AGM 388 - Incantation
Zhan Chen had fallen. The #4 ranking had an empty slot, and once the ranking battle was concluded, the Heavenly Fate Rankings would then be reshuffled.
After this battle, Qin Wentian formally entered into the top three. But as to what his actual ranking would be, that had yet to be determined.
Bailu Jing and Bailu Yi both had smiles on their faces, and even the large-eyed elder laughed. He then added in a low voice, “This young man actually did it, stepping into the top three. With such talent, his future is immeasurable.”
But as the large-eyed elder spoke, his eyes also flashed with a hint of worry.
Zhan Chen wasn’t an ordinary person, he was the pride of Pill Emperor Hall and one of their core disciples.
But in the ranking battle, Qin Wentian had killed him like it was nothing, without caring for the consequences. He had already slain so many of the Heaven’s Chosen from the various transcendent powers, how could the large-eyed elder not be worried?
Even if Qin Wentian obtained first, the grudges he’d formed with those transcendent powers would definitely carry over. They would seek his death.
Geniuses? One must definitely murder them while they were still in their cradle, before they had a chance to grow.
“Revealing his talent and potential like this, I don’t know if it would be a blessing or a calamity instead.” Bailu Yi’s father sighed.
“Maybe it’s just in his nature. Since the start of history, all those that were successful would choose not to suppress their heart. They dared to love, and dared to hate, and by yielding to their emotions, their dao-hearts became clear and tranquil, with no knots obstructing their progress. Even if the entire world was their enemy, so what of it? They would just take it in their stride. The Azure Emperor back then had the same personality as him, one that led him to soar brilliantly in the skies. But sadly, the hatred he garnered eventually became the cause of his downfall.”
The large-eyed elder spoke in a low voice. There were two kinds of people that would enjoy great success in life. The first kind, were people like Qin Wentian and the Azure Emperor, displaying their talent, not suppressing their heart, doing as they wished wherever and whenever they wanted it. The second kind, were those that could tolerate and endure what shouldn’t be tolerated and endured, lying to the world and even to themselves, appearing like a perfect gentleman, yet had the heart of a devil. Such a person, had a heart as deep as night, with an extremely sinister nature.
The root of it all, was still one’s nature. If one’s heart was strong enough, nothing could cause it to waver.
Mo Qingcheng stood there with a radiant smile on her face, as her white robes fluttered in the wind, emitting an aura of world-shaking beauty.
She looked at the silhouette standing on the arena platform, gazing upon her wonder and her pride. Throughout his entire journey, he had experienced so much. He’d killed Hua Xiaoyun for her, and today, by defeating Zhan Chen, had accomplished the condition her Master had imposed.
The spectators all had excitement on their faces. After the Purgatory Vermilion Bird devoured Zhan Chen’s, it emitted a baleful aura so intense it could cause the hearts of others to quail from looking at it. Right now, it seemed to greatly resemble its owner Qin Wentian, able to sweep through all obstacles impeding their way.
Qin Wentian’s gaze slowly shifted onto Si Qiong and Chen Wang.
Chen Wang also opened his eyes, and matched gazes with him. It was as though terrifying arcs of electricity were clashing in the space where their eyes locked.
“Just one more battle, and I will be standing in front of you. I hope that by then, you will be able to achieve what you proclaim, Mr. ‘Number One’,” Qin Wentian stated. After defeating Zhan Chen, he would be facing off against Si Qiong. If he was defeated, he would be ranked third place. But if he defeated Si Qiong, he would stand on the pinnacle of this stage, going head to head against Chen Wang.
Qin Wentian was the same as Chen Wang, they both had an unshakable confidence in themselves. It was as though Si Qiong served no other purpose than to become their stepping stones.
His statement completely disregarded Si Qiong’s existence.
There were people who thought that Qin Wentian was arrogant, but leaving him aside, whether it was Chen Wang and Si Qiong, or the defeated Shi Potian or even the deceased Zhan Chen, which among them wasn’t arrogant?
