Translator: AnubisTL
The journey back to the sect was uneventful. In the current Azure Ridge Domain, no foolhardy cultivator dared to provoke Li Qing.
Yet his mood remained heavy throughout the journey, his face grim as he piloted the spirit boat.
The Grassland Holy Temple Tribes, who had long maintained peaceful relations with the Lingyun Sect, were finally stirring, all because of a Millennial Dragon Blood Vine.
Spirit herbs stirred the hearts of cultivators, and the Millennial Dragon Blood Vine, capable of refining the Dragon Transformation Pill, would drive many core formation realm cultivators to madness.
Fortunately, the sect has already deployed a Fourth-Tier Grand Formation, Li Qing sighed inwardly. Otherwise, this trouble would be far more serious.
He would never abandon the Dragon Blood Vine. It represented the future hope for him and the sect's other supreme elders to condense nascent souls!
With the Heavenly Origin Spirit-Slaying Formation guarding the mountain gate, there was little immediate concern about external threats.
Yet vigilance remained essential. The Grassland cultivators were notoriously fierce and direct; who knew what reckless actions they might take?
After all, they couldn't remain confined to the mountain gate forever. Eventually, they would need to venture out, and if they were targeted then, the consequences could be dire.
To eliminate these threats, the best solution would be for a cultivator to reach the nascent soul realm.
With a nascent soul realm cultivator, these seemingly insurmountable threats would vanish like mist before the wind.
"I'll return to the sect first. We need to discuss this with the others," Li Qing thought, accelerating the Serpent-Head Spirit Boat to its maximum speed. From below, it streaked across the sky like a shooting star.
Several days later, at the mountain gate of the Lingyun Sect:
Li Qing, having returned to the sect with Xu Xia, arrived near the spirit peaks where the sect's ancestors resided. He surveyed the surrounding peaks and declared in a solemn voice:
"Everyone, a major crisis has arisen!"
As his voice echoed across the peaks, activity stirred within the cave abodes atop the surrounding spirit peaks.
The restrictions on several cave abodes dissolved, and figures emerged from within.
Xu Xia, standing beside Li Qing, was completely bewildered. He couldn't fathom why Ancestor Limitless had brought him here.
However, when he saw the sect's patriarchs emerging from their seclusion, a surge of awe and pride welled up within him.
This was the Lingyun Sect as it stood today, its foundation immeasurably deep. With so many core formation ancestors, it could easily sweep across any region!
"Li Qing, what's happened? Why do you look so serious?" Wu Chong asked first. "And who is that disciple beside you? A new recruit?"
The other core formation ancestors also turned solemn gazes toward Li Qing. As the sect's most powerful cultivator and strongest warrior, his grave demeanor meant something truly significant had occurred.
Li Qing replied, "He's an inner sect disciple. During a recent mission, he passed my trials multiple times. I've decided to appoint him as the sect's first sect leader!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Xia's mind went completely blank.
Everything had happened too suddenly; he couldn't process it at all!
Soon, the supreme elders' gazes swept over him, scrutinizing the inner sect disciple who had only reached the perfected qi refining stage from head to toe.
Still below the foundation establishment realm, his cultivation was indeed rather low. But that didn't matter much; they could always elevate him later with a foundation establishment pill.
Since Li Qing had made the decision and Xu Xia had passed multiple trials, they trusted his judgment completely and raised no objections.
After a long silence, Xu Xia finally processed the shocking news. He stammered, "Ancestor Limitless, I'm merely at the qi refining realm. How could I possibly be qualified to become sect leader?"
"If word of this gets out, outsiders will mock the Lingyun Sect for lacking capable leaders. Please reconsider your decree, Ancestor, and appoint another foundation establishment elder to this crucial role!"
Xu Xia's words were sincere, his expression earnest.
But Li Qing waved his hand dismissively. "The matter is settled. Stop refusing. Don't worry about your cultivation level. I'll find a way to get you some foundation establishment pills soon!"
"Th-this..." Xu Xia was already stammering incoherently, his face a mixture of fear and trepidation. He didn't know what to say, as foundation establishment pills were indeed crucial for him at this stage.
True Lord Fu Xuan interrupted, "You summoned us from our cave abodes, claiming a major event had occurred. Could this be it?"
Wu Chong and the other supreme elders nodded in agreement, their expressions puzzled. While the position of sect leader was undoubtedly important, it shouldn't warrant such solemnity from Li Qing.
Li Qing shook his head and continued, "This is only part of the matter. I haven't finished yet."
"Just recently, Xu Xia accepted a mission to purge the remaining remnants of the Shangqing Sect. Due to the sect leader issue, I secretly followed him, intending to assess his character and temperament."
