The Ninth Prince’s welcome feast had come to an end, seeing as the prince had left. Long Chen returned to the Lingwu family nervously. He had figured out why the Ninth Prince hadn’t touched him. Perhaps he was trying to appear friendly, as he had just arrived in Yuanling City and it was not a good time to kill anyone. That was why he had survived.
Long Chen had decided how he would deal with Dongfang Xuanyu, the one who had schemed to kill him. However, the Burning Heaven Secret Realm would open the day after tomorrow, and he knew his priorities, so he decided to let this grudge go for the moment and focus on winning the inheritance.
However, he was puzzled over the name of the Burning Heaven Secret Realm.
“Do you know where the Burning Heaven Secret Realm is?” Long Chen asked the Azure Dragon Patriarch on the way back.
“That was the first time the name of the ancient ruins was announced. How would I know where it is?” said the Azure Dragon Patriarch. Looking at Long Chen, he recalled the incident with Dongfang Xuanyu and said with furrowed brows, “Long Chen, I know that what Xuanyu did was over the line, but you’re fine now. Seeing as the Lingwu family has treated you decently, let her go, alright?”
“Why would a man hold such a small grudge?” Long Chen laughed and called for Mo Xiaolang, running after him and leaving the rest of the Lingwu members behind.
The others were surprised at Long Chen’s nonchalant assent to cooperate. The Black Tortoise Patriarch frowned and said, “Big Brother, the kid doesn’t look as generous as that. I think he’ll look for a chance to make a move.”
“What can I do? He has that mysterious lady protecting him, and Mo Xiaolang looks like he treats Long Chen as his leader. How could we touch him?” The Azure Dragon Patriarch was exasperated.
Everyone felt helpless when he mentioned that mysterious woman.
That was when Beitang Mo said, “What lady? She hasn’t appeared in a long time. Long Chen said that she was his master, but is it true? Grandfather, could he be tricking us again?”
When Beitang Mo questioned it, everyone thought for a moment and realized that it was possible. However, they did not dare to test if it was true before the Burning Heaven Secret Realm was opened.
“Let’s not deal with that brat Long Chen yet. Let him sell his life for our family in the Burning Heaven Secret Realm first. If we want to kill him, let the Beast Soul Palace and the Dawn Trade Alliance do it. Borrowing a knife for a murder is the best way to go,” mused the Azure Dragon Patriarch.
Beitang Mo and Dongfang Tianchen looked at each other, exasperated at how cautious their elders were.
“The Burning Heaven Secret Realm will be opened the day after tomorrow. There’ll be many intense battles then. Go back and rest well, then make the Lingwu family proud!”
***
“Big Brother, I feel like the name ‘Burning Heaven Secret Realm’ is a little familiar,” said Mo Xiaolang in puzzlement in the Silver family quarters, scratching his head.
“Not just a little. I think it’s super familiar. I have an intermediate Black-tier combat technique called the Burning Devil Sun Fist, which I retrieved in the Burning Heaven Mountain Range. Both of them have similar names. Plus, both of us noticed the strange phenomena at the Burning Heaven Mountain Range a few days ago, so I’m guessing the Burning Heaven Secret Realm is related to the Burning Heaven Mountain Range. Maybe it’s underneath it!” said Long Chen solemnly.
Long Chen had made the connection when he first heard the name.
“After hearing your explanation, I think the Burning Heaven Secret Realm is very special. We have not even entered it yet, yet we’ve retrieved thirty-four Heavenly River Pills. There must be a lot more stuff inside.” Mo Xiaolang grew excited.
He was like Long Chen, also yearning to become stronger.
“Mhm, that’s right. Xiaolang, you’ve been using the Heavenly River Pills. How were they?” asked Long Chen.
“I used one pill. The star power inside is very powerful, but I still cannot open the starry sky within my body.[1] I’m guessing that I need many pills to succeed,” he replied with a frown.
“That’s fine. We’ll collect as many pills as possible for you to break through!” said Long Chen with a grin.
“What about you?” asked Mo Xiaolang.
“You fool, who will be able to take the Heavenly River Pills from you when you reach the Heavenly River Realm? It’ll be easy to get pills from then on. When that happens, I’ll get however many I need,” laughed Long Chen.
Then he turned his gaze towards the direction of the Desolate Mountains of Baiyang Town.
A true war was about to begin.
***
Two days passed quickly. Early in the morning, Long Chen and the rest of the candidates selected to enter the Burning Heaven Secret Realm were already gathered outside the Jade Royal Palace. Leading the group were the four Patriarchs. As for the Dawn Trading Alliance, Li Wudi and the head emissary brought five teenagers with them, while Emperor Yuan brought eight teenagers.
There were twenty-three people in total. The Lingwu family had ten participants, the Beast Soul Palace eight, and the Dawn Trade Alliance five. This also reflected the ratio of power the three factions held.
The battle was about to begin. Everyone looked solemn.
Long Chen could faintly sense intense hatred coming from two sources, one being the Lingwu family’s Beitang Mo and Dongfang Tianchen, while the other was the five people of the Dawn Trading Alliance.
It looks like a huge battle against them will be unavoidable in the Burning Heaven Secret Realm, thought Long Chen. His strength had improved greatly after merging with the Blazing Thunder Crystal Soul. Very soon, it would be evident who the strongest cultivator truly was.
