Chapter 9: Crisis

Early the next morning, before Li Qing had finished his cultivation, Meng Ran’s voice came from outside the door.

“Brother Li.”

Li Qing rose and walked out. Outside, Meng Ran was scanning the surroundings with a vigilant expression.

“You finally returned.”

“You have no idea, Wei Xuan has already sent two groups of people to look for you during this time,” Meng Ran said cautiously.

Li Qing pondered for a moment.

“Alright, I understand.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Brother Meng,” Li Qing said with a look of gratitude.

After thanking him, Li Qing intended to return to his cave dwelling.

“Hey, hey!”

Meng Ran hurriedly called out to stop him.

“How are you going to handle this? In my opinion, it would be better to go out and avoid the limelight, to get through this immediate crisis first,” Meng Ran advised.

In truth, although the two had a good relationship, it could not be called close. However, Li Qing’s situation stirred a sense of shared fate in Meng Ran.

Some resources left behind by his parents had been scavenged by people with ulterior motives, much like Li Qing’s situation.

Furthermore, Li Qing’s predecessor had been on good terms with him, which was why he felt a degree of concern for Li Qing.

Hearing Meng Ran’s words, Li Qing stopped in his tracks.

“Brother Meng, with our level of cultivation, where could we hide?” Li Qing chuckled and shook his head slightly.

After Li Qing spoke, Meng Ran was stunned and fell silent.

It was indeed as Li Qing said. Although the competition within the sect was cruel, at least there was no threat to life inside. Conversely, the outside world had no rules or order to speak of.

“Fellow Daoist Li, you know who is behind Wei Xuan. A wise man does not fight when the odds are against him.”

Meng Ran gave one last well-intentioned piece of advice before turning to leave.

Li Qing also returned to his cave dwelling.

He already had a plan in mind regarding Wei Xuan.

No matter what, Li Qing was currently only facing Wei Xuan alone.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator behind Wei Xuan, at least for the time being, would not take direct action against Li Qing.

The sect had its rules; a Foundation Establishment cultivator would not personally intervene for a Foundation Establishment Pill that required Li Qing’s cooperation to obtain.

Once such a matter was exposed, it would be far more serious than secret struggles between disciples of the same rank.

What remained was nothing more than a contest between those at the Qi Refining stage.

With the Sea-Suppressing Pearl, Li Qing now had some confidence.

As long as he gave himself more time and had the support of the mature Blood Spirit Fish, his Lightning Spirit Art could be cultivated to the late stage of the low level.

By then, he would have the means to resist head-on.

Li Qing would not easily give up the Foundation Establishment Pill. As an important resource between sects, he feared that if he gave this one up, he would never have another chance to obtain one later.

Foundation Establishment Pills could not be bought simply with spirit stones.

Major forces kept a very tight grip on the outflow of Foundation Establishment Pills.

Once this one was handed over, obtaining a new one would be left entirely to fate.

The path of cultivation lies in the word “strive.”

Who could say that Li Qing wouldn’t encounter an even greater crisis when trying to secure a new Foundation Establishment Pill in the future?

At the very least, he understood Wei Xuan somewhat.

At the very least, Wei Xuan would not take his life to get the pill, because he needed Li Qing to obtain it.

The sect had a regulation: to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, the individual must appear in person.

Another point was that Li Qing did not trust Wei Xuan.

This person was inherently vicious and ruthless; perhaps after obtaining the pill, he would kill Li Qing to silence him and keep the secret.

Such coercion to force Li Qing to hand over the pill was not permitted by the sect.

There was only one way to ensure no one else would know.

Dead men tell no tales.

***

Early the next morning.

Li Qing took advantage of the sparse crowd to go out and use his remaining spirit stones to purchase several Inedia Pills.

Inedia Pills were pills specially refined for Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators. Taking one meant one did not need to eat for a month; most people who went into secluded cultivation would purchase a few.

After returning to his cave dwelling, Li Qing activated a formation at the entrance.

As Li Qing channeled his spiritual power, a thick white mist rose around the cave, obscuring it.

This was a simple early-warning formation that all outer sect disciples’ dwellings possessed, capable of simply blocking divine sense intrusion.

To protect its disciples, the sect had a specific regulation: once secluded cultivation begins, no one is allowed to disturb the disciple unless it is a major sect event.

Just as Li Qing was buying himself time and beginning his seclusion, others had already begun their schemes.

Qianyu Island, Outer Island, Clear Spring Peak.

