Dragon Roar Technique

Heaven-Marrying True Lord!

Heaven-Marrying Ladder!

Chen Lingxi silently committed those two names to memory.

Candle flames flickered in the East Hall, and the smoke of dragon's salve incense flowed across the white mutton-fat 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 enshrined in a dark chamber.

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

The Crown Prince suddenly turned around. His gaze fell upon Chen Lingxi, and spiritual qi finally flowed within those eyes. Faint whirlpools slowly turned in the depths of his pupils.

"Fellow Daoist's spiritual qi cultivation is entirely concealed," he said. "Had Fellow Daoist not taken the initiative to reveal that trace of spiritual qi, I fear even I would not have seen that you were a Qi Circulation Realm 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. This Crown Prince must still be somewhat wary of me. Although I revealed a wisp of Qi Circulation Third Floor spiritual qi, the Concealed Edge Method had hidden my qi before... He must think I am still concealing my cultivation.

That works out perfectly.

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

The Crown Prince did not pursue the matter 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 and even the Golden Grotto! Fellow Daoist has hidden his name within Baosu Marquis Residence, so I presume you already know—there are also powerful figures in this land of death."

"Among these native powerhouses are no lack of people capable of matching those of the Upper Three Floors."

His tone remained calm, but a faint trace of wariness flashed through his eyes. "I once encountered a saber-wielding man. Though he did not cultivate qi, his saber art was peerless, capable of cleaving mountains and shattering peaks."

Chen Lingxi nodded and said naturally, "I too encountered a young figure. His blood and qi surged like a tide, and his strength was astonishing. He called himself the Spirit-Wielding General. Though he cultivated only blood and qi, he was incomparably powerful."

"When one encounters such people, a moment of carelessness may overturn the boat in a gutter—never mind the Cauldron Vessel, Dao Foundation Realm, or Golden Grotto; even one's life may be at risk."

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 know?" His gaze rested upon the Crown Prince's face. "That way, we may weather the killing tribulations here and have a greater chance of seeking truth and finding the cauldron, thus gaining great freedom."

The Crown Prince did not answer at once.

He stood before the landscape painting with his hands behind his back, gazing at that enormous ink-wash painting on the wall. Only after several breaths did he slowly speak. "And what can Fellow Daoist give me?"

The corners of Chen Lingxi's lips rose slightly. "The Crown Prince has only recently 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 a brow slightly.

Chen Lingxi remained silent, simply watching the Crown Prince and waiting for him to speak himself.

The Crown Prince pondered for several breaths. "The spiritual veins here are severed, and spiritual qi is exceedingly scarce. By coincidence, Calamity Sea found me a fine identity, and I possess no lack of items brimming with spiritual qi. Would Fellow Daoist be interested?"

Items brimming with spiritual qi?

Contrary to the Crown Prince's expectations, Chen Lingxi shook his head.

"The Academy has likewise prepared a few opportunities for me, so I do not lack spiritual qi." A trace of helplessness crossed his face. "It is only that my memories are blurred now, and I have actually forgotten several offensive techniques."

"I am willing to trade this opportunity with the Crown Prince for a great killing art."

The Crown Prince was slightly startled upon hearing this, then laughed.

"What difficulty is there in that?" His tone carried a touch of indifference. "I possess a Dragon Roar Technique, obtained by an elder cultivator after hearing a dragon's chant."

"Cultivate the Dragon Roar, and your voice will resemble a dragon's chant, intimidating approaching enemies. Once the technique is cultivated to the Mystic Realm, with the cultivation of the Upper Three Floors, a single shout will be like thunder. It will be enough to suppress ordinary cultivators to death. It is a true wondrous art!"

Confusion appeared in Chen Lingxi's eyes. "Mystic Realm?"

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

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

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

"Initial Perception, Subtle Insight, Profound Subtlety, and Mysterious Profundity! The Mystic Realm is the realm of Profound Subtlety. One has already thoroughly investigated the principles of the technique, and its power is formidable."

Chen Lingxi came to an understanding and nodded.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

The candlewick crackled, while the smoke of dragon's salve incense slowly drifted 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 trade, but suddenly an idea flashed through his mind, as if he had thought of something.

Then, in a casual tone, he said, "I have already laid my cards on the table with the Crown Prince..."

"However, the Crown Prince calls himself a disciple of Calamity Sea. My memories are blurred, so I do not remember Calamity Sea, but the method by which the Crown Prince just now infused spiritual qi into his eyes reminded me of another place."

His tone paused slightly, and his gaze became earnest. "Since we are to exchange what we know, both sides must treat one another sincerely. If the Crown Prince still keeps something hidden, it will instead leave me rather uneasy."

