Applications of Light-Element Formations

Applications of Light-Element Formations

The herdsmen of the grasslands did not know of the Siberian Cold Wave, but their families had lived on this land for generations. Their sensitivity to changes in the weather far surpassed that of Qin Mo, a transmigrator. When the shaman of the Huba Tribe swore that snow would soon fall, Qin Mo knew that the coldest winter in the Northern Hemisphere was about to descend.

Mongu—Siberia—was the coldest place in the Northern Hemisphere during winter. As for why, Qin Mo only knew it had something to do with the so-called "Siberian High." This grassland—this wilderness—was too vast, with nothing to shelter it. When the cold wave swept south, every person and beast would face nature's cruel trial.

Before leaving the Imperial Capital, Qin Mo had instructed the Dayuan Caravan to urgently prepare a batch of goods and deliver them to the grasslands afterward. This was the last shipment of large-scale supplies to the grasslands for the year. After two heavy snowfalls, the roads would become difficult to travel, and unless there was an emergency, no caravan would risk its life heading north again.

Every year, the court timed the northern deployment of the nobles' private armies precisely, saving a great deal in rations and provisions. If they arrived in Ulan City a month early, winter stores would consume an additional twenty to thirty percent. As for supplies along the road, heh heh... naturally, the local prefectures would provide them. The big shots in court did not concern themselves with such matters.

Hu Ba was grateful for Qin Mo's support, which had allowed him to firmly secure his position as clan chief, so he handled Qin Mo's requests with all his heart. Qin Mo bought a great many cattle and sheep hides with salt and silver. Cowhide was used for armor, while sheepskin was made into fur coats against the cold. As for warhorses, they had finally scraped together seven thousand, along with nearly two thousand draft horses. This had already reached the limit of what Qin Mo could support in fodder and feed.

As Wu Mingyi watched his jubilant new subordinates, a disdainful look inadvertently showed in his eyes. The heir had repeatedly ordered that these Fusang warriors were not to be mocked. They were suitable candidates for the vanguard camp. They bore hardship without complaint, and they too were poor wretches risking their lives so their families could prosper.

After arriving in Guihua City, Qin Mo assigned the seven thousand Fusang people by brigade establishment under Dayuan's local officers. Wu Mingyi received two brigades of Fusang warriors. Aside from one Fusang force of roughly a thousand men that contained no Great Xia soldiers, all the rest were dispersed among Dayuan's local troops.

A few days earlier, Harukami Jiro had met his new commander, a young man named Wu Mingyi. According to his well-informed fellow townsman Matsushita Jiro, Wu Mingyi's father was Vice Marshal Wu Shengze. As long as Harukami performed well, when the spoils were divided, even a little leakage from the gaps would be enough for him to return home and take another wife.

Captain Wu was proud and arrogant, yet he did not make things difficult for Harukami Jiro. He merely asked in detail about the recent private battle between Harukami and the Wang Family's private army at the Central Military Office. Then he pounded his thigh hard and rattled off Great Xia dialect, looking thoroughly enraged.

After Captain Wu finished venting his anger, he had someone take Harukami Jiro to collect his new supply allotment. Harukami was immediately overjoyed. Ever since arriving in Great Xia, he had continuously received all manner of supplies—weapons, armor, dried meat, preserved fruits. Using those supplies, he had quickly whipped his men into complete obedience. After the bloody battle at the Central Military Office, he had even been promoted to brigade commander, drawing envy sharp enough to turn into jealousy.

The supplies assigned to Harukami this time were quite special: thirty warhorses and two grassland savages. The savages were there to teach them how to raise horses, while the warhorses were to serve as mounts for scouts. Naturally, as brigade commander, Harukami could choose a few for himself and his trusted men to ride.

"Jiuwei, go summon the squad leaders. Have each of them pick a warhorse, then leave three for you, Ye, and the others. Form the rest into a cavalry squad for use as scouts and messengers." Harukami Jiro was an old soldier who had lived through the slaughter between Fusang's various daimyos, and he thoroughly understood cavalry's advantages and applications. A squad's cavalry used speed for reconnaissance, harassment, and communication. As for charging into decisive battle, that was the work of large cavalry formations.

