Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix - Chapter 467

Chapter 467: Shang Luo and the Resistance I

Meanwhile, during that time, Asura was journeying through the desert to reach the capital of the empire. Shang Luo found himself in the centre of the Vigilant’s base, now undergoing training as one of them.

‘Did the people suffer this much under our rule?’

He watched each day as more and more orphans and oppressed humans were accepted. People with skills that would be of great asset to the Empire were rejected because of their bloodline or ties to any family that opposed the royal family over the past two hundred years.

‘Why is my father so terrified? These people have nothing to do with what someone they’ve never met did before they were born…’

Shang Luo wasn’t a good man—if anything, he was infinitely close to a bad one. However, the treatment from the so-called ‘Ace’ from Silvara and his father caused his mind to adapt, and he began learning to follow their words like a dog no longer.

“You there, hurry and lift your arm! This training isn’t for joking around!” A young male, clearly a commoner and orphan, his scarred face and dirty clothes barely fit, causing Shang Luo to feel a sense of irritation.

Yet… the seal on his powers, like a devil’s grip, forced Shang Luo to submit and accept his current place in the resistance.

“Do you understand?” The boy flung his makeshift spear, a blue light flickering from the tip.

‘I know this kid. He has feelings for that woman I saved. His name is Lao Di.

Yet, since that time in the alleyway, she seems to be overly kind to me. Even though I am the prince, why do these people act like I am just another of their homeless rejects?’

He couldn’t endure the thick scent of garbage, the dirty air full of dull smog that made it hard to breathe. That’s why he didn’t escape, because to leave this training camp, he needed to pass through the garbage and landfill used by the empire to hide the dirt and waste.

“Haa…”

“Don’t sigh! Do you never learn, trainee Luo?” A cute girl, maybe around the age of nineteen, giggled while swinging the same makeshift spear beside him.

“Ming Lin, are you trying to mock me or cheer me up?” Shang Luo whispered.

His spear twirled with ease as the green aura swirled along the shaft, forming a beautiful arc around the blade. Though it was weak and lacked substance, the actual form was perfect and without errors.

“Hmmm~ idiot, of course, I am cheering you up. Since you are handsome, don’t overthink, don’t overthink.”

‘Oh? Her Aura is pink and flows like silk… She is talented. No, come to think of it. All the people here can use aura and are likely past Stage Three. So how did they end up here discarded?’

“Haha, why are you staring at my face? Did you fall for my beauty? Hehe~ then come to my tent tonight after meal time.”

“Ha…” ‘What is this idiot girl thinking? I like my women with more meat and older…’

Shang Luo couldn’t help but find this woman amusing, but the instructor Lao Di, who oversaw the two of them because of their advanced Aura skills, became irate.

“How dare you ignore practice and such obscene things! You will be punished.”

“Lao Di! You stop now, or I will tell Mu Lan!” The girl called out, knowing that it wouldn’t be her that suffered but Shang Luo, because the arrogant young male was jealous and constantly picked on him for the past week.

That’s why she tried to divert Shang Luo’s attention away from Mu Lan to make life easier as the strongest guard and second in command after her brother.

Mu Lan’s affection and interest in Shang Luo led many males to become jealous and treated Shang Luo roughly. Ming Lin just wanted to enjoy the handsome face and body of Shang Luo washing in the small river.

It was her current pastime after the harsh training.

“Hah, shut up, you airport!”

“Fuck you, Noodle dick!”

Shang Luo’s eyes sharpened, but he also wondered where this Lao Di was looking because it was clear the young woman Ming Lin was just fastening her chest with wrappings to hide her attractive chest to avoid the looks of mean in the camp.

A player and womaniser couldn’t forget the skills they learned over a decade, after all.

‘This damn kid is going to attack for real, then I won’t play along. Let’s earn some prestige. Mu Lan is watching with other warriors from the shadows.’

The fact Shang Luo couldn’t use his full power didn’t mean he lost his observation abilities and various skills training in order to bring down Silvara.

Lao Di’s body shot forward, the spear in his hand glowing blue. He struck Shang Luo’s thigh with a fierce, penetrating blow. With a sigh, Shang Luo held the spear on his left side.

He felt the movements slowing down—compared to the strong elites in Silvara, he felt this boy was far too immature and weak, almost moving at a standstill. ‘CIl Mavis would crush this boy without a weapon…’ He thought of the genius from the Academy in Silvara, feeling a sense of regret he had left.

‘Such a clumsy thrust.’

