Chapter 195 - Return of the Genius

“Primordial Dragon Seal!”

Long Chen attacked from point-blank range and hit Nangong Cheng’s unguarded back. He had controlled his strength and merely sent Nangong Cheng flying from the attack.

“You lost.”

“Impossible!” Nangong Chen steadied himself and turned around. “I lost before I even got to use my stronger martial techniques?”

“If this was a real battle you would be dead. Is this not considered a loss?” Long Chen smiled.

“Can you tell me how you defeated me?” Nangong Cheng was sad about losing.

“I used an advanced Black-tier Body Combat technique to beat you in terms of speed. If we were to compete in Qi, I would lose to you,” Long Chen slowly explained to the dejected youth.

“An advanced Black-tier technique? Could it be the infamous Nine Dragon Flashes?!” Nangong Cheng was surprised. “You’ve just entered the inner family, yet you already managed to obtain it? You even cultivated it to this stage?”

He thought Long Chen was slightly weaker than himself and was surprised he could move under the increased gravity, but to think the youth from the outer family was a genius!

“It’s indeed the Nine Dragon Flashes.” Long Chen never thought he would recognize it.

“Alright, I acknowledge that I lost to you and the Nine Dragon Flashes. Long Chen, you are amazing. We can be best friends, but I won’t lose to you again. This is my first loss to you, so you will be the goal of my cultivation! I will surpass you soon.”

Nangong Cheng’s eyes were filled with determination.

He was destined to become powerful with that mindset.

“Is that so? Then you have to put in a lot of effort, haha ...” Long Chen laughed at how funny Nangong Cheng was.

His strength had increased and he had learned a lot about Mo Xiaolang’s circumstances. His objectives have been completed.

For the next two days, Long Chen continued to cultivate on the asteroid with Nangong Cheng. The latter was very happy and would challenge Long Chen from time to time. Even though he lost every time, Nangong Cheng was very excited.

Combat on the asteroid had helped Long Chen comprehend the Nine Dragon Flashes. He could complete seven flashes when the fifteenth day arrived.

Dongfang Xuanxiao would be ecstatic when he found out.

“Long Chen, are you leaving now?” Nangong Cheng was disappointed.

“Don’t worry, I will come back when I have the time. This place is a treasure!” Long Chen smiled.

“I’ve heard that the Eastern Azure Dragon family will be holding the tournament for the Azure Dragon Halberd soon. Are you joining it?” Nangong Cheng asked.

“Yes.”

“Then it might be hard. I’ve fought against Dongfang Tianyu before, and he was stronger than me. I can’t even take a single attack from him. You might not be his match.”

“That might not be true.” Long Chen was confident on the outside, but he was still hesitating deep within.

Were fifteen days enough?

Long Chen felt like he had crossed a bottleneck after cultivating at the Star Devil Prison. He was on the verge of becoming stronger again.

After bidding him goodbye, Long Chen walked back to the Transit Hall and exited through the black whirlpool. He found himself in the Heavenly Martial Realm once more.

Yan Honghai sighed in relief when he saw Long Chen come out. He would’ve entered to find Long Chen if he didn’t come out soon. The Star Devil Prison was a dangerous place, and they wouldn’t be able to find his corpse if Long Chen fell off.

“How is your progress?” Yan Honghai smiled.

“Not too bad.” Long Chen faked being humble.

“Lord Xuanxiao came by, but he left when he saw that you were concentrating on cultivating. I’ve heard that you will be joining the tournament?” When he brought up the Earth-tier Divine Weapon, Yan Honghai became very excited.

Long Chen nodded and joked, “Yeah, that’s why I entered the Star Devil Prison on such short notice.”

“That’s good, but it seems that the results of the tournament have been silently decided. I heard that Dongfang Tianyu, the son of Dongfang Xuanfeng, will be handed first place. Long Chen, you need to do your best and bring honor to Lord Xuanxiao. He doesn’t have children, and his parents died when he was young, so the elders don’t really think highly of him,” Yan Honghai whispered when Long Chen was leaving.

“In the previous tournaments, the children of Dongfang Xuanfeng, Dongfang Xuanyu, and Dongfang Xuanyun were given the chance to touch the Azure Dragon Halberd. Only Dongfang Xuanxiao was excluded, because he didn’t have any descendants. Except for Dongfang Tianchen and the other two, the strongest competitor will be Dongfang Tianyu. He’s already at the late Earthly Core Realm. Even those at the initial Heavenly Core Realm might lose to him. If he weren’t targeting you, you might’ve been able to do better and bring honor to Lord Xuanxiao. But I heard you have a grudge with Dongfang Tianyu?”

