Chapter Fifty-Four: Public Enemy
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无罪 update:2022-07-21 15:26
There was no true contact between sword and sword, no powerful crash of physical contact. But Baili Suxue, Minister Li and Minister Yan were all using methods to change the primal energies of the universe in this small part of the world, wanting to change this place into their own domain.
“It is starting.”
In the woods at the base of Min Mountain Sword Sect, Marquis Li looked up at the highest part of Min Mountain Sword Sect, shock flashing through his eyes.
At this time, the defensive formation of Min Mountain Sword Sect’s gate had been destroyed. While the highest peak was still locked up in white clouds, it was still possible to clearly see a crystal barrier around the entire mountain peak, with many golden lights swimming inside.
Each time the golden lights pulsed on the crystal barrier, they would create visible spiraling sound waves. These sound waves kept on attacking the clusters of white clouds in the sky, turning the white clouds into all kinds of different colors.
For Marquis Li, Baili Suxue fighting the two ministers could be called shocking and stunning. But for cultivators below realm seven, such a battle was a war between gods which mortals could not ponder.
Inside the little world, when the indigo poison spread, Baili Suxue naturally stopped his breathing. He did not just seal his mouth and nose, all the pores on his body were closed. His body started to shine with crystal light like he had turned to glass. His expression grew serious. The severity of his expression meant that his emotions had also changed.
Minister Yan’s poison sword could not pose a threat to him, but adding on Minister Li’s help, he started to feel great pressure. In the past many years, these top people in Changling were like the stars in the sky, never meeting, but they always were prepared to fight each other. Clearly, just like how he understood Zheng Xiu and the two ministers, these people also understood him and came prepared.
At this time, the ancient seals in Minister Li’s hand were the bane of his domain.
But no one knew all his secrets. Because starting many years ago, when Wang Jingmeng did not believe his words and got together with Zheng Xiu, he had sealed all of Min Mountain Sword Sect.
Countless little sounds occurred. The crystal barrier around this part of the world started to shatter. His body shook minutely, crystal crack-like lights forming around him, and his body was about to appear in these people’s perceptions.
But more cracking sounds came from under his feet, from the belly of the mountain, from deep within the mountain. This was a sound coming close from afar, and very rhythmic. It was like there was an enormous building in the belly of the mountain starting to collapse from the top, or like enormous chains shattering link by link.
Disbelief appeared in the eyes of the two ministers.
There was a cold vein in the depths of Min Mountain but before, all of the cold energy had been pulled out by Baili Suxue to form the barrier blocking out the world. But at this time, more terrifying cold energy came out from under their feet. The shattered stones flew up, and then were frozen into powder.
With a boom, like a volcano erupting, a terrifying ball of energy sprayed out the top of the mountain, not a hot flow but a cold one.
The two ministers and the two marquises were suddenly in the air. The dozens of swords on Marquis Dugu’s back turned to falling stars, shooting at the black figure surging out of the energy below.
This was a pitch blackball. The moment these dozens of swords made contact, sparks flew. The sparks were created from great friction. These famed swords containing great energies were able to penetrate metal, but they could not penetrate this pitch black thing, they could only brush against it. The sparks continued down illuminated this pitch black thing and the mountain below.
Other than Baili Suxue’s the pupils of the other four contracted. Their expressions were extremely complicated and wonderful.
This was a serpent dragon. A true dragon.
Its eyes were a strange deep yellow flashing with coldness and strength. Its black scaled armor was very thick, the flying swords brushing against them like brushes sliding across paper and leaving behind faint tracks. The breath coming from its mouth carried many black ice particles. Each black icicle seemed to be gestating a storm.
There were many serpent dragons in the world. Many cultivators had killed serpents before, like Bai Shanshui and Ye Celeng. Even Jiaodong Commandery raised enormous ocean beasts that were close in strength to the serpents. But everyone present was sure that those serpent dragons and ocean beasts were not as this one.
Because this was a Nether dragon.
In the legends, the You Emperor who had been invincible for a time raised a divine dragon. The hand with which Minister Li was holding the golden seal was uncontrollably trembling. The golden seal in his hand came from the era of the You Dynasty. Of course he knew the power of the You Emperor’s steed.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Baili Suxue still standing in empty air, his expression unchanged. At this time, he understood why when Baili Suxue had been gazing in the direction of Changling, especially when he spoke of Zheng Xiu, he had appeared even prouder.
