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Chapter Seventy-Three: I Will Collect
writer:无罪      update:2022-07-21 15:26
  The dozen cultivators were standing in the wind and snow in front of Zhangsun Qianxue. Their figures were gradually obscured by stronger wind and snow, but her steps slowed even more.

  The power released by these cultivators formed indigo pillars that stretched into the sky but strangely connected together. Zhangsun Qianxue did not use her casual slash like before. She sensed the movements of these cultivators, and stabbed at the cultivator with the weakest presence.

  The coldness faded, and the air in this space seemed to suddenly warm up. All the coldness gathered in her sword, and stabbed towards this cultivator.

  The cultivators shouted together, the indigo pillars connected together like dragons suddenly forming indigo fire. The pieces of ice gathered quickly in the direction Zhangsun Qianxue pointed, forming an icicle tens of feet long as it stabbed towards that cultivator. The indigo fires flew out of the pillars like moths to a flame.

  The indigo flying fire disappeared. Pieces of ice sprayed off the icicle, and it shrank, gradually disappearing by the time it was several feet away from that cultivator. Zhangsun Qianxue’s eyes seemed to burn with red flame, but her expression did not change as she took another step.

  The cultivators in the formation seemed to shudder in unison and took several dozen steps back. The cultivator she was pointing at with her sword now had several sounds on him, many red lines.

  Mo Ying knew the power of the formation created by these cultivators. In reality, these cultivators from different sects had followed him all this time, and had evolved this formation more than a dozen years, just to prevent assassinations from the experts of Ba Mountain Sword Field. So he knew the power and realm represented by Zhangsun Qianxue’s attack. After hiding for many years, this Eldest Miss Gongsun dared to cultivate with this violent sword no one in the world dared do. She had not been consumed by the fiendish energy of this sword, and successfully entered the ranks of the strongest people of the world.

  But his gaze quickly left Zhangsun Qianxue. He looked at the young cultivator in black robes and said, “I know you do not want to kill many people.”


  His words were not a military order, but it was the first time he spoke since Zhangsun Qianxue and Ding Ning came into the camp. So at the first words from the commander in chief, the camp went silent.

  “Since you do not want to kill more people, we can talk.” His gaze pierced through the flying debris to land calmly on Ding Ning. He said, “If I am correct, you are the heir of the Nine Death Silkworm, and have come to settle the old debts of the Ba Mountain Sword Field.”


  The entire camp grew silent. All the soldiers, including the dozen cultivators who could be killed by Zhangsun Qianxue at any moment, stopped completely.

  This was like time had frozen in the camp, all because of the three words “Nine Death Silkworm.” In Changling, and even in the entire Qin Dynasty, there were no words more magical and shocking.

  “All right,” Ding Ning said simply.

  Zhangsun Qianxue stopped walking forward. Everybody in the camp stopped. Every gaze gathered on Ding Ning. Many people uncontrollably started to shake, including the cultivators in the formation.

  “Those who move, will die.”


  Mo Ying looked at Zhangsun Qianxue who had stopped walking but still held the Nine Hell King Sword.

  All his subordinates understood the meaning. This was not just an order, but also a reminder. In the camp, except for him and the cultivators in formation, no one else could stop Zhangsun Qianxue’s sword.

  “I owe Ba Mountain Sword Field.” Mo Ying looked at the only person moving, Ding Ning who was walking towards him, and said. His expression turned cold. “I was originally just a pharmacist in the military. After coming into contact with cultivators on the front lines, I gradually learned some cultivator tactics. Later, when transporting medicine, I accidentally encountered Master Yan. She felt I had talent, and taught me the sword. I owe her this gift of a new life, and owe the Ba Mountain Sword Field.”


  At this, he looked into Ding Ning’s eyes and made sure he heard his words. Then he said, “But a student does not have to make the same choices as the master. Even if I returned to Ba Mountain Sword Field, it would not have helped. Master Yan would still die, and Ba Mountain Sword Field would still be destroyed. Also, i did not think that Master Yan was correct.”


  “I am a cultivator, and learned from the Ba Mountain Sword Field. But first, I was a soldier. In my view, it was settled that the Holy One would ascend the throne, and the change of the Ba Mountain Sword Field was of no benefit to the Qin Dynasty.”


