I Am Overlord c1-962

by Translator: Pokka; Author: 我本纯洁 (I Am Pure); Licensed From: Migu

  Long Hui snorted coldly and berated, "Hmph. Are you thinking of handing him over to your Lightning Alliance?"

  Zhuo Yi could hear that something was wrong in his master's tone. With an awkward expression, he said, "Master, he had beaten my brothers from the Lightning Alliance—"

  "That's because they deserved the beating. Leave the Lightning Alliance right this moment. You are no longer allowed to mingle with them. Put your focus on cultivation instead. Try to reach the Skysoar Realm as soon as possible," Long Hui reprimanded Zhuo Yi, causing Zhuo Yi's expression to turn unsightly.

  Zhuo Yi had never been scolded like that by his master before. Inwardly, he cursed, Xiang Shaoyun, I'll remember this. The Lightning Alliance will not spare you!

  He blamed everything on Xiang Shaoyun, thinking that his master would never treat him that way if it wasn't for Xiang Shaoyun.

  And thus, Zhuo Yi left gloomily.

  Long Hui quickly and anxiously looked at Xiang Shaoyun and asked, "Y—Shaoyun, are you fine?"

  "I'm fine, Elder Long," replied Xiang Shaoyun.

  When Liu Xinji saw the care Long Hui was showing Xiang Shaoyun, a bitter smile formed on his face, and he said, "Looks like Elder Long will not be willing to part with your cherished junior. Oh well, I'll excuse myself."

  Liu Xinji had gone looking for Long Hui to discuss accepting Xiang Shaoyun as his disciple. However, he had been directly refused. He could see that Long Hui himself was most likely going to accept Xiang Shaoyun as his own disciple. Thus, it would be unlikely that he would succeed. There was no helping it since Long Hui's status was above him.

  After exchanging a few more words with Long Hui, Liu Xinji left. As for Zi Changhe, he stayed to continue catching up with Xiang Shaoyun. Only about half a day later did Zi Changhe leave.

  Xiang Shaoyun then called Long Hui over and asked about the Lightning Alliance and for the more discreet information about the Cloud Margin Pavilion. The information would let him have a clear view of the situation within the Cloud Margin Pavilion. He had also asked about Gong Qinyin's master, the Zither Empress.

  It turned out the Zither Empress was an expert who had made her name a long time ago. In the Cloud Margin Pavilion, she had a supreme status. She was one of the 10 greatest Emperors of Cloud Margin City and an accomplished zither player. Her style of fighting was to utilize the tune of her zither to attack in ways people couldn't block.

  After figuring out more about the Zither Empress, Xiang Shaoyun couldn't help but to lament the good luck Gong Qinyin had. Xiang Shaoyun was in no rush to start cultivating. Rather, he made use of Long Hui's influence and got Xia Liuhui and Wang Zhenchuan to come over. He had decided that it was time he helped the two grow even faster.

  "Tsk, tsk, boss, you sure are capable. You can actually get the two of us into the inner pavilion?" Xia Liuhui said with flatter.

  His face was still wrapped up due to his wounds. Thus, he looked rather comedic with his badly swollen face. Wang Zhenchuan remained silent, but from his expression, it was clear he was no less grateful than Xia Liuhui.

  Xiang Shaoyun did not want to linger on the same topic, so he went straight down to business. "You two are growing a tad bit too slowly. Do you want to increase your cultivation speed?"

  Excitement covered their faces when they heard those words.

  "B-boss, y-you can help us with that?" Xia Liuhui was almost drooling as he spoke.

  He knew that with his boss's capability, it was very unlikely for his boss to say empty words.

  Xiang Shaoyun looked at Xia Liuhui like he was looking at an idiot and said, "Yes or no. Give me a straight answer!"

  "Yes!" Xia Liuhui and Wang Zhenchuan answered at the same time.

  Xiang Shaoyun nodded and said, "I will teach you some high-level cultivation methods. But remember, never ever leak them, even to those closest to you. If you can promise that, I will teach you."

  Xia Liuhui and Wang Zhenchuan both swore to keep the cultivation methods to themselves. It was only then that Xiang Shaoyun started teaching them some of the high-level cultivation methods he had memorized in the past.

  With the high-level cultivation methods, their cultivation speed would increase. Furthermore, they would be able to reach an even higher height in the future. Xiang Shaoyun never hoped that the two would grow strong and be helpful to him. He sincerely wished that the two could live a better life.

