Such a large formation showed that the Ye Clan cared a lot for this operation.
“Old Dad, wait a moment!” Seeing Ye Qing about to board one of the war chariots, Ye Chen pushed Xiao Chen forward and said, “Bring us along as well. Xiao Chen might have some proficiency at seeking dragons and fixing veins.”
Shock flashed in Ye Qing’s eyes. Then, he turned to Xiao Chen. “Little Friend, you understand how to seek dragons and fix veins?”
“Humph! Now, just anyone can declare themselves to be a Geomaster? Merely a youngling, and he dares to be so unbridled. Why have I not heard of a Geomaster clan with the family name Xiao?”
Just as Xiao Chen was about to deny what Ye Chen said, a rude voice resounded. He narrowed his eyes and took a look. The one spoke was an old man whose style of clothes possessed an ancient charm.
This person should be the Geomaster that the Ye Clan invited.
Ye Feng performed introductions with an apologetic tone. “This is Senior Yuan Qinghuan. He has practiced the arts of Geomasters for a hundred years already. Senior Yuan, this is Xiao Chen, an honored guest of the Ye Clan.”
When Yuan Qinghuan heard Ye Feng’s introductions, that Xiao Chen was an honored guest of the Ye Clan, his tone softened. Even so, he still said with a cold expression, “Since he is the honored guest of the Ye Clan, I will not say anything more. However, don’t just casually say that you know how to seek dragons and fix veins, embarrassing our profession.”
Ye Chen lost his temper on the spot. “You are just a second-rate Geomaster, why all the nonsense—”
Xiao Chen held Ye Chen back and said apologetically to Ye Qing, “This junior is only interested in seeking dragons and fixing veins. I cannot be considered to understand it, much less skilled. I am only going to watch the fun.”
Ye Qing smiled and said, “It’s fine. Come along and take a look. Feng`er, prepare a private war chariot for them. Come, let us depart.”
The group boarded the war chariots and left to great fanfare. They appeared like a mighty army with strong momentum.
Ye Feng, Ye Chen, Xiao Chen, and Zi Ying were all on the same war chariot. Still brooding, Ye Chen continued scolding, “That old fellow! Despite being so incapable, he remains so arrogant. If not for Father, I would have beaten him up already.”
Frowning, Ye Feng said, “Don’t be rash. He is already the strongest Geomaster we can invite. He has the experience of subduing ten Rank 3 Spirit Veins.”
Zi Ying’s lips curled up as she said, “However, I heard that Jiang Tian once helped an Immortal Holy Land subdue a King Spirit Vein.”
Ye Feng’s expression turned somewhat unsightly. He said helplessly, “Father already does not hold much hope for us subduing this unknown Spirit Vein. The Sole Hegemon Mountain Manor is sure to improve greatly from this. We can only think of another countermeasure.”
Ye Chen asked out of curiosity, “What countermeasure?”
Ye Feng remained silent for a moment before replying, “If there really is a King Spirit Vein hidden in this dragon cave, he can only try to break through to Sovereign Martial Emperor earlier than planned.”
“That is too risky!” Ye Chen exclaimed.
“There is nothing else we can do. Once the Sole Hegemon Mountain Manor obtains the King Spirit Vein, they will immediately surpass our Ye Clan and be selected as the new Alliance Chief.”
The war chariot fell silent. Ye Chen pulled Xiao Chen aside and whispered, “Xiao Chen, can you tell me the secret? Do you know how to seek dragons and fix veins? The tribulation to Sovereign Martial Emperor is very dangerous, and most end up dying. By advancing ahead of schedule, Father would face even more danger.”
Xiao Chen understood how Ye Chen felt. After a while, he said, “I can only promise you this: if there really is a King Spirit Vein, I can make it such that no one here can obtain it. As for seeking dragons and fixing veins, I am too inexperienced compared to those old timers.”
Ye Chen smiled and said, “Those words are more than enough!”
