If Ma Duo Bao can do it, then I’ll let him take up the great burden. When we ascend to the god realm, I can retire, having made my mark, and go find Divine Phoenix Heavenly Maiden, this overbearing woman, and take this wife that should’ve been taken long ago, living free and unfettered from then on.
… Or so he thought, but things took a sudden and dramatic turn.
The forces the five great sects sent out all suffered crushing defeat. A total of seven Heaven Tier forces participated in the battle, but six forces were either annihilated or forced to surrender, and only one force escaped; moreover, they fled pell-mell, suffering extremely great losses.
Now, the five great sects were finally shocked, deciding the strongest powers had to sortie.
Unfortunately, Restore Heaven Academy’s students were also enlisted into the army.
Chapter 683 - Personally Taking the Field
Translator: Reverie_ Editor: Henyee
In the world of martial artists, it was very hard to imagine the existence of an army.
Martial artists were used to being alone and fighting alone, only occasionally fighting in groups, but those were also very small, with only a few people joining hands. If there were any more of them, they instead wouldn’t be able to unleash the battle prowess that they should have, because they wouldn’t know how to cooperate, and also wouldn’t have someone to command them.
When Ling Han and the others received a transfer order, they felt it somewhat strange. These students actually became soldiers, and were going to move out with a great army to go on a punitive expedition against the Purple Moon Empire.
“Even the five great sects are moving out?” Ling Han was astounded. It looked like he still underestimated Ma Duo Bao, for him to be able to be taken so seriously by the five great sects. However, thinking about it, it was rather normal. Power of the nation was a good thing that could drastically increase a martial artists strength, and the Rain Emperor previously was a clear proof.
More importantly, the power of the nation was not decided by martial artists, but by number of subjects within a country. The more subjects, the stronger the gathered power of the nation.
If the Purple Moon Empire were really to take down half of the middle state, then with the blessing of the power of the nation, how powerful could Shattering Void Tier martial artists become? Would they reach the Eighteen-Eyed Corpse King’s level?
Besides, Deity Transformation Tier and Heaven Tier forces were all utterly defeated by the Purple Moon Empire, so only Shattering Void Tier powers could be dispatched. How many Shattering Void Tier warriors in the world could there be? Other than Feng Po Yun and a meager lot, weren’t they all in the five great sects?
However, would Feng Po Yun and the others listen to the orders of the five great sects? Of course not! Then other than the five great sects personally taking the field, who else could be sent out?
The disciples of the Restore Heaven Academy were also conscripted, and the reason stated was to let them learn and gain experience through actual combat; this actually received the approval of the majority.
The geniuses of the younger generation spent too much time on cultivating, and actually participated very few times in actual combat, so many people were extremely excited, itching to try.
Ling Han contacted the Rain Emperor and Mu Rong Qing, and decided to passively participate in the war, only seeking to defend oneself, and never hurt others.
“It’d be best to meet Ma Duo Bao once. Since he’d long said he would open the skies and pointed out that the god realm was the origin of the ten millennia turmoil, he presumably understands more about the matter of opening the skies and definitely knows more than Zi Xue Xian.”
“However, he’s an emperor now, and wanting to see him probably wouldn’t be too easy.”
“Let’s see if there’s a chance.”
Ling Han was quite confident. He had the Black Tower in hand, and had the ability to save himself even standing against Shattering Void Tier elites, which allowed him to dare venture deep into the Purple Moon Empire.
There were only two days of preparation time before all the students had to be on their way, and after joining with the five great sect’s army, they set out towards the Purple Moon Empire.
In the end, this great army was also divided into three portions, separately meeting Purple Moon Empire’s three-way army, and at last gathering at the capital to utterly annihilate this “fake empire”. Restore Heaven Academy’s students weren’t actually separated into three groups. They followed the western army, and were obviously attacking Purple Moon Empire from the western side.