  Mo Ying looked at Ding Ning who was listening intently without speaking. He slowly looked up at the sky and said, “What I did was just like what Ba Mountain Sword Field wanted to do in the past. I did not want to die for nothing. I want to see the Qin Dynasty grow stronger. So in these years, I did not return to Changling to fight for power, and stayed as a general on the border.”


  “Was everything Ba Mountain Sword Field and your master did correct?” Mo Ying said heavily, “Do all the people who do not follow the thoughts of Ba Mountain Sword Field have to die?”


  His words were powerful.

  In reality, right now, many cultivation places in Changling, including some generals, had sympathy for the Ba Mountain Sword Field. They admired Wang Jingmeng, and felt that Zheng Xiu and Yuanwu’s betrayal back then was shameful.

  But these feelings were based on reason and righteousness. Ba Mountain Sword Field’s revenge had to be based on reason and righteousness. No one was strong enough to kill everyone in the world. If you were not accepted by the world, no revenge could succeed.

  Mo Ying’s words were more powerful than the formation created by the dozen cultivators.

  “You speak sense. People who do not follow the thoughts of the Ba Mountain Sword Field do not have to die.”


  To everyone’s surprise, Ding Ning nodded and spoke. Even Zhangsun Qianxue was surprised and stilled.

  “But Ba Mountain Sword Field will take back what is of Ba Mountain Sword Field.” Ding Ning looked at the dazed Mo Ying and continued. “You do not admit your relationship to your teacher, but you got her things, and told them to the enemy. This is betraying your master. You should be exiled out of the sect. Taking back the sword and sword manuals she taught you, and destroying your cultivation is justified.”


  Ding Ning’s voice slowly echoed in the quiet camp. No one had objections. Even the death warriors most faithful to Mo Ying could not raise any objections.

  Being exiled from the sect and destroying cultivation was the lightest punishment. But for a powerful grandmaster like Mo Ying, what did destroying cultivation mean?

  Mo Ying took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes. He looked at Zhangsun Qianxue and said in a cool voice, “The Eldest Miss Gongsun does not count as a member of the past Ba Mountain Sword Field. Only people from Ba Mountain Sword Field can collect what is of Ba Mountain Sword Field.”


  Ding Ning smiled faintly. “Then I will collect.”


  Volume 5 73 - Secret Agreement

  At this time, the small boat that was downstream stopped. The bow of the boat stopped in the grasses by the shallow shore.

  In the drizzling rain, Pan Ruoye, who had been quiet in the cabin walked out to the stern of the ship, and waited for his arrival. The faint mist coming off the surface of the river added a hazy and dreamy color. Dressed in yellow robes, she looked like a celestial of the water.

  The yellow-robed cultivator coming down on the boat stood by the bow. The man and woman on the two boats coming together, if painted by an artist, would seem like a couple reuniting after a long time. But the pair of calm people on the boats knew that their meeting today, only one person would leave here alive.

  “In reality, I do not like to kill people. I always feel that killing people would carry some of one’s own emotions. If it is not hatred, it would be the other having caused displeasure, or the other is disliked upon first glance.”


  The yellow-robed cultivator’s boat was near the center of the water. His frown relaxed, and he looked at Pan Ruoye. He spoke without any opening, like they were familiar. “When I started to cultivate as a child, I could not understand the stories and some of the matters recorded in the history books. Both sides would want to waste time speaking. But when I grew up and started to kill people, I started to understand……killing people is not a pleasant matter. Talking can ease this kind of unpleasantness, especially when facing an enemy that one has never encountered before. If one killed a stranger immediately, facing the cold corpse left behind would feel like chewing wax, empty and cold. So, what to say?”


  After saying this, the yellow-robed cultivator bowed to Pan Ruoye and added, “This one is Zheng Jingcheng.”


  “I know who you are.”


  Pan Ruoye looked at the yellow-robed cultivator like she was looking at someone familiar and said, “The best assassin of Jiaodong Commandery, one of the four cultivators what Zheng Xiu is most wary of. When the Qin Dynasty’s fleet started to discover sea routes, many of the powerful cultivators on the islands were killed by your assassinations. In terms of military achievements, yours are not any less than Liang Lian. You are the most cautious in your actions, and do not ignore anything that will hinder you. You followed me all this way, and you are talking to me right now because you do not want any shadow to affect your attacking me.”


