owlsbooks Chapter 205 Gift
Chapter 205 Gift
Click, click.
The sound of more than a dozen pairs of fast boots hitting the ground echoed along the sacred path.
Long Yi led the Imperial Guards on their last patrol of the night, setting off half an hour later than usual.
"Is Shiro's situation over by now?"
"I wonder if he's figured it out tonight?"
"If you don't understand it, then things will get complicated."
"In recent years, the divine will of the two Martial Saints on that shadow stone has been consumed too quickly; it may be completely gone one day."
"It's a pity, another way to make money has disappeared. I promised to support Xiao Taohong..."
As he pondered, he thought of Xiao Taohong from Yang Silang, feeling an unparalleled smoothness.
The thought of Xiao Taohong brought a slightly mischievous smile to his lips, and his steps became lighter, as if his bones had lost a few ounces.
Thus, the procession continued forward along the sacred path.
Soon, the shadow stone at the end of the sacred path, resembling a wall, came into view.
The moon was still shining in the sky.
Under the moonlight.
The shadow stone was white and crystal-like. When the guards of the imperial tombs looked over, they saw two blurry and hazy figures practicing martial arts.
People had seen it so many times that they all turned their heads away, not taking it seriously.
"Huh..." Long Yi looked up and muttered to himself, "The picture is so blurry today."
"I can hardly tell who is Du Mohu and who is Mu Canghu anymore."
"Is that a gun or a knife?"
However, he didn't care. This shadow stone had stood here for over a hundred years, and no matter how profound the Martial Saint's divine will was, it couldn't withstand the daily scrutiny of countless people.
It's over now, but it's a pity we'll lose a source of income in the future.
Two figures stood before the shadow stone: Tian Zhenfeng and Yang Silang.
Tian Zhenfeng had a smile on his face, it seemed he had gained a lot tonight, while Yang Silang's face was slightly pale, which was normal, after all, he was a grandmaster, and comprehending the divine will must have caused him a lot of shock.
"Ahem..." Long Yi coughed and stepped forward, feigning concern, "How is it?"
"How are the restored floor tiles in the Stele Pavilion of Divine Merit and Sacred Virtue?"
Tian Zhenfeng smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.
"Rest assured, sir, we kept watch all night and didn't leave for a single moment."
"Those bricks are fine. The work was done neatly and beautifully; there will definitely be no problems."
Long Yi nodded, then went inside the Divine Merit and Virtue Stele Pavilion, walked around it, stepped on it, and then waved his hand.
"Excellent, you've worked very diligently."
"Alright, you've been up all night, go and get some rest..."
Tian Zhenfeng and Yang Silang bowed together.
"Thank you, Master Qianshi."
The two then took their leave and, under the watchful eyes of the imperial guards, walked along the spirit path toward their temporary residence in the outer mausoleum area.
There was no one around at the moment.
Only the enormous stone statues on both sides of the sacred path cast dappled shadows, their lifeless eyes coldly staring ahead.
"Young friend..." Tian Zhenfeng transmitted his voice telepathically, a smile playing on his lips, "How was your harvest tonight?"
Clearly, he had a good night.
Yang Silang's lips twitched slightly—the harvest was enormous, so huge that it almost caused trouble.
now.
Two seeds of divine intent, about the size of soybeans, lay quietly in his dantian.
One is a pure azure blue, and the other is a dazzling bright red.
It was a gift bestowed upon them by the two Martial Saints with a flick of their fingers.
Previously, Yang Silang had also comprehended a seed of fire element divine intent on his own, but compared to the gift from the Martial Saint, it was as small as a grain of rice and its color was not right.
Yang Silang still feels lingering fear when he thinks about it now.
His hands, which were holding his aunt's, were covered in sweat.
Heaven knows, he only wanted to use the golden light of merit to help the two seniors break free of their chains and live a little more comfortably.
But who knew they would just smash the entire formation!
Wasn't it supposed to be that the Light of Merit is sharper at the same level, but downgraded when it crosses levels?
How could a formation plate capable of trapping the true intent of two martial saints be made of tofu dregs?
It was a magical artifact after all, but in just over a hundred years, it has deteriorated to this state.
Huh?
Could it be that the owner of that magical artifact really died, which is why it turned into this grotesque state?
Seeing Mu Canghu's intention to strike the top of the treasure even with only a little bit of true energy left, Du Mohu, whose form had been drained by the array cave, was persuaded to stop.
It means...