This army’s general was obviously a Shattering Void Tier elite, but it wasn’t the Azure Phoenix Divine Empress, the Sword King, or some important figure that entire world knew; instead, it was an unprepossessing old man.
However, a Shattering Void Tier elite was after all a Shattering Void Tier elite, and just standing there, his presence was like a mountain, with measureless divine light intertwining. No one could approach a thirty-meter-range of him, or else they’d definitely be busted by that aura.
Unless he intentionally suppressed it, even Heaven Tier warriors couldn’t approach, or it’d just be courting death.
Ling Han was apprehensive. The five great sects had deep secrets as expected, and Shattering Void Tier elites were as if they could be thrown out casually. However, this was also related to martial arts settling for ten millennia and welcoming a great outbreak. Now, it was a super prosperous age that blossomed after all the dull monotony of ten millennia, and there being countless experts wasn’t a rare thing.
The great western army was called a great army, but actually only had ten thousand people. One-third was the disciples of the five great sect, and two-thirds were the subordinate forces of the five great sects, in addition to the Restore Heaven Academy’s nearly 2000 students.
They might be few, but this great army’s entire strength was shockingly formidable. The lowest tier was Spiritual Pedestal Tier, and the majority were in the Flower Blossom Tier. There were quite a few Spiritual Infant Tier elites, and Heaven Tier ones were in the hundreds, and only Shattering Void Tier cultivators couldn’t be seen as of now, but one commander should be enough. No one believed that the Purple Moon Empire could have more than a palm of Shattering Void Tier elites.
Perhaps, there was only one.
“The Purple Moon Empire, the Thousand Corpse Sect, the Asura Demon Emperor, the Third Killing Formation, all mixed up together,” Ling Han muttered to himself. It would be even more chaotic if the great silver spider in the desolate north were to be added. It was not known what had been buried there, but the Vial of Curses alone made Ling Han understand the scariness of that place.
The five great sects might not be able ward it off!
Ling Han had seen that great silver spider attack. Its aura was truly too powerful, and compared to the Sword King and the Azure Phoenix Divine Empress, Ling Han still thought that the great silver spider was stronger.
Perhaps, the moment that great Corpse King broke into Eighteen-eyes leve, only then would it be able to compare with it.
Thinking about it now, it was truly horrifying that such an existence was actually tolerated in the world. Shouldn’t it be repelled out of this realm?
After over ten days, they arrived at Cotton Sun City. The army didn’t continue to advance, and halted here.
Because one of Purple Moon Empire’s armies were arriving here within a few days, the first battle was going to start here!
At this moment, the city was tranquil; not many people knew that a battle was imminent. Each day was still a celebration of peace with singing and dancing.
In some sense, the five great sects did considerably well. The entire world’s environment was quite peaceful, and the lives of average people were adequately provided, rarely seeing the phenomenon of selling one’s sons or daughters [ED/N: In times of hunger in older China (or Japan for that matter), it wasn’t that r
are for parents to sell (some of) their children because 1) money and 2) once sold, they at least had a chance to get fed.]… it did occur, but it was generally those who committed grave crimes and implicated their families, were into gambling, or suffered losses in a business.
Basically, there weren’t floods of refugees because of natural and man-made calamities.
However, once the war started, there would definitely be many people that would become destitute and homeless.
Ling Han sighed, but immediately strengthened his conviction.
uch peace and tranquility were a pretense, and it was only the five great sects breeding livestock for their own use. One wouldn’t see anyone that raised chickens torture the chickens, only giving them food and water. When eagles or weasels came, they’d chase them off, but this definitely wasn’t because they cherished them, but instead protected them for slaughter in the future.
Now, the entire vast land was a gigantic barn, waiting for the advent of slaughter.
Taking advantage of the time before the war started, Ling Han and the others wandered in the city. Perhaps this city would be engulfed by the flames of war and no longer exist in a few more days.
… The strength of their army as a whole was too powerful, and any person chosen randomly could flatten this city. The difference would only be the length of the time spent on such an endeavor.
