by Shian Jeen
This middle-aged man was none other than Liang Guang’s Second Senior Brother, Wang Qingjiang.
Due to Liang Guang’s incident, Wang Qingjiang was subjected to strict investigation and was interrogation by Vermilion Bird Institute. Naturally, he bore a deep grudge towards Huwang Xiao.
Liu Yilong and the others hurried forward, smiling and grinning at Wang Qingjiang, and pulled Huwang Xiao away to the side.
When Huwang Xiao’s group retreated to the side, He Feifan walked over, brushing past Huwang Xiao without a glance.
To him, who had broken through Highgod Realm, only people of certain status such as Patriarchs of super forces and families, Sect Chiefs, and Ancestors deserved his attention. An Institute Elder like Cheng Huai’an or the elite disciples were nothing but measly existences in his eyes.
Ch.740
Wang Qingjiang followed behind He Feifan, walking into the guest reception hall. When he passed by Huwang Xiao, he snickered, “Punk, don’t think your Master and the Cheng Family can protect you forever, I’m waiting to see if you can hide inside the Vermilion Bird Institute your whole life.”
Huwang Xiao responded in a derisive tone, “Just you?”
With a slight probe of his divine sense, Huwang Xiao saw through Wang Qingjiang’s strength in an instant, an early Eight Order God Realm. This level of strength, Huwang Xiao could squash Wang Qingjiang into waste with a single finger.
Wang Qingjiang flew into a fit of anger at Huwang Xiao’s words. His fist aimed, wanting to strike Huwang Xiao down the peak, but he managed to control himself at the last moment, “Cheng Huai’an, your naivety is laughable in my eyes, I hope you can be this naive till the end!” With that said, Wang Qingjiang looked away from Huwang Xiao, following closely behind He Feifan with a flattering smile.
Liu Yilong watched Wang Qingjiang’s back, cautioning Huwang Xiao, “Big bro, this Wang Qingjiang is a crafty and sinister person, and he holds grudges for a long time. You must be careful of him.”
Huwang Xiao casually nodded.
Wang Qingjiang? Nothing but a jumping flea.
Watching Huwang Xiao’s unconcerned expression, Liu Yilong once again hung his head low in dejection. These years, he had become less able to understand this Big bro of his, as if his Big bro had changed these years whilst not at the same time?
Liu Yilong felt like his Big bro had grown more arrogant than before, to the point where he didn't even put the Piercing Sky Beast King in his eyes.
Yet, he seemed to be more upright? Even ignoring a beauty like Qi Qianqian.
“What are you thinking about?” Huwang Xiao’s voice reached Liu Yilong, “Let’s go in.”
Liu Yilong snapped out from his reverie. Together with Huwang Xiao and the other brothers, he walked into the guest reception hall.
The guest reception hall was huge enough to accommodate close to ten thousand people.
However, in the Vermilion Institute grounds, the guest reception hall was just one a small front halls. After passing through the guest reception hall, there was an even bigger square crowded with masters that rushed over from all corners of Vermilion Bird Galaxy to attend He Feifan’s celebratory banquet.
Naturally, those gathered in the square were all Patriarchs, Ancestors, and Grand Elders of first rank and super forces.
At the other end of the square was the main hall, which could only be described as capacious.
Judging from its appearance from the outside, the main hall didn't seem big at all, but once one entered, it was clear that accommodating several tens of thousands of people wasn't at all an issue.
Inside the main hall were mostly Patriarchs, Ancestors, Grand Elders, and core disciples of other super forces.
Being an Elder of the Vermilion Bird Institute, Huwang Xiao was eligible to be present inside the main hall. Liu Yilong and the rest, however, could only stay outside in the square.
Entering the main hall, a strong star force enveloped Huwang Xiao.
Huwang Xiao looked around. Above the main hall, bright pebbles resembling diamonds were hung, they were starlight rocks. The strong star force came from these hanging starlight rocks.
The ones hanging above were even rare types of starlight rocks called Falling Dust that could only be formed by a being bathed in star force for centuries. The star force contained within these starlight rocks was something that cultivators dreamed of, its benefits far surpassed consuming any sacred grade divine pellets.
