Chapter 201: Third-Tier Demon King

Another month passed.

Qin Ming had already cultivated the two secret techniques from the Demon Scripture to complete mastery.

This was largely thanks to his own powerful divine soul and body-refining arts.

Even the most talented elites of the Demon Sect, cultivating these two secret techniques, could not have mastered them in such a short time.

These two demonic secret techniques could now serve as Qin Ming's future trump cards.

Once he employed the Blood Escape Technique to flee, even a Jin Dan old ancestor could only watch helplessly and sigh; with his demonic secret techniques now perfected, Qin Ming was in truly high spirits as he walked out of his cave dwelling and took a deep breath of the external spiritual qi.

He then strode over to the Life-Extending Vine, his innate spiritual plant in the spiritual field, and looked up to observe and examine it closely.

"It's been nearly a year."

"Ever since the Life-Extending Vine devoured the core of the Blood Curse Demon Vine, it has fallen into a certain slumber, never waking up again, and its growth has ceased."

"Even when I try to communicate with it using my mind, there is no response."

"Sigh~ Could something have gone wrong?"

Qin Ming frowned tightly; he too had not expected his innate spiritual plant to fall into such a bizarre state.

He shook his head and returned to tend to the spiritual field.

The refreshed tea tree forest and bamboo forest had grown significantly.

The attribute entries flashing before Qin Ming's eyes had also changed.

【Name】: Snow Soul Tea 【Attribute】: Soul Power Crystal x5 (Maturity 35%)

【Name】: Snow Soul Tea 【Attribute】: Space-Time Leaf x5 (Maturity 36%)

【Name】: Snow Soul Tea 【Attribute】: Faint Lifespan x5 (Maturity 38%)

【Name】: Void Bamboo 【Attribute】: Qi and Blood Crystal x5 (Maturity 39%)

【Name】: Ethereal Bamboo 【Attribute】: Space-Time Leaf x5 (Maturity 37%)

Within the three mu of spiritual energy Rice spiritual field, three attribute entries were also flashing:

【Name】: spiritual energy Rice 【Attribute】: Space-Time Leaf x5 (Maturity 42%)

【Name】: spiritual energy Rice 【Attribute】: Soul Power Crystal x5 (Maturity 46%)

【Name】: spiritual energy Rice 【Attribute】: Regeneration Spirit Seed x5 (Maturity 40%)

As for the third-tier spiritual plant 'Three-Crimson Soul-Returning Grass' that Qin Ming had planted earlier, a full year had passed, and not even a sprout had broken through the soil.

However, Qin Ming's affinity with plants still sensed that the spirit seed within the spiritual soil was in good condition and was already preparing to sprout.

The five Five-Elements Primordial Qi Peach Trees in front of the cave dwelling had also grown new leaves, and it was estimated that they would blossom with peach flowers after some more time.

Besides tending to the spiritual field.

Qin Ming's puppetry arts had also improved greatly; after integrating several kinds of high-grade rare spiritual materials into the two turtle spiritual puppets, he had successfully upgraded them to second-tier middle-grade puppets.

The current turtle puppets possessed strength comparable to a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, though their greatest capability remained defense.

As cannon fodder for scouting ahead for Qin Ming in the future, they were also extremely tough and durable.

The situation in the Wei State Immortal Realm was also constantly changing.

Although the beast tide had been jointly repelled by the various major forces back to the vicinity of the Beast Roar Mountain Range.

Several powerful beast clans were still active around the borders of Wei State.

After several great battles with the human cultivators, both sides had suffered casualties.

During this period, Qin Ming had also dispatched Wu Jiang, sending him to continuously gather intelligence on the changing circumstances in the outside Immortal Realm.

Overall, the current situation was still favorable to Wei State.

On this day.

Qin Ming once again left Moon Gazing Island, mounted his Silver-Yin Yi Shuangfeng, and flew toward Canghai Xiancheng.

The second-tier spiritual herbs cultivated in his medicinal field for refining the 'Void-Breaking Pill' had matured, and he now possessed the perfect-grade demon core of the Double-Pupil Demon Ape.

Now lacking only a few auxiliary ingredients, Qin Ming could begin refining, so he planned to visit the immortal city to make some purchases.

He also intended to observe and gather intelligence on the situation within the immortal city.

One hour later.

Qin Ming arrived outside Canghai Xiancheng; he recalled his Silver-Yin Yi Shuangfeng and then descended by flight.

He did not use any illusion or disguise for this visit, appearing instead in his true form.

The crowd of cultivators below, seeing a Foundation Establishment expert descending, hastily made way; over the past year, Canghai Xiancheng had reopened to the outside world, though entry inspections were much stricter than before.

