Chapter 452 (1)
“What Golden Core Master? This Li Changbo is worse than a beast!”
Li Changbo snapped out of his daze, only to hear this furious insult.
He was instantly enraged.
Who dares to curse me like this!
He was about to unleash a spell to obliterate the insolent person, but suddenly realized he couldn't move at all.
The boundless power of his Golden Core Realm was completely inaccessible.
In front of him stood a young man with a faint smile, looking at him mockingly.
Only then did Li Changbo remember—this terrifying young man had suppressed him earlier.
At the same time, memories of the illusion he had just experienced surged back into his mind.
Hearing the scornful voices from the city below, he finally understood what had happened. His face turned deathly pale.“Awake, are you?” Lu Qing said indifferently. “It seems your love for your wife wasn't as deep as you'd like others to believe.
That poor woman was completely deceived by you. Even in her final moments, she was still pleading for your life, unaware that the one she loved most was the one who had pushed her into the abyss.”
Li Changbo's face turned ashen. He wanted to refute these words, but he found himself unable to speak.
Lu Qing, losing interest in further conversation, reached out and conjured a black vortex in his palm. In the face of Li Changbo's terror-stricken gaze, the vortex swallowed him whole.
As Li Changbo vanished, peace returned to the area.
“Honored Lord, about this Li Changbo…”
The Cold Water Palace’s Palace Master hesitated, her voice uncertain.
“Don’t worry. He will not appear in this world again.”
Lu Qing offered no further explanation for his actions and spoke calmly.
The Palace Master immediately felt reassured.
With Lu Qing’s identity and reputation, his words were undoubtedly true. Moreover, from what she knew of him, he was a person who detested evil.
Thus, Li Changbo’s fate was sealed.
Thinking this, the Palace Master bowed deeply to Lu Qing. “Thank you, Honored Lord, for eradicating this vile man and saving my Cold Water Palace from its peril. This immense kindness will never be forgotten by us.”
“There’s no need for such gratitude,” Lu Qing replied with a shake of his head. “I simply happened to pass by and intervened because Li Changbo was excessively ruthless. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have meddled in your disputes.” ṝâ𐌽ọ𝔟Еš
With that, he gestured for Xiao Yan and prepared to leave.
“Please wait, Honored Lord!” The Palace Master called out hastily.
Lu Qing paused and turned to look at her.
“Honored Lord, your intervention not only saved the Cold Water Palace but also spared the entire Cold Water City from devastation.
This grace is beyond repayment. However, over the tens of thousands of years of our Palace’s existence, we have accumulated some treasures.
If it pleases you, may I humbly invite you to browse our collection? You are welcome to take anything you find valuable.”
“You want to gift me treasures?” Lu Qing asked, surprised.
“With your unparalleled cultivation, Honored Lord, I do not know if anything in our Cold Water Palace can meet your standards.”
Lu Qing hesitated.
Truthfully, he was a bit tempted.
With the unique nature of his Perfect Golden Core, he currently lacked cultivation resources. Gaining some supplies from the Cold Water Palace’s treasure trove could prove beneficial.
Moreover...
Glancing at Xiao Yan, he noticed the girl staring intently at the Palace Master. Remembering Xiao Yan's Ice Muscle and Jade Bone physique, Lu Qing made up his mind.
A slight smile appeared on his face. “In that case, I shall humbly accept your invitation.”
The Palace Master’s expression lit up with joy. “Thank you, Honored Lord! Please follow me into the palace.”
Under her guidance, Lu Qing, holding Xiao Yan’s hand, descended slowly into the enormous ice palace.
...
As Lu Qing and Xiao Yan disappeared into the icy structure, the city fell silent for a moment.
Then, like boiling water, it erupted with excitement.
People began discussing the astonishing events.
“Who is that young man? He subdued a Golden Core Master with no resistance!”
“The Palace Master called him ‘Honored Lord.’ Who in the world commands such a title from one of the Four Great Secret Realm Masters?”
“To defeat a Golden Core cultivator so effortlessly, what level of cultivation has this Honored Lord achieved?”
...
Among all the speculations, no one knew Lu Qing’s true identity. Yet everyone in the city was filled with gratitude.
Earlier, they had clearly heard Li Changbo’s twisted words. That man was a despicable monster, and they were all fortunate to have been saved from his wrath by Lu Qing.
The most excited person, however, was the innkeeper.
He shouted to those around him, “The Honored Lord dined at my inn earlier! I even served him several plates of meat myself!”
His words immediately caused a rush of people to flock to the inn.
After all, it was no lie. Lu Qing had indeed been on the roof of that inn before.
...
Meanwhile, Lu Qing paid no attention to the commotion outside.
Upon landing, the Palace Master promptly ordered, “Prepare a banquet immediately!”
“Yes, Palace Master!”
The palace disciples, who had witnessed everything that had transpired above, dared not delay. Some of them, having visited the Central State, recognized Lu Qing’s identity and hurried to make preparations.
The Palace Master then led Lu Qing and Xiao Yan to a grand hall.
She spoke again, “Honored Lord, I must apologize for my current disheveled state. Please permit me to freshen up.”
Lu Qing gave a slight nod.
Indeed, the Palace Master’s appearance was rather untidy—her clothes and hair bore signs of being scorched by Li Changbo’s flames, and traces of blood from her injuries stained her robes.
After the Palace Master left, Lu Qing strolled leisurely with Xiao Yan through the hall.
This hall was clearly built to welcome distinguished guests, with exquisite decorations and intricate carvings adorning its interior.