Immortal Refiner

The middle section of the Myriad Lives Demonic Art proved surprisingly difficult to cultivate, differing significantly from ordinary demonic arts.

While other demonic arts boasted immense power, their cultivation methods were relatively straightforward, requiring only adherence to specific instructions for easy mastery.

Temporarily halting the incubation of the golden silkworm egg, Li Qing channeled all his focus into cultivating the Transformation Chapter of the Myriad Lives Demonic Art.

He sat quietly cross-legged on a cushion, his mind filled with the Chapter’s verses, his thoughts churning restlessly.

”To convert one’s Lifespan into a strange vital essence... this technique is truly profound beyond comprehension.”

By now, Li Qing was increasingly convinced that this scripture had been passed down from the distant Primordial Era—an age tens of thousands of years removed from the present. Though the written characters remained largely unchanged, the scripture’s meaning was maddeningly obscure.

”Transformation... how exactly does one transform? Relying solely on this cryptic mantra feels far too abstract.”

Time slipped by unnoticed, and two months vanished in the blink of an eye.

Yet Li Qing remained in his cave abode, his mind still immersed in unraveling the mysteries of this extraordinary demonic art.

Fortunately, Li Qing possessed remarkable patience, a virtue cultivated through years of cultivation. Given his exceptionally long lifespan, he could afford to dedicate as much time as necessary to mastering this demonic art.

As long as he made progress and confirmed the art’s practicability, he would continue his persistent study.

His motivation stemmed solely from the immense utility of this extraordinary technique. Even without the preceding or subsequent Chapters, the Transformation Chapter alone would benefit him for the rest of his life.

Outside, the Great War between the righteous and demonic paths intensified, claiming the lives of cultivators almost every moment.

The flames of war gradually spread, engulfing ever-wider territories until nearly the entire Great Wilderness Domain was caught in the conflict’s aftermath.

Battle reports flooded in from all directions, sending rogue cultivators into a state of terrified silence, fearing they would be drawn into the fray.

At the Taiyi Sect, a spirit gold vein—a crucial resource point during the immortal dao war—had only recently been reclaimed before war erupted anew.

Led by two supreme elders, disciples and elders of the Ghost Sword Sect launched another assault on this vital vein.

Boom!

That day, terrifying aftershocks of spiritual energy swept across the Taiyi Sect’s spirit stone mine, shattering the Grand Formation protecting the entire site.

This battle had consumed over a dozen Restriction-Breaking Talismans, including several third-tier formation-breaking talismans!

It was clear the Ghost Sword Sect had gone all-out, determined to seize this vital resource point of the Taiyi Sect.

”Elder Gu, make your decision quickly!”

”We’d rather die here than let those Ghost Sword Sect bastards have an easy time of it.”

”Senior brother... wake up, senior brother! Senior brother!”

Deep within the Mine Pit, in one of the mine shafts, the remaining disciples of the Taiyi Sect all gazed at their revered supreme elder.

Elder Gu’s expression was grim. At this point, there was no turning back.

A resolute glint flashed in his eyes as he seemed to reach a decision.

”You are all the sect’s most outstanding disciples. The Taiyi Sect has failed you; we couldn’t protect you properly.”

As his words trailed off, Elder Gu’s eyes filled with anguish.

Yet the disciples showed no fear or panic. Their gazes burned with unwavering determination.

”Elder Gu, joining the Taiyi Sect is the greatest honor of my life.”

”What is death to fear? I still remember the grand oath I swore upon entering the sect. To join this sect, to vanquish demons and uphold righteousness—that is the most important thing in my life!”

”Elder, give the order. I have no regrets about joining the Taiyi Sect!”

Elder Gu gazed at the disciples before him, each willingly facing death, and suddenly burst into laughter.

”Hahahaha! You are all truly remarkable! The Taiyi Sect is incredibly fortunate to have disciples like you!”

As his words faded, the Golden Core within Elder Gu’s body began to tremble violently, unleashing a terrifying aura that instantly permeated the area.

