"You!" Fear was evident on that man's face as he stared at Huang Xiaolong. He struggled to get up from the ground as fast as he could.
Before he made his move, he had investigated carefully and knew Huang Xiaolong had broken into the Xiantian realm, and not too long ago at that. Though he defeated Xie Puti, no one really truly minded that point. Yet he who had the Violet-pupils Bat, battling during the advantageous nighttime still lost!
"Why don't you just admit it, Yao Fei sent you?" Huang Xiaolong's cold gaze pierced through him.
In a sudden move, the black-clad man blurred away, new doppelgangers burst out from his body as he moved, creating twenty-four identical decoys. The Violet-pupils Bat spread its wings to escape.
Multiplying into twenty-four doppelgangers was his limit.
"Trying to escape?" Huang Xiaolong's expression sank. Both hands shaped into claws and tore through the void at the man.
A black mist entity swirled out from Huang Xiaolong's hands, gathering up in midair and transforming into wraith headsㅡa total of exactly twenty-four appeared. Howling wraith heads flew out, each pouncing onto the backs of the enemy's doppelgangers.
Twenty-three out of twenty-four dissipated into wisps of smoke whereas the remaining original body plummeted from midair, issuing a hair-raising scream.
Falling to the ground, the man convulsed in pain, rolling and twisting on the ground due to the excruciating pain. The flesh of his back where the attack landed was an indistinguishable mess, a dark energy rippled beneath the open wound which formed the imprint of a wraith head. The shrieking howl of wraiths echoed endlessly in the dark street.
This was the first move of Asura Demon Claw, Laments of Thousands of Demons. Huang Xiaolong might not practice it diligently, but as years went by and with his increase in strength, its attack power had increased significantly.
At present day, under Huang Xiaolong's control, the Asura Demon Claw's first move, Laments of Thousands of Demons, could form more than thirty wraiths with one attack.
Struck by Asura Demon Claw, the opponent's body will be invaded by thousands of demons negative qi, which was undoubtedly a thousand times worse than Asura Sword Skill's frigid qi.
"I beg you, kill me, just kill me!" Seconds later, tragic screams begging for mercy filled the deserted street. The black-clad man was unable to tolerate the extent of torture and pleaded for mercy from Huang Xiaolong.
"Speak, who sent you?" Huang Xiaolong moved closer to the man, his voice dangerous and low.
"It, it was Guo Zhi!" The man shouted in short gasps.
Guo Zhi!
Huang Xiaolong was stupefied.
"Guo Family's Guo Zhi, the two Guo Brothers, Guo Zhi and Guo Fei?"
"Yes, it's them!" The black-clad man admitted, "I beg you, just kill me, let me die painlessly."
Huang Xiaolong's eyes grew icy upon hearing the man's confession, he did not expect the individual(s) behind this to actually be the two Guo Brothers. The two possible suspects who crossed his mind to have sent this person was either Yao Fei or Zhao Wuji.
Yet, he was thrown a curveball by the Guo Brothers.
Just because he and Xie Puti hindered them twice with the Sapidity Wine incidents, and they dare not lay their hands on Xie Puti, all of their anger was vented at him?
It seems he underestimated the narrow-mindedness of this pair of brothers!
Observing the man flapping like a fish out of water, an idea struck Huang Xiaolong like a bolt of lightning. With a thought, he called out the Linglong Treasure Pagoda and started the Thousand Demons Engulfing Destruction Array inside the Thousand Beast Cauldron. A powerful suction force instantly wrapped around the man and pulled him into the Thousand Beast Cauldron. However, Huang Xiaolong did not start refining the man on the spot. Instead, his body flickered away, leaving the area and returning to Southern Hill Estate.
Once back in Southern Hill Estate, Huang Xiaolong called for Fei Hou.
To refine a mere early stage Xiantian expert was much easier, using Fei Hou's and his battle qi was sufficient enough for the task.
It only took a single day's time before that black-clad man had been completely refined. However, with his Xiantian Second Order strength, the result was only a mid grade five pellet.
For the current Huang Xiaolong, a mid-grade five pellet had already lost its efficacy. When the refinement was done, Huang Xiaolong and Fei Hou left the room.
Moving into the great hall, both of them sat down and Fei Hou took the initiative to speak first, "Sovereign, this black-clad man was sent by Yao Fei?"
Huang Xiaolong shook his head, "It was Guo Zhi and Guo Fei, the two brothers."
