119 Chapter 119: An Indestructible Rock (1/2)
[Ding…. Congratulation host for obtaining the achievement 'Rise of the Great Swordsman.' Perform a spectacular sword feat during in the arena full of spectators. Experience points: 10000XP and 5000SP]
”You went overboard!!!!” Jasmine's voice suddenly sounded in his head.
”My bad…...” Yun Che glanced sideways in his mind as he spoke.
”It's enough you defeat that guy with only simple move but slicing the heavens? Do you really wanted the world to set its sight on you?”
”*sigh Like I said, my bad. Didn't go as expected but at least I get the job done.”
”Yeah, you did. The whole city. No, the whole Empire just recognized you as the strongest swordsman underneath the Emperor Profound Realm. Someone who stood above all of them. Tempting it might be but you have to be prepare the trouble that comes in later.”
”Yeah, working on it. As for slicing the heavens, it didn't go as planned. I originally planned to slice that sword in half but the force was too much so I…. ended up slicing the sky as well.”
”*Sigh, the deed's done. There's no use scolding you for it. Truth to be told. I would done the same thing as well. Not that you're done. I am interested in the cultivation method of the Moon Empress.”
”You never interested on what is going on in the mortal realm. To think you are interested in this.” He never thought that Jasmine was interested in the affairs of mortals. She never gives a flying fuck about what happens here. To think that she was interested in the affairs of mortals.
Jasmine also wondered. ”I don't know. Even in the Divine Realms, there aren't any cultivation method that require a cultivator to directly absorb the Moon's energy and spiked their cultivation. Truth to be told, the method is enough to tempt even anyone from up there. Absorbing the moon's energy require almost hundreds years to be perfected as the energy is similar to absorbing the pure energy of the sun. Those energies are uncontrollable and untamed. There are legends of people using various methods that absorb the unlimited energy from the sun or moon but all of them ended up dead due to that uncontrollable energy going berserk in their body. To think that this tomb holds the method of absorbing it without any side effects.”
Yun Che immediately pique up his interest and spoke ”This method didn't exist even from up there?”
”That's right. Even in the Realm of the Gods, there are various cultivation methods of attaining power but all of them attained those powers after hundreds of years. If this method were known by those realms up there, you might say they will descend down here to claim it. At my current self, I am powerless to stop them.” Jasmine predicted the outcome if the empress's method fell to the wrong hands.
Yun Che nodded in his mind and spoke ”Then, let's keep it to ourselves. We will know for sure how she attained it once we're in there. When I heard your explanation, I don't think her methods are created. She must have obtained it from somewhere and modified it.”
”To be able to modified such a method is heaven defying enough. The flow of Heaven and Earth energy in this realm is really thin but based on that red headed girl's story, the Moon Empress's cultivation ascend to the Peak of Sovereign Profound Realm in a such a short time. If that method is brought to the upper realms...…” Jasmine was about to say her prediction but Yun Che beat her to it.
”The balance of cultivation will be overthrown.”
She nodded before she spoke ”No matter what happened, you must get that method. This isn't to prevent any mortals from cultivating it but to prevent those from upper realms get a whiff of it. No matter how powerful you are, you might not survive the assault from Divine cultivators.” Jasmine's warn caused Yun Che to think for a moment. Currently, his cultivation is halted until he reached the next continent. He's not powerful enough to combat those cultivators if they managed to get a whiff of it. Moreover, his body currently holds treasures beyond comprehending. He wasn't ready to take them all down yet. So, he had to lay low for now.
”I get it. I get it. I might get something from the system to help Cang Yue cultivate that method without being detected.”
”Good… Do whatever it takes. I need to get these two to the manor. Both of them fell asleep on my lap. Good thing Little Phoenix didn't fell asleep. She can help me carry them to the manor.”
”Well, you're like an Onee-chan to them.”
Jasmine immediately held her nose high and spoke ”That means Big sister right? Hmph, at least this princess managed to get some words in her head.” Actually, Mizu and Kaze called her 'Onee-chan' all the time and she managed to get its meaning from them.
