Soul Emperor Martial God

Chapter 62: Chapter 61: Departure

Murong Mansion.

Originally one of the three great families of Purple Cloud City, the mansion now lay in ruins.

Everywhere were signs of battle and the ravages of powerful True Qi.

Of course, there were also the corpses of Murong Family members strewn about.

Although there had been a great battle between the Xiao Family and the Murong Family, the dead deserve respect. Driven by their conscience, the Xiao Family disciples did not desecrate their bodies. Even the bodies of Murong Mo, Murong Shan, and others originally left in the wilderness had been brought here.

It was a way to let them rest in their native land after death.

With this, the disciples of the Xiao Family had fulfilled their duties to the utmost.

The strong stench of blood and the gruesome scenes ensured that nobody came here on normal days. After all, anything of value had already been taken by the Xiao Family, not even thieves would visit.

But at this moment, a figure suddenly vaulted over the wall and entered.

It was Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi walked up to each corpse, using the Eyes of Taiyin and Taiyang, he absorbed the Martial Soul Power of all the deceased Murong Family members.

He desperately needed power, desperately wanting to raise his cultivation.

Normally, Martial Souls below the Yellow Rank are too weak, and upon the death of the Martial Artist, they dissipate into the environment within ten days.

The time had yet not reached ten days.

After absorbing the Martial Souls, Xiao Yi’s eyebrows lifted in pleasure.

Murong Mo, two unknown middle-aged Martial Artists he had brought, Murong Shan, and four Murong Family Elders—all had Yellow Rank Martial Souls.

Additionally, among the elite deacons, there were also two Yellow Rank Martial Souls.

A total of ten Yellow Rank Martial Souls.

The Fire Control Beast Martial Soul, in an instant, broke through to green.

After that, the remaining Murong Family disciples had only orange and red Martial Souls. Although these were of a lower rank, their numbers were greater.

The green of the Fire Control Beast Martial Soul darkened slightly.

With the seven-colored Martial Souls—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple—the green Martial Soul was already very powerful, at least the strongest in Purple Cloud City.

This time, Xiao Yi took a moment to observe the Ice Phoenix Sword Soul.

He found that the already deep purple color of the Ice Phoenix Sword had not changed much.

Indeed, for the most powerful purple Martial Souls, these below Yellow Rank Martial Souls had little effect.

Of course, Xiao Yi was already quite satisfied, he smiled, turned, and left.

...

Upon returning to the Xiao Mansion, the elders had long been waiting for him.

The Third Elder handed him a Qiankun Bag, saying with concern, ”Yii’er, here are various items prepared for you. There are Elixir Elixirs, Silver Taels, and others, as well as a weapon, the Purple Cloud Iron Sword.”

”Although you have immense talent, fate has played tricks on you, giving you the lowest grade red Fire Control Beast as your Martial Soul. I’ve seen you use flames to forge a Fire Sword for combat, so today I have specially prepared a better weapon for you.”

A standard Purple Cloud Iron Sword would sell for a hundred Silver Taels and was a common weapon for many family disciples.

But the Purple Cloud Iron Sword, forged from Purple Cloud Iron essence, was much sharper and sturdier, selling for a thousand Silver Taels. It was considered the best weapon in Purple Cloud City and usually only Postnatal Deacons could afford it.

Xiao Yi took the Qiankun Bag and thanked him, saying, ”Thank you, Third Elder.”

At that moment, the Great Elder also handed over a Qiankun Bag, saying, ”Xiao Yi, this is the Source Cultivating Vermilion Fruit you asked me to find for you. This item is a third-grade medicinal material and is very hard to find; there are only three.”

”Thank you, Great Elder.” Xiao Yi responded with thanks once again. He had long wanted to refine the Golden Vein Pill, but couldn’t find the Source Cultivating Vermilion Fruit.

”Hold on a moment,” the Great Elder waved his hand and continued, ”There’s also an Alchemy Furnace in there, named the Separation Fire Gold Furnace. It is the only fourth-grade Alchemy Furnace in Purple Cloud City. I obtained it by chance during my travels when I was young, and it has accompanied me for most of my life; I am now giving it to you.”

”I hope it can help you when you’re out there.”

”A Fourth-grade Alchemy Furnace?” Xiao Yi was shocked.

Alchemy Furnaces are essential tools for Alchemists, greatly affecting the success rate and speed of refining elixirs.

Thus, Alchemy Furnaces were extremely valuable and difficult to purchase.

The Gold-plated Refining Furnace, for example, was an ungraded furnace commonly used by many.

The Three-Spiral Furnace, the most precious openly known furnace in Purple Cloud City, was only first-grade.

Even the Third-grade Alchemists from the other two great families used only second-grade refining furnaces.

As for a third-grade refining furnace, it had never appeared in Purple Cloud City.

Xiao Yi had never imagined that the personal refining furnace of the Great Elder would be a precious fourth-grade furnace.

Normally speaking, even Fourth-grade Alchemists may not possess a Fourth-grade Refining Furnace.

It’s truly that First Grade Alchemy Furnaces are too precious, and cannot be bought with money alone; Elder Xiao Lihuo also obtained one by chance when he was young.

”Elder Xie,” Xiao Yi bowed deeply.

”Are you this happy now?” the Great Elder asked with a chuckle.

”Hmm?” Xiao Yi was slightly puzzled.

