Translator: AnubisTL
After the mountain erupted, a deep fissure was revealed in the earth below.
Li Qing followed the trail of shattered rocks forward and was confronted by a horrifying sight.
In the fissure, a large amount of earth qi was gushing out. However, this earth qi had a pinkish hue, eerily resembling the miasma of a swamp.
The miasma rolled and billowed, incredibly dense and terrifying to behold.
"This miasma... could it be the Desire Miasma?" Li Qing muttered cautiously to himself, immediately covering his mouth and nose while holding his breath.
Though he didn't know exactly what the Desire Miasma was, he could infer something from Su Xin's earlier screams. This thing was definitely not good.
After a moment's thought, Li Qing decided to retrieve a leaf-shaped Magic Artifact from his storage pouch. He stepped onto it and extended his divine sense power to investigate the situation within the fissure.
Soon, his divine sense pierced through the thick pink miasma, and Li Qing finally saw the scene below.
In the crack, two crimson flowers as vibrant as blood bloomed. One appeared lifeless, withered in place.
The other, however, continued to flourish, constantly spraying out crystalline red pollen.
But this pollen didn't fall to the ground. Instead, it mixed with the thick desire miasma in the air, forming an even more peculiar miasma, tinged with a bloody crimson hue.
Li Qing's brow twitched as he watched. He saw Su Xin, who had just now pursued the white ape deep into the crack, now enveloped by this miasma.
Su Xin's fair skin flushed with a deep crimson. Her usually clear eyes had become utterly dazed, and her cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue, as if she were drunk, making her appear alluring and seductive.
Her figure was voluptuous, with full, rounded curves in all the right places, yet her waist remained surprisingly slender.
The slightly disheveled state of her clothes only added to her breathtaking, alluring charm.
Of course, Li Qing, having traveled far and seen much, wasn't about to lose his composure over this.
Li Qing was astonished. The white ape, grievously wounded by Su Xin, hadn't fled. Instead, it remained.
Soon, his lips twitched as he watched the severely injured white ape open its mouth wide, inhaling the miasma while slowly approaching Su Xin.
"Hiss... I shouldn't be watching this kind of smut!"
Li Qing took a deep breath. Using his divine sense power, he finally managed to identify the white ape's origin.
"So it's a Concubine Ape, also known as a Joyful Ape. No wonder its behavior is so outrageous."
This Demon beast could mate with any species, gaining significant benefits from the process. With repeated encounters, its strength would increase dramatically.
"No wonder a Second-Tier Concubine Ape could be born in this place with such sparse spiritual energy. It must be thanks to this miasma."
Having recognized the ape's origin, Li Qing frowned deeply.
If the white ape succeeded, its injuries would likely heal, and its strength might even increase.
Li Qing's purpose in following the white ape was purely to obtain the Second-Tier Demonic Core within it.
If the ape were to recover from its injuries, Li Qing would have absolutely no chance of defeating a fully healthy Second-Tier Demonic Beast.
"So what should I do?" Li Qing frowned deeply. He didn't want to venture deep into the fissure and risk being contaminated by the strange miasma.
He didn't believe he could resist the desire miasma. If he were to lose his sanity, he'd be finished.
After all, some male apes were completely indiscriminate in their appetites.
"I've got it! I wonder if this will lure it out..."
With that, Li Qing produced a pure, crimson crystal!
A Crimson Crystal!
A product of the strange beasts from the World of Eternal Night, Li Qing had witnessed firsthand how irresistible these crystals were to Demon beasts.
Li Qing's plan was simple: use the Crimson Crystal to lure the white ape out, then capitalize on its weakened state to finish it off.
Without hesitation, Li Qing hung the crystal at the mouth of the fissure, allowing its scent to waft freely.
This was something that could trigger metamorphosis and evolution in Demon beasts. Li Qing was confident that the Crimson Crystal's allure would surpass all else, even the desire to reproduce.
As expected, the severely wounded white ape below had absorbed most of the desire miasma from the crack into its body.
The flames of desire in its eyes were about to erupt, but the moment the Crimson Crystal appeared above the fissure, it froze in place.
The white ape tilted its head, gazing up at the crystal-clear Crimson Crystal.
Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept through, causing the crystal to sway precariously.
"Roar!"
Just from catching a whiff of the Crimson Jade Secret Power emanating from the crystal, the white ape could barely restrain itself. This was a power that could trigger its metamorphosis, a complete transformation and evolution!
Bang!
A muffled sound echoed as the white ape stomped its foot, leaping out of the crack with the intention of snatching the Crimson Crystal.
Hooked!
A faint smile played on Li Qing's lips. With a sharp tug, he yanked the Crimson Crystal out of the fissure.
Snap!
