Chapter 260: You Go Till the Fields!

Beneath the Yin-Yang Mystic Vine Tree.

The Devouring Sky Rat King was also deeply frustrated; when he first discovered this place and saw the dazzling treasures and spiritual plants on the island, he felt as if he had fallen into a treasure vault, ecstatic beyond measure.

Not only did this island harbor a complete mid-grade third-rank spiritual vein, but even the legendary rarity—the Third-Rank Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruit—existed here.

As a demon king of the Beast Roar Mountains, he had only heard of its fame but never tasted it himself.

The Devouring Sky Rat was instantly overjoyed, trembling with excitement—this gave him hope of restoring his peak cultivation!

But.

Yet the Devouring Sky Rat's sixth sense was extraordinarily sharp; he sensed that something extraordinary guarded the Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruit.

To approach recklessly would lead to unimaginable consequences.

Thus, the Devouring Sky Rat decided to first turn his attention to the Five-Element Qi Spirit Peach, planning to wait until he regained some strength before scheming for the Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruit.

After all, after a period of covert observation, the Devouring Sky Rat had also discovered that this human youth on the island was no ordinary being.

He not only cultivated such an abundance of legendary high-grade spiritual plants, but what stunned him even more was that he had mastered the ultimate technique of their demonic race—the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement Scripture.

And his strength was clearly not to be underestimated.

His invisibility technique had a limited duration; if he delayed any longer, falling into the hands of this human was inevitable.

So, taking advantage of Qin Ming's cultivation, he prepared to make a desperate bid to steal the Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruit.

But who knew this island concealed another colossal black Mystic Vine, one that had fooled even him—and he was caught red-handed.

"Hey, I never expected this human youth would play by no rules. I planned to lure him with the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement Scripture, then find a chance to escape."

"But damn it—this kid keeps threatening to search my soul and kill me outright! His murderous intent is terrifyingly strong."

"Could this terrifying demonic vine mean this kid is the legendary Fate-Selected One?"

"This human youth himself isn't weak, and he's got two second-rank spiritual familiars at his side—one already at late-stage second rank, the other not far from breaking through to late-stage second rank."

"Maybe serving him isn't such a bad prospect."

After much deliberation, had the Devouring Sky Rat not thought serving Qin Ming might hold some promise, he'd have chosen death over submission. "Hmm, my life now rests entirely in his hands—no point overthinking."

"But I'm not so easily controlled."

"Just wait! Don't give me a chance to turn things around!"

The Devouring Sky Rat stood before Qin Ming, appearing obedient and meek, yet his mind churned with countless thoughts.

Qin Ming silently sneered—he didn't think this Devouring Sky Rat had any hidden agenda?

But he didn't expose him; instead, he said:

"Tell me everything you know, without omitting a single detail."

"Yes sir! Whatever you wish to know, I swear I'll tell you everything—no secrets!" the Devouring Sky Rat hurriedly replied.

Afterwards,

the Devouring Sky Rat laid bare all he knew of demonic clan affairs.

An hour passed.

Qin Ming stood in place, lost in thought—he had learned from the Devouring Sky Rat.

Within the Beast Roar Mountains, besides the Green-Faced Poisonous Cobra, several powerful demonic clans still existed.

Among them, the Silver Moon Heavenly Fox, the Horned Deer Clan, and the Mountain Colossus Ape each harbored a demon king nearing the late stage of the third rank, merely lacking a breakthrough opportunity—when the time came, they would give birth to late-stage third-rank semi-transformed great demons.

The situation was grim for the human race.

"By the way, where is the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement Scripture you mentioned earlier?" Qin Ming suddenly asked.

The Devouring Sky Rat shrank his head, answering nervously: "I—I actually don't know where it is. But only royal-blooded demonic beasts can cultivate the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement Scripture. The Green-Faced Poisonous Cobra's lineage should… have it."

Qin Ming's temper flared instantly. "So you were just trying to deceive me all along?"

"Well, not entirely—what you're cultivating is indeed the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement Scripture, I guarantee that much." Obtaining this technique from the late-stage third-rank Green-Faced Poisonous Cobra demon king was unthinkable to Qin Ming.

After a while,

the Devouring Sky Rat had spoken at length, his mouth dry from talking.

He turned his thoughts again to the Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruit.

"Hehe! Master, you see my cultivation has dropped to late-stage first rank—I can barely help you at all."

"Why not grant me one Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruit? Let me regain some strength, so I can serve you better."

Beside him, the Aqua Crocodile bared its teeth and growled lowly at the thought of this creature demanding the Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruit.

In former days, the Devouring Sky Rat King would never have given a late-stage second-rank beast a second glance.

But times had changed—rat fallen into the plains, bullied by all. The Devouring Sky Rat quickly laughed nervously at the Aqua Crocodile.

Qin Ming snapped: "No way. I haven't even settled the account for you stealing my Spirit Peaches."

"Uh… then how should I pay?"

Qin Ming immediately pulled the Shennong Hoe from his storage pouch and slammed it down before the Devouring Sky Rat. "You will till the fields. When you've done a job I'm satisfied with, then we'll talk about the Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruit."

The Devouring Spirit Rat widened his eyes in disbelief, pointing at his own nose. "What? You want me to farm?"

"Did I hear that right?!"

Qin Ming's tone left no room for argument: "What? You refuse to obey me?"

"Hehe! How could I dare disobey my master? I'll go till the fields right away!"

Then Qin Ming pulled several spiritual grain and herb seeds from his storage pouch and tossed them to the Devouring Spirit Rat.

"Till them well. Waste even one seed, and I'll peel your skin off."

…

Next,

the Devouring Spirit Rat took the seeds, picked up the Shennong Hoe, and reluctantly began farming on the main peak's spiritual fields.

Under the blazing sun, the Devouring Sky Rat panted as he swung the hoe, sweat pouring down his back.

"I, the Devouring Sky Rat King, once a mighty figure—now reduced to farming for a human? How tragic!"

"A once-great Rat King turned into a field rat—how could I ever face anyone again? Waaah!"

"Hmph! Human brat, remember this humiliation—I'll repay you tenfold!"

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west."

As he hoed the soil, the Devouring Sky Rat gnashed his teeth and cursed Qin Ming's cave.

Qin Ming watched the Devouring Sky Rat laboring outside, lost in thought.

"Had the Devouring Sky Rat not fallen into my hands, I'd never have known how powerful the demonic clans of the Beast Roar Mountains had grown—beyond all prediction."

"When I killed the Earth-Shaking Bear and accidentally escaped the Beast Roar Mountains without entering any other demonic territory, I truly was lucky to be alive."

"These are merely the demons visible on the surface. According to the Devouring Sky Rat, deeper within the Beast Roar Mountains lie other demonic clans even he knows nothing of."

"In short—the waters are deep."

"Only the late-stage Jin Dan ancestors of Liang Kingdom's Xuanxi Valley could possibly stand against a late-stage third-rank great demon king."

This matter was grave—Qin Ming decided to inform Zanghai True Person as soon as possible.

But reporting it under his own name seemed inappropriate.

Not only would he have to explain the source of the information, but if they traced it back to the Devouring Sky Rat King, disaster would follow.

He gazed at the Devouring Sky Rat working outside, his eyes lit up—he had just thought of an idea! (End of Chapter)