Chapter 142: Mount! Subduing the Bamboo Spirit
Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Mount! Subduing the Bamboo Spirit
Opening the Sheji Chart, Zhu Ge was once again stunned by the prodigies on its list.
From first to tenth place, their accomplishments could only be described as legendary.
Heroes are born from chaotic times.
That these people could become renowned throughout the lands before the age of thirty was truly admirable.
Crucially, most of those on the list came from humble backgrounds—some were even commoners.
The few who came from Immortal Dao Sects had also risen from the ranks of outer disciples—sweeping floors, carrying water, and raising chickens—to become Direct Disciples.
Reading the Sheji Chart felt like reading the sagas of these prodigies’ ascensions.
It was not only inspiring, but also gave one the motivation and a clear goal for hard work and advancement.
’Oh? Someone from Yunjiang finally made the list.’
Zhu Ge’s gaze sharpened, focusing on the first prodigy from Yunjiang to appear on the Sheji Chart.
"Thirteenth: Lin Fu. From Yunjiang. A prodigy of the Human Race at the Nourishing Body Realm of the Witch Dao. Tamer of the ancient variant species, the Spider Mother. With it, she commanded an endless swarm of spider Gu Insects to grievously wound the Great Demon Jade Elephant and devour more than fifty Third Realm Demon Beasts..."
The Nourishing Body Realm—one of the Three Realms of the Witch Dao!
Reading about this woman named Lin Fu, Zhu Ge became pensive.
The lands of Yunjiang were teeming with venomous creatures, so many people practiced the Witch Dao, giving them a significant advantage.
However, the Witch Dao was more than just the path of Gu Insects.
From memory alone, Zhu Ge recalled the Yi Tribe’s Path of Fire.
The witch Sui Niang had invited before, for instance, was a Fire Witch whose mastery over flames was nothing short of divine.
There were also the Dai Witches, whose command of water was also highly proficient.
But by far the most numerous were the Gu Witches!
With the lands crawling with snakes, insects, rats, and ants, their resources were practically inexhaustible.
This Lin Fu had relied on the Power of the Third Realm to grievously wound a Great Demon and slay a whole host of Third Realm Demon Beasts. She was truly formidable.
’But... has Dali Prefecture fallen into chaos as well...?’
Zhu Ge couldn’t help but sigh.
The Sheji Chart was published in the spring, so it was effectively the Spring Rain List.
This meant Lin Fu’s deeds were from last winter, subsequently recorded and compiled into this spring’s list.
So, chaos had erupted in Dali Prefecture first, followed by Red River Prefecture this spring.
Zhu Ge had to admit, perhaps because he’d dabbled in so many plots and schemes himself, he now saw something suspicious in everything.
First Dali Prefecture, then Red River Prefecture... he estimated Dianchi Prefecture would be next to fall into chaos.
And the prodigy ranked first on the Spring Rain List was also from the borderlands, it seemed, having slaughtered a million members of the Demon Race.
’If the borders of Da Sheng are in chaos, the Central Plains can’t be faring well either.’
Thinking of the state of the world, Zhu Ge felt a heavy, suffocating weight press down on him.
Before, he had been ignorant of all this.
And in ignorance, he had been fearless.
Now, however, after reading those three books, Zhu Ge knew a great deal more.
He could sense one, or perhaps several, invisible hands preparing to become the final straw that would break the back of the Da Sheng Dynasty—a camel already on its last legs.
Zhu Ge figured that if even he could see this, there was no way those Great Powers couldn’t.
’Or perhaps... some people have seen it, and are now fighting back with everything they have...’
Zhu Ge’s gaze fell as he thought of his teacher, and of Yu the Scholar.
He also thought of the Yuan Yang City Lord, of course, as well as True Monarch Minmian and the True Monarch of the Lantern.
In this world, for every Raincoat Fisherman, there was bound to be a True Monarch Minmian.
That was why True Monarch Minmian had drawn his sword on Nanyue Mianhuang, suppressing an entire desolate region.