As they walked, Ling Han suddenly halted, and said, “Get out, don’t hide in the dark!”
“Hehe, such keen perception!” A slender figure walked out from within the dark. He was an extremely handsome man, and although he’d reached middle age, his charisma hadn’t been concealed. There were probably quite a few young ladies that would kneel under his mature qualities.
“This lord is Hu Jian Yi, Wind Moon Sect’s sect master!”
Chapter 684 - Who’s Compensating Whom
Translator: Reverie_ Editor: Henyee
Wind Moon Sect’s sect master!
Ling Han was instantly alarmed inwardly. It was no wonder he’d felt an intense killing intent earlier. He’d once killed someone called Hu Qing Fang when he hurried on his way to the Restore heaven Academy, and that was precisely the son of Wind Moon Sect’s sect master.
And also his only son.
The other party appeared at midnight and targeted him directly, appearing to have already confirmed his identity.
Expectedly, when bringing Hu Niu, someone so high-profile, his disguise back then was equivalent to not having one.
Ling Han smiled faintly, and said, “Sect Master Hu, waiting for me here in the depth of night, could you possibly be thinking of inviting me for tea or a drink?”
“Hehe, I don’t know if Young Master Ling would do me the honor?” Full of smiles, Hu Jian Yi looked at Ling Han, having a threatening murderous aura on his face.
“On Sect Master Hu’s generous invitation, why not?” Ling Han replied with a question.
“Haha, Young Master Ling is talented and daring as expected. Please!” Hu Jian Yi gestured with his hand.
Ling Han wasn’t afraid of Hu Jian Yi suddenly making a life-threatening move. He now had two identities, not only being a Heaven Grade alchemist, but also a member of the expedition army. If Hu Jian Yi dared to kill a person of the expedition army, this would be equivalent to issuing a challenge for battle towards the five great sects.
No matter how much hatred he had concealed in his heart, without the resolution of being destroyed together, he couldn’t possibly go against the five great sects.
So, Ling Han was very safe.
Of course, most of his confidence obviously came from Black Tower. No one would know if a father with a dead son could still maintain rationality.
They came to a tea house and requested a private room, and soon fragrant tea was delivered, the aroma of it floating in the air.
Quite bizarre, two people who should’ve been mortal enemies were actually sitting together and drinking tea as if they were intimate friends of man years.
“Young Master Ling, my son died in your hands, right?” After Hu Jian Yi took a few sips of tea, he suddenly spoke out.
Ling Han didn’t refuse to admit it—a meaningless act—and nodded. He said, “Correct.”
“This lord only had one son, so how will Young Master Ling compensate this lord?” Hu Jian Yi’s gaze turned cold, staring at Ling Han.
Ling Han instantly came to an understanding. Hu Jian Ming indeed wanted revenge, but also had scruples. After all, he still had the title of a Heaven Grade alchemist, even though the Alchemist Society hadn’t publicly acknowledged it.
Anyway, if his son was dead, then he’d first fish out some benefits.
Ling Han smiled; was the other party extorting him?
“Sect Master Hu, now you’ve said it wrong!” Ling Han shook his head. “Someone like your son, him living would be wasting food, wasting cultivation resources, and only causing troubles every day. This time, luckily, he died in my hands, or else if it were anyone more ruthless, your Wind Moon Sect would be destroyed immediately… Sect Master Hu, don’t blame me for being frank. I always love to speak the truth.
“I took care of a disaster for you. Forget that I didn’t ask Sect Master Hu for any benefits, but Sect Master Hu’s actually extorting me, is this reasonable? Is this right?”
Hu Jian Yi’s face twitched involuntarily. He’d seen silver-tongued people, but being able to talk nonsense to this degree, Ling Han was probably the only one.
Can you not be so damned shameless? Killing my son and asking me to give you benefits?
Hu Jian Yi couldn’t help but put down the tea cup and release Heaven Tier presence, instantly making Zhu Xuan Er’s face pale.
