Chapter 457 (1)
Lu Qing was awestruck by the scene before him.
The spacious cave chamber was brightly lit, with sparkling jade stones embedded across the cave walls. The entire chamber resembled a magnificent starry sky, a sight both stunning and serene.
The spiritual energy within the chamber was immensely dense—far surpassing even the jade-transformed chambers found in the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
“So this is a Spirit Vein? No wonder Li Changbo could reach the Golden Core Realm in such a short time with just a single Fire Essence Pearl. With access to such a treasure trove, rapid advancement in cultivation is nearly inevitable!” Lu Qing exclaimed in admiration.
At the same time, he couldn’t help but shake his head at Li Changbo’s foolishness.
Having such a treasure land but failing to accumulate strength wisely, instead seeking glory in Cold Water City, only to meet his downfall against Lu Qing—this was his own undoing.
It seemed the humiliation inflicted upon him by Cold Water Palace back then had filled him with such hatred that, the moment he gained power, he could not resist exacting revenge.
Whatever the circumstances, this turn of events was a boon for Lu Qing. If not for Li Changbo’s impatience, he might never have discovered this Spirit Vein.
“So much spiritual energy…”
At this point, Xiao Li was completely dumbfounded.Having followed Lu Qing into numerous jade-transformed chambers, Xiao Li knew how extraordinary those places were in terms of spiritual energy. However, compared to this place, the spiritual energy in those chambers could only be considered average.
Even Wuxing climbed out of Xiao Yan’s hood, excitedly darting around the chamber. The spiritual energy here was even richer than that of the secret realm where it was born.
After a moment, Lu Qing calmed his mind and began focusing on the sparkling jade stones embedded in the cave walls. At first glance, he thought they were all spirit stones.
However, upon prying one loose and examining it carefully, he realized he was mistaken.
While these stones could be classified as “spirit stones,” most of them were still in the process of maturing. The spiritual energy they contained was indeed denser than the air in the chamber, but it fell short of even the lowest-grade spirit stones.
Upon this realization, Lu Qing’s mood stabilized entirely. He smiled wryly—he had been too optimistic.
How could an entire cave chamber be filled with spirit stones? If spirit stones were this easy to produce, they would not have been regarded as invaluable strategic resources during the ancient cultivation eras.
Nevertheless, despite the majority of these stones not yet having fully matured, the chamber’s value was immeasurable.
The sheer density of spiritual energy alone would drive Golden Core cultivators into a frenzy.
“Ah Qing, Ah Qing, are we going to cultivate here?” Xiao Li leaped onto Lu Qing’s shoulder, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Yes, having found such a treasure, we must seize the opportunity to cultivate in seclusion,” Lu Qing replied with a nod.
“That’s great!” Xiao Li cheered.
Even she, usually lackadaisical about cultivation, was eager to absorb the spiritual energy in this chamber.
“However, aside from cultivation, I’ll need your help selecting and mining these spirit stones,” Lu Qing added.
Both Xiao Li and Wuxing were no ordinary spirit beasts. Their ability to sense treasures was far superior to human cultivators.
Xiao Li, in particular, hailed from the Black Night Spirit Lynx lineage—a species renowned in ancient cultivation eras as master treasure hunters.
“Leave it to me!” Xiao Li readily agreed. She knew how much Lu Qing needed spirit stones, having overheard him lament their scarcity recently.
“Good. We’ll stay here in seclusion for a while,” Lu Qing said with a smile. The rich spiritual energy in the chamber made his heart race with anticipation. He could feel that he now had a real chance of achieving the first transformation of his Golden Core.
And so, Lu Qing halted his travels and settled within this Spirit Vein.
With his Heaven and Earth One Qi Bag stocked full of supplies, there was no need to leave for replenishment. Furthermore, even Xiao Yan, the weakest among them, had reached the mid-stage Precelestial Realm. With spiritual energy nourishing them, they could go for long periods without food or drink.
...
Meanwhile, as Lu Qing and his companions cultivated in the Spirit Vein, the news of the Cold Water City incident began to spread. In just a few days, it reached the ears of various factions across the land.
In the Eastern State, at Qingyang Temple, a group of elderly Daoists sat beneath a giant ancient pine tree perched on the edge of a cliff, deep in discussion.
“Have you heard about what happened in Cold Water City?” asked an elderly Daoist with snow-white hair and beard.
“I have. Who would have thought the leader of the Everlasting Regret Sect, previously obscure, would ascend to the Golden Core Realm so quickly? That man must have had an extraordinary opportunity,” another Daoist replied.
“Indeed, rapid progress like his always comes with fortuitous encounters. But that’s not the main point. What’s truly surprising is the appearance of that young man in Cold Water City,” a third Daoist chimed in.
“Yes, according to reports from our disciples, if not for his intervention, Cold Water Palace might have been doomed.”
“True. Who could have imagined that Cold Water Palace’s old Palace Lord had failed his tribulation? No wonder the palace has been so low-key these past two years,” the elderly Daoist with the white beard mused.
“While his failed tribulation is one reason, the palace’s decline is largely due to their losses in that incident decades ago. Most of their Foundation Establishment elders perished. With the old Palace Lord gone, they lack anyone strong enough to hold their ground. That’s why the newly ascended Golden Core almost brought them to ruin.”
“That young man, though, is truly formidable. Even a Golden Core cultivator was powerless against him. It makes one wonder what kind of cultivation method he practices.”
“There were rumors that he was behind the disappearance of Xuankong Mountain and the silencing of two mysterious powerhouses. Though unproven, this incident solidifies his fearsome reputation. With tens of thousands of Cold Water City citizens bearing witness, his strength is now undeniable.”
“He’s the first tribulation transcender since the Heavenly Dao’s changes—a peerless talent clearly chosen by the heavens. At least in this era’s early stages, he reigns supreme.”
“Agreed. Qingxu, ensure our disciples refrain from entering the Hundred Thousand Mountains.”
“Yes, Temple Master.”
The elderly Daoists quickly established a rule forbidding their disciples from entering the region. They had no choice—the young man’s power was simply too terrifying.