Chapter Forty-Four: The Sword Is A Confidant
writer:
无罪 update:2022-07-21 15:26
“I am very disappointed.”
When Zheng Xiu put away the star fire and walked into her study, there was a young person standing by the pond and speaking to a person sitting on a chair under the eaves.
There was a gurgle. The carp in the pond spit out bubbles.
The carp in this pond were very fat, and their red, white and black colors were very vivid, and not messy at all. They were very rare specimens. There were many who were pure all over their bodies, except for a red patch on their forehead. The value of these carp surpassed the simple courtyard itself, and could not be obtained just with money.
The only thing in the world which surpassed money was power.
This young person had previously been called Li Xin but now, Fang Xin. Originally, this courtyard belonged to him. In the past, he gave people the feeling he was a spirited young cultivator, but now, he stood with his hands behind his back, and felt like he had a powerful presence. He looked at Fang Xiang on the chair, his expression angry and gaze aggressive.
Changling’s weather had warmed up already, and the carp which stayed at the bottom of the pond during the winter were playing at the surface and creating splashes. However, on the bamboo chair, Fang Xiang still feared the cold, and had a thick fur blanket over him.
“What are you disappointed about?”
Hearing Fang Xin’s question, Fang Xiang’s expression did not change much. He was just like usual, slightly indolent in his speech, like nothing had happened.
“Why pretend?”
Fang Xin sneered, and took out a letter from his sleeve. He said in a cool voice, “Since you have accepted the arrangements, and I have called you father, why did you secretly write a letter to your distant relatives, describing the matters of the marquessate establishment?”
Fang Xiang heard these words and wordlessly looked at the spirited and domineering young man.
“Is it not good for you to be here and enjoy the rest of your life in peace?”
Fang Xin looked at the silent Fang Xiang, and thought the other feared him. He said earnestly as he looked at the letter in his hand, “Food, drink, shelter, what are you dissatisfied with? You can have all the food you wish, and even beautiful servants, what are you not satisfied with?”
Fang Xiang looked at him, still silent.
“It is impossible to hide your little actions from me. So please do not do this.”
Fang Xin used a bit of force to crush the letter in his hand. The pieces fell into the pond next to him.
The carp were beautiful, but not smart. They thought this was food, and immediately swallowed the pieces.
“I think there is something that you have wrong.”
Fang Xin had turned to walk out of the courtyard, but at this time, Fang Xiang’s voice sounded.
Fang Xin’s heart suddenly shook. He abruptly turned around, and he said solemnly looking at the other, “What?”
“My father and I created this Fang Marquessate Establishment through fighting. I still have a younger brother. Even if I accept you as my son, it is not your turn to be in charge of this Fang Marquessate Establishment.” Fang Xiang laughed and said, “And if you really want to recognize me as your father, each time you see me, you have to kneel to greet me. Where in the world are there such domineering sons like you.”
“You want me to kneel to greet you?” Fang Xin’s eyes narrowed slightly and he laughed.
Fang Xiang looked at him, just looked and did not speak.
“Just because of you, a cripple?”
Fang Xin’s smile completely disappeared, and his expression turned cold. “Even if your father manages to survive the war this time, I fear that he will not be transferred back to Changling in his life, and the younger brother you speak of? Does he dare to return to Changling? If he appears, he will be killed before he enters the city. So please be more clear minded.”
After a pause, Fang Xin looked with scorn at Fang Xiang and said, “You can only rely on me. The Fang Marquessate Establishment still exists because the empress needs to give the marquises some face, and need the marquessate establishment to be maintained. If you attempt to do anything that makes people unhappy, maybe your good life will disappear at any time, and even your food will be worse than the servants.”
He was a member of the Li family, and close to Minister Li. At this time, he controlled the Fang Marquessate Establishment. His words and conduct gave off the air of an important person, and his threat seemed to turn this courtyard into winter.
“So there is something you still do not understand.”
Hearing this threat, Fang Xiang laughed like he was looking at a pitiful worm.
“You probably do not know why as the Deer Mountain Conference started, Yuanwu and Zheng Xiu deliberately targeted the Fang Family. In reality, the true reason is not that my younger brother left Changling before the Deer Mountain Conference, and angered Yuanwu. It is not because my cultivation is crippled, and I have lost all value.”
Fang Xiang looked at the dazed Fang Xin and said with slight scorn, “The true reason is because the Fang Marquessate Establishment is too strong. Because my younger brother was someone who even Wang Jingmeng thought highly of in the past, and thought that he was the cultivator with the most potential in Changling. Adding on me and my father, the Fang Marquessate Establishment was much stronger than the other marquessate establishments.”
Fang Xin unconsciously swallowed. He did not have time to think carefully about the deeper meaning here, but for some unknown reason, he started to feel cold inside.
“You are a member of the Li Family, and are born with Minister Li’s trust, but you are too young, and too stupid.”
