by Shian Jeen
Marshal Haotian and Fei Hou also walked up to check Huwang Min’s condition, and they had the same expression as Huwang Xiao. Evidently, they too were unsure of the solution.
Just when Huwang Xiao’s anxiety was about to burn his eyebrows, the fixed Huwang Min suddenly softened and could move again.
“Big Brother!” Huwang Min cried out.
Huwang Xiao was surprised and quickly helped her up, “Little girl, how do you feel?”
Huwang Min shook her head: “I’m fine.”
Huwang Min speedily told Huwang Xiao: ‘This morning, I came out with Sister Li Lu, and when we were passing by Peaceful Street two middle-aged men suddenly appeared in front of us. After killing the four Marshal Mansion’s guards, they took us away. They brought us here after leaving the Royal City.” Huwang Min paused to catch her breath.
Huwang Xiao did not rush her, waiting patiently for her to continue.
Huwang Min continued: “When we reached this place, the two of them interrogated Sister Li Lu, asking where some Mountain and Sea Manuscript is. Sister Li Lu said she didn’t know, crying and saying that she would kill them to avenge her elder brother, Father, and Grandfather. The two men became angry and they wanted to kill us.”
Everyone present listened attentively.
“When the two men were about to kill us a beautiful woman suddenly appeared, and with a flick of her long-sleeve the two men were repelled.”
Huwang Min continued: “The two men weren’t her opponent and wanted to run away so the beautiful woman did not kill them. In the end, that woman took Sister Li Lu away.”
“She took Li Lu away.” Huwang Xiao was shocked.
“Yes. That beautiful woman said she has been searching for a successor for a few hundred years, and Sister Li Lu’s talent was most suitable to carry on her legacy. So, she wanted to receive Sister Li Lu as her personal disciple. Sister Li Lu then agreed to go with her.” Huwang Min muttered: “I wanted to persuade Sister Li Lu to stay, but I don’t know what method that wench used to stop me from moving. She said it would go away by itself in an hour, but if anyone wanted to end it before that, only a Saint realm expert could undo it.”
“Saint realm expert!”
Marshal Haotian, Fei Hou, the rest of the guards, and even Huwang Xiao himself were shocked.
That beautiful woman said only Saint realm experts could undo her binding... does that mean that beautiful woman is a Saint realm expert?
An uncertain light flickered in Huwang Xiao’s eyes.
However, he was happy for Li Lu having the opportunity to become the disciple of a Saint realm expert and that Li Lu was willing to go with her voluntarily, accepting her as her Master so that she could learn the beautiful woman’s cultivation technique and battle skill in order to exact revenge.
“Did that beautiful woman say where she is bringing Li Lu?” A while later, Huwang Xiao asked, his voice sounding solemn.
“She said that if we want to find Li Lu, we have to go to Deities Templar.” Huwang Min answered.
“Deities Templar?” Huwang Xiao was puzzled. He turned towards Marshal Haotian and Fei Hou, but the two of them had the same look of confusion on their faces. Judging from their reactions, both of them didn’t know anything about the existence of this Deities Templar.
It was a little out of Huwang Xiao’s expectations that neither Marshal Haotian nor Fei Hou had heard about this Deities Templar.
He could only find out slowly.
Since Li Lu was taken as a personal disciple by that beautiful woman, her safety was no longer of any concern. It was just that, they won’t be able to see Li Lu until a very long time in the future. When they meet again, would it be in ten or twenty years?
“Let’s go back.” Huwang Xiao ordered and sighed secretly. With Huwang Min found, everyone headed back to Tianxuan Mansion.
Although he knew Li Lu was okay and that she even accepted a Saint realm expert as her Master, it did not reduce the sense of loss in his heart.
For the Li Residence’s revenge, Li Lu would take it upon herself to achieve this goal. This was also his wish.
Thus, when they returned to Tianxuan Mansion, Huwang Xiao told Marshal Haotian to lift the blockade and stop tracking the killers.
Three days later.
Huwang Xiao did not practice over the last three days. There was a slight resistance to adapt to Li Lu’s sudden departure. These past few years had made Li Lu a part of his life, and with her gone he felt an emptiness in his heart.
