Bab 107: Heavenly Netherfrost Lake
"I didn't expect you to come here so soon," Aerion stated.
"Well, junior brother, where is the sword?"
"Right here." Aerion took it out of his spatial ring but he did not give it away immediately. It remained in his hands, for now. "But you have to pay me first. I've made this easier for you and decided that the price will be ten Starpicker Stones!"
"Ten? Why would you need ten of them...?"
"Make that fifteen!"
"Fift-"
"Make that twenty!"
"Twenty Starpicker Stones would be quite good for my cultivation strength... you, the great Mu Hanyi, can definitely afford that, right? If you can't, then I'm afraid that your sword is in my possession until further notice."
Are you going to pay up, run off to your master or try to snatch it off me? The first is the most likely... his just and kind reputation would take a huge hit with the third one and I doubt that his master can do anything to me while I am under Mu Bingyun's protection.
Aerion waited for his response and it came sooner than expected. Upon inspecting the sword further, he could see that it was truly one of a kind. Aerion was surprised by his composure as Mu Hanyi agreed without any further signs of hesitation.
"Very well, I will return with twenty Starpicker Stones as soon as possible."
Aerion returned to his room and suddenly thought of a new idea. But it was on the darker side of things so he decided against it.
"To gain more power, you must be willing to let go off some of your morals... this is more true for you than anyone else, Aerion. If you were more like myself, that Mu Hanyi fellow would already be your loyal follower. You think he's innocent, right? Hahahaha... what foolishness! I truly desire for an event to occur which will force you to change this 'kind' and 'just' mindset of yours..."
I don't need him to become stronger, Rotias. He's my competition so I'll take him down properly instead of using underhand methods. Besides, have you forgotten the reason why I imprisoned you in the first place?
"No, I have not forgotten your harsh words... but those events are in the past. Could it be that you are afraid of becoming a hypocrite? You have only used your power of Dominion on a select few that you deemed worthy... the people who have some ability and clearly stand against you. They weren't the kindest souls, of course. Instead of killing them, you turned them over to your side... hmm, you have already taken a few steps why don't you cross the damn bridge and embrace this ability fully?"
Because I'm not like you.
Rotias laughed. "I can see that clearly. These times of peace have made you content and soft... but one day, you will find yourself in a situation where you must become the hungry dragon once more. The bonfire of ambition and ruthlessness is already set, all it needs now is a flicker of immense hatred in order to form the raging fire."
Aerion let Rotias' words sink in... have I become soft? He thought of his unmatched ruthlessness in battle and then realized that only during a battle and the moments where he had hatred in his heart that he would truly act in a ruthless manner. In other cases, he was the opposite. Unless his enemies truly deserved it, he was kind and forgiving. He was always like this... the 'times' didn't change that. But as for the hungry dragon part, it certainly does have some truth to it. He wasn't desperately chasing power as there was no reason for him to do so.
A flicker of immense hatred... is that all I need?
Aerion received his twenty Starpicker Stones and didn't waste any time as Rotias' words had made him far more determined than he had ever been for a long time. He absorbed the profound energy in all twenty Starpicker Stones with the Heaven Absorbing Silver Claw and then added it to his own. His cultivation strength jumped by leaps and bounds but, obviously, it wasn't enough to breakthrough. The Divine Origin Realm was no joke, clearly. The Starpicker Stones would actually recover as time went by which made them even more useful. Then he fought himself through the use of the Perfect Sword Spirit profound skill he had invented. It was better than the Sword Spirit Doppelganger due to its lesser consequences... in fact, the consequences weren't too apparent unless he really pushed his luck.
After his physical body was spent, he would train in the ninth floor and absorb the elemental energy there while fighting elemental warriors.
~9 months later~
Aerion broke through to the Divine Soul Realm after staying in the peak of the Divine Origin Realm for five months. It was the most difficult breakthrough yet, of course, which is why it took so long despite all of the resources he had. His Calamity Dragon Veins didn't make it any easier for him either.
Now he could beat Mu Hanyi without using any of his God Legacies, but it would still be a tough fight which would require some effort on his part.
Aerion left his cultivation room for the first time in 9 months in order to see if there was anything interesting going on in the Divine Ice Phoenix Sect. Apparently, there was a huge event which would decide the Direct Disciple of the Realm King and it was happening in just a month from now!
If I had spent an extra month... then I would have missed this chance forever!
