Translator: AnubisTL
It all happened in the blink of an eye. Most of the onlookers hadn't even registered what was happening before they realized that True Lord Ziqing, who had been moments away from losing his head, was now back in Li Qing's grasp.
"Ancestor!" Li Qing supported Ancestor Ziqing before swiftly severing the spirit gold chains binding him.
Yet Ancestor Ziqing showed no relief, his face still etched with urgency. "You fool! My cultivation has been temporarily suppressed by Spirit-Sealing Powder. I can't use my mana—I'm just a cripple now."
"Even if you risk your life to save me, I can't help you at all!"
"You're fast enough. Leave now while you still can. Preserve yourself for later. When you've gathered enough allies or reached the nascent soul realm, then return for revenge. It won't be too late."
"Go! Run!"
Ancestor Ziqing's voice was frantic. He understood better than anyone that the Shangqing Sect was now a hundred times more dangerous than a dragon's lair or a tiger's den.
Once their core formation ancestors took their positions at the Formation Core and fully activated the sect's Grand Formation, even Li Qing's extraordinary abilities wouldn't be enough to escape.
As Ancestor Ziqing's words faded, a cold, alluring woman in crimson robes suddenly appeared from the northernmost point of the Shangqing Sect's mountain gate, overlooking the sea.
Her figure was slender and graceful, yet her exquisite face radiated an icy, murderous intent.
Her aura was overwhelming—far surpassing that of any cultivator present, including Li Qing, who was already nearing the late-stage core formation realm.
This was none other than Exquisite True Lord Ling Long of the Shangqing Sect!
Blessed with both a heavenly spirit root and the Exquisite Treasure Physique, her attainment of the late-stage core formation realm was entirely natural, devoid of any exaggeration.
With a gentle wave of her hand, the defensive formation guarding the Shangqing Sect's mountain gate activated with a resounding hum. Streams of spiritual light intertwined across the sky, swiftly sealing off the surrounding heavens and earth.
"How many years has it been since someone dared to wreak havoc on my Shangqing Sect? They must have swallowed an Immortal's gall."
Exquisite True Lord Ling Long's voice was melodious, yet the chilling intent woven into her slow, deliberate words gradually darkened Li Qing's expression.
This Exquisite True Lord was undoubtedly a formidable, unparalleled foe!
Even from a distance, her mere presence exerted immense pressure on him.
Fortunately, he had enough trump cards to rely on, or he would truly be in a desperate situation.
"Ah, it's over. It's all my fault. I've doomed you," Ancestor Ziqing lamented repeatedly, realizing the gravity of their predicament.
The third-tier grand formation was now under the control of Exquisite True Lord, sealing off the surrounding world. Escape, as he had said, was now virtually impossible.
Yet Li Qing calmly replied, "It's fine, Ancestor. Don't blame yourself. I came fully prepared, confident in my ability to destroy the Shangqing Sect. Even if I fail, I can still ensure your safe retreat."
Ancestor Ziqing was stunned. He couldn't fathom where Li Qing's confidence stemmed from!
But in this dire situation, he had no choice but to trust him.
It seemed like only yesterday that Li Qing had been a foundation establishment cultivator relying on his protection.
Now, in the blink of an eye, he stood as an independent force.
Even facing such peril, Li Qing remained composed, showing no panic whatsoever. Instead, he stood as calmly as if he were strolling through his own backyard.
"Heh, back then, the Shangqing Sect's core formation true lords invaded my Lingyun Sect, colluding with the ancient demonic race to annihilate it."
"Today, I've come to collect a blood debt for the countless fellow sect members who perished back then," Li Qing declared.
His voice, amplified by a trace of divine sense, resonated far and wide, reaching the ears of every cultivation clan guest and Shangqing Sect disciple present.
To be frank, this matter was far from honorable. After unifying the Azure Ridge Domain, the Shangqing Sect had immediately suppressed all information about it.
Most cultivators in the Azure Ridge Domain only knew that the Lingyun Sect had been destroyed by the Shangqing Sect, but they remained ignorant of the true circumstances.
Even many low-ranking outer sect disciples were unaware of the truth; only a select few foundation establishment realm elders knew the full story.
"So... they're from the Lingyun Sect?"
"No wonder the Shangqing Sect declared the former Lingyun Sect site in the Southern Domain Snowfield a forbidden land, prohibiting anyone from establishing cave abodes there."
