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AGM 340 - Man in Black
Mo Qingcheng had a formless halo of light surrounding her, emitting a sacred and holy air. As someone who possessed the Seven Apertures Mystical Heart, her perception was highly acute, which enabled her discovery of Qin Wentian’s heart sense probing her.
Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng perceptions had one thing in common—they both projected their senses by using their hearts.
The instant Mo Qingcheng turned her head back, her face appeared clearly in Qin Wentian’s perception. A rush of warmth flooded his heart, with that holy, sacred glow surrounding her presence, she was somehow a shade more beautiful now than compared to her appearance in the past. There was a streak of resilience in her peerless countenance—evidently, she had matured as well.
Mo Qingcheng trembled; this was not the spying of an enemy, but the perception of one exceedingly familiar to her. She couldn’t help but murmur, “Wentian, is that you?”
That gentle voice contained countless traces of longing, and Qin Wentian wanted nothing more than to howl to the heavens, It was him! He had arrived, he was outside the Chen Clan!
“Qingcheng, what’s wrong?”
A silhouette stepped into Mo Qingcheng’s room. It was none other than her master, Luo He. Her brows were furrowed, it was as though Luo He had sensed someone spying on Mo Qingcheng as well. However, the instant she entered the room, Qin Wentian had already retracted his heart sense completely, leaving not a hint remaining.
Suspicions still littered Luo He’s heart, but she could understand what happened as well. In the Chen Clan, where experts were as common as the clouds, it was pretty ordinary for some to be overcome with curiosity. Truthfully, it wasn’t surprising when situations like this occured.
“Master.” Mo Qingcheng couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss when she felt the heart sense of that person disappear.
“Are you imagining things again? With that little bit of strength he possesses, how could his perception be strong enough to infiltrate the Chen Clan? And will he even come to Ginkou?” Luo He faintly remarked. The ‘he’ she was mentioning was naturally referring to Qin Wentian.
“He will be here. I know this for sure,” Mo Qingcheng seriously replied, “Not only that, I can sense it, he’s definitely near me.”
“I don’t know how your brain works. It’s already been quite a few years, why can’t you let go of a past romance? With your current status, do you know how many young, talented elites would kill to be with you?” Luo He helplessly stated.
“No one can replace him.” Mo Qingcheng shook her head. She’d had this conversation with her Master several times already, and everytime, there would be no conclusion.
“Master, do you still remember the promise between us?” Mo Qingcheng’s beautiful eyes gazed at Luo He, solemnity flickered within. This matter was extremely important to her.
“Of course, I do. Back then when you wanted to go out and find him, I stopped you, and even wanted to make him disappear. So we came to a compromise, I won’t make a move against him and you promised not to look for him and would concentrate on your cultivation,” Luo He quietly replied. She didn’t want anyone disrupting Mo Qingcheng’s cultivation.
“No. I promised you that until the end of this year, I wouldn’t meet him. Even if I did, I would treat him like a stranger.” Mo Qingcheng shook her head.
“Are you that confident in him?” Luo He continued, “There isn’t much time left, and with Zhan Chen’s current level of power, he’s strong enough to obtain one of the top three rankings in the Heavenly Fate Rankings. If Qin Wentian can defeat Zhan Chen during the competition for the rankings, I won’t continue to restrict you. But if he fails, you have to obey me and focus on your cultivation.”
“It’s good that Master remembers.” Mo Qingcheng smiled. He would definitely be able to do so, Luo He gave him too much pressure, so Mo Qingcheng could only give in. First, she had to agree in order to ensure that the Pill Emperor Hall wouldn’t make a move against Qin Wentian. Secondly, it was simply that she had the confidence in Qin Wentian.
Even if Qin Wentian was defeated, she would still continue to wait for him, even if it meant waiting an eternity. Only until the day came when Qin Wentian was strong enough to lord over the Pill Emperor Palace, thus taking her away. When that time came, who would be strong enough to stop them?
Her only wish now was for Qin Wentian to remain safe.
Luo He swept her gaze onto that floating cauldron in the middle of the room and momentarily, rage suffused her features. “You, why are you still concocting such a pill?”
