by Shian Jeen
Shi Fantian was stumped for a brief second and then broke into a jovial laughter, “I can guarantee that it will taste better than the wine at the Buddhist House!”
Huwang Xiao chuckled, “Since you said so, I will stay for a few days.”
Both men laughed.
There was mirth in Shi Xiaofei’s eyes observing Huwang Xiao talking amiably with her father. At this time, noises of saliva being swallowed came from all around. Curious, Huwang Xiao looked around the crowd and saw all the young men were staring dazedly at Shi Xiaofei’s slightly smiling face.
Huwang Xiao looked at Shi Xiaofei, her smile was indeed a poetry, mirthful eyes that resembled the luminous moon, able to mesmerize all living beings.
Shi Fantian was still smiling, making a gesture of introduction to Huwang Xiao, “Junior Brother, come, let me introduce you, this is my daughter, Xiaofei.”
Huwang Xiao nodded at Shi Xiaofei, saying, “I know.”
Shi Xiaofei approached Huwang Xiao and Shi Fantian with her head lowered, greeting: “Young Noble Huwang.” A voice like an oriole song, clear and moving, as if something was tickling coquettishly at the hearts of people who heard it.
Logically, as Shi Fantian’s Junior Brother, Shi Xiaofei should refer Huwang Xiao as Martial Uncle, yet she did not. Instead, she chose to call him Young Noble Huwang. Others might not have noticed this little difference, but Shi Fantian did.
Shi Fantian shot a meaningful glance at his daughter. He only had one daughter, and this daughter of his had very high standards. Over many years, she had only ignored those so-called talented geniuses of big families. Finally, someone she seemed to ‘acknowledge’ had appeared.
But, this was ideal in Shi Fantian’s view, only a monstrous genius like Huwang Xiao was worthy of his daughter. Although he had heard rumors linking Huwang Xiao to Deities Templar’s Holy Maiden, it was common in Martial Spirit World for men to have three wives and four concubines [1], especially a man of Huwang Xiao’s caliber.
Huwang Xiao introduced Zhao Shu and Zhang Fu to Shi Fantian in return.
Shi Fantian cupped his hands in greeting, “I didn’t know it was Senior Zhao Shu and Senior Zhang Fu, I have long heard both Seniors’ names.” In the recent period, as Huwang Xiao being the rightful successor to Asura’s Gate spread throughout Snow Wind Continent, the Left and Right Custodians’ names, Zhao Shu and Zhang Fu, were noted by many forces on the continent.
Zhao Shu and Zhang Fu both returned the greeting, neither of them were pretentious characters.
Subsequently, Shi Fantian invited Huwang Xiao, Zhao Shu, and Zhang Fu to the Blessed Buddha Palace. Huwang Xiao went inside the Blessed Buddha Temple to worship the Blessed Buddha statue before they depart to the palace.
Moments later, Huwang Xiao, Shi Fantian, and the others disappeared from the crowd’s view.
Around the square, the families’ disciples woke up from their shock a long time after Huwang Xiao, Shi Fantian, Shi Xiaofei, and others left the square.
“Young Noble Divine Dragon is actually our Great Emperor’s Junior Brother?! What is this?!”
“Right, does anyone remember that time when the Blessed Buddha Altar chose someone?”
“You’re saying that the person the Blessed Buddha Altar chose last time was Young Noble Divine Dragon?”
The crowd broke out in an uproar.
Like a hurricane, the news about Young Noble Divine Dragon being in the Blessed Buddha Empire spread, and the whole city boiled up.
In Martial Spirit World, the strong was respected, a powerful talented genius such as Huwang Xiao was an existence idolized by countless families’ disciple.
Shi Fantian led Huwang Xiao’s group to the Blessed Buddha Palace. Just as they arrived at the entrance, an alluring woman clad in phoenix robes, with her hair decorated with the phoenix headcrown, was seen waiting with anticipation. Behind her was a group of consorts, palace maids, and guards.
No doubt, this alluring woman was Shi Xiaofei’s mother, the Empress of the Blessed Buddha Empire, Lin Mengle.
Seeing her, a smile formed on Shi Fantian’s face as he said to Huwang Xiao, “It seems you’re more popular than me, when I return from hunting trips, I don’t have so many people waiting to welcome me.”
It was clear that, while Shi Fantian and Huwang Xiao were on their way to the palace, Blessed Buddha Empire’s Empress received news of his visit, thus gathered the consorts, maids, and guards here early on to wait for them. Of course, the person everyone was anticipating was Huwang Xiao, the legendary genius of Martial Spirit World.
