Chapter 309: Only Seek Clarity of Mind

"Another fifty years of life added."

"Twelve hundred and ten years of lifespan."

"I'm only sixty-five now—just one jiazi away—still over a thousand years ahead of me. Who can outlast me?"

Qin Ming felt the changes brought by his realm breakthrough, his heart brimming with joy.

In the following days, Qin Ming took the Yu Xuan Pill to solidify his cultivation.

Having reached this stage, Qin Ming could be said to stand among the very pinnacle of southern wasteland cultivators.

The magic power within Qin Ming had reached perfect, flawless fullness; combined with his use of the 【Strong Purity】 term to refine it, his liquid magic power now far surpassed that of peers in both quantity and quality.

His spiritual sense gazed into the sea of magic power, within his dantian, the boundless emerald-green Ancient Wood Immortal Magic Power slowly began to solidify, strand by strand.

Qin Ming's Ancient Wood Immortal Body manifested behind him, transforming into a silver mystical vine that accelerated the refinement and solidification of the liquid magic power.

Another half-month passed.

One-tenth of Qin Ming's liquid magic power had now solidified.

He slowly opened his ink-black eyes and mused: "If this continues, when all the liquid magic power in my dantian has fully solidified, I can attempt to break through to the Golden Core."

With his seclusion ended, Qin Ming's mood was excellent.

He retrieved all three spirit pets from the cave entrance and stored them in his spirit beast bag.

Yet he discovered hundreds of transmission talismans piled outside the cave entrance, all blocked by the formation's seals.

"It seems my breakthrough caused quite a stir—so many factions sent transmission talismans."

Qin Ming's expression remained unchanged; after a brief thought, he used True Demon Illusion to revert to Long Dao Ren's appearance and slipped out of his rented cave.

Two days later, when the Mo Yuan Xiancheng cultivators returned to inspect, they found the cave utterly empty.

The realm-defying Foundation Establishment cultivator inside had vanished without a trace.

Those nearby who had sought to visit the Foundation Establishment elder now heard the news and sighed in unison.

"Alas! That elder has long since departed."

"He must be a reclusive cultivator who shuns fame and profit."

"He broke through to Foundation Establishment peak yet remained so low-key—truly a model for us all."

"Pity I never got to meet him—what a regret."

…

Meanwhile.

Qin Ming, disguised as Long Dao Ren, quietly observed Mo Yuan Xiancheng for several days, confirmed no anomalies, then revealed himself and arrived at Jing Xue Pavilion.

The dozen or so auxiliary materials he needed to refine the Golden Core Pill were ten times harder to find than the ingredients for the Zhu Rong Pill last time.

Qin Ming estimated that even searching Mo Yuan Xiancheng would take considerable time to gather them all.

Long Yi, the owner of Jing Xue Pavilion, seeing this top-tier client arrive, knew another major deal was coming and greeted him with a radiant smile.

"Oh!"

"Elder Long has arrived—please, come in!"

"Let me brew you some spirit tea."

After escorting him into a private chamber, Long Yi brewed him a pot of two-grade spirit tea, a specialty of Liang Kingdom's cultivation world.

"Elder Long, I've come to purchase more spirit materials from your pavilion—here is the list." Qin Ming sipped his tea, then handed her a pre-prepared scroll.

Long Yi took the list and, seeing the dozen or so third-grade spirit materials listed, couldn't help but inwardly gasp.

This Elder Long was truly the top cultivator of Wei Kingdom—buying so many third-grade spirit materials without blinking.

"Elder Long, these spirit materials are difficult to source—it may take some time."

Qin Ming replied coolly: "No matter. If you can find the seeds of these third-grade spirit plants, that will suffice."

"Oh? In that case, no problem." Long Yi said, somewhat surprised.

Mature third-grade spirit plants were hard to find, but their seeds were far easier.

Qin Ming immediately paid Long Yi a massive down payment.

"I have some matters to attend to—I'll return to Mo Yuan Xiancheng later to collect the goods."

"Understood! Elder Long, we'll prepare the materials as quickly as possible."

After settling matters, Qin Ming had no intention of lingering in Mo Yuan Xiancheng—he planned to visit the location marked on the Tong Jian Silk, to see if he could recover the spirit of the Gouyu Jin Guang Mirror.

That ancient magic treasure, said to dominate the Golden Core realm, was nearly unmatched among offensive treasures—he'd be lying if he claimed not to covet it.

But Qin Ming hadn't even left Jing Xue Pavilion.

His powerful spiritual sense sensed a potent Golden Core spiritual force entering Mo Yuan Xiancheng.

"It's him!"

A tall, broad-shouldered man with sharp, resolute features appeared in Qin Ming's sight.

He recognized the man's face—it was Linghu Yang, who had once dueled Wei Wuyi on Zi Jin Ridge.

Linghu Yang, a lone cultivator, had once defeated a False Core elder while still at Foundation Establishment peak.

At the time, he rose to fame across Wei Kingdom, briefly ranking among the top three on the Foundation Establishment list.

Then came his challenge against Wei Wuyi of Lei Yuanzong.

But after being punched away by Qin Ming on Zi Jin Ridge, his momentum shattered and he grew far more reclusive.

