A World Worth Protecting

by Stayrr

By the year 3029 CE, Earth’s technology has developed rapidly, borders no longer exist, and Earth has been unified, marking the beginning of the era of the Federation. At that time, a huge sword flew from the heavens, piercing the sun and causing a huge sensation on Earth. Perhaps because the scabbard of the sword was already in tatters, countless shards have broken off from it f

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Chapter 533: Individual Breakthroughs!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The piece of beast skin with the formula for the Divine Armament written on it probably managed to survive in the extremely poor environment due to its unique material. Therefore, after the trio looked through it, they each made a copy of the refinement formula of the Divine Armament.

Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng put the original copy of the beast skin in the hands of Wang Baole. After all, amongst the three of them, only Wang Baole was a Dharmic Armament cultivator. If not for the Divine Armament formula having value as reference material, the both of them wouldn't have made a copy of it, as the refinement process was complicated even with the formula.

On top of that, Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng were also frank with their need for pills. The two of them were now at the critical juncture where their cultivation was about to reach a breakthrough, and their requirement for this external boost was high. After all, they were both so close to breaking through, and this was even more so for Zhuo Yifan. Therefore, in terms of the distribution of pills, both of them took the majority, while Wang Baole only took the amount he needed for his seclusion.

Next up was the distribution of disciple identity tokens. Zhuo Yifan smiled as he looked at Wang Baole and chose to give up on his share. On the one hand, he knew that he wasn't capable enough, and on the other hand, he knew about Wang Baole's aspirations and decided to help him fulfill it.

That was so for Zhao Yameng as well. She didn't even take a look at those identity tokens and simply tossed them to Wang Baole. Wang Baole responded with agitation, as he was just thinking about how to discuss the matter with them. They may be good pals, but the identity tokens were items that could be exchanged for battle credits.

"Yameng, Yifan, rest assured that once I become Federation President, both of you would become my right- and left-hand men. Then, we three brothers would rule over everyone!" Wang Baole spoke with emotion, and in his excitement, he didn't notice that Zhao Yameng appeared cold, as if the word 'brother' had offended her.

Zhuo Yifan laughed, before passing the compass, which was one of the three Dharmic Armaments, to Zhao Yameng. He kept the other eighth-grade Dharmic Armament and placed the broken ninth-grade Dharmic Armament pike before Wang Baole.

There wasn't anything else to say due to the good relationship shared by the trio. After all the resources had been allocated, they took a look at their surroundings, and after making sure that there was nothing amiss, they each entered seclusion.

To Zhuo Yifan, the decision to become powerful was firm. He didn't want the incident of him being seized by the family clan to happen again. The experience of being imprisoned in the family clan was a secret that he kept to himself. In his heart, it was a pain that was difficult to recover from.

Therefore, he desired to be an elite more than anything. He could pay any price to achieve that. For example, he knew that the eventual outcome of the inheritance enlightenment this time could leave him neither human nor soldier. However, he could accept an outcome like that, as long as he could become more powerful!

Going into seclusion now, his goal was to achieve a breakthrough and perfect the Foundation Establishment realm. On the other hand, he wanted to make use of the Nine Transformation Acts of the Divine Armament to complement the War Soldier in his body. Having played out part of the process previously, it was already extremely painful such that it was like his bones were being drawn out. However, the determination and decisiveness in his eyes revealed the steadfastness in his mind!

As for Zhao Yameng, despite not having the same level of desire as Zhuo Yifan at becoming an elite, her background and caliber were undeniably amongst the top in this current cultivation of the Federation. Most importantly, while she didn't desire to be an elite, she had a strong persistence towards the Great Dao that her father had mentioned to her before, as well as towards cultivation.

"Meng'er, there are three thousand Great Dao. Even though any of them could lead to the essence mentioned in the legends, they are all of different depths. Based on my interpretation, you're most suited for the array formation Dao. Even though it cannot be considered a shortcut, its effectiveness places it in the top ten Dao!"

That was a conversation between Zhao Yameng and her father when she had chosen to enroll in Ethereal Dao College those years back. Even now, Zhao Yameng still remembered it clearly. As she closed her eyes, the Disaster Firmament Ancient Array Formation appeared in her mind. Countless arrangements and Array Runes were within it. As she sought enlightenment in the Array Runes, the pills that she swallowed swiftly turned into a pushing force that supported her in achieving enlightenment and destroyed the cuffs of the Foundation Establishment realm!

Noticing that the two of them had entered seclusion, Wang Baole was still worried despite Zhao Yameng putting array formations in place, and despite the meditating figures no longer appearing. After all, this place was only relatively safer to the Sea of Fire outside.

In his silence, Wang Baole patted his storage bag and pulled the donkey out of it. Since arriving at the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, Wang Baole had busied himself and almost forgot about the donkey. Right now, after being taken out of the storage bag, the donkey appeared listless as it lay there, looking at Wang Baole with resentment.

"Son!"

"What's with that scream? Get up and work! Pay attention to the surroundings and scream if there is danger!" Wang Baole was a little guilty. He thought to himself that he wasn't cut out to be a father, as he always forgot his sons.

Hmm, I seem to have forgotten another son of mine. Wang Baole scratched his head. He was about to think of that person when Zhao Yameng began to give off an aura belonging to a Core Formation realm cultivator.

This is the last hurrah! Wang Baole turned to look immediately. He no longer thought about his forgotten son. After confirming that Zhao Yameng's boost would still take a while before it happened and that she had accumulated enough to give off gradually, such that nothing serious would happen, Wang Baole kicked the pitiful donkey.

"Work!" Wang Baole stared.

The donkey sneezed loudly, lazily climbing up without a choice. It appeared as if it had no lingering sentiments towards life as it scanned its surroundings. Its expression made Wang Baole feel guilty, and his heart softened. He pondered about whether he should give out his remaining opened bag of snacks.

There were less than ten pieces left in the bag. Every time Wang Baole reminisced about the Federation, he would take out a piece and lick it with his tongue, and the snacks were like his beloved. Right now, however, the love for his son surpassed everything. Wang Baole gritted his teeth, taking a piece of snack and tossing it to the donkey.

The donkey's eyes lit up. It dashed towards the snack and was about to eat it when it seemed to sense that something wasn't right. It took a whiff of the snack, and a look of hesitation appeared on its face.

"Scram, what do you mean by that? I'm giving you another chance to show the facial expression that you should be showing!" Wang Baole looked awful as he stared at the donkey. He raised his hand and cracked his knuckles.

The donkey shuddered and instantly put on a look of excitement and desire. Without hesitation, it swallowed the snack in a mouthful, looking extremely immersed in enjoyment. That was when Wang Baole patted its head with satisfaction.

"All right, since you have eaten my treasure, quickly go guard the place!" With that, Wang Baole no longer cared about the donkey as he sat down. He took out a pill and swallowed it, then started to meditate and cultivate.

His cultivation was already at the peak of early-stage Core Formation realm, and it was only a small step away from mid-stage Core Formation realm. After going through the numerous inheritance, he had received huge gains despite not being fully enlightened. The small distance from mid-stage Core Formation realm was already surpassed. As his cultivation was activated, and as the force of the pill was integrated, he began the last hurrah!

Noticing that Wang Baole had entered seclusion, the donkey, which was pretending to stand guard, immediately retched. For a creature like it who had an appetite for almost everything, retching was something that was never seen before. However, after a long while, it didn't regurgitate anything. The donkey sighed visibly and helplessly licked the ground. Without much thought, he took a huge bite out of the ground, but there was nothing there. Instead, it jumped in pain as a result.

As time passed, three days later, the donkey had grown extremely bored seeing that nothing was happening to the trio. It turned its head to look towards the Sea of Fire not far away. After thinking about it, it ran towards the Sea of Fire and swallowed a mouthful of it…

The Sea of Fire didn't taste good, and this was evident by the donkey's shudder. It threw out its tongue and returned reluctantly, laying there, licking the ground endlessly. Rolling its eyes, it thought about whether it should have someone else as its father, as this fatty was simply a bully and an irresponsible father.

Seven days later, a loud boom emerged from Zhuo Yifan, who was the first to break through. Instantly, the aura of someone who had perfected Foundation Establishment realm cultivation, and of someone extremely close to the Core Formation realm, erupted from his body.

As the aura was unleashed, an illusion that only appeared at Core Formation realm transmogrified behind him. It was the image of a red sword!

This flying sword was unusual. It only had a blade but not a handle. The blade was full of frightening ridges, and looked extremely scary!

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Chapter 534: Eye!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

This unusual scene only lasted for a few seconds before disappearing. Zhuo Yifan's aura slowly stabilized as he began the process of consolidation. There also seemed to be a butterfly effect in terms of achieving breakthroughs, as soon, an aura and suppressive force that was stronger than that of Zhuo Yifan's was given off Zhao Yameng's body.

As the suppressive force spread, a crackling voice was produced from Zhao Yameng's body. If one could pass through and see her dantian, they could clearly notice that an Array Rune core made up of countless Array Runes accumulated together was fast forming!

As it formed, the moving waves produced as a result of Zhao Yameng's cultivation grew stronger. Finally, she opened her eyes, having achieved a breakthrough from the Foundation Establishment realm into the Core Formation realm. At the same time, an illusion also formed behind her!

It was an illusion of the cosmos, and a large ancient tree was in it. The tree was made up completely of Array Runes, and it was the Disaster Firmament Ancient Array Formation inheritance that Zhao Yameng had obtained!

On the other hand, Wang Baole's internal cultivation seemed to have broken free from its cuffs due to the auras all around him. Instantly, he broke through from early-stage Core Formation realm and entered the mid-stage Core Formation realm. His mid-stage Core Formation realm was also unusual, as he broke through more than once!

The first to achieve a breakthrough was his Lightning Core. After the Lightning Core had broken through, the first level of Wang Baole's Lightning Immortal Transformation was perfected. He only needed to go into seclusion for a period of time to consolidate it to reach the second level of the Lightning Immortal Transformation, so as to create a Lightning Immortal avatar!

The next to achieve a breakthrough was his Dark Core. To Wang Baole, the Dark Art was well prepared. Be it the inheritance enlightenment in his Dark Dream, or his control of the Dark Qi absorption and that of Soul Guidance, they both allowed Wang Baole's Dark Core and Lightning Core to achieve a breakthrough at the same time and enter the mid-stage Core Formation realm!

The last to achieve a breakthrough was his physical body. In reality, that was the fundamental reason why he swallowed the pills. Not only would the pills boost part of his cultivation, but they would stimulate his physical body. Of course, these weren't the main reason. The key that really allowed Wang Baole's physical body to achieve a breakthrough was Thearch Armor's inheritance!

Even though Wang Baole hadn't cultivated this inheritance, simply imprinting it in his mind already had an impact on his physical body, causing it to constantly change by adapting to Thearch Armor's cultivation.

Therefore, while the breakthrough this time appeared to only advance from early-stage to mid-stage Core Formation realm, his combat capabilities had significantly improved. As he opened his eyes, an aura that made even Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng astonished emanated from Wang Baole's body.

So powerful! Zhuo Yifan was surprised, and immediately stood up and retreated several steps. Under the lure of Wang Baole's aura, his glabella glowed red, and the mark of the War Soldier vaguely transmogrified, as if the mark was offering protection instinctively.

Zhao Yameng didn't retreat like Zhuo Yifan, but she also revealed a look of surprise. As she sealed her hands and waved them, an array formation protective covering instantly appeared to stop the spread of the aura. She knew that Wang Baole was powerful, but right now, as Wang Baole achieved a breakthrough, she suddenly realized that Wang Baole was more shockingly powerful than she had thought.

It must be mentioned that she had also achieved a breakthrough herself. She was sensing everything through the combat capabilities of an early-stage Core Formation realm cultivator instead of a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator. That was sufficient to prove that even though Wang Baole's current breakthrough seemed uneventfully smooth, it was actually an extraordinary process!

That was especially so as right now, green veins were bulging from Wang Baole's physical body, and both Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng felt that his Blood Qi was raging. It seemed as if just his physical body alone was sufficient to suppress everything. There was also a black flame burning in his left eye, giving off a chill. In his right eye, lightning that could destroy everything was spreading as well. These, combined with his physical body, boosted Wang Baole's combat capabilities significantly!

As Wang Baole slowly stood up, the aura from his body continued to grow stronger, as if there were no limits. Even Zhao Yameng had no choice but to start retreating, as the array formation protective covering around her began to break apart.

Even the donkey was completely shocked, giving up on its initial thought to change his daddy. After thinking it through, it felt that even if it were to be transformed into a snake, it would still lose against its daddy.

Therefore, it sighed and resigned to fate. It put on a look to please, and even shook its tail enthusiastically, delightfully galloping around with its hooves.

That's just too powerful! Zhao Yameng was shaken as she held her breath and looked at Zhuo Yifan, before realizing that he was also looking at her. Astonishment could be seen in each of their eyes.

At that moment, Wang Baole stood up and slowly closed his eyes again. He gradually toned down on his aura. Several moments later, after his aura was completely dissipated, he reopened his eyes again. There was no longer any lightning or Dark Fire. However, after noticing Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng's facial expressions, Wang Baole hurriedly blinked. Maintaining his previous demeanor, he raised his chin and perked up his tummy, speaking nonchalantly.

"Zhao Yameng, tell me the truth. Are you secretly in love with me?"

As Wang Baole spoke, Zhuo Yifan, who despite still maintaining a mighty posture, slapped his forehead as he wondered about why the fella before him had a habit of taking liberties of others regardless of the situation…

As for Zhao Yameng, she was indeed taken aback by Wang Baole's aura previously, but when she heard those words, a look of unfriendliness could instantly be seen in her eyes.

Wang Baole chuckled looking at the duo's facial expressions, before hurriedly dissipating his aura. As he patted his tummy, he spoke arrogantly.

"How's that? Now the both of you know how formidable the Chairman of the Adonis Association is, huh?"

Zhao Yameng snorted, while Zhuo Yifan shook his head while laughing bitterly. However, he still felt that the Wang Baole who behaved in that manner was the Wang Baole that they were familiar with. The sense of unfamiliarity that previously arose due to Wang Baole's astonishing aura dissipated with Wang Baole's cheekiness. Soon, after some discussion, the trio made preparations to leave.

"Even though all of us have achieved a breakthrough, the journey back is still dangerous. We should remain vigilant." After Wang Baole made those last-minute reminders, the trio took a deep breath and unleashed their full speed. The donkey was thrown back into the storage bag by Wang Baole.

The area they were in was the periphery. Therefore, as the trio charged forward, they soon reached the dividing line between the land of inheritance and the Sea of Fire. They didn't stop and directly crossed over the line. The moment they did that, a heatwave greeted them, instantly dehydrating them and making them feel the obvious difference between the land of inheritance and the world outside.

Even the skies were different. The skies over the land of inheritance were pitch-black, with only three cracks revealing a red glow. Every once in a while, the dark screen would spread, plunging the area into darkness instantly. However, the skies here were a deep red color, and looking at it through the lens of Wang Baole's current level of cultivation, he could vaguely see that there was an unimaginable fire burning behind this deep red-colored sky. It was like a liquid and a gas at the same time, and couldn't be easily described.

Seems like we have been teleported to the depths of the sword body… Wang Baole was extremely vigilant as he observed the surroundings. At the same time, he was calling out for Little Missy in his mind. He needed to know which direction to head in before returning to the sword handle region from the sword body region.

As Wang Baole called for Little Missy, the trio seemed to have sensed something and turned their heads around one after another. They noticed that the dark screen had appeared once again over the land of inheritance that they had just left. Looking at it from the outside, they could gain a clear view. They realized that the skies weren't covered by a growing dark screen. Instead, a dark screen had risen up from the ground along the border before turning crescent-shaped and covering the entire land of inheritance whole. Overall, it seemed like a large semicircle that was gradually forming!

That shocked the trio and injected them with a sense of familiarity. Zhao Yameng was the first to react to this, and she hurriedly spoke.

"Don't you guys think that this land of inheritance looks like… an eye?

"The black-colored area in the middle of the land is the pupil, while the white-colored area of the ground is the sclera. The dark screen occasionally appears, and it is likely the eyelids opening and closing when the eye blinks!"

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Chapter 535: Immortal Platform!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

"An eye?" Zhuo Yifan constricted his pupils as he looked towards the land of inheritance. Wang Baole seemed to be deep in thought. He felt that based on Zhao Yameng's descriptions, the region did indeed look like an eye!

"That is… huge…" Wang Baole mumbled and was about to speak when a familiar, calm voice that he hasn't heard for a long time sounded in his mind.

"This lady has good observational skills, only lagging behind me by seventy percent. She should be the unprecedented number one spirit body in the civilization of your Federation."

Little Missy spoke nonchalantly. Wang Baole simply ignored her tone, his mind filled with surprise.

"Little Missy, you've finally awakened. Zhao Yameng is only the number one spirit body on the Federation, but you, Little Missy, are the number one elite! I haven't heard your voice in so long, I've missed you so much!"

"What a glib tongue!" Little Missy snorted, but her tone was visibly less distant. Even though she appeared to be annoyed, she was still secretly glad to hear that.

"That is indeed an eye and is officially called the Eye of Infinite Techniques. It is a visual land, one of the Lands of Five Senses left behind by my father those years ago in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace!"

"In all those years, many marks were left behind by numerous mighty figures. Even though there is a certain danger, it is one of the two large inheritances in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace! The fact that the three of you were able to gain opportunities here definitely had something to do with me putting in spells and influencing the situation." As she spoke, Little Missy grew increasingly arrogant. Wang Baole blinked, somewhat suspicious of her words, but he felt that he should remain obedient. Therefore, he hurriedly curried Little Missy's favor.

He praised Little Missy for being formidable, extremely intelligent, with her charm surpassing everyone in the galaxy and her looks being out of this world… In other words, it was as mushy as it could possibly be. Little Missy humphed, but she didn't interrupt…

As he continued currying Little Missy's favor, Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng looked at Wang Baole, perplexed. Wang Baole was so engrossed in the process that, to outsiders, he was standing there frozen with a dazed expression. Zhuo Yifan was about to shake Wang Baole on the shoulder but was stopped by Zhao Yameng.

Without speaking, Zhao Yameng looked deeply into Wang Baole's eyes before turning to Zhuo Yifan, telling him not to disturb Wang Baole now.

Zhuo Yifan wasn't dense either. After thinking about it, he stood with Zhao Yameng while waiting for Wang Baole to recover.

Wang Baole carried on currying Little Missy's favor for a full hour. He was so mentally exhausted that he felt faint, as his mind was so active thinking about praises without repeating them. That was when Little Missy coughed slightly in his mind, as an indication that she was satisfied with what she had heard.

"All right, I know how much you look up to me. In the future, when you're trying to tell me how much you respect me, don't mention facts like that. Those aren't praises but the truth. Ah, Baole, you have a shortcoming, and that is, you're too honest!"

When he heard those words, Wang Baole was dumbfounded for a moment. After a while, after suppressing his surprise towards Little Missy's words, he forcefully heaved a sigh of relief and hurriedly opened his mouth to speak.

"Little Missy, how do you think we should leave this place?" As Wang Baole spoke, he felt glad that he was sending a voice transmission in his mind and not speaking in real life. Otherwise, he would have gone mute from all the talking.

"It's easy to leave this place." Little Missy spoke arrogantly and began giving directions. Wang Baole listened attentively, occasionally looking up to look at his surroundings, as if to ascertain the right direction to go to. Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng had long realized what was going on, and they continued waiting without speaking as they stood beside Wang Baole.

Before long, Wang Baole's eyes gradually brightened up as he listened to Little Missy's directions. Finally, he took a deep breath and turned to look at Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng.

"Follow me, I know the way out!" Wang Baole spoke excitedly and didn't bother to explain what had just happened. Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng pretended to not see what they had observed. After all, everyone had secrets. Even though they shared a strong relationship such that they were willing to put their lives in each other's hands, it was also because of this that they respected each other's secrets.

In addition, Wang Baole didn't hide away from the duo while carrying out this mysterious form of communication, and this signified the trust he had in them. Therefore, hearing Wang Baole's words, Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng followed behind him immediately. Soon, the trio was moving fast in mid-air above the Sea of Fire, with Wang Baole leading the way.

They flew for seven few days without taking much rest. Thankfully, they all had just achieved a breakthrough in their cultivation and had sufficient pills to sustain their speed. However, even so, they didn't manage to cover a very long distance.

There was simply too much danger lurking around. Once in a while, a fire hurricane would erupt without any signs, moving mountains would appear suddenly before them, and Fire Gremlins showed up five times as well. Danger was everywhere, forcing the trio to either resist or reroute. However, thankfully, they managed to overcome it all.

That was especially so for the most dangerous encounter they had. On the fifth day of the trio's journey, a large hand suddenly extended amidst the Sea of Fire, as if it was punching the skies. It grabbed hold of a floating mountain thousands of feet before the trio, pulling it into the sea.

Even though it was a distance thousands of feet away, the suppressive force that emanated from the large hand still pressured the trio, such that their cultivation was slightly destabilized. They also turned extremely pale from shock…

Of course, that wasn't all. On the sixth day, as they continued flying vigilantly, they saw that a pond had appeared in an area of nothingness on their right. There was an alluring lady bathing in the pond while laughing cheekily and throwing glances at the trio.

Zhuo Yifan only took a single look and was instantly bewitched. His soul was almost sucked towards it. Luckily, Wang Baole was reminded by Little Missy and pulled the smitten Zhuo Yifan away, effectively avoiding a crisis.

There was also an incident that happened several hours ago. A sound similar to thousands of warring troops, produced by a cornett, was heard from a distance before them. From the side of his eye, Wang Baole could see an ancient battle cart, where there stood numerous giants with golden armor charging towards them.

Zhao Yameng paused and immediately put in place array formations while Wang Baole spoke hurriedly.

"Close your eyes!"

Zhao Yameng put all her faith in what she had just heard and closed her eyes without hesitation. Wang Baole dragged Zhao Yameng while closing his eyes as well. They could sense strong winds blowing before them as if someone was screaming at them. However, they resisted the urge to open their eyes until they sensed that the winds of the incoming impact that were about to crash into them suddenly disappear.

Several moments later, Wang Baole and Zhao Yameng opened their eyes, but they didn't see anything before them…

However, they were shocked by whatever they just felt. After a while, Zhao Yameng spoke softly.

"If we didn't shut our eyes just now…"

"There is no 'if'." Wang Baole shook his head. Based on his intuition as a Dark Child, he didn't sense any signs that indicated that what just happened was the result of angry spirits. That was sufficient to conclude that either they were high-level spirits, or that the incident wasn't caused by spirits but by a mysterious force that Wang Baole didn't know of.

After a brief moment, he took a deep breath and continued the journey with Zhao Yameng, who remained silent. As the seventh day almost passed, Zhuo Yifan awakened. Recalling what had happened made him extremely frightened.

Three days passed after that. The trio experienced many other bizarre encounters, and they were mentally and physically exhausted. That was when they finally arrived at the destination pointed out by Little Missy.

It was an extremely tall mountain that couldn't be engulfed even by the Sea of Fire. On the peak of the mountain was an incense burner so large that the trio were like grains of sand beside it. The trio was completely shocked when they looked up as they stood beneath the incense burner!

The incense burner gave off a sense of antiquity, and there were no restrictions in the surroundings. It seemed like it was a public area of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace many years ago.

"This place is one of the seventy-two Immortal Platforms of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. Yameng and Yifan, work with me to channel your cultivation into this Immortal Platform in order to open it!" Wang Baole took a deep breath and suppressed the shock he was feeling. As he spoke, he raised his right hand and pressed it onto the Immortal Platform before him!

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Chapter 536:

Traveling By Smoke!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The incense burner on the Immortal Platform appeared plain and ancient. There were nine enormous inscriptions written on it. They didn't understand what the inscriptions meant, but they could sense the immense power exuding from them.

When Wang Baole lifted his right hand and placed it on the incense burner, a powerful suction erupted suddenly and yanked at Wang Baole's physical body. It hooked onto his cultivation easily and drew it into the Immortal Platform!

The entire process was out of Wang Baole's control. His Spirit Qi seemed to have wrestled loose, like a horse shrugging off its reins. It sped towards the Immortal Platform, and one of the inscriptions began to glow with a dim light.

A myriad of emotions flashed across Zhao Yameng's and Zhuo Yifan's faces. They approached immediately and pressed their palms onto the Immortal Platform. Streams of Spirit Qi flowed out of their bodies instantly, surging into the incense burner. The glowing inscription began to shine with a brighter intensity.

Even though there were three of them, two at the Core Formation realm and one at the Foundation Establishment realm, they were unable to satisfy the first inscription's need for Spirit Qi. Wang Baole was prepared for this, though. Once he sensed Zhuo Yifan's weakening, he pulled out three supreme-grade Spirit Stones and flung one at Zhao Yameng and Zhuo Yifan. He held the remaining Spirit Stone in his left hand and allowed the Spirit Qi in the stone to flow into his body.

Time passed steadily. Despite their pale faces and trembling bodies, they managed to reach a certain sort of balance while being sustained by supreme-grade Spirit Stones. After exhausting hundreds of Spirit Stones, the first inscription on the incense pot finally lit up completely.

A sudden immense force surged from the Immortal Platform as the inscription lit up, blocking off the suction force. The three of them stumbled back as their bodies shuddered.

At that exact moment, the blinding light from the first inscription spread out. The entire incense burner began to quake. It finally activated for the first time in decades!

Loud booms like thunder descended and nearly deafened them. A wisp of green smoke rose slowly from the incense burner towards the skies.

It was a strange sight indeed. Wang Baole said immediately, "Use the mantra I've taught you and enter the green smoke!"

Little Missy had taught Wang Baole a mantra during the ten day's journey. It was a simple manta that resembled a string of code. Zhao Yameng and Zhuo Yifan had memorized it easily after he had taught them. As soon as Wang Baole said that, they immediately formed a series of hand seals. Their motions were fully synchronized. As they uttered the mantra in their heads, they began to shine with a green light. It grew brighter and brighter until their forms were completely obscured by the light. They had transformed into spheres of glowing green light.

As the glowing spheres continued to shine, they began to rise slowly into the air and race towards the enormous incense burner. They headed for the green smoke rising above the incense burner, approaching and merging with it. One could then see three indistinct figures in the green smoke—Wang Baole, Zhao Yameng, and Zhuo Yifan.

Before they could recover from their shock, the green smoke rose rapidly away, drifting off in the windless sky. It sped into the distance, disregarding any mountain peaks or seas of fire in its way. It passed straight through them. It was swift, swifter than the three of them had ever been. Such a means of travel, via smoke, was beyond their wildest imagination. They couldn't control the surge of emotions inside of them.

"This is what the true Vast Expanse Dao Palace is like…" Zhuo Yifan muttered to himself. Zhao Yameng began to analyze what was going on. She was clearly taken aback, but her mind instinctively tried to dissect the principles behind the Immortal Platform.

Wang Baole was the only one whose eyes were shining. If he could make good use of the Immortal Platform, he might… just be able to enter any hexed areas and search for treasures.

They each had their own thoughts, but the shock of traveling via smoke remained. The speed was astonishing. Wang Baole's preliminary assessment indicated that the smoke was traveling at a hundred times his speed. They stared at the lands beneath them as they traveled, unable to recover from the shock of it all.

They had the rare opportunity to view a large segment of the sword body as they sped through the air. They saw that the Sea of Fire covered only half of the lands, while the remaining half was covered in different types of landscape.

They saw hundreds of deep craters, many which weren't filled with lava. And even those that were weren't filled to the brim. A terrifying aura that struck fear into their hearts oozed from deep inside each of those craters.

They saw signs of spells being cast. The energy signatures of spells could be found in some regions. The danger that oozed from those regions remained intense despite them being protected in the smoke.

Those sights could hardly compare to what they saw next. As they raced in the skies, a giant hand emerged from the Sea of Fire below them. It looked different from the giant hand they had encountered before, having only four fingers. It swept through the air and made a grab for the smoke they were nestled in. The giant hand charged towards the shocked trio, but it missed. It was as if the entire cloud of smoke was just that—a cloud of smoke. It dispersed, then gathered together again, then continued dashing through the sky.

The harmless fright sent their hearts racing as they released a sigh of relief. They watched as they flew across the lands. Gradually, a vast plain appeared before them. On it were countless… skeletons!

"This… this…" Wang Baole's eyes almost popped out. His breathing quickened as he stared stupidly at the plain below them. It was a vast plain, without an end in sight, and innumerable skeletons filled the plains, too many for counting.

There were cultivators from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace as well as members of the Never-Ending Clan. It was clear that a large-scale battle between the two had been conducted here. Death filled the air, and pockets of chaos littered the place. Those with inadequate levels of cultivation might go mad instantly should they even draw near this place.

However, if one could enter this place safely, he would be rewarded with a bountiful gain. He would walk away filthy rich. In fact, the battle credits that one would get from the sheer number of identity tokens found there was unimaginable, not to mention the treasures that rested in countless storage bags on the battlefield…

"My god!" Wang Baole had thought he had come away with quite a bounty. He knew now that what he had found was a mere grain of sand in an ocean. It was pathetic.

The sight made them realize how impossible it would be for them to return if they hadn't found the Immortal Platform!

The green smoke traveled for three days. It crossed vast lands, none of which seemed familiar to them. Then, they came across an extremely unique sea!

It was not a Sea of Fire, but one of blood. The sea of blood rested within a Sea of Fire. Its edges were clearly defined. The flames couldn't cross and mingle. When the green smoke flew past, it began to warp and grow thinner. It sank, gradually. It seemed affected by the sea of blood and was on the verge of disintegration. The three of them began to grow nervous. As they looked down, Zhao Yameng suddenly said, "There's a corpse in the sea of blood!"

A corpse floated adrift in the sea of blood. It wasn't extremely large, but it was still considerably taller than an ordinary man. It was about twenty feet long and was dressed in lavish attire. It also only had half its skull on it.

If they hadn't had such good eyes, due to the descending mist, they wouldn't have been able to spot it.

Even though the corpse was missing half its skull, and even though it was dead, it continued to exude an overpowering aura which affected the green smoke. He was clearly the cause of the sea of blood, having been able to create such a terrifying phenomenon after his death. This was the most terrifying sight that the three of them had seen while traveling in the green smoke!

His cultivation must at least be at the Eternal Star realm when he was still alive! He might be even more powerful than that! Based on his experiences in the Dark Dream, Wang Baole did a rough estimation. He reeled back with shock—at the corpse's power and at the mark on the corpse's arm. Others might not know what it signified, but Wang Baole had read about such things while he was in the Dark Dream. He had read that extremely powerful cultivators were able to form storage seals and create an alternate space inside their bodies, where they could store their possessions more safely.

This person should be an Elder! That's two hundred thousand battle credits!

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Chapter 537: Little Duanmu, Your Package Is on Its Way

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole's heart began to race rapidly. He thought about how the Vast Expanse Dao Palace was amassing identity tokens. There must be some reason for that. He had intended to ask Little Missy about it when she woke up. Now that he was reminded of it again, he hastily inquired.

"The identity token represents one's access rights. Many places are only accessible to disciples with the relevant access rights. I'll help you look around if there's a chance and see if we can locate the records belonging to the true Vast Expanse Dao Palace. You'll be able to learn how to make use of those access rights after listing your name in the records. You can even make use of other people's identity tokens and borrow their access rights. The three inner sect disciples must have the same intentions. Of course, your name must first be in the records for this to work," Little Missy said casually as if he had just disturbed her for an extremely trivial matter.

Wang Baole couldn't resist the temptation. Even though Little Missy didn't provide many details, he still managed to piece together the big picture. He stared longingly at the corpse in the Blood Sea. The green smoke had finally left the region. It reformed and then left again, taking only Wang Baole with it. His thoughts, however, remained with the corpse that was worth two hundred thousand battle credits.

Days passed, and the green smoke grew thinner. It finally vanished completely when it approached the border that separated the sword handle and the sword body. The trio landed on a mountain peak free of hexes. Wang Baole continued to look back, longing and mixed feelings shining in his eyes.

"We're… back…" Zhuo Yifan released a sigh. This trip had been filled with ups and downs. It had been an incredible adventure. Someone weak-hearted would have died of fright halfway through the journey.

Zhao Yameng took in a deep breath as well. Excitement shone in her eyes. She had gained much from this trip. The time she had spent at the Immortal Platform, especially, had given her much to think about. Enlightenment still evaded her, but she did get some inspiration.

Wang Baole was the only one who stared behind him, determination slowly lighting up his eyes.

"I've made up my mind. Just wait until my level of cultivation increases. I'll get my hands on that Elder's identity token. I remember the way back!" Wang Baole gritted his teeth. As soon as he said that, Zhuo Yifan's eyes shone with respect and admiration. He patted Wang Baole on the shoulder.

"Baole, you've set yourself on the road to eventual death. There's no turning back for you."

Even Zhao Yameng shook her head after staring at Wang Baole. Wang Baole sighed at their reactions. He knew that it was quite impossible to retrieve the Elder's identity token. However, he couldn't get rid of the itch. He remained dazed the entire journey back.

Fortunately, they were near the borders. They could see the enormous defensive barrier in the distance when they raised their heads. It wasn't as dangerous out here. They dashed ahead and soon stepped across the barrier, leaving the sword body behind them as they entered the region of the sword handle!

What could be considered as relatively cool winds greeted them. Wang Baole shook himself and cleared his mind. He did his best to shove aside his lust for the storage bag on the dead Elder's corpse. They went through five rounds of teleportation and finally arrived inside the Vast Expanse Dao Palace.

Through the regional Spirit Internet shared by all Federation Seedlings, they found that they had been gone for six months. It wasn't a long time for a cultivator. In fact, this was a typical duration to be away for any cultivator entering the sword body to complete a mission. Some would be gone for a far longer period. However, they had gone through a lot during these six months.

In fact, no one would believe what they had experienced if they told them. They weren't foolish enough to share such information recklessly. Zhao Yameng and Zhuo Yifan left immediately after returning to the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. They had reaped a bountiful return and needed to retreat into seclusion and deal with what they had found.

Wang Baole finally managed to set aside his greed for the battle credits he could be earning by stealing from the dead Elder. He headed straight for the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. The first thing he was going to do was to exchange the identity tokens he had gotten for battle credits.

He had reaped too bountiful a harvest this time. He was bound to attract attention. However, there was no way he was going to go unnoticed with a core disciple's identity token in his possession. Wang Baole decided to throw caution to the wind and headed straight for the mission stone slab.

It seemed that there was never a moment when the place wouldn't be crowded with people. Cultivators streamed around the stone slab. Wang Baole's arrival didn't draw too much attention. He approached the stone slab and was about to exchange his hard-earned gains for battle credits. Suddenly, the bustling around him grew faint. Everything suddenly seemed quieter.

Wang Baole froze. He turned and looked. Many people around him had stopped breathing as they stared into the distance, at an approaching figure!

It was a young man. He had a towering, sturdy build and long, flowing black hair. He wore the red robes that indicated he was a personal disciple of someone in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. A chilly aura flowed off him in waves, his eyes were devoid of emotion, and his handsome face was as cold as a glacier!

He showed no signs of arrogance or condescension, and there was no hint of spirit energy as he approached from the skies. Those who stood in front of him stepped away and opened up a path for him. They greeted him, lowering their heads, not daring to look into his eyes.

"That's Senior Brother Dugu Lin!"

"He's the first personal disciple under Elder Mie Liezi…"

"I heard he spends most of his time traveling alone in the region of the sword body…"

People started whispering around him. Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. Others might have sensed a chilly aura exuding from this person, but Wang Baole could sense an immense fury surrounding Mie Liezi's first personal disciple, Dugu Lin. They didn't originate from Dugu Lin but were formed from countless killings, transformed into an aura that surrounded him!

Such a strong bloodlust! Wang Baole's expression was calm. He had been living in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace for nearly a year. He had heard of Vast Expanse Dao Palace's five prodigies from Yun Piaozi as well as through the regional Spirit Internet.

The five prodigies were all personal disciples of the three Elders, and Dugu Lin was one of them. He was Mie Liezi's personal disciple. Out of the remaining four prodigies, two were Feng Qiuran's personal disciples and the other two You Ran's personal disciples.

They were all at the perfected Core Formation realm. They were extremely gifted, their talents incomparable. They rarely appeared in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, and whenever they appeared, they would draw the attention of everyone around them.

An expressionless Dugu Lin walked towards the stone slab amidst the awed looks from the crowd. With a wave of his hand, he pulled out vast quantities of identity tokens and initiated the exchange immediately. The enormous stone slab began to shine with a brilliant light. The young man had submitted too many identity tokens, which necessitated some calculations on the stone slab's part.

Heated discussions began to ring out once again after Dugu Lin handed over the identity tokens. Wang Baole observed the exchange with silent surprise. Even though Dugu Lin hadn't presented any core disciple's identity tokens for exchange, he had handed over thirteen identity tokens belonging to inner sect disciples and more than a hundred identity tokens belonging to outer sect disciples. The sheer number of identity tokens was astonishing.

Even though his exchange couldn't rival what Wang Baole had, Wang Baole knew very well how dangerous the sword body was. To be able to get his hands on these tokens, he must have barged into forbidden areas. Wang Baole grew cautious of this man. He decided against exchanging his tokens now. There was no point trying to start a competition with someone he had no grudges against. It would be completely meaningless to do that.

He noticed how the stone slab would start shining if the number of tokens submitted exceeded a certain quantity. Wang Baole decided that he would split up his tokens and exchange them in batches, even though this might attract unwanted attention.

Wang Baole continued to linger in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace long after Dugu Lin had left. He returned to the stone slab and made his exchanges in batches. He left the identity token of the core disciple for last. The crowd gasped as the stone slab began to shine.

"Someone just exchanged for a large quantity of battle credits earlier… from the brightness level of the stone slab, the exchange must be for at least ten thousand credits!"

"Who the hell managed to do that?"

Due to Wang Baole's prudence, no one realized that he had been the one making the exchanges. Wang Baole waited as the people around him began discussing heatedly again. He even pretended to be surprised. After some time, he finally shook his head and left.

He was beyond excited though. He saw the battle credits that he had got after the exchange, and immense satisfaction unfurled inside him.

He had accumulated more than forty thousand battle credits!

This was a considerable sum even for a Nascent Soul realm cultivator. Battle credits were a precious commodity in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. Save the missions demanding identity tokens, the battle credits awarded by other missions were pitiful. In addition, continuous cultivation meant a continuous expenditure of battle credits.

With his battle credits in his pocket, Wang Baole went to the Vast Expanse Techniques Chamber merrily. After some thought, he got fifteen sets of cultivation techniques worth a thousand battle credits each. He felt a slight sense of regret though. He had inherited numerous legacies at the Eye of Infinite Techniques, but they were all embedded in his mind. With his current level of cultivation, he wasn't yet capable of replicating them into jade slips. He couldn't send those over to the Federation.

As for the techniques they had gathered in the cave abode—Zhao Yameng and Zhuo Yifan were learning those techniques. As their friend, he wouldn't easily share those techniques. That was why, after some thought, he had decided to primarily obtain new cultivation techniques via exchanging battle credits.

