There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 196 How could you be so mean? [Third Update]

The wind extinguished the ancient city.

Qiao Mansion.

After leaving Lei Chi, Chen Qing reunited with Qiao Bujue and his group. Instead of heading to Nanxiang City, they traveled south for a hundred miles and arrived at this ancient city where Wantongfang held the upper hand.

After receiving treatment from Chen Qing, Madam Qiao's condition improved significantly, and she no longer needed to stay by the Thunder Pool, so she also left.

After everything was settled, Chen Qing threw Elder Qiu, whose cultivation was completely sealed, into a corner restriction and said to Qiao Bujue, "Master Qiao, please use the channels of Wantongfang to find out two things for me: one is a paradise on earth where rogue cultivators or cultivators from other sects can cultivate, and the other is the whereabouts of the fragment of the Gate of Mysterious Female."

"I, Qiao, will do my utmost!" Qiao Bujue bowed and accepted the order, his face full of gratitude and determination.

Ao Yu laughed loudly from the side, "Why bother Wantongfang with such a trivial matter? My Dragon Palace has extensive connections across the world. I will send a message right away and find a few immortal realm entrances for my junior brother!"

After speaking, he channeled his dragon essence between his fingers, and several scale-like communication talismans transformed into golden light and vanished into the void.

Princess Hongling was not to be outdone. With a flick of her wrist, a Crimson Phoenix Jade Talisman shone brightly: "I will contact those elders who control the keys to the secret realm and ask them about the price for you. It's better than some people just talking nonsense."

She glanced at Ao Yu, tapped the jade talisman, and began communicating with the distant place.

Chen Qing expressed his gratitude, and then, with a thought, activated the Hidden Star Sect's secret star talisman, clearly transmitting his needs back to Dingyuan Mountain.

When the Daoist Shouzhuo heard that his junior brother wanted to seek the Nine Revolutions, he was naturally very concerned. He immediately took it very seriously and personally supervised the matter, mobilizing all the connections in his sect and sending urgent letters to all the major sects with which he had been on good terms for thousands of years to discuss the matter.

For the next two or three days, the small courtyard where Chen Qing was temporarily staying seemed to become an information hub, with spiritual light flying back and forth and good news coming in one after another!

Ao Yu was the first to clap his hands and laugh loudly: "Hahaha! Junior brother, look! The Ancestor of the Azure Turtle of the Western Sea has agreed that his Azure Wave Abyss Realm can be opened for you for three days! This is the legacy of the ancient water immortal, permeated with the Dao of Water Essence, which has miraculous effects on nourishing the soul and comprehending the rhythm of heaven and earth!"

Immediately, Princess Hongling's pretty face lit up, and she strode in: "Li Qing! The old fellow from Wanzhuhai has relented! His Qinglan Bamboo Sea Realm will allow you to stay for five days, in exchange for helping them repair an ancient restriction—a mere favor! I've already agreed on your behalf! Let's enter this paradise first!"

Not long after, Qiao Bujue, beaming, strode over carrying a jade slip: "Lord! I have not failed you! An elder from the Wansui Sect in the Southern Frontier has secretly responded that they possess a 'Fragment of the Earth Qilin' obtained from an ancient battlefield. It contains the essence of the earth and is suspected to be a fragment of the Gate of the Mysterious Female. Its attributes are profound and powerful. They are willing to exchange it for something else!"

Immediately afterward, the sect star talisman in Chen Qing's arms trembled, and Fairy Huanyun's gentle voice came: "Junior brother, the Northern Desert Sandstorm Palace, out of consideration for our past relationship, has granted you permission to enter the Desert Lone Smoke Realm for seven days of cultivation! In addition, a master craftsman from the Furnace Fire Palace privately revealed that a 'Starry Gold Core' seems to be circulating in the black market recently, which is very likely also a fragment of the Mysterious Female. Your senior brother Han Jing is stepping up his efforts to trace its source!"

After that, several more messages came in!
For a time, it seemed as if all opportunities were opening their arms to Chen Qing, allowing him to take what he wanted.

