by Translator: Pokka; Author: 我本纯洁 (I Am Pure); Licensed From: Migu
One of them was more knowledgeable than the others. He said, "Don't worry. The overlord has inhaled some fragrance from the flower's core. Wait until the effect wears off, and he will be fine again."
Everyone heaved a breath of relief. If a mishap happened to the overlord, they wouldn't know what to do.
"Clean up the battlefield. These vines are excellent refining materials," commanded Tang Longfei.
The others started harvesting the flower's petals and vines, not forgetting to contribute a portion of their gains to the Overlord Legion.
At this time, Pan Yun's voice rang out, "Huh? Everyone, look! Seems like there's an ancient stele there?"
Everyone heard Pan Yun, and just as they were about to get a closer look, a voice rang out, "Looks like I don't need to work hard for this, after all. The ancient stele is actually hidden at a place like this. Overlord Legion members, you may all get lost now. This place no longer has anything to do with you."
Chapter 842: Beheading Huo Xudong
The newcomers had appeared abruptly. Just from the fact that the Overlord Legion members hadn't been able to detect their approach, their strength was clear.
The Overlord Legion members were shocked, and they quickly looked toward the source of the voice. Huo Xudong, who was usually low profiled, appeared before them.
He seemed to be alone, yet he was filled with confidence. His confidence was backed by his strength as he had recently reached peak sixth-stage Emperor Realm. He was much stronger than the Overlord Legion members he was facing. Furthermore, he also had some powerful trump cards up his sleeve. Of course, his biggest source of confidence was the fact that Xiang Shaoyun seemed to have been incapacitated.
With the threat of Xiang Shaoyun removed, Huo Xudong could easily deal with everyone. The ancient stele was his goal. There were many ancient steles hidden in the primary-grade battleground. Each stele contained a different secret, and the steles could be considered the academy's reward to the students for tempering themselves at the battleground.
Those capable of getting through the numerous obstacles to locate a stele would obtain the secret recorded on the stele. The steles hid various secrets, ranging from battle techniques to secret techniques. In short, the disciples would not be disappointed by what they found.
Of course, not many people knew about the steles. Only the personal disciples of the elders were secretly told about them, such as Huo Xudong. Thus, it wasn't surprising that he was aware of this secret.
Tang Longfei had long heard about Huo Xudong from Xiang Shaoyun. Back then during their trip to the Devil Domain, they still weren't aware of how monstrously talented Huo Xudong was. He had to change the way he looked at Huo Xudong.
"Everyone, attack together!" Tang Longfei commanded, showing no fear. There were still about 20 of them. They had a good chance of defeating Huo Xudong if they worked together.
"Hehe, you think I'll fight all of you by myself? Naive," said Huo Xudong with a sneer before taking out a battle puppet.
The puppet was made from the corpse of a goldman. It possessed the combat prowess of a Sovereign and was previously prepared to deal with Xiang Shaoyun. The expressions of the Overlord Legion members underwent great changes when they saw the puppet. They could all sense that it wasn't an ordinary puppet.
"Take the overlord with us. We're leaving," Tang Longfei changed his mind.
Currently, Xiang Shaoyun was unconscious. It would be unwise to risk it and fight Huo Xudong. They might suffer much greater losses doing so.
However, Huo Xudong sneered and said, "You can all leave, but Xiang Shaoyun must remain."
"Impossible!" Tang Longfei and the others replied firmly.
"That is not up to you," said Huo Xudong with a disdainful tone. He then commanded his puppet to attack.
Xiang Shaoyun suddenly opened his eyes, stood up, and said, "Since you want me to stay, I'll stay."
Everyone was given a fright. None of them had expected Xiang Shaoyun to suddenly regain consciousness. Had he been faking it all along?
In truth, Xiang Shaoyun had really fainted for a bit. However, the psychedelic power wasn't too effective against his filthless soul. Furthermore, he had the help of the Nether Dragon Soul Headband. He was able to break free from the psychedelic effect promptly.
Of course, he had never expected that by fainting for a bit, he would be able to lure this enemy out into the open. He was greatly pleased.
