Immortal Refiner

”The Cold Wind Secret Realm only opens once every two hundred years. It turns out the reason isn’t just the bitter winds surrounding it, but also the barrier at the bottom of the Cold Wind Pool.”

”Even True Lords in the core formation realm can’t force their way in. We’ll just have to wait.”

Inside the Lingyun Sect’s Scripture Pavilion, Li Qing held a classic text, studying information about the Cold Wind Secret Realm.

The secret realm, which opened every two hundred years, was actually a training ground led by elders for Qi Refining Disciples.

Moreover, entry wasn’t limited to Lingyun Sect members. Each time it opened, the sect allocated entry slots to nearby cultivation clans.

Like the Heavenly River Sect, Lingyun Sect maintained intricate ties with numerous cultivation clans in the region. Some of these clans, with deep-rooted legacies, had even been founded centuries ago by Lingyun Sect’s supreme elders.

Li Qing stroked his chin, his interest piqued.

Exploring this secret realm wouldn’t pose too much of a threat from other foundation establishment cultivators.

Those entering would either be fellow sect elders or foundation establishment cultivators from cultivation clans loyal to Lingyun Sect. Rogue cultivators, known for their ruthlessness, were ineligible for entry.

Of course, as the saying goes, one must always be wary of others. In the face of absolute gain, even blood brothers, let alone fellow sect members and elders, might betray you.

”However, not just any elder can lead disciples into the Cold Wind Secret Realm. It’s still early, but I should start planning for this now.”

This was truly a grand scheme spanning over a century. To begin laying the groundwork so far in advance, Li Qing was undoubtedly the only foundation establishment cultivator in the world who would undertake such a monumental task!

The secret realm opened only once every two centuries. Most foundation establishment cultivators would likely have only one chance in their lifetime to enter it.

Therefore, few other elders bothered to invest much thought or planning into it. When the time approached, they would likely just leave everything to fate. After all, the Cold Wind Secret Realm had never been particularly dangerous in the past.

”Besides planning for the secret realm, I must also make progress in other areas.”

”Entering the secret realm to subdue the Netherworld Cold Fire is just one viable path. Over the next century, I must continue to cultivate diligently to enhance my strength while also gathering information about other heavenly spirit fires.”

”I cannot place all my hopes on this secret realm. The course of my Dao must remain firmly in my own hands!”

After speaking, Li Qing closed the ancient manual containing information about the Cold Wind Secret Realm and returned it to the shelf.

He continued searching for a long time before finally finding an ancient manual detailing various heavenly spirit fires.

After quickly scanning the information on the other heavenly spirit fires, Li Qing’s gaze locked onto the Netherworld Cold Fire.

”Netherworld Cold Fire: Born in the depths of extreme yin, unlike other scorching heavenly spirit fires, this fire burns with a pale, icy-white flame, as cold as ten thousand years of profound ice.”

The recorded information was sparse, consisting of only a few sentences, but it clearly outlined the fundamental properties of the Netherworld Cold Fire.

As a heavenly spirit fire, a spiritual object exceedingly rare in the world, most cultivators would never encounter even one in their entire lives. The author of this manual had already done remarkably well to document the properties of so many heavenly spirit fires.

Li Qing was quite satisfied with this.

”According to Senior Brother Xu, he was the only one who witnessed the Netherworld Cold Fire’s initial manifestation. I wonder if he has informed anyone else about this.”

”The next opening of the secret realm is still a long way off. Perhaps this is my greatest advantage. The elders of Senior Brother Xu’s generation likely won’t be able to wait that long.”

With this thought, Li Qing clenched his fist, his determination to obtain the Netherworld Cold Fire burning fiercely within him.

If he could subdue and refine a heavenly spirit fire, it would not only enhance his Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art but also grant him a significant boost in combat prowess.

This was precisely why heavenly spirit fires were so highly prized—their value was such that even core formation true lords would covet them.

Returning the ancient manual to its place, Li Qing exhaled deeply.

”Hah...”

”Spirit fires are invaluable, but my immediate priority is accumulating contribution points. The Sect’s new batch of pills will be released in less than three months. I should gather as many points as possible.”

With that, Li Qing left the Scripture Pavilion and headed straight to the refining hall.

Over two months passed in a flash. For other elders and Qi Refining disciples, these months were uneventful.

But for Li Qing, they were deeply fulfilling.

In the refining hall, a Qi Refining Disciple on duty, drenched in sweat, watched Li Qing approach.

”Elder Li, are you sure you don’t want to rest for a few days?”

Indeed, Li Qing had barely left the refining hall during these two months, practically living there.

Instead of accepting artifact refinement commissions from other Foundation Establishment elders, Li Qing focused on taking on commissions from Qi Refining Disciples. While each task yielded only a small number of contribution points, the sheer volume and simplicity of the jobs made it worthwhile.

His frenzied acceptance of commissions sent ripples of unease through the refining hall.

”Don’t worry about me,” Li Qing said calmly. ”Have there been any new artifact refinement commissions recently?”

”Yes, yes! The General Affairs Hall sent over three more commissions yesterday. They’re from other senior brothers.”

Before the disciple could finish, Li Qing strode over to the commission board and scanned the three newly posted tasks.

