Immortal Refiner

The teleportation array within the immortal city was meticulously guarded by the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild. Even core formation realm cultivators served as guards to prevent any kind of disturbances.

Immediately after the dao discussion concluded, Li Qing rushed to the teleportation array, intending to use it to return to the Azure Ridge Domain and reach his sect as quickly as possible.

The journey was long and arduous. Even a nascent soul realm cultivator would require at least several months to complete it. Li Qing didn’t want to waste time on the road and risk complications.

It wasn’t that he feared being targeted; rather, he wanted to return to his sect as soon as possible to refine the Wind-Thunder Silver Wings and enhance his strength.

Learning from True Monarch Tianbao that the demon realm was likely to invade this world again in the future left Li Qing deeply uneasy. He knew all too well that he possessed the Fire Spirit Pearl, a true supreme treasure of this world.

One of the primary reasons for the demon realm’s previous invasion of the Human Realm had been to seize the five elements spirit pearls. Who knew if their next invasion would also target these pearls?

Furthermore, Li Qing hadn’t forgotten that he had once erased a Dao Body of a demon ancestor. Although he had accomplished this with the aid of the sealing formation left behind by the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch, it had still entangled him in immense karma!

All these factors filled Li Qing with deep unease. He desperately wished he could break through to the divine transformation stage immediately, allowing him to stand at the pinnacle of this realm.

He even felt an impulse to ascend to the upper realm in broad daylight, seeking refuge there!

If the Formless Demon Ancestor’s Dao Body possessed such formidable power, Li Qing couldn’t even begin to imagine the true cultivation level of its true form.

Carrying this anxious mood, Li Qing finally arrived at the teleportation array within the immortal city.

”Greetings, Senior Limitless. Are you also planning to use the teleportation array to depart?”

As Li Qing approached, a core formation realm cultivator from the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild immediately stepped forward to greet him personally. After all, Li Qing’s reputation had soared, and he was currently at the height of his fame!

Li Qing simply nodded calmly and asked, ”When will the teleportation array be activated again?”

The core formation realm cultivator from the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild immediately replied respectfully, ”Very soon, Senior. Please wait just a moment. The next teleportation will be prioritized for you.”

As a Nascent Soul cultivator, Li Qing naturally possessed certain privileges.

Any Nascent Soul cultivator seeking to use the teleportation array received the highest priority. Other cultivators who had arrived earlier could only wait patiently, not daring to voice even the slightest complaint.

Li Qing didn’t feign modesty; he openly embraced this privilege.

He didn’t have to wait long. As the spatial fluctuations in the area gradually subsided, the teleportation array opened exclusively for him.

”Senior Limitless, this is a One-Way Undirected Teleportation Array. It can only transport you away, not back.”

”Furthermore, ’undirected’ means we can only pinpoint a general great domain. More precise targeting is impossible. As for the exact location within the domain where you’ll land, that’s entirely up to luck!”

Li Qing’s eyebrows arched at this news. ”If my luck is poor and I’m teleported to a forbidden land, wouldn’t that be a guaranteed death sentence?”

The core formation realm cultivator overseeing the teleportation array explained awkwardly, ”Such scenarios are rare. Most forbidden lands have anti-air restrictions that prevent teleportation targeting. You can rest assured on that front, Senior.”

Hearing this, Li Qing finally felt a bit more at ease.

He nodded. ”I need to go to the Azure Ridge Domain. Set the coordinates.”

”Understood. Teleportation to the Azure Ridge Domain requires six thousand spirit stones,” the attendant said, producing a black, compass-like disk covered in intricate patterns and runes.

Six thousand spirit stones!

That’s certainly not cheap!

Li Qing’s heart twinged slightly, feeling a pang of regret. But to maintain the image of a Nascent Soul realm senior, his expression remained as calm as a still pond as he slowly retrieved six thousand spirit stones from his Carefree Cosmos Pouch.

With the spirit stones in place, the teleportation array was immediately activated.

”May Senior have a safe journey!”

After a farewell, Li Qing stepped into the teleportation array. A dizzying sensation washed over him, and the surrounding scenery rapidly transformed.

