Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 175 - 140: Scripture Hall

Before coming here, Bai Qingyi had been absolutely furious.

As her only precious daughter—and the most outstanding among the Dragon Race Leader’s many children—Luo Qingxuan had a very high chance of one day inheriting the leader’s position.

Therefore, the selection of her future husband was destined to be anything but simple. It would involve intense maneuvering between various factions and an unimaginable exchange of interests.

Thus, no matter how one looked at it, a Human Race Cultivator was an unlikely candidate for her Dao Companion.

Of course, one could never rule out the unexpected. After meeting Ling Changqing in person, Bai Qingyi found it necessary to re-examine some of her long-held beliefs.

If this young man from the Human Race was truly the legendary anomaly blessed by Destiny and favored by the very source of the Great Dao, then Luo Qingxuan’s choice was not entirely out of the question.

"...Mother, I wasn’t wrong, was I?"

Luo Qingxuan wrapped her arm around Bai Qingyi’s, speaking in a sweet, coaxing tone. "Whether inside our race or out, could there possibly be a more suitable candidate than him?"

Bai Qingyi smiled, her beautiful, bright eyes shimmering.

"This matter still needs to be brought to your father and the race’s Elders. Of course, that’s just a formality. I’m sure they won’t have any objections."

"Mm, but I still want to wait. Let’s talk about it after I’ve undergone the baptism in the Thunder Pool. What do you think, Mother?"

Luo Qingxuan said in a low voice.

She had taken Ling Changqing’s suggestion to heart. To prevent her siblings from stirring up trouble, it was best to keep a low profile for now.

Bai Qingyi’s gaze narrowed slightly. After a moment of thought, she understood her daughter’s meaning and nodded gently.

"Then let’s do that. Don’t worry about anything else during this time. Just focus on your preparations."

"And it would be best not to take him out. Otherwise, your siblings won’t be able to restrain themselves."

Human nature cannot withstand temptation, and the same is true for dragons.

Once Luo Qingxuan’s siblings learned of Ling Changqing’s existence, one couldn’t expect them to play by the rules.

"I understand."

Luo Qingxuan nodded, her expression solemn. She was no clueless, innocent girl; she wouldn’t make such a foolish mistake over something so important.

As mother and daughter huddled together to confer in hushed tones, Ling Changqing naturally felt it was improper to listen in. He quietly withdrew to one side to admire the palace’s many lavish furnishings.

’Whether I like it or not, it seems I’ll have to stay here as the Prince Consort for some time.’

’This might be for the best, though. I can lie low and focus on my Cultivation in Seclusion for a while. Once Luo Qingxuan lets her guard down, I can figure out a way to leave.’

Ling Changqing had no desire to get involved in the internal power struggles of the Deep Sea Dragon Race. There was nothing in it for him.

’As a Cultivator, eternal life and absolute freedom are the only supreme pursuits. Everything else is merely a passing cloud.’

After some time, Ling Changqing paused before a row of jade-carved screens that stood about ten feet tall, shimmering with a vibrant, flowing light.

The scene carved into the screens depicted several Dragon Race progenitors leading countless powerful members of their race in a bloody battle against the invading Outer Realm Demon Race.

That legendary war raged for hundreds of thousands of years. Both sides suffered devastating casualties, and an unknown number of supremely talented experts perished on the battlefield.

In the later stages of the war, the Dragon Race paid an immense price to finally drive the Outer Realm Demon Race from this world, before launching a massive counteroffensive.

After a fierce war of attrition, the Dragon Race successfully established a foothold in the demons’ world and built a forward operating base.

Later, as several Demon Emperors were either killed or fell into a deep slumber from grievous wounds, the Dragon Race’s advantage grew, and they once occupied half of the Outer Realm Demon Race’s world.

That era must have been the ancient Dragon Race’s finest hour. Their resounding fame spread throughout the myriad realms.

"...My love! What are you thinking about?"

A clear, melodious voice suddenly rang out. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Ling Changqing snapped back to reality, realizing Luo Qingxuan had appeared beside him at some point.

"Ah, where’s your mother?"

Ling Changqing glanced to the side and saw that the noble, majestic, and stunningly beautiful Bai Qingyi was gone.

"Mother has already left,"

Luo Qingxuan said with a radiant smile, "Why don’t we spend the next few months in Cultivation in Seclusion together? Right up until the ceremony begins."

Bai Qingyi’s persuasion had clearly worked. Otherwise, with the Long Nu’s boisterous and impulsive nature, she would have insisted on dragging Ling Changqing around to show him off.

"Of course, that’s no problem," Ling Changqing said. "But could I go to the Scripture Hall for a look first?" He still felt he should settle the matter of choosing a Cultivation Technique as soon as possible.

