Chapter 1023: The Liu Clan
“Miss Mo, please enter.”
Mo Chen moved gracefully. Her starlike eyes looked at Xiao Chen and saw a man dressed in ordinary clothes with unkempt long hair casually scattered about.
She could not see any precious Secret Treasures or items that could reveal Xiao Chen’s identity.
Xiao Chen’s cultivation was real; he was indeed only a Martial Monarch. However, it was such a person who had reduced Young Master Xing to helplessness.
She quickly compared Xiao Chen to all the outstanding talents she met in the large sea domain as well as several of the Southern Sea.
Many of these people had become Superior Grade Martial Sages at a young age. There were even some geniuses of the Cyclic Astral Palace who had advanced to grandmaster-level Martial Sage.
When Mo Chen compared Xiao Chen to those people, the difference in aura was clear, and she did not see any of the pride that a genius would have.
The only thing was that Xiao Chen’s eyes looked boundlessly unfathomable. She could not clearly see through him.
“Young Master does not seem surprised at Mo Chen showing up,” Mo Chen said softly.
Xiao Chen smiled and said, “I drew you over in the first place. Why would I be surprised? Have a seat!”
He moved his hand, and a chair flew over in the air and landed firmly beside Mo Chen.
The two sat down. Then, Mo Chen took out the pendant around her neck. It looked like a necklace of green leaves strung together with a red multiflora rose ornament dangling from it.
The color of this ornament was very vibrant, glowing brightly. However, the feeling it gave off was insuppressible grief.
In the language of flowers, a red multiflora rose meant passionate love.
However, the red multiflora rose in front of Xiao Chen was withered.
At its most beautiful moment, it withered. The passion was no more; the lover was death. Only grief lingered, pestering the mind.
When Xiao Chen looked at the red multiflora rose, it gave off a flowing light. A strong wind blew, and crystalline flower petals drifted out.
The strong wind was emotionless. The multiflora rose was like blood. It pierced the heart, filling it with grief.
That was right. This ornament was definitely refined from the Grief Throne. Horrifyingly, it actually managed to influence Xiao Chen’s own emotions.
If he were in battle and his emotions got affected, he could become careless, and something bad might happen.
Xiao Chen stabilized his emotions and raised his guard.
“You boarded this warship because of this Multiflora Rose Pendant?”
Given Mo Chen’s intelligence, if she still had not figured out by now why Xiao Chen had been staring at her chest, then she did not deserve her reputation.
Multiflora Rose Pendant?
Could it be that she does not know that the original form of this Multiflora Rose Pendant was the Grief Throne and that it was once refined by the Evil King, an ancient Prime?
“This is a pendant passed down by my Mo Clan’s ancestors. In terms of its usage and value, it is much more precious than some strong King Grade Secret Treasures.” Mo Chen continued, “Young Master, if you want this pendant, it is possible to have it. Just be my bodyguard for one year. After one year, I will pass it to you.”
Being Mo Chen’s bodyguard for one year would mean that Xiao Chen would have to guarantee her safety for one entire year.
Xiao Chen replied calmly, “If you want me to be your bodyguard for one year, that is possible. However, if you want to use just one pendant, that is not worth my remaining in the Mo Clan for one year.”
Mo Chen frowned and said, “What bold words! As a Sage of the physical body, you can bring out five Dragon Force. However, that is barely equal to a grandmaster-level Martial Sage. Although grandmaster-level Martial Sages are strong, they do not stand at the peak in the Shattered Cloud Sea. My Mo Clan is not afraid of grandmaster-level Martial Sages, either.
“If not for force of circumstance, I would not resort to this. No matter what, this Multiflora Rose Pendant is an heirloom of my Mo Clan.”
Mo Chen’s tone was very forceful. It even contained some anger. She felt that Xiao Chen overvalued himself.
She believed that she was already making a loss by purchasing Xiao Chen’s services for one year with the Multiflora Rose Pendant. Clearly, she was rather unsatisfied with his stance.
Xiao Chen acutely sensed the other party’s tone. So he just smiled and did not try to bargain further. “Alright, then. You are right. I am only equal to a Martial Sage. How about this: I will agree to your request first, but how about we make a bet?”
“What bet?”
“If one day, you feel that hiring me for one year with the Multiflora Rose Pendant resulted in a gain, then agree to another one of my requests. Of course, my request will not be overboard, and it will not overstep basic etiquette.”
Under the veil, Mo Chen’s lips curled up slightly. She smiled confidently and said, “You are really extraordinarily arrogant. Even those geniuses from the Cyclic Astral Palace do not dare to speak to me like this. Alright, I will bet with you, then!”
This girl was indeed someone who had seen the world. No wonder she disdained that so-and-so Young Master Xing.
Compared to the Cyclic Astral Palace’s disciples, the outstanding talents of the Cloud Sea Domain were indeed not worth mentioning at all.
However, Xiao Chen considered the Cyclic Astral Palace’s disciples nothing. He had even knocked the top disciple of the Moon Palace to the ground and sent her fleeing.
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“Hehe! Xiao Chen, you really lost out this time. Your strength will definitely recover in half a year. At that time, it would be like breaking through a cocoon. Your Heavenly Sage Laws will reform immediately. Together with the Sea Monarch Crown, even a regular quasi-Emperor would not be a match for you,” Ao Jiao said after Mo Chen left.
“I must obtain the Multiflora Rose Pendant. However, while it is in her hands, she can immediately destroy it with one thought. I might as well agree to her request first. After all, this is a bet that she is sure to lose. I won’t lose out when I get to borrow the Solar True Flame then,” Xiao Chen said indifferently as he smiled faintly.
