Chapter 401

Words : 1140 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

Chapter 401"Courting death!" Lu Qing hadn’t anticipated an ambush outside the secret realm. His eyes grew cold as he casually waved his hand, dispersing the oncoming flurry of attacks like dust in the wind. His gaze swept around the surroundings. "Not good! This person’s cultivation is far beyond ours—run quickly!" The ambushers, a few Precelestial Realm cultivators hiding around the valley, were struck with terror. They had planned to take advantage of the situation, thinking they could reap benefits by lying in wait for others to weaken themselves in the secret realm. Little did they expect to provoke such a terrifying presence. With a single wave, this Ghost-Masked Man had effortlessly neutralized their carefully prepared assault. He was clearly a powerful cultivator above the Precelestial Realm—an existence they could not afford to provoke! "Do you think you can escape?" Seeing the figures scattering in a desperate attempt to flee, Lu Qing’s eyes grew colder. With a flick of his wrist, several arcs of blade energy tore through the air, racing toward the fleeing ambushers. "Ah!" "No!" "Spare me—" But the power of Lu Qing’s blade energy was terrifying. With his cultivation base, even a casual attack was inescapable under the lock of his spiritual sense. In mere moments, the blade energy reached them, slicing through their bodies and extinguishing their life force before they could finish their pleas for mercy. After casually eliminating the attackers, Lu Qing’s expression remained indifferent. He strode toward a small cave nearby. The seal outside the cave was intact, proving that the Precelestial Realm cultivators who had entered the secret realm earlier hadn’t noticed this place. This was unsurprising. Anyone arriving in this area would be captivated by the entrance to the secret realm at first glance. Who would pay attention to an ordinary-looking cave nearby? Furthermore, the array Lu Qing had set up at the cave entrance wasn’t something average cultivators could detect. After removing the array and lifting the soul-sealing restrictions on the captives inside, Lu Qing left without lingering. Not long after, the sounds of astonished exclamations arose from the cave as the awakened Precelestial Realm captives realized what had happened. ... Leaving the valley, Lu Qing didn’t immediately return to Jiuli Village. Instead, he guided his golden flying boat deeper into the Hundred Thousand Mountains, traveling in the opposite direction. It wasn’t until he left the mountains entirely that he descended, stowed away the flying boat, and activated the power of a Wind Elemental Talisman at his brow acupoint. His aura fully concealed, he transformed into a wisp of breeze and began the circuitous journey back to Cang County. Half a day later, Lu Qing returned to Jiuli Village quietly and without fanfare. "Ah Qing!" "Lu Xiaolangjun!" "Brother!" When Lu Qing stepped into the familiar courtyard on the mountainside, he was greeted with joy and relief. Chen Lao Dafu, Lin Zhirui, and the others stood up, their faces lighting up at his arrival. "Apologies for making everyone worry," Lu Qing said, noting the lingering concern in their expressions. "It’s fine, as long as you’re safe," Chen Lao Dafu replied with a warm smile. "Lu Xiaolangjun, how are things in the mountains?" Lin Zhirui asked eagerly. "The secret realm’s entrance has stabilized and is accessible. Many powerful cultivators have already entered, competing for treasures and opportunities," Lu Qing explained briefly. Of course, he deliberately omitted the part about capturing numerous Precelestial Realm cultivators or his discovery of treasures like the Five Elements Lotus. Even so, Lin Zhirui and the others were stunned. In such a short time, the mountains had become a gathering place for so many formidable figures. The disturbance from the secret realm’s stabilization must have spread much farther than they had imagined. Wei Shanhai, in particular, felt a wave of relief that he had refrained from rushing in recklessly. Alone and unprepared, he likely wouldn’t have survived. "Master, I plan to enter seclusion for a while," Lu Qing stated after recounting the events. "Very well, focus on your cultivation," Chen Lao Dafu replied with understanding. "Xiao Yan, be good. Brother will be home in seclusion for a while. During this time, stay with Xiao Li at Wei Furen’s place, all right?" Lu Qing said, turning to his little sister. "Okay," the girl replied obediently. She was no longer the child who would cry over every separation. She understood her brother had important responsibilities. "Also, the Hundred Thousand Mountains are now teeming with powerful individuals. Please avoid going out for now. Wait until I emerge from seclusion," Lu Qing added, cautioning everyone. As they watched Lu Qing depart, Lin Zhirui and the others couldn’t help but feel conflicted. They could guess that he must have gained some opportunity in the secret realm. However, they wisely refrained from prying. What worried them more was the situation in the secret realm. If more powerful cultivators arrived and conflicts escalated, Jiuli Village could find itself caught in the crossfire. ... Once home, Lu Qing activated the arrays surrounding his residence, sealing off his courtyard from any visitors. Over the past few days, he had also set up formations here, ensuring he could cultivate undisturbed during shorter periods of seclusion without needing to travel to the Jade Transformation Chamber. The villagers, now accustomed to his habits, understood that the mist shrouding his house signified another period of seclusion. None approached to disturb him. This time, however, Lu Qing chose not to leave the village for his retreat. With two mysterious individuals potentially seeking him, he decided to stay within the safety of the village’s defenses. Sitting cross-legged in the courtyard, Lu Qing retrieved a jet-black jade bottle from his storage ring. Yan’s fiery figure appeared beside him, her gaze falling on the bottle. A look of surprise crossed her face. "This bottle... it contains the spiritual liquid from the Five Elements Pond, doesn’t it?" she asked. Lu Qing nodded. "The spiritual liquid contains the essence of the Five Elements and serves as the finest elixir for me. It’s perfect for enhancing my cultivation. Yan, I’ll need you to stand guard for me. This retreat is crucial." The Five Elements Lotus was too potent for Lu Qing to refine at his current level, but the spiritual liquid was far more suitable for immediate absorption. With that, Lu Qing uncorked the jade bottle. A rich aura of life force infused with the essence of the Five Elements immediately filled the air. His Five Elements Gourd stirred restlessly within his body, resonating with the liquid. Even Lu Qing’s physical body and soul felt an uncontrollable yearning. This time, he no longer suppressed the desire. Guiding the liquid with his spiritual sense, he released the Five Elements Gourd from his body. The gourd hovered in the air, its mouth opening wide to swallow the torrent of spiritual liquid.

Chapter 401

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