”Hai…hai… I'll give you a call once I am in there. At least you get to explore the tomb with Dracule Mihawk himself.”
”Yeah right. But if the one controlling using his body is the same jackass I know, I don't know whether I should feel glad or not.” She spoke before went quiet.
”Who are you calling a jackass?”
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The selection really did end with a bang. With Yun Che's final performance just now. No one dare to make any sounds. All eyes are constantly on him even when he's back on his seating zone. The cultivator that no one knew or heard of instantly rise from zero to legend in a single day. The selection today will last forever in the memories of those who present. The battles between elders just now pale in comparison compared to him. Where else could they find a cultivator who sliced through every technique cast or thrown at him and sliced the heavens itself.
The sliced clouds were visible even from nearby towns and cities. He didn't plan for this to happened but he never thought that his black slash just now was too powerful. Its feels like how the real Mihawk sliced off the giant ocean of ice with a single slash but as for him, it didn't stop at the light sword. It sliced through it and ended up slicing the giant clouds above him. Thus, dividing the massive cloud into two. Then, he spoke to himself. ”Well, shit happens.”
One of the elder's clan disciple started to spoke ”Incredible, such incredible display of power. With the strength of Sky Profound Realm, he managed to overthrow all the other elders that present.”
”Forget that, what about those clouds up there? His mastery of the sword was able to sliced the heavens itself. Moreover, most of his techniques didn't have a name anymore.” another disciple replied.
”Heavens! Does that mean, his mastery of the sword has reached to a level where naming isn't necessary anymore?”
”So what are we going to do? He'll become a formidable opponent once he entered the tomb.”
Then, the elder who is also the participant suddenly spoke ”Looks like we need to formed an alliance between the others in the tomb. We must take him and that woman down.”
”That woman?” This time, their sect master decided to spoke as well.
The elder replied ”He and that woman are the only ones without affiliation to any sect. They could take us down easily especially that monstrous swordsman. But, monstrous he might be, there's no way he could stand up against eight elders at the same time.”
”I hope the others are agreeable in this matter.”
”I am sure they'll be. After such display of power, I am sure all of them wanted to prevent him from ascending further.”
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Once everything was done, the announcer called all final participants including the two elders from the Xiao Clan to the stage to receive the token from the city lord. Now that all of them are on the stage, Yun Che and the others have the attention of the whole city but most of their attention are more focused on him or Li Yue. The dark horses of the tournament without any origin suddenly shot themselves to the top and became the final participants have the privilege of entering the tomb. These elders are from a well-known clan and sects throughout the empire. They were not famous just like the four great sects but it was enough to establish a ruling banner in their territory. However, their names were well-known even from the audience.
The final eight participants were set and these men and woman are the strongest of the strong that will enter the tomb on the day after tomorrow. These men were known as Guo Qing from the Guo Sect, Shao Shun from the Heaven's Above Sect, Wang Huo from the Wang Clan, Shen Yimu from Heavenly Destruction Fortress, Zhou Zue from the Zhou Clan, Lang Long from the Rotating Spear Clan. Not to mention the addition of two Xiao Clan elders including Li Yue and Dracule Mihawk.
Most of the audience were sending congratulation statements to the chosen members of the clan. Most of participants just shown their arrogant and haughty side as the winners of the selection but they still couldn't show them the display of powers just like Mihawk. Still, some of them were shooting glances at Mihawk at the same time turned their eyes to the sky. They couldn't offend this man on their own but some of them harbor intentions of taking him down. That kind of man must never ascend higher as they were worried about if other powerhouses managed could recruit him and then they'll be unstoppable.
The city lord and his attendants slowly came down from their sitting zone before stood in front of the ten participants that will enter the tomb on the next day. ”Congratulation to all participants who managed to win the selection of the Moon Empress's tomb. Maybe some of you knew my name but it is not too later for me to relay mine. I am Fang Luoyang. The city lord of Gao Ling city. As promised, the city will offer any treasures from the city treasury to the winning participants. All from range of Earth Profound weapons and armors.” As the city lord mentioned his name, Yun Che didn't find any entry based on his name in the system's database. Probably the way the novel flow is currently different from what he experienced so far. But no matter, none of these names matter to him.
