by Tony Tran
Much to everyone’s surprise, the moment the ray of light from the Azure Tower touched the receding ray of heavenly energy, it actually began to cease fluctuating and begin to channel toward Zhang once more.
“That barrier is down, move in!” A lesser saint cried as he ceased fighting his opponent and charged toward the Sky Fortress.
Soon enough hundreds of lesser saints, full saints, and some higher saints sped toward the Azure Tower where Zhang was finishing up his ascension.
“All forces attack!” Ling’s voice could be heard as hundreds of mithril tipped ballista bolts shot into the air. Although they were probably not enough to slay a saint, the mithril tips of the ballista bolts would definitely serve as hindrances as they pierced through the air.
Accompanying the ballista bolts were hundreds of spider webs being rapidly shot into the air by the horde of Wraith Spiders. Although it was comparable to using an egg to combat a charging chariot, Zhang’s soldiers and the Wraith Spiders were giving their all so, their master could complete his ascension.
“Unless!” A saint roared as he sent an energy palm toward a group of Zhang’s soldiers who were busily reloading a ballista. Soon after a mixture of screams could be heard as Zhang’s men began to frantically attempt to avoid the incoming attack that would without a doubt take their lives.
Scurrying in all directions Zhang’s men were able to avoid sharing the same fate as the ballista that was left in pieces on the ground. But of course, Zhang’s men did not lose heart almost instantly sped toward another ballista and began to help reload it, while others began to draw their bows and fire arrows into the sky.
“Go a deal with those ants… They're starting to become annoying” An enraged saint bellowed to his disciples as a mithril tipped ballista bolt that nearly impaled him.
“We’ll deal with them right away, master.” A dozen of his disciples who were level ten warriors and mages said as they stopped flying toward the Azure Tower and splintered off atop their mounts.
As massive cranes and fiery hawks descended upon the soldiers of Aurora, countless casualties and numerous deaths became imminent.
“Any who try to bring harm to his highness must get through us first!” A thousand voices rang out in unison as Zhang’s elite guard charged out from the Azure Tower with weapons in hand.
Much like shadows, Yuying’s apprentices moved rushed toward the level ten warriors and mages with amazing grace and speed. Although normally a level nine warrior or mage would find it hard pressed to face against their level ten counterparts, the elite guard held an absolute advantage thanks to their numbers and nearly flawless teamwork which was put on display as a battle of epic proportions began.
“The princess said that those who get injured are to instantly retreat to the tower!” One of Yuying’s apprentices said, reminding everyone that they are expected to put their lives in priority when facing these opponents.
While Zhang’s forces were putting their lives on the line, the high saints closed in on the Azure Tower but to their surprise, an extremely powerful gale of wind pushed against them and prevented them from moving forward.
“It’s him!” One of the high saints yelled as creased appeared on his brow.
“Damn that beggar, always getting in my way.” Another high saint cursed.
“Old man Dan Jin stop interfering!” Yet another high saint yelled as an elderly man dressed in rags descended from the sky.
“Why don’t you all stop picking on the younglings then? Perhaps you can do me a favor and fight each other so, I don’t have to keep making these trips.” The elderly man who was dressed in rags said with a sigh.
With a wave of his hand, old man Dan Jin made a wall of wind spiral around the Azure Tower thus creating a protective barrier around it.
“Anyone who wishes you thinks they can get through us then they are welcome to try.” Old man Dan Jin said as five figures shot out of the sky and stood around the Azure Tower. One of these figures being the female saint that had been talking to her disciple earlier.
“It looks like I don’t have to call for help just yet.” Yuying mumbled as she released her grip on the jade pendant that hung by her waist that can open the samsara gate and connect to the Underworld.
Much to Yuying’s joy someone else was taking up the task of protecting Zhang making it so, that she did not have to call for aid from the Underworld. Since it was impossible to constantly call for help from the Underworld, Yuying had to save these opportunities for only when there was no other alternative.
“Old man Dan Jin if you do not get out of our way then we will not hold back.” The high saint with droopy eyebrows said.
“Try me.” Old man Dan Jin said as he waved his hand and a beautiful looking jade cane appeared in his hand.
Since old man Dan Jin had appeared and halted the advance of the high saints, the rest of the saints were given an opportunity to catch up and soon the Azure Tower was surrounded from all sides by preying eyes.
Of course, not all of the saints were gathered around the Azure Tower, there were a few lesser saints who gave up on attempting to steal Zhang’s heavenly energy and simply contented themselves with causing death and destruction.
But before too much death and destruction could be spread, the ray of heavenly energy descended down from above ceased and a frightening roar reverberated in the air. A roar so, frightening that everyone ceased what they were doing and all eyes focused on the Azure Tower.
As all gazes were focused on the tower, Zhang could be seen floating out from a balcony and into the sky.
