Immortal Refiner

Having returned to his sect, Li Qing immediately began refining the Thunderfire Core.

This time, he had collected a massive amount of Violet Void Divine Lightning, a Heavenly Thunder capable of injuring even Divine Transformation Stage cultivators—its power was truly terrifying.

When combined with heavenly spirit fire to refine the Thunderfire Core, its potency would increase exponentially!

With this core in his possession, he would no longer be forced to flee from every powerful enemy he encountered.

Inside his cave abode, Li Qing channeled a wisp of pale violet true lightning from his Wind-Thunder Silver Wings. The air crackled with dense, flickering purple sparks.

Suppressing the tingling discomfort, he used his other hand to summon a wisp of Profound Yellow True Flame.

Boom!

The earthen-yellow spiritual flame and the pale violet true lightning began to merge, radiating a terrifying energy wave.

Suddenly, the still-forming Thunderfire Core twisted violently, its energy becoming unstable.

Startled, Li Qing hurled the coalescing mass of spiritual flame and Violet Void Divine Lightning out of the cave abode at lightning speed.

Fortunately, the combined speed granted by his Wind-Thunder Silver Wings and Kunpeng Divine Power allowed him to throw it clear just before the explosion erupted.

Boom!

A deafening explosion erupted above the Lingyun Sect, causing the very fabric of space to ripple and distort.

The entire mountain gate trembled violently from the cataclysmic force, its power utterly overwhelming.

”It seems I underestimated the situation,” Li Qing murmured, observing the lingering shockwaves. ”Violet Void Divine Lightning is fundamentally different from ordinary Heavenly Thunder. I need to find a new equilibrium between these two forces.”

”If I continue trying to fuse them using the previous method, I doubt I’ll succeed even once in a hundred attempts.”

As he worked to quell the aftershocks, Li Qing quietly analyzed the reasons for his failure.

Just as he was about to return to his cave abode, three formidable auras suddenly surged from outside the mountain gate, radiating an oppressive pressure that even he could sense.

Three great powers at the divine transformation stage!

Li Qing’s heart jolted with alarm, but he quickly composed himself, as if remembering something crucial.

”Senior Wan, Senior Chen Yuan, and Senior Flood Dragon, welcome from afar!” Li Qing called out loudly, his figure flashing out of the mountain gate. ”This Li apologizes for not greeting you sooner—it was most discourteous of me!”

He found three figures standing side-by-side in the air above the coastal cliffs of the Lingyun Sect, their gazes sweeping over the cultivation sect’s surroundings.

”Impressive, Fellow Daoist Limitless! Your sect truly radiates grandeur, rivaling even my Undersea Dragon Palace!”

The speaker was a burly middle-aged man with azure horns and dark green scale armor. It was none other than the Azure Flood Dragon King in his transformed human form.

Wan Shengtian, known for his refined demeanor, nodded in agreement. ”I’ve long heard Tianbao rave about the Lingyun Sect’s extraordinary nature. Today, I finally get to witness it firsthand! Hahahaha! Fellow Daoist Limitless, you won’t mind our uninvited visit, will you?”

Li Qing clasped his hands in a respectful bow, his expression slightly flustered. ”Senior Wan, Senior Chen Yuan, and Senior Flood Dragon King, your esteemed presence brings glory to our humble Lingyun Sect. I am overjoyed by your visit and would never harbor any ill will!”

The only disheveled member of the trio, a goateed old man, scoffed. ”You little brat! You snatched my Lightning-Repelling Dharma Robe and ran off! Did you think I wouldn’t come looking for it?”

Li Qing chuckled awkwardly. ”Senior Chen Yuan, you jest. I saw you were in a hurry and didn’t have time to return the robe. Of course, I’ll return it to its rightful owner now.”

With that, Li Qing made a gesture as if reaching into his storage bag.

True Monarch Chen Yuan waved his hand, interrupting Li Qing. ”Enough, enough. It’s just a mere ancient treasure. Do you think this old man would truly care so much? Keep it. Consider it payment for your service as my guardian.”

”Then I thank Senior for this generous reward!” Li Qing replied, delighted to receive a valuable protective robe for free.

”Hmph! Hurry up and open the formation art. Is this how your Lingyun Sect treats its guests?” Wan Shengtian demanded.

Only then did Li Qing belatedly wave his hand, activating the Grand Formation and welcoming the three Divine Transformation Stage great powers into the sect.

Meanwhile, deep within the sea territory, an old late third-tier turtle trembled uncontrollably. The overwhelming auras emanating from the surface nearly suffocated it.

This marked the first time Li Qing’s cave abode had ever hosted Divine Transformation Stage great powers. Fortunately, none of them were the type to stand on ceremony, maintaining a remarkably approachable demeanor.