  The two were extremely grateful after they were taught the cultivation methods.

  Xiang Shaoyun also taught them a tier-4 battle technique and told them to only start training it upon reaching the Transformation Realm. They would not be able to unleash the power of the battle technique and might even suffer a backlash if they trained it before the Transformation Realm.

  Just like that, the two obtained a cultivation method and a battle technique that many disciples would dream to have. One could say that they were lucky to have known Xiang Shaoyun. After sending the two away, Xiang Shaoyun called Lu Xiaoqing over. This time, he did not call Gong Qinyin. There were some words that would be more appropriately spoken to Lu Xiaoqing alone.

  When Lu Xiaoqing saw Xiang Shaoyun again, she handed him a cloak and said, "Shaoyun, this is a cloak I have knitted personally. Try and see if it fits!"

  The gift was presented to Xiang Shaoyun before he could speak, hitting a certain tender spot in his heart.

  Since young, apart from his father, he had almost never received sincere care from anyone else. Lu Xiaoqing was a cultivator, yet she had personally knitted a cloak for him. It filled his heart with warmth.

  Chapter 224: Foolish Girl

  Xiang Shaoyun slowly reached out and accepted the cloak. His eyes turned gentle as he said, "Thank you, Xiaoqing.

  When Lu Xiaoqing sensed the change in Xiang Shaoyun's gaze, she blushed and said, "You don't have to be so courteous with me."

  Lu Xiaoqing's heart was filled with dedication toward Xiang Shaoyun. One could say that she would be willing to do whatever he asked with no hesitation. Xiang Shaoyun took a deep breath and unfolded the cloak before draping it over his shoulder. With the cloak on, a little bit of grace was added to his heroic bearing.

  "Ahh, it fits nicely. I was worried that it wouldn't fit," said Lu Xiaoqing as she patted her chest in relief.

  She then stepped forward and helped Xiang Shaoyun tie up the band of the cloak hanging on his neck. Looking at her innocent face at such close distance and smelling the fragrance coming from her, Xiang Shaoyun couldn't help wrapping his arms around her waist, and he pulled her into his embrace.

  The hug instantly melted Lu Xiaoqing, who stayed in the embrace with a dazzled mind. Xiang Shaoyun was in a complicated state of mind. He had been avoiding any romantic feelings all this while. However, he couldn't bear to hurt the kind and innocent woman before him over and over again.

  As of this moment, it was like there was nobody except them in the entire world. They silently hugged each other with not a single distracting thought in their minds.

  After an unknown amount of time, Xiang Shaoyun gently pushed Lu Xiaoqing away and looked straight into her bashful eyes and said, "Xiaoqing, I won't be able to give you any promises right now. I am an unlucky person. In the future, I will have to face a massive calamity. Therefore, I am not the best person for you. I hope you can think this through."

  A resolute glint appeared in Lu Xiaoqing's eyes as she said, "I have already made up my mind. I am only going to be with you. Alive or dead, I don't want to part with you anymore."

  "Foolish girl," Xiang Shaoyun said as he rubbed Lu Xiaoqing's nose intimately.

  That action filled Lu Xiaoqing with a feeling of happiness. Her entire heart was crammed full with sweetness. She suddenly tiptoed and planted a kiss on Xiang Shaoyun's face before quickly lowering her head bashfully, no longer daring to look him in his eyes.

  Xiang Shaoyun stroked Lu Xiaoqing's hair gently for a bit before saying solemnly, "Xiaoqing, do you still remember what I told you in the past? So long as your cult
ivation level can keep up with me, it is possible for us to be together. But you are still currently too weak in terms of cultivation."

  Lu Xiaoqing pouted and said, "I am already a Transformation Realm cultivator!"

  She had been working very hard, but she found that the gap between her and Xiang Shaoyun was still so large.

  "I know you are already a Transformation Realm cultivator. But that is far from enough. If you want to become my woman, you need to be at least at the Emperor Realm," said Xiang Shaoyun seriously.

  Lu Xiaoqing's eyes turned slightly red when she heard that. The Emperor Realm was an extremely mighty realm. With her four-star physique, was that even reachable for her?

  "Fine." Lu Xiaoqing thought it was just an excuse Xiang Shaoyun was using to reject her, and tears started dripping down her face. She then turned to leave as she did not feel like staying here any extra moment anymore. Right as she was about to leave, a strong hand grabbed her arm.

