by Shian Jeen
At present day, under Huwang Xiao’s control, the Asura Demon Claw’s first move, Laments of Thousands of Demons, could form more than thirty wraiths with one attack.
Struck by Asura Demon Claw, the opponent’s body will be invaded by thousands of demons negative qi, which was undoubtedly a thousand times worse than Asura Sword Skill’s frigid qi.
“I beg you, kill me, just kill me!” Seconds later, tragic screams begging for mercy filled the deserted street. The black-clad man was unable to tolerate the extent of torture and pleaded for mercy from Huwang Xiao.
“Speak, who sent you?” Huwang Xiao moved closer to the man, his voice dangerous and low.
“It, it was Guo Zhi!” The man shouted in short gasps.
Guo Zhi!
Huwang Xiao was stupefied.
“Guo Family’s Guo Zhi, the two Guo Brothers, Guo Zhi and Guo Fei?”
“Yes, it’s them!” The black-clad man admitted, “I beg you, just kill me, let me die painlessly.”
Huwang Xiao’s eyes grew icy upon hearing the man’s confession, he did not expect the individual(s) behind this to actually be the two Guo Brothers. The two possible suspects who crossed his mind to have sent this person was either Yao Fei or Zhao Wuji.
Yet, he was thrown a curveball by the Guo Brothers.
Just because he and Xie Puti hindered them twice with the Sapidity Wine incidents, and they dare not lay their hands on Xie Puti, all of their anger was vented at him?
It seems he underestimated the narrow-mindedness of this pair of brothers!
Observing the man flapping like a fish out of water, an idea struck Huwang Xiao like a bolt of lightning. With a thought, he called out the Linglong Treasure Pagoda and started the Thousand Demons Engulfing Destruction Array inside the Thousand Beast Cauldron. A powerful suction force instantly wrapped around the man and pulled him into the Thousand Beast Cauldron. However, Huwang Xiao did not start refining the man on the spot. Instead, his body flickered away, leaving the area and returning to Southern Hill Estate.
Once back in Southern Hill Estate, Huwang Xiao called for Fei Hou.
To refine a mere early stage Xiantian expert was much easier, using Fei Hou’s and his battle qi was sufficient enough for the task.
It only took a single day’s time before that black-clad man had been completely refined. However, with his Xiantian Second Order strength, the result was only a mid grade five pellet.
For the current Huwang Xiao, a mid-grade five pellet had already lost its efficacy. When the refinement was done, Huwang Xiao and Fei Hou left the room.
Moving into the great hall, both of them sat down and Fei Hou took the initiative to speak first, “Sovereign, this black-clad man was sent by Yao Fei?”
Huwang Xiao shook his head, “It was Guo Zhi and Guo Fei, the two brothers.”
“Guo Zhi and Guo Fei brothers?” A trace of confusion was apparent in Fei Hou’s eyes.
Hence Huwang Xiao briefly described Guo Zhi and Guo Fei’s identity and mentioned the matter regarding Sapidity Wine.
“Sovereign, do you want us to… ?” Fei Hou suggested in an inquiring manner.
Huwang Xiao shook his head and waved his hand, saying “Did Yao Fei send anyone to investigate that black-clad old man’s clues?”
Fei Hou smiled respectfully as he reported to Huwang Xiao, “I was about to report to Sovereign that Left Custodian Zhao Shu captured one the day before yesterday!”
“Oh!” Huwang Xiao also laughed, “Where’s the person?”
“He’s being held in the Eastside Courtyard’s chamber.” Fei Hou then added, “I will go bring him over now.”
Huwang Xiao nodded.
Before long, Fei Hou was seen dragging a thin-faced old man with silver hair into the great hall.
The instant the silver-haired old man saw Huwang Xiao he clamored, “Huwang Xiao, it’s best if you let me go this instant. If not, the Yao Family will ensure you die without a body to be buried with!”
Huwang Xiao remained indifferent, “Oh really?” Without caring to reply, Huwang Xiao’s fingers shaped into claws. Asura Demon Claw’s first move struck the silver-haired old man’s torso. The impact threw him out of the great hall, his body crashing onto the ground, tumbling until he reached the great hall door.