Because Jiaodong Commandery’s first rise in power was due to their methods to raise beasts, relying on powerful serpents and raising beasts. But Min Mountain Sword Sect had secretly raised a Nether dragon of the former You Dynasty! Compared to this dragon, the other serpents could not be spoken of in the same term.
Minister Li started to suspect that he may be the first to die here, just as Baili Suxue said. So when his hands started to tremble, the golden seal started to burn.
This was a “Scapegoat Gold Seal.” Back when an emperor of the You Dynasty had ascended throne, because his cultivation method was too violent, it caused constant collisions of the primal energies. Calamities kept on occurring, so he created a golden seal like this to suppress his own energies.
At this time, the remaining primal energies of the golden seal were finally released after so many years. As the seal scripts burned, they turned to golden flames, and surged at the dragon and Baili Suxue.
The Nether dragon that charged out of the ground sensed a dangerous presence. It grew angry, the deep yellow eyes turning deep red. There was not the breath of legendary breath. An ice storm appeared in front of it.
The ice wrapped around the golden flames, but did not melt. They were like pieces of strange gems which froze. At this time, Baili Suxue glanced at Minister Li. Just a glance, with a woosh, a sword light so fast it was hard to imagine and brighter than lightning appeared in front of Minister Li.
This was the Heart Thought Sword! The secret sword of the Mind Chamber Sect!
The Nether dragon breathed, and kept on going up, supporting Baili Suxue.
It became Baili Suxue’s steed.
Volume 4 54 - Dig A Tree
Ding Ning nodded slightly to express his respect towards the true monarch of Zhongshan. Some people could represent a country, and even an era. If Bai Shanshui at present meant the continuation of Wei, then Tang Xin represented Zhongshan.
Tang Xin died, so Zhongshan State was truly gone.
On a certain slope of the distant Yin Mountains, there stood four cultivators who could not act due to being in check with each other. The Sword Mountain Sword was so large. When it finally fell, covered in starfire, it had become the most dazzling thing in the sky and they could see it clearly.
Shao Sharen looked with a cold expression at the track left behind by the pale starfire and slowly said, “Sword Mountain Sword is very large.”
The words sounded like a waste. Sword Mountain Sword was a mountain of celestial material. Of course it was very large. Yet the surrounding trio could understand the meaning in his words.
Geng Ren nodded, his eyes full of an indescribable meaning. “It has to be large enough for her to sense it.”
Yelu Canglang nodded and said in a cold voice, “Someone like Gu Huai needs to rely on a woman’s power.”
The other tall cultivator with dual blades on his back sneered. “No wonder Spirit Void Sword Sect is loyal to that woman. It is because they want to borrow that woman’s power.”
“Zheng Xiu is not any ordinary woman,” Shao Sharen slowly said, “I fear this is not Gu Huai wanting to borrow her power so Spirit Void Sword Sect will work for her. But in the past, Zheng Xiu used his sword. If he did not let himself be used, he would have died long ago with the others from Ba Mountain Sword Field.”
This quartet was among the top cultivators in the world, and strictly speaking, they were all enemies at this time. Yet when they spoke now, they were very direct.
Yelu Canglang grew silent, and after a moment of silence took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “Zheng Xiu is really not an ordinary woman.”
Geng Ren looked up slightly and seemed to sigh to himself. “This place is too far from Changling. So she could only sense the Sword Mountain Sword when it is so large and affected the primal energies of the universe. Then she could use this attack …… but in Changling, I do not know how many she can do.”
The tall cultivator who carried dual swords on his back inexplicably trembled. The marks on his armor scattered fine light from the many scars. Everyone in the world knew that Zheng Xiu was very strong. Yet now, when he personally saw the pale starfire shroud the Sword Mountain Sword and fall down, he knew that Zheng Xiu was stronger than he thought. And if Geng Ren’s misgiving was correct, in Changling …… If she could summon many such swords in Changling, how strong would she be ……
Even more importantly, he knew this was not impossible.
