Chapter 268: Qingyu's Identity

Jiang Mingyuan gave a slight nod, seeing that although Wang Ping's breath was weak, his eyes remained clear and resolute, he inwardly nodded.

This youth has a tenacious disposition and outstanding talent; he is indeed a piece of raw jade worthy of careful carving.

"Although you stopped at the seventh layer this tower run, being able to slay one opponent has already shown your edge; the minor turmoil in the institute need not be worried about."

Jiang Mingyuan spoke calmly, with a hint of admonition: "For the coming period, focus on consolidation, solidify what you have gained, and do not rush to break through to higher realms."

"Disciple will keep the master's teachings in mind," Wang Ping replied respectfully. He knew well that this tower run, especially the battle on the seventh layer, had almost exhausted all his trump cards; though he gained greatly, it also exposed many of his methods, and indeed he needs time to digest and consolidate, transforming his surging strength into a solid foundation.

"Hmm." Jiang Mingyuan nodded satisfactorily, then changed the subject: "Just right; there is a matter that can let you go out for a walk, change your mood, and also observe the demeanor of your peers, which may benefit your realm stabilization."

Wang Ping raised his head, showing a questioning look.

"Recently in the Northern Domain there is a Dao lecture assembly." Jiang Mingyuan said unhurriedly,

"The speaker is an old friend of mine; you go in my stead to listen to the lecture, and meanwhile convey my greetings to him on behalf of your master."

"An old friend? To be called an old friend by Master Jiang Mingyuan and specially asked to go convey greetings, he must be a remarkable figure." Wang Ping's curiosity stirred, he asked:

"May I ask which senior the master wishes me to greet?"

Jiang Mingyuan's face showed a somewhat amused smile as he looked at Wang Ping and said leisurely, "You have already met him."

"Met him?" Wang Ping startled; the people he knows in the Spirit Realm are few, let alone a great adept.

"Besides the master, who else could it be? He really couldn't recall, so he could only ask the master."

Seeing that he seemed to have guessed, Jiang Mingyuan smiled and confirmed: "Not bad, it's that human sword cultivator from the seventh layer. His name from back then is hardly known now; his present title is—Qingyu."

Qingyu Great Adept!

Wang Ping's heart surged—it was actually him!

The one who, two hundred thousand years ago, ranked three hundredth on the Human Dragon List and possessed profound swordsmanship, a peerless heavenly talent! Now he has become a regional great adept, and moreover is the master's old friend!

Such karmic ties in this world are truly marvelous and hard to put into words.

Wang Ping couldn't help recalling when he met Jin Aoxing's party in the mountains; they were about to go to Qingyu City to listen to Qingyu Great Adept's lecture, and at that time he had declined their company under the guise of the Detached Fire Recluse.

Who would have thought that after all these twists and turns, he would still end up connected with this Qingyu Great Adept, and in this manner.

Recalling how Jin Aoxing had enthusiastically invited him, mentioning some karmic tie with Qingyu Great Adept and offering to recommend him, he had still nonchalantly refused; Wang Ping's mouth twitched with a faint, odd smile.

If Jin Aoxing were to learn that he not only doesn't need his recommendation, but is going as a representative of the Ninth Dao Institute Head, in the capacity of a disciple of Qingyu Great Adept's old friend, one wonders what his expression would be.

"Disciple understands," Wang Ping gathered his mind and replied respectfully, "I will dutifully represent the master and pay respects to Senior Qingyu."

"Go ahead." Jiang Mingyuan waved his hand, "Qingyu's attainment in the sword way is extremely profound; though your path is not entirely the same, the great Dao converges despite different routes—listening to his lecture should inspire you. This is a token; holding it grants direct entry to the inner venue."

Speaking, a blue jade talisman etched with simple cloud patterns floated lightly to Wang Ping's front.

Wang Ping received the talisman with both hands, feeling it warm and moist, faintly sensing a wisp of elusive yet sharp sword intent within; knowing it was extraordinary, after another salute he withdrew from the cloud‑sea summit.

Leaving the master's residence, Wang Ping did not immediately return to his cave dwelling; instead he first went to the Pill Hall of the Dao Institute, exchanging the abundant points earned from this tower run for some top‑grade healing pills and spirit items to consolidate his cultivation.

When he returned to his cave dwelling situated on the spirit‑vein node, he found that the transmission spell formation at its entrance was almost filled with various colorful transmission talismans.

A slight sweep of his spiritual sense showed that most were congratulations on his successfully passing the sixth layer of the Heaven‑Reaching Tower, entering the seventh layer, and slaying one opponent.

The senders included familiar fellow disciples from the Dao Institute or those with only a few encounters, mentors who had once guided him, and even some disciples he did not know at all; their words were full of admiration, flattery, or intentions to make connections.

Obviously, his astonishing battle record in the Heaven‑Reaching Tower had spread like a storm throughout the Ninth Dao Institute, causing a great commotion.

One can imagine that before long, his name and deeds will be transmitted to other Dao Institutes and even wider regions.

Regarding these congratulations and overtures, he did not reply to each individually; he merely glanced over them roughly and then temporarily sealed them away.

He pondered a moment, then took out two specially made transmission talismans. One was entirely crimson, faintly bearing flame patterns, used to contact Luo Qingyang.

The other was icy‑blue and translucent, exuding a wisp of chill, used to contact Qin Xue.

These two are among the few people in this realm he can call friends.

He probed the talismans with his divine sense; the content was simple, without mentioning details of the Heaven‑Reaching Tower, merely informing them that he had returned from external training, had gained somewhat, and needed to enter seclusion for a period, to meet again after emerging.