Shang Luo’s left leg swept outward and cut into Lao Di’s ankle as he kicked Lao Di in the ribs with a snapping follow-up, the sidekick causing the boy to stumble back, desperately fumbling to use his blue spear to keep standing.

“Haa… you…. cheating…”

“In battle, you should use all you can to win.” Shang Luo’s body rushed forward, his spear spinning around and held against his forearm.

In a flash, the spear tip rotated 180 degrees using his right arm; the momentum of his speed caused the wooden shaft to crash into the back of Lao Di’s calf, dropping the young man’s leg and forcing him to kneel at the prince.

‘Heh. A trick the woman taught me that helped take down strong knights with arrogant faces.’

Shang Luo didn’t expect much, so when a blast of blue aura exploded around Lao Di and his throat grew hot, he immediately felt that something had gone wrong.

‘Ah, this kid is trying to kill me now—I should focus.’

Blue Aura smashed against Shang Luo and pushed him back. ‘Tch, what the hell…’ He spat as he saw Lao Di rushing to him while enveloped in the bright blue aura that burned even the grass and ground underneath.

However, he didn’t shy away; using the shaft of his spear like a staff, he blocked each blow, a flicker of green aura appearing each time, deflecting the fierce blue fire of Lao Di. ‘I lack the amount, but using quality should be enough.’

Aura, despite its seemingly endless versatility, had limits—after years of research and training, all to take the throne one day. Shang Luo knew there were many ways to manipulate aura, and the four families who claimed to have invented each method were lying.

‘All methods appeared in Silvara before the empire! We are just copying their application of mana and call it aura!’

Shang Luo’s face tilted as the blue blade sliced his cheek, the face of Lao Di filled with excitement and rage, yet the prince stepped forward, calmly countering with an elbow to the nose, his spear shaft pressing hard into Lao Di’s sternum.

“Punk, did you think you could win battles recklessly using your feeble aura?”

There was silence because no matter how hard he struggled, Lao Di found himself staggering. Once again, the blow from the prince lacked a flashy show, but the impact damaged him enough to cause the young male to feel dazed, and both his legs felt like lead, making it difficult to move.

“I-Impossible…” Lao Di coughed, his blood spewing onto Shang Luo’s training uniform.

“L-Luo! How did you beat Di… This bastard is a stage five aura user!” Ming Lin stuttered with bright red cheeks as she swarmed to the prince like a bird chirping.

‘Mu Lan must have seen me win. Finally, this training useless can end.’

However, a slight pain began spreading in his chest…

‘Ah fuck.’ His legs finally felt weak; a dull ache throbbed where the shaft connected to his thigh earlier. Shang Luo knew he was being tested by Mu Lan, along with the young woman beside him. They were also being used to train the mentality of Lao Di at the same time.

“It seems that you managed to beat Lao Di, even with your sealed aura. Not bad, Prince.” Mu Lan’s smile looked aggressive, and her beautiful eyes carried anger. Yet she didn’t unleash it on the prince instead, after revealing she knew who he was, the woman turned to Lao Di.

“Do you understand now, although you can use Aura well, you lack in both finesse, skill, technique and mental fortitude. Go back and take a shower while reflecting on your conduct.”

“I-I-I understand… Tsk….!” Lao Di’s red face turned away, ashamed of himself, while looking back at Shang Luo with a hateful glare.

“What a shame. I wish to spar with this Lao Di. He seemed pretty good.” Shang Luo spoke arrogantly as if nothing happened to him.

Although his face looked calm internally, he was struggling with an increasing heat inside his chest, which spread to the rest of his body.

‘This woman… how far does she know?’

“Heh… really? From my eyes, it looks like you’re about to pass out—the pain in your chest must be unbearable, right?” Mu Lan’s lips curled into a wicked smile, yet it didn’t contain ill will and was more like a fox teasing someone.

‘This damn woman…!’

“Come here to my tent. I’ll help you adjust your Aura so it doesn’t become a permanent injury.”

Mu Lan grabbed his hand and dragged him away without effort, while poor Ming Lin was so shocked by the vice-leader that she watched the prince being taken without a word. Her heart felt heavy.

‘Wow… is Luo that strong already? He could defeat Di at Stage Four. To think he was someone better than me…’

She clung to the training spear tightly as sweat poured down her slim, dirt-covered neck.

“I won’t let him escape, even if he’s the Vice-Leader’s favourite!” Her greedy, ambitious eyes shone as she began to continue the training drills alone.