Chapter 1877: Re-Entering the Six Palaces of Heritage
This was where Jiang Chen fully resembled Jiang Feng. Thus, instead of reprimanding his son, Jiang Feng approved of his actions.
"I hear that your cultivation has reached great heights, brother. Shall we spar to check your progress?"
Xu Qingxuan always loved to fight with Jiang Chen, even though she knew it wasn't a reasonable request. She couldn't rival her brother at all. However, she couldn't help playing with him.
Jiang Chen smiled and turned to her. "You're my little sister. Why should we fight? I wouldn't defeat you even if I could."
Xu Qingxuan huffed. "I don't want you to let me win."
Jiang Feng chuckled. "Stop that, Qingxuan. Emperor Coiling Dragon just told me that your brother has reached fifth level empyrean and is going to break through to the next level soon. No human cultivator can rival him. Aside from you, not even the heads of your Moon God Sect measure up to him."
Xu Qingxuan pulled a long face. She knew her father was right.
Jiang Chen laughed. "How can the sect heads compare to my sister? Qingxuan is much more talented than they are. Maybe my little sister will ascend to empyrean in a year or two."
Xu Qingxuan perked up, her eyes shining brightly as they fixed on Jiang Chen. "Brother, I hear that you have something called the Taiyi Skymender Pill, that it can boost the success rate of ascending to empyrean to ninety percent for peak great emperors."
"I do have such a pill." Jiang Chen chuckled.
"Do I get a share?" Her eyes shone with vibrant light.
"What do you think? You're my little sister. I'm not going to give other people the pills if you aren't going to get one." Jiang Chen laughed. "Don't worry. I set aside the best things I have for you. Remember, Qingxuan, we are family. I always keep you in mind."
Xu Qingxuan pouted and turned away, her eyes reddening. She wasn't going to let Jiang Chen see it, of course. A warm feeling wrapped itself around her heart.
She had to admit she was happier in Veluriyam Capital than she was in the Moon God Sect. Though she cultivated with her master day and night, she still wasn't at ease with her master. Her master was too strict, almost to the point of being harsh.
Now, in Sacred Peafowl Mountain, she still cultivated as hard as ever, but no one was there to demand anything from her. But not only hadn't her progress been hindered, she improved even faster.
That was largely thanks to the cultivation regime her brother had designed for her, and the resources he'd given her.
Over time, Xu Qingxuan had started to see Sacred Peafowl Mountain as her home. Staying by her parents' side, she could both take care of them and cultivate more efficiently. Even though sometimes she did miss the Moon God Sect and her master, she was no longer willing to leave the mountain and her parents behind.
She felt welcome here, not because of intentional hospitality, but because of the warm atmosphere created by everyone and everything around her. She yearned for that warmth.
Her brother was especially crucial to making her feel welcome. Although she often like to be minorly at odds with him, he showed her great care and tolerance.
Xu Qingxuan couldn't fully turn away from the comforting sense of belonging.
...
Jiang Chen spent the next two days with Huang'er, Dan Fei, and his daughter. He also took time to check on Gouyu, Xue Tong and the others. He was pleased to see their great progress.
Jiang Chen had brought them here from the Eastern Kingdom. They were his earliest followers and had remained loyal all this time. He was naturally going to repay them for their devotion.
Ye Chonglou and other old friends had also settled down in Veluriyam Capital instead of returning to the Precious Tree Sect.
In addition, Jiang Chen's underlings, including Lin Yanyu and Pill King Bu, were doing very well in the capital. They hadn't disappointed him.
Jiang Chen tried his best to visit everyone, to be updated on their current situation. Afterwards, he returned to the Six Palaces of Heritage to take on the fourth and fifth palaces.
According to the rules, the fourth palace required initial empyrean realm, or half-step empyrean at a minimum. And the fifth palace, intermediate empyrean.
Jiang Chen was about to ascend to sixth level empyrean. He'd long since reached intermediate empyrean and was more than qualified to take on both the fourth and the fifth palaces. He planned to do if the circumstances allowed it.
The sixth palace was the only one that was beyond his current ability.
He'd waited until now because he'd been otherwise preoccupied in Myriad Abyss. He'd never let anyone in on the secret of the Six Palaces of Heritage, except for what little he told the Vermilion Bird and Long Xiaoxuan.
Jiang Chen entered a secret chamber and activated his spacetime seal. Not only would it teleport him into the Six Palaces, it would discern which palace he should enter.
As he expected, he was sent to the fourth palace.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he could tell it was different from the three previous palaces. Every palace had their own unique features.
The atmosphere in the fourth palace was distinct. The air was turbulent and troubled like roiling clouds. There was an edge of insanity to the way it moved. Jiang Chen kept his guard up. He had a strong feeling that he was going to experience something here he'd never come across before.
He remained composed. He wasn't who he'd been since he last came.
If he was at half-step empyrean, he would've been more cautious, but his cultivation level met the fifth palace's requirements and far exceeded that of the fourth's. That gave him a sense of security, allowing him to be as calm as a still lake.
