Spirit Realm

Lingjia Town. In the early morning when the sky was just getting light, Qin Liemeng, a young man, got up and after a simple wash, headed straight to the Lingjia restaurant. Qin Lie was thin and wore rough hemp clothes. His looks were still considered handsome, but his eyes were vacant and lacked any spirit, giving people a feeling of a soulless being. Along the way, many young martial artists from Lingjia Town had already woken up, and many smiled kindly when they saw Qin Lie. "Good morning, Qin Lie!" Ling Feng saw Qin Lie walk in and grinned, waving a hand in greeting. Unfortunately, Qin Lie seemed to be unable to hear others' voices, his expression still vacant, and his footsteps did not stop. He passed by Ling Feng and continued walking. "Lao Feng, why bother talking to a fool? You know he can't respond to you. Every morning you see him and still greet him?" Ling Ying, dressed in bright yellow training clothes, was voluptuous and beautiful, with a full bust that caused people to daydream. She looked contemptuously at Qin Lie and spoke casually. Several young men and women from Lingjia Town nearby frowned and looked displeased when they heard Ling Ying's words. Ling Ying snorted, ignoring everyone's gaze, lifting her full chest and looking disdainful. Those young men and women mostly had a cultivation level of four or five levels of Body Refinement and were not even looked upon by Ling Ying, who had already reached the sixth level of Body Refinement. In her eyes, only Ling Feng, who had reached the seventh level of Body Refinement, mattered. Ling Feng frowned slightly, "Little Ying, you haven't been in Lingjia Town for long and haven't received any help from Grandpa Qin, so you might have some opinions about Qin Lie. I don't blame you for that. But those of us in the Lingjia family have been helped by Grandpa Qin when he was alive, even if he passed away two years ago, we still remember his kindness. I hope you can give Qin Lie the respect he deserves for our sake." Ling Ying was taken aback, "His grandfather was powerful?" "Grandfather Qinshan is an alchemist!" Ling Feng exclaimed. Ling Ying showed great respect and asked, "There are five levels of alchemists: Mortal, Profound, Earth, Heaven, and Divine, each with seven grades. What level is Grandfather Qinshan? Has he ever made a spiritual tool for the Ling family?" "No," Ling Feng shook his head. "Grandfather Qinshan only knows how to repair spiritual tools that are below Mortal Grade Five." "Oh, I see," Ling Ying said with a slightly exaggerated tone. "I thought he was really powerful, but it turns out he's only capable of that." "For us, this is already very impressive," Ling Feng said with a serious expression. "Five years ago, Grandfather Qinshan and Qin Lie came to our Ling family town. They approached our family head to offer help in repairing Mortal Grade spiritual tools for our Ling family warriors in exchange for the mining rights of the many mines in Yaoshan and for Qin Lie to stay in our Ling family town." "For the following three years, Grandfather Qinshan and Qin Lie traveled back and forth between the Ling family town and the mines in Yaoshan. During this time, Grandfather Qinshan was responsible for repairing any broken Mortal Grade Five or lower spiritual tool. No matter how severely damaged the spiritual tool was, as long as its grade did not exceed Mortal Grade Five, he could restore it to its original condition with no reduction in its power!" Suddenly, a burst of flames ignited on Ling Feng's wrist. The crimson ring on his wrist glowed with a rainbow light. Immediately, the crimson ring transformed into a fiery hammer, half the length of his arm. The entire hammer was dark red in color, and clusters of fiery clouds were imprinted on it like tattoos, exuding waves of scorching heat. "My Fire Cloud Hammer is a Mortal Grade Two spiritual tool and my most important possession. Three years ago, in the extreme cold mountains, I was hit by the cold air from the spirit beast Ice Soul Python. The Fire Cloud Hammer helped me withstand the cold air and allowed me to survive. But the hammer was severely damaged. If it weren't for Grandfather Qinshan's help in repairing it, the Fire Cloud Hammer would have been scrapped." "There are many members of the Ling family who have experienced broken spiritual tools like me. Fortunately, with Grandfather Qinshan's help, these broken spiritual