Chapter 274: Breaking Through to the Jin Dan Stage

In the palm of Qin Ming's hand lay two golden, glittering Jin Dan pills.

This pill refinement had taken over two years, but the final result left Qin Ming quite satisfied.

"Two premium-grade Jin Dan pills!"

"This streak of luck is truly remarkable!"

Even he himself hadn't expected that on his first successful attempt, he would produce two pills, both of premium grade.

This was largely thanks to his previous exchange with Grandmaster Gongsun Yang, from which he had learned much experience, allowing him to avoid many pitfalls.

Qin Ming stored the two spiritual pills away and walked out of his cave dwelling in high spirits.

The solidification of the liquid magic power within his body was nearly complete, with only the final third remaining.

Next, Qin Ming only needed to condense and solidify this portion of magic power before he could attempt to break through to the Jin Dan realm.

It was just the right time to recover the essence, qi, and spirit he had consumed.

After all, such high-intensity pill refinement had left him somewhat fatigued.

Several days later.

On the main peak of Wangyue Island, beneath a spiritual peach tree, the scent of tea curled gently into the air.

Qin Ming summoned Wu Jiang over to hear news regarding the changes in the situation of the Immortal Realm over the past two years.

Wu Jiang appeared radiant and vigorous, his face glowing red; sitting opposite Qin Ming, he respectfully brewed spiritual tea for him.

One year ago, relying on the premium-grade Foundation Establishment pill Qin Ming had sold him, he had successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

The Wu family had finally shed the name of a low-tier Qi Refining family, becoming a Foundation Establishment family instead.

Wu Jiang had brought glory to his ancestors and clan, making quite a name for himself before his clansmen.

At the time of his breakthrough, he had made a tremendous resolution, for he was already seventy-eight years old when establishing his foundation, well past the age limit of sixty.

Belonging to the category of establishing a foundation at an advanced age in one's seventies, the danger had been considerable.

Fortunately, what Qin Ming gave him was a premium-grade Foundation Establishment pill, offering a much higher probability of successful breakthrough than consuming an ordinary one.

Furthermore, the effect of protecting the meridians was far more significant; otherwise, the outcome would have been truly uncertain.

This once again made Wu Jiang even more grateful and devoted to Qin Ming, following him with unwavering loyalty.

Wu Jiang also hadn't expected that when he initially intended merely to latch onto a powerful backer, that backer would inadvertently grow into a towering tree reaching the heavens.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, since the ultimate battle between the Lei Yuanzong and the Lingyu Sect, the situation in the Immortal Realm over these past few years has undergone earth-shaking changes."

"First, the Lingyu Sect was annihilated, and among its seven vassal forces, the three great families of Chen, Gu, and Wang were also swept away by the Lei Yuanzong with an iron fist."

"Three new families were installed to replace those original three."

"The third-tier spiritual vein of the Yunze Dahuang also fell into the hands of the Lei Yuanzong."

"However, another major event occurred during this period."

"That was the Lingyun Sect of the Jin Kingdom, taking advantage of the two kingdoms' sects injuring each other in their war."

"They allied with the large and small forces of the Jin Kingdom to invade the Wei Kingdom on a national scale."

"The Lingyun Sect was ambitious, harboring great intentions to annex the Wei Kingdom."

"Meanwhile, the ghost calamity in the Xuanxi Valley of the Liang Kingdom showed a trend of intensifying, and it was even rumored that a Golden Toad Great Demon had escaped from within an ancient ruin."

"Its strength approached that of a true form-changing great demon, a terrifying late third-stage existence."

"Elder Yuheng, a mid-stage Jin Dan elder of the Xuanxi Valley, nearly perished under the Golden Toad Laozu and remains heavily injured, recovering within the valley."

"Thus, the Liang Kingdom is unable to aid the Wei Kingdom."

Hearing this, Qin Ming furrowed his brows and asked, "Wasn't the Muhe Laogui of the Lingyun Sect seriously injured by Wei Wuya?"

"How could they still have the strength to launch a massive invasion of the Wei Kingdom?"

Hearing this, Wu Jiang couldn't help but glance furtively at Qin Ming with a guilty conscience, before stammering an explanation:

"Does the Island Master still remember that Duanmu Sheng from the Lingyun Sect who came to visit you several years ago?"

"As a Jin Dan seed, he successfully broke through to the Jin Dan stage two years ago; it is said he even achieved a middle-grade Jin Dan, possessing formidable strength."

"And after that battle, Wei Wuya also suffered significant injuries; having undergone a great war, the Lei Yuanzong, facing the Lingyun Sect at its peak with two Jin Dan Laozu, found itself in a difficult position."

