Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 181 - 146: Luo Qingning: She’s Truly Unworthy

In a secluded corner outside the Black Stone Hall.

Several Dragon Sons and Daughters, along with their trusted confidants, were gathered together, discussing something in low voices.

"...That girl Qing Ning has already gone inside. I wonder if she'll be able to find anything out."

Third Princess Luo Qingyu murmured, frowning in thought.

Fifth Prince Luo Dongshan stroked the Jade Bone Fan in his hand, remaining silent.

Fourth Prince Luo Yunting said with a grave expression, "This is rather unfortunate. With the Queen by his side, I'm afraid there's very little Sister Qing Ning can do."

No matter how strained their relationships were, they could not break the traditional rules of the Dragon Race.

Anyone who dared to cause trouble in front of Queen Bai Qingyi, no matter how favored they were by their father, the King, would inevitably face severe punishment afterward.

"Indeed. Certain plans will have to wait for another time!"

Luo Qingyu couldn't hide her annoyance. Who would have thought that girl Qingxuan would be so timid and afraid of trouble that she'd have the Queen personally come to keep an eye on things?

Her gaze shifted to the long-bearded old man in a white robe beside her, and she asked:

"Elder Qi, can you try to divine the origins and background of that Ling Changqing?"

Elder Qi shook his head and said softly:

"Your Highness, I have tried more than once. The celestial secrets and karma surrounding him are a chaotic mess, leaving no place to even begin!

The last time I attempted a calculation, I even suffered a minor backlash, so I dare not continue to probe into his origins!"

Luo Dongshan couldn't help but frown in disbelief. "Is that possible? That Human Race boy is just a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator!"

Luo Yunting speculated, "Could it be that he possesses some unknown, powerful treasure that can shield him from the Celestial Secret? Or perhaps a powerful figure has acted, using a Secret Technique to conceal his Life Chart and Fate?"

Luo Qingyu pursed her lips and said coldly, "It's not impossible. Could he be an important member of some top-tier Human Race faction?"

This was not hard to understand. An ordinary Human Race Cultivator would never receive such extraordinary treatment. He had to be a core figure from a major power to be protected so meticulously.

No wonder Luo Qingxuan chose him as her Dao Companion and didn't let a single whisper of it get out beforehand.

By the time they, her siblings, reacted, even their father, the King, had expressed his approval, making it too late to obstruct or sabotage the arrangement.

A hint of vexation crossed Luo Dongshan's face. "Sixth Sister already has a huge advantage. If she really manages to bring a major power from the Human Race Cultivation Realm to her side, how are we supposed to compete with her?"

It was no surprise they were so concerned. The difference in resources one could obtain, depending on whether or not they could inherit the Dragon Race Leader's position and authority, was as vast as the heavens and the earth. This directly impacted the grand pursuit of their own Dao path.

Luo Qingyu tilted her head slightly, looking at a dragon woman beside her who had remained silent the entire time, and asked:

"Eldest Sister, this matter… what do you think we should do?"

This woman had a cold and detached expression. Her voluptuous, graceful figure was wrapped in a deep purple dress. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her jade-white skin was so delicate it looked as if it would break at a touch. Her face was full and lovely, her eyes filled with an arrogant, cold beauty.

She was the Dragon Race Leader's eldest daughter, Luo Qingyi, a genuine Nascent Soul True Monarch. She presided year-round over an important Pocket World Secret Realm within the Dragon Race's territory and wielded considerable authority.

Luo Qingyi replied calmly, "I have a treasure that specializes in the Celestial Secret Calculation Domain. If I could get a strand of his hair—or better yet, a drop of his blood—I could deduce his entire background."

Luo Qingyu's expression faltered. "That seems a bit difficult, doesn't it? Neither he nor the Queen would make such a basic mistake!"

The Cultivation Realm was filled with an endless array of unimaginable Secret Techniques and Divine Techniques, making it impossible to guard against everything. Any cultivator with half a brain would never give someone an opening in this regard.

Luo Yunting's eyes glinted darkly. "Perhaps we could consider… arranging for a few Death Warriors to launch a sneak attack on him. They don't need to kill him, just injure him slightly.

Once we get his hair or blood, the rest should be easy!"

If their father investigated afterward, they could just throw a few unlucky scapegoats out to take the blame. At worst, they could give Ling Changqing some compensation.

Once they had the blood and hair samples, the initiative would be in their hands, whether they chose to divine Ling Changqing's background or use a Witchcraft Curse Technique against him.

Luo Qingyi pondered for a few moments before nodding slightly. "We can give it a try, but I'm afraid the chances of success aren't high."

Neither Luo Qingxuan nor Bai Qingyi were naive and clueless fools. Knowing how important Ling Changqing was, how could they possibly give them an opportunity to stir up trouble? 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Success or not, we can't just sit around and wait. So it's settled!"

Luo Qingyu said finally.

Though it was fraught with difficulties, the hope of success was slim, and the trouble afterward would be significant, that was no reason for inaction.

Unless they were all willing to admit defeat and withdraw, they had to take their shot.

Inside the Black Stone Hall.

Luo Qingning was still making idle chitchat with Ling Changqing.

"...We of the Deep Sea Dragon Race have quite a few dealings with Human Race Cultivators,"

Luo Qingning said with a beaming smile, resting her chin in her hands from across the table.

