Martial Arrogance Dragon Soul-Chapter 281 - 269 Entering Saint Lake Mountain
Qin Qing watched the surrounding crowd with a cold gaze.
Then... he walked towards the exit of the Heavenly Lake Palace... ๐ฏ๐ง๐๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฃ๐ค๐๐ฎ๐ต.๐๐ค๐ข
This Heavenly Lake Palace is nothing special after all!
But just as Qin Qing had stepped out of the mountain gate of the Heavenly Lake Palace, a figure rushed over and blocked his path.
"Wait a moment, Qin Qing!"
Qin Qing looked at the person blocking his way.
It was Yuan Guyue.
It was the Law Enforcement Elder who had recorded his name two days prior.
The so-called Law Enforcement Elder was equivalent to an Elder in training.
To the disciples, holding a position as a Law Enforcement Elder often symbolized a certain status within the Sect, since most of the Sectโs affairs were personally arranged and presided over by them.
But to the Sectโs Elders and the Sect Leader, a Law Enforcement Elder was more like an assistant.
The true Elders, when they had matters to attend to, often did not take action themselves but left the tasks to the Law Enforcement Elders instead.
Therefore, the status of a Law Enforcement Elder was still somewhat inferior to that of Elders and the like.
That was also why Ye Tianming was very eager to become a true Elder rather than a Law Enforcement Elder.
Without the title of Law Enforcement Elder, there would be less pesky business to deal with, higher stipends from the Sect, and more free time for cultivation.
"Elder Yuan!"
Qin Qing looked at the newcomer. "May I ask what business Elder Yuan has with me?"
"Qin Qing, I apologize." Yuan Guyue began, "I do not know exactly what happened, but that day Murong Hao wanted to erase your name from the list, and I did not comply. However... you were still not selected. I think it was because Murong Hao was obstructing you."
Qin Qing nodded slightly. He could guess as much without Yuan Guyue saying it.
"But... Qin Qing. You were able to stimulate the nine Dragonโs Chants, your talent surely qualifies you for the Burial Dragon Tower. I do not wish to see you just leave like this!" Yuan Guyue looked at Qin Qing, her face filled with sincerity.
Qin Qing was moved. It seemed that not all was bad within the Heavenly Lake Palace.
"Qin Qing, come with me!" Yuan Guyue continued.
"Where to?" Qin Qing asked.
"To Saint Lake Mountain!" Yuan Guyue replied.
"To Saint Lake Mountain?" Qin Qing was slightly puzzled.
"Yes, to Saint Lake Mountain. To see the Ancestor! I will take you to meet the Ancestor directly! I refuse to believe that with your talent, the Ancestor would not allow you to participate in the Burial Dragon Debate!" Yuan Guyue declared.
"So you mean... my name was erased and the Ancestor is unaware of it..." Qin Qing said.
"Of course. The Ancestor has no knowledge of this. It must have been the Great Elderโs doing." Yuan Guyue nodded.
"Alright!" Qin Qing gave a fist salute to Yuan Guyue. "Then I will trouble Elder Yuan to lead the way!"
Yuan Guyue led Qin Qing along another quiet path, heading straight for Saint Lake Mountain.
The Heavenly Lake Palace was established amidst a range of mountains.
But at the very center of the entire Sect stood the tallest and most magnificent peak.
At the top of this peak lay a clear, mirror-like lake that reflected the sun, moon, sky, and clouds. This lake was known as the Holy Lake.
Therefore, this mountain was named Saint Lake Mountain.
As they walked on Saint Lake Mountain, the temperature dropped sharply, and the surrounding snow grew thicker and thicker.
The snow here was very white, perpetually unmelting, yet very clean, and even spiritual energy seemed to seethe from it.
In the Northern Borderlands, few mountains were covered in vegetation, and Saint Lake Mountain was no exception, with bare cliffs and crags all around.
