by Fang Xiang
“Ha ha,” Xie Shan said with a smile, “that’s true.”
“How long do you have until jindan?” Ma Fan suddenly asked.
“I don’t know, but I feel that I will breakthrough soon. As expected, combat is the best training,” Xie Shan said with a smile.
“After jindan? Where are you going?” Ma Fan said with slight gravity.
“You don’t need to feel me out,” Xie Shan smiled and said, “I’ll definitely still follow Boss. Actually, I’m slightly curious.”
“Curious about what?” Ma Fan asked.
“I’m curious how far Boss can really go.” Xie Shan looked into the distance.
“Just because of this? I don’t believe it.” Ma Fan shook his head.
“Of course that isn’t all of it. I’ve gradually come to understand just how much I’m worth. Boss is a pretty good boss, and I feel that Boss has a good future.” Xie Shan listed with his fingers, “Talented, hard-working, humble. Most importantly, young. Way too young! It’s the first time I’ve met such a powerful person. Boss’ origins are probably not as simple as we think. Adding on Lil’ Miss, and the band of brothers we have now, it’s nothing to just conquer a territory and live a good life.”
He laughed self-mockingly. “I’ve been the leader before, it isn’t easy being the leader. I feel that it is pretty good right now, I get all my benefits, I don’t have to worry about any problems, and can do anything that is needed. My progress in this past half-year is more than the progress of the last three years combined.”
Ma Fan didn’t speak, but his expression lessened.
“Don’t worry, I guarantee that the none of the brothers now will leave,” Xie Shan’s voice was filled with confidence.
Ma Fan chewed the grass stalk and made a sound of acknowledgement.
Suddenly, a sharp bugle call sounded.
“Let’s go, it’s time to work!”
———
He Xiang was extremely busy. He hadn’t had good sleep in these days. He hadn’t expected the mysterious troop that suddenly appeared behind him to be this slippery. He had sent a troop to kill them, but after two days, he received the unexpected news that a cadet hall was destroyed.
With anger, he sent out another troop.
The other’s movement was hard to predict. After a few days, another piece of news came through. An cadet hall located extremely far away had been massacred.
After that, every one to two days, he would receive the bad news that a certain cadet hall had been destroyed.
The news seemed to spread through Little Mountain Jie like it had wings. Their progress instantly became much harder. The factions that had thought of submitting to the Outer Hall started to hesitate.
The Outer Hall could not be stopped, but clearly, that mysterious troop also could not be stopped. The news that the cadet halls were attacked spread through all the cadet halls. Each hall had prepared, but they could not stop this mysterious force.
From this, it was possible to see the power of this force!
But the factions couldn’t bear to surrender the territory that they had won through hard work. If they lost these territories, and they were swallowed by the Outer Hall, they wouldn’t have any leverage to negotiate.
These factions instantly found it hard to advance or retreat.
As the advance of the Outer Hall met resistance, the pressure on He Xiang and the others’ bodies increased heavily.
“We need to find their base!” In the time of ten short days, He Xiang seemed like a completely different person. His entire face was shockingly thin. “It definitely isn’t the matter of a few days to train such a strong force. If we can find their base, then they will definitely be forced to go back. At that time, we can surround them.”
“But we’ve searched for so long, and there hasn’t been any news!” an elder said.
Just at this time, an elder suddenly stumbled in. “I found them! I found them!”
All the elders abruptly stood up.
“Where?”
“What place?”
“All of you, shut up!” He Xiang shouted sharply. Instantly, everyone obediently close their mouths. In this short period of time, He Xiang had successfully built up his authority. It truly wasn’t luck that the Old Forefather had picked him.
The elder that charged in was flushed and extremely excited. “Let me first show you something!”
He Xiang suppressed the irritation inside.
A black meditation mat was placed in front of everyone. The elders hurriedly came over and examined it. They all recognized good things, and instantly saw the trick. All of them inhaled sharply.
They weren’t dumb. This little meditation mat was a decisive influence on the situation of Little Mountain Jie.
“This is a talisman produced by a place called Golden Crow City. I probably don’t need to introduce the abilities. Golden Crow City is at the Sky Star Peak. After a group occupied it, they built a city.”
Everyone couldn’t help but inhale sharply again
Built a city!
“I’m not sure who the true master is, but Elder He is definitely very familiar with their chief business manager.”
He Xiang’s expression changed. “Who is it?”
“Bao Yi!”
The elders’ faces instantly became strange. He Xiang’s face instantly became heavy.
“According to the xiuzhe, they once saw a troop leave Golden Crow City at night. Less than one thousand people,” the elder said, “so that’s why I suspect it is them. Now, all the xiuzhe in the jie are moving there. If we don’t defeat it soon, if this meditation mat continues to sell, our future days won’t be easy.”
Everyone’s expression instantly became heavy.
He Xiang stood up, his expression vicious. “Attack Golden Crow City!”
* * *
Translator Ramblings: Some of you have jumped way ahead in your guesses by about thirty chapters or so.