Xiao Chen did not know if there was any danger in revealing the Yuwen Clan’s Dragon Seeking Art. However, if this friend before him was in danger, he would not even consider that.
The formation of war chariots quickly left Lingyun Island. After flying over the sea for half a day, they stopped above a clearly extraordinary region of the sea filled with desolate mountains.
Many people from the various factions had already gathered in the air.
The formations of each faction were only slightly inferior to the Ye Clan’s. This was Xiao Chen’s first time seeing so many Martial Emperors gathered together.
The aura in the air was suffocatingly oppressive.
Paying close attention, Xiao Chen looked at the situation below. The entire region consisted of the area within five hundred kilometers.
There were many mountains towards the south rising from the bottom of the sea and peeking out of the water, showing just their peaks in an unending chain.
Xiao Chen counted these mountains and found eighteen underwater mountains. He felt astonished.
The peaks exposed above the water were not all there was to them. Even though those were just a kilometer tall, the part hidden in the water was extraordinarily large.
When seeking dragons and fixing veins, the first thing to do was check out the situation of mountains and rivers, to locate the ferocious beast in the south.
With such massive mountains, furthermore eighteen of them, Xiao Chen did not dare imagine how many horrifying ferocious beasts were hidden, if this was where the dragon cave was.
He looked to the north and saw numerous small islands, hundreds of them, appearing on the surface of the sea.
The south and north corresponded with each other. The ferocious beast lay in the south, watching with the eyes of a tiger and bearing ill intent. The north was the guards of the dragon, defending that area and blocking out evil.
Finding more than a hundred guards protecting the dragon, Xiao Chen felt shocked again. No wonder every faction sent out such large formations.
It was really possible that this Dragon Cave might hide a King Spirit Vein.
Of course, Xiao Chen could not be too sure of this. The third segment of the Paradise Secret Canon, covering the hundred changes of the heavenly mysteries, spoke about the existence of many fake dragon caves.
Unfortunately, it was not convenient to open the Heavenly Eye here. Otherwise, Xiao Chen would be able to obtain much more information. Making a proper judgment was difficult just relying on what was visible on the surface of the sea.
He looked up and frowned slightly. The sky was not dark yet, and the stars were not visible. This was a real headache.
“Are you able to make out something?” Ye Chen asked anxiously.
Xiao Chen shook his head and kept his own counsel.
Ye Feng turned his head and said, “The Northern Sea Alliance’s warship is over at that side. Father told us to head over together.”
Xiao Chen turned to look and saw the leaders of the various factions flying over to an enormous warship in a continuous stream with the Geomasters they brought.
“Let’s go!”
The four quickly flew to the deck, which was incredibly large. In one glance, it looked flat and boundless. Xiao Chen felt like he had stepped onto an alien mothership like those he had only seen on television in his previous world.
However, this warship under Xiao Chen’s feet was even more powerful than those alien motherships; they were on entirely different levels.
On a tall platform on the deck, Ye Qing sat on a treasured throne. The few Martial Emperors with him stood at his sides, and at his right was Geomaster Yuan Qinghuan.
The leaders of the various factions lined the two sides of the deck together with their Geomasters. The many major characters looked at the newly arrived Xiao Chen, all feeling very curious.
Although this junior was not a Martial Emperor and was rather far from being qualified to join their circle, these Martial Emperors had all heard of his name long ago.
Ye Qing simply pointed to his back with a smile, indicating for Xiao Chen’s group to stand at the side and not say anything.
“Alliance Chief Ye, can we begin the first step yet? The Geomasters of our clans have all prepared long ago,” an old man asked with a trace of excitement.
The others nodded. Although none of them said anything, they clearly were feeling impatient already.
Ye Qing said, “Just wait first. Brother Shi of the Sole Hegemon Mountain Manor is not here yet. There is no need to rush the checking of the earth vein.”
“Haha! Brother Ye is really kind. Everyone, Shi Tianyu has arrived late. I’m sorry.”
