NOVPUBIn the Transparent Martial Arts Field, Li Qing was looked up to by tens of thousands in Yilu Province.
However, he didn’t cast a single glance at the cultivators below.
Instead, he flicked his finger and regained control over the myriad of Ten Thousand Sword Determination that had lost their target.
He then raised his head to gaze at the higher skies, "I have a sword to offer, please observe, Lord Heavenly Venerable!"
The clear voice rang out from the high sky, causing the cultivators from Yilu Province to look at each other in dismay.
"What is he trying to do?"
"How audacious, to speak so disrespectfully to Lord Heavenly Venerable!"
"Stop him quickly!"
...
The cultivators who reacted screamed in alarm, but it was already too late!
Behind Li Qing, the phantom of a Black Sword suddenly materialized.
The moment it appeared, the myriad of sword techniques, as if stimulated ferociously, swelled in brightness several times over.
The brilliance was so intense that the cultivators below could hardly keep their eyes open.
Even Wan Zailai, who had already been defeated and demoralized, raised his head at that moment.
Seeing his own technique further intensified to such an extent revived a hopeful spark in Wan Zailai’s previously dim eyes.
Li Qing, however, did not care about the reaction of the cultivators below at all.
With a loud laugh, his figure merged with the Black Sword Phantom as one.
Surrounded by the myriad of Ten Thousand Sword Determination, like the emperor of swords leading an army, he streaked across the sky.
He headed straight for the Sky Dome!
The transparent, circular Martial Arts Field only obstructed him for a moment before shattering inch by inch under this earth-shattering strike.
The sword light continued unabated as if it intended to split the entire sky in two.
In the clash between the sword and the sky, those rays of light burst like fireworks, scattering in all directions, illuminating the Sky Dome in a riot of colors.
Only the Black Sword, into which Li Qing had transformed, was steadfast and unyielding.
In the end, it flew into a scene of an Immortal Sect that suddenly appeared in the sky.
Through that fleeting crack, one could vaguely see many different figures, all watching the uninvited Black Sword.
Expressions varied on their faces.
...
"Ah, this poor kid. So young and already..."
"Such a pity for such fine features."
"Who asked him to overestimate himself, insisting on clinging to Sister Zhao? Sister Zhao has already reached the Foundation Establishment Stage not long ago, her rise to core disciple status is imminent. This kid still hasn’t succeeded in Refining Energy..."
"A toad lusting after a swan’s meat!"
"Uh, but I heard that, in fact, he consistently refused Sister Zhao’s kindness and suggested they meet less in the future. It is Sister Zhao who has been persistent, always seeking him out..."
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
The chatter near Li Qing’s ear woke him up.
The few people around him, seeing Li Qing awake, all fell silent and left the room.
Leaving him to cool off alone.
His Spirit Consciousness was in chaos. It took a good while before Li Qing figured out the current situation.
He was originally from Long Wind Village in Daqing Mountain.
Half a year ago, Long Wind Village was massacred by a band of Mountain Bandits, and only he and Zhao Ruoxi from the village were out playing, thus escaping the catastrophe.
They saw flames reaching the sky in the village and rushed back in haste.
But unexpectedly, they ran head-on into the retreating bandits.
The bandits were all attracted by Zhao Ruoxi’s beauty and sought to abduct her. Fortunately, an Immortal Teacher from the Great Taoist Sect descended from the skies and slaughtered all the wicked bandits.
Then, taking pity on them, he brought them back to the Great Taoist Sect.
A mere mortal, thus fortunate to embark on the path of cultivation. It was a blessing in disguise.
However, Li Qing’s fate was clearly not as deep as Zhao Ruoxi’s, starkly different if compared.
In six months, she had already successfully established her foundation.
She had been accepted into the lineage of Moonlight, having the God Transforming Immortal Monarch Zhang Wangshuang as her master.
While he, Li Qing, was still lingering in the Energy Refining Stage.
The gap could not be any wider.
If it had only been that, it would’ve been bearable.
What Li Qing found hardest to accept was...
Feeling the intense pain coming from his lower body, Li Qing’s heart turned to ash.
All this was because of that beautiful calamity!
Qin Shou of the Mountain Lian lineage fell in love with Zhao Ruoxi at first sight. However, due to the disparity between their cultivations and status, Qin Shou began pursuing Zhao Ruoxi fervently.
But unrequited love prevailed, as Zhao Ruoxi showed no interest in him.
Rather, her heart had long been bestowed upon Li Qing.
Not only would she visit Li Qing at the outer gate whenever she was free, but she also secretly brought him many Elixirs, including the precious Foundation Establishment Pill!
This Foundation Establishment Pill was no ordinary item; it was the Purple Refined Tao Pill that Zhao Ruoxi had obtained especially for Li Qing from her master, knowing his poor aptitude. It could greatly reduce the side effects of forcibly breaking through with an Elixir, and even slightly improve the consumer’s cultivation aptitude.
Indeed, a miraculous pill that could change one’s destiny!
That day, after sending Zhao Ruoxi away, Li Qing looked at the divine pill in his embrace with joy in his heart.
Little did he know that joy would turn to sorrow.
His overly intimate relationship with Zhao Ruoxi incurred Qin Shou’s displeasure.
He actually sent men to fetch Li Qing and gave him a severe beating. Those men were merciless, crippling Li Qing’s root of life and scouring his possession, even stealing the Purple Refined Tao Pill.
