Translator: AnubisTL

Upon learning the truth behind the long seclusion of divine transformation stage cultivators, Li Qing couldn’t help but gasp.

He immediately ceased manipulating the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth, halting the drain on his vital essence and rapidly slowing the depletion of his Lifespan back to its normal rate.

"The Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth in this realm is nearly completely depleted," he mused. "Even my slightest manipulation of it causes a loss of vital essence and a shortening of my Lifespan."

"The Human Realm, too, suffered a demon realm invasion during the Ancient Era, which greatly thinned the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth."

"Although the primordial energy in the world has recovered somewhat in recent years, divine transformation stage cultivators still cannot act freely. This is why they remain hidden from the world, their whereabouts unknown to ordinary people."

Li Qing analyzed the situation with a solemn expression, convinced that his conclusions were very close to the truth.

After a long silence, he sighed softly and banished these temporarily irrelevant thoughts from his mind.

He had more pressing matters to attend to. Even if he pondered the secrets that troubled divine transformation stage cultivators endlessly, it would serve no purpose for now.

Next, Li Qing traveled to the ancient castle at the heart of Giant Mushroom City, where he once again encountered the golden mushroom spirit.

"You’ve grown stronger again? Even though this heaven and earth have entered the absolute End of Dao Era, how can you continue to advance?" the mushroom spirit exclaimed in astonishment. It clearly sensed that the aura emanating from Li Qing now was far more vast and profound than when they had last met.

Naturally, Li Qing wouldn’t reveal his true capabilities. He casually replied, "I’ve simply had some fortunate encounters. I’ve come this time to ask you to produce another Fourth-Tier Crimson Moon Spore."

The mushroom spirit refused without hesitation. "That’s impossible. We agreed that I would do anything for you, as long as it didn’t harm my primordial origin."

"It hasn’t been long since I last cultivated a Fourth-Tier Crimson Moon Spore. I need more time to recover—at least ten more years before I can produce another one."

Ten years, huh?

Li Qing repeated the timeframe inwardly. That wasn’t particularly long. With the threefold time acceleration in the Human Realm, he would only need to wait a little over three years to harvest another Fourth-Tier Crimson Moon Spore.

However, the timing of the demon realm’s invasion remained uncertain. He might not even have three years to spare.

After careful consideration, Li Qing ultimately decided to drop the matter and not press the issue further.

After all, Fan Tong and Ninth Insect still had a long way to go before reaching the Perfected third-tier. Li Qing wasn’t even sure how long it would take these two dimwits to reach the point where they could attempt transformation.

Moreover, facing a cataclysmic event of such magnitude, even adding another fourth-tier combatant seemed insignificant.

"Fine," Li Qing said. "Produce more third-tier crimson moon spores. Also, how much third-tier exotic beast blood have you accumulated? I’ll take it all this time."

The mushroom spirit replied, "No problem. During your absence, I’ve had people cultivate third-tier exotic beasts. We currently have twenty-six beasts providing blood for me, and your share has been stored separately. You can take it anytime."

Despite everything, the mushroom spirit had signed a Master-Servant Spirit Contract and remained remarkably faithful in this regard.

"However, there’s something I feel obligated to warn you about," the mushroom spirit continued. "The Dark Willow in the distance seems to be awakening. The Thorn Iron Tree, which is worshipped by the Blood Martial Dynasty, appears to be preparing for the impending great war."

Li Qing’s eyes flashed with sharp light at this news.

"How convenient," he said. "I was just planning to cause trouble for it myself."

With that, Li Qing swiftly retrieved the exotic beast blood from Giant Mushroom City and filled his Carefree Cosmos Pouch to the brim.

Having completed these preparations, Li Qing prepared to depart in search of the demonic willow.

Before leaving, the mushroom spirit reminded him, "The Dark Willow has grown significantly stronger since its slumber. Be cautious if you intend to confront it."

Li Qing’s own strength had also increased dramatically, bolstering his confidence and diminishing his fear.

However, this didn’t mean he would act recklessly. It was best to gather intelligence first.

With that, Li Qing activated his Wind-Thunder Silver Wings and soared at breakneck speed toward the Royal City of the Blood Martial Dynasty.

The atmosphere in the majestic city was heavy and oppressive. News of the Dark Willow’s awakening had spread throughout the dynasty, reaching even the common folk.

