Let the Darkness Fall as Scheduled!

Under the cold glares of Zhou Mo and the others, Wang Mazi quickly came to his senses. His joy instantly halved, and he rubbed his nose sheepishly. "Well..." "Stationmaster, this carriage is your exclusive ride. Even if another one is built, how could I be worthy of using the same kind of carriage as you?" "When our chamber of commerce travels, it represents the face of our Fan Gate. We can't afford to look timid—we need to use the good stuff." Chen Fan smiled and waved his hand dismissively. *** Meanwhile. In a distant corner of the Jiangbei Wasteland, dawn had just broken, yet this place remained shrouded in endless darkness. A cloaked man knelt inside a grand palace, pressing his forehead firmly against the ground in submission. The crimson triangles spinning wildly in his eyes, however, betrayed the sheer savagery within his heart. Darkness swallowed his surroundings. All that could be seen were crimson ghost eyes floating along both sides of the palace hall. After a long silence, an eerie voice echoed from high above the palace. "You finally found me after all. Since you have chosen to submit to me, I shall bestow upon you a Mountain Skeleton Embryo to aid your breakthrough to ghost king. "Furthermore..." "I heard you sent men to Nameless Mountain?" The man kneeling on the ground paused for a fraction of a second before answering in a hoarse voice, "Yes. My old subordinate Qianhu led troops there. They died very quickly. No information was transmitted back—the entire force was wiped out." "Heh." A cold sneer came from the darkness. "Nameless Mountain was that person's former residence. Even though he left a hundred and eighty years ago, it is not a place you can covet. Truth be told, a year ago, I sent troops to Nameless Mountain several times. "We discovered an extraordinarily powerful exotic beast guarding the mountain. "It was likely a contingency left behind by that person. "Afterward..." "One final time, I dispatched three elite squads. One squad fought desperately to lure the exotic beast away, while the other two took the chance to slip into the sinkhole in search of what that person left behind. There is no harm in telling you the outcome. "Instant death. "The battle lasted merely a split second. Not a scrap of information returned. The life slips of both elite squads shattered at the exact same instant. "Since then, I have never again entertained designs on Nameless Mountain. "It is not something I can covet, much less you. "Now that you have submitted to me, do not throw your life away so casually. "Go. "Break through to ghost king during this rainy season, and proclaim to the world that yet another ghost king has been born! "Let the darkness fall as scheduled. "As one of the four ghost kings under this seat's banner, bring fear and despair to those frail ants hiding behind their walls!" A Mountain Skeleton Embryo slowly descended before the man. Tucking the Mountain Skeleton Embryo into his chest, the man pressed his cheek reverently against the ground to show his submission. Only then did he rise, retreat slowly, and exit the palace. The moment he stepped outside, his expression turned grim as he strode into the darkness. His knuckles turned white from clenching his fists too tightly. Those were his lines, dammit! If not for that cursed human, he would never have knelt to this fool. He wanted to break through to ghost king to take control of his own destiny, not to become someone else's dog. He had lied just now. Qianhu had transmitted information back before dying. A human camp had been built at the bottom of the sinkhole, fortified with Level 3 walls, more than twenty Level 5 cannon towers, and methods to rapidly repair the walls. They had used the sinkhole as bait. Once their entire force entered the sinkhole, a wall rose at the junction between the sinkhole and the canyon to cut off retreat, proving impossible to breach. Furthermore, the contingency left behind by that person had most likely fallen into the hands of this human camp by sheer luck. It made sense. Since that person was a human, whatever was left behind certainly would not be easily obtained by ghost creatures. What he needed to do next was clear. Break through to ghost king at the tail end of the rainy season, then slaughter his way into Nameless Mountain. Destroy the camp, seize the contingency, and build his foundation. Then he would make this fool who dared force him to kneel lick his boots! Just then— The Qianxi life slip in his chest suddenly vibrated faintly. Shortly after, a message surfaced on the ghost skin before him. "My King." "Last night, a flesh worm ghost tide erupted across the Jiangbei Wasteland. Pingcheng to the west was breached and its inhabitants wiped out. Using the blood of Pingcheng's dead souls, along with the ghost stones and materials we brought with us, we have laid down the foundation for the Blood Sacrifice Grand Array." "However—" "Due to the deaths of Qianhou and Qianhu, our resources are insufficient. We are still short twenty thousand ghost stones, several ghost materials, and the most crucial component, the Mountain Skeleton Embryo, to serve as the array eye." Upon reading the message, the man could not help exclaiming, "Good, good, good!" "The heavens truly aid me!" The crimson triangles in his pupils spun rapidly in excitement. Originally, breaking a city would have been troublesome after Qianhou's death, but the flesh worm ghost tide had happened to breach Pingcheng for him! It allowed him to easily lay down the Blood Sacrifice Grand Array using the living souls of Pingcheng. He immediately replied in a deep tone. "I have already obtained the Mountain Skeleton