Chapter 997: Hidden Dragon in the Depths, Soaring to the Sky in One Go

Back in the Savage Battlefield, An Junxi had obtained a rare set of True Dragon’s spine and forged it into the True Dragon Lightning Whip, a Sub-Divine Weapon.

That spine was only ten meters long. Even so, it was already very rare and was sufficient to be made into a Sub-Divine Weapon.

The True Dragon’s spine before them was two hundred meters long. How horrifying was its value?

There was a common saying, “The dragon hides in the depths.” This saying appeared to be true. Probably only the Northern Sea Alliance was capable of finding such an enormous True Dragon’s spine.

The huge metal box was shut quickly. Xiao Chen felt shocked. This gift was of somewhat too great an import, so much import that he did not dare to accept it.

“Young Master Xiao, there is no need to think about this. While in the Heavenly Ruin Wasteland, you saved the life of our Young Master. This is an appropriate gift. Furthermore, our Young Master values friendship a lot. Since Young Master Xiao is conferred the Azure Dragon King, you are definitely worthy of the spine of this king among dragons,” the old man said casually, his tone indicating that he had a good impression of Xiao Chen. Clearly, that slap earlier really helped this old man vent his frustrations as well.

Not far away, Xia Houjue goggled until his eyes nearly popped out. He thought to himself, Trash! A pile of trash!

This trash did not refer to what Xiao Chen received. Instead, it was the gifts that he himself received. Compared to Xiao Chen’s, they were really all trash.

What was a friend? Xia Houjue seemed to understand a little better now.

The White Emperor City’s Holy Master was very mighty. He relied on his reputation to get the many sects in the Tianwu Domain to offer their congratulations and gifts. These people were not related to Xia Houjue at all. They came for the sake of giving face to the Holy Master. How could they really present gifts on the level of treasures?

As for Xiao Chen’s friends, however, although they were few in number, they were friendships obtained with effort and sincerity.

In the future, when these friends were in trouble, Xiao Chen would definitely help them. He would not care even if he had to go through fire and water for them.

In this offering of congratulations, one had nodding acquaintances and was congratulated out of face. The other had friends who had been through life and death; what they offered was substance, something that was not just for appearances.

Even if these friends of Xiao Chen were to present only a pile of rubbish, it would be much better than Xia Houjue’s pile of magnificent but impractical things.

After the Northern Sea Alliance’s people withdrew, Qi Wuxue, the Young Sect Master of one of the Primal Chaos Domain’s three peak sects, the Muddy Sky Gate, sent someone to present his congratulations and gifts.

Xia Houjue was familiar with the Muddy Sky Gate. Its strength was currently similar to the White Emperor City’s, although it was not as wealthy.

Even so, the Muddy Sky Gate was one of the three overlords of the Primal Chaos Domain. Xia Houjue did not dare to underestimate the people the Muddy Sky Gate sent.

Moreover, even if an ordinary person came, Xia Houjue would not dare to do anything overboard.

Right now, Xia Houjue was trembling. He no longer dared to keep watching at all. The more he saw people offer up their gifts to Xiao Chen, the more hurt he felt, the more what he received looked like a pile of rubbish. Watching was simply suffocating him.

What Qi Wuxue sent with his people was the Beautiful Mountain and River Painting—the same one that several major factions had fought over in the Heavenly Ruin Wasteland, and the Muddy Sky Gate had conveniently collected.

This was yet another valuable treasure. It really made everyone’s eyes turn red with fervor and green with envy.

Following this, the descendant of the Corpse Race’s White Bone Sovereign, Long Fei, personally delivered his congratulations and gift. However, his gift was rather special. It was a note.

This note had one piece of information on it: the location of the Despair Throne, which was in the Heavenly Starry Ocean. This was a piece of very practical and useful news for Xiao Chen.

“Alright, congratulations. This lady did not have anything good to give. I can only give you this Soul Gathering Pearl.” The Ghost Race’s Qing Cheng stepped forward and presented her congratulations and gift.

Although Qing Cheng spoke in such a casual manner, her gift still caused quite a stir.

What was the Soul Gathering Pearl used for? When one died, their three spiritual souls and seven physical souls would immediately scatter. If one had the Soul Gathering Pearl, their three spiritual souls and seven physical souls would not scatter.

