Chapter 207: The Descending Qi Refiner

Half a year later.

The Extreme North, above the Great Evolution Mending Heaven Array.

Suddenly, ripples stirred in the calm void, and the patches of light mist at the center of the great array, which had already been slightly repaired, rippled abruptly, causing the surrounding light to become distorted and chaotic.

It is unknown how much time passed, but in the center of the Mending Heaven Array, that largest patch of light mist trembled violently under the influence of some unknown force, and then a streak of flowing light suddenly flew out from within, manifesting into two human figures.

These two figures were a man and a woman; the man appeared to be about thirty-four years of age, handsome and slightly frivolous, while the woman appeared to be in her twenties, with a slender figure and a cold, stunning beauty, as if she were an immortal fairy who had stepped out of a painting.

The key was that both of them were wearing exquisite and gorgeous Dharma Robes, their bodies wreathed in immortal light, and they were standing in the void as if walking on flat ground!

"Is this the Lower Realm?"

The two who had appeared from the light mist scanned their surroundings with solemn and vigilant eyes, discovered the great array beneath their feet at the first moment, and after confirming there was no one else around, they both revealed expressions of shock and suspicion.

Their brows furrowed; first, they flashed together out of the area covered by the array, then they repeatedly scrutinized the light mist before them and the array beneath their feet, their brows knitting deeper and deeper.

The man said in a condensed voice: "Incredible. I was wondering why the long-abandoned Lower Realm passage would suddenly experience an anomaly; it turns out someone in the Lower Realm has set up a restoration array."

The woman's expression was also exceptionally solemn:

"This array is actually capable of drawing upon the power of the sun, moon, and stars to repair the passage between the two realms. It is truly exquisite and incomparably profound; I have never seen it in all my years of cultivation. Fellow Daoist Bai is quite proficient in the way of arrays; can you recognize what array this is?"

Clouds of suspicion filled the man's eyes:

"I also cannot recognize what array this is, but to be able to repair the Lower Realm passage and reconnect the two realms, this must be a top-tier array. I observe that the spiritual energy in this Lower Realm is thin to the point of non-existence; who could have such means to set up this array?"

The woman did not say more; her figure drifted slowly down before an Array Flag, and after examining it closely, she exclaimed in even greater shock:

"Fellow Daoist Bai, look at the material of this Array Flag; it does not seem to be any special Spirit Material."

The man immediately descended as well, tentatively releasing his divine sense to perceive it slightly, then his eyes narrowed:

"Fellow Daoist Qin is correct. The material of this Array Flag has no special spirituality; it relies entirely on the Dharma Power nourishment of the refiner. Judging from the degree of nourishment, the refiner's cultivation should be at the Foundation Establishment perfection level, not yet having reached Golden Core."

"Foundation Establishment perfection?"

The woman surnamed Qin knitted her willow brows, her gaze shifting to the Great Evolution Mending Heaven Array:

"A cultivator of such cultivation level can set up such a mysterious and wondrous array? This is simply..."

The man surnamed Bai said playfully:

"It is indeed somewhat incredible, but the way of arrays is inherently about using four ounces to move a thousand pounds, using minute force to pry the power of Heaven and Earth to form an array; it is not absolutely impossible for a Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator to set this up. Just like seven thousand years ago, the most powerful of this realm's natives were only at the Golden Core level, yet didn't they also set up the Sealing Heaven and Earth Array and brazenly sever the Heavenly Ladder?

However, the only thing I cannot figure out now is that the Spiritual Machine of this Lower Realm is basically severed; normally, one cannot even reach the late stage of Qi Refining. How did this person manage to cultivate to Foundation Establishment perfection?"

"Could it be that this realm still holds secrets unknown to you and me?"

The woman surnamed Qin said in a condensed voice:

"Since that is the case, you and I should act with caution, lest we capsize in this small gutter and delay the mission ordered by the Immortal City Lord."

"That should be the case."

The man surnamed Bai revealed a slightly expectant smile:

"Let's go, Fellow Daoist Bai. This place seems sparsely populated; let us first search and inquire to see who exactly set up this array, and then discuss other matters."

The woman surnamed Qin nodded. After the two flew into the sky several thousand zhang high to overlook and observe, because they were unfamiliar with the Lower Realm, they could only choose a direction at random and flew off toward a certain place.

The man among the two transformed his entire body into a crimson rainbow of light, covering dozens of miles in an instant, while the woman lightly tossed her fair hand, and a jade-green flying shuttle like a small boat carried her as she traveled through the air, its speed not much slower than the rainbow of light the man had transformed into.

And in less than an hour, they crossed the vast ocean and flew over a continent.

Under their overlooking gaze, there was a rather prosperous city on the coast, with ships of all sizes coming and going in the port, transporting various goods.

"Hmm?"

