Chapter 617
Attracting Attention from All Sides
Chapter 617 Attention from All Sides
Old Furnace was very pleased. Its journey to Night State had not been in vain. Mingzi's performance after arriving was remarkable. It commented, "Guardian of the Way."
"What?" Qin Ming realized that Old Furnace wasn't aloof at all anymore; he was even somewhat like he used to be.
He smiled and said, "Senior Lu, if you can talk, say a few more words."
Back then, the Eight Trigrams Furnace only responded to Li Qingyue and rarely communicated with others. Compared to the Mysterious Maiden Heavenly Halberd in Jiang Ran's hand, it was quite taciturn.
Old Furnace was helpless. Mingzi's breakthrough was too fast. It estimated that if this continued and it didn't speak up, the "Old" character would be cut off and it would become "Little Furnace".
Qin Ming and Li Qingyue, surrounded by celestial light, prepared to pass through a small mist gate to the new secret realm.
Two maids from the furnace palace were also present, their eyes filled with awe and reverence. Outsiders all said that Fairy Li had met the wrong person when she was young, but only the two women knew how absurd that was.
The fact that both of them had the good fortune to consume the rare Golden Flame Flower would surely cause a huge sensation if word got out.
"Young master and young lady, you are truly a match made in heaven."
The two women expressed their heartfelt admiration as they saw them off.
They were excited and couldn't hide their joy. The young master's identity was about to be revealed, which was destined to shock everyone in the outside world.
The two of them had known the truth for a long time.
"Is Fairy Li here?" Someone actually came to visit in front of the furnace, and it was a group of people who were in a hurry.
"What brings you here?" Old Furnace teleported. At this hour, people still came to the door. Did they intend to intercept Qin Ming and Li Qingyue's journey?
"Greetings, Senior Lu! Please don't misunderstand." The group bowed deeply, then quickly explained that they wanted to become Li Qingyue's followers.
Qin Ming looked back, passing through layers of palaces, and sensed the condition of that group of people. They were all young, travel-worn, but very excited.
Li Qingyue was also surprised. She had been in Luque for almost three years and had never encountered so many followers visiting her.
Because she had never recruited.
She transmitted her voice, "Is there some misunderstanding among you all?"
The young man at the head of the group spoke up: "Fairy Li is peerless and independent, like the divine moon in the sky. We have long admired her and have come here today to follow her. We wish to enter the secret realm with you and help you seize the opportunity."
These people...aren't they being a bit too forward?
Even the two maids felt something was amiss. Could it be that the young master's "great achievements" had already been exposed and known to all parties in advance?
A group of people entered the furnace palace, some of them anxious, and pleaded to be followed.
The old furnace, suspended in mid-air, shimmered with eight different colored golden lights, and said, "Did you all come here to curry favor with a powerful figure at the last minute?"
Li Qingyue, with her long, black hair reaching her waist, stood gracefully. Her flawless, fair face was filled with apology as she said, "I'm sorry, everyone, I have never recruited followers."
“We don’t want any payment!” a young woman said urgently.
The two maids exclaimed in amazement at the great charm of the young master and young lady.
Qin Ming resonated with the truth and instantly knew it.
Their emotions fluctuate wildly, and they have no secrets.
Qin Ming remained silent. This group of people had come to "watch the drama unfold," and were not serious followers at all.
They came from the neighboring Bagua City. Hearing that the core saints would be personally visiting the secret realm, which was destined to cause a great upheaval, a group of people wanted to go and watch the battle.
Qin Ming thought to himself: You guys really are worthy of being disciples of the Bagua Dojo, are you all so gossipy?
Someone spoke up: "Fairy Li, how about this? We're willing to give you the gold in return, in exchange for just one temporary follower spot."
"This is possible?!" The two maids stared in disbelief.
"Paying out of pocket?" Old Lu was stunned.
Qin Ming remained silent; these people were really going all out to watch the game.
"To be honest, we want to see the Saints battle that mysterious figure." Someone revealed the truth; time was running out, and they were running out of time.
"Even if the mysterious figure is quickly defeated by Lu Xunzhen, Wang Pan and others, I think the top saints will still fight each other. After all, they have already entered the arena, and we are looking forward to it."
They were eager to witness a fierce battle, convinced that this journey to the secret realm would inevitably ignite the most intense clash between saints in nearly two years.
"You bunch of kids..." Old Lu didn't know how to comment.
It asked, "Are there no spots left at the Bagua Dojo?"
Someone responded, "There are no seats left."
