Chapter 356: Yue Lingyan's Decision

The two finished their negotiations.

Yue Lingyan's skirt fluttered as she flew to the Nurturing Infant Fruit tree, gently plucking the fully mature Nurturing Infant Spiritual Fruit.

Holding the Nurturing Infant Fruit in her hands, the spiritual essence emanating from it made her countenance appear even more beautiful.

"A fourth-grade Nurturing Infant Spiritual Fruit!"

Yue Lingyan's mind surged with excitement.

For this moment, she had waited a full hundred years.

Afterwards.

Yue Lingyan turned her head and said to Qin Ming, "Fellow Daoist Qin, thank you for yielding; it is your turn now."

Hearing this, Qin Ming nodded, and immediately a scroll formed from the 【Xumi Shanhe】 entry appeared in his hand.

He lifted the ancient scroll and shone it toward the center of the cave; instantly, a beam of light poured down, and the Nurturing Infant Fruit tree along with the Earth Heart Spiritual Spring vanished in an instant, drawn into the Small Spiritual Realm.

This move by Qin Ming left even the well-traveled Yue Lingyan dumbfounded.

She had not expected Qin Ming to relocate two spiritual treasures so easily.

Such a divine ability was simply unheard of; however, having previously witnessed with her own eyes Qin Ming use the Gouyu Jin Guang Mirror to instantly kill a third-grade late-stage Green-Faced Poisonous Flood Dragon, she knew his methods were terrifying and beyond comparison to an ordinary Jin Dan cultivator, so at this point she found it unremarkable.

Thus, she did not ask further.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Qin, on obtaining the treasure," Yue Lingyan said with some envy; although she had obtained the spiritual fruit, the Earth Heart Spiritual Spring and the fruit tree were invaluable.

"Hehe! I owe this to the good fortune of Fellow Daoist Lingyan," Qin Ming replied with a smile, in an excellent mood.

"Since this transaction is now complete, I will also remove the divine contract from your daughter."

Having said this, he formed a seal with his fingers and pointed it at the little silver fox.

In an instant, two profound runes floated out from the consciousness seas of Qin Ming and the silver fox respectively, collided in mid-air, and then burst apart like foam, dissipating completely.

The silver fox's eyes brightened; she could feel that the sensation of being controlled, which had existed in some indefinable way, vanished in an instant, leaving even her divine soul feeling refreshed.

She stepped forward, bowed to Qin Ming, and expressed her gratitude: "This humble daughter thanks Senior Qin."

"It is nothing; we agreed on this beforehand, and besides, Qin Mou also benefited; with this matter settled, we are even."

Qin Ming waved his hand, lifting the silver fox with a surge of power, and then said to Yue Lingyan:

"Fellow Daoist Lingyan, since matters are concluded, shall we depart this place?"

But Yue Lingyan remained standing where she was, showing no intention of leaving.

Seeing this.

Qin Ming looked at her, a hint of puzzlement appearing in his eyes.

Yue Lingyan pondered for a long while, then suddenly spoke to Qin Ming:

"To be honest with Fellow Daoist Qin, having obtained the spiritual fruit this time and previously absorbed your magic power, I have already sensed the opportunity to break through to a major realm."

"The spiritual energy here is dense, and this place is isolated from the world and relatively safe; I intend to attempt breaking through to the fourth-grade realm right here."

"Before that, this humble one has two impertinent requests."

"Given our acquaintance, I hope Fellow Daoist Qin will grant them."

Hearing this, Qin Ming was startled inwardly, and surprise appeared on his face.

Although he had guessed that since she obtained the Nurturing Infant Fruit, she was likely preparing to break through to the fourth-grade Form-Transformation Great Demon.

He had not expected it to happen so soon.

Yue Lingyan had actually chosen to break through right here on the spot.

It must be known that for a demon beast to break through to the fourth-grade realm, the difficulty is far greater than for a human to break through to the Nascent Soul.

The tribulations one must undergo are no joke.

Even for powerful demon beast Wang Zu, one must make thorough preparations before undergoing Tribulation Crossing; otherwise, the chance of perishing under the fourth-grade Form-Transformation Lei Jie is quite significant.

"Fellow Daoist Lingyan, have you thought this through? Attempting the fourth grade is no child's play; the slightest mistake leads to eternal damnation."