One of the elder named Zhou Zue suddenly spoke ”Earth Profound Realm weapons and armors? We could choose any weapons from the city treasury?”
”Earth Profound Realm it might be. It is stronger than any treasures in our clan. I wonder why the city lord is giving us such privilege?” Wang Huo from the Wang Clan spoke as well.
”It might be….. I need something to boost my combat capabilities in the tomb.”
Yun Che was standing beside Li Yue suddenly darted his eyes to Fang Luoyang. This old man, he wanted to use them as bribes of gaining their approval. Why else he offers all those Earth Profound Realm weapons and armors. He even offers them to all eight participants. If loyalty can't be won through friendship, they could win it by giving them favors.
Yun Che sighs before spoke in his mind. ”It seems that he won the others easily.”
”Please follow my attendants to the city's treasury to gain your tokens. When everything is done, we will gather once more at the training zone of the Xiao Clan by dawn tomorrow to enter the tomb. This lord wishes that you have enough rest before entering the tomb tomorrow.”
The people of the arena started to disperse once the selection is over while the other participants will enter the city's treasury. As for Yun Che, he was done for the day and none of the items could match anything given or modified by the system. As a former gamer, he knew items were powerful but it couldn't match the item that is self-created by the owner himself. His current clothing and weapons are far more powerful than any other treasure the city could offer. With that, he turned his back towards them and walked towards the exit.
His actions caused the other participants to looked at him with curious expression. However, Li Yue was the first one to ask ”Wait, aren't you interested in obtaining something from the treasury?”
”I am not interested in those weapons or armors. I got what I came for. You can follow them if you wish.” He remained as stoic as before as he spoke to Li Yue.
Fang Luoyang was taken aback once Yun Che turned his back on him. He suddenly spoke ”Wait, kind sir. Are you leaving without taking anything? It is the prize of the city itself for winning this selection. Is there something might interest you instead the weapons and armors?”
Turning his head towards the city lord, he simply said ”No…” The city lord was speechless after hearing his response. He always believed in the statement every man had his price. It means that any man can be offer as long as the price was right. He didn't expect to turn down tempting treasures and cultivation resources. Doesn't that mean his origin has something larger than the city could offer.
Fang Luoyang simply calms down before he spoke ”Then, this noble one would like to invite you and the others to the palace tonight as guests.” The other participants nodded in agreement but Yun Che had other plans for tonight. He turned his body towards Fang Luoyang before cupping his hands. ”I am sorry, I have matters to attend to. This one appreciated your offer.”
Giving some thought, he decided to spend some time with his girls and upgrading Yoru. The reason the city lord invited him was to get on his good side and probably recruited him. There's no such things as free lunch. Yun Che wasn't interested in the treasures or anything. He wanted to hit the hay after showing most of his Mihawk's abilities for one whole day but he reallywanted to visit the Black Merchant Guild to browse any sword materials he can use to enhance Yoru. He wanted to find something stronger so he can cast Getsuga Tenshou as a precaution.
Moreover, he wanted to find more materials so he can craft weapons for his girls. He might give something to Retsu as well as her sword were longer compared to her bankai. As for Mio and Cang Yue, he might have something for them as Mio didn't possessed any and Cang Yue only had her True Profound Level sword.
As he walked to the exit, Li Yue was in dilemma as well. She never knew that he didn't even bother to enter the treasury. Well, his current equipment is much stronger than any treasure they could offer. By the way, her weapon and robes were already Earth Profound Realm treasures she gained from the sect and she was already used to them. Moreover, she gained something from Chu Yuechan. Something much more valuable than any healing pills or Profound Restoration Pill. She was sure there was nothing the city could offer to her as well.
She cupped her hands to the city lord and spoke ”Then, I'll excuse myself as well.”
Fang Luoyang widen his eyes at Li Yue before he spoke ”You too Fairy Li Yue?” If she leave as well, he'll lose his chance of gaining her approval as well.
