Translator: AnubisTL
Lingyun Sect, Wild Cloud Peak.
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth suddenly surged, forming a small-scale spiritual tide that rapidly converged upon Li Qing's cave abode.
Boom!
Located within the Spirit Vein Land, where spiritual energy was already exceptionally dense, the concentration of energy in Li Qing's cave abode became so intense it seemed to materialize into a tangible form.
Within the cave, a torrent of spiritual energy rapidly coalesced around a black-and-white Heavenly Net Banner.
The Heavenly Net Banner had been successfully refined!
Watching this scene, Li Qing couldn't suppress his elation.
He had finally obtained a top-grade magical artifact. With this Heavenly Net Banner, he could now face most foundation establishment cultivators of his level without fear.
[Successfully refined top-grade magical artifact: Heavenly Net Banner. Reward: 70 years of lifespan!]
Snap!
The Heavenly Net Banner materialized in his hand, and a radiant smile spread across Li Qing's face.
Feeling the flagstaff's jade-like smoothness and icy coolness, a surge of heroic ambition welled up within him, as if daring to challenge all the heroes of the world.
"Excellent! It's exactly as described in the artifact refinement diagram—even stronger than expected!"
According to the Heavenly Net Banner's artifact refinement diagram, the primary material required was a spinal bone from a Second-Tier Demonic Beast. Li Qing, however, had used a spinal bone taken from a late second-tier raging bull.
The higher value of the materials naturally resulted in a visibly enhanced performance.
"Freeze!"
Li Qing's spiritual energy vibrated slightly as he tested the Heavenly Net Banner's immobilization function.
"Aowwwrr!"
Inside the cave abode, Fan Tong, who had been sleeping soundly, immediately jolted awake. Before it could even finish its startled roar, its massive tiger body froze mid-motion, collapsing to the ground with shock blazing in its tiger eyes.
"Release!"
Li Qing waved the Heavenly Net Banner, releasing Fan Tong from its immobilization.
"Impressive! It can even freeze a Second-Tier Demonic Beast. This single function alone justifies its status as a top-grade magical artifact."
"It's a pity this function consumes so much mana. Such a brief immobilization drained so much of my spiritual energy."
While the artifact was undeniably effective, its mana consumption was excessive.
Still, Li Qing was quite satisfied.
In battles between foundation establishment cultivators, even a momentary lapse in defense could mean life or death, let alone being immobilized for such an extended period.
If an enemy were to make even a momentary lapse in concentration, allowing Li Qing to immobilize them, he could then unleash the full power of his Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain spear, enough to kill them ten times over.
Moreover, the Heavenly Net Banner was a top-grade magical artifact, a treasure Tianliang Mountain considered its most precious possession. Such an artifact couldn't possibly have just one function! Its offensive capabilities were undoubtedly extraordinary.
Just as Li Qing was preparing to refine the banner and test its power, an urgent bell suddenly rang out from outside his cave abode.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
"Hmm? That's the bell summoning the sect elders. What's happening?!"
Hearing the bell, Li Qing's face filled with confusion as he stored the Heavenly Net Banner. He quickly strode out of his cave abode.
He wasn't the only one. Elders from Wild Cloud Peak and the other mountain peaks also began to emerge.
"What's going on? Why has Senior Brother Sect Leader suddenly summoned us?"
"I don't know. I've been in seclusion. If not for this urgent bell, I might have remained in meditation for another decade or more."
"It must be something urgent. Let's go see what's happening."
"..."
Hearing the other elders' murmurs, Li Qing's brow furrowed deeply.
"Generally speaking, Sect Leader Xu Yun wouldn't summon us so urgently unless it concerned a major matter for the sect. Otherwise, there'd be no need to alarm so many elders and create such a commotion."
"Well, let's go see what's happening."
Having made his decision, Li Qing immediately retrieved his azure wind spear and followed the other elders toward Cloudsoaring Hall.
The usually benevolent Sect Leader Xu Yun stood on Cloudsoar Island today with an unusually solemn expression.
