Chapter 317: News of Gu Qingzhao

Night fell, and the bright moon hung high.

Qin Ming built a bonfire on the island and began roasting Green Python meat; as the flesh of a late Stage 3 demonic beast, it was a great tonic for both demons and cultivators alike.

It could be said that every part of the Green-Faced Poisonous Python had been utilized to the fullest, with absolutely no waste.

Of course, he had no intention of roasting it all; he saved a portion, planning to use it for pill refining.

As a late Stage 3 semi-humanoid great demon, the Green-Faced Poisonous Python's precious meat and ordinary blood were rare spiritual materials.

After all, cultivators capable of slaying such a powerful Demon King were exceedingly few.

Qin Ming then summoned Wu Jiang over.

"Today, this Island Master is in a fine mood and ought to celebrate; go pick some spiritual fruits on the island and cook some demonic beast meat to reward the spirit farmers under your command."

With that, he took a pile of demonic beast corpses out of his storage bag and tossed them to Wu Jiang.

These were all low-tier demonic beasts he had happened to encounter and slay on his way back.

They were of no use to him, so he might as well let the spirit farmers have a treat.

Wu Jiang gathered the demonic beast corpses, a smile spreading across his face, and he hastily expressed his gratitude with joy: "Many thanks to the Island Master for this generous gift!"

For low-tier cultivators, this demonic beast meat still offered certain benefits for advancing their cultivation.

More importantly, even for someone at the Foundation Establishment stage like himself, the spiritual fruits on the island provided boundless benefits, and such items were simply unavailable in the outside world.

Thus, he was overjoyed.

"Mm, go ahead."

Moments later, roaring bonfires were lit on Wangyue Island; below, the spirit farmers sang and danced, roasting demonic beast meat, filling the air with a lively atmosphere.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of Qin Ming's cave dwelling.

Shi Tian Shu could hardly wait, holding bamboo skewers threaded with the Green-Faced Poisonous Python's precious meat, roasting them over the charcoal fire, his small hands deftly sprinkling various seasonings as the meat sizzled and oozed oil.

In an instant.

A strange, fragrant aroma overflowed, assaulting the taste buds.

Beside him, the Profound Water Crocodile and the Silver-Winged Frost Bee stared eagerly at Shi Tian Shu as he constantly turned the meat skewers, drool pooling all over the ground.

"Soon, soon, we'll be eating Python Dragon meat right away!"

"Hahaha!"

"Never thought I, the Great Master, would see such a day."

"Second and Third, you two have definitely followed the right master this time."

"This time it's just Python Dragon meat."

"I believe that in the near future, eating True Dragon meat will only be a matter of time; that is a legendary True Spirit, after all."

"After eating that, won't the three of us take off directly?"

"Hahahaha."

Qin Ming: "..."

He walked over and flicked Shi Tian Shu on the head, "How has your palate become so picky? You even want to eat a True Dragon?"

"Haven't you woken up from your dream yet?"

Shi Tian Shu awkwardly shifted his position, then handed the first batch of roasted Green Python meat to Qin Ming, "Ehehe, Master, don't blame me; I was just saying that, imagining the future."

Qin Ming took the roasted meat, skillfully sliced it, and distributed it among the three spiritual pets.

He cut off a lump of blackish demonic beast meat and handed it to Shi Tian Shu, saying:

"Here, this piece is for you; didn't you say you wanted to take off?"

"This is a Dragon Whip, a great tonic; have it to properly nourish your body."

Shi Tian Shu: "..."

Afterwards, Qin Ming opened a jar of Jade Scale Wine and began eating and drinking.

Wangyue Island, amidst the night, now possessed a touch of worldly warmth.

After eating and drinking their fill, the three spiritual pets, bellies distended, returned to their respective places to digest and absorb the spiritual energy within the Python meat.

The next day.

Having completed his daily cultivation exercises, Qin Ming prepared to use the remaining flesh and blood of the Green-Faced Poisonous Python to refine pills.

The spiritual pill he intended to refine this time was named the 'Imperial Extreme Pill'.

As a top-grade Stage 3 spiritual pill, it required flesh and blood from a late Stage 3 or higher demonic beast as the main ingredient, supplemented by over a hundred kinds of rare auxiliary materials.

Fortunately, over these years, Qin Ming's family assets had continuously grown, and he had gathered quite a few Stage 3 spiritual materials from the Immortal Realm.

Plus, through exchanges with the old ancestors of several major sects, he had barely managed to gather enough of these spiritual materials.

The Imperial Extreme Pill could enhance Qin Ming's body-refining cultivation, supplying what he needed for his daily practice.

This pill formula was one Qin Ming had obtained from Elder Qingxuan in exchange for a Dust-Cleansing Pill.

It was said to have been brought out from the Brother Li Huo Palace by the founding ancestor of the Profound Creek Valley, 'Yunxi Laozu'.

It belonged to the foundational assets of a Nascent Soul sect.

Next, Qin Ming studied the pill formula and entered a period of pill refining.

During this time, the situation in the Southern Wilderness Immortal Realm was constantly changing.

Qin Ming had sent Wu Jiang out to continuously gather the latest news, which was also constantly being transmitted back.

