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Chapter Thirty-Seven: Eye of the Formation
writer:无罪      update:2022-07-21 15:26
  The deep eyes of the Donghu monk shone with a wise light. The power from the staff in his hand slowly receded. The words returned to calm again. Some of the snow-like dust fell back to the ground. But the thousand mountains formed from the swords were still standing.

  These thousand mountains were like lights and shadows in dreams, like a mirage, but they oddly gave off a bloody scent. This smell came from those sword servants, and their master.

  When one person, already near the top, used their entire life to get revenge for one thing, this person’s resolve surpassed their cultivation. From where the swords had departed, the sword servants who may have been able to become grandmasters but used their life energy and all their time to nurture these famed swords had all died.

  Their master, Ye Xiao’s skin was blooming outwards like a cracked turtle skin, almost all his blood having bled out of him. The light and heat in his eyes were dimming, and he was not far from death.

  This sword formation did not just surpass his limits, this was even power of a different level. When the formation took form, it had nothing to do with him. If this sword formation was compared to a soaring tree, then he was the blood and flesh that nourished this giant tree as it grew up.

  Right now, he should have used up his energy, and died like the sword servants, but just using his stunning resolve, he was still living, still looking at the sword formation. He must live, he must ensure that people could enter the sword formation, and then he must ensure he would see the heir of the Nine Death Silkworm die.

  To him, even if that young man was not Wang Jingmeng reborn, he was still Ba Mountain Sword Field’s most important pillar now. If the young man was killed, Ba Mountain Sword Field would die.

  **

  The Donghu monk looked silently at the nearest mountains of dust, and then he extended his staff. A ray of light shot out and penetrated into the dust mountains.

  These dust mountains wavered, but the terrifying power contained in his ray of light followed an unknown passageway, and was dissipated in unknown parts of the world.

  “I cannot defeat this sword formation.”


  The Donghu monk turned to look at Ding Ning, and said seriously, “While we can walk among these dust mountains, these mountains are blocking my senses of the outside. It even blocks realm eight energy from entering. What we see now is all based on the rules of the sword formation. We will be lost in here.”


  Ding Ning nodded. He glanced at the unconscious Fu Su to make sure his wounds had not exacerbated. At the same time, he said, “This should be a sword formation able to trap a realm eight.”


  “Can we get out or in?” Zhangsun Qianxue looked at Ding Ning and asked.

  In her perception, these thousand dust mountains were not just mountains, but unknown and changing words.

  “If it cannot be entered or exited, then there is no meaning in Ye Xiao paying such a price.”


  Ding Ning could not see Ye Xiao’s present situation, but he could imagine what kind of price the other paid. He frowned deeply and said, “This sword formation is likely a well. We are like frogs at the bottom of the well. We know that the outside world is there, but we cannot get out, and we cannot use that piece of the sky to judge direction.”


  This metaphor was not very good because Zhangsun Qianxue knew that even the frogs at the bottom of the well could use the brightness of the light to judge where the sun rose and fell, but she understood Ding Ning.

  “Will you be able to break this sword formation?” She took a deep breath and looked at Ding Ning.

  “To trap a realm eight, a realm eight power is needed. Formations are a way to increase the power of a cultivator to start with. Ye Xiao is not in realm eight, but using these swords to form a formation, he formed power to trap a realm eight.” Ding Ning shook his head. “While I am infinitely close to realm eight, and I have even felt some of the profoundness, I have not actually reached realm eight. So it is almost impossible for me to defeat this formation.”


  “So we can only wait for people to come and jump into the well? He made such a formation, so the power of this formation will not quickly fade.”


  Zhangsun Qianxue put down the Nine Hell King Sword in her hand, and let the pure and transparent sword thrust into the ground in front of her.

  At this time, the dust mountains seemed to be frozen, and there was no storm in the world. But she knew, there would soon be a storm of blood.

  “Sword essence and lifebond energy are the purest things in the world. Ye Xiao borrowed these thousand swords, one to use the power of the swords themselves, and the other to borrow the almost eternal sword essence and lifebond energy the masters of the swords left behind to maintain this formation.”


  Ding Ning picked a place to sit down and then said, “But we are not the only ones with a problem. The people outside who want to deal with us will be troubled by what method they will use to deal with a realm eight.”


  He glanced at the Donghu monk and was slightly emotional. “You reaching realm eight at this time is unexpected to these people. But they must face this.”


