Chapter 410: Fourth-Rank Demon Elixir, The Way to Depart

"Many thanks, Daoist Lingyan, for your assistance!"

Qin Ming raised his hand to summon and store the Blood Futu, then cupped his fists toward Yue Lingyan and spoke.

This Blood Futu demonic treasure, after being re-forged by Qin Ming with the Heavy Water Pearl exotic treasure and nurtured within his innate spiritual plant using a trait, had grown in power and rank beyond its former self, proving highly effective even against a fourth-rank Demon Saint.

This was his first time using it; it was truly sharp and formidable, leaving Qin Ming quite satisfied.

If he continued to cultivate this treasure for a while longer using the 【Spirit Plant Treasures】 trait until it fully evolved and transformed into a fourth-rank spiritual treasure, it would likely become even more terrifying.

In the sky.

Yue Lingyan shifted from her four-tailed Silver Moon Sky Fox form back into a beautiful woman dressed in palace robes.

Her expression tightened as she said to Qin Ming:

"Daoist Qin need not be polite; this is no place for conversation, please follow me."

Immediately, she waved her hand to store the corpse of the Great Black Heaven Demon Saint.

Qin Ming cleaned up the residual aura at the scene, and then the two swiftly departed.

Deep within the Beast Cry Mountain Range.

Yue Lingyan produced a spirit-patterned silk tent carriage, invited Qin Ming to take a seat, revealing an extremely spacious interior.

Outside, three Green-Feathered Flying Luan birds pulled the carriage, moving with incredible speed toward the Fox Clan's sacred lands.

She poured Qin Ming a cup of spirit tea and couldn't help but ask, "How did Daoist Qin manage to provoke that fellow Great Black Heaven?"

"Alas! Daoist Lingyan must have seen that Seven Wonders Treasure Tree; this entire matter arose because of it," Qin Ming sighed.

He then recounted to her the events at the Spirit Ruin Market City, from the treasure tree's emergence to his preparations to withdraw from Great Jin and return to the Southern Wilderness.

Upon hearing this, Yue Lingyan furrowed her delicate brows and said lightly, "That fellow Great Black Heaven actually colluded with the demonic path and even blood-sacrificed a market city; in that case, he truly deserved to die."

At the same time.

She was secretly astonished by Qin Ming's strength.

After all, the Great Black Heaven Demon Saint was one of the standout figures among the Wind-Splitting Eagle clan.

When Yue Lingyan had received Qin Ming's message talisman earlier, she had still been worried whether he could hold out until she arrived.

Yet, to her complete surprise, when she reached the scene, it was the Great Black Heaven Demon Saint who was heavily injured, allowing her to strike him down and kill him in one blow.

"If my eyes do not deceive me, the cultivation method Daoist Qin practices is our clan's supreme sacred scripture, the 'Heavenly Demon Body Refining Strategy,' correct?" Yue Lingyan asked.

Qin Ming did not hide the truth and nodded, saying, "Exactly."

"Daoist Qin truly possesses extraordinary fortune to have cultivated this sacred scripture to such a profound realm."

"I have heard a thing or two about it; it is said that only those of the ancient bloodline Wang Zu rarely manage to cultivate a fleshly true elixir," Yue Lingyan clicked her tongue in wonder. "No wonder you could contend with the Great Black Heaven Demon Saint relying solely on your physical strength."

"Perhaps Daoist Qin has the chance to cultivate it to the legendary realm of the 'Heavenly Demon Body'."

"Heavenly Demon Body?" Qin Ming asked in surprise upon hearing this.

Yue Lingyan explained lightly, "Correct; this demonic scripture was founded by an ancient Demon God and is extremely difficult to cultivate, renowned for its mighty physical abilities; it is said one can reach the realm of an indestructible body and rebirth from a single drop of blood."

Qin Ming found this highly reasonable; to cultivate this body-refining method, he had spent countless rare resources along his journey to this day.

Of course, achieving today's results was entirely due to his own unremitting efforts... and a little help from his traits.

"By the way, will your intervention this time cause any trouble for you within the demon clans?" Qin Ming recalled the Great Black Heaven Demon Saint's dying words and thus asked.

