Chapter 120

Black Stone City.

Black Stone City.

Yu Mo sat in the brightly lit hall, a soft blanket draped over her, her arms clasping a beast‑skin book with gold‑inlaid corners, as she chanted softly.

-> "Yu Mo sat in the brightly lit hall, a soft blanket draped over her, her arms clasping a beast‑skin book with gold‑inlaid corners, chanting softly."

Check: need to keep all info. Yu Mo sat in the brightly lit hall, a soft blanket draped over her, her arms clasping a beast‑skin book with gold‑inlaid corners, chanting softly. Good.

The text on the beast‑skin book is the formula for some secret medicines of the Eternal Life Sect, and what Yu Mo is chanting is a verse on a pristine, smooth, extremely tough piece of refined beast‑skin paper tucked inside the book.

-> "The content on the beast‑skin book was a recipe for some secret medicines of the Changsheng Sect, and what Yu Mo was chanting was a poem on a piece of pristine, smooth, extremely tough processed beast‑skin paper tucked inside the book."

We need to keep the term 'secret medicines'; 'recipe/formulation' should be retained.

The Eternal Life Sect comes from the outer realms.

-> "The Changsheng Sect came from the outer realm."

The outer realms are vaster, more prosperous, and more densely populated than the Blazing Flame Realm.

-> "The outer realm is vaster, more prosperous, and more densely populated than the Cangyan Realm."

Because of this prosperity and dense population, a leisure class has arisen, such as poets.

-> "Because of its prosperity and dense population, a leisure class arose, such as poets."

On that sheet of beast‑skin paper tucked inside this gilt‑bound beast‑skin book is the latest work of the renowned sentimental‑style poet from the outer realms over the past ten years.

-> "On that sheet of beast‑skin paper tucked inside this gilt‑bound beast‑skin book is the latest work of a famous sentimental‑school poet from the outer realm over the past ten years."

Every word and sentence is exquisitely beautiful and graceful, with a fiery, overflowing love that lingers between the lines, deeply moving the innocent yet passionate hearts of young maidens.

-> "Every word and sentence is exquisitely beautiful and graceful, with a fiery, overflowing love lingering between the lines, capable of stirring the innocent yet passionate hearts of young maidens."

Yu Mo's little face flushed red; after chanting a few lines softly, she startled and quickly lifted her head, glancing swiftly around the hall.

-> "Yu Mo's little face flushed crimson; after chanting a few lines softly, she startled, lifted her head, and glanced quickly around the hall."

Fortunately, Lady Zhu Zixi was not present.

-> "Fortunately, Zhu Zixi was not there."

Although Lady Zhu Zixi dotes on Yu Mo, she is also extremely strict in her discipline.

-> "Although Zhu Zixi doted on Yu Mo, her discipline of Yu Mo was extremely strict."

Such "teaching lust and teaching theft" verses, if Lady Zhu Zixi discovered Yu Mo reading them… the best outcome would be that the sentimental poet is hunted across the world by the fanatical followers of the Eternal Life Sect.

-> "Such 'teaching lechery and theft' verses, if Zhu Zixi discovered Yu Mo reading them… the best outcome would be that the sentimental‑school poet be hunted across the world by the fanatical followers of the Changsheng Sect."

Yu Mo certainly does not want to see such a thing happen.

-> "Yu Mo certainly did not want to see such a thing happen."

She furtively recited several times the passage describing lovers meeting beneath glowing mushrooms and sharing intimate contact. Yu Mo, her cheeks red, furtively turned a few pages of the beast‑skin book to cover that sheet.

-> "She furtively recited several times the passage describing a pair of lovers meeting beneath a glow‑mushroom thicket, sharing intimate contact. Yu Mo, cheeks red, sneakily turned a few pages of the beast‑skin book to cover that sheet."

"Really… really…" she murmured a few times; Yu Mo wanted to say something but had no idea how to evaluate the poem.

-> "\"Really… really…\" she murmured a few times; Yu Mo wanted to say something, but she had no idea how to evaluate the poem."

"Ah, Hanlu… why did you run away?" Yu Mo tilted her head, furrowed her brows, set aside the troubling verses swirling in her mind, and began to recount the unpleasant events of the past few days.

-> "\"Ah, Hanlu… why did you run away? \" Yu Mo tilted her head, furrowed her brows, set aside the distracting verses swirling in her mind, and began to mutter about the things that had made her unhappy these past days."

