Invincible

Spoiler Chapter 258: Battling Chen Xiaotian

“Who are you?!” The question flew from Chen Xiaotian’s mouth as he studied Huang Xiaolong warily. His gut instinct told him that Huang Xiaolong didn’t belong to the Blood Swallow School or Nine Fiend Sect.

Huang Xiaolong faced Chen Xiaotian, indifferently saying, “Who I am is not important,” after a slight pause, Huang Xiaolong continued, “I think you would best understand that there is no escape for you today. You have two options in front of you; submission, or death.”  

Huang Xiaolong wasted no time with nonsense, laying down two choices on the table for Chen Xiaotian in a straightforward manner.

Chen Xiaotian chanced another furtive glance in Geng Ken, Du Xin, and Deng Guangliang’s direction as they stood behind Huang Xiaolong. Suddenly, a cold, desolate feeling of despair rose from his heart. Was this how it felt being betrayed and abandoned?

“Did you plan on letting them attack me together, or one by one?” Pushing down the feelings of despair, Chen Xiaotian asked Huang Xiaolong in a stiff, cold voice.

Huang Xiaolong shook his head, waving a hand at Geng Ken, Du Xin, Deng Guangliang, and the other Sky Magi Sect Elders back, “All of you step back. No one is allowed to make a move without my order.”

When these words were spoken, all present were stunned by Huang Xiaolong’s decision.

“Young Lord, this…!” Geng Ken took a step forward, wanting to dissuade Huang Xiaolong.

No one here knew Chen Xiaotian’s true strength better than him. Although he had to admit that Huang Xiaolong was strong, Chen Xiaotian was a late-Xiantian Seventh Order after all. Moreover, if his estimation was correct, Chen Xiaotian’s real strength was higher than that.

“Step down!” Huang Xiaolong snapped.

Geng Ken trembled, swiftly saluted respectfully and retreated to the back line where Du Xin, Deng Guangliang, and the rest were standing.

Huang Xiaolong looked at Chen Xiaotian, “If you can defeat me, you can leave.”

Chen Xiaotian glanced at the line up of Sky Magi Sect Elders at the back and then back to Huang Xiaolong, “For real?” Looking skeptical on the surface but his heart was delighted at Huang Xiaolong’s arrogance. He wasn’t sure of Huang Xiaolong’s actual strength, but judging from Huang Xiaolong’s aura, Chen Xiaotian was sure Huang Xiaolong hadn’t broken through to Xiantian Seventh Order.

“Correct.” Huang Xiaolong affirmed coolly, catching the flicker of joy in Chen Xiaotian’s eyes; it seems this Chen Xiaotian thinks he will win over me?

The instant Huang Xiaolong’s reply came, one azure and one red light flew out from Chen Xiaotian’s body, merging into a tree above his head.

A giant tree materialized, shrouded in an azure colored gale and dark red flames.

First-rank grade eleven martial spiritーWindfire Tree!

The power of the wind and fire elements instantly filled the grand hall.

Chen Xiaotian wasted no time in merging with his Windifre Tree martial spirit immediately after summoning it. After soul transforming, both of Chen Xiaotian’s arms were crackling and burning with dark red flames; at the same time, azure colored wind swished up and down and around his body.

The soul transformed Chen Xiaotian seized the initiative, launching an attack on Huang Xiaolong. He dashed forward in a blur of azure light with streaks of dark red, at amazing speed, as if he was the embodiment of wind. Not only were Du Xin and Deng Guangliang unable to capture Chen Xiaotian’s movements, even the strongest amongst them, Geng Ken, a peak late-Sixth Order Xiantian could only see vague afterimages. This filled everyone with apprehension.

“Careful, Young Lord!” Geng Ken and the others couldn’t help exclaiming out loud.

Huang Xiaolong branded a soul mark in each of their souls. Being connected at soul level, if Huang Xiaolong died, they too would follow, their souls facing destruction.

Watching Chen Xiaotian coming at him, Huang Xiaolong released his Asura Physique. Black, ebony Wings of Demon spread, and displaying Phantom Shadow at the same time, Huang Xiaolong’s figure disappeared, leaving only a faint shadow in the air.

Chen Xiaotian’s fist struck, piercing through the shadow left behind in Huang Xiaolong’s place, the afterimage shadow puffed away like wisps of smoke.

