Immortal Refiner

Boom!

The Cold Wind Pool trembled violently as torrents of sinister demonic qi erupted from within, like a volcanic eruption.

Seeing this, the two core formation realm Ancestors present immediately activated their techniques to open the exit of the Cold Wind Pool.

Soon, figures began surging out of the secret realm’s entrance, their faces pale with lingering fear.

”What happened? Why such a sudden commotion?!”

”What did you encounter?! Where’s Senior Brother Sect Leader?”

”Did you find an ancient demon? What was its approximate strength?”

The remaining foundation establishment elders quickly gathered around, their voices filled with concern.

”We didn’t encounter an ancient demon,” one of the daoists replied. ”But during our exploration, we discovered a newly formed demonic fetus. Senior Brother Sect Leader seized the opportunity to destroy it before it could be born.”

”However, the black sphere resembling a demonic fetus wasn’t meant to incubate an ancient demon. It contained an immense reservoir of demonic qi.”

As he spoke, Sect Leader Xu Yun, his body drenched in thick demonic qi, finally emerged from the secret realm.

”It’s over, Martial Uncles. The entrance to the secret realm can be temporarily sealed. I’m the last one.”

As the secret realm sealed shut, the torrent of demonic qi that had been erupting from within gradually subsided, allowing Sect Leader Xu Yun to finally exhale a long breath.

Ancestor Devourer of Heaven and Ancestor Bing Yun approached, their faces etched with concern. ”Xu Yun, what’s the situation inside?!”

After catching his breath, Sect Leader Xu Yun composed himself and replied gravely, ”We didn’t encounter any ancient demons during our expedition, but I’m certain there are still living ones within.”

As he spoke, he channeled his spiritual energy to expel the lingering demonic qi clinging to his body.

”That demonic fetus... it’s likely what remains of an ancient demon after its death, resembling records I once read in the sect’s ancient texts.”

”These demonic races possess ever-changing methods. Even when stranded in places devoid of demonic qi, they can transform their own demonic bodies into demonic qi seeds, completely transforming an entire region into a demon’s den.”

Hearing this, many elders felt their scalps tingle, shaken by the ancient demons’ cunning tactics.

Ancestor Devourer of Heaven, however, nodded repeatedly.

”This is good news. The demonic qi seeds, formed from the condensed remains of the dead, have been passed down through generations. It’s unlikely that the ancient demons within retain the same formidable power they possessed in ancient times.”

”Even if some ancient demons still survive, their strength must be greatly diminished.”

Upon hearing these words, many finally breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that these ancient demons couldn’t possibly be immortal or indestructible.

Of course, this was self-evident. If truly immortal beings existed, how could they have been so easily sealed away in the first place?

Ancestor Bing Yun added, ”Your mission is straightforward: explore and gather intelligence while destroying as many demonic qi seeds as possible along the way.”

”This will effectively weaken the remaining ancient demons. By the time the sealing formation collapses completely, any demons that emerge will be in a weakened state.”

With the two core formation ancestors of the sect speaking so decisively, many elders grew visibly invigorated, their earlier apprehension replaced by renewed confidence.

”I see now! That’s excellent news!”

”So they need the corpses of their own kind as seeds to survive? It seems the ancient demons inside aren’t as formidable as we feared!”

”Hahahaha, this is excellent news! Once we destroy all the demonic qi seeds within the sealing formation, even if the ancient demons emerge, they’ll be sickly and weak, easily wiped out!”

”...”

While the elders were buzzing with excitement, Li Qing remained calm and composed.

He knew that problems should never be viewed from a single angle; a comprehensive perspective was essential.

The ancient demonic race within the sealing formation aren’t fools. Would they simply stand by and watch their demonic qi seeds be destroyed? Li Qing mused inwardly, already preparing for a fierce battle.

Without a doubt, the demonic qi seeds were the lifeblood of these surviving ancient demons. Destroying the seeds would be tantamount to cutting off their means of survival, inevitably provoking a desperate counterattack.

I just hope we don’t attract any big ones.

As Li Qing pondered, the elders who had just emerged began exchanging observations about the conditions inside.

Regardless, the fact that the first group had returned alive and unscathed was undeniably encouraging.

”Inside, spiritual energy is almost completely depleted, purged by the overwhelming demonic qi. Conserve your own spiritual energy at all costs.”

”It’s pitch-black inside, requiring divine sense to navigate.”

”The area is saturated with wisps of demonic qi. Though we didn’t encounter any living ancient demons, we found traces of their activity along the way.”

”...”

Li Qing listened intently, refusing to miss a single detail. Whether the information seemed trivial or not, he committed it all to memory, fearing even the slightest oversight.

After the first team of elders had thoroughly recounted their experiences inside the sealing formation, the second team began preparing to enter.