Fang Xiang looked with sympathy at this young person and slowly said, “So you probably will not understand. Yuanwu was able to tolerate Ye Celeng, one because he needed to balance some of the powers of Changling, and two because she cultivated overseas. In reality, her progress was not fast, and she killed sea monsters in order to help the medicine seeking fleets so she also got many hidden wounds. Yuanwu and Zheng Xiu are different in many aspects, but they are similar in one. They are jealous of talent, jealous of cultivators who may pose a threat to them, and even surpass them.”
Fang Xin was more shocked the more he heard. He forced himself to be calm and said, “You have said so much, but what does it have to do with now?”
“Yuanwu had my younger brother go to his death before his breakthrough, had my cultivation crippled at Deer Mountain. The Fang Marquessate Establishment endured all this.” Fang Xiang said emotionally, “Even if you have used some of the power of the Fang Marquessate Establishment, even if you have postured in front of me, even if my brother had to go hide out in the sea, all this can be endured. But making my father go to the border to die is too much.”
“I sent that letter to my distant relative because my younger brother had gone there a few times when young, and may revisit. Even I do not know where my brother has gone to cultivate. I sent a letter there. Maybe he would have some information.”
After a pause, Fang Xiang looked at Fang Xin who was paling. He said, “There is actually a simpler way of letting him know about the Fang Marquessate Establishment. But in the past, I felt the price was too high, or rather, there was no need.”
Fang Xin could not understand the meaning in Fang Xiang’s words. He just felt cold, and started to feel terror.
“Some people can endure because I am still alive. This Fang Marquessate Establishment does not seem very different than before. But if I die, many people will not be able to endure. Also, no one will be able to conceal the news that I am dead. My brother will learn of this.”
“What are you saying!” Fang Xin screamed.
Fang Xiang smiled, a smile filled with scorn.
“You……” Fang Xin took a step back in disbelief.
“You probably want to ask why I feel that there is such a need now. Very simple, you even blocked the letters I sent out. Also, you probably have not had the time to know what happened over at the Yin Mountain battlefield.”
Fang Xiang took a deep breath. He looked at the carp in the pond, and inexplicably felt happy. “The only pity is, if you had been more respectful to me, even a bit, even on the surface, maybe I would have spared your life. But you always thought of me as I cripple. You did not know that I could kill you at any moment because your cultivation is really too weak.”
As he spoke, Fang Xin’s hair stood on end. With a shrill scheme, his body madly retreated.
But at this time, Fang Xiang’s body expelled hundreds of streams of energy. The energy was very mixed, but condensed and powerful, like shattered blades.
These energies came from the Deer Mountain Conference. These were the powers that those strongest experts of the world forced into his body when fighting.
These energies had been nailed into his body like daggers, crippling his cultivation and unable to be removed…… because at the same time they were removed, it was like hundreds of daggers being pulled out of him at the same time. He would suddenly get hundreds of unhealable wounds at the same time.
Fang Xin’s body was swept up by this energy. As he screamed, his body split into countless pieces, giving off a disgusting white and blood color under the sunlight.
Fang Xiang was too dizzy under the blinding sunlight, but he was very content, and he closed his eyes with a smile.
Translator Ramblings: I don’t think Li Xin knew what he was getting into at all. Through suicide to send a message is also pretty …… astounding.
Volume 4 44 - Beat Them At Their Own Game
With the rhythmic beating of the metal hooves, the tremors of Guyu Pass grew stronger. The dust column they created obscured even the last light of dusk and caused the sky to look even more chaotic.
Yet with the sound of electricity cracking, all the Qin soldiers at the city gates suddenly saw whiteness.
Accompanied by a wolf-like scream, the Wuzhi cavalry soldiers pulled out their blades from beside their saddles in unison.These blades created cold light that shone on the faces of all soldiers on the tower.
In this suffocating mood, countless soldiers could not help but turn to gaze at the highest ranking commander of this city, Wu Qiwu. They could not understand why no military orders had not yet been issued.
Wu Qiwu did not look at the cavalry and turned to the mountain slope. He could barely discern the youth standing on a tall rock. He could not help but feel respect. Even if this was a great gamble, no matter what, this youth was able to maintain such a calm with a great army pressing in. Ordinary people could not rival this.
In less than the time for half a cup of tea, this cavalry’s ordnance range would reach the gates. At this time, Wu Qiwu saw the cavalry change slightly out of the corner of his eye. He suddenly turned and his eyes filled with joy.
That youth had gambled correctly.
Heavy breathing formed strange sounds on top of the city gates. When the Qin soldiers on the city gates could clearly see the faces of the Wuzhi cavalry, the cavalry’s straight sprint started to change slightly.
The dozens of horses that were the head changed direction slightly and headed towards the slope the Imperial Guard Army was on. Like they were caught by an invisible rope, the horses behind these dozen horses also changed direction and suddenly slowed down.
While they were slow, the hoofbeats of these horses seemed to grow heavier, and the sound of crackling occurred in the air. All the Qin soldiers inside Guyu Pass felt their hearts contract violently.
This was “Exploding Stone Horse”!
“Exploding Stone Horse” was a term from the Wuzhi cavalry. It referred to four horses to a team, the front two horses relatively light while the rear two heavily armored. The front and rear horses were connected together with extremely tough and elastic leather equipment. By relying on the momentum of the front two horses, just like how some heavy ordnance would be wound up, they would pull these leather equipment to their limit and then propel heavy stones!