"He passed the test without a doubt. However, during the purge operation in West Ridge, an unexpected complication arose: the Shangqing Sect remnants included a foundation establishment realm elder!"
"If I hadn't been secretly observing, things might have taken a disastrous turn."
"..."
Li Qing proceeded to recount everything that had transpired in West Ridge, including the memories he had extracted through soul-searching and soul-refining Elder Bai!
The Holy Temple Tribes of the Grasslands might have set their sights on the Lingyun Sect!
No, more precisely, they were after the Lingyun Sect's Dragon Blood Vine!
After hearing Li Qing's detailed account, everyone present wore grave expressions.
"Such a thing has happened? I never would have imagined it," Shen Ningbing said, frowning.
Ancestor Ziqing, clad in a purple Daoist robe, nodded. "If the cultivators of the Grassland Holy Temple Tribes spread this news, we'll undoubtedly face trouble in the future."
"We know next to nothing about the northern Grasslands, especially the Holy Temple Tribes. We must remain vigilant," True Lord Fu Xuan added, his expression growing concerned. Over the years at Lingyun Sect, he had come to regard himself as part of the sect, shedding his initial detachment and unfamiliarity.
Wu Chong, however, spoke with nonchalance. "But with Lingyun Sect protected by the Heavenly Origin Spirit-Slaying Formation, even if the Grassland cultivators target us, it shouldn't pose too great a threat, right?"
This was true. Even a nascent soul realm cultivator would have to think twice before attempting to forcefully breach the Grand Formation.
When fully activated, the Grand Formation could indeed pose a threat to nascent soul realm cultivators!
Li Qing, however, took a longer view, voicing his concerns.
Would the Holy Temple Tribes of the future Grasslands take further action, such as continuing to seek ways to control the sect's disciples, planting spies within the sect, or setting up elaborate ambushes outside?
These were all unpredictable threats. After all, it's not the thief who steals that's to be feared, but the one who covets.
Xu Xia, standing nearby, finally understood that Li Qing's appointment of him as sect leader was no mere formality.
The matters being discussed by the supreme elders were genuine secrets, of the highest order, beyond the reach of even Foundation Establishment Stage elders.
Yet the supreme elders spoke openly in his presence, showing no concern that he was merely an inner sect disciple in the qi refining realm.
This was undoubtedly the treatment reserved for a sect leader—only the sect leader could participate in discussions among the sect's patriarchs.
Xu Xia's mind was in turmoil, even as he continued to ponder the elders' deliberations.
"Xu Xia, what are your thoughts on this matter? Or perhaps you have any strategies to suggest?" Li Qing turned to look at the contemplative Xu Xia.
Startled by Li Qing's sudden mention of him, Xu Xia stammered, "Reporting to Ancestor Limitless, I believe we should..."
He hesitated, afraid to voice his opinion.
But Li Qing gave him an encouraging look and urged, "Speak freely. There's no need for such formality. Once you succeed in foundation establishment and become sect leader, you'll be our martial nephew. Of course, you can call us martial uncles now if you wish."
Hearing Li Qing's words, Xu Xia felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
Still maintaining his respectful tone, he said, "Esteemed ancestors, I believe we should take the initiative. Since we're certain the Grassland Holy Temple Tribes are targeting our sect, we should consider this a declaration of war."
"Right now, the enemy lurks in the shadows while we stand exposed. Why not send our own forces to scout the Grasslands' movements?"
"Of course, such a move might seem rash. We could follow the Shangqing Sect's example and dispatch foundation establishment realm elders under the guise of searching for the Dragon Transformation Pill formula, while secretly gathering intelligence on the Grassland Holy Temple."
As soon as these words were spoken, the supreme elders of the sect nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, taking the initiative might be a wise move," Ancestor Ziqing concurred. "If we can uncover the true strength of the Grassland Holy Temple, we might even be able to launch a preemptive strike!"
The Lingyun Sect's current power was truly terrifying. With its core formation realm cultivators and the third-tier demonic beasts they had tamed, they could easily sweep across the Azure Ridge Domain.
However, the only concern was that immortal dao wars were inherently unpredictable. A rash move could lead to the sect patriarch's demise.
Li Qing pondered for a moment before speaking. "Hmm, waiting for our doom is unacceptable. Even if we don't initiate an immortal dao war, we must prepare for one in advance!"
"Xu Xia, I entrust this task to you. Select suitable foundation establishment elders from the sect to gather intelligence in the Grasslands."
"Tell them this is my command. If this mission succeeds, your foundation establishment pill will be secured!"
