2: Chapter 2 Spirit Beast Metamorphosis

Looking at the creation immortal liquid before him with such miraculous effects, Li Changqing pondered inwardly, and his heart stirred. If he let Xiao Hei consume this, he wondered if Xiao Hei's Innate Bloodline talent would be elevated by a major Rank.

If it truly had such an effect, this item would be absolutely Heaven-Defying. Upon this thought, he couldn't help but feel eager to try.

Li Changqing opened the Formation and rose, walking towards a nearby Spirit Beast room, where a three-foot-large scorpion with two wings and a black-purple body was sleeping.

This was the Flying Purple Nether Scorpion that Li Changqing had been raising since he reached the Qi Refining 4th Layer. Li Changqing named it Xiao Hei. Its cultivation was at the Middle Stage of the 1st Rank, and even average Qi Refining 6th Layer Cultivators were no match for it.

Xiao Hei had extremely strong toxicity, extreme speed, and possessed an Innate ability to screech, which could attack a Cultivator's Divine Sense. In a sneak attack, even Qi Refining 7th or 8th Layer Cultivators could easily fall victim to it.

Yao Beasts, once tamed by human Cultivators, are usually referred to as Spirit Beasts. This Flying Purple Nether Scorpion was a reward given to him by the Family twelve years ago when he had just broken through to the Qi Refining 4th Layer. This level of treatment was only enjoyed by three out of the thirty-six members of the Li Family's "Chang" generation.

Among the more than two hundred Cultivators of the Li Family, fewer than ten had a Spiritual Root reaching four inches.

One of the Li Family's rules was: Family members with slightly better talent, while receiving the same monthly stipend as ordinary members, would receive additional support for their Cultivation when their Cultivation reached the Qi Refining 4th Layer and the Qi Refining 7th Layer.

The Bloodline of this Flying Purple Nether Scorpion had broken through from a Yellow Rank Bloodline to a Profound Rank Bloodline several years ago due to a fortuitous Opportunity.

Usually, a Cultivator's talent is classified by their Spiritual Root, while a Yao Beast's talent is distinguished by its Bloodline. Bloodline Ranks are divided into four: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow.

Yao Beasts with Yellow Rank Bloodlines usually have no Innate Bloodline Divine Ability and can only fight relying on Innate instinct and Acquired learning. Once a Yao Beast's Bloodline reaches the Profound Rank, it will possess a Bloodline Divine Ability. The higher the Yao Beast's Bloodline, the more Bloodline Divine Abilities it has.

The creation immortal liquid had the effect of improving talent. Since he was unsure if there were risks after consumption, Li Changqing prepared to let the Flying Purple Nether Scorpion try it first. This Spirit Beast had already signed a master-servant contract with him, and every move it made was under his perception; it would not resist and would not leak any information, making it the best experimental subject.

He woke the Flying Purple Nether Scorpion in the Spirit Beast room, then poured out a drop of creation immortal liquid, suspending it in the air.

The moment it saw the liquid, the Flying Purple Nether Scorpion shuddered, shaking off its drowsy state, and chirped at Li Changqing, expressing its desire to feed.

Seeing this, Li Changqing did not hesitate. He flicked his finger lightly, and the drop of creation immortal liquid entered the Purple Nether Scorpion's mouth. He then stepped back three paces to observe the Spirit Beast's state.

As soon as the creation immortal liquid entered the Purple Nether Scorpion's mouth, its eyes were filled with joy. The liquid was like a spring breeze nourishing everything, seeping into its limbs and bones.

Xiao Hei's body glowed with a soft light, its fur gradually sprouted black markings, crystal-clear black horns grew from its ear tips, and its tail and wings also began to change. Slowly, its body became covered in a layer of translucent membrane, wrapping around its twitching form until it turned into a large, round cocoon.

...

Three days later, with a crisp "crack" sound.

The first crack appeared, seeping out purple-black mucus. Where the mucus dripped, small phosphorous fires rose from the ground, illuminating its metamorphosing form: its body split open, revealing a pair of wings growing from within, the tips of the wings still stained with uncoagulated blood.

Its jawbone dislocated, its fangs were replaced by longer, scimitar-like sharp teeth, every breath puffed out poisonous mist with a peculiar odor, and its tail had changed from one to three.

When the last piece of old skin fell off, the entire large cocoon broke open completely. Its entire body grew from three feet to five feet in size, then slowly shrank back to one foot, and its Cultivation also took the Opportunity to break through to the Late Stage of the 1st Rank.

