Chapter 542: Rushing to the Heavenly Saber Pavilion
The Thunder Emperor Valley was not anybody’s personal property. No one had the right to monopolize it for themselves and stop others from comprehending.
On the Tianwu Continent, Martial Monarchs were the peak combat force. No matter where they went, they would be respected by thousands of people; they could be a bigshot anywhere.
However, there were too few Martial Monarchs. The Great Qin Nation had more than a hundred million people. Counting both known and unknown Martial Monarchs, the total would come to fewer than fifty.
Some powers who sought guest elders could not find Martial Monarchs. So, they could only lower their expectations and look for half-step Martial Monarchs.
Before the age of geniuses, if a Martial Monarch did not come out, a half-step Martial Monarch would be the strong fighting force of a nation.
Half-step Martial Monarchs would be able to obtain respected and glorious positions. No matter where they went, they would be treated politely. This was how the old men in the Thunder Emperor Valley were treated.
So, when those old men in the Thunder Emperor Valley first saw Xiao Chen, they immediately put on airs, wanting him to wait for over a year and a half first.
These old men had not realized that times had changed. In this age of geniuses, half-step Martial Monarchs were nothing.
The strongest half-step Martial Monarch, the Bloody Bladesman, Sun Guangquan, clearly recognized this. He knew that this was the age of geniuses.
Only by continuously becoming stronger would Sun Guangquan not get left behind by the times. If he continued to rest on his laurels, he would only become a stepping stone for geniuses.
The immortal will of thunder in the sky still had not appeared. Xiao Chen found a place and sat down cross-legged. Then, he closed his eyes and started comprehending.
The lightning-attributed Spiritual Energy here was particularly lively. Occasionally, one might see arcs of electricity in the air.
It was hard to imagine that this will of thunder had survived for a few thousand years until now without weakening.
The Thunder Emperor, the strongest Martial Emperor of his age, even Xiao Chen could not estimate how strong he had been.
The higher Xiao Chen’s cultivation climbed, the more respect he felt for the Thunder Emperor.
In the past, Xiao Chen had not understood. He had thought that the best the Thunder Emperor could do was shatter mountains and split the seas.
However, Xiao Chen could now shatter mountains and split seas himself. So, how much stronger had the Thunder Emperor been, exactly?
Only when Xiao Chen reached that realm would he truly understand what the view was like at the top. Unconsciously, while in the Thunder Emperor Valley, Xiao Chen became more resolute on the martial path.
Higher! Higher! Xiao Chen kept thinking of climbing higher. Someday, he would have something like a Thunder Emperor Valley of his very own.
The will that Xiao Chen would leave behind would be like the Thunder Emperor’s. Even though ten thousand years had gone by, it would be undiminished by the passage of time; its sharpness would never be extinguished.
After four hours, a crack of thunder roared. Xiao Chen, who had his eyes closed, opened his eyes and muttered, “It’s coming!”
Xiao Chen saw only a golden bolt of lightning hidden in the churning dark clouds in the sky, moving around continuously.
Such a solemn atmosphere filled the entire peak that one did not even dare to breathe heavily. There was a certain weight on the heart, like a mountain pressing down on the chest.
Occasionally, golden light would pierce through the dark clouds, instantly forming a bolt of golden lightning and tearing space in half.
“Weng! Weng!”
The Lunar Shadow Saber beside Xiao Chen trembled nonstop, as if it would unsheathe itself at any moment. It clearly seemed excited.
The vast will of thunder in the clouds hovered above Xiao Chen, circling him continuously.
When Xiao Chen felt the might of the thunder, he thought to himself, What a strong will of thunder! Although the will of thunder and the state of thunder differ by one word, the power they contain are on completely different scales.
It seems that this will of thunder knows who I am and intends to help me.
If others want to comprehend the state of thunder, they only have that one second when the lightning flies over their heads. However, it is staying above me, allowing me to sense its might at every moment.
Xiao Chen closed his eyes again, this time not letting anything distract him. He focused himself and slowly unleashed his state of thunder.
Time crept by. With guidance from the will of thunder, Xiao Chen’s understanding of thunder deepened.
At some point in time, he started releasing a purple light from his body. These purple lights were all flickering electricity.
Xiao Chen entered into a miraculous state. His entire consciousness was immersed in a world of electricity. Ideas and thoughts flowed continuously.
His understanding of thunder reached an unprecedented level. The purple electricity kept crackling around him.
---
Three days later, Xiao Chen opened his eyes. Electricity flickered in their depths, making them look very spirited.
When he looked up, the will of thunder in the sky had already gone into hiding again, retreating to an unknown place.
Xiao Chen stood up and with a thought, a bolt of berserk lightning flew out of his palm, illuminating the surrounding space.
When the light faded, Xiao Chen pulled his right hand back and the bolt of lightning strangely returned to his palm.
“Complete control. I have already comprehended the state of thunder to the limit already. I am just one step shy of transforming it into the will of thunder. However, that is a matter for when I advance to Martial Monarch. I do not have to think about it for now.”
Xiao Chen sighed softly. “I was able to benefit so much in such a short time. No wonder there were Martial Sages in the past that wanted to subdue this will of thunder for themselves.
“Not to mention the personal benefits, if they released it in their sect, they would be able to create many experts with the state of thunder.”
Now that I have settled this, it is time to return to the Heavenly Saber Pavilion. With my current strength, the Heavenly Saber Pavilion should not stop me from entering.
