Chapter 407: The Changing World

Sanxiancheng, Chunfeng Huayu Tower.

Qin Ming and Chen Bei Qing Xuan, the Young Master of Jin Jin Kuizong, sat in a window-side private room conversing.

Chen Bei Qing Xuan respectfully poured him spirit wine, smiling as he said: "Senior Qin, please taste this Zui Xian Niang—see if it suits your palate."

"Hmm, not bad. Sit down, don't be formal," Qin Ming said, raising his cup and draining it, then offering a faint smile.

Chen Bei Qing Xuan sat down and poured himself a cup of spirit wine.

He had not met the True Person Qin for the first time.

Over the past ten years, the True Person Qin had visited Sanxiancheng at least five or six times, and he had always been the one to host him.

The True Person Qin gave him the impression of being among the more temperate of the Golden Core elders.

This greatly reduced the pressure he felt when speaking with him.

And every time the True Person Qin came, he inquired about the latest developments in the cultivation world.

This time was likely no different.

"Young Master Chen, tell me—what's the current situation in the cultivation world? Have any new events occurred?" Qin Ming asked bluntly.

Unlike before.

This time, Chen Bei Qing Xuan did not answer immediately. Instead, he poured Qin Ming another cup of spirit wine, his expression complex, hesitating, unsure how to begin.

Seeing his demeanor, Qin Ming guessed something had changed, and said: "Young Master Chen, speak freely—no need to hold back."

Chen Bei Qing Xuan finally spoke: "Reporting to Senior Qin, the current situation is truly dire!"

"A year ago, the beast surge in the Beast Roar Mountains and the ghost disaster in Liang State's Taihu Lake erupted simultaneously once more."

"And their scale was unprecedented—nearly the entire populations poured forth."

"Even more bizarrely, these beasts and ghosts appeared to have conspired together in advance."

"Under the call of Xuanxi Valley in Liang State, the three states of Wei, Liang, and Wu, along with Canghai Immortal City, formed an alliance; even our own sects, upon the directive of the two elder ancestors of Beiwang Valley, dispatched reinforcements."

"But who could have imagined that within the beast clan, two late-stage Gao Gao Jie semi-transformed beast kings emerged?"

"One was the Green-Faced Poisonous Dragon, the other the Golden Toad Beast King."

"Several Golden Core elders from the three states fought them."

"But at the critical moment, the Six Demon Sects betrayed them from behind."

"In that battle, the Ten-Thousand Elder of Xuanxi Valley and the Elder Yuheng Elder perished outright."

"The Wei Elder of Lei Lei Yuanzong and the Lu Elder of Beiwang Valley returned severely wounded."

"The beast surge and ghost disaster have now begun to devour and encroach upon the territories of the three states; the current situation for humanity is perilous."

After speaking, Chen Bei Qing Xuan's mood grew heavy.

After hearing this latest news, Qin Ming fell into deep thought.

"I never expected such drastic changes within just a few years."

"Alas—even Ten-Thousand Friend and Elder Yuheng Friend could not escape this tribulation."

"Do you know who killed the two elder ancestors?"

Chen Bei Qing Xuan nodded and said: "Elder Yuheng Elder fell to the Green-Faced Poisonous Dragon; Ten-Thousand Elder was assassinated by the Huosang Elder of Lei Yuanmo Sect."

Qin Ming nodded slightly.

What puzzled him was that the Golden Toad Elder from the Taihu Ruins had allied with the Green-Faced Poisonous Dragon.

Two semi-transformed beast kings working together was something almost no one could have foreseen.

Now, the remaining Golden Core combat strength of the three states consists only of Lady Nalan Xi of Canghai Immortal City, Wei Wu Ya of Lei Lei Yuanzong, Pei Qing and Lu Xiao of Beiwang Valley, and Qing Qing Xuan and Qing Yu of Xuanxi Valley.

Among them, only Qing Qing Xuan is Gao Gao Jie; Lady Nalan Xi is Zhong Qi; the rest are all Chu Ji—far too weak to stand against the two semi-transformed great beasts.

And they must constantly guard against demonic attacks.

"Alas—wolves in front, tigers behind."

After analyzing the current situation, Qin Ming's mood grew oppressive.

"Heh, fortunately, our Wu State remains relatively stable, less affected than the other states."

"Mainly because of your presence, True Person Qin, plus the two elder ancestors of Beiwang Valley—three Golden Cores holding the line."

"The beast surge and ghost disaster won't reach here anytime soon, and those demonic scoundrels dare not lay a hand on Wu State."

As Chen Bei Qing Xuan spoke these words, he subtly flattered Qin Ming, this venerable Golden Core True Person.

Qin Ming merely shook his head dismissively: "When the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold. If Liang and Wei cannot hold, Wu State's fall is inevitable."

"Yes, yes! Senior Qin sees far ahead—your words are wise," Chen Bei Qing Xuan hurriedly replied.

Qin Ming then continued conversing with him, inquiring about other matters.

"You've done well. Keep watching for changes in the situation."

As his words faded, Qin Ming's body dissolved into ripples and vanished.

In a daze, Chen Bei Qing Xuan saw a jade vial appear on the table. He picked it up, opened it—and inside lay a high-grade Er Gao Jie Yu Qing Xuan Pill! He was overwhelmed with excitement, bowing outward: "Thank you, Senior Qin, for your generous gift!"

