An investigation was done by the imperial family about the deeds of the Pu Family. After a week of investigation, they also discovered that the Pu Family was secretly selling slaves towards the neighboring empires.
Everyone from the Celestial Sword Empire cursed the Pu Family"s actions. They actually sold the people from the empire just to earn more money. Their actions earned the condemnation of the people.
The next day, the emperor ordered the Grand General, Ling Tian to exterminate the Pu Famy from the roots and also to behead Pu Lutan in front of the public to warn the other n.o.bles who were doing the same thing behind the empire"s back.
"The Pu Family is finished this time. This is their retribution for all the wicked deeds they have done for the past few decades."
"That"s right! They fully deserve this ending for selling off the empire"s people as slaves to the neighboring empires."
"I heard that the scoundrel Pu Ta provoked a mysterious young lord. It was also this young lord"s people who captured the patriarch of the Pu Family, Pu Lutan."
"Eh? Really? I didn"t know something like this happened."
The news about the Pu Family"s impending doom circulated around the entire Celestial Sword Empire. This was done by the imperial family to scare off the remaining n.o.bles who were also doing atrocious deeds within the empire.
Cale smirked after hearing the news. "Looks like the emperor wants me to be slowly known by the citizens. This will make it easier for him to reward me with a n.o.ble t.i.tle without earning the discontent of the people and the other n.o.bles.
The emperor is truly a wise person. By circulating this news, aside from spreading about my emergence, the other n.o.bles who had done evil deeds would also be scared out of their wits. Other than that, the empire will also gain the approval of the citizens, which will, in turn, minimize the chances of rebellion. It"s like killing many birds with one stone...
Emperor Aventus, your present strength is not gained by luck at all, but because of your wisdom... Interesting!"
He then glanced at a boorish-looking man in the practicing field who was exchanging pointers with Zero. The two exchanged dozens of blows, but neither of them gained the upper hand.
The boorish-looking man was naturally Wenren Wushuang. His injuries were already fully healed, and his realm was even more consolidated than before.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Zero was already at the mid stage of the Immortal-Cla.s.s level. He appeared to be at ease as he was brandis.h.i.+ng his two short swords, but he was inwardly shocked at the strength of Wenren Wushuang. His sword skills, in particular, were almost as impressive as Cale"s in his opinion.
Zero"s advantage was his battle perception and exceptional speed. On the other hand, Wenren Wushuang was able to go toe to toe with him due to his elementary form of sword intent. Even Cale was yet to form his sword intent, but he did not plan to train it. He had the advantage since he can simply buy it in The Black Market, so why would he waste his time in perfecting his sword skills when he can simply gain the same skills after buying one from Asteria?
"This is merely the elementary form of sword intent. You can learn it from me if you give me five billion Black Coins. You can also learn the intermediate form of sword intent from me for fifty billion Black Coins." Asteria"s disdainful voice resounded beside his ears. A small fairy also materialized in front of him. This was Asteria"s fairy form. She glanced contemptuously at the fight between Zero and Wenren Wushuang as if they were uncouth barbarians with no true skills.
Cale ignored her and continued watching the two with a tranquil look. He appeared to be lost in his own thoughts, but if one would look closely in his eyes, they would find themselves sinking deeply in its profoundness.
Asteria glanced at Cale after being ignored by him. She was about to scold him again when she saw the changes in his aura. His sword intent was rising at a discernible speed. "Sudden Enlightenment?! Hehe! I wonder what he will earn this time. This kind of enlightenment can only be sought but can"t be given. Only a few of the top prodigies from the Divine Realm had experienced this kind of thing..."
Zero and Wenren Wushuang frowned after sensing a strong aura. They then saw Cale standing still like an ancient monolith, unmoved even after the erosion of time. They knew that he was experiencing some kind of special sensation, so they did not dare disturb him. They guarded the vicinity while looking intently at Cale. His aura was rising by the second, they even felt a hint of fear after sensing his aura.