That didn't mean that he would get careless. On the contrary, he expanded his senses to take in every minute change in the air. The unhinged energy was still there, and seemed to be growing more and more intense over time.
Chapter 1878: The Mad Fiend
Jiang Chen's ears suddenly twitched. The minute airflows in the air formed strange tracks that appeared under the scrutiny of his encompassing consciousness.
In the next moment, he dematerialized into nonexistence, fading away like a ripple in the air.
A silvery streak slashed through where he'd stood. A fissure appeared on the spot, a jagged scar that was almost too painful to behold.
"Remarkable!"' A bellow came forth from the air. Clearly, its source was astonished at Jiang Chen's exceptional reflexes.
There was a faint magnetism to this voice, as well as a particular unruliness that defied authority. The man's personality was evident in his way of speech.
Jiang Chen trained his God's Eye upon a specific patch of space while hovering in another part far opposite. "This is the first time I've been welcomed like this in the Six Palaces of Heritage." He shrugged with a faint smile.
An odd ripple in space was followed by the slow emergence of a towering figure. A mane of messy hair hung on his shoulders. His complexion was quite brutish, his eyes wild and free. He seemed animated to the degree of reckless madness.
Jiang Chen perused this rather strange man, who returned his regard with a similar half-smile.
"A very special welcome, is it not?" The long-haired codger flashed a toothy grin.
Jiang Chen harrumphed. "A sneak attack is unbecoming of a true warrior."
The codger seemed to take that as a compliment. "A true warrior?" he cackled. "In the world of martial dao, those tend to die out real quick. I'm beginning to wonder how you got to the fourth palace in the first place, kid!"
His voice was loud and booming, the man apparently in high spirits.
"What's your relation to the protector of the fourth palace?" Jiang Chen frowned. His understanding of the palaces so far had showed him that the real protectors typically didn't take to the field themselves.
Master P'eng, Venerated Skysoarer, and the Grand Marquis alike had followed this rule. In fact, they had seemed to be stuck in the palaces, lacking freedom outside their respective posts. But this old man was very different.
The eccentric elder grinned again. "Do I look that ugly? What, you don't think I can be a protector?"
"You?" Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow in doubt.
"Congratulations, kid! You haven't had the chance to fight directly with the first three protectors of the palaces. But this palace has the protector as the test. Don't be surprised if you fall here! Every genius must kneel before the Mad Fiend." He licked his lips in mock bloodthirst.
Jiang Chen felt like he was hallucinating.
How could there be such a strange guardian in a place as sacred as the Six Palaces of Heritage? This 'Mad Fiend' was completely off his rocker!
Weren't these protectors supposed to be imprisoned by the master of the Veluriyam Pagoda, hence their presence here?
He saw no such restrictions with this specific one. Was he the exception?
Jiang Chen took a deep breath. "If you are the protector of the fourth palace, may I ask your name?"
"What's with you?" The maniac of a man shouted with arms akimbo. "Didn't I introduce myself already? I am the legend feared by all, living and dead alike – the Mad Fiend!"
Mad Fiend?
Jiang Chen had no impression whatsoever of this title. None of the previous protectors had mentioned someone like this. Nevertheless, he didn't look like an easy character to contend with.
He played it cool. "If you are the fourth palace's protector, what is your test?"
There had been specific tasks he had been required to perform to pass through the first three. Now that he was in the fourth palace, Jiang Chen believed the same rules applied, and it certainly wouldn't be easy.
The Mad Fiend smirked, then shook his head. "The fourth palace has only one test. To pass on through, you must go through me!"
"What do you mean?" Jiang Chen asked in a low voice.
"Heheh, haven't I made myself clear? Your only test is to beat me!" The kooky old man chuckled. "Of course, you'll leave if I beat you as well."
Jiang Chen furrowed his brow. Each and every protector within these palaces was immensely powerful. As a venerated senior worthy of becoming a protector here, the Mad Fiend would be no slouch.
To defeat him was an almost insurmountable task. He examined the Mad Fiend, calculating all the while.
The madman had guessed what he was thinking. "Kid," he laughed, "I know why you're trying to size me up. Don't worry! I am a senior of the ancient era. I see no reason to use my cultivation as a bludgeon. I had a bet with the master of this Veluriyam Pagoda once… that bastard managed to trick me!
"While guarding this place, I can only fight with strength equal to the challenger. You're already fifth level empyrean realm, eh? Almost sixth, now. The strongest among all the challengers I've seen so far! This'll be very fun, very fun indeed. I wouldn't want my playtime to be cut short. Are you prepared, kid?"
"Prepared for what?" Jiang Chen was somewhat relieved. If the protector was forced to use only the same amount strength he had, he was no longer too worried about the fight ahead.
Perhaps the Mad Fiend had once been someone universally feared, but Jiang Chen saw no reason to fear anyone at an equal level of cultivation.
"Why, prepared for a trip to hell, of course!" The Mad Fiend grinned once more. "You did well to come so far, kid, but this place has always been a nightmare for its challengers. I hope the risk and excitement is sufficiently stimulating!"
Jiang Chen shrugged. He wasn't scared of threats from an opponent at his level. Given the constraints, he firmly believed that he had a better chance of winning.
