Xiao Chen did not give the Liu Clan First Elder any time to think. He said coldly, “I will count to three. Disappear by then. If you do not believe me, you can try betting. See whether I really dare to trample this trash to death or not.”
“One, two…”
“Let’s go!”
The Liu Clan Elders looked at Liu Feng, whose face twisted in pain, and Xiao Chen, who overwhelmed him from the very start. They did not dare to continue betting on this.
It had not been even ten minutes since Xiao Chen appeared. With just a few words, the experts of the Liu Clan, even the grandmaster-level Martial Sage, all retreated.
Such a scene dumbfounded not only all the Mo Clan cultivators on the deck but even Mo Chen in the control room.
Xiao Chen glanced at the unconscious Uncle w.a.n.g and tossed out a Sage Grade Medicinal Pill for treating injuries. He said, “Have him consume that. Otherwise, if he remains injured too long, it will leave a perennial problem.”
As the Purple Cloud Wars.h.i.+p proceeded forward, the four Liu Clan Elders followed anxiously, walking on water. They had fearful expressions, but they could not do anything.
After half a day, three large wars.h.i.+ps flying the Mo Clan’s banner appeared on the horizon. The Mo Clan’s reinforcements had arrived.
Xiao Chen raised his leg and kicked Liu Feng, who was in so much pain that he was half-dead, off the wars.h.i.+p.
The Liu Clan Elders following the Purple Cloud Wars.h.i.+p quickly stretched out their hands and caught him. When they saw the Mo Clan wars.h.i.+ps approaching from the distance, they knew their operation had failed and could not wait any longer.
“Dare I ask for this friend’s great name?!” the Liu Clan First Elder asked in a quivering voice while murderous intent surged in his eyes.
Xiao Chen smiled and replied, “My name is Wen Ziran. My name will never change, nor will my family name. If you have any grudges, pile it all on me, Wen Ziran!”
This was the only name that he could think of on the spot since he could not use the pseudonym “Ye Chen” in the Heavenly Starry Ocean.
“Very good. Wen Ziran, we will wait and see.” The Liu Clan First Elder snorted coldly and led the group away.
Brother Ziran, I’m sorry, Xiao Chen thought to himself with a smile.
Xiao Chen had forced one grandmaster-level Martial Sage and three Superior Grade Martial Sages to retreat single-handedly, and they did not even dare to lose their temper.
The Mo Clan cultivators all felt liberated, especially after Xiao Chen trampled on Liu Feng and made him scream like a dying pig, delighting them.
Seeing the three Mo Clan wars.h.i.+ps approaching quickly, Xiao Chen turned around and headed back into the wars.h.i.+p’s hold, not wanting to interact with people.
“Young Master Wen, many thanks. This old man misunderstood you in the past few days.”
With the help of the Sage Grade Medicinal Pill, Uncle w.a.n.g woke up. When he heard what the others said, he immediately apologized to Xiao Chen.
“It’s just a small matter. Old w.a.n.g, there is no need to be so polite. You are currently injured, so you should speak less.”
Xiao Chen stopped walking and gave a reply before continuing on his way.
------
When night fell, Xiao Chen opened his eyes, waking from his cultivation. The Magic Energy in his sea of consciousness had recovered a little bit.
The immortal will of thunder had also recovered somewhat, unlike before when it was indistinct and stagnant.
He continued to regain his strength overall. The only problem was that the origin of his Heavenly Sage Law was broken, which kept his cultivation stuck at Martial Monarch.
Now, it was urgent that he refine the Heavenly Origin Pill. As long as he could reform his origin of Law Energy, his strength would immediately recover.
Xiao Chen’s cultivation was still present. He did not truly regress. It was just that his origin of Law Energy broke; hence, he could not use the power of Heavenly Sage Laws.
Once the origin of Law Energy reformed after being broken, he might be able to comprehend the secrets behind the transformation of Heavenly Sage Laws.
