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墨書 Inktalez
The wind wailed softly as it swept by, and the distant peaks loomed like monstrous giants. The moonlight in Gou Li World was a mesmerizing blend of dim yellow, silver white, and blood red, alternating in a haunting dance. Fang Lin Kong took out the Heaven and Earth Wisdom Book and immediately sensed that the atmosphere around him was unusual.
However, under his mental scan, there were no signs of danger nearby—not even a hint of a suspicious presence.
"If you feel something is off but can't pinpoint the issue, then something must be wrong..." Fang Lin Kong resolutely made up his mind. He fully activated the Triple Shield, unsealing the seven Yuan Shen seals and entering a state of heightened alert. The Thirty-Three Heavens Sealing Technique, Azure Fire Divine Shield, Infinite Radiance Realm... countless beams of light burst forth one after another before retracting. The evolved Azure Fire Divine Flame Armor fused with the original shield, becoming Fang Lin Kong's innermost layer of protection.
It had become a habit for Fang Lin Kong to place the weakest Azure Fire Divine Shield on the outermost layer. However, this was not a good habit; now that he had retracted it to the innermost layer, it wasn't because he realized his mistake but rather because... the evolved Azure Fire Divine Flame Armor had become incredibly powerful!
The modified Azure Fire Divine Flame Armor shed its heavy and simple appearance for a sleek and lightweight design, still covering his entire body with Azure Armor. Aside from the fiery parts, it outlined Fang Lin Kong's athletic and perfect physique like a second skin. Surrounding the Azure Fire Divine Flame Armor was a transparent light shield, within which clung a faint yet immensely powerful layer of Golden Radiance. If one looked closely at this Golden Radiance, they would see that although it was thin, it was composed of dozens of layered defensive formations that continuously shifted and surged.
Closing his eyes, Fang Lin Kong activated his Spiritual Awareness!
He meticulously searched the surrounding space inch by inch, including potential spatial fractures and areas concealed by spells. Patiently, he awaited the emergence of an unknown enemy.
Suddenly, a Dark Red Spirit Rainbow appeared from the void. Fang Lin Kong barely had time to react before he was struck by an unmatched blade of light. The overwhelming force sent him crashing to the ground; had he not been prepared, that swift strike would have sent him straight to his grandmother's grandmother's home. Even so, his three-layered shield bore the brunt of the impact. The outermost Infinite Radiance Realm showed numerous cracks as Fang Lin Kong let out a muffled groan, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
"How strong! This strike is more powerful than anyone I've ever encountered... and its speed is so fast... there's no room for resistance!"
The Dark Red Spirit Rainbow retracted back into the hands of a tall man. Despite Fang Lin Kong's keen eyesight and spiritual awareness—having reached an elite level—he failed to notice where this man had hidden before striking or how he had appeared. After retrieving his blade's light, the tall man calmly said, "Not bad! To withstand my Seven-Style Spirit-Slaying Blade without dying is more surprising than your ability to detect my presence early. Who are you? I’ve never heard of you before."
"Dammit! You haven't heard of me but still attacked? Are you looking for death?"
Regaining his breath, Fang Lin Kong immediately cursed back. "Who cares who you are? Since you want to kill me, why should I be polite?" With such thoughts in mind, Fang Lin Kong felt no fear from the overwhelming killing intent emanating from his opponent; instead, he cast aside any lingering dread and boldly issued an unyielding challenge.
The tall man did not get angry; he merely let out a cold laugh and said lightly, "It's the first time I've seen someone so bold in front of me, Wu Dong Shen. If you want me dead, young man, you might not have enough weight behind your words!"
Fang Lin Kong had already steeled himself, but he was still astonished by the incredible power displayed by his opponent. He remained on guard. However, as soon as the words left Wu Dong Shen's mouth, he saw a flash before his eyes. The attack from the Liexie Twin Hooks was a moment too slow to intercept the blade light, causing the three layers of protective shields around him to tremble violently. Two intersecting beams of Dark Red Spirit Rainbow struck him, dragging a long deep groove into the ground. The Infinite Radiance Realm could not withstand the unmatched blade aura of the Seven-Style Spirit-Slaying Blade and shattered into countless fragments of light.
