"This large state seems to be the region where the Cold Water Palace is located, the Northern State?"
Lu Qing sensed the surrounding laws of heaven and earth, and suddenly a thought struck him.
He once obtained a map from Lin Zhirui that marked various forces in the world.
This also includes the four major states where the secret lands are located, which have gradually reappeared before the world in the past two years.
However, Lu Qing's trip with Xiao Yan was entirely spontaneous, and he didn't pay much attention to the destination.
Only now, sensing the strangeness of this place, did they realize that they had arrived in the Great Continent where the Cold Water Palace, one of the four great secret lands, was located.
It is said that most of the disciples of the Cold Water Palace practice techniques with the attribute of ice and cold.
I never expected that the large state I occupied would be so peculiar.
Of course, Lu Qing just sighed and didn't have any other thoughts.
He didn't intend to have any dealings with the people from the three secret realms this time.
After all, he knew that since he destroyed the Suspended Mountain, the remaining three secret regions probably had very complicated attitudes toward him.
After all, the four secret realms are not entirely harmonious; some even have many grudges against each other.
For example, Qingyang Temple and Xuankong Mountain have always disliked each other.
But Lu Qing destroyed the entire Suspended Mountain, and even the secret realm was completely destroyed.
This is truly terrifying for other secret locations.
They couldn't imagine how Lu Qing had managed to do it.
Therefore, Lu Qing estimated that if he were to actually appear in front of other secret locations, countless people would be restless.
If that's the case, why deliberately invite people to dislike you?
Since Xiaoyan likes it here, Lu Qing plans to stay a little longer.
Immediately, he took Xiaoyan and the others on a sightseeing trip.
A few days later, they arrived in front of a huge city.
"Cold Water City?"
Looking at the huge ancient characters on the city gate, Lu Qing read them softly.
According to the information provided by Lin Zhirui, Hanshui City is also an ancient city with a very long history.
However, this city is now under the control of the Cold Water Palace.
"So beautiful!"
Xiao Yan ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) looked up at the giant city in front of her and exclaimed in amazement.
At this moment, Xiaoyan was wearing a very beautiful fur coat, looking adorable and lovely.
Even Lu Qing was wearing a robe.
Although with his cultivation level, he had long since reached the point where he was impervious to heat and cold, and even icebergs and lava could not harm him in the slightest.
But as they traveled, he and Xiaoyan followed local customs and put on warm clothes.
As for Xiao Li, who dislikes the cold, it had already snuggled into Lu Qing's arms and was fast asleep.
Even the Five Elements shrank to the thickness of a thumb, coiled up, and hid in Xiaoyan's hood.
Hearing Xiaoyan's exclamation, Lu Qing smiled.
Yes, this city is indeed beautiful.
Because of the cold, various ice sculptures are carved on the city gates and walls.
They are all lifelike and vivid in appearance.
This makes the entire city wall look both exquisite and majestic.
After admiring the scenery for a while, Lu Qing led Xiao Yan into the city.
Once inside Hanshui City, the scenery becomes even more pleasing to the eye.
Exquisite and beautiful ice sculptures are everywhere, making the entire Coldwater City look like a giant work of art.
"This city is protected by an ancient formation, but the people of the Cold Water Palace don't seem to know how to use it?"
Lu Qing strolled through the city with Xiao Yan, his mind reflecting on the city's many sights.
With the inheritance of the Divine Talisman Sect, Lu Qing's mastery of array formations is also quite profound.
He could sense that this ancient city, like the holy city of Zhongzhou, must have incorporated the principles of formations when it was built.
Now, as the world recovers, the ancient formation that has been dormant for tens of thousands of years is also faintly awakening.
But what puzzled him was...
The formations within the city seemed to be operating on their own, without any guidance, and the power of the formations could not be adjusted or utilized.
As a result, the spiritual energy within this city was not significantly more concentrated than that outside the city.
His efficiency in utilizing the power of formations was far inferior to the formations he set up in Jiuli Village.
Moreover, the pedestrians on the street gave him a strange feeling.
Many people were in a hurry, with a tense look on their faces.
More importantly, he could sense it through his spiritual perception.
Throughout the entire city of Hanshui, there are many rather powerful auras.
There are many in the Innate Realm, and even some in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
This puzzled him.
Although the world has changed and spiritual energy has revived in the past two or three years, many martial artists have made breakthroughs.
Innate Realm experts are not as rare as they used to be.
But the number of powerful individuals in Coldwater City is really too many.
There were far more than he had seen in the Suspended Mountain Secret Realm.
Is the foundation of Hanshui Palace really that profound?
