Immortal Refiner

All remaining void rifts in the Human Realm had been completely repaired and sealed. When Li Qing received this news, he breathed a deep sigh of relief.

It’s finally over!

Although the demonic cataclysm had been brief, its impact on the Human Realm had been devastating. The entire cultivation world had suffered immense damage.

”I can’t even imagine how much worse the cultivation environment of heaven and earth would have deteriorated if the demonic cataclysm had lasted any longer.”

”Even with the current state of the cultivation environment, advancing to the divine transformation stage will likely be harder than ascending to heaven.”

This was undoubtedly bad news, but Li Qing still felt genuinely fortunate.

At least the demonic cataclysm was over, and he no longer had to worry about being targeted by the Formless Saint Ancestor.

Even if the future cultivation environment of heaven and earth continued to deteriorate, he could rely on his exceptionally long lifespan to endure until the day heaven and earth spiritual energy finally recovered.

With this, the cultivation world finally settled into peace, returning to its proper course.

During these tranquil and leisurely days of cultivation, Li Qing continued his meditative practice, occasionally studying the daoist arts inheritance left behind by the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch.

These daoist arts inheritance not only originated from the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch’s own creations but also included precious ancient scriptures he had acquired in his early years—all invaluable legacies of the Fire Dao.

Li Qing benefited immensely, gaining a deeper understanding of the Fire Dao and mastering a powerful new technique related to spirit fire.

”Thunderfire Core! This secret technique is quite intriguing. It involves refining the power of Heavenly Thunder and spirit fire into something akin to a Heavenly Thunder Pearl, combining two violently opposing forces. The resulting destructive power would be terrifying.”

”If Heavenly Thunder Force is unavailable, one could substitute it with the inner core of a thunder-attribute demonic beast, though the resulting power would be significantly reduced.”

After studying the Thunderfire Core’s refining method, Li Qing, an expert in artifact refinement, found the process surprisingly straightforward.

The only real challenges lay in gathering Heavenly Thunder Force and maintaining the delicate balance between Heavenly Thunder and spirit fire during refinement. Failure to do so would result in the process collapsing and potentially harming the refiner.

”Hmm, I possess three types of heavenly spirit fire. If I were to refine this Thunderfire Core as a defensive measure, all I’d need is Heavenly Thunder Force.”

”This device boasts formidable power and requires no activation cost. Simply launching it would injure enemies. It’s worth considering refining a few.”

As he spoke, Li Qing began to ponder how to gather Heavenly Thunder Force.

He was still far from the divine transformation stage, having only recently entered the late-stage nascent soul realm. He hadn’t yet perfected this realm, making it impossible for him to summon Heavenly Thunder on his own.

Therefore, if he wanted to collect Heavenly Thunder, he would have to rely on others’ heavenly tribulations.

”I wonder when those two blockheads will break through to the transformation stage. They’ve devoured so many crimson moon spores, yet there’s been no sign of progress.”

Li Qing suddenly thought of Fan Tong and Ninth Insect, the two blockheads he had almost forgotten about while dealing with various matters.

With this thought, Li Qing flickered into a spiritual light and vanished.

In the back mountain, amidst the sect’s towering spirit peaks, a dark purple tiger lay prostrate at the foot of a spirit peak brimming with spiritual energy, resting.

Late third-tier—just one step away from fourth-tier!

This dark purple tiger was none other than Fan Tong. Since obtaining the heavenly demon tiger’s inheritance and innate aptitude at Beast King Mountain, his strength had been advancing at an astonishing rate.

Though he hadn’t yet achieved transformation, for a demon beast with an exceptionally long lifespan, this rate of progress was truly remarkable.

Fan Tong’s progress couldn’t compare to Li Qing’s, who had benefited from numerous fortuitous encounters. However, compared to most demon races in the demon realm, his growth was remarkably rapid. Even some demon beasts with powerful bloodlines couldn’t match his pace.

Sensing Li Qing’s arrival, Fan Tong abruptly opened his tiger eyes.

”Awoo! Brother, I’m fully prepared to break through to the transformation stage!” Fan Tong transmitted telepathically.

Li Qing nodded with a faint smile. He knew Fan Tong was waiting for his Fourth-Tier Crimson Moon Spore. Consuming it would undoubtedly allow him to shatter his current bottleneck and trigger his transformation tribulation.

”Mm, the timing is nearly ripe. I also need to gather some Heavenly Thunder Force to refine secret treasures.”

”But I must warn you, the transformation tribulation is no trivial matter. Countless demon beasts throughout history have perished during this trial. You must be fully prepared!”

Fan Tong showed no hesitation. He threw back his head and roared skyward.

”Awooo!”

A wave of intense tiger’s might swept outward. Though still untransformed, Fan Tong already exuded the aura of a tiger king.

