Chapter 253: The battle has come
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
The impact of Xiao Yan’s attack lingered on for a long while before it dissipated gradually. Within the waves of burning fire, a figure revealed itself – he was Prince Chong Yun.
At this point, he resembled a wounded lone wolf, looking as brutal as ever.
Even though he was in a most embarrassing situation, he did not seem to be injured. His face was covered with dirt and filth; his Four Dragons Robe was torn beyond repair.
However, all the spectators present were able to tell that this robe he was wearing was actually a Nascent Soul Stage weapon that combined the abilities to attack and defend, making it an unprecedentedly powerful magic item.
And it was this robe that shielded Xiao Yan from this immensely destructive strike. But now, this robe was completely defunct, having lost all of its powers, and there was no way the powers could be restored or the robe repaired.
A Nascent Soul Stage magic item was destroyed completely by Xiao Yan’s previous strike immediately!
Prince Chong Yun stared intently at Xiao Yan with a murderous look. He did not speak a word and waved his arm. Suddenly, a flash of black-purple sword radiance flew to the sky.
When this flash of black-purple sword radiance appeared, concern was registered on the expressions of everyone present.
Only a magic treasure could release so much power. It felt almost as though the sky were going to be split into halves.
Although he refused to admit, Prince Chong Yun actually felt threatened by Xiao Yan whose training and skills were a far cry from him. He therefore resorted to unleashing the Evil Shadow Sword that he always carried with him.
Purple-black sword radiance suddenly spread apart in the sky, like fairies scattering petals of flowers, shrouding the entire sky. The ubiquitous sword radiance formed a huge enchanted barrier, shrouding Xiao Yan and Prince Chong Yun within.
Someone from the Nascent Soul Stage having to use a magic treasure in a fight against another from the Aurous Core Stage was supposedly amusing, but none of those present felt that Prince Chong Yun’s action was disproportionate nor unjustified. Recalling the powerful blow executed by Xiao Yan, everyone was still reeling from shock and fear.
Lin Feng felt that he could let Prince Chong Yun humiliate his own disciple. Disregarding the fact that Xiao Yan’s power just hit an all-time low after executing that last blow, even if Xiao Yan were in his prime, he was still no match for the magic treasure. After all, he was now only a beginner in the Aurous Core Stage.
Holding the Sky-shielding Umbrella, Lin Feng briefly scanned the Supreme Radiance Swordmaster and the Stellar Holy Man and flicked his finger gently. A red ball of fire entered the space that Prince Chong Yun’s Evil Shadow Sword sealed off.
The Stellar Holy Man was silent. Indeed, the wheel of fortune was always turning. Just a while ago, he attempted to stop Lin Feng from interfering with the battle between Xiao Yan and Prince Chong Yun. But now, things had changed. Instead, he was wary of Lin Feng’s existence and did not dare to interfere with the battle as he wished.
What caught his and the Supreme Radiance Swordmaster’s attention was that the Red Fireball flicked by Lin Feng directly penetrated the enchanted barrier set up by the Evil Shadow Sword Radiance.
The Evil Shadow Sword is a sword device; its primary powers lay in its attacking ability and not in its ability in creating enchanted barriers to insulate a space from the outside world.
However, the fact that it could be penetrated easily only demonstrated the extraordinariness of the Red Fireball.
They believed that, based on Lin Feng’s status and character, he would not directly aid his disciple in attacking Prince Chong Yun or take on Prince Chong Yun alongside his disciple.
Paying close attention to the Red Fireball, the two Immortal Soul cultivators discovered that within the fireball hid a violently destructive power. It vaguely releases an awe belonging to the Dragon Tribe, striking fear in the hearts of many. With an earth-shattering surge of power, it must be an Immortal Soul magic treasure.
The fireball penetrated the space surrounded by the enchanted barrier, immediately transforming into a set of blazing full-body armor. Its unrelenting power expanded ceaselessly, causing the entire barricaded space to inch towards collapse and destruction.
This set of armor was precisely the Flaming Dragon Celestial Armor created by Lin Feng.
Originally, Lin Feng’s Avatar of Ares was supposed to be inside the Flaming Dragon Celestial Armor. The Avatar of Ares and the armor were supposed to merge as one to form the complete Flaming Dragon Celestial Armor. But Lin Feng delivered the armor into the barricaded space not with the intention of settling the battle himself.
