by <unknown>
"You have done everything you can for them, but have they ever respected you as the real leader of the Great Qian Cultivators? I heard a thing or two about what happened in Roaring Tiger City. They truly do not deserve you as the leader of all Cultivators!
"We are the same. We both want to establish a set of rules for the world. Fair, just, and efficient rules! The Great Qian Dynasty has rotted to the bones from the court to the Cultivators. It is destined that you cannot save it purely on your own! Cloud Qin is the only place that can help you fulfil your wish and realize your 'rules'!"
Han Baling's magical equipment was quite strange. It was an enormous hammer with a long handle. However, the front end of the hammer had been forged into a fat bear's paw. When it was waved in midair, a ferocious beast seemed to be roaring.
"Hehehehe. Han Baling, you are truly a great speaker!"
Before Qi Zhongdao could reply, Ba Xiaoyu, who was hiding behind the heel of a Cloud Qin Gold Statue, shrieked in a joyful tone. "Stop stirring trouble. Right. We are not united on our side, but are there no gaps on your side? Qi Changsheng, Wan Mingzhu, and you, Han Baling—are any of you not acting weak and pitiful and exaggerating your wounds, trying to preserve your strength so that you can take advantage later?
"This beggar suggests that you pay more attention to the two of them behind you. You are more or less a man on the Dark Cloud Prairies, Han Baling, but Qi Changsheng and Wan Mingzhu are two rabid dogs. You must be careful in case they bite your butt later!"
"Ba Xiaoyu!" Qi Changsheng gnashed his teeth. "The Heaven Battering Army has no grudge with you whatsoever. We are homeless peasants, and you are a beggar. As underprivileged people, we should look after each other and fight against the common foe. Why are you and Master Bitter Cicada involved in this mess? What benefits have Emperor Phoenix and the six major sects promised you? If you are here for the Cloud Qin Gold Statues, we can give one to each of you after we take over the Divine Palace!"
"Haha. Hahahaha!" Holding his belly, Ba Xiaoyu burst into laughter. He laughed so hard that he was kicking, and tears were flowing from his eyes. "Qi Changsheng, you surrendered to the court and the main sects seven times, only to rebel again seven times later. You are a temperamental, utterly untrustworthy dog. I might as well believe that a pig can ride a flying sword before I believe your promise!"
Master Bitter Cicada was holding the pearls that had partly turned into stones. Despite the heavy wounds, he still spoke unhurriedly. "Fellow Cultivator Han, Fellow Cultivator Qi, Fellow Cultivator Wan, it's true that Fellow Cultivator Ba and I are here for the Cloud Qin Gold Statues.
"However, it is definitely not because we want the Cloud Qin Gold Statues for ourselves but because we do not want the destructive, dominating magical equipment to reappear in the human world. If they fall into the hands of ambitious, disobedient fellows, a storm of blood will certainly be raised, and the ordinary folks will suffer!"
"The ordinary folks will suffer?" High-pitched laughter burst out from Wan Mingzhu's broken skull. "You are either a stupid monk or a bad monk! The ordinary folks will suffer if the Cloud Qin Gold Statues fall into the hands of the 'ambitious and disobedient fellows' such as us? Is the world not mired in a storm of blood where the ordinary folk suffer when there aren't any Cloud Qin Gold Statues?
"The millions of civilians in the southeast watch the most fertile lands get planted with the Jade Crystal Pellets helplessly, and we have to starve to death while we are smelling the fragrance of the Jade Crystal Pellets. Do the common folk not suffer?
"When the febrile typhoon and the flood rampage, all the Cultivators hide in their bases and fortresses and lock their gates with defense rune arrays, ignoring us while we are burnt, drowned, famished, corroded in the fire and blood! Do the common folk not suffer?
"The northwest has suffered from droughts for several years. Many lands have absolutely no yield at all. But none of the Cultivation sects are willing to open their barns and distribute the food to the people. They would rather feed the food to the animals and mounts that they have domesticated than offer a grain of their food to the disaster-stricken victims. When the disaster victims are forced to rise up as an army of homeless peasants, you then vilify the peasants as inhuman and even cannibal. Do the common folk not suffer?
