Chapter 1253: Three Paths to Raise Strength

This answer stunned Xiao Chen. It really made one feel nervous.

The Flame Rock Sovereign smiled and said, “During this period, you should go and visit the other Great Bandits. At the same time, you should stabilize your cultivation before you return to Heavenly Star Island. When you reestablish the Dragon’s Gate, don’t forget to send me an invitation.”

It looked like Ao Jiao already told the Flame Rock Sovereign of Xiao Chen’s plan.

With the Flame Rock Sovereign coming to help, Xiao Chen gained more confidence in reestablishing the Dragon’s Gate.

Xiao Chen performed a cupped-fist salute and said, “I will never forget Senior’s kindness.”

The Flame Rock Sovereign glanced at Ao Jiao, who was drinking alone in the pavilion. Then, he sighed and said, “Little Friend, I say this very sincerely. I really don’t mind whether you repay this favor or not.

“If you really want to, then take good care of Ao Jiao and investigate the cause of Big Brother Sang Mu’s death. Right now, you possess overwhelming Luck and have the Thunder Sovereign standing behind you. There are some things that are safer for you to do than if I did them.”

Xiao Chen nodded and said, “Don’t worry. Even if Senior did not mention it, I would do that as well.”

The process of visiting all thirteen Great Bandits went very smoothly. These Sovereign Martial Emperors were all convinced by Xiao Chen’s grace already in the first place. After they met and exchanged a few words, they felt even more satisfied.

Xiao Chen always held respect for senior experts. He would not act arrogantly or out of bounds. If others showed him respect, he would return the same degree of respect. This was always the way he did things.

After he visited all the Great Bandits, he could be considered to have truly formed a bond with all of them.

Since ancient times, Xiao Chen was probably the only outstanding young talent to have gained the friendship of all thirteen Great Bandits of the Black Sea.

After finishing up matters at the Black Sea, Xiao Chen was anxious to return to Heavenly Star Island, wishing that he could arrive there immediately.

The four flood dragons pulled the war chariot as they galloped through the clouds, moving like lightning as they rushed towards Heavenly Star Island. Actually, by now, his speed surpassed that of the flood dragon war chariot.

However, he did not share the strong physique of the flood dragons, which could maintain their speed indefinitely. For a long journey, using the flood dragon war chariot was more suitable; it would be more effective as well.

Inside the war chariot, Xiao Chen did not fall behind on his cultivation.

He now possessed one hundred strands of Primordial Energy and the half-step Golden Body, and grasped the Instant of Glory, Thousand Year Hegemony Establishment, and Subduing Dragon Profound Slash—three Medial Grade Profound Martial Techniques. Furthermore, he had practiced all of these Medial Grade Profound Martial Techniques to Small Perfection.

In an emergency, he still had a consummate technique. There was the Sharp Spirit Finger, which could instantly focus all of his energies at one point.

With such strength, if Xiao Chen faced a First Heaven Martial Emperor again, he would not even need to use the Cycle Banner to hold his own. If he used the Cycle Banner, he would easily obtain victory and would not have to spend so much effort as he had with Old Hong.

As for Second Heaven Martial Emperors, Xiao Chen had not figured out their strength yet, so he could not draw a conclusion about how he would fare against one. However, if he wanted to flee, a Second Heaven Martial Emperor should not be able to do anything about it.

“Now, there are three paths for me to raise my strength. The first is my peak will of thunder. The second is my seventy-percent-comprehended saber soul. The third is making a breakthrough in the Purple Thunder Divine Incantation.”

Xiao Chen analyzed calmly. All of these three paths were not easy. The peak will of thunder required him to materialize the immaterial before he could condense an Innate Thunder Crystal.

It would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens for the saber soul to form a Saber Domain after it was one hundred percent comprehended. As for breaking through the seventh layer of the Purple Thunder Divine Incantation, he would need to undergo another lightning tribulation before he could advance to the eighth layer.

Clearly, these three paths could not be taken at the same time. Xiao Chen had to take them one by one, according to their priority.

On the way back to Heavenly Star Island, aside from stabilizing his cultivation and absorbing Primordial Energy daily, he pondered this problem.

When Xiao Chen was only three days away from Heavenly Star Island, he decided to improve his saber soul first.

After all, ultimately, Xiao Chen was a bladesman. Before he advanced to Martial Emperor, he should form a Saber Domain to call his own.

Now that his cultivation of the saber soul already reached its later stages, Xiao Chen could only rely on Peak Grade Demon Fiend Rocks to increase the speed of its cultivation. After he returned to Heavenly Star Island, he would get the Azure Dragon Merchant Association to ask around for news on this.

Three days went by in a flash. When Ao Jiao informed Xiao Chen of Heavenly Star Island coming into view, he stopped cultivating and emerged from the chariot.

The vista before him expanded. The familiar sea domain appeared ahead. With just the naked eye, he could see the silhouette of Heavenly Star Island. He could even clearly see its nearest satellite island.

Now, Heavenly Star Island already held all the satellite islands within its sea region. No outsiders dared to interfere anymore.

Before Xiao Chen left, he had driven away the Purple-Clad Marquis, a Greater Heavenly Martial Emperor. This matter resulted in the reputation of Heavenly Star Island spreading throughout the Western Sea. Anyone who wanted to target Heavenly Star Island had to consider their own strength first properly. Otherwise, things would not end well for them.

As he slowly closed the distance, Xiao Chen, who was now walking in midair, could already see the buildings on Heavenly Star Island with his naked eyes.

The first thing to enter Xiao Chen’s sight was a vast and majestic city. It looked like a gigantic True Dragon coiling on the beach.

