There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 93 On Spiritual Decay [Third Update]

"Whoosh-"

No sooner had Chen Qing left than several figures arrived, soaring through the air!

The leader, clad in heavy black iron armor and carrying a long sword at his waist, was Lei Heng, the border garrison commander.

Behind him stood a man in a flowing robe with a refined appearance, Zhou Wenyuan, a patrolman in the city.

"Master Yu!" Lei Heng's voice was like a muffled thunder. His gaze swept over the mess on the ground, and his thick eyebrows furrowed. "Who is this madman who dares to attack you in Dingbian City?"

Zhou Wenyuan stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Is the Daoist Master alright? In broad daylight, they brazenly committed this crime, showing utter disregard for the law! Please tell me, Daoist Master, who did this? We will surely capture and bring them to justice as a warning to others!"

The old Taoist suppressed the churning blood in his chest and was about to point to the alley where Chen Qing had disappeared, but just as he was about to utter the word "Li," he suddenly came to his senses!
"Ahem..." The old Taoist cleared his throat. "General Lei, Inspector Zhou, thank you for your concern. It's just a minor injury, nothing to do with my Dao foundation. This matter is a family affair of my Taiyi Dao Palace! That arrogant fellow will be dealt with according to the palace's rules, so there's no need to trouble the city guards!"

Lei Heng and Zhou Wenyuan exchanged a glance.

Lei Heng loosened his grip on the hilt of his sword and said, "Since this is an internal matter of the Dao Palace, it is not appropriate for this humble general to interfere."

Zhou Wenyuan replied, "If assistance from the city is needed, just give the order, and the entire city of Dingbian will do its utmost."

Master Yu nodded slightly in response.

Seeing this, Lei Heng and Zhou Wenyuan did not ask any further questions.

Chen Qing concealed his presence, blended into the crowd, and left the city after several turns.

As the city walls receded into the distance, the trees on both sides of the official road grew denser.

He found a secluded stream, sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing, and focused his inner vision on his dantian.

The yellow-green outer elixir floated in the dantian, its radiance restrained.

"Using this pill still consumes a considerable amount, but it can sustain me for a while, far better than the predicament of being drained in just a few breaths when I was in the Foundation Establishment stage." He clenched his fists, feeling the surging power, then frowned slightly. "Since leaving the Xuanyu Prison, I've sensed that the spiritual energy in this world seems thinner and more mixed than when I was the Primordial Immortal Emperor. Could it be that the decline of spiritual energy began at this time?"

The reason why later cultivation methods are so meticulous, striving to squeeze out every bit of spiritual energy, is because spiritual energy is declining and the world is impoverished.

However, this was not the time to investigate; his thoughts turned to the Taoist priest from before.
His thoughts returned to the Taoist priest from earlier, and a vague, otherworldly figure emerged from the depths of his memory.

"Yu Xuan Daoren".

Chen Qing confirmed it without a doubt.

When Li Qing first met him as a child, he had no cultivation yet, but he felt that his aura was as deep as the sea, and he was amazed by his extraordinary talent. Now that his Yin Spirit has been formed, his vision has opened up, and he can tell that he has reached the perfect state of Yin Spirit.

"A perfected Yin Spirit cultivator against an early-stage Yin Spirit cultivator should have the advantage, but unfortunately I have an external elixir! However, he's no simpleton either; that bright yellow cauldron is truly sturdy, and its aura feels familiar—I feel like I've seen it somewhere before..."

Once the Taoist's identity is clarified, the whole story becomes clear.

"The female cultivator from Taiyi Dao Palace searched for me a few years ago but failed, so she led this old Taoist here. This should be the turning point of this seven-day dream."

With this thought in mind, he stood up and glanced in the direction of Dingbian City.

"This old Taoist priest misjudged my strength and suffered a great loss. He will be unable to pursue me in the short term and may have to give up. However, this city has become a place of trouble, and we cannot stay here for long, nor can we gamble on his temperament. However, it is always better to be prepared. If he really does not give up, he must have something to rely on. I must also be prepared. This dream body has too high comprehension, so I cannot easily give it up."

He pondered for a moment, but did not hesitate. He set his sights on the east, and his body transformed into a faint shadow, merging into the vast mountains and forests.

The next day, as dawn broke in the east.

