Translator: AnubisTL
Reluctant to conceal anything, Fan Tong recounted his entire experience in the Cloud Marsh Domain, withholding nothing.
Upon learning that a Divine Transformation Great Power was lurking just outside the sect, Su Xin fell silent, a wave of helplessness washing over her.
This was an opponent the Lingyun Sect couldn't currently handle. Until Li Qing returned, facing a Divine Transformation Great Power would leave them as powerless as the Western Heaven Pavilion.
After a long pause, Su Xin sighed deeply. "Are you certain this Divine Transformation Great Power harbors no ill intentions?"
"It's not confirmed yet, but if I don't go, the sect will face certain doom," Fan Tong said, shaking his head.
"Then prioritize your own safety," Su Xin urged earnestly. "Li Qing might awaken within two hundred years. If that happens, the situation will improve greatly."
With that, Fan Tong knelt toward Li Qing and kowtowed deeply.
"Big brother, please take care of yourself!"
After speaking these words, he resolutely left the mountain gate, his retreating figure tinged with desolation.
Moments later, outside the Lingyun Sect's mountain gate, the black mist man watched Fan Tong obediently fly back and said with satisfaction, "Did you complete the task?"
"Yes, thank you, Senior!" Though reluctant, Fan Tong knew he owed his success in retrieving so many Gold Fire Marks entirely to this man.
Upon returning, he handed everything over to Li Qing, including the Millennial Spirit Tree Heart and various rare spirit herbs and materials.
"Heh, from now on, call me Lord," the black mist man said. "Follow me, and I guarantee you'll reap countless benefits in the future."
Fan Tong lowered his head. "Lord, where do we go next?"
The black mist man grew increasingly pleased. "Naturally, we're searching for a suitable Ascension Node," he said leisurely. "Don't you wish to ascend to the upper realm with me?"
"Come, reveal your true form. I've never experienced the sensation of riding a heavenly demon tiger before."
In an instant, Fan Tong transformed into a magnificent, dark purple tiger, radiating an aura of unparalleled ferocity.
The black mist man gracefully mounted the beast, and they vanished into the distance beyond the Azure Ridge Domain.
Thirty years passed in the blink of an eye.
During this time, the Lingyun Sect had not abandoned its pursuit of the Gold Fire Marks, continuing its covert operations with renewed urgency.
Fortunately, their efforts were not entirely in vain. Through the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild, they managed to acquire one Gold Fire Mark from the Wind Origin Domain within those thirty years.
Only two remained missing now, but obtaining these final two Gold Fire Marks proved even more challenging than ascending to the heavens.
The Lingyun Sect, through the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild, had extended its reach into every major domain of the Human Realm, yet their efforts yielded nothing.
With thirty-four Gold Fire Marks now in his possession, Li Qing's life force began to recover at an accelerated rate.
Over the past thirty years, Li Qing's aura had grown significantly stronger, and the chaotic life force within his body had been harmonized into a smooth flow.
Su Xin's contribution was undeniable. For thirty years, she had tirelessly used the five elements spirit pearls daily to cleanse Li Qing's fleshly body.
After a full year of this regimen, Li Qing's physical form was nearing complete transformation into the Five Elements, hinting at the formation of an Acquired Dao Body.
Meanwhile, the Lingyun Sect, perhaps focusing all its efforts on searching for the Gold Fire Mark, had halted its expansion in recent years.
Yet the sect's overall strength had still increased. Within the past thirty years, another member had successfully achieved core formation.
This individual was none other than Cao Xiu, who had inherited the legacy of Dao Lord Bai Ling!
Though Cao Xiu's innate talent was somewhat lacking, resulting in slower cultivation progress, he had mastered a wide range of cultivation techniques, from alchemy and artifact crafting to formations, talismans, puppetry, and beast taming.
Upon achieving core formation, Cao Xiu adopted the title True Immortal Bai Miao and became the Lingyun Sect's newest supreme elder, claiming exclusive ownership of a spirit peak within the Heavenly River Vein.
However, amidst these joyous events, sorrow also struck.
In the same year that Cao Xiu achieved core formation, True Lord Fu Xuan approached the end of his life. During a forced attempt to draw a fourth-tier spirit talisman, he narrowly avoided being devoured by the talisman's backlash.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
True Lord Fu Xuan coughed incessantly, his health deteriorating rapidly.
Among the supreme elders of Lingyun Sect, he was the most senior. He had risen to prominence in the Great Wilderness Domain before following Li Qing to the Azure Ridge Domain to rebuild Lingyun Sect.
Within the sect, his status was second only to the Nascent Soul Ancestor.
This was because he had trained a core formation realm disciple, and the entire talisman hall looked to him for guidance.
"Master," Chu Lingyi said, her voice tinged with worry as she gazed at True Lord Fu Xuan.
"Heh, cough, cough, my condition isn't so bad. There's no need for such concern," True Lord Fu Xuan waved his hand dismissively before continuing, "But what about you? Weren't you always clamoring to suppress your master back in the day?"
Chu Lingyi lowered her head, her cheeks flushing slightly.
When she had first become his disciple, she had indeed made such remarks.
"Come here, my dear disciple," True Lord Fu Xuan said weakly.
Chu Lingyi approached as instructed. True Lord Fu Xuan retrieved a delicate white jade porcelain bottle from his robes, inside which lay a smooth, pale crimson pill.
A faint dragon pattern shimmered across the pill's surface.
"What is this?" Chu Lingyi asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
True Lord Fu Xuan spoke weakly, "The Dragon Transformation Pill. Each of the core formation elders who founded our sect possesses one. It assists core formation realm cultivators in breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage."
"Take this pill."
Chu Lingyi's expression stiffened. She immediately pushed the jade bottle back. "I can't! This pill is too precious—I don't deserve it!"
"Please, Master, take this pill yourself and attempt to reach the Nascent Soul stage!"
Hearing this, True Lord Fu Xuan's voice turned bitter. "In recent years, I've been too focused on talismanship. Though I've reached the late-stage core formation, I haven't yet reached its peak."
"Coupled with my advanced age and depleted vital energy, breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage is no longer a realistic prospect."
"Even with the Dragon Transformation Pill, my chances of reaching the Nascent Soul realm are slim. It would be wasted in my hands."
Tears welled in Chu Lingyi's eyes. Her voice trembled as she insisted, "That's not true! Master, you possess unparalleled talent. You can definitely succeed in forming your nascent soul!"
"Alas, I know my own condition. If you refuse this pill, I fear I won't be able to die in peace." True Lord Fu Xuan's voice had grown so weak that even his breathing became shallow.
"My dear disciple, my greatest wish in life was to become a fourth-tier spirit talisman master. I entrust this task to you now."
"Don't disappoint me."
(End of the Chapter)
---------------------------
📖 You are reading [457] Chapters behind.
🔥 Read up to Chapter [1315] now, only on 𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕥𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝕞.
📚 Read upto [12,000+] Chapters on Site with [9,900+] Free Chapters!
🚫 Also get FREE lifetime ad-free and join the giveaway by joining our Discord!
---------------------------