Although the place clearly seemed ominous, Xiao Chen strangely felt a sense of peace. He was not angry at all. The scene before him appeared like a silent motion picture.
“Unexpectedly, the place beyond the fog in the Distant Sea Dragon Grave is like this,” Xiao Chen muttered as he retracted his gaze.
Don’t make too much of this. This is just the tip of the iceberg for the Distant Sea Dragon Grave. You’ve just formally entered the periphery. Only after traveling through this entire plain of fire should you have barely reached the depths, Ao Jiao said from the Immortal Spirit Ring.
Xiao Chen felt flabbergasted as he looked at the stretch of desolate fiery land that seemed to have no end. The size of this Distant Sea Dragon Grave was astonishingly huge.
“What do you think Yi Ling and that group of people are here to do? I can tell that they are not here simply to scout the place.”
Xiao Chen could not spot any signs of activity within sight. He found it somewhat boring to stand guard at night, and he could not cultivate, either. So he chatted leisurely with Ao Jiao.
With too few clues, there is no way to guess. Furthermore, I have never been to the Distant Sea Dragon Grave, so I do not know much about it. In any case, just be careful, and you will be fine.
“I hope so too.”
After chatting for a while, Xiao Chen recalled that he had not opened that door of space and time today to absorb Primordial Energy. So he got Ao Jiao to keep watch for him for a while.
Ever since he experienced the might of Primordial Energy and the extreme difficulty of obtaining it, he treasured the only opportunity of every day to open the door of space and time, not daring to waste it.
With a thought, Xiao Chen activated the resplendent Heart of an Emperor. Then, it mysteriously called down the door of space and time above his head.
Pure-white Primordial Energy slowly dripped out. As he bathed in the white light, he appeared sacred.
Strong energy spread through his body, bringing a feeling of contentment.
Xiao Chen really wanted to see the world behind the door. What was that mysterious, vast, boundless world like?
Unfortunately, doing so was impossible. Even someone as strong as a Prime, someone who reached the peak limits of the Martial Dao, could not enter that world.
That so-called door of space and time existed between reality and illusion. It was not an actual door. Strictly speaking, that was just a projected image when the Heart of an Emperor connected with that world.
If one tried to go through that door, they would discover that they were still where they were. It was just an illusion.
Even if one really managed to enter, according to the guesses of the many Martial Emperors of the Kunlun Realm, it would be a space of pure energy, chaotic and without order. After entering, one would immediately break down into Primordial Energy.
Of course, there was no way to verify whether that was true or not. Primordial Energy was just what the Martial Emperors of the Kunlun Realm called it. It was also just a guess that the world behind the door was chaotic.
Right now, Xiao Chen did not think of anything else. He only wanted to absorb this energy to strengthen himself, to increase his chances when he underwent the Great Tribulation of wind and fire.
Only when the door of space and time slowly closed did he reluctantly open his eyes. He sighed, thinking that Primordial Energy was truly difficult to obtain.
Xiao Chen looked around and saw nothing different.
Use your Heavenly Eye to take a look. The things of this vast desolate plain of fire cannot be clearly seen with just the naked eye.
Xiao Chen circulated the Paradise Secret Canon, and the purple vertical eye on his forehead opened. Instantly, his field of vision increased by hundreds—thousands—of times. He now saw many flaming earth dragons wandering the desolate plains as well as strange flaming birds flying in the air. The sight startled him.
The strength of these ferocious beasts was definitely not low. Aside from the many ferocious beasts, he also made a somewhat surprising discovery.
“There are so many divine materials! This desolate fiery land is actually filled with treasures.”
Several natural ores of divine materials hid in the lava. While Xiao Chen’s Heavenly Eye observed everything in minute detail, his gaze froze on some strange gems flickering with golden light in a pool of lava.
However, in the next instant, the lava covered them back up, hiding the gems. It looked like they sank into the pool, no longer to be seen.
The Heavenly Eye closed, and Xiao Chen became somewhat excited. He said, “Ao Jiao, I think I saw a Heptagold Origin.”
Really?! Ao Jiao exclaimed, losing control of her excitement, something that rarely happened.
For the Lunar Shadow Saber to become a Divine Weapon and make it into the Divine Weapon Ranking, aside from a vast amount of divine materials, a Heptagold Origin was something that could not be missed out. Such a rare treasure, something that could only be found and not sought, suddenly appeared before them. How could Ao Jiao not get excited?
Xiao Chen smiled and said, “Don’t get too excited. I did not manage to see it clearly. It disappeared in a flash. I’m not entirely sure that it is a Heptagold Origin.”
What are you waiting for? Quickly go over and take a look.
Xiao Chen smiled helplessly and replied, “I want to as well. However, going by the calculation of time outside, one night has already passed. I have to rush back. Furthermore, there are too many dangers between here and that lava pool. It is very difficult for me to get over there safely. If it is not a Heptagold Origin, I will suffer great losses.”
Ao Jiao whispered, Sorry, I was too excited.
“Never mind. That is part of the route we have to travel if we want to traverse this desolate plain of fire. At that time, I will just fish it up and take a look; then, we will know.”
Xiao Chen committed to memory the position of that suspected Heptagold Origin. Then, he quickly made his way back. Soon, he appeared before the campsite.
