Chapter 2246 Raw 2353 : Undercurrents Raging
As Xiao Chen and Su Ye wandered the imperial capital, they reached an initial understanding of each other.
A major matter that would startle the entire Yan City, affecting the Yanwu Dynasty itself, was calmly settled.
The top ten subordinate merchant associations of the Heavenly Alliance occupied more than seventy percent of the entire dynasty’s market.
However, due to the merchant associations’ various deep connections, the Heavenly Alliance could not get the largest share of the pie, even though it wanted to.
The actual profits ended up split between the subordinate merchant associations and the local Noble Clans.
Only the scraps went to the Heavenly Alliance headquarters.
The Heavenly Alliance wanted to do something about it, but three envoy inspectors died, so they could only maintain the status quo.
How long could Xiao Chen survive after chasing away seven of the merchant associations? Would he end up like the previous envoy inspectors?
No one knew whether Xiao Chen would die a violent death or not.
Xiao Chen had just arrived at the imperial capital, and he already made such a big move. It would be impossible not to kick up a storm.
Danger filled the path ahead; the winds could not be stopped, and undercurrents silently gathered, waiting to erupt.
At the detached courtyard behind the Misty Rain Pavilion, Xiao Chen’s mental state did not change, remaining calm.
Xiao Chen had tested the Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique’s Three Life Flower, killing the Thunderbolt Twin Sabers, and the results greatly satisfied him.
Xiao Chen was only initiated in the Three Life Flower and was still far from Great Perfection.
The more this was so, the more anticipation it built.
How shocking would the Three Life Flower’s might be when Xiao Chen reached Great Perfection?
Aside from this, Xiao Chen also gained a new understanding of the Ten Thousand Dragons Art.
The Ten Thousand Dragons Picture with the Azure Dragon as supreme was completely different from the previous Ten Thousand Dragons Picture, like night and day.
With the support of the new Ten Thousand Dragons Picture, Xiao Chen’s 1-Vein Sovereign Emperor Divine Energy could clash with a 3-Vein Sovereign Emperor, even gaining the upper hand.
“Perhaps it has something to do with my royal Azure Dragon bloodline,” Xiao Chen said as a bright light flashed in his eyes.
No matter what storm brewed, growing stronger was still the urgent issue at hand.
Without overthinking, Xiao Chen continued to refine his Soul Energy with Soul Accumulating Pills.
At the same time, Xiao Chen worked on comprehending the incantation for the Three Life Flower and the Ten Thousand Dragons Art’s first layer. He could clearly feel his strength improving at all times.
The strength of the royal Azure Dragon bloodline slowly showed itself, boundlessly changing Xiao Chen.
“Three Life Flower…the instant the flower blooms, three lives are illuminated. It focuses on the moment of eruption, bringing out a peak might. To raise the power of the eruption, I have to nourish it and give it plenty of light before the flower blooms. Then, make the flower bloom after storing up power.
“No, that’s wrong… If I cannot figure this out, I can only remain at Small Perfection with no hope of reaching Great Perfection.
“Where did I go wrong?
“Difficult, difficult, difficult. Perhaps my direction was wrong from the start. Perhaps my current confusion is wrong. I should follow my initial hunch all the way to the end.”
Xiao Chen’s refinement of his Soul Energy and cultivation of the Ten Thousand Dragons Art went very smoothly over the past three days.
He ran into difficulties only with the Three Life Flower, stopping at Small Perfection.
The Three Life Flower, the Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique’s fifth move, was much more complicated than Xiao Chen imagined.
“The instant the flower blooms, three lives are illuminated…”
Xiao Chen paced the courtyard, muttering to himself. He happened to raise his head and saw dark-green things in the lake behind the Misty Rain Pavilion.
Looking carefully, he saw lotus leaves forming a green sea on the lake.
When he looked into the distance, he noticed blue flowers growing amid the lotus leaves.
Blue lotus flowers!
Xiao Chen was startled when he recognized the origins of these flowers.
Blue lotus flowers were also known as water lilies. They represented purity, dignity, and serenity. This flower had many connections with the Buddhist sects. Due to the link to the Hidden Spirit Temple, blue lotus flowers were commonly seen in the imperial capital.
The flowers were blooming, appearing vibrant. Soon, they would take on many different beautiful appearances on the mirror-like lake.
“Perhaps…my thoughts were wrong from the start. The instant the flower blooms, it illuminates three lives. It is not focused on the moment the flower blooms but the illumination of the three lives. What it seeks is not an instantaneous eruption but a saber strike after the flower blooms.”
Xiao Chen’s eyes lit up, a trace of joy appearing on his face.
He immediately closed his eyes and started comprehending again. Countless strands of Divine Energy and Soul Energy surged over from his limbs and bones and entered his chest. Motes of light immediately appeared at his chest and emerged from his body.
When Xiao Chen opened his eyes again, many blue petals silently bloomed in the next moment, coming out from his body.
In an instant, a blue lotus flower, materialized from pure saber intent, bloomed with Xiao Chen as its center.
However, it was not over yet. Xiao Chen drew the Tyrant Saber, and saber light surged out. Blooming blue lotus flowers immediately filled the air.
The light of the blue lotus flowers illuminated the world, eclipsing the mirror-like lake, the Misty Rain Pavilion, and even Yan City.
Only the light of the lotus flowers blooming filling the air was visible, creating a dreamlike space.
