This chapter has been brought to you by me, and WanderingGummiOfDoom.
Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Five Wu Kong Expansion
After drinking tea, and having the dense ling energy fill them, everyone felt their body become relaxed and their exhaustion began to disappear.
Pei Yuan Ran said, “It’s probably time. Let’s go and see how the boy is.”
Everyone loudly agreed to this suggestion. The five of them travelled together to the back of Wu Kong Mountain.
———
In front of the formation, the five took a look, and laughed.
“That boy is really slippery, how could he not have found the [Life] area?” Yan Le pointed at the formation, roaring with laughter. Inside the formation, Zuo Mo was in a sorry state, his clothing was ripped. He had clearly suffered.
Having bled for this, Yan Le felt extremely good. Not just him, even Pei Yuan Ran and the others felt very good. The four of them were all jindan yet they couldn’t do anything against this zhuji boy. They had accumulated a lot of anger. If they threatened, there was the probably that this boy would run and join another sect. Temptation? This brat was the wealthiest person in Wu Kong Mountain.
Looking at this brat in such a sorry state, they felt they hadn’t wasted their efforts.
Wu Ling Sanren also laughed, “Zuo Mo is very talented in formations. It is not hard for him to find the [Life] area.” He noted and then decided not to involve himself. It was better to leave early, this was a matter for their sect. He could see that Zuo Mo had limitless potential. If the other discovered who had created the formation, they might come and create trouble for him. He wouldn’t be able to bear it.
The more he thought, the more he found it likely. Zuo Mo didn’t look like a generous person. He hurriedly said, “Since the matter is concluded, this one will bid you all farewell. There are still some affairs in the sect that this one has to take care of. If this one has free time in the future, this one will come again.”
Pei Yuan Ran and the others naturally tried to keep him, but seeing that Wu Ling Sanren was being very determined, they did not stop him. As for the payment, they had paid it already. Wu Ling Sanren bowed with folded hands and quickly vanished into the horizon.
Pei Yuan Ran and the others did not care. The road of cultivation was very long. Coming and going was very normal.
Shi Feng Rong looked at Zuo Mo who was in a terrible state, and suddenly said, “If Zuo Mo cannot get out, wouldn’t he be unable to enter the secret realm?”
Pei Yuan Ran did not find it important. “The secret realm is a small matter, there are just a few good treasures. All that is received are material items. With Zuo Mo’s talent, as long as he is willing to focus on practicing the sword, those material items aren’t worth anything. If it comes down to it, we will compensate him.”
Pei Yuan Ran’s answer made Shi Feng Rong satisfied. At the side, Yan Le twisted his mouth, but did not speak. He didn’t dare to offend Fourth Shimei.
Xin Yan was like a statue, coldly staring at Zuo Mo inside the formation.
———
Zuo Mo was very terrible at the moment. Not one part of his clothing was whole. He stared with trepidation at a place not far away. That dragon was coldly and proudly moving by, its gaze occasionally sweeping across his body.
He hadn’t thought the sect leader and the others had even planned for the use of the [Vajra Profound Sutra].
Even now, when he thought about the terrifying experience he just had, he felt his head prickle, his body cold. Countless sword essences had charged at him like a crowd of hungry sharks, each one wanting to rip off a piece of flesh.
His pitiful [Vajra Profound Sutra], even if it had already reached Red Lotus Flowing Gold,, it was destroyed in an instant.
If it wasn’t that his consciousness was outstanding, if he hadn’t studied the Kun Lu introductory formations jade scroll, and that he had deepened his understanding of formations, then he would have drowned in the countless sword essences.
He had stumbled and crawled to find this little area of safety. As long as he didn’t step outside of this circle that was three zhang in diameter, nothing would happen to him.
This little circle finally allowed Zuo Mo to believe that the sect leader and the others didn’t want to kill him.
However, this great formation was really terrifying! Zuo Mo looked warily at the dragon that was prancing outside, not daring to move at all.
———
Outside the formation, Pei Yuan Ran looked and then said, “Let’s go. The boy won’t cry unless he has one foot in the grave. He can slowly be ground down.”
In their eyes, Zuo Mo was greedy and wretched, and his personality was extremely stubborn. He certainly wouldn’t admit defeat so easily. They knew this all too well which was why they had spared no expense in creating such a big formation. This was their preparation for a long battle.
The four left, without a worry, planning on coming back in a few days.
