Asura Sovereign 3

by Shian Jeen

  “Space manipulation?” His brain buzzed with this thought.

  Ch.185

  Space manipulation!

  A Saint realm expert! It was definitely a great Saint realm expert!

  Fear snaked through the old man’s heart, didn’t Heartless Young Noble said Huwang Xiao only have one Xiantian Tenth Order expert by his side?

  “So, tell me, who sent you?” Huwang Xiao’s words were spoken slowly, yet the iciness within was unmistakable.

  The black-clad old man woke from his terror but did not utter a word.

  His attitude made Zhao Shu, Yu Ming, and Fei Hou’s faces turn gloomy. Huwang Xiao raised a hand to prevent them from doing anything, then he directed a finger at the old man’s torso, sending frigid Asura qi into his body that entered from the seven orifices.

  The black-clad old man felt as if millions of ants were biting him, a miserable howl reverberated from his throat.

  Huwang Xiao watched on with a cold expression. Once the Asura frigid qi invaded the body, not even a Saint realm expert could withstand the torment it brought without suppressing it with battle qi. Moreover, this black-clad old man was not a Saint realm expert.

  Both of the old man’s hands were clawing at his own chest. In a short several breaths’ time, blood already stained his hands and torso.

  “It, it was Heartless Young Noble, he sent me!” In the end, the black-clad old man could not tolerate the piercing pain any longer and shouted out in bursts of short gasps.

  Heartless Young Noble! Huwang Xiao sneered.

  In fact, even if the old man hadn’t told him, he could already guess who the mastermind was.

  This black-clad old man’s strength was not weak at all. He was most likely a Xiantian Eighth Order or a Ninth Order expert. When thinking of who it could be that had a grudge against him and also had the ability to send a Xiantian Eighth or Ninth Order expert, the only person to date was Heartless Young Noble.

  “Please, I beg you, spare me!” The old man begged for mercy as soon as he named his master.

  Zhao Shu, Yu Ming, and Fei Hou looked at Huwang Xiao.

  Huwang Xiao looked at the old man and suddenly a thought flashed across his mind. He turned and said to Yu Ming and Fei Hou, “Both of you keep a lookout. Zhao Shu, lend me a hand!” With this, Huwang Xiao called the Linglong Treasure Pagoda out.

  Even though neither Yu Ming nor Fei Hou knew what Huwang Xiao was planning to do, no questions were asked. Acknowledging Huwang Xiao’s order respectfully, they disappeared from the spot in a flash to keep watch of the surrounding area.

  “Sovereign, you are…?” Zhao Shu was also a little doubtful.

  “Send your battle qi into my body.” Huwang Xiao said.

  Still in doubt, Zhao Shu acted according to Huwang Xiao’s order. Circulating his battle qi, both of his palms were placed at Huwang Xiao’s back and a powerful energy entered Huwang Xiao’s body.

  With a wave of his hands, Huwang Xiao slapped his palms onto the Linglong Treasure Pagoda that was floating in front of him. In a blink, the Thousand Beast Cauldron on the second layer burst out in a radiant light. The Thousand Demon Engulfing Destruction Array triggering a forceful suction force that swallowed up the black-clad old man instantaneously into the Thousand Beast Cauldron.

  Watching the Linglong Treasure Pagoda suck the old man in, Zhao Shu, Yu Ming and Fei Hou that were guarding close by nearly had their eyeballs pop out of their sockets.

  The trio was aware Huwang Xiao possessed the Linglong Treasure Pagoda but none of them knew it could be used in this fashion.

  Right before the three pairs of shocked eyes, the Linglong Treasure Pagoda shone increasingly bright as it shook vigorously.

  From within the pagoda came the old man’s anxious pleading voice.

  “Huwang Xiao, I beg you, spare me! Let me go, I’m willing to surrender to you and profess you as my master!”

  “It took me six hundred years of hard penance to achieve my cultivation today. I’m a Xiantian Eighth Order expert, I don’t want to die! Huwang Xiao, I’m begging you, I don’t want to die, let me go!”

  Listening to the ghastly shrieks coming from inside the pagoda, Zhao Shu, Yu Ming, and Fei Hou felt goosebumps running down their necks.

