Immortal Refiner

The Heavenly River Sect placed great importance on the Ascension Conference. This might seem like a trivial statement, but different listeners could interpret it in various ways.

Li Qing’s eyes flickered slightly as thoughts raced through his mind.

Could it be that something unusual is going to happen at this year’s Ascension Conference? Or is the Heavenly River Sect trying to use it as bait to draw something out?

The cultivation world had been far from peaceful lately, plagued by the Flying Eagle Bandits and the recent attack on the Heavenly River Sect’s spirit stone mine. The perpetrators of the latter attack remained unidentified.

One thing was certain: a mysterious force was secretly watching the Heavenly River Sect.

Li Qing swiftly recalled a piece of information he had overheard at a trade fair: the Heavenly River Sect’s Core Formation Realm Ancestor had taken on a close-door disciple with a Heavenly Spirit Root!

Putting himself in their shoes, Li Qing’s lips twitched slightly as a peculiar hypothesis formed in his mind.

Could the Heavenly River Sect be planning to use this Heavenly Spirit Root disciple as bait? By showcasing their brilliance at the Ascension Conference, they might lure out the shadowy force targeting them!

The more he considered it, the more plausible this theory seemed. In fact, it seemed highly probable!

The news immediately dispelled Li Qing’s lingering envy for the exceptionally talented disciple.

”It seems joining a Cultivation Sect isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” he mused. ”Once you’re branded by the sect, you lose control over certain aspects of your life.”

While rogue cultivators led precarious lives, they at least enjoyed the freedom of independence.

Objectively, joining a Cultivation Sect remained the superior choice: a steady income of spirit stones, the protection of a major sect, and the privilege of cultivating within a Spirit Vein Land.

Li Qing quickly dismissed these thoughts and refocused on listening to the latest intelligence the others had gathered.

”I heard the Liu Clan Head was mysteriously gravely injured, likely interrupted during a critical breakthrough in his cultivation. Some suspect the Flying Eagle Bandits were responsible.”

This highly confidential information caused considerable surprise among those present.

Li Qing immediately recalled Liu Hanyue, whom he had seen earlier purchasing Spirit Herbs, apparently seeking assistance in refining an Origin Return Pill. This confirmed the veracity of the news.

The Origin Return Pill was almost certainly intended to heal the Liu Clan Head, who was at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

”Are the Flying Eagle Bandits truly this audacious? To actually dare attack the territory of a cultivation clan?”

”The Liu Clan is a renowned cultivation family specializing in formations. How could they be so easily defeated?”

”Have you forgotten? A high-ranking Clan Elder from the Liu Clan defected to the Flying Eagle Bandits. He might know some vulnerabilities in their formations.”

”...”

Li Qing listened silently, inwardly marveling at how much had transpired during his year-long seclusion.

If he were like those Enlightened Masters who retreated for decades at a time, emerging to find the world transformed beyond recognition!

More information followed, mostly concerning recent events in the cultivation world. The main topic, of course, remained the upcoming Ascension Conference.

To Li Qing’s mild surprise, some present intended to participate in the conference.

One such ambitious cultivator was Nine Heavens, who declared bluntly:

”Keep an eye out for any formidable cultivators planning to attend the Ascension Conference. If you can provide accurate intelligence, I’ll compensate you with spirit stones afterward.”

It was clear that some cultivators intended to participate in the Ascension Conference, hoping to join the Heavenly River Sect through this path and aiming for a top-ten position to secure a Foundation Establishment Pill.

In addition to this, the formerly sickly middle-aged man had made an unusual request, asking others to investigate the movements of the Shi Clan of Medicine King Ridge, promising to pay spirit stones for any information provided.

”Fellow Daoist Bitter Bamboo, are you scheming to steal the Shi Clan’s Foundation Establishment Pills, or do you simply harbor a grudge against them?” someone teased, alluding to Bitter Bamboo’s recent activities.

Bitter Bamboo shook his head. ”Something feels off about the Shi Clan. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I urge everyone to keep an eye on them in the future.”

Though no one voiced further objections outwardly, his words planted a seed of suspicion in their hearts.

As the month’s trade fair drew to a close, the Foundation Establishment Realm elder oversaw an orderly departure.

