Chapter 1246: Pointers from the Flame Rock Sovereign
The Flame Rock Sovereign did not seem to be willing to say more. He put down the teacup and said with a smile, “Let’s not talk about this anymore. Since you’ve already condensed the Heart of an Emperor, ask me more questions about cultivation. Given my strength, I should be able to give you some pointers.”
Xiao Chen felt embarrassed. He said quickly, “Senior is being humble. This junior would definitely welcome Senior’s pointers. I will no doubt derive much benefit.”
Hearing this made the Flame Rock Sovereign happy. This Xiao Chen was rather understanding of the big picture. He did not turn arrogant and short-sighted because of his current accomplishments.
In reality, even one hundred Xiao Chens would absolutely not be a match for the Flame Rock Sovereign.
The Flame Rock Sovereign said, “Come, let me see your Primordial Energy first.”
After saying that, the Flame Rock Sovereign prodded Xiao Chen’s forehead. Xiao Chen did not resist, letting the Flame Rock Sovereign’s consciousness enter his body.
After a while, the Flame Rock Sovereign pulled his finger back. In that one instant, Xiao Chen felt a beam of light circulating his body for one cycle.
The Flame Rock Sovereign completely grasped the extent of Xiao Chen’s Heavenly Laws, Vital Qi, and Mental Energy.
“How excellent! Before advancing to Martial Emperor, you already have ten strands of Primordial Energy. Furthermore, they are so pure. Half-step Golden Body, ten strands of Primordial Energy, seventy-percent-comprehended saber soul, and peak will of thunder. With your overall strength, you are not much weaker than a First Heaven Martial Emperor.”
Xiao Chen listened quietly. The Flame Rock Sovereign had not finished speaking yet. The latter bits were what interested him the most.
The Flame Rock Sovereign withdrew his smile. Then, he continued, “However, if you want to clear your Great Tribulation of wind and fire based on these, I can tell you now that it will be impossible.”
Xiao Chen did not make any expression of displeasure. He said seriously, “Senior, please, do explain.”
The Flame Rock Sovereign nodded in approval in his heart. Then, he said, “Stay with me for this period of time. I will devote my time to giving you pointers for one month.”
When Xiao Chen heard that, he said, “Many thanks, Senior.”
The time of a Sovereign Martial Emperor was really precious. Xiao Chen did not have a teacher-student relationship with the Flame Rock Sovereign or a blood connection. For the Flame Rock Sovereign to stop cultivating for one month to give him pointers, needless to say, this was an extremely precious opportunity.
“You are too polite. I’ll use the strength of a regular half-step Martial Emperor to exchange moves with you without using any Primordial Energy. You can use any trump cards that you have. I’ll show you first how to bring out your full strength without wasting anything.”
Hearing that stunned Xiao Chen slightly. He said with some shock, “Senior, will you be pushing yourself too hard? Right now, I am capable of holding my own again a First Heaven Martial Emperor.”
The Flame Rock Sovereign smiled and said, “In that case, I’ll make a bet with you. I’ll give you ten chances to make a move. As long as you can force me back a step, you win. If you win, I will give you a big present that you definitely need. If you lose, hand over all your peak-grade Thousand Year Flame.”
“Alright. It is a deal!”
Xiao Chen directly agreed without thinking about it. If the bet was for him to defeat the Flame Rock Sovereign at the strength of a half-step Martial Emperor, while he would be shocked, he would still hold some misgivings over it.
However, the bet was only to force the Flame Rock Sovereign back by one step. Xiao Chen absolutely did not believe he could not do it.
This was not being blindly arrogant. This was confidence in his own strength; there was no need to be overly humble.
Xiao Chen grasped the Lunar Shadow Saber and looked at the Flame Rock Sovereign. Then, he asked, “Senior, are you ready?”
“You can make your move at any time.”
“Very good. In that case, sorry for the offense!”
There was a total of ten chances to make his move. Xiao Chen was a cautious person. Also, he was confident in his strength. The first time he made a move, he did not use any Primordial Energy.
Xiao Chen directly used the Law Energy of his Heavenly Laws and executed Thousand Year Hegemony Establishment. A boundless dominance of kingship surged out from his body in an overwhelming wave.
