ASER - Chapter 205
Chapter 205: A Bit Similar
"The fame of the Three Gentlemen shook the Three Kingdoms. Lord Changting's status was transcendent, not merely because he was the head of the Langya Clan, nor because he topped the Celestial List, but truly because he was of great age. From his youth, he had served the Celestial Clan Divine Maiden and was the Celestial Clan's sole spokesperson in the human realm. The origin of spiritual cultivation lay with Langya, and it was he who advocated for the Heterodox Races when they faced disaster, prompting the Divine Maiden to descend with her divine power to save them."
"But later, when war broke out, the Celestial Clan sought to exterminate the human race. Changting mediated, doing his utmost to prove that the Celestial Clan had no such intention, and that human traitors had framed and schemed. His lobbying later failed—because Chen Gui accused him of betraying the human race. The Imperial Families of the Three Kingdoms used this as a pretext to unite and annihilate the entire Langya Clan. Changting, unyielding, was backstabbed and killed by Chen Gui in the final battle, dying a tragic death."
"Kunlun was then far away on the battlefield, repelling a surprise attack by the demon spirit army. Upon learning of this, he was enraged. After a fierce battle with a Demon King, he returned, injured. Before the eyes of the world, he broke every bone in Chen Gui's body. When he was about to kill him, the Imperial Families intervened to protect Chen Gui. Kunlun, filled with bitter hatred, severed all ties with Chen Gui on the spot. He then collected the remains of Lord Changting and the Langya clansmen and departed. As he left, he declared that he believed in Changting, and only in Changting. The human race had forsaken the Celestial Clan, forsaken Langya; it was an act of treachery and betrayal. From that day forward, Lushan would be Lushan, Tang Song would be Tang Song, and he, Kunlun, would simply be Kunlun."
"Should he meet a member of the Imperial Families again, he would kill them. Should he meet a member of the Chen family again, he would kill them. Should he meet anyone involved in the slaughter of the Langya Clan that day, he would kill them all."
"Kunlun, wished to sever himself from the human race."
One could hear from these words just how fiercely resolute and sorrowful Kunlun must have been back then, and how blatant his killing intent was.
To go from slaying demon spirits for the human race to severing himself from it—such a transformation naturally stemmed from a complete collapse of faith.
Thinking of Kunlun's soul, as tranquil as an ink wash painting that day, A'Diao felt a chill instead.
The calmer the surface, the more violent the storm brewing beneath.
Seeing her expression, Qu Jiangnan guessed some of it. "You've met this Founder?"
Human history would certainly not record such a figure. After all, the Imperial Families' involvement was somewhat disgraceful, and they had long since erased that history. Thus, the world remained ignorant of this person's fate. If the later records in the 【Almanac】 were correct, then the truth of the conflict between the Celestial Clan and the human race back then was indeed hard to discern. Look at the guilty conscience displayed by the Three Imperial Clans now.
Could it be that the Founder Kunlun was still alive?
"I've met him. He's already dead, but his soul remains."
It was just that his soul was very faint. For someone so powerful, his soul should not have been so tenuous.
It was likely he had perished long ago, but some lingering obsession remained.
A'Diao wore a pained expression, feeling utterly drained. "No wonder he dislikes me."
That old scoundrel Chen Gui!
Qu Xia'er, however, was calm. "You've met him, and he didn't kill you. What are you afraid of?"
She could see that this little girl was just timid, after all, the power gap was too vast.
A'Diao propped her chin on her hands, her pretty face puckered like a sour bun. "I'm not afraid he'll kill me. I'm afraid he won't like me."
The two sisters: "?"
A'Diao: "I'm so adorable, how can he not like me? After all, you two also said you didn't like me before, and now aren't you both doting on me?"
Hmm…
Qu Xia'er felt like she was being unfairly implicated. She glanced at A'Diao lightly, saying nothing.
Seeing her elder sister's speechless expression, Qu Jiangnan chuckled. Leaning against the armrest, she tapped her cheek thoughtfully with a finger. "I thought you'd be more concerned about who was right and who was wrong back then."
A'Diao was completely unconcerned. "Whether the Celestial Clan truly wanted to exterminate the human race, or if certain upper echelons within the human race were too greedy and orchestrated the Celestial Clan's destruction; whether Changting betrayed them, or Chen Gui was the mole, or perhaps Kunlun trusted the wrong person—these are their stories, their history. What does it have to do with me, Chen A'Diao?"
"The current me doesn't have Chen Gui's bloodline." A'Diao's expression was calm as she stroked her chin. "Perhaps this Old Ancestor Kunlun didn't kill me precisely because he discovered I no longer have Chen Gui's bloodline. Thinking about it this way, I'm truly fortunate."
Her mindset was truly exceptional, and she saw things straight to their essence.
"Moreover, the instigator benefits. As it stands, I'm clearly not the beneficiary. If the Celestial Clan makes a comeback seeking revenge, the responsibility certainly won't fall on me."
"Speaking of which, this is also an opportunity for us."
