114: Identity exposed

While Xu Qing was in the Ancient Time Land, hundreds of thousands of people arrived at the foot of the towering mountain with excited hearts.

Among these people, the most striking were the three hundred Prodigies from both rankings who stood at the very front, while the rest were either forces behind these Prodigies or Martial Artists who came to watch the excitement.

At this moment, all of them gazed at the divine mountain, which towered ten thousand feet high and was hidden among the clouds, their eyes filled with reverence.

Which Martial Artist doesn't admire strength? Faced with such a colossal entity, let alone Loose Cultivators, even the Prodigies from several esteemed families of Heavenly Venerable clans felt both apprehensive and admiring.

Looking at the white jade steps, although there were no guards, the aura emanating from the white jade steps was so potent that even several Heavenly Venerables would not dare to resist.

"All Prodigies, ascend the white jade steps. I will be waiting for you at the South Heaven Gate!"

Wang Changfeng naturally wouldn't ascend the white jade steps with a group of Prodigies. After leaving a remark, he flew towards the South Heaven Gate, while the Elder presiding over the True Dragon Tournament remained to lead the crowd up the white jade steps.

Watching the three hundred Prodigies ascend the white jade steps, many people showed signs of jealousy and envy, especially those Prodigies who had narrowly missed being on both rankings.

The hundred thousand steps were not difficult for the Prodigies on both rankings, and they quickly reached the South Heaven Gate.

Above the South Heaven Gate, two hundred armored Heavenly Kings guarded the entrance. In a corner of the South Heaven Gate, an old monk-robed man was in seclusion, Cultivating. Many of the three hundred Prodigies had visited Cloud Mist Mountain before and naturally recognized the old man.

"Next, I will lead you to the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Pool Palace. After entering the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Pool Palace, you are not allowed to make noise, nor are you allowed to disturb others' Cultivation. Violators will have their current ranking revoked, and in severe cases, their Cultivation will be abolished!"

Wang Changfeng spoke with a serious expression, his invisible imperial might making the Prodigies breathless. However, this oppressive aura came and went quickly.

"Yes, sir!"

The group of Prodigies, their faces pale, responded in unison.

"Very good!"

Wang Changfeng nodded in satisfaction.

He then led them through the South Heaven Gate, and when they reappeared, they were already in front of a magnificent heavenly palace.

What rich Heaven and Earth Origin Qi!

So many King-grade and Venerable-grade medicinal herbs!

Restrained by Wang Changfeng's rules, these Prodigies dared not speak, but their hearts were filled with incomparable shock. They saw that in the garden in front of the main hall, the water in the fountain was actually Origin Liquid, the liquefied form of Heaven and Earth Origin Qi, and all the flowers and plants in the garden were King-grade herbs, with many Venerable-grade herbs among them.

The Prodigies from several Heavenly Venerable clans couldn't help but click their tongues. Even for Families like theirs, Venerable-grade herbs were precious items, each protected by various Restrictions. It was nothing like the Xu Family, where they were completely free-range.

And looking into the distance, there were Myriad Daos of golden light rolling with red neon, and countless auspicious energies spewing purple mist.

The majestic and vast mountain range, the ancient and grand heavenly palace, with countless powerful auras hidden within, left an unimaginable impression on them.

"Elder Xu Jing, these are the Prodigies from both rankings!" Wang Changfeng cupped his hands to an old man at the entrance of the hall.

Although he was an Emperor, and the other party was only a Profound Venerable, the other party was, after all, a member of the Xu Family, and he dared not be negligent.

Among the true dragon rankings Prodigies below, Xu Qian's expression changed the moment he saw the old man.

No other reason, he recognized this old man. This person was an Elder of the Four Directions Town Lineage. How could he be here, and with such powerful strength?

Could it be... Xu Qian thought of something, somewhat in disbelief.

"I have already received news from the Grand Elder. Thank you, Pavilion Master Wang!"

At this moment, Xu Jing also returned a bow.

Then, his kind gaze fell upon the Prodigies.

"Hmm?"

Xu Jing was stunned for a moment, his gaze lingering on Xu Qian. Although the latter had used the Cultivation Technique passed down by his teacher to conceal his identity, the unique Bloodline aura of the Xu Family would not change.

The group of Prodigies curiously looked at Xu Qian, subconsciously moving aside. They recognized Xu Qian as Qian Yi, who ranked sixty-third in this competition.

"Elder Xu Jing, is something amiss?" Wang Changfeng asked, puzzled.

