Chapter 1895 – Setting Up a Battle Monument
Upon hearing Zhao Hai, Li Kuangge immediately understood. He couldn’t help but get excited as he said, “Brother, will you really do it?”
Zhao Hai smiled faintly and said, “I made a promise to everyone, so I have to do it. Let’s take a day off. We will head towards Drinking Elephant Mountain tomorrow.” Li Kuangge nodded, then he turned around and left. Seeing Li Kuangge’s expression, Zhao Hai didn’t say anything and just smiled. Then he went back to the s.p.a.ce.
The next day, Zhao Hai appeared on the h.e.l.l King’s s.h.i.+p once more. Li Kuangge and the sect representatives were already waiting for him. Seeing Zhao Hai come out, they immediately surrounded Zhao Hai. One of the representatives said, “Commander, will you really set up a monument in Drinking Elephant Mountain?”
Right, Zhao Hai was intending to complete his promise to erect a monument. Zhao Hai promised the troops that as long as the four northern provinces are taken care of, he would erect a monument by the Jade Belt River to remember those who fought for the Freedom Alliance. Therefore, as soon as Zhao Hai said that he had something left to do, Li Kuangge immediately knew what it was.
Zhao Hai looked at the sect representatives and then smiled faintly as he said, “Yes. I made a promise to you all. Hahaha. Let’s go.” Everyone cheered and then flew out of the h.e.l.l King’s s.h.i.+p to tell everyone about the news. Before long, the Freedom Alliance Army was in a jubilant mood.
Just as they were about to leave, a couple of people flew down from the Hundred Ghosts Mountain. Zhong Wuhun was in the front. Upon arriving in front of Zhao Hai, Zhong Wuhun cupped his fist and said, “Mister, why don’t you rest for a few more days? There’s no need to be in a hurry.”
Zhao Hai smiled faintly and said, “There’s no need. There won’t be any battles anytime soon, so there’s no need for us to rest. We’re heading towards Drinking Elephant Mountain. We’re going to stay there for some time.”
Zhong Wuhun nodded, “I see. Then I won’t disturb Mister. If Mister has anything you need, just tell us.”
Zhao Hai waved his hand, “There’s no need to be polite. You can begin your seclusion. The earlier you close up, the sooner you’ll benefit.” Seeing Zhong Wuhun here, Zhao Hai knew that the old man had yet to go into seclusion.
Hearing Zhao Hai, Zhong Wuhun no longer said anything. He bowed towards Zhao Hai and said, “Then I’ll thank Mister in advance.” After he said that, he led his group and returned to the Hundred Ghosts Sect. At the same time, Zhao Hai’s h.e.l.l King’s s.h.i.+p flew towards Drinking Elephant Mountain.
Before long, Zhao Hai saw the shadow of a huge elephant in the distance. Its trunk was dipped into the Jade Belt River as though it was drinking. Zhao Hai couldn’t help but sigh as he said, “Truly mysterious. The resemblance is uncanny.”
Li Kuangge nodded and said, “It really resembles an elephant.”
After a while, the two brought the Freedom Alliance army to the Drinking Elephant Mountain. The mountain wasn’t small. Besides the part where it looked like an elephant, the rest of it was no different from other mountains.
Zhao Hai looked around and then said, “Let’s set up camp here.” Li Kuangge complied and pa.s.sed the order. Meanwhile, Zhao Hai flew to the head of the elephant and gazed at the wide Jade Belt River. His consciousness also entered the s.p.a.ce.
After entering the s.p.a.ce, Zhao Hai immediately had Laura and the others use the processing machine to create a blueprint for the monument. The size of the monument would be huge since it would contain the names of the Freedom Alliance’s army.
Before long, a blueprint was brought over. After looking at it, Zhao Hai was satisfied with the plan. The monument would be built on top of Drinking Elephant Mountain. Moreover, the design was very good.
