Chapter 63: Gloomy Forest (1/2)
Chapter 63: Gloomy Forest
There were only two more days to the Trial of Gloomy Forest. Xiao Chen did not go out like before. During the day he continued to ponder upon the comprehensions that he had made from dueling with Zhang He while cultivating the Purple Thunder Divine Incantation at night.
Xiao Chen felt he had already touched the margins of the Changing Character Formula of the Battle Sage Origins. However, after he came back he wanted to use Flight on Wings but was not able to do it despite several attempts. Xiao Chen thought about it persistently. One of the main reasons he was able to use Flight on Wings smoothly that day was that his body was in desperate straits after getting struck by that Moon Bright Like Fire, activating his body’s potential. Another reason could be because he ate the Cloud Swallowing Pill and raised his strength by an extreme amount, much stronger than his current realm.
Regardless, whichever it was, it caused Xiao Chen to be filled with antic.i.p.ation for the Trial of Gloomy Forest. Only by putting himself in a desperate situation in a dangerous place, in a situation of life and death, only then could he understand the quintessence of the Battle Sage Origins’ Changing Character Formula. Only through continuous combat would the strength of his body rise; entering into secluded cultivation was not a good solution for that.
Two days later the trial was held as scheduled. The First Elder lead Xiao Chen and a group of people to the plaza in the center of the city. The three great clans, and others, would gather there. Then, under the leaders.h.i.+p of Mohe City’s City Lord, they would rush to the edge of Gloomy Forest and begin the trial.
This time, there were ten people from the Xiao Clan taking part in the Trial. Everyone was at least a Superior Grade Martial Disciple. Xiao Jian and Xiao Yulan were both Martial Masters. They were definitely the strongest amongst the three great clans.
When they arrived at the plaza, the people of the Tang Clan and Zhang Clan had already arrived. The looks the two clans gave the Xiao Clan were not very friendly. They had both recently suffered some disadvantages at the hands of the Xiao Clan. A new hatred piled onto the old hatred, and they wished they could just beat up the Xiao Clan now.
There was a stone platform in the middle of the plaza. The City Lord had not arrived yet. Xiao Chen and Xiao Yulan had a casual conversation with each other, so they were not bored. They were thinking that the City Lord was keeping others waiting in order to show off his status.
“You must be Xiao Chen.”
As the two of them were chatting, suddenly, someone walked over from the side. Xiao Yulan looked at the person and frowned slightly. She said in a soft voice, “It’s the Tang Clan’s people.” Through his Spiritual Sense, Xiao Chen saw the person’s appearance clearly. He was not surprised; he merely turned around and smiled, “I am, indeed. I wonder what business Brother Tang Feng has with me?”
When Tang Feng heard Xiao Chen call out his name, he felt it was strange. Tang Feng’s expressions changed, “Nothing much. Brother Xiao has become famous recently; everyone in Mohe City knows about you. I just want to make friends with you.”
Xiao Yulan smiled coldly, “Make friends? Your elder brother Tang Yuan died on our Seven Horn Mountain. Instead of seeking revenge, you want to make friends?” After Tang Feng heard that, the smile on his face grew wider, “That fellow was always going against me. Now that he has died at Brother Xiao’s hands, it serves him right. This is something that I should be thanking Brother Xiao for, so why would I be thinking of revenge?”
Tang Feng’s heart was full of schemes. For the position of clan head, he had fought with his brother. This was a normal occurrence since ancient times, and it was not unusual. However, Xiao Chen knew about him since that time in Linlang Pavilion. He knew what kind of personality he had. Why would he trust his words now?
Xiao Jian’s complexion changed when he heard Tand Feng’s words; it was unclear what he was thinking about.
Xiao Chen walked in front of Tang Feng and spoke softly into his ear, “That Inferior Grade Spirit Stone in Linlang Pavilion was purchased by me. Do you still want to be friends with me?”
Tang Feng’s expression changed greatly, and his earlier smile fled. He had a grave look on his face as he said, “The person who interfered with my matters time and time again was actually you! Don’t be too c.o.c.ky. It is best you don’t go to the Gloomy Forest. If you enter, you will not be walking back out.”
He flung his sleeves back and scoffed coldly before leaving.
Xiao Chen had an unsettling feeling in his heart. Given what Tang Feng said, could there be a deathtrap waiting for me in this Gloomy Forest?
“Cousin Xiao Chen, what did you say to that person to cause your complexion to be so unsightly?” Xiao Yulan asked out of curiosity. The other Xiao Clan disciples were looking curiously at him as well. Xiao Chen smiled, “I told him that the rheum in his eye is not properly cleaned. Coming out to speak to people like that is very rude.”
[TL notes: Rheum is the “eye wax” at the corner of your eye when you wake up.]
The crowd all laughed when they heard it; only Xiao Chen had a shadow left in his heart. He could not let it go, but there was no choice. He must go into the Gloomy Forest.
Screw it! I’ll deal with it when it happens. I’ll be ready for it. Thinking about it now will just increase my frustrations, Xiao Chen consoled himself.
At this moment, the crowd suddenly became noisy. Xiao Chen looked up and saw it was the City Lord Dugu Feng finally arriving. This was the most powerful man in Mohe City. Xiao Chen was very curious; he sent out his Spiritual Sense but discovered he could not see through the City Lord’s strength.
He was astonished. Thinking about it, as the City Lord his cultivation must be astonis.h.i.+ng. Xiao Chen simply did not expect that it was so great he could not see through it.
The City Lord gave a few words of encouragement and then gave some instructions to the men behind him. A few small dots immediately appeared in the sky. As one of the black dots flew nearer, it became clearly visible. It was a huge Flying Spirit Beast—Curtain Bat. This was a bat-type mutated bird. It had no feathers on its body, and instead, it had sleek black skin. Its size was very large when it spread its wings out, with a wingspan that was tens of meters.
They landed and caused a large cyclone on the ground; sand and dust flew everywhere, causing everyone to shut their eyes.
The group from the Xiao Clan followed Xiao Qiang to one of the Curtain Bats with excitement on their faces. This group of people had never seen Flying Spirit Beasts before. Now, they had the chance to ride one, and could not help but feel eager.
Although Xiao Chen could use his Gravity Spell to fly slowly, he was still full of antic.i.p.ation for this Curtain Bat. It would definitely be a whole new experience riding on it.
After the Curtain Bat spread its wings out, its back and wings resembled a huge platform. Under the instructions of the coachmen, everyone removed their shoes and socks before climbing on barefooted.
Standing barefoot on the Curtain Bat, Xiao Chen actually felt a faint suction holding his feet firmly. When he wanted to raise his feet, he was able to easily take a few steps forward; it was as stable as the ground. Xiao Chen felt astonished. No wonder the most used Flying Spirit Beast was this Curtain Bat. Although it was a little ugly, it was very stable.
The Curtain Bat cried out and it created a hurricane. With a ‘sou’ sound, it flew into the air. This Curtain Bat did not rely on the flapping of its wings to fly, but instead, it controlled the air currents; its speed was very fast.