by Translator: BornToBe; Author: Ordinary Magician (平凡魔术师); Licensed From: 17k
One thousand middle grade spirit stones was a number that could frighten a person to death. An ordinary Xiantian expert could work for a sect for a decade before obtaining a single middle grade spirit stone. That was how precious they were.
Most terrifying of all, this was just the start. In front of this heaven-defying divine soil, no one was able to keep their calm.
Any large sect had their own medicinal fields. They had their own specific rare medicines. Using this soil to vitalize those precious medicines would give them an incredible profit.
“1500!”
“2000!”
“3000!”
It was like they weren’t even spending money, but simply trying to shout a higher number than anyone else. Even Yao Niqian felt like her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
“8000!”
In the end, a voice startled everyone out of their fervor. When they saw the speaker, none of them dared say another word.
That person was the Yin family’s junior master, Yin Wushang. Originally, he hadn’t been present at the auction, but once he had heard about the divine soil, he had immediately rushed over. As a result, with a single bid, he made everyone silent.
On one hand, eight thousand middle grade spirit stones were truly a bit too much for some powers. That price was not something they could handle.
The other reason was that it was Yin Wushang. They immediately thought of the Yin family’s Meridian Opening Spirit Cliff Fruit. That made everyone immediately give up.
Their own precious medicines which they had been planning on growing could not even compare to the Meridian Opening Spirit Cliff Fruit’s value. No matter how much money Yin Wushang spent, he would get it back. But it was different for them. At a certain point, there would be no profit at all.
It was better for them to stop while they still could, leaving behind a good impression on Yin Wushang. Just like that, Yin Wushang easily gained this ‘divine soil’.
However, Yao Niqian had Yin Wushang agree to sign a contract in front of everyone. This life-giving divine soil’s effect could not be 100% confirmed. They were only selling it on behalf of someone else.
Purchasing this divine soil posed a certain amount of risk. Therefore, the auction house would keep Yin Wushang’s eight thousand middle grade spirit stones there for one month.
During that month, if Yin Wushang felt there was something off with the divine soil, then within that one month’s time limit, he could return the divine soil and the auction house would return his money, also returning the divine soil to its owner. However, they would take a five percent service charge.
This contract made everyone raise a big thumbs-up to the Huayun Sect for how they handled their business. They truly were meticulous.
For an unknown item, they didn’t just sell it off and say whatever. Instead, they gave the buyer the greatest guarantee. A month was enough time to determine the truth about the soil.
This contract also won Yin Wushang’s praise, and other than the eight thousand middle grade spirit stones, he also directly gave ten middle grade spirit stones to Yao Niqian. That money-spending style shocked everyone. The Yin family’s people truly had money.
As for Yao Niqian, she was unable to conceal her delight. In truth, she was unaware that what she had sold Yin Wushang was not some divine soil, but an extremely terrifying soil.
For safety, Zheng Wenlong had handled everything by himself. Only he knew what was happening.
After the auction, all of Qingzhou City returned to an extremely quiet state. However, many people sensed that behind this quietness, a storm was brewing.
That was because the Giant Eagle Stronghold, Sky Cry Mansion, and Pure River Valley had begun gathering their experts. Although they kept their movements quiet, there was no way they could keep them concealed.
Furthermore, considering how many people the three great powers possessed, there was no way they could keep it top secret. Although they announced to the outside world that they were just making some adjustments, that just made it more conspicuous.
Ten days later, Long Chen walked out of his private room. His gaze was now electric, and his aura had become reserved.
If Long Chen could be described as a sharp blade being unsheathed on the day that he had condensed the embryonic Life Fate Star, then the current him had been resheathed, his sharpness hidden. However, the current Long Chen felt even more terrifying, because once this blade was unsheathed, rivers of blood would flow.
During this time, Long Chen didn’t know how many pills he had consumed. He estimated that it would have to be counted in the hundreds. He had had to regrow those precious medicines several times.
