Chapter 1450 (Raw 1430):
Although Xiao Chen did not respond to Senior Jiang's words, they startled the hemp-robed old man.
It looked like this Senior Jiang had not traveled about much in the past few years and did not know about the Shadowless Saber Sovereign. To avert the Shadowless Saber Sovereign's anger, the hemp-robed old man quickly explained, "Brother Shadowless, don't be angry. This is how Senior Jiang's character is. However, we cannot do without him on this trip to the Mirage Immortal Palace."
Who would have imagined that Xiao Chen would not get angry like Mu Yong expected? He said calmly, "I know about the Geomaster Jiang Tian. Senior Mu, there is no need to be so polite. We indeed have to rely on Senior Jiang on this trip to the Mirage Immortal Palace."
When Jiang Tian heard this, he smiled. "Good, you are flexible and able to consider the bigger picture. Otherwise, no matter how strong you are, if you refuse to listen to this old man, you can scram as far as possible. I was just testing you earlier. Since you have heard of and are aware of me, I'll not waste time on nonsense."
Jiang Tian's tone was very arrogant, but no one here felt dissatisfied. Firstly, Geomasters were rare. Secondly, Jiang Tian's strength was clear for all to see.
Everyone here was a Seventh Heaven or Eighth Heaven Sovereign Martial Emperor. They understood these principles and were not rash like youths.
Xiao Chen thought to himself, This Jiang Tian's temper is still the same as before. However, once such a person is figured out, he is relatively easy to get along with. At the very least, I do not have to worry about any plots or schemes happening behind my back.
This is probably why everyone is so willing to trust him.
Xiao Chen was not willing to reveal too much lest the other party recognize him. So, he excused himself and sent the throne flying up to land at a rather desolate crag. Then, he closed his eyes and rested, continuing to work on the Divine Lightning Eye in his mind.
During the past half month, Xiao Chen had figured out the first layer of the Divine Lightning Eye. Now, he did not need to form any hand seals, able to execute it at extreme speeds.
He had also reduced the drain on his Primordial Energy by a quarter. The only problem was that it still injured his eye. Every time he executed it, black blood would flow out of his eye. Eventually, this would cripple his eye completely.
Xiao Chen guessed that there had to be a technique for protecting the eye that accompanied this Divine Lightning Eye, to nourish and protect the physical eye.
However, in reality, he guessed wrong. The body of an Immortal surpassed the mundane. An Immortal's body would not experience such side effects.
If there really was some accompanying technique for protecting the eyes, the Thunder Immortal Ancestor would have passed it to him as well. However, the Thunder Immortal Ancestor did not imagine that there would be such a problem.
This situation made things difficult for Xiao Chen. For a Magic Skill such as the Divine Lightning Eye, no matter how powerful it was, he would not dare to use it too often unless he could deal with the problem of it injuring his eye.
Otherwise, if he really went blind, it would not be worth it.
Suddenly, Xiao Chen felt someone approaching. He opened his eyes and saw the bladesman in his team walking over.
"Sorry for interrupting Senior Saber Sovereign's meditation. This humble self is Feng Xiao. I have admired the Saber Sovereign for a long time already," the bladesman said politely with a cupped-fist salute.
There was a saying, "If one admits their mistake, others will not bear to hit one." This person was a companion and a bladesman of considerable strength as well.
Hence, even though this person came and interrupted Xiao Chen, he did not get angry. He nodded and said, "You are too polite. My fame as the Saber Sovereign is exaggerated. Brother Feng, just address me as Shadowless."
Feng Xiao smiled and said, "In that case, I'll address you as Brother Shadowless. Although I have been wandering about the oceanic world, I have been hearing your great name in the past few years. I am really happy to get to meet you today."
Feng Xiao…this name sounds very familiar. Xiao Chen thought about it. Then, his eyes lit up in realization, and he asked, "Brother Feng, are you the Feng Xiao known as the Four Sea Wild Saber?"
"Haha! Unexpectedly, the Shadowless Saber Sovereign has heard of my name too. That's right. Many years ago, that was what people called me. However, in recent years, the golden age arrived, and geniuses rose too quickly. I no longer dare to call myself that."
Feng Xiao did not deny his title of Four Sea Wild Saber, but he did not think much of it, either, following up the admission with some self-ridicule.
Xiao Chen understood what Feng Xiao meant. Too many rising stars in this golden age liked to challenge those famous seniors, trying to gain fame in one battle. They ruthlessly trampled on the other party; the heavier they did so, the happier they were.
