Yao Fei pondered quietly for a while and then his hand indicated for Xiao Teng to come closer and said something to him.
"Yes, Young Noble, please rest assured." Xiao Teng answered respectfully at Yao Fei's instruction.
With another wave of his hand, Xiao Teng withdrew.
At the same time, somewhere within the Guo Mansion, Guo Shiwen's face appeared extremely gloomy as he looked at both of his sons being carried back. A scary killing intent brewed strongly in his heart.
"Huang Xiaolong!!" Guo Shiwen gritted his teeth and then let out an abrupt wrathful roar.
The Guo Family experts in the main hall shivered with trepidation. It was the first time the Guo Family members had experienced this level of rage from Guo Shiwen.
All kept quiet, reducing their presence as much as possible.
This even included Zhang Yue, the Chief Steward of the Guo Family.
There was a silent rage brewing inside of Zhang Yue too, a burning desire to slaughter. Guo Zhi and Guo Fei were the Young Lords of the Guo Family yet someone was daring enough to crush their Qi Seas, crippling them! This was a humiliation for the Guo Mansion, a naked provocation!
It was apparent the other side did not place the entire Guo Mansion in their eyes!
This Huang Xiaolong was too emboldened!
Today, the Guo Family had become the after dinner topic and joke for many of Duanren Empire's big families.
As the Chief Steward of the Guo Family, Zhang Yue too was greatly angered by Huang Xiaolong.
"Patriarch, this matter, should we let Ancestor know?" Moments later Zhang Yue walked up and asked.
Guo Shiwen's eyes were cold with hatred, "Father is in closed-door practice at this crucial moment in an attempt to break into the Saint realm. Don't alert him with this matter."
"Yes, Patriarch!" Zhang Yue answered. He hesitated before continuing, "Huang Xiaolong's younger sister, Huang Min, has an engagement agreement with Young Master Guo Tai. Patriarch, this matter…?"
"Engaged?" Guo Shiwen scoffed, "Arrange for this secret letter to reach my younger brother, Shiyuan's hand. Tell him to rescind that little brat Guo Tai's engagement!"
"Huang Xiaolong's little sister… cheap material such as her wishes to enter my Guo Family?!"
Zhang Yue received the secret letter and acknowledged Guo Shiwen's instruction with respect. He then ventured, "Then, as for Huang Xiaolong?"
"Father will definitely succeed in breaking through to Saint realm during his secluded practice this time," Guo Shiwen replied coldly, "We'll deal with Huang Xiaolong and Zhao Shu once and for all after Father comes out!"
"Patriarch is wise!"
Three days passed.
The other big and super families that were waiting for the Guo Family's lightning fast and frenzied retaliation towards Huang Xiaolong were expecting to watch a good show, but what surprised them was that the Guo Family did not take any action.
All was calm and peaceful.
This response made those waiting dumbfounded.
The Million Treasures Firm managed by the Guo Family was one of Duanren Empire's three biggest firms with branches all over Duanren Empire's territory. With unimaginable wealth and a foundation close to a thousand years, it was only slightly below the Xie and Yao Family level hegemonies. Yet when both of their Young Lords Qi Sea's were broken, they actually endured in silence?!
This was so unlike the Guo Family's style of handling things!
Even taking into consideration that Huang Xiaolong was a brother-in-arms with Second Imperial Prince Duan Wuhen, it still did not make sense for the Guo Family to be so quiet. Not even a fart could be heard?!
In short, the Guo Family's reaction was too abnormal.
Not paying attention to the whispers around him and however the Guo Family wanted to react, Huang Xiaolong arrived at Duanren Institute almost like clockwork to 'wander idly' around the inner division grounds, attempting to capture any presence of the Absolute Soul Pearl until late evening before returning to Southern Hill Estate. Then, he triggered the God Binding Ring and once again entered the ancient battlefield to continue his practice.
Three days passed and there was zero harvest, he still failed to sense the Absolute Soul Pearl's location.
Another ten days passed in the same way.
