Chapter 158
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Chapter 158: Zichan War Cave
In the endless darkness shrouded by black fog, two figures darted through the void, their passage stirring a fierce wind that swept away the Tian Yan Tribe members, reducing them to nothingness.
Ming He gazed down at the winding trails of blood on the ground, reflecting on the arduous journey that had brought her here. She felt a surge of complex emotions as she marveled at her current speed, soaring hundreds of miles in a single breath.
Is this the power of a formation master?
Her eyes shifted to Nineteen, who stood resolutely in black clothes, her hands weaving through the chaotic spatial currents. Nineteen’s demeanor was a blend of fierce determination and serene calm as they sped toward Tianwu East City.
With the Sealing Sky Formation now complete, the crisis at the central pavilion had been resolved. The continued battles and formations were merely Nineteen’s way of striving for more.
Her ambition was clear: on the battlefield of the heavens, she wanted the human race to break free from the constraints of the black fog. She envisioned human cultivators wielding the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, harnessing the forces of nature to fight, and ultimately, she dreamed of the human race dictating the rules of the battlefield.
This had been her aspiration since she first set foot on the battlefield of the heavens, and it was the reason she had abandoned her path in swordsmanship to pursue formation mastery.
But she could not achieve this alone.
She needed Ming He’s assistance, the power of the stars, and the Star Lock.
Now that Ming He had arrived, the time had come to make the attempt.
And indeed, she was on the verge of success.
Just one more step!
Hundreds of Earth Emperor Realm experts channeled the forces of nature into themselves, while Ming He activated the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Array to shield her. Step by step, Nineteen advanced through the blockade of the Tian Yan Tribe’s menacing faces, nearing the pinnacle of the ancient pavilion. She was moments away from guiding the golden light to the pavilion’s peak, and then—
Nineteen closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. When she opened them, her heart was calm, unshaken.
But at that very moment, the blue flame erupted in the sky!
Despite her reluctance, she had no other choice.
She had to abandon her mission and rush to the aid of Tianwu East City.
Noticing the flicker of complexity in Ming He’s gaze, Nineteen smiled faintly. “This is not merely the work of formation mastery. The Great Path, when cultivated to its zenith, allows one to traverse the void.”
No matter which realm one inhabits.
Ming He frowned, still puzzled.
Understanding her confusion, Nineteen patiently explained, “The battlefield of the heavens is unlike Tianwu Continent. Here, the gale winds, black fog, and the blood energy of alien races prevent human cultivators from traversing the void until they reach the Earth Emperor Realm.”
“But we are both cultivators at the Human King stage, and we have grasped the rules of Tianwu Continent. Those rules are a form of natural law.”
“If the battlefield of the heavens has its own rules, then we can use those rules to our advantage.”
The girl in black’s eyes gleamed with insight. “The gale winds here stir up spatial currents that devour both cultivators and the Tian Yan Tribe, posing a threat to all.”
“But why do these spatial currents engulf cultivators and the Tian Yan Tribe?”
Nineteen’s voice carried a serene understanding of the Dao. “The currents are born from the gale winds, which are a danger and an obstacle to human cultivators.”
“Yet, we can turn those dangers and obstacles into tools. The battlefield of the heavens lacks the natural forces of heaven and earth, but it has gale winds and black fog. Why not transform them into forces that cultivators can wield?”
With a swift motion, Nineteen leaped through the air, covering several miles in an instant. She pointed to the hazy void below and said to Ming He, “Walking on the wind and walking on gale winds—they can be one and the same.”
“Where there are spatial currents, there are spatial nodes.”
“By stepping on these nodes, even without reaching the Earth Emperor Realm, I can traverse the void like an Earth Emperor. And I can even carry another with me.”
Though it was only one person, that person was Ming He—and she was worth more than an army.
As she spoke, Nineteen soared a distance above the armies of the Tian Yan Tribe, moving through the thick fog as if it were an empty void.
She tread upon the gale winds.
Spatial nodes.
The order of heaven and earth.
Ming He pondered Nineteen’s words, her brow furrowing slightly as countless thoughts raced through her mind. The dense black fog, the violent gale winds, and the heavy scent of blood intertwined, rushing past her in a chaotic blur.
She watched the woman in black, her hair tied up high, blending into the black fog as if she were a shadow. Only the fluttering of her robes and the glint of her starlit eyes were visible. In her daze, Ming He’s thoughts crystallized into a single question.
Is all change—still rooted in its essence?
Nineteen had said this was unrelated to formation mastery, but as a formation master herself, her actions inevitably bore the mark of her expertise.
Spatial nodes were a concept tied to formation mastery.
Walking upon the gale winds was an understanding of the order of heaven and earth.
If she were to apply the techniques of a sword cultivator to comprehend and manifest this, what kind of scene would unfold?
Swordsmanship and the gale winds, the black fog.
