Chapter 531: If Fate Brings You Harm
Waves surged endlessly, crashing and churning.
Golden streaks shot through the air while earth and stones flew in all directions. At intervals, flames took shape and wooden strips danced through the sky.
Five Elements Spells rotated continuously in Ning Zhuo’s hands, pressing down so hard that the Golden Core cultivator Yan Jin could barely raise his head.
“Damn it!”
“Even with the magical treasure bell in hand, I’m still forced into the disadvantage.”
“This kid… is he really only sixteen years old?”
Yan Jin gritted his teeth and held on with all his strength.
The next moment, his eyes bulged wide in shock as he discovered that cracks had begun spreading across the great bell before him.
He could still hold on, but the magical treasure bell was already approaching its limit.
After all, this bell had never been designed as a weapon of attack. It was merely an auxiliary tool specially crafted for artifact refinement.
“Oh, it’s about to give out.” Ning Zhuo’s heart stirred as he sharply noticed the same thing.
He decisively lowered the strength of his attacks and reduced the frequency of his spellcasting.
The pressure on Yan Jin immediately lessened.
A surge of grief and indignation rose in his heart.
“I am supposed to be a senior in the cultivation world, yet in front of a sixteen-year-old boy I’ve become nothing but a living target.”
“This brat isn’t even treating me like a human—he’s using me to practice his spells!”
Yan Jin felt deeply humiliated.
Meanwhile, Ning Zhuo became increasingly excited.
“So I can actually be this strong?”
“This is all because my physical body foundation has grown much stronger, allowing me to receive greater reinforcement from the Military Art—The Warrior Returns Art.”
“The stronger I am, the stronger the spells I cast.”
“The only weakness now is that my own mana isn’t sufficient. But at the moment, military force can consume it on my behalf.”
Having experienced many wars firsthand, Ning Zhuo clearly understood that the military force of an army was essentially a shared mana reservoir. This reservoir’s capacity was often far greater than that of any individual.
Of course, the military force of Ning Zhuo’s Mechanical Army could not compare to the Red Flower Camp, nor to the Three Generals Camp.
But one must remember—Ning Zhuo himself was an army of one.
All the military force was his to command!
“Boss, when you think about it, you’re still the amazing one.”
“If you hadn’t figured out the correct way to use the Fetal-Breath Spirit Vessel, there’s no way I would’ve improved this much in such a short time!”
Inside the Wanli Dragon, Sun Lingtong chuckled and said without the slightest modesty, “Of course.”
What Ning Zhuo didn’t know was that Sun Lingtong was even happier than he was at this moment.
“Xiao Zhuo… it’s been so long since I’ve seen you laugh this openly.”
Sun Lingtong’s gaze drifted like misty clouds as memories surfaced.
The first time he had spoken with Ning Zhuo, the boy had burst into tears.
In order to save his mother, that small body had borne a crushing burden. From the age of barely two, he had already begun plotting against the Lava Immortal Palace, facing the City Lord’s Mansion, the three great families, and numerous Golden Core cultivators—even Nascent Soul cultivators.
It was like an ant challenging a mountain.
How enormous that pressure must have been.
Yet Sun Lingtong had never been able to persuade Ning Zhuo to change his mind.
Because he himself had been exactly the same.
In order to rescue his own master, Sun Lingtong had repeatedly risked his life, infiltrating the Lava Immortal Palace again and again.
Time after time he had been injured. Time after time he had nearly died. Time after time hope had turned to disappointment, edging ever closer to despair.
“Now I’ve walked out of it. But Xiao Zhuo still hasn’t.”
Ning Zhuo had never hidden his plan to revive his mother from Sun Lingtong.
“To rely solely on spirituality to bring someone back to life?”
Sun Lingtong knew all too well how unrealistic that plan was. The chances of success were vanishingly small.
“Even soul possession carries enormous drawbacks. The soul would constantly be dragged by the Underworld. And when the day of descent finally comes, the punishment awaiting the soul would be even more terrible.”
