Chapter 3, Contest of strength

Many rocks were piled up together in clusters like a pyramid. There were also clusters of rocks that resembled a miniature stone mountain. It was rich in energy and was many times stronger than many mountains.

This place resembled a stone array with boulders lying in disarray all around. White mist filled the air and if one were to rashly burst into the area, they would get lost very easily.

"Impressive trap array you have in your treasure room. If one makes mistake, they'll easily be buried and die of suffocation from these big stones. Even I, an Ascension IX, wouldn't last a week from suffocation."

Tian Gong said it not in sarcastic voice but instead, genuinely admire so. While he was looking at these rock array, he started to look around looking curious just how "deep" is there treasury.

With pride, "Yes Gong Ge. You may not believe it but this trap was once given by a powerful hero from the past. He once helped the Leader when he was a child to survive and to fight. Basically his Master and our Grandmaster as well", said the Vice Leader with respectful eyes and curious as to whom this grandmaster was.

"Hoo, that kid huh... no wonder this array is familiar.", Tian Gong whispered so low the Vice Leader didn't catch it.

"Gong Ge, we are here. This is the room where we hid the artifact we had found when two powerhouse fought near the Land of Praise. One of the powerhouse that look like a bigshot of some empire had drop this artifact unknowingly and our Leader who was hidden among the tree to observe, caught sight of it. The Leader, after returning, went to seclusion and hid this artifact. We do not dare to open it without the Leader's permission. Even if we disobey, We cannot pry the inside as it has seal in it."

Tian Gong nodded because he thought it made a lot of sense.

"You may enter, Gong Ge.", He politely gestured and opened the door.

How could this be? The room giving off a sensation of malicious and demonic aura, cause one to have greatly grim expression.

There are quite artifacts that also give the same aura in the room but the artifact on the middle give the most and the fact that there are several piles of reddish brown armour and weapons on the nearby ground is making it look ominous.

Tian Gong took out the illustration and made a comparison between it and the artifact on the middle. They are very identical in appearance.

He walked a large circle around the artifact to observe it from different angles. Only, his gaze was that of an uneasiness.

The artifact was extraordinary in person than the illustration. It was quite big and emitting a hazy yet dark fiery light. It wasn't too hard to imagine how extraordinary this artifact was.

"What a mysterious artifact!" exclaimed Tian Gong while looking at the design.

However, he did not approach the artifact yet. Even if the artifact is extremely attractive, he did not make his move immediately because he felt the whole place to be rather abnormally odd.

"Even from so far away, the fragrance invades the nostrils, no doubt the artifact is a demon artifact yet unnoticeable by normal cultivators. If one uses this artifact, would he gain an enormous edge against the same realm? In the first place, why does the Emperor has this? Now this is getting interesting."

For some reason, he felt a sense of insecurity, even some palpitations. That's just how thick the demonic aura it gives. It was so much that there were not even ants or bugs in the vicinity, only demonic-looking elixir plants.

Finally, Tian Gong soundlessly took a step and reached out his hands to grab it. He raised it by the string and, with a swoosh, looked at it closely.

He tried to use his spirit sense to look the inside but didn't see anything. Something was obscuring his spirit sense to look into it.

This time, Tian Gong dived his spirit sense deeper and found several intricate seals that requires blood. He retracted his spirit sense and tried to use his blood.

The seals are becoming undone but at the last seal, it malfunctioned and gave a beacon of light for a second. Tian Gong didn't know what it was nor what it would do.

He revealed an astonished expression. This artifact was just too weird.

Following that, he ran out outside the alliance with the artifact to see what happened earlier. The vice leader and the members all look at him with a weird-looking eyes.

"what happened Gong Ge?", asked the vice leader.

Tian Gong didn't respond but stayed still as he can feel the tremor and the calamity that is about to befall the alliance. It isn't the work of the beacon of light earlier but a coincidence.

The vice leader could also feel it and when he did, he notified all members to take out their weapons and be on alert.

