Cultivating a family of immortals

A black leopard with blue stripes leaped toward Xu Jingtao, its claws already outstretched.

"Judging from his aura, he should be at the tenth level of the embryonic breathing cultivation level. Perfect for sparring with him!"

Xu Jingtao shouted and held her sword horizontally in front of her chest. With a clang, the claws and the sword collided fiercely. Xu Jingtao took a step back and a smile appeared on her lips.

"Little leopard, what other tricks do you have up your sleeve? Bring them on!"

The blue-striped leopard, having failed in its attack, leaped backward to the treetop, lowered its eyes to look at Xu Jingtao, and spoke in human language:

"Where did this cultivator come from, daring to cause trouble here? He's courting death!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Jingtao smiled and said:

"Oh, really? I'd like to see just how I'm courting death!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Jingtao unleashed all her spiritual power without any concealment, her aura leaping to the Qi Refining Realm, her body surrounded by a layer of spiritual energy.

The blue-striped leopard was immediately terrified; the woman before it was actually a Qi Refining Realm cultivator…

There is a major threshold between the Fetal Breathing Realm and the Qi Refining Realm, which is the threshold of the Qi Condensation Pill.

Mountain beasts become spirit beasts mostly because they are imbued with a trace of spiritual energy, thus gaining intelligence. They then explore breathing techniques and gradually enter the embryonic breathing realm.

It can be said that the level one can reach in cultivation depends entirely on fate.

However, one thing is certain: they will never be able to advance to the Qi Refining Realm, no matter what.

This is because there is no Qi-Condensing Pill.

Therefore, when the Azure-Patterned Leopard realized that Xu Jingtao was a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, it immediately retreated.

But how could Xu Jingtao let it go?

She cast a [Fire Control Technique], then leaped forward and swung her sword. The sword energy was three times more powerful than what she could unleash dozens of days ago, and even the fireball was several times larger.

In the blink of an eye, she was beside the Azure-Patterned Leopard and unleashed two attacks.

The Azure-Patterned Leopard was no match for such miraculous magic and was immediately knocked to the ground, its azure markings being burned and curled up by the flames.

Xu Jingtao's longsword also landed on its neck.

The sword energy grazed its neck.

Xu Jingtao held back and did not kill them all; she came here merely to gain experience in drawing diagrams.

She smiled and said, "Little leopard, did I come here just to make trouble for myself?"

The Azure-Striped Leopard, though suppressed by the sword, felt a surge of anger. It thought to itself, "You female cultivator, relying on your higher cultivation level and mastery of wondrous mortal arts, how unfair is it to fight me? However… you're still too green to kill me!"

The thought had barely formed in his mind when the Azure-Striped Leopard's voice softened, and tears welled in its eyes:

"Fairy, please forgive me, I truly did not know you were such a highly cultivated being. If you will let me go, I can offer you a treasure..."

Xu Jingtao hadn't intended to do anything to it, but upon hearing about the treasure, she immediately sheathed her sword and asked curiously, "The spiritual energy in your mountains is so thin, what kind of treasure could you possibly have?"

The Azure-Striped Leopard rolled over and lay down, pointing with its paw at a few strands of dark black fur on its head, saying, "Fairy, this is a divine ability I was born with since I began cultivating. It is called the [Qi-Slaying Whiskers]. After being plucked, it can be used to attack enemies. Because of its small size, it is difficult for people to guard against and can achieve a surprise attack effect."

Xu Jingtao curiously leaned closer to take a look, thinking to herself, "What use would I have for this thing?"

Just as he was about to say these words, a sudden change occurred!

Suddenly, the blue-striped leopard raised its head, its muscles tensing, and the fine black fur on its head attacked Xu Jingtao with lightning speed.

Because Xu Jingtao was looking down, the distance was quite close, so even if she noticed it now, it would be extremely difficult for her to avoid it.

The blue-striped leopard, however, stared insidiously into Xu Jingtao's eyes and attacked. The moment its black fur shot out, it raised its claws and struck at her chest.

If I succeed in one strike, I can blind her and tear out her heart with a single claw!

Xu Jingtao had never encountered such a dangerous situation before, but she instinctively dodged to the right. Suddenly, she felt as if death was emanating from her body, and an immense sense of crisis appeared in her consciousness.

At the same time, she did not hesitate to hold the sword to her chest.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Before she could react, she heard a soft "thud" as the blue-striped leopard's claws pierced Xu Jingtao's abdomen by accident.

The wounds that had just healed were torn open again.

Fortunately, it escaped those few strands of black beard hairs whose origins were unknown.

Having landed a successful blow, the blue-striped leopard didn't linger. It immediately withdrew its claws and ran backward, seemingly trying to escape.

However, it never imagined that Xu Jingtao had no intention of killing it.

Xu Jingtao never expected that this leopard would be so despicable. The pain in her abdomen made her eyes grow even colder.

It seems she was thinking of the past.

Suddenly, she realized once again that the world was not a beautiful place, and that being merciful to the enemy was being cruel to oneself.

Blood flowed from her abdomen, but Xu Jingtao ignored it, casually swallowed a hemostatic pill, and then took her sword and leaped after the blue-striped leopard.

As the scenery receded before her, Xu Jingtao's eyes grew increasingly cold.

Looking at it again now, I find the scenery in the forest so unattractive; where is there any beauty to speak of?

The blue-striped leopard was now in a panic. It heard the strong wind getting closer and closer behind it, along with a bloody smell.

"This madman... he's not just bleeding, he's going to bleed to death!"

At this moment, it was crying out in despair, thinking that after its successful attack, she would be unable to pursue it again due to her injuries.

But unexpectedly... this person was a madman.

It felt a bitter taste in its mouth, but then it suddenly remembered that the elders in its clan often said that women were not to be trifled with... and it turned out that this was true.

It wanted to stop and talk or beg for mercy, but even a fool would understand that it had already ambushed her. Although it didn't know what she was up to, it would have to make a move eventually... Judging from her appearance now, she would definitely not let it go.

Since that's the case...

"Hurry, once we cross the mountainside ahead, we'll be back in our tribe."

"Several members of our clan have reached the Nascent Soul stage, while you are merely a cultivator who has just entered the Qi Refining stage. You certainly wouldn't dare to pursue me any further!"

Thinking this, it leaped through the forest and spotted several of its people halfway up the mountain.

It slightly grinned, turned its head to glance at Xu Jingtao who was about to catch up behind it, and spoke in human language:

"We're almost at my tribe's territory. Do you still dare to chase after me? If you ask me, you'd better hurry down the mountain to avoid dying here!"

This was not a word of advice, but rather a sarcastic remark.

It stared at Xu Jingtao's blood-stained outer garment. The wound seemed to have stopped bleeding, but her face was deathly pale, and with the long run, she was clearly about to collapse.

The Azure-Striped Leopard roared triumphantly, thinking to itself that it was too late for it to run away now. A cultivator like you must have a sect behind you. I must kill you today, otherwise you will come looking for me on the mountain in the future, and the tribe will have to migrate again...

Just as she was thinking this, she glanced back and met a pair of cold eyes.

She had appeared before him without his noticing, the long sword in her hand gleaming coldly.

It was absolutely impossible for it to directly withstand a sword strike from a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, but it was right at its doorstep, so why would it beg for mercy?

Then, it slightly opened its mouth and said, "You..."

As soon as the word "you" was uttered, the Azure-Patterned Leopard felt a sudden brightness before its eyes, and then the world suddenly turned upside down.

"This is... sword light?"

Then it saw its own decapitated body.

"How dare you...!"

Before the thought was finished, its consciousness was plunged into darkness.