Chapter 62 Bleak
writer:
无罪 update:2022-07-21 15:26
Ding Ning exchanged a few words with Zhang Yi and Shen Yi before boarding the grey, and almost musty carriage. The old horses knew the route and didn’t even need the guidance of a driver. The two old horses pulled the carriage slowly through the streets of Changling.
In the cabin, Xue Yi sat with his back to Ding Ning. Ding Ning saw the tattoo on his scalp. It looked like a multicolored Earth Womb Bodhisattva with beads in his left hand and a staff in his right as he sat on a lotus platform. The bodhisattva had an expression of benevolence and compassion, but the color and compassion of the tattoo conflicted discomfortingly with Xue Yi’s presence.
The cabin was not sealed so as the carriage swayed, the curtain moved, and cold air would leak in.
Sitting in the innermost part of the cabin, Ding Ning pulled his collar tighter. He looked at the two brown horses between the swaying curtain and tried to find a topic of conversation. "These two old horses are obedient."
Sitting in front of him, Xue Yi said coldly, "The ones that aren’t have been killed already. After killing enough, there will be some obedient ones that remain. Animals are much easier to control than people. For animals, death is their greatest terror but people are different. Some people can go do something they think it is worthwhile and give up their life."
Ding Ning’s expression did not change but he made his heart beat slightly faster. He said, "I have never interacted with Official before. Why is Official warning me at the start?"
Xue Yi did not turn around. He only shook his head and said, "Do not think to have any delusions, I am casually lecturing you. Each young cultivator of Changling is a valuable part of the Qin Dynasty’s wealth."
Ding Ning grew silent and stopped speaking.
Xue Yi was one who would not speak if he did not have to. He allowed the old horses to drag the carriage forward. The carriage travelled for half a day and finally reached the suburbs of Changling and that deathly silently poplar wood.
When they neared that short stone building built near the riverside, Xue Yi spoke again, "When we enter the prison, you have to follow my footsteps. If you make a wrong step, you may die."
Ding Ning’s expression grew slightly grim but he still did not speak and nodded to indicate his understanding.
Xue Yi gave a soft cold laugh. He only revealed a small part of his presence, but the two tired old horses sank into great terror and started to gallop. In a few moments, they travelled hundreds of feet towards the stone walls of the building that didn’t seem to have a door.
Just before the horses were going to collide with the wall, a sudden wind rose in front of the stone wall. Light twisted, and became a cluster of intangible shadows.
The racing carriage passed through the wall and entered a space of great coldness. The light on the two sides quickly dimmed. Behind this intangible wall made from energy was a flat path. However, there were no windows on the two sides of the stone passageway so was completely dark. The horses’ hooves splashed in the darkness on the path that had at least two feet of water.
This was the Water Shadow Path, the only passageway into the Great Floating Water Prison.
There were at least five different kinds of powerful formations under the shallow water. When Ding Ning scanned with his mental power, he found there were far more than five different kinds of killing intent.
Sensing the coldness in the unfrozen water that was even colder than ice, thinking about that person imprisoned in the deepest part of this prison was always immersed in this bone-chilling water, Ding Ning stopped controlling the beating of his heart and the flow of his energies. He allowed his body to tremble.
With a splash, a burst of water landed on the ground. The carriage finally reached dry land.
This was dry land but the air was extremely dark and humid with a rotting presence coming from between the stone cracks. The two hold horses remained motionless when they stepped onto dry land as their bodies trembled uncontrollably. Someone was waiting like a ghost by the side and led away the two horses, leaving behind Xue Yi and Ding Ning in the carriage.
Xue Yi turned and glanced coldly at Ding Ning.
Ding Ning, who understood his meaning, walked behind him.
Xue Yi started to move, his grey boots leaving behind blurry footprints on the ground.
Ding Ning walked in his footsteps.
The Great Floating Water Prison was the best guarded place in the Qin Dynasty. Even people like Mo Qinggong were only allowed to enter when the person in charge gave permission. In the public’s imagination, the Great Floating Water Prison was many metal prisons immersed in the dark cold water.
But the reality was not so.
