Chapter 84 - 77: The Momentum of Heaven and Earth (Part 2)

"That Spiritual Artifact’s self-destruction was extremely powerful. You were caught in that ferocious wave of energy and are badly injured. Here, take this Spirit Recovery Pill first." A voice as beautiful as celestial music sounded by Shen Lang’s ear.

Shen Lang glanced at Zi Lan, gave a slight nod, and took the pill, swallowing it.

"Thank you."

As he spoke, Shen Lang flicked his fingers, sending four fireballs toward the corpses of the four Holy Light Sect members. Raging flames immediately engulfed them.

Seeing him dispose of the bodies outside Celestial Phoenix City without so much as batting an eye, Yao Chengjie was terrified. He began to wail and plead for his life again.

Faced with the threat of death, Yao Chengjie’s usual arrogance and pride had long been thrown to the winds.

He had watched with his own eyes as his four sect brothers had their throats slit, then were incinerated by fireballs. If he still believed the young man before him wouldn’t dare to kill him, the Young Sect Leader of the Holy Light Sect, then he was a true fool.

Shen Lang paid Yao Chengjie no mind. With a grasping motion of his hand, he instantly collected several rings from within the ashes.

Sumeru Rings were a rare sight among the families of Celestial Phoenix City, but it was a different story for the disciples of major Sects. They all flaunted their Sumeru Rings wherever they went.

Just then, two black-clad figures approached as swiftly as the wind. While still a good distance away, they dropped to one knee. "My Lord, forgive us. We failed to catch the leader of the assassins. He seemed to be aware of our presence and consumed a drug that temporarily boosts one’s potential, allowing him to shake our pursuit."

"That man is no simple foe; it’s perfectly normal that you couldn’t catch him," Shen Lang said indifferently. "However, he used his trump card, so it won’t be difficult to uncover his identity. You are dismissed."

The two figures exchanged a look, gave a slight nod, and then vanished from sight in a series of flickers.

"Did you let their leader escape on purpose?" Zi Lan suddenly asked in a low voice.

Shen Lang shook his head. "It wasn’t a matter of intent. The man’s Cultivation is formidable, he’s insidious and cunning, and exceptionally vicious. I might have a slight edge in a fight, but that doesn’t mean I could have stopped him from escaping. Even with the help of the Treasure Pavilion’s Cyan-clothed Guards, capturing him would have come at a great cost. It wasn’t worth it."

"So you knew all along there were Cyan-clothed Guards hiding nearby. That’s why you were so calm and composed. And you already know who the mastermind is, which is why you don’t care whether that man escaped or not," Zi Lan said softly.

Shen Lang glanced at the fairy-like Zi Lan, a little surprised, and gave a noncommittal smile.

’It’s true, I knew the Cyan-clothed Guards were nearby from the start, and I’d told them not to make any rash moves. For one, I was confident I could handle the situation myself. For another, I didn’t want to owe the Treasure Pavilion too great a favor. That organization... is a bit complicated.’

’According to the War Emperor’s memories, the Treasure Pavilion was far from being as simple as it appeared on the surface.’

’And to complicate things, a woman from the Treasure Pavilion seemed to have some sort of messy, entangled relationship with the War Emperor.’

’Since I’ve obtained the War Emperor’s memories and our souls have completely merged, it wouldn’t be surprising if people mistook me for him one day.’

’That’s why I’d rather not get too close to the Treasure Pavilion, to avoid unnecessary trouble down the road.’

Zi Lan spoke again. "Your Cultivation is so powerful that it’s hard to find a match for you among your peers. Your strategic mind is also frighteningly sharp; you have everything under your control. But killing several members of the Holy Light Sect... I’m afraid that will bring you a great deal of trouble..."

"It’s only trouble if you can’t solve it, or if it’s difficult to solve." Shen Lang shook his head with a smile. "Your Sect is much stronger than the Holy Light Sect, and you even possess an Exotic Treasure. The only reason you didn’t kill them is because you don’t want to make relations between your two Sects too tense. But I’m different. If they dare to provoke me, I’ll wipe them out, root and stem."

Zi Lan was stunned once more...

’It’s one thing for him to have noticed I have an Exotic Treasure,’ she thought. ’Perhaps his perception is just that sharp, or maybe he has some powerful item that can detect such things. That in itself isn’t too shocking.’

’But his arrogance is something else!’

’Even though the Holy Light Sect’s foundation can’t compare to the Profound Dao Sect’s, it’s still a Profound Iron Level Influence. To speak so casually of wiping them out completely...’

Just then, the previously calm and composed Zi Lan suddenly asked, "The Thunder Element Technique you used earlier... was that the Thunder Control Divine Technique?"

Mo Ge, who had been meditating on a green rock nearby to heal his injuries, snapped his eyes open.

Shen Lang fell silent for a moment, momentarily at a loss for words.

’I really hadn’t planned on using the Thunder Control Divine Technique in front of someone from the Profound Dao Sect. But the situation just now was too dangerous. Of all the Cultivation Techniques I know and can use, none was more suited for that moment than the Thunder Control Divine Technique.’

’I can’t believe she noticed it just from me using a bit of Thunder Power.’

’The problem is, how do I explain this? Am I supposed to tell her that my past self... the War Emperor... got it from her Sect’s founding ancestor?’

’In this world of strict hierarchies and rigid rules, stealing the secrets of another Sect’s Cultivation Technique is an absolute taboo.’

’No Sect would ever allow its Cultivation Techniques to be leaked, especially not its core ones.’

’And the Thunder Control Divine Technique is the very foundation upon which the Profound Dao Sect was built!’

Shen Lang took two steps toward the bank of the Phoenix River and clasped his hands together. Lightning crackled around him, rapidly forming two Thunder Dragons as thick as a man’s arm. The two Thunder Dragons coiled and spun around his body, roaring.

Then, Shen Lang thrust his palms forward. The two Thunder Dragons immediately merged into one and shot toward the river, carrying a terrifying aura.

BOOM!

A monstrous wave erupted from the water with astonishing force.

Shen Lang then turned back to them and asked, "Does your Thunder Control Divine Technique include that move?"

"No. And at your level of Cultivation, it would be impossible to use the Thunder Control Divine Technique with that much power." Zi Lan shook her head and said apologetically, "I didn’t mean anything by it. The Thunder Element Technique you used just felt familiar, so I asked without thinking. I’m sorry."

"It’s fine," Shen Lang said with a smile.

’Of course it’s the Thunder Control Divine Technique,’ he thought. ’The complete version from the Ancient Era, in fact!’

’But how could the current generation of Profound Dao Sect disciples possibly recognize it?’

’The Profound Dao Sect’s version of the Thunder Control Divine Technique has long been incomplete. Over the past thousand years, it has even been modified in many places to better suit the physiques of modern practitioners.’

"Heh, it seems I’ve been neglecting a friend. My sincerest apologies." Shen Lang slowly turned around. "Someone from Celestial Phoenix City has probably noticed the commotion over here. People will be arriving soon. So, Young Sect Leader, tell me... should I just kill you with a single strike to solve all my problems and then dispose of the body? Or..."

Having just witnessed the power of Shen Lang’s Thunder Dragon attack, Yao Chengjie—who had been congratulating himself for not trying to flee—felt his blood run cold.

’So, after all that, it’s my turn, huh...’