Immortal Refiner

Deep in the mountain gorge, mist hung heavy in the forest, as a waterfall reversed its flow, relentlessly pounding the ground.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ground began to tremble, a vibration even more violent than the waterfall’s impact.

From behind the curtain of water, a giant ape leaped out, shaking the entire forest.

This ape was covered in thick white fur, its massive size almost shocking. But protruding from its back were rows of bone spikes, making it look utterly terrifying.

”Arooo!”

It roared skyward, then opened its mouth wide, turning its head toward a specific direction in the forest and sniffing the air.

Soon, as if it had caught a delicious scent, saliva began to overflow from its mouth.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The white giant ape began to charge, its speed astonishing. Each footfall sent tremors through the ground.

As it crashed through the trees, a group of young mortals huddled together, trembling in fear at the sudden tremors.

This was the same group Li Qing had followed just moments ago.

”It’s coming! The monstrous ape is coming!”

”Quick, send a signal to the Lu Clan’s immortal elder!”

Whoosh!

As a dazzling signal flared into the sky, the mortals scattered in panic, their faces etched with terror and dread.

Unfortunately, how could their speed possibly match that of a Second-Tier Demonic Beast?

In an instant, the white giant ape charged forward, scooping up a mortal who hadn’t managed to escape. It stuffed the mortal directly into its mouth, creating a scene of extreme gore and horror.

Soon, a sharp cry echoed from afar:

”Well played, Lu Clan! Using mortals as bait to lure out a Demonic Beast!”

”You beast! You’re courting death!”

As the words faded, a sharp black arrow shot out, moving with incredible speed, almost piercing through the air itself.

Outside the mountain gorge, the Lu Clan had set up a formation, tightly guarding the area. Naturally, they saw the signal flare soaring into the sky.

”Clan Head, the Demonic Beast has appeared! Shouldn’t we begin our operation now?” a Lu Clan disciple asked urgently.

However, Lu Feiyu, clad in a gray robe, shook his head calmly and composedly. ”No need to rush. Since we’ve confirmed that the Joyful Ape is trapped within the formation, we don’t need to worry about it escaping.”

”What we should be concerned about now is something else.”

With that, Lu Feiyu casually called out toward the forest outside the gorge: ”Brother Zhong, since you’ve come, why not show yourself? Hiding in the shadows isn’t your style.”

”Hahaha, I never expected the rumor about a Second-Tier Demonic Beast appearing here to be true! I thought it was just a false rumor!”

A red-nosed man, constantly stroking his beard, flew out with a cunning smile on his face.

Lu Feiyu, his hands clasped behind his back, spoke in a clear voice. ”Brother Zhong, we’ve known each other for years. Is it really worth tearing our friendship apart over a mere Second-Tier Demonic Beast?”

The Zhong Clan Foundation Establishment cultivator nodded repeatedly. ”You’re right. But my unworthy son’s talent is so poor that he’s been stuck at the Foundation Establishment stage for far too long. It worries me greatly.”

Lu Feiyu fell silent for a moment before speaking. ”How about this? Let’s join forces to drive out the other Foundation Establishment cultivators still hiding. Afterward, I’ll refine the Crystal Core into Foundation Establishment Pills and give you one as compensation. How does that sound?”

There were other Foundation Establishment cultivators hiding nearby!

The Lu Clan disciples maintaining the array’s operation paled slightly, realizing that a Second-Tier Demonic Beast had caused quite a stir.

Zhong Ya stroked his reddened nose, surveying the mountain ravine shrouded by the array. He then glanced in several directions, as if weighing his options.

Finally, after weighing the pros and cons, he agreed to the proposal.

”Alright, Brother Lu, I trust your character. I accept!”

As the words fell, the Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators hiding in the shadows couldn’t help but grumble:

”Those two old foxes! They’ve actually joined forces like that?”

”The Zhong Clan has two Foundation Establishment cultivators, and there’s a younger one who hasn’t shown up yet. Did they not come?”

”This is going to be a problem.”

They were hiding deeply, unwilling to reveal their identities.

After all, as rogue cultivators, openly antagonizing two immortal cultivation clans would make their future prospects rather difficult.

Whether a Second-Tier Demonic Beast was worth the risk was a question that required careful consideration.

The main purpose of a Second-Tier Demonic Beast was to extract its Demon beast Crystal Core for refining Foundation Establishment Pills. Since they had already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, the beast’s value seemed less significant.

Still, some desperate souls were trying to rally other cultivators to oppose the two clans.

These were the people Lu Feiyu and Zhong Ya had to deal with.

Meanwhile, deep in the mountain gorge...

To save the mortals about to be devoured by the demon ape, Su Xin fearlessly intervened, abandoning her search for Li Qing and engaging the Second-Tier demon ape in battle.

Deep within the wilderness, a jet-black arrow streaked through the air, stained with streaks of crimson blood—undoubtedly left by the white ape.

But the arrow itself bore several cracks.

Su Xin’s expression darkened. This white ape, the ”Joyful Ape,” proved far more formidable than she had anticipated.

”Awoo! Awoo!”

The white ape’s body was riddled with ghastly wounds, blood gushing from them. Its eyes burned crimson with fury, glaring at the woman riding the divine rainbow before it.

