Chapter 211: Spirit Peach Blossoms Bloom

"These past days, I have been traveling around with my clansmen."

"I discovered that beast tides everywhere have weakened considerably; most have retreated back to the Beast Cry Mountain Range."

"Within the scope of the Spirit Perch Archipelago, the vast majority of demonic beasts have been cleared out by the San Alliance, and no new beast disasters have occurred recently."

Hearing this, Qin Ming could not help but ask, "The beast tides have receded? Are you certain?"

For when Qin had previously fled from Canghai Xiancheng, the scene of those several great demonic clans from the Beast Cry Mountain Range surrounding the city with countless demonic beasts remained unforgettable to him even now.

Moreover, at that time, Canghai Xiancheng was already in imminent peril.

It was only a matter of time before the demonic beasts breached it.

How could these demonic beasts suddenly vanish without a trace?

Wu Jiang replied with absolute certainty: "I witnessed it all with my own eyes; it is undeniably true."

"Then what is the situation at Canghai Xiancheng?"

"The beast tide there has also receded; reportedly, several months ago, an unprecedented beast tide erupted."

"But for some unknown reason, one of the demonic clans deserted mid-battle."

"This gave four Jin Dan Old Ancestors an opportunity to launch a joint attack, seriously injuring one of the Demon Kings in the process."

"According to reliable news from within the Xiancheng, that seriously injured Demon King remains missing to this day."

"In the short term, the demonic clans will not organize another beast tide to assault the Xiancheng, granting us a buffer period to rest and regroup."

Hearing this, Qin Ming frowned; he had not expected that after he was teleported away, the situation at the Xiancheng would take such a bizarre turn.

"Did you manage to find out why the demonic beasts besieging the Xiancheng deserted mid-battle?" he asked with some confusion.

Wu Jiang thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "Oh! I suddenly remember; during our inquiries, we learned that the demonic clan which deserted mid-battle was called something like... Bear... King..."

"The Earth-Shaking Bear Demon Clan?" A flash of insight struck Qin Ming's mind; in an instant, he understood the cause, and everything fell into place.

"Ah! Yes, yes, yes! That is precisely the demonic clan."

"Does this mean Canghai Xiancheng is also safe and sound?"

"Yes, however, during that battle, quite a few defending cultivators perished; reportedly, even three Foundation Establishment mid-stage and late-stage cultivators fell, and the Xiancheng has currently increased its efforts to recruit rogue cultivators, seemingly preparing to welcome the next beast tide assault."

"Nowadays, any cultivator willing to accept recruitment can obtain a large number of contribution points to exchange for cultivation resources within the Xiancheng."

Listening to the news Wu Jiang brought back, Qin Ming pondered silently.

Gu Qingzhao, Lu Wanjun, and the others were safe, which allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief.

He had originally promised Lu Liang to look after Lu Wanjun, yet unexpectedly he was the first to flee, which truly weighed on his conscience.

However, under those circumstances at the time, he could only look after himself.

"By the way, speaking of this, I recall another matter; reportedly, the Earth-Shaking Bear Demon Clan has been acting somewhat abnormally recently, operating in areas outside the Beast Cry Mountain Range far more frequently than other demonic clans."

"It seems... they are searching for someone or something..."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming's facial skin twitched, and his heart skipped a beat! 'Not good! It seems the second-stage peak bear demon I killed holds a high status among the demonic clans!'

He still remembered clearly the aura of that third-stage Demon King pursuing him that day, which had shaken his spirit immensely.

'Sigh~ I originally thought the beast tide crisis was resolved and planned to go to Canghai Xiancheng in a couple of days to deliver the Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruit to True Person Nalan.'

'What should I do now?'

Qin Ming calculated that the time agreed upon with True Person Canghai was nearly due, only for this complication to arise.

'With the Earth-Shaking Bear Demon Clan searching everywhere for me outside, sigh~ it is better not to go out recently; staying hidden on the island is safer.'

"Cough! Fellow Daoist Wu, I have one more matter that requires your handling," Qin Ming said lightly.

Upon hearing this, Wu Jiang thought, 'I have just returned, and there is already another task for me?' Although somewhat puzzled, he hurriedly replied, "Fellow Daoist Qin, please give your orders."

Subsequently.

Qin Ming took out a jade box three feet long from his storage bag and handed it to Wu Jiang, saying:

"You must ensure this item is delivered to True Person Canghai within these two days."

