After leaving the Hundred Beast Mountain Range, Xiang Shaoyun's group headed toward Wu Town. Wu Town's Martial Hall Palace was a place he had once cultivated at, and because of that, it occupied a special place in his heart.
Unfortunately, the entire Martial Hall Palace had been destroyed because of him, filling his heart with guilt. Since Elder Zhen Peng had returned to rebuild the Martial Hall Palace, it was only proper that he return and take a look.
When they arrived at Wu Town, they found that there were very few people around, the entire town looking desolate and bleak because a large number of its residents had moved away. Very few people had been willing to stay.
Only a small number of people consisting of those incapable of leaving or couldn't bear parting with their hometown had stayed. Why had so many people abandoned their homes? It was because of Xiang Shaoyun.
When Linggu Haonan's group was hunting for Xiang Shaoyun, they had held nothing back and had decimated both the Wu Clan and Martial Hall Palace in the process. The people of the town were greatly frightened. Thus, they started leaving en masse. They didn't even need anyone to tell them to leave.
Xiang Shaoyun could guess all that without needing anyone to tell him.
He gripped his fists tightly and said, "Just you wait, traitors. The day this young master returns will be the day all of you regret everything you have done."
He calmed his emotions and went to Martial Hall Palace's previous site. There, he found that the signs of destruction were still clearly visible, with only a few dilapidated buildings standing around in a lonesome manner. Among them was a newly built wooden building with a stone tablet in front of it. On the tablet, the words "Martial Hall Palace" were carved. Xiang Shaoyun was able to see that they were newly carved, and seeing the sight before him caused him to feel even more guilt.
"Sorry, young master," Devouring Ghost apologized gloomily.
This random apology was not something Devouring Ghost himself had intended. Rather, he had only done so after seeing Xiang Shaoyun so sad. After devouring Linggu Haonan's soul, he had also inherited the memory of all that had happened here. Otherwise, with his vicious character, he would not care about the destruction of a tiny organization at a place like this.
Xiang Shaoyun waved his hand. "This has nothing to do with you. Let's go."
He could sense that Elder Zhen Peng was in the wooden building, but he did not intend to disturb his peace. Elder Zhen Peng did not feel like seeing him, and there was really nothing he could do to make things better anyway. He could only etch the hatred into his heart and focus on avenging the dead in the future.
Xiang Shaoyun, Devouring Ghost, and Du Xuanhao all hopped onto Jin Wo's back. They then flew toward a certain direction.
Cruising through the air with the wind blasting against his face, Xiang Shaoyun stared at all the passing clouds as he thought, Now that I am already a third-stage Skysoar Realm, it will take some time for me to reach the fourth stage. My only avenue of immediate improvement is through my combat prowess. That will be my focus for now.
The strongest battle technique he had right now was the Nine Overlord Skyslaying Saber Technique, followed by the Seven Scorching Sun Claws, Lightning Bolt Fist, Gold Helix Fist, Star Destroying Finger, and so on. Of these techniques, the Gold Helix Fist and Star Destroying Finger were mere tier-3 techniques. They were no longer good enough for him, and it was time he learned new techniques.
For a cultivator, apart from cultivation level, battle techniques and weapons were the most important factors to improve one's combat prowess. Xiang Shaoyun searched his brain for the tier-4 and tier-5 battle techniques he had and finally stopped at a technique called the Six Goldplates Manual.
The Six Goldplates Manual was a tier-5 defensive battle technique, a true emperor-grade technique. In any form of combat, offense and defense were crucial. With offense, one could eliminate one's opponent, and with defense, one could reduce the harm one might suffer. In other words, one's overall strength relied not only on offense but also defense.
Xiang Shaoyun already had formidable offensive techniques and was rather lacking in defensive techniques. Thus, he planned to practice the Six Goldplates Manual to increase his defensive prowess.
There were six levels in the Six Goldplate Manual. One could form a layer of golden barrier during the first level, two layers during the second level, and so on. The six levels could also be grouped into three stages, with the first stage being known as the Iron Wall, the second stage known as the Copper Wall, and the third stage known as the Goldplate.
The Iron Wall stage was where one formed a defensive barrier the shape of a wall that was as solid as a mountain, and it was nearly impenetrable to regular king weapons. The Copper Wall stage was where one transformed iron into copper, forming a copper wall that could defend against top-tier king weapons, or even regular emperor weapons.
The Goldplate stage was a transformation of shape where the defensive barrier turned into a layer of scales that protected a cultivator internally and externally, providing a defense even high-tier emperor weapons could barely penetrate.
The Six Goldplate Manual was a powerful tier-5 battle technique, and with Xiang Shaoyun's current strength, he could finally cultivate it. Of course, to cultivate it to perfection, he would have to first enter the Emperor Realm, and he could currently only complete the first stage at most.
The mantra of the Six Goldplate Manual surfaced in his mind as he went through it again and again, familiarizing himself with it.
One ought to admit that the Nether Soul Domain had granted Xiang Shaoyun a freakish memory, allowing him to remember clearly all the cultivation methods and battle techniques he had read before.
The moment he reached the decision to cultivate the technique, he started his cultivation without delay. He circulated his energy in accordance to the mantra, drawing the vicious gold energy from his second star. The energy coursed through his meridians while his acupoints pulsed and pushed the energy to the surface of his skin, covering his body with a faint layer of gold radiance.
Jin Wo felt extremely comfortable when he sensed the familiar vicious gold aura, and his sense of intimacy toward Xiang Shaoyun grew as a result. Both Xiang Shaoyun's vicious gold energy and Jin Wo's power had originated from the Golden River Valley. It was only natural that the two resonated with each other.
Devouring Ghost also sensed Xiang Shaoyun's aura, and he praised inwardly, The young master wastes no time in cultivating. This is a praiseworthy mindset to have.
In the blink of an eye, two days passed.
Jin Wo was still flying as he carried the others in the direction Devouring Ghost pointed. As for Xiang Shaoyun, he seemed to have turned into a piece of rock. He ignored everything around him, completely focused on cultivating the Six Goldplate Manual. Today, the gold radiance covering his body was much brighter than before, as if his skin itself had changed color. He was currently quite a wondrous sight to behold.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes and said, "Jin Wo, stop somewhere."
"Yes, your highness," Jin Wo answered obediently.
Soon, Jin Wo stopped at a desolate forest. Xiang Shaoyun hopped off his body and looked at Devouring Ghost. "Devouring Ghost, I am cultivating a defensive technique. Do you have any suggestions on how to expedite the process?"
"What is the technique's element?" asked Devouring Ghost as he knew Xiang Shaoyun cultivated many different powers.
"Gold," Xiang Shaoyun replied.
Devouring Ghost replied, "Young master, please listen to me. Just focus on the power of lightning and give up on the other powers. You can still do it as a fresh King. It is very hard to reach the peak of the powers you cultivate if you are cultivating so many of them."
"I understand, but it is already too late for that," said Xiang Shaoyun with a helpless smile. He then released the three different powers he had in him.