Chapter 380: Heavenly Demon Great Tribulation [Combined Chapter]

Hearing Demon Saint Gushan speak thus, Moon Spirit Yan and the Kong Que Saintess both snapped to full alertness.

"The demonic path of the Great Li Dynasty—could it be that..."

"Events from several thousand years ago are about to repeat themselves?"

The Kong Que Saintess asked, her expression grave.

"Precisely; this matter is indeed connected to the upper realm of the Great Li Demonic Path—the Blood Universe Realm," Demon Saint Gushan nodded slightly.

"Furthermore, the situation is urgent this time; it will likely arrive very soon. We demon clans must prepare early to avoid being implicated."

"Fellow Daoist Silver Moon, although you have some entanglements with the Split-Wind Condor clan, this matter concerns the safety of all demon clans. You must set aside our mutual conflicts and unite against the common enemy."

"That junior Da Heitian suffered a heavy loss at your hands; that settles the score. Surely your anger has subsided by now?"

Hearing this, Moon Spirit Yan pondered for a long moment before replying, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Gushan. When it comes to matters of right and wrong, I can still distinguish what is important from what is trivial."

Following this, Demon Saint Gushan proceeded to reveal the hidden details of the matter to the two of them.

Meanwhile, at the banquet on the White Jade Plaza.

Amidst the clinking of cups and exchange of toasts, the dozen or so great demons at Qin Ming's table each brought out their treasured items to trade.

Those seated in the front rows were all major demons of the Beast Cry Mountain Range; possessing long lifespans, they had lived longer than one another, accumulating wealth over many years, and naturally possessed quite a few formidable treasures.

"Since I was the one who proposed this, let me begin," Elder Yang Jiao of the Horned Deer demon clan said with a smile, stroking his beard as a pair of crimson-golden antlers suddenly materialized in his hand.

"These are a pair of Crimson Sun Antlers shed from my own body some years ago; they qualify as top-grade tier-three heavenly spirit materials."

"I wonder if any fellow daoists are interested in acquiring them?"

Seeing this, Shi Tian Shu blurted out involuntarily, "Good heavens! Old Yangjiao, you're truly generous—selling off parts of your own body!"

"Hehe! These are useless to me now, but for you fellow daoists, they might prove immensely useful," Yang Jiao explained softly.

Qin Ming's gaze fixed on the pair of antlers radiating crimson light in Yang Jiao's hand, his eyes flickering; even with just a glance, one could sense the extraordinary spiritual energy emanating from within.

The moment he saw this top-grade tier-three pair of Crimson Sun Antlers, a recipe from the 'Divine Formula of the Wine Immortal' suddenly surfaced in his mind—a formula for brewing a fine wine called Jade Dew.

One of the required spirit ingredients was high-grade antlers aged over eight hundred years.

Judging by that old fellow Yang Jiao, he had likely lived for more than a thousand years; the medicinal potency of these antlers would be more than sufficient.

"Fellow Daoist Yang Jiao, I find this item quite useful. What would you like in exchange?" Qin Ming immediately asked him.

At that moment, a tier-three late-stage Four-Eyed Scaled Leopard Demon King sitting nearby, seemingly equally interested in the Crimson Sun Antlers, also spoke up: "Old Yangjiao, I too wish to trade with you. Name your terms."

"Then I'll join in as well, hehe!" laughed the Jin Gang Giant Elephant Demon King, looking thoroughly amused.

Seeing how sought-after the antlers in Yang Jiao's hand had become, Shi Tian Shu was momentarily stunned, clicking his tongue in amazement: "I say, Old Yangjiao, who would have thought? Those broken horns on your head are actually so valuable."

"Naturally," Yang Jiao said, lifting his head proudly. "My Crimson Sun Antlers shed only once every thousand years; they condense the very essence of my Horned Deer clan."

"They are supreme materials for refining high-grade pills that enhance blood and qi, or for forging treasures."

"Beyond that, they have numerous other uses."

"If placed among the human race, they would even provoke Nascent Soul old monsters into fighting over them."

"Hehe! And if used to infuse wine, they possess indescribable, tremendous efficacy regarding... that particular aspect."

"Shi Tian Shu, would you like to try?"

After speaking, Yang Jiao cast Shi Tian Shu a meaningful glance.

Hearing this, Shi Tian Shu scoffed disdainfully, "Tch! This grandmaster has no interest in your trinket."