  The Donghu monk respectfully sat down next to him, and asked for guidance in the tone of a student, “In the past, I just thought you did not see the secrets of realm eight, but today, from your words, I know this is not so. I do not understand, why did you stay at the peak of realm seven and not enter realm eight?”


  “This is a choice.”


  Ding Ning looked at him and said, “Pure suppression of power will make cultivators lose their strength of having the weak defeat the strong or to fight enemies of the same strength. This will make many battles too simple, and have people make simple habits, no longer feeling the subtleties of these sword essences. Cultivation is using your sharpness to sense the minute. If you lose such sharpness, everything will become casual, you will slack off, and this will affect your later cultivation.”


  “Other than this, there was no one in front of me. No teacher told me how to walk from realm seven to realm eight.” After a pause, Ding Ning said with self-deprecating scorn, “I always thought, if you are the strongest in the world in realm seven, and no one is no longer a match for you, then there is no hurry to enter realm eight, and to proceed more cautiously. No one would feel that they had not made any mistakes in their previous cultivation. If one is more cautious at key stages, if they can be better, they would be stronger. If cultivation is said to be like building a wall, then my thoughts at the time was I wanted to have a better and stronger foundation. To do my best to make up for any shortcomings in my previous cultivation journey.”


  The Donghu monk suddenly understood, and outside of Ding Ning’s words, he got even more meaning. He said, very convinced, “Because back then, you thought your opponent was always yourself, you thought that everything before realm seven was the foundation, and realm eight is the start. You wanted to challenge for the legendary existence, but almost no one has reached, realm nine.”


  Ding Ning slowly nodded. He was silent for many breaths and said, “Just like you said before, it was fine if I did not know. But if I know that there is usually beautiful scenery ahead, I will have regrets if I cannot see.”


  The Donghu monk was silent for a moment. He suddenly thought of something, and an admiring light appeared in his eyes. “You say that a cultivator would make some mistakes in their cultivation, for example, choosing the wrong cultivation method during realm two or three, leaving behind hidden weaknesses, or being able to change in the future. But if a cultivator had enough time to restart cultivation, then he will naturally know where he made his mistakes, he will not make them again, and correct them. Using the Nine Death Silkworm, you possess such a chance.”


  Ding Ning did not refute this, and looked up at the black sky, saying, “If there is enough time, I should have a chance to touch the legendary realm nine.”


  Translator Ramblings: I think it’s the first time in this story the frog in the well metaphor has been used.

  Volume 4 37 - The Young Woman Learning To Get Revenge

  “Not long ago, about the time you arrived at Yin Mountain, I heard about your Treasure Light Temple.” Li Xixing was silent for a moment and looked at the round-faced young woman. “This means you are the female disciple of Treasure Light Temple, Hu Jingjing.”


  The round-faced young woman nodded and said, “I am Hu Jingjing.”


  Li Xixing turned around to look at Hu Jingjing and said, “You are the same as all Treasure Light Temple cultivators. You were forced here. You do not hate? You should know, even if you have special sect tactics, us going to lure away the cavalry is actually not very different than going to our deaths.”


  “What is the difference?” Hu Jingjing looked at him and frowned slightly. “I too have heard about you. You were also forced to come here.”


  Li Xixing shook his head. “Not the same. I have spent many years outside the forts and am used to everything here. But you came not long ago, and also, I was not forced here by the army.”


  Hu Jingjing shook her head as well. “There is no difference, especially when you see many people fight and die in front of you every day …… They are following military orders for the Great Qin. If I hate, that is the future. Now, I am one of them.”


  Li Xixing glanced at her. He did not have time to speak before Hu Jingjing turned to look towards where the wounded were. She said slowly in a low voice, “You should also know that cultivators like us are existences which the enemy will pay attention to immediately in battle. Many of the people lying there are wounded because of me.”


  “If this is not possible, if there is a time when the two of us cannot escape but I can, I will flee.” He told her after a long silence. “If you are certain you want to try luring away the cavalry.”


  Li Xixing said three “ifs” which caused his words to sound awkward. But Hu Jingjing quickly understood his meaning. She bowed seriously to Li Xixing. “Thank you!”


  The reason for her thanks was because Li Xixing originally did not have to do such a dangerous thing. And now, he had to fight for his life with her.

  “Follow me.” Li Xixing coldly turned around. To him, this was his own choice.

