Chapter 277: Shaking the Southern Wild

Half a day later.

The news of Qin Ming's Golden Core formation swept through the Wei State Immortal Realm like a hurricane in an instant.

It spread with extreme speed toward the other three kingdoms.

"Extra! Extra!"

"Island Lord Wangyue, after advancing to a Tier-3 Dandao Grandmaster, successfully formed his Golden Core just days ago, breaking through to the Jin Dan stage; his Dao title is True Person Wangyue."

"What?! Is this true or false?"

"The Jin Dan stage is beyond our reach."

"It must be fake, right? Didn't they say Island Lord Qin was only at the mid Foundation Establishment stage? How could he suddenly become a Jin Dan True Person?"

"Tch, True Person Qin was simply hiding his true cultivation; don't you understand?"

"True Person Wangyue formed his Golden Core as a rogue cultivator; he is truly the first in Wei State, indeed too inspiring!"

"It is said that True Person Wangyue was not yet a hundred years old when he formed his Golden Core; placed across the entire Southern Wild Immortal Realm, he would rank among the top three!"

"Hiss~"

"Then isn't he the youngest Jin Dan True Person in Wei State?"

"Say no more, fellow Daoists; I'm off to change my studies to farming immediately."

"The life of True Person Wangyue is simply a living example of someone from the bottom of the Immortal Realm relying on hard struggle to cross class barriers step by step and achieve the supreme Golden Core!"

"Truly a model for our generation!"

Within the Lingyun Sect of the Jin Kingdom.

Duanmu Sheng and Muhe Laogui sat in the seats of honor at the head of the main hall, holding a piece of intelligence in their hands.

Their faces were so gloomy they seemed about to drip water.

"If I had known, I should have eliminated this person long ago; I never expected him to grow to such an extent," Duanmu Sheng said, his gaze gloomy.

Muhe Laogui's rough voice rang out: "Didn't you pass some information to that Yan Laomo back then?"

"Did Yan Laomo not make a move back then?"

"I find it strange too; logically, upon hearing that a Tier-3 pill had appeared, given his temper, he should not have let such an opportunity slip."

"Moreover, I haven't heard any news of Yan Laomo for quite some time and have been unable to contact him," Duanmu Sheng said, his eyes flickering.

"I don't know what this old fellow is up to."

Muhe Laogui looked at the jade slip in his hand: "Qin Ming... it is said this person achieved a superior-grade Golden Core."

"I never expected this person's talent and luck to be even higher than yours..."

Upon hearing "superior-grade Golden Core," Duanmu Sheng felt even more sour with jealousy, nearly losing his composure.

"Hmph! This kid was just lucky, that's all."

"So what if it is a superior-grade Golden Core?"

"Can it compare to the foundation of our sect?"

"I estimate that even after breaking through to the Jin Dan stage, he wouldn't be able to produce a single decent magical treasure."

Muhe Laogui: "..."

"But..."

"Wei State now has another Jin Dan cultivator; what should we do about our plan?"

"Originally, with only Wei Wuya, capturing Wei State was already a sure thing."

"It was merely a matter of time."

"Furthermore, I heard that Qin Ming is different from others; he is a rogue cultivator and is quite close to Wei Wuya."

"Who could have expected such a huge variable to emerge; how detestable!"

Duanmu Sheng, furious and frantic, crushed the jade slip in his hand.

Within Xuanxi Valley.

In the main hall of Qianyuan Peak.

"Hmm, I never expected Wei State to produce such an unparalleled genius."

"A Tier-3 Dandao Grandmaster at the Jin Dan stage..."

"What a pity that Daoist Qin was unwilling to join our sect."

A middle-aged man in an elegant green Daoist robe, looking at the news that had arrived, spoke these words.

This person was none other than Qing Xuan Laozu, the Grand Elder of Xuanxi Valley, who was at the late Jin Dan stage.

Gongsun Yang, sitting below, could not help but sigh with emotion: "Grandmaster Qin's attainment in pill refining is something rare in my entire life."

"I never expected that in the mere few years since we parted, he would break through to the realm of the Golden Core again."

"His talent for cultivation must not be low either."

"Oh? Yet I heard that Daoist Qin possesses only a four-elemental pseudo-spiritual root," Elder Xu of the Spirit Medicine Garden also sighed with emotion.

However, thinking that he still shared some friendship with Qin Ming, his heart immediately opened up considerably.

"Hehe! For Daoist Qin to achieve such an unexpected breakthrough to the Golden Core, he must have concealed his true spiritual root talent."

"Does Grand Elder Qingxuan mean that besides the pseudo-spiritual root, True Person Qin might possess some kind of innate spiritual body?"

"Mm, only this explanation makes sense."

At this moment, after pondering for a while, Qing Xuan Laozu suddenly turned to Gongsun Yang and asked: "Elder Gongsun, tell me... could Daoist Qin have already successfully refined a Core-Formation Pill?"

A terrifying thought arose in his heart.