He had met all the Prodigies from both rankings beforehand, and to prevent any accidents, he had left a trace of his aura on each of them. He was certain that this person had no issues with his bone age or anything else.

"Which Lineage's Disciple are you? Why are you participating in this competition? Didn't your Branch Leader tell you not to participate in the True Dragon Tournament?" Xu Jing was very angry that a Xu Family Disciple had secretly participated in the True Dragon Tournament.

Clearly, he had mistaken Xu Qian for a Disciple from one of the other lineages.

Hearing this, everyone was first stunned, then surprised. They hadn't expected this Qian Yi to be a member of the Xu Family. Some of the Prodigies even felt a bit of regret, because a few of them had interacted with Qian Yi before, and upon hearing that he was a Loose Cultivator, they lost the desire to befriend him.

If they had known he was from the Xu Family, they would have eagerly sought to befriend him, and now they were filled with regret.

Unfortunately, these people had no idea about the awkwardness of Xu Qian's own identity.

At this moment, he was in a difficult position. Given the main lineage's attitude towards their lineage back then, if he revealed his identity, he didn't know how the other party would react.

And his teacher, to prevent being discovered, had already entered a deep Seal and would not awaken without his summons.

He was a bit conflicted about whether to call his teacher. If he awakened his teacher, he was afraid they wouldn't be able to leave the Xu Family, and he would also implicate his teacher.

"You stay. The others will enter the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Pool Palace first!"

Xu Jing didn't want Family matters to be spread outside, so he waved his hand, and several stewards stepped forward, leading the Prodigies into the hall.

Wang Changfeng also looked at Xu Qian with some curiosity.

Being stared at by two big figures like this, Xu Qian decided to go all out.

"Elder Xu Jing, I am from the Qingyang Lineage!"

Xu Qian gave a bitter smile, restored his original appearance, and then truthfully stated his identity. He did not awaken his teacher; he was afraid that the other party would also be unable to leave the Xu Family.

"Qingyang!!!"

Xu Jing was shaken, somewhat incredulous.

"You..."

Seeing this, Wang Changfeng silently left. Clearly, this involved some private matters of the Xu Family, and it was not appropriate for him, an outsider, to listen in.

After Wang Changfeng left, Xu Jing looked at Xu Qian with a somewhat complex expression.

"How did you come to the Xuangu Domain?"

He found it hard to imagine how Xu Qian had managed to reach the Xuangu Domain.

"After leaving Xu City that day, many things happened. After our lineage left Xu City, we encountered a group of evil Cultivators..."

Xu Qian recounted his journey, though he did not reveal his teacher's identity. His reaction was quick; the story was entirely true, but without any mention of his teacher.

As he narrated, a flash of light flickered within the jade pendant.

"Foolish child..."

The old phantom's eyes were misty, but sadly, as a remnant Divine Soul, he had no tears.

Looking back at his life, Zhao Xingzhou, at the peak of his power, took in three Disciples and poured all his heart and soul into nurturing them. Yet, in the end, what he received was a sword in the back. That sword destroyed his sacred soul Origin and also destroyed tens of millions of years of his hard work.

But compared to these, the betrayal of Disciples he regarded as his own children was what he could not accept the most.

Now seeing Xu Qian, his heart was filled with immense emotion. At this moment, he really wanted to take Xu Qian away, but he did not act rashly.

Firstly, with his knowledge, he could easily see that Cloud Mist Mountain was an independent world. Without an entrance, there was no way to leave.

The second reason was that the grand hall in front of them was a Divine Emperor weapon. If he didn't use his sacred soul Origin, Xu Qian would simply be unable to leave.

And once he used his sacred soul Origin, his wisp of remnant Divine Soul would completely disappear from the world.

"The Elders from the Elder Council will be here soon. Your departure or stay is not something I can decide. Let the Young Lord decide!"

Xu Jing's Divine Thought had been observing Xu Qian's Divine Soul fluctuations, so everything the other party said was true. He also didn't know how to handle Xu Qian.

After all, what the Qingyang Lineage did back then was unforgivable. However, learning of Xu Qian's experiences, his mood was also somewhat complex. A young fellow who hadn't even reached the True Essence realm had grown into a Heavenly King in nearly two years and even became a Prodigy of the True Dragon Tournament.

Although this achievement couldn't compare to the Prodigies in the clan, Xu Qian, apart from his Bloodline, had achieved everything else in his Cultivation through his own efforts.

Moreover, Xu Qian was also an Alchemy Genius, a Guest Elder Alchemist of the Alchemist Guild.