  Hu Jingjing silently followed behind Li Xixing. The two walked quickly and disappeared from the sights of the soldiers in the meadow.

  Looking in the direction the round-faced young woman, who had not been with them for long but left a deep impression on them, all the soldiers solemnly bowed, led by the three commanders.

  The grasslands beyond Yin Mountain were desolate to begin with, especially when this was not close to any habited areas.

  Hu Jingjing followed behind Li Xixing. The more they walked, the quieter it became. She gradually felt she was forgotten by the world and consumed by the desolate grass. She looked at this figure who was much larger than her but was only a young man. Her eyes were filled with curiosity. She could not imagine how such a person adjusted to walking alone in this wasteland.

  “If I cannot go, and you can, go alone. The rulers of this area are not the Qin or Wuzhi, but the wolf packs. They can follow the scent of blood …… the Wuzhi cavalry will follow the tracks of these wolf packs. Lone cultivators, especially those who are wounded and cannot fight for long, have only one chance for survival when encountering a large wolf pack. They need to find a large source of water.” The young person suddenly spoke.

  She stilled slightly and said, “Why?”


  “Because the large water sources in the steppes is also the drinking place for other fierce beasts. The wolf packs will be very cautious when active there, and they will only go at special times. It is not that the wolf pack cannot face lone beasts, but the natural order of the world. For example, an enormous army can always kill a lone cultivator, but the army will forever have awe towards cultivators. To us cultivators, those lone beasts are much easier to deal with than the wolf packs.”


  Hu Jingjing nodded. Li Xixing explained in detail and she could not help but understand.

  “I say all this to you to warn you this is very dangerous. This is more dangerous than anything you have not done before. Both you and I may face a difficult escape.” Li Xixing’s cold voice continued. “Since you said to me at the start that you are the direct disciple of Treasure Light Temple, then you must have comprehended the sword essence of the Treasure Light Transient Sword.”


  Hu Jingjing said simply, “Yes.”


  Li Xixing suddenly stopped and turned to Hu Jingjing. “With your cultivation, I fear you can only use Treasure Light Transient Sword once.”


  Hu Jingjing frowned slightly and said, “Correct.”


  “You feel there is hope, you feel you may be able to use such a sword essence to help me kill the commander of the cavalry with one blow, and cause chaos in the cavalry. This way, the cavalry may be delayed.” Li Xixing looked at Hu Jingjing. “Do you not think so?”


  Hu Jingjing frowned deeper. “I do think so.”


  “You do not understand the Wuzhi military.” Li Xixing said gravely, “Wuzhi has many times less the population than the Qin. Gathering three hundred thousand in their army is unprecedented in history. A three thousand person army, if corresponding to our Qin Dynasty’s standards, will be equal to our army of twenty to thirty thousand. The status of the commander in such an army is about the same as a Qin commander leading twenty to thirty thousand men. This kind of commander definitely will not be a cultivator weaker than us, and they will definitely have other cultivators as protection. So such a blow is almost impossible to assassinate the enemy commander.”


  Hu Jingjing paled further. She thought for a breath and looked at Li Xixing. “My idea is impossible. But since you accepted my suggestion, are there other methods?”


  Li Xixing said in a cool voice, “You cannot just use one blow, you need at least three, and each one has to be of different cultivation.”


  Hu Jingjing unconsciously gritted her teeth. Then she slowly relaxed and said, “To make the enemy feel there are at least three Treasure Light Temple cultivators present?”


  Li Xixing glanced at her and nodded. “These barbarians cannot understand the Treasure Light Temple so clearly, but they can at least distinguish what kind of sword essence it is. One or two cultivators cannot delay them in their steps, but if there are more than three cultivators, they will make a different choice.”


  Hu Jingjing naturally knew what kind of price the three blows would cost. She took a deep breath and said, “I will do my best.”


  Li Xixing narrowed his eyes slightly and said, “You do not do you best, you have to do it.”


  Unfazed, Hu Jingjing corrected. “I will definitely do it.”


  Li Xixing looked away from her towards another direction. He sensed the meaning in the wind and said, “This kind of cavalry will usually have three scout teams, about three to four hundred people. We have to quickly kill these people in order to get close to the main army. You cannot waste vital energy. So when I deal with these barbarians, you cannot use vital energy at all.”


  Hu Jingjing nodded without hesitation. “I will be your close attendant.”


