Chapter 435: Horse Hooves upon Fallen Blossoms
“Quick, try it out!” Sun Lingtong also felt a surge of excitement.
Ning Zhuo then closed his eyes, silently sensing his new spleen.
In a trance, it was as though he had entered a temple.
He sat cross-legged upon a dais, becoming the clay statue of the Earth God enshrined within that temple!
From beyond the temple’s walls, torrents of blood, essence, and qi ceaselessly drifted in.
After entering the temple, they were bathed again and again in the divine radiance of the Earth God statue.
The baptisms went on without pause, as impurities were absorbed and settled, enriching the foundation soil beneath the temple.
The spleen’s inherent function was to digest food, transform qi and blood, and ward off illnesses.
Now, with Ning Zhuo’s own spleen as the foundation, the Earth-Element Spleen Temple he had forged was far more efficient in all these aspects!
“It can even absorb and settle impurities, as though it were the very earth itself—accepting all things, bearing all things, nurturing all things. Through long accumulation and the passage of time, it transforms waste into treasure.”
This thought instantly reminded Ning Zhuo of the Stone-Forged Earth Treasure Divine Ability!
He began to channel his mana, activating the Earth-Element Spleen Temple.
At once, a surging force rose from the depths of his spleen, spreading in all directions, eagerly joining the life circulation throughout his body.
Ning Zhuo felt as though something had given him a powerful push—his whole being was enveloped in an indescribable sense of relief and harmony.
He then sat cross-legged and tried to absorb the surrounding natural spiritual energy.
In an instant, a vast amount of earth-element spiritual qi surged into him, flowing into the temple of the Earth Element within his body.
The absorption efficiency of this spiritual qi sent a shock through Ning Zhuo’s heart.
Even though he was the one who had modified this art, he was still astonished by its true cultivation effect!
“This rate of spiritual qi absorption far surpasses what I achieved using the Tornado Wheel!”
“No wonder the Five Elements Divine Lord could cultivate all five elements simultaneously, yet still progress with such incredible speed.”
—The Five Elements Qi Regulation Art!—
Ning Zhuo rapidly absorbed most of the earth-element spiritual qi and converted it into the other four elements, maintaining a perfect balance of the Five Elements within his Sea of Qi.
“In the future, if I can forge all five of the Five-Viscera Divine Temples, my cultivation speed will leap to new heights!”
Ning Zhuo could not help but feel a surge of yearning.
“The Five-Viscera Divine Temple Art I’ve currently designed must use the essence of the Five Elements—and each must possess spirituality.”
Without spirituality, Ning Zhuo could not create external deities.
In his blood-sacrifice refinement of organs, what he truly did was use his own spiritual nature to create temples, so as to control the external deities.
For now, since he had just finished refining it, he himself was akin to the deity’s statue within, and thus had the deepest level of control.
However, once his own spiritual nature could no longer constantly replenish it, the spirituality inherited from the Stone Dwelling Old Monster would inevitably awaken, gradually taking dominance, and in the end, completely seizing control of the Earth-Element Spleen Temple.
This was the fatal flaw of the Five-Viscera Divine Temple Art!
“Therefore, the Earth-Element Spleen Temple must not leave the body for too long—it must often return to replenish spirituality and suppress the external deity.”
Ning Zhuo silently reminded himself.
“Next comes the crucial step!”
With a shift of thought, Ning Zhuo’s spleen quivered, broke free from its original position, and transformed into a clump of earthen-yellow light.
He opened his mouth and spat out the glowing mass.
Controlling the light sphere, he guided it into the Stone Sphere while simultaneously activating the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique to form a mesh of blood tendons at the missing site of his spleen, temporarily taking its place.
The light sphere traveled along the narrow tunnel that had once been drilled through the Stone Sphere, delving deep into its heart.
There, it expanded—filling the hollow core and faintly transforming into a temple of the Earth Element.
Its doors stood open, and within sat a deity—its visage uncannily similar to Ning Zhuo himself.
The connection between Ning Zhuo and his Earth-Element Spleen Temple was exceptionally close.
He immediately controlled the temple, allowing it to rapidly permeate the Stone Sphere itself.
Moments later, it was as though he had grown a new organ altogether.
He then drew upon the earth-elemental mana within the top-grade spirit crystals embedded in the Stone Sphere.
A surge of power erupted, causing the sphere to roll, turn, and move with incredible agility.
With another thought, Ning Zhuo made the Earth-Element Spleen Temple unleash a strong suction, drawing back the previously expelled earth-element mana and storing it within the spirit stones.
Sun Lingtong had been watching the entire process. Upon seeing this, he clapped his hands hard.
“Xiao Zhuo, you’ve done it!”
Ning Zhuo grinned brightly. “Big Brother, with the Earth-Element Spleen Temple, I can now command the Stone Sphere as easily as my own arm.”
“But I still need to reconstruct its interior—turn it into a mechanism so that I can wield it more effectively!”
The Stone Sphere’s core was composed of countless top-grade earth-element crystals, containing surging Nascent Soul–level mana.
It was, in essence, a natural reservoir of power.
