Immortal Refiner

Li Qing had no idea of the Formless Saint Ancestor’s status in the demon realm, but judging by the words of the ancient demon powerhouse who had suddenly appeared, it was likely exceptionally high.

Consider this: the demon realm’s massive invasion was launched solely at this Saint Ancestor’s command, a testament to his supreme authority.

Given that the demon realm had always valued strength above all else, the Formless Saint Ancestor’s power must be immeasurable.

Just hearing the title ”Saint Ancestor” weighed heavily on Li Qing’s heart.

Why would a demon realm Saint Ancestor suddenly target the Human Realm, ordering the capture of all Nascent Soul cultivators and above?

To achieve this, they’ve even sent down a massive contingent of ancient demons. It’s utterly baffling. Could it be because I used the sealing formation left by the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch to destroy one of his Dao Bodies?

Li Qing’s thoughts raced, his mind a tangled mess of confusion and anxiety.

But there was no time for contemplation. The two void rifts in the sky were widening, showing signs of merging.

The powerful ancient demonic race had successfully descended into this realm!

Boom!

In an instant, a colossal claw of demonic qi, capable of splitting the heavens, materialized out of thin air, blocking the middle-aged man’s path.

”You dare to block my path to ascension, you fool!”

The middle-aged man was named Qian Gu, though it was unclear whether this was his daoist name, his true name, or both.

This sudden appearance of a powerful ancient demon filled him with shock and fury. He should have already stepped onto the path of ascension, but now he was unexpectedly blocked.

Qian Gu halted, Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth still swirling around him, making his gaunt frame appear like that of a deity.

”How dare you bark at me with a cultivation barely beyond the mid-stage of Divine Transformation?”

”In my realm, I could crush beings like you with a single flick of my hand.”

As this contemptuous voice rang out, the ancient demon from the lower realm finally revealed its full form.

Two pairs of bat wings sprouted from its back, and its face bore six eyes, their pupils glowing with a deep purple light.

With each flap of its wings, the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth seemed to be suppressed, autonomously scattering away from its presence.

This was a true powerhouse from the demon realm. Born in that realm, they were naturally baptized in primordial demonic qi, which repelled the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Qian Gu’s expression darkened. He sensed the ancient demon’s power, which, in terms of cultivation, even surpassed his own.

He could understand a few phrases of the ancient demonic language the ancient demon spoke, and naturally knew what it was saying.

”I never expected that after slumbering for nearly a thousand years, I would encounter a divine transformation stage ancient demon upon awakening.”

As he spoke, Qian Gu spread open his right palm, forming a swirling vortex of spiritual energy that drew in the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth.

”Hmph, if you hadn’t come from the lower realm and needed to use the Demon Subduing Platform, and if your strength weren’t suppressed by this world, you humans wouldn’t even be worthy of speaking with me.” The ancient demon remained arrogant, still looking down on Qian Gu.

The vortex of spiritual energy in Qian Gu’s palm churned with the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth, forming a hurricane in his palm.

Holding the hurricane with one hand, he directly suppressed the ancient demon.

This was a technique that mobilized the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth—a skill only divine transformation stage cultivators could master!

Cultivators below the divine transformation stage would naturally be suppressed when facing such a technique.

After all, how could even the most vast and profound mana of a single person compare to the power of heaven and earth?

They would be instantly suppressed without any suspense.

Only Nascent Soul cultivators like Li Qing, who could barely harness the power of heaven and earth with the aid of spirit treasures, could offer a slight resistance.

However, even then, victory would be an almost impossible feat.

However, Qian Gu was a cultivator at the Divine Transformation stage, and so was the ancient demon who had descended from the lower realm.

Although suppressed by the laws of this world, the demon’s power remained terrifying. In the demon realm, his cultivation had likely been at least late-stage Divine Transformation.

Now, even after descending to this realm and being suppressed by its laws, his power still maintained the mid-stage Divine Transformation level.

”Demon-Subduing Hand!” the ancient demon growled, channeling the surging demonic qi within his body, along with the primordial demonic qi pouring in from the demon realm.

With a single palm strike, Qian Gu’s previously unleashed vortex of spiritual energy was completely quelled.

Truly formidable!

Qian Gu’s expression grew even more solemn, his eyes revealing a hint of wariness.

But with the path to ascension just ahead, how could he easily give up?

Driven by this unwavering resolve to pursue the Dao, Qian Gu clashed with the ancient demon.

The clash between two great powers at the Divine Transformation stage unleashed cataclysmic aftershocks, instantly shaking the heavens and earth to their foundations.

Spiritual energy clashed with demonic qi!

The two forces canceled each other out while also intertwining in a chaotic dance.

The battle instantly escalated to a fierce level, both sides unleashing their true capabilities, clearly aiming for a swift resolution.

Qian Gu produced a jade bell shimmering with spiritual light, its surface faintly displaying mysterious dao patterns.

This was his natal magic treasure: the Nine Heavens Azurefall Bell!

Refined from nine types of rare spirit jade, each type was a spirit material so rare in the lower realm that it was virtually impossible to find.

After its completion, Qian Gu had nourished the bell day and night with his pure true essence, making it incredibly powerful.