Even though his Dao heart was as clear as a mirror, he couldn't help but feel a slight ripple of anticipation when faced with this smooth road ahead.

Should we directly exchange for those fragments of Wutu or the golden core of the stars, using them as a foundation to combine with the light of the star's silence and tribulation, blending the meaning of Yin and Yang, stars, mountains and rivers, and laying the foundation for the Nine Revolutions in one fell swoop? Or should we first enter those few earthly paradises, personally experience the mysteries of different Daoist seeds, learn from all sources, and then make a decision?
Various thoughts swirled and churned in his mind.

As Ao Yu listened to the news coming from all sides, he couldn't help but rub his hands together and imagine, his dragon eyes shining: "Junior brother, you were able to reverse the Nascent Soul when you were at the seventh level. Once you reach the ninth level and the dragon and tiger merge, yin and yang will emerge. At that time, choosing the Nascent Soul path will surely lead to boundless possibilities and limitless immortality!"

However, this optimistic atmosphere did not last long, and the situation suddenly took a sharp turn for the worse!

First, Ao Yu received several messages from Dragon Scale in succession. The more he read them, the more his face turned ashen. Finally, he couldn't help but smash the stone table next to him with his palm: "Outrageous! That old tortoise suddenly sent a message saying that the ley lines of the Azure Wave Abyss Realm have been unstable recently and the spiritual energy is disordered, so it will be temporarily closed! The Northern Underworld Kun King's Mansion also claimed that the Demon Emperor summoned them and that there were other important matters, so they closed their doors to guests. These are all excuses!"

Soon, Princess Hongling's pretty face turned frosty with anger, her pearly teeth clenched, and she crushed the jade talisman in one hand: "That old bastard Wan Zhuhai! How dare he play tricks on me! He dared to say that the ancient restrictions within the territory had suddenly gone out of control, creating a dangerous situation, and that he was unable to receive me? A few years ago, when he begged me, he didn't have this kind of face!"

Hearing their words, Chen Qing frowned, his mind calming down as he realized something was wrong.

"If what happens next..."

Before he could even finish his thought, Qiao Bujue rushed in, his forehead covered in sweat and his face filled with anxiety: "Master, something's fishy! The Wansui Sect suddenly changed their tune, vehemently denying the existence of any Wutu fragments, and warned me not to bring it up again. Several black market brokers I had previously contacted also sent messages refusing to speak, their words evasive, as if they had become extremely hesitant!"

really!

Chen Qing's expression immediately turned serious.

Then, the sect star talisman in his arms began to tremble.

In an instant, everyone's eyes turned to them, and they all realized that something was wrong!

"Someone must be pulling the strings behind this!" Princess Hongling said bitterly!

Chen Qing raised his hand to stop him, took out a star talisman, and heard Han Jing Dao Ren's apologetic voice: "Junior brother, things have changed. We suddenly received messages from Kuangsha Hall and Luhuo Hall, their tone tactful but their attitude firm, withdrawing all previous promises. Even some of our sect's close friends are evasive, as if they have something difficult to say..."

"It's alright, thank you for your trouble, senior brother."

Chen Qing retrieved the star talisman, took a deep breath, and looked solemn.

In just a few hours, all passages, whether from the Dragon Palace, the Princess, Wantongfang, or the Hidden Star Sect itself, were cut off!

The Immortal Path, which was just moments ago radiant with light, instantly turned pitch black, and all paths were blocked!
The atmosphere inside the courtyard became incredibly oppressive. Ao Yu paced anxiously, occasionally taking out his dragon scales to send messages.

Princess Hongling's face was filled with malice as she tried repeatedly to contact other connections, but all her efforts were in vain.

Qiao Bujue was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, constantly sending messages, and more and more sweat gathered on his forehead.

at this time.

A voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard: "You all don't need to try anymore."

Then, Lu Zhao, the heir of the Marquis of Donghai, pushed open the door and entered. He glanced at everyone in the courtyard, smiled bitterly, and said, "I just learned through the family's secret channels that it was Yujing that spoke out, explicitly preventing all parties from opening the Immortal Realm to Junior Brother Jiming, and forbidding the circulation of the fragments of the Gate of Mysterious Female, otherwise they would be making enemies of Yujing."

