Immortal Refiner

Li Qing, piloting the Serpent-Head Spirit Boat, had been fleeing south for several days, finally approaching the southern region of Azure Ridge.

The temperature had become bitterly cold, especially at this altitude. The biting wind would have frozen anyone without Li Qing’s robust physical constitution.

Inside the spirit boat, Su Xin’s divine sense had recovered considerably over the past few days. She no longer looked as weak as before, as if she might collapse at any moment.

She was wrapped in a fluffy black garment and held a fiery red pearl to keep warm.

”Why are we going to the Mu Kingdom in the south of Azure Ridge? You could have returned to Heavenly River Sect territory. I could have explained the misunderstandings that occurred earlier,” Su Xin said, her voice still soft and slightly weak from her incomplete recovery.

Li Qing shook his head. ”Forget it. The disciple I killed had a powerful uncle—a Foundation Establishment Elder of Heavenly River Sect, just like you.”

”If I went back with you, I’d never have a moment’s peace.”

In the frigid clouds, Su Xin, cradling the Warm Sun Pearl, fell silent. She opened her mouth as if to speak, then hesitated, ultimately choosing not to reveal her true identity within Heavenly River Sect to Li Qing.

”So, you came to the Mu Kingdom to try and join the Lingyun Sect?” Su Xin asked.

Li Qing nodded. ”Yes, I want to give it a shot. If I can join the Lingyun Sect, I won’t have to worry about these trivial matters anymore.”

”Then put me down,” Su Xin said softly. ”If the Lingyun Sect recognizes my identity, it could affect your chances of joining.”

Among the three Immortal Path sects in the Azure Ridge Domain, the Lingyun Sect was the most reclusive. However, this reclusive attitude didn’t mean they had a harmonious relationship with the other two sects.

While they weren’t as hostile as the Shangqing Sect and the Heavenly River Sect, their relationship was far from friendly. It could only be described as lukewarm—neither hostile nor friendly.

”Are you sure you want to leave here? We’ve temporarily escaped that Golden War Boat, but they might not have given up yet. What if we run into them again?” Li Qing asked cautiously.

Su Xin smiled, her already beautiful face softening even further.

”Little man, are you worried about me?”

Li Qing remained focused on piloting the spirit boat, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

In truth, Li Qing and Su Xin were roughly the same age, but due to his long Lifespan, he appeared to be only in his early twenties, with a bone age of around twenty-seven.

”After all, we’ve been through thick and thin together. We don’t have any mortal grudges. Isn’t it normal for me to consider your well-being?”

He wasn’t a cold-hearted person. His feelings toward the Foundation Establishment Realm woman beside him were quite complex.

Though she had chased him relentlessly before, they had later shared a fleeting moment of intimacy in a mountain gorge. Ultimately, he had escaped Liang Country thanks to her selfless sacrifice.

After they cleared up their misunderstandings, Li Qing found he didn’t dislike Su Xin, who was, after all, a reasonable woman.

The next moment, Li Qing felt a soft, yielding sensation press against his cheek.

His control over the spirit boat faltered momentarily. He turned and pulled Su Xin into his strong embrace.

This time, with a clear mind, Li Qing truly understood the meaning of gentle as water.

And Su Xin experienced firsthand the formidable physique of a Grandmaster!

Though I disrobe and shed my clothes, I’ll never regret it, for her sake, I’ll waste away until I’m emaciated.

Though it was perpetually cold above the Southern Kingdom, the air felt like spring.

Unfortunately, no one was there to appreciate this fleeting moment of beauty.

”Alright, little man, I must leave now. I won’t be a burden to you any longer.”

”If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”

With these crisp words, Su Xin once again mounted a divine rainbow and soared northwest toward Maple Country.

Her departure was swift and decisive, leaving Li Qing somewhat stunned. He couldn’t help but wonder who the real man was!

Watching Su Xin disappear into the clouds, Li Qing murmured, ”For us cultivators, pursuing the Immortal Path is the ultimate purpose of our lives. Romantic entanglements are fleeting distractions. It should be this way!”

As his words faded, Li Qing produced a map of Mu Kingdom and intelligence on the Lingyun Sect.

”By now, the Lingyun Sect’s Ascension Conference should have concluded some time ago. If not for all that’s happened, I might have made it in time.”

”Alas, now I can only try my luck!”

After confirming his direction, he stowed the map and continued piloting the spirit boat directly toward the Lingyun Sect.

Whoosh!