"Three years ago, when I wandered the world, I wanted to seek out the Four Sea Wild Saber to exchange moves. However, your whereabouts were unpredictable, and I never found a suitable opportunity to seek you out," Xiao Chen said, recalling why he remembered the other party's name. "Unexpectedly, I finally meet you today."
Feng Xiao smiled and said, "I have heard about your experiences. Your vision and determination are truly admirable. If it were me, I would not be that patient, going to people one by one to seek instruction."
As both of them were bladesman, they had many things in common to talk about. After coming to understand each other better, they started speaking more.
"Brother Shadowless, what are you seeking in the Mirage Immortal Palace?" After getting to know Xiao Chen, Feng Xiao did not feel any misgivings, so he asked directly.
Xiao Chen did not mind. He answered honestly, "The Cycle Arts!"
"The Cycle Arts?" Feng Xiao thought for a while before saying, "In that case, you will need to be careful of that group of people from the Cyclic Astral Palace. They already let out word in advance that they were here for the Cycle Arts."
Xiao Chen's heart sank. He remembered that the Cyclic Astral Lord had once sought out the Jadeite Sovereign for the Destruction Throne and felt that this was somewhat strange.
"The Cyclic Astral Lord is here?" Xiao Chen asked.
"He is not here. The Cyclic Astral Lord has rarely shown himself in the past five years. No one knows what he is doing. However, the Sun Palace's Palace Master, a Ninth Heaven Martial Emperor, is here."
The Cyclic Astral Palace ranked its seventy-two palaces by the constellations. The Sun Palace ranked first, and its Palace Master was also the strongest.
Although this person was not as strong as the Holy Masters, he was still a Ninth Heaven Martial Emperor. He would not be easy to deal with.
However, since the Cyclic Astral Lord was not here, there was still a chance. Feeling confident, Xiao Chen casually asked, "Brother Feng, what are you here for, then?"
"I'm here to comprehend the Dao. There are many wall carvings and will statues from the Immemorial Era, all of them containing the Dao. If I can comprehend just a little bit, I will gain a lot," Feng Xiao replied, hope flashing in his eyes.
After all, not everyone could be like Xiao Chen, possessing such an extremely high comprehension ability that he comprehended his own Dao. That being the case, others could only walk the path of the predecessors.
The world changed during this golden age, allowing one to raise their cultivation very quickly. However, progress in the Dao still relied on oneself.
As the two chatted, a patch of scarlet clouds suddenly flew over from the distance. Immediately, the expressions of all the people of the Holy Lands on the islands, as well as the loose cultivator groups, changed somewhat.
Xiao Chen was no stranger to this patch of scarlet clouds. This was the mysterious faction that rose up in the oceanic world in the recent five years—the Blood Clad Sect.
The people of this sect wore scarlet clothes that strangely gave off an evil aura. No one knew where they came from. However, during these five years, this faction had spread to all the major sea regions. Their Sect Master was also very mysterious; even now, no one knew who he was.
However, the few Vice Sect Masters that appeared were extremely strong. No one dared to underestimate this mysterious Sect Master.
"That group of lunatics, the Blood Clad Sect, sent people as well. It looks like this trip to the Mirage Immortal Palace is doomed to be unpeaceful," Feng Xiao muttered as his expression turned grave.
Xiao Chen remained silent. He felt some fear for this Blood Clad Sect as well. The group of blood-clad people back when Elder Qin underwent his tribulation clearly shared the same origins as this Blood Clad Sect.
Nevertheless, it was unexpected that this faction managed to rise so fast within five years.
As the day of the Mirage Immortal Palace's appearance approached, experts arrived in a continuous stream. No one wanted to miss out on the third advent of this Mirage Immortal Palace in this millennium.
At the end of the ocean, within the boundless fog and mountains, the ethereal scene of the Mirage Immortal Palace slowly gained definition.
The dense Immortal Qi grew increasingly realistic, to the point where the physical eye could see the silhouette of the palace among the mountains. The floating Mirage Immortal Palace appeared right before their eyes, looking distinct.
Xiao Chen's originally calm heart skipped a beat. He needed to obtain the Cycle Arts.
He had the seven thrones and seven states. Everything was already prepared, lacking only the Cycle Arts.
On this particular day, when the Mirage Immortal Palace was about to arrive, Immortal music suddenly rang out in the distance as an Immortal ship traveled through the clouds, glowing with a faint iridescent light.
"The Penglai Sea's people!"
Xiao Chen was surprised. Contrary to his expectations, the Immortal Cultivators of the Penglai Sea came to participate as well.