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."

"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?"