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https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-449-Twists-and-Turns-A-Beauty-s-Dilemma/13024230/
Chapter 448: Frostwater Palace, The Challenge
Chapter 448: Frostwater Palace, The Challenge
January 5th, 2025
"This large state, it seems like the region where Frostwater Palace is located, is the Northern State?"
Lu Qing sensed the heavenly rules around him, and a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
He had once obtained a map from Lin Zhirui, marking the various powers across the realm.
Among them were the four great secret realms that had reappeared and emerged before the world over the past two years.
However, Lu Qing had set out on this journey with Xiao Yan with a carefree attitude and hadn't paid much attention to their destination.
It was only when he sensed the strangeness of this place that he realized they had arrived at one of the four great secret realms, the state where Frostwater Palace was located.
Rumor has it that most of the disciples of Frostwater Palace cultivated Ice-Cold attribute techniques.
But he never expected the state they occupied to be so unique.
Of course, Lu Qing was just expressing his admiration and didn't have any further thoughts.
He hadn't planned to interact with the people from the other three secret realms on this trip.
After all, he knew that since he had destroyed Hanging Mountain, the remaining three secret realms might have complex attitudes towards him.
Although the four great secret realms were not exactly on good terms, some even held grudges against each other.
For example, Green Sheep Temple and Hanging Mountain had always been at odds with each other.
But Lu Qing had annihilated the entire Hanging Mountain, causing even the secret realm to disappear.
This was truly terrifying for the other secret realms.
They couldn't imagine how Lu Qing had accomplished such a feat.
So, Lu Qing guessed that if he were to appear before the other secret realms, there would be countless people feeling uneasy.
With that in mind, why bother inviting trouble?
Since Xiao Yan liked this place, Lu Qing decided to stay for a while.
At that moment, he led Xiao Yan and the others on their journey.
A few days later, they arrived at a massive city.
"Frostwater City?"
Lu Qing softly spoke the ancient characters engraved on the city gate.
According to the information provided by Lin Zhirui, Frostwater City was also an ancient city with a long history.
However, the city was now under the control of Frostwater Palace.
"So beautiful!"
Xiao Yan exclaimed, looking up at the giant city.
At this moment, Xiao Yan was wearing a lovely fur coat, looking adorable.
Even Lu Qing was wearing a robe.
With his cultivation, he had long reached a state where he was unaffected by cold or heat, and even an ice mountain or lava couldn't harm him in the slightest.
But as they traveled, Lu Qing and Xiao Yan adapted to the local customs and put on thick clothing.
As for Xiao Li, who disliked the cold, it had already curled up and fallen asleep in Lu Qing's embrace.
Even the Quintessence Serpent had shrunk to the thickness of a thumb, coiling up inside Xiao Yan's hood.
Hearing Xiao Yan's exclamation, Lu Qing smiled.
Indeed, the city was beautiful.
Due to the cold, various ice sculptures adorned the city gates and walls, each one lifelike and exquisite.
The entire wall looked both intricate and majestic.
After admiring the view for a while, Lu Qing led Xiao Yan into the city.
Inside Frostwater City, the scenery became even more pleasing to the eye.
Beautiful ice sculptures were everywhere, and the entire Frostwater City resembled a massive work of art.
"This city has the support of ancient formation power, but it seems like the people of Frostwater Palace don't know how to utilize it?"
As Lu Qing strolled through the city with Xiao Yan, his mind reflected the myriad details of the city.
Inheriting the legacy of the Spirit Talisman Sect, Lu Qing's understanding of formation paths was profound.
He could sense that this ancient city, like the Holy City in Central Province, likely incorporated formation principles during its construction.
Now, with the revival of the world, the ancient formation that had lain dormant for tens of thousands of years was also awakening.
But what puzzled him was that the formations within the city seemed to operate on their own, without anyone directing them, and the formation power wasn't being regulated and utilized.
As a result, the spiritual energy within the city wasn't much denser than outside.
The efficiency of formation power utilization was far inferior to the formations he had set up in Nine Li Village.
Moreover, the pedestrians on the streets gave him a strange feeling.
Many people hurried with anxious expressions on their faces.
More importantly, through his divine soul's perception, he could sense that there were many powerful auras within Frostwater City.
Numerous Primordial Realm cultivators, and even some Foundation Establishment cultivators, were present.
This struck him as odd.
Although the heavenly changes and the revival of essence qi had occurred over the past two to three years, many cultivators in the realm had made breakthroughs.
Primordial Realm experts were no longer as rare as before.
But the number of powerful cultivators in Frostwater City was indeed a bit excessive.
The number of people here was even more than what Lu Qing had seen in the Hanging Mountain's secret realm.
"Is the Frostwater Palace's foundation really this profound?" Lu Qing wondered. "Or is something big about to happen in Frostwater City?"
Lu Qing found this strange, and after taking Xiao Yan around for a while, they settled into a lively tavern. They ordered a private room and some local specialties, and sat down to eat.
While Xiao Yan and the others enjoyed their meal, Lu Qing listened in on the conversations of other patrons in the tavern.