"Or is something big about to happen in Coldwater City?"
Feeling puzzled, Lu Qing took Xiao Yan for a while, then found a lively restaurant, booked a private room, ordered some local specialties, and sat down.
While Xiaoyan and the others happily ate, Lu Qing listened to the conversations of the other guests in the restaurant.
He chose this restaurant because he sensed that there were many powerful auras here.
Some people at the Innate Realm were also eating and drinking.
Sure enough, after listening for a while, he got the information he wanted.
"Do you think that wicked man will really come today?"
In the next private room, a group of guests were chatting.
One of the men, whose aura was not weak and who appeared to have the cultivation level of the Innate Realm, suddenly spoke.
"Be careful what you say, what evil person? That's the sect leader of the Changhen Sect! It's said that he has already passed the tribulation and achieved the supreme Golden Core realm, making him a divine being!"
If he hears your rude words, he could easily kill you, and no one would dare say a word!
The burly man had barely opened his mouth when his tablemate warned him.
The burly man paused, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately dared not act rashly again.
Instead, he used a more respectful title: "Will the Sect Master of the Everlasting Regret Sect truly come today?"
"He's already issued such a high-profile challenge to Hanshui Palace. If he doesn't come, wouldn't he become a laughingstock to the world?"
"Yes, that day he came flying through the air, hovering above the Cold Water Palace, and issued a challenge. How spirited he was!"
It would be quite surprising if you didn't come today.
"Then tell me, if the Sect Master of the Changhen Sect comes, will the Palace Master accept the challenge?" the burly man continued.
"That's hard to say. I've heard that the sect leader of the Changhen Sect survived a tribulation of lightning at Changhen Mountain a month ago and achieved the supreme and wondrous realm of Golden Core True Person, possessing unfathomable supernatural powers."
As you all saw that day, the sect leader of the Changhen Sect arrived riding the wind.
Its terrifying power suppressed an entire city.
Even though the Palace Master is powerful, it's not certain that she can withstand it.
"That's what Da Han's companion analyzed."
Its aura was equally strong, clearly indicating that it possessed the cultivation level of a minor innate master.
Upon hearing their companion's words, the guests at that table fell silent.
They recalled the terrifying aura emanating from the sect leader of the Changhen Sect when he came to issue the challenge.
As beings at the Innate Realm, they only felt their minds tremble; apart from fear, they had almost no other thoughts.
After a while, someone asked in confusion, "Don't you guys find it strange? The Changhen Sect is, at best, just a small sect."
Why is their sect leader so powerful, when this world has only been recovering for a short time?
He was actually able to survive the tribulation and achieve the Golden Core Realm!
Even the Holy Lords of the Holy Mountain only survived their tribulations a little over a year ago, right?
"Who knows? Perhaps the sect leader of the Changhen Sect has obtained some treasure but has been hiding it and biding his time."
"It wasn't until after the world was revived that they found the opportunity to refine the treasure and soar to the heavens," someone speculated.
The version is flawless, found in the 1619 book forum!
"Hearing you say that, it seems I have indeed heard rumors these past few days."
It is said that more than two years ago, when the third sound of the Dao of Heaven and Earth resounded, a stream of light flew out from the Central Plains and flew to all the states under Heaven.
One of the streaks of light landed precisely in the Changhen Mountains.
However, many people went to search for it, but found nothing.
Do you think that the Flowing Light was obtained by the sect leader of the Everlasting Regret Sect?
"Who could possibly know such a thing? Do you dare to ask the Sect Master of the Everlasting Regret Sect?"
Everyone else paused for a moment, then shook their heads in unison.
Just kidding, who would dare ask a Golden Core cultivator for his treasures? That's like the God of Longevity hanging himself, tired of living.
After skipping over this matter, someone else said, "But what grudge does the Sect Master of Changhen Sect have against Hanshui Palace that he would issue such a high-profile challenge?"
Could it be that, as he said, the Cold Water Palace harbored a deep-seated hatred towards him, having killed his wife and taken his child?
"That's impossible! The four secret realms are incredibly powerful. If they truly had such a deep-seated grudge, how could the Changhen Sect have survived to this day?"
"That's hard to say. The sect leader of Changhen Sect is now a Golden Core cultivator; surely he wouldn't lie."
Furthermore, the Cold Water Palace did not object at the time, seemingly acquiescing to it.
"If that's the case, Coldwater City is going to be quite lively today."
One of the four great secret realms was challenged in front of the entire world.
If we lose this battle, the myths of the four great secret realms will likely be shattered.
