Chapter 1729: Half-step Holy Rank

However, when everyone connects the destruction of Yongxiu City Emperor Palace and the annihilation of Ye City Emperor Palace, they are horrified to discover a fact.

"That guy named Yun Xiao, isn’t he the same person as the rough-clothed youth who destroyed the Ye City Emperor Palace?"

Some insightful people recall the events that occurred at Ye City Emperor Palace and have some conjectures since the news from Yongxiu City included a detailed description of Yun Xiao’s appearance.

Dressed in rough clothes, carrying a wooden sword, this image is exactly like that of the youth who destroyed Ye City Emperor Palace. It’s no wonder that many Ye City cultivators have more complex emotions now.

"Could there truly be a hidden force, developing in secret, aiming to overthrow Emperor Canglong Palace?"

Although no one dares to say these words aloud, the major events in Yongxiu City and Ye City clearly indicate this fact. How could all this be mere coincidence otherwise?

But as soon as these thoughts arise, they are quickly suppressed, for they immediately remember the overwhelming power of Emperor Canglong Palace. On the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, it’s simply impossible to overturn Emperor Canglong Palace.

At least among human clans, there hasn’t been a family or force capable of such an endeavor, not even the once-prosperous Four Great Families, who were annihilated by Empress Lu Qinwan as soon as they displayed such tendencies.

No matter what, Yongxiu City and Ye City are merely small towns in the remote areas of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud Western Region, and the strongest of these town’s emperor palaces haven’t even reached the Holy Rank. Emperor Canglong Palace likely wouldn’t pay much attention to them.

Yet, Emperor Canglong Palace surely won’t sit idly by in the face of such matters. It’s likely that, in the coming period, the rough-clothed young man named Yun Xiao will find it exceedingly difficult under the pursuit of Emperor Canglong Palace.

However, these Ye City cultivators seem to forget how vast the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud is. To find a low-key youth within this immense region would indeed be challenging.

......

Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, Emperor Canglong Palace!

Within this splendid and majestic complex, there is a rather special pond, shrouded in mist from a distance, with a seemingly faint human figure inside.

The importance of this place is well recognized within Emperor Canglong Palace, for this unique pool is called the Dragon Saliva Pond, and the force contained within it is coveted even by the elders of the palace.

The water in the Dragon Saliva Pond is not ordinary liquid, but the saliva of the Dragon within the palace. Though it’s the Dragon’s saliva, the Dragon Saliva is extraordinarily clear, without the filth one might imagine.

Only a few cultivators who have made great contributions to Emperor Canglong Palace can enter the Dragon Saliva Pond to refine and absorb energy, and the graceful figure sitting inside at the moment is rather different.

Because this figure is none other than Xue Qi, the direct disciple of Empress Lu Qinwan, a defeated figure who returned from the Tenglong Continent.

Such a failure had the opportunity to enter the Dragon Saliva Pond, which is something the cultivators of Emperor Canglong Palace had never envisaged, but unfortunately, they are unaware.

The primary reason Xue Qi can absorb energy within the Dragon Saliva Pond is naturally because she has a teacher who is the Empress of Canglong, Lu Qinwan, who didn’t even inform Emperor Canglong about letting Xue Qi into the pond.

Until Emperor Canglong discovered it himself, he not only refrained from reprimanding, but even infused a strand of Emperor Dragon Qi into Xue Qi’s body, allowing her to withstand the impact of the Dragon Saliva energy.

Emperor Canglong already had feelings for Lu Qinwan, and he betrayed his closest brother to possess the lady of the Lu family. For such a trivial matter as letting Xue Qi enter the Dragon Saliva Pond, he naturally wouldn’t object much.

Outside the Dragon Saliva Pond, there is equally a regal and noble figure standing proudly. It is Empress Lu Qinwan, but there is a hint of worry on her charming face.

Because Xue Qi has been in the Dragon Saliva Pond for over half a year, and during this time, nothing seems to have gone wrong, yet what actually happens inside, even Lu Qinwan isn’t certain.

"Xiaoxue, I hope you won’t disappoint your teacher!"

Lu Qinwan utters a murmur, for she profoundly loves this halfway-acquired disciple and doesn’t wish for any mishap to occur to Xue Qi in the Dragon Saliva Pond.

Boom!

Just as Lu Qinwan shows concern and murmurs aloud, a vast wave of energy suddenly erupts from within the Dragon Saliva Pond, causing her beautiful eyes to lift instantly.

"Is this... a breakthrough?!"

Lu Qinwan, a Holy Rank Peak Poison Vein Master with exceedingly powerful soul power, senses the essence of this energy in an instant, feeling both surprised and delighted.

The Dragon Saliva Pond had been silent without a trace of activity for the past half-year, causing her worry and prompting frequent visits, leaving many important matters aside to sense the pond.

But today, Xue Qi within the Dragon Saliva Pond finally shows a glimmer of change, and once there is change, it is a matter of delight for Lu Qinwan.

