Chapter 133: Zhao Qingmeng – “Sister, what should I do if my cultivation is progressing too fast?”
Lin Qi’an had already set his next course of action: to head to Tai’an Imperial City and participate in the grand millennial celebration! This Millennial Celebration, as the name suggests, commemorates the thousand-year unification of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty. Held once every millennium, it is a spectacular event of unparalleled scale.
At that time, every sect in the Canglan Dao Domain, if they wished to maintain any influence, would send representatives to attend! This included regional marquises, divine sons, saintesses, and outstanding talents from various sects, all converging on Tai’an City.
Lin Qi’an’s father, the Sword Emperor, would also arrive with the family, giving him the chance to see his eldest sister after so long. It would be an ultimate grand gathering for the entire Dao Domain!
Moreover, Lin Qi’an still had unfinished business with Ye Yun, the Destined Child of Tai’an Imperial City. He had allowed him ample time to grow; by now, Ye Yun should have matured considerably. Lin Qi’an hoped he wouldn’t be disappointed.
After resting for a few days on Celestial Lotus Island, Lin Qi’an set out on his journey.
“To Tai’an Imperial City.”
“The Prince has ordered us to proceed to Tai’an Imperial City!”
—
At the Xiling Divine Palace
The news of Lin Qi’an killing the Xiling Divine Palace’s Right Enforcer had already spread far and wide. While the Right Enforcer was a minor figure, the Xiling Divine Palace was more concerned with their honor than with the loss itself.
Killing someone from the Xiling Divine Palace in the Western Seas was equivalent to a heavy slap to their face. The entire Xiling Divine Palace seethed with pent-up anger, yet they knew the best chance to avenge this humiliation would be at the grand gathering in Tai’an City.
With a booming sound, a golden light burst from the Xiling Divine Palace’s dome, piercing through the night sky into the vast cosmos.
People instinctively looked up to see a figure hovering mid-air, one side of his body shrouded in icy blue, the other in fiery red. His divine radiance was majestic and extraordinary, like a god from the heavens, inspiring awe and reverence.
“The Xiling Divine Son has finally emerged from seclusion!”
“His Ice and Fire Divine Technique has broken through to the sixth layer?!”
“At the peak of the Celestial Realm… if I recall correctly, the Beiyang’s Prince has only just reached the Celestial Realm?”
“Heh, with the Divine Son out of seclusion, the younger generation across the entire Dao Domain will have no equal!”
“With the Divine Son present, our Xiling will undoubtedly reclaim its former glory at this celebration.”
People were still immersed in the awe of the Divine Son’s power when a grand voice, carrying an imperial majesty that compelled reverence, resounded through the Xiling Divine Palace!
“By decree of the Emperor, proceed to Tai’an City.”
The Xiling Emperor himself would lead the Divine Son to attend the grand celebration in Tai’an City. His departure was marked by radiant splendor, drifting clouds, and swirling spiritual energy.
—
In a remote, unnamed green mountain
“Disciple, you have become invincible in this era. Come down the mountain with me.”
The speaker was a middle-aged man with grayish-white hair, his face bearing the marks of time, yet his gaze was one of unshakable dominance.
“Master, what shall we do after descending the mountain?” asked a young man named Li Xuan, dressed in plain clothes with a blade at his waist.
“Judging by the time, the Millennial Celebration of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty should be approaching. I wonder if my old friends still remember me.”
Though the middle-aged man looked far from elderly, he was already over four thousand years old. His name was Gu Jingyun, a figure who rose to fame alongside the Sword Emperor Lin Weixuan three thousand years ago. The world had since known him as the Blade Emperor!
In the past, he, the Sword Emperor, and the Tai’an Emperor had fought as brothers in arms. After they established the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty, the Tai’an Emperor claimed the throne, as the other two had no interest in power, and thus became the ruler of the Dao Domain.
However, a woman eventually drove a rift between the Sword Emperor and the Blade Emperor—Lin Qi’an’s mother, the renowned beauty Mu Qingzhu. In a climactic battle that shook the mountains and shattered the heavens, the Sword Emperor emerged victorious, and Mu Qingzhu, who had always favored him, naturally stayed by his side.
Devastated, Gu Jingyun chose a life of wandering and ultimately retreated to seclusion in the mountains.
For a century, he had never drawn his blade, keeping it sheathed as he awaited the day he could meet the Sword Emperor once again. Recently, he had taken in a young boy who stumbled upon his mountain by accident, pouring all his efforts into training him to defeat the Sword Emperor’s son.
If he could defeat the Sword Emperor himself and have his disciple defeat the Sword Emperor’s son, only then could he find peace from his past regrets.
“Master, you say I’m invincible in this era—are you certain?”
“Of course. You’ve cultivated the ‘Eight Desolations Overlord Blade’ to the sixth layer. Even at my age back then, I had only reached the fifth. When you descend the mountain this time, there won’t be a single young talent who can last a round against you.”
“Haha! Then I’ll crush each one of those saintly prodigies and revive your reputation! Especially those of Beiyang Tianjian City.”
Li Xuan’s spirit surged with excitement. He casually swung his blade, sending a blade aura slicing through ten miles and downing a bird mid-flight.
“You’re of age now, and the Tai’an Emperor once promised to wed his youngest daughter to my descendants, so it seems you’ll benefit, kid.”
