Chapter 278: The Peerless Third Young Master Li

In the half-sky, clouds and mist steamed upward, coiling like dragons and crouching like tigers within; long roars echoed through the mountain ranges, awakening Hengshan City and Longhu Temple in the night.

Figures of people came from all directions, landing on the square before the mountain gate.

"Both Patriarchs have been stirred?"

Amidst the whistling strong wind, Lin Tianhe hurried over, looking at the dragon and tiger shadows surging in the mist above, both surprised and doubtful.

The shadow of the azure dragon appearing, the white tiger roaring long; in two thousand years, those who received the acknowledgment of the will of the two Patriarchs were few, yet not entirely absent.

But with both dragon and tiger appearing together...

"Who is it?"

Monk Douyue stepped forward, looking around; in a short time, at least a hundred people had gathered on the square, among whom were not lacking elders and helmsmen from the inner and outer sects.

Han Tong, dressed in gray robes, had also arrived; he surveyed the various disciples and followers around, his brows furrowed tightly.

"Where is he?"

The two looked at Lin Tianhe simultaneously; this elder of the Punishment Hall had arrived here first, yet now only shook his head:

"When I arrived here, I saw no one, only the manifestations of the will of the two Patriarchs."

"Saw no one?"

Douyue and Han Tong exchanged a glance, both frowning.

Hum~

Suddenly, the expressions of the two changed; everyone in the square scattered, and they saw a Bai Guang streaking like a meteor from the depths of the inner sect, the sound of thunder and wind explosions left far behind.

Long Xi Xiang floated down lightly, and the wild wind rolling with him blew everyone's clothes flapping, making them unable to open their eyes.

"Where is he?"

"Master (Junior Uncle)."

Everyone on the scene bowed in greeting.

"Where is he?"

Receiving no response, Long Xi Xiang frowned slightly, then suddenly pressed a finger to his brow.

Hum!

Douyue Monk, who had intended to step forward, decisively retreated several steps, and saw pure white true qi overflowing from his master's body, transforming into a shadow of an azure dragon behind him.

"Ao!"

Pressing his brow, the azure dragon formed behind Long Xi Xiang soared into the sky, circling the square like a living creature; wherever the dragon eyes looked, everyone in the scene felt cold in their hearts.

"Thousand-Mile Soul Lock!"

Han Tong and Douyue Monk felt a chill in their hearts, with awe and some envy.

Reaching the peak of Blood Replacement, one is only a step, or even half a step, away from the Grandmaster of Xiangju Sect; yet only by crossing this half-step can one master true qi transforming into forms, killing from a hundred li away, soaring between the sea of clouds, Thousand-Mile Soul Lock... and other incredible methods.

Hum~

Long Xi Xiang was very decisive; he pointed at his brow and cast Thousand-Mile Soul Lock.

In an instant, his spirit merged with heaven and earth, wandering through the sky with the true qi dragon; he could sense all the auras existing within this square.

And used this to track their location.

However...

"None?"

After a moment, Long Xi Xiang opened his eyes, his brows furrowing.

In that moment, he sensed the auras of those who had passed before the mountain gate before and after the appearance of the crouching tiger and coiling dragon shadows, but found nothing.

It seemed the wills of these two Patriarchs responded out of thin air, rather than being triggered by someone...

"Master, did you not find him either?"

Douyue Monk came closer, somewhat surprised in his heart.

In these few decades, he had rarely seen his master so attentive; this crouching tiger and coiling dragon...

"Little Yue?"

Long Xi Xiang came to his senses, looking at the clouds and mist gradually dispersing in the air; he relaxed his brows:

"Everyone, disperse!"

This statement was naturally meant for the other disciples.

Since he spoke, no one dared disobey; they all bowed and retreated, except for Han Tong, Douyue Monk, and a few others who remained.

"Did Junior Uncle discover something?"

Han Tong could not hold back; even for him, the crouching tiger and coiling dragon was considered a legend, as for at least the past eight hundred years, the sect had no similar rumors or records.

Long Xi Xiang looked at him:

"Who are you?"

"..."

Fine, an unnecessary question.

Han Tong's mouth twitched, yet he still bowed and answered: "Disciple Han Tong, my master is Brother Helian Feng."

"The deputy hall master of the Hundred Beasts Weishentang..."

Douyue Monk introduced briefly, paused slightly, and transmitted a voice:

"Elder Brother Helian has been in seclusion within the 'Dragon-Tiger Tower' for thirty years and has not emerged."

"Oh."

Long Xi Xiang responded, not knowing whether he remembered who Han Tong was; he scanned the few people on the scene:

"Perhaps the Patriarchs could not bear the loneliness and came out for a stroll?"

"..."

Several people on the field exchanged glances, saying nothing.

"Let's disperse."

Long Xi Xiang lightly tapped the ground beneath his feet, disregarding the doubts filling the hearts of the others, and transformed into a long rainbow, heading straight for the Inner Gate.