As light and shadow flickered, Xiao Chen saw various scenes of the past flickering in the surroundings, turning into shadows.
As he stepped on the blue lotus flowers, his eyes appeared as clear as water crystals. His mundane heart turned transparent and shone.
So, this is the case…
My heart is the foundation of this move. The mundane heart is worldly. The instant the flower blooms, the heart is cleansed, illuminating three lives.
Right now, I am drawing the Tyrant Saber. If I drew the Heavenly Slayer Saber Soul Tool instead, I wonder what kind of illusionary scene the Three Life Flower would show?
With a thought, the light and shadows scattered. Then, the blue lotus petals at his feet closed up into a flower bud that merged with Xiao Chen’s heart, turning it into a cleansed, transparent, and bright immortal heart.
This immortal did not refer to Immortals. Instead, it was a metamorphosis of the mundane heart when the Three Life Flower reached Great Perfection, turning into a brand-new immortal heart.
“I finally reached Great Perfection. I just need to continue practicing it, and I will be able to use this immortal heart with a thought and make the blue lotus flower bloom at any time.
Xiao Chen tightly clenched his right fist, and a bright light flashed in his eyes. He now appeared more at ease and withdrawn, even more unfathomable.
The Three Life Flower was already very strong, giving him a qualitative change. Xiao Chen looked forward to what kind of pleasant surprise the next move, Merciless Killing, would bring.
“It has been about three days. Yuan Zhen should arrive tomorrow.”
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At the same time, the seven Association Chiefs who left the Heavenly Alliance gathered again somewhere in Yan City.
This time, they met in a place that the Golden Essence Merchant Association’s Jin Bao arranged.
When the Bountiful Treasure Pavilion’s Liu Zhang saw Jin Bao’s pale complexion, he mocked, “Old Brother Jin, your injuries are rather heavy, yet you still hosted this big meeting. This Liu admires such spirit.”
Jin Bao smiled coldly and retorted, “Why the need to laugh at me? Back then, you nearly peed your pants. If not for Pavilion Master Su giving you a hand, you would have ended up in an even more unsightly condition than I did.”
“The two of you, please don’t fight. We have gathered here to discuss countermeasures, not to pit our pride against each other.” The Heavenly Essence Merchant Association’s Association Chief quickly tried to pacify the two when he saw that they were about to start bickering.
Liu Zhang laughed and said, “Countermeasures? Is there even a need to think of one? Hahaha! This fellow is already on his deathbed. Do we need to care?”
When the Heavenly Essence Merchant Association’s Association Chief heard that, his eyes immediately lit up. “Is the First Prince going to make a move?”
Liu Zhang smiled mysteriously but remained silent. However, he appeared confident.
Even Jin Bao appeared very curious. He gave Liu Zhang a few more looks before demanding coldly, “Stop acting all mysterious. Just speak.”
“Exactly. Old Liu, do tell us what you know.”
“That’s right. Stop hiding it. If we all put our heads together, we might be able to make that brat die faster.”
After Liu Zhang postured sufficiently, he took a sip of tea and said slowly, “This brat actually offended the Smiling Daughter Pavilion before. To think that he still recklessly came to the imperial capital. Tell me, how much longer can he remain arrogant?”
The Smiling Daughter Pavilion!
The Smiling Daughter Pavilion had been in the imperial capital Yan City for tens of thousands of years, already present even before the Yanwu Dynasty’s establishment, surviving the rise and fall of several dynasties.
The Smiling Daughter Pavilion represented the Pleasure Quarter Alliance and had deep accumulations, possessing an inheritance even more ancient than the Yanwu Dynasty’s.
To think that Xiao Chen had offended the Smiling Daughter Pavilion. This was a major matter.
The many Association Chiefs felt greatly startled upon hearing that bit of news. Then, they started laughing. Soon, they questioned Liu Zhang further. “How does the Smiling Daughter Pavilion intend to deal with him?”
Liu Zhang put down his teacup and said, “He stole the Smiling Daughter Pavilion’s holy relic, the Fairy Basket. Originally, they just wanted him to hand it over, and they would not make things difficult for him. However, after the First Prince came to know of this matter, the First Prince decided to teach him a lesson, to show him who calls the shots in the imperial capital.”
A cold light flashed in the eyes of Jin Bao, who had been silent. Then, he suggested sinisterly, “Perhaps we can make use of this opportunity. With the Smiling Daughter Pavilion making a move, how can it be enough just to teach him a lesson?!”
Now that the competition for the crown prince position was at hand, the other factions in Yan City more or less feared the Heavenly Alliance.
No one dared to touch Xiao Chen rashly. However, if the Smiling Daughter Pavilion took the lead, the situation would be significantly different.
The Pleasure Quarter Alliance did not fear the Heavenly Alliance in Yan City, so there would be nothing to worry about.
Xiao Chen had offended many factions, affecting the profits of many Noble Clans. They dearly wanted to deal with him.
Now that there was an opportunity, no one would easily give it up.
“The Thirteenth Prince only told me this: either don’t touch him or ruthlessly trample him down; don’t give him any opportunities to turn things around.”
Jin Bao felt that the scale was insufficient. He stated the threat seriously. “Xiao Chen will take revenge for anything done against him. You all can forget about him going soft after being taught a lesson. If you go against him, there can only be two results: either he kneels, or we kneel. If you do not want to kneel, then listen to me this time.”