Back then, in that battle in the Heavenly Saber Pavilion, Xiao Chen had killed Biyun Peak’s Peak Master, Song Que. According to sect rules, if a disciple killed a Peak Master, no matter for what reason, they had to die.
The First Elder, Jiang Chi, spared Xiao Chen from death. However, Xiao Chen could not return to the Heavenly Saber Pavilion anymore.
Xiao Chen still felt grateful to this First Elder. Back then, if Jiang Chi had not suppressed the Noble Clan elders at the Heavenly Saber Pavilion, Xiao Chen would have died long ago.
Although the First Elder had chased Xiao Chen out of the Heavenly Saber Pavilion in the end, in reality, he had been helping him.
Xiao Chen jumped off the rim of the valley towards the Black Dragon River below, intending to follow the river upstream. Once he passed the entrance to the Ancient Desolate Land, he would be back in the Great Qin Nation.
“Hah...”
Just when Xiao Chen stepped onto the river, he heard a soft sigh. He turned his head and his lips could not help curling up into a smile.
A person in black leather armor and a half-mask appeared in the valley. Unexpectedly, Shi Feng was here.
She raised her eyebrows slightly. She smiled and said, “Brother Direction Dunce, are you not afraid of falling to your death by jumping from such a height?”
[TL note: Brother Direction Dunce: This is a direct translation from Chinese. This term normally refers to a person with poor sense of direction and is normally used to scold or tease someone. It is a form of name calling.]
Xiao Chen smiled faintly and said, “Sorry to disappoint you. Even if it were twice as high, I would be fine jumping off it. You still have not removed your mask? Seems like your experiential training was not successful.”
Shi Feng said in a huff, “Never you mind.”
Xiao Chen thought for a while and took out a wooden box from the Universe Ring. Then, he tossed the wooden box to Shi Feng and said, “Pass this to your adoptive father. Say that it is from an old friend.”
“What is it?”
Xiao Chen said calmly, “To you and me, it is merely a pile of scrap metal.”
Shi Feng caught the wooden box and stared suspiciously at Xiao Chen. She said, “Why should I help you deliver this?”
“Ka ca!”
Just right after Shi Feng spoke, Xiao Chen drew his Lunar Shadow Saber at lightning speed.
A sharp saber light flashed and Shi Feng’s mask broke into two. The pieces fell into the river, revealing a beautiful face.
Xiao Chen smiled faintly and said, “No need to thank me. Take it as my payment for your help in delivering this. By the way, you are beautiful; you do not have to wear a mask.
“Killing and fighting are matters for men. Don’t listen to your bastard adoptive father about controlling your expression when you fight.”
Shi Feng stood on the water, feeling stunned, as she watched Xiao Chen leave. She did not recover her wits even after a long time.
The mask that she had worn for over a decade was unexpectedly removed by someone else just like that.
The initial rage in Shi Feng’s eyes slowly turned to calm. She looked down and saw her reflection in the water. She whispered, “That egomaniac…what do you mean fighting is only for men? Sooner or later, I will defeat you.”
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The Great Qin Nation, Xihe Province:
At the foot of an endless chain of mountains, the famous Saber City was as bustling as before, flourishing with a grand atmosphere.
The cultivators here all had either huge sabers on their backs or exquisite sabers girdled at their waists. They all had solemn expressions as they arrived at the holy land for bladesmen.
A white-robed youth stood before the city gates. A long, slender saber hung at his waist as he revealed a melancholic expression on his handsome face.
“Two years…it’s been two years. I, Xiao Chen, have returned.”
Normally, it would take two months to reach the Heavenly Saber Pavilion from the Thunder Emperor Valley. However, Xiao Chen had gone at full speed without resting. So his travel time was significantly shorter; he arrived in half a month.
As Xiao Chen rushed over, the close he got, the more chaotic his thoughts became.
In the past two years, Xiao Chen had suppressed thoughts of his loved one deep in his heart. He did not think about her or ask about her.
Because Xiao Chen was not strong enough, he could not return to the Heavenly Saber Pavilion. If he thought about her, he would feel nothing but bitterness.
Xiao Chen only wanted to meet her as soon as he could; he did not think of anything else. He buried his longing in his heart, not telling anyone, suffering alone. When he reached the peak, he would fulfill his promise.
However, now that he drew so close to Saber City, the thoughts that he suppressed burst out uncontrollably.
Is she doing well? How is she now? How are her injuries? Might she blame me for not writing letters?
Will she remember there was once an inexperienced youth who shouted out those funny words from the top of the summit?
Will she remember the promise the white-robed youth made?
Xiao Chen smiled, feeling disappointed and frustrated. He shook his head slightly and collected his thoughts. After he paid the entry toll, he slowly headed inside the city.
“He he! The White Robed Bladesman really had great influence. Unexpectedly, there are still people dressing like him.”
“That is normal. Think about what happened that day in the Heavenly Saber Pavilion. He defeated the experts from the Holy Land singlehandedly. Then, he defeated the Noble Clans’ geniuses. Our Heavenly Saber Pavilion has not had such a genius for thousands of years.”
“How unfortunate…Song Que, that bastard was too immoral. He caused our Heavenly Saber Pavilion to lose such a genius.”
“Indeed, it is good that such a bastard died. It served him right, dying after one punch. There is no loss in killing him.”
The whispers of the cultivators guarding the city gates came from behind. Xiao Chen’s senses were very sharp; he heard everything clearly. When he heard it, he could not help but reveal a faint smile.