These heavy stones were originally hardened and weathered agate stones from the steppes. After being roasted simply by fire by the Wuzhi, they became extremely hard and easy to shatter. The moment they landed on the ground, sharp pieces of stone would spray out at the moment of impact.
The ordinary Qin military ordnance would have a range of three hundred paces, except for some special ordnance that required the vital energy of cultivators. But the Wuzhi ordnance could throw stones of a certain weight over four hundred paces just relying on the special ordnance and horse power!
Something like the “Exploding Stone Horse” was created by coordination of equipment and horses, and the riders. In Wuzhi, only a few elite cavalry could use this. If one were not careful, the horses at the helm would trip or the ones in the rear fall. The cavalry would fall into chaos and damage themselves.
Yet now, hearing the thunderous sounds, all the Qin soldiers in Guyu Pass who had knowledge knew that most of the Wuzhi soldiers in this cavalry army were skilled with the “Exploding Stone Horse”!
So this cavalry was one of the elite cavalry armies of Wuzhi!
This was not a duel of swords in Changling with people inviting each other by holding their swords in front of them. When the cavalry arrived, the battle had begun.
Ding Ning looked quietly at this elite Wuzhi cavalry with its powerful presence. He knew the Imperial Guard Army’s morale had fallen to the extreme, and was starting to feel terror and despair. Yet as the leather tightened to their limits and gave off bursts of exploding sounds, he held his hand out and pressed down.
“Side! Crouch!”
The shrill military orders swiped through the suffocating air. All the Imperial Guard Army soldiers had been waiting long for orders. At finally hearing the order, most soldiers unconsciously carried out the order and crouched down to the side.
There was a relatively shallow ditch in front of most soldiers, not wide, and just able to let them go in sideways. As they unconsciously carried out the military order, accompanied by a burst of shrill whistles, the dust in front of the Wuzhi cavalry dissipated. Suddenly, gleaming rain appeared, and in the next moment, the rain reached the Imperial Guard Army.
Pop pop pop ……
Burst of dust covered the Imperial Guard Army frontlines like splashes, followed by popping and colliding sounds. The formation was almost completely covered by sharp crystal stones. All the crouching soldiers changed expression, and felt numerous sharp energies passing through the world.
Yet …… most soldiers found they were unharmed. Not many died.
When the dust created by the sharp stones landed and covered them, most of them realized — this side crouch managed to reduce the chance they would be directly hit by these sharp stones. And the fragments of the exploding stones would only scatter on the ground and were a less threat. This shallow ditch was one that could not be seen from a distance. At least, the Wuzhi cavalry who attacked right after arriving could not see that they had dug many shallow ditches on the slope.
Before the battle started, no one in the army had understood why Ding Ning sent such orders, having them waste time digging these ditches that could not stop horses or for them to squat in. But the timely order reminded them that these shallow ditches were to deal with the Wuzhi cavalry’s “Exploding Stone Horse”!
How had Ding Ning accomplished this?
They were not the border army and most of them did not know that the Wuzhi elite cavalry had such tactics. How had Ding Ning known and expected such an elite cavalry to come?
The realization left the Imperial Guard Army soldiers befuddled. They became more nervous even as their respect for the man deepened.
The violent vibrations in the ground reminded them the cavalry was starting their charge and less than four hundred paces from them. Even if they jumped up in disobedience of the military orders, they likely could not muster an effective defense under the other’s charge. And after another hundred paces, the arrows of the Wuzhi army would be effective.
Under repeated volleys, even if they were crouching sideways, the packed arrows would create astounding fatalities. All the Qin soldiers watching the scene from the Guyu Pass city walls could see more clearly and understood this even better.
These Qin soldiers saw the elite Wuzhi cavalry charge up the mountain slope without slowing down. The slope seemed to be of no difference to them compared to flat ground. Unless the youth on the stone had some means of making the cavalry stop in their steps, even for a moment, the Imperial Guard Army had no chance of survival.
This would be a one-sided massacre and the battle would end quickly.
Among the dozen vanguard horses in the Wuzhi cavalry, one exceptionally tall rider had noticed Ding Ning standing on the rock at the rear of the Imperial Guard Army long ago. At this time, his horse suddenly sank, creating a burst of dust as a deep azure bow appeared in his hands.
This giant rider was stunningly quick. Before anyone could see clearly, he pulled the bowstring and finished shooting.
An arrow suddenly appeared in the chaotic air. An azure arrow light, with a white vortex, accurately raced towards Ding Ning.
Ding Ning saw this incoming sword light but did not move. Nangong Caishu, standing behind him, narrowed her eyes slightly and drew her sword with a low shout.
Boom, boom, boom!
Three consecutive explosions through the air and her sword light collided hard with the azure arrow. Like chopping firewood, she managed to smash this powerful arrow forward.
Ding Ning’s expression did not change.
At the same time, sword lights emerged from the carriages on the flanks of the forward cavalry that acted like barriers.
Ding Ning flipped his hand up.
