Immortal Refiner

”Fatty Wu, keep piloting the spirit boat westward. I’ll be right back!”

With that, Li Qing leaped off the massive spirit boat and soared after the Wandering Sky Falcon, following its flight path at breakneck speed.

In the end, he decided to follow and observe the situation firsthand.

Hearing this, Wu Chong hastily lifted the Black Furnace that had been covering him, his face a mixture of shock and uncertainty as he watched Li Qing leap off the spirit boat.

”It could be a trap! That Wandering Sky Falcon is cunning. Be extremely careful!” Wu Chong shouted.

Li Qing, already airborne, waved dismissively behind him, signaling that he understood and not to worry.

It wasn’t that he wanted to monopolize any potential opportunities. After all, whether this journey would lead to fortune or peril remained unknown.

If they encountered real danger, escaping with a large group of stragglers would be nearly impossible.

It was better to act alone. Even if trouble arose, fleeing would be much easier.

Thus, Li Qing soared through the air, his gaze locked firmly on the Wandering Sky Falcon ahead.

The falcon didn’t display its full speed, merely flapping its wings at a normal pace, allowing Li Qing to keep up.

Along the way, they traversed primeval, untamed forests, soared over mountains and ancient ravines, and occasionally passed through the territories of other third-tier demonic beasts, where the surrounding demon aura was exceptionally dense.

With a growing sense of unease, Li Qing followed the Wandering Sky Falcon deeper and deeper into this demon beast-infested region.

Finally, under his slightly tense gaze, the Wandering Sky Falcon abruptly ceased its forward flight and began circling repeatedly around a pool filled with water.

As Li Qing approached, the falcon warily maintained a distance, though not too far away.

The pool was quite large, but its surface remained perfectly still, without even a ripple.

The calm water reflected the sunlight, dazzlingly bright and piercing.

”A pool? Is this the place it wanted to bring me? Could there be something strange here?”

Li Qing remained vigilant, his inner caution intensifying.

The more ordinary and unremarkable a place appears, the greater the danger it often conceals.

Although his spiritual perception detected no immediate threats, Li Qing knew he couldn’t let his guard down.

”Intriguing,” he murmured, narrowing his eyes. ”This pool is clearly brimming with spiritual energy, yet it’s eerily calm. Not only are there no demon beasts daring to approach, but I can’t even sense a trace of demon aura nearby!”

For demon beasts, areas rich in spiritual energy are naturally coveted habitats. The abundance of spiritual energy accelerates their cultivation progress and often coincides with the presence of potent spirit herbs.

This explains why territories claimed by powerful demon beasts frequently harbor rare treasures, with the beasts guarding them day and night until the spirit herbs mature.

It’s not that spirit herbs prefer to grow in the lairs of powerful demon beasts; rather, the beasts actively seek out such locations, even engaging in life-or-death battles to secure them.

Yet this pool, overflowing with spiritual energy, showed no sign of even a single demon beast hair!

There was only one possibility: this must be the dwelling of a great demon!

At this realization, Li Qing’s gaze immediately turned cold and sharp. A retreat was already forming in his mind; he resolved to leave at once.

He believed the Wandering Sky Falcon had deliberately led him here, intending to use the great demon’s power to harm him!

But in the next moment, as if sensing Li Qing’s thoughts, the Wandering Sky Falcon slightly flapped its wings and swooped directly toward the tranquil surface of the pool.

Whoosh!

A sharp, piercing sound echoed through the air as the falcon’s razor-sharp talons touched the water’s surface, sending ripples across the once-still water.

Then, it turned back and repeated the action.

Again and again, the falcon repeated this maneuver, until a whirlpool began to form in the tranquil pool!

Having accomplished this, the Wandering Sky Falcon soared back into the sky, its wings beating steadily.

Soon, an astonishingly dense demon aura began to emanate from the swirling vortex.

Sensing this, Li Qing’s heart jolted with alarm. He mistakenly believed a great demon was about to emerge.

He quickly dismissed the idea, however, as the demon aura, though soaring skyward, showed no further fluctuations.

Immediately, Li Qing extended his divine sense into the vortex.

He soon witnessed an astonishing sight: within the vortex lay a hidden grotto-heaven!

Inside was a sizable stone chamber, its walls lined with peculiar stone slabs. Some were inscribed with eerie runes, while others bore images of various bird species, radiating an air of profound mystery.

”Did the Wandering Sky Falcon truly lead me to this secret place? It seems it had no intention of harming me after all.”

Li Qing’s gaze flickered as he continued to probe the underwater stone chamber with his divine sense.

Suddenly, his pupils constricted sharply.

In a corner of the chamber lay a pile of shattered eggshells!

Crucially, these eggshells were entirely made of stone, resembling the fragments of a broken stone egg.

The surging demon aura that had erupted from the vortex earlier originated from these stone eggshells.

Staring at the eggshells, Li Qing fell into deep thought.

”What exactly is this place? The patterns etched around the area depict powerful demon birds!”

