Chapter 269 The Three Sevens
The barbaric Landhoppers only cared about pursuing and killing Chang Li and the others. Even in the face of a blockade, they only struck and destroyed the other party to clear their pathway. That was why Liu Zheng, the demon rabbits, the lama, First Brother Xia, the Rainbow brothers and the rest were not severely injured.
However, after meeting the five thousand corpse figurines, their blood-thirsty and combative natural instinct were finally triggered. They seemed to have forgotten about their initial purpose. They fought the corpse figurines wildly. After a bloody and aggressive fierce battle, their ancient savage lineage was displayed very vividly. The Landhoppers finally obtained the upper hand. At this moment, Qin Zhui was suddenly enlightened. In the face of the old demon rabbit and the rest, it was not that the Landhopper refused to kill. It was their arrogance, dull arrogance!
The corpse figurines were scattered and defeated…
Qin Zhui's gaze was filled with anxiety and curiosity. He did not understand why did the corpse figurines suddenly stopped fighting and changed their profession to became undertakers.
After the corpse figurines' formation was scattered, it only took less than a few minutes before hundreds of them were killed by the other party. Yet, they only managed to toss about over thirty Landhoppers into the fire cauldrons. No matter how one calculated, they were at the lower hand.
Nineteen was quick-witted, the ugly youth Qin Zhui was completely incomparable to her. Yet, her heart was still suspended high. She started shifting her life vitality, in an attempt to loosen the black scale-skin's seal.
The situation on the battlefield now was already clear. The corpse figurines had no desire to continue fighting, one after another, they were defeated by the Landhoppers. Their bodies convulsed for a few times then they could no longer stand up anymore. Even so, Nineteen was obviously aware that the corpse figurines' peculiar behavior certainly contained a deep meaning. However, the enemies before their eyes were not some elite troop or strong contingent, they were the barbaric Landhoppers that should have never existed in the mortal world, the barbarians who once provoked the divine punishment! Before the face of the Landhoppers, who had the upper hand, how could the corpse figurines possibly depend on one or two magic spells to turn around the inferiority? If it were truly such a simple matter, the barbarians would never have made their way into the depths of the Qinling Mountains.
More and more corpse figurines were killed by the Landhoppers, it was afraid that it would not take long before the corpse figurines would be annihilated. The Landhoppers' gaze had already turned from the bloody joy to their usual dull and insipid.
The speed of the corpse figurines being killed was growing faster and faster. Even the Red Pot could not sit still by now, it raised its head and looked towards Xiaowu's lower jaw that still retained a little baby fat, "What are the corpse figurines trying to do actually? This is not going well if this continues…"
Xiaowu's expression was unpleasant, her voice sounded a little weak as if she was telling about a sad event, "There is a total of seven hundred and seventy-seven Mourning Cauldrons here, that echoed to the seven hundred and seventy-seven miseries that made people suffer more than death in the mortal world. That is why the amount of corpse figurines that I have summoned is in the multiple numbers of three sevens'."
Grinding its lips anxiously, Red Pot watched helplessly as the number of corpse figurines grew lesser and lesser. It did not have the heart to listen to Xiaowu's calculation of the many terrifying miseries in the mortal world, "Little grandaunt, will you please stop quoting the ancient works. Please directly tell me what is going on. If the corpse figurines are not dependable, your grand old woman please remove their scales, then we shall continue running for our lives!"
From the crowd of almost five thousand, in the beginning, there were only slightly more than one thousand corpse figurines that were left now. There were more than two thousand people on the Landhoppers' side. The combat power that was only a little different initially became twice the amount of their number. In addition, the corpse figurines were still bustling about in groups to capture the barbarians. They had no desire to continue fighting…
Xiaowu's gaze turned dimmer and dimmer, she did not acknowledge Red Pot's pestering, "The real combat power of the corpse figurines will only be revealed in the end when it echoes to the number of seven, seven, seven of these Mourning Cauldrons! However, the cauldrons must be worshipped with living humans. So, the corpse figurines are capturing living humans to worship the cauldrons now. By the time there are only seven, seven, seven corpse figurines that are left, the…" As she was saying that, Darling's expression suddenly turned cold, she enunciated her words one by one as she squeezed out four words from in between her fine teeth gaps, "Heaven! Cries! Earth! Wails!"
