Immortal Refiner

When leaving the Spirit Devouring Realm, Li Qing had nearly drained his true essence to open the void rift.

After sending Lin Jing and the ninth insect out of the secret realm, he barely retained enough true essence to propel himself through the rift.

Already outside in the mountain range, the ninth insect used its tentacles to catch Li Qing as he plummeted from the sky.

Feeling the emptiness of his mana reserves, Li Qing lay on the ninth insect’s back and shook his head ruefully. This was the first time since he began cultivating that he had come so close to being completely drained.

With his mana depleted, he could now only rely on his body arts and spiritual techniques.

Of course, if truly cornered, he still had the Blood-Burning Secret Art, which could extract mana by burning his essence blood.

However, he would only resort to this secret technique in the most dire circumstances, as each use severely damaged his vital energy.

”Let’s go. We’ve been away for too long. It’s time to return,” Li Qing sighed, reflecting on the fruitful journey back to the World of Eternal Night.

Having obtained several remarkably useful inheritances, Li Qing also learned the location of a heavenly spirit fire.

Though its source fire seed had been extinguished, Li Qing believed that if he could bring it back to the Great Wilderness Domain, he would eventually find a way to reignite it.

The undying and indestructible nature of heavenly spirit fires meant they could only be temporarily extinguished. Given the right conditions, they would inevitably rekindle.

With this in mind, Ninth Insect began its journey toward Giant Rock City in the Black Wind Domain.

Throughout the journey, Lin Jing’s spirits remained low. She understood that this might be another time for her to part ways with her master.

Their time together always felt too short. These past few days had been among the happiest and most carefree of her life.

Following her master to hunt strange beasts, even venturing into a mysterious secret realm to encounter a great figure from before the End of Dao Era—these were experiences she had never imagined possible.

”Master, are you leaving again?” Lin Jing asked softly, her head bowed.

Li Qing, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, sighed inwardly. He was, after all, a man born for the Dao, and this world, where spiritual energy had withered, was no place for him to linger.

”All feasts must come to an end, Xiao Jing,” Li Qing said gently. ”Don’t be sad. Your master will return often to see you.”

Hearing this, Lin Jing’s smile bloomed anew. ”Then it’s a promise, Master! You can’t go back on your word!”

Parting was inevitable, and she had only felt a brief pang of sadness before her master’s words quickly restored her resolve.

On their journey back, Lin Jing reverted to her cheerful self, her eyes sparkling with renewed vitality.

Finally, the ninth insect crossed the border between the Autumn Mountain Domain and the Black Wind Domain.

In the vast, desolate black wilderness, the two humans and their insect companion witnessed the colossal demonic willow that blotted out the sky and moon.

Its size seemed even greater than before, dwarfing Li Qing’s previous encounter.

Even from a great distance, they could clearly see its eerie, drooping branches.

Within the trunk, crimson crystals of varying sizes pulsed with a dark red light.

Li Qing and Lin Jing remained relatively calm, but the ninth insect trembled violently, its nine tentacles curling tightly against its body.

The terrifying willow tree in the distance evoked a primal fear deep within its soul.

”Don’t be scared, Xiao Jiu. Don’t be afraid, okay? Master’s here. That big tree can’t hurt you,” Lin Jing murmured soothingly, gently patting the ninth insect’s body to calm its trembling.

But her efforts were largely ineffective. Xiao Jiu continued to tremble uncontrollably, a reaction driven by instinct.

Faced with a demonic willow that could crush it effortlessly, it simply submitted with all its being.

Li Qing’s expression was equally grave as he studied the demonic willow from afar, his eyes flickering with unspoken thoughts.

”So, my two disciples died by your hand?” Li Qing murmured, but he didn’t dare approach rashly.

Even if his mana hadn’t been completely depleted, he knew he wouldn’t stand a chance against this willow tree in its prime.

Just how powerful had it become? Li Qing suspected that even if he reached the late-stage core formation and multiplied his cultivation strength several times over, he still wouldn’t be able to compare.

It was truly an existence of unimaginable terror.

”Let’s go. We’ll warn the martial alliance to stay far away from this place. Under no circumstances should anyone approach it.”

”This willow tree is likely to become invincible,” Li Qing said with a wry smile, shaking his head. He couldn’t imagine anything that could threaten its existence.

As he spoke, Li Qing couldn’t resist pulling out a blood-red lotus seed from his pocket.

Judging by the Blood Lotus Sect Leader’s final words, the blood lotus and this demonic willow were similar entities. Had the lotus not been discovered prematurely, it might have grown to dominate the entire Autumn Mountain Domain.

Unfortunately, only a single lotus seed remained. Even if he tried his best, it would never catch up to the willow’s current state.

Upon receiving Li Qing’s command, Ninth Insect felt like it had been granted a pardon. It was eager to escape this desolate wasteland that made its entire body tremble.

