by Fang Xiang
Coming from the Great Buddha Temple, Yi Zheng was from an orthodox and famed sect. But at this time, he was gaping as he looked at the sky, his entire mind a mess.
Dropped into this ghastly place, what he had seen in these short months had completely upset everything he had learned on the mountain.
When he had seen Wei Sheng the first time, he was awed by the other’s talent and felt that he, in comparison, had achieved nothing. However, he never would have thought that it was just the beginning. Everything that followed was so fantastical it was like a dream.
A guy who was of similar age to him was the leader of thousands of people, and everyone was strangely loyal.
In a place called Golden Crow Camp, everyone had a fourth-grade Golden Crow Fire seed. He had almost gone insane then. Could that fire seed be made wholesale?
In a place called Vermillion Bird Camp, everyone there were battlemaniacs. Even their gaze when they walked by were like blades. Yi Zheng was a greenhorn. He did not know how strong these people were but the presence exuded by these people made his heart beat wildly.
A place called Guard Camp had its doors locked all day. However, there would occasionally be the sounds of howling like wild beasts and battle coming from inside. Every time he passed by, he would uncontrollably shake.
There was one that rested all day hugging the sword, one that held a black spear and killed all day without any weariness, little people that could fly, and mischievous pagoda … …
All kinds of weird, strange, and impossible things were found here.
We are from Great Buddha Temple, we are dhyana xiu, we won’t compete with you on strangeness, Yi Zheng repeatedly comforted himself in multiple nights.
But today, he saw with his own eyes a dhyana xiu’s coreformation, saw a dhyana xiu give a wish, saw a dhyana xiu give a Buddhahood Abandonment Death Wish, and consequently, he completely broke down!
Who is the dhyana xiu here!
Great Buddha Temple, one of the ten dhyana xiu holy grounds. He knew of three that had wish power, the shishu from the Discipline Hall, the ancestral forefather, and Seventh Shigu.
Buddhahood Abandonment Death Wish, oh, the stuff of legends, it’s good to hear about it.
But why did it have to appear in front of him … …
Yi Zheng suddenly felt that the glittering sigh of the Great Buddha Temple was still dazzling in front of this unorthodox dhyana xiu, but for some unknown reason, its presence had lessened greatly.
All hail the Buddha!
Yi Zheng grabbed his head with his hands and looked dazedly at the dark shadow gradually forming in the sky.
———
A blurry shadow gradually formed above the camp.
The enormous slave transporting boats in the face of this figure’s foot was like a toe. The shadow was like an ancient giant looking down at the world. Everyone in the camp without exception inhaled sharply. An endless presence came at them like a tsunami.
Wei Sheng showed a grave expression. He stepped forward, and gestured in a circle and swiped with his fingers.
Everyone felt the presence oppressing their bodies instantly lesson and their terror-filled expressions eased slightly.
Wei Sheng and Xie Shan exchanged a look. Both had grave expressions. The two of them had detected the unusualness of Zong Ru’s core formation.
Moo!
The blurry giant suddenly raised its head and bellowed. The sound travelled far in all directions!
Waves of motion came from the depths of the fiendish mist.
The giant’s blurry figure continued to change.
———
Zuo Mo who was going through the Dance of Falling Maple’s prison battlefield did not know of the enormous noise at the campground.
This time, he did not activate the prison breaking battle and he sighed in relief. If he activated the prison breaking battle again, then he would want to smash his head of a wall. He thought of how much endless trouble breaking Vast Water Clear Skies had been.
With money in his hand, Zuo Mo did not want trouble. These things might also be money, but there were not as likable as jingshi. In any case, ge couldn’t waste it.
The prison battlefield of the Dance of Falling Maple was primarily based on killing illusions. Zuo Mo felt good after using [Bone-Crushing Obscuring Wind]. Powerful yao arts only worked if they were used frequently. Zuo Mo clearly detected that he could use [Bone-Crushing Obscuring Wind] now.
