Translator: AnubisTL
It's also a top-grade magical artifact! And its quality is no less than my Taiyi Pure Light Seal!
Zhang Xiao's heart gave a slight jolt, and his expression grew considerably more focused, abandoning his earlier arrogance.
"Suppress!"
With this command, Zhang Xiao channeled several streams of true essence into the Taiyi Pure Light Seal, immediately stabilizing it.
The massive seal continued to expand, now radiating a weight as if it weighed ten thousand jun!
TL/N: 1 jun, in early Qin–Han periods: ≈ 30 jin (about 15 kg). Exact value varied by dynasty.
Li Qing, who was manipulating the Heavenly Net Banner, suddenly felt the strain. This seal was no ordinary top-grade magical artifact; it was a powerful artifact specifically designed to complement Zhang Xiao's cultivation manual.
Fueled by a unique true essence, it could unleash even greater power.
The streams of true essence Zhang Xiao had channeled earlier had clearly fully activated the seal's might, now radiating an unstoppable aura.
This is bad. If this continues, I'll be suppressed by that seal for sure.
No wonder he's the Taiyi Sect's strongest elder. His methods are indeed formidable.
Li Qing sighed inwardly, reflecting on how the Heavenly Prodigies from these cultivation sects possessed truly remarkable foundations. Even a casually produced top-grade magical artifact was proving to be a considerable challenge.
Of course, Li Qing had yet to fully unleash his own capabilities, still holding back some reserves.
It was clear that Zhang Xiao was merely testing Li Qing's skills, not truly fighting seriously.
Should I use the Netherworld Cold Fire? Li Qing asked himself, but quickly dismissed the thought.
With so many eyes watching, he didn't want to reveal his possession of a heavenly spirit fire. Such rare treasures easily attract unwanted attention, especially here, where two disciples from powerful sects were present. Their experience and knowledge were undoubtedly exceptional, and the Netherworld Cold Fire would be instantly recognized if exposed.
With his current late foundation establishment realm cultivation, Li Qing wasn't yet qualified to wield such a heavenly treasure. After all, this was something that could tempt even core formation true lords.
The Ancient Imperial City was undoubtedly home to more than one core formation realm cultivator!
It was even possible that a core formation realm true lord was secretly observing everything right now!
Considering these factors, Li Qing sighed. He held the Heavenly Net Banner in one hand to resist the Taiyi Pure Light Seal's oppressive force, while his other hand reached for the storage pouch at his waist.
Tap!
Li Qing tapped the pouch, and in an instant, a golden talisman paper imprinted with a lifelike longsword appeared in his hand.
"A talisman treasure! The Golden Blade Talisman!"
Zhang Xiao, watching from the sky, trembled violently at the sight.
He immediately recognized the item Li Qing had suddenly produced as a talisman treasure.
Such artifacts were beyond the reach of ordinary foundation establishment cultivators. Crafting one required sacrificing the power of a magical artifact used by a core formation realm true lord.
Even if talisman treasures were sold in secret shops, they would command astronomical prices, their value rivaling that of millennium-old spirit herbs.
"Go!"
Li Qing didn't hesitate, showing no concern for depleting the talisman's limited uses.
He understood that he needed to establish his authority and demonstrate his ruthlessness to everyone present.
Otherwise, he would likely face endless challenges and sparring requests.
With Shen Ningbing at a critical juncture in her core formation, he wanted to avoid further entanglements.
Boom!
A massive golden blade descended from the sky with blinding speed. Almost the instant Li Qing's command left his lips, the golden blade's aura loomed before Zhang Xiao.
Just as the domineering blade seemed poised to cleave Zhang Xiao in two, an immeasurable pure light erupted from his body at the last possible moment.
In the next instant, a sacred armor formed from pure, condensed clear light enveloped Zhang Xiao completely.
The golden blade light pierced through his body, yet it rapidly dissipated, leaving him completely unharmed.
Li Qing's heart jolted violently at this sight, his expression betraying disbelief.
How is this possible? Not a single scratch on him!
This was utterly inconceivable!
After all, this was the talisman treasure refined for him by Ancestor Devourer of Heaven himself.
"Again!" Li Qing refused to accept this outcome. Gripping the Golden Blade Talisman, he prepared to strike Zhang Xiao once more.
Hearing this, Zhang Xiao's cheek twitched involuntarily. He quickly protested, "Enough! This is just a friendly spar. Do you really want to fight to the death?"
Li Qing let out a slight sigh of relief.
To be honest, he was reluctant to waste any more uses of the Golden Blade Talisman. The talisman treasure had a limited number of uses, and once those were exhausted, it would be completely lost.
Moreover, there was no need to fight to the death. This level of engagement was sufficient.
However, besides Zhang Xiao, there was another powerful cultivator present with an extraordinary background. This individual's cultivation level even seemed to subtly surpass Li Qing's.
