It took two hours for Qin Zhao Yang to wake up.
After a moment of fogginess, he suddenly remembered what had happened before he fell unconscious. His face changed greatly. He looked around, and he was relieved when he found that Yang Kai was safe and sound.
He was naturally very curious about what the woman in red wanted and what happened while he was knocked out.
He asked Yang Kai, who did not tell the truth since this matter involved Mo Xiao Qi’s origins and identity. Therefore, Yang Kai casually shared that the woman in red had the wrong person…
Qin Zhao Yang was doubtful, but since the two of them were unharmed, he did not dive deeper into it and they continued to drive towards the direction of Azure Sun Temple.
Yang Kai’s ship artifact had been destroyed, and Yang Kai had no time to refine the smaller ship artifact he had gotten from Qin Zhao Yang. Thus, Qin Zhao Yang had to summon his own flight-type artifact and the two of them shared it.
It was a Dao Source Grade Low-Rank wagon-like artifact. Although the space inside is not as big as Yang Kai’s ship, its speed was not much slower.
In the meantime, Yang Kai took the time to refine the artifact he was given.
The woman in red was a Third-Order Emperor Realm Master, so she could easily compensate Yang Kai for the broken artifact, which was Dao Source Grade High Rank! And there were many barriers inside. Although it had no attack power, the defence was solid, which made Yang Kai extremely satisfied.
If he wanted to enter the Four Seasons Realm, there would inevitably be a need to use flight-type artifacts, so he was seizing the time to refine his.
No accidents happened along the way. More than ten days later, the two entered the territory of the Azure Sun Temple.
Azure Sun Temple was a famous sect in Southern Territory, and it ranked alongside Orthodoxy Temple and Heavenly Martial Holy Land. It was second only to Star Soul Palace.
Its headquarters were located in a rolling mountain, with tens of thousands of disciples at the foot, and an endless number of masters!
Neither Yang Kai nor Qin Zhao Yang knew why the senior expert appointed Qin Zhao Yang to Azure Sun Temple in exchange for the Four Seasons Realm quota, but since the other party said so, it probably had something to do with Azure Sun Temple.
The two of them stepped into the Azure Sun Mountain Range. Yang Kai was shocked by the spiritual energy contained in the mountain.
The full-bodied world energy rushed towards one’s face, with the fragrance of flowers and plants, which made people feel refreshed. Cultivating in such a good environment, the effect was absolutely amazing.
Yang Kai estimated that there should be a lot of good Earth Veins under the Azure Sun Mountain Range. Even the highest quality Earth Vein should exist, otherwise, there wouldn’t be such rich world energy.
And this was just the periphery. If one went nearer to the centre, what would it be like?
He looked around, secretly shocked by the heritage that Azure Sun Temple sat on, but unexpectedly found that Qin Zhao Yang’s demeanour was a little nervous and cautious.
When Yang Kai thought about it, he understood.
This was the headquarters of the top sect in the Southern Territory. Qin Zhao Yang was a patriarch from a small family in Maplewood City, and he may still be the number one person there, but maybe even the common disciple here made him inferior. Naturally, he was under a lot of psychological pressure, for fear of making a mistake in speech or lack of courtesy or something else.
After all, he came here to beg for help. Naturally, he was very nervous.
In contrast, Yang Kai seemed to be under no pressure, as if he were travelling in the mountains and playing in the water, having a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery along the way.
Suddenly, Yang Kai paused and said, “Brother Qin, someone is here.”
“Ah…” Qin Zhao Yang, who seemed to have his thoughts wandering away, was suddenly startled when he heard the words, but stopped. He stood quietly in place.
In a short while, two streams of light shot over from a distance. They fell not far in front of the two and looked at them coldly.
One of them had a large head, big ears, and a fat body, the fat on his face piled up together. It was almost impossible to see where the eyes were. The other person was a blue-faced man, and it was unknown whether it was his original skin colour or the consequence of cultivating some secret technique. Anyway, he didn’t look like a normal person.
The cultivation of these two was not high: A Second-Order Origin King and a Third-Order Origin King.
But as a mountain patrol disciple, such cultivation was enough to demonstrate the strong heritage of Azure Sun Temple!
“Who are you waiting for? Why are you trespassing into my Azure Sun Temple?” The obese man wasn’t afraid of the cultivation gap. Instead, he looked aloof, interrogating Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang.
Yang Kai’s heart moved, and he thought to himself that a big sect was a big sect. In any other place, if a Dao Source Realm expert stood in front of them, an Origin King Realm cultivator would be trembling. Here, neither of these two guys showed timidity, on the contrary making it seem like his cultivation was lower than theirs.
Qin Zhao Yang was also surprised, but when he thought this was Azure Sun Temple, he was relieved and quickly lowered his posture, cupped his fists, and said, “Greetings, two little brothers. This old master is the master of the Maplewood City Qin family… This is-“
Before he could introduce Yang Kai, the fat man frowned and said, “Maplewood City? I haven’t heard of it.”
“I haven’t heard of it!” The green-faced man also looked impatient and said contemptuously, “Probably some impoverished town.”
“Senior Brother makes sense!” The fat man touched his double chin with a look of approval and then shouted at Qin Zhao Yang, “Country bumpkin, what are you here for? Why did you not stay in that Mapleleaf City??”
“Co… country bumpkin!” Qin Zhao Yang was shocked. This fat man called him this way in front of his own face. No one had ever called him that way.
A trace of anger burst out of his heart, but now people under the eaves had to bow their heads and could only suppress the anger in his heart, displaying a smile. “It’s Maplewood City, not Mapleleaf City!”
“Aren’t they all the same?” said the fat man.
“Well, it’s all the same!” The blue-faced man also nodded.
“You haven’t answered my question yet. What are you doing here at Azure Sun Temple? If you don’t answer quickly, you will be regarded as enemies invading. Don’t blame my fellow brothers for being ruthless!” the fat man said as he didn’t fit his body shape. The attacking posture contained agility and speed.
“Our fellow brothers are strong and will move very quickly when called!” The green-faced man also put on a pose at the right time, meaning that he would have to fight if he didn’t agree with him.
“Wait!” Qin Zhao Yang was taken aback. The two Origin King Realms dared to show their intention to attack. Although there was some overconfidence, this was the headquarters of the Azure Sun Temple. Once the fight began, there was bound to be a master. Here, he and Yang Kai would never escape from this place even if they had the means to reach the sky.
He pondered his words and said, “Two little brothers, don’t be nervous. Brother Yang and I are not enemies of the noble temple.”
The fat man shouted in a low voice, “Senior Brother and I will make our own judgment whether you’re an enemy or not!”
“Yes, it’s not for you to decide!” Although the green-faced man was the Senior Brother, he seemed to be someone who had no opinion. He said whatever the fat Junior Brother said.
Qin Zhao Yang sighed and said helplessly, “The old master came here to beg noble Temple Master Wen.”
Hearing this, the fat junior brother and the green-faced senior brother both froze and were silent for a while.
After a while, the fat junior brother turned his head to look at his Senior Brother and said, “Senior Brother, did I hear them wrongly? The bumpkin just said he asked to see the Temple Master?”
“Senior Brother heard it too.” The blue-faced senior brother nodded.
“Impudent!” The fat junior brother suddenly turned furious and shouted, “You country bumpkins, if you are given three types of dyes, you plan to open a dyeing workshop! How dare you!”
It was too late. The fat junior brother shook his body, his hands clasped, and the power inside his body pushed forward violently. A surging force was suddenly aroused and hit Qin Zhao Yang.
The blue-faced senior brother didn’t react too slowly. He directly took out a long sword artifact, and under the flickering light of the sword, he took on Yang Kai from the front, showing off his moves. To put it plainly, it was full of flaws…
“What are the two little brothers doing?” Qin Zhao Yang was shocked, and Source Qi immediately resolving the fat Junior Brother’s attack.
He didn’t expect that the other party would try to kill him immediately after he stated his intention.
Fortunately, the strength of these two was not high, with his Dao Source Realm cultivation, there was no need to be afraid.
On the other side, Yang Kai stretched out his hand and clamped the fierce long sword of the blue-faced man, in the palm of his hand.
Both of them just cracked the opponent’s killer move and did not fight back.
“Ah!” The fat junior brother exclaimed when he saw this scene. “No, Senior Brother, these two are Dao Source Realm cultivators. Retreat!”
It seemed that until this moment, he had no insight into the fact that Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang’s cultivations were higher than theirs.
“Oh!” The blue-faced senior brother also recovered at this moment. He didn’t know what movement skill he had used, but instead of ignoring his clamped long sword artifact, he slipped back to junior brother’s side.
“The enemy! Senior Brother, run! These two people are not easy to deal with!” The fat junior brother had a serious look on his face and sped off once his attack was complete.
The blue-faced man followed closely behind.
From a distance, the fat Junior Brother’s voice could be heard. “If you have the guts, wait for us to return. When the experts from my temple arrive, I will make sure to remember your face!”
“Well, this is…” Qin Zhao Yang was dumbfounded, standing in place with a bewildered expression.
Yang Kai’s face was turning a shade darker. He thought for a while and switched to holding the long sword in his palm, instead of his fingers.
“Brother Yang, we…” Qin Zhao Yang looked flustered, a little beaten retreat.
“We should just go in. We should see the person he is speaking about soon.” Yang Kai smiled faintly.
“Is that really a good idea?” Qin Zhao Yang was indecisive.
“Once we are wanted by Azure Sun Temple, I’m afraid we will be chased throughout the Southern Territory. It is better to take the initiative to meet and explain to their higher-ups.”
“Brother Yang is right… but, I’m afraid they won’t believe us…” Qin Zhao Yang worriedly said.
Yang Kai laughed and continued, “The two just now… were a bit strange… I doubt that the others from Azure Sun Temple will be like them. If we explain clearly, they should understand.”
“I hope so.” Qin Zhao Yang nodded. After thinking about it, the tension and fear in his heart disappeared and he followed Yang Kai forward.
This time, Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang didn’t go far before they realized that a Dao Source Realm level master was coming.
It should be the helper invited by the two Azure Sun Temple disciples before.
They arrived extremely quickly, and there were more than one. There were four or five people, and the leader was at the Second-Order Dao Source Realm level.
Yang Kai waited quietly and didn’t move forward. Qin Zhao Yang also looked down and looked uneasy.
After a while, a bright light flashed, and a group of cultivators appeared in front of the two of them.
“Deacon Tao, these two guys trespassed into our Azure Sun Mountain Range, and they also ranted loudly. Senior Brother and I lost and retreated. Look, that guy still has the Senior Brother’s sword in his hand!”
The fat junior brother and the blue-faced senior brother who had appeared before were also among these people. As soon as they appeared, the fat junior brother started to dance about in front of an elderly man to explain, while pointing to Yang Kai.
The elderly man looked like he was about fifty years old. His hair was half white, and his figure was not tall, but his eyes were gleaming with capability.
This person should be the Deacon Tao that the fat junior brother talked about.
A Second-Order Dao Source Realm level cultivator only played the role of Deacon in the Azure Sun Temple. Therefore, those that are Elders of the Sect must be much more powerful cultivators.
Yang Kai deduced.
After the fat junior brother finished speaking, the blue-faced senior brother yelled, “Hey, country bumpkin, return my Senior Brother’s artifact, or you will know what happens to you…”
Yang Kai’s mouth twitched.
He didn’t have the intention to take the opponent’s artifact as his own. This long sword was just an Origin King Grade High-Rank artifact. The reason he held it in his hand was to wait to see this blue-faced man again, then give it back to him when he saw him.
However, the manner in which the other party spoke left him in a dilemma. Even if he returned it, he would still be in the wrong.
Returning it seemed too cowardly, but not returning it was an obvious provocation… This made Yang Kai’s head ache, and he couldn’t wait to go forward and tear the blue-faced man’s mouth off.
“Don’t be rude!” Fortunately, Deacon Tao seemed to be a sensible person. He did not blindly believe in his own sect disciple. It was estimated that he also knew about how the fat junior brother and the blue senior brother were a bit different from ordinary people.
While speaking, he glanced lightly at Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang. He suddenly had a thought.
Although the cultivation of the two being First-Order Dao Source Realm and not high, it was not very low either compared with outside cultivators.