Zuo Mo quickly was not satisfied with purely using [Bone-Crushing Obscuring Wind]. He started to try to change yao arts.
Suddenly thinking of the feeling he caught at the last moment in the battle against Mo Ru Huo … …
Zuo Mo’s eyes suddenly lit up.
———
The door created by blue and green vines twined together released a serene light. This was a yao door. The xiuzhe had their transportation formations, the yao had the their yao doors, the mo had their blood pools.
They were going home.
Looking at the yao door, Mu Xi’s thoughts flowed. She couldn’t say how she felt after being able to safely return home after fighting for several years. Before this campaign, she had never left home for so long. Thinking about how her mother had cried until she was made of tears when she had been preparing, her heart felt sore.
Returning in victory, this was the only part she felt was worth it. From a young age, her talent was not very eye-catching among the youths of the clan. It was only when she began to study being a battle general that her talent was seen. It had been unexpected that the chance to represent the Wood Clan had landed on her head. The clan leader’s order had created many doubting voices. It had to be known that of all military commanders, she was the youngest.
Fortunately, she had not failed. Even though there were no great achievements, there were not any failures.
“Let’s go,” she said serenely.
Just at this time, a yao that was wearing the military uniform hurried past. Mu Xi recognized this yao. The other was an intermediate-level battle general at the front line of the Bloody Sky Metropolis Jie. Mu Xi had once met him. The other’s expression was panicked and had slight terror. Mu Xi’s heart suddenly jumped.
“Mang Zang Daren!” she called the other.
Mang Zang’s steps paused. He finally saw Mu Xi like he had woken up from a dream. “It’s Mu Xi Daren!”
To any battle general, the skill to remain calm was the most fundamental of all fundamentals. Seeing the other so uncomposed, the bad feeling inside grew. She asked in a light voice, “Has something happened?”
Zang Mang’s expression changed. His eyes suddenly became slightly red, his voice hoarse. “The front lines were defeated.”
“Ah!” Mu Xi and her vice commander’s expression changed dramatically.
“Three days ago, small numbers of xiuzhe appeared on the outskirts of the defensive line. We sent out little teams to clean out the area. We quickly received news that the teams were surrounded and were asking for aid. Yan Shang Daren led the troops to give aid. But the other took the chance to attack the defense line. The attack was strong. Yan Shang Daren was ambushed on the way back to give aid. The Fierce Fire Corps were completely killed. Yan Daren has also given his life in sacrifice. The troops that went to give aid to Yan Shang Daren were also ambushed and lost great numbers!”
Mang Zhan’s voice was sorrowful.
Mu Xi’s face suddenly became as white as paper.
Chapter 394: Speculation
When the news of the defeat at the front line reached the rear, all were shocked. This was the first defeat the yao had suffered after the war began. The losses were so severe they surpassed imagination.
In the previous battles, the yao military forces had advanced smoothly. The xiuzhe hadn’t just retreated out of Bloody Sky Metropolis Jie, they had also lost multiple jie. But looking at it with a calm eye now, the xiuzhe had not been truly wounded at all. What they had lost were just the lowest level of sects, and th
e true elite had not suffered losses at all.
In this defeat, the yao casualties were all combat yao above the stage of spirit planting.
Normal yao and combat yao were both were spirit planting stage, but there was an enormous difference in ability. This was not as evident when it was a small skirmish, but the difference would certainly show in mass combat. Even if it was the local militia, they needed to training for at least five years to form preliminary combat abilities.
Even more, Fierce Fire Corps was a regular corps commanded directly by the Council of Elders.
None one had expected the xiuzhe’s counterattack was so ferocious and decisive. When they attacked, it was like thunder.
When the situation at the front lines were good, the mood at the rear was very relaxed, but with the news of the defeat the mood of the rear instantly became tense.
The Fierce Fire Corps of Yan Shang Daren were famed for their ferocity. They were completely defeated. Then how strong was the power of the enemy?
The yao finally remembered that the xiuzhe had possessed Bloody Sky Metropolis Jie for three thousand years. Three thousand years, even if Bloody Sky Metropolis Jie was not suited for xiuzhe to fight, they would still be as familiar with that place like it was their back yard.
