“This Zhou Bao really is a character!” Seeing the change in Zhou Bao’s expression, Chen Shoubai subtlely nodded. Usually, after someone has heard about the Senior Grand Tutor’s war stories, even the most self-confident ones find it hard not to feel humbled. However, Zhou Bao did not feel humbled at all, he just changed his expression a little bit. Furthermore, his face revealed a slight eccentric smile. Chen Shoubai understood what this smile meant: confidence mixed with a great interest. Through this smile, Chen Shoubai could make out what Zhou Bao was thinking.
“Look at his grandeur. He looks like a good match for the Senior Grand Tutor Hong, but honestly, I don’t know if his confidence is well-founded or based on ignorance!” He secretly sighed in his heart. “I hope it’s not the latter. If he does not understand the true wrath of the Genuine Immortal Lord of Heaven Realm, he could easily die in the hands of the Senior Grand Tutor Hong!”
The rays of the Transmitting Formation completely cloaked the four men. Space began to vibrate and a faintly black passage appeared in front of them emitting a strong suction force which would absorb the four of them. Only Chen Shoubai and Yan Yuntian could be seen using their Protective Gang Qi. Chen Shoubai lifted up and wrapped Elder Chen entirely within his own Protective Gang Qi. Accompanying him was Zhou Bao’s agile figure.
After the tunnel and all the rays disappeared, space stopped vibrating and held steady, the four men sensed a light; they had already arrived.
Chen Shoubai looked at Zhou Bao’s nonchalant expression. His eyes were fierce and bright. He had clearly noticed that while traveling with the formation, Zhou Bao did not use his Gang Qi, but used his own physical body to hold up the pressure exerted by space. What was he thinking? After practicing and practicing, he should know! Although it is said you should balance the inner and outside cycle, it has become common knowledge among all practitioners that strengthening from physical practice is not as strong as using Gang Qi, and not as strong as meticulously cultivated pneuma, inner strength, and Dharma power.
A mere Level Six master can break gold and shatter iron with the help of the Internal Qi, and that is nothing compared with a Level 7 using the Internal Qi from the Gang Qi.
Zhou Bao’s predecessors, The Nine Dragons Heavenly Kylin Gang, could even fuse hollows. Any type of wizard weapon steel was a piece of cake for a Gang Qi. So, to be able to physically and firmly hold up the pressure from the space of the Transmitting Formation, there was only one explanation. Zhou Bao must know an extremely tough way to strengthen his body, and that he had trained his body to an unimaginable level so that in his every movement there was immeasurable power. Only that could have produced this kind of result. With this, Zhou Bao became a lot more valuable in Chen Shoubai’s eyes.
Chen Shoubai, returning to his own thoughts, counted on his own small abacus. Zhou Bao and Yan Yuntian were contemplating their surroundings.
Unlike the Transmitting Formation built on the mountainside, this Transmitting Formation was built on a half-mountaintop.
What was a half-mountaintop?
It was a mountain with the top removed, leaving only the bottom part. Where the cut had been made, a platform was formed as smooth as a mirror. The ancient powers often did things like this to demonstrate their architectural skills, and to build their own spaces.
This platform was obviously the signature of an Ancient Mighty Expert’s skill. After so many years, the smooth as glass half-mountaintop had turned into a cluster of palaces.
Well, more than a cluster of palaces it looked more like a small market town; a little noisy and disordered. Common people were starting to gather around them. It had not occurred to Zhou Bao and Yan Yuntian that there was here a magic formation that could transfer them to another region.
“This is Mountainside Town, the territory of the Chen Ancestral Temple. Most of the people here do not practice martial arts because they do not have the aptitude for it. They are just ordinary people, but our Chen family’s bloodline flows through their bodies. While they live here, they learn about many things. If they succeed in learning, then they can descend the mountain and use the Transmitting Formation to go to another region and make their way in the world; to go and give their all. Once they have made their way, found success and recognition, they can come back, but we shall not force those who are not willing to descend the mountain. At the bottom of the mountain, the weather is good and there are vast acres of fertile land. There, no-one shall starve!” Chen Shoubai saw the suspicion in Zhou Bao and Yu Yuntian’s faces, and said indifferently, “For many years cold weather has prevailed from here, hasn’t it?”
“Forty-three years!” added the Elder Chen at this side, looking at Mountainside Town and his surroundings with a slightly vacant gaze. “I hadn’t realized forty years had already passed. This area has not changed even a single bit. And I have no idea whether the old folks from back then are still alive.”
“Go back there and you will find out!”, Chen Shoubai said with a smile. As far as Elder Chen knew, the Chen Ancestral Temple welcomed and highly valued those who went out on their own and achieved great things.
“Well, the three deacons are right, go back and see it!” Elder Chen smiled and bowed to Chen Shoubai. “If you say so, then I will take my leave. Your Majesty, King Wuyang, take care!”
