I Am Overlord c1-962

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

  "You're not bad, kid. It's my defeat," said the clone with a praising look on his face. Noiselessly, his body melted into the ring.

  The eyes of the elders widened in shock. Evidently, none of them had expected Xiang Shaoyun to actually defeat their hall master.

  "Haha, good kid. I have not made a misjudgment, after all. You have defeated the hall master," shouted the excited Old Urchin.

  "Hmph. Don't talk drivel, Old Urchin. That is only a clone," said Hu Yanbo coldly.

  "Yes, but that's still the hall master's clone. A defeat is a defeat. Why can't we talk about it? Even the hall master himself has admitted defeat!" said Old Urchin. "Look, the kid you guys found doesn't seem to be doing well. He looks to be on the verge of losing."

  Sure enough, at the other side of the ring, Xiang Zixuan was in an intense battle with the other clone. The clone was holding the absolute upper hand, delivering a punishing beating to Xiang Zixuan.

  Before the battle, Xiang Zixuan had used some herbs and spring water to recover to his peak condition. But he was still not the match of the hall master's clone even when the two had the same cultivation level.

  It was becoming increasingly apparent that Xiang Zixuan was heading toward the path of defeat. Thus, the third and seventh elders wore ghastly expressions. If only Xiang Shaoyun managed to pass this trial, they would hear no end of it from Old Urchin.

  As for the Black and White Guardians from the Xiang Clan, they had awkward expressions. They had never imagined that even with Xiang Zixuan's strength, he still couldn't defeat the hall master when both were at the same level. It was obvious how powerful an individual the hall master was.

  Looking at Xiang Zixuan, who was on the verge of defeat, Xiang Shaoyun smiled and said, "Although this fellow is strong, he still can't compare with the hall master when their cultivation levels are even."

  So long as Xiang Zixuan suffered a defeat, Xiang Shaoyun would be the sole victor. He believed Old Urchin would stop making things difficult for him after that.

  Just as the hall master's clone was about to land a finishing blow on Xiang Zixuan, he changed his weapon. A much sharper weapon appeared in his hand, and a rain of purple lightning suddenly fell down from the sky. A sea of lightning was created as if a natural calamity was happening.

  Rumble! Rumble!

  Even Xiang Shaoyun was alarmed by the prowess demonstrated by the rain of lightning. In fact, he did not doubt that he would be immediately reduced to nothingness facing that attack himself.

  After a while, the rain of lightning finally stopped. With a purple sword in hand, Xiang Zixuan stood on the ring, forcing his body to remain standing.

  The clone turned incredibly translucent. Softly, he said, "Pass," before dissipating into nothingness.

  "Shit, that kid actually used a saint weapon!" Old Urchin cursed.

  Many of the elders saw what happened, and they had complicated expressions. Even so, none of them said anything.

  "Since even the hall master himself gave him a pass, there is nothing wrong with using a saint weapon," said Hu Yanbo. He looked at the first elder and continued, "First elder, both candidates are greatly exhausted. Should we give them an hour to rest?"

  The first elder waved his hand and said, "We continue with the third trial. Come with me."

  He then led the group somewhere else. The others followed, not daring to say anything.

  "Hey, if you can't keep up, just give up. Don't force yourself," said Xiang Shaoyun provocatively.

  Although his injuries weren't light, he had already used a drop of lightning liquid and some emperor-grade spring water. He was healing quickly, and he was in a much better condition than Xiang Zixuan.

  "Dream on!" Xiang Zixuan gave an unyielding response.

  He also used some high-tier spring water to increase his recovery speed. He was, after all, a prodigy from the Xiang Clan who had reached the Soul Foundation Realm. Thus, he had his own astral cosmos sea. It wasn't particularly large, but it was enough for him.

  "You had such a hard time passing the previous two trials, so you will definitely stand no chance against the last trial. Remember, those refusing to listen to the advice of the elderly will be the ones to suffer," said Xiang Shaoyun with the tone of some senior cultivator.

  "You had merely gotten lucky. You have no right to act all smug before me," said Xiang Zixuan as he glared at Xiang Shaoyun.

