497: Chapter 497 Preparing for Seclusion

Xiao Weiqing smiled and said, "The Star Lord Realm has always been a mystery, except for Senior Dongfang Hao back then. I'm just giving it a try."

Despite his words, Ning Xing had a look of disbelief on his face.

"Really?"

"Why do I feel like you're hiding something from me, kid?"

"Teacher, how could I be hiding anything?"

Xiao Weiqing felt a bit helpless. His situation was definitely different from Dongfang Hao's, and it likely differed from a typical Ninth Realm expert breaking through to Star Lord as well.

He instinctively felt that he could break through to Star Lord, but as for whether it would actually work, who could say for sure?

Regardless, trying wouldn't hurt.

"Fine, as long as you know what you're doing."

Ning Xing stopped asking. Ever since Xiao Weiqing became his student, he had never had to worry about him along the way.

"Old Xie, look at this. My student, Ning Xing's student, is about to become a god. You should have given the position of headmaster to me. Giving it to that Old Ghost Dong—does he even know how to teach?"

Xiao Weiqing hadn't expected his teacher to still be so fixated on the position of Headmaster of Luo Jiang Academy.

"You brat, have you no manners?"

Xie Zhiyuan glared with furrowed brows. Seeing this, Ning Xing scurried away in a flash.

"Weiqing, don't put too much pressure on yourself," Xie Zhiyuan said.

Xiao Weiqing didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He knew Xie Zhiyuan was overthinking it; he was attempting to break through to the Star Lord Realm entirely because of the gift from the world's Origin.

It wasn't about pressure. At the very least, as long as the Demon Gods couldn't enter the Incubation Ground, his current strength meant there was no such thing as pressure.

If this were ten days ago...

He would have waited for his Mental Energy Rank to break through to Level 100 before carefully considering it. After all, no one knew what changes would occur once Mental Energy reached Level 100.

But now.

The world's Origin had been liberated, and he had received an unexpected gift. He had a feeling that once his Mental Energy broke through Level 100, he might be able to step directly into the Star Lord Realm.

"I understand, Old Headmaster."

"Mm, then I'll be going as well."

Ning Xing and Xie Zhiyuan left one after another, leaving only Xiao Weiqing and Qian Yi.

"Sister Yi, let's go out for a stroll."

"Go out?"

"Leave Azure Dragon Island?"

"Yeah." Xiao Weiqing nodded. "I don't know how long this seclusion will take, so I want to spend some time with you."

"There's no need."

Qian Yi shook her head and declined directly.

Xiao Weiqing was a bit surprised and stared at Qian Yi.

Qian Yi smiled and said, "Go spend time with Wei Lan."

"I'll go find Wei Lan as well."

Xiao Weiqing hadn't seen Wei Lan in over a year; he definitely had to make a trip to the Wei Family.

Qian Yi pulled Xiao Weiqing along as they flew toward the Azure Dragon Divine Hall, saying:

"That little girl visited once before, and her strength has already reached the Eighth Realm. As her teacher, my strength is currently inferior to my own student's. I have a competitive side too."

"It's not out of jealousy?"

Xiao Weiqing teased.

"Maybe a little bit, alright?" Qian Yi rolled her beautiful eyes slightly.

"Hahaha~~~"

Xiao Weiqing wrapped his arm around Qian Yi's waist as they returned to the Azure Dragon Divine Hall.

...

...

Before their parting.

Xiao Weiqing seized the time to explore cultivation knowledge with Qian Yi all through the night.

The next day.

Xiao Weiqing left Azure Dragon Island alone and piloted an aircraft toward the Wei Family in Xinchang Prefecture.

Among the sixty-four prefectures of Great Xia, Xinchang Prefecture's overall strength was not particularly prominent.

However, the Xinchang Wei Family's reputation was known to everyone. Not just in Great Xia, but across the entire Blue Star.

This was all because the Wei Family had a daughter named Wei Lan, who was Xiao Weiqing's girlfriend.

Of course.

By now, Wei Lan's strength had also reached the Eighth Realm, making her a bona fide powerhouse. Although not many people knew this, it didn't affect the status of the Wei Family or Wei Lan in the outside world.

Inside the Phantom Moon Ruins.

"Brother Qing."