Right now, the Life Fate Star was in the condensing state. The star had received enough energy and needed to rely on circulating its own power to digest that energy and reach its fully condensed state.
This was the first time such a thing had occurred in Long Chen’s experience. The Life Fate Star was fully saturated, and he needed to wait for the Life Fate Star to fully condense itself. That wouldn’t require any pills.
Perhaps it was that the pills he had consumed this time were too high grade. When he had condensed the FengFu Star and the Alioth Star, the medicinal pills hadn’t been able to keep up with the demand. But this time, the supply had exceeded the demand.
However, once it finished condensing, he would still need to continue consuming Life Fate Pills. That was because after the star condensation, he needed to undergo the nine star transformations. Only then would the star reach its perfect state, and only then would he be able to summon the complete Three Star Battle Armor.
Moreover, in the past few days, as the Life Fate Star gradually grew, Long Chen felt his body completely transforming.
He felt like each one of his cells was growing stronger. His strength was growing explosively, and even he was unaware of what level it had grown to. He was preparing to go find Mo Nian to exchange some blows.
But what Long Chen hadn’t expected was that Mo Nian had also exited his seclusion. As soon as he came out, he went to find Long Chen. As a result, the two of them ran into each other.
“Tch, little brat, how dare you go on a rampage in my Mo Gate? Is it that you don’t place this junior gate master in your eyes?” Mo Nian provoked Long Chen.
Long Chen noticed that Mo Nian’s original aura had completely disappeared. It seemed he had already completely merged with those two Heavenly Dao seeds and become a true Celestial.
“I really look down on you. Don’t learn from those idiots outside. If you want to fight, then just say it directly. But first of all, it’s been many days since I ate. How about we find a place to fill our stomachs first?” suggested Long Chen.
“Now that you mention it, I’m also pretty hungry. Then should we go to the Immortal Intoxication Building? Although it’s expensive, there really is nothing that can be said about the food,” said Mo Nian.
“The food might be good, but let’s not. I don’t like going to that place. Let’s go to your restaurant instead. The restaurant across the street is pretty good.” Long Chen shook his head. He definitely didn’t want to face people like Yu Tong and Zi Yan again.
To tell the truth, Yu Tong was an extremely rare beauty, and while Zi Yan had been veiled, Long Chen could tell she definitely had to be very beautiful as well. However, Long Chen disliked their temperaments. As for why he didn’t like them, he wasn’t able to describe it clearly. In any case, he disliked it.
Mo Nian didn’t force it since Long Chen didn’t want to go to the Immortal Intoxication Building. He and Long Chen changed their clothes and had just left Mo Gate when a panting figure rushed over. “Long Chen! Something’s happened!”
Chapter 577 Kill Without Mercy
“Zhang Wu? What happened?”
Long Chen saw it was the Muxue Mercenary Unit’s Zhang Wu. Currently, he was covered in blood and had an anxious expression.
“Long Chen, leader Mu Xue was captured by oth
ers!”
“What?” Long Chen and Mo Nian were both startled.
“Today, our Muxue Mercenary Unit went outside the city to handle some small things. But we didn’t expect a group of masked people to attack us midway. We… we… as soon as we clashed, several of our brothers died.
“Leader Mu Xue ordered us to return and tell you. She activated her crystal bone to block those experts.
“However, they were too strong. Leader was still captured. At the time, I was fleeing for my life, and I don’t know just how many others managed to survive.” Reaching here, Zhang Wu couldn’t hold back from sobbing.
“Do you know who did it?” asked Long Chen.
“They were masked and wearing black robes to hide their identity. However, when leader Mu Xue fought with them, she killed one of them and a badge dropped from his pocket. It was someone from the Giant Eagle Stronghold,” said Zhang Wu.
Long Chen’s expression was dark as he said to Mo Nian, “Let’s go. We’re going killing.”
Mo Nian asked, “Who are we killing? They wore masks intentionally to not leave any evidence. Once you get there, do you think they’ll admit to it? It’s better for me to discuss it with my old man!”
