Chapter 137 The Old Ginger Was Hotter Than New
Western Front was be plagued by crises, and Yan army lost ground one after another. If even the Jin City fell, what would happen to the people of the Jin City under the iron hooves? Standing on the city tower, Yan Shen looked into the distance. Jin City was on the verge of destruction, and Hongjun still tried to hold Yan Shen under duress. Impossilbe! Rather than be a puppet, Yan Shen would like to control his own fate. He finally freed from worry when straightening out his thinking. The candlelight burned more furiously in the wind. Yan Shen figured out the method to deal with the difficulty— except Hongjun, there was still a person that could help him. Yan Shen entered the room and changed his nocturnal clothes. At his young age, Yan Shen was a genius on martial arts. His Heaven-and-Earth microstep was his unique technique. Although it was not as fast as mounting clouds, it could enable Yan Shen to move hundreds of kilometers away at night. It had been the next morning when he arrived at Kunlun. It was Yan’s first time to Kunlun, and immediately, he was overawed by the wreathing Qi. Kunlun’s winding mountains seperated Kunlun from the human realm, and the Ruoshui Lake underfoot also barred his way. Little Lingchong hovered above him. Today was the first day for the preliminary test. Why was there a participant at such an old age? Yan Shen did not realize that he was targeted by an insect. For Little Lingchong, the old man in front was at 70 or 80 years old.
“Kunlun is not a place for the elderly. You’d better come back now.”
Since Yan Shen had seen demons many times, he was not curious about the insect, and what he should do now was to cross the river. Yan Shen took off his shoes and rolled up trousers. With a second thought, he put down the trousers then. Little Lingchong’s eyes bulged, and it would like to see what the old man planned to do. When Yan Shen tiptoed down to the water, Little Lingchong flapped its wings to stop the old man, because the lake water was poisonous drug, and even Kunlun’s Melting Souls Liquid was extracted from the lake. The liquid could reduced any demon into a pool of bloody water, let alone a mortal. Yan Shen was lifted up by Spirit Power. Little Lingchong fanned its wings furiously. When finally arriving on the mountaintop, it threw Yan Shen down and sank directly on the ground. Yan Shen picked himself up and patted the dust. He thought the insect was so rude that his bones were almost broken. And Little Lingchong gasped for breath heavily.
“Old man, you are going in the wrong direction. This is the road to the martial-arts arena.”
Yan Shen was hard of hearing, so he totally ignored the insect. He came there to ask for reinforcement. Apart from Kunlun, who was able to fight agaist the devil army now? However, the Lingchong blocked his way.
“Why don’t you obey the rules? This way is to the women’s wing rooms. You cannot trespass.”
Yan Shen could not stand the insect’s chattering, so he waved his sleeves, hoping the little insect could get away from him. Little Lingchong puffed out with all of its strength and blew Yan Shen dozens of feet away.
“Participants, go to the right. And female guests live on the left.”
“Such an insect, why do you block my way? I want to see Sect Master Xu. Report it to him hurriedly.”
Upon hearing the old man wanted to see the male master, Little Lingchong waved its wings to Ao Ze. Kunlun would hold the preliminary contest for the Kunlun’s new disciples today, so Xu Linghe was busy with numerous affairs. Little Lingchong whispered to him for a long time, and then Xu Linghe understood what had happened.
“Something urgent. I will be back soon.” Xu Linghe followed Little Lingchong out of the main hall. As the Sect Master, Wuyou hoped that her husband would assume commands there. Today was very important for Kunlun. The contest was going on in full swing. The contestants came to Kunlun for the first time, ranging from six or seven years old to 17 or 18 years old. And most of them were common people’s children, because the war in the human realm had deprived their parents’ lives. These young children came to Kunlun alone just for having something to eat. For them, cultivating spirit and ascending to be an immortal were just a dream out of reach. Chengyi conducted physical fitness tests on the new contestants. And Liu Ruoshui’s mental attitude also changed. She was not the shrewd woman any longer, instead, she was busy with Kunlun’s affairs every day. Shenzong’s death made Kunlun more united. And Shenzong would rest in peace underground. Liu Ruoshui had respect to the female Sect Master, and her mind got broadened as well. She hoped to be a woman like the Sect Master one day. Today, Liu Ruoshui served as the Mentor for the preliminary, which made her excited. Kunlun suffered great casualties in the war and needed new blood now. Wuyou appointed Chengyi as the Hall Master of the Reward and Punishment Hall, and Liu Ruoshui as the enlightening master for the spirit cultivators. The job was relatively easy for a woman. Wuyou hoped more that all the Kunlun’s people could make concerted efforts to restore vitality. After all, the three allied parts were still casting greedy eyes on Kunlun. Last time, Kunlun could get away with the catastrophe by luck. So now, Kunlun needed to defend them in advance, because no one could foresee what would happen next time. Strict standards were kept in selecting the new disciples. Anyone with ill intentions would be prohibitted to enter Kunlun, because he/she would become a borer in Kunlun. Wuyou kept a wary eye on the new participants. All of them would go through selections upon selections, including the peeping technique. However, there was still several fish escaping from the net.
