Translator: AnubisTL
The sea was pitch-black at night, the moon hanging deep and distant in the sky, seemingly unattainable.
On the main island of an archipelago, Li Qing, with Dao Lord Bai Ling's assistance, successfully infiltrated the Spirit Vein Land.
The entire process was seamless, triggering neither the third-tier grand formation nor alerting anyone.
Li Qing moved swiftly through the darkness, silently arriving at a small Spirit Mountain at the heart of the spiritual vein.
Within the mountain, he sensed a remarkably pure and clear water attribute spiritual power—a familiar aura.
After a moment's hesitation, Li Qing silently ascended the Spirit Mountain and pinpointed a cave abode.
Thanks to his perfect concealment of his aura, even as he stood at the cave entrance, he remained undetected by those inside.
Several hidden restrictions guarded the cave entrance, but they couldn't evade Li Qing's divine soul perception.
Frowning at the restrictions, Li Qing pondered briefly before flicking his finger, unleashing a condensed strand of true essence.
"Who's there?!"
A wary voice echoed from the cave abode, accompanied by a surge of dense water attribute spiritual power that seemed poised to strike at any moment.
Li Qing clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking, No wonder she's the master of the Water Spirit Pearl. Even in the core formation realm, she can effortlessly manipulate the power of heaven and earth.
He knew that even Nascent Soul True Monarchs couldn't achieve such a feat. This level of control was only possible after breaking through to the divine transformation stage!
However, the water attribute spiritual power didn't immediately attack Li Qing. Sensing no malice from the person outside the cave, it lingered in the air, gathering momentum but remaining suspended.
With a mix of emotions, Li Qing transmitted his name:
"Li Qing."
The simple declaration of his name caused the surrounding water attribute spiritual power to become unstable, as if on the verge of breaking free from control.
Soon, a graceful figure in a blue gauze robe emerged from the cave abode. Her movements were measured, but the subtle trembling of her hands betrayed her inner turmoil.
As a wave of divine sense swept over him, Su Xin finally confirmed it: the figure standing outside was indeed Li Qing!
After confirming his identity, Su Xin froze in place, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelief.
Li Qing, slightly unnerved by her intense gaze, rubbed his nose and said, "An old friend reunites. Won't you invite me into your cave abode?"
Inside the cave abode, Su Xin finally snapped out of her shock. As she deactivated the restriction, she murmured, "It really is you... I thought you were dead at the hands of the Shangqing Sect!"
A mist gradually gathered in her eyes, and her expression softened.
"Heh, I've always been lucky. The Shangqing Sect? They're not worthy of claiming my life." Li Qing chuckled dryly as he stepped into the cave abode, his gaze fixed on the gentle, approachable figure before him.
Whether it was due to his successful core formation or the influence of the Water Spirit Pearl, Su Xin's demeanor and appearance had become even more ethereal, like a water-like celestial maiden.
Su Xin paid little attention to Li Qing's words. She couldn't truly sense his current cultivation level, but she assumed he had also achieved core formation.
This was truly astonishing. Su Xin knew Li Qing's spirit root aptitude was quite ordinary—a mere four spirit roots, resulting in slow cultivation progress.
Even with successful core formation, he clearly still couldn't underestimate the Shangqing Sect.
Regaining her composure, Su Xin chuckled lightly, "You've already achieved core formation, yet you're still so glib? The Shangqing Sect's power is immeasurable; it can't be described with just two words."
She then casually began recounting her experiences and plans from recent years.
"Senior Heaven Devourer sent me aboard the spirit boat along with everyone else. The spirit pearl fragment within me caused me to fall unconscious."
"Later, when we reached the sea in the Nether Domain, I unexpectedly regained a faint connection to the Water Spirit Pearl, which barely roused me."
"It was from Senior Brother Wu that I learned of your situation—that you hadn't been sent aboard the spirit boat by Ancestor Devourer of Heaven."
At this point, Su Xin's voice trembled slightly, and she lowered her head.
Clearly, the newly awakened Su Xin had suffered another devastating blow.
First, the Heavenly River Sect, the sect that had raised her, was destroyed. Then, she received the tragic news about Li Qing.
The combined weight of these two events struck Su Xin with devastating force.
Li Qing could vividly imagine her helplessness at the time, adrift in the outer domain with no support, perhaps finding meaning only in revenge.
It was this deep-seated hatred that had sustained her through the years, driving her to reach her current state.
"Following my innate connection to the Water Spirit Pearl, I discovered a small fragment of the shattered pearl within an underwater cave abode."
"But it was precisely this discovery that led me to encounter a strange indigenous tribe who worship the five elements spirit pearls. They seemed to believe I was the spirit pearl envoy!"
"Later, I planned to use the Water Spirit Pearl to rapidly cultivate to the nascent soul realm, seeking revenge against the Shangqing Sect."
With the Water Spirit Pearl's assistance, this proved surprisingly easy.
Su Xin had already been practicing a superior water dao cultivation technique and had previously fused with a fragment of the Water Spirit Pearl.
In recent years, she hadn't even consumed any third-tier pills to enhance her mana or cultivation progress. Through sheer diligent practice, she had effortlessly advanced from the foundation establishment realm to the mid Core Formation Realm.
She was even just one step away from late-stage core formation!
Such rapid cultivation speed was truly astonishing, rivaling even cultivators with heavenly spirit root aptitude.
As for Li Qing, he knew all too well the countless opportunities he had seized and the myriad treasures he had consumed to reach his current level. His path was entirely different from Su Xin's, who had relied solely on secluded cultivation.
If he didn't encounter further opportunities, Su Xin would undoubtedly surpass him.
Listening to Su Xin's words, Li Qing finally understood the torment she had endured over the years. Even secluded cultivation likely couldn't have calmed the turmoil in her heart.
"You've suffered greatly these past years," Li Qing said softly, slowly opening his arms to embrace the warm, fragrant, and delicate body before him.
"But there's no need for revenge. I've already annihilated the Shangqing Sect!"
"The Lingyun Sect has been rebuilt in the Azure Ridge Domain. If you wish to rebuild the Heavenly River Sect, you can do so at any time. I've preserved the Heavenly River Sect's spiritual vein."
The Shangqing Sect had been annihilated?
Su Xin's initially trembling body quickly stiffened, her heart once again swept by a tumultuous storm.
Sensing Su Xin's disbelief, Li Qing ceased suppressing his cultivation aura and slowly released it.
Buzz!
A powerful yet subtle aura emanated from Li Qing's body, and Su Xin even felt a faint pressure radiating from him.
Late-stage core formation!
Moreover, the aura was remarkably solid, showing no signs of instability.
"You... you've already reached late-stage core formation?"
"How is this possible? Did you cultivate some forbidden secret technique that drains your lifespan for revenge?"
With that, Su Xin broke free from Li Qing's embrace and gently placed her slender hand on his firm chest, trying to sense his condition.
Li Qing didn't stop her, watching her movements with a soft smile.
Thump-thump! Thump-thump!
His body was now incredibly robust, his heartbeat strong and steady. His vital energy surged within him like a vast ocean, like a slumbering primordial beast.
This was with his vital energy suppressed. If he fully released it, the other cultivators residing in this Spirit Vein Land would likely mistake it for a tsunami crashing upon the sea!
Li Qing's vital energy was thick and his primordial energy was exceptionally abundant, suggesting he hadn't used any sinister forbidden secret techniques to rapidly advance his cultivation.
"You're really going to scare me to death! I only obtained a small, flawed fragment of the Water Spirit Pearl and have barely reached the mid Core Formation Realm. Yet you're already at the late-stage core formation!"
Indeed, Li Qing's cultivation speed was truly astonishing, leaving Su Xin in disbelief.
"I've had some fortuitous encounters over the years," Li Qing explained, "which allowed me to reach this stage so quickly."
He then gave her a rough account of his experiences after escaping the Lingyun Sect, recounting the tumultuous events he'd faced in the Great Wilderness Domain.
As she listened, Su Xin unconsciously gripped the collar of Li Qing's robe, her brow furrowing and relaxing by turns.
Of course, he omitted certain details, such as his experiences in the World of Eternal Night and the secrets of the Myriad Lives Demonic Art. These were best kept hidden, especially with the ancient monster he carried within him.
Blurting it out rashly would serve no purpose.