If they couldn’t be confident in their own strength, how could they remain standing on this stage? Confidence was a conviction, a force that would shape one’s destiny.
Si Qiong’s countenance grew sharp as he regarded Qin Wentian. What brazen arrogance, by saying such a thing to Chen Wang, he had totally brushed off his existence.
He, Si Qiong, appeared here today because he also desired to obtain the first ranking, yet he lost to Chen Wang. He could accept this, because Chen Wang had spent a longer time suppressing his own cultivation base to stay in Yuanfu. But against Qin Wentian who’d recently stepped into the ninth level, how could he be defeated?
“All of you will have a day of rest, the next fight will be Qin Wentian vs Si Qiong,” Old Man Tianji announced, as the spectators glanced at him.
Could it be that Old Man Tianji had sensed a premonition earlier? Is this why he arranged for Chen Wang to fight against Si Qiong first?
Back then when Old Man Tianji announced for Chen Wang and Si Qiong to fight first, the majority of the spectators felt puzzled. And now, they were starting to see the light. Had Old Man Tianji seen something when he peered into the future?
“Old Man Tianji is even able to observe the movement of the constellations and foretell the future. He must have known of the matter of Qin Wentian concealing his cultivation base.” The spectators mused, those with special Astral Souls or those who were extremely sensitive to the fluctuations of Astral Energy could tell the cultivation of others with a single glance, let alone someone stronger observing someone weaker.
Old Man Tianji must have this kind of ability, he must have known for quite some time that Zhan Chen had a very high probability of being defeated by Qin Wentian.
In that case, had Old Man Tianji also seen Si Qiong’s defeat from Qin Wentian’s hands?
Was this the reason why he’d pushed forward Chen Wang’s battle with Si Qiong?
Qin Wentian returned back to where Mo Qingcheng and Bai Qing were. After consuming the medicinal pills Mo Qingcheng passed her, Bai Qing’s injuries had already mostly recovered. She adorably pulled his arm as she smiled, “Wentian gege, you’re so awesome, you’re already in the top three!”
“As ranked #5, you aren’t too bad yourself. Not only that, you gave up voluntarily.” Qin Wentian rustled her hair, causing Bai Qing to pout lightly as she glared at him. “Wentian gege, I’m no longer a small girl.”
Qin Wentian studied Bai Qing for a moment as a smile appeared on his face. The little girl back then had really grown up, she was even more beautiful than her elder sister and with a far lovelier figure.
“In my eyes, there’s no difference.”
Qin Wentian smiled and proceeded to pinch her cheeks, causing Bai Qing to glare at him fiercely. This fellow was still the same, always pinching her cheeks and rustling her hair, he hadn’t changed despite the passing of the years. How despicable.
“Hmph.” Bai Qing snorted, but a similar grin soon appeared on her face.
It was a great feeling to have, it was as though she’d returned to her childhood, back to a life of innocence with no worries. Sitting with her Wentian gege, chatting leisurely.
How long had it been since she experienced such contentment?
“You should hurry and recover your Astral Energy.” Mo Qingcheng pulled his other arm as she gently reminded him. Qin Wentian stared at her and nodded, “The earlier battle didn’t consume too much of my energy reserves. Now that Old Man Tianji is allowing us to have a night of rest, this time span should be more than sufficient for my Astral Energy reserves to recover.”
“Don’t worry, I know what you’re thinking. I will take care of myself.” Qin Wentian held Mo Qingcheng’s hand tightly as they stared warmly at each other. Mo Qingcheng wasn’t worried about Qin Wentian getting first place or not, but rather, for his safety.
Qin Wentian sat cross-legged as several Yuan Meteor Stones appeared around him. After a short period of time passed, his Yuanfu Receptacles were all re-filled to the brim. At the same time, he made use of the excess energy to convert even more Divine Energy for the battle tomorrow.
After some time, Qin Wentian suddenly opened his eyes. Recently, there were too many things happening that made him feel puzzled, and more than a little curious.
