Immortal Refiner

In the Nether Domain, the Polar Day brought a rare period of tranquility.

All manner of malevolent spirits and yin creatures retreated into hiding, whether they were ferocious ghosts or millennia-old corpses. None dared to show their faces.

West Mausoleum Divine Mountain, a mystical peak steeped in legend, was home to the Western Mausoleum Divine Temple, an immortal dao faction.

To the mortals living in the surrounding lands, the temple was the abode of Immortals, whom they worshipped day and night. Without the temple’s protection, they would likely have perished at the hands of the domain’s malevolent entities.

Thus, during the Polar Day, the mortals from nearby villages would deliver the yin stones they had mined to the immortal masters within their settlements. These masters, in turn, would offer the stones as tribute to the Western Mausoleum Divine Temple.

The Polar Day typically lasted three to five days. During this time, the temple would use the yin stones to conduct a grand sacrifice.

”Hall Master, all the yin stones from Wen River Valley have been collected. The Yin Sacrifice can begin at any time!”

Within a stone hall atop West Mausoleum Divine Mountain, a middle-aged man with refined features slowly opened his eyes.

”Issue the order: remain vigilant these next few days. We can’t let that Gluttonous True Immortal steal our peaches again.”

Upon hearing these words, the cultivator responsible for reporting in the stone hall outside immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute and declared, ”As you command!”

As his voice faded, a shadow of grimness crossed the Hall Master of West Mausoleum’s brow.

In recent years, a core formation realm cultivator had emerged from nowhere in the Nether Domain. This individual, known as the Gluttonous True Immortal, specialized in disrupting the Yin Sacrifices conducted by the region’s immortal dao factions, seizing opportunities and good fortune for himself.

Two years prior, the Western Mausoleum Divine Temple had suffered a devastating loss, their entire year’s worth of Yin Sacrifice preparations ultimately benefiting another.

”The Gluttonous True Immortal’s cultivation manual is utterly bizarre, his methods unfathomable, making him impossible to counter.”

”Ah, I can only hope he targets those ox-nosed daoists from Heaven’s Guard Temple again this time, and doesn’t interfere with my grand scheme.”

As his words trailed off, a powerful aura faintly radiated from the Hall Master of West Mausoleum. He had already reached the late-stage core formation realm.

During the Western Mausoleum Divine Temple’s frantic preparations for the Yin Sacrifice, a tall, imposing figure rapidly approached from the sky.

”The Polar Day marks the period of the year with the most concentrated yang energy in the Nether Domain. During this time, some immortal dao factions in the region hold peculiar sacrifices!”

”I wonder what they’re sacrificing to during this ritual. It happens every year, so it can’t be something as simple as a local custom or religious belief.”

The newcomer was Li Qing, who had captured several cultivators on their way to pay tribute at the Western Mausoleum Divine Temple.

From their accounts, he learned that the yin stones—mined at the cost of countless mortals’ lifespans—were indeed used for the sacrifices.

However, none could explain the purpose of the ritual.

Li Qing did uncover a crucial piece of information: nearly every immortal dao faction that had established a sect or lineage in the Nether Domain conducted such Yin Sacrifices.

This revelation piqued his interest, prompting him to investigate further.

As he gazed at the West Mausoleum Divine Mountain looming before him, Li Qing halted, his expression turning grave.

This Yin Sacrifice clearly held immense significance, and any rash interference might provoke the participants.

”Sigh, while I’m intrigued by this so-called Yin Sacrifice, finding Wu Chong remains my priority.”

”It’s best to wait until the ritual concludes before making contact. I’ll observe the area for the next few days.”

Having made his decision, Li Qing concealed his aura and found a secluded spot near the West Mausoleum Divine Mountain to meditate, patiently awaiting the ritual’s conclusion.

Perfect timing. He wanted to observe this so-called Yin Sacrifice from a distance anyway.

The sky remained bathed in eternal daylight, showing no signs of dimming.

Yang energy slowly rose from the earth, enveloping everyone in a warm, comforting aura.

At the peak of this yang energy’s intensity, a profoundly yin and gentle aura suddenly erupted from West Mausoleum Mountain.

Sensing this, Li Qing narrowed his eyes, his gaze piercing through the divine mountain as if trying to see through all barriers.

Yin and yang intertwined, yet remained distinct.

The purest yin energy sank into the earth and vanished without a trace.

The Yin Sacrifice had begun!

At that very moment, the once-bright sky instantly darkened.

Has night fallen?

Li Qing quickly dismissed this naive thought.

No, only the sky above this area has darkened. The horizon remains bright.