He had chosen this tavern because he sensed powerful auras within.
Indeed, there were even some Primordial Realm cultivators among the guests were eating and drinking.
As he listened, he soon obtained the information he sought.
"Do you think that evil person will really come today?"
In the neighboring private room, a group of guests were chatting.
Among them was a burly man with a strong aura, seemingly at the Primordial Realm, who suddenly spoke up.
"Be careful with your words! That's the Sect Master of Eternal Hatred Sect! It's said that he has already passed the Thunder Tribulation and attained the supreme realm of Golden Core Immortal.
If he hears your disrespect, he might just strike you down without a second thought!"
The burly man had barely spoken when his companion at the table warned him.
The man hesitated, but ultimately decided against pushing his luck.
Instead, he changed his tone and asked, "Will the Sect Master of Eternal Hatred Sect really come today?"
"He's already issued such a bold challenge to the Frostwater Palace. If he doesn't show up, wouldn't he be ridiculed by the entire world?"
"Indeed. That day, he arrived with such arrogance, hovering above the Frostwater Palace and issuing his challenge. It was a display of great vigor.
If he doesn't come today, it would be quite unexpected."
"Then, if the Sect Master of Eternal Hatred Sect does come, will the Palace Master accept the challenge?" The burly man continued.
"That's hard to say. I heard that a month ago, the Sect Master of Eternal Hatred Sect passed the Thunder Tribulation at Eternal Hatred Mountain and attained the supreme realm of Golden Core Immortal. He possesses unfathomable abilities that even gods and ghosts can't predict.
You all saw it that day; the Sect Master of Eternal Hatred Sect arrived riding the wind.
His terrifying might suppressed the entire city. Even the Palace Master, as powerful as he is, might not be able to withstand such a force."
The burly man's companion analyzed, his aura equally strong, clearly at the Primordial Small Accomplishment.
Upon hearing his companion's words, the table fell silent.
They recalled the terrifying aura the Sect Master of Eternal Hatred Sect had exuded when he came to issue his challenge.
As Primordial Realm cultivators, they had felt their hearts tremble, filled with fear and little else.
(Chapter End)
It turned out that a Golden Core Realm expert was going to challenge the Frostwater Palace publicly today. Lu Qing finally understood why so many strong cultivators had gathered in the city. Most of these strong cultivators were likely just here to watch the excitement, as the Four Great Secret Realms had always been revered throughout the land. The fact that someone dared to challenge the Frostwater Palace was bound to attract the attention of many powerful cultivators.
Lu Qing had been traveling with Xiao Yan recently and was unaware of this development. "However, for a small sect's master to reach the Golden Core Realm in such a short time is quite astonishing. Even with the help of Primordial Energy, it's still a bit too unbelievable," Lu Qing thought to himself.
He knew that the "machine flow of light" the guests were talking about referred to the Primordial Energy that appeared in the Central Province when the third Heavenly Dao Sounds resonated. Although most of it was intercepted by powerful cultivators in the Holy City, some of it had escaped and was obtained by other living beings in other states.
Acquiring Primordial Energy was one thing, but reaching the Golden Core Realm in such a short time was still unusual. Before the Spiritual Energy Revival, the only places that could support cultivation beyond the Primordial Realm were the Four Great Secret Realms and the Holy Mountain. Other locations could only support cultivation up to the Primordial Realm.
This meant that the master of the Eternal Hatred Sect had progressed from the Primordial Realm to the Golden Core Realm in just two or three years, a frighteningly fast pace. Lu Qing's own master had also refined Primordial Energy but had only reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Lu Qing became interested in the master of the Eternal Hatred Sect and continued eating and drinking while listening to the conversation next door. The food in Frostwater City was quite good, especially the roasted meat, which was thinly sliced and marinated before being grilled to perfection. The special seasonings added a burst of flavor, making it delicious.
Xiao Yan and Xiao Li were enjoying the food, and the Quintessence Serpent was eating large chunks of meat, forcing Lu Qing to order more. Fortunately, they were in a private room, or the eating habits of Xiao Li and the Quintessence Serpent would have drawn attention.
As Lu Qing ate and drank, he continued to listen to the conversation next door, learning more about the challenge. The master of the Eternal Hatred Sect had issued a challenge seven days ago, and the formal challenge was scheduled for today. Due to the short notice, only strong cultivators from nearby states had gathered.
Additionally, Lu Qing learned that the master of the Eternal Hatred Sect had a wife who was said to be extremely beautiful, but she had disappeared, and it was rumored that she had died in childbirth. The master had been heartbroken and had created the Eternal Hatred Sect after a decade of seclusion.
However, it seemed that there was more to the story than met the eye. Lu Qing enjoyed listening to the gossip while eating and drinking, feeling carefree. The people next door were speaking loudly, and Lu Qing could hear them clearly even without using his powers.
Just as Lu Qing was eating, he suddenly sensed something and changed his expression. The next moment, a loud voice echoed throughout the city: "You wretched woman, I've arrived! Are you prepared to die?"
(End of Chapter)
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