A young man who had yet to reach eighteen years old was actually an Earth Grade low level alchemist!
Yao Hui Yue’s talent in martial arts was indeed worthy of receiving a thumbs-up from mostly everyone in this world, but if his talent was compared to Ling Han’s accomplishments in alchemy, Ling Han was in no way inferior, or might have even exceeded him drastically.
That was because when he was at Ling Han’s age, he was only in the ninth layer of the Spiritual Ocean Tier. That was only comparable to being a Black Grade mid level alchemist.
But what about Ling Han? In martial arts, he had reached the ninth layer of the Spiritual Ocean Tier as well!
He was a really terrifying young man. No wonder his heart would throb with the feeling that Ling Han would be one of his greatest rivals in the future.
Yet Ling Han did not pay them any attention. He merely continued to circulate the Indestructible Heaven Scroll. The effects of the alchemical pills were also continuously taking effect, allowing his body to recover at a rapid rate. As long as he was not constantly being attacked by the flames, the Indestructible Heaven Scroll could display its effects to the fullest.
After about ten plus minutes, he stood back up. Though his injuries had not recovered completely, most of his injuries had.
“Ling Han, hand over the Crimson Red Chilling Ice Grass to Xuan’er and I can spare your life,” Yao Hui Yue said calmly. He had said before that the next time he saw Ling Han, he would take the latter’s life.
The Rain Emperor immediately humphed and interrupted, “I was just thinking to have a battle with you!” He decisively accepted the challenge to battle in Ling Han’s stead.
Yet Ling Han smiled and said, “Rain Emperor, just leave this battle to me!” There was still half an hour left of the instillation of power from the Black Tower, so how could it be wasted?
“Hahahaha!” Yao Hui Yue laughed loudly, but as he laughed, he kept shaking his head. “Though I have a high opinion of your potential, the current you is not acceptable. You are not yet qualified to battle me.”
“You’d only find out after a battle!” Ling Han waved the Demon Birth Sword. Faint patterns appeared, and a terrifying pressure emanated from the sword.
This kind of pressure had strong suppressive effects on any cultivator below the Flower Blossom Tier, but its effects were limited against those upwards. After all, from that cultivation tier onwards, the cultivator had stepped beyond the limits of mortality.
Yao Hui Yue humphed and said, “I was originally very expectant of the day that you will come to challenge me in the future, but if you insist to seek your own death, I do not mind granting your wish, either!” He was someone who had no fear of killing in the first place. He did not have the habit of treasuring talent, either. It was only a spur of the moment kind of thing for him to make a two-year promise with Ling Han, so naturally, he did not mind killing Ling Han before then.
“Mr Yao, Grandmaster Ling is an Earth Grade alchemist!” Zhu Xuan’er reminded coldly. Though she very much wanted the Crimson Red Chilling Ice Grass, she had no intention to take Ling Han’s life for it. Moreover, the two of them were still supposed to head to the middle state to “battle” together, and were allies. How could she possibly sit by and watch?
Yao Hui Yue smirked. Others might fear the Alchemist Society, but how could he? The internal workings of age-old sects like the Heaven’s Sword Sect were far stronger than anyone dared to imagine. Even the Alchemist Society would not be willing to trifle with them easily.
So what if he killed Ling Han? Could it be that the Alchemist Society would dare to come to Heaven’s Sword Sect to apprehend him?
“If you can block three sword strikes from me, I will spare you,” he said darkly.
Don’t think that his heart had softened. It was an absolutely one-sided domination for one in the Flower Blossom Tier against an opponent in the Spiritual Pedestal Tier. Wouldn’t three moves be enough to kill?
Ling Han raised the Demon Birth Sword levelly and answered calmly, “You won’t be able to kill me!” These were honest words. Currently, he was, at any rate, in the ninth layer of the Spiritual Pedestal Tier, and at least before the instillation of power from the Black Tower ended, he would be able to activate the peak period of the Flower Blossom Tier-level defense from the Thunder Battle Armor.
As for when the instillation of power from the Black Tower ended? Naturally, he would then beckon over the Rain Emperor to take his place. He was definitely not a man who was willing to die for useless pride.