“You too should take care!” Yan Yuntian smiled. He had also only recently learned of Elder Chen’s history, but he did not mind at all. The Chen Ancestral Temple was not at all known for its power, but Chen bloodlines branched over all the Seven-deity Regions, not to mention the Four Eastern Regions. Their traces could also be found in the Three Western Regions, with their astounding potential. The branches of the Chen family’s bloodline are not all loyal to the Divine Wind Palace. Each person had their own loyalties, and each person had their own opportunities. It could be said this was a great family.
After sending off Elder Chen, Chen Shoubai led the two remaining to the largest building in Mountainside Town, a branch of the Chen Ancestral Temple.
It was said that was the original place of the temple, but that was really long ago and the place had undergone countless changes since then. The Chen’s family nest had already moved elsewhere, and this served just as the family’s gathering place. Naturally, there was a branch of the clan responsible for the temple’s security and looked out for any talent arising among the Chen kinsmen. This was a noble service, as for this type of family, every new talent that arose helped increase the family’s influence. Even though they had no desire to take over the Divine Wind Palace, they wanted to maintain a superior position there, and power was absolutely essential for that.
Chen Shoubai was an outstanding figure in the family. He ranked among the top five of the Chen family in terms of power.
Being such an important person within the family, the leader of the temple could not neglect him and had to welcome them.
“Chen Yuhai of the Chen Ancestral Temple in Mountainside Town is visiting the three deacons!” Chen Yuanhai was a very capable middle-aged man, who looked almost as old as Chen Shoubai. However, in terms of actual age, Chen Shoubai was much older and held a more senior position.
“Well, let me introduce His Majesty the Emperor Yan Yuntian from the Central Mainland Region of the Jin Dynasty. This powerful contender for the throne of Human Emperor is King Wuyang Zhou Bao of the Jin Dynasty, a man of immeasurable power!”
“I have met His Majesty and King Wuyang!” Chen Yuanhai’s complexion changed slightly, and being neither servile nor overbearing, bowed to the two people. Zhou Bao and Yan Yuntian both bowed back. It did not matter what Yan Yuntian’s status was, he was now in someone else’s territory. He was many miles away from the Jin Dynasty, and his title of emperor was not of great use here. As for Zhou Bao, he just did not want to cause trouble. He was not arrogant and seeing bystanders bow to him, it was natural that he should bow in return.
“Is the accommodation arranged?!”
“It has been arranged, in the South Court. Should His Majesty and King Wuyang have any requests, please tell us and we will oblige.”
“There is no special requirement. As long as you can accommodate us, all is fine!” Yan Yuntian was modest and maintained a low profile. However, his clothes, especially the Heavenly Crown of Peace on his head, showed off his formidable greatness, and he could not keep a presence as humble as he wished.
“Old Eagle, look at the purple air in the sky. It seems someone else has come to attend the Human Emperor-selecting Ceremony. How about we go and have a look, shall we?”
“Yes, let’s see what qualification he has to come and attend the Human Emperor-selecting Ceremony. If he happens to die, we might even be gifted with his fate instead, which would be very beneficial to His Majesty’s great cause.”
Deep in the mountains hundreds of miles away, the figures of two half-man-half-creatures were watching the purple cloud lying over Mountainside Town while having this conversation.
One of them, muscled and sturdy, had a human shape. However, his face was like a fierce tiger and on his forehead faintly appeared the Wang character. He had a long golden tiger tail dropping from behind. He indeed was morphing into a tiger.
The other man, slender and well-proportioned, was one head taller than his companion. His skin was extremely white, almost the color of milk, and his face was surprisingly handsome. It was his eyes that grabbed the most attention. They faintly gleamed with a golden light, as if they could see through all the things of this world. He had a pair of mighty golden wings on his back, as if cast from gold itself.
These two monsters were daring. They knew that there was a Transmitting Formation there. They had been hiding there for several days, watching the guys appearing for the Human Emperor-selecting Ceremony. As soon as Zhou Bao and Yan Yuntian showed up, the purple cloud from the Heavenly Crown of Peace grabbed their attention, immediately increasing their desire to kill.
Their bodies turned into two streams of light. In a flash, they arrived at Mountainside Town. The real, terrible inhibition was outside of the Transmitting Formation, but nowhere in Mountainside Town itself had any special type of inhibition, so there was nothing to block the way of these two Demonic Immortals. They rushed forth and stopped just in front of Zhou Bao and the others.
They were too quick. Yan Yuntian or Chen Shoubai had no time to react, only Zhou Bao did.
The tiger demon smiled strangely and stretched out his giant claw. He grabbed the top of Yan Yuntian’s head without letting them react. Behind him, his tail cracked like a whip, and with it, he thrashed Yan Yuntian’s body.