Nine Astra Skies

Ye Chen continued to channel the Celestial Martial Chi. Two cycles… Three cycles….

An hour passed by with every cycle that Ye Chen had channeled the Celestial Martial Chi.

As the weeks went on, Ye Chen felt his body being filled with Celestial Chi. Under the nourishment of the Celestial Martial Chi, the nine pearls materialized from the Nine Astras within his dantian became increasingly tough. He could vividly sense that his Celestial Chi cultivation base had taken another large step forward.

After thirty-six weeks, Ye Chen’s meridians had reached a point of extreme resilience. His dantian had also expanded and his Celestial Chi cultivation base had advanced to mid-Heavenly Venerable Rank!

Ye Chen did not expect that under the effects of the Celestial Martial Chi he could so quickly break through beginner Heavenly Venerable Rank. Having entered mid-Heavenly Venerable Rank, Ye Chen was overjoyed. He owed it to Master Lion’s insight, otherwise, he would be completely oblivious to the treasure he had with him!

Ye Chen released his Astral Body and it materialized into the gold-armored soldier. The gold-armored soldier hung in mid-air, looking tougher than it did in the past. Strange drawings flashed on its gold armor which gave it an intimidating and majestic aura. Along with Ye Chen’s Celestial Chi cultivation base breakthrough, the gold-armored soldier’s strength had also advanced from beginner to mid-Mystique Venerable Rank.

Ye Chen was thrilled with his improvement. After all this time, he had finally broken through into another tier. Though he was still far below Godly Venerable Rank and Daemon King Rank, and below Peerless Power and Grand Supreme Stage, at the very least, he was improving and catching up. One day, he would also be able to reach those heights.

‘One day, I’ll grasp my fate in my own hands instead of being just an insignificant ant in your eyes!’

The gold-armored soldier stood tall in the air. When it swung its saber forward, “boom boom boom”, waves of sword energy that glowed in purple slammed into the sea. The sea surface rocked violently with raging waves and boiling steam erupted from the sea.

The gold-armored soldier kept firing powerful, violent energy. Ye Chen, who had just advanced, still could not fully control such powers. He kept expelling the energy within.

Far away, Little Wingsy, who was practicing Absolute Zero Freezing Hell, also stopped and looked at Ye Chen.

“For a mere mid-Heavenly Venerable Rank to be able to use Astral Externalization like a Daemon King. The gold-armored soldier even has the strength of a mid-Mystique Venerable Rank… This is extremely bizarre,” muttered Elder Tuntian who had been residing inside the Soul Pearl and observing Ye Chen from faraway. This was the first time he had ever witnessed something like this. Ye Chen’s body was filled with mysteries.

In the past, Elder Tuntian had managed to get his hands on some books that concerned matters such as Heavenly Foretelling. Over the past few thousand years, when he was bored inside the Soul Pearl, he would learn a little Heavenly Foretelling. He foretold his own life before. In his lifetime, he would be riddled with bad luck and face countless dangers. It seemed that only by being in the company of people who were blessed by great luck would his streak of misfortune be broken. Several days ago, he tried to foretell the fate and fortune of Ye Chen. It turned out that he could not read anything about Ye Chen’s fate or fortune. This person was truly mysterious. So, he decided he was going to stick with Little Wingsy and see how Ye Chen’s fortunes play out.

“Master, when will I become like Big Brother Ye Chen and able to create a gigantic snake?” Little Wingsy thought that once his martial art had reached a certain level, then he would also be able to perform Astral Externalization as well. He asked curiously.

“Even though you’re an ancient mutant, you’re still just a mystical beast. Only Celestial Beasts can use Astral Externalization,” Elder Tuntian replied.

“Then I will never be able to materialize a giant snake? But Big Brother Ye Chen isn’t a Celestial Beast either. How can he use Astral Externalization?” Little Wingsy asked, sulking. He thought about how cool it would be if he could also materialize a gigantic snake.

