Advancing to Late Qi Refining

The Azure Ruins Secret Realm.

In the thick-barked pine forest, a spiritual light rippled, scraping off the bark and sending dust and gravel flying everywhere.

"I told you with my own eyes, you walked out of the fiery cave and handed over what you got inside, and I might spare your life!"

The broad-faced monk activated his massive, earthen-yellow ruler and struck the woman in the light blue dress opposite him.

Gu Xiangning held the jade zither, her delicate hands constantly plucking the strings, causing ripples of spiritual light to spread through the air, blocking the imposing giant ruler.

She had gained a great deal in the Earth Fire Cave, but unfortunately, as soon as she came out, she was targeted by this Qi Refining Eighth Layer cultivator.

Each time the ruler struck, it caused the ground to vibrate with a buzzing sound.

Gu Xiangning nearly lost her balance and dared not relax for a moment.

She was overjoyed; thankfully, it wasn't a swordsman who attacked from the sidelines, otherwise her zither music would have been completely unable to withstand it.

The broad-faced cultivator, relying on his cultivation level, had the upper hand, but for the time being, he was unable to break through!

Although this woman's cultivation level was low, her fighting methods were extremely strange, and the music from her zither directly attacked the true essence within her body.

Every now and then, a blade-like burst of spiritual energy would emerge, forcing him to use his shield for defense.

"The terrain around the cave entrance is filled with heat, indicating it's a branch of the Earth Fire vein. Even if there's no Earth Profound Fruit inside, there must be plenty of other fire-attribute spiritual materials. We absolutely cannot let this woman go!"

The two sides were locked in a stalemate and began to compete in Law Power.

As time passed, both the sound of the zither and the yellow ruler diminished considerably.

The broad-faced cultivator, finding the Spirit Stone too slow to replenish, gritted his teeth, took out a blood-red pill, and swallowed it.

His face flushed red, and the giant earthen-yellow ruler suddenly grew to about ten feet larger, its surface runes shining brightly, and it came back to life, swinging and smashing repeatedly.

Gu Xiangning frowned; this person had clearly taken a pill to stimulate his potential.

She felt heavy-hearted. She had already consumed the pills that her Senior Brother Fang had given her, but she had very little Law Power left in her Dantian.

In order to conserve her Law Power, she even risked removing her own defensive magical Law Artifact.

Even so, the difference of just one level in cultivation still put her at a significant advantage.

Seeing that the giant ruler was gradually gaining the upper hand, the broad-faced cultivator realized that it would probably crush the woman into a pulp in less than ten breaths.

His excitement was palpable.

He was even starting to have second thoughts; the woman was quite pretty. If he'd only hit her head, maybe... hehe--

"I can't die yet." Gu Xiangning took out a white jade bottle, and a milky white pill flew to her lips.

I can only hope that Brother Zhou's medicine will have some effect—but even so, I'm afraid it's too late.

Upon seeing this, the broad-faced monk's face turned an unnatural bluish-green. "Stubborn!"

"Suppress!" The giant ruler, carrying immense force, fell once more.

The pill tasted like a sweet candy pill from childhood, refreshing and delicious.

Before Gu Xiangning could even savor the sensation, she suddenly felt her Dantian instantly fill up.

It's so full it's almost overflowing!

"Oh, Brother Zhou--"

Gu Xiangning's eyes widened, somewhat bewildered. This was He Dan?

As she watched the giant ruler crash down upon her, she plucked a string from her zither, losing almost 20% of her Law Power.

The sound of "clang!" exploded, sending chills down one's spine.

The broad-faced cultivator felt a powerful sonic wave strike him. His Dantian trembled violently, his Law Power nearly collapsed, and he could no longer hold onto the Mountain-Suppressing Ruler and shield Law Artifact in his hands.

Gu Xiangning's expression was indifferent. With another "clang!", a silver streak shot through the air.

"No!"

Before the broad-faced monk could redeploy his defenses, he felt a chill on his neck, and his consciousness floated high into the air.

He vaguely saw the sky and earth upside down, blood splattering everywhere—

He died unable to understand why the female cultivator's Law Power had suddenly increased so dramatically.

Are they mocking him?

The lingering sound of the zither faded away. Gu Xiangning summoned her Storage Bag, not daring to linger, and activated her Divine Movement Technique to quickly leave the place.

She felt the Law Power within her Dantian, her eyes brimming with joy.