With the flash of Xiao Chen’s body, cities manifested in the air. Millions of figures appeared in the city, kneeling and crying out “long live for ten thousand years.”
Xiao Chen’s aura was like a surging tide, instantly zooming to the peak. When the cries of “long live for ten thousand years” merged into one, he hacked down with this tyrannical Thousand Year Hegemony Establishment.
Of all the Medial Grade Profound Martial Techniques that Xiao Chen grasped, the Thousand Year Hegemony Establishment was the most tyrannical. He was confident that this move would force back the Flame Rock Sovereign.
He found it hard to believe that a half-step Martial Emperor would not move even half a step after receiving this move head-on.
The Flame Rock Sovereign would not be an exception. “Back!”
The dominance of a dynasty materialized the Luck of a dynasty. Xiao Chen’s saber strike perfectly contained this Luck.
Being able to execute a Medial Grade Profound Martial Technique was the mark of having attained the foundational level. Manipulating a Medial Grade Profound Martial Technique was the mark of Small Perfection.
The next level was the infusion of states. One needed to comprehend the state contained within the Profound Martial Technique and materialize it in the move. This was the mark of Great Perfection.
As for the last level, that would be freely using it as one pleased. With just one thought, even before attacking, the mysterious phenomenon of the Martial Technique would already gather in an instant.
The instant the weapon was drawn, the full might of the Martial Technique would erupt. This was peak Consummation.
Any Martial Technique would have these four levels: foundational, Small Perfection, Great Perfection, and finally Consummation.
The higher the grade or rank of a Martial Technique, the harder it would be to cultivate. For a Medial Grade Profound Martial Technique, a regular Minor Heavenly Martial Emperor would find it hard to reach Great Perfection in less than one hundred years.
However, Xiao Chen’s Thousand Year Hegemony Establishment was only a little short of reaching Great Perfection.
The Flame Rock Sovereign nodded approvingly to himself, filled with praise. No wonder this Xiao Chen was so confident. Xiao Chen was indeed a genius with startling strength.
However, there was still something missing. If Xiao Chen wanted to force the Flame Rock Sovereign back, it would be quite difficult.
When the powerful saber light reached about three meters from the Flame Rock Sovereign, he made his move.
The Flame Rock Sovereign pushed his right hand forward slightly. His entire body turned dark red and blazed with flame as if he turned into a flame crystal.
However, when Xiao Chen’s saber light was about to make contact, the flames all over the Flame Rock Sovereign surged towards one of the Flame Rock Sovereign’s fingertips.
In that instant, the flames at the fingertip of the Flame Rock Sovereign became incredibly dazzling, overwhelming the sunlight in the sky. The sky suddenly turned dark, leaving only that spot of light that was dazzling and piercing.
“Ka!”
When the Flame Rock Sovereign’s fingertip touched the saber light, tears appeared in space. Someone moved back ten steps before managing to stabilize themself. It was not the Flame Rock Sovereign. Instead, it was the absolutely confident Xiao Chen, who had attacked with his saber.
Xiao Chen was shocked. How did the Flame Rock Sovereign do this? The Flame Rock Sovereign gathered all the energy in his entire body at one point, not wasting any of it.
If Xiao Chen did that, his finger would have exploded immediately. Before he could injure the enemy, he would have ended up crippling himself first.
Golden Emperor Body?
That’s not right. Senior Flame Rock Sovereign said that he would use only the strength of a half-step Martial Emperor. He would not go back on his word.
After getting knocked back, Xiao Chen did not fluster. Instead, he calmly analyzed the situation.
The Flame Rock Sovereign revealed a smile on his face. That’s pretty good. Such a mental state is rare.
After mulling over the move for a long time, Xiao Chen still could not understand it. This technique was too astonishing. The Thousand Year Hegemony Establishment was already his most tyrannical Martial Technique. If even this Martial Technique could not succeed, it would be hard for his other Martial Techniques to succeed.
Using Primordial Energy was pointless. If Xiao Chen used Primordial Energy and won by luck, that would be the result of an unfair advantage.