In the crowd gathered before the main hall, Lin Xiaonan froze momentarily upon hearing Li Qing's words, his mind instantly piecing together many long-standing mysteries.
The Great Earth Spiritual Vein once enjoyed by the Lingyun Sect possessed an absurdly abundant spiritual energy. Many prominent clans, including the Lin Clan, had coveted it, hoping to claim it as the foundation for their own prosperity.
Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, the Shangqing Sect not only refused to exploit the spiritual vein themselves but also issued a strict prohibition, forbidding any cultivator from practicing there.
Periodically, the sect would dispatch elders or ancestors to inspect the area, ensuring no one violated the ban.
Initially, countless cultivators, unable to resist their greed, met their end in the snowfield, their bones bleaching white under the relentless sun.
Lin Ya watched the scene unfold, finally processing the events that had just transpired.
"He came for revenge? But why would he accuse the Shangqing Sect of colluding with the ancient demonic race? Where are the ancient demonic races in the world today?"
Hearing this, her elder brother Lin Xiuzhu's expression tightened, as if struck by a sudden realization.
"Ya'er, silence! Loose words invite disaster. Let's observe quietly for now."
Lin Ya retorted defiantly, "He's twisting the truth! Cornered, he's trying to seize the moral high ground to save himself. That's all it is!"
No one paid much attention to Lin Ya's outburst.
With four core formation true lords now present and the sect's Grand Formation activated, the situation seemed firmly under control.
Shen Ningbing remained locked in fierce combat with Yan Xi, while Li Qing faced three core formation realm ancestors alone, including Exquisite True Lord.
Of course, Li Qing knew that the Shangqing Sect still had Old Hag Wen Xing, who, though severely injured, couldn't be underestimated. The old crone was more treacherous than anyone else, likely lurking in the shadows, watching him like a predator.
Exquisite True Lord refused to dwell on Li Qing's diversionary tactics, her voice remaining icy as she declared, "If you seek to settle blood debts, prove you have the strength to do so."
The moment her words fell silent, Exquisite True Lord waved her slender hand, and the entire formation surged to life.
Boom!
A beam of pure light shot forth from a corner of the formation, hurtling directly toward Li Qing.
Golden Jade Garment!
Li Qing didn't dodge. Instead, he meticulously observed the shifting terrain, searching for the formation's weak points.
Thanks to the Golden Jade Garment's protective capabilities, the strike's power was significantly diminished upon impact. With Li Qing's formidable fleshly body, he easily withstood the blow.
Having endured an attack from a third-tier formation unscathed, Li Qing emerged completely unharmed.
The scene caused many onlookers' pupils to contract sharply, barely able to believe what they were witnessing.
"It's a magic treasure! That protective garment he's wearing is a magic treasure!"
"Such formidable defensive capabilities... truly a rare magic treasure indeed."
Ancestor Ziqing watched with a heart pounding in his chest. After confirming Li Qing's safety, he finally understood that Li Qing's earlier words weren't just empty reassurance, but based on genuine confidence.
"Li Qing, you brat! If you're confident you can escape, stop fighting to the death here! Get out now! The Exquisite Treasure Physique is currently unfathomable. That attack just now was merely a test using the formation," Ancestor Ziqing urged again.
But Li Qing ignored him completely. This time, he unleashed his divine sense without restraint.
Boom!
His formidable divine sense surged outward, rapidly expanding across vast distances.
Lacking any knowledge of formations, he resorted to this crude method, painstakingly probing for weak points in the Grand Formation.
This third-tier Grand Formation had endured for countless ages. Li Qing firmly believed there must be exploitable flaws within it.
No one questioned Li Qing's decision to unleash his divine sense. Trapped in such a dire situation, it was only natural to use every available means.
With such a powerful divine sense, he could guard against hidden attacks.
"Senior Brother Yang, let's confront him together," Ling Ying said. "With Senior Sister Linglong's support to restrain him, we don't need to fear his strange speed."
Ling Ying took the lead, charging directly at Li Qing.
The square-faced middle-aged man hesitated briefly before following suit.
The Shangqing Sect's strategy was simple: exploit their absolute home-field advantage to subdue the invading enemy at minimal cost.
Any rash or reckless moves could result in Li Qing taking out one of them, a catastrophic loss.
"Kill!"
This time, Li Qing finally stopped focusing on the surrounding formation.
Facing the combined assault of two core formation realm true lords, with an unparalleled enemy using the formation to restrain him, any further carelessness could prove fatal.
