A Martial Odyssey - Chapter 223

When the circles of warping light and faint hexagrams had disappeared, the group found themselves in a great wilderness surrounded by lofty pristine mountains!

Yi Ping was momentarily blinded by the sudden bright light of this place but he quickly recovered his orientation to ask, “Is everyone here? Who is missing? Where are we?”

Everyone was looking at each other and was checking their numbers breathlessly!

After making a quick check, Yi Ping was relieved that everyone that he called out to Lele with a helpless expression. “Lele, why didn’t you warn us…”

Lele wiped the beads of sweat that were on her forehead as she exclaimed rather indignantly, “Aren’t we make it out of there alive? It is all thanks to me…”

She proceeded to tug Xian’Er and Lie Qing, “My sisters, why aren’t you defending me?”

Lie Qing gave a faint smile as she narrowed her enchanting eyes, “I think that you have a lot of explanations to do with the rest. I am not affected by your Celestial Force so I am not bothered. But I can’t say for the rest of the group.”

It was well known that her Invincible Divine Force counteract the Celestial Force!

Xian’Er said gently, “Lele, you shouldn’t have done that without asking.”

Lele was beginning to see that everyone was giving her a hateful look!

Even Yi Ping was annoyed as he looked for Lele for an explanation!

With a twitching expression, Yi Ping stared at Lele to ask. “Did you just steal the martial powers from some of us?”

The Celestial Force was indeed capable of absorbing the martial power from the practitioners, especially now that Lele had attained to an even higher level, the Sovereign Celestial Force!

Against so many highly attained practitioners, it was impossible for her to do so. But she had done so under the guise of activating a transmigrating celestial formation and had caught everyone unaware!

Even the Jade Emperor was muttering, “I can’t believe that she will even steal my martial power…”

The Universal Old Man was muttering, “I don’t believe, I don’t believe…”

Lele protested almost immediately, “There are so many of you. If I don’t borrow some of your martial strength then I don’t have the celestial strength to get all of us out!”

The Western Paradise Heavenly King roared with laughter, “Never mind that! It is not a great loss anyway. It is just a little bit. It is a small price to pay for our escapade.”

Yi Ping quickly bowed his hands respectfully to the Western Paradise Heavenly King to show his appreciation.

The Formosa Heavenly King, the Avant-garde Heavenly King, the Nirvana Heavenly Queen and the Heavenly Pagoda King nodded at the same time.

The Ancient Heavenly Sage King looked at the Sacred Embodied Heavenly Goddess before he said, “It is quite insignificant actually. I am just surprised that she is able to absorb all the different types of martial powers as her own. The Sovereign Celestial Force is really something.”

Everyone was also saying, “Forget about it. She did get us out of there. It is not a great loss. We will regain our martial power after future cultivation. It doesn’t really affect our attainment.”

Yi Ping heaved a soft sigh. It may be true that their loss was quite insignificant and no more than one tenth. The higher their attainment, it was even less.

But he was unhappy with this dishonorable act. But the group seemed to be willing to let it go so he said sternly to Lele, “Don’t ever do that again!”

Lele clapped her hands jovially as she exclaimed delightfully, “I won’t!”

The Celestial Liege who was her brother was highly displeased, “Lele, we need to have a talk in private…”

But Lele seemed not to pay him any heed as she went on to cuddle Xiao Ping as she sobbed pitifully, “Woah! Xiao Ping, you have grown so big now. All my family is blaming me but I am actually the one that got everyone out of such a precarious situation. How precarious, they should ask their heart. Instead of being grateful to me, they gave me all these unappreciative looks!…”

Yi Si muttered, “Mother, not me…”

Lele appeared to weep pitifully although there were hardly any tears, “Do you know, do you know that I have placed my very own life in mortal danger by trying to amalgamate all the foreign vital energies?”

She continued to sigh softly as she patted the forehead of the Divine Golden Kirin, “Only you are willing to listen to me! I am so pitiful!”

Lie Qing raised her eyebrows as she smiled weakly. She really did not know whether she should laugh or cry. It was obvious to her that Lele was only playacting in front of everyone. She may be able to fool everyone except for her.

It was because in terms of playacting skills, Lele was still a far cry from her!

But ever since Lie Qing had come to know Yi Ping, she had really turned over a new leaf. She used to make sports of everyone but what did she receive in return? Distrusts, betrayals and she had no real friends that she could put her faith in till she had known Yi Ping!

She could be the most mesmerizing enchantress in an instant if she wanted to and sow further discords but…

She looked at the quiet demeanor of her sister, Xian’Er. She was Yi Ping’s unofficial first wife but she was always ever so gracious and did not vie for Yi Ping’s attention. When she married Yi Ping, that was because she was grateful to him but she had almost regret immediately as she thought it was at a spur of a moment. That was why she feigned her own death and decided to betrothed Yu’Er and Mei’Er to Yi Ping.