This time, Fang Lin Kong dared not be negligent. Dozens of azure lightning flames erupted from him, disregarding the heavy injuries inflicted by his opponent's overwhelming power, and he fiercely counterattacked in the shortest time possible.
Wu Dong Shen chuckled softly and waved his hand. Fang Lin Kong's Azure Flame Thunder was swallowed by an invisible force. He found himself intrigued by Fang Lin Kong's resilience. Compared to the first strike, he estimated that this second strike should have been enough to break through Fang Lin Kong's protective shield. However, Wu Dong Shen had underestimated one aspect: the defensive capability of the Thirty-Three Heavens Sealing Technique was actually three times stronger than that of the Infinite Radiance Realm, successfully absorbing his domineering slash.
Fang Lin Kong took a deep breath as he restructured the Infinite Radiance Realm once more. He knew that as long as the Great Freedom Heaven Realm Seven Treasures Banner remained intact, the Infinite Radiance Realm could be reformed countless times. However, if the Thirty-Three Heavens Sealing Technique collapsed, it would be gone for good. This was also why he had never considered using the stronger defensive Thirty-Three Heavens Sealing Technique as an outer shield.
After two failed attempts to break through, Wu Dong Shen maintained his composure and said lightly, "With a junior like you in the Earth Demon Clan, I don't feel inclined to kill you just yet. As long as you can withstand my next attack, I will let you off for your offense today, young man! Get ready to receive my blow!"
Fang Lin Kong had no time for banter; he unleashed a newly refined set of Heaven-Defying Seven Treasures all at once: the Celestial Stone Divine Hammer, Heavenly Strike Water Sword, Crimson Flame Yin Fire Blade, Eight Reverse Black Wind Sail, Nine Heavens Thunder Seal, Black Blood Demon Slayer Stab, and Devouring Void Beak! He struck with maximum power right away; Fang Lin Kong did not intend to sit back and wait for his opponent to attack.
Seeing Fang Lin Kong take the initiative to counterattack, Wu Dong Shen snorted coldly and suddenly vanished from his spot. Then… the Dark Red Spirit Rainbow flickered again as he slashed through seven stars! The Heaven-Defying Seven Treasures refined by Fang Lin Kong were vastly different from those passed down through generations. Wu Dong Shen aimed to establish dominance with this strike but had no intention of killing him. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! The Seven-Style Spirit-Slaying Blade shattered seven treasures in succession before carving into Fang Lin Kong's protective shield. The Infinite Radiance Realm could not withstand it; it exploded under the destructive energy borrowed from Wu Dong Shen’s Heaven-Defying Seven Treasures in this single blow. The Thirty-Three Heavens Sealing Technique directly absorbed this ferocious strike; Fang Lin Kong exerted all his strength just to stabilize this heavy defense. Yet astonishingly, twenty-seven layers of his thirty-three-layer defense array were breached by Wu Dong Shen in one go. Such overwhelming destructive power was something Fang Lin Kong had never witnessed before—truly terrifying.
As long as the Thirty-Three Heavens Sealing Technique was not completely destroyed, it could self-repair. Fang Lin Kong still could not unleash the full power of both the Great Freedom Heaven Realm Seven Treasures Banner and the Thirty-Three Heavens Sealing Technique; otherwise, these two renowned defensive treasures and spells would not have been so easily broken. Shocked by the immense disparity in strength, when Fang Lin Kong finally regained his senses from his daze, Wu Dong Shen had already vanished without a trace.
"Wu Dong Shen! Isn't he one of Kyo Kusanagi? What is Wu Dong Shen doing in Gou Li World? And… how did he get here? Why did he suddenly launch a sneak attack on me?"
Fang Lin Kong was puzzled and could only soar into the sky with sword light toward Sky Lake. Although there were Banma and hundreds of outstanding warriors from the International Demon Alliance at Sky Lake, Fang Lin Kong felt no sense of safety upon reaching there. All along his journey, although he carefully contracted his defensive shield, he dared not be reckless anymore. Less than a hundred miles out, Fang Lin Kong spotted a scene of carnage in midair.
