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Chapter Seventy-Seven: Rise
writer:无罪      update:2022-07-21 15:26
  The shadows of serpents appeared outside the mountains, accompanied by the winds and rain.

  One dark light flashed under the winds and rain, and then the storm suddenly stopped. The four soaring snakes, just like the previous two, coiled up on the side, like sheep afraid of a wolf, not daring to move.

  Thinking of the effort of generations Jiaodong Commandery had spent to raise these snakes, how they were one of the foundations of Jiaodong Commandery, and one of the important chess pieces Zheng Xiu had set up on the field, but now, Jiaodong Commandery was sending them to their hands, it felt so good.

  Looking at these soaring snakes which did not dare to move, Qian Mu regretted how Qing Yaoyin had come a bit late, as two waves of soaring snakes had died by Tantai Guanjian’s sword. Then thinking of how Zheng Xiu and Yuanwu had gotten the Qin Dynasty by stealing from Ba Mountain Sword Field, he felt that this was karma, and Jiaodong Commandery paying its debts.

  “If we can get out of here, can we turn these soaring snakes into steeds?” he looked at Qing Yaoyin, saying softly. His voice was filled with humbleness and uncertainty.

  His humbleness came from the fact that he thought his everything came from his teacher. So he had so much pride. In his eyes, Qing Yaoyin and the others were elders he must respect, and his uncertainty came from two places.

  First was the question itself, and the other was whether they could leave this place alive. Even though these soaring snakes of Jiaodong Commandery were now on their side, becoming great aids, even people like the descendants of the academician of the last Qin emperor’s era had appeared. There would be other experts that they could not predict who would appear.

  It was hard to predict what kind of battles they would face next. But he thought, if they could leave here with the soaring snakes, then Baili Suxue may be able to use the Nether dragon to leave the Changling imperial city. They could use the soaring snakes the same way.

  The soaring snakes did not have the hard scales of the Nether dragon but they were true serpents that would fly very high to a level that many seal weapons and flying swords could not reach.

  Qing Yaoyin shook his head simply and said, “The soaring snakes are innately violent, especially since Jiaodong Commandery always uses medicine and sounds to control them. They are damaged in the mind, and they are more violent than the wild soaring snakes. We can order them to do simple things, but it would be very hard to make them into steeds that would do as you wish.”


  After a thought, Qing Yaoyin looked at Qian Mu who was still confused and explained, “To use the example of flying in the air, you can have them fly to a place, but it is almost impossible to have them conceal their bodies and sounds when flying, especially their energies.”


  Qian Mu was silent for a moment, and thought that this really was a hard problem. Simply speaking, you could tame some shepherd dogs to help you herd the sheep, but not order them to do smarter things.

  But at this time, Ding Ning’s voice sounded, “We cannot do it, but this Friendship Blessing may be able to.”


  Qian Mu stilled. Qing Yaoyin and the others were stunned.

  Friendship Blessing was the name of the infant Nether dragon. Because the name was slightly strange, everyone was not used to it yet. But the words seemed to be…… reasonable! They were not soaring snakes, so they could not communicate. But this infant dragon had already shown the power to control them.

  Ding Ning took a deep breath. The most difficult thing for Zheng Xiu and Yuanwu was that they lived deep in the Changling imperial palace, were surrounded by many armies and guards, and there were many powerful cultivators protecting them. Even if they had people of the same strength which came in front of them, they would be in a case where it was the few against the many.

  But if many experts gathered together to face Zheng Xiu and Yuanwu, many things would be different. However, this was something that should be carefully considered after they left this place.

  Baili Suxue had planned for many years for a chance to assassinate Zheng Xiu, while Ye Xiao had used half of his life to plan a chance to kill him.

  The thousand dust mountains here were still so steady, and did not show signs of loosening.

  The thousand dust mountains here were still so steady, and did not show signs of loosening. The mountains he saw were blurry with light and shadow. Some fine dust glowed and it was possible to occasionally make out the shapes of swords.

  The world of cultivators rapidly changed, and there were countless opportunities and changes.

  Like today, a black ice worm turned into a Nether dragon, and Jiaodong Commandery’s assets of centuries werewas being unknowinglyunknowningly stolen.

  Some cultivators were unable to break through to realm four their entire lives, while some cultivators were able to overcome a barrier of many years due to a chance.

  In the Longxi Commandery of the Qin Dynasty, in the Baiji quarry, a man covered in dust put down the metal drill he held. After being silent for a few breaths, he slowly looked up, straightening, and gazed at the great river a few feet away.

  The quarry here was one of the most important quarries of the Qin Dynasty. The stone here was very hard, and could be used to build city walls. At this time, the Qin Dynasty was fighting the Chu Dynasty and the borders needed more of the hard stone. There were a dozen ships waiting by the river.

  Quarrying, especially with some hard stones, was a very difficult job. The great fatigue and the flying dust were great harms to ordinary people, so most of the people in the quarry were people punished with hard labor.