This silver-haired old man’s actual strength was at Xiantian Ninth Order, but unfortunate for him, his Qi Sea and meridians were sealed by Zhao Shu. In front of Huwang Xiao, he was no different than a mere mortal who couldn’t put up any resistance.
Before one could bat an eye, the thousand wraiths energy invaded the silver-haired old man’s body. Raw, agonizing screams resounded from the old man. It did not take long for him to start begging Huwang Xiao for mercy.
“Spare you? Huwang Xiao approached the silver-haired old man, and reassured in a frigid voice, “Don’t worry, the Yao Family you spoke of will be erased from Duanren Empire soon!” Once he finished saying that, Huwang Xiao called out the Linglong Treasure Pagoda and had it suck the silver-haired old man inside.
Zhao Shu was not in the Southern Hill Estate at the moment. He took a trip to Duanren Imperial Palace in the morning, so Huwang Xiao had to wait for Zhao Shu to come back before he could refine the new ‘material.’
Around midnight, Zhao Shu returned from the imperial palace and proceeded to refine the silver-haired old man with Huwang Xiao.
However, Huwang Xiao didn’t take the grade seven pellet for himself this time and placed it into the Asura Ring for safekeeping.
After dealing with the silver-haired man, Huwang Xiao spoke with Zhao Shu about entering the inner division of Duanren Institute, directing Zhao Shu to speak with Duan Ren about making the necessary arrangements.
“Please be assured Sovereign, this Subordinate will go and tell the Lil’ Monkey about it now.” Listening to Huwang Xiao’s words, Zhao Shu immediately replied.
Huwang Xiao quickly waved him down, saying “No need to do it now. You can speak to Duan Ren tomorrow or the next time you see him.” To look for the Absolute Soul Pearl, a day or two later made no difference.
“Yes, Sovereign.” Zhao Shu obeyed.
“Zhao Shu, do you know a force that refers to themselves as Deities Templar?” Huwang Xiao suddenly posed the question to Zhao Shu.
In fact, Huwang Xiao had wanted to inquire about this mysterious Deities Templar from Zhao Shu much earlier.
Haotian and Fei Hou weren’t aware of their existence but perhaps Zhao Shu does.
“Deities Templar?” Zhao Shu shook his head, “Never heard of it.”
Even Zhao Shu didn’t know about it? Huwang Xiao frowned. Again, the mysteriousness of this Deities Templar had far exceeded Huwang Xiao’s predictions, so much so that even Zhao Shu didn’t know anything about it.
“Since Sovereign wants information about Deities Templar, I will also ask Lil’ Monkey about it.” Zhao Shu added.
Huwang Xiao nodded in agreement, this was the path to take when there was no other way. It was just that, every time Zhao Shu called Duanren Emperor ‘Lil’ Monkey’, Huwang Xiao felt awkward.
For the next two days after that, Huwang Xiao did not leave Southern Hill Estate and instead cultivated there on his own.
In the early morning two days later, Zhao Shu came to report to Huwang Xiao, “Sovereign, I have news about Deities Templar.”
Ch.196
“There’s news about Deities Templar?” Huwang Xiao’s surprise was instantly overridden by joy.
Zhao Shu nodded his head while saying, “According to what Duan Ren said, this Deities Templar only emerged in the last one hundred years or so. But they behave mysteriously, not even Duan Ren knows where their headquarters is. All he knows is that the Deities Templar master is a woman with unfathomable strength. Every ten years, Deities Templar selects ten disciples on Snow Wind Continent. What they claim is, those that are selected to be disciples of Deities Templar have the opportunity to cultivate in the Divine World!”
Because Huwang Xiao could not stan
d hearing the pet name ‘Lil Monkey, he made Zhao Shu change the way he referred to Duanren Emperor.
“What?! Divine World?!” Huwang Xiao was so astonished that his eyes widened into two round moons.
Does this world have a different dimension called Divine World?
In his previous life on Earth, there were different types of world’s written in fantasy novels, such as Immortal Realm and Divine Realm. But that was all fairy tales.
Zhao Shu nodded affirmatively, adding: “In fact, this Martial Spirit World that we live in is merely a low-grade dimension. There exists many living dimensions of higher grade than Martial Spirit World, and the Divine World is one of many. But, to travel to Divine World, one must open a space tunnel that connects to the Divine World. I did not expect that this Deities Templar could actually open such a space tunnel!”