After much deliberation, they concluded that perhaps only Li Qingyue, who had withdrawn from the conflict, still had a spot available, so they flocked there in droves.
Just then, a voice called out again from outside the furnace: "Fairy Qingyue, we are willing to follow you."
"Wow, there's competition here?"
Another group of people arrived, and after meeting the people from the Bagua Dojo, they looked at each other in bewilderment.
Undoubtedly, many popular dojos are completely packed with people.
"I'll offer 1,500 gold coins!"
"I'll offer two thousand gold coins!"
……
A group of people actually started bidding on the spot, and it was quite intense.
The two maids were stunned, hardly believing that someone was rushing to give them money.
The furnace palace is usually deserted, but today it has become a hot spot, with three groups of people arriving one after another.
Old Furnace said, "This money... if we don't make it, we'll be wasting our time."
Qin Ming agreed, because someone had already bid up to three thousand gold coins.
Moreover, he already knew the identities of these people, ranging from the "fourth generation" to the "ninth generation," and that each of them had a living ancestor or earth immortal in their family.
These young people all came from prominent backgrounds and belonged to the "noble" class; otherwise, they wouldn't have had the money and leisure to insist on entering the secret realm to witness the battle between dragons and tigers.
Their own strength is also quite remarkable, some are even "martial arts fanatics", which is one of the important reasons why they want to watch the top saints compete.
“There are only twelve spots available,” Li Qingyue said with a smile. Although she was naturally beautiful and had an ethereal temperament, she was quite down-to-earth and would never be pedantic enough to refuse.
Ultimately, even the lowest-priced spot was bid up to 5,000 gold coins, and in the end, the last follower spot was priced as high as 30,000 gold coins.
This is a "follower fee" paid by a grandmaster who arrived at the last minute.
He is not yet forty-five years old, and he broke through to the fifth realm half a year ago. He deserves the title of a genius. Observing the decisive battle of the grandmaster-level saints will surely be of great benefit to him.
Before leaving, Li Qingyue had unexpectedly made such a considerable gain.
Qin Ming was lost in thought. Back when he was still in the third or fourth realm, so much Day Gold would have been a huge sum of money for him.
Li Qingyue smiled slightly and emphasized that the quota was only valid for this secret realm.
“Of course.” Some people nodded. After dealing with the mysterious person’s troubles, Lu Xunzhen, Yun Wangshu, Qi Lin and others would definitely not come in person when the new secret realm opened again.
In that case, they would lose interest in watching the game.
"Have you prepared enough memory crystals?" some people asked privately.
"Of course, although the admission fee is expensive this time, we shouldn't lose money!"
Clearly, there are no suckers here.
"What? Fairy Li, you're going into the secret realm this time too?"
"Let's make this clear first, this time we'll pay you the price instead. Although we'll be your followers in name only, we'll never do anything for you, otherwise it would be too unfair."
"Yes, we will not participate in the war, there is no room for discussion!" The descendant of the Earth Immortal spoke with unwavering resolve.
The main reason is that they are afraid of being implicated and suffering heavy losses.
Everyone knows that although Fairy Li Qingyue has excellent comprehension, her cultivation is insufficient. Following her to risk your life and compete for the creation of materials is just asking for trouble and being tortured.
Old Furnace spoke slowly, saying, "You really don't think much of the people of Furnace Palace?"
A young man coughed and said, "Senior Lu, you see, we can't just spend our time and money only to go in and get beaten up, can we?"
They wanted to draw a clear line to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
Even more remarkably, a sixth-generation descendant of a celestial being had prepared a large banner in advance, inscribed with the words: "Observation Group, Untainted by Karma."
His main concern was encountering that mysterious person, whom he had already heard was mentally ill and would attack anyone he encountered. This was essentially revealing his identity in advance.
Another person spoke up: "It's alright. With all the saints present this time, that person won't be able to cause any trouble."
Old Lu remained silent, while Li Qingyue smiled with her lips pursed.
Qin Ming said, "Let's go, we should get going, or we'll be late."
"Is this the person that Fairy Li was fond of when she was young? You know what, he is indeed as handsome as the rumors say, like a banished immortal."
A group of people looked at Qin Ming, and the young women among them had their eyes shining with admiration. They went from questioning Li Qingyue to understanding her a little. Such... divine beauty does seem to be able to put food on the table.
"Besides his good looks, what else does he have?" another man whispered sourly.
"What a pity for Fairy Li. She is stunningly beautiful, and with her current status, she is breathtakingly gorgeous. Why can't she let go of the past? In the end, it was a mistake in her youth that ruined her life." Someone sighed, feeling sorry for Li Qingyue and thinking that her choice was really not worth it.
