Chapter 827: Martial Sage Duel
Chapter 827: Martial Sage Duel
What powerful energy! The speed of conversion is also faster than I expected.
Xiao Chen rejoiced in his heart. When he waved his hand, a bright, flickering purple saber light flew out into the air.
“Dang!”
The umbrella moved gently. Ying Qiong accurately struck the weak point of this saber light. The gentle water-attributed energy in her body flowed slowly and silently. However, it was constant and endless.
Xiao Chen raised his eyebrows and praised the move in his heart. Then, his figure quickly executed the foundational moves of the Lightning Tribulation Saber Technique.
A purple light flashed on Xiao Chen’s forehead. The light of his will together with the berserk lightning-attributed energy formed a strong might that pressed down on Ying Qiong.
When he swung his saber down, lightning tore out of the clouds in the sky. This attack seemed like lightning ripping through the air with great momentum.
Ying Qiong did not panic. She opened up the umbrella in her hand and moved all the water-attributed energy at her disposal, not leaving a single drop behind.
When the umbrella opened, a one-kilometer-long dome of water appeared, forming an enormous barrier and firmly covering Ying Qiong within.
Seen from a distance, the dome of water in the air looked like a humongous umbrella opening together with the umbrella in Ying Qiong’s hand.
The berserk energy in Xiao Chen’s saber struck this dome-shaped water shield and immediately scattered into sparks crackling and flickering nonstop.
Ying Qiong smiled faintly at easily dealing with Xiao Chen’s attack. Her right hand made a twisting motion, closing up the wooden umbrella.
The water umbrella in the air closed up as well. However, it did not disappear. Ying Qiong thrust the wooden umbrella forward, and the closed water umbrella became like a long spear stabbing at Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen dodged in an instant. The water spear brushed by his shoulders and pierced deep into the ground.
The two quickly exchanged moves in midair, both familiarizing themselves with their strength after advancing to Martial Sage.
Compared to Xiao Chen, Ying Qiong appeared at ease. However, from the very start, she did not have many chances to counterattack, mostly just doing her best to defend.
After another hundred moves, Xiao Chen had executed the Lightning Tribulation Saber Technique several times. The might of the Earthly Lightning Tribulation, Heavenly Lightning Tribulation, and Divine Lightning Tribulation all at least doubled.
However, Ying Qiong’s umbrella clearly had a great origin to it. Its defense was simply heaven-defying. Even after receiving the three great Lightning Tribulations over and over, it was still unscathed.
Just when Xiao Chen prepared to execute Double Dragons Playing with Pearl, Ying Qiong put away her umbrella and landed on a stone pillar below. She said, “That’s enough. If we keep fighting, I’m going to end up humiliated.”
Xiao Chen sheathed his saber and put it away. He stared at that umbrella and asked, “What is this umbrella called? It is a good umbrella.”
“Having designs on my Continuous Heavenly Rain Umbrella? You don’t cultivate the Gentle Water Art. Even if I gave it to you, it would be useless.” Ying Qiong propped the wooden umbrella against her right shoulder as she smiled.
Continuous Heavenly Rain Umbrella… Xiao Chen did not know what grade of Secret Treasure it was. However, It was at least an early King Grade Secret Treasure. In the past, Ying Qiong did not seem like she could bring out most of this Secret Treasure’s power.
Even now, Ying Qiong does not seem capable of utilizing the full power of the Continuous Heavenly Rain Umbrella. Otherwise, she would have been able to block seventy percent of my strength.
Xiao Chen quickly analyzed in his heart. All the disciples of the large clans probably had King Grade Secret Treasures. He had to be careful in the future, when he faced the disciples of Sovereign Sects or Sovereign Noble Clans.
Without replying to Ying Qiong, Xiao Chen made a pulling motion with his hand. The seventy-two Universe Flags he had scattered everywhere, deeply buried in the ground, quickly returned to his hand.
Ying Qiong gently jumped down and landed before Xiao Chen. She said, “Hehe, let’s go.”
Her suggestion stunned Xiao Chen slightly. He smiled and said, “I’m returning to the Supreme Sky Sect. Are you coming with me? Could it be that you no longer have a place to stay in the Ying Clan?”
Ying Qiong found his question strange. So she said, “Return to the Supreme Sky Sect? Could it be that you were not rushing to advance to Martial Sage for the Sage Mark Monument that activates once every ten years? It will activate in another half month, but you are just going to return?”
Sage Mark Monument? Ao Jiao, what is that?
This was the first time Xiao Chen heard of the Sage Mark Monument. He could not help having doubts, so he asked Ao Jiao about it.
The Sage Mark Monument is going to activate? Xiao Chen, it looks like you will not be able to return for the time being. The Sage Mark Monument is in the unending Kunlun Mountain Range. It has existed since the Ancient Era and activates once every ten years. Anyone who can carve their name on it is qualified to enter it.
There are many treasures inside. Furthermore, even if one fails to obtain a treasure, there will be no danger. At worst, one will just be sent out. If one is lucky, one might get a few Sage Grade Secret Treasures.
Only Inferior Grade Martial Sages may carve their names on it. Of course, it is another matter whether one can successfully carve their name on it. In other words, since the beginning of this Sage Mark Monument’s existence, being able to carve one’s name on it has been a glory acknowledged by peak cultivators.
When Xiao Chen heard Ao Jiao’s explanation, he entered deep thought. Originally, he intended to think of a way to visit the Sky Dome Realm after returning to the Supreme Sky Sect.