His attack fell on empty air, Chen Xiaotian spun around with a horrified expression, looking at Huang Xiaolongㅡthis black-haired young man actually dodged his attack! His actual strength was not what the outside rumours claimed to be, he had long ago advanced into the peak of late-Xiantian Seventh Order, and with the power of the wind element added onto his body after soul transformation, his speed greatly surpassed warriors of the same strength. Despite all of this, Huang Xiaolong managed to dodge his attack.

Having avoided Chen Xiaotian’s attack, Huang Xiaolong rounded back with the Blades of Asura in his hands, slashing out at Chen Xiaotian from midair.

The Asura Sword Skill’s Fourth Move: State of Abundant Lightning!

A lightning storm descended on the grand hall, countless lightning flood dragons formed as they hit the floor, roaring at the targeted Chen Xiaotian. In the short blink of an eye, Chen Xiaotian was surrounded.

Chen Xiaotian’s face became ashen at the abrupt grave situation he found himself in.

“Windfire Flowing Physique!”

With a bellow, Chen Xiaotian twirled his body around like a flaming cloud and floated to the air, barely escaping the attacks of several lightning flood dragons. But he didn’t expect that the flood dragon-shaped lightning could turn into rotating gales, dogging his steps.

After so many years, Huang Xiaolong had perfected the combination of Asura Sword Skill’s first move, Tempest of Hell and the second move, Tears of Asura, into the fourth move, State of Abundant Lightning. When attacking, the lightning streaks were unpredictable, turning into an angry thunderstorm in the next moment. It evolved into quite a powerful move.

Chen Xiaotian ‘floated’ from one side to the other, endlessly ‘flowing’ with the air current, dodging the attacks of the lightning flood dragons repeatedly. Time elapsed and the State of Abundant Lightning dissipated.

After he was hit directly by the lightning, Chen Xiaotian appeared awkward and miserable, parts of his robes were singed and tattered, with burnt black holes.

“Windfist Flowing Fire Palm!”

When Huang Xiaolong’s attack dissipated, Chen Xiaotian vented his wrath. Chen Xiaotian struck with his left fist and a hurricane of wind formed in front of it, whereas his right hand struck a palm that pierced through space, dancing with dark red flames.

A punch and a palm fused into one attack, violently influencing the airflow of the grand hall, so much that Geng Ken and the group of Elder standing at the edge felt like they were being melted in a heated furnace, yet at the same time, blades of wind cut against their skin.

Even for Huang Xiaolong, it was the first time he came across such a battle skill.

After a brief moment of surprise, Huang Xiaolong’s eyes turned sharp and cold, swinging the blades in his hands. Countless blade lights spun in peculiar circular motions, as a deep hued red eyeball  materialized out of nowhere, it too spinning in the same direction. Icy blade lights flew out from the red eyeball, crashing into the enemy’s wind fist and fire palm.

High above in the grand hall space, a chain of blasts rang out. Aftershocks of wind and fire rolled out as remnants of blade lights ricocheted in all directions, leaving spine-chilling cut marks on the walls of the grand hall.

When the deep red eyeball appeared, Chen Xiaotian felt dizzied from shock at the scene before him. Unable to control himself, his body wobbled as he looked at Huang Xiaolong with shock and trepidation.

What kind of battle skill was this?!

By now, it was apparent to him that Huang Xiaolong had yet to break through to Xiantian Seventh Order, but the cultivation technique he practiced was undoubtedly high. Therefore, Huang Xiaolong’s battle qi grade exceeded his by more than a grade or two. On top of that, the battle skill he practiced was much stronger too, perhaps it might even be a legendary Heaven grade battle skill!

Seeing that even the Eye of Reincarnation failed to resolve Chen Xiaotian, Huang Xiaolong realized it would difficult to defeat the opponent if he didn’t summon his martial spirit.

At the end of the day, Chen Xiaotian’s strength was a peak late-Xiantian Seventh Order.

With Chen Xiaotian, Geng Ken, and the rest watching, a coruscating light burst out from Huang Xiaolong’s body. Roars of dragons shook the heavens as twin dragons materialized in midairㅡa black and a blue dragon! Overwhelming dragon might flooded the hall like the rushing currents of the Milky Way, spreading to every corner of the spacious grand hall.

The black and blue dragons wound themselves around Huang Xiaolong, akin to a Dragon God reincarnation.

“Twin Primordial Divine Dragon martial spirits!”

Geng Ken, Du Xin, and Deng Guangliang’s bodies trembled, staring at Huang Xiaolong with feverish eyes.

Chapter 259: Taking Control of Sky Magi Sect

“Blue Dragon martial spirit!” Watching a blue dragon materialize behind Huang Xiaolong, Chen Xiaotian was astounded.

