Chapter 359: Chapter 358: Summoning the Snake Emperor
"Are there any requirements to enter the Divine Martial Realm?" Shen Haoran asked, suppressing his excitement.
"There aren’t any special requirements. As long as you’re below the Spirit Aspect Tier, you’re qualified!" Luo Xiaowen said.
Hearing this, Shen Haoran nodded. As long as no one as monstrously powerful as him showed up, he could dominate any Martial Artist below the Spirit Aspect Tier. This trip to the Divine Martial Realm, the Divine Martial Blood Pool... he was determined to claim it!
"But let me give you a word of warning. If you’re going to the Divine Martial Realm, you need to be extra careful. The opening of the Divine Martial Blood Pool will definitely attract a large number of Martial Artists, including some geniuses who usually remain hidden. Also, it’s very likely that the eldest young master of the Hua Family and the senior disciple of the Hehuan Sect will both be there. You’ve made an enemy of Hua Zhiming, so those two definitely won’t let you off the hook!" Luo Xiaowen cautioned.
"Also, be careful of that guard with Luo Cheng!" Luo Xiaowen finally added in a serious tone after a moment’s thought.
"Luo Cheng’s guard?" Shen Haoran frowned. ’I’ve seen that guard before. He’s just a Tier Eight Spirit Marquis!’
"Yes. Although his strength is only at the Spirit Marquis Tier, he’s a Death Warrior trained by my Luo Family. His true strength is no less than Luo Cheng’s. If Hua Zhiming were to fight that guard, he probably wouldn’t last a single move!" Luo Xiaowen said grimly.
Hearing Luo Xiaowen’s words, Shen Haoran immediately put the guard at the top of his mental threat list. ’For me to not even sense him... that guard’s concealment skills are truly profound. People like that are always extremely dangerous!’
"It’s good that you understand. The opening of the Divine Martial Blood Pool will certainly attract a large group of young prodigies from the Northern Domain. It’s bound to be a fierce battle, so everyone needs to be mentally prepared!" Luo Xiaowen reminded them again.
Shen Haoran and the others knew this was a rare opportunity and would be on high alert. After discussing for a while longer, they went their separate ways.
Shen Haoran returned to his room and sat cross-legged on his bed. After organizing his thoughts, he began his Cultivation and didn’t stop until night fell, when the lanterns were lit and the bright moon hung high in the sky.
WHOOSH... Shen Haoran let out a long breath, expelling the turbid air from his body. Then, he clenched his fists, his brow furrowing tightly.
’Tier Two Spirit Marquis! My strength is still too weak!’ Although Shen Haoran could fight a Spirit Aspect Powerhouse if he went all out, he felt his own fundamental strength was still lacking.
After learning more about the Murong Clan recently, Shen Haoran had gotten a rough idea of their power. Without the strength of a Spirit King, it would be impossible for him to rescue his mother from the Murong Family! Furthermore, Ji Lingxuan’s family was even more mysterious. Feng Yin had once said that it was best not to make contact with the Ji Family before reaching the Spirit Emperor Level.
The two most important women in his life were both imprisoned elsewhere. To save them, he had to reach the Spirit Emperor Level! One year had already passed of his five-year agreement with Feng Yin. With only four years remaining, the difficulty of advancing from the Spirit Marquis Tier to the Spirit Emperor Tier was immense! After Spirit Marquis came Spirit Aspect, after Spirit Aspect was Spirit King, and only after breaking through to Spirit King could one reach the Spirit Emperor Tier!
At this thought, Shen Haoran’s fists clenched tightly. ’No matter how difficult it is, I will break through to the Spirit Emperor Level! Mother, Ling Xuan, wait for me!’
After a moment, Shen Haoran suppressed the tumultuous emotions in his heart. ’Cultivation has to be taken one step at a time. I can’t rush things. For now, I should focus on the task at hand.’
Then, Shen Haoran took a Five-Colored Scale from his Storage Ring. It was the Lifebound Snake Scale the Snake Emperor had given him, saying he could use it to find her in an emergency.
But after taking the item out, Shen Haoran was stumped. The Snake Emperor had never told him how to use this thing.
’Do I infuse it with Spiritual Power?’ With this thought, Shen Haoran sent a stream of pure Energy toward the Five-Colored Scale. However, the moment his Spiritual Power touched it, it was instantly repelled.
’That’s not it. Spiritual Thought, then?’ Seeing that Spiritual Power didn’t work, a powerful surge of Spiritual Thought flowed from Shen Haoran’s Sea of Consciousness and enveloped the Five-Colored Scale. Yet, there was still no reaction.
’Don’t tell me the Snake Emperor tricked me!’ Shen Haoran’s face darkened at the thought, but he quickly dismissed it. ’The Snake Emperor still needs my Elixirs to prolong her life. She wouldn’t deceive me. I just haven’t found the right method yet!’
"’Don’t tell me... I have to rub it?’" A flash of inspiration struck Shen Haoran. He looked down at the smooth Five-Colored Scale. ’Worth a try?’ he thought.
With that, Shen Haoran placed the Five-Colored Scale in his palm and began to gently stroke it with his finger.
But after a good while, his finger was starting to ache from the rubbing, and there was still no response whatsoever.
’Was I rubbing it too hard?’ Shen Haoran glanced at his reddened finger, then placed it on the Five-Colored Scale again, intending for a much gentler stroke.
However, just as he was about to begin, an icy killing intent descended upon him, and a cold voice rang out by his ear. "If you dare to touch it one more time, I will chop off your hand!"
Hearing this voice, the hairs on Shen Haoran’s body stood on end, and cold sweat instantly soaked his clothes. ’To be able to approach me so silently without me noticing at all... just how terrifying must this person’s strength be!’
Shen Haoran turned his head. A fragrant scent wafted over him, and his vision blurred for a moment. A peerlessly beautiful face, one that could stun the entire continent, appeared before his eyes, a mere millimeter away from his own.
"Ah!" Staring at the Snake Emperor who had suddenly appeared right in front of him, Shen Haoran yelped in fright and shot to his feet.
"What are you? A ghost? How do you not make a single sound?" After a moment, Shen Haoran finally came to his senses and roared at the Snake Emperor, who was now sitting in his spot.
"Hmph. Weren’t you the one who called me here?" the Snake Emperor snorted, speaking nonchalantly.
"I called you? Oh, right, I did call you!" Shen Haoran nodded. The Snake Emperor had scared him witless.
"Speaking of which, what kind of thing did you give me? I had no idea how to use it. Good thing I’m clever and found the right method," Shen Haoran said, taking out the Five-Colored Scale and stroking it as he complained.
Seeing Shen Haoran’s finger stroking the Five-Colored Snake Scale, the Snake Emperor’s face flushed a strange crimson. She immediately snapped in a cold voice, "Tired of having that hand? If you dare touch it again, believe me, I’ll chop it off!"
Hearing this, Shen Haoran was stunned. "I can’t touch it? Why? Isn’t this how you’re supposed to use it?"
"No, this scale is..." The Snake Emperor trailed off, her face turning as red as a ripe apple. How could she possibly tell Shen Haoran that this was her Lifebound Snake Scale, that she was spiritually connected to it, and that when he stroked the Snake Scale, it felt as if he were stroking her own body?!