Huwang Xiao didn’t imagine the Vermilion Bird Institute would be so generous, taking out so many of these Falling Dust Starlight Rock to nourish the spiritual qi of the attending super forces’ masters.
Huwang Xiao’s divine sense swept over the starlight rocks, he counted exactly ten thousand of them.
Such a quantity of Falling Dust Starlight Rocks was something hard to match by the weaker super forces of the Vermilion Bird Galaxy.
Other than the ten thousand Falling Dust Starlight Rocks, it was obvious that great attention had been paid to the decorations on the pillars, as well as the floor, some places were specially altered.
The hall’s big pillars were lined with divine grade spirit stones, most of them were high divine grade spirit stones and there were even some top divine grade spirit stones among them. Of course, there were no sacred grade immortal spirit stones.
These divine grade spirit stones were used to lay out spiritual energy gathering arrays on the pillars, gathering an unbelievable amount of spiritual energy inside the hall.
And last but not least, the hall floor was carpeted with beast skin.
Huwang Xiao found it to be the skin of an ancient fierce beast called Bi’an. Finding one ancient fierce Bi’an beast was hard enough, yet for the Bi’an beast skin carpet laid over this large hall floor, how many Bi’an beasts were slaughtered?
Walking on the Bi’an skin carpet felt soft and comfortable, and the surface of the Bi’an carpet exuded a fragrance similar to sandalwood that uplifted one’s mood.
This was a unique natural scent belonging to the Bi’an beast.
“Junior Brother, you’re here!” While Huwang Xiao was observing the hall in detail, a cheerful voice sounded.
Huwang Xiao looked over and saw He Jing walking towards him.
He Jing looked very happy seeing Huwang Xiao, laughing as he said, “Come, I’ll lead you to Master’s place.”
Obviously, Wude was also present.
He Jing led Huwang Xiao to a corner of the hall where Wude was. Not only was Wude there, Fang Hengning was there as well.
Despite Wude being a Vermilion Bird Institute Grand Elder, in front of these super forces’ Patriarchs and Ancestors, his seating could only be placed at a corner of the capacious hall.
Seeing 'Cheng Huai’an’, a smile cracked over Wude’s stern face, “You’re here, take that seat.” Wude said, pointing at the seat beside He Jing.
Huwang Xiao nodded and complied.
Fang Hengning’s attitude remained lukewarm towards Huwang Xiao, but Huwang Xiao didn’t mind and took the seat next to He Jing as Wude indicated.
He Jing was in high spirits, pointing out legendary figures in the hall to Huwang Xiao nonstop.
Huwang Xiao listened attentively for the time being, looking where He Jing pointed since there was nothing to do after all.
A while later, the noisy hall suddenly quieted as a group of people walked into the hall through the main entrance,
At the front of the group was the Vermilion Bird Institute Principal, Qiu Baifei.
Behind the Vermilion Bird Institute Principal was He Feifan in a white brocade robe, as well as two others Vermilion Bird Vice Principals. After them were the Institute Principal’s remaining disciples and the other two Vice Principals’ disciples.
When Qiu Baifei arrived, everyone in the hall stood up.
Qiu Baifei and He Feifan nodded to several Patriarchs and Ancestors of super forces, exchanging greetings amidst laughter.
When they reached the center of the hall,
Qiu Baifei, He Feifan, and the rest of the group sat down, so did everyone else.
A while later, Qiu Baifei first stood up, followed by He Feifan, and each of them made a short speech. There were mostly words welcoming the super forces’ Patriarchs and Ancestor for attending this celebratory banquet.
After that, wine and food were served, while Qiu Baifei and He Feifan went around with their wine cups, toasting with various Patriarchs, Ancestors, and Sect Chiefs.
Halfway through the banquet, an extremely thin old man stood up, grinning at He Feifan, “Now that Vice Principal He Feifan has broken through to Highgod Realm, in the Highgod Advancement Tournament a hundred years later, the first place will definitely belong to Vice Principal He Feifan! At that time when Vice Principal He Feifan wins the first place in the Highgod Advancement Tournament, our Vermilion Bird Galaxy’s forces will also feel glorious ah!”
