Translator: AnubisTL
He sensed that even with steady, methodical cultivation, advancing to the mid divine transformation realm would likely take only two to three hundred years, requiring at most one more minor heavenly tribulation.
However, he had no intention of cultivating methodically. Over the past few days, he had learned of a spirit herb called the Earth Spirit Grass Fruit within the Heavenlight Secret Realm. Once matured, it could refine the mana of cultivators in the divine transformation realm, without even needing to be refined into a medicinal pill.
The Earth Spirit Grass Fruit could also be exchanged for merit points in the Giant Spirit Race's royal city, but each fruit cost a staggering 150,000 merit points!
Li Qing planned to relocate to the Giant Spirit Race's royal city in the future. The human race's Profound Ancient City was simply too small, with limited resources that hindered rapid growth.
As for the Heavenlight Secret Realm, if City Lord Lingxu was willing to grant him a spot, Li Qing had decided to enter and try to gather some Earth Spirit Grass Fruit, or even just the seeds.
If the City Lord refused, he wouldn't hold any resentment and would simply head straight to the Giant Spirit Royal City.
After all, these spots had been earned through the human race's glorious battle merits in the war. It would be somewhat unfair for an outsider like him, an ascended cultivator who had done nothing to contribute, to take one of these coveted slots. The other divine transformation realm cultivators would undoubtedly object.
Just as Li Qing was pondering this, a hearty laugh echoed through the air:
"Hahahaha! Congratulations, little friend, on successfully weathering the divine transformation tribulation and fully restoring your cultivation!"
Hearing the voice, Li Qing immediately turned to look, surprised. "Greetings, Senior Lingxu!"
City Lord Lingxu waved his hand dismissively. "Now that your cultivation has been restored, it's time we discuss the Heavenlight Secret Realm matter."
"The Giant Spirit Race's rewards have been distributed. In addition to various spiritual objects and merit points, the most special prize is four entry slots into the Heavenlight Secret Realm!"
Li Qing's expression immediately turned serious. He knew this moment would come.
City Lord Lingxu was willing to grant him a spot, but likely with certain conditions attached.
"Senior, if you have any needs, I am willing to serve you with utmost loyalty!" Li Qing said, clasping his hands in a respectful bow.
A playful smile spread across City Lord Lingxu's face as he nodded. "It's always refreshing to speak with intelligent people!"
"To be honest, when I first saw your early divine transformation realm cultivation, I was considering giving the spot to someone else."
"Little friend, you must be a cultivator who ascended from one of those lost minor worlds, am I right? I've observed your impressive skills and extraordinary demeanor—far beyond what ordinary people possess. If you had cultivated in a normal human minor world, reaching the late divine transformation realm would have been no challenge at all."
Beyond the spirit realm, thousands of human minor worlds orbited like brilliant stars. Over countless years, some of these worlds had gradually become lost, drifting further away from the human realm.
City Lord Lingxu's words revealed Li Qing's origins, which was precisely why he had ultimately chosen him.
Ascending from a lost minor world to the spirit realm with only early divine transformation realm cultivation meant Li Qing's true strength far surpassed his apparent level.
"Senior Lingxu's insight is as sharp as a blade. I did indeed ascend from a lost minor world," Li Qing readily admitted, making no attempt to conceal the truth.
"Excellent!"
"Within the Heavenlight Secret Realm lies a spiritual object called the Creation Origin Liquid. This substance is of paramount importance to me—the key to surviving my next great heavenly tribulation."
"I hope that once you enter, you will do your utmost to collect the Creation Origin Liquid for me!"
Upon hearing this, Li Qing fell into deep thought.
Since the Creation Origin Liquid could aid in surviving the great heavenly tribulation, it would undoubtedly be a coveted treasure among the other major clans.
Within the four great clans of Tonggu Continent, there were no shortage of old monsters with cultivation levels at or above the void refinement realm. The competition for the Creation Origin Liquid would likely be fierce.
After pondering for a moment, he asked, "Senior Lingxu, if I provoke the heavenly prodigies of the other clans within the Heavenlight Secret Realm, would it bring calamity upon Profound Ancient City?"
City Lord Lingxu was momentarily taken aback by Li Qing's concern, then chuckled. "Rest assured, Profound Ancient City maintains excellent relations with the Giant Spirit Race. With the Giant Spirit Race currently at the peak of its power, they can easily suppress the other three clans."
"But what if the conflict arises with the Giant Spirit Race themselves?"
City Lord Lingxu continued with a smile, "Then you have even less to worry about. The Giant Spirit Race values strength above all else. If you can defeat them in battle, their higher-ups would never intervene to protect their own."
"I guarantee it!"
With the matter settled, Li Qing felt that refusing now would be a grave insult.
"Very well, I accept this task," Li Qing declared firmly. "Once I enter the Heavenlight Secret Realm, I will do my utmost to gather the Creation Origin Liquid for you, Senior!"
City Lord Lingxu of Lingxu City nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent. Come, let's discuss this further inside the city. I have compiled some crucial information about the Heavenlight Secret Realm over the years, which I will share with you for your reference."
With that, the two flew into the city and directly to the city lord's manor.
Inside the manor, three figures had been waiting for some time: a young man in a black cloak, a veiled woman with a seductive aura, and an elderly man heavily wrapped in layers of cloth.
All three possessed cultivation at the divine transformation realm. Among them, the peculiar old man had the highest cultivation, reaching the late divine transformation realm.
The young man in the black cloak and the veiled woman were both at the mid divine transformation realm, their mana slightly superior to Li Qing's.
"Heh heh heh, is this the ascended one who's been causing such a stir in the city lately?" the veiled woman giggled.
"Indeed, he's quite the handsome fellow. No wonder he's a diligent cultivator who ascended from the lower realm."
The veiled woman's figure was curvaceous and alluring, her pale pink gauze dress clinging tightly to her figure. She glanced at Li Qing, who stood beside City Lord Lingxu, and boldly winked at him with a flirtatious air.
Li Qing paid them no mind, glancing at the three figures and realizing they must be the other companions who would be entering the Heavenlight Secret Realm with him.
"This humble one is Li Qing. Greetings, fellow daoists!" Li Qing clasped his hands in a respectful bow.
The young man in the black coat possessed strikingly handsome features. He nodded solemnly in response, his expression grave.
The veiled woman raised her delicate, willow-leaf-shaped eyebrows and said softly, "Fellow Daoist Li seems a bit younger than me. Why don't you call me Sister Zhuo? I'll make sure you're well taken care of."
The eccentric old man remained silent, not uttering a single word.
City Lord Lingxu chuckled lightly. "You should all get acquainted. Once you enter the Heavenlight Secret Realm, you'll need to cooperate closely."
"The other four races will likely send several times more participants than our human race. If you act alone, you'll have little chance of success."
As he spoke, City Lord Lingxu produced a jade slip from seemingly nowhere.
He handed the jade slip to the black-coated youth and said, "This contains intelligence about the Heavenlight Secret Realm—potential dangers, as well as opportunities that may arise. Study it carefully. It was all obtained through exchanges with the other races."
(End of the Chapter)
---------------------------
📖 You are reading [581] Chapters behind with [114] Free Chapters available on site.
🔥 Read up to Chapter [1519] now, only on ᴄɪɴᴅᴇʀᴛʟ.ᴄᴏᴍ.
📚 Read upto [14,100+] Chapters on Site with [10,900+] Free Chapters!
---------------------------