She wondered what was Xian’Er thinking now?

But Xian’Er had already turned away to watch over the surroundings keenly for everyone.

She sighed in her heart, “That is our Xian’Er, always putting the group interest over her own self. Right now, I am still learning that from her.”

The Martial Sage had also noticed that Xian’Er was not interested in the outcome of this dispute. He wanted to approach her but he really lacked the courage for Xian’Er was being surrounded by so many maidens. It was hard to approach her on his own to even talk to her!

It was not to say that he still have lofty thoughts on her but Xian’Er was his only friend and one that he could never forgot in all these years.

Yi Ping patted Lele on her shoulder, “Lele, you know. I am thinking that Xiao Ping can’t really understand you or even talk back to you.”

Lele flashed Yi Ping a look as she stomped lightly, “Of course he can! He is a divine beast!..”

Yi Ping smiled weakly, “He can’t…”

Lele retorted, “He can!”

Alice said all of a sudden, “Xiao Ping come over here!”

And Xiao Ping was next to Alice in the next instant!

Alice winked at Yi Ping as she gave Xiao Ping a gentle pat, “See! He is able to understand!”

Lele nodded eagerly, “Look! Look!”

Yi Ping smiled weakly as he rubbed his nose, “Alice, why are you on her side?”

The Universal Old Man, the Lord Supreme and the Immortal Saint of Swords were all smiling as they looked at each other with the same thought, “Yi Ping is actually so lucky to have Alice and Lele…”

Alice smiled gently, “Because I like. She is not wrong. So why shouldn’t I be?”

Lele nodded as she clapped her hands delightfully as though she had found a new friend!

Yi Ping took a quick look at the rest of the group. After noting that there seemed to be no resentment against Lele, he said. “Alright then. We shouldn’t dwell on this anymore. Let’s us be on our way. We all know that Lele has indeed helped us out and she is only forced to steal our martial power because she lacks the celestial strength to bring everyone out at the same time.”

He looked at everyone to ask again, “I hope that everyone understands this.”

Everyone was nodded, there was no resentment from anyone!

Lingfeng moved her lips to say something. But only Yi Ping, Lele, Alice, Xian’Er and Nuwa were able to hear her secret whisper, “Good! Let’s us go now. Lele is really so smart. She knows that others may be feeling a little resentful but she has now totally dispersed the doubts that are in their hearts. I think I am the smartest but somehow Lele seems to have already thought out many steps ahead.”

Lele whispered back immediately, “Um no! I didn’t! I am really upset!”

Nuwa whispered back, “Now this is really interesting. So your name is Lele? I keep forgetting your name. But I will surely remember yours. You look like you are an interesting opponent and one that is worthy of my attention.”

Lingfeng remarked sarcastically, “So you mean Alice and I are not worthy to be your opponent?”

Nuwa whispered with a haughty tone, “She is the Alma of the Great God Pangu. And what are you?”

Lingfeng answered her coolly, “I am the Alma of the Great Goddess Fantian and I am also one of Yi Ping’s official wives! That makes me one notch higher than you!”

Alice had also whispered back and her tone was icy, “Great Desolate Goddess Nuwa! I, Celestial Alice of the Goddess Theocracy never forgive a slight. If you still see us as one body then you need to get along with everyone first!”

Xian’Er said quietly, “Lady Nuwa, this isn’t the time for strife. We should all get along well with one another.”

Nuwa hummed coldly but did not say anything more.

Yi Ping was thinking to himself and was not paying attention to them, “Lele has always been wiser than she appears to be. It is good that she is able to protect herself but sometimes I feel that she should loosen up a little and share her fears with me…”

All of a sudden the Western Paradise Heavenly King laughed aloud, “So where should we go now?”

At that everyone seemed to be spirited!

Yi Ping said, “We need a little rest first. Lele, do you know if we are at the Life or Death Gate? Are you able to tell?”

Lele looked at little startled as she narrowed her beautiful eyes to say, “I…don’t know. I just visualize on where the Feather Shard is and focus on bringing us to the 90th floor. Where we are exactly now, I do not know.”

Yi Ping was looking at the serene mountain sides and the lofty passing clouds, “This won’t be easy at all.”

Isa asked him with a smile, “What is wrong? Once we have regained our strength, there is nothing to be feared. After all, most of us here are the best of our generation!”

Xiang gave Yi Ping an enchanting nod, “I have to agree as well.”

Yi Ping said, “The most dangerous thing to do is overtly too competency of ourselves. By now, you have witnessed how unpredictable the trials of the Stellar Sanctuary are. The more numerous we are, the trials will adjust by itself to catch the unaware. Therefore we must always be on our guard.”