Xiao Chen stretched and spat out a mouthful of turbid Qi. Then, he went out for a stroll.
The Purple Cloud Wars.h.i.+p had already recovered from the unforeseen events of the day. As Xiao Chen walked, he arrived at the bow. The deck was cold and empty; there was no one in the sky.
A crescent moon hung high in the sky. Glittering stars filled the heavens. This night was beautiful, the stars were even more beautiful. The lone moon gave off only a wan light. Outshone by the starlight and just faintly discernible, it looked cold and lonely.
Xiao Chen looked at the distant moon, moved. He felt that he was like this moon, away from the many stars and walking the martial way alone.
It vaguely seemed that this was heaven’s will. At this moment, he was like this pale moon, dim and lightless. He did not even dare to go to his own conferred land.
Xiao Chen was the Azure Dragon King, the descendant of the Azure Emperor, the hero that swept through all the younger generation of the Kunlun Continent.
However, during the day, in order to deal with one grandmaster-level Martial Sage, he had needed to take a hostage to threaten them. If it were in the past, such a person would not even dare to speak loudly in front of him.
“Young Master Wen, admiring the moon?”
A clear and melodious voice rang out. The Mo Clan Young Miss had appeared at some point in time.
Xiao Chen turned around and said, “Strange. There are so many bright and resplendent stars. Why do you think that I’m admiring the moon?”
Mo Chen laughed softly and said, “In that case, it looks like Mo Chen guessed wrong. Given the matter of the day, I am willing to admit to losing the bet. Young Master Wen, what is your request? You can tell me.”
“I need to borrow Miss Mo’s Solar True Flame for half a year. I will return it to you after that.”
A look of shock flashed in Mo Chen’s eyes, but she soon regained her calm. “I do indeed have the Solar True Flame. There is no problem with lending it to Young Master Wen for half a year. However, can I ask for Young Master Wen’s true ident.i.ty?”
Xiao Chen replied indifferently, “My ident.i.ty is Young Miss’s bodyguard. For one year, I will be Young Miss’s bodyguard. With me around, no one can hurt you.”
“You are bragging. The Shattered Cloud City’s City Lord squeezes the Mo Clan every year. He would use all sorts of excuses to obtain a peak Sage Grade Secret Treasure every year. If I do not agree, my life would be in danger. Do you think you can protect me from that?”
The seven sea regions in the Cloud Sea Domain were like seven Rank 8 sects. The City Lord of each sea region was a quasi-Emperor.
Xiao Chen smiled and did not say anything more; he only took these words to heart.
Mo Chen smiled behind her veil. “Haha! You are still as arrogant as before. However, don’t worry, I will not offend such a strong enemy. Two months from now, an underwater treasure mountain in the Cloud Sea Domain will rise out of the water. At that time, I would like you to accompany me there as my bodyguard.”
“Underwater treasure mountain?”
Mo Chen nodded and said, “It is a mountain of an ancient sect, the Fire Li Sect. Legend has it that the Fire Li Sect invented Secret Treasures. The current methods of refining originated from this sect.
“This place is normally in a deep abyss at the bottom of the sea, where no one can reach it. Aside from the Fire Li Sect Remnant on the mountain, there are natural treasures everywhere, King Grade Spirit Herbs more than ten thousand years old and rare divine materials; hence the people of the Cloud Sea Domain called it a treasure mountain.
“By entering this time, I want to find the Fire Li Sect’s supreme divine canon, the Book of Heavenly Works, so that the Mo Clan will no longer be controlled by others.”
The Fire Li Sect. Xiao Chen was stunned when he heard this. When Xiao Chen was in the Sky Dome Realm, he had come across a branch of the Fire Li Sect.
He obtained the Dragon Phoenix Cauldron there at that time.
Several memories appeared in Xiao Chen’s mind, featuring Duanmu Qing, Hua Yunfei, Ji Changkong, as well as many other incredible people.
