Chapter 177: The Ultimate BattleTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Those beside Ye Futian did not have pleasant expressions on their faces. The pursuit of the four cultivators had actually pushed their group back to block the army chasing after the four while they escaped scot-free into the pavilion.

Just then, multiple figures formed by noble will appeared in front of them. It was terrifying enough to that one figure at the beginning. Now, it was basically mission impossible. They were not going to stop until Ye Futian’s whole group was dead.

“Respectable seniors, please carry on. I’m simply passing by,” smiled Ye Futian. The Black Wind Eagle retreated into the sky above the pavilion, clearing the entrance to the building. But the noble beings just stood there, disregarding Ye Futian’s words. An enormous army rushed towards them from behind. It seemed like all the cultivators in this area of the palace were gathering here. Looking out at the ocean of soldiers, there seemed to be no end. A truly terrifying sight to witness.

At the wave of a noble being’s hand, the armored soldiers began to advance from all directions in the sky. They had the whole area on lockdown and had no intentions of letting any “intruders” leave unscathed.

Away from where Ye Futian was, the people who were chasing him were now trying to get away from where he was. They were being chased as well. Had they turned around just a bit later, they might have been caught in the same situation as Ye Futian and his friends. Luckily, it did not seem like the noble beings noticed them. But even so, the army chasing after them had their hearts pounding.

After getting far away, they looked back at the pavilion. The entire area had been completely filled by the army. A shiver ran up their spines every time they laid eyes on the enormous army.

The pavilion was at the very center of the relic and also where the most powerful cultivators were gathered. It was difficult for anyone who set foot in the area to make it out alive.

From the corners of their eyes, they were faintly able to see the blurred figures of Ye Futian and his friends. They were still hovering above the pavilion, completely surrounded by the army. There was no escape. This was probably going to be the end of Ye Futian and the others.

The group watching from a distance had witnessed the fight between Ye Futian and the Noble from before. The opponent was just too powerful. Ye Futian used all he had to kill the Noble. But in this situation now, it did not seem like he had a chance.

“Can they escape?” asked the sharp youth beside the Virgin Loulan. It was said that Ancient Loulan had sent numerous cultivators into this area over the year but none had succeeded. Those who entered, never exit.

However, some extraordinary beings have been discovered during this expedition into the relic. Monster cultivator, Ye Futian, as well as the four prodigies from the Barren City. That group had already made their way into the pavilion. Perhaps they would be able to find half of a treasurable book.

“Keep moving.” Loulan Xue did not answer his question because she did not know the answer either, but things were not looking good.

Seeing that the army was still chasing after them, they could only continue to run. It would be easy enough for them to kill these ordinary soldiers, but they could not risk attracting attention from the Nobles. Things would be tough if that happened. Although the royals of Ancient Loulan were prepared for all types of situations, they did not have to get involved just yet. It was better to just observe for the time being.

Above the pavilion, Ye Futian and the others were surrounded. Yu Sheng and Ye Wuchen were on either side of Ye Futian, prepared for combat.

“We already cleared the way for you. Seniors, can’t you guys go after them first?” Ye Futian asked, feeling slightly defeated.

“You’re all going to die anyway, the order doesn’t matter,” said one of the Nobles.

“Why do you guys have to be this way? I don’t want things to end badly for both sides.

“How preposterous,” said another Noble. End badly for both sides? Did Ye Futian really have what it took to say something like that?

Just then, one of the Nobles waved his hand, signaling for the army to move in closer. The armored soldiers all charged toward Ye Futian’s group.

“You guys take care of this,” said Ye Futian. Ye Wuchen and Yu Sheng nodded. They might not be able to go against the Nobles, but the soldiers were not a problem at all.

The two of them attacked from either side. When the enemy approached, Ye Wuchen’s sword and Yu Sheng’s battle axe swung out at the same time. Blood was shed immediately.

Ye Futian sat down in the air above the pavilion and began to play his guqin. The crisp sound of the instrument filled the air, disturbing the atmosphere.

The Imperial Tactics were activated and, in an instant, Ye Futian’s body was surrounded by an invisible force field. He sat there with a majestic vibe around him.

As he played, the notes elevated, vibrating through the air. The sound created a force that was able to disturb all consciousness.

The soldiers charged forward one by one but were stopped when the sounds of the guqin reached their airs. Crackling noises filled the area, and the soldiers were destroyed with nothing left of their bodies. After all, they weren’t really living beings.

At this time, another battle had started inside the pavilion. Shocking forces of energy were given off of five figures. The four Barren City cultivators had one person surrounded.

