Chapter 797: Could He Be the One That Is the Wild Beast?
Xiao Chen held on to the Black Rock Crocodile's tail firmly. No matter how it struggled, it could not escape. He continued smashing it into the ground, not giving it any chance to take action.
The horrified shrieks of the Black Rock Crocodile rang out continuously together with the rumbling. The other cultivators watched as Xiao Chen behaved like a demonic god of strength, flinging around the Black Rock Crocodile like a whip.
Pity for the Black Rock Crocodile stirred in their hearts. This creature was too unfortunate.
After a long time, the shrieks of the Black Rock Crocodile softened. Finally, no more sound came from it. Suddenly, Xiao Chen felt the weight on his hand lighten drastically; he had broken the tough Black Rock Crocodile's tail.
The previous true inheritors all thought it was too ridiculous. They quickly came over to check the situation and saw the ground filled with the smashed flesh of the Black Rock Crocodile, looking no different from mud.
If they had not seen the Black Rock Crocodile before this, they would not have been able to tell that this was a Rank 2 Black Rock Crocodile, something comparable to an Inferior Grade Martial Sage.
Cui Hao flew over, feeling speechless. An Astral Beast actually died just like that. He smiled bitterly and said, "Xiao Chen, go and see if there is an Astral Core."
Every Astral Beast could freely fly about and survive in space. They were in frequent contact with the energy of the universe. All these Astral Beasts had a chance of generating an extremely precious energy crystal core—the Astral Core—in their bodies.
Xiao Chen used his Spiritual Sense to scan that pile of flesh twice. Then he discovered a crystal core with concentrated energy in it. Joy appeared on his face as he stretched his hand out.
A suction force came from Xiao Chen's hand, and a white Astral Core appeared there.
When the others saw this, their eyes lit up. They revealed envious gazes and said, "Xiao Chen actually managed to obtain an Astral Core. He is so fortunate. Although the white Astral Core is the lowest-quality Inferior Grade Astral Core, it can still sell for at least a few thousand Black Astral Coins."
Xiao Chen put away the Astral Core. When he heard the discussions of the people around, he asked, "Black Astral Coins? Cui Hao, what are Black Astral Coins?"
Cui Hao also had an envious gaze as he explained, "The Black Astral Coin is essentially the same thing as an Astral Coin. However, it contains more Astral Iron and has a higher value. Most transactions in the starry heavens use Black Astral Coins.
"However, you are really lucky. Normally, the odds of Rank 1 and Rank 2 Astral Beasts producing Astral Cores are very low. Furthermore, this Black Rock Crocodile is only an ordinary Rank 2 Astral Beast."
The expedition had just started, and Xiao Chen already reaped such a harvest. For the remainder of the expedition, a light appeared in the eyes of all the previous true inheritors as they hunted for hidden Astral Beasts.
Indeed, they managed to find several. After a few battles and killing a few Astral Beasts, no one else had gained an Astral Core.
When the Vice Palace Master saw this scene, he merely smiled and did not say anything. He just walked around like a tourist. Even if he saw unnoticed Astral Beasts, he did not lend a hand.
The Vice Palace Master simply let the disciples act freely and fight with Astral Beasts by themselves.
The unknown black molten lava flowing downwards in the river bubbled occasionally. When a bubble floated to the surface and popped, it gave off an explosive sound.
This bubbling happened all along the black river, releasing a heavy scent of sulfur into the air. Everyone who saw it frowned.
This river was the black water river that Xiao Chen and the others had seen in the distance. The thing flowing in the river turned out not to be water but this lava that was somewhat disgusting yet filled with intense energy.
After killing all sorts of Astral Beasts along the way, the fifty-odd disciples arrived at the riverside. When they saw this scene, they did not seem overly surprised.
After all, anything could happen in the infinite starry heavens. A river of black lava was far from incomprehensible and strange.
The Vice Palace Master glanced around and then fixed his gaze on the black forest on the other side of the river.
"Xiao Chen, Cui Hao, I'll leave this place to you two. I'll make a trip to the forest and come back."
After the Vice Palace Master spoke, he gently floated up and crossed the vast black river, flying towards the black forest and disappearing from the crowd's sight.
Clearly, this was not Cui Hao's first time handling something like this. He gave some instructions to his fellow disciples and then returned.
Along the way, the group had not fought too many battles. However, some fatigue had still built up. So they either closed their eyes to rest or chatted idly. As they spoke, their tones vibrated with anticipation.
Xiao Chen gazed at that black forest. If he did not guess wrong, the Vice Palace Master had gone there to kill Rank 3 and above Astral Beasts.
This would leave only the Rank 1 and Rank 2 Astral Beasts for the group and allow the Vice Palace Master to stand aside and just watch.
The fact that the group did not run into any Rank 3 or above Astral Beasts, when the Vice Palace Master led them to this place, clued Xiao Chen to this conclusion.
Indeed, not long later, piercing roars came from the black forest. Clearly, an intense battle was taking place in there.
"Tomorrow, we will enter that black forest and fight on our own there." Cui Hao sat across from Xiao Chen and tossed out a flask of wine.
Xiao Chen caught the flash and happily took a big gulp. He said, "How long have you been in the Heavenly Battle Palace? It seems like you are very familiar with the routine of this experiential training."