Ning Zhuo also planned to craft several Stone Mirrors.
The Stone Mirrors originated from the Mirror Platform Spirit Technique, which could amplify spiritual sense in unique ways.
When combined with the Stone Sphere, their effects would complement each other perfectly.
Time was pressing.
Ning Zhuo worked tirelessly, without sleep or rest, for two full days and nights before finally reaching his desired result.
His face was pale, and dark circles were etched beneath his eyes when he returned to the Three Generals Camp.
The three generals, though busy training new recruits, had been greatly concerned about Ning Zhuo.
After all, he had taken a significant portion of military funds with him—and had vanished without word.
When news spread that he had returned, Liu Er laughed heartily and personally came out of the camp to greet him.
Yet, the moment he saw Ning Zhuo, he froze.
In the past, Ning Zhuo was clad in white robes, bright-eyed and fair-skinned, exuding spiritual brilliance.
Now, the young man before him looked utterly worn out—pale-faced, with swollen eyes and dark shadows beneath them, as though some female ghost had drained most of his yang energy.
Liu Er took a deep breath and supported Ning Zhuo by the arms.
“Military Advisor, you have done far too much for our army—how could you drive yourself to such exhaustion!”
“Come into the camp and rest for a few days. You must not overwork yourself like this again.”
He spoke with such sincere concern that he didn’t even mention the divination results.
Such manner of interaction—whether genuine or not—warmed Ning Zhuo’s heart.
He immediately shook his head and sent a voice transmission to Liu Er:
“Reporting to the General—this time, I was fortunate not to fail in my duty. The divination bore fruit, and I have composed a prophetic poem.”
“The content of this poem is alarming. I dared not rest for a moment and hastened back to report it to you.”
“The prophetic verse reads thus—”
“Horse hooves upon fallen blossoms,
Wind rises, shadows sink in sand.
Who can keep the moonlight bright,
And who shall bury mist and haze?”
Liu Er frowned deeply after hearing it.
After a brief moment of thought, he looked at Ning Zhuo and asked through divine sense,
“Military Advisor, what does this poem mean?”
Ning Zhuo smiled bitterly and shook his head.
“I cannot fully interpret it. Yet upon seeing this poem, I felt an overwhelming sense of looming danger.”
“The ‘horse hooves upon fallen blossoms’ seem to foretell that our great army is about to march.”
“But the words ‘fallen blossoms’ fill me with dread. As the saying goes—fallen blossoms and flowing waters—perhaps our army’s advance will meet great peril.”
Liu Er shook his head.
“‘Horse hooves upon fallen blossoms’—in my view, could it not mean that our grand army will trample our enemies underfoot, crushing them utterly?”
Ning Zhuo was momentarily startled.
“This prophetic poem cannot be explained line by line, General.”
“For the next line, ‘Wind rises, shadows sink in sand,’ suggests a sudden reversal—the enemies arise like the wind, and the situation turns obscure and perilous.”
“‘Who can keep the moonlight bright’—the moon represents hope.”
“‘And who shall bury mist and haze’—the mist and haze signify the flames and chaos of war.”
“These two lines together imply that in the coming calamity, some will perish while others survive to see the next night—the light of hope remains, meaning our army shall not be completely destroyed.”
Liu Er listened carefully, then chuckled and shook his head.
“Military Advisor, you are far too pessimistic.”
“In my opinion, the latter two lines merely describe the natural casualties on both sides of the battlefield—some live, others die.”
“What we must be wary of is an enemy skilled in mist or haze-based techniques.”
“But if you ask me, doesn’t our Fire Cloud Army command fireclouds across the battlefield? Isn’t that very same ‘mist and haze’?”
“Hahaha!”
Ning Zhuo was speechless.
Indeed, he had hurried back and only composed the prophetic poem halfway through his journey.
Yet when he tried to warn Liu Er, the latter took it all with cheerful optimism.
Ning Zhuo drew a deep breath.
“General, I performed the divination personally—I experienced it myself, and my intuition speaks volumes.”
“My mood remains heavy and low—that is the greatest omen!”
“The General must not let his guard down!”
Liu Er nodded repeatedly, offering further words of comfort before escorting Ning Zhuo to the Military Advisor’s tent to rest.
When Zhang Hei and Guan Hong heard of his return, they came over together during a training break.
Halfway along the path, the three happened to meet.
Liu Er waved a hand.
“This time’s divination has utterly exhausted the Military Advisor. Go back—you mustn’t disturb his rest.”
Zhang Hei grinned. “Heh, I knew the Military Advisor was worth trusting!”
As he spoke, he cast a sidelong glance at Guan Hong—
Guan Hong stroked his beard: “I was merely saying that anything is possible.”
He then asked Liu Er about the divination result.
Liu Er recited the prophetic poem.
Zhang Hei was dumbstruck, while Guan Hong pondered: “Both the Military Advisor’s and Big Brother’s interpretations make sense. That’s the ambiguous tone of a prophetic poem.”
As they spoke, a military courier rode in at full speed, carrying a command tablet.