After all, I'm rich now. It's just ten thousand battle credits. That's like petty cash. I still have my Spirit Boats, which will fetch quite a sum of credits as well. Yun Piaozi's been saying that he's almost got a deal settled since six months ago. I'll catch up with him after this. The earnings should be considerable. Wang Baole thought about how rich he was now. Brimming with self-satisfaction, he didn't even frown when he exchanged his credits for fifteen sets of cultivation techniques. He headed straight for the teleportation array formation immediately.

Little Duanmu, your package is on its way! Wang Baole's spirits soared. He could sense the Federation presidency within his reach.

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Chapter 538: A Shocked Federation

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole was extremely pleased with himself. He found that his endearment "Little Duanmu" ran off his lips really smoothly. It was impossible to know how Wang Baole judged it to be so. Regardless, he firmly believed that his promotion to Federation President was guaranteed. It was an inevitability. His confidence led him to believe that there was nothing wrong with him addressing the president as Little Duanmu.

Wang Baole grew incredibly excited at that thought. He waved his hand. The disciples guarding the teleportation array formation stared with wide eyes and open mouths as he spent fifteen thousand battle credits and sent fifteen sets of cultivation techniques back to the Federation!

Fifteen thousand battle credits was a huge sum of wealth to those disciples guarding the teleportation array formation. Their breathing quickened instantly. Their eyes grew red. They could only manage to scramble together a few hundred credits after a month's hard work. That was before they took into account their expenses for the month. After that, they were generally left with only a few credits.

The fact that Wang Baole was so wealthy made them feel incredulous. They could taste bitter jealousy in their mouths at the sight of such wealth.

"So what if he's rich!"

"That's right. So what if they have a bit of money. Doesn't mean a thing. I heard that the Federation Seedlings would resort to anything to earn battle credits. I heard of this person called Li Yi. She's even more despicable. She actually seduced the island lord of the island she was assigned to!"

"Your news is outdated. I've heard of her as well. She didn't stop at one. I heard she's seduced at least seven or eight of them!"

Filled with jealousy, the disciples on guard began to exchange voice transmissions to vent their anger. They watched as the teleportation array formation erupted with a startling, blinding light, and teleported all fifteen jade slips away in the blink of an eye.

Beyond the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, within the same Solar System where the ancient greenish-bronze sword rested, Li Xingwen sat cross-legged next to and guarded the array formation on Mercury. His eyes opened, and an image of Duan Muque appeared at the same time.

They had experienced this before. In addition, they had received cultivation techniques from Federation Seedlings during this past six months. They had grown accustomed to this. They got excited as soon as they sensed waves of spirit energy rising from the array formation.

"How many will they send over this time?"

"Speaking of that. The girl, Li Yi, has done quite well. She's sent over five sets of cultivation techniques. She could be said to be the cream of the crop for this batch of Federation Seedlings!" Duan Muque laughed aloud. Pleased and consoled, he glanced at Li Xingwen.

Li Xingwen snorted and didn't say a word. Wang Baole hadn't sent over a single cultivation technique during the past six months. Li Yi, on the other hand, had been sending one over every month. The comparison was simply too stark. Even if he wanted to show support for Wang Baole, there was really nothing much he could do.

What's that rascal doing up there! Li Xingwen frowned. Even though Li Yi was also from the four Dao Colleges, and her contributions had lent greater weight to the Dao Colleges' opinions in the Federation, she was a graduate from the White Deer Dao College. She wasn't of the Ethereal Dao College. Li Xingwen, who had shifted his loyalties to the Ethereal Dao College after he had retired from his position as Federation President, didn't feel comfortable with that at all.

However, his discomfort was his own business. He still very much approved of Li Yi's performance. After all, the techniques that she had been sending back to the Federation for the past few months had contributed to their cultivation civilization.

"Based on the timing, this should be from that girl, Li Yi." Duan Muque smiled slightly. He especially enjoyed seeing the dark, sullen look on Li Xingwen's face. Even though he was now the president, he had graduated from the White Deer Dao College. He clearly approved of White Deer Dao College graduates' exemplary performances.

As he said that, the teleportation array formation shone once again. A jade slip appeared inside the array formation. Duan Muque's eyes shone with approval and consolation. He was about to continue speaking when a second jade slip appeared.

"Hmm? Li Yi's done a good job this time. She actually sent two…" Duan Muque was immediately overjoyed. However, before he could finish speaking, a third, then fourth, then fifth jade slip appeared!

The sight stunned the typically level-headed Duan Muque. Then, he burst out into laughter.

"Seems like a few of them are sending over cultivation techniques at one go. These kids are still too young. Don't they know how much attention they would attract?" Duan Muque shook his head. Li Xingwen's eyes started shining intensely. He had a different opinion of what was going on. He could sense that the spirit energy coming from the array formation wasn't diminishing but growing stronger. He suddenly said.

"There are still incoming jade slips!"

As soon as he said that, the sixth jade slip, seventh, eighth appeared… when they counted up to fifteen jade slips, the light shining from the teleportation array formation erupted and reached its peak intensity. All fifteen jade slips materialized!

There were fifteen jade slips in total. They floated above the array formation, each one of them giving off unique energy signatures. The sight sent Duan Muque's heart racing. Even Li Xingwen gasped.

Truth be told… if they counted the total number of cultivation techniques they had received from Federation Seedlings for the past six months, it would total at fifteen sets. Now, they had just received fifteen sets at the same time. There was no way they could remain calm. They weren't the only ones who were shocked. The cultivators guarding the area were all alarmed and reeling back from shock and surprise.

Duan Muque and Li Xingwen moved at the same time. They gathered the fifteen jade slips and inspected them separately. Their breathing quickened. Incredulity and disbelief colored their eyes, and they stared at each other.

"All of these with me, they're all from Wang Baole…" Duan Muque hesitated. His eyes shifted and stared at the jade slips in Li Xingwen's hands.

"Mine… are all from Wang Baole as well…" Li Xingwen coughed, then said indifferently.

Duan Muque had his guesses and had been prepared to hear that. However, he still reeled back in shock when he heard what Li Xingwen said. He had learned from Mo Gaozi some details about what was going on in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. He knew what it meant to be able to send over fifteen sets of cultivation techniques in a single teleportation. However, after he recovered from his initial shock, he was overcome by an intense glee. Happiness filled his heart.

"With these fifteen sets of cultivation techniques, the cultivation civilization of the Federation will be able to advance to the next level!" Duan Muque held the jade slips in his hands and laughed loudly. Warmth and consolation colored Li Xingwen's eyes as well. He was shocked as well, and a soothing sense of pride flowed through his entire body. He concluded he hadn't wasted his attention and care on Wang Baole. The kid had made him proud. At that thought, Li Xingwen glanced at Duan Muque, then suddenly laughed.

"Duanmu, you might have to give up your office when Wang Baole returns."

As soon as those words were said, Duan Muque stopped laughing. He wouldn't miss being president. However, the thought of Wang Baole, that little fatty, becoming president, just seemed out of place. He did some mental calculations. He figured that the fatty would at least have to send over thirty sets of cultivation techniques to earn his presidency. Even so, he still had an excuse ready. Wang Baole was too young to be president.

At that thought, Duan Muque set his heart at ease. He laughed arrogantly.

"Wang Baole will have to continue working harder if he wants to become the president. But I look forward to the day when it happens!" Having said that, Duan Muque immediately issued orders to make an announcement to the entire Federation. On the ranking board that was visible to all citizens of the Federation, Li Yi's name, which had originally been placed first in the list, instantly fell to second place as it was surpassed by Wang Baole again!

That wasn't the end of it. The number behind Wang Baole's name had changed as well, from three to eighteen. The shock that brought to everyone in the Federation was unprecedented. The entire Federation burst into an uproar as citizens gasped in shock and cheered at the same time.

The cultivation techniques that had been sent back by the Federation Seedlings were immediately made accessible to the populace for cultivation in succession. Such an approach was employed to speed up and increase the development of the cultivation civilization across the entire Federation.

Wang Baole might not be able to hear the cheers for him, but that didn't affect his anticipation towards taking over as Federation President. Then, he considered Little Duanmu's character. He realized it might not be so easy to get him to abdicate…

Thirty sets isn't a sure bet. I have to set an intermediate target for myself. I'll get my hands on fifty sets then blast them over. We'll see if Little Duanmu gives his presidency up. That's not right. What he's doing is surrendering the presidency to a better candidate. Wang Baole's spirits soared at that thought. He was about to leave the teleportation array formation when something happened. Seven to eight cultivators in black robes appeared with an intense murderous aura surrounding them. They were clearly not ordinary cultivators. They had raced down from the main halls on the mountain top and surrounded Wang Baole in an instant. They activated their cultivation and released waves of spirit energy, seeming ready for a fight.

The one leading them was a middle-aged man with an emotionless, stern expression on his face. He swept his eyes across Wang Baole, then said coolly.

"Wang Baole, you're in trouble. Come with us!"

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Chapter 539: Where Did Liang Long Go?

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The murderous aura oozing from the men in black terrified the disciples guarding the teleportation array formation. They immediately recognized them as cultivators from the Disciplinary Hall. They answered to the three Elders and only appeared when there was a need to mete out large-scale punishments.

Wang Baole was alarmed as well. Thoughts started racing through his head as he tried to think of anything he had done that might have broken any of the sect laws. He couldn't come up with anything. It was clear that he was in a tight spot at the moment. He narrowed his eyes as his mind raced through possible ways to resolve his current problem. He raised his right hand, his voice transmission jade slip already out and ready for him to send a voice transmission to Elder Feng Qiuran.

One of the men in black frowned when they saw the jade slip in Wang Baole's hand and was about to scold Wang Baole impatiently. The middle-aged man leading the team raised his hand, silencing his subordinate. He leveled an icy stare at Wang Baole and spoke again.

"Let's not kick up a fuss. You can either come willingly, or we can make you come with us."

Upon hearing that Wang Baole raised his eyebrow. He was about to speak when he heard a voice transmission in his ear.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, do not resist. This is nothing serious. Elder Mie Liezi simply has a few questions for you. You should contact Elder Feng Qiuran as soon as possible… right, Yun Piaozi, he's my clansman."

The person speaking to him was the middle-aged man who was leading the party. Despite his cold eyes, he had secretly sent a message to Wang Baole. Wang Baole could see the imperceptible hint of kindness in his eyes, but it vanished the next moment and was replaced by a chilly stare.

Wang Baole didn't hesitate. He immediately sent a voice transmission to both Yun Piaozi and Feng Qiuran. Then, with an unhappy look on his face, he followed the men in black without a word.

They weren't far from the grand hall atop the mountain peak. If they traveled at top speed, it wouldn't take them long to reach their destination. The middle-aged leader kept a leisurely pace though. The delay was minimal, but he did give Wang Baole an additional fifteen minutes.

This further proved his good intentions. His subordinates clearly sensed what was going on. They looked at one another but didn't say a word. However, the chilly hostility towards Wang Baole lessened slightly. They pretended not to notice his sending and receiving voice transmissions as they headed to the grand hall.

Yun Piaozi's voice transmission arrived. After verifying the middle-aged man's identity, Wang Baole received a voice transmission from Feng Qiuran. She had only a few words for him.

"So be it. I'll be there shortly!"

Wang Baole still felt uneasy. However, he had done all that he could. He continued to mull over what he had done wrong. He followed the men in black to the grand hall. They arrived at the halls, but the men in black didn't enter. The middle-aged man in the lead eyed Wang Baole and stopped in his tracks as well.

Wang Baole took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes. He didn't enter immediately. He stood outside the hall, cupped his fists and bowed deeply.

"Wang Baole seeks an audience with the Elder!"

The gates flew open as soon as Wang Baole spoke. A strong suction force surged past the open gates. It ignored Wang Baole's cultivation and whatever protections he had and grabbed Wang Baole like an enormous, invisible hand. It yanked and dragged Wang Baole into the great hall.

Wang Baole heard a loud buzzing in his head. His entire body ached, and his flesh and bones felt as if they were being crushed. He shook violently as if he had been dragged into a tornado. As he reeled back in shock and terror, he heard Feng Qiuran's snort echoing from afar. Then, another strong force approached and began to battle with the invisible hand that was holding him prisoner.

Wang Baole shuddered as a series of loud booms thundered. The invisible hand didn't disappear after it had dragged him into the hall. He staggered and fell to his knees. Blood surged in his body. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and his face turned pale. He lifted his head and saw, seated at the front of the hall, an expressionless Mie Liezi!

Behind him, Feng Qiuran marched through the gates with a dark look on her face.

"Mie Liezi, what do you mean by this?"

Mie Liezi didn't spare Wang Baole a single glance. He lifted his head, his eyes landing on Feng Qiuran as he spoke with a raspy voice.

"Feng Qiuran, you should ask this ambassador from your dear ally what I mean by all this. He's truly gone too far."

Feng Qiuran frowned and looked at Wang Baole with a questioning look. Wang Baole was breathing heavily. He took a while to settle the blood churning inside his body. Mie Liezi and Feng Qiuran's presence exerted an immense pressure that overpowered him and left him helpless. He couldn't help his bubbling resentment. He grimaced, then cupped his fists and saluted Feng Qiuran.

"Elder Feng, I… truly have no idea what's going on."

"You have no idea?" Mie Liezi laughed suddenly. His laughter was laced with ice.

"Wang Baole, let me ask you. Where did my disciple, Liang Long, go?"

"Liang Long?" Wang Baole froze. He had been thinking during the entire trip here. He had considered many things, but Liang Long had not been one of them. In fact, he had almost forgotten Liang Long entirely.

Now that Mie Liezi had just reminded him, Wang Baole, startled, came to a sudden realization. He recalled he had been ambushed by Liang Long during his first trip to the sword body, and that he had tied him up and left him on a deserted island. The rope he had tied him with could seal all Spirit Qi. With the sword handle spanning such a vast area, trying to find him would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

That wasn't the important point. The important point was… after he had entered the sword body, he had suffered many obstacles, but he had also gained much from the trip despite all the near setbacks. He had forgotten completely about his encounter with Liang Long. It had been six months since their last encounter.

He had half a mind to deny everything, but Liang Long's master was asking for him now, which wasn't a small matter. This was a mid-stage Core Formation realm cultivator, one of Mie Liezi's disciples. Wang Baole tried to look confused as if he was trying to recall something. Then, after some time, he suddenly looked as if he had suddenly realized something.

"Liang Long… I remember now. He started a fight with me when we first landed on the island. I didn't want to break any rules, and I couldn't beat him in a fight. That's why I tied him up and then avoided him. But he continued to challenge me. He ambushed me during one of my missions, and I was forced to engage in battle with him. He wounded me heavily. I almost died. Finally, I used one of my artifacts to trap him without hurting him. That was how I managed to escape with my life…" The expression on Wang Baole's face was one of resentment and grudge. It was as if he was angry about what had happened but helpless to do anything about it.

"Is that why you killed my disciple in cold blood?" Mie Liezi's expression remained unchanged as he spoke slowly.

"I wouldn't dare! I was only at the early-stage Core Formation realm then. Liang Long was at the mid-stage Core Formation realm. I left my home, my family, and my friends in the Federation, and traveled all the way here to a foreign land. Liang Long, on the other hand, is a true member of the sect, with extensive connections. I have no master here. Liang Long's master is the eminent Elder, yourself!

"With such unequal status and level in cultivation, would I dare to kill him? Can I? I don't know why Liang Long is faking his death, and why he hasn't reappeared. I don't wish to make guesses about why he's doing this, but I do know that I was nearly killed just now. My body and spirit were nearly destroyed." Wang Baole grew increasingly agitated and aggrieved as he spoke. His entire body began to shake. Finally, he cupped his fists and bowed towards Feng Qiuran.

"I seek Elder Feng to release me from my duties as island lord. I… dare not hold onto this office any longer. I've done my best to stay away and avoid causing trouble for anyone. When the sect had its eye on my business, I handed it over without saying a word. I made no complaints even when the acquisition fees were clearly unfair and unreasonable!

"What else would you have me do? What should I do? I seek Elder Feng's mercy and permission to return to the Federation. Perhaps I… am not suited for this place." Wang Baole ended his last words with a bitter laugh. He lowered his head and fell silent. Then, he secretly extended his senses and tried to control the rope remotely. The distance separating them might be too great, as he couldn't sense it clearly.

The gears in his head started spinning furiously. Everything he had said earlier both implicitly and explicitly stated that he had been the victim of Liang Long's malicious ploys. He was still thinking about how he could make that seem like it was the truth.

His mind continued to work while he kept an expression of utter misery on his face. He looked utterly defeated. Feng Qiuran fell silent at the sight. She had had her doubts initially, but after hearing what he said, she sighed inwardly.

Even Mie Liezi started to frown. He hadn't believed his disciple, Liang Long, either. He had a clear advantage, but even so, he had been defeated. Mie Liezi knew that his disciple was still alive. He had only gone missing and couldn't be found.

Could it be that Liang Long intended for this to happen? Mie Liezi thought as he narrowed his eyes.

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Chapter 540: Playing the Blame Game!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole might be quite the actor, but he was still too young. While Mie Liezi wavered, he still managed to spot something amiss when he studied Wang Baole.

There was no need for that anyway. As usual, he was simply making use of this matter to fight it out with Feng Qiuran. Even though the Vast Expanse Dao Palace was indeed vast, with Mie Liezi's cultivation, it shouldn't be a challenge to locate a Core Formation realm cultivator as long as the latter was still alive. He merely had to put in a bit more effort.

Mie Liezi decided to ignore everything that Wang Baole had said. He said coolly, "Lead the way!"

Mie Liezi's disciple was involved in this matter. Feng Qiuran was silent for a while before she stared at Wang Baole. She decided to believe whatever Wang Baole had said. However, she also knew that the Federation Seedlings hadn't been treated well since they had arrived. This had something to do with the doubts that had arisen in her own faction. She sighed secretly, then said to Wang Baole slowly.

"Wang Baole, bring us to where you and Liang Long got into a dispute. If you were indeed framed by Liang Long, I will give you justice!"

Wang Baole hastily nodded his head openly while shaking his head privately. He finally realized that the current disadvantaged situation that Feng Qiuran's faction was in had a direct relation to Feng Qiuran's personality.

Based on what Wang Baole had gathered during his stay at the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, he felt that while Feng Qiuran's level of cultivation was high, her character was too gentle. She didn't have many means of controlling and managing her people. Mie Liezi, on the other hand, was extremely forceful. As time passed, this resulted in Feng Qiuran losing control over the cultivators in her own faction.

If Little Duanmu were here… we don't even need him. Any Rank Two Noble from the Federation who has sufficient cultivation wouldn't need much time and means to have everyone wrapped around his little finger. Wang Baole sighed secretly as he continued to appear aggrieved. He bowed towards Feng Qiuran, walked out of the great hall, and flew towards the island on which he had fought with Liang Long.

Wang Baole wasn't slow, but his speed couldn't be compared with the Elders. As soon as he began flight, Feng Qiuran raised her right hand and waved. A gentle glow surrounded Wang Baole. Her calm voice rang out next to his ear.

"Lead the way. A general direction will do!"

Wang Baole blinked. He pretended to think. He soon pointed towards a general direction. As soon as he spoke, Mie Liezi took a step forward and vanished. Feng Qiuran swept her sleeve aside and led Wang Baole away as well in a single step.

Wang Baole could hear a sudden deafening thunder exploding next to his ear. His vision went blurry, and it felt as if he were diving through water. When his vision became clear again, Wang Baole was shocked to see that he had left the main Vast Expanse Dao Palace island and appeared… at the location he had shared earlier.

There was still some distance to the island that Liang Long was at. However, he believed that as soon as he gave the next coordinates, they would arrive at that spot in the next instant.

So this is the Soul Conduit realm… Wang Baole's breathing quickened. Mie Liezi, impatient, snorted.

"Quickly!"

Wang Baole took a deep breath in. He tried to show how hard he was attempting to recall his memories on his pale face. He even unleashed his cultivation so that he could ascertain the exact location.

All the while, he was secretly calling out to his rope. Fortunately, he seemed to be able to sense his rope here. He immediately issued an order. Wang Baole then intended to slow them down. He knew he couldn't do that for long though. That was why he hurriedly indicated a location.

With a wave of Feng Qiuran's hand, the three of them vanished the next moment. When they reappeared, it was at the location that Wang Baole had given. Before Mie Liezi could speak, Wang Baole said hastily, "Please don't be anxious, Elder. It's been a long while since the incident. Please give me some more time."

"There's no need for that!" Mie Liezi glanced at Wang Baole. The expression on his face shifted suddenly. He took a step forward after he spoke, then vanished instantly. Feng Qiuran seemed to have sensed something as well. She turned and looked at Wang Baole.

"We've located Liang Long's presence." Having said that, she grabbed Wang Baole and rushed forward without waiting for a reaction from Wang Baole. They disappeared and reappeared on a deserted island.

This was where Wang Baole and Liang Long had fought. Mie Liezi, who had arrived slightly earlier, had a dark look on his face as he hovered in mid-air. He was staring at someone who was lying on the island!

The person was all skin and bones, barely breathing, and unconscious. He was Liang Long!

Immediately after they appeared above the island, Wang Baole looked at Liang Long and saw the absence of a rope on the latter. He secretly released a breath of relief. At least the rope was intelligent enough to escape in time. Else, he would have a hard time trying to explain himself. He also realized that Liang Long's presence had no longer been concealed precisely because the rope had left. That was how Mie Liezi had been able to sense his location.

Is the rope's ability to seal one's presence and cultivation that powerful? Wang Baole's heart stirred at that thought. He wondered if perhaps Mie Liezi hadn't used his full powers to look for Liang Long.

Wang Baole was unsure of the details. Regardless, he had gained a deeper understanding of his rope's strange abilities. While Wang Baole was deep in thought, a sullen Mie Liezi lifted his right hand and pointed a finger at the unconscious Liang Long.

Liang Long shuddered violently and slowly opened his eyes. He looked lost at first. His confusion persisted for a duration of seven to eight breaths. Then, he shivered when Mie Liezi snorted and awoke completely. He stared at Mie Liezi, who was hovering in mid-air. His body began to shake violently, and he climbed to his knees and kowtowed immediately. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he sobbed loudly and uncontrollably.

"Master, you've finally come to save me!" Liang Long wept. It was the loud kind of crying that implied that he had barely survived death. It made him sound pitiful. Even Wang Baole felt sympathy for him as he listened to his sobbing.

Feng Qiuran frowned as she looked at the loudly weeping Liang Long. Mie Liezi seemed unhappy as well. He said lightly, "Tell me what happened."

"Master, it's this cursed Wang Baole! It's him! I was out on a mission when I passed by this area and was ambushed and heavily injured by him. He humiliated me using every means possible. Then, he tied me up and left me here to die. He used a cursed rope that sealed my presence and my cultivation. I suffered a fate worse than death! Please seek justice for me! Please mete out justice for the Vast Expanse Dao Palace!" Liang Long gritted his teeth. His eyes were red. He had seen Wang Baole standing next to Feng Qiuran. He might not be as clear-headed as he was ordinarily, but he knew his master's character. What his master needed was simply a reason to act.

He didn't spare too much thought before he started outright lying.

Wang Baole had been thinking about how to make what he had said in the great hall seem true. It would be a challenging feat. He had a few ideas, but they weren't ideal. However, Liang Long was playing the blame game now. Wang Baole was overjoyed. This was his chance. He put on a bitter expression on his face, then cupped his fists and saluted Feng Qiuran.

"Elder Feng, I've said it before. I was only able to escape from this island by using an artifact. What Senior Brother Liang Long has said is a blatant lie. If I really had the upper hand, if I had the means to humiliate him and seal his presence, why wouldn't I simply kill him for good? Why didn't I take his storage bag? The contents of his storage bag should be worth a fortune, what with Senior Brother Liang Long's status and rank!" As soon as Wang Baole said that, alarm flashed across Liang Long's face. His mind finally cleared. He recalled how Wang Baole hadn't made any attempts to steal his storage bag throughout the entire fight.

He had overlooked that fact earlier due to his just coming to and still feeling fuzzy in the head. His breathing quickened. In his panic, he spoke again hastily.

"Wang Baole, you're the liar! You didn't kill me and take my storage bag because you didn't dare to! I told you that my master could turn back time. He would be able to see who directly or indirectly caused my death!"

Wang Baole released a sigh of relief secretly when he heard that. He couldn't help but give Liang Long a thumbs up secretly. With Liang Long's unknowing cooperation, he finally managed to simplify a complicated problem and narrow down all his troubles to this single problem.

Everything came down to one question—who was the one who set an ambush?

Addressing that question would allow him to have reason on his side!

At that thought, Wang Baole gritted his teeth. Sorrow and fury colored his voice as he asked Mie Liezi loudly, "If that's the case, Senior Mie Liezi, please activate the spell to turn back time. Please see for yourself… who was the person who set up an ambush!"

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Chapter 541: A Sense of Danger!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Alarm colored Liang Long's face when he heard what Wang Baole had said. His mind became fully awake. He stopped breathing momentarily when he realized his mistake. He wanted to correct himself, but he had been completely played by Wang Baole. There was no way he could salvage the situation at this moment. As he panicked, Mie Liezi, who had been silent all the while, shook his head.

"Liang Long, do you know where you went wrong?"

"Your humble disciple…" Liang Long froze. Wang Baole's pupils contracted, and he took a few steps towards Feng Qiuran. The expression on Feng Qiuran remained unchanged, save her eyes, which narrowed slightly as she looked at Mie Liezi.

"Your mistake was in insisting on reason. You needed to be right." A tinge of disappointment flashed across Mie Liezi's eyes. He turned and suddenly raised his right hand, making an unexpected grab for Wang Baole.

The color of the sky changed as winds lashed through the skies and clouds boiled and rumbled. The Sea of Fire around them erupted. An immense, indescribable force transformed into a tornado. It threatened to tear everything apart and came charging towards Wang Baole, intent on swallowing him whole.

A sudden impending danger descended upon Wang Baole. He was rendered immobile as if his cultivation was being overpowered. It seemed as if an invisible chasm separated him and Mie Liezi. In this world, Mie Liezi was akin to a god!

Fortunately, Mie Liezi wasn't the only god here. There was Feng Qiuran as well!

Feng Qiuran lifted her right hand as soon as Mie Liezi struck. She pointed a finger at Mie Liezi, and ripples of water appeared beneath her feet instantly. They surged outwards and transformed into a vast ocean in the blink of an eye. Roaring waves surged in all directions, engaged in an invisible battle with Mie Liezi. A deafening thunder erupted.

Wang Baole's body shuddered, and blood spilled from his lips. Liang Long experienced the same thing. He sensed blood flowing from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears as he swayed on his feet, ready to collapse to the ground anytime. Only Mie Liezi and Feng Qiuran remained standing. Their clothes weren't even ruffled. The deserted island beneath their feet, on the other hand… Wang Baole watched in shock as mountain rocks turned to dust and the entire island was wiped off the face of the sword. It vanished completely. The Sea of Fire surged in and took its place. It was as if the island had never existed.

"Wang Baole, so what if you can reason your way out?" Mie Liezi stood in mid-air, his hands behind his back and his cold eyes sweeping across Wang Baole's face.

"Remember, if you dare play any tricks on my disciple again, you'll end up like this island!" Having said that, Mie Liezi nodded at Feng Qiuran, then turned and took the heavily injured and unconscious Liang Long away. They vanished without a trace.

Wang Baole fell silent, and Feng Qiuran shut her eyes. She slowly opened them again after a long moment. She seemed on the verge of saying something, but in the end, she said nothing. Exhaustion colored her eyes, and she seemed to be sighing. She turned and left.

Wang Baole remained the only person hovering in mid-air for a very long time. He stared at the direction that Mie Liezi and Feng Qiuran had left. After a while, he narrowed his eyes.

It's better to rely on myself than on others. Elder Feng is too gentle. She might be the best partner for the Federation, but she's not someone I can rely on personally…

In the end, I still have to rely on myself… The Soul Conduit realm. If he really dared try to kill me earlier, I would wing it and summon Little Missy, then fight my way to the sword body! Wang Baole shook his head, then took a deep breath. He turned and took a step forward. He didn't head towards the Vast Expanse Dao Palace but instead raced towards Green Fire Island.

When Wang Baole returned to his own island, he sat down cross-legged in his cultivation and fell into a deep, long contemplation. The image of Mie Liezi's final attack resurfaced in his mind. He had felt the weight of the entire heavens pressing down on him then. It intensified his desire to advance his own cultivation.

I have to reach the Nascent Soul realm as soon as possible! When that time comes, I should be able to exercise some control over the Dark Artifact! Having made up his mind, Wang Baole took out the jade slip documenting the Lightning Immortal Transformation and read up on the second level of the technique.

In the second level of the Lightning Immortal Transformation, he was to create a Lightning Avatar that would possess certain fighting abilities. He had to nurture and nourish this Lightning Avatar inside his own body. It would be able to unleash a power greater than his own.

However, he would also be adversely affected should this avatar be destroyed. There were pros and cons to the Lightning Avatar. Wang Baole's core was different from that of others, though. He believed that the impact he would suffer if his Lightning Core were damaged would be significant but not overly so. It would be something that he could withstand and survive.

Having come to that conclusion, Wang Baole didn't hesitate. He shut his eyes and began meditation, practicing the second level of the Lightning Immortal Transformation. He continued to ingest the pills that he had acquired in the coming days. As his cultivation progressed, his mid-stage Core Formation realm cultivation began to stabilize. He began to inch steadily towards the late-stage Core Formation realm.

Time passed slowly, and a month went by. Liang Long didn't return to the island during this one month. Even though Mie Liezi had issued a warning to Wang Baole, Liang Long had clearly grown fearful of Wang Baole's methods. He had instinctively chosen to avoid Wang Baole.

The strange and wondrous rope found its way back to Wang Baole one night…

There was also the matter of his donkey. Wang Baole didn't know how long he would be training this time, so he released the donkey into the wild so that it could find its own source of food. After all, the donkey could transform into a perfected Core Formation realm python. It would be able to survive and defend itself as long as it didn't incur the wrath of freakishly powerful entities.

The donkey was excited to be released by its master. It had thought it was going to starve to death. When it was released, it immediately dashed out. It took a chunk out of the mountain rocks and nibbled at the trees and the grass. In its hunger, it even took a gulp of the unpalatable molten lava.

Wang Baole ignored the donkey and continued his seclusion. As his cultivation progressed, bolts of lightning began to appear around his meditating body. They wandered all over his body and grew in number. A duplicate image of him gradually appeared and layered over his actual body.

It was as if he was slowly forming a duplicate of himself.

It was clear that time was needed in order for one to truly master the second level of the Lightning Immortal Transformation. He was only able to form the initial prototype of his avatar. As he continued his cultivation, he received good news from Yun Piaozi.

He had finally found a generous client for the fleet of Spirit Boats that Wang Baole had built. The client was willing to purchase the entire fleet. The price he gave was almost the same as the capital he had invested in building the boats—three hundred battle credits for each Spirit Boat!

Overjoyed, Wang Baole initiated negotiations with Yun Piaozi immediately. He retained a few boats but sold the rest. He earned more than sixteen thousand battle credits.

Wang Baole had read the high officials' autobiographies diligently. He wasn't going to keep all his profits to himself. Even if he wanted to do that, he wasn't going to do so for something that many people knew about. He very generously sent three thousand credits to Yun Piaozi as a show of his appreciation. He also set aside two thousand battle credits and requested Yun Piaozi to pass that to his clan brother, as a token of his gratitude for his reminder that day.

Yun Piaozi was delighted when he received the credits. He grew increasingly certain that Wang Baole's was a friendship that he could cultivate. His clan brother smiled when he received his credits as well. He still didn't really like the cultivators from the Federation, but he felt differently towards Wang Baole now.

He has cultivation, tact, and brains… Wang Baole is not a simple character!

With the sudden increase in wealth, Wang Baole brimmed with satisfaction as he stared at the thirty-odd thousand battle credits he now had. He continued his seclusion happily. Besides practicing the second level of the Lightning Immortal Transformation, he also spent some time studying the Thearch Armor inheritance!

Wang Baole finally understood what the inheritance was after some studying. Simply put, it was the formation of another flesh and blood body outside his current physical body. It appeared similar to the Lightning Immortal Transformation and the Lightning Avatar, but they weren't the same.

The Lightning Avatar was an illusion. Thearch Armor, on the other hand, was real!

The Lightning Avatar was meant to be released outside one's body. Thearch Armor was meant to encase one's true form, never to be separated.

This so-called physical form of the Thearch Armor was only a metaphor. In reality, he would be cultivating an armor made of flesh that would then encase his true physical form!

That was Thearch Armor.

The first step to mastering this inheritance was to form blood-colored meridians on his skin. They would cover his entire body, like vines, and form a basic structure!

To accomplish this would be to master the first level of Thearch Armor. Wang Baole tried to envision that in his mind. He could imagine how bizarre and frightening he would look once he managed to reach that stage!

The next step would be to form a skeletal structure outside his body. He had to cultivate bones that would fuse with his meridians. It would be like growing a skeleton on his actual body. His resilience would reach astonishing heights at that point!

Finally, when a full suit of flesh and blood armor formed on top of his true physical body, he would have truly mastered and reached the final level of this inheritance!

What truly shocked Wang Baole was the incremental effects it awarded!

The three levels disregard one's cultivation completely. The increase in power is three, six, and nine times at each level respectively!

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Chapter 542: The Dharmic Armament Problem!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole took a deep breath. When he had been in the Eye of Infinite Techniques, he had been focused on acquiring as many inheritances as possible. That was why he hadn't spent too much time and energy studying the Thearch Armor inheritance. After a detailed analysis, he was blown away by how powerful it was.

I have more than a hundred other inheritances in my head. I have to find time to learn all of them. I might just become invincible after that! Wang Baole's eyes shone brightly. He knew how unrealistic that was though. He thought about finding some way to document the inheritances he now had. That would be the wisest and most prudent option.

If Little Duanmu still doesn't want to give his presidency up to me when I leave this place, I'll just smack him with the inheritances I have! Wang Baole puffed up with pride from his accomplishments. The image of that filled him with anticipation and excitement.

He finally calmed himself down after some time. He took a deep breath and attempted to learn the Thearch Armor inheritance. It might have been fine if he hadn't made an attempt to do so. He tried and was slightly surprised… to find how difficult this Thearch Armor inheritance was.

The first step was to form meridians outside of his body. The inheritance documented how to go about doing it. Despite that, regardless of how Wang Baole tried to follow what the inheritance said, he had no idea what he was doing and was unable to succeed.

Something's not right… Wang Baole scratched his head. After some thought, he began to run through the steps in his head carefully and with full concentration. Time passed. Two weeks went by. However… Wang Baole still saw no progress with his Thearch Armor inheritance.

I've followed exactly as the inheritance instructed! Wang Baole was going mad. His understanding of the inheritance had deepened during the two weeks. He was confident that he hadn't made any mistakes following the steps documented. However… his efforts were like a heavy stone sinking into the ocean. Nothing came out of it.

Seems like I'm missing a catalyst… A tired Wang Baole frowned. He couldn't help but recall the powerful figure who passed down the inheritance. Wang Baole concluded that the powerful figure must have intended for this to happen. He intentionally didn't provide Wang Baole with the catalyst required for learning this inheritance. That was why the Thearch Armor inheritance was so difficult to learn, and why he couldn't make heads or tails of it.

Wang Baole started to sulk at that thought. It was as if a mountain filled with treasures stood before him, and he had no means to retrieve the treasure. He couldn't take this lying down. He gritted his teeth and shut his eyes. He tried to recall the contents of the inheritance and search for clues pointing to the catalyst, that might let him know what exactly it was.

Wang Baole continued his cultivation. Without any supervision, the donkey remained quiet and obedient for a while before it grew bolder. It attempted to dive into the Sea of Fire. It returned quickly, then realized that Wang Baole didn't pay much attention to where it was going. Its eyes shone with excitement as it continued to dive into the Sea of Fire repeatedly.

It began to return later in the night. There was nothing interesting on the island. It wasn't as fun as the Sea of Fire. It had plenty more to eat underwater, and when thirsty, it could drink molten lava.

The donkey gradually realized that Wang Baole really had no time to keep an eye on it, so it let itself go completely. It would spend two to three days in the Sea of Fire whenever it went out. Every time, it would return with a look of extreme satisfaction on its face.

However, it was still too young and inexperienced in its ways. It didn't realize that Wang Baole had been keeping track of its trips and appearance when it returned from those trips. There had been no way he wouldn't notice. The extreme satisfaction on the donkey's face had been simply too obvious. In addition… this was clearly not the first time the donkey had gone out and done something sneaky behind Wang Baole's back.

Did Scram manage to find a lover here, out of all places? Wang Baole grew curious as he trained. The donkey clearly had learned its lessons and grown smarter. It would check that Wang Baole was deep in cultivation before it snuck out secretly into the Sea of Fire.

Wang Baole might have been in the mood to follow the donkey secretly and find out what's going on if his cultivation were progressing smoothly. However, he was currently being frustrated by the progress in his cultivation. He wasn't in the mood to care too much about what the donkey was up to, even though he knew that it was indeed up to something.

His years of experience in cultivation told him though, that if he was unable to find a solution to his problem, he should try looking at it from another angle. This was especially true when it came to identifying catalysts for inheritances, which required one to be inspired. He shouldn't fixate on the problem. After some thought, he decided to spend less time on the Thearch Armor inheritance. He set aside his energy to practice the second level of the Lightning Immortal Transformation.

The Lightning Immortal Transformation was comparably easier than the Thearch Armor inheritance. Wang Baole's Lightning Avatar gradually formed. Wang Baole didn't relax when it came to Dharmic Armaments either. He had enhanced his sword scabbard to a sixth-grade Numinous Treasure prior to his arrival at the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. It was only one step away from becoming a seventh-grade Dharmic Armament!

It was a huge step to take. One that was difficult and required plenty of materials, including Armament Sand. As long as he had sufficient battle credits, he would be able to resolve the latter challenge concerning the materials required. As for the level of difficulty involved in enhancing the scabbard… it would be challenging with Wang Baole's current proficiency in Dharmic Armaments.

Perhaps by the time I can finally refine an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament, I'll also be able to enhance my scabbard to a seventh-grade Dharmic Armament? Wang Baole thought about it, then calculated the battle credits he would need to purchase all the materials he required. He needed approximately fifty thousand credits. This might be a huge sum to other people, but it wasn't a challenge to Wang Baole.

That's alright. I'll try and refine an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament first and use the experience to improve my proficiency in Dharmic Armaments! Wang Baole made up his mind then. He set aside time to refine an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament while practicing the Thearch Armor inheritance as well as the Lightning Immortal Transformation.

Prior to his arrival to the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, he had obtained huge quantities of gods. As long as he had sufficient materials, he could continue to refine Dharmic Armaments. He got out ten thousand battle credits and purchased vast quantities of materials. Then, he began to refine Dharmic Armaments.

As a result, Wang Baole's current seclusion went on for quite some time. He was almost in seclusion for two months. The result of the seclusion… was that while he continued to face difficulty in practicing the Thearch Armor inheritance, he had grown familiar with the second level of the Lightning Immortal Transformation and was able to form an avatar that could be separated from his true physical form!