Upon hearing Li Qing's words, Xu Xia took several deep breaths before solemnly clasping his hands in a fist salute. "This disciple accepts the mission!"
He understood that further refusal would be inappropriate at this point. He had no choice but to accept the task.
Moreover, the truth was that he desperately needed a foundation establishment pill. Ancestor Limitless had presented him with an excellent opportunity, and rejecting it would be both hypocritical and foolish.
Xu Xia was not ungrateful. In fact, one of the main reasons he had earned Li Qing's approval was his keen self-awareness.
Thus, the responsibility for gathering intelligence on the Grasslands fell squarely on Xu Xia's shoulders.
The other supreme elders, including Li Qing, would naturally maintain a degree of oversight. However, they no longer needed to devote as much energy to the matter. Their primary focus now was cultivation, enhancing their own strength.
As supreme elders of the sect, their personal power was paramount!
With the matter settled, Li Qing let out a sigh of relief and returned to his cave abode.
"I need to improve my strength and cultivation as soon as possible!"
Inside his cave abode, Li Qing sat cross-legged on a cushion, contemplating his current resources.
"If time weren't so pressing, I could slowly refine the medicinal power of the Myriad Beasts Spirit Fruit sealed within my body, gradually reaching the perfected core formation realm."
"Then I could simultaneously gather the pill formula for the Dragon Transformation Pill and its auxiliary ingredients."
For him, this was the most stable path to cultivation. By the time he attempted to break through to the nascent soul realm, it would be a natural progression.
But life is unpredictable, and plans rarely survive contact with reality.
He longed for leisurely cultivation, but the Azure Ridge Domain was now facing a cataclysm unseen in millennia. Spiritual energy surged across the great earth, bringing both unprecedented opportunities and grave dangers.
To maintain his current status amidst this upheaval, he needed even greater strength.
"Fortunately, I'm not entirely unprepared."
As he spoke, a Beast Hide Pill Formula appeared in his hand. It was for this very formula that he had ventured out to sea, enduring countless hardships to collect demon beast inner cores and Heaven Origin Flowers.
That's right!
This pill formula was for the Spirit Nourishing Pill!
Spirit Nourishing Pill
Main Ingredients: Third-tier demon beast inner core, 500-year-old Heaven Origin Flower, Azure Moon Root
Auxiliary Ingredients: 100-year-old Purple Blood Ginseng sap, Spirit-Corroding Fruit essence
Now that all the ingredients for refining the Spirit Nourishing Pill were gathered, Li Qing could even refine more than one furnace's worth. His recent sea expedition had yielded an abundance of third-tier demon beasts, including multiple late third-tier specimens.
With the pill formula and ingredients secured, the only missing piece was a skilled pill refiner.
Before his sea voyage, Li Qing had repeatedly fretted over this issue. He even considered traveling south to the Great Wilderness Domain to seek out a reliable third-tier pill refiner at Moonchase Palace.
But that would inevitably expose the pill formula—a third-tier pill capable of rapidly enhancing a core formation realm cultivator's mana and cultivation progress.
Such a formula was the lifeblood of any sect, a secret no one would willingly divulge.
Fortunately, Dao Lord Bai Ling had now arrived—a venerable elder renowned for his mastery of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation!
However, this approach presented another problem. Li Qing had already troubled Dao Lord Bai Ling to set up a Fourth-Tier Grand Formation for the sect, the price for which was finding an heir to his legacy.
Now, Li Qing wanted to ask Dao Lord Bai Ling to refine Spirit Nourishing Pills—and not just one furnace's worth. He had no idea what he could offer to persuade the old monster this time.
After all, his relationship with Dao Lord Bai Ling was purely transactional, based on mutual assistance and equivalent exchange.
What could he possibly offer in return?
Previously, Dao Lord Bai Ling had guided him in refining the Wind-Thunder Silver Wings because Li Qing had promised to help him escape the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm.
Later, when setting up the Heavenly Origin Spirit-Slaying Formation, Li Qing had agreed to help Dao Lord Bai Ling find a suitable heir.
But now, with this request for pill refinement, Li Qing was at a loss for what to offer in exchange.
Though Li Qing was now the Lingyun Sect's patriarch, appearing infinitely powerful and possessing everything he could desire to outsiders, facing this old monster who had once reached the divine transformation stage, he felt utterly impoverished once again.
(End of the Chapter)
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Translator's Corner
🙏Sorry for the delayed chapters. Had a technical issue. To read ahead please go to the site. It is always updated first.
𝟏𝟒 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬 | 𝟖.𝟒𝐤 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 | 𝟏𝟒.𝟐𝐌 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 [𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦]