Rise of the Sword Son-in-Law

Chapter 211: Seeing Li Qingyi Again

"Master Qin Feng is preparing to leave the Refining Alliance?" Xu Ping’an had just walked out of the Heavenly Fire Refining Room when Master Yan Wu came up to him.

"Yes, I have some matters to attend to and plan to leave for a while," Xu Ping’an responded.

"In that case, I won’t keep you any longer. This is the Elder Token of the Refining Alliance, and I hope you will accept it. Don’t worry, it’s just a nominal position with no obligations."

Xu Ping’an glanced at the token and ultimately accepted it.

"Then, thank you, Alliance Hierarch Yan Wu." Xu Ping’an said and then left the Refining Alliance.

Yan Wu smiled without speaking, watching Xu Ping’an’s departing figure with a hint of a smile on his face.

Xu Ping’an didn’t know that Yan Wu had already seen through his disguise; at the moment, he was headed toward the Imperial Pavilion.

All participants in the Imperial Competition were arranged to stay at the Imperial Pavilion.

The Imperial Pavilion is a place specially used by the imperial family of the Imperial Capital to receive guests.

At the moment, the Imperial Pavilion was housing nearly two thousand people.

Most of these people were talents from various powers.

The Imperial Competition stipulated a total of two thousand participants.

The Imperial Competition is also known as the Holy Refinement of the Immortal Dynasty, a talent showcase of the entire Immortal Dynasty.

Because Tianlong County’s power is relatively weak, they only obtained five spots.

Some powerful counties got dozens of spots, or even more.

In addition, some second-rank sects and first-rank sects already possessed many spots, so having two thousand participants wasn’t surprising.

Just take the Imperial Academy for example, which alone secured a full three hundred spots.

The Holy Refinement of the Immortal Dynasty is a grand event that happens every three years in the Imperial Capital, especially important for those of ordinary origins or from smaller powers.

This would be an opportunity for them to leap through the dragon’s gate.

Even though only five people will enter the Jade Spirit Realm, as long as one performs exceptionally well in the Holy Refinement, they can still catch the attention of some major powers or powerful individuals.

So, many people work very hard even if they are not vying for the final spots.

Xu Ping’an, however, hadn’t given it much thought; his target had always been those few spots to enter the Jade Spirit Realm.

Of course, securing the top five would also come with generous rewards.

Soon, Xu Ping’an arrived at the Imperial Pavilion.

The Imperial Pavilion is vast; though called a pavilion, it is actually an enormous manor.

It could easily accommodate twenty thousand people, let alone two thousand.

At this moment, the Imperial Pavilion was guarded by the Long Yan Army, who exuded a powerful aura of iron-blooded resolve.

Not only were they individually strong, but their battle auras were also intense, clearly showing they had been through brutal combat.

Xu Ping’an had already reverted to his original appearance by this time.

In the Imperial Capital, even Shangguan Lingyu wouldn’t dare to touch him.

Once inside the Imperial Pavilion, Shangguan Lingyu would be even less able to do anything to him.

"Who goes there?" A soldier directly stopped Xu Ping’an and asked sternly.

"I am a disciple from the Beichen Sword Sect of Tianlong County, here to participate in the Holy Refinement of the Immortal Dynasty," Xu Ping’an replied calmly.

"A disciple participating in the Holy Refinement? Wait here," said the soldier in a cold voice.

Then he turned to a guard and said, "Inform the person in charge from Tianlong County to come and fetch him."

"Yes!" The guard quickly departed.

Xu Ping’an didn’t mind; the stricter the security, the better.

That way, Shangguan Lingyu would have an even harder time finding him.

Before long, the soldier returned with another person following him.

The Sect Leader?

Xu Ping’an hadn’t expected that the team leader from Tianlong County would be the Sect Leader of the Beichen Sword Sect, Dugu Tianyu.

"Sect Leader? You came personally?" Xu Ping’an asked in surprise.

"Hmm, there was nothing much happening at the sect, so I came myself. I thought you wouldn’t make it, but you showed up on the last day. Come on, let’s go inside. Qingyi has also arrived," Dugu Tianyu said to Xu Ping’an with a smile.