The avatar was formed from electricity and looked quite different from Wang Baole's true physical appearance. However, it was able to unleash a third of Wang Baole's battle capabilities. Wang Baole was more powerful than his peers at his current level of cultivation, so his avatar was capable of fighting it out with a regular early-stage Core Formation realm cultivator and winning most of the time.

According to what he had read of the Lightning Immortal Transformation, as long as he continued with his cultivation and the nurturing of his avatar, it would eventually be identical to him in terms of physical appearance and energy signature. It would have his full battle capabilities. An ordinary person wouldn't be able to tell him and his avatar apart. It would be immensely powerful as well!

Wang Baole was slightly consoled by his progress with the Lightning Immortal Transformation. However, he still wasn't very happy since his progress with the Thearch Armor inheritance was dismal. His attempt to refine an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament was also not showing much success. He hadn't had a single successful attempt. All his attempts had failed at the final, critical step, leaving him with Dharmic Armaments that could only be used once.

Fortunately, Wang Baole had discovered the crux of his problem after his multiple attempts during seclusion. However, it wasn't something he could resolve in the short term. He could only shake his head and postpone his attempts to refine an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament.

My thoughts will jumble up without my control when I reach the final step during the refinement. That's clearly because my spiritual senses aren't powerful enough. That results in instability when I try to infuse the artifact with the remnants of the god. That is why I am unable to succeed and can only create Dharmic Armaments that can only be used once.

I wonder how my elders in the Federation who managed to refine eighth-grade Dharmic Armaments manage to solve this problem? Wang Baole rubbed at his forehead. He believed there must be a way to resolve this problem. However, it was difficult for him to do so here. He left Green Fire Island and made a trip to the Vast Expanse Techniques Chamber. He wanted to find out if the Vast Expanse Dao Palace had any information regarding such matters.

There was information about this subject and many solutions. However, the solutions revolved around refining treasures and techniques that trained one's spiritual senses. Each technique cost a ton, with the cheapest one requiring more than ten thousand credits.

Wang Baole was rendered speechless. He couldn't bear to part with his credits.

I just don't believe that I can't arrive at a solution on my own! I've always relied on myself, my own wits and abilities. I'll definitely find a solution! Wang Baole returned to Green Fire Island. He stood outside the cave abode and stared at the distant skies. He secretly came to a decision. He took a deep breath, then, with an extremely sincere voice, he called out gently in his mind.

"The beautiful and smart Little Missy, are you there?"

Wang Baole waited for a while, but there was no reply from Little Missy, so he blinked and tried again.

"The beautiful, smart, and incomparable Little Missy, are you there?"

There was still no response…

"The most beautiful in the entire galaxy, the prettiest in the entire universe, the one and only who surpasses all and shall never be surpassed, the one whose name shall live forever in song, the most beautiful, smartest, incomparable Little Missy—are you there?"

"Yup." Little Missy coughed, then replied happily.

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Chapter 543: A Visit From Kong Dao!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole began to butter her up again after hearing her response. Finally, he voiced his views about enhancing his spiritual senses. After hearing that Wang Baole wanted to know how to enhance his spiritual senses, Little Missy fell into a contemplative silence. She said that there were ways to do that. However, the price was often complete physical exhaustion.

She didn't encourage Wang Baole to carry out any of those solutions. Instead, she offered an alternative.

"You've been to the vision heritage's Eye of Infinite Techniques, one of the Lands of Five Senses in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. In your next trip to the sword body, I'll see if I can help you locate the Land of Hearing. I recall the aural Dao there could aid in enhancing the spiritual senses of someone who's hearing it for the first time."

"The Land of Hearing?" Wang Baole's eyes brightened. They shone with anticipation. However, the sword body was simply too dangerous a place. Even with Little Missy's help, Wang Baole felt that he needed to make sufficient preparations before he embarked on another trip there.

After some thought, Wang Baole decided he would continue his cultivation for some time first. After he had fully absorbed his previous loot, he would make another trip to the sword body. He set aside the matter regarding enhancing his spiritual senses and began to focus on practicing the Lightning Immortal Transformation as well as the Thearch Armor inheritance.

As for refining eighth-grade Dharmic Armaments, even though he had no success with that, he had acquired a damaged ninth-grade Dharmic Armament spear. After studying it, Wang Baole concluded that he could repair it partially. He was unable to restore it fully due to his current level of spiritual senses. However, with whatever repairs he could do, he would be able to use it like an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament.

There's also the recipe for the Divine Armament… let's not think about that first. We'll study that after I can refine an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament successfully. Wang Baole took a deep breath and set his thoughts aside. He began his cultivation and his repair of the spear.

Two weeks flew by. A year had almost passed since Wang Baole and the other Federation Seedlings had arrived at the Vast Expanse Dao Palace.

Based on the agreement between the Federation and Feng Qiuran, after a year was up, the second batch of cultivators from the Federation would arrive at the Vast Expanse Dao Palace for their cultivation.

During the past year, the first batch of Federation Seedlings, including Wang Baole, had seen great improvements in their level of cultivation. Zhao Yameng had reached the Core Formation realm. Zhuo Yifan had advanced to the perfected Foundation Establishment realm. The others had also gained much from their one year here, all advancing a level in their cultivation. There was also Kong Dao…

The last time Wang Baole, Zhao Yameng, and Zhuo Yifan had journeyed to the sword body, Kong Dao had been away on a mission with another team. He hadn't been able to join them in their quest. As a result, he had missed the opportunity to acquire his inheritance at the Eye of Infinite Techniques. However, he had clearly come across some other golden opportunity. Even though it might not be as amazing as what Zhao Yameng and Zhuo Yifan had gained at the Eye of Infinite Techniques, he had similarly reached the perfected Foundation Establishment realm and was a mere step away from the Core Formation realm!

It was a step that could be said to be both challenging and simple to take. His foot was at the door, ready to cross over. Everything boiled down to how he planned to kick the door open. Kong Dao knew that such things couldn't be rushed, though. Despite that, he still came looking for Wang Baole.

It had nothing to do with his breakthrough in cultivation though. It was something else that he needed Wang Baole's help with.

Wang Baole welcomed Kong Dao heartily. He exited from his seclusion and took a seat in his cave abode. He stared at Kong Dao. The latter clearly looked different than when he had been in the Federation. Wang Baole's eyes shone brightly.

He had known right from the start. If he were to pick someone else besides him in this current batch of Federation Seedlings who was going to flourish in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, his first choice would be Kong Dao. After all… Kong Dao had been born in the sea of beasts. To a certain extent, he was part monster.

He had survived on his own on Mars when he had been a child, young and weak. His experiences revealed the strong survival instincts and streak of independence in Kong Dao's character. He had tried to conceal the blood lust exuding from his person while he had been in the Federation, but in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, he unleashed his full blood lust. Dressed in Daoist robes, Kong Dao appeared like a sharp blade that had been unsheathed from its scabbard!

As a result of the aura of violence surrounding him, cultivators from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace dared not offend him easily. They could sense that his hands had been stained with the blood of many.

Others of his kind began to draw nearer to him. The team mission had been a result of that. Kong Dao had kept a low profile during the year. However, he had quietly established his own circle of allies as well as his own network of connections in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace.

He knew very well that those in his circle couldn't be considered his true friends. Nothing would go wrong while he was still strong and powerful. However, should he show signs of weakness, he would be eaten alive.

After all… he had done similar things in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace!

He sat before Wang Baole now. He might seem cold and distant, but he was clearly considerably relaxed, as his eyes weren't as cold as they were usually. After some thought, he spoke.

"Baole, I need your help!"

Wang Baole's expression grew serious when he heard that. He didn't question Kong Dao and simply nodded his head and agreed to help.

A smile appeared on Kong Dao's face when he saw how Wang Baole agreed to help him without even thinking or questioning him. He thought for a while, then said in a low voice, "I used the Spirit Boat you lent me the last few times I carried out my missions. I accidentally found a secret cave abode under the Sea of Fire… It's well-preserved and protected by a hex. Because of its unique location, no one else except me has discovered this cave.

"During this period… I found chances to observe the cave in secret. Nothing's changed in the past few months, so I am fairly confident that no one has discovered the cave.

"I've tried getting past the hex but found it challenging to do it alone. Baole, we'll have a greater chance of success if we do it together. Your level of cultivation is higher than me. For everything that we manage to find there, you'll get…"

"We'll split everything in half!" Wang Baole waved his hand. He knew what Kong Dao was trying to say. The latter wanted him to have a bigger share. He would have gone along with that if someone else was speaking to him about this, but Kong Dao was his brother. It was within reason for him to get a bigger share of their gains, but Wang Baole couldn't do such a thing.

Kong Dao stared at Wang Baole, then shook his head and laughed. Warmth unfurled inside him. He didn't quibble with Wang Baole and shared everything he knew about this cave abode in detail. After discussion, they decided that they couldn't afford any further delays. They left Wang Baole's cave abode and immediately set off while the sky was darkening.

Wang Baole and Kong Dao raced speedily in their Spirit Boats underwater. They approached their destination as Kong Dao led the way. Finally, after two hours, they reached some ruins under the Sea of Fire.

Forceful blasts savaged the area. Numerous cracks lined the seabed. The area was flooded over by the Sea of Fire. It was clear that this had been the battleground between powerful cultivators. One might even call it an ancient battlefield. There were many skeletons scattered around the place, though most had been searched through. What items remained on them were worthless.

"This is it. Baole, follow me." After sending a voice transmission in the Spirit Boat, Kong Dao steered his boat ahead, circling the battlefield several times. Then, he located a crack amongst the countless small and large cracks on the seabed and snaked in. Wang Baole followed him close behind. He watched as Kong Dao's Spirit Boat went further inward for some time. Then, Kong Dao stepped out of his Spirit Boat. He endured the scorching temperatures and the agony of being burnt as he swiftly pressed his palm on the wall beside him.

A distortion appeared on the wall. As it contorted and warped, a crack appeared on it. Kong Dao returned inside his Spirit Boat hastily, then steered the boat through the crack and advanced.

Wang Baole watched in shock as Kong Dao executed the same series of steps repeatedly and unlocked a series of cracks in walls swiftly. The openings gradually healed shut after they entered.

How did he manage to find this place? Wang Baole had an odd expression on his face as he followed behind. They soon reached the depths of this battleground ruins and found themselves in a cave!

There was no Sea of Fire in this cave. They were surrounded by complete darkness. On the wall before them was a large stone door!

Beyond the stone door were two stone statues in the shape of bats. One had lost its head, and aside from a huge gash on its chest, the other could be said to be rather well-preserved. It stood immobile beside the stone door.

"This is the place. I found this place when I was chasing after an Inferno Rat. This was originally the nest for a dozen Inferno Rats." Kong Dao seemed to have sensed what Wang Baole was thinking and began to explain how he had found this place. He pointed at the large stone door.

"There's a hex on the door. Based on my previous attempts, it takes a great deal of strength to push it open. After it's opened, we have a span of ten breaths before the stone statue comes to life and attacks any trespasser in the area!"

"I have no idea how powerful the stone statue used to be, but right now, it's as powerful as a late-stage Core Formation realm cultivator. I accidentally resurrected it the last time and only managed to escape with the life-saving treasure that my godfather had given me." Kong Dao took a deep breath and looked at Wang Baole. His eyes were colored with anticipation.

"Tell me. What should we do?"

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Chapter 544: Battling the Stone Beast!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He stared at the door, then looked at the stone statue. After a long moment of silence, he suddenly asked, "Kong Dao, how long do you need to push open the stone door?"

"I won't be able to do it within ten breaths. Based on my past attempts though, I should be able to do it… if you give me fifteen minutes!" Kong Dao said in a low voice after some thought.

Wang Baole had a considering look on his face as he did some calculations. Even with him in the picture, it would be a challenge for them to push open the door within the span of ten breaths. Since the stone statue could come to life, it remained a danger to them.

With my current strength, I wonder if I'll be able to fight… someone at the late-stage Core Formation realm! Wang Baole's eyes shone with anticipation at that thought. He truly wanted to know the extent of power he possessed now in a fight.

However, he would take the shortcut if there was one. He raised his right hand, and a seventh-grade Dharmic Armament flying sword appeared in his hand. With a single slash, a force that could cut through anything erupted and gathered in the flying sword. The sword shone with a dazzling light as it flew towards the stone statue.

There was a loud thud. The stone statue moved slightly, but it was undamaged. Auras that seemed to imply that it was stirring awake began to exude from the stone statue.

"Seems like it's not really possible to hack it into pieces before it can wake. Since that's the case…" As Wang Baole muttered to himself, the cultivation inside his body began to churn. As he activated his Lightning Core, vast quantities of lightning bolts appeared, filling the air. Icy Dark Fires appeared as well. Blood Qi surged from Wang Baole's body at the same time. Lightning, Dark Fire, and Blood Qi combined to form a fearsome power around Wang Baole!

Alarm flashed across Kong Dao's face then, and his pupils contracted in shock. Wang Baole had grown much more powerful since he had arrived at the Vast Expanse Dao Palace.

"Kong Dao, push the door open. I'll handle the stone statue when it comes to life," Wang Baole said as his eyes shone with a bright light. Kong Dao thought for a bit and stared at Wang Baole. He didn't question Wang Baole. Instead, he nodded and headed straight for the stone door. He stood before it and took a deep breath. Then, he raised both his palms up and roared. He unleashed his cultivation and the power of his physical body and pushed the door.

The stone bat statue shook again as Kong Dao began pushing, and waves of spirit energy began to spread from the statue. It seemed connected to the stone door. Once someone started pushing the door, it would wake from its slumber.

Wang Baole's eyes flashed. He took a few steps forward and stood behind Kong Dao, right in front of the stone statue.

Kong Dao would have found it difficult to unleash his full power if the person standing behind him wasn't Wang Baole. He would have continued to keep an eye on his back and made preparations to escape as soon as something went wrong. At the moment though, his eyes stared straight ahead. His whole focus was on the door before him, and he paid no attention to the statue behind him.

He trusted Wang Baole. He unleashed his full cultivation and pushed madly at the door with a strength he had never exhibited before. The span of ten breaths passed swiftly as Kong Dao unleashed his full power.

As soon as the tenth breath was released, the stone bat statue suddenly released a piercing shriek. Waves of spirit energy surged from the statue as its shut eyes opened. Overpowering spirit energy exploded from the statue before it shifted and charged straight at Kong Dao!

Kong Dao was clearly not as powerful as the bat. Without any life-saving means, his body and spirit would have undoubtedly been destroyed in the fight. As soon as the bat came charging for him, Wang Baole unleashed his full cultivation once again. He took a step forward and sent his fist flying out!

He unleashed Supernova with his punch. Numerous lightning bolts surged outward even before his fist landed. They appeared to transform into an electromagnetic hurricane, spreading outward and colliding with the approaching bat.

A loud explosion erupted. The resulting shock wave sent dust flying in the air, and the bat was flung back. Wang Baole's laughter erupted in the air. He dashed forward, through the flying dust, towards the bat.

A red light appeared in the bat's eyes. The gash on its chest began to glow with a similar light. As soon as Wang Baole approached, it let loose a piercing noise that seemed like it could cut through diamond and shatter stone. The space between the bat and Wang Baole began to ripple with energy. They surged towards Wang Baole.

The waves of spirit energy were swift and their power terrifying. They hit Wang Baole instantly. Wang Baole shuddered, and his organs quaked in his body. He could sense the difference between this aural attack and his megaphone. Besides the aural shock waves, the spirit energy seemed to contain the power to drain one of his vitality. It could seal his cultivation as well. It had the ability to seal Wang Baole's cultivation shut and drain him dry until he died.

Any other mid-stage or even late-stage Core Formation realm cultivator might have been alarmed in the face of this attack, as it was clearly one of the bat's most powerful attacks.

With a sudden burst of speed, the bat transformed into what seemed like a dying rainbow and came charging. It was about to tear its way through Wang Baole's chest. However, as soon as it drew near, Wang Baole, who had been affected by the aural attack, suddenly smiled. A duplicate image of him could be seen over his physical body. A semi-illusory hand formed from lightning raised into the air and grabbed the approaching bat by its neck!

That was Wang Baole's Lightning Avatar!

Everything happened too quickly. From the beginning of the fight, to when Wang Baole's avatar raised its hand, everything took place within a split second. From afar, the hand made out of lightning that Wang Baole had raised exuded terrifying power. Lightning bolts filled the air and made it difficult for one to tell that it was an avatar. It looked like a spirit exiting from its physical form instead.

The bat hadn't expected the sudden attack, and it was too late for it to free itself. A single word slipped out from Wang Baole's mouth.

"Explode!"

The right hand that he had grabbed the bat with exploded immediately. The power of lightning that was within the hand, and flames from Wang Baole's Dark Core, erupted at the same time. Dark Fires surged out and enveloped the bat. Lighting bolts descended like a fierce storm, flooding it with electricity.

The bat released a shrill shriek of agony amidst the thundering booms. It fell back swiftly as red light surged forward, battling Wang Baole's lightning and fire. While that happened, the bat was also able to manipulate some of the red light, gathering it into the shape of a fang. The bat sent it flying forward with startling speed. It pierced through the air and charged right at Wang Baole.

The fang exuded a spirit energy tinged with blood. The blood in Wang Baole's body solidified, resulting in his momentary immobility just as he was about to attack. The fang hit him directly.

There was a loud thud. Wang Baole stumbled back as blood spilled from his lips, and the shield in front of him began to crack. It was one of his many disposable, one-time-use-only eighth-grade Dharmic Armaments. It shattered and turned to dust after taking the hit for him.

Seems like it's going to be a difficult fight if I don't use any Dharmic Armaments. Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He took a big step forward. The megaphone appeared in his hand instantly, and he hollered into it. As aural shock waves rippled out, his tri-colored flying swords came swooping in, slicing through the air and charging at the retreating bat. It tore through space. The bat drew its wings back and tried to shield itself against the attack as danger approached.

It was then that Wang Baole's avatar approached it from behind soundlessly. The avatar walked out and sent a punch forward. A hurricane formed from lightning enveloped the bat, rendering it helpless against the tri-colored flying swords.

With a thunderous boom, the bat pushed its wings wide open. An immense force surged from its wings, driving Wang Baole's avatar back and away from it. Two of the three flying swords were sent flying into the distance as well. However, Wang Baole's avatar had succeeded in holding the bat back. The bat had no choice but to unleash its attack earlier. The remaining flying sword continued its path and pierced right through the bat's right wing!

An agonizing shriek rang in the air. The bat retreated hastily, staring unblinkingly at Wang Baole, with fear and caution in its eyes.

What a pity. If I'd managed to master the third level of the Lightning Immortal Transformation, I'd be able to switch places with my avatar and kill this monster! Wang Baole's breathing quickened slightly as he stood and stared at the most powerful opponent he had fought since his arrival at the Vast Expanse Dao Palace.

Their staring contest was short-lived. Just as a cold light colored Wang Baole's eyes and he was about to strike once again, Kong Dao's voice, filled with excitement and urgency, rang out behind him.

"Open!"

With a loud rumbling, under Kong Dao's persistent pushing, the stone door finally budged open, revealing a narrow opening. As soon as the opening appeared, extremely rich Spirit Qi, trapped for too long inside the cave, escaped through the sliver of an opening and surged out!

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Chapter 545: Defense and Reinforcements!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As soon as the stone door was pushed open, Spirit Qi surged out. All around them, the land quaked and rumbled. They were at the deepest part of the ancient battlefield. The battlefield clearly had some connection with the stone door. As soon as the door was pushed open, the ancient battlefield began to quake. It seemed on the verge of collapse. The Sea of Fire around the battlefield stirred and surged outward.

Even though they couldn't see the changes affecting the area outside, Wang Baole could sense what was going on and draw his own conclusions. The expression on his face shifted. He was clearly slightly worried. Such a commotion might draw other disciples from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace who were also in the Sea of Fire.

This is a secluded area. It's quite late in the night too… hopefully, there's no one in the vicinity! As the gears in Wang Baole's head spun furiously, the red glowing eyes of the bat hovering in mid-air suddenly flickered. The glow faded away. It turned back into a stone statue again and fell with a loud thud, landing on the ground.

It seemed to have given up trying to defend the door. The opening of the stone door was a sign. It no longer tried to interfere.

Wang Baole didn't drop his guard. With a wave of his hand, he summoned his avatar again. It appeared next to the stone statue. He turned and stared at the stone door behind him. The Spirit Qi escaping from within was rich beyond measure.

It spread all the way to where he stood. He subconsciously absorbed some of it, and it caused the cultivation inside his body began to churn more quickly. Wang Baole was startled. The Spirit Qi in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace was already many times thicker and richer than that found in the Federation. In fact, it wasn't an exaggeration to claim that it was dozens to a hundred times richer than the Spirit Qi found in the Federation.

The Spirit Qi that was currently escaping from within the stone doors was even richer than that found in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. It was approximately ten times richer.

This meant that it was a thousand times richer than the Spirit Qi found on Earth. It was an extreme rarity.

"Baole, help me stand guard. I can feel myself reaching a breakthrough!" As Wang Baole stood shocked, Kong Dao spoke hastily as his breathing quickened. He stood right next to the opening. The rich Spirit Qi wormed its way into his body without his active absorption. He was already at the verge of a breakthrough, and the current surge of Spirit Qi was like ingesting Spirit Pills. Signs of a breakthrough immediately began to show themselves.

"Don't worry!" Wang Baole knew that Kong Dao couldn't afford any disturbance now. He replied immediately. At the same time, he waved his hand and summoned a dozen puppets. They kept a cautious lookout as they guarded the area.

Kong Dao sucked in a deep breath almost as soon as Wang Baole summoned his puppets. He sat down with his legs crossed immediately. Determination flashed in his eyes, and he unleashed his full cultivation. He trusted Wang Baole. He also knew that this was an extremely rare opportunity. Should he began the absorption process too late and the Spirit Qi dispersed further in the area, he would have wasted this precious opportunity.

He knew that a breakthrough from the Foundation Establishment realm to the Core Formation realm required an extremely safe and secure place of seclusion. He needed to be prudent and couldn't afford any disturbance. Otherwise, he might suffer a backlash. He might not be able to succeed and even suffer a total annihilation of his current cultivation.

Kong Dao was a man of decisiveness though. He didn't hesitate at all. He began to absorb the Spirit Qi and attempted his breakthrough!

Wang Baole looked alert. He stood next to Kong Dao, absorbing the Spirit Qi in the area while at the same time monitoring Kong Dao's progress. With Kong Dao's current level of cultivation, he wasn't capable of absorbing all the Spirit Qi here even if he was trying to break through to the Core Formation realm. He only required a portion of the Spirit Qi available. That would form the momentum that would propel him towards his breakthrough.

Without Wang Baole here, the Spirit Qi in this area would disperse and spread out into the surrounding areas. It would thin out. The result would be a richer level of Spirit Qi found in the ancient battlefield above it.

There was a limit to the Spirit Qi found within the stone doors, after all.

However, since Wang Baole was here, there was no way he would allow the Spirit Qi to disperse and thin out so easily. His eyes flashed, and the devouring seed inside his body began to churn. It formed a suction force that began to absorb the Spirit Qi at a rate that ensured that sufficient Spirit Qi remained for Kong Dao to not only reach a breakthrough in his cultivation but to also stabilize his recently attained Core Formation realm cultivation.

Wang Baole's body shuddered as Spirit Qi flowed into his body. The Lightning Core inside him began to pump like a real heart. Wang Baole's Dark Core churned rapidly at the same time. The green lotus inside his body seemed to sense an influx of Spirit Qi. It swayed and began to absorb the Spirit Qi in the area madly.

Wang Baole's physical body began to grow stronger as it was nourished by Spirit Qi.

The appearance of this Spirit Qi was a rare opportunity for both Kong Dao and Wang Baole. As they continued their absorption, the stone door began to slide open slowly!

More Spirit Qi began to flow out as the door slid open, and a chain reaction seemed to form. The greater flow of Spirit Qi pushed the door open more quickly, and the surrounding land began to quake more fiercely. The ancient battlefield above also shuddered violently. The intense tremors and growing cracks in the ground triggered violent waves in the surrounding Sea of Fire.

A dozen miles away from them, nine Spirit Boats were racing through the deep Sea of Fire. They had planned to pass this area and head towards another location for a mission. The huge stir in the Sea of Fire made them pause in their tracks. About nine Core Formation realm cultivators immediately stepped out from their Spirit Boats. The waves of cultivation exuding from their persons were strong, and the blood lust surrounding them was intense.

After the sect had acquired the recipe for Wang Baole's Spirit Boat, it had started mass production of said Spirit Boats. Currently, almost every Core Formation realm cultivator had one with them all the time. The leader of the current party was a middle-aged man with excess fat on his face. He appeared to be at the late-stage Core Formation realm. His eyes shone brightly as he stared at the ancient battlefield.

"I remember that there's an ancient battlefield over there. Why is that kind of spirit energy coming from that place?"

"Could it be some treasure?" They looked at one another. Interest colored their eyes. Even though they had formed a team to carry out another mission, it wasn't one of urgency. They welcomed any other opportunities that might cross their path on the way to carrying out the mission.

The team had a brief discussion before the middle-aged leader shrugged.

"Let's go and take a look!" As soon as he said that, they boarded their Spirit Boats and raced towards the ancient battlefield at full speed.

The team approached the ancient battlefield. The stone door beneath the battlefield was halfway opened, and the Spirit Qi within had surged and spread out across a wide area. However, Wang Baole contained the Spirit Qi within the area with his devouring seed's suction force. As he absorbed the Spirit Qi, he ensured that Spirit Qi spread out and surrounded Kong Dao. He ensured that there was sufficient Spirit Qi around Kong Dao as he contained the Spirit Qi within a fixed area. Because of what he was doing, he couldn't move around easily. He was worried that the presence of such rich Spirit Qi in the area might attract potential dangers though. That was why he controlled his avatar and ensured that the stone statue had indeed fallen back into slumber. Then, he withdrew his avatar and swiftly stepped into the chamber behind the stone door!

It was a cave abode. The cave abode was not big, and there weren't many items lying around. Wang Baole had no time to inspect them. He controlled his avatar and got it to quickly rummage through the area, taking everything that he saw.

There were no identity tokens, storage bags, or corpses. However, what he found there would likely fetch a good price. There was also a large alchemical cauldron in the furthest end of the cave.

What drew Wang Baole's interest was a separate stone chamber and a jade box found within it. The jade box floated in mid-air and shone with a colorful spectrum of lights. It looked extraordinary.

Without any hesitation, Wang Baole sent his avatar forward and retrieved the jade box. He put away everything in his storage bag. Then, he released a breath of relief inwardly. He had gotten his rewards from this trip. What was left was to wait for Kong Dao to reach a breakthrough in his cultivation. After which, they would be able to leave.

Kong Dao finally reached a critical point in his cultivation, so Wang Baole stopped absorbing the Spirit Qi in the area. His devouring seed continued churning though and used its suction force to contain and gather Spirit Qi around Kong Dao.

He's reaching a breakthrough. Wang Baole's eyes swept past Kong Dao. He could sense Kong Dao forming his Golden Core now. The aura belonging to a Core Formation realm cultivator began to form around him.

His own cultivation had also been enhanced considerably after his earlier absorption of Spirit Qi. His cultivation at the mid-stage Core Formation realm had stabilized, and he had also made a huge step towards the late-stage Core Formation realm.

If I can find a few other places like this, it's not entirely impossible for me to advance to the Nascent Soul realm in one go! Wang Baole licked his lips. He was satisfied with his gains during this trip. His spiritual senses extended outwards. He was about to search for other valuable items in the area when something flickered in his eyes. He lifted his head suddenly upwards and stared above him!

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Chapter 546: You're Quite Lucky!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Just as Wang Baole lifted his head, and the stone door opened, the soil above them began to shudder and part. A gigantic tear appeared. The Sea of Fire surged in from above, like a fiery waterfall!

The underground cave was significantly expansive though, so the Sea of Fire would take some time to fill it completely. However, with the gradual and continuous collapse of the ancient battlefield, it wouldn't take long before this entire place became flooded with the Sea of Fire.

Of course… Wang Baole wouldn't have batted a single eyelid if it were merely the flooding of the Sea of Fire. His face swiftly darkened though, as nine Spirit Boats dove in alongside the Sea of Fire through the large crack. They swam through the Sea of Fire and appeared in the underwater cave. The Spirit Boats shone glaringly as nine Core Formation realm cultivators from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace appeared suddenly.

Shock flashed across their faces when they appeared and saw what was going on in the cave. They saw the stone statue missing its head, Kong Dao who was on the verge of a breakthrough in his cultivation, Wang Baole and his avatar standing guard, as well as…

The wide-open doors to the cave abode as well as the emptied interior—a sign that it had clearly been searched and rummaged through. They could also sense the extraordinary richness of Spirit Qi in the area. The sight of Kong Dao in meditation led to all of them coming to the same shocking realization. An expression of agitation appeared on all their faces at once.

"The initial opening of a cave abode!"

"Only when a cave abode that has been sealed off from the outside world for many years is opened would there be such rich Spirit Qi escaping from it!"

"Haha! We've struck the lottery this time. To think we've actually managed to come across such a treasure trove!" The Core Formation realm cultivators all became excited. They didn't seem to pay Wang Baole or Kong Dao much attention. They naturally recognized who Wang Baole was. However, they continued to disregard his presence. A mid-stage Core Formation realm cultivator dashed past Wang Baole and Kong Dao excitedly and headed towards the cave abode, intending to see what was inside.

The look on Wang Baole's face grew dark immediately. The devouring seed inside his body continued churning, and he continued to remain where he stood. However, as soon as the mid-stage Core Formation realm cultivator walked towards him, Wang Baole's avatar took a step forward and stood before the cultivator. It sent a kick flying without a single word. The attack was swift and accomplished by the sounds of wind and thunder. Lightning descended. The mid-stage Core Formation realm cultivator sneered.

"A Lightning Avatar from the Lightning Immortal Transformation?" He swept his hand across and tried to push Wang Baole's avatar away. However, he had clearly underestimated the avatar. A thunderous boom erupted as soon as they touched. Wang Baole's avatar charged forward, disregarding his opponent's spell, and approached instantly. Lightning erupted from its body and formed a sudden force. Alarm flashed across the mid-stage Core Formation realm cultivator's face. He tried to retreat, but it was already too late. As thunder boomed, blood spilled from his lips. The other cultivators around him stepped forward and managed to rescue him. They all turned and stared at Wang Baole with alarm and wariness.

The light from Wang Baole's avatar faded slightly. It didn't pursue the cultivator and instead took a few steps back. It stood next to Wang Baole, and they stared coldly at the intruders.

The newly arrived cultivators narrowed their eyes and leveled a stare at Wang Baole. They had noticed Wang Baole's presence and known who he was. However, they hadn't paid much attention to him. After all, they outnumbered him and had a late-stage Core Formation realm senior brother leading them. At the same time… they belonged to the hostile, extremist faction. They were scornful towards cultivators from the Federation. Many of them were like Liang Long, who thought of cultivators from the Federation as lowly life forms.

However… with the sudden attack from Wang Baole's avatar, while their views might not have changed, they did become warier. The fact that a mere avatar had been able to send a mid-stage Core Formation realm cultivator retreating showed that Wang Baole was quite the powerful opponent.

"Interesting. You're Wang Baole, right? Hand over your loot. We'll take nine-tenths of it and not pursue this matter any longer after that." The person speaking was the one leading the team, the middle-aged man at the late-stage Core Formation realm. He had a cold expression on his face as he stood there, like a figure of authority. The tone of assertion in his voice allowed no negotiation. He seemed to think that the remaining one-tenth left to Wang Baole was an immense generosity on his part.

It would seem so. After all, in the world of cultivation, the strongest had the final say. Power determined everything. He clearly saw himself as the more powerful one here!

The consent and approval of weaklings was meaningless and unnecessary!

If Wang Baole decided not to accept the generous deal, he might have some trouble with the clean-up after. However, for a cave abode that was opened for the first time, he believed that killing a lowly life form from the Federation was a small matter. That was why he continued speaking indifferently, "You have ten seconds to think about it. Decide if you want to live or die!"

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes when he heard that. He weighed his options. The opponent had numbers in their favor, but he was confident that he could kill most of them. In fact, he might even be able to kill all of them. That wasn't beyond the realm of possibility. He had to consider the consequences though. He also had to consider the consequences of affecting Kong Dao's breakthrough in cultivation should he decide to start a fight.

There was no way of ending this amicably though. Wang Baole considered lying that he was here on Feng Qiuran's orders. He also thought about bribing the other party with battle credits to avoid a fight, but he gradually eliminated these options.

The bloodlust oozing off them, and the hostility in their eyes, told him clearly where and who the problems were. There was no use in trying to avoid it. None of them were idiots. There was no point trying to delay the inevitable.

If that was the case… murderous intent surfaced in Wang Baole's heart. He revealed none of his intentions on his face. Instead, he smiled. He was about to send his avatar over to Kong Dao to guard the latter and then attack when suddenly, an overpowering presence that surpassed that of a Core Formation realm cultivator emerged from the crack above them!

The overwhelming presence descended and loomed over the entire cave. An ancient voice tinged with impatience and annoyance boomed in the air.

"That's enough. Wang Baole was the first person to discover and open the cave. The sect rules dictate that he now owns the place. As for you, Li Bin, you are to leave this place immediately!" As the voice rang out, someone walked right out from the crack. He was an elderly man with a head full of red hair. He was one of the Nascent Soul realm cultivators from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, Chi Lin!

The commotion in the Sea of Fire that had erupted due to the tremors in the ancient battlefield had drawn him over as well. He had witnessed the standoff between Wang Baole and Li Bin. Despite his reluctance to interfere, he still belonged to Feng Qiuran's faction. Despite his growing doubts in Feng Qiuran's vision and ideals, he had chosen to step in.

Wang Baole's display of tact a year ago in the grand hall had also contributed to his willingness to help Wang Baole. However, he still harbored dislike towards the cultivators from the Federation from the bottom of his heart. As soon as he spoke, he glanced coldly at Wang Baole and then eyed the cave abode. Based on his experience, he assessed the cave abode as an ordinary cave abode. He didn't speak further. Instead, he turned and left.

Even though he had left, his orders still stood. No matter how reluctant Li Bin was, he dared not go against a Nascent Soul realm cultivator's orders. He clenched his teeth and murder flashed across his eyes as he glared at Wang Baole.

"Kid, you're quite lucky this time, but who knows how long that'll last…" He left his words trailing. He sneered, turned, and left. The others followed with hostility and a promise of vengeance in their eyes.

Wang Baole blinked. He didn't think himself lucky. In his opinion, they were the lucky ones. If Chi Lin hadn't appeared, he would have struck. After Wang Baole's fight with the stone bat statue, he was confident that he could kill all of them. He would make it seem that both sides were heavily wounded from the battle. Even if the sect found out about it, he would have a way to protect himself.

Next time, we'll see if you're still so lucky! Wang Baole withdrew his stare. He turned towards Kong Dao and patiently waited.

Thirty minutes went by. The cracks above them grew in numbers, and the Sea of Fire rushed in. Then, Kong Dao suddenly shuddered as a Core Formation realm cultivation erupted from his person. An illusory eye appeared behind him!

It was shut. After about fifteen seconds, it began to disappear gradually. It clearly had something to do with the cultivation technique Kong Dao was practicing. After the illusory eye disappeared, Kong Dao opened his eyes. A brilliant light shone within. He got to his feet, cupped his fists, and saluted Wang Baole!

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Chapter 547: The Mysterious Dried Fruit

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole had now witnessed the core formations of both Kong Dao and Zhao Yameng. He had seen the core of their cultivation techniques.

That was why when a cultivator was advancing from the Foundation Establishment realm to the Core Formation realm, he would typically find a quiet spot for seclusion. This was to prevent others from disturbing him as well as to maintain the secrecy surrounding one's cultivation techniques.

However, it was clear that both Kong Dao and Zhao Yameng trusted Wang Baole very much. Wang Baole couldn't help but compare the two. The more he did that, the more he realized how extraordinary Kong Dao truly was.

He didn't share our experiences at the Eye of Infinite Techniques. Despite that, an illusory eye appeared at the point of his breakthrough. The power he exhibited then was comparable to Zhao Yameng's… This Kong Dao is really something! Wang Baole patted Kong Dao's shoulder.

"Not bad. Keep up the good work. We have another great general joining the ranks of our Adonis Association!" Wang Baole burst out into laughter. Kong Dao looked excited and invigorated as well. The Core Formation realm and the Foundation Establishment realm were two completely different cultivation realms. As a peer of Wang Baole, he had been facing considerable pressure. Wang Baole's progress had been too astonishing. Kong Dao could finally catch a break now, after having reached the Core Formation realm.

He thanked Wang Baole. The Sea of Fire was going to flood the entire place soon, so they didn't linger. They retrieved their Spirit Boats and left hastily. After they left, the Sea of Fire surged in and finally filled the entire cave. After they emerged outside, they saw how the ancient battlefield had sunken considerably into the sea.

Their journey back was smooth. They didn't meet any obstacles during the trip. They soon flew out of the Sea of Fire and returned to Wang Baole's Green Fire Island. Once they were inside Wang Baole's cave abode, Wang Baole watched as Kong Dao calmed down from his earlier excitement. He took out everything he had looted from this trip.

The loot was sizable. There were many small items that were worth quite a bit. Three items were particularly eye-catching. One was the large alchemical cauldron, the second, the jade box, and the third, the stone bat statue!

The cave abode had been opened for the first time after many years, so everything was well-preserved. The two of them even discovered a pill inside the alchemical cauldron!

They weren't sure what kind of pill it was though. That was why they didn't open the cauldron. Wang Baole might not be familiar with alchemy, but he had the basic common knowledge. He knew the last step to alchemy and how different types of pills required the cauldron to be opened in different ways. After some discussion, they decided that Kong Dao would take the cauldron away. He would find someone to take a look and find a way to open the cauldron.

Then, there was the jade box. It was sealed, but the seal wasn't particularly powerful. The primary purpose of the seal seemed to be to seal in the spirit energy within the jade box. Wang Baole and Kong Dao managed to get it open very quickly. They found inside the jade box… a dried fruit!

Its skin was wrinkled, and it was the size of a chicken's egg. It seemed ordinary. However, as soon as the jade box was opened, whiffs of strange fragrance began to ooze out. It was a strong, rich smell. Wang Baole had only taken a slight sniff before startlement flashed across his face. He felt energized suddenly, and his spiritual senses seemed clearer.

Wang Baole was immediately excited. What he desired the most now was a way to enhance his spiritual senses, and the fruit seemed to possess properties that could achieve that. He said hastily, "Kong Dao, I have uses for this fruit!"

Kong Dao knew how valuable the fruit was. As soon as he heard what Wang Baole said, he pushed the jade box towards Wang Baole without hesitation. He didn't look at it any longer and ignored the stone bat statue as well. He said immediately, "Take the stone statue with you as well. I can't handle it if it comes back to life one day."

Wang Baole didn't try to reject the offer. He nodded, then gave seven-tenths of the remaining loot to Kong Dao. Kong Dao smiled at his gesture and accepted the reciprocation readily. The two of them were pleased with the treasures they had gotten. They had also gained in terms of their cultivation. Kong Dao had advanced to the Core Formation realm, while Wang Baole had made advancements in his mid-stage Core Formation realm. Overjoyed, they began discussing the encounter they had with the murderous cultivators from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace earlier.

