Chapter 1004: After Prime, There Might Be Martial God
Xia Houzun said indifferently, "Yes, if Xiao Chen failed in being conferred King, naturally, the Thunder Sovereign would not appear. Never mind. Don't brood over this. As for the White Tiger King title, the Holy Master will still give it to you."
"However, what I want is not just a title!" Xia Houjue said through clenched teeth.
Xia Houzun muttered indecisively with a somewhat sad expression, "Recover from your injuries first. The three Holy Masters will personally see you. Remember the humiliation from today. For what you want, you have to put in the corresponding level of effort."
Xia Houjue was startled, showing it on his face. The three Holy Masters were going to see him personally.
The Holy Master was a supreme existence in the Holy Land. Even as a Holy Scion, he rarely had a chance to see him.
Now, the three Holy Masters were going to meet him together. Could there still be a chance to turn the situation around?
"Don't overthink. The matter of Xiao Chen being conferred King is already set in stone. Nothing can change it. The only one that can change is yourself. This is a chance for you; grasp it properly," Xia Houzun said before leaving.
---
In the Tianwu Plaza, Ao Jiao was no longer controlling Xiao Chen's body. She had returned to the Immortal Spirit Ring and stayed there. Only when he regained control over his own body did he understand how severely injured he was.
That final attack of Di Wuque had really been desperate and ruthless. Even with Xiao Chen's Rank 4 Sage Body, he had suffered severe injuries and was on the verge of death, completely weakened.
If not for Ao Jiao suddenly awakening, Xiao Chen's path to being conferred King would have ended there.
Xiao Chen stretched his arms and legs. He felt that without at least half a month to recuperate, his body would not to recover back to peak state.
"This is your conferred land and your King medallion."
The black-clad old man stepped forward and handed Xiao Chen a map as well as a medallion. Then, he quickly disappeared, afraid that Xiao Chen would make things difficult for him.
Xiao Chen smiled without minding it. He was not in a rush to see where his conferred land was. Then, he boarded the Supreme Sky Sect's warship together with Shui Lingling.
"I will spend some time recuperating first. Senior Sister, please help me to reject any visits for now. Prevent them from interrupting me," Xiao Chen said soon after he boarded.
Shui Lingling nodded and called a person over to bring Xiao Chen to the recuperation room of the warship.
After taking half a day, Xiao Chen managed to suppress all his injuries without any impediment to his mobility. Once his complexion had recovered, he took out the map of where his conferred land was.
When he saw the location depicted in the map, he could not help but frown slightly.
What's wrong? Is the conferred land too small? Or are there no resources? What is it? Ao Jiao asked from the Immortal Spirit Ring.
"No, take a look for yourself."
Ao Jiao flew out from the Immortal Spirit Ring and looked at the map.
The map was made of precious divine materials. The formation carved on it showed the topography of the place. With a thought, the viewer could move the map and change the orientation; it was even more convenient than the electronic maps of Xiao Chen's previous life.
Ao Jiao's gaze stopped at the red dot indicating the conferred land. Smiling, she said, "It looks like the three Holy Masters still played some tricks and tossed you far away."
The place that the map showed was actually not in the Tianwu Domain. Instead, it was past the Primal Chaos Domain and even the Chaotic Demonic Sea. It was on one of the islands of the Heavenly Starry Ocean called Heavenly Star Island.
The island was quite vast, no smaller than an entire province of the Tianwu Domain. There were also a few other auxiliary islands, which expanded the boundaries of the territory.
There was no lack of Spirit Veins on the island. Some could even generate Spirit Stones. This was not too shabby.
Such a large faction like the Martial God Palace had their own territories in the Starry Heavens. They naturally had territories in the Heavenly Starry Ocean as well.
However, Xiao Chen had not expected the three Holy Masters to toss him so far away.
Nevertheless, this was fine as well. This meant that Xiao Chen would not have to meet with them and could develop in peace. With the resources he gained from the King conferral ceremony, he could even develop desolate land. He could use this place as the foundation for the Dragon's Gate.
