Immortal Refiner

The results of the Heavenly River Sect and Shangqing Sect’s joint exploration of the Underwater Grotto-Heaven in the Black Sand River finally emerged, leaving the entire cultivation world in awe.

”Five Core Formation Realm Ancestors couldn’t stop that stone egg? What kind of Ancient Demon Beast is it? To be so powerful even while still in its egg?”

”No, I heard an Ancient Giant Demon had left behind a contingency plan within the grotto-heaven. When the demon aura erupted, the stone egg soared into the sky, enveloped in thick, concentrated demon energy!”

”A contingency plan that even a combined effort of Core Formation Realm cultivators couldn’t stop? That must have been left by a Fourth-Tier Demon Beast, right?”

”At that level, they should be called Demon Cultivators.”

Once a demon beast reaches the Fourth Tier, it gains the ability to transform into human form, equivalent to a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator.

When a demon beast breaks through from the Late-Stage Third Tier to the Fourth Tier, it must undergo a tribulation lightning strike. If it survives, it can transform into human form.

That’s why demon beasts at this stage are generally referred to as Demon Cultivators.

After the incident concluded, rogue cultivators began flocking to the Black Sand River to investigate.

”The Black Sand River has changed course! The entire watershed has been utterly devastated!”

”That Underwater Grotto-Heaven is almost completely ruined!”

”Someone found several fragments of a Third-Tier Demonic Python’s dried bones inside. Though all their spirituality had vanished, they still sparked a fierce scramble.”

”Why bother fighting over bones with no spirituality left? If they were truly valuable, they’d have been snatched up by Core Formation Realm experts long ago.”

”A cultivator skilled in cultivating the mind and body believes that even without spirituality, grinding these Third-Tier Demonic Python bones into powder might still prolong life!”

”...”

In short, after being jointly attacked by five Core Formation Realm cultivators, the Black Sand River was thoroughly ravaged by a swarm of rogue cultivators.

By the time everything settled down, the Black Sand River had become a desolate wasteland, utterly devoid of any semblance of a treasure trove.

In the past, cultivators practicing water-attribute cultivation manuals would occasionally apply to the Heavenly River Sect for permission to cultivate there. Now, the area’s spiritual energy was chaotic and sparse, likely requiring several centuries to recover.

With this matter concluded, several more months swiftly passed.

Another piece of news spread like wildfire throughout the immortal cultivation world:

”The Heavenly River Sect and the Shangqing Sect are calling a truce!”

At Azure Radiance Pool, when news of the Great War’s end arrived, Li Qing found it hard to believe. He hadn’t expected peace to come so quickly.

”After nearly seven years of fighting, they’re finally stopping!”

Though he hadn’t personally experienced the chaos of war, Li Qing couldn’t help but feel relieved that the immortal cultivation world was finally at peace.

”Peace is a good thing. After all, a peaceful world is a boon for cultivators like me, who are at the bottom of the social ladder.”

Just as Li Qing was about to bring this news to Daoist Qingyang, he noticed that Fellow Daoist Chu, with whom he had a decent relationship, was wearing a look of bitter resentment, showing no trace of joy at the peace.

Bang!

The Heavenly River Sect disciple stationed at Azure Radiance Pool slammed his fist on the table, muttering angrily, ”What a disgrace!”

Li Qing was puzzled, unsure what had happened.

”Fellow Daoist Chu, what’s wrong?”

Before he could finish his question, Chu handed him a report he had just received.

”For the next fifteen years, thirty percent of the Heavenly River Sect’s spirit stone mine revenue will go to the Shangqing Sect.”

”For the next ten years, forty percent of the spirit stone profits from the Heavenly River Market will go to the Shangqing Sect.”

”All spirit gold veins...”

After reading through these unequal terms, Li Qing opened his mouth, unable to help but exclaim, ”So this is the price of peace? Such humiliating and humiliating terms!”

His eyes slightly red, Chu Tiankuo lowered his voice and said, ”Fellow Daoist Li, this information is confidential. I’ve shown it to you today, but please don’t spread it. It concerns the Heavenly River Sect’s reputation.”

”Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Chu. I understand the principle of ’disaster comes from the mouth.’ I am not a loose-tongued gossip,” Li Qing solemnly assured him.

However, even without his promise, these peace terms were unlikely to remain hidden for long. There’s no such thing as an airtight wall in the world.

”Alas, as you said, these terms are indeed humiliating and humiliating!” Chu Tiankuo said bitterly.

Li Qing remained neutral. As an outsider, he could view the situation more objectively and impartially.

It was now certain that the Shangqing Sect had gained the upper hand. With Exquisite True Lord at its helm, the Heavenly River Sect would likely live in its shadow for centuries to come.

Such a young Core Formation True Lord, possessing the Exquisite Treasure Physique, would likely surpass all Heavenly River Sect members in a few years.