“Rise!”
The shrill military order sounded!
Translator Ramblings: I know that there were horse-drawn ballistas but I don’t know if one where the horses provided momentum existed.
Volume 5 44 - An Invisible Wall
Blood sprayed through the air. Li Xixing could not stop it from splashing onto his robes as he charged rapidly and hurriedly in the cramped space.
Many Changling youths had felt Li Xixing was an odd freak after he returned to Changling because he still wore thick fur robes. Yet these youths did not know that this was an instinct formed out of blood.
When Changling had just entered autumn, it had already entered winter outside the passes. In half a month, it will be the first snowfall. It was cold here for most of the year. Even more importantly, when blood soaked the clothes, it would be colder and more uncomfortable. Rough but thick fur sweater robe could not only withstand the cold but could also prevent the blood that was constantly sprayed on the body from seeping into the robe.
The viscous blood slid down Li Xixing’s robe like syrup. Even though he had become accustomed to it as instinct, he could not help but feel disgust in his heart whenever he faced such a moment. He did not deliberately let himself suppress and forget this feeling, because if he was too numb in the killing, he would be numb to many things.
Other than the first three people, everyone in this hundred man scout army had fallen off their horses. The cultivator had been killed with one blow and no one else had managed to get more than three hundred feet away.
This was just as he had predicted.
Yet his lips started to tremble. His cold and determined eyes filled with shock. He sensed the ground trembling! He accurately reversed his blade and stabbed into the heart of a Wuzhi soldier behind him. When the blood sprayed onto his back, he lifted his head and looked into the distance.
Even in this dark world, a new horizon appeared! An unnatural wind blew through the grass and caused the withered grass to ripple.
When Li Xixing raised his head, Hu Jingjing’s breathing stopped again.
This was an army, one lined up into a line and sweeping through like a wave. She could not see the end on both sides! It was the core of that cavalry!
Her breath had stilled but her heart contracted drastically, sending fresh blood surging into all parts of her body. Her mind rang out along with the hoofbeats in the wind.
Theoretically, there were two more scout troops before the main part of the cavalry army. This was not just from Li Xixing’s experience and assumption, but due to his investigation. Also, at a normal speed, the cavalry would only arrive after complete darkness. There were countless possibilities concerning why the main army would arrive early, yet he knew he and Hu Jingjing had no time to ponder this.
The Wuzhi cavalry drew out a line. They could quickly change their formation, and also meet the requirement of shooting in unison when forming two flanks. This was a demonstration of their power when they already had the advantage.
This kind of charge could easily form a circular encirclement. Even the realm seven cultivators could not survive if they were trapped within the center of the three thousand cavalry, much less cultivators like him and Hu Jingjing.
He must immediately make a choice. Yet to his surprise, Hu Jingjing made her choice earlier.
Not far from him, behind the three Wuzhi cavalry, countless yellowed grass leaves shone dreamily.
Seeing the grasses give off yellow crystal light, Li Xixing’s body grew stiff. He did not know what Hu Jingjing was going to do.
The yellow light spread on the plains.
Amongst the three thousand cavalry, there was one rider who appeared small and thin compared to the others. Yet he carried five curved blades on his back, the hilt of which all were red, and rippled with primal energies of the universe. There were four riders on his sides, not carrying blades on their back, but huge bronze shields.
This rider also was wearing a mask, one made from a tiger skull. Even the fangs had not been pulled off the fiercely stunning skull.
He also saw the yellow light on the grass. His gaze filled with confusion and he gave a simple sound from his throat. The wildly charging cavalry suddenly slowed down as his horse sped down.
The yellow light at the tips of the grasses grew stronger and then came out in threads. A powerful and profound presence formed on this patch of glowing grass. In the senses of cultivators, it was like an enormous yet invisible light had been raised among the grass.
Zzt!
As the grass moved, a glowing yellow sword light crossed the limit of a flying sword’s distance and slashed towards the three Wuzhi riders.
The three Wuzhi riders were cut at the waist and blood flew.
“What are you doing!” Li Xixing came in front of Hu Jingjing.
The reason he reached her so quickly was not just due to him moving quickly like a wolf through the grass, but because she was moving quickly towards him.
The yellow crystal light on the tips of the grass had not disappeared. Hu Jingjing’s powerful sword presence also had not disappeared and caused the fragile dried leaves around her to be cut down.
“I have two more blows.” Hu Jingjing looked at the blood covered Li Xixing and panted sharply. “I want to take a gamble.”
Li Xixing looked at the light in her eyes, understood her meaning, and became silent. She used such a “luxurious” blow against three ordinary riders. She wanted to make the army ahead think that there were many cultivators like her here.
“Not to mention that we may not be able to escape, if the two of us can escape the cavalry, they will still find the remnants and kill all of them.” Hu Jingjing knew he understood. She took a deep breath and said, “This is my own choice, you may leave first.”
Li Xixing glanced at her. He looked at people like a steppe wolf. At this time, his gaze had his usual coldness but he gave no reason as he said, “I will gamble with you.”
Saying so, he pulled out his other sword, a small one tied to his calf. This sword was pure black, and did not reflect light, like pure night.
