Chapter 462: Replica Ancient Treasure, Spirit-Binding Ring

"Friend Qin Dao, this old man also has a piece of news regarding the Sun God Stone—do you think it's enough to exchange for one Hunyuan Pill?"

Tianjizi of the Western You Immortal Realm spoke leisurely, then flicked his finger, passing him a yellow jade slip.

Qin Ming immediately took the jade slip, scanned its contents, and after a moment said, "Deal."

The Sun God Stone is an extreme yang artifact of the Immortal Realm, known as one of the Three Divine Stones.

Even a speck the size of a bean is immensely precious; compared to it, medicinal ingredients and spirit materials are nowhere near as valuable, and truly hard to find.

To obtain news of it is already quite good.

He then handed one Hunyuan Pill to Tianjizi.

Tianjizi took the spirit pill, and his face immediately lit up with deep joy.

At once, Qin Ming became the focus of all cultivators present, and the Hunyuan Pill in his hand became the most coveted item.

Then,

Qin Ming also exchanged his remaining three spirit pills for several notable fourth-rank spirit materials, truly reaping a great harvest.

"Then, let this palace present its treasure," said Nan Mengli, the Supreme Elder of the Crystal Palace, rising slowly, her bearing elegant and noble.

She flipped her slender hand, and a thin, cicada-wing-like green gauze robe appeared before them.

She then introduced: "This 'Biling Xuanyi' is a fourth-rank lower-grade defensive spiritual treasure, capable of withstanding a full-force strike from a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator, and also possesses the effect of defending against soul attacks."

As soon as this item appeared, it immediately captured the attention of all Nascent Soul cultivators present.

"Fourth-rank spiritual treasure!"

The old monsters' eyes burned with desire, fixed unblinkingly on Nan Mengli's treasure.

Once cultivators reach their realm, they naturally cherish their lives above all else; moreover, this defensive spiritual treasure can even resist soul attacks—its value instantly doubled.

After all, a Nascent Soul cultivator's entire essence resides in the Nascent Soul.

The rarity of this treasure was self-evident.

"I never expected Daoist Nan Mengli would be willing to part with such a treasure for exchange—rumors say the Crystal Palace excels in artifact crafting, and indeed, the reputation is well-deserved!"

"What does Daoist Nan Mengli require in exchange for this Biling Xuanyi?"

A Huang-named Nascent Soul hermit spoke up, showing great interest.

Nan Mengli smiled gently and replied: "One bottle of pill to enhance Nascent Soul magic power, or two fourth-rank demon core pills."

"Uh…" the Huang-named cultivator fell silent.

For although the Biling Xuanyi was excellent, the exchange terms were far too steep.

Not to mention that pills for Nascent Soul cultivators are hard to obtain—only a fourth-rank Danwang with exceptional alchemical skill can forge them.

Fourth-rank demon cores are even rarer; a fourth-rank transformed demon saint possesses strength comparable to a human Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator.

Nascent Soul early-stage cultivators often need several cultivators working together to slay a fourth-rank early-stage transformed demon.

And even then, success is not guaranteed.

After all, transformed demon saints have formidable bodies; if they are determined to flee, Nascent Soul early-stage cultivators cannot stop them.

As soon as Nan Mengli stated her terms, many immediately backed off.

Her gaze fell upon Qin Ming, her eyes asking silently—only Qin Ming, she suspected, could produce a whole bottle of Hunyuan Pills.

But Qin Ming had little interest in this defensive spiritual treasure.

His current physical body and soul were so powerful that even an ordinary Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator could not inflict meaningful harm upon him.

There was no need to go through such trouble.

Seeing Qin Ming had no intention to trade, Nan Mengli's expression showed faint disappointment.

"I happen to have one fourth-rank early-stage demon core—a earth-aspect core from a Fandi Jia Beast—would it suffice for exchange?"

A voice, unmistakably familiar, spoke calmly beside him.

It was Han Ya Shangren!

Qin Ming looked at the green-robed youth beside him with surprise and remarked: "Daoist Han Ya, your good treasures truly never cease—how can you even have a fourth-rank demon core? Qin Mou is truly envious!"

