Translator: 549690339

Li Xiaobai casually picked up a few pieces of metallic materials and began to demonstrate.

“The construction method of Tangneng First-class bathhouse is very simple, mainly divided into three steps.”

“First step, choose square building materials. In essence, building a bathhouse is the same as constructing a house, and for us in the construction industry, safety is always the top priority.”

“Second step, arrange these building materials in a circle, neatly stacked. Remember, this step must be precise, with no gaps whatsoever, otherwise, the water poured in later will overflow.”

“Third step, and also an important one, is filling with water. A bathhouse must have the presence of water, otherwise, a bare pond cannot exist as a bathhouse on its own.”

As long as you strictly follow Liangchen’s instructions to make it, such a magical bathhouse will be completed.

Li Xiaobai chuckled, another simplified version of the bathhouse has taken shape, this one roughly big enough to accommodate one person.

The Elders wore baffled expressions, their minds clouded by the florid explanation they had just heard. They felt a profound impression but couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was amiss.

The black-robed Evil Cultivator was stunned for a moment and then burst into rage.

“Isn’t this just a pond surrounded by bricks? Why all these fancy words, what good is this thing supposed to do?”, he challenged.

“Sect Master Yan, this guy is definitely making a fool of you. The best course is to execute him on the spot!”, he exclaimed.

The onlookers snapped out of their daze, indeed, on closer consideration, it was nothing more than a common way to construct a pond, albeit handcrafted. If it were them, they could have done it in an instant, and with a result a hundred times better looking than this crude pit.

How ridiculous that they had been taking serious notes just moments before. On reflection, wasn’t it just building a small pond?

The pen and paper fell from Yan Xiaoqi’s hands to the ground, his face flushed with embarrassment. It had been years since he had felt this way, taking serious notes on a child’s plaything, and in front of so many cultivators no less!

“You are mistaken. As you all witnessed during the demonstration, Liangchen’s operation was indeed that straightforward; it’s just that you all thought too complicatedly. Returning to simplicity, keeping everything basic, that’s the Path of Ancient Refining!”, said Li Xiaobai with a laugh.

“Still, isn’t this overly simple, almost childishly so?”, Yan Xiaoqi said coldly.

“The great way is simple; knowing is easy, but acting is difficult,” replied Li Xiaobai.

“If the Sect Master doesn’t believe it, one trial will tell.”

Li Xiaobai pointed to the simplistic makeshift pond nearby and smiled faintly.

Yan Xiaoqi’s expression changed several times, but ultimately, he was unable to swallow his pride and gestured to one of the Elders by his side to step in for the experience.

The Elder’s face lit up with joy. He had no celebrity image to uphold. If this thing could increase his cultivation level, it was solidly beneficial. That little hole had already saved him a significant amount of cultivation time, and now this simple version of the bathhouse might have an even better effect!

Bending his waist, the Elder crawled into the pond and became still.

Yan Xiaoqi waited for a moment, growing impatient, “How is it? Does the bathhouse work?”

“Reporting to the Sect Master, I’ve just soaked myself and need some time to thoroughly feel it!” came the Elder’s voice from the pond.

Yan Xiaoqi’s expression darkened, as he released his Primordial Spirit Power, yanking the joyfully soaking Elder out of the pond. He extended a finger to probe the water, and for a moment, his body trembled as if electrified.

He was at the Mahayana Realm in cultivation level, and despite years of stagnation, the mere touch of his finger to the water made him feel the shackles that had bound him for years loosen. This wasn’t an illusion, but a real loosening.

This was definitely a divine miracle; none of the Heaven and Earth Treasures he had consumed before could achieve such an effect. Now, just by touching the water surface, he could sense such remarkable efficacy; he felt that his breakthrough was promising in this lifetime.

“Ancient artifact refining truly is magical!”

“Ye Liangchen speaks truly; returning to simplicity and truth is the realm we cultivators have been seeking all along. Yet when it’s finally within reach, I, the Sect Master, hesitated. It is you, my young friend, who sees clearly and spoke profoundly of its mysteries. I am impressed!”

Yan Xiaoqi laughed heartily, his mood extremely uplifted.

“I, the Sect Master, hereby announce that in this Qi Sect competition, Ye Liangchen is undoubtedly the first. As for you, you will temporarily take second place.”

Yan Xiaoqi shot a glance at the figure in the black robe and said slowly. This time the Qi Sect had made a huge gain, and the benefits he reaped internally were solid — the effect was genuinely beyond fabrication.

Although the man in the black robe was visibly discontented, he also felt a trace of relief. His sworn vow was not to fall behind Li Xiaobai in ranking, and now that Li Xiaobai was second in the Elixir Sect competition, his ranking was also second, so he had not broken his vow.

In the sky above Central City, Taoist charm flowed and characters materialized.

Qi Sect Competition.

First Place: Li Xiaobai is awesome.

Second Place: Evil Sect’s Third Evil.

…

Several lines of text appeared in the void, and instantly the atmosphere in the great hall turned rigid, the smiles frozen on the faces of the various Elders.

Yan Xiaoqi rubbed his eyes, his face full of disbelief, staring blankly at the line of text above.

The cultivators present dared not even breathe heavily, silently waiting for the storm to come. They realized what was happening when the name of the first-place winner materialized.

Without question, Li Xiaobai had come for his revenge, using a secret technique to alter his appearance and forcefully surge up the Qi Sect leaderboard.

“Li Xiaobai, you’re Li Xiaobai!”

“What a character, the Three Sects have been searching the city for you, yet you’ve turned yourself in, toying with the Sect Master here. Today, I shall search your soul to uncover your secrets!”

Above Central City, a Primordial Spirit stood reaching into the heavens, solidifying the void. Yan Xiaoqi used his Great Divine Power to lock down the space, his formidable and terrifying spiritual pressure descending, making it difficult for the cultivators present to breathe. Many who had just recovered from their internal injuries caused by backlash from Spiritual Power were immediately stupefied by the spiritual pressure.

“You really think the Three Sects have no one? Today, after I capture you alive, you will be hung at the gates of Central City as a warning to all; the reputation of the Three Sects is not to be tarnished!”

Yan Xiaoqi, full of rage, struck out with a punch, his Mahayana Realm cultivation level undisguised, showing no mercy whatsoever.

In an instant, the Artifact Refining Hall was leveled to the ground, and terrifying waves of Spiritual Power swept towards the area where Li Xiaobai was.

The cultivators in the city were startled, driving their flight lights towards the Qi Sect to find out what was happening.

Li Xiaobai looked indifferent; his wrist flipped, and he took out a golden talisman. This was a high-level Instant Transmission Talisman. Even Great Crossing Realm Cultivators couldn’t track it. It was priced at one hundred superior-grade Spirit Stones, a bit on the expensive side but still acceptable.

Looking around, he already saw a number of cultivators coming over to watch.

Li Xiaobai, standing atop the ruins, held the talisman in one hand and pointed to the sky with the other, roaring, “Li Xiaobai is awesome!”