《Primordial Majesty (原始神)》


 Chapter 1: A God鈥檚 Heartbeat

    Supreme One Above All ( ¸ßÓÚÒ»ÇеÄÉñ )


    Note£º Chapters may be updated earlier HERE</a>, and then RRL.


    <hr />


    Chapter 1: A God¡¯s Heartbeat


    ____________


    Under the starry twilight sky, a grand auric palace stood proudly among a field of shadowy forests. The air is now slightly chilly after a fiery summer day, spreading along with it a pervading silence; a halcyon night it is, as usual.


    It is now the Era of Qigong, a glorious period of time when martial arts and cultivators roamed en masse around the world. As more and more people began on the lonely path of cultivation, the world itself began to change accordingly. Wars erupted, power struggles arose in prominent families, and great strength became the best source of logic, as well as the quickest road to fame --and death....


    At this moment, inside the room at the apex of the brilliant palace, an elderly man sat calmly in a lotus position. Wearing a majestic, black robe decorated with gold-colored dragons and smooth white linings, the man gave off an impressive atmosphere. Sitting atop an elevated red bedding carved from gold, the elder looked to be scholarly with a long white beard and a head full of snow. Even with his matured age and skin plagued with faint lines of wrinkles, the elder still retained some of his once handsome features indicating his probable popularity with the ladies when he was much, much younger¡­


    The elder had his eyes shut at this time, seeming to be sleeping. But there was a faint rippling of Qi aura coming from his body, as the pressure became stronger and stronger around him. At the same time, beads of sweat began to pour from the elder¡¯s forehead, his closed eyes slowly curving into a nervous frown.


    ¡°I must not fail. This is my third and last chance...if I do not breakthrough into the Godly Martial Realm this time, my soul will be destroyed into pieces! I cannot afford to fail...must not fail...must not fail¡­¡±


    The white-haired elder repeatedly thought in his mind as he gathered all the Qi inside his body and directed them towards his Dantian, the source of his life energy.


    After cultivating for several hundreds of years, he was finally able to touch upon the door to the legendary Godly Martial Realm. But, no matter how hard he had tried the first two-time to break through into that realm, he was pushed back again and again. It was as if something was blocking his progress. And that was when the elder knew he had a hit upon the bane of his cultivation journey: a bottleneck.


    Only after cultivating a hundred more years, did the black-robed elder once again regain his confidence to attempt his third, and last, try at breaking through. Both his life and soul was now at stake here.


    As the elder began to transform the Qi inside his dantian, a new feeling of power started to well up in him. Feeling the new type of power beginning to well up in his body, the old man¡¯s tense face slightly relaxed as a smile silently creeped up on his face.


    ¡°Th-this feeling¡­! It¡¯s...it¡¯s working! I have a chance to breakthrough! Ahahaha! The heaven has eyes! The heaven has eyes! After cultivating for nearly a thousand-year, I can finally ascend!¡± The elder madly shouted with delight in his mind, as excitement began to bubble up in his previously tranquil heart. But he did not dare lose focus, even amidst his joy. He had not fully broken through after all.


    Only after entering the Godly Martial Realm, would the elder be able to transform his mortal flesh into a god¡¯s body. By then, he would be able to set foot onto a whole new, higher plane known as the ¡°Heavenly Jade Land¡±.


    It was a mythical land that all mortal cultivators dreamed of entering one day.


    The aura around the elderly man became stronger and fiercer until the air around him seemed to tremble, almost as if it was bowing down to him. The ancient senior¡¯s heart started to palpitate with anticipation and elation¡­


    ***


    *Whoosh!*


    A dark armored youth whisked across the night sky at an extreme speed. Blood dripped from his armor and forehead as he flew unsteadily over a sea of dark forests.


    *Bzzt!*


    From the west, a strong undulation of pressure suddenly rippled through the silent sky.


    Startled, the black armored young man slightly paused for a moment before  he transformed into a black ball of fire and shot towards the direction where the fluctuation had appeared.


    Soon, a golden palace lined with crimson tiles for rooftops appeared in the distance. Locating the source of energy, the black fire blazed hovered in the air, as if it was contemplating something.


    *Bzzt!*


    A fluncation, that was much, much powerful than the one that the obsidian fireball had felt earlier appeared from the direction, in which it had just came from. Feeling the new energy, the raven orb seemed fearful as it visibly trembled for a second, before flickering brightly and bursting straight towards the top of the palace.


    ***


    A tyrannical aura surge out from the elderly man¡¯s body, as chairs and tables in his room were instantly smashed into pieces just by the pressure. By now, a rare silly grin was plastered across the man¡¯s face. His fateful moment was finally here¡­


    As the elder¡¯s Qi fluctuation reached its peak, he felt the bottleneck that he had painstakingly fought against for many years slowly begin to crumble away.


    However, just as he was about to complete his breakthrough, the elder suddenly felt something shock his body, as his inner soul shook unsteadily. His Qi aura began to slowly decrease. The old man was immediately alarmed by this.


    Something unknown had actually entered his body while he was in his weakest state!


    Before the elder could try to attempt to purge the intruder, a wave of pain suddenly  attacked his heart and mind at the same time. The feeling was excruciating, as if someone was ripping him apart from inside out! It was as if...his was soul was being destroyed!


    Attempting to focus his mind, the elder quickly entered his own Soul Quarter, the inner domain where a cultivator¡¯s soul was hidden away in. By now, he was sure that this was the doing of someone else, an enemy even perhaps. He was able to feel a different Qi aura coming from inside his body.


    With the thought of eliminating the person from his body, the elder had to painfully stop his breakthrough for the moment. With despair and rage, the old man directed his conscious inside his body.


    Upon entering his own soul quarter, the elder immediately saw a pale youth in jet black armor, which had a faint blood hue to it, standing next to a white, floating ball of fire the size of a boulder.


    The youth¡¯s armor was strangely designed, with various parts having strange sharp curves sticking out of it. Coupled with the youth¡¯s green snake-like eyes, the black-robed senior felt a dreadful feeling looking at the other individual. He could even feel a distinct pressure emanating from the youth...and just the little aura¡¯s strength had already vastly surpassed even himself!


    This was the first time a junior had caused an elder such as himself to feel so...powerless.


    And trepidation.


    At this time, the youth broke the silence in a surprisingly deep voice:


    ¡°I¡¯ll be taking your body. After I recover my injuries and ascend back to Jade Heaven Land, I will be sure remember your good service to this Great Lord.¡±


    The elder stared dumbfounded at the thorny, black armored youth before him. He had a bit difficulty processing the other party¡¯s blunt words. Before he could respond, the dark armored youth spoke again, this time with a touch of coldness to his tone:


    ¡°Alright, you may die now.¡±


    At the same time, the pale youth flicked his right hand towards white ball of flame as a horrifying Qi energy burst forth. The elder¡¯s eyes widened in fear and shock.


    ¡°NO!¡±


    But it was too late. A large gap was now plainly visible in the glowing ball of fire, as the eerie flames began to slowly die before bursting apart.


    His soul was now scattered into pieces, utterly destroyed.


    A sudden sense of dizziness came over the elder as he felt his vision blurring.


    ¡°Eh? Am I dying? Like this? H-how can this be...why...WHY! I was so close! I can¡¯t die like this! No! No! NO!¡± The elder screamed in his mind, as fury and anguish hugged his fading conscious. Right before his breakthrough to the Godly Martial Realm, he had his body taken over and his soul destroyed, making him unable to reincarnate anymore¡­


    Was all his years of hard work merely for naught in the end...?


    The black armored youth stared coldly at the elder as the latter¡¯s body began to dissipate away. Then, spreading out his soul to encompass the soul quarter he was in, the pale youth began to wordlessly take control of the elder¡¯s dying body...


    ¡°Hmph, did you think you could really hide from me?!¡±


    A booming voice suddenly shook the soul quarter as the pale youth suddenly took a step backward in shock.


    A look of panic and fear slowly emerged within his green eyes.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Right after the voice faded away, a flashing light entered the soul quarter and transformed into imperial armored youth. This person had a healthy complexion and handsome look, exuding a heroic aura that was much different from the negative atmosphere that surrounded the black armored youth.


    Wearing an amethyst armor that had a strange jade hue to it, the young man stood in front of the other pale youth, choosing to float above instead of landing down.


    ¡°You...how did you know I was inside this body?!¡± The snake-eyed young man growled, a feeling of fear rising in his heart.


    However, the purple armored youth did not immediately answer the other individual¡¯s question. Instead, he said in a booming voice:


    ¡°God of Nineteen Hell, Zhao Wang Lei. You are criminally charged for massacring over three septillion common mortals and ten billion gods, disrespecting the heavenly laws set in the Jade Heaven Land, and attacking the Imperials Officers while they were on duty. These are all accounts of your offense over the course of seven nonillion God Years. As for how I found you, with you making a ruckus inside this human¡¯s body, did you really think I would not notice the odd aura that was coming from his body?!¡±


    The pale youth¡¯s eyes narrowed as he gritted his teeth. ¡°Hmph! What is wrong about crushing a few ants that get in your way? And what laws? Those are just some bullshit the imperial clan made up just to restrict us gods! I am a guardian of Hell itself; is it not right that I should be able to kill those pitiable mortals? As for those so-called royal officers, with their low godly realm cultivation, they dared to act so presumptuous around me!


    And even if what you had said were true, I do not see why it would warrant you, Shen Qin, the God of Dao, to personally come and take care of me! Having the great Commander of the Imperial Hall himself trifle with a someone like me, do you not fear others conjuring up rumors about you in the future? For a newcomer like you, don¡¯t you think you are a bit too outrageous?!¡±


    The violet armored god called ¡®Shen Qin¡¯ looked at latter emotionlessly, and then said in a tone filled with cold calmness:


    ¡°A great god like yourself is more than enough reason for me to take action. While you are my senior...as they say, in the end only one¡¯s power shall dictate our roles...and unfortunately, you are unable to compete with me by now. And you are correct, as one of the great lords of the Purgatory Land, dead mortals are for you to do as you please.


    However! The number of mortals I listed were still alive when you killed them. Just that in itself is a huge sin for a god. What¡¯s more, one of the Imperial Officers you crippled...was my sworn brother! Are these not enough reasons to condemn you to death?


    Ah, and seeing how you have refused to repent, I have now decided to change your punishment from the destruction of your godly body...to the complete elimination of your soul!¡±


    Zhang Wang Lei felt his immortal heart skip a beat for the first time in years, when he heard Shen Qin¡¯s words. It was at this moment that he felt a subtle pang of regret for acting rash in his previous God years.


    His unruly conducts had finally come back to bite him. Even after avoiding the divine punishments for so long, he had still ended up like this¡­


    Only now, did the realization that he may not live out today finally dawn on him. Gnashing his teeth, Zhang Wang Lei¡¯s eyes turned scarlet red as he roared madly, a hint of despair in his tone: ¡°Shen...Qin...even if I were to die, I¡¯ll take you down with me¡­!¡±


    Now that he knew there was no way out for him, Zhang Wang Lei did not continue to converse nor attempt to escape. He knew that after being weakened by the divine laws and by the pursuing Shen Qin earlier, he had no chance to escape now. Thus, Zhang Wang Lei had chosen to end himself together with his enemy rather than submit!


    Without hesitation, Zhang Wang Lei gathered up all his energy inside his spiritual form as his body began to glow with a haunting crimson.


    ¡°You¡­!¡¯ Seeing this, Shen Qin narrowed his eyes as he hurriedly condensed his Qi energy and lashed out towards the latter. Even though She Qin was considered an extremely powerful god in the Jade Heaven Land, it was still not wise for him to take on a suicide attack initiated by an ancient mighty god like Zhang Wang Lei! That fellow was, after all, a senior god who ruled over the 19th level of Hell itself, commanding strength and authority that was nearly equivalent to the True God of Purgatory himself.


    Shen Qin was barely able to heavily injure the latter earlier before their game of pursuit occurred, so naturally  he did not dare estimate an all out attack from the black armored youth.


    *BOOM!*


    The two souls crashed into each other, generating a blinding light, as the Soul Quarter shook from the impact, lines appearing on the white surroundings. Because both sides¡¯ attack was nearly on equal power, the resulting shockwave fortunately did not destroy the soul quarter itself. Otherwise, the lifeless elder¡¯s body would¡¯ve exploded apart as a consequence.


    Once the light died down, it revealed a battered Shen Qin hovering weakly in the air. His black hair was disheveled as blood trickled down his head and arms. Even his originally pristine armor was now severely cracked, with his entire right arm and upper torso pieces missing. Slowly floating down, the Shen Qin coughed up a mouth of flood as he clutched his chest.


    ¡°Not good...I¡¯ve used up too much power to block that last attack. And that Zhang Wang Lei, to think his full powered strength was this great...I¡¯ve truly underestimated a cornered deity, huh¡­*cough* *cough*¡±


    Because the two gods had fought in their soul phase, the damages they took would directly affect them in a more permanent way; as such, Zhang Wang Lei had paid with his life in this exchange while Shen Qin had received heavy injuries to his soul.


    In order for Zhang Wang Lei to overtake the elder¡¯s body, he had to transform his body into his spiritual form to do that. Thus, after dying in the Soul Quarter, Zhang Wang Lei could be said to have truly died.


    Shen Qin took a few deep breaths as he pacified his excited blood that was still boiling after his power exchange. He did not even have the power now to contact his comrades, who were millions of distances away, for assistance with his current level of power. After calming down, Shen Qin was prepared to leave this soul quarter and recover a bit of his soul when he noticed a small flickering from the corner of his eyes. Turning his head slightly, Shen Qin was surprised to find that there was small flame wavering in a corner.


    Floating closer to the fiery fragment, Shen Qin saw that it was actually a person¡¯s soul, albeit a tiny fraction of it.


    ¡°This must be the soul of the mortal who was killed by Zhang Wang Lei. To think he was this lucky and resilient...with this small piece of his soul, while he would not be able to use his flesh body anymore, he would now at least be able to go through to the reincarnation cycle.¡± Shen Qin thought as he stared at the soul.


    However, for this small fragment of a soul to be able to go to through the reincarnation cycle, it would have to be sent there by someone. After all, it was forcefully destroyed by Zhang Wang Lei and thus, was simply too weak right now move on its own.


    And to some extent, Shen Qin felt responsible for this man¡¯s death since it was him who had forced Zhang Wang Lei to seize this innocent person¡¯s soul, in the latter¡¯s desperate attempt to escape. It was the first time an uninvolved mortal was dragged into his own affairs...


    Shen Qin stood silently before the tiny flickering flame, as he contemplated silently what to do inside his mind. After a while, he let out a soft sigh as he reached out and drew a golden, Chinese character ¡°»Ê¡± (Imperial), gently imprinting it onto the small soul fragment.


    ¡°With this imperial decree symbol, you should definitely be able to get reincarnated into a much better life. And don¡¯t worry, I will make sure to send you safely into the Reincarnation Cycle. I, Shen Qin, at least owe you this much for involving you in my problem.¡± Shen Qin solemnly said, as he gathered up his remaining strength.


    Focusing all his power at the tip of his index finger, Shen Qin gave the fragmented a light push, sending it out of the Soul Quarter towards the underworld Reincarnation Cycle. At this push, however, Shen Qin could feel his body instantly become weaker, . This was the last remaining amount of strength he had left, that he was planning to use to leave the soul quarter. But it looks like it was not possible now.


    Shen Qin¡¯s conscious became cloudy, as he felt the world around him blacken. His body transformed into a dwarf-sized soul, hovering gently in the soul quarter and breaking bits by bits apart.


    At the same time, unbeknownst to Shen Qin, while his soul was dissipating it was slowly fusing with the surrounding domain.


    On the originally pale, lifeless elder¡¯s body, a faint pink color had returned to his skin. And in the elder¡¯s room, which had previously been filled with deathly silence, an extremely faint rhythm could not be heard:


    *Ba-dum*


    *Ba-dum*


    *Ba-dum!!*

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2: The Earthly Land


    __________


    Outside a golden palace, the sun was slowly rising into the sky, signifying the start of the day. The once shadowy trees were now being illuminated with a beautiful amber shade.


    Inside a dimly lit room, an elder sat peacefully atop a red bedding. He has been sitting in a lotus position for the past several hours.


    Suddenly, the black-robed elder¡¯s eyes flashed open as a divine lights shot out, brightening up the room for a second, before fading away. The man¡¯s eyes looked dazed for a moment, before the light of awareness was finally registered within his pupils.


    Feeling that something was out of place, the man raised his hands in front of him. Seeing the slightly wrinkled hands, he frowned as a look of confusion slowly appeared on his face. Suddenly, a pang of aching struck his mind out of nowhere. Memories of names and places flooded his mind as the elder clutched the side of his head with one hand.


    ¡°What¡­is happening? Why have my hands aged like this?...Song Huang Xue¡­? Who is that?¡± The elderly man thought as the pain in his head subsided. Regaining his calm, he turned and surveyed the familiar room.


    This elder is naturally Shen Qin, or at least, spiritually he is.


    After using up his last remaining strength to send the elder¡¯s soul into the reincarnation cycle rather than escape himself, Shen Qin had lost conscious within the elder¡¯s crumbling soul quarter. But when he woke up again,Shen Qin had surprisingly found that he was not inside the elder¡¯s body anymore, but instead, he was the mortal elder himself!


    ¡°This body...is Song Huang Xue¡¯s? How could this have happened? Did my soul merge with this body when I was unconscious?¡± Shen Qin had several questions but very few answers, as he contemplated in his mind.


    After a while, he had come to the conclusion that his soul may have been merged together with this mortal¡¯s body, in order to sustain itself. His strength had extremely weak at that time, and there had been a large chance that if nothing was done, Shen Qin¡¯s soul would have shattered right then and there. But he did not want to die. Thus, most likely his desire to live on may have forced his soul to subconsciously draw strength from its surrounding, or rather, to merge with the mortal body in this case, for recovery.


    Thinking up to this point, Shen Qin let out a sigh. To think that his pursuit of a criminal, would actually lead him, a heavenly commander, to resort to taking over a dying mortal¡¯s body in order to survive¡­


    To the current him, Shen Qin knew he had weakened severely due to his damaged soul.


    ¡°Wait, this is¡­?!¡± Shen Qin furrowed his brow as he suddenly detected a foreign aura within his soul. Upon probing it further, Shen Qin was able to see that while the energy had no conscious, it was still slowly eating away at his soul. No, it would be better said that this strange aura was actually...trying to take over him!


    A grave expression washed over Shen Qin¡¯s pale countenance. ¡°This is...a poison yet not a poison...could this be a curse left behind by that evil god??¡±


    After carefully observing the foreign energy, a realization dawn on Shen Qin. However, it did relieve him of his worry, but rather severely intensified it.


    ¡°The Sealing Heart Hex¡­¡±Shen Win murmured gravely to himself.


    This was originally an ancient curse lost during the Era of Origin, the very first period of history of the living world. It was said that this curse possessed the ability to slowly corrode the victim''s soul, causing the soul to turn a blackish hue. Upon the victim''s soul turning completely black, it would signify the completion of the curse. At that time, the victim would lose his entire sense of self, having his personality altered and gaining an immense desire to seek out chaos and death!


    Moreover, there were no known ¡°external¡± cures for this curse. Unless one was at God Martial Realm, the person would definitely be taken over by the hex. But even then, they would only be able to suppress it; expelling it would not be possible through normal methods.


    After understanding the evil aura within his soul, Shen Qin slowly regained his calm. ¡°Even if I¡¯m afflicted with this ancient curse, in this world there is always the law of cause and effect. Since this curse is a product of creation, there would likewise be something out there which can dispel it! If it the method of cure has not been found, then...I would do so myself!¡± A fierce light appeared within Shen Qin¡¯s eyes.


    However as of now, in his current body, he was left with limited options.


    Seek help from those within the Jade Heaven Land ? Impossible; his soul simply did not possess the required amount of strength to transmit his divine thoughts anymore.


    Use the mortal body he is in possession of right now to return to the Jade Heaven Land? That¡¯s merely a floating dream. Because Shen Qin knew that this body he was in was merely at the borderline of the God Martial Realm. But after being interrupted during his ascension, for the third time, the elder¡¯s body had paid a very heavy price. He would not be able to ascend to the God Martial Realm anymore in this lifetime, or at least, not through any normal means.


    ¡°It seems that I am now stuck in this body while my soul is being corrode by a curse...how laughable.¡± Shen QIn thought wryly.


    He had not desired to take over this mortal¡¯s body at all. But what has been done is already done. He could only try his best to adapt to it at this point.


    After all, according to the memories of the mortal ¡®Song Huang Xue¡¯, Shen Qin was currently in the Continent of Feng Shui, a familiar place where the previous mortal him was from! It is the only continent in this world, a colossal landscape that stretched for nearly a two hundred million square miles. The rest was made up large bodies of water.


    However, when Shen Qin was still a mortal cultivator, he was in the early era where martial arts and qigong were just beginning to be getting popular. After training for a few hundred years, he was able to easily ascend into the God Martial Realm, entering into the Jade Heaven Land. But his martial road did not end there. He found out that even the gods in this legendary land still had to continue cultivating in order to protect themselves.


    However, although Shen QIn was a new god back then, with his tyrannical talent, his cultivation progressed at an incredible rate. In just over three million years, Shen Qin had transformed into a formidable god among gods.


    To put it into perspective, there were gods who have trained for nearly trillions, or even quadrillions, of years would be hard pressed to advance a single stage in their cultivation. They were often considered minor gods because their rate of breakthroughs would begin to slow down as they tried to ascend into higher godly realms.


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    Since in the Jade Heaven Land, it is a place where only true immortals live. Unless one has their soul extinguished by another god, these beings could practically live on for eternity if they wish! Time and age to them, were merely just a number.


    Some of those long-living deities, if one were to talk about power, would even pale in comparison to Shen Qin¡¯s at that time!


    It was because of this, that Shen Qin was able to attract the attention of the Great Jade Emperor, ruler of the Jade Heaven Land!


    He was immediately awarded with the high position of an Imperial General of the Jade Emperor¡¯s Imperial Dynasty. And from then on, he was actually able to have frequent meetings with the Jade Emperor himself, resulting in a brotherly bond forming between the two.


    This was mainly possible due to the ¡°young¡± age of the Jade Emperor. While such a position is rarely ever changed, it does indeed happen after countless aeons; and Shen Qin had just happened to enter the Jade Heaven Land at such a time!


    Furthermore, after securing innumerable benefits for the Imperial Dynasty and having his cultivation once again go through a level within two million years, Shen Qin was finally promoted to an Imperial Commander --the highest order of military authority, barely comparable to the words of the Jade Emperor himself! Their brotherly relationship with one another likewise deepened like such.


    In the Jade Heaven Land, time also flows differently compared to the Earthly Land.


    A hundred years in the former only equates to merely a single year in the mortal¡¯s world!


    After just 5,000,000 God Years, or 50000 Mortal Years, of cultivation, Shen Qin¡¯s astonishing talent had propelled him to unimaginable heights.


    But alas, in the end, he was still reduced to this pitiable state today!


    ¡°How hateful! Not only am I unable to seek out help, I cannot even free myself of this body and curse! However, though this body is incomparable to a god¡¯s, in this world, it should be considered a peak level existence¡­¡± Shen Qin angrily thought.


    In the higher planes, a type of absolute law known as ¡®Karma¡¯ guards over the entire Three Worldly Lands: the Hades Purgatory Land, the Earthly Land, and the Jade Heaven Land!


    If Shen QIn was to kill himself just to free his soul from this mortal body, he would be punished by the divine law. For a deity to overtake or control a mortal to kill themselves was considered a serious crime --and the stronger the god was, the heavier and more severe the punishment would be!


    Shen Qin was afraid that with his level of strength before, his soul would be heavily damaged once again when he escaped the mortal body. At that time, adding on that his soul was already cursed and greatly weakened, forget about being possessed by the curse, he would practically be extinguished first!


    Moreover, there were legends where previous courageous victims had tried committing suicide in order to escape the curse; however, not only did it not stop the curse, it was said to have allowed the Sealing Heart Hex to grow from one''s self-destruction! If Shen Qin''s soul died and gave birth to such a virus, without at least setting up some sort of defense for the Earthly Land, it was bound to lead to utter chaos throughout the realms in the future.


    Zhang Wang Lei¡¯s soul was also previously damaged by the Karmic Law due to his sins, which was why Shen QIn was able to injure that ancient deity. Otherwise, perhaps Shen Qin would have to battle the latter over a course of nearly millions of  God years before a victory could be decided!


    On the other hand, if he were to kill other cultivators, or even evil commoners, Shen Qin was exempt from the heavenly punishment. After all, cultivators were already beings who are going against Heaven itself --their lives have already long detached from the normal laws of the world.


    However, if Shen Qin could trust the memories of the mortal Song Huang Xue...then in this entire world, just how many individuals could possess a body that could match his own? Not even considering this elder¡¯s body, with just Shen Qin¡¯s vast 5 million God Years worth of experiences, it would still be difficult to defeat him in a regular mortal¡¯s body, much less in stronger one¡¯s!


    Shen Qin felt a bit dizzy as he thought about all the complications in the future.


    Fortunately, since he was the Imperial Commander back in the Jade Heaven Land, he was one of the few gods who had complete freedom over their life. There was no one to keep tabs on them at all times, and even if they were to disappear for several thousands of years, no gods would find it out the ordinary.


    But what Shen Qin was most worried about was the Sealing Heart Hex within his soul. Likely, with his current strength, he would not last no more than ten years before he would be consumed completely by the curse!


    And if he is still within the Earthly Lands at that time, it would be safe to assume that no in this Land will be safe from his transformed self. There would even be a possibility that his evil soul then would seek to wreak havoc across the rest of the Worldly Lands and minor planes! And it may lead to a great disaster for the Jade Emperor; the only being whom he does not want to harm. After all, through the many God Years, Shen Qin has come to view the emperor as someone extremely close to him, almost akin to a blood brother! An audacious thought, but one that someone of his position and talent was qualified to express!


    With these thoughts, Shen Qin knew that he must quickly get rid of his poison and return!


    Only then, would the Heaven Jade Land remain safe and the Earthly Land would continue on thriving. But should he fail to accomplish this within ten years...


    Taking a deep breath, Shen Qin evened out his worries as he focused on his current situation. In order for him to recover as soon as possible, it was crucial for him to thoroughly understand his situation and conditions of this body. Over-thinking, panicking, rushing --these things are useless at this point. What he must do now is to adapt to whatever may occur in the future!


    Circulating the Qi inside his body, Shen Qin entered a meditative state as he recalled Song Huang Xue¡¯s memories...

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3: Godly Supreme Hall


    ___________


    Circulating the Qi inside his body, Shen Qin entered a meditative state as he recalled Song Huang Xue¡¯s memories.


    It was now the Era of Qigong, approximately 50,000 Mortal Years have passed since Shen Qin had returned to this Earthly Land. After two grand eras, this was the second era to have come to birth.


    This world, one of many created aeons ago by Pangu, was currently giving birth to innumerable amounts of martial art experts known as ¡®cultivators.¡¯ They are "defyers" of Heaven who practice Qigong, which is the arts of manipulating a type of energy in the human body called ¡®Qi¡¯, or ¡®life energy¡¯.


    With Qi energy, a cultivator was able to strength beyond that of a common mortal and their body was much resilient as well. To train in the way of martial arts were essentially the same as purging the body of impurities and strengthening one¡¯s core.


    In the Earthly Land, which was only three billion years old, practitioners were broken down into categories based on the cultivation realms they have reached. These Qigong realms were as follows, from the lowest to highest:


    Temporal Di (Earth), Jie Hai (Unlocking Ocean), Tian (Sky), Profound He (Fusion), Dao Ascent, Heavenly Wang (King), Empyrean Hun (Soul), Divine Zhu (Monarch), Saint Overlord, Immortal Sovereign, and the Godly Martial Realm


    They were then further separated into 9 stages, with each higher level becoming harder to break through.


    Peak experts even possessed the power to fly across skies and split apart large mountains! They were the true sons of Heaven, wielding strength that was impossible for normal people to fathom.


    And this man, Song Huang Xue was one of such apex cultivators.


    A mortal who had painstaking trained for nine thousand years to reach the pinnacle of the Immortal Sovereign realm, and another nine hundred years to dissolve the bottleneck in his cultivation,


    Song Huang Xue was bona fide peerless expert of the Earthly Land. His name was very well-known across martial arts world, and his influence was equally extraordinary.


    In fact, part of Song Huang Xue¡¯s great influence was due to a Sect that he had personally constructed a few thousands years back.


    To say the least, Song Huang Xue could be considered an Ancestral figure in the Godly Supreme Hall, which was a part of the Three Absolute Grand Sects within the Earthly Land! His grand sect has reigned strong over the entire world for at least ninety-eight million years!


    Along with the Sacred Demon Sect, and the Eternal Sword Spirit Palace, these three were considered the ruling powers not only within their respective country, but across the entire cultivation world as well!


    Situated among the sole Continent of Feng Shui on a massive piece of land known as the Jin Han Empire, the ancient sect was considered an overlord entity in the vast country. Even though the Godly Supreme Hall was located in a rather desolate area filled with forests, being not a part of a given province, all nineteen provinces within the Jin Han Empire all willingly bow down to this absolute hegemony. The royal clan of the Empire itself was no exception.


    Moreover, as one of the three grand sects, there were relatively few struggles between the Godly Supreme Hall and other powers across the continent. If anything, it was only the three ancient sects that were competing with one another. They were considered the sole top-level existences among this mortal domain after all.


    However, there was a pact between the Three Absolute Grand Sects that forbid any fighting among themselves. It was said to be a way for the three powers to enjoy their influence without needlessly harming each other. A kind of cease-fire proposal, if you will.


    As such, the Godly Supreme Hall have not encounter any truly big problems for the last several hundred years from its initial creation! It was simply living the life of a king, and this was even more so for the Song Huang Xue.


    Over the years, with the deaths of the other ancestors, Song Huang Xue soon became the only living ancestor alive. There are very few who had the qualification to speak with him. This could be discerned through the peaceful palace, called the Song Palace, in which he stayed in being void of any other person. It was also because of this, that last night¡¯s turmoil within the Song Palace had gone unnoticed. The palace itself was in a discreet location, several miles away from his Sect after all.


    ¡°Song Huang Xue¡­¡±Shen Qin murmured as an aged, deep voice echoed from his flesh body. ¡°Although I did not intend to take over your dying body, I will bear this responsibility. However, I still need to deal with this curse and return to where I came from...so, I will have to apologize in advance for the burden that may come onto this body in the future, For now, I shall be using your identity...I pray for your safe reincarnation.¡±


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    Shen Qin then lifted up and placed both his palms together in a praying gesture. Even though he was god, Shen Qin had not trained to such a degree as to lose his emotions or even forget his own origin as a mortal himself.


    ¡°I guess I shall see the current situation outside and then decide on the steps to take¡­I do not believe that in a worldly population of over fifteen billion mortals and myriads of possibilities, that I cannot find a way to dispel this curse and return back!¡± Song Huang Xue (Shen Qin) muttered as he got up from his bed. A resolute glow flickered within his aged, black eyes.


    Walking up to an open window, Song Huang Xue¡¯s body blurred for a moment before his body disappeared from view.


    Only the declining strong wind in the room that was being sucked towards the window showed that the elder had indeed been present a second before¡­


    ***


    Several miles east from Song Palace, there was a vast patch of land with forests and mountains decorating around its border. Mountain ranges stood tall, while there were large mists rolling out from nearby waterfalls, creating a surreal scene


    On that same impressive ground, there were numerous grand brick buildings were situated next to one another.


    These were known as cultivation halls, areas where disciples of a sect would go to when they are in need of training resources. Each hall had their own specialized field of expertise, such as pills, weapons, martial arts techniques among many others.


    This spacious and splendid land was home to one of this world¡¯s most powerful sect: The Godly Supreme Hall!


    At the center of the Sect ground, was a particularly eye-catching tower in the vague shape of a dragon ascending towards the sky. This massive construction was named the ¡°Head Martial Tower¡±, a place where only elders and high-ranking members of the Godly Supreme Hall could enter. It was one of the ninety-nine halls within the Sect ground, and the sole one that disciples were forbidden to enter. It was also the tallest and largest, in terms of physical appearance, out of all the other towers.


    There were a total of six floors, with the bottom three floors reserved as dorms for the elders, fourth for honored visitors, and the fifth for grand guests, such as emperors of other countries or particularly great cultivators. The sixth floor is only reserved for the Sect Master, Grand Elders, and Ancestors of the Godly Supreme Hall.


    Aside from the several imposing buildings, there were also several specks of moving dots roaming the land. Upon a closer look, one could see that these ¡®dots¡¯ were in fact people. Every person seemed to be wearing a different kind of outfit. Some wore pink dresses, some went with dark blue robes, while others donned on expensive silk paos. But, no matter how one dressed, on each person¡¯s chest there was an identical Bagua crest, with a faint outline of a dragon head, attached to their clothes. This symbolised one¡¯s identity as a disciple of the Godly Supreme Hall!


    (¡®Pao¡¯ (Hanfu) = traditional chinese robe. Ex: http://www.finechineseclothing.com/BACKEND/Resource/ProductPic/420_680/mhf-6022-new.jpg</a> )


    Most of them looked youthful, seeming to be no older than twenty of years old, while there were some who looked to be around twenty-two to twenty-four years old. Excluding the scarce number of elders patrolling the ground, there were no disciples older than twenty-six within the Godly Supreme Hall. The entire school population itself was no greater than nine million elders and disciples.


    The reason is simply because the ones who were able to enter this legendary sect were all geniuses in their own rights. Their natural talent and aptitude towards a specific area were several times higher than normal cultivators, and even a few times greater than those geniuses from other sects!


    It was said that even the weakest disciple of the Godly Supreme Hall, if placed in another sect, would easily be able to become one of that faction¡¯s strongest core disciples.


    Moreover, while every level in one¡¯s martial cultivation is like an unreachable gap, each Godly Supreme Hall disciple, at minimum, possessed the ability to battle against those of a single level higher. As for the core disciples? Even fighting cultivators two or three levels above themselves was not an impossible feat!


    This was the superiority and quality of disciples from the Godly Supreme Hall! It was practically a den of monsters, in one sense or another, out a world population of nearly fifteen billion mortals...

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4:  Sect Master


    __________


    It was said that even the weakest disciple of the Godly Supreme Hall, if placed in another sect, would easily be able to become one of that faction¡¯s strongest core disciples.


    Moreover, while every level in one¡¯s Qigong cultivation is like an unreachable gap, each Godly Supreme Hall disciple, at minimum, possessed the ability to battle against those of a single level higher. As for the core disciples? Even fighting cultivators two or three levels above themselves was not an impossible feat! This was the superiority and quality of disciples from the Godly Supreme Hall! It was practically a den of monsters, in one sense or another, out a world population of nearly fifteen billion mortals.


    Today, the disciples were going about their usual trainings and routines as everyone hurried towards their destination. Each person was eager to get stronger, as they were surrounded by fellow top geniuses after all. The competition is very fierce within sects like these.


    While everyone was busying moving from one cultivation hall to another, a golden light could be seen shooting across the clear blue sky before disappearing into the sixth floor of the Head Martial Tower. However, there were no reactions or cries of shock from the disciples below, as there were many powerful individuals residing within the Godly Supreme Hall.


    Seeing beings who could streak across skies with their Qigong were more or less a norm in this sect. Many of Sect residents most likely thought it was one of the elders who were streaming across the sky, so therefore neither the elders nor the disciples paid much attention to it.


    Moreover, there was a powerful formation set up around the sect that would identify the crest that was placed on the clothe of each disciple and elder. Therefore, only those who are a part of the sect would enter, be it sky or land, without worry. Otherwise, a sealing formation would be activated to capture the intruder and all elders would be notified immediately¡­


    *Whoosh*


    The window to the sixth floor of the Head Martial Tower abruptly fluttered open, and an old man dressed in silk black robe floated lightly down into the room. Landing on the red carpet that covered every corner of this room, whose size was closer to that of a wide dining hall, Song Huang Xue raised his head and examined his surrounding.


    While the room was spacious, each corner of it was filled with shelves after shelves of what looked like scrolls and blue, paper covered manuals. Huang Xue could even vaguely feel a strange Qi aura emanating from some of the pamphlets.


    ¡°Oh? It seems there are truly a few Spiritual and Astral grade techniques present on this floor¡­¡± Huang Xue mused to himself.


    Just as a person¡¯s Qigong cultivation could be ranked, the level of martial arts technique can be similarly categorized based on their output power, complexity, and use. They are separated into what are known as ¡®Grades¡¯, from lowest to highest:


    Common-grade, Earth-grade, Sea-grade, Heaven-grade, King-grade, Spiritual-grade, Astral-grade, Timeless-grade, Legendary-grade, and Fate-grade


    Each grade is further broken down into Lower or Upper to differentiate its quality, with the amount of power every grade could exhibit coinciding with the level of cultivation starting at the Earth-grade.


    Common artifacts are normal items that low-leveled cultivators and normal cultivators would use. In other words, an Earth-grade artifact possessed the strength of a Temporal Di practitioner, while a Sea-grade item would have the power of a Jie Hai cultivator, and so on.


    In regards to solely martial arts techniques, only practitioners who are in the Divine Zhu realm or higher would possess the necessary insights and Qi amount to create skills on their level or lower!


    On the other hand, artifacts also follow the same categorization as skills. Though, techniques are often viewed with greater value than artifacts of the same grade. This is due to the fact that techniques tend to have an innate capability to evolve or to possess the possibility of being improved on, while artifacts are often set in how much power they can exhibit at most. Skills often possess greater power compared to weapons as well.


    But this is merely taking into account that the artifacts do not possess sentiments, as the value of such artifacts would then be equivalent to, or even higher than, a Legendary-grade skill book itself!


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    Yet, according to Song Huang Xue¡¯s original memories, these kind of artifacts are exceedingly rare and even more so random. It is unclear how an item would be able to attain sentiment, but it was said that even Common-grade artifacts may gain spiritual thoughts, which would then enable them to evolve into higher grades in the future. Hence, the randomness part. Even when Huang Xue had roamed the land when he was still a mortal, artifacts with sentiments were similarly rare to find.


    However, it was often guaranteed a Legendary-grade technique book or artifact would possess sentiment!


    After all, those level of peerless items were personally created by domineering Immortal Sovereign practitioners. The amount of energy, soul, and sweat that was put into those artifacts were simply too difficult to fathom.


    Because of that, even a Common-grade weapon that possesses sentiment would be valued as world treasures, as they reserve the nearly guaranteed potential to one day ascend into the deeply yearned Legendary-grade...


    ¡°Time really has changed...to think that now even a trashy Heaven-grade was considered world shaking¡­¡± Huang Xue thought to himself. ¡°Back when I was still a mortal, only items that were Spiritual-grade or higher could be considered precious. *Sigh* The world in which I once lived in has truly become weaker over the years.¡±


    From Huang Xue¡¯s original memories, he came to understood that in an overview of the entire continent, Common- and Earth-grade items were a norm, Sea-grade can be considered quite rare, while treasures that were Heaven-grade was already the best that even strong organizations could procure.


    As for Heaven-grade or higher? Aside from a few individuals, a small portion of truly powerful factions, and the Three Absolute Grand Sects that Huang Xue had in his memory, there could be said to be no one would possess such items.


    But Huang Xue did care much about things such as this. After all, in a world of ancient martial arts, only the strong ones could take their pick on things, while the weak could only stand on the sideline and watch. It was place where blood flowed at the slightest provocation, and where with only great power could one stand above all others!


    Huang Xue continued to reminiscent the changes in the Earthly Land when he suddenly felt another presence enter the room. It was a familiar presence.


    Turning around, Huang Xue saw several pieces of purple lights combining together in the middle of the room. When the light shards completely fused, it took on the shape of a human before fully revealing a middle-aged woman in white, silk dress.


    The person looked no older than fifty years of age, with small spots of gray on her flowing dark hair. However, judging from how deep this person¡¯s foundation was, Huang Xue could tell that she was possibly at least a few thousands years old in actuality!


    The woman¡¯s face was shapely outlined, with few wrinkles on her face. There were Bagua symbols all over her snowy dress, and the middle-aged woman exuded an air of importance and elegance.


    Huang Xue watched as the middle-aged woman materialized and kneeled down in front of him. Bowing her head down and cupping her hands towards Huang Xue as a sign of respect, the elderly woman greeted in a tone filled with deep respect and reverence:


    ¡°Your disciple pays respect to honorable Master! Please forgive your worthless disciple for coming here so late to greet you! Yue¡¯er did not expect master to go out of his seclusion so early on...If Master is displeased, I am willing to accept your punishment!¡±


    Then, the white dressed woman paused for a moment as she a strange aura in the air, before a dazzling smile grew on her face. In an excited voice, she continued:


    ¡°Congratulations to Master for successfully breaking through to the Immortal Sovereign realm! Disciple formally greets Sovereign Song!¡±


    Huang Xue stood silent as he observed the familiar person kneeling before him. Looking closely, Huang Xue realized that he ¡°recognized¡± the woman.


    Her name was Yue Jing, and she was one of the only four disciples whom the previous host had taken in for nurturing.


    At the moment, she occupied the position...as the current exalted Sect Master of the Godly Supreme Hall!

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5: Light


    _________


    Upon reaching the pinnacle of the Saint Overlord realm, the previous Huang Xue had passed on his position as the Sect Master to his most trusted disciple, Yue Jing, and then went on into a seclusion. That was nearly a thousand years ago. Yue Jing was only 206 years old then.


    But besides the few patches of new gray on Yue Jing¡¯s hair and her slightly aged skin, the woman looked to be just the same as she was years ago. In fact, her aura had even broken through to a newstage since then; giving her a slightly more authoritative aura in front of Huang Xue.


    But Huang Xue was not surprised as the higher cultivation one achieves, the more they would be able to retain their youthfulness and the longer they would be able to live. With each realm breakthrough there was a large increase in lifespan, with even leveling between stages in a realm possessing the ability to help slightly increase one¡¯s life! This was one of the many benefits and allure of being a cultivator.


    When Huang Xue had reached the Immortal Sovereign realm, his lifespan was increased by three thousand years, with each sub-stage allowing another thousand years additional to his lifespan.


    At the very least, the godly being who was now Huang Xue knew that the previous host was indeed quite the peerless genius.


    The speed of his cultivation was extraordinary, seeing how it takes tens of years to several hundreds of years to break through a single stage as one goes higher. Once one enters the Divine Zhu realm, taking a few hundred years just to ascend one stage was normal.


    And for Sovereign Immortals? Even for some who had trained for more than ten thousand years would be hard pressed to ascend a single stage, being powerless to change their impending end as they waited for their peaceful death or be left with consuming longevity pills for the rest of their life until the effects wear off. Even trying to break through to this realm is like trying to ascend Heaven in one step! This, at least, still hold true even now...


    ¡°Master?¡±


    Yue Jing¡¯s clear voice cut through Huang Xue¡¯s thoughts as he woke up from his daze. He realized that he had not said anything for over some time now.


    Clearing his throat, Huang Xue asked, a deep voice echoing from his body:


    ¡°Ahem, you may rise. I will not punish you this time.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your benevolence, Master.¡± Yue Jing said as she lightly stood up. Looking at her master, she asked with a subtle curiosity: ¡°Master, to think you would come out earlier than expected from your training...I assume everything went smoothly as you¡¯ve predicted?¡± ¡±


    ¡°Uh, you could think of it that way, I suppose.¡± Huang Xue replied. ¡°Anyways, you must tell me what has been happening for the past several years that I was away.¡±


    Yue Jing nodded without questioning further as she gestured Huang Xue over to a lofty, wooden chair. It was decorated lavishly, with the wood seemingly to be made out of quite expensive materials and the bottom seat covered in comfortable looking gold-colored cushion. If anything, the chair looked closer to a throne than a mere seat.


    ¡°As you wish. Please take a seat, Master. It must¡¯ve taken you quite some time to get here on foot, even through air. Let me serve some tea first and then I will tell you about the events that had occurred in the last thousand of years that you were in secluded training.¡±


    Huang Xue smiled as he nodded his head and went over to take his seat. From his previous host¡¯s memories, Huang Xue had a very favorable impression of this thoughtful and honest disciple of his.


    As for the other three, the last memories that Huang Xue had of them were when they had parted ways to adventure out across the martial lands...


    Placing a flagrant cup of tea on the small black table next to where Huang Xue was sitting at, Yue Jing then proceeded to sit down on the other side of the table. Looking at her master, with adoration glowering in her eyes, Yue Jing began to speak:


    ¡°Master, after you have left the Sect for training, our Godly Supreme Hall has been flourishing well as usual. We have nourished several hundreds of renowned top experts with a few of them already being hailed as legends across this mainland. However, although our foundation has increased over the last thousand of years, there...has been a few problems as of lately¡­¡±


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    Hearing this, Huang Xue¡¯s eyebrows perked up with a vague interest. ¡°Carry on.¡±


    Yue Jing hesitated for a moment before she continued: ¡°To tell Master the complete truth, your disciple was actually planning to seek you out soon. As of late, I am beginning to feel a vague sense of danger approaching our sect...and your disciple suspects it has all to do with the two other Absolute Grand Sects¡­¡±


    ¡°The two Absolute Grand Sects?¡± Huang Xue asked, a light of curiosity and even hope suddenly shone within his black pupils.


    From Huang Xue¡¯s memories, the other two ancient sects were just a bit weaker in overall power to his Godly Supreme Hall, due to the disparity in population. However, the two Ancestors of those sects were comparable to the previous Huang Xue¡¯s strength, being at the peak of the Saint Overlord realm, before the former went into seclusion.


    ¡°Yes, as Master already knows, while us three Absolute Grand Sects may maintain a peaceful facade on the surface, we are in actuality constantly in struggle with one another. And after Master went into seclusion, the power struggle had increasingly been getting worse. Right now, our Godly Supreme Hall is being suppressed by both the Sacred Demon Sect and the Eternal Sword Spirit Palace!


    Although they had attempted to do individually so before, because the number of talents in our Sect was greater than theirs, we managed to still hold the advantage. But now, those two Sects had actually banded together, along with a few great sects, to prevent our disciples and elders from safely training in the outside world! We even had several casualties that resulted from this a few years back. Those two grand sects were absolutely despicable!¡±


    Yue Jing seethed in anger when she thought back to the death of those disciples and elders. She had managed to contain her rage for the past ten years because while her level of influence was great, her personal cultivation was still lacking. She was unable to deal with two of the other sect masters at the time, much less the ancestral figures who were backing them. She did not know if the Ancestors of those Sects were still present or if they had went into seclusion like her Master, so she had been extremely cautious over the years.This had taken a great toll of stress on her, causing faint lines of wrinkles to appear on her smooth face...ones that should not have appeared for at least another few hundred years.


    However, just when she was nearing her breaking point and wanted to find her Master for help, the latter had appeared in front of her, as if in sync with her thoughts. Joy was merely an understatement if one wanted to describe the emotions that flitted across Yue Jing¡¯s heart when she felt the familiar aura, and had hurriedly arrived at the top of the Head Martial Tower to see her Master waiting.


    It was as if she had finally found hope amidst this complex mess.


    Thinking up to that point, Yue Jing¡¯s anger subsided a bit as a light of determination was lit vividly in her eyes. Now that her revered Master has returned, the two Absolute Grand Sects would no longer be able to be as wild as before, especially now that former had entered the preeminent Immortal Sovereign realm!


    ¡°Even if those other two old monsters had entered the same realm, compared to my Master, even if they had fought together my Master would not be worse off than them!¡± Yue Jing thought with a sense of pride.


    In reality, while many people believed that the Three Absolute Grand Sects were equal in strength, it was not exactly so.


    While the Godly Supreme Hall did have a slight edge when to came to large numbers, the true advantage they held was the fact that their Ancestor was a domineering tyrant when it came to cultivation.


    Out of the ancestors of all Three Absolute Grand Sects, the Godly Supreme Hall¡¯s ancestor could be considered the one with the greatest talent in cultivation and martial arts. He was even able to barely contend against the other two ancestors of the same level for several breaths, and just that alone was already an impressive feat considering the level of strength these ancients were at!


    At least, neither ancestor of the Sacred Demon Sect or Eternal Sword Spirit Palace had been able to achieve such a battle prowess...

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6: The Three Absolute Grand Sects


    ________


    Out of the ancestors of all Three Absolute Grand Sects, the Godly Supreme Hall¡¯s ancestor could be considered the one with the greatest talent in cultivation and martial arts. He was even able to barely contend against the other two ancestors of the same level for several breaths, and just that alone was already an impressive feat considering the level of strength these elders were at!


    At least, neither ancestor of the Sacred Demon Sect or Eternal Sword Spirit Palace could achieve the same thing...


    This was why the Sacred Demon Sect and the Eternal Sword Spirit Palace had worked over the years to suppress the Godly Supreme Hall. The latter¡¯s power was a danger to the other two Grand Sects.


    Huang Xue nodded his head as he contemplated in his mind. Then, in a relaxed manner, he said: ¡°Continue.¡±


    Yue Jing, seeing that her master was so calm even knowing he would be up against the other two Absolute Grand Sects, had her hopes once again lifted another notch. Her conviction and reverence towards her master had shot up as well.


    With the Sect¡¯s problems settled first, Yue Jing was able to speak about the other affairs with more ease. All the while, Huang Xue continued to listen as he absorbed all the information into his head. And as a high level cultivator, it was more than simple for him to recall these in his mind in the future.


    As Huang Xue listened to Yue Jing narrate, he learned that over the one thousand years that he was absent, many things had remained the same while few gave into the change of time. With the influx of cultivators, new powers rose and old ones fell at an astonishingly rate all across the continent. The overall political situation in the world was much more complicated now.


    Moreover, while the Three Absolute Grand Sects were the most well-known and powerful sect in the continent, there has recently been rumors over the years about hidden factions and individuals appearing, whose power may not lose out the former trios! One has to know that due to the Feng Shui Continent¡¯s enormous size, not every single region within has been explored yet. New powers were continuously emerging at a frightening rate.


    It was already impressive for the three grand sects to maintain their position in the world even amidst such violent changes, further testifying to their profound foundation.


    Thus, besides dealing with the other two Grand sects behind the scene, Yue Jing had been eager to help increase the Godly Supreme Hall¡¯s strength.


    The time has become much more turbulent after all.


    However, for Huang Xue, this news only served to brighten his mood. The stronger the opponents, the greater the reassurances he would have in the scenario that should he be consumed by the Sealing Heart Hex a thousand years from now, this world would not be left completely crippled...


    After detailing about a few more minor things, Yue Jing sat silently as she waited for master to speak. Deep orange sun lights were streaming in through the window. The sun was slowly setting in the distance by now.


    Huang Xue stood up from his throne as he leisurely pranced around the room, his head lowered in deep thought. But his attention was on somewhere else.


    ¡°This Godly Supreme Hall seems quite stable for now. However, that is not what I need to care about at this moment. I need to find the method to cure my curse and return back to the Jade Heaven Land as soon as possible...What exactly should I do? Attempt to ascend into the God Martial Realm again? But now that this body¡¯s cultivation path has changed, it would require stimulating external influences to breakthrough from henceforth¡­the rarity and expense would be quite extraordinary...¡± Huang Xue gave a sigh as he thought.


    ¡°Even after mastering countless of Dao, I still could not completely grasp the Dao of Cultivation. If I did, something like this wouldn¡¯t even be a problem, and I wouldn¡¯t still be here!¡±


    As the once mighty God of Dao, Huang Xue was adept in understanding many of the profound laws and energy that surround the world, collectively known as ¡®Dao¡¯. This was a concept that was most relevant towards cultivators of Profound He realm and higher, where energy is drawn from the world itself rather than from one¡¯s body.


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    However, there were naturally numerous other Daos that he could had not mastered. He was still considered a young deity in the Jade Heaven Land, after all.


    And the Dao of Cultivation was one of such paths that he had only partially comprehended. This dao pertained to the secrets of growth in power and the ascension of powers. If completely mastered, even transforming the most broken cripple into a heaven-domineering celestial was all but a simple task!


    As the profoundness of each Dao was different, they are classified into three types: Zhen Dao, Sheng Dao, and Mo Dao.


    Although it was difficult to compare a Dao¡¯s strength to another, it was generally assented that laws from the Sheng Dao are considered to be the hardest to comprehend. But if one succeeds to understand even a bit from a Sheng Dao, one could expect a massive surge in power! There are relatively few Daos that could be considered of the Sheng level.


    The dao of cultivation was one of such paths.


    It was because Huang Xue had understood a decent part of such mystery that his cultivation could rise so rapidly even after becoming a god. Aside from him, there were almost no one else who had comprehended the Dao of Cultivation as much as Huang Xue did! This was one of the reasons that the Jade Emperor had valued Huang Xue so much and even personally wanted to befriend him as brothers¡­


    Strolling around the room, Huang Xue was contemplating what to do in his mind when he suddenly thought of something.


    Pausing in his steps, with his back facing Yue Jing, Huang Xue suddenly asked his student:


    ¡°Yue¡¯er, where have your senior brothers gone to?¡±


    The middle-aged woman respectfully replied: ¡°This disciple does not know exactly where my senior brothers are at. After they departed from master and ventured out into the world, Yue¡¯er was only able determine a rough estimate of where they might be from the recent scout reports I¡¯ve been receiving.¡±


    ¡°Then, tell me, do you think your senior brothers would have a chance...to surpass me by now?¡±


    Yue Jing widened her eyes in surprise before she quickly gathered herself. In a slightly flustered voice, she replied:


    ¡°Surely you are making fun of us, master. How could you expect us to exceed someone as powerful as you¡­¡±


    Huang Xue frowned as he said in a slightly irritated tone: ¡°Then why did I bother taking in you disciples? If not for desiring the four of you to surpass me in the future, tell me, what use is having you lots around  then?¡±


    Yue Jing froze as she felt a subtle oppressive aura leaking from her master. Even without Huang Xue facing Yue Jing, just a little pressure from his Qi was already enough to cause her to feel as if she was suffocating. Her master had never revealed his emotions this easily before...


    Calling out in a shaky voice, Yue Jing quickly said: ¡°I...I was wrong, Master. Please forgive your foolish disciple. While second and third senior brother and I are unfilial and could not make master¡¯s wishes come true, I believe¡­I believe eldest senior brother may have progressed greatly¡­¡±


    ¡°Your eldest senior brother? You are talking about Wu Xie?¡± Huang Xue said as he furrowed his eyebrows, as an image of a young handsome man looking to be twenty-five to twenty-six years old appeared in his mind.


    This person was his first disciple, and was the most mysterious one out of all Huang Xue¡¯s four disciples. His talent in Qigong was the best out of his peers as well, with the previous Huang Xue focusing the most on him.


    If he was not mistaken, the last time Huang Xue had seen Wu Xie was four thousand years ago --nearly a thousand-year earlier before he entered reclusive training. His other two disciples had also ventured out eight hundred years later, after Wu Xie¡¯s initial departure.


    At that time, Wu Xie¡¯s cultivation was at the peak of the Empyrean Hun realm...

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7: Collect These Ingredients


    ________


    Being Huang Xue¡¯s first disciple, Wu Xie was naturally a being of world shaking identity and talent.


    His cultivation speed was much faster and his foundation was even more solid than his two junior brothers and his junior sister, whom were all considered monstrous geniuses of the old generation. If not for Wu Xie being uninterested in being the Sect Master of the Godly Supreme Sect, the previous Huang Xue would have long given his seat to his first disciple.


    However, it was unknown where this genius was exactly right now¡­


    Huang Xue pondered for a moment and asked: ¡°Did you not attempt to seek out your senior brothers for help when our Godly Supreme Hall was being suppressed? How come you still haven¡¯t pinpointed their whereabouts even now?¡±


    Yue Jing looked down, and then helplessly replied: ¡°I have indeed tried to look for my senior brothers, master. But these brothers of mine were simply too powerful. With me being the youngest and having the weakest talent out of the four, I could only at best find out where they had been, and not where they exactly were at the time. I am powerless to keep watch on every single one of their moves¡­¡±


    ¡°Then do you have any idea where they might be now?¡± Huang Xue asked.


    Yue Jing hesitated for a second, then replied: ¡°Third senior brother should still be somewhere in the Deathly Flames Wasteland, while second brother was last seen  entering the Draconic Twilight Ruins two years ago. As for eldest brother¡­¡±


    There was a slight pause before Yue Jing continued: ¡°¡­As for eldest brother, I haven¡¯t heard from him for one hundred and eighty-seven years already. The last time place the scouts reported seeing him enter was¡­the Xun Empire.¡±


    Huang Xue thought for a moment and found that in his memories, the Xun Empire was located east of the Jin Han Empire, a neighboring country. It was considered a bit larger in land size compared to the Empire he was currently in.


    But land size was the only near similarity between the two.


    When it came to military strength and wealth, the Xun Empire was all above the Jin Han Empire. It was a place filled with greater opportunities, but equally greater dangers as well. Given Wu Xie¡¯s stubborn personality in Huang Xie¡¯s mind, it was not hard to imagine his disciple wanting to explores such an opportunistic place.


    ¡°Damn, to think you wouldn¡¯t even give your disciples a way to contact you..¡± Huang Xue cursed in frustration at the previous host in his mind.


    Because the previous Huang Xue was extremely confident in his disciples abilities, he did not bother giving them a special talisman or item that would allow them to contact him, nor for him to find them. This was based on his reasoning of ¡°letting his disciples experience the dangers of the world without relying on an ounce of his help.¡± He even opted to not place anything on his disciples that would allow him to keep track of them either, as the previous Huang Xue feared that he himself may be unable to contain himself and go help his disciples at every turn of danger¡­


    ¡°What kind of logic did this old mortal even have. This is simply too frustrating!¡± Huang Xue thought as he closed his eyes. Perhaps only relying on his four disciples to help him was not a wise decision. It was unclear if these four devoted individuals would even want to hurt him when the time comes, regardless if Huang Xue chose to fight them to the death or not. The situation and possibilities were becoming more and more complicated in Huang Xue¡¯s mind.


    Huang Xue sighed as he said: ¡°Alright. I have understood the gist of everything now. You may leave for now. I will call you back when I have made my decision on what steps to take.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Yue Jing bowed as she transformed into a streak of violet light and left the room.


    Only Huang Xue was left alone now. Walking somewhat wearily back to his throne, Huang Xue sat down as he propped his left elbow on the black table next to him, resting the side of his head on top of his left fist.


    ¡°Huuu¡­¡± Huang Xue took a deep breath and closed his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s not make this more complicated than it already is. I must keep my calm and not rush things. One of the Sheng Dao of Fate¡¯s teaching is ¡®what tribulation that¡¯s bound to befall shall befall no matter what.¡¯ If I¡¯m destined to be unable to make it back or if the Imperial Dynasty was truly unable to avoid a disaster, then there nothing I could have done! I must rethink my plans¡­¡±


    After several long moments of silence, Huang Xue¡¯s eyes suddenly opened as a clear radiance was present in them now. Slowly standing up from his seat, Huang Xue walked over and stood near an open window, looking out.


    ¡°Mmn. I should follow the flow for now. If I could find the materials that will allow me to try for another breakthrough into the God Martial Realm, then I will do so. If not, then I will continue to stay in my current realm while trying to suppress this curse inside of me.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    In the meantime, perhaps training my four disciples a bit more until they¡¯re able to compete or even surpass this body¡¯s owner should be my goal as well. Finding new ones may not sound like a bad idea either. This way, even if I am consumed there should be some people here who may be able to stop me¡­¡±


    A solemn light glowed eerily within Huang Xue¡¯s eyes when he thought towards the end. While he did not like considering his own demise, it was inevitable. The ancient curse was simply too powerful, and even though Huang Xue was confident in his own ability, he was unable to guarantee he could dispel the poison. Even now, he had no methods to suppress the curse within his mortal body. As it is going now, in about a thousand years, Huang Xue would be completely devoured by the curse¡­


    As for reaching the God Martial Realm? That would require many precious ingredients and special methods for his ¡®damaged¡¯ body. And even then, it was not guaranteed that the curse could be removed. At best, it¡¯ll only serve to extend his life time until he finds a method of cure!


    Turning around, Huang Xue strode over to a shelf and pulled out two blank scrolls. Walking back to the black desk, picking up a brush that was placed nearby, Huang Xue began to write down two separate long list of words.


    Several long moments passed. When he was finished, Huang Xue lifted up his head and called out for Yue Jing in a semi-loud voice, just enough for the sound to fill the entire spacious room he was in.


    This time, a violet light almost immediately shot in front of Huang Xue as it materialized to reveal Yue Jing.


    ¡°Your disciple is here, master!¡± Yue Jing respectfully bowed as she waited on Huang Xue¡¯s instructions.


    ¡°I have decided for the time being to stay my hand, meaning you should not tell anyone else that I¡¯ve returned yet.¡± Huang Xue said.


    He was not worry about informants or spies from other Sects already knowing about his emergence from seclusion. Being an ancestral level figure in this world, just how many people could ¡®keep watch¡¯ on him?


    It was because the other two grand Sects knew this, that they did not send anyone to keep station near Huang Xue¡¯s Song Palace to keep tabs on him. If the Huang Xue had wanted to leave without being detected, it was, but a simple task for someone like him!


    ¡°Eh? Then¡­how should the other matters be¡­¡± Yue Jing asked with uncertainty. She did not expect her master to have this response, and wanting to keep a low profile at this time.


    Huang Xue walked over to Yue Jing and gently patted her head, as would a father to his daughter. ¡°Do not be impatient, Yue¡¯er. If what you have told me all correct, then it is only the elders and disciples of the other two grand sects who are causing trouble. As long as the Sect Masters and Ancestors of their factions don¡¯t personally make a move, then it¡¯s merely a struggle between the younger generations.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Yue Jing murmured as a light pink color surfaced on her face. Even now her master was still kind and doted on her, but her desire to avenge the school¡¯s elders and disciples was still stubbornly burning.


    It has to be known that the ones who had died in the power struggle were ones of her closer friends and students. It was not easy to forgive those who have hurt what¡¯s important to you after all.


    ¡°¡­Is what an elder like me should say, however the other parties have crossed the line this time around.¡± Huang Xue¡¯s voice suddenly rang out coldly.


    ¡°If our disciple had died by the hands of another sect¡¯s disciple, then that could only be blamed on their powerlessness. But if an older generation had interfered and led to the death of our disciple¡­then I cannot sit idly by. Yue¡¯er, you are certain that it was this Great Elder Fang De from the Sacred Demon Sect and that Elder Gan Long of the Eternal Sword Spirit Palace, who killed our elders and disciples?¡±


    Yue Jing, who was extremely delighted that her hope may now possibly be achieved, immediately responded: ¡°It is certainly true, master! It was those two seniors who had interfered in the battle between our core disciples and their own. Just when our students were winning, the other sides interrupted the battle and even injured several of our people. In the end, a fight erupted resulting in the deaths of three elders and two core disciples on our side. We have several surviving disciples, elders, and even a few present bystanders, who could testify to this!¡±


    Huang Xue nodded slowly as he stroked his white beard. From his host¡¯s memories, Huang Xue knew about these two executives from the grand sects. Although Huang Xue had never talked to them personally, or even cared to, he had seen them a few times during important gatherings and heard several ill rumors about those two in reports.


    There should be nothing wrong with taking care of a few trashes¡­

 Chapter 8

    Note: Some people have worried that the story plot will stagnate because the MC is plainly too "OP" currently. So I''ll drop a vague hint: ¡°There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.¡± Or would "don''t take outer appearances for granted" be a better one? Lol


    Anyways, I encourage the readers to read on, as the plot is naturally broken into several chapters. Therefore, this story may be somewhat of a slow start...Please at least bear with it for 20+ chapters before you review/rate it; as not many pieces have assembled yet hur hur hur.


    ________________________________________________________________________


    Chapter 8: Qiao Sui


    ________


    ¡°Alright, I understand now. Just leave this matter to me. At the end of day, they¡¯re merely elders of a big sect. Without the two old fogies interfering, those people are basically worthless.¡± Huang Xue said in a calm voice.


    ¡°Thank you, honored master!¡± Yue Jing smiled and bowed in respect. Happiness was dancing wildly in her heart.


    ¡°Mmn. In the meantime, I¡¯ll have you dispatch people to look for these two lists of ingredients.¡± Huang Xue said as he passed Yue Jing the two scrolls.


    Receiving the scrolls, Yue Jing opened them and read through the contents. ¡°Master, these are¡­?¡±


    ¡°Ingredients for two special things that would help with my cultivation. After reaching the Immortal Sovereign realm, I¡¯ve been met with a bottleneck, so I am attempting to create two items that could allow me to break through.¡± Huang Xue explained. With half being lies and the other half being truths, Huang Xue did not want to reveal his entire agenda --he had to take his current host¡¯s situation into perspective.


    Even if he wanted to run amok and do things as he wished, Huang Xue had to taken his body and its surrounding current situations into consideration as to avoid racking up negative Karmas.


    ¡°I understand now, master. For the first list, while the thirty ingredients master listed are rare, they are not impossible for our Hall to procure. I can immediately arrange some trusted people to get them within two days.¡± Yue Jing said as she turned to read the second list, a frown slowly surfacing on her face.


    ¡°As for master¡¯s other request, the twelve ingredients you listed are exceedingly priceless...especially the mythical ¡®Immortal Phoenix Feather¡¯, For these materials, it may very well take up to several hundreds or even thousands of years, depending on their availability and our luck¡­¡±


    Huang Xue smiled and said: ¡°That is fine. I do not expect that ingredients such as the Heavenly Blood Lotus flower or the Drunken Dragon Heart, that I wrote on the second scroll would be that easily obtained. I have several thousand years of lifespan left, so a little wait is not an issue. I will also be in search of those ingredients as well. It is the first list of materials that I deem most important right now.¡±


    Yue Jing bowed and said: ¡°I will definitely strive to fulfill master¡¯s wish!¡±


    Huang Xue stroked his long beard as he walked over to an open window. ¡°I will await for your good news then...after I return from a small ¡®trip¡¯.¡±


    With a flicker of his body, Huang Xue¡¯s body instantly transformed into a streak of golden light and shot off into the distant dying, orange sky.


    After a while, Yue Jing slowly straighten her body as she looked lovingly at the outside sky. Thinking back, Yue Jing felt that there was a strange feeling of familiarity, yet unfamiliarity, when she met her master.  The same face, aura, and even actions; however there was slight deviation in personality¡­


    She was sure that her master was not the type to show his excited emotions frequently, as it was rare for Yue Jing to see her master being serious or even angry at anything. Song Huang Xue was always gentle and seemingly uncaring of the world. That the type of man her master was, but Yue Jing felt like this was not the case anymore.


    ¡°Did something happen to master while he was training that could have changed his worldly perspective and even his personality?¡± Yue Jing thought to herself as she prepared to leave.


    However, she was not that against this new aspect to her master¡¯s personality --she liked this determined and ¡®lively¡¯ master, if Yue Jing were to have described Huang Xue now.


    A violet light flashed for a brief moment, before the room once again descended into complete silence, void of life and presence¡­


    ***


    Seven days after Huang Xue left the Head Martial Tower, in a distant neighboring country west of the Jin Han Empire, a small province laid peacefully among its seventeen counterparts.


    This province was called the ¡®Cao Province¡¯, being apart of the large Yuan Empire, a country that was only slightly smaller than the Jin Han Empire. The Yuan Empire was also home to one of the Three Absolute Grand Sects, the Eternal Sword Spirit Palace.


    The Cao Province was littered with many small cities. At this moment, in one of such cities named ¡®Small Leaf City¡¯, at a particularly large backyard of a house situated in the upper parts of Cao Province, a group of ten youths had their bodies bent low in a horse stance.


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    (Author: Horse stance = https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a4/ee/8c/a4ee8c12749f7d8d09bdf639fb4aabf3.jpg</a> )


    There were six boys and four girls, each looking to be fourteen or fifteen years old. The perfect age to be considered an adult in this world, where fourteen years olds were already being married off in rural villages across the continent. In front of the youths, a middle-aged man with graying hair wearing a silk cyan robe was patiently instructing them. The man looked ordinary, with no unique points to his appearance of beady eyes and wrinkled face. He watched over the youths¡¯ training with his hands behind his back.


    On the chest of his clothes, there was a crest showing three golden swords side-by-side pointing downward. The middle sword was the longest, and behind all three sword symbols, a wing was spread wide open; this gave the crest a majestic feeling to those who saw the crest.


    Each youth who was training, lashed out a fist in a monotonous rhythm, left fist, right fist, left fist, then right fist again. Over and over, they continued this exercise until sweats were pouring from their pores, while the sun beamed down hotly upon them.


    Soon, one by one the youths began to drop out as they either fell on the ground or stood up in resignation. This continued until only a single girl was left.


    The long black-haired young girl had a shapely porcelain face, and wore a light pink dress. Her budding body was slim, toned and refined after years of training and healthy nourishment. It could easily be said that this girl, if given enough time to fully grow, would blossom into a mesmerizing flower that could topple great cities.


    Beads of sweat rolled down the side of her head, as she tried to maintain her posture. In the end, giving in to the strains of her knees, the girl fell backward on her bottom. Seeing that all the students had finished, the middle-aged man smiled and walked over to the pink dressed girl, who had stood up and was patting the dust off her back.


    Reaching out with his wrinkled hands, the middle-aged man stroked the young girl¡¯s hair back as he said in a gentle voice: ¡°Qiao¡¯er, are you alright? You have done an excellent job hanging on so long.¡±


    The girl named ¡®Qiao¡¯er¡¯, whose full name was Qiao Sui, smiled like a blooming flower at the elder¡¯s gesture and replied: ¡°Thank you for worrying about me, Elder Gan! I am fine, just a little sore now.¡±


    The middle-aged man called ¡®Elder Gan¡¯ nodded his head as he said: ¡°Mmn, But remember not to overwork yourself continuously. Otherwise, you may do more harm to your body than not.¡±


    When the elder said this, Qiao Sui did not notice Elder Gan looking over her body, as if he was appraising her like an item. When she looked up to acknowledge the latter¡¯s guidance, the elder was already looking back at her with gentle eyes like river.


    The elder turned to face the other youths lying around before he said in a sudden stern voice:


    ¡°Alright, everyone quickly get up and gather in front of me. Today, I will be teaching you all about how to breakthrough to the next stage of your cultivation!¡±


    Hearing this, the youths hurriedly gathered themselves as they went to sit down in front of Elder Gan. Excitement was plastered on their face as they looked at the elder in anticipation. Qiao Sui also promptly sat down, though with less enthusiasm as the other youths.


    A faint smirk surfaced on Elder Gan¡¯s face for a brief second before disappearing. In a gruff voice, he observed the youths around and began:


    ¡°All of you must strive to be like Qiao Sui. Even though ten years old is the best age to start training, take a look at Qiao Sui, after only four years of training, she is already now in the 6th stage of the Temporal Di realm while you all are still giving off the aura of merely that of the 4th stage! The first realm is the easiest to overcome, as it only requires one to train one¡¯s body to surpass its limit. You are simply tempering the body itself!¡±


    Some of the students lowered their head in shame while others looked over at Qiao Sui in envy. On the martial arts road, the Temporal Di realm is truly nothing. Everyone was considered to beat this level, even most commoners, as this could be said to the be realm of the "slightly better" ordinary people. And as long as there was not a huge gap in cultivation, one would be able to sense other''s cultivation level through the aura they emanate.


    To become acknowledged as cultivator, they had to first reach the Jie Hai realm, where their body would have become strong enough to start learning martial arts techniques and Qi condensation!

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9: Who Dares?


    _________


    To become acknowledged as cultivator, they had to first reach the Jie Hai realm, where their body would have become strong enough to start learning martial arts techniques and Qi condensation!


    Elder Gan paused to looked around before he continued: ¡°However, I will be teaching you all some more methods to help train your body so that you can quickly break through to the Jie Hai realm in the future! While Temporal Di realm is merely training the body, there are many methods of going about this. Since at this stage, the amount of earthly energies you can absorb is little, I will pass on a body refinement manual for everyone to use. If you diligently practice it, then even after you have broken through to Jie Hai realm and open a ¡®sea¡¯ in your Dantian, you could continue using it to help you develop further!


