Chapter 65: Charging Forward with a Shout
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
Zhuo Wan Qiu suddenly realized she might have misunderstood something. Ji You had a fiancée, so it was natural that he wouldn’t have any relationship with her sect’s Appraiser Master. [This mind of mine…] she sighed inwardly. It was always like this, even back at Spirit Sword Mountain—whenever she saw men and women together, she assumed there must be affection involved.
As her thoughts meandered, the celestial mountain behind them emitted another resonant hum. This was the third time. From the deepest recesses of the ruins, the central Immortal Mountain erupted with boundless celestial radiance, plunging the surroundings into utter darkness. Yet here on the ridges of Qiling Mountain, the light illuminated the four corners.
Wen Zheng Xin gripped her long sword tightly, glancing back in awe, her heart quaking. “Retreat immediately!” she commanded. Turning toward Zhuo Wan Qiu, she added, “You from Spirit Sword Mountain, come with us!”
Zhuo Wan Qiu snapped back to reality at her voice. Torn between advancing deeper into the mountain and withdrawing, she finally chose to follow the disciples of the Heavenly Script Academy. After all, he was going to rescue his fiancée—how could she possibly stop him?
Thus, the group hastened their retreat along the same path they had taken to arrive. Having traversed it once, the return was significantly faster.
After running for a while, Zhuo Wan Qiu’s mind cleared. Observing the disciples of the Heavenly Script Academy moving decisively away from the central celestial radiance without the slightest hesitation or a single glance back, she couldn’t help but feel amazed.
Spirit Sword Mountain disciples followed orders from their Appraiser Master, leaving no room for question. But why were these disciples retreating?
She wasn’t naive enough to believe that a single word from her could cause people who were previously at odds with Spirit Sword Mountain to change their minds. “Did you intend to retreat all along?” she asked.
“Junior Brother said the mountain holds no immortal fate—only calamity. He advised us not to make a futile sacrifice,” Wen Zheng Xin replied.
In truth, she trusted Zhuo Wan Qiu largely because her warning echoed her Junior Brother’s words.
Zhuo Wan Qiu was momentarily stunned. “He said that, and you believed him?”
“Yes,” Wen Zheng Xin nodded firmly and continued moving forward without looking back.
Distrust ran deep from the moment they entered the ruins. Many speculated about hidden schemes, and suspicions abounded among companions. Yet, from start to finish, no disciple from the Heavenly Script Academy nor those refugees they had saved questioned Ji You’s integrity. Nor did anyone suspect him of retreating to hoard the celestial fate for himself.
After a grueling journey, the group finally exited the ruins and arrived at the undulating foothills of the Qiling Mountain Range.
By now, the Malignant Beings had flooded the valleys, their awakened bloodlust blazing in their crimson eyes as they surged outward, spreading in all directions under the darkened sky. Beisha Town had fallen completely. The streets overflowed with terrified citizens unable to escape, their desperate cries echoing through the night.
The disciples of Spirit Sword Mountain had reached the mountain pass ahead of them. Hearing approaching footsteps, their hostile gazes immediately locked onto the disciples of the Heavenly Script Academy—enemies meeting, their hatred rekindled.
Ban Yang Shu glanced at them briefly before looking up at the suffocating night sky, silent for a long time. On the return journey, he had received a secret message from his clan, instructing him to venture into the central Immortal Mountain to secure celestial fortune and bolster their faltering family’s power.
In truth, other disciples faced the same internal conflict. Emerging from the ruins reminded them that, beyond their sect identities, they were also scions of noble families, bound by obligations large and small.
“This feels like one of Junior Brother’s tales of endless night,” someone murmured.
“Indeed,” Wen Zheng Xin replied.
With that, Ban Yang Shu unsheathed his sword. These people were never meant to be protagonists in anyone’s story. Even if they had briefly shone, they would inevitably find themselves relegated to the roles of passersby in tales that weren’t their own.
But people could choose. They could choose not to follow those stories.
They had used up the spirit stones brought by Pei Ru Yi, and their spiritual energy overflowed now, their aura surging. Seeing this, Ding Yao immediately drew her sword, assuming they were preparing for revenge, her killing intent flaring.
This sudden tension startled Zhuo Wan Qiu. She quickly intervened, urging calm. Though she couldn’t discern the exact relationship between the Appraiser Master and Ji You, it was evident they weren’t enemies. Deepening the grudge would only bring harm.
To her surprise, Ban Yang Shu didn’t attack Spirit Sword Mountain. Instead, he turned and charged toward Beisha Town, sword in hand.
Wen Zheng Xin hesitated briefly before following suit. Next came Pei Ru Yi, Bai Ru Long, Xu Jin, and even those sectless disciples Ji You had casually saved. All of them rushed to face the Malignant Beings besieging the town.
No words were exchanged. No explanations offered. It was as if they were letting loose their emotions, freeing themselves from burdens, and indulging in the moment.
The disciples of Spirit Sword Mountain stood dumbfounded as the shouts of their counterparts echoed through the chaos:
“None shall pass my sword!”
“Hold the line for the human race!”
“Slay them all—I’m carving my words on that wall when it’s over!”
“No way!” came a retort.
“Is it to spare the townsfolk’s bricks and tiles?”
“No, because I’ll be the one carving my words,” Ban Yang Shu declared coldly, cutting through waves of Malignant Beings. As a Mystic Enlightenment cultivator, his efficiency surpassed Ji You’s skill-dependent methods. Yet, just as he tore through the main road into the town, he suddenly stopped, nearly falling prey to a Malignant Being that lunged at his chest.
Bai Ru Long rushed in, deflecting the claw and severing the attacker’s head. No longer the sheltered scion who hid behind Ji You, Bai Ru Long had been tempered by their time in the ruins.
“Senior Brother, what’s wrong?” he asked.
“I… I think I hear singing,” Ban Yang Shu replied dazedly, looking up into the pitch-black sky.
Bai Ru Long strained his ears. “I hear nothing. Senior Brother, you’re imagining things.”
“Maybe… I thought I’d see celestial light, like in the stories.”
“That’s just fiction,” Bai Ru Long said bluntly, dispatching another Malignant Being. He added with a grin, “Senior Brother, when the celestial heir engraved his Dao on the wall, where do you think Ji Bochang’s Dao lies? Underfoot?”
Ban Yang Shu shook his head and surged toward the town gates, his sword leading the way. Bai Ru Long followed closely, lest his Senior Brother claim the climactic moment.
When they reached the town walls, they froze in shock. Eight large characters were already carved into the stone.
“Who wrote this?!” Ban Yang Shu bellowed.
“Damn it! That was supposed to be me!”
Perched atop the wall, Wen Zheng Xin smiled brightly, sword in hand. “Apologies—first come, first served.”
“I’ll carve something smaller,” Bai Ru Long muttered, raising his sword.
“I’ll carve the biggest one yet,” Ban Yang Shu declared.
Meanwhile, the disciples of Spirit Sword Mountain had lost sight of them, muttering about their insanity. Zhuo Wan Qiu, initially prepared to assist, noticed her jade token glowing faintly. Without a word, she veered northward toward Ningcheng County.