he not think of the past Shang Family?” The cultivator with the sword said angrily, but in the next moment, he grew stiff.
A man in light yellow robes was walking ahead of him on a stone path. Behind the yellow-robed man was some officials and attendants at a distance. Many cultivators in Changling recognized this elegant man in light yellow robes was Huang Zhenwei. The Mo Shoucheng he was criticizing was the teacher Mo Shoucheng respected.
Huang Zhenwei moved through this area. He could hear the conversation between the two cultivators, but he felt no anger, only greater pain and sorrow. He knew that the words of these two ordinary cultivators in the alley were correct. As the executor of the empress’ decree, his teacher Mo Shoucheng was fated to endure much anger.
Many people would hate the empress but also Mo Shoucheng who killed their teachers. If Mo Shoucheng was an ambitious general like Liang Lian, Huang Zhenwei may feel better. But he knew Mo Shoucheng was an oil lamp about to go out, giving his last light for this dynasty.
Also, he knew that with Mo Shoucheng’s health, he was very tired right now. Each blow was a heavy burden to his body. So each time the blow came from the turret, he felt more and more helpless.
He had been chasing clues without sleep but he still could not find any. At this moment, he sensed another surge of power from the turret, and it was greater than any of the previous ones. This power fell like heavenly punishment towards the city of Changling. Huang Zhenwei knew that over there was the Half Mountain Sword School. It was one of the cultivation places with the most students and teachers in Changling.
Sensing this vast blow, several scenes appeared in his mind.
Many students and teachers were fighting against the army with their swords. The vast sword essence fell down, and the sword-wielding students and teachers of Half Mountain Sword School were all turned into bloody mists.
“Teacher!” Huang Zhenwei shouted in pain.
He knew, after this blow landed, his teacher would be even more tired, and he knew his teacher, who had attacked, was in more pain than him.
A gully several dozen feet wide suddenly appeared in front of Half Mountain Sword School.
Inside the gully was a wave of blood. There were faint sword lights in the bloody wave, shattered pieces of swords and the torn corners of clothing.
The remaining Half Mountain Sword School students and teacher could not believe their eyes. They could not believe that their friends and teachers had been smashed by such an enormous force to form such a bloody wave.
The wave surged up like a wall. It seemed to cover the moonlight and turn the clean moon blood red.
The Half Mountain Sword School cultivators who remained trembled uncontrollably and were unable to take a step forward.
On the turret, Mo Shoucheng’s wrinkles deepend again. HIs skin looked like it was bloodied, the wrinkles like cracks and the blood was going to seep through these cracks.
The cold commander behind him helped him to sit in the rattan chair and asked, “How about a rest?”
Mo Shoucheng shook his head and said, “Other people can rest, but not me.”
The cold commander slowly bowed his head. He knew, after tonight, many people would remember Mo Shoucheng killed countless people tonight, but few would be certain Mo Shoucheng had prevented more people from dying.
**
Countless people in Changling turned their gazes to the clinic that the Xie Family had bought.
Zhangsun Qianxue’s emotions were more agited than usual so the wind and snow in her room was a bit wilder. While they were on the same bed, she and Ding Ning were sitting half a foot apart.
“You are sure my energies can help you heal?” she asked calmly as she looked at Ding Ning who was trembling because of the cold.
“Your energies are like an addictive medicine to me,” Ding Ning looked at her and nodded certainly. “My body is already used to this energy. After I released all of it against Liang Lian, my body cannot adjust.”
Zhangsun Qianxue was silent for a moment and said, “It’s just because we are used to each other.”
Ding Ning shook his head without hesitation. “Not just because of habit.”
Zhangsun Qianxue said after a long silence, “People really have another chance at life?”
Ding Ning was silent for a long time. “In life, people have to face their own minds sooner or later. Their final pursuit is for their own inner calm. When one understands what one really wants and sees clearly, everything will go with the flow.”
“Go with the flow?” Zhangsun Qianxue gave a rare laugh. She looked in the direction of the turret. “Many things tonight make people think of things from many years ago. Can people really put down their hatred? If their family is all killed because of a certain person, can she forgive that person?”
Ding Ning bowed his head. He did not answer Zhangsun Qianxue’s question. He did not look at her miserable expression and slowly said, “All grievances will end sometime. If you do not like this city, then we can leave.”
Zhangsun Qianxue suddenly turned around to look at him.
