After a rather tortuous journey, Ming Qi and the others finally followed Lu Chengyun to the residence of the Azure Dragon Guardian, the Tianqing Palace.
The Tianqing Palace was located very close to the Biyou Immortal Palace, the core of the Biyou Sect. Standing outside, one could see the Biyou Divine Tree towering beside it.
The lush Biyou Divine Tree and the magnificent Biyou Immortal Palace complemented each other beautifully, creating a truly sacred place for the immortals.
The group wasted no time. After Lu Chengyun briefly explained a few words to the guard disciples, one of them arrived and led Ming Qi and Yue Qinglong into the Tianqing Palace.
The Tianqing Palace wasn't large, but its architecture was exquisite. Entering it felt like walking through a painting. The rich spiritual energy of heaven and earth, like a lingering mist, permeated the entire Tianqing Palace.
Ming Qi also learned from Yue Qinglong that the Tianqing Palace was located atop the Biyou Sect's spiritual vein. Through the Spirit Gathering Array, the spiritual energy within the Tianqing Palace was far denser than outside.
Of course, within the Biyou Sect's inner sect, Tianqing Palace wasn't the only one with such a privileged location. However, only those with sufficient strength were eligible to enter these locations; ordinary inner disciples didn't receive such privileges.
The Biyou Sect was only a third-rate monastic sect, and its elite inner disciples were not numerous. Most of these exceptional disciples held core positions within the sect, a crucial means of consolidating strength and winning over the hearts of the people.
Finally, the guard led the two to a vast garden.
"The Dharma Protector is in retreat in the garden ahead. You two will wait here for a while. He will arrive when the time is right."
The guard retreated respectfully.
Nearby was a small pavilion for resting. Neither of them had any intention of heading directly into the garden to look for someone, so they sat inside and waited.
However, up to this point, Ming Qi still knew nothing about the Canglong Guardian. He only knew that he had a rather unusual relationship with Yue Qinglong, but nothing else.
He didn't even know the origins of that somewhat annoying loach.
Thankfully, the two didn't have to wait too long. About half an hour later, they both heard the sound of light footsteps.
Here they come!
Ming Qi and Yue Qinglong both stood up, walked out of the pavilion, and looked in the direction of the footsteps.
Turn-ing their gaze, they saw a young girl emerging alone from the midst of the blossoms.
At first glance, Ming Qi was startled.
If nothing else, the girl's uniqueness alone gave the usually calm Ming Qi a few strange thoughts.
What made her unique was that she wore a dazzlingly colorful peacock mask.
The colorful peacock mask completely obscured her features, revealing only two large, watery eyes.
The girl wasn't tall, but her figure was slender and exceptional, especially her large, watery eyes, which were so breathtakingly beautiful.
If it weren't for the small, blue, loach-like Canglong dragon following behind her, Ming Qi might have thought he'd found the wrong person.
Peacock mask? Canglong guardian? This was truly puzzling.
The girl approached, her eyes from beneath the mask fixed on Yue Qinglong.
"You've changed quite a bit."
The girl spoke, her voice pure and pleasant. She didn't carry the domineering aura she'd displayed the first time she'd killed Lei Tong, nor the gossip that accompanied her second bet as a witness in front of Xuanwuyuan.
Yue Qinglong hesitated for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Why are you wearing it again?"
The girl pondered for a moment, then looked up and said, "I like it!"
…
Yue Qinglong had nothing else to say. Those three words were truly an undeniable answer.
After the girl finished speaking, her eyes flickered, as if she had just noticed Ming Qi standing next to her, and she looked him up and down.
"Who are you?"
…
Ming Qi was also speechless. To say you were forgetful seemed a bit inappropriate, and to say you were doing it on purpose didn't seem likely either. And yet, he had a considerable reputation within the Outer Sect, yet they hadn't heard of him.
But Ming Qi instantly understood that the gap between the Outer Sect and the Inner Sect was perhaps even greater than he had imagined, immensely greater. As for the first kill of Lei Tong and the second challenge to Xuanwu Academy, although he had indirectly witnessed both, who would pay special attention to a young cultivator who had acquired the power of the acquired talent?
Entering the Xiantian realm, a leap to heaven. Ming Qi, who had originally thought this statement a bit exaggerated, now believed it more and more.
In the world of cultivators, the strong are respected, and strength determines everything.
The first chasm between cultivators, from the acquired realm to the Xiantian realm, is the most obvious, and the difference between the superior and the inferior is even more pronounced.
"I'm his friend," Ming Qi replied.
"Oh."
The girl nodded calmly, then walked into the small pavilion and sat down.
"Tell me, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Yue Qinglong seemed to consider his words before unpacking everything.
"Mo Qingchen from Tianqi Academy? I've heard of him, but he seems to have disappeared when I arrived at Biyou Sect."
The girl muttered to herself, "It's not impossible, but..."
"But what?"
Yue Qinglong's heart skipped a beat when he heard the word "but."
