Chapter Seventy-Four: Warm Spring
writer:
无罪 update:2022-07-21 15:26
The camp was absolutely silent. All the cultivators were certain Ding Ning had not reached realm seven, especially those fighting Zhangsun Qianxue. They were certain Ding Ning’s presence was very young. In other words, he had not been in realm six for long.
The difference between realm six and seven was even more terrifying than the differences between lower realms.Realm seven was Mountain Moving Realm, was grandmaster, was the enemy of ten thousand.There were also differences among realm sevens. For example, Liang Lian had been defeated by Xue Wangxu’s blow, Zhao Zhan had died by Ye Celeng, and Bai Shanshui and Zhao Si could win against most realm sevens in the world. Some of the realm seven grandmasters who had attended the Deer Mountain Conference had the ability to kill multiple realm sevens.
Mo Ying was a realm seven. And he had received the true teachings of Ba Mountain Sword Field, and was not a realm seven of an ordinary sect.
Simply speaking, vital energy was the primal energies of the universe purified through different cultivation methods, and sword manuals were different ways of using vital energy to kill people. There were high and low among the vital energy methods, and also in the methods of killing people. There were also differences among realm sevens, and Mo Ying was among the top. A realm six saying they would win against a realm seven was a false statement, much less a high level realm seven.
But when Ding Ning said such words at this time, no one wound it laughable. Because he was Nine Death Silkworm. He represented Wang Jingmeng’s legend. In the past, Wang Jingmeng had several examples of winning against those stronger than him.
Mo Ying pressed with reason and righteousness. Ding Ning returned with reason and righteousness and responded like this. And with the pressure from the fact the legendary Nine Death Silkworm had turned from myth to real life, he was even more significant.
Mo Ying’s pupils contracted. He looked at Ding Ning with some appreciation. “You will collect?”
Ding Ning did not repeat his words. He looked calmly at the sword that Mo Ying held and said, “This sword is an item of the Ba Mountain Sword Field. Today, since I represent Ba Mountain Sword Field in exiling you, then you have to first return this sword to me.”
Mo Ying bowed his head slightly. He looked at the short sword in his hand and was silent for a moment. He said, “The army is attacking, the center of the army is empty. Eldest Miss Gongsun is here. The two of you have the confidence to kill me, but now, you come to collect. If you want to get back this sword of Ba Mountain Sword Field, it is fair.”
After saying this, he looked up. A gentle presence came out of his hand, and flew up carrying this sword to Ding Ning.
Ding Ning reached out and received the short sword.
“Since you told some secrets of the sword manual to Zheng Xiu, you felt afraid of being controlled so you did not have the confidence to use this sword, much less forge it into your lifebond sword. As a result, this sword is so dim. In your hands, this sword is useless.”
Ding Ning looked with complicated feelings at the sword. When his voice sounded, the sound of silkworms munching on mulberry leaves emerged from his body. Heavy breathing formed a flood in the camp!
There were no powerful primal energy fluctuations, but a pale white light came from Ding Ning’s right arm.
The pale white light was faint but suddenly grew tangible. Many rays came out of Ding Ning’s skin under his robe, through the clothing, and entered the dim short sword. The sound of silkworms feeding grew clearer. Everyone could see the tangible rays of energy. Limited by their sight, they could not see the details. But even the non-cultivator soldiers in the camp could sense, just by the sound, these rays were made from countless minuscule little silkworms.
The dozen cultivators who had formed the formation had fear in their gazes, they felt agitated.
In the past Changling, everyone knew the legendary Nine Death Silkworm had ended up in Wang Jingmeng’s hands, but he had never displayed it. As a result, no one knew the secrets lying within. Many even speculated with certainty that Wang Jingmeng had never cultivated the Nine Death Silkworm.
This was the first time Nine Death Silkworm was appearing openly in public. Even just seeing it was enough to make the feelings of these cultivators fluctuate.