  “You are very honest.” Zheng Jingcheng pressed his lips together, and then said, “Because you understand the empress and Jiaodong Commandery too much, you are ranked second on the list of those who have to die. But I do not understand. You know my intentions, and in the several days that I followed you, why did you not take a chance to attack first? With your cultivation, you could have found a chance where you had the advantage.”


  Pan Ruoye did not respond for a long time. When she spoke again, her expression was cold. “Because I was thinking.”


  Zheng Jingcheng naturally asked, “Thinking about what?”


  “I was thinking, if I switched positions with Zheng Xiu and encountered a situation like this, if I were Zheng Xiu, what would I do,” Pan Ruoye said coldly. “I thought it through. If I were not guilty, no matter if the other believed or not, I would try to explain. But I did not receive the person she sent coming to explain, but a person coming to kill instead.”


  “So I did not attack first. This could be said to be waiting. I waited to see if she would do anything, and stop you from killing me.” Pan Ruoye sneered. She looked in the direction where Shen Xuan and Zheng Bainiao had been fighting, and said after a pause, “In the end, the killing started, but I did not get her explanation. This means that some of my speculations were correct. She knows that the truth cannot be concealed, and is borrowing your hand to eliminate me.”


  Zheng Jingcheng listened intently to her words. His expression did not change, and even held a hint of sympathy. “Your speculations are likely correct.”


  “You want to talk more with me because your emotions were affected. Clearly, your assassination of someone in Changling failed. But even now, when you have said so much to me, and you are certain that I have no path left to walk, I fear that our talk will not be of benefit to your attempt, and will affect your emotions and confidence.” Pan Ruoye looked at the most cautious Jiaodong Commandery cultivator and smiled coldly. “Jiaodong Commandery cultivators like you, compared to us, always lack something.”


  Zheng Jingcheng’s brows rose. He said solemnly, “What?”


  Pan Ruoye looked at him and slowly said, “The first time Zheng Xiu and I met, before she took me into Changling, I was in a mountain village outside the Ba Mountain. This was when the army and Ba Mountain Sword Field were fighting. A troop of bandits fled past our village, and plundered multiple villages nearby, including mine. Almost everyone in the village was killed. Only those small children who could hide in the corners managed to survive. Of the children who lived, I was one of the smallest and weakest. To fight for some of the remaining food, those children killed each other like wolves, but I was the one to survive in the end.”


  “Now that I think about it, it was too much of a coincidence. Why did her palace maid appear at such a good time, why only when I was the only one left?” Pan Ruoye smiled. “Many of you Jiaodong Commandery cultivators are like this. There is an innate difference between us. From when you start to cultivate, you know you will encounter things like this, you have a long time to conquer your terror, and prepare. But we are different…… we suddenly encountered those things, we encountered such a situation of despair without any preparation. So you do not have our innate courage. The wolves that were raised after birth by dogs are not the same as born wolves.”


  Zheng Jingcheng frowned.

  But Pan Ruoye did not give him time to speak, and continued. “You wanted to find the best chance, and wear down my spirits. But in a desperate situation, my courage is aroused. More importantly, in these few days, I have been considering some of the sword moves.”


  Zheng Jingcheng’s expression suddenly froze.

  Pan Ruoye looked at him and said, “I was comprehending some of the sword moves from the Chen King Sword Manual. Now, it is about enough. So our talk did not eliminate your bad emotions, and has made you even more unconfident.”


  Pan Ruoye looked at the silent Zheng Jingcheng, her calm eyes turning to a stormy ocean, full of killing intent. “This is the chance I was waiting for.”


  Volume 2 73 - Dragon Enters Fish Market

  A person who could stand in the restricted place of Min Mountain Sword Sect and watch this trial was not an ordinary member of Min Mountain Sword Sect.

  The young man next to this young woman had a calm presence, but sword essence seemed to leak out of his skin, so much that even his hair could kill.

  Hearing the young woman’s words, he thought quietly for a moment. Then he turned to look at the young woman and said, "If this is you, would you be able to select such a sword manual in that short time, and then comprehend this solution?"

