Immortal Refiner

The demon race was known for its swift and decisive methods, and the Flood Dragon Clan was no exception.

Li Qing had just agreed to help the Azure Flood Dragon King refine a spirit treasure, yet the king immediately proposed to begin the process. It seemed he was eager to start without delay.

However, Li Qing had narrowly escaped the clutches of an ancient demon, and his true essence had been depleted by repeatedly using the Blood-Burning Secret Art.

Attempting artifact refinement in such a state was almost certain to fail.

Even with Li Qing’s extraordinary skill in artifact refinement, he needed time to recover his strength.

”Senior Azure Flood Dragon King,” Li Qing said bitterly, ”I just escaped from an ancient demon. My mana is nearly depleted, and I fear I cannot immediately begin the refinement process.”

The Azure Flood Dragon King laughed heartily. ”Haha, that’s perfectly understandable. There’s no need to rush.”

”Young friend, you may rest and recuperate in our Undersea Dragon Palace. We can begin the artifact refinement once your strength has been fully restored.”

”Second Black, take our human guest to the Dragon Palace as a guest!”

Hearing the name ”Second Black,” the Black Flood Dragon King’s face darkened instantly. Combined with the pair of black horns on his head, he did indeed resemble a large black bull!

Second Black...

Li Qing suppressed a laugh, his face taut and silent.

”Follow me!” The Black Flood Dragon King’s expression remained stern as he transformed into his flood dragon form and led Li Qing toward the central region of the sea.

Guided by the Black Flood Dragon King, Li Qing arrived in the eastern central sea area.

Here, the water was clearer than in the abyssal depths, where visibility was near zero. Though not shallow, sunlight still filtered down.

Within the azure waters, exquisite coral reefs swayed with aquatic vegetation, and schools of bizarrely shaped fish darted through the reef’s crevices.

As the Black Flood Dragon King continued to advance, a magnificent and luxurious palace soon appeared in the distance.

This was the Undersea Dragon Palace, the seat of the Flood Dragon Clan.

Golden palace clusters stood in dense rows. Though lacking a strict layout, they exuded an air of grandeur.

Sunlight pierced the seawater, striking the buildings and making them shimmer with an ethereal glow!

Even Li Qing, a seasoned traveler, was momentarily stunned by the sight before him. After a long pause, he couldn’t help but marvel, ”The Undersea Dragon Palace truly lives up to its name! The spiritual energy seeping from its periphery alone surpasses that of many ordinary third-tier spirit veins. What a blessed land!”

Hearing Li Qing’s exclamation, the Black Flood Dragon King replied with a touch of pride, ”Naturally. Our Flood Dragon Clan reigns supreme over the entire ocean, so the Dragon Palace could hardly be inferior.”

”Few humans in the whole world are ever invited to be guests at the Undersea Dragon Palace. You should feel honored.”

Li Qing had no doubt about this. Given the Flood Dragon Clan’s status in the Human Realm, those invited to be guests at the Undersea Dragon Palace were indeed few and far between.

Being a guest at the Undersea Dragon Palace was a true honor. Li Qing felt as if he were witnessing a myth come to life.

With this sense of wonder, Li Qing followed the Black Flood Dragon King into the Dragon Palace.

Massive, coiled stone pillars supported the colossal structure, while two third-tier giant turtles stood guard outside.

Upon seeing the Black Flood Dragon King, the two giant turtles immediately stretched out their heads and slowly lowered them in greeting.

After leading Li Qing deep into the Dragon Palace, the Black Flood Dragon King guided him through a series of twists and turns until they arrived at a place where the spiritual energy was exceptionally dense.

Spiritual veins naturally exist beneath the sea, and there was no doubt that the one occupied by the Flood Dragon Clan was among the finest in all the oceans.

The concentration of spiritual energy here even surpassed that of the Lingyun Sect, making it the most superior Spirit Vein Land Li Qing had ever encountered.

”Rest here for now. You are a personal guest of my big brother, and no one in the Dragon Palace would dare trouble you.”

”Take this scale with you. If any issues arise during your stay, presenting this scale will resolve them with ease.”

As he spoke, the Black Flood Dragon King produced a black, lustrous scale and handed it to Li Qing.

Li Qing carefully accepted the black flood dragon scale, stored it properly, and then clasped his hands in a salute. ”Brother Black Dragon, I am indebted to you!”

”Think nothing of it. If you require anything else, do not hesitate to ask,” the Black Flood Dragon King replied.

Li Qing shook his head. ”There is nothing else needed. The abundant spiritual energy here is more than sufficient for my recovery.”

With that, the Black Flood Dragon King didn’t disturb Li Qing’s rest any further. He turned and departed the Side Hall.

After watching them leave, Li Qing continued to curiously examine his surroundings.

He had to admit, the Dragon Palace’s architectural style indeed bore a strong resemblance to human design. Even the interior decorations were meticulously crafted, though the overall scale was far grander.