"Damn it! You were actually faking it?" Huo Xudong cursed as he started fleeing with his puppet.
He did not know how strong Xiang Shaoyun was exactly, but he knew for a fact that Xiang Shaoyun could easily kill him even with his goldman puppet around.
"If I allow you to escape again, I will spell my name in reverse from now on," declared Xiang Shaoyun as he rushed forth at full speed. A beam shot out of his finger, aiming for the back of Huo Xudong's head.
Huo Xudong did not dare to look down on his enemy. He immediately pushed his defenses to the peak and slapped behind him, trying to swat the beam away.
It was soon revealed that the beam attack was merely a feint. Xiang Shaoyun's figure blurred as he shifted his focus onto the puppet. The Radiant Saint Sword appeared in his hand as he swung at the puppet. With a flash, the puppet was sliced in half before anyone could react.
All of Huo Xudong's hair stood on end when he noticed his puppet's fate. He had not imagined that Xiang Shaoyun would actually possess such a sharp sword. He lacked the courage to even try to salvage his puppet, and he fled as fast as he could.
If not even the puppet could survive a slash from that sword, how was he supposed to survive? Unfortunately for him, he wasn't as fast as Xiang Shaoyun. Before he could go far, Xiang Shaoyun appeared before him like a specter. Without any mercy, the Radiant Saint Sword swept out.
Dazzling Sky Sword Technique, first stance, Dazzling and Eyecatching!
A pure white radiance spread far and wide, the blinding radiance forcing Huo Xudong to shut his eyes. Sensing Xiang Shaoyun's intention to kill, Huo Xudong considered crushing his protective jade to withdraw.
I refuse to believe he can really kill me! he roared inwardly as he changed his mind and decided not to withdraw. Instead, a high-tier shield appeared before him.
It wasn't an ordinary shield. It was a top-tier sovereign shield, and not even high-tier sovereign weapons could penetrate its defense. Huo Xudong was confident the shield could withstand Xiang Shaoyun's sword.
Alas, he had overestimated his shield and underestimated Xiang Shaoyun's sword. He paid for his lapse of judgment with his life. Like a hot knife through butter, the Radiant Saint Sword sliced through the shield before reaching Huo Xudong, splitting him into two. His blood sprayed out, presenting a bloody and shocking scene.
The Overlord Legion members gulped when they saw that scene, a chill creeping up their spines. They had not expected Xiang Shaoyun to actually kill. It was clear how much he hated Huo Xudong.
Xiang Shaoyun's feet finally touched the ground again. Several drops of blood had landed on his face. As he wiped the blood off, he said coldly, "What I hate most is betrayal, and this is the price of betrayal."
Those words were meant for the dead Huo Xudong, but in the ears of the Overlord Legion members, it was akin to a warning. They grew nervous and started dreading Xiang Shaoyun. They vowed to never betray him, lest they suffer such a miserable fate.
The current Xiang Shaoyun was akin to a god of slaughter. The murderous spirit of an expert had been forged within him. His murderous intent did not originate from his hostility toward Huo Xudong alone. The changes he had undergone after what the women had done had played a part, allowing the devilish energy in him to transform him in a way that filled him with more ruthlessness and decisiveness.
Chapter 843: Secret Reversal Technique
Secret Reversal Technique.
This was the secret technique recorded on the ancient stele they found. It was a secret healing technique, requiring a high proficienc
y in the power of wood before one could cultivate it.
Xiang Shaoyun was overjoyed when he saw the Secret Reversal Technique. He had just comprehended the profundity of wood not long ago and was looking for a wood elemental battle technique. Although he had yet to find a battle technique, he had instead obtained a secret technique, which was much more valuable.
After all, a secret technique was much rarer than a battle technique. The Secret Reversal Technique would allow his comprehension of the profundity of wood to deepen, slowly bringing his comprehension to perfection.
There were also a few wood cultivators among their current group. They greatly coveted the Secret Reversal Technique, and they wished that Xiang Shaoyun would give them a chance to cultivate it as well. But if Xiang Shaoyun decided not to share, they wouldn't be able to do anything either.
