CH 35

The spirit weapon the State Preceptor foresaw was in the immediate area of the Gemini Peaks on Shao Xian Mountain. According to the guide, because it was covered by two mountain peaks, that place doesn’t see sunlight throughout the year and was dark and cold. Many strange plants and animals grew there. No one ever dared go there to hunt. Even if people went, there was never anyone who returned alive.

This was actually an ideal place to bury Divine grade spirit weapons.

After walking towards the Gemini Peaks for a day, the temperature dropped increasingly. Jiang Chao Ge grew up in the south and had never stayed in such a frigid place. His whole body was so frozen his blood felt about to freeze up, hugging Zhi Xuan and trembling. In contrast, because Yu Ren Shu and Long Xiang had spiritual power to protect their bodies, wearing a thick Ao was already enough to keep out the cold. Even Ruan Qian Xiu was much more at ease than him. This made him a bit dispirited. Zhi Xuan demanded to transform into adult form several times for him to warm himself. He never agreed. As they ascended the mountain, something dangerous could happen at anytime. His spiritual power must be conserved.

Zhi Xuan said angrily: “Your lifespan will shorten like this.”

Jiang Chao Ge forced a smile: “If I can’t defeat a rare beast, than that is truly being short lived.”

Zhi You blinked his eyes, “Do you want me to help you keep warm? I’m also very warm.”

Zhi Xuan turned his head abruptly, “Annoying fox, get lost!”

Zui You also wasn’t angry, only talking aloud to himself: “What are you? Are you that curious about death?”

Long Xiang said: “Come sit over here. Zui You’s tails really are very warm.”

At this moment, Jiang Chao Ge was sitting with Yu Ren Shu on Tian Rong’s back. He looked at Zui You’s nine big soft fluffy tails, and was actually a bit interested.

Zhi Xuan glared at him without a word.

Jiang Chao Ge was very familiar with Zhi Xuan’s sense of ownership and could only say: “Nevermind then.”

Zhi Xuan was silent for a moment, “Go, lest your lifespan shortens.”

“Really?”

“No kidding.”

Jiang Chao Ge hurriedly jumped over onto Zui You’s back with Zhi Xuan. Then he hugged one of Zui You’s tails and wrapped it around himself. The insulation and wind guarding abilities of that thick fur was top notch. Almost as if in an instant, it allowed Jiang Chao Ge to feel as if he was alive again.

Zhi Xuan turned away disagreeably, obviously angry.

Jiang Chao Ge was wrapped in a fox tail, hugging a little heater, his frozen body gradually recovering. His mood also improved a bit. With his chin propped on Zhi Xuan’s shoulder, he began to softly hum a song.

Zhi Xuan twisted his head to look at him and said softly, “What are you singing?”

“I also don’t know.”

Zhi Xuan looked at Jiang Chao Ge’s pale cracked lips from the cold, occasionally trembling and pressing together. His slender eyelashes were moistened with snow and dew, a bit of tiredness dying his eyes. A strange feeling surfaced in Zhi Xuan’s heart. He didn’t like seeing Jiang Chao Ge’s uncomfortable appearance, because that will definitely shorten one’s lifespan.

Zui You waved his tails, “Little Xiang, I still have eight tails. All for you.”

Long Xiang said evenly: “No need.”

Accumulated snow became thicker and thicker. Their progress also slowed considerably. After Jiang Chao Ge’s body warmed up, he began to cultivate. When he was young on a reckless path, he was always holding machetes and daggers and dashing ahead at the very front. Otherwise how could younger brothers look up to him. But the him now could only try his best not to drag on someone’s leg. What he had hated all his life was weakness and powerlessness. Unfortunately, right now he was precisely in such a state.

Rare beasts relied on their innately acute sense of direction as well as looking at the stars and moon to find the Gemini Peaks of Shao Xian Mountain. At this moment, snow was beginning to decrease. Behind the veil of snow, two towering mountain peaks stood shoulder to shoulder like a giant’s shadow. Right now there was still approximately a day’s worth of travel between them and the Gemini Peaks.

