Dragon Roar Technique

Heaven-Marrying True Lord!

Heaven-Marrying Ladder!

Chen Lingxi silently committed these two names to memory.

Candles flickered in the eastern hall, and the smoke of dragon-saliva incense flowed across the creamy white jade tiles like a stream.

The Crown Prince stood with his hands behind his back before a landscape painting, his back to the bronze lamp. He looked like a jade statue worshipped in a dark chamber.

Chen Lingxi stood in the hall with his hands at his sides, his expression unchanged.

The Crown Prince suddenly turned around, his gaze falling upon Chen Lingxi. Spiritual qi finally flowed within those eyes, and faint vortices slowly turned in the depths of his pupils.

"Fellow Daoist, not a trace of your spiritual qi cultivation is apparent," he said. "Had you not taken the initiative to reveal that wisp of spiritual qi, I fear even I would not have seen that you are a Qi Circulation cultivator."

He paused, and his gaze swept over Chen Lingxi once more.

"With such a concealment method, I fear only cultivators of the Upper Three Floors could see through it."

Chen Lingxi immediately understood. The Crown Prince still fears me somewhat. Although I revealed a wisp of Qi Circulation Third Floor spiritual qi, the Concealed Edge Method had hidden my qi before this... He must believe I am still concealing my cultivation.

That works out perfectly.

Thinking this, he met the Crown Prince's gaze and replied, "It is merely a breath-concealing method passed down by the Academy. It cannot be called a particularly profound technique."

The Crown Prince did not press further, but abruptly changed the subject. "You and I came here for no more than to obtain the Cauldron Vessel inheritance and seek opportunities for the Dao Foundation Realm, perhaps even the Golden Grotto! Fellow Daoist has hidden his name in the Baosu Marquis Residence, so you must already know—there are powerful figures in this land of death as well."

"Among these local experts are quite a few who can rival those of the Upper Three Floors."

His tone remained calm, but a faint trace of wariness passed through his eyes. "I once encountered a saber-wielder. Though he had never cultivated qi, his saber technique was peerless, capable of cleaving mountains and shattering peaks."

Chen Lingxi nodded and said naturally, "I too encountered a young man. His blood and qi surged like raging waves, his strength was astonishing, and he called himself the Spirit-Wielding General. Cultivating only blood and qi, he was still incomparably powerful."

"When encountering such figures, one misstep could capsize the boat in a gutter—never mind the Cauldron Vessel, Dao Foundation, or Golden Grotto; even one's life may be endangered."

The Crown Prince did not respond, merely nodding slightly.

Chen Lingxi took a step, clasping his hands behind his back.

"Why not exchange what we have?" His gaze rested on the Crown Prince's face. "That way, we may face the killing calamities here, and stand a better chance of seeking truth and pursuing the Cauldron Vessel, thereby attaining great freedom."

The Crown Prince did not answer at once.

He stood with his hands behind his back before the landscape painting, gazing at the enormous ink-wash scene on the wall. After several breaths, he slowly spoke. "And what can Fellow Daoist offer me?"

The corners of Chen Lingxi's mouth rose slightly. "The Crown Prince has only just arrived in Yuan River Prefecture. Do you know that a great opportunity lies hidden within Yuan River Prefecture?"

"A great opportunity?" The Crown Prince raised his brow slightly.

Chen Lingxi remained silent, merely watching the Crown Prince and waiting for him to speak on his own.

The Crown Prince pondered for several breaths. "The spiritual currents here are cut off, and spiritual qi is exceedingly scarce. By chance, the Calamity Sea secured a fine identity for me, and I possess no shortage of items brimming with spiritual qi. Would Fellow Daoist be interested?"

Items brimming with spiritual qi?

To the Crown Prince's surprise, Chen Lingxi shook his head.

"The Academy has prepared a few opportunities for me as well, so I do not lack spiritual qi." A trace of helplessness flashed across his face. "It is only that my memories are hazy now, and I have somehow forgotten several offensive arts."

"I am willing to exchange an opportunity for a great killing art from the Crown Prince."

The Crown Prince was slightly taken aback, then smiled.