”It’s Junior Nephew Cheng again. Why does he need another flying sword?” Li Qing rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he picked up the commission from Cheng Jin Xiao.

If he remembered correctly, this was the fourth flying sword he had refined for this disciple in the past two months.

While sword cultivators were common in the immortal realm, someone with such a voracious demand for flying swords was quite rare.

Typically, sword cultivators would focus on refining a single flying sword, striving for perfect harmony between mind and blade to unleash its full potential.

Of course, there were also specialized cultivation manuals that might require multiple flying swords.

Li Qing had no interest in meddling in such matters. His sole concern was completing the commissions and earning his contribution points.

”Alright, I’ll take on this commission,” Li Qing said, accepting Cheng Jin Xiao’s request to refine a flying sword.

With that, Li Qing left the refining hall under the admiring gazes of the disciples.

Soon after, Cheng Jin Xiao delivered all the spirit materials needed for refining the flying sword to Li Qing.

In Artifact Refinement Valley, Li Qing skillfully tossed two Red Leaf Fruits into the formation.

But the next moment, he noticed the Fire Essence Crocodiles staring blankly at the Spirit Fruits, their eyes conveying a sense of utter weariness.

Seeing the crocodiles’ apparent lack of appetite, Li Qing paused, then chuckled wryly. ”I overlooked this. Even demon beasts need rest. After spewing Demon Fire for two consecutive months, these crocodiles must be exhausted.”

He had indeed been refining artifacts excessively these past two months, handling nearly as many commissions as other elders would in an entire year.

Selecting a new Formation Core, Li Qing tossed in the Red Leaf Fruit and began refining the flying sword with practiced ease.

Intense Demon Fire surged forth as he swiftly fed all the spirit materials into the Black Furnace in one smooth motion, his technique astonishingly refined.

In less than three days, a brand-new flying sword emerged from the Black Furnace.

[Successfully refined a mid-grade magic tool: Flying Sword. Reward: 6 years of Lifespan!]

Seeing this reward notification, Li Qing’s lips twitched involuntarily.

”Since entering the foundation establishment realm, the Lifespan gained from mid-grade magic tools has diminished even further,” he sighed inwardly.

However, this was merely a fleeting moment of contemplation. Combined with the Five Elements Spirit Binding Rope he had refined earlier and the frantic artifact refinement commissions he had taken on over the past two months, his remaining Lifespan had now surged to over eight hundred years!

With such an abundance of Lifespan, he felt a rare sense of peace, allowing him to approach other matters with greater composure.

Of course, this didn’t mean he could rest completely assured.

If he failed to advance to the core formation realm within the next two centuries, he would have to consider leaving the sect.

After all, a foundation establishment cultivator living for such an extended period would inevitably attract widespread attention. Once he exceeded the bounds of reason, countless cultivators nearing their great limit would undoubtedly seek to uncover the secret to his longevity.

This was precisely why Li Qing cherished his time in the sect so deeply. Knowing it wouldn’t last forever made each day all the more precious.

Holding the newly forged flying sword, Li Qing left Artifact Refinement Valley and instructed a refining hall disciple, ”Tell Cheng Jin Xiao to come collect his sword.”

After giving the simple order, Li Qing closed his eyes to meditate and recuperate.

His recent frenzied efforts in refining magic artifacts had inevitably drawn some attention.

The other elders who knew about this marveled at how Li Qing truly lived by his words, a cultivator who practiced what he preached.

His diligence even made many refining elders in the refining hall feel ashamed of their own efforts.

”Junior Brother Li is truly remarkable,” one elder remarked. ”He’s only just joined the refining hall, yet he works so tirelessly. It makes me feel utterly inadequate.”

”Even though the pill exchange is opening soon, there’s no need to push himself this hard, is there?”

”To achieve foundation establishment with a Four Spirit Root aptitude... it’s clear his success isn’t just luck.”

While the elders marveled, many Qi Refining Disciples within the sect took Li Qing as their role model, further fueling their determination to cultivate diligently.

Even the Foundation Establishment Stage elders are working so hard—what excuse do you have to slack off?!

In an instant, the cultivation atmosphere among the Lingyun Sect’s lower-level disciples transformed dramatically, setting a precedent unseen in centuries.

Sect Leader Xu Yun, upon hearing this news, chuckled heartily in the Sect Leader’s Hall, his eyes crinkling with amusement. ”Ha ha ha, excellent, excellent! With the disciples so diligent lately, our Lingyun Sect is truly thriving!”

The disciples’ diligence wasn’t limited to their cultivation efforts; they also became more diligent in accepting Sect Missions.

This meant the sect’s overall strength was steadily increasing—an outcome more valuable than anything else.

As a result, the white-bearded, white-haired Sect Leader Xu Yun’s opinion of his rarely seen Junior Brother Li Qing grew increasingly favorable.

Such was the power of a role model!

Of course, dissenting voices still lingered.

Some argued that no matter how hard Li Qing tried, he would likely never achieve Core Formation in this lifetime. They deemed his efforts futile and suggested he would be better off enjoying the rest of his days.

However, such opinions remained a fringe minority, largely ignored by the majority.

(End of the Chapter)

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