Now, ten years had already pa.s.sed. Aside from Chu Chaoyun, all these names were like smoke, vanis.h.i.+ng and never to reappear.
Like the many stars in the sky, countless and endless. As they flickered, many stars broke and disappeared with every pa.s.sing minute.
Only Xiao Chen hung high like the moon, looking at the resplendent stars, watching as they dwindled. Only the moon exists alone, only I exist alone.
Over the next ten years, how many more stars will cease to exist? How many more new stars will rise up?
Will I continue to be like the moon, always existing?
Mo Chen suddenly discovered a rare hint of blankness on Xiao Chen’s face and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Xiao Chen recovered his wits and changed the topic. “Why did you choose me? With your charm, none of those outstanding talents of the Southern Sea would reject your invitation.”
“Because I have this.”
Mo Chen smiled faintly. The scarlet pendant filled with grief appeared in her jade-white hands. Flickering with a faint light, the multiflora rose looked scarlet like blood.
“Before an absolute benefit, what use is a pretty face? If I cannot take out something that can equal the Book of Heavenly Works, I will only bring death to myself.”
The Book of Heavenly Works was a divine canon that every refiner dreamed of. It not only recorded the refining methods for all sorts of powerful Secret Treasures but even contained many brilliant refining techniques.
With this canon, Mo Chen might be able to become a divine refiner like what had existed only in the Ancient Era.
At such a time, the insignificant Cloud Sea Domain would not be able to contain a talent like her.
“I will also give you a copy of the Book of Heavenly Works,” Mo Chen said softly.
“There is no need. I do not have any talent in refining. I also do not have much time to research it. Since it is a divine canon, I believe that most people would not be able to understand it. It would be useless to me. I want only your Multiflora Rose Pendant and the Solar True Flame.”
After saying that, Xiao Chen opened his mouth, and the Dragon Phoenix Cauldron, which contained the Golden Crow egg, appeared slowly.
Xiao Chen’s right eye flickered, and the Purple Thunder True Fire in the Dragon Phoenix Cauldron returned to his eye. Some very fine cracks had already formed on the surface of the Golden Crow egg.
Going by this efficiency, it would take at least ten years to hatch the Golden Crow.
Only the Solar True Flame could speed up the process.
“Dragon Phoenix Cauldron!”
When Mo Chen saw this cauldron, she was extremely shocked. There was also a look of excitement in her eyes.
Xiao Chen was not surprised. Any refiner would reveal such an expression when they saw the Dragon Phoenix Cauldron.
The Fire Li Sect had only three original Dragon Phoenix Cauldrons. This was the legendary divine cauldron for refining, which could greatly increase the success rate and efficiency of refining.
Unfortunately, it was gathering dust in Xiao Chen’s hands. He was already learning too many things. Saber Techniques, Immortal Arts, Cultivation Techniques, physical tempering…everything added together took up a lot of time.
He simply did not have any spare time to research refining.
“What egg is this? You need the Solar True Flame to hatch this?”
The jade-white Golden Crow Egg was as hard as a rock. Even though Mo Chen was very knowledgeable, she could not figure out what it was.
Xiao Chen nodded and said, “Place the Solar True Flame inside. You will know what egg it is after half a year.”
The Golden Crow is a legendary Holy Beast. Don’t disappoint me after half a year.
Mo Chen opened her right hand. A spot of golden light appeared on her palm, looking very small initially. Then, this spot of golden light suddenly enlarged.
A radiant and resplendent light turned the night into day.
A clump of fierce flames appeared on Mo Chen’s fair palm like she was holding a miniature sun.
Xiao Chen carefully sized the flame up. The Origin Flame was about fifteen centimeters in diameter, which was actually larger than his Lunar True Flame.
Mo Chen pressed her hand down, and the Solar True Flame entered the Dragon Phoenix Cauldron. Then, the fierce flames spread throughout the vessel.