He Feifan laughed heartily, “Then I’ll borrow Patriarch Liang’s auspicious words. When I win the first place in the Highgod Advancement Tournament, there will be another banquet!”
The thin old man who stood up and congratulated He Feifan was none other than the Patriarch of the super force that Liang Guang belonged to in the past, Liang Qishen.
Another family’s Ancestor stood up with a smiling face, “Although that Azure Dragon Institute’s Xiang Mingzhi obtained the Azure Dragon Divine Fire, as long as he hasn’t broken through to Highgod Realm, he won't be a match for Vice Principal He Feifan during the tournament. Vice Principal He Feifan will definitely win the first place for our Vermilion Bird Galaxy!”
“I heard that the Black Warrior Institute’s Huwang Xiao will also be participating in this coming Highgod Advancement Tournament.” Another family Patriarch suddenly brought up Huwang Xiao.
He Feifan gave a satirical smile, unconcerned, “If it’s talent, indeed, no one can compare to Huwang Xiao. However, the Highgod Advancement Tournament relies on one’s strength and not talent. Huwang Xiao’s cultivation is not even at the Tenth Order God Realm, if he really participates in the tournament, I’m afraid to say that he won’t even make it into the top one hundred. Huwang Xiao is not worthy to be my opponent unless he cultivates for a few thousand years more.”
Ch.741
Hearing He Feifan’s reply, the Liang Family’s Patriarch, Liang Qishen, let out an exuberant laugh, “That’s right, how can that Huwang Xiao compete with Vice Principal He Feifan? If he runs into Vice Principal He Feifan in the Highgod Advancement Tournament, it’s definitely Huwang Xiao’s misfortune. Our Vice Principal He Feifan doesn't even need to move a finger, just a simple breath is enough to kill that Huwang Xiao.”
Other families’ Patriarchs and Ancestors also joined in on the laughter.
Their words elevated He Feifan to an invincible existence that no one could compete against in the Highgod Advancement Tournament.
Heaped by compliments from these Patriarchs and Ancestors, He Feifan was laughing so happily that his face was slightly flushed red.
Sitting in a corner and watching this scene, Huwang Xiao sneered in his heart.
This He Feifan was really thick-skinned. Well, since he said so, when the time comes in the tournament, he would play a little with this He Feifan.
Kill him with one breath? Huwang Xiao’s gaze turned cold for an instant.
“Junior Brother, are you alright?” He Jing beside him sensed the coldness Huwang Xiao exuded, and asked as he felt it was strange.
Huwang Xiao shook his head, “Nothing.”
But He Jing took another glance at Huwang Xiao before turning his attention back to the banquet.
The celebration banquet lasted for a day and ended at sunset, having all the guests return.
Huwang Xiao had listened for an entire day to He Feifan and those Patriarchs and Ancestors flattering each other.
After the banquet, Huwang Xiao’s daily routine resumed, spending his time between the Lightning Fire Peak and the library.
Days turned into months, months passed into seasons, and in the blink of an eye, a year had passed.
Huwang Xiao had reached the lowest floor of the library, which was also the last floor.
Perhaps it was because he had refined the Hundred Spirits Beast King’s arms, but Huwang Xiao noticed in recent years that his arms seemed to be stronger than his other body parts. Not only in terms of defense, there were other aspects that were strengthened as well.
The Hundred Spirits Beast King possessed the Soul Devouring Physique, also known as the Undying Physique. It seemed to Huwang Xiao that his arms now had the same attributes as the Soul Devouring Physique.
This finding delighted Huwang Xiao.
Though his hands merely possessed the Soul Devouring Physique’s attributes, which didn't bring many benefits, it proved that what Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi said before was true. If Huwang Xiao managed find and refine the other parts of the Hundred Spirits Beast King’s body, he could obtain the Hundred Spirits Beast King’s Soul Devouring Physique.
A complete Soul Devouring Physique!
During this one year, Wang Qingjiang did not come to trouble Huwang Xiao. Of course, it wasn’t because he didn’t want to, but he couldn’t, as Huwang Xiao never went out of the Vermilion Bird Institute grounds.
As for He Feifan, ever since he broke through to Highgod Realm, he had become more conspicuous than before, as if he was afraid that no one would know he had advanced into the ranks of Highgod Realm masters.
