Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Although Southern Fire was sharp and capable, he couldn't help but feel moved by such sincere words. White Wujie, fearing that time would drag on, quickly instructed Southern Fire to follow him as they set off immediately. The martial artists of the Gouli Continent possessed strong vital energy; with a little training, they would surely become skilled fighters, providing additional support for their development back on Earth. White Wujie was quite shrewd in his calculations.
Once outside, White Wujie chanted a few words and raised his hand, summoning a yellow light that revealed a creature resembling a dragon but not quite one. He leaped onto it and beckoned Southern Fire to follow, soaring into the sky. The nearby residents had grown accustomed to such sights and sighed, saying, "Another fool sent to die on Volcano Island by that con artist!"
As long as the Fengfeng Tribe was willing to diligently train, more than thirty percent of adult members could develop wings and soar through the skies, which was not particularly surprising for them. However, with so many monsters from Earth, each practicing different spells, their flying methods were varied and peculiar. This opened the eyes of the residents of Lin'an City.
Southern Fire gathered his vital energy and lightly shouted, causing a pair of pale blue wings to unfurl from his back. He exerted himself to fly but was greatly astonished. He thought to himself, "This White Wujie claims this creature is unimpressive, yet its speed is truly remarkable. Even I must exert all my strength."
To appear impressive in front of Southern Fire, White Wujie dared not speak along the way and focused entirely on using his magical abilities to fly. The creature he rode was a flying staff formed through the most profound black magic techniques, akin to the witches' brooms from ancient European legends. It could easily break the sound barrier at four times the speed of sound, far beyond what Southern Fire could compare to.
In just over a hundred nautical miles, White Wujie had already covered two-thirds of the distance with Southern Fire. As he hovered in mid-air waiting for Southern Fire to catch up, preparing to feign humility to elicit envy from him, a clear voice echoed in his ear: "White Wujie, where have you been? We've been waiting impatiently. Hurry up and complete that sinister ritual; we are about to break ground here. This Volcano Island has splendid scenery; everyone is quite satisfied. Our First Guard Brigade is also full of talent; we already have senior architects who have designed the blueprints. Why don’t you come take a look and see if you’re satisfied?"
White Wujie was furious but dared not express it. He could only say to Southern Fire, "There's nothing we can do! We are a relatively weak sect compared to these people with numerous disciples and followers. Even our privately owned island must be handed over."
Southern Fire recognized Fang Lin Kong; recently, countless unfamiliar faces had appeared in Lin'an City, among which Fang Lin Kong stood out the most. The allegiance of Jiugui Yuzhai had led to legends about him circulating among Lin'an's tens of thousands of troops. Curious, he couldn't help but glance at Fang Lin Kong a few more times. Fang Lin Kong noticed and grinned widely. He soared into the sky and approached Southern Fire, patting him on the shoulder as he said, "That White Wujie is utterly unreliable. If you regret it now, it's not too late. Why not come under my Celestial Gate? Your future will surely be bright."
Southern Fire was about to respond when White Wujie angrily interjected: "Captain! How can you do this? My Black Wind Group has only recruited seven people in total in Lin'an City. Your Celestial Gate has over ten thousand members already! Are you really trying to poach this new recruit from me?"
Fang Lin Kong chuckled and replied, "Who can blame me? Your Black Wind Group seemed to be developing well at first, right? You recruited over a hundred new members; eighty or ninety died at the altar while only ten or so newcomers remain—it's impressive that any stayed!"
White Wujie feared that Southern Fire might leave without him and thus had no choice but to argue defensively: "Our Black Wind Group recruits elite fighters; naturally, our selection process is strict. A low success rate is unavoidable!"
Fang Lin Kong didn't want to expose White Wujie's shortcomings too harshly since they were part of the same faction. He simply smiled and said, "I'll give you a few hours; hurry up with your tasks. My Dog-headed Laborers are about to arrive for transport; we plan to break ground today."
White Wujie agreed hurriedly and led Southern Fire toward the volcano's mouth for preparations. He had performed rituals over a hundred times before with a success rate of less than five percent. However, after so many trials, this preparation felt familiar to him. In just a few minutes, White Wujie was ready and positioned Southern Fire in the center of the altar before shouting loudly to activate the formation.