Amidst swirling clouds and mist, a streak of azure light flashed past at incredible speed.

Not long after, a Golden War Boat arrived at the same spot where the Serpent-Head Spirit Boat had paused earlier.

”Pursue! That spirit boat stopped here just now. Judging from the spiritual energy trail, it’s heading southwest.”

Zhong Ya’s expression on the Golden War Boat was grim. After days of relentless pursuit, they had finally lost track of their quarry due to their slower speed.

Refusing to give up, he had chased them all the way into the Mu Kingdom.

”That... that’s the direction of the Lingyun Sect,” Lu Feiyu, clad in a gray robe, frowned.

”What’s there to fear? That woman is an Elder of the Heavenly River Sect. I’m absolutely certain of it. The Lingyun Sect would never dare shelter her.”

With that, Zhong Ya urged the Golden War Boat forward, following the Serpent-Head Spirit Boat’s trail at breakneck speed.

The Mu Kingdom, perpetually shrouded in frigid weather, was a true land of snow.

Further south lay the endless expanse of the Forbidden Speech Snow Mountains, a true death zone where even Foundation Establishment cultivators would struggle to cross.

The Lingyun Sect was built near the Forbidden Speech Snow Mountains, drawing sustenance from a rich Spiritual Vein in the area.

On this snow-covered plateau with its extreme climate, a group of figures had appeared—a sight that defied imagination.

”Hey, hey, hey, why does Elder Wu from our sect eat so much? I’ve been watching him eat since the Ascension Conference began, and he’s still eating even now that we’re almost back at the mountain gate.”

”Hehe, yeah, I suspect his storage pouch is filled entirely with food.”

”Quiet down, you two. I heard Elder Wu cultivates the Gluttonous Divine Art. He’s supposed to eat a lot.”

A group of rogue cultivators who had just passed the Ascension Conference and joined the Lingyun Sect were ecstatic. They were about to reach the Lingyun Sect’s mountain gate, where they would finally become true disciples of an immortal sect!

During the journey, many had observed Elder Wu’s easygoing and indifferent demeanor. He paid no mind to others’ gossip, which emboldened them to whisper behind his back.

However, another Lingyun Sect Elder finally barked, ”Silence! We’re approaching the Forbidden Speech Snow Mountains. Unless it’s urgent, no one is to speak!”

At these words, the bold cultivators who had been gossiping immediately fell silent.

”Crunch, crunch! Crunch, crunch!”

Even after the others fell silent, the sound of chewing still echoed through the wind and snow, mixing with the howling gusts.

This made the Foundation Establishment Elder who had just scolded them clutch his forehead, muttering under his breath, ”Junior Brother Wu, please try to maintain your dignity as an Elder in front of the new disciples. Maybe eat a little less.”

At the front of the group, Elder Wu, a rotund figure with a face completely covered in fat, continued stuffing his mouth. His eyes were squeezed into mere slits by the excess flesh.

Mumbling through a mouthful of food, Elder Wu retorted, ”It’s freezing cold out here! Can’t even let a man eat something? I’m going to eat whatever I want!”

With that, he crammed another massive handful of food into his mouth, then pulled out two glistening roasted chicken legs and swallowed them whole, bones and all.

Watching this, Elder Chen, who had just spoken up, could only shake his head in exasperation. He pursed his lips but ultimately said nothing more.

Though he found the man’s behavior utterly embarrassing for a fellow Elder of the Lingyun Sect, there was nothing he could do. Elder Wu’s background within the sect was practically untouchable; he could walk sideways through the sect without fear.

Before long, the group arrived at the Lingyun Sect’s mountain gate, ready to enter the sect.

But the two leading Elders stopped in their tracks. Even Elder Wu stopped chewing his food and turned to look at the sky in the direction they had come from.

”Those two damned old geezers! You two really know how to chase!”

As this furious, teeth-grinding roar echoed through the air, a streak of azure light rapidly approached. It was a spirit boat shaped like a serpent’s head, moving at incredible speed.

Seeing this, Elder Chen immediately furrowed his brow and roared, ”Bold! What rogue dares to fly through the air before the mountain gate of the Lingyun Sect!”

Who else could it be but Li Qing!

Li Qing, currently piloting the Serpent-Head Spirit Boat, had a gleam in his eyes.

He immediately maneuvered the spirit boat to land, then quickly retrieved a white jade token from his person. The front and back of the token were each inscribed with two characters: Ling and Yun!

”Senior, I have traveled thousands of miles to join the Lingyun Sect. Please examine this token!”