She wouldn’t even need to reach the Nascent Soul Realm. Once she reached Late-Stage Core Formation, her Exquisite Treasure Physique alone might allow her to sweep through all her enemies.

”I think the root of the problem lies in the Black Sand River,” Li Qing analyzed carefully, revealing the underlying cause. ”Both sects sent Foundation Establishment Elders to explore the Demon Clan Grotto-Heaven, and more than half of them were lost. The casualties were simply too heavy.”

With the Core Formation Ancestors of both sects rarely intervening, the Foundation Establishment Elders had become the crucial backbone of their forces. The Heavenly River Sect, having suffered such devastating losses in the Demon Clan Grotto-Heaven, had no choice but to grit its teeth and sign the agreement.

After bidding farewell to Chu Tiankuo, Li Qing visited Daoist Qingyang’s cave abode.

Two months later, traces of the agreement began to surface, and it could no longer be kept completely secret.

”What? The Heavenly River Sect agreed to all those terms?”

”Of course they did. You know how powerful Exquisite True Lord of the Shangqing Sect is. What choice did they have?!”

”Looks like this battle really stung the Heavenly River Sect.”

”For the next decade or so, the cultivation clans affiliated with the Heavenly River Sect will have to tighten their belts and live frugally.”

Li Qing, who had once been a spirit mine worker, understood perfectly that if these terms were implemented, the burden would ultimately fall on the rogue cultivator laborers.

Over time, even the great cultivation clans would likely grow resentful.

After analyzing the situation, Li Qing couldn’t help but sigh. ”What a brilliant scheme! They’re not content with just turning the Shi Clan against the Heavenly River Sect—they’re trying to drive all the surrounding cultivation clans to turn against them as well.”

Li Qing could see this, and the Heavenly River Sect must have anticipated it too.

Their response was simple: ”A strong foundation is the key.” As long as the sect remained powerful enough to keep the cultivation clans in line, they wouldn’t need to worry about widespread defection.

Sure enough, a few months later, the Heavenly River Sect began to flex its muscles, showcasing its strength.

Liu Huai’an, a Heavenly Prodigy with a Heavenly Spirit Root, successfully achieved Foundation Establishment!

No matter what, he was still a Heavenly Spirit Root. Once his injuries healed, he broke through into the Foundation Establishment Realm with unstoppable momentum.

Moreover, according to rumors among the sect disciples, Liu Huai’an had achieved Foundation Establishment without even taking a Foundation Establishment Pill!

This news sparked envy, jealousy, and resentment among countless rogue cultivators. Having a good innate talent truly allowed one to be so carefree.

There was nothing they could do. That was the power of a Heavenly Spirit Root—it allowed one to cultivate all the way to the Core Formation Realm without encountering any bottlenecks.

But soon after, news of Shi Nantian’s successful Foundation Establishment also spread.

Unlike Liu Huai’an, Shi Nantian had taken a Foundation Establishment Pill. After all, he was a disciple who had made significant contributions to the sect, and he had accumulated enough Sect Contribution to exchange for one.

This didn’t stop the other rogue cultivators from being shocked, and even the surrounding cultivation clans felt a wave of pressure wash over them.

Shi Nantian was a member of the Shi Clan. With two Foundation Establishment cultivators already, the Shi Clan now had three!

Someone had predicted this at the Ascension Conference, and now their words had come true.

A great cultivation clan with three Foundation Establishment cultivators—they were destined to become an object of reverence for countless cultivators.

Many of the older Foundation Establishment Elders had perished in the war, and now younger Foundation Establishment cultivators were rising to prominence.

Li Qing understood that a new era was dawning.

Within days, almost simultaneously, another young disciple of the Heavenly River Sect successfully achieved Foundation Establishment.

This disciple was none other than Nine Heavens, an acquaintance of Li Qing.

As news of one successful Foundation Establishment after another spread, rogue cultivators outside the sect grew numb. This moment made them truly understand the depth of a Cultivation Sect’s foundation.

The Foundation Establishment they had spent their entire lives striving for was, in the Heavenly River Sect, almost insignificant, barely worth mentioning.

Naturally, Nine Heavens held a Foundation Establishment celebration. However, being a modest person, he only invited his close friends to gather at the Heavenly River Sect.

Among them were Daoist Qingyang and Li Qing.

Yes, Nine Heavens was aware of Li Qing’s recent seclusion in a thatched hut by the Azure Radiance Pool.

However, Nine Heavens was truly upright and kept his promises. Even after all these years, he still remembered Li Qing’s kindness in repairing his spirit boat. Naturally, he included Li Qing in the invitation to his Foundation Establishment celebration.

Gazing at the gold-embossed invitation in his hand, Li Qing couldn’t help but force a bitter smile.

”Sigh, everyone’s achieving Foundation Establishment. When will it be my turn?”

His words fading, Li Qing put away the gold-embossed invitation and swallowed a Foundation Nurturing Pill.

(End of the Chapter)

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