Chapter 399: Refining Pills to Feed Demons, Perfecting Body Cultivation

After seeing off Elder Cold Crow, Qin Ming returned to the room.

"I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Qin to have such great fortune, actually managing to build a relationship with Elder Cold Crow."

"Elder Cold Crow of the Profound Clear Temple is a renowned figure throughout the Immortal Realm, known as the Many-Treasures Daoist."

"However, this person is also notoriously stingy; no one has ever managed to gain an advantage from him, yet unexpectedly, he was so generous toward Fellow Daoist Qin, which truly surprises this palace lady."

Yue Lingyan's beautiful eyes sparkled as she spoke with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist Lingyan jokes too much; my acquaintance with Elder Cold Crow was merely coincidental, and we are not particularly close."

"Nevertheless, Elder Cold Crow has indeed treated Qin Mou quite well, hehe."

"In the future, I must visit him more often."

Qin Ming naturally understood clearly that Elder Cold Crow's politeness today was entirely due to being intimidated by Yue Lingyan.

Afterwards, the two continued to converse while tasting tea and incense.

Not long after.

Having gathered nearly all the information she sought from Qin Ming, Yue Lingyan bid him farewell and departed with her little silver fox.

As she left, the Sky-Devouring Rat gazed longingly, displaying an expression of reluctance to part.

"Stop looking; they've already gone."

"Phew, finally managed to send off those two big shots."

Qin Ming let out a long sigh of relief.

Following this, the spiritual fields of Five Elements Mountain returned to their usual tranquility.

The next day.

Old Jia approached respectfully, hesitated for a long while, and then cautiously asked Qin Ming:

"Shopkeeper Lu, those two seniors yesterday were..."

For low-level cultivators like them, unless they benefited from Qin Ming's influence, they would likely never have the opportunity in their entire lives to meet such major figures of the Immortal Realm.

Yesterday they witnessed it firsthand, nearly scaring themselves to death.

Old Jia never expected that their own Shopkeeper would have connections with such prominent figures.

Even Pavilion Master Gu and the others probably couldn't reach Nascent Soul experts, so no matter how hard they racked their brains, they couldn't figure it out.

Qin Ming set down the teacup in his hand and spoke with an air of serene confidence: "Those two seniors merely came to the spiritual fields to reserve purchases of Jade Emperor Spirit Rice; there is no need for you all to make a fuss over it."

"Just focus on handling your own tasks; everything proceeds as usual, do whatever needs to be done."

"There is no major issue."

Hearing Qin Ming speak thus, Old Jia's hanging heart finally settled.

He had feared that their Mirror Snow Pavilion had developed too quickly and attracted the attention of some Nascent Soul old monster.

Suddenly.

Old Jia seemed to realize something, his face lighting up with excitement as he said: "Shopkeeper Lu, this is a tremendous opportunity for us!"

"If we cultivate a good relationship with a Nascent Soul True Lord and secure such a powerful backer, wouldn't that be leaping straight to the heavens?"

"What are you thinking? Without corresponding cultivation strength, hoping to rely on a big tree for shade is unrealistic."

"To forge iron, one must be strong oneself; only by being down-to-earth and managing things steadily is the right path," Qin Ming stated plainly.

"Avoid being impetuous and restless!"

Upon hearing this, Old Jia instantly became enlightened, feeling somewhat regretful.

"Shopkeeper Lu, your foresight is indeed superior; you are absolutely right! This old man feels ashamed in comparison!"

"Mm, it's fine now; go attend to your duties."

"Yes!"

Several days later.

Within the Small Spirit Realm, a inkstone-shaped demonic treasure floated before Qin Ming; it was precisely the Blood Pagoda belonging to the Demonic Sect's Saint Son.

During the great battle, one corner of this item had been damaged by the self-detonation of Fire Voidzi's Jin Dan.

Following the artifact-refining inheritance of the Blood Refinement Demonic Sect—the "Demonic Craft Opens Creation"—Qin Ming sequentially invested the living souls of Jin Dan cultivators and various secret treasures and spiritual materials to repair the damaged demonic treasure.

This Blood Pagoda had reached the level of a pseudo-spiritual treasure, capable of trapping and suppressing enemies, unleashing Blood Refinement Demonic Light to destroy foes, making it extremely sharp and deadly.

Qin Ming had personally witnessed the Demonic Sect's Saint Son use this treasure to annihilate an entire group of cultivators from the Myriad Daoes Merchant Alliance.

He had also easily sent the renowned Fire Voidzi and Elder Jin Han of the Jin Dan stage fleeing in panic and terror.