tools were repaired. Otherwise, the losses to the family would have been extremely heavy," Ling Feng looked at Qin Lie's figure in the distance and sighed. "But he has been dead for two years now," Ling Ying said in surprise. "The Ling family will repay our debts of gratitude! Qin Lie was actually very pitiful. He came to the Ling family town with his grandfather when he was only ten years old and had been like this ever since. When Grandfather Qinshan was alive, there were people who took care of him, but in the last two years... sigh," Ling Feng's tone changed, and he couldn't help but sigh. "Isn't Miss Er even more pitiful? I heard that...the patriarch promised Qin Shan to have her engaged to Qin Lie on her fifteenth birthday next month. You're a native of Lingjia Town, is there any truth to this?" Ling Ying suddenly lowered her voice, leaning close to Ling Feng and whispered, "How could the patriarch agree to have Miss Er engaged to Qin Lie? Isn't he just pushing her into a fire pit?" "I don't know." Ling Feng was equally puzzled about this matter. As far as he could see, even if the patriarch had made a promise to Qin Shan, that promise was probably no longer valid now that Qin Shan had passed away. ... In the Lingjia dining hall, three square wooden tables were combined to form a long dining table, with steamed buns, porridge, and small dishes arranged on the table. Ling Chengye, the head of the Ling family, sat at the main seat, with his sister-in-law Du Jiaolan and his third brother Ling Chengzhi on either side. Next to Du Jiaolan were her two sons, Du Heng and Du Fei, while the two young women next to Ling Chengzhi were his elder brother's daughters, Ling Yushi and Ling Xuanxuan. The Ling family had three brothers: the eldest brother Ling Chengye, the second brother Ling Chenghui, and the third brother Ling Chengzhi. Ten years ago, Ling Chenghui broke through to the Open Heaven Realm and went crazy, accidentally dying from a violent outburst of energy. His wife Du Jiaolan stayed at Lingjia with her two sons, Du Heng and Du Fei, and continued to cultivate using the resources of the Ling family. In this world known as the Ling Domain, there was an endless sea with many continents resting on it. Various kinds of creatures and races lived on these continents, constantly refining themselves with the ubiquitous spiritual energy and perpetually pursuing the ultimate mysteries of the world. Here, powerful individuals stood tall like mountains, with spiritual artifacts capable of destroying the world and strict hierarchies of martial power that covered every corner of the world like spider webs! Here, not only martial artists and spiritual artifacts were clearly ranked, but even the complex forces built by various families, sects, and merchant guilds had strict class structures. Martial arts cultivation in the Ling Domain was divided into ten realms: Body Tempering Realm, Open Heaven Realm, Myriad Forms Realm, Soul Travelling Realm, Wishful Realm, Broken Realm, Nirvana Realm, Immortal Realm, Void Realm, and Origin Realm. The basic Body Tempering Realm was divided into nine levels, while the subsequent realms were divided into early, middle, and late stages. Similarly, magical spiritual artifacts and powerful alchemists also had clear rankings, divided into Mortal, Profound, Earth, Heaven, and Divine levels, with each level further divided into seven grades. Even more peculiarly, even those family and sect forces were hierarchically arranged, divided into five levels: Blue Stone, Black Iron, Red Bronze, White Silver, and Golden, imposing layers of pressure and restraint like a pyramid. The lowest level of power in the spiritual realm is the bluestone-level power, which is the most basic and numerous, like grains of sand in the desert that cannot be counted. They can only survive and cultivate by relying on powerful forces and their dignity is trampled upon at will. As for the golden-level powers at the top of the pyramid, they are the most prominent and supreme existences. They not only possess the most powerful warriors, the most magical spiritual tools, the broadest territories and mines, and the most mysterious f*******n areas, but also command many silver-level, copper-level, iron-level, and bluestone-level powers! With just one command, they can make the world change color, make the mountains and rivers turn red with blood, and make countless beings