  "No," the young woman crisply shook her head and said.

  The young man also shook his head and said emotionally, "Even you cannot do so."

  "Unless ……" The young woman frowned slightly and a sword mark seemed to appear between her brows.

  The young man stilled slightly and was about to speak. But she then shook her head and said, "It is still not possible."

  She thought of a possibility.

  Unless she had personally seen the powerful cultivators of Cloud Water Palace use this sword manual and seen many of the moves in a battle of life-and-death. Then she might have made a connection and quickly do the same thing this wineshop youth did.

  But how old was this wineshop youth?

  The Wei Cloud Water Palace had been destroyed long before his birth. Also, the remaining great rebels of the Cloud Water Palace did not cultivate this sword manual. In her view, this wineshop youth clearly would not have seen these sword moves before, much less in a battle of life and death.

  So being lesser than someone was being lesser. She would look down on finding an excuse for her own incompetence.

  "You are in charge of the trials this time. If the first sword nucleus is to test their fundamentals, the second is to test their comprehension, what do you want to test them with the third sword nucleus?" The young man looked at her and asked curiously, "What did you put on the third sword nucleus?"

  In this young man’s view, some things were more important than the fundamentals and comprehension. For example, resolve, a mature mind, and fighting experience.

  Unexpectedly, the young woman answered, "I am having them choose their swords."

  "Choose their swords?"

  "As a swordsman, one should first have a clear understanding of oneself and know their strengths and weaknesses." The young woman was young, but her tone was calm and unquestionable like a teacher who had taught numerous students. "If they cannot choose a sword that makes up for their shortcomings and increases their strength, then this person does not qualify to join Min Mountain Sword Sect to study."

  Hearing the young woman’s explanation, the young man grimaced and said, "It appears that you want this competition to become more fair."

  The students from different cultivation places had different births, and naturally had different swords. For example, Ye Haoran’s Cold Serpent Sword was made from a cold dragon crystal. Just the power of the sword itself was enough to pose a threat to most students.

  If one obtained a sword at the same level as the Cold Serpent Sword, at least they would not be at a disadvantage in terms of their material items.

  "The following competition would be even more spectacular," the young woman nodded neutrally and said coolly, "Use all they can use to make themselves become stronger as fast as possible. This is the quality that cultivators need the most."

  The young man stilled slightly and then said with slight pity, "But these people from White Goat Cave seem to have only comprehended one sword manual."

  "All of them have given up on themselves for the wine shop youth to win in the end."

  The young woman’s expression grew serious. She said, "Regardless of the result, these people, and what they want to do is worthy of respect."

  Some swords were spinning and falling while others floated above the path. But no swords attacked.

  Ding Ning passed the test like this. He looked at the nearby third sword nucleus, paused, and grew silent for a while.

  He knew that his performance up to now was astounding enough to embarrass some people. The setup of the previous two tests had given him enough time to replenish his vital energy. While the vital energy in his body was not full, in his view, the hardest time had passed.

  At this time, night was passing, and the dawn sunlight fell over the entire mountain.

  Yet no matter how outstanding he performed and how perfect he was, Xue Wangxu could no longer see it.

  He was already gone.

  Everyone would have to face death. In life, people would encounter their friends and family leaving the world.

  He had experienced this many times. But he still couldn’t help but feel sad.

  "Junior Sect Brother ……"

  Zhang Yi sensed his silence. He understood why Ding Ning would be silent. He also felt his tears rise but he wanted to comfort Ding Ning.

  But Ding Ning did not give him a chance to say any words of comfort.

  "Let’s go," he said in a low voice. Then he raised his head slightly and walked towards the sword nucleus ahead.

  Xie Changsheng held his sword and panted.

  His internal injuries caused waves of heat in his lungs. His energies and blood moved abnormally but he was very excited and proud.

  He was sure that there would be less than a third of the remaining three hundred students that could pass this test. Consequently, he would be ranked at least within the top hundred of the Min Mountain Sword Trials.

  He couldn’t help but think how happy his father would be after learning about this.

  "What does this mean?" But when he looked towards the sword nucleus and saw it clearly, he paused.