Dressed in white, his appearance was the epitome of refined elegance.

Xu Ping’an looked at Dugu Tianyu in surprise and asked with curiosity, "Has the Sect Leader advanced to the Sixth Rank?"

Dugu Tianyu was momentarily startled, but then he smiled.

This little guy is impressive.

He could actually discern my cultivation level?

Even some of the Sixth Rank Peak experts might not be able to perceive his cultivation level.

Yet Xu Ping’an merely took one look and discerned it, how could this not surprise him.

"Yes, I just broke through. Your cultivation is not bad either, have you reached the Fourth Rank?" queried Dugu Tianyu.

He also had a vague perception of Xu Ping’an’s cultivation level.

Without Xu Ping’an deploying his True Yuan, he could not sense Xu Ping’an’s true cultivation level.

"Yes, I have reached the Fourth Rank," Xu Ping’an nodded in confirmation.

Dugu Tianyu nodded, "Fourth Rank is not bad either."

Although this Holy Refinement event was basically attended by Fourth Rank talents,

there were even many Fifth Rank geniuses, yet Xu Ping’an, who came from a small place, still had much to catch up with those true geniuses in competition.

However, Dugu Tianyu didn’t really expect Xu Ping’an to achieve any notable ranking.

As long as he could enter the top five hundred, that would already be quite an accomplishment.

Xu Ping’an was unaware of Dugu Tianyu’s thoughts; if he knew, he would surely have mixed feelings of amusement and frustration.

Following this, Xu Ping’an entered the Imperial Pavilion under the guidance of Dugu Tianyu.

This time the guards of the Long Yan Army did not stop him, as Dugu Tianyu had personally come to fetch him, his identity was naturally not a problem.

Soon, Xu Ping’an was led by Dugu Tianyu to a very secluded courtyard.

Compared to those luxurious courtyards, the one for Xu Ping’an and his group seemed quite ordinary.

At this moment, in the courtyard, besides the two Elders from the Li Huo Sect and the Tyrant Body Sect, there were a few other participants from Tianlong County taking part in the Holy Refinement.

Situ Feng and Tang Yu from the Li Huo Sect.

Lei Hu from the Tyrant Body Sect.

And of course, Li Qingyi from their Beichen Sword Sect.

Xu Ping’an’s perception was extremely strong, and he was able to discern the cultivation levels of the few individuals at a glance.

Among them, Tang Yu had reached the strength of the Fifth Layer Realm, Fourth Rank; from his initial Peak of the Third Rank, Ninth Layer, it was a significant progress to have broken through to Fourth Rank Fifth Layer.

Lei Hu’s strength had also improved a lot, already having reached Fourth Rank Seventh Layer Realm.

Naturally, Situ Feng was even stronger, having attained the Fourth Rank Ninth Layer Realm.

But what surprised Xu Ping’an the most was Li Qingyi.

At this moment, Li Qingyi had already reached the Fifth Rank First Layer Realm.

And within her, Xu Ping’an could feel an extremely powerful scorching force.

This force was terrifyingly potent.

Li Qingyi was clad in an azure dress, looking as stunning as an ethereal fairy.

She seemed more mature and possessed an additional sharpness and readiness for slaughter compared to before.

Seeing Xu Ping’an, a faint smile also appeared on Li Qingyi’s face.

"You finally arrived; I thought you might not be able to make it," Li Qingyi said with a smile.

"Didn’t I tell you we’d meet in the capital? So naturally, I would come out. It seems you’ve gone through quite a bit in these three months?" Xu Ping’an said with a smile.

"Indeed, I have experienced much and found some opportunities," Li Qingyi said, still smiling.

"I guessed as much; otherwise, you wouldn’t have broken through to the Fifth Rank so quickly," Xu Ping’an replied with a smile.

As he spoke, the others revealed expressions of surprise.

Li Qingyi had reached the Fifth Rank?

Even Dugu Tianyu wore a face of astonishment.