Chapter 196:

The setting sun was red like blood. Under the sunlight, Qiao Mu was lying half on the ground, his body casting a long shadow on the barren sandy field. However, at that moment, the shadow slightly twisted. A cat paw emerged from it, followed by the whole body of a cat appearing from the shadow. It was a small, scruffy multicolored cat. After jumping out of the shadow, it didn’t run or make noise. It gently stepped on the sandy ground, silently approaching Qiao Mu. It lifted its nose and sniffed carefully, stopping in front of Qiao Mu. It rubbed against him and got blood stains all over its body. It licked its fur in a somewhat disgusted manner, sat on the sandy ground, and softly whimpered. Its tiny body leaned against Qiao Mu. Qiao Mu was already on his deathbed, about to die. However, at the moment of his imminent death, he faintly felt a warm and fuzzy little thing entering his embrace. He slowly opened his eyes and smiled unconsciously. This magical cat, Impermanent Demon Cat, followed him from Heyang City to Zhong Province, and then came to this lonely city in the desert. During that time, Qiao Mu died several times, intentionally or unintentionally leaving the cat aside. It was the first time he had a cat by his side at the end of his life. "Was it a similar feeling when Qian QianSheriff Qian’s biological father was dying in the prison of Heyang City?" The small furry thing in his arms pressed tightly against his chest, as if transferring a last bit of warmth. However, Qiao Mu’s heartbeat gradually slowed down and eventually stopped. His pupils dilated, losing their spark of life. Storyteller Clairvoyance arrived at this moment, casting a surprised glance at the sudden appearance of the little cat. The third eye on his forehead gently opened, carefully observing the mottled fur of this cat. As a gifted storyteller with the ability of Tide Listening Building, Clairvoyance’s eyes could see through illusions and track the distant traces of the inhuman Dao Shun. However, he didn’t notice when and where this cat appeared from. But… that was not important anymore. Because Qiao Mu has already died. Storyteller Clairvoyance looked up and gazed at the battlefield in front. With Qiao Mu’s death, the incredibly strong inhumanbean soldier’s attack inadvertently eased a bit. ………. On a small hill in the distant wasteland. Dao Shun gazed into the battlefield beyond the solitary city, and felt a slight relief in his heart. "Finally dead, the mortal Dao Zhen brother whom Senior Brother respected, indeed has some tricks up his sleeve." With Qiao Mu’s death, his objective has already been accomplished. As for how to proceed next… Dao Shun, however, was caught in hesitation. Fifty bean soldiers had already suffered more than half casualties under Qiao Mu’s fierce attack, even the leading bean general was injured. These bean soldiers were different from the previous Paper Man Soldiers. The Paper Man Soldiers relied solely on Dao Shun’s magic power, which could be continuously replenished. However, these bean soldiers were created using a more advanced method called "beans turning into soldiers." Their strength depended not only on Dao Shun’s magic power but also on the quality of the spirit bean itself. As long as there were enough spirit stones, Dao Shun could even create bean soldiers or bean generals stronger than himself. Dao Shun hesitated. Should we continue the battle or return to rest? Or maybe wait and replenish the bean soldiers before fighting again? If they fought again, they could indeed harvest more souls, but the bean soldiers would suffer more damage, and it pained him a bit. For him, the life or death of the mortal city was merely a question of how many spirit stones would be consumed and whether it would be worth it. …………… On the battlefield, the remaining bean soldiers’ offensive clearly stagnated. Captain Hai and his companions finally had a valuable moment to catch their breath. But as he looked back at the lifeless body of Qiao Mu, surrounded by a pool of blood, he couldn’t help but remember his final dying words. His heart was filled with confusion and bewilderment. "To die for a lie? Is it worth it?" whispered Storyteller Clairvoyance. When they first ascended the city walls, he had asked why Qiao Mu fought to the death. Sacrifice was admirable, but it also had to have meaning, didn’t it? This city was destined to perish. There had been no reinforcements for forty years, neither before nor after. The Immortal Slaying Army was nothing but a lie! And yet, after going through so much trouble, facing the inhuman bean soldiers in a deadly battle, all he got in the end was a bloody and futile outcome? Even now, he still didn’t have a definite answer. He only felt a sense of invisible blockage in his heart. Captain Hai stood on the sand dune, leaning on his sword, trying to catch his breath. He too was filled with confusion. He wanted to ask the elderly man who had already passed away, why a lie about the Immortal Slaying Army had led them to this point. It is said that people have different views on death. Some consider it heavier than Mount Tai, while others consider it lighter than a feather. This outsider martial artist fought to the death for the people of this city. Even in his final moments, he still had concerns about the so-called lie of the Immortal Slaying Army. Those last words, left in Captain Hai’s heart, had a truly enormous weight, like a mountain. How did it come to this? Even though you are on the verge of death, you still mention Immortal Slaying Army as if it were real, still urge me and the soldiers to hold on for just a little longer, saying that reinforcements will arrive soon… How could such last words not weigh heavily on Captain Hai’s heart? However, at this moment, he suddenly had a realization, gripping tightly onto his sword, a small smile appeared on his face. "Is it really important