With that, Li Qing knelt on one knee, lowered his head, and presented the token with both hands.

”Hmm? This is... the Lingyun Sect’s Ascension Token!” Elder Chen’s furrowed brow immediately relaxed, his wrinkled face softened, and his stern expression eased.

As the words ”Ascension Token” left Li Qing’s lips, the other newly inducted disciples of the Lingyun Sect couldn’t help but gasp in surprise. Most of them wore strange expressions.

”Hiss! An Ascension Token! This person has truly defied the heavens with such a divine treasure!”

”One Ascension Token is worth a Foundation Establishment Pill. What incredible luck!”

”The Lingyun Sect has stood firm in the cultivation world for centuries. Who would have thought an Ascension Token could have been lost outside? Could it be fake?”

”Unlikely. Forging an Ascension Token is a death sentence.”

Li Qing paid no mind to the other disciples’ excited chatter. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead as he desperately hoped the elder would confirm the token’s authenticity so he could finally become a disciple of the Lingyun Sect!

Behind him, two Foundation Establishment cultivators were closing in with murderous intent.

”You vile beast! Let’s see how long your spiritual energy lasts! Today, I’ll flay your skin, shatter your bones, search your soul, and refine your essence!”

As the furious words echoed through the wind and snow-swept sky, a magnificent Golden War Boat, resplendent in its opulence, descended from the clouds.

Boom!

Elder Chen, holding the token, gave Li Qing a long, searching look. ”It is indeed our sect’s Ascension Token,” he said. ”But why are you being pursued?”

Li Qing braced himself and admitted the truth. His spiritual energy was nearly depleted, and joining the Lingyun Sect was now his only lifeline.

”You’re just a Qi Refining cultivator. How could you provoke two Foundation Establishment cultivators? No matter. With this token, you are now a disciple of the Lingyun Sect. No one can harm you.”

With those words, Elder Chen soared into the sky, standing alone before the colossal Golden War Boat, shielding all the newly inducted disciples behind him.

”Fellow cultivators, your arrival here with such aggressive intent truly shows a lack of respect for the Lingyun Sect.”

Witnessing this scene, Li Qing finally exhaled a long sigh of relief, his tense nerves relaxing.

At last, he was under the protection of a sect!

Tears welled up in his eyes as a complex mix of emotions surged through him.

Being a rogue cultivator was truly a hellish existence!

The Golden War Boat suddenly halted. The two Foundation Establishment cultivators who had been pursuing Li Qing respectfully clasped their hands and bowed.

”Fellow cultivator, please forgive us. We came here only to hunt down a mere whelp and meant no disrespect to your esteemed sect!”

Though both were Foundation Establishment cultivators, Zhong and Lu adopted a humble posture. After all, they were standing before the mountain gate of a powerful Cultivation Sect. Any conflict here would be a death sentence.

Elder Chen snorted coldly. ”Hmph! There’s no little bastard here, only a disciple of the Lingyun Sect!”

”Please watch your words, fellow cultivators!”

Lu Feiyu’s face immediately turned ashen with shock, his eyes filled with disbelief.

”Impossible! We chased him all the way here. He’s clearly a rogue cultivator!”

Elder Chen replied calmly, ”He just presented an Ascension Token. By reason and law, he should now be considered a disciple of the Lingyun Sect.”

At the mention of the Ascension Token, Lu Feiyu’s mouth opened, but the fury that had been burning within him vanished, leaving him completely unable to vent his frustration.

”So the Ascension Token is this kind of thing...”

Zhong Ya, standing beside him, remained far more composed. He stepped forward and said, ”Fellow cultivator, I believe we should verify this matter thoroughly. I saw this young man walking closely with an Elder of the Heavenly River Sect earlier. Perhaps he’s a spy sent by them?”

Elder Chen’s expression stiffened. He turned to Li Qing and asked, ”Is this true?”

Li Qing took a deep breath and replied, ”It is true, but I am absolutely not a spy from the Heavenly River Sect. The Elder of the Heavenly River Sect is merely a friend I made along the way.”

As a disciple of the Lingyun Sect, Li Qing’s close ties with Elders from other Cultivation Sects were indeed problematic.

Elder Chen frowned, deep in thought. If Li Qing were truly a spy, it would be a disaster. Yet the Ascension Token was undeniably genuine.

”Hehe, Fellow Daoist, there’s no need to fret. Allow me to resolve your worries. I’ll take this young man away, and the Ascension Token will be returned to its rightful owner—the Lingyun Sect.”