"Over these past two years, Wei Wuya has struggled alone, finding it somewhat exhausting to cope."

After hearing him finish, Qin Ming nodded slightly.

"I didn't expect so many incidents to occur in such a short span of just over two years."

However, soon he himself would be forming his pill, undergoing another qualitative transformation in cultivation and strength, making all these matters irrelevant.

The seasons cycled, winter departed and spring arrived.

Inside the cave dwelling, Xu Xu opened his eyes, sensing the sea of magic power within his qi sea and dantian, now completely solidified.

A faint smile curved the corners of his mouth.

"Finally, the solidification of all liquid magic power is complete."

On Wangyue Island, spiritual peach blossoms bloomed, green bamboo swayed, and the spiritual fields were filled with the vibrancy of spring.

On the lake surface, the massive body of the Black Water Crocodile floated as it dozed, while the Shi Tian Shu sat upon it, holding a bamboo rod and fishing; nearby, Yin Yi Shuangfeng fluttered up and down incessantly.

It was a rather harmonious scene.

Qin Ming stepped out of the cave dwelling, his pitch-black eyes deep as ink, gazing into the distance.

The Shi Tian Shu seemed to sense something; it hastily dropped the bamboo rod, transformed into a shadowy figure, vanished, and instantly appeared before Qin Ming.

It then looked him over with a grin and said:

"Master, are you preparing to break through today?"

Qin Ming nodded slightly with a smile, "Indeed, I am preparing to attempt the breakthrough to the Jin Dan stage; during this period, you, along with the Black Water Crocodile and Silver Wing, shall guard the Dharma for me."

"Once any ill-intentioned individuals approach, kill them without mercy."

"Hehe! Master, rest assured; even if a Jin Dan stage cultivator arrives, they absolutely won't be able to affect you."

Shi Tian Shu patted its chest as it spoke; seeing that Qin Ming was about to break through to the Jin Dan stage, it meant that it too was not far from breaking through to the mid-stage of a third-tier great demon.

Its heart felt wonderfully delighted.

Subsequently, Qin Ming summoned Wu Jiang over.

"Wu Jiang, take your entire clan and return to Baiyan Island to stay for a while."

Upon hearing this, Wu Jiang froze on the spot, his face turning pale as he asked, "Island Lord, have we done something wrong that you are driving us away?"

"Oh, where would you get such an idea? It's only for a temporary period; I still have need of you all, and will let you return very soon," Qin Ming explained indifferently.

Hearing this, Wu Jiang immediately set his mind at ease and, looking utterly bewildered, went back to organize the Wu family's spirit farmers to evacuate Wangyue Island.

Qin Ming was mainly afraid that the Jin Dan Lei Jie would descend and accidentally injure these low-stage cultivators.

Afterwards.

Qin Ming approached the Fengyou Ghost Jujube Tree, took out a jade-green bottle, then cast a spell to drill a tiny hole into the trunk, reaching straight to the tree's heart.

In an instant.

Accompanied by the emergence of a dense wave of evil qi, a small wisp of Profound Evil Spirit Liquid, like a trickling stream, flowed from the hole into the jade bottle.

Half an incense stick later.

Qin Ming had collected slightly less than half a bottle of the core-forming spiritual treasure, 'Profound Evil Spirit Liquid.'

Holding the spirit liquid, he went directly to his innate spiritual plant, Yang Xuanteng, sat down cross-legged before it.

"Old partner, let's begin; after farming for nearly a hundred years, we are finally about to take this step."

Qin Ming's entire aura reached an unprecedented height.

He adjusted his essence, qi, and spirit to their peak, his mind as calm as still water.

His innate spiritual plant, Yang Xuanteng, also seemed to sense that Qin Ming was about to charge toward the Jin Dan; its vines danced, conveying an emotion of immense joy.

Qin Ming then successively took out several items from his storage bag and placed them on the ground before him.

Two core-forming spiritual treasures, Profound Evil Spirit Liquid and Myriad Transformation Spirit Liquid, could increase the success rate by twenty percent.

Two premium-grade core-forming pills could increase the success rate by forty percent.

Additionally, he himself possessed an Ancient Wood Yu Changqing Spiritual Body comparable to a high-grade spiritual root, which inherently provided a twenty percent success rate.

Plus, within his sea of consciousness, there was a purple 【Creation Pill-Washing】 attribute that could enhance the quality of the core formation.

Wangyue Island possessed a third-tier mid-grade spiritual vein environment, fully satisfying the spiritual qi supply required for core formation.

With so many core-forming resources, I'm afraid even a major sect could not produce so much at once.

Yet now, they were all gathered upon Qin Ming alone.

