by Shian Jeen
Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi laughed, “Then why don’t you yield the innate spiritual embryo to that Jiang Family disciple?” Of course, it was meant as a joke.
Very soon, Huwang Xiao was already far away from that planet, once again flying at breakneck speed, continuing his journey.
When Huwang Xiao mentioned that he wanted to find a safe place to refine the innate spiritual embryo, Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi disagreed, “No, if you refine this innate spiritual embryo now, your strength will undeniably soar, but you will only be able to reach peak half-step God Realm at most. Now, there’s only a fifty-fifty chance of breaking into the God Realm.”
“In my opinion, it would be best if you wait until you’re a peak half-step God realm before refining this innate spiritual embryo. At that time, not only can you step into the God Realm, there’s a high chance you can advance all the way to the late-First Order God Realm. This way, you would be able to use the embryo to its fullest potential.”
Huwang Xiao was amazed, while Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi went on, “Peak half-step God Realm experts not only need to comprehend the time and space laws, when they are about to breakthrough they need an incredibly large amount of energy to support them, and the energy contained in this innate spiritual embryo can support you, supplying the energy needed for your breakthrough into the God Realm.”
Subsequently, Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi explained to Huwang Xiao the uses of an innate spiritual embryo. The uses of an innate spiritual embryo, bred and nurtured for a million years, we're naturally not so simple.
Four months later, under Huwang Xiao full speed flying effort, he finally reached the Central Starfield.
The Central Starfield itself was a vast collection of planets, belonging to many world surfaces. Following Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi’s instructions, Huwang Xiao traveled in the direction of the Cloudsea Mainland at the center.
The Black Warrior Institute’s selection registration was held on this Cloudsea Mainland.
Another month passed when Huwang Xiao finally arrived at the Cloudsea Mainland.
Surveying the environment around him, Huwang Xiao noted that the pillows of clouds high above were actually baby blue in color. This surprised Huwang Xiao, for these clouds were not formed from waters vapor, but formed from spiritual energy.
He felt the ground shake when his feet touched the ground. Lowering his head to check, he noticed that even the sand and dust on the ground contained noticeable amounts of spiritual energy. Each one of these grains gave Huwang Xiao the same feeling as a low-level spirit pellet.
Mere dust and sand on the ground contained spiritual energy comparable to a low-grade spirit pellet, one could imagine how rich the spiritual energy on this Cloudsea Mainland was.
“This Cloudsea Mainland is, in fact, an entire world surface, ten thousand times bigger than the Martial Spirit World.” Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi added, “In the entire Cloudsea Mainland, there are ten thousand spiritual energy gathering formations. Numerous masters come together to lay out these formations during the desolate era. The Cloudsea Mainland is not only the Black Warrior Institute’s registration place, it is also the entire Black Tortoise Galaxy’s trading center. All super forces and big families in the Black Tortoise Galaxy have a storefront here on the Cloudsea Mainland.”
Ch.527
Ten thousand times!
When Huwang Xiao heard from Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi that the Cloudsea Mainland was ten thousand times bigger than Martial Spirit World, he was genuinely dumbfounded. How big was ten thousand times bigger? Huwang Xiao found it hard to imagine.
Another thing that stuck in his mind was the fact that this Cloudsea Mainland actually had ten thousand spiritual energy gathering formations! No wonder even a small sand particle contained spiritual energy comparable to a low-grade spirit pellet.
But, didn't they need divine grade spirit stones as the core to lay out spiritual energy gathering formations? Merely the smallest scale spiritual energy gathering formation would require a hundred pieces of divine grade spirit stones. Ten thousand formations, how many divine grade spirit stones would that consume...?
If someone took away these ten thousand formations, just the amount of divine grade spirit stones was enough to make his wealth rival an entire galaxy.
“Take away these spiritual energy gathering formations?” Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi ‘heard’ Huwang Xiao’s thoughts and laughed, “These spiritual energy gathering formations have already been integrated with the entire Cloudsea Mainland by masters from desolate era using a secret technique. Even if an army of Highgod Realm masters comes, they wouldn't be able to take away a single part of these spiritual energy gathering formations.”
As Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi explained, Huwang Xiao flew toward the biggest looking city up ahead. From afar, Huwang Xiao opened the Eye of Hell to check out the surroundings. Cities were everywhere on the mainland like mushrooms after rain, experts could be seen arriving from different directions, befitting the image of a prosperous and lively city.
Occasionally, Huwang Xiao spotted patrol squads wearing pure golden armor. The weakest among the patrol squad guards was a Tenth Order Saint realm, while some of the squad captains’ strength even reached peak half-step God Realm! Comfortingly, God Realm masters were a rarer sight. Along the way, he only glimpsed upon one or two.
Shortly, Huwang Xiao reached the enormous city he saw earlier.
A dense wave of spiritual energy washed over him the moment he passed through the city gates. The density of spiritual energy inside the city was a few times higher than the outer areas.
Everything seemed more spacious here. The city streets were more than twice the width of imperial city streets back on Martial Spirit World, rows and rows of shops lined the streets, and each shop front was twenty to thirty meters wide. The biggest shop Huwang Xiao saw was sixty meters wide. The traffic was quite heavy, with people and carriages hurrying to their destinations, yet the city did not feel crowded.
These carriages were pulled by beasts that were rarely seen in the galaxy, not to mention each one of these beasts’ strength rivaled a high-level Saint realm expert, while the carriages themselves were made from some rare ores, with precious crystals mounted on the carriage body.
Of course, Huwang Xiao had a purpose entering the city—beast cores.
But transactions in the Black Tortoise Galaxy were based on a common currency called Xuanwu currency, which turned the mountains of gold coins from Martial Spirit World into useless scrap metal in the Cloudsea Mainland. Therefore, Huwang Xiao must first search for a trading firm to exchange for some Xuanwu currency.
A short while later, Huwang Xiao walked into a seemingly large firm’s shop.
“May I ask if Young Noble is planning to purchase or sell things?” Seeing Huwang Xiao walked in, a young shop employee approached, inquiring Huwang Xiao in a polite manner.
“I have some spirit stones that I want to exchange to Xuanwu coins.”
The young shop furtively gave Huwang Xiao a once over before smilingly saying, “May I know how many grade one spirit stones Young Noble has? Our Only One Firm only accepts grade one spirit stones.”
Although all grades of spirit stones could be used in refining pellets, forging weapons, and cultivation, to Saint realm experts and above, only grade one spirit stones were of practical use. Which was why some larger firms only accepted grade one spirit stones.
A bright light flashed from Huwang Xiao’s hand as a piece of spirit stone appeared in the middle of his palm. This piece spirit stone was one of many saint grade spirit stones that he harvested off the rock walls after taking away the innate spiritual embryo.
The instant this piece of saint grade spirit stone appeared, its immediate surroundings lit up in resplendent light, causing the spiritual energy to ripple buoyantly.
The young man’s eyes felt pain from the piercing glare and dared not look directly at Huwang Xiao’s palm. However, the other people in the shop did, with shocked expressions.
/> “That’s a saint grade spirit stone!”
“Also, its quality is closer to a divine grade spirit stone!”
The shop was buzzing with the gasps and whispers of the customers.
Recovering his senses, the shop employee felt a lump in his throat as he stared at Huwang Xiao wide-eyed with shock. Never did he imagined that this black-haired young man in front of him would take out a saint grade spirit stone to exchange for Xuanwu coins.
In general, everyone treated this grade of spirit stones like precious treasures, not even the wealthy big families would take them out to exchange for Xuanwu coins.
“This Young Noble, kindly wait here for a moment, I’ll go in and inform our Elder immediately.” The shop employee said, his demeanor extremely courteous. Only then did he turn around, searching for the firm’s Elder in hurried steps.
The shop employee’s reaction was within Huwang Xiao’s expectation.
