Chapter 303: Zhurong Pill Complete, Breakthrough to Third-Rank Pill Master!

After leaving the room, Qin Ming spoke with Yan Ruyan, who was tending the spirit fields outside.

"I have matters to attend to and will be away for several days. During this time, I entrust the spirit fields to you. Also, don't forget to cast the Spirit Rain Spell every three days on those few spirit herbs."

Yan Ruyan wiped the sweat from her brow and hurriedly replied, "Your disciple humbly remembers Elder Yu's words."

She was already exhausted to the point of collapse, yet still had to water the spirit herbs with Spirit Rain—she could only pray for time to pass quickly and end this torturous task.

Qin Ming nodded, then took flight out of the Jade Bamboo Grove, reported to the Executive Hall on Qianyuan Peak, and left Xuanxi Valley.

More than an hour later.

Qin Ming activated the True Demon Illusion, once again assuming the form of Long Dao Ren, and arrived at Moyuan Xiancheng.

This time, he headed straight for the location of the Jingxue Pavilion within the city.

Yet along the way, Qin Ming noticed several unusual phenomena.

The security within Moyuan Xiancheng had noticeably tightened, and many cultivators from Xuanxi Valley were also patrolling alongside.

With confusion, he reached the Moyuan Xiancheng branch of Jingxue Pavilion and learned that, a month ago, several small groups of demonic beasts had attacked the city.

Fortunately, the herds were small and caused no major damage.

But the incident had nonetheless sounded an alarm for Liang State—since the last beast tide was quelled, nothing like this had ever occurred again.

Now, it seemed the threat was stirring once more.

"Elder Long, may I ask what I can assist you with on this visit?"

The manager of the Moyuan Xiancheng branch of Jingxue Pavilion was Qin Ming's old acquaintance—Long Yi.

Since the destruction of the Tianhe Market, she had been reassigned by headquarters to Liang State—a fact Qin Ming had only learned later.

"Hmm, I urgently need a batch of spirit materials. Can your pavilion help me procure them?" Qin Ming said, then pulled out a pre-prepared scroll from his robe and handed it to Long Yi.

It crudely listed seven or eight third-rank spirit herbs; some auxiliary ingredients he already possessed, so he didn't need to seek them again.

"Third-rank Golden Source Fruit, third-rank Purple Fire Dragon Scale Grass, third-rank Azure Blood Earth Spirit Milk."

Long Yi carefully examined each spirit material listed—every single one was third-rank—and inwardly marveled.

She could not fathom what this powerful Long Dao Ren intended to do with so many third-rank spirit materials. As manager of Jingxue Pavilion, she would never pry into a client's private affairs.

Yet at the same time, Long Yi's heart surged with excitement.

If this deal went through, it would be a monumental achievement for her performance record! After all, these were all third-rank spirit materials—any single one was priceless in the outside world, requiring a massive fortune to acquire.

If she were still at the Tianhe Market on spiritual energy Archipelago, she could never obtain these third-rank materials.

But this was Liang State—the most prosperous city, Moyuan Xiancheng.

The third-rank spirit materials Qin Ming required could still be procured.

After some thought, Long Yi turned to Qin Ming and said:

"Elder Long, your requested spirit materials can all be gathered by our pavilion, though it will take some time—approximately seven days. Is that acceptable?"

"No problem, as long as the quality is guaranteed," Qin Ming replied in a gruff voice.

"By the way, this transaction involves a huge sum. Could you… pay a portion of the deposit upfront?"

"I can authorize an eight percent discount for Elder Long," Long Yi asked.

Qin Ming nodded. "How much is the deposit?"

"Five thousand mid-grade spirit stones upfront. The remainder can be paid upon delivery," Long Yi said.

Qin Ming immediately produced five thousand mid-grade spirit stones and handed them over.

Long Yi accepted the spirit stones with a smile—she hadn't expected Long Dao Ren to be so swift.

In the following days,

Qin Ming stayed at Jingxue Pavilion under Long Yi's arrangements, awaiting the arrival of the spirit materials.

The Sky-Devouring Rat in his spirit beast pouch was ecstatic for several consecutive days.

During these days, Qin Ming gazed out the window of Jingxue Pavilion and clearly sensed an atmosphere of impending storm.

Even the Liang State's cultivation world was this tense—let alone the other three states.

Five days later.

Qin Ming's door was knocked on—it was Long Yi.

"Elder Long, all the items have arrived. Are you available now?"

He opened his eyes from meditation, rose, opened the door, and welcomed Long Yi inside.

Qin Ming hadn't expected such speed—Moyuan Xiancheng's cultivation resources were indeed extraordinarily abundant.

Far beyond what Wei State could offer.

"Elder Long, all the third-rank spirit materials you requested are here. Please verify them."

Long Yi handed Qin Ming a storage pouch.

He opened it and inspected each of the seven or eight spirit materials inside the jade boxes, confirming their accuracy.

"Hmm, the quality of these spirit materials is excellent—perfect for my needs."

Qin Ming then paid the remaining spirit stones, bid farewell to Long Yi, and left Jingxue Pavilion.

"Elder Long, the outside world has been unsettled lately—please be extremely cautious. If you need anything, come find me in the city."

Long Yi smiled warmly, escorting "Long Dao Ren" all the way to the gate.

"Thank you, Manager Long, for the reminder. I may require more spirit materials in the future—I'll return to your pavilion then."

