Chapter 1618 - 181: Parting Vengeance (Part 3)

Chapter 1618: Chapter 181: Parting Vengeance (Part 3)

The dim tent, with flickering lights.

Nalan Xuance sat motionless like an old monk.

In just a few breaths.

He reviewed nearly a century of his life in a flash, and a wave of weariness arose in his heart.

He raised his head.

The mass of Black Evil sat patiently across from him.

"The siege of Ningzhou City is almost complete."

"Over in Wu State, the Fan Yin Temple has also run dry."

He spoke gently, his voice deep and hoarse, yet carrying an irresistible magic power: "The glorious grand endeavor is only one step away... Are you willing to stop here?"

"..."

Nalan Xuance remained silent.

He looked at this mass of Black Evil.

Everyone in the world has a Heart Demon.

This... is probably his own Heart Demon.

Two years ago, on Xuanwei Island, he discovered this mass of Black Evil Qi brimming with vitality and fused it into his body, in exchange for immense vitality. Everything in the world has a price, and with each passing day, the Heart Demon grew larger. This mass of Black Evil gradually gained Spirit Wisdom, began to converse with him, and started vying for control of his body.

"Stopping here, of course, is not an option."

Nalan Xuance sighed deeply, his voice tired.

"It’s just... I’m weary."

He had besieged Han Li in Ningzhou for over a year.

Forty miles outside Luoyu Mountain in Ningzhou stood Yanbai City, where Han Li’s Mysterious Armor Heavy Cavalry was stationed. This force was meant to march south to join the Wu State front lines, but they were blocked here. Recently, Nalan Xuance deliberately created an opening, luring the Wu State for reinforcements. The Ninth Prince fell for the trap as expected. At the moment of their junction, Nalan Xuance seized the opportunity, personally led the Iron Cavalry to besiege and slaughter, ultimately forming this blockade.

The Ninth Prince and Han Li were trapped in Yanbai City.

As long as the city falls.

This prolonged struggle could come to an end.

To ensure a successful siege, Nalan Xuance orchestrated resistance everywhere, in Wu State, Yu State, Chong State, and Xuanbei Pass, placing obstacles layer by layer... the Great Practitioners of Fan Yin Temple and One Strike Sect were all held up, unable to withdraw.

Now, only the final step remained.

Yet he found himself unable to proceed.

Both the flesh and spirit had reached their limits.

"If you’re tired, why not entrust it to me?"

Nalan Xuance felt his head grow increasingly drowsy, the voice across becoming more soothing.

...

...

"Summon, Flower Master to audience."

Moments later.

The layers of talismans were removed, a military order issued from the tent. By the time the Flower Master lifted the curtain, Nalan Xuance had already composed himself, sitting upright behind the grand desk in the tent.

"Master."

Flower Master knelt on one knee, not daring to look directly at his face.

In these two years.

She too sensed the changes in her Master.

However, Nalan Xuance had never been particularly kind to her... so the disappointment in Flower Master’s heart wasn’t as great as that of her junior sister Qiutong.

Today’s Master seemed particularly different.

The usual overflowing Evil Qi and authority were entirely contained today.

"Hua Fang."

Sitting behind the grand desk, Nalan Xuance poured a cup of tea.

He softly asked, "How long has it been since you entered Xuanwei Island to learn from me?"

"Reporting to Master, it has been over 60 years."

Hua Fang kowtows, not rising.

Sixty years, achieving Yin God Perfection, was not slow. She was once a famously talented youth, achieving Yin God in her twenties, remaining youthful and ageless thereafter. However, aiming to Condense Dao in this life... seemed quite difficult, very difficult indeed.

Yin God Great Perfection and Yang God seemed only a line apart, yet were separated by a Heavenly Barrier.

"It’s been over 60 years..."

Nalan Xuance chuckled lightly: "It truly feels like yesterday. Over these years, your greatest wish must have been to Promote to the Yang God Realm, right?"

"..."

Flower Master dared not respond indiscriminately, merely lay there silently.