“I admit defeat.”
Xiao Chen smiled bitterly and took out all of the Thousand Year Flame that Mo Chen gave him from the Universe Ring with somewhat of a heartache.
“Hahaha!” the Flame Rock Sovereign laughed loudly. Then, he stretched out his hand, wanting to sweep all the Thousand Year Flame into his own spatial ring.
“Humph!”
Just at this moment, Ao Jiao snorted coldly with a smile. She had emerged from the Immortal Spirit Ring at some point in time and was standing to one side.
She glanced at the Flame Rock Sovereign. Her meaning was clear: if you dare to take them, then give it a try. After that, she looked up at the sky and ignored the Flame Rock Sovereign.
The Flame Rock Sovereign wiped away that pleased grin on his face. Ao Jiao’s meaningful glance made him somewhat diffident. Then, he smiled abashedly, “Little Brother, you are being too serious, much too serious. I was just joking.”
“Hehe! I just knew that Little Ba would not use his strength to bully the weak. He is a senior, indeed.”
Ao Jiao’s expression immediately changed into a bright smile. Then, she hugged all the Thousand Year Flame on the ground into her embrace. Then, she said, “That’s right. What about that big gift? Since you already said it, then take it out. Why are you still hiding it?”
When Xiao Chen saw the situation, he quickly said, “Ao Jiao, I was the one who lost the bet, so…”
Ao Jiao smiled very brightly. She batted her eyelashes at the Flame Rock Sovereign. “Is that so?”
The Flame Rock Sovereign looked at the Thousand Year Flame and swallowed his saliva. Then, he replied, “Yes, yes. Wait, no, no, no, it’s not. Little Friend Xiao Chen, the bet was just a joke. As a senior, how can I make a bet with you? Here, this is a greeting gift.”
After saying that, the Flame Rock Sovereign tossed out a bottle with an expression of heartache. Xiao Chen caught it and opened the bottle. A familiar aura immediately surged out, shocking Xiao Chen into losing his calm.
“This is…”
“That’s right. These are Primordial Pills. There is a total of ten there. Every one hundred years, I use my Primordial Energy to refine one. Originally, I was planning to leave them to Ba Yan. Now, I’ll give them to you. Use them well. I believe you will definitely be able to clear your Great Tribulation of wind and fire.”
They really were Primordial Pills—Primordial Energy refined into pills. Such a feat required a vast amount of Primordial Energy. Furthermore, the Flame Rock Sovereign required Primordial Energy for his cultivation as well. Making one pill every century was a huge expense.
This present was way too valuable. Xiao Chen felt very guilty. However, he was reluctant to give it up.
“There is no need to stand on ceremony. I believe you are someone who does not believe in that.”
Xiao Chen gravely accepted the Primordial Pills. These ten Primordial Pills were simply way too precious. No wonder the Flame Rock Sovereign said that he absolutely needed this gift.
Ao Jiao walked over with a grin and took the Primordial Pills from Xiao Chen. Then, she blinked at him and whispered, “I’ll help you take care of them first. Remember to extract more things from Little Ba. Since he dares to call me Big Sister, there is no need to stand on ceremony with him!”
The lips of the Flame Rock Sovereign, who was already feeling heartache, twitched when he heard these words.
Once Ao Jiao was far away, Xiao Chen said, “Senior, the brewer of this Thousand Year Flame is on my Heavenly Star Island. When I return to my conferred land, I’ll get her to brew a batch of excellent-quality Thousand Year Flame and send them over.”
Upon hearing that, the Flame Rock Sovereign smiled and said, “Good, good, good! Do remember it. I love wine the most, especially strong spirits. I drank this Thousand Year Flame once before, and I’ve never forgotten the taste of it since then.”
Xiao Chen nodded and said, “Definitely.”
The Flame Rock Sovereign withdrew his smile, his expression turning serious. “In this one month of giving you pointers, I will teach you only three things. The first is what you saw, which is to focus all your energy at one point. That is the Sharp Spirit Finger. Although it is named finger, once you’ve truly grasped it, you will be able to use it as you please, with any part of your body, not just the fingertip.”