If Fire Voidzi, that reckless brute, hadn't self-detonated his Jin Dan at the end, the outcome would have been uncertain.

As Qin Ming employed special demonic artifact-refining techniques, he gradually fused the required materials into the Blood Pagoda.

Hum~ The blood-red inkstone floating before Qin Ming began to tremble violently, subsequently emitting an intensely dense blood light.

It emitted an aura surpassing that of a top-grade third-tier magical treasure, even exceeding that of his own life-bound magical treasure, the Wood Emperor Nail.

Qin Ming immediately bit through his tongue, spat a strand of essential blood into it, and began refining this demonic treasure.

As time passed, the residual aura imprint of Jiang Yuan within it was completely cleansed by Qin Ming.

He continued to circulate the magic power within his body to deeply refine the Blood Pagoda, also refining and incorporating the Heavy Water Bead obtained from Wen Yuliang, the Nascent Soul seed of the Divine Path Mountain, into the demonic treasure.

In this way, it could not only suppress cultivation but also restrict a cultivator's movements within the demonic treasure, allowing arbitrary control over spatial gravity.

Fortunately, this demonic treasure could be driven and activated using a cultivator's magic power, unlike that Source Demonic Bead, which required cultivating demonic magic power to control.

After much thought, Qin Ming realized that possessing the "Yuan Cha Seed Demonic True Scripture," the supreme demonic cultivation technique, he would likely belong to the top of the food chain once cultivated.

However, unless absolutely necessary, he still did not wish to cultivate this demonic art.

If he did so, someday he might encounter a high-level cultivator who also practiced this pig-farming demonic art, resulting in a situation where either he dies or they die.

Another half-month passed.

The Blood Pagoda demonic treasure was completely repaired and successfully refined by Qin Ming; he then consumed another 【Spirit Plant Seed Treasure】 trait, placing it within his innate spirit plant, the Yin-Yang Profound Vine, to be nurtured.

"Next, I believe that after the precipitation of the power of years, this Blood Pagoda may even surpass its original grade, becoming a true fourth-grade demonic treasure with power exceeding what it was before."

Qin Ming looked up at his innate spirit plant, his heart filled with anticipation.

Subsequently, he also refined the 'Demon Luo Heavenly Curtain' demonic treasure; this treasure's greatest function remained spatial sealing.

After accomplishing these tasks, Qin Ming began preparing to refine the 'Blue Nether Yellow Springs Pill'.

He took out Jiang Yuan's dark red Jin Dan, along with the Wind-Thunder Cauldron.

Immediately afterward, he removed all the auxiliary materials one by one, causing them all to float before him.

Qin Ming opened his mouth and blew; the blue fire phoenix formed from the Spirit-Devouring Poison Flame danced out and began heating the pill furnace.

Although this was his first time refining a demonic path pill, and he was even using the Jin Dan of a Demonic Sect Holy Son,

Qin Ming's current attainment in the Dao of Pills was already far beyond what it had been in the past; after obtaining Su Yuqing's 'Source Dao Pill Classic', he could even aspire to the realm of a fourth-grade Pill King.

During these recent days, Qin Ming had already thoroughly studied the entire demonic path pill inheritance of the Blood Refinement Demonic Sect, the 'Blood Refinement Pill Classic'.

"The first step of refinement: warm the furnace, and grind the cultivator's Jin Dan into fine powder."

Just as Qin Ming was refining the pill, the Sky-Devouring Rat, the Profound Water Crocodile, and the Silver-Winged Frost Bee, the three beasts, lay quietly at the entrance of the cave dwelling.

They dared not breathe heavily, their eyes revealing thick longing as they watched Qin Ming refine the pill with extremely excited expressions.

After Qin Ming ground the Jin Dan into fine powder, he proceeded to extract medicinal embryos from the other auxiliary materials, prepare the medicinal liquid, and control the fire intensity.

Finally, the medicinal liquid was thrown into the pill furnace for fusion, awaiting pill condensation.

However, the Blue Nether Yellow Springs Pill was quite special; during this process, a full forty-nine days were required.

Time passed bit by bit.

The Sky-Devouring Rat and the other two beasts hardly moved a step away, guarding the cave entrance.

Qin Ming employed the pill refining technique from the 'Blood Refinement Pill Classic', carrying out the tempering day after day.

Finally, they endured until the forty-ninth day.

Li! Accompanied by the sound of ghostly wails and demonic howls, a rich bloody qi overflowed and scattered from the pill furnace within the cave dwelling.

The Sky-Devouring Rat, which had been dozing, instantly shook with renewed vigor! It nudged its sensitive nose and exclaimed with great joy: "It's done! The Blue Nether Yellow Springs Pill!"

