C11 Another Path to Life

Qin Feng extended his hand and paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his face as he noticed the purple flame mark on his wrist. It hadn't occurred to him that the Devil Artifact would accompany him to this new vessel. Indeed, the bond with a master was bound to the soul itself.

Muttering an incantation, Qin Feng was relieved to find the Nether Fire Pupil still present in his right eye, bringing a sense of equilibrium to his spirit.

However, panic struck him suddenly. The Secret Bag—where was it? It contained a considerable stash of Black Gold Stone and leftover magic tools. The thought of losing them was unbearable...

"Host, the Secret Bag is safe with me. Now that you're awake, I shall return it to you."

A small golden pouch materialized before Qin Feng's eyes, marking the most opportune moment he had ever experienced with the system.

...

As the system had informed him, he was now at the eastern outskirts of Li City.

Devoid of Profound Power, Qin Feng found it impossible to wield his magic tools; the Floating Cloud Sail was utterly ineffective. Left with no choice but to rely on his own two feet, he trudged towards the black market. Gasping for air, he leaned against a wall of green tiles, gazing at the entrance to the black market, his mind a whirl of thoughts.

"Host, the data indicates that there's an Ancient Level fragment within the black market, located near the Jiuli Treasure Tool. Should you manage to locate and assimilate it, it would significantly aid in the refinement of the Profound Pill," the system advised.

"Oh?"

While pondering this, Qin Feng's gaze was caught by a pair of familiar black eyes. It was the young man he had aided previously, now staring intently at him as if trying to discern some hidden truth.

With a quirk of his eyebrow, Qin Feng continued on his way, brushing past the youth. Glancing back after a short distance, he found the street empty; the young man had vanished.

Shrugging, Qin Feng turned back around. It was his first encounter with someone quite so enigmatic.

Upon entering Jiuli Treasure Tool, Fu Ye failed to recognize him as the gentleman he had once addressed. Assuming Qin Feng was a novice seeking his first Spirit Treasure Magic Artifact or Secret Scripture, Fu Ye eagerly approached.

"What might the young master be looking to purchase?"

Preferring to keep his identity concealed for the moment, Qin Feng adopted the guise of a casual onlooker, surveying the wares. Inwardly, he queried the system, "Where exactly is the Ancient Level fragment you mentioned?"

"Host, please search more carefully. The data indicates it's in the vicinity."

"Understood."

Suddenly, Qin Feng's gaze sharpened. He spotted a shattered porcelain vase, and among the shards, one piece was significantly thicker than the others.

Muttering an incantation under his breath, a blue glow suffused Qin Feng's eyes. Through his Nether Fire Pupil, it was evident that the Pure Qi within this fragment had reached its zenith. This must be the Ancient Level fragment the system had referred to.

Before the servant could sweep the fragment into a pile of straw, Qin Feng quickly snatched the faintly glowing shard and secreted it away in his Secret Bag.

...

That night, in an inn not far from the black market, Qin Feng sat on his bed with the Immortal Furnace he had summoned before him.

He cast the Ancient Level fragment, acquired from the Jiuli Treasure Tool, into the furnace for smelting. With a gesture of his palm, he ignited the Spirit Fire.

Time passed unmarked until a transparent, pure bead emerged from the furnace, settling into the warmth of Qin Feng's hand.

"Ding!"

"Congratulations, Host, on acquiring the Heaven Defying Level Spirit Treasure Magic Artifact, the Condensation Binding Bead."

"It has the power to condense Heaven Earth Spirit Qi into a single ordinary Profound Pill, which can be used only once."

Qin Feng was elated at the news. He hadn't anticipated such a resounding success. Though it was merely an ordinary Profound Pill, equivalent to a gradeless Profound Pill, it was sufficient for enabling ordinary individuals to commence cultivation, despite offering little Profound Power. Qin Feng's previous Profound Pills were of Spirit Rank, a far cry from this humble achievement.

Yet Qin Feng wasn't concerned. Possessing a Profound Pill meant he could practice cultivation.

The system clarified to Qin Feng that while the Condensation Binding Bead could accumulate Spirit Qi to create a Profound Pill, the pure Spirit Qi in Li City was scarce. To fulfill this ambition, he would need to venture to the God Abandoning Land.

Initially, Qin Feng hesitated, wary of encountering former sect members in that forsaken place. But then he remembered his current guise; his body and face were no longer his own. Even if he did cross paths with them, they would not recognize Qin Feng.

Qin Feng planned to embark on his journey to the God Abandoning Land the following day.

...

Elsewhere.

Tears brimmed in Lian Yan's eyes as she sat at her vanity, clutching the feather hairpin, dressed in the crimson robe embroidered with cranes that Qin Feng loved to see her in.

"Stupid thing, cursed thing, spying on me while I bathe," Lian Yan murmured, her lips quivering.

Then, glaring at the hairpin, she burst out, "You coward! Just because others don't believe in you, you choose death? You... fool..."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her beautiful face, a sight that would tug at anyone's heartstrings. Sadly, the jovial young man who used to be by her side was no longer there...

...

Qin Feng had indeed hired a carriage to take him to the entrance of the God Abandoning Land. He had to concede that without the Profound Pill, he was as feeble as a scholar, panting after just a few steps.

He vowed that if he could traverse the God Abandoning Land unscathed and recover the Profound Pill, he would certainly push himself harder and train to enhance his physical endurance.

Images of his playful arguments with Lian Yan flickered through Qin Feng's mind, and he wondered if his dear junior sister missed him. The thought brought a radiant smile to the young man's handsome face.

At the entrance of the God Abandoning Land, three or four groups of people were gathered, all clad in uniform green attire with a crane-patterned crest on their sleeves – the insignia of the Imperial Heaven Sect. It looked like a new batch of disciples had arrived at the Artifact Realm to claim their spiritual weapons.

Qin Feng, however, looked on with scorn. It seemed that this worthless sect was poised to mislead these newcomers yet again. He pondered when one of them might be wrongfully accused of thievery.

After watching the groups activate the Magic Array and get transported one by one, Qin Feng emerged from behind the rocks. He inquired of the system within his consciousness, "Which Realm Division has the purest and most abundant Spiritual Qi?"

A mechanical voice from his consciousness replied, "The Beast Realm Division of the God Abandoning Land possesses the most abundant and purest Spiritual Qi."