Cui Hao took a sip of wine and smiled with some disappointment and frustration. He said, "About ten years? This is how all experiential training goes. The sect will hunt down all the Astral Beasts that can kill us instantly and then send us out to fight our own battles."
Ten years sounded like a very long time. However, to Cui Hao, this was not exactly that long.
With his talent, Cui Hao would surely advance to Martial Sage before the age of fifty. After he became a Martial Sage, his lifespan would increase to five hundred years.
Ten years out of such a long lifespan was nothing. However, Cui Hao currently had a rather sad and lonely expression on his face.
"Xiao Chen, what is the Tianwu Domain like now? Have you heard of these people?"
Suddenly, Cui Hao changed the topic and asked something unrelated to cultivation. He mentioned several names and asked if Xiao Chen knew anything about them.
Xiao Chen ended up shaking his head after each name, indicating that he had never heard of them. Cui Hao's originally sad expression became really sentimental.
This continued up until the last name, when Xiao Chen said, "An Junxi…this person is now very impressive. He fought the Holy Land Divine Martial Gate's Feng Wuji to a draw, elevating himself to a whole new level. He is now the most famous demonic genius."
When Cui Hao heard that, he was stunned. Then he started laughing loudly, cackling in a somewhat deranged manner, and then took a large swig of the wine. "The waves of the seas and rivers are unending. Ten years ago, those undefeatable outstanding talents basked in glory. As expected, ten years later, they have become complete unknowns, without anyone speaking of them."
Xiao Chen suddenly understood that these names that Cui Hao mentioned were incredible people of their time. They might even have been more famous and magnificent than the seven giants of today.
Unfortunately, the age of geniuses was here. The glory of those who came after overshadowed all these names that were previously renowned throughout the realm. Some were even in more sorrowful states, becoming stepping stones for others.
Normally, it would be a startling matter for someone to become a half-Sage before the age of thirty. However, in this age of geniuses, such a person would just be an ordinary genius, someone of little influence.
Of the seven giants, which of them did not become half-Sages before the age of thirty? Which of them did not kill older-generation half-Sage loose cultivators like these were dogs?
These people of the past had been full of noble aspirations. However, before the waves in front could fulfill their ambitions, the waves behind drove them on, forcing them to crash on the beach and die off.
Furthermore, the people who came after overtook them in such a merciless and overwhelming manner, leaving them in the dust unable to even catch sight of the backs of these people.
This was the peak of the age of geniuses. One could only hate that they were born too early, missing this grand age by just a little bit. To the cultivators who sought the great Dao, this was an enormous tragedy.
Others would not be able to understand such sorrow.
"An Junxi…An Junxi… Ten years ago, that child could not even last a hundred moves against me. Now, even the legendary Holy Scions cannot take him down."
After finishing the wine in the flask, Cui Hao held the flask upside-down and discovered that there was not even a drop left. He casually tossed it into the churning black water, where it immediately shattered into pieces with a loud 'bang.'
Xiao Chen remained silent in his heart. No wonder Cui Hao was so affected when he heard that An Junxi was now so accomplished. It turned out there was such a story behind this.
Cui Hao glanced at the previous true inheritors who had closed their eyes and were resting not far away. He said, "Xiao Chen, do you know that there are many people in the Heavenly Battle Palace? If nothing unexpected happens, most of them will become Martial Sages before the age of one hundred.
"In an ordinary age, even if one was not an absolute genius, if one could become a Martial Sage before a hundred, one would still be able to become an overlord of an area. When these people entered the Heavenly Battle Palace, they were full of hopes and dreams. However, when you arrived, you completely shattered these."
Xiao Chen said doubtfully, "Me?"
"Actually, I have to thank you for being the vanguard. Otherwise, they would feel even worse when a large batch of people arrives.
"Although they have been in the Heavenly Battle Palace all the while, they still know some things about the age of geniuses. They have more or less guessed the result already. Your arrival only reminded them in advance," Cui Hao said somewhat sullenly.
Although he used the words "they" and "them," whether he acknowledged it or not, he was one of the people Xiao Chen had reminded.
This time, the two chatted for a long while. Cui Hao told Xiao Chen of those outstanding talents of his time, those people whose names once spread through the land.
Xiao Chen responded, talking about the Tianwu Domain of today. He touched on the famous seven giants, the demonic geniuses of the Sovereign Noble Clans, like Yan Shisan, as well as the many up-and-coming talents.
Eventually, Cui Hao drank too much and slowly fell asleep, leaving Xiao Chen speaking to himself.
Xiao Chen told his own story, mentioning his experiences. He recalled many past events and thought of many people.
These names were once famous in the Sky Dome Realm. Now, they had fallen by the wayside. Nobody knew whether they could rise again someday.
In the end, Xiao Chen suddenly comprehended something in his heart. The question that had bedeviled him not long ago suddenly became clear.
For the Purple Thunder Divine Incantation to break through from the sixth layer to the seventh layer, one had to undergo a lightning tribulation and a heart tribulation. Furthermore, if one did not handle it well, he would likely die, turning into ashes.
At that time, he had indeed felt fear—fear of loss, fear that he would lose everything after death. He had been afraid of losing all the fame he had worked so hard to obtain in one fell swoop.
Xiao Chen valued himself too much. He worried about being forgotten by the later generations after he returned to dust. That was why he felt fear in his heart.