A Mortal's Start in the Spirit Beast Mountain

Chapter 254 Qingyi's Doubts

"Azure Nether Needles?" Tianjing Sanren pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. It seems that this person obtained some Geng metal essence, but not enough to refine the more powerful 'Mysterious Nether Sword' recorded in the scriptures. However, he coveted some of the mysteries of the sword formation's separation and combination, so he chose to settle for second best and chose to refine Azure Nether Needles, which require relatively less Geng metal essence but can simulate some of the sword formation's ability to differentiate and pierce."

"Heh heh, you're quite adaptable and know how to adjust to circumstances. While the Azure Nether Needle isn't as powerful as the Profound Nether Sword, once mastered, it's specifically designed to break through protective auras and defensive magic treasures. Its insidious and swift nature makes it incredibly difficult to defend against, making it one of the most troublesome magic treasures."

Just as Luo Ming and Tianjing Sanren were secretly exchanging words, Qingyi Jushi and Madam Wen exchanged a few more perfunctory pleasantries over the stone pillar, then bowed once more, seemingly casually choosing an empty stone pillar, and flew away on his escape light.

However, the direction he flew was precisely towards this remote corner where Luo Ming was!

Luo Ming felt a sudden chill run down his spine, almost jumping up. He forcibly suppressed his surprise and doubt, fully activating the Concealing Yuan Technique, and tightly binding the magical power of the Azure Nether Scripture within his body deep in his dantian, daring not to reveal even a trace of its special properties.

"Did he discover my cultivation technique? Or is it just a coincidence?" Luo Ming's mind raced, countless thoughts surging within him.

Because of the restrictions here, the power of divine sense was suppressed very much. He hadn't sensed this person using their divine sense to probe him just now, so how did they end up coming this way?

His eyelids were lowered, as if he were indifferent to everything around him, but his muscles were already subtly tense.

The light of Qingyi Jushi traveled slowly and steadily, finally landing on another stone pillar about ten feet away from the one where Luo Ming was. He seemed completely unaware of Luo Ming in the corner, and casually brushed away non-existent dust from the base of the stone pillar. Then he sat down cross-legged and, like the other early arrivals, closed his eyes and began to regulate his breathing.

Everything seemed to be just a coincidence. But Luo Ming's mind was not at ease at all. He could feel that although the other party had his eyes closed, a faint, almost imperceptible ripple of divine consciousness seemed to have gently brushed past him, like a breeze sweeping across a lake, gone in an instant, so fast that it seemed like an illusion.

The hermit Qingyi sat down calmly on a nearby stone pillar without making any further moves, which eased Luo Ming's mind slightly, but his vigilance remained undiminished. Until he possessed sufficient strength to directly confront a Nascent Soul cultivator, he remained extremely wary of anyone in the hall who appeared to be a Nascent Soul cultivator.

However, just as he calmed down and prepared to continue observing the subsequent entrants, a gentle yet somewhat doubtful aged voice suddenly rang out in his mind without warning:

"Young friend, haven't I seen you somewhere before?"

Luo Ming's pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart trembled violently.

In a flash, Luo Ming's face remained completely calm, even revealing a slight hint of surprise and confusion at being suddenly contacted by an unfamiliar senior. He responded respectfully with his divine sense, deliberately making his voice slightly hoarse:

"Senior, you must have mistaken me for someone else. I am Zhang Tie, and I have been cultivating in Tianxing City. I have never had the honor of meeting you before. May I ask why you say this?"

"Oh? Zhang Tie..." Qingyi Jushi's voice paused, as if he had pondered for a moment, and then his gentle smile seemed to be transmitted through divine sense, "Perhaps my perception was wrong. I just faintly sensed the aura of an old friend on you, which was quite familiar, so I took the liberty of asking. If you don't recognize me, then so be it."

As soon as he finished speaking, that wisp of divine consciousness receded like the tide, leaving no trace, as if it really was just a common misidentification.

He forcibly suppressed his turbulent emotions, warning himself that he must not lose his composure at this moment. His gaze returned to the entrance, and just then, the light screen flickered again, and a figure in blue cautiously stepped into the hall.

The newcomer was dressed in a green robe and had an ordinary appearance, the kind that would be hard to spot in a crowd. However, his eyes were bright and alert, and he was now scanning the hall and the people around him with great vigilance.

It was Han Li!

Luo Ming was overjoyed; his target had finally appeared. He secretly pondered that he had to find a way to make contact with this person. Putting aside the possibility of future cooperation, he needed Han Li's help to obtain the "Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng," which could assist in the condensation of the Nascent Soul.

Furthermore, he planned to send the other party to find the medicinal ingredients needed for refining pills later, since he didn't have the little green bottle. If Feng hope caught him, he wouldn't be able to escape.

After entering, Han Li also chose a relatively open spot near the edge to stand, his gaze habitually sweeping quickly over the cultivators in the hall. However, when his gaze landed on a certain spot, he paused slightly, lingering for a noticeably longer time.

Luo Ming followed his gaze and saw a male and female cultivator on the other side of the main hall. The female cultivator was dressed in a light purple dress and her appearance could only be described as pretty. However, her eyes were clear and bright, and she looked at Han Li with great surprise.

Don't get lost while following the story; bookmark it and read "A Mortal's Journey to Immortality: Starting at the Spirit Beast Mountain" anytime.

"Could this be the famous Purple Spirit Fairy?"