It wasn’t pretense that kings among martial artists could resist the presence of elites, but the mind being able to endure didn’t mean that the body could also endure. This depended on the gap in tier of the two parties. Heaven Tier elites crushed Flower Blossom Tier ones by three entire tiers, so Zhu Xuan Er obviously couldn’t endure it.
Ling Han drew Zhu Xuan Er into his embrace, displeased, and said, “Wanna talk, then talk properly. What are you doing scaring people? You think you’re the only one who knows how to glare? Hu Niu, let him know what’s called being fierce!”
Hu Niu was already discontent with Ling Han embracing Zhu Xuan Er, and she instantly glared furiously at Hu Jian Yi. Her gaze like was a tiger’s, emitting baleful killing intent.
Hu Jian Yi obviously wouldn’t care about Hu Niu, but after making eye contact with her, he actually felt a chill. He hurriedly suppressed this feeling, a strange thought arising in mind. A seven- to eight-year-old little girl could actually make him feel terrified; what a strange thing this was?
He no longer paid attention to Hu Niu, simply staring at Ling Han, and said, “Young Master Ling, you’d better listen to this lord’s suggestion, or else later on in the battlefield… weapons having no eyes, so you might be accidently hurt by a friendly.”
This was an undisguised threat.
Ling Han, however, was unperturbed, and said, “An evil sect like the Wind Moon Sect, I really find it strange it can exist for so long. Shouldn’t a sect that has massive negative influence on growing youths be disbanded?”
“Hehe, looks like a disagreeable conversation!” Hu Jian Yi sneered. He’d never planned to let Ling Han go, and precisely because of that was the Wind Moon Sect that should’ve followed the eastern army transferred to the western army under his persistence.
… Obviously, it was to assassinate Ling Han.
Today, if any advantages could be extracted from Ling Han, that would obviously be great. However, whether anything could be extracted or not, he would assassinate Ling Han in the war later on.
Wars were chaotic anyway, so who would notice?
To say the least, even if someone saw, he could claim that weapons have no eyes, and that the attack he released accidentally killed Ling Han because he was too strong.
Openly murdering a Heaven G
rade alchemist, a disciple of Restore Heaven academy, and a member of the expedition army, such a crime was something he couldn’t afford to bear.
“Hahahaha!” Ling Han and Hu Jian Yi both laughed loudly at the same time as if one another said a terrible joke.
But this laughter stopped abruptly as Hu Jian Yi suddenly stood up and pulled open the door to leave.
“Wait!” Ling Han shouted behind his back.
Hu Jian Yi was overjoyed; could Ling Han be afraid, after all? He pretended to be aloof, and didn’t turn around.
“Sect Master Hu, you can’t be thinking of escaping without paying the bill? You’ve just said it’s your treat!” Ling Han’s voice came from behind.
Hu Jian Yi almost fell onto the ground, and his expression was instantly filled with fury. With a heavy snort, he brushed his sleeve and left.
“Sect Master Hu, you’re really going to ignore the bill? Ling Han was still shouting from behind, making the waiters in the teahouse look at him with gazes of contempt.
Hu Jian Yi was infuriated to the point of wanting to kill someone. After arriving at the bottom floor, he threw out an Origin Crystal and left resentfully.
The smile on Ling Han’s face gradually vanished. When he’d found out about the existence of a force like the Wind Moon Sect, he’d already decided to overturn this sect, but he didn’t have enough strength yet, and couldn’t carry it out.
“For your sins, you shall not live!” he said balefully. When he possessed Heaven Tier battle prowess, the first thing he would do would be to bulldoze the Wind Moon Sect.
After staying a few days in the city, one of Purple Moon Empire’s armies finally arrived.
Their great army was truly fit to be called a great army. The soldiers looked disciplined and in good order, and amounted to a hundred thousand people, holding banners, and sitting on horses or war chariots. It was much unlike the five great sects’ coalition army, which could only be said to be an assembly of experts, and was very different from the great army.
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