Yue Lingyan smiled faintly. "It matters not; Daoist Qin need not worry. This villain once plotted against our clan and shares with me a hatred under the same sky."

"This time, with Daoist Qin's help, I have avenged that grievance."

"In the Immortal Realm, the weak are prey to the strong, and strength is supreme; so what if other demon clans know I was the one who did it?"

Her tone suggested she did not care about the matter in the slightest.

However, Qin Ming's concern stemmed from the fact that the Wind-Splitting Eagle clan still possessed a fourth-rank mid-stage Demon Saint, which was why he asked.

Seeing that Yue Lingyan dismissed it so casually, she clearly had a countermeasure ready.

Furthermore, Qin Ming was already extremely skilled at destroying corpses and erasing traces at a scene; it would be very difficult for other demons to find any clues.

Previously, Great Black Heaven had gone on a killing spree across the southern region of Great Jin to collect living souls, drawing the attention of many human cultivators.

The demon clans must also know about this; his death at the hands of a human Nascent Soul cultivator would be entirely reasonable.

Inside the spirit tent, Qin Ming and Yue Lingyan conversed, chatting and laughing cheerfully all the way.

Several days later.

The two arrived at the Fox Clan's sacred land, Twilight Mist Mountain.

Qin Ming followed her into the cave dwelling, then released the Sky-Devouring Mouse and the Profound Water Crocodile along with the third beast, letting them go play with the little silver fox.

Inside the cave dwelling, Yue Lingyan cast a barrier to isolate their auras.

Then, with her fair hand, she waved toward the ground, causing the corpse of the black demonic bird, Great Black Heaven, to appear.

Seeing this, Qin Ming understood she intended to distribute the spoils of war.

After all, a fourth-rank shapeshifting Demon Saint was a treasure trove from head to toe, offering significant benefits even to a powerful demon like Yue Lingyan.

After releasing the corpse, she immediately asked Qin Ming:

"This villain has been executed, and Daoist Qin contributed greatly; please choose first from the items on his person."

Qin Ming did not stand on ceremony; he had currently reached a critical step in cultivating the 'Heavenly Demon Body Refining Strategy' and urgently lacked the innate essence blood of a fourth-rank Demon Saint.

Previously, he had already considered that if he could not obtain fourth-rank essence blood, he would prepare to cultivate the Yuan Sha Demonic Body, refine the source demonic qi, and combine it with the 'Heavenly Demon Body Refining Strategy' to attempt breaking through to the realm of a sanctified flesh.

"In that case, I will choose the demon elixir and the essence blood; the rest shall go to Daoist Lingyan," Qin Ming said after a moment of thought.

Yue Lingyan was somewhat surprised. "Daoist Qin does not wish to see the treasures Great Black Heaven collected?"

Immediately, she waved one hand, and a bell-shaped storage magical treasure flew from the corpse into her palm.

Qin Ming swallowed hard; although he wanted them too, he understood the principle that one should not be too greedy.

The demon elixir and innate essence blood of a fourth-rank Demon Saint were already of immense value, condensing the entire essence of a shapeshifting great demon; he could not greedily seek other treasures as well.

Otherwise, it would be far too unkind.

The demon core could be used to brew a fourth-grade spirit wine of the Nascent Soul tier, or to nurture a spirit pet, and the essence blood could be used to cultivate an art—exactly what he needed.

This fourth-grade demon core, if placed out in the Immortal Realm, could even give rise to a False Infant cultivator and prop up a Daxingzong Sect.

"Very well, then this Palace shall not stand on ceremony." Yue Lingyan smiled faintly and put away that bell.

Then, with a flick of her finger, a streak of silver light shot from her hand, drawing out from the black demon bird's skull a pitch-black fourth-grade low-quality demon core, radiating an enchanting dark glow.

She also took out the Bai Yu bracelet on her hand and sealed the demon soul of the Great Black Heaven Demon Saint back into the demon core, merging the two into one.

Without that demon soul inside, the demon core would be greatly diminished, and its demon power would quickly drain away.

Right after that, Yue Lingyan plucked from beneath the Storm-Splitting Eagle's neck a blood-red plume that differed from its other feathers.