"Since three fellow daoists are interested in my top-grade tier-three Crimson Sun Antlers, please state what you offer in exchange; I shall consider each proposal before deciding with whom to trade," Yang Jiao said to the assembly after teasing Shi Tian Shu.

The Jin Gang Giant Elephant Demon King produced a crystal streaked with purple and gold: "This is top-grade tier-three Patterned Purple-Gold Jade; I offer it in exchange."

"I possess a top-grade tier-three Phoenix Marrow Fruit for trade," the Four-Eyed Scaled Leopard Demon King said coolly, appearing supremely confident about his offering, as if victory were already assured.

As expected.

The moment this spirit fruit appeared, it drew sighs of admiration from all the demons present.

"It's actually a Phoenix Marrow Fruit! Old Leopard, you truly hide your depths!"

"Do you have any extra Phoenix Marrow Fruits?"

"Fellow Daoist Leopard, I have a mid-grade tier-three demon treasure; how about trading it with you?"

"This king has ten drops of Lanxiang Jade Dew; could we trade? It is likewise a top-grade tier-three spirit item."

At the banquet, Demon Kings continuously raised their bids, yet the Four-Eyed Scaled Leopard remained utterly unmoved, stating merely, "This seat wishes only to trade for Fellow Daoist Yang Jiao's 'Crimson Sun Antlers'; nothing else will be accepted."

Seeing this, the other demons could only give up.

Next, it was Qin Ming's turn to present his item for exchange.

Calmly and unhurriedly, he drew out a jade bottle, removed the stopper, and poured out a spirit pill radiating astonishing pill essence.

The instant this spirit pill appeared, the gazes of all the Demon Kings present fixed squarely upon Qin Ming's hand, unable to shift even a fraction.

"This dense aura—could it be..."

"A Beast Emperor Pill!"

"Fellow Daoist Leopard, you recognize this pill?" a Demon King nearby asked, seeing its shocked reaction.

The Four-Eyed Scaled Leopard nodded and said, "When I was young, I traveled for a time in human territories and once had the fortune to see this pill. As a top-grade tier-three medicinal pill, only Grandmaster Alchemists of the human or demon races can refine it."

"I estimate that within the Great Jin Immortal Realm, no more than ten alchemists are capable of refining this pill."

These words caused the Demon Kings at the same table to stare at Qin Ming with eager eyes, for this was a miraculous pill capable of advancing a demon beast's cultivation.

Taking such a pill back to boost the cultivation of younger demon generations would also be excellent.

Shi Tian Shu, Xuan Shui E, and Yin Yi Shuangfeng, however, appeared indifferent; they had consumed plenty of Beast Emperor Pills already, and the pill's effects no longer held much significance for them.

They had already grown tired of them; what Qin Ming had produced was merely leftovers from their own consumption.

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Tong, truly worthy of the Black Sea demon clan; the rare treasures in your possession are indeed extraordinary. I agree to trade with you," Yang Jiao said, his eyes shining with delight; he had not expected a high-grade medicinal pill to appear.

Compared to the human race, alchemy techniques among the demon clans are relatively backward, as only half-transformed great demons can begin learning to refine pills like humans do.

Thus, he eagerly presented his own Red Sun Deer Antler.

Qin Mou immediately exchanged two Beast Emperor Pills for the pair of Red Sun Deer Antlers in Yang Jiao's hands.

Afterwards.

He turned his head and smiled at the Jin Gang Giant Elephant and the Four-Eyed Scale Leopard, saying, "Two fellow Daoists, I still have a few Beast Emperor Pills on me; why not exchange them for the items in your hands?"

"We seek nothing more!" Upon hearing this, the two Demon Kings were overjoyed and immediately handed the Phoenix Marrow Fruit and the Patterned Purple Gold to Qin Mou.

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Tong, do you have any spare pills? I have here a small section of thousand-year agarwood of third-tier upper grade, which I can exchange for pills."

"Naturally, that is possible," Qin Mou replied with a smile on his face.

He had not expected that these demonic beasts possessed so many good things.

The items they proposed for exchange now would be extremely difficult to find among the human race.

Even if they existed, they would all be heavenly treasures and earthly materials capable of fetching astronomical prices.

Yet now, this group of demonic beasts before him casually brought them all out, making Qin Mou secretly delighted.

After several rounds of exchange, Qin Mou had traded for quite a few treasures from this table of Demon Kings.

He had even obtained several types of auxiliary materials for refining the Infant Condensing Pill, as well as several spiritual materials for refining the Ice Heart Jade Soul Pill.

