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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 6: The Outsider
"Unity?"
The Barbarian King sneered and continued, "In a world of deceit and mutual slaughter, no one is more ruthless than the human race. This Battle is merely a scheme by the Great Zhou, watching as the Great Tang faces imminent destruction."
The First Barbarian General pondered for a moment before replying, "Because our Barbarian resources are scarce, and our descendants are not as talented as those of the humans."
"I, the Barbarian, was once the master of fertile lands. The Demon Race was also once the master of fertile lands. Back then, humans were merely slaves. When resources became scarce, what did they possess?" the Barbarian King retorted.
"Then why is that?" The First Barbarian General thought of other reasons but found them unsatisfactory.
"Shan'er, you," the Barbarian King said, looking at Wutashan.
Since the Jiuzhou Gathering Conference, Wutashan had been haunted by the image of a man holding an Eyebrow-Height Staff. He was the figure she had seen in her visions, a glimpse into the future.
Noticing Wutashan's dazed expression, the Barbarian King frowned and said, "Shan'er, are you still thinking about that person? He rarely shows himself in this world; it's vast. I have inquired through others, and no one knows his whereabouts."
"I just want to take him as my master," Wutashan suddenly spoke up, her face filled with determination.
"If you continue like this, you will ruin your life. But you are not a man; if you fail, it won't matter much."
Hearing this, Wutashan looked up at her father, her face revealing a mix of unwillingness and anger. She clenched her fists tightly and gritted her teeth but did not utter a word. Then she turned and walked away.
The Barbarian King didn't even glance at Wutashan as he continued, "The strength of humanity has many reasons. However, I believe there are two most important ones: culture and sacrifice."
"Books of all kinds—whether mundane or related to cultivation—are abundant among humans. Their wisdom is astonishing; countless books have been written. Passed down through generations, this is the culture of wisdom."
"The human race is very strange. Sometimes, they are clearly enemies who share a deep-seated hatred for each other. Yet on the battlefield, when faced with a common enemy, they can temporarily set aside their grievances. This is sacrifice."
"Humans can be timid and forget their principles in the face of profit. However, during battle, they can transform into entirely different individuals. They can shield their comrades from arrows and divert pursuing armies to ensure the survival of their fellow soldiers. This is sacrifice."
"The Barbarians are straightforward; they can see through everything. Whether in life or on the battlefield, they remain true to their nature. In contrast, humans, due to their culture and sense of sacrifice, often do not realize the extent of their actions on the battlefield, leading to battles filled with unpredictability."
Once the Barbarian King finished speaking, everyone fell silent, with only the wind howling past.
"I have brought you here today to show you that the Great Tang had long lost hope and should have perished by now. Yet it has endured until this moment."
"The Wind Nation was once an enemy of the Great Tang. They just engaged in a life-and-death battle with us, yet now they have become allies."
"So what you should observe is not the process of battle but rather the final outcome of it."
After a long silence, the First Barbarian General finally spoke, "So, does the Barbarian King believe that humans will surely win?"
"The victory of the human race is not my prediction; it is history. Let us all quietly observe."
In the Great Zhou palace.
Upon learning about the latest developments in the war, the Martial Emperor erupted in anger: "The Demon Lord is incompetent; he has allowed our advantage to gradually slip away. How could he fight this battle?"
"Your Majesty, please calm down and do not harm your health," said the Queen gently as she patted the Martial Emperor's back. Once he had calmed down, she asked, "Who do you think will ultimately emerge victorious?"
"This battle is difficult. There is the variable of Lin Feng."
"Oh, although Lin Feng's growth rate is astonishing, he is still only at the mid-stage of Enlightenment; he shouldn't be a major concern."
“Your words are misguided, Queen. If he truly became a Divine Ruins Disciple, the people of Divine Ruins would not sit idly by. If they were to intervene, the demon race would surely perish.”
“Your humble servant, Cold Rain, pays respects to the Martial Emperor and the Queen. Long live the Martial Emperor!” Cold Rain bowed deeply.
“Rise, my child,” the Queen said with a smile, gesturing for Cold Rain to stand. “You heard what was just said; what are your thoughts?”
Cold Rain replied, “I believe that regardless of whether Lin Feng is a disciple of Divine Ruins or not, the people of Divine Ruins will definitely not involve themselves in this matter.”
“Oh? How can you be so certain?” The Queen asked with interest.
Cold Rain explained, “There is a distinction between those of sects and those of the court. According to sect rules, if Lin Feng were a Divine Ruins Disciple, there might be a chance for someone from Divine Ruins to step in and rescue him. However, they would never participate in a battle simply for one disciple.”
“The Cultivation World and the Four Great Secret Lands have far grander goals. To them, who lives or dies and who governs the human realm is of little importance.”
Upon hearing this, the Martial Emperor also became intrigued and asked, “Then what are the goals of these secret lands?”
Cold Rain pondered for a moment before responding, “I do not know. However, I believe their considerations are certainly related. Based on my judgment, even if Lin Feng truly is a disciple of Divine Ruins, the people of Divine Ruins would still not come to his aid.”
“The people of Divine Ruins are extremely arrogant and consider themselves exceptional. If Lin Feng cannot survive in battle, then he does not deserve to be a disciple of Divine Ruins; if he dies, then so be it.”
“Such an odd sect exists?” The Queen expressed her surprise.
The Martial Emperor thought for a moment and said, “If Dugu Po is indeed a Divine Ruins Disciple, then it is highly likely that Lin Feng is also one. According to your reasoning, why did Dugu Po appear at Azure Cloud Sect to save Lin Feng?”