This person was another Noble but had a majestic vibe. His noble will was extremely powerful and domineering. He was like an emperor and exuded superiority in a single glance.

This person was the one who led his army in the invasion of the Loulan Kingdom. He was the emperor of another powerful kingdom. He stood guard in the imperial palace and no one could make it past him.

The Barren City cultivators did not come from the same group. They were sent by four different powerful groups in the Eastern Barren Territory. Groups from there treated the Loulan Relic as a training ground and a test. The test was to see who could acquire the most treasures from the Loulan Relic.

The all had noble fate and mid-level noble fate at that. In addition to their powers as top-level Dharma Plane cultivators and their ritual implements, they were extremely capable. However, they were still no match for one Noble even after joining forces. The Noble’s abilities were incredible. He wielded his sword, also formed from noble will, ready to kill.

The Barren City cultivators kept retreating. They only managed to defend themselves against the opponent’s attacks when working together.

“Let’s go,” said one of the cultivators. It seemed that it would be impossible to get any treasures from this building. Under the watch of such a fearsome being as well as the ones outside, they were overpowered and had no chance of finding anything remotely valuable.

The four fought back as they retreat. Even though the Noble was very powerful, there was no way he could kill all four of them. The group of cultivators continued to escape from one side. Finally, the four ritual implements released a significant force at the same time, giving them a chance to turn and make a quick escape. The soldiers outside could not even stop them.

The Noble wanted to chase after them, but even if he managed to catch up, he wouldn’t be able to stop all four of them. He turned his attention to what was going on outside of the pavilion. A terrifying musical storm had erupted. He could faintly see a gleam of light glowing in the distance. He thought to himself, Had the younger generation of the Loulan Kingdom already gotten so powerful?

The Noble headed outside. Ye Futian activated his ritual implement using the Imperial Tactics. The air exploded as he played his piece, “A Chaotic Nation.” Even the Nobles stepping toward Ye Futian could feel the fearsome power of his music. The sound from his guqin could be threatening to them.

It was then that the Noble arrived, wielding his sword. Ye Wuchen noticed him approach from behind and formed a sword filled with intent to shot towards the Noble.

The Noble huffed. Did he want a competition of sword intent?

The Emperor’s sword swung out and the area immediately filled with sword intent. The gleam of a blade shot through the air toward Ye Wuchen.

Ye Wuchen gathered all his power and released it at the incoming sword. His attack was destroyed. His silver sword vibrated, threatening to escape his grip as his body flew backward.

The Noble made his way to Ye Futian. All the soldiers bowed at the sight of their emperor.

“Are you a Loulan royal?” the emperor asked Ye Futian.

Ye Futian continued to play as he looked up at the person speaking to him. “No, I’m not from the Loulan Kingdom. I’m just a person who came for a trial. How about we call it a day?”

“Call it a day?” The emperor’s expression was ice cold. Four people had already escaped. There was no way they could let these people get away as well.

“Since you’re already here, then stay,” said the emperor.

“Don’t force my hand.” Ye Futian stared at the emperor, his eyes just as cold.

“Oh, really?” sneered the emperor. “Kill them.”

Ye Futian continued to stare as he spoke, “Yu Sheng, take the others into the pavilion to search for the treasures. Wuchen, you watch my back. I’ll take care of these people.”

Yu Sheng, Ye Wuchen, and the others widened their eyes. Ye Futian spoke so nonchalantly, but how was he going to “take care of” such powerful beings?

“Go. Trust me,” said Ye Futian. As if he could feel the self-confidence exuding from Ye Futian, Yu Sheng nodded and guided the others into the pavilion.

The emperor and the other Nobles looked at Ye Futian as if he were insane. Was he going to take care of them?

Where did this arrogant bastard come from?

Ye Wuchen took a step back to stand behind Ye Futian. He was also curious where Ye Futian got all that confidence from. What made him so sure he could take care of the Nobles?

After Yu Sheng and the others were out of sight, Ye Futian looked to the emperor and said, “Senior, you’re a swordsman and is formed by will. If I am victorious today, then you shouldn’t let your sword will go to waste. My friend is an extremely talented swordsman and definitely will not disgrace you. Will you consider allowing him to be the successor of your will?”

The emperor had on a look of disbelief. Not only was Ye Futian super confident, but he also wanted his will? Preposterous indeed.

Ye Wuchen had a similar look on his face. So, this was why Ye Futian wanted him to say? He was being too gutsy. If it was really able to obtain the will of a single Noble, he might be able to get noble-level will.

The emperor took one look at Ye Futian but did not give him an answer. At the wave of his hand, the Nobles made their way toward Ye Futian. A terrifying force of will was released into the area, ready for destruction.

