Chapter 375: Origins and Background

Qin Ming had already made up his mind: if the situation turned unfavorable,

he would abandon those two hundred mu of spiritual fields and prepare to flee.

After all, if this secret realm became the focal point of contention among the three major powers, the entire Five Elements Mountain Range would turn into a powder keg ready to explode at any moment.

"As the saying goes, a gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall."

"The Great Jin Immortal Realm is vast enough; if need be, I can seek opportunities elsewhere. Vying for resources under the very eyes of Nascent Soul old monsters is truly unwise."

Thinking thus to himself, Qin Ming returned to his routine of farming and cultivation.

He entered the Small Xiao Lingjing and fed the two blood beads in his hand to his life-bound spiritual plant, the Yin-Yang Profound Vine.

In an instant.

After absorbing the blood beads, this extraordinary life-bound Profound Vine underwent another unimaginable transformation.

The silver spiritual runes on the black vine intertwined brilliantly, once again blooming with flowers patterned in yin and yang.

Simultaneously, three golden entries appeared before Qin Ming's eyes.

【Name】: Yin-Yang Profound Vine 【Entry】: Abundant Lifespan x5 (Maturity 65%) 【Name】: Yin-Yang Profound Vine 【Entry】: Spacetime Leaves x5 (Maturity 66%) 【Name】: Yin-Yang Profound Vine 【Entry】: Potent Purification x5 (Maturity 67%) "Good heavens, it's already past half-maturity."

Another half-year passed in cultivation.

During this period, one event occurred.

That was Hua Tianxiong, under the effect of that Divine Wood Pill, finally breaking through to the mid-stage of the Jin Dan realm.

This left him brimming with vigor and confidence; within the Shang Alliance, no fellow Jin Dan cultivator dared to look down on him, Hua Tianxiong, anymore.

Hua Tianxiong also heeded Qin Ming's advice, diligently refining several life-preserving divine abilities, and spent a fortune to reforge and upgrade his life-bound magical treasure, offering it up for tempering and nurturing.

Although cultivation is not accomplished overnight, over these years he had, to some extent, been inspired and influenced by Qin Ming, coming to believe that he still had room for improvement.

Especially after being bestowed the Divine Wood Pill, he could finally see the path of cultivation ahead.

In the future, Qin Ming would rely on him more and more; his cultivation base had to keep pace.

Thus, Hua Tianxiong, who had previously known only laziness and aversion to work, seemed like an entirely different person.

Even Elder Qian of the Li Fire Palace, upon seeing him again, regarded him with new respect.

On this day.

Hua Tianxiong gathered another piece of extremely crucial intelligence and excitedly contacted Qin Ming.

"Master, I have important matters to report to you!"

"Very well, let us meet at the usual place then."

Immediately, Qin Ming set aside his work and went outside the Five Elements Mountain.

After meeting Hua Tianxiong, he pulled him into the Small Xiao Lingjing to converse.

Qin Ming looked Hua Tianxiong up and down, clicking his tongue in wonder: "Not bad; your cultivation talent isn't too poor either—you've reached the mid-stage of the Jin Dan realm?"

"Hehe! All thanks to the Divine Wood Pill bestowed by Master; otherwise, who knows how long I would have had to struggle bitterly," Hua Tianxiong said gratefully.

Qin Ming asked indifferently, "Speak then; what news do you have for me?"

Hua Tianxiong then organized his thoughts and reported to Qin Ming with some excitement:

"Master, after I returned, I secretly mobilized a large number of people to investigate intelligence regarding that secret realm in the Five Elements Mountain Range."

"After spending more than half a year, I have finally clarified the exact origins of this secret realm."

At this, not only did Qin Ming become interested, but even the Shi Tian Shu ran over from nearby, saying with great enthusiasm, "Oh? Your sources are quite well-informed! Speak quickly."

Hua Tianxiong nodded and spoke slowly: "According to my investigation and findings, that secret realm deep within the Five Elements Mountain Range, secretly controlled by the Divine Path Mountain, is most likely the ruins of the mountain gate of the legendary ancient Guda Sect—the 'Qingyuan Sect'." "Ah? The Qingyuan Sect?" Upon hearing this sect's name, Qin Ming could not help but feel somewhat surprised.

This was because the primary cultivation technique he currently practiced, the "Green Emperor Art," had been transmitted to him by the elder Mo Qingshan back in the plant illusion realm after he passed the trial there.

