Translator: AnubisTL
Can I master the soul core method within three years?
Even if I master the soul core method, can I successfully achieve core formation?
Back in his cave abode on Nanyang Spirit Peak, Li Qing repeatedly asked himself these questions.
Even the exceptionally talented Wu Yuan had been driven mad by attempting to cultivate this secret technique!
Despite possessing the Soul Nurturing Bell, Li Qing couldn't be certain he could master the technique within three years.
Three years might not be enough... but it's all I have.
Li Qing sighed softly, having already made his decision. He would travel to the World of Eternal Night, leveraging its accelerated time flow to cultivate the secret technique.
While I'm there, I can also gather more information about third-tier exotic beasts.
Even in the vast World of Eternal Night, third-tier exotic beasts were far from common, unlike roadside cabbages. Li Qing understood this well.
After a quick preparation, Li Qing left behind all spiritual objects vulnerable to the End of Dao Era's interference—including spirit stones—in his cave abode.
He then meticulously set up a restriction. Unless attacked by a cultivator in the late foundation establishment realm or higher, no ordinary cultivator could easily breach it.
Finally, Li Qing retrieved a cyan spirit spear from his storage pouch.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
It was the wind spear that had successfully undergone spirit fusion!
The moment the wind spear, now imbued with its own spirituality, was released, it began circling ceaselessly around Li Qing.
"From now on, you'll guard my home. The place I'm going isn't suitable for you. Understand, Qingfeng?"
Li Qing's lips curved into a faint smile as he flicked the hovering wind spear with his fingertip.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The wind spear swiftly circled the cave abode twice, as if to say, "Absolutely no problem!"
The World of Eternal Night lacked spiritual energy, making it unsuitable for bringing a magic artifact imbued with its own spirituality. Prolonged exposure there could erode the artifact's inherent spirituality, so leaving it in the cave abode to guard the home was the best option.
After completing these preparations, Li Qing murmured, "I've already given the necessary instructions. I hope the black market can gather the Heavenly Fire Treasure Nectar for me within three years."
With these words, Li Qing stretched his limbs slightly in the cave abode, then closed his eyes, slowly extended his arms, and leaned back.
Immediately, the surrounding scenery rippled like water, gradually transforming into a dreamlike, illusory landscape.
When he opened his eyes again, the air around him had become bone-chillingly cold, and the environment was pitch-black, illuminated only by the eerie glow of a crimson Red Moon hanging high in the sky.
World of Eternal Night!
Li Qing had already thought this through carefully. Although the World of Eternal Night lacked spiritual energy, it was the perfect place to cultivate secret techniques related to divine sense.
Unlike Spells and Divine Abilities, divine sense secret techniques, while still unique to cultivators, didn't require a dense concentration of spiritual energy in the environment.
Of course, Li Qing still needed to use his mana to refine the Soul Nurturing Bell, which would help soothe the damage to his divine soul caused by practicing the soul core secret technique.
Therefore, he would need to return to the Great Wilderness Domain periodically over the coming years to replenish his mana, check if the restrictions on his cave abode had been breached, and see if he had missed any important events.
Lying on the desolate, icy ground, Li Qing slowly rose to his feet. He brushed off his sleeves and then released Fan Tong.
Fan Tong no longer resisted coming to the World of Eternal Night; in fact, he seemed quite eager. He understood that this place offered opportunities to hunt strange beasts and obtain crimson crystals, which would accelerate his metamorphosis.
"Let's go find a secluded place for cultivation. You can roam freely outside during this time."
"But remember these two things."
"First, never approach any human city, not even get close!"
"Second, never provoke strange beasts you can't handle. If you encounter one too powerful, run as fast as you can!"
These warnings weren't mere scare tactics from Li Qing, especially the first one, which he delivered with utmost seriousness.
Fan Tong's current strength was indeed formidable, but this world held countless mysteries beyond his comprehension.
A mid-second-tier Demon beast, nearing the late second-tier, might dominate a region, but one must remember that cultivators once thrived in this world.
For instance, the Autumn Mountain Domain where they now stood was home to the Blood Lotus Sect, an organization founded by a former core formation realm cultivator!
Perhaps due to the End of Dao Era, even core formation realm cultivators might have fallen from grace.
Yet Li Qing firmly believed that those who had once stood at such heights could never be truly bound by their environment.
Someone capable of achieving core formation in the past would undoubtedly possess extraordinary abilities, even in this era of decline!
"Awoo! Awoo!"
Fan Tong roared twice, acknowledging Li Qing's demands.
Having spent years confined to the spirit beast pouch or sleeping in Li Qing's cave abode, Fan Tong's wild instincts had nearly been extinguished.
If he wasn't allowed to indulge his inner mountain king soon, the beast might start to resent his confinement.
Hearing the howl, Li Qing shook his head helplessly and plopped down on Fan Tong's broad tiger back, gazing into the distance.
"Let's find a quiet secluded place first. Don't worry about anything else. Once we find it, you can roam freely."
As he spoke, Li Qing scratched Fan Tong's massive, furry tiger head.
Thump!
Receiving the command, Fan Tong immediately sprang into motion, moving with astonishing speed.
Describing it as "swift as the wind and quick as lightning" wouldn't be an exaggeration—after all, this was a demon beast approaching the late second-tier!
In the World of Eternal Night, on a vast plain bordering the Black Wind Domain in the northern Autumn Mountain Domain, a merchant caravan had unexpectedly appeared!
The caravan used peculiar one-horned oxen to pull their goods—another type of strange beast!
Surprisingly, these creatures were remarkably docile, showing none of the ferocity or madness typically associated with wild beasts.
"You know what? These one-horned oxen bred by the Blood Lotus Sect are surprisingly tame. They show absolutely no inclination to harm anyone."
"Hey, it's just some clever trickery. Alliance Leader Miao and Lord Xi Shan are at a critical juncture now, poised to blaze a new path in the vital energy martial dao!"
"If that happens, our martial alliance's strength will surge to unprecedented heights, allowing us to finally coexist as equals with the Blood Lotus Sect."
At the mention of "coexist as equals," many vital energy martial artists in the group exchanged uneasy glances.
Clearly, these words seemed like a distant dream to them.
"Sigh, never mind. Let's just focus on transporting the goods."
"At least nothing's gone wrong so far. Let's deliver these goods safely to Precious Lotus City."
Someone tried to change the subject, unwilling to dwell on the matter further.
Yet another person muttered:
"Hmph, I heard our martial alliance used to have a powerful dao guardian. I wonder why they haven't shown themselves in all these years."
"Well, that's what they say..."
"What? You don't believe it? Lord Lin is right here in our group! Rumor has it that the dao guardian was even Lord Lin and Lord Xi Shan's master!"
As these words were spoken, gazes converged on the ox-drawn cart in the middle of the merchant caravan.
Perched atop the cart's cargo sat a tall, slender figure. Completely shrouded in a conical hat and straw cloak, their face remained hidden from view.
"Let's keep moving. Enough idle chatter," a cold, magnetic voice drifted from beneath the hat.
Yet, beneath the thick layers of concealment, a pair of furry, cat-like hands gripped the reins tightly, betraying the person's inner turmoil.
After traveling some distance, the figure slightly lifted the hat with a cat-like paw, revealing a delicate, pretty face—but with a pair of cat ears sprouting from her head!
Master, where have you been all these years?
Lin Jing sniffled softly, then lowered the hat again, completely concealing her expression.
The atmosphere within the caravan instantly grew somber.
To them, the so-called dao guardian was nothing more than a far-fetched legend.
(End of the Chapter)
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