Of course, such remarks are limited to private conversations.
Qin Ming naturally agreed, but he was too lazy to say anything more at the moment.
……
At the Liuying Shuangxu Ruins, a small crack has just opened in the deep void, only two fingers wide, and it is not yet safe to enter.
In an instant, the light was dazzling, and the rich spiritual energy wafted over, making everyone feel refreshed.
This place possesses extraordinary potential, but it has remained untouched for many years.
"This ancient site has finally reappeared, and the saints will be personally involved. I can't wait!"
Some people who were unable to enter the secret realm rushed to the entrance, hoping to get the news as soon as possible.
Moreover, by staying here, they can see the group of fifteen enter and leave, and witness their final state.
"A storm is brewing!"
"Today will surely witness an epic battle among the younger generation!"
Outside the ruins, a dense crowd of people, even more eager than the group of fifteen, had been waiting there since early morning.
Some martial arts enthusiasts were eager to get their hands dirty and wanted to take part in the competition themselves, but unfortunately, they had failed in their early attempts to become saints and were not qualified to enter.
Suddenly, someone exclaimed, "Wang Pan of the Xuandu Sect has arrived!"
"As expected, the core saints have come in person!"
"A peerless young master has only just appeared, why is my heart already racing? I can't wait to see him."
Outside the ruins of Liuying Shuangxu, a commotion arose as many people looked toward the pedestrians.
Wang Pan, as rumored, was quite aloof and remained silent throughout. Even when acquaintances or fellow disciples greeted him, he only nodded slightly.
A faint mist of immortal energy swirled around him, and mysterious Dao patterns intertwined in his eyes. He swept his gaze over the crowd, then looked towards the ruins, waiting for the void rift to fully expand. "Thinking back, there hasn't been a grand battle between saints in the last two years, has there? I hope this time there will be a memorable scene, one that will be worth remembering for many years to come."
"Everyone, once you're inside, make good use of the memory crystals to record all the battle scenes from every angle. They'll definitely fetch a high price."
In the distance, light rained down, and another saint came to the outside of the ruins through a small mist gate. The group attracted a lot of attention, because the ugly ones were really ugly, and the bright ones were too outstanding.
"It's Fairy Yun Wangshu from the Great Crimson Heaven Dojo!"
A thin mist enveloped Yun Wangshu, making her appear somewhat hazy. Her skin was clear and radiant, emitting a faint glow, like a goddess bathed in moonlight. Her long, black hair cascaded down to her waist, and her eyes sparkled with a captivating allure when she smiled.
Beside her stood a man with a formidable aura, walking alongside her. He was none other than the legendary peerless young powerhouse, a saint from afar.
His name is Zhen Gui, and his smile is as warm as the sun. One of the conditions for him to help is that he can pursue Yun Wangshu.
Ahead of Yun Wangshu and Zhen Gui, a Grandmaster-level three-headed dog led the way. Its enormous body was awe-inspiring. This powerful figure had not entered the secret realm last time.
Clearly, this time the core saints have brought all the experts around them with them.
"Fairy Yun Wangshu has amazing charm, attracting saints from distant dojos to her side. Zhen Gui has a warm smile and is so strong. Isn't he a hundred times better than that gigolo who ruined Fairy Qingyue's life? Truly, different people have different fates."
"You know what, I really want to see what the man who lives in the furnace palace looks like. Once this matter is settled, I'll pay him a visit."
As everyone was discussing, a streak of light pierced the night sky, and Qin Ming and Li Qingyue arrived, accompanied by twelve paid followers.
"What's going on? That's... Fairy Li Qingyue! Why is she here? Wasn't she supposed to have stopped participating in the affairs of the secret realm long ago?"
"It has been a long time since I last saw her. The spiritual energy emanating from this Fairy Li is even more intense. In a daze, she seems like a celestial being descended to earth, a fairy from the moon palace descending to the mortal world. She is truly peerless in appearance, with skin as white as ice and bones as white as jade."
Many people were dazzled and lost in thought, while some even blurted out their innermost thoughts.
"If I were Lu Xunzhen, with his unparalleled skills, I wouldn't be able to resist wanting to subdue this woman."
After a moment, people shifted their gaze from Li Qingyue to the man beside her, mainly because he had been the subject of much discussion.
“Her appearance is truly outstanding; she’s absolutely gorgeous!” exclaimed a free-spirited woman.
"Who says Li Qingyue is shallow? If I had such a handsome childhood friend, I would also be obsessed with him and want to bring him to the rule of the Tushita Palace."
