Immortal Refiner

A torrent of black and white heavenly spirit fire erupted, coalescing under Li Qing’s control into a massive Yin-Yang Wheel.

Boom!

The rapidly spinning fiery Yin-Yang Wheel shot forward, bearing down on True Lord Qingyang.

Initially, True Lord Qingyang dismissed it as merely another divine ability.

”Crimson Blaze Heaven-Veiling Palm!”

He unleashed the powerful divine ability inherited from the Crimson Radiance Hall, his greatest reliance.

Over the years, he had continuously offered sacrifices to the Formless Demon Ancestor, reaping immense benefits in return.

These included numerous divine abilities, cultivation methods, and secret Pill Dao techniques, all of which had profoundly enhanced his cultivation. Without them, he would never have achieved core formation.

The colossal fiery palm surged toward the Yin-Yang Wheel, but the outcome defied True Lord Qingyang’s expectations.

His trump card was shattered upon impact!

A searing heatwave exploded outward, instantly raising the surrounding temperature.

Amidst the scattering flames, the Yin-Yang Wheel emerged unscathed, continuing its relentless advance.

”Impossible!” True Lord Qingyang gasped, as if struck by a sudden realization.

”Heavenly spirit fire! This is heavenly spirit fire?!”

In that moment, he finally understood the true nature of Li Qing’s technique.

It wasn’t a divine ability at all, but rather a devastating killing move born from Li Qing’s mastery over two heavenly spirit fires.

True Lord Qingyang, who desperately sought the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch’s inheritance, naturally understood what heavenly spirit fires were. He had even researched them extensively, gathering detailed information.

He knew that the most crucial aspect of the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch’s inheritance was subduing and controlling heavenly spirit fires. Only by doing so could one unlock the full potential of the cultivation manual.

Without heavenly spirit fires, the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art would be no different from inferior fire dao cultivation techniques, and might even be slightly inferior.

Fragments of the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art were already circulating in the Azure Ridge Domain, and True Lord Qingyang himself had obtained a portion from the ancient Crimson Radiance Hall at the earth’s core.

However, he had never cultivated this fire dao technique because he had never subdued a single heavenly spirit fire.

These treasures, considered Holy Artifacts and supreme treasures of the immortal realm, were exceedingly rare. They could only be encountered by chance, not sought out—a perfect description of their elusive nature.

True Lord Qingyang quickly recognized that the yin-yang flame wheel Li Qing had unleashed was a deadly combination of the Netherworld Cold Fire and the Spirit Devouring Demon Flame.

”This brat has struck a heaven-defying stroke of luck, managing to subdue and control two heavenly spirit fires! It seems you’re cultivating the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art as well!”

”No wonder you appeared here. Now everything makes sense.”

As he spoke, True Lord Qingyang exhaled deeply. Facing the Yin-Yang Wheel that had already closed in on him, he surprisingly didn’t retreat. Instead, he closed his eyes and spread his arms wide, as if resigning himself to fate and allowing Li Qing to slaughter him at will.

But that was far from the truth!

In the next instant, the true essence within True Lord Qingyang’s body erupted violently. When he abruptly opened his eyes, the surrounding air rippled violently.

The Yin-Yang Wheel, which had been hurtling toward him with overwhelming force, suddenly slowed to a crawl, like a galloping horse sinking into quicksand.

”Over the years, I’ve made thorough preparations to subdue a heavenly spirit fire!”

”These paltry tricks won’t be enough to kill me!”

As his words faded, a vortex of spiritual energy materialized before True Lord Qingyang. The flames of the Yin-Yang Wheel, entirely composed of heavenly spirit fire, were completely separated from the wheel and vanished into the vortex.

After completing his preparations, True Lord Qingyang turned his gaze forward.

But his expression quickly shifted to astonishment and confusion.

”Hmm? Where did he go?”

He suddenly realized that Li Qing had vanished from his sight, leaving his meticulously prepared attack without a target.

At that moment, the void behind him rippled violently. Wind-Thunder Power surged, and silver light flashed!

Li Qing, with Wind-Thunder Silver Wings sprouting from his back, unleashed the Kunpeng Divine Power. His speed became impossibly swift, making him as elusive as a phantom.

He pierced through the void, silently appearing behind True Lord Qingyang.

In Li Qing’s hand materialized a massive, gray-tinged hammer.

Boom!

The Primordial Chaos Peerless Hammer crashed down, the air screaming in agony.

Bang!

With a single strike, the space distorted anew, still unstable from Li Qing’s void traversal.

True Lord Qingyang’s fleshly body, clad in an ethereal Daoist robe, exploded violently. Crimson blood mixed with shredded flesh erupted outward, blooming like a macabre flower in the air.