  "What are you doing, Xiaoqing? I am only telling you all that so you can prepare yourself mentally for it. I am going to teach you a high-level cultivation method that will help you grow faster. I am not trying to make you leave," Xiang Shaoyun explained.

  Lu Xiaoqing turned and looked at him before asking, "Really?"

  "Why should I even lie? Foolish girl!" said Xiang Shaoyun as he helped wipe her tears. And thus, Lu Xiaoqing's nearly broken heart was fully healed.

  Xiang Shaoyun did as he said. He taught Lu Xiaoqing a cultivation method and a battle technique. He also shared some of his experiences during cultivation so as to help her grow even faster. Lu Xiaoqing was an intelligent person. It did not take her long to memorize everything he told her. Inwardly, she vowed solemnly, I must double my effort and not be a burden to Shaoyun!

  Although Xiang Shaoyun was now interacting much more intimately with Lu Xiaoqing than before, just as he had said, he wouldn't be able to give her any promises right now. Thus, he still maintained a certain amount of distance from her.

  As for Lu Xiaoqing, she felt that she was still not worthy of Xiang Shaoyun, and was already happy with how he was treating her. They stayed together in gentle tenderness for a day before Lu Xiaoqing finally left reluctantly.

  Although Xiang Shaoyun could make Long Hui allow Lu Xiaoqing to stay here long term, he felt like it wouldn't be beneficial to her. It would be better for her to rely on her own hard work and grow one step at a time.

  After Lu Xiaoqing left, Xiang Shaoyun headed toward Gong Qinyin's residence with Long Hui's elder token. Gong Qinyin had an extraordinary status in the pavilion and had her own estate, like the top 10 personal disciples. These estates were slightly inferior to the elder estates, but they were much better than the inner disciple estates.

  Holding an elder token, Xiang Shaoyun was able to move around freely in the inner pavilion. He would be fine as long as he stayed away from the restricted zones. But right after he left Long Hui's estate, he noticed someone tailing him.

  Is it someone with a death wish from the Lightning Alliance? Xiang Shaoyun thought to himself.

  For struggles between the younger generation, everything could be done so long as nobody went too far. That was why someone was so daringly tailing Xiang Shaoyun. This particular tail was Long Hui's disciple, Zhuo Yi. Apart from him, two other youngsters were with him as well. All three of them had similar cultivation levels. After Xiang Shaoyun came out of Long Hui's estate, Zhuo Yi immediately stopped him in his path.

  "Senior Brother Zhuo, what can I help you with? Seems like you have been tailing me for a bit," said Xiang Shaoyun in an unruffled manner.

  "Come with me right this moment," said Zhuo Yi with an unsightly expression.

  "What if I refuse?" asked Xiang Shaoyun.

  "Hah...the choice is not up to you at all. Take him with us. If he dares to resist, don't show any mercy," said Zhuo Yi with a vicious glint in his eyes.

  At his command, the two youngsters behind him charged Xiang Shaoyun.

  They both had cultivation levels above sixth-stage Transformation Realm. They approached Xiang Shaoyun from two directions, confident that Xiang Shaoyun would not be able to escape them. They then reached for Xiang Shaoyun’s shoulder.

  Xiang Shaoyun did not do anything and glanced at the two before saying, "Let go or suffer the consequences."

  "Kid, you are still acting all tough even now? You want us to teach you a lesson right here?" berated the person on the left.

  The person on the right sneered, "Why don't we break his arms first?"

  Zhuo Yi did not say anything. Clearly, he had tacitly agreed.

  "I repeat, let go or suffer the consequences," said Xiang Shaoyun.

  "Haha, what a joke. Suffer!" said the person on the right. He signaled the other person, and they started exerting strength with their grips, trying to snap Xiang Shaoyun's arms.

  "AHHHH!"

  "AHHHH!"

  Chapter 225: Requesting to Meet Gong Qinyin

  The miserable wails did not come from Xiang Shaoyun. Rather, they came from the two youngsters whose hands were on his shoulder. Xiang Shaoyun did not even have to lift his hand. He only released a tiny bit of his flame power. The two youngsters weren't even able to do anything before their hands caught on fire. They waved their burning hands miserably.

  "I told you, but you wouldn't listen. Happy now?" Xiang Shaoyun shrugged.

