Martial Conquest of the Nine Desolates-Chapter 45 - 043 Various Geniuses

45: Chapter 043 Various Geniuses

45 -043 Various Geniuses

As one of the ten major counties, the county town of Dahong County far surpasses Wutan City in scale.

The towering city walls are magnificent, with mottled marks and a sense of age, standing on this land for hundreds of years.

“Brother Xiao, I heard that the Commandery Princess of Dahong County is an Innate Martial Artist.” Shao Yan’s face rare shows a hint of yearning.

Innate Martial Artists, perhaps not much in the vast Black Dragon Country, but within Dahong County, they are definitely considered powerful figures.

“Let’s enter the county town.” Xiao Ye stepped towards the city gate.

The two followed the dense crowd into the county town, seeing only Postnatal Martial Artists everywhere, with almost no Body Refining Realm sighted.

“Truly a county town.” Xiao Ye exclaimed.

Even the city gate guards he just saw were all Postnatal Realm Sixth Layer martial artists, far surpassing Wutan City.

Upon arriving in the county town, they first sought an inn to settle down.

Soon they discovered that because of the approaching Chongyang Sect entry-level assessment, along with teenagers attending the assessment and martial artists joining the excitement, the inns in the county town were fully booked.

They went through about twenty inns in a row without finding any vacant rooms.

“Damn it, should’ve left earlier.” Shao Yan grumbled.

Instead, Xiao Ye was quite patient, as it was his first time in the county town, taking in the sights with a tourist’s mindset.

“Hmm?” Suddenly, Xiao Ye’s gaze tightened, looking toward a cluster of buildings up ahead.

It was also an inn, but it was constructed with great grandeur, as if a King towering high, overlooking the county town.

Compared to other inns, it was overwhelmingly superior.

Shao Yan followed Xiao Ye’s line of sight, then curled his lips and said, “That is the Hero Inn, with twenty rooms, only receiving geniuses from various cities, and anyone who can stay there is a hot contender for the Son of County title.”

“Over the years, the Sons of County from Dahong County have all come from this inn, so Hero Inn has great fame.”

Hearing this, Xiao Ye nodded, understanding that his strongest competitors for the assessment would reside in this inn.

“By the way, Brother Xiao, as long as you walk in and reveal your cultivation, you’ll surely get a room there, maybe even in the top ten rooms.” Shao Yan said.

“Why don’t you go?” Xiao Ye glanced at him.

Shao Yan, being the top genius of Moonlight City, had no weak cultivation and should also be able to stay there.

“Hehe, I have my reasons for not staying there.” Shao Yan had a mischievous smile all over his face.

Xiao Ye felt speechless, wondering if this guy was up to some mischief again.

But he wasn’t willing to expose his strength too soon.

Xiao Ye gazed distantly at the Hero Inn, a surge of war intent rose within him, his robe fluttering, and his eyes shone brightly.

“Hmph!”

Just then, from within the Hero Inn, several powerful auras soared into the sky, vaguely resembling the sounds of dragons and tigers rising and roaring.

“Mere ants, dare to show war intent in front of us?” A cold voice wrapped in True Qi entered Xiao Ye’s ears, causing his expression to change and he retreated a few steps.

He had just slightly shown his war intent, yet several people sensed it, indicating that this inn was indeed a place where hidden talents resided.

Moreover, those auras were immensely powerful, with almost all having Postnatal Realm Ninth Layer cultivation, and one had reached the Half-step Innate level.

There was also an obscure and vast aura that even made Xiao Ye feel a sudden trepidation, it was infinitely close to the Innate Realm.

This all happened in an instant, even Shao Yan standing beside Xiao Ye didn’t notice.

“Worthy of the Hero Inn.” Xiao Ye felt a sense of pressure in his heart.

He originally thought his strength was enough to compete with Dahong County’s geniuses for the Son of County title, but it seemed he had underestimated, even if he displayed Martial Arts True Intent, he might not be able to contend with the strongest in the Hero Inn.

Upon entering the Postnatal Realm Ninth Layer, each small level has a Boundary Barrier, which requires a long time of accumulation to break through and make advances.

He was now just one step away from the Late Stage of the Postnatal Realm Ninth Layer, yet couldn’t break through.

“I must find a way to enhance my cultivation before the assessment.” Xiao Ye’s eyes became firm.

Wow!

Just as Xiao Ye and Shao Yan prepared to leave, a figure walked out of the Hero Inn, instantly causing a stir around them.

It’s known that anyone able to stay at the Hero Inn is considered a genius.

Xiao Ye looked over with slight curiosity.

It was a sixteen-year-old short-haired teenager, hands clasped behind his back, with an unmistakable arrogance on his face.

Upon seeing the reverent looks from those around, he snorted disdainfully.

“He is Zhao Zilong from Yan City, reportedly with early-stage Postnatal Realm Ninth Layer cultivation, residing in the Hero Inn’s eleventh room.”

Upon seeing this teenager, people around them immediately started talking, and the sound of people drawing in cold breaths echoed constantly.

The Hero Inn has always been the focus of the county town, with many people gathering detailed information about some genius figures.

Moreover, the room numbers in the Hero Inn are ordered by strength.

Zhao Zilong staying in the tenth room indicates that his strength ranks eleventh among the geniuses, which is a truly terrifying number.

Zhao Zilong is likely a talent vying for the top ten in the Chongyang Sect entry-level assessment.

“Move aside, useless dog!”

Zhao Zilong, with his hands still clasped, walked forward proudly, coldly saying as he saw Xiao Ye and Shao Yan standing in the middle of the road.

“You’re the dog!” Shao Yan retorted angrily, glaring at him fiercely.

“Heh…” Zhao Zilong glanced at the two of them and immediately laughed with disdain.

