Immortal Refiner

Someone had just killed an Enforcement Disciple of the Heavenly River Sect right in the Heavenly River Market!

This news was almost impossible to conceal. Even before the market was sealed off, word had already leaked out.

The few disciples responsible for maintaining the array formation wore grim expressions, but when questioned by an Elder of their sect, they confessed everything they knew.

”Senior Brother Ye... the last person he met was that rogue cultivator. I can confirm it.”

”I was puzzled at the time. They started off like old friends, chatting and laughing, but parted ways shortly after meeting.”

”Thinking back, it was indeed quite strange.”

As the disciples recounted their observations, a relatively young Foundation Establishment Elder of the Heavenly River Sect’s expression darkened considerably.

”Recall the image of that person in your minds. I need to use my spiritual sense to search your memories and create a wanted poster.”

Opening one’s Sea of Consciousness for another to probe was a grave taboo in the cultivation world.

Yet, faced with the Elder’s demand, the Registered Disciples dared not resist, reluctantly complying.

Not long after, the Heavenly River Sect Elder had sketched everything he had seen with his divine sense onto several sheets of white paper.

His drawing skills were astonishing, almost lifelike. On the pristine paper, Li Qing’s image emerged with startling clarity.

The scene depicted the entrance and exit of Heavenly River Market. Li Qing’s plain, unremarkable face was lost in the crowd. If not singled out, he might have gone unnoticed.

His features were utterly ordinary, his demeanor unremarkable. There was nothing to suggest anything special about him.

”Yes, yes, that’s the scoundrel! No doubt about it!”

”To kill Senior Brother Ye in the market and then leave with such composure... he must be a ruthless fiend.”

”Only someone who has committed countless atrocities could cultivate such a terrifying state of mind. A man who carries thunder in his chest but wears a face as calm as a lake is either destined for greatness or a truly irredeemable villain!”

”Hmph, I suspect this man is an unparalleled Demon Lord. Otherwise, how could he be...”

The second half of the sentence, which would have implicated Old Demon Ye, was left unspoken, but everyone understood the implication.

Prejudice is a mountain in the human heart. Even after Ye Feng’s death, the stigma of body seizing and becoming a Demon Lord had not been erased.

”Alright, copy these portraits and distribute them. From now on, this person is wanted throughout the entire cultivation world.”

”I’ll return to the sect and have the Law Enforcement Hall designate this person as a sect contribution mission, with the same specifications as Bandit Cultivators.”

In just a few words, the nature of this matter was firmly established.

Killing Heavenly River Sect’s Enforcement Disciples in Heavenly River Market—few rogue cultivators in the entire cultivation world would dare do such a thing.

Even during the Flying Eagle Bandits’ most rampant period, they only dared to lurk on the outskirts of Heavenly River Market, ambushing other rogue cultivators. When they encountered Heavenly River Sect disciples, they would flee at the first sign of trouble.

Later, it was proven that even the Flying Eagle Bandits weren’t ordinary rogue cultivators; they were backed by the Shangqing Sect.

Therefore, Li Qing’s actions were unprecedented in centuries. What rogue cultivator would dare to be so audacious and reckless?

To uphold the sect’s authority, Heavenly River Sect acted swiftly. Soon, Li Qing’s wanted portrait had spread throughout the cultivation world surrounding Heavenly River Sect!

Every cultivation clan received warnings: under no circumstances were they to harbor this vicious criminal.

Simultaneously, Heavenly River Sect dispatched numerous disciples to hunt down Li Qing and sealed off the borders, tightly blocking all major checkpoints leading to the Mu Kingdom and Liang Country.

This was a complete lockdown, with every possible escape route for Li Qing blocked. Any anomaly in any location would immediately draw attention.

Many other rogue cultivators, upon hearing of this, couldn’t help but feel astonished. Why would the Heavenly River Sect go to such lengths over a mere Qi Refining Realm rogue cultivator?

”It’s all about asserting dominance. Ever since signing the peace treaty with the Shangqing Sect, the Heavenly River Sect’s authority has inevitably been undermined.”

”That makes sense. If I were a high-ranking member of the Heavenly River Sect, I wouldn’t tolerate a Qi Refining Realm rogue cultivator daring to defy us.”

”But what could possibly have driven a rogue cultivator to brazenly attack and kill an Enforcement Disciple within the Heavenly River Market?”

”The exact reasons remain unclear, but it’s obvious the Heavenly River Sect isn’t interested in the truth. They just want to make a show of force!”

”Heh heh, I heard this Li fellow, the Demon Lord, was once close friends with the deceased Enforcement Disciple. No one knows what caused their falling out.”

”...”

Poor Li Qing. He had spent his life doing good deeds, never imagining that a single act of self-defense would lead the Heavenly River Sect to label him a Demon Lord.

This prejudice had clearly taken root in the minds of many cultivators, leading them to subjectively view him as a heinous demon.

Meanwhile, in the Cave Abode District where the Heavenly River Sect’s Foundation Establishment Elders resided, a slender figure held a wanted notice. As she studied the portrait and its contents, a ripple of emotion crossed her exquisitely beautiful face.

”Demon Lord Li? How could this be? I remember him as pure of heart. He shouldn’t be this kind of person.”

Yet the crimes listed on the notice were true. The man, Li Qing, had killed an Enforcement Disciple in the Heavenly River Market!

