Chapter 26: Intended Design

A light cracked over the edge of the horizon, illuminating the slumbering night. Dawn was rapidly arriving.

Inside Huang Xue’s residence, a phenomenon was currently taking place. There were several thick billows of red mist swirling around Huang Xue’s body at the moment. The entire room was practically shrouded in this strange mist.

If one were to look closely, one would see that faint strands of red gas were slowly being emitted from Huang Xue’s faintly glowing body at a constant stream.

After a few moment, the red mists was now so thick, that even Huang Xue’s figure could be barely seen. At this instant, the red mists began to tremble visibly before they started to rapidly congeal together!

While the red mists in the air began to dwindle down, two blurry red forms were quickly forming in the center of the room. In a few moments, the two clouds of mist took on the form of a human. Vague features and clothes were now becoming visible as well.

Soon, the two blood crimson human finally completed their transformation as they landed lightly on the floor, facing Huang Xue. A powerful aura emanated from the two persons. And Huang Xue likewise opened his eyes as his gaze fell upon two…of himself!

With a slim physique and handsome features, the two clones looked identical to Huang Xue in every way. Even his black dragon robe, which he had just changed into a few hours ago, was the same. However, one had a hair full of white while the other’s hair was pure black.

In order to increase his efficiency in searching for his destined disciples, Huang Xue did not hesitate to split his soul into three; producing two true clones of himself as a result. This was his decision long before he came to the Lower Regions.

With his true body here to deal with his life at the Six Ocean Sect, Huang Xue had planned to send his other two clones to secretly observe and gather information for him. After all, Huang Xue had not permit anyone from his Godly Supreme Hall to accompany him. This was his own problem, and he feared that having more ‘variables’ come along with him might ruin his chance to meet his potential future disciples.

By severing his soul into three links, Huang Xue naturally had to incur a great cost for this. Within his body now, his cultivation had vastly dropped from the almighty Immortal Sovereign realm...all the way down to the Jie Hai realm!

On the other hand, of Huang Xue’s two clones, the white haired one was at the peak Divine Zhu realm, while the black haired clone gave off an aura similar to those who are at the peak of...Saint Overlord!

Given the profound depth of power a peak Immortal Sovereign practitioner like Huang Xue possessed, having his clones be at the late stage of the Saint Overlord and Divine Zhu realm was not unusual.

After all, not even a ten normal peak-staged Saint Overlords would be able to overthrow a single early-staged Immortal Sovereign. This was the absolute gap of power between these two realms.

Even though the two clones’ cultivation may seemed a bit “low” given that Huang Xue had a peak Immortal Sovereign cultivation; the two were absolutely not simple. If needed, it was even possible for them to battle against those above their stages!

When Huang Xue was dividing up his soul, he had given most of his power to his two clones. He was determined to make his clones as his personal eyes and legs behind the scene. With the methods he held, he was not worried anyone in the Sect would be able to discover his clones, even if they were within the same realm! Coupled with the lack of fear in a sect like the Six Ocean, Huang Xue felt at ease transferring a greater extent of his strength away.

However, he was not foolish enough to completely give up his strength.

His true body’s current aura that he emanated was that at the pinnacle of the Jie Hai realm, seemingly ready to break through any moment!

Although Huang Xue wanted to fit in with the disciples at the Six Ocean Sect, it was merely to the extent that he fits in as the ‘younger generation’. Ability, he still needed to stand out in order to attract his destined ones to him!

Moreover, having a bit of strength with him will greatly reduce the chance of something going wrong. If he was killed by another cultivator now that his cultivation had permanently dropped, Huang Xue would not receive any Karmic punishment. However, for someone who once stood at a lofty position...to die at the hands of a low-leveled practitioner due to his carelessness would truly make him feel ashamed, and may even affect his psyche when he returned back to the Jade Heaven Land! So even without his high cultivation, Huang Xue was determined to stay alive until a true opponent revealed him/herself in this kind of land..

Looking at his clones, Huang Xue gave a slight nod before the two turned and flew out of a nearby window, transforming into twin streaks of golden light.

When his clones left, Huang Xue took in a light breath as he once again suppressed his cultivation back down to the 7th stage Jie Hai realm. Now that his soul was split up, Huang Xue’s cultivation now was at best at the peak of Jie Hai realm. If he wanted to wield more power, he would now either have to merge together with his clones, or to practice and ascend his cultivation like other cultivators!

However, unless his current true body could attain the Immortal Sovereign Realm again, even if he merged back with his two clones, his overall strength would not increase by much. At most, his foundation would be more stable; at worst, nothing happens.

Because he knew his strength would not greatly increase if he does the spirit severing, Huang Xue was willing to lower his cultivation and train his current strength up again. As long as he, or his clones, does not break into the Immortal Sovereign Realm, Huang Xue had no worry that his strength would greatly increase.

Outside, the morning birds had begun to chirp and the Shen mansion began to stir with waking noises.