Chapter 1879: A Silly Battle
Jiang Chen was entirely calm as he glanced at the frenzied Mad Fiend. None of his opponent's scary expressions and gestures disturbed his heart.
"Eat this, kid!" The crazy old man produced a golden walking staff in his hand. On one side was a crescent, the other a square spade. Both ends were as untamed as the weapon's owner.
A wave of the staff produced a burst of light, almost blinding Jiang Chen with radiance. However, he was quite familiar with this kind of dazzling attack. His magnetic golden mountain could do something quite similar. In fact, it could blunt all of someone's senses.
Because of this, the attack barely did anything to him.
At his level, he didn't need his senses to catch an opponent's attacks anymore. He instinctively used his Kunpeng Meteoric Escape, vanishing on the spot by turning into a streak of light.
Mad Fiend cackled. "Fast one, are you? The Kunpeng Meteoric Escape? What a shame that you're fighting me!"
True to his name, he was a complete madcap after going berserk. He brandished the staff about, leaving a flurry of countless afterimages that seemed like a golden airborne windmill. Following this, he gave chase in a burst of golden light.
Jiang Chen saw no reason to fear Mad Fiend.
Yes, the old man was crazy, but he had kept his promise of keeping his strength at the young man's level.
Harrumphing, the youth clapped to bring a golden bell into being. It grew in the wind from its already huge size into something even bigger, a sudden obstacle between Mad Fiend and himself.
The bell flew with tempestuous strength, ringing in no time at all.
Jiang Chen made a hand seal. "By the glorious might of heaven, let the thunder of this bell quash mine enemy!"
As an unrivaled tool for defense, the bell was also pretty decent on the attack. In particular, it excelled at catching and imprisoning its prey. When its power was invoked, the mouth of the bell became an abyssal maw, filled with endless terror.
The golden bell shrieked like a ferocious beast, casting itself with an ear-piercing wail at the approaching fiend.
Though Mad Fiend's madness was true to his name, he knew that his opponent was quite the competent rival. In particular, the treasure before him could deal a serious blow.
Alas, the bell's momentum and spatial attribute meant that it was an all-consuming maw that stopped at nothing to swallow its target.
The old codger didn't expect Jiang Chen's real purpose in using the Kunpeng Meteoric Escape. Rather than actually escaping, he had been trying to lure the old man into a trap.
This golden bell looked like the trump card Jiang Chen was relying on to turn the tables. Therefore, Mad Fiend saw good reason to respect the treasure's power.
Mad Fiend's hairs stood on end as he took in the gluttony and thirst of the bell.
"Nice moves, kid! No one who gets to the fourth palace can possibly be a pushover." In the heat of the moment, he perceived that he wouldn't have time to move out of the way.
Thus, he performed a vicious thrust with the staff almost without thinking.
The staff shimmered with an agonizing radiance. The two superb weapons both reverberated with a mournful wail.
Mad Fiend shook all over. He looked incredulously at the staff in his hand, still ringing at the impact. Although it had fended off the maw of the golden bell, the staff's spirit was dampened considerably for the time being.
The golden bell was clearly an ancient treasure. Forefather Goldenbell wouldn't possibly have been able to achieve such heights with it otherwise. The bell alone had been responsible for propelling him to demi-godhood.
In other words, the golden bell was every bit as potent as Mad Fiend's staff. In fact, it was superior in some respects. Any other opponent would've retreated at the bell, but not Mad Fiend.
The old man cracked another toothy smile. He glanced at his staff, noticing its fading light, then cackled. "A remarkable treasure alright. But do you think you'll be able to match me with just a bell? Dream on!"
He swung his staff with renewed frenzy, unleashing a flurry of blows in Jiang Chen's direction. So ferocious were his strikes that the golden bell rang discordantly without rest. Staff and bell were evenly matched.
As befitting of his name, Mad Fiend fought with a crazed delirium that made him imposingly ferocious.
The bell contained offense within defense, while the staff was just the opposite. The two treasures were nearly evenly matched.
Though it was hard for the bell to overwhelm Mad Fiend, the golden staff could hardly overcome its opponent either. For a time, the two combatants were locked into a standstill.
Jiang Chen took out other pieces of equipment at this time, his Holy Dragon Bow among them. Alas, he was unable to actually take aim or fire.
Mad Fiend fought in such a ridiculous manner! His favored method of engagement was a brawl in close melee.
This was as simplistic as fighting could get. Still, someone on Mad Fiend's level could unleash incredible power, especially if he did so with no regard for himself.
Mad Fiend was smart enough to notice he couldn't let his young enemy take the initiative and settle into a rhythm.
Otherwise, the Holy Dragon Bow's long-distance attacks alone would be extremely difficult to handle, to say nothing of if the young genius found an optimal attack position.
As an experienced veteran of countless battles, he was more than capable of reading the state of the fight.
Chapter 1880: Jiang Chen's Suggestion
Jiang Chen didn't fear Mad Fiend even in close-quarters combat, but among the myriad of techniques he'd mastered, the melee ones were the least advanced.
