171 Late Stage of the Qi Refinement Realm
Jiang Ming leaned against the courtyard wall and saw the grey-haired cultivator leave without looking back. He then returned to his room with relief.
“I also want to take the opportunity. However, my strength doesn’t allow it.”
Jiang Ming sighed. He was only a mid-stage Qi Refinement Realm cultivator now. If he ran into trouble, he would not be able to escape unscathed.
According to the distribution of immortal cultivators in the Litfire Region, the Golden Core Realm cultivators were at the top of the pyramid, the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators were right below, and only the late-stage cultivators of the Qi Refinement Realm had a trace of authority. Anyone below that was cannon fodder.
“At the very least, I have to improve my cultivation to the late stage of the Qi Refinement Realm.”
After staying in Xiaoqian Mountain for almost a year, Jiang Ming would usually read about the world of immortal cultivation to have a deeper understanding of it.
From what he learned, very few immortal cultivators chose to pursue martial arts.
Jiang Ming calmed down after he learned this. He was not actually powerless in this world.
On the surface, he was at the fourth level of the Qi Refinement Realm, but in reality, he was at the sixth level of the Qi Refinement Realm. Moreover, he could even fight against late-stage Qi Refinement Realm cultivators.
Jiang Ming took a deep breath and looked down at the storage ring in his hand. He injected a wisp of spiritual energy into it and began to examine it.
He had originally wanted to live here for a few years and save up money to buy one himself. He did not expect to get one for free from the Plant Hall.
As expected of the poorest organization here, they had given him the smallest available option for storage rings.
Jiang Ming sighed and finished exploring the tiny storage ring.
“What?”
Jiang Ming was shocked.
There were only three items in the storage ring.
A hundred neatly arranged spirit stones, a small black round shield, and a small bottle of pills.
The small round shield was called the Mystic Water Shield. It did not have any special function, but it was extremely tough. It could block all attacks below the Foundation Establishment Realm.
In the bottle, there were ten Golden Blood Pills, which could help Qi Refinement Realm immortal cultivators quickly recover from injuries and replenish spiritual energy. This was a rare healing medicine and was quite expensive.
It was clear that the Plant Hall valued being alive more than anything in the world.
Jiang Ming was extremely touched. “I’ve lived for almost two hundred years, and I’ve finally met a group of like-minded people.”
Suddenly, a message talisman flew in from outside the door.
Jiang Ming was shocked. He recognized that it was the talisman of the Plant Hall. Did something big happen?
Jiang Ming immediately read the message.
“Be wary of scammers. Don’t explore ruins and tombs with others easily.”
After that, it described the details of the opportunities that had recently appeared in the middle of the Litfire Region. The opportunities were real, and there was a relic that would open once every sixty years. However, this time, there would be Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators participating. Thus, the message warned him not to cross them and get killed.
Jiang Ming sighed and decided to get up earlier tomorrow to water a few more fields to repay the Plant Hall for looking out for him.
As the days passed, Jiang Ming’s cultivation became more powerful.
Three months later, another batch of spiritual rice was almost ready to harvest.
Jiang Ming sat cross-legged in the small courtyard, calmly cultivating. He was trying to break through to the next level.
The bottleneck that had stopped him for more than ten years had now become extremely thin. Jiang Ming did not want to use any supplementary medicine. Anyway, he had a lot of time. He could slowly refine his spiritual energy and wear down the bottleneck. It was the best way to break through without any flaws.
Suddenly, Jiang Ming’s eyes narrowed. He felt that the opportunity for a breakthrough had come.
There seemed to be a soft sound in his body. Jiang Ming’s spiritual energy instantly rushed into all his limbs!
He had finally broken through to the seventh level of the Qi Refinement Realm!
Jiang Ming could finally be considered the strongest in Xiaoqian Mountain.
Jiang Ming moved his fingers, and a dark green flying sword flew out. It flew up and down, much more flexible than before.
“I’ve made a breakthrough in my cultivation, and my control of the magic tool is much smoother. With this flying sword, I can deal with many dangers! However, I still have to keep a low profile.”
Jiang Ming immediately disguised his aura to look like he had merely broken through to the fifth level of the Qi Refinement Realm.
That night, in order to celebrate his breakthrough to the fifth level of the Qi Refinement Realm, Jiang Ming invited Feng He, Duan Ping, and the others to the Jade Pavilion to have fun.
“Did you hear about the ruins in the central region? Many people died this time. I’m afraid that the storm will be even bigger in a few decades.” Duan Ping suddenly chuckled as he drank his wine.
“Tell me!” Feng He’s eyes lit up.
Although Duan Ping was not very powerful, as the guard who greeted everyone in the Plant Hall, he always had the most up-to-date information.
Jiang Ming also pricked up his ears. He remembered his gray-haired neighbor who had spoken to him back then. It had been a few months. It seemed that he had not returned.
Duan Ping smiled and said, “Everyone should have heard of the Black Rock Ruins, right? It was discovered in the Litfire Region more than a thousand years ago and is the ruins of an immortal cultivation sect from an unknown era. There are many magic tools and treasures left behind. It opens up once every sixty years, and only early-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators and below can enter. However, this time, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator charged in. Alas, it was a tragedy. Many ordinary immortal cultivators died.”
Jiang Ming’s heart was palpitating with fear. He quickly ate a mouthful of food to calm himself down. He thought to himself that the immortal cultivation world was indeed much more terrifying than the mortal world. He had to be wary!
“How is that possible? I’ve never heard of a cultivator at that level entering the Black Rock Ruins.” Feng He was shocked.
“A few hundred years ago, even the early-stage Foundation Establishment Realm couldn’t enter the Black Rock Ruins. However, as time passed, the restrictions relaxed. According to a reliable source, the next time the Black Rock Ruins open, the ruins might completely shatter. At that time, even Golden Core Realm cultivators might descend.”
As soon as he said that, everyone at the table fell silent.
“What exactly is in the Black Rock Ruins?”
“Aside from regular treasures buried there, an incomplete cultivation technique is rumored to be there as well. Some people have claimed that they heard the voice of a god teaching them a powerful cultivation technique!”
“What?”
Everyone trembled.
“Moreover, the technique seemed to be something even more powerful than a Golden Core Realm technique!”
This time, everyone’s breathing quickened, even Feng He.
Everyone present was at the Qi Refinement Realm!
“You guys are tempted, right? I heard that each time the ruins open, the voice gets clearer and clearer. When it opens again in a few decades, one might even have the chance of obtaining the complete technique!”
After a moment of silence, Feng He suddenly sighed and said with a bitter smile, “Alas, it’s a pity that such a storm is not something we can participate in!”
“That’s right. Let’s just forget about this. We’re peaceful people.”
Jiang Ming silently drank his wine.
He knew that the next time the ruins opened, the people sitting here would not be singing the same tune.