Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 624: Is the Tome of Troubled Times Your Cousin?

Wang Daoning could not fathom why these people insisted on a one-on-one duel.

Are they truly so set on displaying honor now? Are they here to throw their lives away?

Even if they thought his Profound Control Realm power was less than it seemed, was he not still far stronger than any of them?

During the earlier battle, he had managed to fend off both Vermillion Bird and Zhao Changhe while contending with his own rebellious divine sword’s sword qi. Though he was slightly disadvantaged, the real threat had been the sword qi—the same storm of sword qi that had given even Xia Longyuan trouble.

When Zhao Changhe had turned his saber toward Bo’e, Vermillion Bird had switched to defense to protect her partner, exposing a weakness that allowed Wang Daoning to injure her with a swift elbow strike.

Now, with the divine swords destroyed, this was a fair fight. How could he possibly lose?

Did they think the brief hesitation caused by Xia Chichi’s power of the water element was enough to defeat him? Xia Chichi’s sword might resonate with the water element, but Vermillion Bird’s power had nothing to do with it!

“Let’s see if you can handle this!” Wang Daoning roared, launching a palm strike.

The Heavenly Sea-Suppressing Palm unleashed the force of a tsunami, suffocating even Xia Chichi, who stood off to the side. It was an attack that could not be blocked head-on without a way to disperse its power.

But this time, Vermillion Bird, who had previously struggled to counter this very technique, extended just two fingers. A fiery glow flickered at her fingertips as she thrust them forward.

The flame pierced through the dense wave of energy, drilling straight toward his palm.

Even if she had been holding a sword, it would have been crushed to pulp by this palm strike. But when her fingers met the palm, the expected shattering of bones did not happen. Instead, Wang Daoning felt a horrifying realization: the water energy within him was rebelling, slipping beyond his control.

This internal betrayal was far more devastating than his own rebellion against Xia Longyuan. His water energy was deeply intertwined with his qi cultivation, and now it surged wildly, transforming his meridians and dantian into a battlefield.

That single thread of fire infiltrated his meridians, searing its way into his heart. The anger he had felt before now flared into a literal blaze, consuming his heart with roaring flames. In an instant, his chest felt like it had been charred to ash.

Wang Daoning screamed, pouring all his strength into breaking free from the Vermillion Bird’s grasp, and fled in desperation.

A cold gleam flashed before his eyes. An ice-cold blade pierced through his chest, puncturing his lungs. The chilling frost seemed almost merciful, extinguishing the flames consuming his heart.

Wang Daoning looked down at the tip of the sword protruding from his heart, then up at Xia Chichi. A flicker of understanding dawned in his eyes.

“So that’s it... Your water energy wasn’t tied to that ice sword at all. The Soul of Water recognized you more than it ever recognized me... You weren’t attacking—you were communicating with it. When you confirmed it was on your side, even you dared to face me one-on-one.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Xia Chichi’s tone was cold. “Your power was still at least at the peak of the third layer of the Profound Mysteries. It was safer to leave it to the venerable.”

She paused, her eyes icy. “But it’s surprising, isn’t it? After reigning over the Eastern Sea for so long, holding a high rank on the Ranking of Heaven, you couldn’t grasp something so simple. The Soul of Water once belonged to the Sea Emperor. When he fell, did you think it couldn’t find a new master?

“What made you so confident that, as someone who doesn’t even practice water-based arts, you could fully subjugate it? Did you think you could seize it, just as you hoped to seize the Great Xia Empire? What isn’t yours will never truly be yours.”

Wang Daoning lifted his gaze to the sky. The sun was rising ever higher.

The winter sun was pale and soft, yet Wang Daoning still squinted at it. After a long, contemplative gaze, he sighed. “Of course, I knew it might find a new master. I just didn’t think it would happen so soon... And even if that were the case, how could I have imagined you would be able to influence its subsidiaries? If you call me ignorant, perhaps it’s because you’re the ones who are too strange.”

“Azure Dragons rise from the sea... It isn’t unusual for a saintess of the Four Idols Cult to embody all four elements. Senior Black Tortoise placed great expectations on me,” Xia Chichi said coolly. “Besides, you misunderstand one thing. The reason we didn’t gang up on you wasn’t because of some martial code. It’s simply because you don’t deserve the Tome of Troubled Times reporting your death as a result of being overwhelmed. You’re not worthy.”

Wang Daoning chuckled. “Such empty prestige—perhaps your father and your husband care for it... I, on the other hand, do not.”

Xia Chichi’s expression did not waver. “I know you care little for your own life. What you care about is the survival of your family. But if you die here, won’t your family’s destruction be just a matter of time?”

