AGM 154 – Grand Xia Empire

Qin Wentian ran at his full speed. At this moment, he was in a mountainous region, with no others in sight.

He wanted to find someone so he could understand the situation, but those cultivators from earlier had already unconsciously rejected him. There was no way for him to get any information from them.

However, since the Azure Emperor allowed him to enter this place, collecting the spirits of warbeasts, there should be still some hidden meaning within it.

Abruptly, Qin Wentian felt a sense of cold Qi. Shifting his gaze over, he noticed a gigantic python.

Not only that, on the back of this python, there was actually a pair of wings, and even a horn growing on its head.

“Double Winged Horned Python. The 360th ranked demonic beast in the Warbeast Index.” Qin Wentian’s gaze froze as he stared at the demonic warbeast in front of him. This creature was indeed the Double Winged Horned Python recorded in Warbeast index. The Spirit Beast Testing Grounds, was it a land of wonder?

The body of the Winged Python hovered in the air, as a sinister light flickered in its eyes, staring at Qin Wentian. Qin Wentian could clearly sense the hatred that was surging explosively in its eyes.

In the Nine Astral Heavenly Layers, there were many beast-type constellations. The beast-type constellations would usually have a similar counterpart in the world. No one knew if the beast-type constellations existed first or if the demonic beast itself existed first.

Maybe only those at the true pinnacle of cultivation would be able to unravel this mystery.

The wings of the Winged Python flickered as it hovered in the air. Hissing loudly, the immense body of the python flew towards Qin Wentian with terrifying speed.

In that instant, the Double Winged Horn Python was as though it was a terrifying raging dragon.

Qin Wentian’s countenance became heavy as his aura exploded forth. The Forgotten Imprint of the Thousand Hands Imprint technique blasted out, clashing directly with the horn of the Winged Python. However, the manifestation of his palm strike actually shattered.

The power of that collision forced Qin Wentian into retreat. The Double Winged Horned Python was a peak 6th grade demonic beast, and could be considered as a peak Arterial Circulation cultivator.

Even after Qin Wentian was forced to retreat by the impact, the Double Winged Horned Python was still in attack mode. Its gigantic tail swiped passed with a terrifying speed.

Qin Wentian executed his Garuda Movement Technique to its utmost limits, narrowly avoiding the tail strike of the python with a speed fast as lightning.

Chi… Only to see the Winged Python opening its bloody maw as it spat out numerous earth lances in the direction of Qin Wentian.

An illusory image of a Garuda flickered into existence behind Qin Wentian. Soaring into the skies with a single step, Qin Wentian dodged the hidden attacks of the earth lances and he dashed towards the python.

“DIE!” Qin Wentian spat out a sharp Sword Qi as rays of sword light slashed out in the direction of the Winged Python. The Doubled Winged Horned Python once again spat out earth lances, as its immense body smashed towards Qin Wentian. With that incredibly sharp horn, augmented by the power of its stature, if Qin Wentian was gored by that horn, he would definitely suffer a grievous injury.

Releasing his Astral Souls, a Heavenly Hammer appeared in Qin Wentian’s hand as it weaved about in the air in an intricate dance. The Mountain-type Divine Energy in his body was also frenziedly channeled, and with a thunderous sound smashing through the air, the Astral Heavenly Hammer slammed downwards with brutal might.

The Python let out a low roar of anger, while the Heavenly Hammer in Qin Wentian’s hands shattered after that blow, turning back into star light.

This strike of his smashed the Double Winged Horned Python senseless. Qin Wentian once again circulated his Qi as he rapidly sent out palm strikes at the python’s brain, before summoning a mountain peak which crushed the head of the python into pieces. Thunderous rumbling sounds echoed out through the air as the immense body of the Doubled Winged Horned Python slumped to the ground. Its body flickered in and out of existence, gradually turned into something illusory.

“Is this the spirit of a warbeast?”