"I was in the midst of my breakthrough, but I could sense the danger then. I got a peek and saw Li Bin…" The expression on Kong Dao's face was serious as he spoke in a low voice.

"Baole, you have to be careful. That Li Bin… based on what I know of him, he's a vicious character. He holds some authority amongst the disciples in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, and no one dares to offend him. There are even scandals of other disciples dying by his hand… but his master is a Nascent Soul realm cultivator. He's also at the late-stage Core Formation realm and hence relatively powerful. That's why he's managed to get his way and stay out of reach of the law."

"Since he has his eye on us after this incident, based on his vengeful and greedy character, he'll definitely find a chance to make life difficult for us!" As Kong Dao spoke, an icy glint flashed in his eyes. He might have only recently reached the Core Formation realm, but his lust for violence had always been strong. He narrowed his eyes and spoke in a low voice.

"I suggest that we find a chance and gather our own people to get rid of this Li Bin once and for all!"

Wang Baole smiled when he heard what Kong Dao said. He shared the same intentions. However, they needed some time to plan this carefully. It was easy to kill someone, the difficult part was cleaning up after.

"There's a high chance of someone finding out if we do it in the sword handle. That should be our last resort. Keep an eye out on him. Check if Li Bin will be visiting the sword body any time soon. If he does, we'll make sure he doesn't return!" After some thought, Wang Baole shared his intentions with Kong Dao. Kong Dao then left.

Wang Baole watched as Kong Dao vanished into the distance. He returned to his cave abode, picked up the jade box, and opened it again. He took out the dried fruit inside and took another sniff. The sensation of his senses clearing up resurfaced. He studied it in detail and confirmed that if he continued to absorb the spirit energy given off by this fruit over a prolonged period of time, his spiritual senses would definitely improve.

A heavenly fruit that can enhance one's Spiritual Sense… Wang Baole licked his lips. He had half a mind to swallow the fruit whole. However, he hesitated as he stared at the shriveled form of the fruit.

I can't eat it recklessly. What if it gives me food poisoning… At that thought, Wang Baole decided to return to the Vast Expanse Dao Palace to research more on the fruit. He wanted to know if he could find more information on the fruit. Wang Baole tried calling out to Little Missy as well, but she didn't respond to him. He knew Little Missy's character. She would always pretend to be asleep when it came to matters that she knew nothing about!

Wang Baole sighed at that thought. He sat down and began to meditate and stabilize the growth in his cultivation after his earlier massive absorption of Spirit Qi. When the following morning arrived, he walked out from his cultivation and headed straight for the Vast Expanse Dao Palace to research the fruit.

A month soon passed. The Federation Seedlings had spent a full year in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace.

According to the agreement between the Federation Seedlings and Feng Qiuran, the second batch of Federation Seedlings should be arriving soon. However, Wang Baole realized that the Vast Expanse Dao Palace didn't seem to be carrying out any preparations for the second batch's arrival. That caused Wang Baole to fall into thought.

During the past month, he had spent some battle credits and searched through many records. He tried to locate information on the fruit. After some searching, he found as many as six types of fruits that fit his search criteria. Each one had extraordinary properties, and they were all similar, which made it difficult for Wang Baole to tell them apart at once.

This didn't interfere with his cultivation with the dried fruit though. During each cultivation session, he would place the dried fruit before him, and his spiritual senses would come to life. They had shown significant development in the past month.

That translated to clear results in his refinement of Dharmic Armaments. Even though Wang Baole was still unable to refine an actual eighth-grade Dharmic Armament, out of every ten attempts, he had managed to create an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament that could be used twice instead of once.

Most importantly, he could clearly sense that he was moving in the right direction. As long as his spiritual senses continued to improve, there would come a day when he would finally be able to refine a true eighth-grade Dharmic Armament!

Once I can refine an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament, based on my proficiency in Dharmic Armaments and the battle credits I can and will exchange, I'm confident that I can enhance the scabbard to the level of a seventh-grade Dharmic Armament!

Wang Baole lifted his head. His eyes shone with anticipation and excitement. His scabbard had been a challenge to enhance all this while. There was the challenge of acquiring materials. There was also the fact that it was different from ordinary artifacts and posed a great challenge during the refinement process. Wang Baole had a feeling that if he should fail during the refinement process, he would also suffer considerable damage.

It was still manageable when the scabbard was at the level of a sixth-grade Numinous Treasure. However, enhancing a sixth-grade Numinous Treasure to a seventh-grade Dharmic Armament was a critical stage when a Numinous Treasure became a Dharmic Armament. That was why Wang Baole was especially careful.

There's also the spear. When I can finally refine an actual eighth-grade Dharmic Armament, I'll have the ability to repair it. Even though it won't be restored fully, it would still be able to unleash incredible power. Wang Baole's eyes shone. He had also been practicing the Lightning Immortal Transformation as well as the Thearch Armor inheritance during this period. His progress with the Lightning Immortal Transformation proceeded without any hiccups. The avatar he summoned had a clearer form.

There was still no progress where the Thearch Armor inheritance was concerned though. His suspicion that he lacked a catalyst of sorts began to grow. Wang Baole felt that he was only missing a critical step.

Perhaps what I lack is a kind of enlightenment… That can't be right. What exactly am I missing… Could it be a demonstration?

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Chapter 548: The Evil Art, Flame Snatch!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole was about to go mad. Since he had started his journey of cultivation, he hadn't come across any cultivation techniques that had managed to frustrate him so much. Even the Dark Art had been easy to grasp once he had begun absorbing Dark Qi.

The Dark Art? Wang Baole's eyes flashed. He had previously thought he lacked some sort of catalyst. Now, he was sure that he must be missing a certain step. That was why he hadn't seen any success in his practice.

Do I have to make another trip to the Eye of Infinite Techniques? Wang Baole smacked his forehead. He had tried asking Little Missy about the difficulty he had been facing with the Thearch Armor inheritance in the past month, but Little Missy hadn't responded to his questions at all. She had pretended to be asleep.

Wang Baole was finally beginning to see through Little Missy's act. Whenever there was something she didn't know or didn't wish to reveal, she would pretend to be asleep.

Wang Baole sighed. He had no choice but to set the Thearch Armor inheritance aside. Despite his reluctance, he had no choice in the matter. He began to study the other inheritances he had acquired. There were, after all, simply too many inheritances in his head.

Human nature dictated that one would always make comparisons, and feel dissatisfied upon making said comparisons. This was what Wang Baole faced. Even though he had plenty of inheritances, after comparison, it was clear that the most powerful inheritance was still the Thearch Armor inheritance!

The inheritance that was slightly less powerful than the Thearch Armor inheritance was something called the Flame Snatch. It was incomplete, not because Wang Baole had acquired only parts of it, but because… it had originally been incomplete. Even the person who had passed it down to him didn't have the complete version.

It was an extremely evil cultivation technique. Every time the practitioner killed someone, he would steal his opponent's vitality and will, then forcibly inject it into his own body. After which, he would continue killing… the adverse effects were great. The practitioner would gradually lose his own mind. In the end, he had to either kill his way to a clear mind or, failing to withstand the numerous minds that clashed with his own inside his head, go completely crazy. His body and spirit might be completely destroyed. He might go mad and kill himself.

The one who had passed it down to him had practiced only the initial levels. He hadn't dared to continue with the inheritance. That was how he had maintained a relatively clear mind. The inheritance was rather impressive though. That was why the Vast Expanse Dao Palace had kept it and left it in the Eye of Infinite Techniques.

The Flame Snatch… Wang Baole shook his head. He dared not consider trying what was clearly a demented inheritance. However, after some thought, he began to have mixed feelings. After all, he was unable to master both the most powerful and the next most powerful inheritances… Fortunately, his research and study of the runic soldier was also in progress at the same time. Even though it belonged to a different system and hence he couldn't yet fully discern its workings, his progress in learning how to control a single copper coin had been relatively smooth.

Even though he could only control one copper coin, and couldn't summon the runic soldier puppet that rivaled a Nascent Soul, he did manage to figure out the Eight Trigrams seal on the back of the copper coins.

It was a spell that could allow the copper coin to form a seal. It would become one of Wang Baole's secret weapons to be used as a last resort.

During the past month, the frustrated Wang Baole had also discovered, on many occasions, that the donkey had been sneaking out secretly. The donkey would disappear for a few days, then turn up with a satisfied look on its face. This had surprised Wang Baole. He might not have paid it too much mind if that had been all there was to it. He might have concluded that the donkey had found itself a romantic partner.

However, Wang Baole had discovered that the donkey's level of cultivation had increased exponentially. It had returned once with a perfected Foundation Establishment realm cultivation. That had sent Wang Baole reeling back in shock.

What's going on? Perhaps this fellow didn't find a partner but found some extraordinary treasure instead? Wang Baole's breathing quickened. He knew that the donkey was extremely wary. That was why he had pretended not to notice anything while observing it secretly. A few days later, one night, as the donkey sneaked back into the Sea of Fire, Wang Baole's figure appeared at where the donkey had vanished. He concealed his presence and followed the donkey secretly.

The donkey raced through the Sea of Fire. It seemed to be familiar with its surrounding. It would stop every once in a while and observe its surroundings warily. It would even turn its head suddenly and stare behind it, as if worried that someone might be following it.

Wang Baole was almost discovered.

The ass finally grew some brains! Wang Baole followed hastily behind. He became more careful and more curious as well since the donkey was being so careful. He saw the donkey snake behind some ruins. It didn't reappear.

If Wang Baole hadn't used his senses as its master and realized that the donkey was hiding out in a discreet spot in the ruins, unmoving and monitoring its surroundings, he would have approached and checked the ruins out.

If he had really approached, he would have exposed himself.

He's learned how to set up an ambush? Wang Baole was shocked. Pangs of anger burned inside him. Based on his understanding of the donkey's character, it must be hiding some incredible treasure. There was no other reason for it to be so cautious and wary.

Wang Baole decided to practice patience. He stared at where the donkey was hiding. He was determined to uncover its secret. He waited for four hours, and just as Wang Baole expressed surprise at the donkey's patience, the donkey acted. It dashed into the distance, not further into the Sea of Fire but deep underground.

Wang Baole immediately followed. The entire fiasco took the whole night. The donkey hid in various locations in the Sea of Fire. It would dig holes and dash out, set up ambushes and then sit tight and wait. Someone else who wasn't Wang Baole would have either lost or attacked the donkey by now. Wang Baole, however, not only knew the donkey's character, but he had also done something similar and succeeded before. In addition, he had a certain mental connection with the donkey. He could manipulate the connection and ensure that the donkey remained unaware of it.

That was how he managed to tail the donkey for an entire night without losing it. After running around for a full night, the donkey finally seemed assured that no one was tailing it. Its heart was set at ease. With a merry heart, it pranced into the distance and soon arrived at another ruin.

This should have been a mountain valley. However, the mountain rocks had collapsed, and the Sea of Fire had flooded the entire place. It looked completely deserted and barren. The donkey clearly grew excited when it arrived. It began scouring the place. It would dig holes, then stomp on the ground with its hooves. Its nose continued sniffing as if it was trying to locate a scent.

The sight surprised and intrigued Wang Baole. He hid himself carefully, a distance away, and observed. Half an hour passed. After prancing around merrily, the donkey wormed underground. Then, soon after, it emerged, dragging with it… a corpse!

The corpse had three heads and six arms. It was one of the Never-Ending Clan!

There was a huge hole where the heart was meant to be. The corpse was missing body parts and didn't seem to have any artifacts or storage bag on it. It was clear that these had either been looted years ago or that they had been taken by the person who had killed him after their fatal battle.

Is there a need to be so excited just because it's found the corpse of an Never-Ending Clan member? Wang Baole couldn't control his shock and surprise. He had come across such corpses before. There was one in his storage bag now. Curious, Wang Baole crept closer. He was about to observe more closely when alarm and shock colored his face.

After the donkey dragged the corpse out, it didn't hesitate at all. With a loud crunch, it began to snack on the corpse's arm!

There was a happy expression on its face as it began to munch more quickly.

The sight sent Wang Baole reeling back. His eyes grew cold. He knew that the donkey was a glutton, but he hadn't expected it to lust after and feast on the rotting flesh of dead bodies!

I can accept you eating living creatures, but to eat a corpse! Wang Baole flew into an instant rage. He couldn't be bothered to conceal himself any longer. He flew out immediately, unleashing his full speed and charging towards the donkey.

The donkey, which had been munching happily on its delicious treat, froze when it saw Wang Baole's sudden appearance. Its eyes shone with guilt and sheepishness. It didn't hesitate, however. It opened its mouth wide, as if planning to finish eating everything in one go. Wang Baole, furious, sped towards it with extraordinary speed. He sent his leg kicking as he approached.

With a thunderous boom, the donkey cried out as it was kicked aside. It might have a thick skin, but that still hurt. It was about to escape when Wang Baole appeared beside it. He grabbed its neck and dragged it before him. His eyes shone with fury.

"What a great job you've done!"

The donkey shuddered. It tried to appease Wang Baole, but before it could bray, Wang Baole pushed it towards the corpse and forced its mouth towards the corpse's half-eaten arm.

"Come on, take another bite." Wang Baole snorted. The donkey was no idiot. Even though it secretly drooled at the delicious sight before it, it shook its head hastily. The expression on its face indicated that it wouldn't take a second bite even if it were given a beating.

Wang Baole glared as he pressed the donkey towards the corpse's arm. He was about to say something when he froze. He stared at the half-eaten arm of the dead Never-Ending Clan member suspiciously. A quiet sound of surprise and suspicion escaped from his lips.

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Chapter 549: A Flame-Snatching Demonic Armor!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

He hadn't looked closely at the arm earlier since he had been angry at the donkey for eating the flesh of a corpse. Now, he instantly noticed that the remaining half of the arm wasn't made of flesh and blood!

It was formed… from a kind of crystal!

Wang Baole was stunned by his discovery. He let go of the donkey, then bent down and examined the arm in detail. He found out that out of the three heads and six arms belonging to this dead Never-Ending Clan member, only this arm was made of crystal. The rest were flesh and blood.

Wang Baole grew slightly suspicious and confused. He pulled out the corpse that he had gotten inside the golden beetle out from his storage bracelet and compared the two. All three heads and six arms of the corpse in the beetle were made of flesh and blood. He recalled that those that he had seen before had all been flesh and blood. Only this particular corpse that the donkey had been munching on was different from the rest.

It felt as if this half-eaten arm had been formed from a kind of energy source. After the Never-Ending Clan member had died, it hadn't dissipated. Instead, it had transformed into crystal!

After some contemplation, Wang Baole decided to take the corpse. He turned back and glared at the donkey. Even though he had misunderstood the donkey, as its father, he was right even when he was wrong!

The donkey felt slightly aggrieved. However, it was truly frightened of Wang Baole. Its head drooped, and it looked repentant. The expression on Wang Baole's face finally eased. He snorted, then left and headed back to Green Fire Island.

The donkey followed behind, with its head drooping and its spirits low. It dared not run around when it returned to the island. It sprawled inside the cave abode and stared at Wang Baole with its guileless eyes and misery clear on its face.

Even Wang Baole began to feel embarrassed and uncomfortable. He straightened his face and glared at the donkey. Then, he threw one of the last nine pieces of chips he had left at the donkey.

"Fine, take it. After eating that, you can go run around outside. Remember to stay on the island."

The donkey stared at the snack that was giving off a strange smell in front of it. It froze. Finally, it swallowed the chip with misery written all over its face. It forced itself to show that it was enjoying the treat, then left hastily.

After the donkey left, Wang Baole coughed. He gathered his thoughts and took both Never-Ending Clan members' corpses out from his storage bracelet. He placed them before him for a more detailed examination. He tried to recall what he had read before when he had been at the Dark Sect. He had mostly read up on the cultivation techniques of the Dark Sect. He had little knowledge of the Never-Ending Clan.

He took quite some time before he gradually noticed the differences between the two corpses.

Firstly, their attires were different. Although they were both torn and tattered, the corpse with the crystallized arm wore something that was woven from a cloth that was resistant to decomposition. It was a refined sort of attire unlike the armor on the corpse found inside the beetle.

Their body shapes were different too. The former could be described as slim and the latter strong and well-built. Everything pointed to the seeming conclusion that… the former had been an academic while the latter had been a warrior!

That's not right… Wang Baole shook his head. He called out for Little Missy in his head. She was awake this time and responded to Wang Baole's summons.

"It's such a simple thing. Haven't you figured it out?" Little Missy said indifferently. Her words were colored with a sense of intellectual superiority as well as disdain.

"I caught a few members of the Never-Ending Clan when I was seven years old. After some examination, we discovered that a typical member of the Never-Ending Clan has three heads and six arms for their entire life—from when they are born and until they die. Only their royalty… after undergoing some special form of cultivation, can transform their three heads and six arms into sources of energy!

"The first level is when they transform one head and one arm into energy sources. They would rival a Planet realm cultivator. Two transformed heads and two transformed arms meant they were at the Eternal Star realm. If they could transform all three heads and six arms into energy sources, they would be at the greater Star Domain realm!

"As for the corpse before you, one arm has been transformed into an energy source while one head is in the midst of its evolution. He must have been at the Spirit Immortal realm prior to his death. Once that head fully transformed into an energy source, he would have attained a breakthrough and entered the Planet realm!"

Little Missy seemed satisfied with her explanation to Wang Baole. Wang Baole began to gain clarity in his thoughts after hearing her explanation. Gradually, his eyes began to shine with a strange, bright light.

Transforming one's arm into energy… this sort of cultivation method seems familiar… Wang Baole fell into deep contemplation. He examined said arm carefully. After a long moment, his breathing suddenly quickened.

The Thearch Armor inheritance requires one to form an armor that's made of flesh and blood outside of one's true physical body… To a certain degree, isn't that the same as energy transformation? The difference lies in the fact that the Never-Ending Clan's royalty transform their own bodies while the Thearch Armor inheritance creates a new body outside the original one! Wang Baole's thoughts raced through his head. The light in his eyes grew increasingly brighter. He felt that he had grasped something important.

It was something key that could help him in mastering the Thearch Armor inheritance!

At that thought, Wang Baole immediately waved his hand and pulled out a flying sword. His eyes flashed. He made a slice on the corpse with the sword… He intended to dissect the corpse, locate its meridians, and identify the cause that transformed the arm into an energy source!

As the dissection was carried out, as further examination and research were carried out, and as time continued to pass, Wang Baole forgot completely about food and rest. He instructed the donkey to go back to the Sea of Fire and find him a few more of these corpses with arms that had been transformed into energy sources. A month passed. He had managed to dissect seven to eight similar corpses. He still didn't understand much about the cultivation methods of the Never-Ending Clan. However, he had found clues about the arms that had been converted to energy sources!

They were… meridians that were formed from Spirit Qi and that were found in the dead bodies!

That single discovery allowed him to further expand his understanding. He grew excited as he gained a new understanding of the Thearch Armor inheritance.

There may be other ways to practice the Thearch Armor inheritance, but what I'm thinking of… should be one of those methods, which is… to link every meridian inside my body with Spirit Qi, then allow them to emerge from inside my body and form a circulatory system outside my body!

"It's as if… my body has become a seed. To a certain extent, I'm spreading and scattering my meridians outwards, then reforming them outside my body!" Wang Baole muttered to himself. The more he thought about it, the more he believed that his was a workable idea. The only thing that was holding him back was how his approach seemed identical to the Thearch Armor inheritance but was in actual fact slightly different.

The final flesh and blood armor formed from the Thearch Armor inheritance would exude power and strength. It would also augment his original physical body multiple times. It served almost like a magnifying glass. The source of the augmentative effect was the accumulation of Spirit Qi within the armor.

The armor could be seen as a new body. Its rate of absorption and cultivation would be much faster. It could be compared to the humps on a camel. As his cultivation continued to accumulate, it would be fed back into the original physical body. That was how the augmentative effect would come to be.

Regardless, the armor that was formed would become a part of him. He could move it like his own limb, but he couldn't separate it from his true physical body.

However… if Wang Baole practiced the Thearch Armor inheritance based on the method he had just thought of, the results would be different. He was extending his existing meridians and forming a circulatory system outside his body. He would be applying the same approach when forming the skeletal structure as well. However, it was simply an extension. It wasn't something that was inseparable from his original physical body. Simply put, it was as if Wang Baole had refined an artifact that encased his true form!

The disadvantages of his method were that precisely because it wasn't something inseparable from his body, it wasn't a part of him and only an external object. In terms of cultivation, accumulation of Spirit Qi, and the armor's augmentative properties, they wouldn't be able to compare with the former approach.

The advantage of his method was that it was simple and straightforward. If he resolved the first problem, the power of the armor and speed of cultivation would far surpass that of the former approach.

Of the two cultivation methods, one was good and the other… evil!

This was because… there was only one way to resolve the problems regarding the accumulation of Spirit Qi and the armor's augmentative properties. There was only one way one could acquire a vast accumulation of Spirit Qi without the need for cultivation.

Wang Baole had his ideas regarding this method as well. It was… the incomplete inheritance that was second most powerful following the Thearch Armor inheritance… the Flame Snatch!

This technique was perverse. It required killing someone and then stealing said person's vitality and will. If the practitioner were unable to maintain control, he would lose his own will and descend into madness. This was because as the number of people he killed grew, and as the number of discordant wills that were infused into the practitioner's body grew, he himself would find it increasingly difficult to withstand the resultant mental and psychological chaos.

However… if this armor extending from one's body could be used as a vessel to hold and accumulate the vitality and wills after each kill, everything could be solved. He would grow stronger with every kill. In fact, there would be no limit to the number of people he could kill!

However… Wang Baole wasn't sure what would happen if he did learn the inheritances. With the increasing number of murders he would rack up, would there come a day when this armor of his would become… a demonic armor with a blood lust that rose to the skies and shook the heavens and earth!

He remained silent as his eyes lit up with determination. He had made up his mind. He whispered, "A vessel for my murderous karma… so be it!"

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Chapter 550: The Leaves of the Hyacinthus Tree!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole might seem like a cheerful character who smiled all the time and had an optimistic outlook on life. However, he knew that deep in his bones hid a streak that he himself found terrifying.

It wasn't something that easily revealed itself. However, whenever it did reveal itself, the resultant murderous determination and viciousness were enough to send everyone reeling back in shock. It showed itself most fiercely and intensely whenever he was faced with danger or threat of death.

Simply put… if someone wanted to kill him, he would kill that person!

In another age when the ancient greenish-bronze sword had never made its appearance, such a streak would have been hidden deep in his heart. Perhaps as time went by, it might even be worn away with age.

In the current Spirit Inception Era, however, with the rise of cultivators, and as the Federation's cultivation civilization continued to be seen as a weaker power, this streak in Wang Baole continued to grow. The violence and blood lust in him might be hidden, but when unleashed, it would fan out fiercely like fire!

It was because of that streak in him that Wang Baole didn't hesitate after thinking. He chose the method he had come up with to practice and master the Thearch Armor inheritance decisively. Then, he immediately tried to extend the meridians inside his body using his Spirit Qi.

It might look as if Wang Baole was emulating the cultivation method belonging to the Never-Ending Clan. It was a sight that was not only bizarre but one that gave off evil and demonic vibes. The meridians that extended and then popped out from his body looked like hordes of tentacles poking out of his body!

They weren't bright red but semi-transparent. It was still a horrifying sight. As time passed, and as Wang Baole continued his cultivation, the tentacles began to encircle him. They formed a circulatory system that formed the basic structure of a human body!

Through unorthodox means, Wang Baole had finally managed to achieve success and master the first level of the Thearch Armor inheritance. The next step was to rely on the Flame Snatch and increase his strength by slaying his foes and opponents!

It's just a pity that the Vast Expanse Dao Palace isn't a suitable place to practice the Flame Snatch. Wang Baole opened his eyes. He observed the beginnings of an armor forming outside his body. Then, he took a deep breath. With a mere thought, the primitive armor disappeared and returned inside his body. It formed a diamond-shaped crystal on his heart. It was like a brand.

It was the core of the Thearch Armor inheritance. If Wang Baole had followed the orthodox approach, this core was supposed to replace his heart, instead of the brand Wang Baole now had.

During the period that Wang Baole had been practicing the Thearch Armor inheritance, something monumental had happened in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace as well. News of it had spread throughout the sect and into the ears of the Federation Seedlings. It had sparked discussions on the regional Spirit Internet.

Wang Baole only learned about it after ending his practice of the Thearch Armor inheritance and logging on to the regional Spirit Internet.

The leaves of the Hyacinthus Tree… were about to fall!

The Hyacinthus Tree—Wang Baole had been unfamiliar with the name when he had read it. However, he soon found out what it was. It was the tree that he had first seen when he had arrived at the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, the tree that was planted on the mountain peak on the main island… the spectacular ancient tree!

In Wang Baole's memories, the tree was immensely huge. However, it was covered with dead leaves. It seemed as if it were dead, but its presence and aura left a deep impression on him.

Two weeks ago, three new leaves had actually grown on this ancient, dried-up tree. A strange fragrance began to envelop the entire main Vast Expanse Dao Palace island when the new leaves appeared. Everyone was invigorated when they smelled it. Feng Qiuran and the other two Elders placed a great deal of importance on this matter.

This was because… the leaves of the Hyacinthus Tree not only had medicinal value, they also served another purpose that was very important to the three Elders!

The exact purpose was considered highly confidential. There was plenty of speculation. The Federation Seedlings asked around and came back with their own guesses. Everyone discussed it in the group chat. The conclusion was that this leaf should be some kind of emblem!

No one knew the details, however. Wang Baole didn't get any answers when he asked Yun Piaozi. As a native cultivator of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, Yun Piaozi seemed not to know much about this either.

Finally, he managed to find out what the leaves were used for when he sent a voice transmission to Xie Haiyang!

"The leaves of the Hyacinthus Tree. That's some good stuff there. There are a hundred and eight Hyacinthus Trees on the ancient greenish-bronze sword. I'm afraid most of them are already dead. In the past, whenever a Hyacinthus Tree sheds its leaves, the ones who managed to get their hands on the fallen leaves would get to bring those leaves and enter the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. If they passed the assessment, they would be able to become a disciple of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, and have their names recorded down accordingly!

"Now though, even though the current sect has inherited the name of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, in truth… there are but a dozen or so disciples who have their names listed in the sect's records and can be counted as true disciples of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace."

"So, how much do you think this leaf is worth? This is something that can allow a disciple's name to be listed in the sect records, an opportunity for one to become a true disciple of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace!" Xie Haiyang's explanation was extremely detailed. He concealed nothing from Wang Baole and shared everything he knew with the latter.

Wang Baole was tempted by what he had heard. He didn't place his full faith in what Xie Haiyang had said though. After some thought, he called out to Little Missy and asked for her verification. Her answer was similar to Xie Haiyang's. Little Missy also told Wang Baole that if he managed to get a leaf from the Hyacinthus Tree, he would save himself a trip in finding the sect records. If he earned the right to have his name listed in the records, she would have a way to elevate his status as a disciple.

Wang Baole knew that this was an opportunity not to be missed. Once his name was listed in the sect records, his status in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace would change drastically. Based on his analysis, this would serve him well when he entered the sword body and hunted for treasures as well.

At the very least, I can bypass the many restrictions… At that thought, Wang Baole began to grow excited and agitated. He got to his feet and left Green Fire Island in haste. He headed for the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. As soon as he approached, he caught the scent of the Hyacinthus Tree leaves in the air. He could also see the three leaves on the tree!

Wang Baole hungered with longing as he gazed at the leaves. His eyes narrowed as his nose twitched. He smelled the fragrant air around him carefully, doubt and confusion appearing in his eyes.

This fragrance is kinda familiar… Wang Baole's breathing suddenly quickened. An intense light flashed in his eyes, but he concealed it quickly. He didn't enter the Vast Expanse Dao Palace and instead wandered around the area as he might ordinarily do, then left.

Once back on Green Fire Island, he immediately got out the unknown fruit that could enhance his spiritual senses. He placed it before him and sniffed at it carefully. He stopped breathing momentarily.

The smell is exactly the same! Wang Baole's heart started to race. He inspected the fruit more carefully and concluded that he was right. This unknown dried fruit came from the same source as the Hyacinthus Tree!

He hadn't found anything about the Hyacinthus Fruit in his previous research. However, there was no way he was wrong about this smell. He grew suspicious of the fact that nothing about this fruit had come up during his research though. Little Missy hadn't appeared to recognize it either. More questions surfaced in Wang Baole's mind, and he considered investing a sizable portion of his battle credits to find more information.

Wang Baole didn't feel comfortable asking Xie Haiyang. Just as Wang Baole was immersed in thought, on the main Vast Expanse Dao Palace island, in the grand halls atop the mountain, the three Elders were also seated together, deep in contemplation.

There were few things that could gather them together for a discussion. You Ran, especially, had only appeared when the Federation Seedlings had first arrived. Then, he had gone back into seclusion. It was clear that something important had happened today. He had to end his seclusion.

Their contemplation didn't take long. An expressionless Mie Liezi said coldly, his raspy voice colored with a tinge of authority.

"Fellow Daoist Feng raised two matters. The first pertains to the activation of the teleportation array formation and allowing the second batch of Federation Seedlings to enter. I don't agree to this. They are of no use to us at all!

"The second pertains to the Hyacinthus Tree's shedding of leaves. This is what is important. This is what we should be having a serious discussion about!"

"We've come to a decision regarding the arrival of the second batch of Federation Seedlings many years ago. We've also confirmed a year ago that this project must be executed. Mie Liezi, you are regretting your decision now. You do not agree to it. I, similarly, do not agree with your view!" Feng Qiuran frowned. She grew increasingly exhausted mentally. The annual deadline had passed. Based on their agreement, the Federation should be sending their second batch of cultivators over. However, Mie Liezi had grown increasingly forceful while she had increasingly wavered. The voices of dissent had grown stronger over the year. Feng Qiuran found it increasingly challenging to carry out the joint project with the Federation. Negotiation and compromise were necessary every time.

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Chapter 551: Internal Conflict

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Mie Liezi narrowed his eyes when he heard Feng Qiuran's words, and he cast a cold glance at her. Back then, Feng Qiuran was at the peak of the early-stage Soul Conduit realm, pressuring the then Mie Liezi who had just entered early-stage Soul Conduit realm, which left him without a choice but to work with the Federation.

However, he had gradually advanced in his cultivation, and the difference between him and Feng Qiuran wasn't large. Despite that, unless he had no choice, he didn't want to go against Feng Qiuran. After all, there was still You Ran as one of the Elders of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace.

Even though You Ran always seemed nonchalant about matters, Mie Liezi was still vigilant towards him. Mie Liezi was about to speak when You Ran, who was beside him, sighed.

"Mie Liezi, Feng Qiuran, stop arguing, the both of you. This happens every time… However, Elder Feng, Elder Mie Liezi was right about something. What's most important is the incident involving the Hyacinthus Tree! I also think that we should first reach a conclusion regarding the Hyacinthus Tree before discussing other matters. What do you think?"

With Daoist You Ran acting as the peacemaker like always, Feng Qiuran silently nodded her head as an indication of her agreement to discuss the Hyacinthus Tree issue first.

"Thirty-seven years ago, seven leaves fell off the Hyacinthus Tree, and now, there's only three. The number of falling leaves are decreasing, and it is likely that only one will fall the next time." Daoist You Ran sighed softly, and a look of anxiousness and concern could be seen in his eyes.

"That means that we only have three tokens this time around. If everything goes smoothly, three disciples could enter the Worship Palace Pavilion of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace and carve their names down on the Dao Plate based on the opportunities that they have obtained. That will allow them to be bestowed with an identity as a true Dao Palace disciple. Do both of you have any suggestions on how to choose the three disciples?" As Daoist You Ran spoke, he looked towards Mie Liezi and Feng Qiuran.

Without waiting for Feng Qiuran, Mie Liezi began speaking with a cold tone.

"Back then, there were seven leaves, and we sent seven people, but four of them didn't survive. Only Chi Lin and three others successfully became the outer sect disciples of the Dao Palace. There were simply too many losses. Furthermore, since we only have three leaves now, I don't think there is any meaning to sending anyone there!"

Hearing those words, Feng Qiuran was immediately displeased and began speaking.

"The leaf of the Hyacinthus Tree is the token needed for one to officially be part of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. This is a tradition that has been passed down since the Dao Palace was established. Wasn't that the case for us too? Even though there is some danger in entering the Worship Palace Pavilion now, the fact that the Hyacinthus Tree still sheds its leaves means that there is a significance behind it!"

"Perhaps there could really be someone whose opportunity is so valuable that he is able to become an inner sect disciple. That would mean a lot to us. Of course, if Elder Mie Liezi doesn't agree, you can give up on the eligibility to receive the Hyacinthus Tree leaf for the disciples under your wing." As Feng Qiuran spoke, Mie Liezi laughed suddenly.

"What Elder Feng said makes sense. I have not been considerate. Since this is the case, it's easy to distribute the three leaves. We shall receive one leaf each, and let our respective disciples undergo a trial. The winner of the trial will receive the Hyacinthus Tree leaf!"

"Right now, the disciples are too complacent. We must let them know how brutal cultivation can be, that it is a fight between people and the heavens. After all, back in the day, the three of us also overcome all sorts of trials to achieve what we have today." With that, Mie Liezi narrowed his eyes and looked towards Feng Qiuran. However, he was laughing evilly in his heart. On the surface, whatever he said about distributing the three leaves amongst the three of them sounded fair, but in reality, there was an evil intent behind it!

For Daoist Mie Liezi and You Ran, they could appear to let their disciples battle it out to receive the Hyacinthus Tree leaf on the surface but actually make the decision through a simple command.

However, it was a different case for Feng Qiuran. That was because things were made more complicated with the involvement of the Federation under her lead. Even though she had tried to prevent it, two different factions were forming. One continued to support Feng Qiuran, while the other was beginning to show signs of revolt amidst their silence.

Building on the formation of the two factions, that was the case for the disciples as well. The Federation Seedlings were weak and could only stick with each other. While the other disciples of the faction working under Feng Qiuran supported them, they were unable to see the Federation Seedlings as their own in a short period of time.

Therefore, the problem now lay in who to give the leaf to. If it had to be obtained through battling like Mie Liezi suggested, there would be an issue of whether the Federation Seedlings should participate…

If they participated, then the Federation Seedlings would definitely have to fight with each other for the Hyacinthus Tree leaf, and it would be inevitable that deaths and injuries would result. After all, not many would give up on this valuable opportunity. Therefore, once the real battle began, the distance between the Federation and the complex web of factions under Feng Qiuran would grow continuously, despite it being a fair and reasonable battle.

However, if the Federation Seedlings weren't allowed to participate, this differential treatment would still widen the gap between them. At the same time, even if Feng Qiuran didn't choose to let the disciples battle it out, she would still be faced with a similar dilemma. Giving the leaf to anyone amongst the Federation Seedlings would cause unhappiness amongst the cultivators under her lead and vice versa.

According to Mie Liezi's plan, regardless of how this issue was handled, conflict would arise between Feng Qiuran and the Federation. Then, if a further push were given, it would definitely result in the switching of alliances amongst the currently unhappy cultivators under Feng Qiuran's lead right now!

That was a sinister plot!

From the beginning, his disagreement towards welcoming the second batch of Federation Seedlings, and his opinion that the Hyacinthus Tree leaf was meaningless, were all to set the stage so that he could make the proposal for the battle!

After all, if Feng Qiuran was so adamant at preserving the tradition, she couldn't object to the suggested method of distributing the leaf. Through this, it also gave Daoist You Ran the autonomy of choice. Mie Liezi believed that even if Feng Qiuran were to see the problem in his proposal, it would be difficult for her to go against it.

At the same time, he had made preparations for what to come.

In reality, even though Feng Qiuran appeared indecisive and slightly weak, she wasn't stupid. After she thought about it, she retracted her gaze, apparently realizing the traps in Mie Liezi's proposal. She was about to speak when Daoist You Ran laughed and began speaking while nodding his head.

"This is indeed a good suggestion. I agree!"

Feng Qiuran fell silent, an awful expression on her face upon hearing Daoist You Ran's words. She had been too laid back in terms of how she handled the matter today. In addition, it was possible that Mie Liezi and Daoist You Ran had secretly collaborated with each other to make her helpless.

At the same time, the more one thought about this matter, the more frightening it seemed. The significance of everything deepened once it became confirmed that the two of them had reached a consensus regarding the matter and that it wasn't a spontaneous decision made by Daoist You Ran himself.

All these thoughts were darting about Feng Qiuran's mind. She knew that she needed to find a way out of this situation as soon as possible. If not, once everything went according to Mie Liezi's proposal, she would completely lose all say.

Furthermore, she still didn't believe that Daoist You Ran would suddenly choose a side after being a neutral party all these years!

With that thought, a chilly look flashed across Feng Qiuran's eyes. She raised her right hand and hit the handle of the seat beside her. As a loud sound was produced as the chair broke apart. She stood up, with anger and pain in her eyes.

"Mie Liezi, You Ran, the main Dao Palace has been sealed now, leaving the Patriarchs either in hibernation or missing. The three of us have the huge responsibility to rebuild the inner sect disciples of the Dao Palace, and this is not the time to go our separate ways!

"Mie Liezi, what intentions do you have by mentioning the three lineages all the time?"

"There is only one lineage, instead of three, in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. There is also only one Vast Expanse Dao Palace! Mie Liezi, are you trying to establish a lineage by yourself?" Feng Qiuran let out a cold tone and a desire to kill in her eyes that was rarely seen. That was especially so due to the agitated and angry look in her eyes, which made her killing intent carry a meaning of anger and pain!

You Ran was shocked as he looked at Feng Qiuran without saying anything. Mie Liezi also didn't seem to have expected Feng Qiuran to pick on his mention of the three lineages and was now thrown into a bad light. With an awful expression on his face, he was about to speak, but Feng Qiuran didn't give him the chance to, as her agitated voice was heard once again.

"There is no need to distribute the Hyacinthus Tree leaves equally amongst the so-called three lineages. We are all members of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, and we will each assign two hundred Core Formation realm disciples, totaling six hundred of them, and let them go through a trial to obtain the three leaves. In addition, no deaths are allowed in the Dao Palace. Therefore, the trial must take place in the Endless Possibilities Array Formation!"

"Daoist You Ran, what do you think of that?" As Feng Qiuran spoke, she turned towards Daoist You Ran.

"This… I agree. Ah, both your proposals are feasible, and I am agreeable with either of them." With a bitter laugh, Daoist You Ran nodded and agreed. At the same time, he even tried to calm things down between Feng Qiuran and Mie Liezi.

Mie Liezi, on the other hand, looked deeply into Feng Qiuran's eyes. He realized that he had made a mistake this time, especially as he needed to avoid being seen as divisive and wanting to strike out on his own. After a moment of silence, Mie Liezi snorted and didn't speak, silently agreeing to Feng Qiuran's proposal!

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Chapter 552: Each Making Their Own Preparations!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Even though she managed to resolve Mie Liezi's proposal, Feng Qiuran was still troubled. In reality, even if everything went according to her proposal, it was still extremely disadvantageous to her.

