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Chapter Seventy-Two: Aid
writer:无罪      update:2022-07-21 15:26
  “I wonder what Changling is like right now.”


  In the dust mountains outside Yin Mountain, Tantai Guanjian looked in the direction of Changling and could not help but speak.

  “If no one else is coming, no matter how it is in Changling, it has nothing to do with us,” the black-robed youth Qian Mu responded.

  The passage of time in this formation that Ye Xiao had created at the cost of his life seemed to have a twisted feeling. The light dimmed and brightened in and out when disrupted by the energies of the dust mountains, and it was not possible to tell day from night.

  There were the corpses of many flying snakes and other beasts around them. The soaring snakes, while not as powerful as Baili Suxue’s Nether dragon, were true dragons. Even though their limbs were cut off by sword energies, they smashed to the ground like a mountain of flesh and gave an unreal feeling.

  Not just tiredness, the Donghu monk and Qian Mu were unable to keep fighting.

  At this time, Tantai Guanjian was in the best state. Hearing Qian Mu’s words, he grimaced. He did not have the confidence to fight even one realm seven. He usually was not a chatty person, but because he had no confidence, he could not help but say some nonsense.

  Ding Ning understood the feeling very well. In the many battles he had experienced before, the generals of some armies did not fear death, but when the situation was not good and they sensed that death was about to come, many of them would think of things they usually did not think, and say some nonsense. Some people would think of their childhood, and would even have some hallucinations in their daze.

  “Jiaodong Commandery’s hundreds of years of assets has been put down here by her here so easily.”


  In the dust mountains, the clouds and mist were twisted into strange shapes. Some of the blood of the beasts were suspended in the air, and occasionally, large drops would come down, creating splashes.

  Zhangsun Qianxue was a person who liked cleanliness, and she was uncomfortable in this environment. She was leaning against Ding Ning, her face unusually pale. She was unable to rest and replenish her energy. After several battles, she had reached the limits of her endurance, just like poor farmland that could not produce any more grain.

  “As long as they kill us, the entire world will be hers. But if we do not die, she would suffer a great loss now,” she looked at Ding Ning and said.

  She was chattier than usual but still very calm. Living and dying together represented steadfastness, but was something most people in the world could not achieve. But she could do it easily.

  The roars of the soaring snakes and other beasts sounded in the sky with twisted light again. Another wave of attacks was about to come.

  The Jiaodong Commandery envoy in the distance clearly was acting according to her wishes, and did not care how many of the soaring snakes were left. He carefully separated these soaring snakes and other beasts into many batches, so they could not all be killed together by a powerful sword move, and so they would not have any chance to rest.

  This Jiaodong Commandery cultivator was located in a place where several powerful surges of energy originated. Clearly, there was a battle between realm sevens. Clearly, a grandmaster coming to help wanted to kill this Jiaodong Commandery expert who was controlling many soaring snakes, and clearly did not succeed.

  “Do you remember Su Ye Temple?” Ding Ning looked at her and asked.

  Zhangsun Qianxue stilled and then nodded.

  Su Ye Temple was not the name of a temple, but the name of an old academian of Changling imperial city back then. Yuanwu had not been the only imperial son of the Qin dynasty back then. This old academian Su Ye Temple of the Qin imperial palace supported another imperial son.

  So when Yuanwu’s wings grew, and he could threaten the other imperial son, this old academian did something very direct, he personally went to assassinate the strongest supporter of Yuanwu, Wang Jingmeng.

  The result of that battle was he was killed by Wang Jingmeng and Yan Xinlan.

  “I helped Yuanwu by killing someone, now the descendants of Su Ye Temple come to kill us. Isn’t this very ironic?” Ding Ning took a deep breath and said with slight bitterness.

  Zhangsun Qianxue’s body stiffened. She understood the meaning in Ding Ning’s words.

  “If that is just it, then it is very good,” she relaxed, held his hand and said softly.

  At least this time, they could die together.

  **

  The Donghu monk was resting by sitting with his eyes closed. Tantai Guanjian and Qian Mu heard Ding Ning and Zhangsun Qianxue’s conversation, and their expressions suddenly changed.

  There was an explosion in the air which covered the howling of the soaring snakes. Then, an enormous pillar of smoke, burning with flame, fell from the sky at high speed like a falling star.

  When this pillar of smoke appeared, the green grasses soaked in blood on the ground quickly withered like their life was drawn away.

  Boom!

  This pillar of smoke hit the ground, and caused a violent vibration.

  But when the shockwave was still visibly expanding through the air, it caused the dust mountains to waver and Tantai Guanjian’s eyes widened to their limits.

  At the center of the impact, a fire was burning. This was a terrifying presence caused by the friction between special primal energies of the universe and the air.

  But such a flame had no life.

  The body of a cultivator, in a strange posture, just like a sword stabbed into a cracked pit. Under the great impact, the spine of this cultivator was snapped into several pieces. His body looked like it was folded together, and he was half as short as usual. Naturally, he was dead.