"Hehe. Even if there truly is cannibalism, it is because the Cultivators are forcing them. You are forcing them!
"You are a stupid and bad monk. So many people are suffering right before your eyes. I don't believe that you see and hear none of it, but what have you done except for your pretentious rituals to appease the deceased? Even if you appease a hundred ghosts a day, ten thousand ghosts will have popped up elsewhere in the meantime! Meanwhile, those high and mighty Cultivators are still enjoying their life in their strongholds! What can you do? You are just fooling yourself!
"Now, we people who have nothing are going to resist with the Cloud Qin Gold Statues and smash the injustice in the world. Yet, you are jumping out and fear that people will suffer? Haha. Hahaha. Good monk. You are truly a knowledgeable and respectful monk!"
Chapter 1489: Where Is the Sparrow? |
As Wan Mingzhu's mean and crazy laughter echoed for a long time in the temple of the Colossi, Master Bitter Cicada's handsome face that was mixed with pity and sorrow flushed. After a crack, one of the pearls that had turned into stones was crushed into pieces.
"Fellow Cultivator Qi, Fellow Cultivator Ba, Master Bitter Cicada!"
Han Baling continued roaring loudly. His wild voice sounded somewhat genuine and sincere.
"Fellow Cultivator Qi, Fellow Cultivator Wan, and I are certainly not just conspiring for the interests in front of our eyes. We are really trying to change the world with our own hands and accomplish something great by saving the Ancient Sages Sector from the swirl that it has been mired in for a hundred thousand years!
"Have you never noticed? Over the past hundred thousand years, countless glorious dynasties have been founded in the Ancient Sages Sector, and too many unbelievable experts have emerged in the world of Cultivators!
"However, after a hundred thousand years, all the glorious dynasties have been destroyed, and even their remains have been reduced to smithereens and vanished in the wind. There are fewer and fewer experts among the Cultivators, with lower and lower Cultivation levels. The magical equipment and the Cultivation arts are becoming more and more shabby and underdeveloped!
"Once upon a time, hundreds of Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators walked on the Ancient Sages Sector and galloped in the destructive Cloud Qin Gold Statues. They were even able to establish bases on the dark planets beyond the sky. But nowadays, while the Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators such as us can dominate the Ancient Sages Sector, it is absolutely impossible for us to set foot on the dark planets where there is no air or water!
"Once upon a time, a glorious dynasty could endure five thousand years or even longer. Thousands of enormous airships flew in the sky, and the giant beasts a hundred meters tall bolted on the ground as soldiers! But nowadays, the Great Qian Dynasty is already one of the most brilliant dynasties in the past ten thousand years after it has existed for only a thousand years and when it only has a hundred airships!
"What does this suggest?
"Our world is slowly retrograding. We are moving closer to our doom every day!
"If we all turn a blind eye to it, the day will finally come when we can't find even one intact primeval treasure, one Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, or one dynasty that can survive five hundred years!
"By then, the Ancient Sages Sector will be screwed. Utterly screwed!
"I know that many of you condemn and hate me because I am a lord of the barbarians. You think that I just want to whip the central plateaus and bog down your lands with your blood!
"Hehe. If that is what you are thinking, I have to say that you have terribly underestimated me!
"In the past hundred thousand years, the lords of the barbarians once dominated the central plate
aus, too. But so what? Did their reign not collapse after several thousand years?
"I may choose not to do it, but when I choose to do something, I will certainly accomplish the greatest things that will radiate for thousands of years. I want to establish a perennial dynasty together with the fellow Cultivators here, and the Cloud Qin Gold Statues will be our starting point!
"Fellow Cultivator Qi, Fellow Cultivator Ba, Master Bitter Cicada, I know that you are different from the commonplace, selfish guys of the six major sects. You are the great heroes who have dreams and ambitions, and you are not satisfied with the current situation of the Great Qian Dynasty. However, wolves are everywhere in today's world that is constructed from rotten wood. It is impossible for one or two people to stop the deterioration alone. Why don't you stand on my side? We can discuss what kind of future is in the best interests of the Ancient Sages Sector and how we can remove the toxins deeply buried inside the Ancient Sages Sector so that the world will be revived!"
Han Baling was talking so enthusiastically that even he seemed to be moved by his words. He could not help but slightly extend his neck out of the round shield of the Colossus.
Shua!
The moment he craned his head, an arced light that was a hundred times more aggressive than lightning rushed close from the opposite side. Without any fancy tricks or techniques, it just slashed right toward Han Baling's head!
Han Baling's eyes widened so much that his eyeballs almost popped out of his face. Not even having the time to scream, he stomped on the round shield brutally and moved backward with the counterforce!
The arced light brushed past the tip of his nose at a close distance, cutting away half of the bear head on his head!
Crack!
The arced light's momentum was not reduced at all after it chopped off the bear head on his head. It went forward and cut apart dozens of airborne rails for the maintenance of the Colossi, until it was deeply embedded in the cabin wall made of super alloys, leaving a trace that was one finger deep. Smoke was popping up from the mark, and the inside of the mark was glowing bright orange, evidence of the immensity of the spiritual energy contained in the attack!
Half of Han Baling's hat had been chopped off, turning it into a sock made of bear hide. His gray scalp could vaguely be seen, and some of his hair was flying in midair.
The previous attack had in fact shaved quite a lot of his hair off. Even part of the skin at the center of his skull was peeling.
If he had reacted slightly slower, the ambitious hero from the prairies would have had to change the world from hell!
Yan Liren retreated his sword slowly not far away. He grunted in dissatisfaction. "I don't know why you waste so much time talking. Just draw your swords, and everything will be done!"
"General!"
Yan Liren's astounding attack greatly shocked the subordinates of the three rapscallions. With flames of spiritual energy spurting out crazily, almost a hundred coldly blinking flying swords were raised from a corner of the temple of the Colossi. A fierce light was hovering around every flying sword—they were all set to launch thunderous strike at any time!
Seeing that their enemy was prepared, the super Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators, including Qi Zhongdao and the experts of the six major sects, all gritted their teeth and activated their most treasured magical equipment. Suppressed by Qi Zhongdao's 'Heaven Flipping Seal', the entire temple was creaking as if it was being pressed down on by an invisible mountain. The air was so thick that a bloody rain seemed to be taking place at any time.
Qi Zhongdao's face was rather dark. He called drily, "F—Fellow Cultivator Yan!"
"Is there a problem?" Yan Liren looked at Qi Zhongdao innocently. "He offered his head for me to slash it. I would've felt sorry for him if I hadn't slashed such a greasy, shining head."
"Wait! Wait!" Han Baling was still hiding behind the round shield of the Colossus, but he did not have the courage to peek out anymore. He simply shouted at the top of his voice. "Qi Zhongdao, Yan Liren, don't presume that I am scared of your Heaven Flipping Seal and your sword! If you are determined to get yourselves killed, me and my partners will certainly satisfy your wish!
"However, don't you find it weird that Wang Xi, Zhu Zongyou and Master Spiritual Vulture, three critical people who have the capability to change the balance of the battle, haven't shown up yet? Only the seven of us and those from the six major sects are fighting blindly here!
"When a mantis is hunting a cicada, a sparrow might be lurking aside, coveting them both. You understand such simple logic, don't you? The more I think about it, the more I feel that something is off. If Wang Xi and Emperor Phoenix have prepared the trap together to force us to kill each other, won't your recklessness be exactly what they want?"
His cynicism cast Qi Zhongdao into deep thought.
The high-level Cultivators of the six major sects, who had been preserving their strength and observing the situation, rolled their eyes for a moment and then put on 'eureka' expressions!
Even Li Yao and Long Yangjun were somewhat dumbfounded. With such a fierce battle going on in the temple of the Colossi, where had Emperor Phoenix Zhu Zongyou, the greatest suspect so far, fled to?
Emperor Phoenix was not in any of the surveillance pictures scanned all the way to this place!
"You do have a point, Fellow Cultivator Han!"
Qi Zhongdao deserved to have been the leader of all the Cultivators for many years. His nerves were calm and tough enough despite the chaotic situation. After quickly thinking, he immediately changed his attitude. "Before we find Wang Xi, Master Spiritual Vulture, and His Majesty, let's not act recklessly in case any unexpected changes take place!"