  Li Xixing still did not look at her and kept looking in the direction. “The calvary is coming faster than I imagined. Do not be close to me. It is best if you stay on the perimeter and do not kill people. Do not kill all the barbarians, let some of them flee back, so they will feel there are many cultivators on this path waiting for them.”


  Hearing these words, Hu Jingjing grew quieter, and felt more respect towards this youth from the Li Marquessate Establishment.

  Some valleys in Yin Mountain were always windy. The wind did not sound strong, but the coldness seemed to stab into people’s bodies, especially when the newest military intelligence reached here. People’s hearts grew cold.

  “What to do?”


  Guo Feng looked at the newest military emergency file he had read repeatedly. Even though he had experienced many battles, his hands trembled uncontrollably. This would decide the lives of tens of thousands. At the same time, it would decide the lives of his three thousand subordinates.

  After Yin Mountain was Guyu Pass. That was a pass for the Qin Dynasty, an important way in and out of the passes and also a grainary for the military.

  At this time, there was a division of Wuzhi cavalry hurriedly making a detour and travelling towards the pass. This pass was also where multiple remnant divisions of Qin armies were resting and waiting for reinforcements! If this retreat was cut off, then tens of thousands of Qin soldiers would likely die in the wasteland.

  That Wuzhi cavalry was described as at least ten thousand people, and Guyu Pass had less than two thousand guards. The army closest to Guyu Pass and may get there in time was their Imperial Guard Army!

  The delivery of messages outside the passes were not as fast as in Changling, and they were suffering defeats so it was even harder to issue effective military orders. So the Qin military could only do their best to deliver military intelligence.

  All urgent military missives required the commanders who received the news to judge and handle for themselves.

  Now, Guo Feng had two choices. They could send three thousand people to die together, or reach the Donghu border as their orders said. Because he could not make a choice, he wanted to listen to Ding Ning’s opinion at this time.

  “We must try.”


  Ding Ning did not think for long before answering Guo Feng.

  Nangong Caishu remained silent but her sword started to tremble. She had not expected such a change.

  Everything was different from what she had expected.

  Translator Ramblings: The general understanding I have is that the nomad tribes had the steppes which were a great resource but lacked other essentials such as productive farmland, gold, finery such as silk and other resources. Their invasions towards the south were consequently motivated by the need to support themselves.

  Volume 2 37 - Flying Sword in Fish Market

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

  The emperor of Yan’s actions could only stop Li Caitian’s body from breaking apart here, but not Li Caitian’s death.

  The two beautiful palace attendants that had previously served Li Caitian had guessed long ago when the respected Teacher Xie of the Yan Dynasty would have bathed so gravely. But when they saw Li Caitian being delivered into the tent as his body slowly cooled, they could not contain their tears and sorrow.

  Li Caitian’s vitality had left, and his tightly closed eyes seemed like they would never open again. But a layer of strange light flashed across his face, his eyelashes trembled, his eyes opened.

  This was the flickering before death. The two grieving palace attendants immediately stopped sobbing. They were not frightened. They knelt on the ground, afraid they would miss Li Caitian’s last words.

  But unexpectedly, Li Caitian showed them a sincere and apologetic smile. He said softly, "I have some matters. I need to be alone for a few moments of quiet."

  The two beautiful palance attendants knelt and bowed before moving out of the tent. After less than ten paces, they started to sob even harder.

  In their minds, Li Caitian did not want them to see his painful state before death.

  In the silent tent, Li Caitian’s breathing was almost untraceable, but the blackness in his eyes grew stronger.

  A faint black ball of energy poured out of him into the shape of a curled-up infant.

  "I want to know why."

  The curled energy in the form of a baby was naturally not alive, and even its features were just shadow without any change in expression. However, a low voice sounded in the air. This voice was cold and mostly emotionless. It looked exactly the same as the beautiful man in black robes next to the emperor of Qi.

  "Only the Mountain

  Sect has such high skills. It appears you are that grandmaster of the Mountain

  Sect, Yan Ying."

  Li Caitian wore a small smile and said, "But why should I tell you?"

  The curled-up black energy infant did not change. The man in black robes’ voice sounded softly. "Because I know that victory is not here. Because whether you tell me or not may influence my decision."

  Li Caitian’s smile slowly faded.

  He still did not answer the man in black robes’ question, and continued to ask, "What decision will you make?"