On this night Huang Xiaolong stood in the middle of the yard, his eyebrows creasing slightly while in deep thought.
Half a month had passed, and in this half a month he practically covered every inch of the inner division grounds. He even went as far as the female dormitory. Still, he was unable to sense any reaction linked to the Absolute Soul Pearl. Nothing!
"Could it be… the Absolute Soul Pearl is not inside Duanren Institute?" Huang Xiaolong's thoughts branched out.
Just then, a thought struck his mind like lightning. There was one spot in Duanren Institute that he did not go.
"Saint Pavilion!"
Saint Pavilion was Duanren Institute's restricted zone.
The Saint Pavilion was a space opened up by Duanren Institute's Saint realm experts.
But, this Saint Pavilion was not a place Huang Xiaolong could enter nonchalantly even with Duanren Emperor's Golden Token because Saint Pavilion was only open annually, once. To open it, all the Saint realm experts of Duanren Institute would pool their strength. Inside the Saint Pavilion existed a saint spiritual energy that was beneficial to one's battle qi cultivation. And every time it was opened, only ten Duanren Institute students were sent inside to cultivate for one month.
"Saint Pavilion." Huang Xiaolong mumbled to himself. Moments later, he summoned Zhao Shu, telling him that on his next trip to the Duanren Imperial Palace, he was to inform Duan Ren that Huang Xiaolong would like to go in and have a look the next time the Saint Pavilion opened.
As the founder of Duanren Institute, Duanren Emperor could name three students to enter the Saint Pavilion for practice every year whereas the remaining seven names were divided between the seven big families—Xie Family, Yao Family, Guo Family, Yan Family, Zhao Family, and Chen Family.
Early in the morning, Zhao Shu returned from Duanren Imperial Palace and reported to Huang Xiaolong that he had mentioned the matter to Duanren Emperor. Duan Ren, of course, agreed. He also included information about things that Huang Xiaolong needed to pay attention to.
"Two months later." Huang Xiaolong repeated to himself.
Two months later was the time of Saint Pavilion's next opening. Therefore, Huang Xiaolong had no other option but to wait for two months, for not even Duan Ren could change the timing as he liked.
Thus, Huang Xiaolong waited patiently while practicing, waiting for Saint Pavilion's opening in two months time.
On this day, Huang Xiaolong was practicing Asura Sword Skill in the yard when Fei Hou suddenly burst in, reporting, "Sovereign, a rapid rumor is spreading through the Imperial City claiming the Guo Family's Guo Shiyuan has just announced the rescindment of Guo Tai's engagement with Young Miss!"
Hearing this, Huang Xiaolong halted his practice. The temperature in his eyes dropped sharply, "It was Guo Shiyuan that announced it in person?"
"It is so, according to the rumors flying around!" Fei Hou respectfully replied.
"Go confirm if Guo Shiyuan said it with his own mouth!" Huang Xiaolong's voice sounded cold, "Also, find out what Guo Tai's response is to this."
"Yes, Sovereign!" Fei Hou answered respectfully and retreated.
After Fei Hou left, the Blades of Asura in Huang Xiaolong's hands slashed out. Two enchanting Flowers of the Other Shore bloomed in mesmerizing splendor, disappearing before one could catch a glimpse. Barely a breath later, a giant boulder in the nearby courtyard crumbled into stone dust.
These days, Huang Xiaolong's practice included imbuing Ethereal Palm's effect into the Flower of the Other Shore's attack, making it even more unpredictable, powerful, and undefendable.
Against the current Huang Xiaolong, even it was an early or mid-Xiantian Second Order warrior, he was confident he could kill them in one move!
Huang Xiaolong practiced in the yard, repeating the moves from Tempest of Hell, Tears of Asura, Wrath of the Nether King, State of Abundant Lightning, and Flower of the Other Shore again and again!
Huang Xiaolong finally stopped several hours later and breathed out a mouth of foul qi, thinking to himself: It appears that I will be able to start practicing the sixth move soon.
His Flower of the Other Shore had reached a plateau.