Outside the spirit stone mine, the Ghost Sword Sect members, who were relentlessly searching for Taiyi Sect survivors, immediately sensed the overwhelming presence.

”What’s this—?!”

In the sky, two middle-aged men wearing identical purple robes and bearing nearly identical features shouted in unison:

”Everyone, evacuate immediately!”

But it was too late. From deep within the mine tunnel, a cataclysmic energy erupted, as if the entire earth had been overturned.

BOOM!

The Ghost Sword Sect disciples still searching on the surface were instantly engulfed by the blast. The shockwave swept through them, their fleshly bodies disintegrating into ash in an instant.

And it wasn’t over. The underground explosions continued in a chain reaction, wave after wave.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The two supreme elders of the Ghost Sword Sect, twin brothers with grim expressions, watched in horror.

”That old Gu bastard has gone mad! He’s willing to self-detonate his Golden Core just to destroy this spirit gold mine!”

”That’s ruthless. It’s completely out of character for that old ghost Gu Yuan. Was he truly driven to desperation?”

To detonate his own Golden Core rather than let the Ghost Sword Sect seize the vital spirit gold veins—such unwavering resolve shocked even the supreme elders of the demonic sects.

For centuries, the Righteous Path Sects had been dismissed as hypocrites. Yet there remained a faction of individuals who faced death with remarkable integrity, upholding their ideals of exorcising demons and defending the righteous path even in their final moments.

News of the battle at the Taiyi Sect’s spirit gold mine soon spread like wildfire. Every cultivator who heard the battle report fell into solemn silence.

The Righteous Path Sect cultivators, however, were galvanized, as if jolted awake. A surge of renewed vigor swept through their ranks, momentarily shifting the momentum of the conflict.

Upon learning of the incident, countless Taiyi Sect disciples wept bitterly, as if the fallen at the spirit stone mine were their own kin. The intensity of the war escalated further.

Amidst this chaotic era, Li Qing remained deeply engrossed in studying his newly acquired extraordinary technique, seemingly oblivious to the cataclysmic events unfolding around him.

Within the cave abode, another half-year had passed unnoticed.

Outside, the vegetation had grown wild, clearly untended for a long time.

After nearly a year of studying the Myriad Lives Demonic Art, Li Qing had gained a profound understanding of its Transformation Chapter.

In this state of enlightenment, he poured himself a cup of Moon Palace Brew, raised it, and drained it in one gulp.

The moment the spirit wine touched his lips, the critical points that had eluded him for so long unraveled instantly.

He had grasped it!

”Transformation... Transformation. It doesn’t just consume lifespan; it also consumes vitality.”

”Or perhaps the two are inseparable.”

With these words, Li Qing slowly opened his eyes. He silently recited the incantation and simultaneously formed a complex hand seal with both hands.

At that moment, the numbers representing his lifespan finally began to fluctuate.

2119... 2117...

Unlike before, the numbers weren’t increasing this time; they were rapidly decreasing!

When the string of numbers representing his lifespan finally settled at two thousand and eighty-seven, it came to a halt.

In the blink of an eye, he had sacrificed thirty years of his lifespan!

Simultaneously, within Li Qing’s body, a mysterious, seven-colored vital essence appeared, roughly the amount that would fill a wine cup.

”So this is the vital essence formed from my own lifespan? Truly extraordinary,” Li Qing murmured, his eyes burning with curiosity. He recalled the demonic art’s descriptions of this vital essence’s various uses.

This vital essence could amplify the power of his divine abilities and magical artifacts, enhance the efficacy of plant and tree essences, and even revive dormant objects.

Without hesitation, Li Qing channeled a wisp of the seven-colored vital essence and injected it into the golden silkworm egg before him.

He wanted to observe the effects of this extraordinary vital essence on the silkworm egg.

The next moment, something astonishing occurred.

The golden silkworm egg, which would have required at least four to five years of nourishing with true essence, began to pulsate visibly after absorbing just a wisp of Li Qing’s seven-colored vital essence.

A vibrant surge of life force radiated outward from within!

(End of the Chapter)

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