    In the Jie Hai realm, the goals would be for you to start comprehending profound arts, absorbing even more earthly energies, known formally as Earthly Qi, around you and assimilating your ¡®sea of life force¡¯ called the ¡®Dantian¡¯. Once you¡¯re in the Jie Hai realm, your dantian should host something similar to a body of water, and by assimilating more Earthly Qi into it, you can expand that water and turn it truly into a sea.


    The next step would be to completely stabilize your dantian and harmonize it with your body. Only by doing so, could you hope to grow stronger and possess a stable foundation, enabling you to use the Qi inside your body without having it be used up so easily. Breakthroughs then, would also be much easier!


    As for the Tian realm, unless you are as talented as Qiao Sui, you better either hope for a fortuitous opportunity in the future or train like a madman for the rest of your life!¡±


    A few of the youths who heard this unconsciously clenched their fists tightly as unwillingness flashed in their eyes. With fourteen years old already being considered an adult, it was natural that these children had grew up much faster. At ages fourteen or fifteen, they already understood the value of greater strength with some even dabbling in the arts of scheme and tricks¡­


    ¡°But there is no harm in telling you juniors the mystic of the Tian realm.¡± Elder Gan continued, a faint sneer now evident on his face. ¡°Tian realm practitioners rely on absorbing the Heaven Qi, rather than Earth Qi, to cultivate their Qigong and body. While Earth Qi comes from the soil and earth beneath us, Heaven Qi is the product of the sky and vast heaven itself. Only those who¡¯ve entered the Tian realm could detect this special Qi, just like how only those who¡¯ve reached the Jie Hai realm could feel the Earth Qi around them!


    Upon breaking through into the Tian realm, one would create a ¡°sky¡± inside one¡¯s Dantian. With a sky and sea, the amount of power that person could wield than would naturally be much greater, in both power and Qi volume!


    As one ascends higher and higher on the path of cultivation, the harder it is for them to breakthrough. Hehe, for you people, if you could reach the Jie Hai realm by the age of sixteen, that could already be considered pretty good!¡±


    The youths all continued to patiently listen to Elder Gan lecture on about cultivation. Only Qiao Sui seemed a bit restless as her eyes wandered from the elder¡¯s face to her surrounding¡­


    At the end of the lecture, Elder Gan dismissed the youths and had them return to their room. As Qiao Sui was getting up from the ground, an aged voice suddenly ran out from behind her. ¡°Qiao¡¯er, you stay behind and come with me for a brief walk.¡±


    Qiao Sui froze and slowly turned to face Elder Gan. ¡°Elder, you wish to talk to me about something? Can we not talk about it here, since everyone else have left¡­?¡±  There was a subtle tone of reluctance and alarm in her voice.


    Elder Gan had on a smile that was not quite a smile on his face, as he replied: ¡°No, this place will not do. I wish to be completely alone with you to discuss some matters about your future. Come, less talking and follow me.¡±


    When he finished saying this, the elder suddenly reached out and took hold of Qiao Sui¡¯s slender wrist. Before Qiao Sui could say anything further, Elder Gan leaped into the air while holding her, and flew towards the forest area north of his current location. Qiao Sui, who experienced this feeling of flying in the sky for the first time, could only hang on tight to Elder Gan¡¯s hand as the city grew more and more distant.


    An uneasy feeling was now beginning to be born in Qiao Sui¡¯s heart.


    After an unknown amount of time, Elder Gan suddenly began to descend towards the patches of thick forests below. Landing on a rough, open ground, Elder Gan let go Qiao Sui¡¯s wrists as the latter timidly retreated backwards several steps, until there was a large distance between the two. A moment of silence ensued.


    Without around to face Qiao Sui, the elder broke the silence and asked in a rather deep, low voice: ¡°Qiao¡¯er, do you know why I¡¯ve brought you here and what I wanted to speak to you about?¡±


    There not a shred of gentleness in the elder¡¯s tone now, only coldness without emotions.


    Qiao Sui hesitated for a while, before she replied: ¡°I do not know, Elder Gan. Were we...not just going for a brief walk?¡±


    Ever since Qiao Sui was picked off the streets as an orphan by this middle-aged man who only called himself Elder Gan, the girl had always felt something was wrong. Four years ago, she was just a commoner wandering the streets of Tao City of the Yellow Province, one of the eighteen provinces in the Yuan Empire.


    Qiao Sui had never met her parents as she was already in the streets when she was just a baby. However, strangely she had no memories of her time since young. She only knew she was an orphan at the age of six. Other than that, everything else was fuzzy...


    But one day, she was taken in by Elder Gan who had told her that she was a ¡®perfect material¡¯ for practicing martial arts and that he would help her if she wanted him to. Naturally, given Qiao Sui¡¯s tender age and desire to be free of hunger, she accepted the elder¡¯s offer and became a student under him.


    After being taken to the elder¡¯s residence in another province, Qiao Sui came to meet fourteen other orphans who were also taken in by Elder Gan. And upon getting to know them, Qiao Sui found out that they were all from a different province and city. While this was nothing at first, Qiao Sui began to slowly pick up on the elder¡¯s strange habits. With her experiences of living on the dangerous streets since she was very young, Qiao Sui had quickly gain the ability to read other people¡¯s facial expressions and words to determine if the other party had any malicious intentions. She had to be quick-witted.


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    As such, Qiao Sui had noticed the changes in the elder¡¯s attitudes over the years. At first, Elder Gan had treated everyone equally and did not play favorites. However, as some of the youths began to show greater talent in cultivation, he began to pay more attention to those students. His attitude would be extremely gentle and he would spend more time assisting those talented students. For the others, he would often ignore them or give them less guidance.


    Even more strangely, the elder would not allow the children to call him ¡®master¡¯ or say that they were his ¡®disciples¡¯. Instead, everyone was to call him ¡®Elder Gan¡¯, and was instructed to only say that they were his ¡®trial students.¡¯


    While Qiao Sui could tell that the elder was faking his emotions most of the time, she was not that worried as Elder Gan had been treating the orphans relatively well compared to her past living conditions. However, soon, students began to disappear one after another.


    The ones who disappeared were the most talented ones whom Elder Gan had directly nourished. And each time one disappeared, Elder Gan would say that he had sent the student off to a cultivation sect for further training, and then encourage the other youths to work harder. But when Qiao Sui secretly investigated the house, she found that many of the clothes and items that the other youths previously had were not taken with them. There was even a presumed family heirloom of a student who supposedly ¡®left for a sect¡¯, that was left behind.


    When Qiao Sui came to realize that something was wrong since that day, she had began to desperately find a way to escape the residence. However, it was as if Elder Gan had eyes behind his back, every movement that Qiao Sui made outside at night was known to the elder. She could not escape. Thus, she resorted to slowing down her training in order to not catch the elder¡¯s eyes. But unfortunately, in the end Elder Gan had still set his eyes on her.


    And now, after a series of futile attempt for two years, Qiao Sui was now brought to an unfamiliar place by the very person she had wanted to avoid¡­


    ¡°Go for a walk? Hahaha¡­¡± Elder Gan chuckled as he finally turned around to face Qiao Sui. There was a mocking look in his eyes as the elder¡¯s face was distorted in a hideous grin. Looking at him now, Qiao Sui could feel a biting shiver down her back.


    ¡°Qiao¡¯er, ah, Qiao¡¯er. You are quite the clever girl, but it is unfortunate that you were born in this era where the strong ones are the favored children of heaven. You are the fourth person to catch on¡­¡± Elder Gan said in a calm, low voice.


    ¡°E-Eh? What are you speaking about Elder Gan? I really do not understand¡­¡± Qiao Sui stammered as her face turned pale. The uneasy feeling in her heart had now blossomed into full-on panic and fear.


    Elder Gan shook his head as he said: ¡°It does not matter whether you are pretending or not at this point. Although I wanted to wait a little while longer, I simply cannot hold on any longer.¡±


    When Elder Gan lifted his head to look at Qiao Sui again, there was now a pair of bloodshot eyes glaring at the latter. An expression of madness replaced the elder¡¯s original gentle appearance.


    ¡°Once I kill you and eat your entire flesh body and drink your blood, I will be able to further refine my own body. Ke ke ke, and to think you had a Divine Lotus Constitution, too! If not for the signs of your innate potential appearing this late, I would¡¯ve longed refined your body first!¡± Elder Gan growled lowly as a malicious grin stretched back his face.


    An evil and oppressive aura burst forth from Elder Gan¡¯s body, causing Qiao Sui to fall forward to the ground and spit out a mouthful of blood. Although Qiao Sui did not know what level of cultivation Elder Gan had reached, she had always known that the other party was extremely powerful. And in front of such being, Qiao Sui was utterly helpless. She could not even speak a single word under the tremendous strain.


    ¡°Ke ke ke! Ke ke ke! Finally! Once I refine you, I can finally attempt to breakthrough to the Empyrean Hun realm! Ke ke ke! Come here now!¡± Elder Gan crazily laughed as he reached out and grabbed the air. A suction force appeared and propelled Qiao Sui¡¯s powerless body towards the elder¡¯s right hand.


    ¡°Am I really going to die..?¡± Qiao Sui could not help but feel a sense of regret and unwillingness in her heart. To think she had jumped from the frying pan and right into the fire, thinking that her life would finally turn around...in the end, it was just another fool¡¯s dream. However, she refused to let despair show on her face. She did not wish to back down until everything was truly over...


    Qiao Sui stubbornly glared at the elder, weakly straining and willing her entire body to stop, as she was pulled closer and closer to Elder Gan...


    Just as Qiao Sui was about to land into the elder¡¯s clutches, a sudden aura descended from the sky. The power was different from Elder Gan¡¯s and was able to easily sever the elder¡¯s suction force. At this, Qiao Sui¡¯s body stopped moving forward abruptly as she fell to the floor, while Elder Gan quickly retreated a few steps back. Rage and shock colored his face as he surveyed the sky and shouted:


    ¡°Who is it?! Who dares to interrupt me?!¡±


    In response, a slit appeared in the clear blue sky as it slowly opened inward. An ancient and profound aura suddenly seeped out from the gap in the sky as an echoing voice sounded out from within.


    ¡°I¡¯ve finally found you, the one surnamed Gan. To dare practice a taboo art and act so impudent in front of me, you are very good -- very good indeed!¡±

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10: The White-Haired Youth


    ____________


    Seeing the abnormal scene and feeling the enormous presence that was coming from within the gap in the sky, Elder Gan¡¯s originally angered mind cleared as he realized the hidden danger. And upon hearing the speaker talk about ¡®taboo arts¡¯, Elder Gan¡¯s face became pale as he glared at the sky.


    Adjusting his attitude, Elder Gan gave a bow and cupped his hands towards the sky as he said:


    ¡°This little one apologizes for I had offended senior! I was too rash in my actions, and I hope a great senior like you would spare a minor character like me. As for taboo arts, senior is correct. I am practicing this, but can you blame me for wanting more strength to last in this cruel world? I am sure this senior can relate. If great senior could kindly overlook this matter, as an elder of the Eternal Sword Spirit Palace, I will be forever be indebted to you!¡±


    Elder Gan said the last line with greater emphasis, as he understood the deterrence strength of being in one of the Three Absolute Grand Sects. Even experts who were much stronger than him would not so much as dare touch a single hair on his body once they found out that he was from the Eternal Sword Spirit Palace! In front of the mammoth-like power behind him, even peerless geniuses would have to tone themselves down before him!


    Seeing that there was no further response from the other senior, Elder Gan quickly went forward and took out a cyan bag from his sleeve. The bag looked rather expensive,with several symbols drawn on it. This was known as a Cosmic bag, a dimensional tool used to store a plethora of items. They were often categorized into colors, differentiating the amount of space they had.


    Brown had 1 cubic meters of space, silver had 10 cubic meters, blue had 50 cubic meters, cyan had 100 cubic meters, and gold had 300 cubic meters of space!


    There were even ring versions of this artifact, and other variations to it. These cosmic bags were collectively considered Common-grade treasures due to it being widely distributed. After all, cultivators were always carrying large amount of items with them on their dangerous journeys, therefore they naturally require something that could store equally large amount of items to conveniently carry with them.


    Pulling out a long sword from his cosmic bag, Elder Gan held the sword flatly using both of his hands as he raised it above his head in an offering stance.


    ¡°If wise senior is willingly to look the other way this one time, this one is willingly to gift this King-grade Sky Destruction Sword to you,¡± Elder Gan felt his heart ache as he said this.


    Even for a sect elder like him, the King-grade weapon could already be considered his entire fortune and heirloom. He had kept this artifact a secret from others, as the allure of such treasure was quite large. Even in the Three Absolute Grand Sects, a King-grade item was still considered an extremely decent treasure!


    But there was no other choice. Faced with a possible mean to breakthrough and to keep his secrets, Elder Gan decided to give up this secret on his own. While he could not retrieve his sword back on his own, if he were to curry a few favors from some of the stronger elders or even a Great Elder of his Sect and manipulate some information around then¡­


    As Elder Gan¡¯s thoughts trailed off in this direction, he felt much better as he smiled darkly with his head lowered. He had both an extreme confidence and fear toward the upper echelon of the Eternal Sword Spirit Palace, knowing that their power was unfathomable. He believed those elders would definitely be comparable to the mysterious senior before him, thus Elder Gan trusted he could definitely retrieve what was originally his one day¡­


    However, his thought stopped there when suddenly, a golden light shot out from the rift in the sky and streaked straight towards him! With no time to avoid, the light landed on the Sky Destruction Sword that Elder Gan used to defend himself with...and easily shattered apart the sword after a brief moment of friction!


    *Poof!*


    Elder Gan spat out a mouthful of blood as his body flew backward from the impact. Although the Sky Destruction Sword absorbed most of the attack and shattered as a result, it would not completely block the power behind it. The remaining energy in the attack was still enough to heavily injure Elder Gan.


    Landing on the ground, his hair disheveled and his face pale, Elder Gan flipped to his side and coughed up another mouthful of blood. He could feel that several bones inside his body had already been fractured by that initial attack. A cold feeling began to creep up Elder Gan¡¯s back as slowly turned to look at the gap in the sky.


    Rather than getting angry, Elder Gan could only feel endless fear as he watched someone emerge from within the rift. From that last attack, Elder Gan knew his opponent this time was simply of another league. To be able to effortlessly break a tough King-grade weapon and still severely injure him like this...even in his Eternal Sword Spirit Palace, perhaps only the Sect Master could wield such might!


    Before Elder Gan watched in trepidation as a white-haired youth stepped out from within the rift. Wearing a silky black robe with faint golden dragon outlines on it, the youth stood silently in the sky as the dimensional gap closed behind him. The youth had an exceptionally attractive facial appearance, with thick eyebrows, straight nose, and sharp clear eyes; his long snow-white hair flowed in the air, weightless.


    The white-haired young man looked down at Elder Gan in disdain as he spoke, his tone sounding youthful yet imbued with a sort of unspoken charisma:


    ¡°Gan Long, to dare act unlawfully in front of me, you are simply seeking your death! With this, there is truly no more reasons to spare you anymore. Breaking laws and killing young juniors, I will personally send you on your way soon!¡±


    ¡®Elder Gan¡¯, or to be more precisely named, Gan Long, felt his heart go cold at the black-robed youth¡¯s words. This person had actually recognized him...it seems that the other party had no intention to let him off!


    Gan Long slowly gathered the Dao of Light towards his body as he attempted to heal himself. At the same time, he was revolved the energy from the Wind Dao in his legs. Upon reaching a certain realm, cultivators would start to assimilate into the energy of Dao --to not only absorb and mimic the elements, but to be able to control them.


    While Gan Long¡¯s mind raced with several ideas to escape this tribulation, the white-haired youth turned and slowly floated down, landing in front of Qiao Sui who was still in shock on the ground.


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    Qiao Sui looked at the handsome youth in front of her as she felt her heart tremble. The young man simply seemed unreal, as if he was from a painting...a painting of Celestials. She could not take her eyes off of him.


    ¡°Little girl,are you alright?¡± The white-haired youth smiled and asked. He had caught a brief excerpt of the scene where Qiao Sui had bravely struggled against her overwhelming opponent. For people like that, regardless male or female, young or old, strong or weak --they are worthy of his attention and respect! The girl had given him a positive impression.


    Hearing the youth¡¯s question, Qiao Sui quickly snapped out of her dazed thoughts as she replied hastily:


    ¡°Eh? Uh, I, I am fine! It¡¯s n-nothing¡­¡± Qiao Sui¡¯s voice start to fade as she felt a burning sensation welling up in her cheeks. Having the white-haired youth look directly at her, Qiao Sui could not help but lower her head in embarrassment.


    ¡°Just what is wrong with me¡­¡± Qiao Sui thought as she felt her heart beating in eccentric rhythms. This has never happened before. To think she¡¯ll act like this even after narrowly escaping death¡­


    The white-haired youth did not seem to mind as he said in a gentle voice: ¡°Be at ease. You are safe now.¡±


    Safe¡­.


    Qiao Sui began to recall her past struggles and near-death experiences as a sort of mixed emotions floated up in her heart. No one has ever told her that she is ¡®safe¡¯ now. No one had the confidence to say so in this kind of world anymore.


    ¡°Take this. You should escape far away from here as soon as possible. If you have family then you must quickly return to get them.¡± The white-haired youth said.


    ¡°I...I don¡¯t have any family members. I¡¯m only an o-orphan..¡± Qiao Sui felt her face burn even more when she said this. She knew how orphans were often looked down upon by the general masses, but she felt a strangely compelled to tell this youth in front of her¡­


    ¡°Mmn. If that is so, then you should leave now, then. Unfortunately, I will be unable to accompany you, as I have...some things to take care of.¡± The white-haired youth said calmly, without a change in his expression. Seeing that the other youth did not seem to mind her status, Qiao Sui felt a small burst of happiness out of nowhere.


    ¡°Here, take this Million Miles Teleportation Talisman. Place it on your forehead and think of location name. It will then teleport you to that place if it¡¯s within a million miles of distance. Use this to travel far away from the Yuan Empire and start a new life. Even if you¡¯re an orphan, the world¡¯s laws are mysterious. You may never know if one day you¡¯ll end up at a height you could not have imagined. You just need to dream and continue to train hard.¡± The white-haired youth continued in a soothing voice, while he handed Qiao Sui a yellow, rectangular shaped paper decorated with red symbol markings and a light blue cosmic bag.


    A Million Miles Talisman was exceedingly precious, and very few would be able to procure such item. Out of all the normal teleportation talismans, the Million Miles Talismans were ranked within the very top due to its vast outreach and convenience!


    ¡°I...I¡­¡± Qiao Sui wanted to tell the other youth that she wanted to go with him. However, when she made eye contact with him, she recognized the determined glow in the white-haired youth¡¯s eyes. The other party really did not want her to stay.


    In the end, Qiao Sui could only keep the words to herself and obediently place the talisman to her head. But she found that she could not think of a place outside of the Yuan Empire. All of her life was spent living in a small province in the Empire, and being an orphan meant she did not possess the proper education about the world as other children her age.


    As Qiao Sui struggled to think of something, the white-haired youth seemed to realize this as he made a suggestion: ¡°How about you go to SunFlower City for the time being? It¡¯s located in the Chu Province of the Zhao Country. The power there is pretty stable, so it should be relatively safe to live there without much trouble. Inside the bag I¡¯ve given you, there should around a million Qi Stones. With that much, you do not have to worry about resources or living somewhere for quite some time. Even going to a Sect for study should be possible as well; with your Divine Lotus Constitution, I¡¯m sure many factions would be more than happy to take you in.¡±


    Qi Stones are materials that were not only used as the standard currency for trade in this world, but also as a source of training resource for cultivators. Especially when one reaches the Jie Hai realm, where absorbing the Earthly Qi around oneself becomes a crucial method of strength enhancement.


    A single Qi Stone contained a densely clustered volume of a different kind of energy, called Natural Qi. This was a universal energy that could help with one¡¯s cultivation, regardless what type of energy they cultivated, as long as one was below the Immortal Sovereign Realm!


    Moreover, absorbing Natural Qi from the air was possible. However, the process was much slower compared to if a cultivator was to focus on absorbing the type of required energy for their realm, such as how a Jie Hai practitioner would need to take in Earthly QI to level up. The reason was due to the extra stress of having to pinpoint this subtle type of universal energy in the air, which causes the cultivators to continuously drain their own Qi reserve while ending up with little benefits.


    But having Qi Stones that naturally gathered the Natural Qi inside it, and that could easily be mined from the veins of the earth while at the same time serve as a currency --the benefits would obviously be greater!


    The average annual,12 months, income for normal households were 63,000 Qi Stones, or 5,250 Qi stones per lunar month.


    And now, Qiao Sui had actually received a sum that was several times that of others'' earning! After being numbed for a while, Qiao Sui quickly snapped back to reality as she thought of something.


    ¡°What...is this Divine Lotus Constitution exactly?¡± Qiao Sui suddenly asked with curiosity.


    She had heard Elder Gan mention it previously, but while she knew it was something rare, she did not possess enough knowledge to understand what exactly it was.

 Chapter 11

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    Chapter 11: Divine Lotus Constitution


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    ¡°What...is this Divine Lotus Constitution exactly?¡± Qiao Sui suddenly asked with curiosity.


    She had heard Elder Gan mention it previously, but while she knew it was something rare, she did not possess enough knowledge to understand what exactly it was.


    The white-haired youth smiled and explained: ¡°Your Divine Lotus Constitution is a rare body physique that should only be seen once every a hundred thousand years. It¡¯s one of the eighteen Divine Constitutions, and is immensely regarded in the Fen Shui Continent. Users of such constitution possess extreme cultivation speed, being able to absorb the energy in the air around them at a much quicker rate and being able to connect with the mysterious laws around them easier.


    In other words, these beings are typically referred to as the ¡®Chosen Children of Heaven¡¯. None of the people who had a Divine Constitution was an ordinary figure in the martial world.¡±


    Qiao Sui¡¯s eyes widened in wonder and shock when she heard the white-haired youth¡¯s words. She actually such a legendary physique?!


    Qiao Sui sank into her own thoughts as she wondered about her parents whom she had never saw.


    Could her body have been gifted from her parents? But if so, then that meant her parents must have been quite powerful. Why would her parents have abandoned her when she was still a baby? How did she survive up until now? Why can¡¯t she remember anything earlier than the age of six? Or was her current gift a mere fluke from the heavens?


    A pain buzzed in her head, as Qiao Sui suddenly felt a light wave of dizziness overcame her. It felt like something was blocking a part of her thoughts¡­


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± A concerned voice rang out in front of Qiao Sui.


    Returning to her senses, Qiao Sui looked up at the white-haired youth and blinked a few times to clear her cloudy head. ¡°I, I am fine. I was feeling a bit nervous, that¡¯s all..¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡± The white-haired youth nodded before he reached into his black sleeve and brought out a three blue covered manuals. Handing it over to Qiao Sui, the youth said:


    ¡°Here, take these skill books as well. Since it was fate that we have met this time around and seeing that your talent is quite decent, I shall gift you these three completed volumes: [Supreme Fairy Sword Arts], [Godly Body Refinement Art], and [Heaven Subduing Palm]. While these are mere copies of the original, you must still protect them and be certain to never tell anyone!¡±


    Huang Xue did not bother telling her that the three skills'' level, which was at...the Astral grade! Knowing too much at this point would only possibly bring more harm than good.


    ¡°Eh?¡± Qiao Sui looked on dumbfounded.


    ¡°But do not get excited. You will only be able to train in the [Godly Body Refinement Arts] for the time being. Until you at least breakthrough to the Jie Hai realm, you will not be able to learn the other skills. And only upon becoming stronger, would you be able to comprehend the later parts in each volume.¡± The white-haired youth explained.


    Qiao Sui did not say anything and only nodded her head. She felt like the current situation was too surreal for her to digest at the moment.


    ¡°Now then, you should be on your way, little girl.¡±


    ¡°Uh, um, w-would I be able to see again?¡± Qiao Sui suddenly asked as she shyly looked at the youth before her.


    The white-haired young man smiled and replied: ¡°If our fates are interconnected, then we will naturally meet again in the future.¡±


    Qiao Sui nodded her head and slowly placed the talisman on her forehead. The talisman was made with a simple function, such that even commoners who be able to use it easily, should they have the luck and wealth to acquire such luxury.


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    Thinking of the destination the black-robed youth had told her, Qiao Sui began to feel a slight tickling sensation run through her body.


    Suddenly, Qiao Sui opened her eyes, as if she had realized something, and hurriedly shouted: ¡°Wa-wait! What is your na--¡±


    But she never got to finish as a white light burst out from the talisman in her hand, engulfing her entire being in a blinding glow before it instantly disappeared from the spot.


    The white-haired youth stared at where Qiao Sui was at a moment ago, as he mumbled to himself: ¡°I hope those with a Divine Lotus Constitution would not disappoint me¡­¡±


    This youth was naturally Huang Xue.


    Although he had given out three priceless manuals at once, there was not a trace of regret or care on Huang Xue¡¯s face. While those techniques may cause an uproar across the continent, even in the Three Absolute Grand Sects, to him it meant nothing.


    And seeing that the girl he had just saved seemed promising, Huang Xue had immediately decided to take a chance and gift her a few skills to help her development. An extra possibility of a peerless expert emerging would be great news for Huang Xue, considering his current situation.


    Turning around, Huang Xue looked towards the area where Gan Long had landed several moments ago.


    There was no one there now.


    During Huang Xue¡¯s small talk with Qiao Sui, the elder had taken the chance to quickly escape into the forest. However, Huang Xue had never lost track of Gan Long¡¯s presence, even without facing the latter.


    And being severely injured, did he really believe he could escape from an Immortal Sovereign practitioner?


    Huang Xue walked leisurely towards the direction of the forest where he detected Gan Long¡¯s moving Qi presence.


    His body flickered and disappeared from the spot.


    When Huang Xue first went to look for Gan Long, he had secretly traveled to the Eternal Sword Spirit Palace, which was situated in the middle of a vast desert. The grand sect was extremely large, covering an enormous piece of land and more, and inside the Palace, it was extravagantly decorated with trees and man-carved rivers.


    However, he soon discovered that the elder was not there and was supposedly away on a trip. This had made it a bit problematic for Huang Xue, considering the size of the continent and the various corners of the land. However, he did not relent his pursuit and opted to secretly investigate around. He did not reveal his true appearance to anyone during this process, transforming his face several times in order to gather information.


    Surprisingly, from Huang Xue¡¯s previous memories, it seemed face changing was an unknown art in the Continent of Feng Shui. Rather than it being an issue about power, it was more that this concept was simply not introduced in this world. As such, it was very probable that only Huang Xue would be able to utilize this little art...


    At the same time, Huang Xue had consumed several miracle pills that were used for recover a person¡¯s young appearance and body. Coupling the medicines with a secret body refining art that Huang Xue knew, he was able to revert back to his body¡¯s earlier years. His current appearance was that of a sixteen or seventeen years old. The only thing that remained relatively the same was Huang Xue¡¯s snow white hair, which he did not bother changing. It gave his appearance a unique point.


    Moreover, the main reason of Huang Xue¡¯s bodily transformation was to help hide his identity from the other two Absolute Grand Sects. He needed to stay low for a while as he go about his plans...

 Chapter 12

    This chapter was sponsored by James 412!


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    Chapter 12: Atone For Your Sins


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    At the same time, Huang Xue had consumed several miracle pills that were used for recover a person¡¯s young appearance and body. Coupling the medicines with a secret body refining art that Huang Xue knew, he was able to revert back to his body¡¯s earlier years. His current appearance was that of a sixteen or seventeen years old. The only thing that remained relatively the same was Huang Xue¡¯s snow white hair, which he did not bother changing. It gave his appearance a unique point.


    Moreover, the main reason of Huang Xue¡¯s bodily transformation was to help hide his identity from the other two Absolute Grand Sects. He needed to stay low for a while as he go about his plans...


    However, cultivators are possessors of strong memory, especially the higher one goes. Some of the old generation may recognize Huang Xue¡¯s appearance when he was younger. As such, Huang Xue had permanently altered a few, minor facial bone structures to be more shapely, while adjusting his dantian and breathing to give off a completely different body aura. This way, not even those ancestral-level figures would be able to recognize Huang Xue anymore!


    After recovering his youth, Huang Xue had just about finished his investigation and found a lead to where Gan Long may be. There had been quite some rumors in the Grand Sect about this elder¡¯s sick practices, but no one had said anything due to the Gan Long¡¯s status as an elder.


    In other words, those who knew could be considered accomplices in breaking the law that was set down across the martial arts world by countless factions and powers. It was a universal agreement to not dabble in inhumane arts like using humans to refine pills or consuming fellow cultivators to increase one¡¯s ability. To do so was considered breaking the ¡®laws¡¯, bringing the entire world upon themselves!


    For long distance travels that was more than five thousand miles, Huang Xue traveled through spatial tears for convenience. While it consumed a larger portion of his power, this method was much quicker. This was how Huang Xue was able to travel to the Yuan Empire so quickly. And to keep a low profile, Huang Xue had decided to move around through space rather than simply flying through the sky that was heavily guarded in some areas.


    As such, he was able to easily locate and arrive before Gan Long. And upon seeing that someone was in danger, Huang Xue had promptly lent a hand. The attacker was the one he had been searching for anyways.


    A blurry figure danced through the dense forests, appearing and disappearing around the grassy areas. Meanwhile, several miles ahead another figure in cyan robe, covered in a red glow, was rapidly flying forward, weaving in and out of tall trees. A crazed look was on his face as blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.


    Feeling the looming presence draw closer behind him, Gan Long pushed his entire Qi energy inside his body to max. He desperately wanted to escape this god forsaken place as soon as possible! But was it truly possible?


    ¡°Stop running and accept your punishment already.¡± A solemn voice sounded beside Gan Long. Swirling his head around, Gan Long instantly felt his blood run cold when he saw the white-haired youth leisurely ¡®walking¡¯ through the air beside him. Although Gan Long was already flying as his highest speed, he was still unable to outrun the other party!


    ¡°Senior, why must you pursue me so? I admit I was wrong to practice the taboo arts, but if you let me off this time, I swear I will not take revenge. Instead, I will be forever indebted to you..¡± Gan Long said, trying to persuade the other individual to let him go.


    As cultivators, he naturally knew that while the other person looked very young, it was actually not their real age. The amount of power the white-haired youth wielded had already proved so. And even if the other party was indeed a mere youth, in this world strength ultimately determines the seniority! Age is merely a number for the weak.


    ¡°Haa...even at the end of your road, you still are unwilling to own up to your sins. If so, enough talking. Go down.¡± Huang Xue gave a sigh before his eyes flashed a dangerous light.


    *Pch!*  *Pch!*


    Before Gan Long could say something, both of his legs suddenly exploded!


    ¡°Ahhhh! My legs! My legs!¡± Gan Long howled in pain as his body lost its balance, falling straight down towards the ground. Right before he hit the dirt ground, Gan Long managed to envelope his body in a Qi armor to protect him from the impact.


    While there were Qi attacks, there were evidently defensive usage of energy inside one¡¯s body known as Qi armor. This was often used to defend against another cultivator¡¯s Qi attacks, as a regular body would easily fall in front of such mystical might. Normal attacks become ineffective in front of Qi armors.


    Clutching the one of his bloody stumps where his leg used to be, Gan Long looked up at Huang Xue, who was slowly descending, with hatred and madness in his eyes.


    ¡°You bastard! To think you actually dared injure an elder such as I to such an extent! Do you not fear my Eternal Sword Spirit Palace will hunt you down until the end of your days?! You are dead, dead you hear?!¡±


    The sudden shock and pain of having both legs unknowingly destroyed caused Gan Long to descend into despair and utter insanity. Even with his regenerative ability as a peak 9 Cycle Heavenly Wang, he would still be unable to completely regenerate a missing limb! Unless a Empyrean Hun-level cultivator or God-tier alchemist was willing to help him, Gan Long could only live out the rest of his life as a cripple...if he was even able to live through today at all!


    ¡°Your sins run deep, and yet you still dare mouth off so arrogantly before me. Finishing you off would be too kind of me. I shall allow you to experience a taste of Hell first before you go down there.¡± Huang Xue coldly said as he hovered above the bloodied elder.


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    Reaching out with his right hand, Huang Xue began to draw strange symbols in the air, each stroke leaving a glowing trail in its wake. When Gan Long saw this, his eyes became wide and he could not help but shout out: ¡°Y-you were also an Array Spiritualist?!¡±


    Huang Xue did not reply as he continued to form complex symbols in the air.


    In the Continent of Feng Shui, cultivators who were able to pierce into a new dimension of comprehension in the arts of symbols and formations were known as Array Spiritualists. They were practitioners of the Formation Dao, one of the Sheng Daos. Because of the difficulty in advancing in this aspect, as it required one to train both their mental and Qigong abilities at the same time, there was a scarce amount of Array Spiritualists in this world. However, there were many powerful factions who desired such practitioners.


    After all, not only were Array Spiritualists able to lay powerful formations that could attack, defend, and create all sorts of mystical effects, they were able to call upon other worldly beings for assistance. They were even able to control monsters known as Evil Beasts, which were found in every corner of the world. These beasts were ferocious monsters that often leave a path of carnage in their frenzied wake.


    Cultivators tend to engage in combat with such beasts in order to strengthen themselves or help defend a city from their onslaughts. In general, while evil beasts were ranked similarly to cultivators, the former was stronger in cultivators due to their origin of birth in the wild and the wild nature imprinted in their genes. At the higher levels, there were even evil beasts that possessed the ability to speak in the human tongue!


    Thus, for Array Spiritualists who were able to take control of such beings, it would mean another huge increase to their battle power. To do so, they often captured them using what is known as a ¡®Gate¡¯. This is a special formation portal that only Spiritualists were able to construct, allowing them to control evil beasts and summon monsters, or even otherworldly beings, from other domains.


    While the Continent of Feng Shui was large, in the cracks of space and time, there were naturally a countless number of existing small worlds called ¡®domains¡¯. Some of those domains were inhabited by humans while others were filled with foreign races. However, any one of those domains contained inhabitants that were generally much stronger than the people who lived in the continent of Feng Shui.


    This was why, for Array Spiritualists to be able to summon such beings at their command, was greatly valued at strong groups. To any faction, more power usually entailed greater benefits for them! Thus, the status of an Array Spiritualist was exalted and quite rare as well. Not everyone could be one after all.


    Furthermore, these spiritualists were graded into Ranks, from 1 to 12, with higher ranks representing greater level of strength and quality of their ability in regards to formations and the likes! The standard cultivation is not in line with an Array Spiritualist¡¯s ranking system.


    Meaning, a strong cultivator may not necessarily have an equally like Spiritualist rank, and the opposite holds true as well. It would all depend on one¡¯s affinity, mentality, and talent in the arts of formation and symbols!


    In just a few strokes, Huang Xue completed the formation in the air. As a God of Dao, he was naturally adept in Dao of Formation, the art of creation and destruction. To be able to utilise the energy between Heaven and Earth to form complex laws known as ''formations''.


    While his body may have changed, Huang Xue¡¯s knowledge was still there. As long as his body had enough power, he could easily conjure up several high level Daos and techniques on his will. This was one of the major benefits in comprehending several Dao paths!


    With a light tap of his index finger, Huang Xue sent the mini glowing circular formation towards Gan Long, who was on lying on the ground. Seeing this scene, Gan Long panicked as he tried to move out of the way, but in his current condition was just impossible. In the end, constructing a Qi armor and using booth of his arms in front of him to defend against the nearing formation construct, Gan Long embraced himself for a deadly impact.


    However, the glowing circle had easily bypassed through Gan Long¡¯s Qi armor as if it was air! Without time to react, the formation had already landed on Gan Long¡¯s defending arms.


    At first, there was no sensation. But immediately, it was as if every pore inside Gan Long¡¯s body was on fire as the elder felt his body burning with severe pain! Soon, he began to feel his body turning extremely cold as his skin turned a grayish pale color. Gan Long could not help but start shivering. Yet in another moment, he began to felt a sharp stinging sensation on his body before blood spurt uncontrollably from his orifices. In the next moment, his body began acting up as waves after waves of indescribable pain assaulted his body. But the most horrifying thing was that Gan Long could vaguely feel something was minutely healing his injuries, just enough to keep him alive amidst this torture!


    While Gan Long suffered in silence, with all his teeth having been broken from clenching down too hard in pain, a cold voice resonated from above him.


    ¡°With this [Liquescent Body Formation], it shall slowly drain your own life force and continuously heal your body, keeping you barely alive to feel this ever-changing pain! Once your life force is done with, it will slowly melt your body until not even your ashes shall remain. This is the consequence for your unlawful sins.¡±


    Gan Long shakily lifted up his head only to find that the white-haired youth had already left. He furiously shouted out amidst his burning pain, but what came out of his mouth were only muffled cries as he awaited an agonizing death...

 Chapter 13

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    Author note: The novel name has been changed from "Supreme One Above All" to "Primordial Majesty" due to the former title''s redundancy.


    ________________________


    Chapter 13: The One Who Dons The Kabuki Mask (1)


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    Streaking through the orange sky, Huang Xue slowed down as he stood levitating in the air. The sun was settling down by now. His task had taken a slightly bit more time than he had expected.


    Pondering in mid-air, Huang Xue thought of how he should go about dealing with his next target: the Great Elder Fang De of the Sacred Demon Sect!


    Since this character was much more prestigious and powerful than a mere elder from the Eternal Sword Spirit Palace, Huang Xue had to plan a bit more carefully. While he was not afraid of the other party¡¯s ability, it was the amount of security that may be placed around them. After all, Fang De was still a Great Elder in status.


    Moreover, Huang Xue was confident that this person should still be within his residence. As a Great Elder of a grand sect, they naturally had a much heavier duty than ordinary elders. They were often tasked with guarding the Sect¡¯s ground at all times, thus these powerful elders seldom traveled out.


    After thinking for a while, Huang Xue reached out his right hand as he gathered the energy around him towards it. Soon, the energy formed a glowing ball before twisting and shaping into what looks like a mask. In another moment, a white mask with streaks of sophisticated red lines on either side of its cover, looking to be a Kabuki mask, was created. Once a cultivator reaches the Empyrean Hun realm, they would gain the ability to transform condensed Qi into materials for a certain amount of time.


    (Author: ¡°Kabuki Mask¡± = https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/projects/202/18158421.548d844ce2704.jpg</a> )


    Huang Xue nodded with satisfaction at his handy work as he donned on the Kabuki mask. After readjusting his aura a bit to mimic that of the Gan Long whom he had killed, Huang Xue waved his sleeve as a rift opened up in the middle of sky. With his hands behind his back, Huang Xue leisurely walked into the gap as it closed behind him without sound.


    It was time to pay this Feng De fellow a short visit¡­


    ***


    In the middle of an endless azure ocean, there laid an awe-inspiring piece of colossal land. There were several constructs of tall buildings and halls, similar to that of the Godly Supreme Hall. However, many of these architectures were strangely shaped, with some being in the shape of a bone, another as a large skull, and yet another one that had a scaly exterior.


    Many youths wearing a black robe, with an eye-catching white fan-shaped crest imbued on their chest, were walking around as they chatted among each other. At the center of the white fan were three circular black dots. These people, each wearing the unique crest, were all famed disciples of the Sacred Demon Sect!


    Among these several buildings, there was one particular large piece of area located at the far western end. On this land, the front yard was filled with green grasses leading up to a grand looking mansion. This was the personal residence of the Great Elder, Fang De!


    Inside the mansion, at the uppermost floor, an old man with a hair full of silvery gray hair was drinking from a cup of warm tea. The room the man sat in was incredibly large, seeming to be more like a ballroom hall rather than a simple resting area. It made one feel a sense of loneliness if one were to look around the large empty room, held up by big red pillars.


    The seated old man had a sinister appearance to him, with his sharp eyes, small patch of gray moustache above his lips, and his pale skin seemingly void of blood. However, there was an unexplainable sense of charm to his quiet demeanor as the elder sat there in his silky brown robe, looking out the circular window beside him. The evening sun was dropping into the horizon as the residue light barely illuminated the white fan-shaped emblem on his chest.


    This person was the Great Elder Fang De of the Sacred Demon Sect.


    Fang De looked out at the slowly dimming sun as a trace of moodiness floated across his eyes. No one, but himself, knew what the he was thinking.


    At this moment, a knocking came from the closed-door across the room. A male¡¯s respectful  voice then sounded from behind the doors: ¡°Master, an elder from the Eternal Sword Spirit Palace wishes to speak with you.¡±


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    The Great Elder Fang De did not turn around and asked: ¡°Is it Gan Long?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± The male voice replied.


    ¡°Let him in through the formation connecting to my residence.¡±


    ¡°As you wish.¡± The male voice replied, before soft rustling sounds of wind being disturbed could be heard behind the door. Silence ensued for several moments before a soft noise sounded again from behind the closed wooden door.


    Afterwards, a man¡¯s aged voice called out: ¡°Great Elder Fang De, I am coming in.¡±


    The door promptly opened as a Kabuki masked figure, dressed in pure black, entered the room. Taking off his mask, an elderly face was revealed.


    Finally turning to receive his guest, Fang De looked at the mask on the other person¡¯s hands and asked: ¡°Why did you wear a mask?¡±


    Gan Long scratched his head helplessly as he answered: ¡°There has been a few inspections going on in my Sect recently, so going out have been a bit difficult. So I had to wear a mask and conceal myself when I go out nowadays.¡±


    Fang De nodded as he gently stroked his gray moustache. ¡°So? Why did you want to see me this time? You should understand clearly that it¡¯ll be quite bad if we were seen together. Our two Sects have not truly paired up yet. We still need to our Sect Masters¡¯ approval.¡±


    ¡°I know that, but¡­¡± Gan Long began before he was cut off the great elder.


    ¡°If you¡¯re worried about the elders on my side, I can tell you that I have already gathered eleven of them in my hands. I just need to give them a few more push and they will come to my side. After all, our grudges against your Sword Palace is not a small matter that can easily be put aside. Rather than worrying about my part, have you managed to convince one of your Great Elders yet?¡± Fang De asked as he looked at Gan Long.


    ¡°I...I am still working on it¡­¡± Gan Long replied as he slightly lowered his head in shame.


    ¡°Hmph. You better convince one of them soon enough. Otherwise, if you¡¯re caught, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. At that time, do not expect me to ¡®recognize¡¯ you.¡± Fang De snorted in disdain.


    ¡°So, right there is only us two that is working together, correct?¡± Gan Long asked timidly.


    ¡°There may be others working in secret, but as far as I am concerned, you and I, in addition to eleven possible members later, are in this together. Once we work together to fully suppress the Godly Supreme Hall, that is when our cooperation shall end. As you saw last time, the killing of those Godly Supreme Hall disciples and elders are merely the first step!¡± Fang De said as a murderous light glowered in his eyes.


    Glancing at Gan Long, who now seemed to be in deep thought, he asked: ¡°Why did you ask? You should already know this, unless you discovered a few others who are possibly aiming for the same thing? Hey, what are you thinking about?¡±


    Gan Long looked up as a smile slowly bloomed on his wrinkled face. ¡°Oh, it was nothing. I was just thinking since I¡¯ve already got the things I wanted to know from you, I was debating on how I should go about killing you. But in the end, I think taking off your head would be fine. I should at least thank you that way for giving me this bit of information.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Fang De looked on in surprise as he processed the other individual¡¯s words. He felt like he had heard wrong, as someone like Gan Long would never dare utter something so senseless as what was previously said¡­


    But suddenly, Fang De noticed a flash of light flicker in front of him as his body maneuvered itself sideways on reflex. There was a dangerous feeling constrained within that light! Just as Fang De avoided the attack, the table behind shattered into smithereens.


    Quickly regaining his balance, the Great Elder Fang De stared hideously at ¡®Gan Long¡¯, who had a slightly surprised face. The sudden attack earlier had nearly heavily injured him, or even killed him! Vicious aura exploded from his body as Fang De locked onto the black-robed elder in front of him.


    ¡°Surnamed Gan! Have you gone mad?! To dare attack me at my Sacred Demon Sect, you truly have a load of guts! Were you sent by your Sect to act as a spy?!¡± Fang De immediately roared as he glared at ¡®Gan Long¡¯. The earlier near-death experience still lingered fresh in his mind.


    But it was the fact that he had been caught off guard by someone weaker than him, that had made him so angry. He refused to believe that a mere Heavenly Wang practitioner could have almost killed him, even if it was a sneak attack!

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14: The One Who Dons The Kabuki Mask (2)


    ______________


    ¡°Surnamed Gan! Have you gone mad?! To dare attack me at my Sacred Demon Sect, you truly have a load of guts! Were you sent by your Sect to act as a spy?!¡± Fang De immediately roared as he glared at ¡®Gan Long¡¯. The earlier near-death experience still lingered fresh in his mind. Read more...


    But it was the fact that he had been caught off guard by someone weaker than him, that had made him so angry. He refused to believe that a mere Heavenly Wang practitioner could have almost killed him, even if it was a sneak attack!


    ¡®Gan Long¡¯ smiled as he turned to face Fang De. ¡°Oh? You are pretty good. To dodge an attack at such a close range, a Great Elder¡¯s identity is truly not as useless as I thought. However, it is shame that you still have to die today.¡±


    Fang De felt his anger rising as he growed in a low voice: ¡°Then I would like to see you try!¡±


    *Whoosh!*


    Fang De took a step forward and his figure blurred before arriving in front of ¡®Gan Long¡¯. His right arm was already pulled back, ready to unleash a palm attack, when ¡®Gan Long¡¯ suddenly reached out and flicked Fang De¡¯s head.


    In a split second, ¡®Gan Long¡¯s hand was already in front of Fang De¡¯s forehead, fingers arched in preparation.


    ¡®Gan Long¡¯s¡¯ hand had moved in an instant and at such a speed that Fang De was unable to even see its trajectory! Upon a direct impact, Fang De felt his head jerk backward as if his forehead was pounded by a giant hammer, sending his body flying crashing into the wall behind him.


    Right afterwards, sounds of footsteps could be heard rapidly approaching the Fang De¡¯s room. ¡®Gan Long¡¯, who was obviously Huang Xue in disguise, had a faint smile on his face.


    ¡°It¡¯s getting a bit noisy now, maybe I should¡¯ve set up a concealing formation earlier after all?¡­¡± Huang Xue muttered under his breath as he walked over to Fang De was getting up from the floor. Huang Xue had obviously held himself back when he attacked, believing it would be enough. But it seems like this Fang De fellow was quite sturdy...


    ¡°Master! Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°What was that loud noise, master? Is something wrong?!¡±


    ¡°Master, did something happen?¡±


    Voices of concern rang out from behind the closed-door, but Huang Xue paid them no attention.


    Fang De glared venomously at the approaching ¡®Gan Long¡¯, and angrily yelled: ¡°You lot, scram! There is nothing wrong here! I will be out in a few moments!¡±


    The Great Elder was thoroughly enraged now. He had initially attacked with his physical body due to the contempt he felt for his weaker opponent. There was no need to show any of his true cards. In the end, to think he was actually pushed back by a measly elder-level person!


    But at the same time, he was still silently contemplating the entire situation. For an elder like Gan Long to even last a second in front of him was already an impossible feat, much less push him back! This was something fishy going on here!


    Thinking up to this, the anger inside Fang De¡¯s stomach was quickly suppressed, as his eyes narrowed with shrewdness and suspicion. As a Great Elder-level figure, he had many experiences. He understood losing to one¡¯s emotion in battle was a fatal mistake.


    ¡°...Who are you?¡± Fang De asked he stood alert now, his aura slowing climbing up.


    Huang Xue smiled but did not reply to the other¡¯s question. Instead, he said in a casual tone:


    ¡°My next move should finish this up...¡±


    However, this time Fang De did not get angry at Huang Xue¡¯s words. Instead, he began to revolve the energy inside his Dantian as he gathered the power Darkness Dao inside his palms. This was a strong Dao of the Mo category, wielding the ability to draw strength from the darkness element in the world.


    At the same time, the air around Fang De trembled and distorting, as ten 4-meters tall arched gray doors emerged from the airy ripples. Berserk energy and signs of life were rippling behind the closed sinister-looking gates. With the appearance of such portals, the originally spacious room now seemed much more congested than before.


    ¡°Oh? Those are...Spirit Gates?¡± Huang Xue looked on with interest as he watched the Fang De prepare himself.


    Spirit Gates were one of the main strengths of an Array Spiritualists. Only Spiritualists of at least Rank 3 would be able to use such function. And using these Gates, a Spiritualist could either summon a being from another domain or an evil beast him/her had tamed! Generally, it is very difficult to create Gates, and even the level of Gates vary depending on its size.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    A one meter sized Gate was the norm, while larger Gates usually meant that stronger beasts could be kept inside, or that the Array Spiritualist could summon even greater beings from another smaller world! These door sizes varied from person to person, and usually had to do with the strength of their soul and their affinity with in the Dao of Formations.


    To be able to release ten 4-meters tall Gate at once already showed that this Fang De was indeed no ordinary person! Even a normal Rank 8 Array Spiritualist could barely bring out ten Gates of such size. A single meter increase in size is more than enough to create a large gap in power, especially between competing Spiritualists!


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to answer me, that is fine. I don¡¯t know how you did it, but after I destroy your body and rip off that face, we¡¯ll see then if I¡¯ll be able to find out who you are!¡± Fang De growled. ¡°All of you, come out!¡±


    A shout rang from the Great Elder before the ten doors floating near opened. A second later, hideous broad evil beasts crawled out from within. Some of them looked like giant giants, while others looked something akin to mutated centipedes. There were even  two humanoid things, though their scaly features and green skin tone revealed them as anything but human. Each of the evil beasts gave off a pressuring aura, the amount of bloodthirsty aura in the room was so great that many elders and core disciples within five miles of radius were attracted to the Great Elder Fang De¡¯s mansion.


    Huang Xue could feel several strong auras approaching his location. He slightly frowned.


    ¡°Hmm...this is getting troublesome. I better finish this quickly...damn! I really should¡¯ve set up a concealment formation beforehand¡­¡± Huang Xue thought in his mind. Initially, he had been thinking of getting a bit of information from Fang De before killing him and leaving. But in the end, he had underestimated the sturdiness of his target. After being a God-level expert for quite some time, he was now having trouble taking mortal cultivators in much regards¡­


    ¡°Let me see just who you are!¡± Fang De suddenly shouted as he thrust a black glowing palm towards Huang Xue. ¡°Saint Demonic Arts 3rd Layer: Doom¡¯s Nirvana!¡±


    There were small stars seemingly revolving around his energy attack --a characteristic of Empyrean Hun cultivators!


    At the same time, the sky above mansion instantly darkened and dark clouds swirled about, faint thundering sounds could be heard rumbling above. The mansion itself also began to gravitated upward due to the energy leaking from Fang De¡¯s attack; black tiles flew up into the air as the entire room Huang Xue and Fang De was in began to crumble upward.


    A peculiar scene of an old man in brown robe rushing in the air towards a calm Huang Xue, as the several evil beasts surrounded the latter, each in already punching towards the latter with their claws and widened jaws ready for a feast.


    The monstrous growing aura burst forth from the breaking mansion, knocking back several nearby elders and core disciples who had come to investigate. All the core disciples and a few weaker elders spurt out a mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot, while the other stronger executives barely managed to resist.


    Even the residue might from a Empyrean Hun practitioner was simply frightening! And when such a being attacks, the sky and earth changes before his might!


    As Fang De¡¯s palm attack and the evil beasts strikes were about to reach Huang Xue, time seemed to have slowed down as a strange silence seemed to have settled. The evil glowing palm and claws moved closer and closer¡­


    But just as they were about to land on Huang Xue¡¯s body, a young man¡¯s voice suddenly resonated out in an otherworldly tone:


    ¡°...Since you like levitating things so much, let me give you a helping hand...¡±


    A ghastly pressure immediately filled the entire room before a blinding golden light illuminated all that was in this space. Fang De felt his body become numb when he felt the pressure that was like a mountain pressing down upon him. The pain was excruciating.


    The glow on his outstretched palm had already completely dissipated. Or more accurately, Fang De could not feel it anymore...he felt like all his five senses were quickly leaving him. Even his divine sense was useless now. Fang De¡¯s sense of the world had instantly plunged into absolute darkness.


    By now, every living thing was laying on the ground amidst the dazzling light, unable to move and unable to see¡­a strong feeling of death loomed over them...

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15: The One Who Dons The Kabuki Mask (3)


    <hr>


    Outside the mansion, a moment of peace abruptly ensued when Fang De¡¯s aura stopped leaking out.


    But in the next second, an enormous pillar of light exploded upwards, completely enveloping the entire mansion itself, and spreading outwards. Along with the expanding golden pillar, an ineffable aura spread out.


    While some of the elders,who had hurried over from other parts of the Sacred Demon Sect ground, had managed to take all the fainted core disciples and elders to safety, there were a few unfortunate elders who had stepped too close to the mansion. Those were the ones who had stood right inside the yard before the explosion of light. But even before the energy had reached them, they had spurted out a large mouthful of blood before all their orifices began bleeding. They quickly died, being unable to withstand the new pressure --which seemed almost infinitely stronger than the previous one emitted by Great Elder Fang De!


    The pillar of golden light spread outwards until Great Elder Fang De¡¯s entire living ground, his courtyard and mansion in their entirety, was swallowed up by it. Soon, the golden pillar began to slowly dissipate along with the terrifying aura¡­


    ¡°Hurry! Activate our Sect¡¯s locking formation! Do not let the culprit get away!¡± An elder, who seemed to possess some authority, shouted angrily.


    ¡°Right, quickly notify the other four Great Elders! Gather the other elders from all sections of the Sect as well! Quickly, go!¡±


    ¡°Everyone get into formation! We must defend our Sacred Demon Sect from our attackers!¡±


    ¡°Intruders! All elders, assemble at once! Hurry!¡±


    Cries of alarm rang throughout the Sacred Demon Sect as several hundreds of elders gathered in the sky above the school ground. This was the first time, in nine hundred thousand years, that something so major as this had occurred in one of the Absolute Grand Sects! There had been no entities who had dared threaten their Demon Sacred Sect before.


    All hundreds pair of eyes were locked on the cloudy area, which was now filled with void --the place where Great Elder Fang De¡¯s mansion had once been.


    As the billows of dust gradually settled down, a floating black-robed figure wearing a kabuki mask slowly came into view. There was not a single undulation of aura coming from the person. If not for the elders scrutinizing the entire field with care, they may not have noticed the figure hovering within the smoke!


    ¡°Who are you?! What have you done to the Great Elder Fang De?!¡± One of the elders shouted. However, many already knew the answer to that. Being caught up in such a horrifying explosion, perhaps not even a Great Elder would survive¡­


    The lonely figure did not reply, instead he lifted up his head and emotionless-ly gazedat the mass of elders. Some of the elders who made eye contact with those dark shrouded eyes behind the mask suddenly felt as if they were vulnerable, as if the other person could see through their entire existence. It was an unnerving sensation.


    ¡°This is strange...I thought that there was another person in the mansion with Great Elder Fang De before, but now that person¡¯s Qi aura has vanished.¡± A male elder in cyan robe suddenly said as he surveyed his surrounding using his Divine Sense.


    ¡°Is it not the aura of that person down there?¡± Another male elder commented. He was still far away when the pillar of light appeared and had just arrived here.


    ¡°No, this person¡¯s aura...is very different. It¡¯s not the same one I felt in the mansion at that time.¡± The cyan robed elder said solemnly.


    Hearing this, all the other elders grew glum as they realized the seriousness of the situation. If there were two different auras present, that would mean that there are two intruders. Or possibly more who had infiltrated their Sect ground. To have more than one unfamiliar stranger enter their Sacred Demon Sect since its founding...this was a great humiliation to one of the great grand sects of the continent!


    ¡°What should we do with that masked person?¡± An elder in blue robe spoke in a raspy voice. He had noticed that while some of the elders were engaged in a short talk, the intruder had not moved from their initial spot at all. It was like the other person was saying they were not in a hurry to escape¡­


    Looking at the elders surrounding him in the sky, Huang Xue had a relaxed smile behind his mask. He was surveying the large crops of cultivators who had gathered around the entire time. And judging by the auras that the groups gave off, many were already in the mid-stages of the Heavenly Wang realm, with a few emanating Qi levels at the late stages! To have so many top practitioners gather at one place, it was a sight that could be considered rare among the rarest!Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°Is this the general strength of the elders here? The layout of this Sect ground is pretty complex as well¡­¡± Huang Xue thought to himself as he observed the areas below him through his divine senses.


    Suddenly, he picked up four strong auras that were rapidly approaching his location. Three of the auras were approaching from the northern direction. These energies were at the level of the Empyrean Hun realm. But the last Qi aura, coming from the south, that Huang Xue felt was on a whole new level.


    If Huang Xue¡¯s guess is correct, this should be a presence that belongs only to...a Divine Zhu cultivator!


    ¡°I have already imprinted the layouts of this Sacred Demon Sect in my mind as well as gotten a more decisive grasp of the level of strength it possess...it should be time to leave?¡± Huang Xue thought as Qi energy began revolving within his body.


    He had initially wanted to attract over all the powers within the Sacred Demon Sect to see the level of competency, which was why he had used more energy than he had needed to deal with that Fang De fellow. However, it did not seem like everyone was present. Though, this still gave Huang Xue a great deal of insight into this grand sect¡¯s might...


    This was also not the time for a death match with the Sacred Demon Sect. The purpose this time for Huang Xue was merely to examine this sect¡¯s overall strength and its surrounding geography. These were things that may later come in handy in the future.


    Even if Huang Xue possessed the power to annihilate the Sacred Demon Sect, this was not his current goal and would instead bring a huge disturbance to the orders of power in this world. And if he were to die, suppose Huang Xue would finally be able to free his soul then, but he would still be left with his curse and without a body to accomplish his goal! Thus he must strive to survive at all cost, before the curse fully takes over!


    Moreover, his death would most likely later cause the Godly Supreme Hall to perish immediately --taking along with him millions of lives. While those lives that may be lost would be cultivators and therefore would not affect his Karma, it¡¯s the idea that people¡¯s lives were unnecessarily extinguished because of him, that did not sit well with Huang Xue.


    If he had a problem, he would solve it himself without using other people. Of course, unless they were willing to give up their lives for him --but who would wish to do that for an elder, ancestor or not, whom those young cultivators barely even knew?


    Now that Huang Xue had achieved his temporary goal, his body suddenly glowed with a golden light. The elders who were watching all cried out in alarm:


    ¡°Watch out! He¡¯s going to use his Dao energy!¡±


    ¡°Prepare yourself! Do not underestimate him!¡±


    *Whoosh!* *Voosh!*


    The air immediately began vibrating with all sorts of Dao energy as it lit up with hundreds of different glows. Flames, water, darkness, wind, thunder and other elements enshrouded the sky in dazzling colors.


    However, amidst the unleash of the Qi energies, Huang Xue did not give them time to completely prepare as his figure blurred from where he was standing. Before the elders could react, a large sound rang high above them.


    *BOOM!*


    Startled, everyone looked up to see a 5 meters wide hole appear in the glowing, purple sealing formation above them. A look of utter shock and disbelief flitted across the face of each elders in the group.


    ¡°The...the Heavenly Demon Seal Formation has been broken!¡±


    ¡°W-what?! How could this be¡­?¡±


    The Heavenly Demon Seal Formation was top-level spiritual art of Array Spiritualists. It possessed the ability to trap any humans or objects within, and had the unique trait greatly suppressing anyone who did not have the Sacred Demon Sect crest. Dimensional movements within the formation is useless. The attacks are only effective when one is five feet away from the formation itself, but normal martial arts attacks are useless. Not to mention, the formation itself takes pride in its terrifying defense. Even a normal, peak Divine Zhu practitioner, once trapped, would not be able to break free!


    ¡°Everyone, quickly after the intruder! We must not let him escape!¡± One of the elders woke from her daze and shouted. Apparently she was still unable to carefully consider the entire situation yet.


    Just as the elders were about to give chase, a solemn voice suddenly filled with void sounded out in the air, causing everyone to come to a halt.


    ¡°Do not pursue the person.¡±


    The hundreds of elders turned to see a middle-aged man in a purple dragon robe hovering the air. No one had noticed when this person appeared. But the moment the elders laid eyes on him, they all kneeled in the sky and gave a respectful salute.


    ¡°¡±¡±We pay our respect to the Sacred Demon Monarch!¡±¡±¡±


    In the Sacred Demon Sect, the Sect Master was often referred to as the ¡®Sacred Demon Monarch¡¯, rather than the Sect Master. The word ¡®Monarch¡¯ is taken from the cultivation realm of Divine Zhu. Meaning, only individuals at the Divine Zhu realm would be able to become a Sect Master at the Sacred Demon Sect¡­


    In each of the Three Absolute Grand Sects, the sect masters all had their own unique sect title to address by! It was a way to differentiate their superiority from the normal Sect Masters.


    The middle-aged man gave a slight nod and lifted his head to look at the large hole in the formation. His face was expressionless and cold, like an uncut ice. But even at his age, there was a handsome charm to his looks and his dark blue eyes radiated an aura that was hard to resist. The man¡¯s graying hair blew gently behind him, fluttering almost in rhythm to his robe.


    While the Demon Monarch was observing the destruction, a male elder in green robe respectfully spoke out:


    ¡°Great Demon Monarch, please excuse this servant for questioning, but should not give chase to that intruder? If words of this were to get out that our grand sect was infiltrated this easily, then I¡¯m afraid¡­¡±


    This person was a diehard supporter of the Sacred Demon Sect, so for him to see his beloved ¡®home¡¯ being invaded had caused him to feel extremely agitated, almost crossing his own line of authority¡­


    The Demon Monarch did not turn to look at the elder. Instead, continuing to gaze the gaping hole in the formation, he replied in a monotonous voice:


    ¡°If you all believe you can capture a Saint Overlord-level cultivator, then you may continue your pursuit.¡±


    Hearing this, all the elders instantly became alarmed. When it came to their current Demon Monarch, they knew he was a being whom jokes eluded. Whatever he said, they would firmly believe him. This time was no exception either, as each elder became nervous and endlessly shocked.


    The Demon Monarch continued: ¡°Even without me being near to feel that person¡¯s aura, to be able to break our Heavenly Demon Seal Formation, one would at least have to be in the Saint Overlord realm. This was a design created by our very own Ancestor. And that person did not escape by breaking through the formation, but by ripping a dimension in it...I have seen our Ancestor use such ability before.¡±


    Slowly turning to look at the green robed elder, the purple dragon robed man added: ¡°So if you still wish to die, then you may go by yourself, but do not waste the time of everyone in our Sect by having them chase their death..¡±


    The green robed elder lowered his head in shame and fear, while the other sect elders felt a creeping dread in their hearts. To think that they were trying to capture a Saint Overlord eccentric with their measly strength...just thinking about that made their face turn pale.


    One has to know that compared to a Saint Overlord, even if a hundred Heavenly Wang cultivators attacked at once, they would still be hard pressed to even leave a scratch on the former¡¯s body! To reach a Saint Overlord kind of existence, was akin to trying to cross to a different world.


    They were simply not on the same level at all.

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16: Ancestor


    The green robed elder lowered his head in shame and fear, while the other sect elders felt a creeping dread in their hearts. To think that they were trying to capture a Saint Overlord eccentric with their measly strength...just thinking about that made their face turn pale.


    Fortunately, the other party did not seem interested in fighting with them. If that person did...then perhaps all of them would have been visiting the Yellow River by now!


    (Author: Yellow River = place where the dead goes, appears as a saying often in Xianhuan, Xianxia, and other Chinese fantasy-genre novels)


    Suddenly, three black streaks of light shot down from the sky and landed in front of the Demon Monarch, materializing into three kneeling old men. Each elder had long white hair, looking to be in their sixties and wearing a black attire with a white fan crest on their chest.


    ¡°¡±¡°We three Great Elders pay our respect to the Sacred Demon Monarch! We have arrived too late and allowed the intruder to escape. Please issue your punishment for us!¡±¡±¡± The three Great Elders said in unison with their head deeply lowered.


    The Demon Sacred Sect was a very large territory. Traveling from one end to another was not a simple task, even for Empyrean Hun cultivators, due to the many smaller formations one had to get authenticated before crossing. The land was akin to a mid sized country!


    ¡°No need. Even if you three had come, nothing would¡¯ve changed.¡± The Demon Monarch emotionlessly said, waving his sleeve in a subtle gesture at the sky behind them. When the three Great Elders turned and saw the large gap in the sealing formation, their face instantly turned a sheet of white. As Great Elder-level figures, they naturally had better knowledge of the inner dealings of the Sect, such as the level of defensive capability their Sacred Demon Sect¡¯s sealing formation had.


    ¡°My god...someone who¡¯s at least in the Saint Overlord realm had actually infiltrated our Sect?!¡± A great elder with beady eyes exclaimed in shock. ¡°How is this possible...such an exalted being would swoop so low as to secretly enter our sect ground and attack us...inconceivable..¡±


    ¡°Could...it be one of the other two grand sects?¡± Another great elder, wearing a black dress, asked solemnly. There was a faint hint of dread and weariness in her tone. In this vast land, the only Saint Overlords she knew of were from the Three Absolute Grand Sects. Other regions simply did not possess the power to have such beings, at least not the ones that she knew of.


    A broad shouldered elder, wearing a blue robe, took a step for at this time and respectfully said: ¡°Respected Great Elders, while we are unable to ascertain who the masked one is, the core disciples of Great Elder Fang De told us that they had last seen an elder from the Eternal Sword Spirit Palace enter the great elder¡¯s room.¡±


    ¡°What? Someone from the Eternal Sword Spirit Palace had actually came to our sect without any other the great elders knowing?...Did they say who was it?¡± The black dressed female elder asked solemnly. To have a person from a foreign sect enter their own school ground, without letting the elders know, was a forbidden practice. That Fang De should have at least notified one of the Great elders, especially if someone from a grand sect had come to pay a visit¡­If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The blue robed elder replied attentively: ¡°They say the other person was Elder Gan Long. The aura released by the intruder earlier also had traces of Sword intent in it. Moreover, several other nearby elders have also testified feeling Elder Gan Long¡¯s aura preceding the attack and...it seems that this elder had visited our Sect ground several times before this¡­¡±


    A few eyes twinkled with an intelligent light among the crowds of elders, as some began to curse out loud:


    ¡°Gan Long? I heard that name. That person has a lot of nasty rumors surrounding him. Why would the Great Elder Fang De meet with such a person?¡±


    ¡°That damn Eternal Sword Spirit Palace! Even if we¡¯re on a somewhat friendly basis with one another, did they really think they¡¯re our allies?! To dare send people over to spy and even attack our sect like this! We must not let them off!¡±


    ¡°Right! Regardless if it was truly Gan Long or not, it must be linked with the Sword Spirit Palace! We should send some people over to teach a few of them a lesson...they are practically not taking us into account!¡±


    ¡°If Gan Long was here and he had actually brought someone into our sect...that other person...could it be Sword Spirit Palace¡¯s Sect Master?¡±


    ¡°How could that be possible? Someone as powerful as that ancient elder would not do something like this. Moreover, our two sects have been on decent terms to go against that Godly Supreme Hall...I truly do not know why they would want to attack us at this point. Perhaps they are trying to stab us in the back once the Godly Supreme Hall falls?¡±


    The elders began speculating in the air, while the black dressed elder narrowed her eyes as she sank into contemplation. It seems there might be more to this issue than it looked on the surface. To invite over an elder from another sect several times without letting one of them know? That was basically a serious offense to the Sacred Demon Sect! Just what was Fang De doing? Just...what is going on?!


    ¡°Wait, where is Great Elder Fang De? I heard he was engaged in battle with the intruder? Could he have...¡± The last great elder, who had scholar look to him, suddenly said, turning his head and surveying the entire ground with his Divine Sense. But nothing turned up.


    ¡°Gan Long does not seem to be here as well...he must have somehow secretly left with the help with of that Saint Overlord..¡±


    The scholarly great elder had a downcast face when he affirmed that Great Elder¡¯s Qi aura could not be detected anymore. There was not even a morsel of residue energy to identify the elder by!


    The Demon Monarch, who had remained silent and detached, with none being able to read his mind, finally spoke. The moment his words came out, the world descended into complete silence for him.


    ¡°Fang De is dead. During the attack, only he and a few elders had died, while everything else was left intact. And the person does not seem to be from the other grand sects. The aura is too different...too vicious, yet strangely familiar. Everything may simply be that person¡¯s disguise, thus, there is no need to speculate any further.


    However, it is true that Gan Long had informally entered our sect several times, and Great Elder Fang De had violated the rules. As it stands, we will still settle this with the Sword Spirit Palace. Now everyone, return and guard your assigned section. Those who were the here earliest and had witnessed the entire event, come with me and give me all the details. No one is to spread this news out, lest you wish for death. I will personally go notify the Ancestor of this matter after this.¡±


    The Ancestor? The three great elders and the normal elders in the background all had a look of surprise on their face. No one had heard from the Sacred Demon Sect¡¯s ancestor for nearly three thousand years since she went into secluded training. Many originally believed that the ancestor had perished in battle somewhere far away or was met with a serious problem in her training, so overtime the elders had slowly put the name of this legendary figure to the back of their mind.


    However, the Demon Monarch seemed to know the whereabouts of the Ancestor! This was unexpected, as even the Demon Monarch rarely mentioned her. His cold demeanor and impassive attitude made it very difficult for any of the elders to approach the sect master, much less derive secrets from the latter.


    A small spark of excitement and hope began to well up in many of the elders¡¯ heart. If the Ancestor was truly still alive and could return to the Sacred Demon Sect, their full strength would once again return, or even be elevated to a new height!


    After all, after three thousands years of absence, the ancestor was sure to have reached a new martial realm...

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17: Essence Flames


    The sparkling stars hugged the deep midnight flavored sky, with towering minarets dotting the shadowy Godly Supreme Hall ground. All is quiet, save the faint whispers of mother wind and the occasional howls of beasts in the surrounding dark forests.


    *Ssssss¡­*


    At this late hour, a soft tearing noise resounded in the air. A slit could be seen zipping down in the middle of the cool sky, spanning nearly a meter and half long before it stopped and began to ¡®open¡¯ up. A swirling black void could seen within the rift, as a young man in black robe leisurely stepped out from within. A pure white kabuki mask was fittingly donned on his face.


    The moment the youth exited the rift, a violet light shot down from afar the ground and stopped a few feets away from the former, transforming into a beautiful graying haired woman in a golden dragon dress. An oppressive aura was constantly being emitting from her, as she stood guard against the other individual.


    Looking at the unknown youth, Yue Jing had a faint sense of nervousness. She had hurriedly arrived over when she felt a strange undulation of Qi in the air. At first, she thought it was her Master returning so she had excitedly flew towards the Head Martial Tower, calling off the other elders to remain stationed. But as Yue Jing got nearer, she felt that the aura was not the same as her master. The sudden thought of a powerful intruder immediately flashed across her mind!


    And from the distance, upon seeing the white-haired youth step out from a dimensional gap in the sky, Yue Jing could feel her heart tighten. To travel through a piece of dimensional space was a defining ability of Saint Overlords...it was not something a peak Divine Zhu practitioner like her could handle.


    However, Yue Jing was not any normal practitioner. She was the Sect Master of the Godly Supreme Hall, and one of the direct disciples of the famed Song Huang Xue! She had a dignity, not just her own, to protect. So, Yue Jing fearlessly and cautiously went forward. Amidst her panic at the powerful stranger, Yue Jing failed to take notice that the Hall¡¯s sealing formation was not activated. Unlike the Sacred Demon Sect¡¯s formation, the Godly Supreme Hall¡¯s sealing formation would immediately activate when it detects a foreign existence, whom has not been approved, by the Hall itself!


    Yue Jing stared at the kabuki mask on the youth, which was being slightly overshadowed by the moon reflecting from the back of the latter. Along with the person¡¯s flowing white hair dancing under the moonlight, it gave the youth a enigmatic atmosphere.


    The black clothes of the youth also gave off a familiar smell, but the foreign aura the person was giving off said otherwise. The floating youth did not say a word, as he reached up with his jade hand and quietly took off his mask, revealing a smooth and elegant appearance beneath. For a brief moment, Yue Jing felt her heart race. She almost thought she was looking at an ancient painting of a celestial, before she snapped away from her daze. While the person in front of her may look young, Yue Jing was well aware he was anything but that...


