Immortal Refiner

”The Great Wilderness Domain, where the demonic path thrives. This casual divination from years ago has proven to be a prophecy.”

In the mortal realm, within a tavern run by ordinary people, an old daoist with a goatee was playing with a dried tortoise shell.

Across the table sat a middle-aged man in a worn green daoist robe, his poverty evident in his appearance. Yet he showed deep respect for the old daoist priest before him.

”Master, I never knew you could perform divination,” the middle-aged daoist said with a smile.

The Goatee-Bearded Old Daoist frowned slightly. ”Your master possesses many skills beyond your comprehension!”

”Our profession as feng shui masters encompasses far more than just locating dragon veins, geomancy, terrain analysis, observing celestial phenomena, calculating heaven’s will, divination, fortune-telling, and physiognomy—all these fall within our domain!”

”Allow me to perform another divination. Remain silent.”

With that, the Goatee-Bearded Old Daoist placed the tortoise shell on the table and began a series of exaggerated gestures, his movements almost comical.

The middle-aged daoist, who had been watching this scene, dared not interrupt. He knew his opportunistic master was unfathomably deep, and he wouldn’t risk disturbing him.

The tortoise shell began to spin freely, a truly wondrous sight!

After a long while, the whirling shell finally came to a stop.

The Goatee-Bearded Old Daoist eagerly picked it up, pressed two fingers together, and tapped them across the shell’s surface.

After a moment, the old daoist’s eyes snapped open, and he muttered to himself:

”Hiss! The demonic path’s reign over the Great Wilderness, barely unified, won’t last long! The future of the Great Wilderness Domain is chaotic, with countless destinies swirling.”

”Among these destinies, two towering pillars of purple qi shine brilliantly. Where did this heavenly nobility come from? Wasn’t the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty already destroyed?”

”And what’s this ominous crimson destiny? Is a great demon about to wreak havoc?”

”...”

Sensing impending doom, the Goatee-Bearded Old Daoist immediately stood up, his sparse eyebrows furrowed deeply.

”Something’s wrong. The Great Wilderness Domain is no longer safe. Run, my dear disciple! This place will soon become a hellish battleground!”

With that, the Goatee-Bearded Old Daoist bolted out of the tavern, not even checking if his disciple was following.

The middle-aged blue-robed daoist priest immediately rose as well, hurrying after his master.

Strangely, the surrounding mortals seemed oblivious to their presence, as if they couldn’t see them at all.

If Li Qing were here, he would likely recognize these two immediately.

The middle-aged daoist priest was none other than Qiu Zhen, a fellow foundation establishment realm cultivator Li Qing had met when he first opened the Hundred Refinements Pavilion in Nanyang Market. Qiu Zhen had repeatedly invited Li Qing to explore ancient tombs together.

He was even the one who had excavated the royal marquis’s grand tomb in Giant Deer Prefecture, which housed a millennial yin corpse.

As for the goatee-bearded old daoist priest, Li Qing had encountered him once before. In a Sunward City tavern, this seemingly unremarkable old daoist had delivered a passionate discourse on the legends of Moonchase Palace, leaving an indelible impression on Li Qing.

Meanwhile, within the mountain gate of Moonchase Palace, nine days had passed. Li Qing held a report on the current situation in the Great Wilderness Domain, deep in thought.

”The Carefree Sect’s withdrawal from the great wilderness was expected. This righteous path immortal sect was never particularly strong, and now they’re even more isolated. Staying here would be futile; leaving is the best option.”

”What’s strange is how True Monarch Taixuan has managed to endure this for so long without showing any signs of retaliation,” Li Qing murmured, frowning slightly. This development had taken him by surprise. He had expected Taixuan to immediately strike back at a demonic path sect, but instead, the true monarch had remained remarkably restrained.

”It seems True Monarch Taixuan is truly committed to nurturing the Pure Yang Physique. Otherwise, how could he swallow such humiliation so easily?” Li Qing shook his head and flipped to the next intelligence report.

It contained several Wanted Bounty Notices, three in total. The first two were joint bounties from demonic path sects, offering rewards for information leading to the capture of True Monarch Taixuan and the Pure Yang Physique. The content was unremarkable—the usual promises of astronomical rewards for providing leads, with the same spiritual objects listed as prizes. The only new addition was a separate bounty specifically targeting True Monarch Taixuan.

Naturally, no one dared to accept these bounties. In the Great Wilderness Domain, no cultivator had the audacity to challenge a mid-nascent soul realm cultivator.

As Li Qing unfolded the third Wanted Bounty Notice, his pupils constricted sharply.

Li Qing would likely never forget the portrait of the old hag on the Wanted Bounty Notice.

”Wen Xing,” he murmured, narrowing his eyes. The fingers gripping the notice turned slightly white, his gaze radiating a chilling, murderous intent.

