Sage Monarch - Chapter 263

Chapter 263: 263

Many powerful groups were aware of the recent developments in the Demi-Immortal Institute, and it was only natural that an imperial trading caravan would be no exception .

Even the most inferior of groups that came to do business in the Western Continent were people from rich and powerful clans . Other than such groups, who could possibly arrange for passage through the dimensional barrier?

People like that would obviously be informed about the situation in the Demi-Immortal Institute, and would also be privy to other rumors and clues that ordinary people might not . How could they not have heard of Yang Qi, who had won the Inter-Institutional Martial Arts Competition, and then defied the Crown Prince?

Of course, the fact that he had repaired the damage to heaven trumped everything else . To many people, he was the ultimate hero, a mysterious and enigmatic figure who existed far above ordinary people .

Even more telling, everyone was saying that he had succeeded in repairing heaven because he was backed by an all-powerful, mysterious figure, someone beyond the Great Sage level . Obviously, that person had to be in the Demi-Immortal level, someone strong enough to destroy the cosmos and eradicate all the lands .

In the beginning, a lot of people had believed that Yang Qi was overestimating himself to believe that he could defy the Crown Prince . To them, he had been like a moth challenging a raging fire . But after what had played out, most people had changed their minds . In fact, many members of the Crown Prince Society had even gone into hiding .

Many people now thought that the Crown Prince was the one in great danger .

Even if the Crown Prince reached the Great Sage level, he wouldn’t be able to fight against someone powerful enough to repair damage done to heaven .

Because of all those things, when the people present learned that they were dealing with Yang Qi, they started to get excited . He was like a hero from an epic poetic saga .

“You’re the holy neophyte Yang Qi?” the leader of the caravan said . “Sir, just how powerful are your energy arts? They seem terrifying . Back during the martial arts competition, weren’t you just a Lifeseizer? Now that I think about it, Lady-Princess Silvermoon is an Astral-Star Legendary, just on the verge of reaching the Never-Dying Transformation . With the power of Silvermoon at her disposal, she could easily crush Never-Dying Legendaries! But you not only defeated her, you took her city! Doesn’t that indicate that you could defeat a Never-Dying Legendary?”

Everyone in the Grand Emperor's Pagoda began to discuss the matter .

“What?”

“He was only recently in the Lifeseizing level, but now he can actually defeat someone in the Astral-Star Transformation? Those two levels are miles apart! One’s like an ant, the other’s like a dragon . For an ant to become a dragon almost overnight definitely requires the backing of someone stronger than a Great Sage . No one would believe any other explanation . ”

“In other words, Yang Qi is already strong enough to beat the Crown Prince?”

“I’d say it’s eighty to ninety percent likely . ”

From the awe in their eyes as they looked at Yang Qi, it was obvious they believed him to be a very important person . Two years ago, if Yang Qi had encountered any of these people, they would have been the important people to him .

“Brother Yang Qi,” the leader said, “I am your humble servant Sage Greatmaster, an imperial clansman of the Sage Ancestor Dynasty, the thirty-second son of Feudal King Mightyplexus . I'm completely in your debt now, so once I'm back in Capital City, I’ll do everything I can to pay you back . In fact, I know that you have several sworn brothers in Capital City, people from very powerful clans, so I’ll definitely reach out to them to offer thanks . ”

All true members of the Sage Ancestor Dynasty were surnamed Sage, a name that had been bestowed by the original emperor on his descendants, and a name that no one else in the continent was allowed to use . As it turned out, the leader of the trade caravan was an imperial clansman, which meant that he actually ranked quite highly . Considering that, it made sense for Yang Qi to make use of him .  

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Yang Qi said loudly, “please get some rest here in the Grand Emperor's Pagoda . After I fully subdue Lady-Princess Silvermoon, and perfect a consummate energy art that I've been working on, I’ll make contact with Prince Wei and make sure you all get back to the Rich-Lush Continent . ”

Sage Greatmaster nodded his head and said, “Of course, Brother Yang Qi, please go ahead to handle whatever business you have . ”

Then he looked back at the rest of the people and said, “Calm down, everyone . We're safe here in the Grand Emperor's Pagoda . It’s a treasure forged by Grand Emperor Rich-Lush himself, and is powerful enough to control the entire plane we come from . ”

In response, the crowd quieted, and watched as Yang Qi nodded and vanished from the place .

In another dimension in the pagoda, Yang Qi materialized, then looked up at a gigantic, silver city floating in the air, completely locked down with sealing marks . Underneath the city, four individuals were chained up and immobile . One of them was the powerful Lady-Princess Silvermoon, and the others were her three War Gods .

“Hello there, Lady-Princess Silvermoon,” he said, looking down at her . “So, how are you feeling now? You said people from the Rich-Lush Continent are all scum, and now here you are, captured and your city taken away . Anything you’d like to say?”

