Chapter 1477 (Raw 1457): Preparations Ready
"Dao," Xiao Chen muttered in the courtyard, and the Great Dao disk of light behind him suddenly shrank, condensing into one spot, and soared into the air.
That point of light continued to a height of ten meters before stopping.
"Pu ci!"
An even stronger aura of the Saber Dao than earlier covered the entire city. All the bladesmen felt their Qi and blood surge. Unable to resist, they vomited a mouthful of blood.
The other cultivators also felt a strange pressure, so they circulated their energy and did their best to resist.
When the Great Dao appeared, an unintentional but intense pressure firmly suppressed the entire Starry Universe City. Even Martial Emperors could not avoid it.
Now, Xiao Chen finally gained some understanding of what kind of existence the Great Dao Energy that Qing Yun, the Item Spirit, described was.
One had to obtain the Dao first before one could comprehend it. Xiao Chen's cultivation of Great Dao Energy was just beginning.
With a thought, the Great Dao Energy turned into a beam of light and entered Xiao Chen's body. The pressure on Starry Universe City instantly lessened significantly.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Xiao Chen was about to enter the Saber Sovereign Medallion and seek out advice from Qing Yun on how to cultivate this Great Dao Energy when three figures landed on the courtyard's walls. After a quick look around, the gazes of these three locked on Xiao Chen, their eyes narrow with suspicion.
Of the three old men, the one in the middle had the highest cultivation, an Eighth Heaven Martial Emperor.
The people at the left and right possessed lower cultivations but were still Sixth Heaven Martial Emperors. However, the auras of these two were rather ferocious. This was especially so for the one on the left. This person was as tall as a horse and had a fierce expression.
"This old man is Xiao Hang. I am Starry Universe City's City Lord. Might I ask if the earlier commotion was due to you?"
[TL Note: The Xiao in Xiao Hang is the same as the one in Xiao Chen. I doubt that the two are related, though.]
Xiao Hang was somewhat doubtful. The commotion earlier had been extremely startling. However, this person before him appeared to be just a Sixth Heaven Martial Emperor, but at the same time, he did not feel like one.
"Big Brother, there is no need to care so much about him. This fellow is suspicious. We should just kill him first."
A look of greed flashed in the eyes of the tall, old man on the left. When he saw that Xiao Chen's cultivation was not high, wicked thoughts appeared in his head. He wanted to kill Xiao Chen and take away all the treasures Xiao Chen had.
Right after this tall, old man spoke, he jumped off the wall and threw a palm strike. Fire appeared in his palm, and a strong wind howled behind him.
This old man cultivated two wills together: the wills of fire and wind. With fire and wind merging, he displayed an extremely berserk might.
The pressure of this wind and fire burned the trees, the main building, and even the other buildings to ashes.
As Xiao Hang looked at the silent Xiao Chen in the courtyard, he felt that something was wrong. He called out loudly, "Third Brother, stop!"
It was too late!
With a thought, the Saber Dao Energy spread through Xiao Chen's entire body as he welcomed the tall, old man with a palm strike.
The might of the Saber Dao Energy immediately extinguished the strong might of wind and fire. The old man felt an unbearable suppression throughout his body.
Before the tall, old man could react, the two palm strikes already collided. Xiao Chen's Saber Dao Energy and Primordial Energy surged out of his body.
The combination was overly strong; Xiao Chen could not control it properly. All his Saber Dao Energy surged out with this palm strike.
Countless holes appeared in the body of the tall, old man, each hole radiating a sharp saber light as bright as the sun.
In the next moment, the old man's body completely ripped apart. Even his Heart of an Emperor shattered in an explosion.
"You!"
The old City Lord and the other person were frightened silly. Their third brother was killed with one palm strike.
What kind of strength was this? Even a Ninth Heaven Martial Emperor was not that strong.
Xiao Chen entered deep thought. His control over the Great Dao Energy was still too weak. For such a Sixth Heaven Martial Emperor, he needed only a tenth of the Great Dao Energy to dispose of him.
However, when Xiao Chen threw his palm strike, all the Great Dao Energy surged out.
He needed to seek advice from Qing Yun right away on how to control and cultivate the Great Dao Energy.
Xiao Chen glanced at the old City Lord and the other person. Then, without saying a word, he left. The two old men felt relieved of a heavy burden, a chill running down their spines as they broke out in a cold sweat.
"What horrifying strength! Big Brother, he clearly does not have a high cultivation. How did he kill Third Brother in one strike?"
Xiao Hang's heart still pounded with lingering fear. He answered, "There is only one explanation. His comprehension of the Saber Dao already reached a certain legendary level."
"Legendary?"
When the Second City Lord heard that, he felt confused. Could it be that he had witnessed a legend?
After leaving Starry Universe City, Xiao Chen arrived at the shore of the island. Then, after he materialized the Cycle War Chariot, he entered the Saber Sovereign Medallion.
"Congratulations to Master for successfully grasping a complete Dao," Qing Yun said after she saw Xiao Chen enter. She knew about everything that happened on the outside.
At the same time, Qing Yun felt incredibly shocked. Back then, Pan Huang comprehended a Great Dao only when he was one hundred years old. The Xiao Chen before her was merely thirty-five years old. However, he already obtained the complete Saber Dao.