Hanlu, the maid she had just hired, had actually stolen a treasure from Yu Mo and fled.

-> "Hanlu, the maid she had just hired, had actually stolen a treasure from Yu Mo and fled."

This made Yu Mo very sad.

-> "This made Yu Mo very sad."

In Yu Mo's view, it would be perfect for these native families of the Blazing Flame Realm to submit to the Eternal Life Sect and thereby enjoy the glory and status it brings, wouldn't it?

-> "In Yu Mo's view, it would be perfect for these native families of the Cangyan Realm to submit to the Changsheng Sect and thereby enjoy the glory and status it brings them, wouldn't it?"

Lady Zhu Zixi has taught her since childhood that all clans weep and beg to pledge allegiance to the Eternal Life Sect.

-> "Zhu Zixi had educated her since childhood that all clans were crying out and begging to submit to the Changsheng Sect."

It is the Eternal Life Sect that gave them the chance to submit, and the chance to enjoy glory… so why would Hanlu run away?

-> "It was the Changsheng Sect that gave them the chance to submit, the Changsheng Sect that gave them the chance to enjoy glory… so why did Hanlu run away?"

"The ancestors will bring you back. Then they must punish you. Stealing is always wrong. Especially, as a girl, you should be gentle and date the one you love, not steal and run away."

-> "\"The forefathers will bring you back. Then they must punish you. Stealing is never good. Especially, as a girl, you should be gentle and go on a date with the man you love, not steal and flee. \""

Yu Mo pressed her lips tightly, thought about Hanlu for a moment, then opened the beast‑skin book and blankly stared at that page of poetry.

-> "Yu Mo pressed her lips tight, thought about Hanlu for a while, then opened the beast‑skin book and stared blankly at that page of poetry."

As she looked, her little face grew ever more flushed.

-> "As she looked, her little face grew ever more flushed."

The hall doors swung open, and a bright‑eyed maiden in tight armor, vigorous and strong, entered with four attendants.

-> "The hall doors swung open, and a vigorous, clear‑eyed maiden in tight armor entered, accompanied by four maidservants."

Nervously, Yu Mo snapped the beast‑skin book shut with a thump, squinting at the armored girl and smiling: "Qingfeng, it's still too early for bedtime."

-> "Yu Mo nervously snapped the beast‑skin book shut with a 'bang', narrowed her eyes, and smiled at the armored maiden: 'Qingyuan, it's so early—still not time to retire.'"

Yu Mo's smile was guilty, her large eyes continually blinking at Qingfeng.

-> "Yu Mo's smile was guilty, her big eyes continually blinking at Qingyuan."

Qingfeng, an elite disciple of the Eternal Life Sect's Lady Zhu Zixi lineage, also an orphan adopted by Lady Zhu Zixi in childhood, possesses outstanding talent and great strength, already a master of the first heaven of the Tower‑Building Realm.

-> "Qingyuan, an elite disciple of the Zhu Zixi lineage of the Changsheng Sect, an orphan adopted by Zhu Zixi since childhood, of outstanding talent and great strength, already a master of the first layer of the Chonglou Realm."

She is a few years older than Yu Mo, steady and resolute, having grown up alongside her, so Lady Zhu Zixi appointed her as Yu Mo's guard, playmate, and head attendant.

-> "She is a few years older than Yu Mo, steady and resolute in character, having grown up with Yu Mo from childhood, so Zhu Zixi appointed her as Yu Mo's guard, playmate, and head of the maids attending her."

Qingfeng's eyes gleamed as she glanced at the beast‑skin book tightly held to Yu Mo's chest.

-> "Qingyuan's eyes flashed with sharp light as she glanced at the beast‑skin book clutched tightly to Yu Mo's chest."

"Yu Mo, I've never seen you so keen on secret medicine studies. When did you become so diligent?" Qingfeng said in a calm tone.

-> "\"Yu Mo, I've never seen you so fond of secret medicine studies. When did you become so diligent? \" Qingyuan said in a flat tone."

Yu Mo's heart clenched, her face flushing, she slipped the beast‑skin book behind the beast‑skin cushion and said softly: "Oh dear, just bored… is there anything?"

-> "Yu Mo's heart clenched, her face flushed from holding her breath, she shoved the beast‑skin book behind the beast‑skin cushion and said softly, 'Oh dear, bored, just looking… anything up?'"

Qingfeng dropped the subject of the beast‑skin book and said in a low voice: "Chang'an has arrived."