Luo Ming's heart stirred. He had noticed this woman when he entered earlier, but although her appearance was pleasing, she was far from the legendary beauty who was said to be the most beautiful woman in the chaotic star sea and who captivated countless cultivators. Therefore, he did not connect the two.

Seeing Han Li's reaction, and recalling the rumors about Fairy Zi Ling, they immediately understood. This woman must have used an extremely sophisticated secret technique or treasure to conceal her true appearance; her delicate features were probably just a disguise.

Luo Ming noticed that not only Han Li, but also several other pairs of eyes were subtly scanning between Han Li and the purple-clad female cultivator. Clearly, some people had recognized Han Li or had some guesses about the female cultivator's identity.

Han Li quickly withdrew his gaze, regaining his calm and cautious demeanor. He found a secluded stone pillar to sit cross-legged and regulate his breathing, but the location he chose subtly kept a certain distance from the purple-clad female cultivator, Madam Wen, Qingyi Jushi, and the others.

Luo Ming saw that Han Li was already sitting cross-legged on a stone pillar, seemingly unaware of him at all. His gaze inadvertently swept over Qingyi Jushi not far away, and he saw that this calm and collected Nascent Soul cultivator had also closed his eyes, his aura calm, as if he had merged with the stone pillar beneath him.

"Let's hold back for now." Luo Ming suppressed his original plan.

It would be too risky to rashly send a telepathic message to Han Li while he was near a Nascent Soul cultivator who practiced a cultivation method of the same origin as the Azure Nether Scripture and possessed keen spiritual sense. He was confident that his spiritual sense was far more refined than others of the same level, but although Han Li's spiritual sense was strong, it had not yet reached the Nascent Soul level, and there was no guarantee that the fluctuations in his telepathic message would not be detected. For now, he could only wait and see.

The hall was silent, save for the faint sounds of breathing and the shimmering light of flowing spiritual energy. Time seemed to stretch out in the empty and oppressive hall, each breath filled with the anxious anticipation and cautious observation.

After an unknown amount of time, clear footsteps once again echoed from the water-like light curtain at the entrance—not the sound of light piercing through the air, but the solid sound of footsteps landing, which seemed particularly abrupt in the silence.

Two figures entered, one after the other.

The man at the front had a pale, ashen face with heavy eye bags, yet possessed long, narrow, snake-like eyes that occasionally flashed with a sharp light, exuding a chilling aura. He was tall and thin, dressed in a dark green robe, and moved silently, yet he caused most of the Core Formation cultivators present to feel a sudden tightness in their chests, as if something icy had brushed against their skin.

Luo Ming caught a glimpse of this person out of the corner of his eye, and his heart trembled. Looking at the young man half a step behind him, who was following closely behind, with a respectful yet somewhat pale expression, who else could it be but Wu Chou?

"It really is him, the Extreme Yin Ancestor!" Luo Ming immediately withdrew his gaze, focusing his eyes on his nose and his mind on his heart, concealing his aura to the extreme, even his divine sense was hidden inside, not daring to leak out in the slightest.

The Nascent Soul cultivator's senses were exceptionally sharp; even a subtle glance could trigger a reaction. Being targeted by a Nascent Soul cultivator, especially one with whom he had some grudge, before even entering the hall was certainly not a good thing.

The Yin Ancestor stepped into the hall, his steps faltering slightly as his slender eyes slowly swept across the entire space. His gaze wasn't particularly sharp, yet it was like a chilling tide washing over every corner, causing the air to seem to freeze. Many cultivators instinctively lowered their heads or averted their gaze, unable to meet his eyes.

His gaze lingered for a moment on the stone pillar where Madam Wen stood, then swept over the long, black sword resting on her lap, a barely perceptible flicker of apprehension flashing in his narrow eyes. Immediately, a slightly stiff smile appeared on his face, and his voice, hoarse yet clear, rang out:

"So Madam Wen and Brother Qing arrived so early; Ji Yin was a step late."

Madam Wen seemed not to hear, not even pausing her wiping of the sword sheath, as if the person who had entered was just an insignificant wisp of air.

The Yin Ancestor, having met with a rebuff, maintained his smile, but his eyes turned colder. He then naturally turned to the other side, looking at the Qingyi Hermit sitting cross-legged on the stone pillar, and said with a smile, "Brother Qing, how have you been?"

Qingyi Jushi opened his eyes at this moment, his face still bearing that gentle and refined smile. He cupped his hands and said, "So it's Brother Wu who has come too. With Brother Wu's abilities, it seems that this trip to the Void Heaven Palace will surely be fruitful!" As he spoke, his gaze seemed to intentionally or unintentionally sweep over Wu Chou behind Ji Yin.

The Yin Ancestor laughed heartily, his voice dry: "Brother Qing is joking. Opportunities within the Void Heaven Palace depend on one's own abilities. I wonder if Brother Qing would consider cooperation?" As he spoke, he rode a streak of dark green light and landed precisely on an empty stone pillar next to Qingyi Jushi, his position forming a triangle with Luo Ming and Qingyi Jushi.

Wu Chou obediently followed behind, finding an open space on the ground near the bottom of the Extreme Yin Ancestor to sit cross-legged, his head bowed and eyes lowered.

The two Nascent Soul cultivators sat side by side. Although one had a gentle smile and the other had a normal expression, the faint spiritual pressure they exuded made the Core Formation cultivators in the vicinity feel pressured and subconsciously made them breathe even more lightly.