Chapter 229: Conflict At Listening Martial Tower
Su Yan bid one hundred thousand, which was a full five thousand Origin Stones higher than the current highest bid of ninety-five thousand Origin Stones. For a moment, the atmosphere in the venue stagnated, as if several sharp gazes pierced through the private room partitions and fell on him.
“Ignorant fool.”
Han Shi snorted coldly, his face turning iron-blue. He slammed the teacup on the table and ultimately did not continue bidding.
If it were only over ninety thousand, as a Spirit Sealer who was somewhat versed in artifact refining, he might have been able to repair it somewhat. But at this price, buying it would be thankless effort.
Xia Tianzong frowned slightly. He knew there was his own daughter in the private room, and he also knew those inside should be her fellow sect members.
This item might not be worth one hundred thousand Origin Stones.
Whatever, as long as it wasn’t Xia Wan’er taking the bid.
The remaining private rooms had various thoughts, and after each pondering, they all gave up continuing to bid.
Seeing no one else bidding, Qiu Rong hammered down the deal and sent the Tiger Seal to Su Yan’s private room.
Su Yan paid the Origin Stones in full, instantly depleting seventy to eighty percent of his accumulated savings.
Red Moon Pill Workshop and Sacred Insect Dao had brought him considerable profits, but those profits also needed investment for continued operation, especially the raising in the Yanwu Mountain Range small secret realm and several Rock Demon Ant nests, which required massive investments.
The amount of Origin Stones Su Yan carried was usually only over one hundred thousand Origin Stones, all exchanged into Second-order Origin Stones, amounting to over ten thousand pieces.
Plus the Origin Stones would also be used for his cultivation, so there really wasn’t much left.
Su Yan held the Tiger Seal and sensed it slightly, immediately feeling the dense Malevolent Energy within, and he revealed a smile.
He put away the Tiger Seal and then said, “Let’s go.”
Xia Wan’er and Lan Yunyue didn’t ask much and rose with him.
This trip to Yuan Shan Pavilion had gathered all the pills for two sets of Seed Aperture Pills. After the Blood Flood Dragon Secret Realm, they could start refining them.
With their current cultivation levels, opening two more acupoints and accumulating enough True Essence would make breaking through to Dan Qiao Realm a near certainty.
Perhaps even more stable after the breakthrough.
Though not as explosive as Xiang Ge breaking through two realms at once, it would better solidify their foundation and steadily improve for sure.
Back in his room in the Listening Martial Tower, Su Yan took out that damaged Tiger Seal.
He only glanced at it and muttered to himself, “So badly damaged that even the tiger head is missing, the spirit is already lost. How could it be easily repaired? The price difference between Third-order High-grade and Third-order Low-grade is huge. No wonder it was sold off directly, but it ended up cheap for me.”
He channeled True Essence from his hand into the Tiger Seal, instantly activating its power. It emitted intense Spiritual Energy fluctuations, and at the same time, faint tiger roars sounded. The Malevolent Energy condensed into a tiger, illusory and real, circling around the Tiger Seal.
“Malevolent Energy forms the tiger, condensing into the seal. This seal technique is indeed quite exquisite in its refining.”
What Su Yan valued was not the great seal itself, but the extremely dense tiger Malevolent Energy within the great seal.
Cultivating the Subduing Tiger Ming King Body originally required subduing tiger Malevolent Energy, devouring various Malevolent Energies to refine one’s body, especially tiger Malevolent Energy being the best.
Now having obtained this great seal, how could it not be a good thing?
He circulated the Subduing Tiger Ming King Body, and his body immediately became like glazed crystal with golden light emerging, resembling a divine general.
Behind him, the Subduing Tiger Ming King over ten feet tall appeared, reaching out with both hands to place the Tiger Seal in front of him.
Instantly, the tiger Malevolent Energy from the great seal rushed out one after another, transforming into Vicious Tigers pouncing toward the Subduing Tiger Ming King.
The Subduing Tiger Ming King True Intent stood unmoving like a mountain range, opening its great maw to swallow the tiger Malevolent Energy, continuously refining it.