They found a rock that was out of the wind to camp under. Because they didn’t dare light a fire, they could only continue to gnaw on dried meat and steamed buns. They weren’t certain how many days they’d spend on the mountain, so the first foods they ate were packed on the outside. The food inside Na Wu Pouch must be conserved for emergencies. After being exposed to the frozen weather for a day, those things were as hard as rocks. Jiang Chao Ge felt like his teeth were about to chip off.

Zhi Xuan felt seriously uncomfortable watching him eat. A ball of fire emerged in his small palm, roasting that porcupine meat, “Eat after its defrosted a bit. Humans teeth can’t even gnaw on bone.”

Zui You was startled, “What kind of rare beast are you really?” He thought for a while and momentarily still couldn’t think of a Heaven grade spirit beast that could control fire.

Not only was Zui You surprised, Long Xiang and Ruan Qian Xiu also cast gazes full of suspicion towards them. Throughout the journey, Zhi Xuan’s identity aroused heavy conjuncture. Obviously Yu Ren Shu and Tian Rong knew, but the people who knew kept their mouths shut. As if it was some big secret. In contrast, this made them even more curious.

Zhi Xuan didn’t pay attention to them, caring only for roasting that jerky. Very quickly , the defrosted jerky began to emit a fragrance. Jiang Chao Ge took several ravenous bites, bringing ice shards into his stomach along with it.

In the distance, a burst of strange howls came through. That sound was like a human’s laughter but also like a ghost’s cries, entering everyone’s ears along with the frigid wind and snow, causing hairs to stand on end.

Ruan Qian Xiu leapt up, “Extinguish the fire!”

Zhi Xuan extinguished the fire. Coincidentally, dark clouds covered the moon at that moment, suddenly sending everything into pitch black.

“What is it?”

Tian Rong sensed, “It’s not only one, it’s a group.”

Long Xiang said: “This sound, it should be Shan Quan Hui. A rare beast with a human face and dog body. Often they will appear in a pack. Let’s hurry and go.”

Yu Ren Shu said firmly: “No. Black clouds are covering the moon right now. It’d be hard to find our bearings. If we become seperate then that’d be troublesome.”

Ruan Qian Xiu shook her head, “That’s right, no need to run. Shan Quan Hui are very smart. They will definitely find a way to seperate us. If we run, it’ll be very easy for them to scatter and destroy us one by one. We have to persevere until the moon comes out to withdraw.”

The accumulated snow underfoot trembled. There were obviously many things running towards them from different directions. Yu Ren Shu and Long Xiang were both veterans of hundreds of battles. Right now their eyes were blazing like torches, not even a bit nervous. Although Ruan Qian Xiu had never left Yu Fa Mountain, she hunted and practised martial arts from childhood and also wasn’t afraid of rare beasts. Only Jiang Chao Ge’s heart beat faster, holding Zhi Xuan Sword in his palm, breaking out in a cold sweat even in the frigid cold. After all, he was a modern person. Thinking about large numbers of rare beasts leaping at him with bloody mouths open like sacrificial bowls, he could only tremble with fear.

Pairs of green eyes gradually appeared within the veil of snow. The numbers were many, possibly nearing a hundred, encircling them at the rock. A crude human face and a huge muscular dog body made them seem extremely ferocious. That howl similar to a laugh yet a cry rang incessantly, making ones flesh creep in the night.

Tian Rong howled once towards the heavens. A bit of disturbance appeared within the Shan Quan Hui, but they very quickly gathered back together again. They were obviously starved to the extreme. Extreme hunger had already triumphed over fear.

Yu Ren Shu pulled out Tian Rong Jian and shouted loudly: “Kill!” He sat on Tian Rong’s body and rushed forward. Shan Quan Hui leapt towards them. With a wave of his Jian, a Shan Quan Hui fractured its ribs, spitting out a spray of blood, flying out and not moving again. Yu Ren Shu and Tian Rong were like a tiger and wolf that’d rushed into a group of rabbits, slaughtering them in all directions.

