Chapter 449: Twists and Turns, A Beauty's Dilemma

Chapter 449: Twists and Turns, A Beauty's Dilemma

January 6th, 2025

"You despicable servant, I'm here. Are you ready to face your death?"

With this loud declaration, an overwhelming pressure descended upon Frostwater City.

Everyone in the city felt their bodies grow heavy, their minds weighed down as if a mountain was pressing upon them, causing them to tremble uncontrollably.

Those who had come specifically to witness the spectacle, cultivators of the Primordial and Foundation Establishment Realms, were especially terrified.

They knew that Golden Core Immortals were incredibly powerful, but they hadn't expected that mere aura alone could be so terrifying.

It made their limbs tremble and their hearts quake.

A mere wisp of aura was enough to pressure the entire city. The might of the Golden Core Realm is truly formidable!"

Lu Qing, in the private room, felt this pressure, and his eyebrows twitched slightly.

He released a gentle aura from his body, protecting Xiao Yan and Xiao Li, shielding them from the oppressive force.

Then, he cast an invisibility talisman, concealing himself and Xiao Yan, and brought her to the rooftop of the tavern.

The tavern he had chosen was one of the most renowned in Frostwater City.

Its height made it one of the tallest structures in the city, only slightly shorter than the massive ice palace at the city center, providing an excellent vantage point.

"Big brother, that person seems so fierce. Is there going to be a fight here?"

Xiao Yan, of course, had also heard the previous chilling declaration filled with murderous intent and asked.

"We'll wait and see if we can catch a good show," Lu Qing said with a smile.

"Okay~"

Although the person who had spoken earlier seemed formidable, Xiao Yan felt no fear as long as her brother was there.

Moreover, while the man above had a powerful aura, he was far less intimidating than the two villains who had attacked their village.

After reassuring Xiao Yan, Lu Qing looked towards the city center.

There, above the massive Frostwater Palace, a figure stood in mid-air.

The powerful aura emanating from him caused the clouds within a radius of several miles to disperse.

This was undoubtedly the Longhat Sect Master that the cultivators had been discussing earlier.

However, what surprised Lu Qing was that this figure wore a red brocade robe and had a dignified and prosperous appearance, brimming with vitality.

It seemed a bit out of place with the name "Longhat."

Initially, Lu Qing had assumed that the founder of a sect named "Longhat" would bear some sorrowful and bitter air.

Intrigued, Lu Qing activated his ability and examined the Longhat Sect Master.

Just as Lu Qing's ability probed, the Longhat Sect Master, seeing that no one had emerged from the Frostwater Palace below, let out a cold laugh.

"If you dare not face me, then don't blame me for what happens next!"

As he spoke, a ball of flame appeared in his hand and quickly condensed.

As the flame condensed, its color gradually changed from red to blue.

A powerful force emanated from the flame, warming the cold Frostwater City.

Everyone witnessing this scene felt their hearts tremble.

The flame in the Longhat Sect Master's hand was so powerful that it could raise the temperature of the entire city. Just how formidable was its might?

"You despicable servant, if you don't show yourself, I'll burn Frostwater City to the ground, destroying your Frostwater Palace in an instant!" The Longhat Sect Master shouted, holding the blue flame.

"What! Burn down Frostwater City?"

The people below were shocked upon hearing this, and chaos ensued.

No one doubted the Longhat Sect Master's ability to carry out such a threat. Just by looking at the flame in his hand, everyone could sense the terrifying power contained within.

"Is he really going this far?"

Lu Qing was also surprised by this statement.

But what surprised him even more was the information that appeared about the Longhat Sect Master.

[Li Changbo: Longhat Sect Master, a man of hidden thoughts and ever-changing demeanor.]



[Cultivation: Lower-grade Golden Core, newly entered the Golden Core Realm.]



[Forcibly refined too many Spirit Stones in a short period, leading to an unstable foundation and limited potential.]



[Possesses a flawed treasure, capable of rapidly enhancing cultivation.]



[His challenge to the Frostwater Palace is not solely for revenge but has other ulterior motives.]



...

Lu Qing skimmed through the information, and his eyes widened in understanding.

"So that's the case. He's using the pretext of avenging his wife and child, but he has other intentions."

Lu Qing felt that the Longhat Sect Master's demeanor and appearance didn't match someone with such deep-seated hatred.

Indeed, there was something amiss.

However...

Lu Qing paused at one particular piece of information.

"Refining too many Spirit Stones... So, this guy has a lot of Spirit Stones on him?"