On the other hand, Mad Fiend most preferred fighting in close distance. However, he was prevented from tapping into his full power because of Jiang Chen's golden bell.
Their fight was caught in a gridlock.
Mad Fiend couldn't break out of the golden bell's restraint, and Jiang Chen couldn't find an opening to attack with his Holy Dragon Bow. After being refined, the bell's power was no joke.
Even the old man's golden staff couldn't break the bell's restraint, which made him antsy.
"Are you going to fight me properly, kid? Or are you just gonna rely on your damn bell?"
Jiang Chen smiled faintly. "In the martial dao world, all cultivators have their strengths. I have many means of attack against you. Why would I choose the one you prefer?"
The old man cried in anger, "Don't forget that I'm the defender of the fourth palace! I get to decide whether you pass!"
Jiang Chen chuckled. "I'll find a way."
"Hmph, dream on!" The old man brandished his staff. "You're never going to leave this palace without defeating me!"
The old man was rather put out. He wanted the challenger to meet him head-on and fight him in close quarters without abandon.
In truth, Jiang Chen wasn't opposed to that, but he could tell the old man's staff was not to be underestimated. He had a good number of fine weapons in his own possession, but none could rival the staff.
That was why he wasn't willing to play the old man's game.
Although he'd acquired some demigod level weapons some time ago from the empyrean experts he'd killed, none of them had caught his eye. He'd either given them away, or put them aside without refining them.
In the martial dao world, instant connection was important for picking both weapons and cultivation methods. Anything he didn't take an instant liking to weren't meant for him.
Of all the demigod and empyrean weapons he'd acquired, the golden bell was the only one that caught his fancy. The others, he wasn't interested in at all.
Therefore, he hadn't upgraded any weapons other than the ones he'd been using since he was at emperor realm and great emperor, such as the Pentecolor Divine Swords.
The swords had been a gift from Emperor Peafowl. When he was at great emperor, they were the finest weapons he could get his hands on, and they were still useful at initial empyrean realm. However, after reaching intermediate empyrean or later, advanced empyrean, the swords wouldn't be powerful enough.
Jiang Chen had also refined a few swords for the Heavenly Chalice Sword Formation.
They were of good quality, but their full power could only be reached in concert with the formation, as that was how they'd been designed. Used in a one-on-one fight, the swords fell short. To put it simply, they were specialized for group attack rather than single-target attack.
He had some other weapons like the nameless sword, but due to his rapid progress, he really didn't have any weapons that could go toe-to-toe with the golden staff at the moment.
The Holy Dragon Bow ranked as high as the staff, but it was a ranged weapon and not suitable for melee battle.
Ah, that reminded him.
The bow was just one of the items he'd acquired from the ancient Primosanct Sect. There was another item he'd gotten - a giant writing brush called True Spirit Post.
It was the perfect item to create glyphs and formations with. He hadn't had the chance to use it yet. It seemed to be a great weapon as well. According to the Primosanct Sect's records, the brush could be used as a spear.
Jiang Chen looked at the insistently blabbering old man and laughed. "Senior, you're just trying to talk me into fighting you in close quarters. It's unbecoming of a senior to use your power to bully others."
"Me? Bully you?" The old man glared at him. "Watch your tongue, kid. If I'd wanted to take advantage of you, I would've fought you with my full strength. Do you think you'd have the slightest hope of passing the challenge then?"
The old man was naturally much more powerful than he'd let on.
He was here because of an oath he sworn to the master of the Veluriyam Pagoda. He had to fight the challenger at the challenger's level rather than his own peak strength, unless the challenger was as powerful as he was.
He couldn't go back on his oath.
Jiang Chen chuckled. "That's not what I meant."
"Then what do you mean?" the old man asked in an irritated tone.
"Your staff, of course. I don't have a weapon that's as good as yours, which puts me at a disadvantage. How am I supposed to fight you? You have your staff. I have my golden bell for defense and my bow for offense. I've simply been fighting you with my advantages."
"You don't have a good weapon?" The old man paused. He'd actually never considered the possibility before.
He might be unhinged, but he was proud and a man of his word. He didn't want to be thought of as a bully taking advantage of a young man. "Hmph, what do you want then? Are we to fight without weapons?"
Jiang Chen shrugged. "I'm game if that's the case."
"A physical brawl?" muttered the old man. "That's so primitive. It's as crude as the way regular villagers fight. What's the fun in that?"
"Then we can only use all the techniques available to us and see who wins."
"If you don't have a weapon, kid, I can give you one," the old man suddenly suggested.
Jiang Chen didn't know how good the weapon gifted by the old man would be. He shook his head. "It seems that you want us to fight with weapons. Well, I do have one, but I haven't refined it before. I need some time to get familiar with it."
Chapter 1881: A Gentleman's Agreement
Mad Fiend cocked his head as he gazed at Jiang Chen, attempting to figure out what the young man's true intentions were.
Jiang Chen returned the look with a confident smile. If he had to use a real weapon, he could only resort to the True Spirit Post. For that however, he needed time to refine it, as well as an appropriate martial method.
