by Translator: BornToBe; Author: Ordinary Magician (平凡魔术师); Licensed From: 17k
This attack was something he had come up with after almost being killed by this elder the first time. At that time, the Divine Gate Star had activated automatically. Later, by constantly communicating and testing the Divine Gate Star, Long Chen had figured out how to unleash this attack to prevent such a scenario from occurring again.
This was also why Long Chen hadn’t directly slain Luo Tianji. Instead, he had acted like he hadn’t seen his actions to draw over one of Heavenly Fate Island’s experts.
Last time, even that disciple’s soul had possessed a restriction that summoned the elder. Luo Tianji was one of the four Fate Princes, so he definitely possessed a similar defense.
Regretfully, Long Chen’s attack was one step too slow for this crafty elder. As soon as he sensed the danger, he fled. Long Chen’s attack struck nothing more than an empty image.
With his current power, Long Chen still couldn’t properly utilize the Divine Gate Star’s full power. So, using it came with a certain price. His spiritual space was shaking, and it brought with it a soul-tearing pain.
This attack that he had been preparing for a long time had actually been avoided. Long Chen couldn’t help being irritated.
…
“How dangerous.”
Within a certain cave of the Martial Heaven Continent, the elder’s expression was pale. This elder was one of Heavenly Fate Island’s Grand Elders, as well as the vice island master, Luo Tianji’s master.
A strand of his Yuan Spirit had been within Luo Tianji’s mind-sea to prevent the worst-case scenario. It would allow the elder to kill Luo Tianji’s enemies if he needed it.
This strand of his Yuan Spirit was something he would have been able to pull back if it was within the Martial Heaven Continent, but this time, it had happened in the Yin Yang World. As a result, his Yuan Spirit was now permanently damaged. That was very detrimental to his future cultivation.
Naturally, he wouldn’t leave any of his Yuan Spirit on ordinary disciples. It was for disciples that he cared about deeply or who had special missions.
Previously, when he had sent a disciple to the Eastern Wastelands, that disciple had just been a core disciple and had not reached the qualifications to be protected by his Yuan Spirit. However, since his mission had been to capture Long Chen’s parents, the elder sent along a wisp of his Yuan Spirit to protect that disciple and keep track of him.
When Long Chen had tried to invade that disciple’s soul, it had activated that wisp of his Yuan Spirit, and as a result, the elder had almost been killed. The Divine Gate Star had followed Long Chen’s Yuan Spirit to destroy his Heavenly Eye.
This time, it had been even more dangerous. Long Chen had actually learned how to control the Divine Gate Star and make it attack on his own initiative.
“This idiot, I told him not to face Long Chen. If he did encounter him, he was supposed to direct people over to him in secret. My words actually went in one ear and out the other!” raged the elder.
Long Chen was not within the domain of things that they could calculate. Only by calculating things about the Martial Heaven Alliance, the Dragonblood Legion, the Xuantian Dao Sect, and some other people near Long Chen could they get a general prediction of Long Chen’s next action.
So Long Chen was extremely dangerous to the people of Heavenly Fate Island, and the disciples who had been sent into the Yin Yang World had been warned not to approach him. They should run as far as possible from him.
In truth, this matter was also this elder’s fault. Luo Tianji and the others thought that their skill in reading the future meant that they would be able to tell when danger was about to befall them. They also had the attack of a Netherpassage expert’s Yuan Spirit to rely on.
If he had told Luo Tianji that his Yuan Spirit attack was useless against Long Chen, Luo Tianji would definitely have run immediately instead of arrogantly testing Long Chen’s power.
“No good, I have to alert the others. They have to stay away from Long Chen, or those idiots will just send themselves to their deaths one by one.” The elder’s expression was gloomy as he walked out of the cave.
…
Luo Tianji was dumbfounded. The incomparably powerful and god-like master of his had actually fled as soon as he had seen Long Chen.
Luo Tianji’s entire body felt cold. He despaired. At that moment, he suddenly recalled the words his master had told him: don’t get close to Long Chen. Regretfully, he understood too late.
