Martial Arrogance Dragon Soul-Chapter 282 - 270: Great Sounds are Seldom Heard, Great Images Have No Form
"Yuan Guyue, a steward?" Even though the Ancestor’s vitality was waning, the sense of oppression he emitted remained incredibly strong.
His gaze swept over Yuan Guyue and Qin Qing, and he said, "As a steward, do you not know the rules of the Heavenly Lake Palace? How can one trespass into Saint Lake Mountain so casually? And who are you?"
His gaze, sharp as a divine weapon, landed on Qin Qing, as if it intended to penetrate him.
However...
Qin Qing stood his ground, unmoving.
"Ancestor, he is the one who just stimulated the Nine Dragon Chants!" Yuan Guyue quickly said.
"The one who stimulated the Nine Dragon Chants?" The Ancestor’s brows twitched slightly upon hearing this.
Being able to stimulate the Nine Dragon Chants was sufficient to prove one’s talent.
Such talent might well be of great assistance in the Burial Dragon Debate.
The Ancestor himself was participating in the Debate, desiring to broaden his horizons by listening to others’ views and insights on the Burial Dragon Secret Technique during his teachings, which for the Ancestor, was a path to breakthrough.
"However..." In the Ancestor’s eyes, there seemed to be another expectation: "More than seeing the one who stimulated the Nine Dragon Chants, I would rather meet the Martial Cultivator who stimulated the Dragon Cauldron without triggering the Dragon’s Chant..."
The Ancestor murmered softly.
The moment he spoke, Yuan Guyue’s expression suddenly became very animated.
"Ancestor, so you knew about this matter?" Yuan Guyue said.
"Of course!" The Ancestor raised his eyebrows: "Two days ago, that person stimulated the Dragon Cauldron without initiating the Dragon’s Chant. I sensed it from here. If it wasn’t for the scheduled Burial Dragon Debate today, I would have liked to invite him to Saint Lake Mountain two days ago to discuss the Burial Dragon Secret Technique with him."
The Ancestor mentioned this with discernible excitement, and he used ’discuss’ rather than ’teaching’.
"Enough about that!" The Ancestor waved his hand: "Even if he is the one who stimulated the Nine Dragon Chants, you should not have brought him here directly! As a steward, do you not know the rules of the Heavenly Lake Palace? Or are you bringing him here just to ingratiate yourself with me? If that’s the case, there’s no need, and there’s no need for you to serve as a steward any longer, for there is no place for you here at the Heavenly Lake Palace!"
Anger flashed across the Ancestor’s face.
This caused Yuan Guyue to feel a trace of fear.
The Ancestor’s imposing aura and pressure were too terrifying, leaving Yuan Guyue momentarily at a loss for words.
At this moment, Qin Qing slowly said, "Actually... two days ago, the one who stimulated the Dragon Cave without causing the Dragon’s Chant, it was also me!"
Qin Qing’s words took the Zhuiri Ancestor by surprise.
He stared at Qin Qing: "Is that true? Are you really the Martial Cultivator from two days ago?"
"Of course, it’s me!" Qin Qing nodded.
The Ancestor looked at Qin Qing, then laughed, shaking his head: "No, it’s not possible! You definitely aren’t him..."
"You may have stimulated the Nine Dragon Chants, proving your talent is indeed quite good. But you are not him!"
The Ancestor seemed quite certain.
Yuan Guyue, on the side, was completely perplexed.
Why was the Ancestor so sure that Qin Qing was not the Martial Cultivator who, two days ago, had stimulated the Dragon Cauldron without triggering the Dragon’s Chant?
And from the Ancestor’s reaction, it seemed he valued that Martial Cultivator from two days ago even more.
Could triggering the Nine Dragon Chants be less impressive than not causing a Dragon’s Chant?
Qin Qing smiled faintly, looking at the Ancestor: "I am indeed the one from two days ago who stimulated the Dragon Cauldron without causing the Dragon’s Chant. My name is Qin Qing. You can ask Steward Yuan, who can verify this."
The Zhuiri Ancestor did not even glance at Yuan Guyue, instead asking Qin Qing directly, "Then do you know why stimulating the Dragon Cauldron did not lead to a Dragon’s Chant?"
Qin Qing pondered and said, "I believe it is because the Dragon’s Chant had already been initiated."