  Ding Ning was stunned. The presence from the cultivator was very familiar, like it was of the branch of the old academian. But he had not expected that when he just sensed the presence, he had become a corpse fallen on the ground.

  An unusual indigo shadow appeared in the sky with strong energy vibrations.

  The moment Tantai Guanjian saw this indigo shadow, his ewes filled with joy. But in the next moment, his heart turned cold and he said in shock, “How come you are here as well?”


  The indigo figure suddenly paused when close to the ground, pausing silently and then softly landing on the ground. He wore the indigo robes of Min Mountain Sword Sect.

  When Zhangsun Qianxue saw this person’s face, she understood why Zhangsun Qianxue reacted like this.

  Other than Baili Suxue and Tantai Guanjian, there were two other people from Min Mountain Sword Sect that the outside world was so wary of, the Butcher Geng Ren and Qing Yaoyin, who was famed as a breeder of gods and demons.

  This person in sight was dressed in tattered indigo robes, it was Qing Yaoyin.

  Tantai Guanjian was not in Changling, and he was worried about Min Mountain Sword Sect and Min Mountain Sword Sect’s safety. But now, even Qing Yaoyin was here…… he did not even dare to imagine.

  Qing Yaoyin nodded in greeting at Ding Ning, Zhangsun Qianxue and the others. But he did not immediately speak, looking up at the sky he had come down from.

  There were several enormous and savage heads coming through the clouds, their dim yellow eyes filled with cruel and bloodthirsty light.

  Volume 3 72 - So This Was How It Was

  On the sacrificial altar, many officials were hurriedly putting away ceremonial items.

  Standing in a corner, Huang Zhenwei was gazing at the jade door.

  As the bureau chief of the Clan Law Bureau, he had been present today, dressed up grandly. But compared to the Deer Mountain Conference, he appeared very tired, and even had an indescribable fragility about him.

  “What do you think of Ding Ning’s actions?”


  A cool female voice sounded behind him.

  Huang Zhenwei turned in slight shock, and became even more shocked when he saw the other’s appearance.

  He looked at Pan Ruoye who was dressed in light purple palace attire. He directly expressed the shock he felt. “I’ve heard that Palace Master Pan is elegant and does not concern yourself with matters of the world. Why would you mention Ding Ning specially?”


  “If I was not concerned with the matters of the world, I would not have gone to Deer Mountain.”


  After using up the energies she had accumulated for dozens of years, Pan Ruoye was as weak and tired as Huang Zhenwei. She spoke softly without expression. “We have some karma. Bureau Chief Huang is one of the smartest people in Changling. It is ordinary to want to hear Bureau Chief Huang’s opinion.”


  “I do not dare.”


  Huang Zhenwei raised his folded hands in greeting and sighed softly. He said, “He is astounding, but acting like this is fighting with his back to the water. He has not much room to retreat …… he wants to be first in all things, he will have great expenditures. In the later stages of the trial, when these students fight each other, he will be at a disadvantage.”


  Pan Ruoye was silent for a moment and said, “You mean that he is unlikely to win in the end?”


  Huang Zhenwei nodded.

  He had no advantages to start with, and he had added a chain to himself …… He thought, even if it was his teacher making a judgement, he would think that Ding Ning could not win in the end, unless a miracle occurred.

  There were not so many miracles in the world.

  In the eyes of Palace Attendant Rong, there were no miracles in the world.

  Zhang Yi passed through the light of the jade doors.

  Then he was stunned.

  Behind the doors was not a new world, but a vast green jade mountain path that went up directly. But it looked completely different from the outside.

  The mountain that this path was on did not look flat like it did on the outside, but unusually steep. This mountain path seemed to be embedded vertically on the steep walls. Along the green jade path were valleys, canyons, and towers.

  At this time, at the end of his sight, was a copper colored palace. On the mountain path between him and this copper palace were three floating pitch black metal pillars.

  At first glance, he thought these were metal pillars.In the next moment, he realized that these were three sword nuclei. These three had not been completely forged, but under the swings of the blacksmiths, they were nuclei that had a preliminary shape.

  Ding Ning was standing silently under the first sword nucleus.

  The sword nucleus was large, slightly taller and wider than him.

  Zhang Yi was the second to enter so he could follow his “little sect brother.” So after he recovered from his daze, he moved quickly behind Ding Ning.

  As it floated in front of him, the black sword nucleus seemed to be wrapped in a mysterious power. The surface of the sword nucleus was rough. It appeared to have no special patterns, just the uneven bumps formed by the forging. But these bumps and the shadow on the sword blade seemed to twist in Zhang Yi’s eyes and perfectly block this entire mountain path.

  Zhang Yi’s breathing involuntarily stopped. He could sense a strange energy flow, but he was not sure what it was. But he was certain that the strange flow of energy blocked the mountain path in front of him. If he could not understand, he could not pass through this sword.

  “This sword nucleus tests perception. Do not think of anything else. Just grasp the direction of flow for one of the sword energies.”


  Ding Ning’s voice sounded softly at this time.

  After turning slightly to speak to Zhang Yi, Ding Ning closed his eyes again.

  Zhang Yi was stunned again.

