Exploring Immortality Cultivation-Chapter 926 - 11: The Three Great Elders

The young man who came looking for Wang Qi appeared to be about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, but his cultivation was genuinely at the late stage of Core Formation, just half a step away from Core Formation Perfection. His entire aura was seamless and harmonious, as if enveloped in an invisible Gang Qi, with no excess energy leaking out. This man was clad in white robes as pure as snow, his garments fluttering in the wind. He possessed a certain grace and elegance, and his handsome face carried a trace of arrogance, accompanied by an air of nobility that demanded respect.

As soon as this man in white appeared, a few whispers immediately arose in the previously silent Library Tower.

"Is that really Junior Master Xiao Changgu?"

"It's actually Junior Master Xiao?"

"Who would have thought that Xia Li would actually stir Junior Master Xiao out of seclusion. Since being included in the door wall by the Third Elder, Junior Master Xiao hasn't been out for thirty years. I wonder to what extent he's mastered that so-called Supreme Mysterious Formless Sword Qi..."

"Supreme Mysterious Formless Sword Qi? Is that for real? It's said that once mastered, it can directly point to the Divine Separation Stage, an unparalleled Supreme Divine Skill!"

"Infusing one's thoughts into Sword Qi, only such terrifyingly talented cultivators can achieve this..."

Wang Qi quickly grasped the surrounding situation from the whispers around him. It seemed that this Ancient Method Core Formation Cultivator named Xiao Changgu was a rather well-known disciple in the Luochen Sword Palace, and his cultivation talent was seemingly not lacking, having mastered a very powerful Divine Skill.

"Here to make trouble?" Wang Qi put back the Jade Slip in his hand on the shelf, reached out his hand to move Mi behind him. Then, he looked at the Core Formation Cultivator named Xiao Changgu, with hidden hostility in his eyes: "Are you here to cause trouble too?"

"What?" Xiao Changgu was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Wang Qi to ask this.

Wang Qi pushed Mi about a foot behind him, and then slowly drew out his longsword: "I really hate trouble..."

At this moment, Xiao Changgu seemed to have heard a very funny joke, clutching his belly, laughing heartily, almost bending over: "You, your talk is really interesting..."

Even surrounding them came a few "pfft" sounds.

"Is that guy called Xia Li dumb or what?"

"Hard to say, looking like that, intelligence doesn't seem high."

"He actually wants to challenge Junior Master Xiao? Hahaha!"

"I really want to see Lian Yichen's old dog's disciple rolling on the ground with shame..." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Interesting?" Wang Qi frowned: "I don't understand what you mean."

"I mean, you're really ridiculous." Xiao Changgu stopped his laughter and said, "Xia Li, I admit you're really impressive, capable of cross-stage fighting, and can easily defeat trash like Song Zhongqiao at the early stage of Core Formation. But no matter how many Song Zhongqiao you defeat, can you compare with me? Don't think that you're the only one in this world with the ability to leap stages!"

— Of course, I don't think I'm the only one. Over on the Shenzhou Continent, anyone can leap stages against Ancient Method Practitioners...

Despite saying this, Wang Qi still pretended to have a deadpan face, squeezing an angry look: "Spit it out if you have something to say..."

"It's very simple, the Great Elder, the Second Elder, and my master want to see you." After saying this, Xiao Changgu turned and left. After walking a few steps, he seemed to suddenly remember, turning to look at the other party: "If you think you don't have to follow the orders of Luochen Sword Palace, then there's no need to come... disciple of the traitor."

Wang Qi looked at Mi, who was tugging at his clothes, sighed, and then quickly walked over to Ye Tianye, entrusting Mi to him.

Having just accepted Wang Qi's Geng Metal, Ye Tianye was particularly agreeable at this time, readily agreeing to take care of Mi, and he mentioned: "The Third Elder is obviously hostile towards you... remember, don't do anything that might anger the three Great Elders..."

Wang Qi nodded, then swiftly followed the direction Xiao Changgu left, catching up with this genius cultivator of Luochen Sword Palace.

The two proceeded through the corridors and past pavilions, crossed several artificial hills, a few ponds, and then went through the side gate of Luochen Sword Palace, reaching the main hall of the Sword Palace.

Upon entering the Sword Palace's great hall, Wang Qi felt the overwhelming presence of sword intent and sword qi, as if the hall was adorned with countless divine weapons, or that the entire hall was cast and reforged from divine swords.

Yet upon closer inspection, the Sword Palace's great hall seemed quite ordinary, even less imposing than the secular imperial structures, with metal-cast beams and columns, but still possessing an immortal aura.

Three individuals sat at the head of the hall. The foremost appeared to be in the prime of life, looking like a man in his thirties, tall and imposing, with gray at his temples, brows as sharp as swords, and eyes bright as stars. At first glance, his appearance was unremarkable, but in conversation, he exuded great heroism. To his left was a sword cultivator with white hair and beard. This person appeared to be no older than twenty but had long hair, beard, and eyebrows all as white as snow, exuding an immortal demeanor. The last person sat to the right of the foremost individual, with an elderly appearance but pure black hair and an expression of melancholy, with constantly furrowed brows.

