Chapter 126 - 125: Inside the Cave, A Glorious Golden Dragon, Chen Yulang, Matters of the Martial World
With the Dragon Qi, the symbol of the nation’s destiny, severed, didn’t this mean that Great Xia’s destiny was about to collapse?
Yan Qingyue’s eyes were vacant, her expression dazed as she stared at the Golden Dragon of Destiny before her.
She had cast her Life Peeping Divine Techniques repeatedly, but she was completely unable to perceive the specific nature of the impending calamity!
It was as if a heavy shroud veiled her eyes, making it impossible to see the scene ahead clearly.
「Meanwhile, at the East Gate of the Imperial City.」
A short, white-browed old man in a white Daoist Robe sat on a wooden stool, a faint smile on his face.
Beside him stood a Brown Banner, giving him the perfect appearance of a Fortune Teller.
"Master Daoist! Please, take a look for me! Can I live to be sixty?"
A wealthy, portly, middle-aged man stood before the fortune-telling stall, asking with a nervous expression.
His brow was furrowed as if under a dark cloud, and fine beads of sweat trickled down his face.
"Patience... patience..."
The white-browed old man spoke in a slow, unhurried manner. He chuckled as he took the portly man’s palm, looking for all the world like he was telling a fortune.
But out of the corner of his eye, he glanced toward the Imperial City and sneered inwardly.
’Soon! Very soon...’
’Your Majesty’s plan will be accomplished in just a little more time!’
’When that day comes, no one in the entire Imperial City will make it out alive!’
...
Late that night, Su Bai left Aunt Chen’s house.
With nothing better to do, he recalled how he had previously freeloaded Evil Qi and Demonic Qi at the cave entrance to increase his Experience Points.
And so, Su Bai set off for the prison again. He ran back to that mysterious cave entrance and began freeloading Experience Points once more!
The 100,000 Tier Two Experience Points he had previously obtained from the Soaring Demon were also poured by Su Bai into his [Second Immortal Golden Body Transformation]!
Now, the Experience Points for his [Second Immortal Golden Body Transformation] had increased to 720,000!
Its power had strengthened considerably once again!
And as his Experience Points steadily grew, Su Bai could vaguely sense that this Cultivation Technique was not far from breaking through to the [Third Immortal Golden Body Transformation]!
Just two hours later,
the Experience Points for his [Second Immortal Golden Body Transformation] had increased by another 20,000!
He wasn’t far from breaking the one million mark!
’I need to get the Immortal Golden Body’s Experience Points past one million as soon as possible. Then, I should be able to break through to the Third Transformation!’
’And I wonder how much more powerful the Third Transformation Immortal Golden Body will be?’
Su Bai was filled with anticipation.
As a person’s strength steadily increased, so too did their boldness, and certain little ideas would begin to stir.
Su Bai had been absorbing the dense Evil Qi beside the cave entrance, a basically risk-free and uneventful process.
Finally, he couldn’t help but turn his gaze toward the inside of the cave.
"Maybe... I should go in and take another look?"
Su Bai muttered to himself.
Once this thought took root, it spread like a weed, growing wildly!
It was impossible to suppress!
’What’s the worst that can happen? I’ll just shatter one Divine Thought Incarnation!’
Having made his decision, Su Bai deployed a Divine Thought Incarnation and plunged headfirst into the cave entrance, which was wreathed in roiling black mist!
"HISS!"
「A while later, in his personal residence.」
Su Bai rubbed the space between his eyebrows. His head felt somewhat tight, and he took a sharp breath.
His Divine Thought Incarnation had been struck down again!
However, it was better than the last time.
This time, the Divine Thought Incarnation hadn’t shattered completely. Upon returning to his main body, the resulting injury was significantly lighter than before.
Just as Su Bai was preparing to rest and recover, he saw the golden Spirit Sea in his mind begin to churn, sending up one golden wave after another!
From the crests of the waves, streams of smoke-like Spiritual Power flowed out, rapidly mending the tear in his Divine Spirit!
He estimated that it would probably heal itself in just a little while.
Though he was injured, he had also made some gains.
Su Bai had managed to discover quite a few things inside the cave.
The last time, he hadn’t even been able to see what shattered his Divine Spirit, but this time, he saw it clearly.
