Chapter 697: Chapter 541: Exchange Visit
Great Jin Cultivation Realm, Su Family at Longting Lake.
When Su Yuqing saw Qin Ming again, he seemed to sense the unfathomable mana aura from Qin Ming, and was stunned for a while.
He couldn’t believe it and asked, "Brother Qin, did you... breakthrough your cultivation again?"
"Hehe! Indeed." Qin Ming replied with a calm smile.
Su Yuqing was already numb to it. For Qin Ming, breaking through within the Nascent Soul Realm seemed as simple as eating and drinking water.
He had grown accustomed to it.
"Then congratulations to Qin Ming for breaking through to the late-stage Nascent Soul, becoming a rare great cultivator in the Human Realm. Since you’ve come to my place, we must have a grand celebration." Su Yuqing was genuinely happy for Qin Ming and turned to smile.
"By the way, who is this fellow Daoist?"
He inquired, gesturing towards Qi Xiaoyu beside Qin Ming.
"Brother Su, let me introduce you. This is Fellow Daoist Qi Xiaoyu from the Hidden Immortal Valley, a distinguished array master who shares similar interests with me. He came along as we happened to be on the same path, and I specially brought him to introduce you. In the future, perhaps you two could exchange knowledge..."
Qin Ming introduced immediately.
"Oh! So it’s Brother Qi. Being esteemed by Brother Qin, your accomplishments in array arts must be remarkable, hahaha!"
"Brother Su, I’ve long admired your name, and it’s thanks to Brother Qin that I finally meet you, hehe!"
"Your words are too polite. Please come inside. It’s a rare occasion for us to gather, and we must toast and celebrate together!"
Su Yuqing warmly welcomed both of them inside.
Inside the cave mansion.
Su Yuqing specially took out a jar of Spirit Rhinoceros Jade Liquid given by Qin Ming and poured a glass for each of the three. He also set up a table of food and wine in the courtyard at the entrance of the cave mansion for the Heaven-Devouring Rat and the Little Silver Fox.
The two beasts were also indulging in the sumptuous food and drink, thoroughly enjoying themselves!
Inside the cave mansion.
"This is the Spirit Rhinoceros Jade Liquid Immortal Brew brewed by Fellow Daoist Qin. It is tremendously beneficial for enhancing Nascent Soul Stage cultivation, far surpassing the pills I’ve concocted. Today, borrowing flowers to present to Buddha, I toast both of you. Cheers!"
Qi Xiaoyu, having his first taste of this spirit wine, also found himself lost in the pure brew, savoring its rich flavors.
"This wine is truly rare in the world. I never expected Brother Qin, with his profound insight into the Path of Spiritual Plants, could also master such skills. It’s truly impressive."
Qin Ming smiled without responding, noticing that Su Yuqing appeared to have just returned from the Guardian Dao Alliance, so he asked without revealing his thoughts:
"Brother Su, how is the situation with the Demonic Cultivators lately?"
Upon hearing this, Su Yuqing revealed a slight smile: "Thanks to the Celestial Hatred Demon Monarch falling in the Primordial Extreme Mountain, the Demonic Cultivators have toned down their arrogance significantly."
"If it weren’t for this, just the ancient demon escaping from the Primordial Extreme Mountain would have been enough trouble for us."
"Fortunately, Cold Crow Ascendant, Master Tianji, and Wanbao True Monarch from the Ten Thousand Dao Business Alliance returned safely, reducing our stress significantly."
"However... many fellow Daoists perished inside, including some late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivators."
"Back then, I was lucky to have listened to Brother Qin’s advice! Otherwise, it would have been uncertain."
At this point, Su Yuqing, the Pill King, felt a wave of lingering fear.
The Primordial Extreme Mountain, such a perilous place, was not somewhere just anyone could enter.
Qin Ming and Qi Xiaoyu exchanged a glance, with strange expressions on their faces.
Su Yuqing was no outsider, so Qin Ming immediately recounted the events that happened in the Primordial Extreme Mountain to him.
After listening, Su Yuqing was completely numb.
"What?!"
"Brother Qin, Brother Qi, you two also went into the Primordial Extreme Mountain..."
"The Celestial Hatred Demon Monarch... actually died at Brother Qin’s hands... and then the array suppressing the ancient demon..."
A series of shocking revelations left Su Yuqing speechless.
At the same time, he suddenly realized why Qin Ming’s cultivation progressed so rapidly, quickly breaking through to the late-stage Nascent Soul.
It was all due to the fortunate encounter in the Primordial Extreme Mountain.
Qin Ming also wore a strange expression, as he had strongly advised Su Yuqing and Yue Lingyan not to enter the Primordial Extreme Mountain and risk their lives in vain.
Yet by a twist of fate, he ended up going in...
After explaining the entire sequence of events, Qin Ming immediately took out a jade scroll, handing it to Su Yuqing, saying:
"Brother Su, take a look at this."
Su Yuqing, feeling a mix of emotions, took the jade scroll from Qin Ming’s hand, and after browsing through it, he was even more shocked and said:
"A Tier Five Longevity Pill Formula, Mysterious Pill?!"
"Brother Qin, is this also acquired from the Primordial Extreme Mountain?"
Qin Ming nodded, "Indeed. However, this pill formula was given to me by Cloud-Fishing Elder. He entrusted me with the task of alchemy, but there are some uncertainties in the process, and I would like to discuss and exchange insights with you."
"Meanwhile, the ancient demon hiding in Great Li can only be dealt with by a Venerable Divinity Transformation, and Elder Cloud-Fishing doesn’t have much lifespan left, which is why he sought me out."
"A Tier Five Longevity Pill!" Qi Xiaoyu, listening to their conversation, couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed!
The allure it held for him was undoubtedly immense.
