Immortal Refiner

Daoist Ling Miao, a rogue cultivator who rose to immense fame centuries ago, had reached the Late Foundation Establishment Realm. His seemingly endless array of techniques, including a recorded victory against a Pseudo-Core cultivator, demonstrated the staggering depth of his cultivation.

Pseudo-Core cultivators, often considered half a step away from the Core Formation Realm, had perfected their Foundation Establishment cultivation. A single further breakthrough would elevate them to the status of true Core Formation Realm True Lords. Yet Daoist Ling Miao had not only defeated such formidable opponents but had actually slain them—and more than once.

Achieving a true kill against an enemy of higher cultivation was far more challenging than mere victory. It required not only neutralizing their escape routes but also guarding against their desperate, suicidal resolve. This was precisely why his abandoned cave abode had become such a magnet for cultivators. Uncovering even a hint of the origins of his profound techniques held immense allure for those still in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

”Don’t dismiss it as just Daoist Ling Miao’s abandoned cave abode! Rumor has it, some truly valuable relics have been unearthed!”

”Apparently, a Foundation Establishment cultivator retrieved a handwritten manual. Unfortunately, no one knows what secrets it contained.”

”I heard Daoist Ling Miao eventually provoked a Core Formation Realm cultivator, who hunted him down. His fate remains unknown to this day. If that’s true, his cave abode might still contain treasures he didn’t have time to retrieve!”

The cultivators at the Gathering Wind Pavilion exchanged snippets of information and rumors, each contributing what they knew.

Before long, many began to feel a restless itch.

The exploration of Daoist Ling Miao’s cave abode had proven exceedingly difficult due to the numerous Restrictions still in place. Even Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators struggled to forcibly breach several critical areas, particularly the spirit herb gardens within.

Centuries had passed. Even an ordinary spirit herb, if it had survived and continued to grow, would now be worth a fortune.

Li Qing listened to these tidbits while devouring his braised Black Profound Turtle meat, polishing off every last morsel and nearly licking the plate clean.

To be honest, the way everyone was painting Daoist Ling Miao’s cave abode as such a tempting treasure trove had even tempted Li Qing to consider venturing there himself.

But he quickly dismissed the dangerous thought.

If even Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators had failed to make progress there, what chance did he stand?

A low-level cultivator like Li Qing, at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, would likely have been cannon fodder in the past. Even if he’d stumbled upon some good fortune, he probably wouldn’t have been able to hold onto it, and might even have met a tragic end, coveted for his newfound wealth.

With this thought, Li Qing poured himself the last cup of Hundred Flowers Spirit Brew and drained it in one gulp. The spirit wine was sweet and refreshing, leaving a fragrant aftertaste that lingered delightfully on his lips.

The Black Profound Turtle dish was equally delicious, its rich and savory flavors complemented by nourishing effects. Li Qing felt a warm glow spreading through his body, his Vital Energy flowing smoothly.

”Too bad it’s so expensive!”

A single pot of wine and a single dish had cost Li Qing sixteen spirit stones. Demon beast meat was indeed ridiculously pricey these days!

”If I ever run out of spirit stones again,” Li Qing mused, ”I’ll just start carving off chunks of Fan Tong’s flesh to sell every day!”

After settling his bill, Li Qing was about to leave the Gathering Wind Pavilion when another piece of news caught his attention. This matter was directly related to him, forcing him to pause and listen intently.

”Heh heh, I heard the Liu Clan’s been in a complete mess lately! Apparently, a traitor from within their ranks has defected to the Flying Eagle Bandits!”

”So that’s what happened! I’ve heard rumors, but it’s truly a disgrace—they’ve completely lost all face!”

”With three Late Qi Refining Realm experts now among the Flying Eagle Bandits, they’ve become even more dangerous!”

”Hiss!”

No one could have imagined that the Flying Eagle Bandits, who had previously lingered around the Heavenly River Market, would suddenly become such a formidable menace.

In the past, with only the Demon Eagle Wanderer at the Late Qi Refining Realm, they posed a threat only to lone cultivators. Those traveling in groups of three to five after leaving the market were unlikely to become targets. A routine patrol by the Heavenly River Market’s Enforcement Team would keep the area peaceful for quite some time.

