by Fang Xiang
The situation had turned.
The position of hunter and prey silently changed.
The golden ball of fire burned, a peerless domineering presence spread in ripples. It attracted everyone’s gaze, the four people closest to it were not an exception. Under such a bright light, everything had lost color. The four people did not know that sword energies had silently surrounded them.
The sword energies slid like they were on ice, without a sound, and changed positions.
At the beginning, the changes in position between the sword energies was slightly raw, but quickly, the changes in position became very precise.
All of this happened in an extremely short period of time.
———
The four people had still not recovered from the ferocity of the Golden Crow Fire. The only person who detected something was the xiuzhe who had the chain-sickle.
Some clarity came into his eyes. He glanced at Zuo Mo holding the flag, his heart relaxing slightly. When he looked in the surroundings, his expression suddenly changed. He called in alarm, “Careful … …”
The sword formation had formed!
His shout became the prelude to the closing of the net!
The sharp and intimidating sword essences sliced at every bit of space. The air within their vision was shattered in an instant.
Pew pew pew!
Three pillars of blood shot high into the sky! Before they landed, their bodies were ground to powder by the sword energies that wove and sliced. Bam bam bam. The three sword xiu seemed to explode in midair, countless bits of blood and gore flew outwards in all directions.
The first person to detect the attack was the xiuzhe who held the chain-sickle. He was very experienced, and had gone through hundreds of battles. He didn’t retreat, but charged!
A black light flew from his hand, the sickle headed straight for Zuo Mo! The water drop spike arched like a poisonous snake, dancing so his sides were covered. As the sword energies hit it, sparks flew!
Ding ding ding ding!
The sword energies continuously hit the lengthening chain, like it was a chain made of sparks. The tip of the sickle gave a howl that shocked people’s souls.
The chain-sickle was made out of an unknown material that was able to cut out a path through such a dense rain of sword energies!
The speed was very fast. The edge pointed straight at Zuo Mo!
Impact!
The hook had hit the other person!
He was jubilant at this surprising outcome. His original intentions had been to defend for a while so his fellows would save him. He hadn’t thought he would make impact with one attack!
Was the other too busy controlling the sword energies, and could not split his attention?
Hm, that wasn’t right … …
———
The sword energies that suddenly lit up alarmed the Black Wind Bandits who were still in shock.
Right after, they saw something they would never be able to forget!
Countless sword energies formed a grand net. The three fellow bandits had been ground down and exploded in an instant. The only surviving fellow, they were all very familiar with. The chain-sickle on his hand had taken countless lives. However, the black blade was now strangely striking at an empty space, several dozen zhang away from the enemy!
The jubilation on their comrade’s face made their hairs stand on end.
“Illusion!” Zhang Hao’s pupils shrunk. He controlled his impulse to charge over.
His eyes were very experienced. He clearly saw the other had used the sword energies to form a formation. Now that the formation had been activated, charging in was too dangerous! His gaze suddenly darkened. He knew that his remaining subordinate would not escape death.
As expected, a gigantic sword made from sword energies heavily struck at the chains that covered the other.
The chain that was not easily damaged by flying swords shattered. The xiuzhe that did not have the time to dodge was instantly bisected!
All five had been lost!
Bam. The golden ball of fire coincidentally collapsed at this time, sparks flying in all directions.
As the bright golden sparks rained down, a thin and weak youth holding a black flag several times his size , was standing proudly under the five colored sword energies!
No one spoke, no one dared to move!
The pupils of all the Black Wind Bandits couldn’t help but shrink. All the underestimation, all the disdain, all their certainty, it all seemed so foolish now!
On the sky above the Desolate Wood Reef, there was only the sound of the wind.
Wei Rong who was shaking like dice suddenly shrieked, “I remember, I remember now … … he’s Zuo Mo! He is Zuo Mo!”
The shriek was ear-piercing in this deathly silence.
———
Far away, Bo Feng’s gaze recovered its clarity. Even he had been dazzled by that grand kill.
“Other than cultivation, Zuo Mo has improved very much compared to last time,” He praised, “His formations are even harder to predict now. If his cultivation could increase at this rate, he wouldn’t be any less outstanding than Wei Sheng!”
Gui Feng’s mouth was open wide, but he could not make a sound, shock dominating his eyes.
The strength that Zuo Mo had just displayed was not just a little bit higher than at the Sword Test Conference. Even though that Wu Kong Flag was very strong, but Zuo Mo’s skill was worthy of praise.
His control of the sword energies, his skill at setting up formations … …
It was completely different than before.
What surprised Gui Feng the most was Zuo Mo’s practiced composure and calmness. He remembered how tender Zuo Mo had been at the Sword Test Conference. In the short span of half a year, the Zuo Mo in front of him had become a completely different person.
Cheng Heng did not speak, but his eyes seemed to light up, full of desire for battle.
———
“Zuo Mo, so you are Zuo Mo!” Zhang Hao’s expression was very ugly, his voice pressuring.