Zuo Mo gets a new pet and doesn’t know how smart his little compatriots are. But he probably doesn’t have the time to worry about how much jingshi he is losing. They are getting their revenge on Zuo Mo by denying him jingshi and materials.
I’m just going to add when Pu Yao said one hundred well-trained ningmai, he means well-trained to his standards. While Vermillion Bird Camp is pretty strong compared to everyone else, they have been training for less than a year, and Gongsun Cha has said before that from war chess, he knows it takes multiple years for an army to be trained and have preliminary combat experience. That might be for yaomo but it may also apply for xiuzhe.
Chapter 284: Great Formation!
In an enormous and deep pit, Zuo Mo continuously dug down.
The hole above his head seemed to be palm-sized. The depth of this place was fifty zhang below ground level. The pit was about one zhang in radius. The female xiu stood nearby. Looking up, the height of fifty zhang was enough to make one feel suffocated.
Suddenly, Zuo Mo stopped his movements, a surprised and joyful expression on his face.
“Let’s go up,” he said to the female xiu. Even though the female xiu couldn’t hear, but he still said it. Then he started to fly up, the female xiu followed closely behind him.
As he flew up to the entrance of the hole, Zuo Mo stopped and took a deep breath.
With all his power, he punched out a Sky Glass Wave!
A glass-like fist brutally entered the pit, and smashed heavily on the bottom.
Boom!
Bright red lava sprouted out, continuously sprouting up like an ancient wild beast released from its cage. From far away, Zuo Mo was still able to feel a burning presence rush against his face.
The deep red lava would occasionally spit out flames. Facing the power of nature, Zuo Mo’s expression couldn’t help but change. If he accidentally got caught by the earth fire, unless he had jindan cultivation, his bones would not survive.
Other than shock, joy also made its way onto his face.
He p
ulled the female xiu as he kept on flying up. The lava finally reached the surface. This place was the core of the big formation Zuo Mo had set up. The deep red viscous lava slowly flowed. As it flowed into the tunnels, the formations on the walls of the tunnel started to light up.
Zuo Mo finally could not stop himself from showing a smile!
He had succeeded!
Finally succeeded!
Right above his head, Golden Crow City suddenly lit up in the night. Countless golden lights like golden fish leaping against the current flew into the sky above Golden Crow City. These small golden energies spread and gathered above Golden Crow City.
All the people in Golden Crow City were alarmed by such a loud change. They all walked out of the buildings, raising their faces to look at the golden energies covering the sky!
The xiuzhe that were skilled in formations all changed expressions. They could occasionally see the shadow of formations in those golden energies that swam like fish. Was this some powerful formation? This was so unfathomable! They didn’t know what kind of formation could create such a world-shaking apparition.
The large factions that had camped outside the camp were also disturbed.
“What is that?”
“Is it some treasure coming out of the ground?”
In the dark of the night, Golden Crow City’s lights grew dramatically. It was covered in a blinding golden cage of light like a sun against the black sky.
“Such vast craftsmanship!” On a mountain peak, a bearded middle-aged person sighed with shock. Beside him was a stocky large male.
“How so?” the large male asked.
“This city most likely is hiding a very powerful formation. This presence clearly is the scene that occurs when a large formation has just formed. When we entered the city yesterday, I had found that the materials used in the city are extremely special. Daren definitely cannot guess it,” the middle-aged person said with a smile.
“Oh, what kind of high-level material did it use?” The large male was slightly curious.
“It is just the opposite of what Daren is thinking. The bricks used in the city are just normal bluestone.”
“How is it possible?” the large male paused and then shook his head. “If blue stone can create such an impenetrable city, Little Mountain Jie should be covered in cities.”
“Ha ha, it is bluestone, but this blue stone has been forged in Golden Crow Fire.” The middle-aged person grinned.
“So that’s why!” The large male finally understood.
Admiration floated onto the face of the middle-aged person. “This person is very clever. Even though the city is small, the method he really used is forging methods.”
“Forging methods? Did he think of Golden Crow City like a talisman?” The large male was stunned again.
“Exactly. All of Golden Crow City is covered in formations. All of the buildings are connected into one entity by formations. It forms a situation where all of them prosper or fall together. During the day, the sunlight will form a pillar of light and enter the city. Has Daren noticed it?”
“Is there something about that too?”
“The sunlight contains slight amounts of Golden Crow Fire which is continuously absorbed by Golden Crow City. Over time, this city would become even purer. Isn’t this a forging method?” The eyes of the middle-aged person flashed as he sighed in praise. “The daylight is good, but it requires time. This city master clearly cannot wait that long. If I am not wrong, he should be using earth fire to temper this city. This is why this subordinate calls it great craftsmanship.”
“Using earth fire to temper this city?” The expression on the large male’s face was slightly stunned. After a beat, he shook his head and said, “I hadn’t thought that such powerful people were hiding in Little Mountain Jie. Someone this powerful. If I just let them slip by, I am not satisfied. What does Teacher think, can we hire them?”
The middle aged man shook his head. “It is good that Daren is desirous of those with virtues. However, I see that this person already has his own power. He actually has battle generals. His origins are probably not simple. Even more, Daren’s command posts have been filled. If we get him, where shall we put him?”