Han Ya Shangren merely replied with casual ease: "Just relics left by my ancestor—I could never slay a fourth-rank demon saint myself."

Hearing this, Qin Ming couldn't help but sneer—another rich second-generation.

Nan Mengli took the demon core, inspected it briefly, then smiled with delight.

"Deal."

Amid the envious and jealous gazes of all present, Han Ya Shangren quietly retrieved the Biling Xuanyi without showing any emotion.

Shi Tian Shu blinked, whispering secretly to Han Ya Shangren: "Senior Han Ya, you're showing off too much—be careful."

Han Ya Shangren's face twitched slightly, yet remained as steady as Mount Tai: "Relax. After this alliance is formed, the Mengzhu has ordered a ceasefire; otherwise, I wouldn't have revealed a fourth-rank demon core so openly."

"Alright, now it's my turn," said Long Mu Zhenjun, pulling out several long jade boxes. She lifted the lids to reveal a pure-white spirit ginseng, a translucent ice-blue spirit herb emitting a blue flame, and a green spirit fruit.

"A 4,500-year-old Ziyou Xue Ginseng, a 3,000-year-old Mo Yan Cao, a 3,200-year-old Tianchan Spirit Fruit."

"These three fourth-rank spirit plants are to be exchanged for some Qingkong Qingkong Lingrang, or equivalent spirit items."

As soon as her treasures appeared, they immediately drew considerable attention.

These three spirit materials are highly useful for Nascent Soul cultivators, whether for pill-making or talisman crafting.

Qin Ming involuntarily glanced at Han Ya Shangren—this fellow clearly still had more treasures, and even now looked eager to act.

Yet after a bout of inner struggle, he ultimately forced himself to hold back.

Perhaps reminded by Shi Tian Shu, showing off too much was never a good thing.

"This Daoist will trade with Daoist Long Mu—I happened to acquire some Qingkong Qingkong Lingrang, though not much," said the Huang-named hermit, immediately handing over a jade box to Long Mu Zhenjun.

Long Mu Zhenjun took it, inspected it, her expression brightening slightly, then turning to faint regret: "It is indeed Qingkong Qingkong Lingrang—but the quantity is insufficient; it can only cover one spirit material. What do you say, Huang Daoist?"

"Then I'll take the Mo Yan Cao," said the Huang-named hermit calmly.

"Deal."

The transaction between both parties was completed.

This caused everyone to cast several more glances at that yellow-surnamed rogue cultivator; they hadn't expected this obscure figure to continuously produce such fine treasures.

Subsequently.

Prince Xuanxiao, the Third Prince of the East Sea Long Gong, casually waved his hand and produced two jade boxes, and upon opening them, a dense wave of demonic energy rushed forth.

Inside were conspicuously one blue and one purple fourth-tier demon core.

"These two early fourth-tier demon cores are exchanged for spiritual items of equal value."

"Transactions using high-grade spirit stones are also acceptable."

As soon as the two demon cores appeared, the Nascent Soul cultivators present erupted in an uproar, immediately beginning to communicate secretly among themselves.

Because at their realm, they rarely used spirit stones for transactions anymore.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, I truly didn't expect this; it seems the sea races are not a monolithic block internally either."

"When killing their own people, they are not soft-hearted in the slightest," Elder Han Ya transmitted secretly to Qin Ming.

"This seat has heard that the sea races' spirit stone resources are far less abundant than those of the human races, which is why they proposed trading with spirit stones."

"Fellow Daoist Qin, this is a rare opportunity! Once you pass this village, where else can you buy fourth-tier demon cores with spirit stones?"

Qin Ming nodded slightly.

He was also extremely interested in these two fourth-tier demon cores.

Furthermore, since they could be traded for spirit stones, in an instant, the crowd of Nascent Soul cultivators began bidding eagerly.

"Twelve thousand high-grade spirit stones."

"Fifteen thousand high-grade spirit stones."

"This old man offers twenty thousand!"

"Twenty-two thousand!"

"Twenty-five thousand!" Guang Lingzi from the Profound Nether Palace looked arrogant, seeming determined to win.

The resources of the Northern Cold Immortal Realm were also quite abundant, especially with various rare spiritual mines emerging endlessly, making them appear wealthy and powerful.