Red Pot widened its mouth in slight bewilderment. A moment later, it asked in probing, "Is that true?" It did not wait for Darling to answer but shook its huge head first, "The young child is talking nonsense! If it is true as you said, then why is there a necessity for you to summon five thousand corpse figurines? You will only need two thousand at most, seven hundred and seventy-seven shall await the fight, while the rest capture the living humans!"
Xiaowu's eyes suddenly reddened, "You do not understand the Mourning family's magic method. The Mourning Cauldrons actually occupy seven hundred and seventy-seven evil caves in the Yin's eyes of the dragon vein, the evil spirit energy in the evil caves cannot be revealed to the heaven, otherwise, it will draw in a great disaster in an unknown area in the mortal world! Every time after the worshipping of cauldrons with living humans, there will be a moment where the evil spirit energy from the evil caves will enter the Mourning Cauldrons and see the light of the day once again!"
Red Pot was completely confused, it asked in astonishment, "What…do you mean?"
"Basically, these seven hundred and seventy-seven corpse figurines' tremendous boost in mourning power was exchanged with the misery and suffering of the people and a great massacre somewhere in the mortal world! I have awakened five thousand corpse figurines first because I am trying to avoid the necessity to use the step of worshipping the cauldrons with living humans." As she was saying that, Xiaowu stretched out her hand and rubbed her eyes.
Red Pot had finally understood entirely. Not only did it not sigh in frustration like the Darling, it laughed, "Little girl is too softhearted, for the benefit of your living close relatives, a great catastrophe is not much…"
Xiaowu finally shed her tears. She shook her head and sobbed, "You still do not understand. In order to make sure that Chang Li, Cone Nail and Wen Leyang live, I will still do it even if I have to worship the Mourning Cauldrons for a thousand times, but once it is done, my ability to not to cry or feel sad, it is completely two different matters…" As she was saying that, Darling procured Red Pot out of her chest pocket. She shook it strenuously and finally bawled out aloud, "It is all your fault, toad!" Even though Xiaowu was very young, she had picked up Chang Li's habit of being unreasonable.
Red Pot was swaying in Xiaowu's hand as it peered towards the Mourning Cauldrons nearby that appeared nearer to it for a moment and appeared further away from it for a moment. It widened its mouth in fear and strained its full power to struggle, "You you you…be careful! The act of worshipping the cauldrons with living humans is capable of drawing in great disasters in the mortal world. If you were to accidentally worship me, the great evil from the primitive ages to the cauldron, the heaven will be collapsing..."
Darling had a child's heart after all. Upon hearing Red Pot's terrified squall, she was stunned for a moment but she could not refrain herself from sniggering. While it was at that moment, the violent lamentations that were burning out of the Yin's cauldrons suddenly halted. Qin Zhui, Nineteen and the rest felt as their bodies sank, the gloomy corpse energy that had been wrapped around them all along suddenly turned heavy! The sensation felt as if they were swimming peacefully in the clear water of the autumn lake and the lake water suddenly froze into rigid ice all at once.
Under the sudden pressure, the Landhoppers that were attempting to kill the corpse figurines turned to stagnate with all their might in a flash in unison.
There were a total of seven hundred and seventy-seven corpse figurines that were still 'alive' now!
The sound of lamentations was heard again! Yet, the bitter wails this time was no longer the unusual sound that was burning out from the Yin's flames, it was genuinely radiated from the Landhoppers' mouths that had never made a sound all along since they emerged from the wasteland.
Red Pot was suddenly shocked, it could no longer care about struggling anymore, it held on tightly to the Darling's fingers as it stared in bewilderment. The barbaric Landhoppers that were about to gain a complete victory suddenly cried bitterly and soundlessly, it muttered to itself, "Why are they…crying?"
Even though Xiaowu was still young, she was still a woman. She had since ferociously directed the blame of all her faults in provoking the corpse figurines and the worshipping of Yin's cauldrons onto the barbaric Landhoppers, she sneered savagely, "The number of seven miseries has been completed, the netherworld is revealed in their hearts. Of course, they are the ones that are crying!"