Zhao Hai’s consciousness returned to his body. At this time, Li Kuangge arrived beside Zhao Hai. The army was already setting up their tents. They had done this multiple times already, so there was no need for supervision.
Zhao Hai opened his eyes and then turned to Li Kuangge before saying, “Kuangge, I’ll leave this place to you. I’ll be heading out for a while.”
Li Kuangge nodded and said, “Do you want some help?”
Zhao Hai shook his head. Then he left and flew towards the Western Demon Province. Zhao Hai was going to pick up some slabs for the monument. He found a deposit of very hard stone on a mountain in the Western Demon Province. The hardness of the stone was comparable to steel. It was the best material for making a monument.
It didn’t take long before Zhao Hai reached the mountain with the stone deposit. This mountain only had this type of stone. And since the stone could only be used to build houses, it wasn’t very valued in the Western Demon Province.
After looking at the surroundings, Zhao Hai flew to a stone structure on the mountain summit. The structure was around 100 meters in diameter and protruded above the ground for about 50 meters. It looked like a giant column.
Zhao Hai used his spiritual force to see that the column was no less than a kilometer high. The deeper it went, the thicker it became.
Thinking of this, Zhao Hai pinched his finger and then muttered, “Earth, rise!” The technique that Zhao Hai used was a spell that he augmented with his earth-element ability.
After Zhao Hai’s command, an earthen yellow light departed from his hand and fell on the stone column. The stone column began to shake. And like growing bamboo, the stone column began to emerge from the mountain until a tall stone column appeared.
Zhao Hai smiled faintly and waved his hand, sending the stone column to the s.p.a.ce. Then he flew back to Drinking Elephant Mountain.
Cave residences have been constructed in the mountain by the Freedom Alliance Army. Zhao Hai didn’t disturb them. The army would be staying in this place for quite some time. It would be better if cave residences were made.
Although Drinking Elephant Mountain doesn’t have any spirit veins, its spiritual density wasn’t weak. Constructing an army camp in this place serves two purposes. First was to guard against the nine super sects on the opposite side of the river, and second was to preserve the cultivation of the troops.
Li Kuangge was waiting for Zhao Hai to return. Seeing Zhao Hai flying over, he immediately came forward.
He looked at Zhao Hai and asked, “Brother, did something happen?”
Zhao Hai shook his head and said, “Everything’s fine.” Then he waved his hand, releasing earthen yellow light onto the elephant’s head. The ground on the elephant’s head began to sink. It must be known that the head was made entirely out of very hard stone. However, it was slowly being melted by the yellow light.
Before long, a hole about 100 meters wide appeared. The hole was rectangular and was cut very neatly. It looks like it has been chiseled by an artisan.
After digging the huge hole, Zhao Hai waved his hand once again, taking the stone column out. However, he didn’t immediately place the column down, it continued flying in the air.
Then Zhao Hai flew next to the floating column and then took out a huge blade. With the blade in his hand, Zhao Hai began to shape the column.
Wen, wen, wen, wen, wen. The sound of stone being cut away was being heard. Zhao Hai looks like he was practicing his bladework. The stone pillar was being chopped by the knife bit by bit. But overall, there was no change to the pillar. It’s like Zhao Hai wasn’t doing anything to it at all.
However, Li Kuangge, who was standing beside him, knew what was going on. The stone pillar was being divided by Zhao Hai. The reason the pillar wasn’t changing was because Zhao Hai was using a special technique.
Zhao Hai’s actions weren’t hidden from the people of the army. The troops had a very good relations.h.i.+p with Zhao Hai. As long as they weren’t in the middle of battle, they could act as casual as they wanted. Therefore, when they saw that something was happening, they immediately went over.
Cultivators who were close to Li Kuangge even whispered to him, “Kuangge, what is the commander doing? Is he making the monument?”
Li Kuangge nodded, “Yes. Otherwise, the commander wouldn’t have anything to do with the stone pillar. The commander promised to make us a monument, so he’s making it right now.” The cultivators nodded. Then they looked at the stone pillar with s.h.i.+ning eyes. Their names would be carved onto that monument to be looked at by future generations. They couldn’t hide the excitement on their faces.