The formation looked dangerous but in reality, it was very safe. Inside the formation, was Zuo Mo someone who would let himself be wounded? Outside the formation, he didn’t have to worry about enemies or wild beasts. A formation that even they could not break, in all of Sky Moon Jie, there definitely would not be more than three people who might be able to break through.
Pei Yuan Ran was even considering if they could change the formation after Zuo Mo came out. In the future, it could work as the restricted grounds for the sect. With the protection of the sect, there was no question of safety.
———
Zuo Mo used his consciousness to sweep through the surrounding space.
He had already decided, if the sect leader came to ask him if he knew he was wrong and if he would change, he wouldn’t hesitate in surrendering. He had to bow to the circumstances!
Sect leader! If you say kill, we definitely won’t set a fire! If you said east, we definitely wouldn’t walk west!
Heroes were people that recognized the circumstances, Zuo Mo comforted himself. Yet what he did not realize was the sect leader and the others overestimated his stubbornness.
Zuo Mo, who had been waiting to surrender for several days, didn’t even see the shadow of the sect leader and the others.
He had to face a problem.
There was no water and food. How could he had predicted that a calamity such as this would occur? His ring was almost empty. Under the effect of the jinzhi inside the formation, he was not able to even use [Little Art of Cloud and Rain]. Naturally, he didn’t have any water.
It was fine if he didn’t have food. But without water, then it was bad.
He licked his dry lips. He could smell the water power in the air. He was certain the big formation definitely had water sources like springs.
However … …
The outside was empty, the dragon was not present, but Zuo Mo was not happy. He knew when he walked out of the [Life] area, he would be surrounded by sword essences.
But he still decided to try. If he didn’t act, he would never be able to walk outside of the formation.
At this time, he finally understood the malicious intentions of the elders. They wanted him to charge into the formation!
Wasn’t it just charging through! Zuo Mo boldened his heart and left the [Life] area.
———
Outside the sect Pei Yuan Ran and the others released a breath. The had never thought that Zuo Mo would just stay inside the [Life] area for the last few days and had never come out.
They had originally planned on sending some water and food in. But seeing Zuo Mo retreating into the [Life] area and not come out, looking as though he was waiting to stand off against them, they instantly let go of their intentions to send food and water in.
“The boy finally came out.” Pei Yuan Ran said.
Yan Le nodded. He clearly was relieved. “This guy is definitely one of the most wretched disciples in the sect. I guess that if we didn’t cut off his food and water, he probably would just stay in the [Life] area to wait it out, humph, wait until the formation collapses!”
Shi Feng Rong was somewhat unhappy. “Third Shixiong, weren’t you the same when you were young?”
Yan Le choked and instantly became silent.
Xin Yan unblinkingly stared at Zuo Mo inside the formation. Inside, he also was relieved. He had been afraid as well that Zuo Mo would just sit in passive resistance. He believed that the guy could definitely do something like that.
However, since Zuo Mo had walked out, they instantly paid attention.
They were very curious how Zuo Mo would respond. This brat might not walk on the right path but he had an endless bag of tricks that was always surprising.
———
Walking out of the [Life] grounds, Zuo Mo instantly felt the tearing from the sword essences in the air, the prickling from the ground. However, he didn’t dare use [Vajra Profound Sutra] this time, only gritted his teeth and bore the pain as he slowly moved in the direction of water.
———
Outside the formation, Xin Yan suddenly opened. “He’s finding water.”
The other three understood, a smile coming onto their faces.
When Wu Ling Sanren had been setting up the formation, he had already considered this point. It was not difficult to find a water source inside the formation, but it was not easy to resupply himself.
———
Zuo Mo bore the pain, his consciousness sweeping around to search for a source of water.
He found the slower he moved, the lower the threat the surrounding sword essences posed. So, with turtle speed, he slowly moved in the direction of water.
A short journey, he used up four whole hours.
———
Outside the formation, the elders had long lost their patience and left. There were many things they had to take care of at the moment, and this period of time was extremely important for Wu Kong Sword Sect.
Wu Kong Sword Sect had shone in the Sword Test Conference, and naturally walked to the front of the stage. It was not appropriate to remain as low-key as they did before. They needed to adjust the plan for the entire sect.
Countless eyes were focused on Wu Kong Sword Sect. This period would be the greatest transformation of Wu Kong Sword Sect in recent times. Reputation, status, they had that. What they needed to fight for was the benefits that came with it.
Wu Kong Sword Sect’s rise would certainly affect some sects. The fighting that would occur would be very harsh.
Pei Yuan Ran and the others were not kind and generous people. Once they finalized their plan, they moved lightning fast and without any hesitation.