After observing for a while, Li Qing sat down to begin restoring his mana, preparing to reach his peak state for the upcoming artifact refinement.

Before long, mermaids entered the side hall, bearing jade platters laden with food rich in spiritual energy. Among them was a pale pink Longevity Peach, which appeared to be a century old.

Spirit wine was also provided: a jade flask filled with jade nectar and a golden goblet were brought in.

”Senior Limitless, these are special spirit foods and fine wines from the Undersea Dragon Palace.”

Li Qing raised an eyebrow at this. He could sense that the Flood Dragon Clan was treating him with exceptional respect, their sincerity evident in every detail.

”Set them down. Thank you for your trouble!”

As the mermaids set down the platters, they stole furtive glances at Li Qing, their eyes filled with curiosity. It was clear they rarely encountered humans.

Li Qing remained completely unmoved. It wasn’t for any particular reason, simply that he found these mermaids utterly lacking in beauty.

He could only conclude that the sea clan’s aesthetic standards differed significantly from those of the human race, and Li Qing didn’t dare flatter them.

Only after the last of the burly, muscular mermaids had departed did he finally exhale slightly in relief.

Meanwhile, the mermaids who had left couldn’t resist whispering among themselves.

”Huh, is this what humans look like? They’re so peculiar.”

”It’s my first time seeing one. I heard some demon kings transform into this form to move about in the outside world.”

”Those two hooves are really unnecessary. The upper half does bear some resemblance to our kind.”

”Shh, say less. My great-grandmother warned me that humans on land are brutal.”

”...”

These conversations were naturally within the range of Li Qing’s divine sense. Dark lines creased his face, but he chose not to dwell on it.

While leisurely savoring the Dragon Palace’s unique spirit food and fine wine, he turned his thoughts to other matters.

”I wonder where the corpse of the Doma Clan Leader, slain by the Azure Flood Dragon King, might be. I’ll have to find an opportunity to search for it.”

”The remains of ancient demons from the Divine Transformation stage—refining their essence blood with these could significantly boost my cultivation.”

”Perfect timing, as the Blood-Burning Secret Art has depleted a considerable amount of my vital essence. This is a perfect opportunity to replenish it.”

As Li Qing mused to himself, he began to ponder the matter.

Upon closer reflection, he realized that the demon realm’s invasion of the Human Realm might not be entirely a bad thing for him.

With the blood lotus in his possession, he could collect the corpses of ancient demons slain in the Human Realm, using them to refine essence blood and nourish himself!

These ancient demon corpses, brimming with demonic qi, would be of little use to others in the Human Realm.

With this thought, Li Qing’s mind began to wander.

After savoring the unique spirit food and fine wine, Li Qing temporarily set aside his thoughts and focused on restoring his mana.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed.

The Undersea Dragon Palace was brimming with spiritual energy, and Li Qing’s mana quickly recovered to its full capacity.

Though he still couldn’t replenish the depleted essence blood, he was at least ready for artifact refinement.

Li Qing immediately informed the Black Flood Dragon King that his condition had recovered well and he was ready for artifact refinement at any time.

The Black Flood Dragon King acted swiftly, preparing to notify his big brother right away.

”I’ve been sitting idle in the Dragon Palace for quite some time,” Li Qing said with a light laugh. ”I might as well accompany Brother Black Dragon to find the Azure Flood Dragon King. It’ll be a good opportunity to see the underwater scenery along the way.”

The Black Flood Dragon King had no reason to refuse, and he led Li Qing to the East Sea once more to seek out the Azure Flood Dragon King.

Upon arriving at the Azure Flood Dragon King’s slumbering grounds, Li Qing used the excuse of exploring the surroundings to wander off on his own.

Unfortunately, despite searching the area for a long time, he couldn’t find the remains of the Doma Clan Leader.

He felt a pang of regret, thinking how much his cultivation would advance if he could only recover the remains.

However, he didn’t have time to dwell on his disappointment. A large and a small flood dragon emerged together from the deep sea, clearly intending to return to the Dragon Palace to begin the artifact refinement.

On their journey back, Li Qing finally couldn’t resist asking about the whereabouts of the Doma Clan Leader’s remains.

Instead of asking directly, Li Qing beat around the bush:

”By the way, how does the Flood Dragon Clan handle the corpses of ancient demons?”

”I’ve slain several ancient demons in the Azure Ridge Domain myself, but their bodies release demonic qi that pollutes vast swathes of the surrounding land. It’s a real headache. I can only seal them in storage bags, but I’m at a loss for how to deal with the demonic qi that has already leaked out.”

”Does the Flood Dragon Clan have a clever solution?”

The Black Flood Dragon King answered: ”Naturally, we fill them into the Sea Rift Valley. There’s a bottomless rift on the ocean floor there, so deep that even a demon king can’t fully explore its depths!”

”We send these dead demons there in batches.”