She handed the two items to Qin Ming and said: "This is the life-bound plume of the Storm-Splitting Eagle clan; all of its life-bound essence blood is stored within it as well."

Qin Ming took the demon core and plume with great delight, saying gratefully: "Then Qin Mou shall accept them with a smile."

"Hehe, this Palace has also reaped benefits. The corpse materials of the Great Black Heaven are quite crucial to a spirit treasure I plan to refine next."

"That brute also amassed quite a few treasures over his lifetime." Yue Lingyan smiled charmingly, her mood exceedingly good.

This haul would also allow her cultivation and strength to advance another step further, establishing a higher standing among the demon race.

"By the way, I wonder what Qin Daoyou plans to do next?" Yue Lingyan asked again.

Qin Ming heard this and gave a wry smile: "Originally I planned to take a merchant ship back to the Southern Wastes." "Didn't expect to run into this mess. For now I can only make other plans and find another way to leave Great Jin."

"As Lingyan Daoyou surely knows, with the Qingyuan Sect's secret realm emerging, a war among the many powers of the three great Immortal Realms is inevitable."

"Qin Mou truly does not wish to be dragged into it—I'd rather stay as far away as possible."

Yue Lingyan nodded, fully agreeing with his thinking.

"Qin Daoyou's move is extremely wise. Seeking opportunities from those sects is no different from snatching food from a tiger's mouth—one careless slip and there is the peril of utter ruin."

"What's more, the Blood Refinement Demon Sect is also watching hungrily; the opportunities are not so easily taken."

Then she added: "This Palace does happen to know of one route that could let you return to the Southern Wastes."

"Oh? That would be wonderful! Lingyan Daoyou might as well speak and let me hear it." Qin Ming's face lit up with joy at her words.

This was the benefit of interacting more with high-level cultivators—it helped broaden one's horizons and experience.

Earlier.

Qin Ming had met altogether one human Nascent Soul True Monarch, and that was the Raven Elder; however, that senior seemed rather unwilling to communicate much with him.

As a result, Qin Ming's understanding of anything above Nascent Soul was rather limited.

Yue Lingyan, however, was different—almost any question got an answer, letting Qin Ming learn many things about the various Immortal Realms he had not understood well before.

……

Half a day later.

On the grass outside the cave dwelling.

Shi Tian Shu, the Mysterious Water Crocodile, Yin Yi Shuangfeng, and the little Silver Fox—four beasts—sat on the ground, with all manner of spirit melons and spirit fruits Qin Ming had planted in the Small Xiao Lingjing laid out before them.

"Brother Rat, this little girl heard from Mother that on your way here, you ran into the pursuit of that Great Black Heaven Demon Saint?"

The little Silver Fox blinked her emerald-like eyes and asked Shi Tian Shu.

Upon hearing this, Shi Tian Shu immediately stood up, thumped his chest, and began to speak at length:

"Little Silver Fox, that's not quite right what you just said."

"What do you mean, being pursued?"

"My master was using himself as bait to lure the enemy deep in—do you get it?"

"At the time, if my master hadn't held me back, this great lord was already prepared to go out and have a go at that Great Black Heaven, teach him properly how to be a demon."

"Turned out before this great lord even made a move, that fellow was already wiped out."

"Sigh! Truly a pity."

The little Silver Fox was simple-minded; after listening, she took it as truth and said with an adoring face: "Brother Rat is indeed mighty—this little girl is in awe!"

Shi Tian Shu heard this and gave a casual wave of his little paw, gesturing grandly: "So-so. Ever since this great lord advanced to the peak of third grade, plus all those powerful magic treasures in hand, even a fourth-grade Demon Saint is worth a clash."

"It's just that I've lacked a place to stretch my limbs, that's all."

*Smack! * Just as Shi Tian Shu was about to continue blowing his own horn, a large hand came down hard on his head.

He scratched the back of his head and turned around, only to see Qin Ming and Yue Lingyan coming out of the cave dwelling.

"Still talking about clashing here—who was holding you back?"

"Didn't see you take the initiative to strike either?"

Qin Ming said to it coolly.

"Next time for sure, next time for sure!"

Shi Tian Shu immediately restrained his ways and said with a cheeky grin.

Even Yue Lingyan beside him, watching his antics, could not help but burst into laughter.

"Master, we're leaving just like that?" Shi Tian Shu could not help but ask.

Qin Ming shot it a glance and said, somewhat frustrated that it was not made of sterner stuff: "What, you want to stay here and see out the New Year?"

Every time this fellow came to Xiashan, it could hardly drag its feet away.

"Heh-heh, how could I? I was just asking off the cuff." Shi Tian Shu gave an awkward smile.

Earlier, Yue Lingyan had also tried to persuade Qin Ming to stay—after all, with the turmoil outside, it would be better to remain at the Fox Clan's Holy Land.

Xiashan possessed a fourth-grade spirit vein and was no mean cultivation treasure-land.

But how could Qin Ming bring himself to accept? Setting aside the fact that his identity as a human cultivator made it rather awkward to linger long on demon territory—

He also carried many secrets that could not be revealed before Yue Lingyan.

Better to go back to Moon-Gazing Isle, farm and develop, and prepare to charge at Nascent Soul.

Before departing, Qin Ming took out a jar of Demon Flame Wine and two Nurturing Infant Fruits from his storage bag, handed them to Yue Lingyan, and said: "Lingyan Daoyou need not see me off any further."

"Here are the Infant-Nurturing Fruits I previously promised to prepare for Little Silver Fox; additionally, this spirit wine is named 'Demon Flame Wine,' personally brewed by Qin Mou, suitable for her to drink when breaking through to the third-stage peak, possessing the effect of shattering realms."

Standing aside, Little Silver Fox heard this and her eyes immediately sparkled with light; she bowed to Qin Ming and said, "This humble one thanks Senior Qin for his generous gift!"

"Then many thanks to Daoist Qin," Yue Lingyan also said gratefully, for these spirit treasures were exceedingly precious to Little Silver Fox.

Even she, a fourth-stage Demon Saint, had been unable to obtain them.

Qin Ming smiled and said, "Just a small token of regard; moreover, when we divided the Infant-Nurturing Fruit trees earlier, this was already agreed upon."

"Daoist Qin's attainments in spirit planting are extraordinary; I did not expect you to cultivate all the Infant-Nurturing Fruit trees to maturity so quickly," Yue Lingyan said with a smile. "It seems that for Daoist Qin's return journey, forming an infant is merely a matter of time; this palace offers its congratulations in advance."

"When the time comes for Daoist Qin's Nascent Soul grand ceremony, do not forget to invite this palace."

Qin Ming replied modestly, "How difficult forming a Nascent Soul is; Qin Mou has merely encountered a slight bit of fortune."

"It is not yet certain."

"But if, by true fortune, I succeed in condensing an infant then, naturally I will invite Daoist Lingyan."

Afterwards, he stored his three spirit pets within the Small Xiao Lingjing.

At the moment of parting, Yue Lingyan took out a map and a dark-black wooden tablet, handing them to Qin Ming. "Daoist Qin, you need only follow the route marked upon it to proceed."

From her, Qin Ming learned of another method to return to the Southern Desolation.

In the eastern domain of the Black Sea, there exists a small Guidao.

On that island, private vessels will, at irregular times, depart for various locations throughout the Immortal Realm, among them the Southern Desolation Immortal Realm.

However, very few cultivators know of this channel.

Because the location of Little Guidao requires cultivators to fly there under their own power; without strength above the Jin Dan stage, reaching it is basically impossible.

Qin Ming studied the map for a while, then suddenly asked:

"Daoist Lingyan, I did not expect this Little Guidao to occupy such a peculiar geographical position, actually lying between the Black Sea and the East Sea Immortal Realm."

Yue Lingyan nodded and said, "Correct; this Little Guidao is, in fact, operated by the East Sea Immortal Realm."

"The East Sea Immortal Realm, long ago, also produced a Soul Transformation sect named 'Penglai Sect'; although talent has dwindled over the past thousand years, it still possesses an ancient Penglai Immortal Tree, maintaining an unbroken lineage of inheritance for several thousand years, so producing another Soul Transformation expert is perhaps not impossible."

……

Thanks to Daoist "President 12P" for the donation of 500 coins.

Thanks to all fellow Daoists for your voting support! (End of chapter)