Chapter 255: The Blooming Spirit Peach

"These past days, I've taken my clan members and traveled everywhere."

"I found that the beast surges everywhere have weakened considerably, with most retreating back to the Beast Roar Mountains."

"Within the spiritual energy Archipelago, nearly all the demons have been cleared by the Alliance, and no new beast disasters have occurred recently."

Qin Ming couldn't help asking, "The beast surge has receded? Are you certain?"

Because when Qin had fled from Canghai Xiancheng, the scene of countless demons from the major clans within the Beast Roar Mountains surrounding the city still haunted him.

At that time, Canghai Xiancheng was already on the brink of collapse.

Its fall was merely a matter of time.

How could these demons suddenly vanish without a trace?

Wu Jiang replied with absolute certainty, "I saw it all with my own eyes, it's absolutely true."

"How is the situation at Canghai Xiancheng now?"

"The beast surge at Canghai Xiancheng has also receded. It's said that months ago, an unprecedented beast surge erupted."

"But for some reason, one of the demon clans fled the battlefield."

"This gave four Golden Core elders the chance to launch a coordinated attack, severely wounding one of the demon kings."

"According to reliable rumors within the city, the wounded demon king remains missing to this day."

"For the short term, the demon clans won't organize another surge against the city—giving them time to recuperate."

Hearing this, Qin Ming frowned. He hadn't expected such a strange turn of events after he'd been teleported away.

"Have you heard why the demon clan fled the battlefield?" he asked, puzzled.

Wu Jiang thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "Oh! I just remembered—we learned during our inquiries that the demon clan which fled was called something like... Xiong Wang."

A flash of insight struck Qin Ming—he instantly understood. Everything clicked into place.

"Ah! Yes, yes! That's the one!"

"So then, is Canghai Xiancheng safe now?"

"Yes, but many defending cultivators perished in that battle. It's said three Foundation Establishment mid- and late-stage cultivators died. The city is now intensifying recruitment of free cultivators, apparently preparing for the next beast surge."

"Any cultivator willing to join now receives a large amount of contribution points, exchangeable for cultivation resources within the city."

Qin Ming listened to Wu Jiang's report, silently pondering.

He breathed a sigh of relief—Gu Qingzhao, Lu Wanjun, and the others were unharmed.

He had promised Lü Liang he'd look after Lu Wanjun, yet he'd been the first to flee—truly, he felt guilty.

But under those circumstances, he could only think of himself.

"By the way, I just remembered something else. It's said the Xiong Wang clan has been acting strangely lately, more active outside the Beast Roar Mountains than other demon clans."

"It seems... they're searching for someone—or something."

Qin Ming's face twitched, his heart sank. 'Bad! The second-stage peak bear demon I killed must have held high status among the demons!'

He still remembered the aura of the third-stage demon king that had chased him—its presence had shaken his spirit.

'I thought the beast surge crisis was over. I'd even planned to head to Canghai Xiancheng in a few days to deliver the Hualing Demon Fruit to Nanlan True Person.'

'What should I do now?'

Qin Ming calculated—the deadline set with Canghai True Person was nearly due, and now this happened.

'The Xiong Wang clan is searching everywhere for me. Sigh... I'd better stay hidden on the island for now. It's safer here.'

"Ahem, Wu Daoist, I have another task for you," Qin Ming said calmly.

Hearing this, Wu Jiang—who had just returned—was taken aback. Another task? Though puzzled, he quickly replied, "Qin Daoist, please instruct me."

Then,

Qin Ming took a jade box, three feet long, from his storage pouch and handed it to Wu Jiang.

"This must be delivered into Canghai True Person's hands within two days."

Inside the jade box was the third-stage Hualing Demon Fruit, along with the Xun Wood Spirit Soil Qin had transplanted with it—this soil would allow Canghai True Person to successfully cultivate the plant on Canghai Peak.

Additionally, three mature Hualing Demon Fruits already hung from the plant.

Surely, this would be more than enough for Canghai True Person to treat her third-stage Xuan Gui pet. Beneath his own life-plant, Yin-Yang Xuanteng, Qin had kept one cultivated Hualing Demon Fruit—more than sufficient for himself.

"Huh?!"

Wu Jiang nearly dropped the jade box in shock, momentarily thinking he'd misheard: "Canghai... True Person?"

"This... this is something I'm allowed to touch?"

"Such an important item—I fear—"

Qin Ming patted Wu Jiang's shoulder. "Don't stress. Go."

Wu Jiang tucked the jade box away. Though he didn't know what was inside, anything meant for Canghai True Person must be extraordinary.

He could only grit his teeth and accept.

At the same time, Wu Jiang's heart swelled with excitement—he, a Qi Refining cultivator, might soon meet a Golden Core True Person.

It was like ancestral graves emitting auspicious smoke.

After accepting the task, Wu Jiang gathered his clan members, fully armed, and set out to carry out Qin Ming's order.

Qin Ming trusted Wu Jiang completely—he had sealed the jade box with a lock only Canghai True Person could open.

Moreover, both the demons and the city were in a truce; no major mishaps would occur.

Then, Qin Ming approached his life-plant, Yin-Yang Xuanteng, and studied the demonic blossoms upon it.

He activated his will, summoning the Four-Winged Frost Bees to pollinate the vines.

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

After returning from the Beast Roar Mountains, Qin had fed it another Hualing Demon Fruit. It seemed his long-time companion was showing signs of another evolution, so Qin left it undisturbed.

Last time, the Xuan Shui Crocodile took two full years to sleep after advancing to second-stage late stage. The Silver-Winged Frost Bees likely needed a similar duration.

Next,

Qin Ming began consuming the refined Po Xu Pills and cultivated the Hundred Treasures Glazed Scripture.

Two days later, Qin Ming awoke from his cultivation.

A terrifying surge of blood qi radiated from his body.

"Just one ordinary Po Xu Pill—yet my true blood qi has increased significantly."

"At this rate, after consuming the other two premium Po Xu Pills, my true blood qi will meet the condition for the third transformation of the Form Transformation technique."

As soon as cultivation ended,

A refreshing, fragrant scent drifted into Qin Ming's nose.

"Huh? What is this?"

Qin Ming rose and looked—before his eyes appeared a soft peach-red hue: the five Five-Element Spirit Peach trees at his cave entrance had sprouted blossoms.

He circled the trees twice, and two golden terms appeared in his vision:

【Name】: Five-Element Spirit Peach 【Term】: Blood Qi Source X1 (Maturity 1%)

【Name】: Five-Element Spirit Peach 【Term】: Abundant Lifespan X5 (Maturity 1%)

"It's generated a Lifespan term!"

"No wonder it's a heavenly fruit capable of extending life."

"This term is far more potent than the lifespan increase from the fruit itself."

"The first consumption of a Spirit Peach grants twenty years of added lifespan; the second, ten years; the third, five years. From the fourth onward, no further lifespan increase occurs."

"But the 【Abundant Lifespan】 term adds fifty years directly—with no diminishing returns."

"And this 【Blood Qi Source】 term—I have a great use for it."

Qin Ming stared at the Five-Element Spirit Peach trees, eyes gleaming.

He could hardly wait to taste the fruit.

(End of Chapter)