In front of Xue Yi and Ding Ning was an enormous mountain valley. There were enormous black stones the size of building standing in this lightless valley. This valley and the enormous stones were not illusions created by formations, but tangible objects which gave off the murderous intent of formations.
Xue Yi led Ding Ning to travel in the shadows of this black mountain and passed through this seemingly calm mountain valley.
After passing through this valley, grey mist started to form ahead of them. Ding Ning could not see what the path ahead looked light. Wild beasts seemed to linger in the grey mist and would charge out at any moment.
Xue Yi wound his way through the grey mist. Some of the paths were curved and uphill as though they were climbing a mountain.
After fifteen minutes, the light of some lanterns appeared in the grey mist.
Underneath the lanterns was a patch of cherry trees. The cherries were the deep purple kind of mountain cherries.
In this underground that never saw the light of day, this cherry forest was blooming inconceivably. The thick and bright purple color seemed to even stain the light of the lanterns so even the light of those lanterns looked light purple.
Ding Ning’s breathing paused slightly and his brow uncontrollably furrowed. He was not pretending to be shocked, but truly nervous. He hadn’t expected Xue Yi to lead him past here today.
This was a true threat to him.
Xue Yi stepped into the purple cherry forest. Ding Ning stepped on his footsteps. With this step, all the flower petals on the surrounding cherry trees left their branches and danced around him and Xue Yi.
This was a stunning scene that could not be described with words. Countless flower petals danced and shone brightly in the air. Yet for Ding Ning, this beautiful picture contained countless dangerous lines.
Just like how Zhang Yi and the others had been with the Painting Remnant Scroll, if his mind accidentally went into any of the lines, these dancing purple cherry flowers would give off some special energies.
He had to look as they walked through the rain of flowers, yet these lines were extremely familiar to him. It was extremely difficult for him to see these lines, but not touch them with his mind at all and pretend he did not see or sense them.
When his mind was slowly being lured away, as he felt terror rise and sweat about to appear on his back, Zhangsun Qianxue’s face flashed through Ding Ning’s mind.
"I need to leave here unharmed."
"I cannot leave her alone in Changling."
"I must walk through here."
These three sentences repeated in Ding Ning’s mind.
Then his mind was thrown into a storm of wind and snow just like how it was during the nights that they cultivated together. His mind grew icy calm.
As Xue Yi walked out of the cherry forest at the front, the dancing purple flower petals flew back to the branches like butterflies. The wild purple cherry forest still looked as though it was in the middle of its flowering, just the same as before.
Ding Ning looked back. Looking at the wild cherry forest, he said coldly inside,
Xue Yi continued to advance.
They passed through a stone passageway that seemed to have bottomless abysses on both sides before finally stopping in front of a stone room that looked like a grave. Xue Yi turned to Ding Ning and said flatly, "We are here."
After saying this, Xue Yi silently left Ding Ning standing alone in front of the stone room. Ding Ning carefully controlled the flow of energies in his body and made his heart beat faster.
"Come in." A voice came out of the stone room in front of him as though it came from a high place. Because it was too high, it was too cold.
Ding Ning seemed to hesitate and didn’t dare to step.
"Come in. Since Official Shen has said for you to enter, there will be no danger here," a voice that Ding Ning was familiar with came out.
Ding Ning’s eyes lit up slightly and said, "Official Mo."
Then he did not hesitate and walked quickly into the stone room.
The thin and tall Shen Xuan looked coldly at Ding Ning who walked through the doorway.
"Sit." He nodded at a metal chair in front of him for Ding Ning to sit.
Ding Ning glanced at Mo Qinggong who was beside him and sat down on the icy metal chair without a word.
Shen Xuan reached out with a hand. He was so thin and tall that even his hand was longer than ordinary people. So when he reached out, his palm landed on Ding Ning’s head.
Ding Ning was unable to dodge even if he saw it.
Shen Xuan’s fingers tensed slightly as power went through the flesh and bones in Ding Ning’s head before he relaxed.
Undisguised regret and melancholy appeared on his face.
He had been one of the most important people in the ascension of Emperor Yuanwu but he later ended up in charge of the Great Floating Water Prison. In the eyes of the Changling elite, he must have either caused Emperor Yuanwu’s displeasure in some matter, or Emperor Yuanwu did not like using people who had betrayed others.