Strands of tiger Malevolent Energy were refined and continuously merged into Su Yan’s body. As the Subduing Tiger Ming King Body operated continuously, his physical body’s strength was constantly improving.
Over one day and one night, Su Yan stayed indoors and barely devoured all the Malevolent Energy from the great seal.
【Subduing Tiger Ming King Body: 74/100（Beginner）】
The great seal in front of him grew increasingly dim, even its dark red color fading somewhat.
But Su Yan himself was full of energy and vigor, especially his physical body strength having advanced to a higher level.
“What a Subduing Tiger Ming King Body. Even at only Beginner proficiency, refining tiger Malevolent Energy brings such great improvement.”
Su Yan smiled, looking at the great seal before him which had lost its luster and was on the verge of falling from Third-order Spirit Artifact.
With a thought, Troop Devouring Ghost Moth appeared behind him and directly swallowed the great seal in one bite.
Troop Devouring Ghost Moth’s power enveloped his body. Soon, Netherworld Power transformed into a tiger-head great seal, exactly the complete form of the previous great seal, majestic and imposing, with power approaching Third-order Mid-grade from Third-order Low-grade.
【Troop Devouring Ghost Moth: 77/100（Nascent Stage）】
Killing two birds with one stone. For Troop Devouring Ghost Moth, devouring Spirit Artifacts was the fastest way to advance, and it also gained an additional attack method.
“Unfortunately, after Third-order, Troop Devouring Ghost Moth’s advancement speed has slowed considerably.”
With this attitude of his, if others knew, they would probably want to kick him in the face.
Having a Third-order Calamity Beast for protection was something even many great families couldn’t achieve.
Right now, not only did he have a Third-order Fierce Insect for protection, he even complained about slow progress. One could imagine how much disdain he would face.
“Beast King Sect disciples are indeed domineering. No wonder our average sects have to take detours.”
A sound suddenly came from outside the window. Su Yan was slightly surprised and walked to the window to look.
Below the Listening Martial Tower, unbeknownst when, two groups were already facing off there.
One side was Suo Yunyi and his group, the other side new faces: three or five young men and women, upright in stature, led by a black-clothed young man holding a blade.
“Hmph, does Nine Peaks Sect only know how to flap their gums?”
Suo Yunyi was not polite, coldly mocking.
Nine Peaks Sect?
Su Yan’s face showed contemplation, then he smiled, thinking to himself, “They’re deliberately here to stir trouble.”
Sure enough, the Nine Peaks Sect man’s eyes flashed with sharp light as he drew his blade and attacked, True Intent condensing behind him like a Greedy Wolf.
“Afraid of you?”
A spear appeared in Suo Yunyi’s hand. With a flick of his wrist, spear light like stars collided with a clang, Green Wood Flood Dragon True Intent carrying Gale swept out, knocking the wolf True Intent flying. The wolf head faintly dispersed somewhat, forcing Nine Peaks Sect’s Wang Canglang to retreat four steps, the bluestone underfoot already cracked.
“Impressive skill.”
Nine Peaks Sect’s Wang Canglang looked up deeply at Suo Yunyi, cupped his fists slightly, and instead stopped his actions.
Suo Yunyi stood with spear in hand, posture straight, and said indifferently, “Want to probe? Welcome anytime. Hope in the secret realm, you have that courage too.”
The conflict came fast and ended fast, after all, it was just probing each other’s strength.
Seeing Beast King Sect showing no sign of yielding, so unyielding, everyone understood that this time Beast King Sect probably intended to kill some of the prestige of the other two sects.
On the seventh floor of Listening Martial Tower, in a room.
Four men and three women had watched the entire conflict.
At the window, a burly man in a pitch-black short shirt said indifferently, “Wang Canglang didn’t use full strength but was still forced back four steps by Suo Yunyi. There’s still a gap.”
“Senior Brother Wang ranks ninth in our Nine Peaks Sect, while that Suo Yunyi ranks fifth in Beast King Sect. This gap isn’t surprising.”
