Chapter 1031: Saved
The manager smiled mysteriously and shook his head. “Don’t thank me. The one that decided to save Young Master Wen was not me but the Young Master of our Nine Cauldron Merchant Association, who made the decision.”
Nine Cauldron Merchant Association?
Upon hearing these words, Mo Chen sent a voice projection to Xiao Chen, The Nine Cauldron Merchant Association is one of the two great merchant associations of our Cloud Sea Domain. They have forces throughout the entire Cloud Sea Domain and also have a quasi-Emperor in command of the merchant association.
I heard that the Nine Cauldron Merchant Association is a branch of the Heavenly Starry Ocean’s Nine Cauldron Pavilion, which is one of the largest merchant associations in the entire Heavenly Starry Ocean. Whether is this true or not, I do not know.
After receiving Mo Chen’s voice projection, Xiao Chen raised his guard. If the Nine Cauldron Merchant Association is really a branch of the Nine Cauldron Pavilion, these people already know that the Sea Monarch’s old guards are searching the world for news about the Azure Dragon King.
Could the Nine Cauldron Merchant Association’s suddenly taking risks to rescue me have something to do with this?
However, Xiao Chen’s expression did not show any changes on the surface. He performed a cupped-fist salute and said, “No matter what, the Nine Cauldron Merchant Association helped out this Wen with my pursuers. I definitely owe you my gratitude.”
“Haha! Young Master Wen really knows how to joke. Even if we did not help, fleeing should not be difficult for you. After all, the Shattered Cloud City’s City Lord is not present. This is just a small favor at little cost.”
Carefree laughter came from outside. An extraordinarily handsome youth who gave off the air of a mundane merchant strolled into the back hall.
The manager quickly performed introductions. “Young Master Wen, this is the Young Master of our Nine Cauldron Merchant Association, Mu Qinghan. Young Master, this is the Young Master Wen that I mentioned to you.”
Mu Qinghan took a step forward and smiled gently. “I have not heard of the name Wen Ziran in my Cloud Sea Domain before nor in the Southern Sea and Northern Sea. Where does Brother Wen come from? Would you be willing to tell me? I am very curious.”
Xiao Chen considered the question. Normally speaking, when strangers met and they did not speak of their clan or sect, they would understand not to ask. They would not ask about the other party’s origins out of curiosity.
This was one of the rules of society. Otherwise, it might make the other party unhappy.
Even if one asked, one would just do some light probing and not ask directly.
Based on this Mu Qinghan’s appearance, he was not someone inexperienced. He should be well aware of this rule.
Perhaps he had other intentions. He probably saw some benefit to saving Xiao Chen. Or maybe he could use Xiao Chen.
Otherwise, only a fool would offend a quasi-Emperor to save someone.
With this thought, Xiao Chen smiled faintly and said, “Brother Mu, have you ever heard of the Kunlun Continent’s Saber Sword Two Sovereigns?”
“Saber Sword Two Sovereigns?” An indiscernible look of shock flashed in Mu Qinghan’s eyes. He said softly, “The Saber Sovereign, Wu Xiaotian, wields the Coiling Monarch Time Saber, and the Sword Sovereign, Liu Xiaoyun, wields the Scarlet Firmament Space Sword. These two are experts second only to the five Primes of the Kunlun Continent.
“Naturally, I’ve heard of them. Could Brother Wen be related to these peak characters?”
Xiao Chen calmly replied, “Not just. I am the Saber Sovereign’s personal disciple. After I was injured, I drifted to this place.”
His words stunned everyone in the room.
Primes were the peak experts of the Kunlun Realm, standing at the very top and looking down at everyone. Even in the distant Heavenly Starry Ocean, the cultivators had all heard of the five Primes of the Kunlun Continent.
The Saber Sovereign, Wu Xiaotian, was a Sovereign Martial Emperor only one step away from Prime. Wen Ziran actually having a connection with such a character was extremely shocking.
Mo Chen’s eyes filled with disbelief. From the very start, she knew that Wen Ziran was just an alias; he was not likely to have such a high status.
