Chapter 832: Head for the Secluded Springs!
“Xia Fei, I’m afraid that we must make a trip to the Demon Race territory as soon as possible,” Oro said grimly.
Xia Fei was taken aback, and so he asked, “A trip to Demon Race territory? Why?”
Oro very mysteriously replied, “It’s easy to understand what Fig and the Hall Of Valor mean, as they are just obviously there, but the name ‘Ark’ got me thinking about a legend I heard a very long time ago. Because of how long it’s been, I already forgot the general details about it. That’s why I want us to head to a place and investigate the matter personally.”
Xia Fei lit a cigarette and took a drag.
Given how mysterious the existence of the Cosmic Gate was, as if it were shrouded in a thick fog, Xia Fei felt that it was hardly just a simple gate; it was even highly probable that the symbolic meaning behind it was presently undecipherable. Otherwise, the Black and White G.o.ds would not have wasted their breath in asking Xia Fei to take a good look at the true face of the Law Realm.
“Okay, let’s head to the place you want to go right away,” Xia Fei said.
The demon lord nodded. “I want to try and recall some details first. I’ll inform you once I’ve sorted things out clearly.”
…
Xia Fei returned to the Wind Garden. He did not mention the matter regarding Wu Yuming to Xia Wuye.
The Skywing Clan not having enough manpower was just one of its downsides. Wuye and the information department subordinate to him failed to uncover the true cultivation of Wu Yuming not because they were unconscientious with their work, but due to the urgency of the situation and Wu Yuming keeping his true strength deeply hidden.
Xia Wuye looked like he had been strolling about the courtyard every day when, actually, he was just extremely busy. There were plenty of things that the old man had to decide, and given his loyalty to the clan, he would definitely blame himself if he learned he had made any mistake with his work, so Xia Fei decided not to say a word regarding Wu Yuming in order to avoid such a situation.
He concocted a couple of medicine back in his room and applied it all over his body so as to recover from the burns he received from the Rending Yang Fire. It was all thanks to the defensive capabilities of the war armor, Monohorn Ogre, that Xia Fei had managed to avoid being burned too badly. As such, he only needed three days at most to recover.
After that was done, Xia Fei resumed his training to be an artificer. Xia Fei benefited greatly from Laos.h.i.+’s teachings, and so he made remarkable progress in the field.
Xia Laos.h.i.+ was quite speechless after seeing Xia Fei’s performance. Legends existed about people who could learn anything they put their mind to, and Xia Fei was precisely one such person.
In just a week’s time, Xia Fei had actually reached the precipice of level 4 in the Law of Artificing!
This was a completely shocking improvement!
Once he crossed this threshold, Xia Fei would become a master of dual professions just like Xia Laos.h.i.+!
It was unfortunate that Xia Fei had no way of deciphering the profound and complex Thousand Shapes Painting; Xia Fei was truly disappointed over this.
Deep at night.
Xia Fei was working hard in the training room when Oro, who had not spoken for some time, suddenly told Xia Fei, “It’s about time. Get ready. We’ll be heading to the Demon Race territory early tomorrow morning.”
Slightly surprised, Xia Fei ended his training.
“Where to?” he asked.
“The Ark that Hua Hei and Hua Bai mentioned, what’s the first question that comes to mind when you think about it?” Oro asked.
“I wanna know just what the Ark is,” Xia Fei answered. “The Hall Of Valor and Fig are a shrine and the high-tech corporation respectively, while the Ark sounds like the name of a wars.h.i.+p. I checked the databases of both the Skywing Clan and the Law Enforcement Board, but the word ‘Ark’ didn’t turn up at all. I suppose that Ark may not just be a wars.h.i.+p but a very secret wars.h.i.+p, too.”
Oro nodded with a smile. “There’s someone who can help us find the answer to what the Ark is, and I’m taking you to see him right now.”
The Black and White G.o.ds would not tell Xia Fei these three names for no rhyme or reason. They must have some secret and special connection to the Cosmic Gate, and in order to solve this mystery behind the ‘Ark’, which in turn would help Xia Fei learn the truth about the Cosmic Gate, he was of course more than willing to go on this trip.
The old demon lord took off from his finger a ring carved with a golden lion and said in a deep voice, “Take this. It’ll be useful.”
Xia Fei nodded. He injected Law of Primal Chaos power to his right arm and pa.s.sed through the boundary made up of the Law of Ternary Spectrum before opening the coffin Oro was encased in to take his ring.
This ring may not be very large, but its very ma.s.s was much heavier than expected. The wild lion carving on it was intricate, looking very vivid. Xia Fei would often see Oro twist and play with it as if it were a very precious ring that he cherished greatly.
“This ring symbolizes the supreme emperor of the Lionhearts, holding the pinnacle of authority; it’s called the Three Lions Imperial Jade! There are a total of three of these rings in the Lionheart Royal Clan, and they all are respectively owned by me and two others who hold the highest authority among the royalty. You can use this to command the entire Lionheart Clan,” Oro said solemnly.
Xia Fei was startled!
The old demon lord had just given him a weapon of his; it seemed like this person he wanted Xia Fei to meet would not be just any average individual!
……
*Whoosh*
The spatial compa.s.s brought Xia Fei to the Demon Race’s border region. Xia Fei was here to find his old friend, the grandson of Oro, Heathfield.
Heathfield invited Xia Fei to his study and gave him a boisterous welcome.
Xia Fei surrept.i.tiously looked to the left and right, indicating that he wanted unimportant people to leave the two of them alone.
Heathfield frowned, not understanding why Xia Fei acted so cautiously this time, but out of the trust he had for Xia Fei, he acquiesced to his request.