"How difficult could that be?" His tone carried a measure of indifference. "I possess a Dragon Roar Technique, obtained by an ancient cultivator who heard a dragon's chant."

"Cultivate the Dragon Roar, and your voice will resemble a dragon's chant, intimidating all approaching enemies. Once the art reaches its wondrous state, and one possesses the cultivation of the Upper Three Floors, a single roar becomes like thunder, enough to suppress ordinary cultivators to death. It is a truly wondrous art!"

Chen Lingxi revealed a puzzled look. "Wondrous state?"

If this were reality, he would not have asked further. The more he asked, the more flaws he might reveal.

But now that he was within Total Perception, he asked a little more.

The Crown Prince glanced at him and answered, "The cultivation progress of arts and techniques has four grades."

"Initial Perception, Subtle Insight, Profound Subtlety, and Mysterious Profundity! The wondrous state is the realm of Profound Subtlety. One has already delved deeply into the principles of the art, and its power is formidable."

Chen Lingxi understood and nodded.

The hall fell quiet for a moment.

Candle flames crackled, while dragon-saliva incense drifted slowly between the two men.

The Crown Prince watched him silently, the light in his eyes deep and steady, as though waiting for something.

Chen Lingxi had intended to continue discussing the transaction, but suddenly, inspiration flashed through his mind, as though he had remembered something.

Then he casually said, "I have already laid my cards on the table before the Crown Prince..."

"Yet the Crown Prince claims to be a disciple of the Calamity Sea. My memories are hazy, and I do not remember the Calamity Sea, but the method by which the Crown Prince just infused spiritual qi into his eyes reminded me of another place."

His tone paused slightly, and his gaze turned serious. "Since we are to exchange what we have, both sides must treat each other sincerely. If the Crown Prince keeps something hidden, it instead leaves me rather uneasy."

The Crown Prince's expression changed slightly as he scrutinized Chen Lingxi.

Chen Lingxi met his gaze frankly.

After several breaths, a faint smile appeared on the Crown Prince's face.

"When seeking truth here, one cannot help but be wary." The Crown Prince walked forward and came to Chen Lingxi's side. "Since Fellow Daoist has seen through my origins, there is no need for me to say more."

Chen Lingxi strolled through the eastern hall at an unhurried pace, as though taking a walk in his own backyard.

Pretending to be utterly casual, he spoke with a hint of carelessness in his tone. "The Crown Prince may as well speak plainly and let me see whether my judgment was correct."

"Please forgive the laughter, Fellow Daoist. I am indeed not a disciple of the Calamity Sea." The Crown Prince smiled. "Rather, I hail from the Southern Azure Domain. Does this answer match Fellow Daoist's speculation?"

Southern Azure Domain...

Chen Lingxi nodded lightly, his expression unmoved, yet he committed those three words to memory.

This probe seemed to have been useful.

The credibility of the Crown Prince's Southern Azure Domain background was extremely high.

Thus, Chen Lingxi's tone seemed to grow a little more sincere. "Since the Crown Prince and I have an agreement, this transaction will certainly not be our only one. If we remain mutually guarded and unwilling to loosen our lips, how can we exchange what we have?"

"The opportunity I speak of lies in the words 'Spirit Aperture'!"

"A Spirit Aperture opportunity will soon emerge in Yuan River Prefecture." Chen Lingxi enunciated each word. "I wonder whether it is worth one Dragon Roar Technique?"

Spirit Aperture!

The instant those words fell, the Crown Prince's eyes lit up.

He said no more.

He reached into his robes and took out a jade pendant.

The pendant was only about an inch across, lustrous white throughout, with warm jade quality. Under the candlelight, it gleamed with a dim, cold radiance.

Spiritual qi flowed around the Crown Prince's fingertips and streamed into the jade pendant. The pendant lit up, changing from lustrous white to pale cyan, then from pale cyan to deep emerald, finally settling upon a heavy, nearly ink-dark green.

He handed the jade pendant to Chen Lingxi.

"My sect's Dragon-Chant Wondrous Art is within." He paused, his gaze landing on Chen Lingxi's face. "I obtain the secret, and you obtain this jade pendant."