“Reviving the dead is a major taboo—even among demonic paths. To succeed is incredibly difficult, and the price paid is often far greater than the reward.”
But Sun Lingtong could not persuade Ning Zhuo to give up.
Because he himself had once done the same thing. He had no right to say otherwise.
Back then, he had been single-mindedly determined to find his master again. Even the risk of death had meant nothing to him.
But gradually, a new worry had arisen in Sun Lingtong’s heart.
If I die… what will happen to Xiao Zhuo?
The longer he spent with Ning Zhuo, the more that worry grew within him.
“My life… my entire existence was saved by you, Xiao Zhuo.”
“So no matter how difficult this road to saving your mother becomes, I will walk it with you.”
“Only…”
Sun Lingtong had already walked this path once himself. Deep in his heart, he did not want Ning Zhuo to walk it to the very end with no return.
That was why—even though Ning Zhuo was only at the Foundation Establishment stage—Sun Lingtong wholeheartedly supported his decision to travel the world.
“Xiao Zhuo, Fire Persimmon Immortal City was like a cage.”
“A heavy shackle on both your body and your mind.”
“As long as you stayed in that city, you spent every day plotting against the Lava Immortal Palace.”
“You lived there your whole life—from childhood until now. For sixteen years you endured in silence.”
“But endurance should not be the main color of life, Xiao Zhuo.”
Through his travels, Ning Zhuo had seen many different landscapes and many different ways of living.
The war in the Liangzhu Kingdom had frightened him, yet it had also filled him with excitement.
Fierce battles and war were desires buried deep within every man.
“In the past, you were like a volcano suppressing itself.”
“Your anger, your unwillingness, your schemes, your ambition—you had to bury them deep inside, enduring everything until one day they would erupt and shake the heavens.”
“But now the heroic spirit of the battlefield has already begun to influence you.”
The ambush battle, the reconnaissance battle in the Thousand Peaks Forest, the Grand Decisive Battle of Iron Flow Across the Plains…
Liu Er, Guan Hong, Zhang Hei, Mu Lan, Shuangjing, Lone Fang, Tu Ming…
All these wars and all these people had subtly influenced Ning Zhuo.
Observers see more clearly than those involved.
Ning Zhuo believed his happiness came from the rapid improvement of his strength.
But Sun Lingtong understood something else.
If this had been the Ning Zhuo who had just left Fire Persimmon Immortal City, he would have merely curled the corner of his mouth in a faint smile, quietly pleased that this change might help revive his mother.
He would never have laughed so openly.
“You’re only sixteen.”
“This is the smile a young man should have.”
“Keep traveling like this.”
“See both the ugliness and the beauty of the world. Experience excitement and all kinds of interesting things.”
“Life has endless possibilities. There are countless ways to live it.”
“Your life cannot consist only of an immense and painful goal. It should also have joy, brilliance, and light.”
All along, Sun Lingtong had carried one fear in his heart.
If Ning Zhuo’s plan to revive his mother ultimately failed completely… how devastating would that blow be?
Would he end up like Sun Lingtong once had—his heart dead, life meaningless?
That was why Sun Lingtong desperately hoped Ning Zhuo could experience the many joys of life.
He wanted to see Ning Zhuo interact with Lin Shanshan. He wanted to see Ning Zhuo enter Dual Cultivation with Mu Lan.
Not merely for amusement.
And the reason Sun Lingtong accompanied Ning Zhuo on this journey was actually very simple.
“Xiao Zhuo.”
“If cruel fate brings you pain and hardship…”
“If it strips away your happiness and burdens you with suffering…”
“Then let me make up for it all.”
This was a decision Sun Lingtong had long made deep within his heart.
Bang.
Under Ning Zhuo’s increasingly fierce assault, the magical treasure bell finally reached its limit and shattered into countless fragments.
Yan Jin, who had been closely linked to the bell while continuously activating it, immediately suffered backlash and coughed up blood as he collapsed to his knees.
“Xiao Zhuo, good chance!” Sun Lingtong shouted. “Capture him alive!”
“Got it, boss!”
