Translator: AnubisTL
Azure Ridge Domain, Liang Country.
The sea-facing immortal mountain was shrouded in swirling mists, exuding an aura of serene tranquility.
This was the Spirit Vein Land where the Shangqing Sect resided. Now the sole hegemon of the Azure Ridge Domain, no force or individual—save for the Holy Temple Tribes dwelling in the distant northern Grasslands—could challenge the sect's dominance.
Having monopolized the Azure Ridge Domain's immortal dao resources, the Shangqing Sect thrived, its fortunes soaring ever higher.
Yet, amidst these peaceful days, three crisp cracking sounds suddenly echoed from the Shangqing Sect's soul lamp hall.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The three distinct sounds reverberated with startling clarity through the silent Soul Lamp Hall.
"Hmm? What's happening? Did someone's soul lamp shatter?!"
The newly appointed soul lamp warden elder rose in alarm, his face pale with dread.
He followed the sounds to their source, cold sweat quickly beading on his forehead.
"This... This... Three elders' soul lamps have shattered in succession! What in the world is going on?!"
The man's face was pale with panic, as if he were caught in a nightmare.
The Shangqing Sect now stood supreme across the Azure Ridge Domain, having reached an unprecedented peak of power. Yet, in this very era of glory, three elders had perished in quick succession—an unimaginable catastrophe!
"Did they encounter a core formation realm cultivator? No, I must report this to the sect leader immediately!"
With that, he fled the Soul Lamp Hall, rushing to the mountain peak where the sect leader resided to deliver the grave news in person.
After a long interval, several elders arrived at the dimly lit, silent Soul Lamp Hall.
"Hmm, these were indeed the elders dispatched to the Great Wilderness Domain. Could they have met with disaster?"
The Shangqing Sect Leader's brow furrowed deeply as he pondered the implications.
With three foundation establishment realm elders dead, the sole survivor likely faced dire straits, given the soul lamp's equally dim state.
This was a significant loss. In the Azure Ridge Domain, foundation establishment realm cultivators were no mere roadside cabbages, easily found. Moreover, the elders entrusted with such missions were the sect's most reliable pillars of strength.
The sudden loss of several cultivators, even for the Shangqing Sect in its current state, was a painful blow.
"It seems the situation in the Great Wilderness Domain is even more complex than we imagined. I must consult with the ancestors immediately."
With these words, the Shangqing Sect's sect leader hurried out of the Soul Lamp Hall.
The focus shifted back to the Great Wilderness Domain.
In the waning years of the Immortal Dynasty, the situation remained turbulent. The righteous and demonic paths continued their slow, relentless erosion of the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty's power, seeking to bleed this once-mighty empire dry.
Giant Deer Prefecture was also embroiled in turmoil, with the conflict over the royal marquis's grand tomb drawing the most attention.
"The Ghost Sword Sect and Yin Puppet Sect have reached a temporary truce. Both factions claim they didn't send anyone to steal the Primordial Chaos Stone!"
"This has been confirmed. The one who snatched the stone from under their noses was indeed a rogue cultivator!"
"The Yin Puppet Sect, having acted unjustly first, has agreed to cease their claim on the valuable funerary objects within the royal marquis's grand tomb. They will assist the Ghost Sword Sect in subduing the millennial yin corpse, accepting only the corpse itself as compensation!"
"The Ghost Sword Sect is making a major move! Giant Deer Prefecture is now under lockdown, with rogue cultivators using teleportation arrays to travel to other regions being constantly interrogated!"
"..."
Messages spread like wildfire, causing a citywide uproar.
Meanwhile, Li Qing, having reaped a bountiful harvest, returned to his cave abode on Nanyang Spirit Mountain with Shen Ningbing, where they began a period of deep seclusion for cultivation.
Zhang Da, whose memories had been erased, was settled in, and Li Qing entrusted him with managing the black market.
In exchange, Li Qing promised to share 10% of the black market's spirit stone profits with him and vowed to seek spirit herbs that could regenerate his limbs. If such herbs proved impossible to find, Li Qing would consider crafting prosthetic limbs for him, connected via divine sense and powered by mana, which should function similarly to natural limbs.
With these assurances, Zhang Da, now without memories or limbs, settled into the black market to recuperate.
"Phew! With Zhang Da handling things, we can finally catch a break!" Li Qing sighed in relief as he returned to his cave abode, his mind finally relaxing.
After months of toiling over various matters in the black market, Li Qing finally had the chance to return to his quiet cultivation.
"I've acquired quite a few pills this time, especially the Purple Yang Pills. I hope they'll help me break through to the late foundation establishment realm sooner."
With that, Li Qing adjusted his posture and retrieved the Mind-Calming Meditation Cushion he had recently obtained, settling onto it with a thud.
The effect was immediate. His wandering thoughts, which had been drifting aimlessly just moments before, instantly coalesced. His mind quickly emptied, and he felt a sudden clarity wash over him.
After regulating his breathing, Li Qing took out a bottle of Purple Yang Pills, poured out a pale violet pill, and swallowed it whole.
The long-dormant medicinal power surged forth, flooding his meridians with abundant spiritual energy.
Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art! Netherworld Cold Fire!
His cultivation manual and heavenly spirit fire activated simultaneously, refining the Purple Yang Pill's medicinal power and rapidly converting it into Li Qing's own pure mana.
Time flowed swiftly, as it always did during secluded cultivation.
In the blink of an eye, two years had passed.
Boom!
A faint aura radiated from Nanyang Spirit Peak, but it quickly receded, the moment so fleeting it seemed as if nothing had occurred.
Yet some nearby cultivators sensed its presence, keenly detecting its lingering traces.
"Was that... someone breaking through?"
"It was so brief, but the aura was incredibly refined. This is no ordinary cultivator."
"The aura's control is effortless. This breakthrough was seamless, not forced."
"They must have reached the late foundation establishment realm. I felt a palpable pressure just now."
"..."
Indeed, someone had broken through to the late foundation establishment realm—none other than Li Qing, who had been in seclusion for two years.
"Late foundation establishment realm... Who could have imagined that a mere rogue cultivator with a four spirit root would reach this stage?"
Seated cross-legged on his cushion, Li Qing slowly opened his deep, dark eyes.
A flash of searing white light flickered across his pupils as he suppressed his overflowing aura, becoming as serene and flawless as a piece of uncarved jade, perfectly balanced and whole.
This breakthrough had been effortless, as natural as water flowing into its channel, without the slightest bottleneck or resistance.
It was like a wooden bucket filled to the brim—not a drop more, not a drop less—reaching this realm with perfect ease.
"Late foundation establishment realm... If I were still at Lingyun Sect, I might have become the next sect leader," Li Qing chuckled softly, a hint of self-deprecating amusement in his voice.
(End of the Chapter)
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