Chapter 150 - Draw a Sword of Flower
TL-Checked by Sa.s.systrawberry; Edited by Animeart
Lin Shu pondered on the changes he had undergone.
First of all, compared to the past when he practically had no cultivation, the changes were very evident, so obvious that even Cang Min and Yue Ruohe could see the differences.
Lin Shu asked, “How did I change?”
“It’s how you feel…” Cang Min grumbled, “Brother Lin, it seems like you don’t like me anymore.”
Lin Shu, “?”
Ling Baochen said “Bah!” and continued, “You can dream on!”
“No, the way he looks at me now is different,” said Cang Min as he gestured with his hands. “Brother Lin, before, when I used to talk to you, you would look me in the eyes. Now, when you look at me, I feel you are looking at the place just ahead of me.”
He pointed in front of him. “Exactly here.”
People in this era didn’t have the concept called “air”. Lin Shu felt that what Cang Min wanted to express was that he was looking at the air in front of him.
His words do seem to ring true.
Lin Shu reminisced for a moment, and felt that currently everything he looked at, was separated from him by a thick white film. No matter what he was doing, he felt disconnected from it, as if looking in from the outside.
He just knew what he should do and act.
For example, when seeing a stranger, he was not required to make any kind of overtures.
Meeting Cang Min, he would think, This is my cla.s.smate from three years ago, we have undergone many things together. If he speaks to me, I should respond.
It was as if he had become a well-programmed robot that followed a series of actions based on certain commands. . Whatever occurred in the outside world, he would first review his internal protocols before determining the correct response to the stimulus.
It was as if he had missed a semester of cla.s.ses, and had only revised the night before the examinations, felt awfully unfamiliar when facing the questions.
Did the Heartless Dao cause one to lose touch with their true emotions, and in such an environment, would they gradually break free from the secular world? He felt that sooner or later, he would even forget his own existence.
After Cang Min finished speaking, Yue Ruohe continued by saying, “Brother Lin, you used to be able to smile, but you don’t anymore.”
Lin Shu thought that what Yue Ruohe said also had some truth in it, he had gradually forgotten how the emotions of happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy felt like—— Although these emotions had not often presented themselves before.
At this time, Yue Ruoyun added, “However, I think you look even better! Elder and junior martial sisters adore this style of cold immortal lords!”
Ling Baochen said, “Little Lin Shu, you used to be so well-behaved and quite playful. But now, if you stand together with Big Miss, you both would really look like the ultimate jade couple!”
They conversed and the atmosphere was carefree, but the mood was quickly interrupted by the Shangling Grandmaster.
The Shangling Grandmaster said, “Focus on the battle preparations.”
The disciples who were criticized by the Princ.i.p.al were instantly quiet as chickens.
Subsequently, the Shangling Grandmaster walked to Lin Shu’s side. “Pavillion Master, what are your thoughts about the upcoming battle?”
Lin Shu said, “The undead corpses are difficult to kill, it would be better to get rid of the Northern Xia wizard first.”
Xie Zishe turned her head and said, “Friends of Immortal Path, please split into two groups. The first group’s mission is to kill the wizard of the Northern Xia Dynasty, and the other is to obstruct the living corpses. The guards on top of the city wall will defend the city with firearms, and rocks, they will also warn the entire city populace to not let even a single undead corpse infiltrate the city.”
The Shangling Grandmaster said, “This humble one has similar thoughts.”
After that, he surveyed the areas below.
Jinguan City Gate Tower was an important fortification in the periphery of Jinguan City. Jinguan City was surrounded by mountains, highly defensible, and was difficult to bring down. The city wall on which the City Gate Tower was located was the only gap in the mountains. Essentially, holding this position would be equivalent to guarding Jinguan City.
The Shangling Grandmaster said, “I have ordered the Academy’s Medical Inst.i.tute to set up arrays throughout the city. If necessary, the Imperial City’s Grand Formation can also be activated.”
Xie Zishe said, “Until Her Royal Highness returns to the city, do not go on the offensive, only defend to the death.”
The Shangling Grandmaster nodded and said slowly, “With the current situation, a mortal army is of little use. If Her Royal Highness brings reinforcements, it may be inappropriate.”
After that, he looked at Lin Shu. “Pavilion Master, do you know where Her Royal Highness went? Is it possible to send a message?”
Xie Zishe also looked towards Lin Shu.
His meaning was, we are aware of your special relationship with His Highness, and surely you would know Her Royal Highness’ destination.