"Aaaargh!"
The white ape's hand grasped at empty air, watching the Crimson Crystal vanish before its eyes. It roared in fury, then swung its ape-like arm again, grabbing onto the surface of the crack.
With a flash of movement, it leaped out, glaring at Li Qing with bloodshot eyes, fixedly staring at the crimson crystal in his hand.
"Roar!"
Li Qing merely smiled at the white ape's furious roar, then tucked the Crimson Crystal into his pocket.
This act instantly enraged the Second-Tier Demonic Beast.
In its eyes, Li Qing was nothing more than an ant, a mere Qi Refining cultivator!
The white ape stomped toward Li Qing with heavy steps, ready to tear him to shreds and seize the Crimson Crystal.
"A beast will always be a beast," Li Qing sneered, pulling a handful of attack talismans from his storage bag.
These were all crafted by Ye Feng. The talismans were of low grade, mostly Low-Grade First-Tier talismans like Fire Rain Talismans, Thunder Flash Talismans, and Ice Arrow Talismans.
A single talisman might only scratch the white ape, but in large numbers, they were enough to give it a real beating!
The sky filled with talismans that instantly flashed, causing the spiritual energy between heaven and earth to become violently agitated. It then coalesced into volleys of ice arrows, sheets of fire rain, and bolts of thunder that crashed down!
Boom!
The massive barrage of talisman attacks slammed into the white ape, halting its charge in its tracks.
Activating so many talismans at once, even Low-Grade ones, placed a considerable strain on Li Qing's divine sense.
He rubbed his temples and the space between his eyebrows, knowing he couldn't delay. He immediately retrieved the Water Entangling Net from his storage bag and cast it over the white ape.
Before the net could fully descend, Li Qing, moving with lightning speed, pulled out the Storm Pear Blossom Nails mechanism tube.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Twenty-two iron nails, trailing fiery plumes, shot forth. The instant the Water Entangling Net temporarily ensnared the white ape, the nails plunged deep into its flesh.
"Roar!"
The white ape, writhing in agony from the searing pain coursing through its body, let out a deafening roar that shook the heavens and earth.
In the next moment, it ripped the Water Entangling Net to shreds with brute force!
Li Qing gasped in shock at the sight.
A Second-Tier Demonic Beast was truly terrifying. Even severely injured, it was not to be underestimated—far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary Qi Refining Realm cultivator to withstand.
Li Qing's relentless barrage of attacks would have left even a Qi Refining Realm cultivator at the peak of their cultivation dead on the spot.
Yet, against this Second-Tier white ape, it was merely scratching the surface.
"Second-Tier Demonic Beasts really are tough-skinned and thick-fleshed," Li Qing muttered. "Looks like I'll have to get serious."
With that, he began to surge his Vital Energy, completely releasing the restraints he had placed upon it.
Boom!
His Vital Energy roared to life, his power surging with each passing moment. His heartbeat pounded like a war drum.
Thump-thump! Thump-thump! Thump-thump!
As his Vital Energy intensified, he activated the Limitless Art, gathering immense Internal Strength within his body.
Limitless Golden Body!
At that moment, Li Qing's flesh took on a metallic sheen.
"Not enough!"
Focusing his mind, Li Qing channeled all his divine sense power into his eyes and the space between his eyebrows, preparing for a decisive strike.
His physical strength and divine sense were his greatest assets in daring to challenge a Second-Tier Demonic Beast. Without them, he would never have risked such a perilous gamble, fleeing as far as possible long ago.
"For Foundation Establishment!"
Li Qing roared, charging forward with an aura nearly matching the white ape's. His feet slammed into the ground, and a massive hammer materialized in his hand.
The Peerless Hammer!
Though only a Low-Grade Magic Artifact, it remained Li Qing's most effective weapon for close-quarters combat. Inscribed with numerous earth-attribute spirit patterns, the hammer possessed no special abilities other than being exceptionally heavy and sturdy.
Boom!
With a powerful surge of momentum, Li Qing leaped into the air, his agile form soaring before slamming the Peerless Hammer down with all his might.
The white ape, of course, wouldn't retreat. It countered by throwing a punch at the descending Li Qing.
Bang!
The hammer and fist collided, unleashing a violent shockwave that snapped the surrounding fragile trees like twigs.
Li Qing's neatly bound black hair immediately came undone, scattering wildly in the wind.
The white ape's strength was terrifying. Gripping the hammer's handle, Li Qing felt his tiger's mouth (thumb and index webbing) ache with a splitting sensation.
Soon, the Peerless Hammer's handle finally succumbed to the immense force, bending almost to the point of breaking.
Unable to continue the exchange, Li Qing used the momentum to retreat several steps, then stowed the half-ruined Peerless Hammer in his storage pouch.
