Chapter 282: The Shi Tian Shu Advances

Morning mist lingered as the rising sun ascended in the east.

The surface of Moon Gazing Lake was draped in a gauzy veil of dense fog, which, reflecting the morning sun, refracted into colorful rosy clouds, creating a dreamlike and illusory scene.

After completing his daily cultivation, Qin Ming stepped out of his cave dwelling.

Following the conclusion of the Jin Dan grand ceremony, various strange tales and unusual events from that day on Moon Gazing Island began circulating once again within the Wei State Immortal Realm.

Among these, the topic most enthusiastically discussed was the arrival of four nations' Jin Dan Laozu to offer congratulations, giving the grand ceremony immense prestige.

This fully demonstrated the level of importance and influence that Qin Ming, this newly promoted Jin Dan cultivator, held among the various powers.

Of course, this excluded the Lingyun Sect, which was currently invading Wei State.

What shocked the myriad cultivators most of all was the personal arrival of Elder Qingxuan from Profound Creek Valley, as well as the visit of the envoy from the Nascent Soul sect, Brother Li Huo Palace.

These explosive topics quickly spread to other parts of the Immortal Realm.

Consequently, the reputation of "True Person Moon Gazing" rose to a height that future generations would find difficult to reach; he was even hailed as the most inspiring legendary cultivator in the Wei State Immortal Realm in hundreds of years.

Qin Ming walked outside his cave dwelling, sat on a stone bench beneath the spiritual peach tree, and then summoned the Shi Tian Shu.

The Shi Tian Shu was drooling nearby, watching Wu Jiang count and verify the congratulatory gifts received at the grand ceremony.

Upon hearing Qin Ming's summons, it immediately snapped to attention and appeared before Qin Ming.

"Ehehe! Master, what do you need from me?"

Qin Ming immediately took a Jin Dan from his storage bag; it was precisely the high-grade Jin Dan that Linghu Yang had not had time to self-detonate after his death.

A Jin Dan is the essence of a human cultivator's entire cultivation base; naturally, consuming it brings great benefit to a demonic beast.

Upon seeing this object, the Shi Tian Shu's eyes lit up, and it instantly stood at attention.

It had waited anxiously for stars and moons, and finally, this moment had arrived.

"After devouring this Jin Dan, you should be able to reach mid-stage Tier 3, correct?" Qin Ming casually tossed the Jin Dan to the Shi Tian Shu.

The Shi Tian Shu carefully caught the Jin Dan and said with an excited tone, "Thank you for Master's reward!"

"I lack only a final sliver of opportunity to break through; after consuming this Jin Dan, it should not be a problem."

"Mm, this is what you deserve. By the way, approximately how long will it take for you to fully digest this Jin Dan?"

"Because I may still need to go out and handle a matter," Qin Ming asked indifferently.

"Regarding the affairs of the Lingyun Sect, since I promised Wei Wuya, I must fulfill it."

The Shi Tian Shu thought for a moment. "It will probably take about half a year."

"Mm, then go ahead," Qin Ming nodded.

Subsequently, the Shi Tian Shu, overjoyed, held the Jin Dan and prepared to break through.

After it left.

Qin Ming took another Jin Dan out from inside his storage bag.

This Jin Dan was the low-grade Jin Dan belonging to Yan Laomo.

"Should this Jin Dan be given to the Profound Water Crocodile, or to Silver Wing?"

Qin Ming pinched the Jin Dan and pondered for a moment, finally deciding to feed this Jin Dan to the Profound Water Crocodile.

After all, possessing a Heaven-grade bloodline, its probability of breaking through to become a Tier 3 Demon King was greater.

As for the Silver Wing Yin Yi Shuangfeng, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future; moreover, influenced by its innate spiritual plant, Yang Xuanteng, the spiritual bee's future potential would not be poor.

Immediately, Qin Ming summoned the Profound Water Crocodile as well and gave it Yan Laomo's Jin Dan.

The Profound Water Crocodile held the Jin Dan in its mouth, its eyes revealing excitement, and shook its head and tail as it crawled back to its old nest to digest the Jin Dan.

Having done these things.

Qin Ming came to the door of the treasury and saw Wu Jiang carefully verifying the congratulatory gifts according to the ledger.

"Island Lord, my lord, all the gift lists for the congratulatory presents have been verified; they are accurate and without error."

"Please take a look!"

At this moment, facing Qin Ming, Wu Jiang no longer possessed his former frivolity.

