Translator: AnubisTL
The death of five more Qi Refining Realm disciples at the hands of the Demon Lord sent ripples of unease through the Heavenly River Sect.
The Qi Refining Realm disciples who were currently pursuing and searching for Li Qing were particularly stunned by his impressive record.
"They say this person is only at the ninth layer of the Qi Refining Realm, yet he wiped out an entire squad of five Late Qi Refining Realm disciples?"
"Even Senior Brother Yang Xi fell to this person? Though Senior Brother Yang failed to establish his Foundation, he has a Foundation Establishment Realm uncle who gifted him a spirit boat comparable to a high-grade magical artifact."
"What terrifying combat power! How can someone like this be just a rogue cultivator?"
"It's unbelievable. This Demon Lord Li appeared out of nowhere. I've never heard his name before!"
"..."
While many Qi Refining Realm disciples of the Heavenly River Sect were shuddering at the thought of Li Qing, several Foundation Establishment Realm Elders had already taken action.
At an ancient cave abode within the Heavenly River Sect, a gentle woman with a temperament as soft and flowing as water descended on a streak of rainbow light.
"Senior Brother Chen Feng, did you need something?"
Soon, a hoarse voice echoed from within the cave abode: "Junior Sister Su Xin, that good-for-nothing nephew of mine was killed by that notorious Demon Lord Li, the one the sect has been buzzing about."
"I'm in a crucial stage of closed-door cultivation. Considering I once helped you search for the Snow Charm Fox, would you be willing to make an exception and capture that Demon Lord who killed my nephew?"
Outside the cave abode, Elder Su Xin, who had previously tested Li Qing for lies, hesitated for a moment before gently nodding in agreement.
"Very well."
These were debts from the past, and now she had a chance to repay them, which was a relief.
Besides, capturing a rogue cultivator in the Qi Refining Realm, even one with formidable combat strength, was nothing to her.
Yang Xi's uncle spoke with a sinister tone: "This is the Celestial Compass I just refined. It can point to the approximate location of that rogue cultivator. I'll trouble you to take action."
As his words faded, a bronze compass of exquisite craftsmanship flew out.
Elder Su Xin extended her delicate hand to receive the Celestial Compass. After a brief ritual, the needle spun rapidly before settling on a specific direction.
"Senior Brother Yang, your skill in divining heaven's will has become truly exquisite."
Soon, a reply came from within the cave abode: "Hehehe, it's just that the brat took my Serpent-Head Spirit Boat. Using it for divination makes things much easier. My possessions are not so easily taken."
"It's a pity that the brat possesses a secret treasure that conceals his aura. Otherwise, we could pinpoint his location even more precisely."
Elder Su Xin nodded, then swayed her voluptuous figure, a divine rainbow appearing beneath her feet as she soared away from the ancient cave abode.
After she left, another cough echoed from within the cave abode: "Cough, cough, cough... My poor nephew..."
Meanwhile, Li Qing, having slain Yang Xi and his party, immediately set off for the northern part of Maple Country without stopping.
To save time, he took control of the Serpent-Head Spirit Boat himself.
"Not bad. If I don't use its offensive capabilities, it's quite efficient to fly it alone."
On the spirit boat, Li Qing ran his hands over the inner walls with curious fascination, studying the intricate structure formed by the spirit patterns. He observed them intently.
"This spirit boat was likely crafted by a Foundation Establishment Realm artifact refiner. The spirit patterns are mature and seamlessly integrated."
"The Heavenly River Sect has some hidden masters!" Li Qing exclaimed in admiration.
He then retrieved several low-grade spirit stones from his storage pouch, clenching them in his hand to replenish the mana consumed during flight.
In the mortal realm, spiritual energy was scarce, and replenishing depleted mana would take considerable time.
Therefore, he had to resort to this more costly method: directly absorbing the spiritual energy from the spirit stones.
There was no choice. These were extraordinary times, and he was fleeing for his life. He wouldn't skimp on a single spirit stone.
Li Qing understood the fate of misers all too well.
Spirit stones could be earned again, but once life was lost, it was truly gone.
And so, in just five days, he crossed Small Jade Ridge, traveling from the southern part of Maple Country to its northern region, where he had first made his name.