After all, when Qi Xiaoyu took the Heaven-Continuing Pill he obtained in his previous transaction with Qin Ming, he extended his lifespan by another two hundred years, but for a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage, this was merely a blink of an eye.
Next.
Qin Ming and Su Yuqing began discussing the matter of pill refining.
Their conversation flowed with questions and answers, as time slowly passed by, and in the blink of an eye, several days had passed.
Qi Xiaoyu remained beside them quietly, without interrupting, simply brewing tea and burning incense for them.
Su Yuqing indeed had profound research into ancient pill formulas; he directly mentioned that the spiritual environment of ancient times vastly differs from now.
Many Tier Five alchemy techniques and procedures can no longer be used and must be replaced with alternative methods.
After their negotiation,
they finally came up with three different pill refining methods as backups.
Qin Ming gained a bit more confidence, ensuring that spiritual materials would not be wasted.
Su Yuqing obtained a Tier Five pill formula, which was worthwhile.
After the exchange ended, Qin Ming bade farewell to Su Yuqing alongside Qi Xiaoyu.
At the moment of departure,
Qi Xiaoyu hesitated for a while, then asked Qin Ming:
"Brother Qin, if you happen to refine an extra Mysterious Pill, could you trade one with me?"
"Of course, I won’t take it for free. Recently, I’ve been researching an Ancient Array, beyond Tier Five. Once I gather a few spiritual materials, I can refine it—I did gain some insights back at Primordial Extreme Mountain."
"Brother Qi is joking, your contributions are already recorded in the annals of the Human Race. If I’m fortunate enough to succeed, I’ll surely give you one," Qin Ming replied with a light smile.
Qi Xiaoyu felt deeply moved, he didn’t expect that when nearing the end of his lifespan, he would meet Qin Ming through his maid, granting him hope for life.
"Next, I plan to visit the East Sea Cultivation Realm, will Brother Qi join me, or return to Hidden Immortal Valley?" Qin Ming asked.
Qi Xiaoyu thought for a moment, then nodded happily, "I need to collect several materials for refining a Tier Five Grand Array, I’ve heard the East Sea Cultivation Realm is rich in resources, it’s the perfect place to gather them."
"Especially, the core components of this array require seventy-two Profound Sea Dragon-Suppressing Pillars as the array core, each pillar needs to be forged with Deep Sea Profound Iron and engraved with array patterns using Flood Dragon Essence Blood from Late-stage Tier Four and above..."
"Fellow Daoist Qi, the Tier Five Grand Array you intend to refine is..." Qin Ming’s curiosity was piqued, prompting him to ask consciously.
"Indeed, this array is an attack array — ’Tai Hao Nine Luminaries Immortal Extinction Array,’ comprehended from the Array Dao heritage of Luotian Hall..."
"Once completed, it will emit the Immortal Slaying Divine Light, comparable to the power of nine suns, even Divinity Transformation stage cultivators trapped in this array would be instantly obliterated by the rays, reduced to nothingness in moments..."
"However, this array is excessively intricate and requires Top-Grade Spirit Stones to activate. I’m currently at the research stage and have recently made some progress. Only after collecting the materials for testing can I proceed to further study."
"If the array is successfully refined, it could potentially help the Human Realm recover some ground in the Great War of Righteous and Evil."
Qi Xiaoyu spoke frankly to Qin Ming, withholding nothing.
Hiss!
"Terrifyingly powerful is the Tier Five Grand Array!" Even the Heaven-Devouring Rat inside the Lingxiao Imperial Carriage couldn’t help but gasp.
After hearing it, the smile on Qin Ming’s face grew broader, "Then let’s journey together, I know some fellow cultivators in the East Sea, Brother Qi will surely find something beneficial."
...
Ten days passed.
Qin Ming drove the Lingxiao Imperial Carriage, arriving again at the East Sea Cultivation Realm, with the Profound Water Crocodile laboriously pulling the carriage ahead.
Gradually.
A towering golden giant tree began to grow ever larger in their view.
"That Divine Tree is where the Penglai Sect resides..."
It was Qi Xiaoyu’s first long journey away from home, and he was deeply shocked by the sight before him.
As they approached, Qin Ming had already sent a Communication Talisman to another familiar elder of the Penglai Sect, Chen Muzhi.
Before long.
A blue Escape Light landed in front of Qin Ming’s Lingxiao Imperial Carriage, revealing the silhouette of Chen Muzhi.
"Ah, it’s Fellow Daoist Qin from the Southern Wilderness, haven’t seen you in ages... and this fellow Daoist, too, please come to my mansion for a chat."
Chen Muzhi’s face was a bit weathered, forcing a slight smile, he greeted the two by clasping his hands.
Qin Ming didn’t want to draw too much attention, thus he concealed his cultivation level, keeping it at Mid-stage Nascent Soul as before.
After all, his reputation was already enough to deter anyone.
Following Chen Muzhi into the Penglai Sect, they discovered that, likely due to the fall of True Monarch Miaoling and True Monarch Dragon Wood inside Primordial Extreme Mountain, the entire sect was enveloped in sadness.
The loss of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator along with a Tier Four Middle-Grade Spirit Plant Master, dealt a heavy blow to Penglai Sect, which had once produced venerable Divinity Transformation cultivators, the impact was significant.
Qin Ming accompanied Chen Muzhi to pay respects at the Penglai Sect’s shrine, honoring his old friend, True Monarch Dragon Wood.
Standing before the memorial tablet, Qin Ming sighed deeply, cultivation is like sailing against the current, you must keep advancing.
The journey is fraught with obstacles and challenges; an error can lead even Nascent Soul stage cultivators to a fate of death, and the path of cultivation reduced to nothing after hundreds of years...
...
