Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

Chapter 462: Chapter 205: Ancestor (2)

Chen Qing: "..."

The corner of his mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

’Is that it? This "knocking-on-the-door" assessment for the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect... isn’t it a bit too straightforward?’

’Couldn’t they at least use a complete Supreme Heart Method for the test!’

’This fragment... Who couldn’t pass a test like this?’

For him, this assessment was practically a formality.

Following the insight in his mind, Chen Qing mobilized the Cyan Wood True Gang within his body, slowly circulating it along the pathways of the Circulation Star Essence Technique.

A soft, faint blue glow gradually appeared in his palm. His True Qi, as if guided by an unseen force, swirled around his fingertips, appearing nimble and tame. This was clearly the sign of reaching the entry-level.

The entire process took less than ten breaths.

Chen Qing decided not to push open the door to the Ninth Layer immediately. After all, entering the Ninth Layer so quickly would surely arouse suspicion.

But in that instant—something unexpected happened!

A jolt went through Chen Qing, and the hairs on his skin stood on end.

From the deepest part of the Celestial Treasure Tower, the core of the seventy-second floor that no one had ever reached, a beam of incomparably condensed, ethereal purple light suddenly shot out!

The light ignored all the barriers between the tower’s floors, and as if teleporting, plunged directly into the sea of consciousness between Chen Qing’s brows!

"BZZZT—!"

Chen Qing felt a BOOM in his mind, as if he had been struck violently by a massive, invisible hammer!

Everything went black!

An unknown amount of time passed before Chen Qing subconsciously placed his hand on the stone door.

.....

「Celestial Treasure Main Peak, the Sect Leader’s place of secluded cultivation.」

An old man dressed in simple linen robes stood there. His figure was thin and tall, and though he was slightly stooped, he still exuded an air of transcendence.

His face was ancient, his wrinkles like carved lines. When his eyes suddenly snapped open—it was none other than the renowned top expert on the current Grandmaster List, the Sect Leader of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, Jiang Lishan.

The peaceful aura around him instantly rippled. He shot to his feet, his gaze piercing through the multiple palace walls and obstructions to focus on the Celestial Treasure Tower, a look of incredulous shock on his face!

’This fluctuation of will... it points directly to the origin... Is it the materialization of the Ancestor’s Will?!’

Towering waves surged in his heart. ’Why would the Ancestor’s Will, dormant for centuries, suddenly be triggered? Inside the Celestial Treasure Tower? Could it be... that some unforeseen event has occurred in the Treasure Tower that even I am unaware of? Or... has a world-shaking talent appeared, one capable of activating the Ancestor’s legacy?’

His Divine Thought spread out like an invisible tide, instantly blanketing the area around the Celestial Treasure Tower as he tried to find the source of that fleeting will.

However, the will had appeared as suddenly as it vanished. Like a drop of water merging into the ocean, it left no trace behind, only the momentary tremor that proved it had not been an illusion.

Just as Jiang Lishan’s brow was tightly furrowed and his expression was incomparably grave,

"SCREEE—!"

A clear bird cry tore through the sky. A massive shadow enveloped the main peak for a moment as a Golden Feathered Eagle, its feathers shimmering with a metallic luster, folded its wings and landed.

On the eagle’s back, an old woman holding a dragon-headed staff and wearing an ink-black robe with intricate cloud patterns floated down.

The newcomer was none other than the Master of the Nine Heavens Vein, one of the Four Veins of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect—Li Yu-jun.

Her expression was solemn as she strode forward and said in a deep voice, "Sect Leader, just now, this old one was handling affairs within my vein when I suddenly felt an incomparably powerful fluctuation of will flash by. Its source seemed to be near the main peak. Did you sense it as well, Sect Leader? Do you know the cause?"

Her gaze was sharp as she stared intently at Jiang Lishan, clearly showing her immense concern over the matter.

Jiang Lishan’s thoughts raced. The matter of the Ancestor’s Will was of utmost importance, one of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s most core secrets. It absolutely could not be leaked.

His expression instantly returned to being as placid as an old well. He nodded slightly, a look of confusion on his face as well. "Li Vein Master, you sensed it too? This one was also alarmed just now. That will was indeed peculiar—fleeting and difficult to trace. I was just about to send people to patrol the various peaks to see if some Exotic Treasure has appeared or if an Elder has run into a problem with their Cultivation."

He cleverly diverted her attention, avoiding any mention of the ’Ancestor,’ and even broadened the scope of possibilities to make it seem as if he were also in the midst of investigating.

Hearing this, Li Yu-jun’s graying eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

She had lived for countless years and had grown shrewd with age. The matter was definitely not as trivial as Jiang Lishan was making it out to be.

’This matter is far from simple.’

However, she showed none of this on her face, merely going along with his explanation. "So the Sect Leader is also unaware. In that case, this old one will not disturb your investigation. If you find anything, I hope the Sect Leader will inform my Nine Heavens Vein, lest our disciples act in ignorance and offend someone or something."

She gave a slight bow, her etiquette impeccable.

"Of course," Jiang Lishan replied faintly.

Li Yu-jun said no more. She turned, stepped onto the Golden Feathered Eagle, and the massive bird beat its wings, kicking up a gale as it swiftly flew away.

Watching Li Yu-jun’s figure disappear over the horizon, the calm on Jiang Lishan’s face vanished, replaced by deep solemnity and a hint of urgency.

He stood at the peak with his hands behind his back, his gaze once again turning to the Celestial Treasure Tower.

’I must find out what happened inside the Treasure Tower immediately! The Ancestor’s Will... it hasn’t appeared for hundreds of years. Why today...’

He had to be the first to get information on this matter!

Li Yu-jun returned to the main hall of the Nine Heavens Vein. The sudden fluctuation of will was like a stone cast into the lake of her heart, its ripples refusing to fade.

She dismissed her attendants and stood alone before a window, her brow slightly furrowed as she gazed toward the cloud-shrouded main peak.

"The Sect Leader is being extremely secretive. This matter is definitely not as simple as an Exotic Treasure appearing or a cultivation mishap..." she muttered, a sharp glint in her eyes. "Could it be related to one of the Sect’s hidden secrets?"

After a moment of contemplation, she remembered that today was the second day of the selection. She immediately summoned her Trusted Steward.

"How is the selection progressing? Have any particularly outstanding individuals appeared?"