Wang Daoning’s voice was calm. “Let’s see if you have the strength left to manage that... Once the Tome of Troubled Times reports my death, Zhaoling will withdraw and consolidate our forces. With Li Gongsi dead, the Li Clan will certainly lead the barbarians through the pass. Yang Jingxiu will fight to the bitter end now, and who knows if the Cui Clan will continue this senseless struggle. You few martial artists think you can handle this chaos, and still come to destroy Langya? Heh... Even if Daozhong is unremarkable, he is still on the Ranking of Earth.”

Zhao Changhe whispered to the blind woman beside him. “Hey, can you do me a favor? Nothing that violates your principles.”

“Hmm? You want me to let him die faster? But this long-winded nonsense is clearly intentional. Otherwise, Xia Chichi’s sword qi would have ended him already.”

“Of course it’s intentional. Chichi sent me a message, and I know what’s happening in Puyang now. Don’t wait for him to die. Report his death early. It’ll kill his spirit.”

The blind woman paused for a moment. A flash of golden light streaked across the sky.

The eleventh month, Great Snow

Cui Yuanyang led a surprise night raid on the Wang Clan’s camp, intending only to exhaust their forces. Xia Chichi, passing through the capital, crossed the battlefield and unleashed the phantom of the Azure Dragon upon the camp. The already demoralized soldiers of the Wang Clan, seeing what they believed to be a divine omen aiding the Cui Clan, fell into chaos.

Wang Daoning’s eyes widened.

If he knew the Zhao Family’s local dialect, he would have surely shouted, “Are you fucking cheating?!”

Zhao Changhe’s sudden arrival on horseback was strange enough on its own. But how did Xia Chichi get here too? And she just happened to pass by Puyang, summoning not a meteor, but a celestial dragon to decimate an enemy encampment?

The siege had dragged on for months under harsh winter winds and relentless snow. The soldiers’ morale was frigid at best. When the Azure Dragon descended, any will to fight shattered like ice.

Cui Yuanyong, Xue Canghai, and Huangfu Shaozong seized the moment and launched a fierce assault. Chaos erupted as the armies clashed. Amid the fray, Xue Canghai encountered Wang Daozhong. After exchanging ten blows, Xue Canghai, unable to match Wang Daozhong’s strength, called upon the power of a sacred artifact. Wang Daozhong was grievously wounded and forced to flee.

Wang Daoning’s eyes widened in shock.

Xue Canghai... bested Wang Daozhong?

He had surpassed his limits—yes, aided by some cursed sacred artifact—but he had truly crossed that threshold!

Cui Yuanyong routed Wang Zhaoling’s forces. The army of the Wang Clan crumbled, casualties beyond reckoning. Their general, Zhang Ximeng, ranked fifty-seventh on the Ranking of Man, fell in battle. Wang Zhaoling barely escaped with his life.

The siege at Puyang, locked in stalemate for nearly four months, was broken in a single day by the descent of the Azure Dragon.

Xue Canghai triumphed over Wang Daozhong. Though he relied on divine aid, victory was his. He claims his rightful place.

Ranking of Earth, Rank 30: Xue Canghai.

Ranking of Man, Rank 57: Cui Yuanyong.

Ranking of Hidden Dragons, Rank 1: Cui Yuanyang.

Wang Daoning stared blankly, still clinging to the hope that news of his death would prompt Wang Zhaoling to retreat. Instead, he was forced to witness the utter collapse of his army and the Cui Clan’s triumphant rise up the ranks.

Daozhong and Zhaoling had survived—cold comfort amidst utter catastrophe. Their defeat had shattered their momentum. They had lost the advantage in this grand contest for supremacy.

If someone were to be the first to fall, who would it be?

Why is the Tome of Troubled Times broadcasting this while I’m still alive? Shouldn’t it have reported this earlier if the events were counted separately? Why now? To torment me with the news of my clan’s destruction?

Does the Tome of Troubled Times answer to you lot?

Zhao Changhe spoke calmly, “The skirmish outside the camp might leave some loose ends. It happens. But don’t worry, Wang Daoning. I’ve already set traps in Langya. Soon, I’ll lead my forces to Qingzhou. Wang Daozhong and Wang Zhaoling would do well to barricade themselves inside the city. That way, I can trap them like rats and wipe them out in one sweep.”

Wang Daoning’s eyes widened further, panic surging. He wanted to scream, “Beware of Gui Chen!”

But the words lodged in his throat. Xia Chichi gave him no chance to relay his message to whatever lurking attendants. Her sword flashed with icy brilliance, and the burst of sword energy silenced him forever.

His eyes dimmed, disbelief and despair forever etched on his lifeless face.

You call me ignorant, but perhaps it’s because you’re the ones who are too strange.

Even the Tome of Troubled Times bends to your will. Had I known that, who in their right mind would dare to rebel?

1. This is the twenty-first solar term in the traditional calendar. ☜