Qin Mou had not expected that this journey would yield such unexpected gains.

The several Demon Kings sharing the banquet table also developed a deep respect for this Black Water Crocodile Demon King from the Black Sea.

After the exchanges ended, the demons began drinking and toasting again. "Come! Who would have thought we would meet a hero like Brother Xuan on this trip!"

"This calls for a large cup!"

"Continue dancing, continue rejoicing!"

The Demon Saint Grand Ceremony is extremely grand among the demonic races, generally lasting for celebration for ten days to half a month.

By the third day, Qin Mou felt the time was about right and planned to tell Yue Lingyan, bidding her farewell.

After all, he still needed to return to tend to his small plot of land at Five Elements Mountain.

When Qin Mou found her in the rear mountain cave dwelling, the two Demon Saints from the Mountain Giant Ape and the Seven-Colored Kong Que Wang Zu had just departed.

Seeing Qin Mou arrive, Yue Lingyan invited him into the cave dwelling.

"Fellow Daoist Lingyan, thank you for your hospitality these past few days; Qin Mou has gained much on this trip, but the spiritual fields still require supervision, so I must take my leave first."

"If Fellow Daoist Lingyan has free time another day, you are also welcome to come to my place for a visit."

Yue Lingyan's dark eyebrows relaxed, and she smiled gracefully, saying:

"Why does Fellow Daoist Qin not stay a few more days? Is my hospitality inadequate?"

Hearing this, Qin Mou hurriedly explained, "No, no; the environment of Muxia Mountain is secluded, and with a fourth-tier spiritual vein, to be honest, I am somewhat reluctant to leave."

"However... there are indeed matters I must attend to upon returning, making it inconvenient to linger longer."

This was, after all, not his own territory; no matter how superb Qin Mou's disguise skills were, he still felt a sense of guilt.

"Since that is the case, I shall not detain you further."

"Fellow Daoist Qin, please follow me first; there are some matters I still need to discuss with you."

Hearing this, although somewhat puzzled, Qin Mou still followed her.

But after half an incense stick's time, Yue Lingyan actually led him into a treasure vault within the Fox Clan's sacred land! In an instant.

Qin Mou was deeply shocked by the dazzling array of treasures before his eyes.

Not only him, but the Shi Tian Shu beside him bulged its eyes wide, drool nearly flowing out.

After a long while.

He finally turned his head and asked Yue Lingyan, "Fellow Daoist Lingyan, this is..."

"These items are congratulatory gifts sent by various demonic clans over the past few days; Qin Mou, see if there is anything you need?"

"If there is anything you fancy, feel free to take it."

This is a rich woman!

This was the only thought in Qin Mou's mind at that moment.

Upon hearing this, the Shi Tian Shu clenched its small fists before its face and said excitedly, "I want them all!"

Hearing this, black lines immediately appeared on Qin Mou's forehead; he reached out and slapped its head, scolding, "They are being polite to you, and you really aren't polite at all?"

"Hehe! Yes, yes, yes!" The Shi Tian Shu scratched its head, putting on a smiling face, "I was just joking, saying it off the cuff."

"Ahem! Enough, go over there and find Cold Branch Grass, Wind Leaf Dew, Blood Spirit Ganoderma, Purple Contained Spirit Flower for me..." Qin Mou immediately listed a catalog for it, all of which were spiritual materials for refining pills.

There were fully several hundred kinds; the Shi Tian Shu stared blankly at the list in its hand, then looked at Qin Mou, "Master, it seems you don't intend to be polite either..."

"What are you dawdling about? Hurry up and go? Does your skin feel itchy again? It seems you haven't been made to farm enough." Qin Mou glared fiercely at it.

The Shi Tian Shu shrank its head and hurriedly dove into the pile of treasures to rummage; Yue Lingyan showed no great reaction upon seeing this, while the Little Silver Fox covered its mouth and snickered nearby.

Since the other party was offering treasures, naturally Qin Mou would not stand on ceremony.

An opportunity like this would likely occur only once in this lifetime.

Once you miss this village, there will be no such shop elsewhere.

The treasures collected among the demonic races are incomparable to those of the human race; the difference is vast.

Shortly after.

The Shi Tian Shu held two storage bags in its hands, already filled to the brim, "Hehehe! Master, I have found all the items you wanted, though there are a small number of spiritual materials not present in the treasure vault."

Qin Mou took the storage bags, opened them to take a look, and nodded lightly, "Mm, these are about enough."

