Myriad Dragon Divine Sovereign

Jinfeng Ancient Country wasn’t too far from Qixuan Country, but it wasn’t close either.

At this moment, inside a dense forest, a massive blue python was slithering forward at high speed. The sheer force of its presence sent trees in its path flying and splintering apart. Atop its head stood a person.

It was none other than the Ice Python and Wen Qingye.

The Ice Python asked, ”How much longer until we reach the Imperial City of Jinfeng Ancient Country?”

”Soon. We should be there by tomorrow,” Wen Qingye replied, his gaze fixed ahead. Layers of Gang Wind passed through his body, flowing off to either side.

The Ice Python continued to press forward. An unknown amount of time passed.

Suddenly, Wen Qingye caught the scent of roasting meat wafting through the air.

”There’s an expert up ahead!” the Ice Python said hurriedly, its body coming to a halt.

Wen Qingye nodded. A brilliant light suddenly erupted from his eyes, and the situation several miles away became perfectly clear to him.

’It’s him!’ Wen Qingye couldn’t help but smile.

...

”Haha, this Huayuan Tiger meat is really something else! It’s not tough like regular tiger meat. Interesting,” the Playful Monk said with delight. He took a bite of meat from the rack, then picked up his wine.

”Hm?” The Playful Monk’s eyes shot toward the dense woods in the distance. Seeing the newcomer, he grinned and said, ”Hehe, it’s you, kid. You’re not here to steal my meat, are you?”

”Buddhist monks are supposed to have renounced the material world,” Wen Qingye said, gesturing toward the Playful Monk’s wine and meat.

The Playful Monk’s lips split into a wide grin. He took a swig of wine and said, ”Hehe, I cultivate the mind, not the body.”

Wen Qingye nodded and slowly sat down next to the Playful Monk. Seeing this, the monk quickly pulled the Huayuan Tiger meat closer to himself and eyed Wen Qingye warily. ”Hehe, I don’t usually share my things with others.”

Wen Qingye gave a faint smile and said, ”I don’t want any.”

The Playful Monk nodded and said between bites, ”Hehe, of all the people at the Celestial Profound Sect, you’re the only one I found easy on the eyes, kid. Not like those old fossils. Your Celestial Profound Sect is way too stingy.”

Wen Qingye didn’t say anything, just maintained his faint smile.

”Haha, aren’t you going to ask me why I said that?” the Playful Monk asked, putting down his food and wine to look at Wen Qingye.

Wen Qingye’s eyes narrowed slightly as he smiled. ”If you want to tell me, you’ll do so without me asking. If you don’t want to tell me, you won’t, even if I ask. Isn’t that right?”

The Playful Monk roared with laughter. ”Hahaha, you’re right! You’re a good kid, and I like the cut of your jib. How about you come with me to Baoling Temple? With me there, I can make you a True Disciple on the spot.”

A True Disciple is the hope of a Sect. To put it another way, the future Sect Leader is chosen from among the True Disciples. Even if a True Disciple fails in the selection, within the Celestial Profound Sect, they would still become a Peak Master or an Elder.

Wen Qingye shook his head and refused. ”No, thank you. I’m not interested in the Buddhist Sect’s Martial Arts or scriptures.”

”Hehe, kid, I can see you have a natural aptitude for Buddhism. When you can no longer stand it at the Celestial Profound Sect, come find me.” The Playful Monk then had another thought. ”No, that won’t work. I’m usually not at Baoling Temple. Just mention my name when you get there.”

”Alright,” Wen Qingye nodded, finding the Playful Monk before him to be quite an interesting character.

The Playful Monk seemed to remember something. He put down his food and wine and said indignantly, ”Hehe, come on, you be the judge. I traveled thousands of miles to this Celestial Profound Mountain Domain just to see that Azure Dragon Scale of your Celestial Profound Sect. I even offered up my own Supreme Treasure! Forget the fact that the Peak Master of your sect’s Chaotian Peak didn’t even come out to greet me, he actually had people drive me away! Tell me, aren’t the people of your Celestial Profound Sect in the wrong?”

’Azure Dragon Scale?’ Wen Qingye’s heart stirred, but his expression remained unchanged.

The Azure Dragon. Legend says it was born from Chaos and vanished in ancient times. Very few had ever seen an Azure Dragon, but among the Dragon Race, the Azure Dragon possessed, without a doubt, the most supreme bloodline.

To be honest, Wen Qingye had never seen an Azure Dragon himself. He had only heard many tales about them. Back then, the most powerful of the Dragon Race in the entire Immortal Realm was merely the Three-Clawed Golden Dragon, whose strength was on par with Wen Qingye’s at the time—terrifyingly powerful.