“About what happened, this Deacon already knows. I don’t know what the two of you have to say?” Deacon Tao said.
Qin Zhao Yang hurriedly cupped his fists and said, “The master of Maplewood City Qin Family, Qin Zhao Yang, greets Deacon Tao. Brother Yang and I took the liberty to come to Azure Sun Temple, not to provoke trouble, but to ask for help. The two disciples suddenly took the initiative, so Brother Yang and I were forced to be helpless and could only defend. Deacon Tao, please understand!”
“Maplewood City…” Deacon Tao, upon hearing this, suddenly furrowed his brows and frowned. He said lightly, “Recently, this Deacon seems to often hear the words ‘Maplewood City’…”
The other two Dao Source Realm cultivators standing next to him also gently nodded.
First, Divine Spirit Luan Feng appeared in Clear Jade Mountain near Maplewood City, and then, the seal of the ancient demon was broken, and Demon Qi was released. Also…
These things were not secrets, and those who were interested could naturally find out.
“What happened to Maplewood City?” Deacon Tao was surprised and asked. He thought Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang were messengers from Maplewood City asking for help.
Hearing what he said, Qin Zhao Yang immediately understood. The other party didn’t know why he came, obviously because the fat Junior Brother and the blue-faced Senior Brother didn’t explain it.
Qin Zhao Yang said, “It’s not that Maplewood City had an accident. I am here for a private matter.”
“Private matter?” Deacon Tao heard the words. Slightly frowned, and asked, “Do you know someone in the Azure Sun Temple?”
“No.” Qin Zhao Yang shook his head.
“Then are you here to join my Azure Sun Temple?” Deacon Tao asked again.
“No!”
Deacon Tao suddenly became impatient. At this moment, the fat junior brother leaned over, attached to Deacon Tao’s ear, and whispered.
A cold light flashed in Deacon Tao’s eyes, staring at the two opposite people, and nodding. “So, that’s how it is. Shameless boasting! No wonder they would attack you.”
After a pause, he continued, “It’s not easy for you to cultivate to the Dao Source Realm, and it’s the first offence. Leave one arm each and we’ll let you go!”
Qin Zhao Yang’s body shook, his eyes widened, and he looked at him incredulously.
Yang Kai frowned and secretly felt that things were a little difficult to handle. Although Deacon Tao’s thinking was more normal, and the way he acted was also straightforward, he didn’t give them a chance to explain at all.
Seeing the look of the two of them, Deacon Tao chuckled lightly. “What’s wrong? Reluctant? If you are reluctant, this Deacon doesn’t mind helping you!”
“Deacon Tao!” Yang Kai shouted abruptly.
“What else do you want to say?” Deacon Tao cast his gaze on Yang Kai.
Yang Kai chuckled and said, “Could it be that Deacon Tao knew we asked to see your noble Temple’s Temple Master Wen, so he wanted us to cut our arms? What kind of order is this? To think Azure Sun Temple shows this level of hospitality? The top sect in the Southern Territory, we’ve really never seen anything like it!”
His tone of sarcasm made everyone on the other side glare at him.
Deacon Tao even sneered and said, “You trespass into my Azure Sun Mountain Range, this Deacon can take your life. I don’t even want your life. You should be grateful and leave. If you are any more verbose, you don’t have to go.”
He looked confident.
Not surprisingly, he was a Second-Order Dao Source Realm. With Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang’s First-Order Dao Source Realm cultivation, Deacon Tao did not think they were his opponents. What’s more, there were two more companions in the First-Order Dao Source Realm beside him.
Yang Kai said, “Just because of our request?”
“Yes!”
“This is strange. Does the noble temple’s rules say that outsiders are not allowed to see Temple Master Wen?”
“Naturally not, but… What qualifications do you have to ask for Temple Master Wen?”
The Azure Sun Temple Temple Master, Wen Zi Shan, was a Third-Order Emperor Realm Master who deserved his title. As a figure standing at the top of the Martial Dao, he was not someone that could be met casually. If one wanted to see him, they had to at least be Emperor Realm. Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang, two First-Order Dao Source Realm cultivators… it was simply an insult to have them ask to see the Temple Master himself!
This was like a sloppy beggar who wanted to see the noble emperor of a country. Those guards would naturally rather kill the beggar than let them stain the eyes of the emperor.
“Since Brother Qin and I came here from a far off land, naturally there is a reason to speak with Temple Master Wen.” Yang Kai quickly said, “Why not, Deacon Tao, please report the matter to Temple Master Wen. As for seeing us… If he doesn’t want to see us, that is for Sir Temple Master to decide.”
“Impudence! Sir Temple Master has things to do. How can he meet little people like you!?” Deacon Tao snorted coldly.
Yang Kai looked at him with interest, and said, “What Deacon Tao said… Could it be because you can’t see Temple Master Wen either?”
After speaking, without waiting for him to deny it, Yang Kai looked enlightened. He muttered to himself, “Yes, with Deacon Tao’s status, I am afraid it is not so easy to meet Temple Master Wen. How about this Deacon Tao? You go and report to an elder or a guard stationed close to him, and have them report to Temple Master Wen.”
“The way this Deacon acts is not for you to dictate!” Deacon Tao was enraged out of shame. Obviously, Yang Kai was right.
Yang Kai was unmoved, and said lightly, “Deacon Tao, I came here with Brother Qin. Not only are there reasons to beg to see Temple Master Wen, but also things he needs to hear! Are you sure you want to drive us out of Azure Sun Mountain Range?”
Upon Deacon Tao hearing this, his eyes couldn’t help but shrink.
Yang Kai was too calm, which was definitely not something that a First-Order Dao Source Realm cultivator should be in such a situation. It seemed that Sir Temple Master would really meet them.
If they really brought any important information to Sir Temple Master, and they were stopped here by him… If he drove them out and waited until Sir Temple Master Sir knew about it… He could damage their relationship…
Considering all this, Deacon Tao suppressed the unhappiness in his heart. He opened his mouth and said, “What do you have for Sir Temple Master Sir to hear? Let’s hear it. If what you said is true and important enough, this Deacon will take you.”
Yang Kai, hearing this, took a look at Qin Zhao Yang.
Qin Zhao Yang knew that this was the deciding factor and that proof had to be taken out, otherwise they would not be allowed to enter the gate of Azure Sun Temple.
He stretched out his hand to take out the Jade Beauty Beggar Token from the Space Ring, used a little strength, and threw it towards Deacon Tao, saying, “Sir Deacon only needs to transfer this to Temple Master Wen, and he will understand. “
When he said this, although Qin Zhao Yang was still calm, he was praying in secret, praying that the Master he met back then was not joking with him. If the Jade Beauty Beggar Token did not work, then he was afraid that Yang Kai and himself were doomed.
“What is this?” Deacon Tao reached out his hand to take the token and looked at it carefully in the palm of his hand.
The other two Dao Source Realm cultivators also leaned in and took a look.
Soon, Deacon Tao’s face changed. From the initial surprise to the puzzlement, he was shocked, angry, and sternly shouted, “Bold! Thinking that if you just carve a nondescript token, you can deceive this Deacon? You must still be sleeping! Wake up!”
Deacon Tao’s reaction was completely unexpected by Yang Kai.
Anyone who saw this token would be suspicious. When Yang Kai first saw the Jade Beauty Beggar Token, he too didn’t take this token seriously. He only knew about its uniqueness after experimenting with it. He concluded that this was created in the hands of a Master, and a Master beyond his imagination.
Such an expert had no reason to play around with Qin Zhao Yang, a Dao Source Realm cultivator. So, Yang Kai concluded that this token must be real, it must be symbolizing some kind of identity or status!
So he smiled confidently. “Deacon Tao, although this token is a bit weird, it is not something I am capable of crafting. It is by a Great Master. It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand it. But I strongly believe Temple Master Sir will understand it!”
“Good, good, good! You two bastards, you think that this Deacon is so easy to sweet talk to? I don’t know if you will think so after your limbs and scalp have been cut off!” Deacon Tao’s face suddenly became sullen. The hand holding the token shook fiercely.
Then, a shocking scene happened.
*Kacha…*
The Jade Beauty Beggar Token, which was unscathed by Yang Kai’s brute strength and could not be damaged by Qin Zhao Yang by any means, was casually crushed into four or five pieces in Deacon Tao’s hands!
Effortlessly!
Yang Kai was transfixed, with his eyes staring ahead blankly while his mind was full of chaos.
Qin Zhao Yang was beside himself, staring ahead with his jaw dropped and eyes wide opened.
“Heh…” Deacon Tao sneered and tossed the fragments. “This Deacon can easily carve a few hundred pieces of this rubbish. How can such rubbish be used as a token? It must be the biggest joke in the world! You two scums, what else can you say?”
“Brother Qin…” Yang Kai spoke in a low voice, turned to look at him, and said, “What’s going on?”
He expected Qin Zhao Yang to give him a reasonable explanation.
Qin Zhao Yang, however, did not respond, as if he had lost his soul, standing there ludicrously.
“We were tricked…” Yang Kai wailed and scolded the so-called ‘senior expert’ deep inside his heart!
Of all times, the token just had to be broken when it was in the hands of Deacon Tao. Obviously, the power inside of the token had disappeared. Otherwise, with the strength of Deacon Tao, it would be impossible to destroy the Jade Beauty Beggar Token!
Now that the token has been broken, the pledge was gone, and the both of them were speechless.
Yang Kai was already considering whether he should leave the Southern Territory after escaping from the Azure Sun Mountain Range, otherwise being targeted by a huge Sect, given his strength, he would be in trouble.
“Listen to my order, fellow disciples. Follow this Deacon and kill these two treacherous scumbags on the spot, show them the might of our temple!” Deacon Tao commanded eagerly.
The two First-Order Dao Source Realm responded and pounced forward aggressively. The fat Junior Brother and the green-faced Senior Brother seemed to have found a good opportunity for revenge, they followed the attack closely despite the difference in their realm cultivation!
“Brother Qin, run!” Yang Kai shouted.
But Qin Zhao Yang was rooted to the ground, with his lips moving slowly and muttering to himself, as if he had lost his mind: “It’s broken, it’s broken…”
It seemed that this recent incident had hit him quite hard.
What was broken in front of him was not only a piece of token, but also the only hope to save Qin Yu’s life!
In the nick of time, an inexplicable force suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Time seemed to be frozen at this moment.
In the sky, clouds rose and wind surged, lightning flashed and thunder roared.
A rhythm of energy waved leisurely from the layers of clouds in the sky……
In that instant, Yang Kai Qin Zhao Yang, Deacon Tao and others felt a terrifying pressure.
Not only them, but even all the cultivators within the Azure Sun Mountain Range could feel it. All of them trembled in horror due to the pressure…
…
“This is…” At the Azure Sun Mountain Range’s Main Peak, inside of a palace, a middle-aged man wearing a purple shirt, who seemed to be around forty years old and was originally in retreat to cultivate some secret technique, opened his eyes immediately at the moment that the pressure fell. His eyes were full of brilliance and he fiercely looked in one direction as if his eyes could penetrate the void, and he saw the scene that took place a few thousand kilometres away. His face turned solemn. After a moment, he was a little startled and said: “How is this possible?!”
While at the same time, in another mountain peak, which was beautiful and refreshing like a spring day, quiet and free from disturbance, as if it were from Heaven.
On that peak, a dignified and beautiful woman abruptly stood up. Her dazzling eyes gazed into the distance with a slight change of expression on her pretty face. Without a thought, she swayed her tender body and then disappeared from this place.
On the other side, an elderly man sat down cross-legged. There were many elite disciples of the temple in front of him, listening to this old man’s explanation of Martial Dao Heavenly Way, feeling elated but rather dazed.
All of a sudden, the old man’s voice ceased. He looked up in one direction, and after a moment, he gradually got up and disappeared in a flash, leaving a crowd of disciples in doubt and in shock.
A similar scene happened in all parts of Azure Sun Temple, and those Emperor Realm masters, whether they were in retreat or not, sensed the assembly of this terrifying power and rushed from their residences to the place where the incident occurred, hoping to find out what was going on.
…
At the edge of Azure Sun Mountain Range, seven people were trembling, regardless of their cultivation level.
