Chapter 381: Invasion [Combined Chapter]

"The Ancient Qingyuan Sect?"

"Indeed. Could it be that Fellow Daoist Lingyan also knows of this sect?"

"As for the reputation of being the number one great sect of the ancient Human Realm, this palace naturally knows a thing or two."

"I never expected that the mountain gate secret realm of the Qingyuan Sect would actually be located within the Five Elements Mountain Range."

"Fellow Daoist Qin, please tell this palace the detailed and specific circumstances."

Qin Ming then recounted to Yue Lingyan the entire story of how the Divine Dao Mountain occupied the fourth-tier spiritual vein of that Five Elements Mountain and discovered the Qingyuan Sect's secret realm.

After all, she had been willing to inform him of such crucial intelligence regarding the upper echelons of the Immortal Realm and had gifted him so many treasures.

He too needed to offer an appropriate repayment.

"Fellow Daoist Lingyan, I estimate that there is a ninety percent chance the Blood Refining Demon Sect of the Blood Nether Realm is coming precisely for this secret realm, correct?"

After speaking, Qin Ming asked with a hint of worry, "Furthermore, regarding this descent of the Blood Refining Demon Sect, surely it won't spiral out of control?"

After all, he was currently still in Great Jin seeking an opportunity to form his Nascent Soul.

"Fellow Daoist Qin need not worry about this matter; the power of the realm barrier is immensely strong. Even a demon sect from the Upper Realm must use an item called a 'Realm Descent Talisman' to descend into the lower realm, and there are various restrictions."

"The Blood Nether Realm has some kind of connection with the Great Li Dynasty, thus allowing a small number of demon sect disciples to descend; based on the current situation, launching a large-scale invasion of the Human Realm is temporarily impossible."

"Furthermore, the duration of the realm descent is also limited."

"Even in a holy demon sect like the Blood Nether Realm, this Realm Descent Talisman is extremely scarce, and Demon Lords whose cultivation exceeds the Nascent Soul stage cannot utilize the talisman to descend; otherwise, they will be repelled by the power of the realm barrier and might even get caught in the chaotic void currents, leading to their demise," Yue Lingyan explained, her knowledge being quite extensive.

After listening, Qin Ming suddenly realized the truth; so the descent of the demon sects from the Blood Nether Realm into the lower realm also had restrictions.

It truly takes a fourth-tier Demon Saint to have such a different perspective!

"However, those disciples of the Blood Refining Demon Sect who descend into the Human Realm are by no means ordinary; most possess heaven-defying aptitudes, and there is no shortage of powerful Holy Sons and Holy Daughters of the demon sects. Although they only have cultivation at the peak of the Jin Dan realm, they bear the core inheritance of the Blood Refining Demon Sect, and when they unleash their divine abilities and methods, they are even comparable to those at the Nascent Soul realm."

"Records from previous great calamities even document instances where human Nascent Soul great sects were completely annihilated."

Qin Ming immediately asked again, "So they are actually that powerful? Then why did Great Li choose to invade the Great Zhou Immortal Realm instead of Great Jin?"

"Moreover, the Divine Dao Mountain is secretly funded by the Yin Demon Sect, and that Qingyuan Sect secret realm happens to be located right at the border between the two nations."

Yue Lingyan pondered for a moment before saying, "I think... first and foremost, they must fear the Li Li Huogong. Although the Li Li Huogong is now declining and not as formidable as before, it is said that the primordial soul lamp of that founding ancestor is still lit."

"Secondly, Great Jin possesses the power of the Ten Thousand Daoes Merchant Alliance, behind which there is reportedly also a Nascent Soul ancestor presiding."

"If they were to join forces, even Great Li would find them difficult to chew."

"But Great Zhou is different; it has only the Xuanqing Observatory as a Nascent Soul sect, and its foundation is shallow, with only the Cold Crow Immortal Venerable, who is at the early Nascent Soul stage, presiding. Once the Great Li demon path joins forces with the Blood Refining Demon Sect to invade, standing alone will be difficult, posing a risk of collapse."

"Within the next few decades, the Great Jin Immortal Realm should remain safe at least."

"If the situation changes, Fellow Daoist Qin may also come to my Fox Clan; this palace would welcome you with open arms, and you may stay for however long you wish."

"Then many thanks to Fellow Daoist Lingyan."

After hearing her analysis, Qin Ming's doubts were instantly largely resolved.

