by Shian Jeen
The force from the claw dissipated in an instant and the attacker wobbled uncontrollably backwards until his back hit against a tree trunk.
“Ei!” Wan Long and the other three were surprised.
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Their companion who attacked Huwang Xiao was a mid-Tenth Order God Realm master!
Yet he was forced back with a casual wave of his hand!
Wan Long’s face sank as he coldly stared at Huwang Xiao, “What is the meaning of this?”
Huwang Xiao slightly tilted his head, his expression all too clear that he was looking an idiot, mockery in his tone, “I’m enjoying my wine here, yet you guys cause trouble out of nothing, wanting to seal my mouth by killing me, but you’re asking me what’s the meaning of this? I didn’t expect the number one person on the Highgod Advancement List to actually be such an idiot!”
An idiot!
Huwang Xiao’s words reverberated in these five people’s minds, disbelief stamped all over their faces.
There was someone who dared to call the number one person on the Highgod Advancement List, Wan Long, an idiot!?!
Wan Long’s killing intent rose like a storm, quickly replacing his shock.
Black gaseous energy surged out from Wan Long’s body, shrouding the surrounding trees and plants, instantly dyeing them black. A moment later, all of them disintegrated into the same black gaseous energy, rising up to the air.
The other four of Wan Long’s companions retreated in haste, afraid of the slightest contact with the black gas. Fear was written all over their faces.
However, when this black gaseous energy came close to Huwang Xiao, it was sucked away by an invisible whelming force. Not a wisp of the black gas remained, not a wisp touched Huwang Xiao.
Wan Long’s eyes narrowed darkly watching this.
This was the first time he encountered someone below the Highgod Realm who didn't fear his dark energy!
By now, Huwang Xiao had finished the jug of Heavenly Pill Wine in his hand, throwing the empty jug to the side with a casual flick of his wrist and stood up as he looked directly at Wan Long. Although this Wan Long had yet to breakthrough to the Highgod Realm, he was someone holding the top position on the Highgod Advancement List, he could be considered the strongest person below the Highgod Realm that Huwang Xiao had met so far.
Which was why Huwang Xiao purposely didn't dodge his attack.
Wan Long stood righteously with his hand clasped behind his back, his cold gaze fixed on Huwang Xiao, “It has been a long time since I last fought, because below the Highgod Realm, there is no one worthy for me to act personally. You should feel honored that you made me act, but it is also your misfortune!”
With Wan Long’s status and strength, his four companions didn't feel that Wan Long’s words were arrogant. In fact, to them, it was only fitting.
However, Huwang Xiao couldn’t resist laughing out loud when he heard Wan Long’s words. Though it was a low sounding laughter, Wan Long’s face went slightly red with anger, “What’re you laughing at?!”
Huwang Xiao was still laughing as he answered, “Why do I feel you’re just like the Ascending Moon Old Man? But you have the aura of a bastard.”
Aura of a bastard!
“What did you say—?!” Fury erupted in Wan Long’s eyes. Though he had no idea who this damn Ascending Moon Old Man the punk in front of him was referring to, he dared to call him a bastard?!
“Die!!” Wan Long gave a sharp holler, leaping up into the air and attacking Huwang Xiao at lightning speed.
Two enormous palms made of dark energy howled through the air, slamming down on Huwang Xiao.
Wherever those two dark energy palms passed, everything remotely close-by turned into a dark gray color, as if all light was drowned out in the dark gray vacuum.
“This is Holy Dark Energy, I didn’t expect this kid to have cultivated the Holy Dark Scroll’s highest stage, forming holy dark energy in his body.” Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi hurried to remind Huwang Xiao, “Don’t let the holy dark energy touch you.”
In truth, not needing Dragon Emperor Ao Taiyi to caution him, Huwang Xiao had already dodged far away from Wan Long’s attack.
Although Huwang Xiao had no real fear of Wan Long’s holy dark energy because of his the Black Tortoise Divine Fire, contamination was quite troublesome.
Dodging the other party’s attack, Huwang Xiao employed the Phantom Shadow martial ability, arriving in front of Wan Long in a split second. Then, the true immortal essence force in his dantian roared, his palm striking out at Wan Long’s torso.
