Chapter 555

"But I am human; attending a gathering among the demon races seems inappropriate, doesn't it?"

Qin Ming voiced the doubt in his heart.

After all, humans and demon races had long been locked in bloody warfare, irreconcilable enemies; though there were rare cases of peaceful coexistence, Qin Ming truly dared not risk himself.

The little silver fox smiled slightly and said, "Master Qin, rest assured—my mother has already considered this. Had it not been for your life-saving grace and staunch assistance, my mother could never have broken through to the fourth-rank transformation realm, hence her sincere invitation."

"At the time, my mother will meet with Master Qin alone."

"Master Qin, you'll understand when you see my mother."

"Oh, if that's the case, then Qin Mou shall certainly attend the banquet on time to offer congratulations." Qin Ming nodded in understanding, then replied with a faint smile.

The little silver fox nodded. "Hehe! Then we shall await your esteemed arrival. I shall take my leave now."

Qin Ming nodded, plucked several spirit fruits from the Small Spirit Realm to give her, then had the Devouring Sky Rat escort her back.

Yue Lingyan's attainment of the fourth-rank transformed demon sage would surely shake the demon race world; at that time, perhaps all the great demons would gather together.

He hadn't expected Yue Lingyan to so warmly invite him to witness such a grand occasion.

"It seems that in just one short year, the fox clan has firmly established itself and fully risen among the demon races of the Beast Roar Mountains."

"Yue Lingyan's tactics as this newly crowned demon sage are indeed swift and decisive—don't let her gender fool you."

Qin Ming agreed to her invitation for the banquet for another reason as well.

That was because one of the spirit materials for refining the Nascent Soul Pill was a fourth-rank spirit plant called "Transformed Demon Grass," also known as Companion Demon Grass, which grew only near the dens of fourth-rank transformed demon beasts.

This Transformed Demon Grass absorbed the great demon qi of fourth-rank demon beasts over years, nurtured by heaven and earth's essence.

To the demon races, this demon grass was merely a weed beside their den; to humans, it was an irreplaceable treasure.

It was even a chance at Nascent Soul cultivation! And plucking such a spirit plant beneath the eyes of a fourth-rank transformed demon sage was tantamount to seeking death.

Even human Nascent Soul cultivators dared not do such a thing.

Yet Qin Ming now had precisely such a golden opportunity to obtain the Transformed Demon Grass.

Yue Lingyan had only just recently broken through to become a fourth-rank transformed great demon; her den would naturally not yet have produced such a heavenly spirit plant.

But now it was different.

Qin Ming silently estimated that, after such a long time,

Logically, the vicinity of Yue Lingyan's cave should have grown the legendary "Transformed Demon Grass."

Qin Ming could use his invitation to the banquet as an excuse; given his close bond with Yue Lingyan, he could simply ask her for a few sprigs of Transformed Demon Grass—no problem at all.

"But since I'm going to ask for the Transformed Demon Grass, I should prepare a proper gift—otherwise it would seem too abrupt."

"What should I send?"

Qin Ming immediately began pondering the gift.

After all, Yue Lingyan's fourth-rank demon sage ceremony was no small matter, and he intended to ask for spirit materials—his gift couldn't be too meager.

He thought and thought, but couldn't think of anything he currently possessed worthy enough.

Then suddenly, he remembered one person.

"The Su family, as one of the four great Jin Dan clans of Great Jin, has been a venerable lineage for a thousand years—they must have amassed many treasures. Why not have Su Yuqing foot the bill for the gift, hehe!"

"After all, once I get the Transformed Demon Grass, Brother Su will need it to refine the Nascent Soul Pill—he'll get his share anyway."

So he informed Old Jia of the Mirror Snow Pavilion, then left the spirit fields alone, taking the teleportation array in the Five Elements Mountain marketplace to the Central Continent's Dragon Court Lake.

As soon as he arrived at the Five Elements Mountain marketplace, he encountered Han Yuan and the other two again.

"Oh! Lu Daoist, you've come to the marketplace on business?"

Han Yuan and the others stepped forward, smiling.

"Long time no see! Congratulations, Han Daoist and Liu Daoist—you've both broken through to Foundation Establishment's peak!" Qin Ming bowed and smiled.

"All thanks to you, Lu Daoist! Without your Jade Xuan Pills, we three would still be stuck in the late stage, hehe!"

"We heard you've become a third-rank top-tier spirit plant Grandmaster. You're such a busy man, rarely seen—no matter what, you must accept our invitation for a few drinks before you leave."

Liu Ye smiled sweetly.

Qin Ming wasn't in too much of a hurry, so he accepted their enthusiastic invitation and met briefly at the Wind-riding Pavilion in the marketplace.

The three of them splurged on a full table of fine wine and delicacies to host Qin Ming.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes,

Han Yuan suddenly cast a soundproofing seal, enveloping the private room, then spoke to Qin Ming:

"Lu Daoist, we have a crucial piece of information to warn you about."

"Oh? What is it? Han Daoist, please speak." Qin Ming, seeing how cautiously the man acted, felt somewhat puzzled.