  The war was tense, the and the officials in charge naturally were more strict.

  Seeing someone stop working and look in a daze at the scenery, one official changed expression, and walked towards the man with his long whip.

  This official was very fat. Longxi Commandery originally belonged to the Chen. This small country had been gone by the time the Qin Dynasty destroyed the Zhao, but the Chen surname was one of power in the local area. This official had the surname Chen. While he was always with these prisoners and dust, this was a rich job. The families of some of the prisoners would bribe him to arrange for their family members to get light work.

  After many years, they treated him like a local emperor, which increased his arrogance. Usually, he would beat and curse at the prisoners he did not like, and whip others until they were bloody. So seeing this official walk out of the shaded hut, even if the other was not targeted at them, many people were trembling in fear.

  But that man was in a daze, and did not even hear the trembling warning from beside him.

  The shadow of the official came in front of him. Seeing the man still ignoring him, the official felt he was greatly insulted. “You want to die?”


  With a shout, he did not even think as he swung his whip at the man’s head.

  Popping sounds occurred.

  This whip hit the man’s forehead.

  Volume 3 77 - Water Jewel

  These eight sword moves were unusually refined and the sword essence flowed smoothly. They appeared that they were being made in person by swordsmen who had studied these moves for many years.

  Yet unexpectedly, facing the attacks of these eight swords, Ding Ning did not draw his sword. He calmly and confidently advanced as though these eight green jade swords did not exist.

  To everyone’s shock and bewilderment, even Zhang Yi, Xie Rou and the others did not draw their swords.

  At this time, only He Zhaoxi, Shen Yi, and Nangong Caishu drew their swords.

  Three swords lights leapt out to welcome the eight swords cutting towards them.

  He Zhaoxi, Shen Yi, and Nangong Caishu were all very nervous. The trio was using the sword moves that they had just comprehended from the sword nucleus. So while the changes in these sword lights looked refined, they were in fact slow and unfamiliar.

  How can three such sword strikes block the eight swords?

  Yet in just an instant, multiple explosions occurred. The three sword lights still flashed in the air while there were multiple sounds in the air as though something had been pierced.

  Ding Ning and the others were completely unharmed. The eight green jade swords scattered.

  Some of the swords flew backwards as they spun while others just changed direction subtly brushing past Ding Ning and the others like dragonflies with a broken wing.

  The primal energies of the universe in the air flew like smoke and snow.

  Many students finally could no longer control their emotions, and exclaimed in shock.

  “How is that possible!”


  Xia Wan paled. Her eyes filled with shock and surprise.

  Beside her, Xu Lianhua was also slightly speechless. He instinctively thought back to the minute changes of the three swords.

  “Sword formation, it is a sword formation,” Chen Liqiu said with unusual seriousness.

  At this moment, he had no time to think carefully about the changes in the sword lights. But he was sure that this was the only possibility.

  The moment that Chen Liqiu was speaking, eight other sword lights tore the air and reached Ding Ning and the others.

  Ding Ning still did not draw his sword.

  Beside him, Zhang Yi and the others still did not draw their swords. It was still He Zhaoxi, Shen Yi and Nangong Caishu.

  This time, many popping sounds occurred in the air, and visible beads of energy scattered.

  The result was the same. The eight green jade swords once again scattered.

  “They are using sword moves from the same sword manual,” Xu Lianhua finally remembered the general direction of the three swords and said gravely.

  “Sword moves from the same sword manual?” Xia Wan’s right hand instinctively landed on her sword hilt and she gripped it tighter. She still could not understand.

  Chen Liqiu breathed in deeply, and his brow furrowed.

  “It really is possible!” Behind Ding Ning, Xie Rou looked at Ding Ning’s back, and she could not describe the emotions she felt.

  She, Zhang Yi and the others, including the trio with their swords drawn, finally believed what Ding Ning had said before was true.

  On the green jade mountain path, wind, snow, and lightning continued to appear. The green jade swords flew up and continued to attack Ding Ning and the others advancing up the mountain path.

  The attacking swords were faster than the swords falling down. So there were always swords around Ding Ning and the others.

  As Ding Ning and his group advanced, the number of swords seemed to increase in a stunning scene.

  “It really is part of the same sword manual.” Chen Liqiu turned to look at Xu Lianhua. “What part of the sword nucleus is this?”


  Xu Lianhua narrowed his eyes and did not immediately respond.

  It was difficult to see the figures of Ding Ning and the others surrounded by the dancing green jade swords. Yet as He Zhaoxi, Shen Yi, and Nangong Caishu became more practiced with their sword moves, multiple glowing ribbons of water appeared around them.

  These water ribbons were truly flows of water. When a sword light fell onto them, a splash of water could be created.

  “The seventh one on the sword nucleus. I read it, but did not study it,” he responded after a long moment.

  “How is that possible?” Xia Wan paled even more. Her gaze landed on Ding Ning’s blurry figure as she repeated in a trembling tone.

