Night's Nomenclature
Chapter 531: The Wind Rises

What kind of person is the Fire Pit Grand Elder? Everyone in Fire Pit knows that he's someone who will always seize any advantage.

Just like before, when Fire Pit made a deal with the Qing Family's main branch, agreeing to kill Qing Huai in Forbidden Zone 002.

The Third Elder led the team, and upon returning to Fire Pit, informed the Grand Elder: someone else had killed Qing Huai.

The Grand Elder's first reaction was: That's great.

So, now that there's a Forbidden Artifact, it naturally cannot be missed.

After obtaining the Forbidden Artifact and finishing this fight, he'll return to Fire Pit with Qin Yiyi.

Knight can't hope to gain an advantage from their Fire Pit!

"Old stubborn head, I would have given it to you even if you hadn't asked," Li Shutong said with a smile, "Xiaoyi, go pick one yourself. When you see Qing Chen, tell him it's a gift from me."

Qin Yiyi's eyes lit up: "Thank you, Uncle!"

In fact, Li Shutong's trip to Northern Shendai and Koshima's territory this time, besides a certain serious matter that cannot be disclosed, was mainly to find an environment that would stimulate Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao, helping them successfully "pass their tribulation."

Generally, true B-Class refers to Awakened Ones and Cultivators, not Gene Soldiers.

Therefore, Shendai's soul-seizing endeavors these years haven't been particularly successful; after all, true B-Class aren't common.

Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao, these two Knight "messengers," are both Awakened Ones, having stayed at B-Class for over ten years, eight of which were spent in Prison 18.

Other Awakened Ones constantly seek their limits and attempt breakthroughs.

However, Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao willingly stayed in prison with him. Within five years of an Awakened One breaking through a level, it's the best time for another breakthrough. If they miss it, it becomes difficult to break through again.

Therefore, they've already missed the best time for a breakthrough.

For Li Shutong, this was also a kind of debt.

So, he made this a top priority, but it hasn't succeeded yet.

Another matter is searching for the Forbidden Artifact.

Because Li Shutong is very clear about one thing: Qing Chen is someone who can make a Time Traveler from the Outer World complete the Eight Trials of Life and Death. Though his upper limit is only A-Class, he's still a legitimate Knight, his great-grand-nephew.

When Li Shutong was in Forbidden Zone 002, he told those old fellows that Qing Chen was the future of the Knight Order, also due to this factor.

It's foreseeable that the Knight Order will rapidly expand under Qing Chen, and he, as the master, wouldn't it be embarrassing if he didn't give his great-grand-nephew a gift when they meet?

What gift would match his Demi-God title? It seems only a Forbidden Artifact would do.

At this time, Li Shutong didn't know that Qing Chen had already taken on another apprentice, a little girl who had transferred from Yin-Yang Master to Yin-Yang Master Knight.

Otherwise, he might have tried to find a bunch of Shikigami to give the little girl as toys.

Perhaps this is what they call "Doting Grandparents" (love across generations).

Li Shutong asked Li Ke: "Does your master have any other disciples? I've hardly been in contact with the outside world recently. Tell me about it."

Li Ke glanced around, indicating that there were outsiders present.

Li Shutong waved his hand: "Don't be afraid, just speak."

The people here are only Qin Yiyi, the Grand Elder, Crow, Li Ke, Li Yunjing.

The Forbidden Artifact Tribunal is the most tight-lipped; they never reveal the secrets they know, lest they be involved in disputes.

As for Fire Pit, Li Shutong is confident that as long as he is still alive, the Grand Elder won't go around blabbing.

As for Li Yunjing, she's one of their own.

Li Ke thought for a moment and said: "Currently, following the Knight lineage, there's only one senior brother. If it's based on the Zhunti Method, then there are many more. Li Shu and his friends, along with Qing Family's Shadow Candidate Qing Yi, there are more than twenty people."

Now even Li Shutong was stunned, so many?!

It's fine if the others aren't Knights, but how is it that the disciples he couldn't find in ten years, Qing Chen found two just like that?

It's only been a few months, in a few years, won't the Knight Order truly restore its former glory?

Returning to the era of group brawls!

In that case, how many Forbidden Artifacts would he have to find?

No, he has to go search Koshima again to loot the Forbidden Artifacts among the people.

At this time, it's not only Li Shutong who realized the Knight's future.

The quickest to react was the Grand Elder. His first reaction upon hearing that Qing Chen had started widely accepting disciples was: It's over, these unscrupulous things are going to spread their branches and leaves!

Fire Pit is going to suffer again!

A single Knight could take him to be a guide. A group of Knights would climb the sacred mountain together later. Would Fire Pit still have good days?

The Grand Elder said: "If I didn't hate Shendai even more, I would report you to Shendai, have them send a full army to wipe you out, so that you can't save that brat Qing Chen!"

The cave gradually fell silent, followed by a great battle. After this brief rest, they will have to endure a 400-kilometer trek.

There may be countless dangers along the way.

Li Shutong got up and said to Li Ke: "Come with me."

Li Ke hugged the Forbidden Artifact, the newly received gift, then followed him out of the cave.

Li Shutong said: "I heard that you went to Forbidden Zone 002 with your grandfather and master? Tell me that story."

The Demi-God stood in the cold wind, not knowing what he was thinking.

Li Ke said: "Master said that Grandpa's greatest wish before his death was to become a Knight, to see the sunrise on Qingshan Cliff. So, Master carried Grandpa up Qingshan Cliff."

Li Shutong recalled that Old Master; when he was young, he rarely returned to Ban Shan Mountain Estate, resulting in the father and son being estranged.