  There were sword marks on this third sword nucleus, but the marks only created this simple sentence. "Go to Sword Valley, take a sword."

  Underneath the words was a map depicted using sword marks.

  "We are going to leave this green jade path, and not climb up?" Zhang Yi also stilled. He saw, according to the map, they had to leave this green jade path and go onto a fork of the road next to the sword nucleus.

  He was not sure if there was some deeper meaning here. Was there some unique test hidden in these sword marks and maps? Where there other means other than the obvious ones expressed in the words and map.

  At this time, Ding Ning said coldly, "Very interesting."

  He started to walk towards the fork in the road shown on the map. Then he said, "The organizer is very interesting and much more generous than Baili Suxue."

  This Baili Suxue that Ding Ning spoke of at this time had a shinier title, the master of Min Mountain Sword Sect.

  "Is it good to speak so of the master of the Min Mountain Sword Sect here?"

  Xie Changsheng felt that he was daring enough, but he could not describe the master of Min Mountain Sword Sect so calmly within Min Mountain Sword Sect.

  "What is the meaning? I do not understand," he looked at Ding Ning and asked.

  "No meaning. It’s just for us to go pick a sword," Ding Ning glanced back at him and said, "These sword manuals, that Min Mountain Sword Sect has casually thrown out, are better than the sect treasures of most cultivation places. The swords that they casually throw out will naturally be better than most swords outside."

  Xie Changsheng was shocked and said, "For free?"

  Ding Ning shook his head. "Not so rich. At most, you can borrow this during the sword trial."

  Xie Changsheng immediately felt scorn and said, "Then what’s the use? If I had so many good swords, I could give them away."

  "If you become the master of Min Mountain Sword Sect, I fear that you will give away ten Min Mountain Sword Sects," Xie Rou said disdainfully.

  Xie Changsheng didn’t dare to argue with her and immediately changed the topic. He asked, "Then why are they telling us to go pick a sword? What is their thought?"

  Ding Ning responded in simple words, "For the following competition to be more spectacular as some people do not have the most satisfactory swords. If they suddenly get a satisfactory sword, and one that has some special abilities, there would be many more possibilities, and the fights will be more variable."

  Ding Ning’s explanation was extremely clear. Xie Changsheng was stunned and said, "In other words, what is coming next will be fights between students?"

  Ding Ning nodded. "The Min Mountain Sword Sect will lend us swords, of course they will be used in fights. They cannot be used to chop vegetables."

  No one felt Ding Ning’s joke was funny.

  If what was coming were fights, then there was no way for shortcuts.

  They were entering a mountain valley. This mountain valley was extremely desolate without any trees. Weeds grew all over with a green hall at the center of the mountain valley.

  That green hall looked extremely ordinary like an ordinary temple, but it was extremely large and cold in presence. According to the map, the swords that Min Mountain Sword Sect had prepared for them to select should be in the green halls.

  "Since we are all selecting a sword, then we should enter in on our own." Ding Ning suddenly frowned. He sensed something and stopped.

  "There is a formation?" Zhang Yi only sensed it when Ding Ning stopped. The light of shock appeared in his eyes. "What we see is not real?"

  Xie Changsheng and Nangong Caishu exchanged a look. They had not yet sensed anything different, but from hearing Ding Ning and Zhang Yi’s conservation …… there was some unique formation ahead.

  "I am not certain what kind of formation it is, and I do not know what kinds of swords are in there right now."

  Ding Ning thought and then turned to look at Zhang Yi. He whispered, "If there are swords from the Zhao Sword Furnace inside, you can choose one of them."

  Zhang Yi stilled. Everyone else stilled.

  "You can choose a very heavy sword …… but if there is a small curved sword with a pale white blade, and the hilt sliver, or if there is a broadsword that is copper in color and has many square coin-shaped patterns, you have to choose between these two swords," Ding Ning did not explain as he turned to Nangong Caishu and said softly.

  "Junior Sect Brother Shen, there is a small sword carved completely out of ink jade. The hilt will have winding seal scripts that are dark indigo. If it is there, you definitely have to pick it." Without any pause, he turned to look at Shen Yi and continued, "If this sword is not there, choose a sword that is light, and let you draw it faster."

  Translator Ramblings: Larkspur will be back soon with edits