A single grade three spirit stone was apparently sufficient to refine one Grade Five Spirit Dan, whereas grade four and five spirit stones could be used to refine a Grade Four Spirit Dan and below. Grade two and grade one spirit stones were used in refining Grade Six and Grade Seven Spirit Dans.
However, the price of spirit stones did not come cheap: just one grade three spirit stone would usually cost somewhere around thirty thousand gold coins.
Considering a grade three spirit stone's price was thirty thousand gold coins, grade two spirit stones were a little intimidating, going up to fifty thousand gold coins.
Rather than feeling fear, Huang Xiaolong was actually relieved instead. Grade two spirit stones at a price of fifty thousand gold coins sounded colossal, but for Huang Xiaolong's Nine Tripod Commerce, lacking gold coins was the least of his worries.
Thus without further delay, the four of them continued onwards in their journey.
Ten days passed and they were closer to their destination − the Duanren Empire.
Over the past ten days, Huang Xiaolong swallowed one high Grade Four Spirit Dan and Fire Dragon Pearl per day, cultivating in the ancient battlefield.
Stabilizing his recent breakthrough, Huang Xiaolong diligently practiced Asura Tactics and the Body Metamorphosis Scripture at the same time, enhancing both of them simultaneously.
It was now night.
Huang Xiaolong stood on a small barren hill. His right leg stepped out to the right and he lowered his body in a squat while his upper torso leaned forward. Both hands pressed down, supporting his weight. His head tilted up, breathing rhythmically the whole time.
This was the Body Metamorphosis Scripture Stage Ten: Crouching Tiger.
As he breathed in and out, spiritual energy rolled and surged towards Huang Xiaolong. Multiple layers of white fog shrouded his figure. As time wore on, these layers of white fog became denser, as if they would solidify the within next moment. From far away, all anyone could see was an enormous pool of white fog.
"This is what Sovereign mentioned before, the so-called internal force cultivation technique?" Zhao Shu asked, standing some distance away.
Fei Hou promptly responded, "That's right, Left Custodian Zhao Shu."
Yu Ming sighed in awe, "Is this internal force cultivation technique something that was created by Sovereign? It actually allows someone to cultivate without possessing a martial spirit. If news about such a cultivation technique existed, it would cause a bloody storm in Martial Spirit World."
Zhao Shu nodded in agreement, "That's true. Fei Hou, since Sovereign was willing to pass that Liquid Thunder Arts cultivation technique to you, you must take care not to leak it out."
"Yes, Left Custodian Zhao." Fei Hou acknowledged respectfully, and then said, "Sovereign said he is working to improve two sets of internal force cultivation techniques. Once they are complete, he will pass them to Left Custodian Zhao Shu and Master."
Zhao Shu and Yu Ming trembled hearing that– the excitement was evident from their eyes.
Both had already come to the conclusion that the main reason Fei Hou's cultivation increased with such drastic speed was because he practiced both battle qi and internal force simultaneously.
The darkness of night gradually receded.
At the first ray of light, Huang Xiaolong ended his practice.
As he ended his Body Metamorphosis Scripture practice, Huang Xiaolong fell into a ponderous mood. Although cultivating Asura Tactics and Body Metamorphosis at the same time greatly enhanced his strength, practicing the methods individually was too troublesome and time consuming.
Inadvertently, this line of thought may be helpful for him to reduce the time it took to practice battle skills.
There were twenty-four hours in a day. Other than rushing on the road, most of Huang Xiaolong's time was divided between practicing Asura Tactics and Body Metamorphosis Scripture.
"I wonder if the Asura Tactics and Body Metamorphosis Scripture could be initiated simultaneously, practicing both at the same time?" this thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
If it was possible, then he could save a lot of time.
Thus, Huang Xiaolong stood there trying to run Asura Tactics and Body Metamorphosis Scripture at the same time.
However, as he ran Asura Tactics and started to adjust his breathing, his battle qi stopped flowing. At the same time, the gathering of his internal force was met with a certain degree of unknown resistance.
About an hour later, Huang Xiaolong stopped.