Of course, he had no shortage of the latter. All kinds of texts and tomes on the matter filled his head, and it would be easy enough to find what he was looking for.
"Show me what you've got, kid."
Jiang Chen produced the True Spirit Post, rolling it around in the palm of his hand dashingly. It grew to a length of eight feet within moments.
"Is… is that a brush?" Mad Fiend glanced at the young man oddly as he perused the strange design of the weapon.
The True Spirit Post was certainly not a run-of-the-mill sharp stick. It looked like it could be a polearm, but no blade was mounted on its 'pointed' end. Compared to a typical weapon of war, it looked more classic.
"This is the crowning treasure of the ancient Primosanct Sect, the True Spirit Post." Jiang Chen waved his brush around a little.
"Senior," he smiled, "give me twelve hours to refine this treasure and practice a martial method for it. We can duel with proper weapons afterwards. How about it?"
"Twelve hours? Are you sure??" It was Mad Fiend's turn to be surprised.
What could he do with twelve hours?
A martial method took three to five months of work at least. More commonly, more than a year of study was required to access the fundamentals. To understand the essence of anything without years of study was nearly impossible, and twelve hours was simply ludicrous.
Mad Fiend harrumphed. "You aren't looking for excuses for your defeat, are you, kid? You sure you can do anything in twelve hours?"
Mad Fiend found the very proposition comical. Had the young man gone mad himself? The time period was patently absurd.
Cultivation behind closed doors could take decades to centuries. Twelve hours was barely enough for a single session of meditation!
And yet, Jiang Chen's faint smile remained.
"I ask only for twelve hours. I can't be disturbed in that time, however." His tone was entirely even.
The old man didn't know how to react to this. He finally settled on huffing. "Fine, I'll do you one better and give you 120 hours instead. There's plenty of time. I don't mind giving you a few extra days. You won't be able to say I didn't give you any leniency after I win then!"
Evidently, Mad Fiend didn't want to take a single offered inch. This surprised Jiang Chen a little. From this, he could see that the eccentric protector was just as honorable as the three before him… despite his unpredictable temperament.
A little more examination showed that this made perfect sense though. The first master of the Veluriyam Pagoda had been the leader of ancient humanity in the demon-sealing war. He must've chosen protectors who were upright and dependable individuals, in some sense of those words.
Jiang Chen made up his mind. He wouldn't refuse the proffered 120 hours. The Six Palaces of Heritage would still be here waiting after he was done.
Mad Fiend followed through on his promise, giving Jiang Chen a perfectly quiet place that was isolated from outside disturbance. "This is the place. Remember, 120 hours!"
Jiang Chen chuckled, then waved. "Don't worry. I'll show you what I'm made of."
"Sure, sure. I'll be waiting." Mad Fiend didn't take that declaration too seriously.
Though the old man appeared crazy, he was still conscientious of his mission. He knew he was here to pick through and test the geniuses that came to this place. If a legendary genius did arrive, he wouldn't unduly target the young person. His volatility itself was the most serious kind of trial for the intrepid challenger.
The first master of the Veluriyam Pagoda had told him to be as strict as he could. Only the most appropriate to inherit the palaces were to be allowed through.
Still, the eccentric old man didn't have much hope for Jiang Chen. Yes, the young man was talented, but also far too reckless.
A hundred and twenty hours?!
What could he do with that? Refine a weapon and learn a martial method for melee combat? How was possible, unless he knew exactly how to do these things in the first place?
But that didn't seem likely.
"Hmph. I hope this kid doesn't let me down too much when I see him next. I won't let him pass this fourth trial if he turns out to be another disappointment," Mad Fiend muttered to himself in complaint. He was here for the specific duty of eliminating those who didn't fit the bill.
In his opinion, Jiang Chen certainly fell into that category.
The challenger's character, rather than talent, was the sticking point here. The crazy old man believed Jiang Chen to be crazy and boastful for originally suggesting twelve hours.
The young man had no idea what the curious protector of this place was thinking. He really did need the time to refine his brush and learn a method that would allow him to go toe-to-toe with Mad Fiend.
As the crowning jewel of the ancient Primosanct Sect, the True Spirit Post was considerably difficult to refine. Thankfully, he had a bevy of experience with valuable treasures just like it. Thus, the first part was easy and systematic.
As always, he needed only to infuse the pen with a bit of his own lifeblood, then channel his consciousness into it. Not hard at all.
His particularly robust consciousness gave him a natural advantage in this area. It was almost trivial to wipe away the remnants of the pen's previous owner. So it had been when Jiang Chen had refined the golden bell.
His success came after only a short while. Now, he could finally start understanding the pen's unique qualities.
In four more hours, he largely familiarized himself with the weapon.
"This True Spirit Post really can be used as a long spear. I must choose a martial method that makes sense for that."
That would take a little bit more thought.
Chapter 1882: A Clash Between Dragons and Tigers
Jiang Chen's consciousness began to run at maximum capacity. He rifled through the contents of his mind in search of a good method.
"Hmm? This spear method is pretty good."
One rose to the top of his perception. Named the Searing Sundrake Spear, it was a technique that emphasized sweeping strikes and dominance over the battlefield.