Huwang Xiao’s strike was purely his physical strength and his true immortal essence fire, without using any other skills.
The golden-white palm force cut through the vacuum created by the holy dark energy. Against Huwang Xiao’s true immortal essence fire, the holy dark energy was reduced to nothing.
Wan Long closed his eyes by reflex, hurt by the blinding golden-white light from Huwang Xiao’s palm. Startled, Wan Long forcefully twisted his body to one side, and with this twist, he vanished from the spot.
Huwang Xiao’s palm landed on empty air where Wan Long was standing just a split second ago.
Space rippled and his palm left a clear handprint in space, as if the palmprint was a solid entity standing in the air, not dispersing.
Some distance away, Wan Long’s four companions paled significantly watching this. Only Highgod Realm masters that had comprehended God’s Law could preserve their attack in midair, not dispersing for a long time.
Yet this young man was obviously no Highgod Realm master. On top of that, Wan Long was actually forced to use his Greater Teleportation talisman?
This Greater Teleportation Talisman was something Wan Long found inside cave dwelling belonging to an ancient God. When the talisman was in effect, it allowed the owner to perform short distance Greater Teleportation. There were only five talismans in total, and each one was extremely precious. Wan Long didn’t even use this talisman when he recently faced a Highgod Realm master.
Yet, Wan Long used it now!
While the four were still in shock, Huwang Xiao made an abrupt half-turn, striking a palm at a space behind him.
The golden-white palm force crossed the distance in an instant, exploding thunderously, as if it struck a target.
Wan Long’s figure flew out awkwardly from the void.
“You can actually detect where I was hiding?!” He was utterly shocked.
This Greater Teleportation Talisman could hide his presence for a full five minutes once used. During this time, any average First Order Highgod Realm master wouldn't be able to detect his location, yet this young man was able to tell exactly where he was hiding. It was clear to Wan Long that Huwang Xiao’s attack was no random guess.
“In this world, nothing is absolute.” Huwang Xiao sagely enlightened.
Ever since he refined that two-million-year-old Black Lotus, Huwang Xiao’s eyes and ears obtained unique abilities, able to see through his surroundings. Not only in his immediate proximity, even if Wan Long had concealed himself in a space pocket several hundred li away, Huwang Xiao could still see him.
Ignoring the shock on Wan Long’s face, Huwang Xiao used Space Concealment this time, vanishing from the spot just like Wan Long earlier. When he appeared, he was right in front of Wan Long.
Huwang Xiao’s fists had punched out toward his chest.
Wan Long became ashen, shouting in panic, “Dark Radiance Thistle Boundary!” Brutality glinted in his eyes, and his fists punched out to counter Huwang Xiao’s fists. Holy dark energy burst out from his left hand, whereas in his right hand were bright spheres of light force.
The two opposing forces merged together as they attacked Huwang Xiao, expanding in size and forming an enchantment around Huwang Xiao, sealing him inside.
Huwang Xiao’s fists struck the wall of the Dark Radiance Thistle Boundary enchantment.
Wan Long watched dazedly as his most powerful defense, the Dark Radiance This
tle Boundary that could trap a Highgod Realm master for a good while, was incinerated under Huwang Xiao’s golden-white fists.
Huwang Xiao’s fists continued onward, flying toward Wan Long.
“Holy Dark Armor!” Unable to dodge in time, Wan Long summoned his Holy Dark Armor. Dark force wound around his body, protecting him entirely.
At the front of Wan Long’s armor was an emblem of a wrathful ghost that seemed alive, baring its fangs.
Huwang Xiao’s fists landed exactly on the fangs baring ghost emblem.
Wan Long felt his body shake violently and was knocked backwards into the air.
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Countless large of trees were knocked into the air and fell on the outer region of the forest as Wan Long’s four companions watched with horrified faces.
A while later, Wan Long struggled strenuously to climb up from the ground with slow movements.
“Senior Brother Wang!” Wan Long’s four companions were jolted to their senses and hastened to his side.
