Chapter 336

Words : 2089 Updated : Oct 5th, 2025

Chapter 336"It’s not exactly a deep grudge, just a small conflict with Xuankong Mountain not long ago, where I killed a few of their bald monks," Lu Qing said indifferently, briefly recounting the enmity between him and Xuankong Mountain. This left "Yan" speechless. So, you’ve already slaughtered a bunch of their disciples, and you still don’t consider it a serious grudge? But he could tell that the cause of this conflict indeed stemmed from Xuankong Mountain. He sighed, "In the ancient era, Xuankong Mountain, while domineering, was still considered a righteous sect. Who would have thought they’d become so corrupt now, blurring the lines between right and wrong, harboring filth." Lu Qing chuckled but said nothing. He hadn’t experienced the Xuankong Mountain of ancient times, so he couldn’t judge. But as for the current Xuankong Mountain, it was clear that only one of them could survive. Given the conduct of those monks like Xuan Ming, Lu Qing was certain that even if he didn’t provoke Xuankong Mountain, they wouldn’t let him off easily. "But young master, there’s no need to worry. That Xuankong Mountain secret land is likely just an ordinary secret realm. Even if they use a spiritual artifact to stabilize it, the hidden cultivators inside can’t be too powerful. If they were, they’d risk triggering the world’s laws and drawing down heavenly tribulations, which would destroy the entire secret realm. Currently, the world's laws haven't evolved to a point where anyone above the Foundation Establishment stage can move freely. So even if Xuankong Mountain seeks revenge, the disciples they send won’t be too strong," "Yan" reassured him. Lu Qing asked, "Let’s set that aside for now. Elder, you mentioned earlier that this world has seen many secret realms?" "Indeed. A secret realm is essentially a small pocket of space that is born and destroyed in conjunction with this world. During the ancient Immortal Cultivation era, secret realms appeared and disappeared almost constantly. However, most of them were very small and difficult to find. Some were so tiny that only one or two people could enter, and they only existed for a short time—perhaps a few hours before vanishing. Such minuscule realms, short-lived and with visible ends, typically held little value. If you’re not careful, you might even get hurt by the forces within or become trapped forever. That’s why few people risk entering these miniature realms. Only small secret realms or larger ones are worth exploring. If a medium or large realm appears, it could trigger competition among sects and powerful cultivators, because these realms often contain rare treasures and serve as excellent resources for cultivation." "Yan" patiently explained all of this to Lu Qing. "Secret realms birthing treasures…" Lu Qing pondered these words. "Exactly. In fact, from the mid to late stages of the ancient Immortal Cultivation era, secret realms became increasingly important. The resources of the cultivation world had been exhausted over time, and only these secret realms, hidden deep in space, continued to produce rare treasures. Whenever a medium or large unclaimed secret realm appeared, it inevitably caused bloody conflicts among the cultivation world." "What about the Li Huo Sect?" "The Li Huo Sect once controlled a medium-sized secret realm, but don’t even think about it now. Since the ancient era, as spiritual energy began to wane, all the secret realms controlled by major sects have shown signs of collapse. Unless someone integrates a spiritual artifact into the realm, there’s no way to prevent its destruction. But spiritual artifacts are incredibly rare, and few sects other than the wealthiest, top-tier ones could afford such extravagance. The Li Huo Sect had only one such artifact, and they likely couldn’t use it either. So that secret realm must have vanished tens of thousands of years ago." "What a pity," Lu Qing sighed with regret. If that secret realm still existed and he could control it, he would have much more confidence in facing future challenges. "You don’t need to feel too bad," "Yan" chuckled. "As I said, secret realms come and go with the ebb and flow of this world. Now that the world is changing and spiritual energy is recovering, when it reaches a certain density, new secret realms will undoubtedly appear. With your abilities, young master, seizing one or two secret realms shouldn’t be a problem." "We’ll deal with future matters when the time comes," Lu Qing replied, shaking his head, not allowing himself to be swayed by such lofty promises. Who knew when the world would evolve enough for secret realms to reappear? If it took hundreds or thousands of years, thinking about it now would be pointless. However, "Yan's" words still left Lu Qing with valuable insights. At the very least, he now knew that Xuankong Mountain's foundations weren’t as terrifying as he had feared. If there were a horde of ancient monsters lurking in the secret realm, alive for tens of thousands of years, he’d indeed have to consider running away. After gathering more information about the ancient Immortal Cultivation world from "Yan," expanding his horizons, Lu Qing put away the Li Huo Cauldron and prepared to return to the village. This time, given his improved relationship with "Yan," Lu Qing didn’t block its senses, allowing it to observe the outside world. "I never imagined that in such a remote place, there would be a stronghold of the Divine Rune Sect. It seems that after I went into hibernation, many major events took place in the Immortal Cultivation world," "Yan" said, sensing the surroundings as they emerged from the valley. "Was the Divine Rune Sect a big deal in the ancient times?" Lu Qing asked. "Of course. The Divine Rune Sect, though small in number, was full of absolute geniuses. Even the core disciples of other top sects often fell short in comparison. This sect was extremely mysterious, practicing a philosophy of learning from all things under heaven. They were particularly skilled in talismans and formations. The same talisman or formation, when executed by their disciples, would be significantly more powerful. In those days, the Divine Rune Sect was