Clearly seeing that the ships were all made of steel and could come and go like the wind without sails, Bai Qianfeng's gaze shifted, revealing an extremely interested expression:

"Moving without sails; what is this?"

The two looked at each other and immediately descended rapidly, the only difference being that Qin Ruoning pinched a Dharma Technique to completely hide herself in invisibility, while Bai Qianfeng was swaggering and made no attempt to conceal himself.

Qin Ruoning could not help but frown: "Fellow Daoist Bai?"

Bai Qianfeng laughed loudly: "Fellow Daoist Qin, you are being overly cautious. We are both Golden Core Real Persons; why should we be timid coming to this Lower Realm where the Spiritual Machine is severed?"

Qin Ruoning was speechless and helplessly withdrew her Dharma Technique.

After descending to the sky above the port, the sight of the two wreathed in immortal light immediately caused gasps and an uproar among the tens of thousands of people on the shore and on the ships.

And Bai Qianfeng and the other immediately discovered that everyone, whether on the shore or on the ships, had high noses, deep eyes, golden hair, and green eyes.

"Eh? These people actually look similar to the barbarians of the Guirong Country in the Upper Realm; this is interesting."

Qin Ruoning stared at the shore and soon discovered trucks speeding on the road:

"Fellow Daoist Bai, these people are clearly all mortals, but they seem to have developed means similar to mechanism arts, thereby creating these iron cars and iron ships that move on their own; truly incredible."

Bai Qianfeng also clicked his tongue in wonder:

"The lowly mortals of the Lower Realm actually possess such intelligence; it is truly somewhat surprising. Shall we find someone here to inquire?"

Qin Ruoning nodded, and the two flew down to the port amidst the horrified gazes of tens of thousands. Bai Qianfeng reached out and grabbed at random, his Dharma Power palm manifesting in the air, and he snatched a Sha'e Person who looked like a foreman from not far away:

"I ask you, what place is this?"

Within the Dharma Power palm, this Sha'e Person shouted in terror in extremely broken Han Chinese:

"Immortal, Immortal spare my life, do not kill me!"

Over the past ten-plus years, the New Nation had risen like a comet and had already become a top-tier powerful nation, having already surpassed Shenluo.

Sha'e Country could now only rank third, and since merchants from the New Nation often came to this port to do business, most of the Sha'e People who begged for a living at the port knew some Han Chinese.

"You still know I am an Immortal?"

Bai Qianfeng was also surprised that the barbarian before him could understand, but his gaze was like looking at an ant:

"Do not speak useless nonsense; where is this?"

"Immortal, calm your anger! Immortal, calm your anger!"

Before the person being grabbed could answer, a person who looked like an interpreter arrived and shouted urgently:

"This is Alaga Port!" The answering interpreter spoke in standard and clear Chinese, and judging by his appearance, he was clearly a person of mixed blood. Bai Qianfeng tossed the person in his hand aside like trash, then looked over with a playful gaze:

"Why do you call me an Immortal? Have you seen someone similar to me before?"

The interpreter was stunned upon hearing this, hurriedly identified the person carefully, and then his expression changed slightly:

"You, you are not that Supreme Heavenly Master from Shenzhou?"

Lu Yuan's appearance was not only known to everyone in Shenzhou, but portraits and even photographs of him were circulated throughout the world, including in Shenluo, Sha'e, and Rizhao; whether among the lower classes or the middle and upper echelons, the vast majority recognized him, and it was etched into their memories.

Yet, the interpreter discovered that the man above him did not match the Shenzhou Immortal he had seen at all, especially with the addition of the woman beside him who could also fly, which seemed exceptionally bizarre.

"Supreme Heavenly Master? What a big mouth!"

Bai Qianfeng gave a disdainful sneer, then beckoned:

"I have lived in the deep mountains for a long time and truly do not know this person. What kind of character is that Shenzhou Immortal? Tell me his origins and deeds in detail; if you satisfy me, there will be a reward."

The interpreter was terrified. Although he could not figure out the origins of these two, he knew well that he could not afford to offend or refuse them, so he immediately said:

"That Shenzhou Immortal is named Lu Yuan. He first became famous in Jinjin. At that time, Shenzhou was still ruled by the Jin Dynasty. He set up a ring in Jinjin and invited heroes to battle..."

The interpreter had a retentive memory and knew Lu Yuan's origins like the back of his hand, detailing everything he knew.

Slaying the Undying Demon Empress, annihilating the fleet, capturing the Emperor, suppressing the Pope, and making the three countries submit.

A moment later, after listening, Bai Qianfeng was even more contemptuous and smiled at Qin Ruoning beside him:

"Fellow Daoist Qin, my judgment was correct. This person truly has at most the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment completion, yet he acts as a king and hegemon in this Absolute Spirit World, merely inviting ridicule."

Qin Ruoning, however, had flashing eyes:

"This world's Heaven and Earth are devoid of spiritual energy and in the Age of Dharma Decline, with Qi Refiners extinct. For this person to be able to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage is truly inconceivable. Could it be that he found some great opportunity or great fortune left over from the ancient era?"