“Long Chen, I beg you, let me go. I don’t want to die.” Luo Tianji knelt on the ground, begging. In front of death, his heart crumbled.
Ye Lingshan looked at him contemptuously. She hated people like this the most. They looked at others like they were ants that could be crushed as they pleased, taking lives without batting an eye. But when it was their turn, they began to act pitiful. They never thought about the people that had begged them to live as well.
“Give me a reason,” said Long Chen indifferently.
Luo Tianji suddenly clenched his teeth. “I can tell you a major secret of Pill Valley. In truth, behind Pill Valley is…”
Luo Tianji’s whole body suddenly stiffened. Long Chen’s expression changed, and he hastily reached out, placing a hand over Luo Tianji’s forehead. His powerful Spiritual Strength surged into Luo Tianji’s mind-sea.
“What is behind Pill Valley?!” demanded Long Chen.
Regretfully, Luo Tianji could no longer answer. When Long Chen’s Spiritual Strength invaded Luo Tianji’s mind-sea, he saw the latter’s Yuan Spirit rapidly withering away. His Spiritual Strength was unable to stop it.
Long Chen let go, and Luo Tianji’s body fell to the ground. His eyes were staring blankly ahead.
“It was a spiritual restriction. He probably didn’t even know about it. As he talked about something protected by that restriction, it devoured his Yuan Spirit, killing him,” sighed Long Chen.
“Even the four Fate Princes would be killed to keep this secret quiet? What kind of secret could that be?” Ye Lingshan was stunned.
Long Chen shook his head. Things were probably more complicated than he had thought.
“Before dying, he said that there’s something behind Pill Valley. Is he saying that there’s another backer behind Pill Valley, or that Pill Valley has more moves left?” Ye Lingshan’s expression was grave. This giant scheme was shockingly huge.
“Don’t waste your time worrying about things you can’t change. I also won’t change myself to follow other people’s plans. Life is like a game of chess. There are countless experts and wily old foxes that have lived for countless years. Who could possibly beat them?” said Long Chen indifferently as if he didn’t care about this giant scheme.
“Then what should we do?” asked Ye Lingshan.
“Raise our own power. When others find you to beat you in chess, smash their chessboard and then smash their heads. That’s all.” Long Chen smiled.
“I’m being serious,” said Ye Lingshan.
“So am I. If you understand, then you understand. If you don’t, then you won’t get it no matter what I say. So rather than wasting the effort, let’s focus on searching for treasures.”
Long Chen flipped through Luo Tianji’s body but didn’t find anything rare. He saw a jade plate carved with monstrous images that he didn’t understand. He guessed it had something to do with calculating the future.
The rest of what he had was just a few spirit crystals and some weapons, but most unexpectedly, Luo Tianji’s spatial ring was of a high enough grade to store divine items. He had over thirty divine items inside. Although the majority were quasi divine items, that was definitely not bad.
After emptying Luo Tianji’s pockets, Long Chen and Ye Lingshan moved on, searching through the rest of the area.
Chapter 1859 The Mysterious Gate
“Long Chen, even now, I don’t understand how you defeated Luo Tianji,” said Ye Lingshan as she looked at Long Chen carefully picking a precious medicine at the edge of a barrier.
> She was truly puzzled. Long Chen had defeated Luo Tianji far too easily. It was unbelievably easy.
It had to be known that she had been driven almost insane by Luo Tianji’s ability to predict her moves. That feeling made her want to cough up blood. She felt powerless.
Long Chen plucked a small hairy grass. However, its hair was actually tiny thorns. He continued searching as he said, “Originally, I thought that you had experienced about as much as me and wouldn’t be so easily conned. It seems I’ve overestimated you.”
“Stop spouting nonsense and tell me,” said Ye Lingshan.
“A magic trick depends on the cover. Have you not seen any magicians performing tricks on the street?” asked Long Chen.