En, that’s right, it was a little empty.
Huwang Xiao looked up at the night moon. Just a few months prior, it was the same round moon, shining just as brightly.
Xiao, tell me, am I going to die?
The words Li Lu spoke at that time, Huwang Xiao remembered them clearly. Even her melancholic mood appeared clearly in his eyes as if the scene that night was repeating itself.
At that time, Li Lu hugged Huwang Xiao.
I’m scared I won’t be able to see you anymore, that I’ll never see you again!
Li Lu cried.
The memory of the scene dissipated.
Huwang Xiao sighed, muttering to himself: “Deities Templar.”
Five days passed.
Huwang Xiao was mediating in the yard when Huwang Min walked in. Sensing Huwang Xiao’s mood, she spoke: “Big Brother, are you still thinking about Sister Li Lu?”
Huwang Xiao responded by nodding his head, “In another two days, the Academy’s competition will begin. Do you have confidence to get the class’ first place spot?”
Some years back, Huwang Xiao requested two spots from Principal Sun Zhang for his siblings, Huwang Min and Huwang Xiaohai, and both of them have been learning in the Cosmic Star Academy for the past few years.
Although both of their martial spirits grades were not high, they were nurtured by Huwang Xiao and guided by Fei Hou in their cultivation. Their strength and cultivation speed were no worse than those so-called geniuses in the Cosmic Star Academy.
“Of course, Big Brother! this time, your little sister will seize the class’ first spot for you!” Huwang Min laughed, full of confidence.
Huwang Xiao nodded. With Huwang Min’s current strength, to get the class number one spot would not be a problem.
A while later, Huwang Min left Huwang Xiao’s yard.
Readjusting his mood, Huwang Xiao triggered the God Binding Ring and entered the ancient battlefield, then started practicing Asura Tactics and God Binding Palm.
After several months of practice, Huwang Xiao’s comprehension in the God Binding Palm battle skill had progressed by leaps and bounds.
Another two days passed.
Huwang Xiao woke up and headed to the Cosmic Star Academy with his younger siblings.
One year has passed since he last came.
When Huwang Xiao arrived, it was inevitable that he needed to spend some time talking and guiding the older Academy students.
When entering the Holy Hall, just like the years before, many fangirls were shrieking and screaming his name.
“Huwang Xiao, I love you~!”
Confessions of love accompanied Huwang Xiao as he made hit way to his class’s seating arrangement. He had broken through the Tenth Order but had yet to put in a request for the class advancement assessment test. Officially, he was a student of Second Year Class Six.
When Lu Kai saw Huwang Xiao, he walked over and smiled: “This guy really, you went missing for a year, and I heard you even went to the Yuwai Kingdom?”
Huwang Xiao nodded: “En, I made a trip to the Yuwai Kingdom.”
Hearing his confirmation, Lu Kai swiftly pulled Huwang Xiao to the side, inquiring in a whisper with a grin, “I heard the women in the Yuwai Kingdom are very beautiful, filled with an otherworldly temperament.”
Huwang Xiao was stunned with Lu Kai’s line of questioning, and nodded slowly and said, “Ah, filled with temperament.”
Lu Kai’s eyes lit up, “Then I must find a chance to bring t
his up with my Royal Father so I can follow the special envoys to the Yuwai Kingdom.”
Huwang Xiao shook his head helplessly.
Note: Term 'Deities Templar' will remain, in some aspect of likeness to Knights Templar.
Ch.128
A while later, Sun Zhang and Xiong Chu arrived in the Holy Hall.
Like in previous years, after both of them arrived, one of them would speak words of encouragement and explain the rules of the competition before declaring the start of the competition.
And the two candidates that Chen Feirong recommended for Second Year Class Six were still Huwang Xiao and Lu Kai.
During last year’s annual competition, Lu Kai was a peak late-Seventh Order warrior, and this year this little rascal finally managed to break through to the Eighth Order.
Standing on the stage, Lu Kai called out his Sky Peng martial spirit and soul transformed in the blink of an eye. Without saying a word, an attack of Colossal Decimate Fist struck out at full force towards Huwang Xiao.
