Chapter 69
hapter 69: Death
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The field was silent . The light of Min Mountain Sword Sect’s green jade doors fell on Ding Ning and the others, causing their figures to appear more dazzling .
In reality, all of the participants were looking at Ding Ning who had entered last .
This young Changling youth did not have especially great cultivation, but had always shone since he joined White Goat Cave . The wine shop youth was able to even overshine the other geniuses . The students all had different thoughts and opinions .
But looking at Ding Ning who was silently helping Xue Wangxu, all of these students felt slightly anxious, and an inexplicable danger .
Gu Xichun was standing at the centre of the students’ group . In his view, since Ding Ning could rank so high in the Book of Talents, this meant that Ding Ning would not be eliminated early on . He was not in a hurry to fight Ding Ning .
Not even in a hurry to see Ding Ning .
Yet, when Ding Ning arrived, he seemed to have magic to pull everybody’s attention over .
He looked at Ding Ning . He looked at Xue Wangxu by Ding Ning’s side . His eyes, that were in shadow, gave off a strange color as though there was pine oil burning and billowing with smoke in his eyes .
Beside Gu Xichun was a teacher from the Shadow Mountain Sword Cave . This was the sect uncle who was always concerned the most with Gu Xichun’s cultivation . After Gu Xichun obtained astounding comprehension, his sect uncle’s status in Shadow Mountain Sword Cave had greatly elevated, and he accompanied Gu Xichun at important events like this .
Sensing the abnormality of Gu Xichun next to him, this middle-aged teacher frowned slightly . He warned in a soft voice, “Do not keep this on your mind . This person has rebelled against the empress . He will not obtain anything in the Min Mountain Sword Trials . After the trials, he will naturally fade out of view . ”
Gu Xichun was aware of the good intentions of this sect uncle . His expression eased slightly, and he slowly said, “If he is fated to be a meteor, I hope that this meteor will end at my hands . This way, his light will increase color for me . ”
“It will be good if there is a chance . But do not be too obsessed over matters . ” This middle-aged teacher of Shadow Mountain Sword Cave nodded and glanced at Xue Wangxu . He said with slight sympathy, “When one is too stubborn, one will end up like Xue Wangxu . ”
Many looked at Xue Wangxu with some regret, and even sympathy .
When one was above realm seven, one was a grandmaster .
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How great was the accomplishment in reaching realm seven? But a true realm seven grandmaster could not even achieve his wish of seeing his closest students perform in the Min Mountain Sword Trials .
Most people present were certain that Xue Wangxu would die before the Min Mountain Sword Trials formally began .
Before the Min Mountain Sword Trials started, the Holy One had to worship the ancestors, and establish the crown prince .
Most even doubted if Xue Wangxu could last until the Holy One finished the ceremony .
Nangong Caishu was a student of Green Vine Sword School . After He Zhaoxi moved forward, she did not hesitate and walked over to next to Ding Ning .
Xie Changsheng did not think too much when he acted, so he moved without hesitation as well .
This time, Xie Rou did not stop him .
When the husband sang, the wife followed . She had sworn to marry Ding Ning . While Ding Ning did not recognize her oath, she would follow Ding Ning no matter what dangerous thing he was doing .
Xu Heshan hesitated slightly but still walked to Nangong Caishu’s side .
These people, including Zhang Yi and Shen Yi, formed a small group isolated from the surrounding people .
Because they were a hand few, they did not appear tragic, but just slightly sad .
“There is not much time . ”
From the moment they had walked into the green jade doors of Min Mountain Sword Sect, Ding Ning had maintained his silence . At this time, he was at the end of the group . He let He Zhaoxi take all of Xue Wangxu’s weight and then seriously said by Xue Wangxu’s ear . “Because I will help White Goat Cave get first, this disciple cannot accompany you on this last journey . ”
Xue Wangxu was struggling to breathe at this moment . But when he heard Ding Ning’s words, he still squeezed out a smile and said gently, “I will go in peace . ”
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“Eldest Sect Brother, accompany the Cave Master on this last journey . ”
Ding Ning gave his position to Zhang Yi and bowed deeply to Xue Wangxu .