Her eyes were shining. "The more chaotic it is, the more advantageous for us. By the way, your clan totem looks a bit like Langya's. This ear of wheat is a segment of a Langya pattern—I was wondering why your clan was exterminated and knew so many secrets. Could it be you were previously subservient to Langya?"
"Look, several pages at the end of the 【Almanac】 were torn out. They probably went into hiding to survive that period."
Indeed, the records ended there. Evidently, the Helian Clan had foreseen the human civil war—the Three Imperial Clans intended to eliminate not only Langya but all forces allied with Langya, all who knew the truth. So, the Helian Clan went into hiding, preserving the history, but the record of their allegiance to Langya had to be erased to ensure the survival of their bloodline.
Either that, or they had something even more important to protect.
The gazes of all three fell upon that Book of Civilization.
"It seems to be a dud," Qu Jiangnan said in surprise.
A'Diao, however, paused, then took out a book from her storage. "The two seem identical. Mine is also a dud. I couldn't activate it after I got it, so I just tossed it aside…"
Comparing the two, one had a left-wing totem on its cover, the other a right-wing totem.
Could they be combined?
All three were perceptive and immediately employed various spatial and secret techniques.
Under the protection of their combined mental threads, not even a High Spirit King could sense what was happening here. Only then did A'Diao begin to merge the two books…
They intersected.
That is, the pages interleaved with each other.
After three seconds, Qu Jiangnan asked, "Is there any use in crossing the two books like that?"
Moreover, this A'Diao was being improper. The way she was crossing the books back and forth inexplicably made Qu Jiangnan feel a bit… suggestive? It was rather strange. Was it because she was older and overthinking things?
Qu Jiangnan subconsciously glanced at Qu Xia'er. The latter, however, merely curled a slender finger and rubbed the beauty mark by her eye, showing no particular reaction.
Oh, Elder Sister was actually thinking along the same lines too. She probably even thought I was the one who corrupted this disciple.
A'Diao: "Mental and spiritual power are useless, and I can't refine them. So, physical combination is the only way—after all, they can't be distinguished as male and female, so how else could I make them combine?"
A'Diao's casual innuendo made Qu Jiangnan unable to resist flicking her forehead again.
Qu Xia'er, having been married, was unfazed by such lighthearted banter. She took the books, examined them for a moment, then suddenly said, "You should keep these two historical records. Perhaps they are fated with you."
"The Long Zither goes to Jiangnan."
She was the elder, so her word was final. A'Diao didn't hesitate and took the items. Qu Xia'er then handed over a cubic crystal, a shrunken spatial cube containing countless suspended specks of light.
"Sun Image light specks. As agreed for our cooperation, a fifty-fifty split. This portion is yours. Also, here are the legacies of four Lesser Spirit Kings; two are for you."
This was the true purpose of their meeting this time.
A'Diao never shied away from benefits due to personal feelings. She happily accepted the items, but Qu Xia'er added a reminder, "The human karmic luck in Lie Qin Nation has suddenly flourished recently. It's possible some formidable figure has been resurrected."
What?
A'Diao, who had been delighted, raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Qu Xia'er.
The latter was hidden in a spot untouched by the sunlight from the window, and only now did she exude a hint of the Corpse Spirit King's eerie coldness.
"The world is divided into three; it has never been a case of one power dominating. For the past three hundred years, Tang Song's losses have far exceeded Lie Qin's. For example, Lord Changting fell, Kunlun is now only a weakened soul remnant, and Chen Gui is gone. Their karmic luck has long since dispersed. You must have also sensed the Tang Song Imperial Family's weakness. When one side weakens, the other two inevitably grow stronger."
"Resurrection also relies on karmic luck."
"Perhaps those among the hundred Celestials of old who did not die in battle back then are now gradually beginning to return."
"The Celestials of old, the new talents of today—you are all destined for a battle."
However much commotion A'Diao had caused in the Imperial Palace, she was proportionally low-key upon her return to Lushan. Later, she concocted a mutated substance and first arranged to meet Song Ling.
"It's an experiment, you know. Are you scared?"
Song Ling, who appeared increasingly cool and intellectual with age, was curiously examining the mysterious mutated substance. Hearing A'Diao, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Am I the first one you sought? If so, then I won't be upset."
It wasn't about being scared or not, but about being upset or not, as if she was fixated on being the best and most important friend.
A'Diao: "Ah, no. I mentioned it to Mo Yuwo first, but you're different from him."
"A pawn is different from a friend."
There was no karmic tie between her and Mo Yuwo; she owed him no favors. Since he had approached her first, he couldn't blame her for binding him with a transaction of interests.
If one wanted revenge, how could it be achieved without some sacrifice?
Was she a good person?
"Will you place an imprint on him?"
"Of course."
Song Ling pondered for a moment, then said gently, "Use him as a directly controlled imprint, a hidden piece among our group at Lushan. I, however, will be in the open. If my rate of progress threatens people like Handan Jidao, their mentality will become unstable. In the future, I'll find an opportunity to provoke a fight between people from Lie Qin and Nan Jin and our side. You stay out of sight. Once they suffer significant losses, their desires will be amplified, and then they will become willing."
