Chapter 5
Outside the Scripture Hall, heavily guarded, each guard is a peak Body Tempering Realm expert.
The leader is even a Qi Refining Realm expert, holding a long spear, tall and imposing, exuding an intimidating aura. From afar, he saw Xiao Minghuang’s figure and saluted with a fist:
“Greetings, Ninth Princess. I have received the decree that Your Highness may freely browse the hall, but you must not take any cultivation techniques out.”
Xiao Minghuang smiled and nodded, “Thank you for the decree, General. I understand and will not cause you any trouble.”
“Thank you for Your Highness’s understanding.”
As the bright yellow figure disappeared into the hall, the guard captain’s eyes flickered with a hint of emotion.
“Royal Family members usually look down on us guards, but this Ninth Princess is an exception.”
…
Inside the Scripture Hall.
Being kind to others was simply a habit Xiao Minghuang had always maintained.
For her, the most important task now was to select the most suitable cultivation technique.
Although it’s called selection, there was hardly any real choice available.
In the Scripture Hall, there was only one Profound-tier upper-grade cultivation technique, the “Dragon Essence Scripture.” The rest of the techniques were, at best, Profound-tier lower-grade.
Thus, as soon as Xiao Minghuang entered the hall, she headed straight for the deepest part.
After turning a corner, she suddenly heard a faint snoring sound coming from a corner.
Since reaching the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm, her hearing had greatly improved. Within a radius of a hundred meters, even the sound of a needle dropping to the ground could be heard clearly.
“Could someone really be dozing off in the Scripture Hall?”
The sound immediately piqued Xiao Minghuang’s curiosity, and she followed the noise.
After turning a few more corners, Xiao Minghuang saw an elderly man dressed in white, leaning against a pile of books that had fallen to the ground, sound asleep.
Seeing this, Xiao Minghuang’s pupils slightly contracted. She couldn’t discern the cultivation level of the person before her at all.
At her current level, the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm, she could roughly sense the cultivation level of even a Spring Realm cultivator. If she couldn’t sense anything at all, there was only one possibility.
“It must be a Divine Sea Realm Royal Ancestor!”
In the Great Xia Royal Family, apart from the Emperor, there were five Divine Sea Realm experts. They usually stayed aloof from worldly affairs, focusing solely on cultivation, and only appeared when necessary to protect the Great Xia or quell disasters.
Xiao Minghuang’s expression turned solemn. Not daring to disturb the Ancestor’s rest, she was about to leave quietly when she heard a hoarse voice from behind.
“Since you came looking for this old man, why are you leaving now?”
“I came to the Scripture Hall to search for a cultivation technique and did not mean to disturb you, Senior. Please forgive me, I will leave now.”
“If you’re here for a cultivation technique, why not just ask me directly?” The old man’s voice was raspy as he slowly stood up.
The old man was thin and frail, his face covered in wrinkles, with white hair and an aura of decay about him, as if his time was running out.
“A Divine Sea Realm cultivator can live for five hundred years, yet even they have their limits…”
Xiao Minghuang sighed inwardly and said respectfully, “If I could receive guidance from Ancestor, I would be eternally grateful!”
“Heh heh!” The old man laughed twice, but it sounded more like a cry. “Little girl, you certainly don’t stand on ceremony with this old man.”
Xiao Minghuang remained respectful. “Senior is a virtuous and honorable person. Your words are trustworthy, and your actions are decisive. What you say, you will not go back on, and naturally, you would not jest with a Junior like me.”
“To say such things in front of this old man, little girl, you have courage!”
The old man said, “Go to the deepest part, to the third row from the end. Count seven bookshelves from the inside, push it aside, and there will be a hidden door beneath. Turn it gently, and the door will open. Inside, you will find what you seek.”
“Thank you for your guidance, Senior. I will strive in my cultivation and not disappoint your generous gift!”
After bowing, Xiao Minghuang walked toward the deepest part of the Scripture Hall.
“Without this Senior’s guidance, in such a vast Scripture Hall, who knows how long it would have taken me to find the ‘Dragon Essence Scripture.'”
Xiao Minghuang thought with gratitude.
In no time, she reached the deepest part of the Scripture Hall and, following the old man’s instructions, entered the hidden door.
Inside the secret door, the glow of pearls was dim.
The space within was not large. After taking a few steps, Xiao Minghuang arrived at a stone table.
On the stone table lay a delicate small box, emanating a halo, seemingly crafted from some extraordinary metal.
“Is this where the Dragon Essence Scripture is? Such a secretive storage for a mere high-grade Profound-tier technique,” Xiao Minghuang murmured to herself, then opened the treasure box.
Inside the box rested a jade slip, its surface flowing with a faint luster, appearing extremely extraordinary.
“Is this the Dragon Essence Scripture?”
“This is not the Dragon Essence Scripture.”
A dry, hoarse voice suddenly echoed in the dark, narrow cavern, startling Xiao Minghuang.
She turned abruptly and saw the figure of an old man in black robes standing not far away.
Xiao Minghuang gently patted her chest, calming her startled heart.
“Senior, what do you mean by this?”
The old man spoke, his tone quite disdainful: “The Dragon Essence Scripture is merely a high-grade Profound-tier technique. How can it compare to the low-grade Earth-tier Dragon Soul Heart Technique?!”
Xiao Minghuang felt helpless. Even if the Dragon Essence Scripture was inferior to the Dragon Soul Heart Technique, both were part of her family’s inherited martial arts. There was no need to belittle one while praising the other.
But she dared not voice this thought aloud.
“Young girl, are you wondering why the world believes the most profound technique of our Great Xia is only a high-grade Profound-tier Dragon Essence Scripture, while here, we have a low-grade Earth-tier Dragon Soul Heart Technique hidden?”
“This junior is ignorant and truly does not know.”
The old man said proudly: “Earth-tier techniques, even if only low-grade, are extremely powerful, directly pointing to the Nascent Soul realm. Such a rare technique would not only be coveted by forces similar in strength to our Great Xia, but even the three great sects might develop greed for it. That is why, in my youth, I took the Dragon Soul Heart Technique out of the palace and falsely claimed it was lost, never to be shown again. The world believes this technique has been lost, but no one knows it has always been hidden by me in the depths of the palace, unseen by the light of day.”
“Senior’s foresight is truly admirable. This junior is in awe!”
The old man seemed pleased by the flattery and laughed: “Young girl, you really know how to speak. I was not wrong about you. You must grow quickly. The safety of Great Xia will be entrusted to you in the future!”
With these words, the old man turned and left.
The topic changed too quickly, and Xiao Minghuang didn’t react immediately. She hurriedly asked, “Wait… may I ask for Senior’s name?”
The old man’s figure disappeared, leaving only a faint voice behind.
“Eight hundred years ago, they called me ‘Holy Dragon Sword’.”
As the voice faded, Xiao Minghuang fell into deep thought.
“At most, a Divine Sea realm cultivator can live for five hundred years. Why did Senior say eight hundred years ago?”
Suddenly, her gaze froze, and she exclaimed, “He is at the Spirit Seed Realm!”
A Divine Sea Realm cultivator can live for at most five hundred years, but a Spirit Seed Realm cultivator can live for a thousand years. Therefore, this mysterious Royal Ancestor must be a Spirit Seed Realm powerhouse!
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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
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