Azure Ridge Domain, above the southernmost snowfields.

Within the thick, frigid clouds overhead, space suddenly twisted, and a point of light materialized out of thin air.

The point of light erupted into boundless, dazzling radiance, instantly transforming into an intricate and profound formation art pattern that spread outward.

In the next moment, a young man in a cyan Daoist robe, his figure exceptionally upright, plummeted from the formation art pattern.

The figure was none other than Li Qing. He quickly shook off the dizziness from the long-distance teleportation array, channeled his mana, and effortlessly stabilized himself in mid-air.

”Is this the southern region?” he murmured. ”What a coincidence. Since I’m here, I might as well check out that weak spatial node connecting to the demon realm.”

Li Qing glanced toward the former site of the Lingyun Sect.

In an instant, he transformed into a faint crimson escape light and shot off at lightning speed.

Moments later, the spiritual energy in the surrounding heaven and earth abruptly intensified. At this spiritual vein on the Snow Mountain Plateau, the spiritual energy had reached an astonishingly high concentration, far surpassing the scope of a third-tier spirit vein.

”Remarkable,” Li Qing mused. ”This spirit vein has already metamorphosed into a fourth-tier one.”

He released his divine sense.

The Spirit Vein Land, once the Lingyun Sect’s mountain gate, now housed cave abodes carved out by core formation realm cultivators.

As the cultivation environment in the Azure Ridge Domain flourished, cultivators had gradually achieved core formation, a development that was no longer considered rare.

However, the Lingyun Sect still retained ownership of the spirit vein. Those who cultivated here were still required to pay substantial annual spirit stone fees to the sect.

With Nascent Soul Ancestor Li Qing presiding over the Lingyun Sect, no one dared defy its authority. Even those who successfully achieved core formation had to humbly rely on the sect’s favor.

Li Qing’s divine sense swept across the area, revealing six core formation realm cultivators who had established cave abodes and were cultivating within.

Four of them were in the early Core Formation Realm, their auras suggesting they had recently achieved core formation, likely within the past few years.

The remaining two consisted of one late-stage core formation cultivator and one in the mid Core Formation Realm.

Li Qing was surprised to recognize the late-stage core formation cultivator as a familiar face.

”Heh, it’s him,” Li Qing murmured.

His figure vanished from its original spot, reappearing in an instant atop a spirit peak blanketed in thick snow.

The restriction guarding the cave abode posed no obstacle to him, but out of courtesy, Li Qing refrained from forcing his way in. Instead, he chuckled lightly outside the entrance, ”Fellow Daoist Wood Dragon, it’s been many years since we last met. I never expected to find you cultivating in the Azure Ridge Domain as well!”

Indeed, the cultivator within was none other than True Lord Wood Dragon, formerly of the Great Wilderness Domain!

Back then, Li Qing had traded an eight-hundred-year-old Soul Return Grass to this man in exchange for guidance to a yin-yang cavern, where he obtained a portion of Yin-Yang Spirit Condensation Liquid.

This core formation spiritual material had played a crucial role in his successful core formation.

Before long, the restriction outside True Lord Wood Dragon’s cave abode dissolved, and an elderly man in grass-green hemp robes emerged, his face etched with confusion.

He quickly spotted Li Qing standing outside the cave abode, his hands clasped behind his back. At first, True Lord Wood Dragon was taken aback, unsure which fellow daoist this might be.

It was then that Li Qing remembered his past. To conceal his identity and evade the Shangqing Sect’s pursuit in the Great Wilderness Domain, he had worn a false face until his core formation. Only after achieving core formation had he resumed his true appearance.

With this thought, Li Qing’s features shifted, reverting to the face he had worn during his early days exploring the Great Wilderness Domain.

True Lord Wood Dragon’s brow furrowed as he studied the familiar face. The more he looked, the more familiar it seemed, until recognition dawned.

”It’s you... No, your cultivation level!”

True Lord Wood Dragon gasped, drawing in a lungful of the snowfield’s frigid air, a chill seeping into his very bones.

He remembered now—this was the pseudo core formation stage cultivator who had traded him the Soul Return Grass!