The two of them each gave themselves a bit of divine will seed, and then sat in the broken formation, letting the black chains bind their bodies and absorb the true meaning.
In fact, most of the roots had been severed, and the two could no longer be contained.
Yang Silang guessed that the two of them could actually observe everything outside the shadow stone, and all they did was to ensure that their benefactor could retreat safely.
As for their fate.
Although he regained his freedom, he was already exhausted and on his last legs.
The two were not divine beings, but merely condensed divine will of martial saints; they would dissipate immediately upon leaving the Shadow Stone.
It is estimated that in a few days, the two will either quietly wait for the shadow to dissipate, or escape from the shadow stone, seeking only a moment of freedom.
Yang Silang sighed.
No matter how skilled you are in martial arts, if you encounter the wrong person and a foolish master, you will end up with the same tragic fate.
His mind raced with thoughts, but he spoke modestly.
"Senior, I have gained some insights."
"Du Mohu's true meaning of water form is probably incompatible with mine. What I comprehended is the true meaning of Mu Canghu Martial Saint's One Spark of Fire."
What Yang Silang said wasn't entirely false, but he omitted the latter part of his fate.
Tian Zhenfeng nodded.
"That's normal."
"It's strange, but I've asked many of my colleagues about this."
"Most people grasp the true meaning of fire, but few grasp the true meaning of water."
Yang Silang thought of Du Mohu, the Martial Saint who, knowing the hope was slim, still took the initiative to fill the acupoints, creating a chance for his companion to escape, and sighed.
"Perhaps, water and fire are as simple as that."
"How much did you gain tonight, senior?"
Tian Zhenfeng smiled broadly, his eyes crinkling with laughter, yet he remained modest.
"Hehe, we've come to the same conclusion."
"I might have a little more than you."
"My cultivation method is fire-based, and I have already gained some insights into its true meaning. I will immediately go into seclusion upon returning."
He took out a jade pendant from his sleeve, on which was written the character "田" (field).
"It is fate that we meet today. If it weren't for your encouraging words, I might not have been able to lift my spirits and understand this divine meaning."
"He who travels a hundred li is only halfway there at ninety li"—this saying is truly apt.
"This is my personal jade pendant."
"If you encounter any difficulties during my seclusion, you can seek help from Yuanwei Escort Agency."
"Several of the head镖师 (chief镖师) in the镖局 (镖局 is a type of security escort agency) are my apprentices. They are quite capable, and as long as the situation isn't hopeless, they will do everything in their power to help you escape!"
Yang Silang quickly accepted it with both hands and thanked him.
It was just a casual remark, but I didn't expect the old man to value it so much. It seems that he must have gained a lot tonight.
The two returned to their temporary lodging.
This is a large dormitory-style dormitory.
The craftsmen in the next room were fast asleep.
The two of them then each occupied a corner, sat cross-legged, and closed their eyes to rest.
Wait until dawn.
Everyone got up and ate some dry food and drank some water.
Tian Zhenfeng still had to take people to cancel all the formalities, and after receiving their waist tokens, the group left Wanshou Mountain together.
Yang Silang rode a large blue donkey, while Tian Zhenfeng and the others also rode donkeys.
Seeing Daqing's lewd expression, his flirting with a female donkey, and his constant rubbing against her and sniffing her rear end, he knew that the boy had done something naughty again last night!
He slapped Big Green's head in annoyance.
Last night was a harrowing experience for me, and a blissful one for you.
To commit such shameful acts under the watchful eyes of so many emperors on Longevity Hill...
Well, it's my own donkey after all. It probably didn't know last night that it almost had a noose around its neck. Consider it a reward for going through thick and thin together.
The group rode donkeys for several miles away from Longevity Hill.
A group of men in tight-fitting short clothes were already waiting by the roadside with their horses.
Upon seeing Tian Zhenfeng, they hurriedly came over to pay their respects, some calling him "Master" and others "Chief Escort."
The leading man, a square-faced man dressed in black silk, hurriedly tied a finely crafted silk robe behind Tian Zhenfeng. As soon as Tian Zhenfeng put on the robe, his aura changed dramatically, and he became a powerful and imposing figure.
Tian Zhenfeng introduced Yang Silang to everyone, saying that this was his young friend, and then pointed to the square-faced man in black silk and said that he was his eldest disciple Chang Yuan, who had just broken through to the Golden Marrow Grandmaster level.
Yang Silang was alarmed by the formidable strength of the Yuanwei Escort Agency.
