Chapter 537 Expedition (2/2)
Part of the reasons why Wuding was able to seize this opportunity was because Lei Jing immersed herself for too short of a time in the Milky Way sword will.
However, Wuding's successful attempt at cutting off the virtual shadow of the galaxy which protected Lei Jing did not cause the latter to feel the slightest bit of franticness.
All the spectators who were watching in the dark cried out in surprise within their hearts because Lei Jing was too unperturbed to the point of where she did not make a single movement. It was clear that the unmatched blade gleam eventually landed on her body.
A slight lifelessness could be made out in Wuding's eyes. Despite his anticipation of various possible scenarios, he never would have thought that Lei Jing would cease to resist the attack.
The blade gleam came just in time to cut open Lei Jing's body. Curiously blood did not splatter everywhere and neither was there the proverbial decaying of jade or the wilting of a flower so often used to describe the death of a beautiful woman. Instead, there was a branch of the plane tree in the void, cut in half.
”The Art of Li Dai Tao Jiang.” Wuding blurted out with a look of slight disbelief.
'Li Dai Tao Jiang' was the most powerful substitution dharma in Xuanmen. Wuding's master, Wen Zhong, once explained to Wuding that even if the person had the same level of power of Wen Zhong, the technique could only be utilized by the user alone. Furthermore, it cannot be inscribed onto any weapon for battle or transferred to anyone else to use. Wuding himself could not use the technique. He had only vague memories of it.
The substitution technique of Li Dai Tao Jiang did not flow from illusions but passed off distortion as reality. Even the mediocre heavenly immortal could make an oversight if they lose their concentration for a short moment.
Wuding was stunned and subsequently felt something peculiar on his waist and abdomen. It appeared to be a scarf that was winding around his waist and abdomen. With a light movement, the scarf brought him to a patch of earth and unwrapped itself from him. Wuding tumbled to the ground and saw a beautiful person quietly standing on the shore of Lake East, watching him silently. She softly said, ”You have lost.”
Wuding felt a slight agony. After all had been said and done, Wuding did not take to heart the matters of winning and losing. The reality was that he lost and he naturally harbored an unwillingness to resign to that fact.
At the time, Lei Jing did not relish in the joy of being the victor but only glanced at the direction where her teacher had originally been. His traces had long vanished. Lei Jing's heartfelt somewhat forlorn. She felt a considerable yet slight feeling of upset, notwithstanding her victory.
A great distance away from Diqiu City, there was a vast army. They numbered approximately fifty thousand people. They marched in unison and their Qi of Essence converged like a smoke signal indicating the presence of hostile forces, penetrating the blue sky. The Qi of Vigour that radiated from their bodies were each capable of thawing the spirit, especially the spirits of the former cultivators of Dao and Buddhism. If the cultivators had yet to attain the Primordial Spirit, a mere three days in the army would cause death to both their bodies and their Dao.
Shen Lian stayed in a luxurious chariot, almost like an exquisite room. Food, drink, and everything that should be available was there. A precious and calming incense was even lighted in the chariot. The scent lingered in the room and not only calmed the Qi but also cleansed the spirit.
The army of fifty thousand was only a part of the elite soldiers of Xia. All of them were stationed at Yangcheng. Troops for this punitive expedition towards Dongyi, led by Emperor Xia were only requisitioned from Yangcheng. None of the troops from Diqiu were used.
Emperor Xia bore responsibility towards his military force. As long as he was there, there would be no battle he could not conquer and no fight he could not win.
Shen Lian abided by his promise and set off with the troops. In his hands was a scroll of book, the very collection of 'Lianshan' that Guan Longzi so painstakingly compiled. This time, Guan Longzi also set off with the troops.
Shen Lian concentrated his attention and studied 'Lianshan'. He could largely understand whatever that was written on it. But when everything was put together, a deeper meaning was revealed. Upon an attentively mulling over, it was revealed to have much in common with the Taixu Strategy. The only difference was that the principles in Lianshan were much more profound.
Black tiger was very pleased with himself, having had the chance to set off with Shen Lian to battle while Pegasus had no such chances. Since Shen Lian was the national advisor of Xia, naturally the luxury he received was second only to that of the emperor. The chariot was thus filled with offerings of luxury goods as well as other everyday essentials.
By following Shen Lian, black tiger enjoyed a share of the good life.李代桃僵 - literally meaning ”the plum tree (李) withers (僵) in place (代) of the peach tree (桃)”, it is defined as the substitution of one thing for another in order to gain the long-term goal. This technique is the eleventh strategems in the thirty-six strategems which is commonly used in politics, war, and civil interaction. This is the scapegoat strategy whereby someone else suffers the consequences so that the rest do not.