Yet, some plants stubbornly grew out of the rock crevices, like the Snow Lotus, the Spiky Thistle, and the Holy Jade Fruit...
These plants seemed to have something in commonโunadorned and unpretentious, but extremely tenacious, as if they tirelessly vied with heaven for their existence.
Qin Qing liked these plants very much.
In these plants, he saw a reflection of himself.
Ascending the path, the wind became stronger, and the temperature dropped lower and lower.
However, the moment Qin Qing reached the summit of Saint Lake Mountain, everything turned utterly silent.
The howling mountain wind ceased to exist, and the biting cold air warmed up slightly.
In front of him lay a vast lake.
Situated at the peak of this holy mountain, the lake resembled a giant sapphire, embedded right there.
Were it not for the gentle breezes that ruffled its surface, creating layers of shimmering waves, one might mistake it for a massive mirror.
Qin Qing walked to the shore of the sacred lake, feeling his mind and spirit settle at that moment, achieving complete relaxation.
His soul too seemed influenced by the sacred lake at that time, cleansed by its waters...
There was a thatched hut by the lake.
The hut was simple and looked as if it might be blown away by the wind at any moment.
But Qin Qing could tell at a glance that this was no ordinary thatched hut. Its complexity was masked by simplicity, its ingenuity by crudeness.
This hut was covered by a Spiritual Array, so robust that likely even Divine Weapons would struggle to breach it.
Yuan Guyue led Qin Qing to the outside of this thatched hut.
"Yuan Guyue, Law Enforcement Elder of Heavenly Lake Palace, pays respects to the Ancestral Master!"
Yuan Guyue knelt down toward the thatched hut.
An elder emerged from within the hut.
This was an imposing elder with silver-white hair, his presence robust, yet he exuded an aura of Returning to Purity and Simplicity.
"Nascent Soul Realm!"
Qin Qing recognized it immediately.
Although Qin Qing himself was still in the Divine Might Realm,
he had already encountered numerous Martial Artists in the Nascent Soul Realm, and because of the special nature of his Martial Soul, Qin Qing had a potent ability to sense a Martial Artistโs Cultivation Realm.
He could be certain that this Ancestral Master of Heavenly Lake Palace was in the Nascent Soul Realm.
A Martial Arts Ancestor in the Nascent Soul Realm was likely one of the very pinnacle fighters throughout the Northern Borderlands.
However...
Beyond sensing the otherโs Returning to Purity and Simplicity Nascent Soul aura, Qin Qing also sensed another, darker presence.
It was the scent of death.
Yes...
It was the scent of death!
The Ancestral Master of Heavenly Lake Palace seemed to be nearing the limits of his lifespan, his vitality could wilt at any moment, possibly passing away right here.
"A Nascent Soul Realm Elder, his lifespan must be at least two thousand years, perhaps even longer... But this Elder of Heavenly Lake Palace is showing signs of declining vitality, which indicates he must have lived for over two thousand years."
Such a long period of timeโQin Qing could not help but be struck by this realization.
However...
What did it matter if it was more than two thousand years?
After Nascent Soul Formation, if one couldnโt progress further, even two thousand years would be the limit of oneโs lifespan, one would die between heaven and earth.
Therefore, even at the Nascent Soul Realm, one would still think about breaking through, about continually advancing oneโs Cultivation.
After all, the higher one goes, the higher the Cultivation Realm one reaches, the more difficult it is to break through, the harder the cultivation becomes.
Qin Qing probably understood now why Heavenly Lake Palace would be willing to reveal such a marvelous Secret Technique as the Burial Dragon to the public.
He also probably understood why this Ancestral Master of Heavenly Lake Palace would personally participate in the Burial Dragon Debate this time...
It seemed that the Ancestral Master wished to make one final attempt at the end of his life.
If successful, he would take his Cultivation a step further, continuing to live between heaven and earth.
If unsuccessful, then he would turn into a wisp of dust, dissipating into the world...