Then, he would tie up all the loose ends and see the people he knew. After that, he would be able to fully focus himself on the martial path, charging towards the Martial Emperor realm.
Unexpectedly, he came upon the activation of the Sage Mark Monument, which made him hesitate.
Ao Jiao egged Xiao Chen on. Let’s go. Back then, Sang Mu also carved his name on it. Furthermore, it was ranked together with the Azure Emperor. Don’t you wish to see how high you can carve your name?
Those demonic geniuses of the various races were stuck at the half-Sage realm for many years already. After the opportunity provided by the Heavenly Dew Divine Spring, they are bound to have become Sages already. Now that the Sage Mark Monument is going to activate, it will definitely attract all of them.
Most importantly, there might be Spirit Veins in there. Look at the Lunar Cassia Tree inside the Immortal Spirit Ring. It will take another three hundred years to mature at this rate. If we have a few Rank 1 Spirit Veins, it could mature in three to five years.
The final sentence tempted Xiao Chen. When fighting for Spirit Veins outside, he would have to compete with grandmaster-level Martial Sages—a hopeless proposition.
If this Sage Mark Monument really had Spirit Veins inside, he was very confident of getting them, so long as he faced only Martial Sages of the same grade.
Seeing Xiao Chen mumbling to himself, Ying Qiong seemed to recall something. She said, “You’ve only been in the Kunlun Realm for about two years. It is not so strange that you have not heard of the Sage Mark Monument.”
Xiao Chen denied that, saying, “I’ve heard a little about the Sage Mark Monument. However, aren’t you afraid of your clan finding you if you make a big display of yourself?”
Ying Qiong smiled with some disappointment and frustration. “The internal conflicts of a large clan are not as straightforward as you imagine. The next time I meet Ying Fan, we might even appear to be closer than ever.”
Xiao Chen frowned slightly. He had hinted that he wanted to part here. Given this girl’s intelligence, she should understand that he did not want to get involved in some unnecessary trouble.
Conflicting emotions flashed in Ying Qiong’s eyes. However, she revealed a faint smile on her face.
“Come on. The Kunlun Mountain Range cuts across the Profound Domain. It is so long that we do not know exactly how long it is. Without me leading the way, no matter how much you ask around, you will not be able to arrive at the right place within half a month.”
Don’t bother asking me. It has been so many years. How could I remember the way? Furthermore, most regular Martial Monarchs would not know where the Sage Mark Monument is. You will have to travel with her.
Ao Jiao’s innocent words from within the Immortal Spirit Ring completely extinguished Xiao Chen’s final hope.
The Kunlun Mountain Range stretched from east to west, spanning the entire Profound Domain. Aside from the main peak that Xiao Chen went to previously, there were countless others.
Even if one spent ten years doing so, one would not be able to walk around all the peaks. The Sage Mark Monument would be like a drop of water in a lake.
Xiao Chen was rather fortunate; he still had Ying Qiong to follow. Otherwise, no matter how much he asked about it, he would end up going round in circles, wasting a lot of time.
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In the endless mountain peaks, a towering stone monument stood upright, piercing the clouds, in the middle of a seemingly ordinary plateau nestled among the mountain peaks.
Mountains of varying heights surrounded it. However, they were all at least five kilometers tall. Clouds wreathed them, and birds and beasts filled them.
Many cultivators of the various races stopped at the summits of these peaks. These were all Martial Sages; there were even some who were not Inferior Grade Martial Sages.
These non-Inferior-Grade Martial Sages’ auras were hidden and drawn out. They were probably idle older-generation Martial Sages or the elders of the various sects and clans. Their primary purpose was to see how much the younger generation had grown.
To these older generations, the degree of fame did not matter. It simply could not compare to the distinct practicality of this Sage Mark Monument.
Could one carve their name on it? How high could one carve their name? Could one surpass the experts famous in history, experts whose names had passed down for hundreds of years?
This mark served as actual proof of one’s talent. Otherwise, one would merely be a fake genius, and one’s fame, all just vanity.
This was because all the famous geniuses in history, since ancient times, had left their names behind on this monument; history had proven their glory.
The matters of these geniuses, akin to that of legends, emphasized the extraordinariness of this Sage Mark Monument all the more, making it even more famous.
Many cultivators gathered at the foot of this Sage Mark Monument. A rough count gave at least three thousand. Without exception, all of them were Inferior Grade Martial Sages. These were all cultivators waiting to carve their names on the Sage Mark Monument.
However, most of them were obviously middle-aged. There were even quite a lot of old men. Very few were youths.
However, the older-generation experts and the cultivators who came to watch all focused on the youths.
Their attention was for no other reason than these youths being the main characters in this Sage Mark Monument activation. The old and middle-aged men were all secondary.
Even if these side characters were not satisfied in their hearts, they could not change this fact.
Those who could become an Inferior Grade Martial Sage before the age of thirty were definitely demonic geniuses. Such a scene would only appear in an age of geniuses.
In a normal age, just one of these youths would no doubt become an absolute proud son of heaven leading the age.
These people looked young, but they could easily defeat those of higher cultivations, not to mention these ordinary late-stage Inferior Grade Martial Sages.
Even Medial Grade Martial Sages would not be able to do anything to these youths in single combat. If they were not careful, they might even fall and tarnish their reputations.
One hundred meters around the stone monument, a faint golden barrier stopped people from approaching.