Chapter 74 - Arc 7: Dragon Ascension Gate | Chapter 74: The Other Members

Translator: Lynn

Sighing, Xu Ziqing decided against asking after all.

At this moment, it was too early to plan for the Dragon Ascension Gate Conference since they didn’t know what would happen. Can he not participate in crossing the Dragon Ascension Gate a year later?

It’s better to think about it later.

With this mindset, Xu Ziqing let go of his entanglements. Now, he only had to wait for half a month.

Fifteen days passed in the blink of an eye.

Early in the morning, when Su Xin stepped onto the red flying sword, a ray of light descended from the sky, landing on the rocky cliff extending from Lingqiao Mountain.

The handsome and majestic Su Xin, dressed in red, resembled a proud son of heaven. He called out to Xu Ziqing: “Brother Ziqing, come out quickly! Are you ready?”

Walking out of the quiet room, Xu Ziqing saw Su Xin and smiled gently: “Brother Ah Xin, you’re here early.”

During these days, Xu Ziqing had been productive. Since he didn’t know the specifics of the Dragon Ascension Gate Conference, he took advantage of the past half month to make numerous purchases at the trading hall. He would be staying on Tenglong Peak, putting all his efforts into building a foundation and entering the big world. After that, it was unlikely he would return to the Loose Cultivator Alliance. Therefore, he needed to carefully consider the necessary preparations.

In his current storage ring, Xu Ziqing had exchanged numerous non-wind monster pills, animal skins, and various other items for talismans, pills, spirit beads, and useful spirit herbs that he didn’t possess. He also collected many seeds, feeling a bit more reassured.

Seeing Xu Ziqing looking refreshed, Su Xin knew he attached great importance to this journey. He smiled and remarked, “Brother Ziqing, you look radiant. You must have a plan in mind.”

Xu Ziqing responded with a gentle expression, “I’ll do my best.” Aware of Su Xin’s impatience, he added, “Brother Ah Xin, please wait a moment. I need to inform Qingfeng and Miaoyue before I come back.”

Understanding his intentions, Su Xin chuckled and said, “Brother Ziqing, you’re always so considerate.” With that, he walked to the side, organized his thoughts, and waited.

Qingfeng and Miaoyue had been standing nearby, and upon hearing Xu Ziqing’s words, they respectfully followed him and stood in front of him, awaiting their master’s instructions.

Observing their somewhat rigid posture, Xu Ziqing softened his tone and said, “Today, I will be attending the Dragon Ascension Gate Conference, and I might not return. You two have served me diligently for many days, and it has been a lot of hard work. As a token of appreciation, I have a gift for both of you. Consider it a symbol of our master-servant relationship.”

Qingfeng and Miaoyue exchanged excited glances. As servants, they were well-informed about the upcoming important event. Originally, they believed their talented master would enter the big world, leaving them to be assigned to other monks. They were fortunate to serve a kind-hearted master, but they had no idea who their new master would be. Amidst their worries, the unexpected gift made them even more reluctant to part ways.

They never expected their master’s generosity to extend even further. In the past, it was a blessing not to be beaten, scolded, or subjected to torture by the monks they served. But now, receiving something from their master elicited an entirely different reaction. Possessions that could slip through a monk’s fingers were undoubtedly priceless treasures for people like them.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, the two immediately bowed and said, “Thank you, Master Xu, for your generous reward!” They raised their hands above their heads in a gesture of utmost respect.

Witnessing their sincere appreciation and reverence, Xu Ziqing understood their genuine gratitude and felt no embarrassment. With a casual flick of his robe’s sleeve, he placed the gifts in their hands.

Feeling the weight of the items, Qingfeng and Miaoyue dared to examine them. Qingfeng held a stick as long as his index finger, completely black with flickering dark light. In Miaoyue’s hands, she cradled a porcelain vase that possessed a considerable weight.

The two exchanged glances, and after a brief hesitation, Qingfeng bit his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the stick. As the blood-soaked in, the stick immediately grew against the wind, expanding in the blink of an eye until it reached the height of a person. Inscribed on the stick were the words “Tianxin Stick,” which weighed a staggering two thousand catties, just as described in the letter!

Qingfeng, being trained by the Loose Cultivator Alliance and a ninth-level warrior, was naturally knowledgeable. At first glance, the stick appeared ordinary, but it emitted a faint spiritual light. The round and cold shape of the stick, coupled with its weight, indicated that it was crafted from Xuanguang iron, a material even low-level monks could use.

For warriors, a weapon made entirely of Xuanguang iron was extremely rare to come by. Now that Qingfeng held it in his hands, he felt immense gratitude.

Miao Yue, also perceptive, noticed Qingfeng’s joy and felt a sense of anticipation. Gritting her teeth, she removed the cork from the porcelain vase, immediately releasing a pleasant fragrance. She carefully examined the liquid inside the bottle, poured a drop into her palm, and observed.

As the liquid emerged, it rolled into a round shape in her hand. Its color resembled mercury, and the droplet was as fine as dust.

Wide-eyed, Miao Yue exclaimed, “Silver Bead Dew!”

However, for warriors, it was common to damage their meridians and accumulate internal injuries during their practice. If lucky enough to reach the innate level, they might be cured. However, those who didn’t risk a lifetime of damage, hindering their progress in martial arts. Female warriors, with their thin and delicate meridians, were even more prone to injuries than their male counterparts. As a result, female warriors often faced premature death, and only a few achieved true success.

