Chapter 1737 (Raw 1747): Cluster Lord Gou Yu
Upon seeing the wound on his chest, the white-haired old man revealed a stunned expression. He simply had not anticipated that Xiao Chen could actually injure him.
The other party was still only a peak Minor Primal Core Venerate.
The white-haired old man's extreme embarrassment turned into rage. This was especially so because of Xiao Chen's words. What did he mean by "the so-called Star Venerate is only so-so"?
The white-haired old man snorted coldly and said, "How arrogant! I think you really do not understand how horrifying a Star Venerate is when he is enraged!"
"Boom!"
Right after the white-haired old man spoke, his aura flourished, and stars sparkled in his eyes. Even more terrifying was the will of soul that spread out from him, surging towards Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen immediately felt his soul shake and could not help remembering his scary experience when he first faced the Black Lotus Church Protector.
However, Xiao Chen was no longer the Xiao Chen of the past. He would not make the same mistake twice.
Furthermore, he never thought of defeating this white-haired old man.
Although Xiao Chen did not fear early-stage Star Venerates now, he was still far from being their match.
Being able to kill Feng Chen and even injure the other party was already sufficient for him to be proud.
What was there to be dissatisfied with?
"It is indeed horrifying. Goodbye!"
Xiao Chen smiled faintly. His respectful tone oozed with extreme mockery to the white-haired old man's ears.
Xiao Chen turned, departing at lightning speed before that will of soul reached him, rushing into the distance.
The white-haired old man felt slightly stunned. Unexpectedly, the insufferably arrogant Xiao Chen left at the drop of a hat, having no intention of fighting him whatsoever.
How could the white-haired old man endure this? Xiao Chen injured him and even killed Feng Chen.
If Xiao Chen left just like that, the old man would be frustrated to death.
No matter what, the white-haired old man had to vent his frustration. Xiao Chen needed to die!
"You want to leave? You will have to ask me for permission first!"
The white-haired old man withdrew his will of soul. Then, his figure flashed as he gave chase.
"Breaking the World!"
Who knew, just as the white-haired old man withdrew the will of soul, Xiao Chen suddenly turned around. He unsheathed the Tyrant Saber again and executed Breaking the World, the strongest move of the Army Breaking Saber Technique.
Five stars lit up on Xiao Chen's 9-Star Primal Core. The Army Breaking Saber Technique brought out twenty percent of the Dao Tool's might when used at full power.
As Xiao Chen's saber descended, he was like a powerful hegemon. When he turned around to attack, the saber light illuminated the sky, shattering it.
This was a level that could threaten a Star Venerate. The white-haired old man, who had just withdrawn his will of soul, did not expect this at all.
Xiao Chen had actually chosen this moment to turn around and attack—and use such a strong killing move, at that.
This immediately flustered the white-haired old man. He could not bring out his will of soul within such a short time, so he had to defend with a punch.
"Pu ci!"
This punch sent Xiao Chen flying far away. However, due to the white-haired old man's passive reception of the attack, he himself went flying even farther.
Nevertheless, the white-haired old man's advantage in cultivation mitigated his injuries.
After launching the saber strike, Xiao Chen fled once again, using the rebound to open the distance.
The white-haired old man paused for a moment. As he watched Xiao Chen flee, he cautiously pursued, ready to raise his defenses at any time. Xiao Chen's sudden attack truly made him feel somewhat sullen.
One person chased and one person fled.
Xiao Chen did not get greedy. He executed the new Fish Dragon Art, covering his entire body with a layer of faint purple flame.
His sudden attack did not gain him any advantage in speed against the white-haired old man. He did not have the advantage in cultivation, either. However, the new Fish Dragon Art was excellent for long-distance usage.
He did not fear the white-haired old man exhausting him. Cloud Sea Star Venerates were very frightening, but this was all that they amounted to.
Right now, Xiao Chen was someone with the confidence not to fear early-stage Star Venerates.