“Mo Nian, ah, Mo Nian. Tell me, are you a coward?” Long Chen icily spat that out before pulling on Zhang Wu. “Let’s go. Bring me to the Giant Eagle Stronghold.”
Mo Nian hastily caught up. “Fuck, how am I a coward? I’m just worried that even if you go, you’ll have to leave dejected.”
“What is there to be dejected about? I’m going there to kill people, not to catch criminals. What evidence do I need? If you’re my brother, then just don’t say anything. Quietly follow me to kill those people. I’ll let you see what that Hegemon Dao is,” said Long Chen icily.
“Fine, brothers should stick together. I’ll follow you,” sighed Mo Nian.
He remembered what his grandfather had told him. Long Chen was too domineering, while he was too cowardly. If the two of them could complement each other, it would be perfect.
“Zhang Wu, since Mo Nian is accompanying me, there’s no need for you to lead the way. You can stay at Mo Gate. If the others are alive, they’ll definitely come here to find me. You’ll receive them. No one would dare do anything to them here,” said Long Chen.
“Long Chen, I beg you, you must bring back leader!” cried Zhang Wu.
“Don’t worry. Even if I have to risk my life, I will bring back leader.”
Long Chen and Mo Nian disappeared from Mo Gate. When the two of them left, a person hastily went to report the matter to Mo Yi, who was in a room with the other higher-ups of the Mo family.
“Let them go. Children need to grow up in the end. That child Mo Nian is too smart and cautious. He hasn’t suffered enough in his life, which is why his growth is so slow. He always does things too safely and doesn’t possess enough daring. This time, our opponent is clearly intentionally provoking us. Let’s just watch what idiocy they’re up to now,” said Mo Yi.
“Do we need to make any preparations?” asked Mo Yunshan.
“No need. In front of absolute strength, plans and intelligence are useless. All you need to do is watch out for those two children in secret. Unless you have to, don’t reveal yourself,” said Mo Yi.
“Yes.”
Mo Yunshan bowed to Mo Yi and then left.
…
Within the Immortal Intoxication Building, Zi Yan was looking at the private letter in her hand, frowning. “You obtained it this quickly?”
“It’s because someone else already asked the Shadow Gate to investigate everything about Long Chen. When I went, I just directly bought the information again,” said Xiao Lu.
“Oh? Someone asked the Shadow Gate to investigate Long Chen? To have such abilities, this power must not be ordinary,” said Zi Yan.
“You’re right. It was done by the Yin family. I had to use my identity plate for them to tell me that,” said Xiao Lu.
Zi Yan read through a great deal of information written in the letter. An incense stick’s time later, she sighed. “So when Long Chen was a child, he had to endure all kinds of suffering from people, and then later, he obtained some kind of unknown opportunity, soaring like a meteor.
“From the Phoenix Cry Empire to the Xuantian Monastery and then to the Jiuli secret realm, he forced his way through all his obstacles, using the most direct and simplest way to crush all his enemies beneath his feet.
“In the Jiuli secret realm, he ended up being the enemy of the Righteous and Corrupt paths, and it’s said he obtained quite a few treasures in the secret realm. Many people are hidden in the dark, keeping watch over his every move. No wonder he is so guarded.”
“However, I feel like this Long Chen’s character is very good. He cares about his people and is willing to even risk his life for them. But as for his enemies, he will cut them into a thousand pieces with his blade. Although he is vicious, he hasn’t lost what it means to differentiate between kindness and enmity,” said Xiao Lu.
“Differentiating between kindness and enmity is fine, but such actions do not conform with the Heavenly Daos. Resentment will not fade because of slaughter. Instead, it will only grow stronger.
“Those who were killed will be dead, but their pain will be left to their family, their friends. Thus, the seeds of hatred are planted and will grow limitlessly.
“That’s why the current world has turned into its current chaotic state, and it has even affected the Heavenly Daos. After our Immortal Palace’s inheritance was severed, successive generations of our palace masters poured their sweats and their tears in an attempt to connect with the Heavenly Daos and restore our inheritance.