"In the past, many of our dragon women have taken Human Race Cultivators as Dao Companions. Of course, for a dragon woman like my Sixth Sister, who is a contender to inherit the position of Dragon Race Leader, to find a Human Race Dao Companion is completely unprecedented."

"So? What are you trying to say, Your Highness?"

Ling Changqing asked impassively.

Although this dragon woman had the face of a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl, her figure was as curvaceous and enchanting as a mature woman's.

She was certainly pleasing to the eye. Compared to Luo Qingxuan, she was a different type of beauty, with no clear superior in terms of looks or temperament.

Luo Qingning secretly glanced at the noble, beautiful, and unflappable Bai Qingyi in the distance and swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

She had no desire to be seized on the spot by an enraged Queen, given a beating, and then thrown out. That would be far too humiliating.

"Alright, Fellow Daoist Ling,"

Luo Qingning's expression turned serious as she said in a low voice, "I just feel… this monumental fortune, this fate capable of defying the heavens and changing destiny… is a certain someone worthy of it?"

Before Ling Changqing could speak, she continued on her own, "I don't think she's worthy. No matter what, she's not worthy!"

Not far away, Bai Qingyi's gaze quietly turned cold.

Ling Changqing picked up the Bronze Dragonwine Jar from the table and took a slow, deliberate sip before saying:

"That doesn't seem to be for you to decide."

Perhaps there had been some element of coercion at first, but after spending these past few days together, he found that the Dragon Princess, Luo Qingxuan, actually had a good temperament and was truly sincere toward him.

As for Luo Qingyu, Luo Qingning, and the other dragon women, their words and actions all had a touch of the scheming vixen about them, which Ling Changqing naturally disliked.

'If she isn't worthy, then are you?'

Ling Changqing had no intention of getting involved in the struggle for supreme power within the Dragon Race, but he also had no plans to let certain factions use him as a pawn.

Luo Qingning broke into a smile. "Fellow Daoist Ling, I don't mean anything else. I just want to invite you to be a guest in my territory when you have time, to drink tea and discuss the Dao!

My sisters are all very eager to meet you! Since you will be the Dragon Race's Prince Consort, we'll all be one family. It's only right that we visit and grow closer to one another, isn't it?"

'Luo Qingning didn't feel she was any worse off than her Sixth Sister. If Ling Changqing could choose her, then why couldn't he choose me?'

'Eldest Sister and Third Sister don't have Dao Companions either. If they joined forces to steal him away, Luo Qingxuan would be powerless to resist.'

'If she could get one step ahead and make the situation irreversible, even their father, the King, would have no choice but to accept the new reality.'

Ling Changqing shook his head and refused without the slightest hesitation:

"If I really went to your territory as a guest, I'm not sure I'd make it back alive. So, I'll have to pass."

Anyone could guess Luo Qingning's intentions. If he dared to agree, he would be courting death.

Whether in the Human Race Cultivation Realm or within the Dragon Race, fickle turncoats were universally despised.

Not ready to give up, Luo Qingning was about to continue persuading him when Bai Qingyi cut in, her face cold:

"That's enough, Qingning. Don't you dare show off your pathetic little schemes in front of me!

This matter is not up for discussion. Neither you nor your mother are to have any designs on Ling Changqing in the future!"

"...Yes, Your Majesty!"

Luo Qingning replied, biting her red lip in unwilling submission.

Bai Qingyi stared at her coldly. "What are you still standing here for?"

With a resentful expression, Luo Qingning stood and bowed. "I shall take my leave!"

After the Dragon Princess's figure disappeared through the doorway, Bai Qingyi smashed the teacup in her hand on the ground with a loud CRASH, shattering it to pieces.

The surrounding maids instantly fell silent with fear, their faces pale, not daring to even breathe.

"A bunch of shameless, brazen hussies! Give them an inch and they'll take a mile!"

Bai Qingyi said fiercely, her elegant eyebrows shooting up in anger.

She had truly had enough. Those girls dared to seduce Ling Changqing right in front of her. Who knows how unrestrained they would be in private.

'It seems if I don't teach their mothers a lesson, those vixens won't know who they're dealing with!'

Ling Changqing sighed. "Mother, why be so angry? They are doomed to fail in this matter."

Bai Qingyi's expression softened, and she said in a gentle voice:

"It's good that you understand. Those shameless trollops can talk a sweeter game than a siren's song, but in truth, they're all just after the great fortune you carry!

Unlike myself and that girl Qingxuan. We are the ones who are truly sincere with you!"

"You're right, Mother,"

Ling Changqing replied softly. He was telling the truth; the Era Star Palace had not sensed the slightest trace of malicious intent from either of them.

In contrast, the motives of Luo Qingyu and Luo Qingning were far from pure, filled with too much self-serving calculation.

Bai Qingyi breathed a sigh of relief. Her gaze fell upon the young man's wrist, and her heart stirred when she saw the Red Jade Crystal Bracelet.

"Changqing, this bracelet is actually one of a pair,"

the noble and elegant beauty said with a smile. "I have the other one here. Why don't I give it to you as well?"

She took off a brightly shining Red Jade Crystal Bracelet, carved with coiling dragons and phoenixes, from her own smooth, snow-white wrist. Her soft, silky voice carried a hint of shyness:

"Come here. Mother will put it on for you personally."

Ling Changqing: "..."