Chapter 1344: Chapter 1349: Cyan Cloud Secret Realm
"A way? There’s fundamentally no secret technique."
Elder Jin’s face grew more serious: "In the eyes of outsiders, they think it’s some mystical martial arts or Eastern Japan Secret Techniques. But in reality, it’s just a manifestation of speed."
"Oh?" Qin Hao raised an eyebrow, noncommittal.
Elder Jin continued: "The reason for the apparent disappearance is that Young Friend Qin, your speed is too fast, so fast that no one can track it with their eyes, creating the illusion of vanishing into thin air."
Indeed, this was the conclusion Elder Jin had just come to.
For someone’s speed to be as fast as Qin Hao’s, it’s undoubtedly the mark of a master among masters.
Elder Jin understood this deeply, and even thought that Qin Hao’s prowess might present a considerable challenge for him to handle with his own capabilities.
Adding the family’s guards and aides in, perhaps they could kill Qin Hao.
But even then, the family would pay a heavy price.
It was precisely because of this that Elder Jin changed his attitude and became very respectful towards Qin Hao.
Only the strong command respect!
"Hehe, your recognition saved me quite a bit of effort." Qin Hao picked up the teacup on the coffee table, took a sip, and said.
"Actually, I have a purpose for sparing you effort, young friend." Elder Jin suddenly smiled, his smile tinged with intrigue: "I have a request, Mr. Qin, and I wonder if you could..."
"No." Qin Hao put down the teacup and said very straightforwardly.
"Uh..." Elder Jin’s face froze, looking extremely awkward.
Why is Qin Hao so cold? For others, being asked by me might make them so excited they’d leap to the heavens, yet you refused outright without even listening? What’s going on?
However, Elder Jin quickly reconciled. Qin Hao was a peerless power; all behaviors of the strong were magnanimous.
"May I ask why young friend refused?" Elder Jin still refused to step back.
Qin Hao replied blandly: "I’m here today to accompany Jiaying to attend the gathering, not interested in any other little activities."
"Hehe, so that’s it." Elder Jin sighed in relief, then explained: "You misunderstand, young friend. The matter I’m talking about is not something that needs to be done today. It will happen in the coming days, so if you agree, there is time to prepare."
"Oh." Qin Hao nodded: "Tell me more."
Seeing this, Elder Jin felt pleased at last, finally slipping the hook, worried he wouldn’t!
Taking a deep breath, Elder Jin asked: "Young friend, have you heard of the Cyan Cloud List?"
"Of course I’ve heard of it." Qin Hao replied casually.
"Do you know the original intention behind the establishment of the Cyan Cloud List?"
Elder Jin asked once again.
Qin Hao replied: "To prevent the overly hormonal and bored younger generation from brawling."
"..." Elder Jin was somewhat speechless, that’s the gist of it, but your answer is too casual!
After a pause, he explained: "Actually, that’s only the answer circulating outside. The real reason is preparation for the Cyan Cloud Secret Realm."
"Cyan Cloud Secret Realm?" Qin Hao’s eyes shone. He had heard his master Pan Li mention secret realms before.
They were remnants of small worlds scattered across Huaxia, their entry points very mysterious, once the paradises of the Immortal Race.
But after the ’Great Calamity,’ all secret realms were obliterated, weren’t they?
How could there still be a ’Cyan Cloud Secret Realm’?
Thinking about this, Qin Hao’s heart gradually caught fire, eager to know the answer.
"Tell me the specifics!"
Seeing Qin Hao’s expression changing somewhat, Elder Jin sighed in relief once more, "To explain the Cyan Cloud Secret Realm, one must first understand the meaning of secret realms..."
Qin Hao waved his hand and interrupted: "I know what it is."
"How do you know!"
Now, Elder Jin was truly shocked.
Secret realms were the homelands of the Immortal Race in past years, only known to the senior upper echelons of the major noble families, assuming the younger generation wouldn’t know.
Qin Hao, knowing he slipped up, remained calm, stating very quietly: "My master once told me, secret realms are special spaces formed through the washing of time, filled with Spiritual Qi, and harbor many Spiritual Objects, a paradise for martial artists."
Hearing this, Elder Jin relaxed, thankfully he didn’t know of the Immortal Race’s existence!
"Hehe, so Young Friend Qin’s master is also someone from an Ancient Martial Family?"
"Yes, he’s called Huang Bufeng." Qin Hao said, without a trace of remorse, completely pushing the blame onto Old Huang.
"So it’s Loose Practitioner Huang Bufeng?"
Elder Jin nodded slightly: "Though Huang Bufeng is a loose cultivator, his achievements run deep, frequently traveling among Ancient Martial Families, so having broad information is reasonable."
After a pause, his expression turned puzzled again: "It’s just, I’m aware of Huang Bufeng’s prowess. Is he truly as good as you, young friend?"
The hidden meaning being, Huang Bufeng isn’t even as strong as you, how could he possibly be your master?
Qin Hao, face unchanged, continued to lie: "Back then, when he took me as a disciple, I was merely Middle Grade in the Yellow Tier, but later I surpassed my blue."
"Oh. So, reaching your current level took you only a few years?"
Weighing his guess, Elder Jin was extremely surprised.
To advance from Yellow Tier to what appears to be Earth Tier in a few years, such talent is truly monstrous!
He wasn’t aware, though, Qin Hao’s prowess was even beyond his imagination.
Otherwise, this well-informed Elder Jin might have had a heart attack.
"Alright, having talked so much nonsense, Old Jin, get to the point quickly." Qin Hao urged, deliberately changing the address from "Elder Jin" to "Old Jin."
Elder Jin hesitated no more, and said: "Long ago, the Duanmu Clan accidentally discovered a damaged secret realm entrance. It has special restrictions; only young people under thirty can enter. However, it’s full of dangers, as all personnel we sent to investigate haven’t come out."
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao raised an eyebrow: "So, you established the Cyan Cloud List to select the strongest among the younger generation and send them into the secret realm to die?"
"That’s not how it is." Elder Jin shook his head and said: "Inside the secret realm is mysterious and unknown, but it’s not a death trap. At least, not all ten pioneer scouts we sent in perished, at least three are still alive."
"How do you know they’re alive?" Qin Hao questioned.
"Because their Soul Lamps haven’t extinguished..." Elder Jin, realizing he slipped, hurriedly added: "We have our ways to confirm this, you needn’t worry about the matter’s authenticity."
Qin Hao came to a realization. It seems like the Ancient Martial Families weren’t as foolish as imagined. They surely reaped some benefits when they betrayed their ancestors back in the day.
It seems the Soul Lamp is one such benefit.
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