Chapter 1162: The Oriole's Cry

All things arise from Zhen. Zhen is the east. Zhen is the trigram of the east; the handle of the Dipper points east for spring, and in spring all things are born.

"Chu, tiao jiu—"

Lifting the curtain, Liang Qu suddenly heard birdsong in the woods, rising and falling, and he turned his finger back.

"Yanrui, what bird call is this?"

"It's the oriole. The oriole's call is quite distinctive, with rising and falling tones." Long Yanrui rubbed the back of his head, pricked up his ears to listen, "Brother-in-law, you're a landlubber, you can't even tell this? I'm a water-born person, and I've known this since I came ashore less than two years ago."

"Hahaha!" Liang Qu laughed three times, "You, you, Binglin isn't as interesting as you."

Long Yanrui did not understand.

Without further words, he seized the little flood dragon into the vortex palace, and Liang Qu strode boldly toward the commander's great tent.

The Awakening of Insects has three phases: first, peach blossoms begin to bloom; second, the oriole sings; third, hawks transform into doves.

Before hibernation ends, thunder sounds, and a hundred things do not mature.

Thunder strikes the Awakening of Insects, rice becomes like mud!

The tree shade was dense, variegated poisonous snakes raised their heads, bit the yellow-winged oriole, coiled its neck, wound into a snake ball, waiting for the birds to fall silent,

then, from the head downward, gulped it down in large mouthfuls.

Gulping sounds.

A clear wind swept wildly into the tent, dust dancing.

"Prince of Chong!"

"Hou Jue of Xingyi!"

"But has the Great Pan Cave arrived at the front lines?"

"Yes."

"What about the centipedes and the withered bones?"

"The centipedes and withered bones are each one thousand five hundred li to the rear left and right; Xingjin and Nanhai are each two thousand li to the left and right of the central army, ready to assist, forming the posture of a chair's corners; if full force erupts in support, the centipedes and Nanhai will arrive in three breaths, the withered bones and Xingjin in ten breaths."

Liang Qu and the Prince of Chong exchanged glances, cutting straight to the chase, as if the people like Beihai Tao standing to the side did not exist.

Beihai Tao was somewhat at a loss.

Liang Qu, upon arrival, asked about the position of the great manifestation in Nanjiang—what for? Chong Wang still answered so thoroughly, even stating how long support would take, overly sufficient, but though he could not understand, to avoid seeming stiff standing aside, he echoed.

"The Martial Sage rarely comes to the front lines in person, after all, as the 'Reef in the River,' heaven and earth flow around him, a single hair pulled moves the whole body, if one side moves, the other must inevitably have an opponent facing off.

The Heavenly Dragon lies tens of li away, face to face, no difference; if the opposite side suddenly erupts, it would be like two people eating, when the one sitting opposite draws a sword and erupts violently; even if wearing armor to attend a feast, one cannot avoid mishap, hence there are often buffers, at least a thousand li ahead of the front lines.

Saying that the Great Pan Assembly descends to the front lines, it must be because of you, Hou Jue of Xingyi, yesterday your single water spear was so mighty, it horizontally crushed three hundred people, none could stop it, truly like a dull knife cutting meat, leaving the Nanjiang Entering Zhen Xiang helpless, forced to have the Tian Long Dui Zi Entering Zhen Xiang, a wonder under heaven."

"Of course it's because of me." Liang Qu admitted.

"Eh"

Beihai Tao now truly felt a bit strange.

The Hou Jue of Xingyi, one who blends with light and dust, flows with the times—on ordinary days, he would surely utter a few humble words; today, why does he feel his sharpness exposed, as if about to draw his sword at any moment?

Though he is twenty-seven years old, having reached this point, having sharpness is normal.

Wait, connecting the preceding and following content, Beihai Tao's mind became muddled for a moment; the education and cognition he received since childhood let him never think in that direction, he set it aside in his subconscious, dare not touch it.

Changing the subject, Beihai Tao handed over a letter.

"Hou Jue of Xingyi arrives just in time, come look at this letter."

"What letter?"

"It's the one sent last night at midnight from Nanjiang; in its words, broadly speaking, it wants to surrender to us, and between the lines, it all reveals that this person's identity is not ordinary, intending to come here to exchange for a marquessate."

"A marquessate?" Liang Qu glanced briefly, front and back, "This doesn't even say who it is, what they want to do, how can you tell this person wants to exchange for a marquessate?"

The guard stepped forward to explain: "Because when the letter was sent, it wasn't just a single letter; it also included an article, namely the one you, Hou Jue of Xingyi, initially came to Nanhai Commandery, slandering Nanjiang's gu poison and slaughter, the Northern Court's Eight Beasts Twelve Wolves titles. According to status, we suspect the person surrendering is of no small importance."