“However, other than those immortal era paintings, nothing useful was left behind. That’s the only reason we have to go out for tempering and examine the numerous aspects of the world. It’s in the hope that in our lifetimes, we can grasp the laws of the Heavenly Daos and find the true meaning of the Dao,” sighed Zi Yan.
“But what does that have to do with Long Chen?” Xiao Lu did not understand.
“Long Chen was able to form a resonance with the paintings. That means he’s someone who has a destiny with our Immortal Palace. But of those many paintings, he only formed a resonance with the ninth divine emissary. It really is a pity.
“However, no matter what, we still need to keep observing him. Perhaps we’ll be able to comprehend another side of the Heavenly Daos from him,” said Zi Yan.
However, she felt uncomfortable inside. Ever since she had started cultivating, her heart had been calm like water. Even facing death, her Dao-heart had never wavered.
But on that day, Long Chen had used his mental strength to forcibly escape from her artistic realm, snapping her zither string and giving her a backlash.
From that moment on, Zi Yan’s heart was no longer able to stay calm. An indescribable fluctuation was present within her, and no matter how she tried, she couldn’t completely erase it.
That both shocked her and gave her a trace of fear. That was because the devil star her master had seen in her future had finally appeared.
Of course, toward this illusory and empty thing known as fate, people naturally felt a kind of resistance. At the same time, they would feel a bit of curiosity. Zi Yan was no exception. She wanted to see just how this so-called devil star could influence her.
“Oh? This aura, isn’t it Long Chen’s?”
Shock flashed across Zi Yan’s eyes. She put on her veil and disappeared from the Immortal Intoxication Building.
…
“Long Chen, the Giant Eagle Stronghold is up ahead. Have you figured out what you’re going to do?” Mo Nian pointed to a huge castle up ahead.
“Yes.”
The two of them moved quickly, crossing dozens of miles in just a moment to stand in front of the Giant Eagle Stronghold’s castle.
This dazzling castle was hundreds of miles wide. Gold and jade shone in their glory, and the entire castle almost looked
as if it had been made of gold.
“What person dares come here? Idlers should distance themselves from my Giant Eagle Stronghold!” Over ten guards were standing in front of the castle. They called out a warning when they saw two people rapidly approaching.
Their response was an immense saber-image that slashed down on their gate.
BOOM!
The huge gate exploded and a terrifying qi wave erupted. That wave contained many flying stones, and countless cries rang out from within.
“Who dares cause a ruckus at my Giant Eagle Stronghold?!” Furious roars rang out, and countless figures rushed out of the castle.
Within the dust and rubble, Long Chen slowly walked forward; his saber rested on his shoulder, his killing intent surging.
“Hand over Mu Xue, or I will kill you all without mercy.”
His cold voice echoed throughout the castle. His icy killing intent was not concealed in the slightest, and it caused their hearts to shiver.
“Brazen brat, you want to frame my Giant Eagle Stronghold? Kill him!” Dozens of Xiantian experts charged at Long Chen and Mo Nian.
“Idiot, you forgot to change your clothes.” Long Chen looked towards a person in black robes and a bamboo hat that concealed his face.
That person’s expression changed, and he was about to say something when a celestial blade mercilessly slashed towards him.
BOOM!
A dozen people surrounding him were all sent flying, wildly vomiting blood in the air.
“Since you don’t want to hand her over, then don’t blame me for starting a massacre.” Even as he said this, Long Chen had already shot forward like a bolt of lightning, appearing beside a Xiantian expert and slashing down his saber.
That Xiantian expert’s weapon was cut in two along with its master by Long Chen’s blood-colored saber.
Long Chen noticed that Blooddrinker’s spirit was coming out of its dormant state as his own strength increased. It was becoming sharper and stronger.
Furthermore, he sensed that after killing this Xiantian expert, Blooddrinker transmitted a feeling of excitement to him.