At this time Fei Hou, who went out to investigate the rumors, returned and reported to Huang Xiaolong, "Sovereign, we have updated information. It has been confirmed that it was Guo Shiyuan himself that announced the news, but Guo Tai did not agree."
This made Huang Xiaolong's expression change slightly for the better.
"First, don't let Second Miss know about it." Huang Xiaolong reminded with a solemn voice.
"Yes, Sovereign." Fei Hou said.
"You retreat first." Huang Xiaolong excused him.
Fei Hou acknowledged and once again left the yard.
"In another seven months, Second Sis, Mom and Dad, and the rest will arrive in Imperial City." Huang Xiaolong frowned. The news couldn't be kept under wraps for long, his little sister would find out sooner or later.
"That old guy Guo Chen is in closed-door practice to break through to the Saint realm." Huang Xiaolong sneered. He naturally knew the reason why the Guo Family wasn't anxious to deal with him.
They did not retaliate earlier because they were waiting. Waiting for old man Guo Chen to come out from closed-door practice after successfully breaking through to the Saint realm in order to deal with him.
Since that was the case, he would accompany the Guo Family in their little game.
Thus, another month passed in similar days.
Within the God Binding Ring's ancient battlefield, Huang Xiaolong sat cross-legged, running both the Body Metamorphose Scripture and Asura Tactics. The heaven and earth's spiritual energy and the netherworld's spiritual energy gathered towards Huang Xiaolong simultaneously.
At the same time, the black and blue dragon hovered high above him, devouring the true dragon qi tumbling down from the ancient dragon world.
Multiple strands of fiery red true dragon qi entered the twin dragon martial spirits and Huang Xiaolong's bodies.
Huang Xiaolong breathed in and out according to a certain rhythm as black and blue colored lights coruscated.
In just two months of practice, the true dragon qi within Huang Xiaolong's body was ten times more than when he started. It existed in harmony with the netherworld battle qi in Huang Xiaolong's Qi Sea and meridians.
Now, in the space above Huang Xiaolong's Qi Sea, true dragon qi condensed rapidly, gradually forming into the fiery-red shape of a Primordial Divine Dragon, whereas the netherworld battle qi also started taking shape in the image of an Archdemon of Hell.
As time flew by, these two vague images became more and more condensed and real.
Sensing the changes in his Qi Sea, Huang Xiaolong was stupefied. According to Zhao Shu's description, only those peak late-Tenth Order warriors who were approaching the Saint realm would experience signs of battle qi taking shape.
But Huang Xiaolong's battle qi already started to take shape in his Qi Sea?!
When it came time to break into the Saint realm, the corporeal shapes in his Qi Sea would become even more condensed, evolving into a real solid entity.
Huang Xiaolong was delighted with the changes in his Qi Sea. Indeed, after the battle qi began to take shape, his speed in absorbing true dragon qi and netherworld's spiritual energy had increased significantly.
Ten days passed.
Huang Xiaolong spent all of his time cultivating in the ancient battlefield. By now, he could run both the Body Metamorphose Scripture and Asura Tactics simultaneously with ease.
Within these last couple months of practice, Huang Xiaolong's strength had gone from late-Xiantian First Order to peak-late Xiantian First Order.
On this day, Huang Xiaolong took out that same piece of illustrated diagram. He had fully comprehended the fifth move of Asura Sword Skill: Flower of the Other Shore, hence, he could now learn the sixth move.
Huang Xiaolong read the description for the sixth move from the piece of illustration.
The sixth move: Eye of Reincarnation!
After studying what was written and the illustration, Huang Xiaolong closed his eyes to recall what he learned. When he had full grasp of the Eye of Reincarnation's movements and the route of battle qi circulation, he placed the piece of paper back into the Asura Ring.
But Huang Xiaolong did not start practicing. Instead, he visualized the movements and battle qi circulation route over and over in his head.
More than an hour later, the Blades of Asura suddenly emerged in Huang Xiaolong's hands and he swung out with lightning speed.
Countless cold sharp blade lights appeared, revolving in a strange circular shape.