Yet he knew that he did not come to the Great Floating Water Prison because of a demotion, but because of his own request. This concerned his cultivation.
Where in the world would there be so many powerful cultivators as in the Great Floating Water Prison? Where would there be so many living cultivator bodies for him to freely dissect and study? Also, these people would speak of many cultivation tactics and experiences.
So this Great Floating Water Prison was an enormous treasure hoard.
Due to choosing such a path, in the early years of Yuanwu, his cultivation was less than Ye Celeng and the marquises, but by now, he was stronger than most of them.
Everything was a fallacy, only power was true.
Power was status.
Compared to vital energy and presence, a cultivator’s flesh and bones could not be faked. He only needed a touch to sense the strength of the other’s physical body and the "newness" of the bones. The bone age would be the true age.
When he first noticed Ding Ning’s existence, he thought of this wine shop youth’s astounding rise, and had an astounding thought, or rather hope. If this wine shop youth was that person’s heir …… then this cultivation speed, comprehension, and fighting ability would make sense. If this was true, if he could learn some things from this wine shop youth, then his strength and status in Changling would be completely different.
But to his regret and disappointment, there were no problems with this youth. All the responses, and even the true age, said that the possibility was not possible.
This wine shop youth was born three years after that person died. How could he have any connection to that person? He could not have received personal teaching and experiences from that person.
Because he was so disappointed, he became melancholy.
Translator Ramblings: Xue Yi means "blood one" so there should technically be a Blood Two and Blood Three ……
Volume 2 62 - Bleak
This chapter has been brought to you by me, and larkspur.
When the hot air turned cold, Zhang Yi’s body froze. The scabbard by his waist started to vibrate …… instinctively, he wanted to act, even while he knew the status of Palace Attendant Rong in front of the carriage was extremely high, so high that she could have many cultivators like him disappear in Changling with a word.
Yet, at this time, Xue Wangxu, who he was supporting, shook his head quietly.
His head shake was not to stop Zhang Yi, but telling him that any movement was useless.
This hand, made from primal energies of the universe, emanated a clean porcelain light, like a porcelain born from the best kiln in the world. The moment it appeared in front of Ding Ning, the air around Zhang Yi and him had solidified. Even if Zhang Yi wanted to pull out his sword, he could not accomplish it.
Ding Ning looked down at this hand. He was also unable to fight back. He said, in a cold tone which other people could not understand, "You are just peak realm six."
Palace Attendant Rong’s brows showed a hint of coldness. In her view, the things she had done previously was teaching this wineshop youth to follow the rules of Changling. She had not considered whether her actions were just to this youth. She just thought that this youth was obsessed, and moving further on the wrong path.
The black curtain in front of her flickered again in a wave. The hand made from primal energies of the universe landed on Ding Ning.
There was a soft sound.
The seemingly heavy hand disappeared as though it had permeated Ding Ning’s body. The back of Ding Ning’s shirt immediately bulged. The skin on his back seemed to make sounds, like leaking ships. His blue robe lit up, shining with countless lines of light. Each line of light gave off powerful winds, and each wind contained a pure presence.
Zhang Yi and Shen Yi paled in extreme terror and anger, causing their bodies to tremble uncontrollably.
And yet, Ding Ning’s face was calm and cold without any change. But his skin paled. Underneath his pale skin, the five colored lights climbed like colored centipedes that would burrow out of his body at any moment.
The spectators in the surroundings did not know what was happening here, but they unconsciously felt the terror of death, and retreated in shock.
The black curtain trembled minutely. Palace Attendant Rong looked at Ding Ning from within the carriage and slowly said, "Based on Fang Xiumu’s evaluation, if you start cultivating, you may not live to your prime. Using your physical energies like this, you will just live a few years."
"Fight to live in mortal danger? You think that quickly increasing your cultivation through forcibly generating the physical energies in your organs will let you gain a spot in the trial?"
She paused, shook her head and said even more coldly, "You should understand now. After fighting for your life, are you able to decide life or death?"
