Chapter 388: Evergreen Spirit Nectar, The Great Zhou Luo Clan

In the Beast Cry Mountain Range, not long after Qin Ming had departed.

At the place where the battle with the demonic cultivators had just erupted, the air began to ripple, spreading out like water waves, before starting to tremble violently.

Just then.

Two streaks of startled rainbow light fled from afar, arriving in an instant and halting in the sky above the vicinity.

As the fleeing light dissipated, it revealed two figures devoid of any magic power aura, appearing just like ordinary mortals.

Yet, the ability to stand suspended in mid-air without emitting a shred of spiritual pressure clearly indicated they were far from ordinary people.

One of them, a giant man resembling an iron pagoda, was Gushan, a Demonic Saint of the Mountain Ape clan, whom Qin Ming had once met briefly during the grand ceremony at the Fox Clan's sacred land.

Standing beside him in the void was a male demonic cultivator clad in black feathered robes, his black hair bound in a crown; apart from possessing a single horn-like pointed nose, his other features were nearly indistinguishable from those of the human race.

He was evidently another Demonic Saint-level figure who had achieved complete transformation into human form.

"Brother Gushan, the destruction from the battle here seems to have been caused by a great demon of at least the late third stage or higher."

"How is it that this Saint has never heard of any such demonic cultivator existing within this region of the Beast Cry Mountain Range?"

Demonic Saint Gushan did not answer the other directly but instead narrowed his eyes, using his demonic sense to perceive carefully for a moment.

Afterwards, his brows couldn't help but furrow.

Speaking with considerable confusion, he said, "Strange, how is it that I detect a faint wisp of aura belonging to my own clan, appearing and disappearing?"

"Ah? Brother Gushan, could you possibly be mistaken?" the Black-Feathered Demonic Cultivator asked in surprise, "Surely you aren't joking; could it be that another seed for a Demonic Saint is about to be born within your noble clan?"

Finding nothing after his search, Demonic Saint Gushan gave up on perceiving further: "No, this Saint is merely suspicious."

"Da Heitian, what is your view on this matter?"

The person beside him was none other than Da Heitian, a Demonic Saint of the early fourth stage from the Gale Vulture clan, who had achieved human transformation.

Upon hearing this, Demonic Saint Da Heitian slightly narrowed his pair of small, emerald-green eyes and said with utter indifference, "These little squabbles among the minor demons below are of no consequence."

"What concerns this Saint most is the secret realm of the ancient Guqingyuan Sect; I've heard there may exist high-grade opportunities within, perhaps even treasures capable of breaking through the fourth-stage bottleneck. Could it be that Brother Gushan feels no temptation?"

"How have you considered my previous proposal?"

Upon hearing this, Demonic Saint Gushan remained completely unmoved.

"There is no need to mention this matter again; this Saint advises you: it is best not to blindly meddle in human affairs, otherwise you may easily invite disaster upon yourself."

Afterwards, paying no further attention to the other's reaction, his figure blurred and he vanished from the spot.

He arrived quickly and departed just as fast.

Demonic Saint Da Heitian's emerald eyes flashed several times; without lingering further, his form faded, and he left the area.

"Hmph! Truly boring."

"Since none of you agree to join forces, then this Saint shall go alone."

On the other side.

After several days of flight, Qin Ming returned to the spiritual fields of the Five Elements Mountain.

To be on the safe side, he had even taken a long detour.

Only after confirming there were no tails following him did he return to the spiritual field residence.

After returning to the spiritual fields, Qin Ming first conducted an inspection; dozens of spiritual farmers were engaged in daily cultivation, Li Lan was also tending to the Jade Emperor Spiritual Rice, and everything was normal.

Old Jia, on the other hand, had gone to manage the business at the Mirror Jing Xue Ge.

Nowadays, the business at the Mirror Jing Xue Ge was growing better and better, so much so that he was somewhat overwhelmed.

Gu Qingzhao had even transferred quite a few personnel over from the headquarters in the Southern Wilderness.

The first thing Qin Ming did upon returning was to take out the Shennong Hoe, clear the weeds from the ten mu of Sky Net Grass he had planted, and then cast the Five Elements Spiritual Rain Art to irrigate them.

Inside the spiritual fields, everything was lush and green; overall, the growth was quite good.

After finishing the tending of the spiritual fields, he entered the Small Spiritual Realm and began examining the storage bags of the two true disciples of the Blood Refining Demon Sect.

But the scene that followed.

Even Qin Ming, who had seen much and knew much, stood stunned on the spot.

"Good heavens! This is far too rich, isn't it?"

"If you don't look, you don't know; one look and you're startled."

