Chapter 657: Chapter 521: Hermit (Part 2)
"Otherwise... the situation over in the East Sea and Northern Cold wouldn’t be this tense either."
Qin Ming nodded slightly, finding it reasonable.
After all, these two Cultivation Realms are the backbone of the Human Realm. If even they can’t hold out, there’s no need to mention other places.
"It looks like Brother Qin’s Southern Wilderness should also hasten its defense. Many Nascent Souls have fallen within Primordial Extreme Mountain. It must be some great upheaval beyond the control of all forces. I’ll have someone gather more intelligence," Su Yuqing advised.
Qin Ming said, "Thank you, Brother Su, for the reminder. While I cannot reach everywhere, I can still defend this small area of Wangyue Island."
Su Yuqing and Yue Lingyan nodded slightly, having no doubt about Qin Ming’s cultivation prowess.
Then.
After a few more exchanges.
Su Yuqing and Yue Lingyan took their leave from Qin Ming.
They had come to discuss future plans with Qin Ming.
After all, the sudden entrapment of so many Nascent Soul cultivators had everyone on edge, with the war between the Righteous and Demonic Dao nearing a critical period.
Qin Ming, as a Mid-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, could also clearly sense the changes in the Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth, likely due to the interface tide between the Blood Realm and Human Realm starting to weaken.
After a century of development, the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm, with a Mid-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator like Qin Ming holding the fort, had become a formidable cultivation region.
Even stronger than the West Nether and the Three Kingdoms of Central Continent.
The establishment of the Four Nations Alliance had also led to the emergence of many Golden Core cultivators, forming a cultivator army with considerable combat strength.
It was no longer the pushover it had been in the past.
...
On this day.
Spirit Incense wafted through the Cyan Wood Pavilion.
Qin Ming was reading an ancient book, while the Heaven-Devouring Rat and Little Silver Fox were dozing on the meditation mat beside him.
Hua Tianxiong, with a big belly, walked in excitedly and reported to Qin Ming:
"Master, the High-Tier Array Master you asked me to find has shown signs, hehe."
"Oh? Who might that be?" Qin Ming put down the book, showing interest, "What about their level?"
Hua Tianxiong explained, "To tell the truth, it was by chance I encountered a servant maid of this person selling an array at the Star Moon Market... After some inquiries, I learned that this person’s array attainments are unmatched."
"However... I reckon you must go in person, Master. The Defense Array set by this person is so formidable that even we Late-stage Golden Core cultivators can’t approach and can only watch from afar."
"This person, Qi Xiaoyu, is a reclusive hermit. Though his cultivation is at the early Nascent Soul stage, his array attainments have reached the Tier Four High-Grade level. It’s said that even major Nascent Soul Sects have failed to invite him out, never even having met him."
Qin Ming was surprised, "Oh? Is that really the case? I didn’t expect such a remarkable person..."
"I would like to visit. Where is this person currently residing?"
"To report to Master, this person resides in the ’Immortal Concealment Valley,’ at the border between the West Nether and our Southern Wilderness," Hua Tianxiong answered honestly.
Qin Ming nodded, "Hmm, you’ve done a good job on this matter."
"Lead me to the Immortal Concealment Valley."
With that, he flicked his hand, and a bottle of Spirit Pill landed steadily in front of Hua Tianxiong.
"Thank you, Master, for the reward!" Hua Tianxiong was overjoyed as he accepted the Spirit Pill.
Half a month later.
Qin Ming drove the Lingxiao Imperial Carriage to the border.
The valley here was secluded and serene, offering a distinct charm.
"Master, we are almost there." Hua Tianxiong pointed to a mountain valley shrouded in white mist not far ahead.
"Hmm." Qin Ming nodded, then released his Divine Thought, rivaling that of a late-stage Nascent Soul, probing forward.
Yet, the next moment, as his mighty Divine Thought entered the mist, it was instantly swallowed without a trace, like mud into the sea of clouds...
"Interesting... This Illusionary Array is somewhat similar to the Mist Illusion Realm I previously set on Wangyue Island. However, the current one is much more advanced than the mist produced by the Mist Illusion Mushroom, capable of isolating and devouring even the Divine Thought of a late-stage Nascent Soul..."
"It seems I’ve indeed encountered a master of arrays."
Qin Ming felt no anger at the failure to probe, but rather a sense of delight.
The mere fact that this Array Master set such a sophisticated array outside the valley speaks volumes about this "Qi Xiaoyu’s" array attainments, which are absolutely extraordinary.
Subsequently.
Qin Ming used his Nascent Soul Dharma Power to transmit a message into the valley: "I, the Southern Wilderness Moon Gazing True Monarch, have come to visit Fellow Daoist Qi."
The resounding voice echoed throughout the valley, yet there was no response.
After a long while.
Even Qin Ming, a renowned Nascent Soul True Monarch, was refused.
Beside him, Hua Tianxiong was extremely angry, hurriedly transmitting a message into the mist-shrouded valley:
"Elder Qi! It’s one thing not to see me, but to not even give my master face, how can your manner be so overbearing... This is utterly unreasonable..."
Qin Ming raised his hand to stop his indignant words.
"Enough, stop shouting. I will handle this myself."
Hua Tianxiong immediately fell silent obediently.
Qin Ming gazed intently at the valley below. Should he choose to forcefully break through the array, it wouldn’t be impossible.
However, doing so would certainly lead to casualties within the valley. He was here to seek aid, not as an unpredictable Nascent Soul Old Monster.
