Translator: AnubisTL
It was a clear, moonlit night, yet no magpies flew south across the tranquil sky. Instead, a lone figure transformed into a streak of Wind-Thunder light, hurtling toward a distant mountain ridge.
The radiant moonlight cascaded over the ridge, enveloping it in a shimmering silver veil.
Boom!
Amidst the surging Wind-Thunder energy, Li Qing swiftly retrieved the Moonlight Jade Pendant from his storage bag.
This pendant was the key to unlocking the Soul Nurturing Secret Realm. By channeling moonlight through it, he could conjure a luminous gate leading to that mysterious pocket dimension.
"Even if Fire Cliff Cave has collapsed, I doubt such a minor threat could truly deter the Formless Saint Ancestor," he muttered with a sigh. Raising the pendant, he immediately began drawing moonlight from the night sky.
A torrent of concentrated moonlight poured forth, coalescing into a radiant, ethereal gateβholy and otherworldly.
Without hesitation, Li Qing leaped through the gate.
Only after his figure vanished beyond the ridge did the Moonlight Gate gradually dissipate.
Before the moonlight light gate had fully dissipated, a figure in a gray robe arrived, having traveled through the night under the starlit sky.
The Formless Saint Ancestor narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the lingering moonlight in the air.
"He's hidden himself in an independent space, is he? Truly a cunning rabbit with three burrows."
He murmured to himself, then scanned the surrounding void, searching for any weaknesses or opportunities to exploit.
Clearly, he relished this cat-and-mouse game. Even with Li Qing concealed within the Soul Nurturing Secret Realm, the Saint Ancestor showed no signs of impatience.
Meanwhile, Li Qing, having already entered the Soul Nurturing Secret Realm, finally exhaled in relief after confirming that the terrifying Formless Saint Ancestor hadn't followed him.
"Phew!"
"Finally shaken him off for now. What a persistent pest."
Li Qing's face was pale. During his escape, his mana had inevitably dried up. If he hadn't activated the Blood-Burning Secret Art in time, he would have fallen into the Saint Ancestor's clutches.
"Terrifying... Is this the Saint Ancestor's dao body? It's utterly unfathomable. Even the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch's sealing formation couldn't contain it."
"Now even the Fire Spirit Pearl has fallen into his hands. Losing two spirit pearls in one fell swoop is a devastating blow."
He couldn't help but chuckle bitterly as he retrieved spirit stones from his storage bag, preparing to replenish his mana.
To be honest, the situation had been so dire earlier that he had nearly resorted to using his last two Top-Grade Fire Spirit Stones to restore his mana.
As a massive quantity of spirit stones spilled from the storage bag around Li Qing, the spiritual energy in the surrounding heaven and earth instantly intensified.
It was only then that he realized the environment within the Soul Nurturing Secret Realm was remarkably unique, resembling the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth from ancient times.
This explained why the secret realm had nurtured such abundant Heavenly Star Grass, some of it thousands of years old.
Now that his cultivation had deepened, Li Qing had gained an even more profound understanding of the cultivation environment within this secret realm.
"If not for the scarcity of spiritual energy, this place would be an ideal retreat for secluded cultivation."
Fortunately, he currently possessed a substantial number of spirit stones. The core formation realm cultivators he had slain in the demon realm had carried considerable quantities of spirit stones in their storage bags, ensuring he wouldn't need to worry about spiritual energy for the time being.
Using a massive quantity of spirit stones to replenish his mana was undeniably an extravagant act.
But Li Qing had no choice. The situation was critical. With the Formless Saint Ancestor watching him like a hawk, he needed to ensure his mana remained fully charged.
As vast amounts of spiritual energy surged into Li Qing's body, his mana gradually replenished, filling his reserves.
With his mana returning, Li Qing's taut nerves finally relaxed slightly. His thoughts began to wander as he pondered how to escape.
"What should I do now? The Formless Saint Ancestor is undoubtedly waiting outside, probably searching for a way to break through."
"Thinking a mere secret realm barrier could trap a Demon Realm Saint Ancestor is absurdly naive."
He was almost certain that even without the Moonlight Jade Pendant, the Formless Saint Ancestor would soon find a way to breach the Soul Nurturing Secret Realm.
Thus, even within the Soul Nurturing Secret Realm, he wasn't truly safe.
"If I need to hide again, I'll have to flee to the World of Eternal Night."
"But if we do that, I fear the Formless Saint Ancestor will lose patience and turn his attention to the Lingyun Sect."
Li Qing dared not harbor any illusions about the moral character of a Demon Realm Saint Ancestor.
The reason the Formless Saint Ancestor hadn't yet threatened him with the Lingyun Sect disciples was because he remained supremely confident in his victory.
He didn't consider Li Qing a threat, believing he could easily manipulate him.
But if the situation began to slip from his grasp, Li Qing couldn't predict whether the saint ancestor would resort to underhanded tactics.
"Therefore, I must defeat him in a direct confrontation."
Achieving this would be even harder than ascending to heaven.
If Li Qing's cultivation reached the divine transformation stage, his chances of success would greatly improve.
At that stage, he could freely command the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth, vastly amplifying his combat prowess.
Moreover, unlike other divine transformation stage cultivators who fought cautiously to conserve their dwindling lifespans, Li Qing had no such concerns. The Lifespan consumed by manipulating Primordial Energy was insignificant to him.
This was his greatest advantage!
"Without the blood lotus from the cave abode or the pills to refine my mana and advance my cultivation, relying solely on meditation and arduous practice won't lead to any significant breakthroughs in the short term."
Leaving was out of the question. The Formless Saint Ancestor was undoubtedly guarding the secret realm's exit, waiting for him to emergeβa move that would be akin to walking straight into a trap.
"It seems I can no longer keep the blood lotus in the cave abode. I'll have to store the Red Jade Beehive and everything else in the Void Shell and carry them with me at all times."
"This situation is truly awkward. I need to find another way."
Rapidly advancing his cultivation to the Divine Transformation stage in the short term was impossible.
That left him with only one option: to focus on other means of enhancing his self-defense capabilities.
(End of the Chapter)
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