Li Qing nodded imperceptibly, but mentally marked the name Sea Rift Valley.

I’ll have to find an opportunity to visit the Sea Rift Valley someday and collect more ancient demon corpses to refine into essence blood.

The trio—one human, two flood dragons—soon returned to the Undersea Dragon Palace.

The Azure Flood Dragon King, in his generosity, even took Li Qing to tour the Dragon Palace’s treasure vault for the artifact refinement!

”Young friend Li Qing, I have already prepared the main materials for refining the Azure Dragon Mace: a section of Flood Dragon Horns and a piece of Sea Heart Crystal Marrow!”

”However, my knowledge of artifact refinement is limited, especially when it comes to spirit treasures. If there are any auxiliary spirit materials required, please don’t hesitate to ask. If they aren’t in the Dragon Palace’s treasure vault, I’ll ask Wan Shengtian for them!”

The Azure Flood Dragon King was one of the most powerful beings in the world, and naturally, he was well-acquainted with Wan Shengtian, the Divine Transformation stage ancestor of the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild. Both were at the divine transformation stage, suggesting a long-standing friendship between them.

Li Qing nodded in agreement. ”Indeed, to refine a mace-type spirit treasure, in addition to the Flood Dragon Horns and Sea Heart Crystal Marrow you mentioned, it would be best to supplement with some high-grade spirit gold. This will enhance the treasure’s malleability.”

”We might as well examine the treasure vault first. This Li would like to broaden his horizons and see just how rich the Dragon Palace’s collections are.”

The Azure Flood Dragon King had no qualms about flaunting his wealth. He laughed heartily, ”Hahaha! Excellent! Let me show you the true depth of the Flood Dragon Clan’s heritage!”

He then activated a secret technique, casting several streams of spirit light demon script before a hidden door at the deepest part of the Dragon Palace. Finally, he channeled his supreme mana to shake the massive gate.

In the next moment, the door leading to the unknown burst open with a thunderous roar, and a torrent of seawater surged outward.

Boom!

An immeasurable radiance of treasure erupted, so dazzling that even Li Qing found it blinding.

Once his eyes adjusted to the dazzling light, he nearly popped his eyes out at the dazzling array of treasures before him.

It was said that dragonkind were born with a love for collecting rare treasures, and it seemed the Flood Dragon Clan was no exception.

Everywhere he looked, dazzling gems and crystals were piled into small mountains. These were merely the lowest-value items in the treasure vault, likely serving as mere decoration to enhance the vault’s opulence.

Li Qing’s gaze swept past the colorful gems and crystals, settling on the truly precious spiritual objects deeper within. He couldn’t help but gasp.

”Extreme Ice Soul, Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Marrow—spirit materials that can only be condensed through rare chance!” Li Qing exclaimed.

Before his eyes, a seemingly eternal ice crystal radiated a chilling mist, its frigid aura so intense it felt as if it could freeze the very soul.

”Hahaha! Is this all you’ve seen, young friend? Behold this!”

As he spoke, the Azure Flood Dragon King transformed into human form and led Li Qing deeper into the Dragon Palace’s treasure vault.

He pointed to a piece of raw iron, its surface covered with crimson patterns, within which a remarkable spirituality was nurturing.

”Crimson Meteor Heart Iron! Such a peerless spirit material exists in the Human Realm? And such a massive piece!”

A burning glint appeared in Li Qing’s eyes. If I had this, I could definitely refine a powerful Fire Dao spirit treasure!

”And this Ten-Thousand-Year Ironwood Trunk. A pity it was damaged by a yellow-grade spirit treasure back then,” the Azure Flood Dragon King said with a sigh, his eyes revealing a trace of heartache.

Hearing the mention of a yellow-grade spirit treasure, Li Qing couldn’t help but ask, ”Senior Azure Flood Dragon King, you seem to have a deep understanding of spirit treasure grades?”

The Azure Flood Dragon King looked at Li Qing with surprise. ”Young friend, your artifact refinement skills are so profound, yet you don’t know the grading system for spirit treasures?”

Li Qing awkwardly rubbed his nose. ”Please enlighten me, Senior.”

”Hahahaha! Actually, we don’t have such granular divisions in the lower realm. The cultivation world generally refers to all spirit treasures as ’heaven-piercing spirit treasures’!”

”But that title is far too broad. Spirit treasures are divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow!”

”Yellow-grade spirit treasures are the lowest tier. Only Heaven-grade spirit treasures truly deserve the title of ’heaven-piercing spirit treasures’!”

”However, the highest grade of spirit treasure recorded in our lower realm is Profound-grade, and that was eons ago—and even its authenticity is questionable.”

”As for Heaven-grade spirit treasures... they are likely exceedingly rare even in the upper realm!”

The Azure Flood Dragon King’s eloquent explanation left Li Qing utterly captivated, his mind soaring with wonder.

(End of the Chapter)

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