But now, everything had changed. Three Late Qi Refining Realm experts leading a large band of bandits created a force that ordinary rogue cultivators could no longer contend with.

”Surely this won’t be a problem. Even with three Late Qi Refining Realm experts, once the Liu Clan’s Foundation Establishment Realm Clan Head emerges from seclusion, handling them should be effortless, right?”

”If a Foundation Establishment Realm expert intervenes, victory would be assured. But I heard the Liu Clan Head is at a critical stage of cultivating a secret technique and can’t emerge from seclusion anytime soon without risking losing all progress.”

”What a coincidence!”

”Let’s hope the Liu Clan can eradicate these pests!”

Soon, the crowd was discussing how, just days ago, the Liu Clan had used a key ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill as bait to lure out the traitor within their ranks.

They had even dispatched two Late Qi Refining Realm cultivators to hunt down the traitor, but the operation backfired spectacularly. The Flying Eagle Bandits turned the tables, resulting in one cultivator’s death and the other’s critical injury.

Now, the whereabouts of the vital ingredient remained unknown, and no one knew if it had fallen into the hands of the Flying Eagle Bandits.

Hearing these rumors, everyone felt dizzy and disoriented.

Even Li Qing struggled to regain his composure. He understood the origins and details of these events far better than anyone else, having personally witnessed many of the key moments.

Something doesn’t add up, he thought. When I left the Liu Clan, the Flying Eagle Bandits were locked in battle with their cultivators. How could they possibly have had the resources to set a trap for Liu Hongyuan?

Not only had Liu Hongyuan survived, but the two Liu Clan Elders sent to pursue him had ended up with one dead and the other gravely wounded.

The situation has taken a sudden turn for the worse. Can the Liu Clan even recover from this?

Li Qing was conflicted. He had originally planned to spend his last day in the Heavenly River Market before leaving, but now the Longevity Valley region had descended into chaos.

He carefully re-evaluated the situation from beginning to end.

”The Liu Clan is a cultivation clan with Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. They shouldn’t be this weak,” he mused. ”They’ve been operating in this area for generations and must have deep roots and considerable resources.”

”Their previous failures against the Flying Eagle Bandits were due to traitors within the clan who leaked their plans, thwarting every operation. Now that the traitors have been purged, their future actions should be shrouded in secrecy. If I were the Flying Eagle Bandits, I’d lie low for a while to avoid directly confronting the Liu Clan’s fury.”

Li Qing’s eyes flickered as he assessed his analysis. It seemed sound enough.

The only lingering question was whether the crucial Foundation Establishment Pill ingredient held by the Liu Clan had fallen into the hands of the Flying Eagle Bandits. This was the most vital component for crafting the pill. If it truly ended up with the bandits, they could become a major threat.

The gap between the Foundation Establishment Realm and the Qi Refining Realm was as vast as the difference between heaven and earth. The Liu Clan would rather face ten additional Late Qi Refining Realm bandits than a single Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator—especially one like the Demon Eagle Wanderer, with his wind-attribute Spiritual Root.

Li Qing left the Gathering Wind Pavilion and bought several more Aura Concealment Talismans and life-saving talismans at the Heavenly River Market.

These purchases cost him several dozen spirit stones, but Li Qing didn’t mind the expense. He always prioritized investments in life-saving measures, believing that once life was lost, everything was truly gone.

With his shopping done, he visited several shops and market stalls in the plaza area, hoping to find some spirit wood.

Unfortunately, his efforts were in vain. He couldn’t find any suitable spirit wood, not even a single seed.

After several days in the Heavenly River Market, Li Qing finally decided to return to the Liu Clan.

His Artifact Refinement Technique was still rudimentary, barely capable of crafting low-grade Magic Artifacts. At this level, his mining earnings were actually higher.

However, he remained confident that if he continued to hone his skills, he would eventually be able to leave the Liu Clan and support himself solely through his artifact refinement expertise.

Arriving at the market’s exit, Li Qing returned his token to the Heavenly River Sect disciple on duty. Then, summoning the Peerless Hammer, he soared gracefully away from the bustling market complex built across multiple floating islands.

As the sprawling architecture gradually disappeared into the misty clouds, Li Qing clenched his fist slightly, resolving that one day, he would secure his own place in this vibrant hub.

(End of the Chapter)

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