"Second Brother, Third Brother, we're about to take off!" Having refined pills continuously for a long time, Qin Ming's spirit not only showed no signs of fatigue but became increasingly spirited.

His current Jin Dan magic power was immensely robust; even with continuous, long-duration pill refining, there was not the slightest sign of weakening.

As Qin Ming executed the final pill condensation technique, a sheet of bloody light rose from atop the Wind-Thunder Cauldron.

The bloody light interwove and coalesced together, forming a demon with a green face and fangs, which opened its giant mouth.

Suspended within its giant mouth were nine pills, pale yellow throughout, yet what lingered on their surfaces was not spiritual essence.

Instead, it was a ring of scarlet demonic qi, giving people an extremely eerie feeling, as if they had truly been born from the mouth of a Yellow Springs evil ghost.

Qin Ming gently raised his hand and beckoned, and the nine Blue Nether Yellow Springs Pills fell into his palm.

"Third-grade top-grade pills!"

"As expected, demonic pills refined using a Demonic Sect Holy Son's Jin Dan are extraordinary."

"In the future, this will likely be the only opportunity."

"A Demonic Sect Holy Son's Jin Dan is not something one can just find."

"These nine pills can be considered unique."

"Not only can they raise one's demonic path cultivation to the peak of the Jin Dan realm, but they can also elevate a demon race member's cultivation by one small realm."

Qin Ming took out one pill and held it in his hand to observe.

The Sky-Devouring Rat could no longer restrain its excitement; drool dripped from its mouth as its eyes revealed an expression of anticipation.

"Master, is this... has the Blue Nether Yellow Springs Pill been successfully refined? Hee-hee!"

Qin Ming smiled faintly. "Naturally, it has been refined; moreover, the grade has even somewhat exceeded my expectations."

"This pill was refined using that Demonic Sect Holy Son's Jin Dan as the main material, condensing the essence of his entire life's cultivation; its medicinal efficacy far surpasses ordinary pills."

"Ah? That's wonderful!" At this moment, the Sky-Devouring Rat's eyes held nothing but the pill in Qin Ming's hand, and it kept rubbing its small paws together.

Seeing that it could no longer hold back, Qin Ming immediately tossed three Blue Nether Yellow Springs Pills to it.

"Thank you, Master, for bestowing the pills!" the Sky-Devouring Rat said joyfully as it caught them.

Then he said to the Sky-Devouring Rat: "Not all of them are for you; you must share one each with Second Brother and Third Brother."

"Although this Blue Nether Yellow Springs Pill is good, it is only effective upon the first consumption; given this pill's grade, it is sufficient for all three of you to break through one small realm."

"Yes, yes, yes, Second Brother and Third Brother won't be left out," the Sky-Devouring Rat hurriedly nodded in agreement.

Qin Ming then took out an exquisite jade bottle, placed two Blue Nether Yellow Springs Pills inside, and handed it over with instructions:

"After you consume this pill, there is a nine out of ten chance you will break through again, after all, it contains the essence of that Demonic Sect Holy Son's Jin Dan."

"As for these remaining two, you are to deliver them to Yue Lingyan on my behalf; you cannot be the only one enjoying good fortune, do not forget Little Silver Fox."

"When you go to the Fox Race's Twilight Mist Mountain this time, take Second Brother and Third Brother with you, and take the opportunity to break through using the Fox Race's treasured land."

"The Five Elements Mountain has been too chaotic recently; if you break through here, it will attract too much attention; it is better to keep a low profile."

The Sky-Devouring Rat nodded repeatedly. "Master, just rest assured!"

"Mm, alright, go quickly and return quickly," Qin Ming said indifferently.

Immediately, the Sky-Devouring Rat exited the cave dwelling, chest puffed out, marching with vigorous spirit.

It weighed the pills in its hand and said to the Profound Water Crocodile and the Silver-Winged Frost Bee with an arrogant expression:

"See this? What is it?"

"This is the ladder to becoming a Form-Transforming Demon Saint!"

"Once I consume this pill, this Great Master will be able to break through to the peak of the third grade!"

"Just one final step remains before I can achieve a formed body and roam freely throughout the Human Realm! Hehehe!"

"Of course, Second and Third, you two will get a share as well."

"I didn't expect to meet that little Silver Fox again so soon."

"She certainly won't anticipate that this Great Master is about to deliver her a grand gift, will she?"

The Shi Tian Shu, brimming with arrogance and forgetting all caution, boasted and sighed for a while, noticing that the Profound Water Crocodile and the Yin Yi Shuangfeng were both gazing at it with expressions of intense longing.