”It’s clear Fellow Daoist Limitless is a true ascetic,” Wan Shengtian remarked, praising the cave abode’s austere furnishings. ”With such a simple dwelling, you must be completely devoted to the Great Dao.”

To be fair, Li Qing’s cave abode was indeed excessively spartan. Aside from a few cushions, even the tables and chairs were crudely fashioned from rough-hewn stones.

The cave abode was devoid of any rare treasures, utterly unlike the dwelling one would expect of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Li Qing chuckled wryly. ”Senior Wan, you flatter me. This Li’s heart is devoted to the Dao; I naturally care little for such worldly adornments.”

”Come, try this Drunken Moon Brew. It’s crafted from a secret recipe treasured by one of our sect’s elders—the flavor is truly exceptional!”

With that, Li Qing produced the sect’s secret-recipe wine to entertain his three distinguished guests.

Throughout the exchange, he remained vigilant, monitoring the fluctuations of their divine sense. Fortunately, the visitors adhered to proper etiquette, refraining from abusing their superior cultivation to recklessly probe the cave abode with their divine sense.

Such an act would have been a grave breach of decorum, and none of the three were foolish enough to commit such a transgression.

After all, two of them had come to seek Li Qing’s assistance, while the Azure Flood Dragon King owed him a debt of gratitude for his artifact refinement services. None would dare to act so presumptuously.

”Hahahaha! This wine is indeed extraordinary—it rivals even the finest vintages in my Dragon Palace!” The Azure Flood Dragon King drained his cup in one gulp, his eyes gleaming with genuine appreciation.

Wan Shengtian and True Monarch Chen Yuan nodded in unison, showering the brew with praise. ”Truly a rare and exquisite wine!”

After three rounds of wine, Li Qing couldn’t help but ask about the events that had transpired in the distant seas.

Wan Shengtian and the others readily shared the full account with him.

Upon hearing the details, Li Qing’s expression shifted with emotion. He murmured to himself, ”Truly unbelievable... the demon ancestor’s dao body was so terrifying that even Senior Wan couldn’t suppress it?”

”After all, he is the Demon Realm Saint Ancestor,” Wan Shengtian replied, shaking his head. ”Such beings defy comprehension. Even a dao body possesses divine abilities beyond our imagination.”

Next, Li Qing, his curiosity piqued, inquired about the divine transformation stage, a realm of cultivation that deeply concerned him.

The Azure Flood Dragon King roared with laughter. ”Hahahaha, Fellow Daoist Limitless, don’t overestimate us! In the end, breaking through to the divine transformation stage merely grants us another method to manipulate the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth.”

”Beyond that, our mana becomes slightly denser and purer, that’s all.”

”But as you know, the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth in this realm is growing increasingly scarce. Reckless manipulation of it drains our vital essence and shortens our lifespan. Even we dare not unleash our full power carelessly.”

Li Qing naturally didn’t fully believe this claim. The divine transformation stage and the nascent soul realm were separated by a major cultivation realm. Even without mobilizing the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth, a cultivator at the higher stage could likely suppress those at the lower stage with ease.

Opportunities to converse face-to-face with such great powers were rare. Li Qing decided to seize this chance to ask all the questions he had accumulated since embarking on his cultivation journey.

”I’ve heard that upon reaching the divine transformation stage, one’s lifespan can extend to two or three thousand years at most. Why do some Divine Transformation cultivators appear to live far longer than that?”

He cited examples like the Palace Master of the Ice Extremity Palace in the Great Wilderness Domain and the Qian Gu great power he had encountered in the Azure Ridge Domain. Both seemed to possess exceptionally long lifespans.

True Monarch Chen Yuan answered Li Qing’s question, shaking his head. ”Young man, you probably think that reaching the divine transformation stage grants you absolute power, allowing you to do whatever you please, right?”

”That’s not the case. Even without exerting their full power, Divine Transformation cultivators still experience a gradual, almost imperceptible loss of vital essence.”

”While the Great Dao environment in this realm is indeed severely suppressed, there are special places within the Human Realm where the ancient Great Dao environment persists, allowing cultivators to avoid the worst of this suppression.”

”By employing self-sealing techniques, one can halt the depletion of their vital essence and even significantly extend their lifespan.”

”However, the sole drawback is that during the self-sealing process, all other actions become impossible, and even one’s thoughts are frozen.”

At this point, True Monarch Chen Yuan mentioned several special environments Li Qing had previously encountered, where the Great Dao’s environment remained intact.

”For example, the grotto-heaven where I made my breakthrough, the deep sea where the Old Flood Dragon cultivates, the Ice Extremity Palace and Moonlit Ridge in the Great Wilderness Domain, and Bright King Valley in the Flame Domain!”

”Of course, the destroyed Heaven’s End Island also belongs to this category. However, Heaven’s End Island was a celestial island that fell from the upper realm, possessing an exceptionally blessed environment. What a pity!”

