Translator: AnubisTL

Since Li Qing annihilated the Blood Lotus Sect in the Autumn Mountain Domain, Miao Xi had led the martial alliance's key figures to expand their influence.

The Blood Lotus Sect had severely hindered Miao Xi's martial propagation efforts, but now he could finally spread the vital energy martial dao throughout the Autumn Mountain Domain.

Precious Lotus City, once the Blood Lotus Sect's main headquarters, now lay in ruins.

Standing amidst the rubble, Miao Xi gazed at the devastation and murmured, "The vital energy martial dao will reach a new milestone here. With such a vast population in the Autumn Mountain Domain, this land will provide the perfect foundation for its growth."

Soon after, a Martial Artist from the martial alliance arrived with information and intelligence.

"Alliance Leader, the census of Precious Lotus City's residents has been completed. Here's the city's..."

As his subordinate reported, Miao Xi suddenly turned his gaze toward a particular direction within the city.

A tall, imposing figure strode slowly down the street, his steps firm, his expression calm and resolute.

Seeing this, Miao Xi immediately rushed forward to greet him.

"Uncle Li! What brings you here?"

Li Qing's gaze shifted from the ruins he himself had created. "I'm leaving," he said. "I can't interfere in what comes next. You'll have to handle things from here, nephew."

Upon hearing that Li Qing was about to leave, Miao Xi was momentarily stunned, a hint of reluctance flickering in his eyes.

"Uncle Li, you just arrived. Why are you leaving so soon?"

Li Qing sighed deeply. "I have some matters to attend to. I'll return eventually. By then, I hope to see you have expanded the vital energy martial dao even further."

Miao Xi replied firmly, "Please rest assured, Uncle Li. I will do my utmost!"

Seeing his nephew, whom he had met only a few times, display such unwavering determination, Li Qing felt a surge of pride. "It must have been difficult for you to reach this point. Your father would surely smile from beyond the grave."

As he spoke, a wistful look crept into Li Qing's eyes.

He remembered his first meeting with Miao Jiu outside Giant Rock City. Back then, the man had called him "Brother Li" at every turn. Who could have imagined that years later, that cunning fellow would father such an accomplished son?

Noticing Miao Xi's expression, Li Qing burst into hearty laughter. "Hahaha! Forgive your Uncle Li for reminiscing. Old age makes one prone to dwelling on the past."

"I won't bore you with more chatter. The mountains are high and the roads are long. If fate wills it, we'll meet again."

"Take care, nephew. Live well!"

With these final words, Li Qing leaped into the air, his figure soaring like a great roc.

Live well!

In this era where survival was a daily struggle, these simple words were the greatest blessing one could offer.

"Uncle Li, take care!" Miao Xi clasped his hands in a respectful salute as Li Qing vanished into the sky.

Rumble!

After riding the ninth insect at full speed for a considerable distance, Li Qing arrived once more at the fractured mountain ridge overlooking the Spirit Devouring Realm.

"Guard this place well. Don't wander off. I'll be back soon," Li Qing instructed.

Beneath him, the ninth insect transmitted a divine sense of acknowledgment.

Satisfied, Li Qing closed his eyes and initiated interdimensional travel.

As the surrounding space warped and the landscape dissolved like ripples in a lake, Li Qing found himself back in the Great Wilderness Domain amidst dizzying disorientation.

"Phew! It feels like a lifetime ago..."

Inside his cave abode on Nanyang Spirit Peak, Li Qing gazed at the familiar furnishings and finally exhaled in relief.

Sensing the dense heaven and earth spiritual energy permeating the air, he immediately sat down in meditation, eager to replenish his depleted spiritual energy.

Boom!

The Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art activated violently, instantly creating a vortex of spiritual energy around Li Qing, which he devoured into his body.

With the aid of the heavenly spirit fire, he rapidly refined the energy into his own mana.

However, he still needed to return to the World of Eternal Night to subdue the Spirit Devouring Demon Flame, so Li Qing couldn't afford to waste a moment.

He summoned a storage pouch from a corner of his cave abode, which contained a large quantity of spirit stones.

Clatter!

In an instant, a small mountain of spirit stones materialized before Li Qing, further intensifying the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy.

Fueled by the spirit stones, the rate at which Li Qing's mana recovered accelerated even further.

Soon, all the heaven and earth spiritual energy swirling around Li Qing's spirit peak began to converge rapidly toward his cave abode, as if drawn by an invisible force.

Hum! Hum!

Time flowed by, and several days passed in the blink of an eye.

Feeling his mana gradually replenishing, Li Qing finally opened his eyes.

"It's time to depart! But before that, I should release Fan Tong."

This was to make room for the ninth insect later. After all, when Li Qing subdued the heavenly spirit fire, the secret realm would collapse. To ensure a smooth escape, he needed to put the ninth insect into his storage pouch and bring it back.

"Awoo!" Fan Tong emerged and glared at Li Qing with a disgruntled expression, as if demanding why he had captured another strange beast.

Sensing Fan Tong's displeasure, Li Qing couldn't help but chuckle. "What's with the jealousy, you big oaf? I brought you a little brother, and you're still not happy?"

Upon hearing that it had gained a junior, Fan Tong froze for a moment before erupting with excitement.

"Awoo! Awoo!"

Its joyous roars shook the air. Li Qing shook his head and said, "Alright, you guard the house well. I'll go fetch your little brother."

Without hesitation, Li Qing closed his eyes and once again traveled back to the World of Eternal Night.

Below the mountain range, the ninth insect remained obediently in place, idly waving its tentacles.

Sensing Li Qing's return, it immediately straightened up and transmitted a confused mental message.

Boom!

Li Qing nodded and flexed his arms.

Channeling his abundant true essence, he once again struck the fractured mountain face.

This time, the void rift rapidly expanded. With his mana restored to its peak, Li Qing effortlessly widened the rift to a size large enough for free passage.

Rumble!

Ninth Insect charged directly into the void rift, with Li Qing close behind.

Several days later, deep within the Spirit Devouring Realm, a towering figure suddenly appeared atop the summit of a majestic volcano.

Thud!

Li Qing landed steadily on the crater's rim. He gazed into the pitch-black depths and called out respectfully, "Senior! I've returned!"

This time, however, no response came. Only his own voice echoed endlessly within the cavern.

The old senior must have passed away.

A shadow of disappointment flickered across Li Qing's eyes. He had originally intended to bring the senior out if he were still alive, offering him a position as a revered elder within the martial alliance. The senior's wisdom might have even provided valuable insights into the vital energy martial dao.

Such a move would have required Li Qing to explain the source of his own mana, but now that the senior was gone, he no longer needed to worry about that.

With these thoughts put aside, Li Qing peered into the dark volcanic cave and leaped down without hesitation.

Boom!

The cavern's interior was vast, far larger than he had imagined.

As he descended, Li Qing maintained a constant expansion of his divine sense, wary of any unexpected dangers. Fortunately, aside from the overwhelming stench of magma, there was nothing else to be found.

In the next instant, his divine sense detected a withered, white-haired old woman sitting cross-legged on a stone platform, her eyes closed. Beneath her lay a pool of solidified black magma.

(End of the Chapter)

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