Chapter 242: Third-Rank Beast King

Another month passed.

Qin Ming had fully mastered two secret techniques from the Demon Scripture.

This was thanks to his formidable spiritual soul and body cultivation art.

Even the most gifted disciples of the Demon Sect could not have perfected these two techniques in such a short time.

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

Once he unleashed Blood Escape Technique and fled, even Golden Core elders could only sigh helplessly.

Qin Ming's mastery of his demonic secret techniques lifted his spirits; he stepped out of his cave dwelling and took a deep breath of the external spiritual energy.

He then walked to the spirit field and stood before his life-soul plant, the Everlasting Vine.

He looked up, observing and examining it closely.

"It's almost been a year."

"Since the Everlasting Vine consumed the core of the Blood Curse Demon Vine, it has remained in some kind of slumber, never waking again, and ceased growing entirely."

"Even when I communicate with it through thought, it gives no response."

"Sigh—could something have gone wrong?"

Qin Ming frowned tightly; he had never expected his life-soul plant to fall into such a strange state.

He shook his head and returned to tending the spirit field.

The newly refreshed tea grove and bamboo forest had grown significantly.

The growth progress bars flashing before Qin Ming's eyes had also changed.

【Name】: Snow Soul Tea 【Term】: Soul Crystal ×5 (Maturity 35%)

【Name】: Snow Soul Tea 【Term】: Space-Time Leaf ×5 (Maturity 36%)

【Name】: Snow Soul Tea 【Term】: Minute Lifespan ×5 (Maturity 38%)

【Name】: Void Bamboo 【Term】: Blood Qi Crystal ×5 (Maturity 39%)

【Name】: Spirit Bamboo 【Term】: Space-Time Leaf ×5 (Maturity 37%)

Within the three mu of Spirit Qixi Rice fields, three progress bars flickered:

【Name】: Spirit Qixi Rice 【Term】: Space-Time Leaf ×5 (Maturity 42%)

【Name】: Spirit Qixi Rice 【Term】: Soul Crystal ×5 (Maturity 46%)

【Name】: Spirit Qixi Rice 【Term】: Regenerative Spirit Seed ×5 (Maturity 40%)

As for the three-grade spirit plant Qin Ming had previously planted—Three Crimson Soul-Returning Grass—it had been a full year, yet not even a sprout had broken through the soil.

Still, Qin Ming's affinity with plants sensed the spirit seeds in the soil were in excellent condition and had begun preparing to germinate.

The five Five-Element Qi Peach Trees before his cave dwelling had also sprouted new leaves; they would likely bloom with peach blossoms soon.

Aside from tending the spirit field,

Qin Ming had also made great progress in his puppet arts; after infusing the two turtle spirit puppets with several high-grade rare spirit materials, he successfully upgraded them to Second-Rank Middle-grade puppets.

The current turtle puppets possessed strength comparable to a Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator, but their greatest strength lay in defense.

As future expendable scouts for Qin Ming, they were tough and durable.

The situation in Wei Country's cultivation world continued to shift.

Although the beast tide had been jointly repelled by major factions back toward the Beast Roar Mountains,

several powerful beast tribes still remained active around Wei Country's borders.

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

During this time, Qin Ming had dispatched Wu Jiang to continuously gather intelligence on the external cultivation world.

Overall, the current situation still favored Wei Country.

Inside the spirit herb field, the second-rank spirit herbs for brewing the Void-Breaking Elixir had matured, and he also possessed the perfected demon core of the Two-Pupiled Demon Monkey.

Qin Ming left Moonwatch Island again, mounted his Silver-Winged Frost Bee, and flew toward Canghai Xiancheng.

In the spirit herb field, the second-rank spirit herbs used to brew Break-Space Pills had matured, and he now possessed the perfected-grade beast core of the Double-Pupil Demon Monkey.

He was still missing a few auxiliary ingredients, so he planned to travel to the Xiancheng to purchase them.

He also intended to observe and gather intelligence on the city's current situation.

He had not used any illusionary disguise this time but appeared in his true form.