With that, Zhong Ya stepped forward, intending to seize Li Qing.

But the next moment, an enraged voice thundered through the air:

”I’d like to see either of you dare take another step!”

As the words echoed, Elder Wu, his round belly protruding, waddled forward and grabbed Li Qing’s arm.

”Li Qing... It really is you! I wasn’t mistaken! After all these years, I’ve finally seen you again!”

Food residue still clinging to his lips, Elder Wu’s fleshy face quivered uncontrollably, completely devoid of any semblance of an Elder.

Hearing that familiar voice and seeing that all-too-familiar rotund figure, Li Qing’s mind went blank.

His thoughts surged like a tidal wave, relentlessly churning forward, sweeping past years of experiences and memories. Finally, they slowed, settling on a desolate frontier outpost where yellow sand swirled endlessly in the sky.

Back then, before he had learned martial arts, he was just a blacksmith’s apprentice following the Frontier Army.

In those days, there was a chubby boy about his age who always made sure to give him two extra thick, fatty pieces of Red-Braised Pork whenever they served food!

That chubby boy was also a notorious food thief, always muttering the saying:

”If the cook doesn’t steal, the harvest won’t be reaped!”

Then, with a mischievous grin, he’d snatch a few more fatty pieces from the pot and stuff them into his mouth, his face glistening with grease.

Even when Marauders attacked the military camp, that chubby boy had run to the granary to gnaw on dried meat, declaring he’d rather die a full-bellied ghost.

If Li Qing hadn’t shown him a way out, guiding him to seek refuge in the earthen mounds of the graveyard, he would surely have perished under the Marauders’ iron hooves.

After a long moment of stunned silence, Li Qing finally stammered, ”You... you’re Wu Chong, Fatty Wu?!”

”That’s right, that’s me!” Wu Chong’s face lit up with a wide grin as soon as Li Qing recognized him.

”Hahaha, we’ll catch up later. First, let me help you deal with these troublemakers.”

With that, Fatty Wu pulled a round bowl from his storage pouch, enlarged it, and stepped onto it, soaring into the air.

This broken bowl is actually a top-grade magical artifact!

Li Qing’s eyebrows twitched as he watched, wondering how this fat man had undergone such a transformation later in life, becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator and even an Elder of the Lingyun Sect!

”Hmph! Li Qing presented the Ascension Token. According to the Lingyun Sect’s rules, regardless of who he is, he must become a disciple of our sect!”

”Even if he were a spy—which he isn’t—he would still be a disciple of the Lingyun Sect today!”

”Do you two have anything to say? If not, get out of here!”

Wu Chong crossed his arms, his arrogant posture radiating an unexpected pressure from his plump frame.

”This...” Zhong Ya and Lu Feiyu exchanged glances.

Wu Chong’s expression turned cold. ”Fine, fine. You refuse to leave? Then I’ll call my Master out. My mountain gate just happens to be short two cooks. You can be those cooks!”

As he spoke, Wu Chong pulled out a jade pendant from his chest, pretending to crush it.

Elder Chen, standing beside him,’s eyelids twitched at this sight. He immediately stopped him.

”Junior Brother Wu, please stop! There’s no need to disturb Ancestor Devourer of Heaven over such a trivial matter!”

Indeed, the Master of a Foundation Establishment cultivator had to be a Core Formation Realm Ancestor.

Not only Lu Feiyu and Zhong Ya, but even Li Qing in the back had his jaw drop to the ground.

The newly admitted disciples who had been gossiping about Wu Chong earlier turned pale. They hadn’t expected this foodie Elder to have such a formidable background—it was almost terrifying!

”You two, please leave. This is the mountain gate of the Lingyun Sect. I won’t repeat myself a third time.”

Elder Chen finally stood beside Wu Chong, shoulder to shoulder, blocking Zhong Ya and Lu Feiyu on the Golden War Boat. His tone had hardened.

Since someone had produced a genuine Ascension Token, regardless of their status, they had to become a disciple of the Lingyun Sect. This rule had been established at the sect’s founding and had been followed by all immortal sects for many years.

As an Elder of the Lingyun Sect, he naturally had to protect the safety of his fellow disciples.

Even without Wu Chong’s connection, Elder Chen would have stepped forward without hesitation.

In the end, Lu Feiyu and Zhong Ya took a deep breath, clasped their hands in respect to Elder Chen and Wu Chong, and prepared to pilot their Golden War Boat away.