This had nothing to do with courage or will, it was simply a complete suppression of power!
Both the fat Junior Brother and the Green-faced Senior Brother, whose cultivation was weak, had their bones rattling all over their bodies and fainted after holding on for a few seconds.
While the four First-Order Dao Source Realms there urged the strength in their inner body to resist the inexplicable pressure, Deacon Tao did the same. He showed a tortured expression and hunched his back due to the overwhelming pressure, as if a huge mountain pinning down his tiny body.
“What is this? What kind of power is this!?” Deacon Tao screamed in horror.
The other two Dao Source Realms from Azure Sun Temple and Qin Zhao Yang were also full of awe and fear.
Yang Kai rolled his eyes around, searching and trying to release his Divine Sense to sense the source of this power and pressure, but found that his Divine Sense could not leave his body. This space seemed to be completely confined!
*Hong…*
A strong beam of light was cast down from the sky and a man appeared in a bizarre way.
The light faded, and that man became the focus in everyone’s eyes.
He wore a broad bamboo hat. The hat was slightly slanted, covering the upper half of his face. It was not clear what his face looked like. He had an unevenly trimmed beard and a lazy gaze, seemingly void of energy, which strangely gave off a mysterious charm.
His dressing was extravagant. He was obviously a tall man with wide shoulders and long torso, yet, he wore a garish gown and a pair of buckskin boots, which made him look like neither fish nor fowl!
As soon as he showed up, Qin Zhao Yang widened his eyes and shouted out with pleasant surprise: “Senior Expert! “
When Yang Kai heard him shout, he immediately realized that this man should be the master of the token.
As expected, the strength of this man had achieved the highest level, definitely a master of Third-Order Emperor Realm level! The aura that came out from him seemed to be even stronger than the Aunty Feng before!
More importantly…
This man standing in front of them did not possess a physical form, he was just a projection!
“Who, who is this?” Deacon Tao freaked out. If he had not been in his own territory, he would have fled long ago, but even so, he trembled in fear. He dared not to make eye contact as he was afraid of upsetting that man.
“Azure Sun Temple…” the mysterious man looked up slightly and spoke to himself. He ignored Deacon Tao, and turned around to look at the place where Qin Zhao Yang stood, and said: “It’s only been over ten years since we have seen each other, yet you already got so old… looks like you have worked your heart out for all these years.”
“Sir!” Qin Zhao Yang could not speak another word, his eyes full of tears.
“Since I’m here… feel free to relax.” The man smiled and looked around until he set his sight on Yang Kai and spoke in surprise, “You are here too…”
Yang Kai was shocked. He swallowed hard and asked, “Sir, do I know you?”
“Heh…” the man laughed without saying a word and gave out a pretentious look that maddened everyone. His projection only lasted for a few breaths and the signs of disappearing showed up, “Too bad, it seems like time is up…”
With that said, the projection disappeared in front of everyone’s eyes, and no one had any idea of what he meant.
As soon as the projection disappeared, all kinds of Heavenly Manifestation disappeared at the same time. Naturally, the sensational pressure before was gone too.
Everyone was gasping for breath in the jungle.
*Pa pa pa… *
There was a sound of something falling on the ground.
Those who heard the sound turned to look, and found that what fell on the ground was actually the four to five pieces of the token fragments that were crushed by Deacon Tao previously. The fragments landed on the place where the mysterious master had disappeared from moments ago.
Seeing this scene, Deacon Tao’s face turned pale, realising he had made a huge mistake!
The token that he crushed obviously had a great background, otherwise, it would not have been able to act as a medium to project the figure of that master.
Perhaps, the master had infused his power into the token when it was made, and once the token was destroyed, his projection would appear!
“I didn’t mean to… I didn’t mean to…” Deacon Tao was terrified like a stray dog and tried to get near to the fragments of the token by rolling and crawling. He even fell down in the middle of the process. After putting up some great effort, he finally reached the fragments and picked them up.
Just as the token was in his hand, it turned into dust and slipped away from his fingertips, and flowed with the wind…
“It’s over, it’s over…” Seeing this, Deacon Tao stiffened.
Xiu xiu xiu…
The sound of something fast flying through the sky came in succession, and a group of figures suddenly emerged around the crowd.
These figures included the old and the young, the male and the female. Each of them came from a different direction with a solemn expression, as if they were facing a great enemy, but when they scanned the place with their Divine Senses, they all had a puzzled expression.
Because of the fluctuation of the energy and the pressure they had sensed before, was completely gone!
“Ah!” The other two Dao Source Realms of Azure Sun Temple hastily bowed as soon as they saw these people.
“Greetings to Deputy Temple Master and all Elders!”
These people were all Emperor Realm masters, who were the top combat force of Azure Sun Temple!
Yang Kai scanned through these people, and once he saw a dignified and glamorous woman, he withdrew his gaze and secretly cursed in his heart.
That woman was none other than Gao Xue Ting, who had fought against him before!
Yang Kai had foreseen that there might come a time when he would bump into this beautiful woman again when he came to Azure Sun Temple, but he never thought this day would come so soon!
During their last fight, Yang Kai was possessed by Demon Qi and his face was unrecognizable, but if Gao Xue Ting noticed him now, it was over.
She was the last person that Yang Kai wanted to see…
“Who was he!?” asked an elderly man, about seventy or eighty years old, after his majestic gaze swept across the whole place.
The aura of this elderly man was profound. It was noticeably greater than Gao Xue Ting’s, but kind of on the same level with Xiao Yu Yang, whom Yang Kai greeted before. He was most likely a Second-Order Emperor Realm master!
The elderly man asked a question, but the disciples of Azure Sun Temple did not know how to answer.
The fat Junior Brother and the blue-faced Senior Brother had already passed out before they could see the master’s projection, while Deacon Tao was still mumbling in a dazed manner and the two First-Order Dao Source Realms were dumbstruck.
“Bunch of mutes,” the elderly man could not help but coldly snort after seeing this, looking displeased.
“Tao Ming, what are you doing?” shouted a middle-aged man, First-Order Emperor Realm in the corner. He looked at Deacon Tao and frowned.
When Deacon Tao heard it, he felt as if a sledgehammer was pounding his heart, a mysterious power flowing out of him in a jolt, causing Tao Ming to spit out a mouthful of blood. With that, Tao Ming finally calmed down, his eyes regaining focus.
He looked around in confusion, and when he saw the elderly man, his body shook and shouted, “Greetings to the Deputy Temple Master and all Elders!”
“Cut to the chase!” The middle-aged man who used the Soul Secret Technique to awaken Tao Ming bellowed, “Tell me, what exactly happened here? Did anyone trespass?”
“Did anyone…” Tao Ming muttered. He recalled the horrifying scene of the token turning into dust flowing through his fingertips. He panicked and fell to his knees on the ground: “Spare my life Sirs, it was not my intention!”
The elderly man shook his head slowly at this sight.
“Let me try!” In the other corner, a young girl in her late teens suddenly spoke up.
Despite her appearance and age, she was an Emperor Realm master. With a mysterious power, her body hovered in mid-air weirdly. While speaking, she gradually floated towards Tao Ming.
She stretched out her jade white hand, gentle as water, and patted Tao Ming’s head. “Do not be afraid, speak the truth about what you have seen and heard!” She spoke.
As soon as she finished, Tao Ming stopped trembling and his fears soothed.
He looked at the void with a slightly dull gaze and said, “Sir, here’s what happened…”
He did not slander and embellish, nor did add fuel to the fire, but told the truth about everything that had happened before, in unparalleled detail.
Yang Kai was alarmed. He realised that the young Emperor Realm Master must have performed some kind of Soul Secret Technique, which led Tao Ming to tell the truth without damaging his soul.
When Tao Ming described the strange figure who descended from the sky, the elderly man bellowed, “Describe this person in detail!”
Tao Ming said, “I did not see clearly. The person was wearing a broad bamboo hat that covered his face. His attire was extremely odd. He was obviously a man, but he was wearing a garish gown…”
After hearing this, the expression on the elderly man changed, and asked in surprise: “What about that token? What did it look like?”
Tao Ming described it truthfully.
The old man was silent for a long time.
The middle-aged man looked at the elderly man with an odd expression and asked, “Vice Temple Master Qiu, do you know who this man is?”
Everyone stared at the old man curiously, waiting for an answer.
The old man did not have the intention to answer. He simply looked at Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang.
It was also the first time anyone paid attention to Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang.
They hurriedly cupped fists to salute.
The old man nodded lightly and asked, “Did you bring that token?”
Qin Zhao Yang said, “Sir, the token was brought by me.”
“Good!” The old man said, and said lightly, “Come with me. This is not the place to talk!”
The next moment, Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang were wrapped in a gentle force that carried them forward, following behind the old man.
The other Emperor Realms looked at each other and followed the old man.
Only after the crowd had left for a while did Tao Ming regain his thoughts. He trembled, his face paling in fear.
“Deacon Tao!” The other two Dao Source Realm rushed forward, watching him nervously.
“I’m fine!” Tao Ming waved his hand with lingering fear and said, “Thank goodness for Chen Qian’s subordinate, otherwise… I would have gone insane!”
Tao Ming was nervous when he thought of the vital token that was destroyed in his own hands, in fear that the Sect executives would blame him for his mistake!
……
Azure Sun Temple Main Peak, on Myriad Saints Peak.
In front of the temple, Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang were standing there, looking at each other.
There was no guard at the entrance of the temple, the elderly man left both of them there, unattended. The others entered the temple together.
The temple had many barriers and doors that were tightly closed. They were not able to pry into anything even with Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang’s strength.
Although they were not bound by anything, they did not dare to act rashly and could only stand there obediently.
“Young Brother Yang, do you think…” Qin Zhao Yang spoke up somewhat apprehensively.
“It won’t happen!” Yang Kai didn’t wait for him to finish because he knew what Qin Zhao Yang was worried about. He smiled lightly and said, “If they wanted to, they would have done something already and we would not have a chance to resist. The reason they left us here… Looks like they want to have discussions before making a decision about us! I overheard those people talking earlier, it seems that many people do not know who the token master is!”
“This Qin has not figured out who he is yet!” Qin Zhao Yang said, chagrined.
“It’s normal not to know,” Yang Kai smiled faintly. “But a normal Third-Order Emperor Realm may not have the ability to make Azure Sun Temple so afraid. That person…”
“What Young Brother Yang means is…” Qin Zhao Yang suddenly thought of a possibility and whispered. “Could it be one of the ten Sirs?”
“Most likely!” Yang Kai nodded.
*Si….* Qin Zhao Yang sucked in a breath of cold air, in disbelief that he had ever come into direct contact with such a legend.
……
Inside the temple was the Azure Sun Temple Master, the Master at the Third-Order Emperor Realm, Wen Zi Shan. He donned a purple shirt and sat on the throne with an intimidating expression and a profound aura.
The elderly man and the other Emperor Realms whom Yang Kai previously greeted had gathered in the hall. Everyone listened intently to the Elder reporting the obtained information to Wen Zi Shan.
“Token, a man in a flowery outfit…” Wen Zi Shan smiled at his words. His smile was not attractive, but it seemed to have a strange charm that brightened up the whole temple in an instant.
“Temple Master, did you figure something out?” The elderly man asked.
“Dear old Qiu,” Wen Zi Shan did not have the appearance that befit a Temple Master. The veins on Deputy Temple Master Qiu Ran were jumping when the Temple Master addressed him casually in front of the audience, making everyone else unable to resist laughing.
Even the corners Gao Xue Ting’s mouth, who was usually as cold as ice, curved slightly.
“Why did you ask me when you’ve already figured it out…” Wen Zi Shan said. He reached out and picked up a bunch of spirit fruits next to him, held them high above his head and took one mouthful of them after another… with overflowing saliva in his mouth.
“Sir Temple Master!” Qiu Ran could not help but shout.
“Well, well, well,” Wen Zi Shan said blurrily, putting down his unfinished spirit fruit. He clapped his hands, stood up, and said, “Who on Earth would carve an image of a beggar on one side, and a jade woman on the other side of a token that symbolizes one’s identity? And who would stroll around wearing such tasteless clothes? There is only one answer…”
Everyone in the temple held their breath and watched Wen Zi Shan intently.
