Chapter 603: Ox Demons, God Serpents, Gather at Five Elements Mountain

Since the Great Li invasion of the Great Zhou, countless refugee cultivators have flooded into the border regions.

Even the southern region of the Great Jin was no exception; no matter how strictly controlled, many Great Zhou cultivators still smuggled themselves into the Great Jin.

In recent years.

The Five Elements Mountain marketplace has become a den of mingled good and evil.

Since the formation of the Wei Dao Alliance, this situation has eased considerably.

The Wei Dao Alliance's power is immense, and the Great Jin's cultivation world remains relatively stable, though occasional friction still arises with Great Li factions.

Of course, this is also tied to the death of the Demon Dao Heir, which has instilled deep caution in the Blood Refining Demon Gate and the Yin Demon Sect toward this region.

They have continuously dispatched personnel to investigate the death of the Heir.

Yet after a long time, they still gained nothing.

In addition, with the outbreak of war, the number of wounded arriving at the border has grown steadily, making healing elixirs and life-saving items highly sought-after goods in the Five Elements Mountain marketplace.

High-grade healing medicines are even rarer than gold.

After refining the Tian Luo Powder, Qin Ming handed it over to Old Jia to sell at the Five Elements Mountain marketplace.

He also instructed him that if he could exchange Tian Luo Powder for high-grade spiritual materials, that was acceptable too—not limited to spirit stones.

After all, last time Old Jia had exchanged the Qi-Cleansing Incense for the subsequent secret formula of the Wine Immortal's Divine Recipe, it was extremely worthwhile.

That's what gave him the chance to brew the legendary Mo Yan Wine, said to help cultivators break through to Golden Core perfection.

As a top-tier third-rank medicinal herb, Tian Luo Powder is sure to attract many Golden Core cultivators willing to trade spiritual materials for it.

Within the Small Spirit Realm, Qin Ming was guiding the Earth Heart Spiritual Spring to irrigate his spiritual plants.

In the most spiritually dense plot, he had planted Yuying Fruit, Five Elements Spirit Ginseng, Taiyi Bodhi, Shape-Shifting Demon Grass, plus an entire bottle of ten-thousand-year-old Qing Spirit Sap he'd taken from the Xing demon cultivator.

The five main ingredients for refining the Ning Ying Pill had already been multiplied multiple times using the Term, ensuring absolute certainty.

Each of these five spiritual materials, if placed alone in the cultivation world, would be extraordinarily rare, held only by Nascent Soul sects.

They are the very foundation for nurturing Nascent Soul True Persons.

But with Qin Ming, once he acquires one set of materials, he can endlessly multiply them using the Term.

The five rare main ingredients, plus over a dozen fourth-rank rare auxiliary materials, and more than a hundred third-rank auxiliary materials.

Such a vast quantity of high-grade resources—even if the Great Jin's Li Huo Palace pooled all its strength—would take centuries to gather.

Yet through a stroke of fortune, aided by Hua Tianxiong and Su Yuqing in gathering them, Qin Ming had spent decades and finally collected the vast majority of materials needed to refine the Ning Ying Pill.

The materials for refining the Bing Xin Yu Po Pill had already been fully gathered.

"Right now, the only remaining materials for refining the Ning Ying Pill are a few final third-rank auxiliary ingredients; Hua Tianxiong should be close to securing them."

One day.

After completing his daily cultivation, Qin Ming arrived at the spirit fields.

Of the Five Elements Mountain's two hundred mu of fourth-rank branch spirit fields, only Li Lan's one hundred mu of Jade Emperor Spirit Rice remained unripe.

The maturation cycle of Jade Emperor Spirit Rice is generally around ten years; with careful cultivation, it can ripen slightly earlier.

Qin Ming observed the field: the jade-green Jade Emperor Spirit Rice had grown over ten feet tall, resembling a vast bamboo forest.

Under Li Lan's meticulous care, the growth was decent; the harvest yield should be substantial.

"Master Lu, you're here!" Li Lan hurried over to greet him.

Qin Ming nodded coolly: "Hmm. You've done well."

"This batch of Jade Emperor Spirit Rice should ripen two years early. I originally planned for you to cultivate here for another thirty years."

"But the current situation is growing chaotic. After harvesting this crop, though this two-hundred-mu plot is excellent, we must abandon it."

"Over the past two years, I've had Old Jia relocate Jing Xue Pavilion's assets to Zhongzhou. Once this harvest is complete, you'll come with us."

Li Lan immediately replied, "Yes, Master Lu."

"Master Lu, rest assured—I will fulfill every promise I made."

"Moving to Zhongzhou to work is a dream for countless free cultivators. I will give my all and never forget your great kindness."

Qin Ming nodded in satisfaction.

Then he flew toward the Five Elements Mountain marketplace.

As soon as Qin Ming neared the Five Elements Mountain marketplace, he could clearly sense a surge in the number of cultivators entering and exiting.

