Chapter 57: Another Saint Domain
The energy contained within a Domain Demon Crystal was the essence of a Saint Domain magical beast's power. Absorbing a single Saint Domain demon crystal was an extremely difficult and time-consuming task. In the past, Linley had relied on the miraculous 'Dragonblood Warrior bloodline,' which had refined the ninth-rank demon crystal of the Thornback Iron-Armored Dragon.
However, even after refining that ninth-rank demon crystal, the energy within it, like the Dragonblood Warrior bloodline itself, had lain dormant within Linley's body. He had not fully utilized it.
"Traveling downstream from here to the central part of the Southwest Province is over three thousand li. Even going with the current, such a distance will probably take several days," Linley mused, gazing at the surging river.
Several days—he wondered if that would be enough time for Hei Lu to refine that Saint Domain demon crystal. Linley had no experience with a peak ninth-rank magical beast refining a demon crystal.
"Gates, why are you going back? The Yulan River scenery is quite beautiful," the third brother, 'Black Shark,' boomed.
Of the five Barker brothers, four were currently standing by the railing, admiring the Yulan River's beauty. Only Gates had turned around and was heading back into the cabin.
"Third brother, the eldest and second have broken through. They have the mood to enjoy the view, but I'm not wasting time here. I'm going back to train," Gates said bluntly.
Black Shark was momentarily speechless.
Linley turned his head in surprise to look at Gates. Among the five brothers, only two had comprehended 'lifting heavy as light'—Barker and Gates. Linley had long known that Gates was a very competitive person.
"Gates is right," the fourth brother, 'Bune,' nodded in agreement. "I'm going to train too."
The third brother, 'Black Shark,' followed the fourth brother, 'Bune,' into the cabin. The remaining two, Barker and Ankh, looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.
"Second brother, you need to work hard too. If Gates breaks through, he'll surpass you," Barker said to Ankh with a smile.
Ankh nodded, drew the long-handled battle-axe strapped to his back, and said, "I'm going to the rear deck to practice a bit."
"I'll join you," Barker said, also pulling out his long-handled battle-axe.
The long-handled battle-axes of the five Barker brothers were truly terrifying. Such monstrous heavy weapons were rarely seen on the market. Weighing five thousand three hundred jin, they were perfectly suited for Undying Warriors, ultimate warriors renowned for their strength.
Sessler stroked his white beard and chuckled, "Those five brothers are indeed diligent. Even an old man like me feels a bit ashamed."
Despite saying that, Sessler remained at the bow, enjoying the scenery.
At Sessler's level, what he needed was insight, not just simple training.
Linley stood at the bow with a faint smile. Gradually, he closed his eyes. The wind over the wide Yulan River was quite strong. The gusting wind stirred Linley's robe, and his entire body swayed with minute movements.
Linley completely immersed himself in the world of wind, feeling the rhythm of the wind element.
...
Time flowed like water. In the blink of an eye, four days had passed. The houseboat had long since entered the boundaries of the Southwest Province. According to estimates, they would reach the planned riverbank in two more days.
"What is Lord Linley cultivating?" Jenny whispered.
Beside her, Rebecca and Lina shook their heads, indicating they didn't know.
It was already evening, but Linley still stood on the deck with his eyes closed. If anyone thought he was sleeping, they were mistaken, because purple light constantly flashed around his body.
Unlike before, this time Linley wasn't pursuing speed.
When cultivating 'Wind Ripple,' Linley could manifest countless sword shadows around him simultaneously. But now, only a single purple light flashed at any given moment.
No one knew what Linley was cultivating.
"Lifting light as heavy, lifting heavy as light—it can be as fierce as a hurricane or as gentle as a spring breeze." After cultivating for so long, Linley had finally gained some insight into the second level of the Wind's Mystery.
The first level of the Wind's Mystery—Wind Ripple—was about pursuing the limits of speed.
In truth, when speed reached a terrifying level, the attack was also formidable. This was why Linley could break through MacKenzie's protective barrier in an instant.