"You …… how can you do this!"
Out of anger, Zhang Yi’s face turned from pale to blood red. He wanted to curse this palace attendant, but because he had always been a gentleman, so even in anger, this was the only thing he could say.
The hand made from primal energies of the universe did not give Ding Ning much tangible danger, but forced much of the vital energy Ding Ning had accumulated, out of his body.
Ding Ning’s cultivation was realm three first class right now, but his body was extremely empty. He had the cultivation but not much useable vital energy. Even more importantly, the Min Mountain Sword Trials was about to start. Ding Ning did not have enough time to replenish his vital energy.
Palace Attendant Rong’s expression did not change. Her gaze landed on Xue Wangxu who was next to Zhang Yi.
A chill once again appeared among the hot air.
In the sky, there seemed to be a shadow that landed on Zhang Yi, Shen Yi, and Xue Wangxu.
Ding Ning’s breathing suddenly stopped.
Zhang Yi and Shen Yi felt cold all over. Xue Wangxu, who they were supporting, coughed. A hint of bitterness appeared at the corners of his lips.
"You cruel woman!"
Zhang Yi suddenly realized what was happening. Even though he had not said anything ugly in anger just now, he cursed for the first time in his life.
"Having the White Goat Cave students attend the Min Mountain Sword Trials is the greatest of tolerance," Palace Attendant Rong said with an unchanging expression as she looked at Ding Ning and Xue Wangxu. "We have given you many chances, but you do not know what to regret and change …… Xue Wangxu. While you are allowed to see this Min Mountain Sword Trials, your health is too poor, and you will not finish watching this."
Shen Yi was stunned. He could sense that the chill seemed to reach into his bone marrow, but his body had warmed up. He did not understand what had happened, and why Eldest Sect Brother, usually the most gentle of people, would be so angry. Yet, hearing Palace Attendant Rong’s words, he started to understand what influence that cold, insignificant to him, would affect the already weak Xue Wangxu.
His body uncontrollably trembled.
"We will let you see the Min Mountain Sword Trials, but not all of it." Palace Attendant Rong’s expression turned cold. "I have come personally to teach you to follow the rules of Changling. Do you still not understand?"
Zhang Yi’s hands trembled, his knuckles growing white. He was about to pull out his sword.
"I understand."
At this time, Ding Ning took a step forward.
Ding Ning took a step forward and blocked him from the sight of the black carriage.
Palace Attendant Rong’s eyes suddenly narrowed.
She did not release any primal energies of the universe, but the air in front of her filled with cold again. What made her feel colder was the calm murderousness on Ding Ning’s face.
Ding Ning’s face seemed to be covered with countless flakes of ice cut by swords. The edges were sharp and layers that she could not see through.
"I understand. Because the Deer Mountain Conference is finished, everything is settled. So you can ignore the thoughts and actions of many people," Ding Ning looked at her through the black curtain and said.
"But you should know, some things, because of me, did not change."
"I do not need any reward. I only want to use my own strength to attend the Min Mountain Sword Trials and let Cave Master finish watching. Am I wrong?"
Palace Attendant Rong’s face grew dark.
She did not need to think whether Ding Ning’s words made sense, because to her, the ’you’ Ding Ning spoke of was not her.
"You have gone too far."
Ding Ning took a deep breath. He did not disguise his murderousness and said seriously, "If you only target me, then never mind. But you ……"
"Ding Ning!"
Xue Wangxu seemed to know what Ding Ning was about to say. His expression changed, and he shouted.
"You are only a palace attendant, a palace attendant whose cultivation has only reached peak realm six, and not even realm seven. Who do you think you are?" Even so, Ding Ning did not stop. He looked at the black curtain and deepend his voice. "After the Min Mountain Sword Trials, I will challenge you …… I will kill you!"
A realm three first class cultivator saying such a thing to a peak realm six cultivator was very laughable.
But no one found it amusing now.
Palace Attendant Rong’s eyes narrowed like a tiger seeing blood.
"How long can you live?" She laughed coldly and said darkly, "If you have the courage to challenge me in the future, I will give you a chance."