Ch.383
Exactly like what Shi Fantian said, the moment his sentence ended, Empress Lin Mengle and the group of consorts, maid, and guards’ gazes roamed over Huwang Xiao from top to bottom.
Shi Fantian didn’t have a lot of consorts, but they still numbered no less than eighty people, each a beauty in their own charm. Being stared at by more than eighty beautiful ladies at once, Huwang Xiao felt uncomfortable goosebumps tingling all over his body and could only smile bitterly in his heart.
It seems like his reputation has grown a little too big? Huwang Xiao thought of those movie stars and pop idols on earth, could these consorts of Shi Fantian be considered as his fans…?
At this point, Empress Lin Mengle strolled gracefully over, performing a half curtsey to Shi Fantian, “We welcome the Emperor’s return.”
After the Empress saluted, the consorts, maids, and guards at her back followed suit in salute.
Shi Fantian signaled them to stand, and when the Empress came to his side, Shi Fantian teased with a youthful grin on his face, “I say, Lil’ Meng, the person you’re all waiting to welcome probably isn’t me.”
Blessed Buddha Empress Lin Mengle revealed a faint smile, “Emperor must be joking.”
Shi Fantian chuckled, saying, “Come, let me introduce you all, this is the person all of you have been talking about night and day in the recent period, Young Noble Divine Dragon, Huwang Xiao.”
Empress Lin Mengle’s eyes sparkled, smiling at Huwang Xiao, “Young Noble Huwang.”
Huwang Xiao dared not overstate himself, quickly greeted, “Sister-in-law.” [2]
Lin Mengle was slightly stunned hearing Huwang Xiao call her sister-in-law.
Shi Fantian laughed at the side, explaining, “Xiao is my Junior Brother.”
“Junior Brother?” Lin Mengle and the group of consorts were bewildered. Although they were informed that the Emperor would be returning to the Blessed Buddha Palace with Young Noble Divine Dragon Huwang Xiao, none of them were aware that Huwang Xiao was Shi Fantian’s Junior Brother.
After a momentary lapse of manners, Empress Lin Mengle recovered quickly, the smile returning to her face, “Emperor, you should have told us earlier that Young Noble Divine Dragon is your Junior Brother.”
Shi Fantian laughed instead of being angry, “It’s not too late to say it now, let us go in first and talk.” He warmly made a ‘please’ gesture to Huwang Xiao.
Huwang Xiao and Shi Fantian walked in together, while Lin Mengle followed half a step behind Shi Fantian’s side. Zhao Shu and Zhang Fu trailed behind Huwang Xiao, entering the Blessed Buddha Palace.
Shi Fantian had ordered people to prepare a feast in the palace’s center hall early on, when they arrived at the center hall, he led Huwang Xiao, Zhao Shu, and Zhang Fu to the table.
According to Shi Fantian’s instructions, Huwang Xiao was seated next to Shi Fantian on one side while Lin Mengle on his left, then it was Shi Xiaofei and the other consorts. On the other side, next to Huwang Xiao, were Zhao Shu, Zhang Fu, and the other Blessed Buddha Empire’s Saint realm experts.
When everyone was seated, Shi Fantian raised his cup at Huwang Xiao for a toast, “Junior Brother, taste this Blessed Buddha Wine, this is my own recipe that I taught people below to brew.”
Huwang Xiao was beaming, raising his cup, “Really?” Their wine cups clinked, and both downed their wine in one go. Sliding down the throat, the first notes were a lit
tle sour, but a sought-after sourness. The next layer was spicy. An addictive spiciness which smoothed into a hint of dry tartness, yet it filled the drinker with a sweet sensation.
It was as if looking at the morning sunrise from afar, a new hopeful dawn laced with complex emotions at the lingering shadows at its feet.
Shi Fantian stared fixedly at Huwang Xiao.
Huwang Xiao looked at Shi Fantian, complimenting: “Excellent wine.” This Blessed Buddha Wine was indeed several times better than that Buddhist House restaurant’s wine.
Hearing Huwang Xiao praising the wine he created, Shi Fantian beamed, looking jubilant, as if his cultivation just had a breakthrough.
The feast proceeded in a merry mood.
Shi Fantian called out, “Junior Brother, in the Luo Tong Kingdom battle, you killed seven Deities Templar Elders, even their Grand Elder Gě Gé ran away in panic, I was very much surprised when I heard the news.”
