Chapter 275

Words : 2577 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

Chapter 275"Perseverance is the way of heaven; a gentleman should strive continuously for self-improvement." Lin Zhirui's entire body trembled upon hearing this phrase. He muttered it softly, seemingly shaken to his core. It took him a while to regain his composure. When he finally did, his gaze became clear, and he bowed deeply to Lu Qing. "Thank you, Young Master Lu Qing, for your guidance. Otherwise, I might have fallen into the trap of overthinking, disrupting my cultivation heart." "No need to be so polite. Your wisdom is great, Zhirui. Even without my reminder, you would have eventually realized it yourself," Lu Qing replied with a smile. Just now, with a single glance, he had seen that Lin Zhirui had been deeply shaken by the performance of the young man in luxurious robes climbing the Heaven's Ladder, causing him to doubt himself. Such matters can be either minor or severe. If one were to get stuck in a rut, even a slight misstep could lead to instability in one's Martial Heart, possibly causing a downfall. That’s why Lu Qing offered guidance, using the ancient wisdom passed down by his ancestors to clear the obstacles in Lin Zhirui's heart. "Perseverance is the way of heaven; a gentleman should strive continuously for self-improvement..." Mago and Wei Zian, who were standing nearby, also felt shaken upon hearing Lu Qing's words. It was impossible for them not to be affected, seeing so many martial arts geniuses gathered in the Sacred City. The gap between people is truly vast. That sense of despair could easily make one question the meaning of their own cultivation. But Lu Qing's words just now dispelled the confusion in their hearts, sweeping away the traces of despondency and reinvigorating them. Watching Lu Qing remain as composed as ever, Lin Zhirui couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. More than two years ago, when he first met Lu Qing in Cang County, the latter was still a young and inexperienced boy. But now, aside from his still slightly youthful appearance, Lu Qing had completely ascended to another level in both demeanor and conduct. Even though Lin Zhirui had already reached the Precelestial Realm, he still couldn’t help but feel a sense of insignificance when facing Lu Qing. Just what level has Young Master Lu Qing's cultivation reached? This thought emerged once again in Lin Zhirui's mind. "Well? Do you all concede?" As Lin Zhirui's thoughts churned, the young man in luxurious robes atop the Heaven's Ladder spoke out loudly. But there was only silence on the Heaven's Ladder. Everyone gazed at the young man in awe. As for Bai Bufan and the others, their faces were pale, with expressions of utter dejection. "Senior Brother, Fifth Brother is still so fond of showing off." In the sky, on the back of a giant bird, a beautiful girl with bright eyes and white teeth chuckled softly. "That’s just Fifth Brother’s nature..." Another young man with a gentle temperament, also on the back of a giant bird, shook his head, "If he could rid himself of this impatience, he might have already broken through to the Precelestial Realm." "It's not really a problem. After all, it's just his way of doing things. If he didn't like showing off, would he still be Fifth Brother? Besides, we've remained hidden in the Yunshui Secret Realm for too long. Other than some ancient sects, few know of our existence. With the changes in the world today, it's time to make our presence felt, so that certain people don't start thinking they're in charge of everything." Another young man with a cold expression said indifferently. "Indeed. Before we left, Master instructed us that we weren't just here to seize opportunities; we were also here to make the name of our Yunshui Secret Realm known. Fifth Brother's actions were well justified." "However..." The senior brother hesitated for a moment before shaking his head, "Alright, we still need to pay our respects to the three Holy Lords. Let's call Fifth Brother back." "I’ll call him." The girl immediately gathered her energy and called out, "Fifth Brother, have you had enough fun? Senior Brother is asking you to come back!" Hearing the shout, the young man in luxurious robes raised an eyebrow. He looked down at the people below, all of whom were silent, gazing at him with reverence. He chuckled softly, and suddenly let out a sharp cry, akin to a bird's call. Then, he leaped high into the air, jumping off the Heaven's Ladder. At the same time, the clear cry of a bird resounded from the sky. The giant bird that had previously carried the young man spread its wings, creating a powerful gust of wind as it swooped down rapidly towards its master. Just as the young man began to descend, the bird reached him, catching him steadily. With a flap of its wings, it soared high into the sky, returning to the side