Chapter 252: The Jin Dan Formation Formula Finally Obtained

At the base of the cliff.

Two massive qi whirlpools appeared in the sky once again; the Profound Water Crocodile and the Silver-Yin Yi Shuangfeng had both reached the brink of breakthrough.

Boom! With an endless stream of qi, it surged in like a flood.

Two astonishing spiritual pressures suddenly manifested at the cliff's base.

Under Qin Ming's accumulation of resources, the Profound Water Crocodile and the Silver-Yin Yi Shuangfeng had both broken through to become second-stage peak great demons.

They were now only one step away from becoming third-stage demon kings.

"Although this third-stage Zhurong Pill is not a spirit pill specifically designed to boost the cultivation of demonic beasts, as a miraculous medicine for restoring origin power, it still provides a significant boost for second-stage demonic beasts."

Seeing his two spirit pets, who had followed him for many years, achieve their breakthrough, Qin Ming felt deeply gratified.

The moment the Profound Water Crocodile and the Silver-Yin Yi Shuangfeng completed their breakthrough, they flew back to Qin Ming's side, shrank their bodies, and rubbed vigorously against him.

Qin Ming could also sense that the two spirit beasts were extremely excited after their breakthrough.

Especially the Silver-Yin Yi Shuangfeng; going from an ordinary, unranked queen bee to a second-stage peak great demon step by step, one could imagine the journey it had undergone.

"Everything is ready."

"Next, we can prepare to make our move."

With the feeding of third-stage spirit pills, Qin Ming's several spirit pets had greatly increased in strength; even if they encountered a Jin Dan stage cultivator now, they would not be afraid in the slightest.

However, he did not return to Xuanxi Valley immediately; instead, he rested for a few days in the cliff cave dwelling, allowing his three spirit pets to consolidate their cultivation.

Three days later.

Qin Ming mounted the Silver-Yin Yi Shuangfeng, stored the Profound Water Crocodile and the other Silver-Yin Yi Shuangfeng inside his spirit beast bag, and flew toward Xuanxi Valley.

After its breakthrough, the Silver-Yin Yi Shuangfeng's flight speed increased explosively once again; carrying Qin Ming, it turned into a streak of silver light and vanished from the horizon in an instant.

Its speed now rivaled the full-speed flight of a True Person at the early Jin Dan stage.

After riding the Silver-Yin Yi Shuangfeng at lightning speed for two days, Qin Ming returned to the vicinity of Xuanxi Valley; he stored the Silver-Yin Yi Shuangfeng away, transformed into the appearance of 'Yu Changqing', and then descended into the sect gate.

The first thing Qin Ming did upon returning to Xuanxi Valley was to report and register at Qianyuan Peak; only after completing the registration did he return to the Jade Bamboo Forest.

However, during his return to the sect, Qin Ming discovered that Xuanxi Valley was mobilizing a large number of cultivators to board dharma ships, though he did not know what mission they were about to execute.

The entire sect was permeated with a tense atmosphere.

Qin Ming shook his head lightly; anyway, it had nothing to do with him.

Inside the Jade Bamboo Forest.

The moment Qin Ming returned, he saw that woman, Yan Ruyan, working diligently in the spirit fields, carefully removing weeds and pests.

The dozens of mu of Purple Crystal Spirit Rice fields were managed by her in perfect order.

Seeing Qin Ming return, she hurriedly bowed respectfully to him: "Elder Yu."

"Mn." Qin Ming responded lightly, then returned inside the house.

Yan Ruyan watched the retreating figure of 'Yu Changqing' and muttered to herself: "This Elder Yu truly has a strange temper."

Afterwards, she picked up her spirit hoe again and buried herself in her work.

Inside the house.

Qin Ming had just sat down when the voice of the Shi Tian Shu came from his spirit beast bag: "Master, shall I go steal the Jin Dan formation formula right now?"

"Mn, wait two more days; looking at the situation within Xuanxi Valley, something seems slightly off?" Qin Ming pondered briefly before speaking.

"Very well."