The battle had barely begun, and Li Qing had already damaged two of his most effective Magic Artifacts, even missing with his Storm Pear Blossom Nails.
"Idiot!"
Li Qing clapped his hand, finally deciding to summon Fan Tong to fight alongside him.
"Arooo!" The moment it appeared, Fan Tong roared fiercely at the white ape.
Having undergone two metamorphoses, it still hadn't reached Second-Tier status, but its strength was terrifying, capable of sweeping aside all Demon beasts of its level.
Without waiting for Li Qing's command, it leaped aside and faced the white ape head-on.
While the white ape was distracted by Fan Tong, Li Qing charged forward again, Crimson Shadow Umbrella in hand, rapidly closing the distance.
Fan Tong moved as well, fearlessly launching itself at the white ape. Each of its Tiger Claws gleamed with a chilling, steel-like sheen.
Facing this pincer attack, the white ape didn't retreat. Instead, it threw a punch at each of its attackers.
Limitless Shadow Step!
Li Qing furiously channeled his Vital Energy, then, relying on his powerful physique and his self-created, bizarre Martial Dao footwork, left a trail of afterimages in his wake.
He dodged the white ape's crushing blow and, guided by his divine sense, leaped into the air, soaring over the white ape's head. He then unleashed a devastating punch to the back of its skull.
Fan Tong, unable to dodge in time, braced himself against the white ape's punch. His two muscular arms strained to withstand the force.
He blocked it!
Fan Tong's Tiger Claws shot out like springs, hooking directly onto the white ape's fist. His razor-sharp claws left several gruesome wounds on the ape's skin, causing blood to gush forth.
Behind him, Li Qing's fist arrived. This punch was naturally fierce and domineering, embodying his years of martial arts and body refinement training.
It struck like a cannon blast, the shockwave flattening the white ape's thick fur.
Bang!
The fist landed, slamming the white ape's head forward.
As Li Qing felt the force of the impact, his expression shifted repeatedly.
Damn, he's tough!
After cursing inwardly, Li Qing activated his divine sense power. A blade of pale golden light materialized, slicing through the air with incredible speed, as if traversing the distance between them instantly.
Soul Condensing Slash!
Swish!
This divine soul killing technique struck directly at the white ape's consciousness, the excruciating pain from its divine soul momentarily paralyzing it.
"Fan Tong, attack!" Li Qing roared, then continued charging past the white ape to its rear, where he drew his Wandering Dragon Dagger.
The sharp Wandering Dragon Dagger pierced through the white ape's flesh without resistance. Li Qing's target was clear: he aimed for the back of the white ape's neck to end its life.
Meanwhile, Fan Tong was in front of the white ape, ferociously tearing at its throat with equal ruthlessness.
Man and tiger clung to the white ape, pouring all their strength into draining its life force.
But soon, the white ape finally recovered from the excruciating pain of the Soul Condensing Slash. Realizing its life force was rapidly draining, it struggled to shake off Fan Tong and Li Qing.
However, it no longer had the strength. Man and tiger clung to it like parasitic maggots, refusing to let go. With each breath, its wounds grew more fatal.
"Roar!" The white ape let out a weak roar of fury, then violently shook its body.
Li Qing, about to sever the white ape's neck, suddenly widened his eyes.
Swish!
In its final moments, the white ape thrust out the bone spikes on its back, driving them deep into Li Qing's abdomen.
"Cough!" Li Qing coughed, then ignored the searing pain in his abdomen. With a resolute and powerful right hand, he plunged the Wandering Dragon Dagger into the back of the white ape's neck, ending its life completely.
Bang!
The completely dead white ape collapsed forward with a thud, shaking the ground beneath it.
"Cough, cough! Almost died there," Li Qing gasped, rising to his feet. He clutched his bleeding abdomen with one hand and quickly retrieved various precious medicines from his storage pouch.
These pills had all been taken from the storage pouches of cultivators he had defeated before. Spring Return Pills, Blood Coagulation Pills, Vitality Restoration Pills—all potent life-saving elixirs.
After swallowing several pills, the bleeding from Li Qing's abdomen quickly stopped. As the medicinal power spread, his Vital Energy rapidly recovered.
Of course, the pills' effectiveness was also due to his already robust physique and exceptionally strong life force.
"Awoo, awoo!" Fan Tong, his spirit beast, howled anxiously from the side.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. It's just a minor injury. Go back into your spirit beast pouch for now. We've just stolen the Lu Clan's prize, and trouble might be coming. We need to stay hidden," Li Qing said with a wry smile, then sealed Fan Tong back into his spirit beast pouch.