"Then, create a contract based on this substance to indirectly control them."
"In this era, they have no choice."
This seemingly fairy-like person was also quite dark.
A'Diao smiled, agreeing with her idea. Song Ling also mentioned matters in the southern coastal region. Tian Zhongye and the others, with her resource support, were now advancing rapidly in strength, gradually gaining control of the south and north along with Xiao Du and his group, who were similarly backed by Xu Ye.
A'Diao, backed by Lushan, was confronting the Imperial Family head-on; naturally, they wouldn't be weak either.
After Song Ling and A'Diao finished discussing their development plans, the former consumed the mutated substance.
Her mental aptitude was terrifying, being a mental mutant, but her physical constitution was a weakness, not outstanding among the 20 individuals. This mutated substance was a godsend.
A'Diao watched over Song Ling's mutation within the array… while also comprehending the exchanged space notes and looking for materials on Huayao and Lushan's point exchange mall.
Spending and spending, the ten thousand points from the border mission were soon gone.
It was burning money.
Recently, she hadn't had time to go out on missions again. She needed to consider how to earn points; it was time to consolidate.
1. Strengthen herself using the mutated substance.
2. Continue enhancing with formulas like Soaring Cloud + Hidden Dragon.
3. Expend resources to reach the peak of the Star realm.
4. Mental Domain and Mental Spirit Infusion were the absolute priorities for her upcoming cultivation.
5. Research the Book of the Yellow Springs, the Yinglong, and the three aspects of Yin-Yang.
6. The two unmergeable, mysterious Books of Civilization.
Eighteen hours later, Song Ling finished her mutation, only to find herself perfectly clean. The expelled impurities were gone, even her clothes were clean. Upon closer inspection, she realized A'Diao had set up a cleansing secret art in the space, and A'Diao herself had probably left after confirming Song Ling's mutation process had stabilized.
A small note was stuck on the wall— "Make me some food when you leave, as payment."
Song Ling: "…"
Inside the cultivation room, A'Diao took out the two Books of Civilization. Back with Qu Xia'er and Qu Jiangnan, she hadn't tried another method of fusion because, even if she trusted them, she didn't want to expose a certain possibility.
Now, A'Diao set up the tightest security measures here before imbuing her blood essence and spiritual nature onto them, then attempting to make them fuse.
What was she suspecting?
Celestial Clan items, and she was using her own blood essence?
Toilet: "What are you suspecting?"
A'Diao, however, stared intently at the two Books of Civilization, watching them emit a faint glow, and then begin to… not fuse.
In the end, they did not fuse.
This meant the hypothesis was a failure. A'Diao was both relieved and bewildered, because this forced her to redefine her understanding of the enmity between the Celestial Clan and the human race, as well as the Old Daoist's connection to herself.
"It's good that it's not, less trouble."
"But it's a pity… if it were, the benefits would also be great."
A'Diao's words somewhat startled Toilet; she wanted the benefits of the Celestial Clan.
Toilet: "Aren't you afraid of becoming an enemy to the human race?"
A'Diao: "The human race?"
She began to prepare a formula, brewing it while saying, "Do you know what history is?"
Toilet: "Records of the past?"
A'Diao: "No, history is just stories that the living pick and choose to show what they want you to see, and it's always the story of only a few. These few are the drivers of history, but none of them are qualified to represent the human race. So, all that crap from the first generation, in my eyes, is just a formality."
She couldn't care less about the brotherly bonds between the Three Gentlemen, or whether the Celestial Clan truly wanted to exterminate the human race, or any other blah blah blah.
Looking at this matter beyond the emotional entanglements, the logic of interests was actually very clear.
"The Celestial Clan is gone. The ones who benefited weren't the common people, but a select few. After all, I haven't seen any common folk fleece the Celestial Clan. The biggest benefit was merely the disappearance of the demon spirits."
"The Celestial Clan vanished, and spiritual energy was cut off. This was certainly not what those people desired; otherwise, more of their dormant forces would have awakened back then. But the severance of spiritual energy was the root cause of the demon spirits' disappearance. So, it can be understood that—the disappearance of demon spirits was also not these people's achievement, because the severance of spiritual energy was beyond their expectations."
"So, the benefits of eliminating the Celestial Clan had nothing to do with the common people, and the disappearance of demon spirits also had little to do with these individuals. Since these key interests are not connected, on what grounds do their grievances with the Celestial Clan implicate the entire human race? Such audacity, constantly harping on about the fate of the human race. The benefits are theirs, but the detriments are shared by everyone. The entire human race is morally blackmailed, and they even want to extend this blackmail across three hundred years. What nonsense."
She herself was one of those blackmailed and most screwed over. Just thinking about it made her furious.
"Do you know why I look down on Chen Gui, why I dislike that old scoundrel?"
"Regardless of whether he was genuinely acting for the fate of the human race or striving for power and profit, he failed to manage the aftermath—I don't mind being someone like him, perhaps I am like him now, but I will never become the next Chen Gui."
