Watching Huang Xiaolong approach closer, an inexplicably cold shiver ran through Geng Kenâs heart!
âSubmit to me, or die!â Huang Xiaolong emphasized each word slowly, allowing time for it to sink in Geng Kenâs thoughts.
A series of emotions flitted across Geng Kenâs face. From the way Huang Xiaolong dealt with the two Sky Magi Sect Elders earlier, Geng Ken knew, the instant he shook his head, Huang Xiaolong would exterminate him without slightest hesitation!
Exterminated!
When the thought of death appeared in Geng Kenâs mind, a new fear reared its head in the core of his heart, spreading.
He had lived so long, the number of people that died in his hands was no less than several hundreds of thousands!
At times, watching an enemy struggle in their the last moments of death, in fear, pain and unwillingness, his heart felt joy and satisfaction at such sight. But now, when he himself was staring death in its eyes, he was paralyzed with fear.
Huang Xiaolong saw the myriad of emotions that flickered past Geng Kenâs face in silence, waiting nonchalantly for the person to speak their decision.
In general, people like Geng Kenâambitious and coveting power, were more afraid of death than any other person.
Exactly as predicted, it didnât take Geng Ken long to surrender: âOkay, Iâm willing to yield to you! ... Iâm willing to swear allegiance to you.â
Listening to Geng Kenâs submission, Du Xin and Deng Guangliang were greatly relieved.
Geng Kenâs influence ran deep within the Sky Magi Sect, and with him choosing to side with Huang Xiaolong, he would prove to be a big help for Huang Xiaolong in taking control of the Sky Magi Sect.
Huang Xiaolong was secretly relieved as well. If Geng Ken were too stubborn to submit, the only option left was to âeraseâ any variable factor and that would be a loss in Huang Xiaolongâs calculation.
After all, a Xiantian Seventh Order was still quite important for a force like the Sky Magi Sect. Using the Sky Magi Sect as the stepping stone, he would proceed to incorporate the Blood Swallow School, therefore, Geng Ken was worth more alive than dead.
âGood. now, release your soul sea, I will brand a soul mark within your soul sea.â Huang Xiaolong stated.
âWhat, soul mark?â Geng Ken turned deathly pale hearing that.
Geng Kenâs reaction was no different than Du Xin, Deng Guangliang, and other Sky Magi Sect Eldersâ when they heard the word soul mark. Instead, it wouldâve been suspicious if Geng Kenâs reaction was calm.
âThatâs right, a soul mark.â came Huang Xiaolongâs cool confirmation.
Geng Ken stared astonishedly at the young man in front, this young man actually knew a soul marking technique!
Branding oneâs soul!
He suddenly thought of the rumors of Gorefiend more than six hundred years ago! Remembering some of the myths related to Gorefiend, Geng Ken broke out in cold sweat as if he saw the bloody history repeating itself in a dozen or a hundred yearsâ time, where blood flowed across the land all over the entire Martial Spirit World.
Yet, in the end, he obediently released his soul sea for Huang Xiaolong to brand the soul mark. Whether Huang Xiaolong would turn into a second Gorefiend, Geng Ken didnât know and it wasnât up to him to be concerned about. At this moment, he could only relent and yield to Huang Xiaolong.
Huang Xiaolong fully relaxed after he successfully branded Geng Kenâs soul sea with a soul mark. With Geng Ken in his control, there was only Chen Xiaotian left. Chen Xiaotian might be a late-Xiantian Seventh Order expert, but still, he alone could not raise significant waves.
It could be surmised that the situation had reached a conclusion.
However, Huang Xiaolong still proceeded cautiously, instructing Geng Ken to return and keep an eye on Chen Xiaotian and to report to him immediately if there was any suspicious behavior.
Understanding Huang Xiaolongâs task for him, Geng Ken acknowledged respectfully and left the mansion. Before that, Huang Xiaolong did not forget to give him a grade six spirit pellet.
Huang Xiaolong then turned to Du Xin and Deng Guangliang, telling them to take note of Blood Swallow School and Nine Fiend Sectâs movements. Anytime these two forces made any actions, they were to report to him immediately.
Answering affirmatively in unison, both Du Xin and Deng Guangliang withdrew from the hall.
When both had left, Huang Xiaolong initiated Godly Mt. Xumi, entering the inner temple. There, he swallowed a drop of Geocentric Buddha Elixir and cultivated to restore his spent spiritual force.