“Because at that time Lin Feng was not yet a disciple of Divine Ruins; he was merely favored by them. After the Jiuzhou Gathering Conference, Lin Feng went missing for several months. If he had become a Divine Ruins Disciple during that time and still needed someone from Divine Ruins to save him upon descending the mountain, unless he were the biological son of Market, it would be impossible for him to receive such favor from them.”
Cold Rain's tone was cold, yet it carried a strong sense of dissatisfaction and jealousy. If Lin Feng were to perish in battle, how could such a useless person possibly enter the Divine Ruins? When did the people of Divine Ruins become so lacking in discernment? If Lin Feng survived thanks to the people of Divine Ruins, then they would no longer hold the esteemed place in her heart that they once did.
Only if Lin Feng seemed unlikely to survive, yet truly turned the tide and lived, would Cold Rain feel that he genuinely possessed the qualifications to enter Divine Ruins.
Just because he was at the top of the Nine Provinces Elite Three Rankings, what right did he have to enter Divine Ruins?
Only Cold Rain and Xiao Mi could understand this sentiment. Qi Wan'er, who had once yearned for and anticipated entering Divine Ruins, only to end up disappointed, could truly grasp the depth of these feelings.
The Martial Emperor asked again, "Cold Rain, do you think the Tang Dynasty will prevail?"
"Yes," Cold Rain replied without hesitation.
"Why are you so certain?" the Queen inquired.
"If Lin Feng is a disciple of Divine Ruins, then he naturally will not die. As long as he lives, the Tang Dynasty will not perish," Cold Rain's answer circled back to the earlier question.
"Whether Lin Feng is a disciple of Divine Ruins is still up for debate. At most, he is only at the mid-stage of Enlightenment; facing a Master Realm expert would be his limit. And let us not forget that the Demon Lord's cultivation is at the Foundation stage."
Cold Rain dismissed this notion. "Master Realm may indeed be Lin Feng's limit. However, he is only facing a few individuals at that level. As for the Demon Lord, do not forget about another person."
"Sword Saint Lin Bai?" The Queen couldn't help but interject.
The Martial Emperor fell silent for a moment before speaking. "Sword Saint Lin Bai is indeed an astonishing talent and can certainly contend with the Demon Lord. However, he is currently being restrained by Fire Departure Sect. How can one person take on an entire sect?"
"He is not alone. Solitary Moon City has another strong fighter—Lin Bai's senior brother, Xu Mo Wen."
"Xu Mo Wen? I have not heard of him," the Queen pondered.
The Martial Emperor was not familiar with this person and asked, "What is his Foundation?"
"It is rumored to be Master Realm, but I believe he is likely at the Legendary Realm. To defend the Fire Departure Sect's Mountain Gate, the Sword Saint alone is sufficient. However, to spare someone to deal with the Demon Lord, these two should be able to manage," Cold Rain assessed.
"Does this mean our grand plan might fail?" the Queen said anxiously.
"How could it fail? Even if the Tang Dynasty wins, their fortune will have run out. The Wind Nation is also on shaky ground. If our Great Zhou sends troops, it will be enough to quell them," the Martial Emperor declared with dominance.
After a moment of silence, Cold Rain spoke again, "Your Majesty, there is something I wonder if I should say."
"Feel free."
"If either the Tang Dynasty or the Wind Nation falls, it is inevitable that our Great Zhou will send troops to restore order. But if both nations remain intact, no matter how weak they become, it will not be a good opportunity for us to intervene. It would only strengthen their alliance and make them more formidable."
"I believe that only if one nation possesses an invincible strongman can we hope for unification," Cold Rain continued.
The Martial Emperor frowned slightly and replied, "Cold Rain, you may be overestimating the power of one individual. After this battle, both nations will be weakened; even united, how could they withstand the might of our Great Zhou's army?"
"Your Majesty, Cold Rain's words are still worth considering."
"This opportunity is rare. This matter is of great importance; I need to discuss it with all the civil and military officials before making a decision." The Martial Emperor clearly intended to send troops.
Cold Rain added, "I have always spoken frankly. As for how to decide, that is up to Your Majesty. However, I request leave for a period of time; I hope Your Majesty will allow it."
"Absurd."
The Martial Emperor was furious: "If I do not heed your advice, you simply ask for leave? Cold Rain, do you think Great Zhou cannot do without you? It seems I have been too lenient with you, allowing you to become so arrogant."
Cold Rain showed no fear, maintaining a calm demeanor. "Your Majesty, I did not mean it that way. I have learned that the secret realm of Shishu is about to be unveiled. Obtaining the Shishu legacy is of great significance. I need to request some time off for this matter."
"I see." Upon hearing the explanation, Martial Emperor calmed down a bit.
Queen declined, saying, "Yuer, if His Majesty is planning to send troops to Wind Nation and Tang Kingdom, this is precisely when we need people. How can you leave?"
Cold Rain replied, "I am not an invincible powerhouse. Among the various Divine Generals of the Great Zhou, there are many whose Cultivation surpasses mine. Below the level of a Sage, whether we win in national warfare does not depend on one person's efforts."
"You want to leave... Since you have made up your mind to go, then do not return... Our Great Zhou has plenty of talent; someone will take your place," Martial Emperor said with indignation.
"Your Majesty, excessive anger is harmful to your health. Today's anger only stirs the heart. Your Majesty, let me accompany you back to your palace to rest..."
As Queen gently massaged Martial Emperor's back, she signaled to Cold Rain with her eyes, urging her to leave quickly. (To be continued)
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