Entrance to the Celestial Lake

Entrance to the Celestial Lake...

Yi Xiang fixed his gaze on Qin Wentian as he spoke, "Brother Qin, while the Ouyang Clan and the Azure Emperor Palace are both in the Azure Continent, they can't be compared in terms of power. The Ouyang Clan is among the top forces in the Nine Continents. Brother Ouyang here is considered one of their finest talents. Both of his Astral Souls are condensed from the 4th Heavenly Layer."

Qin Wentian's heart quickened as he glanced at Ouyang Kuangsheng. It was exceptionally rare for someone to condense both of their Astral Souls at the 4th Heavenly Layer. The Nine Continents were indeed a land of hidden talents.

"Quit buttering me up," Ouyang Kuangsheng laughed heartily, as if he didn't care at all about his achievements. "Look at my age; I haven't even reached the Yuanfu Realm. There's nothing for me to brag about."

Yi Xiang's lips quivered; his attempt to flatter Ouyang Kuangsheng was clear from his tone and choice of words.

"Brother Qin, even though you might not have the chance to dip into the celestial lake this time, you can still consider this an opportunity to broaden your horizons," Yi Xiang quickly redirected the conversation back to Qin Wentian, sounding slightly self-satisfied as he noticed how attentively Qin Wentian listened to him.

After chatting a bit longer, Qin Wentian returned to his room with a heart filled with worries about the turmoil in Chu.

Compared to the extraordinary figures out there, the geniuses from Chu undoubtedly paled in comparison. With his current strength, he couldn't be of much help regarding the chaotic storm brewing in Chu. Although he had inherited the map of Dicang from the Azure Emperor, he was still completely clueless about what to do next. Qin Wentian could only take things one step at a time now.

"What's on your mind?" Mo Qingcheng entered the room, her attire looking quite out of place. Qin Wentian couldn't help but laugh when he saw her, earning a glare from Mo Qingcheng.

"I'm wondering if your clan members knew I kidnapped you and took you to this faraway place, would they come after me with everything they've got?" Qin Wentian smiled gently.

"In that case, you'd better be prepared," Mo Qingcheng retorted with a playful smile.

"Prepared?" A gleam of mischief sparkled in Qin Wentian's eyes as he gazed at Mo Qingcheng intensely. Her mischievous expression transformed into one of extreme shyness as she replied, "You rascal."

With that, Mo Qingcheng hurriedly left the room, leaving Qin Wentian with a fond smile on his face.

In the days that followed, a steady stream of people continued to arrive. Qin Wentian leaned over his balcony and spotted two rows of figures marching in an orderly fashion. Leading one of the lines was an exceptionally beautiful girl. When he saw her, Qin Wentian couldn't help but freeze for a moment, his surprise turning into a smile as he called out, "Hey, Qian Mengyu!"

Qian Mengyu looked up, and her face registered astonishment upon seeing Qin Wentian. Ever since their adventure in the Spirit Beasts Testing Grounds, she had dispatched people to gather information about him. The reports confirmed that there was indeed a person named Qin Wentian in Chu, who had gained quite a bit of fame. However, she knew little else about him.

"What brings you here?" Qian Mengyu asked with a smile. She was surprised that someone from a small country like Chu knew about the Celestial Lake Palace.

"The same reason as you," Qin Wentian replied with a laugh. Meeting here felt like fate, so he was warmer in his demeanor compared to their encounter in the Spirit Beasts Testing Grounds. After all, Qian Mengyu had once helped him, and her sword technique, the Nine Swords of Life, hinted at a possible connection to Gongyang Hong.

"I'll be staying there," Qian Mengyu pointed to a pavilion next to Qin Wentian's as she ascended to the second level.

"This time, Greencloud Pavilion sent out many disciples. The tests of the Celestial Lake Palace are extremely perilous. Why don't you join us? At the very least, we can watch out for each other," Qian Mengyu suggested. She genuinely wanted to assist Qin Wentian. He didn't have a powerful background, so he must have faced numerous dangers to reach this point. Since their paths had crossed again, it seemed natural to extend a helping hand.

"Sure," Qin Wentian agreed without overthinking it. Then he asked, "Can I inquire about something? Is the Nine Swords of Life a unique sword-type innate technique of your Greencloud Pavilion?"

"It can be considered unique," Qian Mengyu confirmed, adding, "This set of sword techniques contains various transformations and an indomitable will. My mastery is still at the surface level, but my aunt, who cultivated it, reached incredible heights. She could even manifest the sword energy of this technique to attack using a sword-type divine imprint, making it even more powerful."

"Aunt?" Qin Wentian's heart raced. Could Qian Mengyu's aunt be the woman Gongyang Hong loved?

In fact, weren't the four human-type Divine Inscription Paintings inscribed by the woman Gongyang Hong loved?

"Why do you ask? Are you also skilled in sword techniques?" Qian Mengyu inquired with a smile.

"No, just a casual question. Your aunt must be incredibly talented," Qin Wentian remarked.

"Yes! My aunt is not only extremely beautiful but also highly talented in cultivation. Many have pursued her, but sadly, matters of the heart have held her back," Qian Mengyu sighed before abruptly realizing the direction of their conversation. Why was she sharing these personal details with Qin Wentian?

Seeing Qin Wentian's warm smile, Qian Mengyu couldn't help but feel a bitter laugh bubbling up inside her. She knew she shouldn't let her imagination run wild. While Qin Wentian's talent was respectable, she had no intention of starting a romantic relationship with him. She was assisting him because of their chance encounter, nothing more.