The volcanic energy was naturally active at the crater; most summoned beings from other planes tended to be violent and energetic. In previous attempts, White Wujie had summoned over ten fire demons, several firebirds, even flame goddesses and fire dwarves; once he even summoned a blazing dragon. As soon as this summoning formation opened up, White Wujie felt an unprecedented amount of magical energy being absorbed by the altar at an alarming rate. He was shocked as he realized he had summoned an incredibly powerful being again—based on this absorption speed alone, it seemed that whatever he summoned would be at least two or three levels above him.
Fang Lin Kong had invited Tengu Kaen today to observe how he constructed his base. At this moment, very few members of the First Guard Brigade were around him; they were all busy expanding their influence while bodyguards from the Fengfeng Tribe surrounded him impressively. Tengu Kaen had never seen such fantastical spells before and found great amusement watching White Wujie perform his strange dance.
Fang Lin Kong temporarily set up a portable hotel on Volcano Island after tidying up a bit. Tengu Kaen stood on an observation platform watching intently before turning back to Fang Lin Kong and asking: "Your subordinate seems quite remarkable! Look at that red cloud forming above the volcano; I wonder if it will affect us here?"
Fang Lin Kong smiled lightly and said, "If he can be considered capable, then there are hardly any useless members in our guard team. I can easily break this interdimensional summoning spell with just a wave of my hand, so you don't need to worry."
Tengu Kaen chuckled, "Brother Huanhuo really loves to talk nonsense. The first time we met, you acted like a beggar, and the gift you gave me was so shabby that my mother and I felt quite sorry for you! But it turns out you have such abilities; in some ways, you're much better than my stiff older brother. However, your tendency to brag and deceive is something you'll never change."
Fang Lin Kong replied with a smile, "Why change those qualities? When Dog-headed Laborer arrives, you'll see how Brother Huanhuo casts his spell—I'm sure he'll be a hundred times stronger than that useless one you're watching now."
Upon hearing this, Tengu Kaen felt quite eager. At that moment, White Wujie had nearly exhausted all his magical energy due to the interdimensional summoning array and was foaming at the mouth, struggling to hold on. His willpower was impressive; he was on the verge of fainting but gritted his teeth and refused to fall.
Southern Fire felt an intense heat within him, as if millions of pounds of charcoal were being fanned into a blazing red glow, scorching his body. All that filled Southern Fire's mind at that moment was one thought: "Damn it! I've been tricked!"
Fang Lin Kong's magical power far surpassed that of White Wujie, and his understanding of spatial dimensions was not something White Wujie could compare to. His Spiritual Awareness clearly sensed that a presence from the interdimensional realm had descended, its energy astonishingly powerful.
"The detector's response exceeds two hundred forty thousand! And it's high-purity fire-type magic. This thing from the Fengfeng Tribe definitely can't withstand it; I should help that guy White Wujie! After all, he's also one of my subordinates."
Fang Lin Kong waved his hand and instructed the Nine Ghosts Yu Zhai following him, "I see that area will soon lose control; you should strike now and break that summoning array."
Recently learning the divine skills taught by Fang Lin Kong, Nine Ghosts Yu Zhai felt regretful for not having an opportunity to showcase them. Hearing this made him overjoyed; he immediately teleported with a leap, spreading his wings behind him and rushing toward the volcano's mouth. A line of fire shot up from Southern Fire's body into the sky, connecting with the Fire Cloud above the volcano, and a strange creature appeared fiercely. This creature was entirely composed of flames, long and slender in shape, with wings unfurling behind it—it was a rare Flamewing Serpent.
In this type of dimensional summoning, what emerged was mostly not the true form of the otherworldly creature but rather its energy projection shadow. Because of this, black sorcerers could manipulate it. Nine Ghosts Yu Zhai did not understand the principles behind this spell; he believed in the simple truth that strength begets strength. With his qi soaring into the air, Nine Ghosts Yu Zhai shouted loudly as a blue rainbow shot swiftly like lightning toward the Flamewing Serpent.