A middle-aged man with an aura no weaker than Ye Qing’s appeared amid laughter. Leading the strongest Geomaster of the Heavenly Starry Sea, his son Shi Feng, and a few Martial Emperors, this person landed on the deck.
Xiao Chen, who was standing behind Ye Qing, felt a gaze on him. He raised his head and saw Shi Feng looking provocatively at him.
Ye Qing said, “Since Brother Shi is here already, let’s begin.
“Wait up!”
Shi Tianyu waved his hand domineeringly and said with a smile, “Checking the earth vein is just a small matter. There is no need for so many Geomasters to work together. Old Mister Jiang alone is sufficient.”
The others could not help feeling rage in their hearts. From the very start, this Shi Tianyu was already pushing everyone out, planning to monopolize this Spirit Vein.
Ye Qing felt upset in his heart as well. This Shi Tianyu did not give any face to this Alliance Chief at all, treating him as nothing.
However, no matter how upset Ye Qing was, this Shi Tianyu managed to invite Jiang Tian over, the strongest Geomaster of the Heavenly Starry Ocean.
Shi Tianyu did not care at all. He said calmly, “Old Brother Jiang, sorry to trouble you.”
Jiang Tian nodded and slowly walked to the railing at the side. The people of the other factions quickly moved over to get a good view of what would happen next.
Everyone saw the old man with the family name Jiang point to the sky. The clouds in the sky parted like curtains of a stage, exposing a glorious slice of the vast, boundless Starry Heavens.
Jiang Tian waved his right hand, and a black banner appeared. Then, he casually tossed it into the sky. It split into eighty-one banners that stabbed into the water.
The seawater instantly turned transparent, allowing everyone to see the situation underwater very clearly.
“The Jiang Clan’s Worldly Wind Water Banner is indeed extraordinary!”
When several of the Geomasters saw this scene, they were in awe. Although they were upset at Jiang Tian suppressing all of them by himself, his strength really and truly left them in awe.
Xiao Chen quickly walked over to the railing. Then, he looked at the situation at the bottom of the sea. After a while, his expression changed slightly. Then, he raised his head and looked at the boundless Starry Heavens.
His expression fluctuated entirely. This was a chain of dragon caves where it was very difficult to tell the real ones from the fake. It might even hide an evil dragon—an ominous situation that could kill Martial Emperors.
“Nine stars sealing dragon—Tanlang Star, Jumen Star, Lucun Star, Wenqu Star, Lianzhen Star, Wuqu Star, Pojun Star, Zuofu Star, and Youbi Star, all nine stars gathered together. I think this is my first time seeing such a situation. There is really a possibility of a King Spirit Vein. Even if there is no King Spirit Vein, it is at least a peak Holy Spirit Vein.”
The Geomaster that the Ye Clan invited, Yuan Qinghuan, looked at the situation under the sea and immediately exclaimed in excitement. Clearly, he was extremely shocked.
Ye Chen smiled and asked, “Sir, are you able to subdue it?”
Yuan Qinghuan immediately felt stifled. How could he be capable of subduing this? Even if the other Geomasters were not here and he could deal with this alone, he would have difficulty.
Furthermore, there were so many Geomasters present, especially Jiang Tian. It would not even reach Yuan Qinghuan’s turn.
Yuan Qinghuan turned around and said in a huff, “You go if you are capable!”
Ye Qing frowned slightly and said, “Sir, please speak the truth. How confident are you of subduing this dragon cave? And, if you have to compete with the other Geomasters, how confident are you?”
Before such a major character like Ye Qing, Yuan Qinghuan did not dare to be rude. He faltered and said, “This, actually, umm, I’m not afraid of speaking the truth. The Geomasters that can compete with Jiang Tian in the Heavenly Starry Ocean are all either dead or hidden in Immortal Holy Lands as consecrates. There is simply no Geomaster here that can stop him.”