The second level of the Wind's Mystery that Linley was now creating was a special kind of attack.
With a single sword strike, the blade would sometimes be like lightning, sometimes like a heavy mountain. In reality, the strike was very fast, but it gave a fluctuating sensation—an illusion of speed alternating between fast and slow.
That was 'sword intent.'
"The second level of the Wind's Mystery—Wind's Rhythm."
A smile appeared on Linley's face. His Bloodviolet Godsword cleaved through the air, yet it gave two sensations: one was the fierce, violent hurricane; the other was the gentle spring breeze swaying willow branches.
One strike, two sensations.
"Fluctuations between two extremes, when combined, can produce intersecting air blades." Linley had always pursued the ability to unleash an attack like 'Dimensional Edge' with a single sword.
This 'Wind's Rhythm' was essentially a single-target attack.
Although its power was far from the terrifying, space-shattering effect of 'Dimensional Edge,' the power of 'Wind's Rhythm' had already surpassed 'Wind Ripple.'
Especially in terms of single-target attack power.
"This second level of the Wind's Mystery, 'Wind's Rhythm,' should be able to threaten Saint Domain peak experts." Having fought MacKenzie, Linley had some idea of the strength of Saint Domain peak experts. "However, 'Wind's Rhythm' is still a relatively basic profundity within the 'Wind Element Laws.'"
Linley had to admit it.
The power of Wind's Rhythm might be great.
But 'Wind's Rhythm' was a rudimentary version of 'Dimensional Edge' and should still be considered a material attack. The opponent's armor and battle qi could be used for defense.
In contrast, the vibration wave of the 'Earth's Mystery' was clearly a level higher in attack power. That vibration wave didn't need to break through defenses; it could be transmitted directly into the opponent's body.
"Against ordinary Saint Domain experts, using the Bloodviolet Godsword is sufficient," Linley said with a faint smile. "Unless I encounter some exceptionally powerful beings among the Saint Domain peak."
Even among Saint Domain peak experts, strength varied.
For example, Steller and the Pope were both Saint Domain peak, yet Steller was much weaker than the Pope. After all, the Pope cultivated the 'Great Prophecy.'
For example, the Rock Sword Saint 'Hederson' was hailed as the number one Saint Domain expert. No other Saint Domain expert had ever been able to defeat 'Hederson.'
Of course, there were those who hadn't compared themselves to Hederson, such as the Radiant Pope and the Dark Pope. They dared not compare, because their status dictated that they could not afford to lose. As long as they weren't certain of victory, they wouldn't dare to compete.
...
On the fifth day aboard the ship, around noon, Linley's group was gathered around the dining table for lunch. As they chatted idly, suddenly—
"Boss, come quick!" Bebe's anxious voice rang out in Linley's mind.
Without hesitation, Linley rushed towards Hei Lu's private room. "You all continue eating," he instructed before entering Hei Lu's room.
Closing the door, Linley was shocked by what he saw.
"Sssss~" Beneath the fur of the Blackscale Cloud Leopard, it looked as if mice were scurrying around, causing constant bulges. Black energy swirled around its body, and the Blackscale Cloud Leopard, with its eyes closed, let out low, pained groans.
At the same time, the patterns on the Blackscale Cloud Leopard's surface changed rapidly. One moment, its four hooves and fur turned snow-white; the next, its entire body turned black. Then, its whole body turned white again...
Bizarre.
Most shocking of all was the Blackscale Cloud Leopard's head. At the top of its head, two streams of energy—one cyan, one black—were swirling around.
"Boss, Hei Lu has been like this for a while. I don't know what to do," Bebe said worriedly.
Linley watched Hei Lu.
"Hei Lu," Linley transmitted mentally.
"Mas... Master, I'm fine!" Hei Lu's pained voice echoed in Linley's mind. Suppressing his anxiety, Linley could only watch from the side.