Qin Wentian’s heart couldn’t help but tremble as he witnessed the body of the Double Winged Horned Python actually turning into something illusory from reality. After which, a spiral appeared on Qin Wentian’s palm. He placed his palm above the horn of the demonic python, absorbing the war beast’s spirit. In this instant, a terrifying Demonic Qi gushed forth from the body of Qin Wentian as a demonic light flickered in his eyes.

“This is, Spiritual Consciousness?” After he finished absorbing it, Qin Wentian felt as though his body was enhanced with the warbeast’s spirit. The feeling was extremely vivid.

“The last ranked Double Winged Horned Python in the Warbeast Index is already so powerful, what about those that ranked in the top ten? How strong would they be?” Qin Wentian was extremely startled. Moreover, the Double Winged Horned Python Astral Soul hailed from the 4th Heavenly Layer, and should be something summoned by a summoning-type Stellar Martial Cultivator, with a cultivation base that was at least at the Heavenly Dipper Realm.

And as for this particular Double Winged Horned Python, its power was suppressed to the peak of Arterial Circulation.

Qin Wentian’s gaze shifted over, and he noticed the beautiful silhouette of a woman standing far away gazing at him. This woman was none other than the one that conversed with him earlier.

“Are you really from the Nine Mystical Palace?” The beautiful silhouette of the woman strode forwards, she was clad in sky-blue ropes and had a cape over her shoulders.

“No.” Qin Wentian replied, “How about you, where are you from?”

“Are you kidding? You know that this place is the Spirit Beast Testing Grounds, but you don’t know who we are?” That female stared at Qin Wentian, her countenance as cold as ice. “The first batch of people with the qualifications to step into the Spirit Beast Testing Grounds from the Grand Xia Empire were the 36 Heavenly Starlords from the past. Only the clans and sects which they belonged to had the qualifications to enter here. And after that, many of their keys were destroyed or snatched away by others and up ‘til now, there are only nine great powers with the capabilities to enter. And you actually don’t know who we are?”

“I’m not familiar with the Grand Xia Empire.” Qin Wentian replied. It seems that the Chu Country was really too small.

“What tier of power does the Nine Mystical Palace belongs to in the perspective of the Grand Xia Empire?” Qin Wentian asked again.

“The land space of the Grand Xia Empire is boundlessly vast, and it has more than ten million countries. Among them, there were nine main states. And among the nine states, there were naturally some transcendent powers.” The girl indifferently continued, “The Nine Mystical Power is one of the transcendent powers of the Qingzhou State, and has control over a few small countries.

Qin Wentian listened seriously, as he recalled the big circle which Mustang drew, and roughly understood the scope of the Grand Xia Empire.

So the Chu Country was nothing but a small auxiliary country of a greater power.

Indeed, he needed to widen his perspective, the Chu Country was too small.

“The power she belongs to, the Greencloud Pavilion, is also a transcendent power in the Qingzhou state. Not only that, their power is much stronger when compared to the Nine Mystical Palace.” A voice drifted over from a distance away. Qin Wentian shifted his gaze and saw a silhouette walking over.

“Yue Qingfeng, what are you doing here?” The girl lightly smiled as she regarded the bunch of people. These people were all from the Azure Emperor Palace.

“Why can’t I be here?” Yue Qingfeng laughed, as he turned to look at Qin Wentian, “I know where you come from.”

Qin Wentian stared at Yue Qingfeng, as a strange glow flashed in his eyes, waiting for the other party to continue speaking.

“A place called the Emperor Star Academy.” Yue Qingfeng continued, causing astonishment to flicker on the countenance of Qin Wentian.

“You are?”

“My name is Yue Qingfeng, I’m from the Azure Emperor Palace. You should know who the Azure Emperor is right? He single-handedly created the glorious Azure Emperor Palace thousand of years ago, and was the first among the 36 Heavenly Starlords.”

Yue Qingfeng continue speaking, causing Qin Wentian’s heart to tremble.

The Azure Emperor, the first among the 36 Heavenly Starlords.

The Azure Emperor was also the founder of the Emperor Star Academy.

“I’m indeed from the Emperor Star Academy, my name is Qin Wentian.”

