Chapter 392: The New Hegemon
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Lin Feng sat quietly on top of the Black Heavenly Treasure Tree on top of Mount Yujing. He paid no attention to the ferocious battle within the Two Elements of Creation Formation. Even his Steel Tree Avatar retreated to the mountaintop.
Other than Yu Yiluan and three other Nascent Soul stage cultivators who were being taken care of the Two Elements of Creation Formation, he did not take direct action against the other four Nascent Soul stage cultivators, including Shi Shiling. Instead, he just trapped them within the Formation.
After a fierce fight, the battle within the Formation began to peter off.
Lin Feng, who was resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened both eyes and smiled. He turned to look at the Formation.
The light within it dazzled as a shape emerged from it. His steps appeared unstable and his body trembled. He appeared terribly weak.
However, his eyes burned brightly with a never-before-seen energy.
"Master!" Shi Tianhao (also known as Xiao Budian) emerged from the Two Elements of Creation Formation. He looked at Lin Feng and smiled and said, "I won!"
In that instant, Shi Tianhao's entire body was frozen blue. He was like an ice statue. On his body, spidery cracks were evident. However, one could see neither blood nor flesh from those cracks, only ice crystals that fell non-stop on the floor.
If not for the protection of the Fleece of the Grand Sage, Xiao Budian would have died. His entire body would have become an ice statue, which would then have shattered.
Even now, his entire frame was akin to a fragile clay doll. At that moment, let's not talk about a Nascent Soul stage, Aurous Core stage cultivator, or even a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator or a Qi Cultivation stage cultivator, for an ordinary mortal with enough brute strength could shatter him to bits.
The Nine-Holed Aurous Core within his body, which previously brimmed with spiritual energy, was moribund. It appeared to be hibernating.
The Aurora Polar Mirror and the Green Bronze Crucible of Emptiness were still in the Two Elements of Creation Formation. Shi Tianhao was unable to retrieve them. Even if he could, the two were badly damaged and had lost their luster.
It could be said this, other than the time when his supreme spiritual altar had been stolen when he was just a baby, was the weakest Shi Tianhao had ever been. He was severely wounded and near death.
Despite his injuries, his expression was buoyant and his eyes brimmed with light.
Because just now, with a mastery of a mid-Aurous Core stage cultivator, he managed to kill Yu Shiling, a mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivator of the Yu Family. He surpassed the limitations of his mastery level to kill a much stronger opponent.
Furthermore, his opponent was no pushover. Yu Shiling practised the Mantra of Xuanming and had mastered the abhijna of the Xuanming Primordial Water. He was indeed powerful. However, after a gruelling battle, Xiao Budian was still able to kill him.
Once the results of this battle spread, Shi Tianhao's name would shock the entire Grand Celestial World. It would be more impressive than his results during the Spiritual Conference of Huanghai.
Everyone's prediction of his upcoming fight against Shi Tianyi completely changed in Shi Tianhao's favor. No matter how famous or powerful the former was, he had never achieved something like this before.
Lin Feng looked at his disciple before him and nodded his head with gratitude before saying, "I've seen it all! Beautiful!" He flicked his finger and a purple gas, containing a drop of the Grand Moon Primordial Water, enveloped Xiao Budian's weakened form.
Lin Feng managed to recall Yang Qing from the Spiritual Conference of Huanghai. He then passed the Celestial Small World with Xiao Budian inside to him before saying, "Bring him back to your residence and prepare enough Grand Moon Primordial water. Submerge your little junior in it and I'll prepare a spell formation."
"Yes, master," Yang Qing carefully took over the Celestial Small World. He looked inside and noticed that Xiao Budian was akin to a fragile clay statue. He felt a painful twinge in his heart upon seeing Xiao Budian in that sorry state, and then he rushed back into his Nirvana World.
After dispatching Shi Tianhao, Lin Feng turned his gaze back in the Two Elements of Creation Formation. In it, Zhu Yi was embroiled in a brawl against an Aeolus Sect cultivator in his mid-Nascent Soul stage. It was hard to tell who had the upper hand.
However, the Aeolus Sect cultivator appeared uneasy. It could be because Kang Nanhua was standing quietly at one side, and aiding Zhu Yi.
Considering that he was stuck inside Lin Feng's Two Elements of Creation with no idea of whether he would survive or not, the immense pressure upon him naturally made him uneasy.
On the other side, Wang Lin had entered the Destructive Stage of the River Styx. He too was battling another mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivator of the Aeolus Sect. While Wang Lin had just ascended into the Aurous Core stage, his battling prowess was terrifying. Similar to Zhu Yi's opponents, his opponent was not in the right mental state too as the Kui Cow King was staring him down.
Kang Nanhua and the Kui Cow King both received Lin Feng's telepathic message and knew that the battle had more or less been won. Hence, they did not seek to intervene in the battle. Instead, they chose to quietly support Zhu Yi and Wang Lin from the side as they battled their Nascent Soul stage opponents to help them accrue experience.
Previously, during Shi Tianhao's battle with Yu Shiling, Miao Shihao too handed a Yu Family mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivator over to Jieyu and Tun Tun to manage before quietly observing the battle between Shi Tianhao and Yu Shiling. He did not interfere in the battle, but he was prepared to step in should anything go wrong.
However, Shi Tianhao was terribly ferocious. Brimming with a dare-to-die spirit, he slew Shi Tieling, leaving Miao Shihao brimming with praises for him.
"Master, I have to say, other than Yang Qing, all of your disciples are terrifying right down to the bone," Miao Shihao sighed as he exited the Two Elements of Creation Formation and returned to Lin Feng's side. "Tianhao is so young but so fierce. This is truly shocking to your Brother Shihao."