Long Xiang and Zui You also dashed amidst the group of Shan Quan Hui. Zui You bit one, fangs piercing through the neck and then ferociously threw it away. Long Xiang’s halberd seemed about his height. For long weapons, there was the so called an inch of length equals an inch of power. The wide attack range were the biggest advantages of long weapons. However it’s weakness was also obvious and that was its difficulty to control. Especially with Long Xiang’s height, it was simply as if a child was playing tricks. Contrastingly, Zui You Halberd paired naturally with his hands. Stabbing, poking, cutting and slicing, giving birth to incredible power. Very quickly it became stained with blood. Although he was only a level three spirit weapon user, at such a young age, his strength was shocking.

Ruan Qian Xiu rode on Zheng Chen’s body, both hands holding Zheng Chen Crescent Blades. With a press of both legs into the body of the horse, she leapt forward. Those crescent blades could be a close range weapon but could also act as a thrown hidden weapon. With a fling of Ruan Qian Xiu’s right hand, a crescent blade turned into a flying iron disc, flying out in an arc. After recklessly killing in a huge circle within the group of Shan Quan Hui, it once again flew toward Ruan Qian Xiu’s head. Ruan Qian Xiu stretched out a slender arm and caught it firmly. She once again threw out the crescent blades with both hands, simultaneously urging Zheng Chen to ram into the group of Shan Quan Hui. Wherever the Zheng Chen Crescent Blades went, there would definitely be a cacophony of blood curdling screeches, as if it were a hunter with eyes, slaughtering within these snowy mountains and then obediently flying back to Ruan Qian Xiu’s side.

Jiang Chao Ge looked at the three who were dauntlessly engaging in battle while he himself hid in the back, his face burned.

A Shan Quan Hui took notice of him and wound around the back.

Jiang Chao Ge’s eyes revealed a cold light. In the instant the Shan Quan Hui rushed forward, he grasped the good opportunity, raised the sword and sliced. The spiritual power attached to Zhi Xuan Sword produced strong destructive power. That Shan Quan Hui hadn’t even gotten close to him before it’s abdomen was sliced open by the sword glare. Jiang Chao Ge was delighted that things were better than expected. That one slice didn’t consume too much of his spiritual power at all. This gave him confidence to defend himself. He looked down at Zhi Xuan, “You should go back and hide.”

“Why? It’s not like I’ll die. I’m going to observe the result of your cultivation in this period of time.”

Jiang Chao Ge’s power in that slice just now made him feel relatively satisfied.

Jiang Chao Ge grinned, “Alright, then you go ahead and observe.”

More than half of the Shan Quan Hui were dead or injured, but there were still many unwilling to withdraw. They cunningly discovered that Jiang Chao Ge was the weakest and began to repeatedly attack him.

Jiang Chao Ge waved the huge sword and met them head on without taking even half a step back. Before, he absolutely couldn’t believe he could cut down such a fast monster, but the spiritual power within his body was circulating. He felt his own vision, strength, stamina, speed and agility improve significantly from before. No wonder they weren’t afraid of the cold. No wonder Yu Ren Shu could ‘fly’ in midair. Perhaps the higher the level of spirit weapon user, the closer their physiques become to superman.

At this moment, the dark clouds that covered the moon began to disperse. Moonlight spilled over the snow and was reflected back by the surface of the snow. Yu Ren Shu shouted: “Let’s go! Their numbers are too great. Don’t tangled with them.”

Tian Rong passed by Jiang Chao Ge. Jiang Chao Ge hugged Zhi Xuan with one hand, caught Yu Ren Shu’s hand with the other and jumped onto Tian Rong’s back. Borrowing the moonlight, they broke through the tight encirclement and leapt towards the distance. Jiang Chao Ge looked back at the ground full of the bodies of Shan Quan Hui and heaved a sigh, “This ground full of Earth grade spirit weapons, how much money could it be sold for….”

Yu Ren Shu said helplessly: “You really are a money lover.”

