Immortal Refiner

The Heavenly Poison Heart’s toxicity proved far more troublesome than Li Qing had anticipated. Despite his meticulous preparations, he repeatedly found himself on the brink of death.

Within his cave abode on Azure Cloud Peak, Li Qing’s vital signs dwindled to near nothingness, his condition teetering on the edge of mortality.

Had it not been for the potent True Intent of Withered Wood Meets Spring within the Dao Tribulation Limitless Sutra, which each time resurrected a spark of life from his near-death state, Li Qing would have long succumbed.

Through these repeated brushes with death, Li Qing’s body gradually adapted to the venomous assault, undergoing a slow, transformative metamorphosis.

He meticulously accumulated each hard-won spark of life, storing them in a hidden corner of his body.

Instead of immediately using this life force to combat the poison’s encroachment, he maintained his condition at the bare minimum necessary for survival.

Through this relentless cycle, nearly a year had passed unnoticed.

For an entire year, Li Qing remained in this precarious, near-death state.

If anyone were to enter Li Qing’s cave abode, they would be shocked to find the figure seated cross-legged on the cushion had nearly transformed into a skeleton.

This skeleton was covered in pale green fur, showing no signs of life whatsoever, as if it had been dead for ages.

But Li Qing was far from dead. He was still accumulating strength for his rebirth, awaiting the moment of his final metamorphosis.

The process, however, was taking far longer than his previous two transformations.

Li Qing had no idea when that final moment would arrive. He could only silently gather the life force forged from his body’s refinement.

Time flowed on, and another year passed.

The number of demonic humans invading from the Southern Great Wilderness Domain continued to swell. With the Lingyun Sect’s half-hearted resistance, most of the Azure Ridge Domain had fallen, becoming a vast expanse of demonic soil.

These Demonized human cultivators possessed extraordinary strength, far surpassing their peers.

Moreover, after undergoing demonic qi infusion, their personalities underwent a complete transformation, as if they had become entirely different people. Even the most gentle and virtuous cultivators, once Demonized, would become ruthlessly cruel.

In this dire situation, the vast majority of rogue cultivators and cultivation clans in the Azure Ridge Domain had retreated to areas within the Lingyun Sect’s sphere of influence.

”Why is the Lingyun Sect still just holding its ground?! The demonic race’s rampage has left our cultivation grounds in ruins!”

”Sigh, let’s not dwell on it. My cave abode, where I cultivated for years, has been completely destroyed.”

”Perhaps the Lingyun Sect has its own considerations. After all, the demonic race’s power is overwhelming. If we provoke even one or two great demons in the Nascent Soul realm, even the Lingyun Sect wouldn’t be able to withstand them.”

”That may be true, but what’s the point of just defending their own mountain gate? The demonic race is constantly expanding; they’ll eventually attack us anyway.”

”Exactly! The Emerald Ridge Mountains fell completely some time ago, and those cultivators who underwent demonic qi infusion are still causing chaos.”

The rogue cultivators who had retreated near the Lingyun Sect were constantly complaining, frustrated that the sect, with its immense power, remained inactive despite the crisis.

In a short time, the once-dominant cultivation sect of the Azure Ridge Domain saw its prestige plummet in the eyes of these rogue cultivators, nearly reaching rock bottom.

The Lingyun Sect had anticipated this situation.

Not only was there widespread resentment from outsiders, but even the sect’s own disciples felt stifled and resentful.

Yet the sect’s leadership remained silent, refusing to launch a counterattack against the Demonized human cultivators.

They knew that Ancestor Limitless had not yet emerged from seclusion. Any engagement would inevitably draw in even more powerful demonic forces, with catastrophic consequences.

It was amidst this oppressive atmosphere that a visitor arrived at the Lingyun Sect’s mountain gate.

”I am True Lord Yuanbao of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, here to pay my respects. I humbly request an audience with Senior Limitless!”

True Lord Yuanbao, who had once met Li Qing, had returned. This time, however, he was greeted not by Li Qing, but by Sect Leader Xu Xia and Supreme Elder Wu Chong.

Yuanbao paused, slightly taken aback, before asking, ”Fellow Daoists of the Lingyun Sect, has Senior Limitless not yet returned to your sect?”

Xu Xia and Wu Chong exchanged a glance, then shook their heads in unison.

”No, Ancestor Limitless hasn’t returned to the sect in quite some time. We’re extremely worried!”

