Chapter 1148: Chapter 1146: A Look That Scared Away_1
Because of the uniqueness of Bee Island, ever since its appearance, it has always been controlled by the two hundred major powers of the South Sea, and the number of people from each power who can enter the island at one time is limited based on their strength.
Of course, the number of people here refers to those entering the designated cultivation zones.
Bee Island is so vast that there are many unexplored areas, but these areas are often filled with endless risks. The two hundred major powers are unable to manage them, so they simply open them to the public.
Most of the masters from the Martial World, as well as those from the two hundred powers who are not authorized to enter the cultivation zones, many would take the risk to venture into these unknown terrains.
Unfortunately, very few have returned safely over the years.
The Ling Family has fifty slots for Bee Island, which rotate every year. After expressing Shi Xiaole’s intention and waiting a few days, Ling Cunyi smoothly obtained a pass token from the hands of the Fifth Elder, who was responsible for the rotations.
"Xiaole, be careful on your way. That branch didn’t make things difficult this time, which I fear might be deceitful. This is a letter for your uncle, he will understand after he reads it," Ling Cunyi advised with some worry.
"Don’t worry, uncle," Shi Xiaole replied.
Taking the token and the envelope, Shi Xiaole didn’t linger and immediately took his leave.
"He lacks some of the warmth of his parents, but has more coldness and decisiveness, alas!"
Watching Shi Xiaole’s retreating figure, Ling Cunyi couldn’t help but show a look of lament.
Suddenly, Ling Zixin, who was by his side, said, "Father, do you think little brother has any hope of becoming a Sky Origin Realm expert? Then he might have a chance for revenge."
Ling Cunyi was stunned, instinctively wanting to deny it, but recalling the genuine information about Shi Xiaole that his daughter had informed him of, he became uncertain and said, "I’m afraid it’s very difficult! Back then, the six top Fake Sky Origin Realm experts were not inferior to the Top Ten Prides of the South Sea in their youth. Even with so many years of effort, there’s still no guarantee of success."
"However, after a year, the land of Fate will open, and if Xiaole is lucky, he might be able to use the opportunity to temper his mental power and increase the likelihood of a breakthrough."
Ling Cunyi left the rest unsaid. Even during the most prosperous era of martial arts in ancient times, becoming a Sky Origin Realm expert was extremely difficult, let alone in today’s era where the methods for breakthrough had been lost.
There was once a rumor that obtaining recognition from the land of Fate gave one a one-in-three chance to become a Sky Origin Realm expert. But even with such odds, during the era when the Top Ten Prides of the South Sea stood together, it was much harder to attain than before.
Shi Xiaole may not necessarily stand out.
One could only say that this was the best of times and the worst of times, where geniuses had lost their luster, and only those peerless talents who were timeless in both the ancient and modern world could ultimately reach the summit and encompass all the glory.
...
To get from the Ling Family to Bee Island required crossing almost half of the South Sea continent, but at Shi Xiaole’s speed, going at full force, it took him only half a month to approach Bee Island.
The outer perimeter of Bee Island.
Layers upon layers of array systems intertwined densely, forming clouds and mists that screened the sun and obscured the view inside.
Ordinary Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors couldn’t detect anything with their mental power. Even top-tier Heaven Realm Martial Emperors could only sense within a hundred-meter radius. Shi Xiaole tried it and his mental power reached a five hundred-meter radius.
"There are actually twenty Sky Origin Realm arrays."
Within the two hundred top-tier Void Origin Realm array systems were an additional twenty Sky Origin Realm arrays, said to be provided by the two hundred major powers. It’s imaginable that even Fake Sky Origin Realm experts might not be able to force their way through.
Soon, Shi Xiaole spotted a gateway on the surface of the clouds and mists and flew towards it.
"All unrelated persons must stop!"
A thunderous voice came from within the gateway, and a chilling aura was ready to burst forth at any moment.
Shi Xiaole raised an eyebrow, not surprisingly, the guards of the most treasured place in the South Sea were all top-tier Heaven Realm Martial Emperors. Sensing the aura, Shi Xiaole estimated that the opponent’s strength was not inferior to the likes of Han Yanfa.
These gatekeeper experts were also rotated among the major powers, and of course, they wouldn’t be working for nothing—a day of guarding would allow them an additional ten days of cultivation in the designated area.
Not wanting to cause trouble, Shi Xiaole took out his pass token, which flew into the gateway and after a while returned to his hands.
"You may pass."
The voice softened a bit, and the chilling aura dissipated.
The gateway led to a corridor about two hundred meters long, made of cloud and mist arrays. As he advanced through it, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth increased perceptibly.
When Shi Xiaole stepped through the gateway, the rich spiritual energy of heaven and earth suddenly hit him with a certain sweetness.
"It’s more than ten times that of the Martial World’s South Sea, and over eleven times that of East Victory Continent."
Shi Xiaole couldn’t help but be somewhat surprised.
One could imagine that practicing in such an environment, even those with mediocre aptitude would progress quickly, and for geniuses, the rate was even more astonishing—as if spending one day was worth ten.
Of course, not every martial artist would experience such an effect. For example, for Martial Emperors at the Earthly Realm level and above in the Void Origin Realm, the capacity of Vigorous Air was near its limit, and understanding the realms was more important.
But no matter what, the effect of cultivating here would be stronger than in the outside world. Even a slight improvement for Martial Emperors at the bottleneck of the Void Origin Realm made it unreasonable to give up on the opportunity.
Shi Xiaole couldn’t help but think of Ling Yujie.
According to what Ling Wenlong said, nowadays, Bee Island was actually being wasted. If it were built according to Ling Yujie’s array system, the concentration of spiritual energy could be at least a hundred times higher than the outside world!