"Today, I offer you an opportunity to step into the Yang God Realm."

Nalan Xuance suddenly flicked his fingers, gently sending forth a mass of pitch-black water vapor to Hua Fang’s front.

"What is this?"

Flower Master was taken aback, observing the black vapor and sensing a profound and complex power from it.

She did not accept it directly but looked up towards her Master.

"You will lead the Iron Cavalry and directly attack Yanbai City, Han Li will surely personally engage."

Nalan Xuance spoke: "In the heat of battle, do not concern yourself with injuries, just consume this water vapor... and injuries will heal in an instant."

"Master..."

Flower Master stared blankly at this black water vapor.

From it, she sensed an exceedingly powerful and overwhelming vitality.

She knew a little about Master’s orchestrations over the years. When Li Lan Mountain changed abruptly years ago, Xie Xuanyi collided with the Sun Erosion Great Marsh, and Li Kingdom dispatched an Iron Cavalry northward. Their top-secret mission was to secretly search for the legendary "Undying Spring" in the Grotto Heaven of Li Lan Mountain.

In that battle, Marquis Yuanping was seriously wounded, but his son was unscathed.

Afterwards.

Marquis Yuanping was handsomely rewarded.

Subsequently.

The Southern State began to gain the upper hand, with Master using the Xuanwei Technique to dominate all corners, suppressing Fan Yin Temple and One Strike Sect until they could not breathe.

Back then, all those insider pieces of information linked with this black water vapor today...

Flower Master spoke hoarsely: "Is this, the legendary Undying Spring?"

Concerning this question.

Nalan Xuance merely smiled faintly and warmly commanded: "Take it. Do not ask."

"Yes."

Flower Master’s mind grew alert as she received the black water vapor into her Grotto Heaven.

Though she received no response.

She was already three parts certain in her heart, only this legendary Undying Spring Water Vapor, why did it appear somewhat sinister?

"Summon, Marquis Yuanping, Huang Hao."

"Summon, Marquis Qinghe, Chen Wei."

"Summon, Marquis Pingnan, Yuan Chunhui."

"Summon..."

One order after another issued from within the tent.

Since the Ninth Prince was trapped in Yanbai City, Luoyu Mountain had leapt to become the most crucial battlefield in this southern-northern war; the seven marquises who were granted significant titles by the Crown Prince in those days, five had all arrived here. Marquis Hunyin was ordered northward, his whereabouts unknown.

Another one, was Marquis Xining.

After Chen Chong and the One Strike Sect joined the Ninth Prince’s camp, Marquis Xining simply and directly chose to rebel.

This change...

Did not surprise Nalan Xuance.

He never believed in so-called loyalty, to him, these two words were nothing more than a joke.

Even Chen Chong and Luo Lie could betray him.

Marquis Xining’s treachery, naturally, meant nothing.

No one in this world is ever truly trustworthy... Xining City was located at the northernmost point of Li Kingdom, embraced by the Northern Five States. The change at Xuanbei Pass, in just one night, Marquis Bei’an "Yu Qing" was slain by Han Li, his head hung upon the city walls. If Marquis Xining did not comply, he would meet the same fate as "Yu Qing."

Ultimately.

Everyone is merely making choices to seek benefit or avoid disaster.

This struggle must eventually lead to reckoning.

If the North State prevails, the aristocrats of the Southern State will all be sentenced to death.

The Ninth Prince is not a merciful person.

Let alone himself.

"Marquis Qinghe, lead two thousand heavy cavalry for a feigned western flank attack, draw out the Mystic Iron Heavy Cavalry, force Jian Qingqiu to battle!"

"Marquis Pingnan, lead two thousand archers, form an array at the side of Luoyu Mountain!"

"Marquis Yuanping lead eight hundred lance cavalry..."

"Accompany me for a direct assault on Yanbai City!"

...

...

(I am busy with matters today, this may be the only update for now, releasing it first. If there are no other updates today, there will be additional updates tomorrow.)