These three were the three Great Elders of the Luochen Sword Palace: Mei Sicheng, Zhao Xiangshen, and Ru Tianqi. That heroic swordsman at the front was the Great Elder Mei Sicheng; the one with an immortal aura was the Second Elder Zhao Xiangshen; as for the troubled old man, naturally, he was the Third Elder Ru Tianqi.

Each of these elders inherited one of the great sword manuals of the Luochen Sword Palace, hence their distinct styles.

Third Elder Ru Tianqi's already furrowed brows deepened upon seeing Wang Qi. He emitted a cold snort. To others, it was merely an expression of dissatisfaction, but to Wang Qi, it felt like thunder exploding by his ears.

At the same time, the powerful pressure of the Divine Separation Stage descended upon Wang Qi.

Inside Wang Qi, his cultivation techniques instinctively activated and reorganized operators, using an "evolution" algorithm to conjure methods to resist external presences. Wang Qi's mind raced, quickly realizing that his identity wasn't exposed. Having achieved the Unity of My Method, he effortlessly commanded his power and immediately halted the myriad changes within, instead leveraging the slaughter sword intent he mimicked to firmly withstand.

However, how could the slaughter sword qi at the Golden Core level possibly resist the pressure of the Divine Separation Level? Wang Qi could only hold on for a few breaths before half-kneeling on the ground, using his long sword for support.

Even so, this was enough to astonish the three elders of the Luochen Sword Palace.

The Great Elder and Second Elder swiftly transmitted through spiritual sense: "To actually withstand for six breaths… ordinary Golden Core cultivators couldn't even last one breath…" "This martial arts true intent is unprecedented!" "A genius indeed!" "It seems necessary to protect him…"

While the Great and Second Elders communicated, Third Elder Ru Tianqi spoke up, "Disciple Xia Li… do you realize your guilt?"

Wang Qi was using his heart power to suppress his cultivation techniques—he wasn't afraid of so-called "pressure," as the soul-extraction method's spontaneous defenses could withstand the meager spiritual pressure released by the Divine Separation Stage. However, this evolution was a built-in function of the soul-extraction method. He currently, like suppressing a knee-jerk reaction, limited his resistance within the reach of the Ancient Golden Core. Hence, he opened his mouth with some difficulty, "I do not know…"

To the three Great Elders, his behavior appeared as "this boy isn't holding up too well." Third Elder coldly snorted, "Don't think a little talent allows you to act recklessly. Meeting with your teacher without kneeling and greeting is your first fault; injuring a fellow disciple in a duel is your second; committing wrong without knowing it is your third! Do you know your mistakes?"

Wang Qi understood in his heart. He glanced to the side, seeing Song Zhongqiao indeed standing nearby, hidden behind Xiao Changgu, emitting a sinister chuckle.

Wang Qi felt somewhat helpless: "Just entered… never met the teachers… injure a fellow disciple? Can't even dispel sword intent… also useless…"

Even Xiao Changgu was somewhat astonished, thinking to himself he had underestimated this fellow, knowing his master the Third Elder Ru Tianqi's actions. In his view, no Golden Core cultivator could withstand his master's pressure. Yet Xia Li, at this time, could still speak!

"Truly one of a kind with that treacherous Lian Yichen..." After hearing Wang Qi's response, Third Elder coldly laughed and intensified his pressure.

Apart from feeling chest tightness, Wang Qi felt no other sensation. In utter helplessness, he used his cell manipulation ability to momentarily alter his oral epithelium and then forced a mouthful of blood from the rich subdermal blood vessels. He feigned defeat, spewing this blood mixed with sword qi.

"Alright, alright, Third, this one's guilty, but not to death." Second Elder Zhao Xiangshen immediately stepped out to de-escalate. The Third Elder Ru Tianqi coldly snorted and withdrew his pressure.

Wang Qi seized the moment to take out a small porcelain bottle, took a sip, then pretended the injury was too severe, spitting blood again, with the "medicine" mixed with the blood—part of his manipulation scattered across the Luochen Sword Palace's great hall.

Second Elder lifted his hand slightly, and Wang Qi felt a mistaken sensation of sunlight bathing him. He felt warm all over, with energy flowing into him. To maintain the facade of severe injury, Wang Qi surreptitiously operated his cultivation technique, using the virtual form ability to absorb a portion of the energy that Second Elder Zhao Xiangshen channeled into him.

Zhao Xiangshen sensed the outflow of his energy, softly sighing, "Ultimately still a True Law Practitioner, not too out of line. This child is one of those strong-offensive, weak-defensive types? Injured so heavily…"

Wang Qi took a few breaths, then said: "Lian Yichen introduced me to the sect, so naturally he's my teacher. But his betrayal has nothing to do with me, not one bit—you can't vent on me—bah?"

Within the great hall of the Luochen Sword Palace, under the witness of ancestral spirits of the Sword Palace's lineage, the culprit who caused a certain elder to defect thus spoke.