"After all…"
Toilet was intrigued by her worldview, its round, ball-like body perked up to listen. Then it heard her say.
"After all, I can't be a gigolo. Even if I wanted to, I don't have the qualifications."
"What do you think that Chen Gui was after? Eldest Brother and Third Brother were such great thighs to latch onto, and he even managed to hook up with the most formidable Divine Maiden. He purely received the top-three MVP adoration of all living beings at the time. And the fact that he successfully obtained the Celestial Clan's core secrets, doesn't that prove the Divine Maiden truly loved him? If he had just brainwashed her a bit more to make the Celestial Clan depose the Three Imperial Clans and make himself king, he could have protected the human race and allied with the Celestial Clan against the demon spirits. The Celestial Clan's population was sparse back then; as long as the human race was under control, they wouldn't have gone so far as to exterminate humans, right? His brain must have been flooded. If I were him, why bother studying or being an undercover agent? I'd just lie back, lie in bed every few days, and let the Divine Maiden do whatever she wanted… Is physical labor necessarily more shameful than mental labor? Did he have to backstab the Divine Maiden, then backstab his brothers, only to be sacrificed by the Imperial Family in the end, bringing disaster upon his descendants? There's something wrong with that man's brain."
These words were practically bursting with resentment, a long tirade.
Toilet: "…"
This approach to the problem was quite unique, but it had been brainwashed.
This Chen Gui was either a pure idealist, willing to sacrifice anyone (except himself) for the human race. Or he was a purely insidious character, solely aiming for fame and fortune, hence colluding with the Imperial Family and becoming a professional master backstabber, screwing over women then brothers.
Otherwise, he was seriously mentally ill.
Not at all like their clever, lively, and adorable Diaodiao.
However, A'Diao's way of thinking was also quite normal. Realism, benefits first. So, if the genetic benefits of the Celestial Clan far outweighed those of the human race, she wouldn't mind being Celestial one bit.
After all, she wasn't having such an easy time among humans anyway; she was destined to be an enemy to the world.
"What a pity, I'm actually not."
Just as A'Diao was about to reach out and collect the two books, they suddenly transformed into streams of light and flew into her mind, settling in her mental sea. Moreover, they began to absorb the mental power from her mental body to nourish themselves, but they didn't merge. It was very strange, just purely absorbing her mental power.
A'Diao: "!!!"
Toilet: "…"
What was this?
"Perhaps you really are? That Chen Gui is truly a dog, actually having offspring with the Divine Maiden… But that's not right. If you really are a descendant of the Celestial Clan, then all subsequent Chen family descendants are too, including Chen Ran. How could you all be cursed? Even if the Divine Maiden detested her own descendants, you ultimately inherited the Celestial Clan's bloodline. According to the laws of bloodlines, if a powerful bloodline exists, it will inevitably suppress weaker bloodlines. Then the curse's effect should also favor the powerful bloodline. Theoretically, your lineage should not have a curse at all."
It was contradictory, very contradictory, as if a mysterious snare had trapped the Chen family.
And this was undoubtedly the Chen family's greatest secret.
A'Diao: "There's another possibility—I might be the only one who inherited this Celestial bloodline, but it was sealed. Only after completely eliminating Chen Gui's bloodline did it manifest. Back then in the Orchid Water Abyss, I vaguely felt something was off. After the bloodline purification was complete, I felt something awaken within me. Perhaps it was this, but I'm not sure where it's hiding. Maybe these two books will tell me in the future; they should be accumulating energy."
"Moreover, there's another secret: the genetic difference between the Celestial Clan and the human race is enormous, making it highly unlikely for them to produce offspring. I can't imagine how that Divine Maiden managed it back then, nor why Chen Gui would cooperate—cooperating with the Imperial Family to betray the Celestial Clan on one hand, while having children with the Divine Maiden on the other. Such an intelligent man shouldn't make such a mistake. I feel Chen Gui was an extremely cunning and ruthless person; this doesn't seem like his style."
Both secrets were critically important, but perhaps only the Old Daoist knew the answers. A'Diao glanced at the two books in her mental sea, feeling that while her genetic ceiling had broadened, she also faced greater risks.
From now on, anyone from the human race camp could potentially become her enemy at any time, including Lushan—once her true identity was exposed.
A'Diao cast aside these distracting thoughts and began to organize her resources. While using formulas to strengthen herself, she also comprehended the Dao tablets and space notes she had on hand. She steadily progressed with the plans mentioned above. After finishing her medicinal bath, she used the Secret Ring to enter the Founder's residence within the Secret Vault space.
Toilet: "I didn't expect you'd still dare to go."
A'Diao: "It's precisely because of this that I must go. I need to gain control of Lushan as soon as possible, before I'm exposed. Actually, as long as I'm strong enough, Lushan will have to acknowledge my existence, just like Kunlun. He severed himself from the human race and made enemies with everyone, so what? The people of Lushan still revere him, not because he's the Founder, but because without him, Lushan would be destroyed. In the future… Lushan will also understand that without me, it too will fail."
