Chapter 409 - Category Nine Earth-tier Xiaolang

Xiaolang’s aura had grown stronger again. His black eyes, sharp claws, massive fangs, as well as the thick fire energy that exuded from his body looked leagues stronger than they were five days ago. Long Chen felt slightly afraid when he looked at him. He had a feeling that even he could not win against Xiaolang with the latter’s Divine Fire Clone, Demon Seed Planting Technique, and the Nine Devils Ancestral Fire.

Zhao Qingyun and the Sword Emperor were the only cultivators in the kingdom that could stop them right now.

Since Xiaolang had become a Category Nine Earth-tier beast, it was time for them to return to capital. It had been five days since they stirred things up over there, so they estimated that the city had most likely calmed down a little. It might be a good time to return now.

“We are still weak, so we should try to kill Lin Zichen first. Let’s go to the Biyang Imperial Capital,” Long Chen instructed Xiaolang before they started their journey back. They weren’t escaping this time, so they slowed down a little.

It was already morning when they arrived.

Long Chen smiled when he looked at the glittering city.

“Lin Zichen should be busy with the succession in the palace. It won’t be easy to lure him out and leave the Sword Emperor behind. Fine, let’s take a risk. Since I managed to make a connection with the eldest prince, we should put it to use. Xiaolang, just relax for now. I will take on half of your enemies with you. Since I’m entering the capital, you should stay outside for now. I will lure Lin Zichen as fast as I can without alerting the Sword Emperor.”

Xiaolang had no objections to his plan. He nodded and left. Most beasts didn’t have to cultivate because their strength was determined at birth, but Xiaolang was different. He had a rare constitution that allowed him to grow without a limit, though not through cultivation, but through consuming items with the fire attribute.

That was why Xiaolang was quite free most of the time.

He preferred to sleep whenever he was not refining his meals. There were two reasons why. One, he had used some of his life fire and injured his soul a while back, and sleeping aided the healing process. Two, sleeping hastened the refining process of what he consumed, so he could increase his strength faster.

More importantly, Long Chen always ignored him when Ling Xi was present, so there was nothing for him to do but sleep ...

After Xiaolang was gone, Long Chen disguised himself as a twenty-five-year-old man. He even gave himself a new name, Yang Qing. He had taken it from Yang Lingqing’s name. Thinking of her, he realized he missed her.

I wonder how she is doing. Is Li Xuanji treating her well? Long Chen secretly swore to himself that he would grow faster so that he could go to the place that Li Xuanji said he would never reach. He would then take Yang Lingqing back. He was worried about her being so far away from him.

Long Chen also realized he needed another sword. His Star Sword had been destroyed in the previous battle. Thankfully, he had been collecting the weapons from the people he killed. While he didn’t have an advanced Earth-tier sword, he had some intermediate ones. Since he could only show strength up to the Eighth River Stage within the palace, Long Chen thought it would be best if he didn’t have to fight at all.

A sword was a necessity for his disguise.

Ii I remember correctly, the Red Sun Inn is around here ... Long Chen recalled that it was one of the random inns he had seen while walking to Yuqin Palace when he first arrived. He retraced his steps and reached it. The bellboy saw a young yet strong man at the doorstep and immediately ran out to greet him politely. “Dear customer–”

Long Chen interrupted him. “Give me a room.”

The bellboy immediately complied.

As soon as Long Chen entered the room, someone knocked on the door. He smiled and opened his door to find the Eldest Prince looking at him with gratitude.

“Come in.” Long Chen chuckled and made way.

“Thank you, Sir!” The Eldest Prince nodded and entered. There was another person behind him. The person was wearing a suit of heavy black armor complete with a helmet and armored boots. He looked like a general, and Long Chen noticed that the man was in his forties. He looked barbaric, but his eyes radiated cunningness and intelligence.

The general-looking man was at the Eighth River Stage too.

“Sir, I am so glad that you agreed to help me. I will take it that you are helping me since you’re here?” Lin Batian looked at Long Chen with sincerity.

