Chapter 806: Side Story 4: 43

This old peach tree obviously did not grow here by chance; someone planted it here long ago on purpose.

Jujube wood and peach wood are the best tree species for forming thunder-struck wood.

Nailing thunder-struck wood into the mountain ridge is an excellent way to keep a true dragon in place.

Of course, all of this must be carefully calculated.

Favorable timing, location, and harmony are all indispensable!

When Xiao Jiu understood this, his first reaction was to rush over and destroy that old peach tree first.

But before he could get close, Xiao Jiu stopped again.

No, that's not right.

A single old peach tree's thunder-struck wood is nowhere near enough to pin down Liu Junyan's true dragon.

So, on this dragon spine line, the enemy still doesn't know how many such points they have buried.

They intend to use one thunder-struck wood after another to nail down the entire dragon spine line.

And buried beneath the mountain is an ancient tomb containing imperial descendants.

Since ancient times, emperors have been called the True Dragon Son of Heaven, born with a true dragon destiny.

Therefore, they want to nail down a true dragon, seize his dragon qi, draw it into the ancient tomb, and awaken their 'true dragon'!

Such a murderous karma, they cannot bear it… so… the Meng family is the unlucky one.

The Meng family… from the very beginning has been a living target for them to bear that murderous karma!

Xiao Jiu only felt his temples throbbing.

How exactly should he act to minimize all harm within the limited time?

Should he take the golden compass and destroy all the old trees on the mountain ridge that could become thunder-struck wood?

That's too unrealistic.

Xiao Jiu can afford to wait, but Gu Ya cannot.

So, we must also strike at the source to break all of this.

Or we must first get Gu Ya into the ancient tomb.

However, looking at it this way, the enemy's heavily guarded point must also be the ancient tomb.

The ancient tomb is not so easy to enter.

Even if one manages to enter, it will definitely be a trap.

The enemy's preparations are too thorough.

Decades, even centuries of plotting—how could Xiao Jiu's two or three days of scheming easily break it?

But…

Xiao Jiu's lips slowly curled up.

Since the enemy has made full preparations, she will just give them a hand.

Help them do in advance what they were about to do tonight!

Xiao Jiu put away the golden compass, bit his right index finger, and quickly drew a lightning-summoning talisman in his left palm.

This is the protective spell Liu Junyan gave her long ago; he never expected it would be of great use now.

Xiao Jiu chanted the spell, his steps stirring the wind, and he slapped the old peach tree's trunk with a palm.

Crackle!

The moment Xiao Jiu's left palm struck toward the old peach tree, thunder rang out.

A bolt of lightning struck the old peach tree precisely, and in an instant the earth shook and mountains trembled.

Lightning lit up above the old peach tree as bright as day.

The old peach tree burned from top to bottom in an instant.

Xiao Jiu was not surprised by such a "spectacle".

After all, the enemy had long been prepared.

Their plan was to wait for the true dragon's arrival, then draw down heavenly lightning to strike the old peach tree, forming thunder-struck wood of immense mana to pin the true dragon to this mountain ridge.

Therefore, they must have set up a spell formation around the old peach tree.

These spell formations are what produced the shocking effect Xiao Jiu now sees.

Xiao Jiu merely helped them by prematurely drawing down heavenly lightning, triggering the spell formation.

The moment the old peach tree was burned through, the mountain ridge shook even more violently.

The old peach tree, still glowing with embers, kept sinking downward into the mountain ridge.

It was like a needle, driven deep into the mountain ridge.

In the forest, a wind rose, and rustling sounds came from all directions, quickly gathering toward the old peach tree's position.

The enemy finally moved.

Xiao Jiu snorted coldly, turned, hid in the dense forest, and ran toward the direction where the mountain ridge points to the Meng family ancestral tomb.

As she ran, she also watched the golden compass again.

Soon, Xiao Jiu locked onto a second old peach tree.

She hesitated not at all, and again summoned heavenly lightning.

Again, the earth shook and mountains trembled.

This time, Xiao Jiu did not wait for the thunder-struck wood to sink into the mountain before leaving.

She didn't know how many thunder-struck woods had been set up on the continuous mountain ridge of Seal Army Mountain; she only knew she didn't need to find all of them—just three to five—and by pre-driving them into the ridge, the enemy would surely panic.

Only by making the enemy panic will they become disordered.

Only when they are disordered does Xiao Jiu have a chance to send Gu Ya into the ancient tomb.