Ling Ying immediately summoned his natal magic treasure—a fan-shaped artifact resembling a banana leaf fan!
In the next instant, he swung the fan fiercely at Li Qing.
Boom!
A sudden, violent gale erupted across the battlefield, its razor-sharp winds tearing toward Li Qing like blades.
Yang Tian followed closely behind, spitting out a bronze-colored Zen staff from his mouth.
The two magic treasures unleashed their power simultaneously, bearing down on Li Qing's position.
Buzz!
Instead of immediately using his Primordial Chaos Peerless Hammer, Li Qing summoned a nine-tiered iron tower—the West Mausoleum Tower!
The colossal tower materialized and began to spin rapidly, expanding at an astonishing rate.
"West Mausoleum Tower, devour it!"
The Zen staff Yang Tian had summoned was instantly swallowed by the tower, sealed within its depths.
"Impossible! The Crimson Gold Zen Staff... suppressed?" Yang Tian was utterly stunned, unable to believe what he was witnessing.
This staff, which he had obtained by chance years ago, was a formidable magic treasure, its power even surpassing his own natal magic treasure for the time being.
For years, he had relied on this staff to achieve victory in countless battles, defeating numerous opponents.
Yet now, without the slightest resistance, it had been devoured by a mere nine-tiered iron tower.
Li Qing sneered coldly, offering no explanation.
When Li Qing had been in the Nether Domain, he had witnessed the West Mausoleum Tower's divine might. After obtaining it, he learned its true nature.
The West Mausoleum Tower could suppress magical treasures, but it wasn't without limitations.
First, it couldn't suppress natal magic treasures.
Second, it couldn't suppress magical treasures refined by nascent soul realm cultivators.
Beyond these exceptions, any ordinary core formation realm magical treasure would inevitably fall under the tower's suppression.
Seizing the moment the square-faced cultivator was distracted, Li Qing took a deep breath and roared:
"ROAR!"
Brahma King True Body!
His body suddenly expanded, grotesque blue veins bulging across his forehead.
In a swift motion, he retrieved the Black Furnace, inverted it, and enveloped Ancestor Ziqing within, shielding him from interference.
But he wasn't finished yet. Channeling the Kunpeng Divine Power within him, he unleashed Kunpeng Extreme Speed once more.
Spatial barriers seemed to vanish as Li Qing's figure dissolved into the void like a phantom.
"Senior Brother Yang, watch out!" Ling Ying shouted a warning, but Li Qing's movements were far too swift.
Kunpeng's Vast Heaven Diagram!
"Die!" Li Qing roared, his arm transforming into a monstrous claw, as if to tear the very fabric of space.
Empowered by the Brahma King True Body, he could now unleash this devastating Kunpeng Art technique through his human form.
Just as Li Qing's claw was about to crush the still-stunned Yang Tian, the Clear Sky Spirit-Locking Formation beneath their feet activated!
A formidable barrier of spiritual energy erupted, separating Li Qing and Yang Tian.
Bang!
Li Qing's overbearing strike slammed into the barrier, causing it to tremble violently, hairline cracks spiderwebbing across its surface.
But to his frustration, the barrier held.
Behind the barrier, Yang Tian finally snapped out of his daze and retreated rapidly.
Cold sweat drenched his back as he realized that without Exquisite True Lord's intervention, he would have died at Li Qing's hands.
In a remarkably short span of time, Li Qing had displayed offensive capabilities that were absurdly powerful, practically dominating his peers.
"Senior Sister Linglong, cease your engagement with him! Let us jointly command the Grand Formation and unleash its full power to suppress and kill him!" Ling Ying finally revealed a rare flicker of apprehension on his face.
Exquisite True Lord's response was crisp and decisive: "Agreed!"
In the next instant, Ling Ying and Yang Tian each took their positions, preparing to fully activate the Grand Formation and eliminate Li Qing!
Just as all eyes were fixed on this pivotal moment, the once-clear sky suddenly darkened, plunging into an unnatural twilight.
"Why has it grown dark?" someone wondered aloud, craning their neck to look up.
What they saw next was a sight they would never forget for the rest of their lives.
Above the clouds, an enormous, ferocious black beast crouched, its massive form completely blocking out all light.
"A gluttonous beast?!"
TL/N: Gluttonous beast, also known as the Taotie, one of the Four Perils of Chinese mythology.
(End of the Chapter)
Translator's Corner
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