Hearing this, Long Yi smiled even brighter—if she could retain Long Dao Ren as a top-tier client, her promotion was within reach!

Afterwards, Qin Ming registered at the city gate and exited Moyuan Xiancheng.

"All materials for the Zhurong Pill are now assembled. Next, I need to find a secluded location to ignite the furnace and refine the pill." Qin Ming flew north for tens of thousands of miles, far beyond Xuanxi Valley and Moyuan Xiancheng.

He arrived before a sheer cliff resembling a heavenly chasm, then descended.

Qin Ming drew Qing Luan Sword and swiftly carved out a temporary cave dwelling in the cliff face.

After entering the cave, he released his three spirit beasts to guard the entrance.

Qin Ming cleared his mind, adjusted his state, and mentally rehearsed the Zhurong Pill formula, confirming no omissions.

Then,

He retrieved the Xuan Jade Furnace, exhaled, and released a blue-green third-rank Spirit-Devouring Poison Flame, which hovered beneath the furnace to preheat it.

"This is my first time refining a third-rank spirit pill."

"I'm actually a little excited!"

"If I succeed, I'll become the second third-rank Pill Master in the Southern Wastelands—after Gong Sun Yang!"

Qin Ming retrieved all the spirit materials and suspended them around him with his spiritual sense.

He then began refining the pill methodically, following the steps in the formula.

Time passed slowly.

For several consecutive days, Qin Ming failed over ten times.

More than half his spirit materials had been consumed.

The Sky-Devouring Rat at the cave entrance noticed the turmoil inside—it paced anxiously, scratching its head, yet could offer no help.

"No wonder third-rank spirit pills are so difficult—despite my Divine Four Seasons Light aiding the refining process, the failure rate remains astonishingly high."

Two days later.

As Qin Ming used his final batch of spirit materials, the furnace suddenly blazed with radiant light—the Pill Formation Phenomenon!

A strange, clear chime rang from within the furnace.

Above the refining furnace, a seven-colored rainbow cloud appeared, within which two colorful phoenixes seemed to dance.

Instantly, a rich pill aroma surged forth, striking the soul—causing the three spirit beasts at the entrance to simultaneously perk up! "It's done!!"

The Sky-Devouring Rat cried out excitedly and dashed to Qin Ming's side.

"Phew~"

"Refining this third-rank pill nearly killed me," Qin Ming wiped his sweat, then gestured toward the furnace.

Three crimson spirit pills flew out, landing in his palm—each radiating astonishing spiritual essence, their surfaces marked with nine distinct Dao inscriptions.

"Third-rank Pill Master—I've finally reached this level!"

"I wonder if Su Yuqing succeeded? If he found out, what would his expression be? Hahaha!"

Qin Ming had staked everything on this final attempt—and succeeded, producing three third-rank low-grade Zhurong Pills. His heart swelled with satisfaction.

This success relied on his extraordinarily powerful spiritual core—equivalent to a Golden Core mid-stage spiritual sense—combined with third-rank spirit flame, Divine Four Seasons Light, and other heavenly abilities.

After dozens of failures, accumulating vast experience, nearly exhausting all his spirit materials, success had been hard-won indeed! Qin Ming carefully observed the legendary third-rank spirit pill, then glanced at his three spirit beasts, who were clearly impatient.

He tossed the Zhurong Pills into the air—one to each beast.

"Thank you, Master, for the pills!"

The Sky-Devouring Rat snatched its pill and, without delay, sought a spot to recover its strength.

The Xuan Shui Crocodile and Silver-Winged Frost also rejoiced, each retreating to a corner to break through.

Several days later.

A soul-shaking spiritual pressure erupted from beneath the cliff—radiating the aura of a third-rank Demon King! "Wakakakaka!"

"This old man has finally reclaimed his peak state—even gained a slight advancement!"

"Third-rank early-stage peak!"

The Sky-Devouring Rat revealed its massive, dozens-of-zhang body, roaring with laughter as it unleashed its joy and relief—years of grievance, resentment, and bitterness vanished like smoke. The might of a third-rank Demon King sent low-rank demonic beasts and cultivators within hundreds of li trembling and scattering in panic.

After reveling for half a day, the Sky-Devouring Rat shrank back to its normal size, ran to Qin Ming, and said with deep gratitude: "Thank you, Master, for restoring my strength!"

"Rest easy! Now, not only can you sneak into the Scripture Hall to steal Golden Core formulas—"

"I'll even steal the inner undergarments of a Golden Core Ancestor for you! Hehehe!"

After going through so much, the Devouring Sky Rat was utterly convinced by Qin Ming.

With a master so powerful and capable of crafting third-rank elixirs that greatly enhance beast beasts, who else would one follow?

The future was utterly bright—what was there to fear?

Even just now, it had dared to fantasize briefly about one day ascending to become a fourth-rank transformed great beast, and Qin Ming was deeply pleased: the Devouring Sky Rat's return to the third-rank beast king level meant he now possessed an invaluable, formidable ally.

A beast king's original strength already surpassed that of an ordinary human Jin Dan elder ancestor.

Combined with myself and striking unexpectedly, we might even kill a Jin Dan cultivator.

"Hmm, my overall strength has advanced by a great deal."

"But unless there's an emergency, avoid fighting and killing."

"Unless I can't hold back."

"At the late Foundation Establishment stage, possessing a third-rank beast king as a spiritual pet—no one in history has ever done that."

"Hehehe!"

(End of Chapter)