As for the Azure Dragon, it was an existence several tiers higher than even the Three-Clawed Golden Dragon. Wen Qingye couldn’t help but feel a tremor of shock in his heart.

”Haha, perhaps you juniors don’t know about this Azure Dragon Scale?” the Playful Monk continued, picking up his food and wine again and explaining between bites. ”Do you know about the Azure Dragon? According to legend, it’s one of the Four Spirits born at the dawn of Chaos, the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Dragons! Nowadays, you can’t even find a single jiao in the entire Eastern Profound Domain, let alone a true dragon. Just imagine how powerful this Azure Dragon must be.”

”Hehe, but for some reason, along with the three Dragon Scales circulating in the Eastern Profound Domain, there’s also a legend.” As he spoke, the Playful Monk suddenly became somewhat serious. ”It’s said that if you gather all the Dragon Scales, you can transform into the Azure Dragon Body and directly Shatter the Void.”

Hearing this, Wen Qingye’s body jolted, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

’In this world, could such a momentous treasure truly exist?’

’First, there was the Supreme Fire Source Seed and the Qilin Fire, and now this legend of the Azure Dragon. In my past life, any one of these would have been a heaven-sent opportunity. But in that life, my only real opportunity was probably meeting that person.’

’It seems the Dragon Scale I have in my possession is an Azure Dragon Scale,’ Wen Qingye thought to himself.

The Playful Monk wiped the grease from his mouth with his hand and chuckled. ”Hehe, this legend is already a few thousand years old. The Taiyi Pavilion has one Dragon Scale, and your Celestial Profound Sect has one as well. Another one appeared in the Thousand Nether Valley in recent decades, but it seems a traitor appeared and took the Dragon Scale, disappearing to who knows where.”

”You came here this time just to see the Dragon Scale, didn’t you?” Wen Qingye asked after a moment’s thought.

The Playful Monk threw his head back and exclaimed, ”Haha, of course! Why else would I come to this backwater Celestial Profound Mountain Domain of yours? But the people from your Celestial Profound Sect are too stingy! They wouldn’t even let me take a single look.”

Wen Qingye asked, ”Then why don’t you go to the Taiyi Pavilion?”

For some reason, a muscle in the Playful Monk’s face twitched a few times. He laughed it off, saying, ”Haha, the people from Taiyi Pavilion are too bizarre. It’s better not to go. That Sect isn’t simple.”

”Why is that?” Wen Qingye asked.

The Playful Monk spoke while eating, smacking his lips. ”Hehe, I’m not sure myself. Anyway, that Sect isn’t simple.”

”Mmm, this Huayuan Tiger meat really is delicious. I’ll have to roast a few more next time,” the Playful Monk said, licking his fingers with a look of utter enjoyment.

After finishing his meal, the Playful Monk stood up. He looked to the east and said, ”Hehe, I heard the Taiyi Pavilion has produced another peerless genius who’s already ranked 170th on the Cyan Cloud List. And it’s a woman, apparently. How interesting. I should head back to my Baoling Temple to check on the younger generation. The Great Wilderness Ancient Stele is about to appear, so it’s a good time to go and urge them on.”

”The Cyan Cloud List?” Wen Qingye asked, looking at the Playful Monk with some curiosity.

”Hehe, you don’t know about the Cyan Cloud List?” The Playful Monk’s right hand was covered in grease, which he wiped nonchalantly on his robes before grinning. ”It’s a ranking of the entire Eastern Profound Domain’s younger generation. It’s based on your age, cultivation, and achievements. To put it simply, it ranks you based on your future prospects.”

”A person’s potential can be developed. A genius can become mediocre, and the mediocre may one day become powerful,” Wen Qingye said with a smile.

The Playful Monk gave Wen Qingye a surprised look, then nodded seriously. ”Ha, you’re right about that, kid.”

Wen Qingye smiled faintly as he began to think about the Cyan Cloud List. ’It seems this list isn’t based on cultivation alone, but a combination of cultivation, age, and achievements. That means the rankings of the younger generation on this list are the real deal, without any room for fakes.’

”Hahaha, alright, kid. If fate wills it, we’ll meet again. This monk is off!”

After speaking, the Playful Monk’s body transformed into a streak of light and shot off into the distance.

Wen Qingye smiled and shook his head. Baoling Temple wasn’t far from the Glazed Ancient Country. The Playful Monk was heading back now, while the other disciples from Baoling Temple hadn’t left yet. Still, with the Playful Monk returning, Wen Qingye couldn’t help but worry for the young monks of Baoling Temple.