by Fang Xiang
But no matter how strong the wind storm, A Gui would not change her direction or stop walking.
Her small body carried Zuo Mo who was a size larger than her as she walked against the sand storm. She did not seem to know exhaustion and did not speak. Only when she had walked for a day and night would she stop and rest for four hours.
Zuo Mo was pressed against A Gui's neck as he was carried on her back. The enormous pain in his body did not seem to be so painful. No matter how excruciating the pain was, Zuo Mo did not speak. For some reason, he did not want A Gui to hear it, even if he knew that A Gui could not hear it.
Even the stupidest person would know that he and A Gui had more than a passing acquaintance. She was probably someone really close to him.
When she did not use the purple energy, A Gui's strength was the same as the average person.
Her steps were very heavy. For her, it was slightly difficult to move Zuo Mo's weight.
"A Gui, I'm going to tell you a joke, a very funny joke … …"
Zuo Mo patiently talked to A Gui. She could not hear but for some reason, but still Zuo Mo wanted to talk.
Translator Ramblings: I mistranslated Fu Feng as Bo Feng way back in the beginning. I haven't corrected those chapters yet but just so you guys will remember. It also seemed like Fang Xiang was a very generous person and didn't leave on a cliff hanger. This would have been the perfect place for one.
Editor’s note: Did you forget about Fu Feng? Go visit the cast page! *epic win kid*
Chapter 537: Shattered Stone
Bing Yao's brow had not relaxed in the past few days. It was hard for him to accept Zuo Mo's disappearance.
He bowed respectfully towards Lan. After the constant worship from the mist people in the last two weeks, Lan's power was gradually recovering. Lan passed on the long-lost Ice Mist Shen power cultivation method to the mist people, the power of the tribe increased daily. The shadow that had hung over the tribe for tens of thousands of years was swept away. Lan received the sincere reverence of all the mist people.
"What question do you have?" Lan's faint yet authoritative voice sounded in Bing Yao's mind.
"Lan, what are the restricted lands?" Bing Yao raised his head and asked.
Lan hadn't thought that Bing Yao would ask this. He remained silent.
"Ever since we moved here, we have guarded the restricted lands for more than ten thousand years. No one ever knew what the restricted lands are or why we guard it." Bing Yao's speaking speed was neither slow nor excited. It was filled with bewilderment.
A moment later, Lan slowly said, "The time has not come."
"Xuan Kong Temple has already discovered this place. They definitely have a goal or they know something," Bing Yao said straightforwardly.
"Become strong as fast as possible." Lan's sigh echoed in the air.
The surroundings sank into silence. No matter how Bing Yao called out, Lan no longer replied.
Disappointment flashed through Bing Yao's eyes but he did not probe more. For him, or rather, for the great majority of the mist people, protecting and disallowing entry to the restricted lands was a tradition they had adhered to for tens of thousands of years. If it wasn't that Zuo Mo might be stranded in the restricted lands, Bing Yao would not think to question this. Even if Ding Zhen had really entered the restricted lands, they would not have followed.
All the signs pointed to the fact that the restricted lands held an unknown secret.
Even something as powerful as Xuan Kong Temple desired this secret. What was inside the restricted lands? In order to become the sect leader Bing Yao had some skill and intelligence. Lan's words had been sparse but he still managed to deduce a lot of information.
To enter the restricted lands, they were not strong enough … …
Bing Yao's gaze became determined as he left the altar in silence.
———
They advanced day and night.
Zuo Mo dared to swear that he probably would never have another chance in this life where he would walk so far-that wasn't right- carried so far. A Gui's body was on the verge of falling apart, but seemed to contain astounding power. One day, one night, four hours rest, she did not know exhaustion.
Zuo Mo was like a chatterbox and continued to talk. In the past, he definitely never would have imagined there would be a day when he spoke so much.
Lying on A Gui's back, the bare feet that he had sighed countless times over were trembling and straining with each step. He could clearly feel it. With every step, Zuo Mo's heart shook. An indescribable feeling spread in his heart to the point he felt he wanted to be silent but he knew that he could not be silent. He kept on telling himself he had to do something.