The Crown Prince's expression shifted slightly as he stared intently at Chen Lingxi.

Chen Lingxi's gaze was candid as he met the Crown Prince's eyes.

Several breaths passed, and a faint smile appeared on the Crown Prince's face.

"When seeking truth here, one cannot help but be cautious." The Crown Prince paced forward until he reached 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 East Hall, neither hurried nor slow, as though taking a walk in his own backyard.

Pretending to be exceedingly casual, he spoke with a hint of nonchalance in his tone. "The Crown Prince might as well say it plainly, so I may see whether my judgment was correct."

"Forgive me for making Fellow Daoist laugh. I am indeed not a disciple of Calamity Sea." The Crown Prince smiled. "Rather, my lineage comes from the Southern Azure Domain. Does that answer match Fellow Daoist's guess?"

Southern Azure Domain...

Chen Lingxi nodded lightly. His expression did not change, but he committed those three words to memory.

This probing seemed to have worked.

The Crown Prince's Southern Azure Domain origins were highly credible.

Thus, Chen Lingxi's tone seemed to grow a little more sincere. "Since the Crown Prince and I have an agreement, there will surely be more than one transaction. If we remain wary of one another and refuse to loosen our lips, how can we exchange what we know?"

"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. "Is it worth a Dragon Roar Technique?"

Spirit Aperture!

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

He said nothing more.

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

The jade pendant was only an inch square. Its entire body was lustrous white, its jade warm and smooth, gleaming with a faint, cold light in the candlelight.

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

He handed the jade pendant to Chen Lingxi.

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

Chen Lingxi accepted the jade pendant. The instant his fingertips touched its surface, a coolness seeped from his fingers into his meridians.

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

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

"A strand of Mother Qi is about to emerge from the Ancestral Mountain of Yuan River Prefecture." He raised his head and looked at the Crown Prince. "There are also qi cultivators in Yuan River Prefecture watching it like tigers eyeing their prey."

"By obtaining this Mother Qi, one may nurture a Spirit Aperture! Once one has a Spirit Aperture, one will have a greater chance of obtaining the Cauldron Vessel, cultivating the Heavenward Third Floor, and gaining great freedom."

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

In an instant, he seemed to gain some insight, thinking to himself, So that is how it is. This Ancestral Mountain truly has a secret! I came to Yuan River Prefecture twice and saw the Ancestral Mountain shrouded in dense fog, strange beyond measure, yet I never paid it any heed.

It was as though... this mountain had never been here at all! Only after Chen Lingxi pierced through it did I realize its extraordinariness.

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

"So it is a Spirit Aperture opportunity." He murmured those four words, unable to suppress the emotion in his voice. "Such an opportunity truly merits careful planning."

He clasped his hands behind his back again and paced through the East Hall.

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

Chen Lingxi nodded. "The Spirit Aperture opportunity is of great importance. It would likely be exceedingly difficult for one person alone to seize the Mother Qi."

"To join forces with Fellow Daoist would naturally be excellent."

Having gained this opportunity, the Crown Prince seemed greatly pleased. A few traces of a smile finally appeared on his handsome face.

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

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

Chen Lingxi agreed and looked beyond the East Hall.

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

Chen Lingxi departed.

The Crown Prince stood before the landscape painting without moving.

Several breaths passed.

He suddenly turned around, walked to the desk, picked up the purple-haired brush from its stand, and spread out a sheet of gold-sprinkled paper.

The brush tip was thick with ink. It hovered above the paper for a moment.

Then he wrote.

The handwriting was not neat, and could even be called somewhat hurried. Every stroke bore an urgent, unquestionable force, penetrating through the paper as ink spread across the gold-sprinkled sheet.

"Intercept and kill Beast-Fighting Chen Lingxi."

Seven short words. He had finished writing.

He returned the purple-haired brush to its stand, picked up the sheet of gold-sprinkled paper, folded it twice, and called out.

"Someone."

The hall doors opened by a crack, and another young eunuch silently entered. He stood with his hands lowered and head bowed, not daring to look around.

The Crown Prince handed him the sheet of gold-sprinkled paper.

"Deliver this to Eunuch Zhuo."

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

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 time without moving.

Candlelight cast his shadow across the white jade tiles, stretching it long and faint.

"This man does not remember offensive techniques..."

"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 still be tested."

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

His thoughts churned, and the two whirlpools in his eyes slowly revolved.

"If I obtain them, my cultivation will surely advance. There is a great chance I may ascend the tower once more!"

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