Chapter 58

The imperial decree to annihilate the Thousand Heavy Gate was issued at once, and in a flash the entire capital—indeed the whole Northern Capital—was placed on high alert.

Translation: "The imperial edict ordering Emperor Wen to exterminate the Thousand-layer Gate was issued immediately, and in an instant the entire capital, even the entire Bei Du, fell into a state of alert."

Check:...

We'll keep as one sentence? The Chinese has two clauses separated by comma. We'll keep similar.

In an instant, the air was tense as cranes' cries; every lord and powerful faction hid, terrified of being dragged in.

Translation: "In a moment, even the sound of wind and cranes caused alarm; all the feudal lords and powerful forces dared not leave their homes, fearing implication."

Check:...

Besides, word spread from the palace that Prince Kai had perished at the Thousand Heavy Gate, and rumors said that Consort Xiao, the emperor's beloved and Kai's birth mother, had collapsed into a coma from overwhelming sorrow.

Translation: "The news that Prince Kai had unfortunately died at the Thousand-layer Gate spread from the palace, and there were rumors that Consort Xiao, Emperor Wen's most beloved concubine and Prince Kai's birth mother, had fallen into a coma from excessive grief."

Check:...

…… (ellipsis). We need to output the ellipsis as is? The line contains only "……". We should translate as "……" maybe keep as "……". Since it's just ellipsis, we output same.

In Xiao Xiaoyu's chamber within the Xiao family stronghold of Shuiqing City.

Translation: "In Clear Water City, inside Xiao Family Castle, in Xiao Xiaoyu's room."

Check:...

"Ugh!" Xiao Feng nearly collapsed from rage, but his towering frame held his anger and sorrow.

Translation: '"Ahhh!" Xiao Feng nearly fainted from anger, but fortunately his body was tall and strong enough to bear his fury and grief.'

Check:...

That night, Xiao Feng's furious shout echoed throughout Shuiqing City, and a legendary master vowed to personally muster an army to crush the Thousand Heavy Gate and the Southern Frontier City.

Translation: "That night, the entire Clear Water City could hear Xiao Feng's roar; a supreme master resolved to personally raise troops, to attack the Thousand-layer Gate and attack Southern Border City."

Check:...

…… (ellipsis). Output "……".

They had all signed death contracts; proceeding by the rules, fate decides life and death, and there is justification and proof.

Translation: "They had all signed life-and-death contracts; acting according to the rules, life and death are fated, with justification and evidence."

Check:...

But treating these fledgling youths as experimental subjects is blatant contempt for the law—and for life itself!

Translation: "But if these entry-level youths are treated as test subjects, it is undoubtedly contempt of the law! Disdain for life!"

Check:...

The Thousand Heavy Gate's age‑old plot has even turned the martial world into a dizzying game—making the imperial court its mere plaything.

Translation: "The Thousand-layer Gate's millennia‑long conspiracy has even made the jianghu folk run in circles! Even the imperial court has become its plaything and object of mockery!"

Check:...

…… (ellipsis). Output "……".

The heavy fog couldn't hide the Fifth Elder's piercing eyes; her murderous intent had been simmering. Six months ago, at the Green Smoke Pavilion, she wasn't like this.

Translation: "The thick fog could not conceal the Fifth Elder's sharp gaze; her killing intent had been brewing. Six months ago, at the Green Smoke Pavilion, she was not like this."

Check:...

"Damn old witch," Chen Yi He hissed, recalling how he had seen the Fifth Elder's might firsthand at the Green Smoke Pavilion.

Translation: '"Damn, this old hag..." Chen Yi He cursed under his breath; he had personally witnessed the Fifth Elder's strength at the Green Smoke Pavilion.'

Check:...

The Sixth Elder fidgeted with the gold ring on his finger, then swept his hand and the mist drifted away, clearing the view.

Translation: "The Sixth Elder kept rubbing the gold ring on his finger; with a wave of his hand, the mist slowly dissipated, and the scene became clear."

Check:...

"Kill," the Fifth Elder said, each syllable crisp.

Translation: '"Kill." The Fifth Elder's words were also clear.'

Check:...

No sooner had she spoken than she stood before Chen Yi He and his three companions.

Translation: "As soon as her words fell, she already stood before Chen Yi He and the other three."

Check:...