Hearing this, the large male paused for a while before sighing.
“Daren doesn’t have to be sorrowful,” the middle-aged person comforted. “Our sect’s power is vast, and full of resources. We only need Daren to first establish himself in the sect. It is not difficult for Daren to find talented people. This time, the sect leader’s intentions of nurturing Daren is evident through sending Daren to investigate the affairs of Little Mountain Jie. Daren only has to complete his duty. There is no need to feel frustration over one person.”
“Teacher is right.” The large man’s expression turned normal. Then anger was evident on his face. “Hmph, Clear Sky Old man is too daring, he dares to ruin a jie so, he doesn’t want to live.”
What he had seen on the way here was peerlessly cruel.
“Now that the news has spread, his days won’t be easy.” The middle-aged man’s eyes flashed with a cold light. “It is retribution that his disciple was killed. This one speculates other factions will soon enter.”
The large male suddenly said. “Do you think that it might be the people inside that killed Huang Zhuo Guang?” He pointed at Golden Crow City.
The middle-aged person paused, and then his mind moved. “It is possible! However, this doesn’t have much to do with us.” He thought, and said as he shook his head, “We have our business to attend to. The appearance of Stars in Daytime is a rare opportunity for Daren. Daren’s luck is not bad.”
They had been sent to investigate the matter of the yao army appearing in Little Mountain Jie, and to find the chaos rift. They hadn’t expected to encounter the apparition of Stars in Daytime in the middle.
“But we do not have any results even now,” the large male said helplessly.
“We can proceed slowly, rushing does not help.” The middle-aged person also had no solution.
Little Mountain Jie had become a mess. The unprecedented moves that the Outer Hall has made and the sudden rise of Golden Crow City had caused the two to become the most popular topic of Little Mountain Jie. All kinds of information were continuously passed out. Only one-third of the Outer Hall’s cadet halls still remained.
Not two days after that, they heard that mysterious troop had successively defeated three troops of reinforcements the Outer Hall had sent out.
The xiuzhe that had been defeated and fled all described the power of this troop. The fear still lingering on their faces became the most convincing evidence. The news quickly spread, and the Outer Hall, in complete reversal of its usual attitude, gathered its power and advanced continuously towards Golden Crow City.
Those that had the slightest smarts instantly realized the connection between the mysterious troop and Golden Crow City.
The factions positioned between the two forces quickly relocated behind Golden Crow City’s location. Everyone was waiting to see the clash between the two major factions.
The clash this time would be the clash between the two strongest factions of Little Mountain Jie.
Nothing more had to be said about the Outer Hall. Even though they had lost three thousand people, but they still had an enormous troop of more than seven thousand people. This enormous troop was like a juggernaut. All factions that dared to resist in its path were crushed under them completely with the weight of Mount Tai.
Golden Crow City leapt into view. In tens of days, it had jumped to become an existence just below the Outer Hall. Golden Crow Fire, Black Processing Meditation mat, the thirty six formation battle watchtowers, and the mysterious troop had caused Golden Crow City to become the center of Little Mountain Jie.
Golden Crow City seemed to not feel the pressuring steps of the Outer Hall. It still was furiously selling Black Processing Meditation mats. This also caused it to become an essential stop for the xiuzhe that were
retreating. Everyone did everything within their abilities to buy Black Processing Meditation mats.
Black Processing Meditation mats might be expensive, but compared to ling grains, it had too many benefits.
In the midst of it all, many factions suggested they could help defend the city, but Bao Yi adeptly refused them. This caused everyone to be even more curious. After they bought the Black Processing Meditation mats, they didn’t leave, but set up bases behind Golden Crow City.
Looking from far away, it was not possible to see the end of the densely packed xiuzhe behind Golden Crow City. Half of all the xiuzhe of Little Mountain Jie had gathered here. They wanted to personally see this rare clash between titans.
The result of this clash would directly relate to their future life.
Privately, about eight-tenths of the xiuzhe favored the Outer Hall. The terrifying power of seven thousand xiuzhe combined made everyone fearful. Even if that mysterious troop belonged to Golden Crow City, but their numbers were too few. They could be used to harass, but they were not able to be significantly effective, especially with Clear Sky Old Forefather, a jindan, standing guard.
They were just curious how long Golden Crow City could withstand the Outer Hall’s attack.
But contrary to everyone’s expectations, the Outer Hall started to slow down its advance.While the speed of the army’s advancement slowed, the pressure only made them feel more suffocated. Those that had some knowledge understood the Outer Hall was resting up and preparing for the final battle.
Golden Crow City still performed business as usual. Many of the xiuzhe behind the city were sighing. If Golden Crow City really landed in the hands of the Outer Hall, it really was good for them. No one could determine how much wealth Golden Crow City really had, but the items definitely were piled up in mountains.
Black Processing Meditation mats were not cheap!
Golden Crow City was the wealthiest place in the present Little Mountain Jie.
After opening the flow of earth fire, Zuo Mo became idle. Half of his heart had landed when the formation was finished.