A woman in green clothes leaning by the door slightly raised her gaze, tone indifferent.
A pale-faced youth lightly tapped the table, reminding, “Yuan Yi is the tough one. Innate Martial Body, and Half-step Dan Qiao for a year or two already?”
“I’ll defeat Yuan Yi myself.”
From the main seat, Xing Xi Yang’s eyes were blood-red, as if burning with surging flames. His voice was ice-cold, “My Profound Fire Snake isn’t inferior to his Greedy Wolf body, and this is the Blood Flood Dragon Secret Realm.”
Xing Xi Yang was the number one on Nine Peaks Sect’s True Intent list, also possessing an Innate Martial Body—Profound Fire Snake.
He had once fought Yuan Yi and narrowly lost due to weapons. Now meeting again, and in the Blood Flood Dragon Secret Realm at that.
If he devoured large amounts of Blood Flood Dragon Spirits and Blood Flood Dragon Essence Blood, he might achieve Mysterious Snake transforming into Flood Dragon, crushing Yuan Yi.
“But this time he’s not first. The first is a kid named Su Yan…”
……
“Nine Peaks Sect’s Xing Xi Yang, Beast King Sect’s Yuan Yi and Su Yan… all great enemies. Their Innate Martial Bodies are no weaker than mine. Even Vajra Sword Tiger might not steadily win against them.”
The two-meter-tall burly man looked troubled, his words carrying some concern.
A nearby male disciple immediately said, “Junior Brother Gu Nian, you’ve only been in the sect for three years. Vajra Sword Tiger Martial Body development is in its rising phase. Don’t underestimate yourself. Those two are definitely not your match.”
“Right, with you leading Sword One Sect, we’ll help you challenge them one by one and clear the obstacles. Lingnan Prefecture’s three sects should be overshadowed by Sword One Sect shining.”
Sword One Sect had slightly fewer people, but undoubtedly, in competing to stand out, their gazes were like swords, even more eager than Nine Peaks Sect.
Gu Nian felt his senior brothers’ expectations, touched the giant sword beside him like half a door, and nodded heavily, “Senior Brothers, rest assured. I’ll give it my all.”
……
“Nine Peaks Sect and Beast King Sect clashed, outcome undecided, but Nine Peaks Sect slightly stronger…”
Inside Monster Suppressing Guard Prefecture, in the Flag Bearer Guard courtyard, the guards transmitted the news to the various Flag Bearer Guards.
For a moment, everyone revealed subtle thoughts. The ten great Flag Bearer Guards met up.
“Gu Lingfeng, you’re the head of the ten Flag Bearer Guards. No opinion?”
“Hmph, what’s there to opine on? Didn’t we just receive the pills yesterday? The Monster Suppressing Envoys above and the various Prefect Lords all think we can’t match the three sects, right?”
A young woman with long hair tied behind, wearing the standard Monster Suppressing Guard Flag Bearer uniform, showed a faint smile.
She said indifferently, “I didn’t say that.”
“Xia Xier, isn’t your sister in Beast King Sect? No news?”
Xia Xier looked toward the voice, hummed, and said, “Du Yuan, what point in asking when you know? Different affiliations, different duties. Xia Family doesn’t do such dirty things.”
Du Yuan knew he misspoke and straightened slightly, “That’s not what I meant.”
Seeing his attitude, Xia Xier nodded slightly, “She didn’t say anything, but from her demeanor, she’s confident we’ll lose. You all be careful.”
“Interesting.”
A stern-faced youth with thick eyebrows muttered softly, “In the Blood Flood Dragon Secret Realm, I’m not afraid of anyone.”
Seeing his demeanor, everyone showed complex expressions.
Though this man ranked second among Lingnan Prefecture’s ten Flag Bearer Guards, no one dared underestimate him.
Because his surname was Qin.
——
After all sects’ disciples arrived, just two days later, Monster Suppressing Guard sent news that the Blood Flood Dragon Secret Realm would open. All disciples entering the secret realm gathered by the Treasure Pagoda beside Lingtian River.