———
The light on his hand flashed continuously, Zuo Mo was very careful.
Pia, the light disappeared.
Zuo Mo shook his head. It still didn’t work. He tried to recall the feeling he captured with the [Tactile Knowledge Grip] that day, and seemed to comprehend something but he could not describe it. He knew this was due to not having a deep enough understanding. That barely discernable understanding needed more accumulation.
It seemed that he needed to go find Little Red soon.
The pitiful Mo Ru Huo was a pretty famous character, but due to his completely red body, Zuo Mo intimately called him Little Red. If he heard this nickname, he would probably go insane immediately.
He had been planning to use the prison battlefield to practice his yao arts. Now that he did not have any ideas, Zuo Mo did not decide to procrastinate any further.
As long as he did not activate the prison breaking battle, passing through was still pretty easy for him.
He quickly received the qualification to enter the third prison.
He thought, he had spent enough time in the Ten Finger Prison today. His consciousness swept across the spiritual imprint. He found that Cang Ze and Nan Yue were both present and headed to the Wasteland Beast Chessboard.
When Zuo Mo found Cang Ze and Nan Yue, he found the two were dejected and had worried expressions.
“What is it?” Zuo Mo asked in puzzlement, “Has something happened?”
Cang Ze narrated the news of the loss at the front lines in a low voice. At the side, Nan Yue showed worry. They lived in the yao world. If the yao army were defeated, their lives would become even worse. They had just seen hope. If the yao world became destabilized, would anyone remain unaffected?
After Cang Ze finished, Zuo Mo was stunned where he stood, with only shock left inside.
After a long time, he came back.
His first response was, how was it possible?
He had personally seen the great strength of the yao army. Sky Moon Jie, Little Mountain Jie, when hadn’t the xiuzhe retreated continually? Those large sects retreated when they heard of the advance of the yao army and ran back to Bright Wave Jie like homeless dogs. After that, Zuo Mo had lost complete confidence in Kun Lun. Even the present Vermillion Bird Camp and Guard Camp in Zuo Mo’s eyes could not compare to the elite forces of the yao army.
Now he was hearing Cang Ze say that the yao army had been defeated by the xiuzhe.
The yao military that was so powerful was actually defeated? And defeated right in front of their own doorstep?
When he heard that the total death count reached twelve thousand, Zuo Mo didn’t know what to say.
So the xiuzhe had powerful people too … …
He still didn’t believe it but he knew that Cang Ze and Nan Yue definitely would not try to con him.
Such a dazzling victory completely upended Zuo Mo’s impression of the fragility of those great sects. He suddenly realized the depths of those great sects were not as he had thought.
But he couldn’t help but have a strange feeling.
The past weak display of the xiuzhe was a stark contrast against this great victory.
The two were so different they were like mud and clouds.
Was it … … was it … …
Zuo Mo’s eyes suddenly widened. His body froze and a wave of coldness rose from his spine.
Pretend to be weak?
The four words tore his mind like lightning.
His expression changed.
With multiple jie of territory, countless sects as the bait … … it was insane!
His mind blanked as he mindlessly murmured.
If it really was so, then the one who planned this was a madman! An undoubted madman!
Zuo Mo soullessly returned to the camp.
———
The grey mist in the sky continuously retreated back towards the center. The figure of the giant continuously shrunk and became clearer.
When it completely appeared, simultaneous inhales sounded in the camp again.
An extremely weird giant floated in the sky. Twenty zhang high like a little mountain. It had three heads that faced three directions, each with a different expression. There was one glaring angrily, one smiling slightly, and one with eyes closed in deep thought. The six arms were either making seals, or the pair of hands were together.
Endless dignity was like an invisible wave that struck everyone’s minds.
Staring at the colossal being in the sky, Yi Zheng’s face was a pale as paper, his pupils scattered as he unconsciously murmured.
