Immortal Refiner

Soaked in sweat, Li Qing awoke from his dazed state.

”Hiss!” He slapped his forehead, trying to recall what had just happened.

”I let my guard down. Overwhelmed by joy after obtaining the Second-Tier Demon Beast’s Crystal Core, I carelessly...”

Li Qing frowned deeply, reflecting on the events. Finally, he shook his head with a bitter smile.

He looked down. Su Xin was still unconscious, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist, her rosy lips pressed against his firm abdominal muscles.

He never imagined that the woman who had chased him relentlessly just a short time ago was now nestled in his arms like a warm, fragrant jade.

Su Xin was sleeping soundly, still lost in slumber.

Affected by the Heavenly Desire Flower, their reason had been consumed by the flames of lust. Li Qing had been unable to show any tenderness or restraint.

Unlike Li Qing, who had specifically trained and tempered his body, Su Xin, who had never experienced such intimacy, couldn’t recover her strength and regain consciousness so quickly after such a frenzied encounter.

Gazing at the peaceful figure in his arms, Li Qing’s eyes narrowed slightly. He slowly raised his hand and placed it on her fair, delicate neck.

With a mere thought, Li Qing could end the life of the Heavenly River Sect’s Foundation Establishment Elder. He wouldn’t even need to use his mana; his physical body alone would be enough to finish her off.

Wait! Mana!

Li Qing raised an eyebrow, immediately realizing his cultivation had advanced again. He had broken through from the ninth layer of the Qi Refining Realm to the tenth layer, achieving Perfected Qi Refining Stage!

”How is this possible? Even after consuming so many Foundation Nurturing Pills, my cultivation barely improved. Yet, I broke through without even realizing it?!”

Li Qing was shocked to discover not only had he broken through, but his aura was also remarkably solid, without any hint of instability. This meant his foundation was exceptionally firm.

”I’ve heard of Dual Cultivation Techniques in the immortal world, where one can cultivate and advance their cultivation while engaging in sexual activity.”

As the thought crossed his mind, Li Qing frowned even deeper. He had never learned such a technique, and Su Xin clearly didn’t seem like the type to seek out such a cultivation manual.

Moreover, in her state of mental confusion, even attempting to use a Dual Cultivation Technique would have been impossible. There was no rationality left in her at that moment!

Li Qing felt deeply uneasy about this sudden, almost inexplicable surge in cultivation. He was determined to uncover the reason as quickly as possible.

Soon, he raised his head and gazed at the two Heavenly Desire Flowers growing in the darkness of the crevice. At this moment, both flowers had completely withered, devoid of any trace of life.

”Could it be these Heavenly Desire Flowers? Heavenly Desire, Heavenly Principle, Human Desire... what a bizarre and bewitching flower.”

Li Qing muttered to himself, planning to investigate the origins of this so-called Heavenly Desire Flower later.

But for now, the most pressing matter was to deal with the immediate crisis.

First, he tightened his embrace around Su Xin, who was still clinging to him. This woman was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and it seemed she had also benefited greatly from their earlier union. Her cultivation had advanced significantly, perhaps even nearing the Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage.

Yet, would such a woman truly be conquered by a mere accident?!

Clearly, that was impossible. Some unreasonable women, upon regaining their senses, would likely make it their first priority to kill the person who had ruined their purity, regardless of the circumstances.

While Li Qing didn’t know what kind of woman Su Xin was, he knew that if she woke up, his situation would become extremely unfavorable.

Should he kill her?!

The thought crossed his mind, and Li Qing narrowed his eyes once more.

Li Qing was far from a soft-hearted man. Though he had shared intimacy with Su Xin, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill her if his life were threatened.

But now, another problem loomed!

He had stolen the Lu Clan’s prey and was trapped within their array. In short, his situation was dire.

If he fell into the Lu Clan’s hands, his fate would be no better.

Ultimately, he had already obtained the Second-Tier Demonic Beast Crystal Core, and he wouldn’t simply hand it over. This was a matter of his Dao path, and he would fight to protect it at all costs.

”What a headache,” Li Qing sighed. He knew that once the Lu Clan entered the array and failed to find the demonic beast, they wouldn’t easily withdraw.

If he were in their position, having lost his prey, he would dig up the entire mountain ravine to find it, even if it meant waiting for years.

After all, this was a Second-Tier Demonic Beast Crystal Core—a treasure worth sacrificing everything for to a cultivation clan. It represented not just a single Foundation Establishment Pill, but much more!

With no other options left, only one plan remained: to hide within the World of Eternal Night.

However, this seemingly simple solution wasn’t perfect. In the World of Eternal Night, both spirit stones and Spirit Herbs gradually lose their spirituality over time, eventually becoming completely inert.

The Second-Tier demon beast crystal core he held was no exception.

If the Lu Clan was truly determined to remain here, and considering the three-to-one time dilation between the two worlds, the demon beast crystal core in his possession would likely turn into a worthless stone.

