High Martial World: I Gain Passive Skills Daily-Chapter 33 - 32: The Meaning of 3
In fact, there’s no need for the secret message to be specially delivered to him by Qingcuo; having someone deliver it like now is the most convenient.
However...
When Chen Kuang said this, he naturally wasn’t seeking convenience.
He was giving Qingcuo a way out, a choice to turn back.
If Qingcuo shows up as promised, it means she still has a thought of surviving.
But she hasn’t returned.
Chen Kuang thought of that yellowing old paper crane and sighed in his heart.
National hatred, family vendetta—hard to let go.
At this moment... she should have already reached Li Hongling’s side.
The cultivator then said, "If there are other arrangements, feel free to instruct us, and we will do our utmost to cooperate."
Chen Kuang looked at him.
Now, with his Grandmaster level cultivation, he saw that this cultivator’s level was at the Tower Ascension Realm.
The others rushing over were of the same cultivation level; those with higher cultivation were probably still holding off Three Tribulations Sect’s main forces, buying time.
Chen Kuang asked, "To what extent can you exert yourselves, any arrangement, life and death be disregarded?"
The cultivator hesitated then smiled:
"Although Lingtai Mountain is in the Liang Kingdom, it has always ignored worldly affairs. Now it’s been sealed off by the Sect Leader, not seeing anyone, not concerning themselves with any matter, only allowing disciples down the mountain after the external turmoils have subsided."
"Those of us who have come down from the mountain since Zhou Kingdom declared war, we’re practically banished from the sect."
The cultivator sighed:
"The survival or demise of mundane kingdoms has nothing to do with Lingtai Mountain. We could peacefully cultivate in the mountain for tranquility and freedom."
He turned back to the gathered cultivators, seeing a determined glimmer in their eyes.
"But... we are Liang Kingdom people, our bloodline cannot be forsaken."
He clasped his fists: "Cultivation is not for solitary invincibility, but for enlightenment."
"Now, all alone, only life and death matter."
Chen Kuang understood.
These cultivators likely have family in Liang Kingdom’s mundane world, unfortunately caught in the war.
Perhaps not everyone has family there, but coming down from Lingtai Mountain to save the nation shows they have disregarded life and death.
"Good."
Chen Kuang nodded, speaking softly: "I don’t need secret messages, nor do I need you to clear a path, but I need a way to keep in contact with you."
"That’s simple. We can directly give you our Life Token, connect Heart Spirit with Secret Technique, and you can communicate with all of us just by reciting quietly in your heart."
The cultivators nodded, raising their hands, handing over their Life Tokens to Chen Kuang, transforming into a brilliant golden glyph in the center of his palm.
The cultivator then seemed slightly surprised: "The secret message then..."
Chen Kuang said, "This secret message is for controlling the buried explosives in the city. The city defenses are now lax; you must seize the time to find all the hidden paths where the explosives are buried."
The explosives Li Hongling buried were certainly not ordinary, being a mystical Spiritual Treasure called Mountain-Breaking Thunder, hence needing a secret message to trigger.
Hidden paths are not in one place, nor are the sealed nodes.
To completely loosen the seal, all nodes might need to be detonated.
Such a large amount of explosives could unleash the vast Spiritual Qi covered by restrictions, detonating the seals under the Celestial Prison.
He glanced over the gathered cultivators:
"I need you to guard near the hidden paths; as soon as you hear my order, ignite the explosives."
This is very cruel.
Equivalent to ordering these cultivators to detonate these bombs at close range, committing suicide.
Previously, when asking Huo Hengxuan, he said that at detonation, the first to die must be the detonator.
And this Spiritual Treasure’s vicious design lies in the secret message needing to be said nearby.
Even if someone knows the secret message, they must embrace a certain death decision...
Surely, no ordinary person would want to detonate this thing.
They would all wish it fails.
Among the cultivators, someone indeed showed hesitation.
"Not unwilling to agree, but doing so... what’s the purpose?"
Chen Kuang shook his head: "I have one sentence, I’ve been entrusted by Huo Hengxuan to take the lady and princess out alive."
Perhaps earlier Shen Xingzhu might have neglected out of arrogance, but now, she definitely watches every move Chen Kuang makes.
She perhaps won’t mind what these cultivators do.
But if she knows what Chen Kuang intends to do, she’ll certainly intervene.
The cultivators exchanged glances, ultimately choosing to trust Chen Kuang.
And trust Huo Hengxuan.
Moreover, Chen Kuang’s cultivation overflowed at this moment, every word striking hearts like a resounding bell, making it impossible not to be convinced.
The cultivators soared away, transforming into streamers flying towards different parts of the Imperial City.
"Phew..."
Chen Kuang took a deep breath, next he’d only have to do one thing—
Break through the encirclement of 50,000 Black Armor Army!
Chen Kuang turned, looking at the silent Chu Wen Ruo: "Let’s go, I’ll lead you out."
Chu Wen Ruo held the Little Princess tightly, nodding firmly.
She had lost her words, only trust remained for her to rely on.
Outside the city gates, the thousands of Black Armor surged like tides, flags fluttering.
Cultivators have their path, and mortals have theirs.
Mortals are small, yet can unite in determination.
A fortress built from united resolve is named "Formation."
A nation’s military formation’s might can rival a Grandmaster!
"Roar—"
Now, a massive formation was formed, amidst the battle cries a phantom took shape above, a Black Armored General wielding a long halberd, his figure towering like a mountain, blocking the sky and the sun.
"Boom..."
The Black Armored General lifted his halberd, slamming it down, a sound like thunder erupting.
Tens of thousands of Black Armor began their charge simultaneously, iron hooves kicking up clouds of dust.
Ahead, Spiritual Qi surged, shaking the ground, a blazing white flame blooming like a lotus, cutting through the black tide as wind through grass.
Where they passed, men bent like grass.
...
Now a day has passed, yet the sky hasn’t changed at all, the stars above trapped in eerie stagnation and silence.
On the city walls, all you could see was ruins.
"Cough cough... pfft!"
Li Hongling spat out blood, looking at Huo Hengxuan kneeling before her, his gaze nearly faded, life barely hanging on, a person drenched in blood.
Discarding the shattered "Thousand-Mile Smoke Waves Painting" in her hand.
Her helmet was gone, long hair loose, revealing a sharp, androgynous face, pale with varied scars.
Li Hongling turned back, expressionless, watching her Personal Guard step past her.
Reaching Huo Hengxuan’s side, squatting to wipe the blood from his face.
"Qingcuo."
Qingcuo stood up, nodded, stepped forward, sheathed her long sword from her waist facing Li Hongling.
"So, you came to kill me."
Li Hongling sighed: "You have Blood Child Gu in you; kill me, and you’ll die too."
The pair of similarly scarlet eyes held no friendliness, but represented life-linked control.
Qingcuo smiled, her voice gentle:
"It’s alright."
"As long as you die... it’s fine."
Qingcuo wielded her sword forward but suddenly paused.
Her right arm was held by a bloody hand.
Qingcuo paused.
Li Hongling’s expression drastically changed, terrified to the point of distortion, she roared:
"No, no... impossible!!! You should be dead!"
The old man, no longer in human form, shakily stood up, raising his eyes, weary and hoarse:
"That day, that lad tested me, asking what my plan was."
Huo Hengxuan straightened his spine like an old sword.
"I told him, three."
He sighed, looked up at the stars overhead and spoke softly.
"I didn’t tell him what it means—I’ll tell you."
"Today, three people must die."