"These two demonic cultivators—just how many forces within Great Zhou must they have plundered?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Shi Tian Shu, who was nearby wiping a black steel fork, twitched an ear, put away the fork, and immediately hurried over.

Glancing at the storage bags, it couldn't help but exclaim in shock as well.

"Oh my goodness, we've struck it rich, Master! I didn't expect these two to be such fat sheep! Hehehe!"

Inside the two storage bags, high-grade heavenly materials and earthly treasures were a dazzling sight, with various spiritual items so numerous they piled up into small mountains.

Apart from the two individuals' demonic Dao inheritances, there were also many spiritual materials obtained through plundering.

Just counting the superior-grade spiritual stones, there were over a thousand pieces; the count of medium-grade spiritual stones reached a massive tens of thousands, while the lower-grade spiritual stones were even more numerous, impossible to count.

The Meng-surnamed demonic cultivator's two innate demonic treasures, the 'Blood Bat Demon Tower' and the 'Blood Spirit Drill', were both third-stage superior-grade demonic artifacts.

As for the Qiu-surnamed demonic cultivator's innate demonic weapon, it was a third-stage top-grade Demon Bone Banner.

There were also several other third-stage lower-grade and medium-grade magical treasures.

Qin Ming, however, did not think much of this type of demonic Dao technique or demonic artifact.

What interested him were the heavenly materials and earthly treasures scavenged from Great Zhou, some of which he could actually make use of.

Just as he was rummaging through and examining them, an object in the Qiu-surnamed demonic cultivator's storage bag caught the attention of Shi Tian Shu nearby.

Possessing an innate treasure-hunting constitution, its sense of smell for treasures was extremely keen; Shi Tian Shu wrinkled its nose hard, and its eyes suddenly brightened.

"Eh, what is this thing?"

Shi Tian Shu pointed at a green jade bottle lying on the ground, pressed at the very bottom.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming halted his actions.

He then drew the green bottle into his hand, observing that its appearance was antique and elegant, with several ancient spiritual runes engraved upon its surface.

Merely holding it in his hand, one immediately sensed its extraordinariness.

Had its appearance not been so plain and unadorned, and without the Shi Tian Shu's hint, Qin Ming would have overlooked it entirely.

Just as he was about to pull out the stopper, he discovered that an extremely strict sealing restriction had been placed upon the green bottle.

While Qin Ming could forcibly break it, he feared damaging the contents stored within.

Thus.

He turned and handed the green bottle in his hand to the Shi Tian Shu.

"You break the restriction upon it."

The Shi Tian Shu was instantly delighted; taking the green bottle from Qin Ming's hand, it exhaled and inhaled black mysterious light as it began to break the seal.

Only half a quarter-hour later.

A layer of dim light flickered upon the green bottle, then dispersed into the air like bubbles.

"Master, it is done."

"Hehe!"

The Shi Tian Shu grinned and handed the jade bottle back to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming smiled slightly and nodded; having the Shi Tian Shu's abilities saved him considerable effort in breaking various restrictions and formations.

He then pulled out the stopper of the green bottle and peered inside.

Instantly, a burst of emerald radiance erupted; a clear spiritual qi emanated from within the bottle, causing one's spirit to surge! At the bottle's mouth, a glow of five-colored mist appeared, the extraordinary phenomenon of a heavenly treasure revealing itself without doubt in an instant.

Inside, one saw a bottle filled to the brim with emerald spiritual liquid, shimmering with a crystal-clear radiance that constantly shifted in color, truly miraculous.

"This object..."

"The Dao Rhyme of a fourth-grade heavenly treasure!"

Suddenly, Qin Ming's eyes brightened sharply! "It is actually Evergreen Spiritual Saliva!"

"And such a full, large bottle of it."

"Hahaha!"

Qin Ming was both startled and overjoyed; he had not expected that one of the five main materials for refining the Nascent Soul Condensing Pill, the Evergreen Spiritual Saliva, would fall into his hands just like this! Killing people and seizing their goods truly pays off!

Otherwise, he did not know how long it would take to gather this item.

"Nascent Soul Nourishing Fruit Tree, Evergreen Spiritual Saliva, Shape-Shifting Hualing Yao Cao, and Taiyi Bodhi—these four main materials have been collected."

"Now only the final ingredient, 'Five Elements Spiritual Ginseng,' remains."

"I did not expect progress to be this fast."

Qin Ming was also immensely happy in his heart; this meant he was drawing ever closer to the Nascent Soul realm.

In high spirits, he reached out and patted the Shi Tian Shu's head, asking, "What treasure do you want? Pick whatever you like."

"Thank you for the Master's reward; the Master is generous! Eh, hehe!"

