Chapter 280: Third-Rank Soul-Devouring Poison Flame

Above the airspace near Fangcun Mountain Marketplace.

A dark shadow appeared.

Lin Zixiao was bleeding profusely, his demonic transformation now half-human, half-demon; the secret technique he had just used to escape had exceeded his limits, leaving severe aftereffects.

The earth-shattering battle between Qin Ming and Lin Zixiao had naturally been sensed by nearby cultivators.

Some fearless cultivators, eager to investigate, flew toward the scene.

But as they reached halfway, they encountered Lin Zixiao fleeing toward them.

These cultivators, daring to take risks with greedy intentions, saw Lin Zixiao's overwhelming demonic aura and panicked, fleeing in terror.

"Run! It's a demonic cultivator!"

"Isn't this Lin Zixiao of the demonic path?"

"Why does he look so badly wounded?"

"Should we attack together? But there's a reward for Foundation Establishment pills!"

"Aaaah!"

At that moment.

Lin Zixiao unleashed his demonic might, his surrounding demonic energy exploding as countless black ribbons slashed out.

The cultivators near Fangcun Mountain Marketplace fell like cut grass.

Blood rained through the air as Lin Zixiao unleashed demonic arts, slaughtering wildly and beginning to absorb and refine the souls of these cultivators.

The arm Qin Ming had destroyed regrew before his eyes.

"Aah! Run!"

"Lin Zixiao the demonic cultivator is here!"

"Send for help immediately!"

…

On the other side.

Qin Ming suppressed his blood qi true Gang and waited on the spot for the Soul-Devouring Poison Flame to consume the Qing Luo Demon Flame.

As time slowly passed.

The ice-blue fire bird fully suppressed the black-green demonic flame, accelerating its consumption.

Qin Ming activated another secret technique to hasten the Tunshi process.

After an incense stick's time.

Jiu! A clear cry echoed through the sky as the Soul-Devouring Poison Flame fully consumed and merged with the Qing Luo Demon Flame.

Boom! A swirling mass of blue-green celestial flame appeared before Qin Ming's eyes, radiating astonishing power surpassing that of a second-rank spiritual flame.

Even the air twisted under the intense heat.

"Third-rank celestial spiritual flame!"

Qin Ming's eyes gleamed with excitement; he reached out and summoned the blue-green Soul-Devouring Poison Flame back into his hand.

"Third-rank spiritual flame—its power rivals the Three Pure Fires of a Golden Core elder!"

"Hahaha! What a windfall!"

"Lin Zixiao really was a good neighbor back then."

Qin Ming could clearly sense that since the Soul-Devouring Poison Flame had ascended to third rank, its power had multiplied exponentially; combined with the abilities of the Qing Luo Demon Flame, it was now incomparably stronger.

Previously, Lin Zixiao had only needed to unleash second-rank Qing Luo Demon Flame to casually crush Foundation Establishment cultivators, and ordinary spiritual weapons couldn't withstand its scorching heat.

Now, with this new Soul-Devouring Poison Flame, few cultivators could stand against it.

More importantly, with a third-rank spiritual flame, he could now refine third-rank spiritual elixirs—and even Golden Core pills.

He had taken another giant step toward becoming a third-rank Alchemy Master!

Qin Ming's face beamed with joy; he immediately opened his mouth and swallowed the third-rank Soul-Devouring Poison Flame, storing it within his dantian to nurture.

"Such a massive disturbance here will surely draw the attention of Golden Core elders—I must leave quickly."

"But before that, I still have one thing to do."

Qin Ming flew down to the corpses of Muhe Laogui and the other two cultivators slain by Lin Zixiao, waved his hand, and cast the Thorn Spell upon them.

Instantly.

Countless black vines, as thick as arms, erupted wildly, sucking the three Foundation Establishment cultivators' corpses dry.

'How is it that my own methods now seem more demonic than Lin Zixiao's?' He stared at the three desiccated corpses.

A sudden thought arose in Qin Ming's mind.

But then he shook his head, muttering to himself: 'What nonsense—I'm a righteous cultivator.'

'As a positive-energy Spirit Planter, using the blood of wicked souls to nourish my plants isn't too much, is it?'

Qin Ming waved his hand, drawing three massive blood pearls into his palm and storing them away.

Then he fired three fireballs, obliterating the corpses, before flying off.

…

Two hours later.

Qin Ming rode his Silver-Winged Frost Bee, weaving through winding detours until he confirmed no one was following, then returned to Moonwatch Island.

The Wu family continued diligently tending their fields on the island.

Seeing Qin Ming return, they all wore expressions of awe and reverence; Wu Jiang came forward to greet him respectfully.

But Wu Jiang noticed Qin Ming's return—his entire body radiated terrifying, chilling killing intent, as if he'd just stepped out of a slaughterhouse.

Yet Wu Jiang dared not ask further.

"Looks like this year's spiritual rice is growing well—keep up the good work, Brother Wu."

"Hehe, I've planted another batch of Five-Color Spiritual Rice; the survival rate is much higher than before."

"Good. Keep it up."

After chatting briefly with Wu Jiang, Qin Ming returned to his cave dwelling on the main peak.

He released all three of his spiritual pets.

"Hehehehe!"

"Master, I've done a huge favor on this outing, right?"

The Soul-Devouring Rat emerged, rubbing its tiny hands together, grinning as it begged for praise.

Qin Ming couldn't help but smile at its mercenary demeanor.

"Honestly, you've lost every trace of an Ancient King's dignity."

"You lift your tail, and I know exactly what you're about to fart."

The Soul-Devouring Rat, unfazed, replied with thick skin:

"I'm just following you, Master. Past titles? They're like clouds drifting in the sky."

Qin Ming found his flattery unbearable.

He immediately pulled a Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruit from his storage pouch and tossed it to the rat. "Enough. Where did you learn all this? You've got a whole set of slick phrases—eat it and get back to farming. It's been days since you tended the fields; they're going to turn to waste."

"Hehehe! Thank you, Master!" The Soul-Devouring Rat caught the fruit, grinning so wide his mouth nearly split.

Qin Ming paused, then tossed a Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruit to each of the Aqua Crocodile and the Silver-Winged Frost Bee.

But this fruit's effect is strongest on first consumption; both creatures had already eaten several, so the boost to their cultivation was now minimal.

Still, it helped a little.

The Soul-Devouring Rat, however, had only eaten one before—after consuming this new one, it would likely recover considerable strength.

After this battle, Qin Ming realized the Soul-Devouring Rat's combat power was truly extraordinary; the stronger it became, the greater its aid to him.

With the Blood Ban Divine Pact in place, he wasn't worried it would betray him.

Then the three spiritual pets left the cave.

The Soul-Devouring Rat clutched the Spirit-Transforming Demon Fruit, turned to the Aqua Crocodile and Silver-Winged Frost Bee, and boasted:

"See? Brothers Two and Three—you've got to learn to flatter. Your face must be thicker than city walls. Look—third-rank spiritual fruit in hand!"

"This is the essence I've gathered over centuries of dealing with humans—deeply understanding human cultivator conduct."

"Watch closely. Learn well."

The Soul-Devouring Rat chattered on to the other two beasts, then each returned to their nests to consume and digest their fruits.

Qin Ming stared at the Soul-Devouring Rat, utterly speechless.

Next,

He took out the other half of the bronze mirror he'd bought at the black market and began studying it.

(End of Chapter)