After hearing this explanation, Li Qing finally understood why some Divine Transformation Stage cultivators could live for such extraordinary lengths of time.

Some Divine Transformation Stage Old Monsters were simply ancient relics who had given up on ascension and sealed themselves away since ancient times!

No wonder the Divine Transformation Stage was so difficult to break through, yet there remained such a considerable number of Divine Transformation Stage Old Monsters. The reason lay in these self-sealing techniques!

”So that’s how it is,” Li Qing murmured, his mind racing with possibilities.

After another round of toasts, Wan Shengtian finally revealed the true purpose of his visit.

”Now that the demon realm’s invasion has ended, the spatial barrier has weakened to its breaking point. The long-awaited opportunity for ascension has finally arrived for us Divine Transformation cultivators.”

”But no one could have foreseen that at this critical moment, a dao body of the Demon Realm Saint Ancestor would descend to the lower realm, forcing us to suppress our plans to shatter the void and ascend to the upper realm.”

”The reasons for this are twofold. First, we fear the Saint Ancestor might interfere during our ascension. Second, we worry that if we abandon the Human Realm, this world would be left undefended, leading to unimaginable suffering.”

Wan Shengtian’s expression grew solemn and earnest as he turned to Li Qing. ”Fellow Daoist Limitless, I know you are the only master artifact refiner in all of history capable of refining spirit treasures!”

”I implore you to refine a spirit treasure for us, one that will grant us a greater chance of confronting the Demon Realm Saint Ancestor’s dao body in the future.”

Li Qing had long anticipated their true motive.

Their excessive friendliness likely stemmed from recognizing his unique value as the sole master artifact refiner capable of refining spirit treasures.

He forced a bitter smile and replied, ”I am truly honored by your esteemed seniors’ high regard. While I have achieved some success in artifact refinement, I dare not claim that every attempt to refine a spirit treasure will succeed.”

Wan Shengtian’s face lit up at these words.

A non-rejection was as good as an agreement!

”Fellow Daoist Limitless, rest assured, I understand the rules. I will bear all costs for the spirit materials needed for refinement, and regardless of success or failure, I will reward you handsomely!”

”I observe that you cultivate a fire dao cultivation technique, fellow daoist. Over the years, the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild has acquired two top-grade spirit stones with fire attributes.”

Li Qing’s eyes brightened instantly.

He had witnessed firsthand the immense value of the three top-grade wood attribute spirit stones when True Monarch Chen Yuan attempted his breakthrough in the grotto-heaven.

If he ever prepared to break through to the Divine Transformation stage himself, he would undoubtedly need one or two top-grade fire attribute spirit stones!

Li Qing never expected Wan Shengtian to be so generous, offering top-grade spirit stones as payment for artifact refinement.

Even the composed Li Qing couldn’t help but feel his breath quicken slightly.

”Fellow Daoist Limitless, if you succeed in refining the artifact, the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild will offer you two top-grade fire attribute spirit stones. Even if you fail, we will still reward you with one top-grade spirit stone as compensation.”

Two top-grade fire attribute spirit stones for success, one for failure—this was an offer Li Qing couldn’t refuse!

He took a deep breath and nodded. ”Since Senior Wan values my skills so highly, how could I possibly refuse? Moreover, this is a chance to contribute to eliminating the Demon Realm Saint Ancestor’s dao body. This Li will naturally not shirk his duty!”

Though his primary motivation was the top-grade spirit stones, he knew he had to phrase it more elegantly.

True Monarch Chen Yuan, who had been sitting quietly nearby, suddenly grew restless. He cleared his throat. ”Ahem, young man, don’t forget you promised to refine an artifact for me first!”

”Of course, you will be compensated for refining an artifact for this old man.”

”Do you remember the secret technique I used during my breakthrough?”

Li Qing was no stranger to this. He had even feared that True Monarch Chen Yuan’s breakthrough attempt would fail. But in the end, the collision of yin-yang qi had miraculously allowed him to shatter the bottleneck of the divine transformation stage at the critical moment!

”Could it be...”

Before Li Qing could finish, True Monarch Chen Yuan chuckled triumphantly. ”Indeed, that is the reward I prepared for you for refining the artifact.”

”This secret technique can provide you with a crucial boost during your own breakthrough to the divine transformation stage!”

”The method is called the Profound Calamity Dual Polarity Method. It requires gathering two opposing forces, such as yin and yang qi, the power of life and death, water and fire, or light and darkness!”

”By harnessing these forces to activate the technique, you can unleash a devastating impact against the bottleneck of the divine transformation stage!”

Needless to say, the value of this secret technique far exceeded that of even top-grade spirit stones.

Li Qing’s heart surged with uncontrollable joy.

Finding no reason to refuse, he readily accepted the offer.

(End of the Chapter)

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