Upon hearing this, the Shi Tian Shu was ecstatic; it was rare for Qin Ming to be so generous, actually letting it choose freely from the spoils.

Half an incense stick later.

The Shi Tian Shu, its arms full of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, walked happily toward the Profound Water Crocodile and the Silver-Winged Yin Yi Shuangfeng, boasting incessantly.

Qin Ming, meanwhile, returned to his usual days of cultivation, farming, and pill refining.

However, during his cultivation these past few days, an indescribable feeling arose within him, a sense of unease in his heart.

"Could it be that I missed something when I annihilated those Blood Refining Demonic Sect cultivators that day?" Yet after carefully recalling the events several times, he confirmed he had done a thorough job; shaking his head, he stopped dwelling on it.

Several months later.

The Five Elements Mountain Market, once fraught with panic and suspicion, had regained its former bustle and prosperity ever since the demonic cultivators were thoroughly purged and wiped out by the Wei Dao Alliance's Lei Ting.

Cultivators from all across Great Jin, from Tiannan to the north, gathered here once again to conduct trade and commerce.

Old Jia of the Mirror Jing Xue Ge also organized a group of people to establish a branch of their merchant house within the Five Elements Mountain Market.

The Mirror Jing Xue Ge of today was different from before; it now counted as one of the famous merchant houses in Great Jin.

It had already opened over ten branch stores in nearby markets, large and small; as its reputation spread, its annual revenue continued to grow in a straight line.

On this day.

Having completed his daily cultivation tasks, Qin Ming sat leisurely by the spiritual fields, sipping tea.

Beside him lay a table full of spiritual melons and fruits, while he brewed a pot of Snow Soul Spiritual Tea.

Like a hermit far removed from the clamor, he contentedly admired the pastoral scenery before him.

Just then.

Hua Tianxiong contacted Qin Ming via a black talisman.

"Master, there is an extremely important matter I must report to you in person."

"Oh? Where are you?"

"I have been within the Five Elements Mountain Market all this time."

"Very well, I will come over in two days."

Qin Ming slowly set down the teacup in his hand, a slight look of surprise on his face.

"It seems that fellow Hua Tianxiong has once again stumbled upon some incredible intelligence..."

Two days later.

Qin Ming arrived as promised, coming once again to the Five Elements Mountain Market.

Compared to before, the areas surrounding the Five Elements Mountain Market were now patrolled and guarded by cultivators of the Wei Dao Alliance, with heightened alertness.

The level of safety had directly jumped up a notch compared to before.

At the entrance of the market city, the trailing lights of various carriages and spirit beasts were a dazzling spectacle, while below, a long line of cultivators waited to have their identities verified before entering.

After Qin Ming landed, the guards on duty immediately stepped aside to let him pass.

"Oh! It's Shopkeeper Lu from the Mirror Jing Xue Ge."

"Please, come right in!"

Qin Ming was quite familiar with Han Yuan and the others from the Wan Dao Shang Alliance; after coming and going a few times, the cultivators below the Five Elements Mountain Market City naturally recognized him as well.

Subsequently, following the address Hua Tianxiong had given him, Qin Ming proceeded along the main road to the eastern district of the market city, winding through several alleys until he arrived before a small courtyard gate.

He immediately sent a message talisman to Hua Tianxiong.

A moment later.

The courtyard gate opened, and Hua Tianxiong, sporting a large belly, said with a flattering expression, "Master, you have arrived."

"Mn, just call me Shopkeeper Lu when we are outside," Qin Ming said indifferently.

"Hehe! Very well, Shopkeeper Lu."

Nowadays, with the Mirror Jing Xue Ge's influence greatly increased, it was only natural for him, as the shopkeeper of a commercial establishment, to have business dealings with the Thousand Mechanisms Shop.

Only after Qin Ming followed Hua Tianxiong into the courtyard did he discover that this place held more than met the eye.

The entire courtyard was protected by a high-grade isolation restriction, capable even of blocking the divine sense investigation of a True Person at the Jin Dan stage.

Additionally, a third-grade upper-quality formation guarded the courtyard.

In terms of privacy and security, one could say it had been perfected to the extreme.

It seemed Hua Tianxiong had invested no small amount of capital and effort.

"Speak, what matter do you have with me?" Qin Ming sat down in a rattan chair and asked.

Hua Tianxiong brewed a pot of fine spirit tea for Qin Ming before sitting opposite him to explain the situation.

"Hehe! Master, a big business opportunity has come knocking!"

"Here is the situation: some days ago, several of my Thousand Mechanisms Shop's Abyss-Crossing Dharma Ships withdrew from within the Great Zhou territory back to the Great Jin to avoid the war."

