The flowing lights and brilliant colors over New York were a billowing expanse of grandeur. Eight pillars of light and forty-eight names illuminated the horizon.
Any single one of these names belonged to super powerful figures that could shock the West. There were some that had reaped dozens of lives, some that had reaped hundreds to a thousand lives, and then there was Vermilion Snow who had once slaughtered thousands of people, a Chinese criminal whose hands were soaked in blood.
Swish swish swish… Golden light, green light, red light, white light… these bright pillars were far more gorgeous than New York’s vibrant neon, several thousand times more gorgeous in fact. But presently, they shone to become a rainbow sea.
In the sea, endless killing intent was hidden.
Xu Yangyi didn’t speak. Instead, he gazed into the sky. If he said he wasn’t worried about fighting against so many peak experts then that would be false. However, he was more excited than anything.
A kind of excitement that originated from the thought of confirming his Dao and what he’d learned.
When the House of Corvinus released their list of names, his was the first to appear. Among everyone’s realms his was the second lowest. He was barely a thread better than Vermilion Snow.
Regardless, Vermilion Snow controlled her position with her middle Foundation Establishment cultivation. Furthermore, in the end, her realm wasn’t given. He absolutely didn’t believe that a mistake had occurred with the House of Dracul and the Holy Relic.
“Excited?” Yue Congrao asked in a soft voice. The night wind blew and whistled on Yue Congrao’s clothes. New York’s entire cultivation world was pervaded by a harsh silence, causing all cultivators to feel so excited that their scalps were numb.
He didn’t give Xu Yangyi a chance to answer, instead laughing, “Of course… the first time I saw the grand style of the Holy War, I too was incredibly excited. In cultivation, what is it that is cultivated? Liberation? Freedom? The fulfillment of one’s desires?”
“It is all of these things, but it's not enough.”
“I believe that which is cultivated is to uphold the sky and tread the land, for the self to reign supreme above the heavens and below the earth!”
“What is cultivated is to look around the room, sword buried in snow, and sigh that there are no opponents. What is cultivated is to let blood flow by one’s command so that a boat may drift atop it. What is cultivated… is the character for power.” He emotionally stretched out his arms and sensed the night wind brimming with killing intent brush against him. “To be stronger than heaven and earth, to be stronger than Gods and Buddhas, to be stronger than this world! Only like this can a real man travel the world not in vain. Only then will people still remember my name hundreds to a thousand years later.” [1]
“Even if I am already dead by then, I shall exist for eternity.”
Xu Yangyi took a deep breath. In his heart, his already-formed desire to become stronger and stronger gradually became firmer in the wake of Yue Congrao’s words.
“Yes… since I’ve cultivated to this day, it hasn’t been completely for revenge. Sometimes, Junior has doubts as well. What power is it in the end that is pushing me to walk forward step after step? I’ve never thought about stopping and not once have I ever thought about turning my head back.” His gaze was like a star, looking into the vast night. His emotions revealed themselves. “A million soldiers brought to the West Lake, the first peak of Mount Wu set upon by horse. Since I’ve cultivated to this day, I can consider myself to have a clear conscience.” [2]
The duo was silent. After a long time, Yue Congrao gave a smile. “Not bad. It is a pity that by the time I realized this pittance of time, it was already too late. It seems that the Nanzhou War fortified your cultivation. The advantages are tremendous. While it may seem you returned empty-handed, it was a blessing in disguise. How is one to know what fortune is not?”
At this time, all the names began to drone in harmony.
Under the attention of all of New York’s cultivators, each person’s name began to tremble and then vanished into the pillar of light. They became white orbs of light, converging in the night sky. Subsequently, an incredibly majestic determination strode through time. It descended upon all of New York with a rumble!
“This…” Xu Yangyi felt great tremors run through his body and heart. But not only him, even Yue Congrao beside him was slightly shaking. Down below, the numerous Counts were all on their knees. The Marquises were all on the ground with one knee planted. Only the few Core Formation cultivators didn’t kneel, but likewise each of them respectfully bowed.