"Besides, I've done some calculations. Given Kunlun's personality, since he didn't kill me, he won't pay too much attention. He'll probably just treat me as a pawn he's nurturing in the Secret Vault, to see what I can grow into. So, he won't bother me during this time."
Inside the Secret Vault, Kunlun was indeed absent. A'Diao began to pick out books to read. At first, she was still afraid Kunlun might appear, so she maintained a proper posture, elegant and composed. But after an hour, she had taken out the finest cushions and pillows, lounging in a Ge You slouch (a famous Chinese actor known for a slouched posture), with all sorts of milk tea and fruits on the table beside her…
Eating, drinking, and reading. Hotpot for lunch, barbecue for dinner. Occasionally, when tired of reading, she would have Toilet play TV dramas for her.
When she got tired and sleepy from watching, she would actually sleep.
In just one day, this person's true nature was completely exposed; she couldn't even keep up the pretense for a full 24 hours.
However, Kunlun truly did not appear.
Perhaps he really disliked her, but couldn't find anyone with better aptitude, so he had no choice.
Could this be considered reluctantly forcing oneself to swallow chaff and wild vegetables?
However, this casual learning state allowed A'Diao's progress to be terrifyingly fast. Even Toilet watched in amazement, unsure whether it was due to her talent erupting after the curse was removed, or a state of enlightenment achieved from the temporary absence of mortal danger that had settled her mind.
This place was an ocean of knowledge, the most advanced knowledge of this world. She was madly strengthening her own world by absorbing it.
That world, built upon aptitude and resources, needed greater substance and broader horizons.
This Secret Vault + time was everything.
However, A'Diao still had some ideas. After three days of dedicated study, her first learning achievement emerged.
A clone.
She had created a third clone.
Her main body studied in the Secret Vault, while two clones were sent out: one to Mirror Knife Gorge to earn points, and the other to the fourth floor of the Library Pavilion, using her status as Junior Sect Master to access information discreetly and earn points.
Later, Song Ling never knew if A'Diao had eaten the food she made. Anyway, she regularly visited A'Diao's residence but rarely saw A'Diao herself, usually exchanging items through the housekeeper, Yuanbao.
Everyone had their own path of growth. Song Ling didn't inquire about A'Diao's affairs, simply delivered items, cooked meals, and left. For the following half-month, Lie Qin spies were assassinated several times at the border, with the source pointing directly to Lushan.
This vaguely discernible news spread online, causing a great stir and giving the impression that Bronze Mountain was far inferior to Lushan.
After all, Chen A'Diao alone was enough to earn Lushan immense prestige.
Bronze Mountain naturally was unwilling to lose face like this.
"Tong Que, what are your thoughts?"
On the dais of a hall made entirely of bronze, a young man in a black robe adorned with golden sparrow embroidery sat on a chair. Perhaps because he had just been revived from dormancy, his face was pale, but a vermilion mark between his brows was exceptionally striking. After listening to the words of some elders and contemporary Celestials, he opened his eyes and looked at the current Bronze Mountain Head, who was asking for his opinion.
"If that side wants to fight, then let them fight. But if Chen A'Diao doesn't appear, there's no need to be too serious. Treat it as tempering oneself."
"In the current situation, for matters where no actual benefit can be seen, it's best to avoid the brunt of the attack."
Regarding this Bronze Mountain Chief from three hundred years ago, the current Bronze Mountain Chief, Bai Xiangshou, glanced at him and said in a low voice, "I am willing to lie in wait at White Flow River, wait for Chen A'Diao to appear, hold her back for a moment, and allow the elders to go and execute her."
He wasn't foolish; he knew he was likely no match for Chen A'Diao. But she was a grave threat to the contemporary Celestials. By killing her, the karmic luck of this generation could return to them.
"I have already broken through to Lesser Grandmaster. Apart from Chen A'Diao, the others from Lushan are not worth worrying about."
Because Bronze Mountain and Wu Mountain inherently had deeper and stronger foundations than Lushan. If not for Chen A'Diao's subsequent monstrous, rapid advancement, the talents selected from their respective assessments this term should have been him and that Saintess from Wu Mountain, dividing the world between them.
With a Lesser Grandmaster cultivation base, augmented by various treasures, he could fight a Mid-level Grandmaster. As long as Bronze Mountain provided him with enough treasures to lure Chen A'Diao, this plan could succeed.
Which genius didn't contend? If he couldn't contend with Chen A'Diao, he had to use elders to assassinate her.
He couldn't contend with the previous generation's Chief, as the latter was already at the peak of Grandmaster. However, he also had to seize the growth curve of the golden generation to fight for karmic luck and surpass them. Now, Bai Xiangshou's few words went straight to the core.
He did not choose to lie low and bide his time, but instead took the initiative to be aggressive, revealing his edge. This was quite contrary to his name.
The Bronze Mountain Head remained silent for a moment. Seeing that Tong Que did not respond, he then said to Bai Xiangshou, "Then you go. This might be a conspiracy. Assess the situation clearly before making a move. Do not be careless or rash. Also, if you encounter Handan Jidao and the others, and if a complete retreat is possible, prioritize killing them. That Chen A'Diao is a restless one."