Embryo. In several days, Qianqiu will arrive at the Jiangbei Wasteland with ample ghost stones and ghost materials to rendezvous with you. Be sure to stay far away from Nameless Mountain. The human camp there cannot be underestimated; once I break through to ghost king, I will personally lead the army there." "Ten days from now, at the tail end of the rainy season, I will arrive at the Jiangbei Wasteland carrying the Mountain Skeleton Embryo." "I shall break through to ghost king and wed Qiu Kui." "Let the darkness fall as scheduled!" Today was the eighteenth day of the rainy season. The rainy season usually lasted about thirty days. There might be slight fluctuations, but it would never be fewer than twenty-eight days. Thus, ten days from now was just in time! *** Time flew by in the blink of an eye. Seven days had passed. Today was the twenty-fifth day of the rainy season, drawing near its end. It was mid-afternoon, with dusk fast approaching. "Is it all spent already?" Sitting atop the wall and gazing out toward both cliffs of the canyon opposite him, Chen Fan let out a sigh of mixed emotion. Over the past few days, he had gained three successive windfalls! Qianhu's military supplies. The dung pit of Weiwei's parents. The opportunity from the flesh worm ghost tide. These three windfalls had instantly made the camp immensely wealthy, with the accumulated ghost stones at one point nearing a hundred thousand! Yet... Easy come, easy go. Over the past seven days, Weiwei had worked tirelessly digging tunnels, completely hollowing out passageways through the cliffs flanking the canyon. Chen Fan had crafted a hundred Level 5 cannon towers and installed them high along the rocky cliffs on both sides of the canyon. With that! The high cliffs of the canyon now boasted a staggering 140 Level 5 cannon towers, the cliffs surrounding the sinkhole held 38 Level 5 cannon towers, and the Level 3 wall fronting Cave No. 1 was mounted with 9 Level 5 cannon towers and 1 Level 6 Ghost Eye Cannon Tower. The savings of many days had been completely wiped clean. What he gained in return was a nearly perfected "Meat Grinder" defensive array. Without exaggeration: The moment anyone stepped into the canyon, they entered his range of fire. Normally, these cannon towers remained concealed high within the mountains, virtually undetectable. But once battle commenced, they would reveal themselves and deliver devastating strikes upon the enemy. Now, he had only a little over ten thousand ghost stones left in his pocket. These remaining ghost stones could not be spent. They had to be kept as reserves. Outside the wall, the overcast drizzle fell continuously, chilling the heart. The temperature was dropping lower and lower. Atop the wall. Chen Fan sat in a rocking chair, a small charcoal brazier burning vigorously before him. In his hands, he cradled a coarse ceramic bowl filled with freshly boiled pickled vegetables and tofu. A few days ago, he had obtained an exotic plant. It was called "Soybean." It had no grand miraculous effects, but it tasted great. Qi Chong possessed decent culinary skills. He had processed the soybeans into tofu and stewed it together with pickled vegetables, producing a bubbling pot of tofu and pickled greens that both dispelled the chill and smelled savory. The broth was still bubbling, steam rising steadily. Chen Fan took his chopsticks, sliced off a clean piece of tofu from the bowl, dipped it into the sauce on the side, blew on it a few times in a hurry, and popped it into his mouth. "Haa..." He opened his mouth slightly to let the piping-hot tofu cool rapidly, squinting his eyes in sheer enjoyment. It tasted wonderful. The dipping sauce was simple—conditions didn't allow for luxury, so it was just chili powder mixed with coarse salt, yet it tasted remarkably flavorful. Particularly the long-cured pickled greens: dark brownish-black, finely chopped, salty and chewy, giving a satisfying crunch with every bite. He lifted the ceramic bowl and took a sip of the broth. A surge of piping-hot warmth flowed straight down his throat into his stomach, turning into wisps of heat that coursed toward his stiffened limbs. "So comfortable!" Chen Fan exhaled a long plume of white vapor and set down his bowl and chopsticks. Gazing at Zhou Mo swinging his saber in the rain outside the wall, he leaned back against the chair and hummed idly. "Pickled greens and tofu in my bowl, not even an emperor could boast such soul..." The weather had turned cold. If only he could have a pot of pork stewed with glass noodles. Fragrant pork mixed with soft, chewy vermicelli and tender, flavorful napa cabbage, sprinkled with dried chili powder, paired with a few plump white steamed buns... Tsk, tsk, who knew how heavenly that would taste. Unfortunately, the camp's provisions lacked the ingredients, so he couldn't have that for now. Just then— "Hah!" Zhou Mo, practicing his saber in the rain outside the wall, suddenly let out a sharp roar. The tedious chopping motion he had repeated countless times suddenly turned extraordinarily fluid. At that instant, Zhou Mo seemed to forget his arms, forget his saber, and even forget himself. Relying solely on the muscle memory ingrained through days of bitter practice and an undying obsession in his heart, he slashed out once more! *Rip—* A tearing sound distinctly different from previous attempts rang out. The rain curtain was ripped apart. The falling sheets of rain before him snapped, parting for a fleeting split second. A streak of cold white saber light flew from the saber in Zhou Mo's hand, cleaving through the rain before dissipating several meters away. Only then did Zhou Mo snap back to reality, standing frozen