Hu Jingjing was inexplicably moved. With this movement, she knew what she should do now.
She attacked. She gritted her teeth and made her vital energy flow violently inside her body.
The wild vital energy charged through the meridians in her body, causing many splits in her meridians that were already at their limits. Blood flowed out of the corners of her mouth.
A bloody mist came through her pores. Her yellow sword also flowed with glowing light, summoning the surrounding primal energies of the universe and pouring into the grass stems. Then the stems, like smaller swords, started to absorb primal energies of the universe through their roots which usually absorbed nutrients, and then released the energies through the tips of the grasses.
Li Xixing attacked.
A black sword light appeared in front of Hu Jingjing. Then like an arrow, it was bounced back by the invisible power that had formed in this area, but much faster at this instant than any arrow in the world.
The black sword essence turned into black threads difficult to see with the naked eye as it fell like black hairs.
Hu Jingjing sensed the essence of this sword, and her eyes filled with disbelief.
“This is the Black Hair Wind Sword Essence of Celestial Iron Sword School.” Li Xixing did not look at her but could clearly guess her thoughts. He said coldly, “Before I was exiled out of Changling, I was the youngest student in the history of Celestial Iron Sword School.”
A furious howl exploded in the last lights of dusk.
Within the three thousand riders, the rider wearing the tiger skull mask stretched his hands forward like he was praying.The five curved blades on his back flew up, turning into five bloody crescent moons!
These five crescent moons flew rapidly and managed to block most of the falling black sword threads.
Zzt zzt zzt zzt ……
The remaining black sword threads fell and created splashes of blood. Dozens of riders fell to the ground along with their horses.
When those black sword threads first pierced their bodies, there were only small wounds, and even they did not feel any pain. But in the next moment, the threads created increasingly larger wounds deep in their bodies.
“One more,” Li Xixing looked at Hu Jingjing who was dripping blood out of the corners of and said after taking a deep breath.
Hu Jingjing coughed. With her cultivation, she needed her vital energy at her extreme to use this secret sword of Treasure Light Temple. Yet if she wanted to make the enemy believe there were numerous powerful cultivators here, she must make each blow different as Li Xixing had said.
Each blow being different, to her at this time, was only making each blow stronger. After making the choice, one would be nervous before the action, but if one had no choice, they would become relaxed. This was her at this time.
As she coughed, she pressed all her vital energy into her meridians. A string of explosions sounded inside her body. Her sword was so bright it was a line of light. The yellow crystal light on the grass was extremely moist as though it would drip out.
Li Xixing put down the sword he gripped. Waves of profound sword essence furiously surged out of his body.
Hu Jingjing’s eyes widened. She sensed an invisible wall in the sky.
Volume 3 44 - Spirit
Marquis Xu of Mount Heng looked at this messy-haired man dressed like a shaman. His thick brows unconsciously furrowed. He found this person slightly familiar to the eye, but could not immediately recall who he was.
“Since you managed to flee the capital of Han, then just be a shaman-doctor, why return?” With eyes full of disdain, Emperor Yuanwu looked at this barefoot and messy-haired man.
The object of disdain sighed emotionally. “I fled for this day.”
At once Marquis Xu reacted, he had recalled who this was.
The peak was in chaos. With these few words, there was no one who did not recognize this barefoot and messy-haired man.
This man had been recorded in the history books already.
He was Emperor Chen of Han.
Strictly speaking, he was an emperor. He was the imperial younger brother of Emperor Ai of the Han. He possessed the pure royal Han blood.
In the past, when Emperor Ai of the Han took the bait and moved the capital, leading to the dynasty’s downfall. Moments before his death, he decreed that his younger brother would be the next emperor. That younger brother was this barefoot man with messy hair.
However, not once had Emperor Chen of Han on the throne.
When Emperor Ai of the Han was dying, the Qin army was already at the city gates. The new Han capital, Luoyi, had been in chaos, splitting apart even before the Qin army attacked the city.
Besieged by the Qin Army and amidst the civil strife, Emperor Chen of the Han was said to have fled the city in a cart carrying dung and managed to escape with his life.
For an emperor, it was indeed a tragedy to not be on the throne for even a day, much less fleeing a city in a cart carrying human waste.
In the eyes of many Han people, it would have been better if Emperor Chen of Han had been killed when the city was seized. At least, this shameful matter wouldn’t have been recorded into history.
For an orthodox emperor of indubitable birth and legitimacy, the greatest of pain was that his people thought it was better he was dead.
As emperors, one was looked down upon by thousands, and the other beloved by thousands. So Emperor Yuanwu looked at Emperor Chen of Han with faint scorn.
“You have eked survival until today. What can you do?” Emperor Yuanwu looked at Emperor Chen of Han and said dismissively.
Pain flashed through Emperor Chen of Han’s eyes.
This pain was not caused by his reputation or his image in the eyes of others, but due to those lives that were sacrificed to ensure his survival.
Only he knew how many people had died for him to successfully flee the Han lands and escape the pursuit of the Qin Dynasty cultivators.
