Chapter 10

Li Qing raised his head and glanced at the deep pit beside him, then cautiously walked out.

This was to avoid the situation in the courtyard being discovered.

After Li Qing arrived at the courtyard, he saw a figure approaching him. Li Qing took a closer look and it was Meng Ran.

When Meng Ran saw Li Qing, his lifeless face regained some composure.

"Brother Meng, it's been a long time," Li Qing greeted him as he stepped forward.

Meng Ran ignored Li Qing's greeting and came to his front, then sighed and shook his head.

"Why are you sighing, Brother Meng?" Li Qing asked, puzzled.

"Brother Li, I am about to go on a mission," Meng Ran said with a bitter smile.

"This mission is a tough one."

"I have to go to Qianxia Island to guard for two years. The sect has a spirit mine there that needs a shift change."

Meng Ran spoke with a look of helplessness.

Only low-level cultivators like him, who have no background or strength, would be assigned such a task.

Although the treatment is relatively generous, it is a tough job that no one would willingly choose.

This is because the spirit mines where they are stationed often have thin and turbid spirit energy.

The Qianxia Island he is going to has only a broken first-stage spirit vein, with spirit energy concentration far lower than his own cave.

Under such conditions, even with relatively generous treatment, it is not as good for cultivation as practicing outside the sect.

"Congratulations, Brother Meng."

Li Qing also noticed that Meng Ran's cultivation had advanced to the fourth level of the Qi Condensation stage.

Guarding spirit mines outside the sect is a task assigned only to cultivators at the middle Qi Condensation stage.

"Huh?"

"You have advanced too?"

Meng Ran was surprised to find that the aura Li Qing emitted was no less than his own.

"Just lucky," Li Qing said softly.

After a few more words, Meng Ran decided to take his leave.

"Ah."

"Let's not talk much. I don't know when we will meet again. Take care, Brother Li." Thinking of his sect mission, Meng Ran had no heart for idle chat.

"Take care, Brother Meng," Li Qing responded.

"The path of immortality is long. I hope the next time we meet, your strength will have greatly increased."

After they bid each other farewell, Meng Ran got up and left.

Seeing Meng Ran off, Li Qing's expression returned to calm. He watched Meng Ran's departing back, a hint of something unusual flashing in his eyes.

Meng Ran's departure was a good thing for Li Qing.

Among the outer sect disciples, only Meng Ran knew Li Qing's situation in depth, so Li Qing had always been wary of him.

His soul's secret must be kept forever.

Meng Ran's departure effectively eliminated any potential risks.

Li Qing had also been deliberately avoiding contact with Meng Ran to prevent any mishaps.

His path to immortality absolutely cannot allow any risks.

Before leaving, Meng Ran did tell Li Qing a piece of news.

Wei Xuan, after his seclusion, was initially still being investigated, but over time, no one came to check anymore.

Li Qing watched Meng Ran's departing back, pondering.

Meng Ran's departure reminded Li Qing of something.

It had been more than half a year since his last mission. In about three months, it would be time to receive a sect mission.

The Qianshui Yuling Sect stipulates that outer sect disciples must complete one sect mission each year. First, the sect cannot support idlers indefinitely, and second, it is to test the disciples.

Except for a few true geniuses, most cultivators need to go through trials to achieve something.

Thinking about the upcoming sect mission, Li Qing felt more urgent.

He did not believe that Wei Xuan would easily give up on the cherished Foundation Establishment Pill, especially given his ruthless nature and notorious reputation in the outer sect.

After some thought, Li Qing headed towards the dock on the outer island.

To conceal his presence, Li Qing deliberately took a roundabout route and chose a dock mainly for cargo.

---

---

In the boundless blue sea, a huge black spirit boat was sailing.

Li Qing's figure also appeared inside.

The destination of this large spirit boat was a large island near the Qianyu Island—Jumu Island.

Jumu Island is rich in wood-type spirit energy and is known for its abundant spirit trees.

These spirit trees are natural materials for casting spirit boats, hence the name Jumu Island.

Due to its natural advantages and thriving spirit boat trade, it has become a large trading center.

Li Qing went there to exchange his Xuan Shui Spirit Fish for spirit stones, and to purchase some elixirs and life-saving methods.

Previously, with the dual effects of the spirit energy from the Sea Calming Pearl and his cave, Li Qing still failed to advance to the fifth level of the Qi Condensation stage.

To accelerate his cultivation, Li Qing needed to use elixirs.

In addition, he needed to buy a suitable magical tool.

Li Qing currently had no decent magical tools, and he couldn't reveal his physical cultivation strength right away.

Li Qing chose Jumu Island for its mixed crowd and numerous cultivators, making the sale of spirit fish inconspicuous.

Jumu Island is about a hundred nautical miles from Qianyu Island, and it would take several hours for the spirit boat to reach.

Amidst the surrounding noise, Li Qing remained unperturbed, continuing to sit in a corner.

Since this was a cargo spirit boat, the ticket price was lower than other spirit boats, and most of the passengers in the cabin were scattered cultivators.

Li Qing even saw an old man with silver hair, whose cultivation was only at the early Qi Condensation stage.

While meditating, the surrounding noise grew louder.

"Jumu Island has arrived."

A servant on the spirit boat shouted, and Li Qing stood up and headed towards the deck.

Looking out, he saw lush, towering trees everywhere.

The entire island, placed in the sea, resembled a green gem, with a powerful aura of vitality.

"Truly, the island lives up to its name," Li Qing remarked.

Jumu Island is under the jurisdiction of the Qianshui Yuling Sect, but it is actually controlled by the Wood Spirit Sect.

Strictly speaking, the Wood Spirit Sect is a subordinate force of the Qianshui Yuling Sect.

As a sect primarily focused on wood-type cultivation techniques, the Wood Spirit Sect thrives on Jumu Island.

The entire island is a natural gathering place for wood-type spirit energy.

The Wood Spirit Sect is a well-known major sect in the Qianyu Archipelago, with four Golden Core cultivators in the sect.

Besides its formidable strength, more importantly, the Wood Spirit Sect holds the secret to crafting spirit boats.

It can be said that half of the spirit boats in the Qianyu Archipelago come from the Wood Spirit Sect, and even major forces from nearby archipelagos come to purchase them, highlighting the Wood Spirit Sect's status in the Qianyu Archipelago.

If not for its formidable strength and the secret of crafting spirit boats, the entire Jumu Island would not be controlled by the Wood Spirit Sect alone.

Li Qing, at some point, had already put on a gray hood and quickly walked towards the nearby market.