-> "Qingyuan dropped the book issue, her voice low: 'Chang'an has arrived.'"

Yu Mo stared, then leapt up joyfully, exclaiming: "Senior Brother Chang'an is here? Great, where is he?"

-> "Yu Mo stared, then leapt up joyfully, exclaiming, 'Senior Brother Chang'an is here? Great—where is he?'"

Before her words faded, a handsome youth in a blood‑red robe, a blood‑colored beast‑skin pouch at his waist, and a pair of long, curved blades crossed on his back strode into the hall.

-> "Before her words faded, a handsome youth in a blood‑red long robe, a blood‑red beast‑skin pouch at his waist, and a pair of long, curved blades crossed on his back strode in."

Seeing Yu Mo's smiling face, the handsome youth Chang'an laughed: "Yu Mo, I've come—welcome?"

-> "Seeing Yu Mo's smiling face, the handsome youth Chang'an laughed: 'Yu Mo, I've come—welcome?'"

Yu Mo stiffened her face, suppressing the faint joy and a hint of sweetness, then nodded slowly: "Oh my, how strange—why are you here? When I left with the ancestors, I heard you were out dealing with those villains."

-> "Yu Mo stiffened her face, suppressing the faint joy and a hint of sweetness in her heart, then nodded slowly: 'Oh my, how strange—why are you here? When I left with the forefathers, I heard you were leading people against those villains.'"

Several young men and women followed Chang'an into the hall; he approached Yu Mo and chuckled: "The Six‑Daos Palace's attack this time was merely a probe, they sent few elites, and we easily drove them back."

-> "Several young men and women behind Chang'an also entered the hall; Chang'an stepped before Yu Mo and chuckled lightly: 'The Six Dao Palace's attack this time was merely a probe, they sent few elites, and we easily drove them back.'"

Qingfeng glanced at Chang'an.

-> "Qingyuan glanced at Chang'an."

Chang'an and the few Eternal Life Sect disciples behind him each carried a hint of fierce killing intent.

-> "Chang'an and the few Changsheng Sect disciples behind him each bore a hint of fierce killing intent."

Yu Mo could not discern this killing intent, but Qingfeng felt it very clearly.

-> "Yu Mo could not discern that killing intent, but Qingyuan felt it unusually clear."

"Drive them back'?"

-> "\"Drive them back'?" (The Chinese line is just Drive them back? with quotes. We'll translate as "\"Drive them back'?" Keep the quotes? Probably just translate the phrase: "\"Drive them back'?" We'll output: "\"Drive them back'?" Actually original: Drive them back? So we can output: "\"Drive them back'?" Keep the question mark.

I fear they've all become nothing more than nourishment for Chang'an and his crew, right?

-> "I fear they've all become Chang'an and his lot's nourishment."

Qingfeng gently shook her head, stepped forward, and stood half a step before Yu Mo. Psychologically, this angle and position formed a warning to Chang'an—this is the limit; he may not come any closer to Yu Mo.

-> "Qingyuan gently shook her head, stepped forward, and stood half a step ahead of Yu Mo. Psychologically, this angle and position formed a warning to Chang'an—this is the limit; he may not come any closer to Yu Mo."

Lady Zhu Zixi dotes on her little treasure to the extreme, and she knows full well what sort of lot the Eternal Life Sect's elite disciples are.

-> "Zhu Zixi doted on her little treasure to the utmost, and she knew full well what sort of lot the Changsheng Sect's elite disciples were."

Except for a rare few, like the pure‑hearted Qingluan, the male disciples are all lust‑starved demons, while the female disciples are wanton warriors who offer their flesh as alms…

-> "Besides a handful of exceptions like the chaste Qingluan, the male disciples were all lust‑starved ghosts, and the female disciples were even more wanton warriors who offered their flesh……"

In short, Lady Zhu Zixi will absolutely not allow someone like Chang'an to approach her well‑behaved little treasure.

-> "In short, Zhu Zixi absolutely would not allow Chang'an, that sort of character, to approach her obedient little treasure."

Qingfeng narrowed her eyes, giving Chang'an a cold stare.

-> "Qingyuan narrowed her eyes, regarding Chang'an coldly."

Chang'an smiled at Qingfeng and said calmly: "Returning to the sect, I heard the Grand Elder brought you here, Yu Mo, and my fellow disciples and I have been thinking—since the Six‑Daos Palace will be quiet for a while, we might as well stay and serve the Grand Elder."

