Chapter 47: Counterattack

Xiao Ran pointed at the sinkhole at the side and said, “She’s already dead.”

Chen Wenheng was stunned and tentatively looked into the sinkhole. There was some remnant demonic aura lingering around him, and the size of the huge sinkhole meant that it could not possibly go unnoticed.

However, he had been too busy running for his life to notice.

Walking to the edge of the sinkhole, he glanced down and gulped nervously. “Did—did you kill her?”

“What do you think?” Xiao Ran asked in reply.

Chen Wenheng shook his head. “No! The aura you emit is only at the level of Connate Realm. You cannot possibly be her match.”

Fearful that Xiao Ran would misunderstand him, he quickly explained.

“I’m not looking down on you. I’m also at the level of Connate Realm and have the protection of the Immense Righteous Energy. Nonetheless I was still subdued by her in one move and turned into a rabbit.”

“And then?” Xiao Ran’s interest was getting piqued.

After muttering to himself for a while,

Chen Wenheng continued, “A senior must have passed by and handily subdued her.”

He bowed solemnly to Xiao Ran.

“No matter what, I want to thank you!”

“Uh-huh.” Xiao Ran acknowledged it calmly.

“My name is Chen Wenheng, a student of the Dragon Lake Institute.”

“Xiao Ran, Divine Sword Guard.”

The sky was about to turn dark. The two of them traveled back together.

On the way,

Xiao Ran also learned why Chen Wenheng had been captured by the wolf demon. It seemed that he had been standing guard at the Qingyuan Bookstore these past few days because he wanted to procure the painting of a Sacred Hand, regardless of the cost.

“This matter is way too shameful. The Scholastic Incubation Institute is one of the Four Great Institutes of Great Xia. They fought six battles in a day and lost six times in a row. They even lost a precious treasure that can nurture Immense Righteous Energy.” Chen Wenheng said angrily.

“You can’t blame others for your own weak abilities.” Xiao Ran reasoned.

Chen Wenheng was still disgruntled.

“You’re guarding the Qingyuan Bookstore. Don’t tell me you’re also participating in the Dragon Lake Institute’s challenge?”

“Yes, I’m in.” Chen Wenheng’s expression turned bitter.

“The participants have been confirmed. I’m one of the six. This concerns the reputation of the Institute and the Imperial Court. I can’t afford to lose.”

Xiao Ran patted his shoulder but did not say anything.

“Brother Xiao, when this matter is over, I’ll buy you a drink.”

“All right.” Xiao Ran did not refuse his offer.

The two then went their separate ways.

Back at his home in the Jingwen Square,

Xiao Ran checked what he had gained this time.

The wolf demon was at Level 1 of the Profound Realm. When the Golden Tome of Creation flipped open, three things were displayed: 800,000 Mastery points, 60 years worth of Martial Arts Evolution, and 80 years worth of soul cultivation.

He divided the Mastery points into two portions. 500,000 points were added to the Traversing the Heavens in Twelve Steps, and 300,000 points were added to the Basilisk’s Touch.

After the attributes were refreshed,

Traversing the Heavens in Twelve Steps: Genesis

Basilisk’s Touch: Minor Achievement

He was still 270 years away from breaking through to Level 4 of the Profound Realm.

His evolution as a Spiritual Master had also improved another step, and his spiritual soul energy became stronger. Nonetheless, he was still 320 years away from the next upgrade.

He took down the painting of the Eldest Princess from the wall and laid it on the table.

He took out the Finishing Touch Sacred Brush, condensed his purifying spiritual force on the tip of the brush, and drew a sword in her hand.

With a flash of inspiration, he injected a bit of Immense Righteous Energy into it.

He then put away his brush and stood back.

“Come out,” Xiao Ran commanded.

The Eldest Princess walked out of the painting with a sword in her hand. Immense Righteous Energy swirled out and proactively began to consume the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

“Huh? She’s now at Level 3 of the Grand Master Realm?”

How long had it been? She’d achieved yet another breakthrough.

Even if it was drawn in dragon blood and using the Eldest Princess as the model, logically speaking, such a thing should not have happened.

‘I don’t get it.’ Xiao Ran muttered to himself.

With a wave of his right hand,

the Eldest Princess re-entered the painting, and he hung the painting back.

Elsewhere,

the Great Green Mountain stretched for more than 30,000 miles, perhaps even more.

There were many demons here, and the various tribes with their different allegiances were complicated.

In the forbidden area of the Lunar Howling Varg Tribe, the Lunar Howling Varg King’s heart skipped a beat and was woken up from his self-imposed meditative seclusion.

He sensed that his beloved consort had died and even her soul had been destroyed with no chance of escape. His killing intent surged and billowed out, enveloping the entire palace. The terrifying aura shook the space with a series of deafening thunderclaps.

“Summon Yin Jijie!”

A short while later,

Yin Jijie knelt before him with lowered head. “Greetings, Your Majesty!”

“My Snow Consort has been destroyed in the capital city. Go to the capital city and bring me this person’s head.” The Lunar Howling Varg King ordered.

“As you command!”

After Yin Jijie left, the Lunar Howling Varg King’s gaze turned ferocious. “When I attain enlightenment of the last level of the Lunar Howling Heavenly Technique, I’ll personally make a trip to the capital city!”

A lot had happened that night.

With the coming of dawn,

Xiao Ran first went to the Celestial Dungeon to clock in and send the two demons on their way. After swiping the rewards, he returned to the Divine Sword Guards headquarters.

Shen Yiming happened to be there. His injuries had recovered.

“You’re here.”

“Yes,” Xiao Ran replied.

“Have you heard about the Yin Incubation Institute?” Shen Yiming asked.

“They’re up to no good. I’m afraid their objectives are not so simple.”

Shen Yiming nodded his head in agreement.

“The higher-ups also have this suspicion. They’ve secretly investigated but everything seems normal. If something abnormal happens, there must be a reason. Of all the days they could have chosen to come, the Yin Incubation Institute decided to show up when the ‘Celestial Varg Guards’ manual appeared. The coincidence is hard to dismiss.”

Little Zhou interrupted, “My Lord, I went to watch the challenge with Brother Xiao yesterday. The Scholastic Incubation Institute was thrashed really badly.”

Shen Yiming was more well-informed.

“Don’t remind me! The principal of the Scholastic Incubation Institute received such a vicious scolding from His Majesty that his pathetic head almost shrank down into his pants.”

“And then?” Little Zhou continued to probe.

“Today, it is Lunar Reflection Institute’s turn to compete with them. His Majesty has issued an inviolable order: only victory is allowed!”

The three of them looked at one another and felt that the outcome of this matter was not assured.

“It’s about to start. Let’s go over first,” Shen Yiming said.

At the Lunar Reflection Institute,

there were a lot more spectators this time. With three rings of people inside and three outside, the entire drill ground was filled with people.

Even the roof was not spared. Many people were standing on it.

The three of them chose a spot with a wide view and joined the roof crowd.

“My Lord, do you think the Lunar Reflection Institute will win?” Little Zhou asked.

“We have to win!” Shen Yiming shot back without reservation.

“When the black market opened yesterday, I bet 100,000 taels on them winning. If I lose, I won’t be able to afford even the smallest drink possible in future.”

At this moment,

the men from both institutes took to the arena.

All three Divine Sword Guards’ attention was transfixed on the battle ground.

Xiao Ran narrowed his eyes. The middle-aged Daoist priest had previously used the Source Consuming Pearl to devour the Immense Righteous Energy of the Scholastic Incubation Institute. Now, he thought, he might as well return the favor.

He took out the Source Consuming Pearl and injected it with purifying spiritual force.

With the Sanctifying Righteous Treasure Tome guiding it, the pearl began to proactively devour the Immense Righteous Energy of the Yin Incubation Institute representatives.

“It really works.”

After obtaining the result he wanted, Xiao Ran no longer held back and released its full power.

Before the Yin Incubation Institute student could attack, the Immense Righteous Energy on his body had already been absorbed by the Source Consuming Pearl.

In fact, practically everyone from the Yin Incubation Institute had their Immense Righteous Energy absorbed.

The battle began.

In the end, Xiao Ran didn’t feel like talking anymore. What a painful sight it was that greeted his eyes!

He had helped them secretly, but the Lunar Reflection Institute still lost. Three straight defeats, and this was after a large portion of the Immense Righteous Energy of the Yin Incubation Institute had been devoured.

The difference in abilities was too stark. Even a student without any training would fare better than them.

“Complete trash!” Shen Yiming cursed out loud.

“My Lord, don’t be discouraged. There are still three more matches in the afternoon. They will definitely win then.” Little Zhou offered words of comfort.

During the intermission,

in a residence arranged by the Lunar Reflection Institute for the Yin Incubation Institute,

the higher-ups of the Yin Incubation Institute sat together with gloomy expressions.

The Immense Righteous Energy in the three students who participated in the morning competition had been completely sucked dry. Even their foundation skills had been destroyed. Xiao Ran had been too ruthless when he returned the favor.

“What on earth is going on?” Zhao Jishan asked with an icy expression. He was the vice principal of the Yin Incubation Institute and the leader of the competition team this time.