"Twenty-eight thousand high-grade spirit stones, plus one fourth-tier Infant-Nurturing Fruit," Qin Ming stated his bid calmly. After he named his price, Guang Lingzi's expression twisted several times, but ultimately he did not continue competing with Qin Ming.

He only gazed deeply at Qin Ming once.

"I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Qin to actually be able to produce a spiritual item like the Infant-Nurturing Fruit; in that case, congratulations," Guang Lingzi said resentfully.

Upon hearing about a spiritual item like the Infant-Nurturing Fruit.

Prince Xuanxiao's golden eyes immediately brightened, and he agreed at once: "Then these two demon cores belong to Fellow Daoist Qin."

Qin Ming immediately took out the spirit stones and the Infant-Nurturing Fruit and handed them over to the other party.

Putting away the two fourth-tier demon cores, he felt a small surge of secret joy in his heart.

With these two demon cores, he could refine quite a few pills and spiritual wines.

The Nascent Soul exchange meeting lasted a full day before ending.

As the time was about right, Elder Zhiyang stood up and said:

"Very well, the exchange meeting among fellow Daoists has proceeded sufficiently; Ben Alliance has also prepared three treasures for you all, just to add flowers to the brocade."

Having spoken, he waved his hand, and three jade boxes appeared floating in the mid-air of the great hall.

Elder Zhiyang flicked his finger, opening one of the jade boxes to reveal a pill familiar to Qin Ming.

"Infant-Condensing Pill!!"

All the Nascent Soul old monsters were greatly invigorated, because such strategic-level pills rarely circulated.

They hadn't expected that at this Immortal Mansion grand meeting, the Star Palace would actually be willing to release one.

After all, although the Infant-Condensing Pill only had a thirty percent chance of successfully condensing an infant, such an ancient miraculous medicine existed in extremely small quantities even within Nascent Soul sects.

Firstly, the spiritual materials needed to refine the Infant-Condensing Pill were extremely difficult to gather and required very high years; secondly, alchemists capable of successfully refining it were few and far between, with an absurdly high failure rate.

Even for these Nascent Soul sects present, the Infant-Condensing Pills they used were all inherited from ancient times or brought out from secret realms.

Once used, there was one less.

Alchemists Kings capable of refining the Infant-Condensing Pill were controlled only by Soul Transformation sects.

Furthermore, the Infant-Condensing Pill had a certain probability of spawning a Nascent Soul cultivator, greatly increasing a sect's strength; its significance goes without saying.

Therefore, dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators began bidding one after another; the scene was exceptionally fierce and hot, nearly to the point of fighting until their heads broke and blood flowed.

Ultimately, this Infant-Condensing Pill was taken by Tianjizi from the Western Nether Immortal Realm at an extremely high price.

Qin Ming, however, was not interested in the Infant-Condensing Pill; nowadays, within his Small Spirit Realm, he lacked none of the spiritual materials needed to refine pills, and whenever he wished, he could refine it himself.

Subsequently.

Elder Zhiyang opened the second item and introduced it: "This second item is a fourth-tier low-grade spiritual treasure, the Spirit-Trapping Ring, refined as a replica of the ancient treasure Five Elements Ring."

As soon as his voice fell, everyone's expressions shook greatly once more.

"Five Elements Ring?!"

"A replica of an ancient treasure!!"

This completely ignited the desire to spend among the many Nascent Soul old monsters.

The competition at the scene rose wave upon wave.

Qin Ming remained largely uninterested in this; this enemy-trapping treasure was not just a little worse than the Blood Spirit Cage spiritual treasure he had obtained from the Blood Repulsive Demon Lord.

Moreover, in his hands, he possessed a true ancient treasure.

After a round of snatching, this replica ancient treasure, the Spirit-Trapping Ring, was taken by Long Mu Zhenjun in exchange for a bottle of Clear Void Pills.

Originally, Elder Zhiyang had only intended to add some excitement to the grand meeting, but he hadn't expected such a harvest, and a rare smile finally appeared on his face.

He did not waste words, opening the final treasure.

