Chapter Fifty-Nine Steed
writer:
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 5 59 - Transaction
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.
Volume 3 59 - Human Sovereign Jade Annulus
Li Yunrui had never met Ding Ning before, but from the first moment he laid eyes on Ding Ning, he knew that he was not ordinary. He knew that the mission that the emperor of Chu had carried extraordinary meaning. The last step to finishing his mission was to end any possibility for the Qin cultivators to find clues from his body.
Consequently, Li Yunrui chose to calmly release all of the cultivation power in his body. If he died in the Wei River and resurfaced after being submerged for many days, even the experienced Divinity Bureau and Astrology Bureau officials would not be able to discover that he was different from ordinary people.
Perhaps, no one would ever discover his existence.
When the vital energy and primal energies stored in his body left his body completely, Li Yunrui could feel his body turn heavy. The water squeezed the air out of his lungs. As the water of the Wei River replaced the air in his lungs, he felt indescribable pain.
Yet, he controlled his body and sent his consciousness sinking into deep sleep.
At the time this Chu Dynasty cultivator was calmly embracing death, a beautiful woman in white robes was playing the lute on a merchant ship on the Wei River.
The music wafting from the lute was serene and quiet, laced with a longing for home. But when Li Yunrui’s vital energy created small waves that touched the bottom of the boat, the beauty in white robes frowned slightly and her fingers suddenly sped up.
The quiet sounds of the lute suddenly transformed into a raging army. The merchants laughing and drinking on the ship suddenly paled. Bean-sized droplets of sweat trickled down their foreheads, as though the weapons contained in the lute sounds were filling their hearts.
The lute finally stopped.
With a bang, the lute fell onto the cushions.
The beaded curtain swayed. Behind the curtain, the beauty in white robes who had been playing the lute was gone……
When Li Yunrui was stepping into the Wei River, Ding Ning and Shen Yi were returning to Falling Parasol.
“What happened?”
When Ding Ning pushed open the curtain to the wine shop’s inner courtyard, Zhangsun Qianxue was already waiting for him.
On hearing Ding Ning’s footsteps, she knew that something particularly important had occurred.
“I do not know what happened.” Ding Ning looked at her and answered with a solemn look.
Zhangsun Qianxue’s brows raised slightly.
Ding Ning did not make her wait and said, “The emperor of Chu sent me something. I do not know what he sent, so I do not know what has happened.”
Zhangsun Qianxue glanced at him. “The emperor of Chu?”
Ding Ning nodded. “Only he would have realm six death warriors. Only cultivators who can die for him and the Chu Dynasty would have that kind of presence.”
He paused, reached into his pocket and took that cube-shaped object out of his sleeve.
Zhangsun Qianxue’s brow furrowed. She was extremely familiar with Ding Ning. Just from listening to Ding Ning’s footsteps today, she knew that Ding Ning had heavy matters on his mind. Even if Ding Ning had not just said that this item had been sent by the emperor of Chu, she could sense the value of this item just from Ding Ning’s action just now.
She did not speak and quietly watched Ding Ning’s actions.
Ding Ning walked into the bedroom and sat down at Zhangsun Qianxue’s dressing table. Placing the item on it, he carefully unwrapped the cloth, layer by layer.
Zhangsun Qianxue’s perception casually permeated the rough cloth. In the next moment, her body shook slightly as she understood the reason behind Ding Ning’s solemnity.
The item wrapped in the cloth was a terrifying whirlpool. Her perception had just swept it and was pulled to an unknown place. Something that could make a cultivator’s consciousness feel this peculiar was no ordinary item. To make a cultivator like her feel such …… an item like this had never appeared in the records of the cultivator world before.
Because it was so strange, it would not be ordinary.
Because it was unknown, they had to be cautious.
Ding Ning carefully took away the last layer of cloth. Amidst this presence, the numerous silkworms in his body had surged and guaranteed that none of his presence had flowed onto this item.
A dark bronze green color reflected into his and Zhangsun Qianxue’s eyes.
