Translator: AnubisTL
Li Qing's sermon lasted a full seven days. His tongue bloomed with golden lotuses as he chanted the spiritual sounds of the great dao. Many low-tier cultivators were deeply moved, achieving breakthroughs to minor realms on the spot.
During this process, Li Qing channeled the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth, sacrificing decades of his own lifespan to ensure these cultivators could successfully break through their bottlenecks.
After seven days, he concluded his sermon, marking the end of the Divine Transformation Realm Grand Ceremony.
Everyone wore expressions of lingering satisfaction, feeling as though the seven days had passed far too quickly, slipping by before they could fully grasp it.
When they finally came to their senses, they discovered that Li Qing's figure had already vanished without a trace.
"Has it really been seven days already? I didn't feel a single moment pass!"
"I felt like the Divine Transformation Realm Grand Ceremony had only just begun. I didn't even notice the light drizzle."
"Truly exhilarating! My understanding of my own realm has never been so clear. I've unknowingly reached the late qi refining realm."
"A sermon from a divine transformation great power is truly miraculous."
"Phew, I feel like I could break through to the late core formation realm at any moment! Thank goodness I came to hear Senior Limitless's sermon!"
"..."
Everyone had gained immensely from the sermon, even the nascent soul realm cultivators present.
Li Qing had deliberately condensed the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth, giving the low-tier cultivators the sensation of being reborn, as if they were in a true holy land of cultivation.
But no matter how reluctant they were to leave, the Divine Transformation Realm Grand Ceremony had to end eventually.
The crowd dispersed, leaving the Lingyun Sect's territory.
Some rogue cultivators from outer domains chose to remain in the Azure Ridge Domain, finding its cultivation environment quite favorable. Moreover, with the Lingyun Sect's presence, they wouldn't have to worry about other major factions launching immortal dao wars that threatened their survival.
The Azure Ridge Domain's cultivation world had unexpectedly become much more lively.
As for Li Qing, after the sermon concluded, he left the sect without a word.
He didn't remain in his cave abode for secluded cultivation but instead ventured far beyond the Azure Ridge Domain, flying directly toward the Boundless Sea.
Having reached the divine transformation realm, secluded cultivation had become largely pointless. Even if he entered life-or-death seclusion for a hundred or eighty years, he might not make any significant progress.
"The two most important tasks now are to find a new heavenly spirit fire and to see if I can find a water-attribute spiritual object to complete my five elements spirit root," Li Qing murmured to himself, his gaze fixed on the vast, boundless sea, his mind swirling with countless thoughts.
If he needed a water-attribute spiritual object, the sea was clearly the best place to search, offering the greatest chance of success.
Moreover, he knew of a location in the sea where a heavenly spirit fire might exist, a deal he had struck with the Profound Yellow True Flame long ago.
In addition, the Master of the Bright King Valley had once told him about a Flame Domain where another heavenly spirit fire was highly likely to be found.
Obtaining a fourth heavenly spirit fire would accelerate his cultivation in the divine transformation realm, proving that sharpening his blade before chopping wood was time well spent.
With that, Li Qing's figure streaked through the air, sometimes vanishing into nothingness, sometimes reappearing, moving with unimaginable speed.
Before he knew it, nearly half a month had passed.
Having reached the divine transformation realm, Li Qing could now effortlessly unleash his full speed, covering vast distances with ease.
The vast human realm now seemed much smaller in his consciousness.
As his cultivation grew stronger day by day, he felt increasingly confined by the limitations of the human realm.
Completely focused on his journey, Li Qing unconsciously arrived at the Western Wind Sea Domain, bordering the demon realm and the Wind Origin Domain.
However, Li Qing had no time to visit old friends. Instead, he concentrated on searching the sea surface.
Following a beacon from his memories, he swiftly reached a verdant, isolated island.
The island's landscape was strikingly pristine, showing few signs of human presence. It seemed rarely visited by outsiders.
Lush vegetation covered the island, yet its spiritual energy was exceedingly thin, barely sufficient to support the daily meditation and qi refining of qi refining realm cultivators.
Even those at the late qi refining realm would find the spiritual energy here too meager.
Qiluo Island!
This was the name the Profound Yellow True Flame had revealed to him. True to its name, it was an uninhabited island, devoid even of demon beasts.
Upon landing, Li Qing unleashed his vast divine sense, instantly scanning the entire island.
"This is strange. Although the island's spiritual energy is sparse, it shouldn't be completely devoid of demon beasts, should it?"
"The vegetation here is remarkably lush, like a primeval forest."
Li Qing frowned, directly awakening the Profound Yellow True Flame within him. "Are you certain this is the correct location? Why can't I sense any spirit fire using the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art?"
It wasn't that he doubted the Profound Yellow True Flame had been misled by a false beacon, but rather that Li Qing wondered if he had come to the wrong place.
The Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art was a miraculous fire dao technique capable of sensing the presence of heavenly spirit fire in the surrounding environment.
If such a fire truly existed on this island, he should have been able to sense it without fail.
After a moment, the Profound Yellow True Flame's voice echoed softly, "This is the correct place. I distinctly remember the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch lingering here for quite some time."
"He once said that after ten thousand years, this island might give birth to a Verdant Soul Spirit Fire."
"Look at this island. Its spiritual energy is clearly sparse, yet the vegetation is so lush and vibrant. This vitality is completely incongruous with the island's environment."
"Verdant Soul Spirit Fire!"
Upon hearing this, Li Qing's eyes narrowed slightly as he fixed his gaze on the lush, verdant island.
He was no stranger to this spirit fire, having encountered records of it in several pill refiner's manuals. The Verdant Soul Spirit Fire was arguably the most coveted spirit fire among pill refiners and Spirit Planters alike.
This fire possessed minimal destructive power, making it unsuitable for combat.
However, the Verdant Soul Spirit Fire could infuse the great earth with abundant vitality, doubling the efficiency of cultivating any spirit herb. Even the most barren soil, once scorched by this fire, could readily nurture any spirit herb seed, allowing it to take root, sprout, and flourish.
Moreover, when used in pill refinement, this fire could imbue medicinal pills with lingering vitality, significantly increasing the likelihood of producing high-quality, refined pills.
The mere possibility of this fire's existence lit up Li Qing's eyes, fueling his burning desire to uncover its traces.
Yet despite his exhaustive search, he couldn't sense the faintest aura of the spirit fire.
Finally, deep within a subterranean cavern at the heart of the island, he detected faint remnants of the fire's past presence.
"Has someone already claimed it? What a pity," Li Qing murmured, his brow furrowing deeply as he sighed repeatedly.
The Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch's initial assessment had been correct: a heavenly spirit fire had indeed been born on this island. Unfortunately, it was not destined for him.
"If I could obtain this fire, I could cultivate some rare and precious spirit herbs within the Heavenly Wonder Immortal Mansion. Perhaps one day I might even harvest sacred medicine of sufficient age."
(End of the Chapter)