Li Qing left the trade fair’s secret chamber and scanned the Secret Zone twice for Liu Hanyue, but when he didn’t find her, he prepared to return to his cave abode.

Unexpectedly, Ye Feng darted out from behind him.

”Hey, it’s been a year! Your Artifact Refinement Technique has improved so much that you can even repair high-grade magical artifacts now!”

Li Qing was mildly surprised, but his tone remained calm. ”It was just a stroke of luck. What about you? You disappeared for so long—were you in secluded cultivation?”

Ye Feng glanced around furtively before leaning in and whispering, ”To be honest, Fellow Daoist Bitter Bamboo, the one who discovered that secret realm at the trade fair, invited me to explore it with him. I’ve been staying there for the past six months.”

Li Qing’s expression shifted slightly. ”Why did he invite only you? There must have been plenty of Late Qi Refining Realm experts at the trade fair.”

Ye Feng chuckled. ”He was the one who introduced me to the trade fair in the first place, so we have a bit of a connection. Plus, I’m probably less powerful than him, so he probably felt more comfortable asking me along.”

Still interested in the secret realm that produced Heavenly Star Grass, Li Qing casually asked, ”Did you find anything interesting there?”

However, Ye Feng couldn’t reveal the truth. Instead, he replied mysteriously:

”I can’t reveal the specifics,” Ye Feng said, ”but I can tell you this: that place is full of both danger and opportunity. You’ll have to join us if you want to find out more!”

Li Qing raised an eyebrow at Ye Feng’s invitation. ”So, Fellow Daoist Bitter Bamboo sent you to recruit me for this expedition?”

”Exactly. To be honest, he’s impressed with your Artifact Refinement Technique. He wants to explore that secret realm and needs several high-grade Defensive Magic Artifacts.”

”So, what do you say? Want to join us for a big score?”

Li Qing didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he carefully weighed the offer in his mind.

To be frank, Li Qing was tempted.

From what he understood, the secret realm produced a substantial quantity of Heavenly Star Grass, which alone made the venture worthwhile.

While danger undoubtedly lurked, if Ye Feng had managed to escape unscathed, Li Qing was confident he could do the same.

However, after careful consideration, Li Qing ultimately declined the offer.

”Hahaha, I think I’ll pass. I prefer peace and quiet. I’m not cut out for adventures like this.”

It wasn’t that Li Qing didn’t want to go; he simply felt it wasn’t worth the risk.

Exploring a secret realm meant leaving the relative safety of Heavenly River Market, which would likely expose him to other dangers along the way.

Moreover, if he actually managed to acquire something of immeasurable value within the secret realm, that would only complicate matters further. What if the others decided to silence him permanently? Li Qing dared not stake his life on the inscrutable nature of human hearts.

If such a situation arose, both Ye Feng and Fellow Daoist Bitter Bamboo could easily become threats to his life.

I still have at least three hundred years left to live, Li Qing thought to himself. There’s no need to risk my life. I’ll just sit back and watch the world change.

Ye Feng didn’t seem disappointed by Li Qing’s refusal, as if he had anticipated it all along.

”Alright then,” Ye Feng said. ”But I might come back later to rent or buy a Magic Artifact from you. I hope you’ll give me a discount when the time comes!”

”Hahaha, no problem at all,” Li Qing replied with a smile.

After leaving the Secret Zone, the two parted ways.

Li Qing turned back to his rented cave abode, his expression immediately becoming calm and composed.

”It’s time to consider setting up my stall to sell Magic Artifacts again,” he mused. ”And the plan to capture strange beasts in the World of Eternal Night should proceed concurrently.”

Hmm, there are plenty of ways to earn Spirit Stones, he thought. Exploring secret realms is really unnecessary.

With that thought, he quickly dismissed his earlier refusal of Ye Feng’s invitation, feeling no regret whatsoever.

Once he had amassed enough Spirit Stones, he could buy anything he needed at the Heavenly River Market.

This realization greatly eased his mind, freeing him from any lingering anxiety about missing out on the secret realm where Heavenly Star Grass grew in abundance.

When the stream runs dry, sit and watch the clouds rise, he thought.

Li Qing shook his head slightly, his mind becoming remarkably clear and his thoughts flowing freely.

(End of the Chapter)

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