Celestial Refining Divine Scripture-Chapter 311 - 309: Ninth Captain

"Silence!"

A cold shout suddenly rang out, imbued with supreme might, making everyone involuntarily shudder.

The chaotic noises vanished without a trace in an instant.

All turned their heads upward in surprised suspicion.

Zheng Xuan still had not appeared, but his voice rang out once more without pause.

"Nine teams, nine captains, each shall wield the Setting Sun Chess Seal, which can be merged into one’s own Divine Techniques, transforming into a unique domain. Within this Realm of the Setting Sun, your strength shall be enhanced."

"The Chess Seal can temper its master’s Spiritual Power, True Essence, and physique. The effects of this tempering will remain, even after you leave the Realm of the Setting Sun! Moreover, through the Chess Seal, you may comprehend the wonders of Heaven and Earth!"

"There are no True Lords within the realm. After choosing the nine captains, the rest of you may choose freely which captain to follow, and fight for Daqian!"

"Clash with the Barbarian Race’s nine teams, seize their Setting Sun Chess Seals, reinforce your own domains—the more Seals you obtain, the stronger the tempering effect!"

The crowd’s expressions underwent violent change, faces full of shock!

Xu Yang, too, was deeply shaken.

To be able to temper Spiritual Power, True Essence, and physique—all extraordinary benefits!

For such an astonishing Realm of the Setting Sun, the effects of tempering could well be imagined!

For top geniuses, this was a tremendous temptation!

Add to that the chance to seize others’ Chess Seals for further tempering—this turned the entire contest into a pinnacle struggle!

After all, Daqian and the Barbarian Race were mortal enemies; and now, with such great advantages, who would not be eager to fight?

There is also the chance to comprehend Heaven and Earth!

For those first entering the Myriad Phenomena Realm, or those yet to break through to it, the benefits are even greater.

At least for Xu Yang, the deeper his comprehension, the more it would aid him in mastering the Tianhuang Divine Firmament.

The appearance of the Realm of the Setting Sun had even given him hope of truly grasping the First Stage before breaking through to the Myriad Phenomena Realm!

When that time comes, his power would multiply!

"Then how are these nine captains chosen?" someone couldn’t help but ask.

At this, Xu Yang narrowed his eyes slightly.

"First Captain, Wuhou Hall’s First Marquis Wu—Huangfu Qing!"

The voice boomed; in the distance, space distorted, and a figure was teleported there out of thin air.

It was Huangfu Qing!

His face still bore traces of bewilderment and suspicion!

"Huangfu Qing!"

Xu Yang’s gaze went cold, forcefully suppressing his killing intent within!

Huangfu Qing also saw Xu Yang; he nearly lost control, overwhelming fury surging in his eyes.

"Xu Yang!"

The crowd now realized that Xu Yang was also here, and all were shocked.

"Xu Yang..."

"I have no objection to Huangfu Qing as captain—he is the First Marquis Wu of Wuhou Hall!"

"But there is also Xu Yang. I fear his strength has grown even more; he’s definitely qualified to be a captain too!"

"And Xu Yang can refine superior-grade pills. If you follow him, does it not mean you stand a chance to obtain such pills?"

At this, the Martial Artists all looked lively, their gazes toward Xu Yang burning with fervor!

Ordinary men would not become captains, nor reap the benefits of the Chess Seal—but acquiring even a few superior-grade pills was a rare stroke of fate!

Xu Yang stared at Huangfu Qing, his tone faint: "What, do you want to settle our life-or-death feud here?"

Huangfu Qing’s face twisted, suppressing endless hatred with effort, gritting his words: "Just you wait—this time I’ll spare your life, for now!"

The Realm of the Setting Sun relates to the struggle between Daqian and the Barbarian Race!

King Beixuan intervened personally, clearly carrying the authority of the court—even the Emperor himself!

However much he hated Xu Yang, he could not act without restraint now!

