Translator: Deathblade
Editor: Chesire Phoenix
It was a bit of a surprise to have run into another faction leader so quickly.
Summer Soundfyre clearly had a profound cultivation base, and was no weaker than Summer Vastcold. By now, Yang Qi realized that all the young women in the Nacrelight Sageland were surnamed âSummerâ, the reason being that the High Priestess was also surnamed Summer. Anyone who joined the Nacrelight Sageland would change their name to match.
The women in the sect were all surpassingly beautiful, and the leaders stood head and shoulders above the rest of the disciples. As for this Summer Soundfyre, she moved with entrancing grace and splendor, and was surrounded by an intoxicatingly fragrant aroma. A natural result of the bewitching techniques cultivated in the Nacrelight Sageland, it could entrance any man who encountered it.
Just being in Summer Soundfyreâs presence caused warmth to spread through Yang Qi, and filled his mind with strange thoughts.
âHmph!â He snorted coldly inwardly to clear his thoughts. However, he didnât let anything show on his face other than a faint smile. âI am your humble servant, Void Qi. I performed a minor favor for Miss Vastcold, nothing more.â
Standing firmly in their path, Summer Soundfyre said, âYou dropped billions without even thinking about it. Thatâs wealth that most people would fight to the death over. Not even Paramount Gods could talk lightly about that much money. Just what exactly is your family background, Void Qi?â
âWhat does his family background have to do with you?â Summer Vastcold said coldly. âHeâs my friend, Summer Soundfyre, so donât even think of stirring up trouble for him. That will only cause more friction between our two factions.â
Summer Soundfyre laughed. âThat's the wrong attitude, little sister Vastcold. Good things should be shared. If youâve found a rich young patron, you shouldnât be keeping him to yourself. I think all of us should benefit, donât you agree, Young Sir Void Qi? Iâve been running low on cash recently, maybe you can loan me a few billion godnotes. Iâll be sure to pay you back later.â
The other young men and women flanking Summer Soundfyre burst into laughter, and one of the men said, âWith money, you can do anything, right, boy? Unfortunately, while having money is nice, itâs nothing compared to power and cultivation level. Without them, how can you keep your money safe? How about you fork over thirty or forty billion godnotes to give to our Soundfyre Society as protection money? Weâll make sure nobody goes after your wealth.â
âOh really?â Yang Qi said, looking the man up and down. He was a Consummate God with a faint destiny that seemed to imply he had an impressive background. Leaning over to Summer Vastcold, Yang Qi asked, âWho is this guy?â
âHeâs an expert from the Proud Clan named Proud Realm, whoâs been chasing Summer Soundfyre for some time now. Sheâs simply toying with him, forcing him to spend huge amounts of wealth on her. But he seems to enjoy it, and doesnât complain at all. That said, his energy arts are impressive, so be careful.â
Summer Vastcold obviously wasnât going to underestimate him. He was âonlyâ a man, but he was still an early Consummate God, with impressive godhood and even more impressive connections. Obviously, ordinary people couldnât possibly tangle with him.
âAn expert from the Proud Clan? You can wear out iron shoes in a fruitless search, then find what you're looking for without even trying!â Yang Qi thought back to when he had first arrived in the god world, and encountered a member of the Proud Clan in the Lightningbolt Continent. Of course, it was only a member of an auxiliary branch, one so obscure it was possible the headquarters didnât even know it existed.
In contrast, this Proud Realm was a Consummate God, which meant that he surely had an important standing in his clan. Perhaps he even knew something about Proud Heaven.
Looking at Proud Realm, Yang Qi said, âWhat did you just say? You want me to give you billions of godnotes? I'm happy to talk business with Miss Summer Soundfyre, but do you really think I want to hear some fool like you jabber in my ear? What a joke!â
WHOOSH!
Yang Qi blurred into motion, piercing through space in the blink of an eye and appearing right in front of Proud Realm, where he unleashed a vicious palm toward the manâs face.
Proud Realm sensed the killing intent surrounding him and knew he had almost no time to react.
âHidden Universe!â he shouted, unleashing a killing move that caused energy to swirl around him, taking the shape of a nascent universe. Flickering lights surrounded him, as though an entire universe was collapsing as radiance and light fought darkness and gloom.
Yang Qi was shocked as he realized that his opponent was fighting with something that resembled Proud Heavenâs Ten Universes. It was different, but seemed to have similar origins; it apparently connected to some mighty plane of existence, which provided the power for an immense attack.