A moment later, a thunderous laughter echoed across the heavens:

”Hahahaha! Your ancestor has arrived!”

Boom!

A colossal, pitch-black beastly phantom materialized out of nowhere and charged violently toward West Mausoleum Divine Mountain.

The colossal beast was utterly terrifying, especially its massive maw, which seemed capable of devouring everything in heaven and earth.

Nearby, Li Qing witnessed this scene, his pupils trembling like an earthquake.

”This is...”

Before Li Qing could finish, someone within West Mausoleum Divine Mountain answered for him.

”Gluttonous True Immortal! You dare show your face here!”

Above the phantom of the gluttonous beast stood a man as thin as firewood, his hands clasped behind his back, a triumphant smile on his face.

”Hahahaha! I am Ancestor Gluttony! Is there any place in the world I cannot go?”

”This mere Western Mausoleum Divine Temple is nothing before my might!”

With that, the phantom beast charged downward, obliterating numerous structures within the mountain with devastating force.

The air itself wailed under the impact, the piercing sound grating on the ears.

”Heh, since you’ve come, don’t even think about leaving. This hall would rather abandon the Yin Sacrifice than let you escape and risk future troubles!”

As the voice, thick with murderous intent, echoed through the air, a middle-aged man strode out from the stone hall.

The Hall Master of West Mausoleum exuded a terrifying aura as a spear of pure spiritual energy materialized in his right hand.

With a swift motion, he hurled the spiritual spear at the gaunt figure standing atop the gluttonous beast in the sky.

Whoosh!

The spear pierced the air, as if tearing through the very fabric of space.

In the blink of an eye, the colossal phantom of the gluttonous beast shattered into fragments.

Boom!

”Hiss! Hall Master of West Mausoleum, why didn’t you enter the yin meridian to seize good fortune?” The core formation realm cultivator riding the gluttonous beast paled, clearly caught off guard by the strike.

The Hall Master of West Mausoleum sneered. ”This Hall has made it clear: as long as you dare to come, we’d rather abandon the Yin Sacrifice to eliminate this nuisance.”

With those words, the Hall Master reversed his hand and began forming hand seals. True essence surged from his body like a raging river, radiating a terrifying aura.

The Gluttonous True Immortal, who had come to attack, felt his scalp tingle. Facing a late-stage core formation cultivator head-on, he felt immense pressure.

”One is more ruthless than the last!” he snarled. ”Those ox-nosed daoists from Heaven’s Guard Temple are already on high alert, and now even you, old ghost, are scheming to harm This Wu!”

”The hearts of men are no longer what they once were. This old ancestor won’t waste any more time on you. I’m leaving!”

With that, Gluttonous True Immortal turned to depart.

But the Hall Master of West Mausoleum, having prepared meticulously for this Yin Sacrifice and now abandoning it, had no intention of letting his opponent simply walk away.

”Leaving just like that? How can you resject the grand gift I’ve prepared for you?”

The Hall Master condensed an intricate spiritual seal in his hand, then pressed it into the earth.

Rumble!

The divine mountain trembled, and an aura that chilled the heart to its core radiated outward.

”West Mausoleum Tower, suppress him!”

From within the majestic mountain, a nine-story iron tower erupted!

Massive chunks of earth and rock cascaded from the tower’s surface, as if it had been sealed within the mountain for ages.

At the tower’s apex, the spiritual seal the Hall Master had just formed was deeply imprinted, radiating a dazzling spiritual light that pierced the heavens.

”You think you’re the only one with a magic treasure? I won’t cower before you!”

”Heaven Devourer Ring, attack!”

A pitch-black ring shot forth from Gluttonous True Immortal’s hand, hurtling directly toward the nine-story iron tower.

Boom!

A terrifying surge of spiritual energy erupted, nearly collapsing the entire West Mausoleum Divine Mountain.

”What kind of magic treasure is this? It’s actually blocking the West Mausoleum Treasure Pagoda!” The Hall Master of West Mausoleum exclaimed, his face contorted with shock as if witnessing something utterly inconceivable.

He knew the origins of the West Mausoleum Tower intimately. For a natal magic treasure wielded by a cultivator who had only recently achieved core formation to withstand its power was truly astonishing.

Of course, Gluttonous True Immortal’s expression was equally grim. Resisting the West Mausoleum Tower’s oppressive force was already pushing him to his absolute limit.

Sigh, I really overestimated myself today. I should have gone to Heaven’s Guard Temple after all.

Urged on by the Hall Master of West Mausoleum, the nine-tiered iron tower began to rotate slowly. With each revolution, the tower grew larger and the aura it exuded intensified.

