Chapter 132 Qingping, the Sage of Calligraphy!

Great Chu Dynasty, deep within the imperial palace.

The night was like ink, so thick it could not be dissolved.

The palace walls that stood with majesty in the past now seemed like a giant cage in the eyes of the Emperor Chu Changsheng, and he was the death row prisoner about to be executed.

It had been five full days since the news arrived of Ye Haocheng slaying Ancestor Cao Lin with a single sword strike.

In these five days, Chu Changsheng had not closed his eyes once.

Whenever he felt sleepy, that white sword qi spanning the sky would appear in his mind, followed immediately by the image of his own head being severed.

He became neurotic; even the rustling of the wind outside the hall or the footsteps of guards changing shifts would make him draw his sword and slash about in terror.

"I cannot wait any longer... If I keep waiting, I will go mad! My Great Chu Dynasty will also be finished!"

Chu Changsheng's eyes were bloodshot, his hair disheveled, and the imperial dignity he usually possessed was completely gone.

He slammed open the doors of his bedchamber and, not even wearing shoes, ran barefoot along the cold stone path.

He had only one destination—the forbidden area of the imperial palace, Wanshou Mountain.

That was where the true foundation of the Great Chu Imperial Family lay, and it was also the place of cultivation for the Martial Venerable Ancestor who had been in seclusion for a hundred years.

"Ancestor! Save me, Ancestor!!"

Chu Changsheng stumbled into the mist of Wanshou Mountain, ignoring the forbidden arrays around him capable of killing a Martial King.

Holding an ancestral pass jade token, he ran all the way to the ancient cave at the top of the mountain, crying out.

At the top of the mountain, the cold wind was piercing.

A stone door covered in moss was tightly shut, as if isolating itself from the noise of the mortal world.

"Unworthy descendant Chu Changsheng pays respects to the Ancestor! Now, Great Chu Dynasty is facing a catastrophe; enemies surround us, and we could be destroyed at any moment! I beg the Ancestor to come out of seclusion and uphold justice!!"

Chu Changsheng knelt heavily on the gravel ground, his forehead bleeding from kowtowing, but he seemed not to feel the pain, just kowtowing and begging over and over again.

Just as Chu Changsheng was becoming dizzy from kowtowing.

Rumble...

The stone door, which had been silent for a hundred years, suddenly emitted a muffled grinding sound and slowly opened to the sides.

A musty yet overwhelmingly suffocating aura surged from the depths of the cave.

This aura was cold and bone-chilling, as if it were a wind blowing from the Nine Hells, instantly causing Chu Changsheng to stiffen, his crying stuck in his throat.

"Come in."

An old, hoarse voice, yet one that carried an unquestionable majesty, exploded in Chu Changsheng's ears.

As if granted amnesty, Chu Changsheng scrambled into the stone cave.

The light inside the cave was dim, with only a few eternal lamps emitting a faint green glow.

In the deepest part of the cave, an emaciated old man sat cross-legged.

He wore a faded gray robe, his hair was sparse and white, and his skin was wrinkled like dried bark; the whole person looked like a corpse just unearthed.

But his eyes were terrifyingly bright, like two balls of ghost fire burning.

This person was the pillar of the Great Chu Imperial Family, a fourth-layer Martial Venerable expert—Ancestor of Great Chu.

"Ancestor!!"

Seeing Ancestor of Great Chu, Chu Changsheng felt as if he had seen a savior.

He tearfully recounted what had happened over the past few days, as well as the terrifying battle record of Ye Haocheng slaying Ancestor Cao Lin, adding his own embellishments.

After listening to Chu Changsheng's tearful complaint, the withered face of Ancestor of Great Chu did not show the shock and anger that Chu Changsheng had expected; instead, it was eerily calm.

"Enough, stop wailing. As a dignified ruler of a nation, what kind of behavior is this?"

Ancestor of Great Chu waved his hand lightly, and an invisible force lifted Chu Changsheng up.

"I have already known about the matter you speak of."

"What? Ancestor, you... you knew?" Chu Changsheng was stunned.

"Hmph, when that old ghost Ancestor Cao Lin died, the commotion was so loud that any Martial Venerable in the entire Eastern Continent who wasn't dead would have sensed it."

A trace of apprehension flashed in the eyes of Ancestor of Great Chu, then he sneered, "That idiot Ancestor Cao Lin, knowing full well that Ye Haocheng was somewhat strange, still dared to brazenly go head-to-head with him. If he doesn't die, who will?"

"Then... then what should we do?" Chu Changsheng asked anxiously.

"Ye Haocheng has that kind of sword talisman capable of instantly killing a Martial Venerable. If he comes to our doorstep, wouldn't our Great Chu Dynasty be..."

"What are you panicking about!" Ancestor of Great Chu shouted sharply, giving Chu Changsheng a jolt.

"Since that sword talisman can unleash a strike at the peak of the Martial Venerable realm, it must be a rare treasure.

Ye Haocheng is just a junior with some lucky encounters. To have one such heaven-defying item is already a stroke of immense fortune. Do you think they are cabbages that he can just pull out a handful of at will?"