“You’re dead, scum! The Great Sages of the Sky-Heaven Dynasty will hunt you to the ends of the earth if they have to . Nobody can save you now . ” She had regained her scepter, and still had a few talismans left, which were organized into the shape of a huge white lotus, ensuring that she was safe from any harm .

However, the spiderweb-like network of chains locking her in place made it so that she couldn’t do anything .

Her War God subordinates had no such protection, and thus, the chains stabbed into them and slowly drained their true energy . None of them were strong enough to actually fight back .

The white lotus protecting Lady-Princess Silvermoon wasn't something of her own creation, but rather, the work of a Great Sage . It was specifically designed to protect against all sorts of harmful magics, and was the only reason she was currently beyond harm .

“I'm dead?” Yang Qi laughed coldly . “Presumably you’ve heard that the Rich-Lush Continent’s heaven has been repaired, and the hell monsoons blocked . Wormholes created by ancient Great Sages have opened up, allowing all sorts of universal power to flow into the continent . In the following centuries, the continent will truly become rich and lush, and your Western Continent will count for nothing compared to it . ”

“You!” Lady-Princess Silvermoon blurted . “Why are you bringing this up? Wait . Don’t tell me… . ”

“Yes . I'm the person who repaired heaven . And my backer isn't some Great Sage . You think that the Western Continent can do a thing to me? If you do, you’re delusional!”

BOOOOM! RUUUUMBLE!

His true energy erupted forth, smashing into the white lotus, which trembled violently, causing Lady-Princess Silvermoon’s face to turn ashen .

“You’re Yang Qi? The same person everyone is talking about, whose backer is an invincible Demi-Immortal expert?” Lady-Princess Silvermoon’s heart was already pounding with fear . After all, stories about Yang Qi had already begun to spread in the Western Continent, and as a high-ranking member of the ruling class, she knew more about the matter than most .

Obviously, the Western Continent had agents in the Rich-Lush Continent .

They knew all of the most important pieces of information, including that Yang Qi had the Grand Emperor's Pagoda .

Now that Lady-Princess Silvermoon was convinced of who Yang Qi was, she was even more scared, considering the rumors about his backer . Other than a Demi-Immortal, who could possibly have repaired the damage to heaven, stopped the hell monsoons, and saved the despairing sage spirits? A person like that was strong enough to actually destroy the Western Continent .

“What do you want? Even if you do have a Demi-Immortal backer, now that you’re here in the Western Continent, a person like that would still be subject to the magical laws here . He would be rejected by heaven and earth and… . ” Lady-Princess Silvermoon started out speaking with confidence, but slowly, her voice grew softer until she simply stopped talking .

“I'm not interested in hearing blabbering from you, Lady-Princess Silvermoon,” Yang Qi said . “I’ll give you two options . One: destroy those talismans and let me seal you . Work for me, and I’ll spare your life . Option two: die! I'd prefer you not force me to use the truly terrifying power I have access to . ”

“You!” Although Lady-Princess Silvermoon’s face fell because of Yang Qi’s threats, in the end, it seemed she wasn’t afraid of dying . “This is a Sky-Heaven Godcharm, crafted by Grand Empress Sky-Heaven . Back when she fought with Grand Emperor Rich-Lush, neither of them could gain the upper hand . You really think you can get past something like that?” [1]

Although the Western Continent was currently a subordinate to the Hanging Mountain, its founder, Grand Empress Sky-Heaven, had been full-blooded Demonfolk . In fact, she had ranked high in the Hanging Mountain .

Years ago, she had waged war with Grand Emperor Rich-Lush, until they finally reached a peace agreement . But now, both leaders were gone, moved on to higher planes of existence .

It was true that it would take a lot of effort for Yang Qi to unravel the Sky-Heaven Godcharm, which in turn meant that directly threatening Lady-Princess Silvermoon wasn’t really an option .

However, there was another factor that Lady-Princess Silvermoon hadn’t considered .

“You’re really not afraid of the power of my Demi-Immortal backer?” Yang Qi said, his eyes glittering . “Make no mistake, Lady-Princess Silvermoon, you have two things working in your advantage . One, you’re a woman . Two, you’re valuable . Any other person in your position would be dead already . ”

“Hmph! You can use Demi-Immortal power? If so, let’s see it!” According to the old saying, a dead pig doesn't fear scalding water, and in this moment, neither did Lady-Princess Silvermoon fear any threats from Yang Qi .

“Fine! I’ll show you how strong I am! Altar, come forth!” He waved his hand, and Lady-Princess Silvermoon’s own altar flew out and landed on the ground, its sagely-grade spirit stone emanating the most holy of auras .

1 . Technically, the term ‘grand emperor’ is gender-neutral in Chinese . Of course, despite that, it would be normal to assume that this leader is male . The fact that she is female is not revealed for a few more chapters, but honestly, it’s not particularly important to the plot, so I’m revealing it here .