In Monster Suppressing Guard Prefecture, four pitch-black Dali Profound Boats rose fully. Each boat was a hundred meters long, with black-scaled Dragon Beast patterns on them, the Dali Dynasty’s national guardian beast.
Everyone stood on the Dali Profound Boats, flying east from the city for about twenty li, hovering over Lingtian River. Far away, they saw a tall mountain by the river with a Treasure Pagoda on it, seven stories high, incense burning prosperously.
“General Qin saved the entire city back then. For hundreds of years, the city residents have remembered his grace, and the incense has never ceased.”
Qi Nianshuang stood with hands behind back, gaze proud. Beside him, fellow Monster Suppressing Envoy Zang Liangcai wore the same expression.
Monster Suppressing Guards suppressed Feral Beasts, exterminated Evil Path, protected the city’s peace. Earning such gratitude was the best military merit badge.
“Senior Qin deserves such incense.”
Yan Yin was solemn, with some admiration. Though there were clashes between forces, by his character, he always respected such figures.
The leading elders of Nine Peaks Sect and Sword One Sect, though not as direct as Yan Yin, also nodded in agreement. Their presence here was also due to Qin Jingtian’s grace; this favor must be acknowledged.
The Dali Profound Boats landed on the river surface, where surging river waters roiled like a Vicious Flood Dragon stirring.
Standing on the profound boats, they could feel the surging currents a thousand meters below the river surface.
“Brother Zang, let’s go.”
Qi Nianshuang called Zang Liangcai. The two flew to the front of the profound boats, hovering mid-air, and tossed two ancient tokens into the rolling river waters.
Instantly, the thousand-meter river waters split open like cleaved by a long sword, waves surging a hundred meters high, immediately revealing the Lingtian River Bottom.
The tokens continuously released Spiritual Power fluctuations. Soon, a Black Tower phantom gradually emerged, hundreds of meters tall, standing in the river heart, shifting between illusory and real.
Ancient characters “Jing Tian Tower” on the tower were vigorous like dragons. Powerful force spread continuously like a mountain range, shocking everyone’s hearts. The chilling pressure made the profound boat decks creak.
In a daze, Su Yan seemed to see the scene from back then: raging river waters, one man and one tower fighting a Blood Flood Dragon alone amid thunder and storm.
The man had died centuries ago, but his left-behind Dao Soldier still had such might.
Even Su Yan couldn’t help but sigh: Impressive.
“Monster Suppressing Guard junior disciples, Qi Nianshuang and Zang Liangcai, bring Lingnan Prefecture’s young talents to enter the tower for experience. We respectfully request General Qin’s approval.”
The two were solemn and extremely respectful, unclear if saluting Qin Jingtian or the Jing Tian Tower.
The two bowed solemnly, then turned around. Over a hundred blood-colored Jing Tian Tokens flew out from the Jing Tian Tower phantom behind, two-fingers wide, like shadows.
Qi Nianshuang reached out remotely, grasping the tokens in hand, his gaze sweeping over the True Intent Realm Disciples on the four boats.
He said loudly, “The Blood Flood Dragon Secret Realm is right here. Drink Blood Flood Dragon blood, fuse Blood Flood Dragon Soul, and you can undergo metamorphosis of True Intent, paving your Dan Qiao path. I won’t elaborate on the benefits here. Just the rules.”
“In the Blood Flood Dragon Secret Realm, killing and means are not forbidden. It will only save you at the fatal moment and teleport you out of the tower. At the moment of exiting the tower, the number of Blood Flood Dragon Evil Beasts you killed will be fully recorded in the Jing Tian Token via Blood Flood Dragon Spirits, determining the rankings. As for the Jing Tian Tower in the Blood Flood Dragon Secret Realm, that’s General Qin’s Inheritance. If you have the ability, you can try challenging the tower.”
After Qi Nianshuang spoke, the Jing Tian Tokens in his hand shot out, landing in the hands of every martial artist entering the Blood Flood Dragon Secret Realm.
Soon, they turned into red lights merging into everyone’s left arms, forming a mark on the palm.
“One-quarter hour later, the secret realm opens.”