Other than these meaningless words, he could not do anything.
There had never been a time, Zuo Mo had never hoped and wished like this, wished that he could use the shen power that dominated his body to exchange for one thread of ling power. Just one thread of ling power—and he could create a paper crane.
But there wasn't one iota.
"Ah, A Gui, I've found that you are undefeatable, the more you fight, the stronger you get, the more you are wounded, the stronger you get." Zuo Mo talked in a heartless tone, "Have you been hiding your power in the past? I've always found it strange about why you are so good to me. Did you owe me jingshi in the past? Hey, do you really owing me jingshi … …"
"This ghastly place doesn't even have any birds pooping here. Did we come to another ancient battlefield? No no no, that was careless of me, I didn't mean to say that! A Gui, you didn't hear a thing … …"
"We've walked for twenty days and didn't even see a stalk of grass, this is so depressing … …"
With only Zuo Mo's nattering as company, they walked for another ten days.
When Zuo Mo saw the streak of green on the horizon, Zuo Mo was euphoric.
"A Gui A Gui! Look! Look! There, there! Oh, Heavens, hahahaha, we're saved! We're saved! A Gui! Can you see? Can you see?"
Zuo Mo was extremely excited and his exhales blew up A Gui's hair.
A Gui did not respond and walked forward.
"A Gui, you are a genius! Oh oh oh ! A great genius! Such a great distance and you could find the direction, you are really a genius! Hahahaha, we need to find someone and then heal. Once I recover, I will take you to find a water cloud embryo again, I will … …"
"You are too excited."
A rough voice came from behind him.
Zuo Mo's voice abruptly halted and his heart shook. The inside of his body was a mess to the point that he didn't even detect someone was so close to him! He was unable to turn his neck and could not see the person behind him.
"I'm very sorry, my body is unwell and I cannot turn my head." Zuo Mo tried to keep his tone normal.
"En?" The other was slightly surprised. A figure flashed in front of Zuo Mo that said with astonishment, "So sickly! I pity you, little girl, you don't have it easy!"
Zuo Mo finally saw the other's appearance.
The other was of large stature and about twice Zuo Mo's height. His skin was a sandy yellow, and a pair of faintly red eyes were sharp. Zuo Mo's gaze landed on the other's arm. From his wrist to the elbow, it was wrapped in a layer of brown scales.
Mo!
Zuo Mo was so shocked he almost shouted. Had he come to a mo territory?
"He is a lizard mo." In the sea of consciousness, Wei destroyed Zuo Mo's last hopes. However, Wei's tone held a thread of excitement. "Oh, faintly red eyes, he probably has the blood of flame lizards."
"Lizard mo Big Brother, good day!" Zuo Mo wanted to put a smile on his face but his face was paralyzed.
"Hmph, silvery tongued boy, you don't look like a good person." The wariness in the eyes of the lizard mo dissipated. The two in front of him didn't look like a threat at all. His brow suddenly creased. "Where did you come from?"
"The direction we came from." Zuo Mo's tone was joyful. "We walked more than thirty days, I almost went crazy!"
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"Thirty days?" A hint of suspicion flashed across the eyes of Uncle Lizard Mo. "You mean you two passed through the Shattered Stone Desert?"
"Shattered Stone Desert?" I don't know. We were exploring some ruins and might have accidentally activated something. As a result, we were transported to this damned place." Zuo Mo found an explanation that seemed extremely reasonable. His paralyzed face was the best disguise.
The last hint of suspicion in the eyes of Uncle Lizard Mo left and he said with a snort, "You look half-dead, and you explore ruins. You are very lucky to not have died in the Gobi Desert."
Zuo Mo's heart eased slightly. This Uncle Lizard Mo's tone was bold but he could hear the friendliness.
"Let's go, I'll count this as doing an act of kindness." Uncle Lizard Mo glanced at A Gui and complimented, "You, Boy, are really fortunate!"
Finishing, he walked at the front.
A Gui seemed to understand and walked behind Uncle Lizard Mo.
"Uncle, what is this place?" Zuo Mo asked familiarly. Anyone that had talked to themselves for thirty days couldn't help but be enthusiastic.