The expression on Mu Qinghan’s face changed as this news shocked him, although there was also a shadow of doubt.
The manager smiled and said, “Since you are the Saber Sovereign’s personal disciple, your skill with the saber must be excellent. Coincidentally, my Young Master has passable skills in the saber. Would Young Master Wen give him some pointers?”
When Mu Qinghan heard this suggestion, he immediately smiled and said, “It’s set, then. However, Young Master Wen is currently injured. Let’s just exchange one move. I will not use my Heavenly Sage Laws.”
Xiao Chen happily agreed. His use of the Saber Sovereign’s name was, naturally, because he could easily deal with the other party’s probing.
Besides, the more anxious the other party was, the more confident Xiao Chen was of his guesses.
Behind the Medicinal Cauldron Pavilion was a large private yard that was quite suitable for exchanging pointers.
There was a simple drill ground in the yard with various weapons on the rack—sabers, spears, swords, and staffs, everything was there, gleaming with a cold light. With one glance, it was clear that they were extraordinary items.
“Young Master Wen, please!”
Xiao Chen looked around and casually pulled out a saber of average length. After brandishing it a couple of times, he shook his head slightly, not feeling anything for it.
After trying out a few more sabers, he did not feel anything for them, either, unable accustom himself to them.
As expected, he was already used to the Lunar Shadow Saber. It would be very difficult for him to find the same familiar feeling with another saber.
The Lunar Shadow Saber was already Xiao Chen’s trademark weapon.
Once people saw it, all they had to do was to ask around outside, and they would figure out his identity. Clearly, Xiao Chen could not use it.
Xiao Chen had intended not to use a saber. However, compared to the Lunar Shadow Saber, the Flawless saber Dao was even more closely associated with the Azure Dragon King.
That way, Xiao Chen’s identity would be exposed even faster. After poking around, he settled for casually grabbing one.
After that, Mu Qinghan also drew a saber. The two of them stood on the drill ground and faced each other.
The manager and Mo Chen, who were watching at the side, were extremely curious. They wanted to see how genuine this self-proclaimed disciple of the Saber Sovereign was.
This was especially so for Mo Chen. Ever since she met Xiao Chen, she had never seen him use a saber. Her eyes filled with suspicion.
After bowing to each other, Xiao Chen and Mu Qinghan got ready and began storing up power and might.
Mu Qinghan’s cultivation was not low; he was close to attaining grandmaster-level Martial Sage. His saber intent also approached Great Perfection.
When holding the saber, Xiao Chen did not feel any pressure at all. He showed a relaxed expression and quietly waited for Mu Qinghan to make his move.
After facing each other for a long time, Mu Qinghan felt that, although Xiao Chen did not take up a stance, the way he stood looked very natural and in line with the Dao.
A phrase appeared in Mu Qinghan’s mind, “the air of a grandmaster.” Only a person with that could exhibit his saber Dao with the raising of his hand, with every casual move.
It would have been fine if Mu Qinghan had not thought it, but now that he had, he was startled.
If that was true, then a grandmaster-level Martial Sage with five Dragon Force of strength, how strong was Wen Ziran?
“Ceng!”
Suddenly, a cold light flared. A saber light appeared in Mu Qinghan’s vision. It seemed both near and far; he could not get a fix on it.
Mu Qinghan quickly retreated. He squinted to see the saber light’s trajectory, so that he could block it with his saber.
However, the trajectory that Mu Qinghan saw instantly changed, materializing hundreds of different trajectories, all of them looking real.
“Qiang! Qiang!”
Xiao Chen did not give Mu Qinghan any time to think nor did he hold back. He stepped forward, and all the trajectories merged. Then, his saber appeared on Mu Qinghan’s neck.
“Young Master Mu, you were distracted.” Xiao Chen smiled faintly and calmly sheathed the saber.
Admiration flashed in the eyes of the watching Mo Chen and the manager in approbation of the exquisite Saber Technique.
