Ouyang Kuangsheng

Ouyang Kuangsheng...

As soon as Qin Wentian casually referred to Mo Qingcheng as his girlfriend, a subtle blush crept into her beautiful eyes. A sweet, almost imperceptible smile played upon her lips, revealing the silent approval her heart had already given to this budding relationship.

Yet, amidst her growing affection, Mo Qingcheng found herself in awe. Had she truly fallen in love with this man? A year ago, such a notion would have seemed preposterous.

Meanwhile, Yi Xiang's features darkened upon hearing Qin Wentian's declaration. He had befriended Qin Wentian primarily because of Mo Qingcheng's beauty. His disappointment was evident as he responded, "I see."

Inside, he cursed Qin Wentian's inexplicable luck. What kind of background did this guy possess to win Mo Qingcheng's heart? The question gnawed at him, and he couldn't help but probe further. "Brother Qin, do you know the reason we're here? And which of the nine state cities are you from?"

Qin Wentian shrugged nonchalantly. "I really have no idea. I don't hail from any of the nine state cities."

Yi Xiang continued with his explanation, shedding light on the Celestial Lake Palace's origin. "The name 'Celestial Lake Palace' comes from the natural celestial lake within the palace itself. This lake is of immense benefit to cultivators below the Heavenly Dipper Realm. When Fairy Qingmei discovered it, there was quite the commotion. Many powerful experts sought to claim it. But the Azure Emperor was a paramount figure, ranked first among the 36 heavenly starlords. Even the overlords of the nine continents had to show restraint due to his influence. They didn't dare to challenge Fairy Qingmei for the celestial lake."

He then elaborated further, "However, after the Azure Emperor's disappearance, other powers began to voice their objections. They didn't want Fairy Qingmei to have sole possession of the celestial lake. In response, she made an announcement, allowing talented youths from the nine continents to visit anytime. As long as they could pass her tests, they could enjoy the benefits of the celestial lake. Only then did the other powers stop their protests. Nobody wanted to offend the incredibly long-lived celestial demoness."

Qin Wentian nodded in understanding. He knew that demons, especially demonic beasts, had a vastly different cultivation pace compared to humans. While they had slower cultivation rates, their lifespans greatly exceeded those of humans. For demonic beasts who had reached the Heavenly Dipper Realm and obtained human forms, their lifespans ranged from 5,000 to 6,000 years. Given these facts, other powers naturally hesitated to provoke Fairy Qingmei too much.

"So, does this mean that all these cultivators are here to harness the celestial lake's power for their cultivation?" Qin Wentian surveyed the bustling streets, filled with young cultivators of both genders. They were typically around 25-26 years old and exuded exceptional charisma. No one would dare to come here without a certain level of strength.

In the distance, a gaze fixated on Qin Wentian as he observed the crowd. A malevolent laughter rang out, and the source was none other than the arrogant young man who had ridden the Hawk-eye Lion before.

Yi Xiang's gaze followed Qin Wentian's, and when he spotted the young man in question, a subtle shift in his expression revealed a touch of unease. Speaking in a hushed tone, he informed Qin Wentian, "That's Shiki, a beastman from the Beast King Hall, one of the dominant powers in the Demon Continent."

"Beastman?" Qin Wentian raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

Yi Xiang leaned in closer to Qin Wentian, sharing a tidbit of information. "The master of the Beast King Hall is a demonic lion at the Heavenly Dipper Realm. This beast king is notorious for his lecherous ways, having liaised with numerous human wives and concubines. Their offspring, a mix of both demonic and human blood, are known as beastmen. Shiki himself is a direct descendant of the beast king."

"Hey, kid, what's all this whispering about?" Shiki interrupted, his voice carrying a frigid edge. He cast a cold glance at Yi Xiang, causing the latter to shiver. Trying to defuse the situation, Yi Xiang replied with a forced smile, "Just some casual conversation."

"Oh, is that so?" Shiki turned his attention to the young woman standing behind Yi Xiang, a lascivious glint in his eyes as he licked his lips. Her anger flared at this shameless behavior; it seemed the descendants of the beast king were all equally lecherous.

Just then, a group of young women dressed in pristine white garments emerged from the Celestial Lake Palace, each one exuding an otherworldly beauty.

All eyes in the crowd shifted toward them, and many lost themselves in adoration, their gazes transfixed.

It seemed that the rumors about Fairy Qingmei only accepting exceptionally beautiful women as disciples were indeed true. In addition to gaining access to the celestial lake, those who passed the tests could also select a female disciple as their dao companion, provided the chosen disciple agreed. This incentive fueled the determination of many, igniting their competitive spirit.

This tradition had persisted for thousands of years, with no one understanding Fairy Qingmei's rationale behind it.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please, enter the Celestial Lake Palace," the celestial maidens invited, leading the way. The crowd followed, stepping into the splendid palace.

The interior of the palace was a marvel of grandeur. The cultivators entered a long hallway flanked by elegant pavilions on either side. These pavilions were already occupied by people. Most of the onlookers wore a cold, competitive expression as they noticed the residents peeking out. These people were likely here for the same purpose – to take the test. However, their aspirations were somewhat misguided. The Celestial Lake Palace opened to the public only once a month, and during each opening, only seven individuals could access the celestial lake. This month, with numerous cultivators seeking their chance, rising above the rest would be no easy feat.

Qin Wentian marveled at the Celestial Lake Palace, its beauty and design capturing his imagination. Fairy Qingmei's architectural masterpiece possessed an enchanting, dream-like quality. At the end of the long hallway, they arrived at an area filled with residential buildings, scattered in picturesque disorder. Just ahead lay a flight of stairs, and at the summit, the celestial palace awaited.