A cube-shaped metal object entered his sight. It was bronze green all over, like an ingot just out of the forge. Yet, the surface was covered in complicated seal scripts.
Zhangsun Qianxue focused on this item for many breaths before asking, “What is this?”
The Chu Dynasty was the strongest in seal weapons. Any Qin cultivator who saw this item would immediately think of seal weapons. But Zhangsun Qianxue was sure this was not a true seal weapon. She could see at this time that there were many green threads moving in those complicated seal scripts. Those green threads were vital energy that belonged to a powerful realm seven cultivator.
This vital energy had formed a unique cycle in the seal scripts. They did not seem like they would disappear, but the vital energy was not especially strong. If she forcibly pushed with vital energy, these vital energy would immediately collapse. But what change would occur after she had destroyed them, was something she could not predict.
Ding Ning did not answer her question.
He stared at those complicated seal scripts, his eyes flashing with light as though he was calculating. His gaze landed on the intersection of some seal lines. A long time later, he frowned slightly, reached out with his right hand, and touched this item.
The moment he reached out, minute sounds came from his fingerpads.
His finger slid across those seal lines. The minute sounds passed through the seal scripts, but the moving green lines did not change at all.
Neither was there a change in Ding Ning’s expression. His finger suddenly stopped and went the opposite direction of where he had previously touched. At the same time, the sound coming from his fingerpads were even more complicated and rushed.
Threads of blue light formed between his fingerpads, they then fell into the seal scripts below. Those blue lights silently blended perfectly with the blue vital energy in the seal scripts. Then the blue lines floating in the seal scripts grew bigger. In the end, the seal scripts were filled with flowing blue light.
The green metal surface looked calm and flat. The blue vital energy filling the seal scripts froze at this moment. A strange light appeared from the center of this metal cube. The seemingly whole metal object split slowly along this line of light.
Looking at the scene before her, Zhangsun Qianxue’s tense brows relaxed. She had finally understood what this was.
This was a secret box.
A box that could only be opened with that blue vital energy. Or rather, only a person who could perfectly mimic and form this kind of blue vital energy could open this secret box.
Ding Ning was silent.
The line of light at the center of the bronze-colored secret box slowly disappeared. Then, the blue vital energy dissipated into primal energies of the universe that disappeared into the air.
Inside the secret box was a small palm-sized round jade pendant. Within this pure white jade pendant was a withered yellow light that pulsed and looked like a person who was constantly changing forms.
“This is the Human Sovereign Jade Annulus.” Ding Ning did not immediately pick up this jade annulus. He turned, and slowly said as he looked at Zhangsun Qianxue, “He guessed I practice the Nine Death Silkworm.”
Zhangsun Qianxue looked at him and did not immediately speak.
Ding Ning looked at her and said in a slightly strange tone, “The Human Sovereign Jade Annulus is a very unreasonable thing. This item is the symbol of the emperor of the Chu, and has been passed down by generations of emperors. This item is very unreasonable because cultivators who wear it would advance more quickly in cultivation.”
True shock appeared in Zhangsun Qianxue’s eyes. “How much faster?” she asked.
Ding Ning looked at her and said, “Supposedly, thirty percent.”
Zhangsun Qianxue paled slightly. Her hands unconsciously trembled.
“No seal weapon or pill can compare to this item.” Ding Ning did not need to look at her to sense what she felt now. He took a deep breath and said in a trembling voice, “This is the top treasure of the Chu Dynasty. Theoretically, it should be passed to the next emperor.”
Zhangsun Qianxue nodded. “It should be passed to Li Lingjun.”
Ding Ning nodded and said, “Even if not to Li Lingjun, it should have been left to Consort Zhao Xiang.”
For a long time, Zhangsun Qianxue did not speak. Then, she said, “Now he is dead, and the person who gave this item to you is dead. Only you and I know that this item is in your hands. What are his intentions?”