Wu Chong added with a troubled expression, ”Has the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion heard anything either? If he had returned, we wouldn’t be holed up in the sect like this. We would have already organized forces to purge those inhuman demonic cultivators.”

At least while Li Qing remained in seclusion, they would never reveal his whereabouts.

Li Qing, still recovering from his injuries in his cave abode, was the sect’s most closely guarded secret.

Apart from the sect leader and supreme elder, only a handful of others knew the truth, and these individuals were under strict surveillance to prevent any leaks.

True Lord Yuanbao’s expression shifted slightly upon hearing this, and he sighed. ”Senior Limitless was invited to Heaven’s End Island to discuss strategies against the demonic race. However, a Divine Transformation stage demonic cultivator later attacked.”

”Fellow Daoists of Lingyun Sect, there’s no need to despair. Senior Limitless may not have met with disaster. At least, my Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild’s ancestor, along with other Divine Transformation Great Powers, repelled the demonic assault.”

Upon hearing True Lord Yuanbao’s words, Xu Xia and Wu Chong couldn’t conceal their shock.

They finally understood why Li Qing had sustained such severe injuries, making it difficult for him to even maintain flight upon returning to the sect. He had endured such a catastrophic ordeal.

The mere thought of an ancient demon in the divine transformation stage attacking sent shivers down their spines.

After a long silence, Wu Chong sighed deeply and asked, ”So, Fellow Daoist Yuanbao, what brings you here today?”

True Lord Yuanbao forced a bitter smile. ”The plan we discussed at Heaven’s End Island to counter the ancient demons has finally reached the point of execution.”

”However, this matter still requires Senior Limitless’s cooperation. If he were here, things would be much simpler, but as it stands...”

His meaning was clear: at least one Nascent Soul realm cultivator was needed to carry out the plan.

Wu Chong and Xu Xia naturally didn’t know the specifics of the plan, but they clasped their hands in a generous gesture. ”If there’s anything Lingyun Sect can assist with, please don’t hesitate to ask. We will do everything in our power to help.”

”Then I thank you in advance,” True Lord Yuanbao said. ”However, the time is not yet ripe, and this matter must remain confidential. When the moment is right, I will explain everything in detail. I hope your esteemed sect will lend its full support at that time.”

The two naturally agreed immediately.

After seeing True Lord Yuanbao of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion off, Xu Xia and Wu Chong decided to inform Li Qing about the matter first, to gauge the ancestor’s attitude.

Outside Azure Cloud Peak, a divine sense transmission drifted out: ”This plan is feasible.”

Xu Xia and Wu Chong, who were waiting outside Li Qing’s cave abode, both breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the divine sense transmission.

Of course, if they had seen Li Qing’s current state, they would not have relaxed so quickly. Instead, they would have been utterly terrified.

For Li Qing’s entire body showed no trace of life. He had completely transformed into a rotting skeleton, covered in thick green moss that stretched far beyond his frame.

Yet within his sunken eye sockets, two golden lights flickered intermittently, like golden flames dancing with vibrant vitality.

”The Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild is finally closing the void rift. They must have gained a significant advantage, perhaps even becoming fearless of interference from the ancient demons in the divine transformation stage.”

”As for me, I should accelerate my progress as well.”

Li Qing murmured to himself, completely disregarding the current state of his fleshly body, showing no concern whatsoever.

In the next moment, the two golden lights in his eyes began to swirl, wisps of spiritual flame leaking from within.

As these strands of heavenly spirit fire spread, Li Qing’s body instantly ignited, the dense green fur covering it burning away.

Boom!

In mere moments, Li Qing’s body was completely engulfed in heavenly spirit fire!

Profound Yellow True Flame, Spirit Devouring Demon Flame, Netherworld Cold Fire!

The three differently colored heavenly spirit fires raged around Li Qing’s body, spewing thick green smoke that billowed into the air before dissipating completely.

In an instant, Li Qing transformed into a living torch, his entire body ablaze with spiritual flame.

Under the scorching heat of the heavenly spirit fire, his aged body, ravaged by toxins, rapidly burned to ashes.

To the ordinary observer, Li Qing’s actions would appear no different from playing with fire and burning himself alive.

Li Qing, having created the Dao Tribulation Limitless Sutra, understood that each of his metamorphoses would be violently transformative. This was precisely the state the cultivation manual sought to achieve.

Immediately afterward, an astonishing surge of vitality erupted.

This was the life essence Li Qing had accumulated over two years. Instead of using it to resist the poison’s encroachment, he had deliberately hoarded it, allowing his aging body to deteriorate further.