“First strike!” Yao Hui Yue acted. He casually waved his finger, merely forming five flashes of Sword Qi. But who was he? Not only was he in the Flower Blossom Tier, he had also proclaimed himself as the second strongest swordsman in the world. Though that was a bit of an exaggeration, his power in the Flower Blossom Tier was still unbelievably strong.
It was as if these five flashes of Sword Qi were furious dragons that could easily kill a cultivator in the ninth layer of the Spiritual Tier over a hundred times.
In the first place, the gap between the Spiritual Pedestal and the Flower Blossom Tier was like the gap between heaven and earth, what more when it was the kind of monster that Yao Hui Yue was.
Ling Han was unafraid and waved his sword to parry. Pu, pu, pu, pu. He could not slice apart Yao Hui Yue’s Sword Qi, but the Thunder Battle Armor managed to easily block all five flashes. Ling Han wasn’t even forced back from the impact.
“Interesting.” Yao Hui Yue smiled. Previously, he had already seen the defensive ability that the Thunder Battle Armor displayed against flames, but being able to resist flames and being able to defend against a powerful attack were two completely different things.
For example, an earthen wall could resist fire, but facing a powerful attack, it would definitely be broken.
After this one strike, Yao Hui Yue’s thought that it was a fluke had disappeared. The Thunder Battle Armor could not only defend against fire and ice attacks, but was also effective against powerful attacks.
He had to get serious.
Yao Hui Yue drew his sword, his expression serious. For someone as proud as he, since he had declared that he would strike three times, he was definitely not going to strike a fourth time. Otherwise, that would ruin the core of his art of the sword, and he could never possibly form Sword Heart in this lifetime.
He once again waved his hand. Xiu , nine flashes of Sword Qi appeared simultaneously, and charged towards Ling Han.
Peng!
These flashes of Sword Qi were once again perfectly dispersed by the Thunder Battle Armor. How could normal attacks be effective against defense at the level of the peak period of the Flower Blossom Tier?
Yao Hui Yue’s expression increased in seriousness. He did not mean to take Ling Han seriously at all, but the might of the latter’s battle armor had exceeded his expectations.
He had to use his best move, or he would really be unable to kill this young opponent.
He took in a deep breath and his treasured sword trembled slightly. Endless Sword Qi was exuded from all over his body, as if the wielder had also transformed into a sword. His body was the sword, his consciousness was the sword, all was the sword!
Ling Han was greatly moved. In his last life, he had naturally not seen the Sword Emperor attack at full strength, and Yao Hui Yue’s trying his best now instantly gave him inspiration. So the path of the sword could be walked in this way too.
He wanted to walk the path of the strongest, so naturally, he had to absorb the strongest points of various paths.
“Mysterious Three Thousand, Slashing All Three Realms!” Yao Hui Yue struck. Xiu, xiu, xiu . A total of 1,200 flashes of light actually shone with luster from the strike!
Ling Han smiled. It was indeed the Mysterious Three Thousand; he had made the right bet!
Chapter 424
Chapter 424: A Narrow Victory
Translator: _Dark_Angel_ Editor: Kurisu
One thousand and two hundred
sword flashes!
This meant that Yao Hui Yue had shot out eleven flashes of Sword Qi; that was how the total number of sword flashes reached the high point of one thousand and two hundred. This was an extremely terrifying attack. A cultivator in the Flower Blossom Tier was capable of shooting out one thousand and two hundred sword flashes, and every flash was equivalent to Yao Hui Yue’s full-power attack. If these sword flashes crashed onto the Thunder Battle Armor, they were perfectly capable of crushing its Flower Blossom Tier-level defense.
They were too concentrated and too powerful!
Ling Han was also slightly surprised. He had foreseen that when the first two strikes of Yao Hui Yue produced no effect, he would definitely use the Mysterious Three Thousand in the third strike. The latter’s pride and self-esteem would not allow the words he had declared to fall empty.
However, he had never thought that Yao Hui Yue had indeed hidden his real ability. He had actually formed as many as eleven flashes of Sword Qi!
