Translator: AnubisTL
With Daoist Jin Bao joining their ranks, the Lingyun Sect's rebuilding efforts gained further momentum.
Li Qing didn't hesitate, immediately tasking him with gathering intelligence about the Nether Domain.
In the following weeks, True Lord Fu Xuan demonstrated his profound mastery of talisman crafting.
After nearly a month of painstaking work, he successfully produced seven third-tier talismans.
Crafting these third-tier formation-breaking talismans required a staggering twelve sets of superior talisman materials.
The talisman paper and ink, for instance, were specially prepared using the hides or essence blood of third-tier demonic beasts, making them extraordinarily valuable.
"Many thanks for your efforts, Brother Fu Xuan," Li Qing said solemnly, clasping his hands in a formal salute as he accepted the seven third-tier talismans. "With these talismans, breaching the Shangqing Sect's Grand Formation should be a certainty!"
He now possessed a total of fifteen third-tier formation-breaking talismans—more than enough to shatter the third-tier guardian grand formation of a cultivation sect.
Crafting seven third-tier formation-breaking talismans in one go had taken a considerable toll on True Lord Fu Xuan.
His face betrayed his exhaustion as he waved his hand dismissively.
"It's just a minor matter, nothing to worry about," Fu Xuan said.
He continued, "Brother Fu Xuan, please rest and recuperate here. I don't think our journey north to the Azure Ridge Domain will be delayed for long."
Indeed, there was only one thing left to do. Once they had gathered enough intelligence about the Nether Domain and retrieved Wu Chong and his group, the final battle would begin.
And so, another half-month passed in the blink of an eye.
Li Qing had been far from idle during this time. First, he obtained the ancient Great Shift Token from Chu Lingyi. Then, he sent a Spirit Sealing Letter to Liu Hanyue at Moonchase Palace, asking her to gather information about the Nether Domain.
Liu Hanyue responded swiftly, immediately transmitting all the relevant records from Moonchase Palace.
By sheer coincidence, Daoist Jin Bao, who had also been sent to gather intelligence, returned around the same time.
Suddenly, Li Qing had two separate sources of information about the Nether Domain.
"The Nether Domain," he mused, "unlike the Great Wilderness Domain and the Azure Ridge Domain, is a great domain steeped in deathly stillness."
"No one knows how this domain became so desolate. It's as if it were this way since the beginning of time."
"The heaven and earth spiritual energy in the Nether Domain is even sparser than in the Azure Ridge Domain, and it can't compare to the Great Wilderness Domain at all."
"This domain is sparsely populated, yet it has an unusually high number of tombs and burial pits. Even cultivators from the Ancient Era would choose to be buried here upon death, though the exact reason remains unknown!"
After finishing reading the Nether Domain intelligence report Liu Hanyue had sent him, Li Qing couldn't help but frown deeply.
"Even cultivators from other great domains would choose to have their remains buried in the Nether Domain upon death?"
"This is highly suspicious. Once someone dies, it's like a lamp going out. Why would they still care about such things?"
Unfortunately, after the demonic race invaded this world, the connections between the great domains had become strained, even distant.
Moreover, many inheritances from before the Ancient Era had been completely severed, making them impossible to continue.
With these lingering doubts, Li Qing opened the intelligence report Daoist Jin Bao had brought back.
It had to be said, Daoist Jin Bao's intelligence-gathering skills were quite impressive. A few lines in the report even resolved some of Li Qing's inner doubts.
Jin Bao had obtained this intelligence specifically by seeking out cultivators associated with the Yin Puppet Sect. How he had acquired it remained a mystery.
"Although the heaven and earth spiritual energy in the Nether Domain is extremely thin, the soil there possesses a demonic power that can preserve corpses from decay!"
Preserve corpses from decay?
Upon reading this, Li Qing narrowed his eyes, thinking, That's truly demonic.
"In addition to preserving corpses, the soil can also nurture spiritual energy. Over time, the preserved corpses might even transform into spirit-communicating corpses."
As he read this, Li Qing felt a chill run down his spine.
Combining these two pieces of intelligence, the Nether Domain truly seemed to be a bizarre, demonic soil.
Over countless years, countless cultivators had buried their remains there. This meant that any random patch of ground could be concealing the bones of ancient people who had died thousands or even tens of thousands of years ago!
But that wasn't the most terrifying part. The thought that these ancient corpses, buried deep within the earth, hadn't decayed and still retained their lifelike appearances sent goosebumps erupting across Li Qing's skin.
The thought was truly unsettling.
Li Qing hesitated again, wondering if he should venture into that great domain to search for Wu Chong and the others.
Finally, he sighed deeply and resolved to go himself.
"Senior Brother Li, are you really going to that eerie great domain?" Chu Lingyi asked anxiously. "Then you absolutely must take me with you! I wandered and trained there for several years and know the place fairly well."
Li Qing glanced at her skeptically and immediately called her out:
"You call that training? At best, it was just a change of scenery for your secluded cultivation!"
His words rang true. Li Qing had previously questioned Chu Lingyi about the Nether Domain, but she knew nothing.
After getting separated from her fellow disciples of the Lingyun Sect, Chu Lingyi had simply found a nearby place to seclude herself and study talismans, remaining there for years.
She had grandiosely claimed it was to make it easier for her fellow sect members to find her!
In truth, her knowledge of the Nether Domain was even less than Li Qing's current intelligence.
Li Qing immediately rejected Chu Lingyi's suggestion.
True Lord Fu Xuan was even more resolute, refusing to let Chu Lingyi accompany Li Qing back to the Nether Domain under any circumstances.
"Give up, you stubborn disciple!" True Lord Fu Xuan rebuked sternly. "Stay here in the cave abode and diligently study the art of talismans. You're not going anywhere else!"
Chu Lingyi lowered her head, looking dejected and unhappy.
Shen Ningbing stepped forward, her voice filled with concern. "Senior Brother, why don't I go with you?"
But Li Qing refused.
"This trip to the Nether Domain is just to find someone. There's no need to worry too much."
"Besides, we know too little about this ancient teleportation array. We don't even know if a single Great Shift Token can transport multiple people!"
"If something goes wrong, it could be disastrous!"
"So I'll go alone. You stay here and wait for my news."
With that, Li Qing had made his decision.
(End of the Chapter)
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