one of the strongest forces in the Immortal Cultivation world, and few dared provoke them." Hearing "Yan" mention that Divine Rune Sect disciples could execute talismans and formations with greater power, Lu Qing immediately thought of the soul rune in his brow acupoint. He knew the true reason behind this—the soul rune’s extraordinary ability to enhance talismans and formations, which naturally made them more powerful. However, he didn’t say this out loud and instead changed the subject. "Elder Yan, I’m afraid I’ll need your help when we get back. I’m planning to forge some tools for setting up a formation…" When Lu Qing returned to Jiuli Village and approached the Halfway House, a pleasant surprise awaited him. A black figure suddenly leapt from the courtyard, pouncing into his arms, nuzzling its head against his chest. "Xiao Li, you’re awake?" Lu Qing held Xiao Li, overjoyed. "Mm, I woke up this morning. Xiao Li slept so comfortably," came the soft, coquettish voice in Lu Qing’s mind. "You slept well, but Xiao Yan was worried sick about you," Lu Qing teased. "Hmm? A Black Night Spirit Lynx?" At this moment, "Yan’s" surprised voice sounded in Lu Qing’s mind. Lu Qing’s heart stirred, but he didn’t ask immediately. Instead, he carried Xiao Li into the courtyard. Sёarch* The ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As expected, he saw Xiao Yan doing her studies, while the old doctor and Wei Shanhai were sitting at a stone table, playing chess. As Xiao Yan grew older, her studies had become heavier, and she had more homework to do. "Brother, you’re back!" Xiao Yan’s face lit up when she saw Lu Qing. "When Xiao Li suddenly ran out, I knew you were home." "Yes, I just got back," Lu Qing nodded, then bowed to his master and the others. "Master, I’m back. Greetings, Senior Wei." "So, how was your trip into the mountains? Did you discover anything?" The old doctor stopped playing chess and asked, knowing Lu Qing had gone to investigate the situation in the mountains. "There have been significant changes in the mountains," Lu Qing’s expression grew serious. "Master, the creatures in the mountains have undergone varying degrees of mutation, especially the poisonous insects and snakes. Their venom has become far more potent. Even a common warrior wouldn’t survive a single bite." "That serious?" The old doctor’s expression also became grave. "If that’s the case, it’s bad news for the nearby villagers." In the surrounding ten miles or so, many villages were like Jiuli Village, surviving by farming. But some relied on gathering herbs and hunting in the mountains for their livelihood. If the situation in the mountains was as severe as Lu Qing described, it would indeed spell disaster for those villagers. "The situation in the mountains isn’t too bad for now since few people venture deep into them. As long as they don’t, they should be fine. But I’m worried that as time passes and the poisonous creatures grow more intelligent, they might migrate out of the mountains. That would be truly dangerous." The old doctor’s heart skipped a beat. He knew Lu Qing’s words were not without merit. If the poisonous creatures merely became more venomous, it wouldn’t be too much of a concern. Their natural instincts would keep them within their territory. But the real fear was that if these creatures gained intelligence from the rejuvenating spiritual energy, all bets were off. "What do you plan to do?" The old doctor asked. "I intend to set up an array around the village for early warning and defense, to prevent the poisonous creatures from creeping out without us realizing it." Lu Qing explained his plan. "Setting up an array? Are you sure you can do it?" The old doctor was slightly surprised. He was no longer a novice in cultivation, having learned many basics from the jade slips Lu Qing had given him. He knew that setting up an array large enough to encompass the entire village wasn’t a simple task. "I can’t say I’m entirely confident, but I’ll give it a try," Lu Qing replied cautiously. "However, I’ll need Senior Wei’s assistance to make this happen." "Oh? What kind of help does young master need from this old man?" Wei Shanhai had already been intrigued when he heard Lu Qing talk about setting up an array. Now, hearing that he’d be needed, he quickly responded. "I’ll need a batch of refined iron and jade, as well as…" Lu Qing listed the materials he required, pulling a piece of paper from Xiao Yan’s stack of homework to jot down a list. "If possible, I hope Senior Wei can gather these materials as soon as possible." Lu Qing handed the list to Wei Shanhai. "Rest assured, young master. I’ll have everything gathered within three days!" Wei Shanhai promised without hesitation. The materials Lu Qing requested weren’t particularly rare—just needed in large quantities, which might cost a fair bit. But to Wei Shanhai, money wasn’t an issue. In these changing times, with the world shifting and spiritual energy reviving, no one knew what the future held. The Wei family, despite having two Precelestial cultivators, still needed to ensure their survival. Wei Shanhai knew that relying on a powerful backer like Lu Qing was the best way to secure their future. After Wei Shanhai left to instruct his clan to gather the materials, Lu Qing turned his attention to Xiao Li. The little creature seemed unchanged after its long slumber, but Lu Qing could sense a fundamental transformation in its life force. However, just as he was about to activate his ability to check Xiao Li’s current state, "Yan’s" voice echoed in his mind again: "Young master, you’re truly fortunate to have tamed such a rare beast as the Black Night Spirit Lynx." "Elder Yan, do you know Xiao Li’s origins?" Lu Qing asked through his soul connection. "Is Xiao Li its name? A fitting choice. The Black Night Spirit Lynx is naturally inclined towards fire, so the character 'Li' suits it well," "Yan" praised before continuing, "As for its origins, if I’m not mistaken, it’s a descendant of the Black Night King, one of the twelve monster kings under the supreme Demon Emperor in the ancient Immortal Cultivation era." "The Black Night King?" Lu Qing’s heart trembled slightly. Table of content

Chapter 336

Comments (0)