Chapter 235: The Stirring of the Evergreen Vine

Within Twin Peaks, Yiling Valley.

After Yuwen Hong, the patriarch of Lingyu Gate, and Canghai True Person departed, they dispatched numerous cultivators to continue searching for any possible remnants of the demonic vine.

In addition, many independent cultivators had also spontaneously joined in, but their motives were far from as pure as those of the three major factions.

They all came hoping to find leftovers, to see if they could scavenge even a trace of material from a third-rank beast king.

Even a few drops of its blood would be enough to propel these lowly independents to great heights.

Qin Ming watched the throngs of cultivators flooding into the valley and shook his head—he had no interest in joining the frenzy.

He was about to leave and return to Wangyue Island.

But just then.

Suddenly!

A searing heat surged through Qin Ming's arm.

Startled, he was stunned to discover it was the tattoo of his life-spirit plant, the Evergreen Vine, that had activated.

'Huh? What's going on with the Evergreen Vine today?'

Qin Ming's steps, which had been moving away, halted.

'Does it want me to join the search for the demonic plant?'

'Does the Evergreen Vine need this thing?'

As Qin Ming pondered this, the Evergreen Vine tattoo on his arm reacted again.

'Very well. If that's the case, I'll go.'

Qin Ming turned and flew into the direction of Yiling Valley.

Inside the valley, ancient trees towered, and miasma hung thick; numerous cultivators darted through the air, scouring for traces dropped by the beast king.

'So many people… what's the point of searching?'

In less than half a day, cultivators from various factions and countless independents had turned Yiling Valley inside out—yet found nothing.

At this moment.

Qin Ming was examining a stream when his spiritual sense detected someone approaching—he looked up immediately.

'Oh! Hahaha!'

'Qin Daoist, what are you doing here too?'

'Greetings, Qin Daoist!'

The newcomers were Lü Liang and his disciple, followed by over a dozen cultivators dressed in the attire of Canghai Immortal City.

They were likely under Lü Liang's command.

'Hehe! Lü Daoist, I'm just here to join the commotion.' Qin Ming smiled slightly.

'Ah! Qin Daoist, don't waste your time.'

'I've already sent my men to search this cursed place seven or eight times—no trace at all.'

'I'm not continuing the search. I'm preparing to return to the Immortal City to report.'

Qin Ming nodded. 'I'm about to leave too.'

'By the way, Qin Daoist, I've got good news for you!' Lü Liang dismissed his subordinates and pulled Qin Ming aside, then cast a soundproof barrier.

Seeing Lü Liang's demeanor, Qin Ming couldn't help but grow curious.

Lü Liang, excited, said to Qin Ming: 'Qin Daoist, the three True Persons' campaign against the demonic beasts was a resounding victory.'

'Moreover, the beast surge in the Beast Roar Mountains is likely to be quelled very soon!'

As a high-ranking official of Canghai Immortal City, Lü Liang's information was reliable.

Hearing this, Qin Ming's eyebrows lifted. 'The beast surge will be quelled too?'

'What do you mean, Lü Daoist?'

'Cough! I only learned this yesterday—it's been confined to the inner circle of the Immortal City.'

'It's said that the states of Wei, Jin, and Wu will all receive reinforcements from Liang, to jointly purge the Beast Roar Mountains.' Lü Liang revealed the news.

Qin Ming asked: 'Will Liang send reinforcements to the other three states? Has some deal been struck between them?'

'I'm not entirely sure, but I suspect it's tied to orders from our Upper Sect.' Lü Liang replied.

'Upper Sect?'

'Could it be the Li Huo Palace of the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty?'

Qin Ming suddenly realized something.

'Precisely. After all, the Southern Wasteland's cultivation realm falls under Li Huo Palace's jurisdiction—they certainly wouldn't want the entire region overrun by beastkin.' Lü Liang analyzed.

'Moreover, Liang's Xuanxi Valley has deep ties to Li Huo Palace—only Li Huo Palace could compel Xuanxi Valley to lend aid.'

Lü Liang then prepared to return and report; after a brief chat with Qin Ming, he departed with his men. Qin Ming reflected on the information Lü Liang had shared, marveling at how capricious the cultivation world could be.

Of course, if the beast surge could be eradicated too, that would be best.

He wandered through Yiling Valley once more—still found nothing.

Just as he was about to search elsewhere, the familiar heat flared again on his arm.

And this time, it lasted longer.

'Could it be… the remnant of the Blood Curse Demon Vine is still within Yiling Valley?'

'But why didn't the two Jin Dan True Persons' spiritual senses detect it?'

At this moment.

The Evergreen Vine on Qin Ming's arm transmitted a message, pointing to a specific location.

'Could it be there?'

He immediately took to the air, following the route in his mind toward that spot.

The farther he flew, the more astonished he became—his Evergreen Vine seemed to precisely locate the demonic vine's remnant, resonating across distance.

After half a cup of tea.

Qin Ming arrived at the pass connecting Twin Peaks and the Beast Roar Mountains.

A watchtower stood here, normally manned by only a small squad of cultivators.

When Qin Ming arrived, no one was on duty—the surroundings were utterly silent.

He immediately sharpened his alertness.

Whoosh!

A green flash shot toward Qin Ming's back!

Qin Ming's hairs stood on end—he instantly activated his blood qi true Gang, and a glass-like treasure armor materialized around him.

Clang! The green flash struck the glass armor—inflicting no harm on Qin Ming.

'Huh?'

'Strong physique! Perfect—I need a slightly stronger vessel.'

In Qin Ming's vision appeared an old man dressed as a pass guard.

But his eyes glowed with a sinister, greedy gaze fixed on Qin Ming himself.

Then his forehead split open, revealing a strand of blood vine that surged toward Qin Ming without warning.

Qin Ming narrowed his eyes—he would have fled immediately if this were the full demon vine.

But the opposing vine was clearly only a fragment, its aura fluctuating weakly at mid-second-rank, highly unstable.

Just as Qin Ming prepared to seize it.

Suddenly.

The Evergreen Vine tattoo on his arm spontaneously detached, dissolving into a pool of black liquid on the ground, its true form rapidly coalescing.

A towering black vine, dozens of zhang tall, appeared abruptly before the old man possessed by the Blood Curse Demon Vine; around its tendrils floated countless intricate silver runes.

'This… this is impossible?!'

'No!'

The remnant of the Blood Curse Demon Vine reacted with utter terror upon seeing Qin Ming's life-spirit plant, the Evergreen Vine.

As if it had encountered something inconceivable.

Whirrrr! The Evergreen Vine's black tendrils lashed out like tentacles, overwhelming the possessed old man's resistance, plunging directly into his body.

Plosch!

As blood sprayed, the crimson demonic vine was yanked from the old man's body by the Evergreen Vine, offering not the slightest resistance.

Then, as if encountering an irreplaceable delicacy, the Evergreen Vine began mercilessly devouring the demonic vine.

After an incense stick's time.

The demonic vine's remnant was fully absorbed and drained.

Clatter! At that moment, a pitch-black iron fragment fell from the now-empty demonic vine.

Qin Ming reached out and seized it—upon contact, the iron fragment felt icy cold, and a faint dizziness surged into his mind.

He immediately focused his spiritual sense to dispel the intrusion.

'Huh?'

'What is this thing?'

(End of Chapter)