There existed a magical medicine capable of removing the hidden injuries of warriors without causing future troubles—silver bead dew. However, it was incredibly rare. Even families with innate warriors rarely possessed it, let alone a servant. Most monks, with their lofty aspirations, wouldn’t bother acquiring the dew for their servants. Taking a deep breath, Miao Yue’s eyes welled up with tears.

Standing beside her, Qingfeng also knelt down alongside her, and this time they both bowed in silence. As Xu Ziqing and Su Xin stepped onto the flying sword and departed, Qingfeng and Miao Yue prostrated themselves, uttering, “I wish Master Xu a smooth journey to immortality and swift attainment of immortality and wisdom!”

Reaching the Tenglong Mountains would entail a long journey fraught with difficulties and obstacles.

Therefore, when attending the gathering, teachers often accompanied the participants. This time, Su Xin’s cultivation level was insufficient, even according to the gatekeeper’s rules, necessitating a companion.

Su Xin had made arrangements with Xu Ziqing, but it wasn’t just the two of them set out together. They were waiting for an escort from the Loose Cultivator Alliance to join a few monks who had also obtained places. Thus, they proceeded to the Main Governing Hall where the Elder in the Inner Alliance, waiting for the arrival of the other monks.

In the meantime, several colored lights flashed across the sky, emanating either awe-inspiring auras or an air of mystery, before gradually descending to the ground.

These five or six exceptional monks, all under fifty years old and with cultivation bases surpassing the ninth level of Qi Refining, exuded ostentatious spiritual light and extraordinary coercion.

Observing that each monk possessed magic weapons shining brightly in their hands, Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but notice their excellent condition. These monks exuded a captivating aura, with handsome and beautiful appearances that were quite flamboyant. One of them was even impossible to gauge in terms of cultivation level, indicating that they must have reached the tenth level of Qi Refining.

As they exchanged glances, Xu Ziqing caught the attention of each monk, and they returned the gaze.

All the monks who obtained the spots were disciples of the elders. Although their spiritual roots and talents might be inferior to Su Xin’s, they were still the cream of the crop. Participating in the Dragon Ascension Gate Conference was their long-awaited opportunity, and there was no doubt about their qualifications. However, Xu Ziqing stood out from the rest.

Having only joined the Loose Cultivator Alliance two years ago and being a member of the Foreign Alliance, Xu Ziqing had no reputation or noteworthy contributions to the Loose Cultivator Alliance. No one considered him trustworthy or even had knowledge of him. Yet, he managed to secure one of the limited spots, leaving everyone surprised.

What added to the mystery was the fact that although their master and elders were displeased, they didn’t intervene or, at best, were suppressed by the leader. In short, these outstanding individuals, including Xu Ziqing, were shrouded in secrecy. The leader and elders deliberately kept information about Xu Ziqing under wraps, deepening the sense of intrigue. People could only guess in secret, but it would be unwise to reveal their speculations.

While there might not have been many monks who met the requirements of the vast Loose Cultivator Alliance, these few individuals were chosen. It was evident that they held high hopes and intended to genuinely make friends with outstanding talents, rather than behaving foolishly or arrogantly.

Hence, after quickly exchanging glances with Xu Ziqing, they nodded in acknowledgment as a sign of greeting.

From their perspective, Xu Ziqing appeared to be an ordinary, unremarkable young man. They couldn’t understand why the league paid much attention to him.

Having been by Xu Ziqing’s side the entire time, Su Xin was well aware of what others thought of him. He raised an eyebrow and began introducing the individuals to Xu Ziqing. “Brother Ziqing, this is Ran Xingjian, a disciple of Elder Hu; Hui Feizhang, a disciple of Elder Hua; Min Caizhe, a disciple of Elder Chen; Tong Yuansi, a senior brother from Elder Qin; He Jinghui, a disciple of Elder Zhao; and Zhuo Hanyan, a senior sister from Elder Bai. Among them, Zhuo Hanyan is the most powerful, already at the tenth level of Qi Refining. She could establish a foundation with just one kick.”

Understanding that Su Xin was attempting to foster camaraderie, Xu Ziqing smiled and replied, “I, Xu Ziqing, have met all fellow cultivators.” As he wasn’t part of the inner sect, he couldn’t address them as senior brothers or sisters.

Once again, Su Xin tugged at Xu Ziqing’s sleeve and addressed the six monks with a smile. “Brothers and sisters, I am young, and the master has instructed you to take care of me. But my brother here is only a few years older than me. Can you all take care of him too?”

Tong Yuansi responded bluntly, “They are all members of the Loose Cultivator Alliance. If they are younger than me, I don’t mind taking care of them. However, I’m only twelve years older than you. Xu Daoist, do we know each other?”

Su Xin grinned triumphantly. “My elder brother Ziqing just turned 20 this year. How about that? He’s actually younger than all of you.” As soon as this statement was made, the monks looked at each other in disbelief.

If Xu Ziqing had truly reached the ninth level of Qi Refining at the age of twenty, what kind of talent did he possess? Apart from Su Xin, who had just purified his spiritual roots, everyone present was over 30 years old. Xu Ziqing had achieved this level of cultivation in just ten years!

Considering this, it wasn’t unimaginable for Xu Ziqing to be valued by the leader.

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