Not returning to the Dragon Gate's Main Peak, Long Xi Xiang sought out the nearest Dragon Stele, touched it, and entered the Health Preservation Mi Jing.

Outside, the wind and snow were fierce, yet within the Health Preservation Mi Jing, the seasons seemed not to turn; the grass and trees remained green. Long Xi Xiang did not linger, walking quickly to the very center of the Mi Jing, beneath that towering Gao Ta.

"Long, Long Shishu?"

Beneath the Gao Ta, many disciples gathered before a stone stele; seeing Long Xi Xiang, they all bowed. The latter merely waved his hand and walked straight toward the rear of the Gao Ta.

A li or so behind the Gao Ta lay a small courtyard enclosed by a fence; a small stream ran before the courtyard, and a bamboo grove stood behind it, the environment quiet and secluded.

An unremarkable-looking old man was tending to flowers and plants in the courtyard; upon seeing Long Xi Xiang, he could not help but feel surprised:

"Long Li Shidi, how do you have time today?"

"Cang Li Shixiong."

Long Xi Xiang clasped his hands in greeting.

This old man was named Cang Cang Xianzhi, a True Disciple of the same generation as him, several years his senior, and one of the few in two hundred years to fail breaking through to Grandmaster without harming his lifespan.

"This old man heard you have become increasingly forgetful in recent years; it is rare that you still remember me."

Cang Cang Xianzhi pulled out a chair and asked his purpose; upon hearing 'Tiger Crouches, Dragon Coils', the composure on his face vanished instantly, and he nearly jumped up:

"You didn't see it wrong?!"

"Do you think my old eyes are dim?"

Long Xi Xiang glared at him and explained his purpose:

"The Cang Dragon shadow appears, the Bai Hu lets out a long roar; if one appears, it means a new disciple with Grandmaster potential has joined the sect; if both appear, it signifies potential for a Earthly Immortal. Am I not mistaken?"

"More or less."

Cang Cang Xianzhi was deeply shaken in his heart, pacing back and forth in the small courtyard, truly stunned:

"Decades ago, I spoke of this matter with Li Shixiong Ying Chan; Li Shixiong believed that the reason the Ancestral Master left the stone plaque was not to test the talents of future disciples, but to..."

"No!"

Cang Cang Xianzhi stamped his foot: "I must go find him personally."

"Even the Thousand-Mile Soul-Locking cannot find him; what use would you be?"

Long Xi Xiang glanced at him, still pondering his words, and now felt somewhat moved: "Old Long's meaning is that the Ancestral Master is searching for a successor from afar?"

"Such geniuses appear too rarely; records are even scarcer; Li Shixiong Ying Chan was only guessing..."

Cang Cang Xianzhi suddenly realized:

"You don't intend to use the Health Preservation Furnace to find this person?"

Although the Dragon-Tiger Health Preservation Furnace only covers the Inner Gate in its static state, if truly activated, not only the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Ranges, but even the Hengshan Dao City would be fully encompassed.

"This old man is very curious; what kind of talent could cause the Dragon and Tiger to appear together?"

Long Xi Xiang nodded.

So forgetful, yet still so curious?

Cang Cang Xianzhi inwardly scoffed; of course he knew this was an excuse.

Could this old fellow be tempted, wanting to take him as a successor disciple?

'This old fellow thinks well, but if a disciple truly possesses such talent, Li Shixiong Ying Chan would likely be tempted too... Hmm, then what about Long Long Xinglie?'

Cang Cang Xianzhi frowned, but as his thoughts turned, he too felt somewhat moved; he was even more curious than Long Xi Xiang, but using the Dragon-Tiger Health Preservation Furnace...

"Can you still withstand it?"

Cang Cang Xianzhi was somewhat doubtful: "The Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, if used by someone other than its master, will cause backlash."

"Should be, possible?"

Long Xi Xiang thought for a moment and asked: "In the years since my severe injury, have I used the Health Preservation Furnace?"

"It has been forty years."

Cang Cang Xianzhi corrected his statement: "Hmm, you did use it once before; it should be no major problem?"

The two exchanged a glance and, without agreement, walked toward the Dragon-Tiger Tower.

The Dragon-Tiger Tower is the central hub of the Dragon-Tiger Health Preservation Furnace.

It is a Tower of Trials, and also the true core of the Dragon-Tiger Temple.

When the two arrived, light was flashing atop the tower; someone was attempting the Trial Tower, and many disciples below were watching and discussing.

Long Xi Xiang glanced at that stone stele flashing with brilliant light; it bore many names, yet was not limited to the Dragon and Tiger Gates, nor restricted by age.

At the very top, naturally, was Long Yingchan.

"Long Yingchan, breached sixteen floors of the tower."

Following him were Nie Xianshan and himself, both at the eleventh floor.

"Old Nie was just a hair's breadth from reaching the twelfth floor several years ago; unfortunately, he lacked a suitable divine weapon."