After experimenting for more than an hour, Huang Xiaolong was pleasantly surprised to find that both battle qi and internal force could be circulated simultaneously. Unfortunately, the duration did not last long.
Although the duration was short, Huang Xiaolong believed that if he persevered in this direction, he would definitely be able to circulate both Asura Tactics battle qi and Body Metamorphosis internal force unimpeded at the same time.
This was akin to the time he summoned the twin dragon martial spirits separately.
When he first attempted the separate summoning, both of his twin dragons appeared at once. Only with time and practice, over and over again, did he successfully control their appearance, whether it was summoning a single martial spirit or both of them together.
"Sovereign!" Seeing Huang Xiaolong had ended his practice, Zhao Shu and the rest flew over from where they were waiting.
Huang Xiaolong nodded, and then his voice grew serious: "Zhao Shu, Yu Ming, I have two internal force cultivation techniques that I made with some revisions; I'm willing to pass them to you, are you willing to cultivate them?"
Zhao Shu and Yu Ming blanked for a second and were flooded with joy while nodding their heads in unison to show their willingness to learn. Both knelt down to thank their Sovereign's kindness.
Huang Xiaolong told them to get up and passed two different sets of cultivation techniques to Zhao Shu and Yu Ming.
The internal force cultivation techniques Huang Xiaolong passed to Zhao Shu and Yu Ming were things he had obtained by luck in his previous life on Earth. As a whole, these two cultivation techniques could not be compared to the Body Metamorphosis Scripture, but in some aspects they weren't any worse either.
While passing an internal force cultivation technique to each of them, Huang Xiaolong explained the problems that might be difficult to understand during their cultivation. The two took everything he said with utmost seriousness.
It was a few hours later before the group of four continued their journey.
Three days passed in roughly the same manner.
For the past three days, Zhao Shu and Yu Ming practiced according to the internal force cultivation techniques Huang Xiaolong taught them. After a few short days of practice, to their delight, Zhao Shu and Yu Ming noticed that their battle qi cultivation speed did indeed increase significantly.
Whenever they had questions about the techniques, they would seek advice and guidance from Huang Xiaolong, helping to easily solve things that baffled them. It was as if his answers were a bright light at the end of a tunnel.
Today, the sun shone brightly in the sky, and Huang Xiaolong and the other three were riding on beast mounts as they made their way through the mountains.
"Sovereign, estimating our speed, it will be one more day before we arrive in Duanren Empire." Zhao Shu informed to Huang Xiaolong.
Huang Xiaolong nodded.
One more day!
Even though they were arriving in Duanren Empire tomorrow, it would take another half a month for them to reach the Imperial City.
They were in the seventh lunar month. By the time they made it to the Imperial City, there would be about ten days left before the battle commenced, so the timing was just right.
I hope things in Luo Tong Royal City are fine. Huang Xiaolong thought to himself.
With these several months of travel, the places they passed were mostly barren hills or the wilderness, and there hadn't been any contact with Luo Tong Royal City.
But, the Big Sword Sect, Martial Ning Family, and Clear Cloud Pavilion were already destroyed, and there was still Marshal Haotian keeping an eye over things in Luo Tong Kingdom. Since that was the case, the safety of the Huang Family should not be an issue.
One day later, the group finally arrived in Duanren Empire!
Entering Duanren Empire, Huang Xiaolong could see many other people from other kingdoms that came to participate in the Imperial City Battle just like him. Additionally, there were also experts from different forces that came to watch the battle.
The Imperial City Battle of Duanren Empire was an open event, therefore, royal families and forces nearby would come to watch the event.
Entering Duanren Empire, Huang Xiaolong, Zhao Shu, Yu Ming, and Fei Hou did not dally, rushing onward straight to Duanren Empire's Imperial City.
Two weeks later, Huang Xiaolong's group arrived at their destination.
Standing in front of the Imperial City walls, Huang Xiaolong's mind went blank as he stared at the grand sight in front of him − the behemoth city gates and the colossal walls.
The Luo Tong Royal City, Yuwai Royal City, and all the royal cities he had seen along the way while passing through some other kingdoms were nothing compared to the Imperial City gates standing before his eyes. It was similar to comparing a small mud brick house seated next to a palace.