Zhao Shu’s expression grew solemn as he continued, “However, to open up a space tunnel to the Divine World is not something within the average Saint realm experts’ capability. Even for a peak late-Saint realm Tenth Order expert, it is still a herculean effort. Unless several peak late-Saint realm Tenth Order experts worked together, and with the help of an ancient sacred array, only then would there be a possibility of opening a space tunnel to the Divine World! Other than that, only a God Realm master could accomplish this!”
Huwang Xiao was greatly taken aback after Zhao Shu’s explanation. From this, Deities Templar’s strength was overwhelmingly evident.
“When is Deities Templar expected to hold the next disciple selection?” On the spur of the moment, Huwang Xiao asked.
Zhao Shu was surprised but then reacted swiftly, “Six years later, not more than seven. From what Duan Ren said, one of their conditions for disciple selection is that one must possess a superb talent martial spirit, and the other condition is that the candidate’s strength must reach Xiantian Tenth Order and above.
Xiantian Tenth Order and above!
Huwang Xiao’s brows deeply furrowed.
Nonetheless, it was impossible for him to break through to Xiantian Tenth Order in the span of six years’ time. Not disregarding the possibility of him obtaining the Absolute Soul Pearl, as fast as his cultivation speed may increase to, it would still be far from achieving that condition!
Wanting to enter Deities Templar was of course not for pursuing cultivation, but for Li Lu!
Putting aside his emotions, Huwang Xiao continued to ask information about Deities Templar from Zhao Shu.
Zhao Shu answered one by one, however, the information he got from Duan Ren wasn't much to begin with. Therefore, what Zhao Shu could answer for Huwang Xiao was limited as well.
A short while later, Zhao Shu withdrew.
Darkness slowly blanketed the sky in an ink black cover.
Tonight was a moonless night, the heavens above looked like nothing more than an ocean of unfathomable darkness.
Huwang Xiao stood outside his yard, staring into this dark void.
Images of Li Lu flashed one after another in his mind; the lovely dimples on her cheeks when she laughed, sweet and beautiful. Those large eyes held an alluring charm that rendered one incapable of looking away.
Three years had passed since Huwang Min’s explanation regarding Li Lu being whisked away by that beautiful woman. In these three years, whenever he took a break from cultivation during the deepest hours of the night, he would think of Li Lu.
Three years, yet Li Lu’s face did not fade into the abyss of time. Instead, her appearance became clearer in his mind. It was only now that he finally realized Li Lu was deeply ingrained in his heart.
“Li Lu.” Huwang Xiao said her name softly.
A sudden pain tugged at his heartstrings. He shouldn’t have allowed that Deities Templar woman to bring Li Lu away that year. Despite so, he couldn’t have stopped it no matter how much he wished to. Not to mention that time, he was still powerless even now. That beautiful woman was at least a Saint realm expert. With the Deities Templar at her back, if she wanted to take away one person, the entire Snow Wind Continent’s empires were probably powerless to stop her, what more someone like Huwang Xiao?
Power!
Strength!
In the end, power and strength determine everything!
The mounting pressure of Asura burst forth from Huwang Xiao’s body, an aura of slaughter filled the yard in the moonless night.
In the next moment, a bright light flickered and a golden token appeared on his palm.
This golden token was given to Zhao Shu by Duan Ren. With this, Huwang Xiao was free to enter and leave Duanren Institute’s inner division compound.
Absolute Soul Pearl!
Regardless what hurdles blocked his way, he must find the Absolute Soul Pearl, borrowing the power from these three Heavenly Treasures to speed up his cultivation speed and strength.
Morning arrived with the resplendent sunlight shining, caressing one’s skin and providing warmth.
Huwang Xiao stepped out from the Southern Hill Estate and headed in Duanren Institute’s direction.
Arriving in Duanren Institute, Huwang Xiao walked straight towards the inner division area. The inner division grounds were different when compared to the outer division in that there were guards at the entrance.
When Huwang Xiao wanted to enter, a guard squad quickly blocked his path.
