Immortal Refiner

”What happened here? How did Fellow Daoist He sustain such grievous injuries?”

”Hiss! Didn’t he leave for Heavenly River Market just a few days ago to deliver goods? What on earth happened to him?”

”That’s impossible! Who would dare target the Liu Clan’s shipments?”

As exclamations erupted outside the courtyard, Li Qing and Chen Xin exchanged a glance. Without a word, they stood up and hurried toward the entrance.

In Block A, they found Cultivator He missing an arm, his body covered in wounds of varying severity.

”It... it was the Flying Eagle Bandits! I encountered them on the road. They robbed me of everything,” Cultivator He stammered, his body trembling violently as he recounted the ordeal.

”When they learned I was merely a hired hand for the Liu Clan, they spared my life. But they stole all the formation materials and talisman paper I was delivering to the market.”

Cultivator He’s voice shook as he spoke, his body shuddering uncontrollably. Overwhelmed by the relief of survival, his eyes still reflected lingering terror.

Hearing this, Li Qing’s heart skipped a beat.

The Flying Eagle Bandits!

How dare they target the Liu Clan? And it seemed they had specifically come for the Liu Clan’s goods.

The cultivators present were visibly shaken, their faces paling with shock.

Chen Xin, who was also responsible for transporting goods, including spirit fish and rice—spirit food that couldn’t be stored in spatial pouches—looked particularly ashen.

”This is unbelievable,” one of them exclaimed. ”The Flying Eagle Bandits only have two cultivators in the Late Qi Refining Realm at most. How dare they provoke the Liu Clan?”

”Could this be retaliation for that incident last time?” another wondered.

”The Liu Clan Head is a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. If they alert him and force him to emerge from seclusion, how could these bandits possibly stand a chance?”

”...”

Listening to their speculations, Chen Xin’s expression grew even more grim.

”Fellow Daoist Li, what do you make of this?”

Li Qing couldn’t help but mutter inwardly, I’m not Yuanfang! Besides, what insight could a mere Mid Qi Refining Realm cultivator like him offer on the Flying Eagle Bandits’ attack on the Liu Clan? His only sensible course of action was to lie low, avoid getting dragged into the conflict, and quietly enjoy the show.

”This is indeed baffling,” Li Qing replied. ”Let’s see how the Liu Clan reacts. The Flying Eagle Bandits are essentially slapping the Liu Clan’s face. This has nothing to do with us rogue cultivators.”

After hearing Li Qing’s analysis, Chen Xin’s pallid complexion began to improve slightly.

”You’re right,” he conceded. ”With the Liu Clan’s immense power, they should have no trouble handling a band of Flying Eagle Bandits if they mobilize their full strength.”

The injured Cultivator He said nothing more and quickly returned to his courtyard to tend to his wounds.

Before long, representatives from the Liu Clan arrived to inquire about his condition and the details of the attack.

News of the Flying Eagle Bandits’ ambush on the Liu Clan’s trade convoy spread like wildfire throughout Longevity Valley, becoming common knowledge.

The story even reached the ears of cultivators beyond the valley, carried by the wind.

”Those Flying Eagle Bandits are incredibly audacious!” one cultivator remarked. ”The Liu Clan isn’t just affiliated with the Heavenly River Sect; they’re a formidable power in their own right!”

”It seems they’re still harboring resentment over the Liu Clan’s previous raid on their stronghold!”

”Most likely. If the Flying Eagle Bandits hadn’t suddenly gained a Late Qi Refining Realm cultivator, the Demon Eagle Wanderer would likely have been captured.”

”That explains it. Still, no matter how capable the bandits are, they stand no chance against the Liu Clan’s might.”

Throughout this, Li Qing kept a close eye on developments.

Li Qing had been planning a trip to the Heavenly River Market, but upon learning of the Flying Eagle Bandits’ attack on the Liu Clan, he quickly abandoned the idea.

Now that this group of bandit cultivators had begun appearing in the Longevity Valley area, venturing outside meant putting himself in danger.

”I’ll wait and see how the situation develops,” Li Qing muttered to himself, his brow furrowing. ”Fortunately, I don’t need to go to the spirit stone mine anytime soon.”

What if the Flying Eagle Bandits turned their attention to the Liu Clan’s mining team?

If I can think of this, the Liu Clan must have considered it too, he reasoned. I’ll monitor their response over the next few days.

True to his prediction, over the following days on Lake Heart Island:

Boom!

A subtle yet powerful aura erupted from a cave abode on the island, followed by the Liu Clan Head’s furious roar:

”How dare they! To attack my Liu Clan!”

”Summon all our Late Qi Refining Realm cultivators immediately!”

At Liu Haide’s command, the Liu Clan’s core forces converged on the spiritually abundant Lake Heart Island.

Backed by the Heavenly River Sect and having developed for generations, the Liu Clan’s foundation was not to be underestimated.