“I do, and it’s not a small one. I think he will do everything to target me.” Long Chen smiled bitterly.

“That is troublesome indeed.” Yan Honghai frowned. He was worried about Long Chen.

Dongfang Xuanxiao suddenly appeared from afar.

“I have to go now. Thank you,” Long Chen said to Yan Honghai before he followed Dongfang Xuanxiao into the Heavenly Core area.

“How did your cultivation go?” Dongfang Xuanxiao asked.

“I’ve refined most of my Qi and my foundation is very solid now. I should be able to advance in the near future.” Long Chen felt like he was very close.

“And the Nine Dragon Flashes?” Dongfang Xuanxiao was silently pleased that Long Chen was about to advance, though he didn’t display any emotion because he wasn’t used to it.

“Not bad. I’ve completed the goal you set for me.” Long Chen did not say he could do seven flashes, or Dongfang Xuanxiao would think he was some kind of monster in terms of cultivating martial techniques. He didn’t want Dongfang Xuanxiao to question him, so he said it as such.

“Good.” Dongfang Xuanxiao smiled plainly. He thought Long Chen had completed the four flashes only.

“The Nine Dragon Flashes will compliment your Beast Soul Transformation and Sword Devil Finger very well. You should be able to showcase your battle prowess now. If you can rise to the next cultivation level, you will have a thirty percent chance of winning. Keep it up!”

The tournament wouldn’t only affect his future, but also Mo Xiaolang’s life. Long Chen had to put his life on the line to win against Dongfang Tianyu and obtain victory.

Dongfang Xuanxiao had helped him immensely, so it was the least he could do.

And his new stepfather hadn’t merely given him a hand once or twice, he had also saved him during the qualifiers. He had even taken the time to visit Long Chen at the asteroid area, though he had not disturbed him. Long Chen would definitely repay him!

“I have some good news,” Dongfang Xuanxiao suddenly said.

“What is it?” The good news would naturally be excellent news if it was coming from someone like Dongfang Xuanxiao.

“The elders discussed and approved your application to get the Sky Soul Fruit, but you will not be able to take anything else for a year. I discussed it with them and managed to shorten the time period to nine months. That’s the limit of my power.” Dongfang Xuanxiao sighed.

Long Chen looked at him, not knowing how to thank him.

“Stepfather, all I can say is that I am eternally grateful to you. I will do my best to win the tournament!”

“That’s all that matters.” Dongfang Xuanxiao was happy to hear Long Chen’s confident declaration. He took out a dark-blue box made of jade from his Universe Pouch. The box itself was covered in dense Qi. It was made of Divine Jade!

“This is the Sky Soul Fruit.” Dongfang Xuanxiao handed it to Long Chen.

It was an item that could extend Ling Xi’s life by five years! Long Chen was very excited, much less Ling Xi. If Dongfang Xuanxiao wasn’t here, she would’ve leaped out in joy and started refining it.

Long Chen carefully put it in his Universe Pouch and saw Dongfang Xuanxiao staring at him. “What’s wrong? Is there anything on my face?”

“I just noticed that your face was filled with happiness and bliss when I gave you the Sky Soul Fruit. Long Chen, do you have a girl you like? Are you giving it to her?” Dongfang Xuanxiao’s voice was hoarse.

Long Chen didn’t know what to say. To think that someone as serious as Dongfang Xuanxiao would be interested in gossip like this. Long Chen denied it. “No, definitely not.”

“What about Liu Lan?”

“She’s not ...”

“Fine.” Dongfang Xuanxiao shook his head. He was aware that Long Chen was just teasing Liu Lan and didn’t have any feelings for her.

They continued walking.

“Long Chen, let me tell you something.”

“What is it?”

Dongfang Xuanxiao’s gaze was bitter and he forced a smile. “A minor piece of advice. If you have a woman you like, you need to work ten times harder to protect her.”

He walked ahead and said nothing after that.

“Huh?” Long Chen didn’t know why Dongfang Xuanxiao would say something like that at this particular time. He was indeed smart, but he had no idea what was happening.

Soon after, they exited the Heavenly Martial Realm and returned to their quarters. After sending Long Chen back, Dongfang Xuanxiao headed off to do something. Before he did, he gave Long Chen another piece of advice. “Tianchen, Tianxing, and Tianxuan have returned from their training. All of them are at the Heavenly Martial Realm, so it's best if you don’t offend them. They are adored by the elders and the patriarch, so I can’t be too obvious in helping you if they beat you up.”

“I understand.” Long Chen nodded. He was smart, so he knew when to not do stupid things. Without strength, he needed to be humble.