This was also what Elder Tuntian was the most confused about. He said after a moment of silence, “As the legends foretold, when a person’s soul is so powerful that it reaches an invincible and eternal stage, they’ll be able to project their spirit. It’s said that only the ancient great beings were able to do that. The ancient beings don’t refer to their spirit projection as Psyche. They call it Primordial Spirit!”

“Primordial Spirit? You’re saying that what Big Brother Ye Chen materializes is also the Primordial Spirit?” Little Wingsy asked.

“I’m not sure either.” Elder Tuntian shook his head. “Little Wingsy, hurry up and train. Otherwise, the gap between you and Ye Chen is only going to grow wider.”

“Hm!” After hearing Elder Tuntian’s words, Little Wingsy suddenly felt a sense of urgency.

Little Wingsy had been able to learn Absolute Zero Freezing Hell. In terms of its strength, even a mid-Mystique Venerable Rank fighter would be no match for Little Wingsy. Furthermore, Little Wingy’s body was on par with a Daemon King. After he had cultivated demonic techniques, the scales on Little Wingsy’s body glinted a shiny black color and had unique energy seeping out of them.

Recently, Little Wingsy’s injuries were also quickly recovering. According to Elder Tuntian’s estimation, Little Wingsy would recover his Daemon King level strength within a year.

The events in the Exclusion Zone and the appearance of the Godly Venerable Rank fighter, Fu Yu, had a large impact on Little Wingsy. Little Wingsy gritted his teeth, held his head down, and trained fervently to become stronger. That was why he was able to so quickly cultivate Absolute Zero Freezing Hell to Minor Advance Level.

After Little Wingsy cast Absolute Zero Freezing Hell, layers of thick ice formed on the sea within a few hundred meters radius. Blades of sharp icicle glimmered in the air.

As Ye Chen and Little Wingsy were cultivating, the chirping sounds of a bird came from the skies above. The Golden Sun Condor had returned!

Ye Chen, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor, suddenly opened his eyes. After receiving the message the Golden Sun Condor had delivered to him, he furrowed his brows. To think that the Nanman Kingdom could not hold themselves back and already waged war against the Xiwu Empire!

It looked like they would have to rush back!

“Little Wingsy, we’re going back to the Xiwu Empire!” Ye Chen informed Little Wingsy as he hopped onto the Golden Sun Condor.

“Hm.” After Little Wingsy heard Ye Chen, he stashed the Soul Pearl with him. He then hastily flew over and transformed into his human form before landing on the Golden Sun Condor.

Ye Chen instructed the Golden Sun Condor to hover above the sea surface while Little Wingsy dived into the ocean. He took Little Squido with him before jumping back onto the Golden Sun Condor’s back.

The Golden Sun Condor flapped its wings and flew toward the direction of the continent. It disappeared into the horizon like a meteor.

The Golden Sun Condor swept through the skies above the palace of the Xiwu Empire Imperial Palace.

Within a short moment, a gold-armored imperial guard had noticed the Golden Sun Condor.

“Quick, inform His Majesty of Master Ye’s return!”

A gold-armored imperial guard quickly ran toward the direction of the study room.

The gold-armored imperial guards were extremely excited. Ever since the war in the Exclusion Zone, the label “Master Ye” had quickly gained a reputation among the gold-armored imperial guards. Many of the gold-armored imperial guards were related to the Earthly Venerable Rank fighters around Great Emperor Mingwu. The events of the battle in the Exclusion Zone had spread among them like wildfire.

Great Emperor Mingwu only found out later that the Nanman Kingdom had sent a beginner Mystique Venerable Rank fighter that went by the name of Tuoba Yan to the Exclusion Zone. Yet, he did not see Tuoba Yan during the battle in the Exclusion Zone. Soon, everyone figured out that during the period in which Ye Chen had disappeared, he went up against a beginner Mystique Venerable Rank fighter and dealt with him!

Tuoba Yan was a beginner Mystique Venerable Rank fighter who was more powerful than Great Emperor Mingwu!