Even though Xu Yang had fallen out with the prince’s household, Zheng Xuan was still his own father—Huangfu Qing dared not gamble on this!

"Second Captain, Ning Wuyang!"

"Who is Ning Wuyang?"

"You don’t know Ning Wuyang? He’s the West Ling Sword Saint’s personal disciple!"

Swish!

Ning Wuyang appeared from thin air, dazed for a moment, shock flickering across his gaze.

He glanced at Huangfu Qing, grinned, and immediately walked over to Xu Yang’s side.

Seeing Ning Wuyang, Xu Yang couldn’t help but smile; with Ning Wuyang’s strength, there was zero objection to him being captain!

"Congratulations, Mr. Ning!"

"All thanks to that superior-grade pill you gave me!"

Ning Wuyang’s face was all smiles; his cultivation had reached the middle stage of the Myriad Phenomena Realm.

Clearly, he had reaped rewards after his breakthrough!

If not for that superior-grade pill, he could not possibly have reached these heights.

Moreover, it was a complete rebirth—his fighting strength now astonishing!

"You and Huangfu Qing..." Ning Wuyang noticed something amiss. Last time in Central State, Huangfu Qing didn’t seem to have such murderous intent toward Xu Yang!

"Accidentally ruined his plans, killed his aunt!" Xu Yang remarked offhandedly; there was no need to conceal such things!

Ning Wuyang’s mouth twitched at this response!

No wonder!

Killing his aunt was enough, but the plans Xu Yang mentioned were doubtless far from simple!

"Who else do you think will be among the nine captains?" Xu Yang asked.

Truth be told, if he hadn’t just killed Huang Hua and crippled Zheng Qi and Chen Chong, he figured there’d be several from Wuhou Hall among the nine captains!

The top geniuses from Daqian he knew were mostly from the Northern Territory, Qingzhou, and Wuhou Hall.

Across Daqian’s seven provinces and three territories, even if Wuhou Hall had pulled many in, it still ought not be limited to just these!

Ning Wuyang squinted up at the empty sky, pondering: "I reckon Zhou Tai, Yang Ziye, Fang Jianchen, and Yie Vajra will likely be among them!"

"Are these the top geniuses from other provinces?"

Hearing so many unfamiliar names startled Xu Yang quite a bit.

If Ning Wuyang remembered them, that meant none were nobodies!

They likely possessed the strength of titled Marquis Wu from Wuhou Hall as well.

"Precisely!"

"Third Captain, Yie Vajra!"

"Fourth Captain, Zhou Tai!"

"Fifth Captain, Yang Ziye!"

"Sixth Captain, Fang Jianchen!"

Xu Yang subconsciously glanced at Ning Wuyang—not expecting he’d guessed them all right.

All four were among them!

Ning Wuyang looked at Xu Yang with a gentle smile: "Zhou Tai, Yang Ziye, and Fang Jianchen are the top geniuses from Yuanzhou, Xiling, and Youzhou respectively, hailing from noble families and sects."

"Yie Vajra, however, comes from the military ranks!"

At this moment, several figures appeared here as mysterious light flashed; though confused for a breath, each regained composure, their expressions solemn, excited, wary as they sized each other up...

The most striking was the girl in purple and the burly young man—the purple-robed girl instantly reminded one of Yang Ziye!

That purple attire was like her trademark!

The burly youth, the strongest among them, was tall and imposing—enough to make one mistake him for a Barbarian at a glance.

With mid-Myriad Phenomena Realm cultivation, his whole body radiated evil qi; his tiger-like gaze swept the area, striking fear into hearts!

"He is the strongest of the four!" Xu Yang regarded the burly man deeply—his background obvious. Only a military genius could possess such a presence.

Yie Vajra!

Seeming to sense Xu Yang’s gaze, Yie Vajra suddenly looked over, surprise flashing in his eyes before grinning — a smile both fierce and unsettling.