After the thread of pain flitted past his eyes, his gaze turned absolutely calm, giving off a hint of relief and peace.
“Please grant me instruction,” he said slowly, looking at Emperor Yuanwu.
Emperor Yuanwu’s pupils contracted slightly.
Once again, the peak of Deer Mountain descended into utter silence, only the chaotic primal energies of the universe howled around wildly.
Emperor Yuanwu slowly stood up.
Emperor Chen of Han was certainly a powerful cultivator, but first, he was a true emperor. Both, due to ancient etiquette and the Qin Dynasty’s reverence of courage, Emperor Yuanwu could not refuse such a challenge.
“How do you qualify to challenge me?” Emperor Yuanwu said slowly, with his eyes on Emperor Chen of Han.
Standing denoted acceptance. He first accepted, and then asked if his opponent qualified to challenge him. He was likely the only realm eight in the world right now.
Emperor Chen of Han did not speak.
His skin slowly turned red. Threads of red energy started to emerge from every part of his body. The presence around his body started to expand.
When his body produced the first thread of energy, he gave off a realm seven presence.
As his presence rose, the presence broke through the limits of a realm seven.
Uncontrollable gasps sounded.
The faint disdain in Emperor Yuanwu’s eyes completely disappeared. He frowned slightly and said in a slightly grave voice, “So it is the Heaven Stealing Pill.”
Many among those present echoed Emperor Yuanwu’s thoughts.
These people finally understood why Emperor Chen of Han had to survive in the past.
The strongest sect of the former Han Dynasty had been the South Sun Pill Sect. The pills of the South Sun Pill Sect were extremely rare pills in the remaining dynasties. However, the Heaven Stealing Pill was the greatest of them all.
The true meaning of “Heaven Stealing” meant to steal the realm of Heaven Opening. In many records, this was said to be a great pill that could have a realm seven cultivator directly reach realm eight after consuming it. A pill like this that went against the heavens would naturally require many astounding spirit ingredients that people could not imagine.
The South Sun Pill Sect had been poor for several generations. Supposedly, at the time of Emperor Ai of Han’s death, they had just managed to gather the main medicines required for this pill, and made an embryo. After the death of the Han Dynasty, the cultivators of the other dynasties thought that this kind of pill could not exist and the South Sun Pill Sect had cooked up a tale to frighten others.
But now, the blooming pressure coming off Emperor Chen of Han like a furious lotus reminded each of those present, that South Sun Pill Sect’s “Heaven Stealing Pill” was true.
“The greatest difference between a pill sect and other sects is that they have the form, but not the essence.”
Emperor Yuanwu looked at Emperor Chen of Han whose medicinal energies had even turned the soil beneath him red. He shook his head and said, “You are still no match for me.”
Emperor Chen of Han looked at Emperor Yuanwu and suddenly laughed. “Just a battle, who cares about victory?”
Emperor Yuanwu also abruptly laughed and said, “Fighting reduces the number of enemies for this Lonely One. So this Lonely One does not fear a fight.”
When he said this, everybody was under the impression the battle would immediately start. Unexpectedly though, Emperor Yuanwu’s gaze landed on the beautiful man in black robes next to the emperor of Qi.
“When ascending the mountain previously, I saw a thread of your energy. Only the Mountain Yin Sect has such means. Mister has such presence, you must be Mister Yan Ying of the Mountain Yin Sect.”
Emperor Yuanwu’s voice was calm, but he called the other Mister. Since the start of the conference, no one had seen him so respectful of another person.
The name Yan Ying of Mountain Yin Sect had no fame in the world. Even though most of the people present were the top of the world, there were still many that had not heard of him.
“Who is he?”
A Yan general couldn’t help but look at a shocked middle-aged official in front of him.
The shocked middle-aged official was a famed minister of the Yan Dynasty called Qiu Yuzhen.
The one who had asked him was a famed general of the Yan Dynasty, Li Hanshan.
“In the past, our dynasty’s General Bai Yong fought the Qi army. He was on the verge of victory but retreated in the end because someone sent him a black pot.” Qiu Yuzhen turned around and whispered to Li Hanshan.
Li Hanshan’s body shuddered, his eyes filled with shock. “Was the person who delivered the pot this Yan Ying?”
Qiu Yuzhen grimaced slightly. Who else, if not for this Yan Ying?
Before the formal agreement, it was common for the dynasties to be in conflict and invade each other’s cities.
In the past, the Yan Dynasty clashed with the Qi army due to army deserters. At the time, the strongest general of the Yan, Bai Yong, won three victories in a row, taking over three of Qi’s cities, and forcing the main Qi army to the Qi Ghost Horse River shores. Without a supply of food, the Qi army was on the verge of defeat and being forced to cede cities. But at this time, a Qi grandmaster delivered a black pot to Bai Yong.
Bai Yong opened the pot. There was nothing inside. He felt that there was something profound inside, and pondered for half a day before finding there was no mystery inside the pot, and the true mystery was the pot itself.
This seemingly ordinary black pot was made from pure vital energy.