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Yang merely raised an eyebrow and stated with certainty: "That's impossible, right?"

"It is true that Fellow Daoist Qin possesses remarkable talent in the Dao of Pills, but how could he possibly refine a Jin Dan Pill within a mere two years?"

"Even for this old man, it took over thirty years and countless failed attempts before I barely succeeded a few times."

"Furthermore, aside from our own sect holding the formula for the Jin Dan Pill, the entire Southern Wild Immortal Realm does not possess it either."

"Hmm, then in your opinion, could it be that Su Yuqing gave him the pill formula?" Elder Qingxuan asked.

Gongsun Yang thought for a moment. "Highly unlikely."

"The Jin Dan Pill is a strategic resource of the Li Huo Palace."

"If that were truly the case, the Upper Sect would likely hold the Su family accountable; they probably would not go to such lengths."

Having said this,

Gongsun Yang thought of something and asked with a grave expression: "Laozu, do you think the Li Huo Palace might already be paying attention to Fellow Daoist Qin?"

"Hmm, I have already looked into this matter previously."

"Back when Fellow Daoist Qin advanced to become a third-tier Grandmaster of the Dao of Pills, the upper echelons of the Li Huo Palace already intended to recruit him."

"However, the Upper Sect had long since investigated Fellow Daoist Qin's character and conduct clearly; knowing he would not join any sect, they did not send an envoy."

"Now that Fellow Daoist Qin has broken through to the Jin Dan realm, coupled with his status as a third-tier Grandmaster, I fear the Li Huo Palace will make a visit no matter what."

"The conditions they offer will likely not be low either."

……

In both Canghai Xiancheng and Moyuan Xiancheng, the hottest topic was also the matter of Qin Ming achieving the Jin Dan realm.

Throughout the streets and alleys, the name of True Person Wangyue suddenly became known to almost everyone.

Qin Ming's reputation had thoroughly reached an unprecedented peak in the Southern Wild Immortal Realm.

……

A few more days passed.

On Wangyue Island,

Gu Qingzhao suddenly came calling; she bowed to Qin Ming and asked, "True Person Qin, when do you plan to hold your Jin Dan ceremony? My Mirror Jing Xue Ge can handle all the arrangements for you."

During this period, she herself felt as if in a dream, gazing at the man before her who was as indifferent as still water.

Involuntarily, she recalled scene after scene from their initial acquaintance and mutual understanding within Qingyang Market up until now, all floating up in her mind.

At one time, she had also taken the initiative to approach Qin Ming; the two cooperated, exchanged courtesies, and treated each other with respect as guests.

All of this had become clouds of the past.

Upon meeting again, Qin Ming had already become a high-stage cultivator of the Jin Dan realm; looking across the vast Southern Wild Immortal Realm, he was now a top-tier figure.

The Immortal Realm maintains a strict hierarchy; even though her relationship with Qin Ming was excellent, she still had to show proper respect.

"A Jin Dan ceremony?" Qin Ming's first thought was to reject the idea.

After all, he was no Jin Dan Laozu of some great sect or major clan, so there was no need to engage in boosting sectarian prestige, displaying strength to the outside world, or flexing muscles and the like.

But then he thought again.

Breaking through to the Jin Dan realm is such a monumental event! If one does not even celebrate this, that would truly be excessively low-profile.

The cultivators of the Southern Wild Immortal Realm would not know how to view him.

Thus, after pondering for a moment, Qin Ming said: "Then let us set it for one month from now; I will leave it in the hands of Fellow Daoist Gu."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingzhao immediately felt a quiet joy.

"True Person Qin, please rest assured; I will certainly handle this matter properly."

By leveraging this Jin Dan ceremony, the prestige of the Mirror Jing Xue Ge would greatly rise to a higher level.

"Cough! Still, try to keep it as simple as possible; there is no need to make a huge mobilization," Qin Ming added.

Gu Qingzhao smiled gently and nodded.

……

After Gu Qingzhao departed,

Qin Ming summoned Wu Jiang over.

Wu Jiang came before Qin Ming and performed a deep bow respectfully. "Island Lord, you summoned me?"

Over these past few days, Wu Jiang and the clansmen under his command felt as if they were living in a dream, dizzy and bewildered.

Their Island Lord had actually leaped upward to become a Jin Dan Laozu revered by ten thousand cultivators.

If not for the fact that over several decades, Wu Jiang had already grown accustomed to the shock Qin Ming brought him,

he would never have believed it no matter what.

"Hmm, one month from now, a Jin Dan celebration will be held on the island; I have already entrusted external affairs to Fellow Daoist Gu of the Mirror Jing Xue Ge."

"As for receiving guests and handling matters on the island, specifically the duties of the gate reception, I leave that to you," Qin Ming instructed calmly.

Upon hearing these words,

Wu Jiang, as if injected with chicken blood, hurriedly agreed: "Island Lord, please rest assured; I will definitely handle this matter well."

(End of Chapter)