Unaware of the thoughts in Qian Mengyu's mind, Qin Wentian noticed her waning interest in their conversation. He turned to head back into his room, where Mo Qingcheng was sitting quietly.

"I had a chance encounter with her, and there's a high probability she has some connection with Senior Gongyang," Qin Wentian explained to Mo Qingcheng. She nodded and chuckled, her laughter carrying a captivating charm.

Qin Wentian retrieved one of the four paintings given to him by Gongyang Hong. It was the Divine Inscription Painting of the Nine Swords of Life. However, the inscriptions on this painting contained only a conceptual understanding; it couldn't be used directly for attacks. Qin Wentian had previously received memories of divine imprints. If he could utilize some of the complex 3rd-level imprints stored in his memory, how powerful would his attacks become?

Qin Wentian had previously realized that divine imprints and innate techniques shared a common origin.

His eyes brightened with excitement, but soon, unease clouded his expression. Using 3rd-level divine imprints for direct attacks would be incredibly potent but would deplete a significant amount of his Divine Yuan Energy. Before reaching Yuanfu, he would only be able to execute such an attack a few times at most before running out of energy.

Mo Qingcheng smiled gently as she observed the serious expression on Qin Wentian's face. She wondered what he was contemplating so deeply.

"At the Astral River Hall, when I saw the multitude of fist-lights, I gained insights into the second stance of the Great Dream Halberd Art – Fallen Star. But if I could use a sword-type Divine Yuan to amplify my attacks..." A gleam of determination flashed in Qin Wentian's eyes. If his idea could become reality, opponents in the Yuanfu realm might not be unbeatable after all.

Tilting his head, Qin Wentian noticed Mo Qingcheng's tender smile and the warmth in her eyes. His heart swelled with emotion, and he felt a sudden impulse.

"What are you thinking?" Mo Qingcheng still hadn't caught onto the peculiar look in Qin Wentian's eyes. Before she could react, he had enveloped her in a hug, gently kissing her on the cheek. Mo Qingcheng was left stunned, feeling as though she'd been struck by lightning.

Suddenly, Qin Wentian sprang up and ran away. It was only then that Mo Qingcheng regained her senses. Her face flushed bright red as she giggled, watching Qin Wentian disappear. She couldn't imagine a more beautiful moment than this.

Following their conversation, Qin Wentian remained in his room. Mo Qingcheng occasionally checked on him, only to find him deeply engrossed in meditation, clutching Yuan Meteor Stones in his hands.

Within Qin Wentian's body, Astral Energy continuously gathered, condensing into sword-type Divine Yuan Energy, emanating an aura of unparalleled sharpness.

All of his sword attacks were already incredibly sharp, but augmenting them with his current sword-type Divine Yuan Energy would undoubtedly elevate their power to a whole new level. However, this conversion would deplete a significant number of Yuan Meteor Stones. Fortunately, he had an abundance of cultivation resources at his disposal.

Additionally, he decided to create a dreamscape to test the viability of his idea.

The following day, representatives from the Celestial Lake Palace arrived to invite everyone. They left their pavilions and entered a long hallway, heading towards the Celestial Lake Palace.

Qin Wentian couldn't help but comment, "So many people." The hallway was filled with hundreds of individuals.

Qian Mengyu explained, "This number isn't considered many. The Grand Xia Empire is vast, and the celestial lake is of utmost importance to cultivators at the 9th level of Arterial Circulation. Even young elites from powerful clans and factions undertake this journey. Firstly, they can immerse themselves in the celestial lake's waters, and secondly, they can use the opportunity to temper themselves through the dangers faced on the way here."

Qin Wentian's curiosity prompted him to ask, "Is this place open to everyone? Doesn't the Celestial Lake Palace reject anyone?"

Qian Mengyu clarified, "Yes, this was a promise made by Fairy Qingmei in the past. Besides, she had no need to obstruct those who came, because the weaker ones wouldn't even realize their deaths were imminent until it was too late."

To avoid unwanted attention, Mo Qingcheng had disguised herself as a man and applied something to her face, making her look less recognizable. Qian Mengyu and the girl beside Ouyang Kuangsheng, while not as beautiful as Mo Qingcheng, didn't need to hide their features and weren't afraid of attracting attention.

The representatives led the crowd to a grand hall. It was adorned with massive stone pillars, and the outer walls were designed to resemble a starry sky. In the center of the hall, a pool of Astral Lake Water glistened, reflecting the radiant sheen of starlight.

"This is the entrance to the Celestial Lake. Truly, it's a mystical place. The celestial lake's waters are filled with an incredible amount of Astral Energy," gasped many in the crowd, awestruck by the sight.

In front of the grand hall, an exquisite woman occupied the Astral Throne, a gentle smile gracing her lips.

"We pay our respects to the Palace Mistress," the crowd greeted with deep bows, their admiration evident in their eyes as they couldn't help but steal glances at the women standing beside the beautiful woman.

These women were stunningly beautiful, like fireworks amidst the mundane world. Simply standing there made the onlookers feel inadequate in their own appearance.

Most of the females in the crowd paled in comparison, including Mo Qingcheng. She couldn't help but comment, "They are all so beautiful."

Qin Wentian playfully nudged her and whispered in her ear, "Finally, we've found a female whose looks can rival yours." Mo Qingcheng rolled her eyes at his remark.

"But doesn't she seem a bit cold?" she noted.

Qin Wentian agreed with a subtle nod. The woman exuded an air of aloofness, her icy demeanor creating an impenetrable barrier that seemed impossible to breach.