  The man in black robes did not answer his question and said, "I dislike Yuanwu."

  Li Caitian laughed.

  If human emotions were divided into two kinds, one would naturally be like, and the other dislike.

  For people like him and the man in black robes, this kind of answer was enough.

  "The Ba Mountain Sword Field still has people." Looking at the curled-up black energy infant, he stated simply.

  The curled-up black energy infant stilled for a moment, as though sinking into thought.

  There was no sound as the curled-up black energy infant disappeared without a trace.

  The light in Li Caitian’s eyes quickly disappeared. Death was truly coming for him. But he felt no terror. He softly murmured to himself.

  "If you are not killed this time, Emperor Yuanwu, then you will not truly be undying."

  Li Caitian represented the emperor of Yan. His challenge ended in death. This meant that the punch the emperor of Yan had thrown had been easily blocked. Looking at the silent emperor of Yan, everyone present waited for the emperor of Chu or Qi to speak up.

  The emperor of Chu was deep in thought.

  At this time, the beautiful man in black robes by the side of the emperor of Qi looked up at him.

  The emperor of Chu stilled slightly.

  The expression of the man in black robes did not change, and his gaze did not show any clear emotions.

  But the emperor of Chu felt something.

  His gaze moved away to Emperor Yuanwu.

  With this look, everyone knew that he was about to speak.

  As he looked at Emperor Yuanwu, the emperor of Chu slowly spoke, "When the son of heaven is angry, millions spill blood. So when the son of heaven is easily angered, it will be easy to arouse the censure of the heavens."

  "My dynasty’s craftsmen created a seal weapon last year named Heavenly Censure. I think that everyone present here knows of it."

  As he spoke, a strange sound suddenly came from the Chu campsite on Deer Mountain that seemed to respond to him.

  Emperor Yuanwu’s expression did not change as he waited quietly.

  The sound drew closer and clearer. Within the perception of all the cultivators on Deer Mountain, some enormous insect seemed to be vibrating their wings.

  Some of the people in the highest positions in the various dynasties looked on with nervous eyes.

  The "Heavenly Censure" was a certain kind of seal weapon of the Chu Dynasty military. Supposedly, its power surpassed all the other manufactured seal weapons of the Chu Dynasty at present. The news that had made it through some secret channels had caused people to suspect that "Heavenly Censure" was very different from the normal kind of seal weapons. So, when the emperor of Chu spoke and immediately mentioned this item, people felt that this item was even more important.

  The strange hum passed through the clouds and rain, coming closer to the peak of Deer Mountain.

  At this time, on a peak outside of Deer Mountain, though Ding Ning could not hear this sound he still sensed an abnormality.

  He felt that the sunlight in the sky seemed to dim. The sun rays reaching the earth seemed to be attracted by something.

  He took a deep breath and knew that something novel was appearing.

  Gasps sounded on the peak of Deer Mountain.

  Many a gaze was completely frozen. Reflections of metal penetrated through the clouds, levelling with the mountain peak before rising even higher.

  These were multiple sheets dozens of feet long and slightly curved like flower petals. While they gave off metallic light, they were so thin they were almost transparent.

  Under the rays of the sun, golden lines lit up on these slowly rising pieces.

  These golden lines were naturally seal scripts. But these golden lines were so complicated, they were almost incomprehensible, layering together like countless transparent golden cicada wings.

  The sunlight was dim, but the temperature on top of Deer Mountain seemed to rise.

  Many could clearly feel that threads of sun truefire being absorbed into those thin pieces and continue to gather in the seal scripts.

  The thin metal pieces were still rising upwards.

  Many cultivators, especially cultivators from the military. The shock in their eyes slowly turned into stupefaction.

  The gold color filled the seals on the thin metal pieces and started to fall.

  Sun truefire rained down harder than rain.

  The threads of fire twisted together to become arrows of golden flame.

  Even more gasps rose.

  These metal pieces formed a formation.

  The golden flames that were produced by this formation were much stronger than ordinary arrows. Even more importantly …… was the matter of distance and duration!

  The thin metal pieces were still rising.

  The enormous thin metal pieces had become shadows like eagles in the sky. At such a height, almost all ordinary seal weapons, and the majority of flying swords could not touch it.

  It would have been fine if the formation disappeared after dropping a round of truefire. But most people could see by now, that as long as the sun was bright, the sun truefire gathered by these enormous thin metal pieces would never stop.