It was obvious that He Feifan felt like the first place was already his without question.
Although Huwang Xiao was at the lowest underground floor of the library, from time to time he could hear some Elders talking about He Feifan.
Times flew as another three months passed.
Today, like every other day, Huwang Xiao was standing in front of a bookshelf on the lowest floor of the library, his divine sense spread out. Twenty minutes later, Huwang Xiao retrieved his divine sense.
Huwang Xiao looked over his shoulder, behind him. Not far from him was the library’s tenth underground floor wall, there were no more bookshelves.
He had finished searching through all the bookshelves on the last underground floor.
Huwang Xiao breathed out soundlessly in relief, like he had just completed an important task. He felt relaxed after a long time, and even stretched lazily in an exaggerated posture, causing him to look at least half a head taller.
With the last bookshelf finished, Huwang Xiao didn’t ponder too much, nor did he want to think about anything right now. He turned around and left the Vermilion Bird Institute library, heading back to the Lightning Fire Peak.
Back on the Lightning Fire Peak, Huwang Xiao felt a sudden impulse to sleep, like an ordinary mortal.
Based on Huwang Xiao’s current cultivation realm, it had been a long time since he needed to sleep, but he felt a strong impulse to do so.
‘This makes me miss the life on Earth.’ Huwang Xiao mused.
After living for so long in this world, many of his memories of Earth had faded. Thinking of this, he looked outside the window. The sun was rising over the horizon, brightly lighting the early morning, but Huwang Xiao didn't care for this as he laid down on the warm jade bed in his room and fell into deep slumber.
He slept until the sun rose the next day, trickling warmly into the room.
Only then did Huwang Xiao wake up.
A short while later, he walked out to the yard, called out his Blades of Asura, and began practicing the Asura Sword Skill’s moves consecutively.
During these years, he had already learned all eighteen moves of the Asura Sword Skill, it’s just that, at his current strength, not many people could force him to use his sword skills.
The yard was filled with dancing sword lights.
Asura qi spread out from the yard, shrouding the entire Lightning Fire Peak. Looking from outside, the Lightning Fire Peak seemed no different than usual, however, around Huwang Xiao, frigid Asura qi surged, with howling devils weavin
g in the air. The whole yard had turned into a hellish land.
In this land of hell, he was the supreme lord.
After going through the Asura Sword Skills three times in their entirety, Huwang Xiao put away his blades. The hellish scene slowly dissipated, returning the Lightning Fire Peak to its real tranquility.
Back inside the Lightning Fire Peak’s main hall, Huwang Xiao sat down on main host seat. Only now did he begin to organize the information he got from the library, eliminating the irrelevant information, deducing the place with the highest probability to be the Vermilion Bire Divine Fire’s location.
Organizing and deducing took Huwang Xiao three days and three nights.
Three days later, Huwang Xiao was able to determine that the Vermilion Bird Divine Fire was in one of three volcanoes in the Fire World.
‘The Fire World’s Phoenix Volcano.’ Huwang Xiao muttered to himself.
“In Fire World’s Phoenix Volcano?” Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi frowned hearing Huwang Xiao muttering the location, “Looks like there’s going to be trouble.”
Huwang Xiao smiled bitterly, “It’s really troublesome, a very big trouble!”
The Fire World was the most dangerous world surface in the Vermilion Bird Galaxy.
In almost every corner of the Fire World were old array formations left from ancient civilizations, even the slightest carelessness could trigger any of them and no one could say for sure how things would end.
The deeper parts of Fire World had the most treacherous terrain of all, for in this place existed various types of horrendous mythical fire and flames, with the Godly Purple Lightning Fire, Flittering Light Hallowed Fire, Great Golden Flames, and Lightless Black Fire being amongst them.
Each and every kind of these fires was something that could make a Highgod Realm master’s expression grimly tighten.
There was a record of a past Vermilion Bird Institute Vice Principal who went to the Fire World searching for a sacred fire element fruit named Mortal Fire Fruit, but he ran into the Great Golden Flames in the deeper parts. In the end, that Vice Principal Institute died in Fire World without a corpse left to be found.