The pale white rays clearly were different in quality compared to normal vital energy as they flooded into the dim short green sword’s seal scripts. The blade seemed so excited it was trembling, but Ding Ning’s hand was extremely steady.
When the white seal scripts on the blade were filled by the white rays, the dim color faded like snow melting. The short green sword immediately shone with stunning light, the energy coming off the sword a bright yellow, forming blossoming bold yellow flowers.
The bright color lit up everyone’s sight. Even Ding Ning, dressed in dark robes, looked very dazzling under it.
“This sword is called Warm Spring.” Ding Ning looked at this bright and hot sword, slowly putting it across his chest. There were colors in his gaze. To him, this sword was a reunion, as such his feelings were not calm either.
When Ding Ning took the sword, the sound of silkworms feeding drifted from within his body, Mo Ying’s expression grew unusually cold. Putting the sword across the chest horizontally meant an invitation for battle. This meant that this battle could start.
The other was realm six, but
person’s heir, and he cultivated the Nine Death Silkworm. The other being excited now was a very good chance to attack so he acted without any hesitation.
With a buzz, a powerful lifebond presence burst out of his sword, and a long shadow appeared. Mo Ying cultivated the sword, but the lifebond item that appeared in his hand was a spear. It was a long black spear that spewed black smoke which had red flames floating within like flowers blooming in hell.
“Demon Dragon Spear.” Zhangsun Qianxue’s gaze flashed and she frowned.
This was a weapon of the old aristocratic Zhanggui Family. It had come from the ruins of a sect from the You Dynasty. Disregarding the meaning, the weapon would not be any weaker than the famous swords of Ba Mountain Sword Field in terms of the energy it could gather.
Mo Ying held the spear with both hands, fine beads of blood flying between his fingers. his vital energy had not moved violently for many years. The skin of his hands were unused to this, and had split. His expression was solemn. Just as this long spear appeared in his hands, a wild presence crashed towards Ding Ning.
The sound of mountains moving erupted through the sky. This was the natural sound created when Mountain Moving Realm grandmasters attacked with an ocean of primal energies. At the same time, the wild presence formed a true mountain and slammed down.
Large amounts of invisible primal energies of the universe mixed with the black smoke and fire spewing from the spear to form the shadow of a mountain. It locked down any place Ding Ning could use to dodge. The power of this mountain surpassed Mo Ying’s cultivation limit as Mo Ying’s spear was like a crowbar, and it could be used to lever with strength one never had.
Ding Ning’s clothing flapped loudly. The enormous shadow was about to tear his clothing and body apart and crush into powder. His feelings were very turbulent right now, but he was not terrified. He followed his heart and passed his turbulent emotions into the sword.
The sword form was one of reunion. A reunion after many years, with love and hate, and the power of life and death. His emotions were very complicated. The rays that were flowing on the sword started to vibrate.
The bold sword he was gripping started to vibrate violently.
Translator Ramblings: Between Mo Ying and Liang Lian, I’m not sure which one is the most dislikeable.
Volume 5 74 - Three Swords
Zheng Jingcheng frowned deeply. He disliked what he was feeling right now. If he did not have absolute confidence, he would not rashly try. One only had one life. He cared more about his than most cultivators.
As such, hearing Pan Ruoye’s words, he did not hesitate to crush a seal weapon that had fallen into his palm. Silently, the boat he was on and the water beneath suddenly sank downwards. The depression came from the sudden appearance of primal energies of the universe in this area.
The primal energies of the universe that came from his palm caused the air around him to grow heavy. In the next moment, the primal energies of the universe expanded outwards into white clouds. An ocean of white clouds should have appeared in the sky, but now, they filled this area.
His body and all of his presence disappeared into the ocean of clouds.
Pan Ruoye was in the middle of the clouds. She did not know if he was retreating or attacking. There was no killing intent in the clouds that filled her sight, but killing intent could be everywhere.