The walls of Duanren Empire's Imperial City boast a height of over a hundred zhang!
Exceeding one hundred zhang! Stupendous!
The people walking below the city walls were akin to ants that were crawling on the ground. Yes, ants that crawled on the floor.
Looking at Duanren Imperial City gates, Huang Xiaolong felt very small. This feeling wasn't limited to Huang Xiaolong though, Fei Hou did as well.
Even though this was the second time Fei Hou saw the Imperial City gates, the shock he felt was still just as strong.
Compared to Huang Xiaolong and Fei Hou, Zhao Shu and Yu Ming were much more composed and calm.
It was not like they had not seen Imperial cities grander than Duanren Imperial City.
Take the Asura's Gate headquarters for example. The Asura City itself had walls higher than this!
"Sovereign, shall we go in?" Moments later, Zhao Shu spoke.
Huang Xiaolong snapped out of his daze, and taking a deep breath, he nodded and said, "Let's go in!" As he lifted his foot towards the gate of Duanren Imperial City, Huang Xiaolong could not help but feel his blood boil with anticipation and excitement.
Duanren Imperial City!
Herein lies his goal!
Huang Xiaolong desperately wished he could roar at the top of his lungs to the entire city: "Duanren Imperial City, I, Huang Xiaolong, have come!"
Huang Xiaolong's group followed the large crowd entering Duanren Imperial City, but when they were at the gates, they discovered each individual needed to pay one hundred gold coins as an entry fee.
One hundred gold coins!
One hundred gold coins were enough to support a common household's expenses for a year in most of the kingdom.
Walking along the Imperial City's expansive streets, Huang Xiaolong observed the surrounding shops as he strolled along in a leisurely manner.
The streets were built wide and spacious, approximately three to four hundred meters wide, and Huang Xiaolong noticed that these wide streets were paved with the same type of Bright Marble Stone.
Bright Marble Stone was a kind of extremely hard stone in Martial Spirit World, even tougher than the Starlight Stone used to build Cosmic Star Academy's main square. Of course, the cost of these streets was much more than the price of Cosmic Star Academy's square.
One piece of Bright Marble Stone cost one thousand gold coins. The seemingly endless rows of streets within the Imperial City that spanned countless li were all paved with the same Bright Marble Stone. How many millions, tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions of gold were needed to build all of this?!
These streets in the Imperial City that were paved with Bright Marble Stone emanated a kind of stately aura: domineering, wealthy, and brilliant, representing an empire without being garish.
Even with the endless stream of carriages moving up and down the Imperial City, the streets did not feel crowded at all.
After roughly two hours of sightseeing, it was already noon.
Passing through a place called 'Unforgettable Intoxication' Restaurant, Huang Xiaolong's footsteps halted as he watched the crowded entrance of the restaurant and the endless bustle of customers. He looked over at Zhao Shu, Yu Ming, and Fei Hou and said, "From the looks of it, this restaurant doesn't seem bad. Should we go inside and try something?"
"Yes, Young Lord!" The trio answered in unison.
In public, Zhao Shu too referred to Huang Xiaolong as Young Lord, like Yu Ming and Fei Hou.
Hence, the four of them walked into Unforgettable Intoxication Restaurant.
There were three floors to the restaurant, and when Huang Xiaolong went inside with Zhao Shu, Yu Ming, and Fei Hou, no empty table was available. They proceeded up to the first floor. Although there were a few places available, all of them were meant for two people, and Huang Xiaolong's group was four.
"Let's go up to the second floor." Huang Xiaolong said.
However, when the four of them were about to climb the stairs up, two restaurant workers blocked their path, courteously explaining, "Several Guests, pardon our interruption, but our restaurant's second floor is reserved. Only Guests who hold Duanren Empire's Baron and above noble title can go up to the second floor."
Though the words spoken sounded courteous, it did not hide the condescending disdain in their eyes. Zhao Shu and Yu Ming's eyes sharpened as they looked at the two workers.
Yu Ming then exerted invisible pressure onto them.