Jiang Chen had studied it carefully in his previous life. The original master of the method had used it to sweep aside his competition on a material plane. Even in the heavenly planes, he had relied on it to make his name known far and wide.
The technique had been valuable enough for his father to place it in a great library in the heavenly planes. That alone showed what kind of power it held, and how extraordinary it was.
Most importantly, the spear technique's original master had also been a descendant of the dragons, with the bloodline to match it. That meant that it was extremely compatible with Jiang Chen's current status.
His dragon blood would serve to amplify the effects of the technique, allowing it to unleash energies tenfold that of someone without this quality. The technique itself was remarkable, but a dragon bloodline boosted its potency significantly.
Jiang Chen had only a hundred hours remaining. But he felt little stress about that fact. He had studied this martial technique many a time in his previous life.
Others might need time to study the finer points of a technique, but for him, it was easier than breathing. He had small issues here and there, but nothing actually tough to overcome.
Any small bottleneck was completely pushed through by his powerful consciousness, fueling an incredible comprehension. His grasp over the Searing Sundrake Spear deepened more and more.
Mad Fiend didn't think much of Jiang Chen's efforts, but kept his promise not to disturb the youth nevertheless.
In time, the hundred and twenty hours were finally up.
The old man chuckled as he faced down the young man walking out. "You're punctual, kid, but are you sure a hundred twenty hours were enough? If not, I can give you a couple extra days."
Jiang Chen grinned. "That's alright. I didn't actually need that much time, so I used the remaining time to meditate a little. Why would learning a martial technique need a hundred twenty hours?"
Mad Fiend became blue in the face. He had seen many braggarts before, but none with so much bluster as this young man. Learning a martial technique in less than five days?
"Hmph. You're young, but already an irresponsible talker. It looks like you're not the best candidate for inheriting the Six Palaces' heritage." Mad Fiend's expression darkened.
"Why do you say that?" Jiang Chen smiled coolly.
"Isn't it obvious? Your flippant attitude is enough to tell."
"Am I flippant?" the young man smiled wryly. "Can't you accept when someone's telling the truth, senior? Have you been bottled up so long that your heart has become smaller than a grain of sand?"
"You should know the limits of your sharp tongue, kid. Fine, fine, fine. Let's see what you've learned in these five days!"
Jiang Chen shook his forearms, conjuring a chain of strange runes that appeared upon the True Spirit Pen's surface like electricity. They glowed eerily in an unorthodox manner that was worthy of being wary of.
Mad Fiend eyed his opponent, putting away some of his prejudice for the fight ahead. Perhaps the young man before him wasn't so flippant after all. An expert knew his field well enough to recognize skill from others. This young man's very aura was noteworthy.
Mad Fiend was instantly fired up. He grinned toothily, brandishing his cane. "Are you ready now? Here I come!"
He raised his cane high overhead, then brought down a storm of radiance upon Jiang Chen.
The fourth protector was a madman indeed. He fought with a feverish fervor that imbued the strength of ten mountains into the swing.
Jiang Chen roared, his own blood heating up. His fighting spirit was roused by the power of his opponent's attack. The dragon blood in his veins roiled, creating a draconic resonance in the air.
His True Spirit Post darted forward like a bolt of piercing lightning, threatening to penetrate heaven and earth itself. His bloodline fueled the energies of his spear technique, producing a heat wave that burned with the brilliance of a hundred suns.
Clang!
The two legendary weapons collided against each other in the air, sending a number of terrifying shockwaves outwards.
The light of the cane and the draconic energies of the spear intermixed with each other in glorious spectacle. The sky became blindingly bright.
"Well fought. Again!"
Mad Fiend felt quite stimulated by the frontal clash. His desire to fight that'd been repressed since ancient times suddenly exploded.
He brought his cane forward for a reprise.
Jiang Chen respected the attack as much as he could. His True Spirit Pen flourished like a golden dragon, blocking and parrying the cane at every opportunity.
Sometimes, he found windows of counterattack. Every return thrust he made took perfect advantage of timing, interrupting Mad Fiend's offensive rhythm.
The young man knew that the Searing Sundrake Spear he'd studied so briefly couldn't possibly match Mad Fiend's fighting experience. However, the old man's cane and techniques were of a lower level. The Searing Sundrake Spear was truly one-of-a-kind in the material planes.
Thirty to fifty percent of its actual strength was sufficient to counter Mad Fiend's familiarity with his treasure and method.
Both combatants had their advantages and disadvantages. The fight was once again at a standstill.
Jiang Chen was unsurprised by this, but Mad Fiend was greatly taken aback.
His opponent had learned his technique practically overnight! Furthermore, this was a green kid he was dealing with. If the best he could manage was a tie, what was his age and experience good for?
The eccentric old man had some slight doubts about the impromptu nature of the study, but ceded the point in the end. When Jiang Chen had taken out the True Spirit Post for the first time, he really hadn't refined it yet.
Chapter 1883: Equal in Contest of Strength
Since the True Spirit Post had never been refined before, Jiang Chen must have learned the spear method during the sixty hours he was given.
