Chapter 42 Wait, what the hell is the tenth level of Qi Refining?

Chapter 42: Wait, what in the world is Qi Refinement Stage Level 10?

In the dark passage, Jiang Li led the way, walking at the very front.

What came into view was a sizable underground banyan cave, slippery and muddy, with a foul stench that was nauseatingly strong with the smell of blood, as if a slaughterhouse was buried there.

Vines extended from both sides, embedded in the walls, seemingly integrated with the entire underground banyan cave, growing vigorously within the stone walls.

As they delved deeper, human bones began to appear continuously.

All were parasitized by vines within the walls.

The number was horrifying.

A rough count revealed hundreds, even thousands, of them.

“Jiang Li, this Zhou Family is indeed raising evil things. It seems to be some kind of Wood attribute Heaven And Earth Treasure, which they’ve transformed into a demonic tree that devours human blood. It’s truly a waste of Heaven And Earth Treasure.”

Li Xi, as a second-generation immortal, was knowledgeable and immediately recognized it as a Heaven And Earth Treasure.

Her tone carried a strong sense of pity.

Jiang Li’s expression shifted slightly.

The so-called Heaven And Earth Treasure are actually Spiritual Heaven And Earth Treasure.

These Spiritual Treasures can not only be used for Alchemy but also assist Cultivators in shortening the time it takes to Breakthrough major Bottlenecks, achieving twice the result with half the effort.

The higher the grade of the Spiritual Treasure, the greater the help it provides to Cultivators.

Some special types of Heaven And Earth Treasure can even help Cultivators improve their Spiritual Root quality and increase their Aptitude.

Clearly.

The demonic vines in the Zhou Family’s underground banyan cave belonged to one such type.

Just then.

Two angry shouts interrupted their conversation.

Two withered old men walked out, most of their bodies already transformed into dead wood, as if they had become a special existence, between human and tree.

And the Magical Power fluctuations emanating from them were clearly at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

“Juniors, I advise you to return from whence you came. Our Zhou Family has no intention of offending Tianxuan Holy Land, but if you are determined to seek death, we will simply bathe Qinghe County in blood and move elsewhere.”

An old man with one foot already in the grave spoke, his two cloudy eyes full of bloodshot marks.

Clearly.

They were not entirely ignorant of the Zhou Family’s situation outside.

It was just that for some other reason, they couldn’t go up to provide support.

Jiang Li had an idea.

Including the Zhou Family Patriarch, a family with three Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators, such a lineup was indeed beyond the Demon Suppression Division’s ability to suppress in Qinghe County.

If Zhou Yang hadn’t been discovered by him, in another ten years or so, Qinghe County might truly have seen the rise of a Golden Core Family.

“Leave this to me. The Zhou Family Patriarch hasn’t shown himself, so he must be at some critical moment. You two go stop him.”

Murong Qing also had this thought.

She stepped forward proactively.

To intercept the two Foundation Establishment Stage family elders.

“How dare you!”

The two family elders’ secret thoughts were exposed.

Their calm faces instantly showed shock and anger.

Their withered hands reached towards the wall.

Immediately.

The wall cracked open.

Several thorny vines extended out, intending to block the path of the three.

Murong Qing’s fingertip clicked on the sword hilt, and a cold light flashed from the sheath. In an instant, she unleashed a dozen sword strikes. The vines shattered completely, and the wounds were covered with frost, freezing the walls on both sides.

“Go.”

Murong Qing’s voice was clear and cold.

She stood with her sword slanted.

Like a beautiful landscape painting.

Jiang Li thought: It’s truly reassuring to be on a mission with Murong Qing.

【Ding, the Cultivation Technique Imperial Extremes World-Shocking Skill states: She should not be put into the harem; she should be appointed a general and a marquis, becoming my great general.】

Heh, you’re dreaming big.

Jiang Li cursed under his breath.

He urged the Cultivation Technique to act quickly, or he would lock it in a dark room.

Immediately after.

Jiang Li nodded.

He bypassed the two Foundation Establishment Stage family elders and walked deeper inside.

“You’re not allowed to approach…”

Before the words were finished.