  "We'll see," said Xiang Shaoyun, his head raised smugly.

  In truth, he was feigning this arrogance. He felt that the final trial would be the hardest, and he wasn't confident he could get through it. But at this point, it was too late for him to withdraw. Perhaps he would get lucky and pass the final trial as well?

  Shortly after, the group arrived at a certain location.

  Hu Yanbo asked, "First elder, why are you bringing us to the restricted zone?"

  "The third trial will be inside the restricted zone. Wait here, all of you. I'll bring both of them in," said the first elder.

  The restricted zone at the rear court of the Holy Hall was a place filled with stone towers. Each stone tower held a different position, and one could easily get lost amid the stone towers.

  The forest of towers was actually an ancient formation that contained an indescribable power. With Xiang Shaoyun and Xiang Zixuan in tow, the first elder went deeper into the restricted zone.

  "Stick with me, or you'll be trapped here forever," the first elder's voice rang out.

  While following behind the first elder, Xiang Shaoyun released the senses of his Nether Soul Domain, trying to map out his surroundings. However, he found that although his senses could spread out, he couldn't study his surroundings. It was as if some sort of power was obstructing his senses.

  This is indeed a restricted zone. One won't be able to casually scan this place, thought Xiang Shaoyun.

  After a short while, the three arrived before a certain stone tower. This tower was taller than the other towers. They could see numerous green scars on it, and the tower itself emanated an ancient vibe.

  "The first one to comprehend the secret of this stone tower will pass the third trial," said the first elder before he turned and left. His words left Xiang Shaoyun and Xiang Zixuan staring at the stone tower blankly.

  Chapter 800: The Third Trial

  Both Xiang Shaoyun and Xiang Zixuan were convinced that the third trial would be extremely difficult, and they had braced themselves for whatever suffering awaiting them. Thus, when they heard the first elder, they couldn't believe the third trial would be something with so little danger.

  After a momentary daze, their gazes refocused onto the stone tower. Apart from its ancient aura, the tower did not look special at all. The two couldn't make any sense of it. They exchanged gazes but quickly looked away the moment their eyes met.

  Xiang Zixuan walked around the tower, trying to see what was so special about it. As for Xiang Shaoyun, he also started studying the tower in detail. However, he failed to learn anything.

  "Stop wasting your time. Someone like you won't be able to learn anything. Time for you to get lost," Xiang Zixuan suddenly shouted at Xiang Shaoyun.

  "Hehe, if anyone should be leaving, it is you. Don't think you can scare me just because you have a higher cultivation level," said Xiang Shaoyun with a nonchalant smile.

  "Is that so? Even if you refuse to leave, I have plenty of ways to kick you away," said Xiang Zixuan coldly as he unleashed the power of his soul foundation. It wrapped around the tower and pushed Xiang Shaoyun away.

  Xiang Shaoyun had not expected Xiang Zixuan to have the galls to actually attack. Furious, he shouted, "You're courting death!"

  "Don't think that I won't be able to do anything against you just because I'm still injured," said Xiang Zixuan smugly.

  Xiang Shaoyun was tempted to release his Nether Soul Domain to confront Xiang Zixuan, but he soon got his emotions under control. Voice calm, he said, "I'll allow you to study the tower first. Let's see if you can actually learn
the tower's secret before me."

  "Haha, with my comprehension ability, the secret is practically in my grasp already," Xiang Zixuan howled with laughter. He then used the power of his soul foundation and focused on the tower, trying to decode the tower's secret.

  As for Xiang Shaoyun, he ignored Xiang Zixuan and sat down cross-legged. He focused on recovering himself. He was remaining calm because he believed that the third trial wouldn't be that simple. One would not be able to learn the secret so easily.

  Thus, he might as well allow Xiang Zixuan to try and fail first. He would take the time to bring himself back to his optimal condition before taking his turn at the tower.

  Under the nourishment of his spring water, the injuries he had suffered during the battle with the hall master's clone started to heal. He also started replenishing his energy, and he even found that he had grown again from the intense battle. He could form a few strands of new draconic aura right now if he wanted to.