Mad Fiend had been derisive of Jiang Chen at first, even going so far as to not even want to look at the young man. However, the brief exchange made him realize that the challenger hadn't been joking. He had indeed spent the last few days refining the weapon and grasping the martial method.
The Searing Sundrake Spear was quite extraordinary. Mad Fiend's golden staff was known for its dominating and ruthless power; it struck with such ferocious momentum that the enemies were rendered helpless. However, Jiang Chen's spear came out on even ground in the head-on clash with Mad Fiend's staff, even gaining a slight edge over it. How could the old man not be shocked?
In the ancient times, he'd been well known for his melee fighting skills. Close-quarters combat was his favorite form of battle. He was thus nicknamed the Mad Melee Fighter. Now however, he wasn't able to fight with the same aplomb as he'd once had.
He brandished his golden staff like a furious temple door god. With a twist of his wrist, a shockwave of golden light radiated from the staff. His every hit was as heavy as a towering mountain.
To his surprise, Jiang Chen gave as good as he got. He wielded the True Spirit Post with the ease and impetus of a beast roaming through its natural territory. Every move he made was powerful, preventing Mad Fiend from gaining the upper hand.
The old man was shocked. At first, he had thought it was impossible for Jiang Chen to go head-to-head with him. He believed the young man had at most learned a few tricks and would start to falter after a few rounds.
Sadly, he was woefully mistaken.
Jiang Chen didn't seem like he'd run out of tricks to use, and he used the techniques with an ease that shouldn't be possible for someone who'd just learned them.
Is he a genius handpicked by the heaven? It's only been a few days. How is it possible for him to reach such heights with his martial method?
Mad Fiend could barely believe his eyes. However, nothing excited him more than a formidable foe.
His attacks grew more and more ferocious as he shouted and growled. Jiang Chen fought back in kind, his spear unstoppable.
No matter how much harder Mad Fiend fought, Jiang Chen always held his ground, his presence strong even in comparison to the old man's.
If there had been any witnesses, they wouldn't have been able to tear their eyes away from the stunning fight.. Normally, expert cultivators fought with skills. The more powerful they were, the more exciting the fight.
Straightforward blow for blow combat was considered less impressive, but it was most representative of one's ability, including their understanding of martial dao, mastery of martial methods, control over the fight, and sensitivity to the key to victory.
What made Jiang Chen a genius was his ability to learn quickly. Where others might stumble or get stuck, he breezed through with ease.
A day passed. Then two, then three...
Three days into the epic fight, Mad Fiend was still vigorous and showed no signs of exhaustion.
He'd thought the young man would run out of stamina after a day or two, and that he'd win automatically, but Jiang Chen surprised him again.
The young man didn't seem at all tired, either.
"What a strange fellow he is." Mad Fiend fumed. Plenty of young geniuses had entered the Six Palaces of Heritage since the ancient times. Some had been able to reach the fourth palace, and Mad Fiend had challenged every one of them to a close-quarters duel.
After all, one often found themselves fighting at close distance with demons in the ancient war. When surrounded by an army of demons, melee fighting skills were imperative for survival.
"Your staff is powerful, senior, but you must be able to tell as well that it's impossible for you to defeat me. On the other hand, if I train my spear method for three to five more months, I'll absolutely be able to beat you. Do you agree?"
Jiang Chen spoke up since Mad Fiend didn't seem intend to give up. He didn't want to waste his time here. Neither side was going to win anytime soon.
"Beat me?" Mad Fiend cracked a ferocious grin. "Then let's fight for another three to five months and see if you get better."
The old man was crazy. Jiang Chen didn't have the time to waste on this fight. Moreover, repeated practice of moves wasn't enough to improve one's martial method. It was also important to explore and meditate on the method.
"If that's what you want, I won't hold back anymore, senior."
It was true that Jiang Chen wouldn't be able to defeat Mad Fiend anytime soon with only his spear, but he also had the Holy Dragon Bow and the golden bell.
The bell especially had been difficult enough for the old man to deal with on its own. Paired with Jiang Chen's spear method, the two became greater than their sum.
"Hey! Didn't we agree on fighting with only our weapons? Why did you use the damn bell again? Damn you!" Mad Fiend cried out in protest. He wanted to have a grand fight for a few more months.
"You're no fun, kid. Entertainment like you doesn't come by often. Can't you let me have a good fight?"
Jiang Chen chuckled. "I'll gladly fight you for months or even years if things were different, but I can't afford to waste too much time in the Six Palaces under the circumstances."
"You don't have the time? Can it be that the demons have risen again?" Mad Fiend darted his eyes around, his expression turning icy. The mention of demons triggered a shift in his emotions.
"The seal on the demons is deteriorating, and the protections laid down in the ancient times will fall apart soon. Any surviving demons will then rise again. What's worse, the human race has no means to resist them. They'll be unstoppable."
Mad Fiend unconsciously slowed down his attacks in response.
Chapter 1884: A Swift Change in Attitude
Jiang Chen also sensed the change in Mad Fiend's mood. Something had prompted the protector to slow down and even reel in his aggression.