At the same time, he felt fortunate to have established a connection with someone like Yue Lingyan; otherwise, how could an ordinary cultivator gain early access to such intelligence about the upper echelons of the Immortal Realm?

This also gave Qin Ming time to prepare in advance against the coming storm.

Many matters could be avoided.

Low-level rogue cultivators in the Immortal Realm, faced with such changing circumstances, often learn of things too late, miss many opportunities, and end up becoming cannon fodder for the great sects.

'It seems that after harvesting this season's spiritual plants in the spiritual field, I must quickly dispose of them and leave.'

Qin Ming continued to converse with Yue Lingyan for half a day before taking his leave.

As he was departing, the Shi Tian Shu looked back repeatedly, saying, "Little Silver Fox, you must come to the spiritual field to play with us when you're free!"

"Brother Rat, take care; this little one will definitely come," the Little Silver Fox said, waving goodbye to them.

Immediately after, Qin Ming, accompanied by the Shi Tian Shu, transformed into a streak of cyan rainbow light and vanished instantly into the horizon.

Blood Nether Realm.

Black clouds churned and surged, with countless Lei Ting lightning flashes extinguishing unpredictably within the oppressive cloud layer, filling the air with an aura of destruction.

High above the sky, two scarlet red moons hung behind the dark clouds, appearing exceptionally eerie.

Surrounding the high platform was an endless abyss, with pitch-black Shanfeng towering everywhere nearby.

Boom-crack! Falling thunder from the sky continuously struck the black stone Shanfeng, yet seemed to be absorbed without a trace, while lightning of various colors appeared within the unfathomable abyss, flickering dimly without cease.

On a black stone high platform inscribed with demon runes within the Blood Refining Demon Sect, more than ten demon sect disciples of varying builds gazed downward.

These selected disciples of the Blood Refining Demon Sect all revealed bloodthirsty excitement in their eyes, eager to make a move.

"Senior Brother Jiang Yuan, here is a small token of appreciation from your junior brother."

"Although I failed to secure a quota for descending to the lower realm this time, my Ten Thousand Souls Demon Banner still lacks several hundred high-grade cultivator essence souls, over ten Jin Dan souls, and several types of demon creature spiritual materials; I must trouble you greatly with this matter, hehehe!"

A short cultivator with a horse-shaped face was ingratiatingly handing a small bag of black crystals respectfully to a young male cultivator with two black horns growing from his head.

The demon cultivator addressed as Senior Brother Jiang had skin as pale as paper, a gaunt figure, and looked as frail as if a strong wind could blow him over.

His eyes appeared extremely bizarre, and a wicked smile played on his lips.

Yet the aura emanating from his body had already reached the terrifying realm of peak Jin Dan, and he was only one final step away from condensing a Demon Infant.

Jiang Yuan took the crystals from the other's hand and weighed them slightly, the smile on his lips growing even broader, "Junior Brother Xing, you are truly willing to spend a heavy price. With such a large quantity of top-grade demon crystals, I agree to this matter."

"I can guarantee you the quantity of cultivator flesh, blood, and living souls, but regarding those other heavenly and earthly spiritual items you requested, your senior brother cannot guarantee one hundred percent success in obtaining them."

"The treasures required to upgrade your innate demon artifact are not easy to find!"

Upon hearing this, the horse-faced cultivator smiled bitterly and said, "I heard from the elders within the sect that near the Great Li trial realm for this descent to the lower realm, an ancient Qingyuan Sect secret realm has emerged."

"This is also the reason why, whereas previous quotas for descending to the lower realm were only five, this time there are as many as eighteen quotas."

"Aren't all those other confidants of the elders also heading for the Qingyuan Sect secret realm?"

"Otherwise, Senior Sister Lan, who has been in closed-door cultivation for many years, would not have postponed her attempt to form a Demon Infant and chosen to exit seclusion to descend to the lower realm."

"Moreover, after so many years have passed, the lower realm must have produced quite a few heavenly treasures and earthly materials."

"Senior Brother Jiang eats the meat; I would be content just to sip some of the broth."

Jiang Yuan gave a sinister smile, extending a bloody-red tongue to lick his lips. "Since you are so sensible, this elder brother will grant your request."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Jiang, for fulfilling my wish!"

As the two spoke, a beam of black light shot from the distant sky, effortlessly piercing through the Lei Ting before landing directly upon the high platform.

The escaping light dissipated, revealing a coldly beautiful woman with a graceful and voluptuous figure, her skin as smooth as congealed fat, clad in a black gauze skirt adorned with demonic patterns, her jade-like feet bare.