”My thanks to the city lord for the offer. Just like Mihawk, I have matters to attend.” She spoke before bowing slightly to the city lord before following Mihawk's footsteps.
”Hmph, such arrogance. The dark horses really do have no respect for the elders. They didn't even give the city lord some face.”
”City lord, if they refuse to take their treasures. Can we take them on their behalf?” Wang Huo spoke with a shameless expression.
”I am sorry. The offer was limited to one per participants. It was made to ensure the fairness.” With that, Fang Luoyang cupped his hands before moving with his attendants to the city treasury in the palace. After the spectators disperse, the only ones left were the elder participants and the clan escorts on the stage. Then, one of them started to spoke and he is the one who wanted to propose and alliance to take down Yun Che, Guo Qing.
Suddenly, before any of the left participants leave the arena, Guo Qing suddenly use his profound strength to take straight to the ears of the participants to prevent others from listening in. ”By the way, elders. I have a little proposition. Something that might interest you while in the tomb.”
After years of experience, the elders from each clan and sect knew this method and instantly guess what Guo Qing tried to say ”If you proposed an alliance in the tomb. I will only comply until we get the treasure.”
Guo Qing saw all of them nodded in agreement before continued ”More than that. As the other elders have witness, the dark horses Mihawk and Li Yue will become a thorn to us in the tomb. So I proposed an alliance, we will take them down before settling for the treasures for ourselves.”
”Hmph, do you even look at the sky? He could easily take us down if he wants to.”
”True but there's no way he could use it in the tomb. He'll kill us all and him as well. We will use that advantage to take him down. From my observation, none of his techniques were small and if we joined forces. We can take him down.”
”We of the Xiao Clan support this. That man is too powerful and that woman's origin is unknown. It's wise if we take him down before he became too powerful. We might have something to restrain him to prevent unwanted techniques to be used.” The two clan elders admitted that none of them were able to defeat him on the spot. So as safety measures, this alliance doesn't seem that bad.
Shen Yimu gave a thought before he spoke ”What if any of us managed to recruit him?”
One of the Xiao clan elders immediately hissed at him. ”Recruit? He turned down the offer from the strongest sect in the northern half of the empire as well as the Heavenly Sword Villa itself and that woman turned down the Burning Heaven Clan and the Wu Clan. Do you think people like us had a chance?”
”If they managed to do that means their origin isn't simple. It's wise that both of them died in the tomb as no one will know for sure. Even if we will fight each other later, its wise if we defeated both of them before engaging each other.”
”Then, I'll agree to this proposal as well. We will join forces to take him down.”
”Wait, what if we were separated when we're in the tomb?”
”We will seek each other in the tomb and regroup before finding him. If any of us managed to find him first, we will try to lead them to a larger group before engaging them.” Then, the elders started making plans on how to engage them. They had their own plans in turning against each other but that'll have to wait until they deal with those two.
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However, they were too preoccupied in making plans that they didn't noticed that a group of women were listening in on them. The methods the participants used to speak was so discrete that only they are the ones could hear. But, this particular group of women and beast able to listening in on them without any problems as they utilized their evolved senses to listen.
”*Sigh, looks like they really wanted to take him down because of his strength. Looks like becoming too strong can earn malicious intention instead of adoration.” Mio commented on their schemes as the other participants immediately proposed an alliance to take Yun Che down. Seeing his strength was too strong, teaming up with him will be out of the question.
”Hnn, I don't know. The moment Yuu-kun turned his back on them, those men's intent immediately turned red. Good thing he taught us this vision.” Retsu and the others were about to leave but they immediately saw those six other men including the Xiao clan elders' intent signature immediately turned red. That means they developing their killing intent to either them or their allies. Due to their mastery with Eagle Vision and Haki, they managed to listening in on their conversation despite using special technique to mask them.
”Should we warn him?” Cang Yue worriedly suggested.