Suddenly, a shrill beast’s cry came from within the Jade Royal Palace. Some of them felt a piercing pain in their ears from its shrillness, furrowing their brows. If its cry could make them feel miserable, then the beast was sure to be quite powerful.
A moment later, a gigantic demonic beast flew out of the palace, its fleshy wings spread wide. It was not an avian-type beast, though its size was similar to the Savage Wind Peng. It had sharp claws and teeth, along with green scales covering its whole body. All these characteristics proved that it was a fierce beast several times stronger than a tame Savage Wind Peng.
“This is the Category Nine Black-tier Piercing Wind Dragon Falcon, a beast that is extremely hard to defeat. Even I find it very difficult to kill,” said Mo Xiaolang, frowning.
“Is that the Ninth Prince’s mount?” asked Long Chen.
“Probably.”
The fact that the Ninth Prince could tame a Category Nine Black-tier beast to be his mount showed just how awesome he was. Long Chen could only admire a person of this status.
As they spoke, the Piercing Wind Dragon Falcon was already flying above them. It let out several deafening cries, causing the Savage Wind Peng birds on the ground below to tremble in fear, unable to move.
The Ninth Prince’s clear voice came above. “Our destination is the Desolate Beastlands. Everyone, follow me.”
“Understood!” Everyone from the three factions replied hurriedly, then they quickly got on the backs of Savage Wind Pengs. Unfortunately, with the Dragon Falcon above, they did not dare move at all.
“Useless idiots.” The Azure Dragon Patriarch was furious and panicked.
When the Ninth Prince saw this, he merely gave a small smile and urged his Dragon Falcon to speed up. Then the Savage Wind Pengs at the bottom were finally willing to tail it from far behind.
Amidst the howling wind, Long Chen patted Mo Xiaolang’s shoulder and said, “It looks like we guessed it right. The Burning Heaven Secret Realm is indeed in the Burning Heaven Mountain Range.”
Mo Xiaolang nodded.
“This battle is an opportunity for us to become much more powerful. Let’s do our best and fight alongside each other!” Long Chen was filled with confidence.
“Yes, Big Brother.”
As the strong wind howled, time passed slowly and the people could not calm themselves down.
Hate, ambition, and anxiety were some of the emotions that filled their hearts.
Following the Piercing Wind Dragon Falcon, they entered the Desolate Beastlands. This large piece of land was no longer a dangerous threat to Long Chen with his current strength.
“The Desolate Beastlands sit on the Cangyang Kingdon’s soil. There are beasts ranging from Category One Yellow-tier to Category Nine Black-tier in here. My Moon Devouring Wolf beast soul from years ago was actually collected here. I was alone at the time and could only kill beasts one level above myself. If I had seniors present, I too could have used a Category Nine Black-tier demonic beast as my Primary Beast Soul. Then I would be like Yan Danqing, truly unleashing the potential of a Beast Warrior, unlike my current state. I may be a Beast Warrior now, but I’m fighting just like a normal cultivator,” said Mo Xiaolang with a bitter smile.
Long Chen recalled his first time entering the Desolate Beastlands. He was terrified then. Just one Moon Devouring Wolf was enough to terrify him. But now he was not even afraid of demonic beasts countless times stronger than the Moon Devouring Wolf.
“You have two goals in the Burning Heaven Secret Realm. One, collect enough Heavenly River Pills and break through to the Heavenly River Realm. Second, condense and cultivate an Earth-tier beast’s beast soul. Am I right?” asked Long Chen.
“Yes.” Mo Xiaolang nodded.
“But we have no access to higher-level Earth-tier beasts. Even if you make a breakthrough, you will only get a Category One Earth-tier demonic beast if you risk your life for it. In that case, wouldn’t you end up in the same situation as right now?” asked Long Chen with a frown.
“I don’t have a choice. Who would let me kill a Category Seven or Eight Earth-tier demonic beast? But I know that there is a Category One Earth-tier beast in the deepest part of the Desolate Beastlands, though it does not suit me.” Mo Xiaolang was frustrated.
“Then let’s try our luck in the Burning Heaven Secret Realm. Maybe a high-level Earth-tier beast will suddenly die and benefit us,” said Long Chen.
“Looks like that’s the only way.” Mo Xiaolang bitterly smiled.
They arrived at the Burning Heaven Mountain Range.
Everyone dismounted and looked at the black, barren mountain range.
“Is this the Burning Heaven Secret Realm?” The group was puzzled.
“This is only the entrance.” The Ninth Prince turned and swept his gaze across the group. “The Burning Heaven Secret Realm is the tomb of a master from the Middle Ages, called the Burning Heaven Emperor. His inheritance remains inside. Whoever gets his inheritance will be the victor, and also the Immortal Guard. Therefore, you must do your best …”
“Yes, Your Highness!” everyone replied in unison.
Burning Heaven Emperor? Long Chen wondered if there was a connection between the Burning Heaven Secret Realm and the mysterious steel token. A human face had appeared in the flames when he learned the Burning Devil Sun Fist. Was that the Burning Heaven Emperor?
Long Chen faintly felt like the steel token would give him an advantage later.
1. In case you guys have forgotten, in this novel, the cultivator needs to ‘open the starry sky’ and then ‘absorb star power’ into their body in order to progress to the Heavenly River Realm. ☜