An unspeakable bitterness rose at the corners of Ding Ning’s mouth. He reached out to hold the jade pendant and said softly, “He has no confidence in other people …… or rather, he thinks that only we are able to defeat Yuanwu in the future.”
“He has never met me.” Zhangsun Qianxue shook her head in negation. “Not us.”
“You are connected to the Nine Death Silkworm.” Ding Ning also shook his head.
Zhangsun Qianxue had a frosty expression. She said, not looking at Ding Ning, “But we are Qin.”
“He is extraordinary.”
Ding Ning looked at her and said seriously, “Perhaps he thinks we will accept his favor.”
Translator Ramblings: Using “annulus” makes this item sound so mystical but it is a flat circular disk with a hole in the center. Calling it a ‘jade ring’ doesn’t describe its shape properly.
Volume 2 59 - A New Challenger
This chapter has been brought to you by me, and larkspur.
His heart feeling cold, the middle-aged man in black robes left. Before the Deer Mountain Conference, the mistress of the palace already had control of some matters in Changling. Now, this minor matter caused him to clearly recognize that she would be even stricter towards the Changling cultivators in the future.
"Let General Liang come in." The beauty called after the retreating middle-aged official.
Steady footsteps sounded in the silent courtyard. An indescribable murderousness filled this room. The military boots crossed the doorway, and Liang Lian appeared before this beautiful palace attendant.
When he walked into this study, Liang Lian did not bow, only lifted his head; his expression as cold as water.
"You probably feel very displeased right now."
The beautiful palace attendant’s aloofness quickly turned into coldness. Her gaze moved past Liang Lian’s upright figure into the blue sky behind the window lattice. "Usually, it is the empress seeing you in person. Today, it is me meeting you, and I had you wait for me. Also, I can tell you, if you cannot bring any satisfactory results, it will always be me meeting you in the future."
Liang Lian thought of the perfect face of the empress in the palace. A hint of disdain appeared on the corners of his lips. "When is she preparing to drive me out of Changling?"
The beautiful palace attendant moved her gaze back to him and said, "After the Min Mountain Sword Trials."
"After the Deer Mountain Conference, she has no more patience, as expected." Liang Lian shook his head, said nothing else and turned to leave.
The beautiful palace attendant’s expression did not change at all. She quietly added, "The Min Mountain Sword Trials will be held early, in ten days’ time."
Liang Lian was crossing the doorsill when he heard her words. He frowned slightly, his foot paused in the air……
"The Min Mountain Sword Sect will open their mountain in ten days."
The middle-aged official in black robes who had left the study before Liang Lian was already in the carriage waiting for him. When he put down the curtain, he spoke to a young official standing respectfully by the side.
The morning wind was cool, but the Zhou Family Ink Garden, which should have been quiet, was bustling and boisterous.
There were at least five groups of workmen busy around a wall being torn down. The households that originally lived in Falling Parasol were moving things into the garden. Some of the clothes that had been stored for many years were finally exposed to the sunlight and spread all over the garden. Many were worried as well as happy as they talked around their chosen houses. They discussed what they had to add. Should they add a stove to this exquisite house? Those patched blankets were too shabby compared to the large carved beds.
Some of the neighbours from the surroundings also came over to spectate. They admired this Ink Garden that was so difficult to access in the past. At the same time, they told others where the nearest market was, where the wells they could use to wash their rice and vegetables were, where the ponds were ……
"The Zhou Family Ink Garden was so aloof in the past. It could be said to be a cultivation place. This wineshop youth has only moved in for a few days, but wants to change it into a market. Such a great joke."
In a private second-floor room of a nearby teahouse, a middle-aged man in plain clothes said with slight disdain, "Zheng Xiu had probably not expected this wineshop youth would use this kind of joke to express his dissatisfaction."
"So the Min Mountain Sword Sect will open their mountain in ten days?" A black robed man next to him sneered. "If it really is just to get revenge on this wineshop youth, and not to give him enough time to prepare, then it will be a joke for everyone."
This man in black robes had a handsome face and looked very young. However, there was a tinge of white in his eyebrows. He did not give off a dangerous presence, but people could still sense he was extremely dangerous.