He was indeed a very ambitious man. He had already formed eleven flashes of Sword Qi, yet did not choose to consolidate them into Sword Ray. Was he planning to form twenty-nine flashes then?
The Rain Emperor was also greatly stirred. He had formed Fist Ray only after he had formed ten flashes of Qi, but he had never thought that ten flashes was not the limit at all! There was nothing to be done about that; due to the limits of the power structure, there was no way that the Rain Emperor’s understanding and knowledge about martial arts could compare with a disciple of Heaven’s Sword Sect.
This had nothing to do with personal talent, but was rather due to the gap between their respective legacies.
Ling Han moved and used the Shadow Wind Motion, and actually managed to weave around the one thousand and two hundred sword flashes. Extremely coincidentally and very amazingly, he avoided one sword flash after another, heading towards Yao Hui Yue in attack.
That was too inconceivable!
The Rain Emperor and Zhu Xuan’er could not help but gape; that was definitely Yao Hui Yue’s strongest attack. If it was them… even if Zhu Xuan’er broke through to the Flower Blossom Tier, she would only be able to stay on the defense against such an attack. Otherwise, she could only choose to retreat early on to avoid facing such power directly.
But soon after, they immediately shook their heads internally. That was one thousand and two hundred sword flashes; it was absolutely impossible to defend against. Unless they possessed an overwhelming advantage in cultivation level, that would be the only way they could parry what was equivalent to the fierce attack of a thousand and two hundred Tao Hui Yue.
The only option was to retreat and dodge.
This was the conclusion that the two of them had reached, yet Ling Han did the exact opposite; he actually went straight up against the thousand and two hundred sword flashes and charged towards Yao Hui Yue to attack.
But it seemed as if he could really succeed; he had already managed to dodge over seven hundred sword flashes.
How could this scene not stike the Rain Emperor and Zhu Xuan’er dumb? Meanwhile, Tong Zhi Ming was gritting his teeth as well, yet he felt as if the pain caused by the injury on his neck had increased slightly. Only Hu Niu kept clapping her hands, calling out in praise.
Eight hundred, nine hundred, one thousand, one thousand and one hundred, one thousand and two hundred!
Ling Han actually managed to pass all one thousand and two hundred sword flashes and arrived in front of Yao Hui Yue. His sword streaked past, and he used the Four Seasons Sword Technique; Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter cycled.
Peng!
Yao Hui Yue was struck and his figure was instantly flung backwards from the impact. However, multiple patterns lit up on his body, and when he touched the ground, there was only a very shallow wound on the left side of his face. Blood was seeping out, but it was as if it was mercury. It dripped slowly and exuded a silvery white light.
Ling Han withdrew his sword. He managed to turn tables around in the final attack because he, too, had cultivated the Mysterious Three Thousand. Moreover, he had formed nine flashes of Sword Qi himself, which was only two flashes of Sword Qi less than his opponent.
As a result, he naturally knew how these sword flashes circulated. Though the additional two hundred flashes did give him some trouble. However, he did have the divine sense of the Heaven Tier after all, and his opponent was only in the Flower Blossom Tier, so the additional two hundred sword flashes were not too much of a problem.
This was what led to a miracle—a cultivator of the ninth layer of Spiritual Pedestal Tier overcame the strongest killing move of his Flower Blossom Tier opponent and managed to land his own attack!
…Even if he had only left behind a very tiny wound on Yao Hui Yue’s face, which was completely superficial.
A hush fell all around them.
The Rain Emperor was astonished, Zhu Xuan’er’s beautiful eyes shone brightly, whereas Tong Zhi Ming trembled. Only Hu Niu was clapping her hands wildly and broke the silence with her applause.
Yao Hui Yue’s expression changed repeatedly, but finally returned to impassiveness. He exuded an absolutely relaxed air and even smiled. He said, “Not bad, not bad. In my whole life, this is the first time that I have been wounded by someone who is ten years younger than me.
“I’ve said before that I would only strike three times!
“Ling Han, there are still twenty months. Within these twenty months, even if I meet you once again, I will pretend that I have not seen you. However, twenty months later, no matter where you’re hiding, I will find you and kill you!
“I will step on your corpse and break through to the second level of my path of the sword!”