It felt the timing was just right.

Immediately, it separated two Bilo Huang Quan Pills and distributed them to the pair.

Right after, the Yin Yi Shuangfeng expanded its form; the Shi Tian Shu and the Profound Water Crocodile leaped onto its back, transforming into a streak of silver light that vanished instantly above the spirit fields.

The spirit farmers working below merely felt a brief moment of mental blankness, but upon looking up, they discovered nothing at all.

They immediately resumed tending to their spirit fields.

Qin Ming felt no worry regarding his three beast pets; he estimated that upon their return, their strength would have surged dramatically.

"The Holy Son of the Devil Sect is truly a great benefactor; after delivering treasures and resources, his corpse became fertilizer for spirit plants, his Jin Dan turned into pills for my spirit pets to advance, and his flesh and blood became blood pearls to irrigate my innate spirit plant."

"It is simply a selfless dedication..."

"... making the most of every single part to the utmost degree..."

"One could say his entire body was a treasure, with not a shred wasted..."

After sighing with emotion for a moment, he extended his divine sense to open the Lei Yuanmo Pearl and retrieved from within that bottle of third-stage peak Chi Tong Eyed Tian Lin essence blood.

"Matters are nearly settled."

"It is also time for the Jin Dan chapter of my body-refining art, the 'Heavenly Demon Body Refining Strategy,' to be cultivated to the true pill perfection realm."

Qin Ming stepped outside to the base of his innate spirit plant, the Yang Xuanteng Tree.

He first circulated his energy to regulate his breath; the flawless Jin Dan within his dantian sea of qi, along with his physical true pill, emitted a soul-stirring radiance.

Subsequently, Qin Ming removed the bottle cap, and a wave of bloody, scorching evil qi rushed straight toward his face.

Accompanying it were the roars and struggles of the demonic beast's essence soul from within.

With a look of firm resolve, he did not hesitate for an instant and directly swallowed the entire bottle of essence blood.

Boom! In that split second, a torrent of energy resembling rolling, scalding heat waves swept through his entire body like an overwhelming tide.

Qin Ming began to circulate his cultivation technique according to the Hundred Beasts Contemplation Diagram.

The power of qi and blood within his body continued to climb relentlessly.

"The Chi Tong Eyed Tian Lin Beast is indeed a third-stage peak great demon of the Blood Universe Realm; even in the Upper Realm, such a existence would be as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns."

After a fierce struggle, the living soul of this Chi Tong Eyed Tian Lin Beast was also completely subdued by Qin Ming's Demon Ape.

In that instant.

A surge of power erupted from Qin Ming's body and began to transform and strengthen his physical form.

The physical true pill inside his body also directly expanded by a full circle, containing immensely vigorous power.

Gradually, the essence soul of this Chi Tong Eyed Tian Lin was devoured by the Demon Ape and merged into the body of the Eight-Armed Demon Ape.

The blood-colored figure of the Eight-Armed Demon Ape behind Qin Ming shot up another significant height, reaching a colossal size of one hundred and fifty zhang.

After absorbing the essence blood of the Chi Tong Eyed Tian Lin, its innate divine ability was also refined, further strengthening the Law-Breaking Heavy Eye located in the center of the Demon Ape.

When the True Gang Form Transformation was unleashed, a layer of astonishingly powerful Chi Lin Heavenly Fire enveloped the eight fists between the giant ape's arms.

With every gesture and movement, it radiated a power capable of destroying heaven and earth.

A terrifying aura emanated from Qin Ming; as he formed a hand seal, the blood-colored illusory figure behind him was entirely drawn back into his body.

"Success! The True Pill Perfection Realm of the 'Heavenly Demon Body Refining Strategy'!"

"Only one final step remains before I can step into the realm of Martial Breaking the Void and Physical Sagehood! That is a physical layer surpassing ordinary Formed Demon Sages!"

"However, reaching this step requires conditions of exceedingly high demand."

Thus, Qin Ming's true pill reached perfection, and his True Extreme Body was also cultivated to a state of perfect completion without leakage.

His law-warding attribute was now maxed out, allowing him to directly withstand magical arts and divine ability attacks from an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

Nowadays, relying on the strength of his physical true pill at perfection, he could even contend with an old monster at the early-stage Nascent Soul realm.

Within Qin Ming's pupils lay a layer of crimson-golden divine light; his gaze sparkled, strange and extraordinary, as if capable of piercing through everything.

As he ceased his cultivation technique, the crimson-golden light in his eyes faded and dimmed, gradually returning to its original state—deep as ink, with his spirit concealed inward.

(End of Chapter)