Seeking Truth with a Sword

Chapter 391 - 342: Taming

The ink-black threads flicked back, and the gash that had been cut rapidly healed.

As if sensing danger, the Mo Si spontaneously condensed, entwining and weaving itself into thousands of tendrils.

It transformed the tips of these tendrils into sharp blades, cleaving directly at the Heaven and Earth Gang Wind blowing in from all directions.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG—

The cacophony of striking metal was deafening.

The Mo Si blades were unstoppable, shattering and slicing through each gust of Gang Wind.

A fierce glint flashed through Li Ang’s eyes. He continued to release his Telekinesis, pushing himself to accelerate upwards.

Below him, the landscape continually shrank; mountains and rivers came into full view.

The wide, straight official road had transformed into a thin, straight line in his vision, populated by ant-like formations of carriages and horses.

No one could see what was happening in the dim night sky.

Countless Mo Si tendrils thrashed wildly, blocking the fierce winds.

But the Heaven and Earth Gang Wind was endless, growing more ferocious and overwhelming the higher he ascended.

Eventually, only a vast expanse of white remained in sight, his ears filled with the piercing shriek of the wind.

Even Fine Gold and Mountain Copper Armor, tempered through a thousand hammers and hundred refines, would be instantly torn to shreds and churned into paste by the chaotic, fierce winds here.

Finally, the first ink-black tendril snapped and vanished, followed by the second, then the third...

The Mo Si was forced to retract, its defensive line retreating step by step, until it clung to the surface of Li Ang’s body, forming a cocoon. Relying on its healing ability, it barely achieved a balance with the external Gang Wind.

Inside his body, the Mo Si’s erosion also slowed indefinitely, decelerating its invasion of his bones and flesh to an extreme degree.

Still not enough!

Li Ang turned the Sumeru Hourglass once more, and the surrounding flow of time slowed again.

He squeezed the last dreg of Spiritual Power from his Qi Sea, pushing himself to climb higher.

This time, even the cocoon-like Mo Si could not withstand the Heaven and Earth Gang Wind; it gradually began to break and tear apart.

Li Ang no longer regarded the Mo Si that had completed its Dark Gold transformation as purely inanimate.

Its craving for gold and silver, and its backlash against its host, all fit the definition of demon and monster.

Demons follow an instinct to seek benefits and avoid harm.

"I die," Li Ang said coldly from within the Mo Si cocoon, watching the threads wrap around his neck, tightening continuously, "and you die too."

This wasn’t a threat, but a simple statement.

At this altitude, even if the Mo Si descended immediately, it would be shredded by the Heaven and Earth Gang Wind, disintegrating in mid-air.

The Mo Si paused for a long moment, then withdrew the threads wrapped around Li Ang’s neck and completely stopped its erosion.

Li Ang took a deep breath and immediately regained control, directing the Mo Si inside his body to fill his bones, repair his blood vessels, and integrate into his tendons.

Like a rescue operation in a blazing fire, he swiftly stabilized the dire situation within his body.

Next, the Heaven and Earth Gang Wind.

Li Ang turned the Sumeru Hourglass. As the Time Sand flowed rapidly, the surrounding wind suddenly fell into a dead calm.

He reoriented himself, controlling the Mo Si to form a streamlined shape, reducing resistance as he plummeted towards the earth.

The scenery below continuously enlarged. As he was about to crash, Li Ang reversed the hourglass, causing the surrounding Mo Si to form a large umbrella.

BANG!

The umbrella’s canopy spread open, and he landed smoothly on the mountaintop.

Li Ang slowly straightened up. With a gesture of his hand, he retracted all the Mo Si threads.

The Mo Si within his body lay dormant, incomparably docile, as if the backlash earlier had been an illusion. No problem for now. Li Ang breathed a sigh of relief. The Sumeru Hourglass was still reliable; as long as he possessed it, he had the means to ensure mutual destruction with the Mo Si.

But what about the future? His body had already merged with the Mo Si. If he allowed it to evolve further, it would eventually break its threshold. The moment he even thought of using the Sumeru Hourglass, the Mo Si’s backlash might seize control. Coexisting with an Alien was akin to asking a tiger for its skin... Remembering his teachers’ admonishments from class, Li Ang sighed silently. He had gone too far; there was no turning back.

He turned his head, looking in the direction of Chang’an City.

***

"Chang’an City... is indeed bustling."

On the streets of the East Market, two Zhao Ming Cultivators walked side by side.

Both had been disguised by Ya Jiu Puppets: Yuan Sou now resembled a kind and wealthy old man in brocade clothes, while Butcher was a stout, beefy guard with a coarse, intimidating face.

Such a pairing was not out of place in the extremely busy streets of the East Market; the garrison soldiers stationed at street corners simply glanced at them and then looked away.

Yuan Sou watched the lively street scene with interest.

Candy and snack vendors loudly hawked their wares. Jewelry vendors busily promoted bracelets and earrings.

Eight horses abreast pulled several linked carriages. The front vehicles carried lantern towers, and the rear vehicles were filled with musicians in brocade, playing instruments and singing to accompany the dancers below the lantern towers.

Jianghu street performers followed the lantern carriage, walking tightropes, breathing fire, dancing with dual swords, juggling balls, spinning giant ropes, and balancing long poles.

Their performances were diverse and fantastical. Children clapped for the thrilling and exciting shows, while adults chuckled, tossing copper coins onto the lantern carriage. Meanwhile, the frivolous young men in the crowd stared intently at the young, beautiful girls in the song and dance troupe, who exuded the fragrance of cosmetics.

"Many riders under the moon, plenty of spectacles under the lanterns. Endless joy abounds, songs and dances last till dawn."

Yuan Sou shook his head, looking pleased. He felt cheerful and was not at all bothered by the lantern carriage blocking his way.

Butcher twisted his neck and adjusted the prickly collar of his garment, saying impatiently, "Ugh, this outfit really is uncomfortable."

"Uncomfortable or not, you have to wear it," Yuan Sou said, cheerfully taking out a copper coin. He bought a bowl of sweet glutinous rice balls from a snack stall and began eating them on the spot. He mumbled, "These clothes were woven by Lady Zhu. If we weren’t wearing them, the ’Chang’an Micro-View’ in the Great Ming Palace would have spotted us long ago."

"Hmph."

Hearing Lady Zhu’s name made Butcher’s expression darken further. He snorted coldly, touching the narrow scar on his arm.

Members of the Zhao Ming Organization came from all over the world. Apart from their formidable strength, they had little in common; some even harbored mutual grudges.

Butcher, codenamed Ghost Shovel, lived to challenge formidable foes. His unique Cultivation Technique allowed him to absorb the Spirit Veins of others, constantly devouring and growing stronger.

In the past twenty years, countless Cultivators had died at his hands, ranging from so-called fledgling geniuses to elders of noble families, Judges from Taihao Mountain, and old monsters from Hidden Sects.

Only a handful had ever escaped his hunt, and Lady Zhu of Haizhou in the Zhou Kingdom was one of them.

The lantern carriage finally started moving, and the crowd of carriages and people flowed forward.

"Alright, let’s go. Don’t make Brother Situ wait too long," Yuan Sou said with a slight smile. He placed his empty ceramic bowl back on the stall and casually tossed down a flying money note for ten strings of coins. Amidst the stall owner’s surprised and profuse thanks, he patted his belly and strode forward.

Their target was Banzheng Square, the garrison.