Chapter 631: Resolution of Grudges: The Qingyang Demon

In the great hall, upon hearing this, Qin Ming subtly linked the voice to a familiar figure.

But he did not interrupt Nalan Xi's words, only listening as she continued:

"This man surpasses any other in the demonic sects in both courage and cunning—he originally belonged to no demonic sect."

"Yet within just a few decades, he rose to prominence, and now his cultivation has broken through to the late Golden Core realm, making him the strongest among the Six Demonic Sects."

"Of course, Qin Daoist, your return has changed everything."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming immediately asked bluntly: "Is this man's name Lin Zixiao?"

At these words, Nalan Xi and Gu Qingzhao exchanged a glance and froze in place.

"Uh… yes."

Could it be... that Qin Daoist knows this demon Xiao? Gu Qingzhao asked in surprise.

Qin Ming nodded slowly. "Yes. Not only do we know each other—I and this man were neighbors for several years in Qingyang Market."

He then recounted to them the past grudges and enmities between himself and Lin Zixiao, omitting certain details he could not reveal.

Hearing Qin Ming's detailed account, the two women were genuinely taken aback.

I never imagined Qin Daoist had such deep grudges with this legendary demon Xiao, Nalan Xi said after listening, her emotions still unsettled.

Gu Qingzhao hesitated, then asked: "So, Qin Daoist, what is your current cultivation realm?"

For the enemy she was about to face was a demon Xiao of ruthless nature and supreme cultivation—she felt a flicker of concern.

"Golden Core perfected," Qin Ming said calmly.

Whirr~ Though they dared not believe it, hearing the confirmation directly from Qin Ming's lips left their minds blank, unable to recover for a long while.

Their gazes toward Qin Ming were filled with complex emotions.

Beyond sincere congratulations, there was also deep envy.

Moreover, with him stationed in the Southern Wastes, the four nations might yet be saved—no longer would they have to bear the burden alone.

"Congratulations, Qin Daoist—you stand but one step away from the Nascent Soul path. A truly joyous occasion," the two women offered again.

Qin Ming smiled faintly, offering no false modesty.

For they likely did not know—he had returned to the Southern Wastes precisely to condense his Nascent Soul.

In their understanding, even if Qin Ming had reached Golden Core perfected, he would need a hundred years or more of preparation to even attempt the Nascent Soul realm.

After all, Golden Core cultivators seeking to cross into Nascent Soul require not only talent and opportunity, but also vast resources and fortune.

This is why seekers of the Dao are as countless as fish crossing a river, yet those who succeed are few and far between.

As they spoke, Qin Ming raised his hand and swept it aside.

A streak of bloodlight flashed, and two massive black boar heads rolled onto the floor.

He then cast a spell toward the heads on the ground.

Puff!

The two massive beast heads burst like melons, revealing within them a shard of pitch-black crystal emitting a nauseating stench.

Complex runes were engraved upon its surface.

Qin Ming gestured, drawing the demonic crystal before him, examined it, then said with absolute certainty to the two women:

"In my view, this beast tide differs from past ones—it is surely being manipulated from behind the scenes."

Seeing this, Nalan Xi and Gu Qingzhao both deeply agreed, their expressions grave.

I suspect it is almost certainly that demon Xiao, Lin Zixiao, behind this. Since I've returned, I might as well settle this matter once and for all, Qin Ming said, his gaze chilling, his palm closing to crush the black crystal into dust.

He knew well—Lin Zixiao's fortune was no small thing; he harbored within him an ancient grandfather—truly not to be underestimated.

After conversing with the two women for half a day, Qin Ming had a general grasp of the Southern Wastes' situation.

He then made no further delay, preparing to take his leave.

At parting, Gu Qingzhao suddenly stepped forward and bowed deeply to Qin Ming, sincerely grateful: "For decades, thank you, Qin Daoist, for protecting our Mirror Snow Pavilion's business in Da Jin—without you, it would never have grown so rapidly."

"Old Jia told me—if not for you, Mirror Snow Pavilion would not be what it is today."

"Haha! Gu Daoist, no need for such formalities—we both gained what we needed. I didn't lose out—I gained plenty."

"Besides, should I ever return to Da Jin, I'll still need the Mirror Snow Pavilion's identity," Qin Ming said with a faint smile.

"Will Qin Daoist leave again…? Of course—you possess such power, the Southern Wastes could never bind you…" Gu Qingzhao said, a touch of melancholy in her voice.

Qin Ming exchanged a few pleasantries with her, without even watching her reaction, and once again summoned the Lingxiao Bao Nian, transforming into a streak of five-colored light as he departed from Canghai Xiancheng.