Facing this terrifying willow tree was simply too terrifying for it.

Boom!

Moving with lightning speed, Ninth Insect instantly covered a vast distance, changing direction to head straight for Giant Rock City.

Outside Giant Rock City, a colossal figure crushed through the dust, its approach causing the ground to tremble faintly.

The Martial Artists guarding the city instantly tensed, swallowing hard as they stared in terror beyond the city walls.

”Strange beast! A strange beast is attacking the city!”

”Sound the bells! Sound the bells! Alert everyone in the alliance to prepare for battle!”

”Damn it! Of all times for this to happen, it’s when the alliance leader and Guardian Xi Shan are away!”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The resonant bell tolls echoed across the city. Martial Artists stationed at strategic points throughout the city immediately struck their bronze bells upon hearing the alarm.

In an instant, the sound of bells reverberated from every corner of the city.

Hearing the alarm, the city’s residents immediately scrambled into the underground shelters. These caves had been dug by the martial alliance’s warriors precisely for times like these.

Against the onslaught of powerful strange beasts, fleeing was futile. The only hope lay in hiding deep underground and praying that the martial alliance’s warriors could lure the beasts away.

Over the years, Giant Rock City had not always enjoyed peace. Whenever powerful strange beasts attacked, the martial alliance’s warriors would use their own fleshly bodies to draw the frenzied creatures away.

They had long since grown accustomed to this grim task.

Of course, such diversions came at a steep price, often claiming many lives.

Thus, every warrior who stepped onto the city walls knew they were risking their lives.

”Xiao Jia, our vital energy is at its peak. Follow me and we’ll lure that strange beast away first!”

”I’m faster. Let me go instead.”

”...”

Every Martial Artist was fearless, even vying for this near-certain death mission.

The phrase ”righteousness reaching the heavens” found its truest embodiment in these warriors.

But soon, some Martial Artists with exceptional eyesight noticed something strange.

”Look! There seems to be someone riding on that strange beast!”

”Impossible! Are you seeing things?”

”No, there really is someone up there!”

”Wait! Is that Guardian Lin? She’s waving at us!”

”Guardian Lin is so beautiful.”

One after another, Martial Artists climbed the city walls and strained their eyes. Soon, they clearly saw Lin Jing standing atop the beast, waving at them. Her radiant, cheerful smile instantly dispelled the panic in their hearts.

”The other person is Guardian Lin’s master—Senior Li, our martial alliance’s Dao Protector!”

”It was a false alarm after all! It seems Senior Li has tamed this strange beast.”

A while later, as the ninth insect approached the city gate, everyone knelt down in fervent excitement.

”Greetings, Guardian Lin! Greetings, Senior Li!”

”Guardian Lin, what about this strange beast?”

Standing atop the ninth insect, Lin Jing smiled gently at the Martial Artists on the city wall.

”There’s no need for such formality or alarm. You can deactivate the alarm bells. My master and I subdued this creature together, and it poses no threat to anyone!”

Hearing this boastful claim, the Martial Artists exchanged skeptical glances, momentarily unable to believe their ears.

Yet the immensely powerful strange beast lay quietly before the city gate, motionless and remarkably docile.

The sight was so overwhelming that it left them feeling dizzy and disoriented.

Finally, after Lin Jing had spoken for some time, the crowd began to accept the reality unfolding before them.

”Alright, you can all return to your duties now,” Lin Jing clapped her hands, dispersing the Martial Artists gathered on the city wall.

As her words faded, Lin Jing turned away, her smile gradually fading.

”Master, you can stop here. Xiao Jing will be a good girl and listen to you!”

Seeing his disciple’s forced composure, Li Qing’s heart softened slightly. He reached out and gently ruffled the cat ears on Lin Jing’s head, his voice warm as he said:

”Now that the Blood Lotus Sect has been eradicated, the Black Wind Domain and Autumn Mountain Domain belong to the martial alliance.”

”I have little left to teach you. But remember this: the path lies beneath your own feet. How you walk it depends entirely on your own will.”

”Don’t worry too much about me in the future. Live well. Our reunion won’t be long.”

With these words, Li Qing slowly withdrew his hand, his gaze infinitely gentle.

Hearing this, Lin Jing nodded vigorously and leaped lightly onto the city wall.

”Master, you must come back to see Xiao Jing often!”

Li Qing nodded. Having said all he needed to say, he activated his divine sense, and the ninth insect beneath him began to move back along the path they had come.

Watching her master’s departing figure, tears gradually welled up in Lin Jing’s bright eyes. She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted loudly:

”Master, Xiao Jing will miss you! Please take care of yourself!”

Finally, Li Qing and the ninth insect’s figures slowly vanished from sight. Lin Jing pressed her lips together, firmly wiping away the tears that threatened to spill.

I must become stronger! One day, I’ll accompany Master on his adventures!

(End of the Chapter)

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