After more than two years, Li Qing had finally amassed enough life essence to reshape his fleshly body anew.

Without hesitation, he released the pent-up vitality, allowing it to surge forth unrestrained.

In moments, the skeletal frame of Li Qing began to regenerate flesh and blood, inch by inch, as he reconstructed his true form.

As the life force spread, Li Qing’s fleshly body gradually filled out.

He had successfully weathered this deadly poison tribulation. The newly forged body was not only far more robust than its predecessor but also completely immune to all poisons.

Of course, Li Qing couldn’t guarantee absolute immunity to every poison in existence.

But at the very least, he was now completely immune to poisons of the Heavenly Poison Physique level.

After all, it was unlikely that the lower realm harbored any poison more formidable than the Heavenly Poison Physique.

After several hours, Li Qing’s fleshly body was finally reconstructed. He slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long, turbid breath.

”I finally made it through? After two years, I’ve been reborn.”

As he spoke, a faint, satisfied smile unconsciously curved his lips.

Boom!

A hidden aura erupted from his body, causing the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy to surge violently.

From Azure Cloud Peak to the entire Lingyun Sect’s mountain gate, the dense heaven and earth spiritual energy seemed drawn by an invisible force, converging toward Li Qing’s cave abode.

This chaotic, disordered spiritual energy required refinement through breathing exercises to be converted into usable mana.

But Li Qing paid no heed to such concerns. He brutally and savagely devoured the converging spiritual energy, completely disregarding its impure nature.

In an instant, Li Qing transformed into a black hole, absorbing all spiritual energy within a foot of his body.

He immediately activated the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art. The three heavenly spirit fires within him formed fiery rings, rapidly refining the massive influx of spiritual energy into pure spiritual energy, which then flowed through his meridians and settled into his dantian.

At that moment, Li Qing’s nascent soul gradually became full and radiant once more.

”Excellent. This newly formed physical body is remarkably strong. Even devouring such vast amounts of heaven and earth spiritual energy poses no problem whatsoever. My meridians show no signs of swelling.”

After an immeasurable passage of time, the colossal Spiritual Qi Tide finally began to subside.

Li Qing’s mana was completely replenished, and a formidable aura erupted from within him.

This aura was far more potent than before, leaving no doubt that he had advanced to the late-stage nascent soul realm!

With this significant leap in cultivation, he was now nearing the pinnacle of the nascent soul realm. Throughout the history of the Human Realm, only a handful of Nascent Soul cultivators had ever reached the late-stage.

Feeling the boundless mana within him, Li Qing sensed an inexhaustible reservoir, as if it could never be depleted.

He was now confident that he could repeatedly activate the Wind-Thunder Silver Wings without fear of exhausting his mana. His current mana reserves far surpassed those he possessed during the mid-Nascent Soul stage.

”Late-stage nascent soul... I’ve finally achieved it.”

Li Qing couldn’t have been more satisfied with the results of his cultivation. He had bypassed the bottleneck of the late-stage nascent soul realm entirely, directly ascending to that level.

This metamorphosis had clearly brought him immense benefits.

Soon, Li Qing withdrew his aura, ceasing its outward projection.

The oppressive force he now wielded was overwhelming, causing all cultivators within the Lingyun Sect’s mountain gate and surrounding areas to feel an unbearable sense of suppression.

As his aura receded, the celestial phenomena that had been disrupted by its power gradually returned to normal.

Such great cultivators could easily influence the surrounding environment.

Moments later, Xu Xia’s respectful voice echoed outside the cave abode:

”Congratulations, Ancestor Limitless, on achieving supreme mastery of your divine art!”

The congratulatory shout reverberated throughout the Lingyun Sect, reaching the ears of every disciple. Only then did they realize that the earth-shattering commotion earlier had been caused by their ancestor!

Immediately, all disciples shouted in unison, ”Congratulations, Ancestor Limitless, on achieving supreme mastery of your divine art!”

They didn’t know the exact realm Li Qing had reached, but they were certain it was a feat of unparalleled good fortune, placing him among the absolute pinnacle of existence in the entire Human Realm.

”Hahahaha, merely a slight enlightenment,” Li Qing’s voice boomed. ”It hardly qualifies as supreme mastery.

”From today onward, the entire sect shall celebrate for three days! All disciples and elders will receive double their monthly stipends!”

As Li Qing’s words resounded, the entire Lingyun Sect erupted into wild jubilation!

(End of the Chapter)

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