At Xiao Chen’s residence:
Bao`er and Old Liu led the servants to the entrance. When Xiao Chen appeared, everyone knelt in greeting.
Xiao Chen gave a slight nod in dismissal. Then, the Demon Blood Vulture flew over happily to perch on Old Liu’s shoulder, appearing excited.
“Young Master, congratulations. It looks like you made a good harvest at the Abyssal Underworld,” Bao`er said after observing Xiao Chen. Although she could not make out his exact strength, she could sense a difference from before he left.
The air that Xiao Chen gave off was stronger. Bao`er even had difficulty looking straight at him.
Although Xiao Chen intentionally suppressed the pressure from his soul, he could not completely withdraw it.
Of course, this was not a good thing. To experts, it would be seen as lacking full control and having insufficient accumulations.
Xiao Chen nodded and said, “It’s still fine. Did anyone come to look for me?”
Although Xiao Chen did not expect anyone to look for him, he still asked casually.
“There was. Lord Mu came by a few times.”
“Oh.”
Xiao Chen nodded slightly in acknowledgment. “You may withdraw first. I will meet the Alliance Chief after soaking in the medicinal spring.”
Bao`er bowed and left, walking away cutely.
After Xiao Chen entered the medicinal spring, his entire body felt warm, immersed in indescribable comfort. Even his soul relaxed.
His previous missions had lasted for short periods, so he had not felt too fatigued. This time, he had remained in the Abyssal Underworld for several months.
After returning, he immediately enjoyed the benefits of the medicinal spring. Now, he truly relaxed.
Soon, Xiao Chen drifted off to deep sleep.
When he opened his eyes again, all his fatigue had disappeared. He felt spirited, and his eyes gleamed. He appeared completely different.
Xiao Chen muttered and said, “Interesting. My Soul Energy seems to have become denser.”
Previously, the medicinal spring seemed to treat only his injuries.
He had not noticed the wondrous effects of nourishing his Soul Energy.
Xiao Chen’s Soul Energy had soared wildly, reaching the level of a 3-Vein Sovereign Emperor. He kept feeling it was unstable or might result in hidden problems. Now, it looked like he could use external items to nourish his Soul Energy.
“Young Master is awake?”
Xiao Chen saw Bao`er’s pretty figure across the medicinal spring through the hazy mist. He had seen such a scene many times before. However, it felt exceptionally enticing this time.
Strange. Could it be because I can sense something I previously could not after my Soul Energy improved?
“Young Master slept for four days. Lord Mu said that Young Master should go and meet the Alliance Chief when Young Master wakes up.”
After Bao`er finished speaking, she walked over and helped Xiao Chen put on his clothes.
Once Xiao Chen completed his preparations and calmed himself, he headed for the summit of the Heavenly Divine Mountain alone.
This time, no one led the way.
However, the guards did not stop Xiao Chen. They seemed to have received information about this.
After a while, Xiao Chen arrived at Hua Tianyang’s residence. He saw that Lin Feng had been waiting for some time already. He gave Lin Feng a slight nod and walked over.
Like the last time, Hua Tianyang and the core Doyens appeared at the other end of the hall when Xiao Chen arrived.
While everyone appeared close, they seemed far away, like they were an entire world apart.
Still, Xiao Chen noticed some things this time. Hua Tianyang’s group should be in the residence. However, they had refined the residence and made the worldly law change continuously, creating this illusion.
Xiao Chen’s growth in Soul Energy lessened the mysteries of this residence.
“Xiao Chen, Lin Feng, we have waited for you two for a long time already. You two are truly incredible. When I received the news, it startled me. You managed to show the might of my Heavenly Alliance; there will be extra rewards for that. Right now, I would like to know if you managed to find the holy relic.”
Hua Tianyang stared at Xiao Chen and Lin Feng. While he sounded casual, the two felt a heavy pressure deterring any impudence.
Xiao Chen stepped forward and said, “Reporting to the Alliance Chief, we have found the holy relic.”
The moment Xiao Chen said that, the faces of the core Doyens behind changed slightly, showing expressions of joy.
Mu Zifeng felt shocked. Then, joy appeared in his heart. Given this, it should mean that Xiao Chen brought back the holy relic.
Suiren Ji’s expression did not change. However, when he looked at Lin Feng, some malice flashed in his eyes.
Just at this moment, Lin Feng stepped forward and said, “Reporting to the Alliance Chief, I have found the holy relic as well.”