Yet now, this man had undergone a complete transformation, ascending to become a great power in the nascent soul realm. The faint aura of authority emanating from him sent a genuine chill down his spine.

”So it’s Senior! I never imagined you would successfully achieve nascent soul formation. Congratulations! I’m truly honored that you still remember this humble old man!” True Lord Wood Dragon bowed respectfully, suddenly becoming remarkably docile.

Watching the True Lord’s obsequious demeanor, Li Qing shook his head with a wry smile.

He had no interest in reminiscing about old times; their acquaintance had never been particularly close. He had come here solely to inquire why the True Lord had fled the Great Wilderness Domain for the Azure Ridge Domain.

”I thought you were doing quite well in the Great Wilderness Domain, fellow daoist. What brings you to the Azure Ridge Domain?”

True Lord Wood Dragon replied bitterly, ”To be honest, the Great Wilderness Domain is now engulfed in war. The entire region is in chaos, and even core formation realm cultivators like myself live in constant peril.”

Hearing this, Li Qing was mildly surprised. He hadn’t realized the Great Wilderness Domain had descended into such turmoil.

”Oh? Fellow Daoist, could you briefly tell me about the current situation in the Great Wilderness Domain?” Li Qing asked, his curiosity piqued. After all, the Azure Ridge Domain and the Great Wilderness Domain were separated only by the vast Snow Mountain Range.

”Senior, if you don’t mind, let’s discuss this in my cave abode. Though I’ve lost my medicinal garden, I still have some rare spirit tea I’d like you to try.”

Li Qing accepted the invitation and followed True Lord Wood Dragon into the cave abode.

Soon, a steaming cup of Spirit Ginseng Tea was placed before Li Qing. He took a small sip. The tea had a slightly bitter initial taste, but the aftertaste was sweet and warming. After swallowing, he felt a warm, invigorating sensation spreading through his internal organs, and his vital energy seemed to circulate more vigorously.

It was indeed a rare and excellent tea.

However, Li Qing’s mind wasn’t focused on savoring the tea. He set down the cup and asked, ”Fellow Daoist, tell me about the current situation in the Great Wilderness Domain.”

”Ah, after the demonic path unified the Great Wilderness Domain, we enjoyed a period of relative peace.”

”But not long after, a Crocodile Venerable suddenly emerged from the west. He’s a great demon in the mid-Transformation Realm, possessing formidable power and skill.”

”The Crocodile Venerable swiftly unified the demon race of the Demon Beast Forest under his command and launched an invasion of human territory in alliance with a demon fox.”

”That demon fox is none other than the demon consort whom the last heroic ruler of the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty desperately sent away. She has now cultivated to the fourth-tier realm and can transform at will through her own power, no longer relying on the Transformation Pill she fortuitously consumed long ago.”

Hearing this, Li Qing’s eyes narrowed slightly as memories of his past in the Great Wilderness Domain flooded back.

The Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty—he had almost forgotten its name. Yet now, it seemed poised for a resurgence.

”The demon race’s power is formidable, but the three demonic sects shouldn’t be pushovers either,” Li Qing frowned. ”I recall that all three demonic path patriarchs were at the nascent soul realm. How could they allow such chaos to persist for so long?”

He vividly remembered that the sect master of the Ghost Sword Sect possessed a forbidden artifact—a replica of the Four Symbols Heaven-Suppressing Cauldron—whose terrifying power could move mountains and drain seas.

True Lord Wood Dragon replied, ”Senior, you’ve spent time in the Great Wilderness Domain. Have you forgotten? The mid-nascent soul realm ancestor of the Taiyi Sect is still alive!”

”The Yin Puppet Sect’s ancestor, Zhu Jiuyin, was battling a fourth-tier demon king when he was unexpectedly ambushed by True Monarch Taixuan.”

”If not for the Ten-Thousand-Year Corpse Puppet sacrificing itself as a substitute, the demonic path would have lost one of its patriarchs!”

”Even so, Zhu Jiuyin suffered grievous injuries, nearly dying on the spot. It was only through the intervention of Gui Li, sect master of the Ghost Sword Sect, who arrived with the Four Symbols Heaven-Suppressing Cauldron, that the demonic path ancestor was rescued.”

