Nine Star Hegemon Body Art c1-2048
Page 662
This praise made them feel endlessly grateful. For a god-like existence to say a single word of approval to them made their blood heat up.
“Counting the days, there’s still half a month until the competition. I came over this time to give everyone some encouragement: each person is getting one hundred nine-ring Heavenly Star Sea Merging Pills,” said Long Chen.
“Really, boss?” Guo Ran was shocked.
It wasn’t just Guo Ran who was shocked. Everyone was confused. Didn’t that mean each person was using up a hundred points?
Weren’t all their points sold? How did they still have so many? They were flabbergasted.
Long Chen said, “As for how they came about, there’s no need for you to care. Since I’ve been called boss by all of you, I won’t let my brothers starve. You’re all at mid Sea Expansion or even lower. These one hundred Heavenly Star Sea Merging Pills are enough for you to rise one realm at least.
“Although that’s not enough for you to compete with those so-called elite geniuses, due to your transformation through the Bitter Earth Mortal Molting Pill and your hellish training, your chances of survival on the battlefield have risen a great deal.
“For this competition, we don’t care about our achievements, and we don’t care about the rewards. We just have one mission: to stay complete. However many people are going into the competition is how many people I want to see alive in the end.
“If any of you die, I’ll have to charge my way into the netherworld to drag you back. Tch, after eating what’s mine and drinking what’s mine, do you think you can die like this? Wouldn’t your boss have ended up losing out like that?”
Everyone laughed, but the emotion in Long Chen’s words made them feel protected, cherished.
“Other than that, you don’t need to feel inferior compared to those so-called heavenly geniuses. In reality, you should feel like they’re the inferior ones. If your positions were switched, they wouldn’t necessarily be able to reach the heights you’ve currently reached. Furthermore, despite the setbacks you encountered, you were still able to persevere. That will be the greatest thing you rely on as you climb toward the peak of the martial path. This is also why your boss says that if you have to suffer, you should suffer as early as possible.
“The majority of the so-called elites managed to reach their level smoothly like boats floating down a river. But as soon as they stumble, it will be difficult for them to ever climb back up. Cultivation is a marathon, and it’s not about who runs the fastest or who runs the handsomest. It’s about who can run the farthest. I see self-inferiority in your eyes, so I want you to release that useless feeling from today onward. If you can’t find any aspect to be proud of, then just look at me. Just being able to follow me, Long Chen, is something worthy of pride.” Long Chen patted his chest.
“Boss!”
Those disciples were all affected emotionally and began to cheer.
Although Long Chen didn’t like this kind of skill-less showing off, there was no way around that. He had to have them build up their own confidence. Someone without any confidence couldn’t walk far on the martial path.
If they couldn’t find their own confidence, then they could just worship him. As long as he didn’t fall, their confidence wouldn’t shake either.
“Guo Ran, distribute the Heavenly Star Sea Merging Pills. You brat, do you need a spanking? They aren’t candies!”
Long Chen saw Guo Ran stealthily check the pills he gave him, so he gave him a kick.
Each person obtained a hundred Heavenly Star Sea Merging Pill. That made Long Chen sigh emotionally. As expected, there was not enough meat to go around. Once all these pills were distributed, none of them remained standing here.
They quickly went into seclusion to refine the medicinal energy within the Heavenly Star Sea Merging Pills. For the Dragonmark warriors, advancing one realm with a hundred pills was no problem. Even two realms was possible.
But for the Dragonblood warriors who had advanced to the late stage, advancing would depend on how much they had accumulated beforehand.
As soon as the Heavenly Star Sea Merging Pills were divided, a disciple suddenly came to report that Crouching Dragon Mountain had a visitor. When he saw the weary Zheng Wenlong arrive, Long Chen finally sighed with relief.
“I prayed to the stars, I prayed to the moon, and finally, you’ve come.”