“Of course I have, but what does that have to do with Luo Tianji?” demanded Ye Lingshan.
“I already said, ninety percent of Heavenly Fate Island’s abilities are used for conning people. When he fought with you, he relied on mental warfare, making you befuddled and unable to fight effectively. In truth, all of his abilities were worthless. That ruler of his had memorized the techniques, fighting style, attack angles, and counterattacks used on the continent. The one fighting you was actually the ruler, and the reason he could make you feel powerless is because of this special location that does not permit you to unleash your full power. If you could, he wouldn’t have necessarily been a match for you. His trick relies entirely on his divine item. Do you understand?” asked Long Chen.
“No.”
Long Chen looked at her. “I say, you look smart, but you still don’t understand?”
“Fine, I’ll call you smart. Now stop keeping me in suspense,” said Ye Lingshan, rolling her eyes. Long Chen had tiptoed around the answer this whole time, refusing to answer directly, making her teeth itch.
“Heavenly Fate Island gathered the techniques of all the sects and schools of the Martial Heaven Continent and came up with the most efficient way to counter them. This kind of method is useless for most people because a person can’t react that quickly. However, the divine items of Heavenly Fate Island are able to precisely calculate what technique to use. When they see the beginnings of your move, they can see through your technique, and the divine item will come up with the most effective way to counter it instantly. The reason I could break it so easily was because I have two peerless divine abilities that I’ve perfected, unique to me. His divine item was unable to calculate how to counter my divine abilities. As for Luo Tianji himself, having relied on his ruler for so long, his own reactions are slower than normal people. After spitting at him, he instinctively dodged and then I slapped him, adding a kick to break his third leg. Then, he collapsed. Life is just that simple.” Long Chen shrugged.
“Just that simple?”
“Just that simple.”
Ye Lingshan was surprised, but she also found it funny. Based on what he said, that Luo Tianji was nothing. Her fear for Heavenly Fate Island vanished.
“Long Chen, you’re really smart,” praised Ye Lingshan.
“What did you say?”
“I said you’re really smart-” Ye Lingshan instantly understood he was playing her based on his smile, and she angrily said, “If you want to hear fawning, I’m sure there’ll be an endless line of people who will sing your praise. So why bother?”
“That’s different. The praise and worship of a beauty, well, that feeling of accomplishment is completely different,” chortled Long Chen.
“No wonder master told me to be careful of you, saying that your strongest point wasn’t your combat power but your pick up arts. I don’t know how many beauties you’ve tricked with this mouth of yours.” Ye Lingshan turned her head toward Long Chen.
“What, the alliance head… she actually gave me such a high evaluation?” exclaimed Long Chen.
“How shameless.” Ye Lingshan shook her head. Despite knowing he was doing it on purpose, she still couldn’t hold back some laughter.
“Tch, who needs shame?” said Long Chen righteously. Long Chen suddenly bowed ever so slightly while looking solemnly into the distance.
“What? Are you bowing to your master?” asked Ye Lingshan with surprise.
“No. I’m paying my respects to the me that had shame and integrity. The day I stepped into the cultivation world, they were buried. After all these years, I don’t know how they’re doing,” sighed Long Chen.
Ye Lingshan laughed, never having encountered someone like this in her life. He talked about serious things like they were jokes and jokes like they were serious things.
“Have you ever been serious in this lifetime? Are you trying to make me laugh my guts out?” demanded Ye Lingshan.
“Of course I’ve been serious. When I kill people, I’m always very serious,” said Long Chen, suddenly squatting down to pluck another precious medicine.
Ye Lingshan put away her smile. “I came here because I heard someone say there were countless medicines here.”
“You want to see if there’s something that can extend one’s longevity?” asked Long Chen, carefully digging out the medicine.
“Yes. That’s my main goal. If the Martial Heaven Alliance can have the four Grand Elders supporting it, even if the times become chaotic, the Martial Heaven Alliance won’t collapse. But without them, the Martial Heaven Alliance really will have lost its support. Just master alone can’t hold it up,” sighed Ye Lingshan.