First, Lei Yuanzong, the Beast King Valley, the Cang Sea Xiancheng, and the Profound Creek Valley formed a coalition army, organizing various large and small forces from different countries to begin a large-scale purge of the ghost calamity.

Simultaneously, they dispatched troops to the Jin Kingdom, intending to reclaim lost territories from the hands of the Modaoliu Sect.

Without the interference of the beast tide, the four major powers quickly suppressed the ghosts spreading outward.

They restricted the activity range of the ghosts once again to the vicinity of the Taihu Ruins.

This also bought the three kingdoms some time to catch their breath and recover.

Yet the situation in the Jin Kingdom was far from optimistic; the power distributed there by the Demonic Dao somewhat exceeded the expectations of Nalan Xi and Elder Qingxuan.

For a time, the situation in the Jin Kingdom fell into a stalemate.

Thus, after several Old Ancestors conferred, they decided to prioritize resolving the ghost calamity plaguing the Liang Kingdom, venturing deep into the ruins to thoroughly cleanse the ghostly entities within and eradicate the trouble at its root.

"Isn't it said that a White Bone True Person exists deep within those ruins?"

"Does Qingxuan and the others really dare to take such a huge risk?"

Qin Ming sat beneath the Spirit Peach Tree, pondering as he listened to Wu Jiang's report.

Hearing this, he spoke up to ask.

Wu Jiang explained, "I heard True Person Nalan say that Elder Qingxuan has invited someone from the Upper Sect to act."

"It is that senior who came to offer congratulations from the Brother Li Huo Palace when you, Island Lord, held your Jin Dan Grand Ceremony."

"Oh?"

"Is it that Elder Zhou Yu?"

"Late-stage Jin Dan."

"Exactly; besides him, it is said another Elder at Jin Dan Perfection will arrive, bringing along a treasure extremely effective at suppressing the Ghostly Dao."

"Slaying that White Bone True Person should pose no problem."

Qin Ming nodded thoughtfully.

Yet in his heart, he still held his own thoughts; that White Bone True Person, ten thousand years ago, could sweep through the Jin Dan stage undefeated relying on the Hooked Jade Jin Guang Mirror, and had even slain Nascent Soul experts.

Although ten thousand years have now passed, and he has fallen into becoming a ghost cultivator while no longer possessing the Hooked Jade Jin Guang Mirror,

his strength remains not to be underestimated; an old monster of ten thousand years is likely not so easy to deal with.

"Since they have brought a magical treasure from the Brother Li Huo Palace capable of suppressing ghostly entities, let us hope they succeed,"

"I never expected that relying on past connections, Xuanyi Valley would actually manage to invite aid from the Brother Li Huo Palace; perhaps the Taihu ghost calamity can also be pacified."

Three months later.

Within Qin Ming's cave dwelling, a celestial phenomenon of dragon and tiger clashing surged forth, filling the air with brilliant rosy light and swirling mists that refused to dissipate.

He reached out and made a single gesture toward the alchemy furnace, whereupon a crimson alchemical pill, radiating a pill halo, appeared in his palm.

"Third-tier Top Grade Spirit Pill—Imperial Extreme Pill, successful!"

Qin Ming stored the spirit pill in a jade bottle and put it away, then leveraging the successful experience, immediately began refining again in rapid succession.

After exhausting all the flesh and blood of the Green-Faced Poisonous Flood Dragon, he had refined a total of over twenty Imperial Extreme Pills.

"Even within the Nascent Soul sects of the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty, this Imperial Extreme Pill would require a massive amount of contribution points to exchange for, and even then, it might not be available."

"It can be said to be the supreme treasure that body-refining cultivators at the Jin Dan stage dream of obtaining."

The successful refinement of the Imperial Extreme Pill also signified that he had formally stepped into the realm of a Third-tier Top Grade Dandaoda Sect Grandmaster.

Alchemists of this realm, I fear, are few even within the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty.

However, Qin Ming had no intention of making a great show of it this time; he only wished to live his days in low profile.

Subsequently,

Qin Ming consumed an Imperial Extreme Pill and began continuing his cultivation of the "Heavenly Demon Form Refining Strategy," steadily advancing his body-refining cultivation.

Another three days passed.

On this day, while Qin Ming was tending to his spirit fields, he saw Wu Jiang approach to report, looking utterly drenched in sweat.

"Island Lord, urgent news has arrived from the Mirror Jing Xue Ge, and along with it, a letter for me to deliver to you..."

Yet he stopped halfway through his sentence, hesitating and stammering.

Qin Ming set down the spirit hoe in his hand. "Just say it directly."

"Pavilion Master Gu of the Mirror Jing Xue Ge returned to Canghai Xiancheng a few days ago, but he suffered severe injuries and remains in a coma, with his life or death uncertain."

"It is said that even True Person Canghai personally examined him and found himself helpless."

"Hmm?!"

Hearing this news, Qin Ming could not help but furrow his brows.

"Senior Huangfu of the Mirror Jing Xue Ge asked me to convey a message on his behalf, requesting that you go over and take a look."

"Mm, understood; go attend to your duties."

Subsequently, Qin Ming released his divine sense to read the jade slip letter.

(End of Chapter)