As a spirit peak with a second-tier spirit vein, only those at the Foundation Establishment stage could open a cave dwelling there.

In a cave dwelling located halfway up the mountain, surrounded by lush forests and rich spiritual energy, Wei Xuan listened to his subordinates’ reports with a gloomy expression.

The beautiful, elegant, and secluded courtyard could not suppress Wei Xuan’s anger.

“Good, good.”

“I never expected that I, Wei Xuan, would be toyed with by someone.” Wei Xuan stood in the courtyard, his eyes flashing with a fierce light.

In front of Wei Xuan, two outer sect disciples in green robes—one tall and thin, one fat—were bowing as they reported the situation.

“Senior Brother Wei, in my opinion, this brat clearly doesn’t want to yield.”

The tall, thin man saw Wei Xuan’s rage and trembled, hurriedly stepping forward to echo the sentiment.

“I think so too,” the other outer sect disciple added.

“Just you wait.”

Wei Xuan’s gaze was vicious as he sneered.

He, Wei Xuan, was considered a figure of some standing in the outer sect. Not to mention a mere Li Qing, even late-stage Qi Refining cultivators in the outer sect were respectful when they met him.

Although he was in the Law Enforcement Hall, that did not mean his capabilities were limited to the Law Enforcement Hall.

“There is still about half a year left.”

“This is what you forced me to do.”

Wei Xuan revealed a ruthless look, whispering in a voice only he could hear.

“You two may withdraw.”

“Keep an eye on Li Qing for me; see when he finishes his seclusion,” Wei Xuan said calmly, having suppressed his anger.

The two below felt a chill in their hearts upon seeing Wei Xuan’s vicious gaze.

Wei Xuan’s notoriety was certainly not without cause.

***

White clouds drifted, and time flew by.

On this day, the clouds and mist that had originally surrounded Li Qing’s cave dwelling dissipated.

A flash of purple lightning streaked by, and the cave door opened.

Li Qing walked out of the cave with a smile; more than four months had passed since his last seclusion.

He came to the side of the courtyard and assumed a starting stance in the empty space.

*Crackle, crackle.*

A faint sound of electric arcs emerged.

Countless tiny purple electric arcs appeared on Li Qing’s body. As his body moved, the arcs on his skin began to gather toward his right hand.

When all the purple arcs appeared on his palm, it looked as if Li Qing was wearing a purple glove.

A violent aura of thunder began to emanate.

“Purple Thunder Palm!”

Li Qing let out a low shout.

His palm began to slam fiercely toward the ground.

As his palm struck downward, a purple thunder palm the size of a washbasin appeared in mid-air, descending from the sky and striking the ground heavily.

*Boom!*

A massive crater about a zhang wide appeared on the ground.

Deep within the crater, faint electric arcs were still flickering.

This was a divine ability that could be cultivated after the Lightning Spirit Art reached the late stage of the first level.

It could be said to be the only means of attack in the early stages of the Lightning Spirit Art.

The first level of the Lightning Spirit Art was equivalent to the Qi Refining stage for magic cultivators. As for the second level, Li Qing had not yet obtained the technique.

The purple jade slip from which Li Qing learned the Lightning Spirit Art had a seal restriction; only by reaching the Great Perfection of the first level could he obtain the subsequent techniques.

He did not know the origin of the technique, but the information that it could be cultivated to the level of a Great Body Refining Master was something his parents had given him along with the jade slip.

The realms of body refining are divided into: Low-level Body Refiner, Mid-level Body Refiner, and High-level Body Refiner, corresponding to the Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Golden Core stages respectively.

Li Qing looked at the fruits of his hard work with satisfaction.

Regardless, he finally had a trump card of his own.

Li Qing’s secluded cultivation this time had lasted a full four months.

This was the longest he had been in seclusion since coming to this world.

Now that his Lightning Spirit Art had progressed further, he had entered the late stage of low-level body refining.

Although on the surface Li Qing appeared to be at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, his true strength was barely enough to contend with a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

The fifty Blood Spirit Fish he had purchased last time had all been consumed.

To improve his Qi Refining cultivation, he had also used over a dozen Profound Water Spirit Fish.

The only pity was that Li Qing’s cultivation was still at the fourth level of Qi Refining, mainly because the Lightning Spirit Art had consumed a portion of his energy.

Fortunately, compared to before, there was still progress. Although slow, he could feel his cultivation steadily advancing.

*Step, step, step.*

A sound of footsteps approached.