“Why are you thinking about your master first, and not you? You are the future alliance head. This kind of thinking is unacceptable,” said Long Chen.
“Me? That’s impossible. I’m a far cry from master.” Ye Lingshan shook her head.
“What are you lacking? You both have a head on your shoulder, so why is she capable of it, but not you? It wasn’t as if the alliance head was born the alliance head. She also never expected to become the alliance head. If you are constantly thinking of hiding beneath a big tree’s cover, you are looking down on the sword that your master gave you. She has entrusted everything to you. That means she trusts that if she one day disappears from this world, you will pick up her burden.”
Long Chen’s words struck Ye Lingshan deeply. She suddenly understood.
“The great era has come. In truth, this great era refers to our generation and most likely only our generation. The Martial Heaven Continent’s qi flow has concentrated on our generation. Have you not seen how many Empyreans have appeared in our generation? Even the four Grand Elders were just ordinary Empyreans who didn’t manage to awaken their manifestations. Even with the great era, they are unable to awaken their manifestations. Why? Because this era does not belong to them. They have entrusted all their hopes to us. Why can our generation fight across realms so easily? It isn’t because we are so talented but because we were born at the right time. The great era’s qi flow has descended into our bodies. In other words, the stage will belong to us. You were actually hoping for the alliance head and the Grand Elders to hold up the sky? How foolish is that? Even if the Grand Elders were in perfect health, they would only be able to support us for a while. When our generation starts to break through to the Life Star realm, their superiority will instantly vanish. So don’t place your hopes on others. Think more about how to raise your own power. You’ve made your choice, so don’t abandon it,” said Long Chen.
The great era’s descent concentrated its power on only one generation. People who had missed their golden cultivation time were not affected as much.
Even if people were unwilling, there was nothing they could do. An ordinary expert who encountered a Celestial would have to lower their head. A Celestial, no matter what rank they were, would be suppressed by an Empyrean. What would the weak bring out to fight against the strong?
People who had missed this era, who were already old, and whose life accomplishments had already been mostly set in stone, were unable to soar like them. As for the junior generation, each day they grew stronger. The world would belong to them in the future. Even if their seniors wanted to push themselves,
they were powerless.
Seeing Ye Lingshan seem to grow solemn, it seemed she realized just how much pressure she was under. Long Chen stood and patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. Being a leader isn’t as difficult as you imagine. Furthermore, you will definitely be stronger than the alliance head and more suited for the position. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have given you her sword on the very first day. And don’t you also have me? I’m also a member of the Martial Heaven Alliance. Whether the leader is the alliance head or you, no matter what difficulties you encounter, my Dragonblood Legion and I will stand beside you.”
“Thank you. However, I’ll work hard to stand by myself. I’ll prove to my master that she wasn’t wrong.” Ye Lingshan took a deep breath. She patted her chest confidently.
“Good. But next time, don’t pat your chest, or the huge waves will make criminals of others,” warned Long Chen kindly.
“Bastard, where do you think you're looking?!”
“Shh, there’s something ahead.” Long Chen suddenly shushed her.
Ye Lingshan thought that Long Chen was once more messing around and trying to change the subject, but she quickly heard strange sounds ahead.
“Let’s go.”
Long Chen and Ye Lingshan carefully went in the direction of the sound. They didn’t even know how many mountains they passed. Suddenly, they saw a giant gate, and seeing the situation in front of him, Ye Lingshan almost let out a startled cry.
Chapter 1860 Within the Mountain Gate
The reason Ye Lingshan almost shouted was because she saw bloody corpses suspended in midair. Their bodies were naked, their skin stripped, revealing their bloody flesh.
Surrounding the gate were countless vines. They were like sinister pythons, just waiting to devour others.
Those corpses were like melons growing on the vines. Their blood didn’t drip down to the ground. Instead, it flowed up the vines.
“This is probably the work of some very powerful tree demons,” said Ye Lingshan.