After cleaning up the battlefield, Ling Changqing began searching for his next target and repeated the process.
These Quasi rank Three Demon Beasts were no longer much of a challenge for Ling Changqing; he could take one down in just a few monts.
Moreover, large quantities of Second and Third Rank Spirit dicines grew by the edge of the Cold Pool, all of which he collected as part of his haul.
Ling Changqing stayed for a day and a night, leaving contentedly only after he had killed nearly sixty percent of the Fierce Beasts in the Cold Pool.
By the ti he returned in fifty years, the Fierce Beast population here would have recovered to its previous size.
「The next morning, on a vast and boundless prairie.」
Amidst furious roars, a large pack of lizard-like Fierce Beasts frantically chased a male Cultivator who was fleeing on a Flying Sword.
The Cultivator held a net bag shimring with Spiritual Light, and inside was a large, bowl-sized egg covered in golden specks and patterns.
The egg had been laid by their pack’s Beast King, which was why they were so enraged.
Ling Changqing hovered dozens of feet in the air. As the creatures couldn’t fly, there was nothing they could do to him but run fruitlessly in his wake.
Behind the stampeding pack, ten tall and burly Daoist Soldier Puppets silently trailed, brandishing their Heavy Swords and picking off any Fierce Beasts that fell behind.
A single combined strike from them was enough to take down a Fierce Beast, while Ling Changqing led the pack in circles, holding their attention and steadily draining their stamina.
As ti went on, the Fierce Beasts fell one after another, and the pack’s numbers dwindled.
Over an hour later, with the death of the last, grievously wounded Beast King, Ling Changqing finally descended to the ground and began to clean up the battlefield.
These creatures all had Inner Cores that could be taken and sacrificed to Gong Ling in exchange for Lifespan. Their lair also contained so rare, local Spirit dicines.
「On the morning of the third day, Ling Changqing arrived in a region of rugged hills.」
This area was ho to a species of Spiritual Bird resembling a golden eagle. Adults had a wingspan of over twenty feet and were extrely fierce and formidable, classifying them as Peak Second Rank beasts.
This ti, Ling Changqing used the Daoist Soldier Puppets to draw their attention while he snuck into their nests to plunder them.
He took everything: nurous eggs, hatchlings with their eyes still shut, and all the Spirit dicines and Treasures the birds had collected.
At the cost of ten destroyed Heavy Armor Puppets, Ling Changqing completely ransacked the Spiritual Birds’ nests and casually made his escape.
Ling Changqing spent the next month in a constant flurry of activity, emptying the lairs of one local beast after another.
He did encounter Cultivators from other Noble Families during this ti, but because he had altered his build and appearance, they never recognized him on sight, and he always managed to slip away.
「Finally, the day ca for Dragon Soul Valley to close.」
As early as three days before, the Cultivators still alive in the valley had already begun flocking to the entrance.
After all, if they missed this opportunity, they would have to wait another fifty years.
However, no Cultivator had ever successfully survived alone in Dragon Soul Valley for fifty years; they always died from one accident or another.
With Gong Ling’s help, Ling Changqing changed his appearance once more, then approached the exit while invisible.
"...Will this really not raise their alarm?"
Ling Changqing asked apprehensively.
After all, every ti soone passed through the Spatial Transmission Gate, it inevitably created fluctuations of Magical Power that were impossible to conceal.
"Relax. With so many Cultivators coming and going, who’s going to notice one invisible person?" Gong Ling said dismissively.
Ling Changqing considered her point and agreed, so he stopped worrying about it.
Just then, a group of Female Cultivators from the Liu Ying Clan flew over on their Flying Swords. Their pace was slow, as soone in their group was injured.
Ling Changqing took the opportunity to blend in with their group and head toward the Spatial Transmission Gate.
He felt a slight spatial tug, and before he could react, the vast, pristine blue heavens outside Dragon Soul Valley filled his vision.
Of course, he was still completely invisible. Even the Elders from the various families standing guard nearby didn’t notice a thing.
The Cultivators didn’t linger after exiting the gate, heading straight for their respective family encampnts. Stewards ca forward to receive them, and after their identities were verified, they were allowed into the camps to rest.
Ling Changqing hesitated for a mont, then began walking toward the Dragon Race Cultivator’s encampnt.
’I want to see the mother and daughter, Bai Qingyi and Luo Qingxuan, again,’ he thought, ’even if it’s just a glance from afar.’
’After all, for my own safety, once I leave this ti, it will likely be many years before we et again.’
"Don’t go. You should leave now!"
Gong Ling’s voice rang out. "There’s more than one Nascent Soul True Monarch presiding here now. If we linger, I can’t guarantee your safety."
She could already faintly sense that in addition to the experts from the ten major powers, there were other terrifying, unknown auras secretly observing the area.
Even with the profound power of the Era Star Palace, it would be difficult to conceal its own existence for long, let alone protect Ling Changqing.
"Fine. We’ll do it your way."
Ling Changqing agreed. His safety and that of the Era Star Palace were the top priority.
’Anyone who can reach the level of a Nascent Soul True Monarch must have so special tricks up their sleeve,’ he reasoned. ’If things go south, they might see through my disguise. Then I’ll never be able to leave.’
In the blink of an eye, Ling Changqing’s vision shifted once more. When it stabilized, he found himself thousands of miles away, hovering over the sea.
The sea and sky were calm, the ink-blue ocean below as smooth as a mirror. Above, white clouds drifted across a blue sky, and occasionally, a large bird of prey would streak across the horizon.
"I can’t linger here. I should hurry back to the Feiyu Sea Region," Ling Changqing muttered, taking out his Top grade Spiritual Treasure Flying Boat.
After getting his bearings, he steered the Flying Ship into the distance, quickly disappearing over the horizon.
anwhile, back at Dragon Soul Valley, Luo Qingxuan stood with her fellow princesses at the entrance to their encampnt, her eyes fixed on the distant transmission gate.
Cultivators erged from it from ti to ti. So were injured, so looked exhausted, while a few were visibly excited, having likely stumbled upon so great opportunity within the valley.
Before they knew it, the gate’s closing ti was drawing near, and the stream of Cultivators erging from it had dwindled to a trickle.
"...Where is our husband? Why isn’t he out yet?"
Luo Qingning, an innocent-looking girl in gorgeous robes, couldn’t help but ask.
The Dragon Race leadership had already decided that all the sisters would serve Ling Changqing, so as to counterbalance the influence of the female Cultivators from the other Nine Great Families.
Thus, Luo Qingning already considered Ling Changqing her Dao Companion, so it was only natural for her to call him her husband.
Luo Qingxuan’s expression was grave. "It’s so late. He should be out by now, shouldn’t he?"
The Dragon Princesses were all on edge, and the female Cultivators from the other Noble Families felt no better; after all, they too were destined to serve Ling Changqing.
A mont later, the Yu Yalan sisters, Mu Yunxiu, and Liu Ying ng Luan all gathered closer, unable to stay away.
The beauties from the ten great powers gathered together, their anxious eyes fixed on the distant Light Gate.
"...There’s only a quarter of an hour left!"
Tang Qingwan suddenly murmured.
The won’s faces grew heavy, and even the expressions of the old-tirs from their families turned serious. The atmosphere beca tense and oppressive.
If Ling Changqing had truly fallen inside Dragon Soul Valley, it would be a blunder of epic proportions.
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