Thinking of the two pills left in the bottle, she was secretly delighted: Brother Zhou, if I manage to get out of the secret realm, I will definitely reward you handsomely!

Three months later.

Zhou Ning extinguished the small flame, and held a dark amber-colored pill between his two fingers, its surface covered with a faint glow.

His eyes lit up with joy. "Sea-Filling Pill, it's done!"

This is a pill from Land of Wei that helps one break through the bottleneck of the Late Qi Refining, made from spiritual materials such as Mica Fat and Calamity-Severing Grass.

--

Its medicinal effects are far superior to the Spirit Condensation Pill from Cuiwei Lake.

The cost of a single pill is around ten Spirit Stone, and Zhou Ning refined a total of five pills.

After taking it, you can break through to a higher level.

Zhou Ning muttered to himself, "I haven't fully cultivated to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer yet; I still need some time."

"I just hope the Su Household can shoulder the burden for me a little longer!"

For the past three months, ever since the Su Household acknowledged the existence of the Daoist Mu, they have been subject to checks and balances at every turn.

The Duan Household severed ties with the Su Household, claiming that they had provided Su Yunjin with a place to cultivate her fire veins, but the Su Household not only failed to report this but also shifted the blame onto them.

The Wu Household and other Foundation Establishment Lineage stated that the Daoist Mu killed their Alchemist and demanded compensation from the Su Household.

The Su Household did not respond publicly, so the four forces took the opportunity to gradually erode the Su Household's strength.

Originally, the eight families divided the land among themselves, but they gave it all back, and much of their territory was even invaded.

Even on Bamboo Creek Island, retainers were drawn up to the front lines for defense.

It was Zhou Ning who secretly gave Su Changhe the order, thus preventing Xu Qinghou and the others from suffering the same fate.

And that nameless island.

Over the years, only one lucky visitor has accidentally stumbled upon it and obtained the Purple Monkey Flower.

However, to be on the safe side, Zhou Ning also used earth-elemental talismans to seal and conceal the entrance.

From then on, only he could enter through the underwater passageway.

He also purchased ten Water-Adept Talisman from Yuan Dahu.

As for Gu Xiangning, she sent a letter last month saying that she had made great progress.

However, she is currently preoccupied with many matters and hopes that Zhou Ning will come to find her outside the Azure Mystic Sect's mountain gate a year from now, as she has something important to give him.

"One year"

Zhou Ning took a Greater Ginseng-Nurturing Pill.

One year later.

Zhou Ning, stepping on a bamboo leaf Law Artifact, flew above Cuiwei Lake, his black clothes fluttering in the wind.

His Divine Sense continued to spread out, covering a range of three and a half miles, which was seventy percent stronger than when Qi Refining Middle Stage.

He controlled the flying Law Artifact beneath his feet with such ease that it felt like a general riding a dog.

The Law Power within his Dantian expanded even further, making his every move exude a Law Power and profound aura.

"Back in Land of Wei, I, at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refinement, dared to boast about being at the Late Qi Refining. I was so ignorant!"

If it weren't for the "Immovable Mountain" Divine Ability, I would have died eight hundred times over!

Zhou Ning felt that he could kill him, Fourth Layer of Qi Refinement, with a single punch.

The next step is to plant Vine Puppet Seed on the Qi Refining genius of the Su Household and seize the Foundation Establishment Pill materials.

That Su Lixia, she's a real slut!

Although the Su Household was secretly suppressed by many Foundation Establishment Aristocratic Clan and wars broke out frequently during this year, Zhou Ning, as the Alchemist in the clan, had no need to go to the front line.

However, last month, the person in charge of one of the Su Household's outposts died, and the Su Household's higher-ups nominated Zhou Ning to guard it.

Zhou Ning inquired with Su Changhe and learned that he had been personally selected by Su Lixia.

That territory was seized by the Su Household years ago and operated in cooperation with the Foundation Establishment Chen Household. The Su Household had personnel guarding it.

However, two people at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer have died in the past year, which is clearly a trap.

But at this very moment, they transferred him, a cultivator at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer of Qi Refining.

Yes, Zhou Ning has just broken through to the seventh level, but hasn't shown it to the public yet.

Isn't this just sending him to his death in vain?

Su Lixia and Nie Yi, you two are a despicable couple!

When Zhou Ning returned to the courtyard, he saw Su Wen waiting at the door.

"Alchemist Zhou, this month's elixir--"

The next moment, Su Wen's face showed surprise. "You 'Late Qi Refining?"