Cups paused midair as eyes around the table turned to Huwang Xiao. Especially Shi Xiaofei’s gaze, never leaving Huwang Xiao for a long time. Despite having heard the events recounted many times over, there were too many versions, she would very much like to hear Huwang Xiao’ version.
Huwang Xiao said, “I was lucky enough to tame some Poison Corpse Scarabs, otherwise it would be us three fleeing for our lives.”
Everyone laughed.
Shi Fantian continued, “These Poison Corpse Scarabs are poisonous creatures that existed in the ancient times, even in the past, the mere mention of their name terrified people, and they have disappeared for more than several hundred millenniums. I’ve never imagined that you could tame these Poison Corpse Scarabs.”
Huwang Xiao nodded, “Three years ago, I, Zhao Shu, and some other people were in the Origin Forest in search of the Ancient Dragon Clan ruin. We found these Poison Corpse Scarabs at the Origin Forest.”
The fact that he found those Poison Corpse Scarabs at the Origin Forest wasn’t worth concealing, moreover, Huwang Xiao wasn’t afraid of Deities Templar finding out.
“Origin Forest.” Shi Fantian was astonished.
Every expert inside Martial Spirit World’s empires was trying to figure out where Huwang Xiao ‘picked up’ these Poison Corpse Scarabs, Shi Fantian didn’t expect that it would be the Origin Forest. But Shi Fantian quickly realized that it was only in a place like the Origin Forest that ancient poisonous insects like these could still exist.
Shi Fantian went on, “I didn’t expect Junior Brother to find these Poison Corpse Scarabs in the Origin Forest. These years, I have been in seclusion, comprehending a unique technique, thus I missed the Ancient Dragon Clan ruins opportunity. By the time I came out, the space tunnel leading was sealed again, not even Saint realm experts could break it by force.”
The space entrance to the Ancient Dragon Clan ruin closed up not long after Huwang Xiao left the Origin Forest, Huwang Xiao knew of this from the rumors circulating around.
Idle conversations progressed in a lively atmosphere, and the topic gradually shifted to Deities Templar.
Sighing, Shi Fantian said, “Deities Templar is getting more rampant. In the last few years, their force of influence expanded at rapid speed, taking control in the shadows of a lot of imperial forces. Those that refused to submit had their families and clans annihilated down to the root. Still, it won’t be so easy if they want to encroach my Blessed Buddha Empire.” A sharp glint shone in Shi Fantian’s eyes as he said this, a split second hostility broke out from his body.
In terms of strength, the Blessed Buddha Empire ranked third amongst the seventeen empires in Snow Wind Continent, whereas comparing individual strength, Shi Fantian’s strength was in the continent’s top three. Furthermore, the kingdoms under the Blessed Buddha Empire were extremely loyal, making it one of the hardest empires for Deities Templar to weasel their ways in.
The topic brought a heaviness to the feast.
Shi Fantian continued, “I heard there are already nine kingdoms under Duanren Empire that have been taken over by Deities Templar, I’m afraid that in three to four years’ time, Deities Templar will go ahead and attack Duanren Imperial City.”
Shi Fantian was aware of Emperor Duanren and Huwang Xiao’s relationship.
Huwang Xiao frowned, he had to admit that if the situation continued to progress in a similar trend, it was only a matter of time until Deities Templar would attack Duanren Imperial City. Of course, Huwang Xiao didn’t wish to see this happen.
Pushing aside his relationship with Emperor Duanren, there were Xie Puti’s Xie Family, and his younger sister’s in-laws, the Guo Family, residing in Duanren Imperial City.
Shi Fantian broke Huwang Xiao’s thoughts with a laugh, “However, Junior Brother has killed nine of their Elders to date, hampering the speed of their expansion.”
Huwang Xiao first killed Deities Templar’s Ao Baixue, Yao Fei, then Yao Shan, and the rest played a significant role in slowing down Deities Templar’s forces expansion, causing those kingdoms and forces that submitted to them to waver.
The feast lasted deep into the night before everyone retired for the night.
A full moon night.
Standing in the yard of the residence that Shi Fantian arranged for him, Huwang Xiao stared at the distant sky, the moonlight reflecting in his eyes.
Deities Templar’s forces had expanded too fast in the last few years. Relying on his individual strength, it was nearly impossible for him to fight against this mammoth, therefore, this journey to the Starcloud Continent, regardless of anything, he had to successfully retrieve the Asura’s Gate Sovereign position and take full control of Asura’s Gate.