“Your Highness, don’t forget that right now you’re relying on this money lover to live.” Originally when he went back to the imperial capital with Yu Ren Shu, he wanted to hug a gold leg, fishing a little money. In the end, it became him who had to cough up money to support so many people and beasts. Thinking about it, it really made people aggrieved.

Yu Ren Shu gave a snort.

They left the Shan Quan Hui far behind, travelling for many hours through the night, making a huge step towards the Gemini Peaks.

In the middle of the night, they really couldn’t bear with the fatigue anymore but also couldn’t put up a tent or dare light a fire. So each of them covered themselves with one of Zui You’s tails and slept with the sky as ones tent and the ground as ones mat.

Before daybreak, the smell of blood on their bodies once again attracted some rare beasts. It was a beast with the face of a dog, the body of a monkey and a pair of bat wings. It was called Xiao and it’s body was somewhat bigger than that of a human. Two or three of them circled above them but didn’t come down, seeming to be observing.

Yu Ren Shu said: “ Qian Xiu, kill them.”

Ruan Qian Xiu shook her head, “They are very fast, Zheng Chen can’t catch up.” Although Zheng Chen could fly, the body of a horse was too big, the burden on the wings were very heavy. While it’s stamina was pretty good, it’s flying speed wasn’t very fast.

Jiang Chao Ge said to himself: “If only there was a gun.”

“Gun? At this distance, it may be hard to hit the target.”

“Oh the gun I’m talking about isn’t the gun you understand.”

Everyone asked curiously: “Then what is it?”

“It’s a type of….” Jiang Chao Ge tried to think of how to explain it to them: “Machine. You all know machines right?”

“Yes.”

“It’s a type of machine that can be held in your hands. It will shoot a small piece of copper at the pull of a trigger, the speed of which is faster than anything you’ve ever seen. Both humans and beasts are unable to evade it. It will explode upon entering the body and is extremely destructive to internal organs. It can be fatal if it hits a vital point. It’s a very powerful kind of weapon.”

Long Xiang frowned: “Can a machine really be considered a weapon?”

“In our world, a lot of machines are made into weapons. It’s very powerful. Some weapons can blow up a mountain, can make an island sink into the sea.”

Yu Ren Shu roared with laughter: “Absurd, simply absurd.”

Long Xiang and Ruan Qian Xiu also didn’t believe it. For them it was truly like The Arabian Nights .

Jiang Chao Ge smiled and shook his head. He also didn’t hold hope that they’d believe it. Only, he really wanted to find someone to talk about things from his own world. Ever since Old Meng died, he didn’t have someone to pour his heart out to anymore. But these people didn’t understand, and it made him feel somewhat sad.

Zhi Xuan blinked his eyes and looked at him, “Interesting, why didn’t you tell be about it earlier?”

Jiang Chao Ge said in surprise: “Do you want to hear?”

“Yes.” Zhi Xuan nodded earnestly, “Weren’t you going to bring me to your world one day? I want to know a little about it first. Even if we can’t go, next time we see Yin Chuan, I can also talk to him about things I know and he doesn’t know.”

Jiang Chao Ge smiled happily: “No problem. If we have time in the future I’ll tell you about it. That is an entire world though. We can talk about it for a lifetime.”

After Yu Ren Shu had laughed enough, he said: “However, the machine weapon you speak of also exists on Tian Ling continent. Have you heard of the Fan Clan of the West? The four big clans of Tian Ling continent each have their own strengths. Qi Clan of the North are skilled in battle and possess five Heaven grade spirit weapons and hundreds of Dark grade spirit weapons. Their military strength is unmatched; Que Clan of the East are good at manufacturing. They have the most first class spirit weapon masters. Many Heaven grade spirit weapons all originate from the hands of Que Clan. They are reputable and virtuous; Su Clan of the South are good at commerce with wealth equivalent to that of an entire nation, merchant groups making expeditions overseas. Almost everyone owes them money; Fan Clan of the West are good at medicine. Their spirit priests have the most medical expertise in the entire Tian Ling continent. However Fan Clan also always produces prodigies. They have many high level spirit masters and first class spirit priests, contributing many new eccentric spirit weapons and spirit pills to Tian Ling Continent. But what differentiates them from Que Clan is that they rarely study orthodox spirit weapons and spirit pills and instead like making machines, concealed weapons, poisons, illusory pills and practising witchcraft, always taking an unorthodox path. The handheld mechanical weapon you spoke of could be made by Que Clan if it was really that powerful.”