Wan Long slightly waved his hand at them, but he didn’t say anything. All if a sudden, he coughed out a mouthful of blood.
Wan Long was a little dazed as he stared at the blood on the ground. He… vomited blood?!
More than two hundred years had passed since he broke through late-Tenth Order God Realm, and ever since that moment, no one had managed to wound him. Several decades ago, he was able to retreat safely despite facing a Highgod Realm master that wanted to kill him.
But now, he was actually injured!
They were even grave injuries to the point where he vomited blood!
Then it crossed Wan Long’s mind that he was someone who could break through to Highgod Realm at any time. Moreover, his sturdy physical body far surpassed any other late-Tenth Order God Realm cultivators, especially after that life-changing opportunity he once came across.
In this lower realm, not many things could harm his physical body.
But this punk in front of him merely used his fists to cut through his holy dark energy and Dark Radiance Thistle Boundary, even breaking past his Holy Dark Armor. Lastly, forcing his way past his physical body’s defense.
“Who are you?” Wan Long’s voice was hoarse, his eyes fixed on Huwang Xiao. He really wanted to know who Huwang Xiao was, this person who could injure him. It was clear to Wan Long that Huwang Xiao had yet to become a Highgod Realm master, he was only a mid-Tenth Order God Realm cultivator.
“You all will know who I am in the future.” Huwang Xiao replied as he approached the five of them, “Then again, you lot might remain ignorant forever,” he added. A whelming killing intent enveloped the five people, forcing them to take a step back.
“You, want to murder us all?” One of them was deathly pale as he looked fearful eyes looked at Huwang Xiao.
They were arrogant in the beginning due to confidence in their own strength, but now all their arrogance was ground down to nothing.
From what Huwang Xiao had shown earlier, killing them was nothing difficult.
Wan Long’s heart tightened, his gaze on Huwang Xiao was more vigilant. Any person facing death would feel fear, including him.
“I’ll give you all a choice,” Huwang Xiao drawled, “If you submit to me, I can allow you to live on.”
“Submit to you?!” All five people were dumbfounded.
Huwang Xiao continued without a change to his expression, “Right, you only have this one chance, I’ll give you five minutes to think it over.”
It was a ripe time to foster his own force in the four galaxies, hence, Huwang Xiao decided not to kill these five people yet. On top of that, this Wan Long was ranked first of the Highgod Advancement List, he could break through to the Highgod Realm any time. Once he did, his identity and status in the Wan Family would definitely make him the next in line to take over the Wan Family’s Patriarch position. When the times would come for Huwang Xiao to unify the Vermilion Bird Galaxy, Wan Long could provide significant assistance.
As for the other four, they were probably core disciples of other super forces.
Hearing the condition for them to keep their lives, Wan Long’s eyes flickered. No-one spoke a word.
Huwang Xiao was in no hurry to hear their answers, he believed these five people knew what the best choice was.
The sands of time trickled by, the surroundings’ death aura thickened.
The five people’s breathing grew heavy, becoming chaotic.
“After we submit to you, what do you want us to do?” Close to the time limit, Wan Long asked in a low voice.
“You all have no need to know this.” Huwang Xiao continued, “When I need you to do something, I will tell you when the time comes. Naturally, I won’t interfere with your daily lives.”
Hearing Huwang Xiao say that he wouldn't interfere with their lives, Wan Long and the other four were inwardly relieved.
What they were afraid the most was that, after submitting to Huwang Xiao, they would be treated like slaves. That kind of life was worse than death to them.
“Of course, I’ll be branding your souls with my mark if you submit.” Huwang Xiao then added. Only this method would allow Huwang Xiao to trust Wan Long and the other four.
“What?! Soul mark?!” All five faces exclaimed.
“No way!” One of them reacted badly, shook his head incessantly as he shouted, “We won’t let you stain our souls with a soul mark!”
Huwang Xiao glanced at the person out of the corner of his eye, then raised his hand and lightly pointed at the man.
The force from Huwang Xiao’s finger pierced through the man’s head through the center of his brows.
