Chapter 552 - 525: Take Three of My Moves

"Damn it! That Ba Xiongfei is far too arrogant! I’ll definitely teach him a lesson at the Tournament of Young Masters!" Taishu Gang clenched his fists, a savage light glinting in his eyes.

Pingcang Mountain chuckled slyly and said, "Brother Taishu, the people from the Mad Beast Sect are nothing but animals. Why get angry with them? Hahaha, I hear this Ba Xiongfei is quite infatuated with Jade Fox and has been trying every trick in the book to woo her. Once we get to the Sunset Secret Realm, just make a move on Jade Fox. I guarantee you’ll piss Ba Xiongfei off to no end!"

Taishu Gang’s eyes lit up, and he cackled, "Excellent idea! That Jade Fox is definitely one of the greatest beauties in the Purple Spirit Domain. This time, I’m going to hit on that little vixen hard. I’ll provoke Ba Xiongfei, and then defeat him in one fell swoop!"

...

For the next several days, the young experts continued their journey. The Black Forest was teeming with a surprising number of Barbaric Beasts. The nine young experts encountered them daily; these beasts were bizarre and possessed all sorts of abilities. Fortunately, the nine were all figures who dominated their respective regions. When they attacked in unison, even a Middle-Rank Barbaric Beast was doomed.

The nine of them fought their way forward, slaying several hundred Barbaric Beasts. Among them were over thirty powerful Middle-Rank Barbaric Beasts, comparable to experts at the True Dao Sixth Layer Early Stage.

Zhaang Ye was still responsible for bringing up the rear. He walked silently behind the group, immediately collecting any Barbaric Beast corpses he saw into his Fire Spirit Realm. The flesh and blood of the Barbaric Beasts contained abundant Essence Qi. After tossing several hundred beast corpses inside, the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi within the Fire Spirit Realm grew increasingly dense, and even wisps of pure Essence Qi began to appear.

Nourished by the Essence Qi, the spirit herbs in the Fire Spirit Realm grew much faster. Ninth-Grade Spirit Elixirs like the Spirit Jade Goji Berries, Three-Hearted Colorful Lotus, and Purple Gold Orchid grew a fair bit taller in just a few days. At this rate, it would only take Zhaang Ye three years to cultivate Ninth-Grade Spirit Elixirs with ten years of maturity.

Not only were the spirit herbs growing much faster, but the dozen or so Phoenix Trees also became full of vitality and began to sprout new branches. To Zhaang Ye’s pleasant surprise, under the influence of the Li Huo Phoenix Tree Branch, the quality of these trees was gradually improving. If this continued, these ordinary Phoenix Trees would sooner or later become Ninth-Grade Spirit Trees.

As the Fire Spirit Realm grew more and more vibrant, the Fire Spirit became increasingly excited. Nourished by the abundant Heaven and Earth Essence, its injuries had completely healed, and its power had risen once again. It spent all its time in the Fire Spirit Realm fiddling with the Alchemy Furnace, using various medicinal herbs to refine batch after batch of elixirs.

Zhaang Ye had collected several thousand medicinal herbs, enough to form a small mountain. When you had so much of something, you stopped feeling precious about it. Seeing that the Fire Spirit was happy to mess around, Zhaang Ye couldn’t be bothered to interfere.

Zhaang Ye’s attention was fully focused on the fusion of his Realms. After merging the Wind Realm and the Water Realm, not only could he generate thunder and lightning, but there were all sorts of other wonderful applications. For example, Zhaang Ye could try to control the clouds, making them gather rapidly to create a thunderstorm.

For another, Zhaang Ye could use the two Realms to sense movements deep underwater. With the help of the Wind and Water Realms, his senses were far more acute than those of a fish.

And for another, Zhaang Ye could use the Wind and Water Realms to create a layer of Protective Gang Qi born from their interaction. This Protective Gang Qi was incredibly resilient; even an expert at the Late-stage Fifth Layer of the True Dao couldn’t break through it immediately.

All these wonderful applications were worth Zhaang Ye’s detailed contemplation. However, what interested him most was still the power of thunder and lightning.

The power of thunder and lightning was exceptionally tyrannical; using it in battle would greatly enhance his combat strength. Zhaang Ye practiced with it again and again, feeling out the mysteries of its power. Unconsciously, his control over the lightning grew more and more refined. The bolts he summoned became faster and their power more terrifying.

「On the fifth day, inside the Fire Spirit Realm.」

"BOOM!"

A bolt of lightning as thick as a thumb struck down from the void, bathing the Fire Spirit Realm in white light. Sensing the power within the bolt, a faint smile appeared on Zhaang Ye’s face.

A thumb-sized bolt of lightning wasn’t particularly lethal to a True Dao Expert. Even an expert at the True Dao First Layer wouldn’t die if struck by it.

In a direct confrontation, this lightning bolt didn’t have much power. But as a sneak attack, its usefulness was immense. Even an expert at the Peak of True Dao Fifth Layer would be momentarily affected if suddenly struck by it. For an expert like Zhaang Ye, as long as his opponent’s Heart Spirit was slightly disturbed, he could seize the opportunity to counterattack and kill them in a single blow!

On the sixth day, the group finally passed through the vast Black Forest. Zhaang Ye gazed ahead and saw a pitch-black ocean. Beside this ocean stood a colossal, ten-thousand-zhang cliff. Shrouded in mist, the impossibly smooth cliff face was carved with three magnificent, imposing words: Black Death Sea.

