Chapter 707 |
For those like Doctor Chen, Xiao Yan, and Han Lingshuang, it was impossible not to be curious about Lu Qing’s experiences in the starry void.
After all, he had been gone for so many years.
Now that he had returned, not only was his strength far beyond their comprehension, but he had also brought back Golden Silk Dragon-Tooth Rice and several spirit-infused dishes of extraordinary quality.
Clearly, his journey beyond the stars must have been an extraordinary one.
“The world beyond, huh?”
Seeing the anticipation in Xiao Yan and Han Lingshuang’s eyes, Lu Qing paused for a moment before beginning to speak.
“The outer worlds are indeed vast beyond imagination. Countless realms of cultivation exist, but the one we’re in lies at the very edge of a territory known as the Great Yuan Immortal Domain — the dark fringe of its borders.
“And reaching other worlds isn’t easy. Between us and the heart of the Immortal Domain lies a deadly hazard — a chaotic current of the void, a natural barrier of destruction.
“When Xiaoli and I first entered the starry sky, we were almost trapped by it, unable to advance any further…”
He skimmed over the perilous parts, focusing instead on what he had seen and learned along the way.
But even so, the tales were enough to leave them astonished.
They had imagined the outside world might be spectacular — but not to such an overwhelming degree.
Especially when Lu Qing described the boundless expanse of the Tianyuan Great World, they realized that their own realm was as dim as a firefly before the blazing sun.
The sheer scale of it left them trembling, unable to fathom what kind of vastness could hold such magnificence.
When Lu Qing mentioned he had survived the Nascent Soul Tribulation and achieved the Nascent Soul Realm, everyone drew in a sharp breath.
“So, Ah Qing, you’ve already reached the Nascent Soul Realm?” Doctor Chen asked in disbelief.
Lu Qing nodded. “After surviving the tribulation in the Tianyuan Great World, I had intended to go into seclusion to stabilize my realm. But suddenly, I felt a powerful sense of premonition — a heart-driven calling — so I decided to return with Xiaoli and the others. I never expected to arrive just in time to face those demonic invaders at the Sacred Mountain.”
He sighed inwardly, thankful that he had made the decision to return when he did.
Had he delayed, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
Doctor Chen and the others were deeply shaken.
Xiao Yan and Han Lingshuang gazed at Lu Qing with awe.
Now they finally understood why that monstrous fusion of three demons, which had seemed unstoppable, was crushed effortlessly in Lu Qing’s hands.
So, Lu Qing had already transcended mortality — a true Nascent Soul expert of legend.
“What about you, Xiaoli?” Xiao Yan asked suddenly, turning toward the little beast gleefully devouring a spirit fish before her.
She couldn’t sense Xiaoli’s cultivation at all, nor that of the other spirit beasts.
“Me?” Xiaoli looked up from her bowl, tilting her head. “My realm’s about the same as yours — sixth transformation of the Golden Core. The smelly snake’s a bit weaker, just at the peak of the fourth transformation. As for Xiaobai, she recently broke through to the ninth transformation.”
During Lu Qing’s secluded cultivation within the Wu Clan’s Trial Secret Realm, Xiaoli and the others had been trained by a mysterious existence and had bathed in the blood essence pool.
Those experiences had fortified their potential rather than directly elevating their cultivation.
Thus, aside from the white flood dragon who advanced after years of accumulation, Xiaoli and Wuxing hadn’t made massive breakthroughs.
Beasts naturally advanced slower than human cultivators.
At present, Wuxing’s cultivation was actually the lowest among them — barely above Han Lingshuang’s.
“Sixth transformation? But… I can’t sense your realm at all,” Xiao Yan said, startled.
Normally, cultivators close in power could sense each other’s level.
Yet she couldn’t see through Xiaoli — or even Wuxing, who was supposedly weaker.
What unsettled her more was her intuition — Xiaoli felt far stronger than she appeared, and even Wuxing’s aura gave her a faint sense of danger.
“That’s because we’re cultivating a special Technique passed down by a senior,” Xiaoli explained. “Unless we release our aura voluntarily, not even a Nascent Soul expert can discern our true realm.”
She was referring to the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon, a Technique that could not only conceal one’s presence but even alter one’s apparent form.
Doctor Chen nodded, impressed. “Such an extraordinary Technique… You’ve all been blessed by great fortune on this starry journey.”
Lu Qing smiled. “Master, before returning, I also prepared some spirit treasures suitable for your cultivation. They’ll aid you, Xiao Yan, and Palace Master Han as well.”
“Ah—me?” Han Lingshuang was startled, caught off guard by being included.
“Lord Lu, that’s far too generous…” she began.
“They’re merely minor spirit items. There’s no need to refuse.” Lu Qing smiled faintly.
He already knew from the First Holy Lord that Han Lingshuang had stayed at the Sacred Mountain solely to keep Xiao Yan company.
She had sacrificed much for that — even handing over the management of her own Cold Water Palace.
Her quiet companionship had kept Xiao Yan’s heart from falling into darkness.
For such kindness, Lu Qing could not remain ungrateful.
Seeing his sincerity, Han Lingshuang no longer protested.