At this moment, Wen Zi Shan’s aura changed abruptly, his gaze as sharp as a sword that could pierce through the void, and he quickly said, “Wandering Bustling World, playing on Earth…”
“Bustling World Great Emperor!” Gao Xue Ting suddenly lost her voice and shouted.
“Oh? Smart, Little Xue Ting got it right,” Wen Zi Shan took a glance at Gao Xue Ting, his majestic expression suddenly disappearing into a bright smile. He softly said, “What reward do you want? I can meet any of your requests.”
The corners of Gao Xue Ting’s mouth twitched slightly, and she said, “Sir Temple Master, please behave yourself! I am no longer the same little girl, I am long past the age for rewards! And… I am more than two hundred years old!”
“Two hundred years old… is still very young.” Wen Zi Shan smiled, with a slight sadness: “I preferred when you were still a child, you are so cold now that you grew up…”
“Humph!” Gao Xue Ting coldly snorted and turned her head aside, ignoring him.
“Sir Temple Master, let’s get down to business!” Qiu Ran said, the veins on forehead throbbing more violently, unable to tolerate more, his body stiff.
“Alright, alright,” Wen Zi Shan said after hearing this. His expression returned back to normal, “The Bustling World Great Emperor is the most mysterious out of Ten Great Emperors. That old thing always comes and goes like a shadow, like a hidden dragon who shows his tail but never his face.”
“Old thing…”
The Emperor Realms were shocked, each face twitched.
The Ten Great Emperors were such respectful figures, but they are just old things from the mouth of their Temple Master…
“Sir Temple Master, is it okay to call him that? What if that Sir finds out…” one of the middle-aged men interjected in shock.
Wen Zi Shan laughed, “That old thing may look intimidating, but he is a nice person and he will not be angry over a trivial matter…”
He casually explained, then said, “Only a few people have seen his Bustling World Token. Even in the Emperor Realm, rarely anyone knows what it looks like, but I just happened to know. One side of the token is the carving of a jade woman, the other side is a carving of a beggar, and the material that composed the token is quite common, not anything valuable.”
“From the information that you provided, the two Dao Source Realm kids have indeed brought the Bustling World Token. No doubt, the appearance of the Bustling World Token can be imitated by anyone, but the power in it… cannot be infused by any commoner,” Wen Zi Shan smiled and said. “Then again, who would want to imitate this kind of token…”
“How on Earth could these two possess the Bustling World Great Emperor’s Bustling World Token!?” Qiu Ran frowned.
Wen Zi Shan shrugged his shoulders and said, “Regarding that Sir’s behaviour… heh, it is unpredictable. So, it’s not surprising that both of them have the Bustling World Token. Who knows, one day, there might be a lot of beggars or prostitutes coming to Azure Sun Temple with Bustling World Tokens too!”
The crowd showed an indifferent look.
“You all have to believe me!” Wen Zi Shan said, “Back then, when this King established Azure Sun Temple in the early days, a group of prostitutes came to this King with a Bustling World Token and begged for money! Well, at that time, only Little Xue Ting was with me, while the rest of you were not here yet. That’s why you have no idea about it.”
“Who would have thought of such a thing!?” The crowd was shocked.
Qiu Ran was speechless and muttered, “How could the Bustling World Token fall into the hands of women like that?”
“How tricky!”
“How unpredictable!”
“Bustling World Great Emperor lives up to his name!”
Meanwhile, the young girl Chen Qian, who previously performed Soul Secret Technique against Deacon Tao, quietly hovered in mid-air. She broke her silence in a soft tone: “Back to our topic, why do I feel like the style of Sir Temple Master is kind of similar to the Great Emperor?”
Everyone pondered over her words. The more they thought about it, the more they agreed with it.
“Sir Temple Master has been chattering nonsense all day too!”
“And he also wears tasteless clothes!”
“Badly behaved too!”
“This King is here, and you criticized him in front of his face? Am I… deaf to you?” Wen Zi Shan said with a stern face.
Qiu Ran took a glance at him, cupped his fists, said, “Sir Temple Master, I heard that Sir Temple Master was adopted by the Bustling World Great Emperor during younger days, is it true?”
“Absolutely not!”
“I also heard that Bustling World Great Emperor had taught and instructed Sir…”
“By no stretch of the imagination!”
“What?” They were shocked, “Really? There was such a story between Sir Temple Master and Bustling World Great Emperor?”
“So, that’s how it is!”
“Now I understand why.”
Wen Zi Shan looked down at the people and spoke weakly, “What do you understand? Are you saying that this King being who he is now is because of that old thing? Nonsense! This King has no relationship with that old thing at all, needless to say about the rest.”
“Then why does the Bustling World Token appear in our Azure Sun Temple so often?” Qiu Ran questioned, “Including this time, it has already appeared twice in Azure Sun Temple.”
“I have never heard of any other great force receiving a Bustling World Token before!”
“Well, this King wants to know why they came to our Azure Sun Temple with a Bustling World Token. Send both of them in.” Wen Zi Shan turned serious at once.
Qiu Ran sighed deeply, realizing that his Sir Temple Master resembled the Bustling World Great Emperor even more.
But he was unambiguous. He waved his hand to open the temple gate and passed down the message.
Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang looked at each other outside the temple, both with a solemn look, and entered the temple together.
After they had set foot in the temple, the temple gate closed again.
The Emperor Realms were inside the temple. These people did not deliberately release their power, but their omnipresent pressure was not something that the two First-Order Dao Source Realms could resist. Yang Kai was slightly better, though he struggled to move, but at least he did not make a fool of himself.
However, Qin Zhao Yang was trembling. His clothes were soaked in his sweat. His wet feet were even leaving clear footprints all around the temple.
When the two approached, they cupped their fist and saluted around.
The rest just looked at them quietly. Wen Zi Shan waved his hand, emitting a formless wave of power that put Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang at ease.
“Many thanks to Temple Master Wen!” Yang Kai rushed to the altar and cupped his fists. It was obvious that the one seated on the throne and donning a symbolic purple shirt was none other than Azure Sun Temple’s Temple Master.
“After being verified by this Temple Master, the token that has been brought by you two is real!” Wen Zi Shan looked down at them with a stern voice. “Let this King ask you, what are you up to for bringing this token to our Azure Sun Temple?”
Yang Kai took a glance at Qin Zhao Yang, but realized he was a coward who dared not to open his mouth.
He had no choice but to answer, “In reply to Temple Master Wen, we came from Maplewood City. Twelve years ago, a Senior Expert who always comes and goes like a shadow, gave this token to Older Brother Qin, and instructed him to visit Azure Sun Temple twelve years later, in order to request Temple Master Wen to grant him a place in Four Seasons Realm!”
“Hmmm? Four Seasons Realm?” Wen Zi Shan was a little surprised, while the rest had an odd expression.
Everyone thought that they would probably ask for some special favour for bringing the Bustling World Token to Azure Sun Temple, but who could have guessed that they were just asking for a place in Four Seasons Realm?
Wen Zi Shan scanned through Qin Zhao Yang with his Divine Sense, said lightly, “This old man doesn’t seem like a talented person. Why would that old… that Sir allow him to enter Four Seasons Realm? Although Four Seasons Realm is not really some glorious Sealed World, entry is still limited, and only the elites from the various huge Sects and clans can enter. Give us a reason, why must this King fulfil your wish?”
Qin Zhao Yang took a deep breath, quickly said: “In reply to Sir, it’s for a grandchild of this old man! She suffers from severe illness since birth, and only one type of spirit fruit in Four Season Realm will be able to save her! Back then, that Sir saw this, and that’s why this Qin was given a token and was instructed to visit Azure Sun Temple twelve years later!”
“I see!” Wen Zi Shan nodded without further questions, “Since these words were given by that Sir, this Temple Master cannot reject. It is just a slot in Four Seasons Realm after all…”
After hearing this, Qin Zhao Yang was delighted.
He expected this trip to be painful at first. He was not sure if Azure Sun Temple would recognize and respect the token master. Even if they did, granting him a place in Four Seasons Realm might still be another story.
Throughout this trip, Qin Zhao Yang had been worried.
But everything went smoother than he expected. The thing that he longed after seemed to be within his reach! He was filled with lots of joy and surprise.
“However…” Wen Zi Shan changed the conversation, “This matter has always been taken care of by an Elder…”
He turned aside and said, “Little Xue Ting…”
As soon as the voice reached her ears, Gao Xue Ting glared at him.
“Ahem… Elder Gao!” Wen Zi Shan quickly corrected.
“Subordinate’s here!” Gao Xue Ting stepped forward and answered with a solemn look.
“You have heard what I just said, can you take care of this?” asked Wen Zi Shan.
Hearing this, Gao Xue Ting could not help but reveal a bitter look on her face.
“What’s the problem?” Wen Zi Shan found her expression strange.
Qin Zhao Yang started to get nervous.
Gao Xue Ting took a glance at Qin Zhao Yang, said, “Four Seasons Realm will be opened soon. The list of names allowed to enter has been set long ago, and those disciples have been informed as well. Some of them would not be satisfied if we revoked their slot!”
“It’s true…” Wen Zi Shan pondered, and muttered, “Getting into the Four Seasons Realm has always been their dream. It’s unfair if we randomly disqualified one of them, but on the other hand, that Sir’s will cannot be rejected either… Argh, this decision is hard to make!”
Gao Xue Ting said, “Actually, Subordinate has an idea!”
“Oh? Let’s hear it!” Wen Zi Shan’s eyes lit up.
Gao Xue Ting proposed, “This old man has just mentioned that he wanted to enter the Four Seasons Realm to obtain a type of spirit fruit in order to cure his grandchild’s disease. Here’s my question to this old man, what kind of spirit fruit in the Four Seasons Realm are you looking for? Do you mind telling us? If this is available in our Azure Sun Temple, there is no need for you to get into Four Seasons Realm, and risk your life. Forgive me for my honesty, but with your power…” She paused, and tried to think of a polite wording, but to no avail, “You might not come out alive!”
When Qin Zhao Yang heard this, he agreed, and immediately responded, “ Elder Gao, this old man would like to ask for a Tribulation Fruit!”
“Tribulation Fruit!” Qiu Ran frowned.
Gao Xue Ting’s face turned bitter again.
Wen Zi Shan set his sight on the young girl named Chen Qian, asked, “Elder Chen, since you have been in charge of our temple storehouse, do we have Tribulation Fruit in our vault?”
Chen Qian answered: “Allow subordinate to check it out!”
“How long will you take?”
“A quarter of an hour!”
Wen Zi Shan nodded and rested with his eyes closed.
Chen Qian took out a communication artifact and transmitted her Divine Sense into it. Apparently, this was her way of sending orders to the disciple below.
For a while, there was just dead silence in the temple.
Only the sound of Qin Zhao Yang’s racing heart could be heard while waiting for the result with extreme trepidation.
Yang Kai remained silent in his spot, but all of a sudden, he sensed something and turned aside to see what was happening.
Gao Xue Ting was watching him. She did not avoid eye contact when their eyes met but looked even more intently at him instead.
This gave Yang Kai a heart attack, feeling that nothing good would happen.
Most of those in the temple were Emperor Realms, so this scene instantly attracted the attention of others. The crowd started to look at Yang Kai with curiosity because they had no idea which part of him could grab Gao Xue Ting’s attention.
Even Wen Zi Shan peeked from his closed eyes and enjoyed watching all of this under his eyes.
“Elder Gao, what can I do for you?” Yang Kai felt uneasy for being stared at, especially by an Emperor Realm. It made him feel anxious, so he decided to break the silence to avoid embarrassment.
“Have I seen you somewhere before?” Gao Xue Ting asked, “I thought you looked familiar!”
“HAHAHAHA!”
Wen Zi Shan interjected with laughter before Yang Kai could answer her.
Gao Xue Ting frowned and gave him an offended look.
Wen Zi Shan asked, “Elder Gao, wasn’t that a pick-up line usually used by a man to a woman? Especially in a particular ambience and environment, with an ulterior motive. This King would understand if this was said by this little brother to you, but coming from you… this just doesn’t seem right!”
“Shut up!” Gao Xue Ting bellowed.
