Dazzled by the abrupt brightness coming from the Blessed Buddha Altar, the noisy crowd quieted in an instant. Each person stared dumbly at the floating Blessed Buddha Altar in midair.
Previously, when Luo Wuyi and Chen Dingyuan stood below it and projected their battle qi out from their body, the Blessed Buddha Altar's shining beam merely flickered.
Yet, when it came to Huang Xiaolong, it was a powerful resplendent light!
This time, the Blessed Buddha Altar had appeared for more than one month's time. Most of the geniuses of Blessed Buddha Empire's families had more or less come forward and tested themselves at the Blessed Buddha Altar, but none of them managed to trigger this level of reaction from it!
After whelming astonishment, the crowd broke out into an uproar!
"Who is this kid really, that the Blessed Buddha Altar's reaction would be so strong?!"
"Does that mean his martial spirit talent is stronger than Luo Wuyi and Chen Dingyuan's?!"
"It may not be so. Don't you remember, there was one time the Blessed Buddha Altar chose a kid with only grade ten martial spirit? Who knows, maybe this brat is also another grade ten martial spirit!"
"Even if the Blessed Buddha Altar's reaction is strong now, it doesn't mean that this kid will be chosen!"
Words flew back and forth within the crowd.
Luo Wuyi's sight was fixed on Huang Xiaolong, whereas a hidden glint flitted quickly across Chen Dingyuan's eyes looking at Huang Xiaolong, his thoughts unknown.
As the commotion continued, the resplendent aureate light from the Blessed Buddha Altar rose higher and brighter, issuing a humming sound that was clearer than ever, and there was a significant difference between the humming the altar issued during Luo Wuyi and Chen Dingyuan's time. The humming sound during both of their tests was vague, weaving in and out, whereas Huang Xiaolong's was like a great wave, splashing, increasing higher. In the end, the humming from the altar resounded clearly in the entire Thousand Blessings Square.
Eyes widened in unprecedented shock.
In the next moment, from the brightly lit altar, golden spheres of light spread out.
"Buddha luminescence, Heavens, it's actually the Buddha luminescence!"
"The Buddha luminescence appeared on the Blessed Buddha Altar!"
Astonishment filled the crowd's eyes, including Luo Wuyi and Chen Dingyuan!"
There was a rumor about the Blessed Buddha Altar that had been circling for a very long time, if someone could trigger the appearance of Buddha luminescence, the chances of being chosen by the altar increased to seven tenth!
A seventy percent chance!
That exceeded half by far!
Everyone was still pondering on the Buddha luminescence, when a ringing Buddhist chant echoed in the air.
"This, this is the Buddha chant!"
"Chant of the Thousand Buddhas Ode!"
Chant of the Thousand Buddhas Ode! Luo Wuyi and Chen Dingyuan's shock grew deeper as one after another golden shadows of Buddha carved around its surface flew out from the Blessed Buddha Altar, floating high in the air.
"Vestige of the Ten Thousand Buddhas!"
The astonishment in everyone's heart could no longer be described with words. The young man actually succeeded in triggering the Vestige of Ten Thousand Buddhas!
The chances of being chosen by the Blessed Buddha Altar reached a high nine tenth once the Vestige of Ten Thousand Buddhas emerged! Now, only the last step remained!
And that was the Buddha carving on the four sides of the altar.
If Huang Xiaolong could trigger the four sides Buddha carving, it meant the Blessed Buddha Altar had chosen him, at that time, the glorious sanctification power would bask Huang Xiaolong's body in a sanctification ritual!
Nerves tensed with anticipation, each individual in the crowd tried not to blink, fixing a stare on Huang Xiaolong and the Blessed Buddha Altar.
With people observing from all directions, suddenly the carving on one side flickered and flew out to high sky from the altar!
"Look, it's true, this kid really did trigger a one of the side carvings!"
As the surprise exclamation entered Chen Dingyuan's ears in droves, he couldn't help scoffing, "It's only one side, he might not able to push all four sides of the carving!"
Just as Chen Dingyuan's voice ended, another side of carving on the Blessed Buddha Altar flickered and flew to the sky, shining majestically!