“One is early-stage Postnatal Eighth Layer, the other is early-stage Postnatal Seventh Layer, with such little strength, no wonder they were denied at the Hero Inn.”

Xiao Ye and Shao Yan employed secret techniques to conceal part of their cultivation.

Zhao Zilong saw them standing there and thought they were kicked out of the Hero Inn.

“Hmph, this young master can stay at the Hero Inn anytime.” Shao Yan replied coldly.

“Ignorant.” Zhao Zilong said indifferently, then turned and left.

“Damn, this guy’s really arrogant!”

Shao Yan was furious, wanting to rush up, but was stopped by Xiao Ye.

“Alright, let’s find an inn quickly, or we’ll end up sleeping on the streets.” Xiao Ye coldly withdrew his gaze and said flatly.

After all, they were here to participate in the assessment, sooner or later they’d encounter Zhao Zilong, and it wouldn’t be too late to make him pay for his scorn then; there’s no point in fighting now.

“Alright.” Shao Yan grudgingly agreed, eventually listening to Xiao Ye, and the two of them left together.

After searching for an hour in the county town, the two finally found an empty room in a Lai Fu Inn and settled down.

“Ah, it feels great.

I haven’t eaten meat in days; my mouth was about to go bland.” In the restaurant of Lai Fu Inn, Shao Yan was devouring his meal.

Xiao Ye also started eating alongside him.

The restaurant was packed, with almost everyone discussing the Chongyang Sect assessment and the geniuses appearing for it.

Xiao Ye slowed his eating, listening attentively, discovering that most people believed the one most likely to earn the Son of County title was a boy named Chen Huan.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ye’s mind raced.

From their conversations, he learned that this boy possessed Half-step Innate cultivation, and as for the owner of the nearly Innate aura he felt at Hero Inn, no one mentioned him.

In Xiao Ye’s view, this person should rightly be the strongest competitor for the Son of County title.

“It seems the owner of that aura is quite low-key, intending to make a stunning display during the assessment; I wonder who he is?” Xiao Ye pondered silently.

After filling up, Xiao Ye and Shao Yan returned to their rooms to rest.

Deep into the night, Xiao Ye sat cross-legged on the bed, his consciousness entering the Time Tower to begin cultivation.

As he practiced the Heavenly Net Technique, True Qi began to flow through twelve of his meridians.

“Let’s see if I can break through to the late stage of Postnatal Realm Ninth Layer.” Xiao Ye’s eyes flashed with determination, then he moved his True Qi to start breaking the Boundary Barrier.

Once he reaches the late stage of the Postnatal Realm Ninth Layer, his strength will surge again, and without using the Flame Saber, aside from that mysterious hidden identity person, he would fear no one.

After several attempts, the Boundary Barrier remained unbreakable, leaving Xiao Ye helplessly giving up.

“I wonder if I can break through before the assessment.” Xiao Ye grew anxious internally.

Since entering the Postnatal Realm, his cultivation had advanced rapidly, making him naturally dissatisfied with the current pace.

Knock, knock, knock!

At that moment, there was a knock on the door, awakening Xiao Ye.

Xiao Ye stood up and opened the door, finding Shao Yan standing outside.

“Hehe, Brother Xiao, it’s time for us to make a big move.” Shao Yan had a mischievous smile all over his face.

Xiao Ye smiled wryly, “Are you planning some crooked idea again?”

“Follow me and you’ll see.” Shao Yan, somewhat mysterious, led Xiao Ye out of the inn, then rushed all the way to a hall similar to a Martial Arts Arena.

Although it was night, the arena was brightly lit, filled with throngs of people, and extremely lively.

“Hehe, Brother Xiao, this is the county town’s Martial Arts Arena.” Shao Yan said, taking Xiao Ye inside.

The moment they entered the arena, the deafening noise made Xiao Ye’s ears ring.

He scanned the venue, finding it was actually just a huge square.

On the square, there were at least dozens of platforms, each surrounded by crowds, loudly cheering for the warriors fighting on them.

“Zhang Tao wins, he can take away the wager!” A referee loudly announced in front of one of the platforms.

Xiao Ye looked over, seeing two young men descend from the platform, one elated, the other dejected.

“Haha, Brother Hong, thank you for your ten thousand silver.” The winning young man laughed, taking the silver from the referee.

“Next time, I’ll return you tenfold!” The defeated young man shouted angrily.

“Wager?” Xiao Ye was a bit surprised to see this.

Shao Yan explained from the side, “It’s actually warriors dueling, each placing bets, and the winner takes the other’s wager.”

Xiao Ye nodded, and suddenly an idea flashed in his mind, staring at Shao Yan with a mischievous smile, “Damn it, you didn’t bring me here to scam people, did you?”

Understanding the arena’s rules, Xiao Ye immediately thought of Shao Yan’s mischievous ways.

This place was a paradise for Shao Yan, as he could hide his cultivation with the Hidden Qi Technique, winning easily without revealing his true strength.

“Hehe, Brother Xiao, you should try it too; it’s thrilling.” Shao Yan said with a face full of intoxication.

Xiao Ye felt speechless, yet somewhat intrigued.

He’s currently troubled by his inability to break through the late stage of the Postnatal Realm Ninth Layer; perhaps he could find treasures here to aid his breakthrough.

“Move aside, useless dog!” Just as Xiao Ye was pondering, a familiar cold shout came from behind.

Xiao Ye turned and saw Zhao Zilong, whom he’d seen at the Hero Inn during the day, arrogantly striding in.

“Dammit, what bad luck, it’s that guy again!” Shao Yan was furious, then transmitted via true energy to Xiao Ye, “Brother Xiao, let’s take this guy down!”