Yang Kai was frozen on the spot at the sudden outburst.
Qin Zhao Yang was also dumbfounded. He looked towards Gao Xue Ting with an odd expression.
Gao Xue Ting was the First-Order Emperor Realm Master, but she was only an Elder in the Azure Sun Temple, while the one seated above was Wen Zi Shan, the Temple Master!
How dare she, just an Elder, ask the Temple Master to shut up?
Was this not treachery?
More shocking to Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang was that Wen Zi Shan really did shut up!
They looked around, but the others did not seem to be surprised by what happened and had no hint of blame for Gao Xue Ting’s insubordination. In fact, some of them threw Wen Zi Shan a look of contempt.
Yang Kai was at a loss.
His first thought was [The Wen Zi Shan sitting up there must be an impostor, for Gao Xue Ting to be able to act rude to him, while the others even threw him dirty looks.]
[On second thought, maybe not.] Yang Kai felt the fluctuation of the power in his body clearly when Wen Zi Shan waved his hand earlier.
This guy was definitely a Third-Order Emperor Realm Master!
He was the only Third-Order Emperor Realm in the whole Azure Sun Temple. Who else could be Wen Zi Shan, if he was not?
Yang Kai was perplexed and found the bunch of Azure Sun Temple executives really strange.
“You still have not replied to me. Have I seen you somewhere before?” Gao Xue Ting turned to Yang Kai and asked relentlessly.
Yang Kai muttered to himself, then said: “I am from Maplewood City, there was once when Elder Gao visited to assist Sir Xiao Yu Yang in activating the Five Coloured Treasure Pagoda. I was also present at that time and entered the trial… maybe that is why Elder Gao recognized me.”
“I see…” Gao Xue Ting figured that he made sense, nodded. “That could be it!”
She stopped paying attention to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai was immediately relieved.
If Gao Xue Ting had recognized him as the Demon she fought against before, he would have a terrible fate.
The crowd waited silently in the hall for a while. Chen Qian’s communication artifact suddenly fluctuated with Divine Sense.
After confirming the information given through the communication artifact, she looked up and shook her head at Wen Zi Shan and said, “Temple Master, there is no such thing as a Tribulation Fruit in our vault!”
“That makes this King very disappointed…” Wen Zi Shan spoke in a low voice.
A look of disappointment etched on Qin Zhao Yang’s face.
It would be best if the Tribulation Fruit was readily available, and there would be no need for Yang Kai to venture into the Four Seasons Realm. There was no telling what decision the Emperor Realm would make since there was none in Azure Sun Temple.
“Since there are none available here…” Wen Zi Shan said, “You may go in and search for it yourself, but what happens next is out of our hands.”
Wen Zi Shan was referring to Qin Zhao Yang when he said that.
Qin Zhao Yang was delighted at his words.
Gao Xue Ting frowned slightly. It seemed that she had something to say, but it was too late to interject after Wen Zi Shan had already spoken.
“Many thanks, Temple Master Wen.” Qin Zhao Yang bowed to the ground, “However… this Qin has one more request!”
Wen Zi Shan smiled slightly: “If it’s not too much, let’s hear it.”
Qin Zhao Yang said, “This Qin requests Sir Temple Master to give the slot for entering the Four Seasons Realm to Brother Yang!”
As he spoke, he extended his arm and gestured towards Yang Kai, looking embarrassed, “I’m sure you Sirs are able to tell that this Qin is old in age. Even though I possess the cultivation of the First-Order Dao Source Realm, I know my own strength. Just as Elder Gao had said, I may not be able to return alive with the current level of my strength. The cost of my life is a small matter, but if I fail to obtain the Tribulation Fruit…”
“Do you mean that he will be able to survive?” Wen Zhi Shan asked with great interest.
Qin Zhao Yang replied, “Brother Yang is much stronger than this Qin.”
“At least you are aware of your own condition!” Wen Zi Shan smiled gently, “Since you have such a request… this King will allow it! That Sir said to give you a slot but did not specify to whom it will be given to, so you can decide it yourself!”
“Many thanks to Temple Master Wen!” Qin Zhao Yang thanked him with great joy.
Wen Zi Shan turned to Yang Kai and said: “This King doesn’t know what kind of relationship you have with this old man, but this King has to remind you that the Four Seasons Realm is not a safe place… although you are considered an elite with a body that is rich in Source Qi, who else but elites would be permitted to enter the Four Seasons Realm? Be careful!”
Yang Kai grinned, “I would like to meet the elite disciples of the great Sects!”
“This young man is too proud and arrogant!”
“He is so naïve!”
“The First-Order Dao Source Realm is only at the bottom of the list of Elites!”
The Emperor Realm Masters present in the temples started discussing.
Wen Zi Shan laughed, “That’s the spirit! Well, I hope you will keep it up when you get inside. The both of you shall leave, someone will come for you on the day of departure.”
As he spoke, he waved his hand once more. Before Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang could react to it, they were teleported outside of the temple.
They stared at each other for a few moments. Suddenly, a stream of light appeared from afar, and when it got closer to them, they saw that it was Tao Ming, Deacon Tao that they had met before!
The current Tao Ming no longer possessed the aggressive aura he had before. He rushed towards them, flustered and covered in sweat, beckoned them with his hand, and said: “The two of you, please come with me!”
He then led the way with Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang following closely behind.
Inside the temple. After Wen Zi Shan sent away Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang, he turned to the side and asked, “Little Xue Ting, is there anything else you want to say?”
Gao Xue Ting frowned, “Temple Master, you are making this very difficult for me.”
Wen Zi Shan laughed and replied: “It’s just a slot, just make space for one.”
Gao Xue Ting snorted coldly and said: “Sure, I will send an order saying that the Temple Master wants to revoke someone’s slot, and it has nothing to do with me!”
“Okay!” Wen Zi Shan nodded, and said, “If anyone has any objections, they can feel free to come see me!”
Gao Xue Ting was stunned by his bluntness.
Chen Qian spoke up: “Honestly, I don’t think it’s necessary to give them that slot. We could ask the disciples with slots to search for the Tribulation Fruit when they enter inside. If that does not work, Sister Gao can stay at the exit of the Sealed World and buy one from anyone who comes out of the Realm. You know, there are others, other than disciples from the Azure Sun Temple who can enter the Four Seasons Realm, maybe they possess that type of spirit fruit.”
Wen Zi Shan replied “Although what Little Qian said makes sense, this is the Sir’s request. This King cannot refuse. Let us put an end to this matter, and give them a slot…” He smiled wickedly. “It depends on them as to whether they can survive. If they are unable to even keep the slot, they might as well not go, they would be sending themselves to death anyway! And this King will not be considered to have gone against the wishes of that Sir as well.”
Hearing this, Gao Xue Ting’s eyes lit and nodded, “Subordinate knows what to do now.”
Wen Zi Shan nodded lightly and disappeared with a sway of his body.
The crowd gradually dismissed until there was only Chen Qian and Gao Xue Ting left in the hall.
“Sister Gao, who do you have in mind to make a move?” Chen Qian asked.
Gao Xue Ting thought about it and said “What do you think about Xue Yi?”
“Xue Yi?” Chen Qian was not familiar with this person. She thought about it for a while and said: “He is a Second-Order Dao Source Realm. Can Yang Kai.. handle it?”
“Among the twenty people, Xue Yi’s abilities are considered to be below average. If Yang Kai can’t even handle Xue Yi, there’s no point in entering the Four Seasons Realm. That place is not to be taken lightly, and it’s not easy to obtain the Tribulation Fruit. It’s for his own good.”
“Sister Gao… has a point!” Chen Qian nodded, but still sensed that something was wrong.
…
Tao Ming brought Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang and left them at a palace on a solitary peak that was at least 600 miles away from the temple earlier.
Yang Kai explored around for a little and found that there was no one else on the solitary peak. In other words, Yang Kai and Qin Zhao Yang were the only people there.
It was quite tranquil.
They chatted for a while, then searched for a room for themselves.
Qin Zhao Yang wanted to regain his strength and return to Maplewood City after such a stressful and frightening journey.
Yang Kai, on the other hand, wanted to grasp this opportunity to refine the flying treasure Aunty Feng gave him, as well as the Emperor Artifact Myriads Sword.
The Myriads Sword was of an extremely high grade, it was not necessary to refine it thoroughly, he could only slightly strengthen his connection to the sword. Fortunately, he had inherited the Qin Family’s ancestral secrets of refining, it was much easier for him.
There was not much time. According to Gao Xue Ting, the Four Seasons Realm would open in a month. Including the time needed for travelling, Yang Kai estimated that he would have to depart in two weeks.
He was racing against time.
Qin Zhao Yang recovered after a speedy five days.
After giving Yang Kai some final advice, he said goodbye and departed.
Since he had already decided to let Yang Kai enter the Four Seasons Realm, there was no purpose for him to continue his stay.
Yang Kai was all alone in the palace.
On that day, while he was isolating himself in his room, he felt two strong auras from afar, charging towards him.
The intruders had no intention of concealing themselves. One of them was emitting the aura of the Third-Order Dao Source Realm, and the other was Second-Order Dao Source Realm.
“Are we departing now?” Yang Kai frowned and muttered to himself, thinking that it was a summon from Azure Sun Temple to gather for departure. He got up immediately and went out of the palace to greet the visitors.
Two beams of light came in a flash, falling nearby in front of Yang Kai, and two figures came out of it.
The one on the left was in clothes as white as snow, his eyes glowed with vigour and his eyebrows were sharp. He had an extraordinary sharp aura exuding all over his body, like a sharp sword pulled out of its sheath.
This man had impressive cultivation at the Third-Order Dao Source Realm that captured Yang Kai’s eyes.
The aura of this man made him feel pressured, as if that ferocious aura could cut his skin through thin air, which frightened him a bit.
Yang Kai thought to himself that an elite disciple of a big Sect was no joke. Just by looking at the aura that he emitted, whether it was intentional or not, it was not what an ordinary Third-Order Dao Source Realm could have done.
On the right was a man with a wide mouth and nose, a burly figure, and was wearing a short shirt and shorts. Dark hair could be visibly seen on his thick calf, as well as on his arms.
At first glance, this man looked like a standing gorilla, giving out a strong visual impact!
He possessed a cultivation of Second-Order Dao Source Realm.
When they landed, they set their sights on Yang Kai.
“Greetings. I am Yang Kai from Maplewood City!” Yang Kang cupped his fist, “How should I address the both of you?”
The man in white was cold as ice, looking indifferent, as if he was not listening. On the contrary, the burly gorilla-man suddenly bellowed, “Hey, are you the Yang Kai we are looking for?”
Yang Kai’s heart skipped a beat, but still nodded solemnly, “If no one else shares the same name, it would be me.”
“Very well!” After seeing him, the burly man grinned and scanned Yang Kai thoroughly as though he was prey. He yelled, “You little brat! You stole my slot to the Sealed World! It seems like you can’t wait to go to hell!?”
From his words, Yang Kai realized that these two men were not messengers to inform him of his departure to Sealed Word. They were probably here to cause trouble.
Yang Kai frowned and explained, “My friend, there must be some misunderstanding. It’s complicated for me to explain. Why don’t you ask Elder Gao? I believe she will give you a satisfying answer.”
“Humph. There’s no need for that,” The burly man snorted coldly, “Elder Gao has already told me that she revoked my slot because of you. Bullshit! I earned it through a bloody battle in the Sect’s martial arts challenge. How could you just take it away like this?”
“Sect’s martial arts challenge?” Yang Kai frowned.
The quiet man in white had suddenly spoke, “Three months ago, a Sect’s internal competition was held for the disciples of our temple. Only the top twenty disciples in the competition were qualified to enter Four Seasons Realm. Xue Yi was… ranked fifteenth!”
“Oh, it’s Brother Xue!” Yang Kai just learnt the burly man’s name, then curiously looked at the man in white, “How do I address Your Excellency?
“This is Xiao Bai Yi, Senior Brother Xiao!” Xue Yi coldly snorted.
“I’m a little curious, I believe Brother Xiao’s ranking in that Sect’s martial art practice was…” Yang Kai tempted him for an answer.