As he controlled with his mental will, the Avatar of Ares quickly shrunk and entered directly the Zhuyan Demon Eye located in front of the chest armor.
The Flaming Dragon Celestial Armor made an ear-splitting roar, and latched itself onto Xiao Yan’s body.
The armor transformed itself automatically to fit Xiao Yan’s body. Indeed, the armor fit Xiao Yan perfectly well – the headgear which resembled the dragon head covered all of Xiao Yan’s facial features, leaving only his eyes visible. Flames danced in his pupils, one of them golden and the other purple, replete with the potential and the power to wreak havoc.
As it was his first time synthesizing the merging of two Primordial Flames, it was inevitable that Xiao Yan was not entirely skilled at it. Not only was his powers completely exhausted, his soul also sustained some damage, causing his head to be in splitting pain.
But now that the Flaming Dragon Celestial Armor was latched onto Xiao Yan’s body, its immense powers momentarily revived Xiao Yan’s Primordial Flame Aurous Core. His entire state of mind became unprecedentedly clear.
He bellowed loudly at the sky, like a dragon’s roar penetrating the heavens. By then, his powers were already as one with the magic treasure. Behind the armor, a thunderous noise was heard as a pair of gigantic wings covered in flames extended themselves.
One of the wings was purple while the other was golden, and they were formed by the Nefarious Spectral Primordial Fire and the Grand Sun Primordial Flame respectively. Their impressiveness was unparalleled – each wing spanned miles, and when they were both extended at the same time, they could cover the sky.
The space surrounded by the enchanted barrier, which was created by the Evil Shadow Sword Radiance, was instantly destroyed. Prince Chong Yun was worried. He gestured with his fingers. Immediately, the shattered Evil Shadow Sword Radiance evolved, transforming itself into an infinite number of Sword Shadows populating the sky.
Every black-purple Sword Shadow transcended the void and was directed at Xiao Yan with lethal impact. Countless Sword Shadows were woven together, and they fell upon Xiao Yan in a crushing and endless fashion. The void within miles was sliced into pieces.
When Zhao Yan and the Sword of Radiance Sect’s disciples witnessed this, their expressions immediately changed. When Prince Chong Yun wielded his magic treasure, the Evil Shadow Sword, to launch attacks, the impact of every Sword Shadow was much greater than that of Zhao Yan when he wielded the most lethal attack of the Radiant Clouds Sword Technique in the battle with Xiao Budian.
Prince Chong Yun’s single attack was tantamount to millions of Zhao Yan launching full attacks at the same time.
Being up against this sword technique, even Xiao Yan was impressed, "The magic treasure’s potential is indeed shocking."
But he was unafraid, for he was donning Lin Feng’s Flaming Dragon Celestial Armor!
Shi Chong Yun was not the only one with magic treasure, after all.
Xiao Yan extended his armor-covered arms forward. Suddenly, the armors on his left and right hands lit up with fire at the same time. On one side was the Nefarious Spectral Primordial Fire, while on the other was the Grand Sun Primordial Flame.
Under the godly powers of the Flaming Dragon Celestial Armor, fiery flames extended from his arms, forming two massive dragon claws made of the two Primordial Flames.
Xiao Yan spread open his arms. The two massive claws held close to each other in front of his chest were separated. As he swung his extended arms, the impact was so strong as though it would shatter the heaven and Earth. Instantly, the ubiquitous Sword Shadows by the Evil Shadow Sword were destroyed.
It was as though a person held a tattered cloth, and used all of his might to tear it apart from the center of the cloth.
Witnessing this scene, Prince Chong Yun was more concerned and worried than before. With a gesture of his finger, a flash of black-purple sword radiance hovered mid-air before him. It revealed its original self – an old common sword replete with evilness. The tip of the sword pointed right at Xiao Yan.
The blade of the Evil Shadow Sword resembled a black mass of shadow. It vibrated non-stop in mid-air, as though it were not in solid form. But the blade was so sharp that everyone present could sense its lethality and the bloody havoc it could wreak.
Xiao Yan looked at Prince Chong Yun and the Evil Shadow Sword coldly without any hint of fear. Every piece of armor around his body vibrated non-stop as though they were imbued with life. The Mighty Auspicious Clouds exclusive to the Dragon Tribe arose beside him, threatening Prince Chong Yun unyieldingly.