  Ear-piercing sounds rang out on a cliff-face of Deer Mountain.

  There was a clearing there.

  As the golden flames fell, the rocks were immediately covered with scorched holes. Everyb could smell burning.

  The blooms of golden light continued to fall like flowers.

  The emperor of Qi paled slightly.

  These golden flames falling into the clearing by the cliff, and not any other part of the peak showed that the Chu Dynasty hadn’t just manufactured a seal weapon like this, they were able to accurately control such a seal weapon!

  This was not a normal seal weapon, but a standardized one!

  Only seal weapons that were not made from rare materials and could be reproduced could be outfitted for the army in large numbers could be called standardized weapons.

  If these thin metal pieces floating like stringless kites were increased tenfold, then what would it be like?

  The falling truefire might be enough to cover all of Deer Mountain.

  For an army, a dynasty, the meaning of such standard weapons far surpassed one or two cultivators like Li Caitian.

  The biggest target of the Deer Mountain Conference was Emperor Yuanwu. The emperor of Qi should be basking in schadenfreude at this moment.

  But this kind of standard seal weapon was so stunning, that he could not even muster that emotion……

  Ding Ning’s gaze moved away from the sky to Mo Shoucheng and Pan Ruoye next to him.

  The emperor of Chu’s decades of waiting had failed. He had not obtained the flesh bodhi from that hidden place on Goddess Peak, but it was not for nothing. These things clearly came from the study and changes of that formation. The Chu Dynasty was indisputably the best at making weapons.

  But Ding Ning could see that Mo Shoucheng and Pan Ruoye were not shocked.

  Even if they had known what kind of standardized "Heavenly Censure", they would be shocked if they saw the power in person.

  He felt slightly bitter inside.

  Translator Ramblings: Mass-produced weapons are important, especially when you are waging war on a large scale. Sure, some people can have super special magical swords, but not many can conquer a city on their own.

  Volume 5 37 - Military Assassination

  From Changling to the northwest, the grass grew yellower and drier. Many of the Imperial Guard soldiers looked at Ding Ning’s back with eyes full of puzzlement.

  Earlier, at the start of this march, most soldiers in the Imperial Guard had great respect for Ding Ning. The highest commander in the army, Guo Feng, even made Ding Ning a military counsellor.

  In the many armies of the Qin, many orders from a counsellor would become the order the entire army would follow. From the departure from Changling to now, all of the orders the army carried out came from Ding Ning’s mouth.

  But in the views of these soldiers, Ding Ning had not displayed anything astounding, and would make many incomprehensible moves.

  Just like now. They had passed the valley where an ambush could be most easily set up. Ahead was a large flat plain and in their sight, there were only scattered farming villages. Yet Ding Ning ordered them to stop, and for a long time now.

  But the highest commander of the army, Guo Feng, did not think much about this. He knew how many astounding matters Ding Ning had done in these seemingly peaceful days.

  “You are certain they will act here?” He looked at the flat plain ahead, and asked Ding Ning solemnly.

  “These are some cultivators from Flowing Sand Sect. Hiding in a place like this is the same as anywhere else. They are just wary of the seal weapons in the army.”


  Ding Ning turned to glance at him and nodded, saying, “Even more importantly, past this plain, we will reach the border city. They feel that there are no more opportunities after this. They are already having some conflict, so they will definitely act here.”


  Guo Feng could not understand how Ding Ning determined a conflict had arisen among the cultivators who Ding Ning had discovered a few days ago. But since his decisions had not been incorrect before, he still chose to believe him.

  “Why are we forced to face battle?” Standing next to Ding Ning, Nangong Caishu frowned deeply, looking grave as she asked solemnly.

  “Some enemies are not eternal.”


  Ding Ning turned to glance at her and slowly said, “Some enemies only come because of orders. If they cannot accomplish their orders or they are coincidentally missed, these people may not be your future enemies, and you may not encounter them in future battles. Some assassins will not act when they are detected. Avoid battles you can avoid. You can preserve your strength as best as possible. Our orders are to first reach the place we should go, and not destroy all enemies along the way as best we can.”


  After a pause, he glanced at Nangong Caishu and said, “Even more importantly, people will die in every battle …… especially when many cultivators are facing an army.”