Coincidentally, according to Long Fei's news, there was a throne in the Heavenly Starry Ocean as well. Furthermore, as the saying went, dragons hid in the depths. This was the place with the most Secret Treasures containing dragon souls.
"That's odd. This piece of land is a treasure. Even if it is far from the Tianwu Domain, the three Holy Masters will not let you have it for nothing," Ao Jiao said in confusion after staring at the map for a long time.
Xiao Chen took back the map and sank into deep thought. He agreed with her logic. After he caused the Three Holy Lands such a great embarrassment, how could they let him benefit like that?
Since the King title was already settled, the Thunder Sovereign would not readily come out of closed-door cultivation. He would surely not delve too deeply into a small matter like Xiao Chen's conferred land.
This gave the three Holy Masters a chance to play some tricks. Perhaps I should go and ask First Senior Sister. Maybe she has some information about it.
"Xiao Chen, may I come in?"
Just as Xiao Chen thought about Shui Lingling, her knocking came from outside the door. He smiled involuntarily. Then, he got Ao Jiao to open the door.
This was Shui Lingling's first time seeing Ao Jiao, so she could not help but be shocked. She looked at Xiao Chen with a complicated expression. Clearly, she had not expected him to be hiding a girl by his side.
Furthermore, this girl was beautiful with a fiery figure. One man and one woman alone together in a room, this situation was hard for Shui Lingling not to misunderstand.
Only after Xiao Chen explained did Shui Lingling understand what was going on. Then, he asked her about his doubts.
Shui Lingling took the map and perused this. After thinking a while, she said, "This place is in the west of the Heavenly Starry Ocean, its most chaotic region. It does not have an overlord unlike the other regions, which have the Northern Sea Alliance or the Cyclic Astral Palace.
"However, if that was it, then it should not be a big problem. I feel that there is still some other hidden danger. As for the specifics, you will have to go there to find out."
Shui Lingling is not sure, either. In that case, I'll not think about it for now.
"Anyway, I'm here to inform you of something. Master just came back from speaking to the Thunder Sovereign and wants to see you now," Shui Lingling said with a smile as she returned the map.
Ying Zongtian, the Kunlun Continent's newly advanced Prime, had brought the Saber Sword Two Sovereigns to Tianwu City and helped up chase away the Heaven Abandoning Deity Sovereign. For both gratitude and logic, Xiao Chen should meet him.
Xiao Chen saw Ying Zongtian, who had already been waiting for him for a while, at the warship's bow. The Sect Master wore blue and appeared to be one with the Dao. He seemed free and at ease, not letting any Emperor's Might leak out.
Ying Zongtian turned around and laughed. "Haha! Congratulations on being conferred King. I saw all the difficulties you faced on your way to where you are now."
Xiao Chen could not help feeling embarrassed. "Sect Master, your being conferred King is the true conferral of King. The moment you advanced to Sovereign Martial Emperor, you already became a Prime. Sect Master, you are probably the only one to do so in the latter part of this Martial Epoch."
Upon hearing what Xiao Chen said, instead of showing a proud expression, Ying Zongtian looked desolate. He smiled bitterly and said, "What joy is there? In my lifetime, this is as far as I'll go. After working hard for a thousand years, I still end up submitting to the Heavenly Dao.
"Your King title is much more important than mine. The words 'Azure Dragon King' represent a certain kind of Luck. What kind exactly? Just look at how the Heaven Abandoning Deity Sovereign and the others reacted, and you will get an idea."
Xiao Chen simply smiled, not daring to reply.
After a few moments of silence, Ying Zongtian suddenly said, "After you recover, leave the Supreme Sky Sect!"
Xiao Chen's expression changed slightly. "Sect Master, what do you mean?"
"Naturally, to release you, a big dragon, into the wild. My Supreme Sky Sect cannot contain you. You have your own conferred land. You can do whatever you want, and you can go to Lingling at any time if you need help."