The turbid eyes of Ancestor of Great Chu flashed with a sinister light.

"Besides, do you think I have just been closing my eyes waiting for death these past few days?"

"Ancestor, you mean..." A glimmer of hope ignited in Chu Changsheng's eyes.

"I have already discussed it with my two brothers."

Ancestor of Great Chu extended three fingers like withered branches.

"The three of us will join forces to execute this fiend! We will divide the luck points and secrets on him!"

Hearing these two names, Chu Changsheng gasped.

"But... what if Ye Haocheng still has sword talismans? Or if he hides in that Asura Hall and doesn't come out? That place is protected by a great array..." Chu Changsheng was still a bit worried.

"Therefore, we cannot attack by force; we can only use strategy."

Ancestor of Great Chu chuckled sinisterly, revealing a mouth of incomplete black teeth.

"We not only want to kill him, but we also want him to deliver himself to our door, and we will kill him while he is unable to use external forces!"

"How?"

"In a few days, it will be the day the 'Book Saint of Qingping' secret realm opens."

"The Book Saint of Qingping was a famous, peak Martial Venerable powerhouse of the Eastern Continent ten thousand years ago.

He entered the Dao through calligraphy, and his righteous aura suppressed the world.

It is said that in the secret realm he left behind, there is a hidden opportunity to break through to the Martial God Realm—the 'Qingping Sword Canon' and the 'Calligraphy Saint's Ink Treasures'."

"According to the rules, this secret realm can only be entered by geniuses with a bone age under fifty.

At that time, the spots for the secret realm will be divided among the top fifty young talents on the Eastern Continent's 'hidden dragon ranking'."

Speaking of this, Ancestor of Great Chu looked at Chu Changsheng.

"Do you think, given Ye Haocheng's personality, he would let go of such an opportunity?"

Chu Changsheng thought for a moment and shook his head: "Absolutely not! This person is ambitious and has destroyed two Martial Venerables; he is currently at the height of his arrogance, so he will definitely participate in such a grand event."

"Correct."

Ancestor of Great Chu nodded, his eyes full of killing intent.

"Inside the secret realm, it is a world of its own, and the outside world cannot interfere.

But he has to come out eventually. The location of the secret realm's exit is fixed."

"The three of us old fellows will set up a 'Heaven-Locking God-Trapping Array' at the exit in advance.

Once the secret realm closes, the moment he is teleported out will be when his mind is most relaxed and spatial fluctuations are most intense."

"At that time, the three of us will strike simultaneously with a thunderous blow!

Let alone the possibility of him having sword talismans, even if he were truly at the peak of the Martial Venerable realm, he wouldn't be able to react in that situation and would undoubtedly die!!"

After hearing the Ancestor's plan, Chu Changsheng felt a chill down his spine, but what followed was wild joy.

This move was too vicious! Too steady!

Using Ye Haocheng's greed to ambush him at the time and place he least expected.

"Ancestor is wise! Ancestor is wise!!"

Chu Changsheng kowtowed again in excitement.

"In this way, Ye Haocheng will surely die! The danger to our Great Chu Dynasty can be resolved!"

"Hmph, go. Act a bit more like it these next few days; the more fearful you are, the better. Don't let that brat see any flaws."

Ancestor of Great Chu waved his hand and closed his eyes again, as if that sinister old ghost from just a moment ago wasn't him.

"Yes! This grandson takes his leave!"

Chu Changsheng respectfully exited the stone cave. When he walked out of Wanshou Mountain, his back finally straightened.

Looking at the waning moon on the horizon, a cruel smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

"Ye Haocheng, no matter how peerless you are, you are ultimately just a naive rookie who has never seen the world.

Playing mind games with us, a Great Chu Dynasty with a heritage of ten thousand years? You are still too green!"

Barren Sand Sea, main hall of the Asura Hall.

Yellow sand filled the sky, and the scorching sun hung high.

Ye Haocheng, who had just come out of seclusion, was currently sitting lazily on the throne made of white bones and gold in the main hall.

He had changed into a brand new black and gold robe, his long hair tied casually behind his head.

He looked a bit less sharp than before, and more unfathomably restrained.

But if someone with keen eyes were present, they would surely be able to feel the terrifying blood energy within his body, like an abyss or a sea, as if it could devour the world at any moment.

That was the mark of a Martial Emperor expert, and even more so the pressure of the "True Dragon Body" when it first formed.

Below the main hall, Leng Er was kneeling on one knee, respectfully reporting the intelligence just collected.

"Reporting to the Hall Master, although the major forces in the Eastern Continent have been quiet on the surface recently, there are undercurrents moving in secret.

All eyes are focused on one thing—the 'Book Saint of Qingping' secret realm within the territory of the Great Xuan Dynasty is about to open."

"Oh? Book Saint of Qingping?"

Ye Haocheng toyed with a jade thumb ring in his hand and asked nonchalantly, "Tell me, what's the background?"

"Reporting to the Hall Master, the Book Saint of Qingping is named Li Qingping, a legendary rogue cultivator from ten thousand years ago.