Qin Ming quickly passed the inspection by the city-guarding cultivators and then entered the immortal city.

He first went to the Mirror Snow Pavilion to collect the spirit stones from Gu Qingzhao for the previous auction of Bai Yulin Wine, receiving a total of twelve superior-grade spirit stones.

After conversing with Gu Qingzhao for half a day, Qin Ming also sold all the spiritual rice submitted to him by the Wu family to the Mirror Snow Pavilion.

His spirit stone pouch suddenly bulged significantly.

Subsequently, at Gu Qingzhao's enthusiastic invitation, he stayed to share a meal within the Mirror Snow Pavilion.

During the banquet, Gu Qingzhao even gifted Qin Ming a spiritual tool that delighted him greatly.

It was a second-tier spiritual hoe called the 'Shennong Hoe,' said to be a treasure left behind by an ancient spiritual planting sect and acquired by the headquarters of the Mirror Snow Pavilion.

The Shennong Hoe appeared plain and unadorned on the surface, much like an ordinary spiritual hoe used by common spiritual farmers, utterly unremarkable, yet it concealed hidden mechanisms; once infused with magic power, it could easily dig through several types of incredibly hard spiritual soil.

Besides this, it could also serve as a spiritual tool for combat.

Qin Ming was so fond of the Shennong Hoe that he could not bear to part with it; it could be used to hoe people when advancing and to dig the earth when retreating, achieving two goals with one action.

Of course, its greater utility lay in farming.

After leaving the Mirror Snow Pavilion.

Qin Ming once again arrived at the Alchemy Pavilion in the core district of Canghai Xiancheng.

Seeing that Qin Ming had taken so long to arrive, Xu Jing's eyes were filled with considerable resentment, and she said sourly, "Sigh~ It seems my beauty truly cannot compare to that Gu Qingzhao of the Mirror Snow Pavilion."

"Fellow Daoist Qin, a whole year has passed before you finally remembered my Pill Cauldron Pavilion."

"I heard that Fellow Daoist Qin even auctioned off a unique jar of 'Bai Yulin Wine' on behalf of the Mirror Snow Pavilion; nowadays, everyone within Canghai Xiancheng knows about it, and no one is unaware."

Hearing this, the corners of Qin Ming's mouth couldn't help but twitch.

Building a good relationship with the Pill Cauldron Pavilion was a crucial link for him to obtain the Jin Dan formula next; he absolutely could not fail here.

Thus, he pasted on a smiling face and said with a laugh, "Did Qin Mou not come? In recent days, I was busy with matters on the island and indeed found it difficult to extricate myself."

"Cough! As for this Bai Yulin Wine, Qin Mou still has one or two final jars cellared and was just planning to sell one jar to your esteemed pavilion."

Upon hearing this, Xu Jing's resentful expression instantly transformed into a smile blooming like a flower, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Are Fellow Daoist Qin's words true?!"

"Hehe! Actually, this humble one was merely joking with Fellow Daoist Qin just now; for Fellow Daoist Qin to grace this shop with your presence already makes our pavilion shine with honor."

Just at this moment.

"Hahaha! Young Friend Qin, it has been many days since we last met!"

"Regarding the legendary Bai Yulin Wine, this old man has long been drooling with anticipation; I wonder if today I might be fortunate enough to taste it?"

A vigorous voice rang out.

Subsequently, Xu Zhanglao's figure walked down from the stairs; a thick smile hung on his face as he greeted Qin Ming.

"Hehe! I didn't realize Xu Zhanglao was here too!"

"It has been a long time; Qin Mou must share a drink with Xu Zhanglao until neither of us is sober!"

Just as Qin Ming was about to exchange a few pleasantries with Xu Zhanglao.

Boom!

A tremendous noise arose suddenly, accompanied by the entire Canghai Xiancheng shaking as if the earth and mountains were moving.

Even the Pill Cauldron Pavilion shook violently several times.

The expressions on Qin Ming's and Xu Zhanglao's faces changed abruptly.

"Beast assault!"

A grand alarm sound instantly spread throughout the entire Canghai Xiancheng.

The third-tier upper-grade great formation activated with full power.

Outside the Xiancheng.

The figure of a third-tier Shi Tian Shu Demon King, blotting out the sky and covering the sun, suddenly floated into view outside the formation's perimeter.

Its form stood dozens of zhang tall, resembling a small mountain; one could see demonic patterns on the Shi Tian Shu Demon King's body writhing and flashing before it suddenly opened its mouth and spat.

A mass of pitch-black liquid spewed from its mouth.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle! The black liquid, carrying a potent force of corrosive filth, struck the Xiancheng's third-tier great formation, immediately causing thick black smoke to rise.

(End of Chapter)