The Great Tribulation Approaches! [Seeking Recommendation Tickets!]

Chapter 17: The End Draws Near! [Recommendation Tickets Requested!]

Perhaps because the deep mountains were too complex an environment, the large-scale pursuit force they had anticipated never materialized.

Lu Qingfeng and his siblings ran for a full five months, unsure how far they had traveled. At first, scattered Returning Truth Sect enforcement disciples appeared, all of average strength, easily dealt with by Lu Qingfeng.

As time went on, the pursuers dwindled.

After Lu Qingfeng narrowly killed a Seventh Layer of Fetal Respiration Realm Returning Truth Sect disciple, no more pursuers appeared.

The three siblings remained uneasy, running for another two months until they were certain the Returning Truth Sect had given up, and only then did they find a place to stop.

Over those five months, they faced countless dangers.

The perils came not only from the relentless pursuers behind them but also from the beasts that roamed unpredictably in the deep mountains.

One misstep could mean being devoured by a tiger.

Yet during these five months, Lu Qingfeng's progress was swift, and his ability to survive had greatly increased!

While fleeing with Qingshan and Qingyu, he gathered medicinal herbs, refined a number of Yellow Dragon Pills, and raised his cultivation to Fetal Respiration Third Level.

The cultivation method he practiced had long since been switched from the Exquisite Level "Azure Wood Blazing Sun Sutra" to the Side Gate Level "Azure Origin Sword Scripture."

[Skill: Azure Origin Sword Scripture (Incomplete)] [Grade: Side Gate Level, Nine Layers Total] [Derivation: Five Strengthens] [Traits: Azure Origin Sword Radiance, Guardian Sword Shield, Sword Shadow Light Splitting Art, Great Geng Sword Formation, Three Cycle Heavy Origin] [Note: Three thousand years ago, the supreme art of the Azure Origin Sword Sect; currently incomplete.]

This technique was originally an Exquisite Level incomplete method Lu Qingfeng had discovered in "Primordial Chaos," containing only the Fetal Respiration Realm portion.

For ordinary cultivators, this technique was truly useless.

Although its grade was high, it could only be cultivated to the Ninth Layer of Fetal Respiration Realm, unable to break through even to the True Qi Stage. And to complete an Exquisite Level method, even a Core Formation True Person would need decades of painstaking effort.

Thus, when this incomplete "Azure Origin Sword Scripture" appeared in the world, no one paid it any attention.

Lu Qingfeng, however, treated it as a treasure and seized it without hesitation.

With the derivation trait of his "Yellow Court Scripture," as long as he had enough Experience Points, he could elevate the "Azure Origin Sword Scripture" and deduce its subsequent techniques. And since the "Azure Origin Sword Scripture" was already Exquisite Level at its core, its strong foundation saved Lu Qingfeng a great deal of Experience Points.

After obtaining it and undergoing five Strengthens, Lu Qingfeng actually elevated the "Azure Origin Sword Scripture" from Exquisite Level to Side Gate Level.

The technique's traits, in addition to 'Azure Origin Sword Radiance' and 'Guardian Sword Shield,' now included 'Sword Shadow Light Splitting Art,' 'Great Geng Sword Formation,' and 'Three Cycle Heavy Origin.'

However, given Lu Qingfeng's current cultivation, he had only mastered 'Azure Origin Sword Radiance' for now. The remaining four traits could only be grasped once his cultivation reached the corresponding levels.

Even so, once the Azure Origin Sword Radiance was unleashed, any ordinary Fetal Respiration Realm cultivator without a defensive artifact, defensive technique, or body-tempering martial art would fall in defeat!

In "Primordial Chaos," an Exquisite Level method could be cultivated to the Golden Core Realm.

But a Side Gate Level method was a top-tier technique pointing straight to the Mahayana Realm. Not even in Black Sand Town, nor in the entire Seven Swords Mountain Range or the Seven Great Sword Sects, was there a technique of this grade.