The guard squad consisted of eleven guards and was led at the front by an expert who looked like a forty-something middle-aged man with a goatee.
The goatee middle-aged man scrutinized Huwang Xiao with cold eyes, “Little punk, as the Institute’s outer division student, are you not aware that outer division students are not allowed to enter the inner division area? Trespassers are punished with ten slashes by the knife!”
Ten slashes by the knife!
Meaning the trespassing person who stepped into the inner division area would be punished with ten cuts from a knife. And it was a prerequisite that the tip of the knife should be pierced through the body each time to be considered as complete.
“Go, strip this kid’s clothes off and let him have a taste of the ten knives punishment!” The goatee middle-aged man looked over his shoulder to the back of him, ordering one of the guards.
“Yes, Captain Yang!”
When that guard was about to step out, Huwang Xiao raised one of his arms up, revealing a shiny golden token. Huwang Xiao’s action obstructed that guards' vision entirely, causing him to stagger backward.
The rest of the guards were astounded as they stared at the golden token in Huwang Xiao’s hand.
“The Great Emperor’s Golden Token!”
“This is the Great Emperor’s Golden Token, no mistake!”
The goatee middle-aged man was also stupefied as he looked dazedly at the shiny golden token.
“Greeting Lord Bearer of the Golden Token!”
Before he could recover his senses, the rest of the guards had knelt down in respectful salute.
Regardless of who it was, seeing the person holding the Golden Token, everyone must kneel in salute and be referred to as Lord Bearer of the Golden Token. This rule was set down by Duan Ren himself.
Awakened from his daze, the goatee middle-aged man quickly knelt down: “Greeting Lord Bearer of the Golden Token!”
Huwang Xiao nodded and slowly strode into the inner division. However, when he passed next to the goatee middle-aged man, he said, “Your goatee grew nicely, Captain Yang [1]? It goes well with your name!”
The goatee middle-aged man was stunned for a moment before the expression on his face turned ugly and awkward, not daring to refute Huwang Xiao while his subordinates laughed secretly behind him.
Not until Huwang Xiao’s figure disappeared from sight did the guards get up. The goatee middle-aged man’s eyes glinted with an icy sharpness as he stared the young man’s backㅡHuwang Xiao!
He was at Duanren Square, watching the Imperial City Battle, thus it wasn’t strange he could recognize Huwang Xiao.
Half an
hour later, the goatee middle-aged man appeared inside a solitary secluded courtyard.
“You’re sure it was Huwang Xiao?” Standing with his back towards the goatee middle-aged man, Yao Fei questioned.
“Yes, Heartless Young Noble. I can guarantee it was Huwang Xiao!” The goatee middle-aged man answered respectfully.
Yao Fei’s eyes emanated piercing coldness, “Golden Token in his hands? How did he come into possession of Duan Ren’s Golden Token? Perhaps it was Duan Wuhen using it to attract this little punk, thus giving his own Golden Token to him?”
There were only two Golden Token’s in the entire Duanren Empire. One was in Duan Ren’s hands, while the other was held by Duan Wuhen.
“You did well, go and get two Soul Strengthening Dan from Heartless Hall.” Yao Fei said and waved him away.
Soul Strengthening Dan, mid-Grade Five Spirit Dan.
“This one thanks Heartless Young Noble!” The goatee middle-aged man was overjoyed. Expressing his thanks, he turned and left.
Note:
Captain Yang and goatee shares the same character. A pun on his name and appearance.
Ch.197
After the goatee middle-aged man withdrew, Yao Fei mumbled to himself, “What does that punk hope to achieve from entering the inner division grounds? Still, in order to attract this little punk, Wuhen was actually willing to use his Golden Token... He really places a high importance on him! I also heard this kid has been getting along well with Xie Puti.”
“But Huwang Xiao, do you think that by being tied together with Duan Wuhen and the Xie Family, I wouldn’t dare to kill you?”
“I’ll make sure you understand the terrifying consequences of offending me, Yao Fei!”
Yao Fei voiced icily, words reverberating above the yard.
Every time he recalled the scene in front of Wind Facing Hall where Huwang Xiao told him to kneel down and admit wrong in public, Yao Fei could hardly control his soaring murderous intent.
