Chapter 376

Lu Qing flew swiftly on a small golden boat, remaining vigilant of his rear.

However, even after he had flown far beyond the Ling Mountain Range, he sensed no one pursuing him.

Realizing this, he understood that his opponent was wary, not daring to give chase.

He descended into a secluded mountain forest, concealed himself, and then set up a basic array to shield his presence.

After completing these tasks, Lu Qing finally allowed himself to relax.

This sudden attack on Xuankong Mountain had indeed been a calculated risk.

Although the might of the Li Huo Cauldron was peerless and mostly controlled by Yan, preparing that single strike had still required a considerable amount of his spiritual energy.

If Xuankong Mountain had been on guard, his escape might not have been so easy.

Lu Qing knew well that, with his current cultivation level, even wielding the Li Huo Cauldron would not truly be enough to destroy Xuankong Mountain.

Just looking at that red-faced elder proved it—the strength of a high-level Foundation Establishment cultivator grants formidable survival capabilities, making them difficult to kill.

Fortunately, it appeared Xuankong Mountain had never anticipated anyone would dare to directly assault their stronghold.

“This should keep Xuankong Mountain occupied for some time,” Lu Qing murmured to himself.

He didn’t regret failing to kill that red-faced elder. The elder had sustained such severe injuries that recovery would likely take years.

Moreover, even if the elder managed to recover, his vitality had been so deeply wounded that, given his age, the possibility of reaching the Golden Core Realm was now virtually nonexistent.

After all, the power of a spiritual artifact is no small matter.

The strike of spiritual flame that contained a trace of the law's power was enough to permanently damage the elder’s foundation.

For this reason, Lu Qing felt indifferent as to whether the red-faced elder lived or died.

He had slaughtered a significant number of Xuankong Mountain’s elite disciples—enough to cause them considerable pain.

At the very least, Xuankong Mountain would have to focus on its own protection for the foreseeable future, leaving it unable to spare the strength to meddle in other matters.

In this way, he had indirectly relieved the crisis facing Jiuli Village and the Wei Family.

“A-Qing, you’re amazing!”

Xiao Li popped out from Lu Qing’s embrace, looking up at him with admiration sparkling in her eyes.

The little creature had been genuinely shocked earlier.

Who would have thought that the massive cauldron Lu Qing usually used for crafting could be so powerful?

With a single strike, it had blasted a gaping hole through an entire mountain. The terrifying might of the blow had even made Xiao Li tremble in awe.

“It’s just the power of a magical treasure,” Lu Qing said, patting the little creature on the head. “Now, keep watch for me—I need to enter seclusion and restore my energy.” ṙά₦ОВΕș

Although Yan had taken the lead in wielding the Li Huo Cauldron, Lu Qing’s energy consumption had been substantial.

It was only thanks to his practice of the

Five Elements Body Refining Technique

that his spiritual energy was several times richer than other cultivators of the same level. And with the existence of the Five Elements Gourd, the purity of his spiritual energy could even rival that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

If another Qi Refinement cultivator had attempted to use the Li Huo Cauldron, they would have been utterly drained in an instant, making it impossible to wield the treasure.

“Understood~” Xiao Li replied obediently.

As Lu Qing began his secluded cultivation, news of Xuankong Mountain’s attack started to spread.

The disturbance in the Ling Mountain Range had been far too great to go unnoticed by those watching carefully.

In recent times, forces from across the realm had dispatched people to the Western State to gather information.

Countless eyes were fixed on the Ling Mountain Range.

Moreover, Lu Qing had made no effort to conceal his path before the attack.

Many scouts had witnessed the scene of golden light cutting through the sky.

Some of these spies, already lurking around the periphery of the Ling Mountain Range, had even caught sight of Lu Qing using the Li Huo Cauldron to strike.

Not long after Lu Qing’s departure, the news of an attack on the Ling Mountain Range—along with the heavy casualties suffered by Xuankong Mountain—began to spread, reaching every corner of the Western State within days.

Suddenly, the entire Western State was in an uproar.

“Is it true? A mysterious cultivator dared to assault Xuankong Mountain alone?”

“Of course it’s true! There were so many witnesses, and the flames in the Ling Mountain Range haven’t even died down yet!”

“It’s rumored that Xuankong Mountain suffered heavy losses, with numerous elite disciples and elders killed. Could that be real?”