But Lin Shu really wasn’t aware, nor was he able to get in contact with Ling Fengxiao—the jade talisman was with Yingying.
However, he could be certain of one matter.
Ling Fengxiao would not come back with mortal reinforcements.
After all, even if the entire world had dropped the ball, Ling Fengxiao could always be counted upon. If the people in the capital could think of this, he would definitely have thought of it as well, and would not carry out unnecessary actions.
Therefore, Lin Shu said, “He would not undertake actions that are not beneficial to the situation.”
The two men then moved on and did not continue to haggle over the issue. Instead, they looked towards the distance, lost in thought.
After a while, Xie Zishe said, “Sir, are you at the stage of Crossing the Tribulation?”
“Barely at Crossing the Tribulation,” said the Shangling Grandmaster slowly. “After that year’s events, my cultivation level fell, and I would not be able to make any advancements within the next 20 years.”
Lin Shu knew that he was talking about the incident of Mr. Meng.
The Shangling Grandmaster said, “I often think, if only I had been with him that day in Changyang City, even if we died together, it would still be better than surviving alone today.”
“Most things don’t happen as per our wishes,” Xie Zishe said lightly, “When it comes to the affairs of the world, our consciences may be clear, but often we have regrets.”
The Shangling Grandmaster said, “I hope there will be no such regrets today.”
Xie Zishe said, “With the blessings of Grandmaster.”
After a while, the Shangling Grandmaster left to receive the Mistress of the Phoenix Villa, Xie Zishe also left to handle other matters.
Cang Min playfully pounded a fist on Yue Ruohe, and said, “Brother Lin, you see, while we are mere disciples of the Academy, Brother Lin is now a peer of Grandmaster.”
Yue Ruohe said, “When you become the Master of the Henglian Sect in the future. You can also consider Grandmaster as a peer.”
Cang Min said, “That would take a long time, about the time required for you to become the Sect Leader of the Dream Hall.”
Yue Ruohe said, “The most urgent matter right now, is to survive today.”
Cang Min said, “That’s true.”
The sun gradually rose, and the atmosphere was as tense as a drawn bowstring.
In the distant mountains and forests, a flock of birds were suddenly alarmed into flight.
The Shangling Grandmaster said solemnly, “Get in formation!”
As the sound of his command fell upon their ears, a ripple of spiritual force spread out from the City Gate Tower!
Even the air seemed to be silent for a moment, after which, the dense spiritual barrier akin to a city wall, was erected ten miles away from the city wall!
The immortal path cultivators drew their weapons.
The soldiers on the city wall also began to light the cannons.
Immortal cultivation was prevalent in Southern Xia, because they had alchemy and refining techniques, and their heavy weapons techniques were extremely advanced. Whilst in Northern Xia, the wizards intensively studied voodoo and were an expert at employing poisonous fog.
This unfortunately was the difference between hot weapons and biochemical weapons.
At the next moment, on the distant horizon, a large number of black shadows materialized!
The immortals flew downwards and in accordance to their individual martial arts styles, some chose to be on the defensive, while others went on the offensive.
Just like Cang Min, he defended the front of the barrier to prevent the undead from breaking through and spreading blood poison into the city, and also to avoid the premature breakage of the barrier when under attack!
Akin to the martial arts of Dream Hall, they were hidden within all things, appearing and disappearing mysteriously. There were also the “Leisurely Floating Blossoms”, “Boundless Silk Rain”, these two skills of ma.s.s destruction. They all flew out of the barrier and chose to attack the wizards behind the rows of the undead!
The first undead rushed to the front of the barrier and was decapitated by a blue-clothed disciple!
However, even after losing its head, its blood-red corpse, like a large spider, sprang towards the barrier!
Ling Baochen used a backhand stab, and the blade tip was wrapped in blazing red spiritual force, bisecting the headless body!
From within the split in the body, there was a sound of hissing and burning.
Although the two halves of the body were still able to move, the speed was incomparably slow. After being slashed and stabbed by the others, it stopped moving entirely.
And this was only the first of them.
As far as the eyes could see, the field ahead was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with the undead!
Two hundred thousand undead, as if a torrential wave of blood-red, or an all-enveloping plague of locusts, rushing towards the tightly shut Jinguan City Gate!
And the immortal cultivators on Southern Xia’s side were at most only numbered around two thousand!
There was a huge difference in numbers, but none shrank away from advancing.
I hope that today will hold no regrets.
Lin Shu drew his sword.