Who was this girl? She was Yue Qinglong's biological sister. While others might not know her, Yue Qinglong knew her quite well. Although his family had sent her to the Biyou Sect a few years ago for unknown reasons, Yue Qinglong was confident that his sister wouldn't have changed much over the years.
Yue Dongqing was the name of the girl wearing the peacock mask.
"I've been studying the Dao of the Qin lately, but unfortunately, I don't have a qualified expert to guide me. This is giving me a headache." A hint of distress lingered in Yue Dongqing's voice.
"The Dao of the Qin?"
Yue Qinglong was stunned. He couldn't believe why his sister would pursue the Dao of the Qin, ignoring the cultivation of other cultivators and engaging in some unorthodox practices. It was completely illogical.
"It just suddenly occurred to me that the beautiful sound of the Qin could also lead to perfect cultivation."
Yue Dongqing took Yue Qinglong's seemingly questioning tone in her heart with a more serious tone.
"Practice the Dao of the Qin?"
Hearing this unfamiliar term, Yue Qinglong became even more bewildered.
Cultivation for cultivators is nothing more than absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, constantly refining and transforming it, and tempering themselves to achieve strength. However, it's unheard of that playing the zither could achieve such a goal.
"You don't seem to know that the Seven Prefectures' Battle, held every twenty years, is only a short time away. There's a lot at stake, and we can't neglect it," Yue Dongqing said.
Yue Qinglong also understood. He was very familiar with the term "Seven Prefectures' Battle." While the seven prefectures of Xilan Province publicly served the governor of Xiongfeng City, everyone knew that secretly, they were far from harmonious neighbors. They often even engaged in war.
To maintain their position within Xilan Province, any of the seven prefectures had to continuously strengthen, strive, and strategize.
The Seven Prefectures' Battle, a similar event held every twenty years, occurred in every major prefecture. The only difference was that the event's timing varied. The battle for the Seven Prefectures of Xilan Province is approaching. The seven prefectures will compete with each other in a fierce battle, and the winner will take control of a crucial institution in Xilan Province: the Arbitration Hall.
While the Arbitration Hall is not nominally as high-ranking as the Archon, it is directly under the jurisdiction of the City of the Gods, exercising oversight and checks and balances over the local prefectures.
Yue Qinglong, born in the Qing Prefecture of Yaoshan, naturally understands the importance of the Arbitration Hall. It possesses the power, benefits, and status necessary to gain control of it.
Currently, the Arbitration Hall is controlled by the Dongling Chi Prefecture, one of the seven prefectures of Xilan Province. In terms of both strength and resources, it surpasses the other six prefectures. Seizing control of the Arbitration Hall from the Chi Prefecture is undoubtedly challenging.
However, the Divine Realm has decreed that the struggle for control of the Arbitration Hall must be fought by the younger generation. This prevents the possibility of a single prefecture becoming dominant, ensuring that the other six prefectures maintain their competitive drive and effectively maintaining a balance between the major forces.
While the Yaoshan Qingfu may not be as powerful as the Chifu, the young talents of this new generation are not necessarily inferior to the others.
"But, this practice of the qin..."
Although Yue Qinglong knew about the conflict among the seven fu, he couldn't see any direct connection between it and the practice of the qin.
"Of course I'm being prudent. But you, after all this time, still haven't reached the Xiantian realm. It's truly heartbreaking."
Yue Dongqing's eyes flickered, and it was unclear what she was thinking.
After a while, seeing Yue Qinglong still silent, Ming Qi finally couldn't help himself.
"Protector, regarding the matter at Tianqiyuan..."
Yue Qinglong and this girl had a special relationship, but Ming Qi was well aware that he had no real connection to her, so he spoke with extreme caution and respect.
"Um, about this."
Yue Dongqing looked up at Yue Qinglong and said, "Brother Qinglong, if you truly intend to establish yourself in Tianqi Academy, I can certainly help you. However, Tianqi Academy is already within the Sect Master's reach. If no more Xiantians are born this year, it will most likely be disbanded."
"Disband? No way!"
Like Ming Qi, Yue Qinglong had, during his time at Tianqi Academy, deeply felt the unwavering resolve of the disciples despite their painful struggles. Sometimes, he even wondered if his resolve were as strong as theirs, he would have already achieved Xiantian status and become renowned.
Alas, there are no ifs. In his view, everyone in Tianqi Academy deserves respect.
Brother Qinglong?
The title was a bit jarring, but Ming Qi finally understood why Yue Qinglong truly didn't want to meet him. It seemed Yue Qinglong lacked confidence. Compared to his sister, his talent, at less than level five, was truly utterly shabby.
"All you need to do is stand by and watch to prevent anyone from the other courtyards from secretly tampering. We'll handle the rest ourselves."
Yue Qinglong emphasized the word "we" with particular emphasis.
"Ah, it seems I'll have to put my qin training on hold for a while. Those kids are quite competitive."
...
Ming Qi was silent. In his opinion, the girl before him was no less than a child.