"Don’t worry, Mother has already given us a token. I’ll take you to my father’s domain later. The Scripture Hall there is where the Dragon Race’s oldest and most important Scriptures are kept!"

Luo Qingxuan wrapped her arm around the young man’s, explaining in a soft, gentle voice.

Ling Changqing was taken aback. "We’re going to the Dragon Race Leader’s domain? Won’t that cause trouble?"

He had assumed he would just be looking through Luo Qingxuan’s personal collection. He never imagined Bai Qingyi would go so far as to open the Dragon Race’s most important and ancient Scripture Hall to him, an unknown young man from the Human Race.

Leaving aside the Dragon Race Leader’s attitude for a moment, the stubborn Dragon Race Elders would almost certainly never agree to it.

"Don’t worry, Mother will handle it,"

Luo Qingxuan reassured him. With her father’s authority and prestige within the race, as long as he gave the order, there would be virtually no opposition.

Ling Changqing breathed a small sigh of relief. As long as Bai Qingyi could persuade the Dragon Race Leader, it seemed the matter was all but settled.

After ordering the Maids to prepare a sumptuous feast, the couple ate and drank their fill before Luo Qingxuan set out with Ling Changqing.

It was the same extravagant, exquisite, palace-like carriage. Surrounded by a large retinue of Maids and guards, it passed through the Grand Array’s barrier and headed toward the deeper parts of the ocean floor.

"...My lady, just how vast is the territory ruled by the Deep Sea Dragon Race?"

Ling Changqing couldn’t help but ask as he watched the endless, majestic mountain ranges rolling past outside.

Luo Qingxuan thought for a moment. "That’s really hard to say. It’s just... incredibly vast!"

"Over the last million years, any undersea Demon King Clans that could stand as our rivals have either been subdued or driven out."

"By now, there are basically no races in the Deep Sea that dare to challenge us. So, it wouldn’t be much of an exaggeration to say that all the territory in these waters belongs to the Dragon Race..."

To be precise, the current population of the Dragon Race is limited. Even with the help of some affiliated humans, the amount of territory they can effectively control isn’t that large.

After all, the ocean is simply too vast, far larger than all the continents combined.

As a result, the vast majority of undersea regions are occupied by Demon Kings of varying power, but without exception, they all recognize the Dragon Race as their overlord—at least in name.

During their conversation, Luo Qingxuan grew restless and pulled Ling Changqing onto her lap.

Slender, jade-like arms wrapped tightly around Ling Changqing. Her lustrous lips found his in a kiss that was both domineering and tender, igniting a fiery passion between them...

The carriage, shrouded in Spiritual Light and a radiant glow, sped through the water. After several hours, it finally reached the core territory of the Deep Sea Dragon Race.

It was an undersea kingdom a hundred times larger than Luo Qingxuan’s own domain, nestled on a plain between two exceptionally magnificent mountain ranges.

An Ancient Array, anchored by several Heavy Artifacts, pushed back the crushing pressure of the sea, carving out a beautiful and resource-rich paradise from the dark ocean floor.

The area outside the Grand Array’s barrier was heavily guarded, but of course, no one would dare obstruct the carriage of the Dragon Princess. It passed unimpeded through more than a dozen defensive lines of sentries, heading straight for the core region.

"...My love, are you alright?"

From deep within the brocade curtains, Luo Qingxuan’s voice, thick with shyness, rang out with a surprising, sultry laziness.

Ling Changqing grunted in affirmation, allowing her hot, voluptuous body to press down on him. The feel of her warm skin, possessing a surprising elasticity, was a pleasure beyond words.

Her long, shapely legs wrapped around him like pythons, pinning him down so tightly during their fierce battle that he could barely breathe.

After more than a dozen rounds, Luo Qingxuan, her beautiful face flushed and still seemingly unsated, hugged the young man for another kiss. Only then did she slowly push her enchanting, snow-white body up and begin to straighten her clothes.

"Your Highness, we have arrived!"

Outside, the soft call of a Maid could be heard.

Luo Qingxuan answered, hastily fastening the Jade Belt’s Hidden Button at her waist. She quickly coiled up her ink-black hair and got out of bed.

A moment later, the two emerged from the carriage hand-in-hand, their appearances now neat and composed. Outside, rows of guards bowed in unison.

Luo Qingxuan had donned a hooded veil, hiding her nation-toppling beauty and flushed cheeks so that outsiders would not notice anything amiss.

It was, after all, the first time in her life she had engaged in Dual Cultivation. A certain amount of shyness and apprehension was inevitable.

"My love, should we now..."

Before Luo Qingxuan could finish, an elegant voice, as cool as frost, drifted over from a distance.

"Sixth Sister, didn’t you sneak off to travel? Why have you returned so soon?"

By the time the last word was spoken, the speaker had already appeared before them.