Such an exaggerated configuration of resources took the concept of 'stability' to the extreme. "Actually, I wouldn't need to prepare so many resources; I am still confident of successfully forming my core."

"It is merely for a higher quality Jin Dan."

"With so many resources thrown down, if I don't form a high-grade Jin Dan, heaven itself would find it intolerable!"

Immediately, Qin Ming began to circulate the 'Ancient Wood Longevity Art.'

"Reverse yin and yang, turn life into death, seize creation, Ancient Wood Longevity..."

Qin Ming silently recited the mantra in his heart, formed seals with his hands, and suddenly, behind him, a silver spiritual plant illusion appeared, constantly rising and growing.

Within his qi sea and dantian, his solidified magic power, green as jade, had condensed to its limit. "After experiencing seven returns and nine reversals, water and fire achieving balance, Kan and Li copulating, metal and wood merging, and the five elements gathering, one finally attains the Great Dao of the Jin Dan."

Qin Ming discarded all stray thoughts, settled his mind and stilled his qi, entering a state of profound silence and utmost stillness, where all worldly ties were extinguished.

Boom-rumble! Above Wangyue Island, the sky became shrouded in dark clouds, and suddenly a massive spiritual qi vortex spanning one li appeared, pouring down toward Qin Ming in the shape of a funnel.

Suddenly.

The spiritual qi in the air nearby was instantly drained dry.

The liquid magic power within Qin Ming's body began transforming into tiny crystals, which constantly floated up into the space of his dantian, condensing together.

His entire person seemed to transform into a Jianmu tree, standing eternal through the ages, witnessing the changing of seas into mulberry fields, sitting and watching flowers bloom and fall.

A lush verdant greenness emanated from his body, radiating an endless, life-giving Yu Changqing Qi.

Qin Ming immediately opened the jade bottle before him and successively ingested one core-forming pill, along with the Myriad Transformation Spirit Liquid and the Profound Evil Spirit Liquid.

Boom-rumble! The circulation of spiritual qi between heaven and earth accelerated, nearly covering the entire Wangyue Island, surging like a tidal wave.

This earth-shaking celestial phenomenon naturally attracted the attention of many high-stage cultivators.

Inside the main hall of Canghai Peak in Canghai Xiancheng.

True Person Nalan Xi of Canghai was urgently discussing the ghost disaster at the Taihu ruins with Wan Laozu of Xuanxi Valley.

In an instant.

【109】 The expressions of the two Jin Dan True Persons changed simultaneously and abruptly! "In the direction of the Lingxi Archipelago, the spiritual qi of heaven and earth has changed drastically; a fellow daoist is charging toward the Jin Dan stage!"

The expressions of the two Jin Dan True Persons changed in unison, suddenly shifting! "In the direction of the spiritual energy Islands, the world's spiritual energy has changed drastically — a fellow Daoist is attempting to break through to the Jin Dan stage!"

True Person Canghai and Laozu Wan exchanged a glance, then their figures instantly blurred and vanished.

From Canghai Xiancheng to the Lingxi Archipelago, for a Jin Dan Laozu, was but the blink of an eye.

True Person Nalan Xi looked in the direction of the heavenly anomaly, only to freeze in stunned disbelief.

"It is actually Wangyue Island... Fellow Daoist Qin, he..."

"How is this possible?"

"Wasn't he only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment a few years ago?"

Laozu Wan had long heard of Qin Ming, and for a moment, he too found it impossible to believe.

Just then.

A lazy voice rang out from nearby.

"You two stop right there; do not disturb my master's breakthrough."

"Otherwise, this Great Master will not stand on ceremony."

Ripples spread through the void, the air twisted, and the figure of the Shi Tian Shu slowly emerged.

"A third-tier Demon King!"

Upon seeing the Shi Tian Shu appear silently, Nalan Xi and the Yunxi Laozu each treated it as a formidable enemy.

Once the two saw clearly,

wasn't this the very Demon King that had led the attack on Yunze Xiancheng back then? It possessed bizarre divine abilities, capable of even destroying the great formations of the immortal city.

Nalan Xi remembered the Shi Tian Shu vividly; however, ever since being severely injured by the combined efforts of their four Jin Dan elders, it had vanished without a trace.

They never expected to encounter this third-tier Demon King again in such circumstances.

But the next moment,

Nalan Xi came to her senses, "Wait! Who are you calling Master?"

"The Island Lord of Wangyue Island, Qin Ming," the Shi Tian Shu said while picking its nose.

A third-tier Demon King acknowledging a master sent Nalan Xi's thoughts into turmoil; she then let out a bitter laugh, "It seems Fellow Daoist Qin's fortune is remarkable, and he has hidden his depths very well."