Li Qing’s speed was overwhelming, his attack devastatingly precise.

True Lord Qingyang didn’t even have time to consider detonating his Golden Core before his life was extinguished, his blood staining the heavens.

Gazing at the falling remains, Li Qing stood in silence for a long, long time.

It wasn’t that Li Qing didn’t want to leave True Lord Qingyang alive, but a core formation realm cultivator could self-detonate their Golden Core, and he had no way to prevent it.

Thus, he had no choice but to strike decisively, ending True Lord Qingyang’s life swiftly.

Although Li Qing had reached the peak of the core formation realm, facing the self-detonation of a Golden Core from a cultivator of the same realm would still be extremely troublesome.

Li Qing sighed, then swiftly collected all of True Lord Qingyang’s belongings, including the storage pouch of the Grasslands warrior.

Additionally, the five corpse puppets within the bronze cauldron ceased all movement upon True Lord Qingyang’s death.

”Two third-tier corpse puppets and three second-tier high-grade corpse puppets,” Li Qing noted.

Naturally, he claimed these as spoils of war as well.

He had never considered himself a righteous path cultivator, so he felt no qualms about using corpse puppets refined through demonic methods.

Instead of immediately examining his gains, Li Qing glanced toward the horizon, in the direction where the Grasslands female cultivator had fled.

”She’s a master of escape techniques. After all this time, tracking her down will be difficult.”

”Never mind. I doubt she’ll dare return anyway.”

It was clear the female cultivator had been terrified out of her wits and would naturally flee as far as possible.

With that, Li Qing casually activated the Spirit Devouring Demon Flame, incinerating the mangled remains on the ground until nothing remained.

Having finished this, his gaze once again turned toward the Fire Cliff Cave.

Next, he needed to delve deeper into the earth’s core to attempt contact with the Crimson Radiance Hall and reinforce the seal on the Formless Demon Ancestor’s Dao Body.

Indeed, he could only reinforce the seal, not attempt to obliterate it using the Crimson Radiance Hall.

That was something even the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch had been unable to achieve, making it even more impossible for Li Qing.

Returning to the depths of the Fire Cliff Cave, Li Qing stared at the half-concealed stone gate. Taking a deep breath, he pushed it shut.

Buzz!

The crimson flame pattern at the center of the gate pulsed with crystalline spiritual light, causing a faint resonance with the crimson true essence within Li Qing’s body.

This time, Li Qing entered the area with his true body, only to discover that an incarnation of a demon ancestor was sealed beneath the magma sea!

It was impossible not to feel apprehensive. After all, if such a being were to break free from its seal, it could easily crush him.

As he touched the restriction on the stone gate, a crimson aura enveloped Li Qing’s entire body.

The surroundings rapidly transformed, and in an instant, he found himself in a scorching realm.

Rumble!

Magma! A vast ocean of magma!

As the molten sea churned endlessly, waves of scorching heat rolled forth, even Li Qing felt a genuine burning sensation.

Fortunately, he possessed heavenly spirit fire. By channeling the two heavenly spirit fires within his body, he effortlessly neutralized the heat waves that would have otherwise scorched his skin.

The area was surprisingly quiet, save for the occasional rumble of surging magma.

Li Qing’s gaze gradually lifted, settling upon an ancient crimson hall.

Crimson Radiance Hall!

The hall’s weathered surface bore the marks of extreme age, clearly indicating its ancient origins.

”This is the Crimson Radiance Hall, refined by the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch himself! Truly magnificent and imposing. To suppress the demon ancestor’s incarnation beneath this magma sea with a single hall—what astonishing skill!” Dao Lord Bai Ling murmured in Li Qing’s mind, casually mentioning some of the hall’s profound mysteries.

After studying it for a while, Li Qing couldn’t help but feel utterly awestruck.

Even the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch, with his heaven-defying abilities, couldn’t completely obliterate the demon ancestor’s Dao Body?

Then how unimaginably powerful must the Formless Demon Ancestor’s true form be?

Li Qing couldn’t even begin to imagine!

”Heh, I happen to know a bit about this Formless Demon Ancestor,” Dao Lord Bai Ling said.

”This demon ancestor isn’t just skilled at manipulating hearts; he can also manifest countless incarnations. During the demon realm’s massive invasion of the Human Realm, it’s said he deployed multiple Dao Bodies, causing immense trouble for the human race’s ancient sages and mighty figures.”

”Of course, these incarnations vary in strength. The Dao Body suppressed within this magma sea is likely one of the more powerful ones the Formless Demon Ancestor sent to the Human Realm.”

With that, Dao Lord Bai Ling fell silent.