Chen Lingxi accepted the jade pendant. The instant his fingertips touched its surface, he felt a cool sensation seep from his fingers into his meridians.

He sent a thread of spiritual qi into the jade pendant, and an immense flood of information immediately burst forth, filling Chen Lingxi's mind!

Without changing expression, Chen Lingxi tucked the jade pendant away.

"A strand of mother qi will soon emerge from the Ancestral Mountain of Yuan River Prefecture." He raised his head and looked at the Crown Prince. "There are also qi cultivators within Yuan River Prefecture watching it like tigers eyeing their prey."

"Obtaining this mother qi can nurture a Spirit Aperture! With a Spirit Aperture, one will have a greater chance of obtaining the Cauldron Vessel, cultivating to the Heavenward Third Floor, and attaining great freedom."

"Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi?" At last, the Crown Prince's gaze turned toward the Ancestral Mountain.

In that instant, he seemed to realize something. So that is how it is. This Ancestral Mountain truly holds a secret! I came to Yuan River Prefecture twice and saw the Ancestral Mountain shrouded in dense mist, thoroughly strange, yet I never paid it any heed.

It was as though... this mountain had never been here at all! Only after Chen Lingxi pointed it out did I understand its extraordinariness.

The Crown Prince turned to look at Chen Lingxi, and his gaze was already different from before.

"A Spirit Aperture opportunity." He murmured those four words, unable to suppress the emotion in his tone. "Such an opportunity is indeed worth carefully planning for."

He again clasped his hands behind his back and paced through the eastern hall.

Only after more than a dozen steps did the Crown Prince raise his head and look at Chen Lingxi. "Why not join hands with me, Fellow Daoist?"

Chen Lingxi nodded. "The Spirit Aperture opportunity is of great importance. Taking the mother qi alone would likely be extremely difficult."

"Being able to join hands with Fellow Daoist is naturally excellent."

Having obtained this opportunity, the Crown Prince seemed quite delighted. At last, a little more smile appeared on his handsome face.

"Then when the Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi emerges, you and I shall meet again.

Should Fellow Daoist require anything, simply send word in the name of the Baosu Marquis Residence."

Chen Lingxi agreed and looked beyond the eastern hall.

Understanding, the Crown Prince summoned a eunuch serving outside the hall. "See our guest out."

Chen Lingxi departed.

The Crown Prince stood before the landscape painting, utterly motionless.

Several breaths passed.

He suddenly turned and walked to the desk, lifting a purple rabbit-hair brush from its stand and spreading out a sheet of gold-sprinkled paper.

The brush tip was soaked with ink and hovered above the paper for a moment.

Then he wrote.

The handwriting was not neat—one might even call it hasty. Every stroke carried an urgent, unquestionable force, the strength piercing through the paper as ink bled across the gold-sprinkled sheet.

"Intercept and kill the beast fighter Chen Lingxi."

Seven short words, and he was finished.

He placed the purple rabbit-hair brush back on its stand, picked up the gold-sprinkled paper, folded it twice, and called out.

"Someone."

The hall doors opened a crack, and another young eunuch slipped silently inside. With his hands lowered and head bowed, he did not dare look around.

The Crown Prince handed him the gold-sprinkled paper.

"Deliver this to Eunuch Zhuo."

The young eunuch received it with both hands, bowed, and withdrew from the hall. His footsteps were as swift as a gust of wind, and in an instant he vanished into the depths of the corridor.

The hall doors closed again.

The Crown Prince stood in the hall with his hands behind his back, staring at the landscape painting on the wall for a long while without moving.

Candlelight cast his shadow upon the white jade tiles, stretching it long and pale.

"This man has forgotten his killing arts..."

"There is only one strand of Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi, not enough to share with others."

"His cultivation is unknown. With Eunuch Zhuo here, this is the perfect chance to intercept and kill a qi cultivator. Even if he cannot be killed, his strength can be tested."

"Truth-Seekers must carry secret treasures upon them."

His thoughts churned, while the two vortices in his eyes slowly turned.

"If I obtain them, my cultivation will surely advance. I may very well ascend another floor!"

"And I must investigate why this man has lurked in the Baosu Marquis Residence, even going so far as to disguise himself as a household servant."