    Cupping her hands to the youth in front of her, Yue Jing slightly bowed and asked respectfully: ¡°Honored senior, may I inquire why you have come to our Godly Supreme Hall? If elder wanted to visit, you could have come through our front gate...we would have properly received an esteemed guest such as you.¡±


    When Yue Jing finished speaking, she waited for the other person to reply. But a response never came. At this, Yue Jing began to worry that the other party may have come with ill intentions. If that was true, then without her master and senior brothers here...it would be definitely end up becoming a tough battle, though certainly not an ¡®impossible¡¯ one.


    Lifting up her head slowly, Yue Jing saw that the the black robed youth in front of her had an amused expression on his face, which puzzled her. Why was he smiling like that? It is as if he knows me¡­


    A second later, the youth finally opened his mouth as a vigorous voice sounded out: ¡°Silly disciple, what esteemed senior are you speaking of? It is I, your master!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Yue Jing looked on in confusion, before she saw the youth flick his sleeves as the aura around him began to change. Soon, a Qi aura that Yue Jing was more than familiar with pulsated around the youth¡¯s body.


    Yue Jing stared with wide eyes as she exclaimed: ¡°Mas...master? You...this...eh?¡±


    There was bewilderment written all over her face as she stared her master. While Huang Xue¡¯s appearance had greatly changed over the past seven days, upon closer inspection, Yue Jing realized that there was faint resemblance of her master¡¯s old looks. Though, she was still a little hesitant..


    But as if Huang Xue had expected Yue Jing¡¯s suspicion, he promptly flashed a golden medallion inscribed with complex symbols in front of Yue Jing. This was the Supreme Medallion, which only the Ancestor possessed! The medallion also gave off a unique undulation, making it impossible for anyone to fabricate it! Seeing the golden proof and feeling the familiar aura from the medallion, all of Yue Jing¡¯s doubts vanished like mist.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Now that it was clear the person before Yue Jing was her master, she quickly gave a deep bow as she saluted: ¡°Yue Jing pays respect to Master!¡±


    ¡°Mn. You may rise.¡± Huang Xue nodded as he smiled at her.


    Straightening herself, Yue Jing said politely: ¡°Master, since you have just returned, we should go inside the Head Martial Tower for a rest! Yue¡¯er also have news about the materials you wanted!¡±


    Huang Xue¡¯s eyes glowed a little when he heard Yue Jing¡¯s words, as he gave a faint nod and calmly floated towards the top level of the Head Martial Tower. Beneath him, there was only a ground void of presence, with all the disciples either at rest or hard at training within their living quarters. The Hall ground was in peaceful silence.


    Yue Jing quietly followed right behind her master. Although she was curious about her master¡¯s strange change in aura and his new appearance, Yue Jing knew that as a disciple, it was not her place to probe into the secrets and affairs of her master. After all, everyone had a secret or two that they keep from others --including herself.


    Arriving inside the sixth floor of the Head Martial Tower, Huang Xue walked over to a nearby black table and sat down on the hazel colored throne beside it. Yue Jing was right behind him as she served a cup of lukewarm tea to her master.


    While Huang Xue took a sip from the tea, Yue Jing stood obediently on the side. After a few moments of peace, Huang Xue first spoke:


    ¡°The ¡®matter¡¯ has been dealt with. If everything went accordingly, my identity should still be hidden and the other two grand sects should not be working together for a while¡­¡±


    Yue Jing¡¯s face lit up with joy when she heard her master¡¯s words. She had seen her master¡¯s disguise a moment ago, so as an intelligent person, Yue Jing could naturally guess that her master must have used some secret techniques to hide himself!


    She immediately bowed and said with a voice laced with excitement and reverence: ¡°Yue¡¯er thanks honored master for his help!¡±


    Her master had always been someone whom she had placed her greatest trust on. Since the day she was taken in as Huang Xue¡¯s disciple, Yue Jing had grown to heavily rely on her master. This was not to say that she was weak or useless, but rather her master¡¯s constant doting and benevolent nature. The previous Huang Xue had never gotten mad at her, and his usual demeanor was laced with an unusual calmness. Because of that, Yue Jing had truly revered her master from the age of ten when she left her family clan to study under the wings of her master. This was several years before her master had founded the Godly Supreme Hall.


    And as time passed, her family members and clan had slowly given into the test of time. By the time Yue Jing had become powerful and could finally return to her land, she had painfully discovered that she was the only one left. From that day forth, besides her elder brothers, Yue Jing had viewed Huang Xue partially as a fatherly figure and partially as her grand master. Only towards her master, the one who continued to comfort and teach her when her own world had perished, would Yue Jing let down her guard.


    Huang Xue waved his hands as he said: ¡°There is no need to be courteous between master and disciple. Oh, right, Yue¡¯er you said that you have the ingredients I¡¯ve asked you to collect?¡±


    Yue Jing stood up as she took out from her dress a purple colored cosmic ring. She replied with a smile: ¡°Yes, master. While we are still searching for the things you¡¯ve requested on the second scroll, we¡¯ve managed to gather the materials you wanted on the first list.¡±


    Passing the purple ring to Huang Xue, Yue Jing then stood patiently on the side. When Huang Xue received the ring, his eyes glowed with excitement and hope. He promptly exclaimed: ¡°Good! Good! Yue¡¯er, you have done well this time!¡±


    Yue Jing blushed as she stood beside her seated master. This was an unusual reaction from Huang Xue. She had never seen her master praise her so openly and so loudly either. Before, it was either a gentle smile or a stroke on her head that conveyed her master¡¯s happiness. But...it was not like she disliked her master being so open like these either¡­


    ¡°Mmn, I shall begin refining this immediately. Yue¡¯er, since it is so late already, you may go rest now.¡± Huang Xue said as he contained his excitement from leaking out.


    Yue Jing, sensing the subtle agitation and impatience coming from her master, quickly assented and left the room in a streak of violet light. Now, there was only Huang Xue and the purple cosmic ring in his hand left.


    Sending his divine sense into the ring to survey its content, Huang Xue smiled when he saw that all thirty ingredients that he¡¯d asked for was inside. Not a single one was missing, and being down to the exact kilograms and size!


    With a flick of his wrist, all the materials within the purple ring flashed out and landed on the carpet floor. Huang Xue lifted his hands as black colored flames appeared in the air, surrounding the various herbs and special stones on the floor. The power that Huang Xue used was not Qi energy, but rather than Essence Flames.


    These were special fires that alchemists use to refine both objects and medicines. Across the Feng Shui continent, besides Array Spiritualists, another highly received group of cultivators are the Essence Alchemists. This was precisely derived from the essence flames in which they often use to create their work.


    There was surmised to be around one billion kinds of different Essence Flames, and possibly even more undiscovered ones. These were flames that held varying degrees of hints from the Dao of Pyre, one of the Zhen Daos. As such, only cultivators with an affinity to either fire or earth could possibly practice alchemy.


    But other than this restriction, there were no cultivation limits on whether a person could use Essence flames or not. Meaning, even a Temporary Di realm cultivator could become a famed Essence Alchemist should they have great control over this art.


    However, while there may seem to be many Essence Flames, not everyone could get ahold of one. One issue is the difficulty of finding one, as many of such flames dwell within either secretive or extremely dangerous areas.


    And another issue is one¡¯s compatibility with the flame type. With these two challenges present, they would also mean that becoming an Essence Alchemist was highly difficult, due to the variables of luck and affinity. It was such, that the population of such cultivators was much less than that of Array Spiritualists.


    As Huang Xue controlled his Essence Flames to swallow up the entire batch of ingredients, he began to carefully mold the materials within. The flames continued to swirl in the air, however it did not off a sense of intense heat, nor did it set the nearby furnitures on fire upon contact. It was as if the black flame was an illusion, yet one could vaguely feel pressure coming from the flame itself!


    With the large amount of essence flames discovered across the continent, there would naturally be a difference in quality and power between them. As such, Essence Flames were categorized into four classes according to the powerful alchemists across the continent:


    Natural Class, Rare Class, Ancient Class, and Primordial Class.


    Natural class were the lowest and weakest type of essence flames a user could get. However, the difficulty of obtaining even a Natural-class essence flame is still high.


    A rare-class one was regarded extremely highly across regions; and an Ancient-class was considered heavenly treasures in the elite sects and major powers across the world.


    As for Primordial-class? That was level of flame which could be considered legendary even within the Three Absolute Grand Sects!

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18: Star Decree Stone


    When the previous Huang Xue was still alive, besides being a peak cultivator, he was also famed as an Essence Alchemist --one who was in possession of an Ancient-class Essence flame!


    The probability of finding such a class of essence flame was less than one percent, with the requirements to assimilate with it being even more strict. After all, primordial-class Essence Flames were considered to be nonexistent, as those were Flames of Origin --the mother and sources of flames.


    Therefore, Huang Xue was quite surprised when this piece of memory about the previous host¡¯s other profession was fused and known to him. It was because of this, that Huang Xue had decided to immediately start his plan that encompassed the arts of refinement. With the ability to refine and create various things, the possibility was naturally endless!


    Moreover, the previous host was not a low leveled Essence Alchemist either, which made things much easier for Huang Xue. Compared to Array Spiritualists, where it is heavily focused on one¡¯s mental ability rather than body, Huang Xue was able to easily lay formations even in a completely fresh body. In other words, the previous host was not an Array Spiritualist, but with Huang Xue¡¯s memory integrated with the body, he was able to use such exquisite art.


    But an Essence Alchemist required Essence Flames and a strong constitution to refine things. And the body must be adapted to the flames in order for Huang Xue to exhibit his arts. Otherwise, it would easy for him to lose control over the flames, regardless of the depth of Huang Xue¡¯s knowledge! And it was fortunate that this body¡¯s owner was a high level Alchemist, making the process relatively easier for Huang Xue.


    In the world of Alchemists, there obviously exists ranks. Simply by the different class of Essence Flames, it could already be inferred that the skill sets and quality of Essence Alchemists would vary. They are similarly assorted into four ranks, like that of their Essence Flame. Their status can be revealed by the color of cloak they wear, as follows:


    Azure cloak, Black cloak, Gold Cloak, and Prism cloak.


    Status wise, for Essence Alchemists, an Azure Cloaked Alchemist was comparable to a Rank 3 Array Spiritualist¡¯s fame; a Black cloak to a Rank 6 Spiritualist, a Gold cloak to a Rank 9 Spiritualist; and a Prism Cloak was equivalent to a legendary Rank 12 Array Spiritualist!


    This instant status promotion was also one of the major reasons normal alchemists and cultivators would seek out Essence Flames...the prestige and ability brought about from becoming a simple Azure-cloaked alchemist was already enough to allow one to live a life full of luxury if one chose to!


    While the first three colors of cloaks could be given upon completing certain tests and obtaining the level of essence flames, a prism-colored cloak was said to be only possibly created by the actual alchemist themselves. If one actually possessed a Primordial-class essence flames, the abnormality of such fires could actually produce additional unique properties to whatever pills or items one creates! And a reflective, rainbow-like radiance was one of such typical appearances that a Prism Cloaked Alchemist could concoct in their finished products.


    On the other hand, there are alchemists without essence flame. However, these people can only be considered as ¡®doctors¡¯ as they are able to treat common illnesses and make low level pills using furnaces. High creation of pills and artifacts are out of their reach. Thus, they are only allowed to wear Brown cloaks, until they manage to come across a fortuitous opportunity and assimilate with an Essence Flame...


    As Huang Xue burned and controlled his Essence Flame, the ingredients inside the black ball of inferno began to merge and consolidate. A vague appearance of stone-like object began to become apparent.


    This process, which was inching closer to two hours, was now about to be completed. If Huang Xue had a powerful furnace to use, then the process may have been cut down. However, to get such a furnace, the time it would take may be too long. And the furnace that the previous host had used could only be considered ¡®decent¡¯, but was not that very useful in the current Huang Xue¡¯s eyes.


    Huang Xue was soon about to finish creating his desired item!


    *Bzzt!*


    ¡­*Poosh!*


    A weird, soft explosion sound resonated from within the inferno, as Huang Xue¡¯s black flames slowly dispersed, revealing a smooth gray colored stone. Hovering peacefully in the air, the stone was oval shaped and looked to be around 25 millimeters in size. If not for the strange aura surrounding this thing, anyone may have mistaken it as just another stone on the road.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Huang Xue had a satisfied smile on his face, as he slightly used his right hand to beckon over the stone. Looking at the fine stone in his hand, Huang Xue felt that all his hard work up in creating this thing had been well spent.


    ¡°Finally...with this Star Decree Stone, I will be able to locate some truly promising disciples!¡± Huang Xue thought with anticipation.


    The item that Huang Xue had wanted to create from his first list was precisely this ¡®Star Decree Stone¡¯. On this plane, Huang Xue knew that the chance of them finding such an artifact was exceedingly thin. That was because this special stone had the unique ability of being able to seek out one¡¯s potential!


    It was one of the popular items in the Jade Heaven Land, where deities would it to find suitable disciples to nourish. In the higher planes, this item had another name: ¡®The Fortune Stone¡¯. It was considered a Heaven-grade, due to its powerful singular purpose but lack of other life-saving abilities.


    However, as rare as it was, Huang Xue knew the formulas of creating such a stone. With his study in the Dao of Fortune and Dao of Alchemy, Huang Xue naturally would have examined countless artifacts that exhibited such unique properties as the Star Decree Stone. And over time, as he mastered the Daos, Huang Xue came to understand the origin of such creations, and even the means to recreate them!


    But out of all the items that Huang Xue had in mind, this Star Decree Stone was the only one that he had confidence in making, based on the current resources in this Earthly Land.


    And the reason for him to make such an item? It was obviously for Huang Xue to locate disciples or destined ones with great potentials!


    ¡°If I were to find disciples with enormous potentials and raise them well...I would then have another set of protection against myself should I lose to the Sealing Heart Hex... If not, then this could still be counted as a positive merit to my Karma and hopefully aid me through the next few years. I may even be able to break through, if everything goes accordingly as well¡­¡± Huang Xue thought as he looked at the stone in his head. This stone was the first step he would take towards returning to the Jade Heaven Land!


    In all the major Lands, perhaps only extremely few people would be like Huang Xue, seeking out and training students to their peak not in order to fight others, but to fight against himself! If others were to learn of this and were not informed of the background situation, they would no doubt label Huang Xue as a madman.


    Unfortunately, such stone could only be used to predict locations of cultivators and mortals, but not on items. Otherwise, Huang Xue would¡¯ve also used the Star Decree Stone to find the other precious ingredients for his cultivation pill!


    Without hesitation, Huang Xue injected a large amount of Qi energy directly into the stone as it came to life with a mysterious green glow. To activate the Star Decree Stone, one would have to put in a large portion of one¡¯s Qi. The stone would then take those Qi energy, and seek out others who have the potential to achieve such Qi level one day. In other words, the potential of the people whom Huang Xue may seek out with the stone will, at minimum, be able to reach the peak of the Immortal Sovereign Realm!


    And most importantly, the predicted person, if fully matured, would possess the ability to contend against himself in this Earthly Land in the future!


    After many times of usage, Huang Xue had found that the potentials sought out by the Star Decree Stone were often not limited to just the level of the user¡¯s energy. Meaning, there¡¯s always a high growth potential, allowing those disciples to surely surpass their master one day! And this was the best scenario that Huang Xue wanted.


    Should he one day get consumed by the Sealing Heart Hex a thousand years from now, his destined one would be able to hopefully prevent the Earthly Land from entirely falling into chaos. That was why Huang Xue had also decided that upon predicting his destined ones, he would go seek them out to carefully nurture them! Only this way, could they have the absolute chance of reaching their apex potential.


    As the Star Decree Stone operated, no one in the Godly Supreme Hall noticed the night stars above them glowing much brightly than before. They flickering on and off, and at one point, even three small shooting stars shot briefly across the sky!


    Huang Xue closed his eyes, before scenes of different places intruded his mind. Bright glowing dots appeared during each scene. These dots represented the number of destined figures at that location. This was the working of the Star Decree Stone, which possessed a hint of the Dao of Fortune that Huang Xue had ¡®conveyed¡¯ into the stone when he was making it. By using the stone, the locations and people were imprinted into the activator¡¯s mind.


    The flashes of scenes only lasted for a few moments before fading. As Huang Xue slowly opened his eyes, the originally glowing stone had already disappeared, leaving an ordinary-looking oval stone.


    Huang Xue furrowed his black eyebrows as he whispered with a bit of surprise:


    ¡°Six...Ocean Sect?


    Huang Xue did not recognize the Six Ocean Sect at all from his memory. But what made him surprise was not because he did not know it, but rather because the number of bright dots he saw in his mind...numbered up to three!


    When using the Star Decree Stone in the past, there was usually only one figure due to the fact that only powerful beings would use such fortune-telling method. The number of people who were destined and had potential similar to those strong beings were naturally scarce. Having a single dot appear was already quite fortunate.


    Any more dots than that had never appeared when divining using this method because it was almost impossible for more than one person who fits the criteria listed by the searcher.


    But other than this Six Ocean Sect, Huang Xue saw two other places in which he was familiar with; or better yet, it was the ¡®previous mortal him¡¯ who was familiar with.


    There was the ¡®Hidden Ghost Valley¡¯, a scene that was filled with hollow trees, dark swamps, and various evil entities.


    As for the third place, it was rich grass covered land with bright sun and vast mountain ranges. Huang Xue had recognized this place as the ¡®Hundred Gods Wilderness¡¯...and it was a location within the Xun Empire!


    Surprisingly, there were no destined ones to be found within the Three Absolute Grand Sects! But then again, no matter how much geniuses are gathered, it did not guarantee that each one of them would be able to reach the Immortal Sovereign realm. And even if a few manages to do so, in the end, if they have no destiny with Huang Xue they are equally useless in the latter¡¯s eyes. This ¡°destiny¡± part may been what barred many geniuses from those grand sects from appearing within the Star Decree Stone¡¯s fortune. Fate and destiny are not something one can obtain, but can only hope for; at least, extremely few have ever accomplished the former desire .


    Upon engraving these locations within his soul, Huang Xue closed his eyes as he went into meditation. He would now wait until tomorrow before inquiring things over with Yue Jing, especially about the Six Ocean Sect.


    Outside, the night had reached its peak, enveloping the dreaming world. A crack of light managed to struggle its way out of sleep, as it slowly grew brighter and brighter...

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19: Six Ocean Sect


    ¡°So, Yue¡¯er, what do you know about the place called the Six Ocean Sect?¡±


    Huang Xue sat on his throne as he stared at Yue Jing, who was bowing gracefully before him. The morning light was streaming through the open window, lighting up the room and illuminating Huang Xue¡¯s silky white hair. It almost looked as if it was glowing.


    Yue Jing paused and searched her memories before replying: ¡°Honored master, this Six Ocean Sect seems to be considered a ¡®powerful¡¯ sect situated in the Lower Regions. Although it¡¯s merely a great sect, and incomparable to our grand sect, over the years it has caught our attention due to its achievements and deeds. In just over two thousand years, it went from a third-rate Sect to a first-rate sect! Three of our current geniuses were even recruited from this Six Ocean Sect in the past years...but if I may dare ask, was there something about this Sect that has piqued your interest, master?¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Huang Xue gently touched his smooth chin that was now void of a comfy, white beard. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing. I have...some plans, that¡¯s all.¡±


    In the Feng Shui continent, the world was broken in two parts: the Lower Regions and Upper Regions. Naturally, the Upper Regions are where the Three Absolute Grand Sects resided and all the powerful countries within, thus its ¡®upper¡¯ connotation. The resources in the Upper Region was naturally more abundant and rich compared to its counter part.


    The Lower Region, on the other hand, was a collection of weaker countries and empires, being also separated by a distance of nearly nine hundred million miles of water and dangerous forests from the Upper Region. There were also several chunks of undefined territories and wild lands.


    With the difference in cultivation resources and strength, the Upper and Lower Regions can truly be considered two different worlds in itself! The Upper Region was also considered a place where those from the Lower Regions had continually aspired to enter one day.


    As for Sects, there were of course schools of varying sizes and power, being grouped into third-rate, second-rate, or even first-rate Sects. The schools that were first-rate were generally called ¡®elite or major sects¡¯. The second rate ones were referred to as ¡®great sects¡¯ or ¡®mid-tier sects¡¯, while third rate Sects were merely mentioned as ¡®small sects¡¯ - or not given a title at all.


    For a Sect to progress into higher standings, it would naturally take a long time or a huge power to propel it forward. Just by using two thousand years to become a first-rate sect could already be considered unprecedented for an unknown faction during a time of turbulence.


    ¡°Alright, then Yue¡¯er, please go arrange for me to blend into one of the loyal clans or retainers of our Godly Supreme Hall in the Lower Regions.¡± Huang Xue said suddenly. ¡°I will wish to borrow their surname and identity for a while.¡±


    ¡°Yes, as you comman--- eh? W-wait, master, what are you saying? Yue¡¯er does not understand¡­¡± Yue Jing said with alarm as confusion hinged on her tone. She did not understand what her master was trying to do.


    ¡°I shall be temporarily joining the Six Ocean Sect, in order to find a disciple. Since this may very well take some time, I would naturally require a safe place to reside in for the time being. And I am thinking of leaving in two days.¡± Huang Xue replied calmly.


    ¡°But, but why are you looking for another disciple, master? Is it because us four disciples are...not good enough?¡± Yue Jing could not help but ask bitterly. While she knew her master was not the sort of person to think that way, she was still overwhelmed by her master¡¯s sudden actions; causing her to be misled.


    ¡°Haha, of course it is not like that, Yue¡¯er. However, your master has his reasons for doing this, so I am seeking out another good seed like you four¡­¡± Huang Xue smiled as he comforted his student.


    ¡°Then...if master wishes to take in a talented disciple from the Lower Regions, why not look into schools like the Sun Dragon Sect or the Celestial Illusion Sect? Those are also first-rate sects with histories that are even longer than the Six Ocean Sect¡­¡± Yue Jing asked confusedly.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°I have read the stars and saw that my fortune of meeting my destined ones shall be in that Six Ocean Sect. That is why I will be going there for the time being.¡± Huang Xue said, as he told her some partial truth.


    ¡°You could read fortunes, master?¡± Yue Jing asked as her eyes widened in surprise. Knowing her master for so long, this was the first time she had heard about her master being able to read things like fortunes. After all, the number of people in this world that could do perform such divinity was quite few...


    ¡°Just something I happened to come across learning when I tried to break through.¡± Huang Xue relaxedly replied. ¡°Now, let us not dwell on this matter any longer. Time is of essence, so I would need for you to arrange a suitable family for me to reside in as a guest.¡±


    The Star Decree Stone had a divinity prediction range of five years. In other words, it would be possible for Huang Xue find his ¡®future disciples or destined ones¡¯ as long as he went to the places that had been previously shown to him within two years. But after that time has passed, everything would not be outside his prediction range and he would have to use the fortune stone once again.


    He was also worried his potential disciples may even be killed before he gets to them, which would then be a great loss for Huang Xue and the Earthly Land!


    Yue Jing went quiet as she contemplated her master¡¯s words, before she looked up and asked: ¡°Alright, Yue¡¯er will obey master¡¯s words. However, what Yue¡¯er does not understand is, if master is looking for a disciple, wouldn¡¯t it better for master to go to the Six Ocean Sect and reveal your identity? I¡¯m certain that if they knew of master¡¯s grand status, the disciple whom master are looking for may show him or herself¡­¡±


    Huang Xue smiled as he replied: ¡°The art of fortune telling is mysterious and unpredictable. If I were to reveal my identity to them, then it would raise a large commotion, which may alter certain threads of destiny. In order to not greatly disrupt the flow of this world, I need to integrate into the Six Ocean Sect and find him or her on my own.¡±


    It was unknown what kind of disposition Huang Xue¡¯s future disciples or destined ones would have. It was not guaranteed that they would simply flock to him just because of his great status. There are naturally prideful ones like that, and some of them may even possibly already have a master!


    Furthermore, the cultivators there may not even know of their Sect, simply due to the higher level of plane that Huang Xue¡¯s Upper Region resided in. Only by going there and learning himself, would Huang Xue be able to see things as they are.


    While revealing his power and status may not possible change anything regarding the fate between Huang Xue and his destined ones, there was still the issue about the other two Absolute Grand Sects and the various major powers within the Upper Region. If somehow wind got out that an ancestor personally made contact with someone from the Lower Regions, it would not be good. And if those people happen to act out against Huang Xue at the same time, their combined interference would prove to be troublesome even for someone of his status.


    Despite the miniscule chance of such an event occurring, nothing was absolutely certain. It was not so in the Jade Heaven Land, and it would be even less so in the Earthly Land!


    Yue Jing eyes glowed with a faint light of comprehension, as she bowed and said: ¡°Yue¡¯er was previously unable to comprehend master¡¯s wise words, so I ask for master¡¯s forgiveness! I will now immediately go find a clan in the Lower Regions that is suitable for master to reside in.¡±


    Just as Yue¡¯er was about to turn and leave, Huang Xue called out from behind: ¡°Ah, but make sure that the clan must have some great influence in the Long Dynasty.¡±


    Yue Jing paused in her steps before turning around and staring at her master. ¡°Eh? But if master stays at a powerful clan and join the Six Ocean Sect as a member from a major clan...wouldn¡¯t you attract too much attention?¡±


    ¡°Haha, I am joining as someone ¡®native¡¯ to the land, so even if my status is a bit higher it would not impact Fate too much. Not to mention, with my current white hair, it may already be somewhat strange for me to pose as a normal ¡®disciple¡¯, even with my youthful look. Thus, the major clan will help serve as a background so people would not dive too deep into that matter. Likewise, this would mean that it may take a while for me integrate into the Sect. However, I will still retain my current appearance. Perhaps my appearance could possibly provoke a destined one to appear!


    Furthermore, by joining a major clan as one of its younger generations, I can display greater talent without garnering certain suspicions from other nosy experts. Thus even if I attract attention then, I will only attract the burning desire of challenging those higher than oneself from those sect disciples. And who knows, if I stand out enough as a youth there, perhaps I may even become one of the my destined ones¡¯ target. At that time, wouldn¡¯t he or she personally come see me?¡± Huang Xue laughed gently.


    While Huang Xue¡¯s reasons were as such, his other reason was that he wanted to use his temporary ¡®high¡¯ status to deter any unnecessary skirmishes with those unruly younger generations. Although he was considered an ¡°elderly figure¡±, Huang Xue was not afraid to personally make a move on anyone who wishes to challenge him, regardless if they were from the younger generation or not. Once he suppressed his cultivation, he would be granted the same status as any other youngster, given that they do not know of his true origins¡­


    The Earthly Land was where Huang Xue, and Shen Qin, was born. It can be considered his homeland, so Huang Xue was determined not to let it be destroyed by his own hands. Adding on to the fact that he especially disliked implicating others in his own mess, Huang Xue was willing use any means, even if they may be considered despicable, to solve his problems!


    Moreover, Huang Xue just did not wish to engage in tasteless and extremely extended verbal battles with the useless cultivators.


    Since he possessed the ability to choose to live in a mighty family, why would he purposely enter the Six Ocean Sect as a commoner? That would not have made any sense!


    Using his high status, through the influence a temporary strong clan, he would be able to attract those truly talent cultivators. With those cultivators, it would naturally be more worthwhile to chat, to argue, to fight...and to raise the level of their ability. Making several powerful enemies or allies from the Lower Regions may not be a bad idea for Huang Xue either.


    After all, one may never know the possibility of growth in a mortal. Nothing is ever constant nor should ever be taken granted for...

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20: The Big Buddha Head (1)


    Everything was arranged by evening the same day that Huang Xue had issued his commands. One has to say that Yue Jing was truly a meticulous and expeditious person.


    Using the Godly Supreme Hall¡¯s vast network, Yue Jing had easily found a suitable clan within the Bai Province, one of 8 large provinces of the Long Dynasty. The Six Ocean Sects was situated in this very dynasty, in the Yu Province that neighbored east of the Bai Province.


    The clan was called the ¡®Shen Clan¡¯, one of the many retainers of the Godly Supreme Hall. When a clan or power is too weak in the Upper Regions, they are typically either destroyed or decline into the Lower Regions. However, there are those who are sent to the Lower Regions as a mean of networking.


    As it was crucial for major powers to keep up with the ongoing events in the world around them, be it in the Upper or Lower Regions, they often place weaker members of their group all across the continent and in various organizations. The Shen Clan was such group.


    It was created by an elder of the Godly Supreme Hall, who was not very powerful within the sect. Therefore, this elder was ordered to be placed within the Long Dynasty as a spy while keeping in touch with the Godly Supreme Hall of any major happenings. And while the elder was considered weak within the Upper Regions, once he entered the Lower Regions, his strength was actually considered near the top!


    In fact, after the elder had established his Shen Clan, his clan slowly became a major power in the Long Dynasty that was said to be comparable to even the royal clan of the dynasty the Long Clan themselves!


    And considering the Shen Clan¡¯s current strength, its loyalty, its convenient geographic location and its dedicated tributes to the Godly Supreme Hall over the hundred years, Yue Jing naturally found this clan to be likable and suitable for her master to reside in.


    One has to say that this Shen Clan had truly drawn the lucky straw this time!


    After selecting the residence, Yue Jing had immediately used a talisman to send a transmission to the Shen Clan¡¯s present clan master about the arrangement. And without saying, it goes that the Shen Clan had naturally accepted...


    On the sixth floor of the Head Martial Tower, a black robed youth sat leisurely upon a throne as he looked out at the evening sky through an open window. A purple dressed middle aged lady stood in front of him patiently.


    ¡°Master, everything have been arranged. As for the Six Ocean Sect, I received news that in three days there would be an exam for selecting new disciples. Considering it is known as one of the four major Sects within the entire Profound Night Land, this kind of exam should attract many talents living near the borders of the Long Dynasty yearly...but master, why would you want to partake in such trivial test? With a single word from the Shen Clan, you could easily join the Six Ocean Sect without going through this¡­¡± Yue Jing said as she looked curiously at her master.


    Huang Xue smiled absentmindedly as he replied: ¡°That would be no good. During the entrance exam, there are bound to a large batch of talents participating. If I go with the exam, I would naturally be exposed to a greater number of students at once. My potential disciples may be an entering freshmen, after all. And it may even be easier at that time, than for me to enter the Six Ocean Sect and then to search around in separate locations. At the very least, I would be able to confirm if my disciple exists within the freshmen groups¡­¡±


    Yue Jing nodded and said: ¡°Master is wise, Yue¡¯er has only been looking at the narrow picture¡­¡±


    ¡°Haha, your master is no wiser than you, my silly disciple. In this world, what understanding do we have that could truly be called ¡®wisdom¡¯...the universe is simply too vast for a person to claim they are wiser than another...¡± Huang Xue said calmly, as his eyes glimmered with a strange light. ¡°Anyways, enough of that. Yue¡¯er, before I leave...how is the quality of our disciples?¡±


    As the ancestor of the Godly Supreme Hall, he had bothered to check on the disciples being raised within his own Sect due to the fact that his grand sect did not appear in the Star Decree Stone¡¯s predictions. It meant that there were no disciples within the Godly Supreme Hall, or even in any of the other two grand sects, who could reach the peak of the Immortal Sovereign realm.


    However, it was the peak that they may be unable to reach, but not the realm itself. There was still a strong possibility that some disciples in his Godly Supreme Hall may be able to reach the Immortal Sovereign Realm!


    Unfortunately, the Star Decree Stone could only seek out potentials that are relevant to the initiator¡¯s current realm. Meaning, even if Huang Xue had suppressed his cultivation, the stone would still be able to see through into his true cultivation and search for potentials that are equivalent to the peak of the Immortal Sovereign realm.


    As such, now that Huang Xue was about to leave for quite some time, he wanted to at least personally see some of the most talented disciples of his Hall, and deduce their potential himself! After all, the possibility of the future is endless. No one knows their true potential until they¡¯ve actually reached the end of their road¡­


    Yue Jing was a bit taken aback in her heart when her master once again asked something that seemed irrelevant, especially since he was leaving soon. But as a disciple, she knew it would futile to try to read her master¡¯s mind. Thus, she replied calmly:Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°This year, we did not take in any new disciples as the quality of talent is simply too low. And from my observation, it seems that each year the number of talents are diminishing. I received news that the other two grand sects are experiencing the same issue as well. However, while we lost a few core disciples over the years, the remaining ones are especially talented. Be it their combat skills, cultivation, age, or latent potential, they are a cut above the rest of the Godly Supreme Hall disciples. They may even be considered the strongest group of core disciples within the last two thousand years!¡±


    ¡°Oh? That sounds quite promising¡­¡± Huang Xue murmured for a bit, before he lifted his head and commanded. ¡°Since that is case, bring them to me.¡±


    Yue Jing was startled before she started: ¡°But master, if they were to see you¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will be wearing a mask and concealing my aura. They won¡¯t recognize me. And even if I did not wear anything, just my youthful appearance alone would have confused them. Not to mention, no one has seen me in the last several thousands years, haha!¡± Huang Xue said as he waved his hand for Yue Jing to go. ¡°If need be, just introduce me as a guest elder. I will go down to the fifth floor to meet them.¡±


    The fifth floor of the Head Martial Tower was where grand guests stayed in. Yue Jing did not say anything more as she bowed and turned to go gather the core disciples.


    While core disciples were usually far away from the Godly Supreme Hall, due to training and personal matters, they are each given a special teleportation talisman that would allow them to instantly return back to the Hall. This was so that the Godly Supreme Hall would be able to aptly defend itself, should an enemy attack occur.


    Therefore, with a personal summon from the Sect Master of the Godly Supreme Hall, the core disciples quickly crushed their talisman and returned to the Sect ground. None of them dared to be late. After all, this was the Sect Master they were talking about!


    In just over a quarter of an hour, all three hundred core disciples were gathered inside the spacious fifth floor of the Head Martial Tower. These creams of the crop all stood respectfully as they faced the Yue Jing, who was now standing on a tall podium at the end of the room. In a unified voice, they cried out in reverence:


    ¡°¡±¡° We greet the Supreme Empress! ¡°¡±¡±


    Yue Jing nodded as she looked at her students with pride and hope. Directly to the left behind Yue Jing, sat Huang Xue who was wearing a Big Head Buddha mask.


    (Note: Big head budhha mask: https://img0.etsystatic.com/021/0/8271329/il_570xN.568427784_mzui.jpg</a> )


    Several of the core disciples, when they saw Huang Xue¡¯s mask, had a weird expression on their face. For some, they attempted to suppress their inner organs from betraying them and allowing them to give to their pent-up laughter. Every one felt that the person wearing the Big Buddha Head mask seemed...quite out of place. In a large hall filled with prestigious disciples and descendants from powerful families, the masked person looked eye-catchingly...foolish.


    If they did not remind themselves that this was the fifth floor of the Head Martial Tower and that the Sect Master was standing before them, many would have long burst out laughing or sneering in contempt at the Big Buddha Headed figure. They were, after all, the blessed sons of Heaven. Arrogance was a natural association for many of them.


    Yue Jing tried to avoid looking at her master, as even she felt a bit awkward with her master wearing such conspicuous mask. Gathering her voice, she maintained a serene expression as she spoke out to the disciples:


    ¡°All core disciples of my Godly Supreme Hall, listen to my words!¡±


    The moment Yue Jing spoke, the soft murmurs within the hall instantly died out. Everyone looked comparatively alert and serious as they listened to their sect master.


    ¡°I have asked for you all to return back to the Sect this time because of a request from a very esteemed guest elder!¡± Saying this, Yue Jing respectfully moved her body and gestured to Huang Xue, who was behind her.


    Huang Xue only gave a slight nod, which prompted a few contemptuous smiles to appear on some of the more arrogant core disciples¡¯ face. A nod from a person wearing a Big Buddha Head...gave off an exceedingly naive and innocent impression, causing many of the core disciples to think that the person behind the mask was weak. Perhaps this ¡®esteemed guest¡¯ was a relative of the sect master, or perhaps someone with a high status but weak skill, was what some of the disciples were now thinking¡­


    Yue Jing coughed and continued: ¡°This esteemed elder here wish to examine the quality of our Hall¡¯s core disciples. So everyone should follow what this elder asks for!¡±


    At this moment, Huang Xue stood up as he walked to the front of the red carpeted podium. All three hundred pairs of sharp eyes were directed to his figure.


    Surveying the group of disciples, Huang Xue spoke in an altered voice that sounded neither like man or woman, young or old:


    ¡°This old one here likes those with true martial arts talent! Right now, I want you all to release your aura to the peak...and try to suppress me!¡±


    Some of the core disciples frowned, while the others had on an angry expression. To have all of them release their Qi aura to suppress a single person...wasn¡¯t that a humiliation to all of them? Even if the other party was much stronger than themselves, to oppress one person with a large crowd was simply a coward¡¯s actions¡­


    ¡°Do not worry. This is apart of my test for you all. Whatever happens to me, you will not be liable. This will naturally be witnessed by your Sect Master. Now, come! Show me what you have!¡± Huang Xue¡¯s voice rang out over the conflicted crowd. At the same time, the core disciples saw Huang Xue beckoning to them with his index finger, in a provocative manner¡­


    In the next moment, an explosion of various Qi aura burst from the crowd as each disciple released their Qi aura. A tidal wave of heterogeneous Qi aura instantly surged towards Huang Xue¡¯s body as it crashed viciously into him. All three hundred core disciples at this very moment, was attempting to suppress him.


    However, even under this enormous wave of Qi auras, the Big Buddha Headed figure did not seem to budge or even tremble in the least! The head slightly bobbed up and down in a relaxed manner, as Huang Xue recounted to himself in his thoughts:


    ¡°Hmm, they are not bad. Even though none of them looked older than twenty eight or twenty nine, their auras are that of the Dao Ascent realm! Even the weakest one seems to have reached the initial stages of that realm, and there¡¯s even a few auras approaching the level of a Heavenly Wang...as expected of a Grand Sect.¡±


    After assessing the quality of the students, Huang Xue felt that such a sect was truly deserving to be called a grand sect, a holy land for martial artists. The level of talent in this place was simply too worlds apart in comparison to other regions!


    While the core disciples continually increased their aura towards Huang Xue, the latter finally returned back from his thoughts.


    The students all glared at the masked figure as they channeled their profound Qi throughout their body, using every ounce of their strength to force their aura down upon Huang Xue. Some of the students even thought that the ¡®esteemed elder¡¯ had been frozen on the spot due to the enormous wave of Qi auras suppressing down on him, hence the latter¡¯s immobility.


    With three hundred Dao Ascents and half-step Heavenly Wang cultivators using their auras all at once to directly oppress a single person...even if the other party was a late staged Heavenly Wang practitioner, they would still find it difficult to endure!


    Just as several of the core disciples were thinking along this line, a vibrant voice echoed out from the person wearing the Big Buddha Head mask:


    ¡°Pretty good. Alright, now it is my turn. Please try to endure as best as you can. The ones who last the longest shall get received great benefits!¡±


    Right after the voice faded, a terrifying aura descended upon the crowd. At that moment, all three hundred Qi auras, which were originally like a gigantic tidal, disappeared in an instant.


    Not a drop of their Qi aura could be felt, as all the core disciples felt their heart tremble under the pressure of this sudden, monstrous aura!...

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21: The Big Buddha Head (2)


    <hr>


    When the core disciples felt the terrifying aura press down upon them, they immediately lost connection with their legs as they each kneeled down on the ground powerlessly.


    *Plop!* *Plop!* *Plop!*


    Being forced to direct their entire focus and energy into defending against this crushing aura, none of the disciples had time to voice their shock, much less make any sound besides the occasional soft grunts of pain. This energy...was simply too tyrannical for them to withstand.


    ¡°This...isn¡¯t this aura that of an Empyrean?!¡±


    ¡°Ughh...I...can¡¯t hold any longer!¡±


    ¡°Gahh!...this pain¡­!¡±


    These frantic thoughts flashed through all the mind of the core disciples present, as many of them began to quickly faint under Huang Xue''s pressure. At the same time, the aura that was pressing down on them had slowly began to climb higher and higher¡­


    Before long, after the Qi aura had reached that of a genuine early staged Empyrean Hun, only six core disciples were left.


    ¡°Very good...to be able to withstand the Qi pressure of an early staged Empyrean Hun cultivator..these peak Dao Ascents at least proved their endurance is at a terrifying degree! They are worth nurturing!¡± Huang Xue thought silently to himself as he looked down at the six disciples with satisfaction.


    By now, these six top core disciples were already clutching onto the ground with their entire strength, while they tried to stay conscious. As they pushed with their entire power to finally lift their head up to look at the Big Buddha Headed figure, there was not a shred of contempt nor confusion left in their heart.


    Instead, there was only an intense fear and reverence towards this monstrous being who was standing before them! It was now that they clearly understood everything...with the other party being an exalted Empyrean Hun, it was no wonder why their Sect Master would invite such a person to luxurious fifth floor of the Head Martial Tower, and treated him/her with respect!


    Even for some of these arrogant geniuses, in face of an Empyrean Hun, they are more willinging to acknowledge and revere this sort of being. After all, as Dao Ascents, while they could battle those of the normal Heavenly Wang realm and even reach it at one point, for them to enter the Empyrean Hun realm was truly a difficult task.


    The amount of hard work, talent, and luck that are related to this tremendous advancement was so much that out of five hundred million cultivators, only one person could possibly become an Empyrean Hun! Thus, even in those exalted grand sects, and even across the known regions of the Feng Shui Continent, Empyrean Hun cultivators were few and were in every way considered beings of peerless status.


    Now that these six core disciples of the Godly Supreme Hall were looking at the Big Buddha Head, they felt the person seemed much more majestic and imperial than before! And the previously foolish looking mask was now a strong symbol of terrifying strength and status in the heart of these six!


    *Whooo¡­*


    The air suddenly twisted for a second, before the tremendous Qi aura that was pressing down on them disappeared. It was an instantaneous phenomenon. The pressure faded so quickly that for a moment, the six core disciples almost thought that they may have been trapped in an illusion previously. However, upon looking around and seeing the unconscious figures of their fallen apprentice brothers and sisters, the six core disciples knew that everything that had happened before was real.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    While they were still momentarily dazed, a resonating voice rang from in front of the six disciples:


    ¡°Excellent! The remaining six of you have done well to endure under my pressure! Ahh, what a pity is it! If only you all were a bit more stronger, perhaps I can attempt to test if you can endure a mid-staged Empyrean Hun¡¯s aura...but alas, I can only stop here. Otherwise, your meridians and mind may go berserk later on, hahaha!¡±


    A chill ran down the spine of the six core disciples as they stared at the Big Buddha Headed elder on the podium. Attempt to endure under a mid-staged Empyrean Hun¡¯s pressure? If we fail, our meridians and mind will break? Just who the hell was this madman!


    Although the disciples were shocked, they quickly recovered. After all, high leveled experts all had their peculiar personalities and traits; this much was at least well known among the lower cultivators. But still, the words coming from the mysterious elder in front them were truly a bit too... uncomfortable, not to mention this was said within their very own Godly Supreme Hall!


    ¡°Alright, Yue¡¯er, I like these six little Dao Ascents! Later, go take them to our Hall¡¯s Ancestral Repository and let them pick out something they like! And from now on, pay more attention to these six core disciples. Provide them with greater resources amount, but make sure to not overdo it; a little extra is fine. In the end, having them learn and train on their own is still the best way!¡± Huang Xue sent used his divine sense to send a mental message to Yue Jing, who was standing a bit behind him. Once a cultivator reaches a certain realm, transmitting messages or even holding conversations in between minds would easily become possible!


    ¡°I understand, master!¡± Yue Jing transmitted back.


    Facing the three males and three females, who each looked younger than thirty years old, Huang Xue was extremely pleased. Although the Star Decree Stone did not enlist these six individuals as people capable of reaching the peak of the Sovereign Immortal Realm, with the great talent they exhibited, Huang Xue still believed that they could perhaps reached the initial realms.


    After all, Huang Xue had set the condition on the star decree stone to search for those who could reach the peak of the Sovereign Immortal realm and contend against himself!


    Thus, it was still worthwhile for him to nurture these children. After all, wasn¡¯t this Godly Supreme Hall supposedly a den full of monsters? To keep watch over a few outstanding ones here may perhaps prove beneficial in the future one day!


    Even without a complete mastery over the Dao of Fortune, a Sheng-level Dao, Huang Xue decided to trust his vague gut feeling of taking this chance on the six youths. Huang Xue believed, no, he wanted to believe that the chances he had took now will prove useful in the distant future, even if it was only a little!


    ¡°You six may now leave. Later on, your Supreme Monarch will give you the details of what to do next!¡± Huang Xue declared behind his mask. Even up until now, he did not bother asking for the names of these remaining core disciples. Huang Xue did not even check any of the core disciples¡¯ physiques or let them display their abilities. To him, who was leaving soon, there was no need to care so much about these Sect disciples yet.


    The six disciples by now have already roughly recovered their energy back. Thus, when Huang Xue gave his order, the six quickly bowed in respect before transforming into streaks of light and disappearing out the open windows.


    As for the two hundred plus unconscious core disciples, Huang Xue did not bother with them. He directly left for the sixth floor of the Head Martial Tower to meditate, leaving Yue Jing to summon several elders to help carry the immobile disciples back to their room.


    ***


    After a brief encounter with the three hundred core disciples of the Godly Supreme Hall, Huang Xue had shut himself off on the sixth floor of the Head Martial Tower for the next two days to meditate. No one, including Yue Jing, was allowed to disturb him during this time.


    Sitting in a lotus position, a black robed youth could be seen meditating in silence. His jade-like face and snowy white hair gave him an ephemeral atmosphere that no mortals could trespass through. A powerful undulation of Qi could be felt rippling from the youth¡¯s body.


    However, as seconds passed, this strong aura gradually began to wither down. Before long, only a faint energy could be felt from the youth¡¯s body.


    Huang Xue¡¯s eyes fluttered open. Breathing out a light air, Huang Xue inspected his body before he nodded in contentment.


    ¡°5th stage of the Jie Hai realm...this should be enough for me to stand out in the crowd while blending in with those higher elites¡­¡± Huang Xue mused to himself.


    From the reports he had received from Yue Jing before he went into his meditation, in the Long Dynasty, the cultivators there were considered quite weak. This was mainly due to the scarcity of cultivation resources, thus Huang Xue heard that it was very hard for the people in those Lower Regions to increase their strength.


    It was even said that it was common for cultivators to be unable to breakthrough to the Jie Hai realm in their entire lifetime because of lacking resources and proper guidances! For them, being a late staged Di Temporal cultivator was already considered decent, with Jie Hai realm being hailed as ¡®true experts¡¯. And it was known that for these Lower Region inhabitants, increasing a single stage after entering the Jie Hai realm was extremely taxing and difficulty!


    Thus, a Jie Hai 7th staged cultivator below the age of twenty was sufficient to be called a genius in the eyes of these people! This was why Huang Xue chose to suppress his cultivation to this rank.


    Looking out the window, Huang Xue murmured softly to himself:


    ¡°Since today is the second day, I should go to the Shen Clan now. I¡¯ll be staying there for a while, might as well go meet them and observe the surrounding environment there personally...¡±

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22: The Arrival


    <hr>


    Looking out the window, Huang Xue murmured softly to himself:


    ¡°Since today is the second day, I should go to the Shen Clan now. I¡¯ll be staying there for a while, might as well go meet them and observe the surrounding environment there personally...¡±


    Without bothering to inform his disciple, Huang Xue took out several Million Miles Teleportation Talismans from the blue ring on his finger. Having prepared everything he ¡®needed¡¯ two days earlier, Huang Xue had packed up on Qi Stones, herbs, and a few other artifacts and manuals. Inside his blue cosmic ring, besides a large stack of Qi stones, there were even three extra cosmic bags and four cosmic rings...each being gold colored!


    This was a level of wealth that only an ancestral-figure of a Three Absolute Grand Sect could afford to have; and with Huang Xue¡¯s indifferent attitude towards these objects, he was naturally not stingy spending them either¡­


    If the previous Huang Xue was alive and knew that his entire fortunes that he had saved up through countless years of travel and tribulation, being carried and treated with unconcern...perhaps he would have long vomited blood on the spot in indignation!


    *WHOOSH!*


    A blue light enveloped Huang Xue¡¯s body, before his body completely disappeared from the room in a flash...


    ***


    The Bai Province was one of the top three largest province in existence in the Long Dynasty. With each province being separated either by large forests or mountain ranges, there were relatively few communications between the eight provinces on normal occasions.


    However, since the Long Dynasty was not exceedingly large in respective to the other nations, being only 3.72 million square miles in size, the travel of news were relatively smooth between the provinces. Equipped with further items and transmission talismans of the likes, the eight provinces were still able to interact with each other and remain bonded under a single nation.


    But being friendly with one another did not mean they were all equal. Beneath the surface of courtesy, each province would struggle to produce talented cultivators to show off to the other territories. This way, not only would their province¡¯s status rapidly rise among eight major provinces, the cities within the province may even receive more concentrated cultivation from the royal Long family!


    A country that was created five million years ago by the Long Clan, and was still able to remain standing even after being under the same ruler for so long; the wealth and power needed for such a feat was a terrifying thought for many normal people.


    As such, the eight provinces, including even other smaller nations, would attempt to curry favors with this royal family. If they were to succeed in ingratiating themselves with this exalted power, then given the amount of resources the Long Clan wielded, their status and strength would naturally rise accordingly as well!


    Three miles away to the south, outside of the Bai Province, laid a small dense forest. This was a relatively safe habitat, where only weak evil beasts would occasionally tread. To make it easier for travel, there were even paved roads slithering through the forests and land.


    As the wind blew gently through the swaying grass, a sudden blue light appeared in the sky as it quickly descended to the ground.


    *WHOOSH!*


    In the next moment, the azure glow transformed to reveal a black robed with flowing white hair and a scholar look.


    ¡°Oh? I finally arrived, but it seems that I¡¯m currently a bit off from the Bai Province...¡± Huang Xue looked at the green lush around him. With a relative location of the Bai Province and its name in mind, Huang Xue had used to teleportation to instantly travel here. Since he was unfamiliar with the Bai Province, he naturally did not want to waste effort traveling across the dimensional space.


    However, since talismans were lifeless, although they were powerful items, they are not always correct. There were varied distances between where a teleportation talisman would send its user and where desired location was truly at. Sometimes it would only be a few miles, while other times it may even be tens of miles. There were many factors involved with these sort of transportation methods, but a major function of such talismen were to ensure the safety of its users. As such, it would often teleport a person to a location that was relatively near, or even at their desired place, where it would less populated of humans and beasts alike.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Closing his eyes and spreading his divine sense, Huang Xue was easily able to get a vague ¡®picture¡¯, or sense, of the surrounding lands within ten miles. He was able to ¡®see¡¯ those things that were beyond what his mortal eyes could detect when his divine sense is deployed.


    While his cultivation was still suppressed, he was still able to use some of his innate divine abilities, such as his divine sense; albeit the range of effectiveness would naturally be reduced quite a bit due to the restriction.


    Upon discovering a vague image of what looks like a small city inside a large patch of surrounding wall, and a brown sign showing the character ¡®Bai¡¯ handing in front of the castle-like entrance, Huang Xue opened his eyes as he leisurely began to walk out of the forest. Arriving on the main road, he headed towards north.


    With his hands folded behind his back, a smiling black robed youth could be seen walking silently on a dirt paved path. The wind blew cautiously around him, as the birds and insects chirped excitedly under the burning sun¡­


    ***


    <White Feather City of Bai Province, Long Dynasty>


    Among the several small cities in the Bai Province, the White Feather City was the most prominent. It was one of the three major cities in this province.


    However, it was not always like this. In reality, there were only two reputed major cities in the Bai Province several hundred years back. The White Feather City of then, was merely another common small city among a dozen.


    But when the Shen Clan moved into this city and made it its base...things naturally began to change. With the Shen Clan¡¯s rapid grasp of power and influence, the clan soon became one of the major powers in the entire Long Dynasty. The number of talented cultivators and overall strength of the Shen Clan was to such a great extent, that it had caught the attention of the royal family. Although the Long Clan would often limit the powers of those retainers under their rule, the Shen Clan was not of such affiliation with them. It could even be said that the royal family had no way to control or even tame this growing power.


    As such, they had chosen to compromise and work alongside the Shen Clan! This kind of relationship with the Long Clan, which very few were able to establish, had dramatically increased the Shen Clan¡¯s fame and influence. With the royal family now as their backer, the Shen Clan continued to flourish successfully over the next several years. And the White Feather City, in which they resided in, had naturally tagged along in their rise to prominence, becoming the third major city of Bai Province!


    Directly south of White Feather City¡¯s entrance gate, at the far end, there stood a thirty five meters tall mansion, looking quite similar to a grand Chinese castle. Spanning fifty thousand square meters, the building was covered with orange tiles and its exterior walls were painted a beige shade. At the very front of the mansion, there was a golden embroidered sign with the red colored words ¡®SHEN CLAN¡¯ plastered upon it.


    While clans and other factions were often not permitted to build massive residences, due to the Shen Clan¡¯s power being on par with the royal family, the Shen Clan was granted a generous plot of land to create their base. It could even be said that this large land was a gift from the royal family as a mean to rope in, or even simply to please, the dominant Shen Clan, in fear of the latter revolting. After all, this was a concern for every royal families across the continent --the dread of a similar leveled power overtaking their throne!


    Outside the closed gates of the Shen mansion, everything was quiet. There were very few people to be seen walking near this area, save for two dedicated men in blue clothes who were guarding outside. Under the fiery sun, a rare breeze brushed through the mansion. Swirling through the air and entering a large courtyard, the wind rustled lightly across the clothes of several people who were gathered there.


    Wearing various colors of clothing, a crowd of around two hundred people, both young and old, were standing in orderly next to each other. A few of them exuded a particularly strong presence among the group.


    Every single one of them were looking up ahead towards two old men, who were standing on elevated steps of stone. In front of those elders, there were flickers of excitement, reverence, and even fear within the depths of the people¡¯s eyes.


    Standing in the center of the stone steps, was a skinny middle aged man wearing a silky dark brown robe. The man had a fierce appearance, his fading black hair and strong eyebrows served to enhance his mascularity. This person was the patriarch of the Shen Clan, Shen Lin!


    Three steps to the right of the patriarch, stood an elderly man in a dark red robe. Although there were relatively few wrinkles despite the elder¡¯s head full of gray hair, this person who looked to be only around sixty years of age was in truth, already a thousand years old!


    Tiny powerful ripples were constantly leaking from this elder¡¯s body, giving others who dared to look at him, a feeling of boundless ocean. A feeling of despair.


    Many members in the clan did not recognize this person, apart from a few very older generations. And when they did, these usually lofty aged elders of the Shen Clan had immediately acted docile in the presence of the red clothed elder.


    As for the others who did not know the mysterious elder, with just the red clothed senior being allowed to stand right next to their patriarch, they had easily deduced the extraordinariness of this elder. As such, none of them dared to directly look or even speak to him.


    However, as majestic as this elder was, there is a nervous expression on his face that had been stuck there for the past two hours¡­


    Under the glaring summer sun, the entire Shen Clan had been called to gather in the courtyard. They had each been told that they would receiving an extremely exalted guest, and that they were to do everything in their power to please him, but never offend!


    If these words had been spoken by someone else, then perhaps these Shen clansmen who not mind much. However, they were actually spoken by the patriarch himself! The being who sat at the highest seat within the clan, the one who was in charge of the grand Shen Clan, had actually spared time to tell them this. So what did this mean? It basically meant that the guest whom they would receive must be truly extraordinary! At least, so much so that the patriarch had urgently summoned everyone and even brought that mysterious red robed elder.


    However, they have been waiting for nearly two hours now...and this ¡®guest¡¯ had yet to appear! But seeing that their patriarch and the powerful elder standing patiently on the steps, the clansmen could do nothing about it as they continued to wait beneath the sun.


    ¡°Haha, looks like I¡¯ve made everyone wait.¡±


    A vigorous, young voice floated over as everyone immediately turned to see a black robed youth with white hair drifting down from the air. There was sense of refined and ancient air surrounding around this youth who looked to be around sixteen or seventeen.


    All the elders were alarmed as they watched the youth in the sky. None of them had been able to detect this person¡¯s presence, even when he was so close to them!


    Upon seeing the floating youth, the red robed elder¡¯s eyes widened in deep shock before they glistened with moist...

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23: Shen Clan


    <hr>


    Huang Xue lightly landed inside the Shen Clan¡¯s courtyard, as he looked around at the Shen clansmen.


    Previously while he was traveling towards White Feather City, Huang Xue became a bit impatient walking. Although he was only three miles away from the Bai Province, he would still have to travel another eleven miles to reach White Feather City. And since Huang Xue already knew that the Shen Clan was situated in White Feather City, which was near the border of the Bai Province, he wanted to arrive there as soon as possible.


    Even as a deity, there were times when his patience would run out at the smallest things. Perhaps this inconsistency between his personal peeves was why he had never managed to master the Dao of Eternality, a powerful Sheng Dao that revolved around becoming one with the universe, becoming an tranquillity that can be moved by none.


    Thus, without hesitation, Huang Xue had raised his cultivation back to its original state and tore apart a small space to travel across in. Upon landing in the Shen residence, he had immediately suppressed his level once again, as to avoid scaring the younger ones.


    While the crowd watched the handsome with looks of both awe and confusion, the red robed elder, who had previously been silent the entire time, suddenly moved forward at an astonishing speed. The Shen clan elders and youths were only able to see a vague red blur before that mysterious elder was already in front of Huang Xue.


    Then, under the shocked eyes of everyone...the fiery clothed elder had actually kneeled down in front of the white haired youth!


    ¡°This little one, Shen Yin Tian, greets the Suprem-- this honored guest!¡± The red robed elder named ¡®Shen Yin Tian¡¯ respectfully said; correcting the latter part of his words at the last moment.


    This was because when the Yue Jing contacted the Shen Clan, she had only told this Shen Yin Tian about her master¡¯s command. And it was told to him that he should not expose Huang Xue¡¯s identity to others, thus Shen Yin Tian did not dare address his sect master so openly.


    Even with Huang Xue¡¯s impossibly youthful look, Shen Yin Tian was naturally able to recognize the brief, yet familiar tyrannical aura that had leaked from Huang Xue¡¯s body. This person, was undoubtedly, the one he had been all along for!


    However, although Shen Yin Tian made a slight correction to his greeting, no one noticed this vague blunder. Instead, everyone had an incredulous look on their face.


    ¡°Shen...Yin Tian?! Is that elder really the legendary Shen Yin Tian?¡±


    ¡°My god...then doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s the ancestor of our Shen Clan?! Am I still dreaming??¡±


    Murmurs of shock spread through the crowd of Shen clansmen. In the very beginning, when the Shen Clan bursted into existence, it was all through the combined efforts of a few powerful people led a single man --Shen Yin Tian.


    And through several historical records that spoke about this person¡¯s fantastic battles and his overcoming of various tribulations to establish the Shen Clan, Shen Yin Tian had become akin to a mythical being in the clan members¡¯ mind!


    However, after the Shen Clan stabilized and flourished overtime, becoming one of the major powers in the Long Dynasty, the Shen ancestor disappeared. For nearly several hundreds of years, no one have heard from him. Many have already believed their ancestor to have passed on somewhere far away. Thus, Shen Yin Tian¡¯s appearance today served as a great shock to every member of the Shen Clan. Only the patriarch, Shen Lin, remained calm.


    As a son, Shen Lin naturally kept in touch with his father. Shen Yin Tian, throughout the years. And while the latter was indeed away from the Shen Clan, he was not that much farther away either. Over the years, Shen Yin TIan had secluded himself in training beneath the shadows of the vast forest situated directly west of the White Feather City.


    Originally, Shen Yin Tian had steeled his heart to cut his connection with the world and immerse himself in meditation. However, when he received the commands from the Supreme Monarch of his Godly Supreme Hall, he became eager to once again interact with world outside!


    Although he had been sent by his Hall to this remote region a few thousand years ago, Shen Yin Tian¡¯s love for his Sect had never diminished. Instead it only grew stronger and stronger, until he was determined to increase his strength to such a point that he could one day return back to the Godly Supreme Hall!


    But who knew that rather for him to go to the Godly Supreme Hall, the Sect itself would personally come looking for him? This simple move had brought an unprecedented honor and joy to the homesick Shen Yin Tian!


    And when he heard that a person from the Godly Supreme Hall would be temporarily integrated with his Shen Clan, Shen Yin Tian became even more elated. To have a being from a grand sect join his family, even if temporarily, was extremely beneficial! After all, not one single person from a Grand-level sect was normal and their achievements were unprecedented. If that person was to astonish to world one day, and if the Shen Clan could serve as a temporary home to such a being, their status and power would naturally rise as well!The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Of course, this was considering the most optimistic of perspectives, but the benefits in Shen Yin Tian¡¯s eyes far outweighed the risk. Though in reality, he knew he did not have a choice when taking orders from the Godly Supreme Hall in the first place, anyways.


    But when he was told a single important piece of news on the person who was coming to his clan, Shen Yin Tian had almost fainted from shock. Because the person who was coming to stay at his Shen Clan...was actually the last Ancestor of the Godly Supreme Hall!


    A legendary figure that stood at the near peak of the continent...the moment Shen Yin Tian was told of this person¡¯s identity, even if he had the tiniest speck of unwillingness in his heart, it was all washed away at that moment. Although he did not not know why an ancestral figure from a grand sect would want to hide their identity in the Lower Regions, Shen Yin Tian did not bother thinking too deeply about it. It was not his place to interfere with the matters concerning the upper echelon of the Godly Supreme Hall, and his deep passion for his Sect had prevented him from questioning it.


    Just knowing that the Hall¡¯s ancestor was even willing to temporarily use his Shen Clan¡¯s surname and lodge in his residence...brought a boiling excitement and jubilation to Shen Yin Tian¡¯s heart! This happiness was akin to the day his wife gave birth to his only son, Shen Lin!


    Thus, he had instantly adhered to Yue Jing¡¯s command, and sent news of this to his cherished son, who was the current patriarch of the Shen Clan!


    Shen Lin, who was born in the Lower Regions, had no concept whatsoever on the strength of the grand sect. He had merely heard his father mention it a few times in the past, but had never paid much attention to it. However, when his father abruptly contacted him about the matter regarding the Godly Supreme Hall, Shen Lin had likewise became extremely agitated. Simply from his father¡¯s nervous expression and tense manner, Shen Lin would also of course feel the pressure in regards this subject!


    In the Shen clan¡¯s courtyard, the scene of an elderly man kneeling in front of a white haired youth would have brought immense shock to any outsiders, had they knew the elder¡¯s identity.


    Shen Lin, who was briefly shocked by the other person¡¯s youthful appearance, was the first to regain his wits. Leaping up and landing in front of Huang Xue, he too, immediately kneeled and called out in respect:


    ¡°This oblivious one named Shen Lin greets you, grand guest!¡±


    Even though Huang Xue looked much younger than what Shen Lin had expected, the latter knew that appearance was not the determinant of everything. Like his father, Shen Lin was more than aware of this person¡¯s true identity, and thus understood that the youth¡¯s age was much, much older than himself...


    The patriarch''s booming voice had caused the other clansmen to awaken from their daze. While they were still confused as to why their patriarch and ancestor were kneeling in front of a youth, they did not dare question out loud as they too, hurriedly kneeled and greeted in unison:


    ¡°We greet the venerated guest of our Shen Clan!¡±


    Huang Xue nodded at the mass of kneeling bodies, as he waved his sleeves. ¡°Mmn. Everyone may rise. There is no need to be so polite, as I¡¯ll be living with you for a while henceforth. Everyone may simply call me Huang Xue.¡±


    The clansmen all slowly got up as they stared at the white haired youth in awe and curiosity. Even when everyone had kneeled in front of him, the latter treated it as if it was normal and was still able to remain calm. This at least testified that this black robed youth was truly not simple¡­


    ¡°Grand guest, please, this way.¡± Shen Yin Tian hurried said as he led a path towards the stone steps. The other members formed a single, open path for them to pass through.


    Huang Xue frowned as he looked at red robed elder. ¡°Yin Tian, did I not say to just call me Huang Xue? Why are you still calling me guest this and guest that? Are you that unwilling to accept me into your clan?¡±


    Shen Yin Tian¡¯s face turned a bit pale as he hurried replied: ¡°N-no! Most certainly not! Our Shen Clan is blessed to have you join us. But, but, to say your honored name is a bit¡­¡±


    Near the end of his sentence, Yin Tian¡¯s voice became a bit softer so that only Huang Xue could hear it.


    Even as a low elder in the Godly Supreme Hall, Shen Yin Tian had naturally heard of the ancestor¡¯s name at least once before. He knew that Huang Xue had said his actual name when the latter had introduced himself.


    Although Shen Yin Tian knew that given the large population of this land, there was bound to be a few people with similar names. It was not at all strange for another ¡®Huang Xue¡¯ to appear. However, since he had prior knowledge that the real Huang Xue was in front of him, as a low elder, it was truly difficult for him to casually call out the ancestor¡¯s great name¡­


    ¡°Haha, do not be so stiff! Names are merely a form of addressment in the end. You can relax and call me ¡®Huang Xue¡¯, or even junior, as you would to others.¡± Huang Xue smiled and said.


    ¡°J-junor?! Th-this one dares not call you such...then, Huang...Xue, please, come this way.¡± Shen Yin Tian finally steeled his heart and mustered out Huang Xue¡¯s name. There was a vague sense of accomplishment twinkling excitedly within his heart..


    Huang Xue gave a nod as he walked in front of Shen Yin Tian towards the stone steps. The youths within the Shen clan were all looking at Huang Xue in reverence when they saw the luxurious treatment of this white haired youth. All this time, even their patriarch had only been standing behind the youth and their ancestor, patiently waiting upon the two!


    Some of the girls within the clan already had dreamy eyes when they looked at the black robed youth, who was now standing on the high stone steps and overlooking the entire clan. Huang Xue¡¯s particularly attractive appearance, coupled with his obviously superior status, had made him the perfect prince charming in eyes of these young flowers. After all, many girls would love to marry a dependable person in the future, especially in a world that was filled with unpredictable turmoil.


    Standing right beside Huang Xue, Shen Yin Tian gave a look at Shen Lin who had returned to stand at the center of the stone step. Noticing this look, Shen Lin gave a nod to his father as he turned to face the crowd.


    In a deep voice, he announced to his clan members: ¡°Everyone, listen carefully! This youth standing next to me, is actually a disciple of a tremendous Sect from a faraway region! He is the student of one of our ancestor''s close friends, and is here to continue his training.


    Being the student of his close friend, our ancestor has decided to take him in and have him temporarily become a part of our Shen Clan! You must not tell others that he is from the outside! From this day onward, he will be named the third young master of our Clan, and you must all make sure to treat him as you would to your closest kin! Those who do not listen, or dares to cause trouble for him in my Shen Clan, will face the heaviest punishment available, regardless if you¡¯re an elder or a talented clansman!¡±


    The Shen clan members all held their breath as they listened to their patriarch. To think the youth in front of them had such a history, it was no wonder the patriarch and ancestor would treat him with such respect. However, they felt a sense of dread when they thought back to how their leaders had kneeled down in front of this youth.


    If a mere disciple from this ¡®tremendous sect¡¯ could already extract such rich reactions from their patriarch and ancestor, then just how powerful would this person¡¯s master and sect be?! If not even their patriarchs could dare offend this white haired youth, how would they dare to even do so?


    And to spread rumors that this black robed youth was not from their clan? Since the other party was clearly someone of higher status and influence, just why would they even want to dissociate themselves with someone like that...not to mention, this person is now their family¡¯s ¡®third young master¡¯ too...


    Of course, little did they know this ¡°history¡± was merely a pseudo cover to hide Huang Xue¡¯s identity. The patriarch had already thought out of a story to tell his clan, so that Huang Xue would be able to easily integrate into his clan, while ensuring the latter would not be carelessly offended by his people!

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24: Huang Xue


    <hr>


    ¡°Now, if you may, Huang Xue, please introduce yourself if you would.¡± Shen Lin respectfully said to Huang Xue.


    Stepping forward a bit, Huang Xue smiled as he addressed the Shen Clan: ¡°As I¡¯ve said before, everyone do not have to feel reserved around me! Simply addressing me as ¡®Shen¡¯ Huang Xue or just Huang Xue shall do from now on! Haha, as for other things, I truly do not have anything more special to say. Is there any questions you all may want to ask?¡±


    The crowd briefly buzzed with excited whispers and murmurs, before an elder in cyan clothing spoke out:


    ¡°Huang Xue, child, forgive this old man for asking, but what are your accomplishments on your cultivation road? With your ability to fly in the air, this old bone shall assume...you¡¯re already in the Tian realm?¡±


    This elder¡¯s eyes twinkled with expectation as he stared at Huang Xue. The surrounding clansmen also quiet down as they watched with anticipation.


    Standing beside the white haired youth, no one noticed the face of Shen Yin Tian and his son subtly twitch when the cyan elder called Huang Xue a ¡®child¡¯. But they said nothing to the elder. After all, besides his son and himself, Shen Yin Tian did not tell anyone else Huang Xue¡¯s true identity. With the grand sect¡¯s ancestor not seeming to mind either, the father and son duo could comply with the former¡¯s wish and continue their act.


    Huang Xue slightly faced the cyan robed elder, as he replied coolly: ¡°You are mistaken, respected elder. This one has not reached the Tian realm yet, and had only used an Aerial Talisman for flying.¡±


    Producing a yellow paper talisman in his hand, Huang Xue waved it in front of the crowd.


    ¡°Ah...so that was why he could fly in the air previously¡­¡±


    ¡°It was an Aerial Talisman huh...I should have expected that.¡±


    ¡°Fool! So what if he used an Aerial Talisman? Do you not know how much Qi Stones those kind of talisman cost?! They could go for up to 6 thousand Qi stones in the normal market! More than a whole month of salary...Him being able to freely use such expensive item already shows he¡¯s not ordinary! I reckon, he probably still have many more in his cosmic bag¡­¡±


    ¡°Damn, the sect this Huang Xue hails from truly is not simple! He looks much younger than, yet he already possesses such wealth!¡±


    Huang Xue smiled as he continued on: ¡°As for my cultivation¡­¡±


    While Huang Xue said this, a soft undulation rippled out from his body. Feeling this aura, the cyan robed elder looked at Huang Xue in complete disbelief before he finally managed to find his voice again:


    ¡°This is...Jie Hai realm...7th stage?!¡±


    When the surrounding Shen clansmen heard this elder¡¯s assessment, their eyes could not help widen as big as a saucer. Earlier, when the younger generations had Huang Xue¡¯s aura, they only felt a strong oppressive feeling from the white haired youth. They could only tell that the other person was indeed powerful!


    However, for elders like the one in cyan robe, who had reached the peak of the Tian realm, they were more keen in understanding the exact level the youth before them had reached! As such, their shocked expression could said to be even more exaggerated than the younger members!


    To reach the late stages of the Jie Hai realm before the age of twenty...this kind of person could absolutely be called a genius within the Long Dynasty!


    One has to know, given the scarce resources and thin layer of Earthly Qi in the air of the Lower Regions, to even reach the Jie Hai realm before the age of twenty was already exceedingly difficult.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    In the Lower Regions, for normal cultivators to able to enter the first stage of the Jie Hai realm before twenty years old, was already classified as extremely good. It was common for cultivators to stop at the peak of the Temporal Di realm, being unable to breakthrough for the rest of their life.


    For ones who could reach the Jie Hai stages higher than the fourth level, when one is not even twenty years old? Those practitioners are the ones who can truly be hailed as genuine geniuses!


    And now, one of such genius was actually standing in front of them!


    ¡°Sigh...not simple, truly not simple! Child, you look to be only around sixteen or seventeen years of age, yet to be able to reach the Jie Hai 7th stage...your talent is on par with those core disciples from elite sects! This old man is truly impressed...¡± The cyan robed said with a depressed sigh. Why couldn¡¯t their Shen Clan produce a genius like this?


    In the Shen Clan, their most talented genius had only reached the 5th stage of Jie Hai realm at the age of eighteen. But compared to this Huang Xue, it was like the difference between Heaven and Earth!


