Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 215 - 162: Silently Making a Fortune (Part 2)

Chapter 215: Chapter 162: Silently Making a Fortune (Part 2)

First, a Tianzhou Skyboat landed in the Yu Family’s temporary camp, delivering a group of experts of unknown strength and a large quantity of supplies.

Before long, the Yu Family Elder stationed there announced that an additional group of family disciples would be sent into Dragon Soul Valley to participate in the trial.

On the surface, they all appeared to be at the Foundation Establishment Level, but it was anyone’s guess how many were actually Golden Core Masters with their cultivation sealed.

Then, on the second day, several Flying Ships from the Yue Family also arrived, delivering not only a batch of manpower, but also a few sets of High Grade Arrays.

Then came the Cui Family, Hao Family, Liuying Family, Tang Family, and Mu Family... The upper echelons of the Nine Great Families all dispatched considerable reinforcements.

The atmosphere between the camps became increasingly delicate.

What was supposed to be a simple trial for the younger disciples had turned into this. It was a development that likely none of the leaders of the great powers had anticipated.

By noon on the third day, several Tianzhou Skyboats from the Deep Sea Dragon Race finally arrived.

A large group of the Dragon Race’s High Rank Cultivators emerged from within the skyboats. Many were cloaked in thick black robes, their auras enigmatic and unfathomable.

"...Mother, you’re finally here!"

Seeing that familiar, graceful figure emerge from the cabin, an anxious Luo Qingxuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Queen Bai Qingyi was surrounded by throngs of Female Officials, personal guards, maids, and servants—so many that they could have formed a legion.

Clad in a Hundred Flowers Embroidered Palace Robe that made her appear stunningly elegant and radiant, Bai Qingyi wore a grave expression as she whispered to her daughter:

"Let’s talk inside. This situation... it might be even more troublesome than you imagine."

Luo Qingxuan nodded silently and followed her mother back into the camp.

After they entered the main hall, one of Bai Qingyi’s trusted Female Officials first inspected the surroundings. After confirming everything was secure, she set up an Array Restriction around the room.

"Alright. Let’s sit and talk."

Bai Qingyi sat down first, then gestured for all the surrounding Female Officials and attendants to stand guard outside, leaving only Luo Qingxuan behind.

"The situation outside isn’t looking good."

The matriarch of the Dragon Race furrowed her brow and spoke slowly.

"The Golden Dragon Race from the Outer Heaven seems to be making a move. On top of that, those low-profile, mysterious major powers in Yuzhou also seem to have taken notice of your husband’s existence."

"So, in a few more days, we might see all sorts of unsavory characters showing up to get in on the action. After all, his value... is far greater than some so-called Celestial Grade Spirit Root Immortal Seed!"

Luo Qingxuan’s expression faltered. Having been made privy to many high-level secrets, she naturally understood the implications.

’The Golden Dragon Race of the Outer Heaven and our Deep Sea Dragon Race have been fighting, both openly and in the shadows, for so many years. Are they really not going to sit this one out?’

"Mother, did we make a mistake from the start? Should we have never let my husband come to Dragon Soul Valley at all?"

Luo Qingxuan asked sullenly.

Bai Qingyi shook her head slightly. "That’s not the root of the problem. Even if your husband had remained in the Dragon Palace without ever setting foot outside, the news would have leaked sooner or later."

The moles within the Dragon Race would never have ignored a figure like Ling Changqing. They were bound to make a move.

Even the grandest tree has dead branches.

As a power with a long heritage and immense scale, its internal structure is incredibly complex. All manner of factions are deeply entangled, making infiltration by outside forces inevitable.

Of course, the situation within the Nine Great Families is much the same. They’ve all infiltrated one another, so in that respect, no one is in a position to point fingers.

"So what should we do now?"

Luo Qingxuan asked, "When the trial in Dragon Soul Valley ends and my husband comes out, a chaotic battle will be unavoidable, I imagine."

The Nine Great Families have already sent reinforcements into Dragon Soul Valley. If they can’t capture Ling Changqing inside, they will certainly be waiting for him at the exit.

At that point, the Dragon Race will absolutely refuse to back down. Then we’ll have no choice but to settle it with force, won’t we?

Bai Qingyi said gravely, "You’re right. We will never give up Ling Changqing, even if it means we have to go to war!

"I will arrange for a team to enter Dragon Soul Valley immediately. They are to find Ling Changqing before anyone else, at any cost, and bring him back safe and sound!

