Immortal Refiner

Surprisingly, the Maple Guard still had covert activities in Shengtian. For years, they had been secretly fueling the resistance of Jianghu Practitioners against the Grassland rulers.

”So that’s it. Maple Guard went underground. Whoever came up with this plan is truly brilliant,” Li Qing remarked, realizing the Southern Dynasty still had its share of talented individuals.

”They’re just taking advantage of the situation. But you haven’t told me yet—aren’t you close to reaching the Grandmaster Realm?” Qian Hong’s eyes sparkled as she stared intently at Li Qing.

The two sat on the roof of an empty tavern, bathed in moonlight, drinking and conversing freely.

”I’m getting close. I just need the right opportunity,” Li Qing replied honestly.

He was already practically a half-step Grandmaster. At least in terms of Inner Strength, he was virtually unmatched.

Having studied the Wei Family’s Grandmaster’s Insights, Li Qing knew he was only a hair’s breadth away from the Grandmaster Realm. He just needed that final push.

”The Maple Guard is desperate for manpower right now, especially powerful Martial Artists like you,” Qian Hong said seriously. ”Master Li, would you consider lending us your strength?”

Under Qian Hong’s gaze, Li Qing touched his nose. He didn’t immediately refuse, but instead said, ”I never expected the Southern Dynasty to pin its hopes for restoration on this. It’s truly...”

”I’m sorry, Commander Qian, but I can’t simply agree to this. I need to think it over carefully.”

This was a perfectly reasonable response. Qian Hong understood that expecting to recruit a top-tier Martial Path expert with a single sentence was wishful thinking.

”No problem,” she replied with a bright smile that seemed to dim the moonlight. ”After seeing you at Gao Yudong’s residence tonight, I realized we wouldn’t be enemies, only friends.”

Her smile faded as she continued, ”Our plan is to strike on the Sage Ruler’s fiftieth birthday. We’ll use the grand banquet that day to capture the entire Wu Dynasty leadership.”

”Unfortunately, we’re still missing a Grandmaster-level expert to oversee the operation.”

Qian Hong’s voice dropped, revealing her unease about the plan.

This was the perfect opportunity for Li Qing to ask about the matter that concerned him: ”Is it because of the so-called Life-Preserving Spirit Talisman?”

Qian Hong nodded, unfazed that Li Qing knew about it. In the current Maple Guard, such talismans were no longer a secret.

”That’s right. The Emperor of the Grasslands obtained some Spirit Talismans from an unknown source, and their effects are truly remarkable!”

”One is called the Windwalk Talisman. When applied to the body, it makes one as light as a swallow, allowing an ordinary person to move with the speed of a Grandmaster-level Martial Artist skilled in Lightness Technique for a short time, as if aided by the wind.”

”The other is called the Golden Shield Talisman. It can conjure a protective golden light shield out of thin air. With this shield, one becomes impervious to blades and arrows, even Inner Strength experts are powerless against it!”

Clearly, the Maple Guard hadn’t been idle these past few years. They had been secretly fueling the chaos within the Wu Dynasty while also gathering intelligence on Spirit Talismans.

Qian Hong held nothing back, revealing some of the hidden secrets she had learned.

To threaten someone wielding both the Windwalk Talisman and the Golden Shield Talisman, one would need to be a Grandmaster-level expert wielding a Peerless Divine Weapon.

This wasn’t a casual assessment but was based on actual examples.

A few years ago in Liang Province, the Sect Leader of the Nine Lotus Sect, wielding the Red Lotus Demon Blade, had displayed his prowess, single-handedly routing several thousand cavalrymen.

What the world didn’t know was that the commander of those thousands of cavalrymen was a high-ranking general from a Grassland Tribe.

Before the encirclement, Holy Monarch Tuwa Ha’er had bestowed upon the cavalry commander a Golden Shield Talisman for protection.

However, against the Nine Lotus Sect Leader wielding the Demon Blade, this talisman could only withstand seven strikes from the Grandmaster’s full power.

After the seventh strike, the Golden Light Shield shattered, and the cavalry commander perished in Liang Province.

After hearing Qian Hong’s account, Li Qing was deeply shaken. He couldn’t help but ask, ”Where did those Marauders obtain such extraordinary talismans?”

Qian Hong simply shook her head, admitting she didn’t know.

”The Star-Stealing Divine Thief Ning Yuan has infiltrated the Imperial Palace to gather information. We’re waiting for an answer.”

This surprised Li Qing. He hadn’t expected the carefree Ning Yuan to be working with the Maple Guard.

”If the Nine Lotus Sect and the Grassland Marauders are enemies, why didn’t you seek help from the Nine Lotus Sect’s old Grandmaster?”

Qian Hong shook her head slowly again. ”The Nine Lotus Sect has gone underground. We can’t find their branch headquarters. Even if we did, it wouldn’t matter. They don’t meet outsiders unless you possess a Lotus Token from one of their sect’s Dharma protectors.”

Lotus Token?

At those four words, Li Qing’s heart stirred slightly, as if a memory had surfaced.

Participating in the Maple Guard’s operation to assassinate the unfathomable Sage Ruler was a high-risk endeavor.

Killing a few officials from the Grassland Tribes in the Inner City was vastly different from assassinating the Emperor in the Imperial City. Until he understood the full details, Li Qing had no intention of getting directly involved.

However, that didn’t stop him from offering indirect assistance. For instance, the woman named Shen Lianyi had once given him a token carved with a purple lotus.

If he was right, that token should be the legendary Lotus Token.

After some thought, Li Qing decided to hand over the token, considering it a gesture of gratitude for the valuable information he had received today.

Moreover, he was deeply curious about the mysterious Immortal Cultivator behind the Sage Ruler. Maintaining a good relationship with the Maple Guard would undoubtedly be beneficial.

”Three days from now, at the Taoyuan Tavern in the Outer City, I have something to give you.”

With that, Li Qing rose to his feet and clasped his hands in a farewell gesture to Qian Hong. ”Farewell!”

His words barely faded before he activated the Shadow-Seeking Footwork, vanishing from the street in an instant, leaving Qian Hong standing frozen in place, watching his graceful departure.

The next day, explosive news spread throughout the city.

A marquis of the Wu Dynasty had died suddenly in his mansion. While the marquis held no significant official position in the court or among the people, his identity was exceptionally sensitive.

He was the brother-in-law of the current Sage Ruler and the younger brother of the Empress!

His death sent Shengtian City into a frenzy. A massive manhunt was launched, the city was placed under lockdown, and the killer was being hunted down.

But how could Li Qing possibly be caught so easily?

Upon hearing the news, even he was surprised. He had simply chosen a random target to gather information and ended up killing such a prominent figure.

”It seems the Bandit Saintly Monarch didn’t have many Life-Preserving Spirit Talismans left,” Li Qing mused. ”Otherwise, such an important royal relative would surely have been given one.”

(End of the Chapter)

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