A strange expression appeared in Lu Qing's eyes.

But he didn't act immediately.

He wanted to see how the Frostwater Palace would respond to such a provocation.

As one of the Four Great Secret Realms, it was unimaginable that even a newly advanced Golden Core cultivator of the lowest grade would be unable to handle the situation.

Just as Frostwater City was thrown into chaos, a cold and clear voice finally echoed from within the majestic Ice Palace.

"Li Changbo, must you be so aggressive?"

Upon hearing this voice, Lu Qing was taken aback, "The Palace Master of Frostwater Palace is a woman? And from the sound of it, she doesn't seem old."

Of course, Lu Qing wouldn't judge a person's age solely based on their voice.

After all, for powerful cultivators, each major breakthrough in cultivation would bring about significant physical transformations, and even reversing one's age was possible.

"You despicable servant, have you finally decided to show yourself? I thought you'd continue hiding in that dead palace, too afraid to respond!"

Li Changbo, the Sect Master of Eternal Hatred Sect, let out a cold laugh.

The flames in his hand didn't dissipate.

"Li Changbo, you managed to overcome the obstacles and successfully pass the tribulation, achieving the Golden Core Realm. Indeed, you are formidable.

There's no need to continue this challenge, I, Frostwater Palace, concede defeat."

The cold voice spoke indifferently.

These words shocked Frostwater City once again.

The fight hadn't even started, and the prestigious Frostwater Palace, one of the Four Great Secret Realms, had conceded?

"Concede? Do you think it's that easy to just say you concede and be done with it? It's not that simple!"

However, upon hearing these words, Li Changbo continued to laugh coldly.

"Despicable servant, how did Frostwater Palace force my wife and child to their deaths? Have you forgotten?

Today, either you fight me to the death, or I'll burn Frostwater City to the ground.

Let all the citizens of Frostwater Palace accompany my tragically deceased wife and child in death!"

"Let our citizens accompany his wife and child in death?"

"Has the Sect Master of Eternal Hatred Sect gone completely mad?!"

"Run!"

As Li Changbo's words filled with murderous intent fell, the entire Frostwater City descended into greater chaos.

Many martial arts experts already regretted coming to witness this spectacle.

Who could have imagined that the Sect Master of Eternal Hatred Sect would become so heartless and ruthless? As a Golden Core True Person, he was threatening the lives of innocent people to accompany his long-deceased wife and child in death.

"Li Changbo, don't push your luck!"

The cold voice from within the Ice Palace now carried a chill, "Since you insist on bringing up this matter, let's discuss it properly today.

Have you forgotten that your wife and child were forced to their deaths by your own hands!"

Upon hearing these words, Frostwater City, which had just been in chaos, fell silent.

They looked up at the figure in the sky.

From the sound of it, there seemed to be more to the story of his wife and child's deaths.

"Nonsense!" Li Changbo became enraged, "My wife and child were clearly forced to their deaths by you! You despicable servant, if you continue to speak nonsense, I'll tear you into a thousand pieces!"

"Is the Palace speaking nonsense?" The cold voice scoffed, "Li Changbo, don't think that just because many years have passed, you can distort right from wrong.

Back then, you used sweet words to deceive our Frostwater Palace's Saintess, who was traveling the world, into marrying you.

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After my mother learned of this, she sent people to hold you accountable.

But you were clever, and you and the Saintess put on an act of being deeply in love, inseparable even in life and death.

In the end, you managed to soften my mother's heart, and she let you off, merely expelling the Saintess from the Secret Realm, leaving you both to fend for yourselves.

However, no one could have predicted that this was all just a play you orchestrated from start to finish.

You deceived the Saintess into marrying you, and then acted as if you were inseparable in life and death.

This made her truly devoted to you, following your every word and command.

Eventually, she even listened to you and pretended to be abandoned, using my mother's pity for her to allow her to return to the Secret Realm.

But who would have thought that not long after she returned, she would take advantage of an unguarded moment and steal the ancient treasure passed down in Frostwater Palace.

Later, when the Saintess was captured and brought back to the Secret Realm, the treasure in her hands had already disappeared without a trace.

The poor Saintess, no matter how much Frostwater Palace interrogated her, refused to reveal the treasure's whereabouts.

In the end, unable to endure it any longer, she passed away along with the unborn child in her womb.

Before her death, she begged my mother that if she ever encountered you in the future, she must spare your life.

Li Changbo, do you think your wife and child weren't forced to their deaths by your own hands? Do you think Frostwater Palace doesn't know about your creation of the Eternal Hatred Sect?