"Guo Zhi and Guo Fei brothers?" A trace of confusion was apparent in Fei Hou's eyes.
Hence Huang Xiaolong briefly described Guo Zhi and Guo Fei's identity and mentioned the matter regarding Sapidity Wine.
"Sovereign, do you want us to… ?" Fei Hou suggested in an inquiring manner.
Huang Xiaolong shook his head and waved his hand, saying "Did Yao Fei send anyone to investigate that black-clad old man's clues?"
Fei Hou smiled respectfully as he reported to Huang Xiaolong, "I was about to report to Sovereign that Left Custodian Zhao Shu captured one the day before yesterday!"
"Oh!" Huang Xiaolong also laughed, "Where's the person?"
"He's being held in the Eastside Courtyard's chamber." Fei Hou then added, "I will go bring him over now."
Huang Xiaolong nodded.
Before long, Fei Hou was seen dragging a thin-faced old man with silver hair into the great hall.
The instant the silver-haired old man saw Huang Xiaolong he clamored, "Huang Xiaolong, it's best if you let me go this instant. If not, the Yao Family will ensure you die without a body to be buried with!"
Huang Xiaolong remained indifferent, "Oh really?" Without caring to reply, Huang Xiaolong's fingers shaped into claws. Asura Demon Claw's first move struck the silver-haired old man's torso. The impact threw him out of the great hall, his body crashing onto the ground, tumbling until he reached the great hall door.
This silver-haired old man's actual strength was at Xiantian Ninth Order, but unfortunate for him, his Qi Sea and meridians were sealed by Zhao Shu. In front of Huang Xiaolong, he was no different than a mere mortal who couldn't put up any resistance.
Before one could bat an eye, the thousand wraiths energy invaded the silver-haired old man's body. Raw, agonizing screams resounded from the old man. It did not take long for him to start begging Huang Xiaolong for mercy.
"Spare you? Huang Xiaolong approached the silver-haired old man, and reassured in a frigid voice, "Don't worry, the Yao Family you spoke of will be erased from Duanren Empire soon!" Once he finished saying that, Huang Xiaolong called out the Linglong Treasure Pagoda and had it suck the silver-haired old man inside.
Zhao Shu was not in the Southern Hill Estate at the moment. He took a trip to Duanren Imperial Palace in the morning, so Huang Xiaolong had to wait for Zhao Shu to come back before he could refine the new 'material.'
Around midnight, Zhao Shu returned from the imperial palace and proceeded to refine the silver-haired old man with Huang Xiaolong.
However, Huang Xiaolong didn't take the grade seven pellet for himself this time and placed it into the Asura Ring for safekeeping.
After dealing with the silver-haired man, Huang Xiaolong spoke with Zhao Shu about entering the inner division of Duanren Institute, directing Zhao Shu to speak with Duan Ren about making the necessary arrangements.
"Please be assured Sovereign, this Subordinate will go and tell the Lil' Monkey about it now." Listening to Huang Xiaolong's words, Zhao Shu immediately replied.
Huang Xiaolong quickly waved him down, saying "No need to do it now. You can speak to Duan Ren tomorrow or the next time you see him." To look for the Absolute Soul Pearl, a day or two later made no difference.
"Yes, Sovereign." Zhao Shu obeyed.
"Zhao Shu, do you know a force that refers to themselves as Deities Templar?" Huang Xiaolong suddenly posed the question to Zhao Shu.
In fact, Huang Xiaolong had wanted to inquire about this mysterious Deities Templar from Zhao Shu much earlier.
Haotian and Fei Hou weren't aware of their existence but perhaps Zhao Shu does.
"Deities Templar?" Zhao Shu shook his head, "Never heard of it."
Even Zhao Shu didn't know about it? Huang Xiaolong frowned. Again, the mysteriousness of this Deities Templar had far exceeded Huang Xiaolong's predictions, so much so that even Zhao Shu didn't know anything about it.
"Since Sovereign wants information about Deities Templar, I will also ask Lil' Monkey about it." Zhao Shu added.
Huang Xiaolong nodded in agreement, this was the path to take when there was no other way. It was just that, every time Zhao Shu called Duanren Emperor 'Lil' Monkey', Huang Xiaolong felt awkward.
For the next two days after that, Huang Xiaolong did not leave Southern Hill Estate and instead cultivated there on his own.
In the early morning two days later, Zhao Shu came to report to Huang Xiaolong, "Sovereign, I have news about Deities Templar."