After leaving Sanxiancheng, Qin Ming decided to visit Beiwang Valley—he was certain Pei Qing and Lu Xiao held firsthand information.

He spent ten days traveling and arrived at Beiwang Valley.

The news he received from the two elder ancestors was largely the same as Chen Bei Qing Xuan's.

Especially when Qin Ming saw Lu Xiao.

He was grievously wounded, his aura dim and feeble.

"Alas! Friend Qin, I am ashamed! The Green-Faced Poisonous Dragon's power far surpasses ours human Golden Cores. Had it not been for our numerical advantage, I might never have seen you again."

Lu Xiao's voice carried a trace of bitterness.

Qin Ming activated the Yin-Yang Qing Xuan Yang Jian technique, peering into Lu Xiao's body—he saw his verdant vitality greatly diminished. In his dantian, a dark green miasma clung like a parasitic worm.

Clearly, he had been poisoned by the dragon's demonic art.

"Friend Lu, your complexion is poor, and a poison has infiltrated your magic power—it's quite dangerous," Qin Ming said calmly.

Lu Xiao and Pei Qing were startled. Pei Qing immediately asked: "Friend Qin, do you have a cure?"

"To be honest, Friend Qin, the Green-Faced Poisonous Dragon's demonic art is formidable. My younger brother was only grazed while retreating—and still contracted this strange poison, impossible to remove."

"For the past year, we've tried every method—none have worked."

Qin Ming, unhurried, took out a jade vial and placed it before them: "This is a Gao Gao Jie Zhong Pin Shui Yun Pill I brewed in my spare time—it heals wounds and specifically cures all manner of strange poisons."

Lu Xiao's eyes lit up with joy. He picked up the vial and opened it.

Inside lay a Gao Gao Jie water-elemental detoxifying pill, radiating potent spiritual aura.

"Friend Qin, thank you."

"We should have sought your help sooner."

"What price do you ask for this Shui Yun Pill?"

Qin Ming said: "Fifteen high-grade spirit stones—or equivalent spiritual materials."

"No problem—deal!"

After the transaction, Qin Ming stayed half a day in Beiwang Valley, then took his leave from the two elder ancestors.

…

As Qin Ming flew back toward Xiao Xiao Lingjing, he pondered.

"I went out for a short trip—and the situation has deteriorated this badly?"

"Even Golden Core elders have perished."

"Truly terrifying."

"Even Chu Ji Golden Cores are no longer safe."

"Fortunately, my Jade Emperor Spirit Rice is about to mature."

"No Nascent Soul True Person can breach Xiao Xiao Lingjing—it's still relatively safe."

…

Not long after Qin Ming departed Beiwang Valley.

Along the border between Jin State and Wu State.

In a desolate, open wasteland.

The air twisted, rippling as if something were writhing to emerge.

*Wum*—a jet-black radiance burst from the ground, forming myriad dark runes. Centered on several dark symbols, they wove into a massive circular pattern over ten zhang in diameter.

As all the dark runes settled into place, a powerful surge erupted from the void.

Then, hundreds of beams of light plummeted straight from the heavens.

The light dispersed, revealing a large group of demonic cultivators clad in the robes of the Six Demon Sects, stepping forth from the void.

Among them, two figures at the front clearly led the group.

One was a young man with a sinister gaze, high cheekbones, a hooked nose, and a faint smile that radiated cold malice.

His aura pulsed with the power of Foundation Establishment completion.

The other was a handsome man, his eyes frivolous, every movement exuding an uncanny allure.

Also at Foundation Establishment completion.

"Ye Ye Wuxian, how well does our Demon Network Teleport Array work?" the hooked-nose man sneered.

The handsome man, Ye Ye Wuxian, smirked, lightly brushing his hair with his fingers, laughing carelessly: "Your Lei Yuanmo Sect actually brought out this array? Not bad."

"Qiu Ye, after this mission, your Bloodthirsty Demon Art should advance another level, right?"

Qiu Ye replied: "Not certain. My demon art requires the life-souls of cultivators—ordinary mortals are useless."

He then shifted tone: "But your Six Desires Passion Thread Sword—after this, shouldn't it ascend to a Gao Gao Jie demonic weapon?"

"Getting ready for Core Formation—maybe your Joyful Sect will produce another Golden Core practitioner, hehehe."

"Not yet."

"Since we've been sent by our two sects to lead the charge against Wu Country, we can't afford to fail."

"Otherwise, we won't have an easy time when we return," said Ye Ye Wuxian.

Qiu Ye said dismissively: "Our two sects' target is only those few minor sects; someone from Beast King Valley will handle the rest."

As he spoke, he pointed upward.

"Besides that, who in Wu Country could possibly stand against us?"

After a moment's thought, Ye Ye Wuxian suddenly said: "Yes—Wangyue True Person."

"I've heard he's been traveling in Wu Country for years; back then, even the two Golden Core practitioners of Lingyun Sect couldn't match him—he slew them both with overwhelming force. If he intervenes—"

Qiu Ye cut in: "You know the three senior lords who came this time are from our Upper Sect."

"How could one man possibly stand against this tide of fate?"

Hearing this, Ye Ye Wuxian of the Joyful Sect fell silent and gave a strange smile.

Then, one group after another of demonic cultivators were secretly teleported in.

They crossed Wu Country's border without a trace.

(End of Chapter)