Qin Wentian pondered aloud, "Is Fairy Qingmei still here?" He could now confirm that the location on Dicang's map referred to this place. However, what should be done next remained a mystery.

Yi Xiang had shared the legend of the Azure Emperor's abandonment of Fairy Qingmei. Yet, Qin Wentian harbored doubts. There must be hidden truths here, or the Azure Emperor wouldn't have concealed the map scroll on the 9th level of the Heavenly Star Pavilion, nor instructed each generation's headmaster to guard it.

He had a daring hypothesis: Perhaps the Azure Emperor's greatest secret wasn't within the Azure Emperor Palace but entrusted to the protection of Fairy Qingmei. This bold idea stemmed from the information provided by the map of Dicang. Those ancient powerhouses who witnessed the Azure Emperor's clash with Fairy Qingmei would never have considered her to be guarding the Azure Emperor's most significant secret.

However, before they could delve deeper into their musings, a loud and confrontational voice pierced the air. "Shiki, you non-human, non-demon piece of trash, you dare to show your face here? Are you not afraid that I, your father, will turn you into something neither human nor demon?"

Yi Xiang trembled in shock at this public humiliation of Shiki from the Beast King Hall. Who had the audacity to call out Shiki like this?

Turning to look, Yi Xiang spotted a young man dressed in blue robes, roughly 18 years old. His square face and large eyes framed a boisterous, laughter-filled expression as he confronted Shiki.

"Ouyang Kuangsheng," Yi Xiang gasped. Most cultivators who visited the Celestial Lake Palace had relatively low cultivation levels. Typically, those below the 3rd level of Yuanfu and at the 9th level of Arterial Circulation sought the mystical effects of the Celestial Lake to break through to Yuanfu. Such Yuanfu, formed with the lake's mystical effects, would be larger than usual, allowing cultivators to store more Astral Energy.

Ouyang Kuangsheng was also at the 9th level of Arterial Circulation, which, considering his age, wasn't particularly remarkable. In the vast realm of the nine continents, numerous youths had already reached the Yuanfu level. However, there was a faction of cultivators who prioritized solidifying their foundations by enhancing their affinity and sensory abilities first. To facilitate their future cultivation, many chose to condense an Astral Soul only after an extended period of time, beginning their cultivation later than their peers.

Ouyang Kuangsheng fell into this category. He ignored the judgments of others and only began his cultivation journey after turning 16. Not only outsiders but also many within his clan had looked down on him.

However, he astounded everyone by condensing a 4th Heavenly Layer Astral Soul in a single night. This achievement sent shockwaves through the Ouyang Clan, earning Ouyang Kuangsheng the respect he deserved. Over the next two years, his cultivation skyrocketed, reaching the peak of the Arterial Circulation Realm. While he might have been slower compared to some, both of his Astral Souls were from the 4th Heavenly Layer, making his combat prowess exceptionally formidable. There weren't many at the same level who could challenge him.

Shiki, much like Ouyang Kuangsheng, was another tyrannical character. If it had been any other cultivator at the 9th level of Arterial Circulation who dared to speak to him in such a manner, Shiki would have undoubtedly tried to eliminate them. However, he wasn't confident in his ability to defeat Ouyang Kuangsheng.

"Ouyang Kuangsheng, remember what you just said," Shiki retorted coldly.

"Do you really think I, your father, would be afraid of you?" Ouyang Kuangsheng laughed heartily, and a stunning young lady appeared beside him, capturing Yi Xiang's extreme fascination. She, too, accompanied Ouyang Kuangsheng.

It seemed that this journey to the Celestial Lake Palace was filled with hidden talents and formidable figures. Rumor had it that Yao Sheng from the Skydemon Sect had also arrived earlier. He was another challenging character to deal with. At the thought of facing such formidable individuals, Yi Xiang's confidence began to wane, leaving him somewhat despondent.

"First, please choose your place of residence. You are all welcome to stay in the available pavilions. There are still a few days before the tests begin," announced the representatives from the Celestial Lake Palace. The crowd dispersed, selecting the pavilions where they would stay.

"Let's stay there," Qin Wentian pointed to a pavilion, smiling at Mo Qingcheng.

"Sure," Mo Qingcheng agreed, and together they walked to the pavilion. It had two levels; the first contained a living room, while the second had two bedrooms, just the right size for the two of them.

Standing on the balcony outside the bedroom, Qin Wentian noticed that Yi Xiang and his companion had chosen the pavilion across from theirs, while Ouyang Kuangsheng had taken the one beside Yi Xiang.

"Hey, kid, where are you from?" Ouyang Kuangsheng's curiosity shone in his eyes as he fixed his gaze on Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian, aged 17 and devilishly handsome, had eyes that seemed to possess an enigmatic depth. He replied with a smile, "I'm from a very small country, probably not one you've heard of. And you?"

Ouyang Kuangsheng blinked, then grinned. Next door, Yi Xiang chimed in, "Brother Qin, this is Ouyang Kuangsheng, a promising talent from the Ouyang Clan in the Azure Continent."

Yi Xiang introduced them, nodding toward Ouyang Kuangsheng as a sign of goodwill. However, Qin Wentian had no concept of the Ouyang Clan's influence and didn't know who Ouyang Kuangsheng was.

"The Azure Continent, the Azure Emperor Palace should be there," Qin Wentian mumbled to himself. Upon hearing this, Ouyang Kuangsheng was momentarily taken aback before bursting into genuine laughter. What an intriguing youngster! Although the Azure Emperor Palace had once been illustrious, its power had diminished over time. How could it still be mentioned in the same breath as the Ouyang Clan?

Yi Xiang, too, found himself speechless. Could it be that in Qin Wentian's eyes, the Azure Emperor Palace held greater importance than the Ouyang Clan?