"There's news about Deities Templar?" Huang Xiaolong's surprise was instantly overridden by joy.
Zhao Shu nodded his head while saying, "According to what Duan Ren said, this Deities Templar only emerged in the last one hundred years or so. But they behave mysteriously, not even Duan Ren knows where their headquarters is. All he knows is that the Deities Templar master is a woman with unfathomable strength. Every ten years, Deities Templar selects ten disciples on Snow Wind Continent. What they claim is, those that are selected to be disciples of Deities Templar have the opportunity to cultivate in the Divine World!"
Because Huang Xiaolong could not stand hearing the pet name 'Lil Monkey, he made Zhao Shu change the way he referred to Duanren Emperor.
"What?! Divine World?!" Huang Xiaolong was so astonished that his eyes widened into two round moons.
Does this world have a different dimension called Divine World?
In his previous life on Earth, there were different types of world's written in fantasy novels, such as Immortal Realm and Divine Realm. But that was all fairy tales.
Zhao Shu nodded affirmatively, adding: "In fact, this Martial Spirit World that we live in is merely a low-grade dimension. There exists many living dimensions of higher grade than Martial Spirit World, and the Divine World is one of many. But, to travel to Divine World, one must open a space tunnel that connects to the Divine World. I did not expect that this Deities Templar could actually open such a space tunnel!"
Zhao Shu's expression grew solemn as he continued, "However, to open up a space tunnel to the Divine World is not something within the average Saint realm experts' capability. Even for a peak late-Saint realm Tenth Order expert, it is still a herculean effort. Unless several peak late-Saint realm Tenth Order experts worked together, and with the help of an ancient sacred array, only then would there be a possibility of opening a space tunnel to the Divine World! Other than that, only a God Realm master could accomplish this!"
Huang Xiaolong was greatly taken aback after Zhao Shu's explanation. From this, Deities Templar's strength was overwhelmingly evident.
"When is Deities Templar expected to hold the next disciple selection?" On the spur of the moment, Huang Xiaolong asked.
Zhao Shu was surprised but then reacted swiftly, "Six years later, not more than seven. From what Duan Ren said, one of their conditions for disciple selection is that one must possess a superb talent martial spirit, and the other condition is that the candidate's strength must reach Xiantian Tenth Order and above.
Xiantian Tenth Order and above!
Huang Xiaolong's brows deeply furrowed.
Nonetheless, it was impossible for him to break through to Xiantian Tenth Order in the span of six years' time. Not disregarding the possibility of him obtaining the Absolute Soul Pearl, as fast as his cultivation speed may increase to, it would still be far from achieving that condition!
Wanting to enter Deities Templar was of course not for pursuing cultivation, but for Li Lu!
Putting aside his emotions, Huang Xiaolong continued to ask information about Deities Templar from Zhao Shu.
Zhao Shu answered one by one, however, the information he got from Duan Ren wasn't much to begin with. Therefore, what Zhao Shu could answer for Huang Xiaolong was limited as well.
A short while later, Zhao Shu withdrew.
Darkness slowly blanketed the sky in an ink black cover.
Tonight was a moonless night, the heavens above looked like nothing more than an ocean of unfathomable darkness.
Huang Xiaolong stood outside his yard, staring into this dark void.
Images of Li Lu flashed one after another in his mind; the lovely dimples on her cheeks when she laughed, sweet and beautiful. Those large eyes held an alluring charm that rendered one incapable of looking away.
Three years had passed since Huang Min's explanation regarding Li Lu being whisked away by that beautiful woman. In these three years, whenever he took a break from cultivation during the deepest hours of the night, he would think of Li Lu.
Three years, yet Li Lu's face did not fade into the abyss of time. Instead, her appearance became clearer in his mind. It was only now that he finally realized Li Lu was deeply ingrained in his heart.
"Li Lu." Huang Xiaolong said her name softly.
A sudden pain tugged at his heartstrings. He shouldn't have allowed that Deities Templar woman to bring Li Lu away that year. Despite so, he couldn't have stopped it no matter how much he wished to. Not to mention that time, he was still powerless even now. That beautiful woman was at least a Saint realm expert. With the Deities Templar at her back, if she wanted to take away one person, the entire Snow Wind Continent's empires were probably powerless to stop her, what more someone like Huang Xiaolong?
Power!
Strength!
In the end, power and strength determine everything!