"Can we win? That demonic willow turned the entire Black Wind Domain into cursed land!"

"Alas, at this point, we can only trust in our strength!"

"Exactly! The dynasty has its own Ji Ling, and with the combined might of our vital energy martial artists, we’ll surely prevail!"

"..."

Such rallying cries echoed throughout the city, but Miao Tuo, within the Imperial Palace, remained far from optimistic.

In recent days, he had been actively preparing for war, even mobilizing every powerful vital energy martial artist in the dynasty.

Despite all his preparations, a heavy weight still pressed on Miao Tuo’s heart.

He had communicated with the Ji Ling, who held a deeply pessimistic view of the inevitable battle.

"Even if we summon the mushroom spirit from Giant Mushroom City, will our chances of victory truly improve?" Miao Tuo murmured with a sigh. These were the words of the Ji Ling, the spirit enshrined in the imperial court.

In truth, he had already steeled himself for a desperate fight. How could he abandon the vast legacy and hard-won territories his ancestors had forged?

"Even if death is certain, I must fight with my own hands," Miao Tuo declared, closing his eyes and speaking in a solemn voice.

But at that moment, a calm, detached voice suddenly echoed through the silent Imperial Palace:

"Knowing death is certain, yet still choosing to fight? Your spirit is admirable, but you’ve forgotten everything your ancestors taught you."

"If you die, who will carry the burden of martial propagation? Who will pioneer the future of the vital energy martial dao?"

As soon as the voice rang out, Miao Tuo’s expression shifted rapidly from shock to wild joy.

"Senior Li! You’ve returned?!" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Hmph, if I hadn’t returned, your ancestors’ legacy would have crumbled in your hands," Li Qing chuckled, his form materializing before them.

Though their separation had been brief, to Miao Tuo, it felt like an eternity.

Seeing Li Qing again, he was overwhelmed by the urge to burst into tears.

In this moment of despair and peril, the dao guardian of the vital energy martial dao had reappeared, just as his grandfather had recounted in countless stories.

The vital energy martial dao’s prosperity was inextricably linked to this man!

Suddenly, Miao Tuo recalled a question he had asked Li Qing many years ago at the Boundary River.

Before the Red Moon Era, dominated by darkness, there had been a glorious age when the sun ruled the sky.

Back then, Li Qing had explained an abstract concept: "The sun not only brings light and warmth, but it also symbolizes hope."

Now, facing this legendary sun that existed only in imagination, Miao Tuo seemed to grasp its essence more concretely.

"Senior Li... It was my incompetence," Miao Tuo said, bowing his head in shame.

Seeing the once-vigorous young man reduced to such a state, even Li Qing couldn’t bring himself to further reproach him.

"You needn’t blame yourself too harshly. Against that demonic willow, your strength was indeed insignificant."

"Leave the rest to me."

With Li Qing’s words, the anxiety that had been weighing on Miao Tuo’s heart finally dissipated.

He knew that, just as his ancestors had done, he could once again rely on this dao guardian to overcome the greatest crisis in the history of the vital energy martial dao.

In the days that followed, Li Qing remained deep within the Imperial Palace, meditating in seclusion as he patiently awaited the southward advance of the awakening demonic willow.

In truth, his second purpose for coming to the World of Eternal Night had been precisely to deal with that demonic willow.

"If I can subdue it, it would become a powerful trump card against future invasions from the demon realm," Li Qing murmured to himself. Yet he knew that subduing the demonic willow would be far from easy.

Unlike the Ji Ling of Giant Mushroom City, the demonic willow possessed unparalleled strength, capable of effortlessly sweeping across an entire great domain—a feat even the Li Qing of the past couldn’t have accomplished.

Its temperament would undoubtedly be far more intractable than that of the mushroom spirit. Imprinting a divine sense imprint to establish a Master-Servant Spirit Contract would likely prove as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

This time, Li Qing intended to transform the demonic willow into his own puppet.

With this thought, a slender book appeared in his hand: Wooden Spirit Puppet Art!

This secret technique dated back to his early days in the qi refining realm, when he was still cultivating in seclusion at Azure Radiance Pool.

"Who would have thought I’d ever need this low-level secret technique again?" Li Qing chuckled wryly, inwardly marveling at how no secret technique was truly useless. In the cultivation world, the principle that "more skills are never a burden" remained eternally relevant.

Wooden Spirit Puppet Art!

