Translator: AnubisTL
City Lord Lingxu had Li Qing and the other three each make a copy of the intelligence regarding the Heavenlight Secret Realm to take back and study thoroughly.
In the past, no human had ever entered this secret realm. The four great clans had firmly occupied it, allowing no outsiders to set foot within.
This was a rare opportunity, and City Lord Lingxu had made meticulous preparations. After all, his success in surviving the next great heavenly tribulation depended on it, so caution was paramount.
If possible, City Lord Lingxu would have entered the realm himself, but he was bound by the rules of the Four Great Clans and had to abide by them.
"Hehe, little brother Li Qing," a bewitching woman in a thin pink dress giggled softly after they left the city lord's manor. "I've always admired ascended ones. This sister wants to treat you properly. Would you do me the honor?"
Her voice seemed to carry a magical charm, causing Li Qing's mind to waver. The glimpses of skin beneath her dress ignited a wicked fire within him.
Li Qing possessed extraordinary willpower and an immensely powerful divine soul. In an instant, he suppressed the stirring of his heart and mind.
bewitching arts!
A flicker of wariness crossed Li Qing's mind. He frowned slightly at the veiled woman and declined, "I must decline. I've just weathered the heavenly tribulation and need to return to recuperate. Thank you for your kind intentions, fellow daoist."
The woman, whose face was hidden behind a thin veil, revealed a hint of surprise in her beautiful eyes as Li Qing so easily resisted her bewitching arts. She quickly masked her reaction.
"As expected of an ascetic cultivator who ascended from the lower realm. Your resolve is indeed as unwavering as the legends claim."
"Since Fellow Daoist Li is unwilling to grace me with his presence, I won't linger any longer. Farewell."
With a swirl of fragrant wind, the woman's graceful figure glided away, her lithe body swaying with each step.
Li Qing clasped his hands in a formal bow before letting out a soft sigh of relief.
"Though Fuya cultivates bewitching arts, she's nothing like ordinary courtesans. Since her divine transformation, she's taken many lovers, but none have met a good end."
"Your ability to resist her bewitching arts is truly remarkable. It seems your resolve isn't the only thing extraordinary—your divine soul must far surpass that of other cultivators at your level, wouldn't you say?"
The speaker was the black-robed youth who had been at the city lord's manor earlier. He flew over to Li Qing's side and generously shared some intelligence.
Hearing this, Li Qing turned and clasped his hands in a respectful bow. "I merely had some fortunate encounters in the lower realm that slightly strengthened my divine soul. I wouldn't dare claim to surpass cultivators of my rank."
Ignoring Li Qing's modesty, the black-robed youth smiled. "Let's introduce ourselves. I'm Hu Sheng, daoist name Hunyan."
"Li Qing, daoist name Limitless!" Li Qing reciprocated.
Hu Sheng laughed heartily. "Fellow Daoist Li, I presume you were also entrusted with a mission by the city lord upon entering the Heavenlight Secret Realm?"
"Indeed. But Senior Lingxu's upcoming great heavenly tribulation is also crucial to the human race's ability to maintain a stable foothold. The four of us must do our utmost," Li Qing replied calmly.
Hu Sheng shook his head. "To be precise, it's the three of us. Old Lord Hei You earned his spot in the Heavenlight Secret Realm through his own merits, having made significant contributions during the war against the Tree Demon Clan. He won't exert himself too much to gather Creation Origin Liquid for the city lord."
"Old Lord Hei You's primary objectives in entering the Heavenlight Secret Realm are likely the Earth Spirit Grass Fruit and Clear Source Condensed Dew!"
Li Qing was slightly taken aback by this revelation. He hadn't expected the eccentric old man to be so capable, securing a spot in the secret realm through his own merits—a feat even City Lord Lingxu couldn't deny.
This confirms my suspicions, Li Qing thought. He's no ordinary cultivator.
"Of course, if the opportunity to obtain the Creation Origin Liquid arises, I doubt Old Lord Hei You would hesitate to act. He's already preparing to advance to the void refinement stage and must be considering the upcoming great heavenly tribulation."
"Moreover, given the city lord's urgent need for the Creation Origin Liquid, Old Lord Hei You would likely be willing to do him a favor, provided it's within his means."
"As for us, we truly must exert ourselves for the city lord's sake."
Hu Sheng sighed softly, a fleeting hint of melancholy flickering in his eyes.
"Enough with the formalities. Let's meet again in the Heavenlight Secret Realm." With that, Hu Sheng flew off in another direction.
After watching Hu Sheng's departing figure, Li Qing flew toward the Floating Island mountain where his cave abode was located.
Within Profound Ancient City, patrols of royal guards riding flying horses were a common sight, maintaining order throughout the metropolis.
As Li Qing approached his cave abode, he noticed a crowd gathered around the Floating Island mountain.
The island contained two cave abodes, but only Li Qing had leased one; the other had remained unoccupied.
This scene puzzled him. Could someone have moved in with such fanfare? he wondered.
But when he saw the full picture, his lips twitched involuntarily.
At the foot of the mountain, directly facing his cave abode, a stout, heavily robed man knelt motionless. Beside him, a burly middle-aged man wielding an iron ruler relentlessly struck the kneeling figure, leaving his back raw and bleeding.
"How could the Marquis Family produce such a worthless wretch?" the man roared. "You swagger around arrogantly, yet you dare to clash with a divine transformation immortal elder within the city!"
"You clearly need discipline! I'll beat you to death today!"
The middle-aged man spoke with frustrated disappointment, relentlessly striking the fat man with an iron ruler, each blow sending blood splattering.
The fat man was none other than Hou Xianshe, the one who had tried to forcibly buy Li Qing's essence blood at the market a few days prior. Now, beaten to a tearful, snot-streaked mess, his wretched state drew the attention of many onlookers.
Li Qing didn't even bother to glance at the spectacle. He flew straight toward his cave abode, wanting nothing to do with it.
However, the Hou Family Patriarch spotted Li Qing's figure and immediately flew over, his face plastered with a fawning smile. "Immortal Li, my son's recent transgression against you is truly deserving of death. Name his punishment, and I will show no mercy—I will follow your judgment to the letter."
Li Qing's brow furrowed slightly. "If you acknowledge his crimes warrant death, why haven't you executed him already?"
This cold-blooded remark froze the Hou Family Patriarch's smile, but he quickly recovered, forcing another obsequious grin. "Immortal Li speaks with reason. However, Hou Xianfeng has only this one heir. I beg you to show leniency. I promise to discipline him rigorously from now on."
"These are the Marquis Family's reparations for his past offenses against you. Please accept them, Immortal Li."
As he spoke, the man handed over a storage bag. Li Qing accepted it with a faint smile, his divine sense sweeping through its contents. His eyebrows rose involuntarily.
Inside lay a massive chunk of spirit gold ore, riddled with wind-worn cavities, yet its interior shimmered with specks of purplish-golden light.
(End of the Chapter)
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