Immortal Refiner

It was late spring, but the deep mountains and old forests still carried a slight chill.

The experienced Old Sun had prepared thick clothing before ascending the mountain to ward off the spring cold! Rustle! Rustle! The rugged mountain path, difficult to traverse, was accompanied by rhythmic rustling sounds.

”Probably grass snakes. After winter, they all come out to move around. Back in the day, when hunting was scarce in winter, I often raided snake nests.”

Hearing the sounds, Old Sun immediately reminisced about his younger days.

As people age, they tend to dwell on the past, and no one is immune to it.

Li Qing followed closely beside Old Sun, his steps steady, his eyes and ears alert to all directions. The movements in the surrounding forest could hardly escape his perception.

Since he began practicing martial arts, his hearing and vision had sharpened considerably.

”Old man, I truly admire how you can still move so swiftly through the mountains at your age,” Li Qing remarked with admiration.

Old Sun’s pace was surprisingly fast. Despite the tangled vines and the muddy ground, he walked steadily.

”Hahaha, if I hadn’t become familiar with these mountains after so many years, I’d have lived in vain!”

To hunt a tiger, one must venture deep into the mountains, as tigers generally roam only in the remote depths, rarely appearing on the outer edges.

At this moment, Li Qing was clad in a suit of Protective Iron Armor, its surface adorned with sharp iron spikes—an absolute defense against tigers.

In addition, he carried a broad-bladed hunting knife and had thirteen finger-sized Bone-Piercing Awls hidden in his chest. As long as he could locate the tiger, he was confident in his ability to slay it.

It was precisely because of Li Qing’s equipment and his formidable martial prowess that Old Sun’s family had agreed to let him accompany Li Qing into the mountains to hunt the tiger.

”Old man, some time ago, a tomb was unearthed at Small Jade Ridge. Do you know its exact location? The tiger we’re seeking might leave traces there,” Li Qing reminded him.

Old Sun squinted as he surveyed the dense forest around them, panting as he spoke, ”I know a bit about it. That tomb was discovered by a hunter from our village who was setting traps there. Later, the news spread, and even the imperial court sent troops to seal off the mountain.”

”That tomb... it’s probably in the western valley. Let’s head there, as you suggested.”

It must be said that having a seasoned hunter like Old Sun as a guide was incredibly useful.

If Li Qing had ventured into the mountains alone, he would have gotten lost in no time, as the surrounding scenery was nearly indistinguishable.

Moreover, there were traps set by hunters throughout the mountains. If one failed to notice the warning signs, they could suffer serious injuries.

For example, bear traps, certain hanging ropes, or even dug-out pits with spikes—a single misstep could result in broken limbs or worse.

The mountain air was refreshing, filled with the scent of green leaves and earth, invigorating the spirit.

After walking a considerable distance, Li Qing didn’t feel particularly tired. Instead, he felt refreshed and energized.

Surprisingly, Old Sun, though panting heavily, showed no signs of exhaustion.

His stamina surpassed that of many adults, which greatly surprised Li Qing. He also recalled a detail: the elderly in Jade Mountain Village were all in remarkably good spirits.

Although the living conditions were somewhat harsh, many elderly people like Old Sun could live well past seventy, outliving some in the bustling cities outside.

’What a treasure mountain, nurturing people so well. No wonder someone would choose to build a tomb here,’ Li Qing thought, his eyes flickering with realization.

The two had been trekking deep into the mountains for a long time.

The scenery around them was primitive, with towering trees and rugged terrain. The path was overgrown with vines and thorns, making the journey even more difficult.

They had set out at dawn, and now, as night fell, after nearly a full day’s travel, they were finally approaching the mountain hollow where the tomb was located.

By the faint moonlight, they could just make out tattered cloth strips hanging from the surrounding trees.

These were remnants of the bloody battle at Small Jade Ridge. Even after so much time, the torn clothing was still visible, a testament to the ferocity of the fight that had taken place here.

”Wait!” Old Sun suddenly stopped in the darkness, lighting a small fire starter to illuminate a small area.

In a patch of jungle, there were signs of something heavy having flattened the vegetation, leaving an irregular, winding path.

”This is the trail left by a large python. We need to be careful,” Old Sun said in a low voice.

The large pythons that roamed the mountain forests at night were no less dangerous than tigers or Blind Bears. Once ensnared, even a martial artist with Outer Strength would find it impossible to break free.

Li Qing’s heart sank slightly, and he became even more alert.

”Old man, can we find any traces of tigers around here?” Li Qing asked.

Old Sun shook his head. ”No, if it were during the heavy snow when the mountain was sealed, it would be easier to spot footprints. But now that the snow has melted, we’ll have to search slowly.”

”Let’s start a fire first. It’s best not to move around too much at night; there are many dangerous things in these mountains.”

With that, Old Sun found a dry spot and quickly built a campfire.

As an experienced hunter, he knew well how to survive in these mountain forests.

While the fire burned brightly, Li Qing decided to explore further on his own, wanting to see the tomb that had caused so much strife among the martial artists.

”I’m going to check out the tomb. You stay here, old man,” Li Qing said, lighting a torch from the fire.

”Be very careful on the way. The mountains are not safe at night!” Old Sun repeatedly warned.

Li Qing casually acknowledged the warning and, with the torch in hand, continued to explore the flat hollow.

The tomb was still some distance away. Once he left the fire, the surroundings became deep and dark.

Apart from the torch in Li Qing’s hand, there was no other light. Even the thin moonlight was blocked by the dense foliage.

It was very dark!

But it was anything but quiet. The chirping of insects, the distant roars of some beasts in the forest, the rustling of leaves in the wind.

All these sounds mingled together, creating an eerie and profound dark forest.

Anyone with claustrophobia trapped here would likely be scared stiff on the spot.

Even Li Qing felt a slight chill, a genuine sense of awe towards the darkness ahead.

After exploring for quite a distance, the thicket ahead gradually became less dense, revealing a relatively flat terrain.

This was close to the location of the tomb.

Just as Li Qing was about to move forward to investigate further, suddenly, a crisp sound came from under his feet! Crack!

It wasn’t the sound of a branch breaking; the sensation was different.

By the light of the torch, Li Qing looked down and saw what he had stepped on.

It was actually a section of pale, dry bone, seemingly from the arm.

Li Qing, who didn’t believe in ghosts or deities, wasn’t particularly frightened and continued his exploration with a calm mind.

Finally, a broken tombstone appeared ahead, and behind it, a partially collapsed tomb entrance came into view.

The tomb of Lin Yi, a martial genius from the previous dynasty? This thought flashed through Li Qing’s mind, and with some curiosity, he extended the torch forward to get a clearer view of what was inside the tomb.

However, in the next moment, a pale, paper-like face was abruptly illuminated by the torchlight, directly facing the torch in Li Qing’s hand!!!

(End of the Chapter)

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