Lingfeng said quietly, “Yi Ping is the Great God Pangu incarnate and he must have his insight to be wary…”

She quickly smiled at the rest of the Heavenly Kings, “Oh well, if you believe that of course.”

Youxue interrupted, “Surely Yi Ping isn’t thinking of sending some of us out of the Stellar Sanctuary? I will protest even if I am not the one who is being sent out.”

Han Lin immediately said hurtfully, “That..is right…”

Aiel was also protesting, “Same…here!”

Han Lin and Aiel knew that they were weaker than the majority here and if anyone were to be sent away then it must be them!

Yi Ping quickly said, “No, we will all remain as a group.”

Immediately, almost everyone began to calm down!

The Sacred Embodied Heavenly Goddess smiled, “Oh good. I don’t know how to reach the 100th floor if Yi Ping and Lele decide to abandon us on their own.”

The Ancient Heavenly Sage King sighed softly, “You shouldn’t entertain the lofty dreams of getting the Essential Righteous Energy. That right belongs to the Great Goddess Fantian…”

Then he smiled when he looked at Yi Ping as he bowed with his hands, “Or to you. I like to believe that you are the incarnate of the Great God Pangu but I dare not make any hasty judgements now. I hope that you understand.”

The Nirvana Heavenly Queen was blunter, “We are not doubting you but the Great God Pangu was said to have exhausted his last when he completed the creation of the Three Realms, dissipated into the Great Void, along with his soul and spirit.”

She took a look at Xian’Er, “Even if the Great Goddess Fantian says so, we still need some time to accept it. You are strong. Maybe you are the new inheritor of the Great God Pangu. So take us to the last floor and let us witness you taking the mantle of the Great God Pangu. Then we will surely be convinced.”

She had said it in a nice and sweet manner but it was actually a subtle challenge!

But Yi Ping did not seem to mind and he simply smiled.

The Western Paradise Heavenly King said of a sudden, “I think all the Heavenly Kings and the Jade Emperor should have a little talk.”

The Jade Emperor stroked his long white beard, “It is time that we should have a talk.”

The Western Paradise Heavenly King turned to look at Lele, “And that includes you, the Joyful Goddess.”

Lele hummed, “The Great Joyful Goddess!”

She quickly added, “Well, that is my new title!”

The Western Paradise Heavenly King laughed aloud, “My Great Joyful Goddess, I think that the Great Joyful Empress Goddess suits you much better!”

Lele gave him a beaming smile, “You are right. Therefore I proclaim now that my new celestial title will be the Great Joyful Empress Goddess!”

Lie Qing giggled softly as she clapped for her, “Such exalted title, such exalted title. It is so befitting for you!”

She was the only one that actually clapped for Lele while the others looked on, feeling more amused than moved by Lele’s new title.

Lele laughed softly, “Well, if Sister Qing’Er thinks so, then it must be so! I wonder what Sister Xian’Er and Yi Ping think about it?”

Yi Ping muttered softly, “Very good…”

All of a sudden, the Great Khan Heavenly King stirred from his unconsciousness as he coughed out weakly, “Where am I? I am still alive?”

As he opened his eyes and was dazzled by the bright light, he was stunned to see so many eyes looking at him at the same time!

He tried to muster his strength but before he could do so, the Avant-garde Heavenly King and the Formosa Heavenly King had flashed to him to hold him down while the Heavenly Pagoda King was saying to him, “I will advise you to consider your current situation carefully and to join us.”

The Great Khan Heavenly King appeared to be stunned and he was even more baffled when he found out his intricate energies were in disarray!

Lele giggled to herself and it was also evidenced on her countenance, “Because you are unconscious so I have taken more from you. Serves you right!”

There was a limit on how much she could steal and it was no more than thirty percent from even an unconscious person. But for this Great Khan Heavenly King, she pushed herself to the limits to steal a fifth of his martial power.

But then she really had no other choice. Only the Great Khan Heavenly King’s martial power was the easiest to steal as he was knocked out cold. Without the martial powers from everyone, she was surely unable to get everyone out of the Pangu Monument!

Yi Ping extended a hand to the Great Khan Heavenly King, saying gently to him. “The fight is over. You are free to join us or leave on your own. If you want to leave, we won’t stop you at all.”

When the Great Khan Heavenly King saw Yi Ping, he immediately turned ashen!

He immediately stammered out panicky, “I will join, I will join. I dare not leave…”

He had completely misunderstood Yi Ping’s intentions and thought that Yi Ping was subtly giving him a test of his loyalty!

That was because earlier he had been overwhelmed out by Yi Ping’s martial prowess that at the sight of him again, he had completely freaked out!