This was a remote village in Lihan Empire where adults and children alike were brutally slaughtered; houses and granaries lay in ruins from relentless blade energy cutting through them mercilessly. Many people had yet to escape their homes and were directly slain inside. The brutality of these methods and their efficiency were extraordinary beyond belief.
Fang Lin Kong did not wish to land; he merely circled in the air before continuing onward. After several dozen miles, he came across another town that had been slaughtered. Along the way, Fang Lin Kong discovered seven or eight places where massacres had occurred, and even some groups of beasts had been killed.
"What is Wu Dong Shen doing killing these people? Moreover, he seems to be in a hurry; his blade energy often spans dozens of meters, cutting down dozens of lives with a single stroke. This method of killing seems rather hasty..."
After leaving the area where he encountered Wu Dong Shen, and after flying for one thousand five hundred kilometers, the signs of slaughter gradually disappeared. Fang Lin Kong rode the sword light higher into the sky, beginning to avoid the increasingly dense crowds below. The Sword Control Technique was already one of the fastest spells for flight; after refining it into an Innate Sword Artifact and comprehending the mysteries of Heavenly Bird Nine Transformations, Fang Lin Kong's maximum flight speed had reached twelve times the speed of sound. However, during long-distance flights, he could not maintain such high speeds continuously. To cross the Northern Gouli Continent and reach Banma's base, even at his most efficient speed of eight times the speed of sound, it would take him at least twenty hours or more.
Pondering Wu Dong Shen's intentions, Fang Lin Kong could not find an answer and decided to set it aside for now. From midnight until the next morning, although his true energy was abundant and he did not feel fatigued, flying at high speed all night had left his mouth feeling dry from the wind. Just as he passed over one of the Four Great Capitals, Eastern Capital Chang'an, a thought struck him, and he descended with a flick of his sword light. The World's Greatest Martial General Conference was about to be held in this largest city of the Northern Gouli Continent; naturally bustling Eastern Capital Chang'an was even more lively than usual. As Fang Lin Kong descended from the sky, he immediately attracted the attention of pedestrians on the street.
Flying in the air was not uncommon in Northern Gouli Continent; the Fengfeng Tribe had unique abilities to condense true essence into wings, and some secret spells allowed them to soar through the atmosphere. Being able to ride on large beasts capable of flight was also a display of wealth and status among nobles in the Lihan Empire. The legendary Celestial Warrior and Celestial Mage were marked by their ability to ascend into the void without relying on any spells or magical artifacts.
Fang Lin Kong's flying ability was not enough to draw attention; however, ignoring air traffic regulations and carelessly flying over Eastern Capital was audacious enough. Everyone wanted to see this person who openly defied the authority of Eastern Capital Chang'an; several passersby who were idling in nearby taverns craned their necks to take a look.
Unaware of any no-fly orders in Eastern Capital Chang'an, Fang Lin Kong thought nothing of it when people reacted with surprise. He did not hide his identity at all and casually strolled through the streets, looking for a nice place to have a pot of tea and fill his stomach.
The Garrison Troops in Eastern Capital Chang'an had long noticed where Fang Lin Kong landed. Just as he was about to enter one of Chang'an's most famous taverns, they blocked his path. The two leading martial generals had already questioned nearby witnesses and confirmed that Fang Lin Kong was indeed that reckless troublemaker. With a wave of their hands, they led their subordinates to apprehend him.
At first, Fang Lin Kong thought they had mistaken him for someone else and was about to clarify when he overheard others discussing that he had inadvertently violated the no-fly order over Lihan Empire's Four Great Capitals. Realizing there was no way to resolve this peacefully, Fang Lin Kong instead calmed down and prepared to resist with force.
The bureaucratic system of Lihan Empire was extremely complex; there were various law enforcement agencies such as city management departments, truth departments, Garrison Troops, direct military corps under Eastern Capital's command, city defense forces, and so on! The Garrison Troops were directly under Zhenhai Wang, the highest political-military officer in Chang'an; thus they usually acted arrogantly. As soon as Fang Lin Kong showed signs of resistance, they immediately brandished their Magic Lightsabers.