However, she had no other choice. If Mie Liezi's proposal were adopted, there would basically be no way out. Therefore, her current proposal of having six hundred people battle it out was the best that she could think of within the short period of time.

As such, thoughts continuously ran through her mind as she tried to analyze the advantages and disadvantages. She was also thinking about whether there were better ways to influence this matter to a state that would be beneficial for her.

However, it was clear that Mie Liezi wouldn't give Feng Qiuran the time to ponder over it. As he snorted, he diverted the topic away from the Hyacinthus Tree leaves, and dived into the second matter to be discussed!

"I'm still against the second batch of Federation Seedlings. Those Federation Seedlings don't have much value in terms of capability or other qualities. Their presence in the Dao Palace is simply a waste of our already limited resources!"

"Those resources are sufficient for us to cultivate disciples who are even more capable than them!" Mie Liezi didn't mince his words. However, Feng Qiuran couldn't agree with that, and she spoke as she laughed coldly.

"The fact that the Federation Seedlings all managed to improve in such a short period of time implies that they all have great potential. At the same time, the population of the Federation is bigger. Even though they have just begun to cultivate, they will definitely grow to a state that will benefit us in no time. Furthermore, since this matter has long been decided, no changes are allowed. The second batch of Federation Seedlings must come as agreed!"

"Feng Qiuran!" Mie Liezi stood up slowly, his Soul Conduit realm cultivation suddenly being unleashed. A look of hostility appeared in his eyes, and he seemed like he would attack her if he heard something that he didn't agree with.

Feng Qiuran may have a soft character, but there was no giving way this time as it involved plans that had been decided. After all, unlike previously, this didn't just involve setting up an obstacle for the alliance between her and the Federation. Instead, this involved breaking the alliance. As such, her cultivation was similarly unleashed, and her aura was emanated as a chilly look appeared in her eyes.

Seeing that both of them were so hot-headed, Daoist You Ran stood up and went between the two, laughing bitterly while shaking his head.

"Don't fight anymore, the both of you. Junior Sister Qiuran, how about this? If you have such a good opinion of the Federation, why don't we see how they perform in the trial this time?

"We have already decided that a total of six hundred people will participate in the trial this time. Even though only Core Formation realm cultivators are eligible, I remember that there are also some Core Formation realm cultivators amongst the Federation Seedlings. Therefore, let's allow them to participate as well. If someone eventually manages to obtain the identity token, it would mean that they indeed have some value. Then, we can agree to let the second batch of Federation Seedlings come!"

"However, if they are unable to obtain it… Junior Sister Qiuran, recently, many have indicated to me their doubts about you. When I think about it occasionally, I also feel that Junior Brother Mie Liezi's stance is perhaps not wrong." Hearing Daoist You Ran's words, Feng Qiuran was shocked. Her heart skipped a beat, and her pupils constricted when she looked towards Daoist You Ran.

From the previous incident, she had already sensed Daoist You Ran leaning towards Mie Liezi. Right now, on this second matter, Daoist You Ran spoke like a peacemaker, but the meaning behind his words were signs that he was siding with Mie Liezi!

Mie Liezi smiled and didn't speak anymore. Instead, both he and Daoist You Ran looked at Feng Qiuran.

The entire great hall fell into silence. Feng Qiuran felt bitterness in her heart. She wanted to change things but had no ability to do so…

Three days later, a decree that all of the disciples anticipated and were shocked at receiving was announced directly from the main hall.

"A trial will begin seven days later. The top three cultivators will be given a Hyacinthus Tree leaf!"

When the news emerged, a commotion arose amongst numerous disciples. As they discussed amongst themselves, they tried to find out more details. Even the Federation Seedlings went into heated discussion after hearing of the matter. Wang Baole also had his attention on the three tree leaves after realizing that his dried fruit was the fruit of the Hyacinthus Tree.

Therefore, he was immediately tempted after receiving the news from the sect. After that, he opened up the regional group chat to look at the discussions on it, and also contacted Yun Piaozi to ask for further details.

As a native cultivator of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, and with the relatively impressive background of his, Yun Piaozi knew a lot more than the Federation. If someone else had asked him, he wouldn't have revealed anything. However, since it was Wang Baole who was asking, Yun Piaozi didn't withhold anything and told him everything he knew.

"This time, the three Elders will send out two hundred people each to participate in the trial. The competition will be strong, especially as the trial-takers must be Core Formation realm cultivators at the very least. However, there is no restriction on the level of Core Formation realm cultivation, which is to say that in this trial, there could be early-stage Core Formation realm cultivators or those who have perfected Core Formation realm cultivation!"

Wang Baole raised his eyebrows upon hearing that.

"What is the purpose of this trial, then?"

Yun Piaozi chuckled when he heard the question, before sending another voice transmission.

"There is, of course, no meaning. Most disciples wouldn't stand a chance. Therefore, to a certain extent, this is very unfair. I guess that everything has already been secretly determined, and others are just there to be part of the show.

"However, these are just my guesses. I have also heard that in response to the unfairness, the three Elders have made alternative preparations. As for the details, they would probably only be made known when the trial begins."

Yun Piaozi was only aware of all that. He didn't know of the finer details. Wang Baole even sent a voice transmission to Xie Haiyang to ask about it and received the same answer. Xie Haiyang wasn't unaware of the finer details on how to resolve the unfairness, but he required a hefty payment.

Even though he had given Wang Baole a great discount on account of them having numerous transactions, Wang Baole still felt that Xie Haiyang was too opportunistic and directly rejected his offer.

"Fifty thousand battle credits for a piece of news… Extortion!" Wang Baole mumbled as he put down the voice transmission ring. He couldn't bear to buy it, as, after all, everyone would know if they simply waited for a maximum of seven more days.

Even though there were advantages to knowing about it in advance, Wang Baole still felt that it wasn't worth it the more he thought about it. Therefore, he refocused his attention on Feng Qiuran, thinking about whether he should pay her a visit. After all, his current batch of Federation Seedlings could be considered to be under her lead. He was also a Core Formation realm cultivator and would probably have a place amongst the two hundred people.

While Wang Baole was deep in thought, Feng Qiuran was in her cave abode, immersed in her low spirits. She had been unhappy for the past few days, as the alliance between Daoist You Ran and Mie Liezi this time had left her helpless in retaliating. After analyzing the matter in detail, she realized that Mie Liezi had the upper hand throughout the entire negotiation.

Right now, there was a huge problem before her. If she wanted to maintain the alliance with the Federation, one of the Federation disciples had to receive a Hyacinthus Tree leaf.

However, there were two challenges to accomplishing this. The first was that more unhappiness might arise in the people under her lead, which would increase their disloyalty towards her. That was still a secondary problem, as the second, and most important point is that… For the Federation to receive the leaf, it was simply too difficult.

Even though she was optimistic about the Federation's capabilities, she was optimistic about its future, not its present. In reality, she also didn't think that, at this stage, the Federation cultivators were more capable than the Vast Expanse Dao Palace cultivators. Under her judgment, it was impossible to emerge in the top three in the six hundred people trial!

After all, there were numerous personal disciples amongst them. Their potential and brilliance, when fully supported by the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, were things that the Federation couldn't compete against.

Therefore, in order to accomplish the second point, there was a need to make her personal disciples give up… Thinking of that, she sighed and looked towards the door of her cave abode. Before long, greetings were heard outside her cave abode, and two cultivators entered.

The duo were youths, one as good looking as a lady. When he stood there, he let out an elegant and gentle demeanor. If he held a fan in his hands, he would seem like a Young Master. After entering the cave abode, he greeted Feng Qiuran with cupped fists.

"Disciple Xu Ming greets Master."

"Disciple Lu Yun greets Master!" The other person looked older and clearly stronger in terms of physique. There was a look of determination in his eyes, like a hill. Even his voice was powerful.

Looking at both of them, a smile finally appeared on Feng Qiuran's face. Both of them were the disciples that she looked upon most favorably, and they were also well-known Core Formation realm disciples in the Dao Palace!

They could be considered the juniors she had the highest hopes of in her entire line!

"Ming'er and Yun'er, I have a task that I need both of you to complete!"

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Chapter 553: Li Xingwen and Feng Qiuran!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The moment they heard Feng Qiuran's words, Xu Ming and Lu Yun both put on a serious expression as they stood and waited for their master to give instructions.

Feng Qiuran felt heartened looking at the facial expressions of the two disciples that she valued most. After a brief moment of silence, she began to speak.

"Both of you should have heard of the trial that will take place seven days later by now. I want the two of you to emerge in the top three regardless of anything in this trial!"

"One of the positions must be given to a participant of the trial from the Federation at the last moment. I will pay both of you generously for this!" With that, a sharp look appeared in Feng Qiuran's eyes as she looked at her two disciples.

Xu Ming and Lu Yun remained silent, before cupping their fists and nodding their heads to heed the order.

Even though she noticed that there were no changes in the facial expression of her two personal disciples, Feng Qiuran still sensed the torrent of emotions in both of them. She also knew that this request was unreasonable, but she didn't have any other way out. Therefore, she began to speak softly with a gentle expression on her face.

"I promise to provide a boost to the person who gives up on their position so that when his cultivation is in the process of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm, he will reach mid-stage Nascent Soul realm immediately!"

Hearing that, Xu Ming and Lu Yun looked surprised, and a glow could be seen in their eyes. Previously, they were indeed unwilling to fulfill their master's request, but if they could be compensated in this manner, they were motivated.

"Master, what if there is only one position?" Lu Yun suddenly spoke.

"One is fine as well, but that is the bare minimum!" After a moment of silence, Feng Qiuran answered.

"Master, if we want to enter the top three in this trial, both of us need to put in our utmost effort. Therefore… It's not possible for us to look after the Federation cultivators. If we don't need to consider the Federation cultivators and could fight for it with our full effort, it is more likely that we would succeed. Furthermore, we could, at the very least, give the Hyacinthus Tree leaf to someone from the Federation when the trial ends and let that person go to the Worship Palace Pavilion." After thinking about it, Xu Ming looked towards Feng Qiuran.

Feng Qiuran frowned and had wanted to reply. However, after thinking about it, she also realized that if she were too strong-willed regarding this matter, it would indeed increase the difficulty of the task significantly. After all, they had to look after the Federation cultivators and had to stay vigilant of the strong competitors. Furthermore, the rules of this trial were unique. Therefore, after thinking it through, she understood that she had been too idealistic.

As such, after considering the situation, she felt that even if the Federation didn't emerge in the top three and didn't fulfill Mie Liezi's proposed idea, she only needed to give the Federation a Hyacinthus Tree leaf in the end, which could be taken as having met the requirements to a certain extent. The worst that could happen was that she needed to continue fighting it out with Mie Liezi…

At the same time, if the Federation disciples could enter the Worship Palace Pavilion with the Hyacinthus Tree leaf after the trial and eventually attain the status of a true Dao Palace disciple, it would help her plan to move things forward significantly. Until then, many things could change, and it didn't mean that she had to contend with Mie Liezi's plans!

With that thought, Feng Qiuran knew that she couldn't hesitate anymore, she had to make a decision. As such, she gritted her teeth.

"Try your best to look after them. If it's simply too hard, then both of you are to focus on your task!"

Listening to Feng Qiuran's words, Lu Yun and Xu Ming heaved a sigh of relief. They didn't belittle the Federation cultivators, but they didn't have good impressions of them either. Basically, they felt that they were still a burden, and right now, after hearing their master's decision, they thought it over and inquired further. They only left respectfully after Feng Qiuran informed both of them of the rules of the trial.

Looking at the back view of her disciples, Feng Qiuran sighed. After thinking about it, she called for her bellboy and made arrangements for him to inform the Federation Seedlings Wang Baole, Zhao Yameng, and Kong Dao to pay her a visit.

Feng Qiuran still valued the Federation Seedlings. That was especially so in terms of their progress in their cultivation. Feng Qiuran had managed to hear of Zhao Yameng's and Kong Dao's advancement quickly.

Right now, as Feng Qiuran was calling for Wang Baole and company, Mie Liezi was in his cave abode on the Vast Expanse Dao Palace's main island. He had called for the only personal disciple of his, Dugu Lin!

"Lin'er, are you prepared for this trial?" Mie Liezi looked at the disciple before him, who was giving off a chilly vibe. A rare look of appreciation appeared in his eyes as he spoke slowly.

"It's no problem for me to become number one." Dugu Lin's gaze remained cold, and his tone calm.

"I don't want you to become number one. Instead, what I want is that in this trial, there is only one position and no other. Are you able to do that?" Mie Liezi narrowed his eyes as he looked at Dugu Lin.

"Eliminate everyone? I'll try my best." Dugu Lin thought about it. There was no change to his calm tone.

"Good. Lin'er, I allow you to unlock the seal of your body at appropriate times during this trial and unleash your full combat power. This should let everyone in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace know that the disciple of Mie Liezi is extremely formidable!" A peculiar look appeared in Mie Liezi's eyes, one that was filled with anticipation.

"If that is the case, then…" Dugu Lin curled his lips into a chilly smile. He raised his head and looked at Mie Liezi before saying the final four words.

"As you wish, Master."

A chilly aura that was hidden in his body was about to be unleashed. That, coupled with the sinister smile, made even Mie Liezi appreciate how strong it was. He knew that his disciple was extraordinary. He wasn't only a rare talent in the cultivation world, a Galactic Dust combat body meant for combat, but he was also extremely intelligent, advancing significantly in his cultivation with just the time of a day. In addition, he was long eligible for a breakthrough into the Nascent Soul realm.

However, he had a great goal of wanting to perfect and build a strong foundation. He depended on his uniqueness as a Galactic Dust combat body and a mystic technique of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace to seal himself. He planned to go past the Nascent Soul realm the moment he achieved a breakthrough and enter the Soul Conduit realm, and then sealing himself again. His goal was the Planet realm after becoming a Spirit Immortal!

From ancient times, those that managed to achieve this goal had all become mighty figures. Mie Liezi also admitted that when he was a Core Formation cultivator that he wouldn't have been able to compare to his disciple even if there were ten of himself. He also knew that with his talent and cultivation, a disciple like him would definitely be sought after by the upper powers of the Eternal Star, had the real Dao Palace not been devastated.

It could be said that Feng Qiuran thought Mie Liezi was confident of his own cultivation. However, in reality, there was another aspect of Mie Liezi's confidence, and it came from this disciple of his!

This disciple was the greatest effort and contribution that he had made for the sect. To him, even if the entire Federation was sacrificed and he were to use the Blood Sea and the spirits to pave the way to success for this disciple of his, it would be worth it.

To him, this was a real talent, while people from the Federation were trash.

Therefore, he planned to let Dugu Lin be the surprise this time around. He would also go all out against Feng Qiuran after this trial. Then, leveraging on the shock experienced by everyone in the sect, he was confident that he would have the power to initiate the destruction and sacrifice of the Federation!

While Mie Liezi was feeling confident and ambitious, Wang Baole, Zhao Yameng, and Kong Dao received Feng Qiuran's orders. They immediately departed the islands they were on and charged towards the main island of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace.

Before long, the trio arrived one after another. They looked at each other, and even though they didn't speak, they could guess what was going on. Therefore, under the lead of the bellboy, they arrived in Feng Qiuran's cave abode. After greeting her and entering the cave abode, they noticed the somewhat tired Feng Qiuran sitting on the higher seat.

"Greetings, Elder Feng!" Wang Baole immediately cupped his fists, and Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao followed suit.

Feng Qiuran didn't speak and simply swept her gaze across the trio. She looked at each of them closely, especially at Wang Baole. If it were some other time, she would have put on a look of appreciation. However, right now, she shook her head. To her, Wang Baole and company were brilliant compared to the ordinary disciples but were a far cry when compared to her two personal disciples.

As she sighed in her heart, Feng Qiuran was somewhat despondent. She momentarily wavered in her decision to form an alliance with the Federation. After a while, she rubbed her forehead and gave up on the thought to encourage them, then she spoke.

"I have called you here to notify you that you will all be representatives from the Federation. Regardless of success and failure in the trial seven days later, I will try to give you a Hyacinthus Tree leaf. I hope that all of you… will do your best. You are dismissed; I'm tired." With that, Feng Qiuran closed her eyes.

Wang Baole and company were surprised, sensing that something was amiss. At the same time, they managed to infer something from her words. She seemed to feel that the three of them couldn't obtain the leaf with their own efforts.

Wang Baole raised his eyebrows and didn't speak. After looking at Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao, they turned to leave. As they turned, Feng Qiuran opened her eyes, looking at their backs as she spoke.

"The results of this trial will determine if the next batch of Federation Seedlings will come… Wang Baole, when you return to the Federation one day, tell Li Xingwen that… I tried my best." With that, Feng Qiuran closed her eyes. An image of a small yet sturdy figure those years ago appeared in her mind.

Many years later, she still didn't know if her acknowledgment of the Federation was due to the recognition of the Federation's potential or due to the crystal clear figure looking at her…

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Chapter 554: Prepare!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As Feng Qiuran's fatigued voice arrived from behind them, Wang Baole and company stopped in their tracks, shocked by her words. They looked at each other and remained silent. After turning and cupping his fists again, Wang Baole suddenly spoke.

"Elder Feng, can you please tell us the rules of the trial so that the three of us can make preparations?"

Feng Qiuran didn't say anything, as she felt that there was no meaning regardless of what she said. She waved her hand to signal the three of them to leave. Wang Baole wanted to say something but stopped himself. In the end, he didn't continue to speak and turned to leave Feng Qiuran's cave abode.

Having seen the trio take their leave, the emotional and mental fatigue felt by Feng Qiuran could no longer be hidden. It showed visibly on her body, especially on her face. Even though she wasn't feeling completely hopeless, she had already done everything that she could, with the most important being sending her two personal disciples to obtain the Hyacinthus Tree leaf. However, that was her limit.

Unless she decided to completely cut ties with Mie Liezi through a battle, she had no other ideas on how to handle the situation. However, even if she really were to fight it out, Mie Liezi and Daoist You Ran's relationship, which was evident through this incident, made Feng Qiuran realize that there was no way she could turn the situation around anymore.

"Everything depends on how fate plays out…" Feng Qiuran mumbled. She knew that even though her two personal disciples were outstanding individuals, matters like these leveraged heavily on luck as well. She had even mentally prepared herself for the possibility of failure. Even if they didn't fail, it was unknown whether this could allow her to get out of the difficult situation Mie Liezi had put her in.

Thoughts like these made Feng Qiuran extremely frustrated, and her fatigue compounded as a result. This resulted in her slightly regretting the decision she made those years ago, and for persevering all these years.

There's no way out… Unless the three of them can make it to the top three through their own capabilities, obtaining a top position in the trial with integrity and earning a Hyacinthus Tree leaf with the entire Vast Expanse Dao Palace as witness… However, with their capabilities, how is it possible that they'll emerge the top amongst the six hundred people? Unless a miracle happens… Feng Qiuran shut her eyes. She knew that she was daydreaming.

As Feng Qiuran was feeling doubtful about herself and towards the alliance with the Federation, Wang Baole and company, who had left the cave abode, didn't split up. Instead, with Wang Baole's invitation, the three of them charged towards Wang Baole's Green Fire Island. Along the way, they were each deep in thought and didn't speak. When they reached Wang Baole's cave abode on Green Fire Island, a glow flashed across Kong Dao's eyes. He broke the silence first.

"There is trouble. Clearly, Elder Feng can no longer sustain the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. While this was what the Federation predicted, they must never have expected that it would happen so quickly!"

"Furthermore, this trial seems to be an act of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace deliberately picking on us. If we don't manage to obtain a position, they will not allow the second batch of Federation Seedlings to enter!" Kong Dao was solemn, his mood heavily influenced by this matter.

"In reality, I have sensed that something wasn't right the last time I teleported cultivation techniques back to the Federation. The Vast Expanse Dao Palace teleportation array formation seemed to be equipped with some sort of algorithm such that it would inspect the cultivation techniques that we teleport back. Put simply, it allowed the cultivation technique to be sent back, but it didn't allow other information that is unrelated to the cultivation technique!" Zhao Yameng looked calm as she spoke, informing Wang Baole and Kong Dao of what she had been investigating these days.

"There's such a thing as well?" Kong Dao had an awful expression on his face as he looked towards Wang Baole, waiting for him to make a decision. After all, when they were on Mars, Wang Baole was Kong Dao's superior. He was used to listening to Wang Baole's commands. Right here, Wang Baole was also the leader, and as such, regardless of whether it was him or Zhao Yameng, they were both waiting for Wang Baole to determine a plan of action.

Wang Baole looked solemn as well. In reality, for the past year, his understanding of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace had grown deeper than the other Federation disciples. He had long realized that Feng Qiuran was somewhat indecisive towards the Federation Seedlings, being firm some times but also wavering occasionally. On the one hand, this was because of the different choices made by the cultivators under Feng Qiuran's lead, and on the other, it was because Mie Liezi was another strong force!

It must be mentioned that Mie Liezi's power gained the recognition of many Vast Expanse Dao Palace disciples, including disciples of both Feng Qiuran and Daoist You Ran. There were some disciples under them that gradually agreed with Mie Liezi. The idea that the Vast Expanse Dao Palace was supreme was slowly becoming mainstream.

That made Mie Liezi's power slowly but steadily increase, such that it had surpassed that of Feng Qiuran's to become the only voice of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. It was all a matter of time before that happened, and that was also a situation that the Federation had anticipated. As such, the Federation had sent the current batch of Federation Seedlings to support Feng Qiuran.

However, it seems that there was insufficient time. The purpose and effect of the support couldn't be seen yet, but this crisis had already started to unfold. Once the three of them failed in obtaining a position in the trial, it would mean that there would likely not be the next batch of Federation Seedlings.

That wasn't the most serious consequence. The worst consequence was that once Mie Liezi became the main authority in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, what would likely happen next would be… a war between the Vast Expanse Dao Palace and the Federation!

Wang Baole thought about this possibility, and so did Kong Dao and Zhao Yameng. Therefore, anxiety was clear in their eyes. However, they had no solutions and could only look towards Wang Baole.

"Since that is the case… The three of us shall just emerge in the top three and obtain a position in the trial! This is the most direct solution!" After a moment of silence, a look of determination appeared in Wang Baole's eyes, along with a chilly glow as he uttered each word. Even a chilly aura could be sensed from his tone, and that made both Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao's breathing quicken. They revealed a look of determination in their eyes.

"It's a pity that Elder Feng didn't reveal the rules of the trial to us… In the days to come, we need to make use of the relations of the Federation Seedlings to find out more about it!"

"Yameng, Kong Dao, both of you must make ample preparations in the next few days. This time… let's see if we can shock the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. Additionally, I want to know whether those elites of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace are indeed better than us Federation disciples!" With that, Wang Baole grew even more competitive. His words made Kong Dao and Zhao Yameng more assured. Therefore, after discussing the details, Kong Dao and Zhao Yameng left.

When the two of them had left, Wang Baole thought about matters and contacted Xie Haiyang. He planned to spend battle credits in exchange for information regarding the rules of the trial. However, Xie Haiyang didn't pick up.

Wang Baole frowned. After a while, when he noticed that Xie Haiyang had not replied, he decided to not waste any more time. He immediately decided to go into seclusion, maintaining his cultivation at an optimal level while making preparations specifically for the trial.

He first tidied up his Dharmic Armaments. Of them, the tri-colored flying sword and a copper coin Runic Soldier that he could control were the most powerful Dharmic Armaments he had. Even though they weren't true ninth-grade Dharmic Armaments according to definition, they were close.

Other than that, amongst his eighth-grade Dharmic Armaments, other than the ribbon that appeared like an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament, there were ten treasures that could only be used once. Wang Baole also had some seventh-grade Dharmic Armaments. Regardless of whether they were the megaphone or the flying sword and saber that he had refined, they could all be considered Dharmic treasures for daily use.

What's next are the puppets… However, there isn't enough time, and the refinement materials needed are simply too expensive. There is also a low success rate… If not, if the puppets could be upgraded to seventh-grade Dharmic Armaments, they would definitely help significantly in boosting my combat capabilities. Wang Baole shook his head as he arranged the Dharmic Armaments. Then, he sat down with crossed legs and began thinking about his spells.

Thearch Armor, which he had cultivated, could be used as his trump card. However, he didn't know the rules of the trial, and even if the trial permitted killing, they would never allow large scale deaths to happen. At the same time, there would definitely be spectators watching the trial, and that restricted him, making it difficult to unleash the power of Thearch Armor fully.

"There's also the Lightning Avatar…" Wang Baole mumbled and thought about his Dark Art and physical power. However, he still didn't feel confident. He shut his eyes and thought about it, and finally, a cold glow flashed across his face!

Alternatively, should I equip Thearch Armor with a certain level of combat power using the method of Flame Snatch, so that it would be full-proof in the trial? With that thought, Wang Baole stood up immediately. He left his cave abode and grabbed onto the donkey, stuffing it in his storage bag before charging towards the Sea of Fire.

Refining Thearch Armor using the method of Flame Snatch required some killing to occur… Since there was no one to kill now, Wang Baole could only enter the Sea of Fire to search for beasts he could kill in order to use the Flame Snatch on Thearch Armor!

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Chapter 555: Killing the Demonic Armor!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

There are still six days left, and I must be fast! Wang Baole, who was in the Sea of Fire, made some estimations and realized that there wasn't much time left for him. In addition, the trial that was to happen six days later was extremely important, affecting the alliance between the Federation and the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, or in other words, whether a battle would happen between both sides!

In reality, the sly old foxes in the Federation had long analyzed and even simulated the possible battle between the Federation and the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. Even though the Federation would definitely be defeated, if they could delay the start of the battle, the chances of the Federation would increase with every ten years.

To a certain extent, it might be possible that the battle couldn't happen if it were sufficiently delayed. After all, the process of infiltration involved paying a price. If the price to pay were extremely large, then even if Feng Qiuran were to be weak in terms of power then, she would also make use of the chance to express her stance against it, in order to regain power.

These thoughts were either secretly made known to Wang Baole by Li Xingwen before he entered the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, or concluded by Wang Baole himself after some analysis. As those thoughts circled around his head, he had already arrived in the Sea of Fire and was continuing his advance.

As he advanced, the diamond-shaped spot formed from Thearch Armor on Wang Baole's heart was shimmering and being released. That awakened Wang Baole's meridians, with the spot forming a continuity with his Spirit Qi to be released from his body. Soon, the outline of a huge man was formed outside his body.

The outline was completely formed by the meridians that formed a continuity with the Spirit Qi. It was translucent and would be difficult to notice if one didn't take a close look, especially in the Sea of Fire.

After that, a flash appeared across Wang Baole's eyes. With the first round of activation and transformation of Thearch Armor, a powerful force could be felt in his body, as if he had donned on an indestructible armor. It gave him the illusion that he could destroy every life form.

What's next is to find all the beasts I can kill and kill them using Flame Snatch. After that, I will absorb their Mythical Qi to form the store of energy for my Flame Snatch Thearch Armor! Wang Baole narrowed his eyes, raising and waving his right arm as he took the donkey out of his storage bag.

"Scram, find all life forms except for that of cultivators in the Sea of Fire!" Even before the donkey could take a clear look at its surroundings, it heard Wang Baole's voice. Due to the presence of Thearch Armor, his voice was somewhat loud and authoritative. The donkey shuddered, and its eyes widened after it took a clear look at Wang Baole.

Others couldn't see the translucent Thearch Armor clearly, but the donkey, being near and possessing unique abilities, couldn't only get a clear look but could also instinctively sense a frightening aura emanating from Wang Baole's Thearch Armor that made it shiver.

Even though it was weak and was hidden deeply, the donkey could still sense it instinctively. Therefore, it responded quickly, and hurriedly nodded its head without hesitation in front of Wang Baole. It immediately began to check its surroundings diligently, even sniffling around with its nose. It seemed to be able to sense the aura in the Sea of Fire, and soon, its eyes lit up and it leaped forward.

The donkey was so fast that Wang Baole was surprised. He thought to himself that either the donkey had some dog genes, or one of its parents was a dog, resulting in it having such a sensitive nose and the habit of wiggling its tail.

As Wang Baole curiously thought about the donkey's parents, the donkey had already brought Wang Baole to an undersea hill. Shrill screams could be heard the moment they neared, and immediately, three Inferno Rats rushed out and escaped.

Without waiting for the donkey to chase after them, a flash appeared across Wang Baole's eyes as he swiftly turned and charged full speed ahead, forming waves in the Sea of Fire as he pursued the three Inferno Rats. No matter how hard the Inferno Rats tried to struggle and escape, they couldn't succeed and were instantly caught by Wang Baole as he grabbed them with his right hand.

He was so fast that, in the blink of an eye, there was an Inferno Rat caught in his large hand as he chanted the words 'Flame Snatch' in his mind.

The moment he chanted those two words, a bloody glow emerged from his body, accumulating in his right hand and enveloping the Inferno Rat. The Inferno Rat trembled violently as it tried to make a sound. However, during the process of it opening its mouth, its body could be seen visibly withering.

Even though it managed to open its mouth eventually, it lost the strength to make any noise. Its flesh and blood were being eroded, its spirit and everything else instantly becoming part of the red glow. The red glow carried a sense of greed as it continued to spread swiftly towards the other two Inferno Rats.

The other two Inferno Rats were obviously frightened as they escaped with all their might. However, they were still unable to escape from the red glow's pursuit and were quickly enveloped by it. When the red glow returned to Wang Baole, the donkey realized with shock that what remained of the two Inferno Rats were just some discolored skin and hair…

The red glow integrated into Thearch Armor, which was outside Wang Baole's body, causing traces of blood to appear in its originally translucent form. It no longer looked translucent, but bizarre, when accompanied by the blood traces!

"Continue!" Wang Baole closed his eyes, sending a voice transmission to the donkey after sensing the Flame Snatch Thearch Armor.

The voice sounded even more frightening to the donkey than before. It hurriedly nodded its head, as if worried that Wang Baole would swallow it if it didn't manage to find enough Inferno Rats. Therefore, it clearly became a maniac as it searched for more Inferno Rats furiously, its eyes turning red and its nose tired.

This continued and days passed. Wang Baole's killings continued, and as Inferno Rats were continuously killed by his Flame Snatch technique, his Thearch Armor grew increasingly redder. At the same time, as the Flame Snatch was overbearing, Wang Baole didn't care whether the Inferno Rats contained beast cores. After all, the Flame Snatch technique swallowed all forms of energy, so that even if there were a beast core, it would be destroyed completely.

As the killing continued and his Thearch Armor grew red, a frightening aura emanated gradually from it. The aura was boosted through the killing of numerous Inferno Rats, such that in the Sea of Fire, Wang Baole's speed and combat power grew increasingly.

In the end, the donkey was scared stiff. The more they proceeded, the less Wang Baole spoke. The overpowering aura and madness emerging from him felt foreign to the donkey. If not for the connection between their spirits, it would have thought that its daddy was someone else.

As Wang Baole continued the snatch, there were soon only two days until the trial was to begin. In the days that passed, the entire Dao Palace was in discussion regarding the trial, injecting the whole place with a never before seen level of excitement. Numerous outer island disciples also gathered, and the cross-city exchanges between the disciples also grew more frequent.

It seemed that in the few days that had passed, the candidates of the trial had been announced, and those who were involved began making detailed preparations for the trial. That was the case for Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao as well, but even though the Federation Seedlings came to know about the importance of the matter and tried their hardest to search for clues, they still didn't manage to find out much.

Two days soon passed. On the night before the trial was to begin, a loud boom emerged from a region deep within the Sea of Fire. Even though the sound was underground, it spread in all directions, causing the Sea of Fire to churn violently. The donkey rushed out with all its might in response to this powerful force being released. When it felt that it was a safe distance away from it, it turned and looked anxiously behind it.

In the direction it was looking, the red glow was thousands of feet tall as the loud boom reverberated. Painful screams and wails emerged from it, taking a long time before they quieted down. The red glow swiftly contracted, and a figure emerged from it!

The figure had its hair flying in the wind and was expressionless with a chilly glow evident in his eyes. Outside its body, the outline of a red-colored, seventy-foot-tall figure existed. The outline was very clear, as if made up of uncountable meridians gathered together. It was extremely frightening, and a scary force spread from it.

This scene was as if a divine being had arrived.

It was Wang Baole, who had unleashed his Flame Snatch Thearch Armor!

The corpse of a fifty-foot-tall Inferno Rat was being dragged by Thearch Armor's right hand. There was a black horn on the corpse's head, such that even though it had died, a frightening aura was still given off its body. To the donkey, it was clear that it was an aura from a creature that was beyond the late-stage Core Formation realm, close to that of reaching perfection!

That made the donkey shudder, and what made it even more frightened was that, as Wang Baole approached, the corpse could be seen visibly withering. When Wang Baole reached in front of the donkey, there was only skin and hair remaining on the Inferno Rat's corpse. All its flesh and energies was turned into a squirming pool of blood, wriggling into Wang Baole's Thearch Armor like a fluid!

"Let's go, it's time to return."

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Chapter 556: The Five Great Personal Disciples!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The donkey trembled as it stared at Wang Baole. It was an instinctive, primal fear. Its "daddy" who stood before it was a complete stranger. The presence he exuded was akin to a sea of blood, and a single word from the approaching Wang Baole struck terror in the donkey's heart. It shuddered, then sprawled onto the ground limply, afraid to move even an inch.

Wang Baole fell silent at the sight. He was unsure how many Inferno Rats he had massacred in the past few days before he had reached the first tier in the Flame Snatch Thearch Armor inheritance. He had accumulated a startling quantity of nourishment for his armor. He had also gained a deeper understanding of this Flame Snatch Thearch Armor inheritance that had been partly self-invented and partly inherited.

It was clear that as the killings grew and as he continued nourishing his armor, the streak hidden deep inside him became magnified multi-fold. It began to exude from his person and form a part of his main personality. During his cultivation of the Flame Snatch Thearch Armor inheritance, his emotions lost their usual dynamic qualities. He might not have become more distant, but he was now filled with a cold harshness.

He had changed to the point where the donkey was now trembling and staring at him with fear. All of a sudden, Wang Baole felt slightly dazed. Silently, with a wave of his right hand, which was encased in his armor, the large Inferno Rat that he had been dragging turned into dust and fell into the Sea of Fire. Wang Baole's raised right hand tightened into a fist. The Flame Snatch Thearch Armor encasing his body began to shine with a bright crimson light before shrinking rapidly.

From afar, it seemed as if Wang Baole's armor had dismantled itself and reformed into veins of meridians formed from Spirit Qi and stained blood red. The meridians wormed back inside Wang Baole's body, gathered at his heart and formed a blood-colored, diamond-shaped patch.

Wang Baole's true physical body reappeared before the donkey as the armor disappeared. The donkey stopped shivering. It raised its head, its eyes filled with surprise and joy. It flew over to Wang Baole's side, and its head nuzzled Wang Baole's leg. The expression on its face was that of familiar friendliness.

Wang Baole patted the donkey's head. With the withdrawal of the Flame Snatch Thearch Armor, he instinctively pushed down the violence and bloodlust inside him as he normally did, and a smile surfaced on his face.

"Alright, Scram. Let's go home!" As he spoke, Wang Baole marched forward. The donkey brayed and followed him hastily. Man and donkey raced speedily through the Sea of Fire, emerging out from the sea in the middle of the night, and headed back to Green Fire Island!

When they returned, Wang Baole sat down cross-legged inside his cave abode and began to condition himself and his level of cultivation, so that both his mental state and his Spirit Qi remained at peak condition. He allowed his mind to settle as he waited for the day of the trial to arrive.

The night passed in silence.

The next morning, as soon as the sun rose, a series of bells that surrounded the main Vast Expanse Dao Palace island began to ring. The ringing spread outwards and echoed in the air. It was clearly coming from some incredible artifact. The sound of the bells spread far and wide, reaching across almost half of the entire sword handle. The ringing grew fainter as it spread further into the distance. Green Fire Island was situated quite near the main island though, which was why Wang Baole could hear it clearly as he sat in meditation in his cave abode.

His shut eyes began to open gradually as the bells rang. They flashed. As Wang Baole got to his feet and left the cave abode, this light began to gradually fade from his eyes, and he gave a lazy yell.

"Scram, come over here. Your daddy's going to bring you out to play."

The donkey seemed unwilling to comply. However, it dared not disobey Wang Baole and ran over with its head drooping. Before it could bray, Wang Baole grabbed it and threw it into his storage bag. Then, with a single whirl, he transformed into a rainbow and shot towards the main Vast Expanse Dao Palace island like a lightning bolt.

Wang Baole wasn't the only one racing towards the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. Participants from the islands all around the main island had begun their journey as soon as they had heard the bells. Many more cultivators who weren't qualified to participate were also headed towards the main island. They didn't wish to miss out on such a grand event.

Everyone was energized and excited, and many formed teams, sending one another voice transmissions as they traveled. They were clearly discussing the upcoming trial.

More and more people gathered at the public square at the mountaintop in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. There were hundreds of participants gathered on the public square and spectating cultivators in the outer areas that numbered many times more than participants. They were all engaged in fierce discussion. However, the participants were clearly more controlled in their behavior, as they were being watched by tens of thousands of eyes at the moment, and anything they did stood out.

The spectators around them had no such worries. That was why they continued with their loud, excited discussions. Wang Baole could hear the roar of human voices as soon as he approached the main Vast Expanse Dao Palace island.

"I wonder if Dugu Lin will be in the top three this time!"

"I don't know about Dugu Lin, but I have faith that Senior Brother Xu Ming will definitely be in the top three!"

"Who cares about Xu Ming. My Eldest Senior Brother Zhou Chudao can crush Xu Ming and Lu Yun with a single finger!" The sounds of heated debates rose in the air. Wang Baole watched from afar and didn't pay them much attention. He turned and raced straight for the public square on the mountain.

Seventy to eighty percent of all participants had already arrived. There were nearly five hundred of them, and they were neatly segregated into their respective factions—under Mie Liezi, Feng Qiuran, and You Ran. Each faction had their own areas. Wang Baole took one look, walked straight towards Feng Qiuran's faction, and joined that group of cultivators.

His arrival didn't attract the attention of too many people, and even if someone did see him arrive, they only spared him a glance.

Wang Baole wasn't bothered. He found somewhere to stand, then began to look around. He soon saw Kong Dao. Their eyes met, and they were about to walk towards each other.

It was then that everyone around them began gasping and shouting. Cheers rose around them outside and in the public square. They came from Mie Liezi's faction.

"Our eldest senior brother is back!"

"Greetings to Eldest Senior Brother Dugu Lin!"

Someone began to approach in the air, amidst the cheering. He was dressed in black robes, his black hair drifted in the wind, and his eyes were cold like ice. Amidst the crowd's cheers, he walked, expressionless, towards Mie Liezi's faction. As he walked past cultivators from Mie Liezi's faction, their eyes shone with awe and fervor.

Elder Mie Liezi's only personal disciple… Dugu Lin! Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. This was his second time seeing the other cultivator. As he assessed his own fighting capabilities against the latter, Kong Dao arrived and stood beside him.

"Baole, I didn't manage to find anything regarding the rules of the trial," Kong Dao whispered as soon as he came close. Wang Baole nodded. He had expected that. The only pity he felt was for Xie Haiyang's sudden disappearance. He didn't know what happened to the latter, but he hadn't received any response from Xie Haiyang.