”And those shattered stone eggshells... could some kind of demon bird have hatched here?”

”The Wandering Sky Falcon led me here. Could it be planning to trade the opportunities of this place for my crimson crystals?”

With these thoughts, Li Qing turned his gaze to the Wandering Sky Falcon circling overhead.

To his surprise, he detected a hint of urgency in its falcon eyes—a truly astonishing sight.

However, for safety’s sake, Li Qing decided to first probe for any hidden dangers within the area.

With that, he patted the purple spirit beast pouch at his waist.

A flash of spiritual light erupted from the pouch, and a massive black shadow instantly enveloped the area.

Splash!

A violent spray of water erupted from the edge of the pool as a bizarre worm with nine tentacles emerged.

It was Xiao Jiu, the creature Li Qing had captured from the World of Eternal Night!

Xiao Jiu’s sudden appearance startled even the Wandering Sky Falcon, its wings jerking violently as it nearly took flight, mistaking the worm for a sudden attack from Li Qing.

Only after confirming that the bizarre worm wasn’t targeting it did the falcon regain its composure.

”Xiao Jiu, extend your tentacles and test the waters!” Li Qing commanded the ninth insect.

Xiao Jiu’s tentacles were uniquely suited for this task. Even if severed, they could regenerate rapidly, making them ideal for probing the safety of such environments.

As Li Qing observed, he kept his hand pressed against his spirit beast pouch, ready to retreat with Xiao Jiu at the first sign of danger.

Soon, Xiao Jiu’s tentacles plunged into the water cave, sending ripples across the surface and splashing water around the whirlpool.

All clear!

No anomalies were detected. The stone chamber remained tranquil and undisturbed.

”Guard the entrance and don’t wander off!” Li Qing instructed the falcon.

With that, he leaped into the whirlpool, diving directly into its depths.

Plunging through the turbulent currents, Li Qing quickly approached the stone chamber.

This was an independent space, completely dry and isolated from the surrounding water.

Silent and still, Li Qing could even hear the powerful thud of his own heartbeat within the chamber.

His attention was immediately drawn to a pile of stone eggshells in the corner, each rimmed with withered scales.

”I thought this might be a secret space of the demon bird clan,” Li Qing murmured, frowning slightly as he gently picked up a scale. ”But it seems not.”

He quickly identified the scales as molted armor from some kind of demon crocodile, their texture remarkably tough.

Though dried and devoid of spirituality, they remained impervious to blades, spears, water, and fire.

These scales could be refined into a decent set of scale-armor defensive magical artifacts. However, Li Qing already possessed the Golden Jade Garment, a powerful magic treasure, and had no interest in such mundane items. He simply stored them in his storage pouch.

”These scales likely came from a demon crocodile of extraordinary power,” he mused.

Demon crocodiles rarely shed their skin like snakes. When they do, it signifies a complete transformation, akin to being reborn.

Therefore, Li Qing concluded that the demon crocodile that shed these scales must possess terrifying power. Judging by their quality, it likely had at least late third-tier strength, possibly even higher!

As for the nearby stone eggshells, they were completely useless.

These ancient shells, unlike normal monster beast eggshells brimming with spirituality, had long since lost all their essence.

”This is quite strange,” Li Qing mused. ”Most demon beasts that hatch from eggs devour their shells as their first meal after birth.”

”Yet these stone eggshells have been completely drained of their essence, a stark contrast to typical demon beast behavior.”

Moreover, the demon crocodile scales Li Qing had stored in his storage pouch were equally peculiar.

Normally, demon beasts would never shed their skin and lay eggs simultaneously, as either process would significantly weaken them.

The simultaneous presence of a shed skin and eggshells in this place was truly baffling.

”Perhaps the molting occurred some time after the eggs were laid,” Li Qing speculated. ”This place is so quiet and peaceful; it would make an excellent secluded retreat.”

He couldn’t conceive of the other possibility: that the demon crocodile that hatched from the egg and the one that shed its skin were the same creature!

Next, Li Qing’s attention turned to the stone slabs lining the chamber.

These slabs were peculiar, covered in runes he couldn’t recognize. He could only barely make out the imprinted patterns.

”Are these patterns demon script?”

The demon race possessed its own written language, used by great demons who had achieved transformation to communicate. Few human cultivators understood demon script, as it was primarily passed down among demon beasts with naturally powerful bloodlines.

Some demon beasts, upon reaching a certain stage of growth, would instinctively grasp the meaning of these demon scripts, requiring no formal instruction—only the awakening of their bloodline.

Unfortunately, despite having Fan Tong and Ninth Insect, Li Qing’s two dimwitted companions couldn’t decipher the demon script. They were essentially illiterate among demon beasts.

”What could these stone slabs mean?”

As he spoke, Li Qing quickly noticed that some of the stone slabs embedded in the chamber walls glowed with spiritual light, while others remained dull and colorless.

Though he couldn’t read the demon script, he could vaguely recognize some of the bird-like patterns.

