ATPnovel Chapter 1360: 52: Soul Severing
Chapter 1360: 52: Soul Severing
Chapter 1360: Chapter 52: Soul SeveringAcross the vast expanse of the Star Moon Plain, the evening breeze flows freely.
A little grey dog is frolicking joyfully.
Within a five-hundred-meter radius centered on Jiang Wang, it runs back and forth.
Because it is quite small and the grass on the Star Moon Plain is lush, one can only see a tumbling patch of grey fur when it leaps up.
It’s not entirely playfulness either; the ironberry it consumed has yet to be fully absorbed, and this extra energy needs to be vented through movement.
Meanwhile, Jiang Wang sits cross-legged, bathed in pure starlight, conversing naturally with Master Guan Yan.
Master Guan Yan’s tone carries a hint of humor: “Why is it that every time I see you, young friend, you seem a bit disheveled?”
Jiang Wang’s face flushes crimson: “I don’t intend to…”
Master Guan Yan spares him too much embarrassment and changes the topic: “But why have you brought a dog with you this time?”
“We share a bond of destiny. It clings to me, so I decided to keep it.”
Master Guan Yan’s voice takes on a tinge of melancholy: “It has been a long time since I’ve seen a dog. In the Forest Sea Source Realm, such animals do not exist.”
Jiang Wang recalls the tales from those yellow-faced old monks of generations past, stealing fluff-feathered hens and being rebuked by the elder monk Ku Jue as thieves and scoundrels… He can’t help but ask: “Master, do you enjoy eating dog meat?”
Master Guan Yan evidently pauses in surprise; even the star-powered transmission of his voice stutters slightly: “You… raised it… to eat it?”
“Not exactly.”
Jiang Wang, naturally, does not dare admit he thought it might be a custom of the Hanging Monastery.
He merely remarks, “Sometimes I feel that dogs are truly easy to please.”
He glances at the bounding little grey dog. The pitiable creature, utterly ecstatic, has no idea what its owner is discussing.
“Contentment is a form of great wisdom.” Melancholic feelings seem to stir within Master Guan Yan, expanding through the star-powered link.
Jiang Wang asks, “Master, when you were young, did you ever have moments of dishevelment like this?”
Master Guan Yan seems to think for a moment before responding: “The Hanging Monastery was still very powerful then.”
A figure of Master Guan Yan’s caliber would undeniably be a focus of the Hanging Monastery’s care. Moreover, his master, his grandmaster—undoubtedly also powerful—would hardly allow anyone to easily bully their younger disciple.
Given Master Guan Yan’s talents and lineage, it’s likely he faced no serious hardships until entering the Forest Sea Source Realm.
Before stepping into the Forest Sea Source Realm, his life may have resembled that of Zhongxuan Zun—one marked by glory from childhood to adulthood, accompanied by applause along every step of the way. Perhaps the greatest “setback” to befall him was when a portly younger cousin rose to sudden prominence, threatening his position as the inheritor of the family.
Ha!
By comparison, this seems rather pitiful.
Yet Jiang Wang neither wallows in self-pity nor harbors resentment. He simply smiles, saying: “When I was in the Outer Sect of the Daoist School, even an ordinary mountain bandit camp could leave me flustered. When I had just stepped into the Transcendent realm, a cultivator in the Ascending Dragon Realm could leave me scrambling. Now, although I continue to appear flustered when facing you, it is because of figures above the God Descending Realm.”
His tone is firm and composed: “I believe that as long as I keep moving forward, there will be fewer and fewer people and situations capable of unsettling me.”
“Marvelous.” Master Guan Yan laughs and says, “With a heart like Bodhi, there should be no troubles ahead!”
…
…
To the northeast of Star Moon Plain lies Rong Country. Further north from Rong Country lies Broken Soul Gorge.
Tonight’s wind comes from the north.
The wind from Broken Soul Gorge, perhaps sweeping down through Rong Country, carries a piercing chill.
Within that grand mansion in Guiding Light City, not a single living soul remains.
Only in front of its massive front doors stand two towering piles of corpses, silent and unmoving.
Judging by the height of the piles, it’s clear that Zheng Fei and Li Shou have determined a victor.
The winner is Li Shou.
Bang!
Zheng Fei sits in the courtyard, his fist pounding the ground.
“Damn it!”
“Damn it all!”