  Nangong Caishu took a deep breath and unconsciously turned to look at the soldiers behind her. She understood Ding Ning’s efforts in the past days, and felt she had learned many things from his sparse words.

  “If purposefully leaving behind clues and warnings cannot frighten them to retreat and only cause some conflict, there are only two possibilities.”


  “One is they have received an order of death and cannot return, the other, they may only use this army as a test or to wear off some power with the true experts coming later.” Ding Ning said slowly and then looked seriously at Guo Feng. “Regardless of which possibility, I think I want to take complete control of this army now.”


  Guo Feng smiled and said coldly, “Since you know this concerns the lives of my brothers and still dare to make such a request, I give this army to you.”


  “I have stayed here so long and told them we have prepared. If they are still here, then we cannot avoid battle.”


  Ding Ning looked down slightly. He sensed a familiar feeling but he did not like this feeling.

  Multiple orders were issued. The army, waiting silently for a long time, started to move. Because the orders were very strange, it was slightly confusing for a while.

  But Ding Ning was not in a hurry. So he waited until the army quieted again before he indicated for an advance.

  Multiple messengers came next to him at Guo Feng’s order, and guaranteed his orders would be issued as soon as possible.

  There was still an hour until evening and the weather was cool. A breeze gently blew at the army, and it was extremely comfortable being bathed in the sunlight.

  There were only the last few border cities before Yin Mountain. There were no roads in the wilderness. The chariot wheels pressed over the grasses, the armor of the soldiers brushed with the grasses and gave off strange rustling sounds.

  Ding Ning was in the second chariot from the front. He kept on looking around with a frown. He seemed to be listening intently to the sounds in the wind. Suddenly, his hand rose up, and the flesh at the edges of his fingers appeared red in the sunlight.

  “Stop! Prepare!”


  The messengers and all the soldiers were all familiar with this hand motion. Yet to avoid people not reacting in time, multiple messengers shouted immediately.

  When everyone suddenly stopped walking, the moment the world quiet, some sounds clearly came from the grass and reached everyone’s ears.

  There were grasses spraying out due to sword energies. Above a yellow wave of energy, green and yellow pieces of grass flew upwards like a yellow and green scaled serpent was moving rapidly through the grass!

  “Flying sword!”


  All the soldiers who had not understood Ding Ning’s previous action reacted.

  Below the grass and even in the cracks of the soil, many pairs of eyes were watching this army. Suddenly seeing this sword light, flames of anger appeared in these eyes.

  The fury of these cultivators came from the fact their fellow had taken the lead. But they could not deny since they had already started, and the momentary inattention of this army when they were distracted by the flying sword was the best chance to attack.

  In this moment, below the grass, there was the fine sound of water flowing. Seeing that flying sword, many soldiers were unusually furious, but Ding Ning’s expression did not change.

  “Bows! Serene Fire! Moon Blade!” He shouted three names in a quick succession.

  At the same time, the numerous messengers around him made three hand gestures. In this instant, the air behind the army was torn apart by golden light and primal energies of the universe.

  Hundreds of metallic lights fell down like meteors.

  After the meteors were dozens of seemingly heavy crescent moons …… these crescent moons were more than ten feet long. They gave terrifying roars the moment they landed. They exploded along their seal lines and sprayed metal blades more than two feet long.

  Appearing last in the air were hundreds of flowing green fires.

  As the fires fell down, they caused the grass pieces in the air and the dried grass on the ground to combust.

  There was a sea of flames. The area behind the Imperial Guard fifty to a hundred paces away was a sea of fire.

  When the first group of arrows gave off screams as they were shot out of the ballistas. The grass below this army fifty paces away boiled, and furious shouts of shock sounded.

  Four cultivators charged out of the ground. Sword lights danced around them and managed to knock away the arrows. Yet in the next moment, the bodies of the four cultivators endured terrifying wounds coming from the spinning crescent moon blades. The green flowing fire continued to fall and passed through their bodies as they scattered and flew away.

  Seeing this scene, and the four cultivators whose bodies were torn apart by the fire, these soldiers were extremely shocked.

  “Why is it like this?” A cultivator at the front of the army shouted in incomprehension. He saw the flying sword flying wildly towards Ding Ning suddenly change direction and fall towards Ding Ning’s left.

  A clear ring sounded. A flying sword flashing with azure light flew upwards.

  This silent flying sword was forcibly flicked out of the grass by that previously wild flying sword.