”Roar!”

Driven by primal rage, it charged directly at Su Xin, intent on tearing her apart with its bare hands.

But Su Xin was no fool. Engaging a demon beast in close combat was a tactic only body cultivators would employ.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator’s greatest strength lay in their vast reserves of mana.

Whoosh!

With a flicker of the divine rainbow beneath her feet, Su Xin formed a hand seal and roared, ”Clear Heart Mantra!”

Buzz... buzz... buzz!

This divine ability specifically targeted the white ape’s spiritual sense. As the incantation was recited, it pierced the white ape’s mind like a demonic sound.

Bang!

His head splitting open, the white ape slammed his fist against the ground, trying to alleviate the pain.

At the same time, a jet-black arrow shot forward once more, aimed directly at the white ape’s head.

Sensing the impending danger, the white ape abruptly turned his head and swatted at the rapidly approaching arrow with a palm strike.

Crack!

Under the white ape’s terrifying strength, the arrow-like Magic Artifact shattered instantly.

Such was the terrifying power of a Demon beast’s physical body!

Su Xin showed no pity. She calmly continued to cast the Clear Heart Mantra, relentlessly tormenting the white ape’s Demon Spirit.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, Li Qing had also sensed the fluctuations of the battle.

He stopped a mortal who was running towards him in a panic, looking as if he had lost his soul.

”What about the Demon beast? What’s the situation now?”

The mortal gasped for breath, sizing Li Qing up as if trying to identify him.

Li Qing’s expression turned slightly cold, but his voice remained calm. ”I am from the Lu Clan, Lu Dongbin. Tell me what happened with the Demon beast.”

The moment the man heard it was someone from the Lu Clan, he finally exhaled in relief. ”Immortal Elder, that demon ape was about to eat us just now, but suddenly an immortal sister appeared and blocked it, saving us. They’re still fighting!”

Someone had blocked the demon ape? And it was an immortal sister?

Hearing this, Li Qing nodded as if he understood and said, ”Mm, I see. Run out of the forest. It’s too dangerous here.”

The mortal man was stunned by Li Qing’s gentle demeanor. In the past, the Lu Clan Immortals had never been so approachable, let alone cared about their lives.

But since a path to survival had opened, he didn’t hesitate any longer, fleeing madly toward the edge of the wild forest.

Having gathered some information from the mortals, Li Qing fell into contemplation.

”Should I go see the fight between the Second-Tier Demonic Beasts?”

Now that his spiritual energy had fully recovered, and with his formidable physical strength and considerable spiritual awareness, he couldn’t resist the urge to witness the battle.

After all, it was a Second-Tier Demonic Beast. If he could obtain its Crystal Core, he would essentially have all the materials needed for his Foundation Establishment Pill.

”Though I don’t know the female cultivator’s identity, it should be safe to scout her from a distance with my spiritual sense.”

”She’s willing to save mortals, so her character can’t be too bad.”

With this thought, Li Qing stepped deeper into the mountain gorge, cautiously approaching the area where the battle’s fluctuations were most intense.

Before he even reached the scene, he heard a hoarse, exhausted roar that sounded utterly agonizing.

The next moment, a deafening explosion erupted, shaking the entire earth as if an earthquake had struck. Li Qing nearly lost his footing.

”Is the battle ending?” He quickened his pace slightly, maintaining his hidden aura.

Soon, he followed the stream forward, concealing himself as best he could to avoid detection.

Not long after, he saw a massive white ape leap into the air, soaring toward the back of the gorge.

”Hmph, where do you think you’re going, beast? Leave your demonic core behind!”

Su Xin snorted coldly, riding a divine rainbow to pursue the ape through the air.

Li Qing, witnessing this, gaped in astonishment and stopped dead in his tracks, daring not to venture any further.

To hell with the immortal sister! Chasing me for thousands of miles—she’s more like a demonic sister!

Li Qing couldn’t help but grumble inwardly, his heart filled with resentment.

He was already considering retreat, having completely abandoned any thought of obtaining the Second-Tier Demonic Beast’s Crystal Core.

”That woman is truly extraordinary. She managed to severely wound such a powerful beast. Her methods are terrifying.”

With that thought, Li Qing turned to leave, even considering directly teleporting to the World of Eternal Night to escape her pursuit.

But the next moment, a thunderous explosion erupted from behind the mountain waterfall, nearly splitting the mountain itself.

Bang!

It was the white ape, desperate to escape, who had blasted through the mountain, diving into the newly exposed fissure.

Su Xin frowned, her feet stepping on a divine rainbow as she pursued it.

Not long after, just as Li Qing was about to leave, he heard a scream:

”Such dense Desire Miasma! No, a Heavenly Desire Flower? How could this be possible?!”

Uh...

Li Qing blinked, his ears alone failing to make sense of the situation. He couldn’t understand what had happened.

Curiosity gnawed at him, urging him to investigate further, like a cat scratching at his heart.

”It sounds like she was ambushed. If that’s true, could I actually get a freebie this time?”

A severely wounded Second-Tier Demonic Beast...

Li Qing’s heart pounded in his chest.

”I’ll go check it out. If things go south, I’ll run!”

He blinked, then swiftly and agilely darted toward the shattered mountain.

(End of the Chapter)

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