He always felt that as long as he returned to Ban Shan Mountain Estate, that person would be waiting for him at home, so he didn't give him much time.

At that time, he thought that his father would always be waiting for him there.

But only after his father passed away did he realize how quickly time passed.

Now, even if he goes back to Ban Shan Mountain Estate, he won't be able to see the person he wants to see.

"Your grandfather should have no regrets before he passed away. I want to thank your master for that," Li Shutong said calmly.

Li Ke said in a low voice: "Master said that you and Grandpa did a lot for him, and it's time for him to do something for you."

The boy he had watched grow up was now an adult.

But the more so, the more Li Shutong felt that Shendai should die.

His only disciple was actually captured by such a hellish place as the A02 base, becoming the second Qing Mu.

"Master, did you also come here specifically to save Master this time?" Li Ke asked.

Li Shutong smiled and said: "Your master has a special identity, so I didn't want many people to know that he was my disciple. But it's different now. The whole world needs to know that he has a powerful master."

Li Shutong looked at the dark night sky.

Just as he said.

But you have to understand, my friend, we can't Face^[-] the night with gentleness, we must use fire.

In this dark night, in the military base of the Northern Army belonging to Shendai, a colossal object is slowly rising, the Eight-Forked Air Fortress.

It broke away from the front-line battle formation, driven by its internal nuclear reactor, gradually accelerating towards the far north.

On the side of the Air Fortress, 512 engines spewed out blue flames that looked like liquid, and 128 anti-gravity devices hummed.

Thousands of combat drone swarms also entered escort mode at the moment of liftoff, ready to fight at any time.

Humans have a fascination with giant objects, so when such a "monster" takes off, the soldiers in the military base look at the majesty of the Air Fortress and can't help but sigh at their own insignificance and the wonder of technology.

Further north, a mechanized field army belonging to Shendai also slowly set off.

Modern high-performance infantry fighting vehicles, carrying soldiers with numb expressions, rushed to the battlefield of unknown location.

In City 23.

Shendai Yunluo, wearing a white hunting robe, sat calmly in the dimly lit meeting hall.

Ten council members sat on the high judgment platform, with shadows never falling on their faces, so that everyone seemed to be sitting in the darkness.

Someone asked: "Shendai Yunluo, while in the Outer World, did you collude with outside Time Travelers to harm the warriors within the Shendai Family?"

Shendai Yunluo's voice was solid yet firm: "No."

"Shendai Yunluo, when the Shadow Agency encountered foreign enemies, did you do your best?"

"No."

The interrogation paused here.

"Why?" Shendai Jing Cheng asked.

Shendai Yunluo looked up at the dark high platform: "There are too many people who are self-smart and self-righteous. Shendai Yunyi acted on his own initiative and was eager to make merit, while Shendai Yunwu, Yun Jue, and Yun Ye wanted to compete for the Red Marbles of the Red Leaf Hunt, and ended up dying. I think those who should be judged are them, if they were still alive."

"Presumptuous!" Someone said from the darkness.

Shendai Jing Cheng: "You can go out, let Shendai Yunxiu come in."

Shendai Yunluo frowned: "In this battle, Shendai Yunxiu also has suspicion of preserving his strength."

"Go out, we have our own judgment."

Ten minutes later, the burly Shendai Yunxiu, wearing a black suit, slowly sat on the judgment seat.

Someone in the darkness asked: "This time, the Outer World Shadow Agency suffered heavy losses. Do you think Shendai Yunluo is responsible? As far as I know, he didn't make a move from beginning to end."

Shendai Yunxiu said loudly: "I believe the family must severely punish Shendai Yunluo. He acted on his own initiative and was arrogant in the Outer World and couldn't bear the responsibility of the family in the Outer World! In this battle in the Outer World, he had the suspicion of avoiding battle!"

"Alright, you can go."

When the meeting hall became completely quiet.

Someone said: "The two have always been at odds. Shendai Yunxiu has been promoted to A-Class, and no one in the Outer World can control him anymore, so Shendai Yunluo can't be moved."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"Abstain."

"Agreed."

Power is balance.

This is the Emperor's Arts.

Unfortunately, the ten council members are not emperors.

"What do you think of that person who can control Shikigami?" Shendai Jing Cheng asked.

"Maybe he is a descendant of the Yuan Clan," someone responded.

The Yuan Clan is a taboo in the Shendai Family. They altered all history, attempting to erase that humiliating history, so they tampered with the ship that crossed the west, letting it explode and sink in the sea.

Once, Shendai suspected that the formation of the Forbidden Sea and the existence of that giant whale at the bottom of the sea were because it swallowed the Yuan Clan's patriarch.

For nearly a thousand years, Shendai has believed that the Yuan Clan has been completely destroyed.

Until now, that terrifying sense of oppression has reappeared.

That is something that can shake the foundation of Shendai.

"Kill?"

"Can't kill!"

"Why?"

"The number of Shikigami has not increased for many years. To find him, this is the hope of the future of the family."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

In City 22.

Deep within the Takamagahara Manor of Shendai.

A samurai hurried past a desolate black pebble road. This vast Takamagahara Manor was filled with a gloomy atmosphere.

The closer one gets to the Spiritual Bridge, the more terrifying it becomes, as if being watched by a hundred ghosts.

It's fine during the day, but if one passes through here at night, even the Ittō-ryū samurai who cultivate in the Shendai Family would have their hair stand on end.

The samurai knelt before a room: "Ancestor, the head of the family said you can leave."

An old and hoarse voice came from the room: "I know."