Aerion was later informed by Mu Bingyun that the event would be staged in the Heavenly Netherfrost Lake and how the Realm King would choose her Direct Disciple. It was going to be a test of ice attribute affinity... something about gathering ice spirits, Aerion couldn't quite believe it at first. But he wasn't too worried as his affinity towards ice was almost, if not, perfect due to the Water Seed of the Evil God. Obviously, he would have preferred to duel and trash around Mu Hanyi with his superior strength but he would have to make due for now.
He made preparations and stabilised his Divine Soul Realm cultivation strength during the month. During this time, Aerion wondered what kind of person Mu Xuanyin was since he had never met her. The aura of mystery behind the figure that was the Great Realm King will obviously disappear once he becomes the direct disciple, that was almost guaranteed.
~
Aerion and Mu Bingyun waited for Mu Xiaolan to get ready. She was taking her sweet time, that was for sure.
"Can you hurry up, already? It feels like an entire century has passed..."
She finally left her room at last. It made Aerion remember that women, especially girls, tend to spend far too much time preparing themselves for special events. It's not like anyone is going to be paying special attention to an Ice Phoenix Palace disciple during a test which was basically only between Mu Feixue and Mu Hanyi.
"Hmph, you should learn to be more patient."
Aerion ignored her comment and looked towards Palace Master Mu Bingyun for further instructions. "We might still be the first group to arrive, but before we do so I have to remind you two to conduct yourselves well at all times. Today's event is no small matter as every one of significance will be present, including the Great Realm King. You should know that the Great Realm King has an extreme temperament, even angering her slightly would lead to unthinkable consequences. So you must be careful."
Aerion realised that her gaze was mostly on him...
Eh, what did I do to deserve this? I am but a humble disc-... oh, right.
"I will certainly avoid angering the Great Realm King and follow Palace Master's every instruction without fail," Aerion solemnly stated.
Imagine angering the Great Realm King, like what kind of fool would even dare? She has the power of a Divine Master... by all accounts, she could rival most Realm Kings from the High-Rank Star Realms. Even the entire Snow Song Realm put together can't hope to match her in battle, she is the supreme ruler of the entire Snow Song Realm much like Aerion is to the Blue Pole Star. Becoming her Direct Disciple would no doubt put him above everyone else.
They arrived on their ice boat earlier than most. It was the coldest place in the Snow Song Realm, a barrier was set around the Heavenly Netherfrost Lake which suggested that the event hadn't quite started yet. There were two disciples and a few elders present... obviously, more people will come as time passes. Mobilising the Divine Ice Phoenix Palace's requires some preparation since they tend to have thousands of members... apart from the 36th Palace, which included only three people; Aerion, Mu Bingyun and Mu Xiaolan.
Mu Hanyi and Mu Feixue came early, huh... that's to be expected. It's their 'big day' hahaha... little do they know, this King is going to emerge as the Direct Disciple after this event!
"Junior Brother Aerion, it's good to see you again. The sword you forged works brilliantly and is a great improvement from the last. It is a wonder how someone so extraordinary could come from the lower realms... nevermind that, how is it that you are able to remake swords?"
"That is a secret of mine, Senior Brother."
"That is unfortunate..." Then he noticed the aura around Aerion was far more powerful than ever before. "Oh, the Divine Soul Realm? That is truly impressive, you managed to progress so quickly. Junior Brother will certainly become a mighty figure in the Divine Ice Phoenix Sect one day."
I'll start with today.
Aerion smiled. "It is all thanks to the resources Senior Brother so graciously granted me in our trade. More importantly, you must be quite nervous, Senior Brother, but that's very understandable. Senior Sister Feixue is extremely talented and you don't want to lose the position of Direct Disciple to her."
"That is partly true." Mu Hanyi nodded. "But even if Junior Sister Feixue wins over me, I will not feel a single ounce of regret or unwillingness. I might even be happy." He said this while glancing in Mu Feixue's direction.
No way... is his ambition too feeble or is his love simply too great? I would hate to break it to him... it's clear that she's not interested, heh, he reminds me a little bit of Fen Juecheng. As a fellow man, it is a great pity to see such things occur. A man hopelessly chasing a beauty... what a waste of time. But I can't speak for him or understand his struggles since I have never encountered a woman who didn't look favourably towards me.
Aerion pondered over whether or not he should help him out by showing him the 'light'.
"What if I were to win?" Aerion curiously asked.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone