Translator: AnubisTL
[Successfully refined a high-grade magical artifact: Ice Cloud Umbrella! Reward: 45 years of lifespan!]
In the Artifact Refinement Valley of the refining hall, an umbrella adorned with ice-blue spirit patterns slowly descended from the air into Li Qing's hand.
"I've finally completed my artifact refinement mission for the sect," Li Qing murmured to himself, holding the ice-cold, jade-like Ice Cloud Umbrella. "It's a pity I couldn't refine more."
"Perhaps I was being too greedy," he mused. "I only recently joined the refining hall. If I took on too many missions, the other elders might object."
"This is good enough. It won't attract jealousy, allowing me to grow quietly."
With that, Li Qing casually tested the Ice Cloud Umbrella's power.
This high-grade magical artifact excelled in both offense and defense. While its quality might not match the Five Elements Spirit Binding Rope or the Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain Spear, it remained an exceptional artifact.
Clang!
The ice-blue umbrella ribs, resembling crystalline ice, immediately activated the spirit patterns on the inner surface when opened, forming a faint blue halo.
This was the Ice Cloud Umbrella's defensive function. By continuously channeling spiritual energy, the umbrella could withstand attacks from most high-grade magical artifacts.
In addition to its defensive capabilities, the Ice Cloud Umbrella possessed two offensive modes. When opened and spun, it unleashed a barrage of ice arrows capable of covering a vast area.
When closed, it could also serve as a melee weapon. Each umbrella rib was exceptionally sturdy, and every swing cleaved through the air, leaving trails of icy blades.
These intricate functions clearly demonstrated the meticulous effort Li Qing had poured into its refinement.
If a qi refining disciple could master such a magical artifact, they could easily dominate cultivators of the same realm.
"There's still plenty of time before the deadline, so no need to rush. I'll focus on studying the artifact crafting inheritance chapters of Tianliang Mountain for now."
Li Qing's efficiency in refining high-grade magical artifacts had become remarkably high. With unrestricted access to spiritual materials and the freedom to refine as he pleased, he completed the sect's artifact refinement mission in record time.
Yet he remained unsatisfied, for he had already set his sights on refining top-grade magical artifacts.
Just recently, he had acquired the Second-Tier Demonic Beast's spine he had been seeking.
It was a spine of exceptional quality, harvested from a late Second-Tier raging bull.
This raging bull possessed a trace of ancient bloodline. Though not a true ancient demonic beast, it had the potential to advance to the third-tier demonic beast realm.
Unfortunately, the bull encountered a supreme elder of the Lingyun Sect and was effortlessly slain on the spot. The elder claimed the bull's most valuable possessions: its Crystal Core and a pair of wild bull horns.
The remaining hide, flesh, and bones were sent back to the sect to be divided among the elders, including Li Qing.
"Even with the artifact refinement diagram, I still need to lay a solid foundation. After all, this is a top-grade magical artifact, and refining it will undoubtedly be more complex than refining a high-grade one," Li Qing murmured.
With that, he stilled his mind and patiently began studying the Second-Tier artifact refinement inheritance.
As a complete Second-Tier inheritance, Li Qing's patience far exceeded anyone's expectations. He even meticulously reviewed the preceding First-Tier inheritance, memorizing every detail.
While the refinement techniques themselves held no particular challenge for him, the unique spirit patterns within the inheritance sparked considerable inspiration.
After thoroughly reviewing the initial sections, Li Qing calmly began delving into the Second-Tier content.
With his current level of artifact refinement expertise and insight, none of this material posed any difficulty. He quickly grasped the concepts and integrated them into his understanding.
The only aspect that required careful consideration was the combined spirit patterns—those that combined spirit patterns of different attributes or were inherently multi-attribute.
"From the perspective of the Five Elements, water and fire are fundamentally incompatible. Yet here are spirit patterns that combine these opposing forces. It's truly astonishing."
"The person who created these spirit patterns must have been a true genius."
Before Li Qing could finish his musings, a commotion erupted in the refining hall.
"He's too volatile! I haven't seen a foundation establishment elder this volatile in decades. The qi refining disciples guarding the Ice Prison were completely disoriented, and several even had their teeth shattered."
"I heard Lu Fan is a second-tier body refiner. His temperament is truly..."