Jiang Chen was quite surprised. He didn't expect Mad Fiend to react so strongly to news about the demons.
Mad Fiend swept his staff horizontally across and lay down on the ground, exhaling deeply. "Fine, fine. No more fighting."
Jiang Chen had never intended to fight to either party's limits. He couldn't be happier that Mad Fiend had decided to end the fight. There weren't any rules stipulating that a challenger had to defeat the defender.
Besides, Mad Fiend had suppressed his power to Jiang Chen's level in the fight. It wouldn't be a real victory even if Jiang Chen won.
Jiang Chen withdrew the True Spirit Post with his usual faint smile, humble, but dignified. His bearing defined that he was bound for greatness.
Mad Fiend considered the young man carefully, the fighting intent in his eyes fading visibly.
"Demons, demons..." Mad Fiend's lips twitched as he muttered the word. His head suddenly snapped up. Amazing brilliance burst from his eyes as he stared at Jiang Chen. "Among the geniuses I've met, young man, you're the one most likely to gain the pagoda's ultimate heritage. I've never let any challengers pass without winning, but today, I'll make an exception for you."
Surprised, Jiang Chen blurted out, "Why?"
"What's momentary gratification compared to the war against demons? I can tell that you have a bright future ahead of you, and you're very likely to be the one the pagoda is waiting for. You've passed through the first three palaces. For the fourth, you're likely to pass as well if you're allowed to use every trick you possess."
Jiang Chen looked owlishly at the old man. He didn't expect the sudden change of attitude.
"My wife and little sister were both killed by demons," Mad Fiend muttered in a melancholy tone. "The sooner you gain the pagoda's heritage, young man, the sooner we regain our freedom. There's nothing more I want than to join the crusade against demons."
It was personal for him.
Realization dawned on Jiang Chen. He nodded. "The demons haven't broken through the seal yet, senior, and there hasn't been a large scale invasion. Also, the human domain isn't strong enough to fight demons at the moment. It's better to avoid a head-on clash."
"Avoid a clash? Do you think demons will retreat just because you want them to?" Mad Fiend scowled and snapped, "I thought you were a hot-blooded young man. Are you getting scared already before a fight breaks out?"
Jiang Chen smiled ruefully. "I've fought demons more than once - a demon emperor many years ago, then a celestial demon lord. They are formidable enemies, but they aren't unbeatable. The problem is the human domain is so much weaker than you can imagine. Empyrean cultivators emerge only once in a blue moon."
"What? So few?"
"Less than you'd expect. There may have been more divine cultivators in the ancient times than there are empyrean cultivators now."
Mad Fiend slumped dejectedly.
If what Jiang Chen said was true, the human domain was indeed too weak to fight the demonic army. It might not even survive a small scale assault.
There were a few experts in the Veluriyam Pagoda, but there was a limit to what they could achieve on their own. There was no hope unless they could become as powerful as the leading figures from the ancient times.
However, things were different now. They had to rely on the younger generation.
"Since the demons are so powerful and the human domain so weak, why haven't you sought sanctuary elsewhere instead of staying here?"
Jiang Chen smiled wryly. "It's easy for me to just leave, but I'm too involved in the human domain to do that. Every little thing I do will impact the human race."
"Is that the only reason you stayed?" Mad Fiend asked disappointedly.
"On a broader level, I of course want to defend my homeland. Demons are known as pests in the heavenly planes. They wreak havoc wherever they go. It is the duty of every race and every individual to fight them."
"Good, that's what I want to hear. You must be the human domain's finest and a leading figure now. Do you have any plans to deter the demonic army?" Mad Fiend gave Jiang Chen a onceover.
"There's only one viable plan: avoiding the first wave of attack when the demons do invade. The Great Formation of Heavenly Soul Confinement is the only way to stop them from entering."
"Hasn't the formation already been activated before?" asked Mad Fiend.
"It has, but it's a large-scale formation. We can activate it again with the right approach, the problem is the great amount of resources required. That's not something the human domain can afford at the moment." This indeed had been Jiang Chen's biggest concern.
Mad Fiend mused. "The formation was set up and activated by three formation masters and three major factions in the ancient times. Of course, the weakened human domain won't be able to activate it now."
"I've learned how to reactivate the formation, but there's the problem with a lack of resources. If that's solved, I'm eighty percent sure I'll succeed!"
"Resources!" Mad Fiend muttered, "There must be a great deal of resources to be gained from the pagoda's heritage. The master of the Veluriyam Pagoda was one of the leaders of the human race. He was a man of great foresight with great attention to the details. He must've planned for the future. I'm sure you'll receive a good amount of resources once you pass all six palaces and gain the pagoda's ultimate heritage. It may not be enough, but it'll cover a large portion of what you need."
He knew a formation of that scale must require an unimaginable amount of resources.
"I'm letting you pass now. You'll be able to defeat me sooner or later anyway. Every palace you pass yields you a gift. The fourth palace is no exception. You said before you didn't have a good weapon. I'll give you a pair."
With a twist of his wrist, two blinding rays of light shot out of his hand.