The mounting pressure of Asura burst forth from Huang Xiaolong's body, an aura of slaughter filled the yard in the moonless night.
In the next moment, a bright light flickered and a golden token appeared on his palm.
This golden token was given to Zhao Shu by Duan Ren. With this, Huang Xiaolong was free to enter and leave Duanren Institute's inner division compound.
Absolute Soul Pearl!
Regardless what hurdles blocked his way, he must find the Absolute Soul Pearl, borrowing the power from these three Heavenly Treasures to speed up his cultivation speed and strength.
Morning arrived with the resplendent sunlight shining, caressing one's skin and providing warmth.
Huang Xiaolong stepped out from the Southern Hill Estate and headed in Duanren Institute's direction.
Arriving in Duanren Institute, Huang Xiaolong walked straight towards the inner division area. The inner division grounds were different when compared to the outer division in that there were guards at the entrance.
When Huang Xiaolong wanted to enter, a guard squad quickly blocked his path.
The guard squad consisted of eleven guards and was led at the front by an expert who looked like a forty-something middle-aged man with a goatee.
The goatee middle-aged man scrutinized Huang Xiaolong with cold eyes, "Little punk, as the Institute's outer division student, are you not aware that outer division students are not allowed to enter the inner division area? Trespassers are punished with ten slashes by the knife!"
Ten slashes by the knife!
Meaning the trespassing person who stepped into the inner division area would be punished with ten cuts from a knife. And it was a prerequisite that the tip of the knife should be pierced through the body each time to be considered as complete.
"Go, strip this kid's clothes off and let him have a taste of the ten knives punishment!" The goatee middle-aged man looked over his shoulder to the back of him, ordering one of the guards.
"Yes, Captain Yang!"
When that guard was about to step out, Huang Xiaolong raised one of his arms up, revealing a shiny golden token. Huang Xiaolong's action obstructed that guards' vision entirely, causing him to stagger backward.
The rest of the guards were astounded as they stared at the golden token in Huang Xiaolong's hand.
"The Great Emperor's Golden Token!"
"This is the Great Emperor's Golden Token, no mistake!"
The goatee middle-aged man was also stupefied as he looked dazedly at the shiny golden token.
"Greeting Lord Bearer of the Golden Token!"
Before he could recover his senses, the rest of the guards had knelt down in respectful salute.
Regardless of who it was, seeing the person holding the Golden Token, everyone must kneel in salute and be referred to as Lord Bearer of the Golden Token. This rule was set down by Duan Ren himself.
Awakened from his daze, the goatee middle-aged man quickly knelt down: "Greeting Lord Bearer of the Golden Token!"
Huang Xiaolong nodded and slowly strode into the inner division. However, when he passed next to the goatee middle-aged man, he said, "Your goatee grew nicely, Captain Yang [1]? It goes well with your name!"
The goatee middle-aged man was stunned for a moment before the expression on his face turned ugly and awkward, not daring to refute Huang Xiaolong while his subordinates laughed secretly behind him.
Not until Huang Xiaolong's figure disappeared from sight did the guards get up. The goatee middle-aged man's eyes glinted with an icy sharpness as he stared the young man's backㅡHuang Xiaolong!
He was at Duanren Square, watching the Imperial City Battle, thus it wasn't strange he could recognize Huang Xiaolong.
Half an hour later, the goatee middle-aged man appeared inside a solitary secluded courtyard.
"You're sure it was Huang Xiaolong?" Standing with his back towards the goatee middle-aged man, Yao Fei questioned.
"Yes, Heartless Young Noble. I can guarantee it was Huang Xiaolong!" The goatee middle-aged man answered respectfully.
Yao Fei's eyes emanated piercing coldness, "Golden Token in his hands? How did he come into possession of Duan Ren's Golden Token? Perhaps it was Duan Wuhen using it to attract this little punk, thus giving his own Golden Token to him?"
There were only two Golden Token's in the entire Duanren Empire. One was in Duan Ren's hands, while the other was held by Duan Wuhen.
"You did well, go and get two Soul Strengthening Dan from Heartless Hall." Yao Fei said and waved him away.
Soul Strengthening Dan, mid-Grade Five Spirit Dan.
"This one thanks Heartless Young Noble!" The goatee middle-aged man was overjoyed. Expressing his thanks, he turned and left.
Note:
Captain Yang 羊队长 and goatee 羊须 shares the same character. A pun on his name and appearance.