He had thought it would be a soft fruit, but it turned out to be a hard nail. He had heard the name of Zuo Mo before. After the Sword Test Conference, this name had spread through all of Sky Moon Jie. He knew the little brat that looked slightly weak was a core disciple of Wu Kong Sword Sect, but he had not expected it to be Zuo Mo.
He remembered now. In the rumors, Zuo Mo was most skilled in formations.
He couldn’t help but glance at the Desolate Wood Reef under them. There was no movement there, but since the person here was Zuo Mo, there definitely would be countless formations down there!
Bandit groups like the Black Wind Bandits disliked situations like this the most. What they were skilled at was ambushes and robbery. What they were least skilled at was attacking heavily guarded places with full frontal assaults.
In Zhang Hao’s eyes, the little island below was like a hedgehog.
If it was any other time, he definitely wouldn’t attack such a place.
But right now, he tasted what it felt like to be unable to get off his high horse!
Other than Zuo Han’s vengeance, five subordinates had been killed in front of him. If they left like this, their overall motivation would be greatly impacted.
Also, he hurt!
The five subordinates had all been zhuji¸ but the one with the banner and the other with the chain-sickle had been xiuzhe with special spells. Other than the five most important backbones, it was very difficult to find replacements for these xiuzhe who had special spells. He didn’t hurt for the death of the three sword xiu, but his heart was in pain at the death of those two!
He stared at Zuo Mo, his eyes red.
His temper was vicious and explosive. Now that he had tripped up so heavily, would he rest?
Even more, since he knew the person in front of him was Zuo Mo, he was clear of the importance of this little island to Wu Kong Sword Sect.
Such an important
place, they would definitely have stored plentiful resources.
He quickly decided. No matter what, they had to take down this little island!
* * *
Translator Ramblings: Zhang Hao is like the person who just lost a hand at poker and decided to go all in immediately after.
Chapter 187: Two Hours
The wind howled, the mood above Desolate Wood Reef became even tenser.
The Black Wind Bandits’ killing intent spread. Zuo Mo sighed to himself. Killing the five people just now had not created fear; it had provoked their viciousness.
Very quickly, he threw these thoughts to the back of his head because the other side had began advancing forward.
Without a doubt, the next fight would be more fierce and cruel.
Zuo Mo felt the pressure suddenly increasing. He didn’t have the luxury to hold back, raising his hand he cast a light downwards.
Skyring Moon Chime Formation!
A crescent moon rose low into the sky. Countless thin strands fell from the bright moon, covering the entire Desolate Wood Reef. On these thin strands, light rings of various sizes hung like wind chimes.
But this crescent moon was dyed with an orange-red tinge, the moon gave off a warm orange glow, when previously it was as clear and smooth as flowing water.
Zuo Mo sighed. Just a little bit more and the Buddha Sound Hoop would have finished. The tempered Buddha Sound Hoop would definitely have increased its power. It was a pity that it had just missed by a little bit, but just this little bit caused the power of the Buddha Sound Hoop to be one level lower.
The situation in front of him did not allow him to continue to temper it. There were still more than sixty people on the other side.
More than sixty xiuzhe, and five of them ningmai the pressure they gave him was unparalleled.
The only thing that could compete with the present situation was the great sword essence formation. The big formation that was created by five jindan together. Naturally it would not be ordinary. However, when he was inside the sword essence formation, he knew he didn’t have to worry about his life.
In terms of presence, this group was not as intimidating as the sword essence formation, but this group of people wouldn’t blink as they killed him. They really would take his little life!
“What should I do?” Zuo Mo asked Pu Yao.
“Kill!” Pu Yao was simple and crisp, his bloody pupil shining.
It was now that Zuo Mo felt this guy had some of the mannerisms of a Sky Yao. However, while the aura was present, but it wasn’t useful at all.
“How do I kill?” Zuo Mo felt he was an idiot to ask Pu Yao who was also an idiot, but he couldn’t resist asking.
Was it out of nervousness?
As expected, Pu Yao looked at him like he was looking at an idiot, “One by one, of course.”
He now really wanted to ask Pu Yao, “How do I kill them one by one?” But he suppressed it. He really did not like Pu Yao’s gaze.
Pu Yao thought and then suddenly said, “If you can kill them all within two hours, I will teach you another move of [Little Thousand Leaf Hands].”
Two hours … … kill them all … …
This time, it was Zuo Mo’s turn to look at Pu Yao like he was looking at an idiot, “Do you think I’m an an idiot? Two hours, you think I’m killing pigs? They are … …”
“Just say if you will do it or not?” Pu Yao lazily said, none of the killing intent he had just shown was on his face.
“Do it!” Once he said it, Zuo Mo felt he was really an idiot.
Two hours, to kill that dense patch of people … …
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven … …
Sixty seven people, five ningmai, sixty two zhuji, he was … … zhuji… …
Okay, after Pu Yao did this, the last bit of nervousness in Zuo Mo’s heart had dissipated.
Strangely, he felt anticipation and excitement. It was as though he really yearned for the battle that was going to come. His body heated up and his ling power was abnormally lively. Was it that he had stayed too long with a pervert like Pu Yao, and became slightly perverse himself … …
———
The Skyring Moon Chime Formation covered the entire Desolate Wood Reef. Zuo Mo’s figure was inside it, flickering in and out of sight.
