Chapter 349: Unusual Circumstances

The sky in the north darkens earlier than in the south, and dusk arrives sooner as well.

It comes quickly and departs just as swiftly, giving way to night.

This is because white snow dislikes sunlight, and the vast sky abhors the dim yellow of dusk.

Thus, the sky soon became completely dark.

However, the length of the night could not compare to the depth of his longing. Xu Qing stood before his barracks tent, gazing into the darkness, his eyes fixed on the distant direction of Nanhuang Continent.

This place was too far from Nanhuang Continent.

"I wonder how Chen Feiyuan is, and what about Ting Yu? With them there, Master's grave won't lack offerings," Xu Qing murmured as he entered his living tent.

After sitting down cross-legged, he sighed softly and closed his eyes.

After a long while, the turmoil in his mind subsided, and he then took out the small earthen bottle.

"I hope it works," Xu Qing said, placing the earthen bottle aside. He then took out the black iron spike that had accompanied him for many years, gently stroking its surface with his right hand.

He knew every degree of its sharpness and grasped every detail.

The teacher from the slum once said that the older people get, the more nostalgic they become. Xu Qing didn't think this was entirely true, because he wasn't old, yet he was very nostalgic.

Whether it was old acquaintances or old objects, as long as they had helped him, he would never forget them.

With these emotions, Xu Qing lowered his head, opened the earthen bottle, and inserted the black iron spike through its opening. He then extended his senses, merging them with the spike to perceive the changes within.

Soon, Xu Qing felt thin wisps of golden mist emanating from within the earthen bottle.

The mist wavered, penetrating the black iron spike, but more of it flowed and circled around the spike, coiling around it in layers, slowly nourishing it.

This process was not short; an entire night passed until the sky outside grew faintly bright. By then, all the golden mist wrapped around the spike had dissipated.

They had all merged into the spike.

Xu Qing took out the spike and held it before his eyes, examining every inch of it meticulously. After he had thoroughly inspected it, a happy smile appeared on his face.

Most of the previous nicks and gaps on the black iron spike had repaired themselves overnight. Most importantly, its material seemed somewhat different from before.

It was as if it had been reforged.

The Diamond Sect Ancestor had more authority on this matter, so when Xu Qing summoned him, the Ancestor observed the scene and sensed it with extreme seriousness before speaking definitively.

"Master, I can feel the spike's material changing. It's advancing, just like a cultivator's promotion. If this continues, it will undergo a metamorphosis, transforming from a precious treasure into a magical artifact. And because I once empowered it, once it becomes a magical artifact, its power will be no less than that of a spirit artifact!

One could even say it would be a spirit artifact, but it requires more nourishment."

Xu Qing nodded, deep in thought.

The Geng Metal Qi of Shangzhang was very expensive, but being able to purchase it was naturally the simplest way to obtain it. However, Xu Qing thought that the quantity sold outside shouldn't be very large.

"First, I'll look around. Additionally, I need to make a trip to the Grand Beginning Pillar of Abyssal Gloom soon to see if I can acquire this Geng Metal Qi there."

Xu Qing made up his mind, carefully put away the spike, closed his eyes, and meditated.

Soon, the sky brightened considerably. Xu Qing opened his eyes and went out to search for Geng Metal Qi in the city's marketplace.

Indeed, just as he had predicted, although this peculiar Qi from the Grand Beginning Pillar of Abyssal Gloom was not entirely unavailable for sale, its quantity was very small. Xu Qing searched all day and only managed to acquire three more wisps.

According to his analysis, to complete the black iron spike's advancement, he would need at least thirty wisps.

With this in mind, as dusk approached, Xu Qing saw the Dao altar again on his way to the barracks. He saw the old man sitting cross-legged on it and heard him speak of the Dao of flora and fauna.

"Night Corpse Morning Glory, also known as Poison Mountain Root and Dove's Foot Chrysanthemum, is the vine stem and root of the slender-veined Dove's Foot Chrysanthemum, a woody vine that grows in shady mountain gullies, cold streamsides, or jungles..." The ancient voice echoed all around. However, the number of rogue cultivators outside the Dao altar was even fewer than yesterday; there were only a dozen or so people today.

Xu Qing listened for a while, then quietly departed. This time, before leaving, he paid a spirit stone.

Thus, time flowed swiftly, and half a month passed.

The number of cultivators at the Grand Beginning Pillar of Abyssal Gloom had also increased significantly.

However, Li Ziliang of the Grand Supervisor Immortal Sect still ranked first. His height had nearly reached eight hundred zhang, and the higher one climbed, the more difficult it seemed to become.

During this period, he sent three more challenge letters to the Alliance, and the challenges were still directed at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing ignored him. During this time, apart from occasionally acquiring some Geng Metal Qi, most of his time was spent at the Dao altar. Stopping there upon his return each day had become a habit for him.

Until he heard the old man begin to explain the methods of alchemy, he simply sat beside the Dao altar to listen.

In the past, Master Bai had only taught him about flora and fauna, not much about alchemy itself. Xu Qing had slowly explored and self-taught it later.

Although he had achieved some success, overall, Xu Qing still lacked in alchemy. Thus, he listened very carefully. These peaceful days often made Xu Qing feel a sense of trance, as if he had returned to the Scavenger Camp.