Her expression did not change at all. When the white clouds formed, all she did was to channel her vital energy into a seal weapon she was tightly gripping in her left hand. During her talk with Zheng Jingcheng, her left hand had always been hidden in her sleeve, and the seal weapon in her palm. In reality, this was the time that she was truly waiting for.
Her seal weapon was waiting to meet Zheng Jingcheng’s seal weapon. The seal weapon in her left hand was a crystal ball. More accurately, this was the inner core of an ocean beast carved with many seals. The seals on the surface of the inner core had an orange color, and were as complex as a cluster of flowers. The inner core was a light blue, and clear with water moving inside.
When her vital energy flowed along the seal scripts into the inner core, the core made a soft sound. All of the colors disappeared. It became absolutely clear. The primal energies of the universe gathered like water currents and burst from her hand. The primal energies of the universe passed through the white clouds. The clouds immediately disappeared, turning to light and shadow.
Zheng Jingcheng’s figure appeared in her sight again, on the shore ahead of her to the side. The light and shadows seemed to absorb the light, so the small world between her and him grew brighter, and his figure on the shore clearer in her eyes.
But Zheng Jingcheng could not see her. His face grew pale, just like how Zheng Bainiao had paled when his Heart Thought Sword was defeated by Shen Xuan.
His seal weapon was the White Cloud Ocean Seal, unique to Jiaodong Commandery. This was a seal weapon that only cultivators of his rank could possess, and were extremely rare. But Pan Ruoye had activated an unknown and powerful seal weapon, sucking away the primal energies of the universe coming out of his seal weapon, and forming light and shadows around him.
There were tall islands, oceans, floating ships, and even flying cities in the lights.This was the mirage that was occasionally seen during ocean travels.
Pan Ruoye’s seal weapon seemed to have moved a mirage over and smashed it around him. Such a seal weapon could only be made from the inner core of some deep sea beasts of the legends. Even Jiaodong Commandery did not have such inner cores, or such seal weapons. He did not understand how she could have such a seal weapon. To his terror, this seal weapon was only useful when his White Cloud Ocean was activated.
“How do you know that I have the White Clouds Ocean Seal? How did you know that I would use this seal weapon!” He looked around in terror, and shouted loudly.
A breath ago, it was Pan Ruoye who could not see where he was. But now, his sight and sense were blocked by these lights, and it was his turn to not see where she was.
What answered his loud shout was a sword light.
A thin and light sword light, like a falling leaf, floated behind him. A powerful lifebond presence formed. A bright red lifebond sword appeared in Zheng Jingcheng’s hand.
His lifebond sword was made from a blood coral from the deep ocean. This blood coral would only grow an inch in several thousand years. It was extremely dense, and the coral itself was made from the bones of many coral insects, and the materials of the ocean. It had an unique energy, especially after being refined by his lifebond presence for many years. When this sword appeared in his hand, the sword energy that flooded out was like a true tide.
Zheng Jingcheng swung his sword, and easily shattered the sword light that attacked him. But his lifebond sword could not destroy the light and shadows around him. Another sword light appeared out of a giant ship in front of him.
He swung his sword again, and easily fended off the sword light.Then another sword light came attacking from a different direction. Yet again, he swung his sword. Then another sword light came. The mirages that surrounded him seemed like they would never disappear, and these sword lights would never stop coming. His lips drained of blood.
At this time, Pan Ruoye’s voice sounded in the surroundings and reached his ears. “Other than what I have said to you before, cultivators of Jiaodong Commandery like you have missed the most important matters of these years. In these years, Jiaodong Commandery cultivators were too pampered, and enjoyed power and glory under Zheng Xiu’s shadow. You are not like the Changling cultivators, who face great danger at each moment, and all of Changling’s cultivators do not like people from Jiaodong Commandery. The more power you have, the more glory, the more you are public enemies of Changling’s cultivators.”
“The public enemy of Changling’s cultivators? It is Ye Celeng?”
Zheng Jingcheng was one of the few Jiaodong Commandery people that Zheng Xiu feared. From Pan Ruoye’s words, he caught some messages. He felt great coldness. Even his hands grew stiff.