Before anyone could speak, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes .
Nangong Caishu, Xie Changsheng and the others did not understand the true meaning of Ding Ning and Xue Wangxu’s conversation . But the moment Ding Ning closed his eyes, they were stunned .
In their senses, the moment Ding Ning closed his eyes, his body became an absolutely still pond . Many wondrous energies flowed through the pond . There were many things in the world they could not see or even feel flowing into this pond .
This was cultivation .
Even cultivators of realm five or six would require a certain amount of time to calm their minds and enter this kind of internal state . But Ding Ning did not need any time to prepare . He managed to enter their cultivation state the moment he closed his eyes .
This was an impossible fete, yet it had occurred right before their very eyes .
Other than this, they were even more shocked as they could sense Ding Ning’s body was extremely drained . He was so drained that not just all of the water had been expelled from his pond, even most moisture in the wet soil had been pressed out .
“Someone forced Ding Ning to run out of his vital energy . ”
Xie Changsheng’s expression grew dark . He took a deep breath, looked at Zhang Yi and Shen Yi, asking, “What happened?”
Shen Yi’s eyes turned red . He wanted to say something, but Zhang Yi answered in a trembling voice, “This is none of your business . ”
“What do you mean none of my business?”
Xie Changsheng knew Zhang Yi’s good intentions but couldn’t help but shout in fury . “We are standing by you . Is this none of our business?”
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“Stop fighting . ”
Shen Yi spoke up .
Xie Changsheng turned in even more furious . He wanted to ask Shen Yi what he had done as a student of the White Goat Cave, but the moment he turned around, he could no longer speak .
All the people around him were unable to speak .
Because Xue Wangxu’s mouth was open but he couldn’t make a sound .
This old man seemed to want to say something, but was now unable to . In the end, he only showed a small helpless smile .
At this time, a silent throbbing came from ahead .
Solemn music played on the sacrificial altar on the mountain path ahead .
Xie Changsheng suddenly looked up .
He knew that Emperor Yuanwu would appear next . At this time, he should be like the surrounding students, looking on with heated gazes and filled with respect . However, at this time, his eyes were filled with anger, as though he wanted to vent the fire towards the sacrificial altar in his sight .
There were many people kneeling on the sacrificial altar like an ocean .
Emperor Yuanwu walked calmly and confidently, holding a gold slip, towards the forefront of the altar .
Fu Su, dressed grandly, walked several feet behind him . Following Fu Su were numerous cultivators in indigo robes .
When that golden figure appeared in sight, all of the students in front of the mountain path felt the stabbing pain in their eyes alleviate . There seemed to be an unusually vast and gentle presence that had shrouded the sword essence of Min Mountain like an invisible umbrella .
Their own sense of that power and the status of that bright yellow figure caused most students’ excitement and awe to reach a peak . Cheers rose again and again .
The bright yellow figure on the altar did not stop the sounds . He started to recite the litany to the heavens, and did not even change his usual way of talking .
Yet, nothing in the mountains could cover up his voice .
Each word from his lips clearly passed into every person’s ears .
The moment he had said the first word, the sunlight seemed to become brighter .
Each person’s body seemed to have a layer of gold .
But Xue Wangxu’s light faded from his eyes . He wasn’t able to hear Emperor Yuanwu’s Heaven Worshipping litany .
At this time, he had peacefully passed on .
Ding Ning did not hear Emperor Yuanwu’s recitation as well .
He forgot everything and cultivated to replenish his vital energy .
Zhang Yi and Shen Yi also did not hear Emperor Yuanwu’s recitation . They were completely taken over by immense grief .
At the back of the altar, when he heard his name mentioned, Fu Su, now the crown prince, tried his best to look down .
He wanted to see where Ding Ning was .
But the distance was too great, he could not see what was happening below and where Ding Ning and the others were .