-> "Chang'an smiled at Qingyuan, then said calmly: 'Returning to the sect, I heard the Grand Elder brought you, Yu Mo, here; I and a few brothers and sisters have thought that, since the Six Dao Palace will be quiet for a while, we might as well stay here to serve the Grand Elder.'"

Lowering his voice, Chang'an ignored Qingfeng's threatening warning and continued toward Yu Mo, closing to within less than four feet: "Besides, I've heard that the previous vice‑sect leader's entourage suffered heavy losses, and some confidential matters have occurred, so…"

-> "Lowering his voice, Chang'an ignored Qingyuan's threatening warning and continued toward Yu Mo, closing to within less than four feet: 'Besides, I heard that the brothers and sisters brought by the Third Vice Sect Master suffered heavy losses, and some confidential matters have occurred…'"

Qingfeng was about to reprimand Chang'an when Yu Mo, her cheeks slightly flushed, gazed at him.

-> "Qingyuan was about to shout at Chang'an, while Yu Mo, her cheeks slightly flushed, gazed at Chang'an."

Among the Eternal Life Sect's youthful elite disciples, Chang'an not only has the highest cultivation, but also possesses strikingly handsome looks and considerable ability; in recent years of frequent skirmishes with the Six‑Daos Palace, he has slain many of their elite disciples, earning great renown.

-> "Among the Changsheng Sect's youthful elite disciples, Chang'an not only had the highest cultivation, but was also extraordinarily handsome and talented; in recent years of frequent skirmishes with the Six Dao Palace, he had slain many of their elites in battles big and small, earning great renown."

Faintly, Chang'an has risen to become the foremost among the sect's younger generation of elite disciples, the senior brother of all the elites.

-> "Faintly, Chang'an had become the foremost of the Changsheng Sect's younger generation of elite disciples, the senior brother among all elite disciples."

Yu Mo is in the season of budding, innocent affection, and toward Chang'an she harbors beautiful hopes as lovely as a poem.

-> "Yu Mo was in the season of a budding, innocent heart, and toward Chang'an she harbored a beautiful longing as lovely as a poem."

She smiled at Chang'an, countless thoughts flickering as she weighed what tone to use—should she be reserved, gentle, proud, or tender?

-> "She smiled at Chang'an, countless thoughts flickering as she calculated what tone to use and what to say—should she be reserved, gentle, proud, or tender?"

"Oh dear, it's so hard to decide."

-> "Ah, it's truly hard to decide."

Yu Mo pressed her lips, feeling her tongue tied in knots, still unable to decide what to say, when Chang'an suddenly flipped his palm and a splendid blue‑ice flower blossomed in his hand.

-> "Yu Mo pressed her lips, feeling her tongue knotted deep inside, still unable to decide what to say, when Chang'an suddenly flipped his palm, and a splendid flower of blue‑frozen ice blossomed in his hand."

"Look, I got this interesting treasure especially for you," Chang'an said with a grin, gazing at Yu Mo while ignoring Qingfeng's threatening stare.

-> "\"Look, this time I obtained an interesting treasure, brought especially for you. \" Chang'an gazed at Yu Mo with a grin, oblivious to Qingyuan's threatening stare."

Yu Mo's eyes widened in delight.

-> "Yu Mo's eyes widened in delight."

She reached out her hand, about to touch this beautiful flower formed from blue solid ice, when the green kite had already snatched the flower away with one hand.

She stared at Yu Mo sternly and said in a low voice, 'Yu Mo, the Grand Elder said, these weird……'

Pa!

The flower burst apart.

A strand of viscous, icy blue liquid sprayed from the burst flower, instantly splashing Qingyuan's hand.

Qingyuan's face changed drastically; she reached backhand for the sword hilt at her back, icy blue cold light rapidly spreading across her palm, in a snap enveloping her whole body. Cold Qi invaded her five viscera and six bowels, and in the span of a breath Qingyuan was completely frozen by the terrifying cold.

Yu Mo stared in horror at the ice‑sealed Qingyuan, about to shout, when Chang'an's right hand was likewise enveloped by a mass of viscous, dense blue Cold Qi; he ruthlessly punched her in the abdomen.

Severe pain struck; Yu Mo, who had never been scolded and did not even know what 'pain' meant, flung open her small mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Yu Mo's petite body stiffened in Chang'an's grasp; he seized her slender waist, pinching it twice with force, and sighed ruefully.