Xiao Chen revealed suspicion on his face, extremely confused.
The expression on Ying Zongtian's scholarly face suggested that he could tell what Xiao Chen was thinking. He smiled and said, "I know you have questions. You are wondering what I want from you."
He was right. This was what Xiao Chen thought. Everything in the world ran on interest. Why would Ying Zongtian help him for no reason?
The Supreme Sky Emperor had helped Xiao Chen so much already, both openly and in secret. If not for this Martial Emperor, Xiao Chen would have died very miserably several times over.
"Since ancient times, behind every rising outstanding talent has been a protector. I am your protector. My desire is different from that of the others.
"Because the Fiend Domain is in decline, the Spirit Fox King wants to use his adoptive daughter to gain a connection to you. The Saber Sword Two Sovereigns do not want any internal conflict, given the upcoming Demonic Calamity. The Thunder Sovereign did it for a promise.
"As for me, I have only one wish. If one day you surpass my current cultivation, tell me if there is Martial God after Prime!"
Was there really a Martial God realm after Prime?
Even someone as strong as Ying Zongtian did not know if there were Martial Gods or not. Xiao Chen smiled despite himself.
"Is there really no Martial God?"
Smiling, Ying Zongtian said, "They should exist. However, no one in this world has seen a Martial God before. There are no clear records. What we have are only some groundless legends. They are not very persuasive, or at least, I don't believe them."
"Sect Master, you are an outstanding talent, but you are unable to break through the Martial Emperor realm. Why do you believe that I will?" Xiao Chen asked, feeling confused.
Ying Zongtian thought for a while before smiling and suggesting, "Because you are the Azure Emperor's descendant? Because of the name Azure Emperor?"
"No matter how strong the Azure Emperor was, he still died in the end," Xiao Chen retorted somewhat helplessly.
Ying Zongtian smiled without replying. After a while, he handed Xiao Chen a bottle of Medicinal Pills. "Here are ten Heavenly Essence Pills. These are King Grade Medicinal Pills. Given the strength of your body, if you eat this pill, your injuries should recover faster. Consider it a small congratulatory gift from me."
Xiao Chen opened the bottle and sniffed the fragrance. Then, he swallowed a pill on the spot. His internal organs immediately felt a cooling sensation.
His damaged cells and torn meridians all healed at an extremely rapid rate. Ying Zongtian's description was a massive understatement.
"Where is the land that the Martial God Palace conferred to you?"
"Heavenly Star Island."
When Ying Zongtian heard the words "Heavenly Star Island," he thought for a while before smiling. "Heavenly Star Island, that is really far. That place is very chaotic. How about I send a Supreme Elder with you?"
All the Supreme Elders of the Supreme Sky Sect were at least quasi-Emperors. Some ancient ones were even Martial Emperors. Unless the sect was in great trouble, they would be cultivating bitterly.
"Many thanks, Sect Master!"
Xiao Chen rejoiced. He still did not know if there was anything strange going on in Heavenly Star Island. If he had a quasi-Emperor helping him, no doubt he would have a much easier time.
Ying Zongtian shook his head with a smile and said, "You are already no longer of my Supreme Sky Sect. If you do not disdain it, call me Big Brother Ying!"
"Then, many thanks, Big Brother Ying. If I, Xiao Chen, am fortunate enough in the future to break through Prime, I will be sure to repay this kindness."
Xiao Chen was initially startled. If he recognized Ying Zongtian as his big brother, that connection would be a considerable advantage. However, he was an easygoing person.
As for Ying Zongtian, he was clearly not one of those experts with a fixation on seniority, so there was nothing to worry about.
"Good, I'll be waiting for you!"
A light flashed in Ying Zongtian's eyes. Then, he extended his hand, palm out, towards Xiao Chen. Xiao Chen reciprocated in a similar fashion.
Striking palms as an oath, this was a promise between men. Someday, they would find out whether there really were Martial Gods in the world.