by Fang Xiang
The seven xiuzhe evidently had not expected that Gongsun Cha would not even give a greeting before starting the fight, and instantly panicked.
“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”
One of the xiuzhe had learned a spell similar to [Sky Thunder Sound]. When he shouted, it echoed through the mountains! The enemy had came brimming with killing intent. The seven people quickly worked together in defense.
This place was their base. If they could hold the other side back for a moment, their reinforcements would arrive. All of the xiuzhe that could survive in Little Mountain Jie were old-timers experienced in fighting. Everyone knew what they had to do, and what they should not do.
“Form the formation!” The leader shouted.
The other six moved into position, their flying swords and talismans out.
But right after, the expressions of the seven changed!
A little team from the other side charged at them with no signs of slowing down!
The three people were like a little chisel, their flying swords in their hands pressed to the maximum, each spitting with long sword energies! The three sword energies crossed and merged, forming a terrifying sword energy two zhang wide, and ten zhang long!
Woo woo woo!
The sound of the enormous sword energy tearing the air shook their souls!
The seven people had never expected the enemy to attack with such determination, without holding anything back! That was insane! While this kind of attack would be powerful, but it meant sacrificing any variation. If the enemy was able to dodge or bear it, these three people would become calves waiting for slaughter.
The seven people unconsciously chose to dodge.
It was unwise to face such a ferocious attack head on.
The seven people that scattered did not realize the formation they had just formed instantly crumbled.
The three people holding the gigantic sword energy were like a enormous and sharp sword, and could easily slice through the seven people. The two other little teams that followed tightly after were like panthers that smelt blood, and silently followed. The seven people that had been scattered were quickly divided into several groups.
At this time, there were xiuzhe continuously flying from the valley into the sky.
Without Gongsun Cha needing to order, the teams on the two flanks started to attack.
Three section wave killing charge!
With the little team as an unit, one wave charged forth after another as though there was no end. Each team would not linger in battle with each charge, and would leave the space for the team behind them.
The three section wave killing charge was the first battle tactic that Gongsun Cha had learned. Up until now, it was the tactic he was most familiar with using. Compared to the past, it really had completely transformed, and was in a completely different style than Pu Yao’s three section wave killing charge.
Pu Yao’s three section wave killing charge emphasized strength. It was like a heavy hammer thirty thousand catties heavy, using force to break technique.
Gongsun Cha’s three section wave killing charge emphasized transformations. It was especially skilled at dicing and dismembering the enemy.
If Pu Yao’s three section wave killing charge was a large hammer, Gongsun Cha’s three section wave killing charge was like a little hammer and a little knife. He first used the knife to dismember the enemy, then used the little hammer to smash the pieces. In terms of brute power, his three section wave killing charge was far from Pu Yao’s, and many places were raw and in need of perfecting, but in terms of efficiency, he had reached a certain standard.
Several little teams continuously charged and killed among the ranks of the enemy like sharp daggers!
Dismemberment, it was the work butchers were most skilled at.
The former butcher coldly stared at the chaotic battlefield like he was looking at the corpse of a ling beast. The pathways for each slice was so clear in his eyes.
He continued to pass down orders of minor adjustments through the Same Heart Necklace. He had left the Golden Armor Guards behind to protect Shixiong. The target of the Same Heart Necklace had therefore switched to the little teams. Under Gongsun Cha’s continuous adjustments, the entire team was like a fine-tuned machine, working faster and cooperating better.
Compared to the scattering and looseness of the enemy, the xiuzhe under his command maintained three people battle units. This caused them to always have the advantage of numbers in battle.
After a while, Gongsun Cha stopped his adjustments, looking at the battlefield without a word.
They had securely taken control of the battle!
No matter if it was in terms of battle tactics or in strength, the xiuzhe under his command held the advantage. This recent while had been a period of rapid growth for those xiuzhe. With large supplies of jingshi, the Black Processing Meditation mat, and the engraved formations, each person’s strength had received a certain degree of improvement.
With the fury of almost having died without knowing, with Lil’ Miss’ dark stare like a blade at their backs, every team went crazy. No one dared to keep anything back, and no one would do so.
Xie Shan stood guard next to Gongsun Cha. As the person with the highest cultivation in the camp, he had been promoted to Lil’ Miss’ bodyguard.
If it had been in the past, for the life of him, he would not have believed that he would act as someone’s bodyguard one day. Much less a person who was so young and only of zhuji cultivation.
However, he felt no discontent right now. Looking at the xiuzhe to his side that was in control of the battlefield and the dazzling battle tactics, he sighed in admiration.
This was skill! Skill that he definitely could not possess!
In this chaotic time, individual power was so insignificant. This kind of skill meant true power!
He looked with slight sympathy at the xiuzhe who were working to resist on the battlefield. Xiuzhe dropped frequently from the sky like kites who had their string suddenly cut. Falling down from such a high elevation, unless it was a dhyana xiu skilled in body cultivation, other xiuzhe had no chance of survival.
Venerable Chi raised his head to look at the sky, his face ashen.