The crimson sky of Shura parted ways and a void slowly emerge, enlarging at a visible speed. Crackles of lightning can be heard within the void, scaring the inhabitants of Shura.
"What the h.e.l.l is that?!"
"Are the G.o.ds going to descend on our world?"
"This..."
All the top experts of Shura glanced solemnly at the void. They wanted to pry at the secrets of the void, but their eyes bled after a brief second of looking at it.
Even Emperor Aventus looked away after giving it a brief look. He clutched his aching head and swallowed the blood that was about to come out of his mouth. "What kind of being can summon this kind of heavenly phenomenon? Is this a good thing or a bad thing for our world?"
Similar things happened to all the top experts of Shura, some even experienced a major backlash after peering at the void forcefully.
Meanwhile, inside their temporary villa, Cale was oblivious to these events. But Asteria knew that he was the reason for the strange phenomenon above the sky.
The void gave off an archaic aura that made everyone in Shura prostrate in awe and fear. They did not even dare glance at the sky, afraid that they will be killed.
"Heavenly Tribulation? But why would the Void of Tribulation come down for Cale when he is only experiencing a Sudden Enlightenment? Strange..." Asteria muttered silently to herself while staring curiously at the void above the sky. She was actually unhurt even after staring at it for a very long time.
Suddenly, Cale"s sword intent spread around him, destroying everything in the vicinity within the process. Asteria waved her right hand gently to create a small barrier that blocked his ferocious sword intent. "Tsk! Consider this as my gift to you for being my holder." She then closed her beautiful pair of eyes and chanted and incomprehensible mantra.
A small ball of energy appeared in front of her, it was greedily sucking the elemental essence within ten thousand mile radius. If Cale saw it, he will surely be pleasantly surprised since it looked the same as the Superior Elemental Essence Bundle that he had consumed before. But the elemental essence on this ball of energy was many times stronger than the Superior Elemental Essence Bundle.
Asteria tapped Cale"s glabella and shoved the ball of energy inside his mouth.
After doing that, the sword intent around Cale became much calmer and more tranquil like still water.
"He actually gained the advance form of Sword Intent, the Heart of Sword!" Asteria exclaimed in surprise after sensing the tranquil sword intent of Cale.
There are five forms of Sword Intent: the Elementary Form of Sword Intent, Sword Wind; the Intermediate Form of Sword Intent, Sword Soul; the Advance Form of Sword Intent, Heart of Sword; the Peak Form of Sword Intent, Sword Revolution; and the Final Form of Sword Intent, Sword Divinity.
The experts who can control sword intent were considered as the top masters of the Divine Realm, so Cale who had formed the Advance Stage of Sword Intent was destined to become a top master of the Divine Realm, but of course, that is a story that will later be told.
"But the birth of an Advance Form of Sword Intent would not produce this kind of heavenly phenomenon. Just what kind of... What the h.e.l.l? Nascent Soul?!" Asteria"s eyes went wide like saucers after seeing Cale"s soul slowly solidifying. It formed a mini version of Cale, and it silently floated above him.
"So that"s how it is... He formed his Nascent Soul when he is only breaking through towards the Immortal-Cla.s.s level. How can this be? A Nascent Soul can only be formed when a cultivator is at the Earth Enlightenment Realm... Impossible!"
The void above the sky slowly vanished, and it reverted back to the former crimson sky. All the inhabitants of Shura felt the dreadful aura vanis.h.i.+ng, making them sigh in relief.
Cale slowly opened his eyes. The wolf mask on his face cracked and broke into pieces, revealing his devilishly handsome face.
Despite losing the effects of his mask, he actually retained his look when it was on him. His long silver hair fluttered along with the wind. A faint smile hung on his face as he checked his body.
"I broke through two minor realms in one go and reached the mid stage of the Immortal-Cla.s.s level. Heh! "