    Huang Xue only smiled at the old man and did not further comment. At this time, the Shen Lin stepped forward and announced:


    ¡°Now that this matter is settled, everyone may now be dismissed! As for the younger generation members, I hope you set Huang Xue as your role model and work hard in your cultivation! That is all!¡±


    Hearing the end of the gathering, everyone began to slowly disperse as they went back to their own business, tingling with excitement and envy from meeting the new Shen ¡®clan member¡¯.


    After everyone has left, Shen QIn and Shen Yin Tian promptly took Huang Xue inside a luxurious room reserved for important guests. Although the room was several times smaller than the room that he was used to, Huang Xue did not mind as he sat down on a wooden chair, reserved for the patriarch. The two elders sat in the elders¡¯ seat front of Huang Xue, having Shen Yin Tian seated on the left and Shen Lin being on the right side.


    While Huang Xue was taking a sip from a cup of tea that Shen Yin Tian had personally served him, the latter anxiously spoke up:


    ¡°Honored ancestor, it is a blessing to see that you are still in this world! It is this little one¡¯s greatest fortune to meet you like this, and I hope you would not mind this shabby mansion of mine¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. You do not have to be so courteous, as I¡¯m now a part of your Shen Clan¡¯s younger generation. Speak freely; I promise you will not be blamed.¡± Huang Xue said as he took another sip from his tea.


    ¡°Y-yes¡­¡± Shen Yin Tian said awkwardly. With the ancestor of one of the four grand sects in front of him, how could he not be courteous? But deep inside, he felt a surging happiness for the Hall¡¯s ancestor to be so polite and amicable. It was contrary to his expectations of those lofty and serious executives¡­


    ¡°For you to personally come down to the Lower Regions, this little one wonders what would be your honor¡¯s next step?¡± While Shen Yin Tian was told about the ancestor¡¯s arrival, he was not told of the latter¡¯s plan or purpose.


    ¡°To join the Six Ocean Sect.¡±


    ¡°Eh? But with your status...no, no, supreme master must have his reasons for this, so this one shall not ask any further. But since the supreme master wishes to a Sect, why not join¡­¡±


    ¡°Because my destiny lies there.¡± Huang Xue nonchalantly interrupted Shen Yin Tian, as he placed his cup down.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Shen Yin Tian did not say anymore as he respectfully lowered his head. Although Shen Yin Tian still did not fully understand what Huang Xue meant, given the latter¡¯s calibre, perhaps it was not something a person like himself could comprehend all along.


    ¡°Then, supreme master, shall I send a word to the Six Ocean Sect and have them directly accept you?¡± Shen Lin, who had been sitting idly by, suddenly spoke up. He wanted to showcase his service to this high being whom even his father revered.


    ¡°No need. I shall participate in the disciple selection myself. It all apart of what I should do.¡± Huang Xue replied. ¡°And you both should stop calling me ¡®supreme master¡¯ this and ¡®supreme master¡¯ that. Here, you can just call me Huang Xue. How many times do I have to tell you guys this¡­¡±


    ¡°That is¡­¡± Both of the elders were tongue tied as they tried to think of a response.


    ¡°*sigh*...Don¡¯t think too hard about it. In time, you¡¯ll get used to it. So just address me as ¡®Huang Xue¡¯ from now on. And to alleviate you both from your needless guilt, this wish of mine shall be an order.¡± Huang Xue said.


    Shen Yin Tian and Shen Lin looked at each other before they turned and bowed towards Huang Xue.


    ¡°Yes, suprem--, eh, H-huang Xue! We shall obey your commands!¡± The elders immediately saluted in response. Now that the ancestor had issued an order, they would strive to accomplish it to the best of their ability. And just as Huang Xue predicted, his command had actually made the two elders feel less ashamed in calling their ancestor by his true name. A small sense of pride may be faintly discovered...


    ¡°Mmn. Since I will be apart of your Shen Clan for a while, I should familiarize myself with your clan¡¯s affairs and skills. Tell me a bit about how¡¯s the Shen Clan faring. Also, please do show me all of your family techniques. I shall take a look to learn them, so that should I need to display some abilities, I will use your Shen clan¡¯s family martial arts techniques as a coverup.¡±


    Shen Yin Tian¡¯s face lit up with visible joy when he heard Huang Xue¡¯s words. To think there would be a day when someone like Huang Xue would want to learn his family¡¯s techniques...perhaps, if given time, maybe the ancestor would even impart some insights that could help improve their family''s skills! The older one was, the longer time one would have to understand the essence of techniques and the paths of Dao.


    The Shen Clan¡¯s ancestor immediately told Shen Lin to go retrieve the entire sets of their family techniques from the Family Ancestral Hall, a special vault where it stored various artifacts and techniques passed down from a few generations.


    Shen Lin, who was feeling a bit stifled in the presence of two old practitioners, was more than happy to hurry out of the guest room to carry out his father¡¯s order. While his son went to fetch their family¡¯s martial arts, Shen Yin Tian began to narrate about the recent conditions of his clan. Even though he was away from his clan, Shen Yin Tian was not completely oblivious in his clan¡¯s condition that was often transmitted to him by his son.


    In the end, even though Shen Yin Tian had wanted to cut off his ties with the mortal plane, his desires and connection to his living family made it impossible.


    To give up one¡¯s desires and family in pursue of the ultimate cultivation path...who knows exactly how many people could actually achieve such a feat?

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25: Major Factions


    <hr>


    In the Long Dynasty, there was a population of nearly one billion people. In the entire Lower Region, this large country was considered quite decently sized, in both population and wide span of land. And with such a huge number of inhabitants, there were naturally many strong factions dwelling in there.


    Amongst those few famous factions include the Thousand Flower Clan, Zhang Clan, Ji Clan, Du Clan, and the royal family: the Long Clan!


    However, these five merely encompassed the lower ladder of the power hierarchy. Above them, there were some powerhouses that possessed even greater influences and strength than the previously mentioned ones!


    Those were the Yin Clan, Yang Clan, Tian Zhu Clan, Shen Clan, Immortal Spirit Pavilion, and the four major Sects. With the exception of the Shen Clan, the others were all powers that the Godly Supreme Hall had no association with, and were factions that did not originally belong in the Long Dynasty. As such, it was not unusual for them to be on par, or even greater than, the royal family residing here!


    And according to Shen Yin Tian¡¯s words, out of the nine great factions, the Tian Zhu Clan was possibly the most dangerous one. This clan rarely shows itself in public and has never gotten into a power struggle with the other clan. Not even the people from the Shen Clan could determine the depth of this organization¡¯s strength. Thus, it was viewed as a neutral faction. However, it was rumored that both the Yin clan and the Yang clan, these two superpowers, were supposedly retainers of this same mysterious Tian Zhu clan!


    While this rumor had not been publicly confirmed yet, if it was truly the case, then in the entire Long Dynasty or even several hundred miles beyond, the Tian Zhu clan could absolutely be considered a peak existence.


    As for the four major Sects, they are the the Sun Dragon Sect, the Serpent Moon Cult, the Celestial Illusion Sect, and the Six Ocean Sect. Out of these major clans, the Six Ocean Sect has the least historical value, but its current power was no less than its counterparts!


    ¡°Seems like there are still some hidden tigers and dragons even in this lowly plane¡­¡± Huang Xue thought to himself. While he had expected that this Shen Clan may not be the most powerful faction in the Long Dynasty, he did not expect that there would be this many groups that could actually rival the former. It was, at least, much more than he had anticipated.


    Huang Xue continued to listen to Shen Yin Tian talk as the day slowly lumbered on.


    ¡°Does your Shen Clan have any enemies?¡± Huang Xue asked as picked up his tea for another drink.


    Shen Yin Tian paused in his talk, before he gave a wry smile and replied: ¡°Many of our enemies have already been dealt with when our clan rose into prominence. But like they used to say, the greater one rises, the more trouble one would find. After our Shen Clan established our standing in the Long Dynasty, we thought we would finally be able to flourish undisturbed for the next few thousand years. But who knew¡­¡±


    Hearing the elder¡¯s words trail off at the end and the embarrassed look on former¡¯s face, Huang Xue calmly said. ¡°Continue.¡±


    Shen Yin Tian hesitated for a moment. While he was happy that the ancestor was willing to stay at his Shen Clan and be apart of it for a while, Shen Yin Tian did not wish to involve the other party, even though he knew the latter¡¯s terrifying background. It was his own sense of responsibility and integrity that prevented him from bringing up his clan¡¯s problems to the ancestor. But hearing that Huang Xue wanted him to continue speaking, Shen Yin Tian could only comply as he continued:


    ¡°...But who knew that just when everything was going well, one of our younger generations had actually went and provoked three core disciples from...the Immortal Spirit Pavilion!¡±


    ¡°Hm? Just that?¡±


    ¡°Ah, supreme master, while these matters may be beneath your notice, they do indeed pose a bit of a threat to our little Shen Clan. As our clan¡¯s strength is comparable to the Immortal Spirit Pavilion, it would not be much of a problem if it was only them.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    However, they had actually joined together with the Serpent Moon Cult to plot against us behind the scene! With their combined strength, we have actually been thwarted at every turn these past few years because of them!¡± Shen Yin Tian gnashed his teeth when he thought back to hearing his son reporting the vile actions of those two super sects.


    Huang Xue calmly drank his tea, before he spoke: ¡°I see. Well, seeing your service to my Godly Supreme Hall for these past several years, I will try to help your clan out. But do not expect me to be able to do so now, as I¡¯ll have to hide my identity for some time¡­¡±


    Shen Yin Tian¡¯s face lit up when he heard Huang Xue¡¯s words, before he immediately saluted to the latter. ¡°Thank you for your benevolence, supreme ancestor!¡±


    ¡°Alright, lead me to a secluded room. I want to further meditate a bit more. When your son has finished gathering the Shen clan techniques, have him bring it to my room later on. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll be going to the Six Ocean Sect¡¯s disciple selection exam.¡± Huang Xue waved his hand as he got up.


    ¡°Yes, of course, supreme master! I will be sure to do as you¡¯ve instructed.¡± Shen Yin Tian quickly got up from his seat as he led Huang Xue towards a quiet area of his Shen mansion.


    Located near the upper right border of the Shen mansion, the place consisted of a large courtyard decorated with pond and fresh flowers, and a large interior room. After being led to his residence, Huang Xue dismissed Shen Yin Tian and sat down on a soft, luxurious bed to meditate.


    A few moments later, there was a knock on the door before Shen Lin entered Huang Xue¡¯s room and politely left a batch of eight scrolls, consisting of three jade color, two red, one yellow, and the rest purple, on a nearby table. A beautiful white fan and an azure colored sword were placed on the table as well. With a respectful bow, he silently exited the room right afterwards.


    Huang Xue got up and went to sit down on a table seat. Picking up a purple colored scroll and opening it, Huang Xue saw a bold ink title that read ¡®Heavenly Lustra Sword Arts¡¯. A faint sword intent could be felt emanating from the very words itself.


    ¡°Two purple scrolls, five stances, and relies on strong sword intent; follows the Sheng Dao of Sword, creates powerful attacks but lacks defense in certain areas; requirement of being at least in the 5th stage Jie Hai realm to practice¡­¡± Huang Xue silently briefed through the content inside the scroll.


    Putting down the purple scroll, Huang Xue searched through the other scrolls. In the end, he found that there was a total of four core techniques in the Shen Clan.


    The first was the ¡®Heavenly Lustra Sword Arts¡¯, which was broken down into two purple scrolls.


    The second was called the ¡®Thousand Buddha Arms¡¯, which had five forms like the previous sword arts and was kept in two red scrolls.


    The third was called the ¡®Supreme Cardinal Sutra¡¯, which was a meditation skill used to tempering one¡¯s mind, soul, and body; placed in a yellow scroll. It was one of the common skills given to almost each Godly Supreme Hall disciple, and the only skill that Shen Yin Tian had brought back to the Lower Regions to make as one of his family¡¯s core skills...


    The last one was called the ¡®Dream Feather Arts¡¯, a weapon technique that uses the fan as the foundation, being split into nine styles. Huang Xue recognized this technique¡¯s name was the exact one that Shen Yin Tian had briefly mentioned to him about when he talked about his family¡¯s core skills. This...was actually considered a Lower Sea-grade skill!


    The rest could only be considered Upper Earth-grade, but even though this might not sound like much to Huang XUe, it was already extremely good for the Shen Clan to be able to acquire these! Especially considering that martial art skills were generally valued higher than most artifacts of the same grade.


    However, none of the Shen clansmen had been able to fully master this fan art. It was simply because none of them could go beyond the second style! Even Shen Yin Tian had difficulty in understanding the graceful concepts behind this profound art. And given that other core skills were relatively easier to master and yielded power greater than that of the second style of the fan arts, this skill was soon left in the dark.


    Looking through the scrolls, Huang Xue decided on to learn three of the skills. That is because for the Supreme Cardinal Sutra, he had already learned such basic arts. After all, he was the one had actually created this martial art skill himself and passed it on to the new coming disciples of his Hall! There was no need to re-learn it and it would pose no use for him either way, especially with his current cultivation and goals. The other three skills were worth learning to help consolidate his identity as a ¡®Shen clan member.¡¯


    ¡°These low skills that someone like the previous Huang Xue would not even bother learning, are now being learned using his body...ahh, in the end this is all for my cause! Learning them should not increase my overall current by any large margin, so it should be fine¡­¡± Huang Xue dryly muttered to himself. With his desire to be ¡®within reach of his opponents¡¯, Huang Xue truly did not want his present body to become any stronger than he was already, lest he gathered all the materials that would finally enable him to once again ascend.


    Compared to other cultivators who were constantly seeking strength and wanted to get stronger using any means, Huang Xue¡¯s present mindset was truly going against the way of cultivators --and perhaps even following the will of Heaven itself.


    After settling down on what he needed to learn, Huang began to seriously immerse himself in the scrolls¡¯ contents.


    Taking no more than an hour reading each scroll, Huang Xue quickly finished going through the seven jade scrolls that contained the Shen Clan¡¯s core family techniques.


    By now, it was nighttime. Walking back to his bed, Huang Xue sat down once again in a lotus position and entered a meditative state. With all the information and the new set of martial arts skills he received today, Huang Xue now needed some time to fully digest them and ¡®make them his.¡¯ It was also time to further his plan now.


    Sitting there in a lotus position, Huang Xue¡¯s eyes were closed while he meditated. A faint red glow was beginning to form around Huang Xue¡¯s body.


    Like this, the bright moon hanging in the sky outside was gently covered by a blanket of passing dark clouds, as the night dreamed on...

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26: Intended Design


    <hr>


    A light cracked over the edge of the horizon, illuminating the slumbering night. Dawn was rapidly arriving.


    Inside Huang Xue¡¯s residence, a phenomenon was currently taking place. There were several thick billows of red mist swirling around Huang Xue¡¯s body at the moment. The entire room was practically shrouded in this strange mist.


    If one were to look closely, one would see that faint strands of red gas were slowly being emitted from Huang Xue¡¯s faintly glowing body at a constant stream.


    After a few moment, the red mists was now so thick, that even Huang Xue¡¯s figure could be barely seen. At this instant, the red mists began to tremble visibly before they started to rapidly congeal together!


    While the red mists in the air began to dwindle down, two blurry red forms were quickly forming in the center of the room. In a few moments, the two clouds of mist took on the form of a human. Vague features and clothes were now becoming visible as well.


    Soon, the two blood crimson human finally completed their transformation as they landed lightly on the floor, facing Huang Xue. A powerful aura emanated from the two persons. And Huang Xue likewise opened his eyes as his gaze fell upon two¡­of himself!


    With a slim physique and handsome features, the two clones looked identical to Huang Xue in every way. Even his black dragon robe, which he had just changed into a few hours ago, was the same. However, one had a hair full of white while the other¡¯s hair was pure black.


    In order to increase his efficiency in searching for his destined disciples, Huang Xue did not hesitate to split his soul into three; producing two true clones of himself as a result. This was his decision long before he came to the Lower Regions.


    With his true body here to deal with his life at the Six Ocean Sect, Huang Xue had planned to send his other two clones to secretly observe and gather information for him. After all, Huang Xue had not permit anyone from his Godly Supreme Hall to accompany him. This was his own problem, and he feared that having more ¡®variables¡¯ come along with him might ruin his chance to meet his potential future disciples.


    By severing his soul into three links, Huang Xue naturally had to incur a great cost for this. Within his body now, his cultivation had vastly dropped from the almighty Immortal Sovereign realm...all the way down to the Jie Hai realm!


    On the other hand, of Huang Xue¡¯s two clones, the white haired one was at the peak Divine Zhu realm, while the black haired clone gave off an aura similar to those who are at the peak of...Saint Overlord!


    Given the profound depth of power a peak Immortal Sovereign practitioner like Huang Xue possessed, having his clones be at the late stage of the Saint Overlord and Divine Zhu realm was not unusual.


    After all, not even a ten normal peak-staged Saint Overlords would be able to overthrow a single early-staged Immortal Sovereign. This was the absolute gap of power between these two realms.


    Even though the two clones¡¯ cultivation may seemed a bit ¡°low¡± given that Huang Xue had a peak Immortal Sovereign cultivation; the two were absolutely not simple. If needed, it was even possible for them to battle against those above their stages!


    When Huang Xue was dividing up his soul, he had given most of his power to his two clones. He was determined to make his clones as his personal eyes and legs behind the scene. With the methods he held, he was not worried anyone in the Sect would be able to discover his clones, even if they were within the same realm! Coupled with the lack of fear in a sect like the Six Ocean, Huang Xue felt at ease transferring a greater extent of his strength away.


    However, he was not foolish enough to completely give up his strength.


    His true body¡¯s current aura that he emanated was that at the pinnacle of the Jie Hai realm, seemingly ready to break through any moment!


    Although Huang Xue wanted to fit in with the disciples at the Six Ocean Sect, it was merely to the extent that he fits in as the ¡®younger generation¡¯. Ability, he still needed to stand out in order to attract his destined ones to him!


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Moreover, having a bit of strength with him will greatly reduce the chance of something going wrong. If he was killed by another cultivator now that his cultivation had permanently dropped, Huang Xue would not receive any Karmic punishment. However, for someone who once stood at a lofty position...to die at the hands of a low-leveled practitioner due to his carelessness would truly make him feel ashamed, and may even affect his psyche when he returned back to the Jade Heaven Land! So even without his high cultivation, Huang Xue was determined to stay alive until a true opponent revealed him/herself in this kind of land..


    Looking at his clones, Huang Xue gave a slight nod before the two turned and flew out of a nearby window, transforming into twin streaks of golden light.


    When his clones left, Huang Xue took in a light breath as he once again suppressed his cultivation back down to the 7th stage Jie Hai realm. Now that his soul was split up, Huang Xue¡¯s cultivation now was at best at the peak of Jie Hai realm. If he wanted to wield more power, he would now either have to merge together with his clones, or to practice and ascend his cultivation like other cultivators!


    However, unless his current true body could attain the Immortal Sovereign Realm again, even if he merged back with his two clones, his overall strength would not increase by much. At most, his foundation would be more stable; at worst, nothing happens.


    Because he knew his strength would not greatly increase if he does the spirit severing, Huang Xue was willing to lower his cultivation and train his current strength up again. As long as he, or his clones, does not break into the Immortal Sovereign Realm, Huang Xue had no worry that his strength would greatly increase.


    Outside, the morning birds had begun to chirp and the Shen mansion began to stir with waking noises.


    With Huang Xue¡¯s precise control of Qi and methods, even without a concealment formation, Huang Xue was able to produce his two clones without leaking a bit of profound energy. No one in the entire Clan sensed the changes that were going on inside Huang Xue¡¯s room, and given his current status in the Shen Clan, none would dare pry into it either.


    Huang Xue rose from his bed as he went to change his clothes. In a few fluid motions, he smoothly donned on a silky white robe. Hanging from a strap on the robe, was a jade pendant, where a faint image of a dragon was carved on its front. At the back of the pendant were the following inscribed character: ¡®É÷¡¯ (shen).


    Just as Huang Xue was about to leave, he paused near the doorway. Turning around again and walking up to a table, he lifted his right hand. His blue-colored cosmic ring gleamed for a split second, before three gold cosmic bags and four gold rings appeared on the table.


    ¡°Keeping too much wealth in one place is not too good...it¡¯d be safer to separate them for now.¡± Huang Xue thought as he took out two brown bags. He threw the all the cosmic bags into the first brown bag, while the rings were kept inside the second brown cosmic bag.


    He then placed one cosmic bag under the robe around his chest area and the other, inside his left sleeves. Feeling a bit more assured, Huang Xue turned to leave his room.


    While the goods inside those cosmic storages no longer held a definite allure to Huang Xue anymore, he still disliked the feeling of losing something that was his. Although the chance of such scenario occurring was low, he continued to remain cautious.


    Upon leaving his room and entering the Shen Clan¡¯s guest hall, Huang Xue was greeted by both the Shen patriarch and ancestor.


    ¡°Supreme ancestor, I have prepared a carriage for your travel to the Six Ocean Sect this time. Since it would attract too much attention to your excellency if this little old one went, my son will take charge to safely escort you there.¡± Shen Yin Tian said respectfully, as he gave his son a glance.


    As if on cue, Shen Lin immediately came forward and saluted towards Huang Xue. ¡°Supreme ancestor, please be at ease! This little one will be sure to escort you to the Six Ocean Sect on time. I have already notified my two descendants who are current disciples there about you. They are Shen Cai and Shen Han; both are my sons. I hope great ancestor would help look out for them when you¡¯re at the Sect,,,¡±


    ¡°Lin¡¯er! What are you saying? ¡± Shen Yin Tian instantly snapped at his son when he heard the latter¡¯s words. ¡°How dare you ask the supreme ancestor on your own accord?! Do you not know¡­!¡±


    But before he finished speaking, Huang Xue slightly raised his hand to stop him before he smiled at Shen Lin. ¡°Haha, it¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. While I am unable to guarantee their life in this chaotic world, I will take note of your sons. Compared to your Shen Clan¡¯s loyalty, this little favor is neglectable.¡±


    Shen Yin Tian quickly clasped his hands and bowed to Huang Xue. ¡°W-we are unworthy of these words, honored ancestor!¡±


    Shen Lin likewise gave another respectful salute as well. In his eyes, the respect and revere he felt towards Huang Xue had shot up a few more notches. Originally, he had only wanted to take a shot at seeing if this great ancestor could watch over his sons at the Six Ocean Sect. Knowing the danger and fierce competition at great sects, Shen Lin, as a father, was naturally deeply worried for his sons. They have been away for nearly two years now, and while they¡¯re alive, whether they were doing well or not, he had no way of knowing.


    Never did he expect that the ancestor would agree so amicable, the other party did not exude the typical arrogance of someone at the very top. From just this, Shen Lin was finally able to understand a bit more about the profoundness of this person whom his father worshipped¡­


    ¡°Alright, let us depart now. If I ever need anything, I will contact your Shen Clan.¡± Huang Xue turned and began walk towards the mansion exit. Shen Lin hurriedly followed and led the way, while the Shen ancestor gave a deep bow.


    Out in front of the mansion, there was a white carriage in wait. Embroidered with golden outlines and exquisite gems, the carriage gave off a majestic aura. When Huang Xue saw this carriage, his eyes slightly lit up.


    ¡°Oh-hoh...that is Earth-grade utility type treasure; something like this should be extremely expensive here. Seems like this Shen Clan is pretty wealthy as well.¡± Huang Xue thought as he got on the carriage without a word.


    There were various types of treasure in this world, ranging from defense, attack, utility, trap, and many more. Though their grade level is almost always taken into consideration first before anything else.


    Once Huang Xue and Shen Lin boarded the carriage, the latter rotated the energy inside his dantian and powered it into the treasure. At once, the white carriage began to glow with a faint green hue.


    ¡°Go!¡± Shen Lin tapped the side of his seat, before the carriage roared to life as it sped off into the distance. The speed was several times faster than that of a normal carriage.


    With the Yu Province bordering directly north of the Bai Province, Huang Xue was able to quickly reach the the area. However, since the Six Ocean Sect was not affiliated with the Long Dynasty, its examination was taking place at a remote mountain range located two hundred miles away from the outermost city. In other word, the examination was held within the Six Ocean Sect¡¯s headquarters!


    Thus, without pausing, the white magical carriage continued to speed across the land towards a towering mountain range that could already be seen in the distance...

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27: Potential Roots


    <hr><hr>


    Six Ocean Sect. Located within the innermost part of a vast mountain range, it has situated itself there for thousands of years. There was a total of around twenty thousand practitioners at this sect, with a majority of them conferred the status of an ¡®Outer court disciple¡¯.


    The mountains near the sect were enveloped in thick rolling mists, and the constant chirping of life there gave the environment a celestial kind of feel. With lush forests below and seventy two imposing mountain peaks above, the Six Ocean Sect laid within a breath taking surrounding.


    On this particular morning, however, the ground below was covered in masses of human cultivators. Several magical items also flew about in the air, stopping only once to drop off a person or two. Each of them could be seen rushing towards one of the mountain peaks. That was where the Six Ocean Sect¡¯s disciple selection shall take place, a tradition that could put many aspiring cultivators into frenzy when held.


    To become a disciple of a major sect, even if one was an Outer Disciple, one would experience a huge change in their fortune and status. Coupled with the resources given by such sect, many youths could not resist the temptation and desire of entering a major sect!


    At this time, a white carriage could be seen rapidly moving across the forest ground before it slowed down near the mountain peak where the test was held.


    ¡°You do not have to come with me. I¡¯ll walk there myself now.¡± A youthful voice could heard coming within the majestic carriage.


    ¡°Yes.¡± came the reply.


    The white carriage¡¯s door creaked open before a youth in white robe stepped out. His snow hair blew gently behind him as he walked towards the mountain peak. This person was no other than Huang Xue.


    In his hand right now, was a pearly fan decorated with a lucid black handle. As Huang Xue lightly fanned himself while walking forward, there was an apparent scholarly air that had been reinforced around him.


    Before long, Huang Xue had reached the mountain peak. There, in front of him, he could see a large stone ground laid before him. Nearly two thousand cultivators could be seen waiting within that very stone square. Secretly surveying around with his divine sense, Huang Xue found that of all the participants here, none of them seemed to be over thirty years old. The oldest of them felt to be only about twenty eight years old. This was the feeling Huang Xue got when he observed those cultivators.


    As he entered the square, several nearby cultivators were attracted by Huang Xue¡¯s appearance. A few of them looked at him with surprise, while others stared at him with strange expressions.


    ¡°White hair¡­and a youth¡¯s face¡­¡±


    ¡°How could that boy have white hair? What kind of strange technique did he practice in to make his hair become like that¡­¡±


    ¡°Is he really a youth?¡±


    ¡°Wait, look at that pendant on his waist!¡±


    ¡°Oh my god! Th-that¡¯s the Shen Clan¡¯s symbol! Who is that person? How come I¡¯ve never seen him in the Shen Clan during these past years¡­¡±


    Murmurs of all sorts rose up within the small crowd as people began to notice Huang Xue¡¯s conspicuous hair color, and only continued to increase as more of them saw the Shen pendant on Huang Xue¡¯s body. Though, just as quickly, the murmurs became soft whispers as the cultivators looked away from Huang Xue, seemingly to fear the latter would take notice of them.


    The whole time, the white robed youth did not paid any heed to them as he continued stand there patiently in the crowd.


    In reality, since the moment Huang Xue appeared in the Shen Clan, there were already people feeling surprised at the former¡¯s hair color. Thought while his white hair was eye catching, the Shen clansmen did not dare say anything about it due to Huang Xue¡¯s status. But even then, it was actually not that rare for cultivators to possess varied hair colors. This was because there were indeed many people in the world who had strange hair colors, or even styles, due to the type of martial arts they practice in, or their bodily constitution! It was normal for some powerful martial arts to instantly transform a person¡¯s external appearance.


    As such, even though Huang Xue¡¯s white hair had caused a small buzz to appear, it was not extremely shocking to the crowd. However, what was shocking though, was the Shen pendant that Huang Xue possessed. It was the emblem that represented the power of one of most major clans in the Long Dynasty, and had a deterring strength like no other!


    It such that, as soon as the others caught sight of Huang Xue¡¯s Shen pendant, the conversations around Huang Xue rapidly died down as everyone began to shift their focus on the examination at head.


    Suddenly, a loud voice boomed out across the stone square, attracting everyone¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Everyone, the hour for our Six Ocean Sect¡¯s annual disciple selection has come!¡±


    Everyone looked towards the front and caught sight of a middle aged standing at the foot of the mountain peak. A flight of steps stretched upward behind the elder. The old man had a flat face with high cheekbones, and was dressed in dark blue robe. A round circle, with a picture within of a three tipped wave crashing upward, was stitched on the right chest area of his clothes; this was the symbol of the Six Ocean Sect!*This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    (*Author note: Six Ocean Sect crest; Looks something like this, in case you¡¯re curious: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/avatar/images/5/50/Waterbending_emblem.png/revision/latest?cb=20130729182922</a> )


    All was quiet while they looked at the elder standing there on top of the large gray boulder. On the right side of the boulder face, there were four blue crystals embedded on it. The dark blue robed elder looked back at the small sea of cultivators for a few moments before clearing his throat and speaking:


    ¡°I am the Six Ocean Sect¡¯s Thirteenth Elder, Hong Wu! Today, I will be personally administering the disciple selection exam for our school. The test to enter the Six Ocean Sect is very simple. One by one, you will each come up, announce your name, and place your hand on this boulder while pouring some Qi energy into it. Upon doing so, your age, cultivation rank, and talent shall be revealed.


    Regarding the first two criterias, I am sure I do not have to explain what they are. As for the third criteria, talent is graded by No Root, Mortal Root, Earth Root, Clear Root, Heaven Root, and Saint Root. The boulder below me will be used to test this. To be more specific, for each crystal that lights up it will signify a Root talent.


    As per annual arrangement, only those who have reached the 8th Di Temporal realm and below the age of twenty will be qualified to take the exam. And only those who have at least Mortal Root talent can enter our Sect and become an official Outer court disciple!


    Now that I¡¯ve explained the rules, let us begin! Who shall come up first?¡±


    Hong Wu stared down at the youth cultivators as he awaited for the first participant. All across the Long Dynasty, this was the same procedure that was being carried out at various Sects to determine a person¡¯s potential.


    After a brief moment, a handsome youth in red robe stepped forward from among the front of the crowd. A small commotion broke out the moment the former appeared.


    ¡°Look, isn¡¯t that the fourth young master, Ji Xiong, of the Ji Clan?¡±


    ¡°It seems the Ji Clan is vying for a spot at the Six Ocean Sect as well!¡±


    The red robed youth named Ji Xiong had a small arrogant smile on his when he heard the whispers around him. Continuing forward, he placed his hand on the gray boulder and shouted out in a loud voice: ¡°I, junior Ji Xiong, would like to take this test! I beg senior Hong Wu to watch over me!¡±


    Immediately, there was a barely visible tremble on the boulder before two lines appeared on the boulder. Promptly, the bottom crystal lit up with a bluish hue at the same time.


    Hong Wu gave a faint smile as he nodded his head. ¡°Ninth stage of Temporal Di realm. Mortal Root talent. Sixteen years old. With your talent, if nothing goes wrong, you should be able to step into the Tian Realm in the future. Mmn, you pass! From now on, you will start out as an Outer Disciple of the Six Ocean Sect! Here, take this!¡±


    With a flick of his sleeves, a bronze plate flew out and landed on Ji Xiong¡¯s opened hands. Inscribed on the plate were the following words: Outer Disciple!


    A look of excitement and pride surfaced on Ji Xiong¡¯s face as he looked down at the plate. ¡°Junior Ji Xiong pays respect to Thirteenth Elder!¡± Bowing his head, Ji Xiong respectfully bowed towards Hong Wu.


    ¡°Alright, you may climb the steps behind and enter the Sect. Once you reach the top, someone will be there to receive you.¡± Then, turning back to the crowd, Hong Wu said: ¡°Next!¡±


    Seeing this, everyone began to quickly line up as they tested themselves on the boulder.


    ¡°Eighth stage of Temporal Di. 18 years old. Mortal Root talent¡­pass!¡±


    ¡°Eighth stage of Temporal Di. 19 years old. No Root talent¡­fail!¡±


    ¡°Seventh stage of Temporal Di. 16 years old. No Root talent¡­fail!¡±


    ¡°First stage of Jie Hai realm. 26 years old. No Root talent¡­fail!¡±


    ¡°Ninth stage of Temporal Di. 19 years old. Mortal Root talent¡­pass!¡±


    The process was quick and smooth, and before long, of the nearly two thousand cultivators, only a hundred was left.


    From the small crowd, a quiet girl in pink dress slowly walked forward. The girl looked to be around sixteen or seventeen years of age, and her long flowing black hair matched perfectly with her shapely, jade face. Seeing her, many of the participants, who had failed the test but had chose to stay behind, and current participants all began to breathe heavily.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t¡­isn¡¯t that the first miss of the The Thousand Flower Clan, Mei Hua?¡±


    ¡°Eh? Why is someone like her be joining the Six Ocean Sect?¡±


    ¡°Wahh¡­her beauty is truly stunning as the rumors had said! Such grace and looks¡­aiya, I truly envy the lucky bastard who would be fortunate enough to conquer such a flower!¡±


    ¡°Mei Hua? I heard she¡¯s quite talented in the younger generation, being on par with geniuses like Ji Yun and Long Baifeng!¡±


    As Mei Hua walked over towards the boulder, another figure emerged from within the crowd. A young man, who looked to be around the similar age as the girl, wearing a silk green robe calmly followed after Mei Hua, seemingly waiting to test the boulder after the latter. The man had a fierce appearance with thick eyebrows like swords and decent looks. He gave off a dangerous aura to those who dared to stare at him for too long.


    When the unsuspecting crowd recognized this person, their eyes suddenly went wide as several of them exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°Wh-why would he appear here?!¡±


    ¡°The Yang clan¡­.is actually here¡­¡±


    ¡°If I remember correctly, that person should be Yang Chen, third young master of the Yang clan!¡±


    With the exception of Huang Xue, many of these geniuses who had come along to take the test had secretly concealed themselves among the crowds. As such, no one noticed them until they each appeared one by one to take the exam, shocking the onlookers.


    Mei Hua seemed not to mind the uproar that ensued after Yang Chen¡¯s identity was revealed, as she walked up to the boulder and gently placed her palm on it.


    In a clear and melodious voice, she lightly said: ¡°This one is Mei Hua, first young mistress of the Thousand Flower Clan.¡±


    The boulder visibly trembled, a reaction that was a bit greater than when Ji Xiong had tested, and the crystals embedded onto it began to glow.


    Hong Wu looked at the crystals before his eyes slowly widened in shock. In a voice filled with excitement, Hong Wu announced.


    ¡°Fourth stage of Jie Hai realm. 16 years old¡­.Earth Root talent!¡±


    Hong Wu turned to look down at Mei Hua with a small smile as he said: ¡°With your talent and potential, you may directly enter the Six Ocean Sect with the identity as an Inner Disciple!¡±


    The crowd suddenly went into an uproar as they heard Hong Wu¡¯s words. Although the the word ¡®Outer¡¯ and ¡®Inner¡¯ was merely a slight change in text, the difference between the treatment of these two statuses were like Heaven and Earth itself! The resources and protection given to an Inner disciple of a major Sect could be said to be vastly greater than that of a normal Outer disciple.


    When it all comes down to it, the Outer disciples were like bottom feeders, there to only work and toil for the Inner disciples; while the latters were like the official disciples of the Six Ocean Sect!

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28: Last Seen


    <hr><hr>


    But alas, none of them dared to say anything directly to the Thirteenth elder. After all, with Mei Hua¡¯s talent, she really did have the qualification to enter the Six Ocean Sect as an inner disciple. Only those who¡¯ve at least reached the third level of Jie Hai realm was qualified to take an exam inside the Sect to be promoted into the Inner disciple circle.


    As such, after being handed a gold badge and careful instructions, Mei Hua proceeded up the flight of stairs.


    The green robed young man, who had been patiently waiting, stepped forward. The whole crowd went silent when they saw the youth go forward. If the previous Mei Hua from a small major clan was already so talented, just how much of a genius could a young master from one of the large major clans be?


    With a faint sneer on his face, Yang Chen lifted up his palm and placed it on the boulder. In a deep voice, he said: ¡°This humble one is Yang Chen, third young master of the Yang Clan!¡±


    Immediately, the lights on the crystal began to climb.


    Seeing this, the previous excited expression returned on Hong Wu¡¯s face. After the light stop, Hong Wu had a slightly shocked expression as he looked at the words on the boulder.


    ¡°Fifth stage of Jie Hai realm. Seventeen years old...Earth Root talent!¡±


    Although this Yang Chen¡¯s talent was similar to Mei Hua¡¯s, in terms of cultivation, Yang Chen was slightly higher than the latter. Naturally, Yang Chen was a year older than Mei Hua, so him having a bit higher cultivation was not that big of a deal.


    However, in the Long Dynasty, where cultivation resources were already scarce, to even improve a single level was already a huge challenge. The gap between a single level was seen with a greater importance and threat in the Lower Regions. It was the gap that could instantly decide the victor and loser in a life-or-death battle!


    ¡°Mmn. Your talent is excellent. You will also enter the Sect as an inner disciple! From now on, if you need anything, you may come find me at the Thirteenth Peak. Take this, and you may go.¡± Hong Wu smiled as he threw the inner disciple badge to Yang Chen.


    The crowd looked up with envy as they understood the meaning behind the thirteenth elder¡¯s words. He was clearly showing favor to Yang Chen! But with the latter¡¯s talent, it could not be helped. The powerful would only associate with those with talent, while the weak could only continue toiling away¡­


    Yang Chen saluted the elder before swaggering up the stone stairs. Looking at Yang Chen¡¯s fading back, Hong Wu could not help but give a sigh as he thought to himself:


    ¡°Aiii...if only there was not a sect rule in place that the examination elder could not take in the incoming disciples first...I would¡¯ve made it big this time! Two Earth root talent...if those two could safely live through their tribulations, they should have no problem entering the realm of Dao Ascent, or even beyond!¡±


    Shaking his head, Hong Wu turned to face the last group of participants. ¡°Alright, next!¡±


    One by one, the cultivator went up and tested.


    ¡°Third stage of Temporal Di realm. Twenty years old. No root...the hell? Why did you even come participate?! Get the hell out of here! Next!¡±


    ¡°Mmn. NInth stage of Temporal Di realm. 19 years old. Mortal Root talent...pass!¡±


    ¡°Seventh stage of Temporal Di realm. 16 years old. Mortal root...fail!¡±This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°First stage of Jie Hai realm. 17 years old. Mortal root...pass!¡±


    ¡°Second stage of Jie Hai realm. 19 years old. Mortal root...pass!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After some time passed, the group of participants had dwindled down until there was only Huang Xue was left. By now, the youth¡¯s presence was known to everyone who was present. Since before, it was only a small group of people around him who recognized the Shen clan¡¯s pendant. With Huang Xue standing at the center of stone square alone, people were able to easily see the jade pendant that was hanging conspicuously around the white haired youth¡¯s waist.


    ¡°Look at that pendant on his waist! Doesn¡¯t it look familiar?¡±


    ¡°Wait, I remember now! Th-that¡¯s the Shen Clan¡¯s emblem!¡±


    ¡°What?! He¡¯s from the Shen Clan?? How come I¡¯ve never seen him before? And that white hair¡­¡±


    ¡°Wahh...this little brother looks so handsome!¡±


    ¡°Could this be one of those hidden members of the Shen Clan? Those major clans always like to hide things from the world anyways.¡±


    Hong Wu slightly frowned when his eyes landed on Huang Xue. ¡°Strange...how come I¡¯m unable to feel any aura coming from him?¡±


    If not for Huang Xue revealing himself, Hong Wu would have neglected to notice the white robed youth within the crowd. Upon hearing the crowd¡¯s comments and seeing the Shen pendant on the youth¡¯s body, Hong Wu slightly relaxed.


    ¡°Nevermind...since this person is from the Shen Clan, perhaps he had practiced in a high-level aura concealment technique. Major Clans like those like to use these kind of tricks. No matter, no matter; once he comes up to test, I¡¯ll find out his cultivation and talent anyways!¡± Hong Wu thought.


    Without waiting for the elder to speak, Huang Xue calmly began to walk towards the boulder.


    Holding a confident smile, Huang Xue lifted out his hand and placed it on the cool surface of the boulder. With a thought, he sent a few strands of his Qi into the stone. At the same time, in a clear voice, he said: ¡°Shen Huang Xue, third young master of the Shen Clan!¡±


    Using his energy, Huang Xue easily controlled the energy within the boulder, distorting some of its ability. To him, a low level testing tool like was too easy to manipulate around with!


    Immediately, the boulder seemed to almost shudder!


    Hong Wu¡¯s eyes went wide when he, who was perched on top of the boulder, felt an actual tremor from the boulder. It was one, which had actually made his boulder tremble from the strong vibration!


    The crystals began to light up one by one as it steadily climbed upward.


    Mortal root...ding!


    Earth root...ding!


    Hong Wu nodded his head with a smile, before his face became stiff. That was because the crystal which represented Clear Root talent...also lit up a moment after!


    A gasp rippled through the crowd as everyone stared at the third bright crystal. To achieve a Clear Root talent...that meant that this person¡¯s potential was far above the other two geniuses who came before him!


    ¡°Clear Root talent...it seems he would have the potential to tackle the Heavenly Wang realm in the future, if all goes well.¡± Hong Wu stared at Huang Xue in awe. To lit the third crystal, this was a talent that was equal to those few core disciples of the Sect!


    Two years ago, a strange phenomenon had occurred. There was sudden influx of talented disciples who entered the Six Ocean and had extremely decent potentials. At least compared to this year¡¯s yield of only twenty eight freshmen disciples, the number of freshmen taken in two years ago exceeded forty people! And among them, there were even twelve Clear Root talents!


    Those who had such Roots later became Core Disciples of the Six Ocean Sect.


    Swallowing his shock and excitement, Hong Wu was just about to announce Huang Xue¡¯s results when his words got stuck in his throat. His eyes nearly bulged out when he saw that the fourth crystal...actually lit up!


    Heaven Root talent!


    ¡°This...this is¡­¡± Hong Wu was at loss with his words.


    For someone to have a Heaven Root talent that has not appeared for the last thousand years...this could only mean that if that person manages to survive and mature, they would have absolutely no problem entering...the Empyrean Hun realm! This legendary realm that many could only dream of entering!


    When the remaining group of few thousand people saw the fourth crystal lit up, they likewise let out a huge uproar. The previous lighting of the third crystal had already shocked them endlessly, yet before they had time to catch their breath, another crystal had lit up in succession!


    In one breath, Huang Xue had instantly surpassed the potential talent of those other two geniuses!


    As Huang Xue continued to inject a bit of his Earthly Qi inside the boulder, he could vaguely feel that his limit was not yet set. The fifth crystal, representing Saint Root talent, was about to light up¡­


    Having already noticed the large commotion that was caused by his current performance, Huang Xue felt that it was enough for now. Without hesitation, he pulled away his hand from the boulder before the fifth crystal could absorb anymore of his Qi.


    ¡°Shen Clan...Shen Clan¡­¡± Hong Wu murmured as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm his shaky nerves.


    After opening his eyes, Hong Wu felt that he was now stable enough to announce the youth¡¯s results. However, upon turning to inspect the boulder for the youth¡¯s information, his face once again froze.


    He lifted his head up towards the sky for a few moments before looking back down at the boulder. After rubbing his eyes a few times to confirm that he was not seeing things, Hong Wu immediately sucked in a breath of cool air. A look of fear, excitement, and disbelief swirled within his eyes as he slowly glanced over at Huang Xue.


    *Gulp*


    Hong Wu once again tried to calm himself, before he announced in a trembling voice:


    ¡°S-seventh stage of Jie Hai realm. Six..teen years old. H-Heaven root talent!¡±


    The whole surrounding instantly quiet down as the onlookers stared towards the Huang Xue in stupidification.

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29: Entering the Six Ocean Sect


    <hr>


    ¡°Hah...to think a genius like this would appear in our Six Ocean Sect. With his cultivation, he should be ranked near the top of those who are already in the Jie Hai realm. In terms his potential, however, it¡¯s enough to be placed within the circle of the Sect¡¯s core disciples!¡± Hong Wu thought with a sigh tinged with helplessness and faint envy.


    Although his status as the Thirteenth Elder may sound imposing to those outside, in reality, he was no more powerful than most of the Core Disciples within the Sect. He was ranked the weakest within the circle of Elders. As such, even though he was an ¡°elder¡± in front of the disciples; when it comes to being in front of the other elders, he was no more than their private servant.


    Hong Wu glanced at Huang Xue as he politely said: ¡°With young master Huang Xue¡¯s talent, I am certain the Sect would not mind having you enter directly as a Core Disciple! However, for one to become a core disciple, I will have to get the approval of a few elders. So for now, you shall enter the inner disciple circle! We will notify you of our decision later on. You may take this badge and head on up.¡±


    This time, instead of merely flicking the badge over to Huang Xue like what happened to the rest, Hong Wu personally floated down to Huang Xue¡¯s level to hand over a golden badge. Huang Xue gave the old man a simple thanks before he proceeded up the stairs.


    Obviously, during this period, the large crowd remaining behind was in a huge uproar hearing the assessment of Huang Xue¡¯s testing, and seeing the special treatment that was given to him. However, in the end, they knew that only with strength and great talent would they be able to demand the same treatments.


    Gazing at the departing figure of Huang Xue, all of those cultivators who had failed the test could only give a depressed sigh, before they turned to leave. With Huang Xue¡¯s test results, the examination seemed to have come to a conclusion. There was no one left to test anymore.


    Out of the nearly two thousand cultivators who came to test, only five hundred and three of them were admitted in total...


    Quickly, the originally packed stone square soon became deserted.


    The Thirteenth elder sat down on top of the boulder once again. As per the Sect¡¯s rule, he was to wait for another half an hour even after the testing was over, to receive any potential disciple who may have arrived late. This was so that in case a particularly talented disciple appeared late, the Sect would still be able to accommodate them.


    An event such as this had happened before in the past, where a talented disciple was denied at the door due to him being late to the examination. Later on, that same practitioner became a core disciple at the Sun Dragon Sect, one of the four major Sects in the Long Dynasty! This had caused an uproar in the elders¡¯ circle, leading to the creation of this particular rule today.


    After waiting for some time, Hong Wu finally decided to wrap things up and leave, when he sensed a faint aura in the distant. Turning around, Hong Wu noticed a small boy who looked to be around fifteen or sixteen years old, hiding behind a thick tree. The youth¡¯s head would once in awhile peek out from the tree trunk before ducking right back behind it.


    Hong Wu smiled as he called out to the child, infusing his voice with Qi to amplify the sound: ¡°Little child, do you wish to take the disciple examination for our Six Ocean Sect?¡±


    The youth shyly peeked out from behind the tree, his eyes wide with awe, before a slight nod could be seen.


    ¡°Haha! Then what are you waiting for? Come on down! I am just about to close the examination for the day.¡± Hong Wu laughed as he beckoned the child down.


    Although he did not have any high hopes for the youth to turn out talented or even be able to join the Sect, it was still his duty as an elder to attract as much potential disciple to the Sect as possible. The more talent, the better; and there was also that slim possibility of an unknown talent being born from these assessments, such as the situation with Huang Xue.


    The youth¡¯s eyes widened another diameter before he quickly started scrambling forward from behind the tree. After a few moments, he was standing directly in front of the boulder.


    At this distance, Hong Wu could see that the boy had a rather ordinary appearance, save for a small mole at the bottom right of chin. He had black hair and wore a simple kemp robe, clearly looking to not be from a prominent family. Rather, there was even a few dirt marks on his otherwise smooth face.


    Hong Wu then went on to explain the rules to the child, who listened with great ardor. This brought a slight smile to the elder¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Child, what is your name?¡± Hong Wu asked with a smile. He had a positive impression of this seemingly innocent youth. At least, it was quite refreshing from the usual stuck up or fearful attitudes of those previous examinees.


    The small youth thought for a moment before he replied with a grin: ¡°Luo Ke. I am called Luo Ke!¡±This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Alright, Luo Ke, since you have come to take exam, you may first go ahead and place your hand on this boulder. Then, inject a bit of your Qi into it. Your ninth stage Temporal Di cultivation base qualifies you to take this exam. However, if your talent is insufficient then you will have to unfortunately turn back. Well, enough of my delusional rambling, let us begin.¡±


    ¡°Mmn!¡± Luo Ke smiled as he placed his hand on the boulder¡­


    ***


    Several moments later, Huang Xue finally reached the top of the mountain peak. Before him laid a large building embroidered with several red buildings and a grand gate that exuded a sense of grandiose.


    Standing near the gates were two black haired youths who looked to be in their mid twenties. A strong aura faintly emanated from their bodies.


    The two young man stared in surprise at Huang Xue¡¯s white hair before one of them, a man with a chubby physique, finally spoke out first:


    ¡°Halt. All incoming disciples must first state their name and then display their identification plate before entering. If you are an elderly guest, you will have to present an invitation letter¡±


    ¡°Shen Huang Xue.¡± Huang Xue said as he held up the golden badge for them to see. When the two disciples saw the badge, their eyes went wide as their confused expression was replaced with a somewhat nervous one.


    This time, the skinny youth who had been standing on the left quietly, spoke:


    ¡°Ahh, so it¡¯s a fellow inner disciple! I shall first apologize for the our distant behavior, young master Shen. Given your illustrious status and the Thirteenth Elder¡¯s approval of your talent, you are naturally now be one of us!¡±


    After seeing Huang Xue¡¯s identity, the two youths began to treat the former with much more reserve and respect. After all, to be able to enter the Sect¡¯s inner circle as a freshman...it was almost guaranteed that the person before him would become a powerful figure in the sect later on. Not to mention, the other party was from one of the majorest clans, the Shen Clan!


    It was naturally best not to offend such a person, unlike those other mediocre freshmen.


    ¡°Let me introduce ourselves. I am called Hu Dang, while he is called Chen Fang.¡± The skinny youth indicated to the chubby disciple beside him. ¡°We will be your guide today and tell you a bit about our sect before letting you off to train as you will.¡±


    ¡°To start with, since you are an inner disciple, let me tell you the benefits the Sect will give you. Every month, you will receive fifty Qi Stones to cultivate or spend with. You will also be provided with one Heart Ginseng and a Serene Mind Pill for your medicinal and Qi replenishing needs, Ordinary outer disciples will only receive ten of such stones per month.


    Besides these physical awards, inner disciples also have greater freedom within the Sect. You can basically tread anywhere as long as you do not touch the Elder¡¯s residences, the Sect¡¯s forbidden zones, or the core disciples¡¯ sites. Moreover, in the Six Ocean Sect, the status of an inner disciple is quite special.


    You see, we are the equivalent of a minor elder in the Sect. In other words, we have the authority and sway over all the normal Outer disciples, and our identity is greater than or the same as even the head elder of those Outer Disciples!¡±


    Hu Dang explained as he slowly led Huang Xue through the gate. The latter listened quietly the entire time.


    Finally, Huang Xue asked: ¡°You said the Sect has forbidden zones...I wonder, could these two brothers elaborate a bit more about that?¡±


    Hearing the tone that was neither overbearing nor submissive coming from Huang Xue, the two youths had a satisfied expression on their face. It seems the other party was not as arrogant as they thought he would be, especially since the youth was from a great major family...


    ¡°I will tell you about them, young master Shen.¡± Chen Fang said as his fat body jiggled along the way.


    ¡°For us inner disciples, there are only two forbidden zones we are not allowed to enter in the Six Ocean Sect. These zones are the Northern Ground and the Eastern Tower. Those two areas are only accessible by core disciples and are said to be their exclusive training grounds! Brother Shen have to take not to trespass into those areas without permission!


    As for other places, like the Medicine Hall and Weapon Tower, those are usable by all disciples for their material needs. If young master Shen wishes to train, you may enter the Vortex Ground which is where disciples would go to meditate. The Qi pressure there is great for nourishing one¡¯s dantian and improving one¡¯s cultivation!


    Other than those, there is the main hall of the Sect, which is located there.¡± Chen Fang explained as he pointed over to an imposing building with small gray steps leading up to it. Several disciples were going in and out of there constantly; some with white parchments in their hands, some without.


    ¡°If you go inside the Sect¡¯s Main Hall, you will be able to see the current ranking of disciples of our Sect on the back wall. There will also be a wall reserved for missions. Those are requests sent in either by normal commoners, or those who are wealthy, seeking the help of our disciples. They are a good way to help hone our experiences in the outside world, and it¡¯s a quick method of earning some Qi stones!¡± Chen Fang continued.


    Then, seeing that Huang Xue was not responding, Hu Dang quickly stepped in and concluded:


    ¡°Now, that is the general rules and layouts of the Six Ocean Sect. If you have any issues or questions in the future, you may go to the Main Hall and seek out an elder there. I am sure with your status, they would not deny you.


    And finally, because you are a inner disciple of the Sect, you are given your own residence at one of the Six Ocean Sect¡¯s thousand mountain peaks! After you found a peak to your liking, simply hang your golden badge in front of the house there, and no one will bother you on that peak. You may simply go ahead and occupy any one of those unoccupied mountain peaks around us, and you will not have to live in small cottages like the outer disciples.¡±


    Huang Xue looked around him as he thought for a moment, before he turned to two youths and gave them a simple salute. ¡°Thank you two brothers for helping this one out. If in the future, you two need something that is within my ability to achieve, I am willing to lend a helping hand.¡±


    Chen Fang and Hu Dang¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy. To them, having someone of great talent like Huang Xue owe them a small favor in the future was almost equivalent to having a life saving treasure. They were, after all, not the brightest of the inner disciple circle; as such, they often had to rely on the other talented students to support them along the way.


    ¡°Haha, it is something that commoners like us should do for you, young master Shen!¡± Hu Dang gushed as he quickly returned the salute.


    ¡°Right, right! You are being too humble, young master Shen. This much is simply nothing!¡± Chen Fang chimed in as he gave a salute as well.


    Huang Xue smiled and gave a slight nod. ¡°Then, if there¡¯s nothing else, this one shall be on his way.¡±


    The two youths nodded in response, before Huang Xue turned and left the Sect ground in search of his own mountain peak.


    Watching Huang Xue¡¯s silhouette disappear into the distant mountain, Chen Fang could not help but give a sigh.


    ¡°Although this young master Shen came from a major family, there was very little arrogance in his attitude. That was already quite something. Being able to rely on a person like this, should definitely benefit us in the future!¡±


    ¡°Cut the crap!¡± Hu Dang growled as he smacked Chen Fang¡¯s head. With a voice tinged with disdain, he scolded the latter:


    ¡°What do you know about the Shen Clan? Huh? Do you really think someone of that level will care befriend people like us? We being able to receive a small favor from him was already unexpected and you fatty still want more?! If you want to die, then go ahead yourself, but don¡¯t say such crap and drag me in with you!¡±


    Cheng Fang was startled before he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. Hu Dang turned and looked into the distant before he too, gave depressed sigh. Why could I not be one of those sons of Heaven who are truly blessed...aiii¡­.

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30: Six Ocean Sect¡¯s Main Hall


    <hr>


    Huang Xue looked at the several tall mountain peaks around him, before he picked the tallest one that was located near the Six Ocean Sect. This would make it more convenient to enter and exit the Sect, and he would be able to sense if any new auras enter the place.


    In a few moments, Huang Xue arrived at the top of one of the thousand peaks. Laid before was a large building decorated with a pond and a few tall, emerald trees. It was located near the entrance of the Six Ocean Sect.


    ¡°At least, this Six Ocean Sect treats their inner disciples quite luxuriously...that is, in context of this Lower Regions of course.¡± Huang Xue thought as he walked towards the wooden door.


    Upon getting closer, he saw a small protruding hinge from the door; supposedly for hanging one¡¯s identification plate. After leaving his golden badge on the wooden door, Huang Xue entered the room. The interior was luxuriously arranged with a round black table, a huge bed, and paintings hanging around the room.


    Huang Xue calmly paced around the room as he began to think of his next plans. Now that he was an official disciple of the Six Ocean Sect, and a ¡°sixteen years old youth¡±, he had to act accordingly to his role. In other words, he must continue to hide his other cultivation levels; as if he¡¯s exposed, he may disrupt the natural flow of fate.


    If the latter case was to happen, it may become much harder or even impossible to find his destiny disciples. Thus, Huang Xue understood that he has to integrate and go with the flow of this world. He would have to make do with his current identity and Jie Hai-leveled strength for the time being!


    After all, Huang Xue¡¯s secret bodily transformation technique had indeed returned his body back to its prime state. And due to certain restrictions in the skill, he would not be able to transform back to his original ¡°old state¡±; in this sense, Huang Xue could wholly be considered a bona-fide youth now. Even if he were to engage in some battles with those other youths, in Huang Xue¡¯s mind, it wouldn¡¯t be an issue. In fact, even if he was several hundreds years old, fighting someone a younger generation would not matter.


    Back in the land of gods, ¡°age¡± truly is merely a number that is completely disregarded when it comes to battling one another.


    Huang Xue gently felt the cosmic ring on his head as a slight frown appeared on his face.


    ¡°The star decree stone did not emit any motion or energy, which means that my destiny disciples were not among today¡¯s incoming crowd of freshmen¡­*sigh*...then could my destined ones already be within this school? Or did I miss out on some students?¡±


    As long as Huang Xue was within ten meters of his destined person, the star decree stone on him would emit a slight tremble to indicate that the latter was near! This, was Huang Xue¡¯s method and chance at finding the ones depicted in his reading...


    After a while of browsing his room, without nothing special to note, Huang Xue turned and left out the door.


    ¡°Since the sun is still up in the air, I should take a visit to this Sect¡¯s main hall...there should still be a lot of people roaming about.¡± Huang Xue thought with a faint smile as he headed towards the center of the surrounding mountains.


    In the time it takes to boil a cup of tea, Huang Xue arrived before the conscious main building. As expected, there were still many disciples hurrying in and out of the building like rushing water.


    As Huang Xue headed inside the large building, every once in awhile he could feel people staring at him from afar. At first, he thought it was some hidden cultivators observing him in secret, however he quickly realized that it was merely the surrounding disciples who were attracted to him. As such, he paid no mind to them any longer after a while.


    Inside the main building, the first thing Huang Xue saw was a massive stone tablet situated at the far end of the hall, directly opposite of the entrance. The tablet was bordered with gold and at the very top, three conspicuous words could be seen.


    Sea Disciple Ranking!


    Below the words, Huang Xue could see that there was a list of names, each with a number and disciple status attached next to it. At the very bottom, the ranking stopped at number six hundred.


    Out of the several thousands of students at the Six Ocean Sect, only the top six hundred disciples are displayed on the Sect¡¯s ranking tablet.


    ¡°The people listed on the Sea Disciple Tablet not only gain a great deal of fame, but they¡¯re given another set of monthly bonuses on top of their usual rewards!¡± A voice rang behind Huang Xue.


    Lightly turning around, Huang Xue saw Hu Dang walking up to him by himself.


    ¡°Greetings, young master Shen. Haha, it seems we meet again after a short while.¡± Hu Dang cupped his hands toward Huang Xue.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Likewise, brother Hu. I was a bit curious about the main hall so I came down for a little visit.¡± Huang Xue replied coolly.


    ¡°Ahh, so that is why. I myself was tasked to stay around the entrance of the Sect to guide any new disciples who may require help. And on one of my rounds, I saw young master Shen staring curiously at the ranking tablet, so I came over on my own to give a few advices. I hope young master Shen forgive my impudent action, if it offended you in any way.¡± Hu Dang said with a small smile.


    Huang Xue gave a faint smile as he replied: ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, brother Hu. Since you came over with good intentions how could I, surnamed Shen, reject your goodwill? If you will, do tell me more of what you about the functions within this main hall.¡±


    Hu Dang¡¯s smile widened as he quickly said: ¡°Haha, of course, young master Shen! As you can see on the Sea Disciple Ranking Tablet, the reason that it starts with the word ¡®sea¡¯¡¯ indicates exactly that only those who are in the Jie Hai realm can have the qualifications to enter the ranking. Everyone below the top ten seats are awarded an additional one thousand Qi stones and two pieces of Dragon Pulse Fruit for dantian nourishment per month! There would also be an one-time award of a lower Earth-grade weapon as well!¡±


    ¡°However for those within the top ten rankings¡­¡± Hu Dang¡¯s eyes suddenly turned slightly red with desire as he said in a voice filled with reverence...and envy. ¡°It is said that the top ten students of the school would receive three thousand Qi stones, six pieces of Dragon Pulse fruit, one Upper Earth-grade treasure, and a single Sea Core Pill. That pill is extremely potent for those below the late Tian realm, and is effective towards rapidly advancing one¡¯s cultivation base! These are the several benefits that the top ten seats would receive...and that, on a monthly basis!¡±


    Hu Dang clenched his hands as he uttered the last line, his eyes glittering with feverish wants. Then, closing his eyes, Hu Dang let out a sorrowful sigh.


    ¡°But the thing is, for as long as the Six Ocean Sect was standing; those who were able to occupy the top ten spots...were all core disciples! Anyone, as long as they¡¯re a student of the sect, regardless of status, can participate in the ranking.¡±


    Huang Xue thought silently for a moment, before he asked the glum Hu Dang: ¡°Then how does one enter this ranking? Or to be more precise, how do I increase my standing in the ranking tablet?¡±


    Hu Dang¡¯s eyes widened as he turned to Huang Xue.¡±Young master Shen, you are not thinking of participating in the ranking already, are you? You must know that since there are six hundred spots, the competition is extremely fierce among students. Within the top five hundred and fifty ranks, those occupants are all at least in the Tian realm already.


    As for the last fifty ranks, they¡¯re not easy to deal with either. All of them are at the peak of the Jie Hai realm, with the possibility of breaking through anytime soon! In fact, all those people on that ranking tablet could be considered the best of our inner disciple group!¡±


    Huang Xue smiled and said: ¡°I was only inquiring, brother Hu. Though, I wonder does brother Hu occupy a seat on that ranking?¡±


    Hu Dang rubbed his nose with a hint of shame as he replied lowly: ¡°Ahh, young master Shen, you really know how to jest. Even though my cultivation is at the 9th Jie Hai stage, compared to those geniuses up there, I truly pale in comparison!¡±


    Huang Xue nodded his head in understanding and asked no more. Turning his head to look at something else, his eyes landed on another massive tablet situated at the western side. The tablet looked plain, almost a worn out color of brown, and had a large volume of white sheets sticking to its surface. There was no sign that indicated its use.


    Trailing Huang Xue¡¯s line of sight, Hu Dang saw the same brown tablet before he started: ¡°Ah, young master Shen, that is what we students call the Request Tablet. Everyday, there are always new requests from both inside the school and outside coming in. Students are allowed to take on as many missions as they¡¯re able to handle, and upon completion, they are given the stated rewards listed on their request sheet.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Huang Xue then turned looked at the eastern side. Besides a large group of students seemingly loitering around between several large red pillars, there was not another large tablet to be seen.


    Without another word, Huang Xue turned and left the main building. Seeing Huang Xue leave without saying anything, Hu Dang felt a stab of irritation at his chest.


    ¡°Damn, just several moments ago Chen Fang and I were talking about how he was not arrogant, but now before the day¡¯s even up, he¡¯s already rudely departing without a single word¡­*sigh* in the end, all those kids from major families are the same¡­¡± Hu Dang let out a helpless sigh, shaking his head as he returned to patrolling the vicinity for clueless students.


    ***


    Back at his house at the top of the mountain peak, Huang Xue sat cross-legged on his soft bed; his eyes closed in meditation. All was silent at the peak, save for a few distant bird cries. The sun was turning orange by now.


    After a while, without opening his eyes, Huang Xue¡¯s tranquil voice broke the peaceful silence:


    ¡°I wonder, how may this one help you, Thirteenth Elder?¡±


    Outside of the house, there stood an elder in dark blue clothes. On his face, at this moment, was an expression that revealed the delicate emotions of shock and subtle awe.


    ¡°He...was able to detect my presence?!¡± Hong Wu thought as a strange feeling that was difficult to describe arose within his heart.


    ¡°Ahem!¡± Hong Wu coughed as he gently pushed open the door. ¡°Haha, it seems student Shen was already expecting this old man.¡±


    Huang Xue slowly opened his eyes as he looked at the elder with a slight smile. ¡°For an elder such as you to come visit a student like me personally, I take it that you¡¯re here to bring me news¡­of my disciple status?¡±


    Hong Wu warmly smiled before he nodded with approval. ¡°That is exactly correct. Because something emergency came up earlier, I was able to get in touch with all the other elders quickly. Thus, after settling the urgent matter, I decided to take the chance to bring up your results to them as well. And without saying, just by you possessing a Heaven Root talent, the elders have all approved of you being promoted...to a core disciple!¡±


    The elder glanced at Huang Xue as he said the last line, however the expression on the latter¡¯s face had surprisingly not change the slightly at the ¡®explosive¡¯ news. It...it was as if something like was suppose to happen, a course of event that the latter had already expected. But...that can¡¯t be, right?


    ¡°Uh, ahem, however since your current cultivation still a bit too low, you should refrain from participating in any events that the other core disciples are currently in. Although you have the status, you still lack the strength to back that up, with the exception of your talent, that is. Also, I¡¯ve already changed your gold badge, that was hanging on the door, to the standard azure badge that only core disciples possess. Besides that, you will also now receive a sum of five hundred Qi stones per month, and three 3-tier pills per month from now on!¡± Hong Wu cleared his voice as he quickly moved on to explain in detail.


    Pills were, in practice, only creatable through the help of Essence Alchemists. They were classified by ¡®tiers¡¯, from one to thirteen; with higher the tier meaning greater potency and mystical effects of the pill itself.


    First tier pills are normal medicines that even doctors of commoners could make. These generally have slow results and low effectiveness, especially for cultivators.


    Second-tier pills are decent for cultivational use, such as the Serene Mind Pill that¡¯s given to inner sect disciples.


    As for third-tier pills, while they¡¯re not considered rare, they are in fact quite expensive and their effectiveness is even several times higher than normal medicines. With that, they are almost always in heavy demand in the Lower Regions; with rumored prices going up as high as twenty thousand Qi stones for a bottle of ten 3-tier pills!


    Now that Hong Wu had finished delivering his message, he awaited for the youth¡¯s response.


    Cupping his hands to the elder, Huang Xue calmly said: ¡°Thank you, elder, for personally bringing me this news. This one shall humbly accept the title as a core disciple. However...this junior is still a bit curious, what are events that are going on at this moment for the core disciples?¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Hong Wu raised his white brow, as he looked back at Huang Xue...

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31: Freshmen Competition


    <hr>


    Hong Wu stared at Huang Xue for a brief while before he issued a hearty chuckle. ¡°Hahaha, it seems my little warning still fell on the deaf ears of student Shen. Ahh, or should I say as expected of hot blooded youths like you. However, there are truly no core disciple events as of now. Instead of worrying about those, I believe you would be more interested in the upcoming freshmen competition next month.¡±


    ¡°And this freshmen competition is¡­?¡± Huang Xue asked.


    ¡°A small bonding event for all the incoming disciples this year; to get to know the rest of your fellow students. All new disciples are required to attend.¡±


    ¡°There are more?¡± Huang Xue suddenly asked. ¡°You mean to say besides the ones that were admitted today, there are other groups of admitted students?¡±


    Hong Wu laughed as he replied: ¡°Of course! While the Six Ocean Sect is the main location for examinations, that does not mean we have not set up testing in other far away regions to gather talented students! And based on the reports I¡¯ve received, there should be a fresh batch of five hundred and one freshmen!¡±


    Huang Xue slightly frowned as he thought to himself. ¡°Hoh...so it seems my site was not the only testing place; seems like Yue¡¯er forgot to inform me of those other locations. But then again, it would not matter anyhow. I¡¯ll get to meet the rest at this freshmen competition then¡­¡±


    Then, saluting the elder, Huang Xue said: ¡°Thank you, elder, for satisfying this one¡¯s curiosity.¡±


    ¡°No problem, is there any else you would like to know?¡±


    ¡°No, that was all I wanted to ask.¡± Huang Xue replied.


    After a brief chat, the thirteenth elder left the room. Huang Xue once again closed his eyes as he sank into meditation.


    Since he was now a core disciple, the only thing that Huang Xue had to do in the Sect was simply to train.


    Like this, a month slowly passed by.


    During that period of time, the news of Huang Xue¡¯s status as a core disciple spread throughout the Six Ocean Sect like wildfire. News of a freshman entering the school as an inner disciple and then directly promoted into a core disciple sparked great awe, jealousy, and indignation from many students. Several of those students felt that it was unfair and had adamantly opposed the arrangement, wanting to seek out a proper explanation for the abrupt promotion.


    However, when it was revealed that Huang Xue actually had a Heaven Root talent that was not seen in a thousand years, a large portion of the opposing voices died down. And when the fact that Huang Xue descended from the Shen clan was spread out, all remaining oppositions were forced into silence. This was the absolute oppression by might and raw influences!


    Although there was originally no such ¡°third young master¡± of the Shen clan, it was later spread that the third young master Huang Xue had actually been sent away to another land in the early years to properly refine himself. That was supposedly why the ¡°third young master¡± had not been seen, much less heard of, for the past several years in the Long Dynasty. And with the source coming from the Shen clan itself, and with even all of its members having mouthing the same story, there was little doubts to be expressed.


    And even if some people still had doubts, they could only keep it within their heart in face of the massive power known as the Shen clan. As for other major clans, they reassuredly had their own secrets or two as well, so they did not bother with the Shen clan¡¯s matters too much.


    After the student body came to accept Huang Xue¡¯s status as a new core disciple, many admirers naturally began reveal themselves. To be a core disciple meant one was at the peak of the Sect in terms of disciple status. Such illustrious title and powerful family background made Huang Xue a beloved entity among many young women practitioners, and an envied god among men.


    As Huang Xue himself, he did not pay too much of an attention on these rumors. He only cared mainly about rumors that surrounded exceptionally talented or abnormal students of the Sect. As such, over the month he did not indulge in cultivation, but rather continuously toured around in the Six Ocean Sect and its surrounding mountains.


    As for his two clones, Huang Xue did not have them stay within the Sect, but rather had them go out and search for some rare medicinal ingredients he may need. He had also sent them to the other places that were seen in his divination, the places where his supposed destined ones were to be at, to gather more clues.


    And in the Six Ocean Sect, several times, Huang Xue would engage in a few idle talks with some fellow students who would often approach him on their own whim. Huang Xue did not reject them, as he was also able to learn a bit more about the other famous students in the Sect, and certain circumstances that are not publicly listed. He did not meet any of the more ¡°famous¡± disciples who were described by his fellow students.


    Those people were often away on trainings or missions, so they were rarely seen in the Sect. This was also the reason why Huang Xue had been able to meet with Shen Cai and Shen Han. who were Shen Lin¡¯s sons, in the sect ground.


    For instance, Huang Xue found out that there were actually student created factions in the Six Ocean Sect. These groups were often formed to offer a set of protection and connection for students within the school, especially for freshmen. Not only that, being apart of a large faction was also a symbol of strength. That was mainly the case with older groups, since most freshmen factions would usually disband shortly, with many of its member persuaded to join a greater fraction, lest the new faction wish to face continuous pressuring by the other senior factions.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    In the Six Ocean Sect, the current most well-known student factions were the Lost Cloud Guild, the Tian Zhu Association, and the Du Alliance!


    When Huang Xue first heard about the Tian Zhu Association, he was bit interested to discover that it was originally created by a freshman. And that person was naturally a descendant of the Tian Zhu clan!


    Due to the Tian Zhu clan¡¯s influence, no one dared to disturb the Tian Zhu Association when it was first created. Over time, given its rapid growth, the association easily became one of the top student factions ever since, with its leader position being passed solely onto the next Tian Zhu clansman who enters the Six Ocean Sect.


    In fact, Huang Xue later found out that although there were several people from a single family clan, only the Tian Zhu clan sent only one of its own to enter the school.


    ¡°If I remember correctly, the name that was listed at first place on the Sea Disciple Ranking...Zhu Meiying, was it?¡± Huang Xue mused to himself inwardly as he stood listening to a group of students, who were huddling around him, chattering away.


    The surname ¡®Tian¡¯ was the given family name for those of the Tian Zhu clan.


    Other than this, Huang Xue learned a bit more about the other famous Sect disciples, from all three student courts: the Outer, Inner, and Core.