“How could this be… How could his powers stabilize so, quickly!” A saint yelled in disbelief as Zhang floated atop the Azure Tower while radiating power.
As numerous experts were shocked by Zhang’s sudden appearance but of course, how could anyone possibly know that Zhang possessed the Underworld Heart and that it helped him stabilize his newfound power.
“I think you seniors your help.” Zhang said to old man Jin Dan and his allies with a polite bow.
“No need to be so, polite, as a senior looking out for my juniors is something that should be done.” Old man Jin Dan said with a smile.
“As for the other seniors, my heavenly energy has been stabilized and since I have nothing else to offer you all I would like to kindly ask all of you to leave.” Zhang said with a smile as he lowered himself down to where the essence core of the sky fortress was and activated its barrier.
In a flash, all of the level ten warriors and mages were pushed out while the lesser saints felt an unbearable force press down on their bodies.
“Since there’s nothing left to watch, I’ll be on my way. Congratulations on being a full saint...” A lesser saint said as he flew out of the barrier and away before some of the full saints and higher saints set their eyes on hunting the lesser saints.
“I’ll be on our way also, but if you ever need any help you can find me in the Lunar Kingdom past the Lunar Mountains.” Old Man Jin Dan said as he bid Zhang farewell and flew away, but stopped not too far away to keep an eye on things.
“Tsk…” A high saint said as he clicked his tongue and flew out of the barrier.
One by one the lesser saints, full saints and some high saints began to depart as their prey was no more.
Chapter 74: Demands
Once the subject of interest was no longer worth their effort, all of the high saints gathered up their disciples and departed. Since all of the high saints departed, Old man Dan Jin also left. However, unlike the high saints who had little to gain from attacking Zhang, a pair full saints and some lesser saints chose to stick around despite the possibility of being attacked.
“Junior brother, I must congratulate you on becoming a full saint from your first ascension since not many around these parts get such a luxury.” A full saint with a crooked grin and a battle ax in hand said.
“I was simply lucky that’s all.” Zhang replied with neither a positive or negative emotions behind
his words.
“Since junior brother is so, lucky, you probably won’t mind sharing a bit of what you have with someone less fortunate than yourself would you?” The full saint with a crooked grin said as a few lesser saints gathered behind him.
“They’re thinking of ganging up on me…Damn pack of wolves...” Zhang thought as his brows began to crease.
“Master Xue Huo if we’re going to share things then if it is possible I would like for you to grant me that one.” A lesser saint said as he pointed his finger toward Ling as he gazed upon her with lecherous eyes, causing Little White who was walking around her to growl.
“I would like that one if you would be as kind enough to grant her to me, master Xue Huo.” Another lesser saint said while licking his lips as he pointed toward Lingqi who was helping patch up a wounded soldier.
“Then I would like her.” Yet another less saint said pointing toward Ai who glared back at him before picking up a spear sized ballista bolt and hurtling it into the air.
“Since all of the others have been picked, if you can please grant me that one.” A fourth lesser saint said as he pointed toward Yuying.
“Since I have no interest in them you're free to decide who gets what.” The full Saint referred to as Master Xue Huo said with a smile as if everything's present was his to give away to his followers.
“I believe you have all mistaken on something because it seems like you all think I’m someone who can be easily bully… Let alone sharing my things with you, I’ve yet to even demand reparations for my injured and dead soldiers…” Zhang said in an angry tone.
“Don’t act so, cheeky you brat, just because you were lucky enough to complete your ascension uninterrupted does not mean your unbeatable. The likes of you cannot be compared to our master.” The lesser saint who had looked at Ling with lecherous eyes barked.
“Little brother if you're willing to hand over those four lovely ladies, this magnificent fortress, those demonic beasts, and all of your soldiers who have reached the eight level of cultivation, we can be on our way and no longer cause you any more trouble.” The full saint with a crooked grin named Xue Huo said as he eyed Zhang’s wives, soldiers, and pets while playing with his battle ax.
“If you give me all of your interspatial rings, kowtow to me three times each while calling me daddy I’ll let you leave with your lives…” Zhang replied.
“Brother Xue Huo it seems this one needs a light beating before he realizes his place.” Another full saint said as he stood atop a puffy cloud.
At the end of his patience and without saying a word Zhang disappeared in a flash after turning off the fortress’s barrier and reappearing an instant later and plunging his hand through a lesser saint’s chest. As his hand slid out of his first victim’s chest covered in blood and gore, Zhang tossed the man’s corpse toward Yuying in a single motion before disappearing once again.
Knowing what Zhang wanted her to do Yuying grabbed the lesser saint’s body before it hit the ground and sped toward where Lingqi was. The moment she arrived beside Lingqi, Yuying pressed her hand onto the ground causing thousands of runes to appear on her hand and flow into the stone floor beneath her.