Could it be that this youth before her would have greater accomplishments than Pan Huang in the future?
Although Xiao Chen's obtaining a complete Great Dao was due to the Universe Origin Fruit, fortuitous encounters were part of one's strength, in the first place. Back then, Pan Huang's fortuitous encounters were no fewer than Xiao Chen's.
Xiao Chen did not know what Qing Yun was thinking. After he saw her, he directly said, "Please tell me how to use and cultivate Great Dao Energy."
Qing Yun recovered her wits. Seeing there was something off with Xiao Chen's emotions, she advised, "The cultivation of Great Dao Energy is something that requires patience. You should not be in such a rush. You have to be careful lest the Dao crumble, which would require you to recultivate it. First, let me teach you how to use the Great Dao Energy."
When Xiao Chen heard this, he was startled. He was indeed somewhat too impatient and was liable to make mistakes. Qing Yun's reminder was very timely. "Right, please speak."
"The cultivation of a Dao is separated into five levels. From lowest to highest: First Peek at Initiation, Approaching Small Perfection, Heart of the Great Dao, Domain of the Dao, and Endless Dao."
Qing Yun continued, "To you, First Peek at Initiation and Approaching Small Perfection would be just like a skill. You will feel the support of the Great Dao, and the might of your Martial Techniques will increase severalfold. However, without comprehending the Heart of the Great Dao, you will feel that the Dao is like a slippery mudfish, clearly in your hands but you are unable to grasp it firmly."
Xiao Chen entered deep thought. He asked, "In that case, how does one cultivate the Dao?"
"There is no way to cultivate the Dao. Do not mistake understanding as cultivating. It is a kind of comprehension. One needs to comprehend the Dao, to raise your comprehension of it with experience and your comprehension ability. The level of the Dao will increase when the time is right."
Qingyun smiled and suggested, "Go to the Comprehension Platform. Pan Huang left his experience and knowledge there. Take a careful look at how he utilized the Great Dao Energy in combat, and you will understand something."
"Many thanks."
Xiao Chen felt like his understanding of the Dao had become much clearer. After saying his thanks, he headed to the Comprehension Platform.
"Whether I gain anything or not, please wake me up in seven days." Before starting his meditation, Xiao Chen left this instruction to Qing Yun.
Qing Yun nodded. "Sure, I will forcibly wake you up in seven days."
With a flash, Xiao Chen climbed onto the Comprehension Platform and sat down cross-legged.
Instantly, an illusion appeared. The bodhi tree, the holy tree of the Buddhist sect, appeared above Xiao Chen. The surroundings became filled with white bodhi flowers. The moment he closed his eyes, he forgot about all the troubles of the world, entering a state where he even forgot about himself.
Without him needing to drive it on purpose, the Great Dao Energy quietly spread out behind him. As the bodhi flowers drifted down in the air, that disk of light flickered with a weak spiritual light like it was breathing.
"Little fellow, watch carefully. These are the battles I fought with experts when I was still at First Peek at Initiation. Pay close attention. How much you understand is up to your own capabilities."
Various scenes immediately appeared in Xiao Chen's mind. The owner of these scenes was the first-generation Saber Sovereign. Pan Huang was currently fighting with someone during the peak age of the Martial Epoch. As he held his saber in one hand, he fought various talents of various fields.
Xiao Chen focused and watched, not daring to relax even for a single moment. Every time he finished watching a battle, he felt like he gained a lot. His mind was completely immersed.
Soon, seven days passed. Xiao Chen suddenly startled to his senses in the Cycle War Chariot. Qing Yun had forced him awake by kicking him out of the Saber Sovereign Medallion.
"That was fast!"
Xiao Chen felt that the seven days went by too fast. There were still many things that he had yet to experience carefully.
However, now, he had to come out. Today was the appointed day for his meeting with Jiang Tian.
"Whoosh!"
The war chariot turned into a throne. Then, when he looked up, he saw a figure flying over quickly from the distance.
After a while, Jiang Tian appeared before the Cycle Throne. When he looked at Xiao Chen, his smile froze. He actually felt some pressure coming from Xiao Chen.
He calmed himself and asked, "Xiao Chen, why did you call me here?"
"You should have already made some headway in your investigation of the Treasure Master. I have only one request. Please help me delay the Treasure Master five days from now. Do not let him go to the rescue of the Western Sea Divine Dragon Palace," Xiao Chen said seriously.
Others might not know that the Treasure Master was supporting the Blood Clad Sect from behind the scenes. However, Xiao Chen knew this very clearly.
If the Treasure Master made a move, unless Xiao Chen had the strength of a Prime, even if he made use of all of his means, he would not succeed in rescuing anyone. In fact, he would even end up getting himself into trouble.
Jiang Tian smiled bitterly and said, "Your request…"
"Can you do it?" Xiao Chen believed that Jiang Tian had the ability and means to pull it off. The catch was just whether he was willing or not.
"Very well, I'll promise you that. However, you also have to promise this old man that after this, you owe me a favor," Jiang Tian replied with a serious expression, a light flashing in his eyes.
"Deal!"