Inside the jade box were the third-stage Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruits that Qin Ming had transplanted along with the Xun Wood Qingkong Lingrang; with this spirit soil, True Person Canghai would be able to transplant and successfully grow this spiritual plant on Canghai Peak when the time came.

In addition, three matured Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruits already hung upon the spiritual plant.

Presumably, this would be more than sufficient for True Person Canghai to treat her third-stage Profound Turtle spiritual pet, while beneath his own natal spiritual plant, the Yin-Yang Profound Vine, Qin Ming had kept one Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruit he had cultivated himself, which was already enough.

"Ah?!"

Wu Jiang shivered with fright upon hearing this, nearly failing to steady the jade box, and for a moment even thought he had misheard: "True... True Person Canghai?"

"This... this... is that something someone like me can see?"

"Such an important item, I fear..."

Qin Ming patted Wu Jiang on the shoulder, "Do not feel pressured; go!"

Wu Jiang put away the jade box; although he did not know what was inside, an item to be delivered to True Person Canghai must undoubtedly be extraordinary.

He had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree.

At the same time, Wu Jiang's heart was filled with excitement; he never expected that as a mere Qi Refining small cultivator, he would one day have the opportunity to meet a Jin Dan True Person.

This was truly akin to green smoke rising from his ancestors' graves.

After accepting the task, Wu Jiang immediately gathered his clansmen, fully armed, to carry out the mission Qin Ming had assigned him.

Qin Ming was quite reassured regarding Wu Jiang; he had already placed seals on the jade box, ensuring that no one other than True Person Canghai could open it.

Furthermore, since the external demonic beasts and the Xiancheng were currently in a ceasefire period, no major mishaps were likely to occur.

Subsequently, Qin Ming approached his natal spiritual plant, the Yin-Yang Profound Vine, and observed the demon flowers upon it for a while.

With a thought, he summoned the Four-Yin Yi Shuangfeng swarm to pollinate the demon flowers on the vines.

However, this time, the Silver-Winged Frost Bees remained asleep within their hive.

Since returning from the escape from the Beast Cry Mountain Range, Qin Ming had fed it another Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruit; it seemed this spiritual pet, which had followed him for so long, showed signs of advancing once again, so Qin Ming simply let it be and did not disturb the Silver-Winged Frost Bees.

Last time, when the Profound Water Crocodile broke through to the second-stage late stage, it slept for a full two years; presumably, the Silver-Winged Frost Bees will also require a considerable amount of time.

Next.

Qin Ming began consuming the refined Void-Breaking Pills and cultivating the "Hundred Treasures Glazed Sutra."

Two days later, Qin Ming woke from his cultivation state.

He emanated a terrifying fluctuation of vital energy.

"I consumed one ordinary Void-Breaking Pill; I didn't expect my vital energy and true force to increase so much at once."

"At this rate, once I finish consuming the other two premium Void-Breaking Pills, my vital energy and true force will meet the conditions for the third transformation of the Form-Refining stage."

Cultivation had just ended.

A heart-penetrating faint fragrance drifted into Qin Ming's nose.

"Eh? This is..."

Qin Ming stood up and looked; a touch of peach-red color entered his eyes. The five Five-Elements Primordial Spirit Peaches at the cave dwelling's entrance had already budded with flowers.

He went out, circled the spirit peach trees twice, and two golden entries appeared in his vision:

【Name】: Five-Elements Primordial Spirit Peach 【Entry】: Source of Vital Energy x1 (Maturity 1%)

【Name】: Five-Elements Primordial Spirit Peach 【Entry】: Abundant Lifespan x5 (Maturity 1%)

"It actually refreshed a lifespan entry!"

"Truly worthy of being a heavenly spirit fruit that extends life upon consumption."

"This entry is far more powerful than the lifespan increase provided by the spirit fruit itself."

"The first time one consumes a Primordial Spirit Peach, besides increasing magic power cultivation to the mid-to-late Foundation Establishment stage, its greatest effect is extending life by twenty years. The second peach's effect diminishes, extending life by ten years; the third extends it by five years. Starting from the fourth, continued consumption no longer yields any life-extension effect."

"Yet the 【Abundant Lifespan】 entry grants fifty years of life directly per charge, with no diminishing returns."

"Moreover, this 【Source of Vital Energy】 entry is exactly what I can put to great use."

Qin Ming stared at the Five-Elements Primordial Spirit Peach trees, his eyes shining.

He could hardly wait to taste the spirit peaches.

(End of Chapter)