After a long journey of nearly a month, they had finally arrived at the Black Death Sea!

On the shore of the Black Death Sea was a wide, black sand beach. Upon the beach, several dozen young experts sat in their own groups, silently meditating and regulating their breathing. Judging by their auras, the Cultivation of these young experts was at least at the Peak of True Dao Fourth Layer. There were even a few whose Cultivation Zhaang Ye couldn’t discern.

With dozens of people gathered together, powerful auras soared into the sky. Far out on the water, the sea itself seemed to boil ceaselessly from the clash of their auras!

The moment the young experts from the Green Cloud Sect stepped out of the Black Forest, their presence was sensed. The young experts on the beach of the Black Death Sea all turned their gazes toward them in unison.

Qi Qingle, Pingcang Mountain, Gu Jianyuan, Taishu Gang, Shi Shenghao, Gao Kangzi, and Yan Ming were all young titans famous in their own right, each possessing an illustrious reputation throughout the entire Purple Spirit Domain. Even Galaxy had a considerable reputation. The moment they appeared, more than twenty young experts came over to greet them.

The Purple Spirit Domain was a vast region, home to tens of thousands of factions. Among them, the Green Cloud Sect, Spirit Water Sect, and Mad Beast Sect were the most powerful. As the leader of the three great powers, the Green Cloud Sect had countless smaller factions and families affiliated with it. The young people who came to greet them were the young experts from these very families and factions.

As the young experts exchanged greetings, a woman of stunning beauty slowly approached. She had a classic oval face, long eyelashes, and skin as smooth and tender as fine cream. Beneath her delicate skin, a crystalline luster seemed to flow.

The woman’s beauty was breathtaking, but her eyes were as deep as pools. With every flicker of her gaze, she exuded an air of superiority, as if no one was worthy of her notice.

Seeing this beautiful woman approach, the young experts—Qi Qingle, Pingcang Mountain, Gu Jianyuan, Taishu Gang, Shi Shenghao, Gao Kangzi, Yan Ming, and Galaxy—all bowed and said in unison, "Greetings, Senior Sister Gu."

’Martial Uncle Gu? When did a Martial Uncle Gu pop up?’ Zhaang Ye was slightly astonished. Just as he was pondering this, Senior Sister Gu’s gaze suddenly fell upon him.

"Hm? True Dao Third Layer?"

Senior Sister Gu raised an eyebrow and said to Zhaang Ye, "True Dao Third Layer. With such a low Cultivation, you’re qualified to participate in the Tournament of Young Masters? Kid, what’s your name?"

Senior Sister Gu’s words immediately drew everyone’s attention. All the young experts within a hundred-zhang radius turned their gazes to Zhaang Ye.

Zhaang Ye narrowed his eyes slightly and replied in a tone that was neither servile nor overbearing, "I am Zhaang Ye."

Senior Sister Gu’s expression shifted slightly, as if she’d just remembered something. A cold glint flashed in her eyes as she said, "So you’re Zhaang Ye? You’ve only been in the Green Cloud Sect for a mere three years. I doubt you’ve even cultivated a single Innate Combat Skill to the Minor Achievement stage, have you? With your Cultivation so low, what are you doing here?"

Zhaang Ye gave a wry smile and said, "I’m here for the Tournament of Young Masters, of course."

Senior Sister Gu said coldly, "The Tournament of Young Masters? With your paltry True Dao Third Layer Cultivation, you think you’re worthy? Zhaang Ye, leave right now and return to the Sect. Don’t bring shame to the Green Cloud Sect."

Zhaang Ye felt a flicker of anger, but he didn’t let it show. He simply said, "The Sect decided I should participate in this tournament. You have no authority to order me to return."

Seeing the growing tension between the two, Qi Qingle walked over and spoke up. "Senior Sister Gu, it was indeed the Sect’s decision for Zhaang Ye to participate in the Tournament of Young Masters."

Senior Sister Gu frowned and said, "The Green Cloud Sect has experts as common as clouds. Among the younger generation under eighty-one years old, there are more than twenty who have reached the True Dao Fifth Layer. With so many young experts available, why would the Sect send someone at the True Dao Third Layer to the Tournament of Young Masters? Having someone at the True Dao Third Layer participate is simply a disgrace to the Sect!"

A faint smile touched the corner of Zhaang Ye’s mouth as he ignored Senior Sister Gu’s taunts.

Seeing Zhaang Ye’s attitude, Senior Sister Gu’s eyebrows shot up. She sneered, "I’d like to see what skills you actually possess to dare show up at the Tournament of Young Masters! Zhaang Ye, take three of my moves. If you can’t, then you’ll scram back to the Sect on your own. Otherwise, I, Gu Hengshui, won’t be so polite!"

Hearing her announce her name, Zhaang Ye’s heart stirred. ’Gu Hengshui? That name sounds a bit familiar. Hmm, that’s right, the Fourth Elder of the Sect is named Gu Hengshi. I wonder what the relationship is between Gu Hengshi and this Gu Hengshui?’

"SWOOSH!"

While Zhaang Ye was silently pondering, Gu Hengshui’s crystalline, translucent hand suddenly formed into a claw and shot toward his neck.

Gu Hengshui’s Cultivation had already reached the Late-stage Fifth Layer of the True Dao, making her an expert on the same level as Pingcang Mountain and Taishu Gang. If she caught him, his neck would be crushed.

-(To be continued.