Long Chen nodded and said nothing. He didn’t want to accidentally reveal himself.

“Thank you, Sir! May I know what to call you?” Lin Batian’s polite tone was a sign that he was indeed happy. Usually, a ruler wouldn’t treat someone with this much politeness, especially when it was a stranger. It was clear that Lin Batian was very interested in Long Chen’s strength.

“My name is Yang Qing.”

“So you are Sir Yang Qing!” Lin Batian nodded and introduced Long Chen to the person behind him. “This is my uncle, and he’s also the First Commander. He’s at the Eighth River Stage. I take it that you’ve heard of him?”

Long Chen’s eyebrow rose as he looked at the middle-aged man. So he’s the First Commander. If I’d met him while I was escaping, I would’ve been dead. I wonder what kind of expression he would make if he knew I killed the other six?

“I’ve heard of the famous First Commander, but you don’t have to call me ‘Sir Yang.’ Just call me ‘Brother Yang’ if you look up to me.”

“In that case, I will call you ‘Brother Yang.’ Since you’ve agreed to help me, I will fulfill my promise. You can let me know what you need, and I will do my best to fulfill it ...”

“Wait.” The Eldest Prince was interrupted by the First Commander. “May I know how strong Junior Yang is?”

Long Chen knew that the First Commander was afraid that the Eldest Prince had been fooled. Long Chen’s identity was very suspicious, and the First Commander was naturally wary of a strong cultivator that had come out of seemingly nowhere.

“Eighth River Stage,” Long Chen answered plainly.

“You are so young and yet you are already at the Eighth River Stage? You even killed foes at the same stage with ease. I would know about you if you were from the Cangyang Kingdom, but why have I not heard of you?” The First Commander was very assertive.

Lin Batian was shocked and tried to defuse the situation. “Brother Yang, he just wants to know your identity. I’m sorry if he’s acting rashly. I hope you will forgive him.”

“No worries.” Long Chen smiled at the First Commander. “I never wanted to reveal my identity in the Cangyang Kingdom, but since you want to know that much, I don’t mind saying it. I don’t plan on staying here for long either. I’m from the Western Sea Kingdom. May I ask if you know of anyone strong in that kingdom around my age?”

The Western Sea Kingdom was neighbors with the Cangyang Kingdom, but there was a massive mountain range separating them, so the two kingdoms barely traded with each other. The Eldest Prince was stationed at the eastern border, so he wouldn’t know either. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“So you are from the Western Sea Kingdom. I’m sorry for troubling you,” the Eldest Prince said.

“I will be frank. I agreed to help you because I heard that there are Heaven-tier spiritual herbs in the Counter Essence Realm. You told me that you would give me anything that I wanted, provided that you could find it, as long as I helped you take the throne. Will you give me a Heaven-tier spiritual herb if I help you?”

Long Chen had told a blatant lie. This way, he would make his “objective” clear to them and the First Commander would not be suspicious of him.

“Dream on!” The First Commander thought Long Chen was a greedy man and immediately refused.

“Quiet!” Lin Batian was angry at the First Commander. Even though the First Commander was his uncle, he could not tolerate him destroying his plans.

Lin Batian then looked at Long Chen. “I can get you a Heaven-tier spiritual herb, but you must promise me that you will be the largest contributor in helping me succeed to the throne.”

“No problem.” Long Chen chuckled.

“Brother Yang, you are very straightforward! I like that!” Lin Batian turned around to glare at the First Commander. Seeing that they had come to an agreement, the First Commander could do nothing but lower his head.

“When will you follow me back to the palace?” Lin Batian was very anxious.

“I’m not in a rush, but you need to tell me everything. How should I fight against Lin Zichen? How strong is he? I’ve heard that he was at the Ninth River stage. I don’t want to brag, but I’ve defeated some Ninth River Stage experts before. I don’t think I’ll lose to him since he’s younger than me.” Long Chen really got into character.

This was a place where everyone plotted against each other. Long Chen had to act like an idiot here so that the others would lower their guards.

The First Commander scoffed when he heard what Long Chen said.