Perhaps Xie Haiyang couldn't reveal anything due to certain reasons? Wang Baole thought as cheers began to resound around him once more. He heard multiple greetings to Senior Brother Xu and Senior Brother Lu. Wang Baole raised his head. He not only managed to guess who they were, but he also saw them!

They were the effeminately beautiful Xu Ming and the well-built Lu Yun. These two were Feng Qiuran's personal disciples, and they were the true prodigies of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. They might even be considered princes. They were different from the cold and distant Dugu Lin, greeting the crowd with faint smiles on their faces, and nodding as they walked towards Feng Qiuran's faction. That invited another round of passion infused cheers.

Wang Baole and Kong Dao were like mere weeds next to them. Their presence was faint, and they seemed to serve as wallpaper for the two princes. Following Dugu Lin, Xu Ming, and Lu Yun's arrivals, many more cultivators began to arrive as well. Zhao Yameng appeared in the distant horizon. She noticed Wang Baole and Kong Dao and approached them swiftly, landing next to them.

As the only three cultivators representing the Federation, they managed to draw the attention of some people as they stood together. One of those was Yun Piaozi.

As a member of You Ran's faction, he smiled at Wang Baole after spotting him in the distance, his eyes brimmed with encouragement. Wang Baole saw that and smiled and nodded in return. He was about to send a voice transmission to the other cultivator and ask if he had received any news when everyone began to cheer again. The new arrivals were a man and a woman. They were You Ran's personal disciples…

Zhou Chudao and Huang Yunshan!

Besides being You Ran's disciples, they were also Dao partners. There was a fine story about the couple that circulated in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. It spoke of how the male counterpart had mediocre looks and looked like a peasant while the female counterpart's beauty dazzled like the bright allure of a poppy. They clearly didn't look like a couple when they stood and walked next to each other. Dugu Lin, who had his eyes shut all along even when Lu Yun and Xu Ming had arrived, suddenly opened his eyes. He stared at Zhou Chudao, and a flicker of rivalry flashed in his deep, unfathomable eyes.

It seemed that, save Zhou Chudao, he saw everyone else around him as… trash that wouldn't even withstand a single blow from him!

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Chapter 557: Let's Begin!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Zhou Chudao noticed Dugu Lin's stare. He grimaced slightly and sighed secretly. If not for his master's insistence that he participated in this trial, he wouldn't have done so.

Why am I inflicting this on myself… Zhou Chudao shook his head. He resembled a peasant. With a hump on his back, he looked even more ordinary. His Dao partner, Huang Yunshan, on the other hand, dazzled like a star. Her alluring beauty blinded as she batted her eyes. She was seductive without planning to be, causing many cultivators' hearts to race. They couldn't help themselves. Huang Yunshan not only possessed a devilishly beautiful face, but she also had an extremely alluring figure. Her slim waist swayed as she approached. Those who stared at her felt an itch inside them that they couldn't scratch.

Even Kong Dao couldn't help but spare a few glances at her…

The expression on Zhou Chudao's face grew more bitter at the sight. He shook his head as he walked towards You Ran's faction with his Dao partner at his side. He shut his eyes so that he might see no evil and hence, escape frustration and annoyance.

Wang Baole had glanced at Huang Yunshan's figure as well. However, unlike Kong Dao, his eyes soon landed on Zhou Chudao instead. He might look ordinary, but Wang Baole trusted his gut. He could sense Soul Qi on Zhou Chudao—one that was invisible to the eyes of others!

The Dark Sect called it Soul Qi. It was a unit of measurement for someone who had killed many people and was tainted by the presence of those vengeful souls. Wang Baole could sense an extremely strong Soul Qi on Zhou Chudao. His appearance, his slightly bent back, and the way he carried himself might make him seem like an honest and decent man, but in reality… based on Wang Baole's assessment, he was someone who definitely had his hands stained by the blood of many.

That's quite interesting. I thought Dugu Lin was the most powerful amongst all the Vast Expanse Dao Palace disciples. I didn't expect that there's also this Zhou Chudao, who's skilled at concealing his true self! As Wang Baole lost himself in thought, the bells began to ring again. Everyone in the public square fell silent. The spectators also quieted down when they saw silence descend upon the public square.

Wang Baole withdrew his gaze and stood together with Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao, eyes staring in front of them. The bell rang nine times amidst the silence. The doors to the great hall before them opened, and from within walked out a dozen Nascent Soul realm cultivators!

The disciples stared ahead respectfully as soon as they appeared. They didn't look at the crowd as they lined up on two sides and saluted the great halls.

"Greetings to the Elders!" As their voices rang in the air, everyone both inside and outside the public square lowered their heads and saluted the great halls. With Feng Qiuran in the middle, Mie Liezi on the left, and You Ran on the right, the three Elders walked out from the great halls slowly!

Energy waves that surpassed that of a Nascent Soul realm cultivator immediately exuded from the three of them. The winds stirred, and the clouds shifted. The heavens transformed. An enormous hurricane appeared in mid-air, rumbling and roaring as if it could devour everything in sight. Every disciple was shaken at the sight and overcome with awe.

Wang Baole gathered his spirit energy around him, lowered his head, and extended his greetings as well. Mie Liezi's voice rang out across the entire public square.

"The top three victors to emerge in the trial will receive a leaf from the Hyacinthus Tree. They will earn the right to enter the Worship Palace Pavilion and leave their names on the Dao Plate, thus becoming a true disciple of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace!"

"Disciples who have written their names on the Dao Plate will be gifted a different status. They will be able to use their identity tokens to control the great array formation of the ancient sword to a limited degree. Only those… who have their names written on the Dao Plate can be considered… a true cultivator of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace!" Mie Liezi's voice was filled with gravity and authority as it rang out in the public square, and the tinge of murderous violence coloring it prevented anyone from trying to question his authority.

Feng Qiuran stood beside him, with no expression on her face, not saying a word. You Ran smiled beside her and said nothing as well. The three of them had clearly discussed this beforehand. Mie Liezi would host the trial. Even if Feng Qiuran had been reluctant at first, she had obviously agreed to this arrangement. They must have come to some kind of arrangement.

After Mie Liezi was done speaking, his eyes shone with a fierce light. His voice lowered, and when he spoke again, it was as if he was casting a spell.

"The trial will take place… in a minor array formation that is a part of our sect's greater array formation—the Endless Possibilities Array Formation. As for the rules… listen carefully, for I will only say them once!"

As soon as Mie Liezi said that, every participant on the public square began to look at him attentively. Wang Baole cleared his mind and stared ahead in full concentration as well. Together with Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao, they listened carefully to the rules of the trial.

The rules were clearly very important. Without them, the trial would seem unfair. After all, out of the six hundred participants, there were those at the early-stage, mid-stage, and late-stage Core Formation realm.

Despite having no knowledge of the rules, Wang Baole predicted that the rules should be able to offer the weaker participants some measure of protection. This would allow the trial a semblance of fairness on the surface. As for what went on in reality… it was clear that the law of the strongest would still prevail!

Everyone inside and outside of the public square listened quietly as Mie Liezi's voice, colored with its typical coldness, rang out in the air.

"When the six hundred of you enter the place where the trial will take place, you will receive a key that's conjured from the array formation!

"Every twenty-four hours—that is, every day—the array formation will activate a teleportation that will affect the entire region where the trial is taking place. Key-bearers are to sacrifice a key to resist the power of the teleportation and prevent being teleported away. Those without keys will be teleported away forcibly and eliminated from the trial!"

Mie Liezi's words rang out loudly. Everyone had been trying to control their reactions, but after hearing the full set of rules, a myriad of emotions flashed across their faces. They began to discuss amongst themselves in a heated manner.

Wang Baole and company had never come across such rules before. Even the disciples from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace had not. Simply put, this was a trial conducted via elimination. The smarter ones immediately realized how harsh the rules were!

"The trial's going to be brutal with these rules!"

"Besides one's intrinsic strengths and weaknesses, I can imagine that protecting your own key and snatching keys from others will be the critical factors in determining who remain the last ones standing in this trial!"

"Every teleportation will consume a key. This means that the number of keys will dwindle… If everyone remains peaceable and doesn't fight after they enter the array formation, there will be no keys left after the first twenty-four hours! Of course, that's not going to happen!"

Xu Ming and Lu Yun frowned. They weren't aware of the complete set of rules. They found the changes to the rules too drastic after they had heard them. Huang Yunshan felt the same way too. She had a considering look on her face and began discussing it quietly with Zhou Chudao. Only Dugu Lin remained unaffected, the expression on his face remaining cold and distant. He seemed to pay no attention to the rules at all.

Wang Baole had a contemplative look on his face as well after he heard the rules. Zhao Yameng, who was standing beside him, frowned. She quickly analyzed the situation. Such rules were simply another way of stating the law of the strongest. They were similar to what she had expected and yet different at the same time.

"There's an additional component of luck that's introduced in the trials with these rules. The weaker participants will have more means at their disposal. Extreme danger is also present, which might even result in a chaotic battle!" Zhao Yameng said softly in the voice transmissions to Wang Baole and Kong Dao.

Kong Dao nodded. He was frowning as well. As he considered their situation, Wang Baole suddenly laughed. He didn't say anything, but he had clearly thought things through. The rules were important and unimportant at the same time. There was really no point in making everything so complicated. In the end, everything boiled down to one simple rule… the survival of the fittest!

Everyone was deep in discussion. The participants in the public square, especially, were all discussing fiercely with one another. Mie Liezi's eyes grew colder.

"Silence!" He shouted. His voice was like thunder, descending with a deafening boom that rumbled and resounded in the air. Everyone was shaken and fell silent immediately.

"Those are the rules. The teleportations will take place until there are three or fewer of you left. The trial will end immediately then. If three participants remain, each will get a leaf from the Hyacinthus Tree. If two remain, each will get a leaf and then decide what you will do with the third. If only one person remains… he or she will have all three leaves!"

"Now, let the teleportation begin!" Having said that, Mie Liezi raised his right hand and swept it sideways. The enormous hurricane in the sky rumbled with a deafening roar and unleashed an overpowering suction force that sucked all six hundred participants on the public square into it!

The trials had begun!

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Chapter 558: Everyone, Please Wait!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

In the public square that was on the mountain peak on the main Vast Expanse Dao Palace island on the ancient greenish-bronze sword, an enormous vortex hung in mid-air, unleashing an incredible suction force. Within the blink of an eye, the six hundred cultivators in the public square rose into the air, powerless against the suction force, and flew towards the vortex!

Just as they were about to be sucked straight into the vortex, the vortex suddenly shook. With startling speed, it began to split into three smaller vortexes in mid-air.

The three vortexes unleashed their separate suction forces and separated the three factions before each sucking one faction right in. This meant that the three factions would be relatively secure when they first arrived at the location where the trial was to take place.

Dugu Lin and his faction were sucked into the first vortex, Zhou Chudao and his faction representing You Ran were sucked into the third vortex, and Wang Baole, as well as the faction under Feng Qiuran, were sucked into the second vortex.

Describing the entire process might seem like a long and tedious affair, but in reality, the time it took for the vortexes to split into three and suck the three factions in was but the blink of an eye. Instantly… six hundred cultivators that had been standing in the public square vanished. All of them had entered the vortexes.

After sucking in the cultivators, the three vortexes in mid-air began to spin. Vast quantities of images began to appear in the vortexes. They were akin to real-time security footage that showed everyone participating in the trial!

As images of the participants appeared in the vortexes, the hordes of disciples around the public square began to sit down. Everyone lifted their heads and stared skywards, and some began talking with one another. It was clear that they were trying to predict who the top three would be!

They weren't the only ones settling in. Mie Liezi, Feng Qiuran, and You Ran, as well as the Nascent Soul realm cultivators, after having their disciples move some chairs over, sat down, and awaited the results of the trial.

It might take days before there was any outcome. However, to a cultivator, days went past in a blur. They seemed patient.

Mie Liezi was especially proud. His eyes were fixed on Dugu Lin only. He was his most powerful weapon, one that he had bet everything on. He was the secret weapon that he was going to use to overpower Feng Qiuran and You Ran!

"Our generation is just waiting for Lin'er to rise to his full potential!" Mie Liezi muttered secretly. The never-changing cold expression on his face shifted to accommodate a rare smile tinged with anticipation and hope.

Feng Qiuran, of course, wasn't going to leave. This trial was too important. Even if she wasn't hopeful of the outcome, she still stayed to witness it with her own eyes.

You Ran was the only one whose smile never faded from his face. He didn't seem very concerned. He had a couple of looks before shutting both his eyes.

As the spectators outside watched attentively, the participants had entered the black holes. They experienced a brief dizziness as they were teleported. When their vision cleared again, they had appeared in a strange world!

The place seemed relatively small when compared to the ancient greenish-bronze sword. However, it was a sizable piece of land when compared to Earth. In fact, its size was comparable to that of Earth. There were mountain ranges scattered across the land, and oceans and forests filled the area. In the blue skies ahead, seven suns shone brightly, blasting the land with intense heat.

Three regions in the world shone with the light of recent teleportation. One of the regions was near a mountain range. As the light vanished, the initially blurry silhouettes of Wang Baole, Zhao Yameng, Kong Dao, Lu Yun, Xu Ming, and the other cultivators from Feng Qiuran's faction grew clearer and clearer until their full forms completely materialized in the world.

The crowd had no time to adjust to their relocation. Immediately after they had been teleported to their new location, they were startled to find a shining key in their hands. It wasn't an ordinary key. The waves of energy it exuded seemed comforting, and it appeared to have certain stabilizing effects on one's cultivation.

The rules that Mie Liezi had mentioned surfaced in everyone's minds as soon as the keys appeared. Everyone began to monitor their surroundings warily. After they ensured that there was no danger lurking nearby, they began to familiarize themselves with the surroundings. They also examined the key in their possession. Some tried to keep it in their storage bag, but they found that it couldn't be done. They had to carry it with them.

Quite a few people, upon seeing the vast land and the suns in the sky, gasped in shock.

"The ground?"

"That's too realistic… This is my first time seeing such a vast expanse of land…"

"And the seven suns in the sky—is this the Endless Possibilities Array Formation?"

As the others discussed in hushed tones, Wang Baole, Zhao Yameng, and Kong Dao quickly gathered in a circle. They confirmed that the key indeed couldn't be kept in a storage bag. They kept the key near their hearts and looked around them. They had seen vast lands like this before and weren't as shocked as the cultivators from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. However, they did spend some time staring at the seven suns in the sky. They began to discuss via voice transmissions.

"Based on the rules, we have to be careful of everyone around us!"

"Let's form our own team later instead of following the others!" As the three conversed, many disciples around them had completed their inspection of the area. Something flickered in their eyes. Even though they all were part of the same faction, many couldn't help their caution. They began to retreat from one another and keep a safe distance from one another. Some chose to leave immediately, racing into the distance. Others, after some consideration, chose to approach their friends and form a team.

Soon, more than a hundred out of the two-hundred-strong faction chose to leave the area. Feng Qiuran's personal disciple, Lu Yun, hadn't spared Wang Baole and his group a single glance. He led more than thirty disciples, who chose to follow him, away.

Wang Baole and the other two looked at one another. They stepped back with the intention of leaving this place as well. A group of cultivators with Xu Ming as their leader stood nearby. A cultivator stood next to Xu Ming, seemingly conducting a quiet conversation with the latter. He turned his head, and upon seeing Wang Baole's departure, suddenly dashed towards them in pursuit.

"Everyone, please wait!"

They weren't standing that far away from him. His actions immediately drew Kong Dao's hostility, and a sudden blood lust surged from Kong Dao's person as he locked his eyes onto his target. Zhao Yameng's eyes flashed as well. With a flip of her right hand, she summoned a compass. It gave off waves of inscriptions that flickered dark and bright.

Only Wang Baole remained unfazed as if nothing had happened. He turned and stared at the cultivator approaching them.

He didn't slow down as they stared, coming to a complete stop only after nearing them. He was a young man and appeared to be at the early-stage Core Formation realm. Even though he was at the same level of cultivation as Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao, the expression on his face was clearly arrogant. The smile on his face did nothing to hide that. Instead, it gave others the impression that he was superficial and insincere.

"Our three fellow Daoists from the Federation. I am Liu Wenju!" the young man said, then cupped his fists and gave them a slight salute. He didn't give them a chance to speak and continued immediately.

"Fellow Daoists, this trial is extremely dangerous. It tests not only one's cultivation but also one's understanding of its rules. I will speak the truth. You will not survive long here. Since that is the case, could you perhaps hand your keys over to Senior Brother Xu Ming?" He phrased his words as an inquiry, but his tone was assertive and full of confidence. It was as if he felt that there was nothing wrong with Wang Baole and his team handing over their keys. In fact, it was the right and natural thing to do.

"In fact, I'm not sure if you're aware. Senior Brother Xu has promised his master Elder Feng that he will do his best to win one of the top three placements. Elder Feng will gift the Federation with the awarded leaf from the Hyacinthus Tree. You'll be helping yourselves if you hand your keys to Senior Brother Xu." Liu Wenju smiled as he spoke. He stretched his right hand out towards the three.

Upon hearing what he had said, Kong Dao narrowed his eyes then looked towards Wang Baole. There was a look of contemplation on Zhao Yameng's face. The three of them looked at one another. They could see what they were all thinking. Zhao Yameng turned towards Liu Wenju and smiled faintly.

"Senior Brother, we are sorry, but we wish to help ease Elder Feng's burden in this trial as well. This is also what Elder Feng has requested of us."

Liu Wenju raised his eyebrow when he heard Zhao Yameng's refusal. He eyed the three of them. With displeasure in his eyes, he turned and returned to Xu Ming. He whispered something to the latter, then pointed at Wang Baole and his team. Xu Ming laughed and shook his head as if he wasn't bothered at all. He then spoke casually. His words fell straight into the ears of Wang Baole and his teammates.

"To each his own. I look forward to seeing how you'll be easing my master's burden. Haha! Take care!" Having said that, he turned and led the dozen or so cultivators away, flying off into the distance.

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Chapter 559: Night Sky Map!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole and his team watched as Xu Ming and his team left. Then, they stared at one another and dashed off in another direction. They were on their guard while they traveled. Zhao Yameng began analyzing the rules of the trial.

"One strategy that almost everyone would think of would be to gather a certain number of keys then hide themselves…" Zhao Yameng said softly. After some thought, Kong Dao shook his head.

"I thought of that too. I found out that while the key can't be kept in one's storage bag, it's hard to detect unless someone else is really near you. I can't figure out why the Vast Expanse Dao Palace would leave such an obvious loophole in…"

"Since this array formation is called the Endless Possibilities Formation, we may be faced with other transformations in this world later as well!" After listening to what Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao had said, Wang Baole fell into a contemplative silence. Then, he spoke slowly.

The three of them continued their discussion for a while but couldn't decide on a plan. Zhao Yameng finally suggested finding a place to hide out for a while. They could monitor the situation before deciding on a plan of action.

The cultivators in Feng Qiuran's faction had scattered. The cultivators in Mie Liezi's and You Ran's faction had done the same. The cultivators began to spread out in their regions.

Many people decided to follow Zhou Chudao and his Dao partner Huang Yunshan. Dugu Lin was the only person to leave alone. He forbade anyone from following him.

As the cultivators scattered across the land, the trial truly began. Outside that world, the spectators watched excitedly in the public square. They knew that the real action was about to begin.

There were no intense fights at the moment. In fact, no one had engaged in battle yet. However, the rules ensured that as time passed, every participant would begin to grow anxious.

There were multiple ways that this trial could end. Where multiple probable outcomes existed, a betting pool would typically follow. Like the gamble between Mie Liezi and Feng Qiuran, and like… the betting pool that Xie Haiyang had set up privately.

This was clearly something that couldn't be done out in the open and so blatantly. However, Xie Haiyang had the means of spreading the news about this and got it done easily. Currently, the people who had placed enormous bets with him numbered in the tens of thousands.

Xie Haiyang was also one of the many who were watching the images in the vortexes. However, he was also extremely busy, receiving voice transmissions and taking bets. He had to make adjustments to the betting pool every so often as well. The crowd bustled around him, and many placed their bets on the spot.

There were elders from the sect who had noticed what was going on, but as soon as they even began to frown, they received a voice transmission. After reading it, they gave Xie Haiyang an unfathomable look, shook their heads, and ignored what he was doing. Xie Haiyang's betting pool grew bigger and bigger. A middle-aged cultivator standing next to him finally asked curiously.

"Fellow Daoist Xie, even though you're the one setting up the bets, will you actually be betting on anyone?"

Xie Haiyang smiled upon hearing that. He pulled out three gourds from his storage bracelet and placed them in front of him. He pointed at the gourds, then laughed as he told the crowd.

"I bet ten thousand battle credits on these three people. Their names are in the gourds. Help me keep an eye on them. When the results are out in a few days, I'll open them right in front of you all!"

Outside the world where the trial was taking place, the crowd bustled. The setting up of a betting pool meant that the crowd was invested emotionally in the trial as they watched what was happening. It livened up the atmosphere.

Comparatively, it wasn't as intense or exciting inside the array formation. The trial had just begun, after all, and everyone had just made their entrance. It wasn't yet time for a fight.

This was clearly not something Mie Liezi wanted to see. He raised his right hand and formed a series of hand seals. Then, he pointed at the vortexes in the sky. The vortexes suddenly shuddered, and changes began to take place within the array formation.

The spectators soon noticed the transformation, which caused gasps of shock to rise into the air.

"The array formation is transforming!"

"Look at the sky on the screens… it's turned black!"

"There's starlight in the night sky!"

As the spectators gasped in shock, inside the array formation, a myriad of emotions descended upon the participants as they lifted their heads and saw what was going on in the sky.

At that moment… the light around them had dimmed considerably. The change was minute but still perceivable to a cultivator's eyes. The sky above their heads had transformed from a bright and clear one to a dark, night sky!

It wasn't exactly a night sky. The light shining upon the land had dimmed, but it wasn't completely pitch-black as night would be. The only change was to the blue skies, which had now turned black.

It might seem like a contradiction, but this was indeed what had happened. The lands continued to give off light under the black sky. The source of this light was unknown. It seemed as if everything in this world could become a source of light. This was one of the things that made the Endless Possibilities Array Formation unique.

Wang Baole and his team had been traveling when the skies suddenly turned black. They stopped in their tracks immediately and lifted their heads, alarm flashing across their faces. The black sky was undergoing a gradual transformation, and a map formed from starlight began to emerge in the sky!

It was a clear map of the entire world where the trial was taking place, and numerous key-shaped symbols appeared on the map!

They weren't all stationary!

Some of these keys were shown in isolation, others were shown clustered in groups of three to five. There were also dozens of keys clustered together. Each key-shaped symbol… clearly corresponded to someone who was holding onto a key!

Wang Baole's and his teammates' hearts sank when they found their location as well as their corresponding keys in the aerial map.

They did a test. The keys shifted slightly as they moved. They finally concluded that the aerial map was synced with whatever was going on in the trial on a real-time basis!

Secrecy was thus no longer an option. The possibility of seeking a safe hideout and hiding away somewhere was also eliminated and no longer a realistic plan. The appearance of this aerial map eliminated their previous doubts and confusion.

"This is just too vicious! There's no way for anyone to hide here. Our every move will be exposed!" Kong Dao gasped. His eyes looked solemn. He could predict that the appearance of this aerial map would heighten the intensity of this trial to the extreme.

"That's not entirely true!" Zhao Yameng said suddenly. Her eyes flashed as she whispered.

"The map is not completely to our disadvantage. It might seem to expose everyone's location. However, what it does is add an implicit rule to this trial… Before the next teleportation, those without keys will become… completely invisible on the map!"

Wang Baole frowned as he listened to their conversation, and something flickered in his eyes. Zhao Yameng's spirits were clearly soaring, intense interest flashing in her eyes. She seemed to believe that the rules of this trial and this array formation were an opportunity for her to enhance her proficiency in array formations. She spoke again quickly.

"This world is quite fascinating. It will activate a teleportation once every twenty-four hours. That means a teleportation will take place every day… Those with a key will escape teleportation, and those without will be sent away and eliminated from the trial!

"What's even more interesting is that even if one uses his or her key to evade teleportation the first time, without any additional keys, he or she will have to snatch keys from others in order to escape the subsequent teleportation. Everyone has a day to do that. During that time, they will be hidden, and their location won't be displayed on the map. Those with keys, though, will be shown clearly on the map. They are forcing us to fight and to battle it out for keys!

"Based on my judgment, the most intense fights and the highest number of casualties will take place on the first day, and many participants will be eliminated. This is because the number of keys is fixed. There are only six hundred of them. If there is no intense battle on the first day, and most of the keys aren't consolidated in a few participants' hands, after the first teleportation, many keys will be consumed to avoid elimination. Without keys, those who have become invisible on the map and wish to stay in the trial will have to fight fiercely for another key. However, at that juncture, there would be too few keys left. Keys will become extremely precious. The fight for keys will intensify and reach its climax!"

Zhao Yameng's eyes shone more brightly as she spoke. She was clearly proficient in array formations and deduction. Her mind moved incredibly quickly, and she managed to distill the key points of this trial with a few words.

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Chapter 560: I am a Hunter!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole blinked as he stared at the enthusiastic Zhao Yameng. He would have been able to work this out as well if he had been given some time to think it through. However, this was clearly a mentally exhausting thing to do.

Kong Dao eyed Zhao Yameng and was about to say something when Zhao Yameng lifted her hand. Her eyes shone brightly as she said hastily, "Don't interrupt me!

"There are pros and cons to us sticking together. The advantage of that is that we'll be more powerful when we combine forces. The disadvantage is that we are easier to spot and will attract attention…"

"What we need to be cautious of are those who lose their keys today. Their number will grow, and they are invisible on the map and hidden from our sight. We, on the other hand, are exposed. They are like venomous snakes in the night. As the time to the next teleportation approaches, they will become more frantic and crazier!" As she spoke, a breeze drifted past and swept a few strands of her hair astray. She subconsciously pushed her hair behind her ear. Her gesture, as well as the spirited look on her face, made Zhao Yameng extremely attractive at that moment. Wang Baole watched her and fell into a slight daze.

At that juncture, Zhao Yameng noticed the expression on Wang Baole's face. She was secretly pleased. Then, she turned towards Kong Dao.

"Kong Dao, what were you saying?"

Kong Dao coughed. Even though Zhao Yameng had stopped him from speaking earlier, he still respected the detailed analysis that Zhao Yameng had done. After some thought, he said.

"I have an idea. Why not… give Baole our keys. We will hide ourselves, and if someone does attack, we'll be able to ambush him unexpectedly!

"Or Baole can let us have the keys. His level of cultivation is higher, so it might be more effective if he stages the ambush!"

"I've another idea. We can set a trap. You can set up an array formation, and we'll place the key there as bait, then hide and wait. Once someone takes the bait, we can attack together. We can stage multiple traps on the first day and win a few more keys!" Kong Dao's eyes began to shine excitedly as he spoke. He seemed to think that this was a good idea. They would gain something regardless of how they set the trap.

Wang Baole's forehead throbbed when he heard what Kong Dao said though, and he glared at Kong Dao.

"Kong Dao, the three ideas you've given are all about ambushing others… It's either I ambush someone, you two ambush someone, or the three of us ambush someone. Why does everything have to do with ambushes!"

Kong Dao didn't seem displeased when he heard Wang Baole's argument. He hit his chest and said proudly, "Baole, this is something you won't understand. I spent three years in the wilderness of Mars alone. This was the tactic I used to survive. This is my first rule for survival. Even at the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, this was the tactic I used, and it won me plenty of gains!" Kong Dao's tone of voice was filled with pride.

Wang Baole pursed his lips. He had gone through thick and thin with Kong Dao, which was why he didn't bother being tactful with him. Kong Dao saw Wang Baole pursing his lips and began to glare at the latter. He felt that it was necessary to make Wang Baole understand the importance of a good ambush. He was about to speak when Zhao Yameng, whose head had begun to throb at the talk of ambushes, interrupted them with great annoyance.

"Stop bickering. The first day of the trial might be important, but what lies after is even more important!"

"The laws of key conservation apply in this trial, be it regarding the intensity of the fights or the number of keys. If the first day turns out to be an intense fight, the remaining keys will be consolidated in the hands of a small group of people. Out of prudence, a period of stagnancy might occur! What we have to do is to seek the opportunity to hold our ground with the existing rules in place!" After Zhao Yameng said that, Kong Dao didn't reply and instead fell into a contemplative silence. Wang Baole only grew more mentally exhausted after hearing what she said.

"I suggest that the three of us work to protect one of us!"

"We'll focus on ensuring Wang Baole lasts for at least three days. This will give us a shot at winning!" Upon saying that, Zhao Yameng turned and looked at Wang Baole.

"Baole, you have to keep your spirits up. We'll focus on examining the night sky map today. If the keys aren't consolidated in the hands of a few, it means that the ongoing fight isn't that intense, and Kong Dao and I will place our keys with you. We will choose between the both of us who is to be eliminated during the first teleportation. After that, you'll still have two keys with you. But Baole, you have to be careful. If the trial really plays out this way, as more keys are consumed, there will be more people looking for new keys. With the dwindling number of keys…

"If today's night sky map shows that the battle has been intense, then someone will definitely have consolidated a large number of keys. The situation might calm down the second day. If that's the case, Kong Dao and I will not leave. We will all use our keys during the first teleportation. Then, we will join forces. We will either stage an ambush or openly fight for new keys. Regardless, we have to attack someone with many keys and fight for a chance to survive the second teleportation."

Zhao Yameng took a deep breath, determination shining in her eyes. She couldn't help but massage her forehead. This trial had both explicit and implicit rules. It seemed like a simple test of elimination, but in reality, there were many possibilities and probable situations.

This was something they had never experienced in their training in the Federation's mystic realms. It was extremely complex yet not completely unsolvable. However, the effort required for planning was too much. It was mentally exhausting. What invigorated Zhao Yameng was that with appropriate planning, they would have a great chance of gaining an advantage and other opportunities in the trial.

"Simply put, only those who are invisible on the map are hunters. Those holding keys are the prey!" Zhao Yameng said with conviction.

"In addition, theoretically speaking, there can only be as many as eight teleportations during this trial. In reality, though, it won't take as many before the trial ends. Based on my analysis, I predict that the trial will end before the seventh teleportation. That means… as long as we have seven keys and don't get those keys snatched away from us, we'll be able to earn a place in the top three!" Zhao Yameng's eyes shone when she said that.

She continued, "I can only make further predictions after observing what actually happens and use that as a basis for my analysis!" Done speaking, Zhao Yameng massaged her forehead while looking at Wang Baole and Kong Dao. She stared at Wang Baole and waited for his decision.

"Zhao Yameng, I used to think that your cultivation was average at best, and that array formations weren't of much use. My views have changed now. You're incredible!" Kong Dao said, incredulous. He looked at Zhao Yameng with respect and admiration. Zhao Yameng's analysis had been extremely detailed. She had dissected what had been a confusing situation and made it simple and comprehensible.

Kong Dao now had a clear understanding of the various aspects of the trial because of her reminder of the invisible participants on the night sky map, the different strategies to ensure one of them remained standing at the end of the trial, and even her confidence over how long the trial would last. Zhao Yameng had mentioned staging an ambush in her second strategy to ensure one of them remained the last man standing. He couldn't help but begin to think about the various ways to stage an ambush. He, too, looked at Wang Baole.

Wang Baole's eyes swept past Kong Dao and Zhao Yameng. He shut his eyes and began to think. He acknowledged the logic of Zhao Yameng's analysis, as it was very detailed, but his instincts told him that if they did as Zhao Yameng suggested, things wouldn't go as smoothly as expected.

Wang Baole knew where his instincts were coming from. It came from something that other Core Formation realm cultivators lacked, and that only those who had stepped into the Nascent Soul realm possessed—one's spiritual perception.

This is Zhao Yameng's strategy. It aligns with the cultivation techniques she uses. But this… isn't the way I would do things! Amidst his silence, Wang Baole's thoughts became clearer to him.

The Lightning Dao that I practice emphasizes the overpowering of one's opponents via lightning. It speaks of breaking infinite spells with a mere lightning bolt! The Flame Snatch robs the wills of tens of thousands of souls. Fused with the Thearch Armor, it strives to overpower and crush all opponents. It represents the drive to advance without looking back… Even if there are no paths ahead, one is to create a path! At that thought, everything became clear to Wang Baole. He felt better. His cultivation even began to stir with life, seeming to resonate with his thoughts. A sudden aura that Wang Baole himself didn't even notice appeared around him!

It was imperceptible. Even Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao didn't notice it. If Li Xingwen were in the vicinity though, he would have been startled by its presence. This wasn't the first time Wang Baole had achieved resonance and such an aura had appeared. The first had been in the Ethereal Dao College when Li Xingwen had tested Wang Baole and intercepted a punch from the latter. It had been a punch that infused his will with his spell. Only by doing so could one achieve resonance!

Resonance. This was what the Federation called it. The Vast Expanse Dao Palace had another name for it. It was… the incomparably mysterious… Dao!

Standing within the resonating waves, Wang Baole slowly opened his eyes. A tinge of ferocity glimmered in his eyes. It was a ferocity that had appeared a few days ago when he had been in the Sea of Fire while wearing his Thearch Armor. He said slowly.

"Yameng, your analysis is very useful and yet not useful at the same time… There's no need to sacrifice the two of you to protect me. Look at the map in the sky. There are three keys approaching us. They are clearly targeting us. That is why… my solution and strategy only consists of two words…"

"We fight!"

The fearsome light in his eyes erupted as soon as he said that. With a sudden step, he dashed out. His destination… the three keys on the map that were rapidly approaching them. He headed straight for them!

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Chapter 561: A Mighty First Appearance!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As Wang Baole dashed out, he raised his right hand and summoned the tri-colored flying swords. They flew around him, exuding a fearsome aura. One flew under his feet, and it was as if he was standing atop a flying sword as Wang Baole's hair fluttered in the wind. On his left and right were two dazzling colored flying swords. They shot forward, like shooting stars, racing into the distance.

Kong Dao watched as Wang Baole left without another word, charging off like a force of nature. Alarm colored his face as he lifted his head and studied the aerial map above him. Somewhere near them, three keys had gathered and were approaching them. It was clear they were being targeted. The intruders had clearly noticed Wang Baole approaching them, but they didn't stop in their tracks and instead sped up. The two would likely cross paths within half an hour!

The sight sent anxiety coursing through Kong Dao. He immediately chased after Wang Baole, yelling after him.

"Baole, wait. We don't know who our opponents are or the level of their cultivation. We shouldn't fight them head-on. An ambush is the best option!"

Zhao Yameng was stunned to see Wang Baole and Kong Dao dashing off one after another. All her planning had been for nothing. She could feel a headache coming on. With a leap into the air, she dashed off in pursuit, speaking hastily.

"Baole, be careful of the hidden cultivators. I did some calculations earlier. More than a hundred cultivators have disappeared from the map!"

Wang Baole's speed picked up as Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao shouted behind him. He heard them, but he had his own views. This might seem reckless on his part, but Wang Baole felt that his way of doing things fit the cultivation techniques he was using. Most importantly… he was confident he could do it!

Even though he was only at the mid-stage Core Formation realm, and a majority of the participants were at the late-stage Core Formation realm, Wang Baole didn't believe he was inferior to them. Even if… his opponent was at the perfected Core Formation realm, he was confident he could beat him with his Flame Snatch Thearch Armor!

I've kept a low profile in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace for too long. I've forgotten what it's like to be in the public eye… Since Feng Qiuran cannot control Mie Liezi, and the Vast Expanse Dao Palace is unwilling to activate the teleportation for the second batch of Federation Seedlings, then… I'll show them my true power. I'm going to give it my best shot for this trial!

Even though there are benefits to taking a step back and hiding one's strength in the current situation, I will no longer choose to do that! A sharp glint flickered in Wang Baole's eyes. He took a deep breath and sped up. Countless lightning bolts snaked around his body. He looked like a lightning bolt himself, dashing through the skies, ripping the heavens apart. He approached the three keys that were also racing towards him at full speed!

The aerial map showed that both parties were traveling at high speeds. They approached each other rapidly, with only a fifty kilometers separating them!

Beyond the fifty kilometers, in the air, two men and one woman were traveling swiftly. They had a cold and fearsome aura. One of the male cultivators was a middle-aged man with a fearsome look on his face. The other was a young man with narrow, long eyes and a cold, dark demeanor. As for the female cultivator, she was extremely beautiful.

They belonged to Mie Liezi's faction. They knew one another very well and were rather well-known in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. Based on their levels of cultivation, they were the stronger opponents in the trial. Even though they were only at the mid-stage Core Formation realm and not the late-stage Core Formation realm, when they worked together, they stood a fighting chance even if they were to cross paths with a late-stage Core Formation realm cultivator.

"The three of them know that we're approaching and didn't run off. One of them is even approaching us. He is coming at us fast…" As the three of them continued flying, the female cultivator amongst them frowned and said.

"I hope we don't come across a late-stage Core Formation realm cultivator…"

"There's no way we're that unlucky. There are only a few dozen late-stage Core Formation realm cultivators this round, so don't worry. There's something strange about the person approaching us though. If it's really a late-stage Core Formation realm cultivator, we can just escape. I believe our opponent won't want to get injured right at the start of the trial either. If it's not a late-stage Core Formation realm cultivator though… even though it's not right to kill him, we can still break all of his limbs as a warning!" The fierce-looking middle-aged man in the team sneered, and an icy glint flashed in the eyes of his teammates.

"If it's those three lowly lifeforms from the Federation, we can consider killing them!" The young woman smiled. A streak of cruelty lit her beautiful face.

Having come to a consensus, they deliberately slowed down their pace. It was clear that their opponent wasn't going to run away. Staying put and waiting for his arrival was the best course of action. They slowed down and activated their cultivation, bringing it to peak condition. The three of them spread out slightly, and their artifacts circled them. Wang Baole, who had been a fifty kilometers away, was now fewer than thirty-five kilometers away from them!

"Thirty-five kilometers… We have approximately ten minutes. He's in such a rush to give us our keys. Let's take our time when we break his limbs later. Consider that our token of appreciation to him." The fearsome-looking middle-aged cultivator licked his lips. He turned and looked around him. He wanted to find somewhere suitable for surrounding their opponent, to prevent the latter from escaping after being defeated.

As he turned around and surveyed the surroundings, trying to find a good spot, the beautiful female cultivator at his side suddenly gasped. Her breathing quickened, and her voice seemed different.

"It's not thirty-five kilometers… My god, this person's speed…"

The woman gasped. The young man beside her also let out a shout of shock.

"Fifteen kilometers!"

Everything happened unexpectedly quickly. When the middle-aged cultivator raised his head and looked over, his pupils suddenly contracted. He didn't need to look at the aerial map. In the distant horizon, he could see a bolt of lightning rumbling loudly. It charged towards them thundering!

It moved incredibly swiftly. One moment, it had been at the distant horizon, the next… it was right before them!

Thunder crashed as lightning formed from Wang Baole's Lightning Dao surged in the air. His startling speed made it seem as if the entire region of spanning thousands of feet was filled with lightning bolts. They danced in the air. From afar, he looked like a moving electromagnetic storm!

