Chapter 894: Asura Race
When the afterimage merged back together, a tall and slender white-clad man with nearly perfect, handsome looks appeared before Xiao Chen. There was a scarlet mark on his forehead, giving his somewhat perfect countenance a startling and charmingly sinister cast.
The white-clad man smiled gently and said, “The Azure Emperor’s descendant truly lives up to his reputation. The Concealment Arts of my Asura Race are ineffectual before your keen eyes.”
When this white-clad man appeared, Shui Lingling was surprised as well. After she got a clear look, her face turned cold as she demanded, “Lan Shaobai, why are you here?”
Lan Shaobai landed on the ground. When he stepped on the leaves, he did not make any sound. He said softly, “I just arrived not long ago. Don’t worry. I already greeted Elder Han and did not come uninvited.”
The Asura Race was an extremely strong race in the Ancient Era. However, they were few in number and could not refine Demonic Corpses or Yin Soldiers like the Corpse Race and Ghost Race did.
They had relocated to another star many years ago, completely withdrawing from the competition to control the Kunlun Continent.
After Shui Lingling heard Lan Shaobai’s explanation, her expression relaxed. However, she was still not comfortable with the situation.
Lan Shaobai looked directly at Xiao Chen with a sincere expression on his perfect face. He said, “Brother Xiao Chen, what do you think of the suggestion that Miss Shui raised? The people of our generation are all proud people. How could they let Di Wuque be the one to erect the Hero Monument? Furthermore, the Deity Race is an alien race.
“The Deity Race has rapacious designs, always wanting to rule the Kunlun Realm.”
Lan Shaobai sounded sincere, without any trace of pride. He humbled himself greatly and waited for Xiao Chen’s answer in anticipation.
Xiao Chen leaned back against the tree trunk, not showing any intent to stand up. His lips curled up into a smile as he said, “Great speech. I look forward to the Heroes’ Convention that you organize. Do your best. At that time, I will send someone to give my congratulations.”
“What do you mean by this?! My Elder Brother Shaobai is speaking to you, and you are not even standing up?!”
A man and a girl quickly walked over on the road behind the Spirit Tree. The one who spoke earlier was the girl on the right side.
This girl looked like she was just seventeen or eighteen years old. She had a head of flaming-red hair and a fair complexion. Her pretty face exuded a lively and cute air.
There was also a small red mark on this girl’s forehead, which identified her as another one from the Asura Race.
Clearly, Shui Lingling was friends with this girl. She cried out in happiness, “Xiao Yu, you are here as well!”
The young girl called Xiao Yu from the Asura Race nodded her head before pointing at Xiao Chen somewhat angrily and speaking.
“Yeah! We just came from visiting Elder Han to explain our purpose here. However, Elder Han said that he did not have the right to interfere. The decision lies with this person.”
The Asura Race man beside Xiao Yu was dressed in black. When he saw Xiao Chen leaning lazily against the tree, he frowned slightly. However, he hid his disapproval very well, not saying a single word about it.
Xiao Chen pushed himself to his feet and said, “Sorry, I still have some matters to deal with, so I’ll go ahead.”
After saying that, he went to the space-time tunnel without waiting for these people to respond. When Shui Lingling saw the situation, she hastily took her leave of the three, explaining that she could not entertain them for now before quickly following him.
When the black-clad Asura Race man saw the two vanish into the space-time tunnel, he said, “What is Miss Shui’s relationship with this person? Why is she so concerned with Xiao Chen’s attitude.”
Lan Shaobai felt depressed as he replied, “What is their relationship? She casually gave this person the petal of the Heavenly Silver Flower that I gave her as a greeting gift.”
Xiao Yu exclaimed in shock, “That can’t be! How could Elder Sister Shui do that? The Heavenly Silver Flower blooms once a century. However, there would only be three petals each time it blooms. Elder Brother Shaobai managed to take an extra petal from Di Wuque with much difficulty, yet Elder Sister Shui just passed it on to another person?”
The black-clad man smiled bitterly and said, “This is truly depressing for you. However, I think that the relationship between those two does not seem like lovers. Shaobai, you still stand a chance. However, do we really need this person in order to conduct a Heroes’ Convention?”
At the mention of the Heroes’ Convention, a grave expression appeared on Lan Shaobai’s perfect face. He replied, “It is not that we must get his help. However, with his reputation and help, I will be more confident of suppressing Di Wuque.”
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“Xiao Chen, can you consider it seriously? Di Wuque is organizing the Heroes’ Convention to suppress you. Once he becomes the main character, you’ll never be able to flip the situation around.”
After exiting the space-time tunnel, the two arrived in the sky above Supreme Sky City in the Kunlun Continent.
Shui Lingling gave Xiao Chen a pressing look, her eyes full of concern.
Seeing Xiao Chen not say anything, Shui Lingling added with some urgency, “Lan Shaobai is really as strong as Di Wuque. If you work with him, you can definitely suppress Di Wuque.”
A bitter smile appeared in Xiao Chen’s heart. How could he not feel the concern in Shui Lingling’s words? However, he had seen what kind of person that Lan Shaobai was from his little test.
This person said that Di Wuque had rapacious designs. But what about himself? He clearly looked down on Xiao Chen, but he still humbled himself. This person’s schemes went beyond those of an ordinary person.
The man and girl beside Lan Shaobai were not ordinary, either. This was especially so for that black-clad man. When Xiao Chen compared him with Long Fei, he concluded that this person could only be stronger than Long Fei.
Having someone like this on the team would dilute Xiao Chen’s influence. He would not be able to take any initiative. This situation would still be the same, only with Di Wuque swapped out for Lan Shaobai. There would still be someone standing above him; nothing would change.