Chapter 1055 The Competition Begins
“I’m truly sorry, brother Long. Only once I moved to the Central Plains did I learn what it meant to be a drop in the ocean. I rushed over as soon as I could. I really couldn’t tarry with my work.” Zheng Wenlong bitterly smiled.
Previously, although he had taken a trip to the Central Plains, it had just been a trip. But this time, he had truly gotten to work, and that was when he realized just how terrifying the Central Plains were. He was in charge of far too many things, and the pressure was like a mountain.
Fortunately, he was a capable person. He quickly got a grasp on things, and as soon as he could, he rushed over. Just his exhausted expression said everything.
“As long as you’ve come, it’s good. Damn, you’re really doing well for yourself. You have this many expert bodyguards!” Only now did Long Chen realize that amongst the dozen people traveling with Zheng Wenlong, there were two Kings. While the rest were only at the Sea Expansion realm, their powerful auras marked them as true experts.
“These are the sect’s protectors. The Central Plains is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Dangers are everywhere, so these seniors are looking after me so I don’t accidentally lose my little life.” Zheng Wenlong smiled.
Zheng Wenlong’s words were worthy of his profession as a businessman. His words were right on point, and Long Chen sighed in admiration inside. Zheng Wenlong’s business was growing bigger and bigger.
“Brother Long, you’re doing quite well yourself. As soon as I arrived at the Xuantian Dao Sect, I asked for you, and everyone knew who you were. This level of fame makes me blush in shame,” praised Zheng Wenlong.
“You’re joking. Right now, my situation is so bad that I need you to save me. Come, let’s speak inside. Guo Ran, bring these seniors somewhere they can rest. Zheng Wenlong and I have a business to discuss.”
While Guo Ran led away the people following Zheng Wenlong, Long Chen brought Zheng Wenlong to his private residence.
“What is it, brother Long? Is your situation really that bad in the Xuantian Dao Sect?” asked Zheng Wenlong curiously.
“I don’t want to talk about that tragedy. Getting to business, is there any news about the medicinal ingredients I asked you to help me find before coming to the Central Plains?” asked Long Chen.
“I only managed to get three, and there is another portion where there’s progress, but gathering them will take some time. The rest I’m still looking for,” said Zheng Wenlong, ashamed. He felt like he had let Long Chen down.
“Which three?”
“The White Rock Spirit Immortal Grass, the Five Flavor Soul Devouring Flower, and the Lotus Heart Violet Orchid. There are a few others that I’ve found, but I was in such a hurry to get over here that I didn’t have time to get them,” said Zheng Wenlong as he took out three jade cases.
Long Chen opened one, seeing a white plant that was like coral. It was the White Rock Spirit Immortal Grass.
“Hahaha, this is the one I needed the most right now. Brother Wenlong, you’ve really helped me out!” Long Chen was delighted to see this.
This White Rock Spirit Immortal Grass did not exist within the Xuantian Dao Sect. That wasn’t because it was incredibly precious, but because people didn’t know its true use.
Even in the alchemy world, the White Rock Spirit Immortal Grass had essentially been discarded as it had no uses. Thus, there were only a few people who knew of its existence.
It had no spirituality nor immortal charm. Its name was recorded in ancient texts, but no one knew how to use it. Over time, it had faded from peopl
e’s sight.
As for the other two, Long Chen had managed to obtain the Lotus Heart Violet Orchid in the Xuantian Dao Sect, but he hadn’t gotten the Five Flavor Soul Devouring Flower.
The Five Flavor Soul Devouring Flower wasn’t a medicine, it was poison. It was extremely easy to recognize because there would always be a pile of corpses on top of it.
As soon as beasts got near it, their souls would be absorbed, and thus it was famed for its viciousness. If a person wasn’t strong enough, they wouldn’t dare to pick it.
These two new finds were extremely useful to Long Chen, especially the White Rock Spirit Immortal Grass. Within his Pill Sovereign memories, there was a kind of medicinal pill known as the Spirit Immortal Foundation Building Pill. It was an eighth tier medicinal pill that allowed Sea Expansion disciples to directly advance to Foundation Forging.
