Chapter 1337: What Is a Moment of Delight, What Is a Friend?
"Hahahaha! Azure Dragon King Xiao Chen, even if you subdued the Myriad Fiend Island, possessed a supreme grace, and pulled the three Holy Lands of the Eastern Sea to your side, you are nothing before my Cyclic Astral Palace. You are not even able to walk through the gates."
Suddenly, Chu Yang raised his head and laughed. He had felt very depressed for a long time. Upon seeing this scene, he completely erupted and felt very comfortable throughout his entire body.
Chu Yang even vaguely felt his strength improve slightly. The heart demon born from Xiao Chen"s display of strength broke at this moment.
The Young Treasure Master, Yi Ling, smiled faintly and said, "I said it already: as long as you convince the Astral Lord to activate this Infinite World"s Sun and Moon Formation, it will definitely be able to block Xiao Chen and embarra.s.s him."
Chu Yang felt extremely delighted in his heart. He shouted, "Xiao Chen, if you beg me, I can open the Cyclic Astral Palace"s doors and give you a chance!"
Xiao Chen"s mind was clear, unperturbed by anything from the outside world.
What was hope? It was fighting with man, one"s self, and heaven.
It could not be begged for, and one could not beg for it. The chance that another bestowed could not become hope.
One could only fight!
The formation could not be broken in the day, or at night. When could this formation be broken, then?
Suddenly, inspiration flashed in Xiao Chen"s mind. He thought of something. Heaven would never block off all paths. Since the Cyclic Astral Lord was using this formation to test him, there had to be a way to break it.
I figured it out!
When Xiao Chen landed, a hazy light appeared in the distant east; dawn was about to arrive.
Right now, the moon waned as the sun rose. This was the point between day and night. Be it the power of the sun or the power of the moon, they were both at their weakest.
In the next moment, the rising sun flickered, breaking out of the horizon.
Xiao Chen took out the Cycle Banner and gathered five different kinds of starlight—Ma.s.sacre, Ruin, Despair, Death, and Grief. A wall of five different colored lights appeared behind him.
Seizing the opportunity that came with this change, Xiao Chen shouted. He focused all his Primordial Energy in the Cycle Banner and hurled it forward.
"Ka ca! Ka ca!"
This was an attack that gathered all of Xiao Chen"s energy. The Cycle Banner surged forward like a hot knife through b.u.t.ter, sweeping through everything and creating a broad path of starlight.
The Cycle Banner"s speed was extraordinary. One moment ago, Chu Yang felt that it was far away at the horizon. However, in the next instant, it had already arrived in front of him.
The sudden attack frightened Chu Yang into going pale as he retreated frantically.
When there was no longer s.p.a.ce to retreat, Chu Yang closed his eyes with some despair. Suddenly, a graceful hand grabbed the banner pole, forcibly stopping the tip of the banner when it was just about two centimeters from the tip of his nose.
The strong wind created by the banner prevented Chu Yang from opening his eyes. As the wind howled, it blew all his long hair back.
By the time Chu Yang opened his eyes again, he saw the morning sun bursting out of the east and sending out a boundless golden light.
The white figure bathed in the golden sunlight was too dazzling; one could not see him clearly. He gave the impression of a celestial being, supreme and paramount.
The entire Cyclic Astral Palace fell silent, stunned at the sight of the white figure that charged in.
The wound on Xiao Chen"s chest slowly healed. Now, there were no problems on the surface. However, that sword strike had contained a gentle and reserved Qi, which he could not eliminate that quickly.
Xiao Chen withdrew his hand, and the Cycle Banner instantly returned to the Universe Ring.
The Young Treasure Master, Yi Ling, stared wide-eyed. He looked a few times before he believed that Xiao Chen was really here.
Xiao Chen had broken through the Infinite World"s Sun and Moon Formation and arrived at the Sun Palace.
Yi Ling had originally thought that this was impossible, but yet it actually happened with Xiao Chen. Tian Youxi had left this matter to him. After putting in a lot of effort, he managed to get Chu Yang to convince the Astral Lord. Unexpectedly, it still ended up like this.
Chu Yang recovered his wits as he looked at the familiar face of Xiao Chen. Earlier, he had been standing there, feeling great, but he ended up falling from the clouds. His heart pounded, and his breathing sped up as his complexion darkened.