Li Qing dashed out of the vast, verdant mountains and headed straight for the nearby Five Passes City, a strategic stronghold.

Although it was early, the city was already bustling.

He had no interest in lingering, so he found an inconspicuous "Hundred Refinements Workshop" in the city, purchased materials, and rented a furnace.

Before the furnace where the earth's fire blazed, Chen Qing flicked his sleeve, and several precious materials fell onto the table. Though not the finest, they were sufficient.

"The way of refining weapons must ultimately be judged by one's own hands." Li Qingjing stood before the furnace, his mind deep and focused.

During his five years in Xuanyu, he discussed and deduced the Dao with Jiang Kai and other masters of weapon crafting. The essence of the Dao was already imprinted in his mind, and his theoretical knowledge was already at its peak.

"Turn on the furnace!"

With a flick of his finger, a stream of pure Yin energy pierced into the runes at the bottom of the furnace.

The ghostly blue fire turned bluish-white, its temperature soaring but remaining condensed and undissipated.

Materials are introduced into the flame in sequence, permeating and mixing.

Chen Qing's ten fingers flew, successively injecting numerous restrictions. The entire process was smooth and natural, as if he had practiced it hundreds of times.

Half a day later.

The fire in the stove gradually died down.

A small boat floats quietly in mid-air, its entire body as smooth as polished black jade, with extremely simple and smooth lines, without any superfluous carvings.

"Simplicity is enough," he muttered to himself, quite satisfied. This boat was not designed to be ornate, but rather practical, sturdy, and swift—perfect for his needs.

With a slight thought, the small black jade boat transformed into an inconspicuous streak of dark light and disappeared into his sleeve.

"Most of the materials have been used up, and the furnace rental fee is also quite high." Chen Qing frowned slightly as he counted the little Xuanyu savings he had left. On the path of cultivation, wealth, companions, methods, and land are all important, and the word "wealth" is indeed pressing in at every step.

He took out a small bag of spiritual essence, weighed it in his hand, and realized that this was the "fuel" to power the flying boat. Every little bit used was precious.

A few breaths later, the flying boat ascended into the air, transforming into a streak of black light, heading straight east. Inside the boat, Chen Qing sat cross-legged, his eyes closed in deep thought.

"These past few days may seem calm, but for cultivators, it's just a blink of an eye. Moreover, they only wake up once every seven days, so there are too many variables."

We must plan ahead!

He mentally considered all the possibilities.

"If I have the chance, I really want to learn a divination technique..."

The flying boat, like a dark shooting star, streaked across the vast sea of ​​clouds.

On the sixth day of this dream, the flowing light of black jade descended from the clouds.

A vast, majestic mountain range stretches before us, shrouded in clouds and mist, displaying ever-changing weather.

The main peak of Dingyuan Mountain pierces the clouds, with faint, powerful fluctuations of a restrictive barrier emanating from it, yet remaining dormant.

This place is the mountain gate of the Hidden Star Sect, one of the seven great sects of the Immortal Dynasty!
The laws of the Immortal Dynasty are strict. The mountain gate of the upper sect is a sacred place, with restrictions everywhere. Those who trespass will be shot down by the formation at best, and their souls will be destroyed at worst. Apart from members of the sect, it is difficult for others to fly.

The black jade boat landed and moored outside a small town nestled against green mountains.

Chen Qing put away the flying boat and strolled into the town entrance.

Under a simple tea stall on the street, several men in short shirts were spitting as they drank coarse tea.

"It is said that more than a hundred years ago, when the sect opened its doors to disciples in the mountains, it was always packed with people? But now it is deserted, what a pity."

Chen Qing paused slightly, turned around and sat down, ordering a bowl of the cheapest coarse tea. He listened intently, his brows furrowing more and more as he listened. These people were all lamenting the sparse traffic outside the Hidden Star Sect.

Chen Qing listened for a while, then shook his head and stood up.

"They're talking about it like this right here at the foot of the mountain gate, they don't even try to hide it."

After taking a few steps forward, his expression suddenly hardened, and he drew a line with his right hand, fingers together like a knife, at his side!
"Fuck-"

Three figures stepped out from the distorted air, their auras profound!

The man in the lead, clad in a wide gray robe, was none other than the Taoist Yu Xuan!
He sighed, "I knew you'd found out!"