Wan Long and the remaining three people jumped back in alarm, watching as Mo Yunfei’s body fell limply to the ground. Mo Yunfei was the Mo Family Patriarchs’ son, a late-Tenth Order God Realm cultivator.
Amongst the five, Mo Yunfei’s strength was only second to Wan Long. Even if Wan Long himself wanted to kill Mo Yunfei, it would be a strenuous effort.
Yet they just saw Mo Yunfei being turned into less than a fart in an instant?!
Huwang Xiao stated in a deadpan face, “I’ve already said that you only have one opportunity.”
The four remaining people felt their throats go dry, nothing would come out. In the end, the four submitted to Huwang Xiao, after all, Mo Yunfei’s corpses was a jarring example right in front of them.
Huwang Xiao branded their souls with his soul mark, then took out two Spring Autumn Hundred Life Divine Pellets; one for Wan Long and the other one for the first person who attacked, a Grand Elder of the Celestial Peach Sect, Li Zhan.
Shortly later, Wan Long and Li Zhan’s injuries fully recovered.
Since these four had already submitted to him, Huwang Xiao no longer concealed his identity. When Wan Long and the rest got to know that the young man in front of them was the Black Warrior Institute Principal’s and the Ascending Moon Old Man’s personal disciple, Huwang Xiao, calling what they felt ‘shock’ was an understatement.
After all, during the Alchemist Grandmaster Competition, Huwang Xiao’s cultivation was at the Eighth Order God Realm, how long had it been from that time until now? This Huwang Xiao was already a mid-Tenth Order God Realm!
Moreover, a mid-Tenth Order God Realm that could easily defeat someone like Wan Long.
“Let’s hear it, what’s this about a Fire Scaled Beast?” As if he didn’t notice the four dumbfounded expressions directed at him, Huwang Xiao asked about the Fire Scaled Beast. The Fire Scaled Beast’s core was some good stuff that could increase one’s soul clarity.
At this point, elixirs that could increase his soul’s clarity were crucial to Huwang Xiao. If he was to condense the king of godheads, then he had to strive to use every possible means to increase the clarity of his soul.
When the four heard Huwang Xiao ask about the Fire Scaled Beast, they revealed all they knew, not daring to conceal anything.
As it turns out, the four of them heard about the Fire Scal
ed Beast from a certain family’s disciple. At a certain place in the Fire World, inside a rock cave lived a Fire Scaled Beast. That Fire Scaled Beast’s strength was said to be around mid-Tenth Order God Realm to late-Tenth Order God Realm.
“Firecloud Mountain.” Huwang Xiao repeated to himself.
This Firecloud Mountain was one of the perilous lands of the Fire World, the place where the fire element demonic beasts ruled, not far after crossing the God Burial River.
The night passed quickly, giving way to the rising sun.
When the sun was shining brightly in the sky, Huwang Xiao and Wan Long’s group departed, leaving the forest and arriving at the edge of the God Burial River.
Despite the daylight and the fact that the fire poison exuded by the river was much weaker than it was at night, Huwang Xiao, Wan Long, and the others dared not carelessly proceed. Wan Long’s group of four summoned the armor they had prepared in advance, protecting their bodies, whereas Huwang Xiao formed a barrier around him with his true immortal essence fire.
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Flying over the God Burial River, Huwang Xiao looked down at the seemingly calm river surface below. Occasionally, sporadic faint red streams of energy could be seen floating to the air. These faint red energy streams had extremely high temperatures. To test it out, Huwang Xiao threw a saint grade spirit stone down into the river.
The moment the saint grade spirit stone came in contact with the red energy stream, it evaporated into a pool of spiritual energy.
Although the hardness of a saint grade spirit stone couldn't compare to divine grade spirit stone, its hardness was no less than ten thousand year old iron ore. Still, it evaporated in an instant.
Wan Long’s group sucked in a breath of cold air watching this result.
Everyone was twice as careful after that.
Halfway across the river, Huwang Xiao suddenly heard soft grinding noises near his body. Checking his surrounding, he saw a swarm of fiery red bugs as big as an adult thumb fall into the river from midair.