The turmoil at Jade Pool Immortal Stone Workshop in Pingyan City has passed for three days.
However, the ripples it caused did not subside. Instead, like a boulder thrown into the center of a lake, the ripples spread at an alarming speed throughout the entire Northern Region, and even showed a tendency to affect other areas of the Eastern Wasteland.
"Have you heard? That mysterious young man beside the Jade Pool Holy Maiden single-handedly suppressed Ji Haiyue, the genius of the Ji Family!"
"It's more than just suppression! I heard that Li Qingshan suppressed his cultivation to the Dao Palace Secret Realm, and with just one palm strike, Ji Haiyue was helpless despite using all her methods! It was as if a young God King had descended upon the world!"
"Hiss... Dao Palace Secret Realm? That Ji Haiyue a direct descendant of the Ji Family, and her Void Ancient Scripture is unparalleled in its mystery, yet she couldn't even make the opponent move a single step?"
"Absolutely true! Many outstanding figures present at the time, including Jiang Yifei of the Jiang Family and Zhao Fa of the Yaoguang Holy Land, can testify to this."
This person not only possesses astonishing supernatural abilities, but also unfathomable cultivation. Some elders from sacred lands speculate that his cultivation may have reached the Peak Four Extremes. Such cultivation at the age of fifteen or sixteen is truly terrifying.
Her aura was even more terrifying, said to be closer to the origin of the Great Dao than even the Jade Pool Holy Maiden!
" Li Qingshan, I've never heard of this name before, it's as if he appeared out of thin air, yet he possesses such strength, his background must be astonishing!"
Similar discussions were not only heard in the restaurants and teahouses of Pingyan City, but also spread to major cities in the Northern Region at an astonishing speed.
Inside a tavern in a small mining town on the edge of the Primordial Ancient Mine, several cultivators who had just come down from the mine were having a heated discussion.
"If you ask me, this Li Qingshan is most likely a descendant of some reclusive sect! Otherwise, how could he possess such strength?"
A man with a face covered in mineral dust took a swig of liquor and said loudly.
An older cultivator beside him shook his head and said, "Not necessarily. It is said that even the Jade Pool Holy Maiden is very secretive about his origins. If he were truly a successor of a great sect, why would he need to be so mysterious?"
"Hehe, do you guys think it might be some old monster's disciple coming out to gain experience?"
Another cultivator with a pointed snout and monkey-like face lowered his voice, "I've heard that some ancient monsters who have lived for thousands of years have trained disciples who are all prodigies."
Inside a gambling den in Black Flame City, another major city in the Northern Region, several young people from different factions were discussing the matter.
A disciple dressed in the robes of the Purple Mansion Holy Land exclaimed, "To suppress Ji Haiyue with a single hand—such strength is probably already on par with the holy sons of various sects!"
The Yin-Yang Sect's candidate for Holy Son sneered, "Holy Son level? I doubt it. Ji Haiyue is strong, but she's still far from being a true Holy Son level figure."
However, this Li Qingshan is indeed extraordinary; I must meet him when I have the chance.
"Come on," one of the men sneered. "Even Ji Haiyue couldn't withstand a single blow from him. Wouldn't you just be humiliating yourself?"
Just as everyone was arguing, a young man in white who had been silent all along suddenly spoke up, "Do you know what is the most terrifying thing?"
Seeing everyone looking at him, he slowly said, "What's most terrifying is that this person is only fifteen or sixteen years old, yet he already has such cultivation and strength."
Given time, once he truly matures, I'm afraid...
He didn't finish speaking, but everyone present understood what he meant, and they fell silent for a moment.
Meanwhile, in a luxurious pavilion in the Northern Region Holy City, several deep-seated elders were enjoying tea and discussing matters.
"The timing of this person's appearance is too coincidental."
An elderly man dressed in the Jiang Family attire stroked his beard and pondered, "The Golden Age is about to begin, and all sorts of special physiques are emerging one after another. Now, this mysterious figure has appeared..."