His whereabouts were currently unknown, but the Heavenly River Sect was determined to bring him to justice. They had dispatched numerous disciples to capture Li Qing and return him to the sect.

”There must be some misunderstanding. I need to go to the Law Enforcement Hall,” Liu Hanyue murmured, her beautiful eyes blinking softly. She folded the wanted notice carefully and floated out of her cave abode.

Not long after, in the Heavenly River Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall, Nine Heavens, now one of the Law Enforcement Elders, frowned deeply, as if lost in thought.

”Good thing I settled his favor back then. Otherwise, this would be truly troublesome,” Nine Heavens sighed with relief.

Outside the Law Enforcement Hall, Liu Hanyue gracefully entered, clasped her hands in a respectful bow to Nine Heavens, and said, ”Greetings, Senior Brother Nine Heavens.”

”Junior Sister Hanyue, what brings you here?” Nine Heavens asked, somewhat surprised.

In truth, Liu Hanyue was several years older than him, but he had achieved Foundation Establishment earlier and held the position of Elder in the Law Enforcement Hall.

In the immortal cultivation world, a few years’ difference was negligible for cultivators, leading to this peculiar seniority gap.

Liu Hanyue’s red lips parted slightly as she spoke, ”Senior Brother Nine Heavens, I actually know the person on the sect’s wanted list. However, from what I know, he doesn’t seem to be a truly evil person. I’m wondering if there might be some misunderstanding?”

This statement surprised Nine Heavens. He hadn’t expected Liu Hanyue to know Li Qing as well.

”I didn’t realize Junior Sister Hanyue had ties with Li Qing. Are you here to plead for him?”

Of course, Liu Hanyue wouldn’t falsely claim a close relationship with Li Qing. She shook her head and chuckled softly. ”We’ve met, but I wouldn’t say we’re close friends. I’m just here to understand the situation better.”

”Hahaha, I know Li Qing too and understand his character. I know he’s not capable of such actions,” Nine Heavens said with a laugh.

Liu Hanyue was surprised. She hadn’t expected Li Qing to have so many Foundation Establishment cultivator connections. Here was another one, and this time it was an Elder from the Heavenly River Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall.

”Then why...”

Before Liu Hanyue could finish her question, Nine Heavens interrupted, ”Truthfully, I’d love to help Li Qing. But this matter has significant implications, even the Sect Leader is paying attention.”

”The reason the sect is making such a fuss is partly to hone our disciples. The Great War of the immortal world several years ago exposed many problems within the sect, especially the combat effectiveness of most of our members...”

Hearing this, Liu Hanyue immediately understood.

The sect wanted to use this incident to assert its authority and also as a training exercise to improve the combat skills of its disciples.

Ever since she had successfully reached the Foundation Establishment Realm and become an Elder within the sect, she had also heard whispers of some hidden secrets.

They might not be entirely true, but they couldn’t be ignored.

The conflict between the Heavenly River Sect and the Shangqing Sect wasn’t likely to end so easily. Both sides were making preparations.

”So that’s how it is. In that case, Li Qing’s situation is truly dire,” Liu Hanyue murmured, a sense of regret filling her heart.

In the end, their relationship wasn’t deep enough. Liu Hanyue’s presence at the Law Enforcement Hall today was already the greatest effort she could muster. The debt Li Qing owed her for acting as her Guardian back then wasn’t enough to make her risk more.

Watching Liu Hanyue leave, Nine Heavens couldn’t help but sigh. He felt the same way, after all. With his intelligence, he’d immediately recognized that Ye Feng’s death wasn’t as simple as it seemed. There was likely more to the story.

However, this was a decision made by the entire sect. The Law Enforcement Hall wasn’t his personal domain; it included numerous Law Enforcement Elders and a Grand Elder of high standing. Even with his current Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation, he couldn’t defy the sect’s will with just one or two people’s support.

In the end, Nine Heavens could only sigh and silently put away the wanted poster bearing Li Qing’s likeness. A thousand words condensed into a single sigh.

”Alas!”

In almost everyone’s eyes, Li Qing was doomed this time. Even Li Qing himself felt the same way!

East of the Heavenly River Sect, amidst the endless peaks of the Small Jade Ridge, Li Qing was currently hiding in the dense forest. This period of fleeing had left him wondering if he’d broken some heavenly law, causing the Heavenly River Sect to mobilize such a massive force against him!

Setting aside everything else, Li Qing had seen no fewer than a dozen wanted posters bearing his likeness along the way!

Dust-covered and panting, Li Qing clutched the wanted poster, which depicted him with startling accuracy.

”Damn it! Even if I killed an Enforcement Disciple, it shouldn’t warrant such a massive reaction!”

”Anyone who doesn’t know better would think I’d slaughtered a Core Formation Ancestor from the Heavenly River Sect!”

Feeling utterly defeated, Li Qing couldn’t help but grumble. He had always lived a low-profile life, yet now he was famous throughout the land.

In fact, his notoriety surpassed even that of the Flying Eagle Bandits. Not only were cultivation clans familiar with his face, but even among ten random rogue cultivators, over half would likely recognize him from his wanted poster.

In other words, six or more out of every ten cultivators knew who he was!

This was definitely not a good thing. It meant his escape would become far more difficult.

After all, anyone who provided information leading to his capture could claim a reward from the Heavenly River Sect. He was now a public enemy!

”Damn it! I can’t stay in this cultivation world any longer. I need to find another way to reach the Mu Kingdom!”

(End of the Chapter)

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