  At this time, the Heaven and Earth Origin Reverting Array came to life, the origin reverting flames burned strongly akin to an iron tempering furnace, ‘molding’ the black-clad old man. Though the black-clad old man circulated his battle qi to stave off the burning flames, the origin reverting flames continued to encroach, invading his internal body and roasting him alive from inside out. The excruciating torment was more than the black-clad old man could bear.

  This pain was many times worse than the Asura frigid qi eroding his body, many times more insufferable.

  Hearing the old man’s tragic cries, Huwang Xiao allowed Zhao Shu to continue transmitting battle qi into his body to supply the Heaven and Earth Origin Reverting Array, igniting to origin reverting flames within to dance wildly.

  This black-clad old man might be begging for mercy at this moment, claiming willingness to serve under Huwang Xiao, but on the other side of the wall was Heartless Young Noble. Who knew when the old man would turn around and bite him. Thus, without absolute trust and confidence, it was impossible for Huwang Xiao to keep such a person by his side. Only one way remained, forceful refinement!

  Since this Thousand Beast Cauldron could refine beast cores into spirit pellets, then the same theory should apply to a human warrior. They too, very likely, could be refined into a spirit pellet.

  A Xiantian Eighth Order expert had a rich concentration of battle qi in their meridians and Qi Sea. Not only that, their flesh and blood essence was comparable to high-grade elixirs.

  Inside the Thousand Beast Cauldron, the black-clad old man persisted by circulating his battle qi to resist and managed to do so for more than an hour. Gradually the cries grew weaker and at the end barely a whisper came out, then completely disappeared.

  When the black-clad old man’s voice completely stopped, the radiant light shrouding the Linglong Treasure Pagoda grew bigger and brighter.

  The same thing was happening to the Thousand Beast Cauldron on the second layer of Linglong Treasure Pagoda. Blinding light flared!

  Four hours later, the Thousand Beast Cauldron suddenly issued a lilting hum as a pillar of light shot up into the sky from the cauldron lid. A thumb-sized, glossy round spirit pellet flew out from the cauldron, appearing above the Linglong Treasure Pagoda.

  The spirit pellet’s appearance instantly brought about lightning and rumbling dark clouds in the sky above. A prism of resplendent light swirled in midair, and faint tiger roars were heard coming from the backyard of the estate. A surreal shadow of a black-white tiger materialized and slowly vanished.

  The spiritual energy around the Southern Hill Estate greatly fluctuated.

  Yu Ming and Fei Hou’s eyes were staring straight at the spirit pellet hovering above the Linglong Treasure Pagoda. Even Zhao Shu was caught staring up above.

  “Grade Seven Spirit Dan!” All three exclaimed simultaneously.

  When the refinement of a grade seven and above spirit pellet was successful, a manifestation of some kind would appear in the sky, triggering tumultuous changes in the surroundings spiritual energy.

  Refining a grade seven and above spirit pellet was extremely difficult and had a very low success rate. Even if one had all the necessary ingredients, there was no guarantee in condensing a pellet. Yet, Huwang Xiao did so with the help of the Linglong Treasure Pagoda!

  After getting over their shock, they turned to stare at the Linglong Treasure Pagoda in astonishment.

  Didn’t this mean that by using the Linglong Treasure Pagoda, they could refine a grade eight, grade nine, and probably even a grade ten spirit pellet?!

  Watching their thoughts clearly flickering on their faces, Huwang Xiao shook his head. The truth was, if it wasn’t for Zhao Shu’s presence, the aid from a Saint realm expert,
it would have been impossible for him to refine the old man even with the Linglong Treasure Pagoda. This was especially so when Huwang Xiao noted that the amount of energy required by the Thousand Demon Engulfing Destruction Array and Heaven and Earth Origin Reverting Array was too alarming.

  Zhao Shu was a high-level Saint realm expert, not someone who had just recently broken through to the early Saint realm, thus the abundance of his battle qi was hard to imagine. But to refine to black clad old man, the Thousand Beast Cauldron actually sucked more than half of Zhao Shu’s battle qi reserve.

  More than half!

  Ergo, spirit stones were essential!

  A grade three spirit stone was sufficient to refine a grade five spirit pellet, grade two spirit stone could support the refinement process for grade six spirit pellet. In short, to refine grade seven spirit pellet he needed grade one spirit stones!

  However, auction and trading houses rarely had grade one spirit stones for auction or trade, where would he get them?