Afterwards, Qin Ming stayed alone in the room for a while, then called Yan Ruyan, who was working in the outer spirit fields, inside.

Yan Ruyan cast a Cleaning Technique to remove the dirt from her body before entering the house.

She bowed gracefully to Qin Ming: "Elder Yu, you summoned me?"

Looking at Yan Ruyan's appearance, Qin Ming saw no trace of the ethereal fairy she once was; after farming here for over half a year, she was gradually developing in the direction of a village woman. "Sit," Qin Ming said lightly, then poured her a cup of tea.

Hearing this, Yan Ruyan felt somewhat overwhelmed with honor, wondering in her heart what Elder Yu intended to do.

It was rare for him to actively invite her over, and with such a gentle attitude at that.

It was as if the sun had risen in the west.

"I went out to handle matters, and upon returning, I found the atmosphere within the sect somewhat unusual."

"Did anything happen during my absence?" Qin Ming asked.

Yan Ruyan nodded upon hearing this and replied respectfully and truthfully: "Just a few days ago, demonic beasts from the Beast Cry Mountain Range attacked Moyuan Immortal City and the outer perimeter of our sect."

"I am not clear on the exact situation outside; I only heard from my senior sisters that it seems several third-stage demon kings appeared."

"A great battle erupted, but they were all forcefully repelled by Elder Qingxuan."

"Given the strength of our Xuanxi Valley, those demonic beasts should be wiped out very soon."

After listening, Qin Ming fell into thought.

Judging by the situation, matters were likely not as simple as they appeared on the surface; after all, his premonitions had never been wrong.

After chatting with Yan Ruyan for a while and guiding her on some techniques for planting spirit rice, he dismissed her.

Another five days passed.

On this day.

Just as Qin Ming had expected, the alarm bells of Xuanxi Valley rang loudly, echoing throughout the entire sect.

Countless disciples of Xuanxi Valley acted as if facing a great enemy; the sect's great formation was activated to its fullest extent, with a blue light curtain emitting a terrifying aura of power.

Qin Ming also flew out from his house to observe the situation, only to see Di Shan from the neighboring Wusong Ridge also come out to watch; their gazes met. Upon seeing 'Yu Changqing' emerge, Di Shan immediately approached and said: "Fellow Daoist Yu, do you know what has happened?"

"I guess it probably has something to do with the beast tide," Qin Ming said lightly.

Hearing this, Di Shan walked over, set up a soundproofing barrier between the two of them, and then spoke to him mysteriously: "You know only one part of the story, not the other."

"I heard that last time, a terrifying third-stage late-stage semi-humanoid great demon actually appeared near the Beast Cry Mountain Range and fought bitterly with Elder Qingxuan for three days and three nights."

"Even Elder Qingxuan has been injured."

"Alas! It seems the timing for the two of us to join the Profound Creek Valley is not quite right."

Hearing this, Qin Ming's heart stirred involuntarily.

'I didn't expect that even a powerhouse like a late-stage Jin Dan Laozu would be injured; nine times out of ten, it was the work of that late-stage third-rank Green-Faced Poisonous Flood Serpent behind the scenes of the Demon Race.'

"Master, it is undoubtedly the Green-Faced Poisonous Flood Serpent; among the Demon Race, only it possesses such strength," Shi Tian Shu said to Qin Ming via telepathy, its tone grave upon hearing their conversation.

Several thoughts flashed through Qin Ming's mind, and he immediately sent a secret telepathic message to Shi Tian Shu: "Now that Profound Creek Valley is in chaos, the defenses on Falling Yunfeng have likely been redeployed elsewhere."

"Let us prepare to act when the opportunity arises."

"Hehe! Good!"

Subsequently, after briefly exchanging a few words with Di Shan, Qin Ming returned to the wooden hut.

Among these recruited Qin Keqing, apart from those with high cultivation strength like late-stage Foundation Establishment, elderly spirit planters like Di Shan and Yu Changqing would basically never be sent to the battlefield, at most handling logistics.