He did it to give the "camel" that was Da Sheng a moment to catch its breath.
Just a single moment to breathe could mean that more people like his teacher and Yu the Scholar wouldn’t have to burn away so much of their lives.
It would allow more people like Sui Niang and Xianxian to survive, and to live with a measure of dignity.
"Still, one must secure the interior before dealing with external threats."
Finished with the latest Sheji Chart, Zhu Ge stood and turned to Liu Jianjian.
Having read the three books, he had practically committed their contents to memory.
If he ever encountered one of these prodigies and heard their name, he would surely recognize them.
By now, Liu Jianjian had subdued most of the Demon Beasts. Only a single Bamboo Spirit remained untamed.
After all, her technique was the Demon Hunting Divine Technique, not the "Demon, Spirit, and Ghost Hunting Divine Technique," so a Spirit Monster was beyond her control.
That wasn’t a problem, however. Hua Liusha could leave a trace of Yin Qi in a creature’s mind, like a bomb waiting to detonate.
At the first sign of trouble, she could detonate it and blow the creature’s soul to smithereens.
"Huh?"
But as he approached the Bamboo Spirit, Zhu Ge couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. "You?"
The Bamboo Spirit before him had the form of a magnificent horse.
The moment he sensed its aura, Zhu Ge knew. This was the exact same Bamboo Spirit from near Jianshan Village!
The horse knelt on the ground before him, its body the color of brilliant green jade, and said with a fawning expression:
"Yes, yes, it’s me! Back then, I was a fool who failed to recognize a great man. Heh, heh."
Zhu Ge’s expression was utterly bewildered.
’This isn’t how the Bamboo Spirit acted back then, was it?’
The Bamboo Spirit was only at the First Realm, and when it ran into Zhu Ge—who had just mastered the Fierce-Eyed Vajra Palm—it was beaten senseless. It fled immediately, refusing to submit.
At the time, Zhu Ge had felt it was a shame, as he was in need of a mount.
Why was this Bamboo Spirit now acting like such a cunning bootlicker?
"You... what happened to you?"
Zhu Ge couldn’t help but ask.
At this, crystalline tears welled up in the Bamboo Spirit’s jade-like eyes. "Great King, you have no idea... my journey to find you was fraught with..."
"Get to the point," Zhu Ge said, glancing at it.
Though a bamboo-turned-spirit, this horse was far more cunning and adaptable than the average Spirit Monster. Its mind was anything but simple and honest.
This was a far cry from the proud, defiant creature he had first encountered.
"Alright, alright, Great King. The truth is, I’ve just been beaten down a lot over the past two months..." the Bamboo Spirit said pitifully. "So, you know... I’ve learned a little something about how the world works."
"For instance?" Zhu Ge chuckled.
The Bamboo Spirit sighed. "For instance, I chased away a wild Demon Beast horse that wanted to mate with me. Turns out, that horse was the kept boy-toy of the illegitimate son of the lover of the concubine of a Third Realm Great King. So, yeah, I was screwed."
Jeez... Zhu Ge was speechless.
Red River Prefecture had indeed undergone many changes in the past two months, but Zhu Ge had assumed it was just that the Bamboo Spirit’s habitat had been disturbed.
He never expected this was the real story.
Who said the Demon Race didn’t play politics?
This was nothing *but* politics!
Of course, Zhu Ge was still quite pleased with this Bamboo Spirit.
He usually traveled everywhere on his own two feet. He never tired, but it always felt like something was missing.
"In that case, you can be my mount." Zhu Ge patted the Bamboo Spirit’s back. "You’re a Second Realm Bamboo Spirit. There will be countless benefits for you as my mount. What do you say?"
"Mazhu is willing."
The Bamboo Spirit lowered its head.
Immediately, Hua Liusha placed a trace of Yin Qi around its soul.
"Very good. Next, you’ll accompany me to Jianshui City."
"And don’t you dare embarrass me."