Ch.384
Although Huwang Xiao lacked the capability to oppose the mammoth called Deities Templar in terms of overall strength, he would find ways to curb their forces’ expansion. A sharp glint flickered in his eyes and he summoned Zhao Shu and Zhang Fu.
“Sovereign, what orders do you have for your subordinates?” Zhao Shu and Zhang Fu respectfully asked when they stood in front of Huwang Xiao.
Huwang Xiao’s voice was somber, “Relay my order, any family, kingdom, or sects on Snow Wind Continent and Starcloud Continent that submitted to Deities Templar is my enemy. I, Huwang Xiao, am bound to annihilate them!” At the end, killing intent exploded in Huwang Xiao’s eyes.
Once this news spread out, those forces harboring thoughts of submitting to Deities Templar would need to think twice and more before doing so.
If Huwang Xiao had said this in the past, these families’ Patriarchs, sects, and kingdoms would have treated it as passing wind, however, after the incident in Luo Tong Kingdom, where Huwang Xiao killed seven Deities Templar Elders, no one would dare claim that Huwang Xiao was overreaching.
“Yes, Sovereign!” Zhao Shu and Zhang Fu complied in unison.
Huwang Xiao waved his hand, sending Zhao Shu and Zhang Fu out.
There were many Asura’s Gate disciples on the Snow Wind Continent itself, Huwang Xiao believed that his declaration would spread to the ears of these forces soon.
After Zhao Shu and Zhang Fu retreated, Huwang Xiao entered the Xumi Temple.
Inside the Xumi Temple, the twelve primordial divine dragon corpses were still sealed inside the crystal pillars, lined up at one side of the temple hall.
Huwang Xiao observed these twelve primordial divine dragons, each of them was different. Every time Huwang Xiao observed their postures, he would gain some insight into a skill.
Lined up in a row, these twelve primordial divine dragons’ postures revealed a Dragon Clan unique skill. This was Huwang Xiao’s conclusion after studying these twelve crystal dragon statues for so long, which was why Huwang Xiao was in no hurry to refine them. It wouldn’t be too late to do so after he learned the hidden skill.
Moreover, in one of the old records that he read in Duanren Institute, it was mentioned that the energy force contained within primordial divine dragons’ true dragon essence and dragon blood was too huge and violent, warrio
rs below the God Realm wanting to refine them should prepare and first take Dragon God Grass.
The Dragon God Grass could calm the energy contained inside the primordial divine dragon’s true dragon essence and blood, greatly reducing the risk during the process. It also noted that the effect was even better with the Dragon God Grass.
Thus, Huwang Xiao had decided to wait until he procured some Dragon God Grass. This was one of the tasks he gave Zhao Shu and Zhang Fu, to search for Dragon God Grass’ whereabouts.
After observing the twelve dragons’ postures for a while, Huwang Xiao closed his eyes, the postures of the twelve dragons flashed repeatedly in his mind. The images overlapped and changed in sequence.
With his eyes still closed, Huwang Xiao began to move, both hands formed into claws, flexing out. From claws, they turned to palms, pressing down. Huwang Xiao’s hands moved and changed with fluidity and flow, filling the large hall with looming claw imprints, palm imprints, and fist imprints. As his movements picked up speed, faint echoes of dragon roars reverberated throughout the hall.
Several hours later, Huwang Xiao was still practicing with his eyes closed, yet the dragon echoes within the temple hall grew more sonorous. Suddenly, Huwang Xiao opened his eyes. With a shake of his arms, two dragon shadows flew out.
These two dragon shadows mimicked the fire dragon and ice dragon sealed inside the crystal statues. The instant the fire and ice dragons appeared, the overbearing momentum of dragon might filled the entire space.
A brief moment later, both dragons turned into strands of dragon qi, returning to Huwang Xiao’s body.
Huwang Xiao was elated. The short moment of insight earlier enhanced his battle qi and true essence energy worth months of cultivation. This set of Dragon Clan’s unique skill could actually enhance one’s battle qi strength?
Pondering for a moment, Huwang Xiao decided to name this skill Twelve Forms of the Dragon God.
‘Pity, the remaining twelve crystal statues were looted by Deities Templar, Ten Directions Continent, and the Bedlam Lands.’ Huwang Xiao lamented a little in his heart. The complete set of this unique skill was contained in all twenty-four primordial divine dragon corpses. No doubt, its power would magnify if he could learn the complete set.