Gluttonous True Immortal’s resistance grew increasingly strained. Sweat poured down his forehead, and his face turned deathly pale.

But just as the situation reached its most critical point, another unexpected event occurred!

A colossal hammer had materialized in the sky, seemingly out of nowhere!

Boom!

The gray, mist-shrouded hammer radiated immense power, blotting out the sun and moon as it crashed down upon the nine-tiered West Mausoleum Tower.

Clang!

With a single strike, the West Mausoleum Tower trembled violently, emitting a deep, resonant boom before being sent flying backward.

Boom!

The tower crashed to the ground, instantly creating a massive crater. The surrounding dozens of miles of terrain visibly sank and collapsed.

”Who’s there?! Gluttonous True Immortal, did you call for reinforcements?” The Hall Master of West Mausoleum’s face darkened like a stormy sea as he glared at the wielder of the giant hammer.

The figure was a tall, young man with unremarkable features, yet his every movement exuded the bearing of a Peerless Grandmaster—his aura extraordinary!

Beside him, the Gluttonous True Immortal turned his head in confusion, his gaze fixed on his rescuer.

In the next instant, the Gluttonous True Immortal’s eyes widened, his pupils dilating with extreme shock.

”Li! Li! Li-Li Qing?!”

”How is this possible? Is that really you, Li Qing? Or have you died and cultivated to this level in the Nether Domain as a ghost?”

Indeed, this Gluttonous True Immortal was none other than Wu Chong, the man Li Qing had been searching for so long!

Li Qing never imagined he would find Wu Chong this way.

”Heh heh, Fatty Wu, you’re really being unkind. After all these years apart, the first thing you do is curse me to death? Isn’t that a bit much?”

A warm, sunny smile spread across Li Qing’s face as he slowly beckoned, retrieving the Primordial Chaos Peerless Hammer into his hand.

Hearing the familiar nickname ”Fatty Wu,” Wu Chong finally confirmed that the man before him was indeed Li Qing!

In all the world, only Li Qing still called him that!

”It’s really you! Hahahaha, Li Qing, you’re not dead? You’re really not dead?” Wu Chong’s face lit up with wild joy, and he nearly rushed over to Li Qing’s side.

Wielding the Peerless Hammer, Li Qing chuckled. ”I’m not that easy to kill. But you... how did you get so thin? I almost didn’t recognize you!”

Indeed, in Li Qing’s memory, Wu Chong had always been a round-bellied, chubby fellow. Now, he was shockingly gaunt, almost unrecognizable.

”It’s a long story,” Wu Chong said quickly, snapping out of his daze. ”I’ll explain later. First, help me deal with this old ghost while it’s still Polar Day. We might even snag some extra benefits!”

Li Qing naturally agreed. He hefted the Primordial Chaos Peerless Hammer in his hand, then focused his attention on the Hall Master of West Mausoleum.

The Hall Master, now under their combined gaze, wore an unprecedentedly grave expression.

This sudden arrival turned out to be a close friend of the Gluttonous True Immortal, their bond seemingly quite deep.

This is truly troublesome now!

”Fellow Daoist,” the Hall Master warned in a deep voice, ”this is a matter for the Western Mausoleum Divine Temple. Please withdraw.”

Li Qing ignored the warning. ”Enough with the empty threats,” he said with a sigh. ”There’s no choice but to fight.”

Truth be told, Li Qing was also intrigued by the so-called sacrifice. Now that Wu Chong had been found, he naturally wanted to investigate further.

His opponent was a late-stage core formation cultivator, but Li Qing wasn’t particularly afraid.

Even without Wu Chong’s assistance, Li Qing was confident in his ability to hold his own against the Hall Master of West Mausoleum.

”Hmph! Since you insist on courting death, don’t blame this Hall Master for your demise.”

As the Hall Master spoke, a vertical slit suddenly tore open between his eyebrows, revealing a third, upright eye!

Good heavens, he’s like Erlang Shen!

Before Li Qing could even marvel, the vertical pupil snapped open, unleashing torrents of dense yin energy.

”This is a dark art of the Western Mausoleum Divine Temple, capable of summoning powerful yin spirits to fight for them! Don’t let him succeed!” Wu Chong immediately recognized the danger and acted decisively.

His hands continued to weave the divine ability from the Gluttonous Divine Art, executing the same spell used by the Ancestor Devourer of Heaven.

Hearing this, Li Qing wasted no time questioning whether yin spirits could be summoned during the yang-dominant Polar Day. He moved instantly.

A massive, pitch-black fire seal materialized in the palm of his right hand!

(End of the Chapter)

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