"Everyone, memorize this Secret Reversal Technique. Even if you can't use it for yourself, you can keep it and pass it on to your descendants in the future," said Xiang Shaoyun magnanimously.
Since this Secret Reversal Technique was placed here in the battleground, Xiang Shaoyun knew it was something prepared for the academy's disciples. He had never planned to keep it for himself. Instead, he was using it to win the hearts of his subordinates.
After memorizing the technique, Xiang Shaoyun started cultivating it. The mantra of the Secret Reversal Technique was abstruse and hard to understand. However, it couldn't pose Xiang Shaoyun any difficulty, and he quickly understood it.
The Secret Reversal Technique detailed the usage method of wood energy, laying out the ways of manipulating one's wood energy and combining it with the world's ambient wood energy. By doing so, one would be able to create an entirely different form of wood energy that could heal and stimulate life force, achieving the effect of returning life to a body.
It was also detailed how this technique would work both on the cultivator and those the cultivator used it on. However, without comprehending the profundity of wood, one would only be able to use this technique on oneself.
"You guys, come over here," Xiang Shaoyun called out to the several injured members of the group.
They arrived before him and stood respectfully, awaiting his command.
"Sit down and relax yourselves. Let me try out the Secret Reversal Technique," said Xiang Shaoyun.
They blanked out slightly before quickly doing as told. They were doubtful that Xiang Shaoyun could grasp the Secret Reversal Technique in such a short period. Little did they know, Xiang Shaoyun had already comprehended the profundity of wood. Even without the Secret Reversal Technique, he could already heal others. With the Secret Reversal Technique, his healing capabilities would only grow.
With his comprehension of the profundity of wood, the understanding he gained from the divine tree of life, and the Secret Reversal Technique, he fused his wood energy with the natural wood energy around him. Both his hands flared out as he formed an odd series of motions with them, instantly creating a concentration of pure energy that formed a clump of green radiance in his palm. The people around him immediately felt a comfortable sensation.
Secret Reversal Technique!
Keeping the energy under control, Xiang Shaoyun lightly sprinkled the energy on the few people seated before him. The pure life force landed on them, and their wounds started healing. It was as though they had consumed some healing pills. Their injured internal organs felt extremely comfortable, their bodies soaked in an incredibly splendid sensation.
They focused on absorbing the life force, and after a short while, they had recovered considerably. This healing speed was much faster than their self-recovery. Moreover, their internal injuries had recovered by over 50 percent as well, and it was an astonishing speed.
"Thank you, Overlord," they said gratefully as they stood up.
Xiang Shaoyun waved his hand and said, "We're brothers. Don't worry about it."
The other three wood cultivators were completely stunned. They had only memorized the mantra and couldn't even start to understand it, yet their overlord could already use it. The gap between them was truly massive.
They were all genius disciples. Even if Xiang Shaoyun had one or two more stars than them, that did not mean that he would have a comprehension capability that was much greater than theirs.
However, the reality was right before their eyes. They did not even know what words they could use to describe Xiang Shaoyun's genius, and they could only curse inwardly, The overlord is a freak!
Xiang Shaoyun looked at the three and smiled. "To grasp the Secret Reversal Technique, you need to first comprehend the profundity of wood. Otherwise, you won't be able to unleash this technique's true power."
He proceeded to share what he had learned with them without hiding anything. Although they would definitely return to their respective organizations upon graduation, Xiang Shaoyun did not mind. As far as he was concerned, they were currently his brothers. That alone was enough for him to share without reservation.
They were filled with gratitude after the sharing experience, and their loyalty toward him greatly improved. They had never imagined that Xiang Shaoyun would actually be this magnanimous. Not many people would be willing to do what he did.
The others were also shocked by Xiang Shaoyun's display of generosity. They were all genius cultivators. Although they currently belonged in the same faction, they were still, in a sense, competitors. They would all keep their trump cards and secrets for themselves. That was an understandable selfishness that everyone possessed. And yet Xiang Shaoyun was sharing the secrets of profundity openly. One could say that he was too selfless.