Cang Cang Xianzhi also glanced at that stone stele; his name was on it as well, but alas, only reached the sixth floor; before entering the Dao, the seventh floor was already the limit.

And those exceeding the seventh floor, counting the Dao Master and the Dragon-Tiger Gate Masters, were only six people in total; among them, there was even a traitor...

"Divine weapons choose their masters; if there is no fate, there is no fate."

Hearing these words, Long Xi Xiang's mood instantly improved; he possessed two divine weapons that had recognized him as master, one of which was a High-Grade Divine Weapon, rare in the world.

"Divine weapons."

Cang Cang Xianzhi's mood was very poor; he too belonged to those without a divine weapon in hand.

The two walked toward the Dragon-Tiger Tower; naturally, they did not intend to enter the Trial Grounds, but rather entered through a side door and ascended directly to the upper floors along the tower structure.

Inside the giant tower, various lights flickered; from the side tower, one could seemingly see the disciples undergoing trials within the Trial Tower. The two glanced a few times, then hurried to the sixteenth floor.

The Dragon-Tiger Tower looks huge from the outside, but once inside, one discovers it is actually even larger.

On the sixteenth floor, it resembled a valley with green grass and trees. Before a small house, a wild old man with messy beard and hair like a lion sat in meditation with eyes closed, only opening them upon sensing the two's arrival.

This old man was named Brother Helian Feng, the former Vice Sect Master of the Great Dragon Gate, who had resided in the tower for a long time due to severe injuries.

"Senior Brother Brother Helian."

Cang Cang Xianzhi bowed slightly, and Long Xi Xiang nodded, counting as a greeting.

"Mm."

Brother Helian Feng did not rise; it was not arrogance, but rather he had only half a body, with everything from his navel downward completely vanished.

"Senior Brother Brother Helian, it is like this..."

The two explained their purpose.

Brother Helian Feng, originally with a cold face, raised his eyebrows upon hearing "Dragon Coiled, Tiger Squatting," but furrowed his brows again upon hearing the two intended to use the Life-Nourishing Cauldron:

"You still dare to activate the Life-Nourishing Cauldron?"

"It should cause no major harm."

Long Xi Xiang took it lightly; his injury was not an internal wound, but a spiritual wound, so activating the Life-Nourishing Cauldron would not worsen it.

"In that case..."

Brother Helian Feng did not refuse; true qi beneath him formed legs, he stood up, turned, and walked toward the small house behind him.

Inside the house was profound quiet; a cauldron covered in copper rust sat on the ground. Merely from its appearance, no one could tell it was the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, the Dragon-Tiger Life-Nourishing Cauldron.

"Please."

Brother Helian Feng stepped aside; he too was curious about "Dragon Coiled, Tiger Squatting." According to the teachings passed down by the Founding Ancestors, one capable of summoning both simultaneously possessed talent so high it was at least on the level of the Founding Ancestors themselves.

"Unparalleled throughout the ages."

"Mm."

Long Xi Xiang extended his hand, pressed upon the rust-covered cauldron, and mighty true qi surged into it like a tide.

Voom~

The cauldron trembled slightly, emitting a quivering sound.

Long Xi Xiang exerted slight force, and red light immediately flickered upon the cauldron, as if Xiong Xiong flames had ignited within.

On both sides of the cauldron, Cang Cang Xianzhi and the other watched; vaguely, various light and shadow figures seemed to flicker within the firelight, with the stone plaque of the sect gate and the Outer Sect faintly visible...

"Who is that?"

Suddenly, the light and shadow within the firelight stabilized slightly; Brother Helian Feng and the other focused their gaze, but saw only a blurred figure. Before they could examine it closely, the firelight suddenly vanished.

Long Xi Xiang slowly withdrew his hand.

"You?"

Cang Cang Xianzhi frowned deeply, and Brother Helian Feng's gaze turned unfriendly: "What are you doing?"

"Old, old; I can hardly hold on anymore."

Long Xi Xiang, appearing as if about to collapse, rubbed his hand and walked outward, only to be blocked at the doorway by Cang Cang Xianzhi and the other, their tone unfriendly:

"Old fellow, eating alone?"

"The commotion is a bit loud!"

Outside the small courtyard, Li Yuan shaded his eyes with his hand. Gazing from afar, he could faintly see a white rainbow light vanish toward the Inner Sect mountain path.

"After all, it is an eleventh-tier talent; the two Founding Ancestors had good eyes."

Li Yuan's heart was filled with joy; under the enhancement of the Split-Sea Black Whale Hammer, he felt he had undergone a transformation from within outward, as if sublimated.

Questions and troubles that had plagued his heart in the past were now, upon slight contemplation, resolved effortlessly.

However...

He narrowed his eyes slightly; before his eyes, a Dragon Tablet seemed to flash by:

【Li Yuan, Dragon List Thirty-First, Meridian Opening Accomplished, Age Twenty-One, Talent, Unparalleled Throughout the World】