[TL Note: Three spiritual souls and seven physical souls is a Taoism concept. After death, the three spiritual souls separated, one to heaven, one to hell, and one lingering at the grave. The seven physical souls are the human aspects, the carnal side of man: joy, anger, grief, fear, love, hate, and desire. The physical souls scattered after death.]

If the physical body was not damaged, the Soul Gathering Pearl could create the miracle of revival within seven days.

Right now, everyone’s eyes were gleaming when they looked at Xiao Chen like they were looking at a human-shaped treasure trove. If anyone robbed Xiao Chen, they would go from rags to riches.

“Young Master Xiao, a stranger asked me to pass this painting to you during your King conferral ceremony. Congratulations on being conferred King.”

A Fiend Race cultivator that Xiao Chen did not recognize stepped forward and handed him a painting.

Xiao Chen unfurled the painting, feeling suspicious. Then, he was stunned. There were only two colors in the painting—black and white. The scene that it depicted was the place beyond the Bridge of Helplessness in the Nine Layers of Purgatory.

Behind the headless Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva was an azure-robed man looking at the shattered pieces of the six paths of reincarnation. There was only a back view, and his identity could not be made out clearly.

Aside from this, there was nothing else special. It was just a simple painting.

Everyone was confused. Xiao Chen found it strange. However, his face remained calm. He put away the painting and said to the Fiend Race cultivator, “Many thanks. This painting is important to me. An old friend sent it.”

That person smiled and said, “Young Master Xiao is too polite. It was just a matter of convenience.”

There were not many people presenting congratulations and gifts to Xiao Chen. Compared to the grand scene of hundreds of sects coming to present their congratulations and gifts to Xia Houjue, it was much lonelier.

However, by this point in time, everyone knew that the main character of this King conferral ceremony was no longer Xia Houjue but Xiao Chen.

Or perhaps it was better to say that the main character never changed; it had been Xiao Chen’s King conferral ceremony from the start.

Just when everyone thought all these shocking things were finally over, a gift from the Chaotic Demonic Sea shocked everyone again, leaving them thunderstruck.

The new Empress of the Chaotic Demonic Sea’s Merfolk Race came to offer her congratulations and gift—the Sea Monarch Crown, an Emperor Grade Secret Treasure. This was a bona fide Emperor Grade Secret Treasure that the Sea Monarch had once used.

Xiao Chen accepted the Sea Monarch Crown. Although he knew that Yao Yan possessed the Thorn Sovereign Circlet and did not need this Sea Monarch Crown, it was still an Emperor Grade Secret Treasure, one that the Sea Monarch had used. Nevertheless, Yao Yan gave it away just like that.

It looked like Yao Yan had been feeling guilty over the matters at the Sea Monarch Palace all the while.

Finally, the segment of presenting congratulations and gifts was over with Xia Houjue just a joke in comparison to Xiao Chen, his pride no longer intact.

In some VIP seats in the distance, the Phoenix’s Passion Palace’s Nuan Muyun and the Divine Martial Gate’s Feng Wuji both revealed expressions of lingering fear.

Back then, when the Three Holy Lands were planning to use one of them to suppress Xiao Chen, because of their lack of ambition, these two had declined and given the chance to Xia Houjue.

If back then, these two had not rejected that role, the ones standing on the platform might have been them. When they thought of Xia Houjue’s experience, they trembled in fear.

Nuan Muyun sighed softly, “Xia Houjue is a little too entranced with these externalities. He sets too much store by them. If he were more broad-minded, given his talent, he could still grow stronger.”

Feng Wuji shook his head and argued, “Xia Houjue was previously the strongest of the younger human generation. When Xiao Chen appeared out of nowhere, his mental state was thrown off-kilter. I can understand that. Today’s matter might not necessarily bring him only trouble.”

Nuan Muyun looked around and said calmly, “This Xiao Chen is indeed strong enough. However, he has too many enemies, and his edge is too sharp. There might still be some variables in this King conferral ceremony.”

“What variables?”

Nuan Muyun pointed in a direction and said, “Look there, at that white-faced youth in black. That is the East Mountain Ghost Monarch’s personal disciple, Xie Zixuan. The murderous intent in his eyes has not faded since Xiao Chen arrived.

“Look at the other side. That is the disciple of the Corpse God Palace’s Heaven Punishing Corpse God, Xing Jue. He is the strongest of the Corpse Race younger generation. Earlier, when Xiao Chen made a move, I noticed the murderous intent in his eyes as well.