"Shattered Stone Town," Uncle Lizard Mo replied without turning his head.
"Shattered Stone Town … … uh, what jie does this belong to?" Zuo Mo asked in puzzlement.
"Shattered Stone Jie." Uncle Lizard Mo did not turn his head.
In the sea of consciousness.
"Wei, you were among the mo before. Do you know where Shattered Stone Jie is?" Zuo Mo asked Wei, full of anticipation.
Wei coughed and said, "You know, my masters are usually mo of high status and were nobility, this kind of small place … …"
"Hahahaha!" Pu Yao's laugh echoed in the sea of consciousness.
We's skin was clearly thicker than the average as he looked at Zuo Mo with composure.
Zuo Mo had lost control of his body but this did not affect his ability to make expressions in the sea of consciousness.
–Disdain!
Yes, it was disdain, disdain as he looked down, deep disdain!
Pu Yao laughed even more freely as the red-black yao fire danced.
"You two, one of you boasts every day you are a sky yao, arrogant and domineering, one of you acts like a seer, ask me! Ask me! Ask me! You don't even know where Shattered Stone Jie is, how can you not know the answer to such a simple question?" Old and new grievances combining, Zuo Mo pointed at the pair and swore, "I should have seen the truth about you both a long time ago! One used a stupid bead in the past and preyed on my youth and inexperience, telling me how much jingshi I can make with it, but I didn't get any jingshi at all! Now the other comes in. Not even speaking of the rent, you always talk about that oath and that noble status. Ha, a person that doesn't even know Shattered Stone Jie has the qualifications to talk about status?"
Pu Yao's laugh stopped. Wei's smile froze on his face. Even the yao fire stopped pulsing.
After he finished scolding, Zuo Mo instantly felt much better. With a snort, he left the sea of consciousness.
Uncle Lizard Mo was not very powerful and did not cultivate a mo physique. However, his body was strong and he strode forward. He noticed that it took A Gui great effort to walk and stopped. "Hey, Little Girl, let me carry him!"
A Gui did not seem to hear him and continued to walk forward.
Zuo Mo hurriedly apologized to Uncle Lizard Mo, "Uncle, sorry, she cannot hear."
Uncle Lizard Mo's gaze instantly gentled greatly. He seemed to think of something and was slightly inattentive but he quickly raised his head. He walked together with A Gui and snorted, "You two, one sick and the other crippled. You don't stay at home but come out to run around, you don't want to live, right?"
Zuo Mo could only smile weakly. He didn't know how to respond.
"You guys, fine, you won't listen even if I talk." Uncle Lizard Mo shook his head and then said, "You can first stay at my place. Since I live alone, the space isn't used."
Finishing, he didn't listen to Zuo Mo's words of gratefulness and walked forward.
When they reached Shattered Stone Town, Zuo Mo saw some other mo. It could be seen that these mo were respectful towards Uncle Lizard Mo, and their gazes were full of curiosity as they looked at A Gui and Zuo Mo. However, several female mo looked at Zuo Mo with disdain and unfriendliness.
Contrary to what Zuo Mo had imagined, not all of these mo were lizard mo or one type of mo. This seemed to be a place where all kinds of mo lived together.
Shattered Stone Jie, Shattered Stone Town … … where was this … … ge was going to shatter soon … ….
Translator Ramblings: Zuo Mo, it's not those two's fault that you weren't strong enough to defeat Ding Zhen and escape away untouched. Little bit of undeserved blame there.
Chapter 538: Arrangements
Shattered Stone Town was not large and did not have a large population. The climate was extremely dry, because it was at the border of the Gobi Desert. It was also extremely poor and did not produce any specialty products. The survival here was extremely primitive and rural, the only thing in this place that held any value were the Iron Digging Ants. This was a very practical kind of ant that was well-liked by mo that liked playing with insects.
Every year, there would be some mo that would come to search for Iron Digging Ants. Only during these times would Shattered Stone Town seem lively.
However, for the residents of the little town, they did not feel this place was desolate.
Uncle Lizard Mo looked very brawny but he had a very delicate name, An Ya, In reality, Zuo Mo did not feel this elegant name had any connection with the Uncle Lizard Mo.