He unleashed the divine bell, directly striking the ancient demon that had descended from the lower realm. Qian Gu was quite confident in this attack.

However, the ancient demon also had its own trump card.

Born in the demon realm, how could he not have his own Natal Demonic Artifact?

”Blood Transformation Demon Blade!”

A massive, dark-red blade, as if forged from blood crystals, slashed horizontally, its movement accompanied by a torrent of demonic qi that pressed down like a mountain.

Boom!

Both magic treasures had clearly reached the spirit treasure level. Their collision generated shockwaves so violent that they shattered the already fragile void even more violently!

The two void rifts continued to expand, their edges finally touching and crossing to form a cross!

One void rift led to the spirit realm, while the other connected to the demon realm.

The two void rifts, which had originally been heading to different destinations, now merged together, unleashing a terrifying gravitational force.

Boom!

The void turbulence intensified, as if it were about to devour everything in its path. Over a thousand li of land were torn from the earth, layer by layer, and completely swallowed by the raging void.

Even Li Qing, who was leading Shen Ningbing away, couldn’t escape its influence.

”Senior brother!” Shen Ningbing looked up at Li Qing, who was holding her tightly.

”Don’t panic! I can get you out of here!”

Yet, inwardly, Li Qing was far from calm. If he were alone, he could have used his Wind-Thunder Silver Wings to break free from the void turbulence’s pull.

But now, both of them were trapped. The cross formed by the intersecting void rifts had transformed into a black hole that devoured everything, threatening to swallow them into the void itself.

Once caught in its maw, their fate would be grim.

”Senior brother...” For the first time, a rare flicker of emotion crossed Shen Ningbing’s usually cold face.

At that moment, Li Qing seemed to sense something. He looked down and saw Shen Ningbing tightly gripping his hand, a Yin-Yang Spirit Seal faintly glowing and pulsing with spiritual light on the back of her hand.

Instantly, he recalled Wang Chan’s words to him in the yin-yang cavern.

”Ascension opportunity... the Yin-Yang Spirit Seal!”

He realized that the Yin-Yang Spirit Seal had been activated, and Shen Ningbing’s fleshly body and divine soul had been branded with a beacon for the spirit realm.

Unless the void rift closed or a cultivator of the divine transformation stage intervened, Shen Ningbing would inevitably be pulled into it.

”Junior Sister, you may be about to ascend,” Li Qing said calmly.

”Ascension? How is that possible? I’m just...”

Before she could finish, Li Qing interrupted, ”I learned this in the Great Wilderness Domain. The seal on your hand is the Yin-Yang Spirit Seal. Once imprinted, it acts as a beacon to the spirit realm. During ascension, it offers protection and ensures you are directly guided into the spirit realm.”

Hearing this, Shen Ningbing finally understood the situation she was in.

A tear welled up in her beautiful eyes. The impending ascension was a coveted opportunity for countless cultivators in this realm, yet she felt no desire for it.

”Senior Brother, I... I don’t want to ascend yet.”

”Can this spiritual seal allow you to ascend with me?”

Li Qing, struggling against the void rift’s pull, forced a smile. ”Silly girl, this is a chance countless cultivators dream of.”

”The Yin-Yang Spirit Seal merely marks your fleshly body and divine soul with a beacon for the spirit realm. If I were to accompany you, the void turbulence during ascension would likely tear us apart.”

”Don’t be afraid. Didn’t you want to resolve the issue with Ancestor Bing Yun?”

”There are many powerful cultivators in the upper realm, likely including many above the divine transformation stage. Perhaps we can find a way there.”

Hearing this, Shen Ningbing burst into tears, clinging tightly to Li Qing’s arm.

But the void rift’s pull grew stronger, and the light from the Yin-Yang Spirit Seal on her hand intensified, a force even Li Qing couldn’t resist.

”Senior Brother Li, I can’t bear to part with you.”

Li Qing wiped the tears from her face and said gently, ”Wait for me in the upper realm. Live well, and I will come to find you.”

No one had expected that visiting a cultivator at the divine transformation stage would lead to two realms being separated.

”You must come, senior brother! You must come!” Shen Ningbing clutched Li Qing’s arm tightly, but finally had to let go.

She knew that holding on any longer would endanger Li Qing’s life.

This was ascension, not like that time they used the Realm-Breaking Talisman to escape the Lingyun Sect!

”Trust me. I will ascend to the spirit realm!” Even at this moment, Li Qing maintained his gentle smile, as reassuring as ever.

Shen Ningbing gazed fixedly at Li Qing’s face, as if trying to imprint his ordinary features into her memory.

Finally, her body was enveloped in a layer of Yin-Yang Spiritual Light, and she was swept into the cross-shaped void rift, vanishing in an instant.

Li Qing didn’t dare linger either. He too was being pulled, but without the protection of the Yin-Yang Spirit Seal, entering such a void rift would mean being torn apart by the void turbulence!

Soon, a pair of silver-purple bone wings materialized behind him.

With a mere thought, he soared away from the area in an instant.

Meanwhile, two Divine Transformation stage powerhouses continued their battle in the sky above. A mere ant from the Core Formation realm had stumbled into the void rift and been swept away, drawing neither of their attention.

(End of the Chapter)

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