Although Lu Kai knew he would lose, as the Prince of Luo Tong Kingdom, Lu Kai still needed to challenge and battle with Huwang Xiao despite knowing how much stronger Huwang Xiao was. Otherwise, it would create an adverse effect on the kingdom.
Watching Lu Kai’s Colossal Decimate Fist coming at him after soul transforming, Huwang Xiao stood quietly on the stage without moving. Before everyone’s dumbstruck eyes, Lu Kai’s fist landed on Huwang Xiao squarely in the chest.
Whoom! A loud muffled blast resounded.
Lu Kai and the crowd were shocked and bewildered.
While everyone around was still in confusion about why Huwang Xiao neither dodged nor attacked, Lu Kai was shocked to discover his fist felt like it hit against a solid iron wall when it landed on Huwang Xiao’s chest.
Huwang Xiao stood there, immovable like a mountain.
“This!” Lu Kai’s eyes widened with shock and amazement.
At this time, a terrifying energy gushed out from Huwang Xiao’s body, and with a shake of his right shoulder, Lu Kai was knocked back, stumbling all the way until he fell off the stage powerlessly.
Mouths were agape.
Even Lu Kai felt stupefied.
He had already stepped into the Eighth Order, and in addition to his soul transformed physique, he was using an Earth rank battle skill, even an average peak late-Eighth Order wouldn’t dare to take his fist attack head on like Huwang Xiao just did!
Not only did Huwang Xiao take his Colossal Decimate Fist at full force without soul transforming, he even successfully repelled him off the stage with a shake of his shoulder?
Lu Kai shook his head: “This freak, has he broken through to the Ninth Order?”
Maybe he really has stepped into the Ninth Order! Lu Kai thought as his eyes widened.
Having the same thought as Lu Kai, everyone who was watching was sure Huwang Xiao had advanced in his cultivation.
Up on the main platform, watching this result, Sun Zhang chuckled: “This little guy already broke into the Ninth Order? He was faster than what we estimated by half a year!”
“Yes ah, there’s still a month away before this little guy reaches sixteen.”
Xiong Chu looked enviously at Huwang Xiao’s silhouette on the battle stage.
A sixteen-year-old Ninth Order warrior!
This was an unprecedented event in the entire Duanren Empire’s history!
Freak or monster was a lackluster definition to describe Huwang Xiao.
Super freak, super monster!
After defeating Lu Kai, Huwang Xiao became the Class Six winner as expected and the event moved on to the Second Year competition. Again, Huwang Xiao defeated his opponents from the other classes effortlessly, taking the championship for the Second Year. However, Huwang Xiao’s final opponent last year, one of the three big beauties of Cosmic Star Academy, Chen Caixiu, had advanced to the Ninth Order and had passed the assessment test to advance to the Third Year class.
A few hours later, the year’s Academy competition ended smoothly.
As the tradition goes, other than the usual competition rewards, Sun Zhang and Xiong Chu each gifted a high Grade Five Spirit Dan to Huwang Xiao.
The main reason Huwang Xiao participated in the Academy’s competition was not for cultivating in the Dragon Flame Valley, but for these Grade Five Spirit Dans.
These three spirit dans were given to his parents and siblings every year.
Even though Huwang Xiao’s Nine Tripod Commerce earns more than several thousands gold coins every year, high Grade Five Spirit Dans were not something that could be bought with sacks of gold coins.
When Sun Zhang and Xiong Chu were giving him the two high Grade Five Spirit Dans, Huwang Xiao inquired about the class advancement assessment test for the Third Year.
Sun Zhang laughed and said: “You have broken through to the Ninth Order, and the level of your strength has surpassed most of the Third Year students. Still, to advance to the Third Year class you must go through the Academy’s test. This rule, even the two of us must adhere to it.”
Xiong Chu added: “The year has ended, so if you want to apply for the assessment test it can only be carried out next year. When the new term starts, come to us and we will arrange it for you.”
Huwang Xiao nodded: “Okay then.”
Seeing that Sun Zhang and Xiong Chu both believed he had just broken through to the Ninth Order, Huwang Xiao did not correct them by saying that he had in fact stepped into the Tenth Order, for it is too frightening.
