Chapter 519: Chapter 473: Letter
[To my sister Yuebai, with affection:
All is well, do not worry.
After leaving Stone Gate City, I headed south, crossed Jieshi Ridge, and trained in Gangfeng Valley for over a month.
Spending my days slaying fierce beasts, engaging in life-and-death battles, I found great joy, and my Sword Heart grew purer.
Then I passed through Yuelan and Yunxi cities.
The two cities are separated by a mountain, yet they have entirely different customs: the Yuelan villagers are bold, with many skilled in artifact crafting.
There, I met a fellow cultivator who guided me in the art of artifact refining. Recently, I successfully crafted a Dragon Bone Sword and sold it, which delighted my heart greatly.
However, despite your years of guidance in the Water Alchemy Method, I still lack comprehensible techniques, and I feel a deep sense of guilt.
Yunxi City gazes across the mountain at Yuelan City, and here many cultivators practice Talisman Dao and Dharma, wearing jade crowns and Daoist robes. They discuss Daoist concepts in teahouses and compete in talisman arts in study rooms, blending elegance with sophistication.
Once in a teahouse, I heard discussions about the West Sea battle; there are many peace advocates among Yunxi City cultivators who support Biyou Palace, but the Dragon Clan refuses to make peace, so this battle is unlikely to end easily. Lives are in ruin.
We await the return of the Immortal Monarch, who can restore the order of heaven and earth.
Knowing you wish to set out for the West Sea, and Ao Juan being your old friend, this battle is complex. I hope you approach it with clarity and not act rashly.
As one outside the conflict, maintain your own principles, and I wish for your safety.
Though this letter is brief, its sentiment is deep. Take care.
Respectfully from Nanzhi]
*
[To Anan, with warm regards:
Reading this letter feels as if seeing you in person, and I miss you dearly.
Knowing all is well with you brings me peace of mind.
When I received your letter, I was at Dragon Shadow Lake at Thousand Lakes Seaside.
However, when replying, I had already used the Transmission Array to reach Qingcang Mountain, where Fulong Sect is located, and temporarily resided in Sea Suppression City below the mountain.
This city was built against the mountain and is so grand in scale that Kongfang City of the Earth Spiritual Realm pales in comparison.
To the south of the city stands the grandiose Heavenly Dragon Leaping Sea Bridge, crossing clouds and seas, directly leading to Guixu Sea at the center of the Green Dragon Realm.
On the sea, there is also the Thousand Que Dragon Ship, akin to a palace.
Sadly, Guixu Sea and the Dragon God Palace are forbidden areas in the Green Dragon Realm, the abode of the Mahayana Immortal Monarch, where no one is allowed to approach; otherwise, I’d really like to go and see.
Sea Suppression City is truly luxurious, and I don’t even know how to describe it to you; everywhere exudes an air of opulence and grandeur. On my first day in the city, I felt like a village girl entering a palace.
I feel even Xie Jingshan would be reduced to dust here.
Sea Suppression City is quite fine, providing many things I’ve never seen before, including three whole streets filled with bookstores.
Although all the cultivation techniques are below the Mystic Grade, the variety is overwhelming, surpassing all the books I’ve read in my life.
There are also numerous cultivation insights and training logs from famous cultivators. If I only had enough Spirit Stones, I would really want to buy them all.
To study the books, I’ve disguised myself as an Early-Stage Foundation Establishment loose cultivator and found a job sorting books in the largest Sushan Building of Sea Suppression City.
With food, lodging, and Spirit Stones, I can secretly read those unencrypted books, which brings me great joy.
However, one thing unsettles me: there are too many Dragon Shepherds here.
In truth, I don’t know what’s happening to me. Perhaps staying with the Demon Clan for too long, seeing those enslaved and tormented dragons—many of which are young dragons—makes me feel uneasy, evoking a sense of shared sorrow.
That day outside Sea Suppression City, I saw a group battling dragons in the forest, all newly hatched young dragons, smaller than an adult human, yet forced into fighting each other with lashes.