So precious, it was naturally extraordinary!

Each layer of the Side Gate Level "Azure Origin Sword Scripture" could cultivate twice the internal breath compared to the previous "Azure Wood Blazing Sun Sutra"!

At just Fetal Respiration Realm Third Layer, Lu Qingfeng's internal breath was three times that of a Fetal Respiration Realm Third Layer cultivator practicing a Beginner Level method!

Even an ordinary Ninth Layer of Fetal Respiration Realm cultivator might not surpass him!

Combined with his martial arts and techniques, strengthened multiple times, he was nearly unrivaled within the Fetal Respiration Realm!

Of course.

When he fought that Seventh Layer of Fetal Respiration Realm Returning Truth Sect steward over two months ago, Lu Qingfeng had not yet reached this level. That battle was quite perilous, but fortunately, Lu Qingfeng's skill was superior, and he beheaded his enemy with a single strike!

The three siblings narrowly escaped disaster!

As Lu Qingfeng's strength soared, Lu Qingshan and Lu Qingyu also progressed.

Lu Qingshan's cultivation reached Fetal Respiration Realm Second Layer. Following Lu Qingfeng in practicing the "Azure Origin Sword Scripture" and Cloak Saber Technique, his combat power far exceeded his cultivation level, roughly able to contend with Fetal Respiration Fifth or Sixth Level.

Lu Qingyu had poorer talent and had only been cultivating for a short time, so she had just stepped into Fetal Respiration Realm First Layer, barely able to match a Fetal Respiration Third Layer in combat.

"It seems the Returning Truth Sect has given up."

Over five months, Lu Qingfeng had developed a unique aura—one born from the passage of time and the trials of killing. Ordinary youths could hardly imitate it.

After all, though only five months had passed in reality, Lu Qingfeng had nearly lived an entire lifetime in "Primordial Chaos."

Night fell.

Lu Qingfeng logged into the game.

He was still in Black Sand Town, but he was no longer a young man. He had become an old man with silver hair and a hunched frame.

Name: Lu Qingfeng

Race: Human

Faction: None

Title: None

Cultivation: Fetal Respiration Fifth Level

Level: Level 10 (25/50)

Lifespan: 67/68

Inner Breath: 185/185 (Quality: Side Gate Level)

Root Bone: 1

Merit: Unknown

Karma: Unknown

Cultivation Method: Yellow Court Scripture First Layer (Perfected) [Traits: Dharma Derivation (First Layer); Govern All Arts (First Layer); Karma Elimination (First Layer)]; Azure Origin Sword Scripture Fifth Layer (Perfected) [Derivable]

Techniques: Fireball Art (Second Layer), Heavenly Eye Art (Second Layer), Nether Smoke Step (Second Layer), Heart Burning Palm (Second Layer), White Jade True Art (Second Layer), Cloak Saber Technique (Second Layer), True Yang Finger Skill (Second Layer), Wind Riding Art (Second Layer), Golden Light Art (Second Layer), Entangling Art (Second Layer), Concealment Art (Second Layer), Aura Concealment Art (Second Layer)

Divine Power: None

Equipment: Low Grade Storage Bag, Wolf Hair Talisman Brush, Peace Talisman, Invisibility Talisman, Earth Escape Talisman, Fireball Talisman...

Alchemy: "Alchemy Primer"; "Medicine Refining Analysis"; "Basic Medicinal Herbs Compendium"... Refinable Pills: Fasting Pill, Yellow Dragon Pill, Clear Spirit Powder, Recovery Breath Pill, Essence Nourishing Pill, Entangling Fragrance Pellet, Yellow Chestnut Pill, Heart Rotting Pill, Nurturing Breath Pill, Essence Qi Pill

Talisman Crafting: "Detailed Explanation of Six Common Cinnabar Modulations", "Basics of Talisman Paper", "Low Grade Talismans Compendium"... Drawable Talismans: Peace Talisman, Invisibility Talisman, Earth Escape Talisman, Fireball Talisman, Spring Return Talisman, Golden Light Talisman

Artifact Refining: "Artifact Refining Basics", "Detailed Explanation of Spirit Communication Brush Refinement". Refinable Artifacts: Wolf Hair Talisman Brush

Beast Taming: Skylark Bird (×9)

This luxurious Attribute Panel was Lu Qingfeng's achievement over five-plus months on the run and nearly fifty years in the game!