"The final item is a high-grade sword path technique, the 'Qianyuan Sword Formation'; it requires a complete set of spiritual swords refined to cooperate with the sword formation. If successfully cultivated, the power of the sword path divine abilities will be unmatched, and the technique forms a complete system; besides the sword formation, it can be cultivated all the way to the Soul Transformation stage."

Next.

The scene erupted into another wave of commotion as fierce bidding commenced.

Qin Ming remained expressionless, showing little interest in this cultivation technique.

Seeing this, Elder Han Ya beside him couldn't help but ask in puzzlement, "Fellow Daoist Qin, could it be that you have no interest in such techniques or treasures?"

"Heh! Qin Mou has already exchanged for several treasures just now; my pockets are rather empty at the moment," Qin Ming replied casually.

Elder Han Ya wore a look of suspicion, clearly not entirely convinced by this answer.

A systematic set of high-grade divine abilities held a fatal allure even for these old Nascent Soul monsters.

Soon, this set of sword path cultivation techniques was won by Guang Lingzi of the Xuanming Sect.

With the final treasure auctioned off, this exchange meeting for Nascent Soul cultivators also drew to a close.

Everyone present had gained something, more or less, from the grand event, their faces brimming with joy.

"Very well, this exchange meeting concludes here."

"For the next half-month, disciples from various factions will engage in martial exchanges; the Ben Alliance and the East Sea Long Gong have also prepared generous rewards."

"These include Jin Dan and spirit objects for condensing the Nascent Soul; all of you present may stay longer on the island to witness the young talents of the current Immortal Realm, unseen for a hundred years."

"At the same time, independent cave dwellings with serene environments have been arranged for all of you on Long Yuan Island."

Elder Zhi Yang said with a smiling expression.

Afterwards.

The cultivators within Long Yuan Hall dispersed, while many old monsters engaged in mutual conversation.

Quite a few Nascent Soul peers also approached Qin Ming to converse, revealing their desire to befriend him.

He politely responded to each one in turn.

He then prepared to depart with Elder Han Ya, Long Mu Zhenjun, and others, seeking a place to catch up privately and enjoy wine together in high spirits.

But just then.

Elder Zhi Yang also walked over and said to Qin Ming:

"Fellow Daoist Qin, please stay behind."

"This seat has a few words to speak with you in private."

At these words, the other Nascent Soul old monsters couldn't help but turn their heads one after another, their curiosity plainly written on their faces.

All were wondering: this Sixth Elder of the Star Palace, the number one figure below the late Nascent Soul stage, seeking out this newly promoted Nascent Soul cultivator alone—what could possibly be the reason?

Qin Ming also halted his steps; he had already guessed that it must be just as Elder Zhi Yang had said.

He was preparing to take him to select treasures.

Thus, amidst the stunned gazes of Elder Han Ya and the others, he followed Elder Zhi Yang.

Elder Zhi Yang led him through layers of dense formations, finally arriving at an unremarkable pavilion on the island.

He then took out an ancient dragon-patterned token and activated the formation within.

Buzz~ In merely a fleeting moment, Qin Ming found himself deep within a shimmering underwater world.

Immediately after, he arrived at a treasure vault hidden deep beneath the sea.

This place must be the treasure vault of the Tianhai Alliance, though its exact location remained unknown.

As they walked, Elder Zhi Yang said to Qin Ming, "I never expected that Fellow Daoist Qin would not only ascend to the Nascent Soul stage in just over two hundred years, but also possess unfathomable strength."

"To be able to slay Blood Yan Zhenjun of the Blood Refining Demon Sect alone is sufficient proof that your divine abilities surpass others."

"This seat has also heard of that Qishang Mojun several times; although I too could slay him, it would require considerable effort."

"I might even have to pay some price, unable to accomplish it with the ease and grace that Fellow Daoist Qin displayed."

"Besides this, this seat wishes to ask: do the deaths of Friend Yousha of the Western You Yellow Sand Sect and Elder Li Huo of the Great Jin Li Huo Palace have any relation to this matter?"

Qin Ming had already anticipated this question.

He immediately recounted the events of that day to Elder Zhi Yang in brief.

Afterwards, he attributed the killing of Blood Yan Zhenjun entirely to Elder Li Huo's final counterattack before death.

As for Qin Ming himself, he had merely picked up a bargain. (End of Chapter)