"Besides people from our shop, these Dharma Ships also carried quite a few cultivators who had fled as refugees from the Great Zhou."

"Among them were even some wealthy scions of the Great Zhou."

"One of them happens to be an elder of the Great Zhou's Luo family, named Luo Xi."

"This person secretly contacted me, saying that his purpose in coming to the Great Jin was to seek medicine."

"His precious son, possessing a superior-grade spiritual root talent, was severely injured by demonic cultivators during the chaotic invasion of the Dao of Demons, and his foundation was damaged."

"This old fellow somehow heard that my relationship and friendship with Grandmaster Su are extraordinary, so he entrusted me to plead with Alchemist Su on his behalf."

"He wishes to request his help in refining a spirit elixir called the 'Nine Yang Soul-Continuing Pill'."

"After the matter is accomplished, the Luo family can pay an extremely substantial reward, and as for conditions, they can be named freely."

"Furthermore, future trade cooperation can also be negotiated."

"I thought you might have use for something from this, so I wanted to discuss it with you."

"Elder Luo Xi also arranged to meet me here; he should be arriving within these two days."

"Master, would you like to meet him before making a decision?"

After finishing his speech, Hua Tianxiong rubbed his fatty hands together and looked at Qin Ming with a smile.

This was because he knew that a Dandaoda Sect grandmaster like Su Yuqing deigning to deal with him was entirely due to Qin Ming's influence.

"The Great Zhou's Luo family?"

"Have you investigated their background?"

It was not long ago that Qin Ming had slain two Blood Refining Demon Sect cultivators who had disguised themselves to sneak across the border.

Therefore, upon hearing they were cultivators from the Great Zhou Immortal Realm, he instinctively maintained an attitude of caution and care.

"I have already sent people to investigate; their origins and footing do not present any major issues."

"It is just that I am not entirely certain, which is why I wanted to ask you to vet them," Hua Tianxiong said as he poured tea for Qin Ming.

Hearing this, Qin Ming nodded, thereby agreeing to the matter.

For Hua Tianxiong to seek his instructions before acting showed he was quite clever.

"The Nine Yang Soul-Continuing Pill is a third-grade upper-quality spirit pill; only a Dandaoda Sect grandmaster of third-grade upper-quality could possibly refine it."

"Moreover, this pill is specifically used for treating soul injuries; could it be that the young master of the Luo family has suffered trauma to his divine soul?"

As a third-grade Dandaoda Sect grandmaster who also possessed the "Source Dao Alchemy Classic" transmitted by Su Yuqing, Qin Ming was naturally not unfamiliar with this kind of medicine.

Hence, he asked this question.

"About that... I once met that Young Master Luo, and while he appeared quite weak and had indeed suffered some injury to his divine soul, the specifics remain unknown," Hua Tianxiong said with an awkward smile.

Qin Ming pondered for a moment, then said, "Mn, in that case, we shall see when the time comes."

Subsequently, Qin Ming and Hua Tianxiong discussed other matters.

One day later.

Hua Tianxiong walked over with a smile on his face: "Master, Elder Luo Xi just sent me a message."

"They have brought the Young Master of the Luo family into the market city and should be arriving here shortly."

"Mn." Qin Ming took a sip of tea, appearing calm and composed as he nodded slightly.

Another half-incense stick of time passed.

Hua Tianxiong received a message talisman and personally went out to open the gate; evidently, the people had arrived.

A group of people was welcomed into the courtyard by Hua Tianxiong.

Leading them was an old man with golden hair, dressed in a magnificent robe of gold base with jade silk threads; his eyes shone with sharp light, his spirit was vibrant, and his cultivation was at the early stage of Jin Dan.

This person must be Elder Luo Xi of the Great Zhou's Luo family.

Behind him followed a sickly young man in a jade robe, his cultivation at the early Foundation Establishment stage; on his face, pale as paper, one could still faintly discern features of extraordinary handsomeness.

"Elder Luo Xi!"

"Young Master Luo Chen!"

"President Hua is too kind."

Beside the sickly young man named Luo Chen, two maids of considerable beauty constantly stayed close, supporting him on either side.

After the few entered the courtyard, they first greeted Hua Tianxiong with extreme warmth.

But when Elder Luo Xi stepped into the main hall and saw other strangers inside,

the smile on his face vanished instantly and completely.

With an ugly expression, Luo Xi turned his head and asked Hua Tianxiong in an accusatory tone, "Friend Hua, what is the meaning of this?"

"Why are there outsiders here?"

"Did I not instruct you a thousand times and urge you ten thousand? You also promised me that this matter was to be conducted in absolute secrecy."

……

(End of Chapter)