Chapter 771 - 354: Late-Stage Profound Water Turtle, the True Monarch’s Conditions

"That True Monarch and my master were fellow disciples. He was exceptionally talented, successfully achieving Nascent Soul Formation when he was just over two hundred years old. He could have inherited the title of ’Cyan Dragon’ and become the current generation’s Cyan Dragon True Monarch."

"But shortly after his Nascent Soul Formation, his Daoist partner passed away unexpectedly. He refused to accept it, and heartbroken, he cast a Dream-Entering Technique and fell into a sleep from which he has never woken. In his dreams, he wove a false world where his partner is still alive..."

From Chi Qingxuan’s account, Li Chang’an learned that the Cyan Dragon Sect nominally had four True Monarchs, but only three of them could actually take action.

The last one had been asleep for over three hundred years, unwilling to wake, and would perhaps sleep until the very end of his lifespan.

’Quite a devoted True Monarch,’ Li Chang’an thought.

’The Cultivation Immortality Realm is vast. For every heartless and treacherous person like Jiang Yunsheng’s father, there is bound to be a devoted one.’

Through their conversation, he gained a deeper understanding of the Cyan Dragon Sect.

Before long,

the two returned to the area above the fissure.

The omnipresent oppressive feeling instantly vanished.

Li Chang’an felt the tension leave his body and let out a slow sigh of relief.

The abyssal fissure was especially oppressive, surrounded by pitch-black darkness.

By comparison, although the sky in the Forbidden Secret Realm was gloomy, the sense of oppression was far less intense.

The Unicorne Stone Dragon and the Earth Wasteland Turtle had not left; they were still waiting for them outside.

Seeing only the two of them emerge, the two demons’ hearts sank with a sense of foreboding.

"Daoist Chi Qingwu... h-he... could he be..."

The Unicorne Stone Dragon’s face filled with sorrow. Its eyes grew moist, expressing its grief.

It sighed and looked to the heavens. "Alas, the heavens are jealous of great talent! Daoist Chi’s talent was extraordinary. He should have been on the path to Nascent Soul Formation, and yet..."

"Daoist Chi isn’t dead," Li Chang’an cut in at the opportune moment.

He then patted his Spirit Beast Bag and released Chi Qingwu.

Sensing the mournful atmosphere, Chi Qingwu looked confused.

"Huh? Has a fellow Daoist passed away?"

Hearing this, the Unicorne Stone Dragon looked embarrassed and wiped away its crocodile tears with a claw.

Next, Li Chang’an and Chi Qingxuan explained what had happened.

They had discussed it beforehand and agreed to omit Chi Qingxuan’s Dragon-human Race identity, saying only that she had come across a great opportunity.

Of course, it wouldn’t have been a big deal even if her identity was exposed.

The Cyan Dragon Sect accepted even Demon Beasts, so why wouldn’t they accept a Half-human, Half-demon like her?

After learning the gist of the situation, the two Demon Beasts looked at Li Chang’an with newfound gravity.

When it came to physical prowess, neither of them—Demon Beasts born with innately powerful bodies—nor a Core Disciple of the Cyan Dragon Sect like Chi Qingxuan could compare to Li Chang’an, a Loose Cultivator.

The Unicorne Stone Dragon said with sincere admiration, "Daoist Li, your strength is extraordinary. I am truly impressed!"

"I’ve just had a few fortunate encounters, nothing worth mentioning," Li Chang’an replied with a smile.

After the three humans and two demons rested for a while, they wasted no more time and headed for the Secret Realm’s entrance.

「A few days later.」

They left the Secret Realm without incident and returned to the outside world.

At that point, Chi Qingxuan extended an invitation. "Daoist Li, would you be willing to join us at the Cyan Dragon Sect for some tea?"

Li Chang’an smiled. "Since Daoist Chi has invited me, how could I possibly refuse?"

’Of Yuan Country’s Four Great Sects, he had only ever visited the Vermilion Bird Sect. Now that he had a chance to enter the Cyan Dragon Sect, he naturally wouldn’t let it pass him by.’

The Forbidden Secret Realm was not far from the Cyan Dragon Sect.

Soon,

Li Chang’an arrived at the Cyan Dragon Sect.

Within the Cyan Dragon Sect’s Mountain Gate stood four towering peaks. The Spiritual Qi within the sect was rich and dense, creeping vines wound around everything, Spirit Beasts frolicked, and countless pavilions and towers appeared and disappeared within the swirling clouds and mist.

These four peaks, naturally, corresponded to the Cyan Dragon Sect’s four True Monarchs.

"Daoist Li, that tallest peak is the domain of my master, the Cyan Dragon True Monarch," Chi Qingxuan explained with a smile.

"The other three peaks—Jinyang Peak, Shuiyue Peak, and Fu Sheng Peak—are the domains of the other three True Monarchs."

Following her introductions, Li Chang’an’s gaze swept over the four peaks in turn, lingering for a moment on the last one.

That peak, Fu Sheng Peak, was completely shrouded in thick clouds and mist, obscuring its true appearance. One could only faintly sense an aura of solitude and coldness emanating from it.

Moreover, a unique power enveloped the entirety of Fu Sheng Peak.

This power was dreamlike and illusory, suffused with an ethereal quality that made the massive Fu Sheng Peak feel somewhat unreal.

"Fu Sheng True Monarch is within that peak. He has been in a dream for over three hundred years and has yet to awaken."

"My master once said that Fu Sheng True Monarch is the most talented person in the entire Sect. If nothing had gone wrong, he might have had a chance to become a Great Cultivator at the Late Stage of Nascent Soul. But he has trapped himself here, wasting his talent. I’m afraid he’ll remain at the Early Stage of Nascent Soul for the rest of his life."

Here, Chi Qingxuan’s beautiful eyes turned to Li Chang’an.

"Daoist Li, if you have the ability to awaken Fu Sheng True Monarch, it would be considered a major contribution to the Sect. You could use it to exchange for a Tier Four Body Refining Technique."

"I have no such ability," Li Chang’an said with a helpless look, waving his hand.

’That dreamlike, illusory Tier Four Power was far beyond his current ability to break. Even if he did have that ability, he wouldn’t dare wake Fu Sheng True Monarch. The senior was living a perfect life in his dreams. If he were to be suddenly awakened and forced back into the harsh reality, he’d most likely fly into a rage. And his meager frame could not withstand the wrath of a True Monarch.’

After the introductions, they arrived at Chi Qingxuan’s domain to drink tea and converse.

At one point, Chi Qingxuan and Chi Qingwu left to find their master, the Cyan Dragon True Monarch.

They returned a short while later.

"Daoist Li, my sincerest apologies. Our master is currently in a meeting with two other Nascent Soul True Monarchs, and we don’t know when it will conclude. I’m afraid you won’t be able to see him for the next few days."

"It’s no trouble. Thank you both, fellow Daoists."

Li Chang’an took it in stride.