News of Huang Xiaolong possessing superb talent twin martial spirits, Primordial Divine Black and Blue Dragons, had yet to spread to the Bedlam Lands. Therefore this was the first time any of them, be it Chen Xiaotian, Geng Ken, or the rest, were confronted with the existence of a blue dragon martial spirit.

After summoning his twin martial spirits, Huang Xiaolong’s strength rose and soared continuously. In a dazzling flash of light, he soul transformed with the black and blue dragons.

Before the stunned faces of Chen Xiaotian and the rest, layers of sturdy black and blue dragon scales grew on the surface of Huang Xiaolong’s skin, covering him like an armor, as two tattoo-like dragon heads appeared on his back.

After soul transforming, Huang Xiaolong’s momentum greatly surpassed Chen Xiaotian’s.

Huang Xiaolong’s body exuded an overwhelming dragon might, making it difficult for Chen Xiaotian, Geng Ken, and the Sky Magi Sect Elders to breath. Deep within, the core of their souls gave birth to a desire to kneel, to prostrate, to submit before Huang Xiaolong. Only Chen Xiaotian was able to resist going down on his knees, although barely.

Huang Xiaolong shifted, disappearing in a blur and reappearing right in front of Chen Xiaotian. A palm swiftly struck out.

Chen Xiaotian turned ghastly pale at the sudden attack, raising his own palm in a panic, meeting Huang Xiaolong’s attack head on in an attempt of self-defense.

A muffled explosion resounded in the grand hall, followed by terrifying aftershock waves spiralling outward. Chen Xiaotian had a feeling like his palm hit against a divine stone. It felt as if the bones of his hand shattered from the collision as he staggered backwards until the edge of the grand hall, just to steady himself.

Horror was written all over Chen Xiaotian’s face as he stared at Huang Xiaolong.

Before this black-haired young man, after soul transforming, relying purely on battle qi and battle skill grade to battle him, Chen Xiaotian knew he was marginally stronger. But the young man’s strength increased drastically after soul transformation.

A part of him actually gave up resistance facing the soul transformed Huang Xiaolong.

On the other side, Huang Xiaolong’s silhouette flickered, wielding the Blades of Asura at Chen Xiaotian again, dancing blade lights spun into an alluring demonic flower right in front of Chen Xiaotian.

Asura Sword Skill, Fifth Move: Flower of the Other Shore!

In the next breath, the flower vanished into thin air!

All of a sudden, Chen Xiaotian screamed. His body was thrown back as if something hit him, red blood gushing out from his chest like a gurgling spring. A glaring, blood-red flower imprint could be seen on his chest as blood flowed out.

Before Chen Xiaotian crashed to the floor, the blades in Huang Xiaolong’s hands swung out a third time, sending countless blade lights that turned into a pair of tempestuous vortices, chasing after Chen Xiaotian.

Tempest of Hell!

Fear and panic rose in Chen Xiaotian’s heart watching the two cyclones coming at him.

“Windfire Flowing Physique!”

Chen Xiaotian’s body rotated at high speed, turning into a cloud of flowing flames that floated in the air.

However, due to the injury from the Flower of the Other Shore, Asura qi had invaded his body, greatly reducing Chen Xiaotian’s speed and movements. In the end, the Tempest of Hell vortices wrapped around his legs, pulling him down from the air.

Minuscule wind blades abraded Chen Xiaotian’s legs, his flesh was flayed and blood splattered as they moved higher, towards Chen Xiaotian’s torso. The white of bones was visible to the naked eye through the bloody wounds.

Huang Xiaolong stopped his attack and walked over to where Chen Xiaotian laid.

Severely injured by the Flower of the Other Shore and having his legs crippled by the Tempest of Hell, Chen Xiaotian was a withered version of his robust self. The elemental power of wind and fire weakened and dissipated. In this state, any average Xiantian Sixth Order warrior could snuff out Chen Xiaotian’s life without exerting much effort.

Chen Xiaotian struggled to drag his injured body away with his arms, as Huang Xiaolong approached closer, until he reached a wall where there was no more space to retreat.

“Submit to me! I can heal your injuries, also let you break through to the Eighth Order.” Huang Xiaolong lowered his gaze, his icy voice giving no room for doubt: “Or die!”

“Cut by my blades, with the Asura qi invading your body, the last moments before death are absolute torture. You probably don’t feel so good right now.”