"Judging by this energy, it should not merely be a breakthrough to the Heavenly Realm level!"

Lu Qinwan’s soul sensing was powerful, and she knew the Dragon Saliva Pond well. Moreover, back then she had also soaked in the Dragon Saliva Pond, knowing that enduring the impact of the dragon energies would bring great creation.

Furthermore, the Dragon Saliva Pond had a characteristic: the first time a cultivator soaked in it, they received the greatest creation, which would then diminish with each subsequent attempt until it no longer had any effect.

This was similar to a cultivator consuming the same type of elixir for enhancing power. For example, if Xu Qingshan took Yun Xiao’s Cloud Floating Pill a second time, it certainly wouldn’t help him break through in realm anymore.

The effects of the Dragon Saliva Pond were quite similar, but this was indeed Xue Qi’s first time entering the Dragon Saliva Pond. To what extent this breakthrough could be achieved even Lu Qinwan couldn’t quite predict.

"At least it shouldn’t be lower than the Heavenly Realm Peak?"

Feeling the energy fluctuations from within the Dragon Saliva Pond, Lu Qinwan muttered a guess, and if those who knew Xue Qi heard it, their jaws would likely drop in shock.

To know that before when Xue Qi was fighting Yun Xiao on the Tenglong Continent, she was only at the Lingyun Realm Early Stage. Now, after soaking in the Dragon Saliva Pond for just a little over half a year, she was about to break through to the Heavenly Realm Peak?

Rumble rumble rumble...

While Lu Qinwan’s thoughts were turning, bursts of breakthrough fluctuations kept erupting from the Dragon Saliva Pond, and such breakthroughs were unprecedented.

"Heavenly Realm Peak!"

With her powerful capability, when the moment arrived, Lu Qinwan couldn’t help but show a delighted smile, because the first basic target she set for Xue Qi was undoubtedly achieved.

"The aura of breakthrough doesn’t seem to have disappeared yet, could it be..."

As Lu Qinwan sensed again and found that certain auras within the Dragon Saliva Pond still existed, she was initially stunned, then revealed a touch of ecstatic joy, as this was truly a delightful surprise.

Boom!

After another moment, another incredibly strong force exploded from within the Dragon Saliva Pond, and this force was decidedly different from the previous Heavenly Realm level aura.

Having once cultivated from the Heavenly Rank Third Realm herself, Lu Qinwan knew what such an aura meant, it meant that at this moment, Xue Qi had become somewhat different from those Heavenly Rank Third Realm cultivators.

"Half-step Holy Rank!"

Only when the aura within the Dragon Saliva Pond dissipated did Lu Qinwan take a deep breath and sigh out loud, also signaling the level Xue Qi’s breakthrough had reached this time.

Half-step Holy Rank, though there was still a great gap compared to a true Holy Rank expert, it was far stronger than an ordinary Heavenly Realm Peak cultivator, by much more than just a bit.

That was the path that every Heavenly Realm Peak cultivator had to walk upon attempting to break through to the Holy Rank Third Realm, no one could be exempt.

Perhaps some exceptionally talented geniuses could break through from the Earth Rank Third Realm Peak to the Heavenly Rank Third Realm in one go, but breaking through to the Holy Rank Third Realm was clearly impossible.

Above the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, who knew how many monstrous cultivators were trapped at the Heavenly Realm Peak level, unable to break through all their lives, ultimately fading away in frustration.

Failing to take that half step into Holy Rank, one would have no hope for a lifetime to break through to the real Heavenly Rank Third Realm, half-step Holy Rank, seemed like a pass to the Holy Rank Third Realm, without which there was no way forward.

Originally Lu Qinwan believed that Xue Qi would reach at most the Heavenly Realm Peak, but was surprised by the sudden delight of Xue Qi breaking through to half-step Holy Rank, she was likely not far from the true Heavenly Rank Third Realm.

"Teacher!"

Just as Lu Qinwan’s mind was filled with thoughts, a slightly vague voice emerged from the Dragon Saliva Pond, finally bringing her back to her senses as she turned her beautiful eyes towards the source.

Amidst the mist of the Dragon Saliva Pond, a graceful figure stepped out, like a celestial being walking on water, there was an ethereal beauty to her.

The one who emerged from the Dragon Saliva Pond was naturally Lu Qinwan’s beloved student, Xue Qi, who had once betrayed Yun Xiao’s mother and son ruthlessly.

At this moment, stepping out of the misty pond water, Xue Qi seemed somewhat different from before, perhaps this was the transformation from breaking through to half-step Holy Rank.

"Xiaoxue, congratulations!"

Looking at this favored disciple stepping onto the stone platform at the pool’s edge, Lu Qinwan smiled brightly, her voice indicating her deep satisfaction. This disciple ultimately had not disappointed her.

"Thanks to Teacher’s guidance!"

Xue Qi slightly bowed towards her teacher, lowered her head to speak, while a subtle gleam of hidden ambition passed through her eyes, an ambition deeply concealed, seemingly quietly growing.