The second carving!
It was already the second carving!
Tension increased, hands clammy with sweat as the crowd watched on, there were some that were even more nervous than Huang Xiaolong.
Standing beneath the floating altar, Huang Xiaolong was quite a nervous himself. He didn't care much for the sanctification ritual from the power of sanctification, the only thing important was the opportunity to enter the Buddha Cavern.
Huang Xiaolong's battle qi continued to dance higher, and the third Buddha carving on altar flickered. When the crowd saw the flickering sign, hearts tightened!
In the next second, the third carving flew to the sky, casting a brilliant light down on the square!
The third carving!
Only one carving left!
Eyes all around were fixated on the last remaining carving!
As if a cloth was wrapped tightly around their hearts as they held their breaths, waiting for what will happen next.
At this point, the fourth and final Buddha carving flickered and flew out, releasing its glorious golden glow high in the sky above!
The four-sided carving was in the sky, shining, it gathered together and rotated at high speed. Buddha luminescence covered the sky, spreading ten thousand li. The resplendent Buddha luminescence could be seen clearly even from afar by the commoners and residents of Northside Merchant City.
In the Northside Merchant City, almost at the same moment, people turned their eyes in the Blessed Buddha Altar's direction, where the glorious beam of Buddha luminescence originated from, with shocked eyes.
"This is, did someone trigger a reaction from the Blessed Buddha Altar's four sides carving!"
"The fated person chosen by the Blessed Buddha Altar has appeared!"
"Come, let's go to the Thousand Blessings Square!"
Above the Thousand Blessings Square, the four carving images swirled around the Blessed Buddha Altar, streams of sanctification power fell down, enveloping Huang Xiaolong.
A warm comfortable feeling filled Huang Xiaolong immediately as if he had returned to a mother's embrace. A soothing energy permeated into Huang Xiaolong's meridians, Qi Sea, the flesh of his body, into the internal organs, weaving in, time and again, enhancing Huang Xiaolong's physique.
In the entire process, not only did Huang Xiaolong not feel any pain, in fact, he felt extremely comfortable that he wanted to moan.
This was the Buddhism energy!
On the Thousand Blessings Square, it was calm and quiet. People held their breath in, watching Huang Xiaolong enshrouded by the power of Buddha, undergoing the sanctification ritual each of them had only dreamed of, with eyes of envy, jealousy, and amazement.
Chen Dingyuan was surging with jealousy watching Huang Xiaolong receive the sanctification ritual. Unknowingly, a poisonous blue needle appeared on his right hand and flicked out when no one noticed, shooting straight Huang Xiaolong's Qi Sea located in his chest area.
Seeing the poison needle was about to pierce into Huang Xiaolong's Qi Sea, a blinding light flashed, repelling the poison needle from its trajectory.
Watching this result, the killing intent in Chen Dingyuan's eyes thickened, and another blue poison needle appeared in his right hand. However, this time, before he flicked it out, an indiscernible voice sounded in his ears. Listening to this voice, Chen Dingyuan retrieved the blue poisonous needle unwillingly.
While Huang Xiaolong was immersed in the sanctification ritual, experts from all over arrived, rushing from all directions, filling the already packed Thousand Blessings Square even more.
Thousand Blessings Square became even more lively and bustling with the increasingly larger crowd.
Hidden in one of the space pockets above the Buddha Cavern's entrance sat eight old men clad in kasaya robes embroidered with golden threads. Majestic auras filled the entire space, while all eight old men observed Huang Xiaolong undergoing the sanctification ritual of the Buddha power through the void.
"Old Law, in your opinion, how does this young man compare to that Fan Chen from last time?" One of the old men asked the person sitting in the centermost amongst the eight, an old man whose hair was evenly divided, half pure white and half darkest of ebony.
The fated one chosen by the Blessed Buddha Altar more than three hundred years ago, a genius named Fan Chen. The current Fan Chen was already a Saint realm expert!
After a short moment of silence, the old man in the center spoke: "This child's achievements in the future will far surpass Fan Chen!"
"What?!" This answer shocked the seven other old men.