Clearly, opinions on Qin Ming are polarized.
However, many people are more concerned about why Li Qingyue is here too? She has been targeted many times, and even received personal "care" from the top saint Lu Xunzhen, so why does she dare to enter the secret realm?
What's most surprising is that she also assembled a full team, with all twelve spots filled by followers, including a grandmaster-level expert.
Then, something jaw-dropping happened.
The twelve followers suddenly "betrayed" the group, loudly explaining that they had no intention of fighting the other teams in the group of fifteen.
"We are a sightseeing group, using the spots of Fairy Li's followers to enter the secret realm and witness the unparalleled battle of the younger generation."
Some even raised large banners with the words "Untainted by Cause and Effect" written on them, along with a few lines of smaller notes.
"This will actually work?"
"Why not? Other teams also have people like us who pay to accompany them."
Immediately, everyone crowded at the entrance of the ruins was filled with regret. Had they known this would happen, they would have tried to find a way to enter the secret realm.
"Has the most mysterious and powerful figure arrived yet? Please show mercy and don't attack us one by one. We truly do not participate in the fighting, so please let us go when the time comes."
The man who raised the large flag shouted, and those around him nodded in agreement.
The people in the vicinity all felt that this team had no integrity.
Even Qin Ming and Li Qingyue were speechless for a while.
Li Qingyue smiled, wondering what expressions these people would have when they knew the true god was right beside them.
A dazzling rain of light fell, the void trembled, and another saint descended. He was dressed in white, quite refined, with an outstanding temperament, and his body was covered with interwoven Dao patterns.
Although he wore a faint smile, he stirred the hearts of many and made them feel his power.
"Lu Xunzhen of Daocheng!"
When they learned who had arrived, the area immediately erupted into chaos.
Lu Xunzhen, a top-tier saint, is extremely famous and aspires to become a Daoist master.
On either side of him stood a man and a woman, both of whom were very strong among the Grandmasters and were by no means ordinary fifth-realm experts.
"Those are Lu Xunzhen's senior brothers and sisters, and they're actually following him around!"
Someone recognized the couple and was immediately shocked.
"Lu Xunzhen's senior brother once competed with him for the position of Saint of Dao City!"
Immediately, the crowd erupted in uproar.
Is Daocheng's heritage really that profound?
Undoubtedly, Lu Xunzhen's senior brother was extremely powerful, and his senior sister was certainly no weakling either.
"It seems that Lu Xunzhen takes that mysterious person very seriously, and has even mobilized experts from his sect to guard against any unforeseen circumstances."
"After all, he not only has to fight the mysterious man, but also his old rival Qi Lin and others."
Lu Xunzhen turned his head to look at Li Qingyue, paused for a moment, and then his gaze fell on Qin Ming, staring at him carefully.
"Here it comes, is this going to be a famous scene? Once we enter the secret realm, a fight is bound to break out immediately."
"Fairy Li Qingyue shouldn't have come, and the man beside her was even more reckless. Isn't he just asking for trouble? How dare he show his face in this kind of situation?"
Some people whispered among themselves, while others, more astute, suddenly opened their eyes wide, their hearts pounding with shock, and immediately began to speculate.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" The rather dignified man beside Lu Xunzhen spoke, coldly surveying the crowd before glancing at Qin Ming.
He was Lu Xunzhen's senior brother, Wei Heng, who said in a detached tone, "Not everyone can be compared to a saint."
Clearly, he was somewhat dissatisfied. How could a gigolo be compared and discussed with the saints of Dao City?
Although Wei Heng failed to win the competition for the sainthood, his reputation was so great that it silenced many people.
Not everyone paid attention to his words. Not far away, divine light intertwined, and Zuo Qing, the core saint of the Bagua Daoist Temple, arrived. She had bright eyes and shoulder-length hair, which was considered short by comparison.
She looked dashing and quite neat, and said, "Is this the man who is good for nothing except being handsome? He is indeed much more handsome than Lu Xunzhen."
Not to mention bystanders, even her own followers silently opened their mouths, thinking: "Grandma, you've offended both sides with just one word."
Qin Ming glanced sideways; this female saint was truly...unrestrained in her speech.
"Zuo Qing!" Lu Xunzhen's white robes fluttered, his faint smile remained, but his voice turned cold. Who would dare to embarrass a top-tier saint in public? Only an opponent.
Zuo Qing ignored him and instead looked to the other side, saying, "Li Qingyue, you're actually smiling. Judging by appearances, are you also going to enter the secret realm?"
