Chapter 1284
Chapter 1284:
It did not matter whether Xiao Chen could clear his Great Tribulation of wind and fire or not. After that, he would no longer have any chance to return. He could only go down before that happened.
"How long will you be gone for?"
"One year, maybe two." From the initial five-year deadline, Xiao Chen only had two and a half years remaining. That meant that he could stay in the Sky Dome Realm for only two years at most.
Mo Chen said seriously, "I wish to accompany you. I know that Big Brother Xiao must be thinking of taking your Great Tribulation in the Sky Dome Realm. I promised to be one of your protectors when you undergo your tribulation."
Xiao Chen smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern. I was wondering what you were going to say. I will not undergo my tribulation in the Sky Dome Realm. Undergoing the Great Tribulation of wind and fire there would be seeking death. Neither the Thunder Sovereign nor the Deep Abyss Demonic World's Demon Monarchs would agree."
Mo Chen blinked and asked, "Really?"
Xiao Chen nodded and replied, "Really. I will not lie to you. When I undergo my Great Tribulation of wind and fire, I will definitely do it at the Dragon's Gate. It would be more practical."
Mo Chen smiled abashedly and said, "Right, that would be for the best. Let's go. I'll send Big Brother Xiao off now."
The two flew quickly. Soon, they landed in front of the transportation formation of Heavenly Star Island. The Superior Grade Astral Cores needed for the transportation formation had already been prepared.
Yue Chenxi, Gong Yangyu, and Xuanyuan Zhantian had long since arrived at the transportation formation to go with Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen raised a leg and moved to the side of these three. Then, he casually asked, "Are you sure you want to return with me? The conditions for cultivating in the Sky Dome Realm are not as good as the ones here."
Yue Chenxi nodded and said with a smile, "I'm sure. I really wish to see how my master is doing now. I missed the opportunity the last time. Now, I'm already a quasi-Emperor. I should make a trip back."
Gong Yangyu said, "This is a rare chance. If I want to return by myself, I don't know when I would be able to gather so many Superior Grade Astral Cores."
Xuanyuan Zhantian smiled. "I wish to see my father. I have not seen him for many years. I wonder how wide his smile will be when he sees my current strength."
When Xiao Chen heard what Xuanyuan Zhantian said, it somewhat stunned him. One of his purposes of returning to the Sky Dome Realm was to formally meet his father, who had chased him out back then.
Mo Chen said softly, "Take care!"
The Superior Grade Astral Cores started burning up on the ancient transportation formation, its light spreading like fire along the formation lines. When the formation completely activated, it gave off a bright flash.
When the light faded away, there were no people on the transportation formation. Along with that, Mo Chen's heart felt strangely empty as well.
---
As lights flashed, Xiao Chen's group appeared at the transportation formation of the Great Qin Nation's Royal Court in the Sky Dome Realm. Princess Ying Yue and a group of Royal Court old men had been waiting outside the transportation formation for a long time already.
"Are we now in the Sky Dome Realm? I have not been back for so long. I'm really not used to the Spiritual Energy here," Gong Yangyu said with a smile as he stretched out his hand.
The Sky Dome Realm was only a small world that the Sky Dome Immortal Lord materialized for a residence during the Immortal Epoch. Naturally, it could not compete with a great realm like the Kunlun Realm.
It was not just Gong Yangyu; Yue Chenxi and Xuanyuan Zhantian also felt somewhat unaccustomed to the situation as well. On the other hand, Xiao Chen appeared rather relaxed. Right now, his primary cultivation resource was Essence Stones.
As of now, Xiao Chen had more than twenty thousand Essence Stones on hand, which were sufficient for him to cultivate with for a long time. As for the cultivation of Primordial Energy, there was no difference, be it in the Kunlun Realm or the Sky Dome Realm.
Furthermore, Xiao Chen had come back before and stayed for two years, so he did not need any time to adjust himself.
"Hehe! Brother Xiao Chen, I'll be returning to the Eastern Sea. I'll take my leave first."