    Due to his constant appearance within the halls and courtyard of the Six Ocean Sect, conversing with the other disciples, Huang Xue gradually became known as an amicable and easy-going character among the other student body. Even though none had seen Huang Xue fight yet, just given the former¡¯s status and gentleman-like demeanor in conversations, Huang Xue¡¯s popularity had unknowingly spiked up during that one month period of spent gathering tidbits of information¡­


    ***


    After the passing of a month, on a certain hot day, a mass of students could be seen approaching a certain location, directly north of the Six Ocean Sect.


    A large Sect event was finally about to take place on this day; and that is, of course, the Six Ocean Sect¡¯s Freshmen Competition!


    The day prior to the contest, a notice was given to every single freshmen students.


    As such, at the edge of an enormous forest, a great number of students was gathering together by the minute. This was the starting point of the appointed freshmen competition!


    The participating students were all extremely excited as they chattered among one another. There were even non-participants loitering around the surrounding, paying close attention to the competition. Those people were mainly from the second year and a few year students, who have come to assess the talent of this year¡¯s freshmen. There were several inner court disciples who came to watch as well.


    In the Six Ocean Sect, it did not matter if one was a third year student or a first, as long as that person has sufficient talent they would be able to enter the inner court. If not, they could only to stay as an outer court disciple for the rest of their time in the Sect.


    With fierce competitions going on within the school, senior students would often take note of incoming students so that they could better understand any potential threats to them in the future. Besides that, the freshmen competition was also the perfect opportunity for large student factions within the Sect to recruit talented students, inevitably increasing their manpower.


    Even though there was a lot of people, a certain divide could be seen in the crowd; with three conspicuous groups standing out. At the center of such groups were naturally Ji Xiong, Yang Chen, and Mei Hua.


    After entering the Six Ocean Sect, with the influence of their family background, these three talented cultivators had gathered a decent number of followers over the month. But they did not declare themselves a part of a faction. And according to rumors, only Yang Chen seemed to have been joined up with the Tian Zhu Association; his status within the group was also said to be placed near the top as well!


    Although the sudden promotion of Yang Chen¡¯s status in the Tian Zhu Association made some others displeased, they had no say in the matter. After all, many of them have heard about the rumors that both the Yang Clan and Yin Clan were retainers of the Tian Zhu Clan. So, to have Yang Chen receive an immediate high position within the Tian Zhu Association may not have been that unexpected.


    Besides the three groups, it could also be seen that there were a few other groups in the freshmen crowd. In particular, there were two large groups standing right in front of the entrance, each of them had a bold flag raised behind them. Obviously, they were a part of a faction.


    In one large assembly, a red flag with the character ¡°Du¡± was imprinted on it in black ink; the other one, a dark green flag, had a symbolic image of a curled up black cloud. At the cloud¡¯s center, red star shaped dot, five inches in diameter, could be seen.This was the emblem of the Lost Cloud Guild!


    Out of the three famous factions within the Six Ocean Sect, the Lost Cloud Guild had the largest number of members. That was because the guild had no restrictions, and any one could hope to join its ranks. However, that was not the case for the other two factions that has strict requirements for memberships in place.


    The Tian Zhu Association had the least number of members, but the quality of cultivators within this faction were all extremely talented. This was the reason why they could stand up to the other large factions, and even surpass them a little in terms of strength!


    Standing at the forefront of the group with the ¡°Du¡± flag, was a black haired young lady in light red robe. On her various body parts, there were several slim black armors covering them. Her facial features were shapely, like flowers; but there was a touch of fierceness within her lily eyes. An aura filled with pride and arrogance could be felt from her presence; and her pure white skin reflected her youthness at the age of sixteen.


    She was the current leader of this Du Alliance group of freshmen, Du Qianxin; and was one of new recruits that did not take the exam at the Sect, but rather near the Du Province. That was one of the several other places where the Six Ocean Sect¡¯s examinations were held.


    After passing with an Earth Root talent and a cultivation at the fourth Jie Hai stage, Du Qianxin naturally joined the Du Alliance that was created by those Du clansmen who had entered the Six Ocean Sect before her!


    The current leader of the Du Alliance was her own elder brother, Du Minghan. With her status as the younger sister, Du Qianxin was naturally given the seat of vice-leader upon entrance, inciting hidden envy from others.


    On the Lost Cloud Guild¡¯s side, a young man, looking to be around sixteen to seventeen years old, in a plain gray clothes could be seen standing at the forefront. His long black hair and amicable appearance gave others a pleasing impression of this youth. With a slightly muscular physique, this man was the leader of the freshmen group, who had joined the Lost Cloud Guild, Zhang Bifan!


    With his family background, second stage of Jie Hai cultivation, and Mortal Root talent, Zhang Bifan had the best potential out of all the freshmen who joined the Lost Cloud Guild.


    As such, he was effectively elected to be the small group captain. No one knew why Zhang Bifan decided to join the Lost Cloud Guild, but rumors said that the large faction had offered the former a great deal of benefits in order to recruit him!


    While the freshmen were talking with another, suddenly, a powerful pressure washed over the crowd. Without sound or reason, everyone felt a strong aura bearing down on them, especially for the low leveled cultivators.


    For those who had a strong foundation like Yang Chen, Mei Hua, Du Qianxin, and the likes, the pressure was only uncomfortable, but bearable. As for the upperclassmen, with their high cultivation base, they only frowned when they felt the energy. Just who is it that¡¯s so audacious as the actually unleash their aura like this?!


    Before long, these people traced the aura back to the figure of an approaching youth in simple white robe, With his snow hair, which was now neatly tied up, flowing lightly behind him, Huang Xue walked towards the edge of the forest with a faint smile on his face. He kept going until he was standing at the center between the Lost Cloud Guild and the Du Alliance.


    Ignoring the curious bystanders, Huang Xue simply stood there as he let his aura flow freely from his body, his face the epitome of obliviousness and ataraxia...

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32: Beast Cores


    The bold aura emanating from Huang Xue¡¯s body slowly retracted, as several cultivators turned to look in his direction in awe.


    Seventh...Jie Hai stage!


    When Huang Xue¡¯s thick aura came rolling over, even several inner disciple students felt pressured. Only the stronger cultivators were able to fare better, but the feelings of disbelief could be traced within their widened eyes as they collectively looked at Huang Xue.


    Upon discovering that the white robed youth was actually a freshman, those same individual¡¯s eyes widened until it was as round as saucers.


    Du Qianxin and Ji Xiong had a similarly shocked expression on their face as they looked at Huang Xue, while Mei Hua looked on with calmness; her eyes flickering once previously when she initially felt the pressure.


    ¡°To think that there was a monster among this year¡¯s freshmen group¡­seventh stage of Jie Hai and being under the age of twenty...formidable, formidable!¡±


    ¡°That is Shen Huang Xue, right? As expected of a Heaven Root talent¡­¡±


    ¡°That pressure just now was even able to suppress me, a sixth staged Jie Hai practitioner! I fear, this Huang Xue¡¯s battle potential may be greater than what it seems on the surface¡­¡±


    Murmurs and discussions rose among the crowd. Everyone began conversing about the arrival of the new student, Huang Xue. Those who have already met the former before in the Sect all had excited and revered expressions on their face when they looked Huang Xue. That¡¯s because although they may have seen or talked with the latter before, they did not know his cultivation level.


    After the students passed the examination, they headed directly up the stairs; thus, they were not present when Huang Xue¡¯s talent was revealed. Only a very small number of people who tested after Huang Xue and passed, knew this.


    And for the ones who had only heard rumors of him, they now know about the terrifying cultivation base of the white robed youth before them.


    Standing a few feet behind the two factions, Yang Chen had an obvious frown on his face as he coldly stared at Huang Xue¡¯s back. Being apart of a major power that was equivalent to the Shen clan, Yang Chen did not fear Huang Xue as much as the other students. Even if the other party had a higher cultivation, Yang Chen did worry much about it. He had his powerful clan behind him!


    Just as he was about to speak out to say something to Huang Xue, a brief windy gale picked up for a moment before an elderly man appeared on top of a thick tree branch.


    Overlooking the students crowded around the edge of the forest below, the elder had a hard light in his eyes as he silently surveyed the surrounding. Wearing a long blue robe and having a head full of gray hair, the fifty years old elder had an air of strictness and pride around him.


    When he appeared, the students below immediately recognized him. Saluting the elder, they called out in a respectful voice:


    ¡°Greetings to the Tenth Elder!¡±


    Over the course of a month, the new disciples had come to understand about the various dealings of the Sect, and its important figures within.


    The tenth elder nodded as his eyes passed through the students standing at the forefront of the crowd. A satisfied expression could be seen growing faintly on his face. When the elder¡¯s eyes landed on Huang Xue¡¯s body, the elder¡¯s expression changed into that of pleasant surprise.


    ¡°Seventh stage of Jie Hai...it seems old thirteen did not lie. Our Sect has accepted a truly good seed this time.¡± The tenth elder thought as he stared at Huang Xue for a while before moving on.


    Seeing that everyone below was no quiet and paying their full attention to him, the tenth elder cleared his throat before saying in a hoarse voice, his voice projecting over the field:


    ¡°New disciples of the Six Ocean Sect, this old man here is Liu Zhong. I want to congratulate you all once again for being accepted to our school! For this year¡¯s freshmen competition, I will be in charge of it.¡±


    Looking over the students below with a smile, he continued: ¡°This year¡¯s competition is very simple. At the other end of this forest behind me, there is a portal setup. The first person to pass through will become the freshman champion, and the gate will allow up to the first four participants to go through. Afterwards, the portal will be closed.


    Also, throughout this large forest that was created by the Sect, there are numerous evil beasts lurking along with precious herbs. For every Beast Core that you collect and hand in to the school, it can be exchanged for one Contribution Point that can be later use to purchase various arts from the Sect¡¯s treasury.¡±


    Liu Zhong pointed to the forest as a faint light of shrewdness glittered within his eyes: ¡°Furthermore, the portal leads to our Six Ocean Sect¡¯s Underwater Treasure Palace! The treasury has five floors to it, with the higher the floor containing greater martial techniques and secret arts.


    Usually, the treasury is reserved for elder-figures and core disciples, however the Great Elders have decided to open up this opportunity for this year''s new students! Only the first person to enter the portal will be teleported to the second floor of the treasury. Those who come after will sent to the first floor. You may all choose any one item from the repository!Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    On top of that, the freshman champion will be awarded an additional one thousand Qi stones. The others will receive three hundred Qi stones each. Now, are there any questions?¡±


    Excitement was buzzing among the freshmen as they discussed the prospects of being able to choose from Six Ocean Sect¡¯s treasury hall. Being a major sect, it goes without saying that the items and secret arts found in their treasury would be astonishing. Even being able to peruse and select something from the first floor of such a place would prove to be very beneficial!


    Even the upperclassmen around had on a longing and envious expression. This was reward that not even they had the chance to enjoy after all these years...


    Glancing over the eager cultivators below, Liu Zhong waited for a while in silence before he once again spoke: ¡°Alright, since everyone seems to understand, then I shall hold you guys off no further. Let the freshmen competition...begin!¡±


    The moment Liu Zhong¡¯s words fell, all the students below immediately began madly rushing into the forest; each one fearing to be the last one to enter. However, as figures after figures streamed into the forest, Huang Xue could be seen walking leisurely into the forest. On his face, there was any lack of panic or even urgency.


    Earlier, when he had purposely released his aura to intimate the crowd, he had also sent out his divine sense to pursue the surrounding.He also hid himself among several different locations in the large crowd, however, besides discovering some hidden upperclassmen further away, Huang Xue did not sense any reaction from the Star Decree stone on him...


    ¡°With my destined disciple not within this group of freshmen, could it be that I¡¯ll have to start looking at the upperclassmen?¡± Huang Xue thought as he walked deeper into the forest. Now that he knew his destined ones were not within the crowd, this freshmen competition had lost most of its meaning to him. Besides getting a decent placing, he was not in any hurry to compete at all.


    Moreover, with his divine sense, Huang Xue had noticed that at the end of the forest where the portal resided, there were at least three powerful evil beasts guarding it. And with the level of young cultivators here, Huang Xue was certain it would take them quite some time to break through, if even at all!


    And as expected, before two hours were up, screams could be heard from the end of the forest. Then, all was quiet.


    Soon, a certain news went circulating around the participants that said there were actually three powerful evil beasts at the ninth stage of Jie Hai guarding the portal. Those who were weak had already perished or heavily injured in their attempt to sneak through.


    Fortunately, it was said that the three beasts were restricted by several chains with symbols on them. They could move within ten meters radius from the portal. Otherwise, if these three evil beasts were allowed to roam freely, who knows how many unsuspecting freshmen would have already met their end.


    With the obstruction of the powerful beasts, many cultivators then decided to turn their attention into gathering the precious herbs and beast cores in the forest. Even if they could not take a place at the competition, they could still hope to come out with some benefits at least.


    Before long, many of the freshmen began to focus on hunting the weaker evil beasts in the forests.


    Huang Xue leisurely walked through the forest as he headed towards the other end of the forest. As he walked, three shadows darted out from the nearby thickets and confronted him.


    Huang Xue¡¯s steps slightly paused as he looked at the three ugly evil beats in front of him. The three resembled each other, seemingly looking like overgrown black wolves. Their eyes gleamed with killing intent and their body was covered in thick black fur that was as hard as metal. Besides being nearly two meters tall, the other strange thing about these wolves was that they had six eyes on top of each other, rather than the typical two eyes, causing them to give off a demonic feel.


    ¡°Black Steel Wolves...a mid rank 1 beast actually dares to block my way?¡± Huang Xue mused as he walked on.


    In this martial world, evil beasts were given Ranks to differentiate their battle strength and potential. These ranks are further broken down into low, mid, and high. For example, a low rank 1 evil beast is generally equivalent to the strength of an early Temporal Di practitioner, while a mid rank 1 will have the strength of a mid-Temporal Di realm. A high rank 1 beast would be the same as a late Temporal Di practitioner.


    However, typically beasts of the same realm as a cultivator are stronger than the latter due to the former¡¯s beastly instincts honed through countless challenges in the wild. A cultivator would seldom attack a beast of the same realm as him/herself.


    The three black steel wolves seeing that the human in front of them was not only fearless but had actually dared to continue forward, their eyes instantly became red with rage as they charged towards Huang Xue. Powerful jaws opened as they aimed to clamp down on their next meal!


    The black steel wolf in the middle was quickest, and was just about to tear apart Huang Xue¡¯s throat, when a folded up white fan appeared out of nowhere in front of it. The fan had appeared simply too fast, and so the beast could only look with confused eyes as the fan lightly tapped on its forehead.


    *Splat!*


    The demon wolf¡¯s head exploded at that moment. At the same time, a cloudy red marble-like ball appeared from its disintegrated head and fell down to the ground. This was the black steel wolf¡¯s beast core.


    Huang Xue¡¯s eyes gleamed with a strange light as blood flew up in the air. A faint glow of excitement and coldness could be felt within his pupils.


    ¡°This feeling¡­it has been quite some time since I last killed...if I can return back to my post as the Imperial Commander, I would be able to resume my battles¡­¡± Huang Xue thought as he flicked away the blood on his fan.


    This was another one of the reasons why Huang Xue wanted to return back to the Jade Heaven Land. Being a god who cultivates several Daos, he often required fighting against several other deities in order to master a path. The more he fought, the more danger he is in, the more perfect his Dao becomes and the stronger his strength ends up! As such, hunting down evil and sinful gods became not only his duty as a commander, but apart of his dangerous training menu for himself!


    The two black steel wolves that were about to leap towards Huang Xue as well, suddenly paused in their steps as they looked on with confusion. They were not intelligent beings and could even be said to possess little to no sentiments. However, the sudden death of their ¡®comrade¡¯ had made it difficult for them to process the forecoming danger.


    Without bothering to pick up the beast core, Huang Xue stepped forward and immediately lashed out two fan attacks. Before the remaining black wolves could react, their head had already exploded into mush, leaving two other cloudy red beast cores on the ground.


    Huang Xue looked at the beast corpses for a moment before he continued moving on.


    ¡°Low quality rank 1 beast cores are useless for me. I¡¯ll just let the others have it. And before reaching the Tian realm, I should not touch any those demons¡¯ beast souls, lest I draw too much attention from other powerful cultivators.¡± Huang Xue thought as he entered deeper into the forest.


    Just as his figure faded into the dense thickets, several people appeared in the area where the three black steel wolves were killed. One of them quickly went forward to collect the three red beast cores on the ground.


    ¡°Three low quality rank 1 beast cores! And he just left it here¡­¡± The boy in plain blue robe said as he looked longingly at the cores in his hand.


    ¡°Haa...what are you being surprised for? While these beast cores may be precious to us, to someone from the Shen clan, I have no doubt they will have several hundreds of those! This is what it means to come from a wealthy and powerful family, got it?¡± Another man in blue robed said wryly to the younger boy as he turned his head towards the direction, where Huang Xue disappeared into.


    Four other cultivators stood silently on the side, glancing eagerly at the three cores in the blue robed youth¡¯s hands. In total, there were six of them, and they had been following Huang Xue in a group for a while back now.


    ¡°Let us hurry and catch up to him. As long as we don¡¯t offend that Huang Xue, we should be able to follow his direction and safely get through the deeper parts of this forest!¡± The older youth in blue robed said as he walked towards Huang Xue¡¯s direction.


    ¡°But elder brother, why does that person hide his cultivation aura? If he does that, wouldn¡¯t he attract more beasts instead¡­?¡± The younger youth in blue robe asked as he followed his older brother.


    The older blue robed youth paused before he turned around to look at his younger brother with a wryly look on his face. ¡°How the hell am I supposed to know why? Let¡¯s just go!¡±


    Without another word, the six of them proceeded to follow after Huang Xue.


    Naturally, Huang Xue had already noticed these people following him. But since they did not bother him nor came with ill intentions, he had left them be and pretended ignorance...

 Chapter 33

    Chapter 33: Found You!


    Huang Xue continued to travel deeper into the forest at a leisure pace, as if he was taking a stroll in the woods. Along the way, Huang Xue encountered several evil beasts that foolishly attacked him. The end results for them was naturally explosion to death from a tap of his fan.


    He had hid his aura the entire time so as to not scare off the other freshmen. Even if his destined ones were not present within the group, it did not mean someone worthy would not appear. It¡¯s this sliver of hope and optimistic that had allowed Huang Xue to cultivate up to his level previously!


    With that being said, the number of evil beasts who had fell by his fan had racked up to nearly a two hundreds by now! Especially deeper in the forest where the beasts tend to attack in large groups. When a beast was about to die and it would also issue a cry for reinforcement, drawing more evil beasts to Huang Xue. The latter did not bother stopping them.


    As such, beasts after afters continue to come and go in spirit the further Huang Xue went.


    As Huang Xue neared the end of the forest, three hours have gone by. It has to be said that this forest that was cultivated by the Six Ocean Sect was indeed quite big. Previously, the reason why a few students were able to reach the end of this vast forest after only about two hours was because they had used special aerial magical treasures to do so. Others had immediately rushed towards the end with their full strength, choosing to avoid strong monsters in the forest.


    Meanwhile, there were now approximately three hundred and four freshmen following after Huang Xue. A few were even walking directly ten feet behind Huang Xue. By now, Huang Xue¡¯s method of killing evil beasts and leaving their cores untouched had attracted many freshmen.


    After all, beast cores were always in demand in the market, and even low quality rank 1 beast cores could fetch at least fifty Qi stones! Not to mention, they could also be exchanged for Contribution Points in the Sect as well.


    A few feet north from Huang Xue¡¯s position, a small group of people could be seen confronting a young man in a brown tunic. The youth had a fearful, yet stubborn expression on his face as he looked at his agitators. He had a decent looking appearance, and a faint looking star shaped birthmark could be discerned on his left cheek.


    In his right hand, was a leafy stem. Four blood colored berry hanged from the end of stem, covered by the leaves. A strong fragrance and Earthly Qi aura exuded from the blood colored berries!


    Standing at the front of the group of six people, was a youth who had an arrogant expression on his face. An air of nobility and confidence exuded from him. This person...was a Yang Chen!


    Huang Xue did not care about what was happening a few feet away from him as he trekked on. A large group of cultivators followed behind him. The loud noises of rustling leaves startled Yang Chen¡¯s group as they looked towards Huang Xue¡¯s directions.


    An uneasy looked appeared on their face, and even Yang Chen frowned. This large crowd of cultivators following behind Huang Xue made it seem as if they were the white robed youth¡¯s followers¡­


    However, soon they saw that Huang Xue was not coming towards them, but rather continuing on ahead. The large group of cultivators did not dare make eye contact with Yang Chen¡¯s group after they saw the leader. This caused Yang Chen¡¯s group to silently breathe out in relief and at the same time, increased their sense of arrogance.


    The brown tunic youth, who had recognized Huang Xue, had a brief look of hope before it was dashed by latter¡¯s indifferent attitude.


    Yang Chen looked back at the brown clothed youth with a mocking expression as he said: ¡°Stop wasting this young master¡¯s time! Don¡¯t even think about anyone coming to help you. Hurry up and hand over that stem of Ember Blood fruit! Otherwise, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless!¡±


    The brown tunic youth frowned as he said in a forced manner: ¡°This Ember Blood fruit was something I found myself. On what basis should I give it you?! Just because I¡¯m from a commoner''s family? Did you not know that in the Six Ocean Sect, it doesn''t matter which family you hail from, everything depends on your own ability here!¡±


    Yang Chen¡¯s face darkened as he glared venomously at the poor youth. A mere commoner student had actually dared to talk back to him...


    Just as Huang Xue was about leave the line of sight from Yang Chen¡¯s group, a faint tremor appeared from Huang Xue¡¯s ring. The white haired youth stopped in his tracks.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Immediately, Huang Xue touched his ring as an ordinary-looking oval stone appeared in his hand. A look of disbelief and excitement could be traced within his face as Huang Xue stared at the stone in his hand.


    A reaction from the Star Decree Stone can only mean one thing...his destined one was near!


    Before long a faint golden arrow appeared on the surface of stone. A strand of unique, faint aura was also generated from the stone. This was so that it would be easy to differentiate the person Huang Xue was looking for and other normal beings.


    Following where the arrow was pointing, Huang Xue slowly traced his steps until he looked up and saw that the arrow had been pointing...towards Yang Chen¡¯s group! An invisible strand of golden aura, only visible to Huang Xue¡¯s eyes, was swirling around Yang Chen¡¯s area...this was the absolute sign of a destined one depicted in the Star Decree Stone!


    Huang Xue¡¯s eyes glowed as he began to head towards Yang Chen¡¯s group.


    Seeing the white hair youth suddenly approach their direction, Yang Chen¡¯s already dark expression became even uglier as he directed his glare at the former. It was possible that the other party had noticed the Ember Blood fruit in the tunic youth¡¯s hair and had come over to struggle over for it.


    But it doesn¡¯t matter.


    With his family background and the huge power that was backing him, Yang Chen believed that even if that Shen youth was strong, he would still give some face for him!


    As Huang Xue came closer, he slightly position himself in the center a few feet away from the two parties. Subtly glancing down at his stone, Huang Xue saw that the gold arrow was pointing in the direction of...Yang Chen!


    Huang Xue¡¯s eyes lit up as he softly muttered to himself: ¡°I¡¯ve...found you!¡±


    Right after, the stone stopped its trembling before the aura slowly dissipated.


    By now, the group behind Yang Chen had moved several feet away from the latter. This created a large gap that left only Yang Chen and the brown tunic youth standing alone, with Huang Xue diagonally of them in the center.


    Huang Xue turned to stare at Yang Chen. ¡°Hmm...this kid looks pretty arrogant. Judging by the way he had carried himself just a few moment ago, and that dirty look he¡¯s giving me...haha, his personality must be equally cruel and hard! Just the way I want it!¡± He thought gladly in his heart.


    The poorer the character, the easier it would be for Huang Xue manipulate them. It¡¯ll make it simpler for him to carry out the final stages of his ¡®plan¡¯ in the future as well...


    Then, turning around to face the brown tunic youth, Huang Xue calmly said: ¡°Little brother, since brother Yang Chen seems so desperate for that Ember Blood fruit, why not give it to him this time?¡±


    Silence.


    The surrounding cultivators¡¯ eyes went wide as they stared at Huang Xue in disbelief. Even Yang Chen had a surprised look on his face when he heard Huang Xue. A mocking smile slowly appeared on his face as he looked back at youth who had spoken out against him. He did not expect the latter had come over to help him.


    However, the most shocked was still the brown tunic youth. His eyes went as large as a saucer when he heard Huang Xue¡¯s words. He could even feel a bit of an aura coming from the white robe¡¯s body, subtly suppressing him!


    ¡°Fudge! Did these two bastards team up just to rob me?!¡± The tunic clothed youth cursed in his mind as he stared at the stem in his hand.


    With his first stage of Jie Hai realm cultivation, he was completely unable to cope against a mid-staged Jie Hai cultivator, much less another late-staged one!


    Suddenly, before the poor young man could react, he felt the wind picked before the Ember Blood fruit blurred in his hand. Two pieces of Qi stone then replaced it in his hand. The tunic robed youth looked up just in time to see Huang Xue turning away from him, a conspicuous stem with blood colored berries in his hand!


    Huang Xue walked over to Yang Chen before he handed the fruit over to latter. With a smile, Huang Xue said: ¡°Brother Yang Chen, take this stem of Ember Blood fruit as a gift from me. With its medicinal properties of increasing your blood floor and strengthen your bodily functions, it¡¯ll be very helpful to your cultivation! As an advice, you should absorb the Earthly Qi around you continuously for five more days before you consume these Ember Blood berries. This way, your chance of breaking through should increase many times!¡±


    Yang Chen had a wide smile as he received the stem. Looking back at Huang Xue, he likewise spoke in a courteous manner: ¡°Haha, to think brother Huang Xue was such a amicable person! This Yang Chen must have been blind all these years! I¡¯ll have to thank brother Shen for this gift then.¡±


    The brown tunic youth looked at the two chatting happily away as he gnashed his teeth in hatred, especially at Huang Xue who had directly snatched away his precious fruit! After a while, he could only sigh in helplessness as he turned to leave; a dangerous light glowed within his eyes. The star shaped birthmark on his left cheek subtly shone with a purple light for a brief moment before returning to normal.


    Yang Chen saw the tunic youth was leaving, and his eyes flashed a malicious light. Just as he was about to tell the boy to stop and pay for his disrespect, Huang Xue slightly stepped in front of him and said: ¡°Brother Yang Chen, let us hurry to the end of this forest. Don¡¯t lower yourself to the level of this minor people.¡±


    Yang Chen stopped and frowned as he pondered for a while. Turning back to Huang Xue, he gave a nod in agreement and began to head away. Huang Xue smiled faintly as he followed after them, chatting with Yang Chen along the way.


    If this was before, Yang Chen would have disregarded Huang Xue¡¯s words due to his arrogance. But seeing that Huang Xue had actually seemed to be wanting to befriend him, and had even gifted him the Ember Blood fruit, he decided to let the matter rest. It truly wasn¡¯t worth arguing with the little people after all.


    The hundred cultivators and Yang Chen¡¯s small group of people looked at the leaving two with shock in their eyes. To think Huang Xue who had a higher cultivation than Yang Chen would choose to help the latter and suppress another student...the meaning behind his action had been made obvious to the crowd of cultivators.


    It seems now this Yang Chen would not only have the protection of his major clan...but the help of a new core disciple of the Six Ocean Sect as well!


    Meanwhile, as the cultivators in the surrounding dispersed, a peaceful silence returned back to the area. Suddenly, at the same spot that Yang Chen had been standing, the air blurred for a moment before a youth in plain gray robe appeared. In his right hand, he held a black object that resembled a Bagua Mirror.


    (Note: example of ¡°Bagua mirror</a>¡±)


    If the thirteenth elder was here to see this youth, he would recognise this person to be that same boy he tested at the end of the Sect examination a month ago: Luo Ke!


    However, the boy right now did not have the original innocent look that was displayed before the thirteenth elder. A cold look gleamed in his eyes as Luo Ke looked in the direction where Yang Chen and Huang Xue had left...

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34: Luo Ke


    If the thirteenth elder was here to see this youth, he would recognise this person to be that same boy he tested at the end of the Sect examination a month ago: Luo Ke!


    However, the boy right now did not have the original innocent look that was displayed before the thirteenth elder. A cold look gleamed in his eyes as Luo Ke looked in the direction where Yang Chen and Huang Xue had left.


    ¡°What a bunch of scums...if not for the fact that my strength is lacking, I would¡¯ve came out and taken care of you both!¡± Luo Ke spat as he glanced down the bagua mirror in his hand. ¡°Fortunately I was able to hide using this bagua mirror. Otherwise, this Ember Blood fruit that I found would have been taken as well. This thing is truly mystical! Not only could it hide my complete presence, it could even hide the fruit¡¯s fragrance and aura. I must not let anyone find out about this at all cost. With this, I just might be able to ascend into the high ranks of this world!¡±


    Earlier, even when Huang Xue had swept through the area with his divine sense, he had still been unable to detect Luo Ke¡¯s hidden presence! And it was all due to the mysterious bagua mirror...


    After arriving late to the freshmen competition site, Luo Ke had immediately head towards the other end of the forest. Even after hearing news that the there were strong beasts guarding the portal, he did not relent in his speed. Along the way, he had killed several Temporal Di evil beasts and found various precious herbs.


    Besides the fact that his aura was now at the ninth stage of Temporal Di, Luo Ke had relied on the mysterious bagua mirror that he had found a few years ago in an empty cave. He found the mirror placed on top of an altar made of stone and upon removing it, the cave had begun to shake violently.


    Fortunately, he was able to escape just as the cave imploded.


    At first, Luo Ke did not place much importance on the bagua mirror, except that it might fetch a decent amount of Qi stones to sustain his starving stomach. But as time went on, he found that whenever he practiced cultivation with the bagua mirror around, his body became more in tune with the surrounding. This in turn helped increase his cultivation speed by several times!


    Even when he was sleeping, as long as he kept the bagua mirror near him, his body would be mysteriously toned by magical item overnight. In other words, his body would continuously strengthen, allowing him to break through to the next stage of Temporal Di!


    Thus, in just one year, he had went from being a mere 4th stage Temporal Di practitioner to that of the eighth stage! This was a speed that was barely comparable to that of geniuses from major families.


    By average calculations, for normal cultivators of the Long Dynasty, to improve by four levels in a year was abnormal. At least, it would have taken three to four years for a normal cultivator to achieve such level!


    Moreover, Luo Ke had discovered that besides helping with his cultivation, the mirror had another shocking function: it could pinpoint the location of nearby treasures!


    While Luo Ke did not know what method the mirror was using to locate the treasures, he did know that it had never failed in finding one. Be it precious herbs, artifacts, or any unusual items of value, the bagua mirror would be able to find it. A thin line, like an arrow, would appear on the surface of the mirror, indicating the direction of the treasure!


    This was another reason why Luo Ke was able to level up four stages in a year. He had discovered many precious herbs for bodily functions, and had continuously consumed them over the months.


    Looking back up in the direction where the groups of cultivator left, Luo Ke coldly stared for a moment before he turned and disappeared into the forest.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    After Luo Ke left, a black shadow slithered out from beneath a dense bush. Upon closer look, it was a snake that had its entire body covered in a pure black scales. In place of its sockets, were two sapphire eyes that glittered like gem. A glint of intelligence could vaguely be seen within its eyes.


    The snake¡¯s body barely gave off an aura, making it no different than a normal animal. As such, none of the cultivator had paid noticed it.


    Lifting up its head towards the direction where Luo Ke had left to, the blue eyed snake let out a sinister hiss before slid into the grassy ground. A lengthy dark shadow darted soundlessly across the floor into the thicket that Luo Ke had entered¡­


    ***


    As Huang Xue continued to follow Yang Chen¡¯s group, they finally reached the end of the forest.


    Looking over at where the portal stood, Huang Xue could see three evil beasts standing in front of it. At this time, they were battling against several cultivators.


    ¡°A Four-tailed Lion, Fire Back Toad, and a Demon Eyed Eagle...with this line up even a normal early Tian practitioner may have a bit trouble. To have a bunch of children playing with these...haha, the Six Ocean Sect sure is mean.¡± Huang Xue thought as he stared at the three 9th staged Jie Hai evil beasts in front of him.


    The Four-tailed lion was nearly two and a half meters tall with a large gray build and four sharp, scaly tails behind it. The Fire Back toad looked to be an overgrown toad with several small red caters on its back. Small wisps of fire would occasionally shoot out from those caters. The Demon Eyed eagle was currently flying in the air, its entire body colored black with a single giant red eye at the center of where its forehead should be.


    All of the beasts had two chains, decorated with array symbols, binding their legs and preventing them from moving out more than ten meters.


    ¡°It seems the Sect is not willing to give any chances to the Temporal Di disciples at all...almost as if this competition was set up as a test just for the inner disciple freshmen. Ah, I guess that¡¯s why the other disciples are allowed to pick the herbs here and harvest beast cores...could that be the way the Sect is ¡®compensating¡¯ them?¡±


    Huang Xue had long knew that the world of cultivation is unfair. No matter how fair a Sect appears to be, there are always some parts of it that are simply biased towards those talented students. The freshmen competition was one of such example.


    But that did not matter much for Huang Xue. Those who are strong, will eventually become strong. A small competition like this is simply nothing for the lot of cultivators here.


    At the moment, there were three groups of ten cultivators each fighting against the three evil beasts separately.


    In one group, Du Qianxin was leading a group up against the Four-tailed lion while Mei Hua held her ground against the Fire Backed Toad with her group. As for the Demon Eyed Eagle, the people from the Lost Guild were struggling against it.


    However, even with Zhang Bifan leading the group and Ji Xiong assisting them, they were eventually sent flying by the demon eagle! This was the gap between powers!


    Huang Xue stared at the Demon Eyed Eagle before he began to walk towards it. Yang Chen looked at Huang Xue as he hesitated for a while. Then, he stepped forward and said: ¡°Brother Huang Xue, let me give you a hand!¡±


    After chatting with Huang Xue during the time walking through the forest, Yang Chen had come to appreciate the former. Not only did he receive various tips on cultivation, he had even received a few martial items from Huang Xue as gifts!


    Leading his group, Yang Chen followed after Huang Xue as they came to confront the Demon Eyed Eagle.


    Staring at the demon eagle, Yang Chen could feel a terrifying pressure coming from the monster. He was, after all, merely at the fifth stage of Jie Hai realm. To him, such a beast was still posed as a great challenge.


    Gritting his teeth, Yang Chen shouted as he charged towards the beast: ¡°Surround it and attack! Do not hold anything back!¡±


    Even though this was the freshmen competition, death was still a very real thing here. If they were not careful, they would end up like some of the earlier freshmen who had died at the hands of these evil beasts!


    *Shriek!*


    The Demon Eyed Eagle cried angrily as it flew up into the air and charged towards its


    Immediately, Yang Chen¡¯s group braced themselves and clashed against the demon eagle! Without hesitation, they took out several magical treasures from their clans and used it towards the beast. This was the only way they would be able to match up against the demon eagle, even if for a few moments!


    Huang Xue stood there for a while observing the situation before he suddenly took off towards the eagle. Spreading his fan, Huang Xue leaped up into the air.


    ¡°I dislike things behaving too arrogantly in front of me. Especially if they¡¯re right above me. And if you¡¯ve been doing just that for some time already...¡± Huang Xue murmured to himself as his fan descended upon the Demon Eyed Eagle¡¯s head. ¡°Now go down.¡±


    *Boom!*


    Upon receiving Huang Xue¡¯s attack, the demon eagle¡¯s body instantly smashed down into the ground, head first!


    Yang Chen and his goons stared wide-eyed in shock at Huang Xue¡¯s sudden display of might. The evil beast had actually been struck down in one hit!


    They, who had personally tasted the demon eagle¡¯s prowess first hand, knew that it was not easy to deal with the beast. Even if Huang Xue was at the seventh stage of Jie Hai realm, it should not have been possible to deal such a blow to a 9th staged Jie Hai beast.


    Naturally, Huang Xue¡¯s previous body owner had been able to reach the peak of the Immortal Sovereign, which already signified that his cultivation base would be extraordinary.


    Even with Huang Xue splitting up his cultivation with his clones and dropping down to the 7th stage of Jie Hai realm, with his special dantian sea, his battle prowess and Qi density was no less than those of the 9th Jie Hai stage...or perhaps even a bit higher!.

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35: The ¡°Third¡± Path


    <hr>


    Huang Xue lightly landed on the ground as he turned to stare at the billow of dust coming from where the demon eagle had fell.


    Before long, a furious shriek filled up the air. A strong wind blew out, revealing the battered figure of the Demon Eyed Eagle. Its eyes were red with fury as they locked onto Huang Xue¡¯s body.


    ¡°Brother Yang Chen, have everyone surround the Demon Eyed Eagle and attack at the same time. While you guys distract it, I¡¯ll quickly go land a fatal blow to its weak spot!¡± Huang Xue called out as he readied his fan.


    While he did not truly require the help of others to deal with this evil beast, Huang Xue first did not want to draw too much attention to his battle prowess yet. And second, he wanted Yang Chen to gain more battle experience since he had determined the former to be one of his destined ones.


    Yang Chen gave a serious nod as he ordered his group. Soon, Yang Chen¡¯s group had surrounded the seemingly injured demon eagle and launched their most powerful attacks at it simultaneously!


    Huang Xue stretched out his fan to his right. The Qi energy within his dantian sea began to surge as his aura rapidly strengthened.


    ¡°Noble Conquer of the Phantom!¡±


    Swiping his fan once, a vicious Qi energy struck towards the demon eagle. Since Huang Xue was not at the Tian realm yet, his energy attacks could not materialise.


    This was the first style of the Dream Feather Arts!


    When attack landed on the beast, Yang Chen¡¯s group also finished with their attacks as well! The Demon Eyed Eagle was pushed back before letting out a wretched cry!


    But the evil eagle¡¯s indignant cry did not last long before Huang Xue¡¯s follow up attack crashed against its body.


    ¡°Mortal Waves!¡±


    This was the second style of the Dream Feather Arts!


    Huang Xue flicked his fan twice as powerful gusts of Qi energy swept towards the demon eagle, causing deep gashes of wound to appear on its body.


    ¡°The...the Demon Eyed Eagle was actually injured!¡± Someone cried out from the surrounding distant participants.


    ¡°To think he was able to injure a 9th staged Jie Hai beast when he¡¯s still at the 7th stage...this Huang Xue is truly strong!¡±


    ¡°Haa¡­.as one would expect from a direct descendant of the Shen Clan!¡±


    The freshmen who had chosen to stay far away to watch the battles were now all discussing among each other in awe. Huang Xue¡¯s performance had caused their youthful blood to boil with excitement!


    *Shriek!*


    Without giving it any time to recover, Huang Xue leaped towards the Demon Eyed Eagle as he flipped his open fan down upon the beast¡¯s head!


    ¡°You may rest now. Descend of the King!¡±


    Huang Xue murmured softly as his fan smashed down on Demon Eyed Eagle¡¯s head...and shattered a half of its skull!Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    This was the third style of the Dream Feather Arts!


    Blood and brain matters splattered across the air. The beast let out a final mournful cry before its body fell down on the ground with a large boom! It...had finally perished under the hands of Huang Xue!


    ¡°It¡¯s....dead! He actually defeated a beast that had a higher cultivation than himself¡­¡±


    ¡°What a shocking strength! What were those fan moves that he used?¡±


    ¡°This Huang Xue is truly not simple at all...I was following him earlier so I saw how he easily put down those Temporal Di beasts and early Jie Hai beasts, but I never expected that he could even battle those above his level as well!¡±


    The surrounding cultivators stared at Huang Xue with reverence and jealousy. Even Du Qianxin, Mei Hua, Ji Xiong, and company had retreated to a safer area after hearing the death cry of the Demon Eyed Eagle. While they tried not to show it, there was a visible look of deep surprise in their eyes when they turned to look at Huang Xue¡¯s figure.


    To battle against those of higher cultivation was easier said than done. It was something that only the absolute geniuses could achieve, and yet this Huang Xue before them...had done it!


    Even for them, being known as great geniuses within their clans, they could at best fight against someone one stage higher than themselves.


    The two other remaining evil beasts roared with anger as they turned and tried to attack Huang Xue. However, there was a certain distance gap between the two. And with the chains restraining them, the beasts had no way of reaching Huang Xue.


    Yang Chen frowned as he looked at the demon eagle¡¯s carcass. ¡°To this Huang Xue was so abnormal...his cultivation base is probably on par with my second brother¡¯s!¡±


    At this time, after defeating the Demon Eyed Eagle, there was now an open path leading towards the portal. A gap in the monster¡¯s formation had appeared.


    Huang Xue was only person who was the closest to the portal. If he only took six steps forward, he could have entered through the gate and taken the first place of this freshmen competition!


    However, Huang Xue did not walk into the portal. Instead, turning back to face Yang Chen, he said with a smile:


    ¡°I was only able to defeat this evil beast with the help of brother Yang Chen. Since that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t brother Yang Chen head first into the portal?¡±


    A silence suddenly descended upon the crowd.


    Yang Chen¡¯s men and the nearly two hundred cultivators who had been following Huang Xue a while back all stared at the white robed youth with a dumfounded expression. This was the second time something like this had happened.


    The first time was when Huang Xue had unexpectedly gifted the Ember Blood fruit to Yang Chen. And now...Huang Xue was even offering the seat of the freshmen champion to him! Why was he doing all this? What is the relationship between these two?!


    Yang Chen¡¯s mouth was slightly open in confusion as he stared back at Huang Xue. ¡°Just...what is he planning? I do not believe he would want to give up being the first person to enter the portal that easily...there must be some unknown danger or catch to this!¡± He thought cautiously.


    As if predicting Yang Chen¡¯s mind, Huang Xue then said: ¡°Do not worry, brother Yang Chen. I have no ill will in offering this first place. I just think it¡¯s only right for brother Yang, who had greatly helped me in defeating this beast, to go first. I can guarantee you in the name of my family that there is no malicious intent.¡±


    After hearing Huang Xue¡¯s words, Yang Chen hesitated for a moment before he stepped forward with a smile. ¡°Since that is case, brother Huang Xue, I will really have to thank you for letting me this time! But I, Yang Chen, is not a petty person. Seeing that brother Shen is willing to give up his first seat for me, you are now a true brother of mine! In the future, whoever dares to offend you, will be equivalent to offending me and my Yang clan!¡±


    The crowd once again burst in murmurs when they heard Yang Chen¡¯s declaration. It seems Yang Chen and Huang Xue were unexpectedly on good terms on with one another, and now, it was fully confirmed!


    Huang Xue smiled and did not say anything as he allowed Yang Chen to pass by him. But in his mind, he was thinking wryly to himself: ¡°Damn brat, sounding so great. A mere 5th Jie Hai stage seedling acting as if he¡¯s a big tree already! Whatever, whatever, this irksome character is perfect for my purpose as of now so I won¡¯t argue with you¡­¡±


    As Yang Chen passed through the portal, a yellow illusionary number ¡¯1¡¯ appeared above it.


    After sending off Yang Chen, Huang Xue did not enter the gate himself, but rather sat down on the spot to meditate. A pressuring aura began to emanated from his body. At the same time, strange red gases began to surround Huang Xue until the open path had been completely shrouded in it!


    Faint killing intent could even be felt within it, causing many freshmen to back away in dread of the strange mist.


    Seeing that Huang Xue was blocking the only safe path to the portal, many cultivators had a depressed look on their face.


    Originally, they had wanted to charge into the portal through the path that Huang Xue had carved out. But now, with Huang Xue personally obstructing the way, that scheme was made impossible.


    That person must be cultivating a mystical technique within the red mist, and none of them dared to enter for fear of disturbing the former and causing their own death...This, was the thought that was now running through the minds of everyone present.


    ¡°Hehe, want to use me to get through? If you¡¯re not the ones I¡¯m looking for, then fat chance of that happening! But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not that unreasonable. If anyone of you brats have the courage to still enter the portal even while under my aura, I won¡¯t stop you..¡± Huang Xue thought as an ¡®evil¡¯ smile spread across his face.


    Since he had no desire for any of the items inside the Six Ocean Sect¡¯s Underwater Treasure Palace, Huang Xue did not enter it. Instead, he had chose to replace the defeated demon eagle as a ¡®new¡¯ trial for the freshmen!


    After all, Huang Xue had always believed that those who deserve what¡¯s coming to them shall be properly rewarded, be it positively or negatively.


    Thus, he had took the task upon himself to replace a section of the trial for the freshmen. His own trial would be that of ¡®courage¡¯, as opposed to brute strength of fighting against the other two evil beasts.


    Those who are courageous enough to attempt entering the portal through the red mist, while risking the notion of death, are those whom Huang Xue approved of. Only in danger could one hope to find fortune.


    As such, unknowingly, out of the three possible paths, a new ¡®third¡¯ obstacle had been created before the gate¡­..

 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36: Top Four


    <hr>


    As a blood red mist rolled about on the path where the Demon Eyed Eagle had died, no one dared to get near as they helplessly watched from a distance.


    In the meantime, Du Qianxin, Mei Hua, and the others had resumed back to their battle with the evil beasts. Huang Xue¡¯s previous battle had ignited their desire to battle, and made them feel even more pressured to get stronger! Only the strong will be respected! Only the strong could decide their own fate!


    *Swish!*


    Du Qianxin narrowly dodged a strike from the Four-tailed lion, leading to a small cut near her waist. Gritting her teeth, she relentlessly charged forward with two swords in her hands, as she shouted out: ¡°All of you! Aim for its fore right leg!¡±


    Several sword stabs quickly charged at the Four-tailed lion¡¯s leg, while Du Qianxin unleashed a powerful double slash backed by the full strength of her fourth stage Jie Hail realm!


    *Boom!*


    Upon taking a concentrated attack to its fore right leg, the Four-tailed lion let out a furious roar as its balance was shift to the right side. And taking Du Qianxin¡¯s double sword attack right afterwards, the demon lion was forced even further to the right. As a result, a small gap was now created leading to the portal!


    Without hesitation, Du Qianxin immediately darted through that gap, her body flashing by the evil beast like a phantom. With her people holding back the Four-tailed Lion, Du Qianxin was able to quickly enter the portal safely.


    The number above the gate shone briefly before a ¡®2¡¯ could be now seen.


    Almost right after Du Qianxin entered the portal, another shadow charged into the portal. A yellow colored ¡®3¡¯ appeared above the gate.


    ¡°Was that elder sister Mei Hua who just took third place?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! I saw her distract that Fire Backed Toad for a while before she seized the chance and slipped through! Her bodily movement technique was truly profound¡­¡±


    The crowd in the surrounding saw Du Qianxin and Mei Hua enter the portal, while they could only stand afar and watch.


    Unlike Huang Xue who was able to kill one of the powerful evil beasts, Du Qianxin and Mei Hua had relied on the split second of opportunity to gain their entrance into the portal. But even trying to slip past the evil beasts was a huge hurdle for these cultivators.


    While they may be somewhat decent compared to normal cultivators, it was still difficult for them to go against a peak Jie Hai beast! Many of them were outer court disciples, so they¡¯re still only at the peak of the Temporal Di realm¡­


    After Du Qianxin and Mei Hua had successful passed through the portal, their respective groups naturally fell back. They had achieved their goals already, allowing their leader to get through. As for themselves, they were only lackeys. They did not dare dream of passing through the portal like the three geniuses before them did.


    ¡°Damn it, damn it, damn it! My cultivation base is insufficient for me to pass through at all...why the hell did those people have to come to the Six Ocean Sect? Couldn¡¯t they have picked another great sect? And why is this trial so difficult?! Did the elders not take into consideration that almost all of us are merely at best in the early Jie Hai stages?!¡± Ji Xiong cursed in his mind as he stared longingly at the portal.


    When he had first entered the Six Ocean Sect, he had believed he would stand out greatly with his talent and family background. However, in just a month, Ji Xiong found out that compared to some other students, his talent was only mediocre. And when put up against top geniuses like Mei Hua, Yang Chen, Du Qianxin, Huang Xue, and the likes --he couldn¡¯t even hold his own candle against them! This had made him feel very depressed lately.


    With his status as the fourth young master of the Ji Clan, he would¡¯ve been treated as a VIP in any other Sect he went. But here, with others having equal or even higher statuses than himself, Ji Xiong was completely overshadowed.


    *Raaawr!!!*Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    The Four-tailed Lion swept its paw across the air, effectively batting away three cultivators in succession. Clear sounds of bone cracking could be heard.


    ¡°Shit! It¡¯s too powerful! We can¡¯t win at all!¡± Someone shouted fearfully.


    Now that there only one person who could be permitted through the portal, several tens of cultivator gathered together in an attempt to ward off the remaining two evil beasts. But with each person secretly vying for a chance to sneak through an opening, they were unable to cooperate effectively. They could only get swept away under the attacks of the evil beasts in the end!


    As for the open path leading to the portal? No one dared to enter the red mist that¡¯s blocking it. In fact, because of the faint killing intent emanating from the mist whenever someone got near, the cultivators had become certain that whoever trespassed into the mist was sured to get killed.


    And even if not, no one wanted to offend Huang Xue who was supposedly meditating inside. None dared question the reason why Huang Xue chose to specifically block that open entrance, as some more intelligent people already have a certain guess in mind.


    Suddenly, while everyone¡¯s attention was drawn towards the battle with the two evil beats, a black shadow broke away from the crowd. Someone was rapidly heading towards the red mist!


    ¡°Someone is rushing towards elder brother Shen¡¯s spot!¡±


    ¡°What?! That person is simply looking to die!¡±


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°That face...wait, I think I recognize him! Isn¡¯t he that Luo Ke who defeated Cai Tou by relying on just his 8th stage Temporal Di cultivation several days ago?!¡±


    ¡°Cai Tou? You mean that bully of the outer court disciple? I heard he was famous for robbing the weak since his strength was at the ninth stage of Temporal Di..but are you sure he was defeated by this Luo Ke? He¡¯s not from any prominent family, so how could he possess such battle potential¡­¡±


    As everyone discussed the about the Luo Ke who had suddenly appeared rushing towards the red mist, the latter had long since entered it. No screams of misery or any sounds could be heard from within the mist.


    And without at least reaching the Tian realm, none of the students possessed spiritual sense to detect another¡¯s Qi presence. Therefore, they were unable to see into the mist at all.


    ¡°He must be dead by now¡­¡± A boy sighed as he shooked his head.


    ¡°Hmph, he was courting his own death. Who told him to dare go in and disturb elder brother Shen?¡± Another bulky boy snorted on the side. Obviously Luo Ke¡¯s action had been one of suicide in his eyes.


    But just as the remaining freshmen came to the conclusion that Luo Ke had ¡®fell¡¯ under Huang Xue¡¯s hands, the yellow number above the gate...transformed into a 4!


    The students stared at the number with their mouth agape in shock. This...what is happening?! Who just passed? Could it be that Luo Ke? But that¡¯s¡­.


    While the crowd was thrown into confusion, the portal slowly disappeared into the air, along with the two remaining evil beasts and even the carcass of the third. At the same time, the red mist surrounding Huang Xue slowly dissipated as well, revealing his scholarly figure.


    ¡°Only one dared to risk their life for opportunities...interesting. Though, I would only have allowed one to pass through anyways, haha!¡± Huang Xue thought with a smile as he walked out.


    Sweeping his eyes across the confused faces of several hundreds of freshmen, Huang Xue did not bother explaining anything as he headed back into the direction of the forest from whence he came from.


    ***


    At an unknown location, inside an incredibly huge hall, a strange scene was taking place. In this grand hall, every single inch of it was filled with clear water that reached to the top of the ceiling.


    It was as if the entire hall itself was underwater!


    And floating around in this large room filled with water, were numerous crystal clear bubbles. Inside of each such sphere, items of various kind could be seen ranging from manuals to weapons to even pills!


    Suddenly, the a small vortex appeared in the water before three figures emerged from within. These were naturally Mei Hua, Du Qianxin, and Luo Ke.


    Upon coming into contact with the water, the initial reaction of these people was to hold their breathe. A look of shock and panic flitted across their face.


    ¡°Do not worry. While this underwater treasure hall is filled with water, it has a special formation laid beneath it that allows you to breathe normally. Go ahead and choose something of your choice. Once you finish selecting your desired item, you will be promptly transported back to the Sect. You only have the time it takes for a tea cup to boil to choose.¡± An elderly voice appeared in the minds of the three youths, before fading away just as quickly. No one recognized who this voice belonged to...


    (Note: ¡°time it takes for a tea cup to boil¡± = expression meaning a duration of 10 minutes)


    The expressions on faces of the three relaxed before they gave a bow to the air. Then, without looking at each other, the three people separated and began to browse the collections on the first floor. They did not have much time after all.


    With a determined glint in his eyes, Luo Ke looked around at the floating bubbles in the hall. ¡°I do not know why that surnamed Shen did not stop me from entering, but that does not count as me being indebted to him! Even if he had tried something I would still have the bagua mirror and I¡¯ll be able to escape at least¡­¡±


    This was the only reason why Luo Ke had dared to venture into the red mist, despite the terrifying pressure that was being emitted from within. Even though he was now at the ninth stage of the Temporal Di realm, a late staged Jie Hai practitioner¡¯s aura was still too much for him. With the bagua mirror, however, Luo Ke had been able to somehow reduce the pressure that was on him, allowing him to move more freely.


    ¡°No use thinking about that now. Since I already made it in here, I must quickly find a good martial technique! My strength will definitely greatly increase again then.¡± Luo Ke thought the determined light within his eyes glowed brighter.


    While all Six Ocean Sect disciples were provided with a basic meditation manual, Luo Ke was still lacking in foundational skills. He did not possess any special techniques due to his humble origin, so Luo Ke had been blindly fighting just based on his own instincts.


    Fortunately, with the help of the bagua mirror over the year, Luo Ke¡¯s cultivation base was much more solid, and his Qi energy was much thicker than others as well. This had allowed him to potentially hold his own against those a stage higher than himself, however with his lack of any techniques, winning is still exceedingly difficult!


    One floor above the three youths.


    Here laid a similar setting of an underwater hall, but across collection of bubbles the items within them were now much more precious. This was the floor Yang Chen was currently on.


    Being the freshman champion, he was given the time it takes two tea cups to boil to search for the item he wants.


    Like this, the the four students continued their search for their reward in the underwater hall.


    Before long, time was up. One by one, they were transported out of the underwater treasury; within their hands, held a single item.

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37: Potential


    <hr>


    The return of the top four freshmen did not spark an intense fervor amongst the first year students. Rather, the events that occurred during the competition became the main focus of the gossips among the younger peers, particularly Huang Xue¡¯s action of giving up the champion position to Yang Chen!


    There were various excited talks on the items that the four freshmen had obtained as well. For example, Mei Hua was said to have retrieved a rare ten thousand years old Cloud Ginseng, which was extremely beneficial for tempering one¡¯s Dantian. There was also Du Qianxin who was said to have selected a lower Earth-grade sword, and Yang Chen was seen walking around, bragging to others about a bottle of rank three pills he had obtained - the Liquid Heart Pill. Supposedly, it was an elixir that could cut down on the violent energy that surfaces during a break through, allowing a smoother and safer transition.


    As for Luo Ke, no one really knew what the former had obtained; since not many people were acquainted with him. Many surmised that it was either a martial arts manual or precious weapon, given Luo Ke¡¯s poor background.


    Huang Xue naturally did not pay any attention to these talks, returning directly back to his mountain peak after the competition.


    Sitting down on his bed, Huang Xue had immediately took out and placed the Star Decree Stone on his forehead. At the same time, pouring a bit of his Earthly Qi energy into the stone, Huang Xue concentrated recalling the image of Yang Chen.


    Soon, a dark domain appeared within his mind. White eerie mist could be seen rolling about the floor, while two blurry figures stood there. A faint phantom structure of the Six Ocean Sect¡¯s gate could be seen looming behind the twin figures.


    Off to the right, a single blurry figure could be seen while a dead forest was situated behind the person. And all the way to the left, another hazy figure stood alone with a field of green grass glowing behind them.


    Huang Xue continued to concentrate on Yang Chen¡¯s image for the entire time, but nothing happened.


    After a while, a frown appeared on his face.


    ¡°This is odd...the star decree stone clearly reacted to that Yang Chen, however, none of the blurry avatars actually became visible!¡± Huang Xue thought in his mind.


    When using the Star Decree Stone to find someone, one would have to place the stone on their forehead and think of the person who one believes to be the destined one. If it is the correct person, the blurry image within one¡¯s mind will become visible, revealing the true appearance of the destined one. If it is incorrect, the figure would remain blurry.


    Huang Xue pondered for a while before he opened his eyes.


    ¡°I made sure to swept my divine sense across the surrounding area, and I am certain there was no one else near Yang Chen. The stone had clearly pointed towards his direction! Since that¡¯s the case, could it be that this Yang Chen¡¯s potential had not awakened yet?¡±


    Even though Huang Xue could use the Star Decree Stone, he was unclear on all of its uses and situational meanings. Not because he had not mastered the Dao of Fortune, but because it was his first time using the stone itself. He had only heard a few methods of its usage and what certain outcomes meant, but that was it.


    However, he had heard from another fortune deity before about the Star Decree Stone, in that sometimes a destined one may not be revealed even after being pointed out by the stone. That was because that person¡¯s potential may not have been awakened yet, thus they would not have fulfilled the searcher¡¯s requirement!


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I shall observe this Yang Chen until he awakens his potential! Once I confirm it, then I will put in every effort to raise him. He does not have to become my disciple, with our current interactions, I could even provide him help as a fellow ¡®brother¡¯. Mmn, this way we may not end up that close in the future and that¡¯ll...make things easier.¡± Huang Xue thought as a cold smile spread across his face.


    With the plan organized in his mind, Huang Xue once again closed his eyes as he went into the mediation. But because he was not actually training, he soon fell into a peaceful slumber while still in his lotus sitting position¡­


    Since the latter¡¯s residence was only about five miles north of Huang Xue¡¯s place, Huang Xue began to visit Yang Chen¡¯s mountain almost three times a week. Like this, for the next several tens of days, Huang Xue spent most of his conversing and giving minor pointers to Yang Chen.


    He even brought small gifts to the other party, as a sign of ¡®friendship¡¯, but obviously it was because Huang Xue wanted to help improve Yang Chen¡¯s strength a bit more so the latter could ¡®unlock his potential.¡¯


    With the frequent visits, gifts, and cultivation advices, Yang Chen naturally began to view Huang Xue with a lot more respect and goodwill. Not to mention, Huang Xue had often treated him with great courtesy and help which made Yang Chen extremely happy. He would have never expected that someone as powerful and talented as the mysterious third young master of the Shen clan would treat him with such good feelings!


    Initially, Yang Chen had viewed Huang Xue with a bit of hostility due to the latter¡¯s arrogant action during the start of the Freshmen Competition. But seeing how the other party almost seems as if he¡¯s fawning over him, made Yang Chen feel a comfortable and superior position.


    He even believe that Huang Xue was doing all this either because of the TianZhu clan behind him or because of his powerful elder brother who¡¯s also at the Six Ocean Sect.


    His elder brother, the second young master of the Yang Clan, was also a core disciple. He possessed a rather high aptitude for cultivation and was someone who had been within the top ten disciples on the Sea Disciple Ranking board for nearly three years!


    But what Yang Chen didn¡¯t know was that Huang Xue naturally did not worry about the powers backing the former. As a person with certain experiences, Huang Xue had some ideas on how to deal with people like Yang Chen, who was arrogant and had a superior-complex. The best method to get close to such people was to fawn over them and bribe them with lavish gifts.


    And this was exactly what Huang Xue chose to do. To achieve his goal, Huang Xue was indifferent about his previous godly status and still chose to ¡®fawn over a mere junior¡¯. This was his resolution and the level of his stubbornness.


    And it worked.


    On the twentieth day, Yang Chen had personally visited Huang Xue¡¯s mountain peak to pay his visit.


    ¡°Haha, brother Shen, how have you been?¡± Yang Chen laughed as he sat down on a table inside Huang Xue¡¯s room.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been quite well.¡± Huang Xue smiled and took a seat across from the other youth. ¡°May I ask what wind brought brother Yang here today?¡±


    ¡°To be honest, I am lacking a fellow brother to travel with me to Gongho city.¡± Yang Chen said. ¡°I am certain brother Shen had already received news about the event taking place there from your clan.¡±


    ¡°Gongho city...are you referring to the opening of the Grand Valley Tomb?¡±


    ¡°That is precisely so.¡±


    Three days ago, Huang Xue received a distant transmission from Shen Lin about a widespread event was soon to take place in the Duolo Province. That was the annual opening of the Grand Valley Tomb!


    Legend has it that this tomb was once the resting place of a fallen Profound He practitioner.


    Profound He!


    In the Long Dynasty, Profound He eccentrics could be considered the absolute top existences. After all, in the dynasty¡¯s entire history, the number of Dao Ascents who had appeared within its borders numbered less than twelve in total!


    However, since such exalted practitioners are scarce, therefore, after Profound He, the second most revered cultivators were those of the Tian realm!


    Thus, a Profound He¡¯s tomb was practically priceless, given the large amount of treasures and resources within it! Any discovery of such tomb naturally drew intense battles from the surrounding powers.


    But, when the peak experts from the Long Dynasty investigated the complex structures and incredibly abundance of treasures, they came to a shocking new conclusion. They believed that the tomb was not the resting place of a single Profound He practitioner...but rather multiple ones!


    It was noted that the formations laid within and outside the tomb was inexplicably powerful, to the point that many famous figures initially thought that the Grand Valley Tomb was possibly constructed by a peak Profound He.


    However, as those strong experts entered deeper inside the tomb, they discovered several statues depicting the same people.


    With so many statues featuring those identical persons, the experts surmised that those people must have been important, and could possibly even be the ones buried within this tomb! This was how those powerful experts from the Long Dynasty came to conclude that there was a possibility of there being more than one Profound He expert¡¯s corpses.


    Inside the massive tomb were several intricate paths, each leading to different endings. But even amidst these possible dangers, it is widely known that there likewise contained various treasures and cultivation resources!


    However, at the very end of the tomb, there laid an enormous boulder that completely covered what was supposed to be an entrance to another room. There, a great sealing formation was laid; and it possessed such power that none of those Long dynasty experts were able to break through it all, regardless of the method they used!


    It was said that not even a powerful Profound He expert who had went to assist them, could shake that boulder! And soon, the experts began to suspect that behind the restrictive boulder...was most likely the resting area of the Profound Hes!


    What was more bizarre was that after a certain period of time, a strange force would bring them out of the Grand Valley Tomb. The resting area would then be sealed off with another powerful formation for a whole year before once again opening again. And here comes the strangest part: every year, those experts discovered that the number of treasures change inside the time, as if they had been restocked! The pathways would also once again change, including the tunnel that led to the end of restrictive boulder, and new traps would activate as well!


    This cycle continued on for several years, with the tomb changing each time. As such, after some time, those experts began to send their younger generation to the Grand Valley Tomb to reap for rewards and gain a few experiences.


    Without sufficient strength to budge that restrictive boulder, even after discovering it again and again, those experts could only give up in the end,


    Moreover, given that there were countless traps and tunnel paths in the Grand Valley Tomb, it was impossible for even a large mass of cultivators to clean the place out. Not to mention, the structure and even the treasures change each time, seemingly as if they were endless.


    Previously, when Huang Xue received news about this tomb, he did not have much interest in it. After all, it was merely a Profound He¡¯s sepchuler. Even if it was the tomb of three or more Profound He, it was not enough to catch the interests of the God of Dao¡­


    However, now that Yang Chen chose to go, it would be a different story.


    Huang Xue thought for a while before he looked at Yang Chen. ¡°Since brother Yang has personally come to my mountain peak to invite, how could I refuse your good will? Of course I am willing to take a trip with you down to that Grand Valley Tomb!¡±


    Yang Chen had a satisfied smile on his face, though it closely resembled a smug smile.


    ¡°Alright, brother Shen! I knew it was the right choice to invite you along. The Grand Valley Tomb should be opening in three days. We will first make a stop at Gongho city tomorrow and rest for a day. Then, we¡¯ll head over towards the Grand Valley Tomb on the third day. I will wait for brother Shen tomorrow at the stone ground below the Sect¡¯s gate!¡±


    Huang Xue nodded in agreement. ¡°Then, I will see you at our convening point tomorrow then!¡±


    After chatting a few more pleasantries, Yang Chen departed for his own peak.


    Huang Xue, still sitting on the table, closed his eyes. ¡°This trip to the Grand Valley Tomb...I wonder, could it be an opportunity for this Yang Chen¡¯s potential to awaken?¡± He murmured softly to himself.


    ***


    Duoluo Province.


    A bright round moon hung in the night sky. At a certain secluded cave deep in a dark forest, a young man could be seen mediating.


    The youth wore a plain light blue robe and had a rather handsome feature. However, at this moment, his eyebrows were creased. A serious expression spread across his face while his closed eyes flickered with anticipation.


    Laying in front of him, was a worn out Bagua mirror. Several strands of Earthly Qi were slithering out of the mirror and entering the young man¡¯s body at a steady rate. This youth was none other than Luo Ke!


    At this moment, he was at a critical conjunction for his breakthrough into the Jie Hai realm!


    ¡°I have already tuned my body to its peak, and my body already have a dense traces of Earthly Qi! It should be time for me to open my Dantian and form my own ¡®sea¡¯!¡± Luo Ke thought solemnly as he rotated the energy inside his body.


    Since the Temporal Di realm was mainly focused on bodily tempering, only a few people would actually care about absorbing Earthly Qi. That is because at this early stage, absorbing Earthly Qi was still too difficult. The particles inside such Qi energy contained a bit of impurities and even berserk elements; making it hard to absorb. And Temporal Di practitioners would only be able to take a small quantity of such energy after a long period of meditation and refining away the bad elements!


    Thus, it was not worth it; and most would wait until they entered Jie Hai realm where it would be easier to absorb Earthly Qi then.


    However, with the Bagua mirror, Luo Ke had long deviated from the normal path of cultivation. The youth had long discovered that the mirror was actually able to help him refine and absorb the Earthly Qi energy!


    Because of this, not only is Luo Ke¡¯s cultivation base much more powerful than normal people¡¯s, his Temporal Di body actually contained thick concentration of Earthly Qi!


    With his eyes closed, Luo Ke began to condense his Earthly Qi together. All of his muscles tensed at once.


    After a quarter to an hour, Luo Ke felt a sharp pain inside his abdomen; as if something had been cut open there. Immediately, getting his teeth, Luo Ke directed all the Earthly Qi inside his body into that opening. That was his Dantian.


    A sense of weakness began to dawn on Luo Ke as the Earthly Qi that was stored throughout his body sweeped into his Dantian area.


    As the Earthly Qi entered his Dantian and began to condense, a phenomenon took place. As each strands of Earthly Qi fused and condensed together, they transformed into liquids and only continued to expand.


    After a volume of liquefied Earthy Qi, with the equivalent size of a compressed small pond, was condensed at the bottom of his Dantian, a formidable aura exploded out of Luo Ke¡¯s body. A refreshing and vigorous feeling pervaded through Luo Ke¡¯s body, making him feel as if he was floating above the clouds.


    Black liquids began to exude from Luo Ke¡¯s pores. These were the impurities inside his body.


    And this...was the first stage of Jie Hai realm!


    But, it was not over!


    Because Luo Ke had not immediately broken through into the Jie Hai realm and chose to continued solidifying his cultivation base, he had a dense quantity of Earthly Qi inside his body. More Earthly Qi continued to pour into his Dantian.


    Even as Luo Ke continued to fill up his dantian even more, he could feel the Bagua mirror in front of him constantly absorbing the energies in the air, transforming it, and sending it into his body in its purest form!


    Before long, Luo Ke¡¯s dantian expanded once again. The small pond inside his dantian was now had the density of one-fourth the size of a mid-area lake; the originally clear ¡®sea¡¯ became a bit blue in color. This was obviously not the actual size of the dantian sea, but rather a figurative quantification. If the condensed dantian sea was allowed to unfurl, it would indeed be as large as one fourth of a mid-sized lake.


    Moreover, the increased potent energy contained within the dantian sea was testament to its boost of strength!


    A powerful aura that was even greater than the previous one surged out from Luo Ke. Dusts blew away from him as a faint windy howl surrounded him.


    This, was the second stage of Jie Hai realm!


    Luo Ke¡¯s aura continued to rise as more Earthly Qi was slowly being cleansed away from his body and absorbed into his dantian. It was only until his aura stopped at the peak of the Jie Hai 2nd stage that Luo Ke found that he would not be breaking through again, even with the current help from the Bagua mirror.


    Upon entering the Jie Hai realm, he had actually reached the peak of the second stage in one go!


    Even outside of the Long Dynasty, having double breakthroughs were exceedingly rare. Only those who possessed an incomparably solid base would have such luck. These kind of phenomenons usually occurred in the early realms of cultivation. After that, it was much, much harder to even break through a stage, much less two stages at once!


    After everything once again quieted down, did Luo Ke finally open his eyes. A bright glow could be seen within his clear eyes as he examined his own body.


    His lip curled up in a smile as he looked towards the opening of the cave.


    ¡°To think I could advance two stages at once...after stabilizing my foundation, with my strength now, I should be able to deal with some of the people from those two despicable factions! Hmph, want to kill me? It¡¯s not that easy!¡±


    A murderous glint appeared in Luo Ke¡¯s eyes, as he glared out at the night. For the past twenty days, he had been training within the Duolo Province. At some point, he had gotten into conflicts with two factions at once, and due to the other party''s strength being higher than his own, he was forced to flee in when they revealed killing intents.


    This was how he ended up in a sorry state, hiding in an unknown cavern.


    Although Luo Ke could have easily revealed his identity as a Six Ocean Sect disciple through the crest hidden under his robe, he knew he could not fully rely on it.


    If he was killed, what use was displaying his background?


    Moreover, Luo Ke knew this was a test for him, an opportunity for him to truly develop himself in this cruel world...

 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38: Duoluo Province


    <hr>


    Early in the morning the next day, at the Six Ocean Sect.


    Several people were roaming about the sect ground, entering certain buildings or just emerging from their dorm. As they went about their way, some of them could not help but notice an auspicious youth in white robe embroidered with red linings walking leisurely across the ground.


    Many whispers arose from the ground when they recognized the figure.


    ¡°Wahh...that¡¯s brother Huang Xue!¡±


    ¡°I heard he¡¯s been hanging around with Yang Chen and his gang, that¡¯s why he doesn''t¡¯ appeared in sect¡¯s main hall anymore. I wonder just what is the relationship between those two?¡±


    ¡°Core disciple...7th stage of Jie Hai...strong battle potential...and now he¡¯s even close friends with Yang Chen from the Yang Chen. This kind of person, I doubt there¡¯s many who would dare provoke him! Ahhh, if only that was me¡­¡±


    Even though Huang Xue¡¯s immediate promotion to a core disciple as a freshmen sparked a huge conversation, in the end, none of the other core disciples dared to voice anything. With Huang Xue¡¯s family background and great strength displayed previously at the Freshmen Competition, no one was able to complain and could only bury their discontentment inside their heart.


    This, was the advantage having a powerful backer!


    Huang Xue looked around and gave the surrounding disciples a small smile before he proceeded down the steps of the Six Ocean Sect.


    At the bottom, Huang Xue met up with Yang Chen, who was standing near a large carriage pulled by two tough-looking horses. Two smaller carriages were stationed behind, while a group of eight people, filled with males and females, stood behind Yang Chen. They were clearly Yang Chen¡¯s followers.


    Seeing Huang Xue, Yang Chen smiled as he said: ¡°Haha, brother Shen, you¡¯re here!¡±


    Huang Xue walked up to Yang Chen with a faint smile as his eyes gazed at the people behind the latter. ¡°They are¡­?¡±


    Noticing Huang Xue¡¯s look, Yang Chen carefreely replied: ¡°Ah, they are all from my Yang clan. Since the Grand Valley Tomb is opening soon, our clan has sent them to assist me during the treasure hunt. My second and eldest brother should attending as well.¡±


    The group of cultivators behind Yang Chen quickly gave Huang Xue had a respectful salute and greeting. Since the other party was on close terms with their young master, they naturally had to get along with him. But that was merely secondary. With Huang Xue¡¯s extraordinary power and status, even if it was not for Yang Chen, these eight people would want to strike a positive impression with the white robed youth anyway!


