Chapter 1582: Chapter 1582: About to Depart

The back mountain.

Ye Shikai sat alone on the ground, legs crossed, circulating the Emperor Xuan Scripture. Ever since he had lost his Inner Strength, he hadn’t cultivated again. A lot of time had been wasted in between, and he had to hurry now.

"Calm your mind and steady your breath. Your Dantian has only just been repaired; it’s not suitable for aggressive cultivation yet. Everything must come slowly." The Blade Soul’s voice sounded in his mind, guiding him.

The Emperor Xuan Scripture was the Cultivation Technique Ye Shikai cultivated, and this technique was never meant for quick success. It couldn’t be rushed; only when water flowed into a channel naturally could he break through.

Ye Shikai was only twenty-five, yet had cultivated the Emperor Xuan Scripture to the fifth layer, Kun Level. This could already be called cultivation genius, with extremely high talent. He might not necessarily be the strongest, but Ye Shikai could perfectly convert Inner Strength into combat power, turning every bit of Inner Strength in his body into fighting strength. So when Inner Strength cultivation was on par, Ye Shikai could often gain the upper hand.

"I know that. More haste, less speed." Ye Shikai said calmly.

"You’ve only cultivated to the fifth layer right now, but that’s already enough for you to dominate a region in the Underworld. If you want further development, you have to break through to the sixth layer. Only when you reach Xun Level can it be considered real progress." The Blade Soul continued. He wasn’t wrong: only by breaking through to Xun Level would Inner Strength and combat power undergo a qualitative leap.

Rumble.

Ye Shikai let out a shout, and all the rocks within twenty paces of him exploded. A violent wind swept out. Luckily no one ever came to the back mountain; otherwise it would be troublesome if someone saw.

He had cultivated for a whole afternoon. His Inner Strength hadn’t increased, but his meridians had been thoroughly cleared, which would help him exert his Inner Strength. After all, his Dantian had been crippled for a long time; if he wanted to restore his former strength, he had to do it bit by bit.

"This meteorite contains immense energy. Just from your first contact with it, it already helped restore your Inner Strength. If you can make it yours, it will absolutely benefit your future cultivation." The Blade Soul said.

"Forget it. That swelling energy still scares me stiff to this day. If all the energy of that meteorite were poured into my body, it’d be more than enough to blow me up a hundred times over." Ye Shikai said self-mockingly. It wasn’t that he lacked courage; he was just stating the facts. The Storage Ring might not have a space limit, but if an object itself contained enormous energy, neither the Storage Ring nor Ye Shikai himself could withstand it.

"Any cultivator with ambition is searching for stronger power. Kid, don’t you people of Huaxia have a saying, ’The bold die from overeating, the timid die from starvation’? It’s precisely because that meteorite’s energy is so great that you should all the more make it yours." The Blade Soul went on.

"Yeah, the bold die from overeating, the timid die from starvation—that’s not without reason. But whether you die from overeating or from starving, you’re still dead, aren’t you? The result is the same. What we need to do is stay alive." Ye Shikai mounted his warhorse and rode back to camp. In the supply camp, they were busy sorting military rations. Bag after bag of grain had already been loaded onto the wagons; as soon as the military order came, they could depart.

"Old Ye, most of the soldiers who went home to visit their families have already come back, but the lord still hasn’t set a departure time. When exactly... are we leaving?" In the command tent, when Shangguan Jian saw Ye Shikai return, he immediately stepped forward to ask.

"You still haven’t figured it out? Setting off is a major matter—do you think the lord could have forgotten?" Ye Shikai chuckled twice and waved his hand.

"What do you mean?"

"The lord’s意思 is that the departure date is for you and me to decide. But we must set out within seven days." Ye Shikai explained.

"I see. Then when are we leaving?"

"No rush. I estimate the Qin Army won’t march south on their own for a few months. Even if we go to Southern County, we’ll just be waiting there. So there’s no need to hurry—leave a few days later and make the preparations thorough."

"Alright, I’ll go give the orders now."

"Mm."

Ye Shikai wasn’t someone with procrastination, nor was he afraid of death and deliberately stalling. It’s just that... he still wanted to spend a little more time with He Linghan.

..................

"Husband, you’re setting out tomorrow?" A few days passed in the blink of an eye, and He Linghan’s expression had grown gloomier by the day.

"Yes. Tomorrow at noon, we’ll be departing." Ye Shikai nodded and reached out to hold her hand.

"Ling’er, this time I’m going to Southern County. If it’s short, half a year; if it’s long, several years. You’ll have to endure hardship at home."

"Don’t worry. However long you’re gone, that’s how long I’ll wait. When you come back, I’ll personally go to welcome you." He Linghan was very considerate. She didn’t cry or make a scene, and that comforted him.

"Mm."

"Ling’er, tomorrow we’ll be setting out directly from the army camp. The city is a full thirty li from the camp; you don’t need to come see me off. Just rest more at home." Ye Shikai said lightly. He Linghan nodded. She knew the reason. Since parting was inevitable, why add to the sadness at the very moment of separation?

"Oh right, Ling’er, I have a gift for you." Ye Shikai took a pendant from his Storage Ring. It was inlaid with a crystal-clear piece of jade, small and exquisitely worked.

"Husband, you know I’m not very fond of jewelry like this."

"Ling’er, listen to me and wear this pendant. At a critical moment, it’ll be of great use." Ye Shikai personally put the pendant on her.

"Use? What use?" He Linghan asked curiously.

"You’ll find out later. Let me keep it a secret for now."

Although He Linghan was puzzled, a delighted smile still appeared on her face after receiving the pendant.

"Alright then. Husband, I also have a gift for you." With that, He Linghan turned and went into the house. Before long, she came back out.

"What is it?" Ye Shikai was also very curious what she was going to give him.

"This." He Linghan held up what was in her hands. It was a piece of... soft armor, with many iron scales inlaid on it. The workmanship was exquisite; it was a fine set of Soft armor. Ye Shikai recalled that back in Shangshui Village, the night before he marched north, He Linghan had also given him a set of armor—but that had been "fur armor."

"Back then I gave you a piece of fur armor I made myself, but that could only keep you warm. These past few days I had the best Armor Maker in the city custom-make this Soft armor for you. Wear it underneath, and you won’t have to fear blades and swords."

"Alright, then I’ll accept it." Ye Shikai nodded and put on the Soft armor right in front of her. In truth, to a cultivator, such iron Soft armor was of little use now, but this was He Linghan’s heartfelt concern.

"It fits pretty well." Ye Shikai teased.