It was a sword!
Or maybe... a person?
Even Su Bai himself couldn’t be sure at this moment.
In the final image he saw...
A bottomless abyss seemed to pierce through heaven and earth, with black chains extending out from within!
On each chain, a massive set of skeletal remains was bound!
There were humans, fiends, and Demons!
There were also indescribable, bizarre creatures!
And at the very end of the largest chain, which resembled a black Demon Dragon, was a figure sitting cross-legged with eyes closed, radiating a sky-high Demonic Qi!
Su Bai didn’t get a clear look at the person’s face.
Because as Su Bai’s incarnation chose to go deeper, he saw that person suddenly stand up!
He ruthlessly pulled out the Golden Longsword plunged into his chest!
And slashed viciously at Su Bai!
In that instant, within the seemingly endless abyss, a brilliant, golden True Dragon appeared...
This was why Su Bai remained uncertain to this day;
the fundamental reason being he couldn’t tell if it was the person or the sword that had slain his Divine Thought Incarnation.
What wounded him was, indeed, that Golden Longsword!
But, Su Bai felt that the person had probably been dead for a very long time, and was just a puppet controlled by the Golden Longsword.
’Once I cultivate a more profound Divine Soul Technique, or my Realm breaks through to the Divine Platform, I should be able to learn all the secrets within the cavern...’
Su Bai had a vague premonition about this.
The night passed without event.
Early the next morning, dawn broke across the sky as a gentle breeze carried a light drizzle.
After eating a fried pancake, Su Bai found himself unconsciously walking to the Daoist Study again.
In front of the Daoist Study’s main doors, the owner chuckled as he held up a cup of clear tea.
"Little Brother Su! Care to come in for a taste?"
The owner of the Daoist Study extended a warm invitation. "It’s not any fancy tea, but its virtue is its freshness. It was all just picked!"
Su Bai smiled and nodded, then followed the owner into the Daoist Study.
The two of them sat down at a huanghuali wood table, and the owner skillfully prepared and steeped the tea for Su Bai.
"Here, have a taste!"
The owner of the Daoist Study gestured for him to drink.
Su Bai nodded and took a light sip.
It was crisp and sweetly fragrant!
Although it lacked the delicate refinement of more expensive teas, it had its own special charm.
The flavor was genuinely good!
Then, Su Bai heard the owner of the Daoist Study say smugly, "This is tea I grew myself, and I only pick the finest quality leaves!"
"Sturdy, short, and tender!"
"This light rain gives the tea an even richer character!"
"And not only that, the task of picking the tea must be entrusted to young maidens of sixteen summers, plucked by their own hands!"
"That’s why this tea is also called Beauty’s Pluck!"
Su Bai simply drank the rest of the tea in one gulp right in front of him, smacked his lips, and said, "I didn’t realize the owner of the Daoist Study was such a man of particular tastes!"
"When it comes to growing and picking tea, one must naturally be particular!"
The owner of the Daoist Study replied with a serious expression.
The two continued to chat.
This time, it could be said they had formed a slight friendship.
They took the opportunity to exchange names, and it was then that Su Bai learned the owner of the Daoist Study was named Chen Yulang.
The story went that in his younger years, he was a Scholar from a destitute family who had spent half a lifetime saving up money to travel to the capital for the imperial examinations!
In the end, he failed the exam.
Unresigned, he used his remaining funds to rent a shop in the city and start his Daoist Study business.
And he’d been there ever since!
On the surface, Su Bai offered a few words of comfort.
Inwardly, however, he scoffed at this sly fox hiding within the Imperial City!
Su Bai didn’t believe a single word the man said!
"Oh, right! I recently got a new shipment in. I’m sure you’ll like it!"
Suddenly, Chen Yulang seemed to recall something.
He excitedly ran back into the inner hall.
A moment later, he rushed back out, clutching a small booklet!
"Take a look!"
Chen Yulang chuckled as he handed the small booklet to Su Bai.
Su Bai took it with curiosity.
It was smooth to the touch! And very thin!
The craftsmanship was exquisite!
The booklet was even trimmed with a golden border, giving it a noble and extraordinary air!
Four large words were written on the cover!
Matters of the Martial World!