“Tonight, the dead are those cultivators who are unwilling to follow Zheng Xiu, but the one bearing the brunt is Min Mountain Sword Sect.” Ding Ning slowly said, “If Zheng Xiu wants to succeed, she needs to prove to everyone her determination. Then she will order Min Mountain Sword Sect to follow her orders.”
Zhangsun Qianxue said in a cold voice, “Baili Suxue will agree?”
“He will.” Ding Ning nodded and said, “Because everything Zheng Xiu does tonight will let him understand she will continue at any cost. Min Mountain Sword Sect is at the forefront. The earlier he agrees, the less she will make him pay.”
After a pause, Ding Ning said with slight disdain, “This is a transaction between powerful people. No one will state it but they all have their own measures. At this time, Zheng Xiu only needs him to express an attitude. Baili Suxue will agree for another reason because Jing Liuli and I are both in Changling. For him, we are Min Mountain Sword Sect’s future.”
“Jing Liuli will be permitted to return to Min Mountain Sword Sect. Based on Zheng Xiu’s attitude, I will be sent to a border battlefield along with the students of the cultivation places that dared to disobey her orders. But I am a disciple of Min Mountain Sword Trials. So I should be allowed if I ask to take along some people.”
Fearing Zhangsun Qianxue’s objections, Ding Ning added. “The best strategy is to go with the flow, follow the enemy’s thoughts and then use the enemy. If we move with the enemy, we can frequently anticipate their actions.”
Zhangsun Qianxue turned her head to not look at him. She did not want to think about his words and said coldly, “In my view, this is because you understand her too well.”
Inexplicably, Ding Ning could not help but smile and then said, “That is only one of the reasons.”
Volume 3 25 - Ruthless
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…… but why was he here?
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.
Volume 6 25
Shock, fear, disbelief…… Many extreme emotions came from most of those present. From a certain point of view, the lives of all of them here in the train of carriages could not compare in importance to this young person in the carriage.
Because this person was Fu Su, the heir to the Qin Dynasty.
Only now did most among them understand why Ding Ning and Zhangsun Qianxue wanted to deal with Sima Cuo first. Because Sima Cuo was akin to Fu Su’s protection.
But being able to take Fu Su hostage from so many grandmasters working together was a miracle in itself.
When the world here calmed down, when the wind and snow quieted because Zhangsun Qianxue’s power was used up, thinking back to those perfect sword essences, all the cultivators could not help but feel waves of coldness.
Looking at Ding Ning who still had his face covered, they seemed to glimpse
person from the past. But right now, Ding Ning was stronger than
person when he first walked into Changling, and was even younger.
Back then,
person’s sword essence had only been perfected after the wars against the Zhao, Wei and Han. But his heir was so young, and his sword essence showed sighing of surpassing.
Many of the people in this train carriage were of high status. Originally, in their hearts, even if
person had left behind an heir, then he was just more important as a symbol and as a call to summons.
person’s heir may cause many rebels to start planning again. But now, they clearly realized that the other was not just a symbol, but had grown up into a terrifying existence.
Many flakes of black snow fell on Fu Su. His body suddenly froze, a thin layer of ice appeared. His vital energy could not flow in his body, he could not even move his tongue at all.
Ding Ning coughed softly, coughing up some small blood clots. Then he looked up at Emperor Yuanwu.
Time seemed to pass slowly at this time. Everyone was waiting for Emperor Yuanwu’s decision. But Emperor Yuanwu was silent for a long time. People felt they were suffocating.
“When Wang Jingmeng had just entered Changling, he had been fighting with some gangsters, and this Lonely One coincidentally met him……”
When he started to speak, many people were shocked.
Before this, even whenever Emperor Yuanwu mentioned Wang Jingmeng, he would just use “that person” to refer to him. But this time, he mentioned Wang Jingmeng’s name.
“So I know better than anyone everything about him, his talent, his cultivation tactics, and his comprehension of sword essences.”
Emperor Yuanwu looked deeply at Ding Ning’s face. His tone was calm but his expression grew strange. “His talent was very good, and could be called the best in the world. But everyone in the world felt that he was invincible because of his innate talent. But that is absurd. Because I know, other than talent, he was very hard working on his cultivation.”
“Something like a dual, when you are far stronger than your opponent, if this occurs once every few days, it is like a rest. You can relax and at the same time, enjoy countless clear and admiring gazes, as well as fame to establish yourself in Changling. But if you fight frequently, it is a tiring thing, especially when you are confident of the victory.”