Ten days later, Huang Xiaolongâs spiritual force was fully restored. Not only that, every time he exhausted his spiritual force, its strength would enhance significantly when he meditated to restore it. Even so, Huang Xiaolong was in no hurry to exit the Godly Mt. Xumi Temple, continuing with his practice.
His current strength was at peak mid-Xiantian Sixth Order, infinitely close to breaking into late-Xiantian Sixth Order. Once he broke through to the late stage, battling against Chen Xiaotian would be less strenuous.
Regardless, Huang Xiaolong wasnât in a rush. He had a feeling that within a monthâs time he could achieve the desired result, breaking into late-Xiantian Sixth Order.
Thus, secluding himself inside Godly Mt. Xumi, Huang Xiaolong threw himself into practice, the Godly Xumi Art, Asura Tactics, and the Body Metamorphose Scripture.
Huang Xiaolong stayed at the center of Godly Mt. Xumiâs Ten Buddha array formation. Time and again he practiced the Godly Xumi Art, vigorous energy coursing through his body as he simultaneously ran the Asura Tactics and the Body Metamorphose Scripture.
The Dragon might exuding from the twin dragons became even more condensed and potent.
The ancient Buddhism spiritual energy, the netherworld spiritual energy, true dragon qi, and the worldâs spiritual energy descended like a downburst into Huang Xiaolongâs body.
Huu~~!
As Huang Xiaolong breathed in and out, the airflow around him rippled to the rhythm of his breathing. With every breath he drew, he could clearly feel the pores on his skin acting like whirlpools that sucked in everything between heaven and earth.
Days passed.
While Huang Xiaolong secluded himself in practice inside the Xumi Temple, within the walls of the Sky Magi Sectâs great hall, a tall and strapping Chen Xiaotian was scrutinizing Gao Qing and Wu Honggang with stinging coldness.
A suffocating silence filled the dreary hall.
Both Gao Qing and Wu Honggang stood before Chen Xiaotian, not daring to even breathe.
âSpeak, where did your Third Senior Brother go?!â Chen Xiaotian barked, âDonât you dare say that your Third Senior Brother went out for a mission!â
Gao Qing and Qu Honggang lowered their heads and knelt on their knees, scared and jittery.
âSpeak!â Chen Xiaotian cornered.
The two trembled visibly.
âReplying to Master, the truth is, Third Senior Brother did not leave on a mission assignment.â At this time, Gao Qing blurted out, âThird Senior Brother, he, heâs already dead!â
âWhat did you say?!â Chen Xiaotian jumped to his feet, a raging momentum burst out of him like a flash flood.
âI, Iâm not lying Master, Third Senior Brother is dead! It was Blood Swallow Schoolâs Deputy, Cui Ming, that killed Third Senior Brother!â Wu Honggang interjected.
âBlood Swallow Schoolâs Cui Ming!â A vicious light gleamed fiercely in Chen Xiaotianâs eyes: âSpit it out! What exactly happened!â
In fact, this was something cooked up by Huang Xiaolong. He had early on instructed both Gao Qing and Wu Honggang that if one day Chen Xiaotian became suspicious of Lin Yuâs death, then theyâre to point the finger towards Blood Swallow Schoolâs Deputy, Cui Ming.
Hence, Gao Qing and Wu Honggang acted as per Huang Xiaolongâs instruction, explaining the âtruthâ of the situation in detail to Chen Xiaotian.
Listening to what his two disciples said, a light flickered in Chen Xiaotianâs eyes, changing indecisively as if he could not determine the facts, âI will investigate this matter, but if I find out that both of you lied to me, hmph!â
Gao Qing and Wu Honggang quickly kowtowed, claiming vehemently they dare not lie.
âBut, since youâve already known early on that your Third Senior Brother was killed by Blood Swallow Schoolâs Deputy Cui Ming, why didnât you report this matter earlier?â Chen Xiaotianâs temper erupted all of a sudden, sending both Gao Qing and Wu Honggang flying with a flick of his hand. âGo receive your punishment in the Disciplinary Hall!â
The two fled the hall in a panic after saluting Chen Xiaotian.
Very soon, Huang Xiaolong received news of this matter.
âChen Xiaotian, that old fellow, is starting to become suspicious?â a playful expression appeared on Huang Xiaolongâs face.
âYoung Lord, do we...?â Du Xin ventured carefully.