琅琊榜海宴小说

Chapter 350 - Martial Library

Long Chen and Zhao Qingyun stood before the sacred pagoda.

“The Martial Library stores tens of thousands of martial techniques from the Yellow-tier up to the Heaven-tier. Defense techniques, attack techniques, body techniques, healing techniques, body tempering techniques can all be found here. They have been passed down in the Heavenly Demon Palace for over a thousand years, and I’ve read through most of them. I’ve got more experience in cultivating combat techniques, so if you don’t understand, you can ask me,” Zhao Qingyun said with a bit of pride in his tone.

Tens of thousands of combat techniques spanning over many levels and categories. It was clear that the Heavenly Demon Palace possessed great wealth; they even had Heaven-tier techniques at the very top of the Martial Library.

“The security around the Martial Library is extremely strict. In fact, the three Demon Elders’ residences are all less than five hundred meters from here, so the slightest commotion here will cause them to show up immediately. The three Demon Elders are indeed annoying sometimes, but it is undeniable that they have contributed greatly to the Heavenly Demon Palace,” Zhao Qingyun explained.

As he spoke, the bowing guards moved aside to let him take Long Chen up. Traceless Demon Shadow was located on the seventh floor.

Long Chen grew excited. He was about to receive a Heaven-tier combat technique.

Suddenly, footsteps could be heard from behind. Long Chen and Zhao Qingyun turned around and saw that the elders were approaching, along with two people leading in front. One of them was the short but fierce Third Demon Elder, along with a muscular teenager who was standing respectfully behind him.

This teenager was more than two meters tall and was covered in solid muscles and tan skin. There was a hint of viciousness in his eyes; he gave Long Chen the same feeling as the Heavenly Wolf Gang. They were all brutish, violent people.

In terms of looks, the Third Demon Elder looked comical standing in front of the muscular young man.

Based on the teenager’s aura, Long Chen guessed his identity. The two most powerful disciples of the Heavenly Demon Palace were at the Eighth River Stage, both under the First and Second Demon Elders. The Third Demon Elder’s most powerful disciple’s name was Yang Jun, and he was at the peak of the Seventh River Stage, apparently about to break through to the Eighth River Stage some time soon. He had also cultivated many advanced Earth-tier combat techniques, so he was ranked third among all the young disciples of the Heavenly Demon Palace. He was the Third Demon Elder’s favorite disciple.

The strong and vicious teenager was Yang Jun.

But what did Zhao Qingyun going to the Martial Library have to do with them?

“Greetings, Palace Lord!” The Third Demon Elder led the group to first greet Zhao Qingyun. Zhao Qingyun was the most powerful person in the clan after all, and they could not break protocol.

“What are you doing here?” Zhao Qingyun asked coldly. To be honest, he did not like the Third Demon Elder.

“Palace Lord, I was going to meet you, but I just happened to see you in front of the Martial Library while I was passing by. This has saved me some effort.” The Third Demon Elder was obviously intending to ask Zhao Qingyun for something, so his tone was extra polite.

“Tell me, then, why are you looking for me?” Zhao Qingyun asked.

“It’s like this.” The Third Demon Elder glanced happily at Yang Jun behind him and said, “In the past, my Big Brother and Second Sister’s first disciples received Traceless Demon Shadow when they reached the Seventh River Stage, and they managed to cultivate it successfully. Yang Jun is about to break through to the Eighth River Stage, so I humbly request the Palace Lord to let Yang Jun cultivate Traceless Demon Shadow!”

The young man, Yang Jun, also bowed at Zhao Qingyun and said, “Palace Lord, please believe me. I am absolutely confident that I will master Traceless Demon Shadow within half a year and attain the Eighth River Stage. Soon, I will be able to fight Lin Zichen from the imperial family!”

The other elders, who were here to support his cause, all muttered words of praise. Yang Jun should have received the Traceless Demon Shadow a long time ago, but the last time he requested it, Zhao Qingyun rejected his request. This time, they had brought a large group of people to put pressure on Zhao Qingyun.

They did not believe that Zhao Qingyun would refuse him with so many people supporting Yang Jun. The youth was an outstanding disciple after all, and the Third Demon Elder loved him. There was no reason for Zhao Qingyun to refuse to give the Third Demon Elder face again.