Lin Feng smiled and said, "Shihao, you're wrong."
"What do you mean by that?" Miao Shihao was shocked. Lin Feng continued, "Every single of my disciple is terrifying right down to the bones. However, some of them are just better at concealing it than others."
"Furthermore, those who did not expose this side of them but choose to hide it for a lifetime are the most terrifying and ferocious."
Hearing that, Miao Shihao turned to look at the Nirvana World meaningfully.
At this point, Lin Feng took out the Heavenly Oyster Golden Pearl. He observed it closely and discovered instantly that within the pearl, the milky-white aura would occasionally turn gold.
"Let's not talk discuss if the Heavenly Oyster Golden Pearl is a relic of the Demonic Clan. It's definitely a treasure, no doubts about that," thought Lin Feng. "The Heavenly Wind Holy Man's ability to cast two Nine Heavens Squall Formation could be because of this treasure."
Lin Feng guessed that the Heavenly Oyster Golden Pearl possesses the abilities to reflect, imitate and copy. It's possible that the replicas made by the Pearl resemble the original completely.
The oyster was one of the best demonic tribes when it came to the art of illusion.
Lin Feng attempted to communicate with Heavenly Oyster Golden Pearl. It vibrated slightly, but it did not respond to Lin Feng.
"Since it's called the 'Golden Pearl', it appears that its true form is only revealed once it turns completely gold." Lin Feng said as he looked at the swirling white aura within the pearl. He came to this understanding at that point.
The duplication abilities of the Heavenly Oyster Golden Pearl required some time to recharge after being used. Only then could it be used again.
Thinking about it, the Heavenly Wind Holy Man probably used this Pearl to make a copy of the Nine Heavens Squall Formation.
"It's a pity that the Heavenly Wind Holy Man could only manipulate one of the Formations. If he had used both against me simultaneously, I would have required a lot more time to break past his defences."
As Lin Feng played with the Heavenly Oyster Golden Pearl, he thought, "Once it turns gold, I could use it. I wonder if there is any limit to its abilities."
Could it only replicate lifeless objects? Could the replica's powers be limited? Could its replicas have time limits?
Lin Feng was deeply interested in this, but what made him more concern was the news he'd gotten from Yan Mingyue.
"A relic of the Holy Demonic Emperor?" Lin Feng arched his eyebrow slightly. Amongst the demonic clan, those who had cultivated their Undying Demon Souls were known as Grand Sages and were the equivalent to Immortal Soul stage human cultivators.
Except for a few ancient Grand Sages who chose to hide, the 10 most active demons in that stage would be known as the Ten Demonic Saints.
The Heavenly Charms Grand Sage was universally recognized as the most powerful of the ten. However, even she could not live up to the title of the Holy Demonic Emperor.
The Holy Demonic Emperor was above all other members of the demonic clan. By appearance alone, he or she would be able to command the loyalty of every single member of the demonic clan of the Barren Expanses.
The previous Holy Demonic Emperor fell in the last battle between Man and Demons. Humanity had to sacrifice countless Immortal Soul stage cultivators to kill him. Only with his death did mankind achieve the final victory. However, the cost of the victory restricted humanity's ability to wage war. In the end, it was a Pyrrhic victory.
Since then, the Barren Expanse was akin to China during the Warring States period. The new Holy Demonic Emperor had yet to appear.
The Heavenly Charms Grand Sage was the most likely contender, but she still had a long way to go.
For powerful demons, they loathed being subjugated. Hence, it was likely that the Golden Crow Grand Sage had designs on the title as well.
Hence, upon hearing news about the Heavenly Oyster Golden Pearl, the Golden Crow Grand Sage became so determined to obtain it.
Lin Feng thought for a while before keeping the Heavenly Oyster Golden Pearl. "Amongst the various human powers, the Great Void Sect is the most concerned with the operations of the demonic world. They long knew about the Heavenly Oyster Golden Pearl but made no action whatsoever. It's possible that they believed it to be a hoax."
"However, who could say for sure in such matters?" Lin Feng smiled and shook his head. "First, let's settle the matters before us. It had dragged on long enough."
With a single command, Kang Nanhua and others, who had been supporting Zhu Yi and Wang Lin passively from the side, joined in the battle. The enemy was instantly defeated.
Lin Feng expanded his Formation and the three captured Nascent Soul stage cultivators were sent to accompany Yu Yiluan and the three other cultivators, who had been defeated by Lin Feng earlier on.
Collapsing his Formation, Lin Feng looked at everyone and smiled, "Let's go!"
Mount Yujing once again entered the void and disappeared. At this point, the battle provoked by the Aeolus Sect and the Yu Family ended with their resounding defeat.
The leader of the Yu Family, the Xuanming Holy Man, Yu Xintao, fled in defeat. A late-Nascent Soul stage cultivator and two mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivators of the Yu Family were vanquished. Many more Aurous Core stage cultivators lay dead.
The Aeolus Sect had been completely obliterated, including its leader, the Heavenly Wind Holy Man.
The Golden Crow Grand Sage, who had taken this opportunity to invade the Divine Lands, now lay defeated at the bottom of the Kunlun Mountains. He was being suppressed by Lin Feng.
This news would soon spread across the world.
Cao Wei, the Icy Fire Holy Man, who resided the Heaven Lake in the middle of the northern icy plain looked to the southwest and was quiet for a long while.
After a long while, his silhouette disappeared. When he appeared again, he was in the sacred territory of the Heaven Lake Sect. In there, there were two strong entities.