“Master, you don’t have to worry about this matter.” Mo Qingcheng lightly shook her head.At this moment, there were sounds of movement from outside the pavilion. Luo He’s silhouette flickered as she moved to the window, casting her sight downwards. “Jing Yu, what’s going on?”
Jing Yu replied, “Master, it seems that the Chen Clan discovered some people spying on them outside their Estate.”
“Mhm?” Luo He frowned. She soared up the skies as she cast her gaze towards the horizon. Momentarily, her gaze froze when it landed in a certain direction outside the Chen Clan.
Outside the Chen Clan,  two groups of people were facing off against each other. Aside from the Chen Clan members, there were two young men on the other side. And one of them, she had already recognised.
The youth back then had undergone such a great degree of transformation. Was that sliver of perception earlier truly from him?
Mo Qingcheng appeared behind Luo He as similarly, she cast her gaze towards the commotion. Her heart pounded violently before entirely stopping for a full second. Over there, she saw someone, a person she had been pining for. Their gazes penetrated through everything and finally met.
In this moment in time, regardless of all that could happen in future, nothing could prevent their hearts from connecting.He finally smiled, a blazing smile as radiant as the sun.
She too, smiled, a smile filled with sweetness, gentleness and warmth.
He had come in search of her.
Time and distance still couldn’t dilute the feelings they had for each other.
Just when Mo Qingcheng was about to fly over, Luo He coldly interjected, “Have you forgotten our agreement?”
As the sound of her voice faded, Mo Qingcheng’s countenance fell as she forcibly stopped herself.
As Qin Wentian took note of Mo Qingcheng’s reaction, an expression of puzzlement flashed through his eyes. What was going on, was there some reason behind her hesitation?
Why did her earlier smile fade away, replaced by a look of worry?
After which Qin Wentian discovered that Luo He and Mo Qingcheng disappeared from his sight. They weren’t heading in his direction—they had vanished completely.
A heavy sense of disappointment threatened to drown Qin Wentian’s heart. But soon after, he recovered and said with a smile, “So long as you are safe, the skies will never be overcast. The day remains as sunny as ever.”
After seeing that sweet smile on Mo Qingcheng’s face, Qin Wentian’s heart was at ease once again. It didn’t matter if they couldn’t meet now, it was enough that she knew he was here for her.
“Ouyang Kuangsheng of the junior generation pays his respect to the elders of the Chen Clan.”
At this moment, Ouyang Kuangsheng opened his mouth and introduced himself in a tone that was neither servile nor overbearing.
The eyes of the Chen Clan elder stiffened as he replied with a smile, “So, it’s Nephew Ouyang. If you were planning on visiting us, why didn’t Nephew let us know earlier, instead of acting suspiciously outside our premises?”
“Although I wanted to enter and state my intentions, I didn’t want to disrupt my good friend here from meeting his old friend, and so I delayed the greetings a little. I apologize if our actions seem suspicious.” Ouyang Kuangsheng smiled.
“Oh, your friend has an old friend that’s currently residing in our Chen Clan?” That middle-aged elder shifted his eyes on to Qin Wentian.
“Not to lie to the esteemed elders, but my friend’s girlfriend goes by the name of Mo Qingcheng, and she’s currently residing in the Chen Clan.” Ouyang Kuangsheng laughed, his directness causing Qin Wentian to be speechless. This buddy of his was truly unafraid of blowing matters up and causing a huge deal of commotion.
Indeed, the expressions of those from the Chen Clan all changed. After which, that middle-aged man casually stated, “If that were true, why didn’t Mo Qingcheng come out here to clarify things? I advise Nephew Ouyang not to make jokes like this.”
“Believe it or not, it doesn’t matter to me. And one more thing, the reason for my visit here today are on the orders of my second uncle to bring a message. Our Ouyang Aristocrat Clan has always held the Great Solar Universe Art of the Chen Clan in the highest esteem. If there’s an opportunity, it would be good for the younger generations to exchange pointers with each other. I wonder, would it be possible?”
Ouyang Kuangsheng brushed matters of the earlier incident totally aside and instantly shifted topics. What did he mean that it was on the orders of his second uncle? It was obviously an idea he came up with himself.
However, since they had already been discovered, Ouyang Kuangsheng naturally needed to think of a reason for their presence there. Although his tone was polite, a trace of a challenge could still be heard within.