  In his brain, he replayed the combat technique used by the hall master's clone repeatedly. He sank into a state of comprehension, as though he was able to fully understand the battle technique.

  As he entered this sudden state of comprehension, his filthless soul and Light of Wisdom worked together, greatly boosting his comprehension. It did not take him long to figure out the Major Slab Palm.

  The Major Slab Palm was most definitely a top-tier emperor technique. In fact, it was even comparable to some of the more ordinary sovereign techniques, capable of unleashing extraordinary might. The Meteor Rain was an even stronger technique. It was much harder to comprehend but not too difficult for him.

  As for the other technique, the Phantom Shift, Xiang Shaoyun had only managed to comprehend a tiny portion of it. After all, this was a secret technique and was unlike a combat technique. It contained more profundities, and it would be hard for one to learn it after seeing it once.

  Even so, Xiang Shaoyun was very satisfied with his harvest. He had the power of earth, yet he had yet to cultivate any related battle techniques. Both the Meteor Rain and Major Slab Palm were earth elemental battle techniques, and they would work nicely for him.

  He was also very happy with the growth of his comprehension capability. In the future, perhaps he could steal even more techniques from his opponents.

  After an unknown amount of time, Xiang Shaoyun woke up from his meditation. He found that he had completely recovered and was full of vigor. He turned his head to look at Xiang Zixuan and learned that he was still studying the tower. From his tightly furrowed brows, it was obvious he hadn't gained much.

  Xiang Shaoyun was tempted to take advantage of this and make a move, but after some hesitation, he decided against it. Instead, he shifted his focus to the other towers.

  The stone towers here weren't particularly tall, about seven or eight meters each. Their tops were pointed and sharp, while their bodies were akin to dragons and separated into five segments. Each segment was decorated with runes, while each tower looked completely the same. It was hard to distinguish each tower from the other.

  There are at least 300 or 400 towers here, but I wonder what roles they play. As for this single unique tower, what kind of secret is it hiding? Xiang Shaoyun sank into thought. Is this unique tower perhaps the eye of a formation?

  He was certain that the towers' positioning was related to some formation, but unfortunately, he did not know much about formations. Otherwise, he would have been able to learn more.

  Relying on the senses of his Nether Soul Domain, Xiang Shaoyun studied the unique stone tower. Not even Xiang Zixuan's soul foundation could block his senses. Although Xiang Shaoyun was staying farther away from the tower, with his Nether Soul Domain, he was still able to see the entire tower clearly.

  He scanned the tower again and again, looking it over with extreme scrutiny. However, he still found nothing, as if the tower hid no secret whatsoever.

  Generally, any secret a structure could have would come in the form of a battle technique or a cultivation method carved into the structure in question. From the carvings, one could comprehend the carved technique, and that would be considered as having solved the secret.

  However, the runes covering the tower did not seem to be pointing toward any battle technique or cultivation method. Also, no special symbols could be found on the tower. It was really hard to believe that the tower was actually hiding a secret.

  At this time, Xiang Zixuan seemed to have thought of something. The energy around his body rippled as his soul foundation withdrew inside him. He then sent a lightning palm toward the tower.

  "Bastard, what are you trying to do?" Xiang Shaoyun cried out in alarm.

  Alas, he was too late as the attack had struck the tower.

  Bang!

  The palm connected loudly, and an indescribable power erupted from the tower. An earthly energy undulated outwards, blasting Xiang Zixuan away. He crashed heavily into a different stone tower, blood spraying out of his mouth like a fountain.

  Xiang Shaoyun was stunned, and he seemed to have understood something at that moment.

  "The secret is in the tower. Break it!" Xiang Zixuan suddenly said.

  Chapter 801: Activating the Formation

  Looking at Xiang Zixuan, Xiang Shaoyun sneered, "After suffering losses, you're sending me over? Do you take me for a fool?"

  He was right, as since a Sovereign like Xiang Zixuan had failed to destroy the tower, how would he be able to destroy it? Even if he could, he wouldn't do so as he had managed to grasp something. The secret did not lie in the tower's destruction. Rather, it lay with the tower itself.

