Chapter 550: Reaching Mohe City
Chapter 550: Reaching Mohe City
After Chu Xinyun received Shen Manjun’s token, she led Xiao Chen to the herb fields. This time, Jiang Chi did not follow.
As Jiang Chi watched Xiao Chen leave, he smiled and asked, “Martial Aunt, what do you think of this person? Do you think he is worth nurturing?”
Shen Manjun’s eyes were deep and clear. She said, “This person looks calm but he has a cold heart. He will not be easily influenced and always looks out for his best interest. He is very clear on what he wants and is decisive in killing. He is unfeeling!”
Jiang Chi’s smile froze. Could my judgment be wrong?
Changing the topic, Shen Manjun smiled and said, “However, the fortunate thing is that he never changed. From the first time I saw him, he has not changed. Even after seeing the complex world, gaining boundless glory, obtaining one hundred consecutive victories in the wrestling ring, climbing to the eighth floor of the Ancient Desolate Tower, and becoming the top youth in the four nations, despite all these, he has remained himself. He did not change.”
Somewhat at a loss, Jiang Chi said, “Martial Aunt, I do not understand.”
Shen Manjun smiled sweetly before turning around. Her melodious voice rang out, “There is no need for you to understand. You only need to know that he can give you what you want.”
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Xiao Chen and Chu Xinyun knew each other long ago. However, they felt uncomfortable when they met each other again.
Chu Xinyun had not expected Xiao Chen to return to the Heavenly Saber Pavilion after the battle at the Heaven Ascending Platform. When they first met, their strengths were about equal. Now, however, they had a large gap in strength.
Chu Xinyun was still a Martial Saint while Xiao Chen had long broken through to Martial King. Now, he was standing at the border to Martial Monarch.
“Junior Sister Chu, just help me casually get ten or so thousand-year-old herbs. I just want the ones that aid in raising cultivation.”
Under Chu Xinyun’s lead, the two quickly arrived at the herb field for thousand-year-old herbs. The results disappointed Xiao Chen.
Although it was the herb field for thousand-year-old herbs, most of the Spirit Herbs there were only eight or nine hundred years old. There were very few thousand-year-old Spirit Herbs and no two-thousand-year-old Spirit Herbs.
Perhaps Jiang Chi did not know, but after eating so many thousand-year-old Spirit Herbs, these Spirit Herbs were no longer of any use to Xiao Chen.
So Xiao Chen only casually asked for ten or so thousand-year-old Spirit Herbs. He would be able to use these as gifts. He intended to return to Mohe City in a month; he had to bring something back.
Casually pick ten or so thousand-year-old Spirit Herbs?
When Chu Xinyun heard these words, she could not help but roll her eyes. What do you mean casually pick them?
This fellow is treating thousand-year-old Spirit Herbs like cabbage. This was something that even the elders could not get.
Chu Xinyun’s reaction would be interesting if she knew that Xiao Chen just intended to use them as gifts and even found them wanting for this purpose.
He thought for a while before saying, “That’s right. Make sure they are over a thousand years in age. Don’t bother using the eight- or nine-hundred-year-old ones to make up the numbers; they would not have any effect.”
One thousand years was a hurdle, just like human cultivation. When Spirit Herbs cleared the hurdle of a thousand years, they would be on a different level from the eight- or nine-hundred-year-old ones.
Their effects would be severalfold stronger. So Xiao Chen made sure to remind Chu Xinyun.
How picky! Chu Xinyun could not help but complain in her heart. However, she still obediently went to search. After all, she had to obey Shen Manjun’s orders.
With Chu Xinyun working on getting the Spirit Herbs, Xiao Chen became rather free. After he had waited for an hour, Chu Xinyun carried fifteen thousand-year-old Spirit Herbs over.
Xiao Chen checked and did not find any problems. He smiled softly and said, “Many thanks, Junior Sister Chu. I shall take my leave first.”
Xiao Chen returned to meet Jiang Chi and Shen Manjun to thank them once again. After all, while these items might be useless to him, he had to observe basic etiquette.