Though she downplayed it outwardly, a quiet warmth bloomed in her heart.
It wasn’t the gift itself that moved her — it was the fact that Lu Qing had thought of her at all.
The meal continued with laughter and warmth.
Lu Qing’s cooking brimmed with spiritual vitality, nourishing both body and foundation.
By the time they finished, Doctor Chen and Xiao Yan’s injuries were nearly healed, and even Han Lingshuang’s weaker cultivation had surged subtly under the spirit energy’s influence.
Her face glowed faintly red, her soul tingling with a gentle dizziness — she could already feel her realm edging toward a breakthrough.
…
That night, Doctor Chen returned to his courtyard halfway up the mountain, while Han Lingshuang stayed at the Lu residence.
Xiao Yan, Han Lingshuang, Xiaoli, and the white flood dragon all crowded into one room, whispering late into the night.
Lu Qing, meanwhile, retreated to his own chamber.
Hearing the laughter next door, he smiled softly, then activated the array in his room, sealing off all external sound.
Once silence fell, he immersed his mind into the Li Huo Cauldron.
“Master.”
The Artifact Spirit, Yan, appeared instantly.
“How are the ones I captured behaving?” Lu Qing asked.
“They’re quite obedient. With their meager strength, they can’t stir any trouble inside the cauldron,” Yan replied confidently.
The Li Huo Cauldron, now a peak mid-grade spiritual artifact, could suppress even a wounded Nascent Soul beast like the White Ape King for a time — much less a few crippled demonic cultivators.
“Master, look.”
Yan waved its hand, and two spatial prisons appeared.
One contained the cold-faced old Nascent Soul demonic cultivator who had ambushed them earlier.
The other held the monstrous fusion creature that had attacked the Sacred Mountain.
The creature now looked pitiful — reduced to a grotesque ball of flesh.
Lu Qing dismissed the first prison and focused on the monster.
As soon as the spatial seal vanished, the creature sensed the outside world again.
At first, its three heads showed excitement — but the moment they saw Lu Qing, fear froze them still.
Lu Qing waved his hand, removing the suppressive force on its body.
It began to expand, growing several meters tall — yet, sensing Lu Qing’s silent presence, it deliberately shrank again, trying to make itself smaller than him.
Lu Qing paid no heed to its petty attempts to show submission.
“You three… you’re demonic cultivators from the Ancient Era of Cultivation, aren’t you?” he asked coldly.
The three heads exchanged glances, communicating silently before the middle one — a handsome yet eerie man, Demon Lord Xiefeng — spoke up.
“Yes, my lord. We are survivors from the previous era,” he answered cautiously.
“Still trying to hide the truth,” Lu Qing said mildly. “Don’t play games with me. You’re demons — call yourselves what you are, or you’ll regret it.”
Though his voice was calm, a chill swept through the three fused souls.
“Yes, my lord… we are demonic cultivators,” Xiefeng corrected quickly.
“Then tell me,” Lu Qing continued, “how did you survive the collapse of your era? What happened to the world before spiritual energy withered?”
After another brief mental exchange, Xiefeng began recounting their tale.
“When the world’s spiritual energy began to fade, and the Five Decays of Heaven and Man loomed, the righteous path cultivators joined forces against us, hunting demons and hoarding dwindling resources…”
His tone made the righteous cultivators sound like villains, the demonic side as victims of persecution.
Lu Qing listened silently.
Much of what he heard matched what the ancient dragon tortoise had told him — though with the slant of a demon’s perspective.
“…Trapped in the Demonic Abyss, we devoured each other to survive, suffering through tens of thousands of years until the world revived once more. Only then could we break free. That, my lord, is how it happened.”
Xiefeng’s voices fell silent.
All three heads watched Lu Qing warily, afraid to breathe.
To them, this man — this calm, unfathomable figure — was the same one the world called the strongest beneath the heavens.
They had attacked the Sacred Mountain believing he was gone from this world, vanished into the stars.
Who could have foreseen his sudden return — and at such an unimaginable level of power?
But Lu Qing’s eyes only showed faint disappointment.
He had hoped to uncover secrets unknown even to the ancient dragon tortoise, yet these demons offered nothing new.
Seeing that, Xiefeng’s hearts clenched.
Then Lu Qing asked, “The last time you attacked the Sacred Mountain, there were four of you. Where’s the missing one?”
“That one was called Eagle Demon,” Xiefeng said quickly. “He was gravely injured by your revered master not long ago and vanished. We do not know where he went.”
“You can’t contact your own ally?” Lu Qing raised a brow.
“Though we were allies, that one was always cunning. He never revealed his whereabouts, nor left any method for communication.”
“I see,” Lu Qing said, voice cooling. “Then you’re of no further use.”
Killing intent flickered in his eyes.
“My lord—!”
They tried to plead, but it was too late.
A ripple of Lu Qing’s divine soul surged outward, weaving illusions around their minds.
Moments later, he withdrew, having confirmed they knew nothing more.
With a single thought, a transparent flame — the Nanming Bright Fire — blossomed in his palm.
It enveloped the monstrous body, consuming it utterly until not even ashes remained.
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