“Senior Brother Xiao was ranked second!” Xue Yi replied with a smug face. He was stunned for a second after speaking and immediately regained his consciousness again, yelling, “Don’t try to change the topic, you little brat! Today, I came with Senior Brother Xiao to warn you. Don’t you dare to take the slot away from me without my permission! Do you really think that you can do whatever you want because Elder Gao has your back? Don’t be stupid, or I will crush your head!”
He opened his large hand while speaking, clenched his fist and moved it towards Yang Kai to threaten him.
Yang Kai smiled, “Then what should I do to persuade Brother Xue to give up his slot?”
“Very simple!” Xiao Bai Yi said lightly, “Our slots were all obtained through Sect’s martial arts challenge. In other words, the strongest wins. If you can kill Junior Brother Xue, then your slot will be well deserved, and none will complain about it.”
“Indeed!” Xue Yi nodded with excitement, “Kill… or be killed, the one who remains alive wins the spot!”
“Well, that isn’t something I can do….” Yang Kai hesitated.
This bloody ‘killed or be killed’ suggestion made him feel uneasy. It was just death after all if he got killed, but he was worried that he might get into trouble if he really killed Xue Yi.
“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Xiao Bai Yi cold as usual. “Unless… you’re scared?”
“Why does Brother Xiao have to provoke me?” Yang Kai expressed a wry smile.
“Heh heh, if you are scared, it’s better for you to leave Azure Sun Mountain Range now. Given your weak cultivation of First-Order Dao Source Realm, I’m worried that I would accidentally kill you!” Xue Yi laughed arrogantly.
“Haiz!” Yang Kai sighed, “I understand your intention.”
He did not expect that a slot in the Four Seasons Realm could cause such drama. If he had a choice, he would prefer not to fight with the cultivator of Azure Sun Temple.
But since Xue Yi was being so aggressive, he realized that forbearance was not the way out of this.
After all, getting into the Four Seasons Realm was a must, since he had promised Qin Zhao Yang and he had also used the Jade Beauty Beggar Token from the Senior Expert.
“Since you two are so enthusiastic… then it would be impolite if this Yang refused. Brother Xiao, please be our witness!”
“Of course,” Xiao Bai Yi was surprised that Yang Kai accepted their challenge. He was expecting Yang Kai to be scared shitless and run for his life when he appeared along with Xue Yi. However, it did not go as he expected.
He said lightly, “The purpose of me coming here with Junior Brother Xue is just to be a witness. No matter who wins or who is in danger, I will not interfere.”
“Brother Xiao seems like someone who can be trusted,” Yang Kai grinned. “Then I shall rely on you.”
“You better look out for yourself and not give up your life easily. Otherwise, it will give a bad reputation to our temple if this rumour spreads out.” Xiao Bai Yi narrowed his eyes.
…
In the void, two beautiful shadows were hiding aside, quietly looking downwards.
Chen Qian said, “This Yang Kai is quite courageous. He didn’t even flinch when facing a person who is one Order higher than him.”
“Courage has nothing to do with strength!” Gao Xue Ting said lightly.
She lifted her head and spotted something in the void while speaking. She got annoyed and said angrily, “How improper for you to be here for such a small thing! Go mind your own business!”
Chen Qian turned after hearing this and smiled, “Sir Temple Master, are you bored?”
At this moment, the voice of Wen Zi Shan reached their ears. “Two beautiful ladies, are you interested in having a drink with this Temple Master? This Temple Master has specially prepared…”
“Not interested!”
“Not joining!”
The two ladies did not wait for him to finish his sentence and ruthlessly rejected him, leaving no room for negotiation.
Wen Zi Shan was stunned for a while, then sighed with a heartbroken face, “Life is meaningless if there is wine without company…”
“Behave yourself, or I will flip your table!” Gao Xue Ting looked there coldly.
Wen Zi Shan slapped his face, and cried in despair, “How did I raise you into such a cold-hearted person… unlike me at all!”
Gao Xue Ting spoke furiously, “Are you my father or what? Why do I have to be like you?”
Wen Zi Shan was speechless.
The corner of Gao Xue Ting’s mouth curved, revealing a smile that she was trying to hide.
…
“Senior Brother Xiao, is he going to fight me?” Xue Yi asked.
“Yes!” Xiao Bai Yi nodded.
“Then, shall I start?” Xue Yi asked again.
He did not even wait for Xiao Bai Yi’s answer. Right after his words, he rushed at Yang Kai and swung a punch at him.
Even though Yang Kai had a fast reaction, he did not expect that this simple-minded gorilla-man to be so cunning. In the blink of an eye, his punch already reached in front of his face.
There was a raging wind following the punch, a strong destructive force surrounded at the top of his fist, gathered at one point and gleamed.
In shock, Yang Kai could only retreat a few steps with his unsteady feet.
Despite having a huge body, Xue Yi was unimaginably agile. He kept an extremely close distance with Yang Kai, like maggots on rotting bones, and smiled with a smug face, “Little brat, if you can still survive after this, better be good to yourself!”
The punch landed straight on Yang Kai’s face.
A loud explosion and an unleashed raging power followed closely right after the hit. Yang Kai lost his ground and was thrown into the temple wall, smashing a big hole in the strong wall.
*Hong long long…*
A series of sounds came out from the temple. It seemed that several walls had been destroyed due to the impact. The breaking sounds gradually stopped after a long while.
“So boring!” Xue Yi shook his big pot fist and coldly snorted. Without even looking in Yang Kai’s direction, he said, “Senior Brother Xiao, let’s go!”
Xiao Bai Yi did not move. He looked forward with his squinted eyes, and his gaze seemed to be able to penetrate the void.
Suddenly, his expression changed. He bellowed, “It’s not over yet…”
“Huh?” Xue Yi turned around after hearing it.
A man slowly came out from the hole in the wall. He shook both his arms, and bared his teeth in a grimace, seeming to be telling everyone that he was in pain.
“Luckily he blocked it in the nick of time!” Wen Zi Shan was looking downwards with his squinted eyes, and praised, “Good reflexes!”
In that instance, Wen Zi Shan clearly saw that Yang Kai crossed his arms hastily in front of him and blocked the punch.
The devastating blow from Xue Yi did not hit his head, but his arms. Otherwise, with his brutal force, Yang Kai would have passed out even if his head was not blown up.
“He is physically strong… This little brat!” Gao Xue Ting squinted her beautiful eyes too.
Chen Qian said, “I remember Xue Yi cultivated the Golden Monarch Body before, right?”
Gao Xue Ting nodded, “He started to cultivate it when he was at the Origin King Realm. If I’m not mistaken, he cultivated it to the Sixth stage. Talking about physical strength, among all of the Dao Source Realm disciples, except for that man, he is the best.”
“Seems like he was unscathed by taking a direct blow from Xue Yi. I suppose Yang Kai has cultivated the Body Tempering Secret Art!” Chen Qian thought deeply.
“Little Xue Ting, why don’t we make a bet?” Wen Zi Shan turned his attention to her.
“What bet?” Gao Xue Ting looked over.
“A bet on who wins!” Wen Zi Shan smiled, pointing downwards.
“What will we be betting?” Gao Xue Ting asked coldly.
“Hm, let me think…” Wen Zi Shan thought deeply. “Ah, Little Xue Ting, didn’t you always want to see what it is like in the Life or Death Door? This King shall allow you to enter if you win.”
“Really?” Gao Xue Ting exclaimed as her eyes focused.
Standing in a corner, Chen Qian’s expression changed at those words “Life or Death Door”.
“When has this King ever lied to you?” Wen Zi Shan had a harmless smile as he spoke.
Gao Xue Ting’s eyes bored into Wen Zi Shan, trying to figure out his true intention, but he merely maintained a gentle smile. After a while, Gao Xue Ting finally removed her gaze, said “It is true that as a Sect Master, you have never behaved like one. You are always fooling around and never did any honest work…”
Wen Zi Shan’s face turned dark, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, “This King feels so useless after hearing that!”
Gao Xue Ting changed the direction of the topic and said, “But you have never lied to anyone!”
“Does this King only have this one good virtue?” Wen Zi Shan looked dejected.
“Then, what do you want if you win?” Gao Xue Ting asked coldly.
Wen Zi Shan laughed whimsically, his bright eyes swept across Gao Xue Ting from top to bottom a few times.
She blushed, feeling extremely uncomfortable and said, “Stop any of your dirty thoughts or I’ll dig your eyes out.”
“What were you thinking?” Wen Zi Shan laughed, “Well, how about this: If I win, you will owe me a small favour that will not violate your principles and will not be a demanding request!”
“Small favour? What kind of favour?” Gao Xue Ting asked carefully.
“Well… I haven’t thought about it. I’ll let you know when I have thought of one.” Wen Zi Shan laughed.
“Sister Gao, don’t be fooled! Who knows what he’s plotting to do?” Chen Qian warned her, lest Gao Xue Ting fall into Wen Zi Shan’s trap.
“I know!” Gao Xue Ting agreed, she turned her attention downwards as she spoke “But he has to win the bet first, otherwise, there’s no meaning to anything he said.”
She turned to Wen Zi Shan and agreed, “Okay, it’s a deal.”
“That’s a promise!” Wen Zi Shan chuckled, “No regrets.”
“You should start preparing the permit for me to enter the Life or Death door!”
Chen Qian sighed, looking helpless. Although she did not believe that Yang Kai would be able to defeat Xue Yi, who was ranked fifteenth in the entire Azure Sun Temple’s Dao Source Realm hierarchy, she could not help but have a bad hunch – Sir Temple Master was always unpredictable, but he was always very reliable during critical times.
Chen Qian was doubtful that Wen Zi Shan would allow Gao Xue Ting to enter the Life or Death Door. He must be very confident that he would win.
Considering all of this, she quickly looked down.
Below them, Xue Yi was startled by Yang Kai, who was walking towards him. “You should have stayed down. Why did you get up? You are seeking your own death!”
“Friend, you sure are vicious. Thanks for the lesson!!” Yang Kai snorted.
A voice suddenly spoke into his ear, “Little brat, do well and beat your opponent to the ground. This King promises to grant you any request that is not too excessive!”
Yang Kai was stunned by the voice.
It was undeniably the voice of the Temple Master of Azure Sun Temple, Wen Zi Shan!
Yang Kai had only met this man a few days ago, therefore, he was still very familiar with his voice. Besides, not a single person in the Azure Sun Temple headquarters would dare to impersonate Wen Zi Shan.
In other words, the person who whispered in his ear was none other than Wen Zi Shan.
“What the…?” Yang Kai frowned. He released his Divine Sense, scanned the surrounding area but found no trace of Wen Zi Shan.
If it had not happened to Yang Kai himself, he would have never believed that the Master of a Sect had sent a secret message to an outsider to defeat an elite disciple of his own Sect.
On top of that, Wen Zi Shan actually promised to grant him a favour?
[What is the meaning of this?]
Even the intelligent Yang Kai could not fathom.
Just when he was lost in his thoughts, a fierce blow came his way.
“What are you thinking about? How dare you get distracted in front of your enemy? Are you underestimating me?” He finished his sentence with another attack, just as aggressive as the previous one, a force enveloping his fist, preparing to destroy anything in its way.
“Enemy?” Yang Kai raised his head abruptly, pierced Xue Yi with his ice-cold gaze. Without flinching, he returned Xue Yi’s attack with a punch just as vicious.
*Hong…*
There was a loud commotion, and the sky trembled.
The ground on which both Yang Kai and Xue Yi were standing began to crumble apart in a spider web pattern and collapsed into a large round pit.
*Chi chi chi…*
An ear-splitting sound emitted from their fists when their Source Qi clashed with each other.
The surrounding rubble and soil floated into the air weightlessly, and space within a thousand-metre radius was distorted.
“Not too bad!” Xue Yi raised his thick eyebrows slightly, surprised by the Yang Kai who was inches in front of him. Although Yang Kai was one Minor Realm beneath him, he was a tough opponent.
Xiao Bai Yi was astonished, his face changed ever so slightly.
“You’re not too bad yourself…” Yang Kai returned, the corners of his lips curved and sneered, “At talking!”
With a swing of his arm, Yang Kai sent another punch towards Xue Yi’s face.