"Oh?" The Ancestor looked at Qin Qing, with a glimmer of anticipation flashing in his eyes, waiting for what Qin Qing would say next.
"But, the Dragon’s Chant is silent!"
"Good!" As soon as Qin Qing said this, the Ancestor’s eyes shone brightly, and he blurted out his approval, then he added, "Why is the Dragon’s Chant silent?"
"Perhaps it is because... ’Great Sound, Hushed Voice!’" Qin Qing said.
"Good! Very good!" The Ancestor clapped his hands in approval, the excitement on his face could hardly be concealed, he had already believed Qin Qing to a great extent, "The great form has no contour, the great atmosphere is vast and boundless, the great sound is hushed, the great image is formless! Since the great sound is hushed, then why were you able to stimulate the nine Dragon’s Chants?"
"Simply because the dragon lies hidden in the abyss, trapped in the wilderness, out of necessity!" Qin Qing said.
Hearing this, the Zhuiri Ancestor already had a general understanding of the situation; his expression turned cold, and he asked Yuan Guyue, "Steward Yuan, what exactly happened? Tell me everything in detail!"
"Yes!" Yuan Guyue dared not conceal anything, so he recounted the truth, "Two days ago, Qin Qing activated the Dragon Cauldron, but did not trigger the Dragon’s Chant. I recorded his name in the register, yet Murong Hao, the son of the Great Elder, demanded that I remove Qin Qing’s name from the roll, which I refused..."
"Today, Elder Gu Ming announced the list of those entering the Burial Dragon Tower."
"Qin Qing’s name was not among them."
"With dissatisfaction in his heart, Qin Qing questioned why his name was excluded, and repeatedly inquired whether the decision was made by the Ancestor?"
"Elder Gu Ming said that it was the Ancestor’s decision, that Qin Qing did not qualify to enter the Burial Dragon Tower. Thus, in a burst of anger, Qin Qing stimulated the Dragon Cauldron, producing nine Dragon’s Chants..."
"Outrageous!" The Ancestor, having heard the whole story, had a face filled with rage.
"It seems that for all these years I have not been involved in the affairs of the Heavenly Lake Palace, some really believe they can do as they please! And I wonder if Bai Fengjing has been managing affairs for these past few years?"
Bai Fengjing is the current Palace Master of the Heavenly Lake Palace.
The Ancestor’s voice was filled with anger, implying that after this Burial Dragon Debate, there would undoubtedly be a great upheaval within the Heavenly Lake Palace.
"Yuan Guyue, you have done well!" The Ancestor then said to Yuan Guyue, "If it hadn’t been for you, Qin Qing would have left the Heavenly Lake Palace today. Those like Murong Qingsong and Gu Ming, they would have become the sinners of the Heavenly Lake Palace!"
Yuan Guyue felt agitated inside. He knew he had bet correctly.
Bringing Qin Qing to Saint Lake Mountain, he had taken a considerable risk; he knew a single misstep could mean irrevocable doom.
Yet, he decided to gamble nonetheless, not only for himself but also for Qin Qing, for the Heavenly Lake Palace, and even more so for a sense of justice.
The truth is, oftentimes, a person may not be particularly righteous or completely selfless.
But when faced with a choice, one might naturally take the path of righteousness.
Yuan Guyue was such a person; even though he might have had his own desires involved, what inspired him to summon the courage and make his decisions was his perception of righteousness and justice.
Reason, and righteousness.
"Steward Yuan, you will preside over the upcoming Burial Dragon Debate!" the Ancestor added.
Yuan Guyue was overjoyed.
The Burial Dragon Debate was such an important event; arguably the most closely watched occasion across the whole Heavenly Lake Palace and even throughout the Northern Borderlands. Originally, this responsibility was to be undertaken by the Great Elder Murong Qingsong, but now the Ancestor had entrusted him with this critical task!
It was obvious that the Ancestor would place great reliance on him in the future.
And Yuan Guyue’s status within the Heavenly Lake Palace was set to rise significantly from this day forward.
Suppressing the wild joy in his heart, Yuan Guyue tried to calm himself down and bowed, saying, "Yuan Guyue will certainly live up to the Ancestor’s trust!"
Meanwhile, at the foot of Saint Lake Mountain.
The Burial Dragon Tower stood towering there.
All the Martial Artists listed for entry by Elder Gu Ming were already lined up in waiting, ready to enter the Burial Dragon Tower...