"You cannot refuse. Refusing to fight in Changling is extremely shameful. You will not allow shame from someone like me. Also, you definitely have relatives." Ding Ning looked at the palace attendant and emphasized each word. "You are just a palace attendant."
"You are threatening me?" Palace Attendant Rong laughed in ridicule.
A low level Changling cultivator like Ding Ning was insignificant to her. So in front of such words, she did not have much anger.
"Cave Master ……"
Zhang Yi gave a sad wail.
Xue Wangxu’s health had always been worsening, but at this moment, the rate of deterioration was one that even he could feel.
Xue Wangxu sighed softly.
He looked at Zhang Yi and Shen Yi, and then at Ding Ning and the gates to Min Mountain Sword Sect. At this time, he felt content, but helpless.
"You can beg me now."
Ding Ning looked at the black curtain and said coldly, "All of the students attending the Min Mountain Sword Trials have entered. Following will be the emperor worshipping the heavens and establishing the crown prince. They will not wait for anyone. If I do not enter now, everyone will think you are stopping me. You stop me from entering. In everyone’s view, you have done too much. Even if you really do not care about other people’s views, your conduct should at least be acceptable …… so you can beg me now, beg me to enter the Min Mountain Sword Sect."
"Nonsense!"
Palace Attendant Rong shouted. Her expression changed multiple times, and then she tapped softly on the walls of the carriage.
The carriage carrying her sprinted away from Ding Ning and the others.
She naturally did not think that Ding Ning and the others would really not enter Min Mountain Sword Sect, so she would not beg Ding Ning.
But being forced to drive away from Ding Ning to express that she did not want to block the path was a defeat and humiliation was hard for her to tolerate.
"Little Sect Brother ……"
Zhang Yi’s mouth jerked. He called the wrong label yet again. He really wanted to cry now.
Because after this trial, he may lose not just a teacher, but also this junior sect brother.
"We will enter the gates."
Yet, Ding Ning just calmly turned around and walked towards him. "Eldest Sect Brother, I will support the cave master. I have some words to say to the cave master alone."
Translator Ramblings: In Palace Attendant Rong’s view, Ding Ning should be thankful that he was "rewarded" after saving Fu Su’s life and that debt has already been repaid. In response, Ding Ning is threatening her with public opinion.
Volume 7 63 - *Chapter Sixty-Three: Chaos in Mind **
“A good choice, then come along.”
Jing Liuli did not stop, and naturally walked to Dugu Bai’s side, spoke to this youth who had used an unknown amount of courage to make this decision. Then she looked up at the shadow of the Nether dragon that was getting close to the Changling imperial palace and said, “Master once said, regardless of someone’s birth, people who do not understand their path will not get far on the path of cultivation, what decides whether you end up on top is not your strength, but if you submit and live.”
Dugu Bai was silent. He glanced at the Nether dragon, and felt admiration again.
The mountainous Nether dragon finally descended above the imperial palace, the body covering half the light from the sky. As its energy swelled from its body, it started to snow from the sky.
An astounding number of cultivators had gathered around the imperial palace. The Changling cultivators all had their own choices. After a decade of management by Emperor Yuanwu, most cultivation places and cultivators chose to be loyal to him. Countless sword lights gathered together, and wove into a dazzling rainbow around the palace. Such a scene was spectacular and full of killing intent.
When the Nether dragon’s body descended, many seal weapons and sword lights broke through the air and left behind countless strange like tracks. The greenness in the Nether dragon’s eyes had faded. It started to breathe rapidly. As its body made a strange dragon howl that rang through the sky, its whiskers, horns, claws, and the patterns on the black scales started to surge with freezing black energy.
First, ice started to fly through the sky, and then these pieces of ice formed giant ice pieces which fell down crazily. These pieces of ice collided with the primal energies of the universe on the ground. Most of them did not touch the ground, exploding in the air. The fine ice pieces produced quickly froze. In the eyes of all the cultivators on the ground, the shadow of the Nether dragon expanded, like a divine ship flying through the air.
Frost froze between the tiles, the coldness greater than the frost in the world turning these tiles unusually crisp. Any vibration would cause them to make an ear-splitting crack.