  Huwang Xiao flexed his palm and puled the round pellet hovering in the air into his palm. Vaguely, a black and white shadow of a tiger could be seen prowling within.

  This was the black-clad old man’s martial spirit which was refined into the pellet as well by the Thousand Beast Cauldron.

  It was said a grade seven spirit pellet not only increases one’s battle qi substantially, but also raises the flesh’s physical defense and strengthens the internal organs as well as the soul. Huwang Xiao rolled the round pellet in his hand, thinking to himself.

  The sky was illuminating. In the early morning, he needed to be present at Duanren Square to receive his rewards. So, Huwang Xiao decided to wait until he returned before consuming the spirit pellet.

  Ch.186

  Due to having too much battle qi drained from him and absorbed by the Thousand Beast Cauldron when refining the old man, Huwang Xiao told Zhao Shu to rest while Yu Ming and Fei Hou dealt with Southern Hill Estate’s matters.

  Considering the accommodation matters were resolved, the next step would be moving the Huwang Family over from the Luo Tong Kingdom.

  At this time, in the main hall of a courtyard on the north section of Yao Manor, Yao Fei was pacing with a gloomy expression, uncertain emotions swirled in the depth of his eyes.

  At the side of the great hall stood Yanggang and Pang Yu. Watching Yao Fei’s expression, neither one of them dared to speak.

  It was a long time later before Yanggang managed to muster up some courage, venturing cautiously, “Heartless Young Noble, could it be that Senior Zhang is already… ?”

  Yao Fei’s body whipped around, his gaze was akin to deadly knives aiming at Yanggang, instantly shutting him up.

  “Very well, both of you leave me for now. Later you still need to be present to receive the rewards.” Yao Fei spoke out softly.

  “Yes, Heartless Young Noble!” Yanggang and Pang Yu answered in unison and retreated.

  Watching them leave, Yao Fei suddenly clapped once. In the void above, a black-clothed man shrouded in mysterious black fog emerged.

  “Go find out what happened to Zhang Liang, why hasn’t he come back yet?” Yao Fei’s voice was low and solemn as he issued the order.

  “Yes Young Noble!” The black-clothed man acknowledged respectfully and disappeared in a blur, not the slightest fluctuation in his coming or going.

  When the black-clothed man left, Yao Fei sat down, his brows locked in a tight frown as he pondered. He knew what Yanggang was trying to imply earlier… Huwang Xiao detected Zhang Liang’s presence?”

  “No.” Yao Fei shook his head.

  He clearly understood Zhang Liang’s strength. Adding his martial spirit ability that gave him the ability to completely blend with the night’s darkness, not a trace of breath could be detected. Not even the Xiantian realm expert by Huwang Xiao’s side could possibly detect Zhang Liang’s presence.

  Despite that, several hours passed. Why hadn’t Zhang Liang returned?

  Yao Fei sat in the main hall, waiting for the black-clothed man to return with his report.

  Soon, the morning light lit up the sky.

  Huwang Xiao swallowed a Fire Dragon Pearl and spent the time adjusting his condition in the ancient battlefield before coming out again.

  However, when he came to the great hall of the estate manor, he saw Zhao Shu waiting there for him. When he heard Zhao Shu requesting to come with him to Duanren Imperial Palace for the prize giving ceremony, Huwang Xiao felt nonplussed, “You want to come with me to Duanren Imperial Palace?”

  Zhao Shu nodded, “This Subordinate would feel more assured of Sovereign’s safety this way. And also, there is an old acquaintance I want to see.”

  “Old acquaintance?” Huwang Xiao was baffled; there was actually an old acquaintance of Zhao Shu in the Duanren Imperial Palace?

  Although Huwang Xiao was curious about this person’s identity, he did not ask who this person was. Nodding his agreement, he said: “Okay, we will depart in a while.”

  At this time, the first one hundred place geniuses were making their way to the Duanren Imperial Palace from different directions to receive their rewards. Each person was allowed to bring one personal guard with them into the imperial palace.

  Thus, Yu Ming and Fei Hou were left watching over Southern Hill Estate, making the necessary arrangements and preparations to move the Huwang Family over to Duanren Imperial City while Huwang Xiao and Zhao Shu stepped out of the estate, heading in the imperial palace’s direction to accept his winnings.