"How not of small importance? The Great Pan Manifestation? Preparing to surrender and offer Qinzhou?" Liang Qu smirked.

"Cough, Hou Jue of Xingyi, you're just being smug, we guess it's one of the Twenty-Four Slaughters, just everyone lacks a foundation of trust, we don't know if the other side is feigning surrender, the other side also worries things won't work out, then be driven apart, they haven't fully revealed their identity."

"Twenty-Four Slaughters——then it's irrelevant." Liang Qu pinched the paper with his joints, flicked it, and it spun and fell onto the desk.

"No———no relevance?"

Everyone's eyes nearly popped out.

What does "no relevance" mean?

The Twenty-Four Slaughters, ah.

Although Hou Jue of Xingyi you can directly crush those you meet, compared to that, indeed it's not much, but for the Tianren Sect master to surrender, what a morale blow, what good political propaganda, for the Great Shun it adds a force, how could it be irrelevant?

Beihai Tao's mind became even more chaotic.

His thoughts once again turned to that corner he dare not go to, frozen in place.

"What day is it today?" Liang Qu asked.

Several guards looked at each other, outside everyone says Hou Jue of Xingyi likes to ask people for the date, asking once isn't enough, after a while when meeting someone he asks again, sure enough, formidable people all have a few quirks, right.

"Replying to Hou Jue of Xingyi, today is the fifth day, and according to the solar terms, it is the Awakening of Insects day."

"What time is it?"

"What time?" The guard turned his head, looked at the water arrow floating scale in the copper pot clepsydra, "Now it is the si shi six ke, still two ke to wu shi, Hou Jue of Xingyi you said you'd come at noon, are you planning to advance the spear? Do you need to rest a bit more?"

"Two ke is not much different, just now then."

"Yes."

Not bothering with the surrender letter, the crowd surrounded Liang Qu, and again went to the riverside of Jianghe.

"Your Highness, are you not going?"

"You go ahead."

The Prince of Chong stood silently in the tent, closed his eyes to nurture his essence.

Xu Hai Tao fell silent for a moment, then let go of the curtain.

The sunlight at the tent opening seemed to be cut by scissors, gradually narrowing.

Hwa—

The great tent was hazy.

On the south bank, the blood rain continued unceasingly; damp water vapor rushed to the north bank, and tree leaves, grass blades were all coated with dew.

Kui boots trod on the grass.

Liang Qu lifted his boot tip; he could feel the pebbles mixed in the ground, the buried grass seeds.

The grass seeds absorbed moisture, broke through their thick seed coats, and like breathing, bubbles emerged around them, splitting into two tender shoots on left and right; vigorous life force pierced the soil, propping against his soles, lifting him up, as if treading on a spring breeze, soaring upward.

His heart beat with a light leap.

Pumping, fresh blood surged toward his four limbs and hundred bones.

The stagnant, viscous, pitch-black blood began to flow, gradually turning bright red, gradually gushing forth; covering his ears, the sound flowed like a volcano, rumbling.

He touched the jade plaque at his waist; he had not used the Blood Fiend Divine Ability Order to maintain his heart function.

It beat.

"Huu—."

His breath was long and lingering, spiraling and flying.

"It's raining."

A soldier looked up.

The blood rain only favored the south bank; now, the north bank also had clouds, dark clouds rolling and gathering, their color heavy like lead blocks; in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they pushed across horizontally, merging with the south bank, connecting into one piece, blocking out the sky's light.

Within the clouds, there was faintly white light, but no sound.

Pa!

His foot stepped down, splashing mud and water.

"It's raining."

Meng Yi's unease grew more and more severe; his temples throbbed faintly.

The second month's solar term, all things emerge from Zhen; therefore it is called Jingzhe. It is that the hibernating insects are startled and come out to move.

He felt he himself was a hibernating insect, frightened by the thunder Liang Qu created, living in constant dread.

Holding the two great Gu techniques of Blood Drawing and Blood Concealment in his hands, how could the battle situation have become like this today?

"Da Xian, yesterday was also noon; if it's once every two or three days, strategically it's not impossible to sustain. If my guess is correct, it should still be around noon today that he will make a move."

Pan Dong stood with hands behind his back, gazing north: "You mean that one?"

Meng Yi started and looked up, only to see three transparent rings rippling out in succession from the north bank's horizon, each larger than the last, just like his pitch-black pupils.

"Da—!!"

The vast Southern Border military camp fell into panic and confusion, a hubbub of noise rising.

Sharp long spears swelled into dragons, carrying vast imposing momentum, soaring and advancing!

"A mantis trying to stop a chariot!"

Pan Dong stepped out half a pace, flashed to the open space, curled his finger and flicked out a stream of gang wind; before it could collide with the black dragon, a stream of gang wind also flew out from the north bank, arriving later but striking first, colliding and annihilating with Pan Dong's.