The two men beside him were an elderly man with a white beard on his left, exuding an imposing aura; and a middle-aged man on his right carrying an ancient sword, radiating a sharp and fierce presence.
Chen Qing was surprised to see this. It seemed that the other party was lying in wait for him. And was it really worth it for him to go to such lengths? Was there another reason behind it?

"Your purchases and refining of weapons are not without trace. With a little deduction, it is clear that you must have come here." Yu Xuan's gaze swept over Dingyuan Mountain, and he sighed, "I truly do not understand. Taiyi Dao Palace is the leading sect of the Immortal Dynasty, its fortune is like a boiling furnace, and it is currently at the peak of its power! You are exceptionally talented, so why did you abandon the path to heaven and devote yourself to this declining Hidden Star Sect?"

"Decline?" Chen Qing replied, "Since we are both from the same superior sect and our foundations remain intact, even if there are ups and downs, how can there be a definitive conclusion?"

“That’s all in the past!” Yu Xuan sighed. “The current Holy Emperor has adopted the Heavenly Secrets Alliance’s ‘Theory of the Decline of Spiritual Energy’ and, for the sake of all generations, has decreed that all living beings, whether immortals or mortals, must reduce their use of spiritual energy and spiritual essence! Furthermore, he has set up the ‘Nine Cauldrons Qi-Stabilizing Array’ to evaluate all sects and families in the world! They must be provided with Qi according to their rank and must not overstep their bounds!”

He pointed at Yuanshan and said, "The Hidden Star Sect's ranking has already dropped twice. Within three years, it will surely fall out of the top rank! At that time, even if it has the name of a top sect, it will not have the substance of one! The sect's grand formation, the disciples' offerings, and the maintenance of the spiritual veins—which of these does not require a massive amount of spiritual energy? Can it afford to sustain them? A rough gem like you will only be covered in dust here!"

After a pause, Yu Xuan said earnestly, "Come back to the palace with us, and you will become a true disciple of the inner sect, with the path to greatness within your grasp! Why waste your time here, casting pearls before swine?"

Chen Qing frowned deeply, digesting the astonishing information about the "Spiritual Decline Determination Item".

"Alright, Junior Brother Yu." The white-bearded cultivator interrupted indifferently, his voice icy: "This boy is young and impetuous, his cultivation is not shallow, and his ambition is naturally extremely high. If we don't let him experience the majesty of the Dao Palace and blunt his edge, how will he know the immensity of heaven and earth and willingly convert?"

After speaking, he lightly flicked his sleeves, making no move, and the surrounding space shook violently!
Nine silver chains burst forth from the ground, carrying the force of wind and thunder, heading straight for Chen Qing, intending to seal him away on the spot!

Chen Qing felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that since Yu Xuan had invited this person, he must have believed that this person could suppress him!

"However, I now have a new method..."

He immediately interlaced his ten fingers and formed a complex and profound hand seal!

at this time.

"boom!"

The spiritual energy around them exploded like boiling water!

Those nine silver chains, carrying the force of wind and thunder, were frozen in mid-air!

The chain vibrated and hummed, as if it might break apart at any moment!

"Huh?!" The white-bearded old man's face froze in indifference!
He suddenly looked up at the main peak of Dingyuan Mountain that pierced the clouds!
Beside him, the middle-aged man carrying a sword also suddenly changed his expression! The ancient sword behind him trembled, as if facing a formidable enemy!

Even the Taoist Yu Xuan, who had been "kindly persuading" him, turned pale and took three steps back!

A voice came from the mountains—

"Fellow Daoists, this is, after all, the mountain gate of my Hidden Star Sect..."

His tone was flat, yet it caused the stagnant silver chains to emit a series of "crack" sounds, and cracks spread all over the chain!
"How dare you be so insolent..."

The voice paused, and then a heavy pressure suddenly descended!
The white-bearded old man groaned, his protective aura trembled violently, and the bluestone beneath his feet silently turned to dust!
"Do you really think our sect has no one left?!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The nine silver chains that had been suspended in mid-air were suddenly crushed by an invisible force, exploding with a deafening roar! They transformed into countless tiny streams of light, dissipating into nothingness!
　It's very late, and I'm ashamed because I suddenly fell asleep halfway through...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)