  It did not take long for Huwang Xiao and Zhao Shu to reach the Duanren Imperial Palace’s main entrance. Coincidentally, he ran into Cui Li who had arrived at about the same time as him. Following behind Cui Li was a beautiful older woman. Though she concentrated and hid her breaths fluctuations, Huwang Xiao could tell she was a powerful character.

  Huwang Xiao and Cui Li’s gazes met halfway, and in Cui Li’s eyes, there was delight along with a faint trace of hesitation.

  Huwang Xiao merely nodded at her and continued walking onward with Zhao Shu through the imperial palace’s doors.

  The guards standing at both sides of the entrance recognized Huwang Xiao in an instant, therefore no one stopped or questioned Huwang Xiao’s identity.

  Cui Li stood on the same spot with a faint aggrieved expression that mingled with complication.

  “He is that Huwang Xiao?” The beautiful woman behind Cui Li asked.

  Cui Li nodded, “Yes, Little Aunt, that’s him.”

  “Not a bad young man. Unfortunately, he offended Heartless Young Noble.” The beautiful woman spoke, “This Huwang Xiao is indeed a rare talent, possessing superb talent twin martial spirits. But he doesn’t realize the terrifying extent of how far and deep Heartless Young Noble’s influence and power stretches. The Yao Family’s forces behind Heartless Young Noble surpasses what he could ever imagine.”

  The beautiful woman shook her head in pity, “If I were him, I would not offend Heartless Young Noble.”

  “Little Aunt, let’s go in.” Cui Li tacitly changed the topic.

  “Okay.” She nodded.

  Up front, Huwang Xiao and Zhao Shu were being led in by two imperial palace guards, arriving at a big square within the palace grounds.

  This square may look dwarfed compared to the Duanren Square that was right across from Duanren Imperial Palace’s main entrance, but with the capacity to accommodate thirty to forty thousand people it was by no means small in size. The two imperial palace guards led Huwang Xiao and Zhao Shu to the front of the square where most of the other geniuses had arrived, including Yanggang, Pang Yu, and Dai Shanni.

  When the gathered top one hundred geniuses saw Huwang Xiao, most subconsciously took a step back, making a path for him as they looked at him with awe, Yanggang and Pang Yu were the same.

  Noting Yanggang and Pang Yu’s reaction and expression, Huwang Xiao remained aloof, stood in place, and waited for the ceremony to begin.

  After Huwang Xiao, Cui
Li subsequently arrived and stood in wait not too far from Huwang Xiao, her pretty eyes gazing at the back of his silhouette.

  A short while after Cui Li, a small commotion rustled through the crowd.

  “Xie Puti!”

  “It’s Xie Puti, he’s here!”

  Huwang Xiao looked over and saw Xie Puti clad in fire-red battle gear, walking over. Behind him was an elderly person that had the same fire-red battle gear on.

  Just as the first time Huwang Xiao saw Xie Puti at the battle arena in Duanren Square, Xie Puti walked in with a domineering aura, proud and confident as if he had not lost to Huwang Xiao the day before.

  Xie Puti walked towards Huwang Xiao.

  Watching this, Pang Yu and Yanggang were gloating inside, waiting for a good show. And just when Yanggang and Pang Yu thought Xie Puti was going to fight with Huwang Xiao, Xie Puti suddenly smiled, “I accept yesterday’s defeat with no equivocation!” He even extended his hand out to Huwang Xiao.

  Everyone was agape at the scene. Jaws dropped, nearly touching the ground.

  Huwang Xiao’s eyes met Yanggang and Pang Yu’s, and then he extended his own hand out, clasping Xie Puti’s hand in a handshake.

  Perhaps this is what they called no concord without discord.

  In Huwang Xiao’s view, both of them were the same kind of people. Xie Puti exuded dominance, pride, and confidence but deep in Huwang Xiao’s core, he too was the same—domineering, arrogant, proud, and confident. And as his strength continued to grow stronger, these qualities would reveal themselves.

  Both of them appreciate the same qualities in the other.

  At this time, a sonorous clapping sound echoed in the square.

  Everyone was jolted out from their daze and looked over. Duan Wuhen and Cheng Jian were promenading towards them, escorted by a group of imperial palace guards.

  Huwang Xiao and Xie Puti retrieved their hands.

  “Greeting His Highness Second Imperial Prince!” Huwang Xiao and Xie Puti both saluted.