In the space above Unforgettable Intoxication Restaurant, a violent tempest gathered, spiraling like a tornado, whistling about angrily.
Suddenly, it felt as if the entire space of Unforgettable Intoxication Restaurant solidified, and the noisy restaurant quieted down in the blink of an eye. From the ground floor, to the first floor, and even to the second floor, every pair of eyes were looking at Yu Ming with fear swimming behind the irises.
Under the pressure exerted by Yu Ming, the two 'small' restaurant workers nearly had their breaths cut off on the spot. Horrified, their legs gave out and they fell to their knees just as their words ended.
"This is… so strong! That middle-aged man is definitely at Xiantian Ninth Order, or maybe even at Xiantian Tenth Order. He must be someone who is infinitely close to a terrifying Saint realm existence!"
"Who are those four people? It seems like that middle-aged man is that young man's guard?!"
The experts of Duanren Imperial City and other kingdoms on the second floor whispered amongst themselves, feeling the overwhelming pressure coming from Yu Ming.
In Duanren Imperial City, Xiantian experts were not uncommon, but that did not include Xiantian Seventh Order warriors and above. Xiantian First to Third Order warriors were classified as early-order Xiantian; Fourth to Sixth Order warriors were mid-order; and the Seventh to Ninth Order experts were referred to as high-order.
An early order Xiantian realm expert's status and identity was undoubtedly different from a high-order Xiantian realm expert.
Amongst the most talented imperial princes of Duanren Empire, even Duan Wuhen was still only a Xiantian Tenth Order expert.
While everyone was still alarmed by the scene, a middle-aged man that appeared to be the restaurant owner was seen running up the stairs anxiously with two bodyguards tagging along behind him. The two bodyguards were also Xiantian experts, but they were merely at the Xiantian Second Order.
Arriving on the first floor, the restaurant owner nearly prostrated before Yu Ming, inquiring with utmost politeness what seemed to be the problem.
After finding out the reason, the restaurant owner apologized to Huang Xiaolong, Yu Ming, and the other two people profusely. His complexion paled tremendously, and he wished he could stab the two workers to death.
"This Young Master, we will immediately arrange a private room on the second floor for you." The restaurant owner said as he led them to a room on the second floor.
Huang Xiaolong initially did not intend to force their way up to the second floor, but Yu Ming acted too quickly by releasing his oppressive aura which resulted in the current situation.
At this moment, he could only go along with the restaurant owner's 'kind' intention and courtesy with Zhao Shu, Yu Ming, and Fei Hou by going up to the second floor private room.
Since those things already happened, then he may as well enter the Imperial City in a high profile manner!
After all, it would be impossible for Huang Xiaolong to maintain a low profile even if he wanted to with the Imperial City Battle in ten days' time. Since there was no helping it, attracting some attention now did not make much of a difference.
Of course, as someone possessing the Primordial Divine Black Dragon martial spirit who was representing Luo Tong Kingdom and the Cosmic Star Academy in this Imperial City Battle, there were bound to be people from the Duanren Imperial Family and other forces paying attention to him even before this.
Leading Huang Xiaolong's group up to the second floor, the restaurant owner ushered them into private room number three. There was a total of twelve private rooms on the second floor.
The lower number the room was, the more distinguished the guests identity. Above all, room number one was reserved specifically for Saint realm experts, but it was usually empty during the year.
If the restaurant owner knew there was a Saint realm expert amongst the four people, he would have brought them to private room number one so quickly that it would have looked like his butt was lit on fire.
Unforgettable Intoxication was one of the biggest restaurants in Duanren Imperial City, but only during the opening day would a Saint realm expert visit. Hence, private room one had been left empty since the last Imperial City Battle.
The private room number three that they entered was lavishly decorated, similar to a small scale mansion.
As they each took a seat, Huang Xiaolong instructed the owner to serve their famous dishes and wine and indicated him to leave. Nodding respectfully, the restaurant owner left the room.