Not only was Red Pot puzzled, even the Landhoppers did not understand. Why were they suddenly wailing bitterly until they had a runny nose out of nowhere? Yet, whether it was their own bitter wails or the Yin's energy that suddenly turned heavy, it could not wipe away their instinct to kill the formidable enemies. It was only after that moment of confusion, they could not care about the bitter wails that surged out of their throats or the tears that came spurting out of their eyes. They concentrated their entire effort on the corpse figurines. There were only a few hundred of those mourning creatures, yet there were still over two thousand barbarians!
In the battlefield, there were two barbarians that firmly pinned down a corpse figurine, before they broke into bitter sobs, they had already snapped the other party's legs. After they were distracted for a moment, they started exerting their strength and entangled the crippled corpse figurine's body on the left and right. They could almost already hear the moan-like loud noise that came from the corpse figurine's spine, they seemed to enjoy the wonderful feeling that came from snapping the cold and rigid corpse figurine.
The loud explosive sound of a pop arrived in accordance. The two Landhoppers simultaneously felt as the weight of their arms was lightened, yet what made them frown in puzzlement was that the body that was snapped within this loud explosive sound, were their own arms…
It was obvious that the corpse figurine's legs were already broken, yet it suddenly leaped up in a manner that did not make sense. Its hand was rippling with irresistible mighty and tremendous force, the force of it being slaughtered earlier was suddenly reversed. In less than a moment, the two Landhopper turned from fierce jackals and wolves into the quails with its wings snapped off!
When the corpse figurine leaped up, its hand each grabbed onto the two enemies' shoulders. With a shake, the two Landhoppers were akin to two blood-filled gourds, they were tossed towards a Yin's cauldron nearby… the Landhoppers did not possess spiritual intelligence, even when the scorching Yin's flames were coiling around them, they still did not understand what was happening…
Every corpse figurine that was still alive started moving about. Following the echo of the three sevens' numbers, they fused into one in this stretch of Yin's eye on the dragon vein, the evil cave and the Mourning Cauldrons. Their movements were swift as lightning, they shuttled through the large group of barbarians as they pleased. One after another Landhoppers' arms and legs were broken by them cruelly as they tossed the barbarians into the Yin's cauldrons mercilessly.
Darling's voice was dry and hoarse, it was difficult to tell if she was muttering to herself or explaining to the others. Perhaps she was only talking at her convenience, in order to soothe the stress in her heart, "The corpse figurines in the number of three sevens, the moment they launch an attack, they will certainly toss the living human into the Mourning Cauldron. Even the Grand Master Mi Xu was confused as to whether they were doing this in order to protect the Yin's mountain eye or because they were worshipping in an attempt to cause disaster to the mortal world."
The fresh blood still remained bright red and was dripping in a manner akin to splashing out of the heaven. Yet, within the bitter wail, the battle did not continue anymore. It was the slaughter that was completely unequal. It took less than the time to burn a joss stick from beginning to the end. The remaining two thousand Landhoppers were tossed by the corpse figurines into the Mourning Cauldrons.
Four thousand barbarians versus five thousand corpse figurines. From the beginning of the war, the corpse figurines were defeated and dispersed until they started using living humans to worship the Mourning Cauldrons, everything only took half a day's time, yet after the number of three sevens was gathered, less than eight hundred corpse figurines slaughtered two thousand barbarians. It only took slightly more than ten minutes!
The sound of wailing from the Yin's flames did not stop for a long while.
After the last Landhopper was tossed into the Mourning Cauldrons, they were as described by Darling earlier. Every one of the corpse figurines was akin to being cast by the Art of Body Immobilization by someone. Their bodies trembled for a few times then they stood rigidly on the ground ever since and never moved.
Red Pot spat out a mouthful of oppressed breath as it sniggered, the words it spoke sounded a little baffling, "This is really rather interesting!" Following that, it looked towards Chang Li and the rest who still could not move at all, it asked Xiaowu in puzzlement, "Why are they still unable to move?"