After all, Qin Ming had already become a Jin Dan True Person; today was different from the past.

The hierarchy in the Immortal Realm was strict, and he did not dare to overstep even half a step.

Therefore, he was extremely respectful before Qin Ming.

During the Jin Dan grand ceremony, Wu Jiang had also shown off greatly before the representatives of various powers.

Cultivators outside were envious of him to the point of dying.

Even many major powers had privately come to curry favor with him, a cultivator who had only just reached Foundation Establishment.

However, Wu Jiang was clear in his heart, knowing what could be done and what could not, and remained relatively dutiful and law-abiding.

"Mm, well done."

"Go attend to your duties."

Qin Ming glanced slightly at the gift list, then looked again at the dazzling array of treasures filling the room, and nodded with satisfaction.

He raised his hand and waved; all the treasures in the room vanished instantly, stored away in his storage bag.

Qin Ming thought for a moment, then extended his hand again; an ancient, simple purple small cauldron, the size of a palm, materialized in his palm.

"A high-grade Tier 3 alchemy furnace, Feng Lei Ding."

"Brother Li Huo Palace is truly willing to spend a heavy price."

Subsequently, Qin Ming refined Feng Lei Ding for a while; henceforth, he could use this cauldron to refine high-grade pills.

In Qin Ming's hand, Feng Lei Ding casually changed size, then spun rapidly before transforming into a large cauldron that landed on the ground.

A high-grade Tier 3 alchemy furnace could naturally provide a certain amplification effect to pill refinement.

Not only that, it could withstand the long-term calcination of Tier 3 spiritual flames.

In addition, Feng Lei Ding was equivalent to a high-grade Tier 3 defensive magical treasure, capable of withstanding Jin Dan-level attacks.

It was merely icing on the cake for Qin Ming, who possessed the True Extreme Body.

Qin Ming stored away the Wind Thunder Cauldron after refining it.

Shortly after, thinking of something, he took out the two fragments of the bronze mirror again.

He asked the artifact spirit, "By the way, Jin Lingzi, how can the Hooked Jade Jin Guang Mirror magical treasure be repaired?"

"This treasure... cannot be repaired using ordinary artifact refining methods."

Jin Lingzi's wooden voice rang out.

Hearing this, Qin Ming couldn't help but frown; he had expended tremendous effort to obtain this item.

"So, there is still a method of repair?" "Yes, this mirror can only be repaired within the Lei Chi of the Qingyuan Sect, requiring the assistance of Heaven-Mending Soul Fire Liquid, combined with the Treasure Refining Art I gave you."

Jin Lingzi explained in a tone devoid of any fluctuation.

"Lei Chi? Where am I supposed to find that?"

"Why must it specifically be the Lei Chi of the Qingyuan Sect?" Qin Ming asked, quite puzzled.

"Because this Hooked Jade Jin Guang Mirror magical treasure was originally the supreme treasure of the Qingyuan Sect, not refined by the White Bone True Person."

"He only obtained it later through a fortuitous coincidence."

"And while the Qingyuan Sect no longer exists, the Lei Chi remains."

Jin Lingzi told Qin Ming a specific location.

Qin Ming asked, "Are you certain the Lei Chi of the Qingyuan Sect is located in the area of the Beast Roar Mountain Range near the State of Liang?"

"Yes, that is correct."

"The White Bone True Person also obtained this mirror from there back in the day; ordinary people are unaware of the inside story."

"Even when he was alive, he kept his mouth shut regarding us disciples."

"It was only after he refined me into an artifact spirit that he accidentally revealed this."

Hearing this, Qin Ming fell into thoughtful silence, "It seems I must make another trip to the Beast Roar Mountain Range."

This legendary Hooked Jade Jin Guang Mirror magical treasure was a top-tier third-grade magical treasure; once successfully consecrated, it could sweep across the Jin Dan stage invincibly.

Qin Ming naturally coveted it immensely and was determined to find a way to repair this treasure, refining it into his second native magical treasure.

Jin Lingzi then said to him, "By the way, I previously observed that you already possess a rather remarkable third-grade Heavenly Earth Spiritual Fire."

"You can fuse this spiritual fire with the Samadhi True Fire of the Jin Dan stage, which should be able to elevate the grade of the spiritual fire once more."

"By then, you will be able to use it when repairing the precious mirror."

Hearing this, Qin Ming nodded; even if Jin Lingzi hadn't said so, he had planned to do exactly that.