Seeing this, many elders felt a sudden unease, wondering if some earth-shattering event had occurred.
"Senior Brother Sect Leader, what's happened? Why have you summoned us so urgently?"
Sect Leader Xu Yun maintained his grave demeanor, shaking his head. "Let's wait for the other Fellow Disciples to arrive first."
Gradually, many foundation establishment realm elders from across the sect gathered.
Apart from a few who were traveling abroad or on critical missions, most had arrived.
Li Qing scanned the crowd, spotting several familiar faces.
Take Ji Bai, for example. The widely connected disciple was currently greeting numerous people with a warm smile, even acknowledging Li Qing from across the hall.
It had to be said that Ji Bai's social skills were truly in a league of their own. He could converse with ease even with elders whose names Li Qing didn't even know, a feat that Li Qing genuinely admired.
Not everyone was as adept at socializing as Ji Bai. Some elders, like Shen Ningbing and Elder Xu, stood silently in a corner of the Cloudsoaring Hall, their hands clasped behind their backs, as if everyone owed them thousands of spirit stones.
"Senior Brother Li, you're so knowledgeable," Chu Lingyi, the mischievous disciple, suddenly popped her head out from the crowd, a sly glint in her eyes as she approached Li Qing. "Do you have any idea why Senior Brother Sect Leader summoned us today?"
Li Qing glanced at her and shook his head. "I've been in secluded cultivation in my cave abode these past few days. I haven't been keeping up with external affairs."
Chu Lingyi blinked her beautiful eyes and lowered her voice. "Just a few days ago, the Shangqing Sect officially declared war on the Heavenly River Sect. I wonder if today's gathering has anything to do with that."
!!!
Upon hearing this news, Li Qing's heart was rocked by a colossal wave of turmoil.
Though he had long anticipated renewed hostilities between the two sects, the actual declaration of war sent a profound tremor through his very being.
This was no mere skirmish; this was a formal declaration of war, a fight to the death.
"How is this possible? Does the Shangqing Sect truly dare to disregard my Lingyun Sect? Or has our sect reached some secret agreement with them?"
Unable to immediately grasp the full implications of this development, Li Qing felt a sudden, ominous premonition. Combined with Sect Leader Xu Yun's grave expression, this sense of foreboding deepened.
The assembly hall was now nearly full. This was clearly a high-level sect meeting; while core formation true lords were absent, every foundation establishment elder was present. Qi refining disciples weren't even permitted to observe.
Sect Leader Xu Yun cleared his throat and spoke in a solemn voice:
"Ahem! Fellow Disciples, please remain calm!"
"I understand your curiosity about why I've summoned you all here today."
"Allow me to recount the original purpose behind the founding of our Lingyun Sect, and you will understand."
"Eight thousand three hundred and eighty years ago, ancient demons roamed the heavens and earth. These beings were far more malevolent than even the so-called demonic cultivators, and the cosmos itself rejected their existence."
"Fortunately, during that era, peerless Human Race powerhouses emerged, ultimately driving out or annihilating all the ancient demons that had invaded the Human Realm."
"The Great War against the ancient demons raged for many years, leaving the entire Human Realm severely wounded. Even the heaven and earth spiritual energy was greatly diminished, far weaker than it had been in ancient times."
"Our Azure Ridge Domain suffered particularly grievous wounds in that war. Countless powerhouses perished, and countless Spiritual Veins were shattered—the losses were beyond measure!"
Upon hearing this, many elders like Li Qing wore expressions of shock. They had never heard such tales in all their years of cultivation.
"Due to the severity of the war's devastation, the Azure Ridge Domain lacked the strength to completely eradicate the ancient demons, and instead had to suppress them all."
"Our Lingyun Sect was founded during that very era. Our sect's sacred duty is to guard the Forbidden Speech Snow Mountains."
"Indeed, the Forbidden Speech Snow Mountains are the very place where the remnants of the ancient demons were suppressed."
(End of the Chapter)
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