That was a heaven-defying effect, and it had essentially vanished from the outside world. Long Chen had gone through the Ten Thousand Pill Hall’s medicinal pills, and there was no such pill. And so there was naturally no White Rock Spirit Immortal Grass in the sect either.
“I’m glad I could help. To tell the truth, just bringing these three things makes me feel embarrassed.” Zheng Wenlong smiled bitterly.
“Just these three things have helped me out of an emergency. Also, I’ve gathered quite a few middle grade spirit stones during this time, so help me use them to buy King item materials,” said Long Chen.
“Materials for King items? Those things are very expensive. How many spirit stones do you have?” asked Zheng Wenlong.
“Sixty billion.”
“How… how many?!”
Long Chen gave a simple recount of how he had exchanged points for spirit stones. “Spirit stones are basically common currency with no actual value in the Xuantian Dao Sect, like copper coins. Brother Wenlong, help me buy King item materials in bulk. I need to equip my faction.”
“How much do you need?” asked Zheng Wenlong.
“As much as possible. I want to equip thirteen thousand warriors with armor made of King item materials,” said Long Chen.
“You’re crazy. How much money would that take? Even if you spent all sixty billion on material, you probably wouldn’t even be able to buy a tenth,” said Zheng Wenlong.
“That’s fine. I don’t want true King items, I just want the materials to have reached that level. That little fellow Guo Ran is advancing at breakneck speed every day in the Item Forging Pavilion. He needs to train with King item materials. Rather than having him practice over and over again with the little bit of materials they give him, it’s better for me to buy a large batch of materials and have him practice while actually making things. By the time he finishes thirteen thousand sets of armor, his apprenticeship should be about finished. Then he’ll be able to forge real King items,” said Long Chen.
Guo Ran was being very hardworking these days. Other than drilling the Dragonmark warriors, he was studying in the Item Forging Pavilion.
Guo Ran was viewed importantly by the Item Forging Pavilion. They doted on him, and whenever he didn’t understand something, a teacher would come by to help.
His talent in this regard was exceedingly high, and he was clever, knowing how to fawn and suck up. Quite a few teachers favored him, which allowed his forging arts to advance by leaps and bounds.
However, he was limited by the rules of the sect. Each disciple could only be given a limited amount of materials to practice with. Furthermore, if they managed to forge something good, they had to hand it over for inspection, and only then would they be given a new batch of materials.
For a forging madman like Guo Ran to have to wait for them to evaluate his results before giving him new materials was torture. But the Dragonblood Legion didn’t have leftover points for Guo Ran to exchange for more materials.
In the Item Forging Pavilion, Guo Ran saw many things he had never thought about before. He had countless thoughts and ideas now, but he needed materials to test those ideas.
Compared to other people, Guo Ran’s forging table was completely heaven-defying. As long as he had spirit stones, he could refine any material. Right now, he had the skill, the capability, but not the materials.
“Alright. King items are so precious because of the high failure rate in refining them, and in comparison, their materials are more reasonably priced,” said Zheng Wenlong.
“I’ll need an ocean’s worth of materials in the future. Sorry for causing you so much trouble. Perhaps I’ll end up owing you quite a bit in the short-term, but don’t worry, as long as I don’t die, I’ll double your investment,” said Long Chen.
“Where did that come from? You were my first personal investment, and the only reason I have reached my current level is because of you. We’re both benefiting, but we bear the danger together as well. When I get back, I’ll definitely work hard on handling your matter, so don’t worry about it!”
“Will you run into any obstructions when you come to the Xuantian Dao Sect?”
“No, my Huayun Sect has ties with all the large powers. At least on the surface, we’re all friendly. As long as I show my badge, no one will hinder me from entering the Xuantian Dao Sect. However, their big business isn’t something a rookie like me who has only just come to the Central Plains can participate in.”