Right at that moment, Lin Feng, the Supreme Radiance Swordmaster, and the Stellar Holy Man could sense something amiss, as they looked towards the distant sky at the same time.
The sky suddenly cracked open and an elderly clothed in a simple manner walked out of the crevice slowly. The elderly stood in the void and stopped moving forward. Instead, he put his hands together to greet Lin Feng, the Supreme Radiance Swordmaster and the Stellar Holy Man.
"Greetings to Lord Lin, Supreme Radiance Swordmaster and Stellar Holy Man, " he bowed to each of them, and then greeted Prince Chong Yun, "Huang Jiugong pays his respect to Your Highness."
Prince Chong Yun did not bother to turn around, his eyes remained transfixed on Xiao Yan. He said impatiently, "Huang Jiugong, what are you doing here?"
Huang Jiugong, the elderly man, replied calmly, "Prime Minister Wu received news regarding Your Highness’s concubine. It seemed that His Majesty has decided on the lady. I am just here on Prime Minister Wu’s order to give Your Highness a heads up."
Prince Chong Yun’s demeanor changed immediately. He could not even be bothered about Xiao Yan. He quickly turned his head to look at Huang Jiugong.
Huang Jiugong’s demeanor was respectful, but he did not cower in the face of Chong Yun’s wolf-like stare. His stare remained as calm as ever.
Dead silence permeated the entire Xingyun Peak. Everyone kept quiet, held their breaths, and fixed their state on the two individuals in the sky – Prince Chong Yun and Huang Jiugong.
A grin appeared on Lin Feng’s face. Undoubtedly, Huang Jiugong must be Prime Minister Wu Qingrou’s subordinate.
Even though it was never made explicit, many of those involved knew that the reason Prince Chong Yun came to Xingyun Peak was that the Sword of Radiance Sect brought up Murong Yanran’s marriage.
He picked on Xiao Yan was, to a large extent, also because of Murong Yanran.
What Huang Jiugong just did or, to be more precise, what Wu Qingrou just did, was as good as giving Prince Chong Yun a resounding slap in his face in front of Lin Feng, the Supreme Radiance Swordmaster and the rest.
The power play in the empire and the confusion related to the succession of the throne were made public entirely.
"What is Wu Qingrou really trying to do?" Lin Feng looked at Prince Chong Yun with great interest, "Could it be that Shi Chong Yun’s title as the Prince of the empire is now at stake?"
Prince Chong Yun took a deep breath, and asked with a deep voice, "Who’s it?"
Huang Jiugong uttered a name. It was neither Murong nor Yanran.
An ambivalent smile appeared on Prince Chong Yun’s face. He said darkly, "Wu Qingrou… Wu Qingrou… tsk!"
"Let’s go!" he shouted suddenly, ready to leave with the Evil Shadow Sword. With a blink of an eye, he vanished into thin air.
Huang Jiugong sighed, and quickly followed him. Prince Chong Yun’s followers also quickly left with Huang Jiugong.
Xiao Yan looked at the direction where Prince Chong Yun disappeared. Prince Chong Yun’s wolfish voice rang beside his ears, "So, you are Xiao Yan? I concede that you are quite impressive. But this is only the start, I would love to see if the Leader of the Celestial Sect of Wonders can protect you for the rest of your life!"
Xiao Yan frowned. He did not say a word but merely smiled coldly. He knew very clear deep down that this would not be his last battle with the Prince of the Great Qin Empire.
He descended onto the ground. The Flaming Dragon Celestial Armor had disappeared completely. Just as he wanted to report to Lin Feng, his heart skipped a beat, as he looked at the other side.
There, a girl in white was walking over slowly. That was Murong Yanran.
Murong Yanran came to the front of the Supreme Radiance Swordmaster and paid her respect gracefully. She did not say a word.
The Supreme Radiance Swordmaster was expressionless. He said slowly, "Don’t worry about it. The battle was inevitable; it was only a matter of time. The few days don’t make any difference."
"Yanran is indebted to the sect and the Supreme Radiance Swordmaster. Thank you for your forgiveness," Murong Yanran stood up; her gaze at Xiao Yan was steady and calm.
"The Supreme Radiance Swordmaster, Murong family, Murong Yanran, send their greetings to Senior Xiao."