Looking back.

The year he mastered Yellow Dragon Pill refining, Lu Qingfeng in the game had just turned twenty-five. Soon after came the first wave of pursuers from the Returning Truth Sect, and the escape began.

Traveling by day, logging into "Primordial Desolation" by night to study talisman arts.

Forty-two years in total, he successively mastered the crafting of six talismans: Peace Talisman, Invisibility Talisman, Earth Escape Talisman, Fireball Talisman, Spring Return Talisman, and Golden Light Talisman.

During that time, alchemy was never neglected.

After the Fasting Pill and Yellow Dragon Pill, he gradually mastered the refining of eight more pills: Clear Spirit Powder, Recovery Breath Pill, Essence Nourishing Pill, Entangling Fragrance Pellet, Yellow Chestnut Pill, Heart Rotting Pill, Nurturing Breath Pill, and Essence Qi Pill.

"Talisman and Pill Dual Master" Lu Qingfeng!

This title rang loudest throughout Black Sand Town.

Whether talismans or pills, though they were only the lowest grade, their power and quality far surpassed those of other alchemists and talisman masters.

This was thanks to the Dharma Derivation trait, and also to the massive amount of Experience Points Lu Qingfeng had poured in.

"It's time."

Lu Qingfeng sat cross-legged in the Pill Refining Room and summoned the four disciples he had taken in over the years.

Before long.

Two young men and two middle-aged men entered, bowed deeply to Lu Qingfeng, and addressed him as "Master."

"You four have served at my side—the longest over twenty years, the shortest ten. Your master's lifespan is at its end. Since we share a master-disciple bond, I leave these to you."

Lu Qingfeng looked at his four disciples, swept his sleeve, and dozens of Jade Slips scattered down, landing before each of them.

"Master!"

Peng Hai, Lei He, Yao Jiusi, and Ji Fu knelt to the ground, gazing at their silver-haired master on the dais, their hearts churning with emotion.

Back then.

Lu Qingfeng had brought them into the sect, teaching them alchemy and talisman crafting. Though they only assisted, they still learned much. Over the years, their fellow disciples, unable to grasp the master's true skills, had gradually left after being recommended by the master to join the Imperial City Sect.

In the end, only the four of them remained.

Though they too had joined the Imperial City Sect, unlike the others, they rarely stayed away. Instead, they made Black Sand Town their home, often visiting their master.

They never expected a reward, let alone such a surprise today.

The low-grade talismans and low-grade pills produced by 'Qingfeng Master' were second to none throughout Black Sand Town and even the entire Elephant King City region.

Whenever he crafted them, there was never any worry about sales.

If they could inherit his craft, they would never have to worry about Cultivation Resources in the Imperial City Sect, at least in the early stages!

"Master, this disciple heard that on Thunderclap Mountain, there are spirit herbs that extend lifespan. I've asked someone to look into it—news should come soon!" Peng Hai looked at Lu Qingfeng and said.

"No need for trouble."

"Life and death have their fated times—why force it!"

Lu Qingfeng shook his head.

How difficult it is to find a spirit herb that extends one's lifespan! Even if he could find one, it wouldn't be something he—a low-level alchemist and low-level Talisman Master—could obtain.

It would be better to pass on to the next life calmly, living another lifetime of carefree ease.

Over the years, Lu Qingfeng had left Black Sand Town only a handful of times. After dismissing his four disciples, he packed up and departed from Black Sand Town.

The protagonist is about to die again—begging for Recommendation Tickets!

Thanks to '丶认真就输了' for the 100 reward.