“This is Vatican City’s Pope! Above a Grand Duke… A true Prince-rank master!”
Xu Yangyi forced down his mental ripples and also took a knee.
Not from fear, but rather respect.
Respect for the Pope’s grit for cleaving through all hardship and adversity, and reaching the apex of the modern world’s food chain.
There was no sound. All the white balls, at a speed that not even Core Formation cultivators could seize, moved as swiftly as lightning. No less than a minute later, each orb that enclosed a name then stopped.
The ballot ceremony, Yue Congrao transmitted through spiritual sense, All the battle sequences will be determined tonight.
In the darkness, a beam of white holy light brightened. Next, two little orbs jumped out with the slightest omen.
Afterwards, two bangs echoed. The white balls broke apart into white spiritual light, and two names, one pure-white and one green, appeared in the air.
“X versus ‘The Greatbear’s Son’ Althorne Whitedeer.”
Xu Yangyi was dazed. He didn’t expect that he would be the first.
“Command accepted.” A steady voice was heard from the top of the Empire State Building. As Althorne spoke, his name turned into a stream of white light and shot into his body.
“Command accepted.” Xu Yangyi stood up at once and clasped his hands. Likewise, the name X turned into a stream of light and entered his chest.
Yet at this time, he clearly sensed five extremely powerful spiritual energies graze over him.
Five Grand Dukes. He calmly allowed the five gazes to measure him. New York really does deserve to be the world’s number one city.
After ages, the gazes slowly withdrew. It seemed as if they were judging their power.
In the House of Corvinus’s villa, two old men let out faint sighs, exchanged glances with each other, and nodded.
“The Elves don’t easily kill. In the past, they didn’t participate in the wars, but this time they couldn’t hold it in any longer. Even if X loses, he won’t lose his life,” an old man said indifferently.
“Yes… a master spirit-technician, even as a mid Marquis, is no less than a Grand Duke. The House of Corvinus must struggle hard to win him over. The effect of his holy medicine is very exceptional. He must not die in the Holy War. This loss would be too great. When I think of it, all I feel is pain.” At his side, a wolf’s claw covered in pure-white fur handed over a cocktail. “Or?”
Pure-white, without a trace of impurity. It was akin to a silver tide. Furthermore, the voice was from a woman.
The old man received the cup, pursed his lips, and then made a long sigh. “You’re saying… that if This Grand Duke let’s that unworthy child Savidean back, he may or may not do something to X…”
“You are overthinking it.” Laughter rang out behind him. “X won’t get through the first hurdle. The Elves have no fondness for murder, but they’re certainly not weak. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten that the legendary Grand Duke Impaler of the vampires attacked the Elven command base in the Woodland of Nature’s Dream? In the end, though, the four Archdruids joined together to chase him out. And not even the Five Great Sacred Spirit Totems were mobilized. In that battle, ten Inheritors of the Vampiric Realm died. And we both know how much the vampires exalt them.”
“Among the Elves’ imperial protectors, only the strongest can be called an Archdruid, and among the Archdruids are the Five Great Sacred Spirit Totems. The Greatbear, the Crow, the Python, the Silver Wolf, and the White Deer. Only by obtaining a Sacred Spirit’s protection can the heaven’s chosen of the Elves add the name of their protector-spirit to their surname. Althorne is called the White Deer’s Crown. Even your son Savidean’s odds at winning aren’t more than 50%. This year, Althorne will be able to at least get into the top fifteen. Even if X were stronger, he’s still no more than mid Marquis.”
“Hmph!” At this time, in the vampires’s New York branch, Vermilion Snow’s hand was tightly gripping the rails of a balcony. Streaks of red qi were corroding the rails into shambles.
“Mongrel… your luck is unordinary!” A touch of pained killing intent flitted over her face. “You were actually the first! And you’re up against a friendly elf. An apex powerhouse among the Elves’ imperial protectors. Even among all the contestants, he’s in the top fifteen! You really will… fetch back your dog life!”
