The Human Emperor
chapter-1567

Chapter 1567: One Step to Heaven!

While Sword Dragon was overcome with shock, Wang Chong continued to pour Stellar Energy into Young Master Qingyang, and even he was feeling somewhat alarmed at this point.

He thought that for Young Master Qingyang to go from the True Martial realm to the Imperial Martial realm would be the absolute limit, but to his surprise, Young Master Qingyang’s body was like a dried-up sponge. It continued to suck up Stellar Energy as if it would never be satisfied.

Even more surprising was that this Stellar Energy rapidly began to circulate through Young Master Qingyang’s body without the slightest delay.

Young Master Qingyang possessed extremely formidable comprehension abilities. Although he couldn’t practice martial arts, he knew them like the back of his hand. He also understood the differences between each realm.

His only restriction was his innately crippled meridians, but after the Blood Reformation, Young Master Qingyang had finally filled in this final flaw. He had been freed of his shackles.

Incredible! It seems like I underestimated his potential!

Wang Chong’s eyes were bright as he sighed in wonder while continuing to transfer energy to Young Master Qingyang.

Even Wang Chong was wondering just where Young Master Qingyang’s limit was.

Middle-tier Imperial Martial realm, high-tier Imperial Martial realm, peak Imperial Martial realm… With yet another tremor, Young Master Qingyang shattered the worldly barrier and reached the realm that many martial artists could only dream about, the Saint Martial realm.

In just this brief moment of time, he had gone from the True Martial realm to the Saint Martial realm. This was something that most martial artists couldn’t imagine even in their wildest dreams, but it was happening with Wang Chong’s help.

Young Master Qingyang’s strength was still rising.

An old man loses his mare, but it all turns out for the best. Young Master Qingyang’s infirmity meant that even though he possessed astonishing talent, he could never become a top-class expert. But this infirmity meant that he probably consumed all kinds of precious herbs since he was a child, and this long-term nourishment has made his meridians surprisingly free and open, Wang Chong quietly said to himself. He had surprisingly encountered no obstacles while transferring energy.

(TN: ‘An old man loses his mare’ refers to a folk story from the Chinese text ‘Huainanzi’. A mare owned by a fortune teller living on the border runs away to the Hu. When everyone else comes to comfort him, he asks “How do you know this isn’t a blessing?” The mare eventually returns with a stallion, but when everyone comes to congratulate him, he replies, “How do you know this isn’t a misfortune?” One day, his son breaks his leg while riding the stallion, and when everyone comes to comfort him, he again asks, “How do you know this isn’t a blessing?” A year later, the Hu invade and all strong and healthy men are conscripted to fight, with many of them dying. But the fortune teller’s son is spared because his leg was broken.)

Wang Chong judged that Young Master Qingyang would reach the initial level of the Saint Martial realm, but in the end, he actually managed to reach the middle tier.

After a long while, Wang Chong finally drew back his energy, the images of the sun and moon vanishing.

“Many thanks, Lord Marquis! Sword Dragon thanks Lord Marquis in Young Master’s place. Sword Dragon will remember this immense kindness for the rest of his life.”

Sword Dragon solemnly kneeled and knocked his head against the ground three times.

“Don’t celebrate just yet. It’s not done yet. Although I gave him energy, the crucial part will depend on his own comprehension. He will have to see if he can digest this Stellar Energy and make it his own,” Wang Chong indifferently said.

His Psychic Energy had constantly been observing Young Master Qingyang’s condition. The martial path was not that easy to traverse. Young Master Qingyang had spent this entire time with his eyes closed and breathing focused as he digested the Stellar Energy Wang Chong had given him.

The air slowly turned tense, but finally, a familiar, if somewhat hoarse, voice came from under the rock.

“Young Master Wang, thank you. I’ve finished digesting all the Stellar Energy you gave me. I sense that my condition is better than it has ever been before. I might have a way to come out.”

A few moments later, boom! A vortex of energy erupted from the ground. The energy forming this vortex was not of a very high grade, but through some strange method, it was able to strike the massive boulder with five to six times the power it should have had.

As the energy vortex slammed into the boulder, it was clearly not trying to raise up the entire thing, only create an opening at its edge.

Even Wang Chong couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in surprise and admiration.

Young Master Qingyang’s level of comprehension and the arts he knew were far greater than he had imagined.

Despite being a True Martial expert who had reached the Saint Martial realm only through outside help, he was able to quickly digest the Stellar Energy and grasp the power of the Saint Martial realm, even using it in such a profound technique. This was not something that could be done simply through Wang Chong’s transfer of energy.