The middle-aged man in plain robes turned and looked at the black robed man. He slowly said, "This is foreseeable …… before the Deer Mountain Conference, the powers that displeased her could live in peace in Changling. But after she and Yuanwu completed everything they wanted to do before and after the Deer Mountain Conference, it will not be a problem if they dispelase her or not. She will choose those who will be the future pillars of the Qin and those she has to eliminate."
The black robed man smiled coldly and said, "So this is Zheng Xiu deliberately making a joke with everyone in the dynasty. She wants to see who will disobey. The Deer Mountain Conference was Yuanwu fighting the strongest of the world. This Min Mountain Sword Trials will be her wanting to completely take care of all internal matters."
The middle-aged man in plain robes said emotionally, "This wineshop youth’s eyes are clear. He used such a method to express his dissatisfaction to her. Regardless, even if we do not interfere, just Li Lingjun and the empress’ intentions will mean he cannot go far in the Min Mountain Sword Trials, much less enter the top three."
"Since Zheng Xiu has made such a joke, then everyone should come play."
The man in black robes looked at Ink Garden where the black and white lights had gone out. He said coolly, "I bet that this youth will enter the top three."
Ordering the Min Mountain Sword Trials to be suddenly held earlier did not symbolize that the empress of the Qin was petty-minded, or that the palace attendant working on her behalf was petty-minded to hold a grudge against a wineshop youth. This represented a kind of wilfulness, or rather, a kind of dominance.
In the twelfth year of Yuanwu, at the intersection of spring and summer after the Deer Mountain Conference ended, the emperor and empress who had rested for many years, finally showed their power once again, even though they were already absolute in power after they had established themselves.
In the small courtyard that Forefather Zhou had previously lived in, Ding Ning looked at Wang Taixu whose face was now ruddy and asked with a frown, "The news is true?"
Wang Taixu looked at him and said, "Just as true as can be."
Ding Ning said after a moment of silence, "Help me prepare a carriage. I need to return immediately to White Goat Cave."
"What are you preparing to do?"
After Wang Taixu left, Zhangsun Qianxue appeared behind Ding Ning, her cool voice filled with rare seriousness.
"Dozens of days suddenly become ten days. With normal methods, you definitely do not have the time to increase your cultivation from realm three second class to first class. Since Zheng Xiu has clearly expressed her opinion, if you do not reach realm three first class, you should not be able to win the Min Mountain Sword Trials. If you cannot win, you cannot enter the Min Mountain Sword Sect to learn the method you need, and you will die soon."
"But if you use extraordinary means and increase your cultivation to realm three first class during this brief time …… your secret will likely be exposed. At that time, you will also die."
"Regardless of your choice, this seems to be a deadlock. I cannot understand. I want to know, what are you going to do by returning to White Goat Cave?" Zhangsun Qianxue’s eyelashes fluttered as she looked at Ding Ning and asked.
"I will not expose the Nine Death Silkworm."
"This is not a dead end …… Everyone thinks that I cultivate the Explanation of the Spirit Source Way, but in reality, what I obtained from White Goat Cave’s library cave was the Three Corpses Nonself Consciousness Sutra."
As Zhang Yi drove the carriage, it started galloping towards White Goat Cave.
"Little Sect Brother……"
The wind messed up Zhang Yi’s hair and also his mind, causing him to make a mistake again, and speak according to his habit.
"This is nothing."
Ding Ning raised his head slightly from within the carriage, his eyes half-lidded. He thought and said, "The cave master is not in good health. From another perspective, the earlier the Min Mountain Sword Trials the better it is."
Zhang Yi stilled. He felt something blocking his throat and was unable to speak. A moment later, he nodded and said softly, "How much confidence do you have?"
"Seventy percent," Ding Ning thought seriously and said.
"Seventy percent?" Zhang Yi shouted in shock.