"Azure Dragon Sword Seal!"
Although the summoned Flamewing Serpent was merely a projection, its power was already formidable enough to rival top experts. When struck by Nine Ghosts Yu Zhai's Azure Dragon Sword Seal, it immediately became furious and roared as it spewed countless fireballs toward him.
Relying on his agile movements and employing a hit-and-run strategy alongside Azure Dragon Sword Seal for long-range attacks, Nine Ghosts Yu Zhai surprisingly held his ground against the Flamewing Serpent. Although Heavenly Bird Nine Transformations allowed for swift movement, its attack power had always been relatively weak and less suited for ranged combat. With Fang Lin Kong teaching him techniques from Azure Dragon Deity and guiding him in cultivating sword qi, Nine Ghosts Yu Zhai suddenly gained tremendous strength.
In mid-air, a massive azure dragon soared gracefully while the fire serpent opened its jaws to unleash flames; Azure Light flames intertwined in a dazzling display. Tengu Kaen watched nervously and grabbed Fang Lin Kong's hand, anxiously asking, "Can Brother Huanhuo handle that monster?"
Fang Lin Kong chuckled and replied, "Of course Nine Ghosts Yu Zhai can't handle it alone; however, I'm just helping relieve some pressure for that kid down there. Didn't you see that the Flamewing Serpent has already merged with that fool tricked by White Wujie? Their souls have combined; only one can devour the other—there's no third outcome!"
Tengu Kaen gasped in shock and began to worry for Southern Fire. She pleaded with Fang Lin Kong, "Brother Huanhuo must have a way to save him, right?"
Fang Lin Kong smiled mischievously and said, "In this world, it's always better to rely on oneself than on others. If you want to save someone, why not let Huoyue take action personally?"
Tengu Kaen exclaimed angrily, "If I had a way, I would have saved him myself!"
Fang Lin Kong smiled and replied, "I certainly have a way to give you that ability!"
Before Tengu Kaen could comprehend what he meant, Fang Lin Kong had already formed intricate hand seals. Suddenly, Tengu Kaen felt her body lighten and she was involuntarily propelled toward the battlefield. When she realized what was happening, she saw not the fierce battle between the Nine Ghosts and the Flamewing Serpent, but rather Southern Fire, who had not joined the fight below, struggling desperately against the Flamewing Serpent.
Fang Lin Kong's voice reached her ears: "Sister Huo Yue! I'm giving you a chance to be the beauty who saves the hero! You must seize it well. The world you see now is not real; it's Southern Fire's spiritual realm, and that Flamewing Serpent is a manifestation of its consciousness. If Southern Fire is swallowed by the Flamewing Serpent, his body will completely demonize! Hurry and lend him a hand! He looks like he can't hold on much longer!"
Indeed, Southern Fire was on the brink of collapse. His Heavenly Bird Nine Transformations were not as advanced as those of the Nine Ghosts; he had only reached the sixth transformation. If it weren't for the fact that battles in the spiritual realm were fought with will rather than real power, he would have been defeated long ago. Even so, Southern Fire was struggling immensely, covered in wounds, his weapon broken, and unable to counterattack.
Seeing the overwhelming ferocity of the Flamewing Serpent made Tengu Kaen feel terrified. Just when she was panicking and unsure of what to do, a surge of powerful spiritual energy enveloped her, causing her to radiate brilliant purple light. A stream of purple lightning danced around her.
At that moment, instead of feeling threatened by this purple lightning, Tengu Kaen felt a newfound confidence that she could harness it to strike down the detestable Flamewing Serpent. The surging electric energy coursing through her body was exhilarating; she gathered a bolt of purple lightning between her hands and launched it fiercely at the Flamewing Serpent.
Southern Fire came from humble beginnings; his parents struggled financially, which led him to vow to rise above his circumstances and become someone important. Thus, he trained diligently in martial arts from a young age and studied various disciplines. His character was incredibly tenacious, but unfortunately, luck was not on his side. After joining the military, he had never received a promotion and had spent over ten years in his position within the supervisory guard. This time, joining White Wujie's Black Wind Group was quite out of character for his usual cautious nature.