Bai Qianfeng's gaze also flickered, and a flash of eagerness passed by:

"It seems that is the only reason. As for what exactly that opportunity and fortune are, we will know once we find this person."

As he spoke, he looked down at the trembling interpreter waiting below and asked:

"In which direction is the New Nation? Do you have a map or something here?"

The interpreter hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, I will go get it for you right away!"

Bai Qianfeng waved his hand. Having received permission, the interpreter hurriedly ran into a three-story building not far away and soon brought back a rather large map, offering it respectfully:

"If the two Immortals wish to go to the New Nation, it is over ten thousand miles to the southeast from here."

"Very good."

Bai Qianfeng swept his gaze over it, put it away with satisfaction, and then flicked a Pill, which landed in the interpreter's arms:

"This is a Red Spirit Pill. Consuming it can temper the physique and increase cultivation Dharma Power. It is a reward for you."

Having said that, he said no more, and with a wave of his sleeve, he turned and flew away with Qin Ruoning, leaving the interpreter standing blankly on the spot, as if he had not yet reacted.

After the two rays of immortal light quickly moved away.

The thousands of Sha'e People around were not fools. Although most could not understand what the two had discussed, they knew that what the man suspected to be an Immortal had bestowed must be something extraordinary, so they looked over with eager and greedy eyes one after another.

The interpreter could not help but shudder, then without hesitation, he stuffed the newly obtained Pill into his mouth and swallowed it.

Just kidding; an Immortal Pill bestowed by an Immortal might grant eternal life if consumed. No one would hand it over to others. To prevent this heaven-sent opportunity from being snatched away, he simply chose to swallow it on the spot, extinguishing the covetous hearts of others.

However.

Not long after swallowing the Red Spirit Pill, as the interpreter was proudly looking around at the surrounding Sha'e People, a sudden, incomparable burning pain erupted in his abdomen. He felt as if he had swallowed a red-hot iron ball, and he immediately fell to the ground screaming.

The surrounding Sha'e People did not know what had happened and stepped forward in horror to check.

They saw the interpreter's face twisted, his eyes blood-red, screaming and struggling. In just a few breaths, white smoke and a slight scorched smell emerged from inside his body, as if he were being burned by a raging fire from within!!

At this very moment.

High above in the sky.

Qin Ruoning said indifferently:

"Fellow Daoist Bai, your Red Spirit Pill should only be beneficial for cultivators who practice fire-element techniques. If that mortal, who only has a strong body, consumes it, he might not be able to save his life."

Bai Qianfeng laughed:

"That is none of my business. The worst thing I have on me is the Red Spirit Pill, which is a pill effective even for those in the Foundation Establishment Stage. Bestowing it upon him is a blessing he cultivated over nine lifetimes; as for whether he can withstand it, that depends on his own fate. Why, is a mere native of the lower realm worth worrying about, Fellow Daoist Qin?"

Qin Ruoning frowned slightly. Although she did not agree with his approach, she did not say much more.

Immortals and mortals are different. Not to mention this lower realm, even in the Upper Realm of Yuanling Heaven where they reside, mortals and cultivators are almost two different species. As long as there is no wanton slaughter or Blood Sacrifice, no one cares about the life or death of individual mortals.

Although she did not speak, Bai Qianfeng seemed to have found the urge to talk and said:

"Although this world is devoid of Spiritual Machine, under the repair of that great array, the two realms have already re-established contact. It is a pity that the connection between the two realms is weak. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator like the Immortal City Lord can only send one or two people over at a great cost, and their cultivation cannot exceed the early stage of Golden Core, lest the fragile connection collapse."

"But if we can learn the method of setting up the array from that Lu Yuan, and then pass the message to let the Immortal City Lord find a way to send Spirit Material to re-deploy that great array, it should be possible to repair the passage more quickly."

After the passage is repaired, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Machine will also circulate, and this world will no longer be an Absolute Spirit World. It can serve as our buffer and recuperation ground. No matter how the Corpse Tide and corpse aura rage in the Upper Realm, the days in Longshan Immortal City will not be so difficult."

Qin Ruoning sighed softly:

"Having a lower realm as a buffer and recuperation ground is not foolproof. We must also guard against the intrusion of corpse aura. If it were like that small world discovered by Yuhua Immortal City a thousand years ago, where the vast world was soaked in the original corpse aura and hundreds of millions of living beings turned into corpse ghosts, that would be a monstrous disaster."

Bai Qianfeng was dismissive: "These are problems that Nascent Soul Great Cultivators and even Transformation Spirit Giants need to consider."

As the two spoke.

Their figures flew across the sky, their speed like lightning and meteors crossing the vast land. Before long, they flew past the border of Sha'e Country and entered the territory of the New Nation.