At the northwest polar region of Cloud Continent, eleven figures rose up to the sky.
Among the eleven people, an old man with a heavy build stood at the lead. Although his eyes were awe-inspiring, it was not angry-looking. He appeared majestic clad entirely in a gold robe.
There were ten people following behind the old man. Among the ten, one of them was a woman, and the remaining were men.
However, it seemed like the woman held the highest position among the ten people because she was directly behind the old man while the others stood behind her.
“Huh?” The golden-robed old man seemed to have noticed something as he suddenly turned around to look at a black-clad young man standing at the very end of the group.
This black-clad young man had a huge built and was very good-looking.
However, it seemed like he wanted to maintain a low profile since he traveled at the end of the group.
“Zhou Yi… You’ve made a breakthrough to the Martial Emperor Stage?” The golden-robed old man asked in shock. His eyes were as bright as the stars in the sky.
As soon as the words left the old man’s mouth, the blue-clad woman behind him instantly regained her senses. A hint of shock could be seen in her eyes.
The remaining eight people returned to their senses as well. Turning around one after another, they stared at the black-clad young man following behind them as though they had just seen a ghost.
Martial Emperor Stage?
He had made a breakthrough to the Martial Emperor Stage?
“Yes, Master.” The black-clad young man nodded to the golden-robed old man in a manner that was neither servile nor arrogant.
If any of Lost Stone Forest’s people were here, they would be able to recognize the black-clad young man with just a glance. He was none other than the former direct disciple of Lost Stone Forest’s Martial Emperor. He was Zhou Yi, the direct disciple Martial Emperor Shi Qi doted on the most.
Previously, after Zhou Yi had betrayed Martial Emperor Shi Qi by committing fraud and stealing the Devilseal Tablet, he had fled Lost Stone Forest.
In the end, although Martial Emperor Shi Qi had searched for Zhou Yi, he realized it was too late since Zhou Yi was nowhere to be found.
During that time, Zhou Yi hid in various places, afraid of being found by Martial Emperor Shi Qi.
It was only until recently when he heard that a Martial Emperor was recruiting Martial Emperor’s disciples and followers at a place close to his whereabouts that he decided to join under this Martial Emperor.
He had long heard about this Martial Emperor. He was even more powerful than Martial Emperor Shi Qi.
Zhou Yi easily passed the Selection of the Martial Emperor’s disciples and followers and successfully became the Martial Emperor’s disciple, relying on the fact that he already had half-a-foot in the Martial Emperor Stage.
After he had become the Martial Emperor’s disciple, he intentionally made himself stand out and attracted the attention of the Martial Emperor before becoming the Martial Emperor’s direct disciple.
Although he had become the Martial Emperor’s direct disciple, he did not dare to act arrogant like how he did in Lost Stone Forest. Ever since he left Lost Stone Forest, he had learned how to keep a low profile.
He was very clear that a poisonous snake that lurked in the shadow, poised to attack, had a longer lifespan in comparison to a vicious wolf that attacked people as it pleased.
Due to this reason, he became this Martial Emperor’s most humble direct disciple.
It took the group of people by surprise now that the humble Martial Emperor’s direct disciple had broken through to the Martial Emperor Stage.
The golden-robed old man was one of the top well known Martial Emperors on Cloud Continent. His title was Lei Ming, and his strength was in no way inferior to the one in You Han Valley.
“Haha… That’s great! Great!” Upon hearing Zhou Yi’s admission of breaking through to the Martial Emperor Stage, Martial Emperor Lei Ming laughed heartily.
“In this case, this means there are currently two Martial Emperor Stage Martial Emperor’s direct disciples under my, Martial Emperor Lei Ming’s command now!” Martial Emperor Lei Ming beamed in delight.
“Congratulations, Master!”
“Congratulations, Lord Martial Emperor!”
At this moment, all the nine people, including the blue-clad woman, following behind Martial Emperor Lei Ming congratulated him in unison.
Many people looked at Zhou Yi enviously.
They knew very well that the second Zhou Yi had broken through to the Martial Emperor Stage, he would become Martial Emperor Lei Ming’s most doted direct disciple.
To be more precise, one of the two most doted on Martial Emperor’s direct disciples.
This was because there was another Martial Emperor under Martial Emperor Lei Ming’s command. It was Lan Bi, the blue-clad woman following directly behind Martial Emperor Lei Ming.
“Junior Brother Zhou, congratulations on your breakthrough to the Martial Emperor Stage.” Lan Bi looked at Zhou Yi and smiled as she congratulated him.
“Thank you, Senior Sister Bi,” Zhou Yi immediately thanked her.
“Junior Brother Zhou, why are you so far behind? Don’t tell me you’re afraid of being eaten by Master and me?” Lan Bi asked with a frown as she looked at where Zhou Yi was standing.
“Of course not.” Zhou Yi shook his head.
At this moment, Martial Emperor Lei Ming also chimed in, “Zhou Yi, go stand next to your Senior Sister… You’re a direct disciple under my, Martial Emperor Lei Ming, command. Why are you standing so far behind for?”
“Yes, Master,” Zhou Yi replied respectfully.
Zhou Yi did not dare to disobey Martial Emperor Lei Ming since he still needed to rely on his protection.
Although he had already broken through to the Martial Emperor Stage, in regards to strength, let alone Martial Emperor Lei Ming, he was not even comparable to his former master, Martial Emperor Shi Qi of Lost Stone Forest.