“Absolutely true. You should have seen the terrifying power of that mysterious cultivator’s strike! The rumors say that he used a legendary celestial treasure, and with a single blow, he caused the ground to shake and mountains to shatter. Xuankong Mountain’s disciples couldn’t even flee—they were all engulfed in flames!”

“A celestial treasure! Could this mysterious figure be one of those legendary cultivators?”

“It seems likely. No wonder the mysterious cultivator dared to challenge Xuankong Mountain—it turns out he’s one of the immortals. Who knows what terrible thing Xuankong Mountain did to provoke such a powerful being.”

“Well, it serves them right! Xuankong Mountain’s hidden stronghold has been kept secret for millennia, but now that spiritual energy is reviving, they just want to take over the Western State and force us to submit...

Now that there’s this mysterious cultivator, let’s see how arrogant they can be!”

“Exactly! Those greedy monks have been forcing us to submit and even taking more than half of our sect’s wealth, demanding tributes every month. This mysterious cultivator is practically delivering justice!”

“That’s right. Xuankong Mountain’s heavy losses show that the Four Great Secret Realms are not invincible. This might be an opportunity for us all!”

...

The assault on Xuankong Mountain and the severe losses sustained by it had sparked a massive uproar and widespread attention across the Western State.

Yet aside from shock, most people felt a sense of schadenfreude and satisfaction.

No one felt even the slightest pity or sorrow for Xuankong Mountain.

After all, ever since Xuankong Mountain’s reappearance, it had attempted to seize control of the Western State, imposing submission on numerous sects with an unyielding and domineering approach that tolerated no resistance.

The sects of the Western State had always resented this situation but had only submitted due to the overwhelming disparity in power.

Seeing Xuankong Mountain in such a predicament, how could they not rejoice?

Moreover, the mysterious cultivator seemed to target only Xuankong Mountain, completely ignoring the affiliated forces that had recently submitted to them.

For a time, the sects of the Western State began to stir with ambition once again.

And this outcome was exactly what Lu Qing had hoped to achieve.

As long as Xuankong Mountain couldn’t dominate the Western State, they wouldn’t have the resources to cross multiple provinces and bring harm to Jiuli Village in Cangzhou.

“This spiritual flame… truly fearsome. Who could that mysterious cultivator be who dared to attack Xuankong Mountain?”

In the Ling Mountain Range, several giant birds hovered in the air, watching the lingering flames below, their faces filled with astonishment.

Upon seeing the large, gaping crater on the once-mighty mountain peak, their shock deepened. They couldn’t fathom what sort of terrifying power could produce such a devastating scene.

“Regardless of who it is, any cultivator capable of wielding such power must possess an immeasurable level of cultivation,” said the young man leading the group, his expression grave.

“Isn’t there a rumor that he used a magical treasure to create such a devastating attack?” someone beside him asked.

“Even a magical treasure requires a certain cultivation level to activate. Judging by the situation below, the weapon he wielded must be at least a treasure on par with a Spiritual Artifact.

“This type of treasure alone demands enormous spiritual energy to wield, showing the cultivator’s profound cultivation. I’d guess he is likely on the same level as our Patriarch,” the young man speculated solemnly.

“The Patriarch’s level…” The others listening felt even more shocked.

In their eyes, their Patriarch was practically invincible; another cultivator of his caliber must be truly formidable.

“Senior Brother, should we still pay Xuankong Mountain a visit?” asked a young woman, glancing down at the devastation below with some hesitation.

In her senses, the mountain range below seemed utterly deserted, devoid of any activity.

“No need. Originally, I intended to visit and inquire about the mysterious cultivator, but now it’s clear that the people of Xuankong Mountain have retreated to their hidden realm.

“After suffering such losses, they’re bound to be as skittish as startled birds. Going to visit them now would be unwise. Let’s return,” the young man replied, shaking his head.

With so many of Xuankong Mountain’s elders and disciples dead, who could predict what state of mind they were in now?

Should they arrive right as the mountain’s anger flared, given Xuankong Mountain’s typical ruthlessness, anything could happen.

Thus, the young man ultimately decided to return to their sect.

They had already learned enough from this trip.

As the senior disciple among these Yunshui Secret Realm disciples, no one objected to his decision.

Immediately, they turned their giant birds around and flew away.

“Looks like the people from Yunshui Secret Realm have left.”

As the giant birds passed over a small town, a figure looked up and murmured.

“With Xuankong Mountain hiding in their realm and shutting their doors, they’re bound to leave empty-handed if they stay.” Another voice replied.