“Didn’t I say it last time? Yang Jun’s most important task now is to reach the Eighth River Stage. He has been at this level for a long time, and adding a distraction will not benefit him.” Zhao Qingyun furrowed his brows. The Third Demon Elder had picked a terrible time. There was only one scripture, and he had already promised to give it to Long Chen. Now that the Third Demon Elder was here, who would he give it to?

Of course, he privately wanted to give it to Long Chen since he had made a promise and Long Chen was his direct disciple. However, because he was his direct disciple, the Third Demon Elder would pressure him even further, citing favoritism.

“Palace Lord, I can already sense a breakthrough coming. If all goes smoothly, then I will achieve it in a month. Can I get Traceless Demon Shadow first, then cultivate it after that? No one is going to need the Traceless Demon Shadow scripture within a month anyway, right?” Yang Jun never even looked at Long Chen once. To him, Long Chen had only become a disciple because of nepotism, so he was not worth his attention.

“Come again once you have attained the Eighth River Stage, then,” said Zhao Qingyun slightly impatiently, waving his hand.

This angered the Third Demon Elder. He had brought so many people with him, yet Zhao Qingyun refused to give him face. This enraged him because Zhao Qingyun’s refusal meant that Zhao Qingyun did not take him seriously. How could he not be angry at this? He then said mockingly, “Palace Lord, Traceless Demon Shadow is sitting in the Martial Library, and no one is using it. Since it’s going to be given to Yang Jun later anyway, we’ll save you the effort of coming to the library again if we give it to him now. You’re unwilling to give it to him today ... Could it be because the scripture is being used for something else? For example, could it be possible that it’ll be given to your direct disciple, Long Chen?”

The group laughed at the Third Demon Elder’s mocking words.

The name “Long Chen” had become the butt of the joke in the Heavenly Demon Palace. In truth, no one understood why Zhao Qingyun would name his nepotism baby disciple “Long Chen.” Was it to make him more famous? Indeed, because he was called “Long Chen,” he was now as well-known as the sun within the clan.

The Third Demon Elder knew that there was no chance Traceless Demon Shadow would be given to Long Chen, which was why he had made a joke. However, to his shock, he was right.

“You are right. I came here today because I have decided to let Long Chen cultivate Traceless Demon Shadow. As for Yang Jun, come again when you have attained the Eighth River Stage.” Zhao Qingyun’s words rang across the group.

He had always been a straightforward person. After making this direct statement, he was not afraid of attracting more problems.

The crowd fell silent. Everyone stared at Long Chen in shock. After a long time, they finally believed that they had not made a mistake.

“Him? Are you kidding me? He’s a fake! Does he even know what a Heaven-tier combat technique is?”

“Palace Lord, your decision has made my heart turn cold! Are you really going to show blatant favoritism?”

Words of disagreement arose from the group instantly, and each statement was worse than the last. Forget about Zhao Qingyun—even Long Chen’s brows were deeply furrowed after he heard them.

Everyone was in disbelief, especially the Third Demon Elder and Yang Jun. Yang Jun did not say anything. All he did was glare venomously at Long Chen with killing intent in his eyes. Although the Third Demon Elder was famous for his short temper, how could Yang Jun swallow this injustice too?

“Palace Lord, did I hear you right? Are you saying that a prodigy like Yang Jun is less deserving of receiving the Traceless Demon Shadow scripture than a nameless brat from God-knows-where? I refuse to believe it. Is this really coming from the Heavenly Demon Palace’s Palace Lord? Was this decision made solely because he is your direct disciple? Palace Lord, while it is undeniable that your strength allows you to hold an indisputable position as our leader, this does not mean that you can do whatever you want and ignore our ancestors’ teachings! Your decision does not only disappoint me, it will also disappoint Yang Jun, who is a hardworking child, and the tens of thousands of Heavenly Demon Palace disciples!”

Although the Third Demon Elder used ugly words, it was what everyone was thinking.

Seeing that Zhao Qingyun was silent, the Third Demon Elder continued, “I have indeed overstepped, but I’m sure everyone here thinks the same. Palace Lord, if you think I am wrong, kill me! And I will die without regret!”

“Yes, Palace Lord. Although the Third Demon Elder’s words were a little emotional, he is correct! We are all moved by his words too! We hope you will re-think your decision regarding Traceless Demon Shadow!”

“Please, Palace Lord!”

The large group of people knelt before Zhao Qingyun. Only Yang Jun and the Third Demon Elder did not.

“Everyone, get up and we’ll talk,” said Zhao Qingyun in exasperation after a moment of hesitation.