An elder from the Yaoguang Holy Land opposite him chimed in, "What's even stranger is Jade Pool's attitude."
Such a prodigy should be highly sought after by all sects, but Jade Pool seems to have already made contact with him; there must be something fishy about this.
"I've already sent people to investigate."
Another elder from the Ji Family had a grim expression. "But this person seems to have appeared out of thin air; we can't find any trace of his origins."
"You can't even find anything through your Ji Family's intelligence network?"
Everyone was taken aback.
The Ji Family elder shook his head. "Not only that, I suspect that Jade Pool is intentionally covering something up."
The news coming from Pingyan City is very vague, as if someone is deliberately controlling the spread of information.
Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the attic immediately became heavy.
Meanwhile, within Pingyan City, the undercurrents outside Jade Pool's garrison were surging even more fiercely.
"Did you see clearly? Is Li Qingshan inside?"
A figure hidden in the shadows asked in a low voice.
"Reporting to Your Excellency, the encampment is protected by the array of Jade Pool, making it difficult to detect with divine sense."
However, according to reports from informants, Li Qingshan has not been seen going out in the past few days.
"Continue surveillance! The Holy Son has ordered that this person's background be thoroughly investigated."
Similar conversations took place in several secluded locations around the base.
Spies from different factions used their unique abilities to spy from afar. Some disguised themselves as merchants, some as passing cultivators, and some even used secret treasures to spy from a distance.
However, as a sacred place of supreme cultivation, Jade Pool's foundation far exceeded outsiders' imagination. All divine senses that attempted to probe were quietly neutralized by the invisible array surrounding the base, and those who used secret treasures found that their magical artifacts would inexplicably malfunction when they approached the base.
"Damn it, the protective array of Jade Pool is indeed as powerful as it sounds."
A cultivator hidden in the restaurant across the street put away the Heaven-Peering Mirror in his hand and gritted his teeth.
His companion whispered, "It seems Jade Pool takes this person very seriously. Let's retreat to avoid alerting them."
While the outside world was in turmoil because of Li Qingshan, the area within the base remained peaceful.
In the courtyard, the ancient trees swayed their branches, casting dappled sunlight and shadows.
Li Qingshan and Black Emperor sat facing each other, sipping tea, as if the storms of the outside world had nothing to do with them.
After three days of recuperation, Li Qingshan 'Dragon Transformation Nine Changes became increasingly refined and stable.
He sat there seemingly casually, yet his entire being seemed to merge with the heavens and earth, as if he were the center of this world.
The massive dragon of the spine within his body emitted low, thunderous sounds from time to time, its powerful blood energy contained within, yet giving off a sense of oppressive pressure that could erupt at any moment.
"Woof! Little Li, you're famous now!"
Black Emperor stood up, one paw gripping the teacup. He took a sip like a human, his dog eyes gleaming with smugness. "I told you long ago, follow me, and I guarantee you'll be famous throughout the land! Now you believe me?"
Li Qingshan glanced at it, chuckled, and shook his head. "What else can you do besides cause trouble?"
That title was merely the beginning of trouble.
2
"Trouble?"
The Black Emperor curled his lip in disdain, "What trouble are you afraid of? Anyone who dares to cause trouble, I, the Emperor, will suppress them all by combining my power with my pet!"
Besides, there are those women from Jade Pool.
"Well, with the Jade Pool Holy Land as their backing, who would dare to provoke them easily?"
Just as the man and his dog were bickering, Lin Qingyao, the Jade Pool Holy Maiden, strolled over gracefully.
Clad in white, her hair flowing like a waterfall, she exuded a serene and natural ethereal charm.
As she walked, her skirt swayed gently, making her look like a fairy from a painting.
She glanced at Black Emperor indifferently; she had grown accustomed to this outspoken black dog over the past few days.