perish! Meanwhile, the Ling family is just a small family power that cannot even reach the bluestone level. The Ling family and several surrounding small family powers are all attached to the bluestone-level power of Xingyun Pavilion in Bingyan City. Every year, they must pay enough offerings to Xingyun Pavilion in order to receive its protection and establish a foothold in Ling Family Town. "Tap tap!" The sound of footsteps approached from far away, and soon Qin Lie's figure appeared on time. He mechanically walked over to the table across from Ling Chengye, sat down blankly, and picked up his bowl to start eating. For the past five years, Qin Lie had been arriving on time every morning to eat, even though he was regarded as a fool by everyone in Lingjia Town. However, his habit of eating on time every day never changed. For the first three years, Qin Shan would bring him along, but after Qin Shan's passing, Qin Lie came alone for the past two years and still maintained his good habits. After breakfast every day, Qin Lie would enter the mountain behind Lingjia Town and walk into the mines until it was almost dark. Then he would hurry back to Lingjia Town before dinner and eat with the Ling family. After dinner, he would return to his residence alone to rest. He had been living this way day after day, year after year, and his life had never had any fluctuations or changes. After five years, no one knew what he and his grandfather were doing in the mines on Medicine Mountain for so much time. Even Ling Chengye, the head of the Ling family, had always been confused and puzzled. "Hey!" Du Fei suddenly couldn't help but sneer, giving Qin Lie a side glance and sarcastically saying, "My future brother-in-law has a good appetite. Even if he and Xuan Xuan are engaged next month, it's no big deal. It's just like keeping a cute and quirky pet dog." As he finished speaking, Du Fei gave a wicked smile and looked at Ling Xuexuan. Ling Xuexuan, dressed in a fiery red leather armor, had already begun to show off her graceful figure, and her beautiful little face, with a pair of bright and intelligent eyes, was already renowned at the age of fifteen. "Pong!" Ling Xuexuan pounded the table with her exposed half of the pure white jade hand, causing her bowl to jump and spill half of the porridge onto the faces of Du Jiaolan's family, even though they reacted quickly, they still looked quite embarrassed. "I will never be engaged to him!" Without waiting for Du Jiaolan to get angry, Ling Xuexuan stood up with a roar and rushed out of the room without caring about her father Ling Chengye's angry face. When passing by the wooden door, she slapped it and a burst of orange-red light suddenly erupted. The broad wooden door suddenly exploded, and before the ten or so pieces of broken wood had landed on the ground, Ling Xuexuan's delicate figure had disappeared. Ling Chengye was just about to scold her, but suddenly froze, looking at the pieces of wood that had fallen to the ground, his eyes lit up, revealing a thoughtful expression. "Big brother! When did Xuan Xuan enter the Seventh Stage of Body Refinement? Her spiritual power is overflowing, which is clearly a unique symbol of the Seventh Stage of Body Refinement!" Ling Chengzhi stood up excitedly, his face full of joy. "Xuan Xuan entered the Seventh Stage of Body Refinement at the age of fifteen. Her talent is amazing compared to Yu Shi! Judging from her current momentum, she will definitely enter the Kaiyuan Realm before the age of twenty... and once she reaches the Kaiyuan Realm, she will undoubtedly receive the favor of the Star Cloud Sect!" Ling Chengye suppressed his excitement and coughed lightly before asking Ling Yushi, "When did Xuan Xuan break through?" Ling Yushi, wearing a green long dress with black hair falling on her shoulders, had a delicate face and a demeanor as elegant as a beautiful orchid. Her fair skin and tall and alluring figure made Du Heng unable to take his eyes off her. "My little sister broke through just seven days ago. She was originally eager to tell father the good news, but..." Ling Yushi's tone turned and she sighed lightly. "But a few days ago, she heard that father had already promised Grandpa Qin Shan to engage her to Qin Lie on her birthday, so..." Ling Chengye already guessed the reason behind it and looked helpless. "Hoo!" At this moment, Qin Lie, who had been eating quietly since he