Emperor Yuanwu was silent for a moment and then said, “When you are not confident, you have to study the other’s cultivation tactics and their weak points, and also spend a lot of energy on predicting how to win. He used this method to force himself. Sometimes, he would not rest for many days because of studying a sword move. Sometimes, to study a normal sword move, he would repeat it countless times each day, regardless of how dull it was.”
“It is because this Lonely One knows his cultivation path, and how he grew, so this Lonely One is certain that even if people can surpass his talent, they cannot surpass his efforts manifold over. So no one can be many times faster than him in terms of comprehension of the sword path.”
Emperor Yuanwu took a deep breath. He looked at Ding Ning who had been listening quietly and said, “Even if you started to cultivate from birth, at such an age, you have finished the path he took a life to walk. Your skill in the sword path surpasses him when he died in battle, how could you be so manifold? Methods and sword manuals can be passed down, but the skill in the sword path and comprehension, that kind of sword sense that is created through practicing countless times cannot be passed down.”
“So you should not be his heir, you should be him reborn.”
When Emperor Yuanwu’s words sounded, uncontrolled gasps rose in a wave. That endless shock and great disbelief caused many people to freeze as stiff as Fu Su was right now. If someone was going to attack with a sword right now, many among them may be assassinated by someone of far lower cultivation because they were so dazed. Such words were too stunning.
Ding Ning frowned deeply. He looked directly at Emperor Yuanwu in the eyes and said with slight scorn, “Is there something like rebirth in the world?”
Emperor Yuanwu said coldly, “Then maybe it is living by another method.”
Before Ding Ning spoke again, his gaze landed on Zhangsun Qianxue and the Donghu monk. Then he said, “Their emotions cannot be disguised. This Lonely One has said such things…… then it means that this Lonely One’s words are not incorrect. To this Lonely One, regardless of the method of rebirth, even if it is because of the Nine Death Silkworm, you have inherited his memory, his cultivation experience, and even his comprehension of the sword, then you are him reborn. The method may be different, but the result is the same.”
Countless people stopped breathing. Other than the sound of the wind and the snow, the sound of the heart beats were so clear. Many people could not help but think, if such a speculation spread, if such information spread, what a shock would this cause in the world?
Ding Ning did not admit nor refute. He looked at Yuanwu and sneered.
“Why are you saying so much?” He sneered and then said, “You have said so much, and made such a speculation, you are not speaking to me, you are speaking for Zheng Xiu to hear. You just need to create a reason that you must kill me now. Only such a reason, even if Fu Su was to be sacrificed, she will be able to accept it.”
“So, what you need right now is a reason to sacrifice Fu Su,” Ding Ning said slowly, emphasizing each word.
**
An enormous sound rang out in the sky. It was like thunder breaking the sky.
Emperor Yuanwu narrowed his eyes, and his lips pressed together slightly.
“Even now, when you have become who the people call the best emperor in the history of the Qin, you still have to rely on her power, still have to endure her, still fear that you will anger her into splitting with you.” Ding Ning was even calmer. He looked at the other man and asked, “Then have you ever thought, if I am like you say, him reborn, and I have advanced even further, then what do you feel right now, facing me? Yuanwu, you are so good at enduring.”
Emperor Yuanwu’s lips curved up slightly, like he was proud, but his lips minutely trembled. He looked up, far into the distance, but did not make a sound.
But the roars in the sky grew louder. Everyone present knew that his decision could not be changed, and his killing intent was set.
Translator Ramblings: We are here! While us readers all “know” the truth, now everyone in the “story” can learn the truth.
Volume 4 25 - Respect the Elderly
Messages always took time to be delivered. In Changling, no one dared to stop the black messenger pigeons or black eagles flying out of the palace. But the writing of the secret notes, the transport, and the handling would all take more time.
For example, the empress had anticipated the change in the Great Floating Water Prison but was defeated at the hands of the Nine Death Silkworm because of the time difference. One of the reasons for her madness was because she tasted the betrayal from those closest to her.
It would take many days for events occurring in Changling to reach other dynasties.
When the powerful forces came from the turrets and harvested the lives of many Changling cultivators, and then sent groups of cultivators to the Wuzhi border, the imperial capital of the distant Yan Dynasty finally learned what had happened many days ago in Changling.
In a lecture hall of Celestial Seal Sect, Zhang Yi was sitting cross-legged on the last straw mat. He was used to the worst position. In any case, he could not understand most of the seal path truths that the Celestial Seal Sect teachers taught. If he could not keep up in one part, he could not keep up anywhere.
He was used to the contemptuous gazes of his fellow students. These gazes were not just because of his terrible progress but because he came from Qin.