“Hehe.” The countenance of that elder changed as he coldly laughed. “Since Brother Ouyang wants to witness the magnificence of our skill, I would have to trouble Nephew Ouyang to help to inform your second uncle of this. I will make the arrangements and send someone to notify him, and during that time, I hope that the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan won’t miss the appointment.”
“Naturally, since I’ve already stated my uncle’s intentions, this junior shall bid farewell then.” Ouyang Kuangsheng bowed as he exchanged glances with Qin Wentian, then the two of them turned and slowly walked away.
Upon seeing the two juniors walking away, those from the Chen Clan couldn’t help but to coldly snort. The Ouyang Clan wanted to witness how powerful their Great Solar Universe Art was? Well then, they’d show them up close how powerful it could be.
They truly wanted to see how many talented cultivators from the junior generations in the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan would measure up to their own talents.
At this moment, a silhouette flew out at lightning speed from the Chen Clan, chasing after the direction in which Ouyang Kuangsheng and Qin Wentian had departed in.
“Zhan Chen?” A strange expression flashed in the eyes of those from the Chen Clan. Why was Zhan Chen pursuing them?
Qin Wentian and Ouyang Kuangsheng soon discovered that someone was heading towards them. As they stopped and turned, Qin Wentian’s eyes involuntarily radiated with coldness when he saw that their pursuer was none other than Zhan Chen.
Currently, Zhan Chen had glints of golden light in his eyes, and his whole person seemed to shine with a faint luster of golden radiance accompanied by a terrifying sharpness.
“Zhan Chen, it seems that you’ve really been cultivating the Gold Element Art left by the Ascendant.” Qin Wentian’s eyes flickered as he studied Zhan Chen. The Zhan Chen right now bore more than a passing resemblance to the golden Puppets Qin Wentian had met before inside that secret realm.
“Since you’re too weak, it was inevitable for that Art to belong to me instead.” Zhan Chen’s eyes shot out terrifying rays of light set to penetrate through Qin Wentian. “Back then you sullied my reputation, deliberately pointing a deer as a horse. You misrepresented the facts and said that I was the killer of my fiancee. If I don’t kill you now, how can I still maintain my prestige? Where would I put my face then?”
As the sound of his voice faded, Zhan Chen advanced forwards step by step. With every step he took, the air became filled with a sensation of terrifying sharpness that bore down on Qin Wentian and Ouyang Kuangsheng.
“Perfection Boundary of the first level of the Mandate of Gold, and Perfection Boundary of the first level of the Mandate of Swords.” Ouyang Kuangsheng’s countenance fell. In the past, Zhan Chen was already ranked #11 on the Heavenly Fate Rankings. Now that he had cultivated an Art left behind by an Ascendant, how much stronger had he became now?
“Let’s leave,” Ouyang Kuangsheng remarked.
Qin Wentian’s eyes flickered as he nodded in agreement. The two of them rapidly soared through the air and retreated at their fastest speed.
The current Zhan Chen exuded a sense of strangeness, as well as a strong feeling of threat.
How could Zhan Chen spare Qin Wentian so easily? He moved like the wind, flying upon a sword, like a streak of golden lightning.
Three silhouettes rapidly flew through the air.
And just when they zoomed past the rooftop of a certain building, a black-robed figure abruptly descended downwards, the force of his landing causing the entire building to tremble violently.
“Huh?” Zhan Chen, Qin Wentian and Ouyang Kuangsheng were all filled with confusion as they noticed the presence of the black-robed figure. This person’s movements were extremely mysterious, and was clad entirely in black. Not only that, the aura that person exuded made all three of them feel an intense, impending sense of doom.
A terrifying current of devil-might swirled around him, with him in the centre, as the surrounding light in that area was absorbed and then transformed into darkness.
Zhan Chen halted as he stared right ahead. The eyes of that figure locked onto him, and they were the eyes of a devil that seemingly came from the Nine Spirits Purgatory. The primal fear they wrought couldn’t be described. Just a single glance was sufficient to make Zhan Chen shiver in fright as he broke out in a cold sweat.
“Devil Arts!” Zhan Chen’s gaze stiffened. This was a forbidden cultivation art. There didn’t seem to be any devil-oriented major powers in Grand Xia, who was this black-robed figure then?!