The Darling laughed in desperation, "It is not done yet. When the wailing sound stops then they are able to move then, it is also during that time some unknown location will be struck by a catastrophe." Upon saying that, she inhaled a long breath and calmed her heart and spirit with great effort, she reminded Qin Zhui and the rest who could only listen but not speak in all seriousness, "After you have regained your strength later, we shall walk out of the mountain together, only then we will remove the father's black scale-skin! Otherwise the corpse figurines…"
Before Xiaowu finished her sentence, the hundreds of corpse figurines that were already standing rigidly earlier suddenly moved about again. They turned around and walked in huge strides towards the place where Chang Li and the rest were. There was not an ounce of expression on their faces. Within their pitch-black eye sockets, gloominess and coldness shimmered.
Darling was startled, her mouth was shouting a tune that no one could understand; she was about to stand up when the corpse figurines suddenly increased their speed. They swept past her akin to a gale and stretched out their hands as they clutched at Wen Leyang's neck! No one understood what was going on. The life meridians of the severely injured and dying Wen Leyang were obviously already sealed by the five scale-skin. However, the corpse figurines that were surging out continuously in large amounts earlier, who did not even take a glance at him, captured him away right now.
Wen Leyang absorbed the rare poisons in the world. He had since turned into a genuine poisonous creature but the Poison of Life and Death occupied in his body on usual days. Unless he was doing it on purpose, the strong poison would never leak outwards, under normal circumstances. Even if one were to stick out one's tongue and licked, he would only taste a little salty at most.
Yet, ever since he returned from the Desert Rebel Mountain for the second time, there was more than just the Poison of Life and Death in Wen Leyang's body. There was also the Poison of Aqua Blue that was left behind by the grand master Tuo Xie back then, in the entire world, one could say uncourteously that this was the two types of strong poisons that ranked number one and number two in the world. Two types of strong poison were tearing and swallowing at one another, the Poison of Aqua Blue was attempting to disperse off the Poison of Life and Death, such that it could poison Wen Leyang to death while the Poison of Life and Death was protecting its master whole-heartedly…
On their escape to the corpse-forming land, the battle of strong poisons was only limited to the inside of his body. However, as the two gushes of poison power battled more and more fiercely, there was a strong collision that erupted with a loud bang not too long ago, crashing into countless filthy streams of utmost poisons that were cruising everywhere in Wen Leyang's body and flowed on his skin. Whether it was the Poison of Life and Death or the Poison of Aqua Blue, these poisonous streams were albeit fine and small and also perhaps unable to injure Fifth Brother Hanba. However, melting away those fine scale-skins was nothing much to it.
Wen Leyang was still alive right now.
On the other hand, the Poison of Life and Death was still exercising control over his upper body with great effort at this moment. Yet, after the scale-skin on the soles of his feet were corroded by the poison power, the scaled skin could no longer seal his life meridians. The corpse figurines suddenly realized that there was still one more living person behind their backs, of course, they would not act mercifully!
When Xiaowu was waking the five thousand corpse figurines not long ago, she was already exhausted. She watched helplessly as the corpse figurines were about to seize Wen Leyang and clenched her teeth anxiously. She exerted the last ounce of strength in her body, raised the Weeping Staff as she pounded onto the corpse figurines ferociously!
Almost at the same time, a soft growl echoed below the crowd's feet all of a sudden. A tall and big one-armed man appeared next to the Darling stiffly. His one arm waved and tossed Xiaowu to one side, Fifth Brother Hanba had arrived.
Hanba's broken arm had yet to fully grow back. Even his movement was a little awkward. After he waved Xiaowu away, he was green with rage as he shouted, "Are you seeking for your doom!"
The corpse figurines had only committed a massacre, the tyrannical energy was strong and heavy at this moment. Even for Xiaowu who was born here, if she were to suddenly attack them, she would draw in their countercharge as well. Over seven hundred corpse figurines were guided in by the Mourning Cauldrons and the Yin's mountain eye, they had already fused into one. Once they trumped up a countercharge, they would be doing it altogether.
The corpse figurines grabbed onto Wen Leyang's neck and tossed him towards a Mourning Cauldron nearby.
Wen Leyang's upper body was still under the control of the Poison of Life and Death, there was no strong poison that was leaking out. Hence, the corpse figurine who was holding him was not poisoned.