This immediately caused a commotion. The core Doyens felt somewhat confused. How could there be two Heavenly Alliance holy relics? Could one be fake?
Hua Tianyang’s expression flickered. Some anger flashed in his eyes, betraying his displeasure.
Before Hua Tianyang could speak, Xiao Chen and Lin Feng both opened their palms. Seven-colored light flickered in the two’s palms. A careful look found many pieces of the shattered Seven Color Stone.
“Alliance Chief, although we managed to find the holy relic, it had already lost its divine nature by the time we found it, turning into this state.” Xiao Chen unhurriedly told Hua Tianyang his prepared explanation.
This was actually the truth. The Heavenly Alliance’s holy relic had already lost its divine nature. Even if Xiao Chen had not used up the last of its divine nature that day, it would have just been a matter of time before it completely drained.
Hence, Xiao Chen decided back then to shatter the Seven Color Stone and give Lin Feng half of it. That would fulfill this somewhat “problematic” mission.
“Whoosh!”
Hua Tianyang reached out and sucked these Seven Color Stone pieces into his hand. Then, he frowned slightly as he looked at them.
“Ku Yun, please take a look.”
Master Ku Yun specialized in the Blacksmithing Dao. He received the shattered pieces and took a quick look before saying, “Alliance Chief, this is indeed the Seven Color Stone that the Heavenly Alliance refined and founded itself upon.”
Hua Tianyang said somewhat helplessly, “Actually, I’d already guessed this would happen. It did not receive any maintenance and repair after that battle. After so many years, most of its divine nature should have disappeared. Even so, it is unexpected for it to be completely useless now.”
Hua Tianyang sighed before he looked at Xiao Chen and Lin Feng. “No matter what, the two of you managed to retrieve the Heavenly Alliance’s holy relic. You may withdraw first.”
Xiao Chen could not help smiling in his heart. It looks like it’s a no-go for the promise to fulfill one of our requests.
“Yes, Alliance Chief.” The two performed cupped-fist salutes and turned to leave.
After Xiao Chen and Lin Feng left, Hua Tianyang said, “Ku Yun, is there a way to re-refine it?”
“There is. However, it would take one hundred years. Even so, it would be hard for it to reach its peak from back then.
“It probably would reach only seventy percent of that.”
When Hua Tianyang heard that, he felt completely disappointed. After spending one hundred years, it would have only seventy percent of its original might. Given that, they might as well make another Superior Grade Soul Tool.
“Never mind, then. Just restore it. Since it is our holy relic, we should keep it as an inheritance.”
Mu Zifeng said, “Alliance Chief, no matter what, we managed to retrieve the holy relic. In the future, the Heavenly Alliance’s inheritance can pass on smoothly. Given the Heavenly Alliance’s current accumulations, we might be able to forge a Soul Tool that surpasses the Snow God Whip.”
Hua Tianyang nodded. “I was thinking the same. No matter what, the Snow God Whip has been passed on for tens of thousands of years. It has long since become the Heavenly Alliance’s spiritual symbol. As for forging another Soul Tool, I’ll leave that to Ku Yun. This time, Xiao Chen and Lin Feng contributed greatly. How do you think we should reward them?”
Mu Zifeng and Suiren Ji exchanged glances. Now, it was up to these two to fight for their own followers.
---
After walking out of the hall, Xiao Chen and Lin Feng both released their bated breath.
The mission to retrieve the holy relic was not merely to find the holy relic. It also involved the political battle between Mu Zifeng and Suiren Ji.
Xiao Chen and Lin Feng were both unwilling to get involved. Shattering the holy relic and letting each of them submit half was the best solution.
The two had a tacit understanding. They knew that they could not speak here, so they exchanged slight nods and left.
When Xiao Chen returned to the residence, he started organizing his harvest from the Abyssal Underworld. Aside from the divine nature flame, the greatest harvest would be the Xuewu Dynasty’s sacred tool that Li Yun left behind.
Scarlet Moon!
Naturally, its might went without saying. Xiao Chen had seen it for himself, and it did not need much description.
However, it seemed to be overly drained and needed to be repaired.
“Young Master, Lord Mu is here.”
As Xiao Chen toyed with the Scarlet Moon, Bao`er arrived. So, he put away the Scarlet Moon. He guessed that Mu Zifeng had come to issue the Heavenly Alliance’s reward.
The original reward was requesting something of Hua Tianyang. However, based on his final expression, this reward should no longer be in play.
Let’s see what the reward is, then.