After the Qin Dynasty started to destroy the Han, Zhao and Wei, the other dynasties in the world started to harbour great hostility towards Qin. Especially after the Deer Mountain Conference where the Qin Dynasty became the acknowledged enemy of all three dynasties.
For the young people of the Yan Dynasty, even if this person could not stay in Qin and had to come to Yan, he was still from the Qin and could become their enemy in the future.
Today, Zhang Yi felt that the gazes of his classmates towards him were different than usual. Even the teacher for this class was looking at him differently. He could not keep up, and turned anxious at his lack of understanding. He was even more confused about this class.
As a result, when this teacher asked him a question that was simple for his classmates at the end of class, Zhang Yi still could not answer.
Many people could not understand why Zhang Yi had been admitted to the sect. And this teacher was one such.
He looked at the ashamed Zhang Yi and shook his head. He asked another question and said, “You cannot even answer such a simple question. Then do you know what your junior sect brother Ding Ning did in Changling?”
Zhang Yi stilled. Then he stopped hanging his head in shame and looked up instinctively at the teacher, saying urgently, “My junior sect brother Ding Ning?”
“His cultivation is realm five already. He is the fastest cultivator in history to reach realm five.”
This Celestial Seal Sect teacher looked at Zhang Yi and said after a moment, “After he reached realm five, he challenged Palace Attendant Rong, one of the empress’ closest attendants, who is near the peak of realm six …… You must have met that palace attendant at the Min Mountain Sword Trials …… and he succeeded. In a fair duel, he killed that palace attendant.”
The other students in this classroom clearly knew of this matter already. They looked at Zhang Yi, their gazes filled with more emotions. Upon hearing such words, Zhang Yi shook all over, even his lips started to tremble.
“Teacher …… this ……” He was so overjoyed he could not even speak properly.
“The heavenly mandate is in Changling, the top cultivation geniuses recognized in the world all come from Changling. But as another talent from White Goat Cave, the difference is so great. One is so hard to rival, the other is ……” Unable to contain his anger, the teacher swung his sleeve and left the classroom.
The teacher managed to suppress his last nasty words, yet was there a difference if he did not speak?
No one comforted Zhang Yi. Most people looked at Zhang Yi with more dislike.
Zhang Yi seemed to feel no shame now, only joy and relief. It was someone else’s excellence, so what if that was his junior sect brother?
A beautiful young woman stood up, looked in disgust at Zhang Yi and prepared to leave the classroom.
This young woman was not the most exceptional among all students in the classroom, not the strongest in cultivation, and not the one with the best comprehension; but her status was the noblest. She was Murong Xiaoyi, and her youngest aunt was the present Yan empress.
Among the kith and kin in the empress’ clan, she was most loved by the empress. In a certain way, she was no different from the Yan Dynasty princesses. Also, the empress of Yan only had three imperial sons and no daughter of her own. Because of her status, she was usually the one to leave immediately after the teacher, while the others followed.
Her likes and dislikes would frequently affect the same emotions in other students of this group. When she started to walk and looked away from Zhang Yi, many other students also stood up and did not look at him.
But then a clear bell rang out through the mountain.
Murong Xiaoyi stilled. In her memories, she had almost never heard of such bell sounds.
Those students who had left the classroom with her were also surprised. Soon, they got an answer from the teacher. Someone had charged into the mountain.
Someone charging into a sect meant a public challenge. Yet this was Celestial Seal Sect, the strongest sect of the Yan Dynasty. Who had the daring …… who had the ability to challenge Celestial Seal Sect publicly.
Without needing to ask more questions, people naturally started gathering in the direction the challenge was coming from.
People from the Celestial Seal Sect streamed towards its entrance at the base of the mountain.
Zhang Yi was at the end of this group just like how he was in class. He was overjoyed and shocked that his “little sect brother” dared to do such a thing. He was ecstatic that his “little sect brother” managed to accomplish such a thing. He felt proud of “Little Sect Brother” but not many felt his melancholy.
This was the Yan. No one had seen with their eyes how Xue Wangxu had died before the Min Mountain Sword Trials so they could not understand his emotions.
As he unconsciously followed to see the spectacle, he was still unable to pull himself out of his joy and sorrow. He was still thinking about how when he returned to Changling he would go and burn incense at Xue Wangxu’s grave. As well as …… when he could see his little sect brother again.
A tide of gasps sounded at the gates and spread backwards.
Zhang Yi suddenly woke up. Not far ahead of him, even Murong Xiaoyi had exclaimed in disbelief.