Soon a hundred thousands of soldiers clad in the imperial golden red armour were seen in the distance.

The soldiers marched trembled the earth and the ground as if exerting their dominance over the land. An advance party of cavalry made a move and stand in front of Tian Gong. They gave a mock face to him as if to tell him he's done for.

hmm?

The soldiers all formed a circle around the alliance and sound the trumpet to tell their commander is here. Soon a man, who has even better armor design than the rest, has come down the warhorse and forward to Tian Gong.

"Ha ha ha ha. I thank you, rouge cultivator, for bringing this artifact to me. I didn't expect you to find it so soon. I applaud you and offer my sincere gratitude. Ha ha ha ha" The man said in a manner of pure arrogance and with overwhelming pride. He is also confident that he can flatten down this whole land with his hundreds of thousands of soldiers. That is the main reason why he can be haughty however he like.

Spit

"Who the fuck are you to be arrogant huh? How did you find me here and what are you doing here?", Tian Gong said with a black face seething in anger visible to the many.

Tian Gong doesn't know how the imperial troops of Ashdown came here but one thing is for sure, it is his enemy right now.

"Ha ha ha ha. I am, Lughvir. The 3rd General of the Ashdown Empire. I merely tracked you down. What's so hard about it? What's more, as I just said, to give my sincere gratitude for "giving" the artifact you're holding for me. Ha ha ha ha."

"You mean the Ashdown Empire put a spy on me? How ridiculous! You, snake face, and the Empire." Tian Gong could not contain his anger anymore as he cannot believe he didn't know he was being tracked down since the start.

"Ha ha ha ha! seems like you're quick-witted. Too bad you're to be crippled here today for insulting me!"

"What did you say!? You're courting death!"

Both rushed ahead and exchanged blows starting with a right punch to contest their strength. No apparent strength difference could be seen from their exchange. At one glance they are both equal.

But if you look closely, Lughvir is closely losing a momentum as each punch of Tian Gong carried a five elements of qi.

Lughvir also noticed this and took out his pure white scaled slither sword, made from Xiangliu beast. Tian Gong also took out his Celestial sword to have a sword match this time. They clashed and met their sword. Spark of two metals appear from time to time as they both attack extremely fast. Almost no one could keep at it ano matter how they concentrate as it was unbelievably quick.

Lughvir took a step back and unleashed a skill that made the sword looks like between a snake and a sword. Tian Gong parried the abnormal sword skill and jumped ahead to thrust his weapon. Lughvir dodged the thrust by tilting his head and gave a counter attack by giving a straight punch on Tian Gong's right side.

Tian gong was hit by the punch but unleased a Kan water roar and Lughvir was thrown by several meters from the sound wave Tian Gong gave.

They both retreated and are trying to catch a breath from that exchange. It was so intense that both the soldiers and the alliance member all gulped down from the contest of strength.

"Ha ha ha ha. Aren't you good? Too bad you met me." said Lughvir looking exhausted as sweats run down all over his body..

Spit

"You are good as well. But it's not even ten percent of my cultivation base. If you're only this much then who are you to be so arrogant?" said Tian Gong with disdain looking exceptionally fine.

The harsh remark that Tian Gong gave to Lughvir was a gas that burned down his pride and felt so humiliated. He never once felt this anymore after being promoted to general rank and having unparalleled speed and being unbeatable.

"You dare to be arrogant to this General? Soldiers of Ashdown Empire!"

HO!!

"Kill and destroy. Obliterate this land down to its last. Kill all. Massacre women, old people, chicken, and dogs. None shall remain." Lughvir coldly said.

HO!!

Before they could even move forward, a golden ray of light had come down from the clouds.

An extremely beautiful woman was seen descending. Her hair is flowing in the air and the heavenly aura she radiate were so gentle and soothing.

She walked ahead where Tian Gong is and she whispered something that made him petrified. She took the spirit bag away after whispering and glared at the soldiers. She gave blessings and ascended once again to heaven.