Seeing the three Golden Halberd Army generals, the courier saluted none of them—he merely raised the order: “By decree, the Three Generals Camp must ready to break camp at first light tomorrow and march out to join the main army!”
Liu Er, Guan Hong, and Zhang Hei all widened their eyes; Zhang Hei drew a sharp breath.
Their strange reactions startled the courier.
“You still refuse the order? Do you intend to disobey?!” the courier barked.
Liu Er hurriedly accepted the military token.
No sooner had the courier left than Zhang Hei could not contain himself: “Big Brother, Second Brother—our Military Advisor truly is remarkable. He actually divined that our army would march.”
“Does this… mean our prospects are bleak?”
Guan Hong fell silent in thought.
Liu Er took a deep breath, his face grave: “Second Brother, Third Brother, in truth I trust the Military Advisor more.”
“After all, he excels at divination—I’m but an amateur.”
“Why then do I still try to comfort him?”
At that, Liu Er spoke earnestly and with solemnity: “Brothers, if the future is riddled with danger and life-or-death perils, will we therefore shy back?”
“I will not!”
Liu Er breathed in and his eyes reddened: “Though I shed blood against the imperial relatives, so what?”
“Who would esteem me because of that identity?”
“Many scoff and call me a monstrosity—a bastard!”
“I want to rise above it.”
“I very much want that!”
“But in today’s cultivation world, people of my status are seldom recognized.”
“This Liangzhu Kingdom expedition against the Thousand Peaks Forest is an opportunity I must seize!”
“So, no matter how perilous, I will march on.”
Liu Er’s words rang true and sincere.
Zhang Hei was moved and said at once: “Big Brother, I understand you!”
“I moved a portion of my clan to Canglin Immortal City hoping to use nearby resources to grow stronger. But after relocating, I found the key posts already taken.”
“Canglin Immortal City may be vast, but it leaves little room for outsiders to prosper—too little!”
“Only by taking part in the campaign can I earn merit, avoid being pushed aside, and truly gain strength.”
“So rest assured, Big Brother—on the battlefield I, Old Hei, will charge at the front!”
Guan Hong added: “I have traveled the world and seen this flourishing age burn like oil on a fire—cultivators swarm like locusts.”
“I believe the era of great contention must arrive!”
“We, young men of substance, should ride the tide and drive the waves at the forefront of the times.”
“Big Brother, Third Brother, Guan swore he would never flee without fighting.”
Seeing their resolve, Liu Er rejoiced and grabbed both their forearms: “Good! Truly my sworn brothers. From this day forth we will advance and retreat together, watch over each other, and surely carve a path of achievement in this world!”
“Big Brother!”
“Second Brother, Third Brother!”
“Big Brother!”
“Second Brother, Third Brother!”
The three generals’ hearts and wills were united; their bond deepened.
They began to dispatch officers and troops to prepare the many tasks required for breaking camp at first light.
The next day.
A heavy fog.
Thick mist shrouded the hills, rivers, and vegetation; white haze devoured everything. Distant peaks appeared and vanished; their summits blurred as if ready to be swallowed whole by the fog.
The roadside grasses drooped, beads of damp dew clung to leaves, swaying gently like silent whispers.
Even the sunrise through the mist was pale and weak, as though all had fallen into endless stillness—vacant and uncertain.
As commander of the Golden Halberd Army, the Liangzhu Kingdom’s important general—Sun Gan—was in charge of this march.
A messenger reported: “My lord, General Liu Er of the Three Generals Camp sent word asking whether, given today’s thick fog, we should halt the march?”
Sun Gan sat at his command post and, upon hearing it, paused before sneering: “A mere fog—how could that stop an army? Ridiculous!”
After a moment he ordered an inquiry: “Why has the Three Generals Camp not yet moved?”
He was informed that the Three Generals Camp had not even finished taking down their tents.
Sun Gan snorted in displeasure: “A band of useless men!”
A deputy sneered: “The Three Generals Camp has always been a ragtag lot. The Barbarian-Demon Camp’s leader Xu Dali at least came from the ranks and studied military strategy. What are Liu Er, Guan Hong, and Zhang Hei? They dabble in some tactics and think they can command troops—laughable!”
Sun Gan: “Issue the order—the Three Generals Camp is marching too slowly, violating military decree. Punish their commander Liu Er with thirty strokes. Record it; we will carry it out when we reach Woodwheel Town.”
“Let the Barbarian-Demon Camp lead the vanguard!”
“White Jade Camp will follow.”
“The Golden Halberd Army will take the center.”
“After us, the Red Flower Camp.”
“The Three Generals Camp will bring up the rear.”
“Whole army, march out!”
Sun Gan’s punishments and reprimands were immediately relayed to the Three Generals Camp.
Ning Zhuo felt guilty and said: “By my reckoning, it was my fault that the General will be punished thirty strokes.”
Liu Er waved his hand at once: “Thirty strokes are nothing—we can bear it.”
“The Military Advisor cared for our Three Generals Camp; we all know that in our hearts.”
“Enough talk—send the order: have the whole army pack up and stay alert throughout. No negligence. Violators will be punished with sixty strokes!”