“Thank you, Master!” Li Xuan was beyond thrilled, barely able to contain his excitement. Not only could he crush the young talents of this era, but he could also wed the princess who bewitched nations. Life couldn’t be better!
He could hardly wait to reach Tai’an Imperial City. “Master, let’s set off!”
—
At a volcanic crater
Suddenly, a loud neighing echoed!
The gently flowing red magma surged violently as a figure broke through the molten sea, emerging in a blaze of fire. Bathing in the sun’s golden light, with fiery wings sprouting from his back, he appeared both sacred and solemn.
This was none other than Ye Yun, who had cultivated the “Great Sun Heavenly Emperor Sutra.” He was once the guard of Zhao Yunjin, and after suffering a setback at the Great Hunt, he resigned to undergo intense training.
Finally, he had mastered the Golden Crow Divine Fire, a flame on par with Lin Qi’an’s Nine Yang Divine Fire. With this fire, Ye Yun’s power had skyrocketed, and his techniques had reached new heights, making him incomparable to his previous self. He was now strong enough to contend with a Dao Transformation Realm cultivator.
“Fighting across realms? I can do that too! With the celebration approaching, Lin Qi’an, I hope you’ll be there! Princess, this time, I will make sure you see me in a new light…”
In a blaze of red light, he sped back towards Tai’an Imperial City.
—
At Tai’an Imperial City
Since Zhao Qingmeng’s return from her encounter with Lin Qi’an, she had gone into seclusion, isolating herself from everyone while concealing her cultivation progress.
With the memories of a Great Emperor and her extraordinary talent, her cultivation advanced as though she had hacked through obstacles.
During Lin Qi’an’s escapades outside, she had already broken through to the Transcendent Realm. But her older sister, Zhao Yunjin, was still unaware.
“Sister, I finally get to tell you. I can’t wait any longer.”
In the palace, Zhao Qingmeng headed to Zhao Yunjin’s residence, ready to deliver her a small shock. Ever since the Great Hunt, Zhao Yunjin had buried herself in relentless cultivation, using her grief as fuel for progress. As a Taiyin Divine Physique, blessed with unparalleled talent and under the guidance of the Tai’an Emperor, she advanced rapidly.
Now, she had reached the seventh layer of the Celestial Realm, a jaw-droppingly fast progression. Her mastery over the Violet Heaven Divine Thunder had also risen to a new level.
After finishing her meditation, Zhao Yunjin wiped the fine sheen of sweat from her fair forehead.
“My cultivation has improved again… even without Lin Qi’an’s Dao Physique, I should be able to achieve the Dao on my own strength.”
“A broken engagement is a broken engagement. I’ll make sure he regrets it, hmph!”
Of course, these were merely her thoughts, things she’d never say out loud. A proud imperial princess wouldn’t stoop to sounding like a resentful girl. That would ruin her carefully cultivated image.
“Darn it, why do I think of him the moment I stop cultivating…”
It took Zhao Yunjin quite a while to calm her mind. Just then, she heard a report that Zhao Qingmeng had arrived.
“What does she want? Is she here to flaunt again?” Her face immediately darkened. She had realized her younger sister was far from simple.
In the courtyard, the sunlight was bright, and birds chirped amidst blooming flowers.
“Elder Sister, you’re here!”
“I’ve been busy with cultivation lately. Unless it’s urgent, don’t come to me.” Zhao Yunjin’s tone was cold, not wanting to engage in idle talk and risk disrupting her cultivation.
“It’s nothing urgent. I just came to consult you about a little issue.”
“Speak.”
Zhao Qingmeng blinked with feigned innocence. “Recently, I accidentally reached the Transcendent Realm. My cultivation speed is too fast. Could there be any side effects?”
“What?!!!” Zhao Yunjin’s beautiful eyes widened. She sensed the spiritual energy surrounding Zhao Qingmeng, and a storm surged within her heart as if struck by a heavenly thunderbolt!
Impossible!
Zhao Qingmeng was born without any cultivation talent, an ordinary mortal. How had she managed to cultivate? During the Great Hunt, she clearly had no cultivation, and now she had reached the Transcendent Realm?
In just a couple of months, she had leapt six major realms?
“You…” Zhao Yunjin felt a lump in her throat as she suddenly recalled something.
Lin Qi’an possessed a Dao Physique, and Zhao Qingmeng had often spent time with him. Could she have benefited from his Dao Physique, awakening her cultivation path?
“Give me your hand!” Zhao Yunjin brusquely grabbed Zhao Qingmeng’s wrist, trying to confirm if her original purity remained intact.
“As expected…”
It was indeed Lin Qi’an.
Very well, then! I had just annulled my engagement with him, and now you’re entangled with him already? Do you really not regard me as your sister?
“Sister, why are you so harsh!” Zhao Qingmeng pouted.
“Guards, see the guest out!” Zhao Yunjin stood up, leaving without a backward glance, her stunning figure framed by the golden hem of her gown.
“Hehe…!” Zhao Qingmeng nearly burst into laughter.
This was too satisfying.
The famed beauty of the Canglan Dao Domain, jealous and arguing with her younger sister—how ridiculous was that? Hahaha!
Brother Lin should be arriving in Tai’an City soon.
The coming days will certainly be exciting.