After some polite greetings...
Tian Zhenfeng mounted his horse and ordered his disciples and followers to ride away.
Yang Silang closed his eyes and rested for a while under the shade of the tree.
The sound of horses' hooves echoed.
Long Yiyan rode over on horseback.
The two said they would meet up during the day to return to the city together.
"How is it? Have you grasped it?" Long Yi asked urgently. "If you haven't grasped it..."
"I'm willing to risk my reputation, but you'll still go next time I'm on duty."
"I have another team of artisans I know well. You only need to pay them a hundred taels of silver for their departure—forget it, I'll pay for that."
"You'd better hurry, the figure inside that broken rock is getting blurrier and blurrier."
"Tonight, it's impossible to tell if it's a man or a woman; I'm afraid they'll completely fall apart in a few days."
Yang Silang laughed heartily.
Coach Long is so simple and unpretentious; he's actually willing to spend money on himself. It seems he feels he owes me a lot this time.
"Coach, there's no need for that. I've already figured it out."
"Going again won't yield any results."
That was the true meaning personally bestowed by the two Martial Saints. What others comprehend can not compare to the fragrance and purity of what the Martial Saints personally fed to them.
A thought struck him: the Martial Saint's True Meaning within the Shadow Stone was on the verge of collapse. This was actually a hidden danger; who knew who would be the next to suffer its consequences?
Perhaps the guards think it's perfectly normal, or perhaps they should pursue the matter and hold the person responsible accountable.
"Instructor, I suddenly have an idea." Yang Silang flipped his hand and pulled out a stack of silver notes, stuffing them into Instructor Long's hand. "Instructor, what I gained tonight far exceeds your imagination."
"This silver is to make up for what I received. It's only slightly less than what I got, so please accept it without worry."
Long Yi was almost stunned.
He squeezed the banknote, paused for a moment, and then said jokingly.
"What? Did you summon the spirits of two martial saints?"
Yang Silang shook his head.
"Instructor, now that you have the money, isn't the only reason Long Shuji set you up is to get you off duty tonight?"
"Why don't you take some time off and call in sick? Let them do whatever they want; if anything goes wrong, it won't affect you..."
The dragon's eyes widened and its belly protruded.
"Are you saying I'm afraid of him? I haven't even settled accounts with him yet..."
"However..." The thought of Xiao Taohong stirred his heart, so he changed his mind and said, "Okay, I'll do as you say..."
A few days later, late at night.
Long Shuji made a special change of post.
He also led a team of craftsmen to repair the Stele Pavilion of Divine Merit and Sacred Virtue.
The only difference is that, unlike the usual practice of leaving one or two supervisors, they were not allowed to work.
Late at night, this group of craftsmen appeared on the sacred path, gazing at the sacred peak, holding magical artifacts as if calculating its location.
Sudden.
The true meaning of the Martial Saint within the shadow stone completely dissipated and collapsed, triggering some unknown mechanism. Suddenly, a sharp sound rang out from the stele pavilion, echoing throughout the mausoleum area.
Just as everyone was puzzled, a massive surge of blood energy descended, and it turned out to be the Commander-in-Chief, the Martial Saint, who was on duty that night.
He pointed at the group of craftsmen and immediately identified them as the thieves who had vandalized the Stele of Divine Merit and Virtue. He was about to arrest them, since it was just a matter of replacing a brick, and there was no need for so many people to supervise the work in the middle of the night.
As a result, the five craftsmen rebelled, each of them possessing the cultivation level of a Grandmaster of Golden Marrow.
The deputy commander, by sheer chance, actually encountered the thieves. After a fierce battle, they captured them all, including Long Shuji.
Unfortunately, the bandits were too heavy-handed and destroyed the shadow stone. The commander was seriously injured, but the Divine Merit and Sacred Virtue Stele Pavilion was preserved intact.
afterwards.
Long Shuji's entire squad of imperial guards were imprisoned, and the case implicated the commander and deputy commander, resulting in the near-total purging of all officials at Jinghe Mausoleum.
Long Yi, who had been living a life of pleasure and indulgence in the gentle embrace of Xiao Tao Hong, opened his eyes and woke up to find that he hadn't done anything.
He has become the only surviving military officer.
So the Commander-in-Chief made a stroke of his pen, and he became the acting commander of the Jinghe Mausoleum, a fourth-rank military officer. The promotion and wealth suddenly fell from the sky, leaving him completely stunned.