"If Cultivators from any other power get in their way, kill them on the spot. The Dragon Race will bear any and all consequences!"

"Yes, that would be for the best!"

Luo Qingxuan finally felt a little of the tension in her heart ease.

"I wonder how many Cultivators will die in this battle,"

Bai Qingyi sighed, her expression tinged with helplessness:

"If I had known it would come to this, you never should have brought your husband back at all. It would have been far better to remain in hiding."

Luo Qingxuan fell silent. Unfortunately, time could not be turned back.

’The best strategy back then would have been to take Ling Changqing to some isolated Grotto Heaven to live in seclusion, spending several hundred years together like an immortal couple.’

’As long as no one else knew of Ling Changqing’s existence, this current crisis would never have been triggered, and everything would still be under control.’

’Then, in the future, once both she and Ling Changqing had reached the Divinity Transformation Realm, they could have returned to the Deep Sea Dragon Palace without fear of attracting the covetous attention of other powers.’

’As long as they were strong enough, no matter how resentful outsiders might be, they could never have stolen the Child of Destiny.’

’At that point, the Deep Sea Dragon Race would surely have seen a resurgence, and overpowering the great powers of the Human Race would have been a simple matter.’

’Fortunately, even now, there was still a chance to salvage the situation.’

...

High above the ocean, deep within the Celestial Vault, a sleek and exquisite jet-black Flying Ship lay hidden among the clouds.

The space inside the Flying Ship, however, was quite spacious. Dozens of figures clad in gold armor and robes, exuding powerful and domineering auras, were gathered together, silently observing the desolate island on the horizon.

"...If we all attacked together, couldn’t we just completely destroy this place?"

An exceptionally burly man in gold armor grinned. "Then this Grotto Heaven Blessed Land will collapse, and the resulting spatial turbulence will shred most of the Cultivators inside!"

A woman beside him shot him a look of displeasure and said coldly,

"We should capture the legendary Child of Destiny first, before we do anything else. Otherwise, wouldn’t this whole trip be for nothing?"

"Er, good point!"

The dim-witted man in gold armor chuckled. "It’s been a while since I’ve been out this way. I’m getting antsy with nothing to do. I just want to find a few tough guys and have a proper brawl!"

From within the crowd, an old man in a golden robe with a grim and profound aura spoke slowly,

"There have always been legends of the Child of Destiny throughout the All Heavens World, but no one has ever managed to witness one in person.

"Our informant took a great risk to send this information back. We don’t know if it’s true or false, but let’s hope the outcome doesn’t disappoint."

Someone asked, "Does he have to be taken alive? Would a corpse suffice?"

"Absolutely not!"

The old man refuted. "A living Child of Destiny is far more valuable than a dead one. Besides... we might not get the chance to kill him, even if we tried!

"If he really dies during this turmoil, it will only prove he was an imposter, not the true Child of Destiny!"

...

「Dragon Soul Valley.」

In a rugged, ancient forest of stone, several Daoist Soldier Puppets worked together to topple a massive stone pillar, revealing a cavern underneath.

With sharp shrieks, a group of three-foot-long Demon Beasts resembling bamboo rats rushed out, their families in tow, and tried to flee.

However, a golden light flared around the perimeter as an Array Restriction, laid in advance, blocked their escape.

The Demon Beasts’ shrieks grew more frantic. The ones in the lead clawed desperately at the tough light barrier of the Restriction, trying to tear it open.

In just a few breaths, the light barrier began to visibly warp and loosen, a testament to the creatures’ considerable strength.

But Ling Changqing, hovering in midair, wasn’t about to give them the chance. He commanded his Flying Sword to strike, and sharp streaks of Sword Qi descended one after another, piercing through their skulls.

Before long, all thirteen Demon Beasts, large and small, lay dead.

Ling Changqing went to inspect the cavern and, just as he’d expected, found a small pile of Spirit Jade—the creatures’ stored-up food supply. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

After confirming there were no stragglers left inside, Ling Changqing returned, feeling slightly unfulfilled, to clean up.

These Rock-Eating Jade Rats are a species unique to Dragon Soul Valley. They enjoy seeking out and devouring underground Spirit Jade Ore, and the most powerful adults can possess strength at the Peak Second Rank.

In any area where Rock-Eating Jade Rats live, there are usually veins of Spirit Jade Ore nearby, and certain types of Spirit Jade can be incredibly valuable.

However, Ling Changqing didn’t have time to search for and excavate the Spirit Jade Ore, so he could only quickly gather what was available before leaving.