"Yes."
Bai Xiangshou departed, and the remaining elders also withdrew.
"You don't seem to think this Chen A'Diao should be killed."
Tong Que raised an eyebrow, pressed a white handkerchief to his lips, and coughed lightly. "Her brilliance is all-encompassing. It will plunge Tang Song into internal strife. Leaving her alive can damage Tang Song's experts even more. Considering her rate of progress and the internal strife she causes for Tang Song's national strength, and then factoring in the cost of assassinating her within Tang Song territory if she doesn't deliver herself to our doorstep—all things considered, I don't think it's worth it. It's better to use this person to cause internal chaos in Tang Song. The trajectory of this person's rise is fundamentally linked to power struggles. In this, she is very similar to her ancestor, Chen Gui."
With Bronze Mountain's intelligence network, they had already thoroughly investigated the Chen family's affairs.
"All his scheming came to naught, and instead cost him dearly."
The Bronze Mountain Head tapped his fingers on the bronze armrest, then suddenly rose and bowed. At this moment, Tong Que also rose and bowed.
However, the former addressed him as "Founder," while the latter called him "Master."
A phantom materialized in the great hall.
"Inform the Imperial Family. Have them prepare to use the Chen family to investigate whether any Langya remnants still exist, and whether any affiliated factions are still lying in wait. If so, given the blood feud between Langya and the Chen family, these people would surely be eager to kill them. However, for now, it can be confirmed that Langya's Kunlun has indeed completely fallen; otherwise, Lushan would not have accepted Chen A'Diao."
"Kunlun is destroyed. Henceforth, we can be bolder in our dealings with Lushan. I want to know its current foundations."
"You may also contact Wu Mountain, for alliances and joint strategies."
"Lushan must not be spared. Destroy Lushan, and Tang Song's Imperial Family will naturally kill Chen A'Diao."
The phantom faded. The two bowed their heads, then exchanged a glance.
They hadn't expected the Founder to harbor such intense killing intent towards Lushan, even greater than towards Chen A'Diao. This wasn't about karmic luck then; it was about old grudges, against Kunlun and Lushan.
Indeed, what was one Chen A'Diao compared to Lushan?
Cutting the ground from under her feet—destroying Lushan was tantamount to destroying Chen A'Diao.
After a few days of silence, at the border region between the two nations, above the White Flow River, Lushan's Zhao Foshou and others were suddenly ambushed while clearing out a demon spirit nest.
This battle caused an enormous commotion, directly bringing out several Lesser Spirit King Dao Tablets.
Both sides deployed their trump cards, fighting until sand and stones flew, the sky darkened, and their combat power soared to the Star realm. Initially, both sides were evenly matched, with neither having a decisive advantage. However, a hidden figure from the opposing side launched a surprise attack, directly crippling Zhao Foshou's combat ability. If not for the nearby Nie Yuanyuan's intervention, their entire group would have perished there.
This was initially considered normal, after all, it was the border between two nations, and this period was when many Celestials were consolidating their cultivation and venturing out for experience.
But thereafter, such conflicts continuously escalated. Later, Nie Yuanyuan, Handan Jidao, and others were individually attacked and challenged… Clearly, with A'Diao not appearing, and the two princes having returned to court due to Imperial Family matters, these few individuals were the ones who could represent Lushan's prestige.
For nearly a month, there were back-and-forth skirmishes, with neither side gaining an advantage. However, the number of participating disciples increased, and as the demon spirit population surged due to rampant breeding after the arrival of spring, Lushan's Qian and Kun classes, and even students like Luo Guang and Li Che, entered this region.
Both sides continuously amassed forces, forming a veritable standoff, with daily skirmishes resulting in wins and losses for both.
At the beginning of the third month, which was also April, amidst a light rain of apricot blossoms, the river water carried many petals from upstream. It was an extremely beautiful environment, yet a fleeing 12th-level demon king was in a state of panic. After a while, the spiritual energy from the flower petals on the river surface was suddenly extracted, swirling into a small pink storm that enveloped it. Moreover, once this spiritual energy infiltrated its body, it triggered a hypnotic poison. The demon king's massive body immediately began to sway unsteadily.
At this moment, Nie Yuanyuan descended from the sky, about to slay this demon king. Suddenly, the demon king's body shattered—puppet self-destruction + teleportation.
Nie Yuanyuan's expression changed slightly. Looking closely, it was a red-haired man clad in a bronze robe.
A member of Bronze Mountain, fifth in the contemporary assessment, named Qin Hongzhao. This person excelled in puppetry. It was clearly a trap.
Swish!
Nie Yuanyuan tried to retreat, but saw Qin Hongzhao throw out three teleportation talismans. Swish, swish, swish—three Qian Class Celestials from Bronze Mountain teleported over.
Each was at the mid-rank Star realm, while Nie Yuanyuan herself was also mid-rank. Was she to fight one against four?
Just as she was about to be surrounded and killed, the river suddenly tore apart, and Handan Jidao, Shen Huajing, and others attacked from underwater.