The cultivators of Fulong Sect are especially adept at nailing those dragons in vulnerable places—the seven inches where a snake can be struck is also where a dragon is nailed.
The cries of those young dragons and the laughter of the cultivators still deeply unsettle me when I recall them.
Is this what the Divine Tree meant by my Demon Fate?
In truth, I don’t believe in such unfounded fates, but my feelings at that moment were real, not imposed by anyone else.
Although taking life only requires an executioner’s resolve, I cannot stand watching them torment those dragons, just like witnessing cultivators of the Earth Spiritual Realm enslave Extraordinary People before.
But I also understand, those not of our kin have divergent hearts.
Biyou Palace’s Dragon Shepherds treat dragons as companions, yet still face betrayal from dragons. If a dragon endangers me, I would also kill it without hesitation; I’m aware of all this.
Perhaps you are right, as an outsider, maintaining one’s principles is sufficient.
Yet my principles... are troubling!
Sorry, it seems I’ve been whining to you about my troubles since childhood, always feeling you could enlighten me.
No more whining. I must return to Sushan Building for cleaning; I’ll end here.
Awaiting your reply.
Respectfully from Yue Bai]
*
[To Jiang Yuebai:
You all left so quickly, not even waiting for my return! I went to all the trouble of buying the courtyard for you, and it’s too much; you don’t consider me at all!
Apologies are required, you must ceremonially serve me tea in apology! Apologize!
If you don’t apologize, I won’t tell you about my connections to enter the West Sea battlefield!
Hmph, you’d never guess, but young master here has infiltrated Fulong Mountain, and I’m writing this letter from its camp.
This time, I’m on a mission from the True Martial Immortal Sect to negotiate a deal with Fulong Sect and Biyou Palace. Their logistical supplies are insufficient due to ongoing wars, forcing them to seek help from the True Martial Immortal Sect.
Though the True Martial Immortal Sect claims to avoid involvement in the conflict, they’re indeed profiting Spirit Stones from this war.
I suddenly realized that everything in the world has two sides: positive and negative, light and dark, benevolent and malevolent.
You mentioned Ao Juan before, and because he’s your friend, I’m somewhat inclined towards the Dragon Clan, hoping they find some space to survive and not suffer too severely.
But did you know, Jiang Yuebai, I nearly died here a couple of days ago due to a dragon attack?
Your friend Ao Juan is truly cunning; still, no one knows how he managed to infiltrate the rear.
That day I was meditating in the camp when a loud explosion suddenly occurred, and the entire camp exploded.
When I managed to rise, there were countless dragons over my head, breathing fire and spewing water at the camp, arrows fell like rain, and the entire camp turned into a sea of fire, filled with cries and dead bodies everywhere.
As you know, dragons are enormous; a single swipe of their tails turns the ground into a river of blood. It was truly horrific.
It takes several people working together to fend off a dragon assault; surviving under such conditions is exceedingly difficult.
This camp was for non-combat personnel, primarily in charge of logistics, with mostly elderly and frail cultivators, entirely unfit to face the dragon horde.
Before reinforcements arrived, nearly the entire camp was wiped out.
I killed a dragon just to save my life.
I’m not certain if the white dragon I saw at the end was Ao Juan you spoke of, but I felt it recognized me, filled with killing intent as it looked at me.
Don’t worry about me; after finishing this letter, I plan to leave Fulong Mountain, and probably won’t return in the future.
I dislike battlefields; these battles don’t concern me, but I feel a pang of regret. Dragons fight for survival, humans for their homeland, both without fault, so why must they slaughter each other?
You have a good head on your shoulders, and if you can answer this, please enlighten me, as I’m really vexed by it.
Reply soon, as I’m waiting. If you don’t reply, be careful, as I’ll come after you!
Sincerely, Xie Jingshan]
*
[To Brother Dog:
Letter received!
No apologies, no intel.
Come to Sea Suppression City!
Jiang Yuebai]