The rest of the corpse figurines seemed to take notice of Xiaowu's hostility. They turned around and used their gloomy gaze to stare at the Darling and Hanba Fifth Brother.
Even Qin Zhui, with the least experience, could tell that, if anyone were to attempt to rescue Wen Leyang, that person would be immediately slaughtered by the corpse figurines mercilessly! In the eyes of the corpse figurines, Xiaowu and Hanba were not living humans, so the corpse figurines would not toss them into the Mourning Cauldrons.
Xiaowu bawled and cried aloud. She pointed to Wen Leyang, who was about to be broken apart soon, as she cried out to Hanba, "Father save…"
Hanba did not even wait for Xiaowu to finish speaking before he shook his head, "He is unsalvageable! Let alone now, even when I was in my prime, I did not have the ability to stop them. Our effort to save him will only result in the loss of our lives!"
Hanba did not have a close relationship to these Tuo Xie's disciples since the beginning. If they were to deal with a formidable enemy together, of course, they would be fighting side by side with each other. Yet, if he were to save the person under this circumstances, it was utterly meaningless suicide. Of course, Hanba was unwilling to sacrifice his life and he would never sacrifice the Darling that he loved more than his life.
Chang Li, Cone Nail and the rest's gaze were tainted with blood but there was no way they could move even slightly. Hanba heaved a sigh, he walked to the Darling's side, he used his one arm to pick her up. Darling was born here, how could she not understand the corpse figurines' temperament. If it was not for Hanba who managed to stop her in time, if the Weeping Staff were to strike onto the corpse figurine's head, she would be sacrificing her little life for nothing.
The corpse figurine that captured Wen Leyang arrived in front of the Mourning Cauldron in the blink of an eye. Its arms shook once and tossed Wen Leyang into the Yin's flames that were echoing with continuous wails and were burning vigorously to the heaven.
The faint blue-colored Yin's flames burned bright and scorching hot, the corpse figurines' faces were reflected by the swaying fiery glow as if a sense of smile arose from the fire. Hundreds of corpse figurines stood on the same spot once again and stopped moving ever since…
Hanba meditated in the form of a corpse, it was not supposed to wake up. Yet, after the corpse figurines' number of three sevens was completed, when more than two thousand Landhopper were tossed into the Yin's fire to worship the cauldrons, the malevolent energy in the evil cave gushed out. The mausoleums and corpse pits underneath the entire Yin's mountain eye were aroused; the corpse figurines that were not awakened by Xiaowu also became agitated. Even the few corpse figurines that were used by Hanba to absorb corpse primordial energy to heal his injuries too started struggling and separating, in an attempt to break through the seal that was left behind by the Grand Master Mi Xu back then and surged onto the ground surface to join their companions to commit the massacre together. As the power source was unstable, Fifth Brother Hanba who was charging his battery also followed and awakened.
Everything happened on the surface of the ground. He could see it in his eyes, yet he had never revealed himself.
Even if it was to save the people, Darling Xiaowu's act of summoning the corpse figurines broke the great abstinence of the Mourning Sect. Of course, Hanba would not be willing to punish her but a stern lecture was inevitable anyhow. Yet, Darling was unusually sad at the time, how could Hanba make up his mind to reprimand her. So, he straightforwardly hid underground and feigned his sleep, it was until Xiaowu was about to fight desperately with the corpse figurines, only then he revealed himself and save his precious daughter.
They watched helplessly as Wen Leyang was tossed into the Yin's Cauldron. Whether it was a great evil creature from the primitive ages, the few top demon immortals or corpse immortal, the feebleness and helplessness that felt the emptiest ever since they cultivated into spirits arose in their hearts! This emptiness that felt as if the heaven and earth were stagnant, that disregarded life and death, that even made them regret that they had lived to this day! In order to not witness Wen Leyang died before their eyes yet they were helpless, amongst them, some rather stayed in that silent ancient cave, while some rather be trapped in the gloomy and cold stone forest in the Gold-consuming Lair.
At the sound of a thud, the ugly youth fell head first onto the ground. He fainted.