After sending the messages, Wang Ping activated his cave dwelling's strongest prohibition; in an instant, layers of light halos enveloped the dwelling, cutting off all internal and external breath and probing.

Wang Ping sat cross‑legged in the spirit‑gathering array at the center of his cave dwelling; surrounding spirit qi surged in like a tide, nourishing his damaged meridians.

Closing his eyes to look inward, five‑colored divine light circulated in his dantian; the true sun fire transformed into a golden crow phantom hovering above the qi sea, its feathers' crimson‑gold flames becoming more substantial.

Meanwhile the true yin water flowed like a dark river, silently streaming, forming a subtle balance with the true sun fire.

"The battle in the Heaven‑Reaching Tower, though perilous, has furthered my grasp of the Point‑Spirit Realm," Wang Ping thought to himself.

He recalled that seventh‑layer battle—the Void clan's spatial blade, the Heaven‑Blue clan's "Heaven‑Blue Hand," and Qingyu Great Adept's "Nine‑Calamity Sword Art"; each move could be called the pinnacle of Golden Core stage. Had he not driven the true sun fire with his Point‑Spirit Realm, he would likely have been defeated long ago.

"Qingyu Great Adept's sword intent……is extremely sharp, yet implicitly contains the mysteries of heaven and earth."

Wang Ping lightly tapped his fingertip; a thread of Geng‑metal qi condensed in his palm, forming a illusory small sword about an inch long.

He tried to imitate Qingyu's sword intent, but it lasted only a moment before the tiny sword dissolved into specks of golden light.

"Indeed, on the sword path I am no talent."

Wang Ping shook his head with a light laugh, yet felt no discouragement. He cultivates the Five Elements Great Dao; sword technique is merely auxiliary, but if he could draw on Qingyu's sword intent, perhaps his Geng‑metal killing qi could be raised another level.

After one month, Wang Ping emerged from seclusion, his cultivation thoroughly stabilized. He had just lifted the cave dwelling's prohibition when he sensed two familiar auras flying toward his abode.

"Wang Brother! You've finally come out!" a hearty laugh rang out; Luo Qingyang stepped on a crimson flying sword and arrived instantly. He wore a fire‑patterned robe, his brows full of heroic vigor, evidently his cultivation had advanced further.

Right after him came Qin Xue in an ice‑blue long dress, her expression cool, yet she also nodded slightly.

Wang Ping gave a faint smile: "You two happen to have arrived just in time."

Luo Qingyang looked him up and down, clicking his tongue in amazement: "I heard you reached the seventh layer of the Heaven‑Reaching Tower and even slew a gatekeeper? Now the whole institute is spreading your name!"

Wang Ping shook his head: "Just luck."

"Luck?" Luo Qingyang rolled his eyes, "Any one of those three monsters on the seventh layer could pin me to the ground and rub me in; you actually managed a counter‑kill? If that's luck, then I'd be trash."

Qin Xue gave a light snort: "You already are."

Luo Qingyang immediately jumped up: "Qin Xue! You——"

Wang Ping burst out laughing, quickly interrupting them: "Alright, you came to find me—surely not just to praise me?"

Luo Qingyang gave a hehe laugh, taking from his storage ring a jar of spirit liquor: "Of course not! This is a thousand‑year spirit brew I bought from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, specially to celebrate your achievement!"

Come on, let's go inside and talk.

Inside the cave dwelling, the three sat on the ground. Luo Qingyang pulled open the wine jar's seal, and the rich aroma of the wine instantly spread, even the spiritual energy in the cave dwelling seemed to become a bit more lively.

"Come, bottoms up!" Luo Qingyang raised his cup boldly.

Wang Ping and Qin Xue exchanged a glance, both smiled, and raised their cups to drink together.

After three rounds of wine, Luo Qingyang's face flushed slightly, then he lowered his voice: "Brother Wang, do you know the Spirit Ruins Secret Realm is about to open?"

Wang Ping's eyes flashed: "I've heard a little about it."

Luo Qingyang said mysteriously: "This secret realm is different from before; it's said that inside there is an ancient ruin, with many heavenly materials and earthly treasures, and powerful magic treasures!"

Qin Xue said coldly: "Is the information reliable?"

Luo Qingyang patted his chest to guarantee: "Absolutely reliable! My master said it himself!"

Wang Ping pondered for a moment, then asked: "When does the secret realm open?"

"Three months from now." Luo Qingyang leaned in, lowered his voice, "However, this secret realm is jointly controlled by the Twelve Great Clans, the slots are limited; our human race has only a thousand slots. Of those allocated to the Dao Academy, only eight hundred, and at our Dao Academy there are only eighty. It seems like a lot, but the competition is actually fierce."

Wang Ping fell into thought.

Qin Xue glanced at him: "Do you want to go?"

Wang Ping nodded: "Perhaps it's an opportunity."

Luo Qingyang laughed heartily: "I knew it! When the time comes, the three of us together will sweep through the secret realm!"

Qin Xue said lightly: "First get the slot, then talk."

"No problem! No problem!" Luo Qingyang said proudly.

After the two left, Wang Ping felt somewhat doubtful; this crucial point, his master had him go to Qingyu Daaneng's place—could there be some hidden meaning?

Unable to figure it out, Wang Ping left the Dao Academy, riding a beam of escape light toward the Dao Academy's branch courtyard.

His own master, Tie Zhan, stayed here; unfortunately, when Wang Ping arrived, Master Tie Zhan happened to be in closed-door cultivation, so Wang Ping gave a wry smile, left a sound-transmitting jade slip, and departed directly.