The identity "Long Dao Ren" gained immense fame during that fight, making it known throughout Wei Kingdom.

Whenever someone in Wei Kingdom spoke of Long Dao Ren's deeds, they inevitably mentioned Linghu Yang as the whetstone, the backdrop. Then Wei Wuyi successfully formed a Superior Golden Core, delivering a crushing blow to Linghu Yang's pride.

Since then, Linghu Yang entered a death seclusion with iron will, declaring publicly he would not emerge until he broke through to Golden Core.

Several years ago, through an incredible stroke of fortune, he obtained a Golden Core Pill, successfully breaking through to Golden Core—and even achieved a Superior Golden Core, restoring his confidence.

Linghu Yang swore to avenge his humiliation: "He shattered my Dao heart! My first Golden Core sword strike must be for Long Dao Ren!"

Not long ago, Linghu Yang learned that Long Dao Ren had appeared in Liang Kingdom's Mo Yuan Xiancheng.

He immediately traveled thousands of miles toward the city.

The moment Linghu Yang appeared, his powerful Golden Core spiritual sense locked onto "Long Dao Ren" inside Jing Xue Pavilion.

But Mo Yuan Xiancheng forbade private duels—personal grudges must be settled in the arena or outside the city, where no one would interfere.

The city was guarded by Jade Balance Elder, a mid-Golden Core cultivator—Linghu Yang dared not act rashly.

So he channeled his magic power and shouted toward Jing Xue Pavilion before all witnesses: "Elder Long! I've come to this immortal city specifically for you—dare you fight?!"

His words instantly drew the attention of countless cultivators in Mo Yuan Xiancheng.

They flocked toward the eastern gate, eager for spectacle—especially a Golden Core elder's challenge.

"Who is this Golden Core True Person? I've never heard of him."

"He's not from Liang Kingdom—probably a newly ascended Golden Core."

"Such terrifying Golden Core pressure—he's no ordinary Golden Core, likely mid- or high-grade."

"Who's he challenging? Long Dao Ren?"

"Is Long Dao Ren also a Golden Core True Person? The tone suggests a long-standing grudge."

"I heard Long Dao Ren is a powerful body cultivator from Wei Kingdom—but his realm is still Foundation Establishment."

"Then isn't this Golden Core elder bullying a lower-ranked cultivator?"

"Who cares who he is!"

"Just fight already—I want to see blood flow!"

"..."

Inside Jing Xue Pavilion, Qin Ming gazed at Linghu Yang, brimming with combat intent at the city gate, his expression calm.

"Fame brings trouble—no matter what, I won't step out to fight."

"I was already low-key, but after I punched Linghu Yang away back then, 'Long Dao Ren' suddenly became famous across Wei Kingdom—everyone knows the name."

"This goes completely against my low-key nature."

"Though I could kill him outright now, in front of so many eyes, I'd expose too many of my secrets—better not draw attention."

"Linghu Yang is obsessed with victory and defeat—no need to match him."

So Qin Ming turned to Long Yi and said: "Ah—I've decided to stay longer at your pavilion."

"Oh! We'd be honored, Elder Long!"

"Rest assured—within Mo Yuan Xiancheng, Linghu Yang won't dare step into Jing Xue Pavilion even one step!" Long Yi assumed "Long Dao Ren" had cowered at Linghu Yang's challenge.

But that was understandable—after all, the opponent had broken through to Golden Core, clearly bullying a lower realm.

Any Foundation Establishment cultivator would flee—Elder Long's retreat was wise.

Thus.

Qin Ming ignored Linghu Yang's shouts and settled in at Jing Xue Pavilion, since he needed to wait for the Golden Core Pill materials anyway.

He wasn't in a hurry to find the Gouyu Jin Guang Mirror's spirit—waiting a few more days was no problem.

Two more days passed.

Linghu Yang seemed to realize that a Golden Core True Person challenging a Foundation Establishment cultivator was beneath his dignity.

So he shouted again: "Elder Long! When you reach Golden Core, I'll seek you out again for a decisive duel!"

With that, he transformed into a streak of golden light and vanished into the horizon.

Qin Ming watched Linghu Yang's departing direction, expressionless: "Finally gone."

He observed for several more days.

Seeing Linghu Yang had truly left, he bid farewell to Long Yi and exited Mo Yuan Xiancheng.

He flew westward into Liang Kingdom.

But Qin Ming had only been flying for a little more than half a day when his powerful spiritual sense suddenly sensed a Jin Dan cultivator's aura chasing after him.

Qin Ming's expression darkened. "This Linghu Yang really won't let go."

He immediately halted in place, waiting for the other to approach.

Half a stick of incense later, a golden aura streaked from afar and arrived in an instant.

Linghu Yang's figure appeared.

He spoke upon seeing Qin Ming: "In my life, I have never been defeated—except by you, Daoist Long."

"But until I overcome this mental block, my cultivation will make no progress."

"I hope Daoist Long will grant me this favor. I won't take advantage—I'll suppress my own cultivation to Foundation Establishment peak and fight you fairly."

"And I won't take your life—otherwise, others would say I'm bullying a junior."

"What do you say?"

(End of Chapter)