Was he truly so selfless? Not really. He personally felt that he was merely being a bit generous and wasn't at the level of being selfless. In any case, he wouldn't be truly selfless as the things he considered his would not be given up no matter what. He wouldn't mind letting blood flow if anyone coveted what he considered his.
This time, he had gained the bright illusory core and Secret Reversal Technique. One could say that he had profited greatly. While everyone else was still healing up, he swallowed the bright illusory core.
As the bright illusory core dissolved in his body, he started glowing with a multicolored radiance, looking mystical and divine. He felt extremely comfortable as his body was cleansed, his hidden injuries and diseases removed. His meridians and bones also became more durable. One could say that his entire body had been upgraded.
Apart from that, his filthless soul had also benefited greatly. Some random memory fragments suddenly surfaced in his soul. Initially, they were the memories of his childhood. His memories of these events had long blurred, but they were all resurfacing one after another. Ultimately, the memory fragments of a secret location surfaced. It was where he had obtained the Heaven Conquering Overlord Manual.
Chapter 844: Big Black Nimbus
During Xiang Shaoyun's childhood, when he was still an eight-year-old naughty boy, he once went playing at a mountain near the Ziling Sect with a group of people from the sect. At that time, he rode a Demon King in order to experience the feeling of soaring through the air. However, they encountered the attack of a pack of demonic beasts. His mount fled in panic, ultimately bringing him into a random cave.
The cave was located at a unique location that was extremely hard to notice. As for Xiang Shaoyun and the Demon King, they seemed to have been called over against their wishes by some sort of power. Xiang Shaoyun was panic-stricken when he arrived at the cave, thinking that he had arrived at the dwelling of some powerful demonic beast. In truth, he had guessed right.
After his mount sensed the powerful demonic aura in the cave, it went limp in fear, losing the courage to even move. As for Xiang Shaoyun, he suddenly sensed the calling of something familiar. That familiar sensation caused his heart to calm.
He then heard the sounds of hoofs galloping, and a sturdy black figure appeared before him. Before he could get a clear look, the figure bit his clothes and lifted him into the cave.
At that time, Xiang Shaoyun was still young. He had no idea what was hidden in the cave. The black figure seemed to be the cave's master. Carrying him, the black figure dashed wildly until they finally arrived at a spacious place deep inside.
There, the black figure finally placed Xiang Shaoyun onto the ground. It was then that he finally had a chance to take a clear look at the big fellow. It turned out that the big fellow was actually a demonic horse.
However, he was too young to see how different that horse was from other demonic horses. What struck him the most was that the horse was incredibly black. As a result, he named the big fellow Big Black.
However, if a knowledgeable person saw the horse, that person would definitely exclaim in astonishment, saying something like: "What a fine steed!"
The black horse was the best of the best; his four hoofs looked like they were stepping on clouds, looking incredibly dazzling. His jet-black coat gave one the irresistible urge to touch him, while his sturdy body and firm limbs demonstrated his prowess. His black mane was long, with a handful of hairs standing erect, looking more like a horn.
Back then, he had no idea how powerful the horse was. The only thing he knew was that the horse had suddenly spoken in the human tongue, addressing him as master. Xiang Shaoyun found it completely random. Why was this random, incredibly cool-looking horse suddenly calling him master?
He even wondered if he was born with so extraordinary a disposition that his mere presence had subdued a mighty steed like this, which seemed unlikely.
Big Black started telling Xiang Shaoyun about certain things, but he didn't even remember half of what the horse had told him since he was still a child. He had also fainted subsequently. But now, with the reemergence of his memory fragments, he was recalling all that had been said to him.
"Master, I have waited over 10,000 years for you. You have finally formed your tenth reincarnation imprint. This is worthy of celebration! I have been guarding the inheritance here for you all this time. You're still too young right now, so you won't be able to fully accept the entire inheritance. But since you're here, you can't leave empty handed. Just accept some basic inheritance for now. Upon adulthood, you will be able to understand your origins," said Big Black respectfully before lifting Xiang Shaoyun and placing him on a crude formation. Next, he activated the inheritance transmittance through the formation.