Chapter 1788 (Raw 1800): Dreamlike Mundane World
It’s back?
Xiao Suo and the others immediately turned to Xiao Chen, clearly awaiting his decision.
Xiao Chen looked around before fixing his gaze on the Iron Hand Yama. “Old Yama, what is your opinion of the Iron Horn Pirate Group’s captain?”
The Iron Hand Yama thought for a while before replying, “He is not like an ordinary pirate, possessing a benevolent heart. I feel that he is here to return the Scarlet Blood War Banner.”
After a pause, the Iron Hand Yama continued, “However, it feels like something is off. If he were truly a magnanimous person, he would not have borrowed our Scarlet Blood War Banner in the first place. This is quite contradictory.”
At that time, while the word used was “borrow,” they were not given any justification or terms.
Xiao Chen said indifferently, “I’ll go and check him out, then.”
He went to the bow to receive the guests.
About four or five people came from the Iron Horn Pirate Group. There were no other escorts. They looked very simple and did not appear to be putting on airs.
The leader, a middle-aged man, wore the black uniform of a captain. He looked very proper with a serious expression, appearing very impressive.
Xiao Chen quickly stepped forward and performed a cupped-fist salute. “Greetings, Iron Horn Pirate Group’s captain. I’ve heard of you and truly admire you.”
The middle-aged man carefully sized up Xiao Chen. Then, he smiled and said, “My name is Yan Zhe; you can just address me as Big Brother Yan. Actually, we met before.”
Baffled, Xiao Chen echoed, “We met before?”
He could not remember meeting such a person before.
Xiao Chen was very confident in his memory. It was impossible for him to have met a person before yet have no impression of that person.
“Young Master Xiao, do you remember this old man?”
An old man walked out from behind Yan Zhe and looked at Xiao Chen while smiling.
“It’s you!”
This person was the stall owner who sold Xiao Chen the Dragon Shadow Condor wing bone. Xiao Chen had a deep impression of him.
He recalled that this stall owner also tried to sell him the Dragon Shadow Condor’s essence blood at that time.
At that time, Xiao Chen even wondered if the stall owner had killed a Dragon Shadow Condor.
It turned out that the old man was a member of the Iron Horn Pirate Group. That explained everything now.
“It looks like Young Master Xiao still remembers this old man. That day, you traveled through the Grave Sea in a rush. My captain happened to see you while standing at the bow of our ship. His impression of you was rather deep, and he still remembers it like it was yesterday,” the old man explained with a smile.
Xiao Chen suddenly understood. “So, that is how it was. Big Brother Yan, this way, please. I have yet to thank you properly for rescuing my friends and brothers.”
Yan Zhe waved his hand in rejection. “It is just a small matter, something done out of convenience and not worth mentioning. I did not come here for that. Here.”
Right after Yan Zhe spoke, he tossed out the Scarlet Blood War Banner. Xiao Chen reached out and gently grasped it.
“Buzz!”
The war banner instantly unfurled and fluttered in the wind. A sense of a blood connection came from the Scarlet Blood War Banner.
Back then, Xiao Chen had faced the experts of the Divine Shield Army while wielding the Scarlet Blood War Banner.
He had obtained the acknowledgment of the Scarlet Blood War Banner. Although he had not placed his imprint on it to become its master, this kind of connection made it feel like an extension of his arm, a feeling that remained.
A bleak tyrannical aura spread out from Xiao Chen.
The flapping war banner made the surrounding wind even louder. Strong winds gathered around the ship’s bow, stirring the clouds all around slightly.
This materialized the mysterious phenomenon of the wind unfurling the banner and contesting for the world.
Yan Zhe muttered:
“My name is Scarlet Blood. I have a body of scarlet iron with burning-hot blood;
for half my life, I went through ups and downs, homeless and miserable;
for half my life, I was peerless, traveling around without fear.
My body is like a sword, filled with a firm and unyielding pride;
my heart is like the sun and the moon, shining bright for ten thousand years;
my stature is like a mountain, spanning tens of thousands of kilometers;
my eyes are like the many stars, making the sky shine bright like day instead of night;
I cover the sky with one hand and establish myself an emperor with another.”
As the Scarlet Blood Pirate King’s final words were read out, a faint scarlet flame burned on the Scarlet Blood War Banner, flickering weakly and magnifying the tyrannical aura further.
“Clap! Clap! Clap!”
Yan Zhe applauded and praised, “What a fine Scarlet Blood Pirate King! Even after his death, his will is still so strong. In retrospect, his life is so admirable and very moving. Young Master Xiao, you are truly a young hero. To think that you actually managed to gain the acknowledgment of the Scarlet Blood War Banner. Likewise, this Yan admires you as well.”
This mysterious phenomenon manifested spontaneously within a breath of time; Xiao Chen had not purposely brought it out.
This mysterious phenomenon appeared the moment Xiao Chen touched the war banner. He gently furled the war banner and put it away.
With an even tone, Xiao Chen said, “Big Brother Yan borrowed and returned such a treasure like the Scarlet Blood War Banner. Likewise, Xiao Chen truly admires you as well.”