in place. He stared dumbly down at the Broadsword the stationmaster had bestowed upon him, his eyes reddening. Looking up at Chen Fan standing on the wall, he choked out hoarsely: "Stationmaster, it worked!" "My Water-Severing Saber Technique has finally taken form!" "Great!" Having witnessed the scene with his own eyes from the wall, Chen Fan could not help rising to clap and offer his congratulations, his eyes filled with novelty. In his two lifetimes, this was the first time he had ever seen such a technique. Just like a true martial expert, he could actually unleash saber aura. Thanks to the Spirit Accumulation Pavilion and the sunflower, Zhou Mo's cultivation, which had stagnated for years, had broken through to Level 3 cultivator several days ago, and he had been meditating on the Water-Severing Saber Technique in the rain ever since. Today, he had finally reached the entry level. Although it was merely the entry level—the lowest of the six realms: Entry, Competent, Proficient, Master, Perfection, and Great Perfection—he could finally unleash this move of the Water-Severing Saber Technique. "Stop cleaving rain. Try it on the wall and see how powerful it is." "Understood!" Zhou Mo immediately agreed. Taking a deep breath, he recalled his youthful dream of wandering the world as a wandering bladesman, thought of his mediocre life thus far, and then looked at the Water-Severing Saber Technique he now held in his grasp. A surge of heroic spirit rose in his chest. He sank his qi into his dantian, channeling all the frustration from years of mediocrity into the blade in his palm, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes. Water-Severing Saber Technique pushed to its peak! Taking a large stride forward, blue veins bulging on his neck, he bellowed and struck with all his might against the wall beside him. A faint azure arc cleaved from the blade, slamming solidly into the wall. This slash was even stronger than the previous one; Zhou Mo had experienced another sudden enlightenment on the spot, his grasp of the Water-Severing Saber Technique deepening yet another step. However... The saber aura struck firmly against the wall. Not even a speck of stone dust was raised. Chen Fan remained expressionless and silent for a long moment. Then, with a wave of his sleeve, an illusory wall formed of white lines quickly materialized on the sinkhole ground. "A Level 3 wall is still too overpowered. Try this Level 1 wall." "Understood!" Zhou Mo felt no significant disappointment. Taking a deep breath, another faint azure arc leaped from his blade! This time, there was finally a visible effect. Stone chips flew. A fist-deep saber gouge appeared on the surface of the Level 1 wall. But seeing Zhou Mo panting heavily, it was obvious that he would struggle to summon a second burst of saber aura anytime soon... "Not bad." Chen Fan nodded slightly. The power was indeed respectable. Though breaching a wall remained difficult, he had no doubt that if this strike landed on an ordinary human body, disembowelment would be unavoidable. Darkness fell. Eternal Night gradually enveloped the entire world. "The rainy season is almost over." Fiddling with the thumb ring in his hand, Chen Fan opened the gate to let Zhou Mo into the camp, then descended from the wall and headed toward the wooden cabins to sleep. When the flesh worm ghost tide struck that day, it had dropped tens of thousands of ghost stones, but only two exotic treasures. One of them was the Ghost Eye. He had used it to upgrade the Level 6 Ghost Eye Cannon Tower. The other was the emerald thumb ring currently in his hand. [Exotic Treasure Name]: Emerald Thumb Ring. [Exotic Treasure Grade]: White. [Exotic Treasure Effect]: Single-use exotic treasure. When someone directs strong killing intent toward you, the thumb ring will grow warm and shatter. Like the ghost skin crafted by Qiu Kui, it had become an exotic treasure he carried with him at all times. "The rainy season is almost over." Standing inside the wooden cabin, Chen Fan gazed at the Eternal Night calendar carved into the wooden planks, muttering softly. Only after the rainy season concluded would Fan Gate truly take the stage. All his current preparations were meant for that future breakthrough that would startle the world. And he was about to face the greatest crisis since arriving in this world. He had already made the camp as formidable as possible. Yet... As to whether they could withstand a ghost king, he lacked absolute confidence. He did not know the abilities or methods of a ghost king, but he had done his utmost. Whether they succeeded or failed would depend on this trial. If he lost, he would accept it. Such was fate. Yet if he won, he would usher in an opportunity for true rise. The two words "Fan Gate" would become synonymous with Jiangbei. Jiangbei's Fan Gate! His Nine-Five Dragon Carriage would gallop across Jiangbei bearing the Fan Gate banner. His name would resound throughout all of Jiangbei. Everyone under heaven would know the name Chen Fan. Let Fan Gate descend as scheduled. *** Jiangbei Wasteland, Pingcheng. Devastation lay everywhere. The city walls connecting to the Jiangbei Wasteland had been completely breached. Sticky green fluid was splattered across the ruins, while rooftops and streets throughout the city were covered in a layer of slimy liquid. Night fell. Darkness swallowed all of Pingcheng. The glow radiating from the natural ghost fire zone covered the entire city as usual. Yet tonight, no soldiers were seen patrolling atop the walls, nor were there cries of human distress or sounds of battle. Only dead silence reigned, the air thick with a nauseating stench of blood and rotting corpses.