He is, after all, quite sporting in defeat; though furious over losing, he does not use it as an excuse to bully Li Shou.
Li Shou crouches to the side, chuckling slyly, then pretends to console him: “Third Brother, don’t be so upset. As the saying goes, losing is a common occurrence for men of the Soldier Home. If you never lose, others might think we brothers know nothing of warfare.”
Zheng Fei remains silent, so Li Fourth takes the opportunity to educate him, leaving Zheng Fei fuming as he pounds the ground once more, the impact echoing loudly.
Li Shou raises his head to gaze at the night sky: “Sigh, why hasn’t the diviner arrived yet? I’m so bored I could fall asleep.”
At this, Zheng Fei finally speaks, huffing furiously: “He tricked us into coming to the Eastern Region, claiming it would be interesting and fun. But this is no fun at all!”
“Absolutely, absolutely. Us brothers are truly unfortunate!” Li Shou agrees, his face filled with envy as he remarks, “Yanzi must be having a lot of fun!”
Zheng Fei scoffs dismissively: “That weakling, what’s so fun about him?”
Li Shou was referring not to “playing” with a person but suggesting that what Yanzi was doing seemed more entertaining. But since Zheng Fei misunderstood, he quickly nods along: “That toy we encountered last time in Yong Country was definitely more fun! So reasonable, yet sturdy enough to be tormented!”
He then suddenly pulls a long face, visibly disappointed: “But it seems that he’s unwilling to play with us…”
Zheng Fei sneers and says, “Once he gets beaten up, he’ll realize the truth.”
Just then, a figure clad in armor suddenly descends from the heavens.
“Who dares approach Guiding Light City without invitation?”
The individual, wearing resplendent bright armor, has the bearing of a noble warrior and wields a Guan Dao. Upon landing in the courtyard, his imposing presence radiates outward.
He is none other than Jingye, the town guard general of Guiding Light City, at the summit of the Outer Building!
Previously responsible for overseeing Guiding Light City’s defense, Jingye saw increased military forces stationed there after the fall of Yang Country. Nonetheless, no other high-ranking general was willing to take over the command of this city. Facing Qi Country’s forces along the border offers little chance for glory, and disaster would likely befall its defenders first.
Thus, despite widespread complaints accusing him of stirring up trouble and throwing Rong Country into a state of apprehension, the defense of Guiding Light City still rests in his hands.
Jingye has always been diligent in military oversight, particularly after the fall of Yang Country, patrolling the city daily without fail.
Tonight, upon noticing something unusual about this mansion during his routine patrol, he descended to investigate.
One glance, and his rage flares.
Without further words, his Guan Dao sweeps upward, unleashing a blade light several meters long as he slashes towards Zheng Fei!
Still seated with legs sprawled on the ground, Zheng Fei doesn’t seem to move, merely tilting his head to glance at Li Shou.
Only after the blade sinks into his skull does Zheng Fei, amidst Jingye’s sudden grunt of shock, mutter in puzzlement: “Why did he strike me first?”
Still crouching, Li Shou spreads his hands and compares their sizes in a gesture: “Maybe you’re just a bigger target.”
On the other side, Jingye’s slash takes out his opponent, only to find himself unexpectedly injured, leaving him simultaneously frightened and confused.
He suddenly notices the blood-soaked fat man turning around to glare ferociously at him: “Do you find me, Zheng Third, easy to bully? Speak!”
Jingye realizes his arrogance tonight has led him astray. Guarded by a large army, he acted recklessly and would not be surprised if he ended up silently killed.
Angry at his impulsiveness, he reflects bitterly on how, since “that incident,” his behavior has been… off.
In the midst of danger, he represses his emotions and stares furiously at the terrifying fat man. As his Five Mansions rumble to life, he channels the power of the Star Tower, boosting his momentum: “In Rong Country’s territory, how dare you commit such atrocities! Tonight, I shall ensure that none of you escape with your bodies intact!”
At the same time, he covertly releases a secret technique, intending to summon reinforcements.
But then, he feels something lightly pressing his hand that had been secretly forming seals behind him.
A massive wave of dread washes over him!
His hand instinctively relaxes.
He then sees a middle-aged man with slender features and three long, flowing beard strands appear before him, locking eyes with him.
“If you don’t want to die miserably, show some understanding.”
The man says this while dressed in literati attire.