Surprisingly, the defensive formation of that campsite was utterly destroyed. Aside from the red-haired middle-aged man, Old Hong and the other Martial Emperors were all somewhat injured and mentally fatigued.
Shards of bone dragons littered the ground. Xiao Chen looked around and saw that many of the broken dragon claws had four talons each.
Xiao Chen instantly understood what had happened. Last night, the desolate plain of fire was very peaceful, with no commotion at all. On the other hand, another batch of bone dragons had rushed out of the foggy area; this time, they were four-clawed bone dragons.
Old Hong looked at the perfectly fine Xiao Chen and immediately got mad. He pelted out curses and said, “You brat, what kind of night guard are you? More than a hundred four-clawed bone dragons charged over, and you did not even deliver a warning. Where did you run off to?!”
Xiao Chen eyed Old Hong’s enraged appearance without showing any fear at all. He retorted indifferently, “Is that so? I followed your instructions and went far away. Last night was very peaceful; nothing happened. How was I to give you any warning?”
Old Hong felt stifled. When he thought about it, he had indeed told Xiao Chen to go farther away. However, hearing Xiao Chen downplay the situation made him unbearably angry.
Originally, Old Hong wanted to cause trouble for Xiao Chen, to have him suffer in the desolate plain of fire.
Who could have imagined that Xiao Chen would come swaggering back after an uneventful night? On the other hand, Old Hong ended up covered in grime and dirt, even slightly injured.
“The campsite was attacked. No matter how you argue this, you have to take responsibility for this.”
Old Hong felt flustered and exasperated, so he started to turn unreasonable.
Xiao Chen smiled coldly and said, “Can you be more shameless? I have never seen such a narrow-minded Martial Emperor before. Even the Primes I met before didn’t speak like that to me. What are you compared to them?!”
Rage filled Old Hong’s heart. He stepped forward and demanded savagely, “What did you say?!”
Xiao Chen did not fear Old Hong at all. He also took a step forward and replied, “I said you were shameless. What’s wrong? Your ears are blocked and unable to hear clearly? In that case, I will say it one more time loudly. You are a shameless old fellow!
“All I did was push myself despite severe injury and force you back a small step. Is there a need for you to be so narrow-minded and make a mountain out of a molehill, targeting me at every turn?!”
The moment Xiao Chen spoke, he immediately frightened all those half-step Martial Emperors into turning pale. This Xiao Chen was really courageous. They wondered what medicine Xiao Chen had taken for him to dare to show such anger to a Martial Emperor.
It was not that Xiao Chen was angry. It was that he was fed up. He was already upset that Old Hong tossed him out of the campsite for the entire night. Then, when he returned, despite him not having done anything wrong, Old Hong started blaming him for everything. While Xiao Chen might have a good temper, it was not to the point where he could endure all this.
“You are seeking death!”
“If you dare, then try attacking and stop trying to push me into a corner. You are just a First Heaven Martial Emperor. I really do not believe that you can kill me so casually.”
Xiao Chen did not show any intention to retreat from Old Hong’s overwhelming Emperor’s Might. Instead, he withstood the Emperor’s Might and moved forward step by step, glaring at Old Hong.
In this sharp gaze, Old Hong saw the sharpness of an unyielding cultivator. For some reason, his aura weakened.
Old Hong could not help thinking quickly, For this brat to dare to enter the Distant Sea Dragon Grave, he definitely has some trump cards. There are no benefits in starting an all-out fight to kill him, a Consummation quasi-Emperor.
Perhaps I might even get injured. That would not be worth it. If Xiao Chen had anything of worth, it might possibly tempt Old Hong into attacking. However, without the clear presence of any benefits and Xiao Chen being difficult to deal with, Old Hong found it hard to decide to do so.
“Never mind. We are all from the same group. There is no need to fight among ourselves. If we fight now, how are we going to continue later?”
Seeing that Old Hong needed a way out of this embarrassing situation, one of the Martial Emperors quickly intervened.
At this moment, the red-haired Martial Emperor said, “Old Hong, everyone bears responsibility here. No one expected a horde of bone dragons to come out of this foggy area.”
“Right, right, right! Old Hong, there is no need to get angry with the younger generation. Youths all have some degree of temper.”
Seeing Xiao Chen’s unyielding sharpness, Old Hong, who already wanted to beat a retreat, went with the flow. He flung his sleeves and said, “On account of my fellow Martial Emperors here, I will not bicker with you now.”
Xiao Chen smiled coldly to himself, too lazy to bother with Old Hong, then went straight to a side.
Ao Jiao already memorized the route out of the foggy area. By relying on the Cycle Banner, Xiao Chen could leave this place at any moment. He did not need to fear this First Heaven Martial Emperor too much.
If others show me respect, I will show the same amount of respect back. After picking on me so many times, why would I be polite to you?
“Ye Chen, you are very courageous,” Wang Yuzhu said with a faint smile after walking over.
Xiao Chen said casually, “It is not a problem of courage. Everyone has their own bottom line. If he were a Third Heaven Martial Emperor, I would endure him ordering me around. However, he is just a First Heaven Martial Emperor, and he already thinks the heavens of himself. There is no need to show him any face.”
Wang Yuzhu smiled bitterly to himself. Perhaps you are the only person who dares to say that. No matter which Heaven he is, he is still a Martial Emperor, a person of great influence. To us, these people are all insurmountable existences.
