Chapter 220: Returning to Canghe Peak

Qin Ming had just stepped out of the alley when he saw a figure approaching gracefully from the opposite direction; it was none other than Lu Wanjun.

She stepped forward with a gentle smile, bowed, and said to Qin Ming, "Greetings, Elder Long! The City Lord requests your presence!"

Qin Ming quickly realized that the incident outside the shop today, combined with the appearance of the legendary cultivator 'Daoist Long,' must have reached the ears of Canghe Xiancheng's upper echelons; he hadn't expected them to seek him out so quickly.

"Mm! Lead the way!" replied Qin Ming, disguised as a burly, bearded giant, his voice deep and resonant, making no attempt to decline.

He had delivered timely intelligence from within the Beast Cry Mountain Range, a significant merit; surely the high command would not make things difficult for him.

This was also Lu Wanjun's first time interacting with a renowned cultivator from the State of Wei, and she felt a slight nervousness.

A moment later.

Lu Wanjun directly utilized the teleportation function of the Xiancheng's great formation, bringing Qin Ming to the front of the main hall atop Canghe Peak.

Upon entering the hall, Qin Ming discovered that besides Nalan Xi, the True Person of Canghe seated at the head, there were four Jin Dan old ancestors of profound cultivation, as well as several False Dan old ancestors.

Wei Wuya was not present; he had likely returned to Lei Yuanzong.

Those present were all reinforcements sent to Canghe Xiancheng from the other four states, each an esteemed old ancestor from a leading sect within their respective nation's Immortal Realm.

Although these old ancestors had deliberately restrained their auras, the entire hall still radiated immense spiritual pressure.

Ordinary low-level cultivators facing such a scene would likely struggle even to walk steadily.

Lu Wanjun, trembling with fear as she brought Qin Ming forward, stepped up and reported to Nalan Xi at the head: "Reporting to City Lord, Elder Long has been brought here."

"Mm, you may withdraw," Nalan Xi's voice rang out, calm yet imposing.

Subsequently, only Qin Ming remained standing in the center of the hall, with the gazes of all the old ancestors fixed upon him.

Qin Ming was unconcerned; the Withered Wood Technique from the 'Ancient Wood Longevity Art' possessed an extremely powerful aura-concealing effect; unless one was a late-stage Jin Dan cultivator, they could detect nothing at all.

Moreover, Daoist Long was famous as a body cultivator, having only ever displayed body-refining techniques to the outside world; no other information about him was known externally.

At the same time, among the assembly of old ancestors, Qin Ming spotted the False Dan old ancestor from Spirit Sword Mountain of the State of Jin, a short and stout elderly man.

The other party was also narrowing his eyes to observe him; Qin Ming could already sense the False Dan old ancestor of Spirit Sword Mountain's divine sense probing back and forth over his body no fewer than dozens of times.

It seemed the events at the Feng family's talisman shop had also reached this False Dan old ancestor's ears.

Qin Ming kept his gaze straight ahead, paying Spirit Sword Mountain little mind; nowadays, apart from Jin Dan old ancestors, no one could pose a significant threat to him.

On the throne at the head of the hall.

Nalan Xi also directed her gaze toward 'Daoist Long'; she saw that while his magic power cultivation was not high, his body-refining arts had reached the pinnacle, resembling a humanoid, peerless ferocious beast.

The other few old ancestors present looked at him, their expressions revealing utter astonishment.

"I am Daoist Long; I pay my respects to True Person of Canghe and to all you esteemed elders!" Qin Ming bowed to the assembled old ancestors, neither humble nor arrogant.

Even under such spiritual pressure, Qin Ming relied on his powerful vital blood force to dissolve the pressure emanating from the Jin Dan old ancestors into nothingness.

He hardly felt any pressure at all.

He surmised that True Person of Canghe had summoned him merely for questioning.

Indeed, as expected.

Nalan Xi's next sentence confirmed Qin Ming's assumption.

"Qin Xiao You Long truly lives up to his reputation; his body-refining arts have reached the height of perfection."

"Please, take a seat."

Nalan Xi then ordered servants to present spiritual tea.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming found a nearby chair and sat down; immediately after, he heard True Person Nalan ask, "Speaking of which, we must greatly thank Qin Xiao You Long for the timely message; only then did we realize that such a massive upheaval had occurred within the Beast Cry Mountain Range, even giving birth to a terrifying existence like the Green-Faced Poisonous Flood Dragon King."

