Immortal Refiner

True Monarch Taixuan has been captured by the demonic race?!

Hearing this, Li Qing felt a slight shock. He never imagined that the former Leader of the Righteous Path in the Great Wilderness Domain would fall into the hands of the demons.

In such perilous times, everyone truly lives in constant fear.

”Even Fellow Daoist Taixuan couldn’t escape this calamity? These demons are truly formidable,” Li Qing sighed. He then offered words of comfort: ”But Fellow Daoist Zhi Yang, you need not worry too much. We have gathered here under the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild’s summons precisely to discuss strategies for purging these ancient demons.”

”Once we reach a decision, your master will surely be rescued.”

Hearing this, True Yang Daoist’s expression visibly improved.

He clasped his hands in a respectful salute to Li Qing, adopting the posture of a junior.

Witnessing this, Li Qing couldn’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia. It seemed that this True Yang Daoist, with his Pure Yang Physique, had undergone significant trials over the years.

He recalled their first meeting, when the man had been so brash and arrogant, radiating an air of supreme dominance over all he surveyed, like a blazing midday sun.

Now, that sharpness and arrogance had been tempered, its edges long since smoothed by time.

Time truly does change people!

The two weren’t particularly familiar with each other, so after a brief conversation, they parted ways.

Li Qing, naturally preferring solitude, casually settled cross-legged on a massive boulder and began meditating, regulating his breathing to replenish the mana he had expended during his journey.

The island’s environment was indeed extraordinary. While the spiritual energy density merely matched that of a third-tier spirit vein, Li Qing found his mana replenishing at a remarkably swift rate—several times faster than in Spirit Vein Lands in the outer world.

Moreover, cultivating here felt more serene and effortless, with the spiritual energy within his body becoming noticeably more vibrant.

If only the spiritual energy were even denser, this place would undoubtedly be the world’s premier cultivation sanctuary.

”No wonder the ancient texts describe the spirit realm with such fantastical detail. I used to think they were exaggerating, but now it seems those accounts might be true.”

”If even a single island that fell from the spirit realm into the lower realm is this extraordinary, imagine how effortless cultivation would be in the spirit realm’s true cultivation sanctuaries. Even reaching the Divine Transformation stage might not be too difficult there, right?”

”I wonder how Junior Sister Shen is doing. Did she successfully ascend to the upper realm?”

Li Qing couldn’t help but think of Shen Ningbing, and he sighed softly.

Three days passed in this manner.

During this time, numerous Nascent Soul cultivators from the outer domain arrived intermittently, most travel-worn and bearing visible injuries, likely sustained during fierce battles en route.

Regardless, the Demon Subjugation Assembly, convened by the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild, finally commenced.

Within the tower layers of Heaven’s End Island, a sudden, resounding bell toll echoed through the air.

The sound carried a secret power that pierced even the deepest meditations, instantly rousing every cultivator.

Li Qing, seated in meditation, abruptly opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on the towering spire that pierced the clouds before him.

Though he had been cultivating diligently these past few days, he hadn’t yet climbed the tower to explore. It wasn’t that he lacked curiosity; rather, he considered this tranquil meditation time too precious, especially for someone at his stage of cultivation.

This island’s environment was unique, so he decided to seize every moment to refine his qi, even if it meant only minor improvements. After all, what he needed to reach the bottleneck of the late-stage Nascent Soul realm was simply accumulation.

Now that the conference had begun, it was no longer convenient to continue cultivating.

As powerful and extraordinary spiritual energies radiated from Heaven’s End Island, the entire island became suffused with intense spiritual pressure. A cultivator at the Foundation Establishment realm who stepped onto the island would likely collapse unconscious on the spot.

The number of Nascent Soul cultivators gathered on the island far exceeded the crowd at the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild’s auction years ago.

”Fellow Daoists from across the four seas, the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild extends our deepest gratitude for your presence!”

”Today, as heaven and earth teeter on the brink of upheaval, we cultivators face a calamity that threatens to engulf us all, like eggs in a shattered nest—no escape.”

”For generations, our guild has upheld the principle of harmony above all. We owe our very existence to the thin veneer of respect bestowed upon us by fellow cultivators across the realm. Now, in this time of crisis, we wish to contribute something to the world.”

”I believe every fellow daoist here today shares a sincere desire to contribute to the protection of this realm. It is precisely this shared resolve that gives us a chance to triumph against the overwhelming demonic invasion.”

The speaker was True Monarch Wan He, a man eminently suited to such grand pronouncements. His words carried an innate power that commanded respect and belief.

At that moment, True Monarch Wan He waved his hand, summoning a hexagonal formation plate of an indeterminate, azure material.

”This is the formation plate for the Starlight Mending Heaven Formation. Given your extensive knowledge, I doubt I need to explain what a formation plate is.”

A formation plate!