No one had thought that the public challenger that many of Celestial Seal Sect’s teachers put such attention on was a youth about their age.
This youth was not tall, and had ordinary features. His face was a little sallow like his usual days were hard.
He wore ordinary blue cloth robes and black cloth shoes. He looked slightly restrained but was standing with determination at the gates of Celestial Seal Sect.
“Who is he?”
Murong Xiaoyi had extraordinary status, and naturally could not only befriend those who joined the sect at the same time.
When she asked, a young Celestial Seal Sect cultivator who appeared to be a teacher already was standing next to her and answered softly, “A cultivator from the Yellow Heaven Daoist Sect.”
“Yellow Heaven Daoist Sect?”
Murong Xiaoyi and her good friends around her stilled when they heard the response. In their memory, this Yellow Heaven Daoist Sect was an unknown little sect.
“Senior Sect Brother Feng Yu has already been seriously injured by one blow from him.”
This young Celestial Seal Sect cultivator struggled to swallow and then said, “Yellow Heaven Doiast Sect and our Celestial Seal Sect have some grievances.”
Volume 2 25 - MonarChapter Seeking Immortality
This chapter has been brought to you by me, and larkspur.
The stump of Forefather Zhou’s arm was performing a sword move. He pushed the last thread of his vital energy through the broken meridians and broken bone. The stump cut through the surrounding air and created vortexes.
His power was less than a tenth of his usual, but it still far surpassed realm three.
The blind dragon sensed Forefather Zhou’s attack presence. It could sense the real and warm sunlight falling down through the shattered blue cage, and hesitated.
In a situation like this, it felt that if it helped Ding Ning block Forefather Zhou’s attack, it would receive serious injury.
The cage was broken. If it was seriously injured, it might not be able to leave this place.
But just as it hesitated, Ding Ning stepped out with a bang and came in front of it.
His calm eyes suddenly shone, the fine sound of silkworms coming out of his body. Countless threads of living presence appeared in his flesh at unimaginable speed, gathering between his meridians and charging into each part of his body. His flesh, bones, bone marrow, and even his hair started to tremble inexplicably and gave off an odd and strange presence.
The blind dragon sensed Ding Ning shielding it. Immediately, it felt ashamed. In the next moment, when it sensed Ding Ning’s presence, it felt great reverence.
Forefather Zhou heard the fine sounds coming out of Ding Ning’s body. His crippled body suddenly shook. He thought of a certain possibility and he gave a strange inhale.
But the sword move could not be changed at this moment. The stump of his arm was less than ten feet from Ding Ning.
Ding Ning’s features suddenly showed unimaginable majesty.
His left hand moved according to the sword art as he first swung forward, creating several vital energy waves in the limited space. At the same time, the Last Flower remnant sword in his right hand stabbed forward. The sword energy coming from the sword passed through the vital energy waves from his left hand. The waves of sword energy started to spin and rapidly absorb the surrounding primal energies of the universe.
Clean white lotuses formed in the inches of space in front of Ding Ning.
This was an unimaginable scene. The white lotuses gave off a holy presence, a gentle light that was perfect and aloof.
Compared to those lotuses, Forefather Zhou who was crippled and had used the stump of his arm as a sword was like a demon out of hell.
Looking at these lotuses, the demonic Forefather Zhou seemed to seeing a ghost.
The lotuses in front of Ding Ning scattered.
He shouted, his left hand gripping his sword hit. He trembled like a string under great tension but he did not take a step back.
The sound of little silkworms feeding in his body grew stronger. Dots of pale white light came out of his skin. Those invisible little silkworms seemed to become tangible and burrowed out of his body.
At this sight before him, Forefather Zhou’s astonishment turned into absolute terror.
Ding Ning gave a muffled groan, blood once again seeped through his teeth. Yet, he did not delay in swinging the vibrating Last Flower remnant sword.
The strong blade appeared extremely soft at this moment, the sword light wrapped around Forefather Zhou’s stump like bolts of cloth.
Forefather Zhou had expended his energy through the arm stump to fight Ding Ning’s sword light. But this seemingly sword light was like an unusual millstone that ground the powerful energy away.
"Stone-grinding ……"
Forefather Zhou screamed. His great terror caused him to lose control over the powers in his body which shuddered and collapsed to the ground.
Ding Ning’s hands trembled as they gripped his hilt, but he knew he could not show any weakness at this time.
He took a deep breath as he showed even more murderousness in his features.
