Translator: AnubisTL
As night deepened, the Bright Moon gradually ascended into the sky.
Outside Sunward City, Li Qing arrived alone at a desolate hill not far west of the city.
Vines draped from an old tree, its crown sheltering a nest where two black crows perched.
Approaching the tree, Li Qing retrieved a pale golden tail feather from his robes.
A golden fire crow tail feather!
Though he had completely absorbed its pure yang qi, the feather still radiated a potent yang energy.
Li Qing hung the feather on a branch and silently sat cross-legged beneath the tree's shade, patiently awaiting the Bright Moon's zenith.
As time passed, the moment the Bright Moon hung directly overhead, four figures emerged slowly from the western outskirts of Sunward City.
"Senior Brother Mao Cai, are you sure this person is trustworthy? Why would they suddenly insist on trading outside the city?"
"Indeed, why not complete the transaction in the black market?"
Two cautious Shangqing Sect elders voiced their unease.
Mu Maocai shook his head. "Perhaps he's wary of the black market. With so many eyes watching, and a rare eight-hundred-year-old spirit herb at stake, it's only natural he'd be cautious."
"Besides," he added, "do we really have any other choice now? We need to eliminate this threat before the Ghost Sword Sect realizes what's happening."
Hearing this, the other Shangqing Sect elders fell silent.
Indeed, there was no turning back. Unless they were willing to abandon Senior Brother Mao Cai, they would have nowhere to hide in the Great Wilderness Domain once the Ghost Sword Sect and Yin Puppet Sect reacted.
This wasn't the Azure Ridge Domain. Even their sect's ancestor would have to tread carefully here.
"Don't worry," Mu Maocai said with a smile. "Once we weather this storm, I'll share some of the Primordial Chaos Stone with you all!"
His words immediately eased the tension among the others.
The Primordial Chaos Stone—a peerless spiritual material for refining magic treasures!
Even many True Lords in the core formation realm might struggle to obtain a single piece of Primordial Chaos Stone. Though they were still in the foundation establishment realm and couldn't yet use such spiritual materials to refine their natal magic treasures, its inherent value was undeniable.
"Senior Brother Mao Cai, you're too kind," one of the elders said. "As fellow elders of the Shangqing Sect, we're on this mission together. Naturally, we'll advance and retreat as one!"
"Exactly! That's precisely what I was thinking too!" another elder agreed.
Mu Maocai feigned a stern expression. "Indeed, we must act as one. But since I've obtained this treasure, it's only right to share it with you all."
"Rest assured, this Primordial Chaos Stone is quite large. There's enough for everyone!"
As they spoke, the group approached the little barren mountain west of the city. Their eyes immediately fell upon the tall, upright figure seated in meditation atop the peak.
Simultaneously, their gazes shifted to the golden feather hanging from a treetop on the summit—the unmistakable tail feather of a golden fire crow!
No careful examination was needed. The feather shone like a flame in the darkness, bright and unmistakable.
Upon seeing the feather, the Shangqing Sect elders couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
"It's said that golden fire crows possess a trace of the True Spirit Golden Crow's bloodline. The feathers of such extraordinary birds are undoubtedly the finest pure yang objects!"
"With this spirit feather, we should be able to heal Senior Brother Mu's injuries."
"Let's hurry and complete the transaction. Ideally, we should heal his injuries tonight!"
"..."
As they spoke, the group strode toward the little barren mountain.
Though excited, the Shangqing Sect elders remained vigilant, using their divine senses to scan the surroundings.
After confirming no one else was present, they approached and spoke:
"Fellow Daoist, I've brought the spirit herb—a Soul Return Grass. Now, hand over the spirit feather!" Mu Maocai said, forcibly suppressing his inner excitement as he addressed Li Qing, who sat cross-legged.
Soul Return Grass!
This relatively obscure spiritual herb had no special effects when consumed alone, offering only some protection for the divine soul. However, it was a crucial primary ingredient in refining the Soul Return Pill.
The Soul Return Pill, as its name suggests, possessed extraordinary restorative properties.
Even if the divine soul suffered severe damage or even fragmented, as long as a trace of the soul remained, the pill could prevent its complete annihilation and regenerate a complete divine soul.
Undoubtedly, this was a life-saving elixir of immense value.
"Soul Return Grass? This spiritual herb is of little use to me. Do you have any other spirit herbs, fellow cultivator?"
Li Qing, seated cross-legged beneath the tree, slowly opened his eyes and spoke with a hint of displeasure.
This was indeed the truth. Like the Soul Return Grass itself, the Soul Return Pill was considered a rather obscure remedy.
The pill formula for the Soul Return Pill was particularly rare. In the current cultivation world, finding a Pill Refiner capable of refining this life-saving elixir was an exceptionally difficult task.
"Fellow cultivator, you jest! Spirit herbs aged eight hundred years don't grow like roadside weeds. This is the only one I possess!"
"Exchanging this Soul Return Grass for your Golden Fire Crow Feather would be an absolute bargain for you."
After confirming that Li Qing was alone, the Shangqing Sect elder's composure returned, and his tone unconsciously became more assertive.
No matter how you looked at it, Li Qing was just one person, while they were four foundation establishment realm cultivators.
If not for the fear of causing too much commotion, Mu Maocai would have considered forcibly seizing the Golden Fire Crow Feather.
In the end, he suppressed this impulse and forcefully produced the Soul Return Grass.
Without waiting for Li Qing's agreement, he tossed the spiritual herb forward.
As the pitch-black spiritual herb landed before Li Qing, Mu Maocai activated his magic artifact, preparing to retrieve the golden spirit feather from the treetop.
Li Qing silently picked up the Soul Return Grass, glanced at it twice, and then stored it in his storage pouch.
He made no attempt to stop Mu Maocai from taking the golden spirit feather, as if he had recognized the unfavorable situation and wisely chose to retreat.
The other Shangqing Sect elders exchanged cold smiles.
So this is all the cultivators from the Great Wilderness Domain amount to, they thought. Daring to come alone for a trade? They truly don't know how to spell death.
Had they harbored any murderous intent, this lone cultivator would have been nothing more than fish on a chopping block, ripe for slaughter.
Their attention was quickly drawn to the Golden Fire Crow Spirit Feather that had been summoned.
At that very moment, strange mushrooms suddenly appeared around them, continuously spewing bizarre, multicolored spores into the air.
Li Qing activated his gilded battle armor, extending it to seal his mouth and nose.
"The aura and color are unmistakable—this is indeed a Golden Fire Crow Feather!"
"Wait! Why isn't there any pure yang qi inside?!"
"Dare to trick us?! You've got a death wish!"
The Shangqing Sect elders' faces twisted into fierce expressions as they glared menacingly in Li Qing's direction.
But what they saw next left them stunned for a long moment.
The mysterious cultivator who had offered the trade was gone without a trace. Even the desolate hill beneath their feet had transformed into a solitary island, surrounded by ceaseless waves crashing against the shore.
Splash!
"When did this place become the Boundless Sea?!"
The scene before them was identical to the shores of the Boundless Sea where the Shangqing Sect was located—indistinguishable in every detail!
Immediately afterward, the four disciples discovered that their companions had vanished as mysteriously as if they had evaporated into thin air.
"An illusion technique?! Have I fallen victim to an illusion technique?!" Mu Maocai's heart jolted with alarm. He immediately expanded his divine sense, attempting to discern the true nature of their predicament.
But Li Qing, who had long anticipated this moment, had no intention of letting him succeed.
In the pitch-black night atop the little barren mountain, Li Qing's expression was as cold as ice, his eyes glowing with a golden light.
Whoosh!
Soul Condensing Slash!
"Ah!"
Mu Maocai screamed in agony as his divine sense was struck, the pain searing through his mind like a thousand steel needles piercing his skull.
The other three Shangqing Sect elders also attempted to extend their divine sense to investigate their surroundings. But Li Qing had prepared additional countermeasures specifically targeting their spiritual probes.
Boom!
Ethereal, bone-chilling spirit fire materialized in the air, instantly incinerating the elders' extended divine sense.
In an instant, the elders' bodies convulsed violently, as if struck by lightning.
"Kill him! You dared to ambush me! I'll kill you!"
Still trapped in the illusion, Mu Maocai grew desperate. Enduring the searing pain radiating from his brow, he prepared to fight to the death.
But Li Qing moved faster. He drew a second-tier Thunderclap Talisman from his robes—one he had purchased from Chu Lingyi back at the Lingyun Sect. He still had some left over from their expedition to Tianliang Mountain.
Boom!
Thunder erupted from thin air as several lightning bolts, each as thick as a water bucket, flashed across the night sky.
Mu Maocai, who had just begun to move, was struck by the lightning, leaving him charred on the outside and tender on the inside, barely clinging to life.
"Junior Sister, now!" Li Qing shouted grimly.
From behind the barren mountain, Shen Ningbing, who had been concealed until now, sprang into action.
Just moments ago, she had used the Jade Ruyi Li Qing had given her to become invisible. Even foundation establishment cultivators of the same realm would struggle to detect her presence, and even divine sense probes would fail to penetrate her concealment.
Whoosh!
The temperature plummeted as several ice blades slashed through the air.
Crack! Crack!
At the sound, the limbs of several Shangqing Sect elders were severed.
Shen Ningbing, wielding a Profound Ice Sword, advanced slowly, her delicate face radiating a chilling murderous intent.
"Shangqing Sect scum, prepare to die!"
Seeing this, Li Qing, who was at the rear, quickly called out, "Junior Sister, remember to leave two alive! I still need to question them about their purpose in coming to the Great Wilderness Domain!"
(End of the Chapter)
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