“Please reconsider what I said, Senior. Isn’t having a successor to your sword techniques a form of living on?” said Ye Futian.

He then lowered his head, activating the Imperial Tactics from within. His blood flowed wildly through his veins, and the emperor’s mark appeared within.

Right now, Ye Futian’s body was ignited. All the Spiritual Qi around rushed into his body. The glow around him grew brighter and brighter. The Spiritual Qi mixed with noble fate. It was unbelievable.

At this moment, Ye Futian, who sat crossed-legged, looked like a majestic emperor!

Chapter 178: Sun and MoonTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

During the Donghai City battle, the mysterious emperor’s intent appeared within Ye Futian. It helped him kill someone of the Arcana Plane but this power didn’t belong to him. However, that emperor’s intent gave him the Imperial Tactics. After that, he was able to use the Imperial Tactics to activate the emperor’s intent hidden within him. Ye Futian knew that the Imperial Tactics could raise his fighting to another level but he never fully used it before or push the Imperial Tactics to the extreme.

Today though, faced with the bombardment of all the noble intents, he knew that he couldn’t succeed even with the emperor’s intent. Thus, he broke out all the power within him. He urged the Imperial Tactics to the limit without holding back at all.

The familiar feeling from the Donghai City was back. Last time, the mysterious intent was controlling and guiding him. This time, it was completely his power though it was far less powerful than at the Donghai City.

If the opponent was a true Noble figure, Ye Futian would die without a doubt. He would die even if the opponent was in the Arcana Plane, let alone the Noble Plane. Intent power could greatly magnify a cultivator’s combat ability but he still couldn’t overlook the difference in plane.

It was different in the Loulan Relic though. The opponent wasn’t a true Noble and was just the physical incarnate of the intent. In the lower Ancient Barren World, even the strongest intent was restricted to the Dharma Plane. Since the opponent’s body was formed by intent, Ye Futian only had to repress it from that aspect to defeat it. That was why Ye Futian was so confident. He didn’t perceive a true noble intent yet but by fully activating the emperor’s intent, fusing it into his guqin to attack, he believed he could surpass the opponent with his strong intent.

The emperor’s mark burst inside him. Ye Futian’s body seemed to morph. Behind him, Ye Wuchen watched his changes in shock. He could sense that perhaps, this was the true undisguised Ye Futian. He was like a natural-born emperor. The Nobles before him were stunned as well. Thye stared hard at Ye Futian’s body. What level of intent was this?

At this moment, a handsome figure stood before them. He was too beautiful. Even as Nobles, they wanted to worship him. He was high and mighty and should be loved by all. This kind of temperament and intent was not learned—it was something he was born with.

“It seems that you really aren’t from Loulan,” the emperor sighed as he studied Ye Futian. Ancient Loulan wouldn’t have someone like him.

“Senior, are you planning on giving up now?” Ye Futian asked, studying the other.

The emperor gazed at him and then into the distance. His eyes seemed tired. He was obviously discontent to exist in this relic for so many years as intent, turned into a chess piece for testing the descendants of Ancient Loulan for his opponent. Thus, he would kill anyone who stepped foot in here. If he had to be a chess piece, he would kill all Loulan descendants. He was long tired of this and survived through persistence.

“No.” He looked away and said to Ye Futian, “If you lose, you die. If you win, you can have anything you want.”

“Alright.” Ye Futian lowered his head and didn’t say anything else. His music continued to rise. In a moment, a burst of violent intent accompanied the music and swept out. The armored soldiers in its path were all pulverized.

The emperor waved his hand. Various Noble shadows charged forward with extremely terrifying noble intent, pressing towards Ye Futian. But Ye Futian, playing his instrument, was still calm as ever. There was a tinge of heroic tragedy in the music, just like grandmaster before the Nandou Clan before. However, this tragic feeling was for the opponent rather than himself.

He would fully restrict the Nobles existing as intent. They weren’t even as threatening as the prides of the Barren City. After all, they were at the pinnacle of the Dharma Plane and possessed noble intent, rather than being created by pure intent.

Just as Ye Futian had predicted, the music seemed to be branded by the emperor’s mark. It passed through the Nobles’ bodies, instantly marking them with destruction. The charging Nobles looked down dazedly at their bodies.

Boom, boom… Various holes appeared in their bodies. There wasn’t any blood but they could feel death approaching. Of course, they’d already died once but this time, they might disappear completely.

The emperor watched all this quietly. His expression was extremely calm. Was the heroically tragic music played for them?

