Chapter 281: Elder Qingxuan's Request

Qin Ming welcomed the two Laozu into the room and brewed spiritual tea for them.

Elder Qingxuan took a sip of the spiritual tea and slowly spoke, "This matter must begin with the Taihu Ghost Calamity that occurred within our own nation's borders."

"I presume Fellow Daoist Qin is already aware of it."

"Initially, we also believed that place was merely a ruin hidden beneath the lake bed."

"However, as the excavation progressed, we discovered that the lake bottom was actually a forbidden ground sealing countless ghost entities."

"The seal of the ruin originally had flaws; after being damaged by cultivators who went there seeking treasures, all the ghost entities sealed inside were released."

"The scale of the ghost calamity was so vast that even our sect found itself inadequate in handling and responding to it."

"Thus, I had no choice but to contact our superior sect, the Brother Li Huo Palace, hoping to receive their aid."

"Yet who could have expected that in recent decades, the Brother Li Huo Palace has also become mired in the quagmire of war; it is said things have reached the point where even Yuan Ying Laozu have personally taken the field..."

"They simply have no leisure to attend to matters in the Southern Wild Immortal Realm."

Observing Qin Ming's reaction, Elder Qingxuan continued, "The severity of the ghost calamity is such that if it is not halted soon, not only Liang Kingdom but the entire Southern Wild Immortal Realm will be without escape."

"Among the ghost entities surging forth recently, Jin Dan-level ghosts have already begun to appear."

"Alas, our valley's Elder Yuheng, during an operation to purge ghost entities, happened to encounter a third-stage late-phase Golden Toad Demon King breaking free from confinement."

At this moment.

Beside him, Elder Yuheng also let out a long sigh and said:

"In that battle, had I not recklessly expended my life-span to cast a secret technique to flee, I would likely have already been reduced to a pile of withered bones."

"Precisely because of this, my remaining life-span is less than five years."

Hearing this, Qin Ming deliberately put on an expression of surprise.

Even though he knew some of the inside story, he could not alter the occurrence of the ghost calamity.

The Golden Toad Laozu was merely a spirit pet of True Person White Bone, yet it was already so terrifying.

If True Person White Bone were to revive and appear in person, I fear there would be no one in the Southern Wild Immortal Realm capable of opposing him.

Qin Ming was also pondering how to convey this news to the two of them so they could prepare in advance.

The conversation having reached this point.

Elder Qingxuan finally revealed the purpose of privately seeking out Qin Ming: "In coming here, besides offering congratulations to Fellow Daoist Qin, we have one request."

"That is, could Fellow Daoist Qin refine a life-extending pill for Elder Yuheng?"

Qin Ming felt quite surprised, "If that is the case, why not ask Grandmaster Gongsun of your esteemed valley to refine it?"

"Fellow Daoist Qin, you will understand once you see this."

Having said this, Qingxuan handed an ancient pill formula to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming took it and looked, unable to help but furrow his brows.

"Longevity Fruit Pill."

After roughly scanning the pill formula, Qin Ming realized the difficulty of refining it was indeed considerable.

However, as a third-stage mid-grade spiritual pill, upon consumption by a cultivator, this pill directly grants eighty years of additional life-span.

Furthermore, regarding this pill, a cultivator can consume at most one in their entire lifetime; a second pill would have no life-extending effect.

Eighty years of life-span, for a Jin Dan Laozu whose life-span is nearing its end, can be described as a lifesaving straw.

"We have also shown this pill to Grandmaster Gongsun; for a third-stage mid-grade pill, he has no confidence in being able to refine it."

"Even if he attempted to refine the pill, it would require at least ten-plus years of dedicated study."

"But Elder Yuheng has only five years of life-span left; truly, there is no time to delay."

"Therefore, Grandmaster Gongsun Yang strongly recommended Fellow Daoist Qin to us..."

Only then did Qin Ming suddenly understand; holding the pill formula, he pondered for a while.

Come to think of it, his own smooth success in forming his Jin Dan also had some connection to the Qingxi Valley.

After all, the pill formula he used to break through was stolen from their Scripture Pavilion.

Additionally, there were many other third-stage pill formulas.

Perhaps this is also a form of karma. After finishing his review of the pill formula, he discovered that the main material within it happened to be the 'Three-Crimson Soul-Returning Grass' that he had cultivated himself.