Even a true monarch in the nascent soul realm nearly met a tragic end. The immortal dao war in the Great Wilderness Domain must be truly fierce.

Li Qing secretly wiped a bead of sweat, realizing why he hadn’t seen any familiar faces from the Great Wilderness Domain at the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild’s auction.

Under such circumstances, no one would dare leave their sect lightly.

”I see...”

True Lord Wood Dragon sighed with deep sorrow. ”Originally, we rogue cultivators in the Great Wilderness Domain had planned to form a rogue cultivator alliance to resist the threat of the immortal dao war.”

”But alas, the demonic path’s ruthless and reckless actions, combined with Zhu Jiuyin’s severe injuries, meant my medicinal garden couldn’t be protected. All my spirit herbs and spiritual grasses were plundered clean by the Yin Puppet Sect’s forces.”

”To have preserved this old life is already a rare blessing,” True Lord Wood Dragon sighed.

True Lord Wood Dragon had always cherished cultivating spirit herbs and spiritual herbs. His medicinal garden was the culmination of his life’s work, so its loss had aged him so drastically in an instant.

Li Qing felt a pang of sympathy but had no intention of meddling further. He knew that the entire world would soon face an even more terrifying calamity, a true apocalypse that would plunge all living beings into utter devastation.

”Ah, I see,” Li Qing said with a sigh. ”Then fellow daoist, cultivate diligently here. If you have urgent matters, seek me out at Lingyun Sect.”

Hearing the name Lingyun Sect, True Lord Wood Dragon finally realized who stood before him. ”So you are Senior Limitless True Monarch of Lingyun Sect! Forgive my belated recognition!”

Li Qing laughed heartily, waved his hand dismissively, and departed True Lord Wood Dragon’s cave abode.

Watching Li Qing’s retreating figure, True Lord Wood Dragon’s expression was complex, his thoughts unreadable. After a long silence, all his tangled emotions coalesced into a single sigh.

”Ah...”

Leaving True Lord Wood Dragon’s cave abode, Li Qing immediately set off without pause toward the weak spatial node connecting to the demon realm.

This place was once the Lingyun Sect’s Ice Prison, but it has since become a forbidden zone. Under the sect’s warnings, no one dares to set foot here.

”The spiritual energy here remains thin, completely unlike a Spirit Vein Land,” Li Qing murmured, his brow furrowing slightly. He quickly located the spatial node.

With his current cultivation level, he could clearly sense faint spatial fluctuations emanating from the node.

”I can’t detect anything unusual. Is even the nascent soul realm insufficient?”

He now understood that reaching the divine transformation stage allowed one to manipulate the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth, granting a deeper understanding of the world’s environment.

It seemed that to perceive the anomalies within this spatial node, he would need to advance to the divine transformation stage.

Gazing at the node’s peculiarities, Li Qing sighed and shook his head. ”Alas, I hope this calamity from the demon realm can be delayed as long as possible.”

He knew that under such a cataclysmic event, not even Divine Transformation cultivators, let alone those in the nascent soul realm, could guarantee their safety.

At that moment, Li Qing once again felt his insignificance. Against the backdrop of this cataclysmic event, there seemed to be so little he could truly do.

With this thought, Li Qing casually carved a rectangular block of mountain stone, refined it briefly, and inscribed it with the words:

”Keep Out! Trespassers Beware!”

The eight large characters radiated a profound, oppressive aura.

Having completed this, Li Qing erected the stone tablet, making it immovable and indestructible.

Cultivators with weaker cultivation levels who approached the tablet will find their legs trembling, overwhelmed by the eight characters Li Qing had inscribed.

These characters not only contained the oppressive force of his nascent soul realm cultivation but also carried the full weight of his essence, qi, and spirit. Cultivators below the core formation realm would find it nearly impossible to approach.

There was little more he could do. He could only hope that the coming demonic cataclysm would be delayed and that fewer lives would be lost. That was all.

With this done, Li Qing soared into the sky, transforming into a streak of escape light as he sped toward the Lingyun Sect.

In the days ahead, he would dedicate himself to strengthening his cultivation as much as possible!

(End of the Chapter)

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