“Who would have thought that the proud Xuankong Mountain would be forced into hiding, unable even to leave their own gates? Who is this mysterious cultivator?

“Wielding a Spiritual Artifact—that’s something none of the Four Great Secret Realms have managed.

“Could it be that there’s another hidden force besides our Four Great Secret Realms in this world?”

“At the end of the ancient era of cultivation, countless immortal sects vied to board the Boundary-Breaking Boat, engaging in open and covert battles, killing one another.

“Not to mention the independent Nascent Soul experts who joined the fray.

“Many cultivation sects perished in these struggles, so it’s natural for some spiritual artifacts to have scattered over time.

“This mysterious cultivator must have been blessed with good fortune, gaining one of those ancient treasures or legacies.”

“It seems the world’s changes, along with the revival of spiritual energy, are beyond our imagination. Even the transformation of luck itself has become an unpredictable mystery.

“No wonder our Palace Master told us to emerge. We’ve remained hidden in the Secret Realm for tens of thousands of years, free from the depletion of spiritual energy that plagued the outside world.

“But similarly, we’ve been unable to benefit from the world’s fortune.

“If we don’t come out and accumulate luck, we may lose countless opportunities in the future.”

“Indeed, just like on that day at Sacred Mountain, where the greatest opportunity went to that young man.

“And now, another mysterious cultivator wielding a Spiritual Artifact has appeared.

“If we continue hiding in the Secret Realm, it won’t be long before our tens of thousands of years of accumulated advantage are wiped away.”

Several powerful figures sensed deeply the profound mysteries of the world’s changes, the revival of spiritual energy, and the unpredictable transformation of fortune that far surpassed their expectations.

“Yet, with Xuankong Mountain now reduced to such a pitiful state, forced to hide within their hidden realm, they’ll surely fall behind the other three secret realms this time.”

One figure spoke with some schadenfreude.

“Don’t be so complacent. Xuankong Mountain may have lost some elders and disciples, but their true strength doesn’t lie in those disciples.

“The reclusive grand elders within their hidden realm are their real foundation.

“With the current state of the world’s rules not fully formed, they may not yet be able to emerge.

“But once the world’s Dao sounds resound once or twice more, and the rules become more complete…

“If, at that time, those grand elders make breakthroughs, then even if that mysterious cultivator wields a Spiritual Artifact, Xuankong Mountain will no longer be threatened,” the first figure warned gravely.

“Senior Brother, you’re right,” the others replied quickly, stifling any further joking.

They knew that Senior Brother Wang spoke the truth.

The grand elders of Xuankong Mountain were cultivators on par with their Palace Master.

These were late-stage or even perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Should they break through further, they would step into the legendary Golden Core Realm.

This was a realm previously unreachable within the Secret Realm due to the spiritual depletion of the world.

Not even among the Four Great Secret Realms had anyone managed to reach this stage in tens of thousands of years.

No one truly knew how powerful a Golden Core cultivator was.

They could only glean glimpses of the prowess of Golden Core masters from ancient records passed down by their ancestors.

Yet even the descriptions in those records were enough to stir their hearts with longing.

It could be foreseen that if Xuankong Mountain’s grand elders managed to break through, their current predicament would be easily resolved.

At that point, who could say which of the Four Great Secret Realms would be the strongest?

“All right, the show’s over; we should leave as well,” said the leading figure.

“But Senior Brother, weren’t we here to investigate the identity of that mysterious cultivator?” one person asked.

“There’s no need. Anyone capable of wielding a Spiritual Artifact is beyond our grasp.

“If we provoke him by probing too deeply, what if he turns up in Beizhou and gives our Hanshui Palace the same treatment? Do you think we could withstand it?”

Recalling the horrific scene in the Ling Mountain Range, the other figures shuddered.

Indeed, Xuankong Mountain couldn’t withstand the mysterious cultivator’s attack. How could their Hanshui Palace be any different?

That Spiritual Artifact’s power was something that even Foundation Establishment cultivators would avoid, incapable of resisting its might.

Instantly, the group hurriedly replied, “Senior Brother, you’re right. Let’s return.”

...

Several days later, the flames in the Ling Mountain Range gradually subsided.

It was as though the disciples of Xuankong Mountain had vanished, no longer appearing.

The news of Xuankong Mountain’s devastating losses, however, didn’t stay confined to the Western State.

Gradually, it spread to other states, eventually shaking the entire world.