Because he could hear that Ding Ning was not joking, he was truly stunned. Only he, Shen Yi, and Xue Wangxu knew that what Ding Ning wanted to do in the Min Mountain Sword Trials wasn’t to reach the top ten or top three, but to be the winner!
Ding Ning nodded calmly and said in self-mockery, "I’ve already bet my life. If I cannot trade that for seventy percent, then I am too weak……"
White Goat Cave was quiet. After talking briefly with a sect uncle, Zhang Yi and Ding Ning sprinted up the mountain path. Zhang Yi stopped outside the library cave while Ding Ning continued and finally reached the grass huts in the valley.
Just like usual, Ding Ning sat down on one of the meditation mats in the grass hut. He calmly closed his eyes, and almost instantly reached the internal perception state.
Unlike his usual cultivation, the moment he started, Ding Ning’s presence grew violent.
The sound of silkworms sounded inside his body like these little silkworms had been starved for a long time. They all moved towards the lower part of his body, doing their best to tear and chew new leaves to devour into their bellies.
A pale white light appeared under his body.
With a poof, instantly, the meditation mat that had been woven from an unknown spirit grass was torn into countless pieces.
The spirit energy, that had originally been releasing slowly, became a raging flow in this moment and flooded into his body.
At the same time, his tightly closed right hand seemed to have turned transparent, emitting countless sparks.
His fingers were slowly pushed open by a strange power.
The pure white Human Sovereign Jade Annulus floated in his palm. The numerous stars revolving around it formed paths like it was its own world.
Ding Ning’s body shook slightly. His body gave off five successive sounds, as though five locks had been opened. His presence increased in ferocity!
His face became sickly red. Then threads of five-colored light came out of his skin, growing stronger as though the air around him was bursting into flame!
Translator Ramblings: This chapter felt like a series of snapshots …… the training cutscenes before the climax.
Volume 4 59 - Wager and Humiliation
Without a doubt, there was an astounding spirit vein in Tianliang’s last ancestral mountain. At the sight of the threads of milky white spirit energy radiating out of the river, the pair fell silent again.
Spirit veins were astounding wealth to any cultivator, and even a country. In Changling, because of Xue Wangxu and Ding Ning’s rebellion, even some of the students knew the reason White Goat Cave had been punished was because White Goat Cave had disobeyed the empress Zheng Xiu’s edict and was not willing to let her use the spirit vein.
Even though they had never seen the spirit vein deep in Zheng Xiu’s study in the imperial palace, through the many stories of Changling, the pair was sure that the spirit vein could not compare to this spirit vein in the Mountain of Ancestors.
“You should have listened to me, and let me put you down halfway.” Li Xixing took a deep breath and turned to Hu Jingjing. He said, “You are the only true student of Treasure Light. If you die, it will no longer exist.”
Hu Jingjing knew the meaning of his words. Just like how in the past many infected people here wanted to charge out, and many people who loved life had to kill their own relatives, numerous people had numerous choices. Their respect for Tianliang was not enough for the later countries to resist the lure of the spirit vein. For many years, the Wuzhi, Yuezhi, and Donghu did not have armies or cultivators who entered this ancestral land. This meant it was not out of respect, but because there was something terrifying to all experts of these countries here.
Hearing Li Xixing’s words, she inexplicably stopped trembling and smiled. “As expected, you wanted to find some medicinal herbs along the way, drop me off on the road somewhere so I could live.”
Li Xixing looked at her who smiled rather than grow nervous and frowned. “Are you mad?”
“What is the point?” Hu Jingjing was not angry and smiled unconcernedly. “Are you not the only heir to the Qin Dynasty City Guarding Sword? In terms of importance, your life is much more important than mine.”
Li Xixing glanced at her and wanted to speak but Hu Jingjing beat him to it. “Also, many people, even over a lifetime, cannot find a friend to go through life and death with.”
“You are so willing to die?” Li Xixing said coldly. “If so, then you are too easily content.”
Hu Jingjing was not angry and said, “If I have to die, at least it is better to be happy before death than unhappy.”