At the same time, he also felt that the unassuming old man possessed extremely high attainments in alchemy, because often, with just one sentence from the old man, Xu Qing would have a sudden realization about many key points.

"The method of Yin and Yang transformation is merely one approach. The Dao of alchemy is vast and profound; to this day, humanity possesses over six thousand different alchemy techniques.

I do not advocate teaching these alchemy techniques, as they are merely external methods. Therefore, at most, I only teach the art of Yin and Yang transformation, because this method is more about the application of flora and fauna than about refining.

Remember this: there are myriad paths, but all ultimately lead to one.

Therefore, the foundation of alchemy is paramount. Afterwards, you must discover suitable techniques for yourselves, as even the simplest mixture can be effective.

And what is called 'refining,' in this old man's view, is merely a method to better activate and blend the medicinal properties of flora and fauna.

Although these methods pertain to alchemy, I hope that human cultivators who learn my alchemy techniques understand their essence, for only then can they achieve future success."

As Xu Qing listened to all of this, his expression became somewhat dazed, and vaguely, it was as if the old man before him had become Master Bai.

He instinctively sat upright and instinctively remembered everything. At the same time, through this learning, he gradually felt a deeper understanding of the Dao of alchemy and flora and fauna.

His own attainments in the Dao of flora and fauna alchemy significantly improved, and he now had a supporting system.

His foundation, built by Master Bai, was extremely solid.

His subsequent self-study had become complicated and gradually disorganized. It was only by relying on his previous foundation and focusing on the path of poison that he barely managed to maintain his alchemy system from collapsing.

This period of learning, however, was like refining the dross and preserving the essence, slowly giving Xu Qing a clear direction in alchemy.

According to Seventh Master's words when he took Xu Qing to Ghost Emperor Mountain, Xu Qing now felt as if a "god" had once again moved into his heart—a "god" illuminating the direction of his alchemy.

This made Xu Qing very happy; he hadn't been this happy in a long time.

The growth in his knowledge gave him a sense of fulfillment, but unforeseen incidents always occurred unexpectedly, interrupting Xu Qing's studies.

There was something he needed to deal with.

The incident stemmed from some not-so-serious conflicts. Several disciples from the Eight Sect Alliance's Profound Nether Sect and Seven Blood Eyes had clashed with the Grand Supervisor Immortal Sect. In truth, this was somewhat related to Xu Qing.

His repeated disregard for Li Ziliang's challenges from the Grand Supervisor Immortal Sect during this period had led to much gossip, and these rumors naturally made the disciples of the Eight Sect Alliance uncomfortable.

Thus, conflicts became difficult to avoid.

This time, during a skirmish between some disciples of the Profound Nether Sect and Seven Blood Eyes with the Grand Supervisor Immortal Sect, Li Ziliang of the Grand Supervisor Immortal Sect intervened, seizing and harshly detaining them.

He then informed the Eight Sect Alliance, specifically demanding that Xu Qing come to apologize and retrieve the captives.

This was clearly an attempt to force Xu Qing into a confrontation with him.

News of this quickly spread, and most of the disciples from various sects at the Grand Beginning Pillar of Abyssal Gloom became aware, following the matter with a sense of anticipation.

After all, Xu Qing's previous refusal to accept challenges seemed, to those who didn't know him, a clear act of cowardice and evasion. Now, with Li Ziliang's actions, they wanted to see if Xu Qing would continue to avoid the confrontation.

Xu Qing clearly saw through the other party's intention to establish prestige by using him and to attract the attention of the Sword Bearers.

This intention couldn't be said to be wrong, but detaining and forcing a fight to achieve his goal was excessive. And once things became excessive, it indicated something abnormal.

Xu Qing would ponder deeply over abnormal matters.

For instance, did the opponent's repeated challenges have other objectives?

But whatever the objective, the opponent seemed unprepared, which was why he was only forcing Xu Qing to accept a challenge, not a fight to the death. This led Xu Qing to believe that the opponent most likely wanted to test his strength.

However, whether it was from the slum, the Scavenger Camp, or the way of handling matters he learned in the sect, Xu Qing had only one method for dealing with such situations.

That was to not give the opponent a second chance to strike; he would kill them on the first attempt.

What he disliked most was fighting and then not being able to kill, because from his analysis, the opponent's malicious intent was highly likely to be present. In such a situation, animosity would certainly be formed.

If the opponent could continue to grow, Xu Qing would consider it a hidden danger.

So, Xu Qing took out a jade slip and sent a voice message to the Ancestor, inquiring.

"Ancestor, killing is forbidden within the Grand Beginning Pillar of Abyssal Gloom. Does this area refer to the entire region or just this city?"

After a moment, the Ancestor responded faintly.

"This city. You brat... Forget it, do as you see fit." Xu Qing nodded, then cupped his fist outside the Dao altar towards the old man who was lecturing on flora and fauna. He knew the old man wouldn't pay attention, as during this period, the old man only lectured and never inquired about or paid attention to anyone below him.

However, Xu Qing greatly valued etiquette. After bowing, his body flickered, and he shot towards the sky like a bolt of lightning, instantly arriving outside the city. He stood in mid-air and calmly sent out his voice.

"Li Ziliang, a life-and-death battle—do you accept?" As his voice rang out, the disciples of all sects throughout Grand Beginning City instantly erupted in an uproar.