The wailing sound of the Landhoppers that were still struggling in the bronze cauldrons gradually grew softer, Hanba held Xiaowu. He turned around and looked towards Chang Li, Cone Nail and the rest, his voice sounded peculiar as if there was something he was trying to suppress, "When the wailing sound has ended, I will be escorting all of you out of here. If you were to attempt to seek revenge on behalf of Wen Leyang hereafter, please come and look for me anytime."
No one knew how long had passed. The wailing sound was finally akin to that whiff of smoke that rose weakly after the candle was extinguished and vanished into nothingness in the wind.
Chang Li's body shivered, her tears finally found its release. Tears flowed down from her eyes, Chang Li raised her head and looked at Hanba, "Seeking for revenge from you? Might as well seek revenge from Kong Nuer but if I were to seek revenge from Kong Nuer, I might as well seek revenge from myself…" As she was saying that, she reeled and stood up under Cone Nail's support, a sense of forlorn covered the corners of her lips, "Wen Leyang's life shall be repaid by me."
Following that, she let go of Cone Nail, she did not look at anybody else anymore, she used her final ounce of life vitality to condense into half a demon blade. She staggered and walked out of the Yin's mountain eye, after she had walked until the edge of the mountain valley, she turned around slowly, "There is no need for all of you to blame yourselves, everything that happened caused by, three years, three years, regardless of whether I have the opportunity to meet him or not, I will then return Wen Leyang a…"
Before Chang Li could finish her sentence, a hysterical shriek suddenly interrupted her, "You shall repay? What are you going to use to repay! How are you going to repay! Your life, the life of every disciple in your demon cat sect, you and Tuo Xie's lives, everything adds up together, can it be used to exchange for Wen Leyang's one cry? Or one laugh? Or one earnest and sincere foolish phrase from him…"
Cone Nail's face was covered in tears, she was halfway through her speech when she suddenly started coughing violently. Her feeble body was shivering, suppressing, and finally, she could no longer suppress the agony in her chest that was capable of churning the sun and moon into pieces and annihilate the heaven and earth. She fell onto the ground once again and broke into bitter sobs, her sorrowful voice was heard intermittently, "Who is Wen Leyang in your heart, Chang Li? He is no one but a disciple who is slightly interesting, he is no one but a junior that is favored by you. It is right. If you were to sacrifice your life in an attempt to save him, then you will always be high above all else in eternity, anything that you do on behalf of him is only based on what you think and what you wish, you are not giving but you are rewarding! He is already dead without a corpse or bones right now, yet you still dare to talk wildly about repaying him with a life?!"
Cone Nail pounded her fist onto the ground suddenly, "These are all bullsh*t!" As she was saying that, Cone Nail suddenly raised her head, there was no sense in her eyes, she looked towards Chang Li with an empty gaze, "Do you know who is he in my heart? He is the only person that I trust on this world, I may not necessarily be joyous when I am with him but I will feel sad for him even if he were to lose even a hair. I may not necessarily miss him when I part with him but I cannot help but to smile when I think of him occasionally, I will remember that he is always so honest and sincere, if he is going to be bullied by the others…" Cone Nail could not continue to speak anymore, other than bawling loudly, there was nothing else under the heaven that can help to lessen her heartache!
Chang Li had since fallen onto the ground. Tears were streaming down her face!
Xiaowu who was hiding in Fifth Brother Hanba's arms was crying like it was the apocalypse when a series of strange ululation echoed from her chest pocket, 'You've Got Me' was finally awake. It cautiously revealed its round head from the Darling's chest pocket. Soon after, it realized that the two most terrifying monsters in its little heart, Chang Li and Cone Nail, were overwhelmed with sorrow. The bug was immediately startled, its pitch black eyes were almost widened to the point of exploding.
Nineteen gasped out softly in surprise. She looked at 'You've Got Me' dully, "'You've Got Me' recognized Wen Leyang as its master…this species of spiritual bug and its master's intention is interlinked, if Wen Leyang is dead, it…should not be alive right?"
It was unknown whether it was too startled or because it understood Nineteen's words, 'You've Got Me' nodded absentmindedly.
It was at this moment, the Mourning Cauldron that had just recently swallowed Wen Leyang was akin to a giant frog with food poisoning, it suddenly leaped once!