Qin Ming arrived outside Canghai Xiancheng. He retracted his Silver-Winged Frost Bee and descended.

He had not disguised himself this time; he appeared in his true form.

The cultivators below, seeing a Foundation Establishment elder descend, quickly scattered.

Canghai Xiancheng had reopened to the outside world over the past year, but entry inspections had become far stricter than before.

Qin Ming quickly passed the city guard's inspection and entered the Xiancheng.

First, he visited Mirror Snow Pavilion to collect the spirit stones from his previous auction of Yulin Wine, receiving twelve high-grade spirit stones.

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

His spirit stone pouch swelled noticeably.

Then, at Gu Qingzhao's enthusiastic invitation, he dined at Mirror Snow Pavilion.

During the meal, Gu Qingzhao gifted Qin Ming a spirit artifact that greatly surprised him.

It was a second-rank spirit artifact—a spirit hoe named "Shennong Hoe"—said to be a relic left behind by an ancient spirit-plant sect, acquired by Mirror Snow Pavilion's headquarters.

The Shennong Hoe appeared plain and unremarkable, resembling an ordinary spirit farmer's hoe, yet concealed hidden power; when infused with magic power, it could effortlessly dig through several types of extremely hard spirit soil.

It could also serve as a spirit artifact in combat.

Qin Ming cherished the Shennong Hoe; it could dig soil or strike enemies—two uses in one.

Of course, its greatest utility lay in farming.

After leaving Mirror Snow Pavilion,

Qin Ming returned to the Dan Ding Pavilion in Canghai Xiancheng's core district.

Xu Jing, seeing Qin Ming arrive after so long, looked at him with a hint of pouting resentment: "Sigh—it seems my beauty truly cannot compare to Gu Qingzhao of Mirror Snow Pavilion."

"Qin Daofriend, after a whole year, you finally remember my Dan Ding Pavilion."

"I heard you auctioned a single jar of the unparalleled 'Yulin Wine' for Mirror Snow Pavilion—now everyone in Canghai Xiancheng knows of it."

Qin Ming's lips twitched slightly.

Maintaining good relations with Dan Ding Pavilion was crucial to obtaining his Golden Core pill formula—he couldn't afford to mess up here.

So he forced a smile: "I'm here now. Lately, I've been occupied with affairs on the island and couldn't spare the time."

"Ahem! As for the Yulin Wine, I still have a couple jars left in storage, and I was planning to sell one to your pavilion."

Upon hearing this, Xu Jing's pouting expression instantly transformed into a radiant smile: "Is this really true, Qin Daofriend?!"

"Hehe! I was just teasing you just now, Qin Daofriend. Your visit alone brings honor to our pavilion."

At that moment,

"Hahaha! Young Qin, it's been many days!"

"I've long been dying to taste the legendary Yulin Wine—might I be fortunate enough to sample some today?"

A deep, resonant voice rang out.

Xu Elder descended the stairs, his face beaming as he greeted Qin Ming.

"Ah! I didn't realize Xu Elder was here!"

"It's been too long—Qin Mou shall not leave until we're both drunk!"

Just as Qin Ming was about to exchange pleasantries with Xu Elder,

Qin Ming and Elder Xu's expressions suddenly changed.

A thunderous crash erupted, shaking Canghai Xiancheng violently.

Even Dan Ding Pavilion rocked violently several times.

Qin Ming and Xu Elder's expressions turned grim.

"Beast Attack!"

A massive alarm echoed across the entire Xiancheng.

The third-rank superior formation activated fully.

Outside the Xiancheng,

A third-rank upper-grade Beast King—the Devouring Sky Rat—loomed massive and towering, visible beyond the formation's edge.

Its body stood dozens of zhang tall, like a small mountain; its demonic markings writhed and glowed as it suddenly opened its mouth and spat.

【90】 A jet of pitch-black liquid shot forth.

【91】 SSZZZ! The black liquid, laden with intense corrosive and polluting energy, struck the third-rank formation, instantly billowing thick black smoke.

【92】 (End of Chapter)