86: Chapter 86 Preparing for Seclusion

There were at least seven or eight of these Loose Cultivators, and they had been following Li Qing all the way from the Law Enforcement Hall of the Luoshui Sect, all aiming for the 10,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones in Li Qing's hands.

However, everything that happened in the bamboo forest caught them off guard. Two Qi Refining Level 9 Cultivators were killed by a Qi Refining Level 8 Cultivator? It felt like a complete fantasy.

Moreover, the entire process was ridiculously fast, clean, and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

The group of Loose Cultivators hiding in the shadows felt their scalps go numb and their backs grow cold. Cold sweat soaked their undergarments, and their hands and feet couldn't help but go weak.

This wasn't some easy meat falling from the sky; it was a man-eating tiger!

He killed the Disciples of the Gao Family and the Sun Family without a shred of hesitation.

Everyone stood in the bamboo forest, looking at the pool of blood on the ground that hadn't yet dried. They looked at each other, their faces full of lingering fear and wariness, their eyes filled with shock, and for a long time, no one dared to speak first.

After a long while, an old Loose Cultivator at Qi Refining Level 8, wearing tattered clothes, swallowed hard. His voice trembled uncontrollably as he spoke first: "This... this is too fierce, right? Did he really kill Gao Ping in one move?"

A Loose Cultivator nearby, thin as a monkey, quickly chimed in, his tone full of relief: "Exactly! I was almost unable to hold back from rushing up just now, but thankfully I restrained myself and didn't dare move. Look at Sun Xiang, he was so scared he knelt and begged for mercy, even bringing up the Sun Family, but in the end, he still couldn't save his life. This Loose Cultivator's methods are just too ruthless; he shows no mercy at all!"

"We really saved our lives. It's fortunate we didn't dare to make the first move, otherwise, the ones lying on the ground now with their heads cut off would be us!" another short and fat Loose Cultivator patted his chest, looking terrified.

"This god of plague, we must walk around him whenever we see him in the future. Absolutely do not provoke him. No matter how many Spirit Stones there are, you have to be alive to take them!"

At this moment, a young Loose Cultivator with keen eyes frowned and spoke, his tone filled with worry: "Don't just think about being afraid; this matter isn't that simple. What is the background of the Gao Family and the Sun Family? They are great families in this area with Foundation Establishment Old Ancestors presiding over them. They usually walk sideways around Yingshui City, and no one dares to offend them. Now that their Disciples have been killed by Li Qing, these two families will absolutely not let this matter rest!"

Once this was said, everyone fell silent, understanding the weight of these words in their hearts.

Gao Ping was a Core Disciple of the Gao Family's collateral branch, and Sun Xiang was a direct Disciple of the Sun Family. Both families cultivated them as promising talents among the younger generation. Now that they were suddenly killed, and by an unknown Loose Cultivator at that, it was simply a great humiliation for both families.

"He had his fun killing them, but the trouble ahead is huge. The Gao Family and Sun Family will definitely send people to avenge them. If a Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor takes action, a Loose Cultivator at Qi Refining Level 8 like him won't be able to escape."

The old Loose Cultivator shook his head and sighed.

"Let's not stay here anymore; let's leave quickly. If we happen to run into the Luoshui Sect's law enforcement Disciples and they think we are involved in this, we'll be unlucky."

Everyone nodded one after another, all thinking of leaving this place of trouble quickly to avoid bringing disaster upon themselves.

However, among them were some crafty Loose Cultivators who exchanged glances. They didn't follow the main group but quietly separated, some heading toward the Gao Family and others running toward the Sun Family.

Such big news would definitely earn some reward money if reported to the Gao Family and the Sun Family. Even if it were just a few dozen Low-Grade Spirit Stones, it would still be a significant income. This was a benefit delivered to their door; it would be a waste not to take it.

Back to Li Qing, after leaving the bamboo forest and shaking off the Loose Cultivators following him, he went straight to the Immortal Cave rental office.

The manager of the rental office had seen Li Qing before. Seeing him come again, a look of surprise appeared on his face, and he asked: "Fellow Daoist, is there anything else?"

Li Qing didn't beat around the bush and said directly: "I want to pay some rent in advance; I am preparing to go into seclusion for a Breakthrough."

After speaking, he took out 2,400 Low-Grade Spirit Stones and placed them in front of the manager.

He planned to rent it for two years at once, so he wouldn't have to worry about the Immortal Cave rental period for the next two years. He could focus on his seclusion in peace without having to run out halfway to renew the fee.

The manager looked at Li Qing taking out so many Low-Grade Spirit Stones at once, his eyes brightening a little, and he looked at him with newfound respect.

You must know, ordinary Loose Cultivators are usually tight on funds and pay rent monthly. Very few people can take out so many Spirit Stones at once to pay for two years. He immediately became much more polite, quickly completed the two-year rental procedures for Li Qing, and handed him the receipt.

After handling the rental, Li Qing took the receipt and hurried to the marketplace without stopping.

He needed to purchase rations for himself and the Red-tailed Fox during his seclusion. He couldn't just keep eating Spirit Rice; Cultivation requires supplementing Spiritual Qi, and eating just Spirit Rice wasn't enough. He needed to eat some Spirit meat, and the Red-tailed Fox also needed to eat well so it could stay properly in the Immortal Cave without causing trouble.

Although Medicinal Pills were also good things, eating one could last three days. But after all, they were Medicinal Pills; how could they be as tasty as this Spirit meat?

He strolled through the marketplace, visiting each stall, specifically picking fresh and plump Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Fish, as well as Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beasts.

Li Qing also specifically bought a beast nourishing pill for the Red-tailed Fox. This beast nourishing pill could accelerate the growth of the Red-tailed Fox. He believed that after this seclusion, the Red-tailed Fox would definitely reach its adult state.

An adult Red-tailed Fox would surely be a Rank 1 Perfection Yao Beast. Reaching its Peak state, if it happened to trigger an advancement, it would be a Rank 2 Early Stage Yao Beast, enough to become his trump card.

After purchasing everything, he returned to his rented Immortal Cave.

He tidied up the outer Immortal Cave, checked the protective Formation, and flashed into the Portable Cave Abode.

Upon entering the Immortal Cave, he first dumped all the Spirit Fish he bought into the fish pond and put the Spirit Beasts into the beast enclosure.

Then he took out a beast nourishing pill, fed it to the Red-tailed Fox, gently stroked the little guy's furry head, and whispered instructions to it: "I am going into seclusion to Cultivate. You stay in the Immortal Cave obediently and don't make noise. I have prepared enough food for you. Stay well, you know?"

The Red-tailed Fox seemed to understand, rubbed against his hand, and obediently lay down in the beast enclosure.

Before going into seclusion, Li Qing still had things to do, which was to upgrade the Spirit Well and the fish pond.

Li Qing stepped into the Portable Cave Abode, and the first thing he did was to upgrade the fish pond and the Spirit Well.

These two buildings had been stuck at Level 2 for a long time. Before, it was either because he didn't have enough Spirit Stones or he was on the run, and he hadn't had the time to upgrade them.

Now that he was finally free, of course, he had to upgrade them immediately.

Li Qing stood in the Immortal Cave, his mind stirred, and he directly summoned the control panel. His eyes fixed on the fish pond option on the panel, and he clicked upgrade without hesitation.