Apart from Handan Jidao, they were mostly mid-to-low rank Star realm, and there were more of them.
A dog-eat-dog-eat-dog situation?
No time for talk, fight directly!!
As the Celestials from both sides erupted into a fierce battle, Qin Hongzhao's group of four extended their battle line, fanning out. "Bronze Formation! Activate!"
The four-person Bronze Battle Formation trapped Nie Yuanyuan and the others within. However, with a combined bombardment from these few, the Bronze Battle Formation trembled violently, showing cracks.
But Qin Hongzhao's group of four was not alarmed, because their objective was merely to trap Handan Jidao and the others.
At this moment, Handan Jidao and his companions suddenly felt their expressions shift slightly, as their mental bodies were assaulted. During the assault, a heavenly eye opened in the clouds above, and from within this eye, a cascade of over a hundred small bronze swords rained down like a waterfall.
A Lesser Grandmaster-level Waterfall Flying Sword Stream.
One of Bronze Mountain's signature techniques.
And in the sky, Bai Xiangshou appeared, accompanied by a woman in a long skirt. She was Bronze Mountain's Celestial second only to him, named Fan Ling. She had once fought fiercely with Bai Xiangshou for the position of Chief and was now at the peak Star realm.
In terms of cultivation, she was on par with Handan Jidao, but Bai Xiangshou was too strong, so she could only rank second for now. However, looking at the Lushan talents below, her eyes were filled with disdain.
Apart from Grandmasters, among her peers, she was invincible.
Handan Jidao and the others, their mental bodies damaged, nevertheless activated their armor and bloodline totems in the face of danger. For a moment, a powerful bloodline aura covered the sky… Shields up!!!
Just as the hundred swords were about to pierce through.
Shen Huajing's pupils suddenly narrowed slightly, and something was released from between her brows. Then, a terrifying Mental Picture Realm appeared, directly passing through the Bronze Formation and ensnaring one person—Fan Ling.
Bai Xiangshou was startled and immediately realized what was happening, but it was too late…
The moment Fan Ling was ensnared by the Mental Picture Realm, she realized she had underestimated the mid-rank mental-type user below. She tried to break free.
One second, she broke free, because her mental body was too strong. But in the process of breaking free.
Confinement.
She was confined.
She was actually confined.
And then… the space behind her tore open, and a small mental sword pierced through, penetrating her brain.
Fan Ling's pupils trembled.
At the same time, Bai Xiangshou's attack also came crashing down.
The attacker's body shattered, but instantly transformed into an ice-fire dual-phase bloodline totem. After a displacement, it reformed hundreds of meters away in the sky, becoming a person.
Song Ling.
A Song Ling who had already reached the peak Star realm, and whose mental body had undergone a second mutation.
A single refined mental small sword had killed Bronze Mountain's second-in-command.
The people from Bronze Mountain were shaken, and the people from Lushan were also shaken.
After Fan Ling died, her body plummeted downwards. Bai Xiangshou flew down to retrieve the corpse, but Song Ling and Shen Huajing had already joined forces… Mental assault!
Even though Bai Xiangshou was a Lesser Grandmaster, he was not a mental-type specialist after all. How could he dare to simultaneously face the mental attacks of two powerful mental cultivators? He had to abandon the attempt and dodge. At this time, Handan Jidao and his group charged out, turning the tables on Qin Hongzhao and his team.
Probably terrified by Fan Ling's death, these people had lost all fighting spirit.
These two female mental cultivators were too terrifying.
After Bai Xiangshou and his group temporarily retreated from the spearhead, both sides were positioned at one end of the White Flow River, while Fan Ling's corpse lay in the water.
After all, she was Bronze Mountain's second-in-command, and her body held considerable resources. Both sides eyed it covetously. During the standoff, Xia Sanlu suddenly remarked, "This is Bronze Mountain's number two, how was she killed so easily? Could it be she was sold out? A borrowed knife to kill someone, and we became the knife, huh? What a loss!"
These words were rather venomous, and spoken via voice transmission, many nearby observing cultivators heard them. Bai Xiangshou's heart sank, and he was just about to launch an attack… when the eastern sky suddenly blazed with red clouds.
No, was it dusk already?
That wasn't right, it was broad daylight. Before everyone could react, they saw a vast swarm of 9th-level demon spirits, Scarlet Spirit Crimson Bats, flying over oppressively.
Scarlet Spirit Crimson Bats were the most terrifying demon spirit flock here, blood-sucking and highly toxic. Upon seeing them, who would dare to continue fighting? Everyone quickly retreated and hid in the water.
And watched as these Scarlet Spirit Crimson Bats flew madly across the sky.
"Judging by the numbers, there must be at least two hundred thousand."
"What's going on? Weren't they always hiding in Spirit Coffin Gorge?"
Xia Sanlu was utterly shocked, and the others also felt a lingering fear. But soon, they became more curious about something else, all turning to look at Song Ling and Shen Huajing.
Handan Jidao: "Song Ling, you knew this would happen today, playing the oriole waiting in the back?"