    Huang Xue nodded without saying a word.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk here. We can be on our way and enjoy a nice chat inside the carriage. Let us go!¡± Yang Chen grinned as he opened the carriage door and hopped in.


    Huang Xue wordlessly followed inside.


    After getting ready, the three carriages began to push forward down a paved dirt road. Their destination: Gongho city!


    ***


    Duoluo Province, one of the eight major provinces of the Long Dynasty!


    Spanning a few thousand miles filled with large mountains and thick forest, there were a total of six cities within this province.


    The most well known of them all was the Gongho city!


    This was mainly because this city...was where a branch faction of the Thousand Flowers llan resided in! Even if it was merely a small portion of the Thousand Flowers clan, it nonetheless a part of a major power. Although the Thousand Flowers clan did not excel in its overall strength, the number of connections made through their merchant and auction businesses could be said to be immense.


    Moreover, this naturally meant the Thousand Flowers clan had a greater number of resources compared to most major clans; with such wealthy, their members also began to strengthen themselves. This was how they steadily grew from a mid-sized clan and ultimately ended up as one of the major clans across the entire Long Dynasty!


    As such, none of the other cities dared to disturb this Gongho city, allowing it to likewise rapidly flourish and become one of the most popular human location within the Duolo Province!


    It was now half past noon.Gongho city was filled with numerous cultivators and commoners walking about. The streets were lined with various stores and stands. Loud voices buzzed through the air and children ran around the street in excitement. Laughter and eager chattering pervaded through every corner of the city. This place was quite lively. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Outside the city gate, three carriages pulled up before several people stepped out. Among them was a luxurious blue robed youth who had an arrogant air about him. Beside him, stood a white robed youth who had an indifferent look as he scanned his surrounding.


    After a brief verification of the people¡¯s identities at the city gate, the guards stationed there respectfully gave way.


    Entering the city, Huang Xue was greeted by a blast of liveliness around him. It was quite different from his usual peacefulness on top of his mountain peak. But the sensation of being around other people...was not bad.


    Yang Chen chattered endlessly with Huang Xue as they explored the city for a while. The Grand Valley Tomb was only opening tomorrow, so they had the entire day to do as they pleased.


    Although the city had many extravagant stores that sold high quality items and pills, they were not enough to pique Huang Xue¡¯s interests. Even after visiting several stores and looking around, there was an indifferent expression on Huang Xue¡¯s face. In fact, it was all due to Yang Chen that Huang Xue even bothered entering those shops.


    And the one who actually bought the most, if anything, was Yang Chen as well. Huang Xue had politely declined each time when Yang Chen urged him to purchase something for himself. Even if Huang Xue did have a lot of money, he did not want to simply waste it for no reason. Especially on items that served no use for him or Yang Chen.


    The entire time, Yang Chen¡¯s gang had followed behind the two youths. This had led to many eyes looking at their direction every time they walked down the street. And given Huang Xue¡¯s handsome appearance and Yang Chen¡¯s proud aura brimming with arrogance, many bystanders could guess that the youths must have extraordinary backgrounds. Moreover, the eight people walking behind the two young mans had auras at the 9th stage of Temporal Di.


    One must know that this level of power, although seemingly insignificant, was rather impressive in the Duoluo Province. With such strength, one could comfortably get a job as a head guard of a city or even be an elder of a clan or small sect!


    In the entire Duolo Province, the strongest existences were at the Jie Hai 8th stage. And in each city, the majority population of cultivators were still in the Temporal Di realm or early Jie Hai realm! Only those mid sized sects and clans or greater, would even be close to possessing a decent Jie Hai practitioner.


    From this, relatively to other provinces, the Duolo Province was indeed a bit weaker in comparison.


    In Gongho city, a 9th staged Temporal DI cultivator was already considered an elite; especially seeing that the eight youths behind Yang Chen and Huang Xue had not passed the age of twenty five!


    As such, no one wanted to purposely block their way; making way for them even down the busy aisles.


    After touring a bit longer, Yang Chen finally suggested them to take a rest at nearby restaurant. Everyone agreed.


    Quickly, they came to a large building decorated with a wide door and two red pillars supporting it. Noises of chopsticks and porcelain cups clinking together rang from within the restaurant.


    Entering the building, Huang Xue¡¯s group was greeted by a middle aged male waiter dressed in a rather expensive robe. He eagerly took the ten people upstairs to a big table situated next to a open window. Looking down, one could clearly see everything that was going on below.


    Huang Xue looked around at the extravagant structures and the decent number of people wearing expensive clothes; he could tell that this indeed a high quality restaurant. But judging by Yang Chen¡¯s nature, coming here was not a surprise.


    ¡°Hehe, how do you like it here, brother Shen? This is the best restaurant in the entire Gongho city. Their food are quite good and the servants here all know their place. It¡¯s a fitting place for young masters like us, no?¡± Yang Chen laughed as he took a seat, with Huang Xue seated across from him. Yang Chen¡¯s followers quickly took their seat on the left and right side of the round table between the two youths.


    Huang Xue smiled as he replied: ¡°This place looks pretty good. I¡¯m sure the food here would be pleasing to my appetite as well. You truly have sharp eyes, brother Yang!¡±


    Hearing Huang Xue¡¯s flattering, Yang Chen laughed satisfactorily to himself. Being acknowledge by those whom he was agreeable with truly felt great!


    Before long, steaming plates of food were served on the big round table. While the ten people ate, they chatted at ease with one another.


    ¡°Brother Shen, pardon me, but you are so powerful already. I wonder, why have you not challenge any of those people on the Sea Disciple Ranking tablet? I¡¯m sure if you or young master Yang Chen make your move, you guys would get a pretty good placing!¡± A young girl in green dress, who was sitting on the right of the table, suddenly spoke as she glanced coyly at Huang Xue.


    She looked quite beautiful, with overflowing black hair, and with her brilliant smile when she looked Huang Xue, she could be classified as a beauty. This seventeen years old girl was named Yang Mingmei, a direct younger cousin of Yang Chen. But even at this tender age, her physique was well developed, especially the upper area where two round peaks stood proudly.


    Yang Chen placed down the cup of wine he was drinking and said: ¡°Right, why haven¡¯t you challenge anyone yet, brother Shen? Could it be that you are like me, waiting until your strength has improved a greater stage before challenging those of a higher rank in one go?¡±


    Huang Xue smiled as he replied: ¡°Haha, it is as brother Shen said. I am indeed waiting for a little while longer before I challenge someone on the Sect¡¯s ranking tablet. So for now, I simply plan on training a bit more.¡±


    ¡°With elder brother Huang Xue¡¯s Heaven root talent, if you continue train, I am sure the day when you take one of the top ten disciple rankings won¡¯t be far off!¡± Another girl chirped, this time from the left side of the table.


    Wearing a light cyan dress that outlined her fit physique, the girl had similar beautiful features and a pair of astute eyes. Her hair was tied up in a neat bun, and when she glanced over at Huang Xue, a flash of fanaticism subtly surface on her smooth face. This girl was a distant cousin of Yang Chen, named Yang Ruolan; similarly seventeen years old like Yang Mingmei.


    The two females who had spoken up were the only opposite genders within the group of eight other men. However, like the other followers behind Yang Chen, their cultivation was not weak at all, being at the 9th stage of Temporal Di. This ¡®impressiveness¡¯, of course, was only in context of this shabby environment.


    Huang Xue gave Yang Ruolan a gentle smile, causing the latter face to brighten. Off to the right, Yang Mingmei had a slightly ugly expression when she saw Yang Ruolan¡¯s action. As if noticing Yang Mingmei¡¯s glare, Yang Ruolan slightly turned to look at the former before a smirk spread across her lips, further inciting anger in the other party.


    After the two female cultivators started the conversation with Huang Xue and seeing that the latter did not seem to mind, the other male cultivators sitting around the table began to talk to Huang Xue as well. The topics ranged mostly from flattery to cultivation advices, but through it all, Huang Xue answered each of their questions and spoke with them with a mild tone.


    As such, the eight group of people began to have even greater respect for Huang Xue; especially the two young females. Their eyes could be shining brightly when they listened to Huang Xue speak about cultivation, feeling as though certain aspects of this uncertain martial journey had cleared up for them. They had benefited quite some from Huang Xue¡¯s short talks. Even Yang Chen joined in halfway through the conversation and patiently listened to the other person¡¯s ¡°thoughts¡±.


    While the group of people chattered around the table, outside the restaurant a young man looking to be in his mid twenties ran down the street. Wearing a plain gray robe with a big ¡°Flower¡± character (»¨) stitched on the left chest area, the messenger cried out through the street in a passionate voice:


    ¡°Hurry, hurry! The Thousand Flower Clan is holding its annual grand auction today! Top quality pills, herbs and even high grade beast cores will now be available for bidding! Hurry over now before the auction starts! Hurry, hurry!¡±


    Hearing the messenger, who was clearly working for the Thousand Flowers clan, a small uproar of excitement erupted from the surrounding crowds of cultivators. It wasn¡¯t before long that everyone, who had quite a sum of Qi stones, began rushing towards the center of the city. That was where the Thousand Flowers clan typically held their auctions, especially when it came to their annual grand auction!

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39: Auction Site


    <hr>


    When the messenger ran across the street, Huang Xue and the group upstairs naturally also heard the shouting below.


    While Huang Xue appeared indifferent,Yang Chen¡¯s eyes lit up with expectation. Turning to look at Huang Xue, he said in an excited voice:


    ¡°Brother Shen, the annual grand auction hosted by the Thousand Flowers clan each year could be said to be filled with numerous top notch treasures! This was also the reason why I proposed we leave for this Gongho city today, so that we would make it in time for this event. Now what do you think, brother Shen, do you want accompany with me to the auction?¡±


    Huang Xue lightly rubbed his chin as if he was in thought before he replied: ¡°Sure, I haven¡¯t attended this so-called ¡®grand auction¡¯ before, so I¡¯m willing to go see for myself what it¡¯s like!¡±


    ¡°Great!¡± Yang Chen laughed before he stood up. ¡°If we are done eating now, let us head over there immediately!¡±


    Since the restaurant was already deep within the center, it did not take long for the Yang Chen¡¯s group to find the auction site of the Thousand Flowers clan. In fact, out of all the surrounding buildings, there was only one particularly huge house that loomed above the rest. There were two guards stationed at each side of a big arched entrance.


    After a brief flash of their clan pendant and announcement of their status, the group of ten people were politely escorted into the huge building. Inside, there was a wide space filled with numerous seats on the first floor. Almost every one of the seats were already filled. A red stage was prepared at the far end. Above, there looked to be another floor overlooking the bottom.


    Huang Xue and Yang Chen, along with his followers, were all escorted to the second floor. This was apparently the VIP section of the auction. On the second floor, they were personally greeted by a middle aged man in purple robe and gray hair.


    ¡°Welcome, welcome, young master Shen and young master Yang! It is an honor for our Thousand Flowers clan to be graced by your presence.¡± The middle aged man said amicably as he gave the two a polite salute. ¡°I am the head manager of this branch house, Hua Shan. So if you need anything, feel free to let the servants know! We hope you enjoy your stay here.¡±


    Yang Chen had an arrogant smile on his face as he looked at Hua Shan. ¡°Heh, manager Hua Shan is being too courteous. You can lead us to our seats now.¡±


    Hua Shan¡¯s lips twitched subtly before a smile quickly blossomed on his face. ¡°Of course, of course! This way, young masters.¡±


    Even the Thousand Flowers clan was powerful and had great wealth, they were still unable to compete with those other major clans which possessed absolute killing ability. Therefore, even if they had to somewhat lower themselves, they could not openly offend or get into arguments with the other major clans. In particular, greater major clans like the Yang clan and Shen clan!


    Thus, while Hua Shan felt a bit indignant being treated arrogantly by a mere junior, he did not say nothing.


    Huang Xue likewise merely looked on with a slight look of disdain on his face when he looked at Yang Chen.


    ¡°Arrogant you may be, but disrespecting your elders...damn, this brat really is wild.¡± Huang Xue thought as he and the others were led to a special seating section.


    Inside the VIP section, there were several people already present. Besides Yang Chen who looked at them, Huang Xue did not pay attention to those groups at all.


    Taking his seat at the front, Huang Xue could see the stage and several groups of cultivators sitting below. There were also other balconies on the top floor, which were still empty.


    ¡°I wonder if there would be a treasure that could help with this Yang Chan¡¯s cultivation at this place...or an item that could awaken one¡¯s cultivation may be great as well..¡± Huang Xue thought to himself as he stared at the stage.


    This was his goal in attending this grand auction with Yang Chen today, to find a treasure to help the latter¡¯s potential and cultivation!Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Although Huang Xue brought several cosmic rings and cosmic bags, almost all of them merely contained Qi stones and a few incredible healing herbs or pills. There were also many raw materials, but other than those, there were practically nothing else that was useful.


    Given Huang Xue¡¯s previous pride as a god, how could Huang Xue worry that he could die that easily? Moreover, it was not quite his goal to continue ¡°surviving¡± in this body of his anyways¡­


    But in order to ensure that he was giving his best to ¡®live¡¯, Huang Xue prepared many life saving items and Qi stones on his journey. If he died because of his carelessness, that was one thing. But if he had some doubts that he did not give his all to live, then when he died, Huang Xue¡¯s soul would naturally be struck with divine punishment by Karmic laws!


    In the end, it was the state of one¡¯s soul during one¡¯s death that mattered the most. No one can lie with their soul. So as long as Huang Xue was certain that he gave his all to survive, even if he did perish because of his carelessness, there would be no ¡°doubts¡± within his soul; allowing him ultimately avoid karmic punishment!


    ¡°Haha, sister Yin Liqin is being too humble! Even though we¡¯re both at the fifth stage of Jie Hai realm, compared to you, I am still lacking. And you¡¯re even a year younger than me! Oh, but come, let me introduce you to a talented individual I befriended at the Six Ocean Sect!¡±


    Yang Chen¡¯s voice rang throughout the room, entering Huang Xue¡¯s ears and awakening him from his thoughts. At the same time, he could feel several pairs of eyes look towards his direction.


    Although he had already felt gazes upon him the moment he entered the VIP room, Huang Xue could now feel even more stares behind his back after Yang Chen¡¯s words.


    Without a choice, Huang Xue could only stand up and greet the two approaching figures. One the right side stood Yang Chen, while to his left was a light brown haired young girl.


    The girl had on a silky, azure dress that stretched to ground and flowed slightly behind her as she walked. With a petite face, big clear eyes, and a slim, smooth physique; this girl was undoubtedly a top class beauty, one that not even the previous Yang Mingmei and Yang Ruolan could compared to!


    After arriving near Huang Xue, Yang Chen began to introduce the female next to him:


    ¡°Brother Shen, this sister Yin Liqin. She¡¯s the second miss of the Yin clan; she¡¯s currently studying at the Celestial Illusion Sect. Our clans are quite close so we got to know each other a few years ago. And sister Yin Liqin, this person here is a good brother of mine, the third young master of the Shen clan, Shen Huang Xue!¡±


    Huang Xue slightly looked at the petite girl as he smiled: ¡°It is a pleasure meeting you here, miss Yin Liqin.¡±


    From overhearing Yang Chen flattering over this girl, Huang Xue had already long guessed the extraordinary status of the other party.


    Yin Liqin looked back at Huang Xue, a strange light glowing within her eyes, before she returned the courtesy. ¡°It is Liqin¡¯s fortune to be able to meet young master Huang Xue today.¡±


    ¡°Haha, don¡¯t be so stiff you two! Come, let us take our seat. This grand auction is about to begin.¡± Yang Chen laughed.


    After taking their respective seats, both group seatings of Yang Chen¡¯s people and Yin Liqin¡¯s group were placed near each other.


    Across the balcony, Huang Xue saw that there were other sections on the upper floor. Those were not beginning to be filled up with people.


    With Huang Xue¡¯s sharp eyes, he could see that each section on the top floor was broken up and organized by great clans and sects who may have come to attend the auction. From what he could tell, there were three other balconies.


    Judging from the aura and clothings they wore, Huang Xue did not recognize them as any of the prominent major clans in the Long Dynasty. But the fact that they could be seated on the upper floor proved that they were indeed VIP guests.


    As Huang Xue was pondering on the other three groups¡¯ identity, a middle aged man in luxurious brown robe walked onto the stage. The moment the people below saw him, they quieted down.


    The middle aged man had ordinary appearance, but his body gave off a faint pressure, causing the cultivators below to feel nervous. Even though those below the Tian realm would not be able to differentiate others¡¯ cultivation level, they could always estimate the other party¡¯s strength by the aura pressure they felt.


    Huang Xue turned to look at the middle aged man on the stage.


    ¡°4th stage of Jie Hai realm...in this kind of city, I guess that¡¯s a pretty good.¡± He murmured lazily.


    The man on the stage smiled at the audience as he spoke:


    ¡°Thank you everyone for coming to attend our grand auction! The people here often call me Auctioneer Jun, and I will be hosting the auctions today!¡±


    Even though Auctioneer Jun had called today¡¯s auction a grand one, it was merely a term for a specific auction period, where an auction house will put out the best of their stocks to the public.


    ¡°This one will not say much, so let us begin now. The first item for auction today is a unique bottle of eleven pills called the ¡®Buddha Calming Pill¡¯, a 3-tier elixir! By taking just one of this pill, your heart and mind will be cleared, allowing you to improve your meditation and cultivate better! The starting bid will be three thousand Qi stones! Each bid must be at least fifty Qi stones in increments.¡± Auctioneer Jun said passionately.


    Down below the stage, cultivators began to bid right after.


    ¡°Three thousand and fifty Qi stones!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay four thousand Qi stones!¡±


    Quickly after, the bottle of pill was sold to a old man in the crowd who purchased it for a final eight thousand Qi stones. None of the people from the upper balconies had participated in this bid. Naturally, they knew that the main attraction were not these early showcases, but the ones after¡­


    As such, Huang Xue and the others calmly watched from the second floor as weapons and pills after another were bidded away.


    Auctioneer Jun cleared his throat as he shot a glance at the upper floor.


    ¡°Ahem. Next up, we will now begin to bring out the true attractions for this year¡¯s grand auction!¡±


    Hearing this, the eyes of the people above shone as they leaned forward on their seats.


    At the same time below the stage, among the audience, a figure cloaked in black covered in a straw hat stood silently. An excited smile slowly spread across the person¡¯s lip.


    Peeking out from below the hat, the figure seemed to briefly look towards the direction of a particular balcony. In that section, a group of seven gray clothed people were seated. An image of three arched claws was stitched on their clothes¡¯ chest area.


    The person¡¯s gaze then moved across the other three balconies. One had a group of ten people in luxurious dark blue robe; the character ¡®Moon¡¯ (ÔÂ) was stitched to their attire.


    Another group seemed to have fourteen or fifteen people in it. When the person¡¯s eyes landed on Huang Xue and Yang Chen, a light flashed through their eyes before they turned to the remaining balcony.


    In the last section, there sat five black dressed individuals. An aura filled with ferocity and bloodthirstiness faintly exuded from their body. On their chest area, a picture of a three swords pointing outward could be seen.


    As the black mantled figure turned away, a strong killing intent could be flickering within their obsidian pair of eyes.

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40: Bidding, Bidding, Bidding! (1)


    <hr>


    Peeking out from below the hat, the figure seemed to briefly look towards the direction of a particular balcony. In that section, a group of seven gray clothed people were seated. An image of three arched claws was stitched on their clothes¡¯ chest area.


    The person¡¯s gaze then moved across the other three balconies. One had a group of ten people in luxurious dark blue robe; the character ¡®Moon¡¯ (ÔÂ) was stitched to their attire.


    Another group seemed to have fourteen or fifteen people in it. When the person¡¯s eyes landed on Huang Xue and Yang Chen, a light flashed through their eyes before they turned to the remaining balcony.


    In the last section, there sat five black dressed individuals. An aura filled with ferocity and bloodthirstiness faintly exuded from their body. On their chest area, a picture of a three swords pointing outward could be seen.


    As the black mantled figure turned away, a strong killing intent could be flickering within their pair of obsidian eyes.


    ¡°Hmph, as expected, those two damn factions are here as well.¡± The black cloaked figure muttered under his breath. ¡°But with my strength right now I should be able to escape here if things turn sour. And those two other groups up there, why do I feel like I¡¯ve seen them somewhere...Well, better keep myself concealed for now¡­¡±


    If one were to strip away the straw hat, an innocent face would be exposed underneath it. This person...was Luo Ke!


    After breaking through, Luo Ke had received wind from travelers about the upcoming large auction in Gongho city, and the opening of the Grand Valley Tomb. And with the huge sum of Qi stones he had robbed from some members of those major factions in Duolo Province that were chasing after him, Luo Ke was not in a stingy mood.


    In fact, he was in need of several high quality medicines and other aides. And he also came to the auction in hopes of finding a powerful martial arts manual or weapon for his use. This way, his strength would definitely go through another upgrade!


    At the start of auction, Luo Ke had purchased a few bottles of tier-3 pills and herbs filled with concentrated Earthly Qi. Those had come to a total of 10,650 Qi stones.


    Hearing that the real highlights of the auction are going to be shown, Luo Ke could not help but stare at the stage in anticipation. So far, he did choose to bid on any of the martial art skills and artifacts that were displayed earlier. Because he had been waiting for this moment.


    ¡°After spending so much Qi stones, I still have around twenty thousand Qi stones left.¡± Luo Ke calculated in his mind. ¡°Damn, those favored childs of large factions sure have it easy! But thanks to them, I was able to become so wealthy in a single day, haha¡­¡±


    At this time, Auctioneer Jun¡¯s voice rang through the spacious auditorium:


    ¡°Up next, we have a special martial arts manual that was given to our auction house by an anonymous person. This is actually a defense-based skill called ¡®Iron Skin¡¯, with its rank being at the Upper Common-grade! The starting bid for this item will be ten thousand Qi stones; each bid must be in increments of at least one thousand Qi stones!¡±


    A commotion immediately appeared within the audience. Previously, all the martial arts skills that were shown were merely sutras or for meditative use. None were attack-focused, much less defense-focused ones! And those previous martial arts were all Lower common-grade at that.


    With a good defense skill, it could serve to be another extra life saving method on oneself!


    In the Duolo Province, an Upper Common-grade skill was already considered extravagant. After all, they were much weaker in comparison to other provinces. For the strong clans here, a Low Earth-grade skill would be enough to even be considered their family heirloom!


    So once the lower common-grade skill appeared, everyone became excited; even two of the groups at the VIP section became interested. As for the balcony filled with people wearing a tri-sword emblem, and the people in Huang Xue¡¯s section, no one seemed to have any interest.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°10,100 Qi stones!¡±


    ¡°10,500 Qi stones!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll bid 11,000 Qi stones!¡±


    Shouts began to pervade the auditorium as everyone tried to get their hands on the martial skill.


    ¡°Our Fierce Dragon clan will bid 15,000 Qi stones.¡±


    A voice suddenly rang from above the auditorium. Everyone below immediately turned upwards towards the direction of the voice. It was the section where the group of


    ¡°The Fierce Dragon clan is participating!¡±


    ¡°It seems that one of the major clans in Duolo Province is finally making their move. Look, see that youth wearing the gray robe who bidded? He¡¯s actually the great young master of the Fierce Dragon clan; the one and only son!¡±


    ¡°Sighh...it seems we¡¯ll have to give up now. Whoever continues to bid would only draw the wrath of the Fierce Dragon clan!¡±


    The audience below naturally had some awareness of the people sitting above on the second floor. But because their status was not enough for them to interact with those major factions, they did not care too much about the ones in the balcony. But now that those people upstairs had made their bid, not many cultivators below wanted to continue bidding in fear.


    Overlooking the silent crowd below, the gray robed young man, who was sitting on a wooden chair at very front of his section, gave a contemptuous sneer. With an appearance that looked as if he was drained of blood, the youth seemed almost fragile.


    If not for his sinister eyes, others may have only believed this person to be a sickly fellow. And this youth, was the obviously the first young master of the Fierce Dragon clan, Hei Yuan!


    The five elders and youth follower behind him likewise had a disdainful expression when they saw the crowd¡¯s cowardly response.


    ¡°Hmph, a bunch of peasants.¡± Hei Yuan sneered as he looked towards the stage.


    Auctioneer Jun, who saw that no one was willing to bid any further, was about to reluctantly close the bid when a male¡¯s voice echoed through the quiet auditorium.


    ¡°15,500 Qi stones.¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    Everyone below turned their head towards the owner of the voice; their eyes landing on a figure covered in a black cloak and wearing a straw hat.


    ¡°This person...are they crazy!? They actually tried to overbid young master Hei Yuan!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re dead for sure¡­¡±


    Above on the balcony, Hei Yuan frowned as he slightly turned towards the black cloaked figure below.


    In a calm voice, he called out:


    ¡°16,000 Qi sto--¡±


    ¡°16,500 Qi stones.¡±


    But before he could finish, the black cloaked figure bidded again; successfully cutting him off in mid sentence.


    This time, a visible trace of anger appeared on Hei Yuan¡¯s face. This bastard, are they lookin¡¯ to die?!


    Gritting his teeth, Hei Yuan called out, his voice filled with a faint trace of anger: ¡°18,000 Qi stones!¡±


    Below, the black cloaked figure seemed to hesitate for a moment, causing a sneer to once again bloom on Hei Yuan¡¯s face. But it did not last long before the same voice echoed out:


    ¡°Twenty thousand¡­.and one hundred Qi stones!¡±


    Gasp! The crowd sucked in a breath of cold air when they heard the bid. A look of excitement and awe appeared on Auctioneer Jun¡¯s face.


    While Upper Common-grade skills are precious, they were not to the point where it would be at a value of more than twelve thousand Qi stones. Unless the Common grade skill was truly spectacular, then in that case it wouldn¡¯t even have appeared at the auction house! Thus, the bid that was being placed on this ¡®Iron Skin¡¯ skill was already considered extremely extravagant.


    And Hei Yun naturally knew this. He understood that the items that may be coming up next would possibly surpass the value of this upper common grade skill. So it would not be worth it to use up all of his allowance at once. He had only bought twenty five thousand Qi stones, and that was already a huge fortune that was provided by his clan


    Not to mention, his own clan already has three strong Upper common-grade skills, so it was not as if he was truly lacking one. They even have a lower Earth-grade skill too!


    After thinking for a while, Hei Yuan could only gloomily keep silence as he glared murderously at the black cloaked figure.


    With no more bids afterward, Auctioneer Jun announced the black cloaked figure as the highest bidder and promptly went through the transaction: a small cosmic bag was given and checked by the auctioneer, and the the item was then directly given to the bidder.


    After receiving the item, Luo Ke, who had bidded against Hei Yuan, did not stay long. He immediately began to leave.


    A look of nervousness appeared in his eyes. But this anxiety was not brought about by Hei Yuan. In fact, that young master of the Fierce Dragon clan was one of the two factions that were currently pursuing him! And it was also that Hei Yuan who had sought trouble with Luo Ke, thus the latter did not feel any fear or guilt competing with him. He needed a decent defense skill anyways!


    Instead, what made him feel a sense of dread was when Luo Ke felt a powerful sense suddenly lock onto him from above!


    When he felt that sensation, it was as if his whole body had lost its power, being unable to move in the slightly. He felt as if he was almost suffocating!


    And when Luo Ke had managed to slightly turn around, he actually caught sight of a familiar figure looking back at him. Although the pressure had subsided greatly afterwards, Luo Ke could still feel the other person¡¯s gaze.


    Fearing that the other party might covet his item, Luo Ke decided to leave immediately.


    While that other party did not participate in the bid, and would probably not care about a mere Upper common-grade art, Luo Ke did not want to risk staying. There were all kinds of people in this world, and many who hides their true self behind a humane facade.


    Not to mention, he had already attracted the attention of a few factions from the VIP section; with two of them being enemies. If his identity was exposed here, it would be a hassle trying to get out at that time.


    As Luo Ke made his way towards the exit, a white robed youth who had been staring at him slowly retracted his eyes.


    ¡°Hmmm...I involuntarily looked at that person because his voice rang so clearly during that period of silence. I was thinking that person had quite the courageous character when I thought I felt some strange energy from them...was I mistaken?¡± Huang Xue thought for a while before he dropped the matter.


    Since his Star Decree Stone did not have any reaction, Huang Xue did not have much interest in the other party. There were all kinds of cultivators in the world, so a few cultivators having special auras about them was normal. That was a conclusion Huang Xue came to in regards to that black cloaked figure; that the person was probably practitioner cultivating a unique art!


    Across Huang Xue¡¯s balcony, in another section, Hei Yuan quickly whispered something to an elder and a young man who was sitting beside him. The two listeners turned their gaze towards Luo Ke¡¯s retreating figure through the crowd below, before their eyes narrowed dangerously.


    WIthout a sound, the two persons, one elder and one youth, left the VIP section.


    A cold smile hung on Hei Yuan¡¯s face as he turned towards the auction stage again. ¡°You dare to try take what this young master desires? Then, I will let you know that only death awaits you!¡±

 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41: Bidding, Bidding, Bidding! (2)


    <hr>


    After the Upper common-grade skill was bidded off, Auctioneer Jun continued on with the other items. Each one being more precious and costly after the other. This time, the people upstairs had begun to participate as well; taking up more than ninety five percent of the people who actually bid on the items.


    ¡°Our Winged Moon Faction will bid 20,000 Qi stones!¡± A stout young man in dark blue robe called out. This person was called Kui Tian, the determined successor of his faction.


    ¡°The Yang clan shall bid 21,000 Qi stones!¡±


    ¡°Sorry brother Yang, but the Yin clan bids 23,000 Qi stones!¡±


    ¡°Hmph, our Immortal Spirit Pavilion will bid 30,000 Qi stones!¡± A young woman looking to be twenty or twenty one called out haughtily. Wearing a black dress, this person was Jia Changying.


    Although her beauty was not that of a gentleness like Yin Liqin, but rather a fierceness that could cause men to go crazy!


    Nonetheless, she was still a beauty whose slightly black, curly hair, smooth face, and naturally endowed physique could entangle several men and even befall a city!


    And this Jia Changying was also a favored child of the Immortal Spirit Pavilion, carrying the hopes of her faction!


    The crowd below could only look on with envy and awe as the figures above bidded extravagant wealth for the red lotus that was currently on display. After the appearance of the ¡®Iron Skin¡¯ skill, they had very few chance to continue bidding on the items that came afterwards. Many people had even begun to leave at this point, seeming the imposing manner of the powerful individuals on the second floor.


    ¡°And now, for the final item to conclude this grand auction, our Thousand Flowers clan present to you:the ¡®Amber Gold Sword¡¯...a Lower Sea-grade weapon! This was a precious weapon that our clan had found within the Grand Valley Tombs two years ago. And today, we have finally decided to put this up for auction! The starting bid will be 50,000 Qi stones, with each succeeding bid to be in increments of at least five thousand!¡±


    Auctioneer Jun¡¯s excited voice boomed across the auditorium as everyone¡¯s eyes glowed when they saw a long golden sword being brought out. A faint oppressive aura was being given off the weapon. The shining jade words ¡®Amber Gold¡¯ could be seen etched on the sword¡¯s edge.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Hei Yuan¡¯s eyes shone with excitement as he hurriedly called out: ¡°Our Fierce Dragon clan is willing to bid 55,000 Qi stones for the Amber Gold sword! I hope, everyone here would please give face to this one and let me have this sword!¡±


    In reality, Hei Yuan did not have this sum of Qi stones. His twenty five thousand Qi stones had already nearly been depleted. But he had already sent an elder back to his clan to get more money. This was why he was confident in calling out his bid.


    No matter, he had to obtain that lower Sea-grade sword! If he did, not only would his combat strength rise, his clan¡¯s power would rise as well!


    ¡°Heh, Hei Yuan, this is an auction house, not a mere store. If you have the ability then obtain the sword with your money! Our Winged Moon Faction will bid 56,000 Qi stones.¡± A gruff voice rang out from another section on the second floor. This comment obviously belonged to Kui Tian.


    Hei Yuan turned to glare at Kui Tian and was just about to retort back when another voice rang out.


    ¡°Yang clan will bid 60,000 Qi stones!¡±


    Everyone once again turned to see a young man in a luxurious blue robe looking arrogantly down at the red stage. When Hei Yuan saw the person who bidded, his face fell as he slunk back down on his seat. Even Kui Tian narrowed his eyes, but remained silent.


    On the second floor, Yin Liqin turned to the arrogant blue robed youth and said with a smile: ¡°Hehe, it seems brother Yang Chen is really determined to get his hands on this item. Since that is the case, I will not fight with you for this sword.¡±


    Yang Chen¡¯s smile widened as he saluted to Yin Liqin: ¡°Thank you, sister Liqin!¡±


    Huang Xue did not say anything as he looked on with indifference. Throughout the entire auction, there had been nothing that really caught his eyes.


    Just as Yang Chen thought that the sword was finally his, a crisp female voice called out haughtily:


    ¡°Our Immortal Spirit Pavilion will bid 100,000 Qi stones!¡±


    The crowd below grew silence as they looked towards the VIP section above. A hundred thousand Qi stones were a sum that many of them could not wrap their heads around.


    To increase the price by nearly forty thousand Qi stones at once, it could seen that the other party did not fear the Yang clan...


    Yang Chen froze as he turned to face the owner of the voice. ¡°Jia Changying, you¡­!¡±


    Jia Changying had a smug smile on her face as she looked lazily back at Yang Chen. ¡°What? Don¡¯t tell me young master Yang thinks he owns this place and would not allow others to place their bid?¡±


    Yang Chen gritted his teeth as he called out: ¡°I¡¯ll bid 105,000!¡±


    With the other party¡¯s high status, Yang Chen knew it was not good to offend her. Thus, he could only continue bidding.


    ¡°110,000 Qi stones.¡± Jia Changying called out coolly.


    Yang Chen had a dark expression as he looked gloomily over at the red stage. Even though he had initially brought a large amount of Qi stones, most of them had been used to purchase other bid items. By now, he had less than ninety thousand Qi stones left, and had planned to negotiate with the auction manager to pay the rest of the payment at a later date.


    ¡°Dammit! Why does she have to covet that sword as well¡­¡± Yang Chen grumbled.


    But even as he said that, Yang Chen already knew the answer in his heart. In the Long Dynasty, a Lower Earth-grade artifact was already considered outstanding, much less an Upper level one!


    Grinding his teeth, Yang Chen was just about to go all out when suddenly, from his side, a youthful, calm voice spoke out. Although the person did not raise their voice, a sort of power was infused within it, allowing the sound to successfully bounce across the auditorium.


    ¡°The Shen clan shall bid one million Qi stones.¡±


    ¡°.....¡±


    When the bid was announced, a deathly silence immediately filled the spacious auditorium; so quiet that one could even hear a pin drop...

 Chapter 42

    Chapter 42: Approaching


    <hr>


    ¡°One...one million Qi stones!¡±


    The crowd of cultivators were utterly stunned. Before they even had time to digest the sum that was a hundred thousand Qi stones, the bid had instantly leaped into a million Qi stones! This kind of amount...was an astronomical sum!


    Even the major factions of the Long Dynasty would not dare to casually throw out so many Qi stones at once. While a Lower Sea-grade treasure was incomparably rare, a million Qi stones was sufficient enough for one to purchase several tens of other great skills and artifacts!


    Yang Chen had his mouth slightly agape with shock as he turned towards Huang Xue, who was sitting next to him. But nothing came out of his mouth. With such a sudden bid amount, it had caught Yang Chen off guard. And facing this ¡®brother¡¯ of his, Yang Chen felt torn on how he should act. In the end, he decided to stay silent.


    Off to the other balcony, Jia Changying had an ugly expression as she looked towards Huang Xue¡¯s section.


    ¡°The hell...!? Did a nouveau riche actually appear here?¡± Jia Changying thought irritatedly. When her eyes landed on the white-haired youth, a flash of shock and doubt crossed her pretty face. Then, a strange gleam glowed within her dark pupils; she did not say anything further.


    After a while, Auctioneer Jun was finally able to regain his senses before he felt his heart bursting with ecstasy.


    ¡°I¡¯ve struck it rich! Rich! With this transaction, I would have done a great merit for the clan; the rewards given to me then would certainly not be small!¡± Auctioneer Jun thought gleefully.


    Quickly announcing Huang Xue¡¯s winning bid, Auctioneer Jun hurriedly sent people to deliver the item. In moments, the transaction was finished.


    Holding a gold-colored cosmic bag in his hands, Huang Xue fiddled around with it as Yang Chen watched on with envy.


    While a sword was indeed large, it did not require a gold colored cosmic bag, which had 300 cubic meters of space in it, to carry. By delivering the Amber Gold Sword in such a luxurious cosmic bag naturally had a clear meaning: the branch Thousand Flowers clan was trying to garner favors with Huang Xue!Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    But thinking back to the outrageous bid of a million QI stones, Yang Chen then felt it was normal in the end.


    Just as Yang Chen felt a sense of regret and indignation, Huang Xue¡¯s cool voice floated over to his ears:


    ¡°While this sword is quite good, in the end, I do not feel that it fits me. Instead, I feel this sword would suit brother Yang more. So how about this, allow me to gift this Amber Gold Sword to you, brother Yang Chen.¡±


    Turning around just in time to catch a gold colored bag flying towards him, Yang Chen caught it with sweep of his hands. Looking down at the golden cosmic bag and then back at Huang Xue¡¯s smiling face, Yang Chen suddenly felt a sense of happiness exploding inside of him.


    ¡°Ha..haha...hahaha! I, Yang Chen, is truly not blind! I have actually found such a great brother! Haha, brother Huang Xue, since you are willing to gift me this sword after paying such a price, I, Yang Chen, am naturally not heartless. From now on, if you need me for anything, be it to go through a mountain of fire or cross a spiky road of hell, I will not hesitate to do for you!¡±


    Huang Xue smiled, a faint look of disdain could be detected within the deepest depths of his eyes when he looked at Yang Chen.


    ¡°If that is so, then I am fortunate to have found such a great ¡®brother¡¯ as you, young master Yang!¡± Nonetheless, Huang Xue courteously replied.


    All the onlookers had an envious expression when they saw the event unfolding in before them. To gift away an item that was bidded for one million Qi stones so easily, the Shen clan being one of the majorest powers was certainly not false! And for Yang Chen to accept it just as smoothly, the Yang clan was not to be trifled with either¡­


    Yin Liqin had a strange expression as she silently looked at Huang Xue.


    ¡°This third young master of the Shen clan...is really interesting.¡± She thought as a gentle smile formed on her face.


    With the last item bidded off, the Thousand Flowers clan¡¯s grand auction quickly came to a close as a few other items were distributed off to the respective winning bidders. People began to file out of the large building, going about their ways.


    ¡°Let us head towards an inn for the night. We will leave early tomorrow morning to the Grand Valley Tomb.¡± Yang Chen suggested as they walked out of the auction house.


    Everyone agreed as they headed out. After a few courteous words to the Yin Liqin and her group, Yang Chen lead Huang Xue and his followers away.


    ***


    At a distant location, deep within in a field of forests decorated by long mountain range. It is now nighttime, with various unearthly cries echoing through the forest.


    From the looming shadows of the trees, a figure slowly began to materialise itself. Soon, it transformed into a complete form of male, who wore a black robe decorated with scales.


    The young man looked to be in his late twenties, but his interweaving black and gray hair suggested otherwise. Unlike Huang Xue¡¯s white haired appearance that radiated a feeling of youth, this man¡¯s entire being gave off the feeling of ancientness; and a feeling of dread.


    The male had a handsome appearance and his eyes, which were clear¡­.was shockingly the color of azure!


    But within those beautiful blue eyes, a chilling aura radiated out; causing anyone who meets his gaze to feel as if their body had been suddenly frozen!


    The black scale-robed man stepped out from under the shadow of tree, his figure now bathed under the illuminating moonlight. An eerie sense of transcendence surround his body at this moment, making him seem almost unreal.


    ¡°The boy must be around here¡­¡± The azure-eyed man murmured to himself as he glanced at the dark forest around him. ¡°I need to obtain that mirror quickly, before those old bastards catch up. I need to hurry...hurry¡­!¡±


    A resolute and cold light appeared within the man¡¯s eyes. Turning around, the man flicked his sleeve before his body seemed to instantly melt, dropping down and merging perfectly with the shadows around.


    The loud beastly cries around the forest continued on, undisturbed and unaware of the man¡¯s presence.

 Chapter 43

    Chapter 43: Grand Valley Tomb


    <hr>


    As the sun glared heatedly upon the emerald, lush below, a magnificent cave entrance could be seen near the edge of the greenness.


    While the rest of the surroundings was bathed in cheery sunlight, only this area gave off a gloomy feeling. A strange coldness could even be felt around the location where the mouth of the large cave was. And in front of the entrance, a transparent glass-like energy was present, seemingly blocking off everything from entering the cave. This was a formation barrier.


    Despite the dark atmosphere in this area, there are several hundreds of cultivators gathered on this spot. They all stood around, chattering among themselves while occasionally shooting a glance at the cave entrance that was protected by a barrier.


    There were many strong auras coming from this huge group, however, each of them knew that even if they were to combine their entire strength they would be unable to move the cave barrier in the slightest! This seal had been placed in front of the cave for several decades, only to be lift once each year. Until that time, no one would be able to break in and enter! Not even the peak level figures in the Long Dynasty are able to.


    Once the barrier to the cave was lifted, one would have merely one day¡¯s worth of time to explore the cave. And when that time is up, if one does not exit on time, they would be trapped inside the cave until its next opening!


    While cultivators did not need to eat or drink, and could solely rely on the Qi around them to survive for several months. But that did not mean they could do so forever, lest they have reached an unfathomable level of cultivation! And it could be safely assumed that no one in the Long Dynasty possesses such strength.


    Thus, being trapped in the cave at that point is absolutely equivalent to death for these Long Dynasty practitioners!


    *Rustle* *Rustle*


    Two young man and one young lady from the heavy forest, along with eighteen other youths who followed closely behind them. However, they were at the very end of the crowd, thus no one noticed their sudden appearance. Everyone was fully concentrated at the cave entrance before them.


    ¡°We are finally here now, brother Huang Xue! Do you see that cave entrance that¡¯s being blocked by a powerful barrier? That is the Grand Valley Tomb!¡± One of the two, a young man wearing a luxurious blue robe, spoke with a laugh as he looked over at the person beside him.


    And that other person was naturally Huang Xue, who was dressed in a pure white robe decorated with black linings. He looked towards the Grand Valley Tomb as a thoughtful look appeared on his face for a moment.


    ¡°What a weak barrier¡­¡± Huang Xue silently thought as he followed his group forward.


    The time for the Grand Valley Tomb to open was about to begin.


    *Zzt!*


    *Zzt!*


    An excited tremor ran through the crowd of cultivators as they all turned to stare at the cave entrance.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°Look! The seal is weakening!¡±


    ¡°The Grand Valley Tomb is about to be open! Hurry, quickly move to the front! If you¡¯re too slow, you might not get any benefits at all!¡±


    ¡°Everyone, get ready!¡±


    As the hundreds of cultivators prepared themselves, the barrier which had guarded the cave entrance slowly dissipated before their eyes. A soft ¡°peng¡± sound echoed out as the seal completely disappeared!


    The moment this happened, the eyes of several cultivators turned red as they stormed straight into the cave. However, right at this moment, several figures quickly shot past them! In the process, those same figures did not hesitate and threw out several attacks at the people in the front before overtaking them!


    ¡°What! How dare you attack others like this! Do you really thi--mm?¡± One young cultivator shouted, but before he could finish, he was pulled back by an elder of his clan.


    ¡°You fool! Look who they are before you sprout your nonsense!¡± The elder reprimanded.


    The young cultivator regained his sense as he carefully looked towards the figures who were currently entering the cave. At the lead were six youths, each wearing different clothing styles and releasing an air full of arrogance. A few elders also followed closely behind them.


    When the young cultivator recognized who they were, cold beads of sweat broke out from his forehead.


    ¡°My god! Th-those people are from the major factions of the entire Long Dynasty!¡±


    Other cultivators had long began to recognize who those audacious figures at the very front were.


    ¡°There¡¯s Zhang Bifan of the Zhang clan, Du Qianxi of the Du clan, and Ji Xiong of the Ji clan! Even Mei Hua of the Thousand Flowers clan came!¡±


    ¡°Quick, look at those people trailing behind them! Those two youths are from the Fierce Dragon clan and Winged Moon Faction: Hei Yuan and Kui Tian! They were the ones who attacked the other cultivators! As expected, those ruthless people came as well¡­¡±


    Facing those people who had powerful background, none of the cultivators present had any desire to voice their indignation anymore. They could only keep their anger to themselves and hope for a fortuitous opportunity inside the Grand Valley Tomb!


    After the six youths entered the cave, the elders who had been escorting them likewise stopped. Since this was an opportunity for their younger generation to train themselves, the elders did not want to interfere, for fear of impeding their growth.


    Right after the the six persons entered, twenty youths suddenly charged out of the crowd and into the cave entrance. The elders who had previously escorted the youths inside was surprised but did nothing to stop them. Moreover, once they saw the pendant dangling from Huang Xue¡¯s waist and the family crest on the other youth¡¯s clothes, the elders¡¯ face paled.


    When the other cultivators saw Huang Xue¡¯s group, they naturally recognized the family symbols those people carried. A tremor of shock ran through the crowd of cultivators.


    ¡°That...that is the symbol for the Yin clan, Yang clan, and Shen clan! Those powers actually came as well?!¡±


    ¡°What is wrong with that? Those powers would appear at this event every year as well, though typically only one or two of such factions would come...this year to have three come at once¡­¡±


    ¡°Aii...with so many major clans here just how will we even get any benefit?!¡±


    However, bitterness soon replaced the shocked faces of every cultivators present. With the appearance of these strong families, they knew that their chance at obtaining truly extraordinary items had diminished greatly. But nonetheless, these cultivators continued onwards in hopes of at least being able to obtain something good.


    Inside the Grand Valley Tomb.


    Huang Xue and his group soon arrived at a large open hall. The place was upheld by several brown colored stone pillars and the walls were likewise old and battered. At the other end of the room, a total of five entrances laid open. They arrived just in time to see the six youths darting separately into those five openings.


    ¡°Brother Huang Xue, which entrance should I choose? From my experience here previously, each of those openings would lead to a new route filled with various opportunities and dangers. And every time the tomb has been opened, the cave¡¯s structure has changed many times, thus each time these entrances would lead to different situations.¡± Yang Chen explained beside Huang Xue. ¡°I trust Brother Huang Xue¡¯s judgement, so I will let you choose our route!¡±


    Huang Xue smiled as he replied: ¡°Since brother Yang Chen believes me in like this, I will of course not let you down.¡±


    He then turned and pointed towards the cave entrance at the center. That was the same one where Du Qianxi entered, and where Huang Xue felt an abundance of energy. It was likely that there were still many treasures untaken beyond that entrance.


    ¡°Mmn. Since brother Huang Xue chooses this route, we will follow it.¡± Yang Chen said. Turning to Yin Liqin, he respectfully asked: ¡°How about you sister Liqin? Will you follow us as well?¡±


    Yin Liqin gave a graceful smile and replied: ¡°This is my first time exploring this Grand Valley Tomb, therefore I will have to bother brother Chen to guide me around here.¡±


    Yang Chen laughed as he quickly responded: ¡°Haha, what are you saying, sister Liqin? You coming along with us could be said to be our fortune! We wholeheartedly welcome you.¡±


    Off to the side, Huang Xue looked at Yang Chen for a moment before he proceeded towards the middle entrance. The rest followed along as they all entered the cave entrance.


    After the large group left, the air blurred for a second, revealing the figure of a young man dressed in tattered brown robe. A bagua mirror was held in his right hand. Looking towards the middle cave entrance with cold eyes, the youth¡¯s body and aura slowly disappeared, merging in with the surrounding just as several other cultivators finally arrived at the cavern hall.

 Chapter 44

    Chapter 44: Danger


    <hr>


    Huang Xue continued to tag along with Yang Chen¡¯s group as they entered deeper into Grand Valley Tomb. While they met with Du Qianxi on one occasion, nothing happened as they exchanged a brief greeting before parting on their ways.


    For the entire time, they looted various treasures and herbs while Huang Xue stood behind and watched.


    Naturally, he was offered on several occasions to pick his share but he politely refused. It was not that Huang Xue did not like treasures, but rather the items here were of little value to him. None of them caught his eyes.


    Instead, whenever Huang Xue discovered an item, he would either give it Yang Chen or Yin Liqin. Due to the Yin Liqin¡¯s talent, Huang Xue had a good impression of her. He even conversed with her on a few occasions as they walked along the cavern paths.


    As the group of twenty youths ventured deeper into the cave, they found that the number of cave entrances slowly increased. This was exactly as Yang Chen had told them.


    And because each cave entrance had great opportunities, the group decided to split up and each head into a different opening. This way, it would be more efficient in looting the treasures.


    After all, in the Grand Valley Tomb, wherever they went no one dared to fight over them for their treasures, much less even dare attack them. The power behind them was simply too powerful, and many suspected them to be carrying special imprints that would either protect them or help them expose whoever dared to kill them!


    With the group being split up, Huang Xue was paired with only Yang Chen as the two chose an entrance.


    As they conversed, the two soon arrived at an open space. This area was much smaller than the first cavern hall they entered, however, there was an eye catching mini altar situated at the far end of the place. A long black box rested upon it. Behind the altar stood yet another cave entrance.


    Upon discovering the altar, Yang Chen¡¯s eyes suddenly went wide as a frenzied look began to slowly manifest on his face. ¡°Could that be¡­?¡±


    Huang Xue looked towards the altar as he felt a strong energy coming from it. No, it should be said that he felt the sharp energy coming from the lengthy black box itself!


    ¡°This feeling...it is a sword?¡± He mused as he looked back at Yang Chen.


    Feigning ignorance, he asked: ¡°Brother Yang Chen, seeing your excited expression, just what exactly is that altar?¡±


    Hearing Huang Xue¡¯s question, Yang Chen returned back to reality as he wiped the longing look from his face. Although he was a bit unwilling to tell Huang Xue, after remembering how the latter had helped him on several occasions, he finally decided to tell him.


    ¡°It is like this brother Huang Xue. Do you see that black case?¡± Yang Chen pointed at the altar. Huang Xue gave slight nod.


    ¡°That case is said to contain a very powerful sword. Several years ago, the top elders of my clan discovered this long box, however they were powerlessly to take it away. After returning and refining a strong seal to deal with the ruthless sword intent in it, they wanted to take away the treasure. But it was then that we began to notice the structure-changing ability of the tomb. No mental transmission was possible and once one exits, they could not enter again until the following year.¡± Yang Chen explained.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°But the a few years after that, no matter how hard the elders tried, they could not relocate the altar again. It was as if it never existed at al! Because of that, each time when someone from our clan wants to enter the Grand Valley Tomb, that person would have to bring along the special seal in case they encounter the altar. And to think I would be able to do so, haha!¡±


    Huang Xue nodded as he said: ¡°Then congratulations to you, brother Yang Chen. With that seal, I¡¯m sure only you would able to take this sword. As such, I will not fight over you for it.¡±


    Hearing Huang Xue¡¯s words, a faint breath of sigh escaped from Yang Chen, who tried to hide it. But how could Huang Xue not understand the personality of people like Yang Chen? Only by giving his promise would he be able to abate the other¡¯s fears and bring himself closer to the latter.


    ¡°Then I will have to thank brother Huang Xue again!¡± Yang Chen cupped his hands towards Huang Xue, who only nodded in response.


    Yang Chen then turned and headed towards the altar.


    When he arrived, Yang Chen pulled out a jade talisman from his blue cosmic bag. A shocking aura spread out from the talisman when it appeared in Yang Chen¡¯s hand. Various symbols were inscribed upon the talisman, but the most eye-catching was the character ¡°Yang¡± (—î) at the center of it.


    With a determined glint in his eyes, Yang Chen slapped the jade talisman unto the long black box. Immediately afterwards, he performed a series of hand incantations and pointed it towards the talisman.


    ¡°Grand Yang Seal, activate!¡± Yang Chen shouted with vigor as Earthly Qi energy swirled towards the box.


    The jade talisman began to glow with splendent light. At the same time, the black box seemed to have sensed something, whereas it suddenly erupted with powerful aura. However, as if imbued with some sort of calming effect, the talisman continued to suppress the energy from the black box until the latter slowly calmed down.


    In return, the jade talisman grew brighter. After a few moments, the light from the talisman died down, along with the previous savage aura from the box..The talisman also seemed to have been stuck completely on the black box.


    An uncontrollable grin appeared on Yang Chen¡¯s face which was covered in sweat. It had taken a large amount of his Qi energy to activate his family¡¯s seal. As of now, he was greatly weakened both physically and Qi energy-wise. But with the success of sealing the black box, Yang Chen could not help but feel proud of himself.


    If he returned to his clan with this black box, his position within the Yang Chen would most definitely skyrocket! Perhaps, he would even be able to compete against his second and eldest brother at that point!


    Thinking there, Yang Chen grew excited as he reached out to retrieve the long black case.


    However, just as he was about to grab the case, a sudden piercing feeling caused him to stop.


    A sense of coldness began to spread across his abdomen area. Slowly, Yang Chen looked down.


    A look of disbelief was plastered over his face as he stared at the sharp metal object that was protruding from the messy red blot at lower area of his clothe.


    It was only now that Yang Chen could a presence behind him.


    Upon reaching the Jie Hai realm, practitioners would gain the ability to wield the power of Qi. There are many applications to this power, such as using it to sense other¡¯s presence through the flow of Qi between the Heaven and Earth, or obviously, to attack and defend using this special energy. Advanced cultivators may even send out Qi attacks or materialise it into certain forms; but that is only possible either in the late stages of Jie Hai or if the cultivator is specially talented.


    But even the ability to sense other¡¯s Qi did not help Yang Chen discover this hidden enemy, much less this sudden attack. In fact, it was as if this person never existed until Yang Chen the coldness of a sharp metal pierce him. In normal cases, Yang Chen would be able to sense those within a diameter of five feet, given that they are not much stronger than him.


    Before Yang Chen¡¯s mind could wrap around this situation, a furious shout came from behind him:


    ¡°YOU DARE?!¡±


    An enormous pressure suddenly bore down upon Yang Chen. He could faintly feel the tip of the sword, which he has somewhat ascertain by now, slightly tremble due to the aura.


    The culprit seemed to have sensed a deadly danger heading their way, so they quickly pulled out the sword from Yang Chen¡¯s back. The person¡¯s hand swiftly struck out, snatching away the blue cosmic bag under Yang Chen¡¯s belt. Then, without hesitation, cloaked figure delivered a merciless kick towards Yang Chen, sending him flying off the altar.


    The kick had been imbued with a large amount of his Qi energy, causing it to possess a devastating offensive power.


    When the strike landed on the powerless Yang Chen, who could not even summon his Qi barrier, it had instantly shattered several of his meridians and bones. The latter was now bound onto the road of death.


    By now the culprit¡¯s vaguy appearance was quickly revealed. With a slim, muscular physique and wearing a straw hat, a black cloth masking over his lower face and a black outfit that hid his entire being, the culprit¡¯s eyes shone like bright stars despite the pressure he was receiving.


    And that person...was Luo Ke!


    With a swift grasping movement, he retrieved the black box and it into his brown cosmic bag, along with Yang Chen¡¯s blue pouch.


    While this took some time to describe, it all happened quickly. But even then, right after the Luo Ke obtained the black wooden box, a blast of red Qi energy had already fallen upon him.


    As the vicious energy came into contact with his back, Luo Ke could feel a sense of crisis screaming loudly inside his head. If he were to take this attack head on like this he would...undoubtedly die!


    At this moment, while Luo Ke tried to summon all the Qi energy inside to defend against this Qi attack, the mirror inside his cosmic bag suddenly shone with a green glow. An invisible aura spread out and instantly seemed to cut down the red energy¡¯s offensive ability, causing the color to greatly dim even as it sent Luo Ke flying off the altar.


    And naturally, the one who had attacked was Huang Xue!


    However, even as Huang Xue was heading towards the fallen Luo Ke with murder in his eyes, all of a sudden, he suddenly paused. The swirling killing intent around him came to a halt as well.

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45: Mistaken


    <hr>


    When Huang Xue first discovered the attack on Yang Chen, it had already been too late.


    During the entire time, he had been on guard in case something happened to Yang Chen while the latter was sealing the black box. But never did he expect that out of nowhere, someone had actually gotten so close to Yang Chen that the other party could even strike out before Huang Xue could react! And that attack had been made...with the clear intent to kill!


    In fact, not even Huang Xue could ascertain when the other person appeared. He could not even sense that black clothed person¡¯s aura with his divine sense before the latter¡¯s appearance!


    In a normal situation, a 5th staged Jie Hai practitioner like Yang Chen could have never died under the hands of Luo Ke. However, given the former¡¯s greatly weakened state, lack of caution in the moment of excitement and Luo Ke¡¯s ruthless sneak attack; a fledging like Yang Chen simply had no way to survive!


    This had greatly alarmed and shocked Huang Xue into momentary silence. When he came to his senses, his entire body shook with fury and killing intent!


    After all, the person who was killed...had been his destined one! How could he not be angry in such a scenario?


    Even as a previous deity, Huang Xue¡¯s emotions had never been locked away. Because the various Daos he practiced, human emotions are necessary to continue advancing in such aspect. Like such, while Huang Xue could control many of his emotions, he would not purposefully hold them back should the situation require him to act.


    With a burst of powerful energy, Huang Xue¡¯s aura instantly rose to the 9th stage of Jie Hai as he attacked the culprit!


    And as expected, the person was sent flying away while blood spewed from his mouth. But Huang Xue was not done yet. To dare kill a person of his...the only path was absolute death!


    But just as Huang Xue was nearing Luo Ke at a rapid rate, he suddenly felt an undulation from the Star Decree stone. This had caused him to abruptly pause his advance.


    Even though he was furious, Huang Xue did not lose sense of his surrounding. He could easily tell that there were no one else around him, besides Luo Ke and the deceased Yang Chen. However, the star decree stone had once again been moved.


    With the span of a moment previously, Huang Xue had long ascertain that Luo Ke¡¯s cultivation was at the 2nd stage of Jie Hai realm. This was not enough to hide from his divine sense, even if Huang Xue¡¯s soul was injured and was currently being consumed. Thus, he had quickly came to conclude that it was due to a magical treasure. And Huang Xue doubted that such a treasure would appear on more than a single person!


    So for the Star Decree stone to resonate in such a situation¡­


    Huang Xue immediately took out the Star Decree stone and took a look at it. On its smooth surface, a clear golden arrow was pointing...towards Luo Ke¡¯s direction!


    A golden strand was now clearly swirling around Luo Ke, in fact, the strand this time around was much brighter and ¡°solid¡±. It was also moving much closer around Luo Ke¡¯s body. This did not occur before when it came to Yang Chen.


    By now, a complicated expression surfaced on Huang Xue¡¯s face.


    ¡°If a destined one kills another destined one...this is a bit¡­¡± Huang Xue was at loss what to do.


    But after a while, Huang Xue¡¯s eyes lit up as shrewdness glowed within them. From Huang Xue¡¯s attack, a large piece of Yang Chen¡¯s black cloak had been shredded into pieces, revealing the blue uniform of Six Ocean Sect disciples. A crest of a ocean wave could be seen on Luo Ke¡¯s right chest area.


    Upon seeing that, a thoughtful look appeared on Huang Xue¡¯s face.


    ¡°This person is from the Six Ocean Sect, so he must know about Yang Chen¡¯s identity; yet he still dared to kill him. And that invisible ability that even I could not detect¡­¡±


    After all, Huang Xue had previously lived for countless years as a god. Even though he was unsure of his conclusions, he was still able to piece together various pieces of vague hints.


    At this time, Luo Ke had already retrieved himself off the ground. Although the bagua mirror had fended off a large portion of Huang Xue¡¯s attack, it still could not prevent Luo Ke from getting fatally injured. It was, after all is said and done, an attack from a upset 9th staged Jie Hai practitioner¡­


    A feeling of dread and determination filed Luo Ke¡¯s being as he tried to figure out a way to escape this dangerous situation.


    Several hours before, Luo Ke had been stalking Huang Xue and Yang Chen using the stealth ability of the bagua mirror. Like this, Luo Ke naturally came to discover the mysterious black box along with Yang Chen.


    After hearing Yang Chen narrate the strength of the supposed sword that was in black box, Luo Ke knew he had to obtain it for himself! He was short of a powerful weapon anyhow. If he could retrieve that mysterious sword inside that black box, his overall battle prowess would no doubt surge once again.


    But at the same time, he knew could not steal the black box right under the nose of two Jie Hai practitioners who were of higher level than himself; in particular the Shen youth was someone to watch out for.


    Thus, Luo Ke decided to finish off the weakest of the two, Yang Chen!


    Even though Luo Ke knew the mammoth of a backer Yang Chen had, he was confident that with his current disguise, Huang Xue would not recognize him. Adding on that with the stealth ability of the bagua mirror, Luo Ke could still safely escape while reaping the benefits!


    But who could have known that Huang Xue¡¯s aura would suddenly surge to new heights and utterly suppress him in moments? The sudden increase in cultivation had completely caught Luo Ke off guard. If not for the assistance given by the bagua mirror, Luo Ke had no doubt he would have died right there and then!


    At first, Luo Ke could still sense Huang Xue¡¯s cultivation being at the 7th Jie Hai stage; similar to what he had felt back then during the Six Ocean Sect¡¯s freshmen competition. But in the next instant, he could not feel the latter¡¯s level anymore.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    Only the newfound pressure told Luo Ke that Huang Xue had actually suddenly became much, much more terrifying¡­.


    In that moment, Luo Ke realized that he had truly underestimated the white robed youth from the Shen clan¡­


    Fortunately, Luo Ke¡¯s face was still covered by a black cloth and his aura was obscured by the bagua mirror. His identity should still be safe.


    As Luo Ke cautiously watched Huang Xue who had become still, he slowly backed up. The spot where he had landed was right before the other end of the cave opening.


    Seizing the moment of inactivity, Luo Ke quickly activated the bagua mirror¡¯s ability and retreated into the dark tunnel behind him.


    The moment Luo Ke¡¯s aura completely vanished, Huang Xue frowned.


    However, he did not pursue Luo Ke. Instead, Huang Xue lifted the Star Decree stone that was in his right hand and placed it on his forehead. Closing his eyes, he began to focus his attention on the stone.


    After a while. Huang Xue slowly opened his eyes as a light of amusement and excitement shone brightly within them.


    A faint feeling of coldness and self-regret also welled up within his heart.


    After all, he...had actually almost killed someone who was supposed to be connected to him by destiny! If Huang Xue was not sober as he was, he could have very well made a mistake that he may probably regret for a long time¡­


    ¡°To think I would find my second destined person here¡­¡± Huang Xue murmured after collecting his thoughts. Then, as if he had thought of something, he turned to look back at Yang Chen¡¯s corpse. ¡°Or perhaps I should say my first destined person.¡±


    In his oracle vision, Huang Xue did not see one of the three blurry figures fade away, even after Yang Chen died.


    Now what did that mean? It meant that Yang Chen had never been the one Huang Xue was looking for!


    Instead, among the three indistinct figures, the one in the center had materialised instead...in the image of Luo Ke!


    ¡°But how could I have mistaken Yang Chen as a chosen one? There was definitely no one around when I scanned with my divine sense.¡± Huang Xue pondered. ¡°Then...it must have really been the doing of a mysterious treasure on that youth¡¯s body? Or could it be that he possess a Holy Physique Or Cursed Physique? No, that¡¯s not it...he doesn¡¯t have the unique aura of beings who have such body.¡±


    Previously, Huang Xue had also tried to verify if Yang Chen was truly his destined one through this method, but to no avail. While he had his suspicions, Huang Xue had clearly seen that the golden arrow from the Star Decree Stone was pointing at Yang Chen! There was no mistake about it.


    Therefore, Huang Xue had came to another conclusion. That Yang Chen¡¯s talent had not truly manifest itself yet; it was still dormant.This was also why Huang Xue had not hurriedly tried to take Yang Chen in as his disciple like what he had originally intended to do. He needed to ensure that Yang Chen was truly his destined one after the latter¡¯s latent talent emerges; hence, he gave some help and respect to the child, but did not personally provide any insightful guidance or treatment.


    But this type of scenario was rare¡­


    In fact, there was one thing Huang Xue had overlooked - and that was the Star Decree Stone he made was actually incomplete! The ingredients used had indeed created a ¡°whole¡± Star Decree Stone, however some of the material used were low-level substitutes. In his rush to quickly divine destiny, Huang Xue thought that as long as the ingredients did not create a problem with one another, the stone¡¯s effect would still be the same.


    In the end, this had created a laughable incident for him.


    Halfway through his thoughts, Huang Xue¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up again as he changed his thought back to the brief exchange. ¡°That kid had managed to block my attack backed by a strength that could even heavily injure Tian realm practitioners...for a brief moment, I thought I felt a peculiar aura coming from him at that time. Could that aura...be from the magical treasure he has on him?¡±


    After analyzing the situations, Huang Xue began to piece everything together as a smile lifted across his face.


    ¡°Haha, good! Good brat! I am ninety percent certain that this person definitely has an extraordinary magical treasure on him! It was possible that it even may have several functions! Although I am not completely sure the ability of the magical treasure or if the one that the Star Decree stone detected that day was this same person, it is of no concern now! I have at least truly found my first destined person this time!¡±


    During his Godly Years, Huang Xue had seen various monstrous treasures. Many had extremely peculiar abilities, and often they served more than one function --especially the stronger the magical treasure was!


    From stealthy concealing of one¡¯s entire being to helping one¡¯s cultivation to even absorption and reflection of incoming attacks; Huang Xue had seen all of those before.Even legendary treasures with the ability of Time or the ability to revive the dead existed in Huang Xue¡¯s plethora of experiences and memories.


    ¡°Haii...how unfortunate. And I was just starting to get use to this Yang brat too.¡± Huang Xue gave a light sigh as he looked once more at Yang Chen¡¯s motionless body, before turning away and staring into the dark tunnel ahead.


    A strange smile danced on Huang Xue¡¯s face.


    ¡°That brat seems to be more of a bold and stubborn character. Even after taking my strike he did not give up in to death. His personal qualities are much better than Yang Chen. Showering him with a bunch of flattery and gifts probably won¡¯t help me get close to him or improve his cultivation, rather they may even implicate his progress! Since he has already killed Yang Chen, the Yang clan will definitely not let him off.


    And then there¡¯s those other major factions here in the Duolo Province aiming for him...hehe, this could serve as a good training opportunity for him! This may be the best way to help him improve on his cultivation quickly...as long as I prevent him from truly dying, everything should be fine.¡±


    As Huang Xue was pondering on how he should approach or secretly train Luo Ke, he suddenly detected something with his divine sense that caused his skin to crawl.


    A frowned appeared on his face. ¡°This level of presence¡­¡±


    Closing his eyes, Huang Xue focused on sending out his divine sense further and observing the energy around him. In his mind, a large black field appeared. Within it were depictions of outlines of various mountains, forests, beasts, and even cultivators!


    The entire layout of the Grand Valley Tomb was laid out before his soul¡¯s godly vision.


    Even with his broken soul, Huang Xue¡¯s divine sense was still extremely formidable, possessing a near absolute detection diameter of a five kilometers as of now!


    From his divine sense, Huang Xue could easily see a weak blue aura outline of Luo Ke¡¯s figure as the latter retreated deeper into the Grand Valley Tomb. Huang Xue immediately knew that this must have been the youth he had previously attacked. No other auras around were greatly weakened as it was; and there was even a faint trace of Huang Xue¡¯s residual aura left on the person¡¯s body,..


    It seemed the youth did not have enough energy left to maintain his stealth ability.


    However, Huang Xue noticed another person following closely behind the injured youth.


    On the tunnel that Luo Ke was traveling in, there seemed to be several other entrances to it. This newcomer may have entered through one of those openings that Huang Xue may have missed.


    This person¡¯s aura outline was completely black, filled with a touch of sinister to it. From Huang Xue¡¯s superior divine sense, he could tell that it was a male cultivator; one who was quite powerful considering the density of the aura that outlined his figure.


    However, this person seemed to be specifically tailing Luo Ke. And it seemed that the other party had only recently appeared, since Huang Xue would have long discovered him with his divine sense before if that were not the case.


    With his level of divine sense, Huang Xue was certain that the other party would be unable to detect him. However, his face fell when he noticed the faint murderous aura that was also attached to this person¡¯s aura.


    ¡°This person¡¯s aura is somewhat decent, indicating a high level of achievement in cultivation. Since I am a bit far away now to fully ascertain this, his cultivation should have entered the Dao Ascent realm...for him to be here, could it be because of the treasure on that child¡¯s body?¡±


    From Huang Xue¡¯s point of view, if this mysterious person was targeting Luo Ke, then the only reason would be for the magical item. Though, if that was the case, why didn¡¯t the other party make their move already? Was the person waiting for something?


    As Huang Xue was still in thought about the new person who came into play, he suddenly felt three more powerful auras rapidly approaching from the distance.


    Judging from their deep blue aura outlines, Huang Xue could faintly tell that each of those auras were equal, if not greater, than the person with the black aura outline.


    A dark shadow casted over Huang Xue¡¯s face as he cursed: ¡°Don¡¯t tell me they¡¯re here for the magical treasure too?! Damn, what the hell did the brat even pick up??¡±

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46: Almighty Senior


    <hr>


    Huang Xue had a dark expression as he observed these four powerful auras.


    ¡°Hmph! To covet the treasure of someone whom I have set my eyes on, these people...are truly looking to die!¡±


    As Huang Xue thought this, he began to rush into the dark tunnel that Luo Ke had escaped into a while back. At the same time, he began to rotate the power within his soul¡­


    ***


    Several tens of miles away, three elders could be seen rapidly approaching the Grand Valley Tomb.


    However, they were not doing so by foot but rather by...flight!


    Once a martial artist reached the Tian realm, they would possess the ability of flight amongst a few new strengths. But judging by the dense and deep auras around these three elders, it was clear they had long surpassed that stage¡­


    The three persons wore the same exact purple silk robe, their hair equally gray from the passage of time. While they had ordinary looks, their skin was especially pale; making them seem ghastly to the common folks. Faint killing intent flickered within their dull eyes.


    Unlike what Huang Xue had suspected, these old men did not come for Luo Ke¡¯s magical treasure but rather...the man with the sinister aura who Huang Xue had detected earlier!


    ¡°Elder Mu, this time we must not let that Sung Li get away again this time!¡± The purple robed elder flying on the left spoke towards the person at the center of their formation.


    ¡°Right, just as Elder Hu says, we have to succeed this time, Elder Mu! We have been chasing after him for nearly a year now.¡± The other elder on the far right spoke up this time.


    The purple robed elder at the center coldly replied: ¡°Elder Kun need not remind me as well. This time, I have obtained critical information on that Sung Li¡¯s whereabout. We will absolutely succeed.¡±


    The elder on the right called ¡®Elder Kun¡¯ gave a dry laugh as he did not speak further.


    Out of the three people present, Elder Mu gave off the most intense aura. He was naturally the one with the highest cultivation level as well. That is why when Elder Kun noticed the cold tone in Elder Mu¡¯s words, he did dare speak further. The elder on the left, Elder Hu, kept quiet as well.


    As the trio proceeded to near the mountain range where the Grand Valley Tomb laid, suddenly, a fierce aura locked down upon the three elders¡¯ body!


    Immediately, the air around them seemed to stagnate as such, that even the Qi energy within this aura domain disappeared. The three purple robed elders felt it much harder to breathe; their body was likewise finding it extremely difficult to move as well!


    Elder Kun and Elder Hu¡¯s face instantly paled.


    ¡°This¡­?¡± Elder Mu, who had a higher cultivation was able to somewhat move, however his face could not help turning pale at this time.


    That is because with his cultivation, he could feel that the aura which had locked them down...possessed an unfathomable depth to it! Even their Clan Master did not have the ability to instantly suppress them like this...