How could the three allied parts let Kunlun develop easily? As early as the war had just concluded, the three allied parts had drawa up a plan: they found some homeless children in the human realm, trained the children secretly and tested them in all aspects. When the children met the standard, the three allied parts would use shape-shifting to conceal the children’s Spirit Power and let them lose their memories temporarily. And the memoried would be activated when needed. But now, these children were the same as those from common families. Simple tests worked. Even if Wuyou had taken precautions, it was impossible to guard against all of offensives.
When the two met, the atmosphere was rather embarrassing. Yan Shen was driven into a corner. Rather than make deals with Hongjun, Yan Shen would like to trust Xu Linghe’s moral standing.
“Uncle Yan, you’re still strong-bodied.”
“I am old and useless now.” Looking at his nephew of Xu family, Yan Shen did not know how to begin. If you wanted to ask someone for help, you should do him/she a favor before. However, when Xu family got into trouble, Yan Shen did not give a helping hand. So now, how could he have the crust to ask for help? Yan Shen just sighed. Xu Linghe broke up the embarrassment. Although Yan family did not help his family at that time, it did not take advantage when Xu family fell. So in this regard, Xu Linghe did not blame any others. After all, human nature was selfishness. Who was willing to make trouble for himself/herself?
“It is not easy for Uncle Yan to come here. So stay here for a few more days.”
Xu Linghe’s words flustered Yan Shen, because Yan army was still waiting for him.
“I have something urgent. And I don’t have that leisure time... In the past, I was unable to help your family. I don’t know where I can put my old face.” Yan Shen shook his head helplessly.
“Even if my father is gone, you’re still Linghe’s uncle.”
Yan Shen’s aged eyes moistened as he heard Xu Linghe’s words. Xu Linghe’s magnanimous attitude made Yan Shen sentimental at the heart. Yan Shen thought the son taught by the Old Man Xu was really not an ordinary one.
“Yan army has been defeated again and again. It is at the crucial moment of life and death. My virtuous nephew, could you please help your uncle?”
“Otherwise, the people of the Jin City are going to suffer.” Yan Shen was a smart person.
But Xu Linghe was not a fool, either. It was useless to scheme in front of a clever person. So Yan Shen had to told Xu Linghe the truth, but he placed the people on the first. It was kind of Yan Shen’s scheme. After all, Kunlun was in the spirit realm, and saving the common people was Kunlun’s responsibility.
“Kunlun intervenes in the affairs of the human realm. It is against the rules.”
Xu Linghe had his own considerations. Today’s Kunlun was not as good as it used to be. Kunlun did not have that strength. Moreover, didn’t the Yan family rely on Hongjun? With the support of the Impure Essence army, Yan army would dominate the human realm sooner or later. All Xu Linghe wanted was to restore Kunlun to what it used to be and to make Kunlun strong as soon possible. Only in this way, could he take revenge for Grandmaster. Yan Shen was quite disappointed. Yan army was in deadly danger right now, and it seemed hard to escape the tribulation. If Kunlun was unwilling to help, what could Yan Shen do if he came back? He still could not face the Jin City’s people. Rather than being killed by the devil army, Yan Shen would like to kill himself now. Next second, Yan Shen ran fast to the stone pillar. The moment he was about to bump his head to the pillar, he was rolled back by Spirit Power. Xu Linghe did not expect that Uncle Yan would commit suicide, so Xu Linghe was struck dumb with shock at that moment.
“My virtuous nephew, I do have no way to go. If I go back, I feel ashamed to the Jin City’s people.”
Yan Shen wept bitterly. Trapped in the trouble today, Yan Shen could not blame anyone else, but himself, his greed. Not only had his son died for his rapacity, but also the Jin City’s people had to suffer a lot.