Ever since he, Zheng Bainiao and the others came to Changling, the powers of Changling were silent. Bureau Chief Ye Celeng of the Astrology Bureau seemed to fear their arrival, and did not come into contact with them at all. Yet other than the enormous fleet on the ocean, only Ye Celeng had killed many powerful beasts of the ocean, and could have forged an inner core to a seal weapon!
Previously, he sensed the death of Zheng Bainiao. Now, when assassinating Pan Ruoye, he fell for Pan Ruoye’s trap. All of this…… Jiaodong Commandery’s trip to Changling this time, if it failed completely, it would be because of the woman that appeared to fear them the most, and was not part of what had happened at all! Only now did he start to realize and put away his dismissal of Changling. He finally understood why the old powers thought of the Jiaodong Commandery as hillbillies.
But the price paid for such an understanding was too great.
Volume 2 74 - Fated One
Shen Yi and the others all looked strangely at Ding Ning, so shocked they could not speak.
"This is only a possibility. There may not be the swords I spoke of in there. But I hope that you will remember my words. Also, if there are similar swords, do not get the wrong one." Ding Ning’s expression was still calm. He turned to look at Xie Changsheng. "You have to pay attention to a sword that seems to be made out of rutilated quartz."
Xie Changsheng frowned and asked, "Rutilated quartz?"
"A rare kind of crystal. It looks transparent, but there are natural golden threads inside," Ding Ning looked at him and said, "The sword hilt is made of a similar-looking crystal, but a different and unique material. There is a three-legged toad pattern on the hilt.
"If this sword isn’t there, find a short sword completely indigo about three feet long. It will have no patterns. Even if you do not channel any vital energy, it would naturally give off an indigo energy. If even this sword isn’t there, then you can slowly choose on your own." After saying this, Ding Ning turned to Xie Rou and said, "If it exists, you can choose a light purple longsword which has minuscule lightning-shaped seal scripts. Or a sword with a hilt that looks like an ordinary steel sword, but the tip of that sword has many fine holes. If you are not looking directly at the sword tip, you won’t be able to see the holes. If these two swords aren’t there, just pick a sword with a strong water energy.
"There may be an indigo broadsword inside. That sword is a mother-son sword. It will have a smaller sword embedded in the blade. If that sword is not there, find a crimson longsword with pine patterns. It will give off heat, and you will feel slight pain when you touch the sword hilt.
"Brother Xu, there is a sword that looks like it is made from snow and gives off a frost aura. That sword is the easiest to recognize. If not, find a sword that is deep green with seal scripts shaped like willow leafs engraved on it. If not, then do your best to choose a longsword with a narrow blade."
WIthout any hesitation, it was He Zhaoxi, then Xu Heshan. After saying these words, Ding Ning started to walk.
Zhang Yi instinctively followed. While Ding Ning’s words to him were the briefest, it stirred chaos in his thoughts, and caused him to have many questions. Zhao Sword Furnace …… why did Ding Ning tell him to pick a sword from the Zhao Sword Furnace? Why did Ding Ning feel that the swords from the Zhao Sword Furnace would be inside?
Suddenly, a burst of cold wind blew at his face. In the next moment, Zhang Yi discovered that Ding Ning had disappeared in front of him. His body was wrapped up by an irresistible primal energy and flew away. The scene in front of him suddenly changed.
Zhang Yi was usually very calm, yet when he saw the scenery in front of him, he gave off a dissonant cry like a chicken being killed. There were no weeds or halls. All that had disappeared. Around him was a patch of yellow sand like a desert.
Yet all kinds of swords were stuck in this desert!
Thousands, tens of thousands of swords, were inserted into the yellow sand. The lights given off by the swords created layers of light. THere seemed to be countless prisms in the air which reflected countless images of him.
Zhang Yi was horrified. He had never thought there would be so many swords here.