Even some cultivators with severe injuries were rushing inside.

But any outsider wishing to enter the marketplace had to pay a hefty sum of spirit stones to receive the Wei Dao Alliance's protection.

After entering the marketplace, Qin Ming headed toward Jing Xue Pavilion.

He found the pavilion completely surrounded, with no shortage of cultivators above Foundation Establishment.

Old Jia and the shop staff were all swamped, drenched in sweat.

He hesitated whether to enter, when he happened to meet an old acquaintance on the street.

"Oh! Master Lu, long time no see!"

"Your Jing Xue Pavilion is incredibly popular now! Hahaha! Didn't expect to run into you here!"

The man was Han Yuan, currently leading a patrol team of Wei Dao Alliance cultivators through the marketplace.

"Heh! Master Han, you've been promoted? Congratulations!" Qin Ming asked, noting Han Yuan's blue-and-white Wei Dao Alliance robes, "Where are Masters Gao Feng and Liu Ye?"

"Ah, don't mention it. With the recent surge in cultivators at Five Elements Mountain, we're critically short-staffed—I'm just filling in wherever needed."

"Gao Feng and Liu Ye have been reassigned to the outer patrol camps."

Though Han Yuan spoke casually, Qin Ming could still detect a hint of pride in his expression.

Clearly, overseeing patrols within the marketplace was a lucrative post.

In the past, Han Yuan and his two companions had always been generous; thanks to Qin Ming's personal connection, they'd often shown favor to Jing Xue Pavilion.

"Master Lu, why not join me at Yu Feng Tower for a drink?"

"Your Jing Xue Pavilion is too crowded—too many eyes and ears," Han Yuan suggested.

Qin Ming nodded: "Alright."

He'd also wanted to inquire about recent rumors and inside information from Han Yuan.

Soon after,

the two arrived at a window seat on the third floor of Yu Feng Tower, ordered a full table of wine and dishes, and began talking.

It wasn't mealtime; the entire third floor held only their table.

"Master Lu, I never imagined your connections ran so wide—you actually got your hands on Tian Luo Powder, a medicine that can revive the dying!"

"Every day, cultivators line up two miles long outside Jing Xue Pavilion just to buy it—truly absurd, heh!"

"A single vial of Tian Luo Powder is now being auctioned for twenty high-grade spirit stones, yet many factions still compete fiercely to buy it!"

"Master Han, you flatter me—it's just a small business."

Qin Ming had anticipated that a life-saving medicine would be popular, but not this wildly.

He then pulled a jade vial from his sleeve and placed it before Han Yuan: "Heh! Over the years, I've greatly appreciated your three's support of my pavilion. This is a small token from me."

"Master Lu, you're being too formal," Han Yuan said, opening the vial—and froze.

"Tian Luo Powder!!"

"Master Lu, this is far too precious—how could I possibly accept it?"

Han Yuan knew well that all three of them, now on patrol duty, would inevitably face combat.

This medicine could save their lives in a critical moment. "Just a bit of medicine—don't refuse," Qin Ming smiled faintly.

Han Yuan's expression flushed with emotion; after some hesitation, he accepted the medicine and solemnly said, "Then I thank you, Master Lu. Should you ever need anything, just say the word."

"I'll also toast you on behalf of Gao Feng and Liu Ye—this is Yu Feng Tower's new Bi Bo Wine, try it."

"They're busy on external duty—no such luxury for them."

Then Han Yuan began telling Qin Ming about some matters within the Wei Dao Alliance.

He poured Qin Ming a cup of spirit wine, hesitated a moment, then asked: "Master Lu, I heard an Nascent Soul True Person once visited your spirit fields—is that true?"

Qin Ming hadn't expected him to know this, but he didn't hide it—he nodded.

"Yes, but that elder came to order some high-grade spirit rice."

"Didn't stay long."

"Hssss~" Han Yuan was still astonished upon confirmation from Qin Ming.

After all, that was a pinnacle existence in the cultivation world—a true master manipulating the game.

"Master Lu, could you reveal which True Person it was?" Han Yuan's curiosity flared.

"It was Han Ya, the Elder of the Great Zhou's Xuan Qing Temple."

"So it was Elder Han Ya!" Han Yuan sighed, then added, "Not long ago, Elder Han Ya brought Xuan Qing Temple into the Wei Dao Alliance."

"Rumors say Elder Han Ya was severely injured, yet he recovered so quickly."

"Truly unbelievable."

At this point,

Han Yuan raised his hand and cast a soundproofing barrier, then said to Qin Ming: "I've heard some inside information from the Alliance—Five Elements Mountain is acting strangely. Something major is about to happen."

"I advise you, Master Lu—if you have any way out, leave this place of turmoil, alas!"

"Oh? What makes you say that?" Qin Ming asked, sensing he was getting to the point.