Li Qingyue rarely showed a playful side. With her bright eyes and white teeth, her radiant beauty dazzled many people. She smiled sweetly and said, "I'm just a sucker for good looks, so what?"
She was certainly not a shallow woman; she was merely making light of the situation while simultaneously handing Zuo Qing a knife.
Sure enough, Zuo Qing immediately spoke up: "Lu Xunzhen, what Li Qingyue means is that you are ugly!"
Lu Xunzhen's true feelings were: "Me!"
He almost lost his temper on the spot. There was competition among the saints, but did it have to be a public humiliation? His smile vanished, and he looked ahead coldly.
"Haha... Interesting!" someone laughed. Qi Lin from Decheng had arrived, dressed in black, with a tall and imposing figure and a very powerful aura.
He and Lu Xunzhen were very at odds, and there was a conflict between them regarding morality and ethics.
He said, "Li Qingyue, you should stay by my side. Once we enter the secret realm, I will ensure your safety, and Lu Xunzhen will never dare to make a move on you again."
Before Li Qingyue and Qin Ming could respond, a grand bell rang out: "Clang!"
The void rift expanded, from the width of a palm to the size of two large doors. Within the ruins of Liuying, mist and haze rose, a rich vitality permeating the air; it was now open to entry.
At this point, almost all of the fifteen members had arrived.
Has that madman arrived?
Where is the mysterious person?
Many people searched for him, hoping he would not be afraid of battle.
Those who had been severely injured by Qin Ming all sneered. The disciples of the saints personally stepped down to see how arrogant this man could still be.
"If he dares to come, he will surely be suppressed!"
"Beat them half to death first!"
After waiting for a short while, the fifteen-person groups entered the arena with their respective teams.
This time, they didn't immediately venture deeper, clearly they were lying in wait for the mysterious person.
"Li Qingyue, you really dare to come in?" Grandmaster Ye Lingchuan spoke from beside Lu Xunzhen. Half a month had passed, and his injuries had long since healed.
As he followed Lu Xunzhen, he naturally had to stand on the side of his employer in everything.
Not long ago, Lu Xunzhen lost face. As his follower, even if his words and actions were too extreme, he had to take the initiative to step forward.
With a whoosh, the twelve followers around Qin Ming and Li Qingyue immediately hid in the distance, clearly indicating their intention to sever ties, and they truly meant what they said.
Li Qingyue, graceful and elegant, hovered in mid-air, a faint smile on her face, ready to respond sharply.
Qin Ming took her slender, snow-white hand in his, and said in a gentle yet firm voice, "Since I am here, why do you need to speak? How can I allow those people to bother you?"
"You want to..." Ye Lingchuan had just opened his mouth when he saw a dazzling beam of light flying towards him. His scalp tingled, and he immediately teleported and fought back with all his might.
However, it was all too late; his efforts were in vain.
With a flick of Qin Ming's finger, the Primordial Myriad Thunder Seal bloomed, and with a loud bang, a blinding beam of light struck Grandmaster Ye Lingchuan, causing him to scream in agony. Blood splattered in the void, his body nearly severed, charred black, and he fell to the ground.
For a moment, all was silent.
The twelve people who had just severed ties with Li Qingyue and Qin Ming were completely bewildered.
People outside, seeing this scene clearly through the entrance, were all terrified.
"It really is you!" Lu Xunzhen looked over.
His senior brother, Wei Heng, moved. He took a step forward, shrinking the distance to an inch, making the distance of several thousand meters seem like just a short distance. He rushed towards Qin Ming and stretched out his large blue hand.
"Lower your head!" Qin Ming coldly rebuked.
As if his words were law, a golden symbol flew out of his mouth, obliterating the large blue hand and causing Wei Heng's body to tremble, making it difficult for him to raise his head, which was then slowly pressed down.
At the same time, a large bell appeared in front of Qin Ming, engraved with mysterious characters, which was the manifestation of the true meaning of the Heart Sutra.
In the past, Qin Ming used the Fuxin Bell to deal with the Great Sage Zhou Tian, causing the latter to lose his senses for a brief period of time.
With a hum, the Fuxin Bell disappeared, and when it reappeared, it had already enveloped Lu Xunzhen's senior brother, Wei Heng.
Qin Ming uttered only one word, clearly enunciated: "Kneel!"
"clang!"
Accompanied by the booming sound of the great bell, the entire night sky trembled, as if the bell waves were purifying and baptizing the world.
Wei Heng bent his knees, lowered his head, and with a thud, involuntarily knelt down before Qin Ming and Li Qingyue.
(End of this chapter)