Song Ling: "Just passing by."
Nie Yuanyuan: "You and Shen Huajing are colluding."
What was there for two women to collude about?
Shen Huajing: "Not really. Little Sister A'Ling contacted me at the last minute. She came to save us, why are you all in such a hurry?"
Li Che, holding his knife: "Am I in a hurry? No, are you all in a hurry?"
Xia Sanlu: "Hurried, you all are hurried."
These big shots wanted to counter-ambush Bronze Mountain. Because he had talismans, they called him along. He hadn't expected the other side to have a hidden Lesser Grandmaster; he almost died there.
Damn it, when it came to fighting, one still had to cling to Junior Sect Master A'Diao's thigh. Handan Jidao and these guys weren't up to par.
But Song Ling seemed quite capable. Perhaps she had calculated everything today.
"However, you're peak rank?" Handan Jidao could clearly sense that Song Ling's progress far surpassed theirs.
This wasn't normal.
It definitely had something to do with Chen A'Diao.
"Yes, want to have a go?" Song Ling retorted.
Handan Jidao narrowed his eyes, not making a sound. The others also fell silent.
Xia Sanlu's heart ached: Why? I clearly started clinging to the big thigh long ago, why doesn't Junior Sect Master A'Diao help me… Is it just because I'm not as good-looking as Song Ling?
As the atmosphere among them grew heavy, the river section above seemed a bit off.
"The water is rising."
Fearing something unusual underwater, everyone flew out, only to see a massive number of demon spirits from the border flying in the same direction.
"Just now, I thought they were avoiding some disturbance. Now, it seems more like they're attracted by some disturbance, somewhat similar to when they chased the Sun Image Primordial Feast."
"Northwest direction. Should we go take a look? Bai Xiangshou and his group followed."
Song Ling, however, frowned. "If there's a phenomenon, and of this scale, the Mountain Head and the others will make their own judgment. There's no need for us to investigate. Following them might lead to another ambush—don't forget, our Tang Song is different from Lie Qin and Nan Jin."
Tang Song suffered from severe internal strife; the Imperial Family and Lushan at best maintained coexistence. The other two nations, however, had true unity of state and religion, so they could mobilize far more experts than them. The intensity of potential assassinations was also much higher.
So Song Ling was unwilling to take the risk. The others thought about it and agreed.
"Let's retreat and wait for news from Lushan."
"Contact Luo Guang, Yu Chisu, and the others. Regroup and stick together."
The clone was unaffected, but A'Diao's main body was assessing the situation, also waiting for news from Old Man Yu. But before news arrived from that end, mist suddenly materialized before her.
Langya Kunlun had arrived. Ah, every entrance of his was like a grand feast. A'Diao once again touched the corner of her mouth.
"A ruin has descended."
He directly informed A'Diao of the answer to this change. She was stunned. "A ruin? What ruin?"
"In the Shanyin direction. I've never heard of any battle there in the past. It's still unknown." Langya Kunlun had participated in countless battles but had no knowledge of this ruin, indicating it was either a very small ruin or a battle that was extremely secret back then.
However, he clearly wasn't very concerned about it. He merely gestured vaguely at the table. "The fruits of three months, may I see them?"
A'Diao immediately presented them with both hands. "It was written for you, Old Ancestor. Who else would I show it to?"
Sweet talk.
Not quite like Chen Gui's elegant and harmonious style; after all, she practically had "fawning, obedient, and timid" written on her forehead.
But… it seemed not so annoying either.
Langya Kunlun lowered his eyes, took the notebook, and examined it. After reading for a while, his expression darkened slightly, and he stared at A'Diao.
A'Diao felt her hair stand on end under his gaze and couldn't help but inch backward.
"Old Ancestor?"
Damn it, he's not thinking of killing me, is he?
"Are you really Chen Gui's descendant? With such talent, you don't seem like someone he could produce." Langya Kunlun had indeed cherished her talent from the beginning, but he hadn't expected her to be far more terrifying than he imagined.
A Lesser Spirit King-level secret technique—she had created it.
Also created at the Star realm, just like himself. But her mental body aptitude was even stronger than his own back then; after all, he hadn't manifested a mental domain at the Star realm.
"…"
Even such an extraordinary and peerless individual couldn't help but feel disgust towards Chen Gui. It showed just how repulsive Chen Gui's character was.
A'Diao rubbed her ear and said cautiously, "Maybe I'm really not. Actually… take a look, I look a bit like you, you know? Both so beautiful, beautiful in a way that's not human, and both supremely intelligent, with talent that overshadows the world. And I'm also a person of few words, taciturn, and don't like to argue about rights and wrongs with others."
"We're so similar, even heaven wouldn't believe we're not related."
"By the way, are you lacking a daughter or granddaughter?"
To avoid exposing the matter of her suspected Celestial bloodline, she needed to find a "darkness under the lamp" identity to cover it up. For example… how about acknowledging Langya Kunlun as her father?
That old dog Chen Ran could just be discarded.
Langya Kunlun: "?"
From Langya Kunlun +10 stars.
Toilet: "…"
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