Translator: AnubisTL
Rumble!
The entire mountain range trembled violently in response to the elephant's piercing roar, sending massive boulders crashing down the slopes.
The four foundation establishment cultivators submerged in the Spirit Nourishing Pool were now stripped of their earlier elation, replaced by a growing sense of dread.
"What's happening?" a young female cultivator asked, her voice trembling with fear.
"The mountain range... it's moving!" another cultivator replied, his voice shaking.
In the next instant, before their astonished eyes, the mountain range truly began to stir.
As boulders tumbled away, the mountain's true form was revealed: a colossal elephant, its body as massive as a mountain!
This was none other than the Mountain Ridge Giant Elephant!
Whoooong!
The elephant's massive trunk swung upward from the mountain's end, its pillar-like legs rising to their full height, shaking the very earth.
No one had imagined that the mountain range was actually a colossal, mysterious elephant in disguise.
"No! Cheng'er, run!"
"How is this possible? The mountain turned into an elephant!"
"Hiss... It's a Mountain Ridge Giant Elephant. No wonder."
The Mountain Ridge Giant Elephant earned its name not only from its mountain-like size but also from a unique bloodline inheritance that allowed it to transform its body into a mountain, drawing the essence of the sun and moon through secret techniques.
The vast reservoir of refined energy accumulated in the Spirit Nourishing Pool just now was the Mountain Ridge Giant Elephant's preparation for its breakthrough to transformation.
Once this bloodline secret technique was activated, the Mountain Ridge Giant Elephant became completely immobile, utterly defenseless against external threats.
If any malicious individuals seized the opportunity to absorb the accumulated solar and lunar essence from the Spirit Nourishing Pool, they would effectively steal its Dao Fruit and undermine its cultivation progress.
In the elephant clan's former glory days, there would have been no need to worry about anyone foolish enough to target a Mountain Ridge Giant Elephant.
But alas, the elephant clan had long since fallen into decline. This creature, perhaps the last Mountain Ridge Giant Elephant in the demon realm, could only secure the Terrorclaw Lizard as its guardian.
However, the Terrorclaw Lizard, having heard Li Qing's rumors, couldn't resist investigating the situation, creating an opening for this group of cultivators from the Southern Sky Archipelago to exploit.
"The Mountain Elephant Spirit Nourishing Art has been disrupted," the Terrorclaw Lizard muttered.
The Mountain Elephant Spirit Nourishing Art was the bloodline secret technique inherited by Mountain Ridge Giant Elephants. Any elephant clan member with the bloodline who reached the peak of the third-tier could activate this art to accumulate energy for their breakthrough to the transformation stage.
Now that the Mountain Elephant Spirit Nourishing Art had been unexpectedly disrupted, it was unclear what kind of backlash the giant elephant would suffer.
Before the crowd's eyes, the towering Mountain Ridge Giant Elephant, which had been standing upright like a mountain, suddenly collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Boom!
A deafening roar shook the earth, and the ground beneath it cracked into countless fissures.
Having failed to complete its cultivation, the Mountain Ridge Giant Elephant could no longer withstand the backlash. Unable to even maintain its stance, it crumpled to the ground as if crushed by a weight of ten thousand tons.
"Hahahaha! Heaven itself is aiding us! The Mountain Ridge Giant Elephant's cultivation was disrupted, and it suffered a backlash!"
"Hiss... Let's finish off this Terrorclaw Lizard first, then deal with the elephant demon. Could we possibly harvest two top-grade demon beast inner cores today?"
"You four, don't panic. Continue absorbing the refined Sun and Moon Energy from the Spirit Nourishing Pool to cleanse yourselves and perfect your dao foundations as much as possible."
With these words, the three cultivators renewed their assault on the Terrorclaw Lizard, unleashing a barrage of divine abilities and magic treasures.
On the brink of death, the Terrorclaw Lizard's eyes flickered with despair.
It knew its survival today was unlikely.
"Brother Elephant... I've ruined everything."
As the words faded, an azure-light flying sword descended swiftly, poised to sever his head and end his life.
But in that critical moment, the air temperature suddenly soared to scorching levels.
In an instant, a profound yellow fireball streaked across the sky, its speed defying comprehension, akin to instantaneous teleportation.
The fireball engulfed the azure-light flying sword, silently melting the core formation realm cultivator's natal flying sword into molten iron.
Swish!
The sword's blade shattered, instantly losing all semblance of its original form.
Pfft!
One of the three core formation realm cultivators, struck as if by lightning, violently spat out a mouthful of blood.
The destruction of his natal magic treasure inflicted unimaginable damage upon him.
"Who dares!"
The most senior Core Formation Elder reacted instantly, roaring in shock and fury.
"Show yourself! What fiend is behind this?!" another core formation realm cultivator demanded, his face pale with fear.
A single strike had melted a core formation realm cultivator's natal flying sword, nourished for yearsβa feat that sent shivers down his spine.
As their voices echoed, a tall, imposing figure strode leisurely from the void, as if taking a stroll through a garden.
"These two demon beasts are my friends. Your ruthless actions have ignited an unquenchable rage within me," Li Qing sighed, his eyes burning with barely suppressed fury.
The moment Li Qing revealed himself, the core formation realm cultivators from the Southern Sky Archipelago paled, initially mistaking him for a Transformed Demon King.
But they quickly confirmed that Li Qing was human, not demonic.
"Fellow Daoist, are you trying to steal our spoils of war?"
"We can spare you a demon core, but..."
Before they could finish speaking, Li Qing unleashed his aura.
Boom!
Late-stage Nascent Soul Realm!
A terrifying spiritual pressure swept across thousands of miles, crushing both humans and demon beasts alike.
This overwhelming spiritual pressure was utterly terrifying, far beyond their ability to resist.
In that instant, they realized they had provoked a formidable opponentβa great cultivator of the Nascent Soul Realm.
"S-Senior... We apologize for our offense! We'll leave immediately!"
"We deeply regret our transgression and beg Senior's forgiveness!"
"..."
The four foundation establishment realm juniors' faces turned as pale as paper.
Before they could react, Li Qing's massive hand swept through the Spirit Nourishing Pool, snatching them out without giving them a moment to respond.
"Senior, spare us! Senior, have mercy!"
They never imagined that the greatest danger they would face in the demon realm wouldn't come from demon beasts, but from a human cultivator!
Li Qing's gaze was icy as he said calmly, "Very well. I can spare your lives and give you a chance to live."
Hearing this, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.
But Li Qing wasn't finished. He continued, "However..."
"While I'll spare you the death penalty, you won't escape punishment."
"You will all cripple your own cultivation."
His words immediately darkened their expressions.
For cultivators, their cultivation was as vital as their lives. To cripple their own cultivation would be tantamount to suicide.
Moreover, this was the demon realm. Without cultivation to protect them, how could they possibly escape?
Wouldn't they inevitably end up as demon beast fodder?!
This was absolutely not the outcome they wanted. No one willingly abandons their cultivation.
"What's the matter? Can't bring yourselves to do it? Then let This Li help you out," Li Qing sneered, giving them no room for retreat.
Finally, the Core Formation Elder trembled as he spoke, "Senior, please spare us!"
"We are vassal families of the Spirit Pearl Divine Sect. Has Senior ever heard of this great sect?"
Spirit Pearl Divine Sect?
Li Qing's eyes narrowed sharply at those words.
The core formation realm cultivators had been closely observing Li Qing's reaction. Seeing this, they thought they had a chance, believing Li Qing was intimidated by the sect's reputation.
They immediately added fuel to the fire, "That's right! The Southern Sky Archipelago is a branch altar of the Spirit Pearl Divine Sect. The Earth Spirit Holy Envoy has always maintained close ties with our families. We implore Senior to spare us for the sake of the Spirit Pearl Divine Sect!"
"We will surely repay this great kindness!"
But Li Qing's smile grew increasingly dangerous. He grinned, "Heh, you're actually connected to the Spirit Pearl Divine Sect? This is perfect!"
"Rest assured, I'll handle you properly!"
(End of the Chapter)
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