“She clearly could achieve this, but had to make Mo Shoucheng take on the infamy. Really an extraordinary woman.” The words seemed to be praise, but Yelu Canglang seemed to show great disdain. “Changling is too far. Fortunately, that is not something we have to consider now.”
“It is not a problem we have to consider now, but we may have to consider in the future.” Geng Ren looked down at where the Sword Mountain Sword made its landing and the swept up sand in the wind.
Yelu Canglang and the cultivator with dual blades understood the meaning of his words and grew silent.
“You think that we will undoubtedly lose this war.” Many breaths later, Yelu Canglang took a deep breath and said slowly, “But Shen Xuan and Gu Huai are both seriously wounded. Even if we cannot act, there are many possibilities to kill them on the steppes. I feel that this war is still full of uncertainties.”
**
This elite cavalry of Wuzhi retreated in chaos and disappeared into the dark night. The enormous Sword Mountain Sword was still vibration minutely and creating blooms of dust and wind. Some undissipated starfire flowed onto the ground underneath the sword, scorching the soil into black rock that shone with unique light. However, these rocks had no warmth and were unusually cold.
Gu Huai slowly turned around. He took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and covered his mouth to cough, the tips of his fingers turning red. He looked at Ding Ning whose head was hanging slightly. His gaze grew cold and he said softly, “If you dare to do this again next time, I will kill you first.”
Ding Ning stilled slightly and then said with slight mockery, “You do not dare. Otherwise, you would have killed me this time.”
Gu Huai did not move at all.
Yet the moment after Ding Ning spoke, there was a boom and his body flew backwards like a kite with a broken string and hit the ground hard. He started to cough and bleed from his nose.
Watching Ding Ning struggle to climb up, Gu Huai said mockingly, “You are correct. I do not dare to kill you but I can teach you as I please, even kill these people around you. Your mistake is …… you do not understand your status in Changling.”
Ding Ning lifted his head and smiled at Gu Huai.
Gu Huai frowned and said in disgust, “No wonder few in Changling like you, even your smile is so hateful.”
Ding Ning still smiled as he thought.
At this time, pale white star fire fell again from the sky. The threads of star fire continued to fall on Sword Mountain Sword seemed to burn again.
In the next moment, the Sword Mountain Sword disappeared from the grasslands as did Gu Huai’s figure.
“See, you are not Zheng Xiu’s last piece.”
Ding Ning slowly stood up and turned to Shen Xuan who was still sitting on the ground. He still had a smile that even Shen Xuan felt was hateful. He said softly, “Even in Gu Huai’s eyes, you are nothing.”
Hearing Ding Ning’s words, the blood soaked Shen Xuan looked up and narrowed his eyes. “Have you forgotten what Gu Huai said to you just now? You think I cannot teach you as I please?”
Ding Ning did not respond to his words. Instead, he looked up at the traces of the disappearing star fire and wiped the blood off his mouth. He asked instead, “You say, will there be a difference if you take the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art back to Zheng Xiu or if Gu Huai takes it?”
Shen Xuan’s gaze flickered dramatically. He looked straight at Ding Ning with killing intent but did not speak.
“If the one who receives the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art is Gu Huai, I fear you are not necessary, not just in Changling but here as well.” Ding Ning ignored his gaze and said calmly, “Also, the water prison was broken out of. I fear Zheng Xiu will not trust you anymore.”
Shen Xuan sneered after a moment of silence. “What do you really want to say?”
Ding Ning also smiled and said, “I want to make a transaction with you …… you help me kill Gu Huai and I will give the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art to you to take back to Changling.”
“What did you say?”
Shen Xuan’s eyes contracted. A wave of primal energies of the universe came out of nowhere, falling on Ding Ning’s throat and suspending him in the air.
Ding Ning could not breathe, yet he did not speak, just smiled at Shen Xuan.
Shen Xuan took a deep breath as though the one who could not breath was him. After his gaze flickered violently for a few more times, the wave of energy disappeared, and Ding Ning’s feet landed back on the ground.
“I did not misjudge you. You are better than most people in Changling at pretending to be injured.” Ding Ning stopped looking at him, and walked in the direction of Guyu Pass. “You can consider my suggestion from just now.”
Translator Ramblings: Cultivation-style ballistic missiles.
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