In the time span of several nights, Wu Kong Sword Sect continuously defeated three sects. Even though it was three small sects, but people were still able to see a great beast slowly opening his jaws.
As expected, Wu Kong Sword Sect did not stop their expansion. In the next seven days, all the smaller sects surrounding Wu Kong Sword Sect were merged into Wu Kong Sword Sect.
Pei Yuan Ran’s conduct was just and authoritative. Xin Yan was invincible in battle. Yan Le was clever and experienced. Shi Feng Rong’s battle strength was not ordinary, and her skill in dan-making was unrivalled in Dong Fu.
The four cooperated well, with great trust between them. Even though many small sects had been absorbed, but the inner management of Wu Kong Sword Sect did not become disordered.The sect was disciplined and efficient in its restructuring.
This was a battle! There were negotiations behind the scenes, and naturally fighting in the open. In one night, Xin Yan defeated seven experts, shaking Sky Moon Jie!
It was that battle which completely established the fame of Ice Dragon Sword, and also greatly increased the rate the Wu Kong Sword Sect expanded.
Under such a situation, Pei Yuan Ran and the others had no attention to spare for Zuo Mo trapped inside the formation. They only ordered Li Ying Feng to regularly send in water and food, as well as jade scrolls. Of course, it was only ever sword scripture jade scrolls.
The pitiful Zuo Mo had encountered a big problem.
Translator Ramblings: Different perspectives are so interesting. Before you guys commented, I never realized that the elders never explicitly told Zuo Mo what he should do. From Pei Yuan Ran taking him into the sect, Zuo Mo knew that he needed to make jingshi so he decided to become a ling plant farmer, to now, where he still wants jingshi, no one really said to him “Hey, Zuo Mo, you need to be a sword xiu, otherwise, people can steal jingshi from you.”
Also, this chapter covers a bit of a time skip so please be aware of that because the next chapter starts at the other side.
Meatbun Delivery~
Thank you for the chapter 🙂
poor Zombie.. he’s being taught by the elders on how to be a true Zombie..
step 1. zombie don’t need defense
step 2. sometime it’s good to just play dead and not disturb a dragon
step 3. survive with little to no food or water
step 4. find resource(food & water)
step 5. walk slowly, very slowly, walk very very slowly
Moving on to the next level, nice.
Many thanks for the great chapter.
His master even told him not to worry about the sword and to concentrate on making dan. Just before she forced him to win a fight that was normally impossible. Especially since he didn’t know any sword scriptures.
And then they wonder why he does everything but the sword..
They were planning to let him do what he wants since they didn’t think he had many talents and were focused on Wei Sheng. Then they blame him for doing what he wants after they learn he has talent in the sword… If they never found out he learned how to use sword essence on his own, they would be beaming with pride rather than being mad at him all the time. I think it all comes down to shitty pride.
Wise or Not?
Stupid or Smart?
An Idiot or a Genius?
Who is he?
In the “World Of Cultivation”
An alien.
thanks for the chapter!
Thanks for the chapter =^^=
Zuo Mo has two trump cards, I think. First is Pu Yao (of course), second is the pink paper crane girl.
It would be a riot if Pu Yao teleported him into the Sword Cave. The elders would go bananas trying to understand how he escaped. And then, Zuo Mo could team up with Luo Li to challenge together the 18 levels of the dungeon! (I admit it, I’d really love to see more of Sword Cave! I love RPG-like dungeons! I wonder what the final boss is like…)
And it’s been a long time since Zuo Mo last received a pink paper crane. I’m certain the pink paper cranes can come and go through the formation as they please (because the girl who sends them is super powerful!) so Zuo Mo could use them to send messages asking for help. Or, at least, for guidance — IIRC, that girl loved formation puzzles, so she may be willing to advise Zuo Mo. Together, they could find the solution! (It was established earlier that every formation has a weakness: find it, and you solve the puzzle.)
Or he could just offend her and use the bomb she sends in reply to blow up the formation 😉
zuo mo really has to fix his cultivation or he might really die but plot armor always helps the mc . i wonder if he would leave this current sect
He seriously needs to leave the sect and go on some sort of journey of cultivation; versus spending his time with masters, who punish him for not following the directions, that they don’t actually give him.
Sigh. The more I read this, the more frustrated I get with the sect leaders. They clearly don’t even understand who Zuo Mo is, nor have they given him a chance to explain himself. They just think he’s a wretched person, who spends his time spitting on the sects name and would rather do anything but spend his time trying to learn the sword. It’s especially frustrating because his own master had told him not to worry about sword cultivation.