“I hope you’ll be able to make me proud in the Hidden Fog Martial Competition… If you get a good ranking, I’ll definitely treat you well,” Martial Emperor Lei Ming announced unhurriedly as he looked at Zhou Yi who finally stood next to Lan Bi.
“Rest assured, Master! I, Zhou Yi, will definitely do my best and make you and Thundercloud Peak proud!” Zhou Yi replied confidently.
Thundercloud Peak was the cultivation place of Martial Emperor Lei Ming.
“Great! Great!” Upon hearing Zhou Yi’s reply, Martial Emperor beamed in delight. With a raise of his hand, a narrow saber with lights revolving around it immediately appeared in his hand. “You can consider this Spirit Saber as a congratulatory gift from me for breaking through to the Martial Emperor Stage!”
As Martial Emperor Lei Ming spoke, he handed the Spirit Saber in his hand over to Zhou Yi.
“This…” Martial Emperor Lei Ming’s action took all the nine people, including Lan Bi, by surprise.
“It’s the Spirit Saber that Lord Martial Emperor always carries around with him!”
“The Spirit Saber that Lord Martial Emperor always carries around with him is one of the only two Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Weapons in our Thundercloud Peak… The other Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Weapon has already been given to Senior Sister Lan Bi by Lord Martial Emperor when she made a breakthrough to the Martial Emperor Stage a few years ago!”
“In this case, this must be the only Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Weapon left in Lord Martial Emperor’s hands! If Lord Martial Emperor gives it away, he’ll have to use a grade one Spirit Weapon!”
Soon after, many people regained their senses and began to whisper among one another.
Many people looked at Zhou Yi enviously.
And some of them glared at him bitterly.
Those few people in the latter group were the Martial Emperor’s direct disciples. They had originally been covetously eyeing the Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Saber in Martial Emperor Lei Ming’s hand. They had hoped to break through to the Martial Emperor Stage as soon as possible so they could get their hands on the Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Saber.
Who knew that a person who had just joined Thundercloud Peak and became the Martial Emperor’s direct disciple would make a breakthrough to the Martial Emperor Stage before them.
“Master, please don’t! Junior Brother Zhou only just entered our Thundercloud Peak recently, it’s too dangerous to give the Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Weapon to him just like that.”
“That’s right, Master!” The other two Martial Emperor’s direct disciples hastily advised Martial Emperor Lei Ming.
Their words were very obvious.
They were worried Zhou Yi would leave Thundercloud Peak after obtaining the Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Weapon.
At that time, the Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Weapon would turn into Zhou Yi’s ‘dowry’.
“Hurmph! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking.” Martial Emperor Lei Ming snorted coldly when he heard his two direct disciples’ words. “Blame yourself for being such a disappointment instead! From now on, this Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Saber of mine will be Zhou Yi’s Spirit Weapon!”
When Martial Emperor Lei Ming reached the end of his sentence, he looked at Zhou Yi again under the unwilling eyes of the two Martial Emperor’s direct disciples.
“Master, Senior Brothers actually have a point… I think it’s better if you keep this Spirit Saber for yourself, master.” Zhou Yi did not take the Spirit Saber that Martial Emperor Lei Ming handed over to him.
“Just take it. I’ve already said I’ll give it to you. Although this Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Weapon is not that much powerful than a grade one Spirit Weapon, it’s still better than a grade one Spirit Weapon. With this in your hands, you’ll be able to display your strength better during the Hidden Fog Martial Competition and get a better ranking.” Martial Emperor insisted on giving the Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Saber in his hand to Zhou Yi.
“Master, I understand your meaning… But, I actually already have a Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Weapon in my hand. Even if you give your Spirit Saber to me, master, there’s no occasion for me to use it at all.” Zhou Yi smiled.
Zhou Yi’s words did not only take Martial Emperor Lei Ming by surprise, but the others were also equally shocked as well.
Zhou Yi had his own Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Weapon?
“Junior Brother Zhou, you mustn’t joke about this! This concerns the Hidden Fog Martial Competition so don’t listen to those two’s sarcastic remarks. To be honest, they’re just jealous of you,” Lan Bi chimed in as she looked at Zhou Yi, making the other two Martial Emperor’s direct disciples turned a shade of green before they turned pale. They were rendered speechless for a long time.
As the Martial Emperor’s direct disciple at the Martial Emperor Stage, Lan Bi was the strongest person in Thundercloud Peak after Martial Emperor Lei Ming.
Even if the two of them joined forces, they were no match for Lan Bi.
“Lan Bi is right. You mustn’t joke about this!” Martial Emperor Lei Ming also chimed in solemnly.
“Master, Senior Sister, have a look.” Zhou Yi shook his head. With a raise of his hand, a strange stone tablet appeared in his hands. The stone tablet was described as strange because it was chipped on one of the corners.
Apart from the chipped corner, an array of strange words was inscribed on the stone tablet.
All these words emitted an ancient aura that spoke of the vicissitudes of life.
Whoosh!
As Zhou Yi’s Origin Energy surged into the strange stone tablet in his hand, the stone tablet suddenly trembled.
The Heaven and Earth Energy above the sky begin to whirl. Two silhouettes of ancient black dragons appeared before they were followed by another two silhouettes of ancient black dragons. Four silhouettes of ancient black dragons contrasted finely with each other.
The two silhouettes of ancient black dragons were the indicator of a First Level Martial Emperor martial artist.
On the other hand, 100% boost was a sign of a Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Weapon.
“It really is a Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Weapon!” Many people lost their cool as they exclaimed in shock.
Martial Emperor Lei Ming and Lan Bi finally believed him. As it turned out, Zhou Yi really did possess a Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Weapon.