The sword in his hand left Forefather Zhou’s stump. He stared at Forefather Zhou’s face just inches away, and used all his power to stab towards Forefather Zhou’s neck.
While the flesh bodhi was a legendary item and it surpassed his understanding that Forefather Zhou had not yet died in a state like this, but a person’s range of motion could not exceed their body. If he cut through the other’s spine, and chopped the head off, he did not believe Forefather Zhou could continue to survive.
The cold blade cut into Forefather Zhou’s spine with a piercing crunch. However, as Ding Ning twisted his wrists, he was unable to completely cut through Forefather Zhou’s spine. The blade was slightly stuck.
"Your bones are really hard."
Ding Ning sneered. He pushed again, and started to saw at Forefather Zhou’s spine with his sword.
Forefather Zhou’s body convulsed violently. He wanted to grab the blade stabbing into his neck, but he had no hands at this point. On the ground, his body could only wreath in pain, like a worm nailed down.
"Nine Death Silkworm ……"
After a long moment, Forefather Zhou gave up struggling. He looked perplexedly at Ding Ning’s face and forced out the three words.
Ding Ning could sense that his power was truly dissipating now. He coughed softly, relaxing slightly but still continued to saw away at the spine without responding.
"You are his heir?"
Forefather Zhou muttered to himself with grief: "He left an heir?"
Ding Ning remained silent.
Forefather Zhou’s spine was finally cut through. Ding Ning’s Last Flower sword cut coldly through the remaining flesh in his neck.
"You ……"
Looking at Ding Ning’s cold eyes, the moment his head was cut off, Forefather Zhou thought of the authoritative presence Ding Ning had just emanated, and the multiple sword essences he possessed.
He suddenly found something amiss.
"Even if you are his heir, you will not know Zheng Xiu’s White Lotus Cleanse …… you ……"
Great shock surged his body and ths shock even surpassed his looming death.
"You are correct," Ding Ning said, and put his sword away.
Forefather Zhou’s voice cut off. His head rolled down the uneven ground.
Forefather Zhou, who should have died before Emperor Yuanwu’s ascension, had finally died.
Ding Ning coughed softly and spat out blood clots. He fell to the ground, and did not feel much joy as he looked at Forefather Zhou’s corpse.
Even this enemy …… this person’s death meant that another person from that time was gone.
"You go."
Ding Ning tiredly turned to look at the blind dragon. He pointed at Forefather Zhou’s corpse and then started to signal with his hand. "The formation here is destroyed, you can leave. But before you go, take care of his body for me."
"Also, there are some people outside the mountain valley you cannot defeat. But your senses should be stronger than them, so if you are careful, you should be able to escape."
"There will be many powerful cultivators coming to the Wu Mountains soon. Try your best to hide. Otherwise, I do not know what will happen."
The slightly shrinking blind dragon slowly understood his meaning.
It remained motionless for a long time, and then its tentacles started to move.
A powerful presence exploded Forefather Zhou’s body and then sank it into the earth below. Its body also started to sink. The earth turned and it completely disappeared from Ding Ning’s sight.
With a boom, a distant wall of the blue structure collapsed. A wave of dust slowly drifted over.
The surrounding was engulfed by utter silence.
There was only the unconscious Fu Su and the half-withered flesh bodhi left on the ground.
Ding Ning adjusted his breathing, ignoring his exhaustion and rose to sit down next to the flesh bodhi.
His finger lightly touched this flesh bodhi. Countless invisible little silkworms came out of his palm and attempted to consume some energy.
He frowned deeply.
The nature of the energy was very strange. Even his Nine Death Silkworm could not dissolve it. If he really refined these energies, and they entered his body, his entire body would not be able to avoid changing like Forefather Zhou had.
If he successfully became a spirit body similar to a living tree, it would cut off countless possibilities for his future cultivation. This flesh bodhi was of no use to him.
But after a moment of thought, he still reached out and gripped this flesh bodhi.
The terrifying sound of thousands of silkworms feeding once again sounded.
The flesh bodhi quickly withered in his palm into grey dust.
None of the flesh bodhi energy the little silkworms had consumed entered his body; as the little silkworms hid away, it too disappeared.
The king of Chu was still waiting patiently.
Suddenly, his brow furrowed slightly.
Gusts of wild wind blew the mist in front of him outwards.
Like a balloon that was leaking, the primal energies of the universe that maintained the formation completely disappeared.
The formation disappeared, and the mists opened up.
Translator Ramblings: Ding dong, the witch is dead!
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