Translation: "Xiao Jiu didn't run backward; instead, she ran toward the Meng family ancestral tomb. First, she relatively understood the situation on this side better, having overlooked the area from the water's edge. Second, this direction is where the Dragon Head is located."

We'll produce: "Names: Xiao Jiu, Meng Family Ancestral Tomb (the Meng family ancestral tomb). Also 'water shore' is generic and may be considered a place but is generic. 'Dragon Head' is a term that could be a place name; as a specific location referenced, we should include it as Dragon Head. Also 'Meng Family' is a clan/family; the line mentions the Meng Family Ancestral Tomb, so we have the Meng family as a clan/faction. The term 'ancestral tomb' is generic, but we might include 'Meng Family Ancestral Tomb' as a place. However we need to output exact English forms as they appear in the glossary? The glossary only gave specific terms. For other names we need to translate them meaningfully, not romanize unless they are names. So we need to decide: 'Meng Family Ancestral Tomb' is a place name; we should translate it as Meng Family Ancestral Tomb. 'Dragon Head' is Dragon Head. 'water shore' is generic; maybe exclude. The instruction: exclude common words/objects, generic forms of address (not ranks). 'water shore' is generic location; maybe exclude. 'Meng Family' is a clan name; include as Meng Family. 'ancestral tomb' is generic; maybe not include separately."

Now we need to output glossary as JSON list of objects with raw_term and original_term. raw_term is the English term we use in translation. original_term is the Chinese characters.

Now for other terms we need to decide English forms.

Thus:

Line 87-94 as above.

Now we need to produce translations for each line 【61】-【94】.

We must use glossary names exactly: Xiao Jiu, Hui Moqiong, Mo Qiong, Mana, Qìchǎng.

Also we need to translate other terms as per rules.

Let's translate each line.

We need to produce English translation, preserving meaning, not adding.

Let's translate:

"Xiao Jiu didn't run backward but instead ran toward the direction of the Meng family ancestral tomb, because she was relatively more familiar with the situation on this side, having overlooked this area from the water's edge; another reason is that this direction is where the Dragon Head is located."

Make sure not to add extra info.

Now produce as single line: 【61】 Xiao Jiu didn't run backward but instead ran toward the direction of the Meng family ancestral tomb, because she relatively understood the situation on this side better, having overlooked this area from the water's edge; another reason is that this direction is where the Dragon Head is located.

Check length: okay.

Translate: "She had already secured the Dragon Head for them in advance; looking at this 'True Dragon Entering the Head' feng shui layout, how exactly could they revive it?"

Thus: 【62】 She had already secured the Dragon Head for them in advance; looking at the 'True Dragon Entering the Head' feng shui layout, how exactly could they revive it?

Translate: "After Xiao Jiu consecutively struck three old peach trees with lightning, the opposing side clearly figured out her intent, and everyone searching and besieging Xiao Jiu gathered toward the Dragon Head direction."

Thus: 【63】 After Xiao Jiu consecutively struck three old peach trees with lightning, the opposing side clearly figured out her intent, and everyone searching and besieging Xiao Jiu gathered toward the Dragon Head direction.

Translate: "A fishy wind rose among the trees, and the rustling of footsteps followed like a shadow."

Thus: 【64】 A fishy wind rose among the trees, and the rustling of footsteps followed like a shadow.

Translate: "Xiao Jiu, however, was not afraid at all."

Thus: 【65】 Xiao Jiu, however, was not afraid at all.

Translate: "Soon, she locked onto another old peach tree."

Thus: 【66】 Soon, she locked onto another old peach tree.

Translate: "Just as she struck the old peach tree with lightning and the mountain ridge shook violently, she saw a circle of people suddenly emerge from among the surrounding trees."

Thus: 【67】 Just as she struck the old peach tree with lightning and the mountain ridge shook violently, she saw a circle of people suddenly emerge from among the surrounding trees.

Translate: "These people were all tall and sturdy, dressed in black robes, with a golden dragon embroidered in gold thread on the front of the robes, its teeth bared and claws brandished."

Thus: 【68】 These people were all tall and sturdy, dressed in black robes, with a golden dragon embroidered in gold thread on the front of the robes, its teeth bared and claws brandished.

Translate: "As soon as they appeared, they firmly trapped Xiao Jiu in the middle, continually shrinking the encirclement."

Thus: 【69】 As soon as they appeared, they firmly trapped Xiao Jiu in the middle, continually shrinking the encirclement.