Being able to condense vital energy into a tangible item and not have it dissipate was astounding, and being able to conceal it from the senses of a realm seven expert like Bai Yong, who had to study it for a long time to learn, was a skill that ordinary realm sevens could not imagine.
The reason that Bai Yong had been forced to retreat was when he calculated, he found that the Yan had no way of stopping this grandmaster from entering the main force and killing many of the army commanders if they engaged the Qi army.
At the time, Bai Yong’s army had at least four realm sevens.
A person that four realm sevens could not stop …… after the Yan Dynasty army had retreated that time, Qiu Yuzhen remembered that black pot, and remembered the name Yan Ying.
“How was it?”
Hearing the respect in Emperor Yuanwu’s tone, the man in black robes only nodded in greeting and spoke these scarce simple words.
“I detected your hostility and fighting spirit long ago.” Emperor Yuanwu looked at him, and said slowly with pride, “At Deer Mountain right now, you are the only person who qualifies to fight this Lonely One.”
“Since we are going to fight, no need for such trouble.”
He turned to look at the emperors of Chu, Yan and Qi. He spoke in a confident and even prouder tone. “The two of you together …… this Lonely One will give you a chance. If the two of you can win against me, not three years, this Lonely One will cede Yangshan Commandery for nine years before another meeting at Deer Mountain.”
“What!”
The important people on top of Deer Mountain had refined their hearts into being colder than steel, but when they heard Emperor Yuanwu’s words, gasps sounded, and many instinctively rose to their feet.
Even the emperor of Qi, who had been sitting slovenly and watching the spectacle, was among them.
On the way here, he had said many shameless things and fulfilled all of Yan Ying’s demands, even putting himself at a low position. This was because he knew better than anyone how powerful Yuanwu was. With Emperor Yuanwu’s cultivation, he had had a small conflict with Yuanwu and must have sensed Yan Ying’s strength.
Emperor Chen of Han possessed realm eight power through the Heaven Stealing Pill. Adding on someone like Yan Ying …… Emperor Yuanwu was extremely bold!
The emperor of Chu also wore a shocked expression.
He had never thought that Emperor Yuanwu would challenge a grandmaster like Yan Ying after encountering an opponent like Emperor Chen of Han.
“Such spirit!” He took a deep breath.
Regardless of whether Emperor Yuanwu was mad, too proud, or was truly confident, facing two opponents at once meant he had a spirit that others in the world could not possess.
Translator Ramblings: I’m not sure how “pretty” Yan Ying was historically, but the author kept on referring to him as the “beautiful man in black robes” so I guess he is very handsome in this story.
Volume 2 44 - Fight Over Position
This chapter has been brought to you by me, and larkspur.
Emperor Yuanwu did not speak, his lips pressed together tightly like two thin blades.
Yet, Yan Ying did not stop here. He looked at Emperor Yuanwu and continued. "But you are human and not god. The ’Universe Gold Body’ is magical, but it must follow the rules governing the primal energies of the universe. Your seemingly unaffected tolerance is just opening a meridian point in your body to contain your opponent’s killing intent and power. The killing intent and power will exist in your meridians and will not disappear for no reason. One day, they will explode."
The peak of Deer Mountain grew quieter. Every gaze was extremely complex, for these words concerned the secrets of Emperor Yuanwu’s cultivation. A grandmaster like Yan Ying was speaking so confidently that there would be no mistake.
Emperor Yuanwu’s eyes narrowed slightly, like two thin swords. In his eyes, Emperor Chen of Han and Yan Ying were naturally not worthy opponents, yet, he could continue to grapple with them.
He slowly thought inside, as he raised the yellow sword in his hand.
For a powerful swordsman, their sword essence was the best expression of their minds. The moment he lifted his sword, everybody present knew the time to decide the battle had arrived.
Countless rays of light fell down from the sky where no one could see. They flooded into his body at a speed surpassing a cultivator’s perception. Emperor Yuanwu’s body completely disappeared into the bright rays of light. But everyone could sense that Emperor Yuanwu seemed to be expanding and growing taller and bigger.
Emperor Yuanwu’s body seemed to grow until it was as tall as the sky.
Emperor Chen of Han knew the final moment had come. He had no fear, only the joy of release on his face.
He took a deep breath. Borrowing the pressure of the energies that Emperor Yuanwu was giving off, he gathered all of the pill energies deep into his body. His body started to contract, like it was shrivelling. The red light on the surface of his body decreased.
As his presence pulled back, his body floated forward towards Emperor Yuanwu.
At this moment, Emperor Yuanwu’s halo of light was emitting an aggressive presence that seemed able to fend off gods and ghosts. The power at the tip of his shining blade surpassed the limits of what all cultivators present could comprehend and approached the ethereal path of heaven.
This sword seemed to have the power of the heavens, and could not be stopped by human power. Just facing this was difficult. However, Emperor Chen of Han’s body crashed towards the tip of the sword, his eyes flashing with a strange light.
Through the curtain of light, Emperor Yuanwu glanced at Emperor Chen of Han, his brows furrowed……
He sensed what Emperor Chen of Han was doing, however, this was his strongest moment. This ethereal sword that seemed to have the power of all life was one that even he could not change.