Jiang Chao Ge became interested, “Listening to you explain, it really might be possible. When we travel in the four directions in the future, we could go meet Fan Clan people.”

“The personality of Fan Clan people are insidious and odd. They aren’t that easy to meet.” Ruan Qian Xiu said: “Someone from Qi Clan married a woman as lovely as a flower from Fan Clan. But later, that person became addicted to sensual pleasures and wanted to bring a prostitute home. They were ultimately poisoned by Gu poison, body like a puppet, neither dead nor alive. Since then, no one from Qi Clan dared marry a women from Fan Clan.” She spoke to this point and laughed coldly, “The man had a wife and concubines and yet still wants to tease prostitutes. It really serves him right.”

Everyone remembered her past experiences and kept their silence.

Upon seeing daybreak, those Xiao all flew away. They ate a little something and continued on their way.

On their journey towards the Gemini Peaks, Xiao would spiral above their heads every now and then. Halfway, Ruan Qian Xiu flew into the air with Zheng Chen and drove them away once. But a few hours later they reappeared, annoying to no end.

By sunset, they were already very close to the Gemini Peaks. The shape of the mountain ranges were dimly visible. The valley between the two peaks was precisely their destination. They decided to rest well for a night. Tomorrow they will enter that dark place rumoured to never have anyone come out.

At night when it was time to sleep, Zhi Xuan annoyed Jiang Chao Ge to tell him stories about that world. For a while Jiang Chao Ge really wasn’t sure where to begin. Therefore he began from the alcohol Zhi Xuan was interested in. Listening to it Zhi Xuan’s eyes lit up, appearing like he really wanted to try it.

After talking and talking, Jiang Chao Ge began to yawn and feel sleepy.

Zhi Xuan nestled in his lap and called: “Tell one more, tell one more.”

“Ah……..mn…..” Jiang Chao Ge muttered a few words and was about to fall asleep.

Zhi Xuan looked at Jiang Chao Ge’s eyelashes. Those eyelashes were like two small fans, trembling. He felt his heart itch, unable to describe the taste. He stretched out his hand and touched the eyelashes gently. In a half awake state, Jiang Chao Ge unconsciously blinked his eyes. The eyelashes trembled even more. Zhi Xuan licked his lips and unable to restrain it, moved closer, using his lips to hold the eyelashes in his mouth. A part of the lips touched Jiang Chao Ge’s soft eyelid. That tactile touch was something Zhi Xuan had never experienced before. It was indescribable, only it made him feel….. very comfortable.

Jiang Chao Ge felt there was something damp pressed against his eyelid, but he was really too sleepy. After telling stories to the Little Zuzong for a long time, he was really too lazy to open his eyes, only wanting to sleep till dawn.

Zhi Xuan sucked on the eyelashes for a while and felt there wasn’t really much of a taste and stretched out his tongue again to give it a lick. There still wasn’t much of a taste. He move his lips down and latched onto Jiang Chao Ge’s nose and it was still tasteless. He looked at Jiang Chao Ge’s lips. What….. would it taste like?

Jiang Chao Ge wrinkled his nose, finally unable to bear it, opening his eyes and saying in a hoarse voice: “What are you doing? Still not sleeping?”

Zhi Xuan closed his eyes, “Sleep.”

Jiang Chao Ge yawned, turned over and fell asleep again.

Zhi Xuan’s small hand rested against his head, staring at Jiang Chao Ge, golden pupils glistening in the darkness. He stared for a very long time.