”No need for that. Nee-san. He already knew what happened before its even begun.” Kon was quite wary of his words before he spoke. He might take no damage from those two but it still stings being used as punching bag. Thinking about it sends shivers down his spine. Looks like curiosity about Frozen Cloud Asgard kills the cat and he's the cat.
”Unfortunately. He's right. Yuu-kun did say about these guys using 'a typical novel way' to succeed. I don't know what he meant but I am sure he had something planned.”
Retsu patted Cang Yue's head to reassured her. Mio on the other hands started making plans on her own. ”Well, if Danna-sama had plans then we just need to trust him. I am sure he can handle those goons quite well. We just have to watch his back just in-case things happened out here. Speaking of which, if those people tried something behind his back. We just needed to do something about it right?”
Retsu reassured the girls and nodded in agreement. ”Hnn, he did say that those who lose to him will not take this well. Let's be wary about this. Everyone, How's your eagle vision?”
Cang Yue was finally used to the vision's sensation but she still can't walk properly but its a progress. ”I can walk smaller steps now but I am still trying to control it.”
”Kon-sama as well. Looks like flying is the same as walking. I can't use eagle vision while maintaining flight.”
Mio nodded at their achievement. Looks like both of them finally making progress. ”Looks like we're the only one who can use it while walking Retsu-chan.”
”Still, we can't run though. The disturbance is too much. We need a quiet place to practice.” Retsu suggested.
Mio adjust the butterfly on her head before continuing ”Then, let's find something to eat first. I am starving.”
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As for Yun Che, he didn't actually leave but masking his appearance and leaning on the wall at top of the arena. He too was listening in on those elders as they relayed their plans to lure him to their group and finish him all together. After his spectacular performance, he was bound to attract some trouble just like Jasmine had predicted. A typical plan but not that he minded. Once he gets into the tomb, he'll play along and shows them who's boss but he might be slightly worried about Li Yue. She barely held her own against one or two but if those elders attacking together. Things might be bad before she even knew it.
”I think about this once I am done dealing with some matters first.” He spoke in his heart. Without lingering any longer, he disappeared into the sky making his way to the Black Merchant Guild. He did earn quite a glance from the other people. It was unknown whether it was a gaze of admiration, jealousy or even fear. No one dare to make contact or attempted to talk to him. Only whispers behind his back. Well, he didn't mean to slice the heavens into two. Some of them even thought that he'll asking for retribution from the heavens itself. Due to that, he'll expect that by this time tomorrow. The whole empire will know about his existence. Not literally his existence but Dracule Mihawk's existence.
Once he arrived at the Black Merchant Guild, it was practically the same as New Moon City. They build it in a shape of a pagoda where common things are sold at the bottom floor and rarer items are sold above. The pagoda was tall enough to match the height of common tower like structure of the city. He did read from the system's database that the guild has established a lot of branch guild all over the main cities. In this case, he can expect that their headquarters is probably located somewhere in the Blue Wind Empire Imperial City. He didn't come here for the items but just looking for some herb samples and rare materials. The palace treasury might have some but not as much as the Guild itself. Well, they are an informant guild after all.
”Dracule Mihawk?” A voice suddenly entered his ears once he arrived at the merchant's guild area,
He turned his head and saw a familiar masked black robed woman that will join him tomorrow. ”Li Yue? What is your business here?”
”I wanted to stock up some things before entering the tomb. I assume you are here for the same reason?” Her question only earn her a small nod from him. Since he was here, she decided to join him as she wanted to thanked him for warning her. Speaking of which, she kick the mysterious fruit from Wu Zuya before but she didn't find that fruit again. Did they re-obtained it back? But she swore the Wu clan disciples were still looking for it even when she left the arena.
Back to the issue, the reason he was here is to obtain some materials to upgrade Yoru. He did notice in his fight with Ling Hai before that the Yoru's blade seems to shook a little when he constantly used energy attacks. Despite being a monarch level sword, he was worried that constant use of energy attacks will cause the sword to break. Even if it was made from the Dragon Fault, Yoru might needed some upgrade before he continued using more energy attacks in the future. So, he needs to upgrade it with sturdier materials and this place is perfect to find them.