of his fellow disciples. "Let’s go." The senior brother glanced at the crowd below, who were still in shock, and spoke softly. The giant birds all flapped their wings, flying toward another part of the Sacred Mountain. Watching the group of giant birds gradually disappear behind the other side of the Sacred Mountain, the previously silent crowd suddenly erupted in noise. "Can anyone tell me who these people are?" "Just fooling around? That young man in luxurious robes climbed two hundred levels of the Heaven's Ladder, and that was just fooling around?" "Isn't it? You saw how easily he did it. I think two hundred levels aren't even his limit. If he wanted to, he could have climbed even higher." "Now, Bai Bufan and the others are in a tough spot. Who would have thought that their proud competition would be completely overshadowed by a nobody who suddenly appeared?" ... "They actually just left?" Lu Qing was somewhat surprised to see the people from Yunshui Secret Realm leave on their giant birds. "They must be going to pay their respects to the three Holy Lords. The people from the Four Great Secret Realms always stay on the Sacred Mountain when they come, never lodging in the Sacred City," Lin Zhirui explained. "I see." Lu Qing nodded. He recalled the information he had sensed earlier with his abilities, and a hint of seriousness flashed in his eyes. "I didn’t expect to gain such insight. What kind of opportunity could be so valuable that even the people from the Four Great Secret Realms place such importance on it? Could it be the same opportunity that I’ve been sensing?" Ever since arriving in the Sacred City, Lu Qing had been certain. The mysterious force that was attracting both him and his master came from the Sacred Mountain. However, even now, standing before the Sacred Mountain, he still couldn’t be sure what exactly was drawing them. "Is it that the opportunity is hidden too deeply, or is the time not yet right?" Lu Qing pondered silently. The appearance of the Yunshui Secret Realm’s people had made him more cautious. If their target was the same mysterious opportunity, then seizing it would not be easy. Moreover, since the people from Yunshui Secret Realm had come, the others from the remaining three secret realms were likely not far behind. "It seems that if my master and I want to seize this opportunity, we’ll need to plan carefully." Thinking this, Lu Qing said, "Lord Zhirui, now that the excitement is over, should we return? We were in such a hurry to get here that we haven’t even found an inn yet." "You haven't found a place to stay? That’s perfect. There's an empty courtyard next to where I’m staying. If you don’t mind, you can stay there for now." "We wouldn’t want to impose... but very well, we’ll accept your kind offer." Lu Qing had intended to decline, but after considering that inns are often chaotic, and given that he was accompanied by Xiao Yan and the unpredictable Hu Zezhi, staying at an inn might cause trouble. So, he nodded in agreement. "I'll make the arrangements immediately when we return!" Lin Zhirui was delighted when Lu Qing accepted. "To be honest, the Sacred City is currently filled with warriors from all over the world. Every inn is packed, and finding a place to stay won’t be easy. Staying at our Tianji Tower will not only be safe but also quiet, ensuring you won't be disturbed." "Since Lord Zhirui insists, we’ll gladly accept." Lu Qing smiled. With that, they started walking back to the city, having seen enough of the spectacle. As for what would happen to Bai Bufan and the others, they were no longer interested. "Hmm?" As they walked into the city, Lu Qing suddenly felt a sense of danger and swiftly glanced toward a nearby corner. However, when he looked over, all he saw was a corner of black clothing disappearing around a corner, with no one in sight. But even with just that one glance, Lu Qing felt somewhat relieved. A slight smile appeared on his lips: "So, someone is indeed watching us. Is it Hu girl's calamity, or are they after us? Well, as long as you stay hidden, it’s fine. But now that you've shown your hand, things will be easier to handle." Since it was only a suspicion, Lu Qing didn’t say anything but continued walking toward Tianji Tower. Meanwhile, in a distant corner of another street, a figure in a black robe was feeling a mixture of shock and fear. "How could that be? How did that boy detect me? Was it just a coincidence, or did he really notice something?" The black-robed figure was still somewhat relieved, though. If it hadn't been for his quick reaction, his cover might have been blown. However, along with the relief, he also felt a deep confusion. He was confident that his method of concealing his aura was nearly unrivaled. He even believed that even a seasoned expert at the peak of the Precelestial Realm might not detect his gaze. Yet that boy was so keenly aware