The existence of this city fixed down the geomancy in the area, causing all the Luck to gather and encase Heavenly Star Island. An indistinct Dragon Qi could be seen in the clouds above Heavenly Star Island, moving in and out, making it look extraordinary.

This city now vaguely displayed the grandeur of a Holy City, not losing to the Lunar Palace’s Bright Moon City.

The majestic city gates had three large grand words on them—Heavenly Dragon City. Soldiers stood guard on the city walls, all of them wearing the same uniform.

Xiao Chen took a look and saw that this uniform was the uniform of the previous Dragon’s Gate. However, it was missing the Dragon’s Gate’s symbol. This had to be Mo Chen’s work.

As he stood in the air and looked at this majestic city, he was somewhat stunned. Unexpectedly, in a mere one year, Mo Chen managed to build most of the city, erecting a vast metropolis on the ruins of the old one.

Mo Chen was a wondrous girl who excelled at the zither, chess, calligraphy and art, even medicine and divination, refining and brewing, a person good at everything. She truly helped Xiao Chen too much.

“Halt! Without the Azure Robe Token issued by the City Lord’s Residence, no one is permitted to fly directly into the city. If you do not have one, please enter through the city gates. If you want to barge in, we will activate the protective formations of the city.”

Just as Xiao Chen in the clouds was preparing to fly down to the city, a scene above the city gates made him frown slightly.

A group of black-clad people wearing conical bamboo hats wanted to barge through the guards and fly straight in.

Xiao Chen knew that every Holy City would have such rules. Without being an honored guest, one would not be allowed to fly about the city as they wished. This was the same in Bright Moon City and Dark City, which he had been to before.

This group of people clearly knew there were such rules and dared to try barging in. Most likely, it was here to cause trouble.

Xiao Chen looked over, and the situation was indeed as he expected. The leader of the group was a half-step Martial Emperor. The rest of those following behind were all quasi-Emperors of various grades.

What strength! Which faction sent this group? Xiao Chen wondered to himself.

“What a joke! We are people of the Western Sea Divine Dragon Palace. Why do we need to follow any rules when coming to your insignificant Heavenly Dragon City? Quickly move aside and don’t block us from entering the city. Otherwise, don’t blame us for being rude.”

The black-clad old man leading the group laughed coldly as he removed his conical bamboo hat and cloak, revealing the fiery-red dragon-patterned robes unique to the Western Sea Divine Dragon Palace. The four people behind him removed their hats and cloaks as well, displaying their identity.

So, that’s what’s going on. Xiao Chen now understood. With such a display of strength, only the tyrant of the Western Sea, the Western Sea Divine Dragon Palace, could be responsible.

The scene above the city wall immediately caused a commotion. The many cultivators standing in line to enter the city all looked over.

“Interesting. This is probably the eighth time the Western Sea Divine Dragon Palace sent people to cause trouble already.”

“That’s inevitable. Heavenly Star Island is developing too fast. Several of their large-scale auctions snatched the limelight from the Western Sea Divine Dragon Palace. Now, when mentioning the Western Sea of the Heavenly Starry Ocean, one would first think of Heavenly Star Island. The Western Sea Divine Dragon Palace’s reputation has been completely suppressed.”

“It is not just the auctions. The Secret Treasures, wine, and Battle Armor produced by Heavenly Star Island are all top quality. It would be difficult for such a city to not become prosperous.”

“Anyone with eyes can see the rise of Heavenly Star Island. This time, the Western Sea Divine Dragon Palace has truly been pushed into a corner. To think that they were so direct in trying to suppress Heavenly Star Island!”

“I wonder how Heavenly Star Island will react this time. They just endured the past few times.”

The discussions at the city gates gave Xiao Chen a good idea of what was going on. He did not show any surprise. It was not strange for the old tyrant to suppress and threaten new rising factions.

However, they should never have brought trouble to Xiao Chen.

“Protective formations of the city? Who are you scaring? If you really dare to activate the formation, it means you intend to start a war. At that time, my Western Sea Dragon King will lead the seven colored Marquises and flatten your Heavenly Star Island in minutes,” the black-clad old man leading the group shouted coldly. This retort dissatisfied the guards, but they could not do anything.

“Scram! Just an insignificant Heavenly Dragon City, and you dare to put on such airs. Do you think you are a Holy City?”

The black-clad man directly threw a palm strike and sent the guards in front flying. These guards were only Martial Monarchs, and the captain was a Martial Sage. Without activating the formation, they were like ants before this half-step Martial Emperor.

With the half-step Martial Emperor suddenly attacking, how could they block? So, they suffered severe injuries and fell to the city.

Seeing that the Western Sea Divine Dragon Palace’s people actually dared to attack, the people watching at the city gates all changed their expressions. For this group of elders from the Western Sea Divine Dragon Palace to attack the city guards was too overboard.

Who were these people? They were the Divine Dragon Palace’s elders, people of high standing. However, the guards protecting the city were just of the lowest level in Heavenly Star Island.

“Not even worth one strike. With such strength, they even dare to block our way.” The black-clad old man smiled coldly. Then, he led the four people with him and prepared to fly into the city.

“You are seeking death!”

However, just as the four were about to fly into the city, a furious shout resounded in the sky along with four dragon roars.

Everyone saw four deep-sea flood dragons rushing down from the sky, pulling a war chariot that had a white-clad man holding the reins. This man radiated a surging aura as he charged at the five.

The instant the black-clad old man made a move, Xiao Chen’s face had sunk. Unexpectedly, this group of people showed such inconsideration.

These people ignored their status and even injured the guards of the city—a few Martial Monarchs, just minor characters.

This was truly unbearable!

A murderous intent flashed in Xiao Chen’s eyes as he rode on the flood dragon war chariot and charged ahead.

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