Having cultivated the Precious Wood Body Refinement Manual to its peak, Li Qing's life essence was now overflowing. Though his injuries were severe, his recovery was swift.
Before long, Li Qing felt his body brimming with energy once more, as if the man who had just lost so much blood wasn't him at all.
"Finally got my hands on a Second-Tier Demonic Beast Crystal Core!"
Li Qing grinned, then picked up his Wandering Dragon Dagger and immediately began dissecting the white ape's corpse.
This was a Second-Tier Demonic Beast, practically a treasure trove. Even its blood had great value, at the very least as a material for drawing talismans!
One storage pouch wouldn't be enough, so Li Qing naturally had to divide the corpse into different pouches.
"Let's see where this demon beast crystal core is hidden."
As he spoke, Li Qing worked swiftly with his Wandering Dragon Dagger. In no time, he had skinned the white ape, removed its bones, and completely dissected it!
Soon, a milky-white, roughly fist-sized irregular crystal was unearthed.
Feeling the incredibly pure and abundant spiritual energy within, Li Qing's body couldn't help but tremble.
"Finally got it! The main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill!"
He immediately stowed it in a storage pouch, his grin impossible to contain.
Without pausing, he continued dismembering the white ape's body, refusing to waste even a single piece of meat. He had never tasted the flesh of a Second-Tier Demonic Beast in his life.
The bone spurs that had just pierced him were even more precious Artifact Refining materials, easily sufficient for refining a high-grade magical artifact!
And there were more than one!
"I've struck it rich! No wonder they say every part of a Demon beast is a treasure."
After collecting the seven bone spurs that grew from the white ape's spine, Li Qing continued to dissect the creature's lower limbs with his Wandering Dragon Dagger.
When his dagger cut through a certain unspeakable region, a massive cloud of pink mist tinged with crimson blood erupted, practically exploding in place.
"Damn it! Why is there desire miasma in here?"
He quickly recalled that the white ape had indeed inhaled a large amount of desire miasma from the fissure earlier.
Li Qing recoiled as if he had seen a ghost, desperately avoiding the mixture of Heavenly Desire Flower pollen and desire miasma. He held his breath, refusing to inhale even a trace.
But he hadn't anticipated that this miasma, infused with Heavenly Desire Flower pollen, would affect anyone who touched it!
In an instant, Li Qing's skin was covered in the pollen-laced miasma. Having just endured a fierce battle, his pores were already wide open, allowing the miasma to seep into his body with ease.
Boom!
"Damn it."
Li Qing felt his Vital Energy as if it had ignited. Already brimming with Vital Energy, he now felt as though he had plunged into a furnace.
The air he exhaled from his mouth and nostrils was scorching hot.
"Damn, damn, damn!"
Li Qing repeated the word over and over, but it was useless. The miasma, mixed with the Heavenly Desire Flower's pollen, had not only seeped into his blood but also, fueled by his anxiety, circulated to his brain, immediately clouding his mind.
Before long, the clear, profound depths of Li Qing's pupils ignited with a fiery blaze of desire.
Having spent years cultivating without experiencing the affairs of the world, he had always deliberately suppressed his carnal desires. Now, he could no longer contain them. It was as if a volcano that had been building up pressure for years was finally about to erupt.
"If this works, that woman will be the only one to benefit."
"Saving her is also saving myself."
Images of Su Xin's graceful figure, glimpsed just now beneath the fissure, instinctively resurfaced in Li Qing's mind.
Gulp.
He instinctively swallowed hard, then charged down the fissure like a wild beast gone mad.
"Roar!"
At that moment, his reason was completely consumed by desire. The Heavenly Desire Flower's pollen had seized control of his mind.
Almost as soon as he plunged into the crack in the earth, Li Qing's crimson eyes caught sight of a slender figure with disheveled clothes.
The moment Li Qing saw Su Xin, he knew she had seen him too.
Like magnets, they were immediately drawn to each other.
"Mmm..." Su Xin, already consumed by the flames of desire, felt her soft, delicate body burning with intense heat. She draped her arms, like water snakes, around Li Qing's shoulders and pressed her face against his.
Li Qing instinctively responded in kind.
The crack in the earth was still filled with a thin pink haze of desire miasma, but this miasma could no longer affect their minds. At this moment, they were the very incarnations of the Heavenly Desire Flower.
With his Grandmaster-level Martial Dao cultivation and his training in body refinement secret techniques, Li Qing's physical body was unbelievably strong.
His steel-like physique stood in stark contrast to Su Xin's gentle, water-like nature.
In a daze, Li Qing felt as if he had transformed into a block of steel, sinking into a pool of warm, soft, and yielding water.
This was the true meaning of the "land of tenderness."
TL/N: One of the most unhinged chapters so far. 😑
(End of the Chapter)
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