Chapter 421: Collecting the Spirit Realm

Qin Ming gazed at the term in his mind, a flicker of excitement crossing his face.

Shi Tian Shu stood beside him, black steel fork in hand, frozen in place, staring in awe at the bizarre transformations of the Yin-Yang Mystic Vine: "This time, it's definitely right."

"My master, if he weren't the Fate-Selected One, how could he possess such abilities?"

But as it thought this, it heard Qin Ming call out: "Shi Tian Shu, come here."

Though unsure of Qin Ming's intent, Shi Tian Shu promptly sheathed its steel fork and hurried to his side.

"Hehe! Master, what do you need me for?"

Qin Ming immediately pulled out a black jade fruit just harvested from the Yin-Yang Mystic Vine and held it out, speaking calmly: "Here, your recent performance has been excellent—this is your reward. Eat it quickly."

In truth, Qin Ming wasn't certain what effect the black fruit had, nor whether it was toxic—he intended to test it on Shi Tian Shu first.

With Shi Tian Shu's mid-third-rank demonic king physique, even if the fruit were poisonous, it shouldn't cause serious harm. Shi Tian Shu, believing Qin Ming was truly rewarding it, seized the black jade spirit fruit without hesitation and swallowed it whole with a loud "gulp."

Immediately after,

Qin Ming observed Shi Tian Shu's reaction.

But after a long while,

Shi Tian Shu blinked at him, as if nothing had happened.

Not a single abnormality showed.

"How is it? Feel any discomfort?"

Qin Ming asked cautiously.

"Huh? Discomfort?"

"Master, what do you mean? I feel fine—actually, quite good."

Hearing this, Qin Ming frowned and muttered:

"That's odd. Why no reaction at all?"

"Could it be because you didn't chew slowly enough?"

He immediately pulled out another black jade spirit fruit and handed it to Shi Tian Shu again, instructing: "Try eating it slowly this time. Taste it properly."

Confused, Shi Tian Shu took the black jade fruit, wiped its surface, then bit into it.

Crunch.

Juice burst everywhere, crisp and refreshing.

Boom!

Shi Tian Shu's eyes flew wide open, every hair on its body stood rigid, then it collapsed motionless to the ground without warning.

Its small hand still clutched half the black jade fruit. Qin Ming, startled, exclaimed: "Could this thing be dead? Shi Tian Shu, you didn't kick the bucket, did you?"

He immediately tried to link his thoughts to Shi Tian Shu—but received no response.

"Right! Use the Four Seasons Divine Light!"

In an instant, Qin Ming activated his divine technique; a thread of emerald-green divine light emerged from his palm, then flowed into Shi Tian Shu's body.

Only moments later,

Shi Tian Shu stirred, opened its eyes, leapt to its feet, and shook its head vigorously.

"Master, what kind of spirit fruit is this? That was intense."

"Almost sent me to the other side."

Seeing it unharmed, Qin Ming relaxed and cleared his throat: "Ah! This is a heavenly spirit fruit. Consuming it brings great benefits—it's all for your own good, rest assured."

"By the way, what did you feel?"

Shi Tian Shu pondered, scratched its head, and said:

"A bit sour, then a bit bitter."

"Finally, it hit my nose hard."

"No! In my mind, I suddenly gained countless insights!"

Shi Tian Shu cried out.

It leapt up from the ground and began wildly swinging its black steel fork in midair.

Instantly, gales surged; the black steel fork in its hand seemed to come alive, moving like a coiling dragon, utterly unlike its previous state.

Dark mystic light swirled around the fork, multiplying its power, unleashing tremendous force.

"Hahaha!"

"It's insight—it's enhanced my ability to comprehend cultivation techniques!"

Shi Tian Shu shouted excitedly.

"Thank you, Master, for this reward! Could you give me two more of these black jade spirit fruits? This black spirit fruit may look plain, but it boosts insight!"

"Especially if taken before contemplating a technique—the effect is even better."

Hearing this, Qin Ming was overjoyed.

He had confirmed the true effect of the black jade spirit fruit.

He hadn't expected that his life-plant, the Yin-Yang Mystic Vine, would bloom seven-colored precious flowers and bear fruit capable of enhancing insight.

He had once read in the inheritance of a third-rank spirit herbalist about a heavenly spirit fruit with similar effects.

In the cultivation world, there was a third-rank supreme spirit plant called the Heavenly Eye Bodhi Fruit, which also enhanced insight.

He didn't know which was stronger—the black jade fruit or the Heavenly Eye Bodhi Fruit.

Qin Ming did not rush to consume the black jade fruit; instead, he stored them all in a jade box.

Then he summoned his three spirit beasts and stepped outside the small spirit realm.

"I bet the two Ancestors of Beiwang Valley never dreamed I could take this small spirit realm away with me. Hehe!"

"If they'd known this, would they still have willingly handed this realm over to me?"

"What a windfall!"

Qin Ming gazed at the valley beneath his feet, excitement shining in his eyes.

His three spirit beasts beside him were utterly baffled, unable to fathom what their master intended.

Yet as the three beasts puzzled over it,

Suddenly,

Qin Ming's hand suddenly produced a blank scroll.

This was the Landscape Scroll he had obtained after consuming the 【Xumi Shanhe】 term.

Qin Ming immediately raised the scroll toward the small spirit realm and drew it in.

In the void, a mysterious force descended upon the surroundings.

No grand or spectacular phenomena occurred.

Only after a few breaths, the Landscape Scroll in Qin Ming's hand now contained a new image.

The scene within matched exactly the interior of his small spirit realm—even the Yin-Yang Mystic Vine still grew in the center.

Lush green grass, flourishing third-rank spirit plants, fish leaping in the small lake—all rendered vividly on the paper.

Then,

Qin Ming held the scroll up and shone it upon his three spirit beasts.

The three spirit beasts vanished instantly, swallowed into the Landscape Scroll.

Shi Tian Shu's head spun dizzily—then it realized it had returned to the small spirit realm.

Moments later, Qin Ming's figure appeared as well.

"Master, what just happened?"

"Did you just absorb the entire small spirit realm into that scroll?"

Qin Ming smiled and replied: "Correct. From now on, you three won't need to live inside spirit beast bags anymore."

"You can cultivate here, in the small spirit realm, permanently."

Upon hearing this,

Shi Tian Shu, Qing Xuan Shui E, and Yin Yi Shuang Feng were instantly ecstatic.

This place was vastly larger than any spirit beast bag—far more comfortable!

"Master is truly the Fate-Selected One—he can wield such strange and unfathomable techniques!"

"To move an entire paradise like this? I've lived this long and never heard of such a thing!"

…

After securing the small spirit realm, Qin Ming pondered briefly.

"Enough. Time to return."

He mounted Yin Yi Shuang Feng, transformed into a silver streak of light, and vanished into the horizon, flying toward the Wei Kingdom.

…

PS: Thank you to "Mo Yan, Lie" for the 100 coins. Thank you all fellow cultivators for your monthly votes and recommendation votes.

(End of Chapter)