Chapter 497: Su Yuqing

Even now, Su Yuqing remains one of Qin Ming's few high-level connections.

After all, the Su family is backed by the Nascent Soul-level power, Li Huo Palace, and surely holds first-hand information from the cultivation world.

After breaking through to the Golden Core realm, Qin Ming has gained the basic standing to survive in the cultivation world and the means to protect himself.

Yet the cultivation world is ever-changing; once war breaks out, even Golden Core cultivators may not escape their destined demise.

Thus, timely access to upper-tier cultivation world news is crucial for Qin Ming.

Beyond that, Su Yuqing is both mentor and friend to him.

Although Qin Ming's alchemy skill has now risen to the rank of Third-Grade Superior Grand Alchemist, he still lags behind someone like Su Yuqing, a prodigy.

For instance, the Fourth-Grade Nascent Soul Elixir formula—he has studied it for a long time but remains utterly baffled.

This visit is precisely to ask Su Yuqing for help examining it.

Inside the cave dwelling.

Su Yuqing brewed a pot of special spiritual tea from Long Ting Lake for Qin Ming.

"By the way, why did you, Brother Su, travel all the way from Da Jin to this remote Yunze Wildland and settle in Qingyang Market?" Qin Ming voiced his curiosity.

Su Yuqing sipped the spiritual tea, then explained slowly: "Alas, this matter ties into the power struggles among the upper echelons."

"At the time, Li Huo Palace sought to control and suppress the lower families, forcing our Su family into conflict with others."

"I was secretly sent away by my family elders, which is how I ended up in the Southern Wilds."

"Later, when our Su family won the struggle and seized control of Long Ting Lake, they brought me back."

Qin Ming nodded after listening. "I never realized your departure was so sudden—or driven by such reasons."

"Brother Qin, though Da Jin appears calm on the surface, beneath it currents churn endlessly; noble clans constantly vie in open and covert struggles. Had Li Huo Palace and Shen Dao Mountain not just emerged from a great war and been in recovery, things would still be in turmoil," Su Yuqing added.

"Let me put it this way: though Da Jin's cultivation resources are abundant, the total amount remains fixed. New powers keep emerging, and after so many generations of change, this cake has grown steadily smaller."

"Take the founding ancestor of Li Huo Palace—he awakened a primordial Dao body and reached Nascent Soul peak in under three hundred years, yet still failed to achieve Soul Transformation."

"It's said Da Jin's cultivation resources remain too limited to allow Nascent Soul cultivators to ascend to Soul Transformation."

"Afterward, that founding ancestor left to seek opportunity—and has never returned. No one knows if he lives or dies."

"Since then, Li Huo Palace has never regained its former glory and has not produced a single cultivator above Nascent Soul mid-stage."

"They must also guard against neighboring Da Li's cultivation world and the two Nascent Soul sects of Da Zhou."

"Otherwise, Shen Dao Mountain's legacy alone could never rival Li Huo Palace."

Qin Ming couldn't help but whistle. "I never imagined even a major cultivation world like Da Jin finds Soul Transformation so difficult."

"Ultimately, Nascent Soul sects wage war over resources."

"Nascent Soul cultivators are the players who control the fate of the cultivation world."

After discussing the cultivation world's situation for a while,

Su Yuqing suddenly remembered something and grinned at Qin Ming: "Your methods are quite formidable!"

"I merely told you the Golden Core formula was in Xuan Xi Valley, yet you actually obtained it, successfully refined it, and broke through to Golden Core, making your name echo across the Southern Wilds."

"Those old bastards at Li Huo Palace couldn't sit still then, heh."

Qin Ming waved his hand modestly. "Just luck."

Then Qin Ming pulled out the Divine Wood Elixir formula and handed it to Su Yuqing. "Brother Su, I acquired this ancient formula by chance. Could you see if it can be improved?"

Su Yuqing accepted the formula with surprise and examined it, then gave Qin Ming a peculiar look. "I've heard whispers of this Divine Wood Elixir formula. Wasn't it bought by Jing Xue Pavilion at the Five Elements Mountain auction?"

"How did it end up in your hands?"

Qin Ming smiled and activated True Demon Illusion, transforming into the appearance of Lu the Shopkeeper. "Brother Su, to be honest, my main purpose in coming to Da Jin is to seek a Nascent Soul opportunity."

