Translator: AnubisTL
The fortuitous opportunity within this Yin Sacrifice stemmed from the nether marrow.
Yin Sacrifices conducted at the entrances of various yin meridians throughout the Nether Domain required vast quantities of yin stones. During these rituals, the purest yin energy from the stones converged through the meridians, forming this boundless, abyssal sea.
On the other shore, the lotus dao platforms constructed by predecessors could draw nether marrow from this sea of yin energy.
No one knew the true origin of the nether marrow—it came from an unknowable realm!
Throughout history, all who had sought to uncover its secrets had met a grim fate.
"Despite its extreme yin nature, this substance is remarkably gentle," Li Qing mused. "Once refined with one's true essence, it nourishes the body, evolving into a harmonious balance of yin and yang within the dantian qi sea."
Having sensed the benefits of the nether marrow, Li Qing began refining it in earnest.
As Wu Chong had warned, their mission was already behind schedule, leaving them with no time to spare.
Without hesitation, Li Qing unleashed his full reserves of true essence, channeling every ounce of it into the task.
One after another, strands of nether marrow, varying in size and shape—some resembling small snakes, others like writhing worms—were drawn forth, each with an eerie, otherworldly appearance.
Yet without exception, Li Qing refined them all using his pure true essence.
Boom!
As the nether marrow dissolved, a strange energy surged into Li Qing's nostrils and mouth, then sank into his dantian qi sea.
In that instant, Li Qing felt his entire being elevate, as if his divine soul had undergone a baptism.
His cultivation, which had stagnated for so long, finally began to rise again like a tide.
This was a momentous opportunity, one he couldn't afford to miss!
Thus, in this bizarre place where the sound of crashing waves never ceased, cultivators from all directions sheltered behind the celestial canopy, refining the hard-won nether marrow. They raced against time, unwilling to waste even a moment.
As time trickled away, the yin energy sea before the other shore gradually quieted. The boundless expanse of yin energy began to recede, its surface slowly sinking.
Li Qing, wholly focused on refining the nether marrow, still felt the process was too slow. He wasn't satisfied.
Beside him, Wu Chong sat on his lotus dao platform, unleashing a secret technique from the Gluttonous Divine Art. Like a whale swallowing its prey, he devoured the nether marrow drawn up from beneath the platform.
His efficiency left Li Qing in the dust, miles behind.
It couldn't be helped. Wu Chong, blessed with the Gluttonous Bloodline, possessed an innate advantage. Even the faintest trace of this bloodline, barely detectable, was enough to make ordinary cultivators pale in comparison.
Feeling a slight sense of urgency, Li Qing abruptly calmed himself. He furrowed his brow, contemplating his advantages.
An idea struck him: he would use his heavenly spirit fires to accelerate the refinement of the nether marrow.
With characteristic decisiveness, Li Qing immediately put his plan into action.
Boom!
In an instant, two fiery tongues—one black, one white—erupted from the palms of his hands.
Spirit Devouring Demon Flame! Netherworld Cold Fire!
The two heavenly spirit fires surged into action. The nether marrow, drawn up from beneath the lotus dao platform like droplets of water, was instantly refined into pure energy.
It works!
Li Qing's eyes flashed with brilliance as he confirmed the method's effectiveness.
By harnessing the heavenly spirit fires, he could refine the nether marrow far more rapidly than with his own true essence alone. While still slightly slower than Wu Chong, who cultivated the Gluttonous Divine Art, Li Qing could now focus solely on drawing in the nether marrow, ensuring a substantial gain from this venture.
Gradually, Li Qing realized that refining the nether marrow not only enhanced his cultivation but also subtly strengthened his natal magic treasure.
Indeed, even the power of the Primordial Chaos Peerless Hammer was growing.
What previously required Li Qing's tireless, day-and-night nourishing with his true essence now took significantly less time.
This was undoubtedly excellent news. The enhanced power of his natal magic treasure directly boosted his combat prowess!
Meanwhile, news of the events at the Western Mausoleum Divine Temple had spread far and wide.
"The Western Mausoleum Divine Temple is suspected to have been attacked by the Gluttonous Demon Ancestor. The entire mountain gate is now in ruins!"
"Not only that, but the Hall Master of West Mausoleum may have met with disaster!"
"How is that possible? The Hall Master of West Mausoleum is a powerful late-stage Core Formation cultivator. Who could possibly take his life?"
"True, the Gluttonous Demon Ancestor's methods are strange, but he's still just an early Core Formation Realm cultivator. The gap is too vast!"
"..."
Regardless of the truth or falsehood of these rumors, or whether others believed them, the news spread with astonishing speed.
To verify the claims, more and more people began flocking to West Mausoleum Divine Mountain.
The mountain remained in utter disarray. The once-majestic structures that had stood upon its slopes were now reduced to crumbling ruins.
Many rogue cultivators observed the scene from afar, their eyes filled with strange expressions.
From all appearances, the Western Mausoleum Divine Temple had indeed suffered a devastating blow.
But this did not necessarily mean the Hall Master of West Mausoleum was dead!
Though the Polar Day was nearing its end, the Hall Master of West Mausoleum might have entered the yin meridian rather than perished.
The Nether Domain was barren in cultivation resources, with the vast majority monopolized by the major immortal dao factions. Rogue cultivators struggled to survive.
Faced with the prospect of an empty Western Mausoleum Divine Temple, these rogue cultivators' eyes glowed with a ravenous, green light, like hungry jackals.
"Strange... Usually, the Yin Sacrifice is guarded by many cultivators from the Western Mausoleum Divine Temple. Why are none to be seen now?"
"Could the Western Mausoleum Divine Temple really have been destroyed?"
These words further inflamed the minds of the assembled rogue cultivators.
If the Western Mausoleum Divine Temple had truly become an empty shell, its treasure vault and other hidden treasures within the mountain gate would be opportunities they couldn't afford to miss!
Just as greed began to stir in everyone's hearts, someone suddenly cried out in alarm:
"Look! That person seems to be a guardian from the Western Mausoleum Divine Temple!"
"It's true! His body is wreathed in spiritual light, and a dense aura lingers around him, as if he's just handled some precious treasure."
Under the watchful eyes of the rogue cultivators, the guardian's expression flickered through a series of changes. Without hesitation, he abruptly turned and fled in the opposite direction.
Seeing this, many rogue cultivators outside the ruins froze for a moment, then, as if realizing something, they immediately reacted and surged forward.
"Hurry! Block the guardian! The Western Mausoleum Divine Temple has truly fallen! He's escaping with their treasures!"
"Stop right there! Leave the treasures behind!"
"Chase him!"
Meanwhile, a number of quick-witted individuals seized the opportunity and charged into the ruins of the temple.
(End of the Chapter)
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