Chapter 546 - 542: Steps Unhindered
"You dare hurt her?!" The voice that resounded was filled with a dreadful anger that rumbled with madness. It was explosive and spiritual, not a single living existence in the area could ignore it. To frighteningly add, there was a strange power that compelled them to listen.
The eyes of everyone moved to a lone figure that held a sword in his hand. The gait at which he moved carried a charm reminiscent of emperors and kings, as if the earth existed to be stepped upon. It was elegant, domineering, and commanding!
"Long Chen?!" Wu Baozhai was the first to notice that familiar face despite its current state that was filled with light scars and chaotically messy hair. Despite his state, he still exuded a grand charm. In his anger, that grand charm made the air surrounding him feel distorted.
Xue Yifei's beautiful eyes that contained a demonic glint flashed towards Long Chen. When she first saw him all those years ago, challenging Wei Wuyin prior to the All-Alchemic Clash, she didn't understand who he truly was. But now, she was extremely aware of his history and existence.
She learned more from the members of Valkyrie, and while they didn't wish to talk about it, their past wasn't exactly concealed. He was an extremely talented genius, likely the most individually talented individual in the entire Myriad Monarch Sect. There were even rumors that Wei Wuyin could only match him with Alchemical Products.
Regardless, he came to the Myriad Monarch Sect with Wei Wuyin alongside a bevy of beautiful female companions that instigated endless troubles. Somehow, one by one, they all turned to Wei Wuyin of their own volition.
One day, while curious, she asked Su Mei if this was deliberate. The answer she received shocked her to her core. She said, word for word: "Lord Wei had never actively thought of or acted against Long Chen once since entering the sect."
Of course, this also extended to his women excluding Na Xinyi who had a standing agreement. As for the Grand Spirit Trials, he had even spared Long Chen when he was well within his rights to execute. Yet despite that, Na Xinyi, Lin Ziyan, Hong Ru, Xiao Bing, and even Wu Baozhai decided to join Wei Wuyin, with the first four even accepting their positions as his women, becoming his Valkyries.
What most considered the women of Long Chen's harem had all become Wei Wuyin's, yet he never once acted against Long Chen or intended to do so? If someone else told her that, she would spit in their faces for saying such clear bullshit. But it was Su Mei. There was utterly no reason for her to lie or make-up details.
Qing Qiumu's relationship was even stranger, and seemed to have originated from far before Wei Wuyin even knew of Long Chen's existence. This was true for Na Xinyi too. Supposedly, he saved both their lives.
Xue Yifei's eyes narrowed slightly. When she made a mental comparison, she understood why others would shift to Wei Wuyin. If she had to make a choice, this would be hers. And it wasn't out of talent or status, but people knew her name and respected her. She commanded an extremely powerful force that was all hers.
If she was with Long Chen, she would be forced to be a pretty trophy highlighting his excellence while being ravaged on the side when he fancied. But here, with Wei Wuyin, she could become excellent! Which one of the Valkyries didn't have wild, unfettered ambition? Extreme talent? Not a single one of them could be classified as ordinary!
This was especially so for Na Xinyi and Su Mei. Their cultivation speeds were utterly heaven-defying!
One was a door to a new world, to a whole new journey filled with infinite possibilities.
One was a screen that allowed them to watch someone else's awe-inspiring journey.
In the cultivation world, the choice was obvious!
Huang Boqing sent a burst of power as he retreated away, his eyes containing some wariness within. That voice echoed with power that caused his Worldly Domain to tremble. What type of strength was required for this?! He had to beat a hasty retreat and regroup.
He was just about to shoot towards Grandquake City and use the Grandquake Array to handle all unexpected events when his senses found the perpetrator of the voice. When he saw the figure, his eyes betrayed his confusion.
"Spatial Resonance Phase?" He couldn't help but say this in his disbelief. He carried heavy suspicions when a burst of power caused the world to twist and turn, he brought his shortsword to his front and slashed! The astral sword unleashed sword force that echoed out strange sounds.
Tui Bihan's attack was halted and then was swiftly dissolved by the sound waves produced by the Huang Boqing's sword force. Shocked, Tuo Bihan inspected that astral weapon and realized it contained a power and aura that matched Huang Boqing. At the base of its hilt, there was a protrusion that contained a pearl-like object that glimmered with light-blue light.
Huang Boqing noticed Tuo Bihan's curious gaze and his eyes brightened. 'Do they not have astral weapons infused with a World Core?' As he thought this, he recalled the scene of shock when he pushed Tuo Bihan's back, and how his combat style didn't have any changes to it. He came to realize that the cultivation civilization these individuals belonged to might be inferior in terms of forging or at least they took a different path.
And that was true. The Four Extreme Continent was pressed by the Season of Devils and its massacres so they devised any method to increase their strength and seal up the gaps in their defenses. This was why they had no entrances. Furthermore, the fallen Realmlords or dying ones were desperate in using their powers to ensure the safety of their descendants, so they allowed themselves to be forged into weapons.
There were strict restrictions, however. It can only be used by a cultivator with the same Spirit of Cultivation as the cultivator used in the forging process. Furthermore, only those who've formed Worldly Domains can connect with its power. So it could only bolster Realmlords or above! Still, it was as if you were using the powers of two Realmlords!
It also had weaknesses, and the most obvious and glaring was consumption of astral force!
Huang Boqing had actually lightly paled after a single usage of the astral sword with a World Core. However, he didn't just stand there stupidly after. He glanced at Long Chen and was displeased that he was tricked into giving up his hostages by this little brat. With a palm, he sent out a burst of astral force towards Long Chen.
It was like a raging storm as the ground was uplifted and the wind spiraled into a vicious gale.
Tuo Bihan was about to act to save Long Chen, but Huang Boqing expected this and sent a spiritual spell that impacted the mind. Tuo Bihan had to hurriedly defend, using his astral ward to guard himself. There was endless frustration between his brows.
It was his unfamiliarity with Realmlords battles that he was suffering despite having a better cultivation base. He couldn't exert his full strength like Huang Boqing, who fought against the Season of Devils dozens of times in his long lifetime.
If it wasn't for Huang Boqing's caution, using that strange sword and all his powers from the beginning, he might actually suffer severe injuries or even die. This brought a wisp of terror in his heart!
Long Chen kept walking despite the raging astral force tearing through the world with the intent to devastate him. The unassuming black ring nestled comfortably between Wu Baozhai's breasts glowed faintly. It seemed like Wu Yu might be forced to act.
However, Long Chen was fearless, not because of Wu Yu's presence, but towards his own strength! The astral force arrived in front of him extremely swiftly, and he casually lifted his sword that glinted with a sharp light. With a smirk, he lightly waved his sword as if parrying the fearsome attack!
WOOSH!
Like a lit candle facing a strong gust of wind, the astral force vanished!
Long Chen's steps remained unhindered.
Tuo Bihan and Huang Boqing reeled from the sight. A Spatial Resonance Phase cultivator had dissipated a Realmlord's attack with a wave?
What?!
But unlike them and everyone else who was filled with shock, Wu Yu and Wu Baozhai simultaneously exclaimed with complex and mixed emotions: "Imperial Heaven's 1st Grand Transformation!"