When he confronted the Flamewing Serpent for the first time, he was initially terrified. However, his stubbornness soon kicked in, refusing to submit easily. He fought back with all his might. The martial skills he had honed over time had no opportunity to shine against such a threat; instead, he unleashed his Celestial Transformation to its fullest extent and broke through his usual limits. His blade moved like a shooting rainbow, striking the Flamewing Serpent multiple times.
Yet the Flamewing Serpent was vastly superior in both strength and spirit. Each time it suffered damage, flames erupted from its body before it quickly recovered. Meanwhile, Southern Fire grew weaker with each battle; just as despair began to set in and he contemplated giving up, Tengu Kaen's purple lightning arrived just in time.
Fang Lin Kong manipulated his hand seals further to empower Tengu Kaen in her battle against the Flamewing Serpent. The more he used this technique, the more he marveled at it: "The Heavenly Demon Ten Strategies are indeed extraordinary; even just this purple lightning technique is immensely powerful and suits me perfectly!" Although Fang Lin Kong had practiced many spells by now, none were particularly suited to him. He possessed countless treasures and profound understanding of energy but lacked a cohesive set of techniques or methods to integrate what he had learned.
To be honest, Heavenly Demon Ten Strategies were not entirely suitable for him. The energy within Fang Lin Kong was already quite chaotic; he did not need more types of true energy added to it. However, Heavenly Demon Ten Strategies allowed for different types of true energy to be channeled effectively, enabling him to gain significant insights. Given some time, Fang Lin Kong could create his own version of Heavenly Demon Ten Strategies tailored to control the various energies within him.
Southern Fire remained unaware that he had become Fang Lin Kong's remote-controlled pawn in training Tengu Kaen in this purple lightning technique. He felt an inexplicable gratitude toward this girl who suddenly appeared in his spiritual realm and struck down the Flamewing Serpent with purple lightning.
The Flamewing Serpent roared in anger after being hit by the purple lightning and temporarily spared Southern Fire before unleashing hundreds of fireballs toward Tengu Kaen. In panic, Tengu Kaen urged her surging spiritual power forward; she unleashed all her electric energy in one explosive burst that formed a massive blade of purple lightning.
Watching from behind, Fang Lin Kong sighed at how unfortunate it was when he saw that the Flamewing Serpent was cleaved in two by this blade of purple lightning. However, Tengu Kaen soon found herself drained of spiritual energy and unable to maintain her connection with Southern Fire's spiritual realm.
Returning to reality, Tengu Kaen wore an expression of slight panic as she turned around to see Fang Lin Kong smiling gently at her while giving her a thumbs-up. "Sister Huo Yue! You truly are remarkable; you defeated that Flamewing Serpent in just two moves! No wonder you're Brother Tengu's sister."
Tengu Kaen blushed slightly; she knew full well that it was Fang Lin Kong's ability at play here. Concerned about whether Southern Fire was safe or not, she refrained from explaining right away and instead looked toward the battlefield near the volcano's mouth.
The battle at the Nine Ghosts Guardian's lair had come to an end. The once fearsome Flamewing Serpent suddenly seemed to lose its target, becoming dazed and confused. A red light rose from Southern Fire, and the Flamewing Serpent dove down, merging with him. Emerging from the flames, Southern Fire stepped forward, his demonic power erupting like a volcano. Behind him, the fierce and unmatched Flamewing Serpent manifested, and with a surge of flames, the Summoning Magic array was instantly shattered.
Fang Lin Kong shouted, "Not good!" A flash of sword light appeared around him as he swiftly intervened to rescue the already unconscious White Wujie. In a daze, Southern Fire swung his hand back, unleashing a fierce blade of fire towards the approaching Fang Lin Kong. The Nine Ghosts Guardian, eager to protect its master, activated the Azure Dragon Sword Seal to counter this fiery attack. However, the sudden surge of demonic power from Southern Fire shattered the sword imprint, causing the gathered Azure Dragon energy to disperse.