Transforming into a streak of blue light, Shi Xiaole glided over the boundless expanse of the lake.
Islands of various sizes dotted the waters, like jewels upon glass or like numerous beehives, radiating dazzling lights of spiritual energy. These islands, where the concentration of spiritual energy was around fifteen times greater, were the cultivation zones developed by the major powers.
Shi Xiaole’s gaze fell upon the largest island in the far distance.
Rather than calling it an island, it would be more accurate to describe it as a landmass. Compared to it, the surrounding islands with a ten-kilometer diameter seemed like fireflies to the bright moon, hardly worth mentioning.
Indeed, this was the case. With the lake spanning millions of kilometers, the island took up more than half of its area, equivalent to the size of a large country in his previous life.
There, lay the unknown region accessible to anyone. Bundles of Array System channels were constructed, with people occasionally landing on them and disappearing from view.
Was it an illusion?
The aura of that island somehow reminded Shi Xiaole of Rainbow Island that had vanished into the sky!
Pressing down that dreadful thought, Shi Xiaole distinguished his direction and headed towards the Suspended Sound Island where the Ling Family resided.
Suspended Sound Island, ranked eighteenth among two hundred islands, also represented the Ling Family’s rank among all the powers on the South Sea continent. At this moment, only fifty people were on the vast island, each occupying their own area.
The speed of spiritual energy absorption of these fifty cultivators was just enough to match the production speed of the island. Any more people would have to steal the spiritual energy from other islands.
"Hmm?"
A middle-aged man with a long face and sharp eyes suddenly opened his eyes and looked towards the sky.
As a swordsman and moreover the strongest swordsman of the Ling Family, there were not many who could trigger a Heart Sword response in the Falling Sky Sword Emperor. On Bee Island, there would be no more than fifty, and on Suspended Sound Island, there were only the Inheriting Heaven Sword Emperor and the Chaos Sky Sword Emperor.
"Who is there... hmm?"
No one had paid attention until Shi Xiaole landed on Suspended Sound Island, when some people immediately narrowed their eyes, recalling another person from many years before. The resemblance in appearance and stature was striking, only the demeanors differed.
Some sent messages to a young man meditating in a valley, but the young man turned a deaf ear, clearly immersed in deep comprehension.
"I am Shi Xiaole, here to replace Ling Cunyi. May I ask who is the swordsman Ling Cunyi?"
Enhanced by his cultivation, Shi Xiaole’s voice spread throughout the entire Suspended Sound Island.
"Surname Shi?"
The expressions of some changed even more.
A middle-aged man, resembling Ling Wenyu by sixty percent, showed a mix of confusion and anger.
He had been stuck at his current realm for many years, and there was a sign that a Vigorous Air Vortex might split—an omen of a possible breakthrough. If he were to break through, he would become one of the strong among the top Heaven Realm Martial Emperors. How could he leave?
Thus, despite the rule that stipulated a one-year term, the young man kept silent and continued his deep cultivation.
Beyond his haughty demeanor, Shi Xiaole’s appearance also reminded the middle-aged man of certain things, making him even colder.
Damn the Fifth Elder, deliberately sending this kid to annoy me. I will settle the score after I leave. As for this brat, if I don’t care about him, what can he do? Can he really force me off the island?
"May I ask again, who is the swordsman Ling Cunyi?"
Shi Xiaole asked a second time.
Still, no one responded. Many continued their cultivation unfazed, while others prepared to send secret messages. But before they could, Shi Xiaole had already appeared in front of Ling Cunyi with a whizzing sound.
His speed was so fast it startled many onlookers who marveled in secret that this was no ordinary young man.
"I’m here to replace you," said Shi Xiaole indifferently.
Ling Cunyi opened his eyes. First, he coldly glanced around, and then looked at Shi Xiaole with a tone that was half-demanding, half-threatening, "I need at most six more months. You should know my identity. Don’t do something that you will regret, understand?"
"I will say it one last time, I am here to replace you," Shi Xiaole stated.
Ling Cunyi’s complexion turned ugly. He communicated mentally, "I am the fourth son of the Ling Family head. Offending me will cost you dear in the Ling Family. Young man, think carefully!"
As he spoke, he unleashed an immense pressure characteristic of the pinnacle of Heavenly Realm, trying explosively to overwhelm Shi Xiaole. On Suspended Sound Island, fights were forbidden as they could damage the island, but releasing a bit of one’s aura was not a problem.
Ling Cunyi intended to scare Shi Xiaole away. However, what he considered an overwhelming aura disintegrated under Shi Xiaole’s gaze. The remnants of Sword Qi emanated from that gaze kept piercing towards Ling Cunyi.
"No!"
So frightened that he turned pale, Ling Cunyi felt a sharp Heavenly Sword looming over his head, ready to strike at any moment, and recoiled instinctively, retreating from Suspended Sound Island.
Shi Xiaole did not look his way but sat down not far from his spot. The seating positions for cultivation on Suspended Sound Island needed to be precise, as sitting haphazardly could disrupt the spiritual energy balance of the island.
Dismayed faces were widespread among the onlookers.
What a terrifying youngster, scaring off top Heavenly Realm-level Ling Cunyi with just a look. Ling Jianming couldn’t achieve that, only the top ten talents of the South Sea could.
Could he truly be the descendant of that person?
While others observed Shi Xiaole, he too scrutinized everyone else.
Soon, he locked his sights on a young man cultivating in the valley. Without a doubt, this person was the youngest among them, under five hundred years old, and certainly his uncle Ling Cunwei.
Seeing that the other was engrossed in a state of concentration, Shi Xiaole did not disturb him, which was just as well—he wanted to experience cultivating on Suspended Sound Island for himself.