Fan Family's genius disciple, Fan Chen, possessed a grade fourteen average martial spiritㅡgrade fourteen! On the whole Snow Wind Continent, the people with such talent could be counted on the fingers on one hand. Fan Chen was already a legendary figure in Blessed Buddha Empire, so much that there were people comparing Fan Chen with their Emperor, Shi Fantian.
Is he saying the kid in front of them now was more talented than Fan Chen!? Indirectly implying that this kid's talent was higher than Emperor Shi Fantian's!
The seven other old men were inexplicably shocked. After all, these words came from Old Law's mouth!
"Since the Blessed Buddha Altar had chosen the fated one, we should pass this message to the Emperor!" Old Law spoke again.
Only then did the seven others recover from their shock, nodding their heads in agreement.
At this time, inside a grand palace on the south side of Blessed Buddha Empire's Imperial City, a middle-aged man dressed in a gold-threaded kasaya robe was meditating in midair, exuding Buddhism power, with Buddha luminescence glow gathering around him in the images of ancient Buddhas.
This man was none other than the sovereign Emperor of Blessed Buddha Empire, Shi Fantian.
The meditating Shi Fantian suddenly opened his eyes, and with a casual flick at the void, a transmission talisman appeared in his palm.
"Eh?! The Blessed Buddha Altar has chosen the fated one already?!" A bright light shone in Shi Fantian's eyes and continued reading, "What? Old Law actually said this child's achievements will be higher than Fan Chen's!"
With a bright burst of Buddha luminescence, Shi Fantian disappeared from the grand hall.
When Shi Fantian received the message, Huang Xiaolong was still in the Thousand Blessings Square, accepting the sanctification ritual from the Buddhism power flowing into his body. Six hours had passed, counting from the time Huang Xiaolong triggered the four sides Buddha painting on the Blessed Buddha Altar.
Six hours had passed.
In these six hours of sanctification ritual, Huang Xiaolong's body looked like it was painted with a layer of golden paint, making him look like a golden sculpture from afar.
Six hours passed, from the surface it was as if Huang Xiaolong was no different from six hours prior, but only Huang Xiaolong knew of the immense changes happening inside him. Regardless if it was his meridians, Qi Sea, internal organs, flesh, skin, even his hair was twice stronger!
Huang Xiaolong's battle qi and internal force rose at rapid speed.
Half a day passed when Huang Xiaolong's body suddenly shook, a glaring of inky-purple light burst out, the atmosphere emanating from him changing just as abruptly.
Xiantian Third Order!
His cultivation, which was at peak late-Xiantian Second Order, finally advanced into Xiantian Third Order!
One must know, it was barely two years since Huang Xiaolong participated in Duanren Empire's Imperial City Battle, in that period of time, Huang Xiaolong had just broken through to the Xiantian realm.
More and more people were arriving on the Thousand Blessings Square. Watching Huang Xiaolong breakthrough so easily made endless envious eyes cast on him.
Whereas the jealousy in Chen Dingyuan's eyes became even more erratic and rebellious.
Even after Huang Xiaolong successfully broke through to Xiantian Third Order, the Buddhism power coming from the Blessed Buddha Altar continued to envelop him, seeping into his body, being absorbed and refined, which further enhanced his battle qi and internal force.
A full day and night passed.
Only after one day and one night did the Blessed Buddha Altar occlude its Buddhism power, and soon after, it vanished from view in midair. The entire time, Huang Xiaolong had been absorbing and refining the Buddhism power, his battle qi breaking through from the initial peak late-Xiantian Second Order to peak early-Xiantian Third Order and then onward to peak mid-Xiantian Third Order. It only halted because the Blessed Buddha Altar stopped and vanished.
The crowd stirred again watching the Blessed Buddha Altar disappear and Huang Xiaolong awaken.
Joy flashed across Huang Xiaolong's face as he opened his eyes and tried sensing the changes inside his body using his spiritual sense.
The result of the Blessed Buddha Altar's sanctification ritual exceeded his imagination by far. His initial assumption was early-Xiantian Third Order.
Converging his emotions, Huang Xiaolong scanned the surroundings, and in the end, his gaze fell on Chen Dingyuan's body.