"Then, get the Yan lunatic on your side under control. Next time it happens, we may fall into the trap of the Wang Xi and Zhu Zongyou together!" Han Baling shouted rather helplessly.
Qi Zhongdao glanced at Ba Xiaoyu and Master Bitter Cicada first. Then, the three of them stared at Yan Liren with thoughtful eyes together.
"Fellow Cultivator Yan," Master Bitter Cicada said solemnly, "as the saying goes—"
"Stop! There's no need for a lecture, Master. I can always slash him later!" Yan Liren rubbed his nose and retreated to the back row, not entirely satisfied, while holding his short sword.
"Fellow Cultivator Han!" Qi Zhongdao was relieved. He raised his voice and shouted, "Right now, we are all stranded in the 'Divine Palace', whose porches and verandas are rather twisted and mysterious. It does not seem to be the glamorous heaven that we imagined it to be. I have a feeling that things might not be as simple as they appear!
"Right now, the situation outside is already beyond our control. If we become engaged in a life-and-death battle, I'm afraid that few of us will be able to walk out alive. All the Cultivators, be they from the Great Qian Dynasty or the Dark Cloud Prairies, will suffer a destructive blow!
"If the motivation for our battle is the Cloud Qin Gold Statues, won't it be hilarious if we shed our blood below them when we don't even know how to rein the Cloud Qin Gold Statues yet?"
"Your words are truly wise, Fellow Cultivator Qi. Before we find Wang Xi, Zhu Zongyou, and Master Spiritual Vulture, and before we crack the secrets about the Cloud Qin Gold Statues, there is indeed no reason for us to perish with each other!"
Glancing at the flying swords in midair that were brimming with spiritual energy, Han Baling narrowed his eyes and said, "In case of any accidents, I suggest that we put our flying swords and magical equipment aside and keep a distance of ten meters away from all the Cloud Qin Gold Statues. Then, we will figure out a way to control the situation outside and regroup our respective subordinates while we search for Wang Xi, Zhu Zongyou, and Master Spiritual Vulture. We will make further plans after everything is clear. What do you think, Fellow Cultivator Qi?"
Chapter 1490: They're Here! |
Qi Zhongdao glanced at the heads of the six major sects and asked, "Does any of you wish to have a life-and-death battle with Han Baling, Qi
Changsheng, and Wan Mingzhu right now?"
The elders and leaders of the six major sects looked at each other in bewilderment and shook their heads as quickly as possible.
"Then, just retract your flying swords and magical equipment!"
Qi Zhongdao pondered for a moment and said, "The situation is becoming more and more chaotic. This Divine Palace… does not look like a place where the deities live at all. There is also the matter of Wang Xi, His Majesty, and Master Spiritual Vulture. Let's not act recklessly before we find them!"
"Right. Where has Zhu Zongyou been?"
On the bridge of the Nuwa warship, both Li Yao and Long Yangjun were a bit anxious. They examined every Grand Illusionary Land with their bloodshot eyes, but they failed to find any trace of Emperor Phoenix anywhere.
Even the ten or so bodyguards from the Fiery Phoenix Legion that had always been close around Zhu Zongyou had gone missing, although Li Yao had paid special attention to them before!
"How strange!" Li Yao scratched his head hard. "Have they hidden in a certain corner as 'dark hunters'?
It was a pity that most of the surveillance cameras had been damaged or rusted after such a long time. Some of the intact surveillance cameras could not be activated because of the insufficient computational ability.
The hundred or so pictures were only enough to cover one percent of the space on the entire Nuwa warship.
In the temple of the Colossi, surveillance cameras had been deployed in the four corners and the middle of the dome. But at that moment, the only functioning one was the camera in the northeast corner. Observing the entire temple from that perspective, the picture near was of reasonable quality, but the picture far away was blurred as if it were covered in a mist.
Long Yangjun pulled the threads of light to adjust the angle and resolution of the picture. She suddenly pointed at the dome in the depths of the Half-Step Grand Illusionary Land and shouted, "Wait. What's that?"
Li Yao narrowed his eyes. He shaped his spiritual energy into translucent membranes and covered them on his retina in different layers in order to strengthen his eyesight before he looked into the hazy mist.