[TL Note: This Eastern Sea should be a different one from the Kunlun Realm. In fact, Xuanyuan Zhantian comes from the Eastern Sea Divine Dragon Palace of the Sky Dome Realm. It is not known if there are any connections to the one in the Kunlun Realm, but based on how Xuanyuan Zhantian is supporting Xiao Chen, I would believe that either the use of the same names is a coincidence or the Eastern Sea Divine Dragon Palace in the Sky Dome Realm is a branch that separated from the main sect but retained the same name.]
Yue Chenxi and Gong Yangyu took their leave as well, heading for the Great Jin Nation.
After the three left, Ying Yue came forward and said, "How long will you be here this time? You are going to return to Mohe City, right?"
Xiao Chen nodded. This time, Xiao Chen intended to go to Mohe City first before going to the Heavenly Saber Pavilion.
"Hehe! Quickly go, then. You've been gone from home for over ten years, so your father must be feeling regrets already," Ying Yue said warmly with a faint smile.
Ying Yue's disposition had not changed at all. Wearing a full body of golden Battle Armor, she exuded an aura filled with nobility.
Xiao Chen looked at the transportation formation behind him and asked, "Given the abilities of the Royal Court, they should be able to send you to the Kunlun Realm. Why did you not go?"
Although traveling between the Sky Dome Realm and the Kunlun Realm required a vast number of Superior Grade Astral Cores, something that an ordinary Rank 9 sect could not casually afford, given the capabilities of the Ying Clan, it absolutely could afford this price. Ying Yue also had sufficient talent to be cultivating in the Kunlun Realm.
Ying Yue smiled. Taking out a longevity lock hanging at her chest, she explained, "It is because of this. I am born under an unlucky star, and my physique is weak. I would not survive for more than ten years in the Kunlun Realm. I can only rely on this longevity lock to extend my life in this small world."
Xiao Chen realized that when he first met Ying Yue, he had noticed this longevity lock. Back then, he felt it was strange that someone her age still wore a longevity lock. It turned out that there was such a reason.
[TL Note: The longevity lock is mentioned in chapter 70. In Chinese culture, it is a lock-shaped ornament that a baby is made to wear around the neck as a charm for health.]
However, when Xiao Chen further questioned Ying Yue about her physique problem, she was not willing to speak about it, only urging him to hurry back to Mohe City.
Xiao Chen did not pursue the matter. He looked in the direction of Mohe City, then extended his Spiritual Sense.
The atmosphere of the Kunlun Realm was too strong, even blocking Xiao Chen's Spiritual Sense somewhat and preventing him from sending it too far. However, in this small realm, there was no obstruction at all. With his Spiritual Sense, he could see a significant portion of the entire Sky Dome Realm.
After all, Xiao Chen possessed the combat prowess of a peak Second Heaven Martial Emperor—this was not an overstatement at all—and his strength allowed him to do this.
His Spiritual Sense quickly caught sight of Mohe City. Then, he tore space open and quickly traveled within the void. Within tens of breaths, he traversed nearly five thousand kilometers, appearing at Mohe City.
After Xiao Chen landed, he thought back to the conversation with Ying Yue. He felt some regrets at not asking about how Liu Ruyue had been doing.
Ying Yue was rather strange as well. She already knew he was coming back, yet she had not taken the initiative to tell him about Liu Ruyue.
Never mind, let's not think about this for now.
The last time Xiao Chen returned, he went to the Heavenly Saber Pavilion first. This time, no matter what, he needed to visit Mohe City first. Furthermore, it would be different from previously, when he watched from afar. He needed to personally make a trip to the Xiao Clan and step through its doors.
Xiao Chen did not need to check on the surrounding geography of Mohe City with his Spiritual Sense for it to appear in his mind. As he walked on the large road, he looked like an ordinary person mixed in the crowd as he headed for the Xiao Clan's residence at the foot of Seven Horn Mountain.
As Xiao Chen traveled, he discovered that many people were heading the same way. The discussions of the crowd suggest that this path led to a city and not the Xiao Clan's residence.
Strange. What's going on? Could it be that I remembered wrong?