Huwang Xiao didn’t need to wait long before the same shop young man appeared again, following behind a middle-aged man clad in a fine fire-red brocade robe. Other than his slightly rounded figure, one would notice his spirited clear eyes. This middle-aged man was a mid-First Order God Realm.
When the middle-aged man saw Huwang Xiao, a fleeting surprise flickered unnoticeably in his eyes.
“This one is Jiang Shangfeng, the Only One Firm’s Elder. I heard from my subordinate that this Young Noble has a saint grade spirit stone for exchange?” The middle-aged man politely stopped in front of Huwang Xiao, speaking with an amiable smile on his face. His palm courteously indicated Huwang Xiao to the private room beside the open hall.
Huwang Xiao proceeded without a word, and both people sat face to face moments later inside the private room.
Huwang Xiao went straight to the point, “Yes, I have a few pieces of saint grade spirit stone that I want to exchange for Xuanwu coins.”
A few pieces! Jiang Shangfeng eyes brightened. At first, when he heard the shop employee’s report, he had assumed that there was only one piece. Jiang Shangfang did not expect this young man to actually have a few pieces!
With that said, Huwang Xiao took out five pieces of saint grade spirit stones with a turn of his palm. Five pieces of saint grade spirit stones were sufficient for him to buy a hundred half-step God Realm beast cores with some money left over to tide him over a short period.
As for the remaining hundred over pieces of saint grade spirit stones and a few divine grade spirit stones, he would have to gradually exchange them over a period of time. Exchanging too many at once would inevitably attract unwanted attention.
Jiang Shangfang stared at the five pieces of saint grade spirit stones laid out before him. A hand reached out to pick one up, his eyes brightened even more as he checked them carefully from every angle, “It is indeed a saint grade spirit stone, close to transforming into a divine grade spirit stone.”
After Jiang Shangfang checked all five spirit stones with care, he exhaled deeply to calm himself. Looking over at Huwang Xiao, the smile on his face was blinding, “According to the market price, one piece of this grade of spirit stone which is infinitely close to divine grade spirit stone is four hundred and fifty thousand, deducting one-tenth processing fees, it amounts to four hundred and five thousand. I’m willing to give Young Noble four hundred and ten for each piece, five pieces come up to two million fifty thousand. What does this Young Noble think?”
Four hundred ten for one piece? Huwang Xiao was secretly astonished. Didn’t the Old Dragon say this quality of spirit stone generally fetch about two hundred seventy, two hundred thousand? Did the price go up?
Subsequently, Huwang Xiao did not waste time negotiating with the other side, agreeing to transact at four hundred and ten thousand per piece.
Because the Only One Firm did not offer beast cores, Huwang Xiao exited the shop after receiving two million fifty thousand from them and came to a shop called Windstorm. This Windstrom shop specifically catered to buying and selling demonic beasts, and beast cores.
Entering the Windstorm Shop, Huwang Xiao decisively bought one hundred half-step God Realm beast cores. An average half-step God Realm demonic beast’ core was two thousand Xuanwu coins each, whereas ancient species demonic beast’ cores were priced at five thousand Xuanwu coins each. One hundred pieces of half-step God Realm demonic beast core ate up three hundred and sixty thousand Xuanwu coins.
After he took care of the beast cores supply, Huwang Xiao went searching for some books related to the Black Tortoise Galaxy and a detailed map.
In regards to the Black Tortoise Galaxy, despite learning some things from Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi, it was only the tip of the iceberg. To Huwang Xiao, that extent of knowledge was still too shallow. That was why he wanted to learn more about the Black Tortoise Galaxy through these books.
Ch.528
Having bought one hundred beast cores, relevant books, and some miscellaneous items, Huwang Xiao found an inn, directly rented one of the yards and went into closed-door practice.
There was still slightly over a year’s time left until the Black Warrior Institute’s assessment. Huwang Xiao was in no rush, planning to first advance to peak late-Tenth Order Saint realm.
Sitting cross-legged in the Xumi Temple, Huwang Xiao chose to refine the normal half-step God Realm beast cores first.
The first, second, third, fourth piece…
Huwang Xiao refined five beast cores in each batch.