Amidst the crowd, a slender and graceful figure stood out prominently—Shen Ningbing, clad in a pale blue dress.

Her face maintained an aloof, unapproachable expression, radiating an aura that kept others at arm’s length.

Even among her fellow sect elders, few dared to approach her for conversation.

Watching this scene, Li Qing couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Though both disciples of core formation ancestors, Shen Ningbing wasn’t a close-door disciple like Fatty Wu, and thus couldn’t remain behind to guard the sect.

With this thought, Li Qing grew even more envious of Fatty Wu’s incredible luck.

In the future, he was destined to inherit the full legacy of Ancestor Devourer of Heaven.

After all, those who met the cultivation requirements for the Gluttonous Divine Art were exceedingly rare. Ancestor Devourer of Heaven would never allow him to risk entering the secret realm.

Of course, no one would dare object. Ancestor Devourer of Heaven had been working tirelessly, even creating several talisman treasures for the sect’s elders. Moreover, he would soon personally confront powerful ancient demons in battle.

Who would dare criticize his protection of his close-door disciple? Unless they wanted to be expelled from the Lingyun Sect!

”Alright, prepare to enter. Remember to proceed with utmost caution in all things!”

After the two Ancestors finished their instructions, they reactivated the sealing formation, sending the second batch of elders into the secret realm.

Meanwhile, in a dark, unknown corner of the cold wind grotto-heaven:

Buzz!

A terrifying aura seemed to slowly awaken from its deep slumber, stirring from profound silence.

”I sense that the spiritual energy in the world has grown slightly denser, and one of the demonic qi seeds outside has burst open. This doesn’t seem like a natural occurrence.”

In the darkness, accompanied by a voice speaking in an ancient, mysterious tongue, more and more presences began to stir.

”Hmm... Could something be wrong with the Extreme Ice Demon-Sealing Formation? Is this finally our chance, the Chi Demon Tribe’s chance, to return to the legendary demon realm?!”

”Chi Feng, Chi Yan, go investigate the situation.”

As the authoritative voice issued its command, a cracking sound suddenly echoed from a stone wall deep within the darkness.

Crack! Crack!

Shattered rock scattered across the ground with a crisp sound, followed by two whooshing noises as figures shot through the air.

Swish! Swish!

”I wonder what’s become of the humans guarding this place. According to Ancestor Chi Meng’s dying words, that human cultivator named Xuan Yang sacrificed his life to seal us here.”

”Humans... What kind of race are they? Are they truly so powerful?”

”So many years have passed. If an opportunity to break free arises, we must seize it without hesitation.”

Several ancient, authoritative voices continued their conversation, their tones filled with both fear and respect for the human race.

They were descendants of the ancient demons, knowing little about the human race that had sealed them away, only fragments of information passed down orally from their deceased ancestors.

”There’s no need for fear,” Ancestor Chi Meng had declared. ”This region was shattered long ago. It’s unlikely the human race will ever produce such powerful individuals again.”

”That may be true, but so many years have passed, and we’ve been forced to endure in this cramped grotto-heaven secret realm.”

”Hmph, it’s too early to speculate. Even Ancestor Chi Meng and the others couldn’t break the great sealing formation. Perhaps it’s merely weakened again, as it has in the past.”

”...”

In the dark depths, the majestic voices fell silent, leaving the place once more shrouded in desolation.

Meanwhile, at the entrance to the grotto-heaven secret realm, the Lingyun Sect elders who had entered were following the trail left by the first group, venturing deeper into the unknown.

”Look! That trace of spiritual energy—this must be where Senior Brother Sect Leader and the others stopped!”

Someone pointed into the darkness ahead, where a faint spiritual glow flickered like a firefly in the night.

As they advanced, someone quickly detected remnants of an exploded demonic qi seed ahead using their divine sense.

The demonic qi had already dissipated, no longer as turbulent and concentrated as before.

”Let’s press on. This is just our starting point,” someone said.

With that, the group continued deeper into the darkness.

The further they ventured, the denser the demonic qi became, causing many to tremble with fear.

Before long, an oval-shaped black sphere, as if rooted to the ground, stood silently before them.

”This must be the demonic qi seed,” an elder exclaimed excitedly, immediately activating his magic artifact to attack the sphere. ”Destroy it! Eradicate the lifeblood of this demonic race!”

Spiritual energy surged as daoist arts erupted in a dazzling display.

In moments, the demonic qi seed shattered completely, unleashing a torrent of dark, malevolent demonic qi.

Boom!

This time, however, the group was prepared. They instantly condensed protective spiritual light around their bodies, shielding themselves from the corrosive demonic qi.

As the demonic qi dissipated, a furious roar in an ancient, mysterious language echoed through the air:

”How dare you destroy the demonic seed!”

(End of the Chapter)

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