  The dozens of sword manuals engraved on the sword nucleus had been profound and refined. For cultivators of ordinary talent, they likely had to study them for many years. and yet still be unable to master one of the sword moves. No one could comprehend all the sword manuals, even a genius like her, in such a short time. In the span of a night, she had merely comprehended the sword moves of two sword manuals.

  From the moment he started to walk, Ding Ning did not attack. But from his confident attitude and the reactions of the people behind him, Xia Wan knew that what was occurring now was definitely because of Ding Ning. But she clearly remembered when she came here, Ding Ning was already cultivating with his eyes closed.

  How long had he studied the sword nucleus?

  Less than half an hour?

  Regardless of what sword manual this was, why was it able to let their three swords block the refined sword attacks of these green jade swords? Had he been able to pick a sword manual like this in such a short time from the sword nucleus?

  Her ranking was much higher than Ding Ning on the Book of Talents. She had never fought Ding Ning before. But when she looked at Ding Ning’s figure, she suddenly did not have any confidence and felt slightly chilled.

  In the freezing places outside the forts, when the snowstorms suddenly descended, wild beasts that could not interact peacefully would squeeze together to fend off the cold and survive the storm. Humans would do the same when facing a strong enemy.

  At this moment, Gu Xichun and Ye Haoran were standing closer.

  “This is a sword manual focused on tight defense.” Gu Xichun looked at the mountain path and said to Ye Haoran in a soft voice, “But it is too soft, too slow. It probably doesn’t have much use in ordinary times outside of Min Mountain Sword Sect. So I only scanned it and did not keep it on my mind.”


  Hearing Gu Xichun’s still proud words, Ye Haoran said coldly with slight mockery, “Doesn’t have much use in ordinary times? Too soft, too slow. That is only if we use it at our present strength level …… if someone can fight as fast as the three of them acting together, I fear this sword manual’s defensive ability makes it the strongest sword manual in the world.”


  Gu Xichun’s expression darkened but he didn’t argue with Ye Haoran. He slowly said, “It appears these people only focused on comprehending this sword manual.”


  As he said this, He Zhaoxi, Nangong Caishu, and Shen Yi stopped fighting with their swords. Facing the constant attacks of eight swords at full power would naturally take up much vital energy and endurance. So now it was Xie Changsheng, Xie Rou and Xu Heshan’s turn.

  Xie Rou and the others used the same sword moves from the same sword manual.

  The three’s sword moves created glowing flows of water. There seemed to be large gaps between them, but inexplicably, their defense was flawless and fended off every sword that came near them.

  The distance between the second sword nucleus and the third was not large. Ding Ning and the others had walked over half the way. Everyone was sure that these people would pass without any danger, and at a low price.

  In the tents that Min Mountain Sword Sect had set up, multiple middle-aged cultivators were standing shoulder-to-shoulder, their deep eyes filled with incredulity.

  “This is the Water Crystal Sword Manual of the Cloud Water Palace.”


  They were all outstanding teachers of famed cultivation places and their knowledge was much better than those students. One of them sighed softly, “But even in the Cloud Water Palace, this sword manual was one of the more obscure ones. Bai Shanshui didn’t cultivate this. Who would have expected this sword manual to have such a transformation?”


  “The power of the Water Crystal comes from those ribbons of water. These ribbons of water do not have much power, but they are quick to flow and surround the body. They all flow in different directions. With the sword in the middle, one can use the momentum of these flows of water to create a spinning sword essence that usual sword moves cannot create in a short amount of time.”


  Someone else shook their head slowly and said, “But one sword, no matter how fast, cannot hold against all the ground many feet away from it. With these three swords moving with different sword moves, it is like someone using these moves at manyfold speed…… If I am not seeing this with my own eyes, I would not believe one can use a set of sword moves to create a defensive sword formation.”


  “Does the White Goat Cave have sword manuals from Cloud Water Palace?” one person couldn’t help but whisper when he looked at Ding Ning’s figure.

  “White Goat Cave cannot have a sword manual like this,” someone said.

  But these people could not hear this as the speaker was standing in a green jade hall.

  This green jade hall was located on the edge of a cliff halfway up Skyscraper Peak in Min Mountain Sword Sect. This place was restricted for many of Min Mountain Sword Sect’s disciples.

  The speaker was a young woman dressed in green jade robes.

  She was Xie Rou’s age, and her features were young and her chest flat. She clearly was not yet fully grown. Yet when she stood, her hands hanging down, she had an indescribable presence.

  Her eyes darkened slightly as she spoke to a young man dressed in the same green-colored robes like her. “The Water Crystal is a secret of the Cloud Water Palace. The jade artifact that recorded the Water Crystal was taken out of the secret hoard after Cloud Water Palace was destroyed. It was always stored in Min Mountain Sword Sect …… I personally picked this sword manual and engraved it. But even I did not know this sword manual could be like this. How could this have been leaked in in advance?”