Chapter 32: The Beginning of the Ritual
“Mm. I agree. This time, we’re bound to see some surprises.”
In respoo Instructor Li’s observation, the Deputy Medie Envoy nodded with satisfa while watg the bouts among the boys and girls oraining grounds. “At the start, these little pups were hesitant to strike one a all. But now, after stuffing them full of all that demonic beast meat* and elixir, they’ve finally shown a hint of their true natures.
“Look there—they’re hitting a lot harder than before, all aiming to wound or cripple. Exactly! You have to keep a portion of that viciousness, treat the other side like an enemy. Only then yress quickly!”
It was impossible to train in martial arts and Internal Energy without suffering injuries, and the fastest gains came from serious sparring. Hanging Fate Manor had no she of medial resources, so the Deputy Medie Envoy had no qualms about letting these children foster some aggression.
Even if the cost was that these once-simple and kind children would turn into merciless, ferocious-eyed little beasts…or rather—why call it a cost?
That recisely what they wanted.
The Divi hose who would unleash boundless drive for their own desires, who would willingly destroy anything—rebuild everything—for the sake of their ambitions. People who would accept destroying themselves or even the sect itself, as long as they aplished their goals.
But so what?
In this world, only the Divi would accept them, embrace all their wicked or beautiful dreams, and support their desire to destroy or reshape the mortal realm.
Because…
“This is 【Heavenly Will】.”
The old man turned his head to look at An Jing, who was calmly overseeing the se, coordinating the sparring order for all the children and stepping in to stop any overly dangerous matches in time.
His gaze burned with iy, ghostly-green fmes flickering in his eyes. “Heh heh. Some require drugs to transform—but others are borraordinary.”
“An Jing, oh An Jing…one of the best seedlings I’ve seen in many years.”
The Deputy Medie Envoy stroked his beard and smiled in anticipation. “This time, we might genuinely produe ued ‘rades.’”
“If that happens, maybe I’ll finally get to leave these remote mountains aurn to Great .”
“There will surely e such a day.” Instructor Li csped his hands.
“Right, Xiao** Li, I hear that on the official side, the ‘red dogs’ have been biting down hard tely. Seems even someone from Jiankong Mountain has made a move? Our manor is running short on supplies. We mustn’t let our youngsters go hungry.”
Satisfied, the Deputy Medie Envoy shifted his gaze from the training field and spoke to the one-eyed instructor at his side. “So how far have they tracked us?”
“They’ve traced us to the North Rain Marsh,” Instructor Li said, instantly adopting a solemn tone as he reported, “We lost eight outposts.”
“They also destroyed several hunting sites where we used blood pills as bait to lure savage beasts. We wasted a lot of major medies there.”
He sounded regretful. “Though those pills were made from children of only average potential, they were still potent…these dogs of Great , how they value lives evehan we do? Wasting those good pills made from children’s bodies!”
“Then keep using bait.” The Deputy Medie Envoy remained uurbed. “This time, though, we’re not fishing for savage beasts, but these red-skinned dogs themselves.”
“Send the local altar members to raid the towns that aren’t friendly to us. Go buy more people from those gangs—use them as bait. Dahe lure, and see if they have more men than we have bait.
“They’re not ‘Children of Camity’ anyway, just ordinary lives. We afford it.”
“Yes, sir!”
Instructor Li bowed, then spoke with caution: “However, about Jiankong Mountain, I hear a Divireasury realm master known as 【Six Yang Xuanjing】 has e…”
Even though it was their enemy, Li instinctively lowered his voi respect. “her of the two squads we sent to scout has returned or sent word. They must be wiped out. I suspect he followed the trail of the Northern Patrol Envoy, and we just got caught in the crossfire.”
“Master Xuanjing…from Jiankong Mountain’s Bright Mirror Sect? Why would an Immortal Path grandmaster intervehe Deputy Medie Envoy’s expression turroubled. He pondered for a moment and shook his head. “No. We shouldn’t gamble on him not ing here. For all we know, he’s already deep in the Western Wastends.
“How’s the manor’s progress? When we start the trial?” he asked.
Instructor Li thumped his chest with fidence. “We’re about ready! With that brat An Jing helping train the children, it’s been far easier than in past years—and much faster progress too!