It was Gui Fan, a Pseudo-Core Formation stage cultivator!
"Hahahaha! To force Zhang Xiao to reveal his Radiant Armor Body, you've certainly got some skill," Gui Fan chuckled softly, his effeminate gaze now tinged with genuine interest as he studied Li Qing.
"Very well, let me test you again!"
With that, Gui Fan stepped onto a black sword and swooped down toward Li Qing, his aura surging menacingly.
"Don't think you can rely on the power of your talisman treasure! You're not the only one with such artifacts!"
Gui Fan summoned a talisman imprinted with a blood-red suit of armor.
"This is the Blood Armor Talisman I obtained from the Blood Spirit Sect. It's also a talisman treasure. If you doubt its power, feel free to test it!" Gui Fan grinned savagely. As he closed in on Li Qing, he leaned forward, gripping the sword hilt with one hand.
Boom!
Gui Fan descended from the sky, the Blood Armor Talisman clutched in one hand and the ghost sword in the other, unleashing a ferocious downward slash at Li Qing.
The Ghost Sword Sect, a demonic path sect, was primarily composed of sword cultivators, and their ghost swords possessed terrifying power. Combined with the sect's inherited cultivation manual and sword-type magic artifacts, their combat prowess reached unparalleled heights.
Having just dealt with Zhang Xiao, Li Qing was immediately confronted by the young sect master of the Ghost Sword Sect, doubling the pressure on him.
Damn it!
Staring at the black sword radiating ghostly qi, Li Qing's heart sank further.
With a wave of his hand, he recalled the four spirit spears.
"Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain!"
The four spears fused into one, and Li Qing hurled it at the young sect master of the Ghost Sword Sect.
After this, he clapped his hands together, causing his body to swell abruptly.
Brahma King True Body!
Rip!
With a tearing sound as his clothes burst apart, Li Qing's body expanded section by section. His vital energy surged skyward, transforming him in an instant into a peerless ferocious beast.
Boom!
Li Qing's feet slammed into the ground, propelling his massive, gilded battle armor-clad form into the air as he charged at Gui Fan.
"Come on!" Gui Fan sneered, first cleaving apart the fused Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain spear before meeting Li Qing head-on, unleashing another wave of sword qi.
Facing the black sword qi, Li Qing remained calm. With a thought, the gilded battle armor flowed like liquid, instantly covering his entire arm.
Clang!
The sword qi descended, but Li Qing blocked it with his arm, which was encased in gilded battle armor.
"Moon Gilt Gold? You possess a spiritual material unique to Moonlit Ridge? What's your connection to the Moonchase Palace?"
Gui Fan, the young sect master of the Ghost Sword Sect, recognized the armor's material at a glance.
Moonlit Ridge? Moonchase Palace?
Li Qing narrowed his eyes, refusing to answer directly. Instead, he unleashed a devastating punch.
Boom!
The air seemed to explode as the powerful blow struck. This punch, with its immense force, could easily cripple a Second-Tier Demonic Beast.
Clang!
Gui Fan parried with his sword, barely managing to block the strike.
But the next moment, an overwhelming force surged through the blade, causing Gui Fan's eyes to widen in disbelief.
The terrifying impact nearly numbed his tiger's mouth, threatening to loosen his grip on the hilt.
Then, Gui Fan was sent flying backward through the air.
Thud!
Li Qing and Gui Fan landed simultaneously, both glaring at each other with wary eyes.
"I never imagined you were a body refinement cultivator, and your mastery of it is so profound. My curiosity grows stronger. When did someone like you appear in the Great Wilderness Domain? I've never heard of you before."
Gui Fan licked his lips, his sly gaze fixed intently on Li Qing.
"Come again! I want to see just how advanced your body arts truly are."
With that, Gui Fan raised his sword, preparing to attack again.
As a pseudo core formation stage cultivator and the young sect master of the Ghost Sword Sect, he found it humiliating that he couldn't subdue Li Qing, a rogue cultivator who had only recently entered the late foundation establishment realm, even after a prolonged exchange.
But Li Qing had no intention of continuing the fight. He roared, "Enough! I only want to protect my friend's core formation. If you push me any further, you'll find yourself in grave danger!"
The moment these words left his lips, a chilling killing intent flashed in Gui Fan's eyes.
"Grave danger? From you? Do you even realize that no foundation establishment realm cultivator in the entire Great Wilderness Domain would dare speak to me like that?"
"I'll show you how I can push you into grave danger!"
With that, Gui Fan strode forward, charging directly at Li Qing.
But in the next instant, his footsteps froze, his figure rooted to the spot, utterly motionless.
"Perhaps I alone wouldn't be enough," Li Qing said, his voice turning icy, "but what about this?"