"Qin Shou..."
As he slowly came out of his memories, endless hatred flashed through Li Qing’s eyes.
But soon, the pain from his lower body dragged him back to reality.
Li Qing gathered his courage and, trembling, reached a hand down to feel his lower body.
But all he grasped was emptiness.
Li Qing’s heart turned icy cold in an instant.
"Without my root of life, there’s no hope for a breakthrough to the Energy Refining Stage."
"What meaning is there left for me to live..."
Li Qing’s eyes were filled with despair.
Just then, a figure suddenly pushed the door open and entered.
Without even looking up, just from the familiar scent, Li Qing knew who the visitor was.
"Ruoxi..."
Halfway through his sentence, Li Qing suddenly remembered the warning of those villains who had committed the violent act. The pain in his lower half had not yet subsided.
Li Qing couldn’t help but shiver and changed his address, "Sister Zhao..."
Zhao Ruoxi’s gaze first passed over Li Qing with a hint of heartache.
Then her expression darkened, filled with stern killing intent.
"Where are you hurt..." she asked softly.
Li Qing trembled again and instinctively covered his groin area.
Zhao Ruoxi understood instantly, her complexion turning deathly pale.
Her spirit consciousness scanned him, and her clenched fists turned white. Murderous intent surged in her eyes.
Feeling his flaw completely exposed, Li Qing felt as if he might as well be dead.
But from sheer shame, he could do nothing but tremble all over.
Zhao Ruoxi, looking at Li Qing shivering like a frightened chick, felt increasing pity in her heart.
"It’s okay, it’s all right now."
While comforting him, she pulled Li Qing into her embrace.
"It’s just a physical injury. Perhaps one day, when your cultivation is profound enough, you might be able to reconstruct your body..."
"Sister, although my cultivation is not as advanced as yours, I still know the common knowledge of cultivation. I’m already physically incomplete before reaching the Foundation Establishment, this is an innate defect..."
"I’m afraid even at the God Transformation Stage, it won’t be easy to heal. Moreover, with my aptitude, how can I ever hope to achieve God Transformation..."
As Li Qing spoke, he grew increasingly desperate, eventually breaking down in tears.
In the end, under the dual assault of physical and mental anguish, he fell asleep in Sister Zhao’s arms.
Zhao Ruoxi looked at Li Qing, his face wet with tears, her eyes initially full of sympathy.
However, as she gently wiped the tears from Li Qing’s face with her fingers, seeing his beautiful face slightly frown in sleep, she felt somewhat absent-minded for a moment.
Then, a strange look appeared on Zhao Ruoxi’s face.
She gently laid Li Qing down and covered him with a blanket.
Zhao Ruoxi seemed to be making a difficult choice, her face contorted as she paced back and forth in the room.
After an unknown length of time, she finally made up her mind.
She softly kissed Li Qing’s cheek before leaving the room.
When Li Qing woke up from his deep sleep, he didn’t get up immediately.
Instead, he stared blankly at the ceiling, his mind completely empty.
"Living like this is truly pointless. Better to just die."
Just as he was contemplating ways to die in his mind,
Zhao Ruoxi walked in again.
Carrying a heavy scent of blood.
"Bang!"
She threw a cluster of five human heads in front of Li Qing, "The perpetrators from that day, I have killed them all!"
"Of course, I know that they were merely following orders."
"The person behind the curtain is Mountain Lian’s Qin Shou."
Upon hearing that name, a spark of light flickered in the originally dim gaze of Li Qing.
"But I can’t move against him now. Not only is Qin Shou’s cultivation stronger than mine, but his backing is also something I can’t shake for the time being."
"But I promise you, one day. I will return the pain Qin Shou inflicted on you a thousandfold," Zhao Ruoxi said softly, her tone resolute.
Li Qing merely nodded slightly. He didn’t say anything.
"By the way, I found a special technique for you," said Zhao Ruoxi, as she saw Li Qing looking spiritless.
She produced a Jade Scroll and handed it over to him.
"Techniques?"
Li Qing was initially resistant, unwilling to reach out and take it.
However, after hearing Zhao Ruoxi say that this technique was particularly suited for him, Li Qing hesitated for a moment, then took it and began to read.
"[Sutra of Transgressive Ethics]?"
Li Qing was at first listless, but upon reading the line in the technique stating "To cultivate this art, one must first be castrated," he was immediately shaken.
He looked up sharply at Zhao Ruoxi.
Zhao Ruoxi explained softly, "This is a technique hidden deep within the Secret Pavilion of the Great Taoist Sect. Its origin is unknown, and due to the extremely harsh prerequisite for its cultivation, it has been of little interest over the years."
"I almost had to turn the entire Secret Pavilion upside down to find this technique, which is the most suitable for you."
Like hope ignited, Li Qing anxiously read on to discover the content of the Jade Scroll.
"Heaven and Earth boundless, Qiankun in order, Yin Yang with law."
"This is the principle of nature."
"Yet by inverting Yin Yang, one could seize Creation and tread the path of a True Immortal!"
...
Just the general principles of the technique deeply captivated Li Qing’s spirit.
Forgetting everything around him, he immersed himself in this profoundly mysterious technique.
"To enter the Realm of True Immortality..."
"If that’s the case, even castration wouldn’t be too high a price to pay."
After roughly going through the scroll once, Li Qing couldn’t help thinking this way.
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There’s another chapter coming around 1:30 am. Guys, don’t wait up.