Ning Zhuo took a deep breath.
With one hand he formed a spell seal, releasing deep-green vines. With the other he drew out a stack of talismans and activated them, sending them shooting forward.
The vines rapidly wrapped around Yan Jin, binding him tightly in place.
The talismans struck him one after another, sticking across his entire body and sealing him completely.
Not only could he no longer mobilize mana, even his spiritual sense could not spread. He was utterly immobilized.
“Hahaha! I did it! This is the first Golden Core enemy I’ve captured alive in direct combat!”
Ning Zhuo laughed joyfully.
Inside the Wanli Dragon, Sun Lingtong raised his thumb in praise.
“Xiao Zhuo, impressive. You’re only at the Foundation Establishment stage, yet you captured a Golden Core cultivator alive!”
Ning Zhuo landed nearby but did not approach Yan Jin rashly.
Instead, he activated his spiritual sense and cast detection spells to confirm the situation.
While doing so, he quietly spoke to Sun Lingtong.
“It’s a pity the bell shattered first. I still haven’t tested my endurance limit.”
Sun Lingtong chuckled.
“Xiao Zhuo, you idiot. That doesn’t really mean much, does it?”
Ning Zhuo froze for a moment, then immediately understood what he meant.
Indeed.
With the Fetal-Breath Spirit Vessel, his physical cultivation would continue to skyrocket.
Even if he measured his limits now—so what?
In a short while, they would change again.
Ning Zhuo’s expression became serious as he slowly approached Yan Jin.
“You’re right, boss.”
“I got a bit carried away.”
“The progress and achievements I’ve made now aren’t really anything.”
“Capturing a Golden Core cultivator? I only relied on Military Arts and the Five Elements realm.”
“The former came from Soldiers Sharing One Helm and Gao Sheng’s Testament. The latter was taught to me by the Five Elements Divine Lord.”
“Even my physical cultivation was achieved thanks to you—and the Fetal-Breath Spirit Vessel.”
“My own efforts contributed very little.”
“Thank you, boss.”
“You always manage to remind me in such clever and subtle ways.”
Sun Lingtong scratched his head awkwardly.
“Xiao Zhuo… well…”
Another battlefield.
Liu Er, Guan Hong, and Zhang Hei repeatedly unleashed Military Arts, bombarding the fire curtain.
Three layers of fire curtain!
Fairy Flowing Flame frowned deeply as she unleashed the full power of the formation.
Blazing heat waves surged forward. Some soldiers suddenly burst into flames, screaming as they burned into charred corpses.
The three generals remained resolute—solemn, calm, or roaring—as they continuously deployed Military Arts.
Fairy Flowing Flame felt her spirits rise.
“We can hold them!”
“The Three Generals Camp hasn’t trained enough elite soldiers, and their equipment is mediocre. Their military force isn’t sufficient.”
“The total military force they possess simply can’t sustain three consecutive all-out Military Arts attacks.”
“Besides, they must reserve some military force to reinforce themselves against the flames!”
But in the next moment, Liu Er suddenly roared:
“Now! Full attack!”
Guan Hong and Zhang Hei obeyed instantly.
Blade light split the first fire curtain.
The black spear pierced the second.
Sword light tore apart the third!
“How is that possible? You actually saw through the node of the fire curtain?!”
Fairy Flowing Flame stared at Liu Er in disbelief.
Guan Hong and Zhang Hei’s heavy attacks consuming most of the army’s military force were not surprising.
The key lay in Liu Er’s sword light.
It was extremely weak, barely drawing upon military force, yet it struck with incredible precision, hitting the node of the fire curtain and collapsing the final defense with a subtle strike.
Liu Er gave no reply and continued swinging his sword.
Sword light shot toward Fairy Flowing Flame’s throat.
“Don’t even think about it!”
She shouted and revealed her trump card.
Dense talismans suddenly appeared across her body. They burned crimson like flames.
In an instant, Fairy Flowing Flame transformed into a humanoid flame.
Although the sword light severed the flaming head, the flames reconnected and reformed into a complete figure.