Only those with exceptional martial skills could join Eastern Capital's Garrison Troops. After being surrounded by them, Fang Lin Kong attempted several times to break free but failed each time. This only fueled his anger further as he decided to escalate his response.
With a crack sound, Fang Lin Kong broke the arm of the seventh Garrison Troops officer who came forward to enforce the law; temporarily no one dared challenge him again. The two leading martial generals were infuriated beyond measure. They originally intended to punish Fang Lin Kong severely for his audacity; moreover, due to their unit's tradition, everyone took pride in their martial prowess and rarely rushed into capture together. Yet here they were being outmatched by Fang Lin Kong’s display of strength.
In a fit of rage, Gaohao waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to step back, and strode into the tavern. He addressed Fang Lin Kong, "It seems you believe there are no laws in Eastern Capital? Not only did you openly leap through the air, but you also injured my law enforcement personnel. Do you wish to die?"
Fang Lin Kong fiddled with his Magic Lightsaber, completely ignoring Gaohao. With a spiritual power index just over ten thousand, Gaohao was not considered a threat by Fang Lin Kong. Realizing he still hadn't caught the other’s attention with his Magic Lightsaber, Gaohao shouted and threw a punch.
"Blazing Primordial Body!"
Someone nearby gasped in surprise. Fang Lin Kong turned to look, casually extending his left hand to collide with Gaohao's fist. He saw a handsome and carefree young man staring at him, disbelief evident in his eyes—a look that clearly regarded him as an idiot.
Feeling a slight warmth in his hand, Fang Lin Kong exhaled his true energy, forcing Gaohao's internal energy to reverse course, causing blood to spurt uncontrollably. At that moment, he recalled that the Blazing Primordial Body was one of the three great clan techniques of the Flame Clan.
Gaohao was sent flying like a cannonball by Fang Lin Kong's strike, shocking the soldiers of the Garrison Troops. They were aware of their commander's abilities; despite Gaohao's skills, he couldn't withstand even one move from his opponent. The defeat was so humiliating that they found it hard to deal with the situation.
As he looked at the handsome young man, whose disdainful gaze had shifted from seeing him as an idiot to one of bewilderment, Fang Lin Kong finally turned back to see Gaohao, now surrounded by flames and losing control of his true energy. His opinion of the Flame Clan's martial arts dropped a notch. Another martial general, Wu Ge, was trying to stabilize Gaohao's chaotic energy but found himself unable to assist due to their similar levels of internal power.
Scratching his head, Fang Lin Kong realized that sitting down for tea and food was not appropriate behavior at this moment. He stepped out of the tavern and, before anyone could react, lightly slapped Gaohao on the back, instantly calming his raging true energy. The ease with which Fang Lin Kong executed this move left not only the ordinary soldiers but even Wu Ge astonished. His actions were so effortless and composed that they had no time to respond as he moved through the scene like it was unoccupied territory.
With his internal energy now under control, Gaohao leaped up and shouted at Fang Lin Kong, "I am not someone who covets bribes! Although you saved me, I do not appreciate it. We can overlook your injury to my subordinate this time, but you must pay for your unauthorized flight over Eastern Capital."
Faced with such a persistent enforcer, Fang Lin Kong had no choice but to comply and pay the fine. Only then did Wu Ge awkwardly approach and say, "We soldiers have fines we must fulfill; if we fail to do so, we won't receive our salaries and our families will suffer. We were going to take you in for record-keeping this time but we'll let it go."
As Gaohao and Wu Ge departed, Fang Lin Kong sighed deeply; it seemed life was tough everywhere. If enforcers did not oppress the common people, then institutional pressures would still weigh heavily upon them.
The handsome young man observed that Fang Lin Kong seemed uninterested in anything else. He approached Fang Lin Kong's table and said, "I am Dong Guo Xue! I just witnessed your incredible defeat of our city's martial general; your skills are astonishing and have left me in awe. May I ask your esteemed name?"