“Uncle Yan, it is not that I don’t help you, but that Kunlun does not have that strength now. Last time, Kunlun was drained by the three allied parts’s siege.”
“My virtuous nephew, don’t you want to take revenge? The back of Di army is Chidi and the three allied parts. If you help Yan army, you can take revenge as well. If you have some misgivings about Hongjun, let me tell you the truth. The sly one threatens me, and wants my country. Though I am not a good person, I will not be a sinner.”
The words from the bottom of Yan Shen’s heart were reasonable indeed and to the point. Xu Linghe did wreak vengeance on the three allied parts. And it was not just that. He would eradicate them. Only by doing so could he appease Grandmaster’s deceased spirit. However, Yan Shen was sophisticated, so Xu Linghe thought it was better to speak things out plainly and openly.
“I can help you. But Yan army must take my order. Besides, Hongjun killed Kunlun’s disciples. I hoped Uncle Yan will remember that I will take the reveng without doubt.”
Yan Shen had his own plan. Suffering Hongjun’s withdrawl halfway, Yan Shen realized that all depended on himself. Xu Linghe was born to be a commander-in-chief, a genius seldom seen in the world. So Yan Shen would not let go of the chance of seeking worthy people. In fact, it was a plot when he acted to court death. If he had not been forced to the end of the road, Yan Shen would not have thought about the bad plan.
“We all listen to you. Yan family are at your disposal, including me. You can pick out any officials from Yan army.”
Yan Shen was too old to devote himself to the war. The reason why he selected Yan Bo was to help Yan Shen himself. But out of his expectation, Yan army was discomfited in every battle. And Yan Shen lost confidence. In terms of moral standing, Xu Linghe was much better. If the Jin City could have Xu Linghe to help them, it was the blessing of the Jin City’s people. So Yan Shen made a decision that he would retire from his post to the mountain forest after the war, and let Xu Linghe take over the Jin City. In some extent, it was a comfort the the previous Assistant Prime Minster, who exhausted his whole life to seek imperial authority, and now his son would realize his ambition. For Yan Shen, it was also a good way to show his gratitude for receiving help and encouragement by Xu Linghe’s father. With the clear thought, Yan Shen felt easy because the responsibility would be turned over to the young man. Decades of ups and downs made Yan Shen take things lightly. Since Yan Shen had achieved his purpose in Kunlun, he said goodbye to Xu Linghe. His journey to Kunlun was not in vain— he not only found a new master for the Jin City, but also solved the current difficulity. After saying goodbye with Yan Shen, Xu Linghe did not have any spare time. In order to deal with the three allied parts, it was necessary to alienate them from within. And Grandmaster had planted some undercovers in the three allied parts, and it was time for them to come out. As for Xiao Qi, Xu Linghe could not let go of him any longer. Xu Linghe showed no family love to him, but only hatred! Xiao Qi had asked others to take Xu Linghe away and even disguised himself as Xu Linghe to get married with Wuyou. What’s worse, Xiao Qi dared to cast greedy eyes on Xu Linghe’s wife, and peeped her! How could Xu Linghe swallow the anger? When Xu Linghe got things done and came to the square, the selecion of new disciples had came to the end. Wuyou and Xu Linghe looked at each other in the distance. It was just the happiness of common people.
Ten of thousands of people were picked out after rounds of selection. Tomorrow, they had to experience the tests about endurance, intellegence and courage. For every new disciple, these were basic trainings, and were compulsory courses the new disciples were supposed to finish. According to Kunlun’s rules, Wuyou selected the most excellent talents. Meanwhile, the entrance of the main hall was crammed with the children who failed to be chosen. The children from the human realm ran here with the hope of being Kunlun’s disciples and escaping from the war. However, when the hope was smashed, they were still reluctant to leave. These poor children lost their childhood because of the authority’s appetite for more power. Panic was full of their pure eyes. If they came back, death was their only way. Young as they were, they had strong desires to live. So Wuyou could not bear to leave them in the lurch. Kunlun was the three realms’ Kunlun. Black Emperor’s original intent was to serve for all of the living creatures. Kunlun, which Shenzong had defended to his last breath, should uphold the torch of justice and never let it extinguish. Even when Kunlun was at its weakest situation, it should not forget its fundamental duty.
“Take good care of these children...”
A woman’s melodious voice rang from the cloud couch with indisputable dignity. The little children at the entrance of the main hall jumped with joy. They would never forget the kindness that the woman on the cloud couch saved their lives.
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