Yep, they haven’t have a serious conversation with him about cultivation ever, so how do they expect him to follow “the right path?” They taugh him dan making. They taugh him Varja sutra. All he know about the sword is self-taugh (with the help of Pu and the scrolls of the library, but still). They might be great Jindan experts, but they are horrible teachers.
Thanks for the new chapter!
What I don’t understand is : Why is he staying in the sect? And why isn”t he angry at his master who really never taught him anything neither did she protect or advises him?
She did give him access to a large and extremely expensive library and helped him occasionally with understanding its contents, so its not like she never gave him anything. Also, other than the elders, the people in the sect have been good to him. Plus, his cowardly nature probably makes him reluctant to go someplace new. Not to mention that he wasn’t expecting anything this severe. He thought he’d get a lecture and some harsh training that would end before the secret land opened and that would be the end of it. There might also be a bit of fear of the elders killing and/or abusing him even more harshly if he tried to escape them. They are one of the strongest sects in the area after all.
Still, I really wish he’d overcome all that and just leave. At this point, its like reading a story about domestic abuse where the MC just won’t leave their abusive spouse “Why are you making me hit you Zuo Mo?!” :/
Yeah, I get it. It’s just that until now it has been a loooonngg training period. Every time ZM come out with a new incredible power everyone around him is;
First: Chocked, “what a great genius”
Secondly: Realisation, “wait, why isn’t it a sword move?”
Lastly: lookind down on him because all know that “sword beat them all!”
The principal plot with his destroyed body and his missing memories or even the secondary plot with the great sky-yao in his mind haven’t advanced at all.
And lastly, it me or all his greats founding are embellished for two chapters then we found out that it can’t really do anything special.
The more I read, the more I hate these self-centered pricks. I really wish there was even a possibility of him leaving the sect. After his performance in the STC, he wouldn’t have any trouble finding a new sect somewhere far away from these sword obsessed ignoramuses who can’t even be bothered to explain to him why they’re angry or what he can do to calm them down.
I just hope he breaks out without mastering anything related to the sword. If his sword skills actually increased, their smugness would just piss me off even more.
I really hope that he breaks out without comprehending anything major for sword cultivation. Then I hope that he upgrades his formation knowledge and others say that he really is from Wu Kong Formation sect.
I swear, these are the shittiest masters ever, they tell him to be in the top 10 in the tournament or there will be harsh punishment, despite having the lowest cultivation and having spent most of his time in the sect as a farmer. Then they get pissy when he actually manages to do it. The worst of the lot is actually that alchemist bitch, she never actually taught him anything and would never be pleased whatever happens.
The hypocrisy of blaming Zuo Mo for learning something else than the sword when she herself is primarily an alchemist, doesn’t seem to bother her… Never mind the fact that Zuo Mo was made into an inner sect disciple because he was the only farming expert, and she wanted to teach him alchemy. Never mind the fact that the elders themselves stated that they wanted to make him a turtle type which is why they gave him that vajra body scripture… They said that they don’t want him to leave the sect but they seem to be working very hard to give him every reason to. Truth is, at this point he could probably be a roaming xiu and benefit 10 times as much. This place is really unsuited for him, they are all crazy about the sword but he could go to a different jie and properly learn formations under an actual master ie someone who gives directions, explanations and advice, as opposed to neglect, bullying and intimidation.
some people are wondering why the author is not having the mc leave the sect. Personal view if the mc is a person who values there “little life” and they do not have money1 many life saving measures2 has a highly developed sense of his unimportance3 and does not know all that much about the cultivation of the world at large. He our mc is a classic worker who has walked up the ranks in the sect and knows very little else. If you were our timid mc would you wonder the world on your own at this cultivation level. No staying in the sect and accepting the punishment in exchange for safety and resources while he works to solve the problem with his dantian is the most logical thing to do in his position. Besides he has built up good relationships with these people over the years is he going to abandon them and run off on his own? Ge likes to be comfortable. He likes to make money. He likes figuring out new things. He tries to avoid danger where he can and where he must face it he does everything in his power to survive and come out on top. Our mc does not like trying to figure out how to survive in the wild with a leaky cultivation base… very.. very dangerous. Trying to go to another sect in sky moon jie with his sect on the rise currently who is going to want to put them selves up as a target for them. Our mc knows this very well. Leave the sect? leave his little private ling vein? Leave his private ling fields? Leave his student? That is besides the reason that was given by the author in the first place. The Grand master of those four jindian experts that rule now took him in when he knew he could be taking in trouble. So our mc stayed to help the sect and all of the other reasons to stay followed. + like he said in these last few chapters he had no idea that punishment would be quite so “fantastic”.