Gazing into the distance, Li Qing saw the Imperial Capital Shengtian. But he dared not go there, fearing he would bring disaster with him, repeating the tragedy of Xunjiang City.
"Let's go. When I've cultivated to a higher level, it won't be too late to visit old friends again."
With those words, Li Qing urged the spirit boat forward once more, speeding eastward toward Wangyuan City.
Once they passed Wangyuan City and traveled a short distance further, they would reach the Liang Country.
Within the Shangqing Sect's territory, even if the Heavenly River Sect sent Foundation Establishment cultivators, they wouldn't dare act too brazenly.
Whoosh!
The Serpent-Head Spirit Boat moved swiftly, far faster than Li Qing could travel on his own with a Magic Artifact.
In a flash, it soared into the clouds, using the dense fog to conceal its presence.
After another five days, a familiar yet unfamiliar majestic city finally appeared before him.
Wangyuan City!
This city had weathered countless wars, even once falling to Marauders. Over the years, it had been rebuilt countless times.
The familiar terrain stretched out around him—two rugged mountain peaks connected by a chasm that seemed to cleave the heavens and earth asunder.
But this seemingly insurmountable Heavenly Chasm was only a barrier to mortals.
Li Qing, piloting his spirit boat, soared through the clouds above, not even disturbing a single bird.
After passing Wangyuan City, Li Qing couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, thinking the journey ahead would be relatively easier.
"Maybe I should pay my respects to Master at the Yellow Earth Slope outside the city..."
However, the moment this thought crossed his mind, Li Qing's expression changed drastically. He abruptly turned his head back in the direction he had come from, narrowing his eyes.
His vision was exceptionally sharp, like an eagle's. From afar, he saw a divine rainbow streaking across the horizon, rapidly closing in. The aura emanating from it was formidable.
A Foundation Establishment Elder from the Heavenly River Sect!
They had finally caught up!
Li Qing's scalp prickled with dread. The premonition of danger exploded within him!
He didn't even consider fighting back. He poured all his mana into the Serpent-Head Spirit Boat, heedless of the cost.
In an instant, the rate at which his mana was draining accelerated dramatically. In the blink of an eye, he had covered several hundred meters, the Serpent-Head Spirit Boat transforming into a streak of azure light within the swirling clouds.
Whoosh!
Li Qing steeled his nerves and first retrieved several hundred spirit stones from his storage pouch, including two mid-grade spirit stones!
He had unearthed these mid-grade spirit stones while working as a spirit mine laborer. He had been reluctant to use them, as the spiritual energy within was exceptionally pure, each one worth a hundred low-grade spirit stones.
Li Qing had always treasured them, but in this life-or-death moment, he finally brought them out to rapidly replenish his mana.
The Serpent-Head Spirit Boat's speed surged to an unprecedented level. Despite the howling wind rushing past his ears, Li Qing's expression remained grim, growing even more solemn.
The distance between him and the figure riding the divine rainbow behind him wasn't widening; it was slowly shrinking!
A Foundation Establishment cultivator's escape speed was something he couldn't hope to match with just a spirit boat.
The only good news was that the distance between them was still considerable. At this rate, he should have enough time to reach Liang Country's borders.
All of this was thanks to Li Qing's formidable spiritual perception, which granted him sharp spiritual awareness and allowed him to detect the approaching escape light immediately.
Had he waited until the distance had closed further, even if Li Qing had pushed his spirit boat to its limits, he would have been doomed.
The person riding the divine rainbow was naturally Elder Su Xin of the Heavenly River Sect.
Her graceful figure possessed a unique charm even as she flew swiftly through the air.
Due to the extreme speed, her robes clung tightly to her delicate frame, accentuating her voluptuous and alluring physique. Her soft curves were subtly revealed, sparking the imagination.
"This person's spiritual perception is quite sharp. To have detected my approach so early suggests his spiritual awareness is also formidable."
Elder Su Xin's face was veiled by a light gauze. Her red lips parted slightly, and her melodious voice, like a heavenly melody, dissipated in the wind.
"I can't let you escape so easily. Otherwise, things will become troublesome once you reach Shangqing Sect territory."
With that, she formed a hand seal, and her speed surged dramatically beyond its already impressive level!
Boom!
The divine rainbow's speed increased explosively, and the ribbon tied around her waist flew straight out, whipping in the wind.
(End of the Chapter)
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