Jiang Chi said, “Xiao Chen, do you have any request? You can just tell me; I will do all I can to help.”
As the saying went, don’t get a reward if it’s not deserved. Representing the Heavenly Saber Pavilion in the Five Nation Youth Competition was one thing, but whether Xiao Chen could obtain a good ranking still remained to be seen.
How could Xiao Chen dare to make any request? He could only reject the other party’s kind intentions.
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In a desolate forest on Qingyun Peak, dark clouds churned and thunder roared. Xiao Chen was practicing the Lightning Tribulation Saber Technique he had just obtained.
The Lightning Tribulation Saber Technique was different from the Four Season Saber Technique. This Saber Technique did not require much personal comprehension. All Xiao Chen needed to comprehend was just the meaning behind every saber and their state.
The Saber Technique had been created by the Heavenly Saber Pavilion’s founder in his early years rather than his later years. Thus, it would not be very difficult to comprehend it.
Back then, the Heavenly Saber Pavilion’s founder was undergoing experiential training when he was young. He had coincidentally discovered a Rank 9 Spirit Beast preparing to take human form.
When the Heavenly Saber Pavilion’s founder saw the nine waves of lightning tribulation, he created the Lightning Tribulation Saber Technique. He was able to create his own Saber Technique before he was thirty years old. Furthermore, it was a peak Earth Ranked Saber Technique.
The Heavenly Saber Pavilion’s founder had horrifying talent. No wonder he was able to establish the Heavenly Saber Pavilion and become a Martial Emperor.
From a certain angle, if Xiao Chen was able to completely comprehend his own Four Season Saber Technique, his talent would be no less than the Heavenly Saber Pavilion’s founder.
“In nature, lightning has always been seen as the will of the Heavenly Dao. If one went against the Heavenly Dao, it would send down lightning to destroy everything.”
Xiao Chen muttered, “The first three moves of the Lightning Tribulation Saber Technique store power, the next three form lightning, and the final three moves call down the tribulation. When trained to the highest level, one could seize the Heavenly Dao, sending down lightning in place of heaven. I hope this will not disappoint me.”
Xiao Chen had personally seen Xiao Bai’s tribulation in the past. The secret manual contained the detailed circulation method of the nine moves, the personal notes of the Heavenly Saber Pavilion’s founder. Furthermore, Xiao Chen had good comprehension abilities.
Given all the above factors, Xiao Chen progressed very fast in his practice of the Lightning Tribulation Saber Technique. Compared to the Four Season Saber Technique, it was five or six times faster. He managed to learn all nine moves within one month.
This was very normal. Xiao Chen had to comprehend the Four Season Saber Technique for himself, carefully testing as he advanced step by step.
As for the Lightning Tribulation Saber Technique, the Heavenly Saber Pavilion’s founder had already paved the way. All Xiao Chen needed to do was follow his instructions.
Between the two, it was clear which was easier. However, the Four Season Saber Technique was mightier than the Lightning Tribulation Saber Technique. Furthermore, it was more suitable for Xiao Chen. After all, he had comprehended it himself.
Xiao Chen sheathed his saber, and the thunderclouds above him scattered. He said softly to himself, “Two months have passed. It is time to go back to Mohe City to take a look.”
In another four months, the Five Nation Youth Competition would begin. After that, Xiao Chen might be able to go to the Kunlun Realm. Perhaps he might never get the chance to return to Mohe City.
Even though Xiao Xiong had chased Xiao Chen out of the Xiao Clan, disowning him, blood was thicker than water. Xiao Chen had to at least return and take a look.
Xiao Chen had to visit the brothers who fought with him for the sake of the Promise of Ten Years, the brothers who were willing to kneel and beg for mercy before Xiao Xiong for the sake of Xiao Chen.
He had to personally see for himself how those brothers were doing before he could be at peace.
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It was late at night. A full moon hung high in the sky, its silver light shining on the entire Qingyun Peak. Using the moonlight to illuminate his way, Xiao Chen headed for Liu Ruyue’s courtyard, preparing to say goodbye.
