Chapter 143: It's Only Training If There's a Challenge

Though his realm was still at the Peak of the Immortal Emperor Realm, Lu Xunxian's true strength had already reached the level above Immortal Emperor — the level of the Dao.

He could therefore sense that an even more vast and boundless world existed beyond the Immortal Realm.

He could even feel that if he so wished, he could easily reach that world.

But considering his current strength, he abandoned the idea. Going up there did not guarantee he could match whatever awaited him.

After dismissing the thought, Lu Xunxian decided to pay a visit to the human race's Immortal Emperors. After all, he might well cross paths with them in the future.

With that in mind, Lu Xunxian appeared within the Thirty-Three Heavens in the next instant.

The Thirty-Three Heavens was the gathering place of Immortal Emperors.

Meanwhile, inside the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm.

With Zheng Guchuan's command, countless Saint Emperors surged into the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm.

As it happened, two Late Saint Emperor Realm cultivators appeared right in front of Lu Xiaoyao.

Lu Xiaoyao looked at the two Saint Emperors who had descended from the sky with some confusion, but quickly became alert.

After the two recovered from their initial disorientation and noticed him, they seemed to scrutinize his features for a moment before charging at him without a word.

Seeing this, Lu Xiaoyao's expression turned grave, but he did not sit and wait for death. He drew his spear and took the initiative, charging to meet them head-on.

The two Late Saint Emperor Realm cultivators were thrilled. They had not expected their luck to be this good — stumbling right into Lu Xiaoyao while he was alone.

He was only at the Early Saint Emperor Realm. They refused to believe they could not take him down.

As long as they captured Lu Xiaoyao, a hundred portions of Low-Grade Immortal Liquid would be theirs.

But the instant they clashed, the expressions on both Late Saint Emperor Realm cultivators' faces changed dramatically.

They felt a tremendous force surge through the spear, and in a flash, it sent them both flying several miles away.

"What?!"

The two were horrified. They had assumed they had found an easy target, but now it seemed that was far from the case.

Seeing their expressions, Lu Xiaoyao let out a cold laugh.

"Since you dared to attack me, then you can go on your way!"

With that, Lu Xiaoyao took the offensive, launching a ferocious assault against the two.

Left with no choice, the two hastily crushed their Transmission Jade Talismans to summon fellow disciples for reinforcements. Though they would have loved to keep the hundred portions of Low-Grade Immortal Liquid to themselves, they needed to be alive to claim it.

Seeing them crush their Transmission Jade Talismans, Lu Xiaoyao knew he had to end this quickly.

"Primordial Dragon Devouring Strike!"

A massive golden true dragon phantom materialized behind Lu Xiaoyao. As he thrust his spear forward, the true dragon phantom surged directly at the two Saint Emperor cultivators and devoured them whole.

When the true dragon phantom dissipated, both cultivators had been reduced to ash.

Lu Xiaoyao's complexion turned slightly pale. The Primordial Dragon Devouring Strike was a genuine perfected-realm spirit art, and even for him, it placed an enormous strain on his body.

But the results were devastating — the two Late Saint Emperor Realm cultivators had been utterly powerless to resist.

"I need to get out of here fast. If their reinforcements arrive, I'll be in for a grueling fight."

Lu Xiaoyao's expression was grave. He collected the two cultivators' Storage Rings with a wave of his hand, then swiftly departed.

Though he did not know the exact reason the two had attacked him, he could guess well enough. The powerhouses outside were probably retaliating because his group had taken five entry spots, and they had sent Saint Emperors in to deal with them.

He wondered how his sister and the others were faring.

But surely they would be fine.

Lu Xiaoyao thought to himself. He had no intention of contacting his sister or the others, either. They had all agreed before entering — this was training, and the more opponents there were, the better the training.

Not long after Lu Xiaoyao departed, five Saint Emperors arrived at the site.

Their leader was a Peak Saint Emperor Realm cultivator. Sensing the lingering battle aura, his expression turned grave.

"Clean and decisive. Senior Brothers Xu and Liang were killed in under eight minutes."

"Their opponent likely possesses Peak Saint Emperor Realm strength. Proceed with caution, and spread the word."

"Understood, Senior Brother Wu."

The four Late Saint Emperor Realm cultivators beside him wore solemn expressions as they acknowledged the order and relayed the information to their fellow disciples.

Though a hundred portions of Low-Grade Immortal Liquid was certainly tempting, one needed to be alive to claim it.

Elsewhere, Ye Wushuang and Gu Feng had also been attacked by Saint Emperors from the Hundred Kings Alliance.

Fortunately, the numbers were not large, and both of them were core disciples of their respective sects. Their strength was naturally formidable, and they quickly dispatched their respective opponents.

"It seems there'll be no peace in this Ancient Immortal Secret Realm."

Ye Wushuang thought to himself after cutting down a Late Saint Emperor Realm cultivator with a single sword stroke, his expression grave.

But a moment later, a blazing fighting spirit ignited within him.

He did not know how many years it had been since he last felt this way. How could there be a breakthrough without adversity? Only danger could spur a rapid advance.

His only concern now was whether Lu Xunxian could handle the Hundred Kings Alliance.

But that was not his problem to deal with. Since he was already involved in this, he would see it through to the end.

In contrast to Lu Xiaoyao and the other three, Lu Qingyun and Luo Qianxue were doing remarkably well — they had not encountered a single Saint Emperor.

On the contrary, the two had stumbled upon no small number of fortuitous opportunities, the kind that even True Immortals would covet.

Inside the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm, Lu Xiaoyao soon found a cave. He sat down in seclusion and began restoring his Spiritual Energy.

It did not take long for his Spiritual Energy to return to full.

More importantly, Lu Xiaoyao was pleasantly surprised to discover that his foundation had grown considerably more robust. If he could fight a Peak Saint Emperor Realm opponent, he might very well break through to the Mid Saint Emperor Realm.

Just as Lu Xiaoyao was thinking this, he suddenly sensed something and his expression changed sharply.

In almost the same instant, the cave he occupied was leveled to the ground.

Hovering in midair above, a Peak Saint Emperor Realm cultivator clad in golden spirit armor gazed down at Lu Xiaoyao's cave with a cold, detached expression.

"That hundred portions of Immortal Liquid is mine."

Li Changqing thought to himself.

He was a disciple of the Wuwang Sect who had always preferred to work alone. He had originally not planned to seek out Lu Xiaoyao and the others, but had stumbled upon Lu Xiaoyao by sheer coincidence.

With a "why not take what's free" mentality, Li Changqing struck without hesitation.

After reducing the mountain to rubble, Li Changqing assumed Lu Xiaoyao was dead and prepared to leave.

But just then, a figure burst skyward from the debris.

It was Lu Xiaoyao.

Looking at him more closely, Lu Xiaoyao was in a wretched state, and fine cracks had appeared across the Twelfth-Grade Spirit Armor he wore.

"Oh? How interesting — you survived?"

Li Changqing could not help but regard Lu Xiaoyao with a measure of newfound respect.

But in the next instant, Lu Xiaoyao chose to strike first, taking the initiative and charging straight at Li Changqing.

He had just been wondering where he could find a Peak Saint Emperor Realm opponent to help him break through to the Mid Saint Emperor Realm — and here one had come knocking on his door.