    An apprehensive began to grow within Elder Mu¡¯s heart, while above the three elders, thick black clouds began to gather, Within moments, great thunders began to rumble within the dark clouds, with an occasion lightning striking out. However, despite such a bizarre scene, not a single living being nearby noticed it.


    Seeing this, the three elders¡¯ face fell.


    ¡°It seems this entire space has been completely locked down as well¡­¡± Elder Mu thought solemnly. To have the power to affect such a large field of space, there was no doubt that this was the doing of a peak leveled expert! But...how could they have attracted the attention of a monster like that?Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    As the elders were helpless to move, they could only await in cold fear as they strained to around them.


    Suddenly, an ancient voice rang out. The owner of the voice may have spoken softly, however, it appeared to have echoed from all around the elders. There was no way for them to ascertain where the voice was coming from.


    ¡°Speak. Who and why are you here?¡±


    The voice seemed to be fused with absolute power as it struck mercilessly against the elders'' soul, causing their face to go another shade paler. Elder Hu and Elder Kun, who could not hold on, involuntarily coughed up blood as their ears bled. While Elder Mu was able to prevent his orifices from bleeding, he too, was unable to stop himself from coughing up blood. A mere question had simply reduced them to such a state.


    Horror immediately surfaced on the elders¡¯ face. With a few simple words, they had already been injured! And they could faintly tell that the other person had been holding back as well¡­


    Elder Mu strained himself to bow as he cupped his hands towards the black clouds. Even though he could not see or sense the other party, with just the strange appearance of the dark clouds, he was able to speculate a few thing from experiences.


    ¡°Almighty...almighty senior. We three are juniors of the Gui Clan. We hail from the Infernal Land. If we have offended senior in any way, we hope to sincerely apologize for our great sin of ignorance!¡±


    Up inside the dark clouds that gathered, a black robed figure sat relaxedly in a lotus position. With long silvery hair, a handsome young man¡¯s face could be made out amidst the chaotic surrounding. At this time, the man¡¯s eyes were closed. This person...was naturally Huang Xue¡¯s divine clone!


    As Huang Xue¡¯s clones, they are linked together by soul. It is due to this that Huang Xue was able to monitor his clones¡¯ activities and even access their senses from time to time. It was also through soul communication that Huang Xue was able to immediately recall his one of his clones, at the late Saint Overlord realm, to the Grand Valley Tomb.


    After all, based on his current ability, Huang Xue¡¯s true body was simply unable to contend against these top experts. Thus, after having his clone travel through spatial dimensions four times, his other self finally arrived.


    This goes to show the long distance between Huang Xue¡¯s current dwelling and his clone¡¯s location; requiring the aid of several dimensional travels. If Huang Xue was still at the peak of his Immortal Sovereign realm, a single dimensional rift would be enough for him to cover this massive distance of several millions miles.


    Once his clone arrived, Huang Xue immediately directed his full attention to the former. Using his power to easily trap the three elders, Huang Xue then began his short interrogation.


    When he heard the words ¡®Infernal Land¡¯, his indifferent face slightly flickered.


    ¡°The Infernal Land...that¡¯s where the Hidden Ghost Valley resides in.¡± Huang Xue mused to himself.


    Down below, the three elders awaited nervously. The ancient elder had not said a single word for a while after Elder Mu had spoken, which made the atmosphere even more tense.


    ¡°Why have you come here?¡± Finally, the archaic voice once again rang out; this time, it did not contain the horrifying power it did before which had injured the three of them. Yet, it still made the elders¡¯ soul tremble violently.


    ¡°This¡­¡± Elder Mu began before his words falter. He was an extremely cautious man by nature. Even now he was still silently thinking about their current mission and this mysterious elder¡¯s sudden appearance.


    While he did not believe the man who they were chasing after, Sung Li, could garner help from such an exalted being, there was always that ¡®what if¡¯. Suppose Sung Li somehow managed to gain help from this great elder, if he were to say their true purpose, would it not be inviting calamity upon themselves? This was what Elder Mu thought in his mind.


    This entire thought process may have taken a while to describe, but it had raced through Elder Mu¡¯s head in a mere moments. In reality though, Elder Mu had overthink this situation and made it much more complicated than it was.


    And unfortunately, this moment of hesitation was what led to his, and his companions¡¯, demise.


    ¡°Nevermind. You may all die now.¡±


    With Huang Xue¡¯s keen senses as a Saint Overlord practitioner, how could he miss the hesitation in Elder Mu¡¯s words? Moreover, from the moment Huang Xue could clearly sensed the three elders¡¯ aura, he had gained unbarred access to their souls as well. From there on, he could detect the murderous and sinister aura that continuously revolved around the three persons¡¯ soul.


    With such thick sinister energy and sin gathered around their souls, Huang Xue could easily tell they were no kind saints. They were definitely heading towards the Grand Valley Tomb with good intentions. And thinking on that path, Huang Xue thought to the treasure on Luo Ke¡¯s body¡­


    Huang Xue did not make a move. However, the instant Huang Xue¡¯s words rang out, a terrified expression replaced Elder Mu and the other two elders¡¯ face.


    ¡°Wait¡­¡± Elder Mu was completely scared as he tried to pacify the ancient elder. This time, he was definitely willing to say everything.


    But it was sadly too late¡­


    ¡°?!¡±


    Elder Mu paused as his words became stuck in his throat, unable to come out. This was because at this very moment, he could feel a mysterious energy slamming straightening into his soul; rendering him breathless.


    Then, as if unsatisfied, that strange energy began...to forcefully pull out his soul!


    Similar scenarios played out for Elder Hu and Elder Kun. Although the three elders tried to resist, how could they, with just the ability of two early Dao Ascents and a late Dao Ascent, fight against the a late staged Saint Overlord?


    If Huang Xue had not been holding back a massive chunk of his powers when he arrived, even a small breath from him could have instantly pulverized these little Dao Ascents!


    In, but a short exchange, Huang Xue had effortlessly wrestled out the souls of the three elders. When three glowing orbs were wretched out from the chest of the three elders by an invisible force, the elders did not even have time to scream as they died instantly. Their face was contorted in a hideous, terrified expression upon their death.


    Regardless what kind of existence one was, to have one¡¯s soul taken out of their body would result in absolute death of their flesh. And if one¡¯s soul was extinguished...then that would signify true death, along with inability to ever reincarnate again!


    When the three bodies of the elders died, they still remained suspended in the air due to Huang Xue¡¯s control of the environment around them.


    The three glowing yellow orbs trembled with sentiments in the air, as if they are pleading to be released. Although their body had been destroyed, the three elders still ¡®lived¡¯ on through their soul. As such, they were still able to see what was happening around them and could even communicate.


    But Huang Xue did not bother answering the pleads of these unfortunate folks.


    A column of black clouds suddenly shot out from the gathering of dark clouds above, enshrouding the three corpses. The dark cloud column then returned, leaving an empty space at the place where the three bodies had originally been.


    Next, the three trembling souls were suddenly pulled up towards the swirling lumps of black clouds. As they neared, the dark clouds seemed to morph into a large mouth as it unhesitantly swallowed the three souls.


    Huang Xue¡¯s eyes were still closed, undisturbed by what had happened.


    ¡°Now, let me see what that child is up to¡­¡± Huang Xue thought as his directed his divine sense towards the Grand Valley Tomb and locked on...the man with the sinister aura he had previously discovered!

 Chapter 47

    Chapter 47: Sung Li


    <hr>


    Deep inside the Grand Valley Tomb, a battered Luo Ke slowly walked down a wide, dark tunnel. After the attack from Huang Xue, a great deal of his power had been reduced, rendering Luo Ke in this sorry state.


    But unbeknownst to him, another person had been following him since the time he escaped from Huang Xue!


    Nearly ten feet behind Luo Ke, was a pale skinned man in a scale-patterned black robe. This person...was the one the three elders had been targeting, Sung Li!


    As Sung Li continued to tail Luo Ke, a black snake stealthily slithered along the tunnel walls, its astonishing blue eyes never leaving Luo Ke¡¯s figure. This was the medium in which Sung Li had been using to track down Luo Ke for the past year!


    ¡°How should I acquire that mirror from him¡­¡± Sung Li thought solemnly as he stared at Luo Ke¡¯s back. He had to hurry.


    He knew that he was being chased by people from the Gui Clan. Several years ago, after a calamity struck his family, Sung Li had been roaming alone in the wilds from then on. At the same time, he was also being pursued by experts who wanted his life.


    Under that type of pressure, Sung Li had desperately seeked strength. Fortunately, luck was on his side. On a certain occasion, upon venturing deep into a danger zone, Sung Li came across a hidden cave. Inside, while he did not discover any shocking treasures or manuals, he did uncover a secret about a heaven-defying treasure!


    And that treasure...was precisely the bagua mirror in Luo Ke¡¯s possession!


    On the walls where the secret was written, Sung Li came to understand that the mirror was called the ¡°Saint Mirror¡±, a relic supposedly passed down from the Primordial Era! While it did not discuss the functions of the treasure, it did harp on about the great powers that the previous owners of this mirror had wielded; granting them influence that no normal person could fathom!


    Along with this description, there was a diagram on exactly how the bagua mirror looked like; with claims that there will never be another unique item appearance like it. There was even hints that this mirror was supposedly still somewhere in this Earthly Land!


    After that, Sung Li destroyed the cavern walls to erase the secrets before he separated a portion of his divine sense and transformed it into thousands of black snakes to act as his eyes and legs. Only with those blue-eyed snakes, would Sung Li be able to search more efficiently for this treasure; though to comb through the entire Lower Region was still a near-impossible task. But it was a task that Sung Li had to take on no matter what¡­


    And so, under the pursuit of his enemies, Sung Li managed to finally discover the bagua mirror a year ago. Under the guidance of fortuitous luck, he found the Saint Mirror...in the possession of Luo Ke. Due to its unique design, Sung Li had instantly recognized the mirror.


    But due to the long distance from where he was then, to where the mirror was at, Sung Li had to painstakingly travel on ground to the Long Dynasty. This was to mainly hide from his pursuers; traveling by air was simply unsafe for him.


    In the meantime, one of Sung Li¡¯s snakes kept watch over Luo Ke the entire time. With its weak aura, no experts had bothered to care about the snake even when they detected it; allowing the blue-eyed reptile to remain relatively unnoticed.


    As time passed, Sung Li watched how Luo Ke went from a mere commoner to a strong Jie Hai practitioner, one who was even capable of battling against others a rank or two higher than himself! And Luo Ke¡¯s metamorphosis had further served to excite and consolidate Sung Li¡¯s beliefs. If he were to obtain the Saint Mirror and uncover its secrets, his cultivation would undoubtedly soar!


    Finally, after finding himself narrowly escaped death many times, Sung Li eventually arrived in the Long Dynasty and arrived at this moment¡­


    ¡°Should I offer to trade a rare item with him? Or should I just snatch it? Or should I simply kill him?¡± Sung Li debated within his mind. ¡°No, no, that treasure is so powerful, how could I have something that could match its value. And for someone with a cultivation like mine, I definitely cannot kill a junior who is way below me. If I do that...I¡¯ll be no different from those bastards!¡±


    Although Sung Li could easily snatch away the Saint Mirror from Luo Ke, with him being quite conscious of his status and situation, he didn''t choose to do so. Instead, contrary to expectations, he actually chose to find ways to compromise and did not make things difficult for those who were weaker than himself.


    Since young, his principle had been to keep to his own business; if no one provoked him, he would remain indifferent. And if he needed something from others, he would pay an equal price in obtaining it!


    Despite the sinister and murderous aura around Sung Li, his personality trait had a big contrast against the three elders¡¯, who, although seemed amicable, held indifference to vanquishing lives.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    As Sung Li was thinking to himself, he did not notice a the air behind him twisting; revealing a small black hole. From that crack in space, a jade hand struck out and grabbed firmly onto Sung Li¡¯s right shoulder.


    Before Sung Li could react, the world blurred before his eyes. By the time he had blinked once, the setting before him had completely changed. Now, instead of the gloomy dark cavern walls, Sung Li had found himself in the air; with trees and mountains set beneath him.


    At the same time, Sung Li felt his entire body go powerless. The air around him seemed to come to a pause, making it difficult for him to even breath smoothly. An otherworldly pressure had descended upon him.


    ¡°Wh..at¡­?¡± Sung Li stared wide eyed at the scene before him. Previously he had felt someone grasp his shoulder from behind, but that sensation had only last a brief second before the other person¡¯s hand had disappeared. Only a searing pain was left on his right shoulder.


    Above him, the black clouds rumbled as an ancient voice pervaded out.


    ¡°Speak, what is your intention for coming here?¡±


    When Sung Li heard the powerful voice, his soul stirred and his mind went blank for a moment.


    ¡°This pressure...it¡¯s beyond the Dao Ascent realm! Could this person actually be...at the Heavenly Wang?! Or possibly even higher¡­¡± Sung Li snapped back to reality as he thought in dread. If this person had come to kill him, he would certainly not be able to escape today.


    But Sung Li was extremely doubtful the Gui Clan could send someone of this caliber, or would even want to...


    Regaining himself, Sung Li struggled to give a salute as he replied respectfully:


    ¡°G-great Senior...this...this one is called Sung Li. I hail from the Sung Clan of the Infernal Land . I came here today to¡­to obtain a treasure.¡±


    In front of a powerful expert as this, Sung Li did not dare lie.


    ¡°What treasure?¡± Huang Xue¡¯s voice echoed out.


    Sung Li flickered for a second before he resignedly replied: ¡°It¡¯s...a treasure called the Saint Mirror.¡± Then, he gave a short narration on how he discovered the treasure and its unlisted uses.


    Huang Xue¡¯s voice remained indifferent as it resounded: ¡°And how were you going to get this treasure from the child you were following? Kill him?¡±


    Sung Li¡¯s face immediately went pale. He had not even mentioned where the treasure was and yet this elder seemed to have already ascertain its location. If that was the case, with Sung Li tailing that boy and this elder¡¯s sudden appearance...could it...be¡­.


    Sung Li quickly tried to bow amidst the stifling pressure as he said: ¡°G-great Senior, you have misunderstood! I had not plan to do anything to the child at all. I was merely thinking on how I should compensate him for the item¡­¡±


    Huang Xue did not say anything as he observed the nervous Sung Li. He had already noticed the moment his clone appeared, that there was never any true killing intent on Sung Li. While the faint murderous and sinister aura were a bit unsettling, it did not seemed to be directed towards Luo Ke, but rather acted as a natural presence around that Sung Li.


    This was the reason why Huang Xue did not immediately move to take care of Sung Li, but rather the three elders first. Compared to Sung Li, Huang Xue had sensed true killing intent and darkness from the elders. Thus, when Huang Xue summoned Sung Li, he did not make things difficult for the latter; though he still had to ascertain the other¡¯s intentions.


    After a while, seeing that the elder was not replying, Sung Li tried to explain himself further:


    ¡°Um, Great Senior, if that child, Luo Ke, was your disciple, I ask senior to forgive me for my impudence! While I may have followed this child behind the scene for a while, I have never done anything malicious, or held any dark thoughts, to him. I...I ask Great Senior to overlook this for once; in exchange I will give you everything in my spatial bag as compensation¡­¡±


    With this elder¡¯s timely appearance, Sung Li had come to believe that the elder was Luo Ke¡¯s master.


    After all, when he thought about it, Sung Li had never truly seen how Luo Ke had obtained the bagua mirror! By the time he discovered it, it was already in Luo Ke¡¯s possession. For such a powerful treasure to land in some commoner¡¯s hands, it could truly be said to be heaven-defying luck! But could such luck really happen?


    For the entire year when Sung Li observed Luo Ke, he did not notice anything strange about the latter. Luo Ke had a commoner¡¯s background and when he ran into life-and-death situations no one had come to save him. He had relied on himself to preserve.


    These events had led Sung Li to conclude that Luo Ke indeed did not have a strong backer. However, today¡¯s situation had completely reversed Sung Li¡¯s thoughts.


    ¡°I have heard stories before on how powerful masters would purposely leave behind their secret arts or heavenly treasures for those fortunate enough to discover them. They would then hiddenly observe and even protect those lucky fellows. If the person was able to fully comprehend the secret arts or grasp full control of the treasures, it was said those masters would actually reveal themselves to take them in as personal examples¡­¡± Sung Li thought back to those legends and rumors he heard long ago.


    However, such events occurring were as rare as snow on a hot summer eve. To be so powerful where one could relaxedly discard heavenly items and use it as a way to determine their disciples...just how many people could do that? Such monsters were as rare as a phoenix¡¯s feather or unicorn¡¯s horn!


    But unfortunately, it seemed Sung Li had the¡±fortune¡± to meet such a being today..


    ¡°Luo Ke? Disciple?¡± Huang Xue thought wryly as he engraved the name in his heart. ¡°If my guess is correct, I may have already left quite an unpleasant image of myself in front of that child. To ask him to be my disciple at this point doesn¡¯t seem realistic at all.¡±


    After a moment, the ancient voice resounded again: ¡°While that child is not my disciple, he can be considered one of my people. Since you did not reveal killing intent towards him, nor did you actually move against him, I can indeed spare your life.¡±


    Huang Xue did not bother to explain any further on his relationship with Luo Ke. Since, even he does not know how it¡¯ll play out as of right now!


    Sung Li also did not continue to think further as his eyes widened with hope. But the mysterious elder¡¯s next words caused his heart to plummet.


    ¡°However, I cannot let you off so easily either. I can see that your soul is actually quite stable and firm, meaning your conscious and previous words were indeed true. And with your current cultivation base, in this small region, you barely qualify as that child¡¯s protector. But it will have to do for now. So let us do this: you will stay with that child and protect him from the shadows until he reaches the Profound He realm!¡±


    Sung Li almost fainted from depression when he heard the mysterious elder¡¯s words. For Luo Ke to reach the Profound He realm...how long will that take? Although generally those with normal talent would achieve this realm by the age of 100; but there had also been ones who would enter this realm at the age of 200¡­


    Even with the help of the Saint Mirror, life was uncertain. Sung Li was absolutely unsure when Luo Ke would truly reach the Profound He realm.


    To give up nearly a hundred to two hundred years of his life like this...even if Sung Li was a patient man, this was still too much for him!


    ¡°Great Senior, I¡­¡± Sung Li wanted to refute, before he was cut off by the elder.


    ¡°What? You¡¯re unsatisfied? Remember that you had actually dared to target a person mine with your higher cultivation base. Even if you meant ¡°well¡±, you had long since overstepped your boundary. Allowing you to live is already my limit. Furthermore, you only have to intervene if the older generation dares to shamelessly come into play. Other than that, you simply have to wait and watch. If he died fighting the younger generations, then you will be immediately freed of your duty.¡±


    While Huang Xue wanted someone to watch over Luo Ke when he was not near, he would not go so far as to shelter the latter from every danger. It would serve to inhibit his growth if it was like that. But Huang Xue could not let his destined ones die off so easily either; thus, he needed someone to intervene on his behalf when Luo Ke truly met something he could not deal with, such as interference of great elders!


    As for the rest of time, it would truly be solely on Luo Ke to survive and grow his talent.

 Chapter 48

    Chapter 48


    <hr>


    ¡°Great Senior, it is not that I do not want to protect the young master under your care, but it¡¯s that I have some incredible difficulties that I urgently need to resolve¡­¡± Sung Li said as he tried to appear more resolute.


    ¡°Hmph! What incredible difficulties could a mere early Dao Ascent like you have? Speak! This lord would like to hear it.¡± Huang Xue¡¯s ancient voice rang out in disdain.


    With a helpless expression, Sung Li struggled in his heart for a while before he decided to tell his complete story.


    ¡°It is like this, senior. All my life I have lived in the Infernal Land¡¯s Mainland, roaming the 108 territories there as I pleased. This was entirely due to my family¡¯s background, the Sung Clan! You see, my Sung Clan has quite some influence in the chaotic Infernal Land, so our clansmen were able to walk around unimpeded. We could be considered major clans back in the Infernal Land.¡± As Sung Li recalled his family, a tone filled with pride, inevitably rose.


    ¡°However¡­¡± Sung Li¡¯s tone suddenly came dark as faint murderous aura leaked out from his body.


    ¡°Two years ago, my Sung clan was suddenly attacked by Gui clan. In the Infernal Land, in terms of power and influence, our Sung clan is actually equal to the Gui Clan; if not a bit stronger. So if it was only them who attacked, we had nothing to fear. But that despicable Gui clan had actually allied themselves three other major factions before they came.


    Without warning, they attacked us and completely wiped us out in a single day; leaving only me who barely escaped! From that point on, I had swore an oath to heaven that I would eradicate those bastards and make them regret their actions! That is why I seeked out the Saint Mirror, in hopes of improving my strength.¡±


    Among the black clouds, Huang Xue thought for a while before he asked, his voice resounding around Sung Li:


    ¡°And why did the Gui clan gather an alliance to attack your Sung clan?¡±


    Sung Li froze before he let out a sigh. ¡°To be honest with senior, it...it was because a talented clansman of ours had killed the successor of the Gui clan, thoroughly enraging them. And back then, our Sung clan did not try to pacify the Gui clan, but rather continued to ridicule them...all the way up until the disaster struck.¡±


    To have the successor of one¡¯s clan be killed, it was surely enough reason for large massacre to break out; especially given the law of the jungle in the Earthly Lands. The Sung clan had been too overconfident in themselves, which resulted in their eventual demise¡­Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    After a moment, the archaic voice spread out once more.


    ¡°The Infernal Land...since I am planning to travel there in the future, I can promise you this: as long as you watch over that child until he reaches the Profound He realm, I will personally go avenge your clan in your place. In fact, depending on the situation, you may not even need to wait for him to reach the Profound He realm before I fulfill the end of my deal.¡±


    A surge of happiness and disbelief arose in Sung Li¡¯s heart when he heard Huang Xue¡¯s words. He had already long realized that for him to reach the level in which he could threaten the four major clans in the Infernal Land may take an extremely long time, even with help from the Saint Mirror.


    It was such that, Sung Li feared by the time he acquired enough power to return to the Infernal Land, his enemies would have either become stronger or all have perished amidst the chaotic environment. After all, the Infernal Land was far more lawless than any of the areas within the Lower Region¡­


    But if he had the help of a powerful expert like this mysterious elder before him...it, was definitely possible!


    As for Huang Xue, as long as those major factions were not within the Hidden Ghost Valley, he had no worries that he would ¡°accidentally¡± come to meet or harm his destined one in the Infernal Land¡¯s Mainland! That was why he dared to promise helping Sung Li exact his revenge.


    Amidst Sung Li¡¯s excitement, Huang Xue¡¯s passive voice echoed out: ¡°Now, are you willing or not?¡±


    Sung Li immediately recovered his posture as he nodded furiously back. ¡°This...this junior is willing! I am more than willing! Junior Sung Li thanks great senior for this favor! I will definitely not disappoint you and diligently watch over the young master!¡±


    ¡°Mmn. I trust you would not let me down, so we do not need to make a pact to the heavens. Now that you can somewhat be considered a person of mine, I will gift you these.¡± The ancient voice echoed.


    The black clouds above seethed as two cloudy columns burst out towards Sung Li. One dark column dispersed in front of Sung Li, revealing three golden pills; although they had no aroma, their radiance and aura still caused Sung Li¡¯s eyes to go wide.


    The second dark column dispersed when it neared the right side from where Sung Li stood in the air. The dissipating black clouds revealed the three lifeless figures in purple robe. A tiny black flame flickered within their eyes.When Sung Li noticed them, he immediately recognized them.


    ¡°Elder Kun, Elder Hu...and that¡¯s even Elder Mu!¡± Sung Li sucked in a cold breath as he saw those figures. These were the people who had been chasing him for nearly the past two years!


    While Elder Kun and Elder Hu were at the 3rd stage of Dao Ascent like him, Elder Mu was actually at the 7th stage! He was genuine late staged Dao Ascent! It was because of this elder that Sung Li had to be extra careful every time he moved around. After all, he had nearly died under this person¡¯s hands multiple time, escaping only after using trickeries and burning his life essence. Even in the Infernal Land, Elder Mu could be considered a top expert; a Grand Elder-level figure in the Gui clan!


    However, even someone mighty like him had perished under this mysterious elder¡­


    ¡°The three pills before is refined from the souls of those people who were chasing you. If you consume one of them when you experience a bottleneck, they will help aid you in breaking through! As for those three bodies, they have been turned into puppets by me; their ¡®life¡¯ being fueled by my Essence Flame. You can brand them with your divine sense. They will be yours to command and aid you if you run into trouble. With the combined ability of you four, you should be even able to temporarily compete against an early staged Heavenly Wang!¡± The ancient voice suddenly rang out, cutting into Sung Li¡¯s thoughts.


    Sung Li¡¯s heart raced as he digested the elder¡¯s words.


    Able to breakthrough bottlenecks after consuming a single of the golden pills...to control three Dao Ascent puppets...to possess the strength to temporarily fight against a Heavenly Wang expert¡­


    To him, these scenarios were simply a bit too far fetched for him even at his level. However, these words were spoken by the mysterious mighty elder before him. How could Sung Li dare doubt the other¡¯s words?


    Thus, besides shock, there was excitement, deep admiration, and even fear stirring within Sung Li¡¯s heart. To casually give out treasures like these...wasn¡¯t this elder simply too domineering?!

 Chapter 49

    Chapter 49


    <hr>


    ¡°Thank...thank you, mighty senior! This junior will forever remember this favor in his heart!¡± Sung Li hurriedly promised with a solemn and respectful tone.


    In his heart, he was completely overjoyed. To think after greatly suffering for two years, he would unexpectedly encounter such a fortuitous opportunity amidst a seemingly deadly situation. The heaven has truly not abandoned him yet!


    Then, as Huang Xue had instructed, Sung Li quickly branded the three puppet beings with his divine sense; making it so only he could command them!


    ¡°Ah, and take this as well.¡± Huang Xue¡¯s voice drifted over while a black compass decorated with complex trigrams flew out from the clouds and landed in Sung Li¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Great Senior, this is¡­?¡± Sung Li asked slowly as he stared at the compass in his hand. Other than feeling that this item was not ordinary, Sung Li could not detect anything abnormal about it.


    ¡°I have left a strand of my divine sense in this compass. Later on, I will find a way to make it so you¡¯ll be able to keep track of that child¡¯s location at all times for me. This way, that concealment ability from the so-called Saint Mirror will be rendered useless.¡±


    Sung Li¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing Huang Xue¡¯s words. He quickly lowered himself and bowed towards the dark clouds. ¡°Thank you, honorable senior!¡±


    ¡°Alright now. As I have other matters to attend to, I will not remain here any longer. In the meantime, you will follow the orders of my direct disciple. His name is Sheng Huang Xue. His cultivation should be at the late stage of the Jie Hai realm.¡± The ancient voice sounded, causing Sung Li¡¯s heart to tremble once more.


    ¡°This junior understands! I will definitely not neglect this task you have given me, great senior!¡± Sung Li bowed reverently.


    As Sung Li said that, the world around him seemed to instantly clear up. The dark clouds above had scattered, reverting back to their original white design. The intensity in the air greatly lessened, and the pressure that had been weighing down on Sung Li¡¯s soul disappeared as well.


    In a split moment, the mysterious elder had already left¡­


    However, Sung Li did not lift his head up for a good while. Only after several minutes have passed, did he gingerly raise his body.


    Despite the hot sun beaming down upon his body, Sung Li could not feel the heat. There was still a lingering coldness draped around his entire being; the feeling one has when they¡¯re half a step across death¡¯s door¡­


    In another few breaths, Sung Li managed to calm down his emotions as he turned to the three puppets floating besides him. A cold and vicious look appeared in his eyes.


    *Pak!* *Pak!* *Pak!*


    In one swift motion, Sung Li viciously slapped the three puppet¡¯s face, leaving behind deep red imprints of his palm. Light blood leaked out from the puppets¡¯ left cheek.


    But he did not stop there. Sung Li continued to slap the puppets until the their face swelled up and blood stains began appearing on his own palms.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your arrogance now, huh? Damn bastards, don¡¯t worry! It is not over yet. After I refine those pills made out of your souls, I will one day annihilate your entire Gui clan! Even those three clans will be erased as well! No one will be spared! Haha! Hahaha! Hahahahahahaha!¡±


    Sung Li laughed derisively, a hint of insanity appeared in his eyes.


    After a while, Sung Li¡¯s laughter died down as his eyes regained its clarity. With a sweep of his sleeves, Sung Li threw the three elderly puppets into his blue cosmic bag.


    Then, he turned to look towards the Grand Valley Tomb; giving it a searching look.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°I must quickly by the boy again. Earlier when I was tailing him, he looked to be severely injured. In a place filled with opportunities like this, for youths to kill each other over treasures is not uncommon. I must not let him come to harm!¡± Sung Li thought as he rushed towards the mountain range.


    While it¡¯s considered degrading for a mighty Dao Ascent to act as a personal guardian or even to serve under those who are weaker than themselves, Sung Li did not dare to look down on Luo Ke, or the mysterious elder¡¯s disciple.


    With the just the mysterious elder being the backer of Luo ke, it was enough for Sung Li to willingly acknowledge the child, much less with the additional promise of revenge for his clan. Moreover, to have such a powerful hidden guardian, Sung Li reckoned that the people under his care would not definitely be simple either.


    Even though Sung Li had observed Luo Ke to be nothing but ordinary for the past year, this moment of encounter with the elder had completely changed his view.


    ¡°It is not that the child is ordinary, but rather that I lack the ability to truly discern him before...aiI!¡± Sung Li thought with a sigh as he moved quickly through the air.


    With his aura long having been hidden as a habit from his harsh journey, Sung Li effortlessly escaped detection from several elders meditating several miles from the tomb location.


    ***


    At the innermost area of the Grand Valley Tomb, there laid a massive boulder in front an entrance, fully blocking any access. Although the giant block of stone looked ordinary, a faint pressure exuded from it, indicating otherwise.


    And if one looked at the wall above the boulder, there two red colored words imprinted on the stones. The words were heavily worn out, with the color already fading due to the passage of time. One could barely make out the words: ¡°Fu Yubing¡±.


    The area where the boulder laid was extremely quiet, with no signs of life.


    Suddenly, the air within the cavern began to warp before a black robed youth, looking to be no older than twenty years old, appeared.


    The youth turned towards the large boulder. After a while, he let out a sigh.


    ¡°This kind of seal is truly...too weak. In the end, this Profound He toddler wasn¡¯t as spectacular as I expected. His array abilities may be a bit higher than the ones in this country, but they¡¯re still heavily lacking.¡±


    Huang Xue murmured to himself as he walked over to the boulder.


    After taking settling the matters with the unexpected newcomers, Huang Xue¡¯s clone did not leave, but instead came to the true resting location of the person who laid the Grand Valley Tomb.


    He had heard many exaggerated descriptions of this profound seal, which made Huang Xue a tiny bit interested. Thus, he paid a visit to see if he could find anything interesting. But alas, he was greatly disappointed in the end¡­


    ¡°Well, I might as well take a look what is behind the seal.¡± Huang Xue thought as he lightly flicked his sleeves.


    Instantly, the boulder came to life with a brilliant blue light. Various inscription patterns appeared on the surface of the large boulder, displaying a complex formation. However, the moment Huang Xue¡¯s energy swept over them, the array easily broken down.


    The sealing formation had been broken.


    ¡°This person should have been a 4th rank Array Spiritualist, but it¡¯s still not enough.¡± Huang Xue murmured as he watched the boulder began to tremble.


    Slowly, the large boulder shook as it rolled to the left side, giving way to the entrance behind it.


    Right as Huang Xue was about to step forward to enter the sealed tomb, a blue ball of light suddenly rushed out of from the opened entrance!


    It quickly shot towards Huang Xue as an incomparably delighted laughter roared from its being:


    ¡°Hahaha! I¡¯m free! Free! I¡¯ve been waiting for this day for several tens of years, and now someone has finally come! Hahahaha, come, give this lord your body!¡±


    After waiting within the Grand Valley Tomb for a long time, it was the first time someone had been able to open the sealing formation placed on the boulder. And upon closer inspection, a vague face could be made out from the ball of blue light...it, was actually the soul of the owner of the tomb, Fu Yubing!


    Years ago when he was about to die, Fu Yubing came to the small Long Dynasty to avoid detection from his enemies. There, he constructed this Grand Valley Tomb, filling it up with the treasures he had obtained. In order to escape the clutches of death, Fu Yubing then activated a secret soul skill he learned in the past, thereby turning his body to dust while maintaining his consciousness in the form of a soul.


    Afterwards, he had hid himself behind a sealed formation. Using the treasures within his tomb as enticements, Fu Yubing had wanted to lure greedy cultivators towards his cave. And with the formation he set up as the final obstacle, Fu Yubing wanted a powerful cultivator to come and break his formation. Upon doing so, it would set Fu Yubing¡¯s soul loose...and while the other party was still unprepared, he would take over over body!


    That was Fu Yubing¡¯s plan of ¡°rebirth¡±. He was, after all, a peak Profound He expert, so Fu Yubing had complete confidence in the power of his soul. He would definitely be able to overtake the other party¡¯s soul, as long as the other party was no stronger than a normal early-staged Heavenly Wang!


    But alas, he had never expected the people of the Long Dynasty to be so weak; with no one being able to break his formation. He could not even see what was going on outside nor reach those beyond the boulder. He had completely isolated the outside world from his true tomb...and himself from the world as well.


    This had caused Fu Yubing to lament as if this current situation continued for another five years, his soul would definitely dispersed then.


    But who would have known that someone had actually managed to break his formation?! This had caused Fu Yubing to become incomparably excited.


    As Fu Yubing¡¯s soul rushed madly towards Huang Xue, the latter¡¯s face only slightly frowned.


    ¡°Disgusting.¡±


    A cold voice echoed out before Fu Yubing suddenly felt a horrifying pressure bore down upon him!


    ¡°Eh?¡± Fu Yubing barely had the time to process what was happening. In the next second, his soul was engulfed by a mass of black flames. He didn¡¯t even have time to cry out before his soul was completely refined.


    In another second, the black flames subsided. A golden pill stood floating in the air; a person¡¯s face could barely be made out on the surface of the pill. This was another Soul Pill.


    ¡°How vile, to set up a tomb like this. Hmph! Since your true tomb has nothing to offer, then I will simply refine your soul into a pill as compensation!¡± Huang Xue snorted as he stared the Soul Pill in the air.


    He could easily see that behind the boulder, there was an empty room. The other party had truly only set up such a tomb only to lure and seek out a living body.


    Situations such as this are uncommon, even in this cruel world; mainly because not many people knew soul techniques of this caliber.


    Moreover, it was considered evil for a dead cultivator to vie for a living person¡¯s body. If any ¡°righteous¡± powers knew of this, they would immediately send people to destroy that cultivator. And even if that tabooed cultivator survives, they would have to face the world¡¯s wrath, being pursued by others until they permanently return to the Yellow Springs.


    (Note: Yellow Springs = the underworld as referred to in Chinese culture; where spirits reside or go through in order to reincarnate.)


    And the moral?


    If you¡¯re dead, then you better stay dead!

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50


    <hr>


    *Rumble* *Rumble*


    The surrounding cavern walls suddenly began to shake, seemingly about to crumble down any moment.


    Sensing this, Huang Xue slightly frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me this guy actually linked his soul to the entire tomb? Now that his soul is gone, this cave will collapse in a few minutes. How annoying¡­¡±


    Huang Xue reached out to grab the Soul pill that was floating in the air. With a thought, a tiny strand of his divine sense entered the pill and fused itself permanently within.


    ¡°I should give this to my true body before I leave¡­¡± the black-robed Huang Xue murmured.


    Afterwards, with a flick of his sleeve, a slit appeared in the air. Huang Xue stepped forward and entered the gap in space.


    The cave rumbled as chunks of stones and soil fell down to the ground where Huang Xue had stood moments ago. Before long, the entire area had been buried; with rumbles still echoing loudly throughout the Grand Valley Tomb.


    ***


    At another inner part of the Grand Valley Tomb.


    A battered Luo Ke slowly made his way through the tunnel before the walls around him suddenly shook. Bits of soil and grits fell down from ceiling; dusts flew up everywhere.


    Luo Ke¡¯s eyes widened as he stared at the ceiling walls. A sense of danger was starting to well up inside him.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­¡± Luo Ke thought. However, even as he thought that, the cave continued to shake. This time, the trembling was a few times greater than before.


    Only when a big chunk of stone broke away from the ceiling and fell down near Luo Ke, before the latter¡¯s face finally fell.


    ¡°Sh*t! What kind of bullsh*t expert is this! How is the tomb already collapsing?!¡± Luo Ke cursed out loud as he turned around, slightly staggering towards where he originally came from.


    At the same time, a deep explosion roared out from behind Luo Ke. The noise of stones crashing down pierced Luo Ke¡¯s ears, causing his soul to become shaken.


    ¡°Crap! This cave is really going to collapse! I...I must leave quickly! I can¡¯t die at a place like this!¡± Luo gritted his teeth as he pushed his injured body forward.


    Despite his boost of speed, Luo Ke could feel a impending sense of powerlessness welling up inside of him. Given his injuries and the fact that he was in one of the deeper parts of the Grand Valley Tomb, it was unlikely that he would be able to successfully leave this place now¡­


    But even so, he was unwilling to just wait here for his death. He had to move forward.


    As the crashing noise grew louder and louder behind him, Luo Ke¡¯s vision began to slightly blur from the fatigue of stressing his body to its limit.


    Just as Luo Ke felt his body beginning to grow weak, at that moment, a cold hand suddenly clasp onto his right arm. Another hand swiftly wrapped around Luo Ke¡¯s left arm before Luo Ke felt his body suddenly become lighter.


    When he focused his vision, Luo Ke saw the tunnel walls flying by at an astonishing rate.


    ¡°This...?¡± Luo Ke thought numbly in surprise. Someone was currently carrying him out of the cave!


    As Luo Ke tilted his head to look at his savior, his eyes went wide in shock. ¡°You...you¡¯re..!¡±


    Unable to come to terms with his senses, Luo Ke could only stare at Huang Xue¡¯s face with his mouth gaping open like a dead fish. His savior had been the least likely person to save him in his mind. But yet, there he was, being carried and supported by the very person who had previously severely injured him so....Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    However, Luo Ke did not immediately panick for his life. After all, even though previously he was injured by Huang Xue and his Six Ocean uniform exposed, the other party did not see his face. Even Luo Ke¡¯s aura was previously hidden by the bagua mirror, so there was no way Huang Xue would recognize him as the one who killed Yang Chen.


    If he did, then there was no way that the other party would actually save him...was what Luo Ke analysed in his head.


    Moreover, as Huang Xue carried Luo Ke towards the tomb¡¯s entrance, the former had actually reached out with his other hand to grab another stunned youth. With two people in his grasp, Huang Xue rushed towards the exit while shouting at the nearby youths to hurry out as well. He even threw out fierce kicks, causing Qi energy to manifest and strike out towards large stones that were about to fall upon unsuspecting groups.


    Luo Ke watched Huang Xue¡¯s actions in a dazed fashion before he felt his body jerk as Huang Xue continued rushing towards the cave exit.


    In the next moment, sun light burst into his eyes, causing Luo Ke¡¯s face to crumple up as he tried to shield himself from the sudden brightness. But as his hands moved, he felt his body become light for a brief moment.


    *Bang!*


    Luo Ke felt his body roughly kissing the ground as Huang Xue nonchalantly threw away the two youths he was holding. Without hesitation, he turned and rushed back into the collapsing cave; returning briefly each time to dump down battered youths.


    Luo Ke had wanted to say something, but when he saw Huang Xue continuously risking himself to evacuate those who were still stuck inside the tomb, he ultimately remained quiet.


    Not only was Luo Ke feeling a bit at loss, even many disciples and people who had already escaped from the tomb looked on at Huang Xue with a strange expression.


    Had the third young master of the Shen clan...always been this magnanimous and noble?


    At this time, Yin Liqin stood from afar as she watched Huang Xue. She was one of the fortunate ones who were just returning from the depths of Grand Valley Tomb after her harvest, thus she was able to easily escape when she felt the cave¡¯s sudden changes.


    Yin Liqin stared at Huang Xue¡¯s dusty back with a dazed look before recovering herself. Then, with a slight frown, she began to survey the crowd of people who had already evacuated.


    ¡°Where is brother Yang Chen?¡± She thought. Even after sweeping her sharp senses around the area, she could not find any traces of Yang Chen. Was he still caught up inside the Grand Valley Tomb? But then why did only Huang Xue come out¡­?


    *Boom!*


    *Boom!*


    Just as Huang Xue leaped out of the cave with two young girls under both of his arms, the Grand Valley Tomb suddenly crumble down to the ground.


    After being protected by a powerful formation for many years, the tomb had a significance akin to being a famous landmark in the Long Dynasty. No one had been able to open the true tomb inside it, much less even destroy the exterior cave itself.


    However, unexpectedly, today...it had collapsed on its own!


    The Grand Valley Tomb from today onwards, was no more!


    Huang Xue gently allowed the two girls to slump powerlessly to the ground as he let out a soft sigh. ¡°These two should be the last ones¡­¡±


    The two girls had been terrified as they were almost completely trapped inside the cave for dead, thus even with Huang Xue being their savior and right in front of them, their senses were having a hard time recovering. But Huang Xue did not mind.


    After all...his actions were only done in order to shake someone else¡¯s heart.


    With a sly gaze, Huang Xue glanced towards Luo Ke¡¯s direction before he began to walk over. After thinking things over, Huang Xue had concocted a new idea to help resolve the ¡°budding distance¡± between him and Luo Ke. Without hesitation, he began to walk towards the latter.


    By now, Luo Ke¡¯s mind was in a confused state. Huang Xue¡¯s actions today had made him question whether this third young master from the Shen clan was truly as heartless as he originally pictured him to be.


    After all, the first time Luo Ke saw Huang Xue was when the latter had forcefully snatched away a disciple''s finding, only to lavishly gift it to Yang Chen as if it was normal. That had imprinted a terrible impression of Huang Xue in Luo Ke¡¯s heart.


    However, outside of that one incident, Luo Ke realized he never truly heard anything else about this Shen clan¡¯s third young master. In fact, there were surprisingly no ill rumors about this supposedly overbearing character during his stay at the Six Ocean Sect. While this may be due to Huang Xue¡¯s status and his overall fierce ability, even then, there should at least be a few whispers here and there, right?


    But Luo Ke truly have not even encounter any of such talks!


    The more Luo Ke thought about it, the more he felt like it was himself who was being overly judgemental and ignorant. He had categorized someone just because of a single action they did, and failed to take the overall series of events into consideration¡­


    Although Huang Xue¡¯s action today did not immediately subvert Luo Ke¡¯s opinions, it did greatly improve Luo Ke¡¯s thoughts toward this Shen clan¡¯s third young master.


    While Luo Ke thought about this, he did not notice Huang Xue had already arrived in front of him.


    Huang Xue reached out and firmly patted Luo Ke¡¯s right shoulder, startling the tattered youth. With his left hand, Huang Xue handed a golden-colored pill over to Luo Ke. A faint face could be barely made out on the pill surface.


    ¡°Here, consume this low quality pill quickly. It should allow you to completely recover your energy.¡±


    Luo Ke stared at the pill with confused eyes as he unconsciously reached out his hands. He could feel some sort of strange aura coming from the golden pill, however he was certain it was not anything harmful to him. After all, at that moment when the pill appeared, the bagua mirror which was hidden within his body faintly trembled. This always happened when a treasure or some especially special herb was nearby¡­


    But Luo Ke was able to snap out his daze as he quickly opened his mouth to try to reject it. He had killed the Shen third young master¡¯s ¡°friend¡±, Yang Chen; yet he was ironically saved by that same person who had tried to kill him several minutes ago. And now, that same person is offering him a pill which was most likely to be quite expensive.


    Although he felt traces of suspiciousness from Huang Xue¡¯s actions, the main reason Luo Ke wanted to deny the pill was because of his consciousness. With the past events that had occurred, to accept help twice from a supposed ¡°enemy¡±...it was quite shameful. While some people may found such a scenario favorable and would in turn laugh at the foolishness of their enemies, Luo Ke did not hold the same opinion. If someone treats him right, then he will repay it two folds; if someone offended him, then he would not hesitate to take revenge!


    However, before Luo Ke spoke, Huang Xue unexpectedly slightly leaned in towards the former; his face almost parallel to the left side of Luo Ke¡¯s head.


    In a soft voice, that was suppressed down to the limit to ensure utter privacy:


    ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, take it. Think of it as my reward to you for helping me take care of that Yang Chen. Although it was a bit too early, it should not affect my plans; it only got sped up, that¡¯s all. Anyhow, I hope we get to interact more often in the future, eh?¡±


    Huang Xue then leaned back and smiled at Luo Ke, who stared back at him dumbfoundedly.


    Luo Ke¡¯s mind spun as he could only utter a single word: ¡°...H-huh?¡±

 Chapter 51

    Chapter 51


    <hr>


    ¡°You..you¡­!¡± Luo Ke could not help but take a few steps back after hearing Huang Xue¡¯s whispers.


    Just how...was his identity exposed to this Shen third young master?!


    Back in the Grand Valley Tomb, Luo Ke knew that he had covered his track completely using the bagua mirror. His face was even still covered with a black cloth, obscuring his image. Besides exposing his Six Ocean Sect uniform, there was no other way that Huang Xue could have traced the murder of Yang Chen back to him!


    In fact, this meeting between Luo Ke and Huang Xue could be said to be the first one that¡¯s done in a face-to-face fashion.


    Huang Xue merely smiled as he replied in a calm voice. ¡°No need to panic. I promise that I mean you no harm. As for how I found out your identity, that is a secret so I cannot tell you. However, just know that your little ¡®deed¡¯ is a favorable thing for me, so I will not pursue you. Rest assure and take the pill, it will be of great use to you. In the future, let us meet more often.¡±


    Then, without any further words, Huang Xue turned and left towards another area. Several young cultivators walked up to express their gratitude to Huang Xue, which the latter lightly responded while continuing on.


    As Luo Ke watched Huang Xue walk away, his mind once again entered a confused state; only this time, it was filled with utter chaos and doubts. To say the least, Luo Ke was finding himself being able to understand lesser and lesser about this third young master from the Shen clan.


    From the previous image of an arrogant and vain young master, Huang Xue had transformed into someone who was filled with mystery in Luo Ke¡¯s mind. Was this kind of person truly someone who only acts without thinking? Was his previous relationship with that Yang Chen all an act? If so, for what purpose? Just...what was going on?!


    Huang Xue¡¯s department only left Luo Ke with more doubts and mysteries than comfort. And if Luo Ke was still able to see Huang Xue at this moment, he could have seen the sly smile that was plastered on the latter¡¯s face!


    ¡°With this act...that child should buy it right?¡± Huang Xue thought to himself as he walked around among the large confused crowd of cultivators that was slowly dispersing overtime.


    Naturally, Huang Xue¡¯s previous conversation with Luo Ke was all made up. Huang Xue had purposefully made it seem as if he had underlying motives when he made friends with Yang Chen; creating the idea that his relationship with Yang Chen was merely an act, in order to achieve his unsaid goal.


    Though in all honesty, despite having lived a great deal previously, Huang Xue was not someone who was overly adept at schemes. This crude story and act were something he had thought of on the spot in order to quickly deal with the situation.


    After all, leaving alone misunderstandings will only cause them to grow overtime.


    Given Huang Xue¡¯s interactions with Yang Chen for the past months, Huang Xue himself knew of the latter¡¯s overbearing and arrogant behavior. It was almost positive that Huang Xue did not leave a good impression on Luo Ke being associated with such a hooligan.


    Therefore, Huang Xue had wanted to the create a mysterious image in the child¡¯s mind; acting as if he had only befriended Yang Chen with ulterior moves, disassociating himself from the adjectives of arrogance, cruelty, mindlessness and so forth!


    This way, it may even bring forth a better impression on Luo Ke, allowing Huang Xue to slowly edge closer to his destined one. This will make it easier for Huang Xue to guide Luo Ke in the future.


    As for accepting Luo Ke as disciple? Huang Xue had partially put aside that thought for now.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    After all that has happened, Huang Xue knew that taking Luo Ke as his disciple can wait. More investigations and details were needed first!


    ¡°Crap, I should¡¯ve given that child more protective items so he won¡¯t die that easily! Huang Xue suddenly thought as his eyes twitched. Although it was necessary to hone oneself through life and death battles, sometimes accidents or deep schemes do occur. There should be some steps taken to avoid getting swept up in them.


    Most importantly, Huang Xue wanted Luo Ke to become strong as quickly as possible. From the previous encounter with Luo Ke inside the Grand Valley Tomb, Huang Xue had already noticed the thick Qi essence in from the latter¡¯s body. And for him to possess a divine artifact and even able to use certain features meant Luo Ke¡¯s luck and talent was not weak. What he lacked and needed the most were merely two things: time and abundant resources!


    After all, in some sense, time was of essence; especially for the current Huang Xue.


    One thousand years may sound long, but in Huang Xue¡¯s opinion, it was too short. There was a sense of urgency and stress in his heart.


    Huang Xue immediately turned around and returned to the original place where he had left Luo Ke. Only, the figure of the battered youth was nowhere to be seen there anymore.


    ¡°He¡­¡± Huang Xue helplessly scanned his surrounding only to notice that Luo Ke¡¯s aura could not be detected at all. One has to admit, this concealment ability is truly shocking. Not even a god¡¯s divine sense, despite severely damaged, could detect the person. This child¡¯s artifact¡­.


    ***


    A few miles away, south of the collapsed Grand Valley Tomb location.


    Among the lush forests, the space between the air twisted briefly as a tattered clothed figure appeared. However, despite his poor appearance, there was no injuries to be seen on the youth¡¯s body. In fact, there was even a healthy glow on his complexion.


    After taking the golden pil given by Huang Xue, Luo Ke had immediately felt his internal injuries being healed at a rapid rate. It was such that even after he recovered, he could feel his dantian sea surging with energy. With the violent burst of energy, Luo Ke had to forcefully suppress his dantian sea as disbelief and delight covered his face.


    The sudden outburst of Earthly Qi energy could only mean one thing: there was going to be a breaking through!


    From Luo Ke¡¯s previous estimate, to reach the next stage of Jie Hai, it would require at least a month with the help of the bagua mirror; but unexpectedly, the golden pill had instantly cut that time down completely, giving him the chance to go through another breakthrough!


    The bagua mirror was also the reason why Luo Ke dared to consume the golden pill without fear of poison, despite Huang Xue¡¯s assuring words. Nothing was absolutely certain after all. The reason why Luo Ke was confident that he would come out unharmed was because of the bagua mirror other odd property - the ability disperse extreme poisons!


    On a chance situation, Luo Ke was once poisoned by Nightmare Viper when he was still at the 6th level of Temporal Di. He had been careless and was struck by the beast¡¯s venomous fangs. Although the Nightmare Viper was quite weak, its venom was formidable, especially for those under the Jie Hai realm.


    At that time, when Luo Ke fell into a perilous situation due to the paralyzing nature of the poison along with its toxic properties, the bagua mirror had shone with a green light that quickly dispersed the poison within his body. If not, then according the descriptions of the Nightmare Viper¡¯s poison, if one was left untreated, their body would begin to bloat until all their blood vessels and veins were destroyed before their body would explode. Turning into small chunks of meat, which the viper would then leisurely consume afterwards!


    After the incident, Luo Ke had daringly tried the Bagua Mirror¡¯s ability on several poisons, only to discover that there were practically no poison it could not treat. Although there were more formidable poisons out there, Luo Ke believed that as long as his strength continue to grow, he would be able to use the bagua mirror more efficiently; perhaps at that time, the poison-curing property could possibly be enhanced to treat higher poisons! Thus, he had deep faith in the Bagua Mirror¡¯s ability.


    As Luo Ke traveled through the dense forest, the only thought in his mind right now was to quickly leave this area. To him, it felt anything but safe. He needed time to recuperate and think through the everything.


    At this moment, a soft ¡°Eh?¡± rang out through the calm forest.


    Luo Ke tilted his head to the left when he heard the sound. To his left, he could see several people gathered there. Among them, two particular youths caught his eyes and caused his expression to turn grim.


    He recognized the two young men. The one standing on the left with gray robe, was none other than Hei Yuan of the Fierce Dragon clan. The muscular youth wearing a dark blue robe beside the former was the young lord of the Winged Moon Faction, Kui Tian.


    These were the same people who had been wanting to kill Luo Ke for the past several days.


    Judging from the surprised expressions of the two young men, it did not seem to Luo Ke that they had been following him; especially since he had been using the concealing ability of the mirror. Instead, it seemed to be an encounter of chance.


    ¡°Damn! Why the hell did I have to run into these fellas now?¡± Luo Ke cursed in his mind. While his injuries were healed, there was still a sense of weakness and fatigue weighing down on Luo Ke. Moreover, he still needed to calm down his Dantian Sea, which was currently raging within him. It was not a suitable time for him to battle¡­


    After a while, Kui Tian was the first to break the silence with his atrocious laughter.


    ¡°Ha..haha! Hahaha! Look, I was right! I knew that bastard could not run that far!¡±


    He was also the same person who had uttered the ¡°Eh?¡± when he discovered Luo Ke.


    Hei Yuan recovered as well while an insidious smile bloomed on his face. In a slightly hoarse, grainy voice that did not match his age:


    ¡°Seems like it was the right choice to dispatch our men to search the surrounding areas...keke, we actually managed to catch prey!¡±


    Luo Ke¡¯s face turned dark as he heard the unpleasant words from the two youth¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Damn brat, do not resist and follow us back obediently! You have killed many of our brothers, so do not think you¡¯ll be able to escape the wrath of our clans! If you cooperate, perhaps we can give you a painless death later.¡± Kui Tian sneered as he walked closer to Luo Ke.


    At the same time, the group of men standing behind the Kui Tian and Hei Yuan spread out and formed a wide circle around Luo Ke. The escape routes were blocked.


    Luo Ke glared at Kui Tian as he sneered: ¡°Since it has come to this, why do you still have to say so much bullsh*t? If you have the ability, try and see if you can keep me here!¡±

 Chapter 52

    Chapter 52:


    <hr>


    ¡°This Luo Ke is too strong-headed¡­¡± Sung Li thought to himself as he watched the confrontation between Luo Ke and the Kui-Hei gang.


    (Note: ¡°Kui-Hei¡± = basically referring to both Kui Tian and Hei Yuan)


    From his perspective, although Luo Ke was someone the mysterious elder had looked after, the current child was simply too weak. While Luo Ke is at the 2nd stage of Jie Hai, the opposing duo were both at the 3rd stage and ten others at the 1st and 2nd stages. Besides, Sung Li had also detected two hidden auras. Those were at the 6th stage of Jie Hai. He quickly found out that the two hidden personnels must have been the elders sent to protect the the Kui-Hei duo.


    After watching over Luo Ke for quite some time through the blue-eyed snake, Sung Li knew that the former had the capability to fight against those of higher realms. But in face of multiple opponents of similar level and two hidden experts, it was not wise to engage in combat.


    Thus, Sung Li was high on alert; ready to leap out and save Luo Ke should the two hidden elders make their move. Otherwise, if Luo Ke died fighting against the other younger generations, then it could not be blame on anyone but himself for overestimating himself.


    After Sung Li had received Huang Xue¡¯s ¡°gifts¡±, he immediately went out to search for Luo Ke using the black compass. At first, nothing happened for some time, which made Sung Li wonder if there was special method to activate it that Huang Xue had forgotten to inform him.


    However, after several moments past, the black compass suddenly trembled and the stiff arrow within began to move. It pointed towards the southern direction, away from the Grand Valley Tomb. Sung Li then, under the guide of black compass, quickly found Luo Ke just as the latter deactivated the Saint Mirror¡¯s stealth ability.


    Sung Li watched as Luo Ke and the Kui-Hei duo began to emit high killing intent. It seems like a fight was bound to break out very soon¡­


    ***


    A few miles away from Sung Li, in the deep forest area, a white robed youth streaked across the ground. He moved at an incredible pace as his eyes displayed a serene outlook.


    ¡°Hmm, that child should be around here somewhere.¡± Huang Xue murmured as he sped through the forest.


    After finding that Luo Ke had already left, Huang Xue immediately set off to find him. Since the previous misunderstanding with Yang Chen being a destined one cleared up, Huang Xue no longer paid any attention to the people of the Yang and Yin clan. He did not look for the remaining followers of Yang Chen nor gave time for the youngsters of the two major clans to find and speedily left to seek out Luo Ke.


    Given his initial impression of Luo Ke, Huang Xue understood that this type of character was stubborn, cautious, and bold. With so much time having passed, Huang Xue predicted that there was bound to be some conflicts that Luo Ke had stirred up in the Duoluo Province.


    Moreover, Huang Xue worried that Luo Ke was not in any condition to fight even after fully recovering. He still needed time to consolidate the residual energy from the pill, which Huang Xue was a hundred percent sure would help propel Luo Ke¡¯s cultivation. Should Luo Ke encounter danger during his breakthrough¡­


    Thinking here, Huang Xue spread out his divine sense even further until he discovered a familiar presence in the distance. A look of joy appeared on Huang Xue¡¯s face as he sped towards that aura.


    While Huang Xue knew that there should Sung Li guarding Luo Ke in the shadows, to be honest, Huang Xue was not keen on trusting a stranger he had just met. Therefore, when he planted his a small piece of his divine sense on the black compass, he also set a will in it. Later, Huang Xue planted another piece of his divine sense on the golden Soul Pill that he gave to Luo Ke for consumption.


    Once Luo Ke consumed the pill, the divine sense within would allow the black compass, equipped with the same sense, to find the former; even if Luo Ke used the stealth ability of the Saint Mirror! This was how Sung Li was able to track Luo Ke using the black compass. And for Huang Xue, who was the owner of the planted divine sense, he merely needed to use his own soul and he would be able to find the youth from now on.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    As for the will, it was a simple command:


    Should Sung Li¡¯s murderous aura ever be locked onto Luo Ke and he dares to circulate his Qi in preparation to attack, the black compass give off a terrifying explosion, thereby killing Sung Li. Even if Sung Li was a bit smart and discarded the black compass before trying to kill Luo Ke, it would be the same result: the divine sense hidden within Luo Ke would explode out, wiping out Sung Li.


    And if Sung Li were to somehow luckily survive, he would at best become a cripple and at worst...become a mutilated cripple! In short, the moment Sung Li decides to turn against Luo Ke would be the moment he, himself, decides to throw away his fate as a cultivator.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± As Huang Xue got closer to the area where he detected Luo Ke¡¯s presence, he also noticed several other auras as well as two hidden ones.


    As of now, due to the lack of blood stench and chaotic Qi, Huang Xue knew a battle had not broken out yet - but it was soon.


    ***


    ¡°Hmph! Since you already know you can¡¯t escape us, you still dare to act so brazenly around here! I really want to break open your head and see what¡¯s inside that damn head of yours!¡± Kui Tian sneerer. He began to circulate his Qi energy in preparation for battle. Hei Yuan and the rest began to do the same.


    Sensing the increasingly hostile atmosphere, Luo Ke¡¯s face fell as he had no choice to but to began preparing himself as well. In the back of his mind, Luo Ke knew that fighting no, while his inner body was experiencing a transformation, may lead to possible internal damages. But there was no time to hesitate.


    If he does not fight, what awaits him is only death!


    However, just as the two parties were about to make their moves, the fierce wind blew over them. Startled, everyone to a step back as a white blur flashed for a moment before revealing a white robed youth standing in between the two groups.


    When Luo Ke¡¯s eyes focused on the newcomer¡¯s face, his face slightly turned pale with shock.


    ¡°How...how could he be here?¡± Luo Ke thought confusedly in his mind.


    But compared to Luo Ke¡¯s shock, the Kui-Hei duo¡¯s shock was ten times greater. They fully recognized the status and strength of the youth who stood before them at this moment.


    Shen clan¡¯s third young master, Shen Huang Xue! Reaching the 7th stage of Jie Hai realm at the mere age of sixteen! A bonafide elite among the young generation!


    For people like Hei Yuan and Kui Tian, normally, they would not even have the chance to speak with such an influential figure. A single word from this person was enough to ensure that their Fierce Dragon clan and Winged Moon Faction would be wiped off the face of the Feng Shui continent. It was a true major power that they could not afford to offend at all cost.


    But now, seeing the way Huang Xue had appeared amidst the moment they were going to battle Luo Ke gave rise to an uneasy feeling in their heart. They themselves knew that the third young master of the Shen clan would not have come to meet them, so this could only mean¡­


    Forcing an awkward smile, Kui Tian tried to hide his trembling heart as he respectfully cupped his hands toward Huang Xue and greeted:


    ¡°Ah...ah! So it is the third young master Shen! It...it is an honor for this Kui Tian to have met you today.¡±


    Hei Yuan and his group recovered quickly as he likewise saluted:


    ¡°Th-this Hei Yuan greets the third young master Shen!¡±


    While the two youths were arrogant and aloof, they were not stupid enough to offend such a great power. Moreover, with Huang Xue¡¯s sudden appearance and the ominous meaning behind his intervention, the Kui-Hei duo were silently panicking in their head. Otherwise, given their pride, they would not have stammered as such under a normal meeting.


    Huang Xue stood there calmly as he looked over the group of people. He gave a slight nod.


    ¡°Mmn. Fellow cultivators, I did not mean to intervene in your business, however, I have a goal in mind so I will cut straight to the point: I wish to take away Brother Luo Ke with me today due to a personal matter. I hope, you two young masters would give me some face on this?¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡± The Kui-Hei duo silently gritted their teeth as they pondered over Huang Xue¡¯s request.


    Luo Ke had killed many of their capable men over the past several weeks, resulting in a huge loss for the Winged Moon Faction and the Fierce Dragon clan. Moreover, it seemed that Luo Ke¡¯s strength was also increasing as time passed. If they do not remove this threat immediately, it would potentially lead to a disaster in the future.


    However, if they displeased this third young master Shen in front of them, it would definitely result in their complete annihilation.


    So after a while, the two men looked at each other before they turned to Huang Xue and nodded.


    ¡°Since third young master Shen has matters with that person, how could I not give you face? However, I hope that next time, young master Shen would not...step into this again as it¡¯s an internal matter concerning our factions...I wish young master Shen would grant us this request.¡± Hei Yuan spoke as he tried to choose his words carefully without coming off as a threat.


    This was how cautious he was in front of Huang Xue, and shows just how unwilling he was to make an enemy out of a true major clan.


    Kui Tian did not say anything but he nodded his head in agreement with Hei Yuan¡¯s words.


    Huang Xue was not angry at Hei Yuan¡¯s words and instead replied: ¡°That is of no issue. This will be the first and only time I would intervene between matters in your factions.¡±


    Hei Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened as he nodded. Then, turning to his men, he shouted: ¡°Let us continue on our way back!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Kui Tian likewise ordered his men as the two groups retreated from the area.


    Later on, the two factions would realize that regardless of their decision today, they were destined to not survive the upcoming calamity¡­


    After Huang Xue had confirmed that the groups had departed a good distance away, he turned to look at Luo Ke.


    Ignoring Luo Ke¡¯s confused expression, Huang Xue amicably said:


    ¡°Ah, Brother Luo Ke, you really are quite fast. I wanted to find you again because I suddenly thought of something. Since you helped me take care of that Yang Chen, I have not awarded you for your unexpected assistance! Say, what would you like?¡±


    As the word ¡°brother¡± came out of his mouth, Huang Xue felt his cheeks burning slightly. Despite having said this to several other people already since he came to this world, it still makes Huang Xue uncomfortable deep inside. After all, to call others who are thousands of years younger than you were as brother is simply...sad.

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53: Fresh Pie From the Sky


    <hr>


    Huang Xue smiled at Luo Ke. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you do not have to hold back. As long as it¡¯s something you need, just tell me and I will present it to you as reward for your help. I won¡¯t be stingy either.¡±


    ¡°This...I...I am fine. There is no need, since I have also taken some things from Yang Chen¡¯s cosmic bag already so¡­¡± Luo Ke took a step back and explained.


    Under normal circumstances, if it were someone else who said the same things Huang Xue did, Luo Ke would not hesitate to accept. It¡¯s free, so why not?


    But the person before him was just too weird. He did not trust Huang Xue. Especially now knowing that Yang Chen had fallen to this person¡¯s plot...


    Huang Xue frowned as he insisted: ¡°No, no, that¡¯s what you gain personally. It was not from me, so how could I cheat you like this? Since you won¡¯t say what you want, then let me see¡­¡±


    Huang Xue abruptly extended his hand and placed it on Luo Ke¡¯s forehead. He then used his divine sense as he swiped it over Luo Ke¡¯s body, examining his internal meridians, veins, and dantian.


    Surprised, Luo Ke immediately jolted backward, his eyes filled with vigilance. He had felt a faint tremble throughout his body when Huang Xue touched his forehead.


    Huang Xue could only dryly give a cough as he thought to himself:


    ¡°This boy only has a Level 1 Vein...that¡¯s no good. Only his the energy accumulated in his dantian sea could somewhat be considered decent. And all of his thirty meridians are opened, so that¡¯s also acceptable. Since strength is everything here, having him increase his ability would be the best thing right now.¡±


    Usually, if one wanted to be a cultivator, they would begin training at the age of eight. Some may be even earlier, especially for those super clans. That is to ensure that their younger generation are able to outperform those of similar ages.


    And typically, the children would have all thirty meridians unblocked to ensure ease of absorbing the Qi around them and directing it within their body. Even some fortunate commoners would often have access to getting their children¡¯s meridians unblocked so that they too, would have the opportunity to embark on a brighter future.


    After all, being a cultivator did have certain fame and influence in some parts of the continent. The strong was, inevitably, always admired wherever they go.


    Huang Xue then reached in his blue cosmic ring and pulled out six brown papered manuals. Without hesitation, he stuffed it towards Luo Ke¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Take these copied manuals; they¡¯re all useful martial arts skills. I am sure they¡¯ll be useful to you. Each of them is comparable to¡­.the Upper Heaven-grade rank! So be sure to guard them carefully. Without my permission, you should never divulge these arts to anyone else!¡±


    Huang Xue continued on the nonchalantly explain:


    ¡°With the [Dragon Soul Derivative], it would help train your soul and divine sense. The [Nine Planet Palm] is for attack, [True Buddha Skin] shall be for defense, and [Spatial Deposition] will be instantaneous bodily movement. [Grand Taiji Fist Arts] and [Emperor Roar] are also for attack, but they¡¯re more profound in content. Each of these skills can still prove to be useful even after one steps into the Heavenly Wang realm!¡±


    Moreover, the six skills were also at the top within their levels. If fully mastered, their power could be comparable to that of a quasi-King grade ranked skill!


    To others, giving away such quality arts may seem rash or even irrational, but to Huang Xue, he thought it was only natural. If you want to improve someone¡¯s strength quickly, why would you not provide them with the best treatments?


    He had heard of experts acting mysterious and imparting their disciples only a few truly ¡°strong¡± arts in hopes that they can ¡°slowly¡± improve.


    In Huang Xue¡¯s opinions, he thought it was a load of donkey dung.


    The reality is that truly high ranked skills are simply too precious. It was not worth to invest it to a youth who may or may not survive to maturation. But that was not the case for Huang Xue.


    He had utter confidence that Luo Ke would survive until the day the latter¡¯s power ripened. No, he had to believe that Luo Ke would reach the peak. That was what was written in the stars based on the Star Decree Stone¡¯s predictions. At least, until the youth¡¯s powers matured.


    Otherwise, chaos was bound to ensue.


    If it wasn¡¯t that one required a Profound He-level cultivation to learn those King-grade arts and above, Huang Xue would not have hesitated to give even more powerful skills to Luo Ke.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Only after reaching Tian realm, would one¡¯s Dao begin to bud, and after that one would continue to immerse themselves in different laws and develop their Dao nature.


    ¡°....¡±


    Luo Ke stared down at the six manuals in his hands as his mind sped up at the speed of light. He was trying to comprehend exactly how the hell six Heaven-grade skills, rumored to be almost non-existent in the Long Dynasty, have appeared in the palm of his hands. These luxurious items have appeared on someone at once, and subsequently been given to himself.


    He had a strong heart and a stable mind - that is what Luo Ke had thought of himself. But even then, this kind of development was simply too fast and out of the ordinary for him to keep calm.


    Without waiting for Luo Ke to regain his poor soul, Huang Xue reached into his blue cosmic ring again. After searching and organizing the items he needed, Huang Xue proceeded to pull out two silver-colored cosmic bags.


    (Reminder: Cosmic Bags: Brown=1 cubic meters of space, silver=10 cubic meters, blue=50 cubic meters, cyan=100 cubic meters, and gold=300 cubic meters)


    ¡°Right, take these with you as well. I simply do not feel that those skill manuals are enough as rewards. Inside the first silver cosmic bag, there¡¯s ten thousand bottles of ¡°Qilin Blood Pill¡±, ten pills in each bottle, and a manual of [Void Vein]. If consume two pills every time you practice [Void Vein], you¡¯ll be able slowly to transform your Level 1 Vein into higher stages. In the other cosmic bag, I have placed ten million Qi stones for your use.¡± Huang Xue calmly recited as he placed the bags on top of the stacks of manual in Luo Ke¡¯s hands.


    When Huang Xue left the Upper Regions, he had taken mainly pills, manuals, and Qi stones. These were all prepared for his Destined Ones; especially the plethora of top martial manuals. They were there to safeguard against all sorts of odd or common body constitutions and cultivation level, so that in the case his Destined Ones had unique conditions, he would still be able to help them.


    Luo Ke dumbly stared at the mountain of wealth that reeked of both holy opportunities and hellish dangers. His hands slightly trembled. In fact, the dangers seemed to outstrip the opportunities, is what Luo Ke vaguely came to feel.


    Although Luo Ke did not have knowledge on some of the items mentioned, he did comprehend that they were wondrous items.


    ¡°Godd*mn, a single Yang Chen is worth this much?! This is...this is¡­¡± Looking at the items before him, Luo Ke did not know whether to laugh or cry.


    But he now knew one thing: the person, who was standing before him while smiling as one¡¯s grandpa would to his grandsons, was incredibly wealthy - and even more so frightening. Just the number of Qi stones alone was on par with the Long Dynasty itself, much less the legendary Heaven-grade skills that was said only to be in possession of the Long Dynasty. And even they, only had a single of such skill - and it was merely an incomplete copy at that!


    Although Luo Ke received several high grade skills, it did not mean he became invincible immediately. It would still take quite some time to actually comprehend the higher leveled skills, as well as intensive practices to gain mastery over these newfound abilities. At best, it only meant that as Luo Ke grew stronger, his pathway upwards had been somewhat paved out much clearer than other cultivators.


    It would still depend on himself whether he would truly become powerful, even with these skills, in the future.


    Moreover, at this point, Luo Ke was absolutely certain this Huang Xue wasn¡¯t merely the Shen clan¡¯s third young master. The Shen Clan could never produce such wealth and items at a whim.


    Was this an imposter? Who...is this Huang Xue really?


    As Luo Ke tried to wrap his head around this turn of event, he suddenly thought of something as he weakly asked, suppressing his other thoughts:


    ¡°Uh..you...you said that this so-called [Vein of Gods] can cultivate my Level 1 vein? What do you mean by that?¡±


    Huang Xue continued to smile as he patiently explained. With the level of cultivators at Long Dynasty, it was no wonder that Luo Ke would not know about the Vein levels.


    ¡°In the martial arts world, one¡¯s Veins are ranked from Level one to Level ten. The higher level one¡¯s Vein is, the easier and more Qi energy one could accumulate. Not only that, higher leveled Veins also correspond to greater available strength as well as possibly bloodline variations and even unique abilities!


    Level one to three are normal veins for cultivators, four to six are special veins that belongs to unique bloodlines and abilities, and level seven to nine are said to be veins equivalent to those of ancient civilisations. They are undoubtedly powerful. As for Level ten Veins...it could be considered godly. The number of people who have such veins are less than ten in this entire world.¡±


    ¡°...So if I continue to practice this [Vein of Gods], would I be able to reach that a Level ten vein one day?¡± Luo Ke asked after a while of silence.


    Huang Xue lightly responded: ¡°That will depend on you.¡±


    ¡°What about its rank?¡±


    ¡°It has not been evaluated, or should I say, it¡¯s impossible at this point in time.¡±


    Since the [Vein of Gods] was a skill with an unlimited potential, it was indeed possible to for one to reach a Level ten vein through cultivating this method. As such, its rank could not be calculated. Even for Huang Xue, he could not gauge its preciousness.