Fang Lin Kong smiled brightly and said, "I am Huan Huo from the Fengfeng Tribe, hailing from Eastern Sea Lin'an Island!"
Dong Guo Xue, sitting comfortably beside Fang Lin Kong, curiously asked, "The Heavenly Bird Nine Transformations of the Feng Clan is incredibly profound. I have tried to cultivate it myself but couldn't condense true energy wings. What is the secret that allows ordinary people to master this divine skill?"
Fang Lin Kong could see at a glance that Dong Guo Xue was a girl disguised as a boy. He was no longer a naive youth, having learned from his experiences with Murphy and Yan Yini. He immediately saw through Dong Guo Xue's disguise. As for the mystery of the Heavenly Bird Nine Transformations, Fang Lin Kong naturally knew that the Fengfeng Tribe had a unique constitution that allowed them to practice Celestial Transformation. It wasn't impossible for other races to cultivate it, but they would first need to alter their constitution. Unfortunately, there was no technology for such transformation in the Gouli Continent.
He smiled lightly and said, "Celestial Transformation is a secret skill passed down in my tribe. Other races wishing to cultivate it must obtain Dragon Fruit to eliminate the impurities within their bodies. Otherwise, they will never succeed."
Unaware that Fang Lin Kong was teasing her, Dong Guo Xue eagerly began asking about where Dragon Fruit was produced, what it looked like, and how it could be consumed. Fang Lin Kong's spirit surged as he began to speak freely, spinning tales like a rushing river—how it took thirty years for the flowers to bloom and another thirty for the fruit to bear; how it took over a hundred years to mature; how there were only thirty fruits per harvest; how its growing location was remote and guarded by fierce beasts... This kind of exaggerated storytelling was something every boy who had read martial arts novels knew by heart, so Fang Lin Kong spoke vividly and in great detail.
Upon hearing that Dragon Fruit also had effects on beauty and maintaining youth, Dong Guo Xue immediately felt envious. Her big watery eyes seemed to plead with Fang Lin Kong to take her to pick such extraordinary fruit.
Fang Lin Kong confidently declared, "Although picking this fruit is quite difficult, I feel a strong connection with you, little brother. I am willing to risk my life for you. However, I fear my strength alone may be insufficient; why don't you come with me?"
After hesitating for a moment, Dong Guo Xue gritted her teeth and resolutely said, "I will go with you, Brother Huan Huo..."
Fang Lin Kong's heart leaped with joy. Although Dong Guo Xue was disguised as a boy, her fair skin and slender figure were still evident. The loose clothing concealed much, but whether she was well-endowed or not was something he could ponder later. He thought to himself, "Once we reach a deserted place, I'll pounce on her and enjoy myself first..."
Unaware of Fang Lin Kong's sordid thoughts, Dong Guo Xue considered returning home to gather some supplies before setting off. Fang Lin Kong feared losing this opportunity but knew he couldn't appear too eager. He smiled and said, "It’s indeed essential to prepare adequately before going for Dragon Fruit; we mustn't act recklessly. It would be best if you took a few more days to make complete preparations. I still have several storage pouches I just purchased with some necessary items already prepared; I can lend them to you so you can save time on gathering supplies."
Dong Guo Xue paused slightly as she accepted the storage pouch handed over by Fang Lin Kong. It had four bright orange storage compartments neatly arranged on it. She gently opened one and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. Coming from a wealthy family, she had seen many rare treasures before, but Fang Lin Kong's generosity was astonishing. One of the pouches was filled with sixteen compartments of true silver bullets and contained an exquisitely crafted Magic Gun about half an arm long. Just this item alone was worth a fortune. The other three storage pouches held several finely crafted weapons newly forged by Fang Lin Kong. Dong Guo Xue casually picked up a short sword; as she drew it slightly from its sheath, it gleamed brilliantly—its quality so exceptional that even the royal collection of the Lihan Empire would have few comparable pieces. The remaining items included medicines, dried food, drinks, spare clothing, and more—an impressive array indeed.
Dong Guo Xue felt somewhat strange inside.