Han Yuan said, "Recently, our Ten Thousand Paths Trading Society's upper echelons intercepted a highly important intelligence."

"The Divine Path Mountain has been secretly maintaining close ties with the Yin Demon Sect of the Great Li cultivation realm."

"And their target is clearly the fourth-rank spirit vein of Five Elements Mountain. During this time, the Yin Demon Sect has secretly provided Divine Path Mountain with considerable resources."

"The most numerous among them is a third-rank spirit seed called Rotting Spirit Grass, along with a group of third-rank spirit plant cultivators abducted by the Yin Demon Sect from outside—taken to Divine Path Mountain, no one knows why or what their purpose is."

"Lu Daoist, as a third-rank top-tier spirit plant Grandmaster, though you are the shopkeeper of the Mirror Snow Pavilion and under the protection of the Ten Thousand Paths Trading Society,

these people from Divine Path Mountain and the Yin Demon Sect leave no stone unturned in their actions. So many spirit plant cultivators have vanished without cause—you must be cautious."

"Alas, Divine Path Mountain seems to have received secret backing from the Yin Demon Sect again, and their actions are extremely covert—only the very top echelons can access the information. Even our society's leadership cannot uncover their true intentions."

"I hope another war doesn't break out—the conflict between the Flame Palace and Divine Path Mountain has only just calmed down after several years."

"This situation suggests another war is coming. Lu Daoist, stay alert and prepare early."

"If you need any help from us three, don't hesitate to ask."

Han Yuan sighed heavily here, for once war began, they would inevitably be drawn into it.

"I see. Thank you, Han Daoist, for the warning!" Qin Ming raised his cup in toast.

"Who would've thought Divine Path Mountain and the Yin Demon Sect would once again collude in secret, working hand in glove."

"Storms are gathering."

After conversing with them for a while, Qin Ming took his leave and stepped onto the teleportation array of the Five Elements Mountain marketplace.

Moments later, he arrived in the Dragon Heaven Immortal City of the Central Continent.

Using teleportation arrays was not something ordinary cultivators could afford frequently; most still traveled by spirit vessel.

Traveling from the Southern Frontier to the Central Continent by flight alone would take even a Jin Dan cultivator considerable time.

But Qin Ming was now wealthy enough to save time, so he chose to use the teleportation array directly.

After leaving Dragon Heaven Immortal City, he flew for two more days until he reached the vicinity of Dragon Court Lake.

Then,

Qin Ming sent a message talisman to Su Yuqing.

Upon receiving the message, Su Yuqing immediately dropped what he was doing and came out personally to greet him.

"Brother Qin, why did you come in person?"

"Couldn't you have just sent Hua Tianxiong?"

"Thank you again for the Divine Wood Pills' materials you sent last time."

Su Yuqing was also pleased to see Qin Ming again, and invited him into his cave dwelling.

"Brother Su, no need for formalities—I still have plenty of those materials, hehe." Qin Ming sat down and smiled.

"True enough. With your status as a third-rank spirit plant Grandmaster, what spirit material can't you grow?" Su Yuqing smiled as he poured Qin Ming a cup of spirit tea. "Brother Qin, you've traveled thousands of miles to find me—what do you need?"

Qin Ming's lips curled into a smile, then recounted the matter of preparing a gift for Yue Lingyan. "What??"

"Fourth-rank transformed demon sage!"

Su Yuqing was stunned upon hearing this—he simply could not imagine Qin Ming had befriended a demon race great sage.

"Tsk tsk tsk! Brother Qin, you truly have incredible fortune—such heavenly luck has fallen upon you!"

"A fourth-rank transformed demon sage's power rivals that of a human Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator—even the two elder ancestors of the Flame Palace and Divine Path Mountain are only Nascent Soul early-stage."

"With such a powerful patron, don't forget me later."

"And your own cultivation—you've advanced so swiftly to Jin Dan late-stage. Once you gather all the materials for refining the Nascent Soul Pill and the Ice Heart Jade Soul Pill, you'll be preparing to break into Nascent Soul, right?"

Su Yuqing smiled enviously.

"Hehe! Nascent Soul is still far off. But I've brewed a 'Demon Flame Wine' using the demonic dragon's demon core—it'll be drinkable in ten years."

"The first sip instantly grants a hundred years of cultivation, allowing a Jin Dan late-stage cultivator to break through to Jin Dan peak." Qin Ming smiled faintly.

"Really? Such a divine nectar exists in this world?"

Su Yuqing was overjoyed upon hearing of such a spirit wine, for he himself was at Jin Dan late-stage, just one step away from reaching peak.

"Hehe! Of course, your share is already reserved." Qin Ming spoke with deep meaning.

"You've brought out so many fine things and conditions—you're clearly planning to make me bleed heavily today?" Su Yuqing chuckled, pointing at Qin Ming.

Qin Ming spread his hands. "Hehe! Yue Lingyan invited me to her fourth-rank demon sage ceremony—I can't show up empty-handed, can I?"

"By the way, while I'm there, I'll ask her for some of the main ingredient for the Nascent Soul Pill—the Transformed Demon Grass—and bring it back. You'll need it for your pill refining too, won't you?"