Xue Yi did not falter. With a cold snort, he blocked the attack with his arms. He then immediately released his arms and took advantage of Yang Kai’s attack to launch a counterattack.
Yang Kai responded quickly by unclenching his fist and positioned it in front of his neck. He waited for Xue Yi’s attack to land and grabbed his punch tightly as though he was trying to crush it into pieces.
“How naïve!” Xue Yi grinned. He tilted his body backwards slightly, his feet rebounded from the ground like a cannonball, propelling him towards Yang Kai’s abdomen.
Yang Kai lowered his elbows ferociously, and he dissolved the attack before it arrived!
Fighting in close combat, their probing, attacks and counter-attacks were speedy, like flashes of light.
Each of their movements was as smooth as floating clouds and flowing water, free of any routine, fully captivating their audience.
There was a trace of solemnity in Xiao Bai Yi’s eyes.
Although he was ranked second in the Sect’s martial arts challenge, he would definitely be overthrown in close combat with Xue Yi. However, Yang Kai was on par with Xue Yi.
In other words, he was on the same level as Xue Yi in aspects of close combat.
What baffled Xiao Bai Yi even more was that Yang Kai only had the level of First-Order Dao Source Realm! He was one level lower than Xue Yi, two levels lower than him.
[Where on Earth does this guy come from?] He and Xue Yi are the elites of Azure Sun Temple!
*Peng peng peng…*
In front of the palace, the two figures crisscrossed, going back and forth in front without using any artifacts or secret techniques, only the collision of the bodies and Source Qi. The raging battle bloomed in wild beauty, dazzling anyone who watched it.
One large pit after another appeared on the ground, the void was battered by the violent forces, and the battlefield shifted from one place to another. The entire solitary peak was chaotic!
“Sister Gao…” Chen Qian was dumbfounded. She was shocked by Yang Kai’s abilities, but she was even more worried about the bet between Gao Xue Ting and the unscrupulous Temple Master. In the case of Yang Kai winning, who knew what this tasteless Sir Temple Master would request of Gao Xue Ting.
“Damn, I got it wrong!” Gao Xue Ting gritted her teeth and glared fiercely at Wen Zi Shan. He was still sipping wine and eating spirit fruit with a triumphant look etched on his face, aggravating the already frustrated Gao Xue Ting.
“Don’t be so confident.” Gao Xue Ting spoke coldly, “If that is the case, don’t blame me for summoning my trump card!”
As she finished, she stared down again with a slight change in Divine Sense.
Below, Xue Yi, who was in mid-battle with Yang Kai suddenly yelled in horror, “No!”
He seemed to have received a great shock, his face filled with terror.
Yang Kai ignored whatever that was happening to him and threw a direct punch at his face.
Xue Yi let out a strange cry. Like a kite with a broken string, he floated high above the ground, blood spurting out of his nostrils, then fell heavily to the ground.
“Huh?” Xiao Bai Yi gasped at the scene in astonishment, unable to fathom how Xue Yi could have received a direct hit when both parties were evenly matched.
“It seems like your help was wasted!” In the void, Wen Zi Shan smiled at Gao Xue Ting, fully taking pleasure in her misfortune.
Gao Xue Ting snorted coldly, said: “Save your nonsense, just wait and see!”
Wen Zi Shan was unaffected by this embarrassment, after all, he had always been thick-skinned…
On the other side, Xue Yi slowly got up from the ground, rubbed beneath his nose and snickered, “Of course I don’t want to be confined for half a year… Ancient Dark Peak, that damn place is not meant for the living!”
“What nonsense are you talking about? Have you been beaten stupid?” Yang Kai squinted at him.
“I’m saying… you’re dead meat!” An extremely dangerous beam of light shot out of Xue Yi’s eyes, and his body was glowing. “I wanted to just teach you a lesson, but now… I might just kill you by accident!”
The light emitted by his body suddenly exploded, accompanied by a shocking roar, his skin and body glowed with a metallic lustre like steel.
Meanwhile, the momentum of Xue Yi’s body was rising steadily. He was only a Second-Order Dao Source Realm cultivator, but was able to unleash a domineering aura, comparable to one with Third-Order Dao Source Realm!
Yang Kai examined the transformed Xue Yi with his eyes squinted, and smiled faintly, “Body Tempering Technique!”
While speaking, he flicked two beams of Source Qi towards Xue Yi.
It was just a probing, Xue Yi clearly noticed it too, and he did not bother to dodge it.
*Dong Dong…*
Two sounds popped from the attack that hit on Xue Yi’s body, resulting in crisp sounds like stones striking steel, and also causing some sparks.
“It’s useless. Your attack is nothing against my Golden Monarch Body!” Xue Yi proudly said with his head held high, looking downwards at Yang Kai.
“You will know soon if it’s useless or not!” Yang Kai did not try to argue with him and disappeared in a flash.
Xue Yi narrowed his eyes and frowned.
At that moment, he lost sight of Yang Kai. The speed of his opponent was beyond his imagination.
But as an elite disciple of Azure Sun Temple, he did not fluster and panic. He stretched his large fan-like hand and reached behind him.
As he had predicted, Yang Kai appeared right behind him and into Xue Yi’s large hand, as if walking right into a trap.
Xue Yi smirked and stomped his big foot.
In an instant, the Earth quaked and the mountains trembled.
Followed by a dull roar, an Earth Dragon suddenly surfaced from the ground, then performed a killing charge towards Yang Kai in a serpentine motion.
There was the might of Principles lingering above the Earth Dragon. It was obviously a certain kind of Secret Technique cultivated by Xue Yi.
The Earth Dragon moved like lightning and rushed at Yang Kai’s face in the blink of an eye. At this moment, it was too late for Yang Kai, who was in the air and attempted to backstab Xue Yi earlier, to escape. The Earth Dragon opened its mouth and bit Yang Kai. Followed by a munch, Yang Kai’s body was broken in two.
“Huh?” Xue Yi did not feel glad or relieved when he got him, but looked startled instead.
In that instance, he did not receive the sensation of triumph. He looked at, unsurprisingly, the broken body disappearing into blue smoke. It was actually just an afterimage.
“Shit!” Xue Yi bellowed and immediately looked forward.
Yang Kai had emerged in front of him. He lowered his body, aimed closely to his abdomen, and swung both of his fists, which then turned into countless afterimages…
*Peng peng peng…*
Xue Yi’s burly physique kept retreating while receiving such heavy blows. Haloes of forces consistently erupted from the blows on his stomach, resulting in blasting noises.
“Golden… Barrier!” Xue Yi abruptly roared. A layer of earthy yellow halo emerged around him, like a cylinder enveloping him in it. After performing this defensive Secret Technique, he held his fists together and smashed down fiercely.
*Hong…*
Dust was everywhere. An enormous deep pit was formed on the ground, but Yang Kai was nowhere to be seen.
Yang Kai was standing still several tens of metres away, with a deeply thoughtful face.
“After I refined the blood, bones and bead of an actual Dragon, my strength and reflexes seem to have grown a lot. Perhaps, it might also be due to the effect of continuous refining and absorption of the Ten Thousand Medicinal Treasures Soup. When I drank it that time, it hadn’t been fully refined yet, only stored inside my physique,” He secretly pondered.
Some time ago, he would not be able to deal damage to an enemy like Xue Yi with this move. But now…
Opposite of him, Xue Yi seemed to be unscathed, but his aura was a little disordered, and there was even a trace of blood on the corner of his mouth.
“How can this be?” Xiao Bai Yi’s insides were in a stormy state of shock. In the Sect’s martial arts challenge three months ago, he fought Xue Yi head-on once, and he learnt how powerful his Golden Monarch Body was.
The defence was solid as a rock, it was not easy to break through even for him. That battle was still fresh in his memory, which had taken a full hour for him to defeat Xue Yi, even with his best effort.
But now, he witnessed that Yang Kai had injured Xue Yi with only his physical strength.
[Now that I notice, did he actually keep his true potential hidden during the last battle?]
This thought flowed out of Xiao Bai Yi’s mind, making him a mess.
[This man must not be as simple as he looked! He either concealed his real cultivation, or he was born extraordinary!] Xiao Bai Yi secretly guessed.
“Not bad, Brother Xue! You have trained yourself well to put up a fight!” Yang Kai stood not far away, smiling at Xue Yi.
Xue Yi had long lost the arrogance he had before. Since his injury, he had sensed that something was wrong. His Golden Monarch Body had been cultivated to the Sixth Stage, and even the Emperor Realms in the Sect had praised him for his physical strength. Still, he was now being wounded by an anonymous First-Order Dao Source Realm.
If someone told him about this earlier, he would probably just laugh.
However, the truth was right in front of him.
“But…” Yang Kai said with the look of an eagle in his eyes, “You will only be beaten… because there is no way for you to beat me!”
“Keep all your shameless boasting to yourself!” Xue Yi became angry out of shame. The corner of his eyes twitched furiously. He got triggered and turned ferocious, yelling, “Don’t blame me for killing you later!”
After speaking, he fiercely performed a mudra with both hands.
A mysterious power exploded out of his body, and his already burly figure suddenly grew even larger. The metallic lustre from the stacked muscles in his body became more and more dazzling, shining in a bright white light.
He kicked his feet, and a light flashed across his fists. He summoned a brass knuckles artifact, exuding an extremely dangerous aura, and pounced at Yang Kai.
Suddenly, the white light on his body burst radiantly and lingered around the mountain peak, making the whole world misty white.
“This is not good! He is ready to fight to the death!” Wen Zi Shan looked down with his squinted eyes, secretly prepared to interfere if the situation turned bad. After all, Xue Yi was an elite disciple of Sect while Yang Kai was an important guest, so he did not wish for either of them to die.
“It’s unexpected that this little brat is capable of forcing Xue Yi into this situation!” Chen Qian was slightly surprised, “This man seems to have talent. I wonder if Sir Temple Master plans to invite him into Sect?”
“It’s fine to invite him into Sect, but…”
“But what?”
“But I feel like I have seen this little brat somewhere, and… it’s dangerous!”
Chen Qian looked at Gao Xue Ting in wonder. She did not understand what she was talking about.
At this moment, colourful skyglow burst out in the white world. The skyglow was so bright that it could hurt the eyes and cut out a path in the white world like a heavenly blade.
“The Power of Five Elements?” Gao Xue Ting raised her eyebrow. Her face was full of surprise.
She felt the Power of Five Elements from the colourful skyglow, which are mutually restraining, endless cycling, continuously flowing…
It seemed like the colourful skyglow and the white light were the only things left in the whole world, battling each other.
The path opened by the skyglow was widening, coming from there were Xue Yi’s roar with dissatisfaction and Yang Kai’s continuous low mumbles. They were clearly fighting in the heat of the battle.
Xiao Bai Yi, who was watching from below, had no choice but to perform a Secret Technique in order to withstand the impact of terrifying power.
“He got to this level in just three months?” Xiao Bai Yi was terrified, “It seems that Xue Yi has worked very hard too!”
He was sure that the Xue Yi today was so much more powerful than three months ago. If he had the strength at that time, he would have gotten into the top ten!
But even so… it was unbelievable that the little brat named Yang Kai could compete with him!
Suddenly, a low voice was heard, “Myriads Sword Light, Radiant Moon Swallows the Wolf!”
When the words fell, countless dazzling sword lights shot down from the sky. All of them showed colourful lights and were full of the Power of Five Elements, unstoppable!
At the same time, a wave of extraordinary energy slowly drifted away.
*Chi chi chi…*
The white world was instantly shattered, leaving a group of colourful lights, silently in the mid-air.
Xue Yi was full of wounds and fell from the sky with a look of unwillingness and helplessness. His face was extremely pale and his metallic body had lost its previous lustre.
The brass knuckles artifacts on both his fists lost their shine too.
Seeing that Xue Yi was about to fall heavily on the ground, Xiao Bai Yi moved swiftly under him with a sway of his body and caught him in his arms.
He examined Xue Yi’s injuries and felt relieved after finding that he was not in serious trouble, but had just overly consumed his energy.
Lifting his head again, Xiao Bai Yi coldly stared at Yang Kai, who was still in mid-air. He then fixed his sight on the long broadsword in Yang Kai’s hand and coldly snorted, “Emperor Artifact?”