  He had only utilized a tiny bit of Yun Flame's power. If he had used more, he could have instantly burned the two to crisp. He had no intention to kill anyone in the Cloud Margin Pavilion. Doing so would only attract more attention, and attention was the last thing he needed.

  Zhuo Yi was flabbergasted to see his companions being injured so easily. But he was even more furious as he pointed at Xiang Shaoyun and bellowed, "I was trying to play nice, but since you refused to play along, let me tell you that you are only my master's follower. Be obedient and you might still have a chance to survive this. Otherwise, you're dead for sure!"

  "Hehe, I am your master's relative," Xiang Shaoyun said as he flashed a wide smile.

  Inwardly, he was filled with contempt, What an idiot. Even your master is but a puppet of mine. Who are you to act tough in front of me?

  Zhuo Yi was so infuriated he nearly spat blood.

  "Hmph. Relative my ass. I don't know what you did to flatter my master so much, but I won't let you succeed. Come with me!" Zhuo Yi said before he suddenly moved.

  The moment he moved, he used his full power, and a dragon claw formed and grabbed at Xiang Shaoyun's shoulder. He attacked with his maximum speed, not giving Xiang Shaoyun a chance to react. However, every single detail of the attack was crystal clear before Xiang Shaoyun's eyes. He avoided the grip without any effort at all.

  But Zhuo Yi wasn't a pushover either. After missing his first attack, he was able to quickly readjust and clawed at Xiang Shaoyun's face instead. If that attack had landed, Xiang Shaoyun's face would have been ruined.

  Xiang Shaoyun frowned and said, "You're asking for it!"

  Finally deciding to counterattack, Xiang Shaoyun gripped Zhuo Yi's arm and gave it a twist.

  Crack!

  "AHHHH!"

  Zhuo Yi's arm was snapped, causing him to wail like a pig being slaughtered. He broke out in cold sweat.

  "This is a lesson I am teaching you on your master's behalf. If your Lightning Alliance insists on looking for trouble, I don't mind completely destroying your alliance as well," declared Xiang Shaoyun overbearingly.

  But Zhuo Yi was still unyielding as he said, "Kill me if you dare! The honor of the Lightning Alliance can not be trampled on!"

  "You have been terribly brainwashed." Xiang Shaoyun rolled his eyes. He kicked Zhuo Yi away and resumed his journey to Gong Qinyin's place, completely ignoring the three.

  With a face filled with resentment, Zhuo Yi glared at Xiang Shaoyun's departing back and thought to himself, Bastard, you will regret your actions!

  Xiang Shaoyun walked along a trail in a forested area in a rel
axed manner, looking as if the little episode earlier had not ruined his mood. But in truth, he disliked such pointless struggles.

  Can't I just cultivate in peace for a bit? Xiang Shaoyun sighed to himself.

  Soon, he arrived at Gong Qinyin's estate. The estate was shrouded in elegance and tranquility, and melodic zither tunes could be heard coming from within.

  The tune was extremely graceful and moving, painting a picture of various oriole singing away. The melody flowed like the clearest of spring water, soaking every listener in a comfortable and refreshing feeling. The tune suddenly changed, giving off a faint trace of melancholy, causing one to be sucked in and to start feeling melancholic as well. The feeling was similar to what one would feel when missing a loved one, a sensation of unrequited love.

  Even when the zither stopped playing, the tune still lingered in the air, trapping one in the melancholic atmosphere for a long, long time.

  Xiang Shaoyun was someone who knew music as well. He had not cultivated when he was growing up, but he was an expert in all sorts of entertainment. He could hear that the player of the tune wasn't very good yet, but had an innate talent to completely draw the audience into her atmosphere. With a natural talent like that, she would have terrifying accomplishments in the art of controlling others through music given enough time to grow.

  "Is it Gong Qinyin playing the zither?" Xiang Shaoyun guessed.

  When he approached the estate, an old woman appeared before him noiselessly and said, "Halt!"

  Xiang Shaoyun bowed and said, "Lord, please inform Lady Gong Qinyin that Xiang Shaoyun is here to pay her a visit."

  The old woman glanced at Xiang Shaoyun and said, "Those with no business here are to leave immediately!"

  Xiang Shaoyun did not bother saying much and took out Elder Long Hui's elder token.

  He thought that the token would earn him some respect, but unfortunately, the old woman completely ignored it and said, "Final warning. Those with no business here are to leave immediately!"