Xiao Chen was clearly blocked. Why did he still end up breaking through?
Could it be that I, Chu Yang, really am incomparable to him? As the Sun Palace"s Holy Son, am I not even a quarter as capable as him?
The pain, depression, and conflict in Chu Yang"s heart made his heart race even faster.
When Xiao Chen saw this scene, he frowned. This Chu Yang had experienced a great rise and a great fall. Right now, his emotions were in disarray. It looked like he was entering a state of Berserking Qi Deviation.
"Bang!"
Suddenly, Xiao Chen stepped forward and landed a ferocious palm strike on Chu Yang"s chest.
"Pu ci!" Chu Yang vomited a mouthful of blood and went flying back.
"Xiao Chen! What are you trying to do?!" Fu Hongyao demanded in a tone filled with murderous intent.
The Moon Palace"s Holy Daughter had come down. When she saw this scene, her expression changed drastically. She quickly went over to support Chu Yang.
"Whoos.h.!.+ Whoos.h.!.+ Whoos.h.!.+"
At the same time, the many palaces, which dotted the vast sea surface like Night Pearls, sent out killing intent and locked down on Xiao Chen.
The atmosphere immediately turned extremely tense. Old men flew out of the palaces from all directions. In a short while, they had Xiao Chen surrounded, blocking off all paths of escape.
"Don"t attack! Don"t attack!" Chu Yang shouted hastily when he saw this scene.
At this moment, Chu Yang was pale, appearing weak. However, he seemed much more relaxed, and his breathing evened out. He now looked very carefree. His earlier extreme condition had vanished.
"Chu Yang, what"s going on?" the Moon Palace"s Holy Daughter asked somewhat anxiously.
Chu Yang waved his hand and looked at Xiao Chen in silence for a long time before saying, "Many thanks."
That was right. These were indeed the words "many thanks."
These words actually came out of Chu Yang"s mouth. Both Yi Ling and the Moon Palace"s Holy Daughter were shocked.
Xiao Chen replied calmly, "It was just in pa.s.sing. No matter who it is, I cannot possibly just watch someone enter a state of Berserking Qi Deviation in front of me."
Xiao Chen had not attacked to kill in that earlier palm strike. He had only knocked loose the blood around the other party"s heart vessels, allowing his heart to calm down.
Many times, the reason for entering a state of Berserking Qi Deviation was just the inability to look past something. By the time one truly entered a state of Berserking Qi Deviation and wanted to turn back, it would be beyond difficult.
If there was someone to help one calm down at the crucial moment and think through things, one would find that it was actually no big deal.
"Young Treasure Master Yi Ling, please leave first. I will invite you to the Cyclic Astral Palace as a guest another time," Chu Yang said calmly to Yi Ling.
When Yi Ling heard this, his face twitched. Chu Yang was actually driving him away. How could this do?
"Chu Yang, we already agreed to shoo this fellow away from the Cyclic Astral Palace together. Don"t tell me that the palm strike he delivered made you forget all the humiliation you suffered in the past?"
Chu Yang had just experienced a great rise and a great fall and returned from the verge of Berserking Qi Deviation. Many things that he could not figure out in the past were clear now.
When Xiao Chen saw Yi Ling trying to sow dissension, he said, "This so-called humiliation is only in your thoughts. If you view yourself too highly, then it is humiliation. If you lower yourself in your sight, then it is not. No one in this world is a main character. No one is n.o.bler than another. Could it be that you cannot endure even this small grievance?
"How can one not suffer any setbacks on the path of cultivation? As long as one works hard and is at peace, it will be fine. Most people seek out only a moment of delight, stirring up unrest. They do not sincerely care for your life or death. Look carefully. Who truly is your friend?"
Yi Ling said in a rage, "Xiao Chen, don"t quibble about this. What do you mean that I am only seeking out a moment of delight, not caring about Chu Yang"s life or death?"
Xiao Chen"s eyes remained calm without any fluctuation. He retorted calmly, "Is that not so? There is no need for you to make a reb.u.t.tal. Time will prove it; it will show what is right and what is wrong."
Most people seek out only a moment of delight, stirring up unrest. They do not sincerely care for your life or death. Look carefully. Who truly is your friend?