Just a few more days … …
He had not expected the other to have attacked them at their base at such a crucial time, and had not expected the other to be so powerful, and for his own subordinates to not even stand up to one attack.
He recognized Xie Shan who was far away, but his gaze landed more on the young person standing next to Xie Shan.
He knew that he had no chance of flipping the situation.
“Let us surrender!”
Venerable Chi said three words that he didn’t dare believe he said.
* * *
Translator Rambings: Pu Yao finally admits some things to himself. I hope this explains some of his actions. With Lil’ Miss and the rest in such a fury, this battle does not require more than one chapter. Their training really shows in this chapter compared to the untrained people.
Zuo Mo is undergoing another transformation. I feel the rate of his growth is actually growing faster, which is true to what Fang Xiang wrote in another chapter, but I’m so unused to it. We also get an explanation for why his zombie face is so wooden and paralyzed. It’s all scar tissue!
Chapter 236: New Life?
Surrender was a very normal matter in Little Mountain Jie. It was extremely hard to survive here. The result of fighting to the end was injuring both sides. Once a group’s power was damaged, they would quickly be swallowed up by another group.
Surrender became an implicit agreement between the factions in Little Mountain Jie. Those that did not understand how to surrender died quickly. Those that did not accept surrender also died quickly. Fight and surrender was the bread and butter of life. There were all kinds of people under Venerable Chi’s command. In Little Mountain Jie, anything like loyalty was an illusion, no one would speak of it.
———
Xie Shan suddenly went next to Gongsun Cha’s ear and said something in a low voice. He was very joyful inside. He hadn’t expected Venerable Chi to have something as good as this!
Gongsun Cha’s face was dark as he listened to the end without saying a word.
Just at this time, the surrounding xiuzhe suddenly shifted restlessly.
Noticing the shock and fear on everyone’s eyes, Gongsun Cha raised his head to follow their gaze. His pupils suddenly shrunk, his dark face changing instantly.
At some unknown time, the blue sky where the sun was shining brightly was filled with stars of various sizes.
There was none of the brightness of the stars at night time, but every single one was extremely distinct. Even the blinding sunlight could not steal their light.
Gongsun Cha felt a bone-piercing cold rise from the bottom of his feet.
“So strange! Why would stars appear in the daylight?” Someone asked with puzzlement.
“Dunno. It’s an apparition, probably not anything good.” The person responding was full of worry.
Everyone discussed in low voices. Even those xiuzhe who had surrendered and were tied up put their attention on the sky above their heads.
Gongsun Cha did not say anything. His entire body felt cold, his limbs numb. It was like there was a heavy rock on his chest.
Stars in Daytime!
He did not know what its appearance really meant, but he clearly remembered the first time he saw the Stars in Daytime in Sky Moon Jie, the nightmarish terror that made his bones tremble.
Now, Little Mountain Jie had a repeat of Stars in Daytime.
For some unknown reason, terror took over Gongsun Cha’s body. He forced himself to lower his head, tearing his gaze away from the strange sky.
After a while, his feelings calmed. Such a strange apparition definitely had nothing to do with him, why should he care? His attention landed back on the xiuzhe who had surrendered.
The other xiuzhe had calmed down after than Gongsun Cha did. In their minds, even the strangest apparitions could not compare to the enormous change in Little Mountain Jie.
Seeing Gongsun Cha’s attention land back on the xiuzhe, Xie Shan hurriedly asked, “What to do with these people?”
“Kill them,” Gongsun Cha’s expression was calm as he lightly said.
“Kill all of them?” Xie Shan was startled and asked instinctively.
“What?” Gongsun Cha tilted his head to look at Xie Shan.
Meeting Lil’ Miss’ calm and slightly delicate gaze, Xie Shan’s heart froze as he unconsciously avoided the gaze.
Gongsun Cha’s orders were loyally carried out. However, everyone’s faces were slightly unnatural. They were shocked at Lil’ Miss’ viciousness. Killing was extremely normal to them. Who hadn’t killed? But massacring captives … …
But when they saw the calmness on Gongsun Cha’s face, no one dared to speak.
From beginning to end, Gongsun Cha personally watched as all the captives were killed, his eyes not even blinking. That was truly killing without blinking! Xie Shan’s scalp felt numb. The faint and bashful smile on Lil’ Miss’ face made him only have one thought – run!
Suppressing the urge to turn and run, he was full of regret. Why had he showed off? Now, he was Lil’ Miss personal body. Xie Shan’s mouth felt bitter.
Gongsun Cha clapped, the usual shy smile on his face. “Everyone performed well today.”
No one made a sound.
“Five teams stay and guard here. Everyone else, return to camp, now.” He did not look at the corpses on the ground, turning and leaving.
———
Clear Sky Sect was built on top of a snowy mountain, the jie river roared past here as it entered Sky Water Jie. Among the white snow, tall towers stood, all of them built from second-grade snow crystals, extremely extravagant! Six thousand steps of ice stairs curved down the mountain. At the bottom end of the ice stairs was a crystal tablet made from a whole piece of snow crystal seven zhang tall. Written on it in cinnabar ink were two bright words – Clear Sky.