Ever since then, the name “Master Ye” had caught on.

In the eyes of the gold-armored imperial guards, Heavenly Venerable Rank was as if a godly entity. In addition, Ye Chen was just a young man!

“I heard that Master Ye comes from the House of Ye of Donglin County.”

“That’s what I heard as well. The House of Ye is just an obscure and small family. To think that they were able to produce such an amazing talent!” the gold-armored imperial guard discussed among themselves. They were envious and fascinated at the same time.

Ye Chen’s arrival was the equivalent of feeding the gold-armored imperial guards a morale-boosting pill. At least now, the Xiwu Empire also had a Mystique Venerable Rank fighter. The Nanman Kingdom might not be able to take down the Xiwu Empire!

The Golden Sun Condor landed on an empty spot in the Royal Garden. Ye Chen hopped down from the Golden Sun Condor. Ever since he had advanced to mid-Heavenly Venerable Rank, Ye Chen’s body oozed a distinctive aura. Every single movement he made carried a hint of the absolute truth of Dao. It made the people around him feel at ease.

Little Wingsy hopped down as well. His appearance was refined like a masterfully carved sculpture. The ladies in the Royal Garden could not help but steal a few glances at him.

Soon, Great Emperor Mingwu, Master Apothecary Xuanyi, Nie Qingyun, and the elder transformed from the Eclipsing Firebird arrived.

“Your Majesty,” Nie Qingyun and the elder transformed from the Eclipsing Firebird greeted Ye Chen respectfully.

Ye Chen waved his hand, signaling for them to stop. He looked at Master Apothecary Xuanyi and paid his respects, “Master Apothecary Xuanyi.”

Master Apothecary Xuanyi smiled faintly. “It’s good that you’re back. We were getting worried that you would stay out there and never return.”

“Let’s talk inside,” Great Emperor Mingwu told Ye Chen. There were too many loose lips in the Royal Garden. It would be troublesome if any information made its way to the people of the Nanman Kingdom.

The group made their way to the study room while chatting on some trivial matters. Great Emperor Mingwu and the others found out that Ye Chen had been training for more than two months on the island. As for other matters, Great Emperor Mingwu and the rest did not pursue further. Ye Chen also did not bring up his encounter with Fu Yu and about the Celestial Martial Chi.

Inside the study room, the group sat on the cattail hassock.

Nie Qingyun and the elder transformed from the Eclipsing Firebird did not dare to sit down until Ye Chen requested for them to do so. Both complied and sat down, slightly shaking.

Great Emperor Mingwu and Master Apothecary Xuanyi were curious about how Ye Chen was able to command two Heavenly Venerable Rank fighters. This was very bizarre indeed. Even if Nie Qingyun and the elder were obedient, it still did not explain why they were so fearful and courteous. Unless Ye Chen had some background that was unheard of?

What Great Emperor Mingwu and Master Apothecary Xuanyi did not know was that, in the eyes of Nie Qingyun and the elder transformed from the Eclipsing Firebird, Ye Chen was a Daemon King!

What was the intention of a Daemon King? Most common people did not even know of the existence of Daemon Kings and Godly Venerable Rank fighters. Daemon Kings, Godly Venerable Rank fighters, and certain even more superior beings secretly held the reins of the world. They only had to exert a little of their strength to turn a giant empire like the Xiwu Empire into ashes and dust within a few days.

What Nie Qingyun and the elder transformed from the Eclipsing Firebird did not expect was that Ye Chen was just an imposter. His true strength was at most mid-Mystique Venerable Rank. If they found out about the truth, they would not be sitting here conferencing about how to deal with the Nanman Kingdom. As far as Nie Qingyun and the elder transformed from the Eclipsing Firebird were concerned, the Nanman Kingdom was just delivering their heads on a silver platter. The Daemon King, His Majesty, was just having his fun with them. After the Daemon King had his fill of entertainment, all it takes to destroy the feeble Nanman Kingdom was a breath of air.