"It seems a spy planted by Li Huo Palace within Shen Dao Mountain has secretly uncovered a crucial piece of intelligence hidden in Five Elements Mountain."

"Now the entire Wei Dao Alliance is on edge, filled with a sense of impending doom."

"Also, it's confirmed: Shen Dao Mountain has fully aligned with Great Li's Yin Demon Sect. Even without the Five Elements Mountain matter, the long-simmering tensions between them will inevitably erupt soon."

"Once Shen Dao Mountain changes sides."

A major battle is likely unavoidable.

Thus, the southern region of Great Jin is no longer a peaceful land.

We three are powerless; we can no longer choose to withdraw.

Friend Lu must have seen it too—the number of cultivators in the Five Elements Mountain marketplace has surged abruptly, and some of them are undoubtedly covert deployments by major factions.

Han Yuan sighed after speaking.

"So that's how it is. Thank you, Friend Han, for letting me know."

Qin Ming drank a cup of spiritual wine, lost in thought.

"It seems paper can't forever hide fire—the Divine Dao Mountain and Yin Demon Sect failed to conceal the ancient Qing Yuan Sect's secret realm, and the Li Huo Palace has detected it."

"With this, many cultivators will surely die in the struggle for this secret realm—the battle is now unavoidable."

"For now, the only reason the major factions haven't openly clashed is that the Seven Marvelous Treasure Tree at the entrance has yet to bloom, and the secret realm remains sealed."

Qin Ming fell silent for a long while, then asked Han Yuan: "What is the current composition of the Wei Dao Alliance?"

Han Yuan replied: "The Wei Dao Alliance was initiated and led by the Li Huo Palace, and its membership requirements are extremely strict."

"The Wei Dao Alliance accepts only Nascent Soul-level factions, representing the pinnacle of the cultivation world—currently, only the Li Huo Palace, the Wan Dao Trading Society, the Xuan Qing Monastery, and Nascent Soul hermits."

"However, it is said that factions with Golden Core peak experts as their pillars may barely qualify."

"But they must still pass evaluation by existing members."

"Thank you, Friend Han, for the information. In fact, I, Lu Mou, had the same intention—over the past two years, I've secretly relocated all Mirror Snow Pavilion's assets to the central region of Great Jin." Qin Ming raised his cup in toast.

"I was overthinking it, Friend Lu—your foresight is far beyond my concern. Haha!"

…

After some exchange between the two.

Han Yuan still had to patrol the marketplace, so he took his leave and hurried off.

Qin Ming sat alone at a table by the window, sipping wine quietly, gazing at the bustling crowd on the street, lost in thought.

Soon, more cultivators came to the tavern for meals.

The third floor was now full, lively and noisy.

Cultivators at surrounding tables chattered among themselves.

"Sigh, isn't the Mirror Snow Pavilion's Tian Luo Powder absurdly expensive? Only a few days passed, and the price has risen again to twenty high-grade spirit stones."

"Who can afford this?"

"There's no shortage of buyers! After all, this elixir can instantly heal even Golden Core cultivators' injuries and bring them back from death."

"With this elixir, as long as the wound isn't instantly fatal, it's like gaining an extra life—who wouldn't want it?"

"Exactly, the higher one's cultivation, the more one clings to life."

"Besides, they've said themselves that rare spiritual items can be exchanged for it!"

"Sigh, such a luxury is beyond our reach—twenty high-grade spirit stones could buy several high-grade survival magic treasures."

"By the way, have you heard the latest explosive news?"

"It's said that Grand Master Su Yuqing of the Dragon Court Lake in central Great Jin recently refined a fourth-rank low-grade Soul Nourishing Pill and ascended to the rank of Pill King."

"Master Su is truly a prodigy in alchemy, becoming the youngest fourth-rank Pill King in the history of Great Jin's cultivation world."

"It's said the Su family of Dragon Court Lake has already received an invitation from the Wei Dao Alliance."

"The Li Huo Palace must be regretting their decision to let the Su family split off."

"After all, the Li Huo Palace currently has only one fourth-rank Pill King."

"A third-rank high-grade Tian Luo Powder isn't something just anyone can refine—it's rumored the Mirror Snow Pavilion has some ties with Master Su."

"Could this elixir be his work?"

"…"

Qin Ming held his cup, listening to the chatter around him, silently marveling:

"I never expected Brother Su to advance so swiftly—quietly, he's already reached the fourth-rank alchemist level ahead of me."

At that moment,

A man slowly ascended the stairs to the third floor.

He wore a black feather robe, had a pale complexion, black hair tied into a crown, a slightly sharp nose, and wore straw sandals; a faint smile always lingered on his face.

He glanced around the third floor and saw every seat occupied.

Then his gaze settled on Qin Ming's table by the window.

Seeing Qin Ming alone, drinking, with the seat opposite empty, he walked over and asked politely with a gentle smile:

"Friend, may I sit here?"

…

(End of Chapter)