At this time, Clear Sky Sect was a mess.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know! Old Forefather rang the warning bell!”
“Then something major definitely happened!”
“Stop wasting effort guessing. Let’s move faster. We’ll be punished if we are late.”
Disciples of various ages hurried to the big hall. In a short while, all the disciples had gathered, an entire patch of silent black. The sect leader and others were standing on the side.
On the meditation mat at the very front was a xiuzhe whose hair was loose. He was wearing a snowy-white robe, appearing about forty or so. He was Clear Sky Old Forefather. The remaining and only jindan of the Clear Sky Sect.
Clear Sky Old Forefather slowly started to speak, his voice clear.
“Just now, there was a worldly apparition. Stars in Daytime, it is an inauspicious omen.”
Once the words came out, the crowd fell into a fervor. Many people had seen the Stars in Daytime just now, but no one had expected that even the Old Forefather was also alarmed.
“Send someone to investigate!” Clear Sky Old Forefather said, his words absolute.
“Yes!” The sect leader lowered his head in compliance.
“How are the recent supplies?” Clear Sky Old Forefather asked, “Have the ling grains from Hundred Flower Alliance been delivered on schedule?”
The sect leader said respectfully, “They have been delivered at the scheduled time. They hope that they can trade for some third and fourth-grade gold element materials, and have given extremely generous prices. They are willing to use a batch of third- and fourth-grade talismans to trade. They are also willing to give Old Forefather a sixth-grade Begonia Lantern in tribute.”
Clear Sky Old Forefather said in a deep voice, “Hundred Flower Alliance are skilled in entering the path through flowers. I have heard of their Begonia Lantern before, it’s not a bad talisman. However, they want gold element materials, not wood element materials?”
“Yes, this disciple does not understand, but they are truly purchasing gold element materials,” the sect leader responded.
Clear Sky Old Forefather thought and then said, “Send them a reply. Find a place inside the jie to open a market and sell ling grains. Get Hundred Flower Alliance to send a group of xiu slaves. We will sell them to other people, and use ling grains to purchase materials.”
“Old Forefather is wise,” the sect leader flattered.
“How many ningmai disciples does our sect have?”
“Old Forefather, there is one hundred and twenty people.”
“Too little!” Clear Sky Old Forefather shook his head, “Go recruit a group of ningmai and make them the Outer Hall. Their job is to take care of the affairs of the jie.”
“Yes!”
“You shall personally go to Sky Water Jie.” Clear Sky Old Forefather thought and then said, “You are to do two things on this trip. The first matter is to see if there is a chance to meet and ally with other factions. The other is to buy a secret paradise to become another home for the sect. Disciples of the sect who show promise shall all go to the second home to cultivate. If our sect can have a few more jindan, this Little Mountain Jie will become our backyard.”
“This disciple understands!” The sect leader was full of admiration. Old Forefather was a visionary. If these matters could be accomplished, Clear Sky Sect’s rule of Little Mountain Jie could not be shaken.
The ling energy of Little Mountain Jie had withered, but the mines had not been exhausted. It was more than enough for this one jie to support Clear Sky Sect!
“Do not worry. I will stay and guard for you.” Old Forefather waved his hand.
———
Zuo Mo’s vision was completely black, a rank odor continuously
burrowing into his nose.
Where was this?
Had he died?
That wasn’t right, he hadn’t died.
After thinking for a while, he finally recalled fighting with the Bloody Horned Great Serpent.
That big guy was truly strong. Fear still lingered.
Impulsiveness was really a flaw! Why had he not managed to control himself? He made a deep self-reflection, and built his resolution that he would turn and run the next time he met something like this.
It had seemed as though that he had killed the big guy, he thought back uncertainly.
Many of the memories were blurry. After thinking for a while, he had not discovered anything.
Itchiness occurred all over his body, pulling him from his memories. His attention came back to the question of where he was.
He did not move, but controlled his consciousness. After he started practicing [Embryonic Breathing Spiritual Cultivation], it had become his habit to always use the consciousness to investigate when he encountered something.
Hm!
Why was it like this?
If he did not clearly know that this was his body, he definitely would not believe the body in front of him had any connection to him.
It was full of vitality!
Extremely dense vitality!
The earth energy inside his body was so thick it was almost in liquid form, and flowed through every corner of his body. A blooming vitality, strong life force. Zuo Mo could clearly feel that intoxicating feeling.
What shocked him anymore was that he could not find any bit of familiarity with the body.
Blood, flesh, sinew, bone … …
It was completely unfamiliar. It was like a brand new body, a new and perfect body.
At the same time, he found the shell that was tightly covering his body! So strange, why would he be inside a shell?
He reflexively pushed out. Pia, the shell cracked. Light streamed through the crack. It was slightly blinding. Fresh air flowed into the shell. Zuo Mo felt it was unspeakable pleasurable. He greedily breathed in and pushed out!
Bam!
The shell instantly shattered into pieces and flew in all directions.