The instant Xiao Chen drew the saber, it actually materialized hundreds of different trajectories. The real and the fake were indistinguishable. That one move proved Xiao Chen’s skill.
If the rest found out that all those hundreds of trajectories were real, they would be even more shocked.
Mu Qinghan smiled embarrassedly and said, “Young Master Wen is being humble. Even if I was not distracted, in terms of skill in the saber, I could not defeat you.
“The two of you should stay here first. I will arrange for a doctor to come. Don’t worry. This place is absolutely safe.”
After Mu Qinghan said that, he quickly left with the manager.
The moment Mu Qinghan turned around, the smile on his face vanished. His expression immediately became extremely grave. “Go and check right away whether the Saber Sovereign, Wu Xiaotian, has a disciple called Wen Ziran or not.”
“It should not be false. Having the Saber Sovereign supporting him would explain why he dared to make a move in the City Lord’s Residence. His skill with the saber is sufficient proof.”
The manager continued, “Furthermore, given how strong the Saber Sovereign is, who would be daring enough to impersonate his disciple?”
Mu Qinghan nodded and said, “That should be more or less correct. The Saber Sovereign, Wu Xiaotian, can sweep through the entire Cloud Sea Domain by raising his hand. In our Heavenly Starry Ocean, we have the Northern Sea Saber Sovereign, the Broken Wave Saber Sovereign, Ice Saber Sovereign, and many others. They are all Sovereign Martial Emperors but ultimately could not remove the prefix—because there can be only one Saber Sovereign.
“This matter is very important. It is better to be cautious. Only after finding out can I be at ease enough to work with him.”
The manager nodded and said, “I understand. Within three days, I will bring a definite answer to Young Master.”
As Mo Chen watched Mu Qinghan and the manager leave, she could not help but ask, “Wen Ziran, are you really the personal disciple of the Saber Sovereign, Wu Xiaotian?”
Xiao Chen smiled faintly. “Wen Ziran is; I am not.”
“Then who are you? You even dare to impersonate the Saber Sovereign’s disciple.”
“I am your bodyguard. Aside from that, for one year, I am no one.”
“Flippant!”
---
Two days later, the manager quickly arrived at Mu Qinghan’s room with a faint smile.
Mu Qinghan, whose eyes were closed in cultivation, opened his eyes. “How about it? Have you verified it?”
The manager smiled and said, “I verified it. The Saber Sovereign, Wu Xiaotian, does indeed have a disciple called Wen Ziran. Furthermore, his River Water Saber was broken in a battle with the Azure Dragon King. This matches that expression he had when he was choosing a saber the other day.
“Furthermore, his age and figure both fit the profile. The only thing is that we do not have a portrait. This Wen Ziran’s whereabouts are frequently unknown, and he is extremely mysterious. If we want his portrait, we can only obtain it after half a month.”
Mu Qinghan revealed an expression of joy. “Good, it’s totally confirmed, then.”
The manager laughed softly, “Haha! Young Master is really cautious. Actually, with the Saber Sovereign’s identity and strength, there is practically no one who would dare to impersonate his disciple.”
Mu Qinghan stood up and paced a few steps. “I’m not sure about that. However, it can’t be wrong to be more careful. His saber got broken by the Azure Dragon King? This Azure Dragon King is the Xiao Chen that the Sea Monarch’s old guards, the Cyclic Astral Palace, and a whole bunch of loose cultivators are searching the world for?”
“That is the one, the Azure Dragon King that the Thunder Sovereign favors. He carries a lot of treasures on him, and he is already a peak great grandmaster-level Martial Sage. In the Heavenly Starry Ocean, he managed to fight a quasi-Emperor to a draw. His strength is quite terrifying.
“However, for some reason, he disappeared on the way to Heavenly Star Island. He holds the Sea Monarch Crown, so the Sea Monarch’s old guards will not let him off for sure. There is also the Cyclic Astral Palace’s Fu Hongyao; he almost ruined her face. The people he offended are all people of great influence in the Heavenly Starry Ocean.”