“If you ask me, we could begin today!”
“Excellent, excellent. That means we’ll make it in time!”
Filled with the joy of a harvest soon to e, the Deputy Medie Envoy again surveyed the disciples’ footwork and formation oraining ground, deg they were more than prepared. “All right, then. Tomorrow, at Hanging Fate Valley, we begiual.
“The Divi has nurtured their lives for many days now. Time for these little oo prove their worth.”
The Day.
They offered ailed expnation. The stewards and squad leaders of Hanging Fate Manor simply led everyone, armed with their training swords, spears, staves, or pikes, out of the mountains via a forest trail. Eventually, they arrived at a deep ge behind the manor.
Fully prepared, An Jing quietly carried two pistols hidden up his sleeves.
This ge was “Hanging Fate Valley.” A clear, rushing river flowed out from within, creating an alluvial fan of white sand.
At the ter of that sandy expanse y a broad patch of pure-white ground. Arrahere were twelve a jade altars in a circle. Each altar was surrounded by nine positions—three inside, six outside—f an a ceremony array.
At first sight of the ge, An Jing’s keen perception and the influence of Subduing Evil's Sword Spirit brought him a moment of “illusion.” He sehat this ge was not naturally formed, but rather…
…a sword mark.
For an instant, An Jing saw a divine figure desding from the heavens, wielding a bde like a ragiial river, cleaving a straight yon through endless mountains, sealing somethih the earth.
tless years ter, streams verged here, carving out a long river among the ridges like a dragon.
—Could that have been the Fuxie Sword Spirit?!
【Ihat was me】
Fuxie recalled something as well, its tone serious: 【My other fragment is within this ‘Hanging Fate Valley'】
【We never found a e here before. It seems now will be our st opportunity】
“I uand.” An Jing shook his head slightly, steadying himself to observe his surroundings.
What he saw armed him further.
For strewn across the pristine white sand were numerous things equally white yet terrifying to behold.
Bones.
Human bones!
Scattered about the white-sand ground were many white skeletal remains: skulls, arms and hands, femurs, ribs…all small—none of them adult bones. Some were broken; others were retively intact…
—So Bai Qinghan was right…Is it starting?—These demonic sect people are finally “hungry,” aren’t they? All at once, An Jing ratcheted his guard to the highest level.
Sure enough, the demonic sect was about to reveal its true face!
He might still have some ability to fight back if things turned dire, possibly esg into the forest if unopposed.
But the sect gave him no ce.
With a sidelong gnce, An Jing saw that while the number of escorts appeared small, they blocked every possible route of escape.
One person might get out, but not if he tried t others. That was utterly impossible.
At least I have to protect my own squad…
“Big Bro An…”
At that moment, the ht from his squad also noticed the bones around them. Gu Yeqi subsciously stepped back, warily sing the area. “What’s going on here…?”
“Don’t be afraid.”
An Jing spoke in a low voice to reassure them. “What’s is probably the formal test for joining the manor… The tradition at Hanging Fate Manor is grueling, bound to be dangerous. These remains likely belong to disciples who failed to pass.
“But don’t worry. We’re strong. This time, we’ll all succeed.”
“Yes!” Gu Yeqi trusted An Jing pletely. She answered without hesitation, and the others rexed as well.
Then came a speech from the Medie Manor Lord.
He spoke at length, yet the main point was simple: after a year or so of training, these disciples of Hanging Fate Manor were to undergo the formal initiation ritual.
It would be dangerous. Through the ritual process, they would ihe power of “Imperial Heaven” and stir their Inner Heart Demon. If they mao vanquish that demon, they would awaken their Heavenly Fate and bee true disciples of Hanging Fate Manor. If they failed, they might die, but if they survived, they could still remain in the manor.
Just like the stable hands and riders they’d seen, the manor would provide them a meal.
Of course, anyone could opt out. It was eheir choice.
(End of Chapter)
*The inal text uses “妖兽肉,” which literally refers to the meat of a beast with demonic qualities.
**"Xiao" (小) is another only used prefix in a, mainly to denote smallness, youth, or affe. Depending on the text, it be transted as "Little" (e.g., "Little Li" for 小李).