Qin Ming transformed back into the appearance of a logistics disciple, secretly left the Jade Bamboo Forest, and arrived at the foot of Falling Yunfeng.

He immediately released his divine sense to envelop the entire Falling Yunfeng; after careful observation, Qin Ming discovered that there seemed to be far fewer patrolling disciples on the Shanfeng.

What surprised him even more was that Wan Laozu, the Jin Dan stage cultivator who had always been stationed at the Scripture Pavilion, was not there; instead, an unfamiliar False-Dan Laozu was guarding it.

However, Qin Ming judged that Wan Laozu probably would not stay away for long and should return very soon.

Qin Ming immediately secretly released Shi Tian Shu and whispered quietly, "That Wan Laozu is absent; it's up to you now, go quickly and return quickly."

"Just watch me."

Shi Tian Shu did not dawdle, directly activating its divine ability to slip into the void and vanish without a trace.

Qin Ming remained outside to keep watch and maintain vigilance; in case that Jin Dan Laozu returned, he would still need to send a signal to Shi Tian Shu.

Time passed bit by bit.

In the darkness, Shi Tian Shu traveled concealed all the way, even passing right in front of that False-Dan Laozu guarding the Scripture Pavilion, yet the other party failed to detect it.

It exhaled and inhaled black profound light, prying open a small hole in the protective formation of the Scripture Pavilion without damaging the formation, then drilled inside.

"Since the Pill Formula for Forming the Jin Dan is so important, it is probably placed on the top floor," Shi Tian Shu calculated silently and headed straight for the uppermost level.

One incense stick later.

Shi Tian Shu broke through formations all the way, arriving at the top floor of the Scripture Pavilion.

As soon as it entered, it felt that this place was very different from the others.

Subsequently, Shi Tian Shu began rummaging around in here.

Before long, on a row of bookshelves, Shi Tian Shu found an ancient, simple jade slip of pale yellow color.

It immediately invaded it with its demon consciousness to inspect; its two slender whiskers trembled, and it exclaimed with great joy, "Found it!"

Following Qin Ming's instructions, Shi Tian Shu did not take the original; instead, it took out a blank jade slip and made a complete copy of the Pill Formula for Forming the Jin Dan.

After succeeding, just as it was about to leave, it suddenly halted its steps.

Shi Tian Shu looked back at the dazzling array of jade slips and books filling the place; during its search just now, it had discovered quite a few third-rank pill formulas inside.

"Might as well go all the way!"

"Copy them all back."

Thus, it became busy again, copying all the remaining pill formulas as well.

A full half-hour and more passed.

Having finished all this, Shi Tian Shu's powerful demon consciousness detected a figure with surging magic power fluctuations heading back toward the Scripture Pavilion.

It must be that Wan Laozu of the Jin Dan stage from Profound Creek Valley.

It immediately remained unhurried, activated its divine ability to slip into the void, and returned along the original path.

Upon reaching the floor below, it even came face-to-face with Wan Laozu, yet the other party still did not detect it.

Half an incense stick later.

Shi Tian Shu secretly ran back to Qin Ming's side.

"Why did it take so long?"

"Didn't I send you a signal? Wan Laozu returned; I was almost holding my breath for you," Qin Ming said.

Hearing this, Shi Tian Shu laughed and said, "Hehe! Master need not worry at all; I have already secured the goods."

Delighted by these words, Qin Ming stored Shi Tian Shu back into his spirit beast bag.

He returned to the wooden hut within the Jade Bamboo Forest.

But when Qin Ming received a pile of jade slips from Shi Tian Shu, he couldn't help but frown and ask, "Why did you bring back so many?"

"I saw quite a few good things in there, so I conveniently copied them all back, hehehe!" Shi Tian Shu said with a sinister laugh.

After finishing his inspection of these jade slips, Qin Ming displayed a strange expression, then smiled calmly and said to Shi Tian Shu, "Well done!"

He took one of the jade slips in his hand and examined it repeatedly and carefully several times; it was precisely the Pill Formula for Forming the Jin Dan that Qin Ming had been longing for! (End of Chapter)