whether there is an Immortal Slaying Army?" he suddenly smiled: "Did the late Lord Qiao Shuangsen truly mean to talk about the Immortal Slaying Army with his last words?" The words he wanted to say were clearly meant to boost morale, to encourage this exhausted and worn-out army to keep fighting. The actual content of the last words is not important. Because Captain Hai sensed an emotion, a feeling that Qiao Shuangsen wanted to convey through his final words. It was the same feeling that Captain Hai had once experienced from an old veteran in the army, forty years ago when he was still young. The building was about to collapse, the enemy was strong and we were weak, yet they bravely chose to sacrifice themselves, knowing that they would lose. They did the impossible! Qiao Shuangsen and Lu Yanbei were both visitors from Jiu Province, from outside. There is a lone city and a lone army in the desert, fighting against inhuman forces. And in Jiu Province, there was Qiao Shuangsen. This remaining army of Great Yan has been fighting alone in the desert for forty years, but they are not alone. Because there are still other heroes in Jiu Province working tirelessly, just like this lonely city, resisting the inhuman, it is enough here. Lu Yanbei, who fought side by side with the old soldiers in the city for a year. Hai Wuya, who created the humane technique "Xumi Mountain King Sutra". Qiao Shuangsen, who shed blood in the yellow sand for a lie. This is a spiritual flame that spans a desert and forty years. "Isolated and helpless for forty years, today we finally know that the backbone of Jiu Province is still there," Captain Hai laughed heartily. "This lonely city was meant to be conquered. This lonely army was meant to be extinguished. But even if we die today, we can have no regrets." He raised his battle sword. The three hundred old soldiers behind him also gasped for breath. These silent old soldiers didn’t slacken or weaken because of the attack of the bean soldiers, instead they launched a charge towards the remaining bean soldiers at this moment. Just like Qiao Mu charging through the bloodshed before. Once upon a time, Captain Hai took the torch from the old general in the army. And now, he saw the torch in the hands of martial artist Qiao Shuangsen from Jiu Province. So, that’s enough. Storyteller Clairvoyance silently watched Captain Hai and the others charge forward, knowing vaguely the reason for their fierce fight. "The enemy is strong and we are weak. We know that giving our all won’t make a difference, and we know it’s a one-way journey to death. We know it’s impossible, but we still do it…" "This is an epic of mortal beings," he sighed. …………………. At the same time. On one side of the city wall, in a deserted area beneath the sand dunes. An old man opened his eyes. His eyes became more spirited, filled with the wisdom of age and the energy of youth. A single glance revealed his extraordinary nature. However, at this moment, he looked older in appearance, with not only wrinkles on his face but also age spots. His hair was completely white and flowed down to his waist like a waterfall. This time’s Death Assessment: A (passing on the torch, backbone of Jiu Province) Lifespan consumed by death: 32 (16 * 2) years Remaining resurrect attempts this week: 4 out of 5 Current age: 141 years old Vitality: 34% Skills: Long Life Punch (intermediate level, complete training section) Ripple Stacking Wave Technique (fourth level: Fourfold Wave) Martial Saint Spiritual Technique (intermediate level) Pure Yang Wuji Skill (fifth level) Xumi Mountain King Sutra (sixth level) Military Martial Arts Classic (intermediate level) Broken Virtual Finger (Master) Shadow Transforming Sword Technique (Complete) Iron Groin Technique (Complete) Golden Bell Shield Iron Cloth Shirt Technique (Great Achievement) Shadow Step (Complete) Heavenly Demon Dissolving Method (Complete) Red Moon Burning Blood Technique (Partial Achievement) Bloodthirsty Technique (Partial Achievement) Shape Changing Technique (Partial Achievement) Eye Sword Technique (Master) …………….. More than thirty years of long and arduous years seemed like a dream. S~eaʀᴄh the Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In Qiao Mu’s memory, even after his death, he still trained martial arts diligently, without any laziness, always striving to improve. The previous S-level Death Assessment allowed Qiao Mu to skip thirty years of time, but this time, with an A-level evaluation and double the rewards, Qiao Mu skipped even further than before. Just a few days ago, he learned Li Changge’s "Military Martial Arts Classic," and today, he has already mastered it to some extent. It can be said that he is making rapid progress. It seems that due to becoming a Spirit Refining martial artist, the experiences of training hard for over thirty years are even clearer than before. And the Xumi Mountain King Sutra has also successfully reached the sixth level. Qiao Mu practiced the Xumi Mountain King Sutra, which improved his energy and blood. Breaking through the sixth level meant that his 141-year-old body became much stronger than when he was 109 years old. Although there were more wrinkles and age spots on his face, Qiao Mu tried to move his muscles and didn’t feel any stiffness. Wu Qizheng’s "Flesh Changing Skill" had now transformed into the "Shape Changing Skill". As Qiao Mu focused his mind, his bones made cracking sounds and his entire body, including his height and facial features, started to undergo subtle changes. "In an instant, it felt like he could even control the transformation of his own flesh and blood… After the spiritual refining, it seems that the martial artist truly gained some extraordinary powers." Instead of spending more time studying his martial arts progress from thirty years of self-imposed seclusion, he swiftly moved like a wisp of smoke and went straight into the battlefield.