Afterward, Li Qing briefly recounted to Su Xin how he had led the campaign to destroy the Shangqing Sect, his experiences in the demon realm after setting sail, and how he eventually arrived at this archipelago.
He deliberately omitted any mention of Dao Lord Bai Ling's existence, instead claiming he had stumbled upon a cave abode containing the inheritance of an artifact refinement master on Beast King Mountain. He then refined a forbidden artifact for flight and escape, allowing him to narrowly escape with his life.
Hearing this, Su Xin couldn't help but smile.
"That's certainly your style," she remarked, "reminds me of some old times."
Her words naturally referred to their first encounter, when Li Qing had forcibly modified the spirit patterns on the Serpent-Head Spirit Boat to evade her pursuit.
However, Su Xin quickly shifted the conversation, recalling Li Qing's earlier mention of his reasons for venturing out to sea.
"You set sail in search of third-tier demon beast inner cores and the Heaven Origin Flower?"
"You must have gathered plenty of inner cores in the demon realm. Do you still need the Heaven Origin Flower?"
Li Qing's eyes lit up at her words.
Li Qing planned to refine the Spirit Nourishing Pill. He had already collected a significant number of demon beast inner cores, the most crucial ingredient, while the sect provided the remaining auxiliary and primary herbs.
However, he had been utterly unable to find the Heaven Origin Flower, especially one aged five hundred years or more.
He had even considered returning to the sect and, if he still couldn't find a suitable Heaven Origin Flower, handing the Spirit Nourishing Pill formula to Senior Bai Ling to see if he could suggest substituting it with more common spirit herbs.
Alternatively, he might simply ask Senior Bai Ling for a pill formula for a common third-tier spirit pill, which he could use to enhance his own cultivation and that of the sect's other supreme elders.
"I haven't found one." Li Qing asked, suppressing his excitement. "Do you happen to have a Heaven Origin Flower?"
Su Xin pursed her lips slightly and smiled gently. "Yes, when I obtained the shattered Water Spirit Pearl from that underwater cave abode, I found many Heaven Origin Flowers growing there. Several of them are already over five hundred years old."
Li Qing finally let out a long sigh of relief.
"Excellent! With the Heaven Origin Flower, I now have all the primary ingredients for the spirit pill I plan to refine next!"
Spirit Nourishing Pill!
This was a pill formula he had obtained from the World of Eternal Night. The pill was highly beneficial for cultivators in the core formation realm, enhancing their mana and accelerating their cultivation progress.
Although he had already reached the late-stage core formation, he still needed medicinal assistance for his continued cultivation.
After all, he had only recently entered the late-stage core formation. He would need a considerable period of accumulation before he could fully perfect his core formation realm cultivation. Only then could he consider the matter of nascent soul formation.
If he could refine the Spirit Nourishing Pill, he could significantly shorten this period, freeing up more time and energy to prepare for his breakthrough to the nascent soul realm.
Moreover, even if he no longer needed the Spirit Nourishing Pill in the future, he could pass the formula on to the other supreme elders of the sect, adding to the Lingyun Sect's foundational resources.
With such a pill formula, the sect's development would undoubtedly proceed more smoothly.
"However, the cave abode at the bottom of the sea is guarded by several extremely ferocious sea beasts. They were originally drawn there by the aura of the Water Spirit Pearl when I first opened the cave abode."
"If not for the old senior on this island who saved me back then, I would have surely perished in the jaws of a sea beast," Su Xin said.
Hearing this, Li Qing immediately asked, "Are there any fourth-tier transformation stage demon kings near that underwater cave abode?"
Su Xin shook her head. "This sea area likely has no fourth-tier transformation stage demon races. Otherwise, those third-tier sea beasts wouldn't dare to brazenly occupy the area."
Only third-tier sea beasts?
Li Qing had been able to deal with such creatures easily when he first ventured out to sea. Now, after emerging from the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, his strength had undergone another meteoric rise, making him far beyond his former self. Even in the deep seabed, killing a few late third-tier sea beasts would pose no significant challenge.
Li Qing felt absolute confidence in this.
"Heh, then take me to that underwater cave abode later. A mere handful of third-tier sea beasts pose no threat whatsoever!" Li Qing declared confidently.
(End of the Chapter)
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