He swung the yellow sword forward, accompanied by inhuman power.
Dozens of feet away from the sword tip, Emperor Chen of Han’s body already showed hundreds of wounds.
Countless transparent blades seemed to fill the air and dance silently in front of the yellow sword. No pill energy seeped from Emperor Chen of Han’s wounds.
At this moment, he only turned his head, flashed an indiscernible smile and nodded at Yan Ying behind him.
His body was cut into countless pieces and scattered in this moment. The last emperor of a dynasty, in this brief moment, disappeared from the world.
And yet, an exceptionally hot crimson pill light crashed onto the tip of the yellow sword and exploded.
The world shook.
All those around felt a mountain was pressing down. The cultivators who were closest to the battle, retched up blood.
The crimson pill fire rolled outwards like a meteor exploding. The piercing light invoked instinctual tears, but they still forced their eyes open, not wanting to miss a second.
Emperor Yuanwu felt there was an enormous mountain pressing towards him. The yellow sword in his hand dimmed slightly.
Back when Emperor Chen of Han had charged towards his sword, he had sensed the other was going to explode with the full power of the Heaven Stealing Pill. So his mind was absolutely calm, his presence shuddering slightly as he swung his sword even more aggressively.
The fierce pill fire was cut smoothly like two solid hemispheres, separating at his side before becoming numerous dragons of fire.
At this time, Yan Ying’s left thumb curved slightly and plucked in the air.
A dark and cold black sword light appeared in the raging air.
This black sword light was like a snapped zither string. Its origins were unknown and untraceable as its flew and accurately cut towards Emperor Yuanwu’s eyes.
Emperor Yuanwu had not dodged when he had faced the onslaught of fingers, but now, Emperor Yuanwu closed his eyes abruptly and bowed his head slightly.
A bang sounded at the corner of his left eye.
The moment the black sword light and his left eyebrow made contact, his body became an empty and vast world again. He was going to absorb the power of the black sword light into him. But everyone could clearly see a thread of blood seeping down from a wound on his left eyebrow.
His left eyebrow had been cut.
"Following the mind, untraceable ……"
The emperor of Chu and some of the older people present could see that Yan Ying’s sword essence still came from .
In the past, Yan Ying had cultivated with
as the goal. He had spent unknown amounts of effort on grasping
tactics.
At this time, no one knew if Yan Ying was purposefully angering Yuan Wu or he felt that this was the best tactic to use against his enemy. Even so,there was no time for anyone to consider this.
A black orchid bloomed on Yan Ying’s hand.
This black orchid seemed to be alive, giving off a greedy presence towards the blood spilling from Emperor Yuanwu’s brow. In the next moment, the black orchid disappeared into streams of black energy. They entered the blood, and the light around Emperor Yuanwu’s body.
Nobody was able to sense the kind of tactic Yan Ying was using at this moment. Many looked towards Emperor Yuanwu with anticipation, hoping to see him fall to the ground or retreat.
But Emperor Yuanwu only shook slightly.
The yellow sword in his hand still swung, he completed the swing to its fullest.
The space between him and Yan Ying twisted fiercely. With a loud crack, everything was completely separated.
Yan Ying’s body completely stopped. He frowned slightly and bowed his head calmly.
Emperor Yuanwu had put his sword away.
The lights falling from the sky started to fade; his enormous presence that felt taller than the sky, urgently shrank.
The front of Yan Ying’s body showed no abnormality. But as he bowed his head, a bright line of light appeared on his back.
Dark
energy shot out along this bright line of light.
Although the dark and heavy
energy contained a mountain of power, all those around could sense a power, even stronger and more terrifying, flying through the world……
was a sword light.
Someone looked towards the mountain peak opposite Deer Mountain that Emperor Yuanwu was facing. Someone finally understood that the sword light went through Yan Ying’s body in an attempt to force the power out of Yan Ying.
Now, the straight sword light landed on the opposing mountain peak.
That mountain suddenly shook.
A wave of dust shot out near the peak of the mountain. In the next moment, the mountain gave off numerous cracking sounds.
The cracking sounds gathered into a terrifying roar.
Everybody was shocked speechless.
Following the circle of dust, the mountain split into two. The enormous mountain peak slid backwards, colliding with the body of the mountain below and giving off an enormous sound no one had ever heard before.
The cut mountain was as smooth as a mirror.
That mountain had originally been taller than Deer Mountain. Now, the parts of it taller than Deer Mountain had been cut off by this sword strike and the peak was smoother than any flat land.
An enormous wave of dust rose.
Without the obstruction of the mountain, a wild wind surged from the back of the mountain. The dust was blown away, and their sights were no longer obstructed
To the read of that mountain was a flat river valley. Through this river valley, it was possible to attack the Chu, the Yan, or the Qi.
The yellow sword in Emperor Yuanwu’s hand disappeared.
He looked at Yan Ying who hung his head, looked at the shocked spectators, and the mountain he had flattened with a blow.
He said, "This Lonely One wants that mountain."
Translator Ramblings: This isn’t as much flattening a mountin as …… giving it a chop.
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