When he was receiving the sanctification ritual, the poison needle attack Chen Dingyuan made, Huang Xiaolong was very well aware. Seeing Huang Xiaolong looking in his direction, Chen Dingyuan sneered disdainfully, their gazes collided midair.
The tightly packed crowd suddenly parted a small path in the middle, allowing a group of people wearing Blessed Buddha Empire's minister uniforms to approach Huang Xiaolong. Leading them was an old man with a long white beard, who had a pair of bright spirited eyes.
"That's Blessed Buddha Empire's Archduke Ma Bo!"
"Archduke Ma Bo is here! The last time Fan Chen was chosen by the Blessed Buddha Altar it was also Archduke Ma Bo who came to pick him up to meet with his Imperial Highness in the Blessed Buddha Temple."
"It was said that last time, when the Emperor summoned Fan Chen, he bestowed to him a heaven grade spirit stone!"
Listening to the discussions around him, Huang Xiaolong was secretly surprised.
Heaven grade spirit stone!
It was rumored that a top grade spirit stone had an awareness. Other than being used to refine heaven-grade spirit pellets, wearing it close to the body aided in cultivation, speeding up the process of absorbing the spiritual energy around. Keeping it close also brought many beneficial advantages to cultivation.
By this time, the white bearded old man, Archduke Ma Bo, was already in front of Huang Xiaolong. Nodding at Huang Xiaolong in a friendly manner, Archduke Ma Bo spoke, "Congratulations to this Young Noble for being chosen by the Blessed Buddha Altar. According to the rules, the chosen one can have an audience with the Emperor and be granted a request. Now, kindly follow me to Blessed Buddha Temple."
"Okay." Huang Xiaolong nodded.
Archduke Ma Bo gestured politely with his hand, turned around and led Huang Xiaolong out from the Thousand Blessings Square with the same group of people he arrived with earlier.
When Huang Xiaolong passed beside Chen Dingyuan, the latter sneered coldly in a voice transmission to Huang Xiaolong's ear, "Brat, don't get complacent just because you were chosen by the Blessed Buddha Altar. You've made this master dislike you, so you better turn and flee as far as you can when you see me, otherwise, I'll beat you up every time I see your face!"
Huang Xiaolong retorted with cold indifference, "Really?" His murderous aura flitted too quickly to be noticed.
Soon, Huang Xiaolong left the square grounds following Archduke Ma Bo, thus the crowd gradually dispersed.
With Huang Xiaolong gone, Chen Dingyuan and Luo Wuyi too left the square.
Out from the Thousand Blessings Square, Archduke Ma Bo led Huang Xiaolong to an hour's walk before stopping to a grand looking building structure, towering over a hundred zhang, built with Bright Granite Rock. On the four sides of the granite walls were carvings of Buddhas in many forms.
"Young Noble, this is Blessed Buddha Temple, the Emperor has been waiting for you inside. Let us enter." Arriving in front of the towering structure, Ma Bo said with a smile. Then he turned around and continued leading the way in front of Huang Xiaolong.
The moment Huang Xiaolong entered the grand hall, an overwhelming Buddhism power rushed towards him. Before this Buddhism power, a feeling of wanting to prostrate in submission rose in Huang Xiaolong's mind but at this precise moment, the black and blue dragons in Huang Xiaolong's body shook, releasing a mighty aura that rushed out of Huang Xiaolong's body.
In an instant, the Buddhism power that overwhelmed Huang Xiaolong faded..
Sensing the mighty dragon aura from Huang Xiaolong's body, Ma Bo was shocked, taking a while before he managed to gather himself, continuing to lead the way.
Blessed Buddha Temple sat on quite a large land area, comparable to Thousand Blessings Square. Huang Xiaolong surveyed the place as he walked, noticing the many beams of white jade pillars with Buddhist beasts1 carved at the very top.
After walking for some time, they reached the front of the grand hall. A man stood there with his back to them, both hands clasped at his back.
"Emperor, this Young Noble is the chosen one of the Blessed Buddha Altar." Ma Bo spoke, making an introduction.
1. Buddhist beasts
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