âThis is a move the likes of which no ordinary person could possibly evade. Thankfully, I have experience dealing with the Ten Universes. Furthermore, Iâve put a huge amount of thought into analyzing how to deal with it. Considering that, dealing with this punk wonât be difficult at all.â His hands shifted back and forth between being blades, whips, and cudgels as he targeted what he knew was a central power nexus in the Hidden Universe move. His move struck home and the nascent universe exploded, sending a massive, chaotic shock wave out in all directions.
SPLAT!
A glob of blood erupted from Proud Realmâs mouth as he was flung dozens of kilometers in the opposite direction, cracking sounds ringing out as his meridians and godhood shattered.
Yang Qi glided back to Summer Vastcoldâs side. Flicking his sleeve, he said, âEverythingâs fine. I smacked the pesky fly away.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âThis guy is incredible,â she thought. âI assumed he was rich, but lacking in strength and energy arts. In fact, I thought that was why he was currying favor with me, because he wanted protection in the Nacrelight Sageland. Who could ever have guessed that heâs actually this powerful?â The brief exchange had completely changed Summer Vastcoldâs impression of Yang Qi.
âYou vanquished the energy arts of the Proud Clan?â she said. âThe founder of that clan is extremely mysterious, and provided them with extremely enigmatic energy arts. Even I would have to work hard to handle Proud Realm. But you defeated his killing Hidden Universe move without even breaking a sweat?â
âI just got lucky,â Yang Qi said, declining to explain, which only furthered his air of mystique.
âWell, go help him up and give him some of these medicinal pills. Then send him back to the Proud Clan.â As Yang Qi complied, Summer Vastcold continued, âIt's a big surprise to find that youâre not just wealthy, Young Sir Void Qi. You also have a shocking cultivation base, making you more than strong enough to protect yourself. That said, you would still be in danger if you encountered an Unbounded enemy.â
Yang Qi smiled faintly. âI'm not too worried. I'm fully confident that once you reach the Unbounded level, Iâll have nothing to fear from anyone.â Of course, his words were very pleasing to her.
Meanwhile, Summer Soundfyre chuckled harshly. âSounds like youâre taking a gamble, Young Sir Void Qi, In the end, Wisdom and Knowledge God Pills arenât easy to concoct. Even with your help, thereâs only a fifty percent chance of success. And if the pill fails, youâll have lost your investment.â
âNonsense.â Summer Vastcold said. âThe Wisdom and Knowledge God Pill wonât fail. You just wait, Summer Soundfyre. Once Iâm an Unbounded expert, Iâll do everything in my power to dismantle your faction and make you one of my subordinates.â
âNothing is certain. Even if you concoct the Wisdom and Knowledge God Pill and consume it, thereâs still only a fifty percent chance that youâll achieve your breakthrough. And youâll also have to deal with the tribulations. There have been plenty of people throughout the history of the Nacrelight Sageland who have gathered all of the precious materials needed to reach the Unbounded level. But how many of them succeeded? Relying on medicinal pills is an easy way to experience cultivation deviation.â Smiling radiantly, she said, âI have a proposal, Young Sir Void Qi. You see, I like gambling as well. So why not meet me at the Destined Marriage God Temple later tonight? Iâll be waiting.â
With that, she turned and left with her retinue.
âWe got really unlucky today,â Summer Vastcold said, her face ashen from anger. âLetâs go. I'm not interested in staying here in the Warfare God Temple.â
âWhat's the Destined Marriage Temple?â Yang Qi asked.
âSummer Soundfyre said sheâd wait for you there, are you going to take her up on it?â Summer Vastcold asked.
He turned up his nose. âLike hell I well. You think I take orders from her?â
She laughed. âActually, I think you need to go. I give you my permission.â
âWhat?!â Yang Qi said, putting on a front of being extremely confused. âHold on, whatâs going on here?â
âOh, nothing. She just wants you to hedge your bets, right? Who knows, maybe sheâll be the one to reach the Unbounded level first.â
In response, Yang Qi threw his head back and laughed heartily.
âWhatâs so funny?â she said, obviously not sure what he was laughing about. âYou think I'm joking or something?â
âYou want me to probe her for more information,â Yang Qi said bluntly. âShe didn't seem nervous at all when you mentioned the Wisdom and Knowledge God Pill, so now youâre wondering if thereâs some conspiracy afoot. After all, whoever reaches the Unbounded level first will obviously be able to crush the other. If you know yourself and know your enemy, youâll always be victorious, right?â
âYouâre very smart!â Summer Vastcold said. âYou pick up on things quickly, and you understand what I'm thinking. Thereâs much more to you than meets the eye, Void Qi.â