Fang Lin Kong moved like lightning, retreating from the battlefield before Southern Fire's blade could reach him. Seeing that the Nine Ghosts Guardian was at a disadvantage, he pointed his fingers in quick succession. Transparent and colorless sword light pierced through Southern Fire's protective flames and struck at his forehead, acupoints, and other vital spots. Stimulated by Fang Lin Kong's sword energy, Southern Fire suddenly regained his senses and quickly withdrew his attack, causing the second strike of the Flame Demon Blade aimed at the Nine Ghosts Guardian to collapse into nothingness.
When Southern Fire looked up again, his eyes shone with a strange fiery brilliance filled with confidence. He slightly bowed towards Fang Lin Kong in the sky and said, "Southern Fire is grateful for Mr. Ember's assistance and will never forget this great kindness. However, a true man’s ambition lies in all directions. With Mr. White Wujie's help to enhance my strength, I will surely repay you in the future; but for now, I do not wish to serve either of you."
Fang Lin Kong was slightly surprised yet also admired this person. He replied, "Where are your thoughts wandering? The organizations we establish are always focused on helping others without seeking anything in return. Even Mr. Nine Ghosts Guardian is sincerely willing to assist me out of goodwill rather than coercion or obligation! Mr. Southern Fire, feel free to pursue whatever you wish without any guilt!"
Southern Fire bowed deeply to Fang Lin Kong and said, "I am about to set off for Eastern Capital Chang'an! If this journey fulfills my wishes, I will be eternally devoted to any task Mr. Ember assigns me!"
Fang Lin Kong casually tossed White Wujie behind him to the Nine Ghosts Guardian and asked, "What benefits does Eastern Capital Chang'an hold? Why is Southern Fire in such a hurry to go there?"
Just as the Nine Ghosts Guardian was about to respond, Southern Fire exclaimed loudly, "Eastern Capital Chang'an is hosting the World's Greatest Martial General Conference! It is an event that all martial artists yearn for most. Although I believe my skills are decent, I feel inadequate competing in such a grand occasion. Now that I have received help from Mr. White Wujie and Mr. Ember and my strength has greatly increased, I wish to compete against martial generals from all over!"
Southern Fire spoke passionately while Fang Lin Kong noticed that behind him, the Nine Ghosts Guardian was also stirred by the mention of the World's Greatest Martial General Conference; he trembled slightly with excitement. Understanding dawned on him as he smiled faintly and pondered for a moment before turning back to Nine Ghosts Guardian and asking, "Do you also wish to participate in this World's Greatest Martial General Conference?"
Upon hearing Fang Lin Kong's question, Nine Ghosts Guardian felt a sudden jolt in his heart...
The Lihan Empire has always revered martial prowess and treats martial artists exceptionally well. Those with great skills often have opportunities to be recruited into armies by various cities; each Duke Province has a tradition of selecting generals based on martial strength. However, if there is one place that attracts martial artists most of all, it is undoubtedly Eastern Capital Chang'an's World's Greatest Martial General Conference held every twenty years.
Even on the Gouli Continent where lifespans average three hundred years, an event held every twenty years is considered quite rare. Because of this long interval between events, anticipation builds even more. This conference has always been organized by the royal family of Lihan Empire. Each time it attracts tens of thousands of participants; those who achieve notable rankings gain immediate favor from the royal family and are recruited into one of the four royal forces: Skybreaker Knights, Imperial Forest Guard, Tiger Guard Battalion, or Golden Dragon Warrior Brigade. Moreover, this honor is an irresistible temptation for those who have dedicated themselves tirelessly to martial arts.
Each time someone emerges victorious at the World's Greatest Martial General Conference with overwhelming strength earns recognition across Northern Gouli Continent; their fame can even surpass that of the universally acknowledged Four Great Saints. After all, those who triumph after fierce battles seem more admirable than those merely recognized as experts.
However noteworthy is that for five consecutive conferences now, each winner has been a direct disciple of one of the Four Great Saints. Among them was Tengu Zongyuan who ranked fourth in the last conference; he became the greatest beneficiary amidst political turmoil in the capital and was appointed as Grand Marshal due in part to his past achievements.
Both Southern Fire and Nine Ghosts Guardian had dreamed of showcasing their martial prowess at this year's World's Greatest Martial General Conference and defeating countless opponents. However, they considered their skills only average; even if they went there now they would likely end up as mere cannon fodder.