His gaze then fell on Li Qingshan, his clear eyes carrying a hint of subtle complexity.
The past few days together have given her a deeper understanding of this mysterious young man.
He can be as steady as a mountain at times, and as unrestrained as a free spirit at others. His detached and otherworldly demeanor is completely unlike what one would expect at his age.
What alarmed her even more was that, as time went on, she increasingly felt that Li Qingshan possessed qualities that were in harmony with the Dao, making even Jade Pool Holy Maiden, who cultivated the " Western Emperor Scripture," feel ashamed.
Elder Li.
Her ethereal voice, like a celestial melody, interrupted the bickering between the man and his dog.
Li Qingshan looked up and saw Lin Qingyao lightly raise her jade hand, and a jade talisman imprinted with the profound Western Emperor Dao patterns appeared, emitting faint spatial fluctuations and an aura of urgency.
Urgent news from the Holy Land!
Her tone carried a hint of seriousness.
Li Qingshan remained expressionless, as if he had expected this.
He took the jade talisman, and with a slight probe of his divine sense, he perceived the concise yet undeniable information contained within it.
"Return immediately."
"Summoned by the Queen Mother?"
Li Qingshan put down the jade talisman and looked at the Jade Pool Holy Maiden.
Lin Qingyao nodded slightly. Her face was obscured by the rosy mist, but her tone carried a hint of seriousness. "Mm."
The message came directly from the Queen Mother, ordering me to immediately return to the Holy Land with my fellow Daoists.
She paused, then added, "It seems that your message to the Holy Land has attracted the attention of the Holy Land's higher-ups."
Li Qingshan laughed loudly, stood up, his purple robe fluttering slightly, exuding an air of arrogant confidence. "Since the Queen Mother has summoned me, I, Li, will naturally obey."
Besides, I have long yearned to visit the Jade Pool Holy Land, and this is a perfect opportunity to pay my respects.
He had long anticipated this day. His Innate Immortal Fetus constitution, coupled with the strength he passively displayed to the people of Jade Pool during his tribulation, was enough to attract the attention of the highest levels of Jade Pool.
This journey to Jade Pool is not only to seek the opportunity to obtain the " Western Emperor Scripture," but also to leverage Jade Pool's influence to gain a foothold in this golden age.
Black Emperor jumped up excitedly, wagging its tail rapidly. "Woof woof! Are we finally going back to Jade Pool?"
Is my luxurious doghouse still there?
And that Jade Pool Immortal Wine, I miss it so much!
Its words caused the old woman from Jade Pool beside it to twitch her lips slightly, and her gaze toward it became increasingly surprised and suspicious.
This black dog is not only of unpredictable strength and speaks strangely, but it also seems quite familiar with Jade Pool?
The elderly women exchanged glances, all seeing the same question in each other's eyes: what was the origin of this dog?
Without delay, the Jade Pool Holy Maiden immediately ordered the journey to begin.
With a gentle wave of her hand, a magnificent jade palanquin appeared out of thin air.
The carriage was carved from millennia-old warm jade, and was engraved with countless profound Dao patterns, radiating a soft light.
Nine magnificent and extraordinary spirit birds, each possessing cultivation at the Dao Palace Secret Realm, led the jade chariot.
"Please." Lin Qingyao gestured.
Li Qingshan nodded slightly and led the Black Emperor onto the jade carriage.
With a command from the Jade Pool Holy Maiden, the jade chariot soared into the air, instantly transforming into a streak of light that tore through the clouds and sped towards the Jade Pool Holy Land, leaving the hustle and bustle of Pingyan City far behind.
Shortly after the imperial carriage departed, spies planted by various factions within Pingyan City relayed the news back.
"The target has left Pingyan City with the Jade Pool Holy Maiden, heading towards the Jade Pool Holy Land!"
This news spread like wildfire throughout the major powers of the Northern Region, sparking a new round of speculation and discussion.