    In fact, during the time that he was a god, Huang Xue had still been cultivating this very [Vein of Gods]! Its potential had still not been reached even then.


    This could be seen how priceless this [Vein of Gods] was, and how much Huang Xue valued Luo Ke to the point of personally giving away this secret arts to the latter without hesitation.


    Luo Ke contemplated for a long time before he finally asked, letting out some of his thoughts:


    ¡°Why...are you helping me to this extent? What is your purpose? Even if it was reward for helping you, these items...are simply too extravagant just for something like this. With your ability, I¡¯m sure you could have taken care of Yang Chen just the same without me. There¡¯s no need to give me all this.¡±


    Huang Xue faintly smiled as he looked into Luo Ke¡¯s eyes and firmly answered: ¡°Because I like you.¡±


    Luo Ke¡¯s face instantly became pale as he took several steps back.


    ¡°Y-you...wait! I do not have such preference for men! If...if your goal is that, then please take everything back. I will not sell my body for materialistic items.¡±


    Luo Ke stammered with fright...as he placed the manuals and two silver cosmic bags into his brown cosmic bag.


    Huang Xue¡¯s face fell as he saw Luo Ke¡¯s reaction. After suppressing his desire to beat this brat up, Huang Xue said, with difficulty:


    ¡°Stop overestimating yourself. Even if I thought that way, it wouldn¡¯t be your turn to say those lines! Anyhow, what I meant is that I admire your bold and ruthless character. You are worth befriending as a fellow brother. Moreover, I firmly believe you have great potential to reach the peak of this world. Once you have attain such strength, I will naturally have a request for you. These items now could be considered an early payment. But even if you cannot fulfill my request, you may simply treat these items as a gift of friendship. More importantly, the stuff I gave you hold no value for me. Would you say these reasons are enough, Brother Luo Ke?¡±


    Luo Ke calmed down as he thought over Huang Xue¡¯s words. It was true. With Huang Xue¡¯s ability, if he wished to kill him, it would just be too easy. If he had come for his own bagua mirror, then there was nothing Luo Ke could have done.


    Moreover, this person was simply too frightening and mysterious. It was much better to befriend someone like Huang Xue rather than go against him. And the most important thing was that there were no previous enmities between the two.


    With that said, since the other party is giving away such precious ¡°rewards¡± out of good will to rope him in on request, this kind of good deal...just why the hell would Luo Ke not accept!?


    As Luo Ke thought of this, he looked back at Huang Xue. Although Luo Ke suspected that the latter¡¯s true identity was not so simple and this future ¡°request¡± may arduous, he would still accept the offer. Despite his naive appearance, Luo Ke was a decisive person. With the opportunity right in front of them, he only slightly hesitated before seizing it!


    After all, strength was what he urgently needed now. Even if it was a deal from the Devil...he will still willingly take it!


    Thinking here, an image of short white-haired girl briefly flashed through Luo Ke¡¯s mind, causing the young man to unconsciously clench his fists. Only five years left...I must hurry...


    Luo Ke quickly awoke from his thoughts.


    ¡°Ha...haha! Since it is like so, then I will not reject any longer. I will remember this care, Brother Xue!¡± Luo Ke smiled at last and cupped his hands towards Huang Xue. While there may be some dubious intentions behind Huang Xue¡¯s words, Luo Ke still decided to accept the former for now.


    The other party had already shown their good will, if he rejected him now...it may not lead to anything good anyway!

 Chapter 54

    Chapter 54:


    <hr>


    Hearing Luo Ke¡¯s agreement to accept his ¡°good will¡±, Huang Xue¡¯s smile brightened as he reached out and lightly patted Luo Ke¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Good! That¡¯s how it should be. Oh, right, where do you plan to go now? Will you return to the Six Ocean Sect?¡±


    Luo Ke thought for a moment before he replied: ¡°I will continue to stay in the Duoluo Province and train myself. Moreover, I have...and unfinished business here as well.¡±


    Huang Xue understood what Luo Ke¡¯s ¡°unfinished business¡± meant so he nodded and said: ¡°Alright, that is fine. If nothing, I will be returning to the Six Ocean Sect. When you return, do come by my mountain peak for a visit. It¡¯s located near the entrance of the sect.¡±


    Luo Ke acknowledged and bade Huang Xue farewell as the latter quickly disappeared into the forest.


    In the end, Luo Ke¡¯s heart and mind were still quite sturdy. Despite being showered by several priceless items and wealth, he was still able to keep his cool.


    But the feelings that Luo Ke felt towards Huang Xue was hard to explain at this moment.


    Luo Ke then turned to stare at the direction where the Kui-Hei duo¡¯s group had left. A sharp, ruthless light gleamed within his eyes, creating a contrast to his naive appearance.


    With a turn of his body, Luo Ke quickly left the area as well.


    ***


    The entire time, Sung Li had been hidden within the forest trees as he observed the entire process unfold before him.


    From the moment he saw Huang Xue appear between the Luo Ke and the Kui-Hei duo, Sung Li understood that that person was absolutely someone of importance to the great senior. He may even be the senior¡¯s disciple!


    Given that the youth¡¯s uncommon demeanor and the way the black compass had trembled when the former appeared, it was hard not to consider this prospect.


    And when Sung Li noticed that Huang Xue¡¯s eyes had made contact with his own during the time of silence between the two groups, that was when he became absolutely sure of Luo Ke¡¯s importance.


    What came next, however, made even Sung Li feel a bit like crying.


    In one go, Huang Xue had taken out many top skills, pills, and even a hefty amount of Qi stones. And they were all given to Luo Ke at once, without hesitation. Even for someone of Sung Li¡¯s level, Heaven-grade skills were not easy to come across. As for Qi stones, while he did not desire them profusely, handing out a sum of ten million...is something even he would feel a pinch.


    That was practically equivalent to one-seventh of the wealth of his Sung clan back in the days!


    But upon thinking about the great senior¡¯s high status, Sung Li came to realize that Huang Xue possessing such wealth and skills were only natural. Sung Li could only lament the fact that he did not have such a generous and powerful master in this lifetime¡­


    Seeing Luo Ke leaving, Sung Li gave a helpless sigh as he continued to hide his aura and followed after the former in the shadows.


    ***


    After taking care of matters concerning Luo Ke, Huang Xue was in a great mood when he returned to the Six Ocean Sect. He had immediately went to his mountain peak and secluded himself to think about plans for the future.


    Now that he had found one of his destined person at the Six Ocean Sect, it was worth changing a few aspects of his previous plan. It could even be said that Huang Xue had unexpectedly found his first, true destined person a bit sooner than he had anticipated.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    As for affecting fate through his extravagant actions today, Huang Xue was not too worried. Luo Ke¡¯s destiny was great, so the fortune bestowed upon him today would merely speed up the process of his growth. In fact, if anything were to affect fate, it would be his very existence in this world! From the moment he took over the Supreme Ancestor¡¯s body, the world¡¯s fate had changed.


    Therefore, what was there a need for his decision to lie low and ¡°follow the course of fate¡±? Perhaps this sort of mentality was wrong to begin with¡­


    Something is wrong...my thoughts are becoming muddled. Huang Xue thought as he frowned. Somehow, he felt that something was wrong with him. Could it be...the Heart Sealing Hex?


    The Heart Sealing Hex corroded one¡¯s soul, so...could that inadvertently affect his mind as well?


    Huang Xue sighed. In the end, an ancient poison is still an ancient poison; its effects were myriad and potent!


    On the other hand, Huang Xue now knew that there was need to ¡°upgrade¡± the Star Decree Stone. Although the stone can still be considered complete, in the end...it was not living up to its abilities! He would need to find a time to return to the Supreme Godly Halls to find superior ingredients to remake the stone...


    For now, Huang Xue decided to lie low a bit longer until he formalized a new plan. Until Luo Ke returns to the Six Ocean Sect, there was no need for him to make any big moves either.


    ***


    After Huang Xue entered seclusion, the news about the Grand Valley Tomb¡¯s sudden collapse was still making its way to the rest of the Long Dynasty.


    However, before the day ended, all the major factions within the Long Dynasty eventually received the intel. Without hesitation, the sect master and headmaster of each top faction left for the Grand Valley Tomb at once.


    The collapse of the Grand Valley Tomb gave meaning to two major opportunities:


    First, is that the traps and formations within the tomb have been broken. All the treasures are now open and free for anyone¡¯s picking! This was a mass fortune that would benefit any power within the Long Dynasty.


    And second...is that the seal on the boulder to the master room, has most likely been open along with the tomb¡¯s destruction!


    One can only imagine the wealth that was left behind by such an impressive master of the grand tomb. This was also the main focus of each major faction¡¯s head this time around.


    As such, unaware of that the ¡®master room¡¯ had long lost its meaning, these powerful beings the same day Huang Xue returned to the Six Ocean Sect.


    ***


    Seven days after the Grand Valley Tomb¡¯s collapse.


    In the end, the major factions that arrived at the broken tomb site were unable to find the ¡®master room¡¯. Only pieces of the sealed boulder, with its shattered formation symbols still intact, were found. Many thus speculated that either the ¡®master room¡¯ may have been a trap, or perhaps it had been buried too deep within the ruins by now.


    After all, the collapse of the Grand Valley Tomb had resulted in the creation of a mass ruin. It was so large and in such disarray, that even the masters of those major factions were unable to fully search the entire place.


    But that did not mean their trip there was in vain. In fact, with many treasures of the tomb now unguarded, they were all scattered around underneath the ruins itself. And after scouring the place several times over, each of the major faction¡¯s master had reaped in a bountiful wealth. Even the lesser factions were able to obtain a few small benefits from the fallen tomb.


    While everyone else was pleased with their harvest, there was one group of people who had a heavy air around them.


    They were the Yang clan. In the ruins this time around, the Yang clan master and his group had not only come to reap the free wealth...but had also come to supposedly find their third young master! It was said that the life tablet that has a strand of Yang Chen¡¯s soul in it had shattered, which signified that either Yang Chen¡¯s soul was weakened to the point that he was near death, or....that he had already died!


    Armed with a tiny bubble of hope at Yang Chen¡¯s survival, the Yang clan fervently searched the collapsed Tomb...and ended up finding Yang Chen¡¯s mutilated corpse under a large boulder.


    The Yang clan master, Yang Fen, instantly became enraged and destroyed a large part of his surroundings. In the next moment, he took his group and Yang Chen¡¯s corpse back to his clan. The Yang people left in with a depressed and murderous air about them.


    At once, the Yang Fen ordered a thorough investigation on Yang Chen¡¯s death. After all, from Yang Chen¡¯s corpse, even though it was mutilated, Yang Fen had discovered...a sword wound!  The sword had pierced through Yang Chen¡¯s dantian, completely crippling him.


    And even if Yang Chen did not die from that, given that the former was so deep within the tomb when the collapse happened...there was no way for a crippled mortal to escape at all!


    Someone had purposely struck to kill Yang Chen! This was practically a blatant slap towards the Yang clan, with complete disregard of their status and power!


    The Yang clan was now bent on finding the murderer at all cost. Otherwise, it would be hard to swallow down this shame and grief. By now, after Yang Fen¡¯s order, the other major factions had naturally learned of the situation.


    Some gloated at the former¡¯s misfortune, other felt sympathy. But none said anything and continued to watch. It was not their business anyway. Yang Chen¡¯s death merely meant one less future competitor for them.


    ***


    Days continued to pass as things began to cool down.


    These days, there had been no noise from the Yang clan. It was as if their previous anger had been quenched; no further movements were heard by the other major clans.


    However, during that period, a strange rumor began floating around. It was related to Yang Chen¡¯s death.


    As the rumor was told, it was said that on the day that the Yang clan¡¯s third young master had died, he had previously entered the cave with the Shen clan¡¯s third young master. After the tomb collapsed, only third young master Shen had escaped unscathed; he was even said to have been assisting others escape the tomb.


    However, afterwards, without bothering to meet up with the followers of Yang Chen, the third young master Shen had simply left and returned to the Six Ocean Sect. There, he was reported to have gone into seclusion, declaring that he would not meet anyone during his period of meditation.


    To common mortals, these rumors may not mean much, but to major factions like the Yang clan it struck them like a thunderbolt.


    It has to be known that while the major clans remain friendly on the surface, there was an invisible tension underneath those facade. There had been many battles fought behind the scene that the public is unaware of. Thus, each major clan could be seen as an enemy; and only rarely that clans like the Yang clan and Yin clan would truly support one another.


    And no matter how one looked at this rumor, no, this report, that was backed by several witnesses, it was just too fishy. How come only the third young master Shen came out unscathed during the tomb collapse? Why did he not bring Yang Chen out with him? If he were already saving people when the collapse was happening, why did he not go save Yang Chen as well? Why did he leave immediately? Why did he suddenly intend to go into seclusion of all times?


    As such, unanimously, suspicions and vague killing intent from the Yang clan slowly found their way towards Huang Xue...

 Chapter 55

    Chapter 55


    <hr>


    Two weeks after the Grand Valley Tomb incident.


    On a certain mountain peak within the Six Ocean Sect, laid a large house. At this moment, the wooden door opened. A youth in gold-white robe stepped out, his conspicuous white flowed tidily behind him.


    For the past period, Huang Xue had remained in seclusion, but at the same time, he had secretly requested a few of his Shen clansmen to gather intel on Luo Ke. After finally finding his first destined one, Huang Xue had begun contemplating on how he should go about helping Luo Ke. Only after the latter became stronger, would Huang Xue consider taking him and moving to other regions.


    Since, even now, Huang Xue¡¯s other two divine clones are still in the process of searching their respective area. They were in progress of gathering information, and have yet to find any clues leading to his other Destined Ones.


    But given Huang Xue¡¯s meeting with Luo Ke, he now understood that the background, bloodline, and strength of his Destined Ones were truly hard to predict. And at times, their ¡°specialness¡± may not be directly because of their body itself, but may be from their tremendous destiny and artifact.


    For example, Luo Ke has a relatively normal constitution. However, upon gaining the help of the Saint Mirror that seems to have a strong tie with his own fortune, Luo Ke was able to rapidly improve his strength and change his fate! For powerful artifacts, only in the hands of those with great destiny ties to it, would its true might be revealed. This was also why Huang Xue held no thoughts towards taking the Saint Mirror away from Luo Ke, despite having some idea of its importance in the future.


    Only by allowing Luo Ke to grow along with the Saint Mirror, would there come a day when a peak cultivator would be birthed - one who could potentially ¡°save¡± the Earthly Lands should Huang Xue lose himself in the end.


    Now that Huang Xue had made contact with Luo Ke, there is a vague relationship created between the two. However, Huang Xue wants to solidify his standing in Luo Ke¡¯s mind.


    If Huang Xue cannot become Luo Ke¡¯s master, then he must strive to become...his most trusted elder brother!


    This way, he would be able to further nourish Luo Ke¡¯s growth.


    At this point in time, Huang Xue could at best be considered a mysterious person who Luo Ke does not want to offend, but any brotherly trust between the two is negligible.


    Huang Xue did not wish to use his background as a mean to establish relation with Luo Ke. This path is very limited in future potential. If he went down this road, it¡¯ll become more of a business-type connection; one that is fragile and easily broken once Luo Ke becomes powerful.


    Therefore, Huang Xue decided that it should be time...show a bit of his ¡°capability¡±. His strength is already clear. Then what other qualities should be ¡®displayed¡¯ next? His leadership skill? Heroic disposition? Upright moral? Or should he go support Luo Ke¡¯s family to show his good will?


    However, from the intel that Huang Xue received, he learned that Luo Ke¡¯s parents had long passed away. There are no other blood relatives connected to Luo Ke either.


    From the age of twelve, Luo Ke had struggled within the jungle of the fitness by himself. His cultivation talent was originally ordinary until his fourteenth birthday, wher he met with a fortuitous opportunity. From that point on, Luo Ke experienced a great improvement in his power and he joined the Six Ocean Sect when he reached the age of sixteen. It was said that the thirteenth elder, Hong Wu, was the one who introduced Luo Ke into the sect, promoting him instantly to an inner disciple.


    After deeper digging, Huang Xue learned that Luo Ke was reported to have tested out a Clear Root talent during his assessment! This news had only recently been released, too. As to why it was withheld until now, Huang Xue did not care too much about it. Internal struggles, fear of outside interventions, and what not. They mean very little to him.


    Moreover, from the various reported fights that Luo Ke had participated in, Huang Xue gained a reinforced understanding of the former¡¯s character. The child was resolute, alright, up to the point where he could be considered doggedly stubborn; if an opponent seeked trouble, he was not afraid to stir up trouble on stage - or even behind the scene.


    But fortunately, it seems that Luo Ke was not the type to blindly engage in hopeless battles. Even when he fought those of a higher stage, he supposedly had a plan to win. At least, in such fights, Luo Ke had never been easily swept aside.


    These were the thoughts Huang Xue got from hearing the reports given by the Shen clan.


    ¡°At least, this child is seems determined in his martial path.¡± was what Huang Xue concluded.


    Out of the two weeks period of seclusion, Huang Xue spent the last two days in complete quiet to consolidate his foundation. He refused to meet anyone, even the intel reporters, for those two days. And today, was the first time he was coming out his meditation.


    As Huang Xue walked through his courtyard, he took a glance at his surrounding before he took a deep breath, apparently feeling satisfied.


    ¡°This Six Ocean Sect is built upon a Qi Vein that runs through this land, stemming its outreach within a thousand kilometers. The dense Earth Qi and Heaven Qi in this location are due to that, albeit they¡¯re still severely lacking.¡± Huang Xue thought silently.


    ¡°But if I can utilise the resources in this sect, along with those from the Shen clan, they can provide the best environment for Luo Ke to grow¡­¡±


    Even though the Shen clan was a major clan in the Long Dynasty, its resource vault was not limitless. Having an additional resource vault would prove to only have more benefit anyways.


    As for seeking assistance from the Godly Supreme Hall, it¡¯s not realistic. First, being the huge distance between the two regions. And second, any activity within a paragon-like sect such as the Godly Supreme Hall would inevitably be found out eventually by the other powerhouses within the Upper Region, in particular, the other Three Absolute Grand Sects.


    Huang Xue did not want to see other powers coming to the Long Dynasty to interfere or even investigate with his business.


    And when it came to using Huang Xue¡¯s own resources, they¡¯re even more limited. While there were some great pills and artifacts in Huang Xue¡¯s cosmic bag, they were still too high of a level for Luo Ke to consume or wield.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Moreover, there are limited quantities; with precious pills and herbs numbering less than a hundred, and with everything totaling no greater than five thousand!


    Even if considering the vast wealth of Qi stones, those eventually become useless past the Dao Ascent realm. In total, there were roughly a 50 million Qi stones left over. However, the Qi stones¡¯ worth and uses are minimal, even with such quantity.


    Therefore, using the Six Ocean Sect would be the best option. Their resources were much more vast than what Huang Xue has on himself. And the cultivation capital the sect has may be more suitable for lower-leveled practitioners like Luo Ke.


    The pills and skills that Huang Xue has now were generally all geared towards much stronger cultivators; a misstep on his part.


    Huang Xue turned towards the direction where the sect¡¯s Main Hall was located, before he began to head towards there. However, just as he was about to leave, he felt two auras rapidly approaching him.


    ¡°Brother Huang Xue!¡± A clear voice suddenly called out from above.


    ¡°Hm?¡± Huang Xue looked up to see two young men in cyan robe treading across the sky before landing before him. A strong sense of heavenly Qi aura emanated off their body.


    ¡°Tian realm experts?¡± Huang Xue thought as he looked at the two newcomer. One of the youth had a muscular, buff physique, while the other one looked slim and had a scholarly air to him. It was a bit of a visual contrast when looking at the two of them side by side.


    ¡°I greet you, Brother Huang Xue!¡± The scholarly man spoke first as he respectfully cupped his hands toward Huang Xue. This was the same person who had called out earlier. ¡°I am Shen Cai and this one here with me is Shen Hai. We have heard that Brother Huang Xue had come out of his seclusion, so we brothers have especially come to meet you.¡±


    The muscular solemnly saluted Huang Xue at Shen Cai¡¯s gesture.


    In the past few days when Huang Xue was still in seclusion, he had obviously been able to detect several auras lurking around on his mountain peak. Most of them only stayed briefly before leaving while a few lingered around a bit longer. However, there was one presence that was especially filled with a faint murderous intent directed towards his room. But as that aura left quickly and Huang Xue was still busy in his thoughts, he did not pay any attention to it. Killing someone in the sect was a taboo of the highest degree, so it was relatively safe here.


    ¡°Hoh? You guys are Shen Lin¡¯s sons?¡± Huang Xue asked as he sized up the two youths.


    Previously, before his departure to the Six Ocean Sect, Huang Xue had accepted a request from Shen Lin to take care of his children, who were also in the sect, However, because the two had been out training, Huang Xue did not have a chance to meet them, much less give them any support as he promised.


    Though, looking at their cultivation, it did not seem they would have much trouble anyways¡­


    To enter the Tian realm before the age of thirty could be considered a genius in the Lower Regions. And in the Long Dynasty, where Profound He eccentrics often did not bother with the country¡¯s matters, Tian realm experts were seen as top level powerhouses.


    Shen Cai and Shen Hai stared at Huang Xue with an incredulous look before the scholarly youth cleared his throat and said with an awkward smile: ¡°Ahem! Um, uh, yes. That is indeed my father¡¯s name¡­We two brothers have also come to apologize for not welcoming you earlier when you first entered the sect. Because we were at a critical junction of our training, we were unable to come out and meet anyone.¡±


    As he looked at Huang Xue, Shen Cai could not help but think to himself inwardly. ¡°This person is indeed not native to our land. To say our father¡¯s full name without any honorifics, either this person is simply insensitive, or he has an incredible identity that allows him to be arrogant!¡±


    When other people mentioned the Shen clan¡¯s patriarch, practically no one dared to say his name out directly, at least, without a proper honorific. To be able to say out the full name of someone with a high status like Shen Lin, one would either have to his direct descendants, his blood family members...or someone who has a greater status or power than the former!


    Moreover, even in the presence of two Tian realm practitioners, Huang Xue¡¯s expression did not change to that of awe, but simply indifference. If a normal practitioner stood before them, even if they were at the peak of the Jie Hai realm, the unique Heaven Qi aura from a Tian realm cultivator would have caused them to feel extremely pressured.


    The density and quality of Qi between the Jie Hai realm and Tian realm were simply like heaven and earth. A 1st stage Tian realm expert can easily subdue ten peak Jie Hai experts.


    Previously, the two Shen brothers had naturally received messages from their father about Huang Xue. What was told to them was that this person would be their ¡°third brother¡± from now on, however, they were to treat him with the utmost respect as if they were meeting their ancestors!


    With this kind of abrupt and absurd request, the brothers obviously could not comply without more information. But, despite their eagerness, their honorable father had only told him that this Huang Xue person came from a distant land, and possessed an identity...that was even higher than their Shen ancestor himself!


    And knowing how serious Shen Lin was when it came to matters pertaining to the ancestor, the Shen brothers knew that their father would not lie to them about this. As such, despite Huang Xue looking younger them and even having a slightly weaker cultivation base, they treated him with great respect.


    In fact, just by Huang Xue¡¯s Jie Hai realm cultivation at the age of sixteen was enough for them to understand that even if this person did not have a powerful background, this person would at least be a peerless genius.


    To enter the late stages of Jie Hai realm before the age of twenty, perhaps no more than thirty people in the entire history of the Long Dynasty had accomplished this.


    When Huang Xue¡¯s results at the testing boulder were spread across the Six Ocean Sect, it had generated a huge buzz among the community. No one could have expected a peerless genius to emerge from the freshmen¡¯s bracket this year. And with the sudden promotion to a core disciple upon entrance, even the senior sect disciples then had no choice but to pay closer attention Huang Xue.


    Despite everything happening, Huang Xue particularly did not paid much attention to these gossips about himself. He was too busy thinking of ways to find his Destined Ones, so much that these clutters of useless information held no appeal to him.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. Upgrading one¡¯s strength must always be a priority in order to survive in this world.¡± Huang Xue waved off Shen Cai¡¯s apology. He would not get angry for something as trivial as this. Whether they came to greet him in the beginning or not, it would not have mattered to Huang Xue.


    ¡°Ah, since you two are in the Tian realm, you should have been promoted to a core disciple long ago, right?¡± Huang Xue suddenly asked.


    ¡°Yes, we became core disciples two years ago.¡± Shen Cai respectfully replied.


    ¡°Then, you should know quite a bit about the sect¡¯s internal matters by now. Tell me, besides the elders¡¯ group and the sect master, how are the other powers distributed in the Six Ocean Sect?¡± Huang Xue questioned.


    ¡°Hmm...from what I can tell, the factions within the sect have considerable influence and power. The top factions are the Lost Bone Guild, the Tian Zhu Association, the Du Alliance, the Yang Faction, and our Heavenly Shen Legion. These groups are all overseen by more than one core disciple, so they have quite an influence in the sect.


    In fact, the leading disciples of those factions are within the top twenty on the Sea Disciple Ranking. They even have an elder within their group, so normal factions are unable to touch them.¡± Shen Cai answered.


    Huang Xue nodded as he said: ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯ll join your Heavenly Shen legion then. I have some things I want to achieve in this sect, so having a bit more backing will be nice.¡±


    Shen Cai and Shen Hai¡¯s eyes lit up at Huang Xue¡¯s words.


    ¡°Haha, it¡¯s a great honor if you¡¯ll join our faction, Brother Huang Xue! I, as the faction leader, gladly welcomes you!¡± Shen Cai hastily said.


    Originally, the Shen brothers had come to visit Huang Xue for two reasons. One was to pay their respect to this mysterious person. If their ¡°third young master¡± was truly as capable as they were told by their family, Shen Cai would obviously wish to recruit such a person into their faction. Even if the chance was low, they still had to try.


    After all, even though their Heavenly Shen Legion was among the top five factions in the Six Ocean Sect, they were barely managing to keep their position as the third strongest group. To have a weak faction with a strong background was dangerous in the sect, as there were naturally vicious people who would strike others when they¡¯re down. The Shen brothers had to quickly strengthen their faction.


    But who would have thought that while Shen Cai was looking for an opportunity to bring this matter up, the other party would simply give their consent on their own?


    ¡°Mmn.¡± Huang Xue gave a smiling nod. ¡°Right, since you guys had especially come to meet and helped answer my questions, and even allowed me to join your faction, I will not be stingy. Take these.¡±


    With a flip of his sleeve, Huang Xue threw a silver cosmic bag to Shen Cai.


    ¡°Inside, there are 500 thousand Qi stones along with a few Tier-2 pills. You can use those to recruit more students or strengthen our faction even more. If not, you can just use it all for yourself, either way is fine with me.¡± Huang Xue nonchalantly said.


    Shen Cai¡¯s eyes widened, looking at the sudden wealth in his hand. Off to the side, even Shen Hai had a hard time comprehending the situation. While the 500,000 Qi stones are not a lot, it was still typically not possible for a person to just give away so much that easily. That is, unless that person is filthy rich or has an enormous backing¡­


    Shen Cai quickly calmed down as he back at Huang Xue, a hint of admiration and curiosity twinkled within his eyes. ¡°Then, I will thank you for your generosity, Brother Huang Xue!¡±


    There was no need to act courteous or refuse Huang Xue¡¯s help. With the other party¡¯s carefree attitude and good will, it really did not seem like the things he gave them were significant in any way. If that was so, then it would only be appropriate that they give their thanks and just accept the gift.


    As for Huang Xue, the reason for his generosity was because he wanted to help the Shen brothers, as he had promised Shen Lin. Disregarding if he knew Shen Lin well or not, the latter could be considered a subject of his. And when making a promise to one¡¯s subject, no matter how small, was important. That was what Huang Xue thought.


    ¡°If there is anything that Brother Huang Xue needs in the future, just come visit us at our mountain peak.¡± Shen Cai said as he handed a wooden slip to Huang Xue. ¡°This special wood slip will help guide you to our place so that you would not get lost within the surrounding thousand mountain peaks. It is also the headquarter of our Heavenly Shen Legion. And since Brother Huang Xue looked like he needed to go somewhere, we two brothers will not hold you up any longer. When you have the time, do pay us a visit! We will be sure to properly receive then.¡±


    Huang Xue and the Shen brothers chatted a bit more before the two departed away through the air.


    Without a word, Huang Xue then began to walk down the mountain peak.

 Chapter 56

    Chapter 56:


    As he went down his mountain peak and passed through the sect ground, there were many people scattered around; some entering the sect, others exiting, while a few others loitered around.


    But when they saw Huang Xue, gossips immediately began to circulate around these fellows.


    ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that senior-apprentice Huang Xue?¡±


    ¡°Mmn! He finally came out after all this time. Could those previous rumors be true¡­?¡±


    ¡°No way! Why would the Shen clan¡¯s third young master do that? I don¡¯t even think there¡¯s any enmity between Yang Chen and him previously¡­¡±


    Huang Xue naturally understood that those people were referring to the rumor about him slaying Yang Chen back in the Grand Valley Tomb. He had already been informed of these events and topics by one of the Shen clan¡¯s informants. Even in his short seclusion, Huang Xue did not forget to pay attention to the changes in the outside world, especially in Six Ocean Sect where he is currently residing in.


    But in the end, the rumors were merely rumors. Huang Xue indeed did not kill Yang Chen - it was Luo Ke who did. Although there may have been a slight trace of Huang Xue¡¯s involvement that led to Yang Chen¡¯s death, ultimately, it was not himself who acted out the deed.


    Therefore, Huang Xue did not mind the rumors, not caring to neither deny or confirm such worthless speculations.


    Walking towards the sect¡¯s main hall, Huang Xue was still greeted by several other sect disciples who had a rather positive relationship with him. After a short while, Huang Xue entered the main mall.


    Inside, Huang Xue looked around before his eyes landed on the back of a familiar gray-haired figure. A faint smile appeared on his face as Huang Xue walked over towards that person.


    Not many people in the main hall minded Huang Xue¡¯s presence, since the hall was filled with hundreds of people per day. Only a few people who were nearby may have  recognized Huang Xue, but that was it.


    Huang Xue walked up to the gray-haired figure as he cupped his hands:


    ¡°Greetings, Elder Hong Wu.¡±


    The gray-haired elder, Hong Wu, turned around and looked at Huang Xue with a slight surprise.


    ¡°Oh? Huang Xue you finished your seclusion?¡±


    ¡°En. I just finished today. Since, I have...gained quite a bit these past few days, there was no need for an extended period of seclusion.¡± Huang Xue replied.


    (Note: ¡°En¡± = It¡¯s like an acknowledgement-type of word; like yes, yeah, mmhmm, etc.)


    ¡°So, tell me, what do you need? Don¡¯t tell that a great young master of the Shen clan would simply come greet me right after coming out of seclusion?¡± Hong Wu said with a smile, yet not a smile.


    Huang Xue smiled as he looked at the thirteenth elder. Out of the entire upper echelon of the Six Ocean Sect, Huang Xue had only came in contact with Hong Wu the most. And given Hong Wu¡¯s carefree character and his care for him, Huang Xue had quite a good impression of this person. Especially, how the other party catches on fast.


    ¡°Hahaha, Elder Hong Wu is apart of the upper echelon in the Six Ocean Sect. Given the sect¡¯s great strength, naturally Elder Hong Wu¡¯s position is high and lofty; for a third young master like me to want to come greet you can be no more fitting and normal.¡±


    ¡°Cut the load of flattery. Just tell me what you need.¡± Hong Wu waved his hand as he glanced at Huang Xue. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Huang Xue thought for a moment before he began: ¡°Since Elder Hong Wu says so, then I would indeed need a little help from you, elder. Don¡¯t worry, it does not require you to do anything, but rather, to answer something for me.¡±


    ¡°Hm? And your question is?¡±


    ¡°Simple. I want to know, just how does one become the sect master?¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    Hong Wu was about to reply to Huang Xue when his mind froze at the latter¡¯s question.


    ¡°Hold on...can you repeat your question again? You said...you want to become the sect master?¡± Hong Wu asked as he squinted his eyes at Huang Xue.


    ¡°Well, that wasn¡¯t my question, I just wanted to know how could one become the sect master. As for me desiring that position...heh, I can¡¯t say I¡¯m not interested.¡± Huang Xue said, with a faint roguish smirk on his face.


    Hong Wu sucked in a deep breath as he tried to cool the bubbling anger in his chest.


    ¡°To think that at such a young age, you¡¯re already thinking about becoming a sect master...while it¡¯s good to aspire towards something high, but this is a bit too much.¡± Hong Wu thought to himself. ¡°In the end, could this child be just like the other young masters of those fancy, major powers? Not understanding the immensity of the heavens and earth, and overestimating oneself¡­¡±


    Hong Wu cleared his throat after a while and said coldly: ¡°Ahem. Hmph! It¡¯s a little too early for you to care about such matters. Perhaps after you train for several tens or hundreds of years, may you have the qualification to aim for the sect master seat.¡±


    ¡°Elder, you¡¯re not answering my question though.¡± Huang Xue cut in.


    Hong Wu¡¯s lips twitched before he continued: ¡°As for your question, I cannot answer it. However, if you were to achieve 1st rank on the Sea Disciple Ranking tablet, then we may discuss a bit more on this topic. If not, then you¡¯ll just have to wait until you¡¯re stronger.¡±


    ¡°First rank? What does these things have to do with becoming a sect master? Isn¡¯t it just seeing who¡¯s fist is big enough to overwhelm the other? Or seeing which person could garner the most support from the sect?¡± Huang Xue questioned with a frown.


    ¡°Heh, you still haven¡¯t been in the sect long enough, so you must not know about this. But I¡¯ll tell you. The thing is, our Six Ocean Sect heavily follows the belief that the top seedlings of the sect are the hope for the sect¡¯s future, even more than other sect¡¯s. In fact, the title of ¡°Six Ocean Master¡±, and elders have almost always been selected from the top rankers of the Sea Disciple Ranking!


    ¡°So if you manage to take the 1st rank on the Sea Disciple Ranking, then it would not be an exaggeration to say that you¡¯ll be qualified to be a running candidate for the sect master seat.¡±


    At the thirteenth elder¡¯s words, Huang Xue turned his head to look at the grand tablet situated at the center of the hall.


    Previously when Huang Xue came here, he had merely glanced through the list of people on the Sea Disciple Ranking. He had no interest towards it, nor did he bothered to keep them in his memory. But now that he knew the importance of this ranking, his eyes shot straight up towards the top of the tablet. Beside each rank, the name, age, and cultivation of those prospective holders were displayed in glowing cyan letters.


    Rank 1 - Zhu Zhu Meiying. Age 20. Tian realm, 6th stage.


    Rank 2 - Shen Cai. Age 20. Tian realm, 4th stage.


    Rank 3 - Du Minghan. Age 20. Tian realm, 3rd stage.


    Rank 4 - Yang Zhetian. Age 24. Tian realm, 2nd stage.


    Rank 5 - Shen Hai. Age 19. Tian realm, 1st stage.


    Huang Xue¡¯s eyes gleamed with a strange light as he looked at the names.


    ¡°Oh? Seems like that child Shen Cai is pretty good. However...this first ranker, huh...what a huge disparity of strength between the 1st rank and 2nd rank. Seems like this ¡®Zhu Jingfei¡¯ child is quite talented, reaching the mid-Tian realm at the age of twenty. Mmm, she¡¯s comparable to the lesser outer-court disciples of my Godly Supreme Hall; this in itself is already quite good for a place like the Long Dynasty.¡± Huang Xue mused to himself.


    Elder Hong Wu cleared his throat as he said: ¡°Therefore, before you think about things like becoming the sect master, you should first at least try to enter the top ten rankings. Anyways, if there is nothing else, I¡¯ll have to go attend to my other matters. If you need me, you can find me at the Elder¡¯s Courtyard.¡±


    The Elder¡¯s Courtyard was a special area where many of the sect elders¡¯ resided. The density of Earth and Heaven Qi in that area is five times greater than any other parts of the sect. The sect disciples are typically not permitted to enter this courtyard without the permission of a sect elder.


    Having said his words, Hong Wu looked at Huang Xue who was still in thought. After a short while, Huang Xue turned back to the elder and said: ¡°Thank you, Elder Hong Wu. I will be sure to your words in mind. There is nothing else I need as of now.¡±


    Elder Hong Wu nodded before he turned to leave. ¡°Alright, then take care to be diligent with your cultivation! I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±


    As the thirteenth elder left, Huang Xue had a faint smile on his when he turned to look at the ranking tablet again.


    ¡°While I can increase my true body¡¯s cultivation quickly, to do so may be a bit too unnatural. The first five realms are simple to cultivate. Though, instantly taking over the 1st rank may bring unneeded trouble. I¡¯ll have to give it some time before I make my move. For now...climbing to the 3rd rank would be good.¡±


    This way, even though it would be astonishing, it wouldn¡¯t be too surreal. Huang Xue¡¯s true cultivation was already at the 9th stage of Jie Hai, and once he broke through to the Tian realm, his strength would once again amplify.


    The main point is to begin bringing the attention of the sect¡¯s true upper echelon to himself; to have them consider him as ¡®important¡¯.


    If the Six Ocean Sect is true to their beliefs, then the brighter he shone, the more strongly they would support him. Even if he did not become the sect master, Huang Xue may still be able to command a large portion of the sect¡¯s resource and use them to support Luo Ke.


    It was only if it was impossible to achieve this, without becoming the sect master, would Huang Xue truly aim to host a coup d''etat.


    Now that Huang Xue had found Luo Ke, one of the three destined ones he was looking for, there was now no need to remain low-key. It was fine to go out and ¡°exercise¡± a bit, as long as he did not utilise his other two clones. But then again, it was not as if he could depend on his clones to come help out each time; that was simply unrealistic in a dire life-or-death situation, no matter how omnipotent he may be.


    The fact remained that his true body was still currently lacking.

 Chapter 57

    Chapter 57:


    ¡°For now, I¡¯ll aim for the third position on the ranking.¡± Huang Xue thought as he looked at the Sea Disciple Ranking one more time before turning to leave.


    He began to head towards the innermost area of the sect, where most core disciples resided. During his time in seclusion, Huang Xue had already gathered a information on several ¡°powerful¡± disciples in the Six Ocean Sect. Some who were strong enough to have been ranked in the top ten Sea Disciple Ranking tablet, and others who would-be rankers. Naturally, their living quarters had been compromised to Huang Xue at some point as well.


    Soon, Huang Xue arrived at a particular mountain peak, whose height overshadow the surrounding peaks around it. Mists interweaved between the mountain peaks, giving it a mystical atmosphere.


    As Huang Xue entered the courtyard, he did not stop and directly headed straight towards the house that was situated atop of the mountain.


    With Huang Xue¡¯s current ability right now, he decided that he would challenge the third ranker of the Sea Disciple Ranking tablet: Du Minghan! If he wins, then this would give Huang Xue enough exposure to the upper echelon of the sect but would not make him out as too much of a monster. Otherwise, he may get entangled up with other ¡°affairs¡± that he does not want to deal with.


    To ensure that the other party would accept his challenge, Huang Xue decided to rudely invade their personal space. Youths are often times hot-headed, and even more so hot-blooded. They¡¯re quite sensitive at this age.


    Bam!


    The door smashed open as Huang Xue stepped into the room. A powerful gust of wind invaded the room as tables and vases were sent flying.


    ¡°Du Minghan! Come out! I, Shen Huang Xue, wants to challenge you! If you¡¯re not afraid, then¡­¡± Huang Xue shouted up to this point before his voice started to drift away like snow on a summer eve.


    His eyes slightly widened as he stared at the doll-like young girl who was currently covering her front with a white towel in her right hand, while a tinted blue sword was held at her left side. She was standing inside a large wooden basin. Her black hair hung loosely behind her as droplets of water dripped down.


    She did not scream. Her expression did not change as her black eyes calmly stared back at Huang Xue.


    ¡°...Huh?¡± Huang Xue frowned. Was Du Minghan a girl? No, no, no, it is confirmed that Du Minghan is definitely the blood-brother of Du Qianxi.


    Then, who was this girl standing before him? And she was even previously taking a bath here? Was she Du Minghan¡¯s martial partner? But there had been no reports of such a thing...then, just who the hell was this girl?!


    Huang Xue straightened himself as he stared dead into the girl¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°You know this is an accident, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± The black-haired girl replied.


    ¡°Good. I apologize for my offense, but rest assured that I did not see anything worthwhile. If you see Du Minghan, please tell him of my challenge to him. Now, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Huang Xue calmly spoke as he turned to leave. He did not bother to ask for an explanation from the girl. The current situation was already quite unsightly and bizarre.


    But before he even took three steps, a cold voice rang behind him.


    ¡°Though I admit this was an accident, but I have to apologize as well. I¡¯m afraid, you¡¯ll have to here on this mountain peak...forever.¡±


    Right as the words were finished, an intense pressure bore down upon Huang Xue¡¯s body.


    ¡°?!¡± Huang Xue clenched his teeth as he abruptly turned his body just as a sword beam slashed vertically downward.


    *BOOM!*


    Floor tiles flew up into the air and dust exploded everywhere.


    Whoosh!


    A white-robed Huang Xue instantly shot backward out of the dusty cloud as a serious gleamed appeared in his eyes.


    ¡°She¡¯s actually...Tian realm expert!¡± Huang Xue thought as he stabilized himself in the courtyard. ¡°And she¡¯s actually at the 6th stage at that! But how shameless, to attack someone weaker from behind¡­she must be quite furious, huh.¡±


    As the dust died down, a petite girl slowly emerged from within. It was unknown when, but the black-haired girl had already changed into a purple combat suit that fitted tightly around her body. Two proud, purple mountains protruded from her chest. The girl¡¯s calm face spoke of no grievance, but her cold eyes told a different story.


    Huang Xue could only gave an awkward smile as he dusted himself. In his entire life, he had never experienced something as shameful as intruding upon a girl¡¯s bathing hour. He felt a vague sense of helplessness in this particular situation.


    ¡°I see you are pretty quick on your feet.¡± The purple suited girl faintly smiled.


    ¡°Look, child- no, I mean, lady. I admit it was my fault for entering without knocking, but this is supposed to be Du Minghan¡¯s mountain peak. I wouldn¡¯t have expected a girl to be here by herself. It would be quite unreasonable to attack me as such, correct?¡± Huang Xue reasoned.


    The purple suited girl¡¯s smile did not wane as she said: ¡°I have already taken over this peak from Du Minghan yesterday. This matter should¡¯ve been spread out long ago, right? But I have to commend you for your courage. To act as if this was still Du Minghan¡¯s place and use that as an excuse to intrude upon me. You have guts.¡±


    Yesterday...That was within the last two days that Huang Xue had been in true meditation, cutting off any sort of contact with the intel reporters because he had wanted to focus on his foundation.


    ¡°I see.¡± Huang Xue said as he came to realize the girl¡¯s identity.


    To be able to take over Du Minghan¡¯s mountain peak, there was probably only two students who could do so. After all, ¡°peak-conquering¡± is not a task anyone could dabble in, especially amongst the top-level students. And out of those two possible candidates who could take over Du Minghan¡¯s personal peak, only one was a girl. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    And that person was...the first ranker, Zhu Meiying!


    Rather than asking any more useless questions such as why she decided to take over Du Minghan¡¯s residence or whatnot, Huang Xue was now currently thinking of how to get out of this unfavorable situation.


    If a person is strong, they can do as they like. If they liked a particular peak, they can simply go take it over if they have enough power, even if it¡¯s already occupied.


    For example, Du Minghan himself already has seven mountain peaks under his name. And this Zhu Meiying, was rumored to have over twenty different peaks under her, which she occasionally distribute a few to her most trusted followers.


    As for this hobby of taking over other people¡¯s mountain peak, Huang Xue was not interested, so he never really thought much about it.


    But this was not the main point. The issue at hand was that this Zhu Meiying was a Tian expert at the 6th stage, while Huang Xue himself was at best, at the peak staged of Jie Hai. Without first entering the Tian realm, it was very unfavorable for him to fight someone like this so early on.


    ¡°What type of bullsh*t scenario did I run into?¡± Huang Xue sighed in his heart he looked at Zhu Meiying.


    ¡°Is there any way to resolve this without fighting?¡±


    ¡°There is.¡± Zhu Meiying calmly replied.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Your death.¡±


    ¡°....Girl, has anyone ever told you that you¡¯re quite blunt?¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your compliment.¡± She answered as her figure suddenly blurred.


    In an instant, Zhu Meiying appeared in front of Huang Xue as her sword swiped horizontally.


    With Huang Xue¡¯s current cultivation, he was barely able to follow her movements. But relying on his advanced divine sense, he was able to dodge by the swift attack, albeit a bit narrowly. But that did not mean he could keep it up for long.


    Huang Xue released his cultivation base as his aura rocketed up to the 9th stage of Jie Hai. A slightly surprised look flickered in Zhu Meiying¡¯s eyes when she noticed the sudden increase in power in Huang Xue. However, her attacking speed did not increase as she lunged repeatedly at Huang Xue, forcing the latter back.


    As a ¡®battle¡¯ ensued between Huang Xue and Zhu Meiying, somewhere far away an intense clash had just wrapped up.


    Standing amongst a field of corpses, a bloody figure was panting as his eyes glowed with a cold light. In his right hand, was a pitch-black sword colored with splashes of blood here and there. A great aura was constantly emanating from the sword, which enhanced its master¡¯s intimidating appearance.


    And this bloodied person, was Luo Ke. Although there was blood everywhere on his clothes and face, much of it was from the blood of his enemies.


    A bit farther from him, stood several other people. Many of them looked to be around the middle-age, with mixed gender of males and females in the group. However, when they looked at Luo Ke, who stood in the middle of corpses, there were no hostilities geared towards the latter. Only fear and respect.


    These people belonged to the local clans and tribes that resided within the Duoluo Province. Seven days ago, they were coerced to by the bloodied youth standing a feet away from them, to join him in overthrowing the two largest powers in the Duoluo Province: the Fierce Dragon clan and the Winged Moon Faction.


    Faced with the years of abuse by the two major powers and the overwhelming cultivation base that was exhibited by the young man, a few of them decided to take the chance. They were the Golden Eagle Faction, Faceless Mountain clan, and the Blue Grass clan.


    These were also the same factions that were being eyed by the Winged Moon Faction and the Fierce Dragon clan for their resources. In other words, they had taken the chance with Luo Ke to attack the two major factions in an attempt to seek a living path. Otherwise, they would be picked off by the major factions later in the future; thus, it was better for them to take a risk.


    As for the Winged Moon Faction and the Fierce Dragon clan, they had long since banned together in order to fully get rid of Luo Ke. This was because ten days before, news of their elites being slaughtered by Luo Ke had traveled to the upper echelon of the major factions. And those elites had at least a cultivation at the 3rd stage of Jie Hai realm, with the strongest being at the 7th stage of Jie Hai, comparable to some of the higher elders.


    And yet, those elites from both major factions had been wiped out in a single day. From that report onwards, the Winged Moon Faction and the Fierce Dragon clan had immediately decided to seek one another out for a temporary alliance. They came together and created a special headquarter, where all of their core members were placed within.


    It was located within a dense forest near the border of the Duoluo Province. It was also where the most important intelligences were received and where the two clan masters had made their battle forte.


    The rapid increase in Luo Ke¡¯s growth had placed a sheer terror inside their heart. If they do not take care of Luo Ke soon, given enough time, their clan and faction would definitely face annihilation.


    However, it was still useless in the end.


    One particular night, Luo Ke led a surprise raid on the Winged Moon Faction and the Fierce Dragon clan¡¯s headquater.


    From start to finish, when the Golden Eagle Faction, Faceless Mountain clan, and the Blue Grass clan attacked the base of the two major factions, they had only dealt with the small fries.


    The higher members, like the elders and clan masters, and geniuses were all swept up by Luo Ke.


    From afar, as the battle between the two sides raged on, the elders could see Luo Ke slaughtering the upper echelon as if they were tofu. His black sword flashed almost imperceptibly through the night air, cutting off life here and there. None of his enemies had been able to stop him.


    Even the two clan masters, who boasted an astonishing cultivation base at 9th stage of Jie Hai, was powerless before Luo Ke. They later died a miserable death at Luo Ke¡¯s black sword.


    In the end, when the battle ended, almost all of the people from the Winged Moon Faction and the Fierce Dragon clan died. A tiny portion of the weakest members managed to escape earlier on, but given the downfall of their clan, they could only look forward to a future filled with hardship. As for revenge, that was thought none of them could ever entertain.


    ¡°Brother Luo Ke, we have cleaned up those enemies at our end.¡± An elderly man in a brown robe cautiously stepped forward and spoke.


    In the martial world, age rarely mattered. It was strength that decided seniority. It was strength that governed everything, if not most matters.


    Luo Ke sharp eyes turned to look at the brown-robed elder, causing the latter¡¯s heart to tighten in fear. He had previously seen Luo Ke mercilessly slaughter through those powerful cultivators, a scene which he would never be able to forget in his life.


    After a while, Luo Ke gave a faint smile as he said: ¡°Clan master Dun Youjie, thank you for your hard work.¡±


    Then, he turned to look at the other two elderly men standing a bit farther away from Dun Youjie. ¡°Thank you as well, Clan master Jun Yun and Kai Yitao.¡±


    The two elders quickly responded: ¡°It was a small matter, Brother Luo Ke. It is what we should do for you, and our clan, in order to survive.¡±


    These two clan masters were also feeling uneasy accepting Luo Ke¡¯s thanks. In the end, they did not do much, and they were keenly afraid of Luo Ke¡¯s ability at this point.


    Luo Ke nodded. ¡°Since the Winged Moon Faction and the Fierce Dragon clan is destroyed, their main residence are now left empty. And to show my gratitude to the three clans with me today, I will not quibble with you on those resource reserves of those two major factions. You seniors may divide it between yourselves.¡±


    Luo Ke¡¯s words struck a chord in the three elders¡¯ heart, causing their heart to race with happiness while their face to distort in shock.


    Before the elders could say something, Luo Ke continued: ¡°And now, I¡¯ll have to leave to attend to other matters, so I¡¯ll be excusing myself.¡±


    After a quick salute, Luo Ke turned and leaped off into the hazy forest of the night, leaving a large group of stunned people.


    As Luo Ke streaked through the forest, his body was light like feather. In fact, his feet...was not even touching the ground!


    To be more exact, Luo Ke was currently flying through the air as he dodged between large tree branches.


    A unique, strong aura still emanated off from Luo Ke¡¯s body as if the Heaven Qi of the earth was drawn towards him.


    Throughout the two weeks, Luo Ke had been busy refining the golden pill that Huang Xue had given him. And with the complete refinement, it had also came with a large boost in his cultivation base!


    On the first day, after refining half of the pill in his body, Luo Ke¡¯s cultivation had jumped from the 2nd Jie Hai stage up to the 7th Jie Hai stage! This had allowed him to take on the several elites of the Winged Moon Faction and the Fierce Dragon clan.


    And upon absorbing the entire golden pill into his body on the sixth day, Luo Ke¡¯s body...directly broke through to the 1st stage of Tian realm!


    As of then, Luo Ke no longer absorbed the Earth Qi in the world to temper himself, but rather another more potent form of energy: Heaven Qi!


    Since he had entered the Tian realm, Luo Ke had reached a new understanding of the laws around him, as if information were mysteriously being pried open and poured into his mind at a rapid pace. He soon became acquainted with the method of flight through the manipulation of the Heaven Qi around him, and the use of mental transmission that only Tian realm experts could possess. Though, Luo Ke had yet to test out the second function itself.


    Along with those new abilities, Luo Ke¡¯s personal power had took an obvious change; his aura and Qi were much more thick than they were in the past. As of now, Luo Ke believed that even if he were to fight a normal 2nd stage Tian expert, he could win - and perhaps even be able to briefly hold off against those of the third stage!


    This permanent burst in strength was what led Luo Ke to dare attack the headquarters of the two major factions in Duoluo Province. But since he was only a single person, he naturally had to borrow other forces¡¯ men to ward off the disadvantage in numbers.


    After that, he, himself, could take out the remaining stronger members. And with his newfound ability, it was, but a simple task.


    Moreover, Luo Ke had not yet to even comprehending the special skills that Huang Xue had given him! Just the extremely potent energy within the golden pill had led to a great improvement in Luo Ke¡¯s strength.


    As Luo Ke flew through the forest, the sun steadily began to rise up into the sky. Before long, golden streams of sunlight were already illuminating the once shadowy forest.


    After a while longer, Luo Ke finally slowed down as he landed down in an open grassy field.


    Then, he turned and looked around him as he coldly asked:


    ¡°Who is it? You did not bother hiding your aura, yet you¡¯ve been tailing me this entire time! Please show yourself!¡±

 Chapter 58

    Chapter 58:


    After a while longer, Luo Ke finally slowed down as he landed down in an open grassy field.


    Then, he turned and looked around him as he coldly asked:


    ¡°Who is it? You did not bother hiding your aura, yet you¡¯ve been tailing me this entire time! Please show yourself!¡±


    A silence pervaded through the forest as sunlight crept across the grassy ground.


    Suddenly, a light chuckle rang out behind Luo Ke before a strange voice emerged:


    ¡°Hehe, it really seems like my trip to this Lower Region this time is much more bountiful than I thought. To think I would get to meet an interesting child like you~¡±


    ¡°!?¡± Luo Ke was startled as he immediately turned around and leaped backward. It was unknown when did the person arrived behind him, but Luo Ke had clearly felt a vague aura hiding somewhere in front of him yet it had suddenly shifted to appear behind him¡­


    Moreover, he could not tell the person¡¯s gender from the voice. It was extremely strange; one moment, it sounded like a little girl¡¯s voice, but then halfway through that person¡¯s sentence, it would change into a young man¡¯s voice. It alternated between young and old, male and female, causing Luo Ke to feel a pulsating unease.


    As Luo Ke leaped backward, he could now see the person standing before him. Or to be more precise, floating before him.


    It was a single person, clad in an exquisite black cloak that seems to squirm around as if it was alive. The person was lightly shrouded by a few wisps of black mist, while they floated in place. Their facial feature was hidden beneath a pure black mask, devoid of any peek holes. It had a completely smooth surface, and the person was further hidden under an equally black hood.


    What¡¯s even stranger was that Luo Ke...could not feel any type of aura from this person now! In fact, just as his eyes landed on this mysterious being, he suddenly lost track of the aura he had been feeling a while back.


    It was as if this person, who was floating before him, did not exist at all.


    ¡°Who...are you?!¡± Luo Ke asked as he eyed the person cautiously. To have the ability to easily sneak up behind him without him noticing, and for him to be unable to ascertain the other party¡¯s strength...Luo Ke could tell that the person before him was someone he could not take on.


    However, given that this person did not immediately attack him even after blatantly tailing him for half a night, Luo Ke decided to refrain from escaping and hold his ground.


    The reason he had left right after taking care of the Winged Moon faction and the Fierce Dragon clan was because he had felt this strangely magnetic aura in the background. It gave him a sense of unease, such to the point that Luo Ke did not believe even if he combined the strength of the three allied clans that came with him, he would be able to fight against it.


    Thus, he decided to escape first and see if that aura was actually after him, or if it was simply his imagination. But as it turns out, that aura had actually came after him yet it never displayed a hostile attitude towards him. It just quietly followed him along.


    The mysterious cloaked behind kept quiet as it faced Luo Ke, as if observing him. Then, it said in its alternating male-female voice:


    ¡°I...was merely a passerby. Until I discovered the thick scent of blood and that intense murderous aura. I was attracted, so I went over for a visit...and then I found you. Your merciless attitude towards the enemies, is something that fits my taste. And your cultivation...reaching the 1st Tian stage at¡­¡±


    At that moment, Luo Ke blinked once. It was only a split second movement on his part, but in that next instant, the black-cloaked person had unknowingly appeared right before him.


    Unable to react in time, the black-cloaked being reached out its index finger and lightly placed it on Luo Ke¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°....at the age of 16 years old? Hoh, this is what I¡¯m feeling from the aura of your bones so it can¡¯t be wrong. Your aptitude seems comparable to a few inner sect disciples in the Upper Region. That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good~¡±  The strange voice continued, in a more merry tone now.


    Luo Ke eyes widened as he practically blasted himself backward in a hurry. He only stopped after putting nearly feet foot of distance between the two of them; the person did not chase him. Luo Ke¡¯s back was now suddenly drenched in sweat as he stared at the person before him in horror.


    That instantaneous movement...was something he could not catch at all. This person¡¯s strength, was undoubtedly beyond his own. If there had been any doubt or suspicion before, then it was all cleared up in that one move.


    The only problem now was: is this person an enemy or friend?


    Certainly, by the flow of the short conversation so far, it did not seem to the be the former¡­


    The black-cloaked person continued to float in place as it looked at Luo Ke while tilting its head slightly to the left side.


    ¡°Say, child, since it was due to fate that we got to meet and that I somewhat have a decent impression of you - do you want to be my disciple?¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    A moment of silence appeared in that moment.


    ¡°...Uh...huh?¡± That was Luo Ke¡¯s initial response. His mind was slightly dazed at the unexpected question from the other party.


    ¡°Hmm...I don¡¯t like repeating my words, but since this is kind of sudden and already out of character for me, I¡¯ll repeat it once more: I want to be your master. Do you accept?~¡±


    Luo Ke stared at the floating black-cloaked being with an incredulous expression.


    Given the previous actions, Luo Ke was clear that this person was undoubtedly a strong expert. Although he did not know how strong, just the unfathomable feeling that the other party gave him caused him to feel that...this person could easily take out all the peak experts in the Long Dynasty.


    It was baseless feeling, but it was a feeling that came from his instincts. It was just that unfathomable and unreasonable.


    Can a being like this really exist?


    ¡°And someone like this wants to take me as a disciple?¡± Luo Ke thought. Was there a catch to this? But there was nothing he could give...except the mysterious bagua mirror.


    However, if this mysterious person really wanted it, forcefully taking it from Luo Ke would be as easy as taking a candy from a baby. There was no need for these irregular actions and words.


    ¡°Why....may I ask, why senior has taken a fancy to this junior? With senior¡¯s ability, I am certain you could find even more talented disciples than I¡­¡± Luo Ke took a deep breath as he respectfully asked. Now that he felt the other party was not an immediate enemy, he adopted a more respectful speech.


    Luo Ke could not see the other person¡¯s face, but he could hear a soft sound that could inferred to be a snort coming from behind the black mask.


    ¡°That is, of course. At my beck and call, there will easily be hundreds, if not millions, of top talents coming to beg me to be their master. I admit, your talent right now is barely able to satisfy me, and your cultivation is even more so weak as sh*t. If placed in the place where I come from, you might as well be considered an average cultivator. And don¡¯t bother asking where I come from - you¡¯re unqualified to know right now.


    ¡°However, even so, you are different from them. There is something about you that I can¡¯t put my finger to; call it my instinct if you will, a premonition even, but I feel as if I would regret it if I don¡¯t take you under my wings now. And my instincts have not been proved wrong yet.¡±


    Fate? Is this really fate? Luo Ke did not quite understand the deep intricacies behind the meaning of fate. His cultivation level did not allow him to comprehend that yet, if one could truly even.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    But, it was true that for Luo Ke to meet such a high expert there had to be a huge amount of luck involved. Or some sort of temperings behind scene.


    Whatever it was, Luo Ke understood that this was perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity for him. Although he was arrogant and had great confidence in himself, he was not stupid. If he could take this person as master, his goal towards reaching the apex of this martial world...would be ever closer!


    Moreover, the senior in front of him truly had no reason to harm him. With the other party¡¯s strength, it would simply be a wave of their finger to extinguish him. There was no need to scheme against him.


    After a few more thoughts, Luo Ke made up his mind.


    *Whoosh!*


    In a swift motion, Luo Ke went down on one knee and respectfully saluted towards the mysterious being.


    ¡°This junior knows that he is unworthy of you, great senior. However, I swear to Heaven that I will work hard to not let you down! I, Luo Ke, am willing to greet you, Master!¡± Luo Ke called out in a solemn and determined voice.


    The black-cloaked person nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Good! From now on, you may refer to me as ¡®Master Zhu¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Disciple greets Master Zhu!¡± Luo Ke saluted firmly.


    ¡°Mmn. But don¡¯t get excited yet. Right now, I am only your half-master, not a full one yet. That¡¯s because your strength is simply too weak at the moment and I¡¯m afraid, you¡¯ll just embarrass me in front of those old fogies if I brought you back with me.


    So, let¡¯s do this: I want you to continue training in this land until you reach the age of twenty. In four years, you must become a Dao Ascent!¡±


    ¡°Dao...Ascent?!¡± Luo Ke was stunned.


    Typically speaking, the realm of Dao Ascent was equivalent to an absolute peak level in the Long Dynasty.


    In the Feng Shui Continent, it was said that geniuses are accessed by a well-known standard: achieve Jie Hai before twenty-five years old, Tian by thirty-five, Profound He by fifty, and Dao Ascent before eighty!


    This was the standard in the Lower Region, at least.


    As for the realms higher than Dao Ascent, Luo Ke did not know much about them. It was still too far away for him.


    Master Zhu¡¯s heterogeneous voice floated over to Luo Ke: ¡°Yes, Dao Ascent. This is the minimum standard you should achieve to become acknowledge as my disciple. From my region, the typical cultivator would reach the Jie Hai realm by twenty, Tian realm before twenty-eight, Profound He realm by forty, and Dao Ascent before sixty-five!


    ¡°Naturally, the top geniuses there are far ahead of these standards. So as a disciple of mine, you must surpass these requirements at the very least for me to truly your ¡®full¡¯ master!¡±


    A tremor of shock ran through Luo Ke¡¯s body. This type of standard was obviously far above the Long Dynasty, that it almost seemed impossible. It was a bit hard for Luo Ke to accept this fact.


    ¡°Then... Master Zhu, what realm have you reached?¡± Luo Ke asked, a spark of inspiration has been slowly lit inside of him. In a way, his end goal did not changed, but instead been elevated!


    ¡°You do not need to know. Once you become stronger, you will naturally come to understand your master¡¯s greatness, hahaha!~¡± Master Zhu chuckled under its mask.


    ¡°Now, enough talk. I have urgent matters to attend to now, as I¡¯ve been delaying it quite a bit...so I must return. Do not ask anymore questions - they¡¯ll all be answered in time as long as you continue to get stronger diligently. But don¡¯t worry, even though I am leaving, I will naturally not disregard a disciple of mine.¡±


    As Master Zhu said that, he or she raised their index finger and reached out, gently placing it on Luo Ke¡¯s forehead. Luo Ke was completely unable to react at all, despite being able to clearly see Master Zhu moving towards him; it was a terrifying type of feeling.


    After Master Zhu touched Luo Ke¡¯s forehead, a burst of information immediately began appearing inside of the latter¡¯s mind.


    ¡°I have passed onto you my sect¡¯s core cultivation method, [Qi Devour]. Typically, only our high-level sect elders are entitled to this manual, but since you are MY disciple, naturally, you will not be restricted to this. If you can cultivate using this manual without going insane until the day I return to pick you up; at that time, you will have officially become my full disciple. And I¡¯m sure you do not need me to tell you about keeping everything confidential.¡± Master Zhu lightly spoke as he or she retracted their hand.


    Luo Ke blinked several times before he could finally organize the information inside his head. And after he did so, he could not help but pant heavily under his breath.


    ¡°Th-this is a demonic cultivation method¡­.and it¡¯s so overbearing!¡±


    In all honesty, Luo Ke did not mind what types of technique he would learn, be it from the devilish path or the righteous path. As long as it could sustain his own life and increase his prowess, he would learn it!


    And this [Qi Devour] is one of such skills that could potentially push his own cultivation to new heights...and possibly in a shorter amount of time as well!


    From what Luo Ke had understood from brief introduction on the [Qi Devour] inside his mind, this cultivation technique uses other cultivators as its foundation. Or to be more precise, the ¡°Qi¡± energy from other cultivators!


    In essence, the cultivation method allows the user to forcefully drain away another practitioner¡¯s Qi and convert it into their own. This could be done through physical contact, but at a higher level, one could even absorb another person¡¯s Qi even from a short distance!


    Moreover, one could not take Qi from another person who has a cultivation base that is too great apart from oneself. For example, a Jie Hai cultivator would be unable to absorb Qi from a Tian realm expert due to the difference in strength. A Jie Hai practitioner relied on taking in Earth Qi, while a Tian practitioner relied on Heaven Qi. It would be extremely difficult to convert Heaven Qi into Earth Qi and vice versa, and even if done, the end results would only be a loss of time and energy. It wouldn¡¯t be worth it.


    Thus, a Jie Hai expert who could use [Qi Devour] would typically aim for those of a similar level or below as sources of ¡°food¡±. However, for such a higher class cultivation art, it was not as if a normal Jie Hai practitioner would be able to obtain it. Luo Ke was an exception.


    While there were quite some side-effects that may come along with practicing this technique, it was indeed the quickest way to increase one¡¯s cultivation permanently. And at the very least, the user¡¯s cultivation base would not become unstable or ¡°tainted¡± practicing the [Qi Devour]. The skill rank itself was not specified.


    Luo Ke stared at the space in front of him in a daze, before he snapped back to reality. He had been in such an unguarded state for quite a few times lately.


    This time, he was able to keep his voice much calmer.


    ¡°Disciple Luo Ke greatly thanks Master Zhu for your guidance!¡± Luo Ke clasped his hands together and bowed.


    ¡°Mmn, that¡¯s more like it.¡± Master Zhu nodded with satisfaction. ¡°Oh, right, I have been meaning to ask, but kid, do you have some backing in this region? Or have anyone ever assigned you any personal...bodyguards, per say? Or enemies?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Uh, this disciple has always been an orphan since long ago. As for having anyone help me along my journey, I have a few people who in mind, but they are all far away from here now. I have been travelling alone for these past several days. As for enemies, I do have some but they should not be in this region as of now...¡± Luo Ke replied, a bit confused by the other¡¯s question.


    ¡°Mmn, I understand now. Then, I guess I¡¯ll have to clear out...a little rat.¡± Master Zhu¡¯s tone took a dip in solemness as he or she suddenly flicked out their wrist, as if they were shooing away something. No pressure or energy was released, and Luo Ke did not feel anything out of the ordinary.


    It was that casual of a movement.


    ***


    The moment Sung Li saw the cloaked figure, he could feel an intense feeling of danger from the latter. Although no aura was released, that fact only made Sung Li even more apprehensive.


    Because that formless sense of pressure...was the same as the one he felt back then when standing in the presence of the mysterious elder!


    *The mysterious elder is referring to Huang Xue¡¯s black-clothed clone.


    He did not even feel the arrival of the person until the latter made itself known.


    That kind of experience was deeply etched inside Sung Li¡¯s mind and body, so once he felt that pressure once again, his first instinct was to flee. But chained down by his promise to the mysterious senior, Sung Li had to continue following Luo Ke; trying to suppress his aura down to the maximum.


    If Luo Ke was to be killed while Sung Li ran away, the latter knew he would still end up dead at the hands of the mysterious elder. But if he followed Luo Ke and kept a low-profile, perhaps there was a chance to live. Moreover, it was not as if that cloaked person would actually move against a weaker cultivator like Luo Ke.


    There was no need for a false alarm.


    That is, until Sung Li heard the black cloaked person, the one who claimed itself as ¡°Master Zhu¡±¡¯s chilling words.


    ¡°...Then, I guess I¡¯ll have to clear out...a little rat.¡±


    Sung Li, who have been listening quietly amongst the forest, was quite happy when he realized that Luo Ke was not in danger. But at the same time, he felt conflicted that Luo Ke would actually accept another master besides the mysterious elder. Or perhaps the mysterious senior was never Luo Ke¡¯s master, but a guardian protector?


    Either way, Sung Li¡¯s entire thoughts came to stop when he heard Master Zhu¡¯s soft words. In that instant, he felt the hair on his entire stand up as a cold feeling swept over him.


    The feeling of approaching death.


    Sung Li¡¯s body surged with a panicky Qi as he forcefully propelled himself backward as fast as he could. At the same time, he tried to summon out the three puppets he had refined before.


    The air directly above began to tremble, before it completely gave away to a piercing scythe. Its entire being was lathered in complete blackness, with the scythe¡¯s edge having a dark-purple hue to it. The ominous scythe appeared almost soundlessly as it came slicing down with an unstoppable momentum.


    Sung Li¡¯s heart jumped rapidly as his face paled. Finally, he managed to bring out the three puppets as he mentally urged onwards to stop the scythe.


    He did not hope they could break it. He just needed to buy some time so he could escape from this area.


    But even that hope was not granted to him on this day.


    The gloomy scythe easily tore through the three puppets like tofu and continued onwards to Sung Li, who, by now, had a face filled with unwillingness and despair.


    Is this how I am going to die? Without completing my revenge for my family? No. No, this cannot be! It must not be! This can¡¯t be happening! No, no, NO!


    Sung Li¡¯s mind roared with a terrifying unwillingness as he struggled to escape the scythe.


    ¡°No, I must quickly explain!¡± Sung Li¡¯s mind raced as he gathered up his energy. Although Sung Li had been previously warned not to expose his identity in front of Luo Ke, in a situation like this,  there was no other way.


    However, just as Sung Li was about to call out, the scythe blurred. In that instant, it disappeared from Sung Li¡¯s view, and Sung Li...paused. The words he wanted to say seemed to be stuck in his throat unable to be released.


    Behind Sung Li, there was a black scythe hovering gloomily in the air. There was a bit of dark red liquid on the scythe¡¯s edge, but they immediately disappeared from surface, as if absorbed.


    Sung Li stared at the empty space in front of him, his hand slightly outstretch. A look of rage, despair, shock, and deep reluctance swirled in his slightly glossy eyes.


    Then, a black line began to appear from the tip of Sung Li¡¯s forehead, all the way down his body; diving his body in half. Without a sound, dark-purple flames suddenly burst from that black line as they eagerly devoured their victim. Even the cosmic bags were completely burned away by the flames.


    Soon, nothing was left. The black scythe hovered in the air for a few more seconds before it dissipated away, like pieces of flying sparks.


    ***


    Master Zhu¡¯s eyes flickered behind the mask as he or she lowered their hand.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, master?¡± Luo Ke asked when he saw the pause in other party¡¯s movement.


    ¡°Oh, it was nothing. Anyways, since you have taken me as your master, I am now responsible for your cultivation. Thus, you should come with me to further your training...uh, have you already joined a sect?¡±


    ¡°Yes, this disciple is apart of the Six Ocean Sect.¡±


    ¡°Ah, is that so. Well, no matter. If you stay with me for some time, in the future, you will not have to be afraid of your sect coming after you for joining another sect. However, I¡¯ll make an exception and listen to your opinion this time around.¡± Master Zhu said as he/she glanced at Luo Ke. ¡°Tell me, would you rather leave with me now, or continuing staying here for a few years?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Luo Ke furrowed his eyebrows as he sank into contemplation. In truth, aside from Huang Xue, Luo Ke had truly not made any worthwhile friends or teachers during his time at the Six Ocean Sect. After all, he had only joined for a short period of time.


    ¡°Moreover, I would have never expected that I would receive such an amazing item at this place and time. Even though I didn¡¯t ask about the skill¡¯s rank, it should be no worse off than those skills given by Brother Huang Xue! After all, it¡¯s a core method from a powerful person like Master Zhu. If I follow him/her for a few years....¡± Luo Ke¡¯s eyes glowed in anticipation.


    If Luo Ke could gain a teacher like Master Zhu, very soon, he would be able to take the next big leap down his personal martial path!


    In one swift motion, Luo Ke deeply bowed. ¡°Master, this disciple wishes to follow you and study under you!¡±


    Although Luo Ke could not see his teacher¡¯s expression, the tone in Master Zhu¡¯s voice told him that the other person was pleased.


    ¡°Mmn! You have made a wise choice. Alright, since time is scarce, we will be leaving immediately.¡± With a flick of Master Zhu¡¯s arms, before Luo Ke could react, the young man was sucked into his teacher¡¯s sleeves.


    ¡°Keeping you in my dimensional pocket would make it easier for me to travel, so bear for it for now.¡± Master Zhu softly said as he or she rose into the air and shot off into the distance in a beam of black light.