Thanks for the chapter!
Thanks for the chapter WYHCWE and WanderingGummiOfDoom!
I do not understand why so many poeple speak ill about sect elders, however did you really tried their point of view on Zou Mo. I mean only the points from elders without information of circumstances happened to Zou Mo. You should easily understand how came so many MISUNDERSTANDING that have adversed and backfired to Zou MO. Due his excuses and distancing himself from elders.
Leave Wu Kong Sword Sect? As above someone mentioned: Too troublesome, Ge is satisfied! However sometimes… hmmm to Kun Lun where jingshi should…
Nonetheless in any other xianxia travelling seems really difficult and even more dangerous. There are always many poeple trying to bother/provoke/rob/steal/kill/… so it not really convenient (at low cultivation). Secondly you should know to where… In Sky Moon Jie there are not many even equal to WKSect. I could point further, but…
Thanks!
Those elders are assholes. If I were him, first thing I would do once I got out of the formation would be to flip the bird to the sect and leave.
Don’t you people know whats tough love all about. Have you heard of the idiom(?) of a tiger throwing its cub off a cliff so that it’ll grow stronger. Or that some people throw their child into a river to force them to learn to swim? This is kind off what the elders doing. They don’t want to kill him, they want him to learn. And if he took the time to really think he’ll probably will succeed. Even though he had succeeded in the trial, he was given time to set his formation. If not he’ll be worse off especially with a leak in his dantian. The suffering he has to go through is just an added bonus for the elders.
Formation of the Formation Branch is still a long way off. Ai, in the sect elders’ hearts, Zuo Mo is just truly immoral. However, they are truly overestimating his immorality. It’s his zombie face that’s the problem, I say.
Zuo Mo wants to die by money, then at least he won’t have to worry about feeding the leech in his house (Pu Yao) or his pet chicken (Talisman). bUt Zuo Mo, if you master the sword, when the rain of money comes, you can survive and also snatch up alot, you know? XP
But, no! Do not touch sword. I protest!
ONE (formation) RING TO RULE THEM ALL!
I obsessively like that last comment and I can just see the mc in the future going “my PReacioussss” while looking at a massive formation ring. ( while thinking about the jinsing(the currency))
Thank you, thank you. *bows to nonexistent applause* Ahem, thank you.
thanks for the chapter
Thank you so much!! 😘😘😘
What I like about this novel is its style where mc is not just talented and comprehensive (read something once and everything is done) also I wouldnt call him lucky (find a super master/stone/scroll) he just cope with other issues other than going mad and beat everyone.also, Why is everyone blaming his masters? mc`s talent is survival where he puts his all to face any situation like lack of money, abuse from yao or pink crane, orders from master. If you notice they dont teach their disciples their own sword essence, each disciple talks his own path, while every1 starts with basic sword scriptures whatever its grade then later every1 takes his own journey except for their no.1 disciple who is using the superstrong ancestor style. They are trying to force Zuo Mo to start his journey in the sword as every1 is doing or done but he wont because he lacks ambition to fight. I believe the only thing that will make zuo mo to change his style is his will to recover his lost memory and face.
I should’ve brought popcorn to this comment section. 🙁
Thanks for the chapter!
I get that everyone is angry because of ZM treatment but you guys fail to see the point. This was all caused from a misunderstanding which is halarious of you think about it. His master told him not to worry about the sword because he was a ling plant farmer in lianqg. Then he beat Lou Li that part wa a hit unfair I would admit. When ZM was told to be in the top ten in the no rule round, they didn’t actually think he would be in the top ten. That was just so that they could use that as an excuse to make him cultivate the sword and that was only AFTER they found out in DURING the fight of ZM with Chao An that ZM had understood sword essence in lianqg . That was when they think that this is the only way to get ZM to cultivate the sword as they assume that he is still rich so they would not be able to tempt him. His masters really care for him, they just think that the sword is better. ZM doing formations seriously started when his lingq stopped raising so he used formations as self defense. But if you think of the irony, it’s just really really funny.
It says something that he still doesn’t even know what he’s supposed to do in there. 🙂
Maybe the elders are thinking that he will be inspired by the sword essences xD he don’t even have his sword with him (They gave his sword to him? O.o)