Multiple threads of pure, refined demonic essence energy diffused endlessly from the Dragon Pearl, which was then absorbed and refined by Huwang Xiao, becoming part of his battle qi.
Every time he was finished with a batch of five beast cores, Huwang Xiao would stop, then spend some time practicing the Ancient Puppetry Art and Soul Mandate.
According to Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi’s explanation, the higher one rose through the realms, the more evident the importance of one’s soul force became. Despite the recent improvement in Huwang Xiao’s soul force, it was sorely lagging behind his battle qi cultivation. Hence, he needed to exert extra effort in bringing up his soul force.
The first day on the Cloudsea Mainland passed peacefully.
In closed-door practice, Huwang Xiao refined another batch of five beast cores, then proceeded to practice the Ancient Puppetry Art and Soul Mandate. The process was repeated day in day out until the sixteenth day. At the count of his eightieth beast core, Huwang Xiao finally advanced to peak late-Tenth Order Saint realm.
By the twentieth day, Huwang Xiao had refined the remaining twenty beast cores, however, after advancing to peak late-Tenth Order Saint realm, he noticed that the remaining half-step God Realm beast cores’ benefits had greatly reduced for him. The last twenty pieces merely consolidated his advance to peak late-Tenth Order Saint realm.
Subsequently, Huwang Xiao returned to the same Windstorm shop and bought another eighty peak half-step God Realm beast cores.
Walking out from the Windstorm Shop, he looked bitterly at the eighty pieces of peak half-step God Realm beast cores. The Xuanwu coins he had gotten from exchanging the five pieces of saint grade spirit stones had almost bottomed out. At the moment, the amount of Xuanwu coins remaining in his Asura Ring did not exceed thirty thousand.
Thirty thousand, just barely enough for him to settle the inn payment for one month’s stay. For the first time since leaving the Martial Spirit World, Huwang Xiao felt short of money. It had been many years since last felt this feeling of poverty.
“It seems like we’ll have to resort to doing our old business.” Huwang Xiao smiled mockingly to himself.
The old business was none other than robbing and killing. In the past, when he killed all those Deities Templar Elders, the gold coins in their spatial rings could drown cities.
With that thought in mind, Huwang Xiao returned to the inn, resuming his routine practice. This time around, he merely used ten days to refine all eighty beast cores. Yet, after refining these eighty beast cores, it did not produce the
results he had imagined. Initially, he thought that refining close to two hundred pieces of half-step God Realm beast cores would help him breakthrough to half-step God Realm. However, now it dawned on him, even if he refined another five hundred pieces of these beast cores, he still wouldn't be able to advance.
“As your True Dragon Physique gets stronger, your meridians and Qi Sea’s capability to hold battle qi would also grow, thus the amount of energy you need becomes greater.” Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi added, “Following my estimation, for you to breakthrough to half-step God Realm, another six hundred pieces of half-step God Realm beast cores would be needed.”
Six hundred pieces! Huwang Xiao’s face was scrunched up in a bitter smile.
If he needed six hundred beast cores to reach half-step God Realm, then how many would he need to arrive at peak half-step God Realm? Two thousand God Realm beast cores? Or perhaps three thousand beast cores? The crucial problem was, even the bigger firms on the Cloudsea Mainland did not sell God Realm beast cores, they only appeared occasionally in some auction houses.
“Now you finally understand why I advised you to keep the innate spiritual embryo until you have advanced to peak half-step God Realm before using it. Based on the frightening amount of energy your True Dragon Physique can absorb, without a treasure equivalent to the innate spiritual embryo, it would be impossible for you to break through to God Realm!” Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi said. “If you failed to break through on your first attempt, your second attempt would be much, much harder!”
Huwang Xiao nodded.
Indeed, attempting to break through to God Realm was no laughing matter. If there was one-tenth of a chance the first time, there wouldn't even be half of that on the second attempt.
Which was why the majority of peak half-step God Realm experts would wait and accumulate. Some had accumulated close to a thousand years and still dared not make the attempt.