Sword cultivators and the battlefield of the heavens.
Ming He steadied her mind and held her breath, feeling a flicker of insight. Suddenly, the sounds of battle and roars surged back into her ears. The cold, sharp clash of blades and swords rushed at her, carrying the stench of blood and the chaos of war.
Tianwu East City was now within sight.
She stood in the void, gazing down at the horrific battlefield. The bodies of the human race lay piled like small hills, blocking the path between the shattered city walls and the advancing Tian Yan Tribe.
Blood stained the city walls, turning the black heavy armor crimson. The warriors were disheveled, their faces etched with exhaustion, yet they fought to their last breath, standing resolute and unyielding in their defense of the walls.
Some cultivators stood atop the walls, their spears forming a defensive line to hold back the Tian Yan Tribe. Others, armed with blades, fought below the walls, desperately trying to slow the enemy’s advance. Some ventured deep into the enemy ranks, their movements swift and agile, only to end their lives in self-destruction, their souls denied the cycle of reincarnation.
The line between life and death was razor-thin, yet they faced it without hesitation, their smiles a final testament to their love and devotion to this land.
Ming He watched it all, her heart trembling. Another deafening explosion echoed, and a glimmer of moisture appeared in her eyes. Her soul felt like a taut string, stretched to its limit.
Her trembling, aching right hand reached across the void to grasp the hilt of the Xuanyuan Sword, while her left hand clenched into a fist, blood dripping from her palm.
She focused her gaze, gritted her teeth, and prepared to charge forward, but Nineteen’s hand shot out, holding her back with a firm grip.
“There are many Earth Emperor Realm experts guarding the central pavilion. I brought you here to assist, not to throw yourself into the fray and fight until you collapse,” Nineteen said.
“With only the Xuanyuan Sword and in your current state, the power you can wield is limited.”
Nineteen looked at her with a mix of concern and sorrow in her eyes. The might of the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Array was immense, but so was its toll. As the original owner of the bone book, she understood Ming He’s condition better than anyone.
She had already done so much.
For the battlefield of the heavens and the human race, Ming He was already an exceptional and awe-inspiring young leader.
Yet, the onslaught of the Tian Yan Tribe came in relentless waves, each stronger than the last.
Was this the will of heaven, or was someone behind the scenes fanning the flames?
Nineteen narrowed her eyes, her thoughts turning to the internal strife within the Tian Yan Tribe. Starlight shimmered in her dark gaze. “Ming He, I brought you here because, at this moment, you are the only one who can save Tianwu East City.”
The Earth Emperor Realm experts in the central pavilion were bound by the formation seal and could not leave. The human reinforcements rushing to aid them would not arrive in time. All the cultivators in the Four Cities of Tianwu, combined with those in the central pavilion, could not match what Ming He alone could achieve now.
Nineteen felt a pang of gratitude for Ming He’s rapid breakthrough, swift enough to stand by her side as an equal. Yet, her heart ached for all the trials and bloodshed Ming He had endured.
"If it truly comes to sacrificing a life, then let it be mine."
Ming He believed that trading her life for the future of her people was a worthy exchange.
Nineteen made her decision, her eyes reflecting determination and resolve. "In your current state, you cannot wield the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Array or its techniques. The rampant blood energy would destroy your meridians."
"But you can indeed save all of Tianwu East City."
Nineteen glanced down at the Star Lock on Ming He’s chest and took a deep breath. "Ming He, there’s no need to rush."
"Give it your all, leave no regrets, that’s all that matters."
Even if it didn’t work out in the end, it wouldn’t be because Ming He wasn’t strong enough.
She knew in her heart that Ming He was already the strongest cultivator of the human race.
"I will go first."
Nineteen declared, summoning an array flag into her right hand. The black flag body fluttered in the wind, tracing a sweeping arc.
She followed the arc, landing in the void left by the Tian Yan Tribe beneath the city walls. Wielding the array flag, she soared like a sword and a shield, fiercely bringing the tempestuous winds crashing down upon the Tian Yan Tribe, enveloping them in black fog.
She alternated between flying kicks and elbow strikes, her spiritual energy gradually depleting. Eventually, all she could rely on were the combat techniques she had mastered as a sword cultivator.
The massive black flag became a broadsword in her hands, and she stood at its edge, managing to evoke the might of the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Array.
However, her clothes, already stained with bloody stains, became a sodden burden, each step splattering blood. The light in her eyes slowly dimmed, as if she was reaching her limits.
Nineteen curved her lips, grateful for being born into a flourishing swordsmanship clan, where she hadn’t been forced to harden her sword bone or refine her body in her youth. This allowed her to endure for so long.
Otherwise, with the frail constitution of a formation master who focused solely on formation mastery, she would have been consumed by the otherworldly blood energy the moment she stepped out of the central pavilion’s golden formation. How could she have proceeded with her actions?
