CHAPTER 449 (1)

"You wretched wench, I’m here! Are you ready to die?"

With a thunderous shout, an overwhelming pressure descended upon Cold Water City.

Everyone in the city felt as if a great mountain was pressing down on them, their bodies involuntarily trembling under the weight. Those who had specifically come to witness the spectacle—be they at the Precelestial or Foundation Establishment stages—were utterly terrified.

They knew that Golden Core cultivators were immensely powerful, but they had not expected mere presence to be so terrifying.

Their limbs quivered, their spirits faltered. Just the slightest trace of this pressure could suppress an entire city. The might of the Golden Core Realm was truly well-deserved!

"So it really is a Golden Core cultivator."

In one of the private boxes, Lu Qing’s brows arched slightly as he felt the weight of the aura.

A gentle wave of energy emanated from him, enveloping Xiaoyan and Xiaoli to shield them from the oppressive force.

He then activated a Concealment Talisman, masking their presence. Taking Xiaoyan with him, he moved to the rooftop of the inn they were in.

The inn he had chosen was one of the most renowned establishments in Cold Water City. Its height made it one of the tallest structures in the city, second only to the grand icy palace at the city’s center—a perfect vantage point for spectating.

"Brother, that person sounds so fierce. Is there going to be a fight here?" Xiaoyan asked nervously, having heard the ferocious shout just moments before.

"Let’s wait and see. Maybe we’ll get to witness an interesting show," Lu Qing replied with a faint smile.

"Okay!"

Although the speaker had seemed quite intimidating, Xiaoyan felt no fear as long as her brother was by her side.

Besides, though the aura of the person in the sky was formidable, it was far weaker than that of the two intruders who had attacked their village before.

Reassured, Lu Qing turned his gaze toward the city center.

Hovering above the massive Cold Water Palace was a solitary figure standing in the air.

The powerful aura emanating from this figure pushed away the surrounding clouds and mist within several miles.

It was undoubtedly the individual that the nearby martial artists had been discussing: the master of the Everlasting Regret Sect.

However, Lu Qing was surprised to find that this person, clad in a crimson robe, radiated an air of nobility and confidence.

It seemed at odds with the sorrowful name "Everlasting Regret."

Given the sect’s name, Lu Qing had expected its leader to exude a melancholy aura.

Curious, Lu Qing activated his Spiritual Powers to inspect the figure.

As Lu Qing probed, the master of the Everlasting Regret Sect sneered coldly when there was no response from the Cold Water Palace below.

"Afraid to face me, are you? Then don’t blame me for being ruthless!"

With that, a flame appeared in his palm, rapidly condensing and compressing.

As the fire compressed, its color shifted from red to blue.

A powerful energy radiated from the flame, warming the icy city below.

The spectators trembled in awe and fear.

To think that a flame could raise the temperature of Cold Water City—it must possess unimaginable power!

"Wretched wench! If you refuse to come out, I’ll set Cold Water City ablaze and reduce the foundation of your Cold Water Palace to ashes!" the sect leader shouted coldly, holding the blue flame aloft.

"What?! Burn the city?!"

The crowd below erupted into panic.

No one doubted the sect leader’s capability to carry out his threat. Just the sight of the flame in his hand was enough to convey the terrifying power contained within it.

"That ruthless?" Lu Qing muttered in surprise.

However, what intrigued him more was the text that surfaced around the sect leader.

[Li Changbo: Sect Master of the Everlasting Regret Sect, cunning and unpredictable in nature.]

[Cultivation Level: Inferior-grade Golden Core, recently ascended.]

[Having forcibly refined numerous spirit stones to advance in a short time, his foundation is unstable and potential limited.]

[Possesses a damaged artifact capable of rapidly enhancing cultivation.]

[This challenge against the Cold Water Palace is ostensibly for avenging his wife and child, but he has ulterior motives.]

...

After skimming through the information, Lu Qing understood the situation.

"So it’s a pretense for revenge while pursuing some other objective."

The sect leader’s demeanor and appearance did not align with someone burdened by deep sorrow and hatred. As expected, there was more to the story.

However...

Lu Qing’s gaze lingered on one particular piece of information.

"Refined numerous spirit stones... So this guy has quite the stash of spirit stones, doesn’t he?"

A subtle glint flashed in Lu Qing’s eyes, though he did not act immediately.

He wanted to see how the Cold Water Palace, one of the Four Great Secret Realms, would respond to such blatant provocation.

Amidst the city’s panic, a calm, icy voice finally emanated from the grand icy palace.

"Li Changbo, must you press so aggressively?"

Hearing this, Lu Qing raised an eyebrow. "The palace master of the Cold Water Palace is a woman? And judging by her voice, she doesn’t sound like an old lady."

Of course, Lu Qing knew better than to judge age by voice alone.

After all, for those who tread the path of cultivation, every major breakthrough could rejuvenate their body. Even turning back the clock was possible.

"Wretched wench, so you’ve finally decided to come out! I thought you’d hide forever in that dead ice palace of yours!" Li Changbo sneered.

The flame in his hand, however, did not dissipate.

"Li Changbo, you’ve broken through your barriers, braved tribulation, and attained the Golden Core Realm. That is indeed impressive.

"But there is no need for this challenge. My Cold Water Palace concedes."

Her tone was indifferent.

These words left the entire city in shock.

They hadn’t even begun to fight, and yet one of the Four Great Secret Realms, the Cold Water Palace, had already surrendered?

"Surrender? Do you think a simple concession will suffice? It won’t be that easy!"