Chapter 284: Chapter 206: Qingming Secret Realm (2)
"Oh, the remains of a Golden Core True Monarch’s Cave Mansion?"
Qin Xuan raised a slight eyebrow, his expression calm and unruffled, but inwardly he was overjoyed.
’As expected, it’s here.’
’This must be the Fifth-Grade Opportunity mentioned in the Divination!’
’If I had gone out to lay low, I would have missed this.’
Though he knew in his heart that this trip held no danger, Qin Xuan didn’t show much interest on the surface. Instead, he shook his head and said faintly.
"Since it’s the ruins of a Golden Core True Monarch, I fear it will be exceptionally dangerous. I wonder who else Master Ma has recruited?"
"I have been comprehending the [Profound Turtle] Sword Talisman recently, and my understanding of the [Demon Slayer] Sword Talisman is still insufficient. I’m afraid I won’t have the fortune of joining Master Ma."
Ma Jingchuan seemed to have expected this outcome.
The scar on his face twitched, and he wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead.
"I only recently joined the Corpse Refining Hall and don’t know many people, so I haven’t found anyone else yet... Since Master Qin is not interested, I will not disturb you further."
After speaking, Ma Jingchuan let out a long breath and turned to leave decisively, without any hesitation.
Hearing that Ma Jingchuan had voluntarily joined the Corpse Refining Hall, Qin Xuan’s expression instantly became subtle.
"Master Ma, take care!"
Qin Xuan said with a faint smile.
However, while the other man wasn’t looking, he quietly released a Bone-Transforming Corpse Beetle, letting it fall into his collar.
’If I’m not mistaken, the Ninth-Grade Opportunity mentioned in the Middle-Lower Draw is likely related to this Ma Jingchuan.’
...
In a dark corner somewhere.
Just as Ma Jingchuan appeared, a cloud of crimson poisonous mist suddenly erupted.
"Ah!"
Ma Jingchuan felt a sharp pain on his neck and instinctively crushed it.
SPLAT!
The Bone-Transforming Corpse Beetle was crushed.
Ma Jingchuan was startled. "When did this get on me!"
"He really did have a trick up his sleeve. Such a refined concealment technique."
Dressed in a red gown, the graceful Miao Hongrui sauntered out, placing her pair of snow-white, lotus-root-like arms lightly on Ma Jingchuan’s shoulders.
A scarlet, forked tongue extended, licking Ma Jingchuan’s earlobe.
"Junior Brother Ma, how did it go? Did that boy Qin Xuan agree to come out?"
Miao Hongrui’s voice was like silver bells, her breath as fragrant as orchids. The warm, moist air brushed against Ma Jingchuan’s face, creating a seductive atmosphere.
But Ma Jingchuan didn’t dare to be the least bit careless. Steeling himself, he said, "Reporting to Senior Sister Miao, Master Qin did not agree. He even asked me if I had found anyone else."
"Quite cautious. No wonder he caught Master Sun’s interest. This is a rare and excellent vessel for Corpse Refining."
Miao Hongrui’s eyes narrowed slightly. Beneath her red dress, the massive tail of a colorful Demon Python moved slowly.
"In a few days, go find him again. Tell him you’ve found people—Senior Brother Xiong from the Corpse Refining Hall and me. I refuse to believe that someone who has comprehended the [Demon Slayer] Sword Talisman and is desperate to slay demons to advance his Cultivation won’t be tempted!"
Ma Jingchuan hesitated for a moment, then said worriedly, "Senior Sister Miao, if his [Demon Slayer] Sword Talisman really does slay that late-stage Purple Mansion Demon Toad Corpse Puppet, wouldn’t we..."
"So what if he slays it?"
Miao Hongrui covered her mouth in a light chuckle and raised an eyebrow. "Do you not trust my snake poison, or do you not trust Senior Brother Xiong’s Corpse Refining power?"
Ma Jingchuan was terrified and quickly lowered his head. "I spoke out of turn."
"Mm, you may go."
Miao Hongrui waved her hand and said indifferently.
Ma Jingchuan felt his limbs begin to move uncontrollably. A hint of sorrow rose in his eyes as he retreated like a string puppet.
...
「Ten days later.」
Deep within the Cyan Nether Mountain Range, a thick, white fog lingered year-round.
Qin Xuan and his party of four appeared, riding majestically on a Dark Cloud Spiritual Artifact.
"This place is rumored to be where True Monarch Qingming Demon Lord, a Golden Core Demon Pet of the Cyan Cloud Sect, passed away three thousand years ago."
Ma Jingchuan, appearing to be the leader, explained to Qin Xuan.
"This True Monarch Qingming Demon Lord was himself a Tier Four Demon Beast and subdued countless Great Demons in his lifetime. Unfortunately, he ended up straying into our Holy Sect’s territory and was slain with a single sword strike by the Demon Monarch. His beast-taming pouch burst, splattering blood everywhere, and countless Great Demons took root in the place where he fell."
Ma Jingchuan flew on his sword, flanked by two Purple Mansion Cultivators with distinctly different auras.
The woman on his left, dressed in a red gown with a graceful figure, was none other than Miao Hongrui.
"I have also heard of this matter."
Miao Hongrui said with a faint smile, "Over the past three thousand years, any treasures at the site of True Monarch Qingming’s fall have been thoroughly picked clean by generations of our Holy Sect’s members. The Demon Beast resources, however, have been endless."
"I’d wager this Golden Core True Monarch might have left some treasure behind here!"
"In your dreams. If there really was a treasure, do you think it would fall into your hands?"
The giant on Ma Jingchuan’s right was nine feet tall, his voice like muffled thunder. "Lady Miao, stop showing off. Fellow Daoist Qin, the entrance to the Cave Mansion is just ahead. We are uncouth and only skilled in Corpse Refining, so we’ll have to trouble you with the Array in the Cave Mansion."
"In return, if there are any treasures inside the Cave Mansion, you can take forty percent, and the three of us will each take twenty percent."
The giant’s name was Xiong Hanshan. The left side of his body was knotted muscle, while the right side was stitched to the rusted torso of an Iron-Armored Demon Bear. At the seams, flesh and iron armor merged, emitting a thick stench of rot.
Qin Xuan’s gaze swept over the valley below. He saw miasma filling the air and ancient trees reaching for the sky. It looked ordinary, but it was actually hiding a secret.
"Please wait a moment."
He formed a sealing technique with his hands, and seventy-two Array Flags flew from his sleeves, disappearing into the void.
The valley immediately began to shake. The once-calm mist roiled as if boiling, revealing a watery curtain that stretched across the sky.
"A Water Moon Illusion Array, and a variant that has been steeped in Demon Qi."
A spiritual light flickered at Qin Xuan’s fingertips as he continuously tapped the Array Flags. "Before his death, this Golden Core Demon Cultivator was likely a toad that attained the Dao."
Miao Hongrui covered her mouth and chuckled lightly. "Fellow Daoist Qin has sharp eyes. It’s said that this ’True Monarch Qingming’ collected the Five Poison Essences in his lifetime, intending to refine the Five Poison Golden Pill. A pity he failed when success was just within his grasp."
Xiong Hanshan impatiently flexed his Iron Armor Bear Arm, the stench of rot growing even thicker.