that he had almost been caught just as he began tracking them. But according to his senses, that boy was merely a Postnatal martial artist. "Could it be that the boy possesses some kind of treasure that alerts him to being tracked?" Suddenly, the black-robed figure thought of a possibility. He knew that tens of thousands of years ago, this world had a flourishing immortal cultivation civilization, which later faded as the spiritual energy waned. However, though the cultivators disappeared, some of their magical artifacts still remained. Now, with the changes in the world and the revival of spiritual energy, those ancient artifacts might also gradually regain their power. Could it be that this boy just happens to have a detection artifact? The black-robed figure pondered this possibility and the more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Otherwise, he couldn’t understand how his Heart Demon Concealment Technique had been detected by a mere Postnatal martial artist. "If it really is a treasure, then that’s fantastic. I didn’t expect to gain such a prize. And those disciples of the Yunshui Secret Realm... decades ago, I dug three feet into the ground, but I couldn’t find the entrance to the Four Great Secret Realms. Who would have thought you’d come out on your own? If I devour you, my demonic body will be fully formed. At that point, this world will truly be mine!" The black-robed figure's voice was filled with excitement, and his eyes shone with a dark, ominous light, which was truly terrifying. "But first, I must devour the girl with great fortune and the old man with the Light of Merit. Absorbing their fortune and merit will allow me to truly establish the foundation of my supreme demonic body. Once I unify both the righteous and demonic forces within me, even the will of Heaven won’t be able to stop me!" As the figure muttered to himself, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind only a wisp of black mist floating in the air. After returning to Tianji Tower, Lin Zhirui immediately sent someone to clean up the small courtyard next to his residence. Once the courtyard was ready and Lu Qing and his companions had moved in, Lin Zhirui took his leave, as he still had much to do, such as arranging a time for the old doctor to observe the Sacred Pool. "Master, on the way back, I noticed something strange that might be related to Miss Hu’s calamity." After Lin Zhirui left, Lu Qing spoke seriously. "What is it?" The old doctor’s expression turned grim. Searᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Everyone else also looked at Lu Qing, especially Hu Zezhi, whose face was filled with tension. "Earlier, when we were entering the city, I noticed someone secretly following us from a street corner. Unfortunately, that person was extremely cautious. As soon as he realized I had detected his presence, he left immediately, and I didn’t get a clear look at him." Lu Qing felt a bit regretful as he said this. If the person hadn’t reacted so quickly and if Lu Qing had been able to observe him longer, he might have uncovered the truth with his abilities. "If you didn’t see him clearly, how can you be sure he’s connected to Miss Hu’s calamity?" the old doctor asked. "I’m not entirely sure, but the faint aura he emitted was somewhat similar to the calamity aura on Miss Hu’s face, so I have this suspicion." "I see," the old doctor nodded. "In that case, it’s very likely that this person is indeed connected to Miss Hu’s calamity." "But who is he? I have no enmity with him, so why would he target me?" Hu Zezhi asked in confusion. She had lived her whole life in Azure Dragon City and had never made enemies, so she couldn’t understand why someone would want to harm her. Moreover, this was someone so fearsome that even Young Master Lu Qing almost missed his presence. Why? The old doctor and Lu Qing exchanged a glance, both understanding the situation. The most unique thing about Hu Zezhi was her strong fortune. If someone so powerful was targeting her, their motive was obvious. He was after the fortune that Hu Zezhi possessed. "In any case, this is at least a breakthrough," Lu Qing didn’t reveal this point but instead reassured Hu Zezhi, "Since we know now that your calamity involves a person, it’ll be much easier to deal with. Miss Hu, since that person didn’t dare to act rashly, it seems he has some concerns. As long as you stay close to us, you should be safe." "Yes, I understand." Indeed, knowing that her calamity involved a person, Hu Zezhi felt much more at ease. With her spirits lifted, she suddenly remembered something. "Oh, Young Master Lu, Senior Chen, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you. When we were near the Sacred Mountain earlier, I vaguely felt as though something on the mountain was calling to me." Table of content

Chapter 275

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