There was one thing he hadn’t told Li Qing: the Formless Demon Ancestor’s true body was immortal, meaning his Dao Bodies couldn’t be easily destroyed either.

In other words, after all these years, the Formless Demon Ancestor’s Dao Body remained alive and well, implying that the Demon Ancestor’s true body was still alive as well!

”Your cultivation manual is the same as the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch’s, and you’ve also subdued a heavenly spirit fire. With these two advantages, reinforcing the seal against the Formless Demon Ancestor within the Crimson Radiance Hall should be relatively smooth.”

Hearing Dao Lord Bai Ling’s words, Li Qing no longer hesitated.

He stepped toward the magma sea ahead, and stone steps immediately rose from the depths to support his feet.

Having come this far, there was no reason to retreat now!

Moreover, he was deeply interested in the inheritance within the Crimson Radiance Hall. If he could obtain the subsequent Chapters of the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art through this, it would be a tremendous gain!

With renewed resolve, Li Qing’s steps grew firmer as he approached the ancient and majestic Crimson Radiance Hall floating high above.

But just then, the magma sea below suddenly churned violently, and a faint, ethereal voice echoed from its depths:

”Little Daoist, you human cultivator, have you come seeking the inheritance of the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch?”

The moment these words echoed, Li Qing’s heart lurched, his vigilance reaching its peak.

Without a doubt, the speaker was the Formless Demon Ancestor’s Dao Body!

This demon was a master of deception, so Li Qing dared not even engage in conversation, fearing he might be seduced like True Lord Qingyang.

Since arriving here, Li Qing had maintained complete silence. Faced with the demon ancestor’s question, he remained utterly cautious, refusing to utter a single word.

Seeing Li Qing’s lack of response, the ethereal voice resonated once more:

”Alas, the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch’s inheritance is not easily obtained. First, you must find a way to enter the Crimson Radiance Hall, yet this grand hall has been sealed here since its creation, rejecting all cultivators who attempt to enter.”

Li Qing remained unmoved, ignoring the voice and silently advancing.

Finally, he reached the foot of the colossal ancient hall.

The Crimson Radiance Hall was immense. From a distance, without any reference points, it had seemed unremarkable. But upon approaching, Li Qing felt a sudden sense of insignificance.

This was only fitting, after all. As the prison of a demon ancestor’s Dao Body, the hall naturally radiated an aura of overwhelming grandeur!

The Crimson Radiance Hall was entirely constructed from a crimson stone, its surface faintly etched with intricate ancient dao patterns.

Upon arriving here, Li Qing finally posed his first question to Dao Lord Bai Ling:

”Senior, what should I do next?”

Dao Lord Bai Ling replied, ”Circulate your cultivation manual and mobilize your true essence. Since this hall was refined by the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch, it should resonate with the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art. Why not give it a try?”

Without hesitation, Li Qing immediately followed the instructions.

Boom!

As the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art activated, a unique crimson true essence surged through Li Qing’s meridians.

The Crimson Radiance Hall remained unresponsive. Li Qing then channeled his true essence outward, attempting to make contact with the ancient hall and observe any unique reactions.

The result, however, was utterly unexpected!

The refined true essence, cultivated through the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art, was immediately repelled upon touching the stone hall’s surface!

This defied all logic!

”How could this be?” Li Qing murmured, his brow furrowed as he opened his eyes.

Dao Lord Bai Ling remained silent, seemingly lost in deep thought.

Meanwhile, from the magma sea below, that ethereal, shifting voice echoed once more:

”I never imagined your cultivation manual would be identical to the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch’s. What a coincidence! You could almost be considered half his successor.”

”But this is futile. The Crimson Radiance Hall is completely sealed; no one can enter!”

”How about we make a deal? You retrieve the corpses of powerful cultivators from the outside world for me, and I’ll pry open the ancient hall, allowing you to claim the inheritance within.”

Make a deal with a demon ancestor?

Li Qing wasn’t a fool. Once he released the demon ancestor, he would be devoured without a trace.

Moreover, his primary purpose for coming here was to reinforce the Crimson Radiance Hall’s seal on this demon ancestor. Even if he failed in that task, he would never actively help the demon ancestor escape!

However, the Formless Demon Ancestor clearly misunderstood his intentions, still believing Li Qing had come to claim the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch’s inheritance.

”Heh, I understand your caution, but I truly harbor no ill will. Once I escape this place, I’ll immediately return to my clan’s holy realm and won’t linger even for a moment!”

”How about this? To prove my sincerity, I’ll share some information with you.”

”Within the Crimson Radiance Hall lie two genuine Holy Artifacts. Wouldn’t you like to know what they are?”

”...”

(End of the Chapter)

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