“In that case, are you giving up? My daughter?” A man’s voice suddenly rang out, his laughter quite cheerful. “You know, I favor your very much right now. If you are not pleased, This Grand Duke will also be grieved.”
Vermilion Snow put away the angry look on her face, and forced herself to squeeze out a small smile. “It’s just a housefly with too much good luck. I have no way to kill him myself, that’s all.”
“Yes?” The man smiled and said ambiguously, “Perhaps you’ll still have that wee bit chance to meet him.” [3]
Vermilion Snow was dazed. Afterwards, she surprisingly began to giggle, “Your Highness Grand Duke, this joke isn’t funny at all.”
“Mid Marquises are strong. Ordinarily, they are lofty figures high above. But here, they’re just an insect, and everyone has a very, very firm flyswatter in their hands. He shouldn’t consider how to win, but rather consider how to struggle at death’s door under this flyswatter, and how not to lose in too much of an unsightly manner. Luckily, the first opponent he’s meeting is an elf, otherwise…”
“In that case, why did you flee from him back then?” Before she even finished speaking, the man’s laughter interrupted her from behind.
The fox-demon was slightly startled. Afterwards, she began to ponder.
Their conversation, in front of an actual Prince-rank cultivator at this moment, was nothing.
In the air, white orbs bounced around, and names appeared one by one. Each person was an opponent that could only be encountered once in ten years.
Icy-cold and red-hot gazes swiftly found each other, colliding like blades and swords and then swiftly separating.
Ten minutes later, the ballot was completed. Above Saint John’s Cathedral, the scroll of white spiritual light which recorded everyone’s names was fluttering like a war banner.
Xu Yangyi didn’t speak, but rather shot a glance at the scroll as he muttered to himself underneath his breath. He solemnly read several names.
Tamamo versus ‘Neptune’s Trident’ Muse of the Sirens.
Savidean VII versus ‘Twisting Dorothy’ Dorothy Videl.
Bloody Moon versus ‘The Faceless One’ Lomandes.
However, all lines were arranged like in a competition. These names formed the outline of a massive tree. Forty-eight names astonished the eye, divided into two major sections at left and right. Ultimately, twenty-four warriors from the overall competition would enter the next round.
He was in the left block, and… if he won, and Savidean VII likewise won, he would meet the other in the top sixteen!
As for Vermilion Snow, she and Bloody Moon were separated into the right block. The two of them could only appear during the finals.
In the sky, the Pope’s spiritual sense suddenly took off. Afterwards, an old voice rang out, “In three days, the Holy War will convene in New York’s arena. Please arrive on time, everyone.”
“Life and death is one’s own responsibility. Vatican City is not in charge of all duties.”
Xu Yangyi and Yue Congrao wordlessly traded a look and saw the resolution in each other’s eyes.
“The Holy Whip, Lawrence Nazoth,” Yue Congrao said lowly. “After you enter the top three, under his eyes, you must have the Spirit Forbiddance Pill break open the Holy Relic’s restriction. I will arrive in a flash, as long as you manage to hold on for three seconds. I will give you a defensive magik treasure. It is a Transference Formation from Chinatown to China. It was already set up ten years ago. For this matter, I have schemed for a century. You need not worry.”
Xu Yangyi didn’t reply.
Everything sounded perfect without fault. But… once he entered the top three, under the watchful gazes of a Core Formation cultivator, two legendary devil-hunters, and Vatican City’s Holy Army, he would have to steal the Holy Relic of Catholicism’s holy land. Merely thinking of this caused his scalp to numb.
“And if Vatican City chases me to China?”
Yue Congrao sneered, “The Ancestral Halls of Daoism. Can the Vatican even overturn a ripple of dogshit?”
1. Character for power (强), or strength.
2. So this nice little poem that Xu Yangyi dishes out is from someone named Wanyan Liang (1122-1161 CE), who was the fourth emperor of the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty. The general idea back then is that the region of Jiangnan was separated into various courts, so Wanyan Liang said this with the idea to unite the region. The intent is an idea of great aspirations. I believe I have explained this line before.
3. The connotation in his words here imply a romantic suggestion.