The three of them had no time to react. They felt a terrifying spirit energy flooding their surrounding area, enveloping them. It did that so quickly that they didn't know how it had happened. They only felt the descent of what seemed like a heavenly punishment—a lightning strike of legends and myths. Countless lightning bolts surrounded them and exploded before their eyes, and a piercing wind blasted them in their faces!

Thunder rumbled in the skies and resonated in the air. The female cultivator screamed as, all around her, her artifacts disintegrated. She spat out a mouthful of blood, and her body fell limply to the ground, like a kite cut from its string. The young man beside her suffered the same fate. The weapons that he had taken out earlier seemed like fragile things that couldn't withstand a single blow from the lightning. They exploded. His body was flung backwards.

The middle-aged cultivator was at the peak of the mid-stage Core Formation realm. That was why he had fared better. But blood still spilled from his lips. He staggered backwards, shock and alarm surging inside him.

"I wonder which personal disciple this is. I am Lu Song. We seek your forgiveness for offending you in any way…" Lu Song trembled and shouted out hastily. Their opponent was simply too powerful. He was alarmed and terrified. He could see, amidst the countless lightning bolts, the indistinct silhouette of a god-like figure. He couldn't see his face though, and couldn't identify who he was speaking to.

The person seemed slightly plump and didn't look like any of those personal disciples who he couldn't afford to offend and remembered. He didn't spare too much thought on that though. He instinctively believed that their opponent must be a personal disciple!

He wasn't the only one who thought that. His teammates thought the same. Their eyes were bright with terror, and they seemed ready to appease the new arrival.

However, as soon as Lu Song's words rang out, Wang Baole's calm voice sounded amidst the lightning bolts.

"Personal disciple? What's that? Can it be eaten?" Wang Baole stepped out as soon as his voice entered Lu Song's and the other two cultivators' ears, buzzing. He approached Lu Song, whose lips were stained with blood and face colored with terror. He didn't even take a close look at Lu Song's face before he raised his right hand and yanked Lu Song's key away. Then, with a stomp of his foot, he stepped on Lu Song's right leg. There was a loud crack. Lu Song screamed as his leg was broken!

Wang Baole didn't stop. He did the same to the woman and young man, taking their keys and breaking their legs. Then, he stood in mid-air and stared coldly down at the pale-faced cultivators who finally saw clearly who he was. Their faces were filled with shock and incredulity!

"You… you're… how is that possible!"

"Federation's lowly…"

"Wang Baole!"

Their heads began to buzz loudly as an incredulous, surreal feeling overwhelmed them. However, as soon as it surged inside them, they heard Wang Baole's icy voice in the ears.

"What were you saying about the Federation?"

The three of them saw the ice in Wang Baole's eyes and shuddered. The surreal feeling they had was swept away by renewed horror!

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Chapter 562: Breaking the Rules!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Thunderous sounds rumbled from the distant sky. Kong Dao and Zhao Yameng gradually appeared in the distant horizon. They were already traveling at extremely high speeds as they had been worried that something might happen. Zhao Yameng unleashed the array formation in her compass, which gave her and Kong Dao an additional burst of speed. That was how they managed to hurry over so quickly.

As they approached, they saw Lu Song and his teammates trembling on the ground, terror coloring their faces. They could tell that the three cultivators were at the mid-stage Core Formation realm. One of them had reached the peak of mid-stage Core Formation realm and wasn't far from advancing into the late-stage Core Formation realm. Zhao Yameng was startled at the sight. She stared at Wang Baole.

She had known all along that Wang Baole was extremely strong. Despite that, both her and Kong Dao were still shocked by the power that Wang Baole had displayed. He had faced off against three cultivators at the same level of cultivation fearlessly and managed to injure them heavily within such a short span of time. The extent of his strength was extraordinary.

Only someone at the late-stage or perfected Core Formation realm could have done that.

Kong Dao had witnessed Wang Baole's battle with the stone bat statue in the cave abode under the Sea of Fire. However, he had been focused on pushing the stone doors open and couldn't afford to spare too much attention on Wang Baole. Besides, the stone statue had been an insentient entity. That wasn't the same as fighting a living person. That was why he was shocked.

Wang Baole smiled when he saw Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao. He raised his right hand and made a grab through the air at the three cultivators sprawled on the ground. He got his hands on their storage bracelets. Then, he said indifferently, "Now, the three of them will be hidden from the aerial map. Their legs are broken, though, and they don't have their storage bracelets with them now. They're stuck here. It doesn't matter if their presence is hidden on the map!" Wang Baole threw the confiscated storage bracelets and the other two keys to Zhao Yameng.

"Let's go. To our next target!" Having said that, Wang Baole turned and marched into the distance.

Zhao Yameng had a strange look on her face. She stared at Wang Baole, then at the three disciples from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace who were trembling silently on the ground. She smiled wryly, shook her head, and followed Wang Baole.

Kong Dao took a deep breath. After realizing how powerful Wang Baole really was, he suddenly felt that there was a chance of someone from the Federation getting into the top three in the trial. In fact, they had quite a great chance of achieving that!

The three disciples from Mie Liezi's faction released a sigh of relief when the other three cultivators left. They stared at one another. They could see the bitterness in the others' eyes, as well as shock that they were still reeling from.

"Is he really a cultivator… from the Federation, that Wang Baole?"

"He's obviously at the mid-stage Core Formation realm, but his fighting abilities… may match that of a personal disciple!"

"We've… underestimated the cultivators from the Federation! This Wang Baole is extremely powerful!" They grimaced. They knew that this meant they were eliminated from the trial. Their feelings were mixed as they struggled to sit up. Their hearts still raced with fear as they recalled the earlier battle. They waited silently for the teleportation that would occur hours later.

Wang Baole and his team, who had left them behind, were speeding off presently. They were silent as well. After a long moment, Zhao Yameng began massaging her forehead. She still firmly believed that regardless of how powerful one was, it was still necessary to have a strategy. It would increase their chances of success. After some thought, she turned and looked at Wang Baole.

"Baole, we should stay away from others now and avoid trouble. We should be more careful of those who are hidden from sight. Not everyone who's invisible on the map has lost their ability to fight. They are the hunters."

"Yameng!" Wang Baole stopped in his tracks. He turned and looked at Zhao Yameng, a serious look on his face. He said slowly.

"All plans fall apart in the face of absolute power. The rules of this trial are secondary to that of absolute law. You shouldn't be so concerned with the rules. If this were the Federation, I would do exactly what you would do and choose the course of action that would reap the greatest rewards with the smallest amount of effort. That is because even though the Federation has entered the Spirit Inception Era, it did so recently. We cultivators are still bound by law, as rules have not completely fallen apart!

"But this is the ancient greenish-bronze sword… the true world of cultivation! I've thought it through and finally understand… Running away won't solve the problem. The strong will devour the weak. In the end… we have to rely on our strength!"

"I may not be able to hide my presence, but I'm a hunter as well!" As Wang Baole spoke, the look in his eyes grew fiercer. He raised his right hand and pointed at the map in the sky.

"Our seventh key is five hundred kilometers away from us. I'll lead you there!"

Zhao Yameng was shaken by Wang Baole's words. She admitted to being overly concerned with the rules. Array formations were, after all, another system of rules. She didn't think that her analysis was of no use, but she respected Wang Baole's decision and thus kept her silence.

Kong Dao stood at one side as he listened to Wang Baole and Zhao Yameng's conversation. He thought that there was nothing wrong with what Wang Baole had said, but he felt that Zhao Yameng was reasonable in her choice of strategy as well. He smiled wryly and said.

"Baole, we have six keys with us now. It's enough to last us three days. Why don't… we wait for the next teleportation to be over before we begin snatching more keys?"

Wang Baole didn't reply immediately. He lifted his head and stared at the night sky as he considered Kong Dao's suggestion as well as what Zhao Yameng had said earlier. A moment later, determination flashed in his eyes, and he shook his head. Then, with his back to the duo, he said slowly, in a low voice, "Yameng, the rules of this trial are complicated and allow for too many probable scenarios. You and Kong Dao won't be able to predict all possible scenarios without missing anything. It's impossible to have a full grasp of what's going on and predict every single thing that's going to happen!

"This is because the inherent probabilities are a result of the invisible participants on the map. They are mobile. It's impossible to predict their exact movements and actions. Even if I helped, the three of us wouldn't be able to predict everything. There is one thing I know though… One powerful man can defeat ten men. The strongest will prevail!

"There's no need to plan strategies and consider rules. I only need to remember one thing, and that is to advance and never look back. I don't care about the participants hidden from the map. I don't even care how many keys there are. That's because I don't care about the rules of this trial!

"Taking the top three spots is simple… just get all the keys we can find and eliminate everyone that we come across. I'll naturally become one of the top three. I might even get first in place!

"I understand you're worried that we might incur the wrath of the public. But so what if the other participants are forced to join forces to attack us? There are spectators watching. If we manage to achieve that, it'll also prove the worth of us cultivators from the Federation!"

"These are my views. Only weaklings are bound by rules. Only those who break and set the rules have the right to become the strongest!" Wang Baole's voice might be calm, but as he spoke, his cultivation began churning again. His cultivation technique and his will achieved a resonance, and the resonating waves of spirit energy began to exude from his person again!

This time, the resonance was stronger than the previous two times. It had formed a kind of presence that seemed to have summoned indistinct hurricanes in the surrounding area. They rose into the air. It was an overpowering aura that was fearsome and fearless. It was forceful, akin to a blade that could slice through anything—including oceans and mountains—that stood in its path!

The aura was much more distinct this time, allowing Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao to feel it immediately. Kong Dao's breathing stilled momentarily. He couldn't control the trembling inside him. He stared at Wang Baole, emotions surging inside him. He finally knew why he couldn't compete with Wang Baole despite his strong battle lust. He had grown accustomed to hiding in the shadows. He lacked… a certain overpowering aura that belonged to a true prodigy!

"A cultivator is supposed to fight with other cultivators and challenge the heavens. He's supposed to face challenges head-on and go against the flow of nature and the heavenly laws. That's how he can advance fearlessly. If he doesn't fall, he will definitely be able to create new paths to the Great Dao!"

Zhao Yameng stared at Wang Baole in a daze. There was comprehension in her eyes. Just as understanding dawned on both her and Kong Dao, there was a sudden transformation in the aerial map!

In the distant northwestern region, far away from them, four keys had gathered together. It might seem as if they were in the possession of three to four people, but it was more likely that they were in the possession of only one person!

The person moved swiftly in a straight line. Where he passed, other keys around him swiftly vanished and clustered around him. The original number of keys kept increasing in number. In a short period of time, it reached more than a dozen keys!

It was as if an invisible vortex had formed where the dozen or so keys had been, affecting the surrounding area and triggering a chain reaction, causing more keys to disappear and new keys to reappear and replace their absence. Those who had lost their keys had begun fighting for new keys.

The cluster of a dozen keys moved swiftly. It charged ahead, seemingly crushing everything in sight. The number of keys grew. If these keys were truly being held by one person, then at this moment…

The impression that he was giving all cultivators looking at the map was that of a forceful entity that was overwhelming and overpowering, advancing fearlessly against all forces of nature!

The feeling it gave Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao was even more intense. This was because… the aura that this cluster of keys was giving in the northwestern region was exactly the same as that which Wang Baole had exuded earlier!

One that disdained hiding and disregarded the rules!

"If there's only one person in the northwestern region, then… it must be one of the prodigies!" Zhao Yameng reeled back with shock once again. She turned and stared at Wang Baole, and understanding dawned on her.

Wang Baole had noticed what was going on in the aerial map as well. His eyes flashed brightly, like starlight. A smile appeared on his face, and he was bathed in an intense battle lust!

That is my true opponent!

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Chapter 563: Good Luck!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Just as something drastic was taking place in the northwestern region of the world, outside, in the public square atop the mountain in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, the spectating crowds of cultivators watching the three vortexes began to gasp. Many got to their feet and stared unblinkingly at a particular image in the vortex, at a disciple from Mie Liezi's faction!

There were too many images moving in the vortexes. However, the one that currently held everyone's attention was showing something most incredible!

On the projection was Mie Liezi's personal disciple, Dugu Lin, his face expressionless and cold. He was racing in mid-air presently, so quickly it seemed that he had reached the limits of how fast a Core Formation realm cultivator could go. In the blink of an eye, he approached a cultivator from Feng Qiuran's faction. The other had no chance to speak before Dugu Lin struck. With a single finger, he sent the other cultivator flying backwards, blood spilling from his lips. The latter passed out from what appeared to be serious injuries.

His key flew out from his grasp and towards Dugu Lin, who was already racing off. It was clear that Dugu Lin required the key, but he didn't seem particularly concerned about getting it!

The crowd watched with their own eyes as the earlier scene repeated itself in all images with Dugu Lin in them. The number of keys he possessed continued to grow. It had exceeded forty!

That was the highest number of keys a single participant had in the entire trial!

The spectators in the public square started making noises as their breathing quickened. Those from Mie Liezi's faction, especially, grew extremely excited as they cheered.

"Eldest Senior Brother Dugu Lin, he is invincible amongst all Core Formation realm cultivators!"

"Haha, I bet five hundred battle credits on Eldest Senior Brother Dugu Lin. It's a sure win!"

"I've said it before, this trial is essentially a battle amongst the personal disciples. The other personal disciples must be growing nervous."

As compared to the cheers from Mie Liezi's faction, the cultivators from Feng Qiuran's faction all had sullen expressions on their faces. They stared at the projections showing Xu Ming and Lu Yun and longed to see their incredible performance.

While the disciples of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace got carried away emotionally, the Nascent Soul realm cultivators were relatively calm. They were slightly surprised by what they had seen though, as the battle prowess that Dugu Lin was displaying was clearly extraordinary.

Even Feng Qiuran was frowning. Next to her, You Ran narrowed his eyes and seemed lost in thought. He turned and saw the faint smile on Mie Liezi's face.

The three Elders didn't speak, but the expressions on Feng Qiuran's and You Ran's faces shifted as they continued to watch the trial, paying special attention to Dugu Lin.

There was a commotion in the outside world. Similarly, all the participants in the trial were shocked by the drastic changes shown on the aerial map. Feng Qiuran's personal disciple, Lu Yun, was the first to react. After a few moments of silence, his eyes flashed brightly. He unleashed his cultivation and abandoned his original plans for stability. An aura of icy violence oozed from his person, and with a sudden burst of speed, he began to sweep the vicinity for keys!

He was doing what Dugu Lin was doing, relying on his superior strength and striking those he came across, then snatching their keys away!

The next to follow suit was Xu Ming. He knew that the rules had changed with Dugu Lin's actions.

He's trying to speed up the trial and get most of the participants eliminated by the first teleportation. Seems interesting! Xu Ming laughed, a cold glint flickering in his eyes. He chose to go on the offensive as well.

There was also Zhou Chudao and his Dao partner. They had stuck together at first, but after discussion, they decided to split up and strike independently. They attacked from two directions with overpowering force and began their hunt for keys!

The five of them going on the offensive created a strong chain effect that affected the entire trial. It intensified, and numerous cultivators lost their keys. No one had died yet, but there were cultivators who were maimed as well as those who were seriously injured and lost their ability to fight.

There were also some people who lost their keys but retained their ability to fight. Those were often the ones who met the prodigies in their own factions and had surrendered their keys willingly.

They had become truly invisible on the map. They were often the ones who posed a threat and danger to others, and the ones who engaged in battle with others as well!

The map showed that as all five prodigies went on the offensive, the entire world was affected. Keys disappeared off the map every moment and reappeared again, shining. Exchanges occurred endlessly. It was as Zhao Yameng had predicted—an intense first day with countless casualties!

Wang Baole's team was dashing through the air presently as well. What had changed were Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao, who now knew Wang Baole's choice after a comparison and after understanding his views. They followed him like guards flanking his sides, racing through the sky, advancing forward.

Their target… was the cluster of seven keys that they were drawing near!

From the map, it seemed that the seven keys weren't being held by a single person but by many people. There were various scenarios they might meet with, but Wang Baole didn't care. No matter how many people their opponents had, he would simply crush them!

His aura grew increasingly more powerful as he sped forward. He became a shooting star encircled by lightning bolts, approaching the location of the seven keys speedily as thunder boomed in the skies!

As he approached, Wang Baole's Spiritual Sense, which far surpassed that of other Core Formation realm cultivators, allowed him to see an image of his opponent as he came within a certain distance, even before his opponents could sense his presence!

Li Bin? A smile appeared on Wang Baole's face. His eyes were icy cold. With another sudden burst of speed, he dashed ahead!

Ahead of them, where the seven keys were clustered, not one, but thirteen people stood!

They were all cultivators from Mie Liezi's faction. Their leader was the one who had clashed with Wang Baole in the cave abode under the Sea of Fire and had been stopped by Chi Lin, the one who had been harboring murderous intentions towards Wang Baole—Li Bin!

He still believed that Wang Baole had been lucky that day. If not, he would have definitely been able to kill the latter and seize the opportunity to scavenge the cave abode that had been opened for the first time in many years. This was a regret that he still held on to. Every time he thought about it, his desire to kill Wang Baole intensified.

That lowly life form from the Federation, Wang Baole, is here at the trial as well. Hopefully, he won't be as lucky this time, and we cross paths… At that thought, Li Bin sneered. He eyed his companions proudly.

As a late-stage Core Formation realm cultivator, he could be counted as one of the more powerful cultivators in this trial. As long as he didn't cross paths with the five prodigies—those freaks of nature—he believed it would be a piece of cake for him to be placed in the top ten.

In addition, besides himself, he had gathered many followers as well. That being said, Li Bin knew that his chances of getting into the top three were minuscule. That was why he had thought it through and decided that he would trade his keys with a personal disciple for a personal favor!

Because of such a mindset, and because of his extreme arrogance, even though he had noticed the six keys racing towards him in the aerial map, he hadn't paid it much mind. He had already concluded that his new opponent wasn't one of the five prodigal freaks. The five of them had more than ten keys now. It was clearly shown on the map.

The highest level of cultivation that the arrival could have was the late-stage Core Formation realm, similar to his level of cultivation. Unless the size of the incoming party was almost that of his, they were simply bringing their keys to him.

We still have to be careful though. He might have done what I did and gathered people who have lost their keys. At that thought, Li Bin finally realized that the new arrival was very near his location. He waved his hand immediately, and the cultivators around him scattered. Li Bin raised his hand and unleashed his late-stage Core Formation realm cultivation. He was about to speak, but Wang Baole had been traveling at extremely high speeds. When he appeared at the distant horizon, Li Bin immediately recognized his face.

Wang Baole? Li Bin was overjoyed when he saw that the new arrival was Wang Baole. He lifted his face skyward and laughed out loud. Without hesitation, he took a step forward and spoke with a voice filled with murderous intent.

"I can't believe I actually managed to come across the lowly life form from the Federation, Wang Baole. Today, I'm going to see if you're really that lucky and if a Nascent Soul realm cultivator will enter the trial and save you!" Amidst his laughter, Li Bin waved his hand and pointed his finger at Wang Baole.

"Kill him!" His voice rang out. The cultivators around him began to sneer. In their opinion, a mere lowly cultivator from the Federation was never going to be able to compete with a disciple from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. Even if they killed him, nothing would happen to them. After all, the trial didn't forbid killing. However, everyone was of the same sect and had friends in the sect. Unless it were the last resort, no one would truly try to kill someone. But if that someone were a cultivator from the Federation… the situation would be different!

The dozen cultivators charged at Wang Baole as they sneered cruelly.

Wang Baole grinned as they approached him of their own accord.

I can't let this great opportunity go to waste… A blood-colored light flickered in his eyes. The diamond-shaped Thearch Armor seal on his heart erupted and surged outward, emerging from within Wang Baole's body and expanding outwards. It wasn't the complete Thearch Armor, but a mad dance of meridians—a red glow bathed the skies!

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Chapter 564: The Flame Snatch Devours

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

They're trying to kill me. If that's the case… I'll fight to kill too! Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He knew that the trial didn't forbid killing other participants. But everyone was of the same Vast Expanse Dao Palace. Even if they belonged to different factions, killings rarely occurred. It was clear that double standards were at play where he was concerned.

With that thought in mind… Wang Baole's lips twitched with mockery. His eyes flashed with an icy glint. He didn't hesitate and dashed out so quickly, instantly colliding with the dozen or so cultivators in front of him.

"Lowly life form from the Federation, die!"

"Kill him!"

The disciples from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace all shouted and attacked. All manners of spells and artifacts lit up the air. They erupted with power as soon as Wang Baole approached.

However, as soon as they attacked, Wang Baole suddenly shifted. A Lightning Avatar that looked identical to him split from his person. It was as if he had suddenly replicated himself!

The avatar didn't stop moving. It charged at the crowd, drawing their spells and artifacts to him. Wang Baole's true form took another step, and the Thearch Armor appeared outside his body. Tens of red-colored meridians, like sharp blades, extended outwards speedily and charged at the crowd!

Everything happened too quickly. The crowd's spells all landed on Wang Baole's avatar. They were about to modify their attacks, but it was too late. In the blink of an eye, the red-colored meridians outside Wang Baole's body sliced through all artifacts, disregarded the power of all spells, and pierced the foreheads of five people!

The five cultivators screamed. As they screamed, their bodies shuddered and shriveled right before everyone's eyes. Their bodies were dragged along, without their control, by the red-colored meridians that were Wang Baole's Thearch Armor. They swayed and circled the surrounding.

Everything happened right before everyone's eyes. From the crowd's first attack to the five cultivators being pierced in their foreheads and screaming painfully—everything took but a moment. The remaining cultivators had been stunned. Before they could react, they saw the five cultivators, who had been pierced through by the red-colored meridians around Wang Baole, sway in the air as they were drained of all blood, flesh, and will. They were transformed instantly into mummies. With heavy thuds, they were flung onto the ground.

What was even more creepy were the red-colored meridians. They kept wriggling their bodies as if they were sending back everything they had absorbed to Wang Baole rapidly. The scene sent alarm flashing across the surviving cultivators' faces. They gasped in shock and terror, then retreated hastily.

Li Bin's eyes almost popped out. His breathing quickened, and he could feel a prickling on his scalp. But he was a late-stage Core Formation realm cultivator and mentally more resilient than the others. He took a deep breath and was about to console the others so that they wouldn't lose their will to fight due to terror.

Before he could speak, Wang Baole, with a sudden burst of speed, took a step and appeared in front of an early-stage Core Formation realm cultivator. Wang Baole was so fast the latter had no time to react. He was still reeling from shock at the earlier creepy sight. It was too late when he finally sensed Wang Baole's approach. Just as he was about to retreat, Wang Baole raised his right hand. Every spell and defensive artifact around this cultivator shriveled up and seemed to be rendered completely useless. A hit landed straight on the cultivator's forehead!

There was a loud thud, like the sound of an exploding melon, and the cultivator's head exploded. As his dead body fell to the ground, a blood-colored meridian dashed out. Wang Baole didn't spare the dead body a single glance. He took another step, relying on his lightning-fast speed, and appeared next to a mid-stage Core Formation realm cultivator!

He found this person familiar. He had been there outside the cave abode and had harbored rather strong murderous intent towards him—one of Li Bin's companions. This mid-stage Core Formation realm cultivator's reaction was significantly quicker than the early-stage Core Formation realm cultivator. Shocked, he didn't hesitate as he yelled.

"Wang…"

He only managed to get the first word out. Nothing else followed. He had bitten the tip of his tongue, spilling a mouthful of blood after speaking. It was no ordinary blood but his secret weapon. The blood transformed into a blood mist. It exuded extraordinary energies of a spell and charged straight at Wang Baole!

However… before Wang Baole, everything was rendered useless. He sent his fist punching out, striking through the blood mist and landing straight on the mid-stage Core Formation realm cultivator's chest. With a loud series of cracks, the cultivator's chest collapsed inwards as he spat out mouthfuls of blood. A red-colored meridian pierced through him the moment he died.

Everything happened suddenly. Within the blink of an eye, out of the original thirteen cultivators… seven had died. Including Li Bin, there remained six cultivators!

"You… how is it possible for you to be so powerful!" Having seen Wang Baole kill seven people with such strange methods, Li Bin couldn't control the shudders traveling down his body. His breathing grew uneven, and his scalp felt numb. He couldn't believe what he had just witnessed.

Even if he was at the late-stage Core Formation realm, he immediately realized that he was no match for Wang Baole. Wang Baole's spell was incredibly bizarre and strange. It stank of blood and violence. As he shuddered, he suddenly remembered how Chi Lin had appeared outside the cave abode. It was him that Chi Lin had saved then, not Wang Baole!

He could imagine that if Chi Lin hadn't appeared then, he would have died. He suddenly felt so absurd. To think that he had thought Wang Baole was the lucky one then.

What irony. The one who had been lucky then was him. However, even though he had seen Wang Baole's power, he still couldn't believe his eyes.

He's hidden himself very well! He shuddered again. Li Bin didn't hesitate. He retreated immediately and attempted to escape. He didn't get far before he heard five separate cries of terror and pain behind him. The screams struck terror into Li Bin's heart. He was still a late-stage Core Formation realm cultivator though. At such a critical moment, as he distinctly sensed an immense danger approaching him speedily from behind, Li Bin gritted his teeth and, with a holler, turned and formed a series of hand seals with both his hands!

An enormous, illusory seal appeared before him, standing before the approaching single blood-colored meridian. A thunderous boom sounded in the air. The blood-colored meridian shook and was flung away, while blood spilled from Li Bin's lips as he staggered backwards.

He didn't feel as if he had just escaped from the jaws of death though. Instead, he descended into further despair!

This was because… a single blood-colored meridian had been so powerful that Li Bin had to use his full strength to retaliate against it. He had even sustained injuries from the backlash of their collision. Before him was Wang Baole, who was walking slowly towards him. Around him were blood-colored meridians swaying in the air. They numbered in the dozens!

The difference in power between them was so vast, Li Bin's mind broke. He shrieked, his voice shrill in his terror.

"I'll hand over all the keys to you. Don't kill me, Wang Baole. This is a trial. The entire sect and all the elders are watching."

His reply was the dozens of blood-colored meridians extending from Wang Baole's body. They approached swiftly and pierced through his body. Li Bin screamed, resentment and hate clear in his eyes. His body shriveled up and was drained dry. He died!

"I've said it before. You were lucky the last time!" Wang Baole said coolly. With a wave of his hand, the partially formed Thearch Armor vanished. His body resumed its normal appearance, and while he seemed to be in a slight daze, he soon recovered.

The Flame Snatch Thearch Armor does affect one's mind. However, one will recover after shedding the armor. Wang Baole mused. Then, he stared at the dead bodies around him.

Wang Baole didn't mind killing others. Firstly, the trial had no requirements and restrictions against killings. Secondly… Wang Baole knew very well that as long as he got first place, Feng Qiuran would seize the opportunity. If she didn't, she wouldn't deserve her status as an Elder.

At that thought, Wang Baole lifted his head and stared at the aerial map. He narrowed his eyes. After some time, Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao finally arrived. They looked at the corpses all around them, then at each other. They walked over silently and retrieved the keys from the dead bodies. There were seven keys. Added to the six they already had, they now had thirteen keys!

The thirteen keys clustered together. Even though the number of keys might not rival that possessed by the five personal disciples, it was still a striking cluster on the aerial map!

A long moment later, Wang Baole withdrew his gaze from the night sky. He turned towards Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao, nodded at them, then continued advancing. The other two took a deep breath and chose to follow him.

Presently, in the outside world, amidst the numerous projections, someone finally noticed… Wang Baole's earlier massacre!

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Chapter 565: This is… the Legendary Thearch Armor Inheritance!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Initially, no one on the public square in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace would have willingly paid attention to Wang Baole and his team. The most they would do might be to spare a passing glance as their eyes browsed past other projections.

That was why even though the spectators could see the aerial map as well, not many noticed when their three keys turned to six. Only the group of Federation Seedlings that had gathered at the periphery of the public square had their eyes fixed constantly on the images showing Wang Baole's team.

They had seen with their own eyes when Wang Baole had charged out, how he had struck instantly, broken the legs of three disciples from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace and doubled their number of keys. They had been invigorated by the scene, but they hadn't made a loud fuss. Even Li Yi had been silent. They had already realized the key to this trial from Wang Baole's team.

Then, they had seen the battle between Wang Baole and Li Bin's party. They had seen the terrifying blood-colored meridians and Wang Baole's brutal massacre. The sight had made their breathing turn uneven and quick, and they had grown agitated. That had drawn the attention of the surrounding disciples from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace.

Wang Baole's massacre had ended by the time the disciples who had noticed something strange was going on had looked over. However, on the aerial map, Wang Baole's team's keys had increased from six to thirteen keys. The discovery of that… caught many people's attention. They gasped in shock!

"The keys held by the participants from the Federation… their numbers have increased!"

"Hmm? Thirteen keys! Are my eyes playing tricks on me? I haven't been paying attention. How did they suddenly get so many keys without anyone's notice!"

"Something's not right here!"

The gasps of shock drew more people's attention. Soon, increasingly more disciples in the public square had their eyes on the projection showing Wang Baole's team. They were all stunned by the thirteen keys. Currently… in the trial, the participant with the greatest number of keys was Dugu Lin. He had more than forty keys!

The next person with the most number of keys was Zhou Chudao and the other prodigies. Each had two dozen keys or so. Their presences were extremely visible on the map. Wang Baole's team… with their number of keys, actually placed six!

To possess so many keys in such a chaotic situation was seen as an unwise move by many. It had a great likelihood of drawing too much attention. Despite their shock, most of them shook their head secretly. Many, who looked down on the Federation, displayed scorn and mockery on their faces openly.

That was why no one had really paid attention to Wang Baole's violent murders. Even Mie Liezi himself was the same. After all… there were six hundred projections. It was impossible to pay attention to all of them at the same time. Those who had lost their keys, especially, had vanished from the map. They typically found a hiding spot and stayed there without moving a single inch.

The matter couldn't be hidden for long though, especially with more people paying attention to Wang Baole. They wanted to see how their factions had been robbed of their keys. Wang Baole's strength and power were exposed. The spectators saw with their own eyes as he attacked instantly, injuring four participants heavily and snatching another four keys. That brought the tally to seventeen keys. Many spectators caught those scenes. Soon, a wave of shocked gasps stronger than the previous erupted in the spectating crowd.

"This Wang Baole is hiding his true strength!"

"He only took three seconds to crush four other cultivators at the same level as him, at the mid-stage Core Formation realm. Heavens!"

With the rising commotion, Feng Qiuran, Mie Liezi, and many other Nascent Soul realm cultivators began to notice the strange happenings occurring around Wang Baole. They were all taken aback. Feng Qiuran, especially, was stunned. Her eyes widened as she stared at a screen. Wang Baole and his team were racing forward.

"Wang Baole? That's quite interesting…" Mie Liezi said suddenly. He raised his right hand and pointed. Suddenly, amongst the many screens showing what the disciples from Feng Qiuran's faction were doing, the one showing Wang Baole's team expanded in size. It took up half the entirety of the vortex. Mie Liezi waved his right hand, and the image began to rewind. The events that had taken place since Wang Baole's team had entered the trial and everything that had happened after were being replayed!

Everyone's eyes zoomed onto the enlarged screen. They saw Wang Baole strike and break the legs of those three cultivators, and Wang Baole's battle with Li Bin!

They saw with their own eyes the blood-colored meridians extending out from Wang Baole's body and his massacre of the other participants. A wave of shock and fury instantly erupted amongst the spectators. Many got to their feet and began shouting.

"What cultivation technique is that?"

"He killed him!"

"The cultivator from the Federation dares to kill our fellow disciples from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace!"

As these cultivators raged, the Federation Seedlings clenched their fists and fumed secretly. They could do little to help though. Even a few Nascent Soul realm cultivators were staring with icy, murderous light in their eyes. A few turned towards Mie Liezi and the other two Elders with the intention of saying something. They soon stopped themselves as they saw the myriad of emotions flashing across the Elders' faces. Feng Qiuran stood up, her breathing clearly agitated and her eyes shining with an intense light.

The sight sent the Nascent Soul realm cultivators, who had been planning to say something, thinking. They didn't speak but continued to observe closely. The disciples around them also noticed the Elders' reactions. The entire public square fell silent. Mie Liezi's breathing quickened slightly, and his eyes revealed the complicated feelings he was experiencing. He said, with a low voice, "Is this… the legendary… Thearch Armor inheritance?"

"It might look slightly different from what's documented in our records, but there is no doubt that this is the ultimate inheritance that our Vast Expanse Dao Palace has placed in the Eye of Infinite Techniques—the Thearch Armor inheritance!" Feng Qiuran's eyes shone brightly. She seemed overwhelmed with emotions.

"This kid must have been to the Eye of Infinite Techniques and uncovered a golden opportunity. Not bad, not bad at all. To be able to earn the recognition of our sect's sacred land. He is indeed a true disciple of our Vast Expanse Dao Palace!" Feng Qiuran burst out into laughter. She took a deep breath and sat down again. Her eyes showed her strong approval as she watched Wang Baole through the projection!

She believed that this was the reason why Wang Baole had suddenly become so strong!

As for the massacre… after a moment of silence, Mie Liezi decided not to mention it. He knew that to be recognized by the Land of Inheritance and receive an inheritance was, to a certain degree, to gain the status akin to a core disciple. The sect had collapsed. Else, if they were to follow the traditions of old, one who had his name written on the Dao Plate would be promoted to the status of a core disciple after walking out from the Land of Inheritance.

This was a status that was vastly more elevated and esteemed than theirs, which was that of inner sect disciples!

Mie Liezi might harbor ill will towards the Federation, but his loyalty to the Vast Expanse Dao Palace was eternal and unchanging! Even though he held no goodwill towards Wang Baole, in his silence, he couldn't help but observe the latter. He wanted to know… what made one who had earned an inheritance in the Land of Inheritance special!

You Ran was silent as well. He narrowed his eyes, and a flicker of cold light flashed in the hidden depths of his eyes, hidden from discovery. It vanished in an instant. The smile on his face remained, and he seemed unfazed by it all.

The Nascent Soul realm cultivators and the other disciples around them watched as the three Elders chose not to pursue the matter of the massacre. They stared at one another and kept quiet. The Federation Seedlings, after a moment of stunned silence, began to grow hopeful amidst their confusion and doubt.

The entire public square descended into silence. All eyes watched the five personal disciples as well as the projection showing Wang Baole.

Time passed swiftly, and a day soon went by. The first teleportation was going to occur… in two hours' time. The aerial map showed the five personal disciples each staking their own territory in a corner of the map. Countless keys shone on the map. They looked like stars in the night sky, dazzling beyond measure!

Wang Baole had acquired twenty keys by now. He stood out like a dazzling cluster of keys on the aerial map as well. He was the sixth star on the map in the eyes of the spectating cultivators!

The world where the trial was taking place began to grow increasingly quiet. There were still plenty of keys scattered across the map, but their exchanges were growing more infrequent. This was like the calm before the storm. The silence seemed to contain a mad violence that could turn the heavens and earth upside down!

The spectators could sense the tense atmosphere before the storm. Streaks of tension began to appear amidst the silence. Everyone stared unblinkingly at the screens, waiting… for the storm to descend!

In the trial, Wang Baole was presently standing atop a mountain peak. He lifted his head and stared at the aerial map, a deep look in his eyes. Behind him were Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao. They were slightly injured. Kong Dao appeared as he had always been. On the other hand, Zhao Yameng's eyes had become fiercer after half a day.

They were going to be the main attack force in the coming days. Their targets were the participants who were hidden from the map and planning to ambush them. Wang Baole would only interfere if they came across someone they couldn't handle. Otherwise, the both of them would fight the enemy. This resulted in not only Kong Dao's but also Zhao Yameng's will to fight intensifying rapidly!

They were both silent at the moment. Zhao Yameng stared at Wang Baole's back as she recalled everything that had happened in the trial. A strange light began to appear in her eyes. She was about to say something when Wang Baole, with his back facing them and his eyes on the night sky, suddenly said, "Yameng, Kong Dao, how about we… do a big one?"

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Chapter 566: The Stars Quake!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

"A big one?" The expression on Zhao Yameng's face shifted slightly. She was a smart woman, skilled at analysis. She was also a numinous being. She was a master at both cultivation and research in array formations, both came easily to her. If Wang Baole weren't one of the participants in this trial, based on her analytical mind, she stood a good chance of being placed in the top ten.

That was why she immediately understood Wang Baole when he said that. She could guess vaguely what he was trying to say. Kong Dao caught on slightly later, but his keen animal instincts allowed him to arrive at a rough guess as well.

"Baole, you mean you want to…" Kong Dao started speaking and then stopped. He didn't finish what he had planned to say. His eyes narrowed and shifted from Wang Baole to the aerial map and the five clusters of stars representing the five prodigies!

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes and did some calculations. Then, he took a deep breath and suddenly said, "Follow me. Let's go get him!" Upon saying that, Wang Baole's eyes flashed. He took a step off the mountain peak and into mid-aid. His cultivation erupted, and he dashed into the distance.

Even though Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao had confirmed their guesses were right, they couldn't stop their hearts from racing. They didn't hesitate, however, and followed Wang Baole hurriedly. There were less than two hours to the next teleportation. The entire world could be said to be relatively quiet and calm. Wang Baole's team's movements were like a pebble flung into a peaceful lake, stirring ripples across the peaceful surface of the lake and drawing everyone's attention!

Wang Baole cared nothing for these hidden, watchful eyes. He advanced with extraordinary speed, racing towards one direction. His speed increased steadily. There seemed to be a fire burning inside him. It was clearly not fury, but battle lust!

The "big one" that he had been talking about was… the five personal disciples of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace!

After all, they were the only five people in the trial who had collected nearly two hundred keys. Regardless of who was eliminated, it would be sufficient to increase their opponent's number of keys multiple times, transforming the latter into the focus of the most attention.

Wang Baole didn't care for becoming the focal point of everyone's attention. However, he knew something clearly. If his opponent… were any of these five people, even though he was confident he could take them in a fight, they were different from other disciples. If they lost their keys and became hidden from the map, they would become extremely dangerous threats when they tried to rise to prominence or ambush him later in the trial.

The only exception was if he maimed them. However, Wang Baole knew that he might be able to explain away his killing of ordinary disciples, but if he did maim a personal disciple, even Feng Qiuran wouldn't be able to contain the murderous intent coming from that personal disciple's master.

That is why… the timing is critical! As he raced ahead, a faint smile appeared on Wang Baole's face. He had been thinking about this problem earlier. He had an answer now. What he had been waiting for was the present, when the teleportation was about to occur!

To be exact, the most ideal time was half an hour before the next teleportation!

Half an hour wasn't too long or too short a time. It was just right for an intense fight, and enough for one to become frantic with madness. This was especially so for the half an hour before the next teleportation. Every participant hidden on the map would go mad within this half an hour. That was because they would be eliminated if they didn't get a key within this period!

Similarly, during this half an hour prior to teleportation, everyone holding keys would be on high alert. No one wanted to have their keys snatched at the final moment and be teleported away and eliminated in the trial. They wouldn't even have time to save themselves from elimination!