This person was gifted; he entered the Martial path through literature and reached the ninth layer of the Martial Venerable realm at his peak, only one step away from the Martial God Realm.

The secret realm he left behind opens once every three hundred years.

Inside, there are not only countless rare medicinal herbs and divine weapons, but the core inheritance is a Heaven-grade high-rank cultivation technique, the 'Qingping Sword Canon'."

Hearing "ninth layer of the Martial Venerable realm" and "Heaven-grade high-rank cultivation technique", Ye Haocheng's movements paused slightly, and a look of interest finally appeared in his eyes.

The ninth layer of the Martial Venerable realm—that was a figure who truly stood at the top of the pyramid in the Eastern Continent.

He was countless times stronger than that Ancestor Cao Lin who only knew how to rely on his age.

The ruins of such a powerhouse must have plenty of good things inside.

Although the system can exchange for treasures, that consumes luck points.

If I can get it for free, why spend money?

Moreover, he had just broken through to the Martial Emperor realm and needed a real battle or opportunity to hone himself.

"What are the conditions to enter this secret realm?" Ye Haocheng asked.

"There are two conditions."

Leng Er continued to report.

"First, the bone age must be under fifty.

Second, one must possess a 'hidden dragon token'.

And the hidden dragon token can only be obtained by the top fifty young talents on the Eastern Continent's 'hidden dragon ranking'."

"hidden dragon ranking?"

A playful arc curled at the corners of Ye Haocheng's mouth.

He had already heard of this ranking countless times. It was compiled by the most mysterious organization in the Eastern Continent, the "Tianji Pavilion", and specifically recorded young experts in the Eastern Continent under the age of fifty.

Those who could make the list were all top-tier monsters from various sacred grounds and dynasties.

"Interesting."

Ye Haocheng stood up and walked down from the throne step by step.

"I am only in my early twenties, which fits the standard of this younger generation perfectly."

"Since there is such an opportunity, I will naturally have to get involved."

Leng Er hesitated for a moment and said: "Hall Master, with your current strength, participating in the competition for this hidden dragon ranking, isn't it a bit... bullying?"

Ye Haocheng was now an existence capable of slaying a Martial Venerable; even if he used a sword talisman to do it, his own realm had already broken through to the Martial Emperor realm.

And those so-called geniuses on the hidden dragon ranking were at most at the peak of the Martial King realm, with most still hovering in the mid-stage of the Martial King realm.

"Bullying?"

Ye Haocheng laughed, a brilliant laugh, revealing a set of bone-white teeth.

"I just like bullying people.

Isn't the rule of this world that the big fish eat the small fish?

If they are not convinced, let them come and fight."

"However..."

Ye Haocheng rubbed his chin.

"I am currently not on the list.

To get a spot, the fastest way is to snatch one."

"Bring me the list of the hidden dragon ranking."

Leng Er immediately handed over a jade slip.

Ye Haocheng swept his divine sense over it, and a large amount of information flooded into his mind.

Ye Haocheng's gaze quickly scanned the top few names.

His gaze continued downward and finally stopped at the tenth position.

"Nineteenth place: Great Qin, Saint Son of Wanling Sect, Qin Wudao.

Cultivation: Eighth layer of the Martial King realm."

"Wanling Sect?"

"It will be him."

Ye Haocheng pointed at Qin Wudao's name and said indifferently, "I heard that this Qin Wudao is arrogant and claims to be invincible among his peers, even boasting that he will break into the top ten in this secret realm.

It just so happens that I will borrow his head for use, and take an entry ticket along the way."

"Leng Yi!"

"Subordinate is here!"

A ghostly black shadow instantly appeared in the main hall; it was the number one assassin of the Asura Hall, Leng Yi.

After the accumulation of resources over this period, his cultivation had also improved significantly, reaching the seventh layer of the Martial King realm.

"Where is that fat man Wu De?" Ye Haocheng asked.

"Over there... counting money." Leng Yi pointed to the corner of the main hall with an expressionless face.

A Fat Taoist wearing a tattered Taoist robe, his body as round as a ball, was seen sticking his butt up while lying on a pile of treasures looted from the Feather God Dynasty, drooling and giggling.

"Immeasurable Heaven! I'm rich, I'm rich!

This night-luminescent pearl, this poor Taoist will use it to inlay on my whisk...

This golden bowl is just right for begging..."

"Dead fat man, stop counting!"

Ye Haocheng snatched the air impatiently, directly pulling Wu De over through the air.

Wu De danced and gestured in the air.

After seeing clearly that it was Ye Haocheng, he immediately put on a fawning smile, "Oh, it's the Hall Master! You have come out of seclusion?

Congratulations to the Hall Master for achieving great success in your divine skills, unifying the martial arts world, and reigning for ten thousand years..."

"Less nonsense."

Ye Haocheng threw him onto the ground with disdain.

"Pack up, you are coming on a long trip with me."

"Where to?" Wu De's eyes lit up, darting around shiftily.

"Are we going to raid another dynasty?

This poor Taoist loves raiding the most; my skills are proficient, and I am honest and fair!"

"Going to Great Qin."

Ye Haocheng looked into the distance; that direction was exactly the territory of Great Qin.