While Huang Xiaolong was being ushered into private room number three, in private room number two sat a young man wearing a golden brocade robe who appeared to be in his mid-twenties. The young man was… beautiful, albeit exhibiting a somewhat devilish charm. Especially so, in his eyes there were reflecting golden lights every time they moved.
The young man raised his right hand and lightly beckoned the guard behind him, "Go and check that person's identity–I want to know all four people's background in one hour."
"Yes, Young Master!" That guard replied with the utmost respect and backed out of the room.
Long slender fingers drummed on the table surface softly, forming melodious notes as they moved.
At this moment, a beautiful young woman in her mid-twenties, same as the young man with skin so supple and moist as if dew was glistening on them, was sitting beside the young man and laughed, her tinkling peals of laughter were akin to marbles falling onto a bowl, teasing the ears. The two lumps of flesh at the front quivered endlessly like they could escape anytime from their bonds.
The woman's lips curved charmingly as she laughed, red lips moved as she said, "I didn't expect our Heartless Young Noble [1] would one day show interest in another person."
The young man maintained a placid expression on his face, "You, Zhao Wuji, are more interested in them than I am."
Zhao Wuji continued to laugh coquettishly as she looked at the young man, her entire body seemed to lean onto him with the two lumps of flesh pressed against him, "You're wrong this time around, I'm more interested in you than anyone else."
The guards inside private room number two swallowed nervously.
But the young man, Heartless Young Noble, pushed the woman away without any feeling, "I'm not interested in you."
The smile on Zhao Wuji's face became ever more brilliant hearing that, "That's the very reason I'm interested in you."
A short while later, the guard that left earlier returned, reporting to the young man, "Young Master, we've found out. That black-haired young man is called Huang Xiaolong, the representative for Luo Tong Kingdom and Cosmic Star Academy for this year's Duanren Imperial City Battle. His strength is at the peak late-Tenth Order!"
Zhao Wuji snickered with contempt, "Just a peak late-Tenth Order little brat, such an unattractive man, this aunt has no interest whatsoever."
At this time, the guard continued with his report, "However, this Huang Xiaolong is only seventeen this year!"
"Seventeen-years-old!" Heartless Young Noble and Zhao Wuji were stunned, and then their faces turned ugly.
A seventeen-year-old peak late-Tenth Order warrior?!
"How can this be? Impossible! How could a seventeen year old reach peak late-Tenth Order?!" Zhao Wuji blurted out in shock.
According to her knowledge, even the leader of the five big families of Duanren Empire, even Duan Wuhen who was an Imperial Prince did not advance to peak late-Tenth Order at seventeen!
"I have not spoken falsely!" The guard went on, "Subordinate verified Huang Xiaolong's age, and his martial spirit is a Primordial Divine Dragon, a top grade twelve martial spirit!"
"Top grade twelve martial spirit, Divine Black Dragon!" Once again, Heartless Young Noble and Zhao Wuji were shocked.
But in the next moment, Heartless Young Noble frowned; even if this Huang Xiaolong possessed a top grade twelve martial spirit, his cultivation speed would not be this fast!
He too possessed a top grade twelve martial spirit and a wealth of cultivation resources from his clan and yet, his cultivation speed was not as terrifying as Huang Xiaolong's.
Obviously, Zhao Wuji too thought of this point as a shimmering light flitted in her eyes.
"What about the other three people?" Heartless Young Noble questioned that guard.
Being asked directly, the guard quickly continued, "One of the three is called Fei Hou, the Junior Brother of Luo Tong Kingdom's Marshal Haotian, but both Fei Hou and Haotian call Huang Xiaolong, Young Lord. The strange thing is, Huang Xiaolong comes from a Luo Tong Kingdom small family, and his background is common and ordinary."
A knowing light flickered in Heartless Young Noble's eyes, "This Huang Xiaolong has another identity!"
Otherwise, it would be impossible for someone from an ordinary background to have Marshal Haotian referring to them as Young Lord! Zhao Wuji nodded her head in agreement.
"And the remaining two people?" Heartless Young Noble pursued.
The guard hesitated a second before admitting, "The other two, Subordinate is unable to find anything as of yet."
"Unable to find it out?!" This stumped Heartless Young Noble.
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