Chapter 323: Temptation and Advice

Qin Ming put everything into his storage pouch, then opened the door.

The moment the door opened.

He saw the visitor and paused in surprise, then stepped aside to invite them in.

"Ah, it's Master Huangfu. Please come in."

"Master Long, long time no see."

Huangfu Qi, dressed in scholarly elegance, warmly greeted him with a smile and entered the room.

Qin Ming's gaze settled on him; after more than a year, Huangfu Qi's magic power had become extraordinarily formidable—clearly, he had also reached Foundation Establishment's peak.

Next came the planning for Core Formation.

Coupled with recent developments, Qin Ming could guess the man's purpose.

Most likely, it had to do with the newly surfaced Taihu Ruins.

After pouring his guest a cup of spiritual tea, Qin Ming, in the voice of Master Long, asked gruffly: "What brings Master Huangfu to me?"

"Hahaha! Not to hide it from Master Long, I've come to invite you to join me in exploring the newly surfaced Taihu Ruins, seeking a chance at Core Formation." Huangfu Qi spoke bluntly, laying out his intent outright.

"Besides myself, several other reliable companions will join us—including Xiang Zehao of the Shennong Valley, and a few other Foundation Establishment peak cultivators."

Qin Ming froze upon hearing this; he himself had avoided the so-called Taihu Ruins entirely, let alone consider entering them.

Huangfu Qi clearly valued Master Long's cultivation strength and held him in high regard, which was why he had come in person.

All those he had gathered were renowned Foundation Establishment peak masters from the Wei Kingdom.

Yet the information Qin Ming had obtained from the spirit artifact far exceeded what Huangfu Qi and his group knew—even with such a powerful team, they'd barely be enough to feed the Golden Toad King. Not to mention, a terrifying White Bone True Person was about to awaken within.

Moreover, after ten thousand years of sedimentation, the ravines beneath Taihu had nurtured countless powerful ghostly entities, some possibly even Core Formation ghosts.

Their strength might be formidable elsewhere, but venturing into the White Bone King's Palace was practically walking into death.

Qin Ming immediately declined: "Thank you for the invitation, Master Huangfu, but I'm afraid I must refuse your kindness."

"I have no interest in that secret realm. I won't be going."

Qin Ming had made up his mind: he would never return to the Taihu Ruins.

Once he obtained Long Yi's spiritual materials.

He planned to return to his Wangyue Island and watch the storms of the cultivation world unfold—no treasures, no secret realms, none of it concerned him.

Let whoever wants to go, go.

After all, the most valuable relics—the Jade Pendant's Golden Light Mirror fragments and its spirit—had already been taken by him. Qin Ming hadn't expected the allure of the White Bone King's Palace to be this great.

Even Mirror Snow Pavilion's powerful Grand Protector was getting involved.

"Master Long, won't you reconsider? Do you have some concern?"

"The companions I've recruited are all formidable cultivators."

"With our combined strength, we can surely protect ourselves within the ruins."

"Moreover, my Thunder Art naturally suppresses ghostly entities."

Huangfu Qi hadn't expected Master Long to refuse his invitation without a second thought.

So he added:

"According to our sect's intelligence, this ruin is likely the former palace of an ancient elder from ten thousand years ago."

"Its scale is many times larger than the ancient ruin that surfaced in Yunze Wilds fifty years ago—completely incomparable."

"There must be Core Formation resources inside. Surely Master Long doesn't lack desire for Core Formation?"

Huangfu Qi spoke earnestly, still hoping to persuade him to join.

With Master Long's strength and character, there was no second such cultivator in the Wei Kingdom's cultivation world.

That was why he had extended such a sincere invitation; for anyone else, Huangfu Qi wouldn't have bothered.

Qin Ming sighed inwardly; Huangfu Qi was among the few cultivators he truly knew.

Back at Qingyang Market, he had once helped Qin Ming greatly.

As for Core Formation resources, he already possessed the Golden Core Pill formula and the two primary material seeds—he merely needed time to refine the pill.

He also had the "Ten Thousand Transformations Spiritual Fluid," and with the Fengyou Ghost Jujube, he could cultivate the Core Formation spiritual item "Xuan Sha Spiritual Fluid." Just these two alone could increase his Core Formation chances by two-tenths.

Add to that his life-spirit plant, Yin-Yang Mystic Vine, and his Ancient Evergreen Body, equivalent to a Heaven-grade spiritual root. The resources Qin Ming now controlled likely surpassed those within the ruin—he had no need to risk himself.

All he needed was to return to Wangyue Island, cultivate these resources, and prepare for his Core Formation attempt.

The only difference would be the quality of the Golden Core he achieved.

Of course.

As a friend,

Qin Ming didn't want to watch Huangfu Qi blindly walk into death at the Taihu Ruins.

So after hesitation, he advised:

"Master Huangfu, I'll speak plainly: I've previously investigated the vicinity of that Taihu Ruin."

"It's no safe place—I've personally seen Core Formation elders enter the lake's ruins and never return."

"It's far more dangerous than you imagine. I urge you to think carefully before acting."

"My advice: don't enter at all."

"Even if you don't gain this Core Formation opportunity here, as long as you live, others will come."

"It's not worth risking your life for an uncertain ruin."

Qin Ming spoke with sincere earnestness—he had done all he could.

He had said all he needed to say; whether Huangfu Qi listened was now his own affair.

"Oh… I see."

"I didn't realize Master Long had already investigated it."

"So even Core Formation elders couldn't escape?"

"That truly took me by surprise."

Upon hearing Qin Ming's warning, Huangfu Qi's face showed deep astonishment.

He fell into deep thought.

"Thank you for informing me, Master Long."

"I'll return and discuss this further with the others before deciding."

After long consideration, Huangfu Qi rose, bowed to Qin Ming, and took his leave.

Watching Huangfu Qi's retreating figure, Qin Ming shook his head.

Before such a monumental temptation as Core Formation, not just lowly hermits, but even cultivators from major sects—how many could remain calm? All rushed forward like moths to flame, one after another, chasing that sliver of chance.

Even knowing the danger, they leapt in anyway, refusing to give up until they were dead.

"If not for my word-list ability, I might be just like them right now."

Qin Ming sighed deeply.

Another half-month passed.

Within the Moyuan Immortal City, the number of cultivators surged dozens of times over; Qin Ming saw cultivators from every kingdom flooding in and out daily, bustling, crowded, unceasing, like a river of traffic.

Even nearby inns and taverns were packed; room prices skyrocketed, multiplying several times over—prime locations rose tenfold or more.

Fortunately, as a top-tier client of Mirror Snow Pavilion, Long Yi had never charged him for lodging.

From the surge in cultivator numbers, it was clear the cultivation world was about to erupt into turmoil.

One day,

Qin Ming was in the tavern downstairs, gathering the latest news.

He saw Long Yi walking over with a radiant smile and said: "Master Long, good news!"

"All the third-rank spiritual materials on your list have been gathered."

…

(End of Chapter)