Chapter 513: Yue Lingyan

The two reached an agreement.

Yue Lingyan's skirt fluttered as she flew forward to the Yuying fruit tree and gently plucked the fully ripe Yuying spirit fruit.

Clutching the Yuying fruit in her hands, its spiritual essence illuminated her features, making her even more radiant.

"A fourth-rank Yuying spirit fruit!"

Yue Lingyan's spirit surged with excitement.

For this moment, she had waited a full century.

Then.

Yue Lingyan turned to Qin Ming and said, "Qin Daoist, thank you for yielding—it's your turn."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming nodded and immediately summoned the scroll formed from the 【Xumi Shanhe】 term.

He raised the ancient scroll and directed it toward the center of the cave; instantly, a beam of light bathed the area, and the Yuying fruit tree and the heart-earth spiritual spring vanished, absorbed into the Small Spirit Realm.

This display left even the well-traveled Yue Lingyan stunned.

She had not expected Qin Ming to relocate both spirit treasures so effortlessly.

Such a technique was unheard of—but she had personally witnessed Qin Ming use the Hooked Jade Golden Light Mirror to instantly kill a third-rank late-stage Green-Faced Poisonous Dragon, so she knew his abilities were far beyond those of an ordinary Golden Core cultivator; thus, she was no longer surprised.

So she asked no further questions.

"Congratulations, Qin Daoist, on acquiring your treasure," Yue Lingyan said with a touch of envy, though she had obtained the spirit fruit, the heart-earth spiritual spring and the tree were immensely valuable.

"Hehe! I owe it all to Lady Lingyan," Qin Ming replied cheerfully.

"Since this transaction is complete, I shall also remove the Divine Pact binding your daughter."

As he spoke, he formed a hand seal and pointed at the little silver fox.

Instantly, two mysterious runes floated out from the minds of Qin Ming and the silver fox, met in midair, and dissolved like bubbles.

The silver fox's eyes brightened—she could feel the oppressive sense of being controlled vanish in an instant, and even her soul felt clearer.

She stepped forward and bowed deeply to Qin Ming. "Thank you, Elder Qin."

"No need. We agreed beforehand, and besides, I gained something too—this matter is settled between us."

Qin Ming waved his hand, a force lifting the silver fox upright, then turned to Yue Lingyan and said:

"Lady Lingyan, since the matter is concluded, shall we leave this place?"

But Yue Lingyan remained where she stood, showing no intention to depart.

Seeing this,

Qin Ming regarded her with a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

After a long pause, Yue Lingyan suddenly said to Qin Ming:

"I won't hide it from you, Qin Daoist—I've obtained the spirit fruit and previously absorbed your magic power; I've now sensed the opportunity to break through to a higher realm."

"The spiritual energy here is dense, and this place is secluded and relatively safe—I intend to break through to the fourth rank right here."

"But before that, I have two requests."

"We've known each other for a while—I hope you'll agree."

Hearing this, Qin Ming was startled, his expression showing surprise.

Though he had guessed that she obtained the Yuying fruit to prepare for breaking through to fourth-rank, becoming a fully formed beast,

he hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

Yue Lingyan was choosing to break through immediately.

Know that for the demon race to break through to the fourth stage is far more difficult than for humans to break through to the Core Formation stage.

Its tribulations are no joke.

Even powerful beast royal lineages prepare thoroughly before attempting the fourth-rank transformation tribulation, for the risk of perishing in the fourth-rank transformation thunder tribulation is extremely high.

"Lady Lingyan, have you truly considered this? Breaking through to the fourth rank is no child's play—slight misstep, and you face utter ruin."

"Qin Daoist, I've weighed it carefully. Before coming here, I prepared several powerful magic treasures to face the heavenly tribulation," Yue Lingyan's gaze was resolute, as if her decision was final.

"Sigh... Since you've made up your mind, then speak—what do you need me to do?" Qin Ming, seeing her resolve, stopped his persuasion.

"First, before I undergo the tribulation, I'll likely trigger celestial phenomena. Though this place is secluded, it may still draw the attention of nearby beast clans—I ask you to guard me during this time."

"Second, though I've prepared thoroughly and hold trump cards, and have a reasonable chance of success, there remains a risk of perishing."

"If I fail, it will be fate—I ask you to take care of Yue'er."

Hearing this, Qin Ming realized the silver moon celestial fox had made up her mind so firmly that she was already arranging her afterlife.

At the same time, Qin Ming understood that a once-in-a-millennium investment opportunity lay right before him.

If Yue Lingyan truly succeeded, she might become a fourth-rank beast sage—and he could gain a powerful connection. Qin Ming stood still, frowning in deep thought, weighed the pros and cons, then agreed.

"I accept this task. May Lady Lingyan succeed in your breakthrough."

"Here is a Li Yun Pill—I give it to you. It may prove useful."

Since he was already investing, Qin Ming decided to add even more to the favor.

Yue Lingyan accepted the Li Yun Pill and thanked him: "Thank you, Qin Daoist."

She had personally consumed this pill before; as a top-grade third-rank elixir, it possessed the miraculous power to restore life—exactly what she most needed now during her breakthrough.

Seeing Yue Lingyan make her decision, the little silver fox ran over and hugged her leg, sobbing softly.

"Yue'er, don't worry—Mother won't die."

"Go now. Wait outside with Qin Daoist."

Yue Lingyan gently stroked the little silver fox, a faint smile appearing on her face.

Then.

Yue Lingyan used the Biyun Veil to send Qin Ming out of the cave, while she returned alone to the central area where the Yuying fruit tree grew.

Next,

as her figure shifted, she reverted to her beast form—a three-tailed silver fox, towering dozens of zhang high.

A surging torrent of beast energy instantly filled the cave, shattering nearby rocks into powder.

The three-tailed silver fox's gaze was unwavering; she looked upward toward the ceiling. Before her, besides the Yuying fruit, floated several radiant, shimmering heavenly spirit treasures.

She opened her mouth and swallowed each one, her aura steadily rising—until she consumed the fourth-rank Yuying fruit.

BOOM! Her beast origin reached an unprecedented peak; a far greater power surged within her, desperate to break free.

……

Qin Ming, accompanied by the silver fox and the Shi Tian Rat, stood within the valley shrouded in toxic mists.

Suddenly,

he looked up and saw above the waterfall a funnel-shaped cloud of spiritual energy coalescing, instantly draining all nearby spiritual energy.

The spiritual cloud spread across the sky, expanding outward.

Several days later,

the spiritual cloud had expanded to hundreds of li in diameter—the unmistakable sign that Yue Lingyan was about to break through to the fourth rank.

Qin Ming kept the two beasts at a safe distance, then unleashed a spiritual sense comparable to a Golden Core peak cultivator, vigilantly scanning the surroundings for any threat.

Beside him, the silver fox's once-lively eyes were now filled with tension and dread; her heart pounded, her small hands gripped the Shi Tian Rat tightly, not daring to breathe.

"Hey hey hey! Ouch! Don't grab my thigh!"

"A bit lower…"

The Shi Tian Rat winced and shook his leg.

……

(End of Chapter)