This woman was deeply implicated in the destruction of the Lingyun Sect. Had it not been for this old hag, Ancestor Devourer of Heaven might not have met such a tragic end.

”This old hag is also wanted by the Ghost Sword Sect? She actually appeared at the Taiyi Sect’s mountain gate that day, and somehow managed to escape unscathed.”

As he spoke, Li Qing meticulously read the information on the Wanted Bounty Notice.

Soon, when he reached Wen Xing’s basic details, he froze in shock.

”Cultivation level: early Core Formation Realm? Unstable aura, suspected to have suffered severe injuries!”

Li Qing’s breath hitched. A storm of confusion brewed in his mind.

Wasn’t the old hag Wen Xing at the late-stage core formation? Even if her cultivation hadn’t advanced in years, she shouldn’t be at the early Core Formation Realm!

Was this a mistake, or had something unexpected occurred?

”Severely injured, escaped from a spirit peak within the Taiyi Sect,” Li Qing muttered, finally piecing together the fragments of information.

”Could it be that after the Shangqing Sect forged an alliance with the Taiyi Sect, they requested to borrow their Spirit Vein Land?”

”Is this old hag trying to reach the nascent soul realm by using the high-grade spiritual veins of the Great Wilderness Domain, just like Ancestor Devourer of Heaven?!”

”But at this critical moment, she must have been interrupted during her nascent soul formation by a major demonic path assault on the Taiyi Sect. This would have severely damaged her vital energy, causing her cultivation to regress repeatedly!”

Li Qing was convinced this was the truth. A smile involuntarily crept across his face.

”How amusing! To survive even this... Old Hag Wen Xing truly has nine lives!”

He murmured to himself, his eyes gleaming with a light that betrayed no disappointment, only a hint of excitement.

In his plans to rebuild the Lingyun Sect, a confrontation with the Shangqing Sect was inevitable.

Yet the Shangqing Sect’s current strength remained unclear. Even with the treasures gifted to him by True Monarch Yue Xuan, he dared not rush into revenge.

Within the Shangqing Sect, two figures inspired particular caution.

One of them was Exquisite True Lord!

This individual possessed both a heavenly spirit root and the Exquisite Treasure Physique, making her innate talent absolutely unparalleled and virtually unheard of in the world.

Even within the Great Wilderness Domain, her terrifying aptitude was among the rarest.

Having not seen her for many years, Li Qing wondered what level of cultivation Exquisite True Lord had reached.

In any case, he knew he couldn’t afford to underestimate her.

The second person he deeply feared was the Old Hag Wen Xing.

When the Lingyun Sect was finally destroyed, her cultivation had already reached the late-stage core formation realm, a remarkably profound level of power!

Moreover, the nine lives bow she wielded back then had caused considerable trouble for Ancestor Devourer of Heaven, who had already attained the nascent soul realm.

That nine lives bow was undoubtedly a rare and extraordinary treasure!

With Wen Xing wielding the nine lives bow, ordinary core formation realm cultivators would stand no chance against her.

”Truly, heaven is on my side! I never imagined that one of the two most difficult opponents would defeat herself without a fight!”

”I must inform Junior Sister immediately!”

Li Qing gathered the intelligence reports in his hand and swiftly flew out of his cave abode in Moonchase Palace, heading straight for Shen Ningbing’s cave abode.

”Junior Sister, I think we can start preparing to return to the Azure Ridge Domain.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the restriction outside Shen Ningbing’s cave abode instantly dissolved, and her slightly surprised voice soon echoed out:

”Senior Brother, is this true?”

Without another word, Li Qing flew directly into Shen Ningbing’s cave abode and produced the Wanted Bounty Notice concerning Wen Xing.

”Take a look at this Wanted Bounty Notice from the Ghost Sword Sect.”

When Shen Ningbing received the notice from Li Qing, her initial confusion melted away like snow in sunlight.

”Isn’t Wen Xing that Old Hag supposed to be at the late-stage Core Formation Realm? How could she have become an early Core Formation Realm cultivator?”

”Is she practicing some strange technique, or is this merely her Dao Body?”

Li Qing smiled and reiterated his theory to Shen Ningbing:

”At first, I thought the same as you, but after careful consideration, I’ve come to a different conclusion. She likely encountered an unexpected setback.”

”...”

After hearing Li Qing’s explanation, a rare look of delight finally appeared on Shen Ningbing’s usually composed face.

”So that’s how it is! This truly is a heaven-sent opportunity.”

Li Qing nodded in agreement, analyzing, ”You’re right. This is a heaven-sent opportunity. With Wen Xing severely injured and the Shangqing Sect’s strength greatly diminished, we must seize this chance to plan our next move.”