“There is also Di Wuque. Until now, I still find this person inscrutable. I cannot figure out what he is thinking.

“The backers of these three people are the strongest experts of the Kunlun Realm. They also have the greatest ambition. How can they stand by idly and watch Xiao Chen get conferred King?

“Not to mention the other Sovereign Martial Emperors’ descendants. It is hard to say whether he can successfully obtain the Azure Dragon King’s insignia.”

Feng Wuji looked in the directions that Nuan Muyun pointed at. When she finished speaking, he revealed surprise on his face. Clearly, he had not expected Xiao Chen to have so many strong enemies.

The East Mountain Ghost Monarch, the Heaven Punishing Corpse God, and the Heaven Abandoning Deity Sovereign were experts on the same level as the Thunder Sovereign. Before Xie Zixuan, Xing Jue, and Di Wuque came, they might have even received instructions from those three experts.

Following this was the bestowing of the King insignia. With these insignia, they would gain the complete acknowledgment of the Martial God Palace.

Xiao Chen’s title of Azure Dragon King would be completely acknowledged.

Xia Houjue should be able to obtain this insignia very easily. However, it would be rather difficult for Xiao Chen to do so.

Before granting the insignia, the Martial God Palace permitted the younger-generation cultivators to come and challenge the King candidates. Under normal circumstances, these challengers would restrict themselves to a simple exchange of pointers, on account of the Martial God Palace.

However, right now, the three Holy Masters currently managing the Martial God Palace clearly did not support Xiao Chen. They were even now on the verge of an acrimonious falling-out.

Xiao Chen would not be able to rely on the Martial God Palace, only on himself.

A pretty maidservant carried a platter with the White Tiger King’s insignia gleaming with a silver light. This was a high-quality Secret Treasure.

After the announcement was finished, the pretty maidservant picked up the White Tiger King’s insignia and prepared to pin it to the chest of Xia Houjue’s robes.

Once the insignia was pinned on, from henceforth, Xia Houjue could openly call himself the White Tiger King.

“Chi!”

When the insignia completely pressed onto an upper corner of Xia Houjue’s chest, it turned into a White Tiger and merged with his clothes. His White Tiger King Armor seemed to change somewhat as well, appearing to be filled with more spirituality.

Indeed, Xia Houjue was successfully conferred King. No one came to challenge him.

Xia Houjue stood to the side and glared at Xiao Chen. He said, “Please, go ahead. According to the Martial God Palace’s rules, once you fail in being conferred King, you will have to return all the gifts. I look forward to your wondrous expression then.”

This kind of person was forever just waiting to see one make a joke of themself. Once one tripped up, they could cast stones at you and mock you.

A maidservant carried over the Azure Dragon King’s insignia. The azure insignia had a dragon’s image carved on it. It gave off a faint azure light and looked misty like it was an illusion.

Under the black-clad old man’s direction, Xiao Chen finished declaring his loyalties. Then, the black-clad old man read out some convoluted and overelaborate words before saying, “After a long time, the Azure Dragon King’s insignia, which has been collecting dust for ten thousand years, is now bestowed on you. I hope you will treasure it and take good care of it.”

“Humph! The Azure Dragon King’s title is very precious. How can the Martial God Palace just casually hand it out to a random person? I, Ren Kongjue, am not convinced of this.”

With a cold shout, a tall and burly figure landed heavily on the platform. It was the Mountain Giant Race’s Ren Kongjue.

“Bang!”

When Ren Kongjue’s feet alighted on the platform, it was like a mountain crashing to the ground. There was a loud sound, and dust flew all over. A shock wave that could split mountains pressed on space, causing it to ripple like water as it spread out.

“It’s here,” Xiao Chen said to himself. He was as calm as still water.

What should come finally came. Xiao Chen intended to put an end to all the past grudges at this King conferral ceremony.

I will defeat anyone who obstructs me from being conferred King. No one can avoid defeat at my hands if I desire it.

Who was Ren Kongjue? He was an outstanding talent of an ancient race, the Mountain Giant Race. In recent times, he appeared at the Starry Heaven Silver Lake, showing off his brightness and daring to compete with Di Wuque.

Ren Kongjue’s landing had kicked up dust and sand and caused an earthquake that could split mountains. This showed how strong he was.

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