It's only because my mother agreed to the Saintess's request, choosing not to make things difficult for you, that you've managed to survive until now.

I never imagined that the kindness shown back then would allow you to gain power, and now you dare to turn against Frostwater Palace!"

As the Palace Master of Frostwater Palace finished speaking, the entire Frostwater City fell into silence.

No one had expected that the deaths of the Sect Master of Eternal Hatred Sect's wife and child would have such a complex backstory.

If that was truly the case, then one couldn't say that Li Changbo was wrong for personally forcing his wife and children to their deaths.

"Nonsense! You lowly maid, how dare you twist the truth!"

Li Changbo cursed, "That treasure originally belonged to my wife's ancestors!

It was passed down from her lineage, and your mother was the one who poisoned them.

Using her venomous schemes, she plotted against her own bloodline, which ultimately led to her success in seizing the position of Palace Master.

What's wrong with my wife retrieving her ancestral heirloom? Do you think that venomous woman was truly kind-hearted? She gained her position unjustly, and when she ascended, she took the lives of too many people.

With a guilty conscience, she wanted to make amends to my wife and ease her mind!"

"The ways of heaven are vast and unfathomable, how can such hypocrisy deceive anyone? That venomous woman's failure in her tribulation was the best explanation, and her greatest retribution!"

As Li Changbo spoke, the cold voice within the Ice Palace fell silent.

After a while, a sigh echoed, "It's true, my mother did wrong by her lineage. Her failure in the tribulation was also due to her guilty conscience."

After hearing this, everyone in the city understood.

As one of the Four Great Secret Realms, the Ice Palace had also experienced an unexpected upheaval, leading to a change in the Palace Master's position.

"However, my mother's guilt was towards her own lineage.

You, Li Changbo, plotted for the treasure, deceived the Saintess, and caused her tragic death. That much is fact!

Do you think I can't discern the difference? You only dared to confront me because you learned of my mother's tribulation failure, thinking you could take advantage of the Ice Palace's temporary weakness."

"Since you're so brazen, then fine, I'll fight you! Let's see if a mere initial stage of the Golden Core Realm is truly invincible!"

"The Palace Master cannot be challenged!"

Amidst the exclamations, a figure suddenly flew out from the Ice Palace, stopping not far from Li Changbo.

The Ice Palace Palace Master had accepted the challenge!

Everyone below stared in astonishment, their eyes fixed on the figure.

Even the citizens of Frostwater City couldn't help but gaze in wonder.

As citizens of Frostwater City, they had never seen the true face of the Ice Palace Palace Master.

Then, as they discerned the figure's appearance, everyone gasped.

The reason was simple; the figure was breathtakingly beautiful.

The white robe fluttered, exuding a cold aura.

The exquisite and flawless face was so stunning it took one's breath away.

"So beautiful."

Xiao Yan on the rooftop couldn't help but exclaim upon seeing the woman.

She felt that the white-robed beauty in the sky seemed even more captivating than Hu Ze Zhi.

"Is the Ice Palace Palace Master so young?"

Lu Qing was also surprised by the white-robed woman's appearance.

With his cultivation, he could tell that the Ice Palace Palace Master wasn't the kind of old fellow whose body transformed into a younger state upon reaching a higher realm.

Instead, her true age was indeed young.

As for her beauty, it didn't shock him as much as her age.

She was indeed stunning, perhaps even surpassing the peerless beauties he had seen in the Central Province's Holy City.

But at Lu Qing's level of cultivation, he no longer judged people solely by their appearance.

So, the Ice Palace Palace Master's beauty was just that, nothing more, and it couldn't shake his resolve.

Li Changbo was also stunned by the Ice Palace Palace Master's breathtaking beauty, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

However, he quickly suppressed it.

"You lowly maid, you finally show yourself!"

"Li Changbo, do your worst. I'll take whatever moves you throw at me."

The Ice Palace Palace Master stood on a shuttle-shaped magical artifact, speaking calmly.

"It's simple. If you can last three moves without dying, then you win this challenge. If you can't endure three moves, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Li Changbo said.

"Three moves? That's fine, but this place isn't suitable for our battle. To avoid harming innocents, let's find a different location."

The Ice Palace Palace Master was about to ride her artifact out of the city.

Unexpectedly, Li Changbo coldly smiled, "No need, they're just a bunch of ants. No need to bother, fight me here!"

With that, he shook his hand, and the green flame he had been holding in his hand shot towards the Ice Palace Palace Master!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end