Xu Yang’s expression didn’t change. He returned a calm smile and quietly looked away!

Seeing this, Yie Vajra couldn’t help arching an eyebrow: "Who’s this guy? Just at Yang Realm Perfection, yet I sense something unusual about him."

At this time, Yang Ziye’s gaze flicked over—when she saw Ning Wuyang, her eyes sparkled and she approached quickly with a smile.

"Mr. Ning."

She did appear to be an unusually gentle-natured woman!

But this was only Xu Yang’s impression for a moment; to reach the peak among geniuses, how could she be simple?

"Why do I feel that Yang Ziye seems to be looking at Mr. Ning with a strange expression?" Xu Yang’s eyes glimmered, glancing at the seemingly unfazed Ning Wuyang, suspecting he was overthinking things.

Sweeping his gaze around, he saw that besides Yie Vajra, even Zhou Tai was at the middle stage of the Myriad Phenomena Realm!

While Yang Ziye and Fang Jianchen were at the early stage!

Ning Wuyang nodded slightly to Yang Ziye and introduced, "Ziye is from Xiling. I once visited with my master."

Xu Yang nodded ever so slightly — a greeting of sorts.

Yang Ziye scrutinized Xu Yang, words on the tip of her tongue, as if she suspected something but was unsure.

She was just about to speak when Zheng Xuan’s voice once again rang out from above, leaving the crowd no chance for further conversation.

"Seventh Captain, Men Xiaorou!"

"Eighth Captain, Qin Long!"

As the words fell, they halted abruptly!

Everyone looked astonished, trading glances—and then looked straight at Xu Yang.

"Just Xu Yang remains!"

"With Xu Yang’s strength and achievements, there’s no way the last captain isn’t him!"

"Will he be the ninth captain?"

"I have a feeling he won’t be chosen... He’s completely fallen out with the prince’s household and killed the Fourth Lady and Sixth Young Master. Will King Beixuan possibly let him off so lightly?"

...

Meanwhile, the just-appeared Men Xiaorou and Qin Long were completely overlooked.

"Is he the legendary Xu Yang?" Yie Vajra’s pupils shrank, interest flickering in his eyes. "Set aside his heaven-defying alchemy skill, rumor has it he’s formidable in martial arts too. They say even at Yang Realm Perfection, he fights like one at the Myriad Phenomena Realm... Is it true?"

While speaking, Yie Vajra licked his lips, clearly eager to battle Xu Yang right away!

"So it’s really just Yang Realm—this could be interesting, definitely not a simple character," Fang Jianchen chuckled playfully, glancing toward Zhou Tai beside him, as if they knew each other. He said lightly, "What do you think?"

Zhou Tai sneered, "King Beixuan is his father—even if they’ve fallen out, if he really is as strong as the rumors claim, why isn’t he chosen yet?"

"This concerns Daqian and the Barbarians’ first head-on clash!"

"He’s overrated!"

At this, Fang Jianchen nodded in partial agreement, but did not completely doubt Xu Yang’s ability!

As the saying goes—no one gains such fame without substance!

To refine superior-grade pills, with so much rumor, no matter the exaggeration, he could not possibly be weak!

"Xu Yang, only one captain left! If you’re not chosen, I’d be rather disappointed!" Huangfu Qing could not contain himself, a twisted grin on his face.

If Xu Yang really weren’t chosen—that would be quite the spectacle.

In truth, Huangfu Qing believed Xu Yang was stronger than most of the chosen captains already!

Indeed, he actually didn’t want to see Xu Yang excluded!

Otherwise, wouldn’t it all be too dull?

Among everyone present, only Ning Wuyang and Xu Yang were worthy of his attention!

Armed with the Asura Blood Book, he possessed boundless confidence in himself!

When Huangfu Qing finished, everyone watched Xu Yang with strange, almost playful looks, as if waiting to see his reaction.