"Da Xian!"

Meng Yi gripped the jade plaque in terror.

Pan Dong frowned, knowing who was responsible; precisely because of this, he disliked personally going to the front lines.

Away from the front lines, clashing for half a year no more than three times, sitting facing each other across the shore; I fear that in the future it will be like this every day, who knows which day a misstep will lead to injury.

A long sleeve flung out.

A giant hand of heaven and earth coalesced conspicuously; the soaring black dragon became tiny in an instant; before it could be grasped, a similar giant hand from the north bank also clamped down, forming a wrestling posture.

Boom!

The central palm wind howled, lifting long hair, scraping mud and water three chi into the air.

Pan Dong's complexion changed slightly; in two successive instants, the black dragon had already descended overhead!

"Chong Wang!"

True fire burned in his heart, accompanied by the Wu Sheng's will; without any moves, without any techniques, heaven and earth stagnated in midair, as if air had turned into substance; the first black dragon raised its head and crashed into it, shattering inch by inch.

However, the black dragon had not yet completely dissipated, and the north bank rippled again.

Cold condensed clouds spread into a ring, rushing straight into the sky.

The second black dragon roared and flew out!

The Southern Border camp nearly exploded; even more people lost control and fled outward.

Great Shun soldiers looked up at the sky, finding it hard to believe such an offensive could come a second time; just how did Hou Jue Xingyi manage this?

Xu Yue Long lowered his head, scanning left and right.

Where is that kid!

Wei Lin embraced his arms, silently gazing at the flowing, red-tinged Lin River.

"Huu—."

At the bottom of the Lin River, fish schools scattered and fled.

【Vortex God Armor】 encircled his body; Liang Qu held his breath and focused, burning his golden eyes, silently gazing at the sky.

"So much rain, why is there so much rain as soon as spring arrives."

Li Xianghan tossed and turned on the bed; a few old rats anxiously tried to comfort her, shelling the peanuts from their pouches and presenting them; finally Li Xianghan sighed, and together with Awei stood at the window, elbows propped on the sill, gazing northward.

The mountain stronghold leaned against the mountain; crisscrossing plank roads spread throughout the woods; they were like the mountain's blood vessels, carrying the people coming and going, transporting information and supplies.

Once it rains, the inevitable mud on the plank road will stain the skirt with mud spots after just two steps.

"Hmm?"

Li Xianghan's gaze sharpened as she noticed people hurrying back and forth on the plank road, unusually busy.

Awei also noticed this and turned around in a circle.

Li Xianghan pushed open the window and shouted toward the opposite mountain peak.

"Uncle Huang, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

Uncle Huang on the opposite mountain peak did not shout a reply; he pressed his thumbs together twice.

Li Xianghan understood instantly and closed the window.

"There's movement on the front lines again—big fighting has broken out, though I don't know who it is."

Awei opened and closed his mouthparts.

Within the dark clouds, white light flickered.

Beyond the front lines, a thousand li away, Bai Zu, Nan Hai, Gu Gu, and Xing Jin silently directed their attention, monitoring the battle situation, ensuring they could provide timely support if the situation turned unfavorable.

Above the Jiang River in Qinzhou, dark clouds exploded and reassembled, rich colors smeared with abandon.

The wind raged, the entire great river surged incessantly, banks scattered and meltwater merged into turbid rivers, shadows shrouding the heavens, thereafter golden light pierced out, falling upon the earth, severing the river flow, its residual force leveling three great mountains.

The burning qi and blood steamed halfway up into the sky.

The illusory forms of ghosts and gods tread upon the nine heavens.

The swiftness of the heavenly dragon is invisible to ordinary folk; aside from occasional adjustments, only faintly can two streaks of light be seen—one black, one green—mutually pressing against each other.

The tent was blown away by the wind, flying into the sky, touching the residual wave, and vanishing into ash.

Meng Yi returned from the shock of the attack, his face covered as he struggled to organize soldiers against the hurricane of the camp, pondering the battle situation.

"How could fighting have broken out?"

What began as a minor conflict due to Liang Qu's methods—nothing more than exchanging a few moves—saw the Great Shun Chong Wang actually reveal his sharp edge, forcibly dragging Pan Da into the struggle.

This is unusual!

Battles between martial sages are usually restrained; no one wishes to waste their lives pointlessly. Sometimes the scene looks grand, but in truth both sides use only seventy or eighty percent of their strength, rarely does anyone willingly go all out, especially when our side's Zhen Xiang holds the advantage.

Simply holding the line is enough.

Therefore, the true territorial struggle hinges on Zhen Xiang; if their qi mechanisms cannot mutually pull, then it becomes ten days or half a month of no battle, relying on beacon fires and tiger hunts.

