Translator: AnubisTL

Li Qing chose this withered vine specifically to test whether his unique vital essence could revive it.

Although he didn't know the vine's true origins, if he could restore it to life, it would undoubtedly be of immense value.

"Let's see just how miraculous this vital essence, condensed at the cost of my lifespan, can truly be."

With these words, Li Qing pressed two fingers together and pointed them at the withered vine lying on the ground.

Buzz!

The radiant vital essence flowed from his fingertip like a magnificent silk ribbon.

The seven-colored life essence drifted toward the withered vine and slowly seeped into it.

As Li Qing continued to channel his vital essence, the vine's parched bark began to glow faintly!

"It's working!" Li Qing's eyes flashed with excitement as he stared intently at the vine, determined not to miss a single detail.

Confirming that his vital essence wasn't being wasted, Li Qing immediately increased the flow.

In the blink of an eye, the vital essence he had just converted at the cost of thirty years of lifespan had been completely depleted.

Instead of immediately condensing more vital essence, Li Qing slowly picked up the withered vine and held it in his hand.

As he carefully stroked the vine, he murmured to himself, "It does indeed possess a faint aura of vitality. This wasn't a wasted effort, but..."

But the lifespan cost was far too high!

The seven-colored life essence he had expended represented nearly thirty years of his lifespan, yet it had only imparted a slight hint of vitality to the withered vine.

If he were to fully revive it, how many years of his lifespan would it consume? He dared not even contemplate the answer.

"What exactly is the origin of this withered vine? The lifespan required to revive it far exceeds even that needed to revive the extinguished Spirit Devouring Demon Flame!"

Li Qing couldn't help but sigh. The lifespan required for its complete revival would be an astronomical figure.

At least, it was far beyond what he could afford at present!

"Completely reviving this withered vine is beyond my current capabilities. I shouldn't even think about it for the time being."

Despite this conclusion, Li Qing felt no disappointment. Instead, a sense of elation surged within him.

The greater the lifespan required to revive it, the higher the vine's true level must be—perhaps even surpassing heavenly spirit fire!

At this thought, Li Qing's breathing quickened involuntarily.

The withered vine he had obtained from the Ghost Sword Sect might truly be a priceless treasure—a treasure of unimaginable value!

"Though this treasure is extraordinary, it's beyond my current capacity to utilize. I'll store it away for now."

With a long exhale, Li Qing grew increasingly grateful for his decision to join the Ghost Sword Sect.

After returning the vine to his storage pouch, he had essentially completed his immediate tasks.

The remaining time would be dedicated to cultivation!

The small Spirit Gathering Formation he had commissioned for six hundred low-grade spirit stones was certainly not meant to be mere decoration. He intended to make full use of it.

Upon reaching the core formation realm, the daily cultivation requirements for heaven and earth spiritual energy became significantly more demanding. Even ordinary meditation and energy circulation consumed vast quantities of spiritual energy.

Therefore, this small Spirit Gathering Formation was essential. Without it, the speed of cultivation would be drastically slowed, even with simple meditation and energy circulation.

Having made this decision, Li Qing immediately retrieved several hundred low-grade spirit stones from his storage pouch and tossed them into the Formation Core.

Buzz!

The formation activated, the spirit stones dissolved, and the pure spiritual energy permeating the cave abode intensified severalfold.

Li Qing settled cross-legged on the Clear Heart Meditation Cushion, his mind quickly becoming clear and tranquil.

His cultivation goal for this session was clear: to break through to the mid Core Formation Realm!

This ambition was not unrealistic; Li Qing had considerable confidence.

His trump card was a complete portion of dragon marrow!

With the fall of the Ancient Imperial City, this peerless spiritual object had been monopolized by the cultivation world's most powerful immortal dao factions. Outsiders had no way to access the dragon marrow within the city's subterranean dragon veins.

To obtain a complete portion of dragon marrow, one would have to trade with one of the major cultivation sects.

However, in these sensitive times, few cultivation sects would be willing to trade dragon marrow with outsiders for no good reason.

Its value was simply too precious. Even the supreme elders of the sects coveted it, so why would they easily part with such a treasure to outsiders?

Yet Li Qing, who possessed a complete portion of dragon marrow, remained remarkably calm, his mind unclouded by wild joy.

Having experienced the effects of dragon marrow before, he knew exactly when to consume it for optimal results.

Under the influence of the Clear Heart Meditation Cushion, he quickly entered a state of intense cultivation.

First, the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art began circulating through his body, one cycle after another, as he slowly inhaled and exhaled heaven and earth spiritual energy.

Then, within Li Qing's body, two surging streams of heavenly spirit fire—one black, one white—rose up, transforming into twin fiery vortexes that began devouring the spiritual energy in the cave abode.

Boom!

The rate at which he absorbed spiritual energy intensified violently, and the aura surrounding his body began to subtly surge upward.

Once his cultivation state reached its peak, Li Qing swiftly flipped his wrist, revealing a black jade gourd that had materialized in his hand.

Now!

Pop!

As the gourd's stopper was pulled open, translucent, dark-golden dragon marrow beads slowly emerged and drifted into Li Qing's mouth.

Identical to the dragon marrow he had consumed before, the substance remained gelatinous, even slightly chewy.

However, upon entering his mouth, the beads rapidly liquefied, flowing down his throat and settling into his abdomen.

Boom!

Pure, concentrated spiritual energy erupted within him. Swallowing just five beads sent a faint throbbing pain through his meridians—a sensation Li Qing hadn't experienced since reaching the Core Formation Realm!

A long-lost sensation!

Suppressing these thoughts, Li Qing channeled the power of his two heavenly spirit fires to exhaust every trace of spiritual energy derived from the dragon marrow.

This was a peerless spiritual object, formed from heaven and earth spiritual energy that had accumulated within dragon veins for over a millennium. Its immense reserves of pure spiritual energy were beyond imagination!

Guided by the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art, Li Qing's body constructed a series of fiery gates, continuously filtering and refining each strand of spiritual energy. This process transformed it into true essence, which then settled into his dantian and fused with his Golden Core.

With each dragon marrow bead he consumed, Li Qing's cultivation advanced incrementally!

(End of the Chapter)

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