Nalan Xi and Gu Qingzhao watched Qin Ming vanish into the distance, their gazes complex, silent for a long while.

Meanwhile,

Within Canghai Xiancheng, the explosive news of the Southern Wastes' legendary cultivator's return had already ignited the city.

"What?! The Lord of Wangyue Island has returned?!"

"Yes! The one who just wiped out the Black Mane Beast King—that was True Person Wangyue!"

"What kind of terrifying power is that? Surely he's reached late Golden Core?"

"Not just that—didn't you see the giant crocodile pulling his carriage? At least mid-third-rank Beast King!"

Some even claimed True Person Qin had entered a life-or-death cultivation bottleneck—clearly all rumors!

"That instant annihilation of the Black Mane Beast King and collapse of the beast tide—wouldn't even surprise me if an Nascent Soul True Lord had appeared!"

"With True Person Qin's powerful return, perhaps he can lift the great calamity from our Southern Wastes!"

"…"

In an instant, the news of True Person Wangyue's powerful return swept through the Southern Wastes' cultivation world like a tidal wave.

…

Inside the Lingxiao Bao Nian, Qin Ming's eyes flickered with thought.

After gaining this understanding, he decided that before returning to his island, he would first eliminate the poison of the Six Demonic Sects.

And settle once and for all his past grudges with Lin Zixiao.

Only then could he focus peacefully on his upcoming Nascent Soul condensation.

Otherwise, with Qin Ming's cautious nature, he could not bear the feeling of a thorn in his back.

Now that Qin Ming possessed the Lingxiao Bao Nian, with Xuan Shui Eel and Bi Bo Hai Ma pulling his carriage, his flight speed was no slower than that of a Nascent Soul True Lord.

Just over ten days later, he arrived at the border of Jin State.

…

Behind the Yuanmo Sect's mountain, Mo Ya Cave.

Dressed in black robes, Lin Zixiao stroked a Buddha mask, murmuring to himself: "Unconsciously, my association with Qin Daoist has spanned over a hundred years."

"I never imagined… I even thought Qin Daoist vanished after the Taihu battle."

"Yet, without my notice, he has returned to the Southern Wastes."

"Over these decades, just how far has Qin Daoist grown?"

At that moment, an ancient voice echoed from within Lin Zixiao's body:

"Jie jie jie! The Black Mane Beast King I cultivated for you using my demonic transformation art was effortlessly slain—clearly, this boy has come into his own. He's likely no weaker than you now."

"Worse—he's already beyond your reach. You'd better start thinking about running. Forget your dream of unifying the Southern Wastes' cultivation world."

"Such a petty land, and such narrow vision—wasting all my careful planning by attaching myself to you," Lin Zixiao's cold face twitched, his eyes flickering with reluctant disbelief: "Old ghost, impossible? I reached late Golden Core in less than two hundred years."

"How could Qin Ming be faster than me?"

The ancient voice dripped with contempt: "That's because you're ignorant. I've seen this boy's fortune—he must have inherited some extraordinary legacy."

"He may well be stronger than you already."

"Listen to me—abandon your dream of unifying the cultivation world. Better to let me regain some strength."

"Jie jie jie!"

Lin Zixiao's gaze turned icy, and he roared: "Shut up, old ghost! Do you think I won't throw you into the Soul Refining Pool and condemn you to eternal damnation?!"

"Fine, fine! I offered good advice, but you treat it like donkey liver. Do as you please!" With that, the ancient voice fell silent.

At that moment,

A black-robed cultivator entered and reported to Lin Zixiao: "Brother, we've received fresh intelligence—he's left Canghai Xiancheng."

"Oh? Did you find out where he went?" Lin Zixiao's eyes flickered.

The black-robed cultivator looked embarrassed: "Uh… his speed was too fast. Our watchers lost him. Uh… nine out of ten, he's returned to his old nest—Wangyue Island."

"Send some men from the Six Demonic Sects to probe his capabilities. As long as he lives, my unification plan cannot succeed," Lin Zixiao said after a moment's thought.

"Once I control the four nations and gather resources, with Old Ghost's help, even Nascent Soul is possible—so long as I eliminate him…"

"At that time, kill anyone who stands in my way—Buddha or mortal, who dares oppose me?"

"The chaos in the Southern Wastes now is my opportunity!"

Lin Zixiao was ruthless and cunning—he clearly intended to use the Six Demonic Sects' cultivators as cannon fodder to test Qin Ming's abilities before responding.

The black-robed cultivator's face lit up with joy—he was about to bow and withdraw.