They had no other choice. Ahead, within the Lingyun Sect’s mountain gate, one after another powerful auras were rising and rapidly approaching.

These auras were at least at the Foundation Establishment Realm, and even included one or two cultivators at the Pseudo Core Formation Stage. If they lingered, their fate would likely be sealed. Even with the Golden War Boat, they would perish here.

”Farewell!”

With only these words, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators shamefully retreated, a stark contrast to their earlier aggressive demeanor.

At this point, Elder Chen stroked his beard with a smile and addressed all the newly inducted disciples below:

”Esteemed disciples, before you lies the mountain gate of our Lingyun Sect. I have a few words to share.”

”Congratulations! You are now disciples of the Lingyun Sect. From this day forward, you represent the future of our sect. Every action you take outside these walls reflects upon the honor of the Lingyun Sect!”

”Remember this: Now that you are disciples of the Lingyun Sect, no one can bully or humiliate you!”

”The future is long. Cultivate diligently and strive to become pillars of the sect!”

In the next moment, all the disciples shouted in unison:

”Your disciple will heed the Elder’s teachings!”

Even Li Qing, mixed among them, couldn’t help but be swept up by the atmosphere.

Yes, that’s right. He was now a disciple of the Lingyun Sect. From this day forward, his path of cultivation would be different, a new Chapter about to begin!

Looking at Elder Chen’s smiling figure in the air and Wu Chong’s round belly winking at him repeatedly, an unprecedented sense of belonging welled up within him.

Now, Li Qing finally had a sect to back him up!

The thought made Li Qing clench his fists, his heart pounding. After years of struggling alone in the world, good days were finally on the horizon!

Volume 2: First Steps on the Immortal Path - Complete!

Everything below is an Author’s Note.

Ahem, before I knew it, this book has reached 800,000 words. First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all the readers who have subscribed and stayed with me throughout this journey! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Every single subscription you’ve made has been the driving force behind my determination to keep writing!

Let’s talk about the results first. Thanks to the small recommendation I received at the end of last month, my average subscription is now approaching 1,000. While this might not seem impressive by Qidian’s standards, it’s a source of great comfort to me personally, considering I started with just over 300 first-day subscriptions. Many authors would have abandoned the book at this point, but I’m not one to give up easily. After all, it’s better to see things through to the end.

As a reader myself, I hate nothing more than having a book I’m following get abandoned halfway through. I know exactly how frustrating that feels.

Well, let’s briefly discuss the plot. Originally, I planned to conclude the second volume after the protagonist achieved Foundation Establishment. However, the length I needed to stretch the story in between became too long. Moreover, I had promised to finish the volume during the holiday break. Rushing to meet this deadline, I realized that concluding it this way would feel too drawn out. The pacing of the protagonist’s cultivation was already slow, and suddenly achieving Foundation Establishment after so much buildup would feel abrupt and rushed.

So, while writing today, I realized that concluding the volume with the protagonist joining the Lingyun Sect and becoming a disciple of an immortal sect was actually a better choice. Everything fell into place so perfectly: today was the last day of the short holiday, and the story had reached exactly 800,000 words—it felt like fate itself had orchestrated it. The second volume’s title, ”First Steps on the Immortal Path,” perfectly encapsulates the protagonist’s journey from a clueless mortal to entering the cultivation world and finally becoming a disciple of a Cultivation Sect. Isn’t that a fitting metaphor for taking one’s first steps on the Immortal Path?

Of course, we can’t discuss this without mentioning the fleeting romance between Li Qing and Su Xin. I’ve always believed that Immortal Cultivation novels shouldn’t be solely about scheming and fighting. There should be moments of genuine human connection, reminding us that even on the path to immortality, true emotions can still exist. If every encounter along the way is with enemies and rivals, the journey becomes rather monotonous.

I anticipated that many readers would dislike this part of the story. This is entirely due to my own shortcomings as a writer, particularly my weakness in portraying supporting characters, especially female ones. I will strive to improve this deficiency in the future. If my skills still fall short, I’ll adapt by playing to my strengths. I must apologize to those who disliked this storyline.

Next comes the third volume, ”Storms in the Cultivation World.” As the title suggests, the story will now focus on the lives of immortal sect disciples. There’s much to cover in this volume, and it’s quite important. I hope it lives up to your expectations!

Finally, I urge you to subscribe and support this novel. It’s my lifelong dream to write an online novel with over 3,000 average subscriptions. I hope this book will help me achieve that dream!

Thank you all!

(End of the Chapter)

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