The current Flying Purple Nether Scorpion had changed greatly; its two pairs of wings and three tails looked intimidating from the outside, and its whole body exuded a ferocious aura.

Through the information transmitted from the Flying Purple Nether Scorpion in his Sea of Consciousness, Li Changqing already knew that its state was excellent, its Bloodline had broken through from the Profound Rank to the Earth Rank, and its strength had undergone an earth-shattering change.

Its Bloodline Divine Ability had also increased from one, Soul Devour, to three: Soul Devour, Swift Speed, and Deadly Poison.

Now, when the Flying Purple Nether Scorpion used Soul Devour at the Late Stage of the 1st Rank, Cultivators within a twenty-zhang radius whose strength was below the Qi Refining 7th Layer would be significantly affected in their actions if they did not have treasures to protect their Divine Sense.

When using Swift Speed, its speed would increase three times for a short period, and it could be used up to three times per hour.

When activating the Deadly Poison Divine Ability, the toxins carried by its three tail stingers would increase fivefold, and it could be used once a day. Li Changqing estimated that it could already affect Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage.

After carefully checking that there was nothing unusual about the Flying Purple Nether Scorpion, Li Changqing returned to his secret room from the Spirit Beast room, took out the creation immortal liquid, and sat there quietly. He had been at the Qi Refining 6th Layer for three years and hoped to use this Opportunity to break through to the Qi Refining 7th Layer in one go.

Li Changqing put the creation immortal liquid into his mouth. The immortal fluid dissolved upon contact, turning into a powerful energy in his abdomen, which was absorbed by his Meridians and Spiritual Root. Li Changqing operated his Cultivation Technique to Cultivate, and the energy completely integrated into his body.

His previously calm blood suddenly began to boil, and his heartbeat became slower but stronger. Under the dual action of his heart and the immortal fluid, the surging blood slowly improved the Spiritual Root within his body, and at the same time, many unconnected places in his Meridians were cleared.

Driven by the mysterious energy, the thick blood penetrated into every part of his body. Some Impurities that could not be removed before were expelled from his body. His Spiritual Root grew from four inches to five inches, his Divine Sense and Physique were also greatly enhanced, and there were other changes he had not yet perceived.

...

More than half a month later, Li Changqing, whose Cultivation had reached the Qi Refining 7th Layer, calmed the joy of his Breakthrough. After fully consolidating his Cultivation, he stopped his meditation.

Breaking through from the Qi Refining 6th Layer to the Qi Refining 7th Layer was the first Bottleneck in Cultivation for most Cultivators in the Qi Refinement Stage and was also an important transitional stage.

After reaching the Qi Refining 7th Layer, if one wanted to improve strength in the short term, it would be difficult to achieve through hard Cultivation alone. Li Changqing rose and prepared to go to the Family Affairs Hall to see if there were any suitable tasks.

Thinking of this, Li Changqing did not delay. After tidying up a little, he went out and headed towards the Family Affairs Hall. The Li Family Affairs Hall was not far from where Li Changqing lived; it was located on another peak of the Li Family's territory, Qingfeng Mountain.

Qingfeng Mountain had two 2nd Rank Spiritual Veins and three 1st Rank Spiritual Veins, encompassing seven peaks of Qingfeng Mountain. Two of the seven peaks were used for clan members to Cultivate and live, one peak was used to build the Family's Council Pavilion, Scripture Pavilion, Affairs Pavilion, and other necessary facilities, and four peaks were used to Cultivate the Family's Spirit Beasts, Spirit Medicine, Spiritual Plants, and other resource industries.

Besides Qingfeng Mountain, the Li Family also established eighteen towns, hundreds of villages, as well as some resource points and some undeveloped land in Anping County.

Li Family Affairs Hall.

A three-story, simple and majestic wooden pavilion already had a few Family disciples coming in and out. In front of the pavilion, a bronze incense burner was emitting curling green smoke. Li Changqing stepped inside.

A cyan long table made of pear wood came into view. The long table was set facing the door. An old man in a gray robe sat quietly behind the long table, and a teenage girl stood beside the old man. There were dozens of Jade Slips placed on the long table.

The old man's eyes were slightly closed, his right hand gently stroking the teacup, his fingers slender like bamboo, tapping rhythmically on the wooden table, his movements carrying a kind of flowing proficiency.