Chapter 335: Visitors Arrive

After briefly meeting Gu Qing and Xu Jing, Qin Ming dared not linger longer in Canghai Xiancheng.

He immediately fled the Xiancheng at top speed, stealthily slipping away.

Qin Ming had not anticipated that the impact of this breakthrough would be so immense, causing even scattered cultivators to go wild with fervor.

In the sky, Qin Ming rode the Silver-Winged Frost Bee, transforming into a silver streak that vanished beyond the horizon.

He returned to spiritual energy Islands and flew toward the northern ice island.

"Two and a half years have passed—I wonder if the Devouring Sky Rat has grown accustomed to living there."

"And the Youyou Zhen Yin Flower should be ready for harvest by now, right?"

Half a day later.

Qin Ming once again arrived at the frigid ice mountain near the Misty Marsh, then flew into a crack in the ice.

After descending deep into the fissure.

When he saw the Devouring Sky Rat again, it was wrapped in a thick fur coat of unknown origin, huddled in a corner of the ice cave, warming itself by a fire—its appearance utterly comical.

"Master! You've finally come!"

"I was just about to notify you—the two spiritual plants have matured and produced the Youyou Zhen Water you mentioned."

Qin Ming nodded at it. "You've worked hard these past months. Once I successfully form my Golden Core, I'll let you devour that Golden Core."

"Until then, I'll need you to guard me during my Core Formation—I can't let you fall into hibernation."

Upon hearing this, the Devouring Sky Rat perked up instantly, flinging the fur to the ground and nodding vigorously: "Master, with me here, rest assured!"

Qin Ming then walked to the Youyou Zhen Yin Flower beside the icy pool and saw that the plant had borne seven or eight blue-jade-like spiritual fruits.

Inside the fruits, the legendary "Youyou Zhen Water" had already condensed.

Two golden terms appeared before Qin Ming's eyes.

【Name】: Youyou Zhen Yin Flower 【Term】: Source of Magic Power (Harvestable) 【Name】: Youyou Zhen Yin Flower 【Term】: Creation-Washing Pill (Harvestable). Qin Ming stepped forward and carefully harvested both plants, sealing them in jade boxes.

Suddenly.

A blue and a purple term leaf instantly appeared in Qin Ming's spiritual sense.

The "Creation-Washing Pill" term was undoubtedly an extremely rare purple term.

Thus, Qin Ming had now gathered all the primary and auxiliary materials needed for Golden Core Formation.

"Next, I return to Wangyue Island, refine the Golden Core Pill, and fully solidify the magic power within my dantian and sea of qi to break through to the Golden Core realm."

Qin Ming gazed deeply into the distance, took a deep breath, and turned to the Devouring Sky Rat. "Let's go."

"Hehe! Finally finished the task."

The Devouring Sky Rat, too, felt immense relief—finally able to leave this hellish place.

This place had no sun year-round, was bitterly cold, and even he, a third-rank demon king, nearly couldn't endure it.

It was damn freezing!

Afterwards.

The man and the beast concealed the site, erased all traces, and departed from the ice mountain.

Half a day later.

Qin Ming returned to Wangyue Island and released all three spiritual beasts, feeding each one Dragon Blood Divine Fruit before letting them wander freely across the spiritual island.

He then walked toward the area where the Fengyou Gui Zao Trees were planted.

A pitch-black zao tree appeared before Qin Ming's eyes.

Over the past two years, the Gui Zao Tree had absorbed the Mingyuanmo, Xuantie Heijiang, and countless ghostly corpses buried beneath it; its entire body now swirled with black mist, radiating an eerie, ghostly aura.

This was precisely the effect Qin Ming sought.

He extended his spiritual sense toward the tree and saw that several drops of "Xuansha Spirit Liquid" had already condensed within its core.

Qin Ming did not rush to harvest the drops; he let them continue accumulating, for he still needed to refine the Golden Core Pill and had no need to hurry.

The first thing he did upon returning to the island was cook a large pot of spiritual energy Rice and boil seven or eight Daohua Spirit Fish.

He added Yulin Wine and enjoyed a splendid meal. For a long time, Qin Ming had been immersed in pill refining and spiritual plant cultivation, with little rest.

He also rewarded the Devouring Sky Rat with two Daohua Spirit Fish.

"Thank you, Master, for the gift! Hehehe!"

The Devouring Sky Rat happily clutched the two ten-pound spirit fish and scampered off to savor them.

Having endured so much alongside Qin Ming, the Devouring Sky Rat had witnessed its master's extraordinary nature—evident signs of a world-chosen protagonist from legends.

From a rebellious rogue, it had become utterly devoted and absolutely loyal to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming returned to his cave and slept for two straight days.

The next day.

When he woke, he felt utterly refreshed.

Qin Ming then took out the Golden Core Formation formula and began studying it; without Su Yuqing's guidance, he had to rely entirely on his own exploration.

Yet over the years, as he climbed step by step to the rank of third-rank Pill Master, he had accumulated countless insights into pill refining.

Qin Ming believed that now, he could forge his own path.

But only a few days had passed.

Outside his cave, Wu Jiang sent a message.

He immediately tucked away the formula and walked toward the foot of the mountain.

Wu Jiang, seeing Qin Ming descend, flushed red and bowed deeply, his voice trembling with excitement:

"I heard that Master Qin shattered the barrier to third-rank Pill Master in Canghai Xiancheng, astonishing everyone!"

"Congratulations, Master Qin! Heartfelt congratulations!"

"Heh, it's true." Qin Ming smiled faintly.

"Why did you send me a message today?"

Wu Jiang said, slightly embarrassed: "Wu Wangfeng and Wu Wangyue returned a few days ago. The Grand Elder Wei Wuyan of Lei Yuanzong wishes to visit you in two days and sent them with a formal invitation."

"What do you think—should we accept it?"

"Since it's Grand Elder Wei's invitation, accept it. Tell Wangfeng and Wangyue to relay the reply." Qin Ming said calmly.

Two days later.

Wei Wuyan arrived punctually; the moment he stepped onto Wangyue Island, he was stunned by its transformation.

His purpose was clear: to further cultivate goodwill with Qin Ming, the Pill Master, and to exchange resources for Miechen Pills.

In the end, Wei Wuyan traded three sets of materia for one Miechen Pill from Qin Ming.

Qin Ming was more than pleased—this batch of materia would allow him to refine at least seven or eight more Miechen Pills, a guaranteed profit.

It merely required time and effort.

And Qin Ming now possessed over fourteen hundred and sixty years of lifespan—he had no shortage of time. But then—

Forces large and small from across the lands all arrived at Wangyue Island, seeking to meet Qin Ming, the third-rank Master.

Yet Qin Ming refused them all, leaving every visiting cultivator with a closed door; each stared helplessly at the pink mist illusion, sighing in frustration.

Within the mist illusion, countless invitation slips and message talismans fluttered like headless flies caught in a spider's web, trapped and motionless.

Half a month later.

A middle-aged cultivator, utterly unexpected by Qin Ming, appeared in the Wangyue Lake.

He was Yuwen Hong, the Golden Core Ancestor of Lingyu Men.

Dressed in a golden robe, wearing a feathered crown, Yuwen Hong exuded an ethereal, transcendent aura; his eyes suddenly opened, radiating sharp brilliance.

"I never thought he'd come."

……

(End of Chapter)