This was indeed an unconventional puppet secret technique, focusing on spirit wood. It involved refining living spirit wood into puppets.

Once refined, it would yield a Spirit Tree puppet that could be controlled as easily as one’s own limbs!

The only drawback was that once a Spirit Tree was transformed into a puppet, it would lose all vitality and cease to grow.

"I wonder if the demonic willow can be refined into a Wooden Spirit Puppet. But at this point, it’s worth a try."

As he spoke, Li Qing carefully reviewed the secret technique once more. According to its records, any living Spirit Tree brimming with vitality could be refined into a Wooden Spirit Puppet.

He personally deduced the technique’s principles, confirming that if the practitioner possessed sufficient power, even ancient Spirit Trees could be transformed.

Once truly refined, this would grant Li Qing another formidable trump card.

He dared not imagine the sheer power a demonic willow transformed into a Wooden Spirit Puppet would possess. It would likely be capable of effortlessly sweeping aside ordinary nascent soul realm cultivators.

Time passed swiftly, and seven days elapsed in the blink of an eye.

The Thorn Iron Tree, its true form concealed within the forbidden land of the Imperial Palace, sent an urgent warning:

"It’s coming! I sense a tremendous life force surging from the north, pressing down with overwhelming force!"

"The very earth trembles faintly. It’s truly too powerful... How could it have traveled so far?"

As a kindred being, the Thorn Iron Tree found this most perplexing. How could the willow tree rooted in the Black Wind Domain possess such overwhelming power?

Li Qing was the first to sense the warning. He slowly rose to his feet, his gaze fixed on the pitch-black northern sky.

Though he could see nothing, he felt an overwhelming pressure bearing down from that direction.

This is truly extraordinary!

Immediately afterward, Miao Tuo issued a flurry of orders, mobilizing all the powerful vital energy martial artists within the Blood Martial Dynasty.

It must be said that in recent years, due to the mysterious words Yan Xishan left behind as he died, the number of vital energy martial artists in the dynasty had greatly increased.

Including Miao Tuo himself, there were now twelve Unity Realm martial arts experts alone.

These were all Heavenly Prodigies of the vital energy martial dao, commanding immense prestige and revered status throughout the Blood Martial Dynasty!

"Senior Li, I’ve already ordered the evacuation of all civilians from the Autumn Mountain Domain."

"The entire domain will now be virtually empty, allowing the demonic willow to advance unimpeded to the foot of the Royal City!"

"We will confront the demonic willow here!"

Li Qing’s expression remained calm, betraying no trace of anxiety.

He nodded. "Very well, let’s wait for the demonic willow to arrive."

The demonic willow’s immense size meant that even it would expend considerable energy traversing such a vast distance across an entire great domain.

Facing it in battle afterward should be significantly easier.

They say a tree dies when transplanted, but a person thrives when they move. In this bizarre World of Eternal Night, even willow trees can roam freely, Li Qing mused with amusement. He also felt a growing anticipation at the prospect of refining the willow into a powerful Wooden Spirit Puppet.

In the cultivation world, this secret technique was generally considered impractical. Few cultivators would ever refine precious, rare, ancient Spirit Trees or spirit wood into Wooden Spirit Puppets.

Such an act would be akin to killing the goose that laid the golden eggs—a sheer waste of natural treasures!

Yet, in this current situation, it seemed unexpectedly fitting.

Days passed, but the demonic willow still hadn’t arrived. Its progress was slower than Li Qing had anticipated.

"Its pace seems slower than I anticipated," Li Qing remarked.

The Thorn Iron Tree quickly provided an explanation: "The Dark Willow’s advance appears to be stalled. Its vigorous life force has been stagnant for some time now."

Li Qing was momentarily stunned, not expecting such an answer.

Could there truly be something in the World of Eternal Night capable of halting the demonic willow’s advance? This revelation caught Li Qing completely off guard; he had almost believed the demonic willow to be invincible.

If allowed to continue its unchecked growth, the entire World of Eternal Night would likely be consumed by it.

"Is that so?"

"Very well, I’ll personally investigate what’s hindering the demonic willow’s progress."

With a subtle shift of his divine sense, a pair of silver-purple bone wings materialized behind Li Qing.

The wings fluttered gently, instantly unleashing a bolt of lightning, and Li Qing vanished from his position.

(End of the Chapter)

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