As Li Qing wrestled with this dilemma, he subtly noticed a slight change in the breathing of the person in his arms. It was no longer as steady as before.

Is she waking up?!

Li Qing’s heart tightened slightly, but he showed no outward reaction, pretending not to notice. He continued to feign deep thought.

However, his fingertips were secretly gathering Martial Dao Inner Strength. He didn’t dare use spiritual energy, as any fluctuation at such close range would be immediately detected. Only Martial Dao Inner Strength offered the utmost subtlety.

At this distance, if she dared to make any untoward move, Li Qing would kill her with a single finger strike.

The saying ”Within ten steps, everyone is an enemy” perfectly described the power of a body cultivator.

But after a long wait, Su Xin showed no sign of waking. She remained motionless in his arms, as if unwilling to face reality.

If Li Qing hadn’t been so confident in his own senses, he might have even suspected he was hallucinating.

Watching Su Xin, who was still unwilling to wake up, Li Qing couldn’t help but find it amusing.

It reminded him of the ostriches of his past life, who would bury their heads in the sand at the first sign of danger.

Though the circumstances were different, the underlying principle was the same.

This kind of feminine behavior, displayed by a female cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm, was unexpectedly endearing.

Finally, Li Qing broke the silence.

”Immortal Su Xin, since you’re awake, you should probably put your clothes back on. Though I wouldn’t mind admiring your exquisite figure a little longer.”

”But we’re still inside this array, and the Lu Clan could break in at any moment. I doubt you want to be seen like this by outsiders.”

Before he could finish speaking, Su Xin’s cheek, pressed against Li Qing’s, flushed crimson. Panic immediately filled her delicate face.

The usually gentle and watery Su Xin now possessed a charming vulnerability that was entirely new.

”You...”

Su Xin recoiled as if she had been electrocuted, pulling away from Li Qing’s embrace. Her hand instinctively reached for the storage pouch at her waist, but it had fallen to the side during their earlier intimacy.

Unable to retrieve her clothes immediately, she flushed crimson with shame and covered her delicate body with her hands. Taking tiny steps, she retrieved the storage pouch from nearby, then pulled out a lotus-green dress and began to put it on.

”You’re not allowed to look! Turn around!” Su Xin said, her voice a mix of shame and anger.

Li Qing simply spread his hands and lay back down leisurely. At the same time, he released his spiritual sense, extending it beyond the crack to monitor the situation outside and prepare for the arrival of the Lu Clan cultivators.

Of course, during this time, he couldn’t help but witness the process of Su Xin changing clothes in his mind.

Soon, Su Xin, now properly dressed, still flushed with embarrassment, spoke again: ”I’m not an unreasonable person. If it weren’t for you this time, I might have...”

At this point, she hesitated, unable to bear recalling the events that had just transpired. Though her consciousness had been hazy, fragments of the scene still flickered in her mind.

The Heavenly Desire Flower bloomed, its desire miasma permeating the surroundings. A white ape slowly approached her.

Hearing this, Li Qing breathed a sigh of relief, relieved that the story of the farmer and the snake hadn’t played out.

”I was just lending a hand. Besides, after killing the white ape, I was also poisoned by the desire miasma it had absorbed. You shouldn’t think I took advantage of you.”

”But now might not be the time for this. The array formation outside is fluctuating. The Lu Clan cultivators are about to enter. Are you confident you can handle Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Lu Clan within the formation?!”

Su Xin brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and said gently, ”Put your clothes on first. I can take you out of here.”

At these words, Li Qing paused briefly before unhesitatingly putting on his clothes in front of Su Xin, concealing his tall, muscular physique beneath the fabric.

As soon as Li Qing had redressed, both their expressions changed slightly.

They could clearly sense two powerful auras rapidly approaching—at least Foundation Establishment cultivators.

”Quick, follow me!”

After speaking, Su Xin grabbed Li Qing and swiftly summoned a divine rainbow, leading the charge out of the underground fissure.

The next moment, a furious shout echoed from the outer reaches of the mountain gorge:

”How dare you, demoness! You snuck into the Grand Formation without a sound!”

”Lu Clan disciples, heed my command! Activate the formation and join me in trapping and killing this demoness!”

Lu Feiyu, having already dealt with his own enemies, immediately recognized Su Xin, whom he had encountered before.

Beside him, the Zhong Clan Foundation Establishment cultivator narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within.

The Zhong Clan of Liang Country had previously participated in the Shangqing Sect’s assault on the Heavenly River Sect, serving as the vanguard. Zhong Ya himself had witnessed the front lines firsthand.

He had a vivid memory of the woman before them, riding a divine rainbow and radiating a gentle, watery aura.

”Brother Lu, this woman is no ordinary foe. We absolutely cannot let her escape easily.”

Lu Feiyu was taken aback. ”Oh? Brother Zhong Ya, do you know this Foundation Establishment female cultivator who suddenly appeared?”

”If I’m not mistaken, she’s an Elder of the Heavenly River Sect. I fought her on the battlefield several years ago.”

(End of the Chapter)

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