“Good. Fuck, it’s only been two months, and I have only made a few friends, while I have enemies everywhere,” sighed Long Chen.
“Isn’t that perfectly in accordance with your style?” Zheng Wenlong couldn’t help but smile.
The two of them looked at each other and laughed. Back then when they had met in the Jiuli secret realm, wasn’t Long Chen also surrounded by enemies? Thinking of their first encounter, they felt a wave of emotion. Time flew by quickly.
After sending off Zheng Wenlong, Long Chen returned to the outer sect. He didn’t even get a chance to see Tang Wan-er, because listening to his orders, she was constantly cultivating in the training region.
According to her, the wind attribute training region was a huge cave. There were low, middle, high, and top grade training rooms in there.
There was powerful wind energy inside, and through absorbing it, it was possible to raise one’s comprehension of the wind attribute. Cultivating in there was much faster than elsewhere.
Outer sect disciples were given ten days a month to train in a low grade training room for free.
Inner sect disciples could enter middle grade training rooms for free, while core disciples could enter high grade training rooms for free.
Each increase in grade resulted in ten times the amount of energy in the training room.
The cost in points for each increase in grade also increased ten times. Low grade training rooms cost one point a day, middle grade ones ten points, high grade ones a hundred points, and top grade ones a thousand points.
This was the benefit of being an inner sect disciple. Cultivating for one day was equivalent to ten points, which was a month’s income for an outer sect disciple.
As for the high grade training rooms, it cost an incredible amount of points. Tang Wan-er had entered a top grade training room a few times, and she found that cultivating inside was incredibly quick and relaxing. Her power advanced at an unbelievable pace.
However, she didn’t have enough points to go in often. So most of her time was spent in middle grade training rooms.
Days passed by as everyone was busy increasing their strength. Finally, the day came when all the inner sect disciples were gathered.
Today was the bi-monthly competition for the inner sect disciples. This would determine the rankings and distributed rewards for the six factions. For them, it was a struggle for resources.
Chapter 1056 Move Your Fists, Not Your Mouths
The inner sect disciples were gathered in the inner sect plaza. The six factions’ two hundred-some thousand disciples were all present.
Only the combat disciples were present. The support disciples and in
heritance disciples were not amongst them.
After two months apart, the disciples all sensed immense changes in their fellows. They had all greatly improved during these two months in the Xuantian Dao Sect. Ignoring everything else, just the fact that they could enter the middle grade training grounds free of charge allowed them to profit immensely.
In comparison, the Dragonblood Legion’s side was lacking. Although the majority of people had advanced a level, the majority of them were stuck in the mid stage of Sea Expansion.
In terms of cultivation base, that was the bottom level amongst the six factions. Furthermore, they hadn’t gone to the training grounds, as they hadn’t had the time.
They had always been undergoing hellish training on Crouching Dragon Mountain. Although their auras weren’t very powerful, there was an icy, murderous aura present now that made them like sharp blades.
When Long Chen brought the Dragonblood Legion over, everyone looked at him. Hua Shiyu had a slightly complicated expression in her eyes. She had disliked all men in her life, but she didn’t find him so loathsome.
Beside her was Zhao Ziyan. It looked like she was enveloped in water, as if she was merged with the world.
She had clearly reached the realm of merging with heaven and earth. Hua Shiyu had spent an exorbitant sum to allow Zhao Ziyan to go through a baptism. Zhao Ziyan was no longer the old Zhao Ziyan. She now had the qualifications to be called an expert.
It wasn’t just Zhao Ziyan. Han Yunshan, Wei Changhai, and Yan Mochen had gone through the same kind of baptism and reached the realm of merging with heaven and earth. Only once they reached that realm did they truly understand just how weak they had been before.
Seeing Long Chen arrive, the three of them glared at him. Back then, Long Chen had caused them to lose a great deal of face.
“A big idiot leading a pack of small idiots. I’m looking forward to seeing how many of them die in the competition,” sneered Han Yunshan.