Chapter 58: The Concept of Dragon Vein Cultivation, Visiting the Frigid Celestial Serpent-Dragon Realm and Acquiring the Celestial Serpent-Dragon Ascendancy Codex.
The vast sect.
All that, in the hand of Míng Huīrán.
However, she focused her gaze on Yang Wei. "You know," she said, a sly smile appearing on her lips, "I've been keeping an eye on you and your Dragon Vein Cultivation. It was the usual standard stuff, and naturally, I had zero interest. Well, that's until that mantra of yours, The Frog's Tale of the Living Blade, came into play."
Yang Wei raised an eyebrow, "You've been watching me?" he questioned.
Weird woman...
Míng Huīrán, blinking her eyes flirtatiously, replied, "Whatever do you mean? I never said that."
Yang Wei rolled his eyes, "Alright, whatever. Cut to the chase. How does all this help me forge a supreme dragon sword?"
Leaning in, Míng Huīrán divulged, "The fifth realm of Dragon Vein Cultivation - Dragon Spirit Confluence. Only a handful, including me, have reached it."
Nonchalant, Yang Wei stated, "Yeah, I already know that."
"But here's the kicker. Neither the first generation Matriarch nor the Third Matriarch made it to the fifth realm."
Yang Wei was surprised, "Wait, I assumed the three Matriarchs automatically had those spots."
Míng Huīrán, casually dismissing the sect with a finger, stepped closer in the empty multi-dimensional space, "That's the beauty of Dragon Vein Cultivation. The fifth realm isn't just about serendipity; it's about doing something worthy enough."
Explaining further, she revealed, "Every time the first and third Matriarchs attempted to reach the fifth realm, they were rejected by Senior Dragons, the very concept of Dragon Vein Cultivation."
Yang Wei queried, "Senior Dragons? What's that?"
Míng Huīrán nodded, closing the distance between their faces, "They exist beyond the Crystal River Mandala, out of sync with our current Tao Dimension, the Azure Tree. They inhabit the space between Semi-immortal realms and the Supreme Circle River of the Spirit-reaching Dragons."
Yang Wei, folding his arms, commented, "They sound formidable."
Turning abruptly, Míng Huīrán's glossy bob cut red hair danced around. "Indeed, they are," she affirmed, "and to truly break through to the fifth realm, you must do something worthy of their acknowledgment."
Yang Wei rubbed his chin, humming thoughtfully. "So, to get the ultimate dragon sword, I have to do something they'll acknowledge?" He glanced at Míng Huīrán, asking, "How exactly do I do that?"
Míng Huīrán grinned, "You already have."
"I have?"
She nodded, "Of all the cultivators who hit the fifth realm, none crafted a dragon sword like yours. It may not match up to Dragon Spirit Confluence wielders, but it's refined in its own way."
Yang Wei shrugged, "That's somewhat hard to believe."
With a wave of her hand, Míng Huīrán brought millions of dragon swords into existence.
They all glowed with a dark blue shade.
The deeper the shade of blue one's dragon sword is, the more condensed it is.
"By superior quality, I mean your sword, though not as powerful, stands out due to the intent behind it. While others make countless swords, yours is truly one in a million. No number of spirit-refinement can easily change that."
Yang Wei nodded confidently, "Yes, yes. I am impressive."
"*chuckle* You have no idea."
She snapped her fingers, and suddenly, they were standing at the peak of a mountain. What unfolded before them was an endless expanse of nature – trees, bushes, rivers, streams, and various animals. It was pure, untouched nature. The mountain, Míng Huīrán, and Yang Wei stood atop felt like it reached beyond even the white clouds in the sky.
Yang Wei, picking his ear, asked, "Where are we now?"
"Frigid Celestial Serpent-Dragon Realm."
"Do all these names have to be ridiculously long?"
"Nevermind. *chuckle* This is where the Senior Dragons reside."
Yang Wei, scratching his head, queried, "So, what's the plan?"
"You're meeting them, then getting tips for that supreme dragon sword."
"Still though... *eyebrow raise* Why're you helping me? Doesn't this world love female superiority?"
Míng Huīrán nodded, "True, but the Senior Dragons made the call, not me. Not that I wouldn't, but Liáng Xīnyuè would pinch my fragile cheeks until they tore." She then sadly rubbed her cheeks, as if recalling all the times they'd been violently pinched by her.
Míng Huīrán conjured a small red cyclone in her palm, then shot it forward.
It transformed into a red scroll adorned with dragons, tied together by a golden rope.
Yang Wei quipped, "Is this supposed to help me cultivate the supreme sword?" The scroll floated toward him, and he grabbed it.
Míng Huīrán explained, "It depends on your discussion with the Senior Dragons, whenever that may be." Pointing at the scroll, she told him, "That's the Celestial Serpent-Dragon Ascendancy Codex, a sacred manual from the Celestial Serpent Sect. It has three celestial illustrations guide you to elevate your mastery of the dragon sword."
Yang Wei examined the scroll, realizing, "So, this is the missing key."
"Somewhat. However, to those at the ninth level of the Mortal Realm, this scripture promises transcendence, one beyond mere excellence."
"So, what's next?"
Míng Huīrán playfully knocked her head, saying, "Tee-hee, I leave now. Senior Yàndiān is furious with me, so if there's a possibility they'll come now, I don't want to be here." She vanished into a red spark.
Yang Wei sighed, "Great."
Examining the scroll, he tried to open it but failed.
"Hmm. Well, I likely can't open it for one of two reasons. Either because I haven't reached the ninth level of Mortal Realm, or more likely, I haven't met the Senior Dragons." Surveying the vast space, he concluded, "No way I'll find my way unless I use [Spatial Magic] to alter the properties of this place and navigate to the dragons."
Yang Wei formed a transparent cuboid.
It rapidly rotated and stretched to touch every corner of the endless realm.
However, Qi and magic rejected each other, and suddenly, he opened his eyes.
He was once again seated on a boulder, while Wu Fengtian skipped rocks on a stream.
As if nothing had happened.
However, resting in his lap, was the Celestial Serpent-Dragon Ascendancy Codex, one of the foundational inheritances of the Celestial Serpent Sect—an Ancient Sect that even the great Dragon Blossom Sect is a derivative of.
Hmm, I'm slow-witted... I tried to use basic magic to alter profound Qi in a place like that. I thought it'd work, but it seems that place is superior to my magic in more ways than one. I should've used [True Magic].
Yang Wei rubbed his chin as he thought.
Still, I have the manual, so that means I can still go back there... But, that'll be when I meet the goal.
Smiling, Yang Wei stood up from his lotus position and slotted the scroll into his robes. "Weasel," he called to Wu Fengtian.
"Yes, Senior Brother?!"
Wu Fengtian answered so enthusiastically, like he hadn't just been called a "weasel" seconds ago.
"Is there a better place with dense spiritual energy that'll make my cultivation progress even faster?"
"We could always try the Serpent's Spire, but that place is quite dangerous. *chuckle* Only a fool ready to face death would go there unprepared."
Yang Wei stepped down from the boulder. "We're heading there," he said.
Wu Fengtian's expression turned blank.
"Eh?"