Could it be that Chong Wang intends to rely on himself to behead Pan?

Impossible.

The two are roughly equal in strength—one cannot simply take what they want; at most they inflict mutual wounds. If someone truly forces the issue, they themselves fall into danger; this move must have other strategic purposes.

Pupils locked onto the martial sage.

The only thing Meng Yi could think of was Liang Qu, this oddball who defies common sense.

"Be careful—earlier, the two black dragons' combined might did not even match yesterday's single ferocious one; this person must have a hidden move, perhaps aiming to achieve success in one stroke!"

Besides self-recovery, the qi sea can also draw upon heavenly treasures and earthly gems; Meng Yi has reason to suspect Liang Qu plans to seize this opportunity to violently fill it, then, using the gap in the qi sea, drag along the Great Shun Zhen Xiang to retake Qinzhou!

"Fall back! Fall back! Form ranks!"

Other generals likewise considered this possibility, and amidst the chaos began to gather, standing ready in strict formation.

"Gui Ruhe! You've gone mad!"

Pan's arms bled fresh blood as he fell into the Jiang River; countless small fish mistakenly ate it, exploded and died—only after filtering the water several times and eating the fish meat,

could they survive, yet they could not restrain their greed, rushing toward the very essence of the blood.

Chong Wang said nothing, nor did he heed his wound; he gripped his mysterious weapon, faced the calamity of cosmic creation and destruction, and charged toward Pan.

The heavens shattered, dimensions shifted.

The protective golden light collapsed and reformed; the air within half a li was evacuated, not yet gathered before being swept out by the gang wind, forming a silent vacuum, occasionally punched out of range, nearly soundless.

"Three breaths."

Liang Qu silently sensed the martial sage's aura.

The swiftest Bai Zu arriving to support would take three breaths; thus, the best tactic is undoubtedly for Chong Wang to drag Pan into a worse state, then unleash the Bai Yuan killing intent.

The heartbeat quickened, blood surged through the vessels like a thawed ice river, each cell wildly,

breathing with all effort, pale green ripples spreading wave after wave from the chest.

Water plants touching the ripples grew wildly and entwined, "black hair" extending.

【Plants meeting spring sunshine, fish and dragons encountering wind and rain. Purifying evil reverence, renewing appearance, accumulating zi, bringing the dead back to life.】

The breath of the "living" began to appear—ethereal, clear, delicate,

Within the green light, another white ripple interwove, emerging as ripples.

Tian Can Cocoon!

【Silkworm slumber broken, silk reborn anew; drinking dew, eating wind, returning to origin, restoring true form.】

Due to the two water dragon cannons, the qi sea, lowered to the valley's bottom, actually surged madly at this moment.

Crack crack crack.

My whole body itched.

Not the flesh, but the soul.

The fish body with snake tail began to swell, bulge, and grow.

Snake scales and fish scales fell off, carrying blood and mucus; ribs spread like butterfly wings, piercing flesh, quickly becoming human bone; the spaces between ribs filled with flesh, nerves, blood vessels, and fascia, like mycelium clinging to hollows in the eye sockets, two eyeballs rolling and turning, several interlocking, dark pupils now facing forward, behind them nerves sprouting like the tail of a discus-tailed goldfish, connecting to the brain.

Vision restored.

Ten fingers complete.

Fists clenched tight, upon the Ze Ding, the black-robed great emperor shone again, divine shadow outline clear, linking the stars of the heavens!

【Wind Dao from the north, heaven and great water spring, the snake transforms into a fish, thus becoming the fish-wife—death brings immediate revival.】

【The Black Emperor lowers his gaze.】

An incomparably strong attraction emanates from the flesh; the soul seems to have found its home, no longer drifting, no longer needing blood-slaughter as a medium, conforming to the home, adhering to the flesh.

Black clouds roll, Bai Guang flashes.

Layer upon layer of turbid waves surge eastward, striking the riverbank and splashing white foam.

Branching lightning like a giant tree grows, piercing the azure heavens, illuminating heaven and earth in an instant, reflecting the human shadow at the riverbed.

Pan Dong spits a mouthful of fresh blood, scattering it by the riverside.

Blood droplets fall, the water opens.

Fingertips brush aside, parting the blood mist, carrying blood-red ribbons, sweeping downward, grasping the Dragon Fubo in the silt.

Countless white currents like silk are drawn from the water, a familiar yet utterly unfamiliar and sudden reef, violently thrusting up from the heaven-earth river, bearing vast momentum, lining up the mountains!

Splash.

Half-year blood ape, white fur once again floats upon its body.

Deep in Jianghe, by the riverside riverbed.

Golden eyes suddenly open wide.

Pan Dong's pupils fill his eyeballs, trembling downward, he sees the entire riverside suddenly rise upright!