He looked at Chen Qing, his eyes full of helplessness: "He's trying to fundamentally block your path to the Nine Revolutions."

Ao Yu immediately retorted angrily, "Watz, how can the people of Yujing be so wicked!"

Chen Qing's eyes flashed coldly: "This is the grudge of obstructing our path!"

Seeing this, Lu Zhao said slowly, "Fortunately, they haven't completely blocked the road over there. They just don't want you to immediately reach the ninth level and glimpse the opportunity of the Nascent Soul stage..."

“I understand the reason behind this,” Chen Qing said calmly, but his words were icy cold. “It’s nothing more than trying to force me to submit.”

Lu Zhao's lips moved, as if he had something to say but couldn't.

Princess Hongling suddenly said, "It's not necessarily a dead end! I know a few guides who operate in the shadows and are extremely well-informed. If we can find those hidden realms that haven't been recorded in the Immortal Dynasty's map and are unknown to the world, there might be a chance! As for the fragments of the Mysterious Female, they might be obtainable in the black market if the price is right."

Lu Zhao immediately shook his head: "How easy is that! So-called secrets often remain hidden for thousands of years. If they could be found so easily, what would be the point of the word 'secret'?"

He sighed, looked at Chen Qing, and continued in a heavy tone, "I'm not advising you to give in, but simply stating the reality: in the early stages of cultivation, you may be able to advance bravely and diligently based on your talent, but to reach the Ninth Revolution, and even the Nascent Soul stage in the future, you will need a massive amount of external resources to help you! If the Immortal Dynasty is determined to suppress you with its power and restrict you at every turn, you will inevitably face difficulties at every step and achieve half the results with twice the effort!"

After a pause, the prince's expression hardened: "Of course, I will use all my connections to search for the Hidden Ruins, and all forces on Hidden Star will mobilize their full strength. We might just be able to find a way out of this desperate situation!"

"Bang!" Ao Yu smashed the stone block next to him to pieces with another palm strike, and said angrily, "It's the same again! Bullying people by relying on their power! Those guys in Yujing are used to using this kind of method! Are we really just going to swallow this insult and beg for their mercy?"

As they spoke, everyone's eyes focused on Chen Qing.

The cold light in Chen Qing's eyes gradually faded, and he said to Lu Zhao, "Senior Brother Lu, I need to trouble you with something. Please find out which family in Yujing was the first to spread the word and prevent me from asking questions."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhao's face showed worry: "Jiming, you must not act rashly. Yujing is not the Northern Frontier..."

"Don't worry," Chen Qing's eyes were clear and bright, without a trace of gloom, "I am very clear-headed. Not only will I not act impulsively, but I have already thought of a way to break the deadlock."

"Oh?" Everyone was taken aback, their faces showing doubt, and they asked what method it was.

Chen Qing simply looked up at the clouds in the sky, as if he were calculating something.

"The time is almost up."

In the present world, in a quiet room.

Chen Qing suddenly opened his eyes, and the image of the sun and moon rotating in his eyes flashed by. His body was full of energy, as if countless tiny elves were jumping and cheering.

In the dream, the Golden Elixir underwent eight cycles, and the profound truth of "the Dharma has a primordial spirit" has been deeply rooted in the soul, and now it is surging forth through feedback!

He had no time to ponder it carefully; instead, his mind shifted, and he pointed directly to the causal thread connecting him to the name of "Hidden Star True Lord."

"Follow the name, and your thoughts will descend!"

"Om-"

Chen Qing's soul traversed the void and, once again aided by the strongman slave, landed in the desolate Pavilion of Broken Scrolls.

A few breaths later, a figure strode over; it was none other than Yu Yin, the keeper of the scriptures.

His face showed undisguised surprise as he cupped his hands and said, "I wonder what brings you here..."

Chen Qing focused his mind and, before the other party could finish speaking, cut to the chase: "I want to know the exact locations of those secret realms and grotto-heavens hidden away from the world during the mid-Immortal Dynasty, which are not recorded on maps. Do you have any records here?"

(End of this chapter)