As the blades lights spun in that peculiar circle, a red eyeball that exuded strong killing intent emerged in midair.
The eerie eyeball glowed a ghostly dark red, and the area within its red glow seemed to enter a surreal, dreamlike illusion.
In the next moment, the red eyeball rotated and issued an enormous amount of frigid blade intent, enough to perforate the wall one hundred zhang away.
At the same time, the Eye of Reincarnation issued something called Light of Reincarnation. This forced the victim to experience reincarnation, causing them to succumb to excruciating pain.
This was the most terrifying power of Eye of Reincarnation.
According to what was written, once this move, Eye of Reincarnation reaches its major completion, all living beings within one million li would be affected, each entering into a different illusion.
After the first attempt, Huang Xiaolong stopped, closing his eyes to recall the earlier comprehension. An hour later, he made the second attack attempt.
This time, the dark-red glow coming from the Eye of Reincarnation was a little bit stronger than the previous attack. And the area expanded from the previous ten zhang to a dozen zhang. The light of reincarnation also grew stronger.
After every attempt, Huang Xiaolong would stop to recall and comprehend.
And like this, the process repeated.
As Huang Xiaolong repeated the process of practice and recall, the attack power of Eye of Reincarnation gradually improved.
After another ten days passed, there was now only a single day remaining before the Saint Pavilion opened. Huang Xiaolong exited the ancient battlefield.
With ten days of practice, Huang Xiaolong managed to double the Eye of Reincarnation's power compared to ten days prior, and his battle qi cultivation had progressed by a lot.
Currently, the battle qi in his Qi Sea had taken shape. Adding the Fire Dragon Pearl and the ancient battlefield's unique spiritual energy, Huang Xiaolong's cultivation increased with a noticeable difference every day.
As he exited the ancient battlefield, Huang Xiaolong called for Zhao Shu and Fei Hou to ask about the current situation in Imperial City and Southern Hill Estate.
"Sovereign, some days ago, the Yao and Guo Family held a joint auction." Fei Hou said.
Huang Xiaolong was surprised, detecting the implied meaning from Fei Hou's remark: "Yao and Guo Family joining hands?"
"I'm afraid that is the case." Fei Hou nodded.
Zhao Shu sneered, "Now, the entire Imperial City is saying that Sovereign is hiding in Southern Hill Estate because you're afraid of Yao Fei and the Guo Family's retaliation, not daring to venture outside the main door."
Huang Xiaolong waved his hand, "Let them say whatever they like." Then, he asked Fei Hou, "How far have my parents reached?"
"Replying to Sovereign, Patriarch Huang and the rest have reached North Flood Kingdom, it will take another four months for them to reach Imperial City." Fei Hou answered respectfully. "Master has joined up with them."
Knowing that Yu Ming was with his parents, Huang Xiaolong felt more at ease.
"That's right Sovereign, this Subordinate also found out Yao Fei will enter the Saint Pavilion when it is opened this time too. Other than Yao Fei, there is also a Guo Family disciple called Guo Xufei, a Xiantian Eighth Order expert. Xie Puti from the Xie Family will also be entering when the Saint Pavilion opens." Fei Hou added.
Huang Xiaolong sneered when hearing this.
Although there was saint spiritual energy inside the Saint Pavilion, it didn't provide much benefit for high-order Xiantian warriors. It was obvious that Yao Fei and that Guo Family's disciple were aiming for him!
"Sovereign, rest assured, tomorrow when the Saint Pavilion opens, I had Duan Ren arrange for two high-order Xiantian experts to go in as well." At this point, Zhao Shu interjected.
Huang Xiaolong nodded.
There was a nine in ten chance that the Absolute Soul Pearl was located inside the Saint Pavilion. Since he was entering the Saint Pavilion tomorrow, he needed to seize this chance to locate and subdue it.
The next morning, the sun shone brilliantly.
Huang Xiaolong left Southern Hill Estate. Without Zhao Shu or Fei Hou accompanying him, he headed in Duanren Institute's direction alone, and went straight to the Saint Pavilion's entrance—the Institute's back mountain.
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