"Whoosh!"
After one hour, a figure suddenly descended in front of the white-haired old man relentlessly chasing, blocking his way.
The white-haired old man's face sank. The newcomer was also a Star Venerate. Furthermore, that person's aura was scarier than his.
"Might I ask who you are, and why you are blocking my way?" the white-haired old man asked sullenly, not daring to be rude.
The newcomer snorted coldly and took out a medallion.
The medallion released a piercing, eye-catching light, dazzling the white-haired old man. He narrowed his eyes, and when he clearly saw the medallion, his expression changed radically.
"The Dragon Marquis Medallion!"
The white-haired old man immediately lowered his head and said, "This little one deserves death. How have I offended the Soaring Marquis's Residence?
"Cut the crap. There is no need to continue hounding that person. The grudge between your Heavenly Profound Gate and that person ends here. Don't let me discover you trying to bully the weak with your strength. Now, scram!"
When the white-haired old man heard that, he immediately felt sullen. What bully the weak with my strength? It was clearly that fellow humiliating my Heavenly Profound Gate.
Not to mention him injuring me, he even killed Martial Nephew Feng Chen.
However, the other party held the Dragon Marquis Medallion. That equated to the Dragon Marquis's Residence taking a stance. Even if he did not want to swallow this bitter pill, he had to.
However, in reality, even if this person had not appeared, the white-haired old man would only have chased for a few more hours before losing sight of Xiao Chen.
The white-haired old man had sustained injuries in the first place. He also worried about Xiao Chen turning around and launching another sudden attack. Hence, he had slowed down considerably.
It was indeed difficult to catch up to Xiao Chen after he executed the new Fish Dragon Art.
"This little one understands."
The white-haired old man did not dare to disobey. He quickly left in a somewhat pathetic state.
The newcomer glanced in the direction of Xiao Chen, entering deep thought.
This person was somewhat surprised at a peak Minor Primal Core cultivator actually being able to reduce a Star Venerate to such a sorry state.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
After a while, that person's figure vanished from where he stood and reappeared in Soaring Dragon City.
Inside the Cluster Lord's Residence, that person met with the personal maidservant of the Cluster Lord.
"Miss Xiao Yu, Xiao Chen is already fine. Based on the direction he left in, he should be going to the Dragon Flame Ancient Land," that person said respectfully.
Although that person did not understand why Cluster Lord Gou Yu wanted to protect this unconventional bladesman in secret, he kept in mind Cluster Lord Gou Yu's position in the Soaring Dragon Marquis's heart.
Cluster Lord Gou Yu had just finished her experiential training, and the Soaring Dragon Marquis gave the Soaring Dragon Great Realm to her as her conferred land.
If this person could avoid it, it would be best to avoid mouthing off.
If Xiao Chen were here, he would definitely recognize this Miss Xiao Yu. This was the maidservant that he met twice in the Soaring Dragon Pavilion.
Xiao Yu nodded and said, "You may withdraw. I'll let the Cluster Lord know about this."
That person turned silently and left without saying anything more.
After watching that person go, Xiao Yu turned and walked for a long distance before seeing Cluster Lord Gou Yu at a pavilion.
Then, Xiao Yu repeated what that person said.
"The Dragon Flame Ancient Land? Are you sure he said the Dragon Flame Ancient Land?" Cluster Lord Gou Yu asked with a grave expression.
"The answer should not be far off. Senior Zhang said that the direction that Xiao Chen took was towards the Dragon Flame Ancient Land."
Xiao Yu could not be very sure. She only repeated what Senior Zhang said.
As for how accurate it was, she left it to Cluster Lord Gou Yu to decide.
Cluster Lord Gou Yu slowly stood up and revealed a worried expression. "The Dragon Flame Ancient Land is not a peaceful place. Out of ten people who go in, at least five die."
"Cluster Lord, in that case, should we continue to send people to protect Young Master Xiao from the shadows?" Xiao Yu asked softly, her eyes puzzled. The Cluster Lord really cared for this Young Master Xiao.