  He could sense the physical energies in Ding Ning’s body moving with rhythm. So, at this moment, Ding Ning was not quickly comprehending, but in a cultivation state so he could replenish vital energy.

  Since he said it was testing perception, how could he pass by cultivating vital energy and not perceiving?

  The first green jade doors did not have any difficulty. Any person could comprehend. After the demonstration, everyone could copy and pass.

  The Min Mountain Sword Sect had not wanted to eliminate any student at the first jade doors. Just like Zhang Yi had said, they were using this to warn any person who entered the Min Mountain Sword Sect to study to remember to respect their teacher and know their manners.

  Many students did not feel good that they were not the first to realize the way to pass and only passed after others had demonstrated. Especially some of the prouder and exceptional talents who were even less willing and urgently followed.

  It would take a long time for thousands of students to bow and pass. Especially, when some students near the front did not immediately bow. This delayed the others even more.

  But when most students entered the jade doors, there were people all around the black sword. Just like previously when there was a dense crowd, no one had passed by this black sword nucleus.

  Under the shadow cast by the black sword nucleus, a pale youth dressed in crimson robes turned around, and looked dazedly at Ding Ning who was nearby.

  He was Jian Damei, a student of Chonghua Sword School. He ranked twentieth on the Book of Talents. But even him had expended great mental effort in his comprehension and his robes were soaked in sweat.

  Only just now had he sensed there was a speedy energy moving around the sword . But he did not understand the connection between this speedy burst of energy, the sword nucleus and how to pass this test.

  He was even more bewildered by why Ding Ning was still cultivating and replenishing his vital energy at this time.

  When did Ding Ning want to start comprehending this black sword?

  A youth in pure white robes suddenly relaxed from his frown. He looked to be of similar age to Zhang Yi. He was fully grown so he looked tall and upright. He had handsome features, his long black hair tied up with a white jade ring, rendering him a clean look.

  He had come in near the middle, but he could clearly sense the energy on the black sword. He had sensed the way to pass this test, so he decided to pass.

  But at this time, Jian Daomei’s pupils contracted fiercely.

  Gasps sounded.

  This youth in pure white robes suddenly froze.

  Ding Ning’s eyes were open.

  Without any extra movements, Ding Ning started to walk towards the black sword floating in front of him.

  When most people were guessing what he was going to do, Ding Ning pulled out his sword.

  He pulled the Last Flower Remnant Sword from his waist, and then made a simple stab at a part of the sword .

  There was a vibration.

  This sound was not loud, but many people unconsciously shook.

  The surface of the black sword suddenly lit up. Layers of heated red light appeared from the shadows of the bumps as though fire was about to erupt!

  But in the next moment, nothing happened.

  The black sword didn’t even sway. The red light on the sword nucleus instantly receded like the tide.

  Ding Ning had put his sword away and passed by the sword .

  All the students were shocked speechless.

  “Little Sect Brother ……”


  Zhang Yi called out.

  He once again said the wrong appellation. But in his call, his joyful surprise exceeded his shock.

  Even with Ding Ning’s reminder at the start, he had only just managed to learn the method to pass. Ding Ning’s performance now caused him to realize that Ding Ning had known the way to pass this black sword at the start!

  In the time that he had taken to pass through the jade doors and follow behind Ding Ning, Ding Ning had comprehended the way to pass this black sword!

  His little sect brother …… was really divine!

  As Zhang Yi’s heart filled with joyful surprise, that youth in pure white robes who had been preparing to move frowned deeply. His eyes were cold.

  He had understood from the start?

  What kind of comprehension speed was this?

  Also, Ding Ning had stopped replenishing his vital energy when he was thinking of passing the black sword. Was this a coincidence?

  Jian Daomei looked dazedly at Ding Ning’s back behind the black sword. His body involuntarily trembled.

  He did not believe that what he had seen was real. Yet, Ding Ning’s sword strike just now had resolved his last doubt and caused him to understand the connection between the flowing energy and the sword nucleus.

  “So this is how it is!”


  More and more people understood and felt even greater shock.

  A youth in inky Daoist robes walked towards the black sword nucleus.

  Many recognized him as Fan Xingling of the Tung Temple.

  Fan Xingling had only just had an epiphany and unconsciously followed. He was certain that if he stopped the flow of the energy with his sword, the energies inside the sword nucleus would still for a moment. Then, he could pass by, just like Ding Ning had, without any eruption.

  So he also attacked with his sword.

  His sword was a pitch black sword three feet long. With a clang, his sword stabbed towards a part of the black sword nucleus.

  The surface of the black sword nucleus lit up immediately. But for some unknown reason, in the next moment, the red light coming out of the uneven surface of the black sword nucleus did not disappear silently but gave off loud roars.

  It was like many people were swinging burning red hammers at this sword nucleus.

  Pang pang pang pang ……

  Fan Xingling’s black sword seemed to be hit by these rushes of hot air.

  His body shook and fell backwards. He opened his mouth and threw up a mouthful of blood.

  Translator Ramblings: Being a copycat doesn’t always pay off.