Xiao Chen’s thoughts went even further. His First Senior Sister was a smart person. It was impossible that she did not realize this. So then, why was she so flustered over his refusal?
The answer to this was that in the conflicts of the Starry Heaven Silver Lake, Di Wuque’s strength had reached a terrifying level, and she no longer believed that she had any chance of competing with him.
If Di Wuque successfully pulled off a Heroes’ Convention, she would no longer be able to advance. This was why she was so flustered and concerned.
Xiao Chen stopped walking. He smiled and asked softly, “First Senior Sister, why do you think that I have to work with others in order to hold a Heroes’ Convention?”
His question stunned Shui Lingling slightly. When she heard the tone he took, her eyes lit up. She countered, “Junior Brother Xiao Chen, are you thinking of holding a Heroes’ Convention by yourself?”
Xiao Chen shook his head and said, “No.”
“Then, why?”
“The word ‘hero’ is too heavy. Even I do not dare to call myself a hero. How could I host a Heroes’ Convention? However, First Senior Sister, there is no need to worry. I’ve thought of a rough countermeasure for Di Wuque’s Heroes’ Convention.”
Shui Lingling blinked. She said in disbelief, “Really?”
Xiao Chen smiled faintly and countered with a question. “First Senior Sister does not believe Xiao Chen? I am not the kind of person who would just resign myself to fate, sitting and waiting for death. I also never boast.”
When Shui Lingling heard this, she recalled some of Xiao Chen’s past exploits. She revealed a faint smile on her face as she said, “It looks like I worried too much. I will not continue disturbing you, then. I still have to go and entertain Lan Shaobai and his group.”
Hearing that Shui Lingling would still go and entertain Lan Shaobai, Xiao Chen could not help but feel some discomfort. However, he quickly got over it and performed a cupped-fist salute. “Many thanks for First Senior Sister’s kind intentions. I will take my leave first.”
He returned to his peak and entered the familiar cultivation room. Without saying anything, he tapped the Peak Spirit Vein and started cultivating.
Now that the Purple Thunder Divine Incantation reached the seventh layer, his cultivation speed was now no slower than Di Wuque’s and those other outstanding talents’. In fact, it was even slightly faster.
However, Xiao Chen had been in the Sky Dome Realm, where the Spiritual Energy was very thin. After he returned, he had devoted himself to comprehending his saber Dao, so he had not had much time to cultivate. Now that he had some time for quiet cultivation, he naturally had to make use of it to consolidate his cultivation.
As of now, he was already an early-stage Medial Grade Martial Sage with six hundred Heavenly Sage Laws in that mysterious small world in his dantian.
This number did not count as many. However, each of these Heavenly Saber Laws was as thick as a baby’s arm. They would not lose out when compared to a Superior Grade Martial Sage’s.
The most important thing was that Xiao Chen also had vast Magic Energy in his sea of consciousness. This was his greatest trump card.
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Five days later, the Vice Sect Master sent someone over with the Heart Nourishing Grass, Bright Yellow Sesame, Worry-Begone Grass, Heavenly Blood Vine, and Gold-Plated Fruit that Xiao Chen needed.
When Xiao Chen saw these five Spirit Herbs, he heaved a sigh of relief. His Firmament Body Tempering Art could finally reach Consummation. He had been waiting so long for this day.
The final five layers of the Firmament Body Tempering Art corresponded to the five internal organs of the human body. They did not follow any particular order.
After Xiao Chen finished cultivating the Firmament Body Tempering Art, his heart, liver, spleen, stomach, and kidneys would be extremely resilient and have a strong recovery ability. For example, if his heart was not instantly shattered, he would not die immediately even if it got pierced through.
The only unfortunate thing was that the latter five layers of this Body Tempering Cultivation Technique would not increase his Vital Qi at all, not raising his strength.
Xiao Chen took in a deep breath of air. Cooling Qi immediately came from the Sea Monarch Headscarf on his head.
The many distracting thoughts in his mind became like fallen leaves swept away by the wind. He now focused entirely on cultivating the Firmament Body Tempering Art.
The Sea Monarch Headscarf was indeed boundlessly useful. Just its special effect of calming the mind already made it a rare treasure.
Xiao Chen placed the Heart Nourishing Grass in his mouth. After the Medicinal Energy activated, he used the circulation method of the Firmament Body Tempering Art to start tempering his heart.
Since he already attained a Rank 3 Sage Body, he had long exceeded the basic requirements for cultivating the Firmament Body Tempering Art. He did not face any obstructions when tempering his heart; the process went extremely smoothly.
“Thump! Thump! Thump!”
As the Medicinal Energy permeated Xiao Chen’s heart in addition to his efforts of tempering it, his heart rate slowed down. However, it became increasingly stronger.
Every time his heart beat, a dull sound reverberated in the room. The time between each beat extended.
Finally, it reached a point where the heart did not beat for a long time. However, the force generated when it suddenly beat was like a loud boom of thunder. It contained a strong lifeforce, far surpassing that of the ancient Holy Beasts.
Xiao Chen opened his eyes, and his heartbeat resumed its normal pace. With a flip of his hand, a short sword appeared in his palm.
He pulled open his shirt and aimed the tip of the sword at his heart. Then, after mumbling to himself for a moment, he stabbed it in.
Blood poured out as the sword tip pricked his heart. However, it did not manage to pierce through it. The resilience of his heart prevented the sword from entering any deeper.
Success! Xiao Chen’s face lit up in joy. Then, he let his heart relax, and the sword tip managed to pierce through, penetrating into his heart.
An intense pain immediately swamped him. When he clenched his teeth and pulled out the short sword, the edges of the wound in his heart immediately started mending together at a rapid pace. Soon, his heart was back to normal without him having to circulate his energies to nourish it.