To think that he would actually meet someone who hailed from a variant branch in a place like this naturally caused Qin Wentian to feel a sense of kinship. One could say that the roots of the Azure Emperor Palace as well as the Emperor Star Academy were from the same source.

“Brother Qin, the Spirit Beast Testing Ground is exceedingly dangerous. Do you want to travel together? At least we can help each other when needed. How about it?” Yue Qingfeng straightforwardly spoke.

Qin Wentian nodded his head, he wanted to find someone to ask so he could clearly understand this place that was the Spirit Beast Testing Grounds.

“Qian Mengyu, do you wanna tag along?” Yue Qingfeng gazed at the female as he asked.

“No thanks.” The girl replied faintly as she turned and departed.

“Have you already obtained a beast spirit?” Yue Qingfeng turn his gaze on Qin Wentian and asked.

“Yeah, what use do the beasts’ spirits have?” Qin Wentian asked, bewilderment painting his voice.

“Back then, the peerless figures sealed the spirits of the 360 warbeasts in the Spirit Beast Testing Grounds. Over here, the demonic beasts aren’t the true body of the actual demonic beast, but are a projection of a spiritual consciousness. It was rumoured that these demonic beasts were actually summoned from the Nine Astral Heavenly Layer, and for those that obtained a warbeast’s spirits, they would be able to communicate with the consciousness of the Astral Warbeasts, and would easily be able to sense the existence of the beast-type constellation, thus increasing the probability of forming an Astral Soul from it.

Yue Qingfeng continued explaining, “You should understand that, when cultivators of the Arterial Circulation Realm break into Yuanfu, they would be able to condense their 3rd Astral Soul. And usually a Yuanfu cultivator would only be able to condense an Astral Soul from the 3rd Heavenly Layer. And as for those with stronger talents, they would be able to condense one from the 4th Heavenly Layer. However, it wasn’t so easy to find and communicate with the constellations that represented the demonic beasts listed in the Warbeast Index.”

“Oh, is this similar to the principle of the usage of a Yuan Meteor Stone?” Qin Wentian somewhat understood.

“This effect is many times more powerful compared to Yuan Meteor Stones. For a cultivator who can normally condense Astral Souls from the 3rd Heavenly Layer, with the aid of the spirits of the Astral Warbeasts, their consciousness would be able to survive in the 4th Heavenly Layer for a short period of time. This is because the respective constellation that represents the astral warbeast would form an innate link that would result in successfully condensing a much more powerful Astral Soul compared to an Astral Soul at the 3rd Heavenly Layer.”

Thus, to Stellar Martial Cultivators, the temptation of obtaining warbeasts’ spirits were extremely great.

“Understood.” Qin Wentian nodded his head.

“Brother Qin, you should have already experienced how powerful the warbeast earlier was. These warbeasts hold immense hatred for us and would also want to devour us to upgrade their own powers. So, the danger we face would naturally escalate if we somehow meet those astral warbeasts that are in the stronger rankings. And as for those warbeasts ranked within the top ten, they are virtually invincible existences.”

Yue Qingfeng continued, “Thus, we wish to combine our strengths to face the warbeasts together.”

“I understand.” Qin Wentian nodded as he replied. The group of cultivators continued to walked forwards, entering the depths of the Spirit Beast Testing Grounds.

———————-

And at this moment, in Chu, a news of great import was spread around the country.

Qin Wu from the Qin Residence actually successfully escaped the Black Stronghold. The guards of the Black Stronghold were either dead of heavily injured, causing shock and terror in the Royal Capital.

The Black Stronghold was a secret prison that was rumored to be unbreakable. But despite this, Qin Wu actually escaped safely, causing people to feel as though there was an undercurrent working in the dark.

Not only that, but at the same time, two well-known martial academies in Chu, the Royal Academy as well as the Godly General Martial Palace, just announced their plans to merge.

And in this case, after the merge, they would surely have the power to contend against the Emperor Star Academy.

In reality, that was exactly what they wanted to do. They wanted to have a showdown with the Emperor Star Academy.

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