Zuo Han’s eyes were cold and filled with hatred and killing intent. However, he forcefully suppressed it. He was waiting for Head’s order. The reason that the Black Wind Bandits had remained free for such a long time was their outstanding battle strategy, and it was their best protection. Even though he was second in command, and even though the hatred was deep in his heart, he still suppressed it.
Zhang Hao’s pupils shrunk into a line, a bloody light flashing from his eyes, cruel and vicious.
At this time, he had thrown all other thoughts to the back of his head. No matter how many concerns he had, once he decided to fight, there was only one thought in his mind, kill them!
“Kill!” A bellow like the howl of a wild beast came from his throat.
“Kill, kill, kill!” The eyes of everyone else were completely red, leaving behind only pure killing intent.
The sixty seven people split into several parts, and like thin flows, they headed towards Desolate Wood Reef from different directions.
Just sixty seven people, but the vicious and brutal aura they exuded would alarm anyone.
———
Bo Feng who saw this scene suddenly lit up, and praised, “I had originally thought that the Black Wind Bandits had an inflated reputation before. Looking at it now, they are even better than the rumors! To create this kind of presence, even Wu Kong Sword Sect which has been so powerful recently, cannot do it.”
One xiuzhe couldn’t help say, “When the Black Wind Bandits met Wu Kong Sword Sect last time, they suffered a huge loss.” The subordinate had followed Bo Feng for a time and knew that Bo Feng would not be discontent due to differences in opinions, which was why he dared to speak.
Bo Feng smiled and shook his head, “It’s not the same. Wu Kong Sword Sect’s strength is in their individual experts. What the Black Wind Bandits are strong in is their combined ability. The power of the group cannot replace experts, and the experts cannot replace the group. In small conflicts, the effect of experts is very evident, but if it is battles of thousands of people, then the use of experts begins to lessen.”
“How can there be battles with thousands of people?” That xiuzhe objected.
“There aren’t any now, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be in the future,” Bo Feng said meaningfully.
———
The sixty seven xiuzhe attacked at the same time, their presence was astounding!
Light flashed across the sky, flying swords and talismans were dancing.
Zhang Hao’s plan was very simple, to use brute force to break technique! It was unwise to go head-on against a fortified target, but the present situation was special as the only person on the other side that could resist was Zuo Mo. No matter how strong Zuo Mo was, when he faced the attacks of sixty seven xiuzhe, there would have to be times where he would slip.
Formations were set up on the island. If they landed in them, that would give Zuo Mo a chance. It was better to use brute force to break the formation from the base. Having lost his greatest defense, Zuo Mo would be like a lamb waiting for slaughter.
———
Zuo Mo felt terrible right now.
Damn it!
This group of people rained everything down on his head!
Sixty seven xiuzhe furiously attacking downwards at the same time, without regard for ling power. They looked as though they would only rest when Desolate Wood Reef was leveled.
This group was also very smart. They only bombarded Desolate Wood Reef from a distance and did not come any closer.
Seeing all the flying swords and spells come down on his head like rain, Zuo Mo became stubborn. Alright, ge will see just how much ling power you have to wast
e!
The Wu Kong Flag was heavily inserted into the ground. The sword energies that swarmed around his body silently entered the Skyring Moon Chime Formation.
Zuo Mo jumped up from the ground and started to pass around the Desolate Wood Reef. He was like a fireman, continuously watching over the big formation.
The Skyring Moon Chime Formation he had set up was unprecedentedly large, reaching two hundred and sixteen child formations. Adding on that he had continuously been fixing the holes recently, even though it was not impenetrable, but it still managed to survive the bombing of the Black Wind Bandits.
He knew as long as he could make it through this round, the initiative would instantly change sides.
Sixty seven xiuzhe, not all of them could be offensive xiuzhe. For example, Zuo Han had a Hundred Poison Fan that could release all kinds of dark poisonous miasma, but in a fight of strength, it couldn’t have much of an effect.
The greatest threat came from strength based xiuzhe like Zhang Hao.
Zhang Hao’s flying sword was very unique. The body of the sword was extremely wide, like it was a shovel or an ax. What he walked was a road of strength. The body of the sword was covered in a layer of red light. Each attack was like a heavy ax breaking a mountain, weighing thirty thousand catties!
Zuo Mo felt that Zhang Hao was the greatest threat out of all the people. Each of his attacks would make Zuo Mo’s heart jump.
The hair-like threads of the Skyring Moon Chime Formation would be blown into a mess, causing the rings of light on the threads to chime.
After being tempered for such a long time, the Buddha Sound Hoop had an additional attribute of yang and dominance. Before, the chimes had been clear and ethereal. The present chimes were deep and explosive. Even the echoes seemed to carry heat and flame.
Zuo Mo was still relatively calm. After being alarmed the first few times, he found that the Skyring Moon Chime Formation was still untouched. He finally remembered that during the Sword Test Conference, the seventy two child formation Skyring Moon Chime Formation had endured a great ordeal. At that time, the number of ningmai that had been in the formation had been more than right now.