During last year’s competition when he defeated Chen Caixiu, he was only an Eighth Order. If people knew he already broken through to the Tenth Order in no more than one year’s time, perhaps the million li away Duanren Empire would be alerted.
Then again, when Huwang Xiao revealed his grade twelve superb talent martial spirits, the Primordial Divine Black Dragon, the Duanren Empire should’ve been made aware of this. The progress of a young and talented youth such as Huwang Xiao is usually given top priority.
On the other hand, the Duanren Empire wouldn’t deliberately protect or cultivate people like Huwang Xiao unless they participated in the Battle of the Imperial City and successfully entered the top one hundred places, qualifying to enroll into Duanren Institute.
Huwang Xiao returned to Tianxuan Mansion with his younger sister and brother, Huwang Min and Huwang Xiaohai.
His sister, Huwang Min, indeed won the class competition.
Back in Tianxuan Mansion, Huwang Xiao entered the ancient battlefield to practice.
Soon, another month passed.
In another two days, it will be New Year.
The entire Tianxuan Mansion was decorated vibrantly, immersed in a cheerful, festive atmosphere.
Like every New Year, Huwang Xiao would stop practicing to accompany his parents and younger siblings.
It had already been sixteen years since he was reborn in this world, but most of his time was spent on practicing and cultivation and the time he had to talk with his family was very little.
“Pity that Li Lu is not here.” In the main hall, everyone was happily chatting when Su Yan suddenly remarked: “This New Year could have been even better and livelier.”
Huwang Min also agreed: “Right ah, if Sister Li Lu was here, how wonderful it would be!”
The atmosphere in the main hall took a sudden drop.
Huwang Xiao stood up and left the main hall. Coming to the streets, he strolled without a specific destination in mind, just wanting to take a breath of fresh air. The weather was cold, yet there were many people on the streets, and it was bustling and lively. There were noises everywhere of common folk buying things for the upcoming New Year celebration.
Huwang Xiao observed these common folk preparing to welcome the New Year in a jovial mood and in turn, it made his mood better. The truth was, a person doesn’t seek much-- as long as they could stay together with their family and be happy, this was also a blessing.
After taking a stroll around
the city, Huwang Xiao went back to Tianxuan Mansion.
Night descended and Tianxuan Mansion lit up brightly.
Instead of practicing, Huwang Xiao provided constructive advice to Huwang Min and Huwang Xiaohai on the problems they encountered in cultivation.
Very quickly, the New Year passed.
The Cosmic Star Academy academic year had started.
Huwang Xiao headed towards the Cosmic Star Academy and immediately went straight in the direction of the Principal’s office. What Huwang Xiao did not expect was that Jiang Teng was inside the room when he walked in.
A few years had passed and Jiang Teng had grown into a young man over five feet tall. With Sun Zhang and Xiong Chu’s attentive nurturing, Jiang Teng who possessed the superb talent martial spirit, Sacred Bright Tiger, had advanced to late-Seventh Order. The gap between him and Huwang Xiao was like heaven and earth. Huwang Xiao had turned into an existence he could only admire from afar.
Obviously, Jiang Teng also did not think he would run into Huwang Xiao at this time and place because he had actively avoided Huwang Xiao. Thus, it had been two to three years since they last met face to face.
“Se, Senior Brother Huwang!’ Seeing Huwang Xiao walk in, Jiang Teng practically jumped out from his seat, stammering out a greeting.
Ch.129
Senior Brother Huwang? Hearing the salutation Jiang Teng called him with, Huwang Xiao was stunned.
“Xiao, you’re here!” At this moment, Sun Zhang and Xiong Chu both had a brilliant smile on their faces as they stood up and indicated for Huwang Xiao to take a seat.
After all four of them were seated, Xiong Chu smiled and said: “The matter regarding your advancement assessment has been decided. Head towards the Southern Cliff Marsh, kill an Iron Crocodile, then return with its beast core.”
Hearing this, Huwang Xiao nodded.
The Iron Crocodile is a species of crocodile, but its defense and attack strength were much stronger. The average Iron Crocodile possessed the strength of a Ninth Order warrior, and even some more powerful ones could reach a Tenth Order warrior’s strength. For Huwang Xiao, this assessment was considered easy.