Then the lively cavalry selection began. Fusang lacked horses, and only the most elite high-ranking warriors qualified to become cavalrymen. Owning a warhorse was not only a daimyo's recognition of one's martial prowess, but also a symbol of one's status.

Watching the short Fusang men argue until their faces and necks turned red over being chosen for the cavalry, Wu Mingyi's lips curled in a mocking smile. He recalled the days when he had ridden from Fuzhou to the Imperial Capital. Heh heh heh. Let them fight over it now. Once their thighs could not straighten and the skin on their balls had rubbed raw, he would see whether they still wanted to fight.

The army pressed northward against wind and snow. Because of the season, their daily marching time grew shorter and shorter. Marching through pitch-black nights invited too many mishaps; men falling behind alone was enough to give the officers leading them a headache.

"Clang, clang..." The sound of weapons striking occasionally carried far from Qin Mo's great tent. Allen was sparring with Qin Mo again. Ever since Qin Mo handed those two sets of rare-grade weapons to him, Allen had occasionally come to the tent to thrash Qin Mo. He always came during breaks in Qin Mo's cultivation, making it impossible for Qin Mo to use training as an excuse to avoid him.

Allen held the longsword bearing the "Dazzling Light" formation, while Qin Mo wielded the pair of blades bearing the "Conceal Shadow" formation. They traded blows back and forth at speeds too fast for the naked eye to follow. Only the flowing radiance continuously circling Allen's sword revealed that Qin Mo was the one being thrashed all along.

When Allen had first received that longsword, he had not liked it much. But after discovering the wondrous use of the "Dazzling Light" formation, this cold and beautiful man had actually revealed a delighted smile. Qin Mo had found it strange at the time. Could that weapon possess other hidden attributes?

"Allen, could you stop showing off so damn much... My eyes are getting dazzled blind. This is unfair!" Qin Mo shouted furiously at Allen.

"Oh! Then I'll change it up..." Allen flicked his wrist, and the "Dazzling Light" formation released a wash of radiance, transforming from a pair of light wings into a beautiful snow lotus. This flower grew only in the high mountains of Tubo. Allen had once traveled through Tubo with Luna and had never forgotten the noble purity of those flowers. It was one of his favorite shapes to conjure.

In Allen's hands, this rare-grade longsword seemed to have come alive. It could transform into many forms—animals, flowers and plants, even the shapes of weapons from legends. Allen's use of earth power had reached a level Qin Mo found impossible to comprehend. Of course, once Qin Mo understood it, he would not be far from the Earth Realm.

"Heir, how many times have I told you? You must use your heart to communicate with your weapons and make them serve you completely. Your pair of blades has not displayed even a fraction of its proper power." Although Qin Mo's performance had already shocked Allen, he still applied pressure bit by bit. After all, this junior brother of his was always slacking off.

Qin Mo could only once more attempt fine control over the "Conceal Shadow" formation within the blades in his hands. Since Nirvana Flame had dyed his vital energy bright yellow, it had become increasingly pure, and the volume of the liquid vortex in his dantian had even shrunk by a full circle. Yet its responsiveness to Qin Mo's intentions had increased dramatically. Only now did Qin Mo understand what it meant for vital energy to follow the heart's intent.

This pair of blades had been designed fairly well, and vital energy flowed smoothly into the formations. Qin Mo could now rapidly switch both formations on and off. The twin blades could easily flicker in and out of sight in his hands, leaving afterimages upon afterimages. He felt that he could now leave opponents unable to guard against him. Of course, facing an oversized monster like Allen did not count.

"Allen... what exactly does it take to count as perfectly bringing out their power?... Teach me... Give me a demonstration... Otherwise... I'll fight you to the death... One jar of strong liquor each, and no one gets to cheat... " The only thing Qin Mo could compete with Allen in was drinking.

Allen did not avoid Qin Mo's provocation at all. He took the pair of blades in both hands and urged his power. One red and one green wing reflected each other as they danced through the air, growing large and small, their radiance waxing and waning. The blades themselves hid within, concealing deadly intent. Just a few poses made Qin Mo's face flush red.