“You are too polite.”
Yan Zhe smiled faintly and did not deny it. “Goodbye, then. I have an appointment with the Pirate Master of this Pirate Hall, so I shall not impose on you further.”
Xiao Chen personally sent off Yan Zhe’s group. As he watched them leave, a contemplative expression flashed in his eyes.
“This Yan Zhe gives off the air of a major character. To think that he really returned the Scarlet Blood War Banner after borrowing it. That was truly unexpected,” the Iron Hand Yama said, feeling deeply moved.
Xiao Suo smiled. “Didn’t you say long ago that this person would return it? So, it turns out that you were just consoling me.”
The Iron Hand Yama smiled and said, “It was just a feeling I had. Who would not be tempted when facing a treasure like the Scarlet Blood War Banner? Even I would be tempted. I can only say that we met a really good person this time.”
“Big Brother Xiao, why aren’t you speaking?”
Xiao Chen returned his senses and smiled. “I was wondering when he would return.”
“Ah!”
This startled everyone. Yan Zhe would return?
Xiao Chen’s first instinct was that this Yan Zhe was not simple.
However, he could not figure out Yan Zhe and his character for now.
Xiao Chen sent the Black Cutlass in for modification, so he and the Black Cutlass’s crew rented a courtyard in the Pirate Hall.
He thought very hard in the cultivation room. Eventually, he chose not to advance to Star Venerate yet.
Xiao Chen needed an opportunity to break through. If he forced a breakthrough, it would be a little too willful.
Although he was only at the peak Major Primal Core Realm, the various aspects of his strength were well-founded, and there was no rush to break through.
Upgrading the Black Cutlass took half a month. The expenditure totaled ten million Medial Grade Spirit Jades.
Most of the Spirit Jades came from the compensation given by the Wolf King.
Xiao Chen did not have to pay much out of his pocket. The Black Cutlass was now a peak 5-Star pirate ship. Furthermore, it had a powerful killing weapon, the Immemorial Demon Soul Formation, which allowed it to rival a 6-Star pirate ship.
In the past half-month, Xiao Chen had spent all his time tempering his saber skills.
Now that Xiao Chen had the starting stance of the Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique, he planned to comprehend a Saber Technique from the Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique, just like how Zhen Yuan had comprehended Asura Hell.
Between Breaking the Mundane and Resolving the Mundane, Xiao Chen eventually chose Breaking the Mundane as the foundation. He would create his own Saber Technique based on Breaking the Mundane.
This Saber Technique had a pretty name: Dreamlike Mundane World.
This time, Xiao Chen would infuse his Great Dao Energy and Soul Energy into this Saber Technique from its inception.
The difficulty was extremely high; this was the most challenging endeavor that he had undertaken.
In the past half-month, Xiao Chen did not manage to comprehend a single move or even a single stance. He had only a vague direction and a rough feeling: using the saber to enter dreams and using the dreams as a saber.
When half a month had passed and Xiao Chen was about to set out on a long journey, intending to use the Iron Blood Token to enter a forbidden sea, Yan Zhe came.
“Haha! Young Master Xiao, in just a few days, your aura has changed. This is truly admirable.”
Yan Zhe came alone without any escorts or subordinates, appearing very casual.
It looked as though he just visited on a whim.
Xiao Chen smiled and said, “Big Brother Yan is too polite. Your arrival is very timely. Had you been a day later, I would have departed the Grave Sea already.”
“You are leaving the Grave Sea?”
Yan Zhe appeared startled as he asked, “Are you going to the Ash Gray Sea, one of the seven forbidden seas?”
Xiao Chen nodded and said, “Yes, it is the Ash Gray Sea.”
According to Elder Tang’s deductions, the Scarlet Blood Pirate King’s treasure was in the Ash Gray Sea, one of the seven forbidden seas.
“It looks like Big Brother Yan also knows where the Scarlet Blood Pirate King’s treasure is,” Xiao Chen said casually.
Yan Zhe was rather straightforward. He said, “I was in the Ash Gray Sea for thirty years. When I saw the Scarlet Blood Pirate King’s last words, I figured out where the Scarlet Blood Pirate King’s treasure was after some thinking.
“That place is known as Myriad Star Mountain, a land famous for fortuitous encounters in the Ash Gray Sea. Previously, it was rumored to be the remnants of an ancient sect. Unexpectedly, it is where the Scarlet Blood Pirate King left his treasure.
“Many Rank 6 sects use that place for experiential training for their disciples. Sometimes, the Elders of the sects even go there personally.”
Xiao Chen smiled without batting an eyelid. “It looks like Big Brother Yan understands this Myriad Star Mountain very well.”
“Naturally. After thirty years in the Ash Gray Sea, I definitely know these things. If you need any help, you can come and look for me any time.”
Yan Zhe took out a jade strip and handed it to Xiao Chen. Then he said, “My will of soul is in this jade strip. If you want to contact me, just use your Soul Energy to activate this jade strip.”
Yan Zhe appeared very generous in giving that jade strip before leaving once again.