As a result, any ordinary person would conclude after analysis that within this half an hour prior to teleportation, those without keys would go mad and seek fights frantically. On the other hand… unless those with keys were indeed crazy, they wouldn't choose to engage in any fighting or snatching of keys during this period. They would wait for the teleportation to take place, then attack after.

To attack before teleportation would be risky and dangerous—regardless of whether one ultimately won or not. If one lost, he or she would be eliminated. Even if one won, he or she would have to be wary of participants, who were hidden from the map, attacking them with mad frenzy. The risks outweighed the gains.

After all, depending on whether one had a key or not, one would be in a completely different mental state when facing the impending teleportation. That was why… be it the cultivators in the trial or the spectating disciples, they all determined that during this period before teleportation, the ones who would seek battle fiercely and frantically would be those hidden on the map!

There was a saying in ancient times in the Federation—madness was required for success. To a certain extent, this saying could be used to describe some prodigies as well. Like Wang Baole… he was exactly like that!

What he was waiting for was now. He was going to go against the laws of reason. He was going to make use of the approaching teleportation to eliminate the presence that was a threat to his!

After some consideration, he decided that his target would be… the personal disciple nearest him. He didn't know who that was going to be, and he had no need to know. He only knew… that no matter who the other party was, and which faction he or she belonged to, he would attack!

Just as Wang Baole dashed across the skies and raced towards his target, somewhere else in the sky, there was another personal disciple who had chosen to do exactly what Wang Baole was planning to do!

This person was Dugu Lin!

He noticed Wang Baole's cluster of keys on the map, situated far from him and moving at high speed. Even though he couldn't tell who it was, he immediately realized Wang Baole's intentions after having noticed the cluster of keys.

That's interesting. Who could that be? Is it Zhou Chudao? No matter who it is, to be able to go on the offensive now, he or she must not be a simple character! Dugu Lin narrowed his eyes. Truth be told, he had been surprised to find another cluster of keys besides those belonging to the five prodigies on the aerial map. He had believed that only five people, including himself, would have been able to achieve this.

I hope this person lasts until the end. I want to know who exactly has hidden his or her strength so well! Dugu Lin smiled faintly. He leaped into the sky and, with a sudden burst of speed, rushed towards the personal disciple nearest him!

His and Wang Baole's locations were too far apart. That was why they had not chosen the other as their target and had instead chosen a different personal disciple nearest them. As Dugu Lin released a sudden burst of speed, he transformed into a lightning bolt shooting across the aerial map. Both he and Wang Baole did nothing to conceal their intentions. Their actions sent cultivators in the trial reeling back. The disciples outside watching the trial were completely stunned.

They saw clearly on what had been a calm and peaceful aerial map, two stars suddenly shifting and approaching the star nearest them speedily!

"It's Wang Baole and Dugu Lin. Heavens, they've chosen to attack now!"

"Wang Baole's target is… Zhou Chudao!"

"Dugu Lin's target is… Xu Ming!"

The disciples in the public square reeled back with shock. They had predicted that this calm before the storm would persist until the teleportation was over and that the fight would start again after the teleportation had ended. They hadn't expected Wang Baole and Dugu Lin to choose this moment, the most inappropriate and also the most appropriate moment, to strike!

It had been a completely unexpected move. After some thought though, it seemed like a completely reasonable move to make. That being said, it still surprised and shocked many people. This included some Nascent Soul realm cultivators, whose eyes were shining with a bright, intense light. Feng Qiuran's, Mie Liezi's, and You Ran's focus on the trial had also intensified considerably.

One not only required sufficient cultivation to make a move now, one had to have the guts to do it!

The most excited and nervous of the lot were the Federation Seedlings. It had been an emotional roller coaster ride for them. The cause of this was Wang Baole. Presently, some of them were anxious while others were high-spirited.

With tens of thousands of eyes watching him, Wang Baole continued to race across the skies. He had noticed Dugu Lin doing the same. What was different was how when Wang Baole saw the other move, an image of Dugu Lin immediately appeared in his mind. This was a result of his instincts and the analysis he had done previously. It had led to his conclusion!

It should be him!

Wang Baole withdrew his gaze and slowed down. After Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao caught up with him, he began to pick up speed again. They sped across the night sky like fiery shooting stars, approaching ever nearer to where Zhou Chudao was!

Time passed speedily as they raced onwards. There was another half an hour to the next teleportation. On the aerial map, the star that represented Dugu Lin finally neared its target. He struck instantly. Even though Wang Baole couldn't hear the sounds of battle, he could guess at the intensity of the fight!

Now, it's my turn! Wang Baole took a deep breath. His battle lust erupted at that moment, and he charged forward. From a distance, he could see a mountain peak ahead of him. Sat there facing him was Zhou Chudao, his moping face resembling that of an old peasant!

When Zhou Chudao saw Wang Baole, he sighed. His low voice echoed in the air.

"Why are you doing this… As I expected, it's you!"

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Chapter 567: Defeating You With Five Punches!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Like Dugu Lin, Zhou Chudao was similarly suspicious of the sixth star that appeared on the night sky map. Even though voice transmissions couldn't be sent in the trial grounds, as a personal disciple, especially one from Daoist You Ran's lineage that didn't participate in the battle between Mie Liezi and Feng Qiuran, he had many friends. That was especially so as he had a warm personality.

Therefore, he came to know about the identity of the sixth star from someone who had lost his key. However, despite knowing that, he still felt that it was unbelievable. It was only after he saw it with his own eyes that he started to believe it. A solemn look appeared in his eyes.

When Zhou Chudao looked in the direction of Wang Baole, Wang Baole also stopped in mid-air, cupping his fists and greeting Zhou Chudao.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou!"

"Fellow Daoist Wang, is there really a need to battle? You… might not be my match." With a bitter expression on his face, Zhou Chudao wanted to convince Wang Baole to give up.

After thinking about it, Wang Baole nodded his head and spoke.

"I'm engaging in this battle for more than just myself. Please understand, Fellow Daoist Zhou. Please… Begin the attack."

"Why should we do this…" While shaking his head, Zhou Chudao stood up from the mountain peak. As he stood up, he straightened his body, and the bitterness on his face gradually dissipated, replaced by an aura that seemed to be able to strike the heavens!

Amidst the loud boom, it seemed as though a hurricane was being produced around Zhou Chudao. The hurricane swept in all directions, producing crazy winds in the surroundings. Looking from a distance, as the winds howled, the hurricane seemed to have transformed into a vortex with Zhou Chudao as the center.

As the vortex turned, the aura from Zhou Chudao grew increasingly stronger. In the blink of an eye, it had already spread in all directions. Numerous cultivators standing near him appeared in shock and retreated quickly. It was then that the voice of Zhou Chudao, who was in the center of the hurricane on the mountain peak, reverberated.

"Junior Brothers, please do not come within ten thousand feet of this area. If you wish to watch the battle, do it from a distance!"

At the same time, Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao had arrived in the air. As they neared, they could already hear Wang Baole's chilly and stern voice reverberating.

"Yameng, lay the array formation. Kong Dao, guard the area. The battle between Fellow Daoist Zhou Chudao and I should not be interrupted by busybodies!"

Zhao Yameng nodded and immediately took out the compass to lay array formations around the mountain peak. There was only one use for the array formations, and that was to block anyone from going near. There may have been people who were hiding within the array formation, and Wang Baole seemed to acknowledge that, but he didn't say anything. Therefore, Zhao Yameng only took a glance and didn't bother with it anymore.

Soon, the array formations were completely put in place, and Kong Dao guarded the surroundings vigilantly. Wang Baole didn't attack immediately and instead waited until the aura from Zhou Chudao had grown increasingly stronger, causing the vortex to be transformed into a typhoon that could tear the space apart. That was when Wang Baole suddenly spoke.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, there is no time to lose. Let's… begin!" Wang Baole looked at Zhou Chudao, and when their eyes met, their gazes seemed to have been transformed into extremely sharp swords that showed their intent to battle!

In the next instant, Zhou Chudao moved, descending the mountain peak while bringing the winds that were sweeping in all directions with him. He was like a Heavenly Venerate as he neared Wang Baole, his aura so strong that it could be felt even before he neared Wang Baole. His strong aura resulted in loud bangs being produced, and carried a force that seemed to be able to wither and decimate everything in his path the moment it was released!

"Wang Baole, you aren't my opponent!" Zhou Chudao's voice was like Heavenly Thunder. When it was heard, it was as if an invisible hand or a crashing wave was being brought along, pressuring Wang Baole!

The scene shook Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao. The spectators in hiding also quickened their breathing. Even the Dao Palace cultivators on the public square outside, who had focused all their attention on the individual battles involving Wang Baole and Dugu Lin, were gripped with shock when they noticed the aura given off by Zhou Chudao.

While everyone was immersed in shock, Wang Baole laughed and stepped out. He was someone who had come to battle, not someone who had come to be challenged, and there was no way he could lose out in terms of aura. Therefore, when his foot landed, an extremely strong desire to battle was similarly emanated from Wang Baole!

As the desire to battle was unleashed, Wang Baole had already clenched his right fist. The force from his physical body, the Lightning Core, as well as the Dark Core, were all released and combined together. That, integrated with Wang Baole's desire for battle, resonating his will and cultivation at that very moment!

What that resonance meant was that, in this state, Wang Baole could exhibit a force that was beyond his capabilities depending on the degree of resonance!

If Zhou Chudao's aura were described as crashing waves, then right now, Wang Baole would be like an indestructible reef that remained undamaged in the face of the turbulent waves!

It was perhaps still inappropriate to describe Wang Baole as the reef. That was because right now, as Wang Baole unleashed his aura and his foot landed, his right fist punched the powerful Zhou Chudao who was fast approaching in mid-air!

Supernova!

Ten percent boost from the resonance!

Everything happened in an instant. In the blink of an eye, the duo made contact with each other. It was a battle between their auras and a clash of their consciousness. Loud booms reverberated in all directions, and at that moment, the waves produced from the impact exploded between the duo, creating a force that swept in all directions. Noticing it, Wang Baole laughed.

"Zhou Chudao, I can defeat you with five punches. That was the first punch, and now… the second punch!" As Wang Baole spoke, the desire to fight in his eyes grew even more frightening. That was especially so as his desire to fight was complemented by his long flowing hair and the viciousness in his eyes. It made someone feel that he was indescribably overbearing and that his aura was extremely overwhelming. That was especially so as he dared to battle Zhou Chudao as if he were an equal, without bowing down to him!

The moment Wang Baole's voice was heard, he moved, charging forward at high speed. He was like a shooting star as he dashed towards Zhou Chudao with an extremely strong aura. He grew faster and faster, as if he could pass through the emptiness and set off a series of sonic booms. When he neared in an instant, he punched, and the impact caused the heavens and winds to transform!

Thirty percent boost from the resonance!

"How interesting that you're announcing your battle plans! If you manage to fulfill it, it means that you can showcase how formidable you are, with me as an example. Then, let's see whether you can really make use of me to show how capable you are, or… if you will fail!"

A glow flashed across Zhou Chudao's eyes. At that moment, there was no look of disdain in his eyes at all. Instead, as his aura emanated from his body, an indescribable sense of sharpness could be felt. That was also what made Dugu Lin value him.

As he spoke, Zhou Chudao raised his right hand before sealing it and pointing his finger. Instantly, a purple ball of fire was produced from his finger, transforming immediately from a flame to a sea of fire that enveloped him. As Wang Baole's punch landed, the sea of fire enveloping Zhou Chudao was turned into the skull of a giant fire beast!

The fire beast was like a kirin mentioned in the ancient myths of the Federation. It charged towards Wang Baole at high speed, and amidst the loud boom, it made contact with Wang Baole's second punch.

Loud bangs could be heard in all directions. Wang Baole trembled, and the Blood Qi in his body churned. At the same time, the kirin skull formed from the sea of fire broke apart, revealing Zhou Chudao, who now had the same desire to fight in his eyes. He had his hands sealed, and his internal Blood Qi was similarly churning!

"Void Awl!" A glow flashed across Zhou Chudao's eyes as he waved his hands. Instantly, nine cracks appeared in Wang Baole's surroundings, transforming into nine purple-colored awls that piercingly charged towards Wang Baole!

Each of those nine awls released a combat force that was similar to a cultivator who was in late-stage Core Formation realm. The collective force of the nine awls was so powerful that it was capable of suppressing any late-stage Core Formation realm cultivator, and even someone who had perfected the Core Formation realm would be taken aback!

After unleashing the Void Awl, Zhou Chudao didn't stop. Instead, he neared Wang Baole instantly, and with a glow of fire being given off his finger, he pointed at Wang Baole's forehead!

Wang Baole felt its force but didn't retreat. He didn't even unleash Thearch Armor, as like Zhou Chudao had said, not only did he need to eliminate Zhou Chudao, he also needed to use this battle to hone himself!

As he waved his right hand, Wang Baole took out a ribbon from his storage bracelet, wrapping it around him to block the nine awls. Wang Baole's thunderous voice could be heard as he gripped his right fist and moved his body forward!

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, this is… the third punch!"

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Seventy percent boost from the resonance!

The moment Wang Baole spoke, the two neared each other. As the fist and the finger landed, and as their cultivation was instantly unleashed, a combined force that was so powerful that it seemed to be able to destroy everything was released from both of them!

Amidst the boom, blood flowed out from the corner of Zhou Chudao's mouth as he retreated. Similarly, blood flowed out of the corner of Wang Baole's mouth. However, the glow from Wang Baole's eyes was even brighter right now. He stepped forward while laughing heartily as he attacked Zhou Chudao once again!

A loud boom was produced when the duo made contact, and Zhou Chudao retreated from the impact. Wang Baole seemed unrestrained and aloof. As a contender and a challenger, his aura grew even stronger as he unleashed his cultivation once again and neared Zhou Chudao in an instant.

"Now, this is the fourth punch!" Wang Baole's voice was like Heavenly Thunder. At this moment, complemented by his aura, he seemed unbeatable. Zhou Chudao's breathing uncontrollably quickened, and he had a strong gut feeling that if Wang Baole were allowed to continually boost his aura without restraint, his fifth and last punch would be incredibly astonishing and earth-shaking!

This cannot continue! The fighting spirit in Zhou Chudao's eyes didn't diminish, and instead burned even more strongly. As Wang Baole neared him at high speed, he retreated while raising his right hand and sealing it. Instantly, moonlight emerged from his chest. It was extremely brilliant, and as Zhou Chudao sealed his hands, the moonlight was turned into an image of the moon in front of him!

Even though the moon was bright, it didn't carry a sense of pureness. Instead, it seemed extremely bizarre, and evil murmurs that could make people and spirits tremble with fear could be heard from it.

It made one feel that those murmurs were extremely evil curses!

"Cursed Moon!" Zhou Chudao bellowed as he pointed with his sealed right hand at Wang Baole. The moment his finger landed, Wang Baole was shocked, and a strong sense of crisis exploded in his heart. He didn't have time to think too much, and he turned his body at a weird angle while it was still moving at high speed.

However, as a personal disciple of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace who was valued by Dugu Lin, Zhou Chudao's ferocity had far exceeded that of ordinary Core Formation realm cultivators. Even the Nascent Soul realm cultivators would likely not stand a chance against him.

As Zhou Chudao's voice reverberated, and as his finger landed, it was evident that it was still too late for Wang Baole to dodge the impact. Instantly, moonlight appeared around Wang Baole's body. With crisis looming, an undetectable flash appeared across Wang Baole's eyes, and overlapping figures of his body also seemed to have appeared. However, everything had happened too quickly. As the moonlight gathered at high speed, the image of the moon, which was just in front of Zhou Chudao the previous moment, enveloped Wang Baole. At that moment, Wang Baole seemed to have transformed into the moon!

The moment the moon enveloped Wang Baole, feelings of weakness, sleepiness, and fatigue overwhelmed him. Wang Baole's breathing quickened, and his body trembled. His eyelids grew so heavy that he almost couldn't keep them open, and he was about to fall into a slumber. The fatigue from his body spread from within him like the tides, and the feeling of weakness he felt seemed to have turned him from a cultivator to a commoner!

His mood and emotions were also all being affected. Despair, sadness, thoughts of suicide, as well as all the different negative emotions, were being strongly experienced by him at that moment!

Even his cultivation seemed to be affected. Put more accurately, it wasn't his cultivation, but his ability to control it, that was affected. He was previously able to control his cultivation perfectly, but due to all the negative effects that he was experiencing, his power of control was weakened by fifty percent!

That was one of Zhou Chudao's trump cards, the Cursed Moon!

If it were someone else and not Wang Baole, Zhou Chudao would have neared immediately and killed his opponent without wasting too much of his cultivation or his Dharmic treasures. However, his opponent was Wang Baole. Even though he didn't understand him deeply, having gone through this short battle, Zhou Chudao had already elevated Wang Baole's position, placing him as an equal opponent like Dugu Lin was!

In the face of such a strong opponent, Zhou Chudao couldn't afford to be careless. Therefore, a chilly flash appeared in Zhou Chudao's eyes. Even though Wang Baole was affected by the Cursed Moon, Zhou Chudao didn't go near him. Instead, he retrieved a wooden figurine from his storage bag!

The wooden figurine was black in color. The moment it was taken out, a chilly aura was released from it. It was the figure of a ferocious hound which carried an evil glow in its eyes. When the wooden figurine was taken out, the ferocious hound bit its own tongue, and a mouthful of blood was spat from the figurine. Instantly, a large amount of Black Qi was produced from the wooden figurine.

A ferocious roar that shook the heavens and earth also reverberated. The wooden figurine seemed to have come to life, transforming into a hundred-foot-tall, black-colored ferocious hound!

The ferocious hound's teeth were extremely sharp, and its eyes carried a look of madness and greed. As it roared, it charged towards Wang Baole, wanting to swallow him!

It was like… a hound swallowing the moon during a lunar eclipse!

"This is the end. It's a pity that you didn't manage to show how formidable you are in the end!" Zhou Chudao narrowed his eyes and spoke slowly. The ferocious hound had already neared Wang Baole with its mouth opened wide in an exaggerated manner. It was about to swallow both Wang Baole and the image of the moon surrounding him!

The onlookers around them, as well as the cultivators outside the trial grounds, were all deeply shaken. That was especially so for the Federation Seedlings, who were all extremely anxious!

That was when… something unexpected occurred!

A voice that carried a sense of regret was heard from Wang Baole, who was enveloped by the moon.

"It's indeed a pity that you didn't come near…"

When that voice emerged, a hand that was formed from lightning was extended from the Cursed Moon. It was so fast that it landed on the ferocious hound's teeth in an instant!

As it landed, thunder was instantly produced. Explosive waves spread in all directions, and as the noise reverberated, an extremely powerful force emerged from within the Cursed Moon. Not only did it devastate the Cursed Moon, but it also landed on the ferocious hound. In the blink of an eye, the Cursed Moon was destroyed, and the ferocious hound retreated while screaming painfully. Zhou Chudao was gripped with shock, and at that moment, Wang Baole emerged from the devastated Cursed Moon. His speed had increased significantly from before. He neared Zhou Chudao at the speed of lightning and punched forward!

That was the fourth punch!

One hundred percent boost from the resonance!

The punch clearly harnessed an even stronger force from the resonance. It was like the crashing waves during a hurricane, with each subsequent wave being stronger than the previous. To a certain extent, the lethality of that punch was twice that of Wang Baole's own combat power!

That was because the effect of the resonance allowed Wang Baole's cultivation and spirit energy to break through their respective limits. As his fist landed, even Zhou Chudao couldn't avoid it and could only try to resist it with all his might. As the loud boom reverberated, Zhou Chudao spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, and the protective Dharmic treasures covering him were destroyed. His chest caved in while blood spurted endlessly from it. As he retreated, a look of indignation could be seen in his eyes!

"Lightning Avatar!"

"You're right!" Wang Baole created a lightning avatar during the crucial juncture previously. Both the Cursed Moon and the ferocious hound had targeted Wang Baole's avatar, and as his avatar self-exploded, which resolved the crisis, Wang Baole's true self emerged and landed the fourth punch.

If Zhou Chudao hadn't been vigilant and chose to go near Wang Baole, this battle would perhaps have already ended!

Right now, as the duo conversed, Wang Baole turned and charged towards Zhou Chudao. He was so ferocious and formidable that if one were to look at everything from afar, Zhou Chudao seemed to be on the brink of being completely suppressed!

"Next up, the last punch!" Wang Baole's desire for battle was extremely strong at this moment. He was about to go near when, at that moment, Zhou Chudao screamed. His retreating body suddenly stopped moving, and his eyes grew bloodshot. A sense of resonance suddenly emerged from Zhou Chudao's body!

"You will not be able to unleash your last punch!" As Zhou Chudao spoke, he raised his hands and sealed them. Green veins bulged from his forehead, and his cultivation vibrated heavily!

"Nine Generations…"

"False Killing!"

When Zhou Chudao spoke, illusory figures appeared from Zhou Chudao's body. Each of the illusory figures was an image of him. Together with his true body, it looked as if the reincarnations from nine generations had appeared together. When he sealed his hands, so did the illusory figures. Frightening auras that could freeze the spectators in fear emerged from Zhou Chudao's body at that moment!

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Chapter 569: Domineering!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The reincarnation of the Nine Generations clearly shared the same origins as the mystic technique of the Federation's Five Generation Sky Clan!

The difference lay in that the Five Generation Sky Clan could only call upon reincarnations from five generations, while Zhou Chudao could call upon reincarnations from nine generations. Right now, as the illusory images appeared behind him as he sealed his hands, nine awls appeared between him and Wang Baole!

At the same time, those illusory figures also sealed their hands, causing the number of awls existing between the duo to grow instantly from nine to eighty-one!

The moment the eighty-one awls appeared, they caused such a strong wave of impact that it shook the entire area, causing the night sky map over the region to warp. Turbulent winds were also triggered, and even the mountain peak beneath them was vibrating vigorously. Large amounts of rock fragments were tumbling down as if the mountain was about to collapse.

The ground seemed to be unable to withstand the impact as well. Cracks were seen in the ground, and, coupled with the turbulence of the mountain, it seemed as if the entire area was crumbling!

At this moment, Zhou Chudao's eyes were bloodshot. He roared and raised his hands, and the illusory figures behind him followed suit. They seemed to be moving the eighty-one awls, pressing on them and directing them towards Wang Baole!

"Imprison him!" Zhou Chudao exclaimed loudly. The illusory figures behind him all carried a frightening expression on their faces at the same time. They opened their mouths and screamed in unison, resulting in the formation of a sonic wave that exploded instantly. An astonishing aura was also emanated from the eighty-one awls as they criss-crossed in mid-air, forming a giant cage that charged towards Wang Baole while carrying a suppressing force!

The killing intent carried by the eighty-one awls, as well as the imposing threat they had on Wang Baole, were combined together, such that he wasn't able to throw out his fifth punch!

It wasn't that he was unable to release the fifth punch. Instead, the shock that he felt from the imposing manner of the awls made him lose confidence in the ability of his punch to lead him to victory!

In addition, as the cage formed by the eighty-one awls neared Wang Baole, an indescribable suppressive force that seemed impossible to fight against exploded like a tsunami. It contained an extremely high pressure as if it could decimate him!

With crisis looming, a chilly glow flashed across Wang Baole's eyes. He didn't wish to dodge, nor did he wish to activate Thearch Armor so soon. He narrowed his eyes and raised his right hand, and three one-use eighth-grade Dharmic Armaments flew out from his storage bracelet, surrounding him!

The three Dharmic treasures, which were each in the form of a clock, looked identical. Once they were taken out, they began to grow larger in size, each bigger than the other as if they were building on top of each other. They enveloped Wang Baole. Looking at it from a distance, the three Dharmic treasures seemed to have formed a protective covering so sturdy that they appeared like the mountainous rocks that even a tsunami couldn't destroy. Suppressive forces emanated from the Dharmic treasures as they took on the impact of the eighty-one awls head on!

It all took place in an instant. In the blink of an eye, the eighty-one awls neared and made contact with Wang Baole's one-use eighth-grade Dharmic Armaments!

"You can block it!" Zhou Chudao bellowed as he stepped forward. However, just as he said that and his foot landed on the ground, Wang Baole's voice reverberated.

"It is not part of my Dao to use blocking as a strategy!" The desire for combat could be seen in the eyes of Wang Baole, who was within the protection of the clocks. As he spoke, he pushed his hands towards both sides of the protection and roared with a deep voice.

"Explode!"

The moment his voice was heard, the clock on the outermost layer vibrated and exploded in an instant. A powerful force churned and spread in all directions, forming an invisible hand that charged towards the incoming tsunami-like awl!

That wasn't the end!

The fighting spirit in Wang Baole's eyes grew even stronger. His voice was heard again, and this time, he ordered for two explosions. The second, as well as the last clock exploded almost at the same instant, creating an impact that added on to the previous one that was produced. That caused the invisible hand to swell, and it slapped the awls hard!

It was as if it wanted to open up a pathway within the cage formed by the awls!

In this battle with Zhou Chudao, the spells, as well as the thought and flexibility that both sides adopted in their battle techniques, were on the level of someone who was at the peak of the Core Formation realm. To a certain extent, the battle between them could be used as a case study. If their opponents weren't each other and were instead any of the bystanders, that opponent would have long been defeated, unless they were as savage of either of them.

However, that was still a hypothetical scenario. Wang Baole had a strong desire for combat, and that was the case for Zhou Chudao as well. He seemed to have predicted Wang Baole's tactics, as he sealed his hands and pointed just as the three clocks self-exploded and the invisible hand was carrying out the slap!

Instantly, the awls gathered together, transforming the cage formed by the eighty-one awls into an awl shield!

The shield took on the impact from the self-explosion of the three clocks head-on. When contact was made, a force that was several times more powerful instantly reverberated. Zhou Chudao's breathing became disorderly, and his hair was disheveled. Blood spewed out of his mouth as he let out a battle cry!

"Wang Baole, you've taken the bait… Nine Generations… Anti-Shock!" As Zhou Chudao's voice was heard, an astonishing anti-shock force was released from the awl shield. That large force, which resulted from the destruction of half the number of awls, combined with the explosive force of the three clocks, and it landed directly to propel Wang Baole away!

That was an extremely unexpected turn of events. Wang Baole's body trembled, and blood spewed from his mouth. His body, which was in mid-air, suddenly tumbled backwards, and even though he clenched his right fist, he seemed to have lost the strength to flail it. As blood spurted out of his mouth continuously, a sense of fragility and weakness could be seen from Wang Baole.

At the same time, an indescribably powerful impact formed visible waves that spread in all directions. Wherever the waves passed, the mountains crumbled and the ground cracked. Even the array formation set up by Zhao Yameng was destroyed at that instant. It was as if a strong gust of wind had blown off all the fallen leaves!

Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao were extremely taken aback. In their anxiety, their bodies were also forced to retreat by the impact, without their control. The cultivators who were previously hiding in the area had blood spurting out of their mouths as they escaped to distance themselves from the area. Those people were the participants hidden on the map who had lost their keys. As they escaped with fear, there were three of them who looked frightened on the surface but carried a look of greed deep in their eyes.

If it were some other time, they might not have harbored such malicious thoughts. However, right now, Wang Baole was visibly and severely injured. The three keyless participants didn't think too much as they leaped into the air, activating their cultivation. One of them was in the late-stage Core Formation realm, while the other two were at the peak of the mid-stage Core Formation realm. They dashed right towards Wang Baole, who was now retreating with blood in his mouth!

They wanted to kill Wang Baole and snatch his keys!

Zhou Chudao frowned slightly, but as a glow flashed across his eyes, he gave up the thought of going after the three keyless participants. If such an elite from the Federation died in his hands, it would be disadvantageous for him in the future.

Of course, if the trio hadn't made the ambush, Zhou Chudao would still have attacked Wang Baole one last time. He wouldn't have killed him, but he would definitely have taken away his keys.

However, just as Zhou Chudao gave up his intention to pursue, and as the three greedy Dao Palace disciples were about to launch their attacks, a chilly voice that carried a sense of regret was heard from Wang Baole, who seemed to have been severely injured and lost all ability for combat.

"D*rn it, the three of you really deserve to die!"

The moment those words were heard, the sense of weakness that was emanating from Wang Baole vanished instantly. Right now, the resonance of the fifth punch spread on Wang Baole's clenched fist. That stunned Zhou Chudao, and his heart was gripped with shock!

It was only now that he realized that Wang Baole didn't suffer from injuries as severe as he had thought. Rather, it could also be said that Wang Baole's physique was peculiar and could recover extremely quickly. Regardless, if not for the idiotic trio, had Zhou Chudao neared Wang Baole, he would have come face to face with Wang Baole's fifth punch, which he had secretly been preparing until now!

Without a doubt, that would be the case!

Therefore, right now, Wang Baole's anger and regret could be clearly felt. The waves of resonance on his fist dissipated, and just as the three Dao Palace disciples retreated in shock, Wang Baole, with a chill in his eyes, pointed his right finger at each of the trio's foreheads!

Flame Snatch!

A scream that sounded so painful that it didn't seem human was heard from the trio. Their bodies could be seen withering visibly, while their energy and life seemed to have been stripped at that instant. They were turned into dried corpses that landed heavily on the ground. That was when Wang Baole turned around with a solemn expression on his face to look at the surprised Zhou Chudao.

"Even though I didn't physically unleash the fifth punch, in my mind, I have already successfully executed it and have already defeated you!"

"Therefore… The teleportation is about to begin, and this battle… should end now!" As Wang Baole spoke, Zhou Chudao suddenly felt a strong sense of crisis. He reacted quickly, sealing his hands and controlling the awl shield to move towards Wang Baole. However, Wang Baole suddenly raised his right hand!

A blood-colored meridian emerged beneath the skin on Wang Baole's right hand and spread throughout his body!

It was extremely sinister and overbearing!

It was… the Flame Snatch Thearch Armor!

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Chapter 570: Observing From Above!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The battle between Wang Baole and Zhou Chudao sent shock waves in all directions. All the spectators were gripped with surprise and shock, especially as they watched Zhou Chudao demonstrate his ability to anticipate Wang Baole's moves, and as they watched Wang Baole using a series of lures as he attacked.

That was especially so for the last moment where the three ambushers suffered a pitiful death. Regardless of whether it was the way or the speed of their miserable deaths, it implied that Wang Baole's abilities were at a level similar to the peak of the Core Formation realm, and was sufficiently powerful to suppress others on the same level as him!

What was most important was that Wang Baole was still a mid-stage Core Formation realm cultivator!

What happened scared everyone, preventing them from going near. No one had any intention to attack sneakily, and all the Dao Palace disciples who were watching the battle couldn't help but sweep their gazes at the Federation Seedlings in the public square.

After this battle, no one would dare to say that there were no elites in the Federation anymore!

That made all the Federation Seedlings in the public square extremely emotional. After all, since their arrival on the ancient greenish-bronze sword and the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, they had lived like second-class citizens.

The Dao Palace disciples' disdain towards them, as well as the scornful and cold attitude that they had experienced throughout the past year, resulted in pent-up frustration in their hearts. They were cautious in whatever they did, and some of them had even wavered and thought about getting into the good books of the Dao Palace disciples.

However, at the current moment, all those thoughts had vanished, replaced by a sense of pride and agitation. Through Wang Baole's hard work, all the Federation Seedlings had proven their worth!

Even though it seemed like Wang Baole was the only elite, at the very least, they were no longer nobodies in the Dao Palace and were able to have a presence!

Many people understood that principle. Therefore, the Dao Palace disciples, who were experiencing a myriad of emotions, were much less scornful towards the Federation Seedlings. That was seen in both their gazes and attitudes. They had become more solemn, and that was especially so when they watched Wang Baole on the screen. From their eyes, a look of respect and awe towards Wang Baole could be seen.

However, in their hearts, they were still somewhat unable to accept the fact that Wang Baole and the Federation were more powerful than they had thought. Thankfully, before the first teleportation, Wang Baole wasn't the only one who had performed spectacularly, as there was also Dugu Lin who fought well!

The battle between Dugu Lin and Xu Ming was similarly earth-shaking, sending shock waves in all directions. That filled all the Dao Palace disciples in the public square with excitement. As the duo were both Dao Palace disciples as well, the exhilaration that the Dao Palace disciples felt was multiplied, and could somewhat alleviate the emotional discomfort that they felt due to Wang Baole!

Dugu Lin was indeed formidable. Even though Xu Ming was also a personal disciple and could beat many other Core Formation realm cultivators, he still lacked compared to Dugu Lin!

Right now, the battle between Du Guilin and Xu Ming was held on a plain. Numerous cracks had appeared on the ground, and Xu Ming's screams had become the theme song of the area. His body was blown into the air before crashing onto the ground again and again, and this would be repeated every time he picked himself up from the ground!

Dugu Lin, who was standing expressionlessly in mid-air and hadn't spoken much since the beginning, was like an inescapable fate for Xu Ming. No matter how hard Xu Ming tried—regardless of whether he had self-exploded his Dharmic treasures, unleashed his trump cards, or even boosted his attacks with mystic techniques—it had all been useless!

All those efforts were simply negated by a single punch from Du Guilin, and that was the case from start to finish!

It was, without a doubt, a complete suppression of Xu Ming. From the beginning until the present, Xu Ming had bled profusely, and his hair was a mess. The hopelessness and indignation in his heart had been transformed into a form of torture that drove him crazy.

"Dugu Lin! Your opponent… is me!" After being thrown towards the ground from mid-air yet again, Xu Ming vomited a clot of blood. When he struggled to stand up, blood flowed from his forehead into his eye, turning his world blood-colored. He looked even more frightening, but his voice didn't carry a sense of madness, only bitterness and struggles.

That was because… from the second punch onwards, the quiet Dugu Lin no longer focused his attention on Xu Ming. Instead, he had raised his head, focusing on the night sky map, and specifically on the location where the battle between Wang Baole and Zhou Chudao was taking place.

Even though Dugu Lin couldn't see the actual battle, a look of desire and anticipation had appeared in his eyes. As such, to him, Xu Ming was merely…

A nobody!

Dugu Lin's disregard towards him was what made Xu Ming feel most bitter. He was also a personal disciple, and before this, he was filled with confidence about himself. However, it was only after this battle that he realized that compared to Dugu Lin, he was nothing.

That sense of powerlessness made Xu Ming bitter, but he was still indignant. Therefore, as he quickened his breathing, a burning desire for battle was rekindled in his eyes. He was about to attack once again, as he wanted to battle despite the possibility of failure!

However, at that moment, Dugu Lin suddenly spoke.

"You are… too weak."

"You will definitely die under my next punch, and I am too lazy to kill you. So… hand your keys over." Dugu Lin retracted his gaze from the night sky map and lowered his head to look as Xu Ming, speaking calmly. There was no change to his facial expression, it was still cold and distant.

However, as that gaze and those words landed in Xu Ming's eyes and ears, he suddenly trembled. His intuition told him that what Dugu Lin said was true!

If he continued to attack, then the moment he flew into the air beside Du Guilin would be the moment he would truly be defeated…

Should he battle or not?

Amidst the silence, Xu Ming felt increasingly bitter and hopeless. The desire to battle in his eyes slowly dissipated. He realized that if he dashed out and survived, he would definitely be transformed, but ultimately, he didn't want to die.

As he laughed bitterly, Xu Ming tossed out over twenty keys. As that happened, he seemed to have lost all energy and couldn't support his body any longer, and he landed on the ground. He was looking towards the sky, not at Dugu Lin but at the other battleground in the night sky map.

"Is that Wang Baole…?" Xu Ming murmured. Dugu Lin retracted his gaze. This time, he wasn't looking at the night sky map but in the south-eastern direction where Wang Baole and Zhou Chudao were battling.

In the south-eastern direction, as Xu Ming was defeated and lost all his desire to fight, the battle between Wang Baole and Zhou Chudao had also reached its final moments. Zhou Chudao was shocked, but he had been able to swiftly control the awl shield. He also saw that blood-colored meridians had appeared on Wang Baole's raised right hand.

As the meridians spread, and as more blood-colored meridians appeared on other parts of Wang Baole's body, a large human-shaped outline appeared around Wang Baole's body in the blink of an eye!

The aura was extremely strong and sinister, and it was also presented in an overbearing manner. As Wang Baole's aura was unleashed and complemented with the resonance from his body, he seemed to have become a divine being!

"This is the end!" As he spoke calmly, Wang Baole's emotions were clearly affected. His cold and distant voice carried a hint of ruthlessness. He moved his body, and between steps, he unleashed a punch!

That punch had exceeded the limits of the Core Formation realm. It was directed towards the air. Immediately, cracks appeared, and a force that could create chaos in the sky, as well as winds, erupted from it!

Looking from a distance, Wang Baole's body seemed like a blood-colored hurricane. As lightning and thunder interlaced, it seemed as if demons were dancing, sweeping across the skies towards Zhou Chudao!

That was the real fifth punch!

Two hundred percent boost from the resonance!

The first stage of the Flame Snatch Thearch Armor was unleashed at three times the force!

As the loud boom reverberated, the blood-colored hurricane landed directly on the awl shield, which as controlled by the screaming Zhou Chudao. When contact was made, the awl shield shook violently and began to crack apart loudly. In the blink of an eye, under the force of the blood-colored hurricane, the awl shield was completely devastated!

Without stopping, the blood-colored hurricane continued to send shock waves in all directions, and it arrived in front of Zhou Chudao almost immediately. At this critical juncture, blood spewed from Zhou Chudao's mouth as he took out several protective Dharmic treasures, putting in his utmost effort to resist the force.

However, those Dharmic treasures were extremely weak in the face of the blood-colored hurricane. They were blown apart and turned to ash as the blood-colored hurricane swept through the clouds. Seeing that the hurricane was nearing him, Zhou Chudao was turned into a maniac as he flailed his arms in a final attempt at resistance. He controlled all of his illusory figures to pass through his body in an attempt to block the force!

However, it was all futile!

As the loud boom was heard, his illusory figures made contact with the blood-colored hurricane and were instantly devastated. It was then that the blood-colored hurricane stopped advancing, arriving an inch from Zhou Chudao, who had lost all hope.

The hurricane dissipated and was transformed into Wang Baole's Thearch Armor fist!

As Zhou Chudao's hair was blown, he looked at the powerful fist in front of him, which carried a sense of madness. He felt bitterness in his heart as Wang Baole's cold and distant voice arrived by his ears.

"You have lost."

Zhou Chudao shut his eyes, and as the bitterness in his heart grew, he suddenly sighed. When he opened his eyes, he looked extremely indignant. He put on the aura of an old peasant before tossing his keys to the side. He stood up and began staggering into the distance while sighing.

"I shouldn't have let the elderly ladies leave… Why did I find trouble…"

Without looking at the keys that Zhou Chudao had tossed out, Wang Baole stood there. He seemed to have felt something as he raised his head to look towards the north-west direction. That was… where Dugu Lin was on the night sky map!

As Wang Baole looked in that direction, Dugu Lin was also looking in his direction. As the distance between them was great, they couldn't physically see each other. However, that didn't affect their desire to battle each other and didn't influence their decision to look in each other's direction!

All this was seen by the disciples in the public square. In their eyes, the scene of Wang Baole and Dugu Lin looking in each other's direction on different screens cast such a strong impression that it seemed to have been transformed into a deep memory that couldn't dissipate.

The entire public square was silent until someone let out a soft murmur.

"Elites indeed!"

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