But the next instant,

A crushing pressure suddenly descended from nowhere, as if an invisible hand had seized him whole—Bang! The cultivator instantly exploded into a mist of blood,

Not even a final scream escaping him.

"Lin Daoist, you seem quite fearful of me—so much so that you'd mobilize the Six Demonic Sects to probe my methods."

"Why not test me yourself?"

Suddenly,

A faint voice echoed out of thin air, startling Lin Zixiao to his core.

Lin Zixiao shot to his feet, extending his spiritual sense to scan—only to find nothing but empty air before him.

At some point, a plain-looking young man appeared, radiating the vitality of youth, gazing at him with quiet calm.

"It's you—Qin Ming!"

Lin Zixiao's eyes sharply contracted; instinctively he summoned a black demonic blade, unleashing all his late Foundation Establishment spiritual power as he activated demonic transformation.

In an instant, he transformed into a four-winged demonic beast, wielding a demonic blade, slashing forth a jet-black torrent that instantly crossed dozens of zhang, unstoppable, hurtling straight at Qin Ming!

This strike poured every ounce of Lin Zixiao's lifetime strength—he struck with full force, just in case.

Yet.

In an instant.

Whirr—Boom! At that moment, a dark shadow darted out, swinging a black steel trident with casual ease; a streak of dark arcane light flashed past.

Lin Zixiao's full-power strike in demonic form was swept away with a single stroke.

"A third-rank peak semi-forming great beast!"

Boom! Immediately after—

A vast spiritual sense, powerful enough to make the soul tremble, surged forth like a mountain collapsing and ocean roaring.

No resistance could be mustered.

Lin Zixiao, still in demonic form, widened his eyes in utter disbelief.

Beneath this spiritual pressure,

his entire demonic body froze mid-air, as if frozen in place; his black blade let out a mournful cry and fell to the ground.

Under this terrifying spiritual pressure, Lin Zixiao's internal spiritual power was forcibly pushed back entirely.

He looked at the plain-looking Qin Ming with unwillingness, as if witnessing something inconceivable:

"Impossible! This is Nascent Soul-level spiritual sense!"

Qin Ming's gaze was as calm as still water; his voice, unrippled: Nothing is impossible, Lin Daofriend. You can only blame your own boundless ambition.

"The Southern Wastes is my homeland. How dare you act so recklessly?"

At this moment, Lin Zixiao's eyes held only resentment, shock, and confusion.

In just a few decades, with the old ghost's help, he broke through to late Foundation Establishment, believing himself to have grown at an astonishing pace.

No one in the demonic path could match him.

Yet who could have imagined that Qin Ming—the neighbor who had walked out of Qingyang Market with him—had already surpassed him, reaching a realm he could never attain?

Shuai! He gave him no chance.

The Shitian Rat swung its black steel trident; a streak of arcane light flared, and Lin Zixiao's head flew off, rolling to the ground.

Thus ended the once-feared demonic tyrant of the Southern Wastes.

Even in death, Lin Zixiao's eyes remained wide open, as if unable to believe any of this.

Qin Ming flicked his finger, casting the Thorns Technique to drain his corpse, turning it into a single blood pearl.

Yet at that moment—

A gray shadow, taking advantage of Qin Ming and the Shitian Rat's distraction, suddenly slipped from Lin Zixiao's desiccated corpse, fleeing as a fading trail in panic.

Boom! Qin Ming's lips curled in a faint sneer; with a casual wave, a crimson gauze curtain enveloped the entire space.

It was the third-rank supreme demonic treasure he had taken from the Blood Refining Demon Sect's Holy Son—The Demon Luo Heavenly Canopy.

The gray spirit slammed hard against the crimson barrier, nearly dissolving.

"Oh no!"

Daofriend, spare my life!

Qin Ming looked closely and saw the spirit was a ragged, gray old man, now disheveled and frantic, kowtowing to him with no trace of a master's dignity…

He knew well that Lin Zixiao's rapid growth was inseparable from this "old grandpa."

But he had no interest in matters beyond his control—he was about to crush the spirit.

Yet the old man frantically waved his hands and shouted: "I am Qingyuanzi of Qingyuan Sect! I am of great use to you! Please spare me!"

"That damned Lin Zixiao stubbornly ignored my advice and dragged this old ancestor into disaster—I'm utterly done for! Waaah!"

"I sense the spiritual energy of the Green Emperor Scripture on you! Don't mistake your own temple for a river flood!"

"I offer a strand of my life-soul fragment—I shall serve you henceforth without question."

Overcome with emotion, the fallen old man burst into tears.

…

(End of Chapter)