"This spirit plant grows only near the dens of transformed great demons—it's hard to obtain, and its value is high."

Upon hearing this, Su Yuqing nodded, realizing Qin Ming's logic was sound.

After all, exchanging some resources for Transformed Demon Grass was no loss.

After further conversation,

Su Yuqing stood up and said to Qin Ming, "Wait here."

"The items you seek—even within the Su family—are kept in our deepest vaults. I must ask our elder for them."

Then Su Yuqing flew off toward a grand ancestral mansion within Dragon Court Lake.

In an ancient, elegant courtyard, a middle-aged man with silver hair was writing calligraphy in his study.

The middle-aged man had a resolute face with sharp features, his eyes gleaming with intense vitality, his cultivation at the peak of Golden Core.

This man was Su Tiannan, patriarch of the Su family and Su Yuqing's father.

It was he who had severed the Su family from Li Huogong and established its independence.

Upon seeing Su Yuqing burst in with such haste, Su Tiannan guessed another trouble was coming and frowned faintly: "What is it now?"

"Hehe! Old man, it's great news!"

"Give me that fourth-rank Qianhuan Spirit Pearl—I have a major use for it!" Su Yuqing blurted out without preamble.

"Get out! Get out!"

"What's this? Have you advanced to the fourth-rank Elixir King realm? You need something this rare? That's our family's last treasure—you can't waste it!" Su Tiannan leapt up like a cat with its tail stepped on upon hearing the request.

"Ah, Father, no matter how precious this fourth-rank artifact is, it's still just an inanimate object—gathering dust at home. Let me handle it. I swear, trust me!"

Su Tiannan set down his brush and turned to ask:

"Then tell me—what do you intend to do with this fourth-rank Qianhuan Spirit Pearl?"

"This… is still a secret," Su Yuqing replied awkwardly.

"A secret? Then no way!" Su Tiannan refused without hesitation.

Seeing his father unmoved, Su Yuqing pressed forward with persistent pleading.

…

Two incense sticks later.

Su Yuqing held a delicate jade box in hand, wearing a wry smile, and shook his head as he walked toward Qin Ming.

He handed the jade box to Qin Ming, visibly pained, and said:

"Brother Qin, don't let me down—this mid-grade fourth-rank Qianhuan Spirit Pearl is truly our Su family's last treasure."

"To get this for you, I agreed to a marriage meeting with Miss Xin. Ugh—don't even mention it."

"Brother Su, rest assured—I'll deliver, I promise!" Qin Ming declared firmly, then opened the jade box.

He hadn't expected Su Yuqing would go so far as to sacrifice himself for this.

A surge of astonishing spiritual energy burst forth from the box, radiating a mesmerizing pink luminescence.

Even Qin Ming's powerful spiritual sense—equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator—felt a dazing effect, nearly succumbing to a powerful illusion.

He steadied his mind and saw a transparent, five-colored spiritual pearl lying quietly inside, astonishingly divine.

"Brother Su, this is—"

"This is the mid-grade fourth-rank Qianhuan Spirit Pearl, passed down from my great-grandfather's generation."

"It was said to be one of several treasured artifacts stored in Li Huogong's vault."

"Legend says it was obtained when Li Huogong's founding ancestor slew a mid-stage fourth-rank Mingdieyaosheng."

After hearing Su Yuqing's explanation, Qin Ming was stunned—this artifact was far more valuable than he'd imagined.

"Brother Su, rest assured—investment always brings returns."

Qin Ming subtly stowed the treasure in his storage pouch, smiling.

"Hehe! That's certainly best," Su Yuqing's handsome face twitched.

Then Qin Ming remembered something and casually told Su Yuqing about the ancient Qingyuan Sect's hidden realm discovered in Shendao Mountain.

Su Yuqing was utterly shocked upon hearing it.

"It's the hidden sect realm of the ancient great sect Qingyuan Sect!"

"I've heard whispers of Qingyuan Sect while studying ancient texts—I never thought it truly existed, and especially not in Da Jin."

Qin Ming nodded: "According to my estimate, Shendao Mountain has secretly colluded with the Yin Mo Sect of Da Li, scheming to open this realm."

"They've already begun their actions, but I believe this news will inevitably leak."

"Because their method of using Spirit Eye Night to trigger the Seven Marvelous Tree's bloom still requires a long time."

"The frequent exchanges between the two sects across the Five Elements Mountains will inevitably draw attention from other powers."

"A struggle for control will surely follow."

"Your Su family must prepare early. I advise you, Brother Su, not to get involved in this realm struggle—keep an eye on Li Huogong as well."

"They'll surely force their subordinate family factions to join the fray."

"Thank you, Brother Qin, for the warning—I'll prepare our clan in advance for this upheaval," Su Yuqing said gratefully.

Immediately after,

Qin Ming exchanged two days of alchemical insights with Su Yuqing before leaving Longting Lake.

He then returned to the Five Elements Mountain Bazaar via the teleportation array.

Half a month later.

The time had come; Qin Ming took his three spirit beasts and headed to Muxia Mountain for the banquet.

(End of Chapter)