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News of Xiao Chen becoming Mo Chen’s bodyguard spread like wildfire throughout the entire warship.
“That is impossible!”
This was the reaction of every Mo Clan cultivator the first time they heard this news.
Miss Mo Chen set her sights very high. As for a bodyguard, she refused many young outstanding talents of the Cloud Sea Domain. Even some of the Southern Sea’s outstanding talents had been rejected out of hand.
However, facts remained facts. Xiao Chen had indeed become Mo Chen’s bodyguard.
“Young Miss, this person is of unknown origins. Isn’t making him a bodyguard too chancy?” Uncle Wang asked Mo Chen anxiously in the control room.
“Is that so? Does Uncle Wang have a better candidate? Uncle Wang, you should be clear on the intentions of those people trying to get close to me in the Cloud Sea Domain.” Mo Chen countered with a question.
Steward Wang had no words to refute her. Those people were all after either Mo Chen’s beauty or the Mo Clan’s unique refining methods.
The origins of those people were clear. However, their motives were not pure, either.
“Aren’t there still those talented young masters of the Southern Sea? A few of the Cyclic Astral Palace’s disciples or the Southern Sea King’s sons are pretty good as well.
Mo Chen replied sullenly, “Those people are indeed pretty good. They have powerful backgrounds and do not care about the current Mo Clan. However, they are too strong. If they see some benefits and decide to take action, the consequences would be worse.
“This person is the most suitable. His motive is clear; I know what he wants. Furthermore, he is quite strong but not by too much. It’s just that he is somewhat arrogant and wants to make a bet with me…”
“Bet? What bet?” Uncle Wang asked out of curiosity.
Mo Chen changed the topic. “It’s nothing much. It is a bet that he is sure to lose. Uncle Wang, how many more days is it to Starry Cloud Island?”
“Seven days…it looks like the Liu Clan people will not be appearing. We will be able to accomplish the City Lord’s request smoothly this time.”
“We cannot carry on like this. We have to look for a more permanent solution.”
There was no joy on Mo Chen’s face.
Uncle Wang felt the same way. He sighed, “That is difficult. While the Liu Clan is not as adept as we are at refining, their Clan Head is a great grandmaster-level Martial Sage. Furthermore, the largest merchant association in the Cloud Sea Domain, the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, is backing them.”
“Rumble…!”
Suddenly, the entire warship started to shake intensely. Mo Chen’s expression changed, and she waved her hand.
The many formations in the control room flickered. Formation lines immediately spread on the walls and floor. The entire place turned resplendent.
Screens of water appeared on the walls around Mo Chen, displaying the warship’s situation.
Four black warships moved like spirits, descending from the sky and surrounding the Mo Clan’s vessel. Beams of light from Ancient Demonic Energy Cannons blasted the purple warship relentlessly.
“They really picked their timing well!”
In one more day, the purple warship would enter the territory of Starry Cloud Island. Just as everyone was about to relax, the Liu Clan’s people attacked.
“I’ll go and take a look!”
The moment Steward Wang spoke, he quickly left the control room and went to the deck.
The normally empty deck was currently crowded with Mo Clan cultivators. All of them had grave expressions and had already drawn their weapons, radiating killing Qi.
“Hehe! Old Wang, we meet again. Call your clan’s Young Miss out.”
Across the purple warship was a tall warship with a ram. Two cultivators in black stood on the ram, one old and one young. The youth on the right smiled maliciously.
The old man on the left projected his aura slightly. He was actually a grandmaster-level Martial Sage.
The other three warships, which also had rams, each had an old man come out, and strong winds blew. All of three were Superior Grade Martial Sages.
Adding the old man with the youth, the Liu Clan had sent a total of three Superior Grade Martial Sages and one grandmaster-level Martial Sage. Their strength definitely surpassed that of the Mo Clan’s cultivators.
Uncle Wang could not be bothered with this youth. Instead, he considered countermeasures. The people from the Liu Clan somewhat exceeded his expectations.
Aside from the great grandmaster-level Martial Sage Clan Head, these people represented nearly their entire peak forces.
Compared to the small squabbles in the past, this was completely different. Were they going to start a war between the two clans?
With both the Mo Clan and the Liu Clan focused on refining, the competition within the Shattered Cloud Sea was very intense. Normally, there were small conflicts but not to the point of shedding all cordiality.
The Mo Clan was not as strong as the Liu Clan. However, if they were to erupt in all-out hostilities, the Liu Clan would not be able to take the damage, either. They would only end up letting the other watching factions benefit.
Seeing Uncle Wang ignore him, that black-clad youth smiled and said, “Was I too soft? In that case, I will come nearer.”
This youth was Liu Feng, the First Young Master of the Liu Clan. His cultivation was pretty good, stronger than Young Master Xing’s.
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
Wind whistled as Liu Feng and the old man beside him soared into the air. Then, they landed on the purple warship at the same time. The other three Liu Clan elders quickly followed behind.
All the Mo Clan cultivators on the purple warship instantly took an involuntary step back when they felt the opponents’ strong auras as if they met with a great enemy.
The four elders of the Mo Clan stepped forward, standing with Uncle Wang and facing the Liu Clan experts.
While these four Mo Clan elders were Martial Sages, the strongest of them was only a Medial Grade Martial Sage. Their auras were no match for the Liu Clan’s.
Liu Feng said in a deep voice, “I can’t be bothered to speak nonsense with you. Hand over the Cyclic Meteor Iron.”