“Ha! Ha! Ha!”
In her courtyard, Liu Ruyue was wearing tight robes that perfectly outlined her exquisite figure. She was currently focused on practicing her saber one move at a time.
Saber lights flickered as Liu Ruyue moved. A strong wind blew, sweeping up all the fallen leaves.
Given Liu Ruyue’s cultivation, she had already reached peak Superior Grade Martial King. As long as she could advance her state of wind by one more step, she would be able to step into the half-step Martial Monarch realm.
When Liu Ruyue saw Xiao Chen standing outside, she spun the saber in her hand around and sent a sharp attack at Xiao Chen.
“Another exchange of moves?”
Xiao Chen smiled faintly; he was not shocked. This was how it had been for the past few days. The two of them exchanged moves, helping each other identify their inadequacies.
However, it was more of Xiao Chen giving pointers to Liu Ruyue. His combat experience and insights already surpassed hers.
“Dang! Dang! Dang!”
Under the moonlight, Xiao Chen and Liu Ruyue moved quickly. When their weapons clashed, sparks flew out.
“You are four hours earlier than usual today. Are you here to say goodbye to me?” Liu Ruyue swung her saber at lightning speed, brushing it past Xiao Chen’s shoulder.
“Chi!”
Xiao Chen parried Liu Ruyue’s attack with his saber. Then, he said softly, “Before the Five Nation Youth Competition, I have to go back to Mohe City.”
“How long will you be going for? When will you come back?”
“If it is fast, one month; at the latest, three months. In any case, I will rush back to the Heavenly Saber Pavilion before going to the Great Jin Nation.”
As the two exchanged moves, they chatted. They seemed very carefree under the gentle moonlight. There was a faint warmth in their hearts.
After one hour, the two finished their exchange of moves. Liu Ruyue sheathed her saber and smiled helplessly. “Unexpectedly, you managed to improve so much after just a month. I truly can’t compare to you.”
Xiao Chen held Liu Ruyue’s hand and smiled. “What’s wrong? Are you afraid that I will bully you in the future?”
Liu Ruyue blushed and whispered, “I don’t mind if you bully me. It’s just that if you climb too high, I’m afraid that the gap between you and me will only grow wider and wider.”
Xiao Chen pulled Liu Ruyue into his embrace. As he looked deeply into the bright moon in the sky, a melancholic smile appeared on his face. He muttered, “In this world, Qingyun Peak is my second home. No matter how far I go or how high I climb, I will definitely return here.”
Home… Liu Ruyue felt a warmth in her heart. She looked up at Xiao Chen and opened her lips slightly, a gentle expression radiating from her eyes.
Xiao Chen gave Liu Ruyue a faint smile and picked her up. Then, he headed for her room.
These two were both youths. In the past two months, they had spent their nights alone practicing. They were deeply in love. Naturally, the so-called matters between men and women had taken place.
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The Great Qin Nation had four provinces: Dongming Province, Xihe Province, Nanling Province, and the northern Royal Court. Each province had three prefectures, each prefecture had nine counties, and finally, each county had countless cities of varying sizes.
Mohe City was one of these cities. It was unremarkable in the vast Great Qin Nation.
There were many such cities in the Great Qin Nation; they were uncountable. They were as ordinary as they could be.
On this particular day, a white-robed youth with delicate looks appeared at Mohe City’s gates from the road. A saber hung at his waist and he had a calm expression on his face as he moved in an unhurried manner.
That white-robed youth quickly walked past the crowd. He did not wear any extravagant adornments or release his cultivator’s aura.
However, he gave off a unique, carefree feeling that made him stand out from the crowd. Several of the Martial Masters around him could not look up at him.
Naturally, this white-robed bladesman was Xiao Chen. The Heavenly Saber Pavilion was in Xihe Province; Mohe City was in Dongming. One was in the east and the other, in the west. Even though Xiao Chen traveled at full speed, the trip had taken half a month.