Having received training from Fang Lin Kong, Nine Ghosts Guardian believed he had gained enough strength for a respectable ranking and had thought about discussing this matter with Fang Lin Kong before but hesitated due to feeling unworthy of bringing it up. Now that Fang Lin Kong had asked directly, Nine Ghosts Guardian sighed and said, "Although I wish to go, given my skills I would probably rank outside of a hundred."
Fang Lin Kong smiled slightly and said, "Though methods for temporarily boosting power can be dangerous, there’s still a significant chance of success with my assistance. If this conference does not prohibit using Divine Weapons during combat, I can provide you with an exceptionally powerful treasured blade."
Jiu Gui Yu Zhai was overjoyed, seeing a ready example before him. Southern Fire had gained the Flamewing Serpent's possession, instantly becoming a master on par with Tengu Zongyuan. If Fang Lin Kong had some miraculous means to rapidly enhance his power, Jiu Gui Yu Zhai would undoubtedly believe it.
Southern Fire initially intended to take his leave immediately, but Fang Lin Kong's words made him hesitate. If he could leap to become an extraordinary master, then creating another master would surely be easy as well. If Jiu Gui Yu Zhai gained even greater martial prowess, it wouldn't be too concerning; what he feared most was if Fang Lin Kong could produce a hundred or eighty similar masters in one go—what hope would he have then?
As this thought crossed his mind, Southern Fire felt a sudden chill in his heart. Just as he was hesitating, the awakened White Wujie lunged toward him, eagerly saying, "Our Black Wind Group warmly welcomes new members! Tonight, I will gather all the team members to dine at the largest restaurant in Lin'an to celebrate!"
White Wujie had not heard Southern Fire's earlier announcement; even if he had, he would pretend not to have heard it. Fang Lin Kong smiled slightly and went to the sea to look for traces of the Dog-headed Laborers, uninterested in these trivial matters.
Before long, sailboats appeared on the horizon, bringing hundreds of Dog-headed Laborers.
This Active Volcano Island was often erupting, and although it was very close to Lin'an Island, no one dared approach it. The island was extremely desolate. In fact, its area was not small at all—about four to five kilometers in circumference—sufficient for constructing a small city. Along with the Dog-headed Laborers came Geological Experts from the First Guard Brigade. These scholars specialized in geology and were also monsters; their interest in such a niche profession indicated that they had some skill in civil engineering.
According to Fang Lin Kong's design, the existence of the volcano provided an eternal and inexhaustible energy source for the island's defensive formation. The formation Fang Lin Kong employed was one of the most powerful fire-based formations: the Nine Fire Dragon Flame Net. This type of magic array was common knowledge; Fang Lin Kong didn't need to do anything but watch others work. With so many laborers under the guidance of monster experts, they quickly constructed several essential basic formations and then began extensive construction of villa areas and resorts. Bars, sports complexes, bowling alleys, golf courses—some monsters who appreciated elegant environments even managed to procure a batch of beautiful plants from somewhere and planted them in an aesthetically pleasing manner. In just half a day's time, what had once been a barren Active Volcano Island now resembled a stunning Hawaiian landscape. Among these developments was Fang Lin Kong's portable hotel situated halfway up the volcano, offering expansive views and standing out distinctly.
Tengu Kaen looked at the town miraculously built before her with great excitement and said to Fang Lin Kong, "Brother Huanhuo! These little houses are really beautiful! Why don't you reserve one for me? I want to move here with my mom!"
Fang Lin Kong laughed and replied, "If you like it, go pick one out right now! There are plenty available. I have some matters to discuss with Senior Yamata no Orochi tonight, so I won't be able to escort you back. Once you've chosen your villa, let Jiu Gui Yu Zhai take you home!"
With her heart full of joy, Tengu Kaen ran down the mountain. Fang Lin Kong glanced at White Wujie still entangled with Southern Fire but chose not to pay attention to them. He simply instructed Jiu Gui Yu Zhai before soaring into the sky on his sword light.
(To be continued)
Comment 0 Comment Count