"Fellow Daoist Qin, this humble one has considered this carefully; before coming, I prepared several powerful magical treasures to deal with the heavenly tribulation," Yue Lingyan said with resolute eyes, seeming to have made up her mind.

"Sigh~ Since Fellow Daoist Lingyan has decided, please speak; what else does Qin Mou need to do?" Seeing her determination, Qin Ming did not try to dissuade her further.

"First, before I undergo Tribulation Crossing, I fear it will trigger heavenly and earthly phenomena; although this place is isolated from the world, it may still attract the covetousness of surrounding demon beasts, so I wish to ask Fellow Daoist Qin to help guard me for a while."

"Second, regarding this attempt to break through to the fourth-grade realm, although I am well-prepared and hold trump cards to deal with it, giving me a certain degree of confidence, there is still a risk of perishing."

"If I fail the Tribulation Crossing, then it is heaven's will; I wish to ask Fellow Daoist Qin to take in Yue'er."

Hearing this, Qin Ming had not expected the Silver Moon Sky Fox before him to be so determined that she was already arranging her affairs after death.

At the same time, Qin Ming realized that a once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunity was right before him.

If Yue Lingyan truly succeeded in breaking through, perhaps from now on he would gain a connection at the level of a fourth-grade Demon Saint; standing in place, Qin Ming frowned and pondered for a long time, weighing the pros and cons, before finally agreeing.

"Then Qin Mou accepts this matter; I wish Fellow Daoist Lingyan success in her breakthrough."

"Here is also a Li Yun Pill, which I gift to Fellow Daoist Lingyan; it should prove useful when the time comes."

Since he was already investing, Qin Ming might as well add a few more chips to the favor.

Yue Lingyan accepted the Li Yun Pill and said gratefully, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Qin."

She had personally consumed this pill before; as a top-grade third-grade spiritual pill, it possessed the tremendous effect of bringing the dead back to life, making it exactly what she lacked most for her current breakthrough.

Seeing Yue Lingyan make her decision, the silver fox Yue'er ran over, hugged her leg, and began to whimper and cry.

"Yue'er, do not worry; Mother will be fine."

"Go now, and wait outside with Fellow Daoist Qin."

Yue Lingyan affectionately stroked the little silver fox, a faint smile appearing on her face.

Afterwards.

Yue Lingyan used the Cloud-Avoiding Gauze to send Qin Ming out of the cave, while she alone returned to the central area where the Nurturing Infant Fruit grew.

Next.

As her form shifted, she reverted to her beast state, transforming into a thirty-foot-tall silver fox with three tails.

A surging tide of beastly power instantly filled the cave, shattering the surrounding rocks into dust.

The three-tailed silver fox's gaze was utterly resolute as she looked up at the cavern ceiling; before her, floating alongside the Nurturing Infant Fruit, appeared several radiant treasures of heaven and earth.

She opened her mouth and consumed these treasures one by one, whereupon her aura began to climb continuously until she swallowed that fourth-grade Nurturing Infant Fruit.

Boom! The beastly essence within Yue Lingyan seemed to reach an unprecedented peak, a more powerful force surging forth from within her.

Qin Ming stood with the silver fox and the Shi Tian Shu inside a valley surrounded by poisonous miasma and gray fog.

Suddenly.

He raised his eyes to see that above the waterfall, a funnel-shaped cloud of spiritual qi had conspicuously condensed, instantly draining the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual qi.

The spiritual qi rosy cloud blocked out the sun and sky, expanding endlessly outward.

Several days later.

This spiritual cloud had already expanded to cover an area of several hundred li, a clear sign that Yue Lingyan was about to break through to the fourth stage.

Qin Ming took the two beasts far away, then released his divine sense, equivalent to a perfect Jin Dan cultivator, to vigilantly observe the surroundings against any unforeseen events.

Beside him, the silver fox's originally lively eyes were now filled with tension and worry; her heart raced as she tightly gripped the Shi Tian Shu with her small hands, daring not to breathe loudly.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch! That hurts! Stop grabbing my thigh!"

"Move down a little."

The Shi Tian Shu bared its teeth and grimaced while shaking its leg.

(End of Chapter)