Xia Fei then carefully took out from his bosom the emperor’s ring, the Three Lions Imperial Jade!
The moment Heathfield saw the ring, the golden fur all over his face instantly stood on end! His eyes then shone with a golden glow!
As a member of royalty, Heathfield had been subjected to the most comprehensive royal education, and he of course recognized the ring symbolizing the highest authority in his clan! However, what he could not make sense of was how the ring ended up in Xia Fei’s hands.
The Three Lions Imperial Jade was akin to having the emperor himself presented before him!
*Plonk*
Heathfield merely stalled for a second before he brought his head down into a full prostrating position and he barely hesitated in doing so.
This was the style of the Lionhearts!
Every major clan in the Law Realm had its uniqueness. The Skywings were the Law Realm’s Demon-sealing Fiendish Blade, the most carefree and very much advocated for equality. Its members had nearly devilish temperaments, while the Lionhearts were the ones who valued loyalty! Their unreserved loyalty was toward their clan and, ultimately, the leader of their clan!
Though this wors.h.i.+p which superseded all was blind, it had to be mentioned that the cohesion of the Lionhearts was not any worse than the Skywings. The discussion on freedom that happened with the Skywings would never appear within the Lionhearts. Here, absolute servitude was the only thing that mattered!
“You recognized this ring?” Xia Fei asked severely.
“I do! That’s the true emperor’s authority ring among the royalty, the Three Lions Imperial Jade!” Heathfield hurriedly answered.
This sincere att.i.tude of piety made Xia Fei feel a little awkward. After all, Heathfield was an important member of the Lionheart Royalty, yet he was kneeling before him without any hesitation?
“What are you stunned there for? There’s no need to explain anything to him. You can now represent me and give him orders,” Oro instructed.
Xia Fei pursed his lips and gravely stated, “From now on, every word I say will be on behalf of this ring’s owner!”
*Sha!*
Golden fur swayed!
Heathfield trembled involuntarily after hearing this statement.
He was well aware that Xia Fei had some mysterious relations.h.i.+p with Oro, and now that Xia Fei had stated that he would be the ring owner’s herald, there was no doubt in Heathfield’s mind that the old demon lord was still alive! How could Heathfield not be invigorated hearing this!
It had been many tens of thousands of years!
The Lionhearts had not heard any news regarding their clan’s emperor, and though they knew that Oro had an immortal body, an Immortal Emperor who had not appeared was practically no different from one who had died.
However, now, Xia Fei had just invoked Oro’s name to give a secret order; he had even taken out a token that could not be any more real!
Were it not for being in the presence of the Three Lions Imperial Jade, which shut up Heathfield, he would very much let loose a heartrending roar!
They had been constrained for so long; the distinguished Lionhearts had actually lost their emperor! This was a huge shame to the clan!
*Bang bang bang bang*
Heathfield kept kowtowing repeatedly, so agitated that he could not even utter a single word.
“The majesty of the Three Lions Imperial Jade is something only those of royal lineage can comprehend. Now, my grandson is in your hands. Do as I say and act freely!” the old demon lord said in a low voice. It was as if he had found a measure of his heroism of yesteryear, appearing to be a lot more energetic than before. He was no longer how he was in the past, listless as he hid in Xia Fei’s spatial ring, the only thought in mind being how to persuade Xia Fei into killing him soon.
Xia Fei had already expected that this emperor’s ring would hold plenty of secrets that others would not understand; otherwise, there was no way Heathfield would immediately identify it as the real ring without even needing to authenticate it, even going as far as to humble himself before it.
However, these were Oro’s family affairs, and Xia Fei had no desire to ask in detail. After a brief pause, he spoke again. “Okay, get up. Actually, the ring’s owner only have just one request: Bring me to the Secluded Springs.”
“Secluded Springs?!” Heathfield appeared to be very shaken upon hearing the name, but with the Lionhearts’ tradition of obedience, he could only grit his teeth and respond with great excitement. “I understand!”
Almost as if wanting to ease Xia Fei’s mind, Heathfield stood up, turned on a screen in front of Xia Fei, and contacted the other royals there and then.
From where Xia Fei was sitting, it afforded him a clear view of everything while he did not need to worry about those people on the screen discovering him.
“It’s me, Heathfield!” Facing his fellow clansmen over the screen, Heathfield exuded his toughness as he returned to his status as a royal.
“Lord Heathfield, what are your orders?”
“I want five—no, ten squads from the Black Lions Regiment. Now!” Heathfield firmly ordered.
“Ten squads ? Are you sure? That will cost you all your contribution points!” the person on the screen asked, appearing somewhat shocked.
Heathfield laughed out loud. “I’ve never been more certain of a decision my entire life!”
Xia Fei was a little puzzled, so he asked Oro, “Just what is the Black Lions Regiment?”
Oro replied, somewhat pleased, “The Black Lions Organization is the elite combat regiment of the Lionhearts. Every member is an expert at the Law Emperor cultivation or higher. Every ten of these warriors form one squad, and a hundred can be considered a platoon. There are a total of three hundred warriors in the regiment.”
Xia Fei was completely astounded. The total population of Lionhearts was greater than humans, and they did not fraction into smaller clans the way humans did. Instead, they kept close contact, so the number of experts that they had was naturally many times more.
However, Heathfield actually asked to mobilize a hundred Law Emperors for his request! Was it not just a tad bit exaggerated?
“For it to require so many high-level warriors, just where exactly is that Secluded Springs we’re heading off to!” Xia Fei exclaimed.
The old demon lord answered with a strange laugh, “Well, it’s not any place good.”