"We have underestimated him..."

Furthermore, Nalan Xi could sense that this Shi Tian Shu appeared far more profound and unfathomable in strength than before.

Even she could not discern its depth.

"I never expected to misjudge him; a third-tier Dandao Sect Grandmaster, such a brilliantly talented individual."

"Condensing a Jin Dan... is by no means impossible," the Yunxi Laozu said, gazing toward the Lingdao.

Thus, the two also stopped to watch.

"Judging by the vortex of spiritual energy spanning one li, could Fellow Daoist Qin be condensing a False Dan?" the Yunxi Laozu remarked after observing for a moment.

Nalan Xi gazed into the distance, "It is hard to say; I can no longer see through Fellow Daoist Qin at all."

At the same time,

the astonishing celestial phenomenon over the Spirit Perch Cluster attracted cultivators from nearby to come and watch.

"Heavens! What is happening?"

"Look! It's in the direction of Wangyue Island."

"Such a disturbance in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth means someone is breaking through to the Jin Dan stage!!"

"What?!"

"Which senior is undergoing Tribulation Crossing?"

"It must be on Wangyue Island; there should only be the Island Lord, Grandmaster Qin..."

Wu Jiang also followed behind the crowd, his mind completely blank as he stared at the massive vortex of spiritual energy above the Lingdao.

He muttered in disbelief, "Q-Q-Qin... Island Lord Qin, he is breaking through to the Jin Dan stage..."

On Wangyue Island, beneath the Yang Xuanteng tree of Yin and Yang,

Qin Ming's aura continued to soar, resonating with the spiritual energy between heaven and earth.

Behind him, the Yu Changqing Ancient Wood Spirit Body continuously converted vast amounts of spiritual energy into pure magic power crystals.

Within his sea of magic power, the solidified azure magic power began to constantly collapse and compress, condensing toward the center.

Time passed, and two more days went by.

In the sky, the rosy clouds of spiritual energy churned and surged, slowly spreading outward in all directions, remarkably reaching a massive range of five li.

"A five-li spiritual energy vortex."

"Fellow Daoist Qin is indeed about to form a Jin Dan!"

Watching from afar, Nalan Xi's eyes narrowed, her heart already churning with waves.

The Yunxi Laozu also wore a grave expression, unknown what he was thinking.

At this moment, ripples spread through the air once more; a blue beam of light approached from afar and stopped beside the two.

After recognizing the newcomer, Nalan Xi said to him, "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Wei; the State of Wei is about to produce another Jin Dan True Person, and he is your friend."

Hearing this, Wei Wuya looked toward Wangyue Island, his face showing complex emotions.

"Fellow Daoist Qin forming his Dan is truly unexpected."

"..."

Originally, these few Jin Dan elders had discussed privately and unanimously agreed that with Fellow Daoist Qin's four-system false spiritual roots, breaking through to the Jin Dan stage was nearly impossible.

They never expected Qin Ming to shatter their understanding.

Seven more days passed.

The vortex of spiritual energy in the sky expanded once again, reaching ten li!

"An upper-grade Jin Dan..."

Wei Wuya had experienced this personally and was all too familiar with such a situation.

Beneath the Yang Xuanteng tree of Yin and Yang, Qin Ming's entire body radiated a massive spiritual pressure belonging to the Jin Dan stage.

After using the 【Creation Dan-Washing】 trait, Qin Ming's Jin Dan, which had originally stalled at the middle-grade level, was forcibly raised by one entire tier.

"The Dan completes nine revolutions; an upper-grade Jin Dan—I, Qin Ming, have finally achieved it!"

Within his dantian, a glittering golden millet-sized mystic pearl formed.

Just as Qin Ming intended to fully stabilize the Jin Dan,

something unexpected occurred: silver runes emerged one after another around his natal spirit plant, the Yang Xuanteng of Yin and Yang, weaving together.

In midair, they formed a huge, profound silver symbol, which then plunged into Qin Ming's body.

Inside Qin Ming's qi sea and dantian.

Suddenly, a mass of harmonious, misty qi was born, after which the magic power within his body once again underwent the interaction of yin and yang.

Swish, swish, swish! His innate spiritual plant, the Yang Xuanteng, emitted silver talismanic runes; as if drawn by some attraction, they plunged into Qin Ming's Jin Dan.

In an instant.

Above Qin Ming's qi sea and dantian, a rain of azure-green magic power fell, showering upon the Jin Dan.

Thus.

A flawless profound pearl, round and plump, brilliantly radiant, purely bare, and vividly red, had unmistakably formed! (End of chapter)