At this moment, the Great Elder took out another item and handed it to Xiao Yi— it was a pair of transparent gloves.

”What are these?” Xiao Yi asked, puzzled.

The Great Elder explained, ”Low Grade Spiritual Artifact, Flame Gloves. These are left behind by our Xiao Family ancestors, said to be made from the silk of Black Jade Ice Silkworms found in an extremely hot area in the Meteorite Mountain Range.”

”Upon being touched, they’re cool and pliable, soft and thin, yet impervious to blades and spears, and as hard as this. When worn on the hands, they can automatically conceal within the skin, as if non-existent.”

”When used, they can be activated with True Qi to greatly enhance Fire Control ability.”

Xiao Yi took the Flame Gloves and was instantly shocked, ”Our Xiao Family actually possesses a Spiritual Artifact?”

Spiritual Artifacts are among the most precious things on the Flame Dragon Continent.

Because they most directly enhance a Martial Artist’s combat power.

Spiritual Artifacts are divided into four grades: low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and top-grade.

Even though it’s just a low-grade Spiritual Artifact, it’s still more precious than a Fourth-grade Refining Furnace.

It can definitely enable a Martial Artist to multiply their combat strength, achieving the effect of battling beyond one’s level.

Xiao Yi dared say, with these Flame Gloves, even without any Martial Techniques or moves, he could easily fight with Innate Martial Artists.

If he used Martial Techniques and moves, the strength would be even more needless to say.

But because of its rarity, not even the whole of Purple Cloud City, nor the Shengbao Trading House, had them for sale.

Xiao Yi suddenly realized that the Xiao Family’s treasures were not few—the Purple Cloud Cave, demon beast statue, and these Flame Gloves were all not something a family like the Xiao Family could possess.

Certainly, the Xiao Family of many years ago must have been much stronger than now.

Seeing Xiao Yi’s surprised expression, the Great Elder couldn’t help but laugh and say, ”Kid, how do you think I, with merely my Half-step Cave Profound Cultivation, broke through the Spiritual Energy Cage set by Murong Mo back then, if not for this thing?”

”This has been the traditional weapon used by the Xiao Family from generation to generation, and now it passes to you.”

Xiao Yi shook his head, refusing, ”You should keep it, Great Elder. If the Xiao Family faces strong enemies again in the future, you could protect the Xiao Family completely with this.”

”Take it,” the Great Elder insisted. ”I feel that in not too long, I will be able to officially break through to the Mysterious Profundity Realm. And a low-grade Spiritual Artifact has limited enhancement for a Mysterious Profundity Realm Warrior; it’s almost the same as not having it, whereas a mid-grade Spiritual Artifact would be much more adequate.”

Saying so, the Great Elder forcibly placed the Flame Gloves into Xiao Yi’s hands.

A warm current couldn’t help flowing through Xiao Yi’s heart; he of course knew the Great Elder’s words were only for him to feel at ease in taking the Flame Gloves.

Even though a low-grade Spiritual Artifact is ultimately a rare weapon, there is still a difference between having one and not.

Even if it didn’t multiply the power in the Mysterious Profundity Realm by many times, it would still increase it by several parts, which is better than nothing. Combat between high-level Martial Artists often comes down to slight differences, which can affect the outcome of victory or defeat.

”Since that is the case, I will accept it.” Xiao Yi didn’t spell it out but accepted it, allowing the Great Elder to rest easy about him going out to gain experience, also etching today’s kindness in his heart.

”What silly words, this originally belongs to you,” the Great Elder waved his hand, indicating Xiao Yi not to overthink.

”But remember,” the Great Elder earnestly enjoined, ”A low-grade Spiritual Artifact is a great treasure, not to be lightly revealed. Unless your life is in danger, don’t easily make use of it. Once used, you must silence witnesses, to avoid unnecessary trouble.”

”The outside world, human hearts, are much more complex than within the family.”

Xiao Yi nodded and said, ”I understand.”

After the Great Elder had given instructions, the Second, Fourth, and Sixth Elders also successively took out a Qiankun Bag and handed it to Xiao Yi, filled with valuable materials, elixirs, and also Silver Tael.

”This is all we can help you with. You are leaving the Xiao Family this time to go to the Sky-splitting Sword Sect; you must be careful,” the elders seriously admonished.

”The old saying remains, the Xiao Family has you, then it has a future; you must be very careful in everything.”

The elders, like advising their own child who is about to travel far, were full of care and admonitions.

”I understand,” Xiao Yi nodded, bowed respectfully, and earnestly said, ”Elders, wait for me. Yii’er will definitely make a name for himself in Northern Mountain County, and on the day of my return, I will make it so that no one dares to bully the Xiao Family any longer.”

Having said this, Xiao Yi turned and left, his figure flickering and soon out of the Xiao Mansion.

...

In front of the mansion, the elders lingered long after and watched the already vanished figure, then suddenly heaved a sigh.

”This will be a difficult time for the Xiao Family in the future,” the Second Elder said, full of worry.

”Northern Mountain Murong Family won’t eliminate us outright, but with just a word, they can suppress us so hard we can’t breathe,” the Third Elder said as well, extremely worried.

With a gleam of wisdom in his eyes, the Great Elder said, ”No matter how hard it is, we must endure; no matter how suppressed, even if aggrieved, we must persevere.”

”Our Xiao Family, still has Xiao Yi. When Xiao Yi returns, it will be the day the Xiao Family rises.”