”This must be a phoenix, right? Phoenixes are renowned as immortal birds, capable of undergoing Nirvana and being reborn from flames.”

With this thought, Li Qing couldn’t resist reaching out to touch this legendary True Spirit.

The moment his hand made contact with the phoenix-patterned slab, his entire body jolted violently, as if struck by lightning.

”Th-this... Just now, an inheritance seemed to surge into my mind, but it suddenly stopped!”

Li Qing exclaimed in astonishment. Though the sensation was fleeting, he was certain he had nearly received an inheritance.

Next, Li Qing reached out to touch the slab imprinted with a crimson phoenix.

This time, however, no reaction occurred.

”Hiss... Why did the electric shock feeling vanish?”

Undeterred, Li Qing extended his hand again, this time touching a nearby dull, colorless slab.

Etched into the dull, lusterless stone tablet was a Luan Bird, another True Spirit that had long since vanished from the lower realm and was considered impossible to encounter.

Unlike the phoenix tablet from earlier, which had shimmered with a faint glow, this Luan Bird tablet was utterly dark and opaque.

When Li Qing touched it, there was no reaction whatsoever. The electric shock sensation he had experienced before failed to materialize.

”What’s going on?”

Reluctant to give up, Li Qing reached for the next tablet, its surface etched with golden lines depicting a Three-Legged Golden Crow.

The golden crow pattern on this tablet radiated a vibrant golden spiritual light, so lifelike it seemed poised to leap out at any moment.

This time, when Li Qing touched the tablet, he finally felt that familiar electric shock.

A torrent of information surged from the stone, and Li Qing even thought he heard the Three-Legged Golden Crow’s cry, though he couldn’t be sure if it was real or an illusion.

But once again, the inheritance abruptly cut off, leaving him with no useful information.

”Why does this inheritance keep stopping?”

Li Qing’s eyes flickered with frustration. The golden crow’s inheritance had felt so real, so close to completion, yet it had been cut short at the critical moment.

”Could it be...”

As if realizing something, Li Qing rummaged through his storage pouch for a long time before finally pulling out a golden feather.

It was a tail feather from a golden fire crow, from which he had completely drained the pure yang qi when refining the Netherworld Cold Fire.

”Does obtaining the inheritance from the stone tablet require being a demon bird with its bloodline?”

”Is this a special inheritance site specifically prepared for the demon bird race?”

”If that’s the case, why did the Wandering Sky Falcon bring me here?”

As his words faded, Li Qing abruptly looked upward.

His gaze pierced through layers of obstacles, instantly spotting the Wandering Sky Falcon, which had stopped flying.

The falcon’s eyes gleamed with faint contempt, as if mocking Li Qing’s overestimation of his own abilities.

Seeing this meaningful look, Li Qing finally understood. The Wandering Sky Falcon had brought him here to take away the shed scales of the crocodile demons.

These scales were meant to be traded for the crimson crystal in his possession!

”That’s it! This True Spirit’s inheritance site is far too important. It only brought me here because it was certain I couldn’t obtain any inheritance.”

”This Wandering Sky Falcon is as cunning as a fox!”

Li Qing couldn’t help grinding his teeth, a wave of intense frustration washing over him.

To enter a mountain of treasures and leave empty-handed was truly a bitter disappointment!

These were the inheritances of True Spirits—obtaining any one of them would be an opportunity defying the heavens. Even Nascent Soul True Monarchs, and perhaps even cultivators in the divine transformation stage, would go completely mad for such a chance.

The inheritances of True Spirits were that precious!

Li Qing’s breathing grew rapid. He now understood: the dim, lifeless stone slabs represented inheritances that had already been claimed, while those still radiating spiritual light signified inheritances that remained unclaimed and available.

”The pattern on this slab resembles both a bird and a fish, its wings like clouds stretching across the sky, soaring ninety thousand miles with a single flap. Could this be the Kunpeng?”

The Kunpeng’s inheritance remained unclaimed!

For a moment, Li Qing’s heart nearly stopped beating.

”This slab depicts the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird! Its inheritance is still here too!”

”This bird with its long neck and tail feathers fanned like a blooming flower—could it be the Nine-Colored Peacock? Alas, its inheritance has already been claimed.”

”A one-legged bird resembling a red-crowned crane, standing above a sea of flames—this is the bifang! Has its inheritance been claimed as well?”

”Its wings crackle with lightning—this is the inheritance of the True Spirit Thunderbird! And it’s still available!”

”This is the double-pupiled bird.”

Li Qing meticulously counted the various True Spirit Immortal Bird species depicted above, his inner resentment growing stronger with each one.

To obtain these inheritances, one needed to possess the bloodline of an Immortal Bird, even if it was just a faint trace!

Unfortunately, Li Qing was human. How could he possibly conjure the bloodline of an Immortal Bird out of thin air?

As his emotions surged, Li Qing suddenly jolted, as if remembering something crucial!

”I’ve got it! Let’s try this!”

(End of the Chapter)

Translator’s Corner

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