Li Xixing said mockingly, “Dying so young is definitely an unhappy thing.”
“At least I will not be lonely with someone.” Hu Jingjing’s smile faded. The herbs Li Xixing had given her were at least slightly effective, and she would not faint. She asked Li Xixing seriously, “Do you think it is possible that the terrifying plague in here has not faded. They do not dare to enter but want us to bring what is inside out?”
“Then kill us and take what they want from us? If that is the case, then why did they not send some criminals bound for execution here to help them?” Li Xixing’s disdain grew. “There are countless possibilities in this matter. If staying out is dying, and going in is dying, at least I will go in to die with understanding.”
The two seemed to be arguing but his steps did not stop. He came to the base of the Mountain of Ancestors by following the milky white river. When more spirit energy was at a place, everything would grow. But the closer they got to the black stone mountain, there were fewer plants, and their sight gradually broadened.
Then the two of them witnessed a strange scene.
At the end of the river were several springs at the mountain base. There was nothing growing around the springs. The white bones scattered outside were almost all gone, and the surroundings glinted with cold metal light.
One of the springs was hot, and formed a natural hot spring. All the milky white spirit energy came from that round hot spring that was less than ten feet wide. The spring was surrounded by all kinds of metal pieces. These metal pieces seemed to have melted and twisted together to flow along the ground.
When Li Xixing and Hu Jingjing saw the springs along the river, a wounded antelope was struggling towards the hot spring. There was already a white tiger by the hot spring, a dhole with earthy-colored fur, and also numerous fat white migratory birds.
The antelope was seriously wounded. A large bite had been torn out at its neck by a beast and it was bleeding constantly. Unimaginably, these wild beasts that usually ate the weak and could not coexist did not seem to care about the arrival of this antelope.
The dying antelope walked into the spring flowing with heat and spirit energy not far from their natural enemy, the dhole. The milky white spring water soaked the wound on its neck. Then Li Xixing and Hu Jingjing saw in surprise that its wound quickly stopped bleeding, and the flesh was regrowing. All the wild beasts did not seem to care about the pair’s arrival. They did not even howl. This place was still frighteningly calm.
Seeing this scene that was odd and unnatural, Hu Jingjing murmured: “Even the best spirit medicines of Changling cannot have such healing effects.”
“The legends say there is a Fountain of Eternal Life in Tianliang’s Mountain of Ancestors. It can revive white bone and create flesh,” Li Xixing murmured back.
“If Zheng Xiu knows this is true, and here is a spirit spring much greater than hers, would she go mad?” Hu Jingjing said sincerely, “I have no regrets in dying after I have seen such an incredible thing.”
Li Xixing heard the great hate she held towards Zheng Xiu in her words. He started to understand where the hate of this Treasure Light Temple disciple came from. He frowned and said, “Do not frequently talk of death.”
Hu Jingjing smiled. She did not speak and hugged Li Xixing tighter.
Li Xixing’s eyebrows rose. He did not speak, and walked into the shocking hot spring.
The water rippled. All the wild beasts in the water ignored these two uninvited guests.
Li Xixing tested the water temperature. There was only a weak heat. He sat and put Hu Jingjing down. When the warm spring water went over his chest, the wounds left from battle started to quickly heal, and even the extreme soreness and exhaustion he felt inside was slowly driven away by the warm water.
Hu Jingjing started to inhale deeply. She sensed life and vitality returning to her body. She was delighted. But looking at Li Xixing’s back, she pressed her lips together and did not mention death.
Li Xixing slowly looked up. There were black dots circling above in the sky.
The black eagles were soaring above the Mountain of Ancestors.
At the border of the ancestral land, above the valley, a patch of yellow grass parted to reveal Wu Lianzi and the man he called the Great Shaman.
“Great Shaman, they have reached the Mountain of Ancestors already. What should we do now?” Wu Liangzi looked at the hovering black eagles and could not help but ask the man next to him.
The man smiled and said softly, “Nothing. After the wineshop youth appears, then we enter.”
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