Even many Saint Martial experts would not be able to so proficiently create this kind of energy vortex.

Wang Chong’s eyes flashed as he noted to himself, This comprehension ability is truly astonishing. No wonder the martial arts world says that he knows all martial arts.

Boom!

With a massive boom, the massive boulder finally shifted aside a little.

But Young Master Qingyang was clearly rather exhausted by this effort and was not able to fully raise the rock. Bang! Wang Chong thrust out a palm, grabbing the edge of the rock and exploding with Stellar Energy to hold up the rock.

Bang!

Sword Dragon also reached out with both hands to try and hold up the rock.

Their greatest concern before had been Young Master Qingyang’s feeble body, but since his infirmities were now gone and he had reached the Saint Martial realm, his body was much stronger. This made everything much simpler.

Rumble! Wang Chong reached out with his right hand and fiercely pulled on Young Master Qingyang’s arm, extracting him from beneath the rock.

A moment later, the rock slammed back down, but Young Master Qingyang was already safe.

The Young Master Qingyang who had emerged had disheveled hair and a face covered in blood, but his eyes were bright and energetic, still intoxicated by his ‘heroic feat’.

“Success! I did it! I really managed to use the Thunderstorm Burst!”

Young Master Qingyang’s entire body was shaking in excitement. Thunderstorm Burst was a technique that he had developed on his own, but it had only ever existed in theory. He had been far too weak to ever use such a profound technique, so he had never been able to complete it. But now, with his own hands, he had turned theory into reality. More importantly, this sensation of power was precisely what Young Master Qingyang had spent his entire life longing for.

Young Master Qingyang turned to Wang Chong and said with heartfelt gratitude, “Young Master Wang, thank you! Thank you!”

Wang Chong smiled and said, “Heh, it’s fine as long as you’re out. Let’s save the rest for once we get out.”

Young Master Qingyang’s comprehension abilities truly left one sighing in praise. Starting from nothing, he had rapidly stabilized his foundations and grasped the power appropriate to his cultivation level. He was definitely a one-in-a-million talent, someone with limitless potential.

Once Young Master Qingyang familiarized himself with his newfound power, he would probably reach the Great General level, and this would not even be his limit. The world would soon have another top-class expert.

As these thoughts flitted through his mind, Wang Chong gave Young Master Qingyang a few pills, and then the trio began to make their way to the surface.

Whoosh!

A dim sky and clean air welcomed them. When Wang Chong emerged from the earth into the vast and familiar terrain of the northwest, he felt like he was emerging into a new world.

“So it was already night.”

Young Master Qingyang tidied his clothes as he emerged from the cave. He emotionally sighed as he looked at the surrounding landscape.

They were surrounded by a barren desert. Several large trees towered nearby, few in number but abnormally sturdy and lush. Between these trees and the cave were scattered martial artists, chatting to each other.

This underground excursion had been incredibly dangerous. Many of them felt like seeing the sun again had given them a second chance at life.

All of them counted themselves as fortunate. Now that they had reached the surface, the northwest adventure was over. It was now time to think about what would happen next and how to deal with the aftermath.

Buzz!

But when Wang Chong and Young Master Qingyang emerged, the chattering crowd fell quiet, countless martial artists turning to look at Wang Chong.

At that moment, Wang Chong was the undisputed center of attention.

“Young Master Wang has come up! He’s finally come up!”

A softly whispered comment shattered the silence, and as if this was a signal…

Boom!

The crowd erupted into a thunderous cheer.

“Young Master Wang!”

“Young Master Wang!”

Everyone cheered Wang Chong’s name. From deep beneath the earth to the surface, this noble of the Great Tang had won the heartfelt support and respect of these martial artists through his actions.

The Imperial Court and the martial arts world had always been their own worlds, so it was a rare honor for Wang Chong to be so ardently cheered on by so many martial artists.

Wang Chong was at first dazed, but then he couldn’t help but smile. He had never imagined a scene like this.

“Congratulations to user! For completing the Northwest Expedition, you have been rewarded with 1000 points of Destiny Energy.” The Stone of Destiny’s voice rang out in his ear.

“Kid, I didn’t think that you were still alive.” Another voice rang out. At some point, the Black Yin Ancestor had walked over from the side, the Bone Devil Ancestor and Myriad Ghost Ancestor following behind like shadows.

“What? You still want to fight with me?”

Wang Chong looked at the Black Yin Ancestor and smirked.