Chapter 455 (1)
Faced with Lu Qing’s departure, despite Han Lingshuang’s many attempts to dissuade him, Lu Qing ultimately chose to leave.
“Big Sister Lingshuang, we’re leaving now. You must visit me in the future!”
Outside the Ice Palace, Xiao Yan said reluctantly.
“Alright, when I have time, I’ll definitely visit you,” Han Lingshuang replied affectionately.
She had grown quite fond of this lively and adorable younger sister.
As the daughter of the previous Palace Master, Han Lingshuang was born into a position of privilege and was treated with the utmost respect in Cold Water Palace. It was rare for someone to treat her with such familiarity, and she found it hard to part with.
Once the goodbyes were said, Lu Qing took Xiao Yan’s hand, and the two of them ascended into the sky, flying beyond Cold Water City.
Han Lingshuang stood still, watching until their figures vanished from sight.
“Palace Master, has the Supreme Elder left?”
At this moment, several figures appeared behind Han Lingshuang.“Yes. The Supreme Elder said that this journey is to take Xiao Yan on a tour of the world. Their visit to our Cold Water City was purely coincidental,” Han Lingshuang said with a nod.
“And what about Li Changbo...?” one person hesitantly asked.
“The Supreme Elder said he will no longer exist in this world.”
Hearing this, the others visibly relaxed. After all, having a Golden Core cultivator like Li Changbo, who bore a deep grudge against them, linger in the world was a constant source of unease.
With the tension eased, a playful atmosphere returned among the group.
One person remarked, “Who would have thought that he has reached such an unimaginable level? Even a Golden Core cultivator is utterly powerless before him.”
“Indeed,” another agreed with a sigh. “Not long ago, back in Zhongzhou, we witnessed him undergoing tribulation and entering the Precelestial Realm. It’s been such a short time, and yet he’s grown this powerful.”
“After the revival of spiritual energy, he was the first to undergo tribulation. Even at the point of breaking into the Precelestial Realm, he could summon a lightning tribulation. Such a person is beyond our comprehension.”
These individuals were the core disciples Cold Water Palace had sent to Zhongzhou in search of fortuitous opportunities. Though they had witnessed Lu Qing’s tribulation and knew his future achievements would be extraordinary, they never expected that the young man would rise to such unfathomable heights.
In just two or three years, he could now effortlessly slay Golden Core cultivators. Even the deeply rooted Xuankong Mountain was utterly destroyed by his hands.
Thinking about Xuankong Mountain, they couldn’t help but feel fortunate.
Thankfully, they had not offended this man during their time in Zhongzhou. Otherwise, they might have faced destruction before Li Changbo ever became a threat.
“Still, having a good relationship with him is a major boon for Cold Water Palace. From now on, anyone who wishes to challenge us will have to think twice,” someone said with a smile.
Everyone else nodded in agreement.
Since the catastrophic upheaval decades ago, Cold Water Palace’s foundations had been significantly weakened. Many veteran experts perished in the incident, though the events remained unknown to outsiders as they occurred within a secret realm.
But this time, after the former Palace Master failed his tribulation and Li Changbo’s invasion, their vulnerability was laid bare. The truth was that Cold Water Palace lacked powerful cultivators at or above the Golden Core Realm.
They had feared that many factions would seize this opportunity to target them. However, with the connection to Lu Qing, these factions would now think twice before making a move.
This explained why the Palace Master had opened the treasury for Lu Qing to choose from freely and even offered their most treasured Frost Ice True Record, without meeting resistance from anyone.
They were in desperate need of a powerful backer.
“Don’t become too complacent,” Han Lingshuang said coldly, interrupting their discussion.
“Relying on others is never a long-term solution. Borrowed power can only shield us for so long.
Though the Supreme Elder can intimidate potential threats, the world is full of fools. Given enough time, someone will undoubtedly act recklessly.
If we wish to restore Cold Water Palace’s former glory, we must rely on ourselves.
Only if our palace produces cultivators capable of withstanding tribulations and achieving the Golden Core Realm will we regain our prestige.
At that point, no one would dare entertain malicious thoughts against us. Even a Golden Core cultivator like Li Changbo would not dare act so brazenly.
So, in the days to come, focus on your cultivation and strive for breakthroughs. Let us restore the honor of Cold Water Palace as soon as possible.”
Her words sobered everyone, and they solemnly replied, “Yes, Palace Master!”
After instructing the disciples, Han Lingshuang once again gazed at the sky in the direction Lu Qing had departed. Her grip on the inheritance jade slip tightened.
During this time spent with him, she had sensed that Lu Qing’s attitude toward her was one of indifference. In his eyes, she was little more than a passerby.
From his words, she could tell that his ambitions extended far beyond this small world to the vast unknown beyond the stars.
The knowledge of the worlds beyond had ignited a profound yearning in her heart.
Clutching the jade slip, she murmured, “Supreme Elder, rest assured. I will definitely reach the Golden Core Realm and not disappoint you.”
...
“Young Master, that Cold Water Palace’s Palace Master seems to be using you,” Yan’s voice transmitted directly to Lu Qing’s soul.
“Oh? What makes you say that?” Lu Qing asked, intrigued.
“It’s obvious that Cold Water Palace has major problems. Their internal strength has drastically declined.
As one of the Four Great Secret Realms, despite the revival of spiritual energy, they have yet to produce a single Golden Core cultivator.
Even someone like Li Changbo, a newly advanced Golden Core cultivator with shaky foundations, dared to trample all over them.
Clearly, Cold Water Palace has suffered some kind of calamity, causing their foundations to crumble.
After this incident with Li Changbo, their issues have been laid bare. It’s only a matter of time before other factions start harboring malicious intentions.
That’s why the Palace Master is so eager to curry favor with you. She wants to leverage your reputation to deter any ambitious forces.”
Yan’s analysis laid bare Cold Water Palace’s intentions.
“Let them borrow my reputation, then,” Lu Qing replied nonchalantly. “It’s just mutual benefit. The Fire Spirit Pearl I obtained is of great use to me. Everything else is trivial.”
Lu Qing was fully aware of Han Lingshuang’s machinations.