"I wonder if Qin Xiao You Long would be willing to reveal how you came to know such top-secret and detailed information regarding the internal affairs of the Demon Race?"

Qin Ming had long anticipated Nalan Xi would ask this and had already prepared his response; he immediately opened his mouth to answer, "On one occasion when I entered the Beast Cry Mountain Range seeking spiritual materials, I happened upon a second-stage peak demon beast; after killing it and searching its soul, I accidentally obtained this information."

"As I dislike making a public appearance, I immediately asked Alliance Leader Wei to relay the message to Elder Nalan on my behalf."

When Qin Ming spoke of killing a second-stage peak demon beast, it was as if he were mentioning something utterly insignificant.

The Jin Dan old ancestors present might have been unfazed, but upon hearing this, the several False Dan old ancestors changed color, instinctively becoming startled and suspicious.

This was because some second-stage peak demon beasts possessed cultivation and divine abilities scarcely weaker than those of ordinary human Jin Dan old ancestors.

For instance, the previous Double-Pupiled Demon Ape had been able to fight two False Dan old ancestors simultaneously, and subsequently even severely injured True Person of Canghe's third-stage spiritual turtle.

This was the enormous disparity in strength brought about by differences in bloodline.

None of the False Dan old ancestors present dared claim they could easily kill a second-stage peak great demon one-on-one.

Therefore, the False Dan old ancestors present still harbored doubts regarding 'Daoist Long's' words.

Although Daoist Long had defeated Dugu Yang and ranked among the top three in the State of Wei's Immortal Realm Foundation Establishment rankings, he was ultimately still only a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Seeing that the several old ancestors seemed unconvinced, Qin Ming retrieved a spherical object from his storage bag and displayed it before everyone.

"A second-stage peak lightning-attribute demon core!"

True Person Nalan Xi said, knitting her brows.

This completely dispelled the doubts of the cultivators present.

Qin Ming put away the demon core; a second-stage peak demon core was exceedingly precious, let alone one of the lightning attribute.

The Jin Dan old ancestors, gazing at the demon core displayed by 'Daoist Long,' also showed considerable greed; many began to scheme actively, pondering what spiritual item they could offer to exchange with him once the meeting concluded.

"Qin Xiao You Long's intelligence was extremely crucial; otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable."

"I ought to record a great merit for you."

"Hehe! A great merit is unnecessary; concerning the safety of the entire Southern Desolate Immortal Realm, I merely did my duty to the best of my ability."

Subsequently, True Person of Canghe seized the opportunity to begin recruiting him to join the Xiancheng, offering numerous generous conditions.

Cultivators of such formidable strength as 'Daoist Long' were sought-after guests of honor by various factions wherever they went.

Naturally, Qin Ming would not agree to Nalan Xi's proposal and politely declined her invitation.

Next.

Seeing he had no intention of joining the Xiancheng, True Person Nalan Xi did not make things difficult for him; after asking a few more questions publicly, she announced the adjournment of the meeting.

But just at that moment.

The short and fat Fake-Dan Yunxi Laozu from Spirit Sword Mountain suddenly stood up and shouted at 'Daoist Long': "Wait!"

"This old man heard that Qin Xiao You Long caused embarrassment to disciples of our sect within Yunze Xiancheng; is this true?"

As soon as these words were spoken, all the cultivators present paused in surprise.

"Chu Tianhe, have you gone mad? Qin Xiao You Long performed a great merit; your few worthless disciples were inferior in skill and received a lesson—who is there to blame?"

At this, the Wan Yunxi Laozu from Xuanxi Valley of Liang State frowned and asked.

It turned out the short and fat Fake-Dan Yunxi Laozu from Spirit Sword Mountain was named Chu Tianhe.

Hearing Wan Laozu speak, he dared not act rashly, yet continued saying: "Teaching one's own disciples is one matter, but under the gaze of all, this concerns the reputation of Spirit Sword Mountain; this old man cannot simply let it go so easily."

"I have heard that Qin Xiao You Long possesses the strength to slay a peak Stage Two cultivator."

"Today, this old man wishes to personally seek instruction from you."

"I wonder if Qin Xiao You Long dares to accept the challenge?"

(End of Chapter)