The Heavenly Demon Tiger Bone he had obtained from Beast King Mountain had granted him immense benefits, significantly strengthening his bloodline.

Once merely a Black Fiend Tiger with a mixed bloodline, Fan Tong was finally about to take the next step: attempting transformation and joining the ranks of the most powerful demon beasts in this realm.

Li Qing naturally spared no expense, delighted to see his gluttonous companion grow stronger.

”In that case, take this Fourth-Tier Crimson Moon Spore,” Li Qing said, retrieving the crystal-like, faintly crimson spore from his storage bag. ”When you’ve reached your peak condition, consume it and attempt your transformation breakthrough.”

Fan Tong’s tiger eyes gleamed with excitement, but years of following Li Qing had instilled a certain patience. He heeded Li Qing’s advice, refraining from immediately devouring the spore. Instead, he began to regulate his breathing, preparing to attempt the transformation tribulation only when his condition reached its peak.

Seeing this, Li Qing felt reassured. After leaving the Crimson Moon Spore with Fan Tong, he returned to his cave abode to await the arrival of the transformation tribulation.

Time flowed by, and several months passed in the blink of an eye.

On a remote island beyond the sect’s sea territory, an extraordinary aura suddenly erupted, drawing in the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy.

It was Fan Tong, initiating his breakthrough to the transformation stage!

Naturally, Fan Tong had chosen a location outside the sect for his tribulation. If he lost control, the resulting chaos could endanger many within the sect.

Inside his cave abode, Li Qing immediately sensed the emergence of this aura.

”So it’s finally beginning,” he murmured. ”I wonder if that fellow can break through this barrier.”

His eyes flashed with anticipation as he shot skyward, intending to serve as Fan Tong’s guardian while simultaneously collecting Heavenly Thunder Force to refine his Thunderfire Core.

It was impossible for Li Qing not to feel nervous. Fan Tong had been his constant companion for years, his most important comrade.

The energy fluctuations caused by Fan Tong’s breakthrough instantly swept across the entire sea territory. Dense, surging heaven and earth spiritual energy converged toward him, all of it being absorbed into his body.

A massive, dark purple Demon Tiger, its body towering like a small mountain, roared skyward.

”Aow!”

The tiger’s roar reverberated like a thunderclap, instantly churning the already turbulent sea into towering waves.

Boom!

As the spiritual energy poured into Fan Tong’s body, it not only amplified his cultivation but also tempered his physical form to an even greater degree.

The Heavenly Demon Tiger Bone within him acted like a bottomless pit, devouring the incoming heaven and earth spiritual energy as if it could never be filled.

Fan Tong’s aura surged higher and higher, his tiger’s might radiating with increasing intensity.

At that moment, the formidable bottleneck of the transformation stage shattered with a thunderous crash!

Boom!

Fan Tong had become extraordinarily powerful, reaching the peak of his strength. Now, he was about to undergo his transformation tribulation.

The once clear, ten-thousand-mile sky suddenly darkened as thick, oppressive storm clouds gathered, bringing with them an overwhelming sense of dread.

The ultimate trial had arrived: the transformation tribulation of a demon beast!

Throughout history, countless demon beasts had perished under this heavenly tribulation, their bodies and souls annihilated by terrifying, rolling Heavenly Thunder, reduced to mere calamity ash.

The heavenly tribulation seemed to synchronize with Fan Tong’s aura. As his power intensified, the oppressive weight of the gathering storm clouds in the sky grew even heavier.

Faint flashes of lightning pierced the darkness, each strike radiating a terrifying power that seemed capable of obliterating all life in the world.

In the distant heavens, a tall, imposing figure slowly flew toward the gathering storm.

Li Qing observed the brewing heavenly tribulation and nodded in approval.

”The transformation tribulation of a demon beast is truly extraordinary, even grander than the one I faced when breaking through to the nascent soul realm.”

”Can this brute actually survive it?”

In truth, the oppressive aura of the heavenly tribulation had already spread throughout the sect.

Many disciples and elders were jolted awake, their minds and bodies paralyzed by the overwhelming power emanating from the storm.

”What a terrifying energy fluctuation! This oppressive aura... could a supreme elder be attempting to break through to the nascent soul realm?”

”Hiss! No, this aura carries the might of a tiger. Could it be the demon beast Ancestor Limitless keeps?”

”That must be it. I saw it suddenly soar from the Spirit Peak of the Back Mountain earlier, shooting straight out of the sect.”

”Incredible! Even Ancestor Limitless’s demon beast is about to undergo transformation. Does this mean our Lingyun Sect will soon have two nascent soul realm combatants?”

Meanwhile, the supreme elders of Lingyun Sect felt a mix of emotions. They never imagined that even Li Qing’s demon beast would surpass them, beginning its transformation stage.