Wei Lan's speed broke the sound barrier as she flew toward Xiao Weiqing.

Xiao Weiqing was startled and looked horrified; if she crashed into him, Wei Lan would get hurt.

Fortunately.

Wei Lan checked her momentum just in time and then threw herself into Xiao Weiqing's arms.

The two of them greedily inhaled each other's scent.

That night.

The two of them talked until very late, sharing their longing for each other over the past year.

Naturally.

During that time, Xiao Weiqing inevitably imparted some knowledge. When Wei Lan learned that Qian Yi also possessed this knowledge, her competitive spirit was instantly ignited. She used practical actions to show Xiao Weiqing that her knowledge was not lacking either.

She knew what Qian Yi knew, and she even knew things Qian Yi didn't.

...

Time passed.

In the blink of an eye, half a month had gone by.

Xinchang Prefecture, Wei Family.

"Old Man Meng, it's not that I won't help you, but if Weiqing doesn't give the word, I wouldn't dare take it upon myself to disturb him," the Old Master of the Wei Family said with a smile.

In the Wei Family's living room.

An old man around the same age as Wei Cangbai was there with a middle-aged man.

The old man's surname was Meng, and his name was Meng Cen. He was the actual person in power of the Meng Family, the number one Family in Xinchang Prefecture, and an expert at the Peak of the Eighth Realm.

He had brought his son this time specifically to see Xiao Weiqing.

In fact, this wasn't his first time coming.

Ever since he learned that Xiao Weiqing had arrived at the Wei Family, Meng Cen had come to the Wei house every day for seven or eight consecutive days.

It wasn't just the Meng Family; other families in Xinchang Prefecture were doing the same.

The undisputed number one person on Blue Star.

The actual owner of Azure Dragon Island.

Either identity alone made it worth their while to try and establish a connection.

However.

They were all blocked by Wei Cangbai. Forget about establishing a connection; they hadn't even seen his face.

The other families weren't as strong as the Wei Family, so after being blocked a few times by Wei Cangbai, they retreated in the face of difficulties.

But the Meng Family couldn't do that.

Their strength was quite a bit greater than the Wei Family's, and more importantly, Meng Cen and Wei Cangbai were life-and-death friends. With Meng Cen shamelessly pestering him every day, Wei Cangbai really didn't have much of a solution.

But with Xiao Weiqing as his shield.

As long as Wei Cangbai said Xiao Weiqing had no intention of seeing Meng Cen, Meng Cen wouldn't dare do anything out of line.

"Fine, Old Ghost Wei, I'll come back tomorrow."

Meng Cen took his son and left immediately.

"Old Ghost Meng, leaving already?"

"Why not stay for a couple of drinks? Seeing you run over here every day makes me feel bad," Wei Cangbai said with a grin, crossing his legs.

"No need."

Meng Cen said coldly and walked away without looking back. This Wei Cangbai simply wanted to make a fool of him. Their relationship was good, but their families had been competing openly and secretly for many years, and the Meng Family had always suppressed the Wei Family.

Now, the Wei Family had turned the tables thanks to Wei Lan, leaping to become one of the top three families in Great Xia, arguably second only to the Dongfang Family.

He naturally had to show off a bit.

Of course.

Meng Cen certainly wouldn't give Wei Cangbai such an opportunity.

...

Outside Xinchang Prefecture City.

"Brother Qing, good luck."

"Mm, you too."

Xiao Weiqing bid farewell to Wei Lan.

Wei Lan watched Xiao Weiqing's figure disappear into the horizon before reluctantly returning to the Wei Family.

As for Xiao Weiqing, he headed straight west. He needed a suitable place.

Breaking through to the Star Lord Realm required extreme caution.

According to the suggestion of the Vermilion Bird Divine Envoy, if Xiao Weiqing wanted to break through to the Star Lord Realm, it was best to do so on Blue Star rather than on Azure Dragon Island or within other ruins.

When Dongfang Hao entered the Star Lord Realm and was subsequently expelled from the Incubation Ground, it was most likely due to Dongfang Hao's own reasons and had nothing to do with breaking through on Azure Dragon Island.

But who could say for sure?

In any case, Xiao Weiqing didn't want to take that risk. If he broke through to the Star Lord Realm on Azure Dragon Island only to be expelled, he would truly feel like dying.