Within a short time, over a dozen Late Qi Refining Realm cultivators rushed toward Lake Heart Island, their collective presence creating a formidable display of power.

”Clan Head! Everyone is here except for a few Elders who are occupied with urgent matters!”

Outside a cave abode on Lake Heart Island, over a dozen Late Qi Refining Realm Liu Clan cultivators had gathered, their faces etched with reverence as they gazed at the entrance.

Soon, a figure emerged from the cave—Liu Haide, the current Clan Head of the Liu Clan!

Unexpectedly, Liu Haide appeared remarkably young. Were it not for the weathered wisdom in his eyes, few would believe that this youthful man was the leader of the prestigious Liu Clan.

”Excellent!” Liu Haide’s gaze swept over the assembled Late Qi Refining Realm cultivators, nodding in satisfaction. Without hesitation, he unleashed his Foundation Establishment Realm aura!

Boom!

”I presume you all know why I’ve summoned you here? After all these years, Bandit Cultivators dare to stir up trouble on our Liu Clan’s doorstep!”

”We cannot let such insolence go unanswered. What are your thoughts?”

As his words faded, the Liu Clan Elders erupted in righteous fury, each volunteering to lead the counterattack.

”Those whelps think they can bully the Liu Clan just because they’ve preyed on a few rogue cultivators!”

”There’s no need for such a grand mobilization,” one of the elders declared. ”Brother Haitian and I can easily crush those Bandit Cultivators—it’ll be a piece of cake.”

”Well said!” the others roared in agreement, their battle spirit ignited.

Hearing their enthusiastic words, Liu Haide chuckled and raised a hand to quiet them. ”Heh heh heh, I’ve heard of the Flying Eagle Bandits myself. Hanyue once took on a Sect Mission regarding them at the upper sect.”

”If the upper sect considers them a Sect Mission, they must have some tricks up their sleeves. We shouldn’t underestimate them!”

”Here’s the plan: I’ll select nine cultivators and divide them into three teams, each leading a group of our younger disciples on a training expedition!”

With just a few words, Liu Haide finalized the campaign against the Flying Eagle Bandits.

Each team would consist of three Late Qi Refining Realm cultivators, accompanied by several Mid Qi Refining Realm disciples. This formidable force surpassed even Old Zhou’s previous expedition against the bandits.

As Liu Haide watched the core members of the family disperse to carry out their assignments, a slight frown creased his brow.

”The leader of the Flying Eagle Bandits, the Demon Eagle Wanderer, actually possesses a Wind Spiritual Root. Moreover, the timing of their attack is suspiciously precise, coinciding exactly with a crucial phase of my secret technique cultivation.”

”If I weren’t restricted from straying too far from my cave abode during this crucial phase of cultivation, I’d personally investigate the Flying Eagle Bandits and uncover their true origins,” Liu Haide muttered, a faint unease stirring within him.

Yet, by all appearances, the operation was meticulously planned. Three squads, each led by Late Qi Refining Realm cultivators and composed of Liu Clan members, were sweeping the areas surrounding Longevity Valley. Meanwhile, the remaining forces stayed at the Liu Clan compound, ready to reinforce any unit that encountered trouble. Should the Flying Eagle Bandits strike, these seasoned cultivators could immediately deploy, ensuring the bandits would face at least three times their number.

”Perhaps I’m overthinking this,” Liu Haide mused. ”These Bandit Cultivators have already delayed Hanyue’s advancement to the Foundation Establishment Realm.”

”Once I emerge from seclusion, this matter will be settled.”

With that, Liu Haide turned and reentered his cave abode. Protected by layers of formations and Restrictions, it offered an exceptionally secure environment for cultivation.

The moment he reactivated the cave’s defenses, a surge of rich wood spiritual energy burst forth. Within the cave, faint emerald-green light radiated outward, pulsing with vibrant vitality.

With the Restriction closed, Lake Heart Island once again fell into tranquility.

Liu Hanyue’s mission progress had been significantly delayed due to the Liu Clan’s failed campaign against the Flying Eagle Bandits.

Although the Liu Clan had arranged for several Elders to assist her with simpler collection missions within the sect, these tasks were now temporarily suspended due to the ongoing bandit threat.

Adding to her woes, a Thunder Spirit Crystal had recently been unearthed at the mine.

Overjoyed, the Heavenly River Sect’s Core Formation Realm Ancestor, who cultivated the Thunder Dao, generously rewarded the disciples stationed at the sect’s spirit stone mine with a substantial number of contribution points.

Two of these disciples had accumulated enough points to surpass Liu Hanyue in the rankings, granting them priority in exchanging for the sect’s Foundation Establishment Pills.

While the Liu Clan also received considerable spirit stone and medicinal pill rewards, these benefits offered little direct assistance to Liu Hanyue.

This series of unfortunate coincidences had severely hindered her progress toward the Foundation Establishment Realm.

This was one of the primary reasons for Liu Haide’s growing unease.

(End of the Chapter)

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