Yang Kai grinned.
“Do you still call yourself a man for relying on the suppressive power of Emperor Artifact?” Xiao Bai Yi despised.
Yang Kai wondered, “If he can use artifacts, why can’t I?”
“If you have guts, you should fight fairly with Junior Brother Xue!” Xiao Bai Yi looked even more contemptuous.
To him, the reason why Yang Kai was able to win all of a sudden was only because of the power of Emperor Artifact. If he just depended solely on his own abilities, he may not be able to beat Xue Yi.
“If you can, find him an Emperor Artifact and have him fight me again!” Yang Kai did not feel ashamed of himself.
“Very well!” Xiao Bai Yi seemed to be annoyed and coldly stared at Yang Kai, “You have won this battle. I hope you can return from the Four Seasons Realm alive!”
After speaking, he ignored Yang Kai, carried Xue Yi on his back and flew away.
After they left, Yang Kai looked up at the void and asked, “Is this good enough?”
A shadow flashed in the void and Wen Zi Shan appeared. He gazed at the Myriads Sword in Yang Kai’s hand and asked, “Hey little boy, where did you get this Emperor Artifact? This is not something that you can simply find on the street.”
“None of your business!”
Wen Zi Shan was choked by his words, and could not help but to roll his eyes. Soon enough, He regained his expression and said solemnly, “I can see your good intentions. You knew that the longer Xue Yi continued his behaviour, the more dangerous it would be for him, and he might just end up losing his mind. That’s why you used Emperor Artifact to make a quick fight, but too bad… You have been misunderstood.”
“I was just having fun with the suppressive power of Emperor Artifact,” Yang Kai coldly snorted.
“Heh heh, Xiao Bai Yi is not as easy to deal with as Xue Yi. The words he left behind are very concerning. Perhaps, he is going to lay his hands on you in the Four Season Realm. Do you need this King to talk to him?”
“No need!” Yang Kai pouted.
Wen Zi Shan did not get angry but smiled. He thought for a while then said, “Then… do you want this King to help you in refining this Emperor Artifact? I noticed that you have low compatibility with this Emperor Artifact, you can’t even unleash a small portion of its power. You don’t have much time left, if you accept the help from this King, you can be assured that you can unleash ten percent of its power in the Four Seasons Realm and be invincible in the Sealed World. Interested?”
Wen Zi Shan seemed to be sincere in offering Yang Kai help.
However, Yang Kai shook his head and teased, “Temple Master Wen, are you that desperate for me to make a request?”
The corner of Wen Zi Shan’s mouth twitched after hearing this, and he whispered, “Damn it… he saw through me!”
Yang Kai burst into laughter, “This little brat will cautiously think of a request. When the time comes, I will come and ask from Temple Master Wen!”
He understood that Wen Zi Shan was a Third-Order Emperor Realm Master and also an Azure Sun Temple’s Temple Master. Even though this person seemed to be unreliable sometimes, Masters like him always kept their promises.
Wen Zi Shan had promised him he would fulfil a request that was not too excessive if he beat Xue Yi.
Yang Kai could not think of any favour that he wanted at that time, so it was better for him to keep his chip now. Maybe he would need some great help at a certain critical moment in the future.
“This little brat is too cunning!” Wen Zi Shan bitterly said. Soon after, his face turned indifferent and shrugged, “Fine, you deserve to make the call. Come and gather at Fallen Flower Peak in seven days. There will be someone guiding your departure at that time.”
“Yes!” Yang Kai nodded, cupped his fist and bowed, “Goodbye, Temple Master Wen!”
Wen Zi Shan smiled faintly. His body started to fade gradually and completely disappeared a few breaths later.
After his departure, Yang Kai frowned and glanced at the void on the other side with a bewildered expression.
He had felt that some people were hiding there, but he could not find them. However, if they were Emperor Realms, everything would make sense.
Since they did not take the initiative to reveal themselves, they were probably just here to watch the show and Yang Kai certainly would not try to cause himself any troubles.
He turned towards the ruined temple and left.
“This little brat seems to have noticed us!” Chen Qian was surprised, staring at Yang Kai’s back and spoke softly.
“I think he is just suspicious of us,” Gao Xue Ting said. “But even so, his senses are extraordinarily keen, this person is very interesting!”
“Sister Gao, do you think he was from… there?”
Gao Xue Ting turned and took a glance at her.
Chen Qian said, “If he wasn’t from there, how could he have such strength? What’s more, he has an Emperor Artifact with him! He is only just a First-Order Dao Source Realm!”
Gao Xue Ting shook his head, “If he really came from there, we would know. Still… the rising stars of this generation are really coming out more and more!”
Chen Qian nodded after hearing this, “Yeah… Princess Lan perfectly inherited the Bright Moon Ethereal Body of the Bright Moon Great Emperor and I heard that she was promoted to Dao Source Realm one year ago. She will definitely go to Four Seasons Realm this time. As for Heavenly Martial Holy Land, they seem to have someone who possesses a Yin-Yang Dual Body there. The Zhuang Bu Fan from Orthodoxy Temple doesn’t have a special physique, but he is bright and talented. Since the beginning of his cultivation, he has been challenging the stronger cultivators like they were a piece of cake and made a big name for himself at his young age. Right now, he is already a Third-Order Dao Source Realm. Although the two major chambers of commerce are mainly businessmen, they have recruited many talented people in recent years… I suddenly feel like this Southern Territory already belongs to them. Damn, I’m old…”
Gao Xue Ting was quiet. Obviously, she felt the same.
…
Yang Kai returned to his room and stepped up his efforts in refining the Emperor Artifact.
Wen Zi Shan had made it clear: After seven days, he would have to proceed to gather at Fallen Flower Peak, and there was not much time left for him.
While comprehending the knowledge and experiences that passed down by the ancestor of Qin’s Family, he was also strengthening his connection between Myriads Sword at the same time.
Wen Zi Shan was right about him not being able to unleash even a small portion of Myriads Sword’s power yet. He could severely injure Xue Yi with one move mostly due to his own strength, and only used a tiny bit of power from the Emperor Artifact.
Time flew and a few days passed.
On this day, Yang Kai was cultivating in isolation.
All of a sudden, his expression changed and he opened his eyes.
An unusual tidal force surged between the Heavens and Earth. This force was extremely mighty and mysterious, it was unpredictable.
When he listened attentively, there was a vague noise coming out of it.
Yang Kai looked solemn. He went outside of the temple with a sway of his body.
The sky was dim and the earth was hazy. There was a tremendous shadow covering the sky, and it seemed like a huge monster was flying over from above.
Yang Kai gazed with his head up and was stunned by it right on the spot.
It was a gigantic white bird flying in the sky. The white bird looked very normal, like a pigeon being magnified many times, but the pressure that came out from its body was as high as a mountain.
“What is this? A Divine Spirit?” Yang Kai was surprised and puzzled.
Looking at the flying direction of the giant pigeon, it seemed to be flying towards the Main Peak of the Azure Sun Mountain Range.
*Xiu xiu xiu…*
Many figures emerged from all directions. Apparently, they were all alarmed by this.
While on top of the Main Peak, Wen Zi Shan appeared strangely in a flash. He stared at the giant pigeon, and his usual playful face had turned serious.
After a short while, the giant pigeon flew above Wen Zi Shan.
In a flash of brilliance, the giant pigeon turned instantly into a normal-sized pigeon. The astonishing pressure and force also disappeared.
The white pigeon did not stop and sped straight at Wen Zi Shan. Wen Zi Shan did not block or dodge it, and he just stood still in place.
When the white pigeon was only about ten feet away from Wen Zi Shan, it immediately exploded into fluorescent snow. The fluorescent snow wrapped Wen Zi Shan’s whole body and immersed into his skin, then gradually disappeared.
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh…*
The crowd who followed the white pigeon closely emerged beside Wen Zi Shan one after another. They were the Emperor Realm Masters of Azure Sun Temple.
Qiu Ran frowned and stared silently at the change of Wen Zi Shan’s expression.
Chen Qian and Gao Xue Ting were standing side by side. They both seemed to know about something and quietly waited.
Among them, a middle-aged man beside Gao Xue Ting, whispered to her with a frowning face, “Elder Gao, about that thing just now… was it a messenger from that Sir?”
Gao Xue Ting nodded, “It should be, but I have only heard about it, I have never really seen it with my own eyes.”
The middle-aged man was astonished, “I can’t believe that Sir actually sent a message, does it mean that something big is about to happen?”
The crowd stayed in silence, feeling apprehensive. Everyone here was in the Emperor Realm, they would not be worried and anxious if it was just a casual matter. However, the situation changed, a messenger from that Sir had appeared in Azure Sun Temple, that Sir would never make a scene like this, if it was not for something big.
And now, Wen Zi Shan, who received the message, was the only one who learnt about the matter.
Therefore, all of them looked at Wen Zi Shan, in hope of knowing what happened.
But they could not figure out any clues from the change of Wen Zi Shan’s expression, which made them feel nervous and helpless.
After a long while, Wen Zi Shan gave out a soft breath and spoke lightly, “Who would have thought of such a thing!?”
“Sir Temple Master!” Qiu Ran was the first one who stepped forward and broke the silence of the crowd. Just when he was about to ask about it, Wen Zi Shan interrupted him and explained, “A message from Sir Heaven’s Revelations regarding the Four Seasons Realm. This time, things have changed!”
“Heaven’s Revelations Great Emperor!” the middle-aged man who spoke previously, shouted in excitement, “Is this truly from Heaven’s Revelation Great Emperor!?”
Among the Ten Great Emperors, except for a few who built the great forces of Sects and seated in the headquarters, the rest were like a hidden dragon who showed their tail but never their face. For instance, Bustling World Great Emperor, he incarnated into various forms and fooled around the world. Perhaps, a pitiful beggar who was seen along the street in the cold weather, was actually a disguised Bustling World Great Emperor.
If someone was being kind enough to give him a hand, he or she would receive a great blessing from him in return.
Heaven’s Revelation Great Emperor was equally unpredictable.
Since he was titled the name of Heaven’s Revelations, he had the ability that none of the Great Emperors could possess. Heaven’s Revelations Great Emperor had the ability to see through time, he could see the past and foresee the future! It was the most mysterious Divine Ability of all Great Emperors.
Although most of the people knew that he lived in the Valley of Heaven’s Secret, no one knew where this place was, not even a clue of which part of the Star Boundary it was at!
“Four Seasons Realm… Why would it bother Sir Heaven’s Revelations to take action?” Qiu Ran was bewildered.
Four Seasons Realm, this particular Sealed World was relatively renowned in Southern Territory, but it did not involve the entire Star Field. According to the character of Heaven’s Revelations Great Emperor, he would not bother to lay his hand on matters in such a middle class Sealed World.
“That’s why I said, the situation changed!” Wen Zi Shan said with a frowny face, “Four Seasons Realm this time… has a connection with the Shattered Star Sea!”
“What?” Qiu Ran exclaimed.
“Shattered Star Sea?” the pretty face of Gao Xue Ting slightly changed.
Shattered Star Sea was a place kept secret, only a few people, including masters of Emperor Realm knew exactly where it was. Shattered Star Sea can be found in The Void Crack of the Star Boundary, but it did not have a fixed location.
And Shattered Star Sea was the place where the well-known Heaven Devouring Great Emperor was buried.
It could even be said that Shattered Star Sea was born due to the death of the Heaven Devouring Great Emperor.
Rumor had it that the Shattered Star Sea possessed the mystery of becoming a Great Emperor, also the secrets and power of the Divine Ability of the Heaven Devouring Great Emperor.
Such a place was astonishingly attractive to the Emperor Realm experts.
Unfortunately, the cultivators with the level of Emperor Realm could never enter Shattered Star Sea. It seemed that the masters of the Emperor Realm were being repelled by the Power of Law, while only the cultivators with the level of the Dao Source Realm were able to enter.
Every time the Shattered Star Sea opened, the entire Star Boundary would become excited.
All of the huge Sects would send their disciples into it, attempting to search for the mystery and legacy of the Great Emperor, desiring to accomplish an achievement that could be written in history.
Shattered Star Sea, a place much more earthshaking than the Four Seasons Realm!