Murong Qing swung her longsword, condensing rain into ice, soaring into the sky, and began to seal off the two’s movement trajectories.

When she looked up, it was like an ice blade emerging from its scabbard.

The meaning was clear: first, defeat her.

…

At the same time.

Jiang Li had already arrived at the deepest part of the banyan cave.

Li Xi couldn’t help but cover her mouth, revealing a look of shock.

Only to see a strange figure, half of its body integrated into the wall, while the other half was entirely composed of wood, with tattered, shriveled human skin hanging from it.

Dense tree vines covered the entire banyan cave.

Constructing a bizarre existence where human and tree merged.

“That’s… the Zhou Family Patriarch.”

Li Xi exclaimed in surprise.

Although she had guessed that the Zhou Family was raising evil things, she hadn’t expected such a method of raising them.

Human and tree fused, becoming the dominant entity.

Thus, the reason for the Zhou Family’s killings became clear.

The immense life force required to raise such an evil tree was something the Zhou Family simply couldn’t afford to sustain, so they could only continuously sacrifice human lives.

And these human lives would ultimately form abundant fruits, feeding back to the Zhou Family members.

Jiang Li rushed forward without a word.

The Zhou Family Patriarch seemed to sense the approaching danger, opening his hollow eye sockets, his voice like the howl of a malevolent ghost, filled with endless resentment and anger, “Just a little more, just a little more and I could have completely digested this Wood Spirit Infant. Why did you have to come and disrupt things? I’m not reconciled!”

As he spoke.

All the tree vines in the entire banyan cave became agitated.

They pierced through the upper layer.

Extending their tendrils out of the secret passage.

In an instant, the earth shook violently.

The walls collapsed.

Huge and endless vines burst out of the holes, overturning the entire Zhou Family residence.

Above ground.

The Demon Suppression Division soldiers, who were besieging the Zhou Family members, suddenly felt the ground shaking wildly.

Immediately after, countless thick vines burst out of the ground, overturning the Zhou Family’s buildings one by one, revealing a huge pit.

The Zhou Family Patriarch rose from the pit.

His upper body still vaguely maintained some human form.

His lower body, however, was a complete monster, woven from tree vines, with no human form at all.

Seeing this scene.

The Demon Suppression Division soldiers on site were all stunned.

Is that the Zhou Family Patriarch?

How did he become like this?

Is this still a human?

“You killed my Zhou Family members and interfered with my plan! I will use the blood of your Demon Suppression Division to fill all of this!”

The Zhou Family Patriarch looked at the tragic state of the Zhou Manor, his heart bleeding.

If he had known these people would be so troublesome, he should have dispatched the two Foundation Establishment Stage family elders earlier, instead of having them protect him to ensure his absolute safety.

A mistake in judgment, and things were now irreversible.

All he could do now was kill everyone and then consider rebuilding.

Just then.

The sound of rushing air from behind was almost upon him.

The Zhou Family Patriarch was greatly alarmed and turned to block.

Bang.

A fierce whip kick slammed onto his shoulder.

A colossal force struck, sending his body crashing down heavily.

Creating a pit.

Cracks like a spiderweb spread across the ground.

The Zhou Family Patriarch lay in the deep pit, looking at his shattered left shoulder, his face filled with astonishment.

“You monster! I am a Foundation Establishment Stage Middle Stage Cultivator, empowered by the Wood Spirit Infant! How can a small Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator like you cause me harm?”

Jiang Li remained silent.

He stomped heavily.

The floor tiles cracked.

He charged forward with unparalleled might.

“Do you really think I’m afraid of you?”

The Zhou Family Patriarch roared.

Countless thick tree vines swiftly thrust out.

Forming a hundred and eighty attacks.

Jiang Li was expressionless, his fists raining down like a storm, not giving an inch.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang…

The terrifying sounds became the only melody of this battlefield.

Fists collided with tree vines.

The tree vines continuously shattered, only to be quickly replenished, their attacks relentless.

For a time, it was impossible to tell who was winning.

Nor could one tell who was at a disadvantage.

However, anyone with a discerning eye could see that Jiang Li’s combat power was exceptionally rare.

