Martial Arrogance Dragon Soul-Chapter 270 - 258: Return to Being Strangers

The Burial Dragon Debate was not actually a novel event.

In fact, inside Heavenly Lake Palace, the Burial Dragon Debate was held annually.

The so-called Burial Dragon Debate involved releasing a portion of the secret techniques or spiritual patterns inscribed on the Burial Dragon Stele, providing everyone with the chance to comprehend the mysteries within and to discuss them collectively.

Qin Qing was somewhat surprised by this.

The secret techniques on the Burial Dragon Stele were bound to be immensely precious.

Yet, Heavenly Lake Palace was willing to share it with all martial artists in the world for communal enlightenment.

This undoubtedly showed that the Palace Master of Heavenly Lake Palace was a person of great vision and broad-mindedness.

"On the other hand, the secret techniques on the Burial Dragon Stele are extremely abstruse and difficult to comprehend. Probably, these past years, despite acquiring the two Burial Dragon Steles, Heavenly Lake Palace hasn’t fully understood the secret techniques engraved on them."

"Therefore, they must have conceived the idea of the Burial Dragon Debate to discuss the secret techniques depicted on the Burial Dragon Stele with all martial cultivators," Qin Qing speculated in his mind.

Of course, this was just Qin Qing’s speculation.

What the actual situation was, and why Heavenly Lake Palace was willing to share the secret techniques on the Burial Dragon Stele, was likely unknown to outsiders. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Since the Burial Dragon Debate was held regularly, why then was this particular event attracting such a buzz?

That required mentioning the old ancestor of Heavenly Lake Palace.

This time, Heavenly Lake Palace had announced that martial cultivators who could ascend beyond the seventh level of the Burial Dragon Tower would be allowed to enter Saint Lake Mountain and join the debate with the old ancestor from Heavenly Lake Palace!

Who was the old ancestor of Heavenly Lake Palace?

That was a Nascent Soul Realm martial arts ancestor.

In the Northern Borderlands, Nascent Soul Realm martial arts ancestors were few and far between.

Having the opportunity to discuss with such a predecessor, regardless of how much one could comprehend the secret techniques inscribed on the Burial Dragon Stele, would undoubtedly provide immense help for one’s future path in martial arts.

Therefore, early in the morning, the outer mountain of Heavenly Lake Palace was already crowded with silhouettes.

Qin Qing followed the crowd and arrived at the base of a cliff as smooth as a mirror on the outer mountain.

At this time, the vast majority of people had come here, stopping in their tracks.

Their gazes were focused on the cliff above them.

There were faint, intermittent spiritual patterns on the cliff.

And in front of the cliff was a massive Great Cauldron!

This was a gigantic cauldron forged from dark golden ancient bronze, with the body carved with a coiling giant dragon. Dragon scales, dragon claws, dragon whiskers, and every other part were intricately sculpted, as if a True Dragon was entwined upon it, exuding the ancient aura of a primordial divine beast.

Before entering Heavenly Lake Palace, Qin Qing had already learned about this place.

This was the site for the assessment to gain entry to the Burial Dragon Tower.

The so-called assessment involved comprehending the secret techniques on the cliff.

As long as one could decipher some of the mysteries within the secret techniques, it would resonate with the ancient bronze Great Cauldron, causing it to emit a reverberation that resonated with the cultivator.

Qin Qing was about to observe the secret techniques on the stone wall.

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from the side.

"Big brother Qin, is that you?"

Qin Qing withdrew his gaze from the cliff and looked towards the source of the voice.

It was Ye Jiang!

Ye Jiang was standing not far away.

Also with Ye Jiang was Ye Xin.

Besides Ye Xin, there were two other people, one of whom Qin Qing had met before: it was Ye Jiang and Ye Xin’s uncle, Ye Tianming.

However, now standing by Ye Tianming’s side was another person, a young man not much older than Qin Qing, at most two or three years his senior.

Ye Tianming, standing beside this man, showed an undisguised sycophancy in his demeanor.

Upon hearing Ye Jiang calling out "Brother Qin," Ye Xin, Ye Tianming, and the young man all turned their gazes toward Qin Qing.

Immediately, Ye Tianming’s brows furrowed, and his eyes showed a hint of disgust.

"Ye Xin, didn’t I tell you? This man harbors ill intentions. Seeing you’ve come to Heavenly Lake Palace, he still couldn’t let go and followed you all the way here," Ye Tianming said with distinct displeasure.

Ye Xin frowned slightly but said nothing.

The young man standing beside Ye Tianming, however, asked with a smirk, "Steward Ye, who is this person? Does he have an old acquaintance with Ye Xin?"

"Not at all..." Ye Tianming hurriedly shook his head: "He and Ye Xin are but strangers who met by chance. Ye Xin encountered this young man named Qin Qing on her way from Kaiyuan County to Heavenly Lake Palace, but he coveted my niece’s beauty and thus followed her here all the way."

"Oh? Is that so?" The young man seemed skeptical.

"Of course, it is!" Ye Tianming said affirmatively, then he turned to Ye Xin and said, "Xin’er, tell Murong Young Master about what’s going on between you and that Qin Qing."

Ye Xin nodded slightly, her gaze now also falling on Qin Qing.

As a matter of fact, Qin Qing stood not far from her.

Their conversation also fell into Qin Qing’s ears, word for word.

Qin Qing felt a hint of curiosity when he heard Ye Tianming asking Ye Xin, and he also wanted to hear how Ye Xin would describe her relationship with him.

There was a moment of hesitation in Ye Xin’s eyes, but she still spoke up, "Murong Young Master, I and Qin Qing were merely strangers who crossed paths. We don’t have much else to do with each other."

Upon hearing Ye Xin’s response, a smile appeared on Murong Hao’s face.

And in Qin Qing’s heart, a wave of disappointment welled up.

His disappointment was not because he was just a passerby to Ye Xin, but because human warmth could be so indifferently cold.

He had clearly saved Ye Xin and her brother just two days ago.

Yet now, according to Ye Xin, they supposedly did not have much to do with each other.

Clearly, Ye Xin was eager to disassociate herself from him.

Qin Qing didn’t need to guess why—it was because of the young man standing next to Ye Tianming.

Ye Xin didn’t want Murong Young Master to misunderstand, which was why she acted like that...

However.

Soon Qin Qing came to terms with it.

He smiled faintly and shook his head.

Saving Ye Xin and Ye Jiang had been a simple effort for him.

He never expected Ye Xin to remember this life-saving grace in her heart.

Moreover, Ye Xin had offered him the Burial Dragon Stele to cultivate and comprehend...

So that debt of gratitude was already repaid.

If that was the case, then they would go back to being strangers, merely passersby once crossed paths, and leave it at that.

Qin Qing simply smiled faintly at Ye Jiang, gave a slight nod, turned around, and continued to focus on the Secret Technique that kept appearing on the cliffside.

But trees long for peace while the wind keeps blowing; Qin Qing wished to leave the matter behind, yet Murong Hao and Ye Tianming were stepping closer.

"Qin Qing, if I were you, I would get myself out of Heavenly Lake Palace right now, instead of lingering here!" Ye Tianming’s icy voice bore a touch of authority, an attempt to intimidate Qin Qing into retreating.