The blades and energies of these swords felt like they could cut his perception into pieces. The dead air trapped this part of the world like sticky sugar. He could sense cold wind blowing, but the smallest grain of sand on the ground was pressed down until it was motionless.
This place was dead and lifeless. The swords stuck in the ground, straight or slanted, were like countless dead swordsmen.
His first feeling was that this wasn’t a sword valley, but a mass sword grave, for a sea of sword corpses. His body and hands started to tremble. Then his gaze unconsciously started to search for the Sword Furnace sword that Ding Ning had spoken of.
The Zhao Sword Furnace had countless different swords, but only the swords that were like a furnace could represent the Zhao Sword Furnace.
The Zhao Sword Furnace was originally an ordinary blacksmith shop. That grandmaster of the Zhao Sword Furnace and his numerous direct disciples had personally made each sword. No one knew how much vital energy, primal energy, and the fires of the furnace had gone into the blade during the creation process. So the typical swords of the Zhao Sword Furnace would, even if they had fallen to the dirt, give off fiery energy like a furnace that emitted steam and heat.
In a blink, Zhang Yi saw three crimson red fires rising into the sky like three enormous furnaces. At this time, Zhang Yi started to understand the origins of these swords, and why the Min Mountain Sword Sect would have an enormous sword grave.
He started to think …… the Qin had destroyed three dynasties. What a spectacular story it was. In the past years, how many powerful swordsmen had been easily wiped out by the sparse words of the history books?
What kind of price had the Qin Dynasty paid to kill so many powerful swordsmen, and how many cultivators and soldiers had died? The blood in his chest started to surge. His thoughts were full of magnificence. Yet he still could not understand how Ding Ning had guessed that these swords would exist here?
After stopping for a long while, he started to move towards those three enormous furnaces.
Among these tens of thousands of swords may be famed swords from the cultivation records. Some may be exceptionally attractive to cultivators due to their unique legends. But if Ding Ning had not told him to take along a sword from the Zhao Sword Furnace, he may not have chosen any sword.
He already had a very powerful sword, especially a sword more valuable to him compared than all the ones here. But the swords of the Zhao Sword Furnace were worthy of respect from all cultivators in the world.
So when Zhang Yi respectfully came close to the three Zhao Sword Furnace swords, he bowed slightly.
These three swords were crimson red. They were made from metal, but they looked like they were burning fire crystals. Even in this sea of swords where the air was as sticky as sugar, the rippling heat coming off the three crimson longswords still caused Zhang Yi’s eardrums to ring.
The swords of the Zhao Sword Furnace were peerless swords, and it was difficult to find a difference. Zhang Yi did not hesitate too much. He felt the heat of the three swords, and picked the hottest one. While he was choosing the sword of the Zhao Sword Furnace, Nangong Caishu, deep in this sea of swords, was having difficulty making a choice.
She felt even more shocked than Zhang Yi right now. There were too many swords in this sword sea. Yet the two sword Ding Ning had spoken of were both here. She had found them!
A small curved sword with a pale white blade and a silver hilt. A broadsword copper in color with many coin-shaped patterns on the blade.
"These people’s choices are very strange," the young woman dressed in green jade robes couldn’t help but say.
The green jade palace she stood in was on the cliff above this sword valley. As the organizer of this event, she could clearly see the movement of any student in the sword valley.
"Even for me, the first time I entered this sword valley, I couldn’t help but roam around for four hours in shock. These swords, to those who use the sword, are more attractive than anything else in the world. But their targets are extremely clear …… they seem to know what swords are in here, and they just have to find those swords. Why is this?" She frowned deeply and asked the young man next to her.
This young man was her teacher, but he naturally could not produce an answer to a question she could not understand.
"This probably also has to do with the wine shop youth."
She looked down, and thought for a while. Her expression suddenly froze over and she said, "I only hope that there is no cheating, and someone did not leak the contents of the trial."……
Translator Ramblings: Ding Ning spoke for half of the chapter.
Novels belong to writers, we only provide reading services。