Chapter 919: A Wondrous Journey in the Immortal Sect
Chapter 919: A Wondrous Journey in the Immortal Sect
Within the transparent arena, tens of thousands of people in Yilü Province gazed up at Li Qing.
Yet, he didn't spare the cultivators below a single glance.
Instead, with a flick of his finger, he regained control over the myriad sword-arts that had lost their target.
He then raised his head toward the higher heavens and declared, "I have a sword. I invite the Heavenly Venerate to witness it!"
His clear voice echoed from the sky, spreading across the land and causing the cultivators of Yilü Province to look at each other in stunned silence.
"What is he doing?"
"How audacious! To speak so disrespectfully to the Heavenly Venerate!"
"Stop him, quickly!"
The cultivators, finally reacting, cried out in alarm one after another, but it was too late!
Behind Li Qing, the phantom of a black sword suddenly materialized.
The moment it appeared, the myriad sword-arts surged as if violently provoked.
Their sword-lights flared, swelling to several times their original size.
The light was so intense that the cultivators below could barely keep their eyes open.
Meanwhile, Wan Zailai, who had been defeated and was slumping in a dejected stupor, lifted his head at this moment.
Seeing his own techniques elevated to such an astonishing degree, a flicker of hope suddenly ignited in Wan Zailai's once-dim eyes.
Li Qing, however, paid no mind to the reactions of the cultivators below.
With a long laugh, his body merged with the phantom of the black sword.
Surrounded by the myriad sword-arts, like an emperor of swords leading a grand army, he tore through the sky.
He thrust straight toward the heavens!
The transparent, circular arena held for only a moment before shattering into pieces under the world-shaking strike.
The sword-light pressed on, its momentum undiminished, as if intending to cleave the very sky in two.
As the sword clashed with the heavens, the surrounding sword-lights burst like fireworks, scattering in every direction and painting the sky in a kaleidoscope of colors.
Only the black sword that was Li Qing remained firm and resolute.
Finally, it flew into a magnificent scene of an immortal sect that had suddenly appeared in the sky.
Within the fleeting rift, the faint outlines of many different figures could be seen, all staring with varied expressions at the black sword that had brazenly intruded.
...
"Sigh, the poor lad. So young, and yet..."
"Such a waste of a handsome face."
"Who's to blame but himself for overreaching? He just wouldn't stop pestering Senior Sister Zhao. She recently reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and it's only a matter of time before she becomes a core disciple. This kid hasn't even succeeded at Qi Refining..."
"He's a toad lusting after a swan."
"Uh, but I heard he's the one who repeatedly refused Senior Sister Zhao's kindness and suggested they see less of each other. They say she's the persistent one, always seeking him out..."
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
The discussions buzzing in his ears roused Li Qing from his slumber.
Seeing Li Qing awake, the few people around him fell silent and left the room.
Leaving him alone to collect his thoughts.
His mind was a chaotic mess. It took him a long moment to make sense of his current situation.
He was originally from Changfeng Village at the foot of Daqing Mountain.
Six months ago, his village had been massacred by a band of mountain bandits. He and Zhao Ruoxi, a girl from the same village, had only survived because they were out playing. They saw the flames engulfing their homes and rushed back, only to run headfirst into the retreating bandits. The men, captivated by Zhao Ruoxi's beauty, were about to abduct her when an immortal master from the Great Dao Sect descended from the sky and slew the villains.
Taking pity on the two orphans, the master brought them back to the Great Dao Sect.
From mere mortals, they were given the chance to walk the path of cultivation—a blessing born from tragedy.
But Li Qing's fortunes were clearly not as profound as Zhao Ruoxi's. The difference between them was like that of clouds and mud.
In just six months, she had successfully reached the Foundation Establishment stage and had been accepted as a disciple by Zhang Wangshuang, a Soul Transformation Immortal Lord of the Moonlight Lineage.
Li Qing, however, was still struggling in the Qi Refining stage.
The gap between them was immense.
If that were all, it might have been bearable.
But what Li Qing found hardest to accept was...
Feeling the excruciating pain from his lower body, Li Qing's heart turned to ash.
This was all a disaster brought on by beauty!
Qin Shou of the Connecting Mountains Lineage had fallen for Zhao Ruoxi at first sight. He pursued her relentlessly.
But his affections were unrequited; Zhao Ruoxi showed him no favor.
Her heart had long been secretly promised to Li Qing.
Whenever she had a spare moment, she would visit Li Qing in the outer sect. She also secretly brought him many medicinal pills, including an incredibly precious Foundation Establishment Pill!
This was no ordinary pill. Knowing Li Qing's poor aptitude, Zhao Ruoxi had specially requested it from her master—a Purple Resonance Refining Dao Pill. It could not only minimize the side effects of a forced breakthrough but also slightly improve the user's cultivation aptitude.
It was truly a divine medicine capable of defying heaven and changing one's fate!
That day, after sending Zhao Ruoxi off, Li Qing gazed at the divine pill in his hands, his heart filled with joy.
Who could have known that joy would turn so swiftly to sorrow.
His closeness with Zhao Ruoxi had incited Qin Shou's jealousy.