”Senior Brother Li is truly remarkable! That tiger spends most of its time sleeping, yet it’s already about to transform!”

”This is so unfair! I meditate and cultivate day and night, yet I haven’t even reached the bottleneck of the mid Core Formation Realm!”

”Senior Brother Li must be feeding that tiger precious spirit herbs!”

Chu Lingyi pouted, clenching her small fists, her face flushed with indignation.

True Lord Fu Xuan and the other supreme elders naturally sensed all this as well.

In truth, each of them possessed a Dragon Transformation Pill given by Li Qing long ago. However, due to the arduous path of cultivation, none had yet reached the perfected core formation realm.

Seeing Fan Tong begin his transformation tribulation, they resolved to sail out to sea, hunt demon beasts, and collect their inner cores to refine pills that would enhance their cultivation.

The sect already had a third-tier pill refiner with exceptional skill. As long as they could gather sufficient materials, they were confident the pill refinement process would be smooth.

”It’s starting!” True Lord Fu Xuan murmured, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at the long-brewing thunderclouds.

Indeed, the Heavenly Thunder had begun to fall!

Boom!

A ten-thousand-zhang thunderbolt crashed down, striking Fan Tong directly.

Aow! Fan Tong roared in pain, the single strike tearing open his tiger’s flesh. The Heavenly Thunder’s power was terrifying.

This was the transformation tribulation—a trial of immense difficulty for those seeking to transcend.

The heavenly tribulation paid no heed to Fan Tong’s roars. Lightning flashed incessantly, and thunderbolts several times thicker than water buckets continued to crash down.

In an instant, Fan Tong was engulfed in a sea of lightning, the dark purple Demon Tiger completely obscured.

Li Qing, who shared a unique connection with Fan Tong, sensed that the tiger was still holding his own. With the innate aptitude of a heavenly demon tiger, Fan Tong possessed a formidable foundation and wouldn’t fail so easily.

Li Qing then turned his gaze toward the oppressive thunderclouds overhead.

Next, Li Qing planned to attempt to collect the Heavenly Thunder Force, hoping to refine some Thunderfire Cores with it.

”But how should I collect it? If I approach recklessly, I might draw the Heavenly Thunder’s attention and get caught in its blast.”

Li Qing frowned slightly, unable to decide. The secret technique he knew contained no methods for collecting Heavenly Thunder.

Heavenly tribulations were trials of the Great Dao. If it sensed foreign spiritual energy approaching, Li Qing would inadvertently trigger a thunder tribulation himself.

This gave Li Qing a headache. Although his body had been tempered by Heavenly Thunder before, granting him considerable resistance to it, heavenly tribulations were dynamic, automatically adjusting their intensity based on the person undergoing the trial’s strength.

If Li Qing were caught in the blast, he wouldn’t face Fan Tong’s thunder tribulation, but one scaled to the power of a late-stage nascent soul realm cultivator—a trial even he would find challenging.

For a moment, Li Qing considered forcibly collecting the Heavenly Thunder Force, resigning himself to enduring a tribulation.

Just then, an ancient voice suddenly echoed beside him:

”Young man, are you troubled by this demon beast’s transformation tribulation?”

”This old man has a marvelous method to let you approach the thunderclouds without being harmed. Would you like to hear it?”

Hearing this, Li Qing instinctively nodded, but he quickly realized his mistake. Every hair on his body stood on end!

”Who’s there?!”

This was terrifying! To think someone could approach him undetected was utterly unbelievable.

His divine sense was now comparable to that of a cultivator in the Divine Transformation stage. How could anyone possibly evade his awareness?

Li Qing whirled around to face a small, goatee-bearded old man standing beside him.

He recognized the man instantly—this was Qiu Zhen’s master, whom he had met once at the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild’s auction. It was this man who had put the Thunder Sound Bamboo up for auction.

Li Qing couldn’t help but gasp. The old man’s cultivation had already reached the perfected nascent soul realm, just one step away from the Divine Transformation stage.

If the old man had harbored any ill intentions just now, Li Qing would have suffered a devastating blow.

”Senior, it’s you. How is Fellow Daoist Qiu Zhen doing?” Li Qing immediately clasped his hands in a respectful greeting.

The goatee-bearded old daoist picked his nose without a shred of decorum before grinning. ”That unworthy disciple of mine is doing splendidly. He’s nearly ready for nascent soul formation, all thanks to your Dragon Transformation Pill. It’s given him a significant boost of confidence.”

Hearing this, Li Qing relaxed slightly, realizing the old man meant no harm. He asked, ”Senior, what was that wondrous method you mentioned earlier? I’m indeed looking for ways to mitigate the Heavenly Thunder Force.”

”...”

(End of the Chapter)

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