Chapter 373: Fearsome Reputation

Among the ruins.

After a chilling scream echoed.

Qin Ming's gaze flickered slightly, his mind deep in thought; he casually tossed Duanmu Sheng's corpse aside.

He then cast Thorns Spell and harvested another Golden Core–level blood pearl.

After retrieving both men's Golden Cores and storage bags, he turned back to gaze at the immortal city, now nearly reduced to ruins by the residual shockwaves of the battle.

With the two main Golden Cores of Lingyun Sect dead, the rest are merely a rabble—without leaders, they pose no threat to Wei State.

Having finished all this, Qin Ming transformed into a streak of blue light and vanished into the horizon.

After he left.

Half an incense stick later.

From the winding alleys of the devastated immortal city, scattered figures of cultivators emerged, trembling with fear.

They had been thoroughly terrified by the heavenly-destruction-level spells of the Golden Core experts.

All were immensely relieved to still be alive.

"They're all dead!"

"The two Supreme Elders have perished!"

"What should we do?!"

Many cultivators within the immortal city had witnessed the Golden Core battle just now.

Seeing how the Wei State's Wangyue True Person had single-handedly slain Duanmu Sheng and Yu Laogui, they were filled with dread.

Instantly.

The Jin State's cultivators scattered like headless flies, fleeing the Wei State border overnight.

…

Qin Ming rode the Silver-Winged Frost Bee, recalling the intelligence extracted from Duanmu Sheng's soul.

"The Jin State's Lingyun Sect has secretly colluded with the demonic path."

"They planned to take advantage of Liang State's ghost calamity to extend their reach into the other three states."

"This Duanmu Sheng truly deserved to die."

At the Golden Core stage, combat between peers rarely results in death.

Golden Core cultivators possess many survival techniques; if one is determined to flee, they cannot be stopped at equal levels.

One could only say Duanmu Sheng and Yu Laogui were terribly unlucky—they provoked him.

Qin Ming decisively killed both without even summoning his life treasure, the Wood Emperor Nail.

His body refinement technique, after breaking through to the True Golden Core, combined with the third-rank superior Soul-Devouring Poison Flame, rendered ordinary early-stage Golden Core cultivators utterly defenseless.

Even the Soul-Devouring Rat, after advancing to mid-third rank, was eager to fight—but never got the chance.

"I've fulfilled my promise to Wei Wuyan."

"And I've acquired the Golden Cores."

"Back on the island, it's up to you now."

Qin Ming patted the Silver-Winged Frost Bee beneath him; it let out an excited buzz, accelerated, and vanished as a silver streak.

…

The next day.

In the main hall of Lei Yuanzong, senior elders and Wei Wuyan were discussing the war situation.

Wei Wuyan had been overwhelmed by countless tasks and was deeply troubled.

Especially since the Jin State's Lingyun Sect, taking advantage of Lei Yuanzong's recent heavy losses after its battle with Lingyu Men.

They allied with other Jin State sects and launched a covert strike, worsening Lei Yuanzong's dire situation.

At that moment.

A figure rushed frantically into the hall, gasping for breath.

Those inside turned to see it was a scout from the sect's reconnaissance unit.

"What's the hurry?! This is no way to behave!"

"Has there been a change in frontline warfare?"

The Grand Elder of the Criminal Law Hall raised an eyebrow, his expression stern.

Wei Wuyan also frowned, for the current situation was extremely unfavorable for Wei State.

"Cough! Cough!"

"Your Supreme Elder, urgent news has arrived."

"Last night, Wangyue True Person went alone to the Jin State–occupied Huangshi Immortal City, fought the two Golden Core Ancestors of Lingyun Sect, and slew them both! The Jin State army has begun withdrawing from the border this morning."

BOOM! Upon hearing this, every cultivator present—including Wei Wuyan—was stunned.

"Is this reliable?" Wei Wuyan asked, disbelieving.

He had fought Yu Laogui of Lingyun Sect before and knew his capabilities well.

Wei Wuyan found it hard to believe Qin Ming, who had only just broken through to Golden Core, could kill this long-renowned Yu Laogui.

"Absolutely true!"

"Many cultivators witnessed it last night."

"It's said Wangyue True Person unleashed overwhelming power, slaughtering the two Lingyun Sect Golden Cores with overwhelming dominance."

"Within an extremely short time, he killed both with nothing but a single divine flame."

After confirmation, Wei Wuyan remained in deep turmoil, letting out a bitter laugh.

I never imagined Qin Dao's strength had reached this level?

"I clearly underestimated him—no wonder he agreed so readily."

"His spiritual power must be extraordinary."

…

Several days later.

The astonishing news of Wangyue True Person's decisive slaughter of two Jin State Ancestors swept through Wei State like a hurricane, spreading to the other three states.

From then on, Wangyue True Person's reputation soared further.

Beyond his inspiring cultivation journey,

it was largely due to awe and reverence for his terrifying power.

One could say Wangyue True Person single-handedly lifted the crisis facing Wei State.

Moreover,

several Golden Core Ancestors from the Southern Wastelands and elder demons from the Six Demonic Sects now held deep caution toward Qin Ming.

No longer would they dare underestimate this newly risen Golden Core.

For a time,

Qin Ming's fearsome reputation was firmly etched into every cultivator's mind.

Upon returning to Wangyue Island,

Qin Ming tossed the two blood pearls to his life spirit plant, Yin-Yang Mystic Vine.

The black vines writhed like countless tentacles, and after absorbing the Golden Core–level blood pearl, the entire life spirit plant grew taller by dozens of zhang.

Moreover, an arcane aura of time enveloped his life treasure, the Wood Emperor Nail, as if it had been nurtured for another hundred years—its power rose another tier.

Then, Qin Ming tossed Duanmu Sheng's mid-rank Golden Core to the Silver-Winged Frost Bee.

Silver-Wing eagerly snatched the Golden Core and returned to the hive to break through.

Once the Blackwater Crocodile and Silver-Winged Frost Bee break through, Qin Ming's forces will gain two more third-rank beast kings, strengthening him further.

Yet, for beasts to reach the third-rank beast king realm is a chasm—not like minor breakthroughs; the heavenly tribulation's power will be far greater, and fewer than one in ten beasts survive it.

"Sigh, Master, you don't know how terrifying third-rank heavenly tribulation truly is."

"When I crossed it in the Beiming Mountains, had I not accidentally found a treasure to resist the heavenly strike, I'd have been reduced to ashes long ago."

The Soul-Devouring Rat recalled the past, still trembling with fear.

"Hmm, since I broke through to Golden Core, I haven't traveled at all."

"Now that I have strength, after the Blackwater Crocodile and Silver-Winged Frost Bee break through, I plan to visit the other three states of the Southern Wastelands—and also head to Qingyuan Sect's Washing Thunder Pool to repair the Gouyu Jin Guang Mirror."

…

In the following time,

Qin Ming began refining the "Longevity Fruit Pill."

After all, Yu Heng True Person had only five years left to live, and Yuxuan Valley's people were surely impatient.

Refining a third-rank mid-grade pill posed some challenge to Qin Ming, especially a longevity elixir, which was even harder to produce.

Six months later, a five-colored aura rose from Qin Ming's cave.

Inside the third-rank superior Wind-Thunder Cauldron, four emerald-green pills floated quietly, radiating gentle spiritual resonance and vitality.

…

(End of Chapter)