Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation

Chapter 535: Chapter 289: Xia Qingying: Fellow Daoist, Please Stay...

The implication was that the sixty Cultivators from Mingzun Mountain could be split among their teams, so that no one would be at a disadvantage.

Xia Qingying pondered for a moment before finally nodding. "It’s settled."

...

The expressions of the Mingzun Mountain Cultivators immediately darkened. From start to finish, no one had asked for their opinion.

In other words, without sufficient strength, they had no say in the matter at all, destined only to become pawns and tools in the hands of the major powers.

"Palace Master Qin, and Her Majesty the Empress, aren’t you going too far with this?"

The old man from Mingzun Mountain, clad in a black cloak with a white beard and brows, said coldly.

Qin Tiangen smiled warmly. "Fellow Daoist Su, you worry too much. We’re doing this for your own safety. As long as we make any discoveries in these Hongmeng Divine Hall ruins, I will ensure you are handsomely rewarded!"

The woman from Xuannü Palace said softly, "Fellow Daoist Su, as long as Mingzun Mountain is willing to help, I will remember this favor!"

This Supreme Elder from Mingzun Mountain was named Su Mingcan. Although his Cultivation was at the Void Refining Realm, he had never been fond of fighting. Instead, he possessed an extraordinary talent in Array Dao, making him one of the most famous figures on the Qingming Continent.

This time, he had brought a group of his close disciples and their apprentices out, intending to thoroughly explore these Divine Land Ruins from the Ancient Era and bring some prizes back.

But as fate would have it, they were cornered by people from these major powers, and now it would be difficult to get away.

"So be it. So be it!"

Su Mingcan’s expression was stormy for a good while before he finally let out a heavy sigh.

"I only have these few people. Fellow Daoists, do as you see fit! But... you must guarantee their safety. Not a single one of them can be lost!"

"Fellow Daoist Su is truly magnanimous. Then it’s settled!"

Yin Xuechen said with satisfaction.

And so, the leaders of the qualified major powers conferred for a moment and finalized the allocation plan.

Su Mingcan and three of his grand-disciples would follow the Da Xia Divine Dynasty’s team. His two Direct Disciples were assigned to Li Huo Divine Palace, another two disciples and four grand-disciples went to the Chiying Demon Sect, and Xuannü Palace also received four of Mingzun Mountain’s female disciples...

In short, the major powers present were all quite satisfied. The only dissatisfied ones were the Cultivators from Mingzun Mountain.

But before anyone could make their next move, a sharp-eyed Cultivator suddenly cried out in shock:

"Huh? Who is that? H-He’s... how is he..."

Xia Qingying froze for a second, then turned her head to look at the Purple Jade Arch Bridge. She saw a handsome young man in ornate purple robes had already appeared on the bridge, walking step-by-step toward the other side.

Under the distorting effect of the Power of Spatial Restriction, Ling Changqing’s figure flickered in and out of sight, but all the Cultivators present had seen him.

By now, he had already walked more than a hundred feet across the bridge, and he seemed to be perfectly fine, not having fallen into one of those terrifying spatial Restriction Traps.

’...Who is this person? He seems to be a Cultivator from the Qingyao Continent as well. Why does he look so familiar?’

Xia Qingying’s fine brows knitted slightly, her expression filled with doubt as she scrutinized Ling Changqing’s retreating back.

"Fellow Daoist, what master are you? State your name!"

Qin Tiangen shouted in a deep voice, his figure transforming into a streak of light and appearing at the edge of the bridge in an instant.

With but a thought, a huge hand about ten feet wide condensed, carrying a surging momentum as it ruthlessly grabbed down toward Ling Changqing.

This old ancestor had already seen that Ling Changqing was extraordinary. The man’s Cultivation was only that of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, yet he could move freely within these terrifying spatial Restriction Traps. He must be hiding an incredible secret.

’If I can get this junior under my control,’ he thought, ’perhaps I can smoothly uncover the secrets of the Hongmeng Divine Hall, obtain the opportunities of this Ancient Divine Land, and no longer have to rely on the Cultivators from Mingzun Mountain.’

However, the great hand formed from Magical Power had only flown a few dozen feet before it rapidly dimmed under the grinding power of space, finally shattering.

Qin Tiangen’s face immediately darkened. He had just used fifty percent of his Magical Power, yet he still couldn’t do anything about the Spatial Restriction before him. ’It seems forcing my way through is impossible.’

"Fellow Daoist, please wait!"

Xia Qingying had also approached by now, standing at the edge of the bridge and calling out:

"The Divine Land is treacherous and unpredictable. Since you are also a Cultivator from the Qingyao Continent, why not come back and travel with me?

As long as you can guide me safely through this place, you can have your pick of any title, be it a regional governor or a high-ranking noble in the Divine Dynasty!"

"Heh..."

Ling Changqing glanced back at the Empress. ’I have no interest in becoming an official in the Divine Dynasty; the only thing that remotely interests me is the Empress herself.’

But in the instant their eyes met, something clicked for Xia Qingying. ’I’m certain I’ve seen this man before,’ she thought.

However, as for who he was, she couldn’t recall at the moment.

"...Are we j-just going to let him pass like that?"

Yin Xuechen, Su Mingcan, Yu Zhonglin, and the other bigwigs had also gathered at the edge, their faces grim as they watched Ling Changqing’s flickering figure walk step-by-step into the distance.

It was a bitter feeling to be beaten to the punch, especially when it came to the Divine Land Ruins from the Ancient Era, where the opportunities hidden inside were bound to be extraordinary.

’Are we... just going to stand by and watch it all fall into someone else’s hands?’

"What else can we do?"

Xia Qingying said irritably.

It wasn’t just her; not a single Cultivator present was resigned to this, but the situation was developing beyond their control.

"It seems we can only rely on our own abilities to get across!"

Yin Xuechen said with a helpless expression.

In any case, after coming all this way, there was no way they were leaving empty-handed. They had to find a way to cross this bridge.