With the cultivation of Qi Refinement Stage Level 8, to directly confront a Foundation Establishment Stage Middle Stage Cultivator without falling into a disadvantage.

This was too astonishing.

They had seen Prodigies from major sects, but none were as fierce and unrivaled as Jiang Li.

As for Jiang Li, he had already ended the Hosting (System control).

The Cultivation Technique Imperial Extremes World-Shocking Skill was indeed incredibly fierce, possessing a powerful Physical Body capable of rivaling a Foundation Establishment Stage Middle Stage Cultivator, but… in the Domain of Foundation Establishment Stage Middle Stage, an entry-level Body Refining Cultivation Technique still couldn’t achieve a complete crush (overwhelming victory).

If they continued fighting, it would become a protracted battle.

It wasn’t necessary.

【Ding, the Cultivation Technique Imperial Extremes World-Shocking Skill sighed helplessly, secretly vowing in its heart: I will go into secluded cultivation again, and when my divine skill reaches Major Achievement, I will emerge to sweep across the world.】

Oh, you’re getting competitive now.

That’s great.

Jiang Li was happy to see it.

Afterward.

A three-foot, three-inch longsword appeared in his hand.

The sword body resembled a crimson phoenix.

It was precisely the Tier 2 Spirit Treasure, Burning Sky.

To deal with this kind of tree demon body, the Dragon Slaying Sword technique was clearly more advantageous than Body Refining methods.

Li Xi saw Jiang Li’s intention.

Her figure moved.

Venturing into the battlefield.

She poured all her Magical Power into Jiang Li’s body.

Jiang Li, who had originally depleted nearly sixty percent of his Magical Power, recovered completely at this moment.

Li Xi did not retreat.

She took out a bottle of Medicinal Pills from her Storage Ring, and without counting how many there were, she swallowed them all.

Her cheeks puffed out slightly.

Jiang Li was not pretentious either.

Magical Power surged.

He swung a sword.

The sword Qi transformed into a Dragon, which then transformed into a roaring crimson Dragon, howling away.

The tree vines were completely incinerated, but the remaining force continued to attack.

The Zhou Family Patriarch was greatly alarmed.

No.

Aren’t you a Body Cultivator?

How did you become a Sword Cultivator again?

He could deal with crude martial artists of the same Realm, but facing a Sword Cultivator, facing that crimson fire that could burn tree vines, he had no chance of winning.

The situation began to tilt.

The crimson Dragon sword strikes were continuously unleashed, each sword capable of slicing off a part of the Zhou Family Patriarch’s body.

In just three strikes.

The Zhou Family Patriarch fell from the tree vines, unable to control the massive tree demon body any longer.

“Let… let me…”

Before he could finish speaking, a sword light flashed past.

The Zhou Family Patriarch was split in two.

His life came to an end.

Immediately.

A cold System notification sound rang in Jiang Li’s mind.

【Ding, the Cultivation Technique “Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art” silently recited the Rebirth Mantra, offering salvation to the wronged souls here. It received the most sincere gratitude from the wronged souls, and its righteous belief was widely spread. Heaven and Earth were moved, Karma was added to its body, its fortune deepened, and its Comprehension Ability improved.】

【Cultivation Technique Progress +100%.】

【Completed optional task.】

【Completion Reward: Cultivation Technique Progress +100%, Magical Power purification.】

The next moment.

Jiang Li’s aura expanded all around him.

His Magical Power surged.

As if he had entered a new Realm.

However…

Jiang Li was stunned.

Wait.

The Cultivation Technique’s righteous belief was widely spread, Cultivation Technique Progress +100%.

The reward for completing the optional task was also Cultivation Technique Progress +100%.

In other words.

That’s two levels of cultivation.

He was currently at Qi Refinement Stage Level 8. If he advanced two more levels, shouldn’t he have reached Foundation Establishment Stage?

Jiang Li carefully sensed his condition.

He hadn’t reached Foundation Establishment Stage.

But his Magical Power had surpassed the Peak of Qi Refinement Stage Level 9.

He had advanced to Qi Refinement Stage Level 10?

No.

Does the Qi Refinement Stage even have this Realm?!