With Huang Xue’s precise control of Qi and methods, even without a concealment formation, Huang Xue was able to produce his two clones without leaking a bit of profound energy. No one in the entire Clan sensed the changes that were going on inside Huang Xue’s room, and given his current status in the Shen Clan, none would dare pry into it either.

Huang Xue rose from his bed as he went to change his clothes. In a few fluid motions, he smoothly donned on a silky white robe. Hanging from a strap on the robe, was a jade pendant, where a faint image of a dragon was carved on its front. At the back of the pendant were the following inscribed character: ‘慎’ (shen).

Just as Huang Xue was about to leave, he paused near the doorway. Turning around again and walking up to a table, he lifted his right hand. His blue-colored cosmic ring gleamed for a split second, before three gold cosmic bags and four gold rings appeared on the table.

“Keeping too much wealth in one place is not too good...it’d be safer to separate them for now.” Huang Xue thought as he took out two brown bags. He threw the all the cosmic bags into the first brown bag, while the rings were kept inside the second brown cosmic bag.

He then placed one cosmic bag under the robe around his chest area and the other, inside his left sleeves. Feeling a bit more assured, Huang Xue turned to leave his room.

While the goods inside those cosmic storages no longer held a definite allure to Huang Xue anymore, he still disliked the feeling of losing something that was his. Although the chance of such scenario occurring was low, he continued to remain cautious.

Upon leaving his room and entering the Shen Clan’s guest hall, Huang Xue was greeted by both the Shen patriarch and ancestor.

“Supreme ancestor, I have prepared a carriage for your travel to the Six Ocean Sect this time. Since it would attract too much attention to your excellency if this little old one went, my son will take charge to safely escort you there.” Shen Yin Tian said respectfully, as he gave his son a glance.

As if on cue, Shen Lin immediately came forward and saluted towards Huang Xue. “Supreme ancestor, please be at ease! This little one will be sure to escort you to the Six Ocean Sect on time. I have already notified my two descendants who are current disciples there about you. They are Shen Cai and Shen Han; both are my sons. I hope great ancestor would help look out for them when you’re at the Sect,,,”

“Lin’er! What are you saying? ” Shen Yin Tian instantly snapped at his son when he heard the latter’s words. “How dare you ask the supreme ancestor on your own accord?! Do you not know…!”

But before he finished speaking, Huang Xue slightly raised his hand to stop him before he smiled at Shen Lin. “Haha, it’s fine, it’s fine. While I am unable to guarantee their life in this chaotic world, I will take note of your sons. Compared to your Shen Clan’s loyalty, this little favor is neglectable.”

Shen Yin Tian quickly clasped his hands and bowed to Huang Xue. “W-we are unworthy of these words, honored ancestor!”

Shen Lin likewise gave another respectful salute as well. In his eyes, the respect and revere he felt towards Huang Xue had shot up a few more notches. Originally, he had only wanted to take a shot at seeing if this great ancestor could watch over his sons at the Six Ocean Sect. Knowing the danger and fierce competition at great sects, Shen Lin, as a father, was naturally deeply worried for his sons. They have been away for nearly two years now, and while they’re alive, whether they were doing well or not, he had no way of knowing.

Never did he expect that the ancestor would agree so amicable, the other party did not exude the typical arrogance of someone at the very top. From just this, Shen Lin was finally able to understand a bit more about the profoundness of this person whom his father worshipped…

“Alright, let us depart now. If I ever need anything, I will contact your Shen Clan.” Huang Xue turned and began walk towards the mansion exit. Shen Lin hurriedly followed and led the way, while the Shen ancestor gave a deep bow.

Out in front of the mansion, there was a white carriage in wait. Embroidered with golden outlines and exquisite gems, the carriage gave off a majestic aura. When Huang Xue saw this carriage, his eyes slightly lit up.

“Oh-hoh...that is Earth-grade utility type treasure; something like this should be extremely expensive here. Seems like this Shen Clan is pretty wealthy as well.” Huang Xue thought as he got on the carriage without a word.

There were various types of treasure in this world, ranging from defense, attack, utility, trap, and many more. Though their grade level is almost always taken into consideration first before anything else.

Once Huang Xue and Shen Lin boarded the carriage, the latter rotated the energy inside his dantian and powered it into the treasure. At once, the white carriage began to glow with a faint green hue.

“Go!” Shen Lin tapped the side of his seat, before the carriage roared to life as it sped off into the distance. The speed was several times faster than that of a normal carriage.

With the Yu Province bordering directly north of the Bai Province, Huang Xue was able to quickly reach the the area. However, since the Six Ocean Sect was not affiliated with the Long Dynasty, its examination was taking place at a remote mountain range located two hundred miles away from the outermost city. In other word, the examination was held within the Six Ocean Sect’s headquarters!

Thus, without pausing, the white magical carriage continued to speed across the land towards a towering mountain range that could already be seen in the distance...