"What a fine piece of tender flesh… only a virgin can fetch a good price…" Chang'an lowered his head and fiercely kissed her forehead, then gave her a charming, grinning smile.

"Although I don't know the exact situation, being highlighted on the Heaven‑Scanning Mirror means you are very valuable."

"Miss Yu Mo, you are very valuable, and I, unexpectedly, have found you—this is my fortune."

"As long as I sell you, the resources I gain will be enough for me to break through the Chonglou Realm in a short time… you surely cannot believe this, but that's how it is—your life is worth far more than even you imagine."

Yu Mo opened her mouth wide, staring in horror at Chang'an's beaming smile.

She had no idea what to do.

Her mind went blank, a constant buzzing rang in her ears, and it felt as if black mist were wrapping around her from all sides.

"Old… ancestor…" Yu Mo suddenly let out a hysterical scream.

Chang'an's palm again produced a flower of icy blue crystal ice; he shoved it into Yu Mo's mouth, Cold Qi entered her body, and she was quickly sealed within a mass of Xuanbing Ice.

Only then did the four maidservants realize what had happened; they simultaneously opened their mouths, wanting to let out terrified screams.

Right after Chang'an entered the hall, the several young men and women drew their weapons, icy light flashing; the four maidservants couldn't even utter a cry before their heads flew up, a thick layer of ice crystals forming on the wounds, with not a drop of blood spilling.

"What a pity… these four girls are pretty; they should be played with before killing them. Too bad." A youth with an evil, bewitching appearance licked the corner of his mouth and sighed regretfully.

"Shut up, you lot… if it weren't for Poxi and his companions having fallen here one after another, the Heaven‑Scanning Mirror wouldn't have diverted some of its power to focus on this area, and we could pinpoint Yu Mo's identity."

"Yu Mo… even a single hair of hers is worth more than those four girls." Chang'an gave a grotesque grin: "With strength and status, why worry about lacking women to enjoy? When one day we sit upon the lofty thrones of the Changsheng Sect, hehe."

Several young men and women laughed at once.

Chang'an produced a token from his waist, strode out the door, stood at the window beside the corridor outside, and shouted loudly: "Someone! Remnants of the Shi Family have attacked Miss Yu Mo… Miss Yu Mo's whereabouts are unknown… exterminate the Shi Family, leave none alive."

He clenched the token tightly; a bolt of Blood Light shot up into the sky, exploding high above into countless red specks that coalesced into the bloody characters "Changsheng".

Chang'an's voice echoed throughout Blackstone City; the elite forces of the Changsheng Sect stationed inside and outside the city surged forth, quickly donning their gear and shouting as they rushed out of the barracks. In less than half an hour, the whole city was suffused with the smell of blood; on the stone‑paved streets, blood flowed like a stream, making a gushing sound.

Chang'an inhaled the city's blood‑laden air, intoxicated.

He said in a low voice: "Send Yu Mo and Qingyuan out as fast as possible to the envoy. The rest, use secret arts to condense 'Longevity Pills'; the lives of everyone in this city, hehe…"

A flicker of icy blue cold light flashed in his eyes; Chang'an said coldly: "The envoy said that Poxi and her companions died here, so someone must be buried with them and revenge must be taken… after we slaughter every Shi Family member in the city, all Changsheng Sect affiliates who are not ours will also be killed."

From all directions, dozens of voices sounded at once, answering in unison with a loud 'Yes!'

Chang'an smiled, reached out and grabbed the flowing blood outside the courtyard; a flash of Blood Light appeared, and a thumb‑sized pill exuding a rich aroma of refined blood condensed in his hand.

"Longevity, longevity… hehe, do you think capturing Longevity means you have everything?"

"Only we, the chosen ones bound by the threads, know that beyond Longevity there is something even more wonderful, something even more worth pursuing."

"Even if it is Longevity, you are nothing but ants in the mire."

"Only we, the chosen ones…… only we have a chance to transcend…… transcend, transcend, even if we become slaves or servants……"

A bolt of icy blue cold light as thick as three fingers slammed down from the vault, piercing deep into Chang'an's crown.

A set of heavy Xuanbing Ice Armor appeared out of nowhere and swiftly clad Chang'an.

Chang'an grasped two longswords of condensed Xuanbing Ice, swayed his body, and melted into the shadows outside the building.

A terrifying slaughter storm descended.

Whether it was the elite warriors of the Changsheng Sect, the Shi Family clansmen inside the city, or even the Shi Family's slaves and servants, no one escaped.