Translate: "Just as they drew their weapons, preparing to strike Xiao Jiu, she transformed into a phoenix, let out a cry, raised her head, spread her wings, and shot up into the sky."

Thus: 【70】 Just as they drew their weapons, preparing to strike Xiao Jiu, she transformed into a phoenix, let out a cry, raised her head, spread her wings, and shot up into the sky.

Translate: "Hmph."

Thus: 【71】 Hmph.

Translate: "You want to trap her?"

Thus: 【72】 You want to trap her?

Translate: "Dream on!"

Thus: 【73】 Dream on!

Translate: "Xiao Jiu did not linger long in midair."

Thus: 【74】 Xiao Jiu did not linger long in midair.

Translate: "As she drew heavenly thunder more and more often, her mana consumption grew greater, the enemy would also speed up everything, time was short, and Gu Ya must be suffering greatly now."

Thus: 【75】 As she drew heavenly thunder more and more often, her mana consumption grew greater, the enemy would also speed up everything, time was short, and Gu Ya must be suffering greatly now.

Translate: "Even, the enemy might already be attacking Hui Moqiong and them."

Thus: 【76】 Even, the enemy might already be attacking Hui Moqiong and them.

Translate: "Hui Moqiong's abilities, Xiao Jiu trusts them completely."

Thus: 【77】 Hui Moqiong's abilities, Xiao Jiu trusts them completely.

Translate: "But after all, she still has to protect Gu Ya, so it's inevitable that she'll focus on the front and neglect the rear."

Thus: 【78】 But after all, she still has to protect Gu Ya, so it's inevitable that she'll focus on the front and neglect the rear.

Translate: "Xiao Jiu didn't have time to search for old peach trees one by one, so she flew straight toward the water's edge."

Thus: 【79】 Xiao Jiu didn't have time to search for old peach trees one by one, so she flew straight toward the water's edge.

Translate: "The Dragon Head is at the far end of the water's edge; she needs to find the lightning-struck wood at the Dragon Head's position, deliver the final blow, then quickly return to Gu Ya's side."

Thus: 【80】 The Dragon Head is at the far end of the water's edge; she needs to find the lightning-struck wood at the Dragon Head's position, deliver the final blow, then quickly return to Gu Ya's side.

Translate: "But Xiao Jiu searched around the water's edge and still couldn't find any old peach tree."

Thus: 【81】 But Xiao Jiu searched around the water's edge and still couldn't find any old peach tree.

Translate: "Fly high, see far."

Thus: 【82】 Fly high, see far.

Translate: "Xiao Jiu saw that in the parking area, Hui Moqiong should already have engaged the enemy."

Thus: 【83】 Xiao Jiu saw that in the parking area, Hui Moqiong should already have engaged the enemy.

Translate: "She could see the surge of that qi field."

Thus: 【84】 She could see the surge of that qi field.

Translate: "It's too late."

Thus: 【85】 It's too late.

Translate: "Xiao Jiu risked lowering her profile and circled the water's edge once more."

Thus: 【86】 Xiao Jiu risked lowering her profile and circled the water's edge once more.

Translate: "Just then, several red lights shot up from the forest like arrows, straight toward Xiao Jiu."

Thus: 【87】 Just then, several red lights shot up from the forest like arrows, straight toward Xiao Jiu.

Translate: "Those red lights carried a strong bloody killing aura; the enemy, also driven to desperation, unleashed a big move right away."

Thus: 【88】 Those red lights carried a strong bloody killing aura; the enemy, also driven to desperation, unleashed a big move right away.

Translate: "Xiao Jiu fiercely flapped her wings, a gust of strong wind swept past, blowing those bloody killing auras back."

Thus: 【89】 Xiao Jiu fiercely flapped her wings, a gust of strong wind swept past, blowing those bloody killing auras back.

Translate: "Hmph."

Thus: 【90】 Hmph.

Translate: "You wretch, reap what you sow!"

Thus: 【91】 You wretch, reap what you sow!

Translate: "This gust of wind was too strong; not only were the bloody killing auras blown back, but the trees in the area also swayed in one direction."

Thus: 【92】 This gust of wind was too strong; not only were the bloody killing auras blown back, but the trees in the area also swayed in one direction.

Translate: "In that sway, Xiao Jiu saw a jujube tree standing out among the thicket."

Thus: 【93】 In that sway, Xiao Jiu saw a jujube tree standing out among the thicket.

Heh, as it turns out it was hidden here…