Linley focused his attention on the Blackscale Cloud Leopard's head. The most important part of a magical beast was its head, as that was where the demon crystal was located.
Above the Blackscale Cloud Leopard's head, the cyan and black streams of energy swirled rapidly. Sometimes, the black stream would surge in volume, but in an instant, it would shrink, and the cyan stream would expand.
They rose and fell in turns!
Linley was also shocked by the terrifying energy emanating from those two streams. If that energy were to explode, this entire ship would likely be reduced to dust.
"Sssss~" Linley's clothes were pierced by black scales. Without hesitation, Linley transformed into his Dragonblood Warrior form.
If not for the Dragonblood Warrior form, Linley wouldn't have been able to withstand an explosion of those two energy streams. Linley's cold, dark golden pupils shot out knife-like gazes, locking onto the Blackscale Cloud Leopard.
As the patterns on the Blackscale Cloud Leopard's surface changed rapidly, and its muscles, tendons, and bones underwent a drastic transformation—
The cyan and black streams of energy finally calmed down. They surged directly into the Blackscale Cloud Leopard's head, and then its body returned to stillness. The patterns on its surface stopped changing.
"Whew." Linley breathed a sigh of relief.
At this moment, the Blackscale Cloud Leopard's fur was covered in beads of blood. The transformation had been a trial for both its body and spirit.
The Blackscale Cloud Leopard opened its eyes, looking at Linley with excitement and gratitude.
"Success?" A hint of a smile appeared on Linley's lips. He then reverted to his human form, though his clothes were ruined again.
"Yes, Master." The Blackscale Cloud Leopard spoke in a low, cold human voice.
A cyan light flickered across the Blackscale Cloud Leopard's body, easily evaporating the blood beads on its fur. Its fur once again became pitch-black and glossy.
"Not bad," Bebe said, floating up to the Blackscale Cloud Leopard's eyes and chuckling. "Good thing you didn't waste that Saint Domain demon crystal, or else..."
Hei Lu turned his head away.
He could guess that if he had failed, Bebe would have tormented him.
"Alright, let's go out." Linley changed his clothes and said.
Because the Dragonblood Warrior transformation destroyed his clothes, Linley had stored over a hundred sets of clothes in his spatial ring. However, the cost of buying clothes was a drop in the bucket for Linley now.
...
On the morning of the sixth day aboard the ship, the houseboat finally reached the planned riverbank.
"We've finally arrived!" Rebecca, Lina, and Jenny, the three women, were so excited their eyes lit up. But at that moment, a burst of excited laughter came from the rear deck.
"Hmm?"
Linley, Sessler, and the others turned to look at the rear deck. The five Barker brothers had been training there.
"Barker, you five, hurry up! We're about to go ashore!" Rebecca shouted loudly.
"Coming, coming!" The five brothers walked over, laughing. Almost all of their gazes were fixed on Linley, and their faces held barely contained excitement.
Seeing the expressions of the five Barker brothers, Linley began to wonder: "These five brothers... don't tell me, don't tell me someone else has broken through?"
Among the five brothers, only the eldest, 'Barker,' and the second, 'Ankh,' had Saint Domain strength. The other three, in human form, were only at the peak of the eighth rank.
"Lord." Barker's face was filled with excitement. "Gates has broken through!"
"Gates has broken through?"
Even though he had suspected it, Linley still felt a surge of joy. He turned to look at Gates. The usually blunt Gates was now scratching his head and grinning sheepishly.
When they left Bazil and boarded the houseboat, Linley's group had four Saint Domain experts: Linley, Bebe, Barker, and Ankh. But when they disembarked, Linley's group now possessed six Saint Domain experts.
Such terrifying strength would make any empire treat them with respect.
Linley glanced at the Blackscale Cloud Leopard 'Hei Lu' beside him, then at the grinning Gates. He shouted with high spirits, "Haha, everyone, disembark! Set out! On to the Imperial Capital!"
"Let's go!" The five brothers cheered as well.
PS: Second chapter arrived.