This consumable artifact represented the culmination of centuries of development in the formation art. Though small, it encoded an entire grand formation. With such a plate, even a cultivator utterly ignorant of formation arts could effortlessly deploy the formation, provided they gathered the necessary base materials.

However, this type of formation has one major drawback: it cannot last long, typically maintaining its integrity for no more than one or two years, or even just a few months before it naturally dissipates and collapses.

Apart from this limitation, it is completely identical to a Grand Formation personally arranged by a formation master, with no difference in its power whatsoever.

”So that’s how it is! I was wondering how the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild could possibly teach me this formation, given that I know absolutely nothing about formation art.”

”It makes sense. After all, the Starlight Mending Heaven Formation is an ancient, extraordinary Grand Formation. How could the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild possibly reveal its deployment method so easily?”

”Exactly! If they’re using a formation plate to accomplish this, everything falls into place. That way, they can ensure the formation is passed on to us without revealing its secrets.”

”Incredible! I’ve heard that engraving a formation plate is no less demanding than personally arranging a Grand Formation. The Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild’s resources are truly astonishing.”

”Don’t forget one thing: Old Lord Tianxing of the Flame Domain was invited to the auction to complete a Fifth-Tier Grand Formation for the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild. It’s likely that this grand formation bears the hand of the Grand Array Master himself.”

”Hmm, that would certainly explain it.”

The Nascent Soul cultivators present nodded in agreement, their conversations buzzing with astonishment at the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild’s displayed reserves.

True Monarch Wan He’s subsequent declaration only reinforced this astonishment, showcasing the profound depth of an inheritance spanning countless generations and spanning the vast expanse of the Human Realm:

”The Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild will also provide all the foundational materials required for deploying these formation plates, ensuring that no difficulties will arise in your formation deployments!”

Li Qing was deeply shocked by this declaration. Though he knew the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild possessed immense wealth, he never imagined their resources could be so vast as to not only supply the formation plates but also the foundational materials for deployment.

The sheer magnitude of this offer left many Nascent Soul cultivators reeling in awe!

The lower realm was currently under demonic invasion. Though the exact number of Demonic Realm Rifts opened remained unclear, it was undoubtedly more than could be counted on two hands.

Considering the vast territories of the great domains and the boundless sea regions, the quantity of foundational materials required for these formations would undoubtedly be an astronomical figure.

Apart from the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild, Li Qing couldn’t imagine any other power in the lower realm that could muster such resources. Even the treasure vaults of the Dragon Palace would fall short.

”The Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild is truly bleeding for this cause,” Li Qing murmured to himself. ”I just wonder what their terms are.”

He wasn’t naive enough to believe that the guild would offer such vast resources without compensation, even under the banner of a righteous cause.

True Monarch Wan He spoke, ”Next, each domain will send a leading fellow daoist to retrieve a formation plate. Fellow daoists from the respective great domains will then work together to repair and deploy the formation art, sealing the void rift!”

”Whatever grievances exist between us, I hope that in the face of this great calamity, we can set aside our differences and cooperate at least until this crisis is overcome.”

His words hung in the air, and a moment of silence fell over the assembly.

After all, even Nascent Soul cultivators were bound to have a few enemies. After living for so long and cultivating to such heights, grudges inevitably accumulated.

Take, for example, the demon race and demonic path sects of the Great Wilderness Domain, who had only recently concluded their conflict. Asking them to set aside their animosity and cooperate would likely prove difficult.

Even Li Qing personally slew two demon kings with whom he shared a blood feud, though few were aware of this.

Ultimately, someone stepped forward first. After all, the void rifts had to be closed, no matter what.

”The two void rifts in the Flame Domain will be handled by Bright King Valley,” a calm voice declared, its tone serene yet radiating a pride rooted deep in the bones.

Bright King Valley!

This was an immortal dao faction that towered over the entire Flame Domain. Their Founding Ancestor, a cultivator at the Divine Transformation stage, had personally slain a Divine Transformation-stage ancient demon.

The Nascent Soul cultivators of the Flame Domain had no objections whatsoever to this faction taking the lead; in fact, they were more than willing. This was the advantage of dominating a great domain: consensus on such matters came easily.

”The void rifts in the Cloud Marsh Domain will be handled by the Western Heaven Pavilion. We hope our fellow daoists in the Cloud Marsh Domain will lend their full support.”

”Heh, the void rifts in the demon realm will be handled by my clan. We maintain close ties with several royal clans in the demon realm.”

The representative from the demon realm was a hunchbacked old man draped in a brown robe. His two blue eyebrows hung long, reaching down to his chin.

This was a demon king who had achieved transformation, a ruler of the Azurewing Rat Clan!

”The Great Wilderness Domain has two void rifts. The Yin Puppet Sect will handle one.”

”Hmph. The other void rift in the Great Wilderness Domain will be repaired by our demon race.”

”The void rift in the Nether Domain shall be entrusted to Heaven’s Guard Temple!”

”The Northern Ice Plains...”