Xiao Chen squinted. At the end of his vision, fifty kilometers away, there was indeed a large city. In contrast to this city, Mohe City was like a rundown village; there was simply no comparison.
However, the direction was certainly correct because he could vaguely make out the silhouette of Seven Horn Mountain behind this city.
Strange, why do I not remember there being such a large city comparable to the Imperial Capital so near Mohe City?
Could it really be that ten years have brought many great changes?
Xiao Chen increased his speed. In the eyes of a regular human, he did not seem to be moving very fast, walking step by step. However, with every step he took, he traveled one kilometer, silently leaving most of the crowd far behind.
"Xiao Clan City!"
Seeing the three large words above the city gates, Xiao Chen understood. It turned out that the Xiao Clan had established their own city. It looked like Luck descended on the Xiao Clan, and they had been developing very well in the past few years.
He recalled that when he previously returned and met Xiao Jian, he had passed many Secret Treasures, Spirit Stones, and secret manuals to him. These things that were not considered to be at the peak in the Kunlun Realm were extremely precious treasures in the Sky Dome Realm. They should have been very helpful to Xiao Jian.
Xiao Chen felt deeply moved as he stood under the city gates. He thought back to when he was at the Xiao Clan.
---
"Clan Head, please retract that order! Don't chase Second Young Master away."
"Plop!" That was the non-clansman disciple Ye Lan suddenly kneeling on the ground and pleading on Xiao Chen's behalf.
The eccentric Xiao Ling`er also dropped to her knees, anxiously looking at Xiao Xiong, the Xiao Clan's Clan Head. "Eldest Uncle, don't chase Elder Brother Xiao Chen away. He is now the hero of our Xiao Clan!"
"Clan Head, please retract that order! Don't chase Second Young Master away."
Those people who were with Xiao Chen in the Trial of Gloomy Forest, as well as the people whom he had just saved, all knelt down, pleading for mercy on his behalf.
Xiao Xiong had a pained look in his eyes. However, he did not change his mind and chased Xiao Chen away.
---
Xiao Chen recalled these memories like they were a dream. It seemed as if it happened just yesterday. Then, he took a deep breath and scattered these thoughts, returning to reality.
"Previously, I just looked from a distance. Today, I am finally going to enter openly."
Xiao Chen swept his Spiritual Sense through the entire Xiao Clan City. When he opened his eyes again, he pushed off the ground and soared into the air, vanishing from the city gates.
This development threw the guards on the wall above the city gates into a panic.
"Lock the city gate!"
"Quickly, go report to the Clan Head. A mysterious expert arrived at Xiao Clan City."
There were even many Martial Saints who soared into the air from the city gates, trying to figure out which direction Xiao Chen went. However, given Xiao Chen's strength, how could they find him?
---
At Xiao Clan City, the Xiao Clan's original residence had already been rebuilt into the City Lord's Residence.
Many guards stood in front of the gates of the City Lord's Residence. When Xiao Chen suddenly landed, he did not kick up any dust at all.
"Who is it?!"
The guards at the gates immediately shouted coldly when they discovered Xiao Chen. All of them drew their weapons and formed up in ranks, surrounding Xiao Chen.
The leader of this group was a Martial Saint with the demeanor of a grave and stern youth. Xiao Chen found this person familiar, but he could not think of where he had seen him before.
Suddenly, that youth appeared somewhat excited. He asked in a probing manner, "Are you Second Young Master?!"
Second Young Master?!
This question stunned the surrounding guards when they heard it, their killing intents promptly vanishing. Could this person before them be the Second Young Master who had become a legend in the Sky Dome Realm long ago?
Xiao Chen smiled as a certain memory flashed in his mind. "I remember you. Back then, when I led the team into Gloomy Forest to hunt for Demonic Cores, you were part of the team. However, it has been a long time, and I somehow cannot remember your name."
"Hahahaha! It really is Second Young Master! I'm Xiao He. To think that Second Young Master still remembers me, it is truly unexpected, truly unexpected!" The stern and grave youth showed great joy as he laughed boisterously.
Xiao He turned his head and said, "Quickly greet Second Young Master!"