”Her failed nascent soul formation has caused a catastrophic loss of cultivation, damaging her dao foundation to its core. This isn’t something that can be recovered overnight. In other words, she’s fortunate to have survived at all.”

”However, such damage to the dao foundation isn’t beyond repair. There are methods to heal it.”

”But those methods will require at least several years to complete. These years are our best chance to rebuild the Lingyun Sect!”

As his words fell, a surge of ambition and determination welled up within Li Qing, his eyes gleaming with fervent resolve.

Has this day finally come?!

To reestablish our mountain gate!

The scenes from the Azure Ridge Domain remained vivid in his mind:

The sect’s destruction, their desperate flight to the Great Wilderness Domain with Shen Ningbing.

The final moments of Ancestor Devourer of Heaven, the sight of countless fellow sect elders being slaughtered like ants in pools of blood!

Even Li Qing’s usually calm demeanor couldn’t suppress the ripples of emotion that stirred within him at these memories.

This was a blood debt—a blood debt that would never be forgotten!

”Senior Brother, does this mean we should return to the Azure Ridge Domain now?” Shen Ningbing asked.

Li Qing slowly shook his head.

”Before heading to the Azure Ridge Domain, we need to make some more preparations.”

”The Shangqing Sect is a cultivation sect protected by a Grand Formation. To breach it, Restriction-Breaking Talismans are essential!”

”High-tier Restriction-Breaking Talismans are likely scarce in the Azure Ridge Domain. Any movement of such talismans would immediately alert the Shangqing Sect.”

”Therefore, we must secure them here in the Great Wilderness Domain!”

Though the hope of rebuilding the Lingyun Sect had emerged, Li Qing remained remarkably calm, refusing to let his emotions cloud his judgment.

Over the years, he had often contemplated matters related to subduing sects, even mentally rehearsing such scenarios countless times.

”I see. I was too hasty. Your considerations are far more thorough than mine,” Shen Ningbing said, lowering her head slightly.

”Don’t worry about it. Our time at Moonchase Palace is drawing to a close. It’s time to bid farewell!”

With that, the two flew out of the cave abode.

Deep within the mountain gate of Moonchase Palace stood the Moon Hall, a cold and serene pavilion.

”Brother Li, you’re certainly bold to make such a demand! While our palace has some reserves of third-tier formation-breaking talismans, we rarely sell them externally. Requesting so many at once... even as the holy maiden, I wouldn’t dare approve such a transaction!”

”Furthermore, Moonchase Palace isn’t particularly skilled in talismanship. You’re asking for fourth-tier formation-breaking talismans—I doubt you could find even a handful in the entire Great Wilderness Domain,” Liu Hanyue said helplessly, her face veiled by a thin gauze.

Just moments ago, Li Qing had come to bid her farewell. But before leaving, he had suddenly requested to purchase over a dozen third-tier formation-breaking talismans and one fourth-tier talisman.

Hearing this, Li Qing chuckled awkwardly and scratched his head. ”Ah, I really have no choice. The thought of returning to the Azure Ridge Domain soon makes me feel like no amount of preparation is enough. You know I’ll be facing an entire cultivation sect—how could I possibly be too prepared?”

After listening to Li Qing’s lament, Liu Hanyue fell into a brief silence before replying, ”Brother Li, I understand your predicament. How about this: five third-tier formation-breaking talismans—that’s the absolute limit I can agree to trade you!”

Five Restriction-Breaking Talismans!

Li Qing’s eyes lit up at the news. He had originally expected to secure only three talismans, planning to find the rest elsewhere—perhaps at other markets in the Great Wilderness Domain, rogue cultivator immortal cities, or through his connections with the Ghost Sword Sect.

To attack a cultivation sect protected by a third-tier formation, he planned to prepare at least ten third-tier Restriction-Breaking Talismans!

”It’s a deal!”

Moments later, Li Qing and Liu Hanyue appeared outside the mountain gate, the former still wearing a pained expression.

Just now, Li Qing had spent nearly twenty thousand spirit stones to acquire five third-tier Restriction-Breaking Talismans from Liu Hanyue.

At roughly four thousand spirit stones per talisman, the price was outrageously high.

”Brother Li, don’t make that face. Third-tier Restriction-Breaking Talismans are always in high demand but short supply, usually traded through barter. If I weren’t the holy maiden, the palace would never allow so many third-tier Restriction-Breaking Talismans to leave its vaults!”

Li Qing understood this perfectly well. He nodded. ”Regardless, thank you for your help this time!”

”Heh, Brother Li, there’s no need for such formality.”

”Also, I’ve already arranged for palace personnel to search for traces of the remaining Lingyun Sect members. You can rest assured about that for now.”

”Finally, notify me as soon as you decide to strike!”

(End of the Chapter)

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