Shortly after, he returned to his cave dwelling and blew out a breath.

The third-grade lower-tier Spirit-Devouring Poison Flame and the Samadhi True Fire flew out.

Qin Ming began to perform hand seals, fusing the two third-grade spiritual fires together.

Since both spiritual fires were intimately connected to him, the process of devouring and fusion went very smoothly.

Three days later.

Chirp! Inside Qin Ming's cave dwelling, a green phoenix firebird, appearing quite divine, trailed long green flame wings as it circled and danced around him.

The Spirit-Devouring Poison Flame emitted terrifying power, casting the entire cave dwelling in a deep green hue.

"A third-grade upper-tier Heavenly Earth Spiritual Fire!"

"Comparable to a powerful divine ability."

Gazing at the upgraded Spirit-Devouring Poison Flame, satisfaction flowed from Qin Ming's eyes.

In this way, the power of this trump card of his had increased significantly.

Qin Ming raised his hand and beckoned; the green phoenix firebird landed in his palm, whereupon he opened his mouth, swallowed it, and returned it to his dantian to continue nurturing it.

"My cultivation of magic power has formed a flawless Jin Dan, a rarity among ten thousand, comparable to the magic power of mid-stage Jin Dan."

"My body-refining cultivation has also formed a Physical True Dan; coupled with the True Extreme Body, I far surpass ordinary third-grade Demon Kings. Even if a Wang Zu among demonic beasts clashes with my physical body head-on, it will shatter upon contact..."

"My divine sense has also broken through to be comparable to late-stage Jin Dan."

"Add to that the top-tier third-grade Wood Emperor Nail magical treasure, and the third-grade upper-tier Spirit-Devouring Poison Flame."

"Below late-stage Jin Dan, no one can pose a threat to me."

"This doesn't even count the Hooked Jade Jin Guang Mirror; if it gets repaired, wouldn't that mean..."

Qin Ming propped up his chin, silently tallying his trump cards.

Suddenly, he felt a heroic sensation of commanding power with ease.

"After enduring for so many years, planting so much land, it hasn't been easy!"

"Finally, I have a bit of security."

"Hmm, time to continue farming."

Qin Ming took out the Shennong Hoe, walked out of the cave dwelling, and plowed the spiritual fields on the main peak once again.

Shortly after, he took out over a dozen third-grade spiritual seeds emitting emerald brilliance from his storage bag.

These were precisely the third-grade Jade Emperor Spiritual Rice seeds that Master Yuwen had given him back then.

Gazing at the third-grade spiritual seeds in his hand, Qin Ming thought of Master Yuwen's fate and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

After planting the spiritual seeds, he formed hand seals and cast the Great Five Elements Art once more, raining spiritual moisture down upon the seeds; the rest was simply waiting for them to grow.

Shortly after, Qin Ming arrived before the Spirit Marrow Sumeru Taisui at the core of the Spirit Island and immediately took out fifty high-grade spiritual stones, feeding them to it.

After devouring so many high-grade spiritual stones, the massive flesh-mountain of the Spirit Marrow Sumeru Taisui continued to expand.

One hour later, the Taisui excreted a stream of spirit marrow ore with astonishing spiritual energy, which continuously injected itself into the spiritual veins on the island.

The environment of the spiritual veins on the main peak of Wangyue Island instantly changed drastically, soaring to the third-grade upper-tier level in an instant.

Sensing the rich heavenly and earthly spiritual energy in the air, which could now rival the spiritual energy environment on Canghai Peak, the corner of Qin Ming's mouth lifted in a faint smile.

……

Time slipped away unnoticed; half a year passed.

A whirlpool of heaven-and-earth spiritual energy spanning five li rapidly gathered over Moon-Gazing Island.

It funneled down, pouring into a certain cave on the island.

Along with it, a shocking demonic power that pierced the heavens and earth descended squarely upon the main peak.

"Hahaha! This Great One has finally broken through to the mid-stage of the third tier!"

"Who else dares?!"

An arrogantly boisterous laughter rang out, but before the Shi Tian Shu could rejoice for even a moment—

Boom-rumble! A muffled thunderclap exploded! Above its head, a patch of oppressive black tribulation clouds formed in an instant.

Crack! A silver Lei Mang flashed into existence; a thick pillar of lightning viciously struck the Shi Tian Shu.

"Damn it, I was just talking about you!"

……

……

(End of Chapter)