Thus, Qin Ming put away the pill formula and said to the two of them:

"Since this is a request entrusted by the two Laozu, Qin Mou is willing to do his utmost to try."

Hearing this, Qingxuan and Yuheng were immediately overjoyed, expressing their gratitude: "Regardless of whether Fellow Daoist Qin succeeds in refining this pill, we two old fellows and the Qingxi Valley will owe Fellow Daoist Qin a favor."

"However..."

"Other spiritual materials are easy enough to discuss, but the main material for refining this Longevity Fruit Pill is the Three-Crimson Soul-Returning Grass, which became extinct in ancient times; our valley is still doing its utmost to gather it."

Hearing this, Qin Ming smiled slightly and said, "To be honest with Fellow Daoist Qingxuan, while I was traveling outside, I happened to acquire a stalk of Three-Crimson Soul-Returning Grass at a black market."

"Is that truly so? Hahaha!"

"That is truly excellent!" Elder Qingxuan let out a hearty laugh.

"It seems this truly is the will of Heaven! Elder Yuheng, it appears our trip here was the right decision."

Following this.

Elders Qingxuan and Yuheng handed the spiritual materials for pill refining to Qin Ming, and after conversing with him for a while, they rose to take their leave and depart.

Since the two of them still needed to rush back to handle and respond to the ghost calamity, Qin Ming did not detain them further.

Wei Wuya and Nalan Xi, the two Jin Dan cultivators, also exchanged farewells with Qin Ming before successively taking their leave and departing.

Thus, the guests on the island had all dispersed, and all the Jin Dan big shots had already departed.

Wangyue Island returned to its former tranquility.

At this moment.

Gu Qingzhao's figure appeared before Qin Ming, and she handed a red booklet in her hand over to him.

She smiled faintly and said, "True Person Qin, here is the catalog of all congratulatory gifts for this grand ceremony."

Qin Ming took the gift list from her hand, smiled slightly, and said, "Fellow Daoist Gu, you have worked hard."

"True Person Qin need not be polite; by hosting this Jin Dan Grand Ceremony this time, our Mirror Snow Pavilion has also gained considerably," Gu Qingzhao said.

Qin Ming observed that Gu Qingzhao's cultivation had also reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

However, she was still very far from attempting to break through to the Jin Dan realm.

He took a bottle of Yu Xuan Dan from his storage bag, handed it to Gu Qingzhao, and said, "This is a small token of appreciation from Qin Mou; I hope Fellow Daoist Gu will not decline."

Gu Qingzhao was first stunned, then extended her soft, white hand to accept the Yu Xuan Dan from Qin Ming's grasp. "In that case, I shall accept your generous gift without further modesty. Thank you, True Person Qin."

"We have cooperated for so many years; there is no need to stand on ceremony, hehe."

Afterwards, Gu Qingzhao also took her leave of Qin Ming, preparing to return to Canghai Xiancheng.

Just as she was leaving, she suddenly turned around and said to Qin Ming:

"True Person Qin, after this occasion, I intend to go out and undergo some tempering, and while I am at it, seek an opportunity to form my Jin Dan."

"Once I depart, I do not know when we shall meet again; I hope True Person Qin will take care."

Qin Ming had not expected that Gu Qingzhao would actually make such a decision.

He did happen to have one more Pill for Forming the Jin Dan in his possession, but under no circumstances would Qin Ming dare to sell it at this moment.

If this Pill for Forming the Jin Dan of unknown origin were to appear in the outside world, there was no need to even think about it—it would inevitably be thoroughly investigated by the Brother Li Huo Palace.

'Sigh! It seems this woman has definitely been stimulated by my achievement of the Jin Dan realm, prompting her to make such a risky decision.'

'After all, back when we were at Qingyang Market, I was still a small cultivator at the Qi Refining stage, while she had already achieved Foundation Establishment.'

'Now, looking back after several decades have passed, I have become a True Person of the Jin Dan realm, while she remains at the Foundation Establishment stage; our positions have been reversed.'

Qin Ming could only say, "Since Fellow Daoist Gu has made up her mind, then Qin Mou wishes you longevity in the Immortal Dao. If there is anything you need help with, just speak up."

Afterwards,

Qin Ming also escorted Gu Qingzhao out of Wangyue Island.

(End of Chapter)