“Dragon and Elephant Attainment … …”
———
When Zuo Mo returned to the camp, Zong Ru’s core formation was in its ending stages.
He looked towards where Zong Ru was. He was first shocked and then he showed joy. However, this thread of joy was quickly shrouded by thick darkness. His face became extremely dark and he called everyone to his tent.
The mood inside the camp was extremely low. Everyone had terrible expressions. The news that Zuo Mo had brought from the Ten Finger Prison was a shock and everyone was silent.
“We are bait.”
Gongsun Cha narrowed his eyes as his finger gently swiped across his face. His bashful and shy face was completely frosty at this time.
“If this really is their plan, then they definitely have successive plans,” Gongsun Cha continued to speak. His voice was cold like the collision of ice cubs. His autumn like pupils were filled with murderousness. “A person who is able to make such a scheme definitely would not just aim for this kind of small victory.”
“Damn it!” Xie Shan bellowed, his eyes sprouting fire and his features twisted.
The other xiuzhe who came out of Little Mountain Jie had completely red eyes. Not even one out ten xiuzhe had managed to survive Little Mountain Jie. No one experienced more than they did. Every one of them had crawling out of piles of corpses.
No one doubted Gongsun Cha’s speculation.
Sword essence flowed in Wei Sheng’s black eyes and his expression was black. He had felt things were strange when he had accompanied Lin Qian and his group to the sword cave. Every one of Lin Qian’s bodyguards had exceptional power. With that kind of strength, why did they not defend Sky Moon Jie? It seemed more like they had given Sky Moon Jie to the yao army.
With the comparison now, he understood. A strong fury and dislike instantly filled his chest. The sword essence in his body felt it and roiled as it wanted to burst out of his body.
Kun Lun governed the entire Kun Lun Territory. Every sect needed to pay taxes to Kun Lun. A portion of their income had to flow towards Kun Lun, turned to jingshi, turned to materials for Kun Lun dis
ciples to cultivate, for Kun Lun to use for daily expenditures.
But … …
Killing essence flowed through the tent and the mood was extremely low.
Zuo Mo who had been silent all this time suddenly raised his face. As though nothing had happened, he gave a bright smile. “Everyone, cultivate! If they really did this, ha, there naturally will be chances to slowly settle our debts with them.”
———
“Faster, faster!”
“Accelerate! We must reach the defensive line within forty eight hours!”
Every yao soldier had tired expressions. They had received orders. In order to rush to Bloody Sky Metropolis Jie as fast as possible, they had almost used all their power.
“General, we will reach Bloody Sky Metropolis Jie soon.”
As the corps commander of Ice Frost Crops, Lan was in his prime. Twenty years ago, he had become a golden battle general. The twenty years of experience of commanding a troop had caused him to show hints of making a breakthrough. As one of the most influential people of the Water Clan, everyone speculated that he would have a good future.
Lan had a cautious personality. His battle style was steady and he rarely made mistakes.
The reason that the Elder Council sent him was in hopes that he could quickly stabilize the theatre of war and prevent the collapse of the defensive line.
Looking at the bloody mist that was endless in front of him, Lan was silent. The troops streamed past him and entered the bloody mist. His vice commander silently stood next to him and did not disturb him.
“Do you know the origins of the Bloody Sky Metropolis Jie?” Lan asked.
The vice commander respectfully said, “Three thousand years ago, we were defeated. In order to halt the advance of the xiuzhe, the four major jie masters used their fleshly bodies in sacrifice, with seven intermediate jie as the axle, forty nine little jie as the screen, to create what is called Bloody Sky Metropolis Jie.”
Lan said emotionally, “Yes, born of our elders’ blood and flesh. I hope they can protect us to safely return.”
The vice commander said in shock, “Does Daren have such a low outlook on our mission this time?”
“The other definitely has more plans.” Lan shook his head. “The complete defeat of the Fierce Fire Corps is not an accident. The destruction of a corps is at least an intermediate scale battle. If they did not put in enough power, they other could not have completely killed the Fierce Fire Corps.”