In no time at all an inscription array was constructed and golden blobs of heavenly energy began to be extracted from the dead lesser saint’s corpse and began floating into the air.
“Absorb this and don't worry about being attacked, I've already made a miniature version of the barrier from before around you.” Yuying said as a red colored bubble formed and encased Lingqi without it as she began to absorb the blobs of floating heavenly energy.
In the meantime, in the skies battle broke out between Zhang, a pair of full saints and their lesser saint underlings. Well, actually it was just Zhang and the lesser saints who were battling while the two full saints were simply observing.
Unleashing his full arsenal, Zhang’s Dragon Talon throwing knives, Voracious Eater chained daggers and dozens of other weapons danced about and circled the air as they launched themselves at his enemies.
“You think these toys can harm us?” A lesser saint laughed as a ring of fire formed around his body and melted a few beautiful golden swords that Zhang had found on one of his treasure hunts.
“Maybe those can’t but these can!” Zhang roared as the ten Dragon Talon knives all sped toward the lesser saint, pierced through his ring of fire and embedded themselves into his body.
Unlike all of Zhang’s weapons, these throwing knives were said to be made from the parts of a dragon, making them very resilient and high tier weapons.
Despite being impaled by the ten throwing knives the lesser saint was not dead and actually released a roar filled with rage as he charged toward Zhang with his sword in hand.
Of course, this lesser saint was not alone because in a fraction of a second two more lesser saints also charged at Zhang while swinging their swords.
Moments later three swords all aiming for Zhang slashed downward from three different directions.
Slightly hopping backward in midair Zhang was able to avoid the first slash that sliced downward and was inches away from touching his nose, while using the using his two Mirage Viper Tooth swords to block the other two attacked that came from both his sides.
But that was not the end of things as a fourth sword lunged forward at Zhang from his rear, to which he was able to dodge after launching himself forward while slashing the legs of the two lesser saints to his right and left, severing them.
As if leaping through the air, Zhang pounced on the lesser saint that had nearly slashed his face. Much like how the mirage viper that his swords used to be a part of would have done, Zhang stabbed both of his swords into his opponent’s chest as he kneed the man in the stomach.
Although everything took much time to describe, all of it happened in mere seconds that showed the intensity of the battle that was happening.
As the three lesser saints watched their comrade being slain in front of them without enough time to aid him. A spear sized ballista bolt pierced through the air and brushed one of the lesser saints, leaving a thin streak of blood running down his cheek.
Looking downward, Ai could be seen venting her anger and throwing ballista bolts into the sky.
“Damn slut you dare…” A lesser saint said as he wiped off the blood on his cheek as he turned his body toward Ai.
“Fuck off!” Zhang’s voice rang into the lesser saint's ear as he felt a piercing pain that originated from his back that ran through his chest. Looking down he could see a long slightly curved blade slick with blood poking out of his chest.
Before long this lesser saint’s corpse was tossed down toward Yuying much like with his two comrades. Like before Yuying created two inscription arrays for Ai and Ling to absorb the heavenly energy being dispersed from the corpses of the two lesser saints.
Normally lesser saints and even full saints would be like flies over ripe fruit when heavenly energy is on the line, however when the two full saints who were observing the battle recognized Yuying’s red barrier they did not bother attempting to disrupt the beauties, while the lesser saints were too preoccupied with Zhang to do anything.
“How is this guy so, strong… Even if he’s a full saint, how is he beating us so, easily.” A lesser saint complained as it seemed like Zhang was one-sidedly controlling the flow of the battle.
Actually, if one was to compare Zhang and the group of eight or so, remaining lesser saints, in terms of experience and technique they vastly outstripped him. While in terms of power, as a full Saint Zhang was far superior to them if they were to fight individually, however from beginning to start there were about a dozen lesser Saint.
So how was Zhang able to kill them one after the other? The answer is actually quite simple. Although it may sound ridiculous but these lesser saints were losing because they had more experience and knew more techniques then Zhang.
Since they knew more, they thought more while being less willing to act risky. To the les
ser saints who had dozens if not hundreds of years of battle experience, every movement Zhang made had a reason and dozens of possibilities that turned into countless different scenarios in their minds.
If he was showing an opening then it was for a reason, if he did this or that there was a reason. However, in actuality due to Zhang’s lack of proper training in the higher levels of combat, he simply fought with all he had, with his instincts and with the sword skills that he was taught by his two teachers one of which was someone who never break through the sixth level of cultivation while the other lacked enough time to properly show him the proper path of a cultivator.
So, while Zhang acted somewhat recklessly, and while the lesser saints thought too much about the situation, Zhang was able together the better of them.
“Think fast!” Zhang yelled as a bolt of lightning shot out from his hand and began to branch off.