He walked forward, standing before the Nobles. He surrounded himself and whistling swords appeared. They seemed real. As he walked, the tens of thousands of swords followed. At that moment, he was like a Noble of swords.

The countless swords flew to Ye Futian at once. In a straight line, they destroyed everything in their way. Ye Futian continued playing his instrument quietly. The music was like heavenly cranes crying. The music storm swept out; the swords in its path were obliterated and turned to dust.

At the same time, rays of music ignored everything and bombarded the emperor. The most terrifying thing about musical sorcery was that it was difficult to defend against. The dazzling emperor’s marks seemed to burn on his body. Like golden flames, they were beautiful.

“Intent restraint?” he muttered. He didn’t expect that someone in the relic could restrain his intent but anything was possible. Someone in the First level Dharma Plane could restrict his intent.

As the physical form of intent, he was suffering from intent restraint. How could he continue fighting? He wasn’t even as strong as a slightly more powerful Dharma Plane cultivator.

The solemn music continued. The storm blew past, submerging everything. The various Nobles all burned from the emperor’s intent. After that, their bodies grew illusory until they finally turned to dust and disappeared. It was as if they’d never existed before.

Ye Futian didn’t continue. His music slowed and he looked up. His clear eyes gazed at the figure in the sky.

“Is his talent really as powerful as you say?” the emperor asked. His tone was calm, no sign that they had been intent on killing each other earlier.

“He received recognition by a noble ritual implement while in the Fourth level Dharma Plane,” Ye Futian said. “He would definitely not stop at the Noble Plane in the future.”

“Well, you’re confident,” the emperor said. He was a powerful Noble and knew how difficult it was to advance further.

“Then senior, do you believe me?” Ye Futian asked.

The figure in the air fell silent. He looked at Ye Futian, understanding what he meant. Looking to Ye Wuchen, he said, “Do not fight back.”

Ye Wuchen looked at the figure in the air and nodded. After that, the figure slowly turned transparent as if transforming into a boundless yet illusory sword shadow. It shot toward Ye Wuchen and dug into the spot between his brows. At that moment, Ye Wuchen closed his eyes tightly. Terrifying sword intent flowed across his body, strengthening by the second.

Ye Futian watched this scene with a smile. His emperor’s intent disappeared. He felt extremely weak, devoid of any strength. By fulling using the Imperial Tactics, he’d used all his strength. Earlier, he’d supported himself with pure will. The figure in the air grew more and more insubstantial. The emperor’s figure could disappear at any moment.

“What is that?” At that moment, Ye Futian’s eyes flashed. When the emperor grew less substantial, a beam of light appeared from his body. Within it, there was a thread of coldness.

“I said earlier that if you defeat me, you will receive what you want,” the emperor said to Ye Futian. As soon as he finished, the apparition scattered in the sky, all going towards Ye Wuchen. A voice sounded in the air. “Dying with Loulan back then was not due to war.” With that, he disappeared completely. Half a scroll of a valuable book hovered in the air. It radiated with shocking coldness.

Ye Futian now understood what those words meant. The book was inside the emperor’s body. He could only receive it if the emperor died.

“Such strong intent.” Ye Futian couldn’t help but shudder at the coldness. He used Freedom Meditation and instantly, Ye Futian felt even stronger intent seep from the book. With his emperor’s intent, he could faintly feel that this scroll might contain intent above the Noble level. It was for cultivators above the Noble level.

The coldness spread and frost appeared, covering the world. Soon, Ye Futian’s long hair and eyebrows were all covered in white. He saw a beautiful and mighty picture in the book. It was of a boundless snowy peak. Snowflakes floated in the sky, falling down. It gave one the feeling of absolute coldness at a glance. In the sky, an icy moon hung in the air. It was even colder than the snowy mountain.

This was a picture of loneliness and coldness.

It snowed around Ye Futian as well. The snowflakes melted into his body and endless water elemental Spiritual Qi flooded towards his body, streaming in. In his Life Palace, the World Tree rustled. It seemed to be covered in a layer of frost as well. Above it, a cool moon formed gradually, hanging in the sky. On the other side, the sun life spirit hung high.

The sun and moon shone in turn; the sun was yang and the moon was yin. Fire and water, yin and yang, they represented life.

In the outside world, Ye Wuchen accepted the intent’s inheritance. When he opened his eyes, he was covered frost. He looked around and saw that the army up ahead was was all sealed in ice, looking like various ice sculptures. The entire world seemed to be about to turn into a world of ice.

Even the faraway Virgin Loulan could feel the iciness spreading to them. She reached out and a snowflake floated down. She trembled inwardly.

“Let’s go.” She flashed and charged forward hurriedly. The half scroll might have been found!