Chu Yang was shocked. These words kept repeating in his mind. He instantly felt enlightened like he understood everything.
"Well said! The ones that can give you a moment of delight, to help vent your frustration, are not your friends. A true friend is one who can allow one to be delighted for their entire life and not have any regrets, one who seeks for you to be free and unfettered, to have peace!"
As the two bickered, a youthful person with an extraordinary appearance, sculpted facial features, and sparkling eyes like stars and gems led a group of old men walking over.
This person exuded an extraordinary atmosphere as he walked. It was as if all the light in the world was focused on him. Amid the group of people, he was dazzling and glistening, abounding with a charm that eclipsed the brilliance of everyone else.
"Greetings, Cyclic Astral Lord!"
When the tens of thousands of Cyclic Astral Palace disciples from the thousands of palaces saw this person suddenly appear, they all bowed in reverence, saluting him with incredible respect.
Chu Yang and the Moon Palace"s Holy Daughter were both startled and quickly bowed. "Greetings, Master!"
It turned out that this person was the Cyclic Astral Lord. He was indeed charismatic with a strong presence. Xiao Chen performed a cupped-fist salute and bowed slightly in greeting.
The Young Treasure Master, Yi Ling, felt upset. Even though the Cyclic Astral Lord did not mention any names, the Cyclic Astral Lord was criticizing him, making him extremely upset.
However, Yi Ling still had to bow out of respect. He said sullenly, "Young Treasure Master Yi Ling greets the Cyclic Astral Lord."
The Cyclic Astral Lord looked at Yi Ling and smiled. "Do you think that I do not know what the Treasure Master is up to? I also know your purpose here. However, I really have to thank you for getting Chu Yang to convince me to activate the Infinite World"s Sun and Moon Formation."
Yi Ling immediately turned anxious, wanting to explain. However, the Cyclic Astral Lord interrupted him, saying, "You may leave now. Help me send a message to the Treasure Master. Others might not know his secrets, but I know some of them. Don"t let me grab hold of any evidence. Otherwise, I will smash him to death at any time!"
Yi Ling felt the fleeting killing intent of the Cyclic Astral Lord, and his heart sank. It frightened him into trembling a little.
"Yes, this junior will leave now."
Right after Yi Ling spoke, he looked balefully at Xiao Chen, then got on his golden war chariot and left dejectedly.
The Cyclic Astral Lord appeared to be in a good mood. He took out a bottle with a Medicinal Pill and handed it to Xiao Chen. "Azure Dragon King, you will not be able to remove the Moon Sword Qi in your body. There is a Sage Sun Pill in there. It will allow you to recover within three days."
Xiao Chen accepted the jade bottle, opened it, and sniffed. Immediately, the fiery aura started to flow slowly into his body, and his wounds felt much better.
"Many thanks."
The Cyclic Astral Lord smiled faintly and looked at Chu Yang. "Today, after your great rise and fall, you should be able to see more clearly what is right and what is wrong. Grab hold of the opportunity and enter closed-door cultivation. You will definitely advance to Consummation quasi-Emperor within three months."
"Yes!"
Chu Yang bowed respectfully and withdrew with the Moon Palace"s Holy Daughter.
"All of you, take your leave. I want to speak to the Azure Dragon King alone."
Xiao Chen noticed the respectful expressions of the various Cyclic Astral Palace disciples and elders.
He thought, This Cyclic Astral Lord makes me think of the words "heroic man." He has a very natural charisma, making others respect and submit to him, drawing them to him.
A heroic man, indeed.
"Speaking of which, you are really courageous. Back then, during the Dragon"s Gate"s reestablishment ceremony, I could be considered the greatest opposer behind the scene. How can you really be that courageous, to come over to the Cyclic Astral Palace? Are you not afraid that I will smash you to death with a palm strike?" the Cyclic Astral Lord asked with interest.
His tone was very relaxed, as if it was just a casual question. However, he seemed to give off an enormous pressure unconsciously.
This was the first time Xiao Chen met someone with such a strong presence. He was not in a rush to reply. After he calmed himself, he said, "I"m unable to guess what is in the Cyclic Astral Lord"s heart, but I can see the world that the Cyclic Astral Lord is seeing. Hence, I came."