Immediately, he thanked Yue Lingyan, "Then I thank Fellow Daoist Lingyan for your kindness."

"Qin Mou will never forget this!"

"It is nothing, merely external possessions," Yue Lingyan said, waving her hand.

Yet these heavenly and earthly spiritual materials were of great use to Qin Ming.

Among the treasures the Devouring Heaven Rat had just gathered, over a hundred of the three hundred-plus auxiliary ingredients needed to refine the Infant-Condensing Pill had already been collected, and most of them were third-tier spiritual objects.

As for the auxiliary ingredients needed to refine the Ice-Heart Jade-Soul Pill for surviving the Heart Demon Tribulation, they have essentially all been gathered, with only the final few items remaining.

Qin Ming had not expected that a single trip to the Demon Race lands would see the progress of his spiritual material collection already surpass the halfway mark.

"Truly a journey well worth taking!" This thought made him sigh with emotion; fortunately, he had made the acquaintance of Yue Lingyan, such a rare and powerful connection. "By the way, Fellow Daoist Lingyan, is there anything else you wish to tell me?"

"Is there something requiring Qin Mou to exert effort?"

Qin Ming subconsciously assumed that Yue Lingyan's such lavish bestowal of treasures meant she sought something from him.

It was even highly probable she wished to recreate the scene within the Cold Pool Cave and drain him dry. Yet next, Yue Lingyan raised her hand and erected a barrier.

Then, speaking to Qin Ming with a grave tone, she said, "Fellow Daoist Qin, a major catastrophe may soon befall the human Immortal Realm; you must be careful."

Hearing her speak thus, Qin Ming felt a chill in his heart. "Fellow Daoist Lingyan, why do you say this?"

"This matter... was revealed to this palace by Gushan, the Demon Saint of the Mountain-Ape Giant Ape clan."

"The demonic path of the Great Li Dynasty has already invaded the Great Zhou Immortal Realm and ignited a war; consequently, it will soon annihilate and annex that nation, and the next target will surely be Great Jin."

【133】 "Ah? Annihilate the nation? Does not Great Zhou possess Nascent Soul sects? Even in war, they should not fall so swiftly, surely?" Turmoil surged within Qin Ming's heart; this intelligence could not be called anything less than explosive.

As for the auxiliary ingredients for the Ice-Heart Jade-Soul Pill, used to withstand the Heart-Demon Tribulation, they were essentially all gathered, with only the final few items remaining.

Yue Lingyan explained, "Of course, relying solely on Great Li's Yin Demon Sect, this would be impossible; even with two Nascent Soul old demons, the Yin Demon Sect could not obliterate Great Zhou in such a short time."

"However, the current situation is related to the upper world of Great Li's demonic path; it is the 'Great Heavenly Demon Tribulation,' which occurs once every few thousand years."

"The Great Heavenly Demon Tribulation?"

"Indeed, Great Li's demonic path inherits from a demonic upper world named 'Blood Universe Realm,' said to be controlled by an extremely powerful Blood Refining Demonic Sect."

"And the territory of Great Li is merely livestock raised by the Blood Refining Demonic Sect; they periodically harvest the flesh, blood, and living souls of the lower world to transform them into cultivation resources for the demonic path."

"When the millennium arrives and the tidal forces between realms weaken, that will be the moment the Blood Refining Demonic Sect's heavenly demons descend upon the world."

"I heard Demon Saint Gushan reveal that this impending descent seems to have arrived much earlier than usual, and the demonic path of Great Li appears remarkably urgent, suggesting some specific purpose."

Hearing this, Qin Ming could not help but ask, "The Blood Refining Demonic Sect that controls the Blood Universe Realm?"

"If such a powerful demonic realm launches a descending invasion, would not all three Immortal Realms be unable to resist?"

After pondering for a moment, he suddenly recalled something! He abruptly said to Yue Lingyan, "Could the Blood Refining Demonic Sect's urgency to descend be related to that secret realm discovered at Divine Dao Mountain?"

"Oh? There is such a matter? I wonder which secret realm Fellow Daoist Qin speaks of?"

"The mountain gate secret realm of the Ancient Qingyuan Sect."

As Qin Ming's words fell, Yue Lingyan also froze on the spot.

Thanks to Fellow Daoist "Passerby" for the donation of 300 coins.

Thanks to Fellow Daoist "Xiao Liangyi" for the donation of 100 coins.

Thanks to all fellow daoists for casting various votes. Thank you.

(End of Chapter)