Uncle An Ya was very friendly. Even though his tone was slightly fierce, he took great care of Zuo Mo and A Gui, especially A Gui. The hints of sorrow that occasionally flashed through Uncle An Ya's eyes as he looked at A Gui caused Zuo Mo to speculate that Uncle An Ya had once had a daughter that was like A Gui.
It could be seen that Uncle An Ya held great authority in Shattered Stone Town. He was responsible for teaching mo skills to the young mo and the idol for many of the youths.
"Notice your footwork. Before you learn to fly, footwork is the only thing you can use!"
"Power! What did I teach you? Gather your power together, it will only be strong then. So soft, do you want A Gui to laugh at you?"
The young mo that heard this blushed.
"Work hard!" Zuo Mo who was lying on A Gui's back shouted. These young mo blushed even more.
A Gui was just the same as before and unreactive.
The youth of the town quickly accepted Zuo Mo and A Gui. Before they were ground down by the world, youths were always friendly and full of sympathy. In their eyes, Zuo Mo and A Gui were sick and crippled. But their worldly experiences had caused the youth to be filled with yearning and curiosity.
A Gui did not react but Zuo Mo who had become a chatterbox was the example of a friendly person. They were quickly accepted into the group.
In the Gobi Desert, A Gui would put Zuo Mo down to rest after walking for one day and night but strangely, after they came to Shattered Stone Town, she never put Zuo Mo down once. Uncle An Ya had tried a few times to get Zuo Mo own but when he saw A Gui's instinctive wariness, he did not try any longer.
Zuo Mo could only sleep on A Gui's back. However, what made him happy was that, other than being unwilling to put him down, A Gui seemed to be able to hear some of his words.
Like right now, come out to sunbathe, watch the youth cultivate.
The lessons Uncle An Ya was teaching was extremely basic content. Zuo Mo's entire body was paralyzed but his eyes were still working. Uncle An Ya's battle experience should be very high and all of the things he taught were practical. Even Zuo Mo felt he learned a lot just watching.
He had cultivated mo skills before and had even managed to get a mo physique but these fundamental concepts were the part that he lacked. Especially now when he was paralyzed, Zuo Mo would frequently learn many things from listening to Uncle An Ya talk. What
was even better was that one day, he found he could move a finger again.
After that, if Uncle An Ya was teaching, he would definitely go to listen. Uncle An Ya did not have any objections as what he taught was not profound content and naturally did not need to keep it a secret.
"Pretty good, Little Dong!" Uncle An Ya complemented, "After a while, you can awaken your mo matrix."
A boy showed excitement. Dong Zi was the most talented out of this group of youths. He had solid fundamentals and his skill was a notch above the other youths.
However, awaken the mo matrix? Zuo Mo was slightly puzzled.
Fortunately, there was Wei "who had noble status" and knew a bit about this. "Low level mo usually only have low level mo matrixes on their body, and they are not completely developed. They need to awaken the mo matrix through other methods before it can be used."
Zuo Mo was slightly shocked, "There's things like this?"
Pu Yao smirked coldly and said, "The mo care the most about bloodlines because of this. The more noble the bloodline of the mo, the more powerful the mo matrix they would have and naturally the stronger they would be. Hmph, this is a succession method that degrades the most easily."
Zuo Mo suddenly thought of a question, "Then can't they just get mo matrixes engraved?"
Wei and Pu Yao stilled.
"Didn't Vermillion Bird Camp have formations engraved before? Since formations are possible, why not mo matrixes? Those formations even originated from the mo matrixes!" Zuo Mo said excitedly.
"You can try," Pu Yao said casually. He was not interested in this question. In the past, he had felt great anticipation about this problem because of his hopes that one day, he could possess his own body. But that was meaningless to him now. He and Wei could not be separated.
Since this was the case, why would he still want to work on the mo matrixes? Was there a place better than this sea of consciousness?
Wei sank into deep thought. Zuo Mo's words were a blow for him. The mo were born with their matrixes and in their view, this was the power that the heavens gave them. No one had ever tried to engrave mo matrixes before, at least, no one had done it in the eras he had experienced.