Initially impulsive in agreeing to accompany Fang Lin Kong in search of Dragon Fruit, she now felt some regret. She wanted to return home for further consideration about whether or not to go. Moreover, if she truly intended to leave home, she would need at least to leave a letter behind and take some travel expenses along with necessary weapons and clothing. Fang Lin Kong did not seem very reliable at first glance; although Dong Guo Xue loved adventure, she wasn't foolish and knew better than to trust strangers easily. The gifts offered by Fang Lin Kong only deepened her suspicion.
She suddenly thought to herself, "This person is so enthusiastic; could there be another motive behind it? His martial arts skills are so high that if he sees through my disguise, what ulterior motives might he have... If we were to travel together in the wilderness, far from human habitation, how could I resist if he were to go wild?"
As these unsettling thoughts crossed her mind, a faint blush appeared on Dong Guo Xue's face, vibrant and alluring, leaving her momentarily speechless. Fang Lin Kong felt a jolt in his heart as he looked at her. Having spent a long time on Earth, he may not have had much experience, but he had seen enough of various situations. He naturally understood that pursuing a woman should not be rushed, and one must never show desire too early. So, he chuckled lightly and said, "I originally had important matters to attend to in Eastern Capital Chang'an. However, this World's Greatest Martial General Conference is the most anticipated event for martial artists like us. You seem to be a local, Dong Guo Xiaodi; do you know how to register for this grand event?"
Dong Guo Xue was indeed distracted by Fang Lin Kong's question and excitedly replied, "Speaking of The First Martial Arts Tournament, it is the biggest event in our Eastern Capital Chang'an; even the Heavenly Capital Golden Turtle cannot boast such glory. Every time, extraordinary individuals from all over the country and even from the Southern Continent come to compete. Registration is quite simple; you just need to go to the conference's registration office and fill out some information. However, if you miss your scheduled match, it will be considered a forfeiture. The First Martial Arts Tournament consists of preliminary qualification rounds followed by the official competition. After passing the preliminaries, you can move to the Hero's Pavilion specially arranged by the conference for accommodation, where you won't have to worry about food or lodging; everything will be provided by the event."
Fang Lin Kong nodded repeatedly as Dong Guo Xue grew more animated while continuing her introduction. "Besides the formal competitions, The First Martial Arts Tournament always features many exciting side events. Among them is the Formula Racing Tournament, which has become even more popular than the martial arts contests themselves, with audience numbers soaring year after year. There's also the Magic Chess Player Tournament, another classic event where all players ranked nine-dan and above from across the nation participate. The prize money is incredibly generous—beyond imagination..."
Fang Lin Kong listened with rapt attention; on Earth, monsters and humans fought each other without ever hosting such grand events. The Olympics had become a joke in a country where everyone's physical condition was declining while medals continued to multiply.
After discussing for a while, Fang Lin Kong felt he had matters to attend to and said his goodbyes: "In that case, let's meet again at this tavern ten days later. I still have things to take care of now. If it's not too much trouble, could you help me register for The First Martial Arts Tournament? It would save me some time."
Dong Guo Xue had snuck out of her home and was thrilled to have met such an open-hearted and interesting person; she felt somewhat reluctant to part ways. However, Fang Lin Kong was resolute in his departure; it was clear he wasn't just being polite. She didn't want to hold him back either. They exchanged warm farewells, and this time Fang Lin Kong dared not fly up carelessly into the air; first, he used a spell to conceal his form before soaring into the clouds.
Dong Guo Xue soon lost sight of Fang Lin Kong and felt even more envious. Coming from a noble family in the Lihan Empire and having encountered many capable individuals, she had never met anyone as elusive and carefree as Fang Lin Kong.
Just after leaving the urban area of Eastern Capital Chang'an, Fang Lin Kong was surprised to see a large number of aerial troops positioned in mid-air, ready for action. He thought to himself, "Could it be that the Lihan Empire has already mastered technology capable of breaking my invisibility field? Are they planning an ambush against me?"
However, Fang Lin Kong quickly realized that he had misunderstood their intentions. He saw Wu Dong Shen...
(To be continued)
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