The Cluster Lord showed no interest in all those aristocrats. Of all the people she could show so much concern for, it was this bladesman with an unclear bloodline and average cultivation from a weak sect.
Cluster Lord Gou Yu shook her head and said, "There's no need. After reaching the Dragon Flame Ancient Land, his life or death is in his own hands."
Perhaps that person would not like having someone secretly following him.
Cluster Lord Gou Yu could not help recalling past matters. The scenes of her various experiences in Purple Sun City when she was still Lan Luo appeared in her mind.
Although Xiao Chen's final words to her had upset her, they had taught her something.
Since young, no one dared to lecture her like that.
Perhaps Gou Yu herself did not even know when she nurtured such a bad habit.
Fate was really unpredictable. After they parted in Purple Sun City, the other party actually appeared in Soaring Dragon City.
Furthermore, Xiao Chen even went to the Soaring Dragon Pavilion. However, Gou Yu still felt somewhat awkward about the parting back then.
Hence, she could only send Xiao Yu to entertain him.
Would he understand my kind intentions? Perhaps after he realizes, he will be very angry like the last time.
Cluster Lord Gou Yu felt very nervous. She shook her hand and did her best not to dwell on this.
---
On the other side, Xiao Chen, who had been rushing along, suddenly stopped and revealed a suspicious expression. He had not sensed the white-haired old man's aura for the past four hours.
"Did I shake him off already?"
That is impossible. According to my estimates, I would need another eight to ten more hours to truly shake off that white-haired old man.
However, no matter what, Xiao Chen did, indeed, no longer sense that white-haired old man's aura.
"Strange," he muttered to himself. Keeping an eye out, he summoned the Cycle Throne and continued heading for the Dragon Flame Ancient Land.
As the Cycle Throne traveled amid the clouds, Xiao Chen sat on it with his eyes closed and rested, recovering his energy and spirit.
At the same time, he mentally simulated some of the details from the earlier fight with the white-haired old man.
Soon, Xiao Chen identified the key point.
Will of soul!
A Star Venerate could start cultivating Soul Energy and materialize a star-like will of soul.
Once the will of soul appeared, the opponent would not be able to stop it from entering deep into the soul, unless the opponent was also a Star Venerate.
This is an uncrossable chasm. If I could block the will of soul, dealing with Star Venerates would be much easier.
"The Taiji Yinyang Flame Diagram should be able to block the will of soul," Xiao Chen muttered to himself, rubbing his chin after opening his eyes.
The Taiji Yinyang Flame Diagram was his strongest defensive move. A Taiji diagram formed by two Primal Chaos Grade flames would reach an unprecedented level.
Xiao Chen recalled that the ordinary Taiji Yinyang Flame Diagram could already block the auras of experts with higher cultivation in the Kunlun Realm.
It should be able to do the same for the will of soul.
"It is decided. Whether it is possible or not, the first objective for the trip to the Dragon Flame Ancient Land is to materialize the Taiji Yinyang Flame Diagram."
Xiao Chen decided on his immediate goal for the Dragon Flame Ancient Land.
The more long-term goal was naturally to push his saber skills to the level that Ye Zifeng mentioned.
Xiao Chen flipped open the Dragon Flame Ancient Land's information and continued reading while sitting on the Cycle Throne. After a while, he put away the information, his expression slightly grave.
"Out of ten who go in, only half comes out alive. Most of them die miserable deaths."
Xiao Chen felt startled. To think that the mortality rate was fifty percent. The danger of the Dragon Flame Ancient Land was even more horrifying than the Fiendish Demon Battlefield's.
The Dragon Flame Ancient Land is the destination of most of the young experts of the dozens of nearby astral clusters.
Let me see what is so incredible about it.
Xiao Chen's eyes sparkled slightly. He felt somewhat excited rather than frightened by the fifty-percent mortality rate.