His current trump card, the 'Hook-Jade Jin Guang Mirror', also originated from the Qingyuan Sect; one could say their connection was quite significant.

Now that Qin Ming had arrived in Great Jin, he had once again encountered news concerning the Qingyuan Sect.

Previously, he had also been continuously monitoring and inquiring about information on the Qingyuan Sect, but had learned very little.

Seeing Qin Ming's expression, Hua Tianxiong could not help but ask, "What is it? Has Master also looked into this?"

"Mm, it's nothing; continue speaking," Qin Ming said.

Hua Tianxiong nodded and continued, "According to the intelligence I possess, this ancient 'Qingyuan Sect' was extraordinarily formidable!"

"It is said that during its peak, the 'Qingyuan Sect' was the number one sect in the Human Realm, even producing several powerful Soul Transformation venerables; moreover, among them were great experts who successfully ascended to the Upper Realm."

"Good grief... Soul Transformation realm..." Even the Shi Tian Shu could not help but sigh in emotion.

"Furthermore, what makes it even more remarkable is that the Qingyuan Sect, serving as the number one sect in the Human Realm, was also a spiritual plant sect renowned for cultivating spiritual plants."

"Its early-stage techniques were mediocre in power, but once cultivated to the later stages of the realm, one could transform the spiritual qi of ten thousand trees for one's own use; not only would one enjoy a long lifespan, but it is also said there existed an extremely formidable divine ability that made the entire Immortal Realm of that time turn pale with fear upon hearing of it."

"It was precisely by virtue of this foundation that the Qingyuan Sect became a unique existence in the Immortal Realm of that time, dominating for a considerable period."

"Until later, when the Soul Transformation venerables within the Qingyuan Sect ascended to the Upper Realm one after another and departed, some incident unknown to outsiders occurred within the sect, after which it began to decline."

"From that point on, the Qingyuan Sect gradually faded into the historical dust of the Immortal Realm."

"Come to think of it, had this matter not been discovered, I would never have known that such a powerful sect once existed in the Human Realm."

"It is said that the founding ancestor of the Qingyuan Sect, 'Venerable Green Emperor', was invincible throughout the Human Realm; whether this is true or false remains unknown."

As Hua Tianxiong spoke, he sighed with deep emotion time and again; then, changing the subject, he put on a smiling face and asked:

"If this is truly the case, then the background of this secret realm controlled by the Divine Path Mountain is indeed immense!"

"If this place was indeed the mountain gate of the Qingyuan Sect back then, then apart from Nascent Soul opportunities, there might even be Soul Transformation opportunities present."

"Not to mention the numerous secret treasures and inheritances of the Qingyuan Sect."

After listening, Qin Ming was also slightly astonished.

He had not expected the background of the Qingyuan Sect to be so substantial.

Qin Ming carefully recalled everything he had experienced and encountered along his journey.

It seems that all is destined by unseen forces.

First, that ancient ruin discovered in Yunze Dahuang by Lingyu Gate may well have been one of Qingyuan Sect's branch herb gardens.

Second, the plant illusion realm used in the Southern Wild Immortal Realm to test herbalists, with its mysterious wooden array, both stem from Qingyuan Sect's legacy.

Later, he even encountered Bai Gu Wang Dian, gathered both bronze mirrors, and found Xi Lei Chi, restoring this legendary mirror of Qingyuan Sect.

And now, Qingyuan Sect's main gate seems to lie right beneath his feet, within arm's reach! It was hard for Qin Ming not to connect all these events together.

"Fortunately, the Seven Marvelous Treasure Tree blooms only once every three thousand years; without the special methods of a high-level herbalist, the gods of Shendao Mountain cannot open the secret realm anytime soon."

"Otherwise, even a whisper of this news would shake the Immortal Realm."

"At that point, it wouldn't just be internal chaos among the Three Great Powers of Da Jin—likely even neighboring Da Li and Da Zhou would invade Da Jin."

After hearing Hua Tianxiong's report, Qin Ming was certainly tempted by the opportunities within the secret realm, yet he still upheld his principle of cautious management and suppressed the urge.

"Such a place—even if one succeeds in entering, the legacy inside is unlikely to be easily claimed, and may even endanger one's life. Better to let these major sects fight over it first."

(End of Chapter)