  Since he was no longer in a rush, he planned to keep watching and see if Xiang Zixuan would have any other ideas. That wasn't blind confidence, but he had guessed that Xiang Zixuan was completely unqualified to grasp the tower's secret. That was a knowledge his instincts were telling him after that momentary flash of comprehension he had toward the tower.

  When Xiang Zixuan saw that Xiang Shaoyun had not fallen for his trick, he sneered and said, "If so, this no longer has anything to do with you. You can get out of here now."

  "Hehe, you're speaking as if you can actually reveal the secret. Do it if you really can," Xiang Shaoyun mocked.

  Xiang Zixuan stood up and drew a shiny purple sword. Confidence covered his face as he said, "Before my saint sword, this tower shall cease to exist."

  Xiang Shaoyun was getting slightly anxious, worried that the saint sword could really destroy the tower.

  "Don't mess around. This is the restricted zone of the Holy Hall. If you activate some formation accidentally, both of us will die here," warned Xiang Shaoyun.

  "Hehe, now you know fear? Even if I activate a formation, you will be the one to die," said Xiang Zixuan with a sinister smile on his face. As a scion from the Xiang Clan, he had a rich amount of trump cards. He was confident in his self-preservation ability.

  He then swung the sword at the tower. This time, he did not dare to approach, afraid that he would be blasted away again by the same power.

  Bang!

  A purple lightning sword energy struck the tower, creating a loud rumbling. Once again, earthly energy surged out and bounced the sword strike back at Xiang Zixuan. Eyes wide with shock, Xiang Zixuan quickly plopped down onto the ground, avoiding the slash.

  The purple lightning sword energy landed on the ground and left a deep mark where it struck. If it had hit a person instead, that person would have been split into two. Xiang Shaoyun wasn't feeling very good either. Although he wasn't attacked, the tower had erupted with a much stronger power this time, forcing him to take several steps back.

  Apart from that, the nearby stone towers also started emanating earth energy. The numerous bursts of energy crisscrossed, flooding the surrounding area with light. Xiang Shaoyun and Xiang Zixuan had not expected that the surrounding stone towers would also react. Both were struck by the bursts of energy, suffering heavy injuries.

  "Damn that bastard," cursed Xiang
Shaoyun as he was thrown away by an energy blast.

  Fortunately, he had reacted fast enough to move away when the energy erupted. He only suffered a glancing blow at his waist instead of a direct hit, suffering a comparatively lighter injury.

  On the other hand, Xiang Zixuan suffered a direct hit. However, he was protected by high-tier armor. Even so, the impact heavily injured his organs.

  That was merely a start, unfortunately. The stone towers demonstrated their real power, sending sweeping earth energy across the surroundings. It wouldn't be an easy task dodging all that.

  Xiang Zixuan reacted speedily and soared to the sky without hesitation and flew away to avoid the bursts of energy. As for Xiang Shaoyun, his entire body was on the ground as he rolled until he found a crack he could hide from the energy waves. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to escape death.

  The energy bursts released by the towers were incredibly terrifying, far from something either of them could withstand.

  At that moment, a complete connection was established between the main tower and the over 20 towers in its surroundings to envelop the area in a curtain of light, isolating the space from the outside world.

  Inside the space covered by the curtain of light, dangers were still abound, seemingly capable of killing any cultivator.

  Xiang Zixuan was overjoyed. "Is this the tower's secret?" He raised his voice, "First elder, I solved the mystery. The tower is the core of a formation!"

  His voice reverberated out, but no response came.

  "Is this only the location of the actual secret?" Xiang Zixuan's expression turned gloomy. When he looked down, he saw that Xiang Shaoyun was stuck in a certain corner and was running out of space. At the sight of that, he couldn't resist laughing, "You're going to die now, right?"

  Xiang Shaoyun was in a precarious situation. Any movement from him and he would be struck by the energy, instantly getting himself killed in the formation. Thus, he had been forced to hide in the tiny crack he had found.