"I didn't want to draw attention from Da Jin's powers, so I swapped identities with Gu Qingzhao."

Su Yuqing froze. Even he could detect no flaw in Qin Ming's disguise.

He then recalled something and asked: "So does that mean you also won the Fourth-Grade spiritual field at Five Elements Mountain?"

Qin Ming nodded without denial.

"Hahahaha! Brother Qin, you truly hide your true nature!"

"Those bastards fought tooth and nail for it—and you snatched it away."

Su Yuqing resumed studying the formula, but after a moment, he declared firmly: "This Divine Wood Elixir formula appears to have been created by a senior alchemist whose skill surpassed Fourth Grade. His refining methods differ entirely from conventional techniques."

"I've checked—it uses several medicinal ingredients extinct since ancient times. But over a dozen of the herbs can be substituted without conflicting properties."

"I'll need to study it further to determine which substitutes to use. I'll send you the results later."

With those words, Qin Ming's expression brightened, and he relaxed.

"Thank you, Brother Su."

"What's there to thank for between us?"

Su Yuqing then carefully cast a sealing barrier around the cave dwelling, his expression solemn as he said to Qin Ming: "Brother Qin, you said you came seeking a Nascent Soul opportunity? How fortuitous—I happen to have one."

Qin Ming froze. He hadn't expected Su Yuqing to share such a secret with him.

Su Yuqing withdrew a pale green jade slip and handed it to Qin Ming. "This is a Nascent Soul Elixir formula I acquired by chance—not long ago."

"Nascent Soul Elixir formula?"

"But isn't it said both the Golden Core and Nascent Soul formulas are held exclusively by Li Huo Palace and forbidden from being leaked?"

Su Yuqing's actions today left Qin Ming deeply puzzled.

His face wore a strange expression.

He had actually planned to give Su Yuqing his own Nascent Soul formula for analysis—but he didn't expect her to pull out one first.

This caught Qin Ming off guard.

Curious, he released his spiritual sense to examine the formula's contents.

After a long while,

Qin Ming finished reading the formula—and found it utterly different from the one his own system had generated.

Su Yuqing's version required demonic beast materials, with its primary ingredient being a water-aspected dragon's core. Isn't that convenient? Qin Ming immediately pulled the green-faced venomous dragon's core from his storage pouch and handed it to Su Yuqing. "Brother Su, could this dragon core be used to refine the Nascent Soul Elixir?"

Su Yuqing was stunned.

He took the venomous dragon pearl and examined it, then asked in shock: "A late Third-Grade semi-transformed great demon's core?"

"Brother Qin, where on earth did you get this?"

Qin Ming cleared his throat casually. "Well, I found it in an ancient ruin."

"Don't try to fool me—I'm a Grand Alchemist, you think I don't know?"

"This dragon core is still fresh—it was obtained within the last few years, right?" Su Yuqing asked with interest.

"Heh! Correct. A few years ago, I happened upon a severely wounded venomous dragon in the Beast Roar Mountains and got lucky." Qin Ming, unable to evade further, laughed it off.

Su Yuqing looked skeptical but nodded half-believingly. "You've got incredible luck."

"This dragon core's value is extremely high."

"If it were revealed outside, it would spark a bloody bloodbath."

He pondered again, then said:

"Still, this dragon core is insufficient for refining the Nascent Soul Elixir. My formula requires at minimum a Fourth-Grade low-tier water-aspected dragon core."

Su Yuqing shook his head in amazement and returned the venomous dragon core to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming suddenly understood: the material collection difficulty for Su Yuqing's formula was nearly impossible.

It required a Fourth-Grade dragon core—a transformed great demon rivaling a Nascent Soul True Person.

Such a spiritual treasure was virtually unattainable.

Qin Ming put away the venomous dragon core, then withdrew another jade slip—his own Nascent Soul Elixir formula, recorded in blank jade—and handed it to Su Yuqing. "Brother Su, I also have a Nascent Soul Elixir formula. I'd like you to examine it. I've studied it for a long time but still can't grasp its secrets."

"The main reason I came to see you was precisely for this."

Su Yuqing froze again, staring at Qin Ming as if seeing a ghost, then took the jade slip from his hand.

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