Her expression was blank, her eyes deep as a cold pool, as she stood suspended in mid-air, looking down silently at those below.

"Greetings, Senior Sister Lan Bing!"

Upon seeing this woman appear, the Blood Refinement Demonic Sect cultivators on the high platform hastily bowed in salute.

"Oh! Junior Sister Lan, I didn't expect even you to join in the fun?" Jiang Yuan said with a raised smile.

Lan Bing arched an eyebrow, her voice clear and cold as she replied, "Since Senior Brother Jiang has personally taken action, how could I not come out to stretch my legs as well?"

At this moment.

An old man in a profound robe materialized from behind, holding a compass in his hand, and addressed the crowd:

"The time has arrived! Hurry and descend to the lower realm!"

"You must all beware of the convergence period of the interface forces; you have only ten years. When that time comes, regardless of the situation, you will be forcibly recalled by the Holy Sect unless you perish."

"During this period, whatever benefits you gain will depend entirely on your own fortune and destiny."

Having spoken, the old man began to chant an abstruse demonic incantation, activating the compass in his hand.

Suddenly, a burst of dark radiance erupted from the compass, striking the center of the high platform where the group stood. In that instant.

Woo-woo-woo! Countless runes spiraled up from below, directly mobilizing the energy of heaven and earth.

More than ten true disciples of the Demonic Sect successively took out an ancient, dark-yellow talisman, pouring their magic power into it.

Buzz! Buzz! As light flared within the Realm-Descending Talismans, beams of pitch-black light fell from the firmament, landing straight upon these Demonic Sect disciples.

"Junior Sister Lan, once we descend, shall we act in tandem?" Before using his talisman, Jiang Yuan smiled and sent a voice transmission to Lan Ling.

"If you and I join forces, there should be no one in the lower realm capable of opposing us."

Lan Bing remained unmoved by his words, seemingly uninterested. "Spare me. I have my own matters to attend to in this descent; it is better we separate."

With that, she directly activated her Realm-Descending Talisman; as the dark radiance fell, her figure vanished instantly from the high platform.

Seeing this, Jiang Yuan merely smiled indifferently, then activated the talisman in his own hand.

Meanwhile.

After several days of flight, Qin Ming headed back toward the Five Elements Mountain.

Yet along the way, he discovered that within the Beast Cry Mountain Range, quite a few low-tier demonic beasts were fleeing frantically from the direction of the Great Zhou border toward the interior.

It seemed they were fleeing from something.

His brows furrowed involuntarily, and he silently pondered, 'Could the war have arrived so quickly?'

Qin Ming immediately took out a map to study for a moment, finally fixing his gaze on the region where the three kingdoms met.

"Great Zhou's Yunze Xiancheng."

This place happened to be not far from his current location, so he decided to go investigate.

Riding his Silver-Yin Yi Shuangfeng, Qin Ming flew for two days until he reached the border between Great Zhou and Great Jin.

An immortal city of no great scale came into Qin Ming's view.

He immediately recalled his Silver-Yin Yi Shuangfeng, concealed his form, and descended.

He saw only that the protective great formation of Yunze Xiancheng was already fully activated; the cultivators inside looked as though facing a great enemy, row upon row stationed atop the city walls.

What surprised Qin Ming even more was that tens of thousands of refugees had gathered outside the city, mostly consisting of low-tier cultivators and mortals, though mixed among them were some Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"Help! It's terrifying!"

"Those demonic cultivators are massacring the people of Great Zhou! So cruel!"

"The disciples of the Yin Demon Sect are using the flesh and blood of cultivators to feed their demonic corpses and puppets; truly devoid of humanity!"

"Even Jin Dan families cannot withstand the offensive of the Great Li Demonic Path; within just a few days, three families have already been annihilated!"

"We beg you, my lords, show mercy and let us enter!"

These refugees, each having escaped death, wailed in sorrow everywhere.

"Master, with so many refugees from Great Zhou, it seems Elder Silver Moon was correct; the Demonic Path of the Great Li Dynasty is already invading Great Zhou."

The Shi Tian Shu squatted on Qin Ming's shoulder, shielding its eyes from the sun as it gazed into the distance. "I suppose the cultivators of the Blood Refinement Demonic Sect should be arriving soon as well?"