"Hahahaha, that's nothing! The worst off was Zheng Donghe—all his limbs were broken. If the Law Enforcement Hall elder hadn't intervened quickly, his cultivation might have been crippled."
"Zheng Donghe's actions were despicable. He tried to steal someone else's foundation establishment pill and then framed them when he failed. He deserved what he got."
"..."
Several elders from the refining hall passed by, their conversation immediately jolting Li Qing awake from his meditative state of comprehending the artifact refinement inheritance.
After hearing their words, Li Qing couldn't help but gape slightly.
"Lu Fan actually acted so recklessly."
For the past few days, Li Qing had been focused on artifact refinement and hadn't paid attention to events within the sect.
Even he hadn't expected Lu Fan to confront his enemies so directly after achieving foundation establishment. Truly, a hero never lets a grudge linger overnight!
"Sigh, I hope this fool doesn't implicate me. Let's hope he's not that stupid..."
Li Qing muttered to himself before abruptly standing up, determined to gather more information about Lu Fan's situation.
Two days later, inside the Ice Prison.
Li Qing gazed at Lu Fan, who was confined in a cell, and found himself torn between amusement and exasperation.
"Junior Brother Lu, you've certainly set a precedent for the Lingyun Sect! Becoming an elder only to be imprisoned in the sect's own jail? I doubt you'll find many similar cases across all the cultivation sects in the world."
Lu Fan's cell was constructed from millennial profound ice, each pillar radiating extreme cold and hardness. Even a second-tier body refiner would suffer severe frostbite upon touching it.
The chilling aura emanating from the surrounding ice walls sent shivers down even Li Qing's spine.
"Senior Li, please don't tease me," Lu Fan said, his voice heavy with resignation. "This is just my nature. I doubt I'll ever change."
"I just hope they don't keep me locked up too long. I guess I can use this time to consolidate my cultivation realm."
Lu Fan spoke with a gloomy expression, the two men separated by several pillars of millennial profound ice, appearing as if they belonged to different worlds.
Li Qing shook his head. He had already learned that Lu Fan hadn't revealed his presence. From start to finish, Lu Fan had insisted he hadn't used a foundation establishment pill, claiming he had achieved foundation establishment through his own efforts.
As for the trouble with Zheng Donghe, Lu Fan had blamed it all on the disciples guarding the Ice Prison.
This showed that Lu Fan wasn't completely foolish; at least he still had some sense.
"Don't worry," Li Qing said calmly. "Since the sect is willing to recognize you as an elder, they won't keep you imprisoned for long."
Lu Fan's eyes lit up. "Really, Senior Li?" he asked. "How did you know about this?"
Still a bit naive! Li Qing thought to himself before explaining, "Throughout history, those who achieve foundation establishment through their own efforts possess extraordinary perseverance, courage, and fortune!"
"Your case is exceedingly rare. Your future potential is limitless, so how could the sect possibly keep you imprisoned indefinitely?"
"Imprisoning you in the Ice Prison is merely a show for the other disciples. You'll be released soon enough."
"Besides, now that you've achieved foundation establishment, you can drop the 'Senior' title. If you don't mind, just call me Senior Brother Li."
After Li Qing's explanation, Lu Fan quickly grasped the key points.
"That's great! That's great!" Lu Fan sighed in relief, clearly worried about being imprisoned indefinitely. Such an elder's life would have been truly miserable.
"Alright, seeing how you are, you probably can't endure much hardship. I'll be leaving now."
"Remember, if anyone asks, tell them I came here today to trade for a body refinement technique."
Without waiting for Lu Fan's reply, Li Qing turned to leave the Ice Prison.
However, before he had gone far, he faintly heard a madman's laughter and weeping echoing from the depths of the prison.
"Hahaha... Waaah..."
Li Qing raised an eyebrow, his thoughts stirring. He quickly recalled the mad old man imprisoned within the Ice Prison.
"Since I'm already here, I might as well pay him a visit. After all, he's a senior elder of the Lingyun Sect."
Li Qing had long heard tales of this mad old man, and he knew the man's former status.
A late foundation establishment realm cultivator who had attempted to reach core formation by practicing a secret technique, only to suffer a qi deviation and descend into his current state of madness.
Judging by the passage of time, the mad old man's lifespan was likely nearing its end.
(End of the Chapter)
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