came in, suddenly stood up and walked straight to the Medicine Mountain behind the Ling family, as if he had not heard the conversation and conflict at all. "Big brother, I want to talk to you alone for a few words." Ling Chengzhi also suddenly stood up, gave a signal to his big brother, and followed Qin Lie out of the canteen after him. Ling Chengye followed thoughtfully. On the rugged mountain road, the two Ling brothers kept a distance from Qin Lie and walked towards the Medicine Mountain, with their eyes drifting back and forth on Qin Lie, talking in low voices. "It's been five years since Qin Shan brought Qin Lie over. The grandfather and grandson are always in the mine during the day. Big brother, aren't you curious about what they're doing in the mine? Have they found anything?" "Of course I'm curious, but I made a promise with Qin Shan that I wouldn't randomly break into the mine. Moreover, the mines in Medicine Mountain have been developed by our Ling family for many years, and we haven't found any valuable spiritual stones inside. Otherwise, how could I agree to let him and his grandson take over the mine?" "What about Xuan Xuan and Qin Lie's marriage? What's going on, big brother? I know you wouldn't sacrifice Xuan Xuan's lifelong happiness for anything. Why did you agree to it?" "Before Qin Shan passed away, he insisted that I promise him this matter. Considering his help to us in recent years, I reluctantly agreed. However, it's not what you think. He only wanted Qin Lie to continue receiving our Ling family's care after his death." "How so?" "It's just an engagement. Qin Lie and Xuān Xuān are both fifteen years old. He asked our Ling family to take care of Qin Lie until he turns 17. At the age of 17, Qin Lie and I can unilaterally terminate the engagement. The existence of this engagement is only to ensure that Qin Lie has the identity of the future son-in-law of the Ling family, so that the Ling family won't mess with him. That's all." "Don't worry, Xuān Xuān has broken through to the seventh level of the Refinement Realm. She is destined to enter the Star Nebula Pavilion in the future. I will not let Qin Lie affect her future. As soon as the time comes, I will immediately terminate the engagement!" "So that's it." Ling Chengzhi nodded. He pondered for a moment and said, "Elder Brother, there's something I don't know if I should say or not." "Say it if you have something to say!" Ling Family Head frowned and shouted. "As you said, this engagement is just a formality. There is no need for Qin Lie and Xuān Xuān to be engaged. Why not let him be engaged to Yu Shi instead? Even if Yu Shi is two years older than Qin Lie, it shouldn't matter, right?" Ling Chengzhi probed. The Ling Family Head's face suddenly turned dark. "Elder Brother, Big Sis passed away early, and I know that you love Yu Shi and Xuān Xuān equally, and so do I." Ling Chengzhi carefully chose his words, "But even if it's just an engagement, it will still affect a girl's reputation. This year, Xuān Xuān is only fifteen years old, and she has reached the seventh level of the Refinement Realm! We can see her talent and comprehension of Lingjue are far stronger than Yu Shi's, and Xuān Xuān's future...is absolutely limitless. She will be the true hope of our Ling family in the future!" With these words, Ling Chengzhi's expression became solemn. "In the future, Xuān Xuān will enter a higher realm of martial artists, reaching a level beyond our imagination! Under these circumstances, she may form an alliance with powerful forces that we cannot imagine. However, if she has a past engagement, she will have a stain on her reputation, which will affect her future..." "Younger Brother, you are becoming more and more practical." The Ling Family Head shook his head and sighed, "Let me think about it. Ah, Yu Shi is a hardworking and quiet child. If I do this, I know she will agree, but I really can't bear to hurt her..." "For the future of the family and Xuān Xuān, please seriously consider it, Elder Brother." Ling Chengzhi advised. The Ling Family Head was silent for a long time, then said, "Let's not discuss this for now. You've been in charge of the Yào Mountain area for these years, and I've never asked too much about it. Today, you insisted on calling me to Yào Mountain. What's going on?" "When you get there, you'll know. I have a vague feeling that this matter may be related to Qin Lie."...