A series of thoughts flashed passed Chen Xiaotian’s pallid face. Just as Huang Xiaolong stated, the invading Asura qi felt like ten thousand poisonous snakes sinking their poisonous fangs into his skin, the pain grew increasingly excruciating by the seconds. If it weren’t for his wind and fire elemental battle qi suppressing that terrifying energy inside his body, the pain would be a hundred times worse than what he was experiencing now.

Huang Xiaolong watched him coldly, waiting for an answer.

Geng Ken, Du Xin, and Deng Guangliang all looked at Chen Xiaotian in absolute silence.

Huang Xiaolong had easily defeated Chen Xiaotian after soul transformation, the shocking truth was already deeply etched in Geng Ken, Du Xin, Deng Guangliang, and the Sky Magi Sect Elders’ hearts, and it showed on their faces.

Time ticked by and the prolonged silence grew foreboding.

“Fine. I’m willing, to submit to you.” A short while passed, Chen Xiaotian sighed towards the sky and gave in. The moment these words left his lips, he looked as if he grew old in an instant.

As the Sky Magi Sect’s Sovereign, Chen Xiaotian was considered as one of three hegemony existences in Black Demon City, an existence that even the Nine Fiend Sect’s Patriarch showed a point or two of respect and wariness towards. But now, he was reduced to submitting to another person, having a master over himーa junior!

The circumstances of this change were difficult for him to accept.

Huang Xiaolong was secretly relieved that Chen Xiaotian was willing to submit. This was the most favorable outcome.

This way, on the surface, Chen Xiaotian could remain as the face of Sky Magi Sect’s Leader, while Huang Xiaolong controlled everything behind the scenes. Proceeding in this manner would reduce the chances of Blood Swallow School and Nine Fiend Sect getting suspicious, otherwise, things would be more troublesome if he had to make Chen Xiaotian ‘disappear’ or ‘missing.’

“Good. Release your soul sea,” Huang Xiaolong added, “I’m going to brand a soul mark.”

“Soul mark!” Chen Xiaotian’s reaction was identical to Geng Ken, Du Xin, and the rest upon hearing the words ‘soul mark’. The fact that Huang Xiaolong knew the art of soul marking was shocking to Chen Xiaotian.

His eyes strayed towards Geng Ken, his disciples, Du Xin and Deng Guangliang, as well as the Sky Magi Sect Elders. Realization dawned on him, all of them were branded with a soul mark by Huang Xiaolong!

Like the many before him, Chen Xiaotian relented, releasing his soul sea, allowing Huang Xiaolong to brand a soul mark.

Displaying the Soul Mandate combined with the Ancient Puppetry Art, Huang Xiaolong branded Chen Xiaotian’s soul sea with a soul mark. When all was completed smoothly, he finally relaxed. Reigning in Chen Xiaotian, the Sky Magi Sect was now fully under his control.

In the Bedlam Lands, Huang Xiaolong now had his own force!

Successfully branding a soul mark in Chen Xiaotian, Huang Xiaolong drew out the Asura qi within and gave him a grade six spirit pellet and a healing pellet, so that he could heal his wounds.

With Chen Xiaotian on his side, Huang Xiaolong turned to the three remaining Sky Magi Sect Elders, reigning them in just as he did with the others.

However, Huang Xiaolong did not make Chen Xiaotian call for an assembly of the core disciples announcing his identity. Before he swallowed up the Blood Swallow Sect and Nine Fiend Sect, the fewer people that knew about him the better.

Yet, at the same time, Huang Xiaolong wasn’t in a rush to take over the two other forces. Instead, he ordered Chen Xiaotian and Geng Ken to have someone watch the movements of Blood Swallow School’s Elders.

His plan was to divide and conquerㅡwhen these Elders were outbound for tasks, he would either kill or rein them in.

He would only act when the Blood Swallow School’s Doyen, Jiang Tianhua noticed something was amiss.

From then on, Huang Xiaolong stayed in the Sky Magi Sect headquarters, spending his days cultivating inside Godly Mt. Xumi. As his spiritual force and strength continued to rise, Huang Xiaolong tried to control the fifth puppet inside the Linglong Treasure Pagoda.

And Huang Xiaolong finally succeeded ten days later.

“Young Lord, this subordinate found out that two Blood Swallow School Elders, Li Yunhua and Liu Liyang, accepted a task to the Death Domain in search of the Bedeviled Spirit Bead.” One day, the Sky Magi Sect’s Leader, Chen Xiaotian, came to report to Huang Xiaolong.