Chapter 142

In an instant.

Roar! In Qin Ming's mind, the towering mountain ape still appeared, its might overwhelming.

But this time, its body had swollen to a full thirty zhang tall, and it had grown four arms.

The mountain ape's eyes bore a spiral pattern, as if capable of piercing through all illusions.

Countless illusions shattered like dreams and bubbles under its gaze.

Three breaths later, Qin Ming withdrew from the Hundred Beasts Contemplation Map, still immersed in the scene, deeply shaken.

Next, he needed to gather more beast blood to fully master the second transformation.

Qin Ming felt the surging qi and true energy within his body; his confidence soared—he now felt that anyone who dared close in for hand-to-hand combat would shatter at the first touch.

At this moment, he resembled a formidable late Foundation Establishment beast, every gesture radiating terrifying power.

"Why does this 'Hundred Treasures Glass Sutra' feel less and less like a human cultivation technique?"

Qin Ming pulled out the beast-skin scripture, studying its tadpole-like seal script repeatedly.

After countless heavenly treasures had been consumed, Qin Ming's physical strength far surpassed that of other Body Refinement cultivators at his level.

Qin Ming ended his cultivation, his power greatly enhanced.

He then rose and walked to the lake's edge, mentally issuing an order to the Blackwater Crocodile.

Not long after.

The Blackwater Crocodile's massive body surfaced and crawled toward him.

Qin Ming sensed its aura and found that, after consuming the Dragon Blood Divine Fruit, its cultivation had also grown significantly.

As Qin Ming observed the Blackwater Crocodile, he suddenly noticed its aura seemed abnormal.

Its back scales now bore many crimson spiritual patterns.

After communicating with the Blackwater Crocodile, Qin Ming was delighted to discover its original Earth-grade bloodline talent had improved considerably.

"It seems the Dragon Blood Divine Fruit contains a trace of Jiao dragon bloodline energy—its effect on beasts is even greater, capable of further elevating bloodline talents."

Clearly having benefited greatly from Qin Ming, the Blackwater Crocodile behaved obediently before him, enduring all his manipulations without resistance or sound.

After pondering for a while, Qin Ming rested his chin in thought, then decided: "If so, I'll give you a few more Divine Fruits—let's see if you can break through to Heaven-grade bloodline."

"If you fail, I'll boil you into soup."

The Blackwater Crocodile had been thrilled at the first half—more Dragon Blood Divine Fruits!

But upon hearing the second half, it immediately hesitated. Then Qin Ming went to his Lifevine, summoned the Yin Yi Shuangfeng from its hive, and found its bloodline rank had advanced from Low-grade to Mid-grade.

Qin Ming's expression instantly brightened.

"It seems the Dragon Blood Divine Fruit greatly enhances my spiritual companions!"

"Though it doesn't directly raise their cultivation, it boosts their future potential."

Thinking this, Qin Ming made his decision and used another 【Temporal Leaf】 term to ripen another batch of Dragon Blood Divine Fruits.

Then he used the 【Quality Enhancement】 term to elevate the Divine Fruits' quality to premium grade.

The concentration of Jiao dragon bloodline within them increased further.

Simultaneously, two golden terms appeared among these eighteen Dragon Blood Divine Fruits:

【Name】: Dragon Blood Divine Fruit 【Term】: Qi Crystallization ×5 (Ripeness 98%)

【Name】: Dragon Blood Divine Fruit 【Term】: Regenerative Spirit Seed ×5 (Ripeness 96%)

After half a day, Qin Ming harvested another eighteen premium-grade Dragon Blood Divine Fruits, along with two new terms.

Qin Ming kept six for himself—he had previously consumed over a dozen and realized that even the finest things lose efficacy when overconsumed.

He then summoned his two spiritual beasts and gave each six premium Dragon Blood Divine Fruits. The Blackwater Crocodile and Yin Yi Shuangfeng, having received their share, broke through again.

…

Having tended to his spiritual beasts.

Qin Ming arrived beside the wooden hut by Wu Jiang Lake.

Standing at the lakeside, gazing at the calm water, he said softly: "Before I knew it, another half-year has passed."

Wu Jiang, beside him, was brewing Spirit Concentration Tea, smiling broadly.

During this time, Qin Ming had sent Wu Jiang out several times to gather intelligence.

Lady Long of the Mirror Jing Xue Ge occasionally sent back upper-tier information.

With the Zhao family's downfall, the Immortal Realm of the spiritual energy Archipelago had gradually grown quieter.

"Any news on the Twin-Pupiled Demon Ape lately?" Qin Ming asked.

Wu Jiang stirred the charcoal in the stove, then replied: "I was just about to tell you, that beast was driven off by the Canghai True Person of Canghai Xiancheng and fled back to the Beast Roar Mountains—it won't show itself again for a while."

"Ah! That demon is truly terrifying—if not for the Canghai True Person, no one could have stopped it."

"Exactly. The two pseudo-Golden Core elders from the San Alliance who rushed back to defend the rear were both severely wounded fighting it—imagine how powerful it truly is." Qin Ming nodded, astonished.

Wu Jiang thought of something and added: "If this Twin-Pupiled Demon Ape is already so formidable at late Foundation Establishment, what if it ascends to a third-rank beast king? Will the entire spiritual energy Immortal Realm be plunged into ruin?"

"Don't worry—it won't break through to third rank for a very long time. Every beast breakthrough is excruciatingly difficult, far harder than for humans."

"Third-rank Lei Jie isn't something to take lightly. Without absolute certainty, the demon ape won't risk a breakthrough," Qin Ming said, as if well-informed.

Wu Jiang nodded, finding this entirely reasonable—after all, Qin Ming himself now commanded two late Foundation Establishment beasts.

He had personally witnessed the terrifying heavenly thunder punishments twice, right on the island.

With the Twin-Pupiled Demon Ape gone, the heavy stone in Qin Ming's heart lifted.

He then asked: "What about Qianye Lingdao? And the Zhao remnants?"

"After the San Alliance seized Qianye Lingdao, they're likely to divide the spoils with Lei Yuanzong."

"But since it involves a third-rank spiritual vein, no agreement has been reached yet."

"As for the Zhao family, they're utterly ruined—likely fled to Lingyu Gate. Now hunted everywhere in the spiritual energy Archipelago, they have nowhere else to go."

Besides this, Qin Ming also learned through the channels of the Mirror Jing Xue Ge that, after this battle, the Lingyu Sect had suffered a great loss and would not let it rest — presumably, an even greater contest was about to begin.

……

Half a month later.

Qin Ming once again came before the Xuan Shui Crocodile and discovered that the aura on its body had already changed dramatically, emanating a kingly, domineering air among beasts.

"Heavenly-grade bloodline talent!"

Qin Ming briefly probed it, and immediately revealed a look of pleasant surprise.

"Good!"

"My painstaking cultivation wasn't wasted."

He vigorously patted the Xuan Shui Crocodile's massive head — from then on, this beast also had the possibility of advancing into a third-tier Demon King.

The Xuan Shui Crocodile naturally also felt its own earth-shaking changes and excitedly let out a howl.

Very eagerly it carried Qin Ming on its back and swam a full lap around Wangyue Lake.

On the other side.

After being fed the Dragon Blood Divine Fruit, the bloodline talent of the Yin Yi Shuangfeng was also raised to high-grade bloodline.

(End of this chapter)