For example, who was Yun Mengyi? Was she truly Princess Tianyu?
And his own father, back then when he descended onto Ancient Grand Xia and brought away a woman. Was that woman Yun Mengyi?
And if this were the case, then Yun Mengyi shouldn’t be this young.
If he wanted to know, the only way was for him to forage through the memories stored in the tiny astral-being.
As he thought of it, Qin Wentian’s attention zoomed onto the astral-being in his sea of consciousness. With the abundance of astral energy provided by the Yuan Meteor Stones, he once again arrived at a place of boundless starry skies, with many astral fragments floating around the atmosphere.
Each fragment contained a memory.
Throughout these years, he had unlocked several memories and gradually accepted the fact that the middle-aged man in these memories was his father.
These memory fragments, were all regarding his father.
Qin Wentian started to unlock the memory fragments one after another, seeking the memory regarding information about Ancient Grand Xia.
Many moments later, Qin Wentian stopped the unlocking process, as he began to tidy up and study the fragments which he had already unlocked. In these memory fragments, he saw an elegant pavilion with the middle-aged man sitting cross-legged, currently in the midst of cultivation. Above the Heavens, columns of resplendent Astral Light cascaded downwards to be absorbed into his body, when suddenly, a gigantic constellation was birthed next to the middle-aged man, shining with a brilliance beyond compare.
“How powerful.” Qin Wentian involuntarily drew in a breath. However at this moment, the middle-aged coughed as the manifested constellation abruptly vanished. He then spat out a mouthful of black blood as his countenance paled. Evidently, he was grievously injured.
Gazing at the Heavens, emotions of frustration and disappointment could be seen in the middle-aged man’s eyes, before the emotions transformed back into tenacity. That gaze, was as though it transformed into a terrifying sharp sword, shooting straight up the dome of Heavens, desiring to split it apart. Even though this was nothing but a memory, Qin Wentian could feel a sharpness so acute it terrified him.
Behind the middle-aged man, a figure slowly walked up, and upon nearing, that figure half-knelt on the ground, remaining motionless.
The middle-aged man turned his head before walking above to guide the figure up. He then patted the figure’s shoulder heavily, as though the figure was a very close friend which he hadn’t met for a long time. But despite the middle-aged man’s actions, there was still a hint of respect in that figure’s eyes.
“It’s him?!” Upon seeing this, Qin Wentian’s heart pounded violently as huge waves akin to a tsunami crashed into it.
The Heavenly Stele Steps trial, that hadn’t been a coincidence. It was a test designed for, and left behind for him.
Beside the middle-aged man, another silhouette appeared, this was none other than the woman who bore a striking resemblance to Yun Mengyi.
And at this moment, the recording in the fragments abruptly ended.
When Qin Wentian opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flickered within as he turned his head, upon noticing a female figure currently making her way to him. This person was none other than Yun Mengyi.
Yun Mengyi cast a glance at Mo Qingcheng, feeling stunned beyond words, marvelling at her beauty. No wonder Qin Wentian wasn’t tempted by her, it was because he already had a companion like Mo Qingcheng.
“I have some things I need to speak with him alone,” Yun Mengyi lightly spoke. Mo Qingcheng glanced at Qin Wentian before nodding lightly, pulling Bai Qing away.
“Tell me the truth, who are you?” Qin Wentian’s gaze turned extremely sharp as he questioned.
“I told you before, it’s up to you whether you believe it or not. Now, I’m going to impart an incantation to you,” Yun Mengyi stated, “If you take out the three pieces of the Divine Stele and recite this incantation, you will be granted the power to summon the ancient will. This will bring forth the other six broken remnants, unifying them into a single, flawless piece. And with the restoration of the Divine Stele, only then will you possess the true nine ultimate arts of Grand Xia. But heed my words—the remnants are still guarded closely by the other six out of the seven surviving grand clans. Once you’ve made your decision to summon the other six steles, the result may not be a blessing, it may bring nothing but calamity instead!”