After some time, Zhao Hai stopped. Then he waved his hand. The stone column began shedding pieces, revealing its real form, a huge monument.
The bottom 100 meters of the monument was a rectangular slab of stone. There was also another rectangular slab near the top, looking like a handle. Looking from afar, the monument looked like a sword stabbed on a slab of stone.
Zhao Hai pressed his hand down. Then the bottom of the monument fell into the huge hole that he prepared.
The monument fit the hole seamlessly. The sword monument looked as if it was meant to be there.
The monument’s imposing manner was astonis.h.i.+ng. There were patterns along the sword, making it look artistic.
Zhao Hai approached the monument. Then the huge blade in his hand turned into a long and thin rapier. Zhao Hai grasped the rapier and then began slas.h.i.+ng the monument.
Li Kuangge and the others were now flying in the air, looking at Zhao Hai’s actions. They saw the characters that Zhao Hai engraved, “Li Feng, Zhang Long, Ma Yu…..”. Li Kuangge and the others couldn’t help but stare. These were the names of their allies that died in battle. Zhao Hai seems to remember their names.
As the list became longer and longer, the expression on everyone’s faces became more dignified. This was because they began seeing the names of their friends. These were friends that died fighting the Heavenly Demons and the nine super sects. They didn’t expect Zhao Hai to know them all.
The air seems to turn heavy as everyone becomes quiet. Only the sound of Zhao Hai’s rapier was heard. Everyone was looking at Zhao Hai’s actions.
A day pa.s.sed, two days, three days. It took Zhao Hai three days before he finished carving the names of those who died. Then Zhao Hai began engraving the names of the others. As more names were engraved, cultivators began seeing their names on the monument.
For the next ten days, Zhao Hai carved names on the monument. All in all, it took Zhao Hai 13 days of nonstop work in order to finish the monument.
After carving the last name, Zhao Hai let out a long breath. Then he turned his head to see Li Kuangge and the others behind him. All of them had solemn faces. Zhao Hai couldn’t help but ask, “What happened? Why do you all look like that?”
Li Kuangge and the others simultaneously bowed towards Zhao Hai and shouted, “Army Commander, thank you. Your kindness will forever be in our minds.”
Zhao Hai was stunned for a moment. Then he waved his hand and said, “Alright, I’m not finished yet.” After he said that, Zhao Hai went to the back of the sword monument and then began to carve more characters. “Battle Monument of the Freedom Alliance. It all began when the skies opened up and the Heavenly Demons attacked. Alliances began forming to resist the invaders. And in the Northern Divergent Province, the Freedom Alliance was founded. The Freedom Alliance’s first army began fighting the Heavenly Demons at………”
A long article describing the history of the Freedom Alliance’s army was written. Every battle they underwent was doc.u.mented. It reminded everyone why the battle monument was established.
It took three days for Zhao Hai to complete the article. There were hundreds of thousands of characters that needed to be carved. It’s natural that it took more than a day.
Zhao Hai let out a long breath when he was done writing the article. Then suddenly, he felt his spiritual force rise a few times. It was as if a huge mental burden had been lifted off. Zhao Hai was stunned for a moment. Then he looked at the monument and understood that it was the reason.
The promise he made to the troops acted like shackles attached to his spirit. If it was a normal person, it might not have affected them. However, it had a huge effect on cultivators. This was the reason why cultivators rarely made promises.
Zhao Hai promised millions of people to create a monument. If Zhao Hai didn’t fulfill his promise, then this burden would never be taken off his spirit. Even if Zhao Hai increased his spiritual force, this shackle would continue to exist.
But now that Zhao Hai completed his promise, the shackles were taken off. Thinking about this, Zhao Hai sighed. He also discovered that because of his high degree of concentration, his spiritual qi was much purer compared to before.