He had sent his men directly to Li Qing's door to teach him a brutal lesson. Their methods were vicious—they destroyed Li Qing's manhood. Afterwards, they searched him and stole the Purple Resonance Refining Dao Pill.
"Qin Shou..."
As Li Qing slowly emerged from his memories, endless hatred flickered in his eyes.
But soon, the pain from his lower body dragged him back to reality.
Li Qing mustered his courage and reached down with a trembling hand.
Only to grasp at nothing.
A chilling cold instantly flooded Li Qing's heart.
"My manhood is gone, and so is my hope of breaking through the Qi Refining stage."
"What's the point of living anymore..."
Despair filled Li Qing's eyes.
Just then, a figure pushed the door open and entered.
Without looking up, Li Qing knew who it was just from the familiar fragrance.
"Ruoxi..."
Halfway through the word, Li Qing suddenly recalled the warning from those vicious men. The stinging pain in his lower body had not subsided.
Li Qing couldn't help but shiver, correcting himself, "Senior Sister Zhao..."
Seeing Li Qing in this state, a flicker of pain crossed Zhao Ruoxi's eyes.
Then her expression turned grim, filled with a chilling murderous aura.
"Where are you hurt...?" she asked softly.
Li Qing trembled again, instinctively covering his groin.
Zhao Ruoxi understood instantly, and her face turned deathly pale.
A sweep of her spiritual sense confirmed it. She clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles whitened, and a towering killing intent surged in her eyes.
His flaw laid bare before her, Li Qing felt like he could die from the shame.
But overwhelmed by shame, he could do nothing but tremble uncontrollably.
Watching Li Qing shiver like a helpless chick, Zhao Ruoxi's heart filled with an overwhelming sense of pity.
"It's alright, it's alright now."
She comforted him, pulling him into her embrace.
"It's just a physical injury. When your cultivation becomes profound enough in the future, you might be able to reconstruct your body..."
"Senior Sister, my cultivation may be weaker than yours, but I still know the basics. I was maimed before even reaching Foundation Establishment. This is a congenital flaw..."
"I'm afraid it won't be easy to fix, even at the Soul Transformation stage. Besides, with my aptitude, what hope do I have of ever reaching that realm..."
The more Li Qing spoke, the more hopeless he felt, and he broke down into sobs.
Finally, succumbing to the dual assault on his body and spirit, he fell into a deep sleep in her arms.
Zhao Ruoxi gazed at Li Qing's tear-streaked face, her eyes initially filled with heartache.
However, as she gently wiped the tears from his cheeks, her gaze lingered on his handsome face, his brows furrowed even in sleep, and she found herself momentarily lost in thought.
Then, a strange expression crept onto her face.
She gently laid Li Qing down and covered him with a blanket.
Zhao Ruoxi seemed to be wrestling with a difficult decision, her expression conflicted as she paced back and forth in the room.
After some time, she finally made up her mind.
She placed a soft kiss on Li Qing's cheek and then left the room.
When Li Qing awoke again from his deep slumber, he didn't get up immediately.
He simply stared blankly at the ceiling, his eyes vacant and his mind empty.
"Living like this... is meaningless. It would be better to die."
Just as he was contemplating ways to end his life.
Zhao Ruoxi entered once more.
Bringing with her the heavy scent of blood.
"Thump!"
She tossed a string of five human heads before Li Qing. "The perpetrators from that day," she declared, "I have killed them all!"
"Of course, I know they were merely following orders."
"The one behind it all was Qin Shou of the Connecting Mountains."
At the mention of that name, a flicker of light returned to Li Qing's dull, gray eyes.
"But I can't touch him right now. Not only is his cultivation stronger than mine, but the backer behind him is also someone I cannot afford to challenge at the moment."
"But I promise you," Zhao Ruoxi said softly, her tone resolute, "one day, I will repay the pain Qin Shou inflicted upon you a thousand times over."
Li Qing only nodded slightly, saying nothing.
"By the way, I found a special cultivation technique for you."
Seeing his listless state, she took out a jade slip and handed it to him.
"A technique?"
Li Qing was hesitant at first, unwilling to take it.
But after hearing her say that this technique was especially suited for him, he hesitated for a moment before accepting it and began to read.
"The [Scripture of Reversing Order]?"
Li Qing was still lethargic, but his entire body jolted when he read a line in the technique's description: "To practice this art, one must first castrate oneself."
He snapped his head up to look at Zhao Ruoxi.
Zhao Ruoxi explained softly, "This is a technique hidden deep within the secret pavilion of the Great Dao Sect. Its origins are unknown, and because its prerequisite is so harsh, it has remained untouched for years."
"I had to search through nearly the entire pavilion to find this technique, the one most suited for you."
As if a spark of hope had been lit, Li Qing eagerly read the rest of the jade slip.
"The heavens and earth are boundless, the universe is orderly, yin and yang follow the Dao."
"This is the law of nature."
"Yet, by reversing yin and yang, one can seize creation and step upon the path of a True Immortal!"
...
The opening summary alone deeply captivated Li Qing's mind.
Forgetting everything around him, he became completely immersed in this profoundly mysterious technique.
"To reach the realm of a True Immortal..."
"If that's the case, then being castrated is no big deal."
After a quick read-through, Li Qing couldn't help but think this.
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