She lashed out—left fist at Chen Yi He, right fist at Dongfang Xing, left kick at the Little Palace Mistress, right kick at Wu Rong—in a flash she employed all four limbs, bearing no resemblance to the stooped elder just moments ago.

Translation: "She threw a left punch at Chen Yi He, a right punch at Dongfang Xing, a left kick at the Young Palace Master, and a right kick at Wu Rong. In an instant she used all four limbs—no longer the stooped old woman from just moments before!"

Check:...

"Smack!"

Translation: '"Pa!"'

"Smack!"

Translation: '"Pa!"'

"Smack!"

Translation: '"Pa!"'

"Smack!" All four youths were sent crashing to the ground.

Translation: '"Pa!" All four youngsters were blasted down.'

Check:...

The Sixth Elder intertwined his fingers, then flung them open toward the fallen foes, releasing a barrage of mahjong tiles!

Translation: "The Sixth Elder clasped his ten fingers together, then flung them open toward the fallen ones, and countless mahjong tiles shot out!"

Check:...

Aiming to riddle Chen Yi He and his companions with holes!

Translation: "He intended to shoot Chen Yi He and the four of them into a sieve!"

Check:...

Wu Rong punched the ground, raising a blazing wall before them; the mahjong tiles ignited and turned to ash.

Translation: "Wu Rong slammed a fist into the ground, and a blazing fire barrier swiftly rose before them; the mahjong tiles met the fire and were burned to ash!"

Check:...

Simultaneously, Chen Yi He surged from the fire, sword swinging in a "White Rainbow Piercing the Sun" strike, hoping to take the Fifth Elder by surprise!

Translation: "At the same moment, Chen Yi He drew his sword and charged out of the flames with a move called 'White Rainbow Piercing the Sun,' aiming to catch the Fifth Elder off guard!"

Check:...

How could the Fifth Elder pull off such an easy sneak? Though she appeared still standing, that was just her afterimage; her real body had dodged Chen Yi He's sword and closed in, unleashing a blizzard of unnamed punches at lightning speed—who knows how many strikes per second? About seventy percent landed on his blade, thirty percent on Chen Yi He himself.

Translation: "How could the Fifth Elder so easily launch a sneak attack? She stared, seeing that although she still seemed to be standing there, it was merely her afterimage; her actual body had already dodged Chen Yi He's sword strike and closed in on him, unleashing a flurry of unknown fists at incredible speed—dozens of blows in a single second—seven parts landing on his sword, three parts on his body!"

Check:...

Chen Yi He was on the verge of being pounded into a daze!

Translation: "Chen Yi He was nearly beaten senseless!"

Check:...

Meanwhile, Dongfang Xing and the Little Palace Mistress were being hauled by the Sixth Elder, the three locked in a struggle that refused to untangle.

Translation: "Meanwhile, Dongfang Xing and the Young Palace Master were being dragged by the Sixth Elder, the three of them tangled together, impossible to separate!"

Check:...

Wu Rong then joined Chen Yi He's fight, standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder with him.

Translation: "Wu Rong, however, joined Chen Yi He's battlefield, fighting side by side with him."

Check:...

In a flash, the underground realm erupted with a bustling energy not felt for millennia!

Translation: "In an instant, the subterranean world burst forth with a lively atmosphere unseen for thousands of years!"

Check:...

"Bang!" The Fifth Elder's final heavy punch sent Chen Yi He flying, sword and body parting as he plunged straight into the lake.

Translation: '"Boom!" Chen Yi He was blasted away by the Fifth Elder's final heavy punch; body and sword separated, and he plummeted straight into the lake!'

Check:...

The lake water was freezing, drenching Chen Yi He's body.

Translation: "The lake water was icy cold, soaking Chen Yi He's body."

Check:...

As the Fifth Elder launched Chen Yi He aloft, Wu Rong seized the chance, slamming a palm into her back; a surge of scarlet fire tore open her black robe.

Translation: "During the process in which the Fifth Elder blasted Chen Yi He away, Wu Rong seized the opportunity, slamming a palm into her back; the blazing red fire ignited and burned through her black robe!"

Check:...

The Fifth Elder spun and unleashed another punch, hurling Wu Rong aloft—though her aged skin was burned, leaving a black handprint on her back, and she seethed with rage.

Translation: "The Fifth Elder retaliated with another punch, blasting Wu Rong away! Yet her aged skin was burned open, leaving a black palm print on her back! She was furious!"

Check:...

She surged forward at top speed, heading for Wu Rong— the Fifth Elder intent on making Wu Rong pay. The skin she had tended for decades was now branded by Wu Rong's palm.

Translation: "She accelerated to her utmost speed, rushing toward Wu Rong! The Fifth Elder wanted Wu Rong to pay the price! The skin she had maintained for decades was branded by Wu Rong's palm!"

Check:...

"Who says women can't match men?!"

Translation: "Who says women are inferior to men!?"

Check:...

The Sixth Elder hurled mahjong tiles, while the Little Palace Mistress replied with silver needles— which never fail to knock the tiles down. Hailing from the Five Absolutes Palace, she possesses the five absolutes: needle, qi, fist, palm, and leg.

Translation: "The Sixth Elder threw mahjong tiles, and the Young Palace Master countered with silver needles! The silver needles could steadily shoot down the mahjong! Coming from the Five Absolutes Palace, she naturally possessed the Five Absolutes—aside from Needle Mastery and Qi Mastery, she also had Fist, Palm, and Leg Mastery."

Check:...

Her fists and palms merged, and from the billowing scarlet skirt her leg strikes flashed unseen, yet carried tremendous force.

Translation: "Fist and palm blended, within her vast crimson skirt her legs struck unseen yet with tremendous force!"

Check:...

An all‑round combatant!

Translation: "An all‑round athlete!"

Check:...

Six months prior, the Little Palace Mistress was a powerhouse able to trade blows with the Fourth Elder—and she now has Dongfang Xing fighting beside her.

Translation: "Six months ago, the Young Palace Master was a formidable contender who could go toe‑to‑toe with the Fourth Elder! Moreover, she had Dongfang Xing as her aide!"

Check:...

Dongfang Xing is no slouch either— her brute strength astonishes her allies; she ripped the boulder the Little Palace Mistress had just sat on from the ground and hurled it at the Sixth Elder.

Translation: "Dongfang Xing was also fierce! Her sheer strength left her companions incredulous! She ripped up the boulder the Young Palace Master had just been sitting on and hurled it at the Sixth Elder!"

Check:...

Having dodged the first rock, the Sixth Elder braced for a second and third— Dongfang Xing had turned into a living bomber, raining down blow after blow.

Translation: "After dodging the first boulder, the Sixth Elder would soon face a second and a third! Dongfang Xing became like a bomber, wildly bombarding the Sixth Elder!"

Check:...

The Little Palace Mistress slammed her foot down, cracking the earth; a fissure raced toward the Sixth Elder's feet, throwing him off balance.

Translation: "The Young Palace Master stamped her foot, the ground split, and a crack spread straight toward the Sixth Elder's feet! He lost his balance and couldn't stand firm!"

Check:...

He was smashed by the boulder!

Translation: "Struck by the boulder!"

Check:...

"Bang!"

Translation: '"Boom!"'

The boulder exploded— the Sixth Elder nearly blacked out, not from the rock's hardness but because Dongfang Xing had charged it with her true qi.

Translation: "The boulder shattered! The Sixth Elder nearly got knocked unconscious! It wasn't because the boulder was too hard, but because Dongfang Xing had infused it with her true qi!"

Check:...

How could the Sixth Elder bear it? He pressed his palms together, and his true qi erupted from his core, shuttling between his hands like a conjuring trick— countless mahjong tiles materialized from nowhere, stacking in his palms until they spilled over.

Translation: "How could the Sixth Elder endure? He drew his hands together, and true qi erupted from his body like flames! It flowed back and forth between his two palms, like a magic trick—countless mahjong tiles appeared from nowhere, piling up in his palms until they overflowed!"

Check:...

They kept multiplying, gradually engulfing the Sixth Elder.

Translation: "More and more, they gradually covered the Sixth Elder!"

Check:...

Dongfang Xing and the Little Palace Mistress had hoped to prevent the Sixth Elder from gathering strength, but the Fifth Elder surged forward to shield him, gaining him precious time.

Translation: "Dongfang Xing and the Young Palace Master originally did not want the Sixth Elder to gather power, but the Fifth Elder rushed to his front, buying him time!"

Check:...

The two elders likely never imagined they'd be pushed to this brink by a handful of disciples— one wonders if the other elders observed their desperate fight through a bronze mirror.

Translation: "The two elders surely never imagined they'd be driven to such a state by a few disciples! I wonder whether the other elders, watching through a bronze mirror, could see their arduous struggle!"

Check:...

At that instant, Chen Yi He burst from the lake, sword blazing, water spraying everywhere— "You old hag! Go to hell!"

Translation: "At that moment, Chen Yi He burst from the lake, sword in hand! Lake water splashed everywhere. 'Old hag! Go to hell, you damn thing!'"

Check:...

A white‑purple sword aura erupted from him, vastly larger than his frame— unclear whether he wielded the blade or it wielded him.

Translation: "A white‑purple sword aura rose from him, far larger than himself! It was unclear whether he commanded the sword or the sword commanded him!"

Check:...

Purple qi surges eastward, white waves roar to the sky!!!

Translation: "Purple qi came from the east, white waves overturned the heavens!!!"

Check:...

The Fifth Elder gasped, her eyes filled with the blade's glow— "Fifth Elder, make way." The Sixth Elder behind her stepped aside, letting her move to safety.

Translation: "The Fifth Elder paled in shock! The sword aura filled her eyes! 'Fifth Elder, step aside.' The Sixth Elder behind her urged her to move to the side."

Check:...

"Ugh!" The Fifth Elder flung both palms upward, releasing a torrent of mahjong tiles that streaked straight at Chen Yi He's thrust.

Translation: '"Ahhh!" The Fifth Elder thrust both palms diagonally upward! Countless mahjong tiles flew out with her swing, aiming straight at the charging Chen Yi He.'

Check:...

Having drawn his sword, Chen Yi He had no thought of pulling it back.

Translation: "Chen Yi He's sword was already out; he had no thought of retracting it."

Check:...

Mahjong tiles flooded heaven and earth— from One Wan to Nine Wan, One Tong to Nine Tong, One Tiao to Nine Tiao, plus White Dragon, Red Dragon, and Green Dragon— they blanketed sky and ground.

Translation: "Mahjong tiles blanketed heaven and earth! From 'One Wan' to 'Nine Wan', 'One Tong' to 'Nine Tong', 'One Tiao' to 'Nine Tiao', plus 'White Dragon', 'Fa Cai', 'Red Center', and so on—everywhere you looked!"

Check:...

Dongfang Xing summoned her dark qi, lending Chen Yi He a hand.

Translation: "Dongfang Xing summoned her dark qi, lending Chen Yi He the strength of one arm."

Check:...

Little Palace Master wields lightning, lending Chen Yi He a hand.

Wu Rong's blazing fire flared up, lending Chen Yi He a hand.

It's no longer just Chen Yi He fighting alone!

His Purple Tempered Sword can break through everything! The boundless resistance, before him, is shattered one by one! Mahjong endless, sword qi unceasing! They wear each other down! Light, illuminating this dark world!

This is definitely the ultimate move with the most true qi Chen Yi He has ever seen!

The Mahjong has finally reached its end!

And the sword qi is about to give out. The four disciples have already exerted all their strength! After all, they have shortened their lives by several decades!

"Hehe! Go die, you all!" As the finance steward of the Qianzhong Sect, the Sixth Elder has always had no status; despite possessing overwhelming strength, he can only count money for others, and over time has accumulated a bellyful of resentment.

For the Qianzhong Sect, he has already given up his name; now, what is giving up his life? The tremendous pressure has already sunk his feet into the ground, and his hands and feet are split open and flesh torn by the sword qi's impact!

Chen Yi He is not doing well either; he must resist the Sixth Elder's endless Mahjong while bearing the continuous true qi from his companions! He is nothing but a conduit!

"Old Six, I'll lend you a hand!" The Fifth Elder stood behind the Sixth Elder, placing both fists on his left and right shoulder blades, and exerted his power!

The Mahjong rises again!

With the Fifth Elder's addition, the balance scale tilted immediately!

"Ahhh!" The one wailing was the Sixth Elder!

"Boom!" The sword qi scattered! Chen Yi He fell! The three companions who were channeling qi for him also collapsed!

Fortunately the Mahjong is exhausted; otherwise Chen Yi He would surely die.

The Sixth Elder knelt on both knees, head lowered, looking at the ground; his two arms' whereabouts unknown, blood gushed out explosively.