Looking at those utterly terrified refugees, Qin Ming sighed. "Mm, it must be so. Those Demonic Path cultivators frequently poison living beings, using the living souls and flesh of cultivators to enhance their demonic cultivation or refine demonic weapons; wherever they pass, living beings are surely plunged into misery."

"With so many refugees flooding into the borderlands this time, it indicates that Great Zhou's situation has begun to decline."

"Will Great Jin just stand by and watch Great Zhou fall into the hands of the Demonic Path?"

"After all, this is the Great Heavenly Demon Tribulation that occurs only once every few thousand years; if Great Zhou is swallowed, even though Great Jin is powerful, I fear it will hardly be able to remain untouched?" the Shi Tian Shu said, stroking its chin.

"This matter is beyond our control, but it will take some time for the Great Li Demonic Path to conquer Great Zhou; I believe the Li Li Huogong and the Wan Dao Shang Alliance will not sit idly by."

Qin Ming lingered there for half a day, then sought out a few scattered cultivators who had fled to ask around indirectly before departing with a thoughtful expression.

Several days later.

Qin Ming returned to the spirit fields of Five Elements Mountain; this place was still quite far from the warfire, and there seemed to be no major abnormalities.

"Shopkeeper Lu, you're back!" Upon seeing Qin Ming's return, Old Jia hurriedly plastered a smiling face on and stepped forward to flatter him.

"Mm, during the days I was away, did any unusual situations arise?" Qin Ming asked lightly.

"Reporting to the Shopkeeper, everything within the spirit fields is safe and sound."

"I mean within the Spirit Ruin Market; surely there is no other news?"

Old Jia paused, stunned. "Shopkeeper Lu, you are referring to..."

Seeing the other party's completely clueless expression, Qin Ming knew that news of the Demonic Path's invasion of Great Zhou had not yet reached here.

Thus, after circulating through the Wuxing Mountain market once more, he discovered that the cultivators here remained entirely unaware of the Demonic Path's invasion.

Clearly, it would still take some time before the news reached within Great Jin.

After all, the territorial expanse was simply too vast.

However, Qin Ming had already begun to notice that prices within the market were starting to rise slightly and quietly, which surely bore an inseparable relation to the warfare occurring outside.

Those great powers controlling the Immortal Realm had evidently already detected the anomaly.

Yet they had not released any wind of it.

He first sought out Hua Tianxiong, pulling him into the Small Spirit Realm before asking, "Hua Tianxiong, have you learned about the affairs in the Great Zhou Immortal Realm?"

"Ah? Master, you already know! I was just about to report this matter to you; some days ago, while communicating with Elder Qian of the Li Li Huogong, he revealed to me some upper-level affairs."

"He told me to temporarily suspend business on the Great Zhou side, estimating that war is about to break out."

"It seems small-scale clashes have already occurred."

Hua Tianxiong replied respectfully.

Seeing that he too was kept in the dark, Qin Ming then said:

"This time, it is far from merely small-scale clashes; I fear the Great Li Demonic Path intends to annex Great Zhou."

"If those orthodox sects do not unite to resist, the fall of Great Zhou is only a matter of time."

"Ah? The nation will fall?!"

"Master, is it truly this serious? What exactly is happening?"

"This invasion of Great Zhou by the Great Li Demonic Path is related to the Heavenly Demon Great Tribulation that occurs once every thousand years."

"Pass this intelligence to Su Yuqing and tell him to make preparations early."

"Additionally, please deliver the items in this storage bag to him as well."

Qin Ming took out a jade slip and a storage bag.

Inside the storage bag was the Hualing Yao Cao he had obtained on this journey, along with a portion of other spiritual materials for refining the Infant-Condensing Pill; Qin Ming possessed several portions of these materials and could further ripen them using his attribute terms.

This time, Su Yuqing had brought out his family's most treasured artifact, offering it to Qin Ming as a congratulatory gift.

He could not allow the other to suffer a loss in this deal.

"Yes, Master!"

"By the way, Master, some time ago when I went to the Li Li Huogong in Zhongzhou, Alchemist Su asked me to deliver this item to you." Having spoken, Hua Tianxiong produced an exquisite jade box and handed it to Qin Ming.

Upon opening the jade box, he saw lying inside two Bodhi seeds brimming with spiritual energy.

"Taiyi Bodhi!"

With this, three of the five main materials required to refine the Infant-Condensing Pill were now assembled; only the Five Elements Spiritual Ginseng and the Evergreen Spiritual Saliva remained.

(End of Chapter)