He had completely recovered his forceful manner and brimmed with confidence. He turned to Zhu Xuan’er and said, “Xuan’er, I’m sorry. I was not able to help you collect the Spiritual Herb, but please don’t worry. I will immediately return to the middle state and definitely help you get Spiritual Herb.”
After saying so, he nodded at Tong Zhi Ming, and the two of them turned around and left.
Ling Han’s eyes stayed on Yao Hui Yue’s figure. The next time they met, he would definitely not take advantage of the fact that he had an understanding of Mysterious Three Thousand; instead, he would use real battle prowess to defeat this second coming of the Sword Emperor!
‘Sword Emperor, it would be good if you had managed to enter the real of gods. I shall definitely seek you out in the future for a good battle!’
Ling Han’s confidence soared. He was certain that he would be able to break through to the Flower Blossom Tier in two years’ time.
“Grandmaster Ling, how much Crimson Red Chilling Ice Grass do you need to use to concoct your alchemical pill? Please leave some for Xuan’er!” Zhu Xuan’er bowed to Ling Han. Whether it was because of his identity as an Earth Grade alchemist or because of the battle prowess he currently possessed, she dared not use forceful means.
Furthermore, she was most impressed by a genius of martial arts. Ling Han, with his cultivation of the ninth layer of Spiritual Ocean Tier—though he had temporarily raised his cultivation to the ninth layer of the Spiritual Pedestal Tier—was capable of wounding an elite cultivator of the Flower Blossom Tier, especially when it was the kind of monster that Yao Hui Yue was. It naturally filled her with an endless respect for him.
Her beautiful eyes blazed, extremely enchanting.
Meanwhile, the Rain Emperor smiled slightly and said, “Ling Han, I will still stay for some time in this Dark Devil Forest, and when I reach the ninth layer of Flower Blossom Tier, I will enter the other regions to travel. Therefore, if you encounter any trouble during this time, you can come here and look for me.”
“Many thanks, Rain Emperor!” Ling Han raised his clasped hands in thanks.
There was a protective screen that separated all four great regions and the middle state. A weaker person could freely pass through, but the higher one’s cultivation, the
harder it would be to pass through this barrier. For example, it was possible for a cultivator in the Spiritual Infant Tier to pass through, but their cultivation would be greatly decreased.
Thus, if one wanted to travel to the various regions and the middle state, the Flower Blossom Tier was the best cultivation level for it. One would still be strong enough to ensure his own safety yet would not be weakened in the process of passing through the barrier.
The Rain Emperor looked over Ling Han and Zhu Xuan’er a few times, laughed loudly, and leaped through the air and left.
Zhu Xuan’er’s face reddened from the way he was looking at them. Thankfully, she had a white veil to cover her face, so no one could see how she currently resembled a peach.
“Grandmaster Ling…” She said to Ling Han shyly, her beautiful eyes clear and like honey, enough to make one’s heart drunk with the sweetness.
Ling Han thought for a moment, then said, “One month later, bring enough Origin Crystals or other ingredients. Formation techniques would be all right as well. I can sell the Crimson Red Chilling Ice Grass to you.” If it was one month, there should be quite a few stalks of Crimson Red Chilling Ice Grass in the Black Tower, so it would be fine to sell off one stalk.
“Really?” Zhu Xuan’er asked, extremely excited.
Ling Han revealed an impatient expression and countered, “I am an Earth Grade alchemist; do you think I would lie to a little girl like you?”
Instantly, the corner of Zhu Xuan’er’s mouth twitched, and she almost charged up to him to stab him with her sword.
Chapter 425
Chapter 425: Return to Extreme Yang City
Translator: _Dark_Angel_ Editor: Kurisu
Zhu Xuan’er, ranked thirteenth in the Prodigy Roll of the north region. In the ranking tournament that would come about a month later, it was a sure thing for her to be ranked among the top three. It was not an impossible thing for her to be ranked first even.
Furthermore, she was the greatest beauty of the north region. Without even showing her whole face, she was capable of making the excellent disciples of Heaven’s Sword Sect be at her beck and call, trying their best to gain her favor.
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