Seeing this, Li Qing could no longer remain passive. After all, he was the only Nascent Soul cultivator in the Azure Ridge Domain, and his Lingyun Sect naturally held the dominant position.

”Only one void rift has appeared in the Azure Ridge Domain so far, and the Lingyun Sect will naturally take responsibility!”

In truth, he was the only cultivator in the Azure Ridge Domain qualified to be invited to this gathering, so naturally, no one contested him.

The Wind Origin Domain, where the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild’s headquarters were located, naturally required no concern from other cultivators regarding its void rift.

The allocation of sea territories, however, was fiercely contested.

The East Sea was relatively calm, with the Flood Dragon Clan in control. When the Black Flood Dragon King spoke, no sea clan dared to defy him.

The situation was more complicated in other sea territories, particularly the West Sea and the North Sea Region.

The West Sea was in dire straits, with not a single transformed sea demon king present. Their clans were on the verge of annihilation, leaving them unable to spare anyone for Heaven’s End Island.

The situation in the North Sea Region mirrored that of the Great Wilderness Domain. The sea clans and human cultivators here were as incompatible as fire and water, bound by genuine blood debts.

Even with the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild’s intervention, the demon kings and Nascent Soul cultivators from both sides were on the verge of open conflict.

”Does our Primordial Whale Clan lack the qualification to handle the void rift in the North Sea? You Old Thief Chongxu, are you trying to stir up trouble?”

A gaunt old man snorted coldly. ”Hmph, who knows if your Primordial Whale Clan won’t use this opportunity to sabotage us?”

The demon king of the Primordial Whale Clan retorted angrily, ”Old Thief Chongxu, our clan isn’t as cunning and treacherous as your human race. I’d be more worried if you entrusted the formation plate to your Hidden Immortal Island people.”

The Nascent Soul cultivator, Daoist Chongxu, replied with a sardonic tone, ”Who knows indeed? A casual inquiry in the North Sea Region will reveal your Primordial Whale Clan’s notorious reputation.”

”Old Thief Chongxu, have you grown tired of living? Show some skill and fight me here!”

The repeated accusation of being a ”thief” ignited Daoist Chongxu’s fury. ”Do you think I fear you?!”

Ultimately, the battle did not erupt. Under the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild’s mediation, both parties reluctantly suppressed their anger.

In the end, the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild dispatched a Nascent Soul realm cultivator to assist the North Sea Region in repairing the void rift, with additional support from cultivators of the Primordial Whale Clan and Hidden Immortal Island.

With this, the allocation of void rifts across the four seas and the Eight Lower Realms was finally settled.

True Monarch Wan He then explained the precautions to be taken when repairing void rifts using formation arts. First and foremost, ensuring the tranquility of the formation deployment was crucial. Although the Starlight Mending Heaven Formation was a Fourth-Tier Grand Formation, its offensive power was limited. Any interference from powerful demons could disrupt the repair process.

Additionally, to avoid alerting the demon realm, all void rifts must be closed simultaneously. If a single great domain were to act first, it could give the demon realm time to react. They might dispatch more ancient demons through the demon subduing platforms, potentially ruining the entire operation. After all, closing the void rifts would signify that the ancient demons invading the lower realm had been largely defeated. This could prompt the demon realm to send even more demonic forces through the remaining open rifts.

Therefore, the timing of closure was of paramount importance—a point unanimously agreed upon by all present cultivators.

Finally, the group began to deliberate.

”But there’s one problem: how can we ensure that all the ancient demons who’ve invaded the lower realm have been eliminated before closing the void rifts?”

”True enough. If we possessed such capability, we wouldn’t have been forced to flee here in such disarray.”

”It’s important to remember that among the demonic forces invading from the lower realm, there are even those at the Divine Transformation stage!”

As the questions echoed through the air, the sky around Heaven’s End Island suddenly darkened.

Boom!

A vast, thick wave of demonic qi surged forward, instantly swallowing the bright daylight as if plunging the world into night.

”Heh heh heh, how amusing! I was just fretting over how tedious it would be to scour the entire realm for you Nascent Soul cultivators, and here you’ve conveniently gathered yourselves together!”

”Were you discussing strategies to deal with us? I wonder if you’ve reached any conclusions. Why not share them?”

”Ants are still ants. No matter how many there are, they amount to nothing!”

Three booming voices reverberated from all directions as the demonic qi parted, revealing three colossal demonic bodies that blotted out the sky.

Behind these three titans, countless demonic shadows converged.

Three ancient demons of the Divine Transformation stage had attacked, flanked by an immeasurable horde of Nascent Soul realm demons!

The sudden crisis plunged Heaven’s End Island into a deathly silence.

Li Qing and every other cultivator felt their hearts plummet, their bodies freezing as their minds turned to ice.

It’s over. We’re finished. Someone among us must have been tracked by the demons, leading these ancient demons to Heaven’s End Island!

(End of the Chapter)

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