But now, it was coming to an end.
In her black eyes appeared the youthful features and dark pupils of the Tian Yan Tribe. Their looming Tian Yan eyes cast a shadow over her body, leaving nowhere for the array flag to rest, and she felt trapped.
Nineteen furrowed her brow, clenched her fist, and concentrated the power of formation mastery into one point, her eyes glimmering with a smile and peace.
Having made up her mind, she knew there was no need for hesitation now.
She bit her lip, allowing blood to drip onto her clenched right fist, and her left hand reached out to gather that drop of blood, ready to act.
At that moment, an earth-shattering sound roared forth, more overwhelming than the black fog and darkness, an immense shadow descended, crushing the last rays of light, heavy as a mountain, flattening all the Tian Yan Tribe members in sight into nothing, without even letting the black fog escape.
They were even stripped of the qualification to transform back into fog.
A flash of brilliance surged in Nineteen’s eyes.
In the next moment, a flood of light erupted from that shadow, surpassing the brilliance of the stars and the renewed glow of the sun and moon. In an instant, it blinded the Tian Yan eyes of the Tian Yan Tribe present.
Heart-wrenching roars echoed across the entire battlefield of the heavens, their cries filled with sorrow and despair, making even a certain prince hidden in the black fog tremble.
She looked at Wei Rou beside her, who was silent and dared not make a sound, a surge of anger rising in her eyes as they were enveloped by the screams, shattering her final bit of tranquility.
The prince could no longer bear it and turned away, losing interest in watching.
Wei Rou covered her ears and followed behind.
The piercing screams continued.
Even the cultivators standing on the city walls began to hesitate, wondering if they should spend their precious remaining spiritual energy to block out the sounds.
Chen Huang, a member of the armored guards, stood in the center of the crumbling city wall, watching the brilliant scene where the blue figure pulled at the corners of her mouth, feeling grateful that he had never offended this newly risen young leader.
Nineteen couldn’t help but smile, her lips curving as she raised her gaze to the radiant light at the center.
It was a brilliance born from the shadow, a dazzling spectacle.
Ming He, clad in blue, stood suspended in mid-air, her expression serene. Her hands formed intricate seals, her eyes closed in deep concentration. The light around her flickered in rhythm with her movements, while the cries of the Tian Yan Tribe rose and fell, a haunting melody of despair and anguish.
Yet, the source of that light was not Ming He herself.
It emanated from the cave beneath her feet.
This was no ordinary cave—it was the Zichan Cave.
Nineteen’s belief that only Ming He could resolve the crisis in Tianwu East City was not unfounded.
The Zichan Cave was, in truth, a war cave.
Its true name was the Zichan War Cave.
Having refined it, Ming He could wield it as a weapon, though it demanded a tremendous amount of spiritual energy and soul power.
Nineteen frowned, her brow furrowing as she ascended into the sky.
Ming He descended gracefully, her toes barely touching the ground as she alighted on the crystalline eaves of the war cave. With a subtle gesture, she summoned a beast as large as a small mountain. The creature roared with delight, charging forward to seize a member of the Tian Yan Tribe and devour it whole. Its murky eyes gleamed with satisfaction, regarding the Tian Yan people as nothing more than prey.
Ming He’s lips were pale, stained with the blood of the Blood Demon.
Suppressing the suffocating weight in her chest, she moved her fingers once more. The colossal Zichan War Cave lifted her into the sky, then descended with a thunderous crash, sending clouds of dust billowing into the air and obscuring the city walls.
The ground was littered with grotesque, bloody remains.
As the Tian Yan Tribe hesitated, the radiant Zichan War Cave began to rise again.
The Tian Yan Tribe: "…"
Terror gripped them to their very core. With a collective cry, they turned and fled.
There was no other choice—charging forward was no longer an option.
The bloodlust that once drove them now clashed with their overwhelming fear.
Even their legs betrayed them, trembling and weak, rendering them unable to advance.
How could they possibly continue their assault?
Ming He’s lips curled into a faint, cold smile as she watched the Tian Yan army retreat like a receding tide.
She longed to annihilate them all, but the Zichan Cave could not descend again. As blood spilled from her lips, the cave transformed into a streak of light and vanished into her spiritual ocean.
The massive beast, Kui, its eyes wide and alert, chased down another Tian Yan Tribe member, swallowing it whole before darting back to the base of the city walls.
Ming He, her blue robes now stained with blood, hovered in the air, her strength nearly spent. She drifted downward, her body swaying gently. Kui adjusted its stance, ready to catch its master.
In the shadows, two figures exchanged glances, their intentions clear, but they were no match for Nineteen’s swiftness.
The woman in black stepped through the void, her movements a blend of tenderness and reverence. She gathered Ming He into her arms and soared toward the safety of the city walls.