Empress Zheng was below the skylight in her study, just like she usually spent her time. She did not need to look up to sense the Nether dragon coming closer. Other than her, all the cultivators who could stop this Nether dragon from coming close were in the Min Mountain area, much less being able to kill it.
The Nether dragon did not need to land directly. Just using the cover of its energy, Baili Suxue could easily enter the palace, and appear in front of her at any time.
In the view of everyone outside, she should hide. She could flee.
But no one knew what she was thinking. She just stood there coldly, waiting for Baili Suxue to arrive.
There were many metal puppets on the two sides of the stone path to her study. They were all seal weapons. In the shadows of the walls on the side or in the shadow of the courtyard, many cultivators were waiting.
Suddenly, her perfect brows rose.
A light appeared in the sky above the stone path, just like space was being twisted by a strange power, and a door was about to appear.
A Jiaodong Commandery cultivator hidden in the shadows sensed this and was about to attack. But he found that he could not move. The blood in his body froze, and then he quickly died.
The seal weapons on the stone path that would usually activate when energy vibrations were sensed did not move. Even the energies in the seals were frozen.
Silently, Baili Suxue’s figure appeared on the stone path.
A streak of white frost spread from his feet. When they were just dozens of feet away from Zheng Xiu, this streak of white frost stopped advancing, like they were cut away by a knife. There was some silent star fire burning on the borders of the white frost.
No one moved, not even the loyal death warriors because at this time, Zheng Xiu spoke.
She looked at Baili Suxue and asked coldly, “How does it feel to come here?”
Baili Suxue did not want to look at her face, and just stared at the star fire burning at the border of the white frost. He said coolly, “Very good.”
“You do not feel there are any problems with what you have done?” Zheng Xiu said to him after a moment of silence.
Baili Suxue frowned, finally looking at her, but did not speak.
“People will always change.” Complicated flames seemed to be pulsing in Zheng Xiu’s wooden eyes. She slowly said, “A person, from young to old, both in body and mind, how much will they change? The you back then you first learned the sword and the you of the present, are you the same in action and mind?”
“I was very young back then, a young girl who had just entered Changling. I carried many things you could not imagine. At many times, I do not know myself what to choose, and what to do.”
**
There could be more experts arriving outside the imperial palace, but Baili Suxue was not in a hurry. He patiently listened to Zheng Xiu speak and then smiled in scorn. “You say this, do you mean that it is because of me, so you were forced to become a person like this?”
“I did not worry what other people said to him, but you were once his best friend.”
Zheng Xiu’s face had been pale to start with, like porcelain, but when she said this, her face seemed to paler, so white that even her flesh seemed to turn transparent.
“I will worry about what you say to him.”
She looked at Baili Suxue and said in a soft but icy voice, “Before I thought about what kind of person I want to become, you said to him that we were not a good couple. You judged too early.”
“Your thoughts are in chaos, and so is your reasoning.” Baili Suxue shook his head and said, “You mean, no matter what bad things you did in the past, no matter how evil you were in the past, if you decide to be a good person in the end, all that occurred in the past does not exist? Also, you never reformed, you became more evil because you feared the matters being exposed…… Did you reach this step just because of my few words?”
“Each person has their own reason. You feel it is not because of you, but if not for you, he may not have doubted me at all, maybe I would have decided to become the person he hoped for.” Zheng Xiu’s chest rose and fell rapidly. She looked up at the sky and said slowly and seriously, “The tracks of many things change because of minor matters. You think that I killed him, but in my view, maybe you, his best friend, killed him.”
Baili Suxue rarely smiled. Even if he did, he only gave slightly icy smiles. But at this time, hearing Zheng Xiu’s words, he laughed, laughed out loud.
“You have said so much, wanting a firm reason to kill me, wanting to arouse your own fighting spirit, so your word essence will be more perfect. But you have exposed one thing…… Your heart is in chaos. Up to today, you still regret. You still think, if not for me, you and Wang Jingmeng may have become the most perfect couple in the world.” Baili Suxue looked with scorn and sympathy at Zheng Xiu, saying, “I really feel sad for Yuanwu.”
Volume 5 63 - Spirit Mountain
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