“You think you can kill me? Not yet.”
Just as she prepared to retreat—
Innate Talent—Purple Beard Shocking Radiance!
Guan Hong finally recovered enough energy and unleashed his innate talent, freezing Fairy Flowing Flame in place.
“AAAAAH!”
Zhang Hei leapt out of the formation, raising his Black Serpent Spear high above his head before stabbing downward with terrifying force.
Martial Art—Black Python Strangulation!
Military force, mana, and vitality merged together, forming a thick serpent-like battle aura at the spear tip.
The roaring black aura spiraled like a python and struck the flaming figure instantly.
Guan Hong suddenly dropped to one knee, panting heavily.
The freezing effect vanished.
Fairy Flowing Flame regained movement and immediately saw the Black Serpent Spear piercing through her body.
“It’s useless! I’m currently a Fire-Element body—ugh!”
In the next instant, the black battle aura exploded outward like a giant python opening its jaws and devouring its prey.
Flames erupted with dazzling brightness.
But it was only her final futile struggle.
The black aura shredded all the flames before dissipating.
All that remained was a dim, cracked Golden Core drifting down through the air.
Zhang Hei snatched it with one hand.
Landing on the ground, he raised the fist holding the Golden Core high into the sky.
“The enemy has been slain by me!”
Cheers erupted across the Three Generals Camp.
“We’ve won.”
Guan Hong exhaled slowly and straightened.
Meanwhile, Liu Er immediately surveyed the army, estimated the losses, and issued a series of orders to clear the battlefield and take over the formation.
“There’s an underground chamber beneath here. The Vermilion Bird Incense Furnace is hidden inside.”
Following Liu Er’s instructions, the soldiers dug it up and indeed found the magical treasure serving as the formation core.
“With this, we now control the Ten-Li Burning Forest formation,” Guan Hong said with a satisfied smile.
Zhang Hei asked curiously, “Big Brother, how did you discover the secret? That underground chamber was set up extremely well—it blocks spiritual sense detection.”
Liu Er hesitated but did not answer.
It was his innate talent, Spiritual Sound Probing Pulse, at work.
This talent granted Liu Er extraordinary hearing. He could hear distant sounds, trace causes and effects, and discern underlying truths.
Its strength was precisely in tracing the origins of things.
Thus its direct detection ability was weak, but its investigative depth was extraordinary.
Only after fighting this long had Liu Er gradually uncovered the source of the fire curtain and the secrets of the formation.
The fire curtain nodes had been discovered in the same way.
“Unfortunately, we still can’t control this forest-guarding formation for now.”
After several attempts, all three generals failed.
“First store away the Vermilion Bird Incense Furnace and seal the formation,” Liu Er ordered.
“We must immediately go support the Strategist.”
Zhang Hei laughed loudly.
“Don’t worry! The bell already stopped ringing earlier—that must mean the Strategist has won!”
Guan Hong stroked his beard.
“Precisely because of that, we should go support him even more.”
Zhang Hei blinked.
“Huh?”
Liu Er explained:
“Just as we can no longer hear the bell, the Strategist will also no longer suffer the fire curtain’s attacks. The flames in the forest will weaken greatly.”
“He’ll realize we’ve defeated Fairy Flowing Flame.”
“What do you think he’ll do then?”
Zhang Hei thought for a moment.
“We found this place because of Big Brother’s guidance. The Strategist doesn’t know the location, so either he’ll return to where we separated…”
“Or… he’ll go straight for the central Fire-Crowned Divine Cedar?”
Liu Er nodded.
“Exactly. Luo Chen still hasn’t appeared until now—something must have happened to him.”
“Given the Strategist’s ability, there’s a high chance he’ll head there to investigate.”
Zhang Hei remembered how Ning Zhuo had shown no fear even when Du Tiechuan summoned him earlier, while he himself had been worried about punishment for killing the Iron Eagle.
He immediately agreed.
“The Strategist’s got guts! Then let’s head straight to the Fire-Crowned Divine Cedar and meet up with him, hahaha!”