A dark purple pearl, no larger than a walnut, had materialized in his hand. Though plain in appearance, it radiated an intense aura of danger, as if Gui Fan could be annihilated by it at any moment.
"Is that... a Heavenly Thunder Pearl?" Zhang Xiao, watching from the air, gasped.
The mere mention of "Heavenly Thunder Pearl" sent the onlookers scrambling backward in panic.
"Hiss! A Heavenly Thunder Pearl!"
"T-this thing can severely injure a core formation true lord! How does he have one?!"
"It requires condensing vast amounts of Heavenly Thunder energy. If it detonates, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
"Retreat! Retreat! Retreat! Back up further! We're still too close!"
Hearing the words "Heavenly Thunder Pearl," the spectators lost all interest in watching the spectacle, terrified of being caught in the blast. The danger emanating from the unassuming dark purple pearl was simply too overwhelming.
Facing Li Qing, who now held the Heavenly Thunder Pearl, Gui Fan's effeminately handsome face stiffened.
"Fellow Daoist, this is just a friendly exchange. I don't think we need to resort to such measures," Gui Fan's voice suddenly softened, fearing he might provoke Li Qing further.
The Heavenly Thunder Pearl was no mere bluff; the threat it radiated was undeniably real.
Hearing this concession, Li Qing's expression remained impassive. He merely weighed the pearl in his hand, as if testing its weight or balance.
This subtle gesture held countless hearts in suspense, each fearing Li Qing might recklessly hurl the pearl at them and detonate it.
That would be quite the spectacle!
"So, your Blood Armor Talisman can't withstand the power of the Heavenly Thunder Pearl, huh? Heh," Li Qing sneered.
Gui Fan's face flushed crimson, then paled, inwardly cursing Li Qing. This pearl could severely injure even a True Lord of the core formation realm; naturally, a mere talisman treasure couldn't possibly defend against it.
Even if he miraculously survived, he'd likely be left on the brink of death.
"Fellow Daoist, calm down. If you don't wish to continue our exchange, I'll take my leave."
"But consider this carefully: detonating the Heavenly Thunder Pearl here might affect your friend who's currently undergoing core formation."
As he spoke, Gui Fan sheathed his massive black sword and slowly retreated, facing Li Qing.
Seeing this, Li Qing's gaze shifted sharply to Zhang Xiao in the sky.
Zhang Xiao, who had maintained a calm demeanor until now, visibly paled. Without a word, he turned and rode his cloud away from the scene.
Clearly, he lacked confidence in withstanding the Heavenly Thunder Pearl's explosion.
His holy light-like armor had proven insufficient.
Finally, with Li Qing's display of the Heavenly Thunder Pearl, the battlefield fell silent, save for the rumbling of Shen Ningbing's core formation process.
Li Qing let out a sigh of relief.
"This Heavenly Thunder Pearl is truly effective. I never imagined it would deter the Heavenly Prodigies of both the righteous and demonic paths."
Li Qing understood that these individuals simply didn't want to risk a life-or-death confrontation with him here.
As the saying goes, "A barefoot man fears not one in shoes."
He was the barefoot man in this scenario. Gui Fan and Zhang Xiao, both with powerful backgrounds, wouldn't recklessly engage a rogue cultivator in a deadly clash—it simply wasn't worth the risk.
Still, Li Qing was somewhat surprised by their willingness to abandon their pride and retreat so decisively.
They didn't even leave behind a single harsh word!
"They're both sensible people," Li Qing mused. "Compared to their own safety, reputation truly means little."
"No wonder their names dominate the Great Wilderness Domain. Few cultivators can see this so clearly."
With that, Li Qing resumed his seated meditation, replenishing the true essence he had expended.
Now that no one would dare provoke him, he could peacefully await Shen Ningbing's core formation.
In stark contrast to the tranquility here, the Imperial City was erupting in another earth-shattering commotion.
Gui Fan and Zhang Xiao, the peerless Heavenly Prodigies of the righteous and demonic paths, had been simultaneously forced to retreat by a rogue cultivator. This news spread like wildfire through the Ancient Imperial City, where cultivators gathered in droves.
"Impossible! Are you joking?"
"Exactly! Gui Fan and Zhang Xiao forced to retreat by a rogue cultivator?"
"Hahahaha! That's a terrible joke! Was this rogue cultivator a True Lord of the core formation realm?"
Yet as time passed, more and more people spread the story, and neither Gui Fan nor Zhang Xiao publicly refuted it.
The rumor suddenly gained undeniable credibility.
The Ancient Imperial City was thrown into unprecedented chaos!
(End of the Chapter)
📖Read [IR] ahead on Pa.treon@AnubisTL upto c516. [+2].
🎁All [3] Novels can be accessed for just $6/mo.
🔥Translated [1.1k+] Chapters and [2.46M+] Words.