Some people wore gloating expressions, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
"A Golden Core Realm expert actually wants to challenge the Cold Water Palace?"
Listening to the conversation of the guests at that table, Lu Qing finally understood why so many powerful figures had gathered in the city.
It turns out that a Golden Core Realm expert is going to publicly challenge the Cold Water Palace today.
Most of these powerful individuals are probably just here to watch the show.
After all, for tens of thousands of years, the four secret realms have held an unparalleled and revered position throughout the entire world.
Now that someone dares to challenge it, it will naturally attract the attention of many powerful figures in the world.
I was unaware of this because I had been taking Xiaoyan sightseeing recently.
"However, the sect leader of a small sect was able to reach the Golden Core Realm in such a short time."
Even if one obtains the primordial energy, isn't this still a bit too heaven-defying?
A strange feeling arose in Lu Qing's heart.
He naturally knew what the guests at the other table meant by "fleeting opportunities."
It should be the primordial energy that appeared in Zhongzhou when the third time the Dao of Heaven and Earth resounded.
Although most of that primordial energy was intercepted by the powerful individuals who stayed in the Holy City at the time.
However, a small number of them flew out of the Central Plains and scattered across the other states, where they were obtained by other living beings.
Even with the acquisition of the primordial energy, achieving the Golden Core realm in such a short time is still quite extraordinary.
After all, this occurred before the changes in the world and the resurgence of spiritual energy.
In this world, besides the four great secret lands, there are also unique places like the Holy Mountain.
In other places, one can only cultivate to the peak of the Innate Realm at most.
Otherwise, Senior Li Weitian wouldn't have had to risk his life to break through the barrier due to his approaching lifespan, ultimately dying with regret.
In other words, logically speaking, the sect leader of the Changhen Sect was able to achieve this in just two or three years.
From the Innate Realm to the Golden Core Realm.
This speed of cultivation is simply terrifying.
You should know that Master has also refined the primordial energy, but despite his talent for cultivation, he is still only at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.
Although he was only one step away from the Golden Core Realm, he had not yet sensed the opportunity to break through.
For a time, Lu Qing became very interested in the sect leader of the Changhen Sect.
Driven by curiosity, Lu Qing also began to eat and drink.
The food in Hanshui City is quite good.
The barbecue, in particular, is absolutely amazing.
The meat slices, cut large and thin and marinated, sizzle as soon as they are grilled.
Then, dip it in the restaurant's special dry seasoning, and with one bite, the aroma fills the air, making it incredibly delicious.
Not only did Xiaoyan's mouth get all oily from eating, but even Xiaoli, who always loves fish, ate quite a bit.
As for the Five Elements, that was even more exaggerated, swallowing pieces of meat one after another.
This forced Lu Qing to ask the restaurant to keep serving meat so that they would have enough to eat.
Fortunately, he wanted a private room; otherwise, given how Xiao Li and Wu Xing were eating, it would have attracted a lot of attention.
After all, while there are many people in the world who like to keep rare and exotic animals, there are quite a few nobles in the city who like to travel with all sorts of unusual pets.
However, such intelligent pets are still extremely rare.
While eating and drinking, Lu Qing continued to listen to the conversation next door.
From this, he learned a lot more details about the challenge.
For example, the sect leader of the Changhen Sect issued the challenge seven days ago.
The official challenge begins today.
It was precisely because of the short duration that the powerful figures gathered in the city were all from the surrounding states.
Even if powerful figures from more distant places receive the news, it will be difficult for them to arrive in time.
Otherwise, the number of powerful individuals in the city would probably be several times greater.
Another point is that the sect leader of the Changhen Sect did indeed have a wife before he founded the sect. It is said that she was beautiful, no less so than the beauties on the so-called beauty list.
But from some unknown time, the wife of the leader of the Changhen Sect disappeared.
It is said that she died in childbirth, and neither she nor her child survived.
The poor sect leader of the Changhen Sect turned white-haired overnight.
After more than ten years of silence, the Changhen Sect was founded, and several decades have passed since then.
But now it seems that there were other hidden reasons